Title: Love Through Time ~ Volume 2, Chapter 1
Author: Sailor Europa
E-mail: slr_europa@yahoo.com
Rating: PG

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Hm, back so soon, aren’t I? This first chapter may not be as good as I would
like it to be, so please bear with me, OK? *scratches her head* I have
trouble starting these stories, so my mind is a little blank right now. I’m
gonna try to just wing it from here, so if it’s not as good as the others,
please rest assured they WILL get better. At least, I hope they
will....Anywho, snaps to my lovely editors and friends, Sailor Elysia and
Sidnei, the best ‘net buddies anyone could ask for.....*sniff* And props to
my new favorite author, Alicia Blade. I can’t believe I passed over her
stuff before this weekend.....*sighs* I’m making a down hill spiral, I
swear.....Hope you enjoy! As I said before, this centers around the previous
Serena’s granddaughter, Serenity or Serene. (Now where am I coming up with
these names? ^_~ ) I don’t own Sailor Moon, much to my dismay. If I did, I
wouldn’t be writing dinky little FF stories for zero dollars, now would I?
So don’t sue me....

slr_europa@yahoo.com

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/5870/femmey.html

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Love Through Time ~ A Serena And Darien Saga
Volume Two, Chapter One

By Sailor Europa

        "Serene.....Grandma has asked to see you...." I nodded numbly, my
blonde
hair framing my face as I did. My heart leapt at the sight of my heart
broken mother as she stepped out from my Grandmothers room. It had been a
few days ago that Grandma had taken seriously ill, and the doctors said it
was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. They told us it
would be relatively painless. I didn’t care. I didn’t want her to die.
        I walked into the darkened room, the lights dim so as not to hurt
her now
sensitive eyes. Her platinum hair is tangled all around her, now released
from it’s place on top of her head. I swallowed hard, not really wanting to
see the sight that lay before me. I loved her too much to let her go. I
didn’t want her to leave.
        "Serene....." She whispers. I nod once more, still not speaking a
word. She
gives me a bright smile, the very same one that looks back at me whenever I
gaze into the mirror. She is so much like me. I always felt as though I
never belonged in this family until she came to live with us. I love my
mother, but my bond with her is greater than any other and the thought of
losing her scares me. I don’t want to be an outcast again, the family black
sheep. I want her to stay with me.
        "Yes Grandma?" I finally managed to get out. She gave me another
smile and
took my hand. Squeezing it gently, she struggles to pull her head up. I bit
my lip, not wanting to watch her.
        "Serenity, I want to give you something." For the third time I
nodded, not
knowing what else could be said on my part. She reached over the table by
her bed and retrieved a leather bound book, a simple title the only thing
written on it’s cover. "Serene, I’m going to tell you something that I have
only told one person my whole life. Now, by telling you this, you have to
vow that you won’t tell anyone, especially your mother. Some of the things
are hard to relive, even for me, and I wouldn’t want my daughter to become
distraught at the knowledge of it. It would only hurt her."
        "Of course, I won’t tell a soul. I promise." I gave her a curious
look, and
she managed a weak laugh. I smiled for the first time since I entered and
she nodded.
        "Serene, this is a very special book. A volume only I have, for it
was a
gift to me by a young man almost 50 years ago." I gasped, my eyes twinkling.
        "Grandpa?" I asked. She shook her head and handed me the book. I
simply
laid it in my lap, not wanting to disturb the story.
        "No, it wasn’t your grandfather. It was by the author, a man by the
name of
Darien Jacobson, who owned a book shop not far from your mothers’ and my
first home. He was writer, and he once saved your mothers life." I smiled
again, the only reply I thought eloquent. "He was.....A very wonderful man."
I noted a tiny little sigh in her voice and a hint of depression. I tilted
my head, concerned but she didn’t notice. "You see, your grandfather and I
weren’t happy together. We never were. It was Darien who....made me happy at
one time." I probably should have guessed what she was insinuating, but it
took little more of her hinting for me to understand. "Darien was the one
man who seemed to respect me, and consequently loved me for the person I
really was." I raised a suspicious eyebrow and let the hint of a smile rise
to my lips. Her voice caught and she let the tiniest laugh escape, only to
be interrupting by a violent cough. I frowned immediately, wondering if she
should even be talking. She whipped her mouth, her lips pursed in a
determined line.
        "Serene, I’m going to tell you something I didn’t know when I was
your age.
It could have helped me a great deal, but I found out years too late." She
took a deep breath, and my brow creased in caution. I hated seeing her in
such a condition, and I feared me being here was only making her worse.
Almost ready to get up and tell her to rest, she sighed deeply, and began
once more. "You must never, _never_ settle for anything less than true
love." Her voice cracked with emotion, the atmosphere suddenly becoming
foreboding as she let the remnants of her memories waft into her speech.
"The worst thing you can do to your life is not live it out in its’ full
potential. Love is fleeting, and most of the time you only get a whisper of
it. You have to be able to recognize it and grab hold, because you never get
a second chance with it, and most realize that too late. Then all they can
do is merely survive the rest of their days, never really _living_ them.
Don’t let that happen to you Serene. That hollow, empty feeling is worse
than dying a thousand times over."
        I gulped, feeling as though I was just a few years shy of fully
understanding her words. Her smile never faltered through this time, but the
mood changed a few seconds into it. It was a side I had never seen of her,
and I could see how vulnerable and lonely she felt, even when she was
surrounded by the ones who loved her. My mind could only grasp at her words,
and I felt as if I was yet to truly comprehend these pearls of wisdom, feel
as if they were my own, and not that I was just some curious bystander,
watching in awe. Nodding, I clutched the book tightly to my chest.
        "I won’t."

