"For Argument's Sake."
By: Isis @}->--
isis@moonkingdom.com
Rating: G
Disclaimers: Don't sue and don't copy!
AN. Can I make this any sappier?
Chapter 17
*@}->--*
Four days. Four days in another country and Serena still couldn't
get use to the time change. So what if it was time for her to get up
back home, here she was just preparing for the main social dinner
thing. *Oh well, I'll sleep when I'm dead. Which I might be if I
don't get some sleep tonight.*
She carefully slipped into her dress, which she was still seriously
debating whether or not to wear. The dress that her friends had
helped her pick out was certainly something else. She just wasn't
sure if it wasn't for someone else. Why is it that dresses look so
good when they're on the hanger but look totally wrong when on
you?
Carefully she smoothed out the thickly woven material. She
couldn't even pronounce what it was made out of let alone know
what it was but she had to admit it was heavy. The midnight blue
cloth was woven with silver thread ducking in and out of it to give
it a sparkle. But the weave of the cloth gave it a slight stretch and
it was made to be very form fitting in the right places.
That was of course if she had something to make it stretch. She
had always been a bit lacking in the curve department… OK, so
she was flat! And this advertisement didn't help any.
It was strapless and cut straight across her chest and out to where
the long sleeves started. This definitely left her shoulders bare but
the rest of her was covered in blue. The dress clung lightly to her
frame and then dropped straight to her feet. A slit climbed up her
left side past her knee and enabled her to walk normally. Silver
heels, that the girls had scoured the mail for, graced her feet and
two matching barrettes possessed her hair, which she had promised
that she would leave down and not tie up in the usual balls.
But her jewelry had been her own choice. A small diamond charm
in the shape of a crescent moon settled in the hallow of her throat
and two diamond studs sat in her ears. She had forsaken any type
of bracelet or watch because of the sleeves, and too much jewelry
would have only cluttered the look. And she didn't need anything
else to draw attention to herself.
She looked in the mirror and pulled up on the top of her dress.
This didn't look right. It should have belonged to someone with
some shape. Or at least a better shape than she had. Why did she
even buy the thing? How was she even going to try to pull this
off? She wasn't cut out for this dress. Literally.
Maybe she should change into one of her other dresses. She could
still take this back to the store and… No, the girls would totally
kill her if she didn't wear it and as soon as she got back they'd ask
about it. She sighed and pushed her hair back behind her again.
Ringlets spiraled around the bottom of its length but otherwise it
was left as it pleased.
She again stopped to stare at her dress in the mirror. Crossing her
fingers on both hands she closed her eyes and pleaded with the
reflection, "Please don't let me look like a total freak wanna-be!"
She carefully played with her bangs again and decided to play with
her makeup instead. But the knock on her door was enough to
startle Serena into dropping her lipstick. Quickly she picked it up
and pushed the cap on, smearing a tissue over the pink smudge on
her dresser.
She took a look into the mirror again and sighed before stepping
over to the door and opening it. Darien walked in still attempting
to button the cuffs of his shirt. "We're going to be so late. You
know I really think I'm picking up your bad habits."
She laughed at him feeling more at ease with herself. Not to
mention that him standing there in a half put together tuxedo was
pushing out most of the other thoughts in her mind. "I'm almost
ready," she said instead, walking back to replace her makeup bag.
"Well, that's three-fourths the battle," he mumbled beginning to
fiddle with his bow tie. She giggled at him and he gave her a quick
sour look, then stopped and looked back at her finally registering
the dress.
She stopped seeing his eyes trail over her and tried to build her
confidence back up. It didn't work.
"I-uh-didn't know exactly what to bring so I-uh-brought a few
different dresses. Um… what do you think?" she asked quietly.
He looked up to meet her eyes and shook his head at her with a
laugh. "I think you have to be the most beautiful woman I've ever
laid eyes on." He chuckled again. "And that's about all I'm
thinking at his point in time."
She stared at him a moment before tuning away with a bright blush
across her checks. "Oh Darien, stop." She glanced back into the
mirror and pulled up on the top again. "Oh, this just isn't right.
