TITLE: "Christmas Dreams" (Chap. 3)
AUTHOR: Dream Catcher
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON
A.N.: I'm am sincerely sorry this chapter took so long. Exams are nearing, and they are more important. I am also sorry at the knowledge that this story will not be finished by Christmas. We always want Christmas to hurry up, but the one time it decides to creep up on me, I wish it hadn't. But, there is a good side to this. Even though Christmas will be over, there will still be this story to remind you of the Christmas spirit. Special thank yous go out to: Raye, Torri, Sammy, Cythia, achoolgirltil2005, Jig, UsaTsuko, Crystal-Serenity, Michelle Ann, insert name here55, SailorCallie, seiyaferret, Laura, decembergal, and the rest of the reviewers that I don't have time to write your names.Well, on with the story.
Chapter Three
"Why in the world did you invite that boy to dinner, Ilene?"
They hadn't been home ten minutes, but Kenneth Mathis was already arguing over his wife's decision to invite Darien to dinner.
"I don't like him," Kenneth continued, "for all we know, he could be some killer; or worse, he could be interested in Serena!"
"Ken," Ilene sighed, " who cares if he ends up liking Serena? You should be on your knees, thanking that young man!"
"And why, pray tell, should I be doing a thing like that?" he asked, scowling at his wife.
"For goodness sakes, Ken! He saved Serena's life!" Then, Ilene began to get hysterical."If it were not for him, Serena might not be alive right now! Instead of going to the scene of the crime, we could have been going to the morgue to identify a body!"
Ken looked at his wife, who had began to weep while she was scolding him. She's right, he realized.
He reached out to his wife, and pulled her into a warm embrace. "You're right, like always," he whispered soothingly while running his hand in circles over her back. "You know how I am. I tend to try and forget the serious things and focus on the little things; it's my way of coping with problems."
"I know, dear, but I can't help but think of what would have happened if that boy hadn't been there," she replied.
Ken stared over his wife's head at the Christmas tree that was shinning brightly in the living room. "You mustn't think about what could have happened. Instead, you should be thankful of what did happen," he whispered to her while kissing the top of her head. He stood back from his wife and looked into her tired eyes. "You should get some sleep. Go on upstairs, and I'll be up there in a few minutes as soon as I turn off the lights down here."
Ilene nodded her head, and began to climb the stairs, thoughts of what
could have been Serena's fate running through her mind.
When she reached Serena's room, she peeked through the door. Inside, Serena was peacefully sleeping with the moon shining into the room through the window, illuminating Serena's angelic features. Ilene sighed, thankful her baby girl was alright.
Ilene closed the bedroom door quietly and continued down the hall towards her room.
Downstairs, Ken tuned off the kitchen light before heading into the living room. He reached down and unplugged the Christmas tree and then turned to click off the table lamp. Before he turned off the light, he noticed a picture of a five-year-old Serena with cake on her face sitting on the table. Still staring at the picture, he picked it up and sat down on the sofa chair.
Ilene had been right; he had almost lost his baby tonight. But even so, that wouldn't stop him from being protective of her around that Darien boy. He was still a boy nonetheless.
Ken stared at the picture some more, remembering the day he had taken it. It had been Serena's fifth birthday and he and Ilene had gone all-out for their daughter's special day. They had spoiled her with gifts and desserts. All of Serena's friends from kindergarten class were invited.
He remembered how his daughter's face had lit up like a hundred-watt bulb
when he brought the cake into the room and set it in front of her. After she had blown out the candles in one giant huff, she had shoved a handful of cake into her mouth.
Her cheeks had been puffed out like a chipmunk, full of cake. The remnants that hadn't made it into her mouth had covered her face and fingers.
Ken had immediately gotten the camera to take a picture, and many had
followed it.
Ken sighed as he placed the picture back on the table and turned off the lamp.
As he walked up the stairs, one thought stayed in his mind: Tomorrow I'll
thank the boy for saving my daughter, but that's all he'll get from me.
It was noon and Serena had just finished telling her friends the whole story of the night before. They had all listened intently, each with a different expression on their face ranging from pissed off to starry- eyed.
The group of five sat in a booth located near the back of the arcade, away from the excessive chatter of middle school kids and the noise coming from the games.
The arcade had always been a place for the group of girls to hang out, and for Serena, it was her after school job. Today was one of the days Serena and her friends spent just hanging out.
"Wow, Serena, you have your very own knight in shining armor," Mina sighed.
