Bleed to Love Her 7/7 By Meredith Bronwen Mallory Ladies and gents, This is the FINAL part of BTLH!! Yes, a certain some one could not sleep last night and stayed up 'til three am writing this. (sweat drop!) Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and thank you for taking the time to read this!!! PS. If you thought that the last part was even somewhat romantic, watch out!! This is mushy-ness at the extreme. Over exposure maybe dangerous to your health. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena blinked away the tears that welled up in her eyes. her thoughts begged the young man who had just fled the room, But he was already gone. Her cheek still tingling from his touch, and her body felt strangely alive. Strange how quickly his touch ad pierced that deadness that had surrounded her for weeks. Could something more going on here? She let her thoughts drift to his original purpose for being in her room. He had come for the book, the little black one that obviously held a secret he was trying to hide. True, Serena had yet to convince herself that it was okay to look at it, so he had not yet been forced to forfeit his mysterious poetry, but, his actions... well, that was a whole other thing. What exactly had he thought he was doing? she wondered. Was it possible that he shared her feelings? her rational mind mocked her. But her heart, her heart was telling her something else. More importantly, the energy sheıd felt when he touched her. It felt like home, and smelled like roses. she wondered. But it was true. Exhaustion and sleep reached their slippery tentacles out for the blond girl, their latest victim, and Serena rolled so her face was in the pillow, crying out her tears. With out really knowing it, her thoughts reached out for Darien, just as she slipped beyond the last hopeful mists of wakefulness and into dreams... ------- Darien stretched out on the sofa, pleased when the pain he felt was not as intense as a few days ago. He was improving. However, that little bit of satisfaction was over ridden by a wave of need. Need to go back upstairs, need to touch Serena, need to hold her... Darien gripped his hands tightly at his sides. It was the only thing restraining him from not going back up there. Why had she murmured HIS name in her sleep? Why not that of Andrew, who Darien knew she had a crush on. Could she possibly feel the same way? No.. impossible. No could love him, and yet.... He rolled on his side, seeking peace and solace in his dreams, wishing that, just this once, his dream princess would reach out for him and hold him. He knew now, that someway, how he was not sure, Serena *was* his princess. he reached out for her spirit with his last waking thoughts. ------ Lighter than a ghosts eyelash, they touched. Mind to mind, soul to waning, withering soul. They touched, and dreamed together. ------ They lay on the silvery sands of the beach, the Earth hanging low in the sky, disappearing beyond the line of the tranquil, moon-crater sea. Serenity lay curled up against her prince, head pillowed on his chest. Her still-wet gown clung to her body, but she wasnıt cold, not with his heavy cape wrapped around the both of them. They were at peace. ³I love you,² Endymion whispered, breaking the companionable silence. ³And I love you, my prince,² she whispered, moving closer. He wrapped his arms more tightly against her waist as he sat up, bringing her with him. ³Youıre so beautiful,² he murmured, bending to kiss her neck. The princess blushed, running her hand through his jet black hair as she practically purred her approval of his tender caresses Endymion raised his head slowly, preparing to kiss her fully on the lips and drain his love into her, when he looked into her sky blue eyes. She in turn, looked up into his stormy, passion clouded gaze, and they saw each other fully. Not as Serenity and Endymion, two young lovers from a lost century, who met secretly, depending on each stolen kiss, each borrowed moment as though it were breath. But as Serena and Darien, who fought to cover their attraction, who loved each other in the darkness and safety of their night-time beds, whispering endearments where the other could not hear, who even now dreamed together.... and they awoke. ---------- It had rained all morning, and into the afternoon. The sun hadnıt the chance to even light the day a little, and the skies remained a dark, foreboding gray. The weather that day seemed in tune with the mood of one Darien Chiba, who lay, once more on the couch he was beginning to think of as his prison. Heıd seen Serena once that morning, he only had two more visits left if she stayed true to form. Darien groaned in annoyance. He wished sheıd stay longer, talk to him, stop trying to hide her exhaustion from him and open up. Sheıd seemed particularly jumpy this morning, stealing furtive glances at him when she thought he wasnıt looking. But it wasnıt as if he didnıt feel a tad nervous around her either. Rolling his stormy blue eyes, Darien rested on the little black book now safely sitting with his other books on the end table, having been rescued from Serenaıs room. That thought, of course, brought him to last nightıs dream... Sometime later, Darienıs thoughts were interrupted by the muffled cursings of one Serena Tsukino, carrying from the hallway and into the study. ³Why do I have to be so clumsy?² he heard her ask the heavens. Darien listened as the front door opened, then watched through the front window as she went out on the covered porch to watch the rain. Something inside of him demanded he go out there and join her. Who was he to argue??? -------- He found her sitting on the porch swing, dressed in her pajamas, lazily rocking back and forth as she watched the rain fall. ³Is this seat taken?² he asked as he hobbled closer, using the crutches to support his bad side. Serena looked up, worry flashing in her beautiful blue eyes. ³Darien, you shouldnıt be up! Youıre still hurt,² she said. He flashed her a roguish smile before shaking his head. ³Iım fine, Serena,² he assured her, ³You on the other hand..