A.N: Thank you oh so very much for the reviews!

Here's the next chapter. Parents are in the next chapter. (Sorry it's a short chapter. The next one will be long, so it'll probably take me 2 days to write it.)

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Chapter 22: Hopelessly in Love

It was Thanksgiving week and Serena had 3 hours to pack before her plane left to New York.

Ami was also packing, leaving to go to her home, several hours away.

"What time's your flight?" Ami asked as she put up her cosmetics.

"At noon," Serena said as she threw some shirts and sweaters in her bag.

"I can't believe Darien's going with you! Aren't you excited?" Ami asked, smiling.

Serena grinned. "Yeah, I'm excited. I know Darien's not though, he's terrified," Serena said, giggling.

"Well, I would be too! I mean meeting the parents is a pretty big step!"

"Yeah, that's true. I just hope my dad's cool with everything. I mean he sees me as his little girl. He seems all happy about it on the phone, I just don't know how he's really taking it in 'real life'," Serena said, smiling. "Of course my mom will be cool with it. She's like ecstatic about it."

Ami grinned. "Your family sounds cute. Call me and tell me how it goes alright!"

Serena nodded. "We're only gonna be gone for like a week."

"I know, but still. A lot happens in just one week. I won't be able to see Brett for a whole week!" Ami said, realizing it.

Serena smiled. "So I heard it's official! You and Brett, eh?"

"Yeah," Ami said, blushing a little. "He asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday night. It was sweet. I was so happy!"

"I can tell," Serena said giggling.

Knock Knock.

"I'll get it," Serena said as she threw a shirt in her luggage. She went to the door, and opened it. There stood a terrified looking Darien.

"Serena.. I dunno if we should do this.. I mean, it's such a big step," He rambled nervously, walking into her room.

"Well… Darien. We already got the plane tickets, there's no turning back now! Plus our flight is in less then 3 hours from now!" Serena said, looking at her watch.

"I know, I know. I'm just really nervous..," Darien said, pacing around her room, running his hand through his hair. Ami packed her stuff, smiling at the two.

"Darien, don't worry!" Serena said, giggling. "We won't even reach New York for like another 9 hours!" Serena said, going up to him and hugging him.

Darien wrapped his arm around her, and rested his chin on her head, sighing heavily. "I just really want your family to like me," he whispered.

Darien looked up at him, smiling. "They will," she whispered back, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Now go pack. We'll go get something to eat before we board the plane," Serena said, parting from him.

"Alright," Darien mumbled, dragging himself out of the apartment. "See you later Ami," he waved, acknowledging her for the first time.

Ami smiled and waved. "Have a great Thanksgiving break Darien," she teased.

He frowned at her, and walked out of the room.

"He's really nervous," Ami said as she zipped up her luggage.

"Yeah. He's cute when he's nervous though," Serena said, smiling. I know they'll like him.

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Darien trudged back to his dorm, looking around the dorm to see what else he should take with him.

Andrew just got done packing his stuff as well. He was going to his house for the break.

"Dude, what's wrong? You look scared or something," Andrew said, looking at his friend.

"I am," Darien said as he collapsed on his bed. "I'm meeting her parents, Drew. That's as scary as it gets."

Andrew grinned. "It's not gonna be that bad Dare, seriously."

"No, it will be. Her dad's probably going to interrogate me and ask me questions like 'do you ever plan to have sex with my daughter'?"

"That's when you answer 'no'," Andrew said jokingly, smiling.

"I know, but I mean I'm there for a full week! If they find just ONE thing wrong with me, they're not gonna like me," Darien said.

"So? What if they don't like you? It doesn't matter. As long as you got Serena, you're fine," Andrew said, taking a seat on the couch.

"Yeah, but her family and her seem pretty close. She won't be able to take her parents not liking me. She will take it, but she'll only take it for so long," Darien pointed out.

Andrew shook his head at his friend, disapprovingly. "That's why you got to charm them, Darien. Have I taught you nothing at all?"

Darien smiled at his friend. "Charm has nothing to do with it, Drew."

"Sure it does! It has EVERYTHING to do with it. All you have to do is charm her parents, then you got it made," Andrew said, putting his hands behind his head.

