Author - perfect goddess

E-mail - perfect_goddess@start.com.au

Title - Only You

Chapter - 1

Disclaimer - I do not own these characters, I own this story. Please 
don't sue me? Please?


AN - This is my first try at fanfic. If this really sucks, or you really like 
it, then please, please, PLEASE e-mail me and tell me! I LOVE getting 
e-mail. Hope you like! Oh, by the way, this is only the first part, if you 
like it I'll hopefully get the next part out soon. The goddess 


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	"I love you." he whispered in her ear.

	"I love you.," she said.

	It felt so good to be held in his arms. Here she was protected. 
He would let her come to no harm. She felt warm and safe. She looked 
into his beautiful eyes and felt his lips on hers. A tingly sensation spread 
from her face all over her body.
	
	They slowly drew apart and he began to fade.

	"Don't go!" she cried.

	"I love you. Always." he said, and was gone.
	
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	Serena awoke in her bed and looked at the clock. Bold red 
letters stared at her, 3:54 am. The cream bed linen were twisted around 
her, and the gold dooner had slipped onto the floor. Straightening her 
pink silken pyjamas, Serena got out of bed and headed down the 
hallway to the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. Seeing the phone, 
she grabbed it and dialed.
	"mmpph..'Rena?" came a muffled voice.

	"Mina? How did you know it was me?" Serena asked, chewing 
her sandwich carefully, slightly taken aback.

	"You're the only one who would call me at this hour Serena." 
Mina sounded slightly more alert than before. "What's wrong?"

	"I had that dream again."

	"Hmm... I'm not surprised. You're 23, and you haven't had a 
real date in almost 2 years. This guy in your dreams is not going to 
materialize out of thin air Serena!" There was a pause, "Can I go back 
to sleep now?"

	"Sorry Mina. I guess I'm just a little confused." Serena finished 
the sandwich and walked over to the sink full of dirty mugs and plates. 
"Go back to sleep. I'll see you soon."

	"'k. Bye Rena."

	"Bye Mina."

	*Click* 

	Serena walked back down the hallway and into her double bed. 
Mina Atkinson was one of her best friends, and was nearly always right. 
This time was no exception. She hadn't been on a date in ages. Being a 
hopeless romantic, Serena had always imagined a perfect man coming to 
sweep her off her feet. However, this had not happened, and she had 
nearly given up hope. Sighing heavily to herself, Serena closed her eyes, 
and drifted off into a restless sleep. 


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	"Serena Darling?" he said incredulously.

	"Yes Darien, dear, Serena Darling. She's a wonderful girl, so 
talented and pretty..."

	"Mother," Darien cut in looking astonished. "Are you telling 
me, that I have to get married to Serena Darling or my inheritance is 
cancelled? This is so unfair!"

	"You sound like a child Darien! Look, it's not that bad. Don't 
you want what's best for the company? What's best for you? This will 
cover both. The Darlings will sign the merger contract at the reception 
of the wedding." Dariens mother took a tiny sip from her glass of water,
 on the restaurant table in front of her.

	"She'll never agree to it mother. You know what all the 
Darlings are like, extremely..."

	"...stubborn, I know, but Serena has a soft spot, and 
hopefully," she stressed the word, "You will grow to love each other 
like your father and I did. Please? Just meet with her? For me." 

	She gave Darien a look that made him feel guilty, so he said 
"Ok, mother, but only a meeting."

	"Yes Darien." she said winking at him.

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	"I've heard all about it Darien." said Andrew, striding into his 
office in the Lord and Sons building. "It's all over the paper." He held up 
the mornings herald. MILLIONARE MUST MARRY DARLING. 
Flicking onto the inside cover, he saw pictures of Serena and himself. 
She was rather striking, he considered, but someone that beautiful had 
to be arrogant and vain. 

	"I think we have a serious problem Darien." said Andrew, 
seating himself at his desk. 

	"Thanks, Einstein." replied Darien sarcastically. "What can we 
do about it?"

	"Well," Andrew squirmed in his seat, "Nothing actually."

	"NOTHING???" Darien yelled. "There has to be something we
 can do about it!"

	"Darien, be reasonable! Your mother has every right to take 
away your inheritance if she doesn't like what you're doing with your 
life. It's that simple. Who knows, you might actually like the girl..."

	"You're not suggesting that I go through with this, are you?" 
Darien looked astounded.

	"Well Darien, I can't tell you what to do, but it really comes 
down to what's important to you. Your life, or your money."

	"I need time to think." he said, picking up his briefcase, and 
walking out of the office, and moving up the stairs and into his own. 
Sitting down in leather chair behind his jarrah desk, Darien saw a note,
 obviously written by his mother. 'Call her' and a phone number. Well, 
he supposed, if I have to meet with her anyway.

	"Hello, you have reached the Darling Firm, this is Ann 
speaking."

	"Yes, Ann. This is Darien Lord, I'd like to speak to Miss 
Darling."

	"I'm sorry sir, but she hasn't arrived yet, can a take a message?"

	"Umm... Yes, just tell her to ring me back." he left his office 
phone number.

	"Ok sir, will that be all?"

	"Yes, Thankyou."

	*Click*


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	"What??"

