snowing

Snowing Rose Petals Started:June 28, 2000--Finished: July 17, 2000
By: Eternity Rose
E-mail: AznearthGoddess6@aol.com
Rated: PG

Author's Notes: Okay, people tend to get bored, right? Well, I just
finished Marriage of the Will and I was out of ideas....Until sudden
inspiration hit me! Well, actually, I've written the first chapters of
many AU fanfics but they never interest me enough so that I know I'll be
dedicated to finishing it. Then I had THIS idea! A short fic!

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon & Co. She's owned by Naoko
Takeuchi-sensei. Whilist me, Rose-chan, barely have a dollar and 40
cents in her pocket! That's pretty good considering everything....

<> thoughts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena Banks laughed as she grabbed a snowball and threw it at her
best friend, Darien Shields. Who easily dodged it and jumped behind a
tree. He gathered a snowball and threw it at Serena but she dashed
quickly away and scooped up a handful of snow, aimed and ready.

"Take that, Dare! And that!" Serena shouted as she launched more
snowballs. But Darien dodged every single one. "No fair!" Serena shouted
in frustration as she stamped her foot and crossed her arms in front of
her chest as she pouted adorably.

Darien looked at his best friend and grinned at her. She was so
beautiful with her white cheeks flushed pink and her bright blue eyes
dancing with life and energy. It wasn't the first time he had noticed
this incredible beauty in his friend. He had noticed since he had first
met her six years ago when they were both twelve years old at the park.

"Come on, Serena, be a good sport!" Darien laughed as he packed
another snow ball.

Serena's eyes widened. "You wouldn't! I'm unarmed!"

"So?" Darien asked devilishly as he walked closer and closer with
the soft ball of snow in his gloved hand.

"Darien!" Serena screamed again as Darien tackled her with the
snowball in hand. Moving quickly, Darien shoved the snowball down
Serena's back. That only caused her to squeal even more as the ice slid
down her warm, smooth back. Giving her the chills as she laid pinned
there. Darien looked down at the beautiful girl beneath him and laughed
at her expression. It was one of total shock in her beautiful eyes.

"That was no fair, Darien Shields," Serena pouted after she had
gotten over her initial shock.

"Aw, but it was so fun," Darien teased.

Serena reached up and slapped him on the shoulder. Not hard though
because she was too weak to hit him hard enough. She tried not to think
of how warm it felt to have Darien pressed so tightly against her as she
laid there on the snow. Her golden hair was getting wet, along with the
rest of her clothing but she didn't complain as she looked up at the
handsome face above hers. <Oh, Darien, if only I could make you mine.
But you don't love a foolish girl like me. I'm your best friend, no one
falls for their best friend. Except me.> Serena sighed wistfully before
returning to the real world. "Come on, Darien. I'm getting cold. Off!"
Serena pushed up him off gently and sat up. Her golden hair was wet and
stuck to her head.

Darien helped Serena up to her feet but pulled a little too hard
and the girl was pressed against his chest. Serena gasped and looked up
at him in shock. Darien chuckled. <She looks so beautiful when she's
surprised. Her pink lips are parted just slightly...Get a hold on your
hormones, Shields. This is your best friend. No matter how much you love
her you can't have her because she *doesn't* love you.> Darien blinked
at his own thoughts. <That'll beat cold shower any day. Just think she
doesn't love you and all hormones go away. Jeez, that's worse!>

"Darien," Serena whispered. She could see that her best friend was
in deep thought as he stared down at her, his eyes were smoky and showed
something so intense that it made her tremble in his hold. "Hey, Dare!"

Snapping out his thoughts Darien looked at Serena and blinked. She
had a funny expression on her face. "What?"

"Um," Serena licked her slightly chapped lips nervously, "Can you
let me go?"

"Oh." Darien wanted to smack himself for being a total idiot. He
released Seren and smiled sheepishly at him. "Sorry, I was lost in
thought."

"About what?" Serena asked curisously.

