Title: Cliché Epilogue
Rating: PG-13
Author: Alsepang
E-mail: alsepang@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: This story was not written for any profit 
            motive and indeed, the author makes no claim 
            to Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. 

This is gratefully and apologetically dedicated to Sake-chan. 
All yours, Sake-chan! =D I'm awfully sorry I took so long...

(Sake-chan's website is at www.geocities.com/~sake_archive/
Go visit it!)
 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


       I spent the following days in this 
glorious haze of delirious happiness-- or 
is it happy delirium? I don't remember 
seeing much of my parents or my home, 
since Darien and I spent days and nights 
out, doing everything we hadn't done with 
each other for more than twenty years. We 
went on early morning jogging trips around 
the neighbourhood, picnics, romantic 
candlelight dinners, visits to exhibitions 
that we were both interested in, fishing 
(*what* is it with men and fishing?!) and 
just plain hanging out. It was funny how 
many things we actually had in common, 
barring the fishing, which was fine with 
me so long as I could nap or read while he 
was, uh, communing with fish. Mostly, we 
talked. We had more than twenty years' worth 
of lost conversation to catch up on, not 
that we didn't know each other well enough. 
Sometimes, you actually know your worst enemy 
far better than your closest friends.  

      Our parents were, as predicted, pleased. 
To be frank, that's an understatement. Their 
delight bordered close on gloating, something 
along the lines of "we *always* KNEW you two 
would get together"-- it was something that had 
been very dear to their hearts for a long time, 
but they had wisely chosen not to tell us. Very 
wisely, I might add. Otherwise, Darien or I 
would have seriously considered running away to 
seek our fortune elsewhere.

      As for our friends... 

      The backlash began three weeks later, 
largely due to an oversight on my part.

      I was getting ready to go to dinner at 
some elegant restaurant, putting the finishing 
touches to my make-up, when one of my best 
friends, Mina, rang.

      "Serena, I've just heard the most 
UNBELIEVABLE news!"

      I knew what she meant and could hardly 
hold back my delight. "Do you mean to tell me
that Raye and Jadeite have set their wedding 
date--"

      Raye's voice broke in on another line. 
"SERENA, HOW DARE YOU GET TOGETHER WITH DARIEN 
CHESNER AND NEVER TELL US!"

      I winced and held the receiver a good 
six inches away from my ear. Mina and Raye 
on vacation *together*? This was going to be 
one hell of a telephone call. "Well--"

      Mina interrupted, sounding 
uncharacteristically indignant, "We're 
your best friends! We've been thicker 
than tables all through college! How 
long have you been keeping us in the 
dark?"

    "Yes, and we had to hear it from 
SOMEONE else! Whatever happened to best 
friends who tell each other EVERYTHING?" 
bellowed Raye. "Oh, and by the way, Mina, 
it's thicker than THIEVES! T-H-I-E-V-E-S! 
Not TABLES!"

    "Whatever..." Mina's tone was dismissive.

    I swallowed. "Er-- sorry? I kind of got 
caught up in, uh, things...besides, seeing 
that I only met you guys in college...how 
do you know him?"

    "Oh, please! How could we not know 
your supposed worst enemy? How could 
we not realise how gorgeous he was? 
Don't you remember the inter-collegiate 
affairs we *all* attended? Raye and I 
actually got to meet him while you 
scowled! And remember all your old 
high school friends drooling over him?" 
Mina giggled. "Besides, you've told us 
everything about him, remember? I always 
*knew* you were madly in love with him! 
I just *knew* it!"

    Had I really spoken so much about him 
so that even my varsity friends knew that 
much about him?

    Mina hadn't finished. "And sorry's not 
enough! How could you keep something so-- so 
*juicy* from us? We're your friends!"

    "Yeah," sniffed Raye. I was thankful to 
note that her voice was now at a more 
subdued level. "You're going to have to 
make it up to us. Oh, and Serena, you 
haven't told Amy or Lita yet, have you, 
hmm?"

     "Uh, no..."

     Raye sighed. "Serena, Serena...were you 
going to wait until you *married* him to tell 
us?"

     I tried to make myself heard. "Of course not! 
It's just that I've been really busy-- *oh*!" This 
last as I felt warm arms snake around my waist and 
I was drawn back against a familiar, hard chest. 

     "Ready to go?" Strong fingers slid down 
my right arm and wound themselves in my fingers. 
"Mmm. You smell-- absolutely delicious..." I 
shivered delightfully as he ran a soft trail of 
kisses along my jaw. 

