Oh man, was that the longest wait ever for an update or what! On we go...
I stood gazing up for what seemed like an eternity into his stunned eyes. I could hardly believe what I had said, but I knew that I would never take it back. I moved my hand to his cheek and brushed my fingers lovingly over the contours of his jaw. Although I was pressed tightly to him, I felt like I needed to touch him and at the same time I was unsure if he would allow it.
His smoky eyes darkened as my hand moved. He lowered his head to mine again and caught my lips in a heated kiss. If the last had been sweet, with a hint of something lost, this was raw with need. Something I had forgotten fueled the passion in my kiss. I knew the feeling this was evoking but couldn't place why. There was a block, a hopeless feeling of something greatly lost and it bothered me even as I allowed him to plunge deeper and tangle his tongue with my own.
As we stood entwined with each other, the scene that had been painstakingly set by my friends died around us. We stood in my living room wrapped up in each other, oblivious that four very stunned scouts surrounded us. I became acutely aware of some wandering hands, and I realized that although I was very comfortable with Darien, I couldn't remember enough about our past yet. I was just starting to seriously doubt how far I should let this go when I heard someone very loudly and very annoyingly clear their throat.
The two of us jumped apart breathing heavily. I glanced around at my friends who looked about as embarrassed as I was feeling at that moment.
"Um, you said to set the timer for only an hour." Sailor Jupiter said looking about as sheepish as I'd ever seen her.
Darien reached over and took my hand in his. "It's alright." He said.
Sailor Mars, who had been watching me skeptically, stepped forward and inspected me closely. I tilted back slightly as she stared at me. "Uh, is there something on my face?" I asked. She leaned back again as if she hadn't realized how near she really was.
"Sorry." She said, having the grace to blush "Do you remember us now?"
"Define remember." I said. "Because honestly, there is stuff I think we did but there are these big gaps still. I know there should be more, but I can't recall anything."
"Can you give us an example?" Asked Sailor Mercury pulling her cell phone from nowhere and typing on it.
"Uh, how about I remember having a nasty fight with Rei at the temple about being late again and then having to rush off and fight. But that's all I remember. I can't remember how I got home or whether we fought. And how much did I know about our past?" I asked turning to Darien. "Because things are still a little blurry there too."
"You remember when we were in the command center?" he asked awkwardly. "And you asked me who had written the histories of the moon palace?" I nodded. "It was the responsibility of the monarchy to keep an accurate account of all that went on within the walls, including anything that the current keeper wanted to add personally. Everything written in the volume you read earlier was written by your own hand not long ago."
For a moment I was stunned at the knowledge. Then very slowly a memory began to focus in my mind of a tall woman with long silver hair falling around her, telling me that my time had come to tell the story of our kingdom. I tried to focus on the woman's face but it wasn't clear what she looked like. I blinked as a hand passed before my eyes. "You in there?" asked Rei as I shook my head to clear my vision. "Well at least she's getting back to normal." She said smiling smugly and putting her hands on her hips.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"I don't call you space cadet for nothing do I?" She replied. I heard a muffled giggle to my left and caught Mina looking pointedly at the wall socket across the room and turning red.
"Listen here," I began as I narrowed my eyes. "It seems to me there was a conversation we had not long ago about a certain mop haired boy that I wouldn't be at all ashamed of remembering out loud. I retained quite a bit of that conversation."
Rei's violet eyes widened with worry as the other girls turned interested questioning gazes at her. "You promised you would keep that a secret." She said quietly.
"Hmmm, I don't know if I recall that part..." I trailed airily.
Rei crossed her arms over chest and pouted for a moment. "I'm sorry." She said softly glaring at me.
"Alright, enough of this." Darien interrupted. "I think we need to figure out what Serena needs to do now. I know there are some problems you girls have been having that we need to sort out."
"Right," Amy began, typing away on her cell phone as she spoke. "Serena you were saying you remembered some things and not others. What else do you think you can remember?"
"Honestly, I'm still having trouble deciding whether some of my memories are real life or episodes of the show. Sometimes they very close and sometimes they're completely different." I said slumping a bit.
"Hmmm." Came Amy's reply as she clicked away at her cell phone. "Well that may create more problems then help in the end."
I looked at her skeptically and stifled a yawn. The past few hours were starting to get to me. As Amy stood typing, the girls gathered around asking questions about whether their power issues were permanent or not, whatever that meant, and I was starting to fall asleep on my feet. I felt light pressure on my hand and I widened my drooping eyes to see Darien staring at me.
