Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: PG
Chapter: 18- White Lies

Last time on "Winter Snow"...

Crystal wasn't used to getting dreams of such intensity unless it was urgent. She knew that this dream was very important to someone very close to her. In some sense it was like a premonition of the future. The future happiness, and possibly even the life of someone she knew, was in jeopardy. But whose future pain was she predicting?


Crystal awakened early that morning. It was Sunday and she had an early breakfast shift at the Crown Arcade. She quickly dressed and left a note on the table for Darien as she left. She closed the door behind her, knowing that something was going to happen today and it would be something that no one liked.

Darien had been drifting in and out of sleep for the past 4 hours. The nightmare haunted him every time he slept. Darien compromised with himself, getting 5 minutes of sleep at a time, before the nightmare would return to haunt his sub-conscious mind. He knew that he had to do something about it, but what could he do? Just as Darien began to drift asleep again the doorbell rang. Darien remembered that Crystal had an early shift this morning and so he pulled all his strength together to get up and answer the door. He opened it, forgetting that he was still in his sleepwear

"Why... hello!" the blonde girl drawled, looking at Darien.

"Serena!" Darien perked at the sight of his beautiful girlfriend.

"Hey Darien, can I come in?" She asked

"I...um... yeah, sure." Darien had to do something. Something to make sure he could keep her safe. Safe from himself. *How could I hurt her? How could I when I love her so much?* Darien asked himself, or at least to whatever force was controlling his mind, causing him to go absolutely crazy.

"Serena, I have to talk to you about something." Darien stared at the ground.

"Sure! Go ahead!" Serena smiled.

*She's so happy! How can I do this to her?* Darien's heart raged a war with his head. *I have to do this for her safety. If I don't then she'll… I can't lose her* "Serena... I don't think it's a good idea if we keep seeing each other." Darien whispered solemnly.

"I...what...what do you mean?" The statement had caught her off guard.

"I mean. I don't think that we should see each other anymore." Darien rephrased the sentence.

"But Darien, why?" She asked, quietly. Still too much in shock to even cry. Her heart skipped a beat and sank into the pit of her stomach.

"I...I..." Darien needed an excuse "I just don't love you anymore Serena." Darien blurted out.

"What? I don't believe you." A single, silent tear trickled down her cheek. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It couldn't be true.

"I'm so sorry Serena. We're just two totally different people. It just won't work out." Darien looked away, avoiding her gaze. He wasn't strong enough to look her in the eyes and blatantly lie to her. He struggled to fight back his own emotions as he listened to her try to hold back her sobs. Her voice quivered as her heart broke to the words that he had said. The words that he didn't even mean, the words that were not and would never be true.

"But what about last night? The kiss... you told me-"

"It was a lie." Darien interrupted. He didn't care how bad he made himself sound and he didn't care if she hated him for the rest of her life, just as long as she would be safe. He would be able to love her from a distance.

"Was every other time a lie too?" Serena asked, pleading, hoping that he could not be so heartless. Darien nodded silently. Tears ran down Serena's face as she openly began to cry. How could it have all been a lie? How could he just do that to her, playing with her emotions and her heart? She was convinced that he still loved her, but if he did then why was he doing this?

"Is there another girl?" Serena sniffled. For the first time since she walked through the door, Darien's head lifted as he looked at her.

"What? Why would you even ask that?" Darien looked at her shocked. In his heart he knew that Serena would always be the only woman for him. He thought she knew that too. Guilt gave him a sharp slap in the face as he realized that she did once believe this, just like she believed him when he told her he loved her. Even though he still did, he had just taken back the one thing that meant the most to this teenage girl, his expressed love for her. Anger began to seethe beneath Darien's cool surface as he realized the magnitude of this one moment. He had not just taken away her hope of love, he had also ripped away her innocence and trust in not just him, but in all people.

"It's alright Darien... I can handle it. Just tell me the truth." A single tear rolled down her right cheek.

"No, Serena. There's no one else." Darien looked at the young girl. She looked so fragile, even though to him, she was the strongest person he knew.

"Darien, I love you! Why are you doing this to us? Please, just tell me. I want to know the truth." Serena begged.

"Serena... I told you... I just don't love you anymore!" Darien's tone grew a little louder with impatience.

"But, why? How could you just wake up and decide that you don't love me anymore?" Serena wiped the tears away. "Is it because I'm stupid and fail on all my tests? If it is then I promise I'll try harder! I really will!" Serena pleaded. Darien frowned and shook his head.

"You're not stupid Serena..." His heart sank to newer depths. She was blaming herself and Darien couldn't bear it.

"Ok then maybe it's because I'm so klutzy... if it is then I'll be more careful! I swear!!" Serena asked.

"Serena, stop blaming yourself! It's not your fault!" Darien looked down at his feet.

