AN: Hello everyone! This is it. The last chapter. The one everyone's been threatening me with death to finish. I hope you all enjoy. This story has been a big part of the last 6 years of my life. I've grown so much in writing since I've started as a little middle schooler, to the college student I am today. And I want to thank all my readers who stuck with me along the way. Thank you so much for the support and reviews. It has been the driving force for me to continue and finish this story. Because of you, Love is such a Strange and Funny Thing has an ending! Thank you!

"You can't force me to wear this dress!" Serena shouted, cementing herself down onto a chair. "I'm not marrying you!"

She could not believe the nerve of this man. When she refused to get out of his car, he unceremoniously threw her over his shoulder like a sack of rice and carried her into the building. Nevertheless, she was not putting on the dress and there was no way in hell could he force her into it.

In the last hour after he left her in her changing room, Darien ditched his jeans and T-shirt for a debonair tux and was oozing sex appeal like the society-born alpha male he was. Sure she was attracted to him, but she was not marrying him. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever! Might she add he had security guards posted around her every escape route: two at the door and one along every window outside the room? How did she know? She tried escaping. Six times.

Darien walked in on her seventh attempt. She was sure that there was a way out through the ventilation system. She had almost unscrewed the vent, using her engagement ring as a screwdriver, when he walked in through the door. Quickly, she hid the deformed diamond ring into her pocket. She almost felt bad for destroying it. It really was a beautiful ring.

But it must have been a blood diamond. Like the ones in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie. Except worst, because 1000 children died to retrieve it! Look at it, she thought, it was just too beautiful! Surely somebody died for it. She decided she hated the ring, and should just throw it away. She had nearly convinced herself so when she remembered Rei's words to her.

Apparently, Darien was a humanitarian. He headed the finance department of Chiba Inc. dealing with giving money to charities. According to Tokyo Weekly magazine he donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to cancer research and spent hours of volunteer work at the local hospital at the pediatric cancer ward. Not only that, but he headed his company's project to rebuild villages devastated by tsunamis, and there were thank-you letters to prove it!

She almost wanted to barf at all the goodness of Darien's character. It made her life, stealing and hustling on the streets as a child, embarrassing. But then again, he was born to pretend that he cared. That's what rich people do. They only give to charity for the tax-write offs.

Thank goodness she came to her senses before it was too late.

There was no way to euphemize it. He embarrassed himself by behaving like a man in love with a woman who was leaving him for his best friend. The paparazzi would have had a field day! So how did he save his sorry ass? Oh, look, there's pathetic little Serena Tsukino, she's a nobody, her feelings don't matter, let me just lie to everyone that I'm already over Mina and that Serena and I are engaged. Yes, that's how he saved his ass.

So here she was. Sitting across from the heinous bastard who trapped her into this marriage. Hah! Marriage? If anyone could call it that.

"Fine."

Stunned by the softly spoken word, Serena's jaw dropped. "What?"

She watched him shrug his shoulders. His expression was chillingly stagnant as he leaned up against an old bookcase.

"Don't wear it if you don't want to," he said.

Serena couldn't believe her ears. "Fine," she countered, folding her arms and sticking her nose up in the air, "I won't."

She didn't know what she was thinking! Sure, she had amnesia, but did she lose her sense of taste as well? The dress made her look like some fairy-queen-princess. It was almost despicable! It was like—she was five and wanted to play dress up! And the lace! So...so...so girly! At least Kami was kind enough to save her from the humiliation of walking down the aisle in that white oppressive symbol of captivity.

"Are you ready to get on with it?"

"If I don't wear the dress, I'm not going to marry you, Darien. Get it?" Serena glared.

She was getting tired of this game. One would think that with all of Darien's money, he would at least buy himself a clue! She wasn't the kind of girl who dreamed about her wedding day. She didn't have a prince charming saving her or a fairy-tale happily-ever-after. No. She didn't dream about it at all. And to have him pull this jack-ass stunt? It made her blood steam just thinking about getting married.

"It doesn't matter what you wear," Darien said stiffly, as he looked out the window, a scowl on his face. "I'll marry you as you are."

