Disclaimer: SURPRISE! We don't own Sailor Moon, though we wish we did!

10 Reasons Why I Love You

Written by Princesses Mercury and Venus

Chapter 1: Let The Games Begin

Serena's 10 Reasons Why…The Hospital is the Most Horrible Place Ever

10) It smells awful! Like antiseptic and needles... I HATE needles!

9) Everything is white. Seriously. There is no color to be seen, anywhere.

8) The food is disgusting! There is no flavor and everything is healthy for you!

7) I have to wear a blue robe with no back! And it's not even a nice blue.

6) The sheets are scratchy. I miss my fuzzy pink blanket from home.

5) I have to be asleep by 8 p.m.

4) I still have to do my homework. You'd think that after having a life threatening injury I would be given a break from schoolwork, but noooooooo…

3) Did I mention the food sucks? Well it does. I miss my junk food. I can't even remember the taste of doughnuts anymore…

2) Rei is actually looking concerned. If she offers to fluff my pillow one more time I swear I'll scream!

And the #1 reason why the hospital is the most horrible place ever is…

Well he just walked through the door…


"How is my favorite little patient doing today," Darien Shields greeted in a sing song voice pushing a cart filled with food ahead of him.

"How is my favourite nurse doing today?" Serena asked in the same tone as she inconspicuously slipped her journal under her pillow. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of the food; carrots, mashed potatoes, and some type of mush the hospital claimed was meat.

Darien frowned, "I told you I'm not a nurse, I'm a doctor's assistant."

Serena raised a teasing eyebrow but decided not to push the young man any further. "So Shields, any chance you folks will let me out today."

"No way Meatball Head, you're still recovering," he sat Serena's tray on the bed's pull out table, "Now, eat up."

Serena eyed the 'food' uncertainly. "I know you guys have some real food out there. No way the doctor's have to eat this slop."

"Eat."

Serena dug her fork into the potatoes and put the tasteless glob in her mouth. She forced herself to swallow and then began the process again. She mentally retched, the food was truly horrible.

"See that wasn't so hard." Darien began to walk away with his cart but froze when something hit him in the back of the head.

He spun around at the same time as his hand instinctively touched the back of his head and came in contact with a warm squishy material. He stared at the white substance that now covered his hand and his hair incredulously and then over at the blonde who was bent over her food acting completely innocent.

"Real mature," he muttered and stalked out of the room so quickly he didn't see Serena stick her tongue out at his back.

Only when he had left her private room did Serena let herself dissolve into giggles. How she enjoyed annoying her "assistant doctor". It was literally one of the highest points of her day. Which was pretty strange considering when they had first met, long before her stay in the hospital, she had absolutely hated his guts.

She had hated his cocky attitude. She had hated the way he tease her about her hair, her clumsyness, her grades, or if he was in a particularly good mood all three in one sentence. (Yes that is possible.) She had hated the way he would smile at her so mockingly. But then she had the accident…and everything changed.

The first face she saw when she woke up was his and every day after that he was always there, looking after her. He was actually a nice guy! He seemed to truly care about her well-being and Serena had felt her heart softening. Sure he still teased her periodically, and she hadn't been able to stop him from calling her Meatball Head, but for some reason she couldn't find it inside herself to hate Darien Shields anymore, in fact she even considered him a friend.

She expected Hell to freeze over any second now.


Darien twisted his head into strange positions in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the back of it in the bathroom mirror, but no matter which way he turned he could not tell if he had gotten all of that goop out of his hair.

I can't believe she actually put mashed potatoes in my hair. My hair!

Darien continued to sulk as he washed his hands. He looked in the mirror and saw Serena's grinning face staring back. He closed his eyes in shock and vigorously shook his head. When he re-opened them his face was back in the mirror where it belonged.

"Must be from lack of sleep," he muttered to himself.

"You know you shouldn't talk to yourself," a male voice commented.

Darien jumped and quickly turned to face the voice. "Andrew," he scolded, "Stop sneaking up on me like that."

"I do not sneak," Andrew protested, "you were just too busy talking to yourself to notice me. Oh," he added pointing to his head, "you missed a spot."

