Serendipity: Jovana And The Duke

"Wow, you remember." Xena cooed, beaming at Jovana.

"Of course I remembered. How could I forget the birthday of my best and most beloved friend?" Jovana said, pinching Xena's cheeks playfully.

"Oh, I know. It's just that, with the whole debutante thing, I saw you distracted and agitated," Xena said, while Jovana looked at her friend with a warm smile.

"I want you to remember that it doesn't matter how distracted and busy I get, I will never forget your favorite day of the year. And I wouldn't trade our friendship for a crown." Jovana said, as they held each other in a very long hug.

"Thank you, Jovana. You are my treasure."

"And what about Eli? Did he remember to wish you a happy birthday?" Jovana asked, and immediately Xena blushed, while Elijah suddenly looked at the watch on his wrist.

"Well, now that we have found you, I think I should go. I have important things that need my care and attention. Goodbye, ladies. And a very happy birthday to you, Xena." Elijah said, and walked away while Jovana's eyes went from him to Xena.

'What's going on here? Did my ice-cold brother give in to Xena's charismatic charm?' Jovana mused silently, as she watched Xena keep staring in the direction that Elijah went. She gently touched her arm to break the spell. "Hey, Xena. Why do you two look more embarrassed than usual? What happened?"

"This happened." Xena said with a sad face as she reached for her purse and took out a small box. Inside there was a locket with a sapphire stone fixed right in the middle. "He said that since we were kids, he'd always known that, like a gemstone, time would help me to achieve the most incredible brilliance. And that he's happy to see how right he was." Xena's words trembled, her eyes were glistening and on the verge of tears. "And then… Then he said that he wished me all happiness, and to find a good husband who can make me happy."

Xena burst into tears, while Jovana hugged her tight and patted her head as she sobbed. "Why can't he be that husband, Jovana? Why do I repel him so much if I'm a beautiful gemstone?" Xena said, and Jovana's heart bled as she listened to her friend, and then thought about the reason Elijah had said those things to her.

'These two poor souls. I need to fix everything as soon as possible.' Jovana thought to herself, and looked at Xena. "Oh, Xena, you know my brother. He struggles a lot with his feelings. I'm sure nothing is lost." Jovana said, as she held Xena tight and just consoled her in silence.

"Thank you, Jovana." Xena said, and then took an actual good look at Jovana's clothes for the first time since she arrived. "What the hell happened to your outfit?" She asked, as she wiped her tears away with her thumb. Xena continued, "You look like you were trampled by horses right in the middle of a volcanic eruption."

'I thought that Keith was messing with me when he said that thing about the chimney sweeper.' Jovana mused, and then said to Xena. "Oh, come on, Xena. It can't be that bad."

"No, of course, it's perfectly fine. To wipe clean the deck of a ship." Xena muttered, as she started pushing Jovana upstairs.

"What? Wait. Why all this rush? What's happening?" Jovana asked.

"My party is happening, and I refuse to let you come dressed like that." Xena said, and Jovana blinked at her.

"Wow. Is it big? Who is going to be there?" Jovana said, and Xena grinned at her.

"Isn't it obvious, my dear? Everyone." Xena answered, as she dragged Jovana upstairs.

******

As the coach stopped in front of the majestic front yard of Westwood's mansion, Jovana stepped outside, her mind flooded by memories. She could see herself and Xena playing pretty much behind every bush.

Elijah used to play hide and seek with them, and Jovana always ended up being the hunter. 'I have missed coming here. It's so easy to forget how much happiness you can get from happy little memories.' Jovana thought to herself, as she turned to her brother, who was smiling too. He had spent a lot of time in the Westwood mansion as well, and Xena's parents hold him in high regard.

Jovana held his arm, and rested her head over his shoulder as they walked side by side. "It has been too long since our last visit," Elijah said, and Jovana nodded in agreement.

"Yes, too long." She said, and then thought, 'Maybe, if Eli wasn't so sick, we could have been one big family." Jovana shook her head and drove away the bad thoughts. 'I shouldn't think like that. I can still fix everything.'

Xena came out with a big smile to greet Jovana and Elijah. "Jovana, Eli. My favorite guests have finally arrived. All dressed up, and fancy, no less." She quipped.

"It's the only way I would dare to present myself in this beautiful house on such an important day." Jovana said,

"I fully subscribe to that," Elijah added.

"And speaking of style. You are ravishing today, Xena. Being the star of the event clearly suits you," Jovana said. Xena was dressed in a sequential blue gown that reached her knees. Her brownish blonde hair was braided to the back, and she had simple makeup on. She looked beautifully beautiful.

"Oh, you are just sucking up to me." Xena said,

"I can assure you that my sister is perfectly right." Elijah chimed in, and Xena blushed through four different shades of red in a second.

"Oh, Eli, stop." Xena said, as she giggled and looked away while Elijah smiled at her.

"If it makes you feel better, I also remember when you lost all four of your front teeth at the same time as you were seven." Elijah said, and Xena blushed even more as she shot Elijah a playful glare. They all looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Xena had to greet the other guests, and Elijah had a few old friends around.

Jovana was left alone, as she found the refreshment area, looking for something cold to drink and something to eat. 'Mmm, salmon canapé.' Jovana mused, but her thoughts were cut off by a scent that had recently become familiar, but not one associated with Xena's house.

It was a mix of charred wood and leather with a hint of musk. Jovana's whole body awakened, and a white hot shiver darted down her spine. As she could feel his presence approaching, Jovana picked up an extra glass and turned toward him right when he was about to say something. "So, Lord Clifford, should I prepare myself for the usual interrogation?"

Caspian's eyes widened in surprise, but it only lasted for a brief moment. His sharp smile shaved it right away. He accepted the glass and thanked her by nodding his head. He took a sip and leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Only if you have something to hide."

That single whisper drove Jovana to the edge of a cliff, torn between anxiety and how sexy his voice sounded. 'He knows! I don't know how, but he knows.' Jovana panicked in her mind, and looked at his eyes expecting the cold steel of the Secret Service, but Caspian's eyes actually felt very warm, like his house. 'It's fine, it's all fine. He knows nothing because there is nothing to know. Today I'm just a stupid debutante, not a smuggling genius. Not to mention that today I don't want to worry about anything, I just want to have fun.'

Jovana glanced around, and noticed that in the growing crowd of the guests, no one was paying any attention to her and the Duke. 'He came to what I'm sure he deems a hideous event just to see me.' Jovana mused, as she stepped toward the Duke, crushing through his impenetrable smile with an innocent look that could melt steel.