California Girl
Minako-chan and Usagi-chan
usagi@lunap.com
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We don't own Sailormoon.
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Darien and Andrew headed inside the school together, talking.  It was
Darien's first day at the school Andrew had attended since grade
nine.  Now entering their final year at California's most 
prominent high school, the pair intended to have the
best year of their lives.

"No way Dar!!  I'm not trying out for football with you.  I 
know you'll make it, be team captain before the season's out and
manage to have all the cheerleaders drooling over you.  Well,
at least most of them." Andrew ammended.

"Why not all?" Darien asked with a mock hurt expression.

"The captain of cheerleaders..." Andrew laughed.  "When you
meet her...  Well, she'll certainly surprise you."

"What do you mean?" Darien asked.  Andrew just laughed and
shook his head. 

"You'll see soon enough."

"Hey Andrew!" A voice called.  Andrew turned to see a tall
brunette headed his way.

"Hey Lita." He replied as she came up to him.

"How was you summer?" She asked as the three headed in the 
direction Andrew and Darien had been going.

"Fine.  Lita, this is my cousin Darien.  He just moved here,
to our beautiful state of California.  Darien, this is Lita." 
Andrew introduced the two.

"Hey." Lita smiled.  "How are you?"

"Fine." Darien smiled.

"Are you liking California so far?" Lita asked.

"What I've seen of it, yeah." Darien nodded.

"Great.  Anyway, I can't chat long.  I'm supposed to be 
meeting Ames at the library.  If you see Mina, send her 
in that direction, alright?" Lita asked.  "Thanks."

She dashed off ahead of the two who continued to walk
towards their first period class.

"Lita didn't seem too interested." Darien feigned a
hurt expression.

"Yeah, she and Ken are pretty tight.  I can see him asking
her to marry him by graduation day." Andrew replied, with a
laugh.

"So tell me more about this cheerleader." Darien smiled
at Andrew.

"You'll see her soon enough, Dar.  She's in our first
period class." Andrew told him.  Just then, Darien grabbed
Andrew's arm.

"Who is that?" He asked, nodding towards a tall blonde
girl.  His jaw was nearly agape, and Andrew laughed at
him.

"Well, you certainly have good, if impossible, tastes.  
Hey Serena!" Andrew called, waving at the blonde.  She 
turned to see who had called her, and smiled when she 
saw Andrew.

"Hey Andy." She greeted, smiling, but continued on
her way, never once glancing at Darien.

"See what I mean?  That was the head of the cheerleaders,
and the top student at our school, Serena." Andrew
smiled with satisfaction.  "She's also the first girl
who won't give you the time of day."

"She's absolutely gorgeous..." Darien replied, ignoring
Andrew's comment.

"Give it up, Dar.  She hasn't dated any guy at this school.
Its rumored that she has a boyfriend somewhere in Europe."

"Is the rumor true?" Darien asked.

"Nope." Andrew replied.  "Sere and I are good friends.  I
know all sorts of things about her."

Andrew pushed open the classroom door and Darien followed
him.

"Spill." Darien said as the two sat in the back of the
classroom. 

"No way.  Just give it up, Dar.  She'll never be interested
and there are plenty of girls here that would go out with
you in a heartbeat.  I mean, half the class is swooning
over you as we speak."

Darien shrugged his indifference and sighed.

"I don't care.  I want Serena."

"You don't even know her.  You can't want who you don't know."
Andrew replied.  Before Darien could say anything, someone 
sat down on the other side of Andrew and spoke.

"Hey Andy." It was Serena.

"Hi Sere.  This is my cousin, Darien.  I told you about
him before." 

"Sure.  Its a pleasure meeting you Darien." Serena glanced
at him briefly before turning her attention back to Andrew.
"Everyone's coming over after school today.  Do you want 
to come?  You can bring Darien if you'd like."

