Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. I do wish I owned Mamoru -=sighs dreamily=-

Email Addy: SailrPhnx@aol.com or UtenaStar@aol.com

Rating: PG
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by Sailor Phoenix

Part Three

    Endymion stood firmly in his place, crossing his arms over his chest. "May I remind you that this is my house?"

    "I don't care," she spat. "You are nothing but an arrogant bully, and if this how nineteenth century men are, no wonder there was a women's movement."

    "If we're going to start calling each other names here--"

    "Don't you dare!" Serenity clasped her hands over her ears. She made her way back to the bed. "I already know what you think of me, Endymion Alessandros, but I have been through a lot today and I don't need it from you. Now leave me alone!"

    To her surprise, Endymion's countenance grew less stern. He approached her bed and tucked the covers around her in what she thought was tenderness.  "You're right," he said huskily, "I'm sorry." With that, he bent down and kissed her lightly on the forehead... and Serenity felt something deep inside her change.

    Endymion did not come to her room the next day, or the day after that. Serenity spent her time caring for the child... whom she could nurse now that her milk came in...reading the books and magazines that Luna always brought her...and remembering.

    It was her other life that kept unfolding in her mind; she still knew very little of the woman she had become. As Tsukino Serenity, she had lived in a world of convenience and noise, working for a modeling studio in Tokyo and paying off a small one-bedroom apartment overlooking the beautiful Tokyo park. She had been on the verge of marrying once, but in the end she realized that Diamond Blackheart was not for her and that she was not right for him, and she gave him back the ring.

    She recalled growing up in a modest two-story home in Tokyo's Juuban district, her Mother, Ikuko, was a housewife, and her Father, Kenji, was a photographer. Both her parents were killed in a car crash on their way home from a party when she was only nineteen, and after that, there was only Shingo.

    Now, Serenity marveled, she was in another world where there would be no speeding convertibles... no modeling agencies... no semi-trucks to jackknife in the middle of the freeway. Beyond these walls, which she had yet to explore... carriages... buggies... and wagons rattled over dirt streets and cobblestone roads.

    The sun's rays were bright and the sky was so blue that it twisted Serenity's heart. She was standing at the window, looking out over the gardens with its gazebo and colorful array of flowers, when there came a knock on her door. Just as she would call out a "Come in"--she was so lonely that even Endymion would be a welcome sight--she saw her husband walk through a gate on the side of the fence.

    He looked so handsome in his riding breeches... linen shirt... tailored midnight blue coat... and boots that Serenity's breath was caught in her throat. Just as she was about to tap on the glass and wave to him... forgetting all his insufferable qualities in the face of breathtaking attraction she had for him... a woman joined him. Her dress was red, like the roses that climbed the walls of the gazebo and tangled themselves on its roof, and her hair was the color of auburn.

    As Serenity watched, stricken, the woman held out her hands to Endymion, and he clasped both of them with his own. His strong white teeth flashed a smile as he bent down and kissed her gloved knuckles.

    "There's Beryl Scott again," a voice behind Serenity announced sending a startled Serenity to jump. "You'd better look out for her, because she is sweet on Endy."

    Serenity turned her head and saw a tall young woman standing beside her. Her hair was as black as Endymion's expect that it shined purple...her eyes were a deep violet... and from that Serenity deduced that she must be her sister-in-law. The little gold pen affixed to her bodice of her plain but very expensive dress spelled out her name. "Hello Raye."

    Raye's attention was fixed on the scene below that she didn't see Serenity study her nor glance at her bare ring finger. "Look at her," she said, making fog on the window. "What a hussy."

    Serenity looked, against her better judgement. Beryl was standing on her toes... her hands resting on Endymion's lapels as she whispered something in his ear. A feeling of such intense, primitive jealousy filled Serenity that she grasped the windowsill to keep from pounding her fists.

    "Not that you didn't bring a lot upon yourself stirring up that scandal with Seiya Lights," Raye added matter-of-factly, dragging Serenity away from the window. "Come now, its time to dress you for the christening party and you cannot attend in your slippers and wrap."

    The very thought of leaving this very room, even if it was for a short period of time, raised Serenity's spirits considerably. Every time she managed to get up to walk around the room, Dr Michaels or one of the maids would chase her back into bed.

    "What will I wear?" she asked, confused.

    "What indeed?" Raye answered, rolling her eyes. She opened the door to the left of the fireplace, which had always been locked when Serenity had tried it, and swept through. "As if you didn't own more dresses than any other woman in San Fransciso!"

    Serenity hurried along behind her sister-in-law, casting her gaze this way and that, taking in as much of the massive room as she could. "Maybe nothing will fit," she fretted.

    An enormous chandelier graced the high ceiling...and the fireplace was afronted in pale blue marble. The rugs were Persian...the walls were paneled in rosewood...and the bed was bigger than the living room of her apartment in Tokyo. She stood in the middle of the chamber, looking around her in awe, while Raye went straight to a set of double doors...threw them open...and disappeared inside.

