Title: Flower of Love Part: 2 Author: Bubbles Disclaimers: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the associated characters. Hello! Bubbles here. Just wanted to say thanks to all the people who wrote to me. I really appreciate it. You guys are so nice! Extra-special thanx to ChibiSerenity who gave me the idea for this story and is editing it. Let's give her a round of applause! ( Clap! Clap! Clap! ) You know I love her! And now for the bad news. On Monday and Tuesday I am going to the hospital! A few weeks ago I had a syncope, which is the mixture of a faint and a seizure, so I need to go in and get some tests done to make sure my brain isn't going haywire. So part 3 might be late or it might just sound really weird. Don't worry though, I am going to work real hard to get out the next few chapters!! And now, on with the story! "----" mean talking '----' mean thought You'll be able to tell when I change the scene! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Darien sat in his library, tracing he edge of his sherry glass. It had been a week and a half since he had met Serena and he could still not get her out of his mind. How could it be love? He had seen her for 5 minutes, tops, and yet something was there. Something indescribable yet wonderful. 'Is it love?' he asked himself repeatedly. Then Darien decided to call in the reinforcements: His best friend Andrew. Now Andrew is not the Courting God. He and Adonis do not share trade secrets or anything of that sort. He has been engaged twice and is known for his flirtations at parties. Darien had invited him over hoping to clear up this 'Serena' muddle. If Andrew told him it wasn't love, then Darien could get on with his normal life and not think about Serena. But if it was, then...he would what? Leave the country? Become a hermit? Neither idea sounded too appealing. Fortunately, the doorbell sounded Darien out of his reverie. Then door to the library opened and Walters showed Andrew Jones in. He was a tall man with fair hair and dark eyes. He had graduated from Oxford and was a revered doctor despite his reputation for being a joker. Almost every woman had been infatuated with him at least once in their life. Andrew and Darien shook hands. "Andrew! Glad you're here. Sherry?" "Hullo Darien. Don't mind if I do." Darien poured his guest a glass and another for himself. "How is Mina?" he asked. She was Andrew's fiancee. "Beautiful as always. She has a slight French accent now, but other than that she's her usual charming self. Darien?" Darien was pondering the pillow on the couch, not paying attention. "Darien?" Andrew said again. "What? Oh, I beg your pardon Andrew. You were saying?" "Darien, I must confess that I am most curious about you're reason for wanting to see me. You letter sounded quite urgent. What's wrong old chap?" Andrew asked. Darien sighed. "I am in a dreadful muddle. I think I may be in love-" "That's not a muddle! That's wonderful!" "-with a flower seller." "A what? Dear me old boy, I don't think I understand. Start from the beginning." And so Darien told his best friend of the brief encounter with Serena. "She seemed so beautiful and delicate. I just wanted to shield her from the cold and snow. Oh Andrew! What am I to do? Am I in love with her?" Darien sighed once more and awaited his friend's judgment. Andrew, however, was silent. He turned the events over and over in his mind. Then he looked up. "Darien, I've got it." "Your verdict governor?" "I can think of only two explanations for your feelings. One, that she reminds you of someone else you are in love with." Andrew looked meaningfully at Darien, who colored under the hard gaze. "I am in love with no one." "You're sure?" "Absolutely." Andrew grinned. "But when you are, I'll be the first to know right?" Darien rolled his eyes. Then he frowned. "And reason number 2?" "Pity." "I sorry but did you say pity?" "Yes." "I don't understand." "All right. Let me explain. You see this girl, you bump into her knocking her daisies-" "Roses. It was roses. Yellow ones." "Knocking her roses on the ground. You help her pick them up. She has been apologizing profusely throughout this. You look at her notice that beneath all that grime, she is rather pretty. You then think, pretty girl out in the cold. I'll help her. You decide to buy a flower and to help her even more, you give a 5 pound note." "You're right so far. But I still do understand where the pity comes in." "Let me finish. You give her the money. She tries to give it back. Almost immediately you think 'oh, isn't she sweet, trying to return the money.' You refuse to take it and you walk away. When you get home, your mother lectures you on marrying. The flower girl comes back into your mind. You realize that even if she does get married, she will never live in the comfort that you do. You pity her because you have everything she doesn't. Money, happiness, a warm fire to come home to. It's pity, Darien. Nothing but pity." "I think I see. But what the beautiful eyes part?" "That is when you are thinking 'what's a nice girl like you doing in a bad place like this?' You want her to be warm and safe because she was very kind to you." "I see. I really do see! I don't love her. I pity her. Yes, pity. Thanks so much Andrew. You've helped incredibly," Darien said, relieved. And yet he was disappointed. It would have been very romantic. The rich man in love with poor girl. 