Title:  Final Decision
Chapter 3
Rated G
By:  Mellibea

Here’s chapter 3.  I hope that you like it and that you let me know if I
should continue or just quit while I’m ahead.  Write to Mellibea@yahoo.com.
 Thanks for the comments and encouragement.

Disclaimer:  I don’t own Sailor Moon or related characters.

On with the story…
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Final Decision
Chapter 3

Serena felt tired and weak from lack of sleep.  Or maybe it was due to the
constant tension, of the thoughts that had been plaguing her since the
night before, followed by the dramatic morning.  It wasn’t the right time
to make such important decisions, but she liked fairy tales and she wanted
Darien.  The happily ever after would have to come later.
Perhaps he was a swine and had a horrible past.  She had no way of finding
out.  But if she left she would never know and she would forever have that
doubt.  Opportunities never come twice.  He swore that he loves her and she
believes him.  Without him she wasn’t complete.  She couldn’t do anything
else but to marry him, or she would regret it forever.
“Yes” she indecisively whispered.
“Thank God!” He exclaimed through his teeth, giving her a wide smile.  “The
condemned to death lives!  I’ve been acquitted of my crimes!”  Serena
smiled sadly.  “I’ll tell Beryl to come fix your make up…”
“No!” she protested.  “I want Raye…”
“Beryl” insisted Darien.  “I trust that she won’t say anything to anybody
about this.  She knows my necessities by heart.  Remember, you felt sick.
Lack of sleep, nerves… your mother shouldn’t find out about your doubts.
I’ll tell everyone else that you’re recomposing yourself.”
He walked to the door before she could say anything.  Scared, she went to
the small bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.  The tears had
furrowed the make up with which Raye had tried to brighten her pale face.
She heard Darien talking to Beryl.
“Hey Serena” Beryl said hugging her.  “You poor thing!  I’m sorry to have
scared you like that.  You look so sad… and with enough reason!  I can only
imagine how many horrible things went through your head!”  She looked at
Darien and gave him a smile, and then she turned to Serena.  “Do you
forgive me?”
“Yes” Serena answered weakly.  “It has given us time to… talk about a few
things” she raised her eyes to meet Beryl’s.  “Now I know he loves me” she
finished shyly.
“Of course he does!”  She said putting on some make up on Serena’s face.
“I think I better use your mascara” sighed Beryl.  “You don’t usually use
makeup, do you?”
“She doesn’t need it” Darien politely interrupted.
“Of course she does!  To tune down the shine in her face.  Dear Darien, you
can’t go flaunting around with a small Irishwoman behind you.  Look up,
Serena… You need mascara on your eyelashes.  Better!”
Beryl smiled, not noticing that her words had worried Serena.  Beryl was
incredibly beautiful, she had a white complexion, and her skin had no
imperfections, the combed back hair, uncovered the pretty features of her
face.  She wore a discrete hat, which gave her a sense of enviable
self-confidence.  This woman knew more about Darien than she did, Serena
thought with irony.
“Leave her alone!  I adore my Irish girl.  I could eat her!”  Said Darien
with a happy smile.  “Come here” she unthinkingly obeyed.  Darien pulled
her to him.  “This is for the woman I love.”
Darien kissed her tenderly.  Serena surrendered, promising to forget
everything, to eliminate the walls she had built around herself.  She
returned his kisses feeling as if she were floating on thin air.
“Darien, you’re ruining her lipstick!”  Complained Beryl.
Darien laughed heartily when he saw Serena’s stunned face.  Beryl placed
her index finger on Darien’s lips and then tried to move him back with her
elbow.  
“Darien… everything will be fine, right?”  Asked Serena even though Beryl
was there.
Darien smiled and she got lost on the depth of his expressive eyes.
“You’re very valuable to me,” said Darien.
Then, before she could answer… or eliminate the treacherous thought about
her dowry, Darien took her hand and dragged her in long strides, passing by
the openmouthed chorus boys, by her mother, which gave her a kiss and
didn’t stop the tears from her eyes, until they stood behind her worried
looking father.
“Serena is fine.  We’re ready.”  Said Darien with satisfaction.
