Untitled - Epilogue
Usagi-chan
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~~~
Serena and Aurora were walking down the hall together,
heading for the cafeteria.  Aurora glanced at Serena,
a concerned expression on her face.

"Are you going to be okay tonight?  I know how 
your dad gets..." Aurora bit her lip waiting for
Serena to reply.  Serena shrugged.

"He'll probably lock himself in his studio and I 
won't see him for a while." Serena tried to act
nochalant, but Aurora could tell she was upset.

"Oh Sere..." Aurora hugged her friend tightly.
"Get out tonight, don't stay home alone like
usual!"

"I have to..  I mean, it's the anniversary of her
death, and I need to be alone, I need to think."
Serena told her as the two resumed walking.

"You always say that Sere.  What's left to think
about?" Aurora asked.

"To think about what?" Darien asked, coming up behind
the two.  He wrapped an arm around Serena, holding her
possessively.

"Nothing." Serena replied sharply.  Darien looked at
her in surprise.

"What's wrong, Sere?" He asked.

"Nothing." She replied, this time softly.

"Are you sure?" He asked, his voice caring and 
gentle.

"Yes, I'm fine." Serena told him.

"Are you free tonight?" 

"No, I have plans..." Serena told him, not looking
up at him.

"Oh." Darien nodded.  "Okay."

"Serena David you do not have any plans aside from
sulking!" Aurora exclaimed.  "You are going to go out
tonight if it kills you and me!" 

Darien looked surprised at Aurora's outburst.  Serena
shut her eyes and stopped walking.

"Aurora, you don't understand...  You of all people know
how my father is and its all my fault." Serena opened
her eyes, which were brimming with tears.  "Even looking
at me is painful because I remind him of her, so much.  I
look so much like her..." 

Crying fully, Serena pulled herself from Darien's arms and
took off down the hall.  Darien glanced from Serena, to 
Aurora and back to Serena.  He followed after her, leaving
Aurora alone.

"Serena..." Darien whispered as he caught up with her.  She
was sitting under a tree, sobbing into her knees.  Darien sat
next to her and put his arms around her.  

"Oh Serena..." He whispered.  Suddenly it dawned on Darien
how little he knew about her.  Sure he hadn't been dating her
long, but he had liked her since he had seen her.  How much
of their relationship was based on physical attraction?  

"Darien..." She sobbed against him.  Despite his insecurity,
Darien held her tightly, trying to soothe her tears.

"I don't want to be alone...  I don't want to deal with
it on my own,  but no one understands..." She sobbed 
against his shirt.

"No one can understand unless you tell them, Serena." He told
her gently.  Serena took a few calming breathes, clenching 
her eyes to stop the tears.

"When I was little, three or so, my mother got pregnant 
again.  I was so happy, I was going to have a younger brother
or sister.  I was asleep when she went to the hospital, but
but my dad took me to the hospital to see her that morning."
Serena paused.  "I never got to see her again...  She died in
labour, and the child, a boy, never made it."

Darien was astonished.  He hadn't know Serena had grown up
without a mother.  He hadn't known she had suffered so much,
that she did suffer so much!

"My father...  He blames himself for letting it happen.  She
was delicate, and having me was hard on her.  He blames himself
for letting her get pregnant again." Serena bit her lip.  "I
look just like her...  It hurts my father to see me, because
I remind him of her."

"Serena..." Darien tightened his arms around her.  He knew
how hard it was for her to tell him.

"Today's the anniversary of her death." She whispered.  "I
don't want to be alone."

"I'll be with you, Serena.  I'll be with you forever.."
Darien whispered.  Suddenly he knew it didn't matter if
he knew nothing about her, he loved her and he knew that.

"Thank you, Darien..." Serena whispered, looking up at
him.  Her still wet blue eyes were shining with love.

"Serena, you mean so much to me...  I don't know how you 
did it, but you made me love you." Darien smiled at her.
"You are everything to me, and if something hurts you, it
hurts me, but we will be together through out it.  I
promise you."

"Oh Darien...  I love you!  I love you!" Serena threw
her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.  
Darien buried his face in her hair and just held her.

The bell signifying the end of lunch rang, breaking them
from their quiet time.  Serena slowly pulled away from 
Darien and gazed up at him.

"We'd better get back to class." She whispered.

"I know." 

"I don't want to leave you."

"I know." Darien whispered back.  

"I want to stay in your arms forever..." 

"Then stay." Darien pulled her back against him and held her
tightly.  It was their final year, and school was almost
out for the year.  No one would that they were missing,
especially on a Friday.

"Can we stay here for always?" Serena asked quietly.

"Yes." Darien kissed her cheek tenderly.  "We can."

Serena closed her eyes and let Darien just hold her.  It
had been a week of going out with him, a week of sheer
heaven.  Life was so perfect with Darien.  She no longer
felt the need to be cold, and careful.  She knew Darien
would protect her, and take care of her.  She didn't have
to worry about being hurt by anyone anymore.  She was loved
and she knew she always would be.

"Darien, I'll love you forever, no matter what." Serena
whispered.

"And Serena?  I'll love you more." Darien leaned down
and kissed her gently on the lips before settling down 
against the tree.  Sunlight filtered throught the
leaves, small beams dancing across the pair as they
sat quietly, in each others arms.
~~~