Chapter 16

Serena woke in the morning glad Darien had already left for work. She was confused about what took place last night. Walking disoriented into the kitchen she was so consumed with her thoughts she forgot about her parents dropping in on them last night.

"Morning Sweetie!" Her mother was smiling as she flipped an omelet on to a plate and brought it over to her. Serena noticed that their bags were packed on the floor. Her father walked in the front door holding a newspaper in his hands.

"Smells good!" He mentioned as he took a seat next to his daughter who was devouring the food like a starved animal.

"Morning daddy." She said with a mouthful of egg and cheese. "Where were you?"

"Walking your husband to work. Fine man you married Serena."

"Yes, honey, he really is." Ilene said as she cleaned up around the kitchen. "You should go get ready for school or you will be late."

"Yikes!" Serena said as she looked at the time on the clock.

"Wait! Wait! Where are you two going?" She turned to ask her parents as she halted her run to the room to change.

Her dad placed his arm around his mother's shoulders and they smiled. "Mt. Fuji. They are treating us to a few days at a hot spring before we head to Australia!"

"No fair! When are you leaving?" She asked.

"Right now my little bunny." Her mom picked up her suitcase and came and kissed her on the forehead.

"You know he is your soul mate." She whispered in her daughter's ear.

Serena kissed her mother and father goodbye and then scrambled to get dressed. Between the words that had slipped out of her mouth last night and her mothers comment today she felt she knew the truth. She would be skipping school today. She needed to find out. She needed to be sure.

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Serena walked though the double doors of the hospital nervous as to what she was going to say to Darien. How do you ask someone if they are your past lover? How would she feel if he was not Endymion? Or if he didn't remember her? She walked to the receptionist desk. A very pretty nurse stood behind it giving her a wide smile as Serena approached.

"Um, I am looking for Dr. Chiba?" She said nervously.

"You have an appointment sweetie?" The nurse smiled.

"Um no… I don't." Serena muttered.

"Well Dr. Chiba is booked for the day." The receptionist smiled. She was used to pretty young girls coming in looking for the young handsome doctor. Some had been known to fake illnesses to see him.

"It's sort of urgent that I see him." Serena stated. She refused to back down now. She was going to ask him if he was Endymion.

"It always is dear. But he is still booked. Are you a past patient?" The nurse was holding back irritation.

"No… no really… it is urgent that I talk to him." Serena stressed.

"Look, why don't I get your name and number and if he has an opening I will give him a call." The receptionist was clearly irritated by now as she tried to appease the young blond.

"Sure." Serena said with clear exasperation in her voice. "It's Serena Chiba. Last name is spelled C H I…"

The receptionist looked upward at the girl and cut her off as she spelled the familiar last name. "Are you his sister?" She accused.

"No… I'm his wife. Now will you please tell me how I can find my husband or do I need to wait until an appointment opens up sometime next week?"

"No… no.. um go down the hall and to the left. Take the third set of elevators to floor 23. His office is down the hall on the right. "

"Thank you." Serena mocked and strode off.

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Darien was reading a chart in his office and taking notes on his latest patient's upcoming surgery. This kind of stuff, the life saving kind, was the only thing that could ever take his mind off his wife and all of the strange things that came along with her. Dropping his pen he took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead. He had to stop thinking about her or he would never work.

Why was he just so drawn to her? For his whole life he had never imagined his life being this complicated but even if it was… even if he had planned or known that this much fantasy could mix with reality he never would have put her in it. He never would have believed that him as Endymion or him as Darien Chiba could love someone this way. The way he loved her.

A small knock at the door broke him from his reverie.

"Come in?" He said quickly as he tried to refocus his thoughts away from his wife.

It didn't work. Serena's small form walked nervously into the room. She looked somewhat shaken.

"Serena? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" He stood up and went to her.

"Yeah.. yeah.." She said non shalantly. "I just had to… uh… this is stupid I should go." She turned to leave all of her bravery was lost the moment she looked in his eyes.

"No… don't leave." He grabbed her hand and sat her down in the chair across from her desk.

"What are you doing here and why aren't you in school?" He questioned knowing that he wouldn't get a straight answer.

Serena took in a breath and let it out.. "Wow… this is going to sound really dumb… Are you… you wouldn't happen to be…past…life…" Serena knotted her hands as she tried to ask him in so many ways.

Knock Knock Knock

A older gentleman came in to the room and took one look and Serena and apologized.

"Sorry Dr. Chiba. I didn't know you were doing a consult." He bowed.

"Oh. Dr. Chan you didn't interrupt. This is my wife Serena. She just came by to see me." He bowed.

"What a pleasure! He said you were beautiful, wow!" Dr. Chan couldn't bow after meeting her. He was stunned.

Serena smiled and bowed. "Darien, I'm sorry your busy and I should get to school. I'll talk to you later. Pleasure meet you Dr. Chan." Serena quickly slipped out of the office and hustled down the hall. The moment she saw the exit for the roof she took it.

The breeze cleared her head. She knew it was him… why was she so blinded all this time that Darien was Endymion. The memory of his death made her grab her stomach is pain as she hunched over. She gasped for breath... all this time she hurt him hoping for Endymion. All this time it was him and fate brought her to him again. She had done something right in saving the world… she was given a gift… a gift that no one could ever take away ever again.

"Serena!" She heard him call. He was at her side quickly and crystal tears ran down her face.

She turned to him quickly and for no reason she was angry. She pointed an accusing finger in his face.

"You! It was always you! In my dreams… my past. You! You caused it all!" She screamed at him.

"Serena! What are you talking about? What is wrong!" he went toward her with open hands but she evaded his open arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I lied to you." Serena hung her head tears still running down her face. "I've been lying this whole time." She sobbed.

He looked at the beautiful girl on the roof who was just beside herself. She lied… what could she have lied about that would cause such a reaction?

"Serena… whatever it is… we can work it out… you and me." He pleaded.

She had to tell him… the truth. They stood about 5 feet from one another. She looked at him with her sad baby blues. His midnight eyes were panicked and scared.

"When you asked me… if we were looking for someone specific… I am. I always have been. My soul mate. My betrothed." She stated giving him answers.

"Serena… you are not making any sense." He was getting the answers he wanted but now he didn't care. He didn't know if he wanted the truth.

"All of the strange things... all of them are to lead me to him. The dates and the meetings and the reasons I could not be with you. " She rambled on.

"What are you saying? Who is this person that you are talking about?"

"See I'm not who you think I am. I am something different and he knows me. My soul and my hardships of what duty has been given to me. And I love him. I love him so much even when I just knew his name, I loved him and yearned for him. I would do anything to find him including trying to stay away from you. And I couldn't get away from you!" She yelled again.

Darien stood still waiting for the Earth to swallow him whole. She loved… no loves someone else. She's betrothed to someone else.

"NO!" He stalked toward her. The Earth trembled and dark skies brewed large fierce clouds out of know where. He would kill this man! A gold glow surrounded him now.

"Who is it then, Serena! Tell me!" He yelled. Thunder roaring and winds whipping at them.

"His name is Endymion, the Prince of Earth… and I am…"

"Serenity…" he breathed out.