And the ceremony started.  From the beginning, Serena felt a bitter taste
inside.  She had dreamed of this moment her whole life and now that it came
true, it wasn’t as she had pictured it.  Even Darien’s loving looks didn’t
alleviate her soul, no matter how much she told herself that the love she
felt for him would be enough.
“You’re very quite” commented Darien during the photo sessions. 
“Do you love me?”  She impulsively asked.  “Did you hear that?  I already
sound like a complaining wife.  I meant to say that…”
“You look at me with that sweet face, paroling that dress on your beautiful
body, and you still ask me if I…?”  Darien answered laughingly.
“I mean love, not only physical attraction” protested Serena.
“You didn’t let me finish.  Physical attraction is a very important part of
what I feel about you, but it wouldn’t be enough for me to rush into
marrying you.”
“So?”  She dryly asked.
“Think for a moment” joked Darien.  “I’m thirty five years old.  I’ve
traveled a bit.  I’ve known many women and I’ve had two long-term
relationships.  Suddenly, I decide to get married” he leaned forward and
with a beautiful smile gave her a kiss on the nose.  “Doesn’t that tell you
anything, silly?”  He tenderly asked.
“Not necessarily, you can get married for many reasons” Serena insinuated.
“That’s true… wait” Darien called the photographer over and taking her in
his arms, passionately kissed her.  “I’ve married you because you’re
reserved, quiet, modest, and spontaneous” he answered reclaiming her lips
again.  “Because you give me peace, and because I feel like I’ve known you
forever.  Because we both like the silence and far away places, and because
this past weeks have been the happiest days of my life.”
“Really?”  Serena asked dreamily.
“Really” he whispered against her soft lips.  “It’s been wonderful finding
peace outside the turmoil.  I love you, Serena.  Engrave that on your heart.”
Almost dizzy and with a blushing face, Serena let Darien take her hands off
his chest.  Seeing their love struck faces the people started applauding.
Serena kept Darien’s declaration like a secret for her heart’s welfare.

*****************

“Do you feel better now?  Do you still believe you married a monster?”
Said Darien giving her a heart-stopping smile while they looked for their
tables.
“No!”  Serena answered with a smile trying to explain herself.  “Is just
that you’re a stranger to me and is only reasonable that I would wonder if
I’ve done the right thing.  All I know about you is that you like strong
coffee with nothing in it, that you never eat candy and that twilight
drives you nuts.”
“The inventory is not bad.  You also know that I like crispy bacon and
fried eggs for breakfast…”
“That you don’t eat during lunch and that you’re very passionate about
seafood and good wine” continued Serena slowly, while she carefully
gathered her skirts so she could sit down on the chair Darien had pulled
out for her.  She thoughtfully looked at him and then continued.  “Is not
too much wanting to know more, right?  Only a fool would marry someone
knowing so little about him.”
“But maybe only fools fall in love” he replied gazing at her deeply.
“Common sense disappears when the heart is what talks.  Don’t you think is
exciting to surrender yourself in that way?”
A shill ran down her spine and Darien might’ve noticed her trembling,
because he placed his warm hand over hers.
“It’s scary,” said Serena solemnly.  “I’ve never taken that risk.”
“I really want for us to get to know ourselves. You know we’re made for
each other.  Look into my eyes and you will see the love I feel for you.
Look into your heart and you will read my name written there.”
Serena felt calmed down and kissed him.  She would trust in him because it
was what she wanted.  So she tried to enjoy herself, putting her doubts
aside and letting her happiness show.
She remained in the clouds during the meal and desert, even when her father
stood up to talk and Darien remained tense until he finished.
Then the dance started and the tension completely disappeared.  Darien
never left her side.
“The people are going to start talking, I finish dancing with someone and
there you are…” commented Serena happily.
“I don’t want you to talk to strangers,” he said softly.
“Well, you’re a stranger… and I’m talking to you” Serena chuckled while
Darien hugged her and she slid her hands up his neck.  “Endymion Benedict,
you’re a fraud.  I thought I was marrying someone called Darien.”
