Coastiewife465, thank you for the prompt you sent me to write this story. It was so much fun to write. I hope it lives up to your expectations.

Thank you to my amazing beta, blueeyedevil06 who made this story even better!

Age Difference

It was the little things that caught Darien off guard and made him wish that Serena was a bit older than she was. Today, it was the chocolate milkshake stain in his biology notes. He had been studying last night at the counter in the Arcade when Serena popped up with her milkshake in hand. She proceeded to tell him that she had actually studied for her political science class and gotten a B on a test. He was incredibly proud of her but hid it well. He asked if she cheated, and she went to slam down her milkshake. Of course, she managed to spill it all over the counter and onto his notes. He had rolled his eyes at her and cleaned up his notebook.

Now, he sighed. He needed to get her out of his head. She was too young for him. She was a Freshman in college, and he was in his second year of med school. Having a crush on her was just creepy, right? He had known her since she was in a training bra. His male mind supplied that she definitely wasn't in a training bra now. She had grown up quite a bit since he had met her.

He flipped to the blank page in his notebook to take notes in class. He didn't want to analyze why, when he could have ripped out the blank pages that had dried chocolate all over them, that he didn't and took notes on them instead. He reflected that she had been so embarrassed, apologized and tried to clean it up for him. Of course, she almost spilled his coffee in the process. She looked so beautiful when she blushed over that.

His body tingled as he thought about her brushing up against him as she cleaned up the spill. She had been so close, and he had been so tempted to reach out and set his hand on her back to reassure her. His rational mind knew that would be a bad idea. Once he allowed himself to touch her, he would have crossed a barrier that would make it harder for him to keep his feelings contained and to himself.

And, he knew his feelings must remain a secret. She was so much younger than him. He still saw parts of that fourteen year old girl in her from when they first met. Granted, it was the part of her that was so carefree and loved everyone. He always thought she would lose her innate trust and love for people. He was surprised when that hadn't been tempered as she grew older. Truthfully, he was impressed that she could stay the way she had been even while navigating high school and mean girls. He knew for a fact that she had been confronted with at least one.

Class started and he took notes on his chocolate stained page. It was a private indulgence that he allowed himself. He had quite a few of those, and he would have noticed if he was counting. Two of them were connected to the fact that he had purchased her a new milkshake after she had spilled hers yesterday. He liked to take care of her, and he loved to see her smile at him.

Once class was over, he met some of his classmates for coffee at the coffee house on campus. When he arrived Rick, David, and Stephen were already there. They were the closest things to friends he had in the med program. Mainly, it meant that they could come close to keeping up with him academically, and that they didn't annoy him.

He joined them, and they began discussing their research papers they were working on for one of their classes when Darien sensed Serena entering the room. He didn't know when he began to be able to just know she was there, but he was never wrong.

He saw her go and get some drink from the barista that he knew was more sugar than actually coffee. He had laughed when she first told him she was drinking coffee now. He had pointed out that when coffee is the smallest ingredient in the drink, it doesn't count. She huffed and stomped her foot. He hid his smile.

As she turned to go, he saw her locate him and make her way over to them. She weaved through the tables and left staring guys in her wake. He wanted to punch everyone for looking at her. Not that he blamed them.

She sauntered up and said, "Darien! How great that I ran into you. I was just talking to Rita and she wants to throw a surprise party for Andrew in two weeks. Of course you have to be there. Will Saturday at seven o'clock work for you?"

He pulled out his calendar on his phone and entered the party into it. "I have it on my calendar. I will be there."

She smiled at him and his insides melted. "That's great! Now, I just need to plan the decorations. Lita is making the cake, of course."

"Should I bring anything?"

Serena shook her head, "Just bring yourself and that will be perfect."

He heard one of the guys make a coughing sound behind him and he cringed. He didn't want to introduce her to them. He sighed and decided he couldn't avoid it. "Serena, I would like you to meet some of my classmates. This is David, Rick, and Stephen."

Serena smiled brightly at them, and Darien's insides clenched. He knew what that smile could do to people. She waived and said, "Oh my gosh! It's so great to meet you all. How long have you all been friends with Darien?"

Darien chucked to himself. Of course, she would change classmates to friends in an instant.

After they all chatted a bit, Serena noticed the time and started laughing. "I may be in college, but I am still running late to my classes. I have to go now, or I am going to be late!" She waived and took off running. Just like he had said, some things never changed from when she was fourteen.

He turned to look at a very shocked Rick who said, "You know Serena Tsukino! How long have you been hiding that from us? I thought we were friends." He said in mock offence.

