(1 year ago)

            It was 3:01 AM in the morning, and I was still sitting at the computer. The movie, "Matilda" was on. Why would they have this on at 3 in the morning? I wondered. Oh well. I looked at the computer screen again.

      "Hmm..."

      (Present)

            Ygyfkyvyykuuytg. I hit my head on the keyboard. I had a lot of errors in this piece. Hell I probably still did! I looked up at the screen. This was gonna be hell.

*******************************

            Darien looked at the New York City lights. It was pretty late, and he was dead tired. For nearly four years he had been searching for Serena's ware bouts. He never found her. He gave up hope around a month ago. Since then, he had received an invite from his old friend, David, to his wedding in America. He really didn't think if he should go, he wasn't up to it, but David insisted. He here he was, in New York City. He had rented an apartment. Sighing, he moved away from the mirror and to the couch. It was 3 in the morning and he had WAY too much of that airplane coffee. He flicked on the TV and sat back. Some American comedy was on, Saturday Night Live. He was lucky he knew the English language cuz this was really funny. As a commercial came on, he picked up a soda. ~Oh like I really need more caffeine~ He told himself, closed his eyes and listed to a female voice.

      "Ride, just enjoy the ride. Don't need no reason why" The voice sounded familiar. HE opened his eyes but it only a guy staring at a pretty girl on TV with a fire broke out. He shut his eyes again. "Baba ba ba ba, baba ba ba ba." ~I know that

voice~ her said. But the screen only showed a man and his dog

I front of a TV, watching a pretty girl, the man's dog barks and the man say's "easy boy". Darien shook his head. But just to be sure he wasn't crazy, he kept his eyes open. "Joy of Pepsi" A girl on the screen with Buns and pigtail, and bright blue eyes sang. ~BUNS AND PIGTAILS?~

      "Serena?" he asked to TV (AN: For the commercial think of

Brittany Spears and the Pepsi. No I'm not some Brittany freak,

I just liked the commercial)

      "Yeah..." she sang. He dropped the soda to the ground. His mouth fell ajar as he noticed it WAS Serena on the TV.

      "She's been in America?"

**************************************

            A white limo went down the streets of NYC. A 21 year old, blonde singer stared out the window. She had been up all day and night with interviews. As she reached her destination, she noticed the usual 1000 or more fans into front of her building. It in 7 in the morning; she had to be at the recording studio in an hour. Her head dropped as her door was opened. She walked across the cement smiling brightly. Her bodyguards held back any people trying to get buy. Like every time this happened, She waved and sighed autographs. But while most would just sign their name and smile. She would often write a note or hold a brief conversation. But as her manager urged her inside, she took notice of a certain dark-haired, broad shouldered, blue-eyed man. She stopped dead in he tracks. He was obviously tired. The man next to him Serena recognized as David, awake and full of life. It was then did he take notice of her.  ~Darien? ~ She mouthed. He nodded, surprised.

      "Serena darling lets go." Her male green haired manager said.

Serena quickly pointed to the back of the building and mouthed five minutes. He simple nodded and smiled.

      "Am I seeing things or was Serena Tsukino taking to you?" David asked.

      "I knew her awhile ago." He answered.

      "Oh really, well, thanks for telling me you know the Pop Queen!" David yelled.

      "Pop Queen?" Darien yelled, giving him a quiz-full look.

      "Well duh! For almost a year, she's been flooding the pop charts. Her song, 'Wind Beneath My Wings', was her first hit. Her new hit is, 'You Don't Own Me'. I know-" David looked around, but Darien was running off somewhere. "Fine! Don't listen to me then!" Darien shook his head as he ran, but continued on, and rounded the corner. There she was. In a quiet, white, sundress, waiting for him. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. It was hard, but he regained his composer. He sucked in a breath and walked up to her. She was examining the ground, fidgeting with her skirt.

      "Serena?" She snapped her head up from the ground. ~Oh God. Okay Sere, just tell him. ~ She told herself. She smiled weakly.

      "I can't believe you've been here for the past years." She shrugged. "It's great to see you." He said, smiling widely.

      "D-Darien...I...I have to, to tell you s-something." She stumbled threw her words. The smile on his face wore off,

      "What's wrong?" She opened her mouth, ready to say it, when,

"Mommy! I can't tie dis ding!" A little girl yelled hopping on one foot, tugging her shoelaces. She had on a bright yellow summer dress, with pink hair up in two pointed buns and puffy pigtails. She walked up and tugged on Serena's skirt.

"Mommy, who's dat?" She asked, pointing to Darien. ~Mommy? ~ He repeated in his mind. She sighed and said,

"Darien." She began, "I'd like you to meet Rini, your daughter. She's 3 years old. You don't have to worry about childcare! I can handle it. But I just wanted her to meet your-" But she stopped. He wasn't listening. He was too busy playing Patty-Cake with Rini. ~At least they get along, ~ she thought.

"Hey! Your fun!" Rini said, her pink cheeks glowing, just like her mother's. "What's your name?" Darien stared at her for a minute, then to Serena. She smiled and knelt down,

"Rini, remember when I told you one day you'd meet your daddy?" Rini nodded, confused "Well, this is Darien, your daddy." Rini blinked, for a minute. She walked up to Darien,

"You're my daddy?" she asked.

