Chapter 35
Feeling movement beside her, Serena wakes. Looking groggily to her left, she sees Darien roll over onto his back. Thinking he must just be dreaming, she turns back to the her right. She attempts to fall back asleep as Darien continues tossing and turning.
After a few more minutes of trying to sleep, Serena starts to feel uncomfortable. Hearing a small groan come from beside her and feeling a hand grab lightly at her side, she reaches out to turn on the lamp over the nightstand. Turning back to Darien, she notices him mumbling a little and his head lolling side to side.
"Darien?" She shakes him lightly but gets no response. Shaking him a little rougher, Serena calls his name a lIttle louder.
"Serena...Ser.." Darien continues rolling around and mumbling. Being able to see his features now, she watches as they contort almost painfully. Sweat is visibly beading on his forehead and a drop runs down the side of his face.
"Darien!" Serena practically yells at him while shaking him. He rolls back towards her a little and slowly opens his eyes.
Squinting, he sees Serena's face and grabs her arms, pulling her close to him. Practically smothering Serena, she pushes back at him lightly to get him to loosen his hold on her.
"Are you okay?" She looks at his face trying to see if there's any trace of the pain he seemed to be in while sleeping. Placing the back of her hand to his forehead she feels for a temperature. "You're kinda hot, hun."
"I'm okay. Just a bad dream is all." Putting a hand on her lower back and one on the back of her head, Darien pulls her as close against him as possible. Kissing her forehead, he feels his heart-rate start to regulate itself again. It felt like he was on fire but he just wanted to hold her. As close as possible.
"Why don't we go in the shower? Get you to cool down a little. It almost feels like you're running a slight fever."
Getting up from the bed, Darien follows slowly behind Serena. Stumbling a little, he reaches out and grabs onto her arm for balance. She jumps under the contact and turns around to grab his arm in return and help steady him.
"I'm just...just a little dizzy." He mumbles.
"Uh-huh, sure you're just a little dizzy. Sure you aren't getting sick? Do you feel alright?" Serena guides him to the shower and starts it.
"No, yea I'm fine. I just need to get a little sleep and I'll be fine." He strips down and gets in the shower. "You going to join me?"
"Only if you tell me what you were dreaming about." Serena toys with him while stripping down. Pushing her panties off her feet, she stands back up and sees a look on Darien's face that she's never seen before. It was almost like he'd seen a ghost. Still visibly shaken by his dream, he extends a hand to help Serena into the shower with him. "Or not. I don't really need to know." Running a finger down his lips she stops any words from leaving his mouth.
Kissing him, she is surprised to find him kissing back with a certain fervor. Pulling back slightly, she feels his hand return to the back of her head as he pushes her face closer in an attempt to deepen the kiss again. Feeling the almost crazy want that he has for her, Serena places her hands on his chest pushing back more. "Dari-" he kisses her again, "Darien." She twists her face away so he's kissing her collar bone. Placing a hand on either side of his face, she turns him to face her. "What's wrong?" She asks, concern laced in her voice.
"I just... I thought I lost you." He starts to cry and grabs her tightly. "My dream.. Seiya.. you were just... gone." He manages to form a few words between gasps.
"We'll, I'm right here and not going anywhere. Especially with Seiya."
"I watched him.." Darien's face contorts into the painted expression Serena had seen in his sleep. "He killed you. In my dream, he killed you and I watched it happen. I couldn't do anything to stop him."
Serena seems startled for a moment and runs her fingers in his hair trying to soothe him. "I'm right here and so are you, Darien. You haven't failed at protecting me and Seiya can't hurt me, here with you. It was just a bad dream, don't worry about it."
Finishing showering, both Darien and Serena return to bed. Snuggling up against Darien's side, Serena listens to his heartbeat as they drift off to sleep. Waking up several hours later she, Serena makes a mad dash for the bathroom and throws up. Feeling a little nauseous she makes her way back to bed to return to sleep.
"I heard you get out of bed early this morning, you feeling alright?" Darien asks while pulling on his t-shirt.
"Yea, just a little nauseous is all. Must be coming down with something, how are you feeling? You were burning up last night." Serena approaches and touches his forehead. "Feels alright."
"I feel fine, actually. Kinda refreshed now that I think about it. Why don't you go ahead and get dressed, it's almost dinner time now." He chuckles to himself. "Looks like we kinda slept through most of the afternoon. It's all good though, we'll just start driving to the place I planned dinner. Swing through a couple stores along the way if you want, too."
"So. What's this surprise? I know we're going to dinner but what is it we are taking home? It's it an object or something living? Another horse? Cause as awesome as that would be, I'm not sure I need another one right now." She starts laughing but stops herself, puckering her lips to apply gloss to them.
"You look lovely. Although you always do, Angel." He plants a kiss on her cheek. "Let's roll out then. As for your surprise, you'll know it when you see it."
After almost an hour of driving, Darien finally brings the car to a stop in the gravel driveway of a wine vineyard. Telling her to wait a moment, Darien comes around to the passenger side of the car and let's her out. Holding an arm out for her, he escorts her up the small pathway; past a few rose bushes to the heavy wooden door entrance of the old stone building.
