Everybody's making me feel very guilty now for not hurrying with the chapters.
So here's a particularly long one.

UNION OF HATE
Chapter 4
Sailor Galaxy

Serena pulled her arm free from Darien's grasp and he let her. He cocked his 
eyebrow at her in a question.

" You wanted to talk to me? Well, talk."

Serena nervously smoothed down her dress. 

" Why did you tell Lita Larina that we were engaged?"

" I asked you to marry me. You said-"

" I didn't say yes. And you had no right-"

Darien broke in bitterly.

" Do not talk to me of rights. You know nothing."

Serena stared at him. He had sounded way too bitter for it to be only about 
Diana. She had a feeling that for a moment there, Darien was talking about 
something else. He had been hurt before. Serena's features softened a little. 
So the man was human after all but it still didn't mean that he could just 
take control of other peoples' life because he wanted to.

" Maybe. But don't you think you should have waited for me to say yes?"

" You have said it yourself. You were going to say yes. I can't afford to 
waste a lot of time and the earlier you and I are married, the better."

" You sure don't give much importance to Diana do you?"

" I do Ms Cater but unlike you, I don't think that my whole existence should 
evolve round the child." 

Serena opened her mouth but closed it again when she noticed the faint hint of 
smug expression in Darien's eyes. Oh, he infuriated her!

" Well, Darien."

The smugness vanished.

" You do think I should call you Darien don't you? I mean, we are engaged and 
that's what engaged couples do."

Darien slashed a hand through the air in annoyance.

" If you insist to do what engaged couples do, I would suggest that you don't 
go home alone tonight."

Serena paused and as the meaning sank in, she blushed. She was glad that the 
lighting in the garden was dim. Darien couldn't see her face clearly. Why had 
she blushed? It wasn't that embarrassing. But it seemed as if in front of 
Darien, she became extra innocent, as if she had never heard any of these 
sexual innuendoes before.

" We're not engaged! How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Darien shifted as if bored with the conversation.

" Fine. We're not engaged. I will contact my lawyers and have them start a 
custody fight. I suggest that you do the same, Ms Carter. You are going to 
need lawyers, and good ones at that, if you even wish to dream about winning."

So saying, Darien turned as if to go back inside. Panic burst inside Serena. 
She put out a hand and touched his sleeve to stop him from leaving.

" Wait."

Darien stopped but stayed with his back turned.

" Yes?"

" Don't contact your lawyers."

Darien still didn't turn around.

" Why? I want Diana. Since you are not going to give her up, a custody battle 
is what you will get. But I warn you Ms Carter. My lawyers are very 
experienced and are rated as one of the best in the world. I would tell you to 
think twice about facing off with them in court. There's no chance that you 
will win."

Serena dropped her hand from where it still rested on Darien's arm. She took a 
deep breath and looked at the ground.

" I don't want you to contact your lawyers because I don't want a custody 
battle."

This time Darien turned around. He elevated a brow.

" You mean you will give me Diana?"

Serena shook her head and waited for Darien to catch on. If he did, he didn't 
show it.

" Well then? How will a custody battle not be necessary?"

Serena took a deep breath. He was going to make her say it. And she didn't 
want to. Fine, so she had thought about it and agreed to it in her head. But 
saying it out loud was a whole different matter. It would somehow be more 
final. More real. But she had to do it. For Diana's sake.

Serena lifted her head at the this last thought. Well, Darien was going to get 
what he had wanted. Diana. But he was not going to think that Serena would 
obey him and be careful of his every wish and desire. Something twisted inside 
Serena at the word desire but she angrily suppressed it. 

" You know what I mean."

Darien folded his arms and shook his head. Serena grinded her teeth together.

" Okay. Fine. Be like that....."

Serena stopped and bit her lip. She really didn't want to continue. 

" Well?"

Serena closed her eyes and took another deep breath. 

" I'll marry you."

There. She'd said it. Opening her eyes, she watched as Darien straightened. 

" That's good. You've admitted to yourself about what's necessary. Now, we 
have to discuss when we're to have our wedding."

Serena knotted her fingers together. Wasn't Darien going a little fast? 

" I- don't you think you're hurrying?"

