Love in the Christmas Air .. 			Chapter Three : Christmas obstacles ..
Author : P-120
Rating : G
E-mail : baer@ce.net 
Disclaimer : I do not own Sailor Moon ...

Note : A big thank you to Sonia who's helped me greatly with this story..
		
	((((*))))

	" So Serena .. I'm having a party on Christmas Eve.  Please 
say you'll come," said Molly.
	" But I already have plans for Christmas Eve," she said.
	" Ohhh," said Molly sadly.
	" I'm sorry Molly, but I always spend Christmas with a friend
of mine. And I can't abandon him.  " she said.
	" Okay Serena.  I understand, " said Molly. 			((((*))))	
	" Hey Darien ! I'm having a get together for Christmas Eve.  I've
invited the class to come.  You're invited as well.  What do you say? "he asked.
	" I .. um.  I kind of have plans for Christmas Eve," he said.
	" Really, what are you doing ? " 
	" A friend of mine and I always get together.  And I think it 
would be unfair for me to just abandon her," 	" Bring her along," 
	" I'm not sure if she'd like that.  She's not one for ..
schopol things, " he said.  
	" Oh well it's not a school thing it's a Christmas party," 
	" I don't know.  I don't think she'd be much interested," 
	" Okay if you change your mind.." said the Professor sensing
 that Darien would rather be alone with this 'friend' of his. 			((((*))))
	" Serena !  Are you going to the Christmas dance ? " asked Jenny excitedly.
	" No," she replied.	" But why ? " 	" I'm busy," she replied almost coldly. 
	" Oh," she said and walked away wondering what was wrong with Serena.  	
			((((*))))	" Why's Serena denying all invitations to Christmas parites.  
She usually never gives up a chance at free food ! " exclaimed Reito Andrew.
	" Don't you know ? " Andrew asked her.
	" Know what ? " Rei asked her interest peaked.
	" Darien and Serena always spend Christmas Eve together.  They
have for the last um .. 5 years," he said. 
	"She never mentioned it," said Rei distantly.	
	" Well she didn't tell me either.  But Darien tells me about it. 
She makes him happy.  He always looks forward to Christmas, he used
to hate it.  Serena's done wonders on Darien," said Andrew with a grin.
	" Really ? " asked Rei with a grin of her own.  Now this 
was interesting.  She'd had no idea they were together.  			((((*))))
	Darien walked along the aisle of the beauty shop.  He felt 
slightly out of place here.  He was in the jewelry section.  He had 
gotten her a ring last year.  He was interested in a rose pendent on
a gold chain. 	" Excuse me ? " he asked the lady at the counter.
	" May I help you Sir ? " 
	" I'm looking for a necklace with a rose pendent or charm .. " he asked.
	" Um .. we don't have any in stock.  But .. I have this magazine. " 
She brought it to the counter and flipped through it quickly.  There was 
a whole page of different rose charms.  He picked out the one that 
best matched the ring he had brought her.  
	" Can I get that on a gold chain ? " he asked.	" Of course," 
	" And gift wrapped when it arrives ? "  	" Sure," came her reply.  
	It was several days until Christmas so it would arrive in timeno doubt.   
			((((*))))	Serena walked along the bookstore.  Did she want to get him a 
book she wondered.  He was always reading.  But she didn't have a clue
what to get him.  So she decided to get him a certificate.   That way
he could pick out his own book.  But somehow she didn't feel too pleased
with that.  She traveled along and found an earth pendant necklace.  She 
liked it and picked it up for Darien.  It was a guy's necklace which
was obvious by it's appearance, and she was delighted to have found him
the perfect gift.  			((((*))))
	Darien opened his apartment door, kind of sleepily.  Serena 
noticing his weakness nearly jumped on him.  She hugged him fiercely and
tightly.  	" Merry Christmas Darien," she squealed just trying to annoy him.  
	" Merry Christmas Serena," he said and yawned.
	" The whole point of that little act was to wake you up.  Obviously
I failed ! " she said with a strange tone of voice he didn't believe he'd
ever heard. 	" Sorry.  I was up late talking to a friend," he said yawning.
	" I'll come back if you like .. next year ? " she asked.
	" NO ! " he said suddenly awake.  			((( Evening ))) 
	" okay Darien.  I went Christmas shopping for you and I .. um..
well didn't know what to get you.  So .. here. " she said and handed him
his small gift and card.  He opened it to find the earth pendant. 	
	" Where did you buy this ? " he asked.
	" Oh at the um .. charm store on Main Street," she said. 
	" A gift certificate ? " he asked.
	" You're always reading.  It's best if you pick out your own
books.  I don't know what you read anyway," she said.
	He laughed lightly and handed her the gift he had bought for her.
She opened it and found a matching necklace to her ring that she waswearing.
	" Do you like it ? " he asked.
	" You like roses Darien ? " she asked him very seriously.
	" I believe they are very symoblic.  They smell nice and appear
beautifully, but are not defenseless.  The thorns on a rose put up
quite a fight.  And they remind me of you. " he said. 
