Strangers on a Train
Chapter Five



Sometime after the break of dawn, Darien rolled over and glanced at the digital clock on the small wooden nightstand. Instantly, he knew that it was much too early to get out of bed, even for a Christmas morning. Pulling the covers tightly around his body, he closed his eyes again.

THUD! In a flurry of blankets, sheets and pillows, Darien bolted awake as he fell out of the bed. He rubbed his eyes, wondering briefly how he got there.

A fit of giggles suddenly came from the other side of the bed, and Darien sat up, knowing very well who had pushed him. Looking over the edge of the bed, he noticed Serena laying on her side, trying to hold in her laughter.

"I don't see what's so funny," he remarked dryly, yanking the blankets and sheets from around him. "What's the big deal, anyway?" She smiled sheepishly, then batted her eyelashes. "Tradition, my dear Darien. I told you so last night."

"Well, you didn't have to push me off the bed, did you?"

"You wouldn't wake up any other way, so I had to resort to more 'physical matters,' you might say," Serena giggled again. "Now are you going to get up or not?"

He glanced at her and grinned. "I suppose so," but as she stood up, he suddenly lunged at Serena and pinned her down. She looked up at him with wide eyes. "What are you doing?"

Darien grinned even harder. "How does the saying go? 'What goes around comes around?'" His hands traveled down to her sides, and he began to tickle her. Serena howled in protest, trying desperately to push his hands away. "Anything but that! Please stop!" she said between laughs.

"Say it," he said, still tickling her. "All right, mercy! Mercy!" Serena wailed, finally pushing his hands away. He stared down at her with a smile on his face. Catching his gaze, she looked back at Darien. "What?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. I just like looking at you." She blushed deeply, fiddling with her tangled hair. "Even this early in the morning?" He inched closer and smiled again. "Especially in the morning," he responded, leaning in to kiss her.

"Serena? Are you up yet?" Annie called loudly up the stairs, shattering the moment. Blushing, the two of them pulled away quickly. Serena slid off the bed and opened the door. "C'mon," she said to Darien, reaching for his hand, "We don't want to miss out on anything."

*****

Baby Miriam sat in her mother's lap, gumming on her hand, while Ricky and Sid sat on the floor, excited to be spending their first Christmas together with the family.

Serena and Darien sat in the loveseat again, closer to each other this time. Darien kept his gaze on Serena as she opened her gifts and talked to her family. One of his hands draped on the back of the couch around her shoulders, while the other clutched the stocking Serena gave him the night before.

He stared at her eyes, watching them the entire time. He loved how they lit up and sparkled when she was happy. Other times when she was deep in thought, they seemed to be pools of deep blue, almost the same color of the ocean at low tide.

It was at that moment that he realized his life changed by one simple act of a beautiful young woman. Darien couldn't fathom the emotions raging inside him. All he knew was he didn't want to return to his life before Serena.

His hand slid off his stocking and down to where Serena's hand rested on the sofa. Taking her hand in his, he squeezed it gently and intertwined his fingers with hers. She looked at him with widened eyes, but she returned the gesture.

Annie called out from the other room. "Serena, I need your help for a moment." Smiling at Darien, she got up and went into the kitchen to help her mother. He stared after her for a moment, lost in his own thoughts.

"Brunch is ready," Serena called out brightly from the kitchen doorway a few minutes later. Rick and Darien were the last two to get up. He stood in Darien's path and stared at him. "You like my little sister, don't you?" Darien froze, then he nodded slightly. Rick searched his eyes for a moment. "I know you'll make her happy." Darien breathed a sigh of relief as Rick walked into the other room.

******

Serena dipped her hands into the soapy lukewarm water, rinsing off the last of the dishes from brunch. Everyone had quieted down for the afternoon, going their separate ways to organize gifts or take naps. She enjoyed her quiet time alone, even if it wasn't very often.

Two warm hands slipped around her waist, making her drop the plate back into the water.

"Hi."

"Hi yourself," she replied, picking the plate up again and scrubbing it. "What have you been up to?"

Darien frowned momentarily, then picked up a dish cloth and began drying the dishes. "No good as usual," he replied, trying to make her smile.

"That I believe," she said, and rinsed off the last plate. He took it from her and dried it swiftly without saying another word. She suddenly grabbed his hand and looked up at him. "Is there something wrong? You don't seem yourself."