Maybe I should change really fast. I have that white one I wore for
Andrew's wedding. Maybe that would work bet… ter…"
She hadn't noticed Darien's approach until he slipped an arm
around her waist and his other hand was laid gently on her bare
shoulder. She stopped a bit stunned and tried to turn to look at
him. It didn't work.
She felt him slowly lean down and brush his lips lightly over her
shoulder and up her neck.
Such a gentle touch. A lover's touch she knew. She closed her
eyes and leaned into him a bit savoring the overwhelming
emotions that crossed her heart.
She felt him straighten a bit to whisper in her ear. "Why ruin the
effect? Let every other man in that room give me evil looks all
night." There was a humor in his voice that she smiled contentedly
at. But the rest of him was saying something else entirely.
He wrapped his other arm around her waist and brought her closer
to lean back against him. She slid easily into his embrace and
placed her arms over his to keep them there. He snuggled his chin
in her hair. "You know," he whispered, "I miss your little
meatballs." She laughed and felt his chest shake slightly as well.
They stood laughing quietly together until another knock on her
door jerked both of them back to reality.
He turned towards the door startled by the interruption. Serena
snapped her eyes open and found herself glancing back into her
mirror again as she grudgingly detangled herself from his arms.
That image burned itself into her memory. So did the emotions
that she'd been feeling.
She avoided his eyes as she made her way to the door and opened
it to usher in an older pair. Romola entered and gasped at first
sight of Serena. "Oh my," was the only thing she could say.
Dr. Benton chuckled behind her. "Well now, this could make for
an interesting night."
She blushed and mumbled a thank you. Romola turned to regard
Darien who was buttoning his jacket and equally avoiding Serena's
eyes. "Well, I guess we're ready if Mr. Slow Poke is."
He gave her a sour look and spread his arms. "I'll waiting for
group approval."
The older woman giggled at him. "Well you certainly have mine."
He gave her a very flattering smile and turned to Dr. Benton.
"You're going to have to watch that wife of yours."
He laughed at the comment and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I do watch her. Always."
She smiled up at him and he pecked a little kiss on her forehead.
Serena stood there wondering how such a couple still existed in
this day and age. They were so sweet to each other and seemed so
much in love. How did people manage to do that?
Unconsciously she glanced over at Darien and found that he did
the same to her. She was about to turn away just as quickly when
she caught his eye… and stayed there. Those eyes…
"Well kids we'd better get down there and mingle." They both
snapped out of it and nodded.
The group left her room and headed down to the banquet room
down stairs in the hotel. The room had been transformed from the
first few times they had entered it for various 'group greetings,' or
whatever. Tonight they had redecorated the large area into a
formal atmosphere. Metallic strips of blues and golds crossed over
themselves on the walls. Green was reserved for the tablecloths
and golden star shaped glitter was sprinkled on the room's red
carpeting.
The stage had been set up for the American members of the group.
Looking over the stage before they entered Serena could just spot
the small golden plaque on display on one of the tables. And she
wasn't the only one. Romola quietly looked over at her and
smiled. She smiled back beginning to enjoy their little secret.
Romola slipped her arm inside of her husband's and walked
through the doors. Serena stopped a little nervously. Why she
should be nervous she wasn't sure but there was a lot of very odd
emotions running laps around her heart anyway. She turned to
Darien and wondered if he felt anything like this too.
If he did, he didn't show it. He looked back at her and then bowed
formally. "May I have the honor of escorting this fair beauty
during the evening's events?"
She giggled lightly at him feeling any lingering uncomfort leaving
her. "Gentle Sir, it would be my privilege to stay on your arm this
evening," she said placing her hand in the one that he offered.
He smiled at her and she felt herself melt a bit under his gaze. He
took her arm and wrapped it through his and led her into the room
behind the Bentons who had stopped to watch their little act. The
two of them laughed and continuing their trek through the room to
find their table.
*Well the girls promised me turned heads,* she thought looking
cautiously around to see what kind of attention she was getting.
Most of it seemed good. …Most.
"Somehow I think you just killed the hostess's hopes of being the
most eye catching in the room," Darien said acting very
nonchalant. She smiled at him and he smiled back, mischief
shining openly in his eyes. She laughed, loving that look on him.
So roughish, it was funny.
