
      Dreams & Deceptions


      Author: aria


      Rated: NC17



      Chapter 6
      Serena landed in Cloverdale several days later. A tiny town with a 
      population of approximately 12000 people, it was the perfect place for 
      Serena to hide out for a while. She took a cab into town and to the house 
      that her estate agent discreetly set up for her. Serena got out and looked 
      at it. A small one-bedroom bungalow situated in a nice quiet 
      neighbourhood. Thats what she had specified and from the looks of it, it 
      was what she got. She unlocked the door and walked in. Serena had sent 
      several things up ahead of her and they were waiting for her in the living 
      room. She whipped the protective cloths off and frowned. How in the world 
      was she going to move them around? She should have had the movers put them 
      in their appropriate rooms. She gave the armoire an experimental push when 
      a deep voice startled her.
      "You shouldnt be doing that. Let me help."
      In the door was a tall handsome blonde man. Serena smiled at him. "No 
      thats ok. I can call someone to move it for me."
      He walked in and shook his head. "Why call someone when youve got me here 
      right now?" he extended his hand. "Jadeite Mathews. I live next door."
      Serena took it and shook. "Serena Stanton. And thanks."
      "Dont mention it. Talk about a shock. Here I was coming over to do the 
      neighbourly thing and say hi and I find a tiny woman trying to lift a 
      gigantic piece of furniture."
      "I wasnt trying to lift it."
      "Just slide it along, right?" he gave her a wry smile. "Where do you want 
      it?"
      "Just inside there." She pointed at the bedroom.
      "Alrighty." He pushed it along the floor until it was in the right place. 
      "There you go. What about the rest of this stuff?"
      "That trunk goes in there as well. I think I can handle the rest of the 
      stuff." Serena looked at the boxes. She could easily unpack everything and 
      move them around.
      He sauntered back into the room. "There you go."
      "Thanks. Can I offer you a drink?"
      "Please. Itll go well with this." He walked back from the front door 
      holding a plate of chocolate ship cookies.
      Serena laughed. "You bake as well as move furniture? Very impressive." She 
      unpacked the kettle and headed into the kitchen.
      He blushed a little. "Yeah, I guess you can say Im a jack of all trades."
      Minutes later they sat on the floor talking drinking coffee and munching 
      on his delicious cookies. Jadeite turned out to be a high school science 
      teacher who loved children and literature.
      Serena really enjoyed his company. He was witty and kind. Funny and 
      interesting. But he still wasnt Darien. Serena stifled a yawn and took a 
      look at her watch.
      Jadeite did the same. "Oh. Im sorry. I didnt realize that it was so 
      late."
      "Neither did I."
      Jadeite helped Serena to her feet. "I enjoyed talking to you. Maybe we 
      could do this again soon?"
      "Yeah. Thatd be nice." She walked him to the door. "Goodnight, Jadeite."
      "Goodnight, Serena."
      ----
      The next couple of weeks were very relaxing to Serenas surprise. She 
      thought shed be obsessing over Darien the entire time. She had been 
      thinking of him a lot but not to the extent of being able to call it an 
      obsession. Shed met some very nice people and was able to relax and just 
      hang out without having to worry about her father or work. It was just 
      heavenly. Now if only a certain man could be there with her. Sighing she 
      sat back on the sofa and pulled out a book and started reading to her 
      stomach. "Hi sweetie. How are you doing today?"
      ----
      Darien was discharged from the hospital a few days later and went home 
      with Beryl. Since the night Serena left, he'd been unable to think of 
      anyone else. The guilt was eating at him. How was it possible to love two 
      women? He stared out of the car window as they pulled up to her flat.
      "Darien darling. Is something the matter?" Beryl leaned over and ran a 
      blood red nail over his brow.
      "Huh? Oh nothing."
      "Youre worried about your memory again?"
      Darien just nodded. How would he explain himself to her? Here she was. One 
      of the most ravishing creatures hed ever seen, shed nursed him, and 
      stayed by his side and was carrying his child. What was he going to say? I 
      love you Beryl but I cant stop thinking of that beautiful blonde at the 
      hospital. Shed be crushed. Her silky voice dragged him out of his 
reverie.
