'Maybe,' thought Serena, 'I can be his princess...'







This was the only thought that passed through her mind. It was enough to send her over the edge. She loved him with all of her being and was willing to do anything to keep him from feeling anymore pain.



In the softest whisper and the with all the hope she could muster she called out the words that would give her the guise that could make her wish come to be. "Disguise Power! Turn me into the princess in Darien's dreams..."



Pink, gold, and silver lights exploded from the pen and encircled Serena's form. Her clothes dissolved as new ones appeared. A long white dress wrapped around her figure as golden rings appeared on the fitted bodice. One thing that surprised Serena was the fact that her hair remained the same except for the glimmering pearls that settled onto her golden locks.



The lights faded away, leaving Serena twirling around in the intricate gown. Lips curved into a light smile as she made her way to the muscular body upon the park bench. She took a moment to gaze out across the vast waters and the way the moon's rays danced upon the fading ripples.



'Here goes nothing,' thought Serena while trying to calm her nerves. After what seemed to be eons, she was finally standing before the man on the bench. She worked up all the courage that her small frame possessed and took him into her outstretched arms. She sat down beside him on the bench and rocked him gently, back and forth, trying to soothe him.



"Who?" Darien's rich voice questioned. "Princess?"



Serena merely nodded at his inquiry and was delighted to see the grin that broke out onto his face at her gesture. Before she could react, his lips claimed her own and sent her into a mind shattering kiss. It was the kind of kiss that teenage girls dream about... the kind that had taken place in her deepest fantasies... How ironic that every time she had dreamt about this kiss, Darien had always been the leading male in her dreams. It was always Darien that she wanted to experience this kiss with. Even though he believed her to be some mysterious princess, it was still her lips that he was kissing and, for now, that was good enough for her.



"Princess, how are you here? I thought..." Darien was immediately silenced by a feathery kiss. As soon as Serena's lips brushed his they were gone.



"It doesn't matter. The only thing that does matter is the fact that I'm here now. Please, my love, I only have tonight." Serena gave little notice to how soft and serene her voice sounded, but Darien savored the sound and stored it away to the place where his most cherished treasures dwelt.



"Just tonight?"



"I wish I could be with you forever, but I can't... not yet..." Darien contemplated her words. They tumbled around in his head as he tried to figure out how he should reply.



"I've waited so long to finally be with you, to know that you weren't just created by my imagination. You're finally here even it is only for one night. I really can't ask for more..." Darien closed the distance between them once more. He had been anticipating the moment ever since he discovered the definition of a kiss and he wasn't disappointed. Her mouth tasted sweet as honey. The sugary taste poured through his lips and flooded his senses. He gently pulled away, allowing his palm to caress her cheek.



"I could stay like this forever," he whispered as he stared into her big blue eyes that were still clouded over in reminiscence of the kiss. "I love you, princess..." Serena smiled at the soft proclamation. His husky tone made butterflies soar through her stomach, however, her happiness was immediately crushed. She had longed to hear those words from him for so long. What kind of cruel joke were the fates playing? When he finally said the three little words, it was because he thought that she was someone else.



'He doesn't love me,' she thought bitterly, 'then again, why should he? I should be thankful that I'm the one here now. I just don't understand why he can't love me... I know I'm klutzy and I'm not that smart, but I love him a lot more than this princess does. I'm the one that cared enough to be here tonight, not her. I'm the one that's torturing myself to make him happy! When do I get to be happy?!"



Serena kissed Darien with all the passion she could. She threw all of her love into the moment, massaging his tongue with her own. Never had she partaken in a kiss of this intensity and she wasn't quite sure what to do. However, her instincts took over. It seemed as if some forgotten ability had suddenly come alive. Serena couldn't help but feel as if she had done this before.



"Darien, why do you love the pri... uh... me?" Serena asked.



Darien briefly searched her eyes before answering. "I love you because you've always been there for me. After all these years of visiting my dreams and keeping me company in the orphanage, how could I not love you?"



"What about now? Are you... disappointed?"



"No," Darien momentarily paused to wipe away a stray tear. "You're more than I could ever hope for. Do you want to know a secret?" At Serena's unsure nod, Darien continued, "Now that I've met you, I'm more sure than ever of my love for you."



Serena smiled at his words, a slight glimmer of hope shining throughout her heart. 'This is my night. This is the only chance I'll ever have at being with him. Tonight, all of my dreams come true.'