Careless Blue
Chapter 2

Author:  Silent Moon
e-mail:  silentmoonstar@yahoo.com
Rated:  R
Genre:  Romance/Alt. Reality
Disclaimer:  standard


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 [I've] 
Beauty
lays itself sweetly in my skin
dapples lightly from within
Ignited by a brief touch
a Princess faerytale
echoing true
this truer bluer 
	ivory perfect soft me
whispers so you can't see
she's hiding in the shadows
she's alive inside me
waiting
	waiting for the dream
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Serena tore through the kitchen, grabbing her breakfast and rushing out the back door
without so much as a hello to the Maid.

Darien ran in just after her, "Where's Blue?"

The Maid ignored him, getting his breakfast ready.

"Molly?"  He asked, stepping closer.

She looked up, her old, work-tired face smiling at him with motherly affection,
"If you mean Serena, she just tore out of here as though the devil were at her
heels."

"Which way did she go?"  He grinned.

Molly held out his muffin, "That way."  She pointed, her mouth twisting wryly.

He ran out as she called out, "Mind you don't make yourself sick running and eating!"

Darien never heard her as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him till he spotted her,
heading for the edge of the field again.

He caught her up and poked her in the shoulder, "You're it!"

She sighed though and fell to a sit, munching her muffin, "I'm too tired to
run anymore."

He sat down beside her amiably and ate his muffin too.  He regarded her a moment.
It had been nearly three weeks since she arrived.  Three weeks of running and games
and good company.  It was wonderful.

"I'm glad you came."  He said happily.

She smiled back at him, "I'm glad you're here."  

She swallowed her last bite of muffin, "I'm so thirsty!"

He grinned and jumped up, grabbing her hand, "Come on, there's someplace I want
to show you!"

He ran all the way and she struggled to keep up, "W-wait!"

They rushed down the hill, through some trees, and came to a delightful freshwater brook.
Serena's eyes lit up, "Water!  Oh heavenly!"  She stooped to drink and took a long sip
when Darien suddenly tore past her without a thing on and splashed in.

"Wahoo!"  He hollared happily.

"What are you doing?"  She asked shocked.

"What does it look like I'm doing?  I'm going for a swim!"  He laughed, "This is
where I take MY baths!"

She raised an eyebrow at him skeptically.

"Come on, are you going to get in?"  He taunted, splashing water at her.

"But I can't take off my clothes in front of you!"

He shrugged, "I've already seen you--what does it matter?"

She considered this a moment...then nodded, "Alright!  A swim would be lovely!"

But she did go behind some rocks to take off her clothes before streaking in squealing
madly.

Splash.

Then it was an all out splash war as they laughed and swam together.

It was the next in a long line of traditions.  The Count was away and wouldn't be
back until shortly before Serena turned sixteen.  That left many months for Darien
and Serena to enjoy their friendship.  

And enjoy it they did.

They ran from the water and threw on their clothes before Darien dragged Serena off to
the stable to teach her horse-back riding.

She squealed in delight, "Oh!  Mother and Father would never let me!"

Melvin, the old stable keeper, laughed as Darien helped Serena unsteadily on and
showed her how to hold the reins and lead the horse.  Then he got a horse and off they
went!

Molly and another Maid watched from the window,
"They've become fast friends haven't they?"

Molly smiled, "Indeed.  Let them enjoy it.  I'd rather this than have something
romantic spring up between them--that would make things difficult when the Count
returns."

"Speaking of which, we should start tutoring the girl in her manners..."

Molly nodded, "We'll start next week."

And so, the following week, Molly caught hold of Serena before she could run out
of the house, "Wait just minute young lady, it's time we started tutoring you.
You need to learn how to be a lady.  You'll be married soon."

Serena grimaced and Darien watched from the doorway.

Molly sat her down on the couch and straightened her posture before pulling out
some needlepoint.  She turned to Darien, "You may run along lad."

But Darien shook his head, his arms crossed stubbornly, "If Blue learns, then I learn."

Molly chuckled at him, "You want to learn how to be a lady?"