Serena pulled out her binder as she spoke, paying little 
attention to Andrew even as she spoke to him.  She tacked
on the last line out of sheer politeness and both of
the guys knew it.

"Uhmm, sure, I guess.  Pool party?" Andrew asked.

"Yeah." Serena nodded.  

"Okay.  We'll try to make it." Andrew promised.

"Good morning class!  I trust you all had a good 
summer!" The teacher walked into the classroom with
a cheerful smile.  "Now, it's time to get down to
business."

Serena sat staring at the teacher, but Darien could 
tell she was paying little to no attention to what
he was saying.  Smiling, he quickly jointed something
down on paper and passed it in front of Andrew, 
dropping it on her desk.  Serena raised an eyebrow 
at him before unfolding the paper and reading the
message.  Serena rolled her eyes, unamused, before 
re-folding the paper and stuffing it in her bag.  

Darien was dumbfounded.  No girl had ever acted
like that before to anything he had done.

'Oh well.' He thought, shrugging it off.  'I have
a whole year to win her heart.'

Darien turned his attention to the teacher and 
ignored Serena for the rest of the period.

~~
"What did you write to her?" Andrew asked as they 
left first period and headed towards second.

"What do you mean?" Darien asked. 

"Serena.  What did you write?" 

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Darien laughed.  "This
is my class.  See ya Andy!"

Darien stepped into his classroom and scanned the
people, hoping to see a familiar face.  His eyes
fell on Serena, and a smile made its way across
his face.

"May I sit here?" He asked, smiling at her.  Serena
glanced up at him and shrugged before turning her 
attention back to her paper.  She was writing 
something.  Darien sat down and turned to her, about
to say something when someone fell into the seat
in front of Serena and turned around talking to 
her.

"Sere!  Mina ditched us this morning.  Amy was
waiting, and when I got there she said that
Mina had..." 

"Calm down Lita!" Serena laughed.  "What was Mina
supposed to do?"

"She agreed to make us a bunch of signs for the
upcoming dance.  You said you were too busy to
do them, so she agreed.  I knew I never should
have relied on her!" Lita was practically 
growling with anger.

"I'll do them tonight, and get Mina to help
me, alright?" Serena asked.  Lita smiled.

"Aww Sere...  I know how busy you are.  It's
okay." 

"Lita, you know I'm having a party tonight.  I
can do it then." Serena smiled at her friend.
"Its not like I need to supervise you guys,
and you know everyone will help there, so...
Perfect solution!"

"Thanks Sere!  Your the best!" Lita smiled.
"Oh hi Darien.  I see you met Serena."

The teacher of second period class walked in and
looked around with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Well, I'm guessing that all of you had a great
summer and a great first period class!  My name
is Miss Anderson.  I know that it's lame, to most
of you, to do the following task I'm about to ask
you to do, but it's always a great way for me to
remember all of you, since it's my first year at
this school.  We're going to learn about each
other in the old-fashioned way.  Each of you will
go up to the front by yourself, in alphabetical
order by last name, and write down your first
name and last name.  Then I want you to tell us
what you did during this summer.  Tell us about
your likes and dislikes too.  Then give us one
detail that describes the most about your
personality.  That's it!  I'll give you 10
minutes to prepare."  Miss Anderson chirped
cheerfully.

"OH COME ON!" Everyone groaned and sighed.  

Darien glanced in Serena's direction and noticed
that she was rolling her eyes, and her lips were
curled downward.

"Oh come on, this is so stupid.  What does she
think we are, kindergarten kids?" Lita turned
around and grumbled.

"Yeah I know eh?  Besides, we already know about
half the people in this class."  Serena mumbled.

"Well, not all.  Darien, tell us about yourself!"
Lita turned toward the startled hunk, and smiled.

"Thanks Lita...well I guess I can start off by
telling you about -" Darien began and turned
toward Serena and smiled.

"Nuh uh.  You'll have time when she calls you up
to the front." Serena interrupted.

