Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
I don't own "I'm Not Giving You Up"
as sung by Gloria Estefan. The idea
to write a sequel wasn't even mine.
To all those really talented people,
here is your citation and due credit.

I'm Not Givinig You Up

After looking at each other, Darien
and Serena both made a decision...but it was
not the same one.

'If you love something, you have to
let it go,' thought Darien as he began to move
away from his wife...

...who followed him, not letting go of
his arm. "Why don't we greet your friends first,
together?" Serena asked as she held onto her
husband's arm tightly.

"If you sure?" Serena nodded and Darien
grudgingly, it seemed, took his wife toward
the three women that had waved to him when
they walked in.

As they walked, all Serena could think
was 'He was going to leave me. He really was
going to leave me.' As their neared the women,
one walked up to her husband, hugged him, and
then said in surprise. "You brought Lady Di
with you this time. Does that mean that I
have to be on my best behavior?"

"Like that's possible." one of the
other women snorted.

"Please don't change on my account."
Serena said as she tighted her grip just
slightly on her husband's arm. "I'm Serena
Chiba, and you are?"

The ladies introduced themselves and
the group got to talking. Darien and the women
laughed and joked and Serena smiled politely,
while rarely saying anything. Times like this
her husband really amazed her. He was such
a great guy in many ways...she liked to think
that she loosened him up some.

Yet the main reason she kept quiet was
not because she felt out of place (although she
did). She was quiet because she was thinking of
her greatest fear...life without her husband.
And this reflection made her think of her actions
of late. 'I've put him through hell.' She
sighed. 'I hope he can forgive me.'

******
The night ended and the couple returned
home. As his wife turned to go to her room, Darien
stopped her. It had be bothering him all night
and he had to know what made her stay. This
princess would be so much happier if...it really
hurt to think about it. "Why?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"I'll take anything. I have always been
able to handle the truth." That, of course, was a
lie. If the truth was that she was leaving but
didn't want a public scene...he couldn't handle
it.

"Because it scares me to imagine a life
without you."

Darien snorted. "Sure you can. You must
be able to...how many parties have you left me
while you went to mingle with the power elite."
Watching his wife's face fall, he wanted to take
it back. But it was the truth and they needed to
talk truthfully now...or just pack it up for
another day.

"I'm sorry." his wife said quietly. That
shocked him...what shocked him even more was the
rest of her quiet monologue. "I know there is
so much that seems to scream that we don't belong
together. My age. My tendency to act like a child.
The fact that I'm not a good host - I swear I try
Darien, I do- the fact I'm not bright. The fact"
here his wife's voice broke, "The fact you don't
love me like you loved her, but I'm not giving you
up. So our pairing isn't normal, usual, or what
you have chosen. It's different. But it's love,
at least on my part, and I REFUSE to put a right or
wrong on this. I think we can make it...but if
you don't want to try, you have to end it. And
you'll have a fight on your hands, because I'm
not giving you up."

Darien was in shock...but then he realized
that this is just guilt on her part. It must be.
She's so different..."Look Serena, you'll survive.
I don't need pity and you know this isn't working."
Darien paused. He had to say the next part. He
had too...even if it was the most painful thing
he ever said. And he had to follow it up with one
of the most painful things he would ever have to do.
"I'll call the lawyer." And he left the room.

*****
As the door shut, Serena screamed. In her
head the thoughts whirled. 'What happened to the promises
"Till death do us part" or "For richer or poorer"!
Were they false on his part? Why is he so determined
to break them?!'

Serena fell to the floor and cried. 'I won't
accept this.' she thought. She began to say it
and then suddenly she was shouting, "I WON'T ACCEPT
THIS!" And she got up and charged through the door.
Upon seeing her husband by the phone, she yanked
the offending piece of technology from his hand,
slammed it down and said,"I refuse."

"What?" asked her husband.

"Oh, you heard me. I refuse. I'm not
giving you up. So I can't be your perfect
hostess, so I can't walk ten steps without
tripping. Sure I act more like I'm 5 than 25.
But that's not the point. We can work this out.
And we will. I've always had the faith in this
relationship, so I won't let you walk out on me."

"And if me leaving was the best thing
for you?"

"Oh, don't give me that crap! Yes, I
said crap. You said the same thing when you
broke up with me over dreams. That time it
was a little sweet, this time it's just
cowardice. And both times, it was wrong.
I can't be Neo-Queen Serenity, but I can
be Serena. And I can fight for you."

Darien seemed to sag agains the wall.
"I only ever wanted you to be Serena."

She moved toward her husband, but
notices he doesn't open his arms right away.
"Darien, can we work this out? I love you."

"I love you too, Serena...And I think
that maybe we can work this out. But it will
take time. Exchanging phrases isn't going to
end our problems."

"I know...But we'll talk now? And try?
Promise me we'll talk and try."

For the first time in year, hope, real
hope was seen in Darien's eyes. "I promise.
We'll talk...and try."

-the end-