Author's Note:
Sorry the prologue was so short, but then again, it IS a prologue! Were you surprised at who the blonde with Darien was? *evil grin* For all you die-hard Darien/Serena fans, don't worry, they may still have a chance together; that is, IF I'm feeling generous. ;) Ahh, to have the power of an author… Happy reading!
Again, email me at plutodreams@yahoo.com with anything you might possibly want to say.

Disclaimer:
Once again, note that I do not own Sailormoon and the characters within it.

Do Dreams Come True?

Chapter One

            "Watch where you're going, M- Serena!" Darien looked down in surprise at the petite woman who had just run into him. In turn, she looked up, her lips forming an "o" as her blue eyes widened and her fair skin turned a bright cherry red.

            "Darien!"

            He hesitated, then stretched out his arms to hug his former lover. Also feeling ridiculously awkward, Serena stepped into his embrace and promptly winced at how familiar and comforting it felt. She moved quickly away and forced a bright smile to her face.

            "It's been months," she said, looking up and shading her eyes from the sun with one hand. He chuckled ruefully and shook his head. "That's my fault, Ser; I've been too busy lately what with Mina and the pregnancy…" He trailed off into an awkward silence, trying not to remember what he had once shared with Serena. She noticed the lag and tried to pick up the conversation once more.

            "How is she? The baby was due last week, wasn't it? I talked to Ami a few weeks ago and she said Mina wasn't feeling too well. I hope everything is okay…" She, too, lapsed into silence, but this time it was due to Darien's glum face more than anything.

            He sighed heavily.

            "Mina is not doing too well, actually. The baby was born last weekend" – at this, he smiled – "but there were complications and both of them are still hospitalized."

            Serena put a hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Darien. But she's in the best hands possible at Tokyo MedCenter, especially with Ami around. I'm sure she'll be up in no time! Would it be possible for me to visit them?"

            Inexplicably, Darien felt himself cheering up. Serena seemed as perky and optimistic as ever, despite the shadows under her eyes and the slump of her shoulders. The memories he had of her seemed to reinforce themselves in the image before his eyes. "That would be wonderful! You would make Mina very happy if you visited." Not to mention himself, he thought, then mentally berated himself for his joy. There was no reason to be so happy. He was married to Mina and should be concerned over her health and that of his new daughter, not grinning like a silly high school boy just because he had run into his ex-girlfriend.

            Serena interrupted his thoughts with a stunning smile. "I'll be by this evening then, after I find a sitter for Ashley and Jimmy."

            "See you then," he replied and watched as she strode off, her hair swinging jauntily, shining like pure gold in the sunlight.

~

            "I can't believe you did this to me!" Serena screamed in outrage, wanting to pull out her blonde pigtails in frustration. Darien merely stood still and stared at the ground. "I didn't mean for this to happen," he said softly.

            "That's complete bullshit and you know it. 'Didn't mean for it to happen'? There's no way this could have happened without you meaning it. Oh, and did you just HAPPEN to fall in bed with her, or what, did she FORCE you to have sex with her?"

            She had never been so angry and humiliated in her entire life. All the Senshi knew that Darien and Mina had been carrying on behind her back and no one had bothered to tell her. It was not until that very morning when she had returned to Tokyo from a study abroad program in France that she had discovered that the man she had believed to be her one true love was just another cheating, lying bastard.

            Darien finally looked her in the eye. "I tried to make things work, Serena," he told her calmly. "I know it's our destiny to be together, but the feelings just aren't there anymore. I don't think we should be together."

            Surprisingly, his words did not make Serena angrier. In fact, they had quite the opposite effect. She closed her eyes briefly and let his words sink in. He didn't love her anymore. And to be honest, her feelings had been more of anger than actual hurt. There had been so many opportunities to be with other men in France and she had been reluctant to turn them down. She supposed that she did not truly love him anymore either.

            "You're right, we shouldn't be together." Darien seemed shocked at her easy capitulation, but he quickly recovered and reached out for one final hug. She rebuffed him, however, and put one slim hand up to ward him off. "I really don't think I like you very much right now. It's better that we just part ways now."

            Nodding, Darien swallowed the lump in his throat and wondered if he was doing the right thing. As Serena walked away, she reached up and pulled off the bands that secured her pigtails. letting the hair shimmer down in a wave of gold silk. It was the end of her innocent childhood and the pigtails had to go.

~

            "She's so beautiful…" Lita spoke in hushed voices as she, Serena, Ami, and Darien stared down at the sleeping baby behind a glass window. Darien beamed proudly. "She is, isn't she?" Serena eyed the cotton-candy pink hair and sighed inwardly. It reminded her so much of Rini, the little brat who had failed to come into existence because of her and Darien's breakup. Darien seemed to echo her thoughts, for he turned to her and smiled sadly. Sensing the need for the two to talk, Ami tactfully drew Lita aside. "Let's go in and see how Mina is doing," she suggested, brushing aside her blue bangs. The brunette followed willingly, looking back to see the former couple pressing their noses against the window at what could have been their child.

            "Serena," Darien began in a soft voice, reaching out to take her arm. She looked away from the window and offered him a slight smile. "What is it?" He looked at her, then at his daughter, and back again. "I want to ask your permission for something." She frowned in confusion. His life did not involve her anymore. What could he possibly need her permission for? Seeing his hesitancy, she smiled encouragingly and nodded. "Go ahead."

            Darien ran a hand through his raven-black locks nervously and licked his parched lips. "Well, her hair, you know, the pink… it just reminds me so much… I want to name her Rini." There, he had said it, and from the expression of surprise on Serena's face, he could not tell whether or not she was pleased. "I know it won't be the same, but since there can't be the real Rini, at least we'll have this memory of her. And you have to admit, that shade of pink will always remind you of her anyways, so why not name her Rini and just get out what's going to be in everyone's minds?"

            Serena stopped his little speech by smiling. "I think it's a wonderful idea," she replied. "I miss her, too, and sometimes I wish…" She stopped herself. She had almost, stupidly, told him that she wished they were still together, if only for the creation of that little girl. Flustered, she changed the subject. "But let's see how Mina feels about it; she may not like the idea at all." Darien shook his head. "We've already discussed it and Mina feels that it's a good idea as well. She misses the brat as much as any of us and this is like a living memorial to her. Someday, Mina and I will tell Rini about how she got her name so she'll know what a wonderful little girl the original Rini was. Now that you've agreed, I know she'll be happy. Let's go give her the good news."

            Turning away, Darien lead the way down the hall to Mina's room. If he had but spared a glance over his shoulder, he would have seen Serena, still pressed against the glass, whispering to the baby within. "Rini," she mouthed, while her mind protested. She could have been mine.