Serena scoffed. "You don't exactly have a choice. But save it-I don't want to hear all that fake mushy stuff you want to spout-you can't push me around anymore."

"I hardly did any pushing around, sweetie," Darien said, his tone heavy with innuendo, "You agreed to get married with little persuasion from me."

"Yeah well I wasn't in my right mind," Serena jutted a finger to her head, "I got hit by a semi-truck, got amnesia, and got lied to by my best friend!"

Darien visibly gulped. "Would it make any difference if I said I had your best interest at heart?"

"No!" Serena was spitting mad, "you had your best interest at heart. Don't try to justify what you did! I had amnesia! Amnesia, Darien! Do you know what that is? Temporary memory loss!

"You took advantage of my temporary memory loss! What sick bastard would do that? That's like leading a blind person in front of a train, or giving a diabetic sugar, or giving a recovering alcoholic alcohol! Are you stupid-are you crazy-are you?"

Darien didn't back down from the raging storm Serena had become. Her hands were flailing, her saliva was flying, her voice was shrill, and her words hurt. She had an amazing mouth on her. He wanted to laugh. How could he have forgotten that razor tongue that cut flesh like butter? She was skinning him alive now.

She was back-that girl on the roof of Akita-and she was raising hell.

Darien smiled, fighting the overpowering urge to scoop her up in his arms and squeeze her until all her bluster went away. In that moment he decided there was no better sight in the world than a red-faced, angry Serena. This was how he wanted to remember her always. Loud and willing to give him all the hell he deserved. This is why he loved her.

"Take that goofy look off your face, or else!" Serena shouted, punching her right fist into her left hand. Her eyes were wild.

Darien quirked an eyebrow. He decided to indulge her. "Or else, what?"

"Or else I'll punch it off, that's what," she snarled.

He couldn't believe his ears. Serena's slim and petite size to his full 180 pound 6 feet height made her absolutely nonthreatening, yet she made him cringe! Did he think it would hurt if she punched him? No, no way. But did he think she was crazy? Fuck yes, absolutely.

"Let's see you try to lay one on me," Darien replied, his grin widening. He tilted his chin to the side, offering easy access to his left cheek.

"If you really insist," Serena laughed. She crouched down, leaned forward, and took off in his direction. She jumped. She swung-

And made perfect contact with a spin kick to Darien's face.

"Shit!" Darien cursed, the momentum of her leg sending him to the floor. "You said punch, not kick," he spat to see if there was any sign of blood.

Serena stood back, plopping her hands on her waist to observe her damage. "Kami, that felt good!" She watched him get back up to his feet; he was slowly rubbing his jaw.

"Did you love her?"

"Who?"

"Mina."

Maybe she was a masochist. It wasn't exactly like it hurt. It didn't. She just wanted to know the truth. Kind of like that stupid dream she kept having. It was a nightmare really, with all the screaming and shouting and gunshots and explosions. And she always woke up in a cold sweat after the same sound of a creaking wooden door slamming shut and then darkness. As scary as that dream was, she always hoped it would come again. Somehow there was something familiar about it, and she felt like it was trying to tell her something. She just didn't know what.

Darien had a secret, and she knew she just had to find out.

"Of course."

Funny how his answer hurt more than she anticipated. And he answered it so easily, so quickly, it was like a foregone conclusion. In fact, he actually looked confused by her question. Of course. Didn't she get her memory back? Didn't she remember the way he danced with Mina, the way he held her close and smiled so handsomely for? Of course.

Maybe that question was stupid.

"I dated her for a long time, Serena. I loved her a lot." Serena didn't realize Darien was so forthcoming. He was almost nonchalant about it, like he was stating a fact from a history book. She wanted to tell him to shut up now.

"When I was little, Mina was the only girl who wanted to play with me. I wasn't very social back then. I spent most of my youth in advance courses and with math tutors and science tutors and English tutors and Spanish tutors and French tutors and Chinese tutors and kendo lessons and karate lessons, I just didn't know how to interact with other children. She—she seemed to like me. I don't know why, but she did. And I guess I just got used to her."

"Whatever—I get it," Serena shrugged, pretending his frank answers didn't upset her. "You love her."

