Standard Disclaimer I do not own Sailor Moon never did, never will thank you!

Author's Note: I would like to thank Firey Dragoness, BunnieOMoon, hotaru 24,

Gr33nJ3w3lRain, ffgirlmoonie, Jolaine, Lady Tristana Rogue, and

Chikyuuhime all for your wonderful reviews. Sadly this is it. The story will

be coming to an end shortly just the epilogue left to go. I hope everyone

enjoyed it and I want to thank you all for continuing to read my stories. I'm

so glad you enjoy them and now as always please read, review, and enjoy!

Thank you Mars Light.

After Dark

Chapter 15

Serena grabbed onto Rei's arm and Rei could feel her shiver with fear as she looked at the eight men in front of them as she yelled out "what do you want"

The man just smiled at her with a smirk as he took a step closer and told her "I just wanted to see if you and your friends would like to join the little party me and my buddies are having"

Lita stood up as she told them "no thank you. We know what kind of party you want and you can forget it. You're not laying a finger on me or my friends"

Mina stood up next to Lita as she told them "yeah why don't you and your buddies find some where else to party. Where leaving"

The man just smiled at the girls as he told them "fine I'll make you all a deal I'll give you all a head start. Except my little feline; I heard she's been looking for me. Well, now you have me baby come to daddy" as he opened his arms wide for her.

Serena was paralyzed with fear as Rei spoke up telling him "no deal. Where not letting you lay another finger on her"

The man shook his head as he told her "noble, very noble. Stupid but noble" as he took out his knife and the other seven men behind him followed suit as they all did the same thing.

Serena saw the eight men with knives standing in front of them with her friends blocking her and she knew she couldn't let all of them get hurt just to help her. So she walked out in front of them and said "wait stop it, I'll go with them. I just don't want my friends getting hurt"

Rei jumped in front of Serena as she told her "no, we won't let you do this"

Serena looked to Rei with more confidence in her eyes then she's seen in all the years she's known her as she told her friends "it's my turn to be brave. I don't want any of you getting hurt. I'm already dead on the inside. They can't do any more to hurt me" as she turned around and started to walk towards the men when a voice called out to her "Serena stop"

She turned around surprised to see Darien standing in back of her with a gun pointed right at the man in front of her ready to blow his brains out, as he turned to the girls telling them "get out of here now, all of you"

Serena looked to Darien and for the first time ever was afraid of him as she walked up closer to him asking "Darien what are you doing with a gun"

Darien walked passed her with the barrel of the gun still pointed at the man in front of him as he smiled telling him "one shot, that's all it takes"

Serena walked back up to Darien as she told him "Darien, don't do this, there not worth it. Please put the gun down"

Darien kept the gun pointed at the men in front of him as he told her "I couldn't protect you once, I'm not going to let it happen again"

Serena started to cry as she told him "how are you going to protect me if you're in jail. Please Darien just put away the gun. He's not worth it"

Darien continued to look at the man in front of him with more hatred then he thought possible as he told her "he destroyed my life. He took away the one thing that actually mattered to me"

Serena put a hand on his arm as she told him "no he didn't, I'm standing right here Darien. Please put down the gun, do it for me"

He looked at her not sure if he should. This could all be over with just one shot and they could live in peace; as he kept the gun pointed at the man in front of him he told her "I can't this will keep you safe and stop them from hurting anyone else from now on"

Serena took a deep breath and then stepped in front of the gun as she told him "fine if you shoot them, then you'll have to shoot me too"

Darien looked at her like she was crazy as he told her "Serena move"

She just shook her head as she told him "no Darien, I won't let you do this"

Darien looked at her as he asked "why are you protecting these monsters?"

She smiled at him as she told him "I'm not, I'm keeping the man I love out of jail"

Darien looked at her not sure if he actually heard right as he looked to her and asked "what did you say?"

Serena smiled at him as she told him "I said I love you. Now will you please put down the gun your scaring me?"

Darien heard her words and the last thing he would ever want to do is hurt her in any way. So he looked at the men in front of him as he told them "get lost now all of you, and I had better not hear of any of you laying another finger on any other girl ever again, is that clear"

The men shook there heads as they slowly backed up not taking there eyes off of Darien's gun as they turned around and took off running out of sight.

Darien watched till they were long out of sight, then put the gun down and looked towards Serena as he asked "did you really mean what you said or were you just saying that so I wouldn't shoot those guys"

Serena nodded her head as she told him "I do still love you, but I think we're going to have to work at it to get to where we use to be"

Darien nodded his head as he took her hand and told her "I can do that. I'll give you as long as you need"

Serena smiled at him as she told him "I know you will and I'm sorry about the way I have been treating you. I was wrong for what I said to you before. A friend helped me see that" as she turned and smiled at Rei.

Darien came up closer to her as he told her "you never have to apologize, not to me. Just know, I'm always going to be there for you no matter how much you try to push me away"

Serena started to blush as she turned away telling him "I know and I feel so bad for treating you the way I have lately. You needed my help and I turned away from you. I don't deserve to be forgiven".

Darien came up close to her as he told her "you don't need to blame yourself for what happened. I understand you were going through a tough time and that's okay. No one blames you for that. I just need you to promise me you wont do anything crazy like trying to punish yourself anymore."

Serena looked at him surprised as she asked "you knew about that"

Darien shook his head yes as he told her "yeah I did and I think it might be a good idea for you to go talk to a counselor or something"

Serena stepped back as she told him "Darien, I'm not crazy". He smiled at her as he told her "I never said you were. I just think it might be a good idea for you to talk to someone after all you've been through. I think it would help"

Serena looked at him unsure about this whole counselor thing, but told him anyway "I'll think about it, okay"

Darien nodded his head as he told her "okay. Now how about we get out of here"

The girls all quickly agreed and started to walk out of the park, but Serena just stood there as Darien turned to her and asked "is everything alright"

She looked to him and said "everything is different now." As she turned and looked around the park, then back at Darien as she told him "I'm different and the world seems different. I don't know how to go on like nothing ever happened"

Darien walked over and took her hand as he told her "You're still the same person Serena inside and out. Nothing and no one can ever change that."

Serena looked to him as she said "I know, but I feel different. I feel dirty."

Darien stopped and looked her right in the eye as he told her "I don't see one speck of dirt on you. All I see is the most beautiful woman in the world" He brushed a stray hair away that was falling in her eyes as he smiled to her and said "don't worry your not alone. We'll figure it all out together, I promise. You will always have me"

Serena looked at him still unsure of herself when Darien came up closer turning her head to look at him as he told her "you don't have to be afraid anymore. I'm here with you"

Serena smiled at him as she said "yes I guess I'm not alone in the dark anymore."

Darien smiled at her as he took her hand in his and they walked out of the park together.

End Chapter 15

Author's Note: Okay I hope everyone enjoyed it, but please don't think that is it because there is still an epilogue to come. So as always please read, review, and enjoy! Thank you Mars Light.