	" You know Darien .. you're a nice guy when you want to be," she
said with a small smile as they locked eyes both afraid of the hold that
kept them staring at the other.  Finding it impossible to break the gaze
and refusing to give in to this power they remained still until a knock 
at the door broke the spell.  	" I um .. have to go. " he said.
	" You have plans then ?" she asked.
	" Um .. well I kind of got backed into it," he said.
	" I understand.  Besides I have to go to a dance and Molly's 
party," she said.  She gathered her few things and went to the door.
	" Serena this is Kelly. Kelly my friend Serena" said Darienintroducing.
	" Hello," said Kelly.
	" Hello. It's nice to meet you," said Serena and they shookhands politely.
	" You too," said Kelly and she smiled.  
	" Excuse me. My friend Molly will kill me if I don't come to
her party.  See ya CJ, bye Kelly," said Serena exiting the apartment
shrugging off the last of her discomfort while leaving the building.  
			((((*))))	" CJ ? " asked Kelly.
	" conceited jerk," he responded with a weak smile.  His heart 
telling him he wanted to be with Serena.  
	" And she's your friend ? " she asked him.
	" I'm not exactly Prince Charming to Serena.  I call her 
Meatball Head and she calls me a conceited jerk.  She just recently 
abbreviated it," he said. 
	" Oh.  You've known each other a while then ? " she asked.
	" Um .. it's been 6 or 7 years I guess.  I've spent Christmas
Eve with her for the last 5," he said.
	" Am I disturbing ? I'm sorry Darien," she said.
	" No it's okay.  She was going to some party at her friend 
Molly's anyway.  And then she had another friend Jennifer who told her 
she had to be at the dance because she was on the committee. "  he 
said explaining to her and making excuses for himself.  			((((*))))
	" Serena you look so .. depressed, " said Molly looking at her
friend.  " It's a Christmas party.  You're supposed to be happy," shesaid.
	" I know. I'm just bored," she said in reply to her question.
	" Oh well, why don't you dance or something.  Maybe a music
request for the DJ .. anything to show some vitality ! " pleaded Molly. 
	" I think I'm gonna go to the dance.  I have to make an appearance
on behalf of the Dance Committe," said Serena.
	" Oh right.  The extra credit thing," said Molly in understanding.	" yeah," 
	" Okay, I'll see ya," said Molly wavering to her friend.
	" Bye," said Serena exiting with her purse in hand.  				((((*))))
	After making her appearance she walked home silently.  This had
not been the usual Darien & Serena Christmas Eve she was used to.  The 
calm effect of being in Darien's apartment celebrating Christmas with him.
Receiving a gift and card from him that she cherished in her heart.  The
warmth of his embrace and the happiness at his smile.  She missed it, 
she missed it sooo much.  				((((*))))
	Darien too was walking home.  He and his friend Kelly had decided
to exercise their legs despite the cold, bitter air.   Darien was distracted,
he had gone to the Professor's party thing, he hadn't wanted to go.  But
Kelly hadn't let him say no.  She hadn't given him a chance to speak at
all.  She'd hung up before he could get a word in edgewise.  This wasn't
the Christmas Eve he wanted, not at all.  He didn't want to spend it with 
Kelly, no offense to her, he thought quickly.  But she was just a friend,
and a distant one at that.  He didn't want to spend it with the Proffessor. 
He saw enough of the man in school, no offense to him either, but neither 
of either the former or latter was Serena.  A girl he didn't get along 
with the majority of the year, but always spent his Christmas with.  She
was the only reason he even celebrated Christmas, not to be with someone
else.  She had come to *him* to cheer *him* up because *he* was her 
sparring partner.  *He* was the one she exchanged insults from and 
continuously knocked to the ground, and threw things at.  She was the 
one who opened his heart to Christmas and all the joy it could bring.  
But once you step outside into the world he learned to where she was
he also had to deal with the obstacles of everyone else during the 
Christmas season.  And when he'd turned back to re-enter his steel  
cage, his heart had shut and locked the door.   He missed Serena.  Her 
first silly, but hearfelt, originally written Christmas card by her especially 
for him.
	He still kept that card with the other ones she'd given him in his desk 
drawer beside his bed.  Her gifts all of which he placed in a safe that
he had bought a year earlier.  They were all special items to him, she did
things for him he thought no one would ever do.  She made him smile, and
laugh and he didn't have a doubt she could make him cry.  *Him* of all
people, a strong, brave, intelligent guy like him cry ?  Not a doubt in
his head.  She could make him cry and probably very easily.  			((((*))))
	Both walking and thinking at the same time.  Who thought it 
could be so distracting ?  With an extreme sense of normality Serena
absently walked into someone, but not full force as only to startle 
her from her day dream.  	" Oh, excuse me," came her soft reply.
	" Hey meatball head ! You're out late," he said.
	" It's not that late.  " she replied evasively.  
	" Well if you don't think it's that late then will you come 
back to my apartment.  Our Christmas doesn't feel right .. you know ..
the same .. " he trailed off at a loss for words.
	" Yeah.  It feels wrong.  Violated, our Christmas time was 
violated," she said matter of factly.  	" Yes, it was," he said slowly. 
	" Then we have Christmas plans ? " she asked excited.
