:smack!: Serena shut the door behind her on her way into her house.
"Serena dear, is that you?" Her mom called from the living room.
"Yeah its me.." Serena called back, with a dead look in her eye.
She wrapped her sweater around her tighter.
She had brought a change of clothes to school with her that day, and had changed at Mina's.
She had on a dirty looking crème sweater jacket. It was a knitted sweater. And criss- crossed in the front and had a tie. She had it paired with a white T-shirt, and a dark pair of jeans.
"Could you come here dear?" Her mother called out again.
"Yeah, mom." Serena called back.
She wrapped the sweater even further around her as she was about to round the corner to the living room.
She came around the corner and stopped on the border between the foyer and the living room.
Her eyes widened.
There on the couch sat a gorgeous blue-eyed blonde boy. With beautiful smile on his face upon seeing Serena.
"Danny!" she shouted, shooting forward toward the boy, tears pouring from her eyes.
He stood up to greet her tackle before she got there so she would have arms to run into.
In a second they collided.
She wrapped her arms around him, and buried her face in his chest, tears pouring from her eyes, and he embraced her back.
"Sere.." He breathed looking down at the blonde.
"I missed you so much." She cried.
He smiled.
"I missed you too." He said.
"I haven't seen you in so long." she said quietly, her voice slightly muffled from having her face buried in his chest.
"But now I'm back Sere.." He said.
Then he pulled the blonde away from him, and wrapped his hands around her waist.
He lifted her off the ground, and twirled her in a circle.
All the while he said. "And I'm not going anywhere for a while more Sere."
She giggled as he twirled her.
Her mother watched on lovingly at the two.
He set her down.
"Oh Serena, Isn't it so wonderful to have him back here again?" Her mom exasperated gleefully.
Serena and the other blonde sat down on the couch, Serena sat between the two.
"I don't get it." Serena said perplexed, turning toward the boy. "I thought you were in Europe."
She turned toward her mother. "How long have you known he was coming? Why didn't you tell me?" She questioned.
Her mom smiled, happiness very evident on her face.
"Well I just found out today, but isn't it such a wonderful surprise!"
"Yes…it is." She responded, looking towards the boy she referred to as 'Danny'.
"Sere.." He said smiling back at her.
"I still don't get it though." She questioned. " I thought you were in Europe?"
" Well I WAS, But I decided it was time to come home."
Serena smiled intensely.
"I'm so glad you did."
"Daniel," Ikuko said to the boy.
He looked at her.
"Would you or Serena like anything to eat? You must be starving from your trip."
"Well…" He began, but was cut off by the sound of his stomach growling. "Maybe just a bite."
Serena's mother smiled, and stood up.
"Well, Serena," She started. "I'll let you and your cousin get re-acquainted while I go prepare something for you two to eat for dinner."
Serena smiled.
Her mom turned and headed toward the kitchen which was across from the living room.
She had to pass across the foyer on her way there, and she stopped on the same border between the living room and foyer that Serena did.
She turned her head back a little towards the two.
"And Daniel-" She took a breath as though she was beginning to get choked up, "Its so nice to have you back!"
Then she continued on her way towards the kitchen.
Serena spun around to Daniel.
She gasped.
"Oh Danny! You haven't seen my room since I changed it a bit! Oh you have to come see it."
The boy gave a small choking sound, from the backlash from the amount of force and speed that she grabbed his hand, ripped him off the couch and up the stairs.
They went up the stairs and the first door on the left was hers.
She turned the knob and walked in.
"Ta-da!" She mused walking into the room, across the crème carpet and plopping down on her bed.
She grabbed a pillow and put it on her lap, squeezing it.
"Whatcha think?" she asked excitedly.
He stood in the middle of the room and looked about it.
He was trying to smile, but the disappointment shown in his eyes.
Her emotions immediately changed to concern.
"What's wrong?" She pleaded leaning forward.
He closed his eyes and smirked.
He walked over toward her bed and sat down next to her.
He looked up at her.
