THE CYCLE OF LIFE

Chapter Three

~Serena~

Tommorow came slower than I hoped and by three o'clock my nerves were on edge. Mina came into my room and smiled at my obvious anxiousness. "You should wear the blue one." she said. I smiled at her and went to my closet to gather the dress in question. I hopped it wouldn't be too fancy. Mina had said we were going to dinner and a movie but then said we were coming back here with a rented movie because it was more 'romantic' than a theater. Not that I'm complaining.

Mina went off to fix herself up while I hopped in the shower. It was one hour and a half later that we were downstairs making sure the other looked perfect. I had on a strapless baby blue silk dress that tightened in just the right places before cascading down over my hips. It had a diagonally cut sheer fabric with stars and spakels on it. It started at the top hem of the dress and the bottom went from my right knee to my left waist. The sleves were made out of the same fabric but didn't connect to the dress. They were more like long glooves without the finger holes. My knee length blond hair was pinned back in two clips to keep it out of my face and was curled to look wavy. I had on light blue eyeshadow with shinny lip gloss. A simple dimond pendant hanging from my neck to match my earings.

Mina was wearing a spagetti strapped light peach dress that clung to her figure a bit more and a lighter peach shaw to go around her. She had on matching makeup and a pearl necklace and earings. I have to admit, we looked good. We smiled bright and I was about to let out the breath I forgot I was holding, when the doorbell rang. I looked nervously to the door and Mina went to open it. First I saw Andrew step inside wearing a nice suit and looked good but the person who walked in next took my breath away. It was *him*! He was in a black casual suit with a charming smile on his lips and a deep red rose held in his hand. He saw me staring and returned it with his own appreciative gaze. I didn't notice Mina shut the door or how Andrew and her had already walked into the living room.

"Serena" The name was a breath on his lips and he handed me the rose and kissed my hand. I had noticiable tears streaming down my face but I didn't care. I let out a sob before I flung myself into his arms. 'It's him!' was the only thing running through my mind at the time. He held me tight to him and waited for me to calm down. I wipped my eyes, careful of my makeup.

"Darien? Are you real?"

He laughed "Of course I'm real! I have missed you so much Sere!"I smiled.

"I've missed you too" He held my gaze and I reveled in the bliss. The one person who I love so much but never thought I would see again was standing before me. Then it hit me. Love? Of course I love him. He's my best friend. But...its more than that. It was hell living without him and now that he's here again I know I would die if he left me again. But all that flew from my mind as he leaned down and caught my lips in a kiss. I sighed and melted into him. My heart was beating so fast I'm sure he could hear it. My toung left my mouth to trace along his lower lip. I could tell he was surprised by my boldness but none the less responded. And wow, did he respond! By the end of the kiss our breathing was uneven and I had to lean on him for support since my own legs had turned to jelly. I hugged him tight and whispered, "Don't ever leave me again, ok?"

He leaned down and wispered in my ear, "I love you Serena. I'm never letting go of you again. Never."

We walked into the living room, where Mina and Andrew were waiting, holding hands. The two looked up at us, our hands, then at each other and grinned. "So I guess this means you like each other, huh?" Mina said. We all laughed as we walked out the door and to the car (Very nice if I do say so myself), and were on our way to the Majestic Moon, the finest restrant in town. Andrew was driving with Mina in the pasangers seat. She turned on the radio and one of our favorite tunes weaved its way through the silent car. Darien and I just held each other in the back seat while the notes drifted to our ears.

~*~I'll be your dream

I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy

I'll be your hope I'll be your love

Be everything that you need

I'll love you more with every bretah

Tuly, madly, deeply do

I will be strong I will be faithful

'Cause I'm counting on

A new beginning

A reason for living

A deeper meaning

I want to stand with you on a mountain

I want to bathe with you in the sea

I want to lay like this forever

Untill the sky falls down on me

And when the stars are shinning

brightly in the velvet sky,

I'll make a wish to send to heaven

Then make you want to cry

The tears of joy for all the

pleasure in the certainty

That we're surrounded by the

comfort and protection of

The highest powers

In lonely hours

The tears devour you

I want to stand with you on a mountain

I want to bathe with you in the sea

I want to lay like this forever

Untill the sky falls down on me

Oh can you see it baby?

You don't have to close your eyes

'Cause it's standing right here before you

All that you need will surley come

I'll be your dream

I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy

I'll be your hope I'll be your love

Be everything that you need

I'll love you more with every bretah

Tuly, madly, deeply do

I will be strong I will be faithful

'Cause I'm counting on

I want to stand with you on a mountain

I want to bathe with you in the sea

I want to lay like this forever

Untill the sky falls down on me~*~

Somewhere in the middle of the song, Darien had started to sing it to me. I held him tighter and let a joyful tear run down my cheek before looking up to him, smiling and saying, "I love you, Darien." He returned my smile and kissed my lips quick but sweet.

