Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon or any of its characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.

Author's Notes: Hi, guys! This is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. Please read and REVIEW! That's all! Thanks!

Forever

by Maya Kitajima

New Year Love

The door was quietly closed, careful not to wake up the slumbering figure. The young woman who had sneaked in soundlessly made her way to the bed at the center of the room. Cautiously, she climbed in the bed and snuggled against him.

I would do it just as he had done it to me!

She began to caress his face—trailing her cold but soft fingers from his forehead to his jaw and to his neck. He stirred.

Now!

"Rise and Shine!"

"Oh, shit!"

"Don't curse in the morning, honey. It'll ruin your day." He blinked and broke into a smile. He grabbed her into a tight embrace.

"Serena!" She giggled.

"Hi, Darien. How's your sleep?"

"It was fine until you shouted at me."

"Haha! Now you know the feeling!"

"Shut up!" She shut up.

"Oh, you're obeying me today, huh?"

"Nah, I'm just letting you absorb what day it is today." He stared at her.

"Uh…today you're finally going back here at my place?" She poked him.

"No! It's something more important!" He tried to remember again. But when he still can't after a minute, Serena got impatient.

"Argh! It's New Year's eve today, Darien!" He grinned sheepishly.

"Oh, I know that. I just can't think of anything more important than your coming back here." She rolled his eyes but was surprised when Darien pulled her again in a hug. He held her head gently and whispered in her ear.

"You don't know how happy I am that you're returning here, Sere. I really missed you." She smiled.

"It's less than a week, Dare. But I have to say I also missed your egocentric personality."

"Oh, I'm sorry, lovely, but I'm planning to be charming today."

"Charming? Wow, well that's new."

"I'm serious, Sere."

"Well, let's see it then."

"Fine. I'll start by asking you what you want for breakfast."

"Ooh…breakfast…I want…uh…I want mango cake!"

"Cake? We'll have to buy that downtown, then."

"Seriously Dare?"

"Yup! Buy you'll have to wait until I get dressed."

"Sure! Yey! Mango Cake!" Darien laughed.

Haha…what a kid she is…

He handed him chips and a can of coke.

"Here." Serena gawked at him.

"Wow. You're actually giving me 'real' food."

"JUNK food, Sere. It's called JUNK food. And I told you…I'm gonna scare the hell out of you with my charm."

"Ew." He snickered as he put the tape inside the vhs player and played it.

"Oh, yippee! My Best Friend's Wedding is one of my favorite movies! I'm so excited!"

"I know. We've watched it too the past New Year. Don't you get tired of it?" He said as he slumped down the seat beside Serena.

"No way!" They fell silent as the movie started.

They were in the part where Michael (AN: I don't know his name in real life. ;p) and Julianne (Julia Roberts) were in a boat and slowdancing, when Darien heard Serena sob. He looked at her.

"Are you crying?" She sobbed again and continuously wiped the flowing tears away.

"I can't help it…They're so sweet. Oh, I wish that Kimmy (Cameron Diaz) would just go away!"

"Serena, you've watched this a million times and you still get carried away? I can't believe you."

"B-but I can't help it. Oh, this is making me lovesick."

"Lovesick? You're funny Serena."

"What? It's natural for me to get lovesick. Especially now that it's New Year's Eve and I don't have someone special."

"Oh, so I'm not special?"

"You're different, Dare. You're my best friend."

"So I AM special."

"Well…maybe…"

"I'll take that as a yes." He pulled her towards him and she fell on his chest. Serena smiled and rode on with his act of sweetness.

"Fine." She snaked her arm around his waist.

"Good. Co'z I'm taking you somewhere tonight." He said softly. She looked up and gazed at his enigmatic smile.

"Where?"

"I won't tell you. It's a surprise."

"Aw…come on. Tell me."

"You'll find out later." Serena pouted her lips and he laughed richly.

"Did you know you look so cute when you do that?" She poked him in return. This caused Darien to laugh more.

Darien glanced one more time at her as he stopped in a red light.

"What?" She asked. He smiled.

"Nothing."

"Why were you looking at me?" His smile widened as he decided tell her.

"You look beautiful." He said gently. She was wearing the tube denim dress that Darien brought her that Christmas. He had seen her before wearing it when she fitted it at the mall, but this time her fashion sense had come out and made her even more pretty. Since the dress was short just below her knees and it was cold, she put on black stockings and black boots. She wore also a fur coat to keep her warm.

