Once Upon a Dream

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh no matter how much I would like to.

Authors note: Let's hope this chapter flows as well as the last one did, maybe I'll try for longer too. Glad you like it! Please Review!

Story Description: AU Serenity and Joey have always told each other everything? Right? Everything, except for one secret that happened after they were separated. And what happens when this "secret" comes back into Serenity's life after all of these years? SetoXSerenity.

Chapter Seven:

Sweet Dreams

"He dared to call you! I should start screening your calls! Ha ha! He won't get past me now!" Joey ranted insanely

"Whatever Joey, just don't let it happen again," Serenity leaned on Joey's shoulder

"Don't worry, if Tristan calls again I'll run over and beat him to a pulp! Ha ha!"

"Do what you will. Remember there is a full dress-rehearsal tonight for the play so I might not get home till late; it matters on how many times he wants to run it." She said smiling. A motorcycle revved in the driveway and she gave Joey a small peck before a quick "See you tonight!"

Serenity and Seto sat outside the school. It was their lunch break but neither of them felt very hungry. Serenity sat, sullenly, head resting on Seto's shoulder; and Seto watched her, her silence unnerving.

"He knows," she blurted bluntly

"Knows what? Who?" Seto said, confused

"Tristan. He knows about you, us."

"I told you not to worry Serenity." He held her face and looked into her tear glazed eyes, "I'll be fine." He kissed her on the head as the five minute bell rang. "We should go," he started to get up before a quivering, but sure hand grabbed his arm.

"Don't leave, can't we just stay like this; this peace and sureness. Can't we stay like this forever?"

"But our classes…" Seto protested

"Screw our classes, we only two left anyway!"

"Mr. Thompson will wonder where his precious Juliet is, don't you think?" He questioned

"Call the school and tell then we are going to the doctor's in five minutes. Just call a couple minutes apart. Then we go to class and get the passes, and we can leave."

"Are you sure?" Seto said ruefully

"Are you my favorite person in the whole world?" Serenity grinned

"Classes it is then." He chuckled

Serenity hit him playfully on the arm

"Ok, head to class I'll make the calls." Seto said

"We're almost there." Serenity beamed

"That's what you said ten minutes ago!" Seto ducked under a branch

"Well I was lying then, now I'm not."

Seto and Serenity emerged out of the forest Serenity had been dragging Seto through for the past twenty minutes and Seto stared, dumbstruck.

Before them was a fairly large lake in the middle of a small clearing, trees and shrubbery completely enclosed the small void of water from all sides. A small dock and a rope hanging off of a tree were the only signs anybody had been here.

"It's so beautiful, isn't it?" She said smiling up at him

"Yeah, how did you find it?"

"I, um, found it hiking in the woods when I was ten." She stuttered

"No you didn't." Seto argued

"How do you if I did or not?" Serenity said nervously

"Because you stammered, you never stammer unless you're lying." He pointed out

"Fine, Mr. Nosy. I ran away from home when I was ten. My father, he, well, let's just say he had a bad temper and liked to drink." She rubbed a scar on her neck that never went away from when her father had taken a pocket knife to her that day. "I was scared for, well, my life and ran into these woods and found this lake. I came here every time I was scared to go home. It was my safe haven; you know home base, where I could let my guard down and feel like, I had a normal, loving family.

"Sometimes," she chuckled "I would come here and lie in the water fully clothed and dream that I was a mermaid. I would imagine what I would do if I didn't have to worry about dying. I dreamed my best friend Seto Mizoka was still alive, and he was my prince who saved me from my evil father and we lived forever; two merpeople, longing for something more than what was given to them. I was going to show him this place, the day he died, but he's gone. He's dead now, and, there's nothing I can do about it."

"Serenity…"

"Yeah," she said smiling

He choked, he couldn't tell her, he wanted to, but he couldn't forced the words out, "I" he managed, "I, um, was just wondering what was in that pack you brought." He gave in; the truth would have to wait for another time.

"I thought you'd never ask!" she exclaimed "Nothing too wonderful, but there are some towels, extra clothes, a flashlight, and a couple of blankets."

"What exactly would we need these things for, dare I ask?" Seto grinned

Serenity slipped off her sandals and sweater and ran over to the rope. "That is the surprise," she grabbed onto the rope and jumped into the water from the top of her swing.

Serenity's head popped above the surface and she called out after Seto "The water isn't terribly cold, come on in."

"You expect me to get in there!"

"Well, unless you're chicken," Serenity taunted

"Ok, now you convinced me!" Seto said, taking off his shoes, socks, and shirt

Serenity hid under the water as he jumped in and waited to spring up behind him until she heard his calls for her. She popped up and dunked him under. When he came back up she smiled and mocked, "Aren't you glad you could join me?"

"So tell me again why you won't get in trouble for coming in late this time." Seto asked

The two sat on the dock in some fresh clothes and a warm blanket with their feet hanging in the water.

"Because I told Joey we had a dress rehearsal tonight and I didn't know how long it would last." Serenity sighed, she had her head resting on Seto's chest and could hear his heart; thump-thump, thump-thump, thump, thump-thump…

Seto looked at his watch, "Serenity, it's midnight. Somehow I don't think even your brother will believe you were at school this long. Serenity? Are you awake?"

He looked down at the sleeping girl and gently kissed her on the head. "Come on Serenity, wake up,"

Serenity slowly inched open her eyes; thump-thump, thump-thump, thump, thump-thump… "Mmmm," she groaned

"Do we have to leave?" she mumbled

"Yes Sleeping Beauty, let's go," He helped Serenity get up and they rode on his motorcycle back to the whitewashed house, "I'll pick you up tomorrow. Remember that the actual rehearsal is after school." He added a sincere "Goodnight and sweet dreams," before riding off.

Serenity walked in the house and dropped like a lead weight in her bed and quickly went to sleep, and dreamed very sweet dreams of the lake.

Toxic: It wasn't as long as I wished and it took a little while but my well of inspiration ran dry for a while. You can all thank my friend, who shall remain anonymously as Bob, for refilling my well again. Hope you like the new chapter; I'll post again as soon as I can. Read & Review, you know the drill.