Serena watched him with wide eyes.

"If she has to, than I will too."

And he was graced with a smile from Serena that made it all worthwhile.  Which was a
good thing since he pricked his fingers quite dreadfully learning needle point.

But he worked hard and that made her work hard--and that made things easier on the Maids
and they were very grateful to Darien for it.  He got many extra cookies for his troubles.

But he balanced it out by teaching Serena 'boy things' like how to properly ride
a horse and how to fight.  

Molly watched them wrestle in the mud, laughing and carrying on, one afternoon in late
August.

The other Maid came over, "The summer is almost over--the Count will be home soon."

"And Serena will turn sixteen."  Molly said sadly.  The girl was still far too young at
heart to marry.  And it would be hard for her and for Darien to understand the difference
it made.

"Aye, she's no more ready to marry then when she came though.  She'll find it difficult."

Molly nodded and the two women exchanged glances.

"Well, the Count is away so much, hopefully it won't be too hard on her."

It was the only consoling thing to be said.

The other Maid nodded and watched Darien, "He's gotten quite tall over the summer--he'll
soon be a man."

"He's nearly sixteen himself..."

"They still play like children though."

"I'm glad."

"So am I."


And indeed, though Darien had embarked on the ganglier part of his teens, and Serena
had blossomed out into a woman, neither seemed to notice.  They wrestled and ran
and horse-back rode and then Serena would be stuffed into some stiff, starched dress 
against her will and Darien would do needlepoint with her and they would cook.  They never
spent a moment apart--in fact, everytime a thunder storm struck, Serena snuck into his
room and sought the comfort of his presence to make it through--though he teased
her terribly about it.

Darien finally pinned her as they wrestled and realized they were both covered in mud.
He laughed down at her face, "Covered in mud--just like when I met you."

She stuck out her tongue at him, "Watch your mouth boy!"  She teased.

He jumped up, "Let's go wash off--I'm too hot anyway!"

She joined in, "Hurray!"  

And together they ran down to the well used brook.  Darien dove in first, leaving his
clothes in a heap on some rocks before running in and Serena still changed behind the rock
before running in after him.

They laughed and splashed and chased one another.

"Gotcha!"

"No you didn't!"

"Yes I did!"

To which Darien replied by growling--something his deeper voice did quite well now.
He dove under and headed for her feet.

She squealed trying to see him under the water but it was too late by the time she
found him.  He took her down by the ankles as she screamed bloody murder.

He came up laughing, "Now who's got who?  Hmmm?"

To which she responded by tackling him and throwing him over backwards in the water.
He slipped and took her down with him though so that her body pressed against his--and
rather than the usual shove-back response he always gave her--another one took over.
One he was completely unfamiliar with.

He stood up quickly as though to dispel it and found himself standing against her, her
slim arms wrapped about him still.  And though the water was cold he suddenly felt
very warm--and did not wish to let go...in fact he instinctively pulled her closer
as the feeling grew stronger.  

Her eyes widened curiously as she felt his breathing become staggered and hot against her 
shoulder.  He pulled back, breath still raspy to look curiously at her--as though she might
explain what was happening to him.

But instead, her wide eyes and slightly flushed cheeks made the reaction even stronger
and one hand suddenly moved to caress her face as he leaned down close--so close she
thought he might kiss her.  She thought she felt his lips at her neck but she couldn't
be sure.  

But he pressed her against him tightly and she suddenly felt something hard press against
her.  Her eyes widened further--if possible.  What was happening?  Why was everything
so warm and what...what was that?

She squirmed a bit trying to figure out exactly what had happened to him so that he was
pressed so hard against her and heard him take in a sharp breath.

And it was then, as her body unconsciously rubbed against him that he finally realized
what was happening between them and jerked back as though burnt.

"I'm sorry!"  He blurted, still breathing hard.

She looked curiously at him, "Sorry for what?" 

For although the experience had been strange, it had not been unpleasant.  The way
he stroked her face, the feel of him close--more than a hug--and even the strange
hardness of his body suddenly, it all simply made her want to get closer.  She 
trusted him completely and feared nothing.  She also knew nothing about love-making.