Her eyes were wide and pleading.
"You don't like it?" She protruded.
He chuckled a bit and shook his head.
"No that's not it."
"Then what is it!" she begged placing her hand on his.
He looked at her eyes again.
"You've grown up so much."
"What…"
He stood up and walked back to the middle of the room.
"I haven't been home in so long.. Everything has changed.. your not a little girl anymore. And your room, Its older, more mature…." He closed his eyes acknowledging his pain.
He turned his head and his eyes snapped open to reveal tears.
"I've missed you growing up. I've been far away, for far to long."
Serena closed her eyes and tilted her head back, as her own tears began to fall.
It was true… He did leave, and she hasn't seen him in so long… He wasn't there when she grew up.
..And she needed him to be…
Her head snapped forward and her eyes snapped open suddenly,
"But you're here now!" She cried. "And that's all that matters."
He looked at her, tears pouring down both their cheeks.
They smiled.
-
"Are you done yet?" Darien tapped his foot impatiently.
"Almost!" Kikyo called from the bedroom.
He smiled and shook his head.
"Ya know were going to lose our reservations if you don't hurry up." He called back to her.
"Oh darling they wouldn't possibly cancel YOUR reservations. Why you're the great Darien Shields. King of the World!" She giggled.
He rolled his eyes at her teasing.
He looked at his watch.
"Kikyo we really need to be-"
"I'm finished, I'm finished." She cut him off.
He heard the knob start to jiggle, as she turned it to come out.
"Really, I don't see what takes so-" He stopped mid-sentence when he saw her.
His breathe caught.
She was dressed in a burgundy silk dress, that crisscrossed at the top. It had spaghetti straps and was very tight at the bust and the waist and then flowed outward at the hips. It was just above knee-length/
Her hair was in long smooth waves and shone in the light.
Her eyes were bright and alive with joy.
"You look…..Stunning." Darien breathed in awe.
"Thank you." She answered timidly. Which was an emotion she very rarely felt.
Darien smiled.
'I am so lucky.' he thought to himself starring at the beautiful blonde.
He walked towards her, bowed his head and looked her in the eye.
"May I have the pleasure of escorting you out to dinner My lady."
She smiled.
"Yes you may."
He nodded with a smile, and took her arm in his as they walked out the door.
-
:slurp:
Serena Slurped up her spaghetti as the sauce splattered on her face.
Daniel chuckled.
"Maybe you haven't grown up TOO much." He teased.
"Hey!" she giggled back to him. "That's mean."
He laughed again.
"I'm just teasing you Sere, Don't worry."
"No he wasn't." Sammy piped in.
Serena shot Sammy a glare, but had to fake the anger as best as she could.
She couldn't even get mad at Sammy right now.
She was just so happy to have Daniel back.
Serena and her cousin Daniel had been really close for many years now.
They were best friends, And loved each other to death.
Whenever they would go out somewhere together people would always mistake them for either siblings, or a couple.
In truth Serena did look at him as her older brother. And as far as she was concerned, he was her brother.
She could tell him anything.
Most importantly she could tell him the truth.
She didn't have to lie or sugar-coat her feelings.
She could be real.
She could be herself.
Be Serena.
-
"This file mignon is fabulous." Kikyo exclaimed after swallowing another bite of the succulent meat.
Darien chuckled.
"For almost 50 dollars a plate. It should be."
She chuckled back.
"Yes it is quite steep for an every-day meal isn't it."
"Every-day meal? why would you say that, I don't think its ordinary at all."
"Well dear its just you and me having dinner."
"Precisely."
She paused at his response and looked up to meet his gaze.
She blushed.
"I'm glad you're here." He said.
"I'm glad I'm here too, its been a wonderful evening." She responded, smiling.
"No.. I mean I'm glad you're here.. In my life."
She looked in his eyes. Motionless.
"I'm..so glad I'm here too."
He smiled and looked back down to his dinner.
File mignon, sautéed greens. Caviar spread onto French bread. A glass of wine sitting next to his plate.