Darien shook his head and putting out an arm, propelled Serena forward.

" It has to be soon. We get this over with and continue with our lives."

Serena opened her mouth and closed it again. Why was she letting Darien boss 
her around? Where was all her anger? Her dislike of Darien? They was there so 
why wasn't she acting on them? Darien's voice broke into her thoughts.

" We'll discuss this the day after tomorrow. At lunch like we originally 
planned. You will make your own way there, yes?"

Serena nodded and Darien didn't give her a chance to say anything. He grabbed 
her arm and starting walking towards the open balcony door. Serena trailed 
after him. What had just happened? She had agreed to marry Darien. Why had she 
agreed to marry Darien? Because she hadn't had a choice. So there wasn't 
anything she could do about it. A worried frown marred Serena's forehead as 
she thought about the fact that marriage was very final. Was she ready to take 
that step? And with Darien of all people? 

As the noise of the hall penetrated through Serena's thoughts, she 
straightened up and lifted her chin. She had made a choice. There was no going 
back now. She would go through with this marriage like she had gone through 
with everything else in her life. She could do it. She could. Serena 
momentarily slowed. There was no could about it. She had to do it. 

                    *********************************************************

" Serena?"

Serena inwardly groaned as she shifted the phone onto her other ear. It was 
Seiya. She really wasn't in the mood to talk about what had happened earlier 
on. After Darien and Serena had gone back inside, Serena had to endure sly 
glances which had been thrown her and Darien's way. Seiya had tried to corner 
her on several occasions, but each time Darien had intervened. Then, when the 
meeting was over, Seiya had come over to take Serena home but Darien had again 
interrupted him and had insisted on taking his fiance home himself. After 
that, in the limo, Serena had to sit in an atmosphere so thick in tension, 
that you could have cut through it. 

She didn't know why exactly but most of the tension was emanating off Lita. 
Serena could understand that. Lita's lover was about to get married to some-
one else and she had to sit there and endure it. And what else could Lita be 
but Darien's lover. The understanding between those two was evident. They were 
close. Lover like close. 

Serena wondered if Darien would continue being with Lita after she was married 
to him. And then berated herself for even thinking about it. She didn't care 
if Darien had a hundred mistresses and a- a thousand concubines. He could have 
them. Though, she supposed, that there were no concubines in this day and age. 

" Serena!"

" What?"

Serena shifted on her feet and lowered her voice to a whisper. She didn't want 
to wake Luna and Diana.

" What? You really think you should be asking me this? What? The whole evening 
has a big question mark on it."

Serena sighed. He was right. He deserved more than a public announcement of 
her plans, even though she hadn't known about them. Seiya had been a great 
friend especially after the way he had calmly taken it in his stride when 
Serena had told me that the couldn't be anything more than friends. Serena 
knew that he had been disappointed but he sure was something to be able to put 
his feelings behind him without any resentment. She should tell him about what 
had happened. 

" Look. Seiya. I can't tell you-"

Seiya broke in.

" You can't tell me? Why not?"

" I was going to say that I can't tell you now. I'll meet you somewhere and 
tell you everything then."

Serena heard Seiya expel his breath in an effort to calm himself.

" Okay. But your reason to throwing your life away better not have anything to 
do with keeping Diana. You deserve more than that."

Colour spread across Serena's cheeks. Sometimes Seiya knew her so well.

" I'll tell you later."

Seiya groaned.

" Diana is the reason isn't she? Oh Seren-"

" Tomorrow. Your apartment. Bye."

Serena hurriedly put the phone down. She didn't want to talk about it now. 
Seiya had guessed the reason and now he'd try his best to deter her from it. 
She knew him. But what else was there to do? Other than a court battle in 
which surely Darien would win. He was the only likely candidate. He was 
Diana's uncle. He was rich. Whereas even though Serena was Diana's aunt, she 
wasn't rich. She wasn't poor but if she didn't work, she would be. But then 
who wouldn't? Expect people like Darien Refatalki.

Shaking her head, Serena turned and went to her bedroom. And for the rest of 
that night, she dreamt about her wedding day where, when saying their final 
vows, both said ' I promise to love, cherish and protect this baby.'