'Nonsense. That sounds like some Oscar Wilde novel.' "Anytime friend. Now we had better leave for the McMullens. Mina does hate it when we are late," Andrew replied, barely noticing the wistful look on Darien's face. An hour before..... Serena had headed back into the snow and cold and the streets. She was almost determined not to think about Darien. She had not seen him since they had met and that meant Ami was right. She usually was. The chances of seeing him again were very slim, and yet Serena could not help but want to. She decided that the only way to really banish him from her mind was to stay away from his home and from where she met him. An hour passed and Serena found herself at 1220 Travers Street. 'Oh this is useless. Admit it. You think he is the kindest, most handsome man you have ever met. You can't wait to crash into him again.' Serena sighed. After years of refusing to fall in love with anyone, Darien had spoken to her once and already he owned her heart. She had been afraid to love anyone else for fear that she would forget about them, like she had forgotten the first 13 years of her life. All she could remember of those times was the smell of lavender and the sound of a child laughing. She would see these in her dreams, the sensation of love and happiness. Then it would turn ugly. The child would no longer laugh, but scream endlessly. The lavender would turn into burning wood. There would be no more happiness, only terror. Often Serena would awake crying, her body laden with sweat. Slowly she would calm herself down, but she could never get back to sleep. Suddenly, a carriage pulled up in front of Darien's home. His front door opened and out stepped two men. And one of them was Darien! Serena gasped. There he was! Would he see her? Did he even remember her? Or was she just another everyday incident? She held her breath. Darien heard a small gasp. He turned to his left and stopped short. She was there! Staring at him! Her eyes were just as blue as he remembered, her skin just as pale. They stared at each other in amazement. 'Now what?' Serena asked herself. She smiled slightly. 'She's smiling at me! Wait Darien think!! This is pity. You are smiling back at her in pity. No other reason.' He grinned back at her. Serena then smiled a true smile and Darien nearly floated away. He shook his head and stepped inside the carriage. It drove away quickly leaving the little flower girl behind. Inside the carriage... Andrew stared at his friend. "Darien what's wrong? You look quite shaken." "I saw her again. She was outside my door. Waiting there," Darien replied. "Who was? Who was waiting?" "Her. Serena." "Who? Oh. Oh! Well, what happened? Did she try to speak with you?" "No. All she did was smile at me. Andrew, she has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. She was just as delicate as I remembered." "Darien! You are only feeling this way because of pity. Pity! Remember what we spoke of in the library? Pity. It's only pity." "Forgive me Andrew. I- I don't know what came over me. Pity. It's only pity." He repeated that quietly to himself all the way to the McMullens. "Darien, we're here," Andrew said. They stepped out of the carriage and were lead into a drawing room where everyone was waiting for them. Andrew's sister Lita were already there with her admirer Kenneth. Another figure, unknown to both Andrew and Darien was standing by the window. Mina arose and greeted her new guests. "Hello Andrew." She fondly kissed her husband-to-be. "Darien! How wonderful to see you. I felt as though we haven't met for weeks." "We haven't. You've been in Paris." Mina smiled. "Don't tease. It's just wonderful to be back. And speaking of Paris, Darien, allow me to introduce you to Raye Chauvelin, whom we met there. Raye, this is Darien Shields, a dear friend of the family." Raye stepped forward and curtsied. Darien bowed and when his head came up he came face to face with a most stunning woman. She had golden skin and thick black hair, like his own. Her eyes were a deep purple and seemed to have so many facets that it reminded Darien of an amethyst. Raye's gown was also purple, only paler. He reached for her hand and kissed it. "A pleasure to meet you Miss Chauvelin." "It is a great pleasure to meet you also Monsieur Shields. My friends Lita and Mina have told me a great deal about you." Her voice was like Indian silk and her accent was very charming. "Good things I hope. Do call me Darien," he said. "But of course. All of my friends call me Raye and I have the feeling we are going to be very good friends," she purred. Darien smiled slightly. Suddenly the door to the parlor burst open and there stood a rather harried young man. "I say, so sorry I'm late. Couldn't be helped. My sister is sick so she couldn't come. Do forgive me Mina dear but..." His gaze fell on Raye. "Please, someone introduce me to this beautiful girl." "Good evening Charles. Of course I forgive you," Mina said as he kissed her hand absentmindedly. He was still staring at Miss Chauvelin. "This is my friend from Paris, Raye Chauvelin. Raye this is Charles Rocker, forgive his entrance. We, I'm afraid, are all used to it." "Good evening Monsieur Rocker." She had not colored even slightly under his smitten gaze. "Do forgive me Miss Chauvelin, I am sort of an impulsive fellow. May I escort you to dinner?" "If you wish." "I do." The more quietly he said, "Trust me I do. I do." "Speaking of which, shall we go into the dining room?" Mina asked. Everyone was in agreement. Mina went with Andrew, Lita went with Kenneth, Raye went with Charles, and Darien walked in by himself wishing that he had Serena