"No, Serena, you don't get it," Darien replied flatly, he almost sounded angry. "I used to love her. Whatever we had, it's all in the past now. She's, like, another sister to me."

He laughed, "I don't think I gave you the satisfaction you were looking for." Darien scratched his head nervously, sneaking fleeting gazes her way. "Look, Serena, you're different. You...you're like my favorite soup when I am sick. You're like the good news at the end of my bad day. You're like the lollipop the doctor gave me after I got my first shot. I don't know, but you make everything better in my life. I need you-and don't you roll your eyes like that at me. I guess what I'm saying is, I've never felt this way about Mina. Only you."

Okay, so the guy was charming. Whoopdeedo. Serena tried to calm her racing heart, but it kept beating his way. Boom boom boom-like a car stereo turned up loud and all you can hear is the bass. Shut up-Serena shouted to her stupid pulse.

"I thought you wanted to hear the truth?" Darien raised one finely arched eyebrow.

Serena groaned, realizing she had shouted that last part out loud.

"No not you-"

"Then what?"

"My stupid-No-" She couldn't say that out loud! Serena mentally berated herself.

"No what?"

"No, I mean, yes you! You, shut up, please."

Darien laughed, and taken aback by that sensuous sound, Serena could only stare.

"Confused much?"

Serena frowned at him. "Only by how your story seems to go back and forth. You love her—you used to love her—whatever. I think you're the one confused, my dear."

"Did you just call me 'my dear'?"

"So what if I did?" Serena shrugged, slightly embarrassed that he caught that. She averted her eyes to the adjacent wall, as though it was the most interesting thing she had ever seen.

If she had continued to look his way, she would have seen a glow light up his face, transforming his harsh lines into boyish curves. He didn't break his stride as he closed the distance between them.

She jumped as his hand touched her, curving to her cheek, sliding gently to the back of her neck. It was one touch. One touch so familiar, so comforting, she couldn't help but lean into it. She inhaled. Kami, he smelled good.

Darien felt the faintest touch of her soft lips against the palm of his hands and it drove him crazy! He watched her chest swell as she inhaled, and the way her eyes fluttered shut reveling in his scent. Her lips parted as she rolled her head back in bliss. She may hate him, he thought, but her natural response to him was telling.

"Serena?" He whispered, unable to help the smile that was overcoming him.

"Hmm?" She replied, her eyes still closed, enjoying the gentle ministration of his hand on her neck.

"I'm sorry."

"Well, you should be—heEEEYY! Put me down!"

Darien once again tossed her onto his shoulder like a sack of rice. "Remember," Darien said wryly, "I apologized first."

"YOU SON OF A BIT-"

"Nuh uh uh," Darien laughed, "If you won't walk, I'll carry you down that aisle myself, sweetie." He walked towards the door.

"Not so fast, I'm gonna need you to shut that door Mr. Chiba. Good job," A raspy voice demanded, a voice that Serena had heard before, and immediately she stopped struggling against Darien. From her position, she tried to see where the voice was coming from, but she couldn't turn far enough to see the person. She all of a sudden felt very cold...like she was entering into that dream. De ja vu.

"Darien," Serena whispered, her heart coming to a stop as she came to realize who that voice belonged to, "RUN!"

The last thing she remembered was the roar of a gunshot.

So his niece was famous. He felt almost proud. When his car pulled into the parking complex, there was no way he could have missed the mass of people lined up along the street as though they awaited a parade. Five news station vans were in the front parking lot, while the paparazzi blended with the crowd. Little girls copied that ridiculous double bun she wore on her head. That double bun...

...That's how her mother wore it as well.

Serenity St. James was a beautiful woman. He noticed that right away. He remembered her creamy skin, like soft butter spread over warm toast; her smile, like bottled-up sunshine beaconing into hearts; her face, like an angel fallen from heaven to do God's work. She was twenty-seven, smart, funny, kind-hearted—the perfect match for his obnoxious do-good brother.

And they were. Perfect, he meant.

They hosted charity galas, volunteered in homeless shelters, spent summers abroad building houses for the poor. They were young, they were passionate, and they were very much in love.

Ronald wanted to snicker at just how pathetic it was. Who'd have known their lives would end up like it did? Dead. Unmissed. Forgotten.

