Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Love Is Blind ❯ Measure Of A Man ( Chapter 7 )

Love Is Blind

Chapter VII. Measure Of A Man

By: Sailor Angie

AN: All I can say is wow, you guys really amaze me, I've never gotten so much support from reviewers. And because you all have shown so much interest in my fic, I'm gonna hand the power over to you. I'm halfway through writing the last chapter (in my notebook), and I need your opinion. My questions will be posted at the bottom for you to answer in your reviews. Thank you so much to everyone that has reviewed, you all mean so much to me. If there are any glaring grammar/spelling errors, I apologize, I didn't have time to proof read this, cuz I publish at Midnight (it's officially Friday) and I didn't get a chance. I hope this chapter exceeds your expectations. Enjoy!

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Serena lounged on Darien's couch and shoveled a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. Andrew's words still rang in her ears. `Serena, are you falling in love with Darien?' She laughed inwardly, were her and Andrew talking about the same Darien? She had known him for 5 years; it seemed like she had know him forever. She had always found him attractive, but when she was younger, she had pushed aside her crush thinking it would never happen. Serena scolded herself for falling asleep in his bed last night. She though she was tricking herself into believing that Darien enjoyed her company as more than a friend. The look on his face last night had proven her theory wrong . . . oh so very wrong.

"Serena?" She heard Darien calling. She was so embarrassed, but swallowed her pride and opened the door to his room. He smiled weakly, "Can you help me walk to the bathroom" She giggled as she helped him out of the bed, "Shuddup, it's not funny." He pouted, she laughed louder, he shook his head at her.

She shut the bathroom door behind him and breathed a sigh of relief, he didn't remember.

Darien stared at his reflection in the mirror, he was confused. She had acted like nothing happened last night. He wondered if she had done it in her sleep, or maybe he thought, she regretted it. His heart dropped. He had kissed her back, and she had initiated it. He didn't understand.

Serena brewed over the shocked look on Darien's face when she had kissed him last night. She wondered what on earth had possessed her to do it. But he hadn't said anything, so maybe he didn't remember; maybe he thought it was a dream.

She almost wished he had said something. A part of her desperately wished for Darien to take her in his arms and kiss her and hold her, and tell her that he loved her. But alas, he had not.

Serena wondered what it would be like to be with Darien. She couldn't remember him ever having a steady girlfriend to her knowledge. Andrew had once told her that Darien could not commit because he feared the woman would not love him, but rather his money or power.

Serena could only imagine how much he would dote on the woman he would fall in love with. She knew more than anyone that he would love her with all that he had. She found herself desperately wanting to be that woman.

Suddenly the guilt hit her like a ton of bricks, "What am I thinking," She whispered to herself. `I have Seth, and he would love me just as much,' She continued in her head, `I am not in love with Darien.'

*If one day you discover him/

Broken down, he's lost everything/

No cars, no fancy clothes to make him who he's not/

The woman at his side is all that he's go/

Why do you ask him to move heaven and earth/

To prove his love has worth*

Serena walked into the recording studio and sat down behind the sound board. Seth spotted her and lit up immediately.

When they had finished taping the take Seth hurried behind the glass; he hugged her, "I've missed you baby." He breathed her in, "How's Darien doing?"

"Good, he's able to walk on his own now, and they're taking the stitches out tomorrow." Her tone changed, "I need to talk to you." Seth looked puzzled, "In private." She finished. Seth tried not to look upset, but he was.

Neither spoke a word as they trekked up to Serena's office. Seth sat down, and Serena pulled up a chair that faced him in front of her desk. "I want to be honest with you Seth. I want you to understand that I have very strong feelings for you, and I would never intentionally hurt you." She avoided looking Seth in the eyes, she was sure he though she was breaking up with him, "I want to be with you, but I did something stupid a few nights ago. And I needed to talk to you about it."

"What did you do Serena?" His voice was hollow.

"I kissed Darien." She met his eyes, he was very hurt, "I'm so sorry Seth, it was a mistake. I don't deserve you; I would never intentionally hurt you --"

"Would you take it back?" Seth interrupted her.

She looked at him, tears in her eyes, in truth she didn't know, but she didn't want to lose Seth. Something was better than nothing, and she didn't want to hurt him. Almost inaudibly she whispered, "Yes."

Seth wrapped his arms around her and comforted her, "It's okay." He cooed. Seth shuttered, she was so warm, but somehow, deep inside, even though he wouldn't admit it he felt that he was ever so slowly loosing her. At the same time that he was preparing to mourn a possible loss, he had truly fallen in love with Serena and only wanted her to be happy. And if Darien could make her happier than he could, he knew he would have to let her go.

*Would he walk on water?/

Would he run through fire?/

Would he stand before you/

When it's down to the wire?/

Would he give his life up/

To be all that he can?/

Is that, is that, is that how you measure a man?*

"Hey Seth, what can I do for you?" Andy was getting ready to leave when his phone rang..

