Epilogue: A Brief Repose

"Thank you, Serena," Molly said, her eyes sparkling. She took the proffered stuffed bear and placed it beside her. "I'm glad you came to see me."

"I am, too, Molly," Serena said softly. Exhaustion was still evident in her friend, but Molly seemed to get better everyday. And she will get better, Serena vowed to herself.

"The doctor said that I can return to school in a week or so if I keep getting better."

"That's great, Mol. School's just hasn't been the same without you." She smiled at her friend. "Even Melvin is moping."

"Poor Melvin," Molly laughed, looking at the window. "You did tell him I was okay, didn't you, Serena?"

"Of course, Molly!"

"I didn't know," Molly said, her voice weak. "He hasn't come to see me yet. I was just wondering why."

"He'll come, Molly. You'll see."

Serena paused, turning to face the door behind her. She smiled at the sight of Melvin carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. "I think Prince Charming is here, Molly."

Molly shifted away from the window, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her boyfriend. "Melvin's much better than any old Prince Charming, Serena."

"I'll leave you two alone," Serena said, squeezing Molly's hand. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"Thanks, Serena. See you after detention."

"Molly!" Serena's outrage was soon replaced with laughter as she left the couple alone.

* * * * *

Serena's laughter died as soon as she walked out the door of Molly's house. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the sunlight of the bright afternoon. She shielded her eyes and found Darien waiting for her on the sidewalk.

"How's Molly?" Darien asked as he and Serena walked down the street.

"She's fine," Serena replied, watching the pavement. "The doctor says that she will be better with a few more days of rest. Molly said that she might be in school in about a week."

"What did he say was wrong with her?"

Serena shrugged. "He said that Molly had caught a bad strain of the flu. He said that she was lucky. Another person would have been hospitalized."

"That's good news," Darien said softly.

"I guess." She paused. "I feel like a traitor when I visit her. To see her suffer because of something I did. I did to her."

"She made the decision," Darien replied with more conviction than he felt. Guilt was keeping him restless at night, invading his dreams.

"But I was the one who did it. I should have said no." She stopped, closing her eyes for a moment. "Melvin finally came to see her. He really isn't so bad most of the time."

Both stopped talking, thinking about the girl who had given up some much for someone she didn't even know. The guilt of what could have happened was overwhelming to both.

"I don't know, Darien," Serena said at last, frustrated. "Maybe I should give it back."

"I am sorry, Serena. You cannot do that." A woman with violet hair and emerald eyes appeared behind the couple. "You will one day understand why this had to happen, but you must wait."

"Take it," Serena cried, pulling the Stone from a pocket. She pressed it into Cassandra's hand.

"No, Your Majesty," Cassandra said, giving the Stone back to Serena. "You must guard it until I come back for it. You alone will have the power to protect it."

Serena looked at the Stone for a moment before putting it back into her pocket.

"I must ask for my pendant back," Cassandra said. "I have need of it at this time."

Serena stared at Cassandra. Puzzled, Serena reached behind her neck and undid the clasp. She handed over the pendant and chain.

Cassandra gave a short bow, accepting the return. "Things will return to normal for a while. Take heart and remember the happy moments." Without another word, Cassandra turned and walked away.

Serena and Darien watched her for a moment. Then, Darien put his arm around Serena. "Come on. Let's go for a walk. Our mysterious visitor will reveal herself when she is ready."

"Okay," Serena said, watching the receding figure for a moment longer. Then, Serena leaned against Darien. "As long as we are back at my house in time for dinner."


A Brief Repose "Thank you, Serena," Molly said, her eyes sparkling. She took the proffered stuffed bear and placed it beside her. "I'm glad you came to see me." "I am, too, Molly," Serena said softly. Exhaustion was still evident in her friend, but Molly seemed to get better everyday. And she will get better, Serena vowed to herself. "The doctor said that I can return to school in a week or so if I keep getting better." "That's great, Mol. School's just hasn't been the same without you." She smiled at her friend. "Even Melvin is moping." "Poor Melvin," Molly laughed, looking at the window. "You did tell him I was okay, didn't you, Serena?" "Of course, Molly!" "I didn't know," Molly said, her voice weak. "He hasn't come to see me yet. I was just wondering why." "He'll come, Molly. You'll see." Serena paused, turning to face the door behind her. She smiled at the sight of Melvin carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. "I think Prince Charming is here, Molly." Molly shifted away from the window, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her boyfriend. "Melvin's much better than any old Prince Charming, Serena." "I'll leave you two alone," Serena said, squeezing Molly's hand. "I'll be back tomorrow." "Thanks, Serena. See you after detention." "Molly!" Serena's outrage was soon replaced with laughter as she left the couple alone. * * * * * Serena's laughter died as soon as she walked out the door of Molly's house. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the sunlight of the bright afternoon. She shielded her eyes and found Darien waiting for her on the sidewalk. "How's Molly?" Darien asked as he and Serena walked down the street. "She's fine," Serena replied, watching the pavement. "The doctor says that she will be better with a few more days of rest. Molly said that she might be in school in about a week." "What did he say was wrong with her?" Serena shrugged. "He said that Molly had caught a bad strain of the flu. He said that she was lucky. Another person would have been hospitalized." "That's good news," Darien said softly. "I guess." She paused. "I feel like a traitor when I visit her. To see her suffer because of something I did. I did to her." "She made the decision," Darien replied with more conviction than he felt. Guilt was keeping him restless at night, invading his dreams. "But I was the one who did it. I should have said no." She stopped, closing her eyes for a moment. "Melvin finally came to see her. He really isn't so bad most of the time." Both stopped talking, thinking about the girl who had given up some much for someone she didn't even know. The guilt of what could have happened was overwhelming to both. "I don't know, Darien," Serena said at last, frustrated. "Maybe I should give it back." "I am sorry, Serena. You cannot do that." A woman with violet hair and emerald eyes appeared behind the couple. "You will one day understand why this had to happen, but you must wait." "Take it," Serena cried, pulling the Stone from a pocket. She pressed it into Cassandra's hand. "No, Your Majesty," Cassandra said, giving the Stone back to Serena. "You must guard it until I come back for it. You alone will have the power to protect it." Serena looked at the Stone for a moment before putting it back into her pocket. "I must ask for my pendant back," Cassandra said. "I have need of it at this time." Serena stared at Cassandra. Puzzled, Serena reached behind her neck and undid the clasp. She handed over the pendant and chain. Cassandra gave a short bow, accepting the return. "Things will return to normal for a while. Take heart and remember the happy moments." Without another word, Cassandra turned and walked away. Serena and Darien watched her for a moment. Then, Darien put his arm around Serena. "Come on. Let's go for a walk. Our mysterious visitor will reveal herself when she is ready." "Okay," Serena said, watching the receding figure for a moment longer. Then, Serena leaned against Darien. "As long as we are back at my house in time for dinner."


Jupiter's Gone