"What are you doing here?" Darien growled and went back to scrubbing the back of his head.

"Well you see I had about five sodas..."

Darien rolled his eyes, "Not what are you doing in the bathroom, what are you doing in the hospital."

Andrew shrugged. "I had some time off so I thought I'd visit Serena, you know I miss her at the Arcade, and the Arcade definitely misses her money. That girl eats more than three other customers. Combined."

Darien grinned at the other man's explanation. It was sad, but true. Serena was tiny, but man could she pack it away. Darien swore that she had a hollow leg, or maybe two, and he felt bad for her parents since they had to feed her on a daily basis. The only time he hadn't see her inhale her food like a cyclone was since she had been in the hospital and to say that that worried him would be an understatement. Serena not eating was like a fish that didn't swim, a bird that didn't fly, a dog that didn't pee on other people's lawns...

Anyway, her lack of appetite was the main reason why Darien had suggested to the doctors that she remain in the hospital for a while longer. When she started eating again he would know that she was a hundred percent better.

"I was actually about to leave," Andrew continued, "I dropped her off a chocolate milkshake in hopes of cheering her up. You should have seen how excited was, she tried to hug me and drink the milkshake at the same time..."

Andrew looked around confused at his friend's sudden disappearance, one second he was there and the next...

"Darien? Darien where did you go?"


Sweet, sweet chocolatey heaven. Serena sighed internally as she slurped up the delectable treat her new favourite person had dropped off. The break from horrible bland hospital food was like being given a light in the dark. She finished it off in five minutes flat. She even wiped the bottom of the cup with her finger and licked it making sure she didn't miss a single drop of her chocolate treat. Her stomach gave a rumble of complaint reminding her that she was still hungry.

If she had been able to walk, she'd get up and get some real food from the canteen down stairs. But then she'd have to walk all the way to the elevator and though she would deny it if asked at gun point, exertion still made her dizzy. Although getting the food was for a good cause. They couldn't expect her to get better without proper nutrition. Her shoulder angel and devil battled it out for a few seconds, but in the end the devil won. Serena was hungry and desperate; it just wasn't a very 'Holy' combination.

Serena listened carefully for any approaching footsteps and then flung the sheets back and gingerly swung one leg over the side of the bed. Next she snatched up her pink dressing gown, which her mother had bought so that she would not get cold, and swung the other leg over. Finally she grabbed a plain looking walking stick that she used during her physiotherapy.

Wincing, she leaned heavily on the small stick as if it were the only thing keeping her up, which in fact it was. If they only let her excercise more she would be better already! As it was all that bedrest had turned her muscles to mush. She grabbed the colorless wall as extra support and used it to help propel her along. Staggering, she came to the doorway and carefully peered around the edge to check that the coast was clear before continuing her painful struggle towards the elevator.

She was more than halfway to her destination when...

"Serena!" an older motherly nurse scolded, "What are you doing out of bed?"

Serena forced her eyes to go wide in what she hoped was a look of innocence. It always worked on her father anyway...

"The doctor said it would be good for me to have a change of scenery," Serena lied cheerfully.

The nurse's eyes narrowed. "Why isn't someone here watching you?"

"Well--er--umm," Serena fumbled over her words, "I was too fast for them?" She tried in a hopeful tone.

The nurse shook her head. "I'm taking you right back to your room, young lady."

Serena hung her head in shame and disappointment; she had really wanted to go to that canteen.

"Wait!" a breathless voice interrupted the nurse's scolding, "She's--with--me..."

Darien came jogging into view looking as if he'd just run a marathon. She could have hugged him, Nurse Darien to the rescue!

"Doctor--wanted--her--to--exercise," he explained still gasping for air.

The nurse looked skeptically, but then Darien flashed her a smile. Even with a reddened face he was gorgeous.

"Well, I suppose it's alright," she relented slowly, "but you be sure to look after her, and don't let her out of your sight again, Mr. Shields."

"Cross my heart and hope to die," Darien promised with an earnest grin and any resistance the elderly nurse had left melted away like a popsicle in the desert at noon.

