'Tonight, all of my dreams come true.'
Serena abruptly left Darien's embrace and stood up from her seat on the wooden bench. "Dance with me."
"Here?"
"Yes, here. We only have tonight."
Darien got to his feet and placed his hands at the small of her back. He pulled her in close as she rested one palm on his strong chest. The other hand snaked around his neck and buried its fingers in the ebony locks at the base of his neck. Their bodies gently began to sway, perfectly complimenting the other. Darien couldn't get over how his princess seemed to mold to his body. It was as if she was created for the sole purpose of being in his arms.
'If only we had music,'
Darien seemed to read Serena's thoughts, for at that moment is lush voice filled the night, taking precedence over all other sounds.
"I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
I just wanna be with you right here with you
Just like this
I just wanna hold you close
A feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment, for all the rest of time"
Serena could no longer keep the salty streams from coursing even though she tried to desperately. Darien's could feel the moisture seeping through his shirt and soaking his chest.
"Princess? What's wrong?" He had pushed her back just enough so he could see her face clearly, however, she refused to meet his gaze.
"I want you to love ME..." was the reply that Serena finally managed to get out.
"But, I do love you..."
"No!" Serena interrupted, "You love some perfect princess from your dreams. You know nothing about me! You don't even know my name!"
"I know that you're sweet and kind... You are my princess. I loved you in my dreams and I love you even more now that I've met you for real. As for your name, it doesn't really matter. Even if you never would've came to me in my dreams, I still think I would fall in love with you. This beautiful woman in front of me... the one who can make me forget all of my pain with just one kiss... the one who knows how to hold me... the one whose eyes show more love for me than anyone ever has... this is the one I love..."
"Don't you see? The girl you see right now has no flaws! She's perfect! My hair is done and I'm all dressed up. I'm graceful and confident in your eyes... but what if you were to find out that I'm not perfect? What if it turned out that I'm not graceful and I'm really insecure. What if I didn't look this pretty normally? What then?" Serena really didn't know what had come over her. It was if she was making some last frantic attempt to show him that she, Serena, would love him much more than this princess ever could.
"Nobody's perfect. I wouldn't care how you looked or what flaws you possessed. I would love you just as long as you love me as much as you do right now."
"Then why don't you?"
"Why don't I what?" Darien really didn't know how to respond to what his princess asking. After all this time, why did she doubt his love? He had been completely faithful to her all of these years. Women threw themselves at him on a regular basis, but he had turned them all down with the hope of one day being united with his princess.
Darien was left unanswered. The sun began to creep above the horizon signaling the dawn of a new day.
"Our time is up. Forget all of these questions. Just remember that I love you. Please, at night, before you go to sleep and see me in your dreams... please, remember me as I am now." Serena leaned in for one last blissful kiss. "Go home, Darien. Go home and sleep. I'll be waiting for you."