He looked across from him to the beautiful blonde that sat cross from him.
He couldn't get over it.
He felt so lucky.
This was something he had been waiting for, for so long.
This evening…This feeling.
He was happier than he had been in a long time.
The woman that was sitting across from him as far as he was concerned was what he wanted.
What he needed, to be happy.
-
"Hey mom where's dad?" Serena questioned her mother.
They had gotten almost finished with dinner and he still wasn't home.
"Oh your father has to work late at the office tonight. And its such a shame that he couldn't be here for Daniels welcome home dinner."
Serena nodded.
Daniel quickly added.
"That's okay, I'll be sure to see him tomorrow. It is starting to get late though. I can probably stay another hour or so but then I need to find a hotel."
"A hotel?!" Ikuko snapped. "Why on earth would you be staying at a hotel?!"
"Well I-"
"No!" She cut him off. " I just won't here of it! This is your home and this is where you'll stay."
Daniel, chuckled a bit.
"Alright."
He was pleased she was so against him staying somewhere else.
Serena looked at him questionably.
He turned and looked at Serena.
"Hey Sere, wanna go see the things I bought in Europe?"
"Oh yeah!" Serena burst with excitement.
He laughed at her enthusiasm.
He stood up and offered her his hand to get up.
She took it and he raced up the stairs.
"There go the 'goofy twins.'" Sammy said, as they bounded up the stairs.
Ikuko smiled.
"Hush Sammy, Now eat your supper."
….
The door creaked open, as Serena and Daniel raced into the guest bedroom.
This use to be Daniel's bedroom, when he had stayed there but since he had been gone for so long they converted it into the guest bedroom.
Daniel's suitcase lay on the bed.
The room was dark, and the only lights were the hall light that seeped in from the slightly cracked door and the moonlight that poured in through the horizontal blinds that were on the window.
Serena didn't bother to turn on a light.
This was the way they liked it.
He sat down on the bed next to the suitcase, and Serena sat on the other side of it.
"Danny…" She started.
"H'mm?" He responded.
"Why did you plan on staying at a hotel. You know this is your home it always was." she protruded anxiously.
He smiled, turned his gaze to the floor and closed his eyes.
"Yes, I know it use to be, but to be honest I wasn't sure if it still would be. I didn't know if I would still be welcomed. But boy did I ever want to be. I was so scared."
Serena gasped slightly.
"Danny. This will ALWAYS be your home."
He looked up at her.
"Yeah Serena.. It will."
She smiled at him.
He smiled back and changed the subject.
"Well now, onto the treasures."
He undid the hinges on the suitcase and opened it up to reveal the 'treasures' that he kept inside.
There were a few brochures inside, written in some language Serena didn't recognize.
Daniel reached in and took the items out delicately.
He took the papers out first and then pulled out a tarnished old clock, a rumpled shirt, a few gold coins, a watch, a map of Europe, And a few small boxes
All that the suitcase had left were his clothes and a pair of shoes., so he closed the suitcase and pushed it to the side.
He leaned back on the bed comfortably, turning on his side and leaning on one arm.
Serena picked up the clock gently.
"A tarnished clock?…how.. Lovely" She said patronizing him.
He rolled his eyes at her, and snatched the clock away.
"Its not JUST a tarnished old clock Serena. It has a history."
"A history..?" She asked interested.
He handed her the clock back.
"Yes- A history."
She held the clock up closer to her face and starred at it curiously.
"A history of what?" She wondered aloud.
"Well-" He started. "This clock, was made in a small shop in the late 18'th century. It was made by a family of clockmakers and-"
"So its old?" Serena interrupted thinking she had pinpointed why he had bought it.
"Yes Serena-Its old- but that's not the story."
Serena nodded in recognition.
"As I was saying-" he began again with a slight reprimand in his voice. "The clock is quite old, but there are many clocks in Europe you can buy that are older. But this specific clock. Has a special story."
He sat up on the bed and leaned closer to her.
