*cheering loudly because she just found out she got accepted to the 
university*  Oh, sorry.  Got a little caught up there.  Just so y'allknow, 
I do quote the Bible in this part, so I hope that doesn't offendanyone. 
(It goes along with the story too well!) *shrug*  I never know these 
days... Other notes are at the bottom.
Personal disclaimer: Don't eat too many M&M's while writing.  It may 
affect the final outcome... *giggle*
Regular disclaimer: If it were mine, I wouldn't be suffering through 
college, now would I?

Strangers on a Train  4/?
By Sailor Elysia [ely_chan@yahoo.com]
Rating: G

	It was well after midnight, and for some reason, Serena 
couldn't sleep.  She was in her old room, in her old bed surrounded by 
all her old things, but it didn't seem to comfort her.  For the lastfew 
hours she had just been laying there, thinking about everything and 
nothing all at once.
	Sliding one arm behind her head, Serena stared at her ceiling 
and sighed, wondering why thoughts of Darien kept popping up in her 
mind.  Her room was only separated from his by a thin wall, and yet it 
felt like he was right next to her.
	In all honesty, Serena didn't know what to think of her feelings 
for Darien.  Their friendship was still very new and very fragile, and 
she wasn't exactly sure how to go about it.  Their encounter earlierthat 
evening had been the first time she had been aware of Darien having 
any sort of feelings for her, if you could call it that.  She likedhim, she 
knew that for a fact; how much was a different story.  They had been 
strangers before, but now . . . she didn't know.  
	No longer able to lie still in bed, Serena sat up, swung her legs 
over the edge, reached for her thick terry cloth robe and wrapped it 
around her.  Her stocking feet padded softly across the carpet, and she
slipped on her slippers before opening the door leading out to the balcony.
	The night air still had a bit of a chill to it, but it was nothing 
like the bitter wind that had blown through earlier.  Serena snuggled 
deeper into her robe, watching as her warm breath mixed with the fog 
that hung low over the town.
	"Fancy finding you out here," a low voice came from behind 
her.  Serena whirled around in surprise to find herself face to facewith 
Darien, bundled up much like she was.  A small grin flitted across her 
lips.  "You couldn't sleep either?"  Darien shrugged.  "Too much to 
think about, I suppose."  He glanced at her, and noticed that her teeth
were chattering.  "You need something warmer than that old robe.  
Come here," he motioned, holding out part of his blanket to her.  
Serena took hold of the blanket gratefully, and snuggled into its 
warmth, oblivious of the fact that it was actually Darien's warmth that
she was feeling.
	"I had forgotten how cold it got at night here," she whispered, 
and looked up at Darien, who was smiling down at her.  Having Serena 
so close to him was doing funny things to his insides, but he didn't 
mind it one bit.  Darien decided to take it one step further, andslipped 
his arms around her waist, pulling her to lean back against him,smiling 
triumphantly when she relaxed without saying a single word.  
	This felt so . . . natural to him.  Time could stop and the world 
could end in the next moment, but he wouldn't care as long as he could 
be right here . . . where he belonged.
	Serena pulled away, and gave Darien a small smile.  "Mom's 
got a lot planned for tomorrow.  You'll be amazed at how much food 
she makes for Christmas dinner."  She poked him in the side.  "Try to 
get some sleep, okay?"
	As she left his side and walked back into her bedroom, Darien 
could feel a distinct chill surround him, and he was sorry to lose her 
warmth.  He leaned over the balcony and stared into the whiteness 
below him in silence.	What was happening to him?  He couldn't remember the last 
time he had been this open, where he could just be himself with 
anyone, least of all a stranger.  But . . . he really couldn't call herthat 
anymore.  Darien realized now that if he wanted to get any closer to 
Serena, it would involve opening up to her even more--and that meant 
opening the door to his troublesome past.