Serena glanced at her blond friend, and could have sworn she had seen hearts in her friend's eyes.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but if I ever get my hands on that dirt bag I'll..." Lita let the treat hang while punching her fist into her palm, knowing it suggested more that it would have if she had completed the threat.
"I'm sure the police have made an arrest by now, Lita," Raye said after she watched her auburn haired friend's slightly violent episode. But Raye, along with the rest of the girls, was used to Lita's philosophy of 'violence solves just about everything.' They also knew that under Lita's harsh words and seemly violent ways, there was a girl that was just as vulnerable and
sensitive as the rest of them.
"If he's in jail, it only makes it easier to get to him," Lita said, a wicked smile coming to her lips as she pictured herself punching the man who had robbed the service station.
"You know, Lita," Serena said with a smile, " if that guy was ever to meet you, I bet he would request a life sentence just so he could be protected from you."
The group of girls giggled, all except Amy who's eyes were focused on Serena's smiling face.
"Serena..." Amy began, paused until Serena focused her attention on her. Brushing a strand of her blue/grey hair behind her ear, she continued, "you don't seem too upset over what happened last night."
All the girls turned their attention to Serena, all thinking that Amy was right. Why was Serena taking the situation so well?
"Should I be upset?" she questioned, her bewildered eyes focusing on each of her friends.
"Serena, you could have died. Don't you realize that?" Amy asked slowly, as if explaining to a small child.
Serena glanced at Amy, who was staring at her fixedly. Serena turned and looked at Raye then and saw her staring at her with emotions in her brown eyes that Serena had never seen before. Was it worry? Sisterly love?
As Serena turned to look at the rest of her friends, she saw the same emotions reflected in their eyes.
Amy's words echoed in Serena's mind over and over.
You could have died. You could have died. You could have died.
"I could have died," Serena whispered out loud to herself, almost as if she didn't believe it.
Serena's friends watched quietly as emotions played across Serena's face. First Shock, then fright, and finally realization.
Serena had been aware of how close she had come to dying the night before, but the full weight of it hadn't quite hit her until now. Her stomach churned, and she closed her eyes, willing it to stop.
She thought of her family and friends and what their reactions would have been had she died. The thought of her causing them pain was enough to send her stomach churning again.
What if's swam through her mind. What if she hadn't gone to the store? What if she had gone to McDonald's instead? What if Darien hadn't been there?
Darien. She owed him her life. She knew, without a doubt, that if he had not been there to tackle her, she would not be here talking to her friends.
Somehow, she vowed, I'll repay Darien.
Serena smiled and looked up at her friends as a new realization came to her. "I know how worried you are about me, but I realized I can't go around moping about what almost happened," she paused, deep in thought, trying to figure out how to word her next sentence. After a moment she continued, "Someone out their wanted me to live, and I'm not going to argue with them. It wasn't meant to be my time to go. I realize now how important life is, so I'm going to try and live mine to the fullest because it can be taken away from you so suddenly." Serena smiled at each of her friends, and they smiled back.
There was a comfortable silence as each of Serena's friends wordlessly congratulated their friend. Serena was now taking the situation seriously, but she also wasn't allowing the prospect of what could have happened rule her life.
The silence was interrupted, however, by Mina. "We should have a sleepover tonight."
"Yeah, a sleepover sounds fun," agreed Lita.
Amy smiled in agreement, "We haven't had a sleepover in quit some time."
"We can have it at the temple. Grandpa wouldn't mind," voiced Raye.
Serena smiled apologetically at her friends, "Sorry, but I wouldn't be able to come tonight. Can we have it tomorrow?"
"Sure, Serena. We can have the sleepover tomorrow," Amy said while the others nodded, "but if you don't mind my asking, Serena, why aren't you free tonight?"
"My mom invited Darien over to dinner as a sort of thank you for last night," she replied simply.
Mina's eyes grew big and she asked, "Are you kidding? The guy who saved you is coming over to your house for dinner?" When Serena nodded, Mina exclaimed, "And you didn't tell us?"
Serena seemed to shrink under Mina's accusing glare. "It slipped my mind," she said meekly.
"Chill, Mina. Some good did come out of this," Lita patted Mina on the back.
"And what might that be?" Mina asked with a humph.
Lita smiled and said, "We need to go shopping! Serena has got to dress to impress."
Mina smiled at the idea of shopping and turned her head slowly towards Serena, a devious look in her eyes that made Serena gulp. The Funeral March began playing over and over in her mind.
"Okay," Serena said timidly, "let's go shopping."
A.N: Yeah, I know it wasn't very exciteing, but I promise the next chapter will be the long awaited dinner.