Darien sighed. She really could read him, more than anyone else ever could. "I have something to tell you." He motioned with his head. "Can we go outside?"

"Sure, just let me get my jacket." Serena looked at him in confusion, then reached for her windbreaker from the coat rack. They walked out onto the wrap-around porch; Darien oddly silent.

He sighed again, his breath making a cloud in the frosty air. "I got a phone call about an hour ago from my company. Seems there's a big project they're working on for the New Year, and..."

"...and they want you to work on it," Serena finished for him. Darien nodded somberly. "They want me back by tomorrow afternoon."

She bit her lip and turned away from him, unable to hold the tears back. "Please, don't cry. I never wanted to make you cry," he murmured, sliding his arms around her waist. She leaned back in his strong embrace. He only held her tighter, and they silently stood in the winter twilight.

Serena stopped crying and turned around in his arms. "I'm going to miss you, more than I've ever missed anyone before." He chuckled deeply. "That's a good thing, right?" She wiped her tearstained face and smiled faintly. "Of course it's a good thing. It's been wonderful having you here."

"I was going to say the same thing. In just a few days, I've felt and probably shown more emotion than I ever have in my entire life. Everyone at the office is going to wonder what happened to me. And I have you to thank for it."

She laughed softly. "Sure, I'm going to be held responsible for your co-workers checking you into the hospital. When does your train leave?"

Darien sighed. "Seven o'clock tomorrow morning."

"I'm coming to see you off, of course."

He laughed. "I thought it was impossible for you to get up that early without motivation."

Serena placed her hands on her hips and grinned. "Hey, anything is possible if I put my mind to it. Besides, this is important." She grabbed his hand. "You will write to me, won't you?"

He gazed at her fondly. "Of course. And you have to promise that you'll come see me."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, that would be so much fun! I'll stop by one day and surprise you."

Smiling down on the blonde-haired pixie who had done so much to change his life, Darien replied, "Wonderful. I look forward to the day when you'll be standing in my office door, smiling brightly and looking just as you are now." He slid his arms around her waist again. "Let's not say goodbye yet. We'll save that for tomorrow."

She reveled the feeling of being held tenderly by him. It was comforting. "Let's not say goodbye at all," she murmured softly. "Good-byes are for people we don't want to see again," she said, quoting one of her favorite plays.

They walked back inside the warm house, dreading the tomorrow that would soon separate them.

******

Two lone figures stood at the Sugar Hill train platform, waiting for the 7 o'clock train to arrive. Serena and Darien were grateful to be alone; they hadn't had much time to themselves last night after the family found out he was leaving.

"Be sure to tell your mother thank you for me," Darien said, checking over his baggage one last time.

"I think you told her enough yourself last night. What was it, ten or twenty times? I finally had to pull you out of the kitchen so she could get something done. I'm surprised you didn't kiss her feet while you were at it."

Darien pulled a face. "I wasn't that bad."

"You came close."

The train approached from the east and pulled into the station, letting out a burst of steam. Serena knew it was time to let go, but she couldn't help herself. She threw herself into Darien's arms and hugged him tightly. "I don't think I can let you go. Can't you just call in sick?"

His arms surrounded her. "I honestly wish I could. I wish I could just take you with me now and avoid this whole goodbye business."

Serena's blue eyes flooded with tears, but she wiped them away hastily before she lost it completely.

"When are you going back to school?" His question caught her off guard.

"Sometime at the end of next week. It's going to be a semester full of essays, research and dissertations for me. I'm trying to get my BA in one year instead of two."

He smiled down at her, and slid an arm around her waist. "I hope you get away from it at least once." He buried his face in her wild mane of curls and inhaled deeply. He loved the faint lilac smell of her hair. "Oh, Serena, I don't know how anyone could help not falling in love with you," he murmured.

She looked up at him with widened eyes. "What did you say?"

Darien blushed immediately. He hadn't meant to reveal his feelings so easily. "I said, uh... your hair smells good."

"Last call! All aboard!" The conductor yelled over the noisy train. Darien reluctantly stepped away from Serena, and picked up his luggage. "If I don't go now, I'll miss my meetings. Please come and see me when you can, Serena." He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek.

Serena stared after the train as it disappeared into the distance. She thought she knew what he said, but it was so noisy that she didn't catch all of it. She wrapped her arms about herself to keep herself from freezing. 'I'll see you again soon, Darien.'