to court into the dining room. During Dinner... Darien had not said much. He was content with watching his friends who were watching each other. Charles would look at Raye as though she were the Divine Goddess. Raye pretended not to notice, but sometimes Darien would catch her looking at ... himself! Kenneth, who had brown hair and gray eyes and had gone to Cambridge with Darien, would occasionally stroke Lita's hand. Lita had reddish-brown hair and sharp green eyes and blushed when their hands 'accidentally' brushed against each other. Andrew and Mina were busy blowing kisses to each other when they thought no one else was watching. Darien watched them and felt a slight resentment. He had no one to stare at, no one's hand to hold. But more and more he felt his gaze returning to Mina. She looked so much like Serena. The shape of her nose, the curve of her throat. Even the way she smiled. Could they be in any way related? Darien had heard that Mina had once had a sister but she had died in a fire. Was it possible that Serena was the missing sister? But then why would she not make herself known? It was all so confusing! After Dinner... "Hurry up and kiss Kenneth Lita, I want to go home," Andrew said. His sister glared at him, then she did kiss her paramour. Then she stepped into the carriage with her brother and Darien. "Andrew, you know that really wasn't necessary," Lite reprimanded. "I know, but I like to see you blush." "And so does Kenneth," Darien put in. Lita's mouth dropped, then she laughed. "Too true Darien. Too true." "Do you think you two could come over for tea tomorrow?" Darien asked. Lita and Andrew looked at each other. "Well, we both have work tomorrow. The Winslow boy is sick again and I need Lita there to help me with his mother. I swear, the child sneezes and Mrs. Winslow thinks he has the typhoid!" Andrew said as everyone chuckled. "Well," Darien said, "this is where I get off. Thank you for the ride. See you tomorrow!" He walked up to his front door, opened it and went inside. Lita turned to her brother. "What is wrong with Darien, Andrew? He was very quiet all evening which is very unusual! Is he sick?" "Close, dear sister, but not quite. He is in love. I'll tell you what he told me but you must promise not to tell a soul!" Inside Darien's Home... Darien stepped inside the front hall, took off his coat and stood. He needed a drink. The night had been long. First there was Raye Chauvelin. She was beautiful, yes, but not once did she receive Charles's appreciative looks. 'Most of the time she was staring at me! Well, Mother will be pleased, that's for sure.' "Good evening Walters," he said as the butler took his coat. "Good evening sir. Sir?" "Yes Walters?" "There is a gentleman waiting for you in the library. He did not give his name and refused to leave until he saw you." Walters tone implied that did not quite approve of this 'visitor'. "Where is he?" Darien asked. "The library sir." "Thank you. I'll see to him." Darien walked into the library and looked around. There was the young man. He was staring out the window, his face hidden. He, apparently, had not heard Darien come in. "May I help you in some way sir?" he asked. The gentleman did not turn. "Yes you can. I need something from you," the man said. "What, may I ask, is it you desire?" "I'm getting to that...brother." The man turned, revealing his features. Darien's face did not change but his sharp intake of breath indicated his surprise "Seiya." The man inclined his head. "Darien." Darien poured himself a drink. "I did not know you returned from Germany. Wheedling your way into Mother's affections again?" "Well, that's part of it. You see Darien, I spent most of my inheritance when Father died. You, on the other hand, invested and made money enabling you to buy this house and other things to keep you in comfort. Then I resorted to Mother to keep me wealthy. She refused to give me money until I got married. I got engaged. She was happy, I was rich. Then I found out I was expected to get married. I ran away to Germany," Seiya said. "That much I know. You still haven't explained why you are here." "I'm getting there. In Germany, I spent my remaining money in ale houses. I lived as a beggar, working where I could. It was then I realized the difference between people. Money. Some have it, some don't. Some need it more than others. You have it, I don't. I need it. And you are going to give it to me." "Oh am I?" "Yes. You see, I decided that in order to get your money, I need something to bargain with. So I made friends with the lesser people and got them to do favors for me. I managed to get these. Recognize them?" Seiya held up a packet of letters wrapped together with red ribbon. Darien shook his head. Seiya laughed. "Allow me to read tidbits from them. Ahem 'Dearest Mina, everyday without you is an eternity. I need you beside me. Where can we meet? I long to feel you in my arms again. Friday at noon, the same place. Your lover, Darien.' Your memory jogged yet? Here's another: 'Your beauty astounds me. Last night at the ball you were stunning. Every time you moved sunshine seemed burst from you. I miss your kisses. Please come over for tea again. Kisses, Darien.' And my favorite: 'I have made the reservations for Paris. We can elope next week. Oh my Darling! It will be at night. Tomorrow at the party I will make my plans clear to you.'" By this time, Darien complexion had turned quite pale. The love letters to Mina! How had he found them?! He lunged across the room at Seiya. Seiya, caught off guard, ungracefully leapt behind the desk. "Now now Darien. There's no need for violence." His brother glowered. "What do you want?" "Money. 