AN: Thanks everyone for all your reviews! I loved all of them!
I'm so sorry it took me this long to update – lame excuses as usual, exams,
and all. But, I think you'll like this chapter!
This is the last chapter of 'My Angel' but I might put an epilogue up...
read and see if it needs one!
Disclaimer apply as usual
R&R
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The sun had hidden behind a cloud, and the wind soothingly ruffled her blond hair. Yellow strands of hair fluttered around her sleeping face. She was an image of golden serenity.
His heart lurched painfully, throbbing against his chest. All worries ceased out of his mind as he saw his angel in front of him.
Beautiful.
By a force unknown to him, his hand gently caressed her cheek. So soft. He took a deep breath. The scent was hers. Jasmine. Forever hers.
Startled, Serena woke. She had sensed him. He had completely overwhelmed her, his senses...his touch... For a moment, she let herself savor his soft touch. And her heart broke when she realized what she would soon do to him.
She slowly opened her eyes. It was a jolt to actually see him – she felt his pain, his love for her, and despite the inner turmoil he was so steady. She hoped he would always be so.
"Dar," She whispered his name.
"I'm sorry, I woke you." He sent her a tender smile and sat beside her.
The close proximity made her uncomfortable and she shifted a bit, missing his hurt expression.
When had Serena shied away from him? When had she ever been afraid of him? How could this be true love when she was scared of him? Questions whirled around him and he sighed.
"Serena," He hesitatingly took her hand in his. And saw her flinch. "I love you."
He hadn't meant to say it so soon; all logic had flown out of his mind when he saw her. All the planned words leading up to his finale. But one look of her, despite her tears and uncertainty, radiated an innocent beauty.
She gasped, and words died in her throat. Astonishment, bewilderment, disbelief flashed past her face, until all that remained was a dull ache. An ache for something she knew she would never have. But, she reasoned with herself, being best friends with Darien was the most perfect, most balanced thing in her life, and things didn't have to change.
"Darien, how can you be sure of this love? We've been friends, best friends in fact, for so long, who's to say your love is romantic? Are you sure it's not the same brotherly love you've felt for me all these years?"
He was unsure now. Could she be right? He loved her, had always loved her. But for the love to just suddenly turn into romance? Was it possible?
Serena saw the questions flicker on his face, and pressed on, hoping it was an advantage. "Life was perfect before, do we really need to change all that? Can't we just go back to before?"
"So you're saying..." Darien paused, searching for the right words, "Love can't surpass all barriers? What we could have, what we could have shared, couldn't have surpassed friendship?"
"Dar –"
"I'm not saying our friendship was...lacking in anything. We trusted, we shared, we knew each other inside out. But who's to say this love I feel for you, can't be even better? Why are you afraid to love me?"
That question again. That unanswered question again.
"I'm not afraid," She said defiantly, "Look, you're not following me." She was already bleeding inside. "We're friends, and that's how destiny planned it between us. Nothing more, nothing less."
"I see." His voice was composed now and just a bit aloof. "So, you're rejecting me."
"That's a little harsh." He wasn't reacting as she'd expected. He didn't look angry, upset, hurt or shocked now. He seemed to have simply been drained of all emotions. Only mild interest remained.
"Why don't we just keep it friendly?" She suggested.
"Okay." He leaned against the oak tree, crossing his long legs at the ankles in a move that eerily mirrored hers.
"Great." A little silver of resentment worked through pricking her heart, and her voice. "Well..." She shrugged and started to walk away.
And never saw it coming.
One second he was studying with that detached curiosity, and the next he'd yanked her against him.
His mouth was like a fever on hers. Hot, angry, draining.
"Why are you lying to me?" He demanded.
She was out of breath, and her thoughts had scattered wildly. "Hands off!"
"Why are you lying?" He repeated, and backed her up against the sturdy tree.
Detached? She thought wildly. Had she thought he was detached?
"Why are you afraid to love me?" He asked, eyes in anguish. "Why are you trying to hurt me?"
And it did hurt, a deep, throbbing ache in the pit of his stomach; a slow twisting twinge in the heart.
"I'm not trying to hurt you, but I will if you keep pushing yourself on me. I don't want you." She couldn't meet those goddamn eyes. Eyes that shone with confusion and angst.
"Do you think I can't see past that façade? How long have we been friends for?"
"Long enough. And we'll keep being friends. Why can't you just accept it?"
"Because," He gently titled her head. Saw the tears, threatening to spill over. "You're not even giving me one chance."
"One chance is all we need to hurt each other."
