Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the brain child of Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha + Toei Animation

By Sailor Nena

"Yes it is." Darien agreed in a gloomy matter.

"Where is Serena?" Jacques asked worriedly. They were in the Tokyo Intergalactic Spaceport. It was smaller than the Lunar Spaceport, but just as busy. Flights came in and left every minute and it was decorated like any other Spaceport of its day. A feel of efficiency and stress were mixed with nostalgia and relaxation filled the atmosphere of the building.

"She went with Celeste to buy an ice cream cone." The Queen began. "Why don’t you two begin to board?"

"Oh, I don’t know? May be we should wait for Serena." Jacques began.

"She’ll board as soon as she returns." Darien responded annoyed. He knew Jacques was interested in Serena, and Darien did NOT like any competition, even if it cam from a reject Prince.

"As you wish, Darien." Antoinette flirted. They respectfully bowed and began to board as Serena and Celeste returned with a cone in each hand. Celeste gave her extra one to Marcos, and Serena gave the other one to Darien.

"What did my mother say?" Serena asked Perceptamine.

"She said that it was fine as long as you wanted too." The Queen answered. Serena and Celeste gave each other a devilish smile. Darien, who knew his sister well, could tell they were up to something.

"Shall we go?" Jacks asked irked.

"Yes, if we don’t go now, we will miss our flight." Antoinette agreed with a painted smile. Serena motioned them forward. The siblings began to board the plane. Serena turned to Celeste as all the males prepared themselves for a mushy farewell.

"Do you want to tell them, or should I?" Serena asked Celeste.

"I only want some chocolate to go with my ice cream." Celeste whined.

"That is not a bad idea. LET’S GO!" Serena responded, and the girls ran towards the candy shop. They reemerged a few minutes later with delicious Godiva chocolates for all. "Now who should tell them?"

"Tell us what?" Darien asked frustrated. He wanted to spend a few minutes alone with her before she left because it might be months before he would see her again.

"You know what?" Celeste began, "Lemonade would really counteract the sweetness in our mouths."

"I’ll race you to the Juice Bar." Serena said as the girls raced back to the Food Court. Antoinette and Jacques frustrated disappeared into the plane. Darien decided to find the two girls.

"You are going to miss your flight Serena." He sighed sadly.

"No, I’m not." She giggled. "It doesn’t leave for two weeks!"

"Huh? Did someone forget to teach you how to tell time?!"

"No my dear brother. You see, I asked mother to talk to Serena’s mother and ask her to let Serena stay until it is absolutely necessary for her to return."

"So," Serena took over, "I shall be staying with your family until we all go back to the Moon for the Mid-July parties. My Scouts will take care of the dedications for me."

"I wonder what Antoinette and Jacques are saying right now." Celeste commented as she pointed at the Royal Plane taking off.

"I would give anything to see their faces right now!" Serena giggled.

"Really? Are you sure about that?" Darien asked with a fiendish smile in his eyes.

"Yes, I would!" Serena looked up at Darien and wondered what he was up to.

"Even a kiss?" he asked coquetting.

"Even a kiss." She answered in a dead-serious tone. He took her hand and led her to the Plane Security Tower. The purpose of this tower was to record anything that happened on a Diplomatic Plane for better security and trial evidence in case an assassination attempt took place. He whispered something to one of the cameramen, and that man began to play a tape. The royals came on screen in different angles. Serena could not contain the laughter as she saw the two realize what had happened. They both stood up abruptly, and Jacques fell down in the isle as the plane continue to take off. Serena was almost positive that Antoinette cursed her little heart out through the whole clip. They left the tower, and Darien asked with a smirk,

"So, where is my kiss?" Serena motioned with her index finger for him to lower his head. As he obeyed, he slipped his arms around her waist; she slipped her arms around his neck and raised herself to kiss his cheek. Then, she quickly pulled away leaving Darien felling cheated. "That’s not what I meant, and you know it!"

"You never specified!" She defended herself.

"But you knew what I meant!"
"How should I? You never specified!"

"I WANT MY KISS!" He whined.

