Serena blushed as Tuxedo Mask landed on his apartment balcony. I just realize I love him and I'm already in his arms? This is insane. Fate is definitely tempting me. I hope he doesn't notice me blushing like this. I feel like a tomato. She was jarred back to reality as he released her and opened the sliding glass door to the apartment. As she followed him inside, he transformed back into Darien and led her to the living room. He waited for her to sit before he seated himself across from her in a comfy looking chair. Silence enveloped the room since neither wanted to start talking first.

Serena looked around the apartment as she thought of what to say. It was pretty big so it must have cost him a lot for rent. The living room had a fluffy, creamy white colored sofa and two matching chairs placed around a dark mahogany coffee table. The carpet was dark green and the walls were white with a few posters and a couple paintings placed around. The kitchen was visible from behind a counter in front of her and a short hall to the left led to a bathroom and his bedroom. A bookcase that matched the coffee table was off to the side filled with all sorts of books, except for the third shelf, which held a CD player and a few other items. Behind her was a desk which had obviously seen a lot of use lately, since you couldn't even see the top, and a lamp. Against the opposite wall was a TV stand with a TV and a Blu-Ray player. The glass doors of the balcony still stood open, but it was a nice day outside so it didn't matter. Plants were scattered around the apartment in every room.

Serena's eyebrows rose as she took in the sight. It was a surprisingly nice apartment. She had always figured guys were slobs. Then again, the only other room she had seen belonging to a guy was her brother's, so she guessed it didn't count. Realizing it had been silent for quite a long time, she looked over to where Darien sat. She turned beet red as her eyes met his. Has he been looking at me this entire time? she wondered.

Darien watched as Serena looked over his apartment. He knew what she wanted to talk about. She wanted to know how he knew her other identities and why he had said what he had the other day. He watched, amused, as she turned back to him and blushed a deep red. She was so beautiful and didn't even realize it. He had noticed she had been blushing a lot around him since the incident at the park and he hoped it meant that she was starting to like him. He wouldn't tell her he loved her yet. Not until she was the one to bring that subject up. Serena cleared her throat nervously. Here it comes, he smiled.

"Umm…I wanted to talk to you about…" She trailed off and lowered her eyes. "About the Serenity thing."

"It's not a thing…It's you," Darien interrupted. "Whether you like it or not, you are Serenity and no matter how much you try to deny it, it doesn't change a thing. Why are you so upset about it?" His voice was gentle and the way he asked her made her feel like she needed to tell him.

Tears came to her eyes. "I shouldn't be her!" She said it a little more loudly and bitterly then she had meant and knew by the startled expression on Darien's face that he hadn't expected her to be so emotional about it. "I don't deserve to be her." Her voice became more quiet. "I'm a failure at everything and if I become the princess then I'll just be what I always knew I was." She stopped and put her face in her hands. Darien leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees as he watched her.

"And that is…?" he asked, softly.

"A disappointment." The words were forced out and as soon as they were said Serena began to cry. Darien stood and knelt in front of her, pulling her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly as she wept. "I'd let them all down. I know it."

"You're talking about your Scouts aren't you?" Darien whispered. Serena didn't reply, she only nodded. "Serena…have you ever let them down before?"

She pulled away from him slightly so she could look into his eyes. "The Silver Millennium was destroyed. I couldn't protect them then. How can I protect them now?"

"Because you'll be ready this time," Darien replied. He didn't remember anything from the silver Millennium but his princess, but from dreams he had had, he knew of the last battle. He also knew no one could have stopped the Negaverse. By the time the attack was discovered it was too late for anyone to do anything.

"But that's just it! I'm not. I can't do this alone."

"You won't do it alone. Your Scouts will be by your side…and so will I." Serena hugged him tightly once again.

"How did you know?" she whispered.

Darien chuckled. "It wasn't hard to figure out once I had enough clues. Mostly, it was because you had repeated something you said as Sailor Moon that day in the park. Once that happened, I just…knew." He smiled as she pulled away to look at him again.

"So…you're Tuxedo Mask. I never even considered it could be you. Now that I know it is though, I guess I'm relieved. I'm glad." Serena blushed and lowered her eyes. "I mean…"

"It's okay Meatball Head. I know what you mean." He playfully yanked on one of her pigtails before standing and going into the kitchen. "Would you like some lemonade?"

Serena watched him go, almost wishing he had stayed by her. "Sure." Darien came back a few minute later with two glasses and handed her one. She thanked him and took a sip as he sat beside her and leaned back into the cushions. "This is really good." She took another big swallow. Darien didn't answer, but just nodded and watched her. Serena's thoughts drifted as she looked at the time on the Blu-Ray player. Only an hour until the Senshi and I have to meet up. Its been that long already? She frowned as she thought of their chances of winning the crystals. Suddenly she remembered something and turned back to Darien.

"Your Rainbow Crystal," she said hurriedly.

"What about it?" He smiled as she pouted and placed both their drinks on the table.

"I need it." She reached out and took his hand in both of hers. "Please?"

This is going to be fun. Darien smiled as he placed his free hand in front of her and formed the crystal in it. "What, this?" he asked innocently. "What ever happened to 'not giving it up without a fight'? I'd say you were challenging me for it that day. I think I should accept. After all, according to you, you're 'more than a match'." He chuckled as Serena's eyes grew huge.

"You mean you want me to fight you for it?" She stared at him in disbelief as he nodded. Glancing at the clock nervously, she saw that only a few minutes had passed. Do I have time? She bit her lip and looked at Darien again. Do I have a choice? She didn't.

"We can fight on the top of this apartment building. It's the tallest building in this area so we shouldn't draw any attention." The crystal disappeared back to where he kept it as he stood and headed to the balcony.

Serena stood and followed him. "I can't believe this," she muttered.