Darien shook his head. "It's nothing. Let's get back inside before
either of his catch a nasty cold."

Serena nodded. "Good idea." She smiled, grabbed his hand and they
headed back inside.

**********************************
<Gods, her touch can warm me better than this hot cocoa,> Darien
thought absently as he sipped the hot drink. It was hot but Serena's
touch had made him even warmer. They had showered and changed into nice
warm clothes and now sat in the library, drinking hot cocoa and reading
peacefully in each other's company. It was a usual thing they always did
but this time Serena was the only one reading. Darien was totally lost
in his thoughts about his best friend and how much he loved her.

Stealing a peek Darien saw Serena was really into the book she was
reading. Her eyes read hungrily and her expression was one of delight.
But millions of emotions flitted across her beautiful face as she read.
Sometimes were was amusement, other times frustration. Even a bit of
sadness. It was amazing. She didn't hide anything. Her emotions and her
heart were laid out for everyone to see and feel. It was very easy to
hurt her and Darien didn't want to risk doing that by telling her that
he loved her but she didn't love him back. Her guilt would eat at her
and Darien didn't want that.

"Darien," Serena said softly.

"Yes?" Darien looked up from his drink and met beautiful clear
blue eyes. "What is it?"

"What do you think about love?"

Darien almost dropped his drink. He hadn't expected that! But he
quickly regained his composure and looked at his best friend with a
strange expression. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know." Serena paused. "I guess it's because we've talked
about everything but we've never talked of love."

"We never needed to. You dated your boys, I dated my girls. We
already knew of it so it really didn't matter much," Darien said
nonchalantly. At least as nonchalant as he could be.

"I guess so," Serena sighed. "But I really want to know: What do
you think of love?"

Darien thought for a moment before replying. "I think love is a
beautiful thing that should be cherished. It's something rare when it
comes to guys and girls so it should be handled carefully."

"Really?" Serena smiled. "I think love is also a beautiful thing.
It's like...like a rose. So perfect in each petal but yet it has thorns.
Love hurts sometimes."

Darien nodded his agreement.

"I wonder if I'll ever find love," Serena whispered wistfully.
<With you Darien, I want to find love with you,> she thought sadly.

Darien saw the change of emotion in Serena's eyes and frowned.
"Why are you sad?"

Serena started. She hadn't expected Darien to read her so easily.
But then they have been friends for a while. "It's just that, well, I'm
afraid I might never find love."

"Don't worry Serena, your a beautiful girl and any man would fall
for you," Darien said confidently. 

"Really, Darien? Are you sure?" Serena asked softly, almost
desperately. Then she smiled brightly and shrugged with an air of
nonchalance. "Oh well, we'll see, right?"

Darien nodded and smiled slightly. "Yeah, we'll see." Darien prayed silently. 

*****************************************
"I'll see ya tomorrow, Serena!" Darien shouted as he waved good-
bye to his best friend while pulling out of the garage.

"All right, Dare!" Serena said, smiling as she waved. "Don't
forget!" She stood there, leaning against the threshold of the front
house as she watched the black car disappear down the street. "Darien,"
she whispered wistfully before turning and walking back inside.

She walked up into her bedroom and settled down on the bed. She
picked up her stuffed bunny rabbit named Mr. Carrots and held him close
as she fought down the sadness in her heart. She had been feeling this
horrible feeling ever since Darien had returned from Boston saying he
was homesick and enrolled in the local college which also a pretty
prestigious one.

The horrible feeling in her heart was a twisted pain that she
felt, knowing that Darien only loved her like a little sister. She had
realized that she didn't love Darien was a brother, but as love when he
left for Boston. And when he came back Serena was thrown into confusion.
When he wasn't around she didn't have to deal with her feelings. But he
was now, all the time, and she had to confront her feelings soon or else
she would go insane from all the strong feelings bottled up inside of
her.

