LAST CHAPTER! Just like I promised! Yaay! Now email me and tell me what you thought of this monster fic! I'm dying to know. One more song in the story. Guess what? It's mine. =) Wrote allthree of these especially for this fic. I love poetry! =) "Love Waits for You" by Stormlight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter Fourteen~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Okay, I am OFFICIALLY going insane!" Serena ranted as she paced the length of her bedroom. "Darien did NOT lock me in a room and kiss me like there was no tomorrow! THAT was just something my brain thought up...probably due to lack of oxygen after taking that killer math quiz today..." She cast a disparaging glance at the thick text book laying innocently on her desk, before turning her back on it and continuing to spew forth explanations as to why she appeared to be going off the deep end. Molly, sitting cross-legged on the bed, looked on with amused interest. She HAD come over to study with Serena, due to the fact that they both did less-than-well on that selfsame quiz, but since watching her best friend having a nervous breakdown was way more fun than going over fractions, she wasn't about to end the party yet. "Maybe he really DID kiss you in the employee lounge, though," she suggested, just so she could see Serena keel over in shock. "Not funny, Moll," the blond muttered from her sprawled position on the carpet. "I appear to be going mentally unstable, and all you can do is make crazy suggestions? Some help you are!" Molly giggled. "I know what YOU need! A nice long shopping trip! Obviously this whole studying thing has made you a little stressed out!" "That's just it, Moll! I haven't studied a single wink!" Serena wailed, leaping up. "If I had, THEN I wouldn't need to be so worried, 'cause I'd know what the problem's caused by...but I haven't actually done any real studying for the past week-thus the terrible score on my test-and so that means I have no conceivable reason to be making up such realistic daydreams unless I really am going crazy!" Molly cocked her head to the side, not at all certain that this explanation made any real sense, but willing to give her friend the benefit of the doubt, nonetheless. "Well, if you say so," she agreed amiably. They were interrupted by a knock on the door, and Sammy poked his head around the corner, a mischievous smile on his face. "Well...looks like SOMEBODY actually has a boyfriend!" he teased, holding a small bouquet of flowers out toward Serena. "These just came for you-SPECIAL DELIVERY-although who would want to send a bunch of weeds to my ditzy sister is beyond me!" "GIMME THOSE!" Serena hollered, lunging at her brother, who gave a little squeak and dropped the bouquet as he turned tail and ran for his life. "Dweeb!" Serena shouted after him as she snatched up the flowers. They weren't roses this time, but it was a lovely bouquet of pure white lilies and baby's breath, with a card tied to it with a crimson ribbon. "Another note!" Molly squealed. "Open it, Serena! Hurry up!" "Gimme a sec, will ya?" Serena replied with a giggle as she opened the envelope with trembling hands. She withdrew the small card, holding her breath as she opened it up. "Dearest Serena, How can I ever tell you what you mean to me? Into my life you came, like a dream. Though times and circumstances kept us far apart, you're always in my heart... And now...it is time that we met face to face. I want to look into your eyes as I tell you what is on my heart. If you have any interest in meeting me at all, please come to the gardens in Fairview Park at midnight, tonight. I will be waiting for you there." "THIS IS SO COOL!" Molly shrieked, grabbing Serena's hands and jumping up and down. "He want's to MEET you! In the PARK! At NIGHT! Ohhh...I am SO jealous! Why can't I meet someone romantic and mysterious like that?" "This is so not happening," Serena murmured, sinking down onto her bed. "I mean...why ME? Why now? It's too soon! I don't think I want to meet him..." "Are you NUTS?!" Molly yelped. "Of COURSE you want to meet him! Don't be insane! You really HAVE gone crazy, haven't you?!" Serena giggled. "Well...there IS the little problem of me sneaking out of the house at night," she replied. "HA! Don't give me that! You do it all the time as Sailor Moon!" Molly exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger. Serena sweatdropped, scratching her head. "Yeah...well... sneaking out to fight evil and save the world and sneaking out to meet a strange man I've never seen before in my life are two COMPLETELY different things!" she protested. "And I'm sure Luna would heartily agree with me!" "You're just afraid!" Molly