Heh heh... my Christmas fic! Yup, this is based loosely on what happened to me today! Rini has two younger siblings, Irene and Darren. Heh... 'Rini' was always supposedly short for 'Irene' in fanfiction, but for this fanfic, its short for 'Serena'. Just in case you were wondering...

Disclaimer- Do I ever SAY I own Sailormoon? ... Don't answer that. Do I ever ask for a lot? ... Don't answer that either. The truth of the matter is, I don't own Sailormoon. Big surprise ::rolls eyes::. But I DO own Irene and Darren, though. But it still doesn't improve my self-esteem much...

NOTE- I'm VERY well aware that the Shinto religion does not in any way celebrate the holiday of Christmas, but in the spirit of the holiday, don't flame me for it, OK?

Title- Sibling Secrets
Author- Joycelene
Rating- PG-13
Season- After Stars/Alternate Reality
Teaser- Irene and Darren secretly open their gifts, thinking that their parents aren't watching. A few incidents happen, and Serena and Darien seem to think that spying on them year after year isn't worth it afterall...
Chapters- 1
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Quote of the Day:

"Happiness sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." - John Barrymore
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CHIBA HOUSEHOLD- FAMILY ROOM
10:49 PM
DECEMBER 24, 2001

" 'Rene, stop it!" Darren whispered urgently, at the loud sound of wrapping paper. Irene pouted.
"Shut up, 'Ren. *I'm* the older one, REMEMBER???" Irene reminded him smugly. Darren just glared at his older sister. Irene was 12 and Darren at 10. They were only two years apart, therefore, they were close. "And 'sides, ya wanna wake up Rini? She wakes up at the sound of anything, nowadays..." She trailed off, looking over to the door just a few feet from them. A bunny was holding a sign which said 'Serena's Room' in bright pink and other happy colors. Irene and Darren weren't as close to Rini as they were eachother. At 5 years apart (from Irene), she was 17 and her birthday was in a few months. Darren rolled his eyes.
"Not *everything*, dumbass. You're GAP (AN: Gay and Proud. Don't ask, inside joke at our school)." Darren announced, sneering. Irene just glared.
"No, *you're* GAP. I'm SAP (AN: Straight and Proud. Yet ANOTHER inside joke at our school), nyahhhhh!" She said, sticking her tounge out at her little brother. Darren just stuck his tounge out as well.
"Nyahhhhhh!" He replied. Above on the staircase, a couple chuckled.
"Well, they remind me of those tounge wars I had with Raye when we were just children." The woman stated. The man just laughed.
"My dear, you just had a tounge war with her last week!" He exclaimed. Even in the darkness, he could tell his companion was blushing heavily.
"Don't start." She murmured to him, after her face had returned to its normal color. He just sighed.
"They do this year after year... I wonder why Darren never opens the presents." He thoughtfully noticed. The woman smiled brightly.
"Because silly! Women make it not as OBVIOUS as men. They clean up after them, so therefore they'd be good at this while the guy would probably muck it all up. I always opened the gifts for Sammy and me.. Maybe it has something to do agewise, I'm not quite sure..." She trailed off. The sudden 'ooo' brought her attention.
"Yay! Pink!" She exclaimed happily. Darren glared at her and she just stuck her tounge out again. It was in a clear bag, which had two pink yarn handles. It had a silvery pink pen, 1 notebook, 1 diary, and 2 clips for her hair. Even at age 12, she hadn't gotten over the color 'pink' and remained her favorite color. She beamed happily as she put it back in.
"Uh-oh..." Darien started, pointing to the tears and rips. "She messed up with that present again." Serena moaned.
"Year after year.. why does she always mess up the presents we give to them? I never got that..." She whispered. Darien snickered.
"They're gonna open Darren's gag gift." He told her after Irene had taped up her present. It was a height measurer (AN: LOL, that's what my lil' bro got for Christmas... Don't tell no bodies, INCLUDING my parents!). They heard soft, girlish laughter from downstairs. "They opened it."
"Awwwwww! This sucks! You got a *good* present, I got some measuring thing!" Darren exclaimed unhappily. Irene was, literally, rolling.
"Oh ::gasp:: Kami! That's so ::wheeze:: funny!!! Ha ha ha ha!" She laughed again. He grumbled unhappily as he started to patch up his present.
"They hate me, I knew it. Sure I got a few D's and C's on my Midterm-"
"Two D's and tree C's and three B's and no A's." Irene reminded him. Darren sneered, looking up from wrapping up his present.
"Actually, I got two D's, two C's, two B;s, and one A. YOU got the three B's, dumbass." Darren said. Serena gaped at her son. She then looked at her husband. He put up his arms in the air in protest.
"Hey, don't look at me, blame 'Mara." He said defensively. She shook her head.
"I got all A's and three B's, stupid ass! Look at the fucking paper if you don't believe me!" Irene protested, shoving their Mid-terms in his face. Serena sobed.
"My perfect angel..." She whimpered.
"Not so perfect any more, darling." He reminded. She gave him a glare that made him wince.
"Now I know where Darren gets his smart alec attitude." She said venomously. He backed away a bit. Never mess with an angry Serena. Unless you have a death wish, that is.
"Erm... sorry dearest." He mumbled, as he edged away from her a little more and watched their children. They heard a small 'creak' come in Rini's direction. "I've been wondering when she'd show up." He whispered. There came their first daughter, clad in bunnies and moons pjs. Her hair had grown long, and now reached her knees. She still had her mother's hairstyle, and was every bit as cute. Darien sighed mournfully and Serena just nudged him softly, but painfully, in the ribs. "Yeouch woman! What's the matter with you?! Pregnant again!?" He exclaimed, rubbing his ribs. She just lifted her elbow as to elbow him in the ribs again, but he stumbled away. Unfortunately, he didn't see the step above, and he fell down with a rather loud 'thud!'
"What was that?" Rini whispered, turning around. Darren's eyes widened and Irene gasped.
"Shut up, you idiots! 'Rene, hand me that flashlight." Rini ordered, indicating to the black flashlight on the coffeetable. Irene quickly got up, and handed it to Rini. Rini gulped as she turned on the flashlight and mutely went up the stairs. She only got up to the third step, when she heard a 'meow'. Rini groaned, picking up the silver kitty. The kitty was light gray, a somewhat silverish kind of color.
"Smoky! Oh, you bad bad kitty! Don't scare us like that again, sweetie!" Rini exclaimed. Irene and Darren let out the breath they were holding in.
"Oh, its just Smoky..." and "What's that cat doing up at this hour?" were heard. Serena and Darien let out a sigh of relief, glad they weren't found out. Rini walked towards the Christmas tree.
"You opened them all already?" Rini asked, surprised. Darren rolled his eyes.
"You slow." He told her. Rini grunted at him angrily. Irene just folded her arms below her chest and looked at them both.
"Well, I opened yours as well, and I 'bandaged' up all of ours, 'cept yours. You're a big girl, I think you can do that." Irene grinned and got up, and she walked down the hallway, into her room.
"Yeah, I gotta go, too. Don't wanna risk Mom and Dad waking up too early and finding up out of bed." He winked, and walked into his room, which was right across from Rini's. Rini groaned and kneeled down to look at what she had gotten.
"Bunch of good for nothin bitches.. Leaving me to get in fucking trouble... Screw them, I'm gonna rat them both out!" She exclaimed evily. Serena sighed and Darien just gaped as his 'little baby'.
"Did... that just come out of the mouth of our daughter?" He asked increduously, not willing to believe the truth. Serena rolled her eyes.
"No dear, that's just a burglar inpersonating our daughter, YES that did come out of our daughter's mouth, now get over it!" She hissed. Darien just sniffed. My little baby... corrupted by this world..., he thought to himself.
"Aw, what's da matter Smoky? Aw you sad? Is da wittle baby not happy?" Rini said in baby talk to Smoky. Serena and Darien sweatdropped, and they could of sworn Smoky did as well. "Awww... what a sweet kitty.." She murmured, rubbing her between her ears. Smoky purred affectionatly, rubbing Rini's hand. Looking up, Darien could of sworn she was staring straight at them. "How long have you two been awake?" She questioned. Serena let out a nearly unaudible gasp.
"Oy..." Moaned Darien. They just prayed she was talking to Rini and Darren.
"Mom, Dad, aren't you a little uncomfortable?" She asked them. And indeed they were. They were hunched down so low, that their old muscles hurt, and they had been doing that for over three hours now. "You guys can get up, I bet you guys' old backs can't take it anymore." She joked. Now, they were sure she was talking to them. The got up, and Rini turned on the lights. Serena pouted.
"How did you know that we were up there?" she asked immediately. Rini just laughed.
"I've known for YEARS, mother. You don't think I was *that* ignorant of a child, did you?" She laughed. They laughed nervously, knowing full well that they had both thought that way. The laughter died down. Darien took a step forward.
"If you knew all this time, why didn't you tell us?" He questioned softly. Serena was about to inquire the same thing. Rini just gave them a small smile.
"Well, I really didn't want to ruin you guys' fun. I mean, its like little kids with their little toys and gadgets, they never think they'd get caught. So I just figured I let you guys know that well, I know. I mean, afterall, this IS the last time will have Christmas together when we'll be living under the same roof." She reminded. Serena's eyes just welled up with tears, at the remembrance of her daughter's leaving. Darien hugged his wife, and hugged his daughter as well. They just stood there for a few moments, doing nothing. They heard the chime of the grandfather clock. They looked over to that direction. 12:01 PM. Rini smiled as she looked over in her parents' direction.
"Merry Christmas, Momma, Poppa." She said. The smiled.
"Merry Christmas, indeed..."
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CHIBA HOUSEHOLD- FAMILY ROOM
9:04 AM
DECEMBER 25, 2001