It wasn't but a little bit longer untill we arrived at the Majestic Moon. Since Mina and I were as close as family with the owner, we were seated immediatly. The place belonged to our best friend Lita's mom. The rest of the night went by, to my utter disbeliefe, uneventful. We ordered our dinners, had small talk, and Darien and I explained our past. But other than that we acted like every other couple. Like we had been together for a year at least and were compleatly comfortable with each other.

Then that thought brought up another. Couple? Were we a couple? We did share a couple kisses, and we both said 'I love you'. But I couldn't help but think that we were't a real couple. That first kiss could have easily been the result of finally seeing one another after three years. We just got carried away. And the second kiss was probably just a friendship thing caused by the emotional moment right? The 'I love you's had the same meaning as if I said them to Mina or he said them to Andrew.

What is wrong with me!? I was quickly becoming frustrated over my doubts. We were already back at the house and Andrew was putting the tape in the VCR. Mina was on the floor waiting for him, Darien was on the couch leaning aginst the armrest with his legs stretched out and me? I was lying against Darien with my legs curled under me. He held my body lightly with an arm casually drapped over my waist. Nobody in the room had any idea of my stress and I was thankfull for that. The video started and we all relaxed as our eyes fixed on the TV screen. My mind kept drifting off every now and then to the source of my stress and all around depresing mood. The movie we rented I had already seen before so I don't even remeber when I drifted off to sleep. I do remember the next morning though...

I woke up on the couch feeling heavy. I groaned and let my head plop back onto the couch. But instead of it landing on the nice soft pillows we have, it landed on a hard chest. I felt something shift underneath me and was imediatly awake. I knew who it was before I turned around but none the less gasped. Darien opened his groggy eyes and smiled when he saw me. "Good morning, Sere." He siad in a deep voice and I felt his chest rumble beneath me. He leaned up and captured my lips in a sweet kiss.

I was so shocked I couldn't move. Does this mean he really does love me? I thought to myself. He pulled back looking confused and I smiled and kissed him. "I'm sorry but I was just confused for a moment." I giggled and heard him let out a breath. "Come on. Lets get breakfast." I got up and pulled on his hand earnestly. He chuckled and let me drag him to the kitchen.

Now what happened next is funny now when I look back on it, halarious acually, but at the time...lets just say I didn't think so.

I stumbled into to the kitchen looking more rumpled than even Mina has seen me. My dress was one big rinkled mess and my hair was in disaray around me. My makeup was smudged, lip stick all around my mouth and even some was found around Darien's mouth. (AN~ What happened last night that Serena dont remeber? lol ^_-) Darien was in his pants and a half buttond black silk shirt that was also in disaray and completly rinkled. So when we came into the kitchen and promptly fell on our butts with shocked expressions on our faces, it is understandable when Mina and Andrew start cracking up laughing, right?

I looked at the kitchen table to see Mina seconds away from resembaling a hyenia and Andrew clutching at his stomache while hitting the table in his laughter. I turned red in the face and stood up. "What is so funny?!" I demanded. They just proceeded to laugh even harder. I looked at Darien who was still sitting on the floor. He stood up, looked down, looked at the two I shall now refer to as hyenias, then to me. I stared at him slackjawed as he walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed a bottle of water and drank some.

"What was that for anyways? Pouring wip cream all over the floor and making us trip? I could have broken my neck! And here you two are laughing about it!"

Darien walked over behind Andrew and looked calmly at me. "You have to admit it was a good one." He then grinned, "But this one is better." H pourned the conntents of another bottle he was holding behind his back on Andrew. It was syrup. I looked at the picture he made, all sticky and face completely white with shock written all over it. It was obvious he hadn't been suspecting that move. I laughed outright at him. Mina was in hysterics and I remebered I had yet to get her back.

I walked up to the refrigorator and pulled out some eggs. "How about some breakfast Mina? Eggs?" When she nodded her head I continued, "Scrambeld or fired?" I walked up behind her and she had a suspicous look on her face as she backed away from me. "Or how about my new specialty." I cracked the egg open on a chair and let the contents spill over her head and down her hair. "I call in Egg la Mina!" I giggled as she squealed and stood up.

One thing I will never forget is when Mom and Dad came in and took a picture of the scene. A couple of picture acually. Mina with her egg hair, Andrew with his syrup hair, and Darien and I with wip cream all over our backs and in our hair. It was quite a site. I still have thoes pictures somewhere too.

Mom and Dad greeted Mina and I with a smile and a 'good morning' before turning to Andrew to do the same. When they saw Darien however Mom was the first to recognize him and gasped before running to hug him. Dad just smiled and walked up to him to pat him on the back. 'Welcome home...son.' Those words, I will never forget. I smiled from afar as he embraced the two people who he loved as much as his own mother and father. Mom and Dad made him promise to stop by more often and I just smiled even bigger. I'd make sure he stoped by more often. I giggled to myself at the thought.

