Dear Isabella Chapter Nine By A Shot of Amber

Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews. They really make me happy to see so many people enjoying the story. If you haven't reviewed then here is your chance. Please read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!

Dear Isabella Chapter Nine

Serena shoved the bag into her car. It was the last one. With one last push she reached up and closed the car door. Serena kept her hands on the door feeling its warmth before letting go and turning to Rei. Rei stood next to the drivers side of the car watching Serena pack while Chad stood near the stairs holding Sakura in his arms.

Serena walked up to the little girl and took her from Chad. She lifted Sakura in the air causing her to squeal happily before she brought her back down and kissed her cheek.

" Take care little one," Serena whispered as she handed her back to Chad.

Chad smiled as he accepted Sakura. " We'll miss having you here Serena."

" Thank you Chad."

Rei smiled and let go of the rearview mirror. Serena turned to the friend who had helped her make her decision in the week she had been there. " What would I do without you?" Serena asked softly feeling tears well up.

Rei laughed. " You would still be sitting in a crummy motel at 3am crying over Darien. At least this way you know what you want."

" And I have you to thank for it." Serena opened her arms and enveloped her friend in a hug. " Thank you Rei."

" Hey no problem, it's the least I could do," Rei sniffed then let go of Serena and punched her arm lightly. " Now you go out there and give it your best. Remember what we talked about."

" I won't forget," Serena smiled and climbed into the car. She started the engine as Rei walked over to where her husband stood. The small family waved to the departing car while deep in her heart Rei wished the best for her friend.

* * * * * * *

Serena picked up a CD and looked at its brightly colored yellows and reds.

" This looks interesting. I guess Alex left it in my car." Normally she wouldn't listen to Alex's music but the radio was not playing anything good so Serena popped it in and turned up the volume before she caught herself and turned it down. Who knew what kind of music this CD would reveal. Serena had nothing to worry about the first song sounded decent as it began to play. Serena instantly recognized the singers. It was the girl group T.A.T.U that Alex and her friends were hyping about. They were all the rage simply because they kissed in a music video. Personally Serena didn't care what others were doing so she didn't let this thought interrupt her listening to the music.

" Stop looking, lets make a promise. You and me, lets be honest."

" Nothing can stop us, now that I love you! There not gonna get us."

Serena smiled to herself, she felt a kin to these lyrics like they were talking to her. They were talking to her and to Darien. They were meant to be! Serena laughed aloud and hit the wheel with her hand. Rei was right, they were meant to be and this song could only prove it!

" Nothing can stop us! Now that I love you!" Serena sang along with the song as it entered the chorus. She was excited, the adrenaline was flowing through her body. Serena pumped her fists in the air as she banged her head to the chorus. It was this movement that got her attention from the car next to her. An old couple watched the crazy womyn in the next car with wary eyes. It was these eyes that caught Serena's attention and forced her to look at them. Serena smiled and waved tentively before she covered her face and moved into the next lane. How embarrassing, it was time for a new song. Something slower and more relaxing, she would dance later.

* * * * * * *

Darien threw down the document he was reading and sighed in exasperation. His thoughts weren't in sick patients. All his thoughts were on Serena. Where was she? Why didn't she reply to his ardent attempts at email? He must have emailed her a dozen times. He had even called her house in the hopes that she might pick up. When a young girl picked up he had asked for her the girl had only burst into tears and hung up. Hopefully it was because of feminine problems not the fact that she didn't want to talk to him. That was the saddest thing, for every email he sent her he got a reply saying the address didn't exist. She had canceled her account. It was like she didn't want to see him anymore.

Darien sighed again and put his head in his hands. He wanted to see her again. Life with Beryl was getting steadily worse. When he saw what he could have with Serena he knew nothing would be right again with Beryl. She was just too much to live with.

* * * * * * *

" Do you have them in a dozen?"

" You want a dozen of them lady?" The man looked at her like she was nuts.

" Yea, a dozen and can you tie them with black and red ribbon? Those are his favorite colors." Serena was cool in her replies as the man gave her another look then proceeded to tie them up with black and red ribbon.

" Here you go. Just be carefully about getting them into your car. They may get stuck."

" Oh I don't have to worry about that. I can just walk there, it's really close," Serena replied as she took the bouquet and walked off.

" Crazy lady, must really want to surprise someone," the salesman muttered as he wiped off his sweaty forehead and turned back to his wares.

On her short walk to the hospital Serena hummed a little tune in her throat while people stopped and stared at the lady carrying a dozen " I Love You" balloons tied with red and black string.

" If this balloon bouquet doesn't get him then I don't know what will," Serena hummed to herself as she turned into the hospital towards the elevators that would carry her up to the top floor.

The elevator opened up revealing a happy Serena carrying her bouquet of balloons. The receptionist looked up from her phone and raised both eyebrows.