"You be good for Mr. Shields, Serena" she twittered patting her gray hair absentmindedly and then she headed on her way a slight skip in her limping step.

"One day you're going to have to teach me how to do that," Serena teased as soon as the nurse was out of sight, "You just smile, and young or old, the woman always do what you want." She turned to face her savior with a large grin on her face.

"What are you doing out of bed!" Darien demanded angrily.

Serena's smile faded into a pout.

"I wanted some food..."

"Food? You wanted food!" Darien was slightly hysterical now as images of Serena falling and hurting herself even more kept running through his head, "You've had plenty! Why didn't you just ask?"

Serena's pout seemed to double in poutiness, "Because you would've brought that icky goop you call food."

Darien's ranting was stopped dead in its tracks. "You really don't like the food?" he asked quietly.

Serena nodded her head vigorously. "It's horrible! I'd rather starve!" Her stomach rumbled in agreement.

"Is that why you haven't been eating that much?"

"Of course," Serena snorted, "Why else do you think I wouldn't eat? How often have you seen me turn down food?"

Darien laughed and laughed, and then laughed some more. Serena stared at him, she feared for her 'doctor's assistant's' sanity. "What's so funny?"

"You're fine! You're completely fine!" he caught her up in a hug that startled her so much that she dropped her walking stick and fell heavily into his arms.

"Okay," he amended, supporting her with one arm wrapped around her waist while her arm was slung his shoulder, "Maybe your not 'completely fine', but almost." He smiled and added so softly that Serena almost didn't hear him, "Almost."

She smiled up at him, "So...you're not angry with me?"


"So...you're not angry with me?" Serena asked smiling up at me.

Her blue eyes bored into my own and her smile was infectious. How could I possibly stay mad at such a sweet, happy angel?

"Of course I'm not mad, but promise me you'll never do it again."

"Sir. Yes, sir." she said with mock seriousness and a wobbly salute.

"Come on," I chuckled and picked up her walking stick with my free hand, "Let's get you back to bed."

"But...what about my food? My wonderful real food! You promised!" She accused, "Well," she amended, "practically..."

I shook my head and tried hard to hide a grin. "Bed." I repeated firmly.

She grumbled unhappily, while I half walked, half carried her into her room. She was almost asleep by the time we reached our destination. Her little adventure had completely exhausted her and she barely managed to open her eyes as I tucked the blanket around her shoulders.

"Can I have some real food now," she asked sleepily.

"As soon as you wake up," I promised.

"And while you're at it," she yawned as her eyes drifted shut, "Do you think you could find me a fluffy blanket."

"Sure."

"A pink one," she added before she began to snore softly.

A sense of protectiveness stole over me as I watched the sleeping girl and I bowed with a soft smile. "Your wish is my command, princess." Somehow it felt like the right thing to say, and although I knew she couldn't hear me for she was now floating in Dreamland I imagined I saw a small smile grace her pink lips.


Serena woke up to a delicious and familiar smell. She blinked a couple of times before focusing on the chocolate iced doughnut on her side table. It must be an illusion, Serena thought, That's it I'm still dreaming.

She picked it up carefully as if holding the Holy Grail, or the newest edition of one of her favourite mangas. It feels like a doughnut. She held it up to her nose and gave a tentative sniff. It smells like a doughnut. She took a cautious bite. It tastes like a doughnut. It is a doughnut! Letting out a squeal of delight she proceeded to inhale the doughnut and it wasn't until she was finished licking the remains of the icing off of her fingers that she noticed the deep red rose that had been lying next to it.

Her mind immediately jumped to Tuxedo Mask but that idea was immediately squashed by some small intellectual part of her brain that sounded quite a bit like her friend Ami. Why would Tuxedo Mask give you a rose, he may know Sailor Moon, but he doesn't know that you're Sailor Moon.

Maybe he does know. Another voice argued; this one sounded quite a bit like her friend Mina. Wouldn't you recognize Tuxedo Mask if you saw him in his human counterpart?