Darien was confused, "What are you talking about? You know her?"

All three looked at him like he was insane. David spoke slowly like he was speaking to a child, "Yes, we all know of the hottest girl on campus."

"She's five years younger than us, six years younger than Stephen." Darien pointed out with conviction.

"So?" Stephen asked.

"So, she's way too young." Darien stated matter of factly.

David let out a snorting laugh at that. "That's just stupid."

Darien was reeling. No, it wasn't stupid. It was what bracketed all of his interactions with her. He was in love. She was too young. That was it. He would wait for her to grow up, and get older. The age difference would still exist, but she wouldn't be just out of high school. She needed to be older than she was before he allowed his feelings to take over and ask her out.

After studying for a while, all of a sudden, David stood and started putting his things away. "Well, now that I have an introduction to Serena, I am going to go stalk the political science building."

"Wha..?" Darien said, stunned.

David looked at him and said, "I am not going to let my chance with her pass me by because she is younger than me. Who even cares? I am going to ask her out on a date for Friday." He finished packing his things and put his bag on his shoulder. "Wish me luck!"

Darien watched in horror as he walked away, and the other guys did, in fact, wish him luck. He couldn't believe it. How could David go after someone so much younger than him? She was a Freshman! What was he thinking?

His mind provided the answers to that. He was thinking that she was beautiful, and he didn't care about her age.

That upset Darien though. She was so much more than beautiful. She was kind, loving, accepted everyone just as they were, encouraged people, helped develop their confidence, and she was just perfect. Even her clutz attacks were endearing. She was perfect in every way except her age.

It suddenly dawned on him that her age wouldn't matter to him when he watched her go on a date with David. All that would matter was that he was in love with her, and she was sharing her smiles with someone else. The age difference would disappear, and all that would be left would be his broken heart. What if she fell in love with David? What if he asked her out, and Darien never got the chance with her once she was older?

Darien hastily gathered up his things and packed them away. He grabbed up his bag and threw it on his shoulder. He looked up at Rick and Stephen and said, "See you in class." He then ran out of the coffee house.

He was glad that he knew which classroom Serena was in. While David was stalking the exits, he would be able to go right to her. He arrived at her classroom right after it had released. David was nowhere in sight. That made him smile.

As he walked up to her, he noticed she was in deep conversation with some guy. That raised his hackles. The guy was smiling way too much at her. All of a sudden, his age difference seemed like a benefit. He looked at the boy and knew that he had more to offer her. How quickly that opinion had changed.

She stopped short when she saw him, "Darien, what are you doing here? Did you have a question about the party?

The boy next to her tried to draw her attention away from him. He said, "Serena, can we go and get a coffee together? My treat."

She smiled at the boy and Darien wanted to hit him. Darien tried to look every bit his age to intimidate the kid. It wasn't working.

Darien decided to use a bit of subterfuge. He hoped it wasn't beneath him. He said, "I had a concern about the party, and I was hoping we could go over it now."

Serena looked pensive and nodded, "What did I miss?"

Now, he just needed to figure out how to draw her away from the boy, and not towards David.

Darien said, "Can we step out of the way and discuss it?" He drew her away and shot the boy a glare. He almost audibly sighed when it worked, and he walked away.

Serena looked up at him with her beautiful eyes and said, "So, what's the problem?"

And here it was. He knew he had to tell her. How could he have thought her age mattered when he was in love with her. No one else would treasure her and protect her the way he would. He wanted to be the one who was there for her when she needed someone. He knew he wouldn't fail her. He wouldn't let himself.

"Serena," he breathed out. "You have no idea how hard I fought against my feelings. I can't anymore. I have been in love with you for so long I don't remember when it started. I've tried in vain to fight them. To give you time to go to college, grow up, have fun. I don't know how to have fun, but I will try, for you. I want you to experience everything college has to offer. I just can't sit by and watch you anymore. I have to ask you if I can experience it with you. I am too selfish to stand by and watch you date other guys your age, or older. I can't when I am in love with you. Please, be my girlfriend."

She looked up at him and her mouth formed a perfect "o." She was stunned by his confession. He hoped she would give him a chance anyway.

A single tear leaked out of her eye and he panicked. He didn't want to make her cry. She then smiled, and said, "Yes, I love you too." She took a breath. "I never imagined you could love me back."

He brushed his hand over her face and pulled her close. "I will never leave you in doubt of my feelings again." He sealed his promise with a kiss.

David, Rick and Stephen all watched as Darien kissed Serena. Not one of them had been fooled by him.