He stared oddly at her a moment.

She took a step closer and he took one back, "It felt...nice."  She confessed
without shame, "Was it...was it wrong?"  She saw the sudden fear in his eyes
and it made her afraid too.

"Yes.  Yes it was."  He stumbled from the water, flushed with embarassment and into
his clothes quickly.

She hurried after him and threw on her dress, struggling to catch him as he hurried out
to the field and then stopped, fists clenched.

She came up beside him quietly, "I don't understand."

He shook his head, "I know.  But, we mustn't....be that way again..."  He looked
straight at her, "Maybe we shouldn't swim together anymore."

He saw the flash of hurt in her eyes.

"I'm not angry with you...and you've done nothing wrong--I have.  We simply
can't anymore--okay?"

She looked at the sincerity in his eyes and nodded, "Alright...but we're still friends
right?"

He smiled, "Of course!"

She threw her arms about his neck in a great bear hug, "Good!"

Then she did something she had not done since her parents were alive.  She buried
her face gently in his shoulder and hugged him tight, "I love you Darien."  She said
with childish affection.

He smiled, and then frowned as his body betrayed him once again, "I-I love you too Blue."
He sucked in a breath, "Can you let go now?"

She felt it again, as he held her tight and had the grace to blush, "S-sorry....is that
bad?"

"I wish it was!"  He groaned as he let himself fall over backwards on the ground.

She giggled and sat beside him, "It's strange....how come it never happened before?"

He shook his head, "I'm getting older..."

She nodded.

"So are you."  He pointed out, "I really shouldn't see you naked anymore."

She smiled, "But it's you.  I don't mind."

"I know, but it's the right thing to do."

"Alright, I guess."

There was a long pause.

"Darien?"

"Yes?"

"Does it...hurt?"

"BLUE!  Can we PLEASE stop talking about it!"

"Can't you just answer that one question?  Pleeeeeeeease?"

He groaned, "Alright alright!  No, it doesn't hurt."

"What does it feel like?"

"BLUE!  I'm NOT answering any more questions!!!!!"

She sighed, "Fine fine."  Her eyes narrowed, "Baby."  She muttered.

"I heard that!"

She stuck out her tongue at him and he laughed.

"Ask me something else instead Blue."

"Alright, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

He sighed, "I wanted to be a writer, but I have a feeling my God Father's going
to send me away to be a Soldier--once I'm old enough."

"What?  Send you away!  I don't want you to go away!"  She cried in distress.

"Relax!  It won't be for a long time--you might be married with babies by then!  You
won't be lonely!"

She laughed at that, "I can't imagine having babies!"

He laughed too, "I'll bet you have MILLIONS!"

"I will not!"

"Will too!"

She threw some grass at him and then grew serious, "You know, I always wanted to 
be a singer.  I love singing.  I even know some piano!"

"There's a piano in the main room--will you play for me sometime?"  He asked lazily
chewing on a long piece of grass.

She giggled, "Maybe...what if you don't like my singing?"

He grinned, "Then I'll make fun of you and call you Crow-Girl!"

She frowned, "That's not very nice!"

He paused thoughtfully, "No...I think I still like 'blue' better.  I'll stick 
with that."

She swatted his dark hair playfully.  She looked down at his legs, "You're a lot taller
now.  And you talk differently."

"What do you mean?"

She tried to imitate his baritone, "You talk like this..."

He laughed at her antics, "Is THAT what I sound like?"

She laughed, "Yes!"

They were silent awhile before Serena said oh-so-softly, "If you go away, will
you write me?"

He smiled, "Sure--every day!  It'll be good practice for when I'm a real writer!"

She smiled, then lay down beside him, "I'm sure you could be a great writer!"

He leaned his head affectionately against hers, "Thanks Blue..."

The sound of a Carriage broke their reverie and they both jumped up.  Molly came rushing
out hollaring, "Hurry!  Serena!  Come in!  The Count is home early!"

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