AN: Sorry. I really hate this chapter. I can rarely write sad things these days. It's like pulling teeth. It did turn out all right, though. Also, you are rewarded for your patience with an epilogue.

Just keep up with Mina. You can do this for her. Serena placed one foot in front of the other, Mina's hand firmly gripping her own. "Mina. You know what they say about history? About how we fail to learn from it…" She could not let that happen again. It wasn't even the sight of their bodies that was nagging at her; it was the excruciating emptiness she felt afterward.

The other blonde did not bother to even look over at her this time. "Darien is tearing himself to pieces, Serena. He may as well die; living with hollowness isn't really living at all."

Serena stumbled over her own feet at her friend's words. It seemed as though she had read her mind, except projected her own feelings onto Darien. Did he feel about her what she had felt about seeing them die? She knew she loved him, but this was for the best. Wasn't it?

Mina grabbed Serena's arm quickly to prevent a fall. "Careful. I don't want to deliver damaged merchandise," she joked. Neither were sure how given the serious air to the situation.

Being with Darien meant that he would die for her, and she would lose him. If she didn't have him in the first place, then that would be one less casualty in a battle. She knew she could never extricate herself from the senshi, but Darien… Suddenly, Mina's words sunk in. She was selfish, hurting Darien to help herself. The ache in her heart increased tenfold. Of course he would have already guessed this. Why would he want anything to do with her.

A tall, modern apartment building loomed in front of them. Mina guided Serena up to it and through the door, nodding politely to the doorman.

Lost in her thoughts, Serena was only realized where they were at the blast of air conditioning. "Mina? I'm scared," she whispered.

"Don't be. There's no reason," she replied. She lead her past the tastefully decorated sitting room in the lobby to the elevators

"What if he won't let me in?" Serena questioned, watching as Mina pressed the gold UP button set into the marble wall.

"He will. Must I go into this again?" She pushed Serena into an elevator. "If you back out on this I'll never forgive you," she remarked calmly. As the door slid shut, Mina's face fell once more.

Serena took a deep breath and knocked on the door. So many thoughts went through her head that she couldn't pick one to focus on. What would she say to him? The door opened slightly. "Serena," Darien breathed, his voice hoarse. He threw the door open and moved aside for her to enter. She faintly realized that he was shirtless as he closed the door.

Serena looked around, realizing that she'd never seen his apartment. There wasn't much to see due to the fact that there wasn't a single light on. The only light was what managed to leak in around the dark curtains. "Darien," she murmured, turning to face him. He had shadows under his eyes, and it looked like he hadn't shaven for several days. "You look awful."

"You look beautiful," he replied, his voice pure sincerity. He had just finished telling himself that he'd never see her again.

"Darien, I-please forgive me," she murmured, tears welling up in her eyes again. How could he be so forgiving? With the way she had treated him, he had every right to be angry or at least offended.

"Please don't cry. I can't stand to see you cry." Darien moved towards her and cupped her face. He used his thumbs to brush away the few tears that managed to leak out/

"I'm sorry that I hurt you so badly, Darien," she added, looking him directly in his midnight blue eyes. In the back of her mind, she noticed that his face seemed to look younger and healthier than the few moments before, as though being there with him brought life back to him.

"You could never hurt me too badly," he soothed. As long as she came back, it would take all the hurt away.

"I was afraid that l-loving you would hurt me, like it did before," she explained. "I know that it was wrong to hurt you for my benefit, and I hope you can forgive me. It's just… I was afraid that you would die for me again."

"I would die for you again," he responded. His whole heart was in it, as new as the feeling was. He would die to protect her over and over. Without her to love him, what was there?

"But, Darien-" she began.

"Oh shut up, Serena," he grumbled in exasperation. He slid his arms around her waist and began to kiss her with an almost feverish passion. He knew that if he didn't stop Serena, she would keep talking and make herself feel worse. He was determined to show her how he felt, since he couldn't vocalize it.

A barrage of feelings hit Serena: happiness, relief, and a decent bit of lust. She let her hands slide over his abs and up his chest before clinging tightly to his neck.

Thankful to have Serena back in his life, Darien set out to memorize everything about her. He trailed his hands across the small of her back and up the curves of her sides, gently skimming the sides of her breasts. He pulled out of the kiss for air and reveled in the delicious half sigh, half moan that Serena emitted. Settling his hands on his hips, he moved to trail kisses along her jaw and down the arc of her neck. He nibbled at the skin that peaked out at the dip in her shirt, eliciting a shudder of excitement.

"Darien," Serena muttered softly to him, utterly caught up in the moment. She noticed that the hair that brushed against her lips felt even softer than it did against the hand she had carded into it.

"Hm?" he replied distantly against her throat, thoroughly immersed in the pattern he was kissing across her skin. One hand trailed along the band of her skirt, stopping for a moment to slide one finger under it to tickle her right hipbone, earning a gasp.

"I want you. Nowish would be good." She tugged a little on his hair to get him to look up at her.

Giving in, Darien leaned back and smirked up at her. "You're back to the blunt Serena I love so much," he commented. He slid his arm around her waist, noting her shiver. He promptly used his other arm to scoop her up and carry her to the bedroom.

After depositing on her on his bed, Darien stopped a moment to admire her, only to be surprised as she kicked off her shoes and tossed her shirt aside. With a chuckle, he sprang forward and captured her hands, pinning them above her head. "Patience is a virtue." He stared down all of the creamy skin that was exposed, her smooth belly, the globes peaking over her bra, the line of her neck. Leaning down, he nipped her earlobe. "My bunny," he whispered into her ear.

Serena breathed heavily as she lay her head on Darien's chest; her loose hair spread over them. "Never leave me again, Darien," she whispered, her eyes pleading with his.

"I would never leave you. I love you, Serena," he replied, smiling gently into her eyes.

She returned the smile. "Does that make us a couple, Jerk Face?" she asked slyly, eliciting a deep laugh from Darien. Serena enjoyed the feeling of his laughter rumbling in his chest and resolved to make Darien happy forever.