AUTHOR: Dream Catcher
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON
A.N.: I'm am sincerely sorry this chapter took so long. Exams are nearing, and they are more important. I am also sorry at the knowledge that this story will not be finished by Christmas. We always want Christmas to hurry up, but the one time it decides to creep up on me, I wish it hadn't. But, there is a good side to this. Even though Christmas will be over, there will still be this story to remind you of the Christmas spirit. Special thank yous go out to: Raye, Torri, Sammy, Cythia, achoolgirltil2005, Jig, UsaTsuko, Crystal-Serenity, Michelle Ann, insert name here55, SailorCallie, seiyaferret, Laura, decembergal, and the rest of the reviewers that I don't have time to write your names.Well, on with the story.
Chapter Three
"Why in the world did you invite that boy to dinner, Ilene?"
They hadn't been home ten minutes, but Kenneth Mathis was already arguing over his wife's decision to invite Darien to dinner.
"I don't like him," Kenneth continued, "for all we know, he could be some killer; or worse, he could be interested in Serena!"
"Ken," Ilene sighed, " who cares if he ends up liking Serena? You should be on your knees, thanking that young man!"
"And why, pray tell, should I be doing a thing like that?" he asked, scowling at his wife.
"For goodness sakes, Ken! He saved Serena's life!" Then, Ilene began to get hysterical."If it were not for him, Serena might not be alive right now! Instead of going to the scene of the crime, we could have been going to the morgue to identify a body!"
Ken looked at his wife, who had began to weep while she was scolding him. She's right, he realized.
He reached out to his wife, and pulled her into a warm embrace. "You're right, like always," he whispered soothingly while running his hand in circles over her back. "You know how I am. I tend to try and forget the serious things and focus on the little things; it's my way of coping with problems."
"I know, dear, but I can't help but think of what would have happened if that boy hadn't been there," she replied.
Ken stared over his wife's head at the Christmas tree that was shinning brightly in the living room. "You mustn't think about what could have happened. Instead, you should be thankful of what did happen," he whispered to her while kissing the top of her head. He stood back from his wife and looked into her tired eyes. "You should get some sleep. Go on upstairs, and I'll be up there in a few minutes as soon as I turn off the lights down here."
Ilene nodded her head, and began to climb the stairs, thoughts of what
could have been Serena's fate running through her mind.
When she reached Serena's room, she peeked through the door. Inside, Serena was peacefully sleeping with the moon shining into the room through the window, illuminating Serena's angelic features. Ilene sighed, thankful her baby girl was alright.
Ilene closed the bedroom door quietly and continued down the hall towards her room.
Downstairs, Ken tuned off the kitchen light before heading into the living room. He reached down and unplugged the Christmas tree and then turned to click off the table lamp. Before he turned off the light, he noticed a picture of a five-year-old Serena with cake on her face sitting on the table. Still staring at the picture, he picked it up and sat down on the sofa chair.
Ilene had been right; he had almost lost his baby tonight. But even so, that wouldn't stop him from being protective of her around that Darien boy. He was still a boy nonetheless.
Ken stared at the picture some more, remembering the day he had taken it. It had been Serena's fifth birthday and he and Ilene had gone all-out for their daughter's special day. They had spoiled her with gifts and desserts. All of Serena's friends from kindergarten class were invited.
He remembered how his daughter's face had lit up like a hundred-watt bulb
when he brought the cake into the room and set it in front of her. After she had blown out the candles in one giant huff, she had shoved a handful of cake into her mouth.
Her cheeks had been puffed out like a chipmunk, full of cake. The remnants that hadn't made it into her mouth had covered her face and fingers.
Ken had immediately gotten the camera to take a picture, and many had
followed it.
Ken sighed as he placed the picture back on the table and turned off the lamp.
As he walked up the stairs, one thought stayed in his mind: Tomorrow I'll
thank the boy for saving my daughter, but that's all he'll get from me.
It was noon and Serena had just finished telling her friends the whole story of the night before. They had all listened intently, each with a different expression on their face ranging from pissed off to starry- eyed.
The group of five sat in a booth located near the back of the arcade, away from the excessive chatter of middle school kids and the noise coming from the games.
The arcade had always been a place for the group of girls to hang out, and for Serena, it was her after school job. Today was one of the days Serena and her friends spent just hanging out.
"Wow, Serena, you have your very own knight in shining armor," Mina sighed.