"I GAVE IT TO YOU!" She protested.

"Children, please try to behave!" Celeste joked.

"Stay out of this, sis!" Darien barked.

"No! You should’ve known better than to make a bet without specifying, and your sister has all the right in the world to say what is on her mind!" Serena barked back.

"Now, if you three are done killing each other, the carriages are ready." Marcos cut in.

Serena had stayed six days on Earth, and in that time she became paler and sadder than she had ever been. "I’m worried about her, son." The Queen confided one day. "She is too home sick; it’s not healthy. May be you should talk to her."

"About what? Every topic reminds her of home, and if I try to show her some affection, she becomes as cold as ice towards me." Darien was beginning to think he had embarked on a hopeless quest. Serena had never been closer to him, and then again, she had never been farther away. "It is impossible to teach her."

"Those are the words of a fool not a teacher!" The Queen reprimanded. "If she is a hard learner, then you must be a hard teacher. Surround her with knowledge until she begins to absorb it! Remember that she will never learn it, if she is not willing to learn! Give her a reason to learn."

"Your majesty, you should have been a football coach with those pep talks!" Darien smiled. "Got any ideas?"

"Take her to your garden, son. Show her your roses." The Queen smiled as Darien rushed out of the room.

"Where are we going, and why must I be blind folded, Darien?" Serena asked as Darien led her through the Outer Garden and into the Lunatic Labyrinth.

"It’s a surprise, and I don’t want you to be able to find your way back alone." Darien teased. He moved swiftly through the labyrinth, and when they reached the center, he moved a curtain of ivy vines revealing a door. Using an old secrete key, he opened the door and led her in. He slowly removed her blindfold. She gasped at the sight of the beautiful garden. Roses of all colors grew wildly through the small space. Red, being the dominant color, was concentrated in the center. Snow-white, salmon, sapphire, sunset orange, emerald, and ivory-yellow ones were sprinkled around them.

"It’s…ravishing." She gasped again.

"I’m glad it pleases you. This is my childhood Avilon. I would come here to collect the most beautiful roses for my classes."

"I take it that red became your favorite."

"Red were the ones that have always given me the greater strength."

"Why so secretive about it?"

"Because this is still my Avilon on Earth. You know, for when the day is so complicated one needs to…."

"Escape. Yes I know all to well. That’s why I never complain about tending my roses; it pulls me away from everything." She finished. He led her to a bench in the corner. "Why share it with me?"

"Why not?"

"Because, I imagine, that this is a very private place for you. I mean, why else blindfold me?"

"I told you, so you couldn’t get away, but you are right. It is a very private place, and I knew you would understand its importance. I guess, that among other things is why I share it with you."

"Among other things?"

"Yes, among thing that I cannot explain."

"Like what?" As he thought of an answer, he stood up and moved towards a rose bush. He cut a perfect red rose and gave it to her.

"Impulses," he finally answered. "are a big one."

"What type."

"The type you denounce." He sat next to her and took one of her hands into his. "The type you fear."

"I don’t fear anything."

"Are you sure? Don’t you fear the love between a man and a woman?"

"How can I fear something that does not exist?"

"How can you say that after living with my parents for nearly a week...how can you say that after living with you parents for a lifetime?! You have to agree that it is something more than friendship and love!"

"I never said there wasn’t exemptions to the rule." Darien could hardly believe his ears. For the first time since he officially began his quest, she admitted the possibility.

"Then why can’t you believe that you might be an exemption too? Serena I…"

"Darien, no. To many people have tried to make me believe and have failed. Save some face."

"If I stop now, I would truly lose face. Just try to believe, and let me help you."

"No, I made my choice long ago. I will never believe." She responded with her voice tinged with sadness.

"Never say never." He leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "You never know what tomorrow might hold." He kissed her cheek and pressed his forehead against hers. "I will make you believe."

"What makes you think that you can?"

"Because I have the power of love behind me."

"Why can’t you just let me be? Why must you prove this to me? What is in it for you?"

"Serena, don’t you know? Don’t you know that I…." The old stone clock stroke twelve and interrupted Darien. He let it finish and was about to begin again when Serena asked,

"What time is it? It can’t be twelve."

