Sorry this is late! Hope you like it… not much happens in this chap. Sorry.

Thanks to: pencil gal, cassandrare2001, Pretty-Unknown, keepoath, SteamedDumpling, wh00t, Rose Zen, Serena and Darien7, IluvSmallvilleDBZSailormoon, sailorSerena141, Luna Eesha, Priestess of Nottingham, CharmedSerenity3, Alicia Blade, Crystal Moon, kireisnowtenshi, starrynightmoon, princess-nav, Ishq, Illusion Glades, SwimBunny123, Miss Jessica Rabbit, sailorceb, SailorSenshiForever, moondreams19, Red-Rose18, Snow Mouse, Aria's star, Midnight, palikani, MidniteRoses, Pyro-Girl, chatterbox-hikaru13, Mermaid Gurl 95, SulliMike23, CelloSolo2007, Forever Tranquility, Tenshisangel, SilentAngel101, cardcaptor eternity, i'm not telling, keely, PrettyPinkSugar, Lexi Wexi, Starlit Warrior, Princess Lear, ffgirlmoonie, Princess makkura, MegTao, TropicalRemix and Serenity-hime (I know… but with a badly bruised foot she can limp around without causing too much pain when snowboarding)

Title: Ski Bunny Blues
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: T13
Chapter: 13- Alcohol Aftermath

I held her up as we stumbled up the porch steps. She was half asleep and very intoxicated, and my arm was feeling numb from her head leaning on it for so long. Not that I minded much, but it made the task of hauling Serena up the steps much more difficult. Just as we reached the top step, the front door opened and I was greeted with the sight of everybody eagerly waiting.

"What's wrong with her?" Raye looked at the groggy Serena in my arms.

"She's just a little… intoxicated." I admitted, trying to walk her down the hallway.

"Intoxicated? You let her drink!" Andrew yelled fiercely "What were you thinking?" Yep… should have known big brother Andrew would kick in. I didn't answer him. He helped me carry Serena into our room and placed her onto my bed.

"Andy… is that you?" Serena looked up wearily from the bed.

"Hey Serena… don't get up… just lie down and take it easy…" Andrew turned back and faced me, obviously unhappy.

"Ohh Andy it was wooooonderful! The food was yuuuummy and I was coooold but Darien looked after meee… and it was so coold… and we danced. He taught me how to dance" Serena slurred wistfully, "It was sooooo nice. And I was worriiiiied I would have a klutz attack anytime soon… but I didn't!" She giggled and sat up hugging Andrew.

"Serena… lie back down… you're going to feel sick if you keep moving around like that…" Andrew tried to push Serena back onto the bed but she hopped up instead and stumbled towards me. I caught her once again before she fell over and she looked up at me.

"Thankies Darien. You made me feel like… a princess!" She giggled and swayed once again.

"Okay princess… back to bed." I lifted Serena up and carried her back into bed. Andrew tucked her in and she soon fell asleep once again.

"I swear she didn't drink that much…" I began to remove my tie.

"You know, you're lucky you're my best friend and I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt her." Andrew frowned. "She's like a little sister to me. If she didn't just wake up and tell me what a wonderful night she had with you then I'm afraid I would've had to punch your lights out for letting her drink alcohol." He smirked, patting me on the back before leaving me to change. I changed out of the tuxedo, folding it neatly and slipped into my sleeping clothes. I sighed, realizing Serena was sleeping on my bed. I walked over to her bed and crawled beneath the blankets. My hand struck the cover of something hard as I fluffed up her pillow. I realized it was her diary and stopped, wondering if I should take a peek or not. I glanced over at Serena, sleeping peacefully and decided not to. It would be wrong for me to read her diary again. I gently laid my head down on her pillow. It smelled just like her. Vanilla and Moonflower. I noted mentally before drifting to sleep.

I woke in the middle of the night feeling nauseous and hot. Beads of sweat had formed on my body as I began to heat up. I tossed and turned in bed violently, finding it extremely uncomfortable. I removed my shirt in hopes that it would help me cool down. My stomach churned and rumbled. I pinned it on a mild case of food poisoning and closed my eyes, hoping it would soon pass.

Serena's Point of View

The morning light radiated in through the bedroom window and I felt its warmth against my face. I groaned and stretched my legs under the warmth of my blanket. As I stretched, my arm flew behind me, smacking something hard.

"Meatball head…" Darien groaned, sounding rather annoyed. I felt a sudden lack of warmth as he removed his arms from around my waist. My eyes widened at the realization that I had just spent the night in bed with Darien. "What are you doing in my bed?" He rubbed his eyes.

"I should ask you the same thing!" I sat up, my head suddenly spinning. I felt as though I was going to fall.

"Woah there, take it easy." He reached out towards me. One of his arms steadied the small of my back as the other held onto my hand.

