Title: Through the Camera and Into the Picture Part 4:1 By: Ami D'Aqua Email: ami_daqua@hotmail.com Series: Sailor Moon Rating: PG-12

Author's Note: Okay excuse me for the delay, but I could do nothing about I have been constantly tortured with short notice tests and my stupid floppy disk doing weirdo things to itself, making me have to rewrite this whole chapter again! Luckily, I'm the good old fashioned type of person who still finds it hard to put my trust of technology (and with very good arguments), so I have it all on paper. now all I have to do is type the stuff into my computer. *sigh*

Disclaimer: I wouldn't mind a few months (or years for that matter) in jail: I'll actually come out of there RESTED.

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It was two o'clock in the morning; Serena had just arrived home from a hard days' work. She took her usual shower, drank her milk, and slipped into her boxers and t-shirt. She dropped tiredly on her bed, but as soon as she lay down, all her tiredness disappeared. She remembered how just a half an hour ago she had been dying to sleep, and now she was dead awake! She lay there with her eyes closed trying to sleep, but soon gave it up and started to daydream instead. She figured that if she daydreamed long enough she'd eventually fall asleep.

With her eyes closed she envisioned herself coming home and- she breathed with delight- and Darien was there waiting for her. She showed and Darien was outside trying to chat to her over the noise of water, then both went to the kitchenette where two glasses of milk awaited them. Then they hit the beds where Serena coddled into Darien's arms and they talked pleasantly and kissed until they both fell into a romantic slumber. Once she had dreamed this part up she was stuck, and couldn't continue her dream. Then she felt that she missed Darien terribly.

Without hesitating one second she got up, went to the living room, and searched for the paper with Darien's number. When she found it she dialled it and listened to the signals. One signal, two sign- the phone was answered in a gritty, sleepy, annoyed voice. Only then did Serena hesitate. Only then did she realize how late it was. Only then did she see that her reason for calling him was this hour, when they were not even intimate, and he was an earl and she just a photographer, was completely insane!

"Hello!" Darien said again very annoyed on the other side.

"Um- hi, Darien," Serena stammered blushing. "It's, um, Serena."

"Oh, hi!" Darien said suddenly very brightly.

"I'm sorry to call you so late-"

"It's okay- I was just dreaming about you and when the phone ringed I thought it was someone else! But talking to t him real Serena is a million times better than dreaming about her."

Serena laughed feeling bold again. "I was dreaming of you too, by the way!" she said quickly and went on, "Anyway, how are you?"

"Fine, just working as usual! And you?"

"Fine, too, I guess," she answered. After a pause she asked: "So, how did your sister like her wedding pictures?"

"Oh, she thought they were marvellous! She's got the ones that she had to develop herself framed with gold painted frames. And she has saved the Chic Bride with her on the cover. But I still can't believe that you sold the pictures to Hello, and Point of View, and those other gossip magazines!"

"Oh, come on, It's my job! And I've read the articles of that wedding in those mags; they don't say anything bad about Lord Greg and Lady Amy!"

"You're hopeless," he sighed. "My sister didn't mind it either! But it was just because it was you- otherwise she would have been very upset, complaining that she doesn't have a private life."

"Well- I'm sorry," Serena said understanding Darien's frustration. "But you don't need to worry anymore; since the wedding is over I'm not going to photograph your sister again- unless she comes to a wedding, that is."

"Yeah," Darien breathed, there was no use in lecturing her: she'd never learn anyway. "Have you been working a lot?"

"Hell, yeah! I never get any peace- I'm thinking of doing an exhibition of my photos. I talked to a man the other day, who offered to rent his gallery. But with my busy schedule. I don't know."

"I think you should do it. Take some time off to prepare for it," he said and paused, "And to be with me, wouldn't that be a good idea? I've been thinking about you lately."

Bing! Serena was reminded of the reason for her phone call. "Uh, you're been on my mind too, you know. In fact- this might sound crazy- but the only reason I called was because I missed you."

"Babe, it doesn't sound crazy at all!" he exclaimed laughing with pleasure. "I thought you'd never say! Anyway, give me twenty minutes, and I'll get back to you!"

