On The Seashore Chapter 9 Rated G Mellibea Mellibea@yahoo.com Is it just me or did this chapter take like forever to come out? I am so sorry to those of you who I told this chapter would be out soon. I've been so busy I didn't really have time to work on this story. But true to my word, here it is! ^_~ I'm also very sorry for not writing a key to some of the Greek words as I promised some of you I would. Forgive me, but I have lost the little paper I had written their meaning in *sweat drop* I tend to be disorganized and therefore loose things easily. I will find it or if all else fails I'll have to get them again. So so sorry!!! As for those of you who have started reading final decision, don't worry about it either, I am planning to finish that story as well, I'm working on chapter 4 as we speak. I've been having a bit of writers' block with it but I'm finally getting the hang of it. Thank you so much to all of you who have written to me with your wonderful comments, you don't know how much I love getting your emails (Keep them coming ^_^!) And a special thank you to Sakuragirl from Fairytale and Lady Spring from Love in The Springtime for asking if they could post this story on their sites. Go visit their sites: Sakuragirl's at: www.geocities.com/sakuragirl_85202 And Lady Spring's at: www.geocities.com/tokyo/lights/3406 Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or related characters. On with the story… ************************************************* ********************* On the Seashore Chapter 9 Serena waited for him on the small wooden deck, standing in a green dress that match the bikini she was wearing. With her chin raised to hide her nervousness, she saw him maneuver the boat and stop at the edge of the deck. "Kalimera" Darien threw her a rope and then disembarked agilely. He was wearing a pair of tight white shorts and a white and clear blue striped shirt. "I hope I didn't make you wait." "I didn't know I had asked you to come" replied the girl and then stopped. She noted that that was not the persuasive tone Raye had suggested her to use. "But I knew it was only a matter of time" he smiled looking her over. "How did you know?" "Because aside from the harm you think I'm trying to do to your sister, you have to leave" he answered. "You have to return to your normal life and your job awaits, because the times are hard" he gave her a cold stare. "Maybe even a man is waiting for you" the inflexion in his tone of voice made it seem more like a question than an affirmation. "That's not any of your business" she pointed out. "Then let's talk about business. Because that's why you're here, right? Because you're willing to reach an agreement?" "I… well, I don't think I have any choice" whispered Serena shying from his gaze. "You have finally come to your senses" commented Darien, satisfied. "I'll go see you tonight after dinner, so I can tell you the details of my preposition." "Oh, no" , thought Serena, alarmed. "I mean… I was hoping to talk to you… in private… before giving the news to my sister." "Alright" Darien shrugged. "When?" "I think now would be good" she suggested. "Now?" he raised his brows. "That won't be possible. I've only come to bring money to Amy for the house expenses. Then I'll leave to Marynthos, a village located at the other side of the island." "Could I come with you?" She recognized a twinkle of surprise in his eyes and then hastily added: "Now that I've decided, I don't want to… delay things. Besides, I haven't seen Karthos and this could be my last chance. I mean, if you don't mind taking a passenger along" she added when she noticed Darien kept silent. "No" he finally said. "No… I don't mind. But you, matia mou. Are you willing to take the risk?" "Take the risk?" Serena looked around her and shrugged indifferently. "The weather is good and I don't get sea sick." "That was not what I meant" declared Darien in a low voice. When their eyes met, she shivered in fear and excitement. He suddenly let out a laugh and then stretched his hand to her to help her climb on the boat. "Ela tora. Then we should leave, Serena." Everything was going fine so far, the girl told herself as she watched him maneuver the boat towards the open sea. She took the risk of looking back to the house and he surprised her. "Shouldn't you have left a message for your sister? Won't she worry?" "Mina is resting" she informed him. "Besides, I told her that I might go out… to explore the island." "Then I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." In his polite words Serena noticed a tinge of amusement. , she thought, embarrassed. That she was going with him looking for a short sexual adventure, although that was what she needed him to think. She had to use his proud masculine confidence against him, reinforce her own decision of not falling into that sensual and charismatic web he knew how to weave so well and become another of the Xandreou women. , she thought. "Would you like to steer for a while?" Darien's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Isn't it dangerous?" She hesitated and he let out a laugh. "I won't let you sink us, matia mou." "Why do you call me that? What does it mean?" Asked the girl as she took over the helm. "It means 'my eyes'" answered Darien. "When a woman lets a man look into her eyes, Serena mou, she offers him the secrets to her heart" he paused. "At least, that's what people say." "Then I guess it shouldn't surprise me that so many people wear sunglasses" she commented coldly. "But you don't wear them." "Well" Serena shrugged. "Maybe I don't have anything to hide." "No?" He took hold of her chin and made her turn around and look at him, soft but implacably. For a moment, she felt like those dark eyes could penetrate the depths of her soul. "I see anger, Serena, also defiance and anxiety and behind all of that a mystery as deep as the sea" he paused again. "But what I've never seen in your eyes is laughter." "Is not surprising" she moved her head away and took a step back. "After all, since I arrived here I've had nothing to laugh about." "And I think you