Epilogue: Simply Love


        The sweet spring rain coated the world in sparkling diamond drops of sunlight. This was only the second time Serena remembered it ever raining when the sun was still out. She lifted her hand out from her window in wonder. Such a strange combination, a match made in Heaven - the sunlight making the sweet, clear raindrops glitter and shine. How very fortuitous... she smiled with warmth. Today was a day that could not be dampened, the day she would marry her one love. She leaned her elbows on the sill and stared wistfully at the fateful beginnings of dawn.

        She had risen early to answer the hungry cries of her 4 month-old boy, and found herself unable to fall back asleep. She looked over at her soon-to-be-husband, her eyes glowing a dark blue. They had shared a bed on the voyage back to England and refused to be separated once they arrived. Serena's father relented and let her have her way - after all, she had explained, wasn't the scandal of their child much bigger? So here she was, staring out over the expanse of Darien's estate in Bath. She had fallen in love the first time she had seen it, she could never imagine that she would ever live in a place so ancient and beautiful. Darien had taken her all over, showing her all the roman ruins, and letting her indulge in the private baths. She had loved the baths but she was still having a hard time getting used to the sulfurous smell! She wrinkled her nose at that fond memory.

        She looked on with a full heart at the rose gardens below 'All this I will share with Darien - I would be happy with either alone, but both is beyond imagination!' She heard a rustling behind her and turned to see Darien amid the sheets, head resting on his elbows. She smiled at the handsome figure he cut, even this early in the morning, his black hair tousled and his deep blue eyes still clouded with sleep. He returned her smile.

        She is beautiful in the morning. he thought, taking in her loose blond hair cascading to her waist and her simple cotton nightshirt.

        "What are you doing up so early, sunshine?" She cocked her head to the side and folded her arms across her chest.

        "Feeding your son, what else?" He laughed lightly with supreme pleasure in his eyes.

        "Endymion is a demanding one, eh?" She groaned and rolled her eyes.

        "You have no idea!" He cracked a grin and jumped up from bed, wrapping his arms about her waist. He bent down and kissed her ear, whispering,

        "Come back to bed, love...." She laughed and pushed him away, saying,

        "For what purpose? Today is a big day and I should......oh forget it." So saying, she pulled his grinning face down and kissed him with all the passion she could muster. He said breathlessly against her mouth,

        "Well, if you insist...."




        The wedding that morning was a beautiful affair. The whole month they had been back, Serena and Darien both struggled to get accepted back into society, practically bribing people to invite them to parties. After a while it became easier and they got invited on their own. People were all too willing to forgive the wealthy and powerful - both of which Darien certainly was. The scandal would take a while to die down, a long while, but they had assured their son's place in Society now and that was all that mattered. Now, people came in troves to the wedding, intrigued by this young couple. It was rare enough to see the raw love that shone in each of their eyes and it awed the audience sufficiently. Serena's mother was crying, her father was smiling (for once), and her brother was fiddling with his coat-tails. Giana was shedding copious tears of happiness, but she had been doing that ever since she had been introduced to Serena's son. Darien had no family. She remembered the night he had told her that.....


        "How come I still haven't met any of your family Darien?" They lay in bed, facing each other, speaking quietly. His voice came out hoarsely,

        "I don't have any family. My father and mother's carriage got out of control one day and they rode off a cliff. I was pretty young and I had no siblings. My aunt raised me but she died two years ago. I have no other family." She saw the pain in his eyes, longing for a family he never knew. Her eyes softened and her brows furrowed in concern. She ran her hand over the side of his face.

        "I am your family Darien, you and I and Endymion. You have a family now, you don't have to be lonely ever again...."


