Author Note: This is officially the last chapter. No worries if you actually liked it because there will be a sequel. The sequel, however, will not be based off of a song but it will be just as short. I needed a short little story to get me back into writing again.

Disclaimer: I own nothing Sailor Moon.

Love and War

Chapter Four

Five months… It had been five months since I last heard from Darien. I wasn't sure if he wasn't able to accept letters yet, or if he was still in a place where he couldn't get to them. There was also the idea that he had found a pretty girl over his way and didn't want anything to do with me anymore. Maybe he fell in love with a Vietnamese beauty and forgot all about this California girl.

I cried, never gonna hold the hand of another guy,

Too young for him they told her, waitin' for the love of a tavelin' soldier,

Our love will never end, waitin' for the soldier to come back again,

Nevermore to be alone when the letter says the soldier's coming home.

"I'm surprised that you've managed to get up to highest honor roll. At this rate, Serena, you'll be a shoe-in for the Valedictorian." Raye pointed out. "You've been doing a beyond exceptionable job. I mean, you always did great but now you're doing perfect. Well, beyond perfect, to be honest."

We had gotten over our fight in a matter of hours, months ago. She left me a voicemail, which as I got as soon as I woke up, apologizing. I, of course, apologized back. We continued to walk along the waters edge, her in a tiny red bikini and me in a baby blue string bikini myself. I sent a glorious smile her way, my bleached blonde hair blowing in the wind and contrasting against my tanned skin.

"Thanks, Raye, I've been trying to do my best." I responded.

"I haven't asked in the longest time but how are things with Darien? I didn't want to bring up the subject before. Hey, who am I to be the judge of love? He obviously loves you, Serena, or you two wouldn't be writing back and forth still." She reasoned.

Then everything hit me like a ton of bricks. I bit my lip as a rush of tears ran to my face at a speed that made my nose burned harshly. I stopped walking, to hold a sad and confused face, and looked into the sand. "I haven't heard from Darien in five months… over five months, actually, if you want to count down to the day."

"Oh, Serena… I… I didn't know." Raye said sympathetically as she wrapped me in one of those great big best friend hugs. Those hugs always made me feel warm and loved but not today, not now. I felt cold and empty and like my life was crumbling before my very eyes. I felt my shoulders shaking as my best friend stood there and held me tightly, in front of everybody. I didn't care who was looking, what they thought of me, or now weak I looked. I was hurt; I was heartbroken.

"Is everything alright?" I heard a voice asked and I turned to see the sandy-haired man who had been with Darien the first day I had even ever seen him. I turned my tearful blue eyes towards his friend and tried to swallow the dry lump in my throat. His best friend was standing right in front of me, asking if everything was okay. Maybe Darien had written something to him.

"Did Darien write to you?" I asked, semi-hopeful. As long as he had sent letters I knew he was still alive. With another girl or not, I just wanted him alive and happy. If he wasn't happy with me, I didn't want to hold him to me.

"Oh, you're that girl from the beach… No, why? He's never written to me." The man said, "I'm Andrew by the way."

"Well, Andrew, he used to write me every chance he got. Then there was this one mission and I hadn't heard from him since. It's been over five months since the last letter he sent me. He told me he loved me and all this other stuff, that he wouldn't be able to write for a little while, and I haven't heard anything from him lately." I said and then I fell into Andrew's arms with my shoulders shaking, powerful sobs taking over my body. "I feel like I'm losing everything. My love, my mind… I don't know what to do. I've been trying to hold it in and keep going but it's… it's so hard."

After a pitiful day at the beach, Raye and Andrew made sure I got home alright. I sighed and waved them off, both leaving reluctantly in their vehicles. I looked at the mailbox, prepared for the bills and everything that I would find. I grabbed the small stack, flipping through all the bills, and pausing at one that came from the United States Army. My breath hitched in my throat and I tore it open quickly.

Serena Williams,

It has come to our attention that you have been in contact with Sergeant Major Shields. With this letter we are informing you that he will be sent home shortly, for a small leave, and that his efforts in war are greatly appreciated.

The United States Military

Darien was a Sergeant Major? A lot of things had happened since I had last talked to him, I guess. The truth and stories would be heard soon enough. My soldier boy would return home and I'd be able to see his face and look into those gorgeous eyes soon, but still not soon enough. My heart fluttered at the idea, and I felt like I was on a sugar rush. Darien was safe.