     Raye was saying something and sounding 
crossed. "-- yeah, *busy*, I'm sure. So busy 
that you couldn't even dial either of our 
cell phones?"

     Mina's squeal sounded loud and clear. 
"Of *course* she's busy! She's just hooked 
a really hot guy! *Busy* isn't the word to 
describe it...right, Serena?"

     "*Mina*!" My cheeks blazed at the 
suggestive tones of her voice and I 
heard Darien chuckle softly into my 
neck. 

     "Oh, is that Darien I hear? Hey, Darien! 
Remember me? I'm Mina Ashton, Serena's best 
friend! Has she told you all about me?"

     There are times when Mina's bubbly, 
cheerful, hyper personality could use a 
gag. 

     "If that's Darien, we'd better hang up, 
Mina. Darien, this is Raye Havelock here. 
Mina and I are *both* Serena's best friends 
and we're very glad to hear that you're a 
couple--" I heard sounds of a scuffle and 
Raye continued. "Sorry, I had to take care 
of someone-- I mean, something. Where was 
I? Oh, yes, we're very glad and now we'll 
hang up and leave you two alone. 'Bye!"

      I thought I heard Mina wailing 
something just before Raye hung up.

     "She hasn't told us how good he is in 
bed-- mmph! Mmph!"

      Looking back on it, I think I was 
extremely fortunate that I had gotten off 
so easily! The reactions of my other 
friends were decidedly less embarrassing. 
My high school friends knew about it 
since we all lived in the same town and 
my college friends found out the same 
way Mina and Raye had-- through Sean 
the gossip-o-meter. Lita and Amy were 
less overwhelming (although equally 
enthusiastic) in their reactions-- no one 
could top Mina, of course!

     I think that what's so amazing about 
the whole thing is how much I feel for him. 
He makes me so happy even when we argue-- and 
we can't get out of the habit of fighting 
with each other for fun sometimes, although 
it all ends, uh, satisfactorily for all parties 
concerned...but I won't go into details. 
It's-- it's just that I'm lost in this 
glorious joy every time he holds me or 
just touches me-- it's as if I'm perfectly 
happy and I could smile into his eyes 
forever. I'm safe so long as he's there; 
I'm loved so long as he's there; I could 
climb Mount Everest without oxygen 
tanks so long as he's there-- so what if 
that's scientifically impossible for a 
human? I guess what I'm really trying to 
say is that I can do anything because I 
know he's behind me, a rock I can lean 
on and a safe harbour to rest in always.

     Sometimes I wonder-- does he feel for 
me the way I do for him? He's sweet, sexy, 
funny, gentle, good-natured, honest, 
intelligent, kind, responsible, romantic...
everything a woman could want. Well, all 
right-- he can be a tad irritating and a 
little arrogant at times, which he does 
on purpose to get a rise out of me, but 
we're all human, yes? My point is, he could 
have any woman-- and he's here, with *me*. 
I don't doubt the fact that he loves me. It's 
just that-- of all women, why me? I don't have 
anything to offer him. I'm average pretty, 
average smart, average everything...while 
he's the best.

     I heaved a gusty sigh and tapped my 
cheek thoughtfully as I looked up glumly 
into the night sky. 

     "What's with that gloomy sigh?" asked 
Darien, coming out on the balcony.  The 
wind ruffled his dark hair and I reached 
up to brush the hair out of his face just 
as he raised his hand to do the same. 
Our hands met and he held mine against 
his lips as I flushed at the tenderness of 
the gesture.

      "Are you all right?" Darien asked 
anxiously, looking down at me. His warm 
breath tickled my fingers a little.

      I looked up at him wistfully, wondering 
what I could say. To my surprise, he bent his 
dark head and kissed me long and hard on the 
mouth.

      "What was that for?" I gasped when I 
had gotten some semblance of breath back. 

      "You looked too sweet not to be kissed, 
darling," he said, his eyes very soft and 
dark. "Besides, you seemed a little sad and 
I guess I just wanted to tell you that I love 
you."

       I buried my head in his neck. "But why 
me? I'm not gorgeous, I'm just average smart, 
I'm average everything and..."