"You look tired." He said quietly. "I know this whole day has been draining on you. Plus I'm sure your not one hundred percent after last night. Let's get you to bed." He tugged at my hand and I sluggishly followed after him. It took a moment for me to realize that he meant he and I by ourselves. I halted for a moment and he turned and looked at me as I put on the brakes.
"Uh, give me a second would you. I need to ask Rei a question." I said giving him my most charming smile. He shrugged and I grabbed Rei from the group of girls for a moment pulling her toward my kitchen.
"I'm not sure I remember something and I need you to help me. I'm sure this is something I've discussed with you, so please humor me for a moment." I said trying to act as serious as I'd ever been. She looked at me quizzically but shook her head in agreement. I leaned in close to Rei, though the other girls seemed preoccupied and Darien was fiddling with some part of his armor. "I'm not afraid to be alone with him, mind you, but well, I can't remember if he and I have ever…you know."
Rei smiled at me as she caught on to my thoughts. "Well, from what you've told me, yea you guys have. I don't when or anything, but that's the idea you always gave me. Listen though Serena, if you're worried he'll move too fast I think you know better. He's just trying to help you. He loves you; he wouldn't hurt you, in any way."
I nodded thinking about it for a moment. I watched as he tightened a strap attached to his scabbard and gave a tug on his tunic. Nothing had to happen right away, not until I was ready and Rei was right, he wouldn't push me. I straightened up a bit and gave Rei a hug for thanks. I headed back over to where he stood and took his hand again in mine. I nodded to him that I was ready now for bed and we disappeared into my darkened room.
I switched on the light as we entered and headed for my walk-in closet. I heard the door close softly behind me with a click. I rummaged around in a drawer and found my favorite pajamas, a soft pink t-shirt and matching pink boxer shorts. I changed quickly and hung the long white dress on a hanger very carefully. I ran my hands over the material and gazed at it for a long moment trying to recall the feelings I had had a short while ago. I stepped out of the closet and watched as Darien finished removing the hard metal plates that covered his tunic. I had never realized how much covering was truly involved in an outfit made for war. Although I was sure that what he was wearing was mainly for show, I was still in awe at its weight and amount.
He set his sword carefully on top of the pile in my wicker chair, and sat down on the edge of my bed to remove his boots. When he finished he sat staring at me for a long moment, I plucked up the courage to sit next him and laid my head gently on his shoulder. We sat there for a while he and I, I'm not sure what he was contemplating, but it was very relaxing to be in his presence and have nothing expected of me. Finally his arm came up and he began to stroke the hair at the side of my face. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my brow. "Are you ready to lie down?" he asked quietly brushing my hair back behind my ear.
I nodded slowly and he reached around with his other arm and gathered me to his warm frame. He picked me up carefully, and gently set me among the pillows at the head of my bed. He pulled the comforter, which he had turned down as I had changed, over me and stepped over to the light switch on the wall to turn out the light. I watched in the glow coming from the cracks in my blinds as he removed his tunic and placed it carefully across the arm of the chair. He made a move to sleep next to me above the covers, but I flipped them open at the last second. I hoped he realized I didn't mind him sleeping next to me. The fact was I had been expecting it and knew I never would have fallen into a restful sleep without him. He slid beneath the comforter and gathered me close to him. He pressed another soft kiss to my forehead and I turned my face toward his. I leaned in slowly and pressed my lips to his in a tender kiss. I didn't want to lead him as far as we had even gotten in the living room with my friends present, but I desperately wanted to have a few moments for just him and I.
He seemed to follow my train of thought and kept his kisses light and sweet. I nestled closer to him and lay my head on his chest. In the quiet of the room I could hear the soft beating of his heart and the silent sound of his breath coming and going. I was barely hanging on to consciousness when I heard him very quietly say something. "Hmm?" I managed as more a breath than a question.
"I love you too." He said very softly, the breath from his words moving the bangs on my head ever so slightly. Although I fell deep into sleep very soon after he said those hushed words, by the way his arms tightened around me I knew he felt the delighted grin that had stretched across my face as I dropped off.
Hey good news for anyone who is still reading (which is probably only my sister at this point) there's more! We'll see how I do this time around, but I'll do my best to get moving on the next chapter! Thanks for reading! Shannon