"Alright," was all Serena could say before he hung up.

At that moment she felt really stupid. Who did she think she was? Telling him things like that? At least he was well bred enough to not say nasty things to her!

Serena checked herself; he said he'd call back in twenty minutes. Maybe he had to use the bathroom, but that doesn't take twenty minutes, or does it? Or maybe the super model sleeping next to him was getting suspicious- she didn't like that thought. Darien wasn't that kind of man. She begged herself to calm down- she would find out why he had to go soon enough. She sat on an armchair with her feet hanging over the arm. She made sure to take the phone with her and put it on the floor beside the chair. As she waited she reached for a magazine. She looked over it; it was a very old magazine, the head lines were about the Earl and Countess of Shields' car crash. She had borrowed the magazine from the library after her first meeting with Darien- in fact she borrowed most of the magazines that had articles about him. She wanted to find out about him, since he kept calling on her answer machine.

She decided to re-read the magazine, but as a quarter of an hour had passed her bell rang. Anticipation filled her heart and her face lit up! She ran to the door and there he was!

Serena couldn't help but to laugh at him. He was dressed in him morning robe, and huge Homer Simpson slippers! His hair was a bit messy.

"You're nuts!" Serena exclaimed between laughs.

"About you, I am!" he commented walking in, and closing the door, then hugging her. "You have to admit that being with me in person is way better than talking on the phone!"

Serena nodded, still laughing at his wonderful surprise.

"Well, the truth is, I couldn't stand another moment, I missed you like crazy!"

"But, oh my gosh, it's so late! We've got to work tomorrow!"

Darien kissed her, and kissed her again. "It's Sunday tomorrow, I don't usually work on weekends, and you shouldn't either: it's not healthy!"

He carried over his shoulder causing Serena to give a yell of surprise. He found his way to her room, and lay her on the bed, he took off his robe, revealing his dark coloured pyjama pants, and naked torso. Serena's jaw dropped; she never imagined that he was so fit! He wasn't over trained but it was noticeable that he worked out quite regularly. He plopped beside her and with his hand he closed Serena's mouth, and muttered something about her being gorgeous too. He curled inside the blanket and embraced her, and played with her hair, as Serena cuddled closer to him never getting enough of his scent.

"Serena, skip work tomorrow and spend the day with me," he begged in her ear.

She tried to resist. After all it was Sunday tomorrow, the best day for weddings. "Tomorrow is like the Friday of weddings! My most fruitful day, I can't risk missing work tomorrow."

"You're really cruel, Tsukino," he observed in a low voice, "You chose to work over spending a day with someone who cares for you; someone that you obviously do not feel indifferent about."

"Care for me and care for me," she said rolling her eyes. "All this talk is just rubbish!" She got a bit fiery: "'Cause you know what? This is going to end sometime, when a lovely Duchess perhaps falls for you; but my job with always be with me!"

"Those are really ruthless things to say, Serena," he whispered, obviously hurt. "I haven't thought of anyone but you and in my mind I've been making planes even!"

"Look, it's impossible, I don't want heartbreak! I'll never ever- it is destiny!" she said burying her head on his chest.

"How do you know that?"

"A fortune teller-"

"Honestly, you believe what a fortune teller tells you?"

"Yes! When three different ones call me Serenity and say basically the same thing I believe them! Besides, they are some on the best fortune tellers in the country."

"Come on, you can't let some people who don't even know your decide and rule over your life! Besides, you don't have to take this too deep," he suggested. "It's only one day of work that you'll miss. Don't go to work tomorrow and have fun, just one day in your life, Honey."

"Alright," she gave in. Pause. a long one. "I'm sorry, Darien, I didn't really mean to say what I said before. I mean, I really like you, but it's just that I can't bear- I'm really scared."

"You shouldn't be! I mean, I can't promise you anything either, but you have to take a chance; take each day as it comes!"

"You're right! To hell with the fortune tellers' prophecies!" Serena said and felt the tiredness creep upon her again. She smuggled closer to Darien, and fell asleep.