She pulled him a little closer and lowered her voice. "Well
someone should ask her where her fashion sense ran away to and if
it's coming back any time soon."
He paused looking away from her to glance around in the other's
direction unconcernedly. "You know," he mumbled, "you're
right." He turned completely to look down at her, "But you're
mean."
She giggled at him and they continued to let their friends lead them
around the room in a very small parade. Eyes seemed to rove over
the two of them more after each step. She could see the looks most
of the women were giving her and none of them seemed nice. But
whether that was because of her or the fact that she was stealing
the arm of the most handsome man in the room she couldn't really
tell. But then again, unless she was kidding herself she could pick
out of few men that seemed to have a death wish for Darien. Poor
souls, they just didn't stand a chance.
Of course she did managed to intercept a few lustful stares from a
passing group of women and she felt a small possessiveness take
over her motives. She 'carelessly' placed her free hand on
Darien's arm, which was still wrapped in hers. A small caress, but
one that displaying an ownership. And right then, she didn't care
in the least if she actually had no right to it.
She felt him look down at her and she innocently looked up into
his eyes. A bit of an amused confusion looked back at her and she
smiled mischievously at him. He saw the slight dare written in her
and smiled back taking on her challenge. He moved his arm so
that he could take her hand in his and thoroughly entwined their
fingers together. She continued to smile as she looked around the
room again feeling as though she was looking down on it from a
new vantage point.
It was amazing what the slightest touch from him could do to her.
Somehow she didn't feel the least bit self-conscious about the
dress or about acting so chumming with Darien. All she felt was
comfort there beside him like that was where she a royal queen set
on the arm of her ruling king.
The group of four moved through the room pausing only here and
there to say hello to other groups that they had come to meet
during the pervious encounters. Including one Ganelon Beaucaire
a member of the French group. And a man that seemed to have an
eye for her the two times that they'd met. He was certainly a
handsome man, she would be the first to admit, but he seemed like
the type that had all of his pick-up lines rehearsed to perfection.
And she figured he had enough hours of actual use to rival the
room's light bulbs.
But she smiled politely to him when his gaze caught itself on her.
Somehow she rather enjoyed the look in his eyes. As long as
Darien still had her hand anyway. He was definitely not the type
of man that you wanted to 'come up and have coffee' with.
Something about him rang out a warning bell and she wasn't
buying.
But he was cute…
Just not as cute as the decent man that she already had on her arm.
With that thought she looked up at him while Romola and Dr.
Benton exchanged pleasantries with him and the group he was
with. He looked down at her with the same type of look in his
eyes. He could read this guy from across the room too. She
smiled at him knowing that they both felt the same way.
He smiled back taking the chance to show up her little admirer. He
quietly raised their hands that were still locked together and gently
placed a kiss on the back of hers never taking his eyes from her.
She blushed lightly at the intimacy that they were getting into, but
again she just found herself not caring in the least.
Once the group finally moved to the table assigned to them they sat
down to wait for the start of the dinner. They didn't have to wait
long. The hostess and head of the American Whatever Center, she
couldn't remember what it was called anymore, initiated the event
with an opening speech. She zoned out through most of it and then
finally let the servers start with the meal. She didn't have the
foggiest idea what it was that they were served but she decided to
be brave and try it. And for American food it wasn't bad.
She just didn't want to eat it often.
Dinner passed and she managed not to spill anything on herself or
anyone else. And she didn't attempt to cut her meat with her
spoon again and she even resisted the temptation to pour salt in
Darien's drink when he wasn't looking. Although it would have
been so easy, he was way too trusting in these formal settings. He
would have never suspected her of trying it in a place like this.
Little did he know—No! She wouldn't do it. She was going to be
the perfect little date for the evening.
That was until the little award thing that she'd been carefully
eyeing all night was given out. Oh, he was going to kill each and
every one of them! He He! …Wait.
She glanced over at him as they waited for the rest of the
occupants to finish with their meals. He was caught up in a
conversation with Dr. Benton, and Romola seemed to be in
wrapped interest because she was listening quietly. But to her all
physics conversations sounded the same. The distance to this, the
measurements of that, this law and that theory, blaa, blaa, blaa.
