Memories - Eight
Usagi-chan
Usagi@tuxedomask.com
I don't own Sailormoon or anything pertaining to
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~~~
Serena checked her appearance again, nervous about the party that night. It would only
be the second time since the accident that she would be surrounded with people she
should know. Serena smoothed her short red skirt and brushed her hand along the white
fur lining the edge. She had dressed like one of Santa's elves, at the encouragement
of Lita. The red, green and white outfit looked adorable on her and was perfect for the
Christmas Eve party.
Serena unzipped her duffel bag and checked to make sure she had everything. All the
gifts were at the front door, except for Darien's, which was in her bag. Serena knew
she had everything but was too nervous to go downstairs.
Finally she knew she could put it off no longer. If she did, she would be late for the
party. Serena slung her bag on her shoulder and went downstairs. Darien was standing at
the bottom of the staircase and he glanced up as Serena was coming down.
"You look adorable!" Darien exclaimed. Serena smiled.
"Thanks. Are we going now?" Serena asked.
"Yeah. Jed just went around to get the car." Darien picked up his own overnight bag
and the bag containing all the presents. "Are you ready?"
"I guess so..." Serena set her bag down to slip her jacket on. Darien reached over
and fixed her collar before opening the door. Jed had just pulled up with the limo.
He opened opened the door for Serena and Darien who sat in the back with their bags.
Jed got back into the driver's seat and drove them to the temple.
The closer they got, the more nervous Serena became. Darien reached over and gave her
hand a squeeze.
"It's okay, Serena." He told her quietly. "If you want to leave, just let me know,
all right?"
"I'll be okay." She replied. Serena watched out the window as they approached the temple.
Jed stopped the car at the bottom of the stairs and Serena and Darien got out. Carefully,
they made their way up the steps with their bags. As the came near the entrance to the
temple, Serena could hear strains of music drifting into the night. She smiled and slid
open the door.
"Merry Christmas!" She exclaimed, laughing.
"Hi Sere! Hi Darien!" Lita greeted. Amy smiled at the pair and Raye came forward to take
their jackets.
"Make yourselves comfortable!" She told them.
"Thanks Raye." Serena set her bag down with her shoes and went into the room. She sat
next to Lita and listened to their conversation.
"I don't agree at all!" Mina exclaimed. "The Lights are an amazing group and they are
all good looking!"
"No!" Lita laughed. "Only Seiya is good looking, and Yaten mildly so."
"As if! What do you think Sere?" Mina asked.
"Oh! Uhmm..." Serena shrugged. "I don't really think any of them are cute."
"Yeah, but that's because you've got Darien." Mina winked. Serena laughed.
"Not true. We're just friends." Serena replied.
"Just friends, eh?" Raye added, joining the conversation. "I don't know
about that..."
"Oh please!" Serena exclaimed, rolling her eyes, but smiling.
"So Serena, how are you feeling?" Amy asked as she perched on the end of the couch.
"I'm fine, thank you. How are you?" Serena asked, grateful for the diversion. She
glanced around the room and saw that Darien was talking with a young man in the corner
of the room. The young man seemed to be watching Raye as the five girls huddled around
the couch, laughing and talking.
"Lita, who is that guy talking with Darien?" Serena asked quietly.
"His name is Chad. He lives and works here." Lita whispered back.
"Oh..." Serena replied.
"So what are you doing tomorrow?" Mina asked everyone.
"My mother and I will be going to a restaurant for Christmas dinner." Amy
told them. "She scheduled some time off."
"Grampa, Chad and I are staying here." Raye replied.
"Darien and I are going to Lita's." Serena smiled.
"You can all come." Lita offered. "There will be plenty!"
"My mom and dad are taking me to my cousins house." Mina sighed.
"Well at least you have a lot of family to be with." Raye told her.
"I never see my father at Christmas. He's always too busy with work."
"Serena I love your dress!" Mina exclaimed, changing the topic abruptly.
"Thank you!" Serena smiled. "I'm playing Santa's Helper this year."
"It look really cute." Lita told her.
"Excuse me a sec." Serena stood up and went to where Darien and chad wer
talking. "Why don't you two join us?"
"That's all right. We wouldn't want to impose on your girl talk." Darien
told her, smiling.
"We aren't talking about anythin in particular. Come sit with us!" Serena
grabbed Darien's arm and pulled him towards the couch. Chad followed the
two and knelt on the ground next to Raye. Serena shoved Darien onto the
couch in the space she had just occupied, before sitting in front of him,
on the floor.
"Would you guys like some egg nog?" Lita asked.
"Sure!" The girls chorused in response.