didn't have a reason before that either" he whispered, thoughtfully. "For how long have you been the only one responsible for your sister?" "Three… almost four years" Her voice trembled as she related the tale about the accident where her parents had perished and then added quickly: "Please, don't think she has been a burden for me. Mina is wonderful, she's never given me any grief…" she stopped, feeling a bit foolish. "Until now" he declared dryly. "I never counted on her falling in love" whispered Serena. "No?" he smiled cynically. "Have you forgotten the magic of a warm night under the moonlight?" "No" she wasn't going to admit she had never experimented something like that before. "I only thought that Mina was… more sensitive, that's all." Serena needed to find a less personal subject, delay the talk about Mina at all costs. "Why are we going to Marynthos?" Inquired a joyful Serena. "It's something special going on there?" "Very special… a newborn baby… my friend Dimitris Ioannides just had a son. He asked me to be the godfather." "And you accepted?" Asked the girl, incapable of hiding her surprise. "Of course" he assured her in a small arrogant tone. "We Greeks take that responsibility very seriously." "Oh" Serena gulped. "I wouldn't want to be an intruder in such a special occasion. I'm sorry." "If I thought you would be intruding, you wouldn't be here" replied Darien indifferently and the girl understood that he could've left her at the pier if he had wanted to. "Thank you" she whispered. "Parakalo" Darien smiled and his hand covered hers, which was steering the helm. "You've gone off course a little bit," he warned. "Be careful." , thought Serena, desolated as she felt uneasiness rise from where his skin contacted hers. "Maybe it'll be better if you took hold of it" she suggested coldly as she removed her hand. "I don't want us to crash against the rocks." "As you wish. Then relax, enjoy the trip and feel the sun on your face" he raised his hand and took off her hair brooch. "And the wind in your hair" he added as he threw the brooch off board. "Why did you do that?" Asked an angered Serena, trying in vain to hold down the flowing mane of gold. "Because today, agape mou" Darien answered slowly, "you aren't the rigid, severe and responsible sister. That responsibility has stayed in oblivion. Today you'll drink wine and enjoy life" he paused. "And your eyes will smile. Are we agreed?" The girl contemplated the sea feeling an anxious excitement running through her veins. . She thought the word sounded like a plea to calm down the ancient envious gods. A day for all eternity. Was it too much to ask? "Agreed" she answered throwing her head back, enjoying the carefree wind. ************ They arrived at Marynthos an hour later. It was a small village, made up of many white houses of different colored roofs around a natural inlet, where fishing boats rocked back and forth with the sea currents. And there was also a welcoming committee, Serena noticed, shyly. "Don't you think I should stay on board?" She asked. "No way. Dimitris would be offended if you refused to see his son" he took her by the arm and led her through the narrow pier, while he answered the crowd's greetings. The whole group advanced through the narrow and steep streets until they reached the place where the women waited, with their small children playing at their feet. The two grandmothers, dressed in the inevitable black dresses and scarves on their heads, welcomed them and then appeared Dimitris Ioannides, a strong looking man, of sparkling eyes and wide smile underneath his big mustache. The two men shared a hearty handshake and then a hug. Soon afterwards, Darien gestured to Serena to come closer and then introduced her to Dimitris, whom greeted her amiably. "Welcome, thespinis." They offered her a glass of very sweet wine, which Darien told her was made with the grapes Dimitris cultivated in his vineyards, and then they led her to a house so she could see the baby. Hara Ioannides was sitting on the bed, with her son in her arms. She was a beautiful young girl, who seemed immensely happy as she lulled her baby to sleep. Hara shyly greeted Darien and then deposited the baby in his arms, between the applause from the rest of the family, who watched the scene from the threshold. It seemed that a visit from someone so important and respected as Darien Xandreou was a great event in their lives, or so Serena deduced. And the fact that he had accepted to be the godfather was a great honor as well. , thought Serena. Darien didn't seem uncomfortable with the baby in his arms and he held him in his arms with absolute security. His smile softened with tenderness when he saw the little one was falling asleep. Serena realized at that moment that Darien would like to have a baby and stopped as she noticed a knot forming in her throat. She reminded herself that he was only representing the role that was expected of him, that was all, and she mocked her own thoughts. Darien Xandreou already knew the obligations that came with marriage and he hadn't liked them, Serena reminded herself once again. His life now belonged to CEO meetings and to luxurious apartments and any place where he could earn money and enjoy some of the pleasures in life. She looked at Darien then and noticed that he was watching her. Then he told her laconically: "Hara wants you to hold the baby in your arms." "Oh, no!" Serena stepped back alarmed. "I rather not, I could drop him. I'm not used to babies." "Then is time you start getting used to them" Darien's tone of voice told her he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Sit on the bed, if you feel more secure like that. You can't offend Hara." He helped her sit on the edge of the bed and then deposited the baby in her arms, which caused a chorus of approval from the family. The girl looked at the baby, whom had taken out a small hand from between the blankets and extended it over her breast. Serena felt a strange anguish wash over her when she thought for the first time what it meant to give a son to the man you loved. To be