Of course I would. The voice that sounded like Serena replied haughtily. At least, I think I would.

"A thanks would be nice!" Darien said entering the room and interrupting Serena's internal debate.

"You bought the doughnut for me?" Serena exclaimed, amazed.

"Yes."

He smirked at the expression on her face. Internally Serena grinned and purposly continued to sit their with her mouth hanging open in exagerated shock. The vein in Darien's neck began to throb in annoyance. It was so hard not to push his buttons when he flashed them around while squealing "Hit me!".

"Oh come off it Meatball head," he growled, "I'm not that big of a jerk. I can be nice you know."

Serena shut her hanging jaw with a cheeky grin and a wink. "Sure you can, Shields," she said sarcastically and added a rolled eyes for emphasis. The rose still waiting on the table caught her attention and she blushed slightly, "uh...thanks for the doughnut and the...er...rose."

It was Darien's turn to blush. He coughed uncomfortably, "I just saw it in the gift shop on my way by and I noticed that even with all your other flowers," he gestured to the many flower arrangements, balloons and cards bearing "Get Well!" that decorated the small room, "you didn't have a single rose. Every girl needs at least one rose."

Serena smiled softly, "Thanks."

Darien smiled back, "No problem."

Their gazes remained locked for a second and time seemed to stand still before a knock at the door caused them both to jump. The door was immediately opened by Lita ("Ami, you don't have to knock in a hospital, it's not like it's her house or something.") and she was followed by a whole gang of girls. Serena's best-friends and fellow Scouts.

"Hey Hun," Mina greeted, "How are you holding up?"

The room seemed to brighten as Serena's four best friends entered the room. Rei a dark haired priestess with a sharp tongue, Ami a bluenette genius with a shy nature, Lita a tall brunette who was the protector and cook of the group, and the newest addition to Serena's circle of friends, Mina who's ready smile and warm words had quickly gained her acceptance into the tight nit gang.

"Where you sneaking off to, Shields," Lita asked with a raised eyebrow as Darien attempted to make a hasty exit.

He froze, mouthed an unkind word at being caught and then turned to face the girls, a smile fixed in place.

"Oh, hey girls, didn't see you all there..." He said in a phony ecstatic voice, "I was just off to do some...er...doctor stuff. You know I'm needed so I'll just go now. Enjoy your visit!" He sprinted off without a backward glance, fearful of the strange look Mina was giving him.

Rei began to fluff Serena's flat pillow. "I'm fine," Serena replied to Mina's earlier question while repressing the need to swat Rei away from her pillow, "I actually got some real food today!"

Ami laughed and pulled a bag out from behind her back, "Oh, so I guess you won't want this?" She teased.

"Gimme!" Serena made a lunge for the bag but Lita plucked it out of reach.

"First off, why were you and Shields together, and why'd he look so flustered when we came in."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Serena whined making another swing for the bag, "Please Lita, I'm starving!"

Lita dropped the bag into Serena's lap and she immediately tore it open, drooling heavily.

"How can you eat that fast Meatball head, it's disgusting," Rei snorted and then corrected herself hastily in a cheerful tone, "I mean, eat up Serena, we want you to get nice and healthy."

"Rei," Serena said through a mouthful of rice, "I'm not dying, you don't have to be so...nice."

"What do you mean?" Rei asked innocently playing with a strand of dark hair.

Serena gave her a knowing look. "Oh all right," Rei conceded, "It's just that I...we were all so worried about you. You didn't see how fragile you looked right after the accident. All broken and bruised. You were hooked up to a zillion different machines and," Rei's voice cracked with emotion, "we didn't know if you were ever going to wake up again." Rei's eyes overflowed with tears.

Serena opened her arms and Rei ran in and gave her a fierce hug. "Come on," Serena sighed from over Rei's shoulder, "All of you come here."

A minute of group-hugging later the girls backed away giggling and wiping away tears.

"Every time," Lita complained wiping away a tear fiercely, "every single time we come visit you I end up in tears."

"You could always not visit me," Serena pointed out, jokingly.