"I wanted to know if I could talk to you about some personal issues."

Andrew was a bit confused, but replied: "Sure."

"It's about Serena." Andrew sat down, he figured this might take a while, "How close are her and Darien?"

Andrew hated getting caught in the middle, "Seth, perhaps you should talk to Serena about this."

"I can't, I don't want to make her upset."

Now Andrew was curious, "Why would you make her upset if you asked her about Darien?"

"I trust you'll keep this confidential?" Seth sounded worried, "I just don't need the press on my ass."

"The press?" Andrew shook his head, "I would never go to the press."

Seth continued, "So Darien got in his accident, and I understand that Serena needed to be with him; I would have done the same for a friend. I was concerned that she didn't talk to me for almost a week, but I knew that she was busy, and he needed her."

"What seems to be the problem?" Andrew was unclear.

"Last week Serena came to the studio and told me she had to talk to me, so we went to her office and she told me she kissed him."

Andrew was shocked, not only because Serena had kissed Darien, and then confessed to Seth. But also because neither Serena nor Darien had said a word to him about the incident. "I'm sorry Seth." Andrew was genuine.

"So am I." Seth said shortly, "I asked her if she regretted it, and she said yes, so I told her it was okay. She kept crying and saying it was a mistake. She's been acting like nothing's happened; which is good and bad. I know it must be eating her up inside."

"Can I do anything to help?"

"Andrew, I'm in love with Serena, however, if she's happier with Darien, then I don't want to stand in their way, I just need to know what's going on between them. I don't want to put Serena in the position where she feels like she has to choose. I'd much rather make the decision for her. Then she wouldn't have to feel so guilty."

"I understand. I'll do what I can, and I'll call you as soon as I find out what's going on." Andrew sighed.

"Thank you for your help Andrew, I just didn't know where else to turn."

"It's obvious to me that you care deeply enough for Serena that you'd put your feelings aside for her happiness. And I think it takes a lot for a man to step down. It's my pleasure to help you."

"Thank you again Andy, I'll talk to you soon."

"Bye Seth."

*If by chance all he had to give you/

Was three words wrapped around his finger/

Would that be deep enough at the end of every day?/

And how will you ever know/

If a man is what he says?*

"Where are you going?"

Serena spun around. She had hoped to take her things back home while he was asleep, but alas he had woken up.

Darien saw her suitcase in her hand. "Oh," his voice fell.

"You don't really need me anymore. I was just gonna take my clothes home." She was embarrassed that he had caught her.

"Well, let me help you." Darien approached her with his arm outstretched expecting her to allow him to take the bag for her.

"You're not supposed to carry anything heavy." She defended.

"Oh," he stepped back, "I forgot."

Serena couldn't help but stare at Darien. Perhaps it was the lighting, but his features were suddenly highlighted perfectly. She had never realized how truly beautiful he was.

Darien noticed her zombie like state and was perplexed as to why she suddenly couldn't take her eyes off him. Then he realized she wasn't just staring at him; she was staring at his lips. `So she does remember,' he thought. He imagined that he could take her selfishly right then and there but decided against it. He was still in the game, and now that he was so close to the end he couldn't give up. He needed her, so much more than Seth did, at least as far as Darien was concerned.

Serena removed herself from her trance, much to Darien's dismay. She swiftly removed herself from the room, and left Darien staring at the closed door, wondering when he would get to see her again.

*He never gives up/

That broken dream/

His world goes around in it seems/

Is that how you know/

Is that what it means?*

Serena had kept as much distance from Darien as possible since she had got the crazy idea in her head that if she kissed him, somehow things would be better.

Darien hadn't been any better; he'd been acting somewhat indifferently to Serena.

When Serena was sitting in her office late one night, the thought dawned on her to go to Andrew and tell him everything. He always made everything better. She would have never been able to get away from Ben, and Andrew selflessly dropped the band from the label despite the millions the Heartbreakers had made for him.

She waited patiently, and stepped off the elevator. Light shone from beneath to door. She was in luck, he was still there.

However, as she approached the door, she heard a distinct voice coming from behind the door: Darien. She breathed silently as she eavesdropped on the private conversation.

"What should I do Andy, I'm head over heels for the girl." Darien sounded absolutely elated.

"Let's not act irrationally here, there is the problem of how you're going to tell her." Andrew reasoned.

"She's probably in the studio recording right now. I should interrupt her. I can't stand it anymore Andy. She tastes so good. I love everything about her."

Andrew laughed, "You sound like a teenager."

"Do you think she's recording right now?" Darien questioned.

Serena's heart broke. She had forgotten how much time he had been spending with Raye, Crescent Record's newest female vocalist. Serena wiped tears from her cheeks, and opted not to wait for the elevator, but take the stairs instead.

