Their fourth kiss was on June 30th, Serena's birthday.
Serena was finally turning 16! She was hanging out with her friends at the arcade and had a huge birthday cake to share, courtesy of Lita.
"Here's a pinch to grow an inch!" Rae said, giving her sizable pinch.
"Ow, Rae! Why did you do that?"
"What? You're so short, I thought you'd want to grow another inch!"
"That's mean, it's my birthday," Serena started arguing, but Amy stopped them quickly. She knew how long they'd bicker otherwise.
"Come on everyone," she said with a smile, "let's sing happy birthday and Serena can blow out the candles and make a wish!"
Darien had been watching from across the Arcade when Lita had brought the cake in. He had laughed when Rae pinched Serena, and now, when the girls started signing happy birthday to the blushing blonde, he got up so he could join in.
"Now blow them out and make a wish!" Mina cried.
Serena thought for a moment, then blew out her candles quickly, all in one go. Her friends cheered and clapped and Lita took the knife to start cutting the cake.
"You know guys," said Mina, "if we're going to do silly birthday traditions, like the pinch to grow an inch, shouldn't the birthday girl get her 16 birthday kisses too?"
"What?" Serena asked, as she realized what Mina had said.
"Tackle her!" Mina cried as she and Rae both leaned in from their seats next to Serena to give her kisses on each cheek, ending them with big loud "mwahs". Amy and Lita, laughing, joined in as well. "That's only four," Mina pouted, but then she saw the icing. Grinning wickedly, she scooped some up on her finger and poked Serena's face with it, "Five," she said, giggling. The other girls laughed as they watched Mina poke Serena's face in several places, leaving little bits of icing behind.
Darien watched amused, but then he had an idea. After 12 "kisses", Darien cut in, "Don't I get a turn girls?" he asked with a smile.
The girls all laughed and looked at Serena who had gone beet red. "Of course!" Mina said with an evil grin, getting out of her seat and moving to the other side of the table to give Darien room next to Serena.
Darien sat down and smiled, before swiping some of the icing on his finger. He tasted the first batch and smiled, "Excellent cooking, Lita." She nodded in thanks. He then put his finger down again and put a long streak down Serena's left cheek, a streak down her right and then a dab on her nose. Serena's face was getting redder and redder, she was so embarrassed she couldn't protest. He swiped another bit of icing and leaned in close to her face and said, "Happy Birthday, Serena." Then he kissed her, right on the lips. Serena was so surprised, she forgot to close her eyes. When he opened his and pulled away, he laughed at her wide eyes staring at him. "Sixteen," he said, smiling, before hoping up and sucking the icing off his finger and going out the door. "Have a great birthday, Meatball head!" He called back, "Take good care of her girls!"
"We will!" Mina called back in delight. The other girls were mostly in shock, but soon Lita and Amy started giggling.
"Now that's what I call a Sweet Sixteen," Lita said with a laugh. The girls all burst into giggles and Serena smiled, wiping off her face, her lips still tingling. It definitely was a Sweet Sixteen, she thought happily.