Hi all,

So that was probably the longest week of my life... A couple of years. To be honest, I don't remember where I was going to head with this story, but now that I am back I think it will go somewhere grand. I hope my writing style has gotten better since the last time I was on here. If not, more time to keep writing.

So please read the next installment of my story. It might have a bit of an emo turn to it. But the lovely bouncy Serena will be back soon, I promise.

So please read + review (if you wish)

Enjoy

PP

Chapter 12

Serena woke to the sounds of walls being hit, she sleepily sat up on the couch that she had transported herself to, unsure of how she got here from the arcade she looked around, eyes still adjusting to being awake. She heard grumbling outside the door near her and the jangle of keys, she looked around for some sort of object to defend herself from whoever was on the other side of the door that was about to enter the room, she found a photo frame, not looking at the picture she lifted it above her head.

Outside the door Darien was grumbling about losing Serena again, it had been hours of searching for her when she suddenly disappeared from the arcade. What did he have to do to get her to realize that he wasn't being there for her because of their past, but he had wanted her ever since she threw that failed exam paper at his head and argued with him. No one had ever argued back to him before, she was clearly in the wrong all those years ago but she stuck to her guns and that is what impressed him. He slammed his hand against the wall, "Damn, it" he muttered. He was struggling to find the right key, after a few more seconds of fussing over the right key he finally got the door open. He threw his keys into the bowl next to the door and reached for the light switch, just as the light flickered on he saw an object come flying at him from his left, with ease he grabbed the frame on its corner, and looked at the blonde girl who had thrown it at him, and whispered, "Serena?"

When Serena realized who had entered the room, she slumped back onto the couch, glad that she hadn't been kidnapped from the arcade, but still a little confused about how she got to his apartment. "Why did you bring me here Darien?" She said not looking at him, she was still cranky at him, she wasn't really cranky at him, she needed a place to channel all the hurt and confusion she was feeling and he was convenient and she was frustrated.

Darien looked at her, and moved to sit in front of her on his coffee table, holding the frame in his hand, "I didn't bring you here Serena, I found you in the arcade asleep, I was going to let you sleep and then show you something when you woke up, but you teleported again. This is the first time I have been home since leaving your house earlier today." He explained.

Serena stared at him, and then nodded. "So I truly have all my powers back don't I."

"I don't know about all of them Serena, but you have mastered your teleport again very quickly. You don't need the scouts to help you with their power." Darien said, strangely proud of her, he remembered back in past, in order for her to come to the earth to see him she had to get her guardians to give her a little power boost to get to him. He looked at Serena through his lashes and saw her nodding in agreement, maybe even remembering the same memories he was.

After a second of thought she looked at him, "What did you want to show me?" She asked timidly, really hoping for him not to drop another bombshell on her, she had had enough.

Darien smiled to himself, and looked at the picture in the frame he was holding, he carefully held up the frame to show her what was inside.

Serena gasped, it was a photo of her, and she was at the Arcade laughing with Andrew, "How long have you had that?"

"This was taken on your 16th birthday a few weeks after you threw your exam paper," He said, smiling at the picture, "I wanted to show you this, because you said I wanted you for our past lives, I wanted to prove to you that you have had a place in my life ever since you crashed into it. Don't feel pressured by any of this Serena, if you think our past is what you are feeling for me; that is okay, I will just prove you wrong."

Serena looked at him confused, they had had many raging battle of words ever since that day, but deep down Serena had liked him, she loved their arguments it meant that the 18 year old (at the time) paid attention to her, and for those short 5 minutes, she had his full attention. "I'm not pressured at all." She said as she pulled him forward and kissed him. Darien taken by surprise with the pull forward, quickly grabbed Serena and rolled her on top of him and quickly deepened their kiss, after a few more moments, he broke the kiss before he let himself get carried away with this angel, and kissed her forehead. She sighed contently and placed her head on his chest, knowing that the love she felt for him, was reciprocated, she was happy on this dark day.

"Serena?" Darien asked, after a couple of minutes of enjoying having her in his arms.

"Hmmm, Darien?" Serena said, her eyes still closed, not wanting to break from this moment, she felt safe in his arms and she didn't want that to change and certainly didn't want to face reality.

"Did you want to go home tonight?" He said cautiously.