        She gazed up at her brand new husband, father of her child, and love of her life. He was staring right back at her, neither registering the fact that the priest was asking them to kiss. They both started, realizing the smiling audience was giggling lightly. The priest repeated the command,

        "You may now kiss the bride." Darien grinned and said with gusto,

        "Gladly!" and proceeded to do so rather enthusiastically, shocking the audience who, after a moment, burst into spontaneous applause. After a good minute they broke apart and smiled. They walked, arm-in-arm out of the church festooned in lilies. The theme had been white, simple and elegant and carried over into the reception at the Bath estate. The whole event was dubbed one of the crushes of the Season and played a great part in dissolving more of the scandal. Now the old biddies whispered that they had been so much in love that the wedding simply couldn't wait, instead of the previous in which Serena was portrayed as a lightskirt and her child an abomination.

        Edward had come to the wedding, announcing that he and Regina Danston were back from eloping and decided to stop by for a little Madeira wine and cheese. The American cousin's had come on back with Serena and Darien to attend the wedding and indulge in a long overdue visit. Reggie had said she was going to stay with a new friend for the last few nights, but evidently not. Maria Danston looked from one to the other, Edward winking at Darien and Regina blushing furiously, and grinned, bustling over to the newest couple to offer congratulations as if it wasn't her daughter who had just eloped. Joseph was not as forgiving and narrowed his eyes at Edward who seemed not to give a damn.

        "Darien, what? No welcome?" Edward said with raised eyebrows. Darien laughed and said,

        "Welcome! And please take all the wine and cheese you want." Edward nodded and affected a serious mean.

        "Aye, I shall need sustenance after all these days alone with Reggie - she wears me out!" Darien grinned, Reggie however, went bright red and started to work herself into a fine rage,

        "How can you say such a thing! And in front of these people! I wish I'd never married you!" Edward pulled her braid hard enough to tilt her head back and kissed her soundly, much to her obvious delight making lie of her previous statement. He stopped suddenly, setting his bride off kilter.

        "Ah! I do love you when you're angry! I'll say whatever I want to these people, perhaps I shall tell them how you like to touch-" Reggie clapped her hand over his mouth, a desperate plea in her eyes. Joseph was laughing uproariously. Edward removed her hand and said,

        "Ah well, I see you have calmed down sufficiently." he turned to the shaking shoulders of Joseph saying, "You are her father, right?" Joseph cracked a grin and said, taking Edward's proffered hand,

        "That I am, my boy. I'm glad to see you've tamed her!" Edward grinned,

        "That I have, that I have. Hope you don't mind, eloping and all that." Joseph shook his head,

        "I would have wanted you to marry her anyway, I guess sooner or later doesn't matter."

        Reggie had been brought to heel soundly by her new husband. Perhaps that was not quite what she had bargained for, Serena thought, but she certainly seems happy enough. She discovered that Reggie didn't really have much vinegar in her left, seeing as how she was now a Baroness. The jealousy still lingered, but it seemed fast-fading.

        All was well with the world again. It seemed a day destined by God for perfect happiness, and so it was.




        The sun dappled hills burst with the new life of spring, wayward zephyrs rustling the new leaves with a promise of warmth. The gentle sighs of Nature overcoming her long exile roamed over the old hills and vales of her acquaintance. The lush arms of sunlight and dew enfolded the small family who sat at the edge of a small lake, simply enjoying each other. A little boy of about four or five years old dashed about, chasing his father about the small sandy beach festooned with bright shells. The sweet sounds of happiness and laughter floated up to the beautiful blonde woman nursing a small baby, no more than five months. The woman lifted her head and smiled, turning her attention momentarily from the tiny girl-child with a promise of blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair she held fast to her breast. An expression of complete happiness enveloped her face and her eyes shone with perfect love as she regarded the same black hair and deep, sapphire eyes, so startlingly similar between father and son. It was a scene as old as time, changed and varied by generations but the roots still stood deeply embedded in the ancient history of mankind. Nature, on wings of golden light, glided by unnoticed by the small family, unnoticed by the eyes of mankind. With a sound no more than the trickling of a waterfall, the light rose up to greet the endless blue plain of the sky that encircled the earth like the loving mother below.