A/N: Finally trying to revise and finish this fanfic. Limited Internet access on Mardi Gras means it may be next week before I put another chapter up.

Disclaimer: Everyone knows my broke ass don't own shit.

Prologue

"I can't believe Rini's gone. I didn't think I'd miss her so much." Serena had a lot on her mind. Defeating the Wiseman had almost killed her and Rini, and for the past few days she had been thinking seriously about a lot of things.

She looked up into Darien's blue, blue eyes. It was now or never. "Darien," she said quietly.

"What is it?" he said as he gave her his devastating smile. When she didn't return his with a smile of her own, his slowly faded. "Serena, what is it?" he asked.

"I don't think we should do this," she said.

"Do what?"

"This relationship," she said. "You and me. I don't think we should get back together now that the danger is over."

Darien pulled away from her, but left his hands on her shoulders. "What?"

"You heard me," she laid her hands on of his and removed them from her shoulders. Then she took a step back. "I didn't come here to celebrate with you. I came to tell you I can't get back together with you."

"But I thought we were already back together," he said, puzzled.

"Oh Darien, I wish that was true. But right now I can't even imagine myself with you. I just need some space."

"Space! What do you mean space?"

"I don't really know what I mean! I just know I can't be with you right now!"

Color was slowly creeping up Darien's face. Finally, he exploded. "What do you mean you can't be with me? We have a child together!"

Serena frantically looked around at the nearly deserted park. "Keep your voice down," she hissed.

"Come on, Serena. There's hardly anyone here, and they're not listening to us anyway."

"They will be if you keep on yelling!"

Darien's hands came up to rub his eyes. "I can't believe this. How can you just make a decision like this?"

"I'm making the same decision that you made. Remember? You needed space. Now I need space!"

"Don't be immature, Serena. Because I did something to protect you, you do it just to get back at me?"

"Immature!" Serena's voice rose. "Don't you ever get a new line? I may be klutzy, ditzy and forgetful, but when it matters, I COME THROUGH!"

Darien shook his head. "I'm not denying that you don't come through." His voice softened, "Come on, Meatball—," he never finished.

"Head! Meatball Head!" she exploded. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I like my hairstyle? After all the teasing I take about it! Don't you think I'd have changed it if I didn't have a reason to keep it like this?" She took a deep breath and continued. "I'm proud of my hairstyle, you asshole. This hairstyle is a mark of royalty, just like my powers. How dare YOU MOCK ME?"

"Oh, like you don't have your cutesy little nicknames for me." His voice rose to a falsetto. "Oh, honey, oh Darien. Muffin!"

Her face fell. "Well you won't have to worry about me bothering you after tonight." She turned away from him.

He grabbed her arm, preventing her from walking away. "Come on Serena. Let's not fight. You know I love you."

"No you don't. You know that you're supposed to be with me. That's not love, that's expectation. And I don't know if I can rely on expectation for my happiness. I need to be Serena for a while, and to figure out what that means to me, not to anyone else."

"How can you tell me I don't love you? I'm talking about my feelings, not yours Serena." Darien swung her to face him.

"And I'm telling you that you don't love me. You like me, I even amuse you sometimes. But you don't respect me. And without respect there is no equal relationship, no love," Serena gazed sadly at him.

"So you say it's over and it's just over?" Darien asked.

"That's more than you gave me," Serena pointed out. You didn't even give me a choice; you took it away from me. I'm taking my choice back. And at least you're getting an explanation."

"I pushed you away to protect you! I didn't have any choice!"

"Yes you did, you could have told me. And we could have worked it out TOGETHER!" She shook her head in exasperation. "You don't see me as an equal partner. You see me as a kid."

"But Serena —," his voice trailed off.

"Look, I don't want to talk about this anymore. Let's just walk away."

"I don't accept that," he said angrily.

She sighed. "You don't have a choice. I need a break so I'm going to take one. Goodbye Darien." She walked away from him and she didn't look back.