      "When are you going to tell your father about us, darling?"
      "Uh, soon." As soon as he figured out what he was feeling. At the moment 
      he was so mixed up he had no idea what he was going to do about himself 
      let alone his father. He got out and took a couple of bags with him.
      Beryl led him up to her fourteenth floor apartment. The first thing he 
      noticed when he walked in was the slew of photographs. Many were just of 
      Beryl while the others, the ones crowded at the front of the room, were of 
      the both of them. Darien picked one up and looked at it. They looked quite 
      young in it. He looked at the others. They were the same. There wasnt a 
      current picture in the bunch. Puzzled he walked around the living room. 
      There was nothing homey or comfortable about the place.
      "Make yourself at home, Darien." She swished her way into the bathroom and 
      checked her makeup. "Do you like it?"
      "Uh yeah, sure." Darien dropped the bags in the messy bedroom. Clothes 
      were strewn everywhere and ashtrays that havent been emptied in a long 
      time adorned the vanity and end tables. "Youre not still smoking are 
you?"
      "No dear. Not in months." She swept into the room and somehow into 
      Dariens arms. "So what would you like to do today?"
      He pulled out of her embrace, feeling oddly uncomfortable. "Im going out 
      with Nephlite and the boys."
      "Oh." Not bothering to hide her disappointment, Beryl slumped onto the 
      clothes covered chaise in the corner of the room. "And what will you all 
      be doing today?"
      "Just going out on our bikes for a few hours." He quickly slipped into his 
      one-piece leather tracksuit. "We wont be more than a few hours." He 
      grabbed his helmet and gave her a peck on the cheek before walking out the 
      door. Darien headed out front and hopped onto his bike. Maybe Nephlite 
      could fill him in on what he was feeling. He put his helmet on and pushed 
      the ignition button and accelerated sending the bike up on its back wheel 
      before screeching down the street.
      The guys were at the track waiting as usual when he got there. Darien slid 
      open the visor. "Hi everyone."
      Nephlite got off his bike and strode over. "Hey. Howre you feeling?" he 
      studied him carefully. "Got any memories back yet?"
      Darien got off his bike as well. "No. Thats what I want you to help me 
      with."
      Nephlite looked at him. There was nothing more that he wanted to do than 
      to tell Darien everything. To get him to remember Serena and what they 
      meant to each other. But what of the doctors advice? "Darien do you think 
      thats a good idea? The doctor said-"
      "I dont care what he said!" Darien grabbed Nephlite by the shoulders and 
      dragged him over to the side. "I need to know what the hell is going on" 
      he ran a hand through his hair. "I have a woman whos loving and caring 
      and who is my fiance and is pregnant with my baby. And I feel absolutely 
      nothing for her. On the other hand I have a mysterious, gorgeous blonde. I 
      have no clue who she is but I feel like were connected somehow." Eyes 
      burning, he stared at Nephlite. "I need to know who she is. What she meant 
      to me."
      "Dare, I dont know if I should." Nephlite fought against his instinct. He 
      knew he should tell him. "Its not a good idea."
      "Argh!" frustrated Darien stalked off and got back on his bike.
      Nephlite walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Dare. All I can 
      say is dont rush into anything. Nothing is as it seems at the moment."
      Nodding Darien steered his roaring bike back onto the road. There was one 
      person he knew who would tell him the truth no matter what. He had to get 
      back to Illaria.
      The next day he arrived back at the palace. He hurried in the door past 
      the guards and bypassing his customary greeting to Bramley. "Father!" he 
      searched through a few rooms before walking back into the silent hall. 
      "Bramley wheres father?"
      "Hes in Lidaria Highness."
      "Lidaria? Why?" Puzzled, Darien stopped in front of the butler.
      "To discuss your betrothal, highness." Bramley didnt blink when Darien 
      started.
      "My betrothal? I haven't even told him about it yet."
      Bramley started laughing. "Of course he knows! Hes the one who told you, 
      highness."