<I'm insane already. I've fallen with someone that won't ever love
me. This is just great! Why couldn't I fall for someone who *would* love
me back? Because I'm an idiot. That's why. A big idiot.> Serena buried
her face in Mr. Carrot and sobbed quietly. <Damnit, I wish I knew what
was going on inside of my heart and my head. Maybe then I won't have to
worry about all of this. I'd already know the answer.>

She suddenly stopped crying and grabbed her poetry book off the
table. She flipped it open to a clean page and slowly began to write...

Snowing rose petals,
so soft and sweet.
Scents that tease me
beyond belief.

You stand close as the
snow of love fall sweetly
around us.
Gently reminding us of
things so rare as snowing
rose petals.

Our love is so strong and
it is strengthened by these
roses that fall around us.
Reminding us....

But then I wake up from this
dream to find that I am alone,
and there are no snowing rose
petals.

That this rare love I crave is
nothing.
That it never existed.

With a broken heart,
I return to my fitful
sleep as another dark
night claim my love.

Closing her eyes, Serena sniffed and snapped the book shut. There,
she just needed to get all of that out. She wiped away her tears and
sniffed again. She felt so shaky and empty inside. She hated that
feeling after she cried. It made her feel vulnerable. But then, she
probably was. She cried out in frustration and fell on to the bed,
looking up at the ceiling and trying to think straight.

<My love, I'll be waiting for that rare moment when rose petals
are snowing,> Serena thought before drifting off to sleep.

**********************************
<Damnit, I cannot believe I left my wallet over there!> Darien
thought in disbelief as he drove back to Serena's house. He pulled into
the garage and walked up to the front door. The house was all quiet so
Darien decided not to disturb Serena so he pulled out his own keys and
opened the door.

His wallet sat on the coffe table just where he had last left it.
Darien was about to leave when he suddenly had a crazy idea. He turned
and walked the stairs to Serena's bedroom. He saw the door was cracked
just slightly and peeked through it. Serena was sleeping, looking like
the most beautiful and serene of all angels.

Because Darien had very little control over his actions around
this beautiful girl, he slipped into the room and walked over to her. He
looked down at the girl who held his affection and smiled slightly.
Reaching down he kissed her softly on the forehead. The brush of his
lips against Serena's soft skin almost put him in a coma. Gods, did he
love her so much.

A book feel from Serena's hands and flipped open. Darien frowned
and bent down to pick it up. He saw the words 'snowing rose petals' and
his interest was caught. He sat down on a chair in Serena's room and
read the poem. He knew it was an invasion of privacy but the poem was so
beautiful he couldn't stop reading. He didn't know Serena had such
talent. He flipped quietly to another page and read that as well. They
were all pretty good.

Then Darien came to a page titled Knight in Shinng Armor, my Sir
Darien. Now that caused Darien's eyes to widened. He read the poem and
it sounded like something out of Camelot. It was very old fashion but
Darien knew how to read it easily since he took a class of medieval
language with Serena.

After reading the poem, Darien looked over to his angel and had
one single thought. <She loves me.> He stood up calmly and replaced the
book. Then he turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind
him. Then he walked out of the house and got into his car. When he was a
block away Darien finally gave into his joy and excitement by turning up
the music and shouting to the songs all the way home. Needless to say,
he got many, many dirty looks. But he didn't care. He loved Serena and
she loved him! That was all he needed to know.

***************************************
"Darien, where are we going?" Serena asked, annoyed that her best
friend had woken her up at six o'clock in the morning and ordered her to
shower and dress. She wore a white cashmere sweater with a thick woolen
skirt with her combat boots. She had a blindfold around her eyes,
something Darien had firmly tied around her eyes before they left the
house. Now she was being escorted, blindly, to some place she had no
idea where.

"Just be patient, Serena," Darien said, he was grinning and Serena
could hear it in his voice.

"Why? Darien, tell me what's going on," Serena demanded.

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's a secret."

Serena sighed and would have rolled her eyes if she didn't have
the blind folds on. Then they stopped walking and Darien sat her down on
some cold bench. She shivered and sighed. Where were they? Darien had
driven forever and then they stopped somewhere and he had lead her here.
She couldn't hear anything that told her they were still in
civilization.

