Author's Notes: Yes, I know---Bad author, bad author--cliff-hanger…Bad, bad, bad. Well, not to upset you further, but this one will be a hanger as well, if all goes as planned…He he he. Thank you all for reviewing! You've made me so happy! Maybe I should be more aggressive about reviews from now on…OR, gasp, could it be because you really liked my story? Ooo, I'm exited! For anyone concerned, I think my exams went well, thank you.

Ah, the curse of the brain fart, more commonly known as 'writer's block' in this community. It's been plaguing me for SO long. What's a girl to do? J

As an aside, has anyone noticed that a majority of 'S-Moon' fan fiction writers are in college now? I find that rather amusing, and beautiful at the same time. Some of the older writers are the best that the Sailor Moon community will ever have, but maybe this generation will have picked up on the subtleties of writing and romance from them. Good luck with your writing everyone!

Chapter Six: Plan of Attack

Serena was able to go home a few days later. Darien hadn't shown his face since the night before he had left her the ring. Amy made his excuses, saying that he had to get back to work, and that he was pretty busy. Amy herself was rushing in and out on her short breaks, frantic about a patient in heart surgery. Andrew drove Serena and Joseph home from the store on a rainy day a few days later.

"Can I get you anything," Serena asked. "I'm not sure if the milk is good. It's probably been sitting there for a week…"

"I'll make us some tea. Why don't you go get Joseph settled in for a nap." Serena was somehow content to let her child go to sleep without her when she put him down in the crib. He was so soft and sweet; she had to pull herself away before she could pick him up again.

When Serena came back, with a little black cat on her heels, the tea was ready. They sat at the kitchen table in silence, sipping their tea.

"Hey, Serena?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to marry Darien?"

"Are you going to marry Lita?"

"I don't see what's stopping you," he said petulantly.

"I don't see what's stopping you," she retorted.

"Well, if you must know, she's not ready to get married. She's still on the look-out for something better."

"That's not true, Andrew. Maybe you should talk with her about this. I think that…I think she's just as scared as I am." Or was. Maybe I still am. "She probably wants you to take charge and just ask her. Just one word of advice: Don't propose and run if she says no."

"I take it you're a bit frustrated with Darien?"

"Not exactly. I'm a little…okay, very confused."

"I think he's a little nervous about your answer. He's thinks you're the bee's knees, and…well, I'm not sure. You'll have to talk to him."

"I can't get a hold of him. He's always running off to work or something. His stuff is still here too. He'll have to come back and get it sooner or later," Serena said, sighing and resting her cheeks in her cupped hands.

"How about sooner," Andrew smiled. "I'd like to see you two married before I die. He was very lonely when you left, you know. He worked too hard for so long; some of us thought that he would end up as the patient instead of the doctor."

"I know. That's the way he is. He's the most wonderfull man I've ever known." She wished that Darien wasn't so beautiful. It was making her feel so guilty.

"Were you lonely?"

"I had a husband, Andrew," she replied, perturbed at this sudden intrusion.

"Were you lonely," he persisted, setting his tea down.

Serena paused. Everything was so different after she got married. Nothing felt like it had with Darien. Darien felt right and safe. Ray had been charming and romantic, but, she supposed now, that it was all a ploy to get her to marry him in the end. Darien truly loved her. He hadn't given up. She hadn't apologized. "I was alone a lot of the time because of his work…I was always teaching or grading papers." She looked forlorn. "I was lonely without any of you."

"Did you want him to be around," knowing that she knew he meant Darien.

"Yes, very much. I wanted his arms around me. I wanted him to smile at me like he always did when he was teasing me. I wanted to be near him," her eyes were filling with tears as she remembered the loneliness. "Darien has always been in my heart. Of course," she laughed, "it's always been in his hands anyway." And he'd been squeezing it lately, too. "I want to tell him how sorry I am, and how much I need him."

"Well, I'll try to get him to talk to you. He's just really busy, I guess. He still loves you; he won't give up."

"Thanks, Andrew."

"You're welcome. And now, if you'll excuse me, I must go have a chat with my girlfriend," he said getting up. "Thanks for the tea. I'll have to come by more often, now that I have a reason to," he teased, kissing the top of her head and giving her a hug. "It'll all turn out okay, little rabbit. It'll all be okay."

Darien came by that afternoon to get his things.

"I see you were going to kick me out before I ever got back, eh, Joseph," Darien teased, as he saw a car-seat and a crib in the spare room. There was also some exercise equipment littering the floor around the shelves, but he thought it best not to mention it.

"Darien?"
"Yes," he said, turning around from putting his things in a box on the bed.

