Taking Things Slow

Previously:

She sighed as she walked into the other room where Darien sat. She stopped and stood in the doorway, staring at the raven haired man sitting on the couch staring at the screen as the news played. 'Maybe I do like him.'

Friday

She sighed again before joining him in the room. She took a seat next to him.

"Who was that?"

"Mina. She got the job."

"That's great. She left like an hour and a half early this morning according to your father."

Serena giggled. "Yah, she tends to do that sometimes." She then remembered something. "We have to go to the hospital."

"For what?"

"My preventive drugs."

"Right. Sure, come on." He said getting up. "Just let me get my keys." He said going upstairs.

…

The arcade doors chimed signaling someone's entrance. Serena and Darien took a seat at the counter. Serena giggled as she watched her brother wipe at the spotless counter.

"Is that all you ever do?" She asked.

"Oh, hey Rena. I guess. It's actually pretty busy in here right now."

"Probably because it's 2 in the afternoon. After the lunch rush, before the snack rush, and definitely before the dinner rush." Darien pointed out.

"True. So how are you two doing on this fine day?" Andrew asked as he looked towards his new friend.

Darien just glared back at him. "We're doing fine."

"I suckered him into watching Rent with me." Serena smiled.

Andrew laughed. "You cry?"

"No."

"Yes." Serena said quickly.

"It's alright man, got me too."

"You got suckered into watching it too?"

Andrew just nodded. "This stays between us."

"Duh." Darien said with a laugh.

"How about some food?"

"Cheese burger please!" Serena asked.

"I'll take one too."

"And let me guess, coffee and chocolate milkshake?"

Both nodded.

"Be right back."

"You know I really can't thank you enough."

"As I said, it's no problem. Your family wants you safe and so do I."

"Why do you care so much?" She asked curiously. Was what Raye said really true?

"What do you mean?"

She stared at the counter in front of her and sighed. "I don't know. It just seems like you care so much."

Darien glanced to the kitchen and saw Andrew standing, well trying to hide, behind the frame. "Come on, let's grab a booth."

"Andy, we're getting a booth." She called before following Darien to a private booth.

Once they were seated, Darien released a slight sigh.

"There you guys are. Couldn't find you back here." Andrew joked as he set down the food and drinks.

"Thanks Drew."

"Thanks Andy." Serena smiled as her brother walked away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have intruded like that." She said quietly. She took a small bite of her burger. She missed good food like this.

"No. It's fine. I just hadn't wanted to say anything with this whole ordeal going on."

"What are you talking about?"

He sighed. "Honestly, I like you Sere. And I mean more than a friend. I guess you could say 'like like.'" He chuckled lightly. "When I saw that tape, and how you were on it, I knew there was something about you. Raye wrote me letters and she'd say what was going on in her life, and that included you. I started to like you before I had even met you in person. These last few days haven't helped. Being so close and getting to know you little by little has just made it worse." He spilled everything. "I watched that tape over and over, and I reread the parts of Raye's letters about you."

She let out a giggle. "Stalkerish much?"

"I sit here and confess my feelings and you call me a stalker."

"I was kidding."

"But I didn't want to say anything because you just got out of a bad, long relationship, with my brother nonetheless, and I just didn't want to do it too soon."

She looked up to him to see him staring down at his coffee. She placed her hand over one of his. "It's alright." She smiled as he looked at her face. "Because over these last few days, I've discovered that I've developed some feelings too. Some strong ones at that. I mean obviously I'm not ready for anything too drastic yet, but I still have feelings."

He looked at her surprised and she giggled.

"What?"

"I just don't believe it."

"Well believe it buster. Now I've been cooped up in a house for most the week, let's finish these suckers and go for a walk in the park."

He chuckled. "Sure."

…

The two quietly walked along the path by the pond that was in the park.

"I love it here." Serena sighed. "I always used to come here to clear my head and get away from everything and everyone. When I left and no one knew where I went, I was here. No one ever found me here. It's my getaway."