"Think so." Darien said. Rini little face brightened,

"Daddy!" she exclaimed throwing her arms around his neck. Serena couldn't help but smile. "Are you gonna stay here with us?" Rini asked.

"Come on Rini! Jean-Claude will blow his top if where not back soon." Serena said, lifting Rini up. "You can come to if you want Darien...I mean...If you want to get to know Rini." She finished. He nodded, and followed them inside the building.

*********************************

            The hot lights shined in her eyes as she danced on the set.

      "No, No, No!" Jean-Claude yelled. "Serena, not like that!" He screamed. "More hips, then kick." Serena rolled her eyes,

      "I hate that stupid move!" She yelled.

      "That guy never listens to what my mommy wants to do, but she does it anyways." Rini said. She sat Indian-style on Darien's lap.

      "Everyone can go home!" Serena announced, then she grinned at Rini.

      "Oh no." Rini mumbled,

      "What?" Darien asked looking at her giggling face.

      "Rini!" Serena called, and then beckoned her over. Rini jumped down and said,

      "Mommy's got an idea." Darien didn't understand what that meant, but smiled. Rini giggled and ran over to her mother. As everyone began to leave, Jean-Claude yelled,

      "Where are you all going? You can't just leave." He complained.

      "Come in Rini," Serena began, "Let's go have some fun."

      "Can Daddy come too?" Rini asked. ~Daddy...~ Darien liked the sound of that. Serena smiled and looked at Darien,

      "If he wants to." Serena said, and thought it was suppose to be said to Rini, it was really directed to Darien.

      "Sure." Darien said, returning Serena's smile.

********************************

      1 year ago)

            It was one minute 'til 4 o clock. I sighed, and stretched out my arms. I propped my head in my hands and stared at the computer. I wasn't tired, just out of ideas. I sat there. And sat there, and sat there,

      "Okay, that's it." I announced, and placed my fingers on the keys, "Here we go!"

      (Present)

            Thunder roared outside my window. I shivered. I didn't like thunder. It was too loud. Lightening never bugged me; it was just a deadly flash of light. But the harmless thunder always shook my nerves. 

********************************

      Serena and Darien watched as Rini played cheerfully in the ball-pit of the McDonald''s play-place. In was already around nine o clock. The three had spent the whole day together, taking Rini to various places to play. Time had been good on Serena. The sweet child-looking girl had amazingly, turned into a mature women. Darien couldn't help but smile at the still fun loving, yet now, responsible, beauty. Her sun-blonde hair was still up in those memorable meatballs, and her starry-blue eyes had only become brighter. Her white summer dress clung to her curves. ~She looks beautiful~ he thought. If Serena thought Darien had looked good before, that was nothing compared his well-shaped body now. ~He has to have been working out. ~ She thought. His skin-tight, silk blue shirt brought out his tempting deep blue eyes, and reviled his muscles. He pushed back random pieces of his ebony hair. Serena wanted to melt under her smile.  They had been catching up on each other's lives. Around a year after Rini was born, Serena had stared singing, and became your everyday pop queen. Darien hadn't stopped searching for Serena, but after a year after her disappearance, he was out of hope. He was had actually earned his tuition to be a doctor, and had a job and

Tokyo General Hospital.  All of the old feelings came rushing back as the day turned to night, and each found it very tempting to kiss the other. Serena suddenly began giggling,

"What?" Darien asked, she pointed to the small Rini asleep in Darien's lap.

"We should probably go." Serena said. Darien nodded and dropped some yen on the table, "Ah Darien...we're in American, no yen." Serena said. Darien blinked for a minute, then realized what she was saying.

"Oh! Right!" he said, and dug through his wallet for American money.

"That's Okay, I got it." Serena said,

"No, I insist." Darien replied, still digging,

"No, that's okay, I got it."

"No...I'll take care of it."

"Darien, I'm serious, it's okay, and I'll pay."

"Sere, I can get it."

"Geez...your still as stubborn." Serena said,

"And like your not." Darien retorted, finally find enough money. Once the payment argument was finished, the left to go home. Serena laid Rini in the back seat, and buckled herself in the passenger seat. It was pretty quiet on the way home, until Darien asked,

"Hey Serena,"

"Hmm?"

"Why'd you leave that day?" Hiding her face, she replied,

"I just wanted to get away." She swallowed the lump in her throat. Tension suddenly became very heavy. The rest of the ride was quiet. Darien walked Serena to her apartment door, and helped tuck Rini in.

"Well, I better go. I kinda ditched David earlier." He said, but

Serena didn't laugh, not even smile. Instead, she asked,

"Hey Darien?"

"Hmm?"

"What would you have done if I hadn't left?" He locked eyes with her, then said,

"Probably would have asked you to marry me."

"Oh." She said frowning. He knew what he wanted to say next.

His feelings for her over the year had only become stronger, and in the then seconds later, he gathered his courage, and said,

"That offer stands now you know."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Heheheheh! Evil aren't I? Reviews!!!!!!!!!