masq19

Chapter 19 - Man I Wish the Stork Existed!

Serena smiled across the lunch table at Mina. “The salad looks
delicious, and I love your ranch! It’s so isolated from everything else, and
so perfectly situated. It’s got GREAT decor.”
“That’s Susie Setsuna’s job. Great fashion design, but she is
GREAT at interior decor. And I like the secludedness too. I’ve been
around people all my years, but now, I just want it to be me and my family
right now. It’s nice here. Very quiet. The nearest town is an hour away.
You know, you might want a life like this. You’ve been bugged by people
all your life. It’s so relaxing here.”
“I’ll remember that when Dare and I settle down!” Serena laughed.
“And how is your handsome fiancee?”
“He’s great.”
“Did you invite him here like I asked you to?”
“He had a med seminar, so I didn’t think he could squeeze it in. I
left it at that.”
“It’s just as well, because I didn’t know Andrew was going to have
to go out of town for an appearance in LA.”
“Yeah. It’s just as well because now it’s just us and we can
gossip.”
“So?”
“So what?”
“About you and Dare…”
“What about us?” Serena asked, cautiously.
“How are you two? You don’t get much time together. I know
how THAT feels. I always wanted to be with Andrew all the time, and it
drove me crazy that we weren’t together! You know, when we were
engaged, I called him every night at insane hours and talked to him, just
because I missed him!”
At that, Serena looked up, slightly surprised and smiled. Inside,
she was panicked. *We talk to each other every night at insane hours, and
the engagement is always on my mind, but then again, I think about the
ending of the engagement, not about the fiancee.* With that, Serena felt
comforted. So long as she looked forward to the end of the engagement,
they would be okay. No emotions or feelings to clutter up her business
world.
Mina leaned back in her chair, and rubbed her now very large
tummy. Her smile suddenly disappeared, and she frowned very quickly.
“Oh my gosh, Serena!”
Serena was on her feet in a minute. She ran to Mina’s side. “What
is it?”
“I think my water just broke.”
Serena’s eyes widened and she looked around, panicked. She
quickly guided Mina to her room, and helped her lie down. Her eyes
focused on the phone on the desk. “I’m calling for help.”
She ran to the phone, and instead of dialing 911, she decided to
page Darien. She then gave Mina’s number into the pager, and then called
911. Unfortunately, the nearest hospital was two hours away. From the
way Mina started to cry and kick and scream, it didn’t look like it was
going to be that easy on Serena.
*Please, Darien, where are you?*
The phone started rang an hour later, after Serena had pulled her
hair out, and cried with Mina and reassured her. “Hello?”
“Serena? You paged me. What’s up?”
“Oh, Darien, there’s a huge problem here. Mina’s water just
broke, and the ambulance is two hours away, and she’s really screaming!”
“All right, Serena. Listen to me. Ask her how early is the baby.”
“Dare wants to know how early the baby is.”
“A FEW WEEKS!!!!” she screamed.
Serena brought the cordless with her to her friend and comforted
her.
“You heard her,” Serena said into the phone.
“All right, and how far apart are her contractions?”
“WHAT?”
“How often is she screaming really loudly?”
“She’s constantly screaming right now.”
“Louder than usual.”
She looked at the clock helplessly. She then looked at Mina.
“How far apart are the contractions?”
“An hour and half,” Mina breathed out.
Serena repeated to Darien.
“Looks like the ambulance will get there in time, but you’ll have to
do a lot of the work. Listen to me, Serena you have to do a few things…”

Serena collapsed into the seat by Mina’s bed. “Whew! What a
trip, Mina!”
The ambulance had arrived at the ranch in time, and Mina had her
son at her ranch, but had been brought afterwards to the hospital, to make
sure she’d be okay. Darien was right, and though Serena had to do most
of the work, the ambulance driver and his colleague had helped when they
had arrived.
And now, they were in the hospital, Mina gently holding her son
and Serena ready to fall asleep with exhaustion.
At that moment, a knock came at the door, and Andrew peeked
around the corner. “Dare said that I had to rush back to the hospital. Are
you all right, Mina?”
Serena smiled. In all the excitement, she had forgotten to call
Andrew. It was a good thing Darien did…*Darien always remembers to
small sweet details, doesn’t he?*
“Yes, I’m fine. Isn’t he beautiful?”
At that moment, Serena realized that she didn’t belong in here, and
decided to leave the family to themselves.
As she started down the hall, she looked absently around her,
feeling lonely and tired. She needed someone here for HER right now.
It was an odd feeling. She felt lonely, and tired and very old.
Everything seemed so much more colorless and empty. Her life seemed to
be missing something. For the first time, that little emptiness in her heart
was swollen and ached. She wished, for the first time in her life, that
someone was here with her. Him. She wanted him to be here, taking her
in his arms, holding her.
As she decided to that she was overreacting and just needed
something to eat, she headed towards the elevators, wanting to go the
cafeteria. Someone down the hall was evidently a Mariah Carey fan,
“Whenever You Call” was coming out of one room or another. Serena
wanted to cry. The melody was more than familiar to her.