Serena's face reddened by his compliment and was obviously glad when the traffic light turned green.

They were silent the whole drive.

I wonder where he's taking me. This guy is always full of surprises…

She noticed the scene changing as trees started showing up. It was dark, so she didn't know where they were or where they're heading. Despite her curiosity, she didn't anymore question Darien for she knew she'd get the same answer.

Finally, they stopped.

"We're here."

"What's here? I don't see anything but trees."

"You'll find out. Come on." They got out of the car and Darien took Serena's hand so she would follow him. There was a snow-covered path and it was obvious that people had gone through there many times.

"Where are we? It's much more colder here than our town."

"Of course, this is high up in the mountains."

"Mountains? Really?" But then she gasped as she suddenly saw lights. Yellow light, red light, green light, all kinds of them.

"Wow! It's so beautiful! Is that our city? I can't believe it…it's so…pretty." Darien put her arm around her.

"We can watch this year end and another year start here, Serena. We'll see all the fireworks in different places." Serena got even more ecstatic. She turned sideways and noticed that only a few people were there—mostly couples.

"How did you know this place?"

"This is called Tops. A friend told me about this."

"Mmm."

They kept quiet and absorbed the peace and enchantment of the place and the sight.

"Five more minutes, Sere." The fireworks were starting now. But as the time went on and it came where it's just a minute more…it began to increase.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two…….one!"

Darien swept Serena up on her feet and hugged her tightly.

"Happy New Year, Serena!"

"Happy New Year, Darien!" They laughed softly and he put her down. But then, he locked his eyes on her. Midnight blue against Cerulean ones…

At first, Serena froze. Her heart started beating faster and her knees trembled. She was ready to melt anytime as Darien's face went nearer.

Is he gonna kiss me on the lips?

Wait.

I know this!

Her nervousness vanished at once and she grinned.

"You can't make the same attack twice, mister. I've seen this trick you're trying to play on me before."

"Ser—" His face was still ever so slowly coming closer.

"Oh, but I'm not gonna embarrass you. Don't worry. I'll gladly turn my head for you." She turned her head so he would kiss her cheek. However, Darien grabbed her chin between his thumb and index finger and turned her head back.

"But this is not the same attack, honey." And his lips caught hers. He kissed her passionately as his hand sanked to her neck. Serena's knees shook like it never did before. She surrendered in his arms and she placed her hands around his neck. Darien felt her smile under her breath.

"Am I dreaming or is my best friend really kissing me?" She asked as they stopped to breathe.

"It's up to you to decide, princess."

"This is definitely a dream. Never in the world would he kiss someone…no, not ever. He just said to me that love and him never agrees. Besides, he's supposed to be a girl-hater."

"A girl-hater, huh? Nah, a girl-hater wouldn't have a girl for a best friend. Unless, of course he found out that he's not a girl-hater or a love-hater and that he's fallen in love with his best friend."

"Really? Then I hope this isn't a dream because the girl realized that she has fallen in love with her best friend too." She giggled

"Wow, great story…two best friends falling in love with each other. I wonder what happens next."

"Of course they'll become a couple."

"I totally disagree with you on that, honey. They promised they'd be best friends forever… So how about if they remain as two best friends who had fallen in love with each other."

"In other words, they'll become a couple…and no matter what happens to them, they'd still be the best of friends."

"You got that right, Serena." Serena smiled at him enigmatically.

"Don't I get a reward for getting that right." Darien returned her smile.

"Coming, baby." He leaned down and brushed his lips on hers.

"I love you, Serena." He whispered as he pulled her closer, pressing her body to his.

"I love you too, Darien."

And they kissed as the fireworks beautifully surrounded them, signaling the start of the new year.

OWARI

Author's notes:

Hi guys! Thanks for reading my fic! This is supposed to be even longer—at 12-13 chapters, but I got tired of writing it because of my lack of inspiration. Also, school will begin soon (Ugh! I still don't want to!) so I have to finish writing all the fanfics I already started before this. However, I promise that I'll try to write more chapters and the sequel to it when I have time (when's that? Hehe… next summer maybe). Anyway, as for now, this is all I can give you and I hope you enjoyed reading it!

To those who are wondering why this is entitled "Forever"…it means that they'll be best friends no matter what. Even if their relationship as a couple won't work out, they still remain best friends. It was supposed to be "Best Friends Forever" but I realized I'd give away the story if I do that.

Well, that's all, guys! Thanks again! Luv ya all!