“You were lucky that it wasn’t Albert” he answered with half a smile.  “I
too was surprised when the priest said:  <I, Endymion, take you, Serena>.
I almost turned around to look behind me.”
“Then my father coughed and you looked at him all serious.  I’m sure he
also thought you were someone else!”  Serena amusedly remembered.
“I think that he thought about it for a second” said Darien dryly.
A balloon hit Serena’s head.  She turned around and saw a smiling Beryl;
Darien brusquely moved the balloon away.
“And to think that I almost ran from you” whispered Serena tenderly.
“But it has been an adventure, the adventure of our lives.  What happened
to you?”  Darien asked lightly.  “Cold feet?”
“It was the way you looked at me when I walked in, you seemed angry and
hostile.  I got scared…”
“Forgive me” Darien answered delicately kissing her, comforting her, and
persuading her.  “I saw you so nervous and I felt like on the edge of a
precipice.  I asked myself if… if someone had told you something against me…”
“Is there something?”  Asked Serena, wanting to know.
“People talk” he answered gravely shrugging his shoulders.  “You were
running late and I was getting nervous.  I wanted to see you there, you
know?  You seemed so fragile and doubtful, I felt the need to protect you.”
“I love it!”
No one had protected her in a long time.  She always had to take care of
herself and her mother, and take care of the house when she came back tired
from work since she was nine years old.  It would be wonderful to have
someone take care of her for a change.
“Again Beryl comes towards us!  I would like for us to be alone,” said
Darien frowning.  “On our honeymoon, under the blue sky and palm trees
moving against the breeze.  Only you and me and…”
“And the flies?”  Chuckled Serena, with her heart precipitating in her
ardent eyes.
“That won’t be a problem, I’ll protect your body with mine.”
“Darien, don’t be obscene!”  Complaint Beryl, grabbing him by the arm.
“That wasn’t obscenity, it was love” he answered softly kissing Serena’s
forehead.  “And anyway, I doubt we would see the flies.  We would be
surrounded by each other, like we are now.  I doubt that we would even
notice if, right now, the earth would stop moving.”
“Oh, how romantic, Darien!”  Serena answered softly caressing his face.
“Darien romantic?”  Beryl interrupted the magical moment.  “What
romanticism is there to what he says?”
Serena laughed at the incredulity on Beryl’s face, and remembered the first
night they had gone out.  They rode on a small boat and walked along the
bay, covered by the velvety night and rocked by the waves, until dawn
opened to them the wonderful emotion of love.  It was when he kissed her
for the first time.
“Take me fishing, Darien!”  Serena said suddenly.
Beryl raised an eyebrow and inquisitively looked at Darien.
“And we’ll sit under the rain with an umbrella” continued Serena softly,
thinking of his kisses.  Tasting the rain on their faces, forgetting
everything but their love.
“Fishing?  Rain!”  Beryl weakly exclaimed, tapping her forehead for a more
dramatic effect.  “What’s happened to you, Darien?  What happened to
romantic dinners on a walnut tree’s table, with crystal and silver glasses?
 In private rooms, with roses hanging from the walls and musicians playing
blindfolded…?”
“Won’t you close your mouth?”  Darien made an annoyed gesture, and gave a
firm tone to his voice.  “Serena knows how to appreciate the simple things
in life.”
“I like the idea of the musicians playing blindfolded,” she said smiling.
“I’ll hire them for our first night on our honeymoon” Darien solemnly replied.
Beryl made a repulsed gesture and left angrily, attractively moving her
hips.  Darien stared at her and then took Serena by the waist.
“You’re beautiful, Mrs. Benedict” whispered Darien, with his eyes fixed on
her transparent skin.  “I want to leave now.”
A shiver ran through Serena’s body, erasing her smile and leaving a
seductive expression on her face.
“But we haven’t been here for long!”  Protested Serena.  “Weddings last
hours and hours.  You aren’t going to take away my fun, Endy!” 
“Don’t call me that!  I prefer that you call me Darien,” he said angrily,
trying to hide it with a smile.
“Endy suits you.  I like it… it's more informal.  Why did you change it?”