Love wandered inside
Stronger than you
Stronger than I
And now that it has begun
We cannot turn back
We can only turn into one

She felt the tears accumulating…this was what all came down to, wasn’t
it? In the end, that strange feeling, called love, which did not exist for
cold ice queens…

I won’t ever be too far away to feel you
And I won’t hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I’ll always remember
The part of you so tender
I’ll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call

It was just amazing how well Darien knew her…the way he always knew
the exact moments to joke with her, and when to be serious…and the
gentleness of his touch…a tear slipped down her cheek.

And I’m truly inspired
Finding my soul
There in your eyes
And you
Have opened my heart
And lifted me inside
By showing me yourself
Undisguised

*No comment,* she thought, as she walked down the hall. This was
depressing.

And I won’t ever be too far away to feel you
And I won’t hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I’ll always remember
The part of you so tender
I’ll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call

She waited a little and the elevator bell dinged. She waited for the
doors to open and when they did, she couldn’t move. How did he know?
Her face paled and she was frozen in place, when she suddenly smiled.
There he was, mussed hair, exhausted, just like her, from travel,
rather than frustration, loneliness and fatigue. Here for her. He put his
hand to her cheek, and caressed it lightly. Serena felt that emptiness
quickly being filled, as the wound that was born in her heart suddenly
disappeared like magic. The feeling would not be ignored. She felt the
warmth, creeping into her cheeks, and confusion pervading her soul. But
right now, she couldn’t fight them, when she was too tired, and too weak.
She simply hurled herself into his arms, and started to cry, holding on for
dear life.
He held her, holding her shoulders, looking at and feeling the
security and warmth flood into her. The feeling of having her in his arms.
She looked up gratefully to him, as if to say thank you, but instead,
her arms twined about his neck and her hands pulled his head to hers, as
she kissed him gently.

And I will breathe for you each day
Comfort you through all the pain
Gently kiss your fears away
You can turn to me and cry
Always understand that I
Give you all I am inside

I won’t ever be too far away to feel you
And I won’t hesitate at all
Whenever you call
And I’ll always remember
The part of you so tender
I’ll be the one to catch your fall
Whenever you call

Chapter 20 - I Shouldn’t NEED Him

Serena stepped out of the limo, and smiled to Darien, putting her
gloved hand on his arm, as he guided her into the opera house. He held
her hand lightly in his.
Her heart was pounding. He always made her feel so nervous now.
However, there was something in his presence that indicated that if he
WEREN’T here, she’d feel even more miserable. Therefore, she found a
strange comfort in being on her nerves.
They walked up together and walked into a box where they greeted
Amy and Greg.
“It’s so wonderful that you could join us!” Amy smiled.
Serena kissed her friend’s cheek and shook Greg’s hand. “It’s
been a while since I’ve seen you, and all.”
“Great.”
“Besides, Darien and I haven’t been able to be together for a
while,” she said, tightening her grip slightly on Darien’s hand.
It was all strange and out of whack now.
Serena really didn’t know what to think. It had been a month since
that day Mina had her child, but Serena remembered like it was yesterday.
The holding, the comforting. Serena and Darien never really
talked about it, but she knew that she needed him there when he came.
And she knew that he knew it too, or else, he might not have been there.
He just knew she needed him. He had flown to Los Angeles,
fought the crowds and found Andrew, and together, they had set out for
Cheyenne. Darien had driven them to the hospital in a rented car, and was
parking as Andrew rushed to his wife to congratulate his wife and see his
son.
Darien rushed to his fiancee, to hold her and tell her that she had
done a wonderful job.
And Serena still didn’t know why she cried that day. Darien never
talked about it either. But she realized one thing that day; she needed
Darien that day, more than she had ever needed anyone in her life. The
emptiness was filled that day, and though the emotions and feelings she
had been trying to avoid in herself had surfaced, she ignored them, and
found that the filling of that void was well worth the confusion. But only
for that day. It was strange now. Serena Larynce depended on Darien, for
a day. But it didn’t matter that it was a day. It was the fact she had
depended on him…counted on him…TRUSTED him. It was strange to
have that dependence on someone. Serena never thought that it would be
possible to depend so much on one person. But then again, after that
event, she never really NEEDED Darien to hold her again. She was all
right afterwards. But she was changed too.
She liked talking to him every night, even if it WAS to argue over
something. But it was hardly like that. In fact, if they didn’t abhor each
other, they might have been friends. But then again, Serena knew that
what they had was not dislike either.
It was all in the middle in that cloudy gray area, she supposed.
Darien was a nice guy to keep conversation with, and a good person to
calm her down when she was feeling distressed. Other than that, well,
those feelings of melting were hardly what she called permanent
dependence or anything, nor were they anything to worry about, because
as for as her life was concerned, those problems did not even exist.
But she liked being around him. He made her feel beautiful with
his flirting and teasing. It was the game, and the game, and she played the
game as well. To the press, they were Camelot all over again. Beautiful
princess and HOT TO DIE FOR prince. She sometimes thought that it
was because she even WAS beautiful, or at least with him, and at times,
she believed that she even looked beautiful to him. And even THAT
thrilled her. The way that he’d look at her while they danced, even if it
WAS an act. The way he’d hold her possessively, even if it WAS all a
joke. It made her feel warm and gooey inside.
No! She was acting like a teenager?
Was she falling in love with love again?
Or was she falling in love with Darien?
Either was bad, but the second was worse.

