Chapter 1: The Gifts "Oof!" Serena stumbled back and almost fell if not for the arms that surrounded her to prevent her little behind from kissing the hard pavement. As usual, she was running late, only this time, she is no longer in high school, but attending her last year in a local college. And although the university wasn't normally stringent in terms of attendance compared to high school, Mr. Johnson would definitely burn her bums for missing his "incessant endeavor to alleviate the continuous degradation of the minds of the youth of today." "Ohhh, ...I am really, really sorry, sir, I was just..." Serena started apologizing to the stranger she bumped into in her rush to school, pulling her face away from his chest when suddenly, something stroked her forehead tenderly. She stiffened instantly at the stranger's actions, but soon calmed down when she smelled a familiar scent coming from the so-called "stranger" as well as heard an amused chuckle emitting from his throat. "Sweetheart, if you are to continue having this habit of bumping into other people as you rush to school, you better make sure it's me on the other end, hmm?" Darien straightened both of them in position but still kept his arms lovingly around Serena. "Well, that could be arranged. You just have to make sure then that you would ALWAYS be on the other end, now would you?" Serena raised her delicate face towards Darien and gave him a conspiratorial wink. Darien gave a slight groan and lean down to gently bestow a morning kiss to his girlfriend's forehead. "Silly girl, then it will be ME who's going to be late." Serena giggled, "Well isn't that the point? Ever heard of the saying, 'The family that goes to work late together, stays together'?" Darien laughed, "Serena, I think you mean 'The family that PRAYS together, stays together." "My point exactly, as long as they do things together, they WILL stay together!" Serena insisted. "Sigh, Sere..." Darien leaned his forehead against Serena's and closed his eyes. He breathed in deeply to smell Serena's scent and to keep it to his memory so that he has something to keep him going at the hospital later on while working on his medical training. Serena hugged Darien to herself a bit more and relished the feeling of being in his arms when suddenly she was thumped at the back rather firmly. "Hey, watch it will you...," Serena let go of Darien and turned around only to come face to face with... ...a very beautiful woman with intense violet-eyes and luxuriant purple black hair... ...who happens to look very.dangerous as of the moment... Serena gulped to her impending doom... "Oh! Aah,...hehehe, hello Rae..." "Sere! If I can still find your butt in here within 10 seconds, I will personally kick you off to kingdom come, you hear?!" "But Rae, it wasn't my fault...the alarm clock was broken and..." "1...2...3..." "Oh, all right already, I'm going, I'm going...Sheesh!" Serena turned back to a very amused Darien and gave him a slight punch in the arms all her troubles. In return, Darien leaned down to brush his lips tenderly across Serena's... "...5...6...7..." "Eeeppp!" Serena immediately resumed her marathon and continued running towards school. "See you later, Rae! And Darien, stop smirking! I'm off!" The frown in Rae's face suddenly ceased when Serena was no longer seen as the blond turned to a corner. She glanced at Darien and saw him grinning back at her. "You know, a military camp suits you better than a temple." Darien teased Rae as she flipped her hair back her shoulders with a slight smile on her lovely face. "Well, SOMEBODY has to keep that idiot of a girl from flunking college, you know. I refused to work for an airhead. Though, she's not far behind from being one., that idiot..." Rae rolled her eyes upward. Darien chuckled, "And she loves you, too Rae." "Yada yada, well, I have to go. Grandfather is not feeling too well today he said, although I'm guessing he's just saying that to take a day-off and flirt with the girls downtown. Bye!" Rae gave Darien a wave before rushing towards the Cherry Hill Temple. Darien smiled and started walking. It was a beautiful morning and a nice walk, compared to driving a car, was definitely called for in such occasions. Darien passed several stores and food vendors while thinking of Serena and her friends as he was walking towards the hospital. "Good day young man, care to shower your friends with wonderful gifts?" Darien stopped walking. He turned and saw the sweetest looking old lady behind the small stall filled with trinkets and stuffed-toys hanging in front. The old lady smiled, "It seems you're in deep thought, young man. Thinking of your sweetheart?" Eyebrows raised knowingly. Darien slightly startled, blushed. An image of Serena putting out her tongue at him during one of their more "lively" discussions made him smiled at the memory. He looked at the old woman and said in a deep voice unknowingly tinged with love, "Indeed, yes." "Well then, I have the perfect gift for the lucky lass..." the old lady turned away and started moving some boxes behind her. Darien, with one hand scratching the back of his head, started apologizing to the old lady and was about to tell her that as of the moment, he's not interested in buying gifts, when the woman came out again. "Perfect gifts for the perfect lady." "I'm sorry, ma'am but I'm not really..." Darien was starting to leave with an apology when he looked down and stood still. Before him were some stuffed-toys: bears, kittens, puppies, all kinds...but what drew his attention were some... The old lady smiled as she followed Darien's gaze. "Ah, those are very rare items, young man. My granddaughter made only a few of them and as you can see, each of them is unique. And cute too," the old lady chuckled in a seemingly-affectionate way. "The girls seemed to adore these the most.your sister or your young lady friends would love one surely." Darien shook his head. Strange, he felt a sense of knowing somehow and he can't seem to shake it off. He then turned his head again and looked down... ...and suddenly, as if he was handed with something, an idea formed in his head. He turned to the woman and asked, "How much for each?" "Well, they are indeed unique and different in their own way, they are very special to me as well..." the old woman trailed off the rest of her sentence as she seemed to have gotten lost in her memories. Darien looked questioningly at the woman. "Are you alright, ma'am?" "Oh, pardon me, I'm sorry dear, just me and my little trip down the old memory lane. I guess I AM OLD." The woman chuckled. Darien looked at the old woman and felt sudden warmth inside his chest. He didn't know why, but he can't help but feel concern for the woman. She seemed to be a very nice old lady. "Well, may I ask then how much for these four?" The old woman smiled at Darien and looked at him for a long time before reaching out for the stuff that Darien have chosen to buy and put them inside a huge paper bag. "My dear, the value of these things can only be deemed of worth if the person receiving them would indeed cherish them as I have. Hence, I do hope and pray that whoever you have chosen to give these to would learn to appreciate its value and worth." The old woman regarded Darien so seriously that he almost laughed outloud. It is as if the things that he had decided to buy were really priceless and not just some gifts he bought at a lowly stall in downtown. And yet, he can't help but feel...responsible. Even weirder is the fact that he even felt the NEED to buy the gifts. He looked down at the paper bag and at the stuff he bought and then his gaze returned back to the old lady who was now smiling sadly and a tinge of regret in her gray eyes. Darien frowned at the old woman's reaction, Darien would have asked the question but the old woman spoke suddenly. "Dear, I would be closing soon, it's the weather, sometimes my knees just can't seem to handle it. Being terribly old and all," the old woman smiled. "That'll be $4." Darien gave her the money and looked at her for probably the last time and smiled gently. "Don't worry ma'am, I promise you that they would be cherished by my friends." And with a wave, off he went. The old woman smiled mysteriously...with a trace of contentment...and even sadness in her eyes. Soon, my sons. Soon.