"It’s not. It’s four twenty. That old clock has been broken for ages; we can’t figure out what’s wrong with it." He answered as he looked at his pocket watch.

"Weren’t we suppose to meat your family for tea at four thirty."

"You know what is your problem, Princess?" Darien asked as they walked by the Crystal Lake on their way to tea. Three feet to their right laid the tranquil lake, and six feet to their left, the strong tall trees grew.

"What?" She answered as he led her through the soft summer breeze.

"You never act on your impulses. You think too much." He said in a matter of fact voice.

"Really? Throwing myself into the lake wasn’t spontaneous enough?" Serena asked in disbelief.

"It wasn’t spontaneous at all. You let down your hair and took off your shoes…"

"But it was an impulsive action."

"Not really. I’m sure you would not have done that if your father was there." He left her side and went to the shore of the lake. "You see this flower. It is called a Narcissus after the most handsome man on Earth."

"I know the story, but what does it have to do with impulses?"

"Well, as you know the beautiful Nymph Echo fell in love with him after she had been cursed by Hera, and she had been cursed because she had an impulse to help the king of the gods get away with one of his affairs."

"If that is suppose to show me how being impulsive is good…"

"I’m not done. As you know, her curse was that she could only repeat the last words that were spoken. When Narcissus met her, he thought her a fool and broke her heart. Echo’s first impulse was to pray to Aphrodite, ‘Oh, Aphrodite…fair goddess…you promised me a favor. Do me one now. Hear me though I’m voiceless. My love has disappeared, and I must disappear too, for I cannot bear the pain.’ In return, Aphrodite melted her body, but kept her voice intact. As punishment for Narcissus, she made him fall in love with his own reflection, and he, acting on an impulse, stayed by the riverside until he turned into this flower. Imagine how happy he is now that he is living off his love for all eternity."

"I suppose you have a valid point." He bent down to pick the flower, and she, following his advise, pushed him into the lake. He fell making a huge splash. It took him five minutes to realize what had happened. Serena was laughing so hard she did not notice that Darien was not burning red with anger. She took a few steps back and said between giggles, "I…. was only…only…doing…. what you told me." She laughed so hard she could scarcely breathe, much less run away when he approached her. He caught her easily and picked her up in his arms like she waited the equivalent of a feather. He walked into the lake, and only stopped when the water reached his waist. "Darien, you know this isn’t right. I was only following your advice." Serena had managed to stop laughing.

"Yes, but I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t follow my own advise."

"Darien, no…" Without warning Darien threw her into the ice-cold lake. It took her three seconds to come up for air, and when she did, she splashed Darien with more water than he ever thought possible. "Water Wars!" The two began to splash each other as fast as they could. Darien Dived under water and came up lifting Serena by the waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he did a three sixty degree turn with her in the water. Their eyes met in the most private of souls. He lowered her to him until she was firmly on the lake floor. His lips, like escaped convicts, rushed to meet hers. She, enchanted by the most bewildering of life’s spells, rushed to their meeting. Their hearts were two wild horses running through the mountains. By a hair of air, their lips where separated.

"Darien! Serena! What are you two doing in the middle of the lake soaked?!"

"Now All, you aren’t expecting them to be dry in the middle of the lake?" The Queen teased her husband. Serena and Darien turned abruptly to the pair before their lips were able to meet. Darien fired a look at his father that said, ‘Dad how could you? I thought you were behind me on this one.’ Serena turned many shades of red as she realized what she had been caught doing, or better said, trying to do. "Now Darien, get that poor child out of that freezing water before she catches a death of a cold!" Serena did not wait for Darien to react. She started to walk to shore as he came up behind her. Slowly, he took her hand and led her the rest of the way.

"Can you two explain what happened here? You two where so late that we decided to see if something was wrong. While we, worried as hell, looked for you two, you seemed to be having a nice swim. Now, why were you swimming instead of drinking tea with us?"

"It’s my fault, dad. I sort of threw her in the lake."