She sat at a dining table, alone, looking into the crowd
absentmindedly. She didn’t like going to these events alone. She wished
he had come with her.
As she put her silver fork down on her plate and sat back in her
chair, she DID wish that Darien was here. They’d be playing the game
again, or whispering something about Candy Larynce’s low-cut see-
though getup.
Serena sighed and played with a stray tendril that came across her
face. She then reached her hand back and fixed in the curls in the
amethyst and silver barrette more securely.
At that moment, Darien Dredsdale was standing at the doorway,
watching his fiancee in blank and obvious admiration. Dressed in
lavender velvet, with a silver-embroidered bodice, low-cut and sleeveless,
and very form-fitting, her blond curls, which now reached past her
shoulders, and curled lightly with bright silver and sparkling amethyst
among the strands of gold. The straps of the gown here an inch thick and
came down in an oval, and Serena had worn a gorgeous amethyst and
silver necklace.
She was beautiful, and Darien knew everything about that beauty,
for he studied it time after time after time. She never was too dull to
study, and everything about her appearance was fascinating, and perfect.
But that wasn’t the only thing about Serena Larynce. She had a
heart of gold. She had frozen it before for protection, but he liked to see
that ice melt away, leaving nothing but a vulnerable girl, whom he was
falling in love with.
He was accepting it now. Serena Larynce was different in his eyes
from any other woman because he had special feeling for her. It was
different to be with her than any other person in his life. He was defensive
because he was vulnerable. He had told her more about himself than he
had ever told anyone in his whole life. That touched him, and frightened
him. It was so soon, wasn’t it?
He sighed and decided that he wanted to get SOME dances with
his fiancee this evening, and if he just stood there the rest of the evening,
he was getting nowhere.
Serena sighed, thinking about him. *He’s at some dinner with
some cousins, and I understand that, but if he were my true fiancee, and if
he loved me, he’d be with ME, or I’d be with him. It wouldn’t matter.
But then again, it’s only business arrangement. It’s not like we’re going to
actually get married,* she thought, regretfully
At that moment, she felt a light tap on her shoulder and she
immediately sensed the touch. It was the touch of Darien. Only his would
make her feel so frightened and pleased at the same time.
She turned cautiously, hiding her small affection in the midst of
blue confusion.
Darien took her into his arms, a gesture of an fiancee that came
with the contract, and whispered, “Thought you’d be bored.”
“Without our bickering? I have to admit, Dredsdale, it IS rather
dull without your annoying presence.”
“How about we leave? It’s only nine, and we can walk around a
little.”
Serena felt her heart beat faster. “How about we stay here?”
*Where it’s safer for me to stay around you, where you can be that sweet
fiancee I want you to be.*
Darien, inwardly disappointed decided to accept it, and instead
offered his hand, “Care to dance then?”
“I’d love to.”
As the walked out to the dance floor, Serena worried that she was
spending too much time getting to know this young man who was easily
taking away her life from her grasp.

He held her hand, as they walked into the chapel, and sat in chairs,
smiling at Greg, who stood at the front, with his best man at his side.
Serena gripped his hand even tighter as some of the Larynce
princesses approached them.
He smiled, and put his hand protectively about her waist.
She smiled at him, and kissed him on the cheek, making her blush,
as she realized that they had an audience. He chuckled, and guided her to
a seat.
As they sat, watching the wedding take place, Serena felt her hand
being held affectionately. As Amy walked down the aisle, her eyes
sparkling with mirth and excitement, Serena smiled at her cousin, and felt
the tears coming.
He smiled at her, and touched her cheek, with his finger, collecting
her tears, making her smile.
As the two at the altar said their vows, the two in their seats
watched with ardor and a seriousness that forced them to think about
this…