      "What are you talking about?" Darien's head was beginning to pound. What 
      the hell was going on?"
      "Your betrothal to the Princess." he stared at Darien a moment. "Princess 
      Serena of Lidaria? Highness surely you remember." He watched as Darien 
      rubbed at his temples. "Maybe you should sit down, highness. You don't 
      look well."
      He brushed the man's hands away. "I'm fine. What's this about being 
      engaged to Princess Serena?"
      "I was told your father told you. Perhaps you should discuss this with 
      him." Bramley shuffled uncomfortably.
      "Bramley come on! You can tell me. I need to know what's going on."
      "Sir? You don't seem yourself." his wrinkly brow creased even more as he 
      examined Darien. "Are you sure you're alright?"
      "Yes! Tell me what the hell is going on here!" Several guards walked by, 
      giving them a curious glance. Darien pulled the old man to one side. 
      "Please! I have no clue what is going on here. And I think I deserve to 
      know being that's it's my life he's messing around with."
      "Tell me what's happened to you first, sir. Something has happened to 
you."
      Darien sighed. "I was in a car accident and Ive lost some memories. Some 
      very important ones too it seems."
      "Highness! Why weren't we alerted?" Bramley paled a little, obviously 
      worried about the heir to the throne.
      "I don't know! Now tell me what's happening!" his temper was wearing thin 
      now.
      "You have been engaged to the princess since you were a child and you are 
      to be married in a few weeks. Unfortunately there has been a crimp in the 
      proceedings. The princess seems to have disappeared."
      "What?" for some reason his heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean she's 
      disappeared?"
      "From what I heard she's quite a spirited young lady, quite like yourself, 
      highness. She had gone to St. Moritz for some reason then returned home 
      and disappeared. Her father hasn't heard from her in weeks and none of her 
      bodyguards have a clue to her whereabouts."
      St. Moritz? Now why did that sound so familiar? "So what happens now?"
      "They are doing everything they can to find her but from the stories Ive 
      heard about her, she won't be found unless she wants to be found."
      Darien nodded and turned abruptly walking back toward the door.
      "Highness! Where are you going?"
      "To Lidaria. To find out what's going on."
      ----
      Reginald Stansberg and Gustav van Beelen decided to forego the formalities 
      and were discussing the problem over a brandy in Reginalds study. That's 
      where Darien found them. He walked in unannounced.
      "Darien my boy!" Gustav jumped up obviously overjoyed to see his son. 
      "Where have you been?"
      "I had a slight accident." he turned to Reginald and bowed. "Majesty. Ive 
      heard about what has happened. How can I help?"
      "I'm afraid you cannot. Serena is rather stubborn." he gestured to a 
      photograph on the table at his side. "It would probably better to wait for 
      her to come back herself."
      Darien barely heard a word he was saying. His eyes were riveted on the 
      photo. The long flowing silvery hair, the soft grey eyes, the rosy curves 
      of her lips. It was the woman from the hospital. He grabbed the photo and 
      slumped onto the supple leather and stared back at the smiling face. He 
      wasn't sure what he was supposed to be feeling. She was Princess Serena, 
      his fiance! That would explain what she was doing there. Then something 
      hit him. She was pregnant! How could that be? Darien tried to rack his 
      brain. She shared a room with him. She would have been talking to him. She 
      would have been the one to take care of him. Was the child his? The 
      thought sent his mind reeling. Beryl was lying to him! Anger gnawed a 
      burning hold in his gut. A sharp whack on his back brought him back to 
      reality.
      "Darien!" Gustav looked at his son worriedly. "Are you ok?"
      "Uh, yeah." He turned to Reginald. "Is there anywhere she might go? A 
      favourite place perhaps?"
      "We've already checked them all." he paused for a moment. "Her friends 
      might know. But they are all loyal to her. They refuse to tell me."
      Darien thought back to the hospital, Serena had a friend with her. She 
      would probably know. "Ill see what I can do." Darien bowed and walked out 
      of the room leaving two very puzzled monarchs.
      The next morning he walked back up to Beryls apartment, ready to find out 
      the truth. "Beryl? Where are you?"