Knock Knock

"Wakie wak-" Just then, Andrew decided to walk in on Darien and I being in the same bed. "Ohh no… Darien man… you didn't." Andrew's face began to turn a crimson color. His hands balled up into fists and I could tell he was struggling to hold himself back. It was then that I realized Darien was shirtless.

"I didn't!" He strongly denied, stepping out of bed to pick his shirt up off the floor, putting it on. I closed my eyes and tried to remember how we had gotten into such a situation.

"I did…" I cringed. Both Andrew and Darien looked up at me.

"You did!" Andrew looked at me strangely. "Oh Rena… We talked about this before. I thought you decided to wait…"

"Andrew!" I squealed, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. We obviously weren't talking about the same thing. "It's not what you think!"

"It better not be…" Andrew glared back at Darien who looked completely stunned.

"Andy… let me explain." I shook my head. "I was so tired last night that I didn't realize… I woke up in Darien's bed and felt bad about sleeping in it… so I got up and moved myself back into my bed. I didn't know he was sleeping there. I was so tired that I must've fallen asleep straight after."

"Darien what do you have to say for yourself? And why on earth were you shirtless? It's sub zero temperatures outside and you're walking around naked!" Andrew frowned, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I got sick last night! I had a fever and I couldn't sleep and you know I would never do anything irresponsible with Serena. It's not like that at all. You know me better than that Drew." Darien argued.

"Not like what?" I looked up at him curiously. Did he not find me attractive at all? Did he only think of me as a child? After last night I could have sworn we had a connection. There was something more than just 'friendship' between us. Sure, I couldn't remember ALL of last night… but I remembered enough.

"You… wouldn't understand Sere." He opted for the easy way out.

"No no… I'm curious. What did you mean?" I pressed on. Andrew watched curiously, leaning up against the doorframe.

"Look Serena… you're beautiful… you're gorgeous but I just… I wouldn't…" He stuttered as he searched for the right words. I looked up at him eagerly.

He wouldn't what? He wouldn't date me? He wouldn't want me as his girlfriend? He wouldn't buy me a double chocolate sundae? He wouldn't love me? Oh gods… that was it. He would never love me. I felt my heart sink in my chest and my stomach tied itself in knots.

"I understand…" I nodded slowly and closed my eyes. All of a sudden my world came tumbling down and I felt dizzy. I felt cold and lonely. I felt crushed. I felt like last nights dinner was about to make an encore appearance.

"Serena are you alright?" Darien placed a gentle hand on my arm and I shook my head, looking away.

"I think I'm going to be sick…" I got up and ran to the bathroom. I didn't know if it was because of all the alcohol from the night before or because I realized, once again, that Darien and I would never be together. Nevertheless, I sat in the bathroom for the next 20 minutes, hugging the toilet bowl.

Good morning last night's oyster!

Darien's Point of View

I stood up and paced after her, hoping to see if she was alright but Andrew gripped onto my arm, stopping me from going any further.

"I think you've done enough Dar." He sighed and released my arm. I looked at my best friend's retreating form strangely. Did he think I hurt her? I shook my head and made my way outside, onto the porch and sat myself down in my thinking chair.

I stared off into the distance. Crisp white snow blanketed everything around me. I felt my toes becoming numb. Wisps of condensation escaped my lips as I let out shallow breaths. What was I going to do about Serena? I was crazy about her but I knew she didn't feel the same way about me. The door creaked beside me but I failed to notice both Andrew and Mina's figures walk past and sit down next to me.

"Here…" Andrew handed me a cup of hot cocoa. I looked up at him and he sighed. "Look… I'm sorry I was so hard on you."

"Don't be. I would be too…" I shrugged and continued gazing off.

"You really care about her, don't you?" Mina looked up at me, gently blowing into her cup. I looked over at her and raised an eyebrow.

"I thought it was pretty obvious." My tone came out as rather dull.

"Why don't you tell her?" Andrew took a cautious sip of his cocoa.

"Yeah! I planned this whole thing out to get you both together!" Mina pouted and I smiled for a moment. I knew she was up to something!

"Things have changed… I found out what she truly thinks of me. I can't tell her now." I sighed, feeling rather disappointed.

"You can't give up Daz. Who knows… she might think differently of you now. Just tell her how you feel about her! Trust us… it'll be worth it. What have you got to lose?" Andrew and Mina exchanged glances as they tried to convince me to tell Serena how I felt about her.

"Look, I know what you're both doing. Thanks… but you really don't have to. I'm not the one for Serena. She just doesn't love me like I love her. Let's face it… I'm destined to be alone forever." I continued to stare absentmindedly in front of me. Andrew sighed and nodded. He knew just how stubborn I could be. He and Mina stood up and walked back inside, leaving me once more, to my silent reverie.

There's the end. I'm announcing my soon to be released new story called "Only In My Dreams" that should be out next week so keep an eye out for that. Please review! Thank you all so much!

Crystal Saturn