Serena glanced at her blond friend, and could have sworn she had seen hearts in her friend's eyes.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but if I ever get my hands on that dirt bag I'll..." Lita let the treat hang while punching her fist into her palm, knowing it suggested more that it would have if she had completed the threat.
"I'm sure the police have made an arrest by now, Lita," Raye said after she watched her auburn haired friend's slightly violent episode. But Raye, along with the rest of the girls, was used to Lita's philosophy of 'violence solves just about everything.' They also knew that under Lita's harsh words and seemly violent ways, there was a girl that was just as vulnerable and
sensitive as the rest of them.
"If he's in jail, it only makes it easier to get to him," Lita said, a wicked smile coming to her lips as she pictured herself punching the man who had robbed the service station.
"You know, Lita," Serena said with a smile, " if that guy was ever to meet you, I bet he would request a life sentence just so he could be protected from you."
The group of girls giggled, all except Amy who's eyes were focused on Serena's smiling face.
"Serena..." Amy began, paused until Serena focused her attention on her. Brushing a strand of her blue/grey hair behind her ear, she continued, "you don't seem too upset over what happened last night."
All the girls turned their attention to Serena, all thinking that Amy was right. Why was Serena taking the situation so well?
"Should I be upset?" she questioned, her bewildered eyes focusing on each of her friends.
"Serena, you could have died. Don't you realize that?" Amy asked slowly, as if explaining to a small child.
Serena glanced at Amy, who was staring at her fixedly. Serena turned and looked at Raye then and saw her staring at her with emotions in her brown eyes that Serena had never seen before. Was it worry? Sisterly love?
As Serena turned to look at the rest of her friends, she saw the same emotions reflected in their eyes.
Amy's words echoed in Serena's mind over and over.
You could have died. You could have died. You could have died.
"I could have died," Serena whispered out loud to herself, almost as if she didn't believe it.
Serena's friends watched quietly as emotions played across Serena's face. First Shock, then fright, and finally realization.
Serena had been aware of how close she had come to dying the night before, but the full weight of it hadn't quite hit her until now. Her stomach churned, and she closed her eyes, willing it to stop.
She thought of her family and friends and what their reactions would have been had she died. The thought of her causing them pain was enough to send her stomach churning again.
What if's swam through her mind. What if she hadn't gone to the store? What if she had gone to McDonald's instead? What if Darien hadn't been there?
Darien. She owed him her life. She knew, without a doubt, that if he had not been there to tackle her, she would not be here talking to her friends.
Somehow, she vowed, I'll repay Darien.
Serena smiled and looked up at her friends as a new realization came to her. "I know how worried you are about me, but I realized I can't go around moping about what almost happened," she paused, deep in thought, trying to figure out how to word her next sentence. After a moment she continued, "Someone out their wanted me to live, and I'm not going to argue with them. It wasn't meant to be my time to go. I realize now how important life is, so I'm going to try and live mine to the fullest because it can be taken away from you so suddenly." Serena smiled at each of her friends, and they smiled back.
There was a comfortable silence as each of Serena's friends wordlessly congratulated their friend. Serena was now taking the situation seriously, but she also wasn't allowing the prospect of what could have happened rule her life.
The silence was interrupted, however, by Mina. "We should have a sleepover tonight."
"Yeah, a sleepover sounds fun," agreed Lita.
Amy smiled in agreement, "We haven't had a sleepover in quit some time."
"We can have it at the temple. Grandpa wouldn't mind," voiced Raye.
Serena smiled apologetically at her friends, "Sorry, but I wouldn't be able to come tonight. Can we have it tomorrow?"
"Sure, Serena. We can have the sleepover tomorrow," Amy said while the others nodded, "but if you don't mind my asking, Serena, why aren't you free tonight?"
"My mom invited Darien over to dinner as a sort of thank you for last night," she replied simply.
Mina's eyes grew big and she asked, "Are you kidding? The guy who saved you is coming over to your house for dinner?" When Serena nodded, Mina exclaimed, "And you didn't tell us?"
Serena seemed to shrink under Mina's accusing glare. "It slipped my mind," she said meekly.
"Chill, Mina. Some good did come out of this," Lita patted Mina on the back.
"And what might that be?" Mina asked with a humph.
Lita smiled and said, "We need to go shopping! Serena has got to dress to impress."
Mina smiled at the idea of shopping and turned her head slowly towards Serena, a devious look in her eyes that made Serena gulp. The Funeral March began playing over and over in her mind.
"Okay," Serena said timidly, "let's go shopping."
A.N: Yeah, I know it wasn't very exciteing, but I promise the next chapter will be the long awaited dinner.