Was that society's payment for all their selfless work? If being a good, law-abiding citizen—hell, they were worst than that—if being outstanding humanitarians got them nowhere but dead, he figured he'd rather be a criminal. Criminals, at least, don't have to adhere to society's laws. Whether dead or alive, society doesn't care. So why should he?

He was going to look out for himself and himself only. And that is why he was here. After scouring the United States for the past how-many-years, he finally found her. She was the only one who could pass judgment onto him, and he wasn't going to be having any of that.

"Tie her up," He ordered his henchman, looking at his niece's limp body on the ground. "And put her on that chair."

"And the boy?" The henchman inquired, jumping to do as commanded.

"Do him next."

Ronald, felt his arthritis acting up. It was probably due to nerves. Walking across the room, he took a seat in the armchair and lit a cigarette to ease the stress on his mind. He glanced at his watch: 10:30. He had about fifteen minutes before the wedding party would get suspicious and come looking for the bride and groom.

"Sir, she's waking up."

Ronald paused, his cigarette halfway to his lips, when he saw her eyes—the same beautiful blue orbs as her mother's—glaring with such hatred at him. It was like Serenity had come back to life. It was startling to him.

He finished his cigarette and let it fall to the floor. He stood and walked towards Serena, stopping just inches away from her. He could see the goose bumps on her skin as she trembled in his presence, and it made him smile satisfactorily. He knelt down on one knee, and grabbed hold of her chin.

"You probably don't remember me," he said in a rasp just above a whisper. "But I'm family." He felt a sinister urge to laugh as he said that last part.

"I will take that tape off your face if you promise to answer a few questions for me—and don't be too concerned as to why you can't feel your arms or legs. You've been drugged."

He could see the battle in her eyes between fear and defiance. She was a fighter just like her mother. But she wasn't going to die today—at least not by his hands.

Tears came to her eyes from the pain as he ripped the duct tape off her mouth. "Would you like me to wipe them away?" He taunted.

"Fuck you," she replied, her voice hoarse but strong.

"Now, now," he laughed, and then slapped her across the face hard, "Pay your uncle a little more respect."

Her head looked like it snapped from the force of his hand, but she struggled to raise it again, never allowing him to hear a cry of pain from her.

"You're a murderer!" She croaked softly, her eyes flashing with rage.

"That's enough out of you!" Ronald roared, rising to his feet. "I'll ask you the questions, and if you don't cooperate I'll kill Mr. Chiba, do you understand?"

She nodded, the full realization of the situation now registering on her face.

"Good girl," he chided, smirking devilishly.

"Did your mother give anything to you the night she sent you away?"

"My mother?" The blonde played innocent, her eyes flashing with confusion.

"Don't toy with me. You remember me; I can see it in your eyes!" He withdrew his gun and aimed it at Darien.

"My mother gave me nothing!" Serena shouted, her eyes zipping back and forth between the gun and Darien's slumped body. "What did you do to him?"

"He's been tranquilized; he will come about in ten minutes. Now tell me the truth, damn it, or you will have something to worry about."

"Leave him alone!" Serena snarled like an angry lioness on a territorial rampage. "He has nothing to do with this!"

"Then I believe you shall give me what I want, and I will be on my way. We can forget I was ever here."

"I already told you, my mother gave me nothing!"

"Oh, lie to me again and my bullet is going straight through his brain!" Ronald walked towards Darien's body and pressed the barrel of his gun to Darien's head.

"I honestly don't know—NO, PLEASE DON'T!" Serena screamed as she watched Ronald cock the gun.

"What did your mother give you, you little bitch?" Ronald growled, wrenching the gun from Darien onto Serena.

"She gave me a necklace!"

Ronald lowered his gun, "A necklace?" He looked dumbfounded. "What do you take me for? Where's the god damn disc?"

"What disc?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Ronald roared.

"I swear, it was a necklace! She gave me a necklace! I have it with me now! It's in there, in my bag."

His henchman lunged for it and handed it to his boss. Ronald rummaged through the contents of her purse until he pulled out a plastic beaded necklace. He threw the bag to the ground and laughed bitterly. "This!" He snickered, lifting the necklace into the light. "This piece of junk is what she gave you?"

