Chapter Eleven
@}------------
Darien smiled at the memory. Every night after that for a week had been the same. Together they would pick a movie, and then they would usually miss the first ten minutes arguing over some small thing. Then they would laugh at themselves for the next five. The next half hour of the movie would usually be lost as they talked over the day. By the time they got around to paying attention to the movie it would be half over and neither of them really wanted to watch the rest, but they would, just so they could stay in each other's arms without falling asleep.
Tonight was the last night they would have to do that. Darien's smile disappeared at the thought. Tomorrow her parents were getting back. They weren't sure at what time so he was taking Serena over to Lita's early so they wouldn't have anything to worry about.
Closing his eyes, he thought only of Serena. Over the past week they had discovered that somehow they were linked in such a way that they only had to think of the other in order to know what they were feeling. When he had Serena totally pictured in his mind all his sorrow at having to take her home he next day left him, to be replaced by a calm happiness. He smiled, at least she wasn't bored. Anyway, he got off in a couple of hours and then they would be able to watch one more movie.
"Come on Darien, stop dreaming," Brian said, sticking his head in the open door, "We've only got two more patients for today, so let's get going."
Darien pushed himself up out of his chair and followed the older doctor down the hall.
A half an hour later he left the patients room smiling. It was patients like that which reminded him of why he had gone into pediatrics. He had just been visiting a little boy of eight who had just gotten his tonsils out. Though Darien knew the kid must have been in some pain, he had still mimed jokes the whole time. Actually, the kid's optimism had reminded him of Serena.
Thinking of Serena reminded him of the slight tingling headache he had gotten at the start of his visit. He had become so used to them that when there was no way he could transform, he just forgot about the headache. Now it was gone and he suspected that everything was fine. Taking a few more steps down the hallway, he was suddenly engulfed in pain radiating out from his left shoulder. If he hadn't known better, he would have sworn someone had clubbed him. Slowly the pain dimmed until it was almost gone. Behind him, he could hear a nurse asking if he was okay but he ignored her. Frantically he searched for Serena but he could barely feel her. Then the urge to transform came again, stronger and more painful than he had ever felt it before.
"Darien! Can you hear me?" Brian was kneeling in front of Darien. It was only then that he realized he had fallen to the floor.
Pushing himself up he said through gritted teeth, "I have to get out of here."
"Are you sure? I think we should run some tests," Brian insisted.
"I'll be fine. I've got to go." With that, he got up and headed for the main doors.
"By all means." He could hear Brian grumbling sarcastically behind him.
Once outside he headed across the street instead of to his car. Ducking between two buildings, he was transformed and vaulting up a fire escape in the space of two breaths. On the roof, he stopped and closed his eyes, trying to find Serena. He found her vaguely and he took off in the direction he knew her to be.
Things at the battlefield at the park were worse than he had imagined. He arrived to see Sailor Mercury and Sailor Venus sprawled in the grass at the cardians feet. The cardian was at least nine feet tall with fists half the size of its body. In each of those fists were Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon. Tuxedo Mask froze when he saw her limp body, her hair trailing beneath her, blowing in the wind. A loud clap of thunder brought his attention over to where Sailor Jupiter was defending herself and her two fallen companions. Jumping down off the roof, ignoring the pain that ran up his legs on impact, he ran over and helped her pull them away. When he grabbed Venus, he noticed that they were starting to stir. 'Good,' he thought, 'we're going to need all the help we can get.'
Running back he saw that the cardian had dropped Mars and was now reaching out to grab Jupiter. "Jupiter!" he called in warning. , throwing a dozen roses to catch the monsters attention.
She gave him a grateful smile then ran in to pull Mars out from under the cardian's feet. Tuxedo Mask focused on saving Sailor Moon. Throwing a rose into the cardian's eyes to blind it, he jumped up on the fist holding her. Pulling out his cane he began to pry open the stone hand. When it wouldn't work, he started throwing roses into all the cracks, praying one of them would split far enough and that he wouldn't hit her.
Suddenly the hand beneath him froze and he looked up to see Mercury was back in action. With one more, well-aimed throw, the ice encased hand shattered. He tried to grab Sailor Moon but she slipped from his grasp when he was thrown off to the side. Looking up he saw her falling, then Jupiter was there, catching her. Getting up and running he intercepted Jupiter and took Sailor Moon from her. He was surprised to see that she was already moving.
Sailor Moon groaned and opened her eyes. Tuxedo Mask smiled down at her, very relieved.
"I have to help," she said, trying to get up from where he had laid her on the grass.
He pushed her back down, "Rest. They can handle it."
"I have to help," she insisted. This time she did managed to get up and before he could protest, she silenced him with a quick kiss. Then she was gone, racing back to the fight.