"Do you need some help?" Serena asked.
"No, that's okay Sere. Mina can help me." Lita got up and left the room
with Mina.
"So, Darien, what exactly do you do for a living?" Amy asked.
"It's computer work, nothing that interesting." Darien replied.
"Your company makes millions and is well known." Amy spoke thoughfully.
"You seem rather young to own such a business." Raye added.
"My parents left it to me." Darien left out the fact that he had been
orphaned at a young age and that Jed had been running the business for the
past twelve or so years.
"Enough business talk!" Serena exclaimed. "Let's sing Chrismas carols!"
"All right." Raye agreed. She went to the keyboard that had been set up in
one corner of the room and began playing 'Jingle Bells'. The others began
singing and laughing along. Mina and Lita came in to find four people on the
couch trying to sing together to various Christmas songs.
"Here's the egg nog!" Lita called over the noise. Serena took two glasses
off the tray and handed one to Darien.
"Here you go!"
"Thanks."
"A toast!" Raye called, standing up from the keyboard with her glass raised.
"To Serena and everything she has been through this past few weeks. You are
one strong girl and may only good things follow you now!"
"And to Darien," Serena added. "For everything he has done for me."
"Cheers!" Everyone called, clinking their glasses together.
As the party progressed, Raye whispered something into Serena's ear.
"All right." Serena stood up. "Darien, can you help me for a second?"
"Sure." The two stepped away from the group.
"You better have done it Mina!" Lita warned.
"I did! I did!" She replied quietly. Four pairs of eyes watched the two
reach the pile of gifts.
"Your under mistletoe!" Amy shouted, startling everyone. Darien looked up.
"So we are." He said before grabbing Serena, tipping her backwards and
brushing his lips against hers. The girls and Chad cheered as Darien set
a breathless Serena back on her feet. Blushing, she picked up the bag of
presents and pulled Darien's from her bag. Darien gathered the rest of the
gifts and went back to the group.
"This is for Amy." Serena said, handing Amy a perfectly wrapped bow. Amy
carefully removed the bows and ribbons before taping the paper and sliding
it off.
"Pride and Prejudice! And Great Expectations! Thank you so much! How did
you know?" She exclaimed.
"I remembered, when we were shopping." Serena smiled, before handing Lita
a box, then Mina. They each opened their respective gifts, pleased with
the contents.
"Oh I love it Serena! And it will fit so perfectly!" Mina twirled around
with the dress in front of her.
"Thank you Serena and Darien." Lita smiled happily.
"And this is for you Raye!" Serena handed her a small box. Raye opened it
and gasped.
"It's so beautiful..." She breathed. Raye pulled it out of the bow and
clasped it around her neck. "Thanks you."
Next Amy took a turn handing out gifts, then Lita and Mina. When it was
Raye's turn, she handed each of the four girls matching boxes.
"As you all know, I'm pyschic." She began. "When I saw these in the store,
I had a vision. Its like they belong to you."
Puzzled, they each opened their boxes to reveal charm bracelets. Handing
from the delicate chain was each planet's symbol, and embedded in their
respective planets symbol, was a stone.
"I don't understand it, but they were made for you. I have one too." Raye
held up her wrist to show them.
"Thank you so much Raye!" Serena threw her arms around Raye, hugging her
tightly. Raye laughed, before letting go of her friend.
"This is for you Chad." Raye handed him a small envelope. Inside was a
certificate for guitar lessons. Chad laughed.
"Thanks Raye." He smiled shyly at her.
"This is for you, Darien." Serena handed him the beautifully wrapped bottle.
Darien smiled at her and slowly opened it.
"Roze! I love this cologne! How did you know?" He asked her. Serena
shrugged.
"The sales lady suggested it to me. Her name was Rita, said she was an old
friend of yours. She says hi." Serena told him.
"Rita and I go way back. I set her up with my best friends, Andrew. I
wonder if they are still together..." he mused.
"Yup. She said Andrew said hi too." Serena laughed.
"Well, it's getting late and we should get going." Lita said.
"I'll go give Jed a call for the car." Darien stood up and left to find a
telephone.
"Thank you all so much." Serena told her friends. "This has been the best
Christmas ever!"
With a chorus of goodbyes, Serena, Darien and Lita carefully went down the
shrine stairs to wait for Jed and his car.
"Thanks again for inviting us over Lita." Serena said.
"It's no problem Serena. I prefer spending Christmas with friend rather
than alone." Lita smiled. "It'll be fun and give us time to.. well, girl
talk!"
Just then Jed pulled up and the three piled into the back of the limo. They
headed towards Lita's apartment as the snow fell softly around them.
~~~
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