taunted. "So, what? You can fight off monsters any time of day without batting an eyelash, but when it comes to guys you're just a big scaredy-cat at heart, is that it?" "NO!" Serena yelped. "I'm not afraid!" "Then prove it!" she challenged. "Go out there and meet this guy! Serena...if you DON'T go, you'll break his heart!" This gave Serena pause. She had not looked at it that way before. But...she guessed Molly had a good point. If she didn't meet this guy, it probably would break his heart, and she didn't want THAT guilt weighing on her conscience on top of everything else! Besides...she really was dying to find out who her mystery man really was. "Oh, all right," she grumbled. "I'll go to the park and meet this admirer of mine, if only for his sake!" "Great!" Molly cheered, clapping her hands. "Now...how about we hit the books now, huh?" Serena shot her friend an incredulous glance. "Me? Study? NOW?" she yelped. "Are you nuts? If I wanna go meet this guy, I have to look my best...and that means...I have to PLAN for it! Forget studying! You're giving me a MAKEOVER!" Molly shook her head hopelessly, raising her eyes skyward. "Of course," she replied with an amused smile. "How silly of me to suggest otherwise..."* * * * * Serena was very nervous as she climbed out her bedroom window at approximately eleven forty-five PM and carefully climbed down the tree to the ground below...a task that was so much simpler in flannel pajamas than in the white skirt she was wearing. Maybe she should have stuck to pants and a shirt, but she wanted to look her best; she'd even done up her face with makeup, with Molly's help, which was something that probably would be lost on her admirer considering it was so dark outside. But at least she FELT pretty... Serena made her way down the dark street toward the park, running lightly and quickly. The shadows seemed ominous tonight; probably because she wasn't in her Scout form. She comforted herself by clutching the locket at her throat, knowing she could transform in a moments notice if she had to. If her being Sailor Moon didn't scare off any unwanted guests...maybe the light show she gave off while turning into her alter ego would. The gardens in the park were close by, thankfully. She knew them well, having spent many a spring day there picnicking with her friends. She slowed as she reached them, wondering if maybe it had been such a good idea, after all, to come. After all...despite who she was, she was still just a girl alone in a park at night going to meet someone who could just as easily turn out to be a murderer or something as a secret admirer. **Maybe I should just go home,** she thought uneasily. **Luna would be furious if she knew I was here, and she'd have every right to be. I'm stupid coming out here by myself at this time of night...** She had just about convinced herself to turn tail and run back home again when the soft strains of a guitar drifted to her from just ahead, freezing her in her tracks. **A guitar? Out here?** she wondered, moving silently ahead in spite of herself, praying that she wouldn't have one of her famous klutz attacks and trip over a hidden rock or anything. Not the most demure way to announce her arrival... "Um...hello?" she called out softly, nearly jumping out of her skin at the sound of her own voice, seemingly deafening in the still night air. The guitar stopped playing, and she hesitated, wondering if it was too late to make her escape. She would find some way to tell this guy that meeting strangers in the park at night was just not her idea of fun... "Serena? Is that you?" a familiar voice called out. Serena froze, her eyes going wide. **I...I know that voice!** she thought. **But...it couldn't POSSIBLY be...** She took a step forward, and then another one, until she came to the edge of a low wall and took a peek around it, expecting to see the owner of the voice sitting there. There was no one there at all. She frowned. "Girl, you are losing it! Get out of here now!" she muttered, and turned to leave, but suddenly the guitar started playing again, making her pause and look back. A figure was detaching itself from the shadows, the moonlight gleaming softly on polished wood of the guitar and the jet-black hair of its owner. His long fingers moved easily over the strings, and Serena found herself watching those hands, remembering how they had felt running through her hair... "I thought it was you," Darien was saying quietly as he stood before her, still stroking the strings of the guitar in a haunting melody. "I wasn't sure you were going to show up at first." "I...this is...you're here..." she stammered, trying desperately to recall SOMETHING