Serena sat alone at a large table waiting for her friends. She looked at her watched, for once she was the one that was early. She adjusted her skirt. Moved her bangs from her eyes. She took a sip of her water and picked up her menu. She already knew what she was going to get but she figured it would be better than just sitting on her phone. She was mid way though the salad list when she felt someone approach her table. She looked up the menu.

"I am sorry to startle you miss."

She looked at the gentle man up and down. Deep brown eyes. Dark hair combed over, and perfect smile.

"No need to apologize, can I help you?" She smiled back.

He exhaled. "I normally don't do this."He looked at the table, "Especially knowing you are waiting for people. Possibly a boyfriend. But I had to give you this." He handed her the most perfect pink rose.

She looked at the rose, then to the guy in front of her and her smile grew. "It's lovely. I hope you did not just get ripped off by the man over there selling roses for me." She looked up and locked eyes with him. He blushed.

"Worth every penny, too see you smile like that." He said awkwardly.

"You are very sweet thank you."

He inched the rose closer to her. "It will be even more worth it, if you just happen to be-"

"Single?" A deep voice came from behind her.

Serena turned around to see Malachite standing behind her, and Mina not that far behind. "Sorry we are late."

"Yeah sorry we're are late, Sere. Hope you weren't here to long." Mina stopped digging through her purse and looked up. "Who is this?" She pointed at the gentleman awkwardly standing there with his hands in his pocket.

"Nobody important." Malachite answered. "He was just dropping off a flower to Serena and walking away." He stood firmly behind her seat.

Serena glared at Malachite, then turned back to the guy. "I am sorry."

"No it's okay. You guys have a good night." He dropped the rose on the table, turned around and walked away with his head down.

Serena watched as he got further and further. As soon as he was far enough, Serena turned Malachite. "You did not have to do that. I wasn't going take his number or anything!"

"I did have to do it. He is threat to the future." Malachite explained pushing in Mina's chair.

"Maybe we shouldn't talk about this right now."Mina tried to calm the two down.

"Talk about what?" Raye asked pulling out her seat. "Jed is parking the car he will be here in a second." She looked at Malachite and Serena who were staring each other down. She then looked at Mina, and noticed the pink rose. "Where did that ros-"

Mina cleared her voice. And Raye stopped.

"Let's just have a good night."

"Raye.. is there a reason you are sitting a seat away from me?" Serena pointed at the chair between them. "I swear I showered."

"Oh sorry." She moved one seat over. Hung her jacket on her chair. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." Serena forced a smile and again sipped her water.

Eventually everyone started to arrive and the tension was slowly fading as other topics of conversation started to pick up. Serena observed Malachite as he talked to Mina. Two people so devoted to their duty, they push back any chance of their happiness.

"Did she ever tell you about their night?" Raye asked.

"No because she won't tell me about her night." Mina answered before Serena could.

"Nothing happened that night!"

"The left over food says otherwise." Mina argued.

"He went crazy with the food and we went to the ER that is it!"

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Come on Serena, tell us what happened?" Lita egged on.

"Why wouldn't you, it is me and Darien you are talking about." She stopped herself from saying anything else. "I am not getting into this. Especially around all his friends."

With that the girls noticed all the guys looking up.

"Look who finally arrived!" Jed raised his glass.

"Only 30 minutes late." Malachite added. "You guys know what that means."

Darien looked around the table clueless.

"He has no idea what that means, he hasn't been here in forever." Serena took her jab and reopened her menu for what seemed like the 10th time.

Darien just looked at her. Her demeanor was guarded and emotionless. Nothing like what he saw when he watched her from the corner of the restaurant debating on what to say as he approached the table. The pink rose right by her glass. Roses were always her favorite. He remembered the look in her eyes when he would give them to her as Tuxedo Mask. They always twinkled just a little more.

Greg cleared his throat and Darien snapped out of his trance. He looked to Greg for the answer.

"The rule is, you pay the bill for being so late." He shrugged. "Sorry."

Darien looked around the table. They were serious. He rolled his eyes. Reached in his pocket. Pulled out his wallet and pulled out his credit card. He threw it on the table and sat down.

"Okay... my bad..." Jed joked. "Black card."

"You're stupid." Raye said nudging him.

"Owww." He started to rub his chest. The group started to laugh and conversation picked back up again. Serena avoided looking over to Darien.

The next day Serena sat at her desk again reviewing her lessons, what was supposed to be taken care of the night before was not because of their dinner running so late. She nibbled on her pen.

"You know if you bite that pen too hard, it is going to pop all over you."

She looked up at her door. "Mal, what are you doing here? How did you get on campus? And flowers? You could have just dropped them off at the apartment if you wanted to deliver them to Mina."

With an awkward chuckle, Malachite walked in. "Actually Queen."

"Mal stop I am not your queen yet."

"You will always be my queen." He came closer with the vase and placed it on her desk.

She looked at the vase up and down.

"Are these for me?"

"Yup, special delivery from the king."

She looked at him. "This is a joke. He is having you run deliveries for him...?" Her face looked almost disgusted.

"I volunteered."

She shook her head. "You are the head of his generals."

"And his best friend." He took a step back and placed one hand in his black pant pocket. "He wanted to bring these to you, bu-"

"Work came up."

"Actually, he wasn't sure if it was the brightest idea to upset you mid work day."

Serena thought about that. He was right. He would have come and more than likely it would have annoyed her.

"There is a card in there for you." He pointed at the pinned note attached to the biggest rose. "I will leave you to read it." He bowed and started to head out.

"Mal..."

He turned around. "I really wish you and Mina would stop worry about us and just be together."

He stared at Serena. "We had our chance and don't let it be the reason you two don't get one?" She smiled at him.

"Have good day your majesty." And he was off.

Serena watched as he walked off. She observed the flowers. She touched the largest one. She then pulled it to her face. She took in a deep breath. She loved this smell. She thought about the gardens in the castle that she would dream about. She imagined herself just being there by herself day dreaming, looking at the sky.

She smelled the rose again, this time her movement caused the note to fall. She looked at it. If she doesn't open it the girl will nag her until she does. There is no way they don't know about this special delivery. He sighed. Picked up the envelope and read the letter.

"To Serena, I guess it has been awhile since I got you flowers. I will never forget how beautiful you looked the first time I handed you one. I only wish I was able to see your face today. Hopefully I will one day. Love always, Darien."