////////////////////////Love in the Christmas Air ??\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
			Chapter Five ... 


Author : P-120
Rating : G
Email : baer@ce.net 
Thanks to : Sonia !! 

Note : I do not own Sailor Moon *AND* I got an email from Sailor Chaos saying
that the timeline makes no sense.  I went back and checked in chapter three and 
Andrew told Rei ' five years ' since they started this.  So .. this is the day 
after their " Darien & Serena Christmas" when Andrew said five years.  That makes
Serena about 18 and Darien 24, counting up from 14, and 20 years old.  So, hope
that helps...

			((((*))))

	" So what do you think of my family?" she asked him as they 
walked side by side down by the lake.  
	" Your mom's nice.  I like her.  Your dad is .. well .. a 
suspicious man, and I mean it in the nicest possible way.  Your brother
well .. he's ... immature," he said.
	" Ah!  I agree.  " she said as they passed under a tree their
hands interlocked, but neither seemed to notice as they walked along.
It was a big lake and Serena briefly wondered if they would walk all 
the way around it.  
	" So? What do you have planned for this year?" he asked.
	" What? " she asked.
	" Are you going to college or .. ?" he asked.
	" Oh.  Yes, I've been accepted at the Toyko Graphic 
Art School.  " she said with a small smile.
	" Graphic art? You like drawing and such ?" he asked.
	" Yeah.  It's fun. I do alot of work on my computer at home. 
And .. I want to move out, so .. I want to get through school and move. 
But it'll probably be sooner.  What about you?" 
	" This is my last year of college.  I'll be going for a job 
at the Davidson Law firm to start my career as a lawyer.  " he said.
	" So what's with all the physics stuff?" she asked.
	" Pure interest," he said and she rolled her eyes.
	" You *read* that stuff for entertainment!  I thought it was 
some kind of assignment.  Sometimes you're so ... so .. boring!" 
	" Boring huh?" he asked as he grabbed her hands and pulled her towards
him.  Her foot hit a rock and she tumbled backwards taking Darien with her.  
Both of them landing with a splash in the water.   Serena's head popped up
through the water and she rubbed her eyes and spit out the water in her
mouth, all the while trying to stay above the water, and struggling.  Darien
nearly laughing reached out and grabbed her shoulders.  He felt the heavy 
breath of relief exit her body  as he held her above the water level as to not
cover her head. 
	" It's because of YOU we're in here !" she said.
	" Your welcome," he said with a smile.
	She rolled her eyes, but found it impossible to look away from his eyes 
as she felt herself being drawn toward him, and he toward her.  His hands found 
themselves sliding down her back to her waist to hold her closer to him in
the water   Ever so slowly he leaned down to her, and brushed a soft kiss against
her lips.  He opened his eyes to look at her and her expression was unreadable to 
him and he got nervous and let her go, she went splashing downward into the water.
	" Ahh!" she yelled and he hastily helped her out of the water.
	" Thanks a lot Darien !" she said.
	" I'm really sorry .. Serena.  For dropping you and causing us to
fall in the lake .. and .. and for kissing you I shouldn't have," he had quickened
his tone toward the end of his little speech.
	" It's all right Darien.  It makes the experience all the more memorable,"
she said turned away from him.
	His jaw dropped at the comment, but he managed to get control over his emotions
before she turned back to him.
	" Do you have a hair dryer at your apartment ?" she asked.
	" Yeah why?" 
	" What will my mother say?" she said running her hands through her now 
soaked, and matted hair.  
	" What you don't look much different than when we left," he said jokingly.
	" Oh shut up!" she said and hit him in the shoulder and Darien not being
able to resist the opportunity lifted her chin and kissed her briefly again, and after
a second broke the kiss. 
	" I'm .." he started to explain but was cut off when Serena captured his lips
with her own, and put her arms around his neck as to prevent him 'getting away'.  
Darien found the transition of his kissing her to her kissing him quite easy.  
He put his arms around her tightly, nearly crushing her body against his, and deepened
 the kiss.   In a need for air, he ended the kiss.  
	Serena looked up at him in near wonder, and slight embarrassment, due to her
behavior.  While looking into his eyes she noticed the darkened color, and decided it 
best that they go home.  
	" What am I going to tell my mother about my clothes?" she said while walking 
home with Darien.  
	" Tell her we fell in the lake.  That's what happened," he said with a slight
smile.
	" Right, and then she'll start asking me why was I playing around in my
'nice' clothes.. no way!" she said staring straight ahead.
	Darien noticed that she usually kept turned away from him and he wrote it off 
as nervousness.  
	" Serena," he said softly.
	" Yeah?" she asked.
	" Why won't you look at me?" he asked and she turned her head to face him, with
a quizzical look on her face.
	" About earlier.." 
	" There's nothing to say.  It was pretty self explanitory," she said quietly.
	" But you're .. now you're uncomfortable," he said.
	" No I'm not.. I'm just cold," she said.
	" Oh," he said.  
				((( Next Day ))) 

	Darien got up from his couch not knowing who was at his door.  He opened it
fo find Serena.
	" Good morning," she said casually.
	" Good morning.  Well.. come in meatball head!" he said.
	" I should slap you for that, but I'm in a good mood!" she said virtually
igoring the comment.
	" Why's that ?" he asked.  
	" I have been accepted at the Tokyo University of Art," she said with a smile.
	" Why are you going there?" he asked.
	" Graphic art design," she said.
	" Oh .. congratulations," he said.	
	" What's wrong?" she asked.
	" Nothing," he said sitting down on the couch.  
	She sat down next to him and gently lifted his chin to see his eyes.
	" If you don't trust me after all these years Darien.." she started but
was interupted.
	" I do trust you Serena.  I just .. it doesn't matter," he said and got up
and walked away from her, making sure to keep his back turned.
	" Are you sure?" she asked.
	" Yes!" he snapped.
	Serena stood up to leave him alone, trying to sort out her emotions, but she 
never made it to the door.  Darien slipped a arm around her waist and turned her to
face him.
	" I'm sorry," he said and pulled her into his embrace.  
	" That's okay Darien," she said.
	" No," he said letting her go.  " I shouldn't have taken out my problem on
you.  Especially since my problem *is* you." he said.
	" IS me? What did I do?" she asked.
	" Not is but .. you're .. it's hard to say Serena," he said and turned back 
to sit on the couch.
	She joined him and said," just say it!" 
	" Over the last how ever many years we've been doing this I .. have come to
care you for a great deal," he said.  
	" I know what you mean .. I care about you too," she said.
	" Not what I mean Serena," he said. 
	" What exactly do you mean?" 
	He paused for several moments. " I believe I've fallen in love with you.  And if 
you don't feel the same I want you to tell me,"  he said standing up and walking away from
her once again.
	She stood up and followed him.  She slipped her arms around his waist and sat her 
head on his shoulder.  
	" What makes you think that I don't?" she whispered in his ear. 
	He turned around to look at her, and "you do?" he whispered just as quietly.
	" Did last night say nothing to you?" she asked still in the hushed tone.
	He wrapped his arms around her and allowed a tear to drop down his face.
	" Darien?" she said.
	" Huh?" 
	" What's wrong?"
	" I just .. dreamed .. but never thought anyone ... could care about me," he said
slowly.
	" Why not? You're a wonderful person, and I love to be with you and around you
or just near you.  " 
	" But you don't love me," 
	" Yes, I do. " she said correcting him.  
	He held her tighter and kissed her cheek lightly before moving to her lips and
kissing her briefly.
	" So what now ?" he asked.
	" We live happily ever after .. what else ?" 
				((((*)))))
			
			<<<< END >>>>>