Once in a Dream
Part 7 --- Happily ever after?
By: Neo-Queen Serenity
E-Mail: serenausako@hotmail.com
webpage: http://crystaltokyo.cjb.net


	Serena put down her silver folk and stared at the handsome young 
man who sat beside her around the dinning table.  The more she learned 
about Darien, the more she respected and loved him.  Serena was amazed 
by how pride and arrogance could cover up a person’s true personality, 
how she let herself  be so prejudice, how a world could change from 
dark to such a bright one.  Serena enjoyed every minute of her life in 
the company of an incredible man, a man she ignored and despised.

	Serena still couldn't get over the fact that Darien had told her  
he loved her.  She felt herself sinking into a dream, a sweet and wondrous 
dream.  Deep in her heart, she never wanted this to end.  

	Darien ate beside his beloved,  his warm fingers covered hers, 
his fine humors and laughing teases charmed all ladies by the table.  
Of course, Darien had eyes only for Serena.  

	The more he stared at her, the more beautiful she 
seemed to him.  Those shining sky blue eyes, curved rosy lips, delicate 
upturned nose and those golden curls reflected the sunlight. Even her 
once pale and white cheeks showed the color of lovely pink.  

	It was perfect, too perfect.  

	"Serena, I  told you’d fall for our number one handsome "prince" 
Darien.  You refused to believe me, you see how right I was then?" Lita
took a sip from glass, "Well, even though you didn't really danced with 
Darien at the Christmas ball...but I will forgive you for it." She signaled
a servant, "Here is your favorite chocolate cake!" Lita beamed with delight 
and laughter.  She teased Serena through out the whole week every now 
and then.  

	Serena smiled shyly, her loving gaze searched for Darien's.  He 
leaned down and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.  Mina, Charles, 
Ami, Greg, Rei, Chad,Lita and Ken were truly happy for their friends.  
Seeing their loving gaze and their whispers to each other when alone really 
brought bright smiles from those friendly and concerned faces. Even 
Mary and Jane could understand their beautiful Aunt Serena had finally 
found her destined love.  They would stare at Serena and Darien and give 
them winking stares, which often embarrassed the two. 

*******

	During the New Years' ball, Serena and Darien were the couple 
under the spot light. envious eyes followed the most beautiful pair in the 
room.  

	Darien was confused by his own feelings. whenever he was with 
her, his heart filled with an unnamable feeling which repeatedly told him it 
was love.  He was not used to the word love, he shouldn't be. 

	Darien had numerous mistresses in the past, each 
a different kind of beauty and character, but with Serena. He did not 
treat her with neither coldness nor distance.  He-he loved her with all 
his heart, he loved her, that was the truth.  He wasn't going to treat 
Serena like he did to other previous mistresses he had, his mind screamed 
for him to accept this girl, his heart cried for her, his whole being 
never wanted to leave her side.  

	Serena and Darien whirled around the ballroom, love, joy, 
and wonder was all they understood at the moment.  Young ladies no 
longer stare at Darien with heart in their eyes, he was a taken man, 
by nobody but the most beautiful creature in the world. 

	Occupying a corner of the ballroom, a raging figure sat,
forgotten and abandoned by the crowd.  Gritting her teeth, Beryl 
cursed and swore Serena's death under her breath. She looked at the 
couple with eyes that could kill.  Her gaze wondered longingly at 
Darien then hatefully at Serena, who danced contentedly in Darien's 
arms.

*********

	Serena and Darien stood under the silver moonlight, the exact 
same place Darien made his confession.  Serena's gaze once again stared 
at the silver moon, a pair of deep blue pupil stared at herself, filled with 
frankness and love. 

	 "Darien... I feel as if I am in a dream, it's so wonderful and 
imaginary when I am with you..."  

	"Really?"  Darien tugged at her fur coat, pulling it tightly.  

	"I can still remember you standing here, looking at the moon, 
crying.  For me. I put my coat on you. you must have been freezing 
out there at that time.  I could still remember your tears  felt like ice 
cubes under my very finger."  

	Serena giggled at his words, "And you went up to me and told 
me with GREAT hesitation that you love me."  

	She sunk deeper into his warm embrace, contentedly.  
Hope, happiness, and joy crept up to her heart, filling it up with love and 
warmness, keeping her away from the freezing wind.  

	"Look at the moon Darien. It's so bright and beautiful. I can no 
longer remember a day that I ever saw the moon as pretty as I see it today.  
Mother told me once if lovers were separated and could not meet each 
other, they can feel each other's love and presence by looking at the 
moon... because everybody could see the moon, it's so bright..."  

	Darien smiled lightly while giving a warm kiss on her neck, s
ending warmth and love down her  spine. 

	"Yeah, I heard it once before. well, I still can recall you 
standing here, looking like a goddess, praying.  I couldn't remember 
there was anything more beautiful than what was in front of my eyes."  

	"And those stars, Serena. Millions of them, 
shinning and winking, they are all messengers of love....but in my 
opinion, your eyes are 100 times brighter than the brightest star 
in the sky..."

********

	Days passed by and time went on.  Every guest of Darien's 
castle at Leeds received this pleasing news.  All were happy for this 
newly fallen in love couple, especially Serena and Darien's friends.  
Whenever he held her in his arms or gave her a warm kiss, a smile would 
spread on those friendly faces.  

	All of them believed that these two lovers had finally settled 
down and found love, they hoped to see them married one day, 
soon perhaps...  

	As for the lovers themselves, no one existed but them.  
To Serena, this whole thing felt like a dream, a wonderful dream.  
Her heart pleaded it to last through eternity and beyond.   

	To Darien, it was a fairy tale.  A fairy tale he used to reject and 
push away.  Now he welcomed it dearly, with love and caring. There was only 
one person in the castle who saw it as a nightmare, Beryl. 

	She was  no longer Darien's mistress, once used and cast aside.  
Beryl gritted her teeth whenever Serena and Darien were together.  She 
stared at Serena with a gaze that would kill if she wanted, so desperate 
to tear that girl from HER Darien, a place which she used to occupy herself.


To be continued...