*****

        "She only lasted a few hours after that...." I trailed off, my eyes
barely
able to catch the few clouds I was staring so intently at. I picked at the
grass that was just below my body, hardly able to pay attention. My best
friend Darien was reclined next to me, trying to look like he was paying
attention. I knew it was hard right now for him, he was awaiting a college
entrance letter from the nearest University in London. He was a full two
years older than me, just barely breaking 18 years old, while I was a mere
16 years of age. His mother and mine were old friends, and we met when I was
5, or so I’m told, when he tried to gallantly rescue me from a bully, and I
socked him. Apparently utterly impressed, we have been inseparable ever
since. The best of friends, nothing in the physical world able to bring us
apart. That is, until 6 months ago.
        "I’m so sorry Ser, I know how hard it must be for you." He cocked
his head
at me, his eyes shining with sincerity. I gave a small, care-free smile,
hoping he didn’t notice the despair hidden behind the bravado in my eyes. I
had always been totally honest with him ever since I can remember these
things, but it was different now. Something changed half a year ago, as if a
new light had been haled above him. I can’t say whether he noticed it, or
whether he even thought it existed, but I know I did. It kinda scared me,
not knowing what exactly was going on inside me. And because of that, I
hadn’t been quite as open with Darien as of late. I couldn’t, for some
reason my mind wouldn’t let me.
        "I’ll be OK. I mean, it’s not like we weren’t expecting this." I
shrugged,
my facade becoming more and more concrete. I’d let my feelings out later,
when I was sure no one could laugh. Or even wanted to.
        "Yeah, but you were really close to her. I know it’d be hard for
me." He
said, gazing off into the setting sun. I nodded numbly, heaving a deep sigh
and laying back fully now.
        "I guess." I answered simply. I didn’t really feel like having this
conversation now, but he kept probing me.
        "Well you know if you wanna talk sometime...." I groaned, sitting up
and
facing him, my face distorted in annoyance.
        "Can’t we just drop this subject, I said I’ll be fine." I bit out,
maybe a
little too harshly. He was quiet for a few moments before apologizing.
        "I’m sorry Ser....I’ll let it go." He mumbled and I sighed in
dejection. I
hadn’t been the kindest soul lately, although I had tried. It was strange, I
was no longer the same, completely honest person I had been. It was like I
had said, things had changed for me. I was no longer the same girl, and I
couldn’t explain it. And I really wasn’t interested in trying to either. "I
should go anyway. Celeste should have dinner ready soon." He stood up and
dusted himself off before giving me his signature, lop-sided grin and waving
good-bye. I smiled and returned the wave, not able to utter another word.
Something about that smile.....