7000 pounds a year. After five years of your paying me, I will return the letters. The newspapers need never know," Seiya smirked slightly. "This isn't about money Seiya and you know it. Are you jealous of me? Is that it? You always were. Admit it." Seiya's face darkened. "Ever since we were children you were always the golden boy. Mother's little angel. It was me who got in trouble. Me who broke the vase. Me who kissed the maid. Me who couldn't pay off my debts. Well, now it's your turn to get in trouble. The perfect son isn't so clean now is he? An affair between you and Mina McMullen, when she was already in engaged. What did happen? She dropped you didn't she, and fell in love with her own fiancee. How silly of her." "Stay away from Mina, Seiya. Leave her alone." "Of course. Do you agree to pay me?" "Never." "Are you sure about that? Your reputation could be ruined. I'll give you some time to think about it. In the meantime, you are going to reintroduce me to society. Everywhere you go, I go. I'll see you soon Darien," Seiya said, and left. Darien sat down and buried his face in his hands. What would he do? Both his and Mina's reputation could be ruined. He had loved her while she was engaged to Andrew. In fact, he hadn't realized it until she had gotten engaged. Mina had been his first love. She had loved him back. Then she saw how much Andrew was in love with her, and she had refused to see Darien alone and had stopped receiving his love letters. Now Darien was over her. He was glad for Mina and Andrew. No one else had ever needed know about his brief infatuation with her. That was a closed chapter in his life. But Seiya had reopened it. With a heavy heart, Darien retired to bed, expecting to dream about Seiya's threats. Instead, Serena's smile stayed with him throughout the night. Tea Time the Next Day... Darien was having tea with Andrew and Lita as planned. When they arrived, Lita had kissed his cheek and said, "Darien, Andrew told me everything. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know." He had promised he would. But now, another burden lay on his shoulders. Darien knew that Lita and Andrew would advise him. "Andrew," he said, "I have something o show you." Darien pulled out a diamond engagement ring. His friend whistled. "Who's that for?" Lita stared at him. "Not Sere-" "No. It was for...Mina." "What?!" Andrew cried. "No, no. Let me explain. When you first got engaged to her, I was in love her. We had plans to elope. She then fell in love with you, leaving me as the discarded lover. I wrote her many love letters as a lover would. My brother Seiya is holding them ransom for 7000 pounds for five years. Help me." "Oh, Darien of course we'll help you. Won't we Andrew?" Lita cried. Andrew stared at Darien. "I'll help you get those letters back, but I wish you had told me of your love for Mina." "I am sorry Andrew," Darien said. He looked out the window and gasped. In the Street... Serena stood across the street from Darien's home. She couldn't help. Something drew her here. Serena sighed then moaned slightly. She had eaten no dinner for the past few nights. Ami was not getting any better and last night she had coughed until sunrise, keeping Serena awake. The 5 five she had received from Darien was long gone. They had to pay 3 months rent, get food and medicine, and new cloth. Ami was an amateur dressmaker and had sewn together most of Serena's clothes. A man shoved by Serena carrying a large box. She had to step back to regain her balance. Then she just stopped on the sidewalk. The lack of food, the sleepless nights, the cold. It was just too much. Serena started to sway. 'No, Serena, stop that. You must get more money! Ami is so sick, your problems are minor compared to hers! She can barely walk!' But no matter how hard Serena tried, she could not move. Then, she fainted quietly away on the busy street, unnoticed. Inside Darien's Home... There she was. Serena Anderson. Across the street, still selling her flowers. Darien's eyes widened as he saw her sway slightly. Then she collapsed completely. Darien jumped up. "No!!" He ran out of the parlor and outside. Andrew and Lita concerned, followed. Darien ran out in the street. The snow was getting heavier and it blinded him. He ran to Serena and knelt beside her. "Serena! Serena! Answer me!" He cried. There was no reply. She was so pale... Darien gathered her into his arms. Her skin felt cold and clammy. Serena shook slightly. Darien ran inside his home. "Help her!" He cried to his friends. "Darien! This isn't wise! Don't meddle in her life! Remember what I said! This is pity. Only-" Darien turned to his friend, his eyes burning. "You promised to help me in any way you could. Don't fail me now." Lita stepped in. "She is very cold and I detect a slight fever coming on. We must get her to be immediately. Do you have spare bedroom?" Darien nodded. "This way." He led his two doctor friends upstairs towards the extra bed so that they could heal Serena. She was still in his arms and he was reluctant to let her go. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ Wow! I am so glad that is done. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Part 3 should be out next week. Remember, Bubbles loves e-mail so if you feel like dropping a line, write to legoliza@aol.com. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter! -Bubbles