"Well you just blew that secret."

"Crap." She giggled.

"It's alright I won't tell anyone."

She smiled as they continued their walk. She slowly snaked her hand into his and gave a light squeeze. "Thanks." She said lightly.

"Anything for you." He pondered a moment as they approached the dock. "So how about we go out some time."

She remained quiet, thinking about the offer.

"I mean, nothing major, just like a dinner date type of thing."

"Sure. I uh just want to take things slow though."

"Of course."

"Are we official then?"

"Not sure. Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

"If you think you can put up with me." She winked.

He wrapped an arm around her waist. "I think I should be saying that to you." He said lightly. His head began to move towards hers, but he pulled her into a hug suddenly and placed his chin on her head. It was the only thing he could think of to cover up what he was about to do. Take things slowly. Remember, you have to let her make the first moves. Can't kiss those luscious lips. Gah! Stop thinking.

"You're arguing with yourself." She said from his chest.

"Not really, just talking to myself."

"Talking yourself out of dating me?" She asked with a giggle.

He smiled and released her. "No."

"Saying bad things about me?"

"No."

"Then what are you telling yourself?"

"It's nothing to worry yourself over." He said sweetly.

She let out a yawn then blushed. "Sorry."

"I see my company is boring you." He chuckled.

"No. I'm just a little tired."

"Then let's take you back home."

She nodded as he led her out of the park.

…

Darien flipped through the channels as he sat on the couch, left arm holding the remote on the arm of the couch, right draped along the back of the couch as Serena was snuggled at his side, sleeping. As soon as they had gotten back and settled on the couch, him in the position he was currently in and Serena just sitting next to him, Serena's head began to bob. She was trying to stay awake. He told her to stop denying it and just fall asleep, so she did. She snuggled against his side and fell asleep. He glanced as he heard a whimper from her, but she hadn't moved and looked fine. He shrugged it off and continued flipping through the channels to find something good on.

…

Serena stared at the empty room in front of her. "Hello?" She asked. She only heard footsteps. She shuttered. "W-who's there?"

Suddenly, there was an arm around her waist and a hand over her mouth. The arms were connected to a figure behind her.

She tried to scream, but the hand over her mouth prevented it. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Don't worry my sweet. I won't hurt you," the figure got closer to her ear, she shivered as she felt his breath, "too badly that is." He chuckled and led her deeper into the dark room.

A tear slipped down her cheek as he laid her on something soft. She guessed it to be a bed of some sort.

"Now I won't put anything in your mouth if you promise not to scream."

She looked at the man's face for the first time. 'Seyia!' She thought. She slowly nodded and he released her mouth before getting on top of her.

"Alright. Just remember love, be quiet." He whispered as he began removing her clothes.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. "Please don't." She begged as her shirt came off.

He ignored her pleas. He removed the rest of her clothes as she begged him not to, and then shed his own. He positioned himself at her entrance.

"Please don't! I won't say anything, just don't do it!" She cried.

"Oops, I didn't catch that." He smirked before ramming into her.

Serena let out a piercing scream.

"SERENA." Darien shook the blonde awake. She had just let out an ear-piercing scream and he saw tears rolling down her cheek.

"No, no!"

He shook her and pulled her to a sitting position. "Serena."

Her watery eyes sprung open and stared Darien straight in the eyes. Her mind registered what happened and she shot into his arms sobbing.

He rubbed her back soothingly. "It's alright. It was just a dream."

"Will they ever go away?" She cried.

He sighed. He couldn't answer that. "Everything will be alright." He said quietly.

A/N: Well, there it is! The Sere/Dare get together...but poor Sere's still haunted by nightmares of that bastard :(. Next chapter will have a lil more drama in it :D Hope you liked this one. Don't have much to say, so please review!

Reviews are loved!!!!
SailorMoonForever