It's amazing what a person will do to get out of doing 
homework, ne? ^_~ Time goes so slow, and yet it's flying by too fast.  
*cough* I think I'll stop the attempts of trying to be deep and let you
get on with reading.	Thanks go to Andrea at ASMR and Alicia and Lady Starra at 
FLSA for being willing to post this at their sites; and also to theothers 
who have keep me going, names don't need to be mentioned, you know 
who you are. ^_^Disclaimer: typical words go in their typical place. Thanks!
"Then you look at meAnd I always seeWhat I have been searching for
I'm lost as can beThen you look at meAnd I am not lost anymore."
--Celine Dion, "All The Way"(can you tell I love this CD?  ^_^)
Strangers on a TrainPart ThreeBy Sailor Elysia [ely_chan@yahoo.com]
Rating: this is almost as mundane as the typical disclaimer thing... 
	Serena was in the middle of showing her scrapbooks to Darien 
as the front door opened.  With his arms full of shopping bags,Serena's 
youngest brother Rick, his wife Sid and their father came inside the warm house.
	"Dad!  Sid!" Serena exclaimed, jumping up from the couch to 
hug them both.  Her younger brother set down his arm load, and smiled 
at his kid sister.  "What, no greeting for me, Serena?"  She turned 
around and tackled him, laughing the whole time.  "You know I missed 
you the most, Ricky."  He shook his head.  "You're the only one who 
can still get away with calling me that." Turning to his wife, he gave 
her a wink.  "Except for Sid, that is."
	Punching him in the arm, Serena grinned. "Right.  I never 
thought I'd see the day when you would turn into sentimental mush."  
Then she turned to her sister-in-law.  "But I'm glad it was over you, 
Sid.  You two are perfect for each other."  Sid grinned, and slipped 
an arm around Rick's waist.
	"Oh!" Whirling around, Serena turned back to Darien, who 
was still sitting on the couch.  "I'm sorry, Darien, I didn't mean to 
ignore you."  She smiled sweetly at him, then turned so she was facing 
both her family and him.  "Everyone, this is Darien, a friend of mine. 
I invited him to spend the holidays with us."  He stood up, and came 
forward.  "Darien, this is my father Daniel, my other brother Ricky," 
her brother rolled his eyes, "and his wife Sid."
	Shaking each of their hands, Darien smiled.  "I'm pleased to 
meet you.  Serena's told me so much about you."  Well, that wasn't 
exactly the full truth; all he knew about her family was what she had 
told him on the train ride and the walk to her home.  But from just 
those few short hours, he felt like he knew them.  It felt like he 
belonged, and for Darien, that was the greatest feeling in the world.
	"Is everyone home?"  Annie called out from the dining room.  
"Dinner's on the table, and I know how hungry you get after all that 
shopping."  Murmurs of agreement came from the group in the 
hallway, and they all filed into the dining room for another famous 
Cardon family dinner.	Darien stayed behind for a moment, and Serena noticed his 
absence from the rest of the group.  Walking back to him, she spoke 
softly," Are you all right?"  He smiled gently.  "I'm fine, justfeeling 
a little awkward, that's all."  Taking his hand in hers again, she 
squeezed it reassuringly.  "They won't bite, I promise.  You trust me, 
don't you?"	Looking deep into her eyes, he saw nothing but faith and trust 
in him.  But then he caught something else just as she looked away . .. 
affection?  It wasn't possible . . .was it?  Darien contemplated thisas 
he let Serena drag him into the dining room.
	For once, Serena was the first to clean her plate; even beating 
her brothers with their voracious appetites.  Out of the corner of her 
eye, she noticed that Darien had finished his dinner as well, and was 
beginning to look uncomfortable again.  Serena's family had never been 
too talkative at the dinner table, and except for the noise that baby 
Miriam made in her car seat; no one spoke as they ate.
	Clearing her throat, Serena set her fork down on her plate, and 
threw a glance in Darien's direction.  "Mom, that was absolutely 
wonderful, but your meals always are.  If the cookies are ready, Darien
and I can go deliver them if you want."
	Annie looked at her daughter and blinked, surprised that she 
would be so anxious to leave the table.  Usually, she would lingeruntil 
the entire meal was over, chattering the whole time.  But, Annie mused,
times change.  She smiled gently.  "Of course, Serena.  I think between
the two of you, you should be able to carry them easily.  Just be sureto 
bundle up; the forecast mentioned a big snowstorm coming tonight."
	Gathering up both her and Darien's plates, Serena grinned.  
"Oh, don't worry, we will."  Unsure of what had just happened, Darien 
got up from the table and followed Serena into the kitchen.  She placed
the plates in the sink, then turned to him.  "I could tell you were 
feeling uncomfortable out there; that's why I excused both of us so quickly."
	His eyes widened.  "Was I that easy to read?"  She laughed.  
"Incredibly easy."  Picking up a few of the paper plates, she balanced 
one on top of the other, and walked towards the door.  "Are you ready 
to go deliver some cookies?"  
	With a grin, Darien took the rest of the plates in his hand and 
followed her out.  Stopping only to get their coats and gloves, the two
of them were out the front door in a matter of moments.
	As soon as they were out of the house, the conversation at the 
table picked up.  "I don't like him," he commented while shoveling a 
forkful of potatoes into his mouth.  "You say that about every young 
man Serena brings home, Rick," Annie chided him.  "Besides, we don't 
even know their story."
