Chapter 1

A/N: I have to say thank you to those who have reveiw. Also I want to say that to me, I am moving the story little fast and I am sure the readers can tell. And well I want to give you a reason why, this story is going to go over a span of about 8 years, and well if I was to going to everything that happen in that time, this story would never end so its all kind happen at once. I do want to say that what Darien's mother does in this chapter, is what my father's mother done after only a month of my parents dating. Last, I don't own anything but my ideas.
Some one has stole my make-up and I need it. I do not have time for this. I had a date with the guy that I had meet about a month or so ago. A guy that was a complete smart ass who happen to also be blind. Yes, I was wrong it was no joke this man was blind, but this man had a comebacks for everything. I didn't notice till we got out of car at the diner that night and he pulled out a walking stick. And like always I felt really dumb, but that didn't last long, When I try to say I was sorry, he let me know quickly that he didn't need my sorry. Of course I didn't care I still felt bad till we got in the diner and set down. At that time I change my mind fast. This man had just slapped the waitress on the butt and when she turn around to go off, Andrew step in and said his friend didn't mean to cause he was blind. And you better believe when she walk away they both started to laugh. Something told me they had played the game before.

But I can't say the whole night was bad. When we finally arrived at the party later that night, we end up in a corner talking most of the night. It was the most fun I have had in a long time. He told me that he was a diabetic and that it was the cause for him being blind. I also learn that he had only been blind for about seven months.What was so amazing about him was that he did want people to feel sorry for him because he was no different now then he was before. But for some reason I like him, I don't know if it was because Darien seem to care less about what people thought or what. Of courseat timehis smart ass side came out, but that wasjust at first. I startednotice that he didn't get smart to be mean,it was his way of joking also to see whocould take a joke and maybe a way tokeep some of the people at the partyfromgetting to close. And because of this I think helightin up on me later in the night because he knew he could joke with me and even if I wined about it, he knew I wasn't taking it to heart. I was excited when he ask me to go out again with him the next day. The only odd thing was when I asked where he lived, he told me not to worry, he would be at my place a seven and well I did argue, it wasn't easy to with him. And we have been spend most of are free time together since.And in that time I learn that even though he wasblind, he could still do many things.

That is what I am doing know, getting ready to spend time with Darien. And that is why I have to hurry and get my make-up on, it was a 6:30 and I was only half done. Its bad enough that almost ever date we had be on before this late, if I was late again Darien would never let me live it down.

"I don't know why your getting all dressed for" I turn to see my baby sister, Kathy who had planted herself on my bed "You said he couldn't see anything" I roll my eyes at her, she just didn't understand. That was the last thing I need, to listen toher run at the mouth about was pops in her head

"Its simple, Darien might not be able to see me but I still have to look good for him" I tell her has I turn back around to finish my lip liner. Kids, there just don't get it, I have to look good, no matter what.

"That dumb, I don't think Darien cares what you look like" she say when she comes to stand by me in the mirror. She was the first to meet Darien, besides Lisa. Kathy seems to believe it is her job to answer the door. I had to feel sorry for the man, cause Kathy made him stand in the door way and talk to her for about ten minutes until Mary, my other littler sister yelled for in the kitchen. I Mary had not yelled, he would have been there the rest of the night. Kathy will talk a man into his grave.Even though that was also when I came down the steps, she wouldn'thave shutup so we could make it out the door andwell if she would have cost methe most wonderful date I ever had,she would have been inbig trouble.

Not that any of that matter later that night. Darien walked me to the park where he had a late night supper picnic made for us. I ask him how he pulled this off and told me a man never tells his secrets. Then I told him that it was a secret only he had because no other guy I had went out with had ever been this sweet. I remember when I got home that night I couldn't sleep because my tummy felt all out of whack and I kind of felt like it was hard to breath. It was a feeling that in all my 18 years I had never felt. I started dating when I was 15 and never in that time had a guy made me feel this way. I felt something that I know many people say can't happen that fast, love. It only happen in fairytales and that's what I believed. But it not true, because I have. It was my own little odd fairytale with my own odd prince charming. And could care less that my Prince Charming could see or not, because I knew he could see me in his own way.

"Are you done daydreaming yet" I look over at Kathy with surprise "Mommy has been calling you for the last minutes or whatever" she doss her hand up in her little drama queen act.

"Yes I heard her I was taking my time" and yes I just lied but hell I have things on my mind. With a roll of my eyes I brush past her out the door towards and head down the step. And well I didn't expect to see who was at the bottom of the steps, a women who was maybe 5'4, but still seem to think she was high above everyone else, she was Darien's mother and my mother. Okay something was not right with this picture and why did she have a suitcase? "What's going on?"

"I will tell you what is going on" and she speaks. Now first off, I have only meet this women once before and it was for a very short time. And well Darien never had anything real nice to say about her from the start. I think I am about to see why. "My son and your daughter" she looks at my mom "seem to feel they care very deeply for each other and I feel if this is so your daughter should start taking care of him" When she finishes I look over at my mother and she look at a lost for why this women was dropping her daughters boyfriend clothes on her doorstep. "I can't handle this anymore, Darien is about to have surgery and I am unable to care for him at this time. By the way if you talk to him let him know where his clothed are" With that the women turn and walked out the door toward her car.