"Yeah. Easy for you to say," Darien said as he got up. "I'm gonna pack the rest of my stuff, and face my doom in New York."

Andrew rolled his eyes at his friend, and chuckled.

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Serena and Darien got their stuff and loaded it in Darien's car. They headed to McDonald's to get something to eat before their scheduled flight.

As they sat in McDonald's eating, Serena looked at Darien. He seemed uneasy, and a little nervous. He's already acting like this and we aren't even in New York yet, Serena thought, taking a bite out of her burger.

"You alright?" Serena asked, looking worriedly at him.

"Hmm? Oh.. oh yeah. I'm fine.. just peachy," Darien answered hurriedly. Did I seriously jus say peachy?

Serena grinned. "Why are you so nervous then? If you're 'peachy'?"

"I dunno," Darien said, playing with his fries.

"Darien, don't worry. I've told you this a million times already! If I like you, I know they'll love you," Serena reassured him, reaching for his hand.

He gave her a weak smile, taking her hand. "I believe you. But there's still always that voice in my head that tells me I'm gonna screw up and your dad's not going to like me."

"Of course my dad won't like you," Serena said, smiling. "He's my dad. He doesn't like ANY guy I talk too."

"Oh, great," Darien said, smiling.

"But he'll have to get over it, won't he?"

Darien smiled at her and looked in her eyes, nodding. "I guess he will."

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They got to the airport, checked in, and took a seat, awaiting their flight.

"I don't like to fly," Serena whispered to him as they took a seat in the waiting area.

Darien looked down at her, smiling. She looked so cute when she was afraid. "Good thing you have a strong, masculine man like to me to keep your mind off of things, eh?" he joked.

Serena giggled at him, leaning her head and resting it on his shoulder. "I've been afraid to fly since I was little. Especially when the plane takes off. I don't like the feel of it, or the sound." She said as she nervously swallowed.

"We'll be fine. I'm here with you," Darien sad, wrapping his arm around her.

She looked up at him, her blue eyes shining. "I'm really glad you agreed to come meet my parents, Darien. It really does mean a lot to me," she said quietly.

He smiled down at her and kissed her on her forehead. "Well if it means that much to you, I guess I'll have to win over your dad's heart, huh?"

Serena grinned at him, her eyelashes fluttering together. Suddenly, a voice came over the intercom, "Flight 20A is now boarding."

"Well, let's go," Darien said standing up. He grabbed her hand and they went to the gate.

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As they got situated in the plane, Darien noticed that Serena was starting to get nervous. Her face turned pale, and she kept fidgeting about.

"You alright?" he asked, holding her hand.

She gave him a forced smile, and nodded her head.

"Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen. We'll be up in the air in no time," he reassured her, looking at her.

As he tried to calm her down, a flight attendant at the front started telling them about safety precautions and airplane procedures, going through the usual instructions. As she talked, the plane started down the runway, gaining speed with each passing second.

Serena closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, and exhaling quickly. Darien gave her hand a squeeze to let her know that he was there. She felt a little safer knowing he was with her. As the plane started to lift up off the ground, he whispered sweet things in her ear to help her get her mind off of the flight. Surprisingly, it worked. Before she knew it, they were thousands of feet up in the air.

Serena opened her eyes, and exhaled. She looked over at Darien, who was looking at her with a concerned look in his eyes. She smiled at him to let him know that she was alright. She mouthed out 'thank you' to him, and closed her eyes again. She rested her head on his shoulder, and Darien wrapped an arm around her. Then, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

As she fell asleep, Darien watched her. He paid attention to the little details on her face that he hadn't noticed before. Like the light freckles that sprinkled her nose, barely visible. He noticed how her face looked when she was asleep; angelic and innocent. Beautiful. Her breathing was steady and rhythmic. He smiled at her, and stroked her long silky blond hair. He'd never felt about a girl the way he felt about Serena. There's something about her that stood out to him, made her special, made her different from all the girls he'd ever been with.

Then something hit him. This was the moment he fell in love with her; completely fell in love with her. It was a feeling that crept up on him, unexpectedly. He knew it too. He knew he had fallen for her. He fell hard and fast. Something in his heart and soul told him 'she's the one'. He knew. He was desperately and hopelessly in love with Serena Tsukino.