The Hand of Fate
AU
Will eventually include all characters!
I am Lady Sphinx. Welcome to my first fanfic. Sorry about the lack of updates lately. I'll do better, I promise! Please, write me if you like this, hate this, or are even just reading this and want to make a comment! I love e-mail!
Enjoy!
lady_sphinx @hotmail.com loves to hear your comments on this
story!



Darien and Serena set out for Plintos, his hometown, the following morning.


"Darien, where are we going again?"


"Plintos. It's a farming village just 7 miles from the shoreline. Its my home."


"Oh, okay." Great...I wonder what he's gonna do with me....


"I'm going to let you stay with my Auntie. She'll take good care of you. She raised
me, and I didn't turn out so bad, did I?"


"Hmm, don't know about that." She answered him sarcastically, then paused for
a moment.

"Hey, wait! How?" Serena sounded confused "How did you know what I was
thinking?"


"You thought out loud."

"Oh." I'm really tired, but he seems so happy to finally be getting home. I don want to be a
bother but "Oh...oops!"


Serena tripped. "Hey, are you okay?" Darien asked her. "Let's go ahead and stop for
lunch. We are at least 1/3 of the way there, so we won't loose much time stopping
here." He grinned. "We can have a little picnic!"


Serena sat leaning against a tree, while Darien rummaged in their sack for the food.
"So, what would you like, Sere? I have a ham sandwich and a bologna sandwich,
and some extra cheese."


"Actually, I'm a little thirsty. Do you have any water?"


"There is a brook nearby, I saw it on our way here. I'll get us some water. You stay
here and eat. You probably need some rest after our walk."


While he was gone Serena fell asleep. When he returned he found her curled up
under the tree, a half eaten bologna sandwich cradled in her hands.


"Oh...she's just so cute sleeping there. We should leave soon, but I just can't wake
her. Oh, well. She can't be too heavy, can she?" He lifted her up in his arms, "Nope,
not heavy at all. In fact, she's perfect." He bent and kissed her cheek, then buried his
head in her long, honey-blond hair. "Hmmm...she smells sweet, too." Soon Darien
had fallen asleep under the tall oak, cradling Serena in his arms.



He awoke after the moon had risen, late in the night. "We've lost a lot of time. It's a
good thing there's a full moon tonight. I can probably make it home by early morning.
Won't Luna be surprised!" Darien observed with a chuckle. "I can carry her back.
She needs to rest." He looked down at his little angel, sleeping so peacefully. "I didn't
think it was possible, but she's even more beautiful by moonlight." She sighed and
stirred. Darien held his breath, hoping he hadn't awakened his angel. She slowly
opened her crystal blue eyes.


"Where? Oh, Darien. I guess I fell asleep. Are we still at the same place?" she
whispered.


"Yeah. I fell asleep too." He whispered back.


Serena suddenly noticed how close they were to one another, and tried to break the
spell. "Why are we whispering?"


"So we don't disturb the beauty of the night. Even if it can't compare to you."


Serena was suddenly aware of Darien's nearness, of him leaning closer to her, and she
thought excitedly He's going to kiss me! She suddenly felt a tickle in her nose. She tried
to hold it in, but he leaned closer and closer, and just
as his nose touched hers...ACHOO!!!!


"Sorry, Darien...heehee...let me...um...here, I have a cloth."


"It's okay, Sere." And I was so close to kissing her. Hmmm...her lips look so soft. He
suddenly bent down quickly and caught her lips with his in a gentle, quick but
passionate kiss.


When he pulled away, he noticed Serena's cheeks were flushed and her eyes were
closed. "Wow..." she whispered.


"My thoughts exactly, little angel." Darien told her. "Come on, we can make it back
to Plintos before morning, I think."


Serena ended up being too weak to walk very far, and Darien carried her. Before he'd
carried her ten paces, she'd fallen back asleep. They arrived at a small house on the
edge of town just before dawn. Darien crept in the back door, made his way into the
kitchen, and then yelled, "Luna! Artemis! I'm back!"


A tall, dark haired woman in a yellow robe ran down the steps to greet him. Her
green eyes reflected concern and joy at his late return. "Where have you been? I've
worried sick about you! Oh! Who is this? Darien...is she hurt?"


"I found her on the beach. She was passed out and beaten pretty badly, I think from
the storm. I rescued her and treated her wounds. Turns out, she doesn't remember
who she is. I was hoping you'd take her in, I mean, after all, she can't really stay with
me...and I'm always over here anyway. Please, Luna, please? Pretty please?"


"Of course she can stay here. Just like any other friend of yours, she's welcome here.
Put her in the guest room. Have you walked all the way here carrying her?" He
nodded wearily. "You must be tired, too. I'm afraid your room has been overrun
since your last stay here. You'll have to sleep on the couch. I'll get your blankets and
pillows. Artemis! ARTEMIS!"


A man with short, ruffled, silver blond hair stuck his head in the doorway.
"Yes dear?" he asked with a sigh.


"Get Darien some blankets and pillows."


"As you wish my dear." He bowed dramatically and left the room.


"You silly thing...Oh, Darien! Don't laugh at him. It only encourages him!"


"Darien, go lay her in the bed and then come down and eat something. You must be
famished! I'll make your favorite..." She kissed him on the nose.


"Alright." He answered with a grin. "I'll be right down, Auntie."


Darien went up and laid his angel in the bed, tucking the blankets around her gently.
"Goodnight, little one. Sweet dreams" He whispered, and kissed her forehead
gently.

Well, that's all for now. Hope you like my story so far. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know! Later days, people!

Lady Sphinx
lady_sphinx@hotmail.com