    Her voice echoed. "Nonsense. You were incredibly careful about you ate, remember?" she called out. "I think the blue taffeta would be exactly right, don't you? Given the state of your reputation, my dear, there's no attempting propriety. No, the occasion calls for something that shows you won't be discounted and forgotten."

    Serenity flinched when the main door of the room swung open and Endymion entered, carrying a black medical bag and a riding crop in one hand. His eyes swept over her rumpled wrapper and tangled hair with some sort of charitable contempt, and Serenity was instantly furious.

    "Where's Beryl?" she asked sweetly.

    Endymion set his things down on the table that Serenity thought would probably bring a small fortune at a modern day antique show. "Beryl," he responded, his tone even and cutting, "is too much a lady to engage in the sort of illicit rendez-vous you specialize in, my dear."

    Color surged in Serenity's face and she pulled the wrapper tightly around her, as if to shield herself.

    "Too much a lady, pooh," Raye interceded, before Serenity could send out a retort. She thrusted the aforementioned blue taffeta dress into her sister-in-law's arms and turned to face Endymion... her hands firmly planted on her hips. "For someone who's supposedly to be such a man of the world, Endymion Alessandros," she said bluntly, "you are certainly naive."

    Endymion looked at Serenity, even though he was speaking to Raye, his expression was scathing. "I can't deny that," he answered, "since I once trusted my heart to a woman who probably doesn't have one beating in her bosom."

    Tears stung Serenity's eyes, and she swallowed hard to keep from giving full reign to her feelings. There was nothing she could say...the other Serenity probably had been guilty of flagrant adultery. Yet on every time when she encountered Endymion, no matter how rare those times were, she felt an elemental pull towards him, as though their souls were entwined.

    Raye popped him in the upper arm, and the gesture was so sisterly that it almost made Serenity smile. "Stop being so cruel, Endy, and get dressed for your daughter's christening. That is, unless you plan on going in your riding clothes."

    The look that past between Endy to Serenity was a private one, since Raye was by the time bustling towards the door of the other room. His gaze was as mocking as a slap, and Serenity hurried after her sister-in-law, wondering if Endy meant to attend the ceremony at all.

    He did, as it happened.

    Endymion announced to the assembly, without even informing Serenity, that the baby's name would be Selenity Rose Alessandros, and he looked for all the world like a proud father.

    He even took his place next to Serenity after the intimate ceremony held in the house's private chapel, and shook hands with the endless streams of strangers and well-wishers who congratulated them on a beautiful daughter.

    The guests clearly admired and respected Endymion, but the looks they gave Serenity was plainly speculative. A wonderful meal was served in the gardens, and inside the house, tables were lined with gifts.

    Despite his attempts at keeping up appearances earlier, by the time Luna had taken the properly christened Selenity inside the house, Endymion was totally absorbed in a conversation with the bouncy Beryl Scott.

    "I hate perky women," Serenity muttered, turning away only to collide with a tall, handsome man in an expensive suit. He had brown eyes and raven black hair, and his sensual mouth quirked into a sad smile.

    "So do I," he said, taking both of Serenity's hands in his just as Endymion had done earlier to Beryl's. "How are you?"

    His words and tone were so solicitous that it had caught Serenity off guard. She was still weak from giving birth to Selenity and bruised from the various insult matches with Endymion that this man's attentions were like a ray of sunshine.

    "F-fine," she said.

    "You shouldn't be on your feet." He led her to the edge of the fountain that graced the middle of the gardens and gently at her down. Then he brought her a glass of punch from the refreshment stand and a small sweet cake coated in chocolate frosting.

    Serenity wished she had some sort of inkling as to know who this man was. She sipped her punch, thinking it was unfortunate that everyone didn't own a broach with their name on it. "Feel the sunshine," she said, lifting her face to the clear blue sky above and closed her eyes with a smile. "Isn't it wonderful?"

    "Wonderful," her companion agreed distractedly. "Serenity, about our plans...Don't you think we should delay them a few more weeks until you're strong enough?"

    "Ummm," she answered,not really paying attention. A violin was playing nearby, and she began to sway happily to the tune. "I wish we could dance," she said, opening her eyes again and searched the handsome stranger's face. "Will you dance with me?"

    A third but all too familiar voice answered with a proprietary grip on her forearm. "Its time you rested," Endymion announced in a taunt voice. "Come, I'll see you to your room."

    Serenity tried to pull away and resented Endymion's tone and manner. She was tired, tired enough to faint. Dancing, of course, was out of the question even though it seemed like a wonderful idea at the moment. "It was nice to meet you," she said to the other man, without even thinking, and then Endymion was propelling her toward the French doors leading to the main parlor.

    Just over the threshold, he wrenched her angrily up into his arms. " 'It was nice to meet you'," he mimicked. "What kind of bloody remark was that?"

    Serenity rested her head against his hard shoulder and yawned. "Oh," she said, in a tone of wary revelation. "I take it that was the infamous Seiya Lights, with whom I allegedly had an affair with."

    Endy took the stairs easily as if Serenity's voluptuous weight was no problem. "Allegedly," he scoffed. "I found you two in bed together, my darling. Remember?"
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What will happen? Stay tuned for
Part 4
coming soon.