Darien sank back into his chair and closed his
eyes. He heard Lita chuckling.

"Serena!" She exclaimed, and smacked her friend
lightly on the arm. "That was mean!" 

Serena giggled a bit and sighed.

'Winning her heart will be harder than I
thought.' Darien thought to himself.

He looked around and noticed many girls staring
in his direction, but he wasn't interested in any
of them.  Who he was interested in did not even
care that he existed.  He was amused and wanted
to accept the challenge of making her care.

No one was really thinking at that moment, about
what to say in front of the class.  After all,
everyone knew each other, and there were only
three or four new students in the class.

Darien looked at Lita and Serena and compared the
two.  If Serena could only be more like Lita,
more of a friendly person.  He placed his elbow
on the desk, and leaned his head on his hand, and
stared dreamily at Serena, although not meaning
to do so.  She was drawing something on a fresh
piece of paper, and Lita was drawing on the top
half of it.

"Hey guys what are you drawing?" Darien asked
with great curiosity.

Serena turned toward him and smiled politely. 

"Our heroes."  Lita looked at him and smiled
mischievously.

"Oh?" Darien raised an eyebrow and tried not to
show his curiosity.  He tilted his head up and
looked at the drawing.  Lita had drawn a guy with
short wavy brown hair, with a bright smile on his
face.  Underneath the picture she wrote "Ken, my
one and only".  Darien looked at her and she
blushed and laughed at her silly sketch.  He then
looked at Serena's.  He noticed that she was
awfully good at drawing...although she only drew
the back of a man.  It was a tall, dark figure,
with a cape.  He wanted to know who her hero was.

"Why aren't you putting down a name to that guy,
Serena?" He asked.

"It's...it's just a crazy drawing, Darien. 
Doesn't really mean anything." She stuttered, and
Darien knew that she was lying.  It was too late
for questions, however, because Miss Anderson was
already up in her position and taking the
attendance list, going down each name.

"Ellen Amber...oh that's a beautiful name." Miss
Anderson smiled, as a blushing tall brunette
walked up to the front and gave a short
description of herself.

"Hmmm...next...Anna Berk." A short, stubby girl
walked up to the front and stuttered, blushing
greatly at the sight of 30 other students staring
at her.

"Okay, that was great Anna!  Basketball eh? 
Sounds fun.  Okay next..."

The list went on for 20-odd other students. 
Serena and Darien were obviously bored to tears,
staring blankly into space.

"Darien Shields.  Oooooh!  Mr. Shields is one of
our new students!  Come on up."  Miss Anderson
winked at the tall handsome figure walking
confidently to the front speechstand.  

"Ahem." He began, and noticed all the girls,
except for Serena and Lita, drooling over him. 
"My name is Darien Shields, and I have been..."

During the course of his description of himself,
he merely looked at other people.  Sure all the
guys were insanely jealous of him because of the
attention he was getting from the girls, but he
only cared about one person's attention, but she
didn't give him any.  He looked at her during his
whole speech, and she was only doing more
sketches at her desk, only looking up at him
every time people laughed at his witty remarks.

"That was great Darien!  I hope you'll have a
nice time here with your cousin and all your new
friends."  Miss Anderson smiled.  "Next, Serena
Tsukino!"

Every single guy cheered, except for Darien, who
didn't expect that kind of reaction at all.  He
looked around and saw that all the guys were
waving their hands and applauding.

Serena walked up to the front with graceful
movements, and blushed a great deal with a bright
smile on her face at the attention that she got.

"GO SERENA!"  A guy yelled, and everyone, except
for Darien, who was jealous and angry, laughed.

"Thanks Paul.  I love you too." Serena mumbled,
and 'Paul' laughed.