" Can I help you ma'am?" she asked.

" Yes I would like to see Dr. Darien Chiba please."

" Yes. just a moment." The receptionist pushed the call button. " Dr. Chiba you have a visitor here."

" Who is it?" Came Darien's tired voice.

" Tell him my name is no-name." Serena replied cheerfully.

" She says her name is no-name.

" No-name? Is this some kind of joke Mabel?"

" Its no joke Darien," Serena replied loudly.

" Serena! Is that you?" Darien's voice echoed over the speaker system.

Serena winked at the receptionist and walked over to the doors. She flung them open to reveal a happy Darien staring at her with wide eyes.

" Surprise!" Serena stepped into the office and held out the balloon bouquet. " I hope this amends things."

Darien came around to the other side of the desk and walked up to her. " You're a sight for sore eyes." He took the balloon bouquet from her hand and let it go where it floated up to the ceiling. " And I can't go another moment without kissing you." Hungrily he pulled her into his arms and kissed her as if this was their last kiss and he would never see her again.

" Oh Darien I feel so warm," Serena whispered as they parted.

" I'm so glad, Serena."

From the outside lobby Mabel watched them with confused laughter bubbling up in breast. Her normally calm and cool boss was acting in way that only the characters in a romance novel would act.

* * * * * * *

" Here turn off the car. This place is good."

Darien eased the car into park and turned the engine off then looked around him. "Serena are you sure about this? Its in the middle of no where."

" No its not, its in the middle of the park by the lake and you know it. It's just a place where no one can see us." Serena opened her car door and stepped out. " I wanted for us to dance under the stars." She shut the door and walked out in front of the car. " I can see the stars above me." Serena spun around holding out her arms while her skirt swirled around her legs.

Darien leaned his arms against the wheel and rested his chin on them. He watched Serena spin around and around before she stopped and looked at him. They both stood still just staring at each other. Then Serena smiled and held out her hand as if to say come and join me. Darien sat up and looked around him before he located the button. With a flash the head lights turned on. Serena shielded her eyes from the brightness before lowering her arm and looking at him. Darien didn't look back as he turned on the car and turned on the radio.

" This is too all you lovers out there."

Darien turned up the radio and got out of the car.

" From the Top Gun soundtrack this is Berlin with the hit " Take My Breath Away."

" Beautiful princess will you dance with me?" He held out his hand to her.

Serena looked down at the strong palm being held out to her before she gently placed her own hand in his. Darien pulled her into his arms and slowly they begun to move to the music.

" Watching every motion in my foolish lovers game."

" Its like a dream," Serena whispered against his shirt.

" Its is a dream. That other world doesn't exist, its just you and I in the whole entire world," Darien replied.

" I wish the dream could go on forever."

" It can if you want it too."

" I want it too. I want it to go on forever," Serena cried softly.

" Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say, my love, take my breath away."

" Serena you don't know how lovely you are," Darien whispered into her hair.

" Your right I don't. Andrew never told me I was beautiful. I just want to hear it from you."

" Shh," he moved his lips to hers. " Don't say a word just feel."

" Just feel," she mummered against his lips.

He gently kissed her before moving back. She let her hands smooth over his coat before clinging to the lapels. Suddenly she felt like something was wrong. They had generally avoided it but it was still there, a looming problem.

" What are we going to do? We have tonight but what about tomorrow and the next day? Darien I can't go back to my husband and just pretend none of this happened." Her voice had a pleading note to it that made him feel like he was comforting a small child.

" We don't have to go back to that! Serena we have the whole world to ourselves! Just look around you!" He turned her around to look at the park. She only saw the headlights of the car shinning on them and the trees growing off the path.

" Look at it Serena, you never have to go back." He turned her around to face him. " Now that I have met you I never want to let go." He bent down and kissed her, a soft lingering kiss that made her feel like velvet.

" Oh Darien," she whispered softly. " I never want to let go of you either." She sighed. " I just wish we could run away tonight and never come back."

" But we can't." His voice was firm as the touch of his hands on her arms. "Tomorrow, today, whatever day it is you have to go back. You have to go and face Andrew and your children. You have to tell them the truth, can you do that?"

Tears were spilling down her cheeks as she looked down at the ground. " I can, but I don't want too."

" You can do it Serena, you can do anything. I trust you, I love you."

Serena looked up and smiled through the haze of her tears. " I love you too Darien."

He bent down and kissed her again, this time with more passion. Clutched in each others arms they fell to the ground and made love. In the glare of the head lights and the shine of the stars Serena fell into her prince's arms.

They left before dawn and anyone found them. He drove her back to her motel room then headed back to his apartment ready to meet Beryl and confront her while Serena went off alone to confront the man she thought she once loved.

It would be a trying ordeal for both of them.

Sorry this took so long, I had major writers block near the end. Still please remember to read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com! Thank you!