"As if," Lita snorted tapping Serena on the nose fondly, "I wouldn't leave you in this prison by yourself, even with Shields standing guard half the time, he barely left your side while you were in that coma you know."

Serena sighed; they'd been through this a hundred times before. "Yeah, I know, but he was just doing his job."

Lita looked like she was about to argue but Ami, being the ever so observant girl that she is, noticed Serena's 'I don't want to talk about this again' expression and decided to give her a break. "Speaking of the prison," she interrupted, "When are they planning on releasing you?"

"Tomorrow," a male voice answered from behind causing all the girls to jump.

Dr. Jones smiled kindly at the girls as he closed the door behind him. "I just finished speaking with Mr. Shields, he seems to believe that Serena has recovered sufficiently to be allowed to leave this 'prison' as you so eloquently put it, Miss Ami." Ami blushed and gave a nervous giggle. "I'd like to do some final tests just to make sure," Dr. Jones continued, "but I'm fairly certain that by this time tommorrow you should be sleeping in your own bed, Serena."

The girls all whooped and Lita even hugged the aging doctor.

Dr. Jones laughed at the antics of the young girls. "Yes, yes very good. Now visiting time is over so if you could." He gestured to the door and the girls happily said their good-byes.

"Nice group of friends you got there," Dr. Jones commented as he quickly scanned some of Serena's medical charts.

Serena grinned cheekily and shrugged. "Meh, I guess they're alright."


Serena couldn't sleep.

Tomorrow she was going home. She would be able to sleep in her own bed. She'd be able to see her friends. She'd be able to go to school...

Okay, so it wasn't all marshmellows and butterflies, but at least she'd have a change of scenery.

But then there was Darien. She wouldn't be able to see him twenty-four hours a day. Would she actually miss him? Nah. It was just Darien, right? Anyway she'd still see him at the Arcade.

Serena sighed and rolled over onto her side with a small wince, her ribs were still a little tender and her leg gave a small twinge but she barely noticed. A familiar masked face floated through her mind. Tuxedo Mask. She hadn't seen him since the accident, but for some reason she didn't seem miss him all that much. Whenever she used to see the elegant hero her heart began to race, but then again the same thing happened whenever she saw Darien...

It was all so confusing, and Serena did not like to think so late at night. She'd worry about it tomorrow.

"The girls will know what to do," Serena whispered forcefully to herself, "they always has great advice."

Serena concentrated on counting sheep and soon drifted off into a dream-filled sleep.


Darien couldn't sleep.

Tomorrow Serena would be leaving the hospital and he'd only be able to see her at their run-ins at the Arcade. Though he had tried to deny it, he had grown attached to the young girl. I mean who wouldn't like her, she was a sweet kid. What would he do without Serena's smile every morning when he went to work? Though he wouldn't miss having food chucked at his head...

Darien sighed, sat up in his bed and looked out his window through which he could clearly see the full moon. It cast everything in a surreal and mystical light. The moon. It was another reason Darien's mind was going in frantic circles, or to be more specific it was because of Sailor Moon. He hadn't transformed into Tuxedo masks in months. There had been a few attacks even though the enemy had been defeated. Even without their leader the Sailor Scouts weren't having too much trouble with the weakened monsters. Though he still felt like he should be doing something. But no Sailor Moon, no Tuxedo Mask. He felt useless.

Where was she? And why was he more worried about Serena?

Serena... It was all his fault she had been hurt in the first place. He would never forgive himself for that, and he doubted she would either. Perhaps it was better if he stayed away from her. That thought swirled painfully in his stomach. It wasn't until a long time later that he managed to drift off into a dream filled sleep that left him tossing and turning. When his alarm rang, he wished he could return to the sleeping nightmare rather than face the one he had to deal with awake.


"Good morning, Serena," a young nurse named Christine greeted cheerfully, "It's moving day!"

Serena grinned from the wheelchair where she was already dressed and ready to go. Just knowing that today she was going home was enough to keep her energized. Any minute now she would be leaving. She would be free! Everyone who had helped throughout her stay at the hospital had come to say good-bye. Everyone except for Darien. Her smile faded and she began to use her lower lip as a chew toy.