******

        "Grandmother gave you a book?" My mother asked me, a few minutes
after I
entered the house. I nodded mutely, the action beginning to become
involuntary. "What was it about dear?" I sighed.
        "I’m not sure. She just said it was very good. I’m planning on
starting it
tonight." I conveniently left out the part about Grandma’s hidden love,
remembering the warning she issued me. I understood completely, and although
I never knew it at the time, I guess I always kind of sensed a displeasure
with her and my grandfather. I can’t say it bothered me too much, especially
since he died before I ever really had a chance to get to know him.
        "That’s nice." She hummed as we both sat down at the table, the
third place
empty while my father was away on business. We ate in silence, as usual. As
I said, the bond between me and my mother wasn’t very strong, although I did
love her dearly. I had been very much of a tom-boy most of my life, and
until just recently, preferred the company of my father and Darien to any
other female. I always knew I would grow up someday, mature from this gawky,
boyish stage I had been in, but I wasn’t really prepared for it to show up
so quickly. I began wanting to wear dresses, liked having my hair done, all
the things I had wailed about just a few years earlier. My mother had tried
to talk to me about ‘The change’ a few years ago, and it was all I could do
to keep from running away in boredom. Funny how now I wish I had paid
attention more….
        "Serene, I was planning on saving this for later, when your father
returned, but with your grandmother passing, I think this is a good time to
bring it up." I looked up to face her, and she cleared her throat, and
blinked a couple of times, the tears from my aforementioned grandmother
barely noticeable. I nod, urging her to continue. "I got the letter from the
finishing school in Paris today…." I groaned, not even letting her finish. I
gave her a pleading look and I could tell this wasn’t the appropriate time
to be disrespectful.
        "Mother…..I’ve told you how I feel about leaving London." She
nodded, and I
could tell she was holding back on a full argument, and I was relieved. This
definitely was not the time.
        "Serene, both me and your grandmother went to this school, and it
was no
small task getting you accepted. You’re father and  I are anxious for you to
experience different things." My eyes were pleading, my mind knowing fully
well what was to come. "We don’t want you to go into marriage unprepared…" I
dropped my fork loudly onto my plate and had clenched my jaw to keep from
screaming.
        "Mother…." She gave me her business look, and I could almost see how
futile
it was to fight her. I knew I’d be going, whether I wanted to or not.
However, I wasn’t ready to give up just yet. "I’ve told you how I feel about
going. All my friends are here, and Paris is so far." She shook her head,
eating silently.
        "Serene, we know you’ll miss Darien, but it’s only two years, and
you’ll be
back on the holidays…." She trailed off and I lowered my head in disgust. It
hadn’t been the school but  being so far away from home scared me to death.
I’d never been away from Darien for longer than a week, and that thought
scared me even more. "This matter is not up for discussion." The
conversation ended, and I knew I had lost. At least, for now…..