"During this time a very bad persecution was going on in that country. Most of the family was slaughtered, and their shop burned to the ground. Their clocks, their business, their family-gone. The only survivors of the family were two children, a brother and a sister. And they were so distraught by the loss of their family. They searched the rubble for something of their family's to cling to. For comfort. And that's when they found this clock, along with a few others that had survived the fire."
"So how did you get it?" Serena questioned entranced in the story.
" I was getting to that Serena- Well. The boy and the girl clung to each other to survive, they begged for food and lived wherever they could find shelter, but the little girl started to get really sick, and eventually she died. And the boy was left to himself. Until a blacksmith offered him a job, and a place to stay for a minimal amount of pay.
He took it, and worked for the blacksmith, and eventually became his apprentice,. When the blacksmith died, he left the shop to the boy. And the boy lived out the rest of his days in that shop, he never married, and never had any kids. So a little while before his death, he sold the blacksmith shop to a merchant who wanted to turn it into an antique store, and he gave his clocks to the merchant to sell, and told the merchant to pass the story along as a way of keeping his family's memory alive."
Serena starred at the clock entranced.
She turned to look at him.
"Well… how do you know the story is true?"
"That's the thing- I don't.."
Serena's brows scrunched, confused.
"There's no way to know if the story is true or if its just a merchant trying to find a quick way to sell an old clock." He explained.
"Then why buy the clock?" she asked.
"You see Serena that is why I did buy the clock. For the mystery. Whether the story is true or not, Its still a good story and it keeps you wondering about the true history of the clock. Where this clock has been what has it been witness to."
Serena nodded, A solemn look was written on her face.
He became immediately concerned.
"Serena, what's wrong."
She looked at him and gave a wry smile.
"You always were the deep one weren't you."
He burst out laughing and smacked her with a pillow.
"Goofball." he laughed. "Try to tell a serious story and you go and say something funny."
She laughed back, tossing the pillow off of her.
"Well, its true." She giggled.
All of a sudden he stopped laughing.
"Oh yeah I almost forgot!" he said. Pulling the suitcase back over and opening it back up.
He dug threw it a bit. Until he pulled out a small grey velvet box.
"I got something for you." He said, bringing the box closer to her.
She looked at the box oddly.
She was a little taken aback that he had gotten her something.
He opened the box for her to reveal a beautiful long chain, mad up of tiny silver links, and also a slightly shorter smaller chain, with an silver engraved cross with a diamond encrusted in the middle. And also above even that was another silver chain with different looking links than the other two.
Her breathe caught.
"Its beautiful." She exclaimed. "Oh.."
He smiled.
"Here, Let me put it on." He took the 3 chain necklaces out of the box, and stood up in front of her while she sat on the bed.
He leaned over and clasps the necklaces around her neck one by one.
Serena looked down at the beautiful chains of silver that flowed down her chest at different lengths.
She delicately picked up the cross in her hands and studied it.
"They're beautiful…" She breathed.
He smiled, pleased that she liked it and sat next to her.
"Its antique." He said, watching her entranced with the silver piece.
"Why did you buy this for me.." She asked, not taking her gaze off of the cross she held.
"Well I was walking by this little shop and I saw the most beautiful necklace. And I thought of you." He explained as he starred at her.
"You thought of me?…why me?" she asked still gazing at the treasure.
"Well." He explained, looking intently at her eyes. "I just thought the most beautiful necklace, should be worn by the most beautiful girl."
Her head snapped to look at him, Tears in her eyes.
"Danny…"
He looked back at her lovingly.
She burst forward hugging him.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." she exclaimed. Tears pouring down her face.
He embraced her.
"Its the least I could do for my little sister."
She pulled away and sat back where she was before.
She smiled at the loving nickname.
He smiled back.
Then he took his hand and rumpled her hair on the top of her head.
"Now you need to go to bed, Its getting late and were going to have a busy day tomorrow."
"Uh," she whined. "But I wanna stay up and talk and hear more about your adventures in Europe!"