The building is dimly lit and smells richly of wine and wood. Looking around, Serena notices a few large barrels that obviously contain wine. Large wooden beams stretch from floor to ceiling, supporting the old building. A man dressed in a black and white waiters outfit approaches them.
"Hello Mr. Shields. It is a pleasure to meet you, finally. You look immensely like your father, definitely have your mother's eyes though. I was very sorry to hear of their passing a few short years ago. I must say, I was quite excited to get a call from you about wanting to come out here though. And that must mean you are Mrs. Tsukino, a pleasure." The waiter takes her hand, bowing a little and kissing it. "Now, if you'll allow me the pleasure, I will escort you both to your table." He turns and walks down a hallway to a small room, set with a heavy wooden table and chairs. Lit by candles hung upon the walls in chandeliers, and a centerpiece on the table itself.
Serena sets herself upon the chair that Darien pulls out and scoots in for her. Smoothing her dress over her lap, she looks across to Darien sitting down and smiles.
"This is kind of amazing!" Serena looks around at the architecture and the candles flickering light along the walls. The man dressed as a waiter walks into the room with a basket of breads and a bottle of wine.
"If you think the view is amazing, wait 'til you try their wine. My parents used to bring home a bottle and let me try it sometimes. It's to die for." Darien says while turning around, adjusting his coat on the back of his chair. The waiter walks around behind the chair, and Darien hands off a small item to the man inconspicuously.
"The fresh salads will be out shortly, followed by the chicken parmesan and our house made vanilla ice cream to finish. Is there something in particular the lady would like to drink other than wine?"
"I think just a little water would be fine, please." Serena replies politely.
"As you wish miss. And for the gentleman?"
"A water for me as well, Walter. And again, I do appreciate you doing this for us." Darien smiles tho the man.
"Anything for you sir. Your parents were very kind in all the years they came here, the least I can do is try to return the favor to you." The man named Walter bows slightly and leaves the room. Shortly after, a young man walks in with two fresh salads in hand, places them on the table and leaves.
"Wow, so your parents must have come here a lot then, huh?" Serena asks then takes a bite of her salad.
"Yes actually. At least twice a year, once for their anniversary and once on the day they met. Although father would plan surprise trips here from time to time because my mother loved it so much. See, Walter owns the place and for special occasions, events and such, he rents it out for the night. He just brings the wine out and hires some of the college kids to serve tables, from what he told me. Doesn't trust the young kids with his good wine, I guess. I don't particularly blame him though, with how much it costs."
"So how many years did your parents come here? Must've been a while if Walter knew them so well. And this wine is spectacular!" Serena remarks while taking another sip.
"Well, my parents got married just before I was born. So for... almost twenty years they came here before they died. My father proposed to mom here."
Seems as if time flies by as they make conversation over dinner but in reality it is hours. Darien excuses himself from the table for a moment, and uses that time to run to the restroom and have a brief conversation with Walter.
"Everything is in order sir, just let me know when you want it brought in."
"Um, let her just finish her ice cream first, then a few minutes after. I really appreciate this. I am just a ball of nerves though!" Darien laughs to the older man.
"That just means you know you have something to lose in this life: her. But I can see she loves you very much, sir. If it's any consolation, I don't believe you have anything to worry about. You know, I remember it like it was yesterday when your father and mother came here for the first time. So in love, they were. It appears as if you two may be just as in love as they were. So, good luck, not that you'll need it."
"Thank you." Darien replies quickly before the man does a short bow and leaves the room. Looking to his hands, they are shaking with nervous energy. He clenches a fist, then releases in hopes of relieving some of it. Tousling his hair a little, he finds his nerves calming slightly. It's like Walter said, I have nothing to be afraid of. She loves me and I'm sure on some level wants this as much as I do. He thinks to himself, while straightening his appearance.
Finishng up their ice cream, Darien sees Walter and the young man helping him and gives a subtle nod in their direction. Approaching the table they clear the remainder of the dishes and retreat from the room. Serena sits there nervously toying with her hands but looks up to see Darien smiling at her.
"So... dinner was delicious. What, um, are we gonna do now?" Serena asks while smiling back at him.
"Well, there's still your surprise... you know, I have only known you for, well not even a year yet." He laughs a little at this, "I mean it's almost crazy how much I love you. But not really crazy, I mean not like Seiya, crazy. But I mean I really love you. Oh jeez," he runs a hand through his hair nervously, "I'm not saying this how I meant to. Every time I look at you, it's like my world stops and my breath catches."
Just then they hear a small bark as a puppy comes running into the room. Serena jumps in her seat and turns around to see the pup as it jumps and puts its front paws on her lap. There is a red ribbon with something sparkling by the bow. Darien gets up from his seat and reaches for the puppy's ribbon. Undoing the ribbon quickly, Darien retrieves the shining object. Looking up from the puppy's adorable face, Serena is greeted by the sight of Darien down on one knee. She is speechless as she anticipates what will happen next.
"What I mean to say is: I can't imagine my life without you and I wouldn't want to. I love you so much that it hurts sometimes and I wouldn't have it any other way. Every time I look into the future, all I see is you and all I really care about is you. Serena, will you do me the honor," Darien then holds the ring in front of him, "of becoming my wife?"