"Well what can I say...I guess most of you know
me as the head of the cheerleaders.  That's a
position I'm proud of, but not one that I want to
be known as.  I want to be known as Serena
Tsukino. Not, 'oh look there's the head of the
cheerleaders!'.  I want people to say, 'Look
there's Serena!  Isn't she great?'  There are a
few new people in this class, and I happen to
have met one of them, Darien, who I'm sure the
girls will have no trouble remembering and the
guys will remember to beat up in the parking lot
today.  I just want to say that this is a great
school, I've been here since grade 9, and I've
seen that all the new students have adjusted and
enjoyed themselves here.  I'm sure that you will
like it here too.  So about myself..."  Serena
continued.

Darien looked around and saw that all eyes were
looking at Serena.  The girls were looking at her
with admiration and envy, while the guys were
just drooling.  Andrew was right.  Serena was his
match.  She was exactly what he was, and he
wanted to overcome this challenge.  To make her
his.  They would be the dream couple.

Darien stared intently at Serena, who seemed to
look at everyone while she was speaking except
for him.  Serena was funny and sweet, and
everyone enjoyed her speech with great applause
at the end.  Some guys even stood up and
whistled.

After she finished and sat back down beside
Darien, she sighed and rubbed her temples.  

A few more students went up after Serena and half
of the period ended when all the speeches were
done. 

"Well!" Miss Anderson clapped her hands together
excitedly.  "I'm sure I can remember all of you! 
And I know off by heart who two of all of you
here are already."  She winked in Darien and
Serena's direction.  "Seems to me that you two
have gained quite a lot of attention!"

Darien smiled proudly while Serena sighed, tired
of all the attention that she was getting.

After class, Darien watched as Serena quickened
her pace and picked up all her binders and
accessories.

"What do you have now, Serena?" He asked and
caught up to her.

"I have a spare period.  Look, I have to meet up
with some people, and there are only a few
minutes between classes so I suggest you hurry up
and get to your next class.  I don't think you
wanna be late on your first day."  Serena said,
not bothering to look at him, and walked out of
the door.

"Hey Darien!"  A familiar voice spoke and tapped
him on the shoulder.

"Hey Andrew."  Darien said, still a little upset
because Serena didn't care he existed.

"I see you have Serena in at least two of your
classes! Whooooooo!" Andrew winked, then noticed
that Darien wasn't smiling proudly that he got so
much attention from the girls, like he normally
would.  "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing in particular.  Just that she doesn't
care if I exist that's all."  Darien sighed and
watched Serena's figure disappear into a crowd of
people rushing through the halls.

"Awww the all-mighty Darien has finally met his
match." Andrew smiled mischievously.  "Don't
worry, I've known her for a long time.  Once she
gets to know you and you guys become friends,
she'll warm up to you.  Believe me, she's a great
friend to have."

"I've noticed that.  But I want to be more than
friends with her."  Darien smiled at his friend,
who gasped at the statement.

"Isn't it too early to make such a statement?  I
mean, you barely know her."  Andrew asked.

"I will get to know her..." Darien said as he
smiled in determination.  

"Of course...but still..." Andrew cut him off.

Darien grinned, reciting a line from "Wayne's
World".  "She will be mine.  Oh yes, she will be
mine."

Andrew sighed and shook his head.  He clapped one
hand on his cousin's back.

"Dar, give it up.  You'll never get Serena to
fall in love with you.  Let it go." Andrew
advised him.  Darien just shook his head.

"I've got to get to class.  I'll see you later."

Andrew sighed, sure that his friend was going 
to get his heart broken.

"Darien, you certainly are a fool." Andrew
turned and went to his next class, trying 
not to let Darien and Serena occupy his thoughts.

~~
"Turn here." Andrew pointed and Darien turned.  
He found himself on a street full of large,
expensive houses.

"Serena lives on this street?" He asked, not
suprised that the girl was well off.

"Yeah.  That house, there, with the white
jeep." Andrew replied.

"Is that her's?" Darien asked, pulling up 
next to it.

"Yup.  Her sixteenth birthday present." Andew
told him as they got out of Darien's car.