	"That's exactly my point.  This is the first time Serena's ever 
made mention of this guy.  How do we know we can trust him?"
	Sid laid a hand on her husband's arm before he could continue.  
"That's why you should trust your sister," she said in a gentle voice, 
"and let her decide."  Rick looked at Sid, and his face softened.  
Scowling, he crossed his arms over his chest and muttered,  "All right. 
But that doesn't mean I have to like it."  The rest of the family burstout 
laughing, leaving Rick very confused.
	"Isn't it beautiful out here?"  Serena breathed, her warm 
breath forming clouds out in front of her.  Teeth chattering, Darien 
managed to reply, "Sure, but I never knew cold could be beautiful."  
She laughed merrily.  "Welcome to Sugar Hill, Colorado, where you 
don't know what hit you until it's too late."
	Darien looked at her in amazement.  He never knew anyone 
could be so vivacious, especially in freezing weather.  "How many more 
do we have left to deliver?"  She looked down at her hands.  "Just 
one.  You're not getting tired of this yet, are you?"  He feigned asmile, 
trying to keep his complaints about the cold to himself.  "Not at all. I 
hate to break it to you, but I don't think I have any feeling left inmy hands."
	She walked over to him, a concerned look on her face.  
Reaching out for his hands, she said, "Here, give me your gloves."  
With a confused look, he handed over his gloves to her one by one, and 
he looked on in shock as she removed her own gloves and placed his 
onto her hands.  Then she handed her warm gloves to him.  "That should help."
	Darien protested as he slipped her oversized gloves onto his 
hands.  The warmth surged through his hands and throughout his entire 
body, relieving him of the bitter cold he had felt earlier.  Amazed at 
how such a small gesture could do so much, he looked at her in awe.  
"But... but now your hands will be freezing!"  With a knowing smile, 
she replied, "Not for long; my hands are always warm."
	He chuckled.  "That I believe."
	A snowflake suddenly landed on Serena's nose, catching her 
by surprise.  She looked up into the sky to find hundreds more 
snowflakes falling gently to the ground.  "Ohh," she breathed, melting 
the flurries around her face, "if there was another six feet on the 
ground, I'd jump into it and make tons of snow angels."  He smiled at 
her childlike behavior.  "Maybe it'll continue to snow all night."  She
grinned.  "I hope so!"
	Serena turned to face him, and she couldn't help but laugh at 
his appearance.  "You should see yourself; your whole head is covered 
with snow."  Reaching up to brush it away, she had gotten most of it 
when Darien reached up and gently took hold of her wrist.  Surprised, 
Serena glanced into his eyes and found herself mesmerized by his gaze. 
She had never noticed how blue his eyes were until now.  Or how his 
dark hair fell so perfectly into his face when it was wet. 
	Darien took a step closer to her, and she didn't move an inch.  
He couldn't help it; he was transfixed by her beauty, both inside and 
out.  He hadn't thought it possible to find someone so trusting, so 
accepting.  It was like finding a breath of fresh air after holding his
breath for so long.
	Moving ever so slightly closer, their noses were merely inches 
away from each other, their breath tickling their faces.  Darien leaned
in closer, about to kiss her sweet warm lips, when Serena suddenly spoke.
	"Darien?"	"Hmm?"	"We still have one plate of cookies to deliver."
	Well, there went that idea.  Darien stepped away from Serena, 
noting that her cheeks were flushed bright red; either from the cold or
perhaps something else, he didn't allow himself to think of it.  What 
was he thinking, trying to pursue something that could probably never 
be?  He wanted to smack his head on something very hard for being 
so stupid, but of course that would draw attention and that was thelast 
thing he wanted right now.
	"It's your turn," Serena's soft voice broke into his thoughts.  
Slightly confused, he turned to her.  "My what?"
	She giggled, and handed him the plate.  "Your turn to drop off 
the cookies, silly.  Haven't you ever gone doorbell ditching?"  Heshook 
his head in puzzlement.  "It's simple.  You place the cookies on the 
doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run for your life!"  Pointing to the 
house just ahead of them, Serena said, "There's the house; I'll waithere 
behind the hedge.  Make sure you don't get caught!"
	Nodding, he took the plate in his hands and tiptoed towards 
the front porch, trying hard not to slip on the ice that covered the 
walkway.  Watching him from her hiding place in the bushes, Serena 
covered her mouth with a gloved hand to keep her laughter in.
	She was saddened that Darien had missed out on so much 
from his childhood, even the simplest of things like decorating and 
delivering Christmas cookies.  Luckily for her, this was her chance to 
give him a Christmas he would never forget.  But what to do for him 
next, she didn't know.  
	Suddenly Darien appeared next to her, almost making her 
scream in shock.  He caught his breath after running so hard, but thena 
boyish grin appeared on his face.  "That was fun," he laughed.  "Ithink 
the snowdrift over there was so deep that I got it in my socks and 
shoes."  He hopped from one foot to another, trying to get most of the snow out.
	Serena's eyes lit up as she watched him do everything short of 
actually pulling off his shoes and socks to warm up his feet again.  It
was so perfect!  Of course, she'd need a little help, but wouldn'tDarien 
be surprised when she showed it to him on Christmas Eve.
Short? Yes.  But you already know my reasons for that.
Comments? Questions? Concerns? Contributions? Once more in case 
you haven't memorized it yet, the addy is ely_chan@yahoo.com.  Oh, 
by the way, all flames will go to the heating of my freezing apartment.
My roommates will be very appreciative of them.