"I wonder how she is doing…" Mina twisted a long strand of golden hair between her fingers

"I wonder how she is doing…" Mina twisted a long strand of golden hair between her fingers. The four friends that had been left behind earlier that evening were lounging around Rei's house. Mina in particular was sitting on the floor and leaning on the low table in front of her.

"Knowing our Serena, she has probably gotten…. None." Lita was lying face-up on the floor, half asleep.

"If only Darien wasn't as timid about these things, she would have gotten somewhere by now!" Rei, who had just been leaning against the far wall, suddenly sprang into action by pacing the room. "He is always so proper but when it comes down to it he flips out. Did you not HEAR how nervous he sounded on the phone after Mina talked to him? AND he hung up on us!" Rei was in full complain mode, and everyone knew nothing was going to stop her.

"We could…." Ami's timid voice piped up and to everyone's surprise, Rei shut up. Everyone leaned in closer to the blue haired girl sitting upright at the table with intense curiosity. Feeling their gaze, Ami sat up a little straighter. "We could call him again and convince him to drop those darn ethics of his to give Serena some joy tonight." Everyone had grins forming on their lips, but no, Ami didn't stop there. She put on the saddest face she could just to emphasize the next line.

"Doesn't he OWE this to her after seemingly abandoning her this year? You know, during our whole battle with Galaxia and all of her minions? Didn't she just SUFFER while he was gone? He could make up for all this, tonight." Ami's eyes flashed maniacally.

"I didn't know you had it in you Ames!" Lita patted Ami on the back, maybe a little harder than she intended to. Ami fell forward, as well as the glasses that were perched on her nose. She straightened up and slid them back in place while flashing everyone a huge grin. After some debate, they decided to do just what the smart Sailor Soldier had said.

Mina was voted to talk again, mostly because love advice coming from the soldier of love was a little more convincing. Ami would feed her what to say, and everyone would listen in. This was going to be good.

Having finished their food and talked for a while, Darien and Serena snuggled in to get cozy for the remainder of the night.

"Darien?" Serena's little voice squeaked. Darien looked down and saw her beautiful face looking up at him with misty eyes. His insides did a double back flip and he could swear he broke sweat on his forehead. "There is no where else I would rather be right now." Serena whispered. Darien just couldn't stand it anymore. He lowered his head slowly on to her willing lips, a more passionate kiss than the one in the kitchen. Serena, in response, shifted her weight and Darien easily pulled her onto his lap.

This has never happened before… Darien's mind was screaming out of nervousness. This is usually how she made him feel, but for some reason the emotions he was feeling were more intense. Carefully, so not to make her move away, he placed his hand on the side of her knee. Painstakingly slow, he slid his hand higher. And higher… And higher…

RING… RING…Serena practically leaped off Darien and landed on the complete other side of the couch. Darien gave a nervous laugh and raced to answer the phone. The quicker he answered, the quicker he could get back to… whatever they had been doing. He rather liked it.

"Hello, Chiba residence, Darien speaking."

"Oh, Darien, don't put on that gentlemanly attitude. What have you been doing?" Darien's whole body tensed up as Mina's voice echoed on the line once more.

"N… Nothing. We made dinner and we were just relaxing on the couch when you called."

Easy, Darien, keep you're cool and you will get through this.

"Relaxing…. Right. I am here to talk to you about that little number sitting on your couch right now. You know, the beautiful blonde Sailor Scout, as well as your future wife? Do you remember how happy she looked when you appeared after the battle with Galaxia?"

Darien was thankful that they were on the phone or else Mina would have seen the puzzled look on his face. Where is she going with this?

"Yes, I remember."

Mina had the biggest grin on her face but of course, Darien couldn't see that.

"Did you know that all year, when you were gone, she wrote to you every day, no matter what she was doing?"

"Yes, I read each and every one." Darien replied.

"Do you even know how much she SUFFERED? She didn't get one reply, not one from you! She convinced herself you didn't write because you were busy, which is like the truth. During our battle with Galaxia, she even thought you had DIED! Do you know how hurt she was?" Mina raised her voice on the phone. She needed, WANTED him to get the idea.