“Let’s go outside and make out” suggested Darien, pulling her towards the
garden.
He kissed her until she thought she was going to pass out.  Without caring,
Serena surrounded his neck with her arms, incapable of resisting the caress
of his silky hair in her fingers, the smell of his warm skin.  And she let
herself be led by the passion that grew inside her with savage strength.
“I want to know everything about your childhood” said Serena sinking into
his arms and kissing his cheek.  Darien made a face of not having had a
happy childhood.  “Did your parents call you Darien?”
“No” Darien hesitated and then continued.  “That’s what they called me at
school, for a couple of deals I made.”
“For example?”  She asked suspiciously, the name sounded like someone who
dares a lot.
“Well, a bit of everything.  I bought broken bicycles, took them apart and
used its parts to make them work again.”
“Is not what you do now.  You told me you worked at a bank.  In truth I
don’t see you as a cashier, you seem too sure of yourself.  Is it in one of
the central banks in Boston?”
“Yes it is.  It has to do with some complex businesses” he explained
ambiguously.  “Sometimes you have to risk yourself,” he said as if it
wasn’t of importance.
Suddenly Serena remembered that she might be one of those risky investments.
“Do you speculate?  Do you gamble?”  Asked Serena anxiously.
“If I do I think that’s my business, don’t you think?  Don’t worry,
there’ll be some for you too” answered Darien in an accusingly upsetting tone.
She felt scared.  Her dowry would be more than enough for both if he didn’t
gamble with it.  And she wanted to give a good part of it to her mother.
“My father gambled.  He always did, even when he worked as a driver and
didn’t have a lot of money.  My mother suffered the consequences.  I
wouldn’t like to suffer as much as she did!”  Confessed Serena trying to
make him understand the meaning of what she said.
“He’s a swine!  Did he ever give money to your mother after they separated?”
Serena saddened.  There was a deep contempt in Darien’s eyes and she felt
the need to tell him that he wasn’t a saint either.
“No!”
“And he’s a millionaire!”  Darien reminded her.
“The woman with whom he went to live with offered my mom a good sum of
money, but she refused it” she declared.  “Please don’t do anything to Ken.
 My mom would feel really bad, her dream is to reunite with him again”
pleaded Serena, seeing that Darien didn’t like the idea.  “I know, it is
crazy, but our feelings don’t matter, the only thing that matters is that
she’ll be happy.  I would love it if she felt good and without any money
problems for the rest of her life.  She works too much.  I would give her
anything so she could retire.”
“I understand, is normal that you feel that way.  What about your dreams?”
“Make her life more livable” she sighed.
“She goes before me?”  Darien asked with frankness.
“I imagine that you’re referring to my mother” she replied blushing,
feeling bad for hurting him.  “Darien, her life has been really hard…”
“I know” his face was on a serious frown.  “Your mother told me.  Your
father abandoned her for an old widow for which they both had worked.  Then
she left Jersey because she couldn’t stand seeing her husband giving orders
in the house where she had been cleaning for most of her married life.”
Serena nodded bitterly.
“My mother has never talked to anyone about Diana le Trebisonne” said
Serena surprised.  “Then you understand why I want to help her.”
“And now you’ll be able to” Darien spoke softly.  “Your marriage has
brought you money.”
“Yes, that’s true” Serena’s eyes flickered, her face brightened.  “I want
to spend it on her!  She’s earned it, Darien!  When she flew to Ireland,
her aunts wanted to help her but she hated charity.  She was pregnant with
me when my father left her but I never lacked anything.  She had to make a
lot of sacrifices for me and that’s why I want to help her and take care of
her.  You understand, don’t you?  She shouldn’t be working.  I’ve been like
crazy lately.  I would do anything possible to avoid letting her work day
after day in the job at the hotel.  I want to help her, because she has
been generous all of her life.”
“NO!”  Darien seemed angry.  “But won’t it be a bother for what you have
chosen.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.  You would do the same thing if your
mother was still alive.”
“I think we should go back to the party” Darien had a sad expression on his
face, but when he noticed Serena’s tear filled eyes he continued:  “I care
about your mother, I really do, is just that I’m mad for the way your
father has treated her.  When we go back to Boston she can come visit and
stay as long as she wants.  We’ll take care of her, Serena.  And we’ll make
sure she never works again.”