She nodded her head dumbly.

"You know, don't you?" His eyes lowered menacingly as he scrutinized her face. "She told you!"

He aimed his gun at his niece, "This is goodbye," he said solemnly, cocking his gun, "to the last incriminating evidence of my crimes."

He pulled the trigger, intending to silence her forever. He felt the power surge through his arm from the bullet, and reveled the old feeling of playing God, when unexpectedly, Darien lunged in front of Serena at that exact moment.

It happened in slow motion. Serena screamed, tears falling from her eyes. Body's came crashing through the window, gun fire went off in every direction, sirens wailed loudly warning of danger—it was the end of the line for St. James.

"Darien!" Serena shouted, her body trembling from the sight of his heaving chest gasping for air. "You stupid idiot!"

She was crying profusely, unable to control the tortured sobs that racked through her chest and poured out like a volcanic explosion. Her hands and feet refused to move no matter how hard she willed herself, and she screamed in frustration. She needed to go to him! She needed to hold him! She needed to...tell him she loved him.

His face was white. A man walked through the shattered window and walked over to Darien, he was carrying a walkie-talkie and was commanding orders into it. He knelt down beside Darien and said something to him.

"Hey!" Serena shouted to the man.

He turned his head. Serena recognized that it was Jack! The man she had met in the club.

"You!" Serena stammered, hiccupping madly. "What are you doing here?"

"I," Jack said, with a smile on his face, "am in charge of this investigation."

"You're a writer!" She stated as though it were some accusation.

Jack walked over to Serena and extended a hand, "Hi, I'm Jack Slater, Detective Jack Slater of the United States FBI."

Serena stared at his extended hand. "I can't move my hands or feet," she explained, "Do you mind moving me to Darien? I—I have to tell him something—please before it's too late."

"If he wanted to, he could walk over here himself, sweetie," Jack laughed.

Serena's jaw dropped at his callous attitude. Darien was bleeding to death right there on the floor and this FBI agent wasn't doing anything to help! At first she wasn't sure if she heard him correctly, but as he continued to smile at her, she became so angry she clenched her hands into tight fists, feeling the effects of the drug slowly wear off.

"Get your ass up, Darien—" Jack ordered, kicking Darien's feet.

That was it. Serena was furious. She swung her right fist and connected it to Jack's right jaw, sending him stumbling back a few paces.

Darien scrambled to his feet and rushed towards Serena. "Whoa, take it easy, sweetie," Darien said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, holding her to him tightly.

"You can't do that, he's an officer," Darien chuckled.

Serena could only gawk dumbly into the side of Darien's neck, as she welcomed his warm embrace. "But..." She uttered feebly, "You were shot! I saw it! The bullet hit you!"

Darien let her go. He took off his tuxedo jacket and began unbuttoning his shirt. "I'm wearing a bullet proof vest."

She was crying again. This time, not because Darien was dying, but because he was alive. He was alive! She wanted to jump for joy. Serena touched the spot where the bullet hit, relishing the miracle

"You're alive," she whispered, smiling stupidly at how happy that fact made her.

"Yes, I aaAAAAMM—" Darien shouted in agony as Serena jammed her finger into the bullet hole in his vest, pushing hard.

He wrenched her hand off him. "What are you doing?"

"That's what you get for scaring me like that!" She stuck out her tongue and blew him a raspberry.

"Sorry!" Darien yelled in his defense as she began throwing punches his way. "What are you doing now?" He inquired, easily deflecting her swings.

"This," Serena said, becoming suddenly breathless, "is for making me love you."

Darien pinned both her fists into her lap. "What did you say?" His expression was unreadable.

"I love—"

"I love you, too!" Darien interrupted, unable to contain the happiness surging inside him. "I love you, Serena. I love you, and only you."

He let go of her hands and moved them to her shoulders, pulling her in for a kiss. Their lips met, and it was like kissing for the first time. His lips moved hungrily over hers and she succumbed to his power. It was the same, yet different. This time, she realized, he wasn't holding anything back. This was all him, pouring all his love into this kiss. And she melted in his arms.

