AN: Ok so wow, I'm now officially revising/updating my story. Thank you all so much for sticking with me while I work all this craziness out.

Loving Her for Her.

He watched as she lay sprawled out on his living room carpet. Her lips, her full and sensuous lips, curved into a smile as she noticed him watching her. Standing up, she glided over to the couch where the love of her life was relaxing. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her towards him, resting his head against her stomach in an extremely intimate gesture, her fingers absent mindedly running through his raven locks.

She sighed, "Darien, I don't want to go."

Looking up, Darien smiled at her. "Some things never change," he thought to himself as he hid a laugh which was building inside him. "Serena, it's only for a week." He tried to reason with her, "Besides, you could use a change of scenery."

"Damn him and his never failing reasoning," Serena moaned to herself. "Some things never change…"

"But a week without you is torture," she whined hoping to play up the suffering card.

At that Darien burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Serena asked. "You think my suffering is funny?"

Between laughs he replied, "But a week (gasp) without you (gasp) is torture." His body rocked with laughter and Serena pulled away from him.

"Fine," she huffed. "Be that way." She stormed away from him in a fury, in which Darien worked quickly to extinguish.

"Now come on," Darien said as he pulled her back to him. "We both know that statement was completely ridiculous."

She began to laugh also, throwing her head back with mirth. "Jeez Darien, I love you." Standing before him, she kissed his forehead. "But it will be torture spending a week with my brother," she murmured against his flesh, causing shivers to run up and down Darien's spine.

"So, refresh my memory. Why are you going on this trip to anyways?"

Serena sighed rolling her eyes as she said, "Daddy has a business meeting some day next week, so my parents decided that it would be super great if the whole family tagged along. It's sort of like a family vacation/graduation/early birthday present for me. Though I don't know why they just won't let me stay if it's supposed to be a gift and all," she grumbled to herself.

"A vacation huh," Darien asked.

"That's what they said."

"Well, you do deserve it."

"Darien," she began in a futile attempt to stop the conversation, but to no avail.

"As I was saying, you've risked your life over and over again for the greater good. You've been a great friend; you're always there for the girls if they need you and you even managed to graduate, on time nonetheless, with an A/B average."

"I know," she giggled. "You should've seen the look on my parents' faces when they found out. It was classic." He kissed her cheek. Closing her eyes, she sighed as he continued kissing around her jaw line, and down her neck.

"Not to mention, you're the light of my life…" He brushed her lips and tasted her tears. Startled he exclaimed, "What's wrong?" All she could do was smile at him, a radiant smile that assured Darien that she was alright.

"You're (sniff) too good to me. You spoil me way too much for my own good."

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "You're worth it Serena…" was all he could say. "You always continue to amaze me."

She looked up at him, his Sapphire blue eyes moist with tears. "I love you Darien."

"I love you too." They embraced. A few minutes later Darien glanced at the clock. "Hey, Serena, what time are you supposed to be home?"

"At 7 why?"

"Oh because it's only quarter 'til."

She yanked away from him, "Oh my gosh, I'm going to be late," and began her famous mad rush out the door.

"Serena wait," Darien said as he raced over to the door, "let me give you a ride."

Even by ignoring every speed limit on the way there, they barely managed to get to her house before seven.

"Thanks for the lift," she gave him a quick peck on the cheek as she jumped out of the car. "I love you, see you next week."

"Love you too, Serena." Darien watched as she bounded over to her parents' car her meatballs flying behind her. He grinned as she turned around and blew him a kiss. He pretended to catch it before driving off, feeling strangely saddened.

"Come on Darien" he scolded himself as he drove away "you're acting like you'll never see her again." But he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

He drove around for a couple of hours before arriving at the arcade. He waved as Andrew looked up. "Hey, Andrew, my man."

"Hey Darien, long time no see. What brings you here all of the sudden?"

"Serena left today."

"Ahh, I knew it had something to do with her…hmm what was it, let me think." He pretended to scratch his head. "Oh yeah, that's right she's going on vacation." Darien stared at Andrew puzzlingly.

"How'd you know?"

Andrew laughed, "Well, I have four very reliable sources who happen to basically live here."

Darien laughed as the images of the four scouts came to mind. "Yeah, I can see how you'd find out. So, is your shift almost over?"

Andrew looked at the clock. "Actually," he said as he took off his apron. "It's over right now. Got any plans?"

"Nope, I just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out for a bit."

"Awesome," Andrew said as he jumped over the counter. "Got any bright ideas in that big head of yours?"

Darien shook his head, "Not a clue."

"Good," Andrew replied, "Because there's a new arcade opening a couple of blocks down. I want to check out the competition."

Darien shook his head, "I hope you don't take Rita on dates like this. If you did, then I know why she went to Africa." Andrew clutched his heart.

"Oh, that's rough Darien." He smacked Darien's side playfully. "Well, let's go, we're not getting any younger."

Later that evening, Darien sat down on the couch, a book on quantum physics resting in his hand. "Well, the good thing about Serena being gone for a week is that I can get these reports done." He opened the book and began to read, just as a flash of lightning flashed outside his window. He looked up to a crash of thunder and put his book down. Walking onto the balcony, he watched the storm rage for a few minutes.

"Yet another reason why I'm glad Serena isn't here." He shook his head as he imagined her screaming over a little thunderstorm. He closed the door to the balcony as the sky grew even more ominous. He picked up his book and began to read, the hours melding into each other as the sky turned a charcoal black in the background.

A couple of hours later he awoke to the phone ringing. "Oh man," he sighed to himself. "I must be really out of it if I fall asleep reading a physics book." He staggered over to the phone, picking it up on the fourth ring.

"Hello," he spoke into the receiver.

"Darien," a hesitant voice sounded over the phone.

"Amy…Amy, what's wrong," he said realizing something was wrong when he heard her crying.

"Oh god Darien," Amy broke out into sobs.

"Amy, what's wrong, answer me!" His voice became increasingly edgy as he began to comprehend how serious this was. "Amy doesn't cry over just anything," he reminded himself as he began to prepare for the worst. "Something's wrong, someone's been hurt." Darien began to mentally rack his brain for any logical reason why Amy would be calling him, sounding like her best friend just died.

"Oh Darien," she sobbed even harder. "Darien, there's been an accident."