He followed her and stopped when everything came into view. All the scouts were standing around the cardian. He could feel the power they were calling. Suddenly their voices filled the air.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
"Jupiter Thunder Crash!"
"Venus Crescent Beam!"
"Moon Tiara Magic!"
He watched as each of their attacks converged on the cardian. All of them connected at once and in a flash of light, the creature vaporized into dust.
"Moon dusted!" Sailor Moon cried. Turning to him, she smiled, beckoning. He joined her gladly. "Thank you," she said, throwing herself at him. Then she turned to the others. "Are you all okay? I wasn't the only one that thing got a hold of."
"We're fine," Venus assured her. "Only, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm starving!"
"Ice cream," Sailor Moon suggested. They all powered down to civilian clothing.
"Perfect," Lita agreed.
Darien had to run to catch up with all of them.
@}-------------
"The past three weeks have been perfect Darien. I so don't want to go home tomorrow," Serena confided, snuggling closer to Darien, despite all the room available in the bed. She was feeling much better now; the pain in her shoulder was gone completely.
Darien kissed her exposed neck and she shivered, partly because it tickled, but mostly out of pure delight. "I don't want to let you go, Meatball Head."
"Don't call me that," she replied automatically, no longer meaning it in the slightest. "Do you mean that?"
"Of course, silly," Darien turned her over in his arms so that she was facing him. Serena couldn't help but sigh at how well they fit together. Then his expression grew more serious, "You don't understand what I've been going through since I found out you were Sailor Moon. Today Serena, today I thought I had lost you, when I suddenly could barely feel you."
Serena felt tears well up in her eyes. "I'm sorry; I don't mean to make you worry. It's just, I had to fight…"
"I know it's not your fault, Serena, don't cry." Darien bent his head down and kissed away the teardrop that managed to sneak out from under her lashes.
Serena felt the light touch and a sob escaped her lips. He was so gentle, so unlike the way everything used to be and she knew she didn't deserve him. She was so naive and young, not to mention clumsy. Her gentle crying, which had turned into a release for her fear from earlier today, when she had almost lost him, was cut off by his lips on hers. The slow kiss was soft and comforting, never deepening past a light butterfly touch. Straining up against him, she sought to deepen the kiss but he held back and she felt as if she would fall to pieces, or more likely, go insane.
The warmth of his mouth left hers and she felt him make his way down to the hollow in her throat. His breath was warm and moist and she heard herself moan. Sure, they had kissed a lot this week, and she always felt a kind of electrical spark go through her nerves when his mouth touched hers. This time the spark felt to have settled in the pit of her stomach and kindled a fire there. A fire that was slowly burning hotter and hotter.
"Darien," she moaned his name. He cut her words off with another, fuller kiss on her mouth. This time delving deep with his tongue. The fire flared and she squirmed against the onslaught of discomforting yet incredibly enjoyable feelings that accompanied his kiss. When he finally eased up on her, she opened her eyes to see his stormy blue eyes staring at her intently. "Darien," she whispered, "I don't know.... What are these feelings? I want... something."
Darien's eyes darkened even more, appearing black in the dim light. Slowly, almost reverently, he leaned down and kissed her temple, which was only the start of a trail of kisses that led past her ear, down her jaw, to the base of her neck. "If you'll let me, I'll show you."
Serena gazed up at him from under lowered lashes. She had an idea of what he was suggesting but... Fear momentarily tried to control her but she pushed it away. This was Darien; she loved him and trusted that he would never hurt her. Blushing, she looked up at him shyly, "Will you?"
Darien answered her whispered question with a searing kiss that pushed all other thoughts from her mind.
Serena sighed and wrapped her arms more tightly under her pillow. She was lying on her stomach, head turned towards Darien, who was lying on his side, head propped up on his hand. He had a lazy smile on his face and looked just as sated and contented as she felt. Shivering slightly she watched Darien use his free hand to move the blanket up from around her waist to cover her naked torso. "I wasn't cold," she told him, "Not really anyway."
"Are you okay?" he asked her, worry in his voice despite the smile on his lips. Just looking at those lips sent delightful chills through her in remembrance.
"More than okay," she assured him. "How about you? Do you re... re..." She couldn't force the word out.
"Regret? Never. I could never regret anything that involves you."
Serena smiled a slow, seductive smile. "Really?" She sat up, allowing the blanket to fall away. Leaning forward she caught his mouth beneath hers and almost immediately felt the fire flare up once again.