"Hey, don't you two have to say your vows before you do that?"

Darien pulled his lips from Serena's momentarily, "Isn't your job done, Jack? Fly back to the States."

"Is this the thanks I get for helping you out?"

"He's right," Darien said, chuckling softly at the dazed expression on Serena's face. "We have a wedding to go to."

Serena nodded. "But before we go, Darien," Serena's tone was somber. "Answer me this: Were you still in love with Mina the night of her party? I know, you say you're over her. But were you still hoping to win her back? It's just that, she said you were so in love with her—you'd take a bullet for her—those were her very words. I don't want you to make the mistake of marrying me, if you truly love her."

Darien sighed. He took her hands in his and squeezed them tightly. And then, staring straight into her eyes, he answered, "Serena, I didn't take a bullet for her."

She shook her head, "I know, but—"

"I took a bullet for you. For you, Serena. Not her."

"I know, but—"

"I also jumped in front of a semi-truck going 90 mph for you, if you prefer that over the bullet."

That made her laugh. He was right, she realized. She had been stupid to listen to Reizei. Darien Mamoru Chiba loved her. He loved her! Maybe he used to love Mina, but that was history. She was his present. And today, she would be the only one.

"What are we waiting for?" Serena chided, making a run for the door.

Their wedding was going to go down in history as the joke of the Japanese elite. They were an hour late behind schedule. The bride and groom were reported missing, and when they did show, the bride came down the aisle in jeans and a sweatshirt and the groom was half dressed with his shirt untucked and unbuttoned to his bellybutton.

It was truly scandalous!

Serena could care less what the rich and snobby elite thought of her as she came sprinting down the aisle with Darien chasing after her. She was completely, and utterly happy. And as they stood facing one another at the altar, she couldn't help but feel that, maybe, for the first time in a long time, happy endings do exist.

"Serena..." Darien, whispered with a frown on his face as he slid the wedding band on her finger, where is your engagement ring?"

She felt a wave of heat rise from her neck to her cheeks. "Um, you know what: that's a long story..."

"Who was that?" Sloan asked, walking into Jack's office as he hung up the phone.

"Darien and Serena. They're on their honeymoon in France," Jack answered, leaning back in his chair. "They wanted to know what will happen to St. James."

"With that disc we found embedded into that plastic flower charm on her necklace? He'll be going away for a long time."

"Uh, and for the murder of his brother and sister-in-law, and the attempted murder of his niece and nephew-in-law," Jack added sarcastically.

"I can't believe we've finally got Ronald St. James after all these years. We've known that he's been guilty of these white-collar crimes, but there was no evidence. And now it's all there, in that disc. It makes perfect sense. Why he would suddenly change his crooked ways to pretend to be the good, hard-working businessman. Charles St. James blackmailed his brother by making this disc, and when he went down to that jailhouse to pay the bail for Ronald's second DUI, he probably threatened Ronald to be a good citizen so he didn't scare off his fiancé or else he'd turn in the disc to the authorities."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. He bid his time until he could get rid of Charles and Serenity to build a better image for himself. And after he got rid of his brother and his brother's wife, he realized he couldn't find the disc. That's why he went after Serena. At first I thought she could be helping him launder money into Japan, that's why I went to go investigate her, but then he tried to have her killed by sending that semi-truck. Which, I have to say, was a terrible idea. But I guess he was trying to make it look like an accident."

"Who'd have known Serena would be the long lost niece? It's crazy, I tell you, but we cracked this case!"

"I couldn't have done it without you, Sloan," Jack said. He stood and extended a hand. "Good work."

She slapped his hand away, "I deserve more than a fucking handshake," she protested. "Thank me with dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Yes, dinner."

"Uh...I get off at six tonight, you?"

"Six is fine, Jack," Sloan laughed, closing the distance between them. "It's a date." Their lips met for a brief kiss, and before Jack could hold her, she pulled away and walked out of his office.

"It's a date," he said, with a goofy smile on his face.

End Note: And that's end! I'm sorry if it wasn't as wonderful as you guys expected, just let me know if it entertained you, or if it absolutely was flat and lackluster. Review please!

Thank you all again for the support and encouragement throughout the years!