Thank you people who e-mailed me, especially Alicia who said pretty things about this fic on her web page (I was grinning foolishly when I read that). This is a Serena chapter so Darien wouldn't be making a cue here, but there will be slight references on him. I really don't know eighteenth century English laws on taxes and all that so I'm making the situation up, and the language I used is slightly modern for an eighteenth century setting, but what not?! Have a Merry Christmas everybody! Send me mail! Disclaimer: If I was really good this year, would Santa Clause give me my own Mamo-chan, but its okay I could always borrow him once in a while from Naoko. Eyes on You by Rinoa Rated PG Chapter 1 Five years later "Well love, tell me what being eighteen feels like?" Jason asked his daughter, who was happily twirling around the house. "I feel different, but everything around me is the same, I don't understand how I feel, but there is this tiny bubble inside of me wanting to burst out" she confided with a smile, straightening the linens on her bed. "That's one way to put it, now come here, I want to give you something" he ordered kindly, and waited as she gave the pillows one last plumping before sitting across from him attheir small table. "What is it Papa?"she inquired, trying to keep the excitement out of her face and voice. "In my days, when a girl turns eigthteen, the person who loves her the most gives her the prettiest present, so..." he produced a small box behind his back and gently opened it up. Serena could only gasp in wonder. Inside the worn black case, was the loveliest neclace she ever saw, resting inside the deep black velvet was a heart shaped locket, and to her surprise, it was gold, pure gold. "It was your mother's I gave it to her when she turned eighteen." he said, his voice wistfull, looking at his daughter, who reminded him of his wife in every little way. Serena opened the locket up and what she saw brought tears in her shining blue eyes. It was a miniature, two actually, one on the left and another at the right. The one on the left was of her parents, and one on the right was of her. It was so beautifull done, that it made her heart ache. She was rendered speechless that moment so she only did what she could, she threw herself at her father's warm embrace. "I did promise you a portrait, I'm sorry if it was so little, the supplies was scarce and so I...." he tried to explain, but was cut further because Serena pulled away from him and faced him with her cheeck tinted a slight pink and her eyes misty. "Never Papa, never in my wildest dreams..." she said shaking her head while clutching the pendant near her chest. "Never be scared to dream darling, who knows it might come true, mine did when your mother gave birth to you." he said feelingly. Serena meant more to him than he can express, she was the every dream and every hope that he and Serenity shared. Whatever answer Serena might have gave him was cut abruptly by the rude knock at their door. Serena rose up to answer the door saying to her father, "I doubt that it's somebody wanting to greet me a happy birthday" The person at the door was Matthew Ross, the village tax collector, he was a friend of the small community, especially Serena's father and as hospitality dictated they invited him in for a drink, and once they were seated, they couldn't help but notice that Matthew's face looked grimer than usual. "I don't like it Jason, but it has to be done" he started out. "What are you talking about" Jason said leaning forward sensing the import of the news that brought Matthew to their home. "Taxes, they're bloody raising our taxes again." he spat outbitterly. Serena and Jason gasped, as it was, they could barely pay for their meal, now whatever hopes they have for three meals a day was reduced to ashes. "By how much?" Serena asked fearfully. When Matthew named the amount, Serena felt her blood go warm and she bolted up from her chair. "Those...those leaches!" she cried out vehemently, "What is their excuse this time? The London Season is almost finished so there are no more parties and ball gowns for us to fund and I doubt there is a marriage comming out soon, not with those vile sons of theirs, I don't think there was a woman born who could stand to be near them or at least fifty feet away from them." "Calm down, Serena" Jason tried soothing his daughter, for all her outward apperance of angelic serenity, his daughter had a temper and a strong dose of courage, with strong principles he himself has taught, he only wished that she would be less impulsiveat times. "How could you take this lightly? The way they're spending, one might think they own a duchy instead of a mere baronet." she fumed, her