       "And you're *you*," he interrupted 
fiercely. "You're *everything* special and 
more than that. And you are, without a doubt, 
the most beautiful and desirable woman I have 
ever known. If you haven't seen the way men 
look at you, well, *I* have, and I can tell 
you that they've come *very* close to death. 
And-and I love you." His face was very serious 
as he looked down at me. "No, I think that I 
should be asking that question. Why *me*, Sere?"

       "Huh?"

       He ran a finger gently across my right 
cheek. "Why me?" he repeated slowly. 

       "You could have any man, Serena, 
whether you're aware of it or not. So-- why 
me?" 

       There was wistfulness in his voice, a 
strange inflection in his tone, and I lifted 
my eyes to his face, searching every corner, 
every feature, every angle. I caught my breath. 
He too was afraid in the same way, of the same 
thing.

       I parted my lips to speak and slid my 
arms around his neck, bending his head gently 
to mine, so that his lips were a bare breath 
from my own. "I think," I murmured huskily, 
"it's because..." I brought a hand forward 
to cup his face even closer to mine, running 
my fingers along his jawline.

      "Because?" One dark eyebrow arched 
almost impatiently.

      Payback time.

      "Wouldn't-- you-- want-- to-- know?" I 
punctuated every word with soft, tender brushes 
of my lips against his mouth.

      I could see the dark blue eyes narrow 
indignantly, but the indulgent look in them 
gave him away.

      "Tease," he breathed, and kissed me 
again, hard.

      When I had caught my breath again, he 
shook his head. "You still haven't answered 
me, you know. Why me?"

      "You're *you*. You're *everything* special
and more than that. And you are, without a doubt, 
the most beautiful and desirable man I have ever 
known. If you haven't seen the way women-- *and* 
men-- look at you, well, *I* have, and I can tell
you that they've come *very* close to death." I 
paused wickedly as he groaned, an amused look 
in his eyes.

       "And," I went on teasingly, "I love you. 
Strange, isn't it-- oh-h-h..."


      ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 
   


      "Serena?" 

      "Coming!" I called. "Just one moment, 
please?" I carefully fastened the earring 
to my left lobe and shook my head a little, 
just to examine the effect.

      "You said that several moments ago." 
His tone was plaintive.

      I studied my reflection in the mirror. 
"Well, somebody came an hour and a half too 
early and interrupted me."

      "You enjoyed the 'interruption', 
as you so kindly put it," came back the 
amused rejoinder. "Besides, you insisted
on prolonging the 'interruption', you 
know."

      "It's not my fault," I mumbled, opening 
the door and stepping out. I kept my eyes down, 
too embarrassed to meet his after that last 
comment he made. I could feel my cheeks colour 
under the blusher I had applied.

      We were going for one of our quiet nights 
out, just to dinner and a little dancing afterwards. 
Darien wouldn't specify what sort of dancing he 
meant-- one that required elegant dancing or one 
that meant hitting one of the nightspots. All I
knew was that we were going to this marvellous 
new restaurant all the food critics had been raving 
about. Since he had been so silent on the subject of 
the after-dinner activities, I had decided to play 
it safe. I chose a simple strapless frock in rose 
satin, with a matching shawl. To complete it, I wore
a set of diamond jewellery my friends had bought me. 
I could keep most of it in the car if we were going 
to a nightspot. 

     Darien touched my necklace thoughtfully. "They 
gave you this? Hmm, I must top that off..."

     "What with?" I asked, laughing up into 
his dear face. "Mina bought me the earrings--" 
they were dangling diamond strands in the shape 
of crescents-- "Lita bought the bracelet, and 
Amy and Raye bought the necklace."  I shifted
his tie just a smidgeon to the right and carefully 
smoothed his already pristine suit. "I hope you're 
not thinking of an ornamental nose stud with chain, 
because I'm not going to get one just to suit you."

     He smiled down at me. "No," he agreed. 
"After all, it's your nose, darling." He 
tweaked the said appendature and I wrinkled 
it in response, only to hear him burst out 
laughing.

     The restaurant was every bit as nice as 
Darien had promised. We were met at the door 
by the maitre' d, who had with him a tall,
handsome chestnut-haired man about Darien's 
age. He was apparently the owner of the 
restaurant. I liked him a great deal.

     "Mr. Chesner?" He grinned widely at us. 
"I'm Nephrite Jonthes. If you'll accompany 
me, I'll show you to your *very* private 
table..." Then he winced. "Ow! Oh, nothing, 
I just stubbed my toe, heh heh..."

     He led us to a very quiet alcove.   