"No, it’s my fault because I pushed him in first!" She defended.

"Only after I tempted you."

"Because I wasn’t paying full attention!"

"Because I decided to talk about a subject I knew would get on your nerves!"

"But you knew that I would welcome the challenge!"

"And Zeus threw a thunderbolt as Hera spread her furry throughout the land!" The King interrupted. "The way I see it, you too are guilty of being too impulsive!" The wet couple tried to hide their smirks. "Go inside and get dried up. Your punishment shall be no tea with us…and I shall here no complains." The King added when Serena and Darien opened their mouths to protest. The Queen took off her cape and placed it over Serena to cover her skintight blush-rose dress. Darien slipped his arm around her and led her back to the castle in his arms.

"What a day!" Serena sighed as she brushed her hair. After the dip in the lake, the day had passed so rapidly. The sun had set two hours ago and Serena was getting ready for bed. She was wearing a blue silk Greek-styled nightgown, and her long hair flew behind her free from any bondage. Slowly, she brushed her hair and walked to the nearest window. "The moon is shy tonight. I don’t see it anywhere. Oh, what do we have here?! Could it be a golden blue bird?" Serena opened her window as a golden bird entered her room. It was a typical blue bird in size and structure. The only difference was its golden feathers. Serena approached it. "Hello there. Are you a rare Earth bird?" The bird sat on her stretched out index finger. Serena felt a heavy wait fall upon her shoulders; she closed her eyes and reopened them to see Darien staring at the moonless sky in the Inner Gardens. "What is he doing? Only one way to find out."

"Why so lonely stranger?"

"Huh? Oh, Serena, you startled me. Come, join me." Darien answered as he turned in a jump to see her. Serena approached his side and repeated her question. "Because you only came to join me now. It is a sad night on Earth."

"What’s wrong?"

"A moonless night means something is a fright. You see, Princess, when the moon doesn’t shine, Earth feels unprotected and scared."

"What is the Earth scared of right now?"

"That the Moon will never be his."

"But doesn’t the Earth know that the Moon will always revolve around him?"

"The Earth fears that the Moon might tire of him."

"That will never happened. The Moon shall always be there."

"I wonder what the Moon fears on a night like this."

"That the Earth forgets her and finds a new Satellite."

"That will never happen. Even if the Moon leaves the Earth, the Moon shall always be Earth’s only love."

"Again with the subject, Darien. You are the most annoying advocate of love that I have met. Why not let me enjoy my stay?"

"Because life isn’t beautiful without love, in all its forms."

"Really? And what beauty thus thou speakess me of?"

"This." Darien said after he laughed at her sudden mark of formality. He raised his index finger to the sky and a blue butterfly with two pearls drawn on each wing landed on it. He pushed some of the hair from her face and let the butterfly hold it back. "Love is so powerful that it is in the smallest of creatures. If you let it in, Meatball Head, then you can see all the beauty of life."

"Don’t call me Meatball Head, Spaghetti Brains!"

"Meatball Head!"

"I thought you had learnt your lesson last time!"

"I’m a hard learner, Meatball Head."

"I guess this means you like eating your words, Spaghetti Brains."

"Only when you are forcing me." Darien said casually.

"Good night, your Majesty." Serena did a quick bow and turned to leave when Darin grabbed her hand. She felt serge of electricity flow through her body.

"Good night, my Regent." He lowered his lips upon hers until the brushed slightly making the two trembled in the night’s air. He was about to press his lips upon her untamed red petals, but she moved slightly to kiss his cheek instead. She pulled herself free of his hand and ran back to the safety of her room ignorant that he could violate its sanctity any time he wished. "When will you let me love you, Serena? When? After an eternity has passed? It does not matter! I will wait that long or more for you, my love."

"So, how are you enjoying Earth so far, Princess?" Celeste asked during their after breakfast walk. The Tamed Woods was their choice of the day. The beautiful pines and the mint flavored air gave the girls a sensation of being alive.

"It is a beautiful Avilon." The girls laughed at her comment. "Your brother has been a great guide."

"Which one?"

"Darien. I haven’t seen much of Marcos."