"It's nice." Darien commented, locking his
car door.  The two went to Serena's front
door and knocked.  It was answered almost
immediately.

"Hey!  Glad you could make it!" Serena smiled
at them.  "Come on in."

Darien and Andrew stepped inside.  Darien was
glad that Serena seemed to be in a better mood.

"You can go right outside.  Andrew, you know the
way.  I have to grab a few things." Serena
told them.

"Need any help, Serena?" Darien asked.

"Nope, thanks though.  Just go have fun." Serena
replied.  Darien nodded and followed Andrew
outside.

There was a large pool, surrounded by various
plastic lounge chairs.  There were two matching
plastic tables.  Lita was seated at one with an
unfamiliar blonde who had a striking resemblance
to Serena, and a blue haired girl he had seen in
his physics class.  Darien decided to head in that 
direction, ignoring the rest of the guests.

"Hey Lita." He sat down next to the brunette.

"Hey Darien!  Do you know Ames and Mina yet?" She
asked, smiling at him.  Darien shook his head.  "This
is Amy, and Mina.  You two, this is Darien."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Amy replied, in her
british accent.  Mina smiled brightly.

"Boy did you get on Serena's bad side real quick."

"Mina!" Lita exclaimed and Mina instantly clamped
a hand over her mouth.  

"It's okay." Darien laughed.  "I pretty much knew
that on my own."

"Not her bad side, really..." Amy tried to explain.
"More that you..." She sighed.  "Your a typical 
guy who likes her physical appearance and not who she
is."

"You don't know that." Darien replied.

"Don't I?" 

Darien looked up and saw Serena standing there, holding
white poster paper and some markers. 

"Here's the stuff you guys.  I'll get whatever else
you need, just let me know." She set the supplies down
on the table before claiming a seat between Mina
and Amy.  She grabbed a blue marker and began to
sketch.

The picture quickly became a guy dressed in a tuxedo.
He was holding something, that looked like a bunch 
of flowers.  Serena picked up a red marker and turned
the flowers into roses.

"That's so nice Sere!" Mina exclaimed.  Serena laughed.

"Thanks Mina.  You can draw this well though!  You just
need to actually do it." Serena handed her the blue
marker and picked up the pink one.  She drew a girl
wearing a short pink dress.  She added blonde hair
before picking up the black marker and writing 
across the top.

Darien watched her intently as she wrote in fancy
writing the time and date of the dance.  The others
seemed to be watching more than working, and Darien
wondered why.

"Excuse me a minute." Darien stood up and went to
find Andrew.  "Andrew, can I talk to you a second?"

"Sure, Dar." Andrew moved away from the people he
was talking to.  "What's up?"

"Can you explain something to me?  Why is it that
Serena agrees to help with something, but ends up  
doing all the work?  I mean, Amy, Lita and Mina were 
going to make those posters, but they're only
watching her."

"It's always that way." Andrew sighed.  "They don't 
do it on purpose, but she's so perfect, y'know?  They
want to help her, but they don't want to ruin everything
on her."

"I don't get it..."  Darien shook his head.  Sighing,
he thanked Andrew and went back to sit down.

"Can I help with these?" Darien asked, then picked up a
marker before waiting for a reply.  He quickly wrote the
time and date, copied from Serena's, on his poster.  He
drew red roses around the border, intertwining the stems.

Serena glanced up at his poster and smiled.

"I like that." She told him, much to his surprise.

"Thanks." He smiled back, but Serena had already turned
her attention back to her own drawing.

~~
The next morning Serena was absent from their first period
class.  Darien was worried, but when he asked Andrew, Andrew
just shrugged it off.

"Serena always misses classes." Andrew replied.

"She doesn't seem like the type to just not show
up unless something is seriously wrong." Darien
commented.

"Look Darien, just leave Serena alone, okay?  She.."
Andrew sighed.  "She has some problems not many people
know about so just let her be."