cheecks were flushed with rightuous indignation. "There is nothing we can do about it, when is this effective?" he asked Matthew, who was momentarily forgotten because of Serena'sangry tirade. "Next month or so, I'm sorry Serena, but for what it's worth, we're all in this together." he answered turning to the somewhat subdued girl who suddenly remembered that he was present. Serena smiled winsomely at him, hoping to some what erase the scene she created, "Thank you." she said simply, and then stood by the door and ushered the old man out of their home. Neither of them talked about the new tax imposed on them, they both knew that each one should give the other some space to think and on Serena's part, calm down. Because it was her birthday, she decided to go out and be with her friends before she confront the problem. So, wearing her best wool dress she decided to pay a call to her best friend. "Hey Molly!" she called out. After a few crashes and small chaos, Molly's red head peaked out from the hut, and she gave Serena a sunny smile. "Wait a sec, Timmy is being difficult" she apologized. Another head, smaller, peaked out, and seeing who it was,ran straight at Serena. "Happy Birthday!" the small child yelled as he ran into Serena's arms. Timothy is Molly's younger brother, she often helped her friend baby sit the 'little trouble maker' as Molly often called him, but as far as Serena was concerened Timmy wasan angel. "You remembered!" Serena exclaimed delightedly. Holding the child close to her and allowing its soft auburn curls brushher face. "He's not the only one who remembered" Molly said with a smile on her voice. Serena put Timmy down and turned to face Molly who was shyly holding out a package at her. "For me?" she said surprised taking the gaily wraped, although bulky package from Molly's out stretched arms. "Of course you dummy, who else could it be?" Molly teased, pleased with the expression on her face. "Oh, you shouldn't have" she cried out and then wrappedMolly in a feirce hug. "Don't dawdle Sere, I want you to go and open it" Molly saidimpatienly. With a laugh, Serena tore open the package with Molly and Timmy looking at her expectantly. "It's so pretty!" she exclaimed as she held out a new straw bonnet, artfully designed with the right touch of lace and a widepink ribbon. "Look closely at the ribbon" Molly instructed. Serena peered closer and saw that her name was intricately embroidered white on the ribbon, recognizing the detailed needlework, she turned to her friend who was proudly beaming at her. "You did this didn't you?" she said holding out the embroidery. Molly smiled modestly and said, "Not really, mother helpeda bit." Serena gave a desperate little sigh at her friends talent and then remarked on her lack of it, "I wish I could be half as good at this thing as you are, all I do is prick my fingers." "You just needed a bit of practice" Molly said wisely. "That is the understatement of the year" she said rolling her eyes and accepting her fate. "Is okay Sere, Molly can't shoot as good as you do" Timmy said comfortingly in that baby voice of his noticing Serena's distress, in Timmy's eyes he'd take Serena's talent with a pistol that his sister's neat stitches anytime of the day. "If only all boys are like you, Timmy, then I wouldn't have so hard a time looking for a husband" she said drily. "You wouldn't have a such a hard time if you're actually *looking* for a husband." Molly comented snidely. "Speaking of husbands, how is Melvin?" she inquired hoping the talk of Molly's fiance would divert them from the topic she was desperately avoiding. Much to Serena's satisfaction Molly's face turned almost the same shade as her hair. "Oh, he's fine and he's comming to see me later" Molly confided, her eyes sparkling like the little brooke near the village whenever she thought of her fiance. "You are so lucky to have found someone to love you as much as you do." she said wistfully, at that she felt Timmy tug at her skirt and she looked down to see earnest pair of green eyes looking back at her. "When I grow up, I'll marry you" Timmy promised shyly. "I don't think Serena would marry such a dirty child as you, come here and take a bath" Molly's mother commanded, who was watching the whole scene by the small window and decided that her son should leave the girls alone. "Good morning Mrs. Baker" she greeted the beautiful woman who looked a whole lot like Molly and Timmy. "And a Happy Birthday to you" Mrs. Baker replied fondly at the girl whom she treated like a daughter. "Thank you" she said smiling back and then she turned to Timmy who was clinging at her leg as if he was commanded to go on an executioners block instead of his bath. "Why don't you go