      "D...Darien?" she came running out of the bedroom a trail of smoke 
      following her. "I was so worried about you!" she threw her arms around his 
      unyielding shoulders. "Darien what's the matter?"
      "I want you to tell me the truth." he stared at her with icy eyes.
      "I...I don't know what you mean." she stepped back and sat on the couch, 
      avoiding his piercing gaze.
      He walked into the bedroom and came back with the ashtrays. He dropped 
      them on the floor in front of her. "Let's start with this. If youre 
      pregnant with my child. The future heir to the throne, why are you still 
      smoking?"
      "I told you I wasn't." she stopped talking when he held a still smoking 
      butt in her face. "Just today. I was worried about you. I called everyone 
      and no one knew where you were. I was worried sick!" she pouted and tried 
      to hug him again.
      "Beryl, you swear you're telling me the truth?"
      "Yes of course!" she started smiling now.
      "Are you sure?"
      "Positive."
      "I want you to take these." he handed her a box of two pregnancy tests.
      Her eyes widened when she realized what he was holding. "You don't believe 
      that Im pregnant?"
      "I just need to see it myself."
      Her voice got shrill. "You don't believe me!" she got up and threw the 
      tests back in his face. "Get out! Get out!" Ashtrays and clothes quickly 
      followed the box.
      Darien didn't bother to try and talk to her. To him her reaction proved to 
      him what he knew all along. She had lied. Now there was only one thing to 
      do. Find Serena and rediscover what they'd lost.
      The next week, Darien was back at his own apartment scouring the net to 
      find out what he could about Serena. He hated not being able to remember 
      anything about her. He knew they'd had something special though, that he 
      could feel it in his bones. With every picture he found of her, the more 
      he needed to see her. The need was almost stifling. He sat a moment and 
      stared at the beautiful face smiling back at him and stroked the screen.
      "Hey Dare. What was so urgent?" Nephlite walked into the room dragging his 
      coat behind him.
      "Do you know where Serena is?"
      Nephlite blinked at him. "Why?"
      "I need to see her."
      Nephlite stared at his friend a moment. The look in his eyes was familiar. 
      It was the look of a man who was desperate to find his other half. "So you 
      remember?"
      "I'm starting to. Do you know where she is?" Darien glared at his friend.
      "No but Lita might." He put a hand on Dariens shoulder. "You know she 
      might not want to see you. You hurt her pretty bad."
      Darien rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands. He could understand 
      that. Who wouldn't be hurt when someone they loved denied them. He was 
      sure that she cared about him. She looked so hurt and haunted the night 
      she left. Just the thought of the hurt in her eyes burned a hole in his 
      chest.
      Nephlite smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder. "I'll give Lita a 
      call."
      ----
      Serena heard a knock at the door and walked out of the kitchen dropping a 
      tea towel on the table on the way. It was probably Jadeite. He usually 
      visited this time of the day. She opened the door to find Seiya.
      "Seiya! Oh my god. Come in!"
      "Sere. Hows it going?" he walked in and nodded as he looked around. "Very 
      nice. Tiny but nice. Quaint even."
      "Gee thanks. Wanna coffee?"
      "Yeah sure."
      Serena headed back into the kitchen. "Make yourself at home. Howd you 
      find me?"
      "Let's just say I had a little help."
      "Lita?" Serena walked back out with a steaming mug.
      "Yeah. She thought you could use some company." his eyes widened a little 
      when he noticed her slightly bulging middle. "When did this happen?" he 
      put his hands on her stomach." Is it real?"
      She swiped at his hands. "Yes it's real." she sat down on the couch and 
      put her feet up on the table.
      "What does you father have to say about that?"
      Serena sighed a little sadly. "He doesn't know yet."
      "How're you going to get out of this one?" he put his arms around her 
      shoulders.
      "I don't know." a tear ran down her cheek. "What am I going to do Seiya?"
      He hugged her to him. "It's going to work out. It always does."
      "Serena? You door was open--" Jadeite walked into the living room. He took 
      a look at Seiya and Serena in his arms and put up his hand. "I'm sorry am 
      I interrupting something?"