Darien and Andrew heard the stairway door close. "What was that?" Darien looked behind him.

"Probably just the janitor. Listen Darien, do you really think it would be wise of you to tell Serena how you feel when she's still with Seth?"

"Maybe you're right. I should be handling things more delicately. I'll figure something out." Darien was hopeful.

Serena walked down the stairs and rubbed out her tears. `I am not in love with Darien.' She repeated in her head. `So why do I care if he's in love with someone else?'

Because Serena hadn't been paying attention to where she was going, she rounded a corner and ran into someone.

He reached a hand out to help her up. She looked up and locked eyes with Seth.

"What are you doing here so late honey?" Seth helped her to her feet.

"I could ask you the same thing." She challenged.

"You weren't answering any of your phones, I thought you might have fallen asleep at your desk again." Seth smiled.

Serena laughed, "No, I was just on my way out."

"Well let me take you home then." Seth put his arm around her shoulders, as they began walking toward the lobby.

"Will you stay with me tonight. I don't really want to be alone right now." Serena requested.

"Sure Serena, whatever you want." Seth kissed her cheek.

*Would he walk on water?/

Would he run through fire?/

Would he stand before you/
Will he be your anchor when the dark unfolds?/

Would he give his life up to be all that he can?/

Is that, is that, is that, how you measure a man?*

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AN: Measure Of A Man ©2003 Clay Aiken and all respective owners. Okay, so my questions for you guys. Ben, what the heck do you people want me to do with him? I honestly wasn't planning on bringing him back, but I didn't expect reviewers to be so intrigued by him. Do you want him back? And if yes, do you want him to be good or evil? Anyways, that's all, I just really want to hear your suggestions, cuz you're the one's reading this, and your opinion matters so much to me, that I'm willing to change the story for you. Wow, I have so many thanks to give. I can't believe how many reviews I got. Because you all responded in such masses, and were so kind, I'm more than happy to give you another chapter on Monday. I'll work on doing another double chapter posting, but I can't guarantee anything. So thank you!

My number one fan (DarkTenshi23), thank you so much for the complement, I don't know if I've ever had fans before. It makes me happy to think about it. Hopefully this chapter made you happy.

Lebbie, I love that you write me such long reviews, I do the same thing for everyone I review for. It makes for such wonderful reading. I love that I'm getting such an emotional reaction out of you and all the other readers. I'm glad you enjoyed my Bonus double post, and I wish you luck with your stories, I've got a vault of my own, one day I'll get around to it, but until then I'm content with this story. Much love!

MistressMoon, you bet you're a loyal reader(those are my favorite kind!) I'm not sure what you think of Seth after this chapter. To tell you the truth I really like Seth's character. Of course not the fact that he's keeping Serena from Darien, but he just has bad timing. He really does care for Serena. Although, my proof readers felt the same way, and thought that he was perhaps hired by Ben, sorry, not this time. I hope I keep you guessing. Thanks for the reviews.

Mikahoshi11 (kelbel!), you know I could never tell you that, however, if you gimme a call sometime on my cell, perhaps I could give you a preview. Let me know what you wanna see happen with Ben toward the end of the fic!

Erin sailor ditz, Eternety3, Lk, Sailor Phoenix, Namiko-Daughter of Sekhmet, angel, toria, UsAgI-ChAn206, I hope I was able to update soon enough for you, and remember, the next chapter will be out on Monday. Aren't you guys so lucky I'm punctual! I love y'all too much not to update when it makes you so happy!

Crystal Promise, charismatic angel, kagome, Cristal-moon, aurora, ThatsMsDiva2U, Lara1786, emmastarz, I want to thank you all so much for your continued support. If any of you are writers, then you may know how much I blush when I come home to so many reviews in my inbox. Thank you.

Kayley, I really took to heart what you said about the reviews, I know you weren't being completely serious, but I don't think it was fair of me to set a quota, and that's why I posted the extra chapter. I take my readers seriously, and I thrive on reviews, that's why I put my thank you's at the end of every chapter, so you guys know I do read these, and I appreciate you more than you may ever know.

Cat, Steelheartrose, thank you for your suggestions/comments on the `semi-song fic' formula. Steel, I already had this chapter typed up before I got your review, so I'll try a new format in the next fic, and see how people like it. Is that an okay deal? Good!

Moongoddessluna, how wonderful of you to join us, and I want to thank you for posting your comments after each chapter, I think it's very nice of you, I hope you enjoy the rest of the fic.

SliverMo, I forgive you *gushes*

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Preview: Chapter VIII. Run To Me -----

HOLY CRAP! We're getting close to the end, kinda. When Serena misinterprets what Darien told Andrew who will she run to? And will she regret giving into temptation in such a vulnerable position? OMG I can't wait can you! Obviously not. AHHHHHHHH, Monday is just too far away!