with your mother, I need to talk to Molly about 'icky girl stuff', then tommorow you'll have me all for yourself and then we could go fishing. How would you like that?" she asked gently. "Promise?" Timmy asked, looking at her through his lashes. "Promise" she answered and Timmy extracted himself from Serena's leg and tip toed as he received her kiss and them grimaced as Molly ruffled his hair affectionately. "Thanks mother!" Molly exclaimed as she pulled Serena away from her house, half expecting Timmy to suddenly appear and tag along with them. She loved Timmy, but sometimes he was so annoying. When they were alone, Serena tried her very best to concentrate on Molly's happy chatter about the wedding plans but when topic about money and expenses came up, she couldn't help the rush of frustration that shattered her cheery facade, so in the end she confessed to Molly about her growing concern of her family's future. "I wish there's something I could do to help father raise the money we need to pay taxes, but I don't know how, if only I was born as a boy, then I could join the hunting parties." she said frowning. She never fully understood the reason why she was not allowed to hunt with the men in their village even if she was just as good or better at them with a pistol. Her father doesn't seem to find anything wrong with her being a girl, it was he who taught her how to shoot in the first place, not to mention how to read and how to write, another thing which appaled the men in their village when they first heard about it. "Maybe you can get a job at one of the manors near our town"Molly suggested. "The only manor we know is the one where the owners are extorting money from us to pay for their frivolities, I doubt if they can afford a new rug the way their debts are pilled high." she said dismissing theidea. "You know, I heard Mrs. Dane talk to mother last night, her daughter was getting married to Charlie, the stable man at the next village, well anyway, she was looking for someone who can go in her daughters place to work at some rich nobleman's home. Rumor has it that the pay is great and the owner of the house spends little time at that manor because he has several others around England."Molly gossiped. "That's perfect!" Serena said a smile slowly spreading along her pink lips and brought warmth at her eyes at the thought of finally finding a way to help her father. Sure, she hated to be away from him, but it was the only way for them to cope with the situation. They hurriedly went to Mrs. Dane and asked her about the job, the old lady went on and on about her daughter and the wedding plans before they came into the crux of the matter, "You know dear, it would be a real honor to work for the Duke of Radbury, why he is one of the richest men in the whole of Europe, I heard that he has houses in France and in Spain. Imagine that, a simple country girl like you serving such a high and exalted man!" Mrs. Dane raved her wrinkled face glowing at the thought that her daughter had the high honor of serving such a high and exalted man as the duke. "I'm sure that Serena would be very pleased, aren't you, Sere?" Molly asked her. Serena on the other hand is having a hard time keeping her face straight. "Y-yes" she managed to stammer, holding back the urge togiggle. "Tsk, tks, you should get that stutter out, I don't think that is proper in the presence of the duke" Mrs. Danes warned in a direvoice. Serena only bowed her head to hide her laughter. When they finally got out of the house, the duo dissolved into fits of giggles. "Well, Sere, how do you feel now that your about to serve such a high and exalted man as the duke?" Molly teased. "Nervous of course, before I serve his exalted highness, I have to face my father first" she said, anticipating her father's response. Her father's response is resolute no. They were again sitting at the table finishing their supper when Serena gently broke the news to her father. "C'mon Papa, please?" Serena pleaded. "NO! I can still work enough for the both of us, and we could always borrow money if the need arise." he said shaking his head. He couldn't bear the thought of being away from his daugther much less having her go away to serve some noble man. Serena on the other hand could not bear the thought of having to borrow money from other people, it was a resort that her father never took in all the times she was with him and she wouldn't lethim start now. "I'm eighteen now and in the position where I can finally help raise money for us, for the moment it is the most practical approach that I could think of, and besides the only alternative I could think of is getting married." she said wrinkling her nose. "The alternative sounds