“Oh, love!”  Exclaimed Serena happily.  “I would love that.”
“Good, now let’s go dance to that slow song I hear, ok?”
Serena didn’t like that when they started dancing the music became faster.
She laughed when she saw Darien looking wide-eyed at the rapid movements of
the violinist’s hand.
“Damned that Beryl!  Why does she always have to stick her nose where it
doesn’t belong?”  Whispered Darien, when he noticed that she was the one
who had ordered for the rhythm to change.
“I suppose she thought that she had to give life to the party, now there’s
more people out on the floor” Serena answered sadly.
“Let’s dance!”  Darien smiled.
With a sudden movement, Darien dragged her in his arms and together they
spiraled around until everything surrounding them became a stain of blue,
gold and white colors.  
“I can’t do this anymore!”  Rejoiced Serena.
“Wait until I kiss you and then you’ll truly know what it is not to be able
to do anything anymore.”  
“Darien!  Darien!”  A scarlet sleeve impatiently grabbed on to Darien’s
lapel.  It was Beryl.
“Don’t bother us, Bee.  Don’t interrupt…”
“You have a call,” said Beryl looking at Serena.  “What did you think, that
wanted to dance with him?”  Both women giggled.
“A call?  For me?  Are you joking?”  Protested Darien.  “Tell them I’m
committing to a married woman and that I don’t want to be bothered.  I
don’t want to do business…”
“Is not that type of call” Beryl neared him to whisper something in his
ear.  Serena politely retreated.
“Damn it!  Honey…”
“Don’t worry” smiled Serena “Go, I’ll go talk to my mother and my aunts.  I
want to check up on them.”
“I won’t take long,” he said kissing her on the nose.  “Don’t leave!  If I
see you talking to another man I’ll kill him.”
“So brave!”  Laughed Serena.
“Treat them harshly and don’t talk to them, that’s my tactic” proposed
Darien.  Before Serena could answer, he kissed her.  “And remember… stay
with your mother and aunts.  I expect to see you with them.  Wait for me…
don’t talk to anybody else.”
“My god, how you two are!”  Exclaimed Beryl.
Serena watched their retreating backs, thinking on how well Beryl fixed
herself up: her white skin, her red hair neatly tied on back, and her
scarlet suit matching her red lips and nails.  Very spectacular.  She was
pale in comparison to her.  Beryl took Darien’s arm and they walked
together, like two old friends.
“I would watch that woman, if I were you.”
Serena turned around, surprised at her father’s warning.
“By God, Ken!  You’re mistaken” replied Serena.  “Beryl is the sister of
Darien’s best man, Andrew.  Darien has lived with them since he was a
teenager.  They’re like family.”
“Figurations.  Do you know why they have lived together?”
“Well no, he has never told me, but I suppose it was at his parent’s death.
 Andrew was his best friend and his parents, the Fairchilds, took him in.
Now they’re in Australia and couldn’t come; such a pity” at that moment
Darien held a door open for Beryl, and took her by the waist.  Then they
disappeared into the room.  “Beryl was a little girl when Darien went to
live with them, she adores him.  Is beautiful to be a part of a family that
loves each other” she blushed when she realized what she had said.  “I mean…”
“All right.  Well, you have your mother, Darien has Beryl” Ken answered
sarcastically.
“I’m not jealous.  He loves me, Ken.”
“Of course.  But don’t expect me to like him” he answered while patting her
on the shoulder.
Serena sighed; it was going to take some time to eliminate the tension
between them.  She looked at her father and discovered the affection in his
eyes; maybe it wasn’t going to be impossible.
Serena tenderly caressed his face, and he didn’t move away, although he
seemed embarrassed.  Then she hugged him and gave him a peck on the cheek,
and he let her until he softly pushed her away.
“Stupid weddings with their sentimentalism!”
He left quickly, but she recognized the love in him, and turned to her
mother who seemed to glow with happiness.