"Serena, who the hell was that, way is there suitcase in my hallway, and what is going on."my Mother look at me, wanting me to answer questions I didn't have answer to. And I could careless about it, I need to find out where Darien was, I had an idea of where and I was going on it.

"Look mom," I began "I don't know what going, but I need to find Darien" I said as I head out the door. I was going to Andrew. He had to be there. So quickly I head down the sidewalk. I would have to took the bus, but I need to walk and think. What kind of surgery was he having, why didn't he tell me, and in my mom's words what was going on. I had to know, I had to know if he was okay.

I had to shake my train of thought when I made it to Andrew apartment. I knew Andrew wasn't there, but I also knew Darien had a key. He had told me once that Andrew had gave him one incase he need a place to stay. Andrew job forced him to travel so he was only home on the weekend. But that didn't mater, what mattered was what was going on. I hurry up to the second floor of the duplex and knock on the door. When he opened the door I jumped into his arms "I was worried about you." He brought his arms around me

"Hey, what are you doing here. Its not seven is it, I not late am I?" he smiled "I thought you were the late one" then he notice that I didn'tlaugh at his joke "Whats wrong"

I jump back for a minute "What's wrong, what's wrong? I tell you what's wrong, why was your mother at my house" I began my questions? "I came done the steps to seeyou and there was your mother, someone I had only met once in my life.

He looked at me in surprise "What did she want? Did she say anything to hurt you" he bought his hands to my face.

"No, she just dropped your clothes at my door and said you was having surgery." I plead "What wrong with you, why are you having
surgery?"

"He is having his eyes removed" I look back to see my mother standing by the car "I called your house, Darien and I spoke with your sister. She told me a great deal of things and with that I have a question for you" my mother walk up the step towards us "we you join our family? You can share a room with my son. We are lucky if he home anywayso it be like your own room"

I could do nothing but stand there in Darien arms. My mother, had just ask my boyfriend of a little over a month to move in, now this was a first. Darien sister must have told her about a lot more then I know of.

"Mrs... Hendricks, please you don't..."

"Your right I don't, but I am, so shut up. Now, Serena stop standing there and help Darien to the car" with that my mother turn and head to the car. I couldn't believe my ear. This was in so many way nothing like the mother I knew, but in so many ways it was. This was the women that had a fit if we shut our door with a boy in the room, but she was also the women that would never leave someone to sleepon the street. She even tried to get my brother to stop sleeping on the street, he justwouldn't listen and stop running away.

I turn to Darien "Well, what are you waiting for, lets go."

The short ride home had been uneventful, we all set quit and supper was also or at least it start it that way. We all had found our places and started to eat when we notice Darien wasn't eating. "Darien, What's wrong?" I ask. I was worried maybe he was sick or something.

He turn his head toward me "I can't see to cut my steak and I don't know What's on my plate"

My family set there not sure what to say or what to do. The man I had got to know over the past month seem different. The man that was once strong show weakness. And for once I was glad my mom butted in "First off, I don't know why you want to cut your steak when we just pick it up with our hand, so just pick it up and eat. I will tell right now we aren't one of them up- a-de family, so if your here your the same way. Just act like the rest of my bad kid and eat with no matters." I smile then and I could till it made Darien fill better. True, she lied, but if it made him fill less out of place then that all that matter. After that Kathy and Mary's started fighting, Lisa started running her mouth about she done in school, Kenny liston to momma bitch about whatever it was the police brought him home for, and dad, well dad just ate dinner. Yeah, it was home, sweet home to me and in time it would be more of a home for Darien then his own.

After dinner, Darien and I went to the back porch and set down on the swing my father had built. We where there a good five minutes before he broke the silence. "I really am sorry about this. I will try to find some other place to go."

"NO!" I don't want you to go. You live here and I want you here" I grab his hand " and you need me to take care of you"

I smile when Darien brought his hand up to my face "I can't see your face, but I know your beautiful. Serena I know we haven't been together long but.." he brings his forehead to mine "will you marry?"

I don't know why but I started to cry. I always knew I would get married someday, but I had a plan. I was going to be smart and marry someone that suited me. I was going to marry a guy that could take care of me and make sure I had everything I wanted. Love, was not something I was worry about, love couldn't buy me a new pair of shoes and drive a nice car. But here I was about to say yes to love and I was cry because I was so happy about it, but was it to soon? "Darien we haven't even been together over a month?"

"I know, but there something you need to know" my heart dropped, what did I need to know " Serena, some people live long lives with diabetes, but some don't. I don't want to take a chance, if I never know what tomorrow may bring."

"But Darien..." I try to stop him.

"No, don't 'but' me Serena." he place a finger over my lips. "I know what I am saying, and what I am saying is I love you and if I have a year and fifty years, I want them with you." he removed his finger from my lips "so, what do you say?"

"I do"