that resembled speech. "I'm supposed to meet my secret admirer here! What are YOU doing here?!" she finally blurted out. Darien smiled softly. "I should think that would be obvious," he teased gently. Her eyes widened. "YOU sent the note?!" she yelped. His smile widened slightly. "And all the others...and the flowers...and the bracelet," he added, looking at her wrist where the silver bracelet gleamed. "You haven't taken it off since I gave it to you. I'm flattered." "I need to sit down before I fall down," Serena muttered, rubbing her temple. She lowered herself onto the empty park bench, staring up at him cautiously. "So...you are telling me that YOU are the one that's been sending me all these notes?" she demanded. "Why would you do that? Is this some kind of cruel trick or something?" "No trick, Serena," he replied quietly. "I have something I've been trying to tell you, but you haven't been listening to me at all, so I thought...maybe a secret admirer would be the way to let you know what's been on my mind and heart for so long." He began to play the guitar again, the same strange melody as before, and before Serena could say anything, he began to sing to her softly. "How can I ever tell you what you mean to me? Into my life you came, like a dream. Though times and circumstances kept us far apart, you're always in my heart. And even though I told myself to hate you, and even if I never let my feelings show, and even though I tried to forget you, in my heart I knew I'd never let you go... So now I just wonder what the future brings. Love found a way to bring us together. So come to me, my love; let me kiss away unhappy tears. Let the rhythm of my heart soothe all your fears. Take my hand, my love, and together face our destiny. Together...we will find Eternity." * * * * * Serena listened to the song, amazement slowly dawning on her face. She had no idea that Darien could SING! And he was good, too! She gazed up at him with rapt attention, letting his soothing voice wash over her, and letting his words sink into her heart and wrap her in warmth just as his arms had before. This was how he felt about her? He had written this beautiful song...just for her? **It could still be a trick,** the practical part of her mind warned her, but the romantic part of her quickly squashed that annoying little thought. Besides...the way he was LOOKING at her...as if no one else existed on the planet...it left very little room in her heart for doubt. When he finished singing, he knelt in front of her and took her trembling hands in his own, gazing deeply into her eyes. "Now do you understand what I've been trying to say all this time?" he asked. "Are you still going to run away from me?" Before she could answer, he continued, "I wouldn't blame you if you did; I've been pretty nasty to you. But I want a chance to make it up to you, Serena. I don't want to hurt you, and I want to protect you from everything that does hurt you. When you were with Ryan it tore my heart out, because it was so obvious that you were so WRONG for each other, and because it was becoming so obvious to me that WE were so right for each other-especially after I found out that you were Sailor Moon, whom I was already half in love with. But in my arrogance and stubbornness I almost lost you. I guess...it was then I started to truly see exactly what you mean to me, and that was when I decided to try to win you over. I figured...a secret admirer would be the best way to go...at least until you learned to trust me better." Serena was listening to all this with her eyes closed, but he could see a film of tears shimmering on her lashes. Somewhat concerned, he raised a hand to brush them away. "What do you say, Serena?" he asked nervously. "D'ya think you could give a big-mouthed, arrogant jerk like me a chance to really win your heart?" Serena choked on a short laugh, and when she opened her eyes, they were shining through the tears. "Oh, Darien," she whispered. "Don't you know...you've always held my heart, even when I didn't want you to! The poem...it wasn't JUST a homework assignment! It was something I had to write...about something I really, truly cared about, even loved, and I chose you. I'm sorry if I hurt you when I said otherwise." His lips quirked in a smile as he leaned his forehead against her own, his hands cupping her face softly. "That's sweet, Serena, but I already knew that," he confided in a smug whisper. "I just had to get you to own up to it." "What?!" she yelped. "Why, you..." She was abruptly cut off by warm lips darting in to cover her own, and her anger flew like so much dirty water out the window as his arms surrounded her and pulled her into a tight