"Oh cool, a pink stationary kit and a notebook... oooh and a silver pen, thanks guys!" Irene pasted on a fake smile and a look of surprise as she opened her present for the second time. Serena smiled.
"You're welcome, dear." She replied. Darren looked at the last unopened present that lay before him. It was from his parents. He saw the expectant look in their eyes, and he gulped. He slowly opened it. He hoped he had been sleepwalking when he had opened the presents. But to his avail, he wasn't and the height measurer was still there.
"Ummm... thanks." He mumbled. Darien chuckled and took the present hidden behind his back and tossed it over in Darren's direction.
"Here 'Ren. Open it." He told him. Darren's eyes widened.
"But-"
"Think of it as another Christmas present." Serena interrupted, grinning. Vigourously, he opened the present because, for once, he had no idea what it was. It was an old football. Darien gave him a little smile.
"That was mine. I've regained a few of my memories and I remember playing a few good games with my dad with that ball. I had it recovered in my parents' old house. What do you say we play a few games?" He asked, smiling.
"Cool!" Exclaimed Darren and he got up, going outside with his father.
Ding-dong, rang the bell. Rini coughed, straightening her pink sweater. She put her hands in the pockets of her flares.
"That's Mia and Sakura... I had better go." She said. Serena nodded, and they embraced. "Bye." She whispered, and went out the door. This was only the first part. Soon, Rini would go to college, get married, and start a family of her own. But they'd always have their memories. Always.
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THE END! Crappy, ne? I think the NEXT one I'm doing is gonna be better... read to find out! Ciao!

E-mail me at crystalsavior@yahoo.com