Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Just a note: Arigato min'na! Your kind and encouraging words are the reason I am posting this chapter now instead of later. Now on to the story hope you all enjoy and remember to review. Ciao!

Chapter Four

Serena woke early the next morning dressing in a pair of blue jeans and a short-sleeved red v-neck shirt. She headed down the stairs to the kitchen. She had not yet reached the first floor when the delightful aroma of breakfast invaded her senses.

"Good Morning Aunt Sophia" she called cheerfully as she entered the corridor kitchen.

"Good Morning, dear. You slept well I hope." She handed her a glass of orange juice.

"Yes, the best sleep I have had for a while." She smiled and then took a drink of her orange juice.

Sophia began to fix her a plate. "Darien said he is taking you on a tour this morning." She started buttering a piece of toast.

"Yes. I am looking forward to it." She accepted the prepared plate from Sophia and headed for the dinning room table. Sophia took a seat across from her with a cup of coffee.

"He just went to saddle the horses. He should be back any minute now." Serena almost choked on her juice.

"Saddle the horses?" she almost squeaked.

"Yes dear. Why?" Sophia looked at her curiously.

"Oh nothing really. I just don't have a lot of experience riding, that's all." Her mind began to race with the different mishaps that could all happen while astride a horse. Suddenly she did not feel as hungry as a moment before. She ate her breakfast slowly.

"Don't worry Darien is an excellent rider. An inexperienced rider could not ask for a better teacher." Sophia smiled at the not to convinced face of her young ward. She was barely able to stifle a giggle at her nervous expression.

Serena had just begun to wash her plate when Darien strode into the kitchen his dark brown boots-sounding heavy on the limestone floors. He wore jeans and a white shirt. The white of his shirt seemed bright against his tanned skin. His hair that almost reached his shoulders still looked unruly giving him the look of raw masculinity.

"Are you almost ready?" He asked leaning against the counter. He watched as she dried the plate placing it on the counter.

She smiled at him. "Yep" she dried her hands.

"Well let's get going then" he nodded his head in the direction of the door. Serena followed him out to the stables. She nervously nibbled on her bottom lip as she watched him bring two horses out the stable doors. One a large black stead the other a smaller brown horse. He handed her the reins of the brown horse before mounting the black one in one fluid motion. Serena watched as he mounted taking note she straddled her own horse. Darien started his horse at a slow walk. Serena attempted the same, but for some reason her horse refused to move. She applied pressure to his sides trying to get him going, but he just stood there.

"Um…Darien, wait" she called as she realized her horse had no intention of moving. Then if thing were not embarrassing enough the horse began a slow walk toward a bush and promptly began to nibble on the leaves. She heard Darien's horse approach from behind. "I think he is hungry," she said with an embarrassed smile.

He looked at her with a smirk on his face. "You have to show him who is boss" He grabbed the reins pulling the horse from his impromptu meal.

"He already knows who is boss and it's not me" She shook her head. "I don't know how to ride," she admitted dejectedly.

"It's ok, I will teach you. For today you can ride with me." He lifted her from her horse ignoring her surprised squeal and settled her in front of him. "Throw your leg over."

She did so awkwardly scooting forward as far as possible. This guy made her nervous. She wanted as much distance as possible. Ever since last night when he started acting nice, his presence began to make her uneasy. She recalled how her pulse started to race when he walked into her room. Her thoughts returned to the present when she felt a tingle in her spine. She could feel him staring at her back. When one hand wrapped about her waist pulling her back against him her breath caught in her chest.

What is wrong with me?

"Well we're off" She shivered as his breath blew across her ear. With a jerk they started out at a fast walk.

They began the tour at the fields. Serena looked out in awe at the vast rows of vines. All lush and green still brimming with fruit. She watched as men and women gathered the fruit in baskets, and then poured the fruit in the back of wagons. They continued on to another area where the fruit was squished into juice by a large machine. The juice was gathered from a spout on the side of the machine. The next stop was a large building that looked like a barn.

"This is the aging room" Darien began. "This is one the final stages in the preparation of wine." He hopped off the horse helping her down. They walked into a large room with high ceilings. The room was filled with large barrels that almost reached the ceiling. "The juice is poured in these barrels for fermenting. Serena walked past him toward the large barrel. She looked to the roof were rafters stretched the length of the building. On the side of each barrel was a large spout. She looked to the back of the barn it seemed so dark and eerie that she didn't care to go any further. With a shiver she crossed her arms before her turning around quickly. She ran straight in to a solid object. She stared at his white shirt as his arms wrapped around her to keep her from falling.

"Are you ok?" His deep voice echoed in the room. She looked up into his deep blue eyes that seemed the color of midnight in the dimly lit area.

"Yes" she stepped back freeing her-self from his embrace. "Sorry" she whispered walking around him. He was having the strangest effect on her. It was like her senses went on edge whenever he was near. She was really starting to dislike that fact. She walked through the large doors into the summer sun. It was a very beautiful place. From the lush rows of vines to the grass covered hills to the tall trees. It was something she would have thought only existed in books.

Darien followed her through the doors with a curious look on his face. "We should start back" He then helped her onto the horse getting on behind her; they headed back to the Villa. Serena took in her surrounding only half heartedly as they rode. She was more concerned with the man behind her. She wanted to know more about him.

"Darien?" she started trying to find the right words. "How did you come to be here…I mean as an apprentice?" She mentally belted herself for the awkward way she asked.

"I ran away from the orphanage at seventeen. One day I came across the vineyard. Being that I was near starving I stopped to take some grapes. Of course a couple of the workers caught me." He paused. "I thought Signori would call for the police. Have me thrown in jail." He shook his head. "I didn't expect what he did and still am not sure why he did it. Instead of calling the police he told me I would work to repay him for the grapes. He gave me a room and clothes and started showing me how a vineyard is run." His voice turned very serious. "They became like parents to me. Like the parents I never had. I would do anything to protect them from harm." His arm tightened about her. She could not help but feel that his last statement was for her in particular.

To be continued.

What do you think? I am sorry it is short. The next chapter will be longer. I really wanted to get this up before I went on vacation. I will be away for two weeks and doubt I will have Internet access. I will still write while I am away. The next chapter will have more of the diary in it and Uncle Phelps comes home. Stay tuned. Until next time please review.