It was after a while that her mother commented:
“I haven’t seen Darien for some time, I hope nothing bad has happened to him!”
Serena frowned, as she looked at the time on her watch.  She played
nervously with her diamond bracelet trying to push away her doubts.
“Maybe he has ran away!”  She answered trying to alleviate the tension
building up on her body.
“Don’t be silly!  He’s been glued to you since the day you met!  And he
hasn’t let anyone come close to you for more than five minutes today.
Don’t you think that maybe there’s something going on with his business?”
“Bee told me that he’s very obsessive.  I hope he hasn’t forgotten that
today is his wedding day.”
“There he is!”  Exclaimed her mother.  “Go to him, darling, he seems beat.”
“So does Bee!”  Said Serena with a smile, surprised at the faint look on
Beryl’s face.  “I didn’t know that she was also his secretary.  She seems
tormented.”
She happily ran to Darien, clinging to his neck.  It took him a few seconds
to respond… In truth he seemed really beat, Serena waved a hand in front of
his eyes.
“Have you already forgotten your bride?”
“Of course not.”
The answer wasn’t very welcoming.  Serena looked to Beryl, but someone had
already asked her to dance, and her elegant body started swaying about on
her father’s arms.
“Is there a problem?”  She asked with fondness.
“Lots of them” answered Darien with impenetrable eyes.  “Don’t worry,
they’re being settled.”
“Beryl seems worn out!”  She faltered.  “What… did you do to her?”  Serena
tried to make it sound like a joke but it came out as an accusation.
“She had a temper tantrum.  She thought I wasn’t paying enough attention to
her, or the other guests.”
That was true.  Her mother had told her so.
“Poor Beryl, you have to make it up to her.  But now she’s busy.  Shall we
dance?”  Proposed Serena, gloomily.  He seemed far away, and she didn’t
understand his constant mood swings.  She wanted to understand him; she
needed to understand him.
“I rather not, if you don’t mind” Darien tried to smile, but he didn’t even
looked her in the eye.  “I need fresh air that’s all; I’ll be fine.  It was
only the call.  I’m going to take a walk alone.  I’ll come back to you
right away.”
The kiss was distant and his lips were cold.  Serena stared at his
retreating back, feeling a lump on her throat.  Something really serious
must have happened to make him change that much; she would have to ask
Beryl.  She waited impatiently for her father to finish dancing with her,
and then she had to run after her because Beryl was heading towards the
door, as if to go get Darien.
“Beryl, wait, I want to speak with you!”
“Is something wrong?”  She said delicately raising her dark eyebrows.
“Lets stay here” Serena led her to a corner behind a huge lilac
arrangement.  The smell was dense, almost dizzying, it reminded her of a
funeral.  “Darien was acting odd, if he has a problem…”
“Well… is just that… Oh, I can’t tell you” answered Beryl taking Serena’s
hands in hers, not daring to look her in the eye.
“Please!  Help me!”  Begged Serena.
“Poor thing!  You poor child!”  Exclaimed Beryl with a sigh.
“Why?  Why are you pitying me?”
“Nothing, I’m just being stupid” Beryl couldn’t find the words.  “You’re so
sweet, he can’t hurt you.  I’m sure he won’t…”
“Is it another woman?”  Serena took hold of Beryl’s hands and forced her to
look into her eyes.  To her surprise Beryl nodded.  Serena felt like she
was drowning.  “The call?  Was it one of his ex-lovers?”
“Not exactly, it was Elizabeth,” said Beryl as if the name was important.
“What Elizabeth?”
“Didn’t he tell you?  My God, he knows that woman for a long time now!
They were about to get married.  Look, Serena…”
“Please, continue” Serena said slowly, her face hard as flint.  Inside she
felt something breaking.  “Did he love her a lot?  Does he still…?”
“No, by God!”  Beryl paused and Serena sighed with relief.  But the next
thing she said wasn’t as well received.  “She left him at the altar at the
last moment.”
Serena’s heart stopped.  Now she understood why he thought she was going to
do the same thing.  She was speechless.
“Why did she do it?”
“Because Lita was going to inherit and Darien was marrying her because of
that.”

On to chapter 4…
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