"But aren't you hurting now? Aren't you? Denying yourself of my love is hurting us both." He sank into a whisper, "Why can't we just try this out?"
"Because I'm afraid! I'm scared Dar!"
"WHY are you afraid? Why are you afraid to change?"
He had hit a weakness. And he could see it on her face, a silent struggle of emotions.
"Can't you realize that change is sometimes good?"
"When? When is it ever good?" Serena had finally her voice again, and fought back, staring at him with sorrow. "When Daniel left? Wasn't that a change? And when Molly moved? And when...and when my baby sister died? And then...then Mama never smiled again, never held me again, never kissed me goodnight again. Until..." She broke off, remembering the grief.
"Until things changed! Damn it Serena, your mother DID smile again, DID hold you again, and DID kiss you again after she accepted what happened. Don't you see? The past is past, and what you should worry about is the present. Why let your happiness be denied to you, because of your fear? Of your fear to change? And wasn't it a change? A change when our friendship grew deeper? And even graduating from high school was a change wasn't it? And yet, you're happily in Uni, preparing to be a journalist. Are you saying these changes are bad? That we should have never changed from arguing like two little kids?"
"But –" She broke off, unsure of what to say.
"But nothing. Serena," He placed his hands on her shoulders, "Change is both good AND bad. Why let yourself hide in the shadows, only sampling bits of life?"
"My life is content. It's wonderful. And I want to keep it that way!" She cried forcefully.
"Content. Wonderful. Don't you ever want to experience something better? Something...amazing! Something that completely overwhelms you with happiness. My love for you can make you feel that way."
He paused, waiting for her reaction and continued when all he could see was uncertainty. "The future is only what we make of it. Our choices, our decisions. Who knows what the right path is? Who knows how many ripples could be created from one action? One moment? Live life as it comes!" His voice rose in intensity.
"Live life as it comes," she echoed thoughtfully.
"Don't be afraid of the unknown. Don't be afraid when life changes, even if it alters a little." He pressed on, "So, why shouldn't we try to love each other? Why shouldn't we use the gifts God gave us? To love, to cherish."
"But our friendship will change –"
"Our friendship will always remain. Even if our love is lost, our friendship is everlasting. Do you think love can change all that? Nothing can change the past, the memories we once shared. The memories we will continue to have."
He was right. How could she have been so foolish to doubt their friendship? How could she have been so stupid to be afraid of losing their friendship? How could she have ever believed that their friendship would break?
"Our friendship isn't brittle Sere, it never will be. Believe in it. Believe in US." He whispered the words as one lone tear fell on her cheeks. He brushed it tenderly away.
"Let me be with you. Let me love you."
Conflicting emotions flashed on her face. Could she love him? Could this work out?
"If you're unsure or afraid," He lifted her hand and pressed it against her heart, "Listen to here. Listen to the heart."
"And what does your heart tell you now?" He whispered softly.
She lifted her head to meet his eyes. And what she saw in his eyes, she knew she could trust. Could love. Old fears and doubts flew from her mind. What she felt was love. Love for him. Only him.
"Let my heart be forever yours." She murmured to him.
Joy spread across his face, and his smile widened. His heart soared.
Both echoed it in their eyes - Compassion... Hope... Love...
Slowly, his arms came around her, slid her against him, body to body, so that without any real pressure she was molded to him. He dipped her back, just the slightest bit, and somehow conjured the illusion that they were horizontal instead of vertical.
The intimacy of it jolted through her, sent her head on a dizzy spin even before his mouth took hers.
Soft. Warm. Deep. His lips didn't brush or nibble, but simply absorbed. Now the dizziness was joined by a shimmering wave of heat that seemed to start in her toes and rise until it melted every bone.
Her heart rate bounded, her blood flashed.
A little sound – stunned pleasure – hummed in her throat. Her lips parted in welcome.
Her scent invaded his senses. Overpowered him. She was his. Completely his.
He held her there, a moment. A moment of eternal warmth and love for them both.
Later, when the moon rose once again, he stroked her golden silky hair lovingly, and brought her closer in his arms. He murmured softly, "You'll always be my angel, Serena."
She only smiled back.
The birds whistled cheerfully a mysterious tune.
The grand trees rustled enigmatically above the couple.
A breeze fluttered by, carrying secret whispers of the past, present and future.
THE END
AN: Ladies and gentlemen! It is finished! Amazing, eh? I can't believe I
finally did it!
The main question now, is an epilogue needed? Do you guys want an epilogue?
Anything that was left unanswered needed answering? Or is it fine to stop
here? Comments appreciated!
P.S. I love all you people out there who sent a review!