-0-

I sighed as I got stuck in the marching band. The piccolo player had been out sick for the past month and I had agreed to feel his shoes. I figured that an extra thing would keep me occupied and unable to think of the situation with Darien. Sure, he would be coming home soon, but he wasn't home yet. I shifted around in my cheerleading suit – since I had went straight from my squad (which was so different than the squads Darien was used to) – to the band. I was the only one with enough musical talent not in band already that could learn the part quick enough.

My cheerleading uniform consisted of a pleated mini skirt, the color black, with a tight long sleeved spandex belly shirt that had the black, lime green, and sparkling silver trim all on it. Around my ponytail was a black ribbon with silver trim, tied in a bow. The outfit was pretty darn cute, I was proud to say. Our school had nice colors and good style.

We proudly preformed our piece, the piccolo sounding like it was supposed to. I was sure that the instructor was in love with me by now as she wrapped me in this hug that left me breathless. She even went as far as to claim that I had saved her life. I smiled lightly as a man came over the loud speaker, said a prayer, then said "Please remove all hats and rise for a moment of silence and to pay respect to our flag." The national anthem played and he came back up, "Folks, please bow you're head now for a list of the local soldiers that have died in Vietnam."

My gut was twisting. I had received a letter, so there was nothing to worry about, right? So why the hell was I nervous enough to puke? The names were all read off, one by one. This sure as hell was taking a good, long time, wasn't it? I believed in paying respect to soldiers but I needed the list to end. Now. Then, he said it. He said Darien's name. Sergeant Major Darien Shields. My world was spinning, my head was light. I turned my head every which way, feeling like I had whiplash, and tried to make sense of everything. Raye was looking at me, with worried eyes.

I had heard right, it was Darien's name after all. I dropped the instrument in my hands and let my wobbly legs run off the field and towards the bleachers. I tripped and drug my body under the bleachers, tears streaking down my face. I lied there, confused and broken. Seiya was right, I would end up just like my mother. Hell, I already was, in this moment.

The old Serena was dead… long gone.

One Friday night at a football game, the Lord's prayer said and the anthem sang,

A man said "Folks can you bow your head for a list local Vietnam dead?"

Crying all alone under the stands was the piccolo player in the marching band,

And one name read but nobody really cared, but a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair…

Darien couldn't be gone, he couldn't. I had just received a letter last week about him. This couldn't have happened so soon, could it? How come they could contact my school before they could get a hold of me? Then I realized I didn't want to live the fate of my mother, I wasn't her and I didn't want to be her. I had made a promise to Darien, that I would try my best and make an impact. I couldn't make an impact if I turned into my mother. Darien or not, I had the live my life the way he would want. Even though he was dead, I needed to make a name for myself, make an impact, and give her a good reason to have had his faith in me.

I cried, never gonna hold the hand of another guy,

Too young for him they told her, waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier,

Our love will never end, waitin' for the soldier to come back again,

Nevermore to be alone when the letter says the soldier's coming home…

-0-

Dear Darien,

I miss you a little more everyday and I'm still not over your death, I never will be. I know it's pathetic that I'm still writing to you, hoping that you'll hear this but as long as I'm writing I feel like I'm connecting with you. I can't help it Darien, it doesn't feel like your dead. Maybe I'm just crazy? A psychologist can only help me so much with therapy. It's hard to lose the one person you dreamed of being with forever. Part of me wishes you would have never gone into the military but then I know I would have never met you and you would have never been satisfied enough with your life. You were born to be a hero and you saved me. You made me realize that true love does exist, if only for a day that the people get to be together. You made me realize that my life is what I make it and that I'm my own person. You made me realize I'm capable of more than I ever thought, if I only tried. Andrew tells me a story about you ever day, I love them. College is coming up soon, I wish you were here with me tonight. The moon is pale but full and it shines gorgeously off the ocean. The pier will never be the same without you but I feel you here... in the wind, in the ocean, in the moon. In my heart. I love you Dare, you will always be my soldier boy. I need to move on though, not get stuck up in the depression and concentrate more on school and life. I hope you understand that. This is the last letter I will write to you... Goodbye Darien Shields.

Love, Serena.