embrace. She sighed blissfully as she allowed herself to sink into his loving touch, closing her eyes and returning the gesture with all her heart. He was so warm...he smelled so good...like roses and chocolate. **I'm kissing my dream hunk,** she thought dazedly, stifling the urge to giggle. Darien sighed softly through the kiss, and then Serena felt herself being pulled even closer to him, being lowered to the ground as he fell to his knees and bent over her possessively, and her head was tipped back until it rested on his shoulder as he delved into her mouth with all the passion he could muster. She had no choice but to allow him entrance...not that she wanted to stop him. One arm looped about his neck, and her other hand, resting softly on his chest, could feel his heart beating furiously through his dark sweater in perfect rhythm with her own. She realized, suddenly, that she felt...whole. **My soulmate...** she thought. **I've finally found my soulmate...** They remained locked like that for quite some time, and might have continued to do so had not they been interrupted by someone loudly bursting into applause. They leaped back with startled squawks, only to be confronted with four pairs of eyes belonging to three curious girls and one extremely pissed-off cat. "So! This is where you sneak off too! I wake up to find you're gone, and the girls have no idea where you are..." Luna immediately began to rant once she saw she had gained her arrant ward's attention. "Honestly, Serena! Don't you have any more sense than to go sneaking off in the middle of the night to meet a boy in the PARK?! What would your parents think?!" "They don't have to know," Serena replied smugly. "Who's gonna tell them? You? I'd LOVE to see their reaction to THAT!" She giggled at the thought of her father-or even better, her brother!-being confronted by the family pet. It was almost too hilarious to think about. "THIS IS NOT FUNNY! THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION!" Luna yowled, and was abruptly picked up and tossed over Lita's shoulder into a clump of bushes. "Well, now that the truant officer has been taken care of...what say you and us have a little talk," Lita suggested, smiling evilly. Serena gulped, shrinking back into Darien's arms. She would've almost rather taken her chances with the cat... "What's to discuss?" Darien was saying calmly, sliding both arms around Serena's waist and pulling her close to him. "We've worked out our differences, and that's all you need to know about it." "WRONG!" Raye replied smugly. "As Serena's best friends, it's our job to dissect every little aspect of her love life until she's nothing more than a quivering mass of jello begging us for mercy! Let the fun begin!" She laughed somewhat maniacally and rubbed her hands together with vicious glee. "Help," Serena whimpered. "Now, look here, girls," Darien began gruffly. "We were in the middle of an important discussion here, and you're interrupting!" "Oh, don't let US stop you!" Lita replied in a sweet voice that belied her bloodthirsty smile. "Go right on ahead and...discuss away." "GO AWAY!" Serena yelled, standing up and placing her hands on her hips. "HONESTLY! You don't see ME barging in on any of YOUR dates, do you?!" Then she paused, and a smug grin crossed her features. "Oh, that's right! You don't HAVE boyfriends, do you? My mistake!" she added gleefully. "One more comment like that, and I'm gonna knock you into next month!" Raye growled threateningly, and Lita glared her agreement with that statement. Serena merely giggled and hid behind Darien. Amy, bless her, decided that enough was enough. "All right, everyone. I'm exhausted, and I say it's time we went on home to bed and allow Serena and Darien to...er...talk. Come on," she said briskly. When Lita and Raye merely ignored her, she sighed, shot Serena and Darien an apologetic smile, and grabbed both girls by the hair in a surprisingly strong grip, proceeding to drag them backwards out of the park despite their loud protests, picking up a complaining Luna on the way. Amy certainly did have an aggressive streak when she was tired... Serena cleared her throat, then turned her gaze to Darien, suddenly shy. "Well...as you were saying before we were so rudely interrupted...?" she requested coyly. He smiled and slipped his arms around her waist again, pulling her close. "I was saying..." he replied in a whisper as he lowered his head, "...that I love you, Meatball Head, and I will continue to love you until the day we both die, and beyond. Nothing will ever change that." "I'm glad," she whispered as she closed her eyes to receive his kiss, and nothing more needed to be spoken. ~~End~~