Love in the Christmas Air  			      EpilogueAuthor : P-120
Email : baer@ce.net  
Rating : G
Note : I do not own Sailor Moon.

 Thank you to everyone who's written to me about this story. 
Jade, Sailor Sun, Sailor Sonic, Sonia (I didn't forgetyou) and many others.  

			((((*))))

	'Yes I do, yes I do, yes I do," the words echoed in Darien's
head as he lay in his bed, cold and alone.   He couldn't have been happier
on that afternoon.  It had been a dreary day until she arrived and 
they had admitted their love for one another. 

 			**Flashback**
	" So what now ?" he asked.
	" We live happily ever after what else ?" she said with a smile.
	And he had took a hold of her lips in a passionate kiss that nearly
made his knees weak.  
	" I should come over more often when you're not expecting me," she said.
	" I would like that," he said.
	" Me too," she said as she pulled his lips back to hers. 
         Days later she had stopped by his apartment to say goodbye.  
She was going off to college, which was about 65 miles away, located
on the outskirts of town.  	
	" So .. you're going to college.  My meatball head is leaving me," he said.
	" Don't worry.  I'll be back for Christmas," with that she kissed him lightly.'
	" Don't tease me," he said and pulled her to him for a'real' kiss.	
			**End of Flashbacks**

	It was a sad day for Darien as she pulled away that day.  He would
always remember it.  The hardest part of it all was that he had gotten a phone
message from her saying she wasn't going to make it for Christmas.  He hadn't 
even been home when she called!  It was terrible.  He resisted the urge to
cry over it.  Him .. cry..nonsense! He told himself, but all his 
self-scolding had come to no avail.  The memories didn't fade and
the pain didn't lessen.  He shivered as the night air blew over his body.  
	Today was December 21 ... a few days before Christmas.  A 
Christmas he had to spend without the love of his life.  He still
had her Christmas present in his bedroom.  It wasn't wrapped.
 He looked down at the black velvet box and then turned away with tears
 in his eyes.  	Day after fateful, boring, lonely day past.  Today was 
Christmas Eve .. a special day that belonged to him and Serena.  
Deciding to leave his apartment for a while he got up and walked out
barely noticing the envelope on his doorstep.  He picked it up andopened it.  
	Inside there was a 3X5 card it read : 
		" For all of sad words of tongue or pen,
		the saddest are these " It might have been."-Whittier
	Stepping out into the cold, he put the envelope in his pocket
and started out on his journey of touring the city.  When he returned
there was another envelope, and his heart hoped that it might befrom 'her'. 	
	Opening it he found another 3x5 card it read : 
	"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't 
	mind, it doesn't matter" -- Jack Benny 
	Sucessfully confused he walked into his apartment and sat down.
After sitting staring at his physics book for an hour he got up and 
picked it off the shelf.  Opening it up to his page he found another
envelope, this time he smiled.  
	Inside was another 3x5 card it read : "Guilt: the gift that 
	keeps on giving "-- Erma Bombeck 
	Darien was unsure of all the cards and his suspicions were high.
He wasn't apt for being bothered when he was depressed and it was 
likely he would end up seething mad at someone!!! 
	Then there was a knock at the door .. he went over to find a 
card, a larger size.  It was a light pink, he picked it up as he 
repressed his heart from leaping.
	The front was white with a picture of a black cat, he thought
he recognized but wasn't sure.  Inside there was another cat, a white
one on a black background.  On the right side of the card it read : 	 	
	'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
	Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse 
	The stockings weren't hung by the chimmney with care
	While dear Darien sat all alone in his chair
	All alone for this Christmas just as before
	Until you heard a knock on your door
	Merry Christmas, Happy New Year a time to rejoice
	I'll be here as always forever your choice. 				Signed,				A Friend ... 
	He smiled and controlled himself as he ran toward the door and
threw it open.  Looking around outside he found no one. He went back
to his apartment with a heavy heart.  He went over and stood in front 
of his coffee table and prepared to read up on his physics.  Sitting
down he started to read but grew bored due to his mind being on other
things.  He put his head back on the couch and closed his eyes.  
	Serena saw this from her hiding spot on the balcony and started
to slink around his apartment.  Finally reaching her destination, she
stood before Darien as he lay in a very vulnerable position.  
	She leaned down and kissed him, crawling carefully onto his lap.
Darien knew immediately it was Serena and pulled her close to him 
virtually crushing her small body.  
	" Sorry Darien. I won't be home for Christmas please 
forgive me .. ?" said Darien repeating her phone message.  He had 
listened to it time and again and had virutally memorized it. 
	" It was a surprise.  A surprise you didn't like ?" she asked.
	Avoiding the question he said," Do those 3x5 cards belong to you?" 
	" Yes.  Quotes I picked up on the way home here and there,"she said.
	" You should have come home sooner," he said.
	" I know.  Traffic was bad.  I would have been here thismorning. " she said.
	" That's excusable," he said as he sank down onto the couch 
stretching out the length of his body, pulling Serena along with him.
	" What are you up to ?" she asked eyeing him suspiciously.
	" Nothing.  I'm tired," he said innocently and closed his eyes.
	She got up from the couch and ignored the hurt look on his face. 
She walked around his apartment and turned off the lights, televison and 
all running appliances.  Then she layed back down with Darien and putting
her head against his chest .. fell asleep.  				The Next Morning ..
	Darien awoke on his couch and then remembered Serena.  She 
was still fast asleep in his arms.  He pulled her closer to enjoy
the remaining time he had with her while she was in such a peacefulmood.  
	" Good morning Darien," she said.	" Good morning.  Merry Christmas," he said.
	" Merry Christmas," she said and looked up at him and hekissed her gently.  
			Later Afternoon 				 	" You got me a christmas card ?" she asked.
	" Of course," he said and handed her the dark red envelope.
	She opened it carefully, as she always did and saw what she
hadn't expected.  There was a foil heart on the front that had lace
around it's edges.  	" Darien, would you be terribly mad if I, in my rush to get
home to you, didn't have time to pick you up a present ?" she said nervously.
	" The only thing I want from you Serena," he took out the black
box, " is for you to say yes. " 
	He got down on one knee and opened the box displaying a 
beautifully carved diamond ring. " Serena Tsukino, soon to be famous
art designer, will you marry me ?" he asked her sincerely.
	" You're serious right ?" she asked.	" Very much," 
	She smiled nearly screamed," YES!"
	He took the ring from the box and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly. 
	" Okay now that you've said yes. I have to warn you. . " 
	" About what ?" she asked. 	" I have a terrible obsession with physics," 
	" Science ?" 	He nodded.
	" Hmmmm," she said. " After we're married. You'll be much more
interested in studying anatomy," she said with a whimsical smile.
	His eyes lit up at the comment and she giggled.

 				<<--End-->>

This is the final addition to this story.  I'm done with it.  Didn't like it ? Did ? You can always email me ...  
I have other stories posted at my web site at www.geocities.com/TelevsionCity/Set/8812/sailor.html