      Serena wiped at her tears and sat up. "No, no. This is my friend Seiya. 
      Seiya, this is Jadeite, my neighbour,"
      The two men shook hands.
      Jadeite smiled warmly at Seiya. They looked close. Maybe this was her 
      boyfriend? They looked familiar enough with each other. He felt better 
      that Serena had someone. Shed seemed so lonely so withdrawn. Now maybe 
      she could be happy. Her lilting voice brought him back. "Huh?"
      "Did you want to talk about something?" Serena still sat with Seiya on the 
      couch but she smiled up at her friend.
      "Oh yeah. Take a look at this." he handed her a newspaper.
      Serena opened it up to look at the headlines. There on the front page in 
      full living colour was Darien and her father and another man that she 
      didn't recognize but from the similarity in their features, she'd have to 
      say it was his father. She blinked a couple of times and focussed on the 
      headline. "Search for Elusive Princess." she gasped and looked at Seiya 
      then at Jadeite.
      Seiya grabbed it from her trembling fingers and flipped through the entire 
      wad of paper in seconds. There wasn't any picture of the missing princess 
      or a description. He looked at Serena and then at Jadeite.
      Jadeite was smiling. "Isnt that interesting? At least we'll have some 
      excitement for once."
      Serena looked up at him. "Huh?"
      He pointed at the paper. "They seem to think that's she's here in town." 
      he looked at their shocked faces and frowned. "What's the matter?"
      Seiya jumped up off the couch and ushered him to the door. "Nothing. Were 
      just excited at the thought of being able to see real life royals. It was 
      very nice to meet you, hope we can do this again soon. See you later." he 
      shut the door behind Jadeite with a bang. "Ok Sere. What the hell is going 
      on?"
      "I dont know!" she got up off the couch and paced around the room.
      "So the kid's not--" he pointed at the door Jadeite just walked through.
      "No! Hes a friend!" she slapped him on the shoulder. "I just got here a 
      few weeks ago. Would I look like this if I just got pregnant?"
      "So it's..."
      "Darien's." she sighed and sat back down and put her hand lovingly on her 
      stomach.
      "So why aren't you together yet?"
      "He was in an accident and lost his memory. Hes now engaged to some rich 
      b..." she took a slow breath. "Ahem, woman named beryl."
      "Maybe not. Why else would he be in with your dad looking for you."
      Hope slowly blossomed in her heart just before she squashed it back down 
      again. The last time she let herself feel hope she let herself down for a 
      crushing blow. Well, she hadn't learned a lot since then. But she did 
      learn not to leave herself open again. "I don't know."
      ----
      Darien fell into an exhausted sleep on the plane. His dreams always 
      dwelled on Serena. He couldnt understand it before but now he understood. 
      They belonged together. Still he wanted to know what he'd lost. What he 
      couldn't remember. Even in his dreams he searched the depths of his mind 
      looking for the memories he'd once cherished.
      This time was no different. In his mind, he rode a horse through the 
      forest, racing through the trees. He was trying to find something, 
      someone. Faster and faster the trees and bushes whipped past until they 
      were no more than a blur. And then inexplicably they stopped. Darien found 
      himself in the midst of a beautiful field of wildflowers. The smell was 
      intoxicating. He let the scent wash over him for a moment before sliding 
      off the horses back. He slowly made his way through the sea of blossoms 
      until he came to a wall of roses.
      Through the tangle of velvety petals, he could see someone laying on the 
      ground. Silvery hair thinly veiled the slender figure and he knew it was 
      Serena. Immediately he moved forward. He needed to be with her. He raised 
      his hand to push aside the fragrant flora before he noticed the gleaming 
      thorns hidden amid the leaves. Darien quickly withdrew his hand at the 
      sharp pain. A bead of blood formed on his fingertip. He wiped it away and 
      tried again. Still, the same result.
      Darien stared at her prone figure and started to worry. Why wasnt she 
      moving? "Serena!" she didnt move. He was getting frantic now. He started 
      to push through the roses again this time he wasnt going to let a few 
      pricks stop him.