Serena had Joseph in her arms again and was nudging a smaller box towards him with her bare foot. "I want you to have that. It's just something I found while I was unpacking some boxes from my parents a few weeks ago."

"What is it?"

"Well, if you open it, you'll find out," she said, smiling.

Darien began peeling the tape off the cardboard box. Once inside the box, he found something that he thought he'd never see again. It was a photo album from when they were years younger. Inside, there was a picture of himself and Serena at the base of a tree, holding hands and smiling. That had been one of the happiest days of his life, before their separation; before the world intruded into a young girl's life. Behind the picture, however, was a note that he had written to her.

Darien looked up uncertainly, but Serena was smiling.

"Would you read it to me," she asked, sitting on the bed.

Darien unfolded the wrinkled paper and sat on the bed as well. It had been several years since he'd seen this note. He had agonized over what to write, so that if her parents ever found it, she could make up a silly excuse. "Dearest Usako," he began, then hesitated.

"You haven't called me that in so long…It's nice to hear that again," she sighed, allowing her mouth to barely twitch into a smile.

Note to self, Darien thought: Call her 'Usako' every moment of my life! "'Dearest Usako,'" he began again. "'I don't know how to say anything to you. Words are not perfect enough to describe how much I love you. My soul fills with joy at the thought of you, my mind can think of nothing else. Beside those facts, I'm failing physics because of you; my day-dreams are taking over my life. May I have the honor of a midnight tête-à-tête on the roof of the apartment building with you? I'll be waiting for your answer. Yours ever, Mamo-chan.' You sent Luna over with a note, didn't you," he grinned, remembering.

"I had no idea what a tête-à-tête was," she laughed. "Then you sent one saying 'rendezvous', and I got mad, because I didn't know what that was either."

"Then you came yourself. I guess I just should have said a 'meeting' or something. But seeing you was answer enough," he beamed.

"I prefer 'midnight tea tryst', myself. We should do that again," she said after a pause.

"How about tonight," he asked, barely breathing, and looking away from the note, while staring at the wall. It was now covered in baby zoo animals, all of which were playing hide-and-seek in the woods.

Serena moved closer to him on the bed, and took his hand saying, "Darien, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't trust your judgment about Ray. We--We could have been happy for years by now, and I ruined it. I'm sorry."

"Serena," he said, turning and holding her close. "Serena, I don't even want to think about it. We've both done some stupid things in the past, and now it's time to let them go." He paused for a while and then said, "I want to move on and create a new life with you and Joseph," he let his hand come to rest on Joseph's head of downy hair. "If you want that as well…" He reached out and ran his fingers through her shimmering hair.

"Are you proposing to me?"

"Maybe," his eyes sparkling and his mouth twitching in the as yet un-shone smile.

"Well, you need a ring for that," she said, getting up and putting Joseph into his crib, tucking him underneath an old, well-loved blanket. "I'll be right back." Serena turned and began to walk into her bedroom when the doorbell rang and a knock was also heard.

"I'll get the door," Darien said, floating where there were no clouds.

Serena opened her bedroom door and walked into the room. The setting sun was shining between the curtains and casting an eerie glow around the room. There was a chill that pervaded the room which sent shivers up and down her spine and made her ears ring. Before she had a chance to turn on the lamp beside her bed, she saw a shadow fall across the floor and gasped as she looked up. Ray stepped from behind her bed and quickly moved to the door, locking it as soon as it was in reach. "Surprised to see me, darling," he snarled, his wet clothes dripping on the floor.

&)( & )(&

The banging on the door continued until Darien lightly skipped the step and opened it. Amy was looking panicked and was wringing her hands.

"Darien, Ray has come back! I don't know how long he's been here, Greg was only just able to call. We've got to let Serena know, she might be in danger!"

Darien's mind began to race, nothing seemed to be getting though. Everything began to get fuzzy and all he could hear in his head was Serena's laughter.

They heard a door shut and the sound of a lock clicked throughout the echoing apartment.

& & & & &

Author's Notes: Believe me, I never meant to do that. Sorry it's so short, too. I've been having severe writer's block, and the ring at the end of the last chapter was meant to be a jump-start for me. It didn't work until today (October ...what day is it? Oh yeah, 9th). I'm not sure it really worked, to be honest. Please tell me how you like it. The fog is clearing a bit, but it's still pretty thick. If you don't review, I may not get the next chapter up till Christmas, which would be very romantic (you'll see :)), but I don't think that I can wait that long. Like it--I'm ordering you to like my story… J Tell me how much you love my story!

P.S.--For any of you wondering about Midnight Moon Madness, I was trying to be poetic at the end, but I'm now contemplating continuing the story. No promises, but I'll think about it. Midnight Tea is my top priority, and then Cat and Mouse. Wish me luck! Ja!