Disclaimer: I don't won any of the characters or the original story line that any of this comes from. Sorry I wish I did, but I don't.

Now I know that this has taken a long time to get out, and I'm really sorry about this. I hope this won't disappoint all you readers. If it does send me flames, maybe I could use them to get my writing out faster. Anyway, on with the story.

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Serena frantically threw her clothes all over her room, onto the floor, her bed, and any offending object that got into her way. It seemed that all the beautiful outfits she had gotten the other day had become so much less exciting now. This one to pink, that one to plain, others trying to hard, and then there were those that seemed not to try at all. What was she going to do, her room was a mess, and she still had no outfit only an hour and a half left until she was late for her dinner with Darien. With him living right down the hall from her she really had no reason to be late, but what could she do? She had nothing to wear.

Serena observed her room and the damage she had wrought. It hadn't looked so bad before, but now disaster. The bed was covered with dresses, skirts, and blouses. Still more clothes spilled over onto her clean white carpet, reds, blues, pinks, grays, and all the colors of her wardrobe mixing together. A few outfits could even be found stuck on a lamp, or dresser. Not a single thing was left in her once full closet, not one outfit. How was she going to find anything to wear in this mess?

Just as Serena was getting ready to call Darien and tell him that she had gotten sick she spotted a picture of her and her friends standing in the park. Amy, Lita, Mina, Rie, and herself all seemed so happy as they smiled at the camera. God it had been forever since she'd called or talked to them. She hadn't really realized how much she'd missed them, at least, not until now.

Before she even realized what she was doing she walked out of her bedroom and toward the kitchen, down her yelled walled hallway, and through her white and pink living room. Strait to the kitchen until she was there. Then she picked up her phone and began to dial a number she had memorized in the fourth grade.

It rang once twice three times, she was about to hang up when a voice spoke on the other end.

"Hi this is Mina Hello? Hellooooooooo? Is anybody-"

Serena broke in before Mina hung up, "Hey Mina, it's me Serena."

Pause "Serena? Ohmigosh! How are you? You haven't called me in forever, to good for all your old friends now huh?" Mina's voice was playful on the other end, but Serena knew she had hurt Mina keeping away. "So what's up girl?"

"Mina I need a really big favor," she paused for dramatic effect. Then praying Mina wouldn't say no, but at the same time knowing there was no chance she would she continued, "I've only got an hour to get ready for a date, and I need you to work a miracle with my wardrobe. Think your up to it girl?"

Mina seemed to consider this "Of course! I'll be over in ten minutes, by the way, you're giving me the details on the mystery guy when I get over there, and Serena"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad your back." Then she hung up.

About ten minute's later Serena's doorbell rang. She rushed to the door and peeked through the peephole. Sure enough it was Mina's eager smiling face that started back at her. She quickly threw open the door and pulled Mina into her house.

Mina squealed in surprise at being pulled in the door so quickly, but managed to regain composure. They were half way to what was left of Serena's room when Mina burst into conversation.

"So who IS this guy? Name, hotness factor, come on I want all the details girl. Oh and where are you going? I need to know what kind of outfit to put you in."

Some things never change,' Serena thought happily as they entered her room.

Mina dead stopped in the doorway. She surveyed the damage to Serena's room and took a deep breath.

"Well Serena, start answering, and I'll see which clothes aren't too wrinkled and which ones might be acceptable for. I still haven't gotten those answers yet by the way."

Serena just laughed.

"Tick tick tick Serena, you want to make it to this dinner on time start answering."

"Ok ok, his name is Darien Shields. I'm having dinner in his apartment in forty-five minutes; yes he's very hot. Scale of one to ten at least a 9.9."

"Woah, when do I get to meet him?"

"Not for a while, first date is tonight. Now help with the outfit."

Serena and Mina frantically went through Serena's many outfits until they found one they both agreed would work. It was a simple outfit really, a knee length black skirt with a slit over her left leg going up to her mid calf, and the shirt was a red lace v-neck shirt. Around Serena's neck she wore a red stone on a piece of black lace. The outfit was simple yet sexy, and with Serena's legs it could defiantly be pulled off.

"SO now you've got about 3 minutes before you go knock him dead Serena. Got anything you want to talk to me about before you leave?"

Serena smiled at Mina, she was really the greatest thing Serena had going for her. Maybe Darien would end up being better? Well she'd never know if she stayed here and missed her dinner.

"I've got tons to tell you, but 3 minutes won't cut it Mina. What are you doing tomorrow? Up for a trip to the mall? Or maybe a movie and a trip to the arcade? I haven't been to the arcade and seen the gang in ages. I guess it just didn't seem right."

Mina looked at her friend with tears in her eyes. "I'm free all day tomorrow. I say we do all of it, make a whole day out of it, maybe crash at my place afterwards, ya know?"

"Yeah, I'll call you at about 10 o'clock, that ok?"

"Yeah that's great, now get out of here or you'll be late for your date with dream boy." Mina gently pushed Serena towards her own door and out into the hallway, both girls left Serena's apartment. "I WANT DETAILS TOMORROW," Mina yelled down the hallway as she walked toward the elevator.

Serena smiled to herself as she headed towards Darien's apartment. Suddenly little butterflies filled her stomach. This was going to be her first date in almost a year, what was she going to say? What if he decided he didn't like her? What if they ended up not having anything to talk about and there was that awful silence that seems deafening Serena managed to get a grip on her own mind just as she reached Darien's door.