	"I'm deadly serious Serena. I'm doing this for your own good."  
said Mrs. Ilene Darling, Serena's mother, forcefully over the phone the 
next morning, while Serena was finishing her breakfast.  "He's a 
wonderful boy, really."

	"Darien Lord?!" she said incredulously for the umpteenth time.

	"I wish you would stop saying that Serena,  I got married when 
I was younger than you to a man I didn't know, so don't give me that 
true love story again. He will be good for you Serena. I only want the 
best for you."

	Two years her senior, Darien Lord had bested Serena at 
everything. She was constantly trying to live up to this man. One of the 
most eligible bachelors, she was sure he was cute, but also arrogant 
and selfish. And now, her mother was trying to set her up with him! 

	"He will never agree mother." 

	"Well he will when his mother tells him that his inheritance will 
be taken away from him if he doesn't." Ilene said.

	"What! Mother! how could you!" Serena felt sorry for him, but
 hated him at he same time.

	"Easily Serena. This will seal the merger of our two companies, 
Darling and Lord and Sons. Please, do this for me Serena."

	"I'll meet with him once mother." Serena said, "But only for
 you. I and I want you to know that I will not marry him."

	"Ok darling. Whatever you say." 


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	"Quickly Serena, I have a meting with my clients in," Raye 
checked her watch, "7 minutes." Gripping a briefcase in one hand, and a 
coffee in the other, Raye briskly walked down the street towards the 
firm. 

	"Ok, here's my problem. I'm 23 and my parents got married
 young, and arranged marriage, so basically, they are trying to set me 
up! And not just with any one," Serena was shaking, "No. Guess who it 
is?"

	"Who?" asked Raye curiously.

	"Darien Lord!"

	"Darien Lord? Isn't he that cute millionaire and one of the sons 
in Lord & Sons?" she asked, opening the door to the firm.

	"Yes! And I'll bet he's a selfish arrogant pig like the last time I 
met him too..." *grrr*

	"Ok! Look, I have to go, but we'll discuss this in more detail 
tonight at your house. Ok? Call the girls."

	"Ok, bye Raye." Serena turned to the receptionist. 
"Messages?"

	"Three. Your mother called, Mina Atkinson called, and a 
young man called," she leafed through the papers, "Darien Lord? called 
as well. He left a contact number." The receptionist handed Serena the 
yellow post-it notes.

	"Thanks Ann." she said, walking towards an office labeled, 
'Serena R. Darling'.

	Dumping her briefcase and tea, Serena collapsed into her chair. 
As a child, Serena remembered Darien well. They had only met once 
before, but he had been rude and obnoxious, calling her 'Meatball head', 
because of her hairstyle. This had hurt her, and she remembered locking 
herself in her room, and crying. The thought of even meeting him, let 
alone marrying him made her shudder. *he is kinda cute though*, she 
thought, looking at him on the cover of TIME Magazine. *Snap out of 
it Serena! You know his personality!* She picked up the first post-it 
note, and dialed Mina's phone number.

	"'lo?"

	"Mina? It's Serena."

	"Hi Serena! I hope you're not too tired. Some phsyco rang me 
up at four in the morning! Imagine that!"

	"Sorry," she apologized. "Look, are you busy tonight?"

	"Umm.. Hang on, let me just check."

	Serena could hear the ruffling of paper, and then a "No!"

	"Good. Can you come over tonight? Raye's already coming, 
and I'm going to ring Lita and Amy too. Please? I need to talk."

	"Sure Serena, but I really have to go now, Mom's just walked 
in the door."

	"Ok, Bye Mina!"

	*Click*


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	"Have you seen this??" Serena came bursting into Raye's office 
later that day, holding the mornings paper. She was furious.

	"Seen what?" Raye asked innocently.

	"This!" Serena held forth the paper. MILLIONARE MUST 
MARRY DARLING, was the title. "How dare they! I didn't even know 
about it until this morning!"

	"Calm down Serena! It's not that bad." Raye said soothingly.

	"Oh no?" she turned to the inside cover, where pictures of 
herself and Darien were littering the double page spread.

	"Oh..." Raye was at a loss for words.

	"And guess what else?" Raye shook her head. "He called me 
this morning. Argh! The nerve of this man! I hate him already!"

	"He called you?" asked Raye.

	"Yes!"

	"Then why don't you call him back, and see what he has to 
say? He probable feels the same way you do."

	Serena stalked out of the office. *Sure he does.*


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	*Ring ring*

	"Hello?"

	"Umm.. Is this Darien Lord?"

	"Speaking."

	"How could you!!" she yelled into the phone.

	"Wha... Oh, This must be Serena."

	"Have you seen the papers this morning?" she demanded.	

	"Yes." came the answer.

	"Well? What is going on? How did they know? I didn't find out 
until this morning, when my mother told me over the phone!"

	"Well, it's obvious, isn't it?" he said, trying to calm her down. 
"Our mothers told the press. Look, I told my mother I'd meet with you 
once, so what are you doing tonight?" *This is so awkward*

	"Tonight's not good, your Lordship. Tomorrow. 7pm. Pick me 
up from the office."

	"Ok, fine."

	"Bye"

	"Bye" *Meatball Head*


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