Darien nodded, shocked at his cousin's outburst.  Turning
his attention back to the teacher, Darien decided he would
go to Serena's house after this class and see how she was.

Remembering the way from the party the night before,
Darien turned into the drive way next to the white jeep.
He hopped up the steps and knocked on the front door.  After
a few minutes, the large door was pulled open to reveal a 
very ill looking Serena.

"What?" She asked, barely able to keep her eyes open.

"Serena what's wrong?" Darien asked.  The blonde was leaning
against the door, barely able to stand on her own two feet.

"Nothing." She shrugged.

"It doesn't look like nothing to me." Darien replied.

"Look Darien..." Serena began, before she was interrupted.

"Miss. Tsukino please!  You need to rest.  Especially 
after the treatment..." The white clad women froze as her
eyes fell on the unknown man standing in the doorway.
"Who is this?"

"Darien Shields." Serena replied with a sigh.  "He's
Andy's cousin."

"I see.  Does your mother know about him?" The woman
asked.

"Know what?" Serena asked incredulously.  "I met him
yesterday at school."

"Serena, please shut the door and get back to bed.
You are far to sick to be..." The tall blond woman who
had just entered the foyer froze as her eyes fell on
Darien.  "Who is this?" She asked.

"Darien Shields, ma'am." Darien offered her his hand
as he stepped into the house.

"It's a pleasure." The woman nodded curtly before turning
to the other woman, in white.  "Honestly Nurse Longweigh! 
If you can't keep your charge in bed what good are you
as her nurse?"

"I'm sorry ma'am." The nurse looked away.

"It's my fault mother." Serena shut the door behind 
Darien and turned to face her mother.

"Oh darling, it's not your fault.  Please, though.
Get some rest." Her mother gently caressed her daughter's
face.

"Don't you have to be in a meeting in fifteen minutes?"
Serena asked.

"I can cancel it if you'd like." Her mother offered.
Serena shook her head.

"No, I'll be fine." Serena promised.

"Is Darien going to be staying here?" Her mother
asked.

"Yeah.  He and Nurse Longweigh will make sure I
stay put, okay?" Serena smiled at her mom.

"Alright darling.  Call me if you need anything,
alright?"

"Yup.  Knock 'em dead." Serena kissed her mother's
cheek before the elegant woman left to prepare for
her meeting.

"So off to bed with you." Darien ordered.  Serena
sighed and went through one of the doors on the left.
It was a large white room filled with typical teenage
stuff.  Serena collapsed on the large white bed.
Darien nervously fidgeted with his jacket before
Serena spoke.

"You only have to stay until she leaves.  I'm
sorry for using you like that, but she worries
too much..." Serena had her eyes shut.

"No problem.  I really did come to see how you were.
I was worried." Darien told her before claiming a
chair next to her bed.

"This happens.  I deal." Serena replied.

"What exactly is wrong with you?"

"Leukemia." Serena told him.  "It keeps going into
remission and keeps coming back."

"Leukemia..." Darien echoed.

"It's a form of cancer..." She began, then sighed.
"My mom left, so you can go now."

"What if I don't want to?" Darien asked.

"I need to rest Darien.  The chemo and radiation
takes a lot out of me.  I don't have energy for
dealing with you right now."

"Then just relax, Serena.  It's okay.  I'm not going
to do anything.  You don't need to entertain me, just
because I'm here.  You work too hard trying to please
other people." Darien told her.  "Just ease up a bit."

Serena sighed, was about to protest, but stopped.  She
snuggled a little deeper into her pillows and let her 
eyes close softly.  Slowly her breathing lessened and Darien
watched her fall asleep.

"Oh Serena, beautiful Serena, what am I going to do with
you?" Darien whispered, gently stroking her cheek.

He remained seated next to her bed, just watching the
rise and fall of her chest as her breathing slowed.  
For hours, he just watched her rest from the treatment
she was getting.