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She's here. I can feel her heart beat from down the hallway, she must be nervous. I wonder what she chose to wear for our "date". It doesn't really matter, soon she'll be mine, forever, if I so chose.'

There was a knock at the door, and Darien got up off his couch. It was a beautiful thing, that couch, cost him a lot two. He'd managed to fully furnish the apartment before their date so Serena wouldn't wonder why there was nothing in it. That could make things difficult if she became suspicious.

Darien pasted a smile onto his face and opened the door, but as soon as he opened the door he found no need to fake the smile anymore. She was gorgeous. The outfit she was wearing was almost enough to make him drool, and that choker draws even more attention to her neck then he needed. Tonight was going to be a good night, maybe even the best night of his unlife in decades.

"Hi, can I come in, or do I have to eat dinner in the hallway?" Serena giggled a little at her own joke, obviously very nervous. Could I sound anymore stupid? Get a grip Serena. You want him to think your some kind of immature child?'

"Sorry, it's just you look great Serena. Come on in. Dinner's already done. Right this way." Darien spoke in a soft and alluring voice. He slowly led Serena into the dinning room.

Serena gasped as she looked at the room. The dining room was decorated in various shades of black and red. The table itself was covered with a red table cloth and had two candles burning in the center. The smell of the food mixed with the sent of the burning candles was heavenly. Serena allowed herself to be led to a seat where she sat down. Then Darien walked to his side of the table and sat down as well.

He then uncovered his plate, and Serena uncovered her own. The smells of the dinner reached her nose and Serena immediately felt at ease. She hadn't realized she'd been so tense and nervous, but the smells of this familiar dinner of chicken alfredo made her more at ease. She was about to dig in when Darien spoke.

"So Serena, I know this is kind of rude to ask, but how old are you anyway?"

Serena seemed a bit dumb founded at first, it had never occurred to her that this guy didn't know she was eighteen. He must have thought she was younger and was worried about to wide of an age difference, or maybe of her parents. He couldn't possible know they were dead, right?

"I'm eighteen. I'll be nineteen this summer. In July acutely."

"Hmm, I wouldn't have guessed. You've got an air of wisdom about you that makes it hard to guess your age. Most girls your age are sheltered or self-destructive. Your special though, very special."

What is wrong with me, I can't keep my eyes off her neck. I have to get that choker off her, soon'

The dinner went on for an hour with Serena and Darien quietly talking and enjoying each other's company. They talked about music, movies, and they're ideas on the status quo.

Then Darien stood and began to clear their plates away from the table, and Serena jumped to assist him. She followed Darien into the kitchen and began to help him load the dishwasher with all of their dishes. Then as Serena was putting the last dish in the dishwasher she tripped on her heels and began to fall.

Darien quickly grabbed Serena before she hit the floor and held her in his arms. He could feel her heart beating rapidly as he held her close, weather it was from the fall or they're closeness he couldn't be sure. At that moment he wished his heart would beat so he could gage her reaction to his own.

Slowly he began to help Serena regain her balance. As she stood up against him he noticed that with her heels on she barely came up to his chin. He let his glance run over her outfit and body once again as he had when she first entered his home. As he looked at her face he caught her eyes and looked deeply into hers as she looked into his.

Her breathing stopped, he could feel it. The moment was almost painful in its stillness, but they continued to just stare deeply into each other's eyes.

Finally he spoke, "Are you alright? Do you think you can walk to the couch?"

Serena snapped out of the moment as he spoke. "I'm not sure," she replied truthfully, she suddenly realized that she had been clutching his arms and leaning on him. She attempted to let go and rest her wait on her own foot, but winced in pain.

Darien saw the look of pain cross her face and immediately picked her up. "You've probable sprained it, I'm going to have a look at it but I need to carry you to the couch, do you mind?"

Serena tried to control her breathing. Why does he have this affect on me?' "Yes that fine. Just be careful touching it, it hurts."

Darien carried her to the living room and placed her on his plush couch. "I promise you princess, I won't do anything to hurt you, unless you want me to." Darien grinned suggestively at Serena making her blush a deep crimson.

Serena stuttered in response, "I um. Well thank you for not hurting my- OUCH!" Serena quickly pulled her foot away from Darien's reach.

"I wasn't even touching it I swear!"

"No it's all right it's not you it's just," an excruciating pain shot threw Serena's leg and rendered her speechless. Her eyes started to water over with pain.

Suddenly Darien gently picked up her foot and took her boot off. Serena looked at him pleadingly as he did so. Once he had gotten her heel off her injured foot he examined her it closely. Then ever so gently he began to massage the area around her ankle. To Serena it felt heavenly and a soft moan excaped her mouth.

"Like that huh?" Darien smiled another genuine smile and continued to massages her ankle. Then gathering all her courage Serena reached down and grabbed the bottom of Darien's chin and made him face her. Slowly she drew his face her own and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

He began to kiss her back slowly and gently at first, then more passionately. He opened his mouth and licked Serena's lips encouraging her to open her own mouth. Serena did and allowed him to explore her mouth with his tongue. Next she began to explore his mouth with her own. She didn't know what was getting into her, but this seemed so right, and he tasted so good.

Kissing her is heaven,' Darien thought. He slowly maneuvered they're bodies so he was sitting on the couch with her sitting in his lap. He deepened the kisses and made them more passionate. He kissed her with a fiery hunger that he didn't know he possessed.

Serena met his every kiss with an intensity of her own. Slowly she let her hands trail over his chest. Exploring his muscular shoulders and then down to his stomach. She could feel her self control slipping away as she kissed him, but she didn't care all that mattered was now.