"That’s because he is secretly courting Crystal, the cook." Serena gasped at this information.

"What does your father say."

"If he knew, he would be delighted. Crystal is the type of girl that he wants for Marcos. She is working to pay for her education in government economics, law, sociology, human history, and public speaking, in other words, to be a ruler. Her big dream is to return to her hometown and be elected major and may-by even governor. The big one is that she is steady and reliable. Marcos needs that in a girl."

"Then why is it secrete?"

"Because she has no clue!"

"But how?"

"She is the type of girl that likes to go out and have a good time. She doesn’t like to be tied down to a man. Marcos fears that if he openly expresses his feelings, she might reject him. Do you know the number that would do to his princely pride?"

"I can imagine. How does she feel?"

"She has feelings for him too, but she is in denial. You see, her fear is that if Marcos know that she likes him, he might think her too below him, or worst, might use her for a good time and then move on."

"Marcos does not seem like that type."

"He isn’t, but she is too afraid to notice."

"I don’t usually advocate for love, but it sounds to me like a waste that those two are playing cat and mouse due to fear. What do you think?"

"The same thing. I only wish there was something we could do."

"May be there is. What if we set up a date for the two of them?"

"How?"

"Well, we can send invitations from a secrete admirer to both of them."

"It would be easier to lock them in a room."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"If there was a way to make them talk to each other…"

"Look, here comes Crystal. Why don’t we encourage her to flirt with your brother? It might be the motivation he needs."

"Serena, there you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!"

"Oh, Darien! You startled me. What’s wrong?" It was late in the afternoon and Serena was sitting in a silk, light purplish red, simple but elegant dress with the sleeves falling of her shoulders on the edge of the lake with a Narcissus in her hand. She had been deep in thought and was abruptly brought to reality by the tender warmness in Darien’s voice. The day was warm with a cool breeze; the summer heat had not fully reached Earth yet.

"Nothing, just that my sister is playing matchmaker again, and she has planed a little field trip. Want to come?"

"Where?"

"I haven’t decided yet. She is trying to get Marcos and Crystal alone, and I’m suppose to find the perfect spot to abandon them." He added after she gave him a blank stare.

"Sounds like fun." She said in a toneless voice.

"Problem?"

"No, just tired."

"Vacation wearing you out?"

"No, life I guess; I mean, I don’t know. I’m, just tired."

"May be you are carrying too much weight on your shoulders; may be you should let someone help you carry it."

"May be, but ‘til I find that person, it’s my weight to carry." He walked behind her and knelt down. He placed his firm strong hands on her shoulders and began to give her a backrub. She moaned with pleasure and smiled. "That feels nice."

"Glad to be of service, my regent." He laughed.

"Mmmm, I’m in heaven." She sighed. "You are addicting, Darien." He laughed at her comment. "Annoying as a hang over and as pleasing as sober can never be."

"Soberness can be very pleasing."

"I disagree."

"When you are in love…"

"If love did exist and you felt it, then you would not be sober! You’d be high on it!" Serena interrupted annoyed.

"Do you know a better drug to be on?" he intensified the massage.

"Yes, sugar because it’s real!" She closed her eyes and tried to hold on to the anger, but his uniform actions were too relaxing, and she was too tired to resist.

"Love doesn’t make you gain weight."

"Because it isn’t real!"

"But it is!" he intensely whispered into her ear. She trembled as his hot breath caressed her neck with tempting kisses.

"How do you know?" Her voice was fragile and tired. Darien was sure she was to break, but was it because she truly loved him back, or was it because she was tired of being the only one that did not believe in love?

"Look deep in your heart, and you will find the answer." He let his hands fall from her shoulders down her arms like silent raindrops. Applying a little pressure to the front of her arms, he indicated to her to lean back against him; she obeyed. The serpents he called arms slithered their way around her waist. Her white dove arms fell over the snakes, and her sapphire eyes hid themselves from the world. Her head was cushioned by his muscular chest. His love-hungry lips cautiously kissed her head. "Serena?"

"Hmm?"