'It's not fair!  She does so much for other people, she's
such a good person.  Why does she have to deal with this?
And alone!' Darien's mind exclaimed.  "Alone...."

Suddenly she made so much sense to him.  No one knew,
maybe not even Andrew, maybe not her friends.  No wonder
Serena was so cold to him when they first met. 

"Poor, darling Serena..." Darien gently stroked her hair
as he watched her delicate features.

"Excuse me?" 

Darien jerked around to see Nurse Longweigh standing in
the doorway.

"Yes?" Darien's voice remained soft, so as not to 
disturb Serena.

"Is she sleeping?  That girl will never rest." 

"Yeah, she's been sleeping for a few hours now." Darien
replied.

"Good.  You have a good effect on her.  Don't hesitate
to stop by more often." The nurse smiled at him before
leaving the room.  Darien turned his attention back to
Serena.

"See?  I am good for you." He smiled at her sleeping
face, and saw her lips twitch slightly.  "Don't feign
sleep with me, young lady."

Slowly Serena opened her eyes to reveal still sleepy
blue orbs.  She smiled at Darien.

"Hi."

"Do you feel better?" Darien asked.  Serena nodded and
began to sit up.

"Much.  It's so good to be able to relax." 

"I'll bet." Darien replied.  

"What?" Serena asked, confused by his tone.

"It's... It's just the way everyone treats you!  I mean,
even your friends!  Everyone expects you to do everything 
for them.  Don't they know how to help themselves?"

Serena was shocked by Darien's outburst and made no 
attempt to hide it.

"Darien...  It's just that they know I'm capable, and.."

"And you've made no attempt to even hide that.  You
don't have to do everything alone, Serena.  It's okay
to let other people help."

"I know that." Serena spoke after a moment of silence.  
"They don't know, you know, about my condition.  They
would only coddle me and try to constantly take care of
me.  I don't want that." 

"Sometimes you need that."

"No!  I don't, Darien.  That's why I don't tell them.
I want friends who like me for me.  I don't want people
to feel sorry for me, or obligated to me.  Just friends..."

"And friends sometimes to take care of friends, just 
like boyfriends..." 

"What..  What?" She looked at him, her eyes wide.

"Serena, you work to hard to be independent.  I don't
want you to.  I want you to be dependent on me.  I want
you to let me take care of you sometimes.  Not all the
time, just when you want me too."

"Darien, you hardly even know me."

"I do know you.  I'm just like you.  I act so perfect, 
like I'm so well put together.  Do you know why I ended
up in California, Serena?  Do you have any idea why
I'm spending my final year half way across the country?"
Serena shook her head 'no'.  "Because my parents died.  
They were killed in a car crash.  I've been living on my
own, and no one was able to locate my family until this 
year, when I happened to find Andy."

"Oh Darien...  I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be, I'm not.  If I hadn't moved here, I'd never 
have met you.  Besides, it happened a long time ago.  I
was really young.  The point is that I was so independent
all those years.  Really, I was alone, and too stupid to
see it."

"Darien..." Serena whispered before shaking her head.  
"I'm not alone.  I have my friends, and my mother.  They
all care about me."

"But you don't let them help you.  You practically ordered
your mother out of the house, and you won't tell any of
your friends.  And you hate me, because I won't just sit
back and let you wear yourself out." Darien replied sharply.

"I don't hate you." Serena spoke softly.  

"Could've fooled me." Darien leaned back in his chair.

"You aren't like other boys, Darien.  You act more independent,
more capable.  I.. I like that.  I was just.. afraid.  I don't
want to get involved with anyone, in case..  This is the fifth
time I've gone into remission Darien!  And it gets worse each
time.  One of these days, I'm not going to surive it!" Serena
sobbed out.  Darien moved to sit on the edge of her bed and
pulled her into his arms.

"Serena..." He murmered as he gently rocked her back and forth.
"Darling Serena...."