	" We sure do," he said and she nearly jumped into his arms
for a hug.  His arms went around her in a customary manner as they 
always did, but it felt different this time.  It felt .. secure.  He 
pulled away from her enough to see her face, her lightning eyes 
flickered across his face.  She made him feel like a live wire sometimes
and now was one of those times.  He leaned down to brush a friendly 
kiss across her cheek but missed his mind's intended target.  His lips
touched hers in a soft kiss that made them feel as if the temperature
outside had risen to one hundred degrees when it was bitter cold. 
 Instinctivly, they broke apart from one another and averted their 
eyes from their partner. 
	" So .. are you still up for the D&S Christmas party ? " she 
asked cheerfully, as she could manage a few minutes later after enduring
the uncomfortable silence.  
	Darien's face lifted and he allowed relief to flood his features.
	" Sure meatball head ! " he said trying to console himself with 
her infamous nickname.  
	Darien and Serena walked slowly down the now dark street.  Neither
saying a word, but allowing the crisp Christmas air to silence them.  It created a very 
romantic atmosphere making the two of them even more uncomfortable and nervous
about the evening’s previous events.  That’s when Serena saw Darien’s apartment 
ahead of them.  	" Darien?" she asked quietly.	" Yes?" he responded.
	" Race ya," came her cherry challenge.	" Go!" he said and took off running.
	" HEY !!! Wait up!!!" she cried trailing after him, their laughing voices shattering
the serene moments they shared a few moments earlier. 		(((( Apartment ))))
	" After you," said Serena.
	"No, after you," he said standing aside from the doorway to his apartment.
	"No, I insist! " she said.	"No I insist! " he said persistently.
	"I don’t have all night to argue," she said indignantly and turning to 
enter the apartment but tripping over Darien’s foot.   Darien reached out quickly and 
grasped her waist tightly to prevent her from falling to the floor.  He felt her breathe in 
deeply and then exhale slowly, a sure sign of her relief.  He gently turned her around to 
face him.  	"Are you all right?" he asked, his tone very concerned.
	She smiled, embarrassed at herself and nodded.  Both of them coming to the sudden
realization that his hands were still resting on her hips.  He gripped her tighter and 
then wrapped his hands around her small waist completely, holding her close to him for a 
second before dipping her as if they were dancing, all the while smiling mischeviously.
  After he pulled her back up, tension was on high and he almost instantly let her go 
and they entered the apartment.   Darien closed the door behind him wondering what
 in the world he was thinking.  		(((( 10:00 P.M. ))))
	Serena laughed and Darien rolled his eyes. 	" Not funny Serena !!" 
	"That’s funny!" she said and continued laughing.  
	He had been telling her about a party he had gone to and the ‘birthday boy’ had
 made a joke about Darien.  He repeated the joke at Serena’s continuing nagging, and then 
she had began laughing.  Apparently she found it quite entertaining, and at that moment 
Darien thought of his trusty psychics book.  And then he realized Serena wasn’t laughing 
anymore and now that she wasn’t .. he missed the sound. 
	" I’m sorry Darien," she said appearing sincere. 
	He nodded but voiced no words.
	" I really am you know.  I’ll make it up to you!" she said.
	" You don’t have to do that.." he said.	" I will !" she said determined.
	He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again knowing it was useless to
waste his time talking.  		(((( Departure )))) 
	Serena walked in a circle three times around Darien’s living room.  Darien watched 
her trying not to laugh at the comical picture she was.
	" What are you doing?" he asked her.
	" Do you have a clock in this place!" she asked agitated.
	" It’s 12:30," he said looking at his watch.
	" Oh no .. I’m late !" the two of them said in unison and Darien laughed.   Serena
hit Darien square in the face with a pillow for making fun of her.  
	" HEY !!" he said.
	" Hay is for horses you are a jack-@$$ " she replied whimsically. 
	" Oh are we back to the 99% of the year.. enemy status already ? " he asked.
	" It’s past twelve it’s officially Christmas!" she exclaimed.
	" I’ll walk you home," he said getting his coat not replying to her comment.
	" Okay," she replied walking out the door with Darien following.	
	Once again silence enveloped them as they walked down the tranquil street.  The newly
fallen snow sparkled and it reminded Darien of Serena’s enchanting eyes.  They arrived 
at her house a few minutes later. 
	" Oh Darien !!" Serena called him back as he had turned to walk back to his apartment.
	" Yeah ?" he asked facing her.
	" My mother wants you to come to dinner tonight.. wanna come?" she asked.
	" Oh... I don’t know," he said unsure.
	" Please .. besides I owe you remember?"	
	" Okay .. I’ll come .. thanks Serena," he said.
	" Your welcome .. Merry Christmas Darien," she said before out of 
pure habit stood on her toes and brushed a kiss against his cheek, and memories 
of earlier came flooding back.
	" Oh .. I’m sorry ..  good night Darien .. " she said and turned away quickly and dashed 
into the house.  Darien smiled..  Serena had once again brightened his day and now he felt 
refreshed.  But if he didn’t get some sleep, he was going to look awful for dinner... 
	- end three -