She didn't care to know and she wouldn't understand it anyway.
Numbers were all nice and good, but she understood people.
Numbers were too impersonal for her; they couldn't even go
shopping with you! What kind of relationship was that?
*Oh-Kay. Earth calling Serena, if you can hear us please respond
by switching back into the frequency normally used by human
beings.*
The remainder of the waiting period was spent much the same way
except that Darien, who had apparently picked up on the fact that
she was bored probably because she was trying to experiment as to
how many pieces she could tear her paper napkin into, started a
game with her. "OK, OK, so what about the guy on the end next to
her?"
She looked at the mentioned person and shrugged, "Zimbabwe!"
He looked at her sourly. "Do you even know where Zimbabwe
is?"
"No."
"Neither do I so stop saying it already."
"Fine," she mumbled. The object of the game was to figure out
where the person in mention was from by dress and looks. So far
they'd probably gotten about two right.
But their little game was interrupted by yet another boring speech
on 'why we're gathered here tonight.' She wondered silently if the
groups around that didn't speak English had translators for this or
if they just sat there and acted like they were paying attention like
she was.
But once the president of something or other finished his spiel and
sat down their hostess again walked to the front and motioned over
to the award plaque that had been moved up beside her. Serena sat
up straighter in her chair and gave Romola a quick look. She
returned it and gave her husband the same type of look. This was
it.
…This was eventually it.
"And now I would like to present this plaque to this year's
winner," the woman finally finished. This was definitely it!
"Darien Chiba of the Bane Observatory Research Center in Tokyo
Japan."
The rest of the room burst into clapping both for the
accomplishment of the young man and of the fact that she was
done talking. But Darien sat there and stared at the front stage as
though he'd never seen this planet before. The Bentons turned to
clap for him and he slowly turned to them as if he didn't
comprehend his own name.
Serena took matters into her own hands by smacking him on the
shoulder to snap him out of it and then shoved him towards the
front. He finally came to and walked quickly, and a lot more
confidently towards the front than she would have given him credit
for. Their hostess presented him with the plaque and he shook her
hand, graciously bowing to her as well and then did the same to the
president guy before retreating back down the stage's steps.
"What, no speech?" she mumbled to the pair she still sat with.
They laughed at her and she carefully watched him walk back to
them. He was never the type to let on that he was anything but
perfectly calm with any situation. But something in his step told
her that he was just a bit at a loss for explanation. He walked up to
the table, eyed each of them in turn finding only smiling faces, and
sat down in his chair. "All right, who knew about this?"
She smiled wider enjoying the slight discomfort in him. Serena
leaned over to him placing a hand on his shoulder to keep him
stationary while she rose halfway to peck a quick kiss on his
check. "Just say thank you and be quiet," she whispered loudly in
his ear.
He looked at her sitting close to him and then across to the other
pair. "Thank you," he mumbled looked down at the plaque that he
had laid on the table. The other three of them laughed at his
expense and moved to admire his prize. She scooted closer to him
and wrapped her arm through his and placed her other hand over
his, smiling sweetly. He glared at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Deceptive, conniving little…"
"You're welcome," she said innocently. "And you're worth it
Muffin."
"I can't believe you did this to me."
"What did I do?" Serena asked indignantly.
"You deceptively tricked me into coming here because of some
guilt trip over 'I've never been out of the country before and it's all
your fault,' never mentioning your ulterior motives," Darien
grumbled at her.
"I don't even know what ulterior means."
"You're a snake!"
She laughed at him very amused by the whole situation. He
wasn't. Sure he was very proud of the accomplishment, but he
would have liked to have known about it before he got pushed up
on stage to get it. The nerve of these people!
"Oh come on, lighten up will you? It's a nice night, you just got a
very prestigious award, and you're in unbelievable company."
"Yeah, an unbelievable snake," he grumbled quietly. She turned to
give him one of her infamous 'looks' and he relented. "Fine, I'll
grumble later. But in all truth you surprised me. I didn't think you
could hide something like that from me." He walked over to her
pouting. "And you used to never be able to hide things from me."