"But it MUST be my fault if you-"

"Serena... Listen to me. It's NOT your fault. I told you, my feelings for you have changed. Nothing lasts forever... not even our love can last that long Serena. I'm sorry. I guess it just wasn't meant to be." Darien ended in a whisper. Serena looked at Darien with tears in her eyes. The pain in her heart was unbearable. She couldn't listen to anymore and turned around to leave. She ran out the door, down the hallway and out of the apartment building. Darien ran to the balcony to see his angel running home, crying out loud to everyone who would hear. She was desperately trying to wipe away the tears as they came. He broke down then and there. He felt the pain that surged through her heart. She was hurting more than he had expected. It was torture but he knew that she would get over it, some day.

Crystal was at the Crown, busily bringing some dirty plates into the kitchen and wiping down the table. She was walking back to the counter when she felt a sudden sharp pain in her chest. It was so intense and sudden that she had caught her breath. She staggered to the counter and sat down on the floor behind it. At first, she thought she was having a heart attack, but then tears began to uncontrollably roll down her face. The pain was so unbearable that she let out muffled moans and cries of agony as she began to sob. She didn't know why this was happening but she knew that it wasn't happening for no reason. She was feeling someone else's pain. All this time, Crystal could not breathe. She slowly released her breath to take in a very short, ridged gasp of air.

"Crystal! Are you alright?" Andrew knelt down beside the younger girl who continued to desperately gasp for air while clutching her hands into fists. Crystal couldn't focus her attention onto Andrew. The visions of her dream she had the night before haunted her and blurred her vision. Tears trickled down her cheeks at the recollection of scenes and the voices she could hear. Crystal was also crying because of the pain she felt deep within her.
"Crystal! Crystal!!!" Andrew held her shoulders and was shaking her gently. Crystal blinked a few times as she was brought back to reality. The pain in her chest subsided a little but Crystal felt depression wash over her.

"Andrew?" she asked wearily.

"Crystal? What's the matter? Are you alright?" Andrew asked, concerned for his 'second little sister'

"Oh Andrew! It was so horrible!" Tears continued to spill from Crystal's eyes. Andrew extended his arms and Crystal leaned in for a big comforting hug.

"Lizzy, can you please take care of everything for me?" Andrew asked his sister, whispering quietly. Liz nodded and Andrew took Crystal out to the back of the arcade.

"What happened, Crys?" Andrew asked soothingly.

"Andrew... it was horrible!" Crystal sobbed.

"What is?" Andrew asked, raising an eyebrow in interest.

"The pain... the visions...screams...all this light... it just hurts!" Crystal hiccupped as she wept.

"Slow down! Slow down. Ok. Start from the beginning! What's going on? Calm down and breathe Crys, breathe." Andrew held Crystal's hand in an attempt to calm her down. He found that her hands were freezing cold and that she was trembling. Crystal looked a little dazed as she slowly breathed in and out in an attempt to calm herself down. After a few minutes, Crystal began to tell Andrew of her visions and nightmares that she had been getting lately and what had happened just then.

"Crystal, have you told Darien?" Andrew asked.

"Are you kidding Drew? Have you seen him lately? He looks like he's been run over by a truck twice! He's that tired! He hasn't even been going to his morning classes because he can't wake up! I wasn't going to tell Darien about it because I didn't want him to worry about me!" Crystal added.

"well, he does look a little tired." Andrew sighed.

"I'm worried about him. He has been a little distant lately." Crystal had calmed down completely by now.

"Same here. But right now I'm quite worried about you. How about you take the rest of the day off." Andrew offered.

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly do that to you guys..." Crystal shook her head.

"It's alright! We can take care of it but you need to take care of yourself and Darien. Maybe you can find out what's causing your nightmares and visions. It's alright, we can take care of the arcade." Andrew smiled warmly.

"Sure?" Crystal asked cautiously.

"Yeah sure! Go home. Get some rest." Andrew ruffled Crystal's hair.

"Thank you so much Drew! I owe you one!" Crystal gave Andrew a big bear hug.

"Hey, don't worry about it." Andrew grinned. Crystal put her apron up on the hook. "Are you sure you can make it home? Do you want me to escort you?" Andrew asked.

"Nah Drew. I should be fine. Thanks again!" Crystal smiled as she stepped out the back way. She sighed as she began to walk home. The pain in her chest was still quite strong but Crystal decided to try to avoid it and get home as fast as she can just in case she was overcome by another attack.

*Darien?* Crystal searched wearily

*What's wrong Crys? You sound like you're upset. Did something happen to you?* Darien replied mentally.

*I'll tell you when I get home...* Crystal sniffled a little. She turned the corner and saw her apartment block.


Crystal Saturn