"S… Suffered? She-suffered?!" Darien was shaking all over. Image after image of his Serena, his angel, crying over his picture, calling his voicemail just to hear his voice, weeping on a rooftop in the rain flashed in his mind. He didn't know where they came from, but they seemed so real.

"Yeah, suffered. She would twist her ring, the one YOU gave her, over and over on her finger and was always moping around." Mina could almost feel Darien's guilt. Now to finish him off. "Darien, what have you done to make up for all that? Make her soup? Is that really going to compensate for that long, lonely year? How could you…?" Darien's breath came is short gasps as he realized how Serena must have felt, and what little he has done for her. Struggling to even think, he could barely answer Mina.

"What do I need to do? Just tell me and I will do it, for my love, my poor Serena…" He felt disgusted with himself. How could he do that to her? He loved her, but he had left her, all alone, for so long…

"Darien, I know you love her a lot. I know you want to make her happy. From a love aspect, what could make her the happiest person alive?" Mina hinted hardly, wanting him, no, FORCING him to get it. Suddenly, it all clicked. Darien stopped breathing.

She wants me to make love to Serena. She wants me to have sex with Serena. She wants me to…. That thought was the only thing racing through his mind. The touch of her thigh on his hand suddenly burned his fingers. He could feel every kiss they ever shared tingling his lips. His mouth was dry and suddenly he couldn't sit still. He looked up at the ceiling, then down at the floor, and al l around the room. Anyway he turned, he could not get away from the feeling of utter shame he felt for doing this to Serena. And he could only think of what he wanted to do to her right here, right now, just to make up for that….

"Jeez, don't get all hot and bothered talking to me on the phone! GET OUT THERE!" Mina reprimanded him and suddenly he was aware of everything, including his heavy breathing on the phone.

"All right. All right! Oh and Mina? Thanks." With that he hung up the phone and took a deep breath. He looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. His body was still for a moment. When he looked forward again, he was under control. He could do this.

A somewhat calm, collected Darien walked back to the couch where Serena sat. She had gotten bored while he was gone and turned on the TV. With a blanket tightly wrapped around her little torso, her face was one of pure concentration. Darien sauntered over to the television set and turned it off. The girl of his dreams looked up at him with an innocent, confused look. Darien gulped. Seeing this, Serena decided to make the first move. She laughed lightheartedly.

"Let's see, where were we before the phone rang?" Darien walked over and sat down on the couch beside Serena. He pulled her gently onto his lap so that she was cradled in his arms and put his face inches from hers.

"I think we were right about…" He boldly placed his hand right back on her knee, "…here." And with that, Serena kissed him, just a brush of the lips.

Darien, on the other hand, wanted to give a little more. He kissed her right back, but let his lips linger on hers. After a moment, he opened his mouth a little, letting his tongue run along her lips. Serena responded and opened her mouth and let the tentative tongue in. Head shifting to the side so he could kiss her even deeper, Darien started sliding his hand right back up her leg. Serena felt him do this.

Oh my GOD!! Her mind screamed in excitement. She couldn't believe they were FINALLY going to get somewhere. She was still on his lap, arms hooked around his neck, kissing him senseless. But, jeez, she had to breathe. Darien gasped as Serena broke the kiss, his whole hand already up her miniskirt. He cautiously looked at Serena, a confused look on his gorgeous face. Serena just stared at him for a second, drinking him all in.

The sexy black hair falling into midnight eyes, and the rock hard body wrapped around her was just too perfect. She wanted this, and for the first time she truly realized she could do this.

"Don't most normal apartments have bedrooms for this? Or…" she teased playfully, "Does the masked crusader never sleep?"

Darien laughed and happily picked Serena up in his arms with one sweeping motion, much as he did as Tuxedo Mask. Carrying his prize, he made his way to the bedroom, where they both had been just hours before. He laid her out like a baby onto the bed, her golden odangos resting on a fluffy pillow. He walked back and looked at her.

"Tuxedo Mask never sleeps, but Darien Chiba, however, does."