We told Andrew and Darien goobye and they left, syrup, wip cream, and all. Darien would be coming back for lunch with my parents and me. I couldn't wait. It was 9:30 now and I was in desperate need of a shower. So after a very long shower, I went to my room to get dressed. I walked to my closet and pulled out an outfit I bought yesterday. Jean hiphuggers that fit nicely along with a light pink shirt. One sleeve on it was 3/4 long and the other was non existant. Normaly I would never have worn something so formfitting but I decided I needed a make over anyway. It's time for the new Serena to come out! I giggled as I went to sit in front of my vanity to brush out my long hair. Knee length hair is really hard to manage. But I have always wanted long hair and I'm not about to give it up. I picked up my comb and started at the ends working my way up. It was 25 minutes later that I had my hair combed and dryed. I pulled it up into my old 'meatballs' and walked upstairs to talk to Mina.

"Knock knock"

"Who's there?"

"Don"

"Don who?"

"Don ya just luv me!?" We laughed as I opened the door and went to sit on her bed. She was at her vanity pulling her hair back into a messy bun.

"I'm so happy for you, Sere. About Darien and all." She smiled at me through the mirror.

"Thanks. I'm happy too..."

~Darien~

"It's great that you found her again. Serena I mean." Andrew sat down on the edge of my bed as I looked through my closet for something to wear. It has to be clean cut, relaxed, but still impress the Tsukino's.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Great." I answered detatched.

"Darien, your not going to a wedding for Gods sake! Slow down." I laughed at him and finally found the perfect outfit.

Black dress pants with a button down silk sky blue shirt. "I know but I haven't seen them in forever and I want to look good."

"They already saw you at your worst. Whip cream and all!" He laughed at the memory and I smiled.

We were meeting at a small cafe halfway between our houses. It was 1:29 and I'm suppose to be there at 1:30. I was so nervous but I finally saw it.

The Starlight Cafe. I pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car. As I was walking to the door I saw something in the corner of my eye. Serena was walking up to me with her bright smile in place. When she reached me she slipped her arms around my neck and leaned up to kiss me. As our lips met I swear I could have died a happy man right there.

"Darien!" I heard her mother call in the distnce. I regretfully pulled back and focused my eyes on a point where I thought I head the voice. Her mother was there waving her hands for us to come over. I grabbed Serena by the waist and started to walk over to the back of the cafe. There was a small fenced in area with tables and such in the back of the place, for people to eat, that remined me of old Paris.

"I missed you." I wispered in her ear before we reached the gate.

She giggled and said, "But its only been a couple of hours silly."

I grinned at her "So" She smiled back and pulled my head down for a quick kiss before entering the gate. I could get used to this, I thought. When we got to the small, white round table the Tsukinos were sitting at, I pulled her chair out for her and sat down beside her. I greeted the Tsukinos and a waiter came by to take our order.

I took time to look around. After all I had never been here before. There was lush green plants and colorful flowers placed beautifuly around the place. I could see a fountain off to one side and remember there was one behind us too. The mist felt good on my neck compared to the warm sun. We all sat there in comfortable sliance while we waited for our food. It's not that we couldn't find anything to talk about but instead we just wanted to take in our surroundings for once. It was kind of quiet and the surroundings made you feel relaxed.

Once the food arrived we snapped out of our trance and made small talk while we ate. Serena's mother seemed ecstatic about our relationship but her father was a bit more hesitant to accept us. He did in the end though.

After we had lunch I regretfully said goodbye, gave Serena a quick kiss and headed off to home. When I got in the door I saw my parents sitting on the couch looking extremly mad and Andrew in a chair looking misserable and dissapointed. "Whats up guys?" I asked looking confused. I got a chair from the kitchen and pulled it to the middle of the room to talk to everyone. I sat in it backwards and rested my arms on the back of it.

"Darien," My mother drawled the name out and paused before contining, "Your father and I have talked about it and have come to a discision." By now I was even more confused. "You are not to see that... girl" She paused again as if trying to find the propper way to adress 'her'. I knew it was Serena after some thought though. Who else could they be talking about? I had told them about her as soon as I got home today. But the way she said 'girl' made me wonder if she didn't mean 'thing'. "anymore. Do you understand this Darien?"

"No, not really." I answered with a hard voice.

She sighed again and rubbed her temples while my 'father' stepped in so to speak. "What is there not to understand? You. are. not. to. see. Serena. ever. again." He paused after every word to make sure I got it. It only served to make me more mad though.

"Why not?" I asked again in an even more cold and detatched voice.

"Look Darien. The girl is trouble. Just stay away from her. It's for your own good. I heard about her before and she is bad news. Got it? Good." With that said he got up and walked up the stairs to his bedroom.

My 'mother' looked at me with pity and said, "We really are sorry dear." And followed her husband.

~*~AN~*~

HIYA PEOPLE! THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING! *tear* I feel so loved...... Lady Star asked me "if Mina's Serena's sister, why does she say, 'Besides didn't you say you lost someone when you were thirteen?' If Mina's her sister, wouldn't she know who Serena lost and how Serena lost him? In fact, Mina's the one who told Serena Darien's name!" ans well to tell you the truth I forgot about that. *grins sheepishly* If you could pretend that Mina forgot or was just...something then that would be great! ^_- Sorry bout that one! Well I hope you enjoyed this! There are still more chapters on the way! Lots more!

3 Strawberry