Chapter 21 - We Need To Talk

“Hello Gram,” Serena said, grudgingly as she pecked Gail
Larynce’s old cheek with a small hint of coldness.
“Rena, darling, what is wrong?”
“I came here early because I need to talk to you.”
The Fourth of July barbecue was two hours away, but Serena
wanted to have some time with her grandmother on her own.
“What is wrong?” Gail asked.
“What’s wrong? You decide to take my life, and throw it into
disarray and ask what’s wrong?”
“Oh that.”
“Oh that?”
“I know you don’t usually wear such royal blue, but I thought
you’d look nice in it…”
“No!” Serena stamped her foot. “The dress is fine. I wanted to
talk to you about my fiancee.”
“Oh, Darien Dredsdale is such a sweet boy. I’m glad you’re going
to marry him.”
Serena sighed, exasperated. “YOU decided that, now, didn’t you?
Neither Dredsdale nor I know what is going on, and I’m very frustrated
now. You really screwed with my life!”
“But now you’re happy with him, aren’t you? Doesn’t Gram know
right?”
Serena sighed, exasperated. Confronting Gail Larynce was like
confronting a brick wall.
“Sure Gram, I like him enough…” *Enough to KILL him for all
the confusion he’s causing, and enough to kill HER for starting it.* “I’ll
see you later, Gram.”
“Yes, and don’t forget to wear the royal blue. You’ll look
BEAUTIFUL.”
“Sure, Gram.”

Serena walked about the patio, smiling in the summer breeze at no
one in general. Darien was on his way here, and she was being surrounded
by her littlest cousins, smiling and playing along with them.
“You be the princess, Aunt Reeny!”
She wasn’t really their aunt, but it was easier than saying “second
cousin whatever”, and they were in too much awe of her to call her just
cousin Serena. However, they didn’t like saying Serena either, but Reeny
just worked perfectly.
“What? I don’t want to be the princess!” she smiled.
“But you’re pretty!”
“So are you!”
“But you look like a princess. Aunt Candy says you’re the Ice
Queen, and that you could freeze us, but I told her that you weren’t cold at
all, and you couldn’t’ freeze us ‘cuz you never did before, and that you
weren’t a Queen because you weren’t THAT old!”
Serena smiled.
“Aunt Candy also says that you’re very ugly, but I told her that you
were pretty, and you looked prettier than her. She has too much make up.”
Serena was laughing. “Well, I still can’t be princess anyway,
because I still don’t have my prince!”
“Uncle Darien’s coming, right?”
*UNCLE DARIEN?!?!?!?!?!* “Since when did you start calling
him Uncle Darien? We’re not even married yet!”
“But you’re going to, and when we saw him a month ago when he
visited Daddy, daddy told us he was Uncle Darien, and that he was going
to marry you!”
Serena blushed. *Kids just say the DARNDEST things!*
As she stood, talking with her little cousin, she felt a hand rest on
her velvet-covered shoulder. She turned carefully. Only one person could
make her heart beat ten times faster like that.
But when she turned around, she found that her heart had lied.
But it wasn’t a huge disappointment. With a little relief, and with
more joy than usual, she greeted Raye Larynce.
“How ARE you? I haven’t seen you in a LONG time!”
Raye smiled, her white teeth, brilliant and her violet eyes
sparkling. Serena always loved those eyes. They were so unique and
beautiful.
Though the two women had only met each other last year at Raye’s
wedding, they had gone on shopping expeditions, and gone to various
functions together. Raye was a wonderful woman to stick around with,
because she was so open and honest. Chad loved her very much, and
Serena liked Chad a lot, and liked his tastes in everything.
And his taste in women was NOT bad.
Raye was always very understanding. Not only was that special
about her, but she had the advantage of knowing Darien when he was a
child, for she had gone to school with him. Raye could always see the
whole story, and evidently, she saw the whole story in the engagement too,
for a few weeks after the engagement was announced, Raye had called her,
and Serena had confessed everything to her, and Raye simply understood.
>From that time, they had grown VERY close.
But now, no one knew what was going on in Serena’s head.
Raye drew her friend to a corner and they started to talk. “So is he
coming?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Something’s up, isn’t it? You’re so nervous around him now.”
“He gives no reason for me not to be nervous.”
“Are you feeling something for him?”
“I…I don’t know!”
Raye nodded understandingly. “I know I can’t tell you what to
feel, but I’ll tell you that in all my years of knowing Darien Dredsdale, I
don’t believe I’ve ever seen him as happy as he is with you.”
Serena nodded, touched by that comment. A warm feeling of
smugness came over her, and she felt a satisfaction that was not known to
man or woman.
“But if he hurts you, I will gladly kill him for you.”
Serena laughed.