@}------------
Darien was the first to wake up the next morning. Stretching contentedly, he smiled when he felt Serena stir beside him. He couldn't help but feel pride. Last night had been... he couldn't think of a word to match his feelings. Incredible seemed to be too dull a word and amazing left so much out. He had felt as if he could see inside of Serena and knew exactly what she was feeling, exactly what all her dreams, hopes and fears were. Not only did he know what they were, he could feel them just as strongly as she did. It had been nothing like their normal connection, where he could feel her emotions but knew that they were hers. Everything she felt, he had felt it so strong that he couldn't tell where his own feelings ended and hers began.
Serena sighed heavily and her breathing changed, indicating that she was waking up. She smiled when she noticed he was watching her. That smile was exactly what Darien had been waiting for. "Good Morning, sleepy head."
"Morning," she replied. Sitting up she blushed that brightest, most endearing shade of red Darien had ever seen her go, and she pulled the blanket up with her.
"It's okay," Darien said, suppressing a chuckle. He leaned over to kiss her then grabbed his pajama pants off the end of the bed. Pulling them on he looked back to see her still clutching the blanket, but she was smiling shyly through her blush. "I'll get start breakfast."
Pulling the plates down from the cupboard, Darien couldn't help but smile. Even after what they had done, she still managed to hold on to her innocence and modesty. For some reason that made him even happier. He could hear the water running in the bathroom and was tempting to go see what Serena would do if he joined her in the shower, but he held himself back. Now was probably not the time, better if he gave her time to think, like he was doing.
Everything was almost ready when she appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a pair of longer shorts and a baggy t-shirt. Still, she wouldn't go back to the clothes she used to feel comfortable in. At least her hair was up in its meatball style, even if it was still a little stringy from being wet. "How are you feeling?"
His question, or maybe just the sound of his voice, seemed to animate her. Before he knew it, she was hurling herself at him. He caught her and was almost set off balance again when she kissed him. "A little enthusiastic, aren't we?" He chuckled when she blushed ferociously, "Don't worry, I feel the same way."
Serena looked up at him, her sapphire eyes sparkling. "I just wanted to say, thank you and, I love you."
"I love you too. And I'm probably the one who should be saying thank you, Meatball Head." He kissed her softly before she could protest. "Now, how about some breakfast."
After breakfast, Serena had volunteered to do dishes and he had showered. Now he was helping her carry stuff down to his car. And was already in the process of starting to miss her. He didn't want to think about how lonely his bed was going to seem tonight. When everything was in the trunk, he walked to the passenger door with her. Before she could open it, Darien pinned her against the side of his car. "I'm missing you already."
Serena giggled and Darien stared at her in disbelief. "I miss you already too. You've changed Darien. You used to be so aloft, never sharing anything with anyone. You could act so arrogant and conceited, and I meant it when I called you a jerk. Even when you were just taking care of me. You confused the hell out of me. Now though. I don't know if it's just me or if the others have noticed how much you've changed. Now I only have to glance at you to know what you're feeling. Sometimes, with this strange connection we have, I don't even have to do that. I just close my eyes, think of you, and I know exactly what you're feeling. Though you still confuse me because half the time, I can't figure out why."
Grinning down at her Darien said, "I hope it's only you that can read me like that. I would feel too... on display then. But you, you have changed too. At least, you've mostly changed back to the way that you used to be. You have to promise me one thing. Never, ever try to be who you aren't, ever again." He felt his gut roll itself into knots while he waited for her answer.
"I'll always be me. Just for you, and because, well, the world just can't survive without least one Serena Tsukino in it." Darien laughed along with her, glad that she was regaining the pride she never even knew she had.
"We had better get going," he said reluctantly. "Lita is expecting us."
Serena nodded, "It's too bad we don't know when exactly my parents are getting home today. I would rather spend the whole day with you."
"You know that's what I want. Nothing could keep me from you if it weren't for them. Except for the fact that Andrew made me promise to meet him at the arcade. I think he is planning on first getting all the details from me he can, then keeping me busy all day so I don't think about how lonely I am."
"I think the scouts have the same thing planned for me," Serena sighed. Then she brightened up, "I'll see if I can't convince them to go to the arcade."
"You do that," Darien chuckled, as he finally moved away from her and opened the door, closing it behind her.
They drove to Lita's apartment in silence, neither wanting any further reminder that they were being separated, even if it was only during the night. Reaching Lita's, nearly halfway across town, Darien helped carry stuff inside. Wanting to be able to see Serena as long as possible. All the scouts were gathered in Lita's living room, obviously waiting for them. "Andrew called," Lita told Darien, "He's waiting for you. And you, Serena Tsukino, I've made your favorite."
Serena's eyes lit up in delight and Darien logged that beautiful image away in his memory for later. "Chocolate ice cream cake! For me! Lita, I love you!" she cried, giving the taller girl a hug.