	Wonderful aromas from the kitchen wafted all through the 
house the morning of Christmas Eve.  Serena awoke late in the morning 
and lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling and daydreaming about her 
family's Christmas traditions.  With a sigh, she turned over on herside 
and stuffed a hand beneath her pillow.  The memory of last night 
popped into her head, and she smiled sheepishly to herself.
	It wasn't until later--after she had gone back inside that Serena 
realized just how close she and Darien had been to each other.  In a 
way her newfound feelings frightened her, but on the other hand, he 
welcomed the whole-heartedly.  It had been a long time since Serena 
had felt like this towards anyone--not since her brother Ricky had 
scared her prom date half to death and she had vowed never to bring 
anyone to the house again.  The ironic part was that she hadn't--until now.  
	Rolling back over, Serena took another look at her alarm 
clock, and decided it was time to get out of bed.  Besides, it was 
tradition every Christmas Eve for Serena to help her mother make the 
pies, not to mention she had to put some last minute touches on hergift 
for Darien.	Nearly an hour later, Serena had just put one pie in the oven 
and was about to start on another when Darien walked into the kitchen, 
his hair still slightly tousled.
	"Hi," she said brightly, sprinkling flour on the counter so she 
could roll out the piecrust.  "Did you get enough sleep?"  Dariensmiled 
a little.  "I don't think it's possible to ever get enough sleep.  Heleaned 
on the counter and peeked over her shoulder.  "What kind of pie are you making?"
	"The one in the oven is pumpkin.  I'm making an apple one 
now, because I'm the only one in the family who won't eat pumpkin 
pie."  With a laugh, Darien replied, "Looks like we have something else
in common."  Her eyes widened.  "You're kidding.  And to think that 
my family's made me suffer all these years because I refused to eatit."  
Serena laughed and turned to her mother.  "See, Mom?  I'm not weird after all!"
	Annie smiled and nodded briefly.  She had been watching the 
entire exchange between the two of them very intently, and it didn't 
take her long to realize that there was definitely something going on. 
Perhaps it was time to intervene a little and help her daughter out.
	Glancing over the ingredients they had out on the counter, 
Annie remarked, "We're just about out of flour, Serena, and we've still
got a lot to do.  Would you mind running to the store to pick up some 
up for me?"	"All right," Serena smiled.  She took off her apron, draped it 
over a chair, grabbed the car keys from the table and went outside to 
warm up the car.  Annie finished spooning the pumpkin filling into one 
of the piecrusts that was ready.  "Darien, why don't you go with her?  
I'm sure she'd be grateful for the company."  With a slight grin, he 
nodded and went outside to join Serena.
	Annie smiled to herself.  This was going to be easier than she thought.
	Finally, all the cooking, cleaning and decorating was finished, 
and the family had gathered in the living room for their traditional 
reading of the Christmas story. 
	Every seat in the living room was occupied, and Darien sat 
next to Serena on the loveseat because he didn't feel comfortablesitting 
anywhere else.  His attention wandered as the family took turns reading
out of the old family Bible, and he noticed that everyone else was 
snuggled together--all except him and Serena.  But he also knew that to
wish for anything more than friendship from her right now was 
impossible.  So instead, he just sat back on his end of the sofa and 
listened contentedly to the story.
	There was a brief pause, then Annie, who had been the last 
one to read, looked over at Darien with a softened gaze and said, 
"Darien, would you like to read for us?"  A shocked look registered on 
his face, and he stammered, "I--I don't know... I haven't--" A nudge in
his side from Serena prompted him to take the book from Annie's 
outstretched hands, and he looked down at it, the words almost foreign 
to him.  Serena pointed out where they had left off, and Darien beganto read.
	"And there were in the same country shepherds in the field, 
keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo, an came upon them, 
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore 
afraid.  And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bringyou 
good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people.  For untoyou 
is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the 
Lord.'  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 
heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, 
and on earth, peace and good will toward men.'"