She giggled lightly at him and wrapped her arms around his waist
from a side angle. They had decided that the night was too young
to leave it all by itself so they had found their way out onto the
hotel's back patio type thing. Snow lounged around in places on
the ground but for January there was surprising little. The moon
was out and nearly full and the clouds had moved out, which was
ensuring a heavy frost tonight.
He looked down at Serena's form wrapped in his arms. She had
seemed so tired this afternoon but she was always a night owl
anyway. This was more than likely at great time of day for her.
And he had to admit that he wasn't exactly pushing for them to
retire for the evening yet. She just looked much too cute standing
there staring up at the moon like that.
But she had to be cold. He leaned down to whisper beside her ear.
"Aren't you cold, Love?" he teased.
She looked to him with an evil glint in her eyes. "Yes, you're
acting like a pop sickle."
He chuckled at her moving her so that she was completely
encircled in his arms. "Why do all of your analogies have to do
with food?"
She smiled, "Because food will always be my one true love, so if
you think you're going to move in on it's turf you've got another
thing coming."
He did all he could to keep the smile off of his face. "So I don't
rank any higher than a pop sickle?"
She paused, thinking for a moment. "Maybe a lime one."
"Oh, you're so generous."
She giggled at him and moved closer as the wind swirled around a
bit. "Do you want to go in?" he asked a little worried about her
health out here.
"No," she mumbled, "you're actually a lot warmer than I thought."
He laughed, "I'll take that as a compliment." He moved her back
away from him, which he didn't think she appreciated much, and
took off his jacket. She didn't protest so he wrapped it around her
sufficiently smothering her in cloth.
She giggled at him and took the jacket fronts from him to keep it
wrapped there herself. He pulled her closer and laced his arms
around her too. He had to admit that without his tuxedo jacket it
was rather cold out, but he wasn't about to leave this little minx
beside him. Even if she wasn't exactly on the top of his list for this
little stunt. She was still so beautiful…
He leaned his chin on her hair again missing the little meatballs,
but he had to admit that she certainly looked gorgeous with it
down. He glanced at her remembering every detail of the way she
looked. He'd memorized her, and it hadn't taken long.
"Serena?"
"Hum?"
"Have I told you how beautiful you are lately?"
It was a goofy question and he felt like an incredible sap for saying
it but he figured he was way beyond feeling sapping anyway.
Besides, girls liked these things right?
She laughed, "You're not real good at this sort of thing are you?"
He chucked not realizing how transparent he was being. "Sorry.
You have to remember that I'm a little on the rusty side."
"Yeah, but you're also a little on the flirtatious side. I'd hate to
think about what you'd do to any other poor defenseless girl if you
treated her the same way you've treated me tonight."
"You started it."
She looked up at him. "No, you did with that little act when we
walked in."
"It started before that," he mumbled very quietly.
She didn't say anything back for a moment and he wondered if he
should have mentioned it at all. He really hadn't known what he
was doing back in her room. It just came over him all of a sudden
and she hadn't seemed to mind. But something like that…
"I'm sorry," he said quietly trying to get her to look up at him
again.
She did. "For what?"
"For that little episode. I don't really know what I was thinking."
He chuckled, "But it's your fault for looking so radiant."
She turned away with what had to be a bright blush. "It's all
right," she said quietly. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it."
He smiled at the statement. Gently he removed a hand from her
waist and used it to bring her chin up to look at him again. "And
I'd be lying if I said you are anything but exceptionally beautiful."
She smiled slightly, "You're getting better at this."
He smiled down at her and she hopped up to hug him, forsaking
his jacket which would have been on the ground had it not been for
his arm that was still curled around her. He moved his other hand
back behind her neck to keep her close for a few more minutes.
Only to have her yank back away from him.
He looked at her a bit startled. And she quickly reached up to grab
his hand. Giggling lightly she looked up at him. "Your hands are
cold."
He laughed just now noticing the difference between the apparent
temperature of their hands. "Sorry," he mumbled. She simply
laughed at him and entwined her fingers with his and held his hand
close to try to warm him.
He couldn't help but look at her standing there in cold moonlight.
And he could have sworn that he felt his heart shatter.
_____________
@}->-- "Oceans of feelings
Rise in clouds of vapor dreams
And the rain cleanses." -Will Phillips.
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