     "Well, that was strange," I commented 
as I settled. "Do you know him?"

     Darien, who had just taken a sip of iced 
water, choked on it at that moment and turned 
purple in the face.

     "Uh, never mind," I said anxiously. "Are 
you all right?"

     He nodded, still somewhat purple.

     We had a very good dinner and very 
good service. Our waiter was another 
tall, handsome young man with a merry 
face. This one was blond. "Good evening! 
My name is Zoicite and I'm your waiter 
just for this evening..."

     I thought I heard Darien mutter under 
his breath something that sounded like, 
"Yeah, *just* for this evening..."

     We chatted as we always did, but 
somehow Darien seemed a little distracted 
and even failed once or twice to rise to 
the bait I had deliberately put out for him.

     "Darien, what's wrong?" I asked finally.

     He looked up, genuinely surprised. 
"Wrong? Nothing's wrong...why?"

     I frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know. 
You seem a little quiet, I guess."

     "Oh...well, that is...um...I guess I'm 
just a little tired-"

     "Do you want to go back then?" I asked 
gently, reaching out to cover his hand with 
mine. I studied him carefully. "You do look 
a little peaked. I'll just call the waiter-- 
what's his name now-- Zoicite--"

     "No, that's okay." He smiled and 
squeezed my fingers very gently, one of 
his small gestures of affection. "Shall we 
go out for some fresh air?"

      I twinkled at him. "Darien, we're six 
floors up in the middle of a city. How fresh 
can the air get?"

      His lips curved and I instantly 
recognised the familiar rakish grin he 
wore. "*Very* fresh..."

     "Corny," I grumbled, resenting the 
colour rising in my cheeks. But we went 
out to the balcony, shutting the sliding 
doors behind us.

     Below, the city streets buzzed with the 
night time traffic and bright lights. Darien 
drew my attention to the large billboard just 
below us, where N*Sync's promotional music 
video of their latest single was showing, much 
to the delight of several open-mouthed teenagers, 
who were staring up with glazed eyes at the 
billboard.

    "I wonder how much the record company 
paid to have that video shown," I murmured 
into Darien's ear.

     His arms tightened around me as the 
night breeze played havoc with my hair. 
"Quite a bit," he said softly. "But they 
felt it was worth every cent."

      I watched, smiling dreamily as N*Sync 
struck a final pose with Justin Timberlake's 
face taking centre stage (as usual).  Then a 
new video came on, with a song playing softly 
in the background. Images of places drifted 
by on the screen-- a peaceful-looking suburb,
a park, a number of schools, a café...and my 
eyes grew big...


[Because I love you

 My heart's an open door

 Girl, won't you please come on in?


 
 Because I love you

 I'll be right by your side

 To be your light

 To be your guide...]

  
          *Serena, I think I surrendered 
completely the first time we met, even 
though I refused to think of it that way. 
I love you so much, princess. Will you 
marry me and make me the happiest man in 
the world tonight and for the rest of our 
lives?  Yours always, heart and soul-- Darien. *


[Because I love you

 I'll be right by your side

 To be your light

 To be your guide]

   
      "Oh, my God," I whispered, swallowing 
hard as a big smile threatened to stretch 
the muscles on my face. I felt tears of 
joy spring to my eyes as word after word 
appeared on the screen. 

       And then he was kneeling before me, 
holding my hand in both of his. He didn't 
say anything, but glanced briefly to the 
side before looking back at me. I followed 
his glance and gasped, my free hand flying 
to cover my mouth as my shawl slipped unnoticed 
from my shoulders.

      There was a small, round table nearby, 
very small, and on it was a silver tray with 
a saucy red velvet cushion sitting in its middle. 
A single champagne flute was carefully poised 
there, filled with ice. On top, crowning the 
ice, was a platinum ring, set with a single 
diamond, winking in the lights.

      "Will you marry me, Serena?" Dark blue 
eyes gazed up into my blurring ones.

      I swallowed, blinking away the tears and 
nodded shakily, smiling blissfully down at him. 

      "Yes."

      And then he kissed me, our first kiss as 
an engaged couple, the seal on our troth. And 
we ignored the cheers, applause and piercing 
whistles of the people six storeys below us...   


(c) 2001 Copyright original storyline by 
Alsepang

P.S. The song is copyrighted to whoever owns
     the rights. It was sung by Stevie B, and
     is called 'Because I Love You'.