	Darien looked up at the others who were all listening intently 
to him, and he found that he couldn't go on.  The emotions surging 
inside him were too much to explain.  For the first time in his lifethat 
he could remember, he knew what it was like to be part of a family.  
	"Thank you, Darien," Serena whispered softly and took the 
book from him, so she could finish the rest of the story.  After she 
finished the last few verses, the family members began talking, and one
conversation turned into two and so on.  One by one, they all stood up 
and left to go to bed.  	Serena and Darien were the last two out of the room, 
following her parents into the kitchen.  Serena stopped and with a 
smile, held out a soft package wrapped in tissue paper to Darien.  "I 
know this isn't much, but I want you to have this so you'll always 
remember your stay with us.  I couldn't wait until tomorrow."  Darien 
was surprised; it had been a long time since anyone had ever given him 
a real gift.  He gratefully took the package from her hands, and 
delicately removed the tissue paper, which fell away to reveal a bright
red fuzzy stocking, lined with soft plaid fabric.  The best part wasthat 
his name was embroidered in dark green thread on the cuff of the 
stocking.  Never had he owned something so beautiful before.
	Darien was absolutely speechless, and at that moment, all his 
pent-up emotions surged up inside of him, and years of unshed tears 
welled up in his eyes.  "Thank you, Serena," he choked out.  She smiled
softly at him, but said nothing.
	Then Annie broke in and pointed out the obvious.  "You two 
are standing under the mistletoe," she said cheerily.  The two of them 
looked up and discovered she was right.  Serena blushed bright red and 
Darien smiled sheepishly.  There was no way out of it, not with 
Serena's mother standing there acting like a cheerleading squad. 
	Handing the stocking to Annie to hold for a moment, Darien 
took a deep breath, then enclosed Serena in his embrace and leaned 
down to kiss her.  As their lips touched, a jolt rushed them, notunlike 
the jolt they had first felt when they had shaken hands the first dayon 
the train.	Serena melted into his arms, and was enjoying every moment 
of this.  She had secretly hoped that they would get caught under the 
mistletoe while they were here, and her wish had finally come true.  It
was like pure sweet heaven, and this was one moment she didn't want to end.
	But like all good things, it had to come to an end, just seconds 
after it had begun.  They pulled away; Serena still blushing bright red
and Darien still had that quirky grin on his face.  But something had 
changed in those few seconds.  No longer could they call themselves 
strangers, no matter how hard they tried to deny it.
	Serena was already out on the balcony, deep in thought by the 
time Darien joined her.  Everything that had happened earlier was 
swimming around in her head, especially the 'mistletoe incident,' as 
she had come to call it.  Her mother seemed to be up to something, that
much she was sure of.  Serena knew her too well to think otherwise.
	Hearing footsteps behind her, Serena whirled around and 
found a somber-looking Darien staring back at her, wrapped in the 
same blanket from the night before.  "Are you all right?" she asked 
worriedly, the expression on his face troubled her slightly.  A boyish 
grin flickered across his face.  "I'm fine.  I was just . . .thinking."
	"Oh.  We both seem to be doing a lot of that lately, don't we?"  
Serena mumbled.  What was the matter with her?  She had never felt 
this awkward around anyone before, but then she also realized that she 
hadn't ever felt like this towards anyone either.
	Serena's thoughts came to a halt as Darien took her hand in 
his, and he looked into her eyes.  "Serena, I can't thank you enoughfor 
tonight, for everything, really.  You have changed my life in a waythat 
I never thought possible."
	Puzzled, she asked, "Why do you say that?"  If she had been 
confused before, now she was even more so.  Darien turned away from 
Serena and gripped the railing of the balcony tightly.  "I told you alittle 
about my childhood before, but I didn't tell you everything."  His head
lowered, struggling to recall the memories, both good and bad.
	"I've been in and out of orphanages and foster homes nearly 
all my life.  I was often on my own, and I didn't make too many friends
with the other children there.  The thing I remember most was the hurtI 
felt with other people came looking to adopt a child.  They always 
wanted the little babies and toddlers; hardly a second glance was given
to us older children.