Serena cried herself into exhaustion in Darien's arms, and he
held her until he was sure she was asleep.  He gently lay her
back onto her bed and pulled the covers up around her.

"You will get better Serena, and from this point on you 
aren't fighting alone.  I promise you that.  You'll never 
be alone again."

~~

When Serena woke up next, her room was dark.  Her eyes fell
on Darien who had fallen asleep in the chair next to her 
bed.  She smiled involuntarily at the adorable picture he 
made. 

She reached over slowly and poked his knee a few times.

"Darien..."  

His dark blue eyes flew open and he looked sleepily at
Serena.

"Hi gorgeous." He said before yawning.

"You didn't have to stay." She told him.

"I want to." He told her with a shrug.  "Do you feel 
better?"

"Yeah." Serena sat up and stretched.  "I'm hungry."

"I'll go see what I can find in your kitchen, k?" Darien
offered.  Serena nodded before snuggling back into her 
bed.  Darien smiled at her from her doorway before leaving.

'Great!' Serena thought.  'Now I have Darien Shields taking
care of me in my own home.' She sighed.  'Be honest with 
yourself, Serena.  You like it, and you like him.  You
have since day one, but were just too damn scared to admit
it.  He's a great guy, but you didn't want him to know your
secret.' 

Serena pushed her hair out of her face as she continued to
think.

'Now that he knows, it's okay to care about him.  He found
out on his own, and he isn't coddling you.  It's more like
bossing you around.' Serena giggled at her thoughts.  'So
I like him.  Now what?'

"I hope you like salad and chicken.  It's all I could find."
Darien walked into her room carrying a tray.  He set it on 
her lap as Serena sat up.

"What about you?" She asked.  "Don't you want anything?"

"Nah, not hungry."

"Darien, you need to eat too.  You've been here all day, so 
I know you haven't eaten anything."

Darien laughed.

"Hey missy!  I'm taking care of you, not the other way
around."

"But, I thought people took care of each other in a relationship."

"Relationship?" Darien asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, yeah...  I thought that's what you wanted." She hesistated
as she spoke.

Darien's face broke out into a smile.

"Yeah, but I thought you..." 

"I do." She interrupted him, sounding certain of herself.

"Good." Darien smiled.  "Does that mean we're dating now?"

"I guess..." Serena smiled at him.  "Yeah, yeah it does."

Darien smiled at Serena who was smiling at him.

"How is it that you make me feel so unbelievable?" Serena
asked him as she began munching her chicken and salad.
Darien grinned.

"You are unbelievable, Serena."

~~

A few days later at school, Darien plunked into his seat next 
to Andrew, wondering if Serena was feeling up to school.  If 
she didn't show up in first. he was going to call her before 
second to see how she was.

Seconds before the bell rang, Serena fell into her sleep,
exhaustion written across her features.  

"Hey beautiful.  I didn't think you were going to make it." 
Darien greeted herm gently kissing her cheek.

"I didn't either." She smiled at him.  

"How are you feeling?" He asked.  

"Better.  Still tired."

"What's going on?" Andrew asked, clueless as to why Serena
was being so friendly with Darien.  Darien wrapped his arm
around Serena.

"This is Serena, my girlfriend." Darien grinned at the
astonished look on Andrew's face.

~~

Darien as sitting at a small booth at the local pizza parlour.
He kept checking his watch, getting impatient.  She was late.
He knew she had a doctor's appointment, and he was anxious
to find out what the doctor told her.  

A few minutes later Serena entered the parlour and looked
around before her eyes fell on Darien.  She smiled and 
practically ran to where he was sitting.

"It's in remission Darien!  The doctor told me it's in 
remission!" She laughed gleefully and threw her arms 
around his neck.

"I know you could do it, Serena!  I knew you could beat it!"
He hugged her back fiercly.

"We beat it, Darien.  We beat it together."

~~~

The end!