Serena looked up at Darien and without thinking, "I need to Darien, my Dad …" She trailed off, looking out the glass doors at the end of room, her eyes starting to well up with more tears she needed to shed for her lost family, she let them fall, then shook her head.

Darien looked at his princess and frowned, he hated seeing her upset, angry was a different emotion completely but upset was not a face she should have. "You will stay here, as long as you need to," With that he picked her up, and carried her to his room. He placed her on his bed, "Now you need something else to wear to bed, and maybe a shower too." He said with a wink, and walking over to his clothes cupboard. Serena stared at him, she still was crying, but he hadn't flinched or dismissed her yet, feeling very confused by these loving feelings, all she had experienced form anyone for the past couple of years was torment for her sensitive ways. Darien turned around and came back to the bed with a pair of his boxers and a t-shirt and a fresh towel. He leaned down and placed them on her lap and accompanied it with a quick kiss on her forehead. "So the shower is through there, get yourself cleaned up and ready for bed, I will be in the lounge if you need anything at all okay?" Serena deftly nodded, and numbly stood up and walked to the bathroom with the clean clothes he had given her. Serena took her time in the shower.

Darien wandered back into the lounge room, and sat on his couch. He was exhausted, but he was extremely happy that in her time of need, even though she was asleep when it happened, she had teleported to his apartment. They just needed to have a game plan, they had the crystals, and now that the Serena had been revealed as the Moon Princess surely this would mean more conflict within her court. He couldn't remember them not getting along like this in the Moon kingdom days, but granted he rarely saw the inner scouts around aside from official events, there had to be something that he was missing or maybe there was something Serena didn't tell him. He sighed loudly and rolled his head back to look at the ceiling. He had to keep her safe from now on; maybe he would help her find the outer scouts they would be able to help her with her new powers, she was able to use them in her human form, and she had to be able to control her teleporting skills. Because a lot of it seemed to be based on her emotions, he didn't want her to ruin her human relationships – not that he thought she had many left; she had changed so much over the years of becoming Sailor Moon. She was so quiet these days, so withdrawn, but maybe that would change in the coming months.

Hearing a loud whimper coming from his bedroom he got up to investigate, finally realising that he truly was physically as well as emotionally spent from today, his muscles and his mind protesting with his sudden movements.

He got to the door and he saw Serena looking at her hands tears running down face again, he quietly walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. Serena leaned in to him and whispered, "They truly are gone, aren't they Darien?"

Darien whispered back, "Yes."

That got him a big sob, but she as she looked up at him, she whispered again, "I am truly the Moon princess?" Darien just nodded, knowing this was a lot to take in; he was still processing it himself. "This isn't all just a dream? Will I just wake up from all of this at any minute?"

Darien just shook his head, not sure what he could say to comfort his princess. With a sigh Serena just nodded and leaned against his chest, and Darien murmured into her hair, "You need to get some rest, I am going to have a quick shower and you just rest here, don't worry about taking up too much space on the bed I am going to sleep on the couch."

Serena nodded, and then moved to the centre of the bed, and pulled the blankets over her, taking in the smell of his bed clothes and watched him grab his boxers and go to the bathroom. When she heard the turning of the taps and the water start to run, she rolled over so that her back was to the door, and started sobbing. So much had happened today, she was never going to lead a normal life now, not with her parents and brother now dead, not now that she had the crystals and was the Moon Princess that everyone in her team had hoped to replace her with, now they were stuck with her. She had learnt that the outer Scouts were now awakened and now living in Tokyo and now with being the Moon Princess she could teleport. She continued to sob; she just couldn't live the life they all wanted her to lead, at least she knew that Darien would be at her side, not because she was the Princess, but because he wanted to be. That she was grateful for, but was she going to be strong enough for him or was he going to be another person that she was going to let down?

Just as Darien was leaving the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel, wearing nothing but his boxers, Serena let out a frustrated scream pushing the blankets off her, and started sobbing again. Darien rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms in an attempt to console her. Serena rolled into his arms, thankful for the strength he was offering her, and she whispered to him, "Don't sleep on the couch, don't leave me."

Darien kissed her forehead, and said "Never." He pulled the covers over them, and they eventually fell asleep in each other's arms.