"Um, Christine? Is Darien sick today, or something?"

"No," Christine smiled as she stripped the bed of it's sheets, "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason."

Serena carefully stood and made her way across the room to the window. She sat in the padded chair and rested her elbow on the wooden sill. Darien hadn't come to say good-bye. Why hadn't he come? Her energy from earlier began to wane and the glass began to look half-empty. What was the point? Who cared if she was going home?

Darien certainly didn't.

The tears became to fall on their own accord and Serena had to hold her breath to contain the sobs. What was wrong with her? Why was she so upset? She was going home today! She should be happy. Perhaps it was because she--

No! It couldn't be that. There was no way. It just wasn't possible. There was absolutely no way that she was upset because Darien hadn't come to say good-bye. It couldn't be true because that would mean... That would mean...

Serena hid her face in her hands, but she couldn't hide from the truth. She refused to believe it, but somehow she knew it was true. It had always been true. The reason why she would find any reason to be around Darien, why her heart sped up whenever he was near, why every time she met his eyes her brain disconnected from her mouth and the only thing that came out were insults; it was all so clear now.

She was in love with Darien Shields.

Cupid obviously had a sick sense of humor.


Darien wandered around the hospital. He'd already checked on his regualar patients, and none of the doctors needed any help. He had tried to keep busy to stop himself from thinking about... Unconsciously he checked his watch, it was nine thirty, Serena would be leaving now.

He felt a stab of guilt. He hadn't said good-bye. He had avoided her entire floor just because he didn't want to say good-bye. He was horrible with feelings, and he didn't want her to think that he would miss her or anything. It was a good thing that she was feeling well enough for her to be out of the hospital. It really was better this way.

Anyway, it's not like she'll miss me.

Against his better judgement he shuffled over to the window overlooking the entrance to the hospital. He had timed it perfectly, Serena was just being wheeled out. Even as high up as he was he could tell it was her, he would recognize that hairstyle anywhere.

Shakily she made her way into the backseat of the car, but not before looking up into the building one last time. Darien felt like she was looking directly at him and instinctively ducked away from the window. He chuckled at his own reaction, she couldn't have seen him, he was too far up. He returned to the window, but she was already in the car and it began to drive away. He continued to watch it until it was out of sight.

Good-bye...Serena.


Serena gave a mighty yawn. It had been a long and busy day. Her mother had been so happy that she was home that she had cooked all of Serena's favorite foods; her father hadn't stopped smiling all day and even her brother wasn't being his normally annoying self. Her friends had dropped by quickly to see how she was doing and she was able to say with almost complete honesty that she was feeling great. Mina seemed to catch something in her tone and gave her a "I'll call you later" look, but other than that none of her friends seemed to notice her slightly forced.

She was still upset about Darien not coming to say good bye, but when her mother had mentioned her morose look she had quickly put on a smile and told her it was nothing. Her mother didn't look like she believed her, but she had let the matter drop, and Serena had let herself be swept up in everyone elses' good moods. Now that she was by herself though she couldn't help but think about it. Why hadn't he come to say good bye? At one moment of wishful thinking she could've sworn that she had seen Darien peering out of a window a few floors up, but it could've been anyone. There's no way she could've recognized him. Her mind must've been playing games with her.

All in all it had been a pretty good day, but boy was she ready for it to end.

She pulled her blanket up to her chin, her fluffy, pink blanket that smelled of detergent and vanilla. It was a warm smell and she hadn't even realized how much she had missed it. She was softly stroking the blanket when Luna padded into the room. She gracefully leaped onto the bed and settled herself beside Serena.

"I'm happy your home, Serena," Luna murmured licking Serena's hand with her scratchy pink tongue when Serena reached out to pet her.

Serena smiled softly and pushed all other thoughts out of her mind. She was home. Nothing else mattered.

"So am I, Luna. So am I."

Authors' Notes:

Hiya folks! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful reviews. I have no idea where Tia went off to some I'm posting this early. Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Princesses Mercury and Venus