                    *********************************************************

     Serena knocked on Seiya's door and waited for him to open it. He did it 
immediately as if waiting for her to knock.  Serena took a step forward to 
enter the apartment, but Seiya gently pushed her back and closed the door 
behind him. Serena gave him a questioning look.

" We'll go to a cafe. I won't loose my temper there."

Serena rolled her eyes but some of her nervousness eased as she thought of the 
fact that Seiya was right. People would be around them and he wouldn't shout. 
He really had a temper. He didn't loose it often but when he did, you'd be 
advised to watch out. 

Seiya took Serena's arm and she followed him as he lead them both to a small
cafe a few blocks away. They didn't talk much during the way expect about 
small things. The big game that was happening on Saturday, the shootings that 
had happened in Germany. They didn't talk about Diana and Darien.

Sitting down outside the cafe on a table for four, there weren't any others 
empty, Seiya opened one of the menu's and gave it to Serena. She bit her lip 
as she thought that Seiya must be really angry at her. He always ordered for 
her when they came to this cafe. He knew what she wanted. But now...

They both sat in silence until the waitress gave them their orders. Seiya 
toyed with the food on his plate, until with a groan of frustration, he pushed 
it away.

" Well?"

Serena stopped pretending to be interested in her food. She raised her 
eyebrows as if she didn't know what Seiya was talking about. 

" What?"

" Why are you engaged to that- that man?"

" Because he asked me to marry him and I said yes. This is called me getting 
engaged to him."

Seiya glared at her.

" Very funny Serena. Now. Are you planning to spend the rest of your life 
being a wife to a man who has no interest in you, and never will, and who's 
just married you to get custody to his niece?"

Serena played with her spoon and gave Seiya a dirty look.

" What do you mean he'll never have an interest in me?"

Seiya leaned back in his seat as he made his point.

" Come on Serena. Darien Refatalki goes for more sophisticated women, who know 
the score for relationships with him."

Serena just scowled down at the table clothe. She knew that Seiya wasn't 
talking utter nonsense. He was just telling her as it was. So why did it 
bother her so much?

" Serena."

Serena looked over at Seiya at the soft way he spoke her name. She tried to 
smile as she saw the concern in his eyes. He cared about her. As a brother. An 
older brother. Of course he wanted to know all the details. He really should 
be told the truth.

" Seiya. I don't really want to marry him. But I have to. I haven't got a 
choice."

He gave her a disbelieving look.

" Everybody always has a choice."

Serena nodded. 

" You're right. But my choice is no choice at all. Darien's-"

" Oh it's Darien now is it?"

Serena ignored him.

" Darien's very rich. There would have been a custody battle and what are the 
odds of my winning?"

Seiya was silent for a while and then he twisted his lips.

" So he blackmailed you into marriage did he?"

Serena opened her mouth to deny that statement, but Seiya was right. Darien 
had blackmailed her into marriage. Well, he had kind of blackmailed her. 
Nothing could change the truth.

" Yes. I guess he did. But I want to keep Diana. She's all I have of Mina and 
Andrew."

Sudden tears took her by surprise. She hadn't cried for a couple of days now. 
Why was she starting now? It was probably from all the emotional baggage she 
had been gathering over the past few weeks. It threatened to totally swamp her 
and she was trying her hardest to deal with it and do the right thing.

Seiya made a soothing sound and slipped into the chair by Serena. He put an 
arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards him. Serena went willingly and 
let Seiya's quiet presence take her tears away. She stayed like that for a 
while listening to the sound of Seya's heartbeat. He was a terrific guy. It 
was a pity that he wasn't her type. 

She frowned when she felt Seiya's body freeze. Jerking back, she tuned a 
questioning face up to his but noticed that his attention was welded somewhere 
behind her. She turned to look at what had captured his attention and her 
mouth opened on a silence gasp of surprise as she saw the pair who were just 
standing a couple of feet behind her.

It was Darien Refatalki and Lita Larina!


Has Serena done the right thing by saying yes to Darien's proposal? Why do you 
think Darien wants to rush with the wedding arrangements? Why is Darien there 
and with Lita?

What do all of you think? I'll love to hear your opinions.

Sailor Galaxy

sailorprincessuk@yahoo.co.uk