He chuckled at her.
"Sorry Serena, but you need to get some sleep. And so do I. Its been a long trip."
Serena pouted. Tilting her head down.
"Okay…" she said defeated.
"Aw come on," He said, seeing her reaction. He lifted her chin up to look at him. "Tomorrow is gonna be a great day okay, we'll catch up and have a lot of fun. Okay?"
She gave a small smile and nodded.
"Now, where's my goodnight hug?" He asked raising one eyebrow inquisitively.
She smiled, at his silly-ness, and leaned in for his hug.
She pulled back a few seconds later and stood up from the bed.
When her back was turned to him her smile faded to the disappointment again as she began to leave the room.
"Serena." He said just as she reached the doorway.
"Yeah?" She turned her head to look at him.
"Tomorrow." He smiled.
She smiled back.
"Yeah, Tomorrow." And she left, a smile still on her face.
-
"Darien," Kikyo giggled as they entered his apartment. "I-I-I'm-" She tried to speak but she was laughing to hard to get anything clearly out.
"Mmm-h'mm" He responded. Unpleasantly.
"I'm sorry, its just." She burst in-between the laughter.
"Oh yeah real funny," he responds nodding. His wet suit dripping on the carpet.
"I just..whew.. Okay" She said trying to calm her fits of laughter. "I didn't think you would trip in that puddle just stepping off a curb." Her laughter began to return.
"Yeah well I did." He said as he stood there, with the entire back of his suit soaking wet.
"I'm sorry dear," she said calming herself again. " I just assumed you knew how to walk without someone holding your hand." She giggled a bit.
He rolled his eyes and walked over to the living room, where he took his suit jacket off and threw it over the back of the couch.
"I really am sorry." she said walking over to him and straightening his collar.
"Your collar's crooked." She teased.
He nodded sarcastically and shot her glare.
She giggled.
"Like teasing me eh?" He asked.
"Oh who me? Oh no no." She said putting her arms out in front of her as to proclaim to her innocence.
"Oh yeah,?" He asked.
And before she knew it He had grabbed her and pulled her close to him.
He looked down at her and smiled.
He kissed her forehead, and then laid his head on hers.
"Thank you for being here." He said.
She smiled, and enjoyed his embrace.
He kissed her forehead once more and released her.
"Now I need to get a shower, and get out of these cold clothes. " He said backing away, towards his bedroom.
"Need company?" She teased.
"No I think I got it covered." He winked back at her.
She giggled.
"Well Okay, if your sure."
"Oh I'm sure." He teased.
He was almost in his room, when suddenly she took her shoe off, and threw it at him, but he ducked, behind the door before it hit him.
"Missed." He piped in teasingly, peering his head around the door.
She laughed and shook her head.
He chuckled a little back at her and shut the door.
She looked around the room, smiled, and shook her head.
She took her other shoe off, and walked over to the end table.
She took her earrings off and laid them on the table.
Then she walked over to his bedroom door and called.
"So is this goodnight then? Or are we going to run threw the streets naked covered in red paint, later?"
Suddenly the door swung open to reveal Darien, his tie un-done, still around his neck but not tied. And his white shirt unbuttoned to reveal his chest.
He leaned on the doorway and smiled at her.
"No kikyo."
"No what?" she protruded crossing her arms.
"No this is not goodnight."
"Then what is?" she asked. Curiously.
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
"That was." He said smiling at her.
She paused, surprised.
"So..um." She began trying to collect her thoughts. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, tomorrow." He said, giving a sly smile.
Then he shut his door.
After she was sure he was away from the door, she took a deep breathe.
She pulled at her dress a bit, swearing it had gotten at least 10 degrees hotter in there all of a sudden.
She walked back to her room, dreamily
-
Serena laid down on her stomach on the end of her bed and gazed out her window.
She reached down and grasped the silver necklaces that rested around her neck.
She smiled.
"Tomorrow.." She breathed.
And then she fell asleep, peacefully.