"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.