"Prince Darien." Mina said as she entered his study, while she knocked. "Mind if I come in."
He rolled his eyes. Threw the tabloid in his hand on his desk and turned around. "What is the point of asking you are already in my study."
Mina paused mid step, looked around, tilted her head and gave him a smirk. "Sorry."
"Whatever," He waved his hand. "To what do I owe this pleasure, Mina?"
Mina cleared her throat, took another step forward. "It is about Serena."
Darien's eyes focused on the scout before him. "What about Serena? What is wrong with her? Is she okay? Is she not feel well? Did she eat something wrong last night? Where is she?" He started to step around his desk.
"No, your majesty, nothing like that." Mina paused confused. "I didn't even know you really cared about her that much." She did a half shrug. "I figured if she got sick, you would be jumping for joy to be honest."
"Then why are you here?" Darien interrupted before she could say anymore.
Mina collected herself. "I came here to make a request."
"For the last time Mina, my guards cannot escort you guys to the moon. They are needed here." Darien started to massage his forehead.
"It is not that, sire."
"Then what is it?" His tone rising and not making any attempt to hide is annoyance.
"I am requesting that you allow Serena to come with us." Mina finally blurted out.
"What? Why? Was this her idea? Per our-"
"Arrangement, I know, and that is why I am making this request for her. She has no idea I am here."
"Then conversation is done." Darien said waving his hand again this time dismissing her.
"Why do you want her here? It is just an arrangement right? Why do you need her here? Mina's asked desperately. "We can come up with some story to why she is needed back at the moon, we can teleport her down here when she is needed."
"That would never work."
"Why not? Or you can agree to voiding the arrangement, send her back with us, the scouts and I will figure out keep the moon safe and wash this mess of a week away, like it never happened."
"No." Darien simply replied
"Then, tell what would work for you? I know this is about your image. This is not about Serena.
"For the last time she is not leaving!" Darien shouted. Mina swears she saw the glass behind him shake.
But she refused to back down. "Why not!?" Mina shouted back. "She is not happy here, and it is beyond obvious you hate that she is here. You don't love her, and she has to be the most kind hearted person, who deserve nothing but the best. She deserves a man who will make her happy. Love her unconditionally, and you don't do that!" Mina's face started to turn red, and she started to feel warm. "That night we walked in on your little conversation with your guard, the light shut off from her eyes Darien. The one thing people always notice, the light of happiness in her eyes, and it took you less than two hours of marriage to take that away from her. You don't love her, not like she deserves. For god sakes you are still acting like a single bachelor!"
Darien looked at Mina with an expression of utter hatred.
"Don't try to deny it, we have heard the servants speaking." She pointed her index at him. Then slowing drew it back down. "Not even a week of marriage and you are already had multiple affairs. It is just baffling us. And when I say us, I mean all of us, including your guards. We are still trying to understand why you are doing this to her."
"I am not doing anything!" Darien slammed his fist on his desk, landing on the tabloid. "We both agreed to marry to merge the armies to protect her planet, this is just as much her as it was me." His voice faded at the end.
"Wrong! This was all you! You can void this contract! But you.. you are keeping...you are keeping her..." Mina suddenly lost her train of thought as she watched Darien in his trance.
He just stood there gazing at the tabloid photo. It was a tabloid photo of him and Serena at the Children's Hospital Event, they were kissing. Mina remembered that moment like it just happened. They all got out of the car, Serena was last. Darien had his hand out to help her out. She finally got out and all the camera flashes went off. Serena did an amazing job last night, nobody who was not in the car would not have been able to guess that she hate him. She smiled from ear to ear, as Darien had his arm on her back. And then the press started to yell kiss her. Mina remembered the moment Serena did fake laugh and locked eyes with her. The cries telling them to kiss got louder and louder, so she looked up at Darien, who was already gazing down at her, and they kissed.
She suddenly remembered that gaze that he had before the kiss.
"Oh my god..." Mina whispered. "How long?" Mina finally got out.
Darien looked up at her confused. "What?"
"How long have you loved her?" Mina asked softly taking a step closer. "That look you had just now, the same look, you had last night. You love her."
Darien abruptly turned around.
"You agreed to this marriage, because you really love her..." Mina said confused. "But this isn't possible." Mina sunk into the chair right next to her. "This makes no sense, this cannot be, you're still..."
"I have not had any guests in my room since the announcement of our engagement." Darien said turning around.