awfull" Jason agreed, even though he was well aware that Serena is at the right age to get married. "So you'll say yes?" she said hopefully, turning the full force of blue eyes at him. "Mabye" he answered, not daring to look at his daughter's eyes. Maybe. It was almost a yes and not exactly a no, she thought happily as she lay at her bed, her hands absently toying with the locket that lay in between her shoulder blades. She had a more selfish reason for wanting to take the job. In all her life of reading books about far away places, great adventures and happily ever afters, it was her secret wish to be a part of those things and now chance has finally allowed her to live her dreams. Sure, a couple of miles is not exactly an exotic adventure, but it's the only tangible thing that is withinher reach. Unknown to her father, Mrs. Danes already made a letter to her neice, a cook in the manor, to inform the household of her application, and since the Duke was due to come home soon, and the household staffis a litte short these days with pregnancies and marriages popping out every where, Mrs. Danes happily assured Serena that the job is hers. Two weeks later a letter came addressed to her, it was from the house staff of the ducal estate, Radbury, and it said that she was needed there ASAP. Her father was silent as she read the letter tohim. "It says that they needed me next week." she said softly, she needed her father's answer now, for weeks they have been tiptoeing around each other as if the other is made of glass and as days pass she grew unsure of her father's 'maybe'. "Did you know that your mother almost left me for America?" he said suddenly, "she said that she wanted to see the world and find brand new experiences but we both knew that it wasn't the real reason for her to leave without telling me." Not sure at what he's getting at, Serena layed a hand on his shoulder a simple but telling gesture of comfort and said, "I'm telling you now, aren't I" Jason took his daughter's hand and placed it on his own and then looked straight at her eyes as if searching for the answers he wanted to ask, but refrained in doing so, so he said instead, "You women, always have little secrets and hidden agendas. If I set you free, would you come back to me, like your mother did, or would somebody steal you away." Serena could not think of any reply. Jason gave her an understanding smile and tenderly kissed her forehead, murmuring, "Be good" And then he released her hand and walked away. Leaving is easier said than done, she realized that as she laid her head on her pillow, the last night she would ever do so for months even years she realized. Her friends threw her a small going away partly and they cried bucket loads over the small cake that Mrs. Baker made for her, and she had to smile at the memory of Timmy trying his very best to stuff himself into her suitcase. She would be missing on a lot of things if she went away, Molly's marriage, Jenny's marriage (Mrs. Dane's daughter), Timmy's sixth birthday, the flower festival, the start of hunting season and things that has filled her life with meaning and memories while growing up. But she steeled herself saying over and over that this is what she always wanted, and it would also be for her father. She woke up amazingly early that day, full of nervous excitement and dread. She went around the house making sure everything is in order, made a list of things for her father to do and remind him not to over work himself. She was taking the last survey around the house, when she noticed that her father was awake and is watching her closely. "Any second thoughts?" Jason asked. "None" she said resolutely. "The house will be empty without you" he said in one last desperate attempt to sway her from leaving. "Don't" she said her voice suddenly filled with tears. "Big girls don't cry" he chided her gently, teasingly. They heard a carriage stop infront of their house, and they both realized that it was a reality, that they will not see each other for a long time and this was good bye. She went to her father and took his work calloused hands in hers and held them tightly while asking, "Are you sure you'llbe okay?" Jason laughed at the irony of his daughter comforting him when she is the one who is leaving the familiar surroundings to something alien and unknown. "I'll manange" he replied smiling for her benefit, he was struck to the heart at her concern for him that he had to keep his emotions in check until she's away. He helped her board bulky horse drawn carriage, and watched as it made it's way in the early morning fog until it was enveloped in thick invisibility. "Watch over her Serenity" he whispered and then made his way tothe empty house.