"Listen to the breeze kissing the branches; listen the birds serenading the trees, and feel the warm caresses of the sun. Don’t you think there has to be a more powerful force causing these things?"

"Yes, the power of maternal affection."

"You are a devil!" He teased.

"Well, Lord of Demons, you should know." She taunted back.

"Well, if I am your Lord, I order you to kiss me…" he paused a moment, "on the lips." Serena lazily moved her hand to the back of his head and pulled him to her with her arms natural heaviness. Her face was upside down to him, so Darien could not tell if she was frowning or smiling. He pressed his lips softly against hers afraid that if he let his passion free, he might hurt her. Never had something so sweet, soft or deliciously moist touched her lips. She reluctantly let her arm fall from his neck because even though she wanted to feel that strange ticklish sensation again, she did not want him to know it had affected her.

"Are you finally happy…my Lord?" she tried to sound nonchalant, but there was an insecure softness in her voice that had never been there before. Unfortunately, Darien was still under the effects of the kiss, so he did not notice.

"Happy? Yes. Satisfied? No!" He leaned forward for another one, but she stopped him with her index finger.

"Too bad." She giggled.

"C’mon, I know where we can go."

"I can’t believe I haven’t been here in almost two years!" Crystal exclaimed.

"I can’t believe it’s deserted!" Marcos gasped.

"Well, there is an open seated concert at the other side of the bay." Celeste responded in a ‘matter of fact’ tone.

"How big is ‘open seated’?" Darien asked.

"I don’t know. How many people can fit in Royal Tokyo Harbor?" Celeste answered.

"On the side of the stage? I guess around thirty to thirty-five thousand." Marcos echoed.

"And another twenty thou’ in Pear R-9 through 15 for privilege seating." Crystal added.

"That’s only fifty-five thousand; where are the rest?" Darien questioned again.

"My guess is every club in town. They usually have local bands play for a while, and then they put on the televised concert." Crystal answered.

"Why not stay home, then?" Marcos demanded.

"Only Club TV has the rights to televise, so you can only see it in a club; besides, you can dance better in front of a club’s big screen holographic projection than a normal set." Crystal teased.

"You should know." Marcos said resentfully. He had always admired her lively spirit but hated that she never went with him or at least to the places he went.

"Yeah," Crystal began, "because I don’t spend my time in those ‘put-you-right-to-sleep’ clubs of yours. The music is unbearable!"

"May be it’s your ‘can’t-here-the-person-next-to-you’ clubs that are unbearable!" Marcos returned fire. In hopes she would back off, he moved closer to invade her personal space.

"It’s better than having to listen to all the hypocrisy in those prep centrals!" She moved forward mimicking his threat. Both had the anger boiling in the pits of their stomachs.

"Hypocrisy?!" He could not believe what she was saying about the place were he hanged out. "Why…how dare you?!"

"How dare I?! You started it!"

"Did not!"’

"Now you are acting like a CHILD!" They were both screaming as loud as their diaphragms permitted, but Marcos suddenly seized fire. It was as if, by some miraculous force, the secrete of the universe had been revealed to him, and he stood in awe of its simplicity.

"You think me a child?" he asked in calm disbelief.

"No, I said you were acting like one." Her voice had return to normal levels. "You are the one that has been treating me like a child." In this quiet confession she had truly confessed her love. She had been searching deep in his eyes for a response; when she failed to find one, she looked and walked away, leaving him alone to digest her words. The warm ocean breeze dried her tears, and Serena felt her pain to such an extent that she went to Marcos, and to his face, she said,

"You are an idiot if you don’t follow her!"

"I can’t; I’m too afraid." He responded solemnly.

"So is she, but she has put herself out on the open; are you going to waste that opportunity? You will never have a better one, and you know it." The thought that Crystal might be frightened too never crossed his mind, but now that Serena said it, it made perfect seance. He would never have another chance. Without giving it further thought, he ran after her, and when he reached her, all he could do was say he was sorry and playfully tug her hair admitting he was a child. She rolled her eyes and forgave him as if she understood he was confessing his love.

"That was nice of you." Darien said lovingly to Serena.