Darien lay awake a little longer. He was thinking. He knew how she felt, he had also been scared to let his heart rule his life. that was, until he met Serena. He felt instantly attracted to her, and it wasn't the usual physical attraction that people feel because honestly Raye was so much more sophisticated and attractive that Serena, but there was some kind of magnet thing drawing him to her. He guessed it was what they called chemistry, but whatever it was it made him do things on an impulse, without ever feeling regret.

He loved her, even if she was scared. He thought of how sharp and charming she was, yet some vulnerable and insecure. He really wanted to protect her and take away all her doubts. This young lady, so intelligent and carefree needed him, and he needed her. She made him feel special, and like he was a normal man at the same time. As he thought about her, he saw that she hadn't yet realized how strong her feelings for him were. But he knew that neither of them could twist out of each other's love. Never, never! Those fortune tellers were wrong! He kissed her forehead and had a feeling of déjà vu, like he had done that to her before, a long, long time ago. he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

The morning sun shone upon Serena, who immediately woke up. She was facing the sun, and usually she was extremely sensitive to sun light; that was how she woke up every morning during the summer. She opened her eyes to see Darien sleeping beside her, and her heart started racing, she had butterflies in her stomach and shivers down her back. She felt all good inside! He looked like an angel when he was sleeping, and she felt that it was a pity to wake him up. But then again, it was a pity not to kiss him.

Serena couldn't resist it any longer, and gave him a kiss on his lips. Darien slowly opened his eyes and smiled; he kissed her and caressed her. They lay in each other's arms talking about life, mostly about Darien's life as an orphan. He had been parentless for twenty-three years now, but their death didn't really affect him as he got amnesia and did not remember them. What really irritated him was the fact that he can't remember them. It was very lucky that he was able to remember his sister after a few weeks. He talked about how he hated boarding school, but had to spend most of his life there since his uncle and aunt wanted a carefree life. He told about how his only friend was his sister, and that he only lived for the day he could go to university and live of his own. He told about how he did his last two years in one just to get out of boarding school.

Serena listened. She left very lazy compared to Darien. He worked so hard to get the top grades with no one to support him. She remembered that she didn't even bother to wake up in time for school, let alone do her homework! Yet she had loving parents and a pretty smart little brother, back in her city. She was ashamed for herself, and she told it to him, making him laugh a little. She listened to Darien telling about how great life was at university on his own! He didn't bother to get friends, since most of them were into drinking parties, and he didn't want anything to do with that. But as time passed he made a close circle of friends which included Amy's, Raye's, and Lita's husbands. He told her about shock he got when he took over his family's business after university; he was suddenly famous in the country, and he was invited to balls, and his name was all over the papers! She listened to him tell her how normal and happy she made him feel, and she got so emotional with this compliment that she shed some tears.

At last they got up. Serena took her morning shower as she listened to Darien complaining outside that it was only six-thirty in the morning. When she was done, she let Darien take his shower while she got dressed and made breakfast.

"Gosh, Tsukino, it's only seven o'clock and you're forcing me to wake up!" he said sitting with his robe on putting syrup on one of his waffles.

"Idleness is a sin, Chiba!" Serena said jokingly. "And besides, now that I'm having a day off I don't want to miss the church service at eight, and don't forget that you'll have to go home and get dressed if you want to come with me! -But you could always go back to sleep."

"It's no fun going back to sleep without you around," he gave in, and they happily ate away.

Then they drove to Darien's apartment and got him clothed. The concierge gave Darien strange looks when he saw the Earl in a morning robe, Serena just laughed and told the guy to get his camera out because he would never see another peer in a morning robe in his life again. The concierge blushed with embarrassment and didn't think Serena was funny.

Darien dressed, and as he was leaving his room he saw the tiny blue velvet box on his nightstand. On and impulse he ran back to get it. Then as he exited his bed chamber he threw the box in this pocket. In his living room he saw Serena, who had been stressing him about being late, smiling at him with relief and muttering something about never having seen a person who took so long to dress. Darien laughed; and they were off.

It was in the car that an interesting conversation developed. Serena had, in fact, been thinking of the recent incidents that had occurred between Darien and herself. There was one question hanging on her mind, and she decided to ask it right out.