the object of his pride and admiration, like Hara was. , she stopped suddenly, shocked when she understood what she really wanted. As if being pulled by a magnet, she looked at Darien with wide eyes and quivering lips. Darien's facial expressions were sullen, reserved; he tightened his lips, as if he were trying to control some strong emotion. Serena thought that maybe he resented the fact that she, an unwanted stranger, participated in such an intimate family moment. But she couldn't blame him for it, remembering that she was deceiving him. "You're supposed to say something" he whispered. She bit her lip and turned to Hara. "The baby is very handsome" she whispered. "Just like his father." Judging by the delighted expression in Hara's face when Darien translated her words, and by the others' laughs, Serena knew she had said the right thing. Hara leaned forward and said something quickly in Greek; Serena turned her head, since she hadn't understood anything. Dimitris hurried to translate it for her. "My wife says that she hopes Xandreou's woman will give him many handsome children as well." Serena couldn't stop the blush from creeping up to her face and didn't dare look at Darien when he leaned forward to take the baby and give him back to his mother. Relieved, she noticed everybody was walking out of the room and heading towards the tables that had been set up outside, which displayed big trays filled with bread, salad, fruits and red wine jugs. They ceremonially escorted Darien to his place as the guest of honor, and Serena suddenly found herself surrounded by the women, whom led her to another table, where they subjected her to a friendly scrutiny, from her hair color to her dress' texture. Feeling restrained, she managed to smile while she ate grapes and drank wine, feeling Darien's ironic gaze on her all the while. She told herself that she was the only one to blame for her current situation. If she hadn't accepted Raye's suggestion, imposing her company upon Darien today, she would've avoided all of this. She could only hope that when they went back to the villa everything had gone as planned and the result justified the way they had chosen to go about deceiving Darien. The party seemed endless to her, although she was supposed to be grateful for that. The longer it lasted, the less time she had to spend alone with Darien and the less chance for her to betray herself. She was very aware of Darien's presence. Over the laughs and the conversations, there seemed to be a quiet zone where only they existed. A place where she could look at him, smile and whisper words of love and desire of which she didn't even dare think of. Where Darien's kisses burned her half-opened lips and her body blossomed under the touch of his hands. A secret place that would obsess her for the rest of her life, tormenting her with all kinds of unsatisfied longings. She felt a hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to reality. It was he. She almost let out a gasp, but a look at his face warned her of his distant and distrustful expression. "Is time to go" his tone was brusque and serious. "Go say goodbye." Mechanically, Serena tried to remember the few Greek words she knew to say thank you and goodbye. A stranger, not a lover; that's what Darien was to her and that was how things were going to stay if she wanted to salvage her pride. The people accompanied them back to the pier and helped them on board the Calliope (AN: Calliope is the boat's name). As they made their way out of the bay, the girl didn't stop waving to them until the figures at the pier disappeared in the distance. "Did you enjoy yourself?" Asked Darien from the helm. "Of course" assured Serena. "I was under the impression that… it was a privilege that they welcomed me like that." He kept silent for a moment. "They're simple people," he said finally. "I hope that their… unrestrained attitude didn't bother you." "No" Serena blushed. "I suppose it was logical for them to draw that conclusion" she tried to laugh. "They all have." "Yes" he replied cuttingly and Serena didn't dare to make any more comments. There was no longer any wind blowing and the afternoon had gotten hot. Suddenly she noticed that the Calliope wasn't following the same direction they had come, but going around the island, and she turned to look at Darien. "Where are we going?" "I know a small inlet where one can swim" he commented. "I thought we could anchor there for a while" he paused. "And talk" he said smiling at her. "About what?" Asked Serena defensively, heart beating forcefully. "We have unsettled business to attend to" he politely reminded her. "Or have you forgotten?" "No, of course not" she replied. "But I thought that at this time of day all businesses were put aside." "That, agape mou, depends on the nature of the business… and of its urgency" he let the words settle between them and then continued steering the boat towards the coast. Serena, too stunned to say anything, looked at the small inlet with its beach of fine, white sand. Everything was very peaceful and solitary. She gulped. , she thought as she licked her dry lips. It had to be a serious conversation, a discussion about the conditions of their possible agreement. The problem was that she hadn't had time to think, to figure out just how much money she was supposed to ask for on Mina's name. She had no idea on how much she could obtain. But Darien knew, down to the last penny, and he could find out about her deception. But, what else did he know… or suspected? That was where the true risk laid, where the danger she had to fight against really was. She had to be on her guard. , she remembered he had called her. She should never let Darien look into her eyes again, so he wouldn't discover the painful truth that she needed to hide at all costs: that against all logic, of all reason and including pride, she had fallen in love with him. On to chapter 10… ************************************************* ********************* Well there it was, what did you think? Don't hesitate to tell me ^_^ write me at mellibea@yahoo.com