"Then you look at me
And I always see
What I have been searching for
I'm lost as can be
Then you look at me
And I am not lost anymore."

--Celine Dion, "All The Way"
(can you tell I love this CD? ^_^)

Strangers on a Train
Part Three


Serena was in the middle of showing her scrapbooks to Darien when the front door opened. With his arms full of shopping bags, Serena's youngest brother Rick, his wife Sid and their father came inside the warm house.

"Dad! Sid!" Serena exclaimed, jumping up from the couch to hug them both. Her younger brother set down his arm load, and smiled at his kid sister. "What, no greeting for me, Serena?" She turned around and tackled him, laughing the whole time. "You know I missed you the most, Ricky." He shook his head. "You're the only one who can still get away with calling me that." Turning to his wife, he gave her a wink. "Except for Sid, that is."

Punching him in the arm, Serena grinned. "Right. I never thought I'd see the day when you would turn into sentimental mush." Then she turned to her sister-in-law. "But I'm glad it was you, Sid. You two are perfect for each other." Sid grinned, slipping an arm around Rick's waist.

"Oh!" Whirling around, Serena turned back to Darien who was still sitting on the couch. "I'm sorry, Darien, I didn't mean to ignore you." She smiled sweetly at him, then turned to face everyone. "Everyone, this is Darien, a friend of mine. I invited him to spend the holidays with us." He stood up, and came forward. "Darien, this is my father Daniel, my other brother Ricky," her brother rolled his eyes, "and his wife Sid."

Shaking each of their hands, Darien smiled. "I'm pleased to meet you. Serena's told me so much about you." Well, that wasn't exactly the full truth; all he knew about her family was what she had told him on the train ride and the walk to her home. But from just those few short hours, he felt like he knew them.

"Is everyone home?" Annie called out from the dining room. "Dinner's on the table, and I know how hungry you get after all that shopping."

Darien stayed behind for a moment and Serena noticed his absence. Walking back to him, she spoke softly, "Are you all right?" He smiled. "I'm fine, just feeling a little out of place, that's all." Taking his hand in hers again, she squeezed it reassuringly. "They won't bite, I promise. You trust me, don't you?"

Looking deep into her eyes, he saw nothing but faith and trust in him. But then he caught something else as she looked away... affection? It wasn't possible... was it? Darien contemplated this as Serena dragged him into the dining room.

******

For once, Serena was the first to clean her plate; even beating her brothers with their voracious appetites. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Darien had finished his dinner as well, and looking uncomfortable again. Serena's family had never been too talkative at the dinner table, and except for the noise that baby Miriam made in her car seat, no one spoke as they ate.

Clearing her throat, Serena set her fork down on her plate, and threw a glance in Darien's direction. "Mom, that was absolutely wonderful. If the cookies are ready, Darien and I can go deliver them."

Annie looked at her daughter and blinked, surprised that she would be so anxious to leave the table. Usually she would linger until the entire meal was over, chattering the whole time. She smiled. "Of course, Serena. I think between the two of you, you should be able to carry them easily. Just be sure to bundle up; the forecast mentioned a big snowstorm coming tonight."

Gathering up both her and Darien's plates, Serena grinned. "Oh, don't worry, we will." Darien got up from the table and followed Serena into the kitchen. She placed the plates in the sink, then turned to him. "I could tell you were feeling uncomfortable out there. That's why I excused both of us so quickly."

His eyes widened. "Was I that easy to read?" She laughed. "Incredibly easy." Picking up a few of the paper plates, she balanced one on top of the other, and walked towards the door. "Are you ready to go deliver some cookies?" With a grin, Darien took the rest of the plates in his hand and followed her out.

As soon as they were out of the house, the conversation at the table picked up. "I don't like him," Rick commented while shoveling a forkful of potatoes into his mouth. "You say that about every young man Serena brings home, Rick," Annie chided him. "Besides, we don't even know their story."

"That's exactly my point. This is the first time Serena's ever made mention of this guy. How do we know we can trust him?"

Sid laid a hand on her husband's arm before he could continue. "That's why you should leave it to your sister," she said gently, "and let her decide." Rick looked at Sid, and his face softened. Scowling, he crossed his arms over his chest and muttered, "All right. But that doesn't mean I have to like it." The rest of the family burst out laughing.

******

"Isn't it beautiful out here?" Serena breathed, her warm breath forming clouds out in front of her. Teeth chattering, Darien managed to reply, "Sure, but I never knew cold could be beautiful." She laughed merrily. "Welcome to Sugar Hill, where you don't know what hit you until it's too late."

Darien looked at her in amazement. How could anyone could be so vivacious, especially in freezing weather? "How many more do we have left to deliver?"

"Just one. You're not getting tired of this yet, are you?" He feigned a smile, keeping his complaints about the cold to himself. "Not at all. I hate to break it to you, but I don't think I have any feeling left in my hands."

She walked over to him, a concerned look on her face. Reaching out for his hands, she said, "Here, give me your gloves." With a confused look, he handed over his gloves to her one by one. She removed her own gloves and placed his onto her hands. Then she handed her warm gloves to him. "That should help."

Darien protested as he slipped on her oversized gloves. The warmth surged through his hands and throughout his entire body, relieving him of the bitter cold he felt earlier. "But... but now your hands will be freezing!" With a knowing smile, she replied, "Not for long; my hands are always warm."

He chuckled. "That I believe."

A snowflake suddenly landed on Serena's nose. She looked up into the sky to find hundreds more snowflakes falling gently to the ground. "Ohh," she breathed, melting the flurries around her face, "if there was another six feet on the ground, I'd jump into it and make tons of snow angels." He smiled at her childlike behavior. "Maybe it'll continue to snow all night. She grinned. "I hope so!"

Serena couldn't help but laugh at his appearance. "You should see yourself; your whole head is covered with snow." Reaching up to brush it away, she had gotten most of it when Darien gently took hold of her wrist. Serena glanced into his eyes and found herself mesmerized by his gaze. She had never noticed how blue his eyes were until now. Or how his dark hair fell so perfectly into his face when it was wet.

Darien took a step closer to her, and she didn't move an inch. He couldn't help it. He was transfixed by her beauty, both inside and out. It was like finding fresh air after holding his breath for so long.

Moving ever so slightly closer, their noses were merely inches away from each other, their breath tickling their faces. Darien leaned in closer, about to kiss her sweet warm lips.

"Darien?"

"Hmm?"

"We still have one plate of cookies to deliver."

Well, there went that idea. Darien stepped away from Serena, noting that her cheeks were flushed bright red. What was he thinking, trying to pursue something that could never be?

"It's your turn," Serena's soft voice broke into his thoughts. Slightly confused, he turned to her. "My what?"

She giggled, and handed him the plate. "Your turn to drop off the cookies, silly. Haven't you ever gone doorbell ditching?" He shook his head in puzzlement. "It's simple. You place the cookies on the doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run for your life!" Pointing to the house just ahead of them, Serena said, "There's the house; I'll wait here behind the hedge. Make sure you don't get caught!"

Nodding, he took the plate in his hands and tiptoed towards the front porch, trying hard not to slip on the ice. Serena covered her mouth with a gloved hand to keep her laughter in.

Suddenly Darien appeared next to her, catching his breath after running so hard. A boyish grin appeared on his face. "That was fun," he laughed. "The snowdrift over there was so deep that I got it in my socks and shoes." He hopped from one foot to another, trying to get most of the snow out.

She couldn't believe Darien had missed out on so much from his childhood, even the simplest of things like decorating and delivering Christmas cookies. Luckily this was her chance to give him a Christmas he would never forget.