"What kind of relationship do we have to one another, Darien," she finally asked, seemingly out of the blue.

"Girlfriend and boyfriend wouldn't sound bad to me," Darien answered after a long pause where he pretended to be thinking, playing on Serena's suspense. "Or what do you say?"

"I say girlfriend and boyfriend sounds good to me!" she said happily. Darien drove on, also contented, to the Cathedral where they first met.

Darien, who wasn't at all religious, was bored to death that the priest's talking. He couldn't understand why Serena liked church, and to him it seemed like forever until the sermon ended. But when it did end, he didn't hurry out, instead he even forced Serena to stay on her seat until everyone had gone, which he didn't take long as there were only a few senior citizens there.

"I don't understand how you can't stand this," he commented.

"Don't blame me on your choice of church! This is a catholic church, and I'm Lutheran. Lutheran services are shorter."

"But why didn't you tell me that before?"

"I distinctively remember telling once over the phone that protestant priests could marry. you should've remembered, but anyway, I don't object going to a catholic church once in a while! Besides, it was quite romantic of you to bring us to where we fist met!"

Darien kissed his angel. Sometimes she really could melt his heart! She had just made it all mushy and squishy.

"You know, Serena," he started with a hand in his pocket playing with that box. "I want to make both our wishes come true."

"I know what my wish is; it can never come true." Serena concluded somewhat ungracefully. Then she added, "What's your wish?"

"To marry you, Idiot!" Darien said gravely, he just couldn't help it. Just as it was easy for her to melt his heart, she could annoy and anger him as well.

"Don't be angry, Darien-baby," she said puppy eyed. "This is a really serious question, and considering that we've only known each other for such a very short time, I have to think about it. I want to love my husband for ever, not divorce him after a few years, you see."

Darien remained silent; he didn't know what to say. He felt hurt, but he tried to hide it. What a difficult woman that he decided to get involved with.

Serena continued; she felt that she had to explain herself.

"We've only met four times in the course of three months, Babe. It really feels right to be with you, and in my dreams I'm marrying you, but I think we should remain a couple for a little longer. You know how insecure I feel about this whole business."

"You're right," Darien agreed. "It does really sound ridiculous when you mention the facts of our meetings. But you are the right person; I felt it from the beginning, even though you don't believe in right person. Don't stress, I'll wait forever if I have to."

Serena kissed her boyfriend. She loved him! She wanted to marry him, and she knew that she had hurt him, but Michelle, Amara, and Trista had warned her. She should take it easy for a while.

As they walked out hand in hand they found a little girl sitting alone on the stairs. She was hugging her knees and crying. Serena's heart shattered, she hated to see kids unhappy, so she dragged Darien to comfort the girl. She sat down beside the girl and scooped her into her body with Darien sitting on the girl's other side. The three on them felt a strange connection passing through the air, and there it was again: the feeling of a thousand years. Serena and Darien saw, for a split second, a shiny crystal, but they both dismissed the vision.

"It's alright," Serena whispered to the very dark-haired girl, she looked like a gipsy. "What happened, Honey?"

"I lost my mom," she said with her voice cracking.

"It's alright, we'll find her! What's you name, Sweetheart?"

"Hutaru."

"And your mama's?"

"Meioh, Trista." Hutaru breathed unhappily. Serena shone up. She remembered that Trista had told her about a daughter she had that was studying at a boarding school in the South.

"Don't worry," Serena said happily, "I know who your mom is! She lives in the same apartment building as me! Come now, I'll wipe your tears and get you home."

Hutaru smiled. "Thank you."

"But first how would you like to have an ice cream with us? It's quite the weather for it!" Darien suggested.

Hutaru brightened up a little, and Serena even more (she loved ice cream, or any kind of candy or junk food). The three stood up and walked into the city searching for a good ice cream parlour.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Finally! Grrt! No wonder I hate computers. I can't believe that I actually have to rewrite this whole think! I suffer! Feel sorry for me! Gntt! I almost got a heart attack when I read the first part of "tita-kun's" review! Sorrie I couldn't post this one sooner, but as I said, by computer has a grudge against me! Guess how many parts I have left to write???