      Suddenly the ground started to rumble. Darien found himself knocked off 
      his feet, hard. And he hit the ground.
      Darien awoke on the floor of the plane. Turbulence. He sat up and rubbed 
      at the lump on his head scowling at the dull pain. He blinked a few times 
      clearing his head then smiled. He remembered. He remembered everything. 
      The chats on the net, their first meeting at the airport, the night in the 
      cabin. He remembered it all. He remembered Serena.
      Darien got up off the floor and walked into the pilots cabin. "How much 
      longer until were there?"
      "A few more hours, your highness."
      "Great." Darien wandered back to his seat and sat down, his only thoughts 
      about Serena.
      ----
      Serena was on the couch reading when there was a knock at the door. She 
      got up and made her way over thankful someone had decided to stop by. 
      Seiya left a few days ago leaving the house too quiet in his wake. She 
      pulled open the heavy oak door to reveal Jadeite on the other side.
      "Hi Serena."
      "Jadeite, what a surprise. Dont you have classes today?" she stepped back 
      to let him in.
      "Nope." Smiling he sauntered in. "What are you up to today?"
      "Not much. I thought Id stay in today and try to get some work done on 
      the nursery."
      He put a gentle hand on her stomach. "Youve got plenty of time to worry 
      about that. Want to go to the park and wander for a while? Its a gorgeous 
      day."
      Serena frowned. She didnt like the idea of going out lately. Ever since 
      she heard that her father and Darien were looking for her, shed been 
      living like a recluse. Afraid that if she left the house someone might 
      recognize her.
      "Are you ok?" In a flash Jadeite had her sitting back on the couch and a 
      glass of water in her hand.
      "Im ok. Im just not too keen on going out thats all."
      Jadeite smiled encouragingly. "Come on. Itll do you some good. You cant 
      stay cooped up in here all day long."
      Sighing, Serena decided he was right. "Ok, you talked me into it. Just let 
      me get ready."
      Not too long later, there were enjoying a leisurely stroll through the 
      picturesque park. The sun was bright but did nothing to warm up the chill 
      in the fall air. Tress dotted the landscape hiding the sun in parts with 
      their multicoloured canopies.
      Serena leaned her head back and let the suns rays warm her face. Smiling, 
      she turned to Jadeite. "Youre right. This is exactly what I needed."
      He simply smiled at her.
      For a while they walked along silently enjoying the glorious day. Then 
      Jadeite steered her toward a bench and they sat down facing the still pond 
      in the middle of the grassy field.
      "Now Serena, I know it isnt any of my business but are you ok on your 
      own?"
      "Im doing alright." She shifted so that she was facing him. "Whats this 
      all about?"
      He flushed noticeably. "Im just saying if you ever need anything. Im 
      here for you."
      Serena patted his hand. "Thanks Jadeite. Youre a pal."
      They walked back to Serenas to enjoy a quiet dinner Jadeite style. They 
      called for takeout.
      Sitting in front of the fire with chow mein, sweet and sour pork and an 
      interesting conversation with Jadeite was the perfect end to the day.
      They talked about just about everything then moved onto to more important 
      things. Doing the dishes.
      "So how long have you lived there?" Serena could see the corner of 
      Jadeites lot out of her kitchen window.
      He took the dish from her and dried it quickly with his towel. "For about 
      six years now. Its a great little house."
      "Yeah, it looks nice." They finished up and headed back out to the living 
      room and sat down on the couch. "Must be nice to have somewhere to call 
      home huh?" Serena thought back at her life and realized that shed never 
      been in one place long enough to really call it home.
      "Well, this is your home now isnt it?"
      Serena started fiddling with her ring. "Yeah, I suppose." Twisting her 
      ring again it slipped off her finger and rolled under the couch.
      "Ill get it." Jadeite was on his hands and knees looking for it before 
      she even got a chance to refuse. "Got it." Sitting up on his knees he 
      slipped the ring back onto her finger.
      Thats when the room slammed open with such force that the entire room 
      shuddered.
      "Get the hell away from her!"