Lita looked a little embarrassed but only shrugged. The others hadn't yet approached them, and Lita backed away, tactfully giving them time to say goodbye.
Darien gathered Serena in his arms and backed up against the door to be sure they weren't seen. He knew that the others could hear them but at least this way they had the illusion of privacy. Staring down at Serena, he saw tears glisten in her eyes. Tears that he could tell she was valiantly trying to hold back. Kissing her lightly on the forehead he said, "I'm going to be so lonely without you, Meatball Head."
He could tell by the look in her eyes that she was disappointed, so before she could say anything, he gave her what she wanted. Kissing her skillfully but quickly, knowing that Andrew was waiting for him. And probably not to patiently.
When she could talk Serena said, "I don't think I ever told you but, last night was wonderful."
Darien felt his heart soar.
"And I love you," she added.
"I love you more," he whispered, before kissing her once more than slipping out the door while he still could. Glancing back, he saw her watching him walk down the hall. He flashed a smile then disappeared into the elevator.
@}----------
Serena watched him walk away and when he turned back, smiling, she felt her knees melt. Closing the door, she leaned on it, pulling herself together. Trying to hide her dreamy expression, and knowing she failed miserably, she walked out to the living room.
"What was that all about," Raye asked abruptly, always one to get right to the
subject.
"What was what all about?" Serena asked her own question quite innocently.
Lita interrupted before Raye could say anything, "You know what Serena. And you don't get any cake until you tell us."
"Oh, come on Lita, that's torture."
"No more torture than us wondering what you were talking about?" Mina spoke up.
Serena looked at her friends. Lita and Mina, looked merely curious. Raye had an
almost suspicious look about her. Amy actually looked worried. "What are you guys talking about?"
"We're not deaf Serena. We heard your comment," Raye tried to explain calmly.
"What comment," Serena asked, though by now she was pretty sure just what they were talking about. She couldn't keep the blush from staining her cheeks.
Amy must have decided that she had heard enough, and being very un-Amy like, she stopped all the pussyfooting around. "Your comment about last night, Serena," she said calmly.
"Oh that." Serena's blush deepened even more.
"Thank you, Amy," Raye exclaimed. "Now maybe we'll get some answers."
Making her way over to a vacant chair, Serena slumped down and looked guiltily at her friends. "You guys weren't supposed to hear that."
"Well duh," Raye muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes heavenward.
Mina giggled, efficiently breaking the tension.
"It's nothing," Serena insisted.
"Yeah right girl," Lita exclaimed, "You don't usually blush that red over nothing."
Serena smiled and slouched farther into her chair. Her eyes took on an even dreamier look. Upon seeing her face, both Raye and Amy forgot their misgivings and became just as curious as Lita and Mina. "It was heavenly," Serena mused, barely loud for the girls to hear her. "It was so much better than Aaron. Everything felt so right, so perfect. Like the whole world had moved into slow motion, and everything revolved around us. All I could see was his eyes. And they kept changing. One minute they would be so calm, an almost light blue. Than they would change, like storm clouds rolling in over the ocean. But I was never scared. All I could feel was love and excitement and heat." Realizing what she was babbling about, Serena's blush returned full force.
"How could he," Raye suddenly said. "You were vulnerable and he took advantage of you."
The other girls looked at Raye, this idea had never occurred to them.
Serena was furious. "Don't you dare Raye." Her embarrassment was gone.
"You have no idea what you're talking about. No idea!"
Raye faced Serena down. "Sure I do. You had just spent three weeks at his place. You felt grateful to him for taking care of you and he took advantage of that."
"I'd be careful if I were you Raye. That is the man I love you're talking about. For your information, last night was the first time but we had been sleeping in the same bed for a week and a half all ready! Ever since the day of the fair. Also, for your information. The night after the fair. I asked him to make all the memories of Aaron go away. But he refused, because then I was vulnerable!"
The room remained silent for a while after Serena finished. Her eyes were still flashing with anger and she did not look any more ready to back down than Raye did. 'But then, why should I be the one backing down?' she thought to herself, 'I'm the one who is right here. For once.'
'But still,' another little voice in her head nagged, 'she was only trying to protect me. Believing what she was saying because it seemed logical to her.'
"Raye."
"Serena."
They both spoke at the same time and the uneasy atmosphere lifted.
"Serena," Raye continued, "I didn't mean what I said. It is just that, I'm still having problems picturing you and Darien together, as a couple. I mean, look at how much you guys used to fight."
Serena smiled faintly, "I forgive you Raye. Anyway, look at how much we fight!"
Both girls laughed. Friends again, for the moment.
"Who wants cake," Lita cried, and then leading the way, they all headed toward the kitchen.