"What was?" She asked confused.

"That was. So, how do you like the beach?" She looked around the deserted beach. The sand was cool under her feet; the salty air left a bittersweet taste in her mouth. The ocean scent revived her, and the setting sun burnt the sky.

"It is Paradise!" She walked toward the shore, and the water bit her foot. "Cold, but Paradise."

Darien watched her with the eyes of a desperate lover. The fall off sleeves left her shoulders bare and tempting. He still did not understand how he was able to contain himself earlier, and not kiss them. The dress was elegant in its simplicity. The sleeves were like two thin, thick rings of transparent clothe around her arms, and it joined with the body marking the cleavage of the dress. The body of the dress was not too tight. It marked every curve in her body as it hung from her hips, and at this time of the day, it was the same color of the sky.

The sun was setting, and the breeze was brushing her hair. Darien walked to her side and took her right hand into his left. As the sun finished its slow dive into the ocean, they stood there in perfect silence, and in his silence, he told her in the most florid, passionate words, "I love you." With her silence, she answered,

"I know, but I am too afraid to admit my love for you." They stood in that position until all the stars came out to play and the new quarter moon was guarding the sky. As the night began to cool, Serena began to shiver. He took off his soft blue jacket and placed it around her shoulders. The hem off his white pants was rolled to just bellow his knees, and he walked into the water submitting to its power until the water stroke the bottom of his pants. The waves began to show their power by crashing against Darien’s knees and continuing to kiss Serena’s toes.

She looked at his strong figure under the multiple spotlights of the stars in awe. His loose white shirt was dancing in the wind, and he stood strong with his feet firmly planted in the water and his hands buried in his pockets. She pulled his blue jacket tighter around herself, and his smell filled her essences. It was like she had died in his arms and been buried in a rose garden. She trembled under the power of the night. Something drew her softly to him. While the hem of her dress was being caressed by the cold salt water, a devilish idea crept into her mind. Her scrupulous plan was spontaneous, but it did not escape Darien’s notice.

He had been observing her through the corner of his eye. So he did not have to wonder what she was up to, the waves whispered to him her plan. She swiftly ran to him against the current, and she was about to push him into the water, but he turned at the moment of contact grabbing her small waist. They turned a full circle due to the force of the collision, and the waves pushed them to the ground. Serena fell giggling with her arms tied to his neck and her face buried in his shoulder. He quickly shifted his weight so Serena would not be crushed in the fall.

Safely on the ground, Serena dug her head from his shoulder and let it fall gently on the sand. The water pushed her hair closer to shore, and she was under his heavy protective body waiting for her punishment. He was smiling back at her. His crystal blue eyes became stars in the night, and his lips were the only lighthouse in the sea of her life. She let her hands entangle themselves in his hair as she sailed toward the warm light in her storm. Love’s arrow shot through both their heart, and Darien made the lighthouse’s light brighter by moving closer to the ship of her lips. Their eyes closed in the enchantment. Her lips parted slightly, and Darien felt a splash of water against his face. He opened his eyes to see Serena unconscious below him. "Serena?" he begged desperately. His hand blindly searched for her wrist and took her pulse. It was as weak as a newborn kitten’s purr. "Serena!" he cried desperately, but the sleeping Princess would not wake.

"Here, drink this." The Queen ordered the newly awakened Princess.

"I feel fine, just a bit woozy." Serena answered as she took the cup of the special tea from the Queen’s hand. "What is this?"

"It is an old family secrete made from a rare Earth root. I like to call it Quill." She answered as Serena drank the tea. "Since it is quite sweet, I never have trouble slipping it to you youngsters. Now, how is that fever?" The Queen felt Serena’s forehead. "All better. When Darien brought you in soaking wet, I thought he was up to his old pranks, but when I realized that you were unconscious, I nearly passed out my self. Now, why were you in the ocean at that hour?"

"Well, um…you see…we…I mean I was…"

"She was just getting her feet wet, mom." Darien finished. "I told you that already!" he whined. "So, how is our sleeping Princess and her flue?"