	"That was when the board at the orphanage decided to put a 
few of the older children into foster homes, and I was one of them.  
Right away, it turned out to be a disaster.  I was passed from home to 
home with the response, 'he just didn't work out.'  I wasn't a 
troublemaker, I just didn't fit in anywhere.  I don't remember the 
Christmases that were spent in those homes, except for when I was nine 
years old.  That year, my foster mother gave me a gift that I have 
treasured ever since."
	Tears began to well up in Darien's eyes again.  "It was a small 
porcelain ornament of an angel reaching out to a little child, but whatI 
remember most was what she told me when she gave it to me.  She 
said, 'You may not have your mother here with you now, but just 
remember, there's always someone watching out for you.'  I have never 
forgotten that moment, and even when I got older and was alone again, 
just looking at that ornament and thinking of her words gave me alittle hope."
	Turning back to face Serena, he noticed that she too had tears 
streaming down her cheeks.  "That's why I appreciate your gift so 
much, Serena," he continued, his voice cracking with emotion.  "Being 
with your family these past few days has been the greatest gift in the world."
	Without a single word, Serena wrapped her arms around 
Darien, holding him tenderly like she would a little child.  The two of
them stood like that for a while, letting the silent whiteness of thenight 
envelop them.	A thought suddenly popped into Darien's head.  "Serena, I 
didn't get you anything in return.  All of this happened so fast, andif I 
had known--"  Her hand over his mouth silenced him, and Serena spoke 
before her could interrupt.  "Darien, don't give it another thought. Just 
having you here, being able to be a part of your life has been morethan 
enough for me."  She pulled her hand away.  "I prefer the giving rather
than the getting, anyway."
	Darien's eyes lit up, and he grinned wryly at her.  "Actually, I 
think I do have something to give you."  Her hands flew to her hips, 
and she raised an eyebrow.  "Darien Wilkinson, I told you, I don't 
want--"  Before she could finish telling him off, his lips had closedover 
hers in a warm and tender kiss.  Shocked at first, she just stoodthere, 
lost in the moment.  But slowly, her hands snaked their way up and 
around his neck, pulling his body closer to her own and causing him to 
deepen the kiss even more.
	Finally, they broke away, and they stared at each other 
silently, trying to believe what had just happened really did happen.  
Darien spoke up first.  "Did you mind getting that gift?"  Her cheeks 
flamed bright red.  "I..." she sputtered, and trailed off.  Then she 
ducked her head, and nodded slightly.  Leaning closer to him, she 
whispered, "It's getting late, and I have every intention of keepingthe 
tradition of waking the entire household bright and early tomorrow 
morning."  Standing on her tiptoes, Serena leaned up and kissed Darien 
fully on the lips again, although not quite as long as the first time. 
"Merry Christmas, Darien.  Sweet dreams."
	A goofy grin appeared on his face as she walked back into her 
room.  For him, there would be some very sweet dreams indeed.
^_^  Most of you have been waiting for that, ne?  Don't try to deny it,I 
know the truth...  I'm letting you know my excuses now so you won't 
have any reason to get angry with me when I tell you why I haven't 
written the next part and may not do so for a while.
	I have a huge amount of schoolwork that I'm trying to finish.  
This is my last semester in junior college and I'm pushing myself tothe 
limit so I can graduate.  Also, I have some things going on in my 
personal life that need attention.  January is one of those monthswhere 
everything seems to be going wrong.  o_O
	--What, no social life?  *laughs* In case you didn't realize it, 
being a fanfic writer is all the social life I have time for!  Everyoneon 
the smrff list should know that by now...  I appreciate all my friends,
and everything that you guys do for me.  You are the ones who keep 
me uplifted, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for all thatyou do. ^_~
	So until the next chapter, ja ne minna!
Sailor Elysia
January 2000