"Okay, wait here. I need to go get something," Darien said. Serena
could hear his retreating footsteps. "And don't take off that blind
fold!"

"Ha!" Serena shouted back.

<What are you doing, Darien? What is up with all this secracy? My
birthday isn't until June and it's November! What do you have planned?>
Serena wondered as she sat there.

After a while, Serena got impatient. She reached up and ripped off her blindfold
and was welcomed to the most amazing site. They were in some kind of
garden with a beautiful marble fountain in the middle of a circular area
with green walls around her. She was sitting on a cool bench near the
fountain where fresh, cold water was flowing from it.

"Darien?" She called out. "Darien?"

Out of no where a soft rose petal fell on her nose. She blinked
and looked around herself. More rose petals fell around her. She gasped
and smiled in amazement and joy as she watched more rose petals fall
from no where and land around her. They fell into her golden hair, clung
to her clothes. She stood up and smiled as she closed her eyes and felt
more petals fall in a steady rythme on her. She breathed in the sweet
cold scent of the roses and dimly wondered how this incredibly
impossibly phenomenon was happening.

<Beautiful. I don't care how it happened but it's beautiful,>
Serena thought dreamily as she continued to feel petals against her
smooth, cold skin. 

She opened her eyes and looked around for her friend. "Darien?
Darien! Where are you! You've got to see this!" She grinned as she
walked around the area, looking for her friend.

Suddenly she felt warm arms encircle her waist. She gasped and
turned around in the loose embrace to stare into the beautiful depths of
her best friend's dark blue eyes. She lost all thought and stopped
breathing for that moment. All she could think of was close Darien
really was to her and how his arms felt around her waist. She thought
she could just melt. But she caught herself. She wouldn't make a fool of
herself like this. Darien was her frined. No more.

"Darien. Did you see those rose petals?" Serena asked softly.

"I did," Darien said, nodding. He reached out and ran his thumb
down her silky skin. "Did you like them?"

"You did all of this?" Serena whispered. She couldn't speak any
louder in fear of ruining the soft, sweet feeling that suddenly filled
the air.

"Yes," Darien said, nodding. He looked a bit nervous as he looked
down at her with solemn eyes that were filled with a such a strong
emotion that Serena had to look away for a brief moment. Darien reached
out and gently took her chin in his hand. "I have to tell you something,
Serena."

"What?" Serena breathed.

"I love you," Darien murmured.

Serena gasped and looked at her best friend in shock. "You--you
love me?" She whispered in disbelief. "But...how? I mean--I mean--Oh! I
don't know what I mean!" She shook her head and smiled weakly up at
Darien. "You love me?"

Darien smiled and pulled her closer against his chest. "I do,
Serena. I love you with all my heart. But I didn't think you loved me
back until I read that poem with the snowing rose petals."

"You read it!" Serena blushed red. "I--How?"

"I came back for my keys and I thought it would be nice to check
in on you. The book fell from your hands and well, curiosity took over,"
Darien admitted sheepishly.

<I'm so glad I wrote that poem,> Serena thought ecstatically as
she melted against Darien's warm hold. She felt so perfect and whole
against him. She knew she loved him with all her heart and now he loved
her back. There was never a more wonderful feeling than that. She sighed
and closed her eyes. "I love you, too, Darien Shields. With all my
heart, forever."

"Forever," Darien repeated before capturing Serena's sweet lips
with her own.

The two destined lovers stood in each other's embrace as the rare
rose petals continued to snow around them. Something so rare as true
love in a cold world of snow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hmmm....What do ya think?? I worked on this thing for a long time. Not
because it was hard, it was waaaay too easy to write. But that I
procrastinated too much. I'm really lazy. School work does not get in my
way in any way so you can't blame that. I'm just lazy. E-mail me people,
'cause it's a good thing. A very, very good thing.

Eternity Rose