"Weird. It is the first time that a simple flue puts me in bed. The weirder part is that I do not have a stuffy nose or a cough."

"That’s tonight, but tomorrow will be a different story, and let us not forget your fever. It is NOT a joking matter." Darien responded.

"But it is below a hundred now…only 99° F."

"Still to high." He kissed her forehead, which was cooler now than on the way home. He had held her in his arms all the way home; trying to assure he sleeping body that she would be fine. His mother took the opportunity to disappear from the room. "Don’t ever, EVER, scare me like that AGAIN!"

"Like I had any control over that?" She giggled. "Like I really wanted to pass out just then?"

"Well, did you?" Darien asked slyly.

"Well, I don’t like losing, but I’m not a sore loser, so I guess…"

"You guess?"

"Well, no, I take my trophies when I win and my punishments when I lose. It’s no biggy."

"Well, you haven’t received your punishment."

"So, what do you call this flue?"

"Delay tactic."

"Mean!"

"Sore Loser!"
"Nooo!"

"Yesss!"

"Baby!"

"Darlin’!"

"Hey!" Serena protested.

"Sorry love." The last word slipped his mouth accidentally. For a split second, he thought the cat was out of the bag, and he would have to be honest with her, but she instead kicked him off the bed and replied,

"You don’t miss a try to kick someone when they are down!"

"Hey, look who’s talking!" He bent over her and kissed her rosy warm cheek goodnight. "Don’t forget to rest Princess!"

"Only if you don’t forget to grow up!" she teased. He left the room and headed for his own.

"You are an idiot, Darien!" he reprimanded himself. "You had the perfect chance to be honest with her. If she is weak enough to let you kiss her, then she is weak enough to let you love her. She would have been at your mercy! Too weak to fight it means strong enough to love. AND YOU LET THAT OPPORTUNITY GET AWAY!!!!! YOU ARE A FIRST CLASS LOVE SICK IDIOT!!!!" He opened his closet and took out his tux and mask. "Now try to fix it without making it worse!"

Darien entered her room through the window because he was afraid that she still be awake. She was not. Darien was taken aback by her porcelain sleeping figure. Her blood red lips rested seductively moist against her snow-white face; her golden lockets of hair framed her beautiful facade. Darien felt weak in the knees when he saw her lying beneath the simple, semi-transparent silk sheet. It was the picture of every male adolescent dream. He approached the dreaming Princess. "Serena," he whispered, "wake up sweet Serenity." She stirred in her bed and stretched. "How are you?"

"Fine, just tired."

"You are the first person that I have met that faints before the kiss."

"Huh? I thought I was the one with the fever!"

"I saw you two love birds at the beach; if you hadn’t fainted…well lets just say that my job would be done."

"What are you talking about? I tried to push him into the water and it backfired. I got a bath instead of a laugh."

"Yea, and while you were in his arms, there was a moment where you lost yourself and almost kissed him. Do not deny it child!"

"I kissed him by the lake, why would I deny this?"

"Because…that wasn’t a full kiss!"

"His lips touched mine! What do ya mean it wasn’t a full kiss?!"

"You didn’t trade souls."

"The soul selects her own society!"

"Your don’t understand! I mean… the other kiss is so deep and…for a brief moment you become one. It is the closest you can get to the ultimate act of love without doing it."

"I’m too tired to argue with you. Lets say you’re right, how would I know this?"

"Instinct."

"Well, my instinct tells me that you are an annoying spoiled brat!"

"I know you are, but what am I?" Serena hit him with a pillow.

"Have some respect for the sick." He kissed her cheek and answered,

"Fine I’ll let you sleep." He turned to leave, but decided to add, "Let him love you. Serena?" It was too late. She was already asleep. "My poor Princess, has love worn you out?" He removed his masked and brushed his lips against her. Except for her breath, there was no sign of life from her. He touched her forehead softly, her fever was returning.

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So, how are you liking my story? I need to hear comments and lots of them! Good or bad, I need to hear them! Well, the next chapter is really important because I consider it one of the main climaxes. I think that it is a surprising chapter that you will enjoy.