"Don't you dar-"
"First of all, I don't take orders from you, and second of all I don't owe any explanations to you, so you can take my word or not." Darien stated hovering over his desk. "The servants are passing on misinformation. I have not had any overnight guest and just because a female servant comes to my room, with warm towels for my sore back, does not mean I am sleeping with them. They stay in the room to help me keep the towel hot, and once the paid is relieved, they take all the towels and leave."
"You really expect anyone, to believe that. Earth's biggest heart throb, having servants warm up towels for him, for his back...?"
"Again, I don't need you to believe anything I say. All I know is Serena is not leaving with you. She is staying here. I can keep her safe here."
"And you are saying we cannot?"
"Again, I am not going to keep explaining to you my side, believe whatever the hell you want" Darien picked up the tabloid and continued to look at the photo.
Mina got up from her seat. "You never said yes or no."
Darien looked over his shoulder, staring at Mina from the side of his eyes.
"I need to hear you say it." Mina stood up from her seat. "Do you love her? Really love her?"
"What am I supposed to check yes or no?" Darien chuckled.
There was silence. He turned around to a confused looking Mina.
"Or sorry, Earth thing." Darien laid the tabloid down again.
"It is a simple yes or no. Do you love her?" Mina asked desperately. "Love her enough to put her above all else. Love her enough to provide the life she deserves and then some."
He looked up at her, eyes locked. And just nodded.
Mina took in a deep breath, bobbed her head twice, turned around and headed out the door.
The next two hours flew by. People running around prepping their bags, packing food for the flight, saying goodbyes, and before the scouts and Serena knew it, they were on the runway. Serena did everything she could to keep in the tears, but the second the girls circled her with hugs, the tears came flowing out.
Darien just watched as all this unfolded. His guards by his side, just looking around at the scenery.
Amy was the first to break from the group. She approached Darien, bowed, and thanked him for his hospitality before boarding the plane.
Lita was next, like Amy did, she greeted Darien with a bow. Looked around at the guards. "I am warning you all one time, if she calls me crying, you better believe I will send down fire starting lightening." She bowed again, and headed to the plane.
Next was Rei, she hesitantly let go of Serena."I will try to visit you in your dreams." She whispered. She then walked towards Darien, bowed. "And if she tells me you are nothing but respectful, I swear on my great ancestors I will invade your entire kingdom and cause an uprising." She shot him a smirk and turned around.
Mina was the last to go. She gave Serena one final squeeze. Pulled away. Wiped her tears. "I will be back as soon as I can."
Serena nodded.
Mina finally removed herself from Serena, walked to Darien, curtsied, shot him a sympathetic stare with a half smile, and headed to the plane.
Serena stood there just watching as the gate closed. Her felt her heart clench as the propellors sped up. It took all she had not to run after the plane as it started to taxi. And she just stood there watching, with tears flowing from her eyes, twiddling her necklace. She just watched the plane until there no signs of it left, and then it was like she felt her entire heart shattered. She covered her face sobbing. The guards watch Darien for his lead. He didn't move.
Finally from behind them all a servant walked forward, with a shaw in hand. She wrapped Serena up. Pulled her head on her shoulder.
"Let's get you inside before you catch a chill." She whispered guiding Serena in the direction of the palace. The men followed just a few steps behind them.
When they reached the castle, the servant took Serena in the opposite direction of the men. Her sobs softened to sniffle. "I know it is hard now, princess, but you will see, days will get better." The servant said trying to comfort her.
Down the hall, the men sat in the lounge. Not really saying much to each other. They just sat there looking out into nothing.
"Excuse me your majesty..." A voice whispered.
Darien looked up to acknowledge the servant.
"Will you and the sirs be having dinner in here?" The servant asked reluctantly.
"What about the princess?" Darien asked.
The servant cleared her throat.
"Will Serena be joining us for dinner?" Darien demanded impatiently.
"The princess has requested to be excused for dinner tonight."
Darien just nodded and waved her away.
She looked confused, and then looked at the guards. Not knowing what else to do, she just turned away and walked out.
"You know you never actually told her where we are having dinner right?" Zoisite pointed out.
Darien got up from his chair, put his drink on the table. "You guys can eat wherever you want. I am not very hungry."
"Sire," Jadeite called.
"Don't worry, I am just going to go for a walk." Without another he was gone.
Just dragging one foot in front of the other, he kept moving. Not paying attention to where he was. He kept his head down. Finally he decided to look up, to his surprise there she was, looking up at the moon. He ducked back. Leaned against the wall, hoping that she could not see him. Her face was hard to see, but he could tell she was crying. Ever so often he would see her hands move up to her face to wipe it.
Without removing his eyes off her, he slowly sunk against the wall into a squat position. He was just going to sit there until she went in, if it was all night, then he would be out here all night as well.