² With some effort, he managed to join her on the swing, ³Serena, whatıs wrong... what ever it is, you know you can tell me, right?² She sighed, but didnıt send him away. The golden haired champion of love and justice was far too tired to fight anymore. ³Oh Darien!² she cried, flinging her arms around his next, still a little wary of his side. Immediately, strong arms enfolded her in a powerful embrace, shielding her from the world. Just like in her dreams.... Serena cried into his shoulder, letting out all the pent up worry, fear and frustration of the last few months as she drenched his skin with salty tears. After sometime, she stopped, resting her head against his chest as they rocked back and forth on the porch swing, the falling rain a soothing lullaby. Oddly enough, Serena didnıt feel in the least bit tired, no, now more than ever she felt alive, free and ready to take on anything that might come her way. Raising her head, she looked up at the man who held her, as if waiting for him to offer some sort of explanation. Darien looked down at the tiny angel, the delicate beauty that rested in his arms, tears spent. Heıd never felt more at peace than now... heıd never known that holding some one could feel so right. She looked up at him, her gaze innocent and questioning, and he found himself sorely tempted to kiss her. his rational mind told him. Yes, that was right, he had to rise above the temptation, exert some self control, take it slow... he had to kiss her. Serenaıs tiny gasp of surprise was quietly muffled by Darien powerful, warm lips as they easily captured herıs in a achingly tender kiss. He expected her to pull away, to be frightened, but instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and responded with all the passion she held in her tiny frame. The power that came through that kiss flowed through their bodies, singing in their veins. Suddenly, the sound of delicate glass breaking was heard, and they broke apart. Serena looked down in horror to find that her transformation locket had shattered, and now lay in pieces on the porch. ³Oh, no!² she cried, looking up at Darien. She found that he was staring at her, and looked to see why. She gasped. For there, where her locket had once rested securely, now hovered a silver crystal, pulsing with a brilliant light. ³That silver crystal,² Darien breathed, looking at his goddess with astonishment, ³It must have been inside you this whole time!² ³Inside me!?² Serena was aghast. But then, slowly, realization dawned. ³That must have been what was draining my energy!² The crystalıs pulsing light became brighter and brighter, and in not time at all, it enveloped the couple. As the brilliant light died, Serena looked at Darien, to find that he had changed. He wore the black and silver armor of the prince from her dreams, his eyes wide with amazement as he looked on her. She too had changed, dressed in a flowing white gown. They looked at each other, a thousand words and messages contained in that single gaze. ³Serenity...² he breathed, reaching for her. ³Endymion... oh my gosh, I canıt believe...² she allowed him to take her into his embrace, her eyes filled with a love older than most stars themselves. They watched as the silver crystal merged with the broken pieces of Serenaıs locket, forming a new one, which promptly fell into Serenaıs lap. The crystalıs power faded, returning the couple to their original state, ³I canıt be the moon princess!² Serena cried. ³Of course you can, love,² Darien informed her as he fastened the locket back in itıs rightful place. She looked at him tearfully. ³But the others... Raye...² ³Will love you all the more now. Iıve seen the way they fight for you in battle, my little Meatball Head... they respect you, and they are your friends, so of course they will accept this new part of you.² he replied reasonably, watching her eyes fill with happy tears as he called her ŒMeatball Headı. ³Oh, Darien!² she sighed, hugging him tightly before he pulled away, only to pull her closer and bring his lips crashing down on hers. ³I love you, Meatball Head,² he murmured when they came up for air. ³And I love you, my conceited jerk,² she replied, the tenderness in her tone destroying what had once been an insult. At last they were together again, Serenity and Endymion, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, Serena and Darien... it had always been them, together, over and over for a million plus years. The couple on the porch rested against one another, comfortable in their embrace. Outside, the rain went right on raining. ~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~ Bleed to Love Her by Lindsay Buckingham And once again she steals away, Then she reaches out to kiss me, And how she takes my breath away, Pretending that she donıt miss me. And once again she calls to me, Then she vanishes in thin air, Oh, and how she takes my breath away, Pretending that sheıd not there. ::Chorus:: Ohhhh..... I would bleed to love her, Ohhhh.... bleed to love her, Ohhhh..... I would bleed to love her, Ohhhh.... bleed to love her. Somebodyıs got to see this through, All the world is laughing at you, Somebodyıs got to sacrifice, If this whole things gonna turn out right. Ohhhh..... I would bleed to love her, Ohhhh.... bleed to love her, Ohhhh..... I would bleed to love her, Ohhhh.... bleed to love her. Ohhhh..... I would bleed to love her, Ohhhh.... bleed to love her. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ THE END, MINNA-CHAN!!! Isnıt that song perfect for Serena and Darien? Thank you so much, everyone, who sent in their comments and compliments on this, and my other, fics. Moon Klutz, Anon, Antigone, Rosegrl, Sakura, Liz-chan and everyone else!!!! You guys all rock! Until the next fic.... Luv Always, Meredith ~<~8 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~