*****

        "Have you found an escort for the party next week?" Darien asked
nonchalantly and I frowned. I shook my head and looked down in humiliation.
He knew very well I didn’t, most of the boys my age too scared to even
approach me, for fear of my reputation.
        "Did you finally ask someone?" I asked, my mouth trying to find the
right
words to hind my eager question. My forehead cringed inwards as I muttered
the words, and I felt my breath catch as I waited for him to answer.
        "I decided on Suzanne." He gives me that care-free grin of his,
punctuating
by a throaty chuckle as I gave him a sour look. I couldn’t believe he had
chosen her….Completely lacking in any kind of intelligence…..Was he mad?
        "Why?" I asked, my disdain painfully apparent. He shrugged, staring
off
over the lake we were walking next to. He paused for a second, and lunged
after a large, flat stone and threw it expertly across the water. I watched
in awe as it flew effortlessly across the water, amazed that a year ago he
could barely get it in the water at all, let alone over the water. I
appreciatively began to admire how much larger he seems to have gotten in
that time also. The skinny, pale faced boy replaced by a much more….filled
out man . I stared shamelessly at him, his back turned as he picked up
another rock. I practically bore holes in his arms as the muscles retracted
and flexed and he flipped another one into the clear water. He turned and
flashed me another bright, handsome smile, as he gestured to his latest act.
I rolled my eyes and laughed and he just replied with a sour glare. I
grinned.
        "My, won’t Suzanne be impressed by your talents?" I asked, flitting
my
eyelashes at him sarcastically. He laughed.
        "I certainly hope so." He replied much more seriously than he had
been
asked, and I could only frown once again. Once more, my mouth froze shut on
me. I couldn’t utter what I had been thinking, about how Suzanne was
incredibly vapid and totally ridiculous. I doubted she ever thought about
anything in depth except what she would wear to dinner….
        "So no one’s asked you yet?" he asked again and I sighed.
        "And no one will either." I groaned and stopped. "It’s the same as
it
always is, Darien. The rest of the guys are too afraid of me, and I will
once again be at home the night of the party. Same old story." He sighed and
stepped in front of me.
        "Ser, come on. We’ve gone over this." I sighed, throwing my hands on
my
hips and he jumped in front to block my path. "You know that isn’t true…."
        "No, you are the only one who knows it isn’t….I still have my
doubts." He
frowned and I immediately felt bad. He hated it when I was so depressed, but
I couldn’t help it. Besides, I had to say, seeing him so concerned about me,
made me feel at least a little better. I kind of like that upset look on his
face.
        "Serene, when are you going to learn? You can’t be so negative, or
all your
ideas will be true." He chastised me and I groaned inwardly, sick of his
clinical analyzing all the time.
        "I guess never…." I trailed off as he began to walk farther in front
of me.
I let my shoulders sag as I scampered up next to him, hoping he didn’t see
my disappointed. "I’ll be fine, Darien. I always am."
        "Yeah, until the next party comes and you’ll become all pessimistic
again.
Ser, it’s not good." I sighed as he stopped and looked at me, a serious
expression displayed on his face.
        "It’s true and you know it. Besides, you never seem to be too
encouraging
when it comes to my self-image, so why should I listen to you? All you can
ever do is laugh when I begin to act like one of those vapid, annoying,
oxygen deprived girls you’re interested in." I snapped my mouth shut. I
hadn’t just connected myself with those girls had I? Looking back on my
words, it almost sounded like I wanted to be one of the girls....
        "That’s because it’s not you. That’s false. Besides, I much prefer
talking
to you about some things because you are intelligent." I raised a suspicious
eyebrow,
        "I’m just not the type of girl that most guys are interested in
romantically, is that it?" He sighed and rolled his eyes, trying to hide the
fact that he had been caught. It was true, and he knew it. Neither he, nor
any other guy wanted a girl who was smart, they wanted someone who they
could stare at, and not have to worry about her opening her mouth. And I,
unfortunately, did not fit that description.
        "God, Ser, do we have to go  through this again? I can’t have this
conversation everyday!" He practically seethed. I sighed rolling my eyes as
I resumed walking. I fought back a snide remark about his tendency to talk
my ear off about the lovely Suzanne. I felt as if I would throw him in the
lake if I had to hear him sing her praises one more time....
        "All right, I’m through now, I’ll stop." I murmured, my lips curled
in a
sneer. He sighed in content and settled into a comfortable pace right beside
me.
        "You really should go though. Even if you just go by yourself." I
nodded
absently, not giving a hint to the fact that I had considered that anyway. I
titled my head in thought, my mind seething at the idea of him being alone
with....her. What did he _see_ in her anyway?
        "I know." I answered finally, turning my head to face him but not
stopping
the pace. "But what am I suppose to do there? You’ll be with Suzanne. Are
you saying that you’ll actually pay attention to lil’ ol me?" I gave him a
flirtatious look and batted my eyelashes emphatically. He shook his head and
gave me a half smile.
        "And you wonder why no one has asked you." He chuckled and I gave an
immediate frown as he turned away, possibly avoiding the question. "And you
know that’s true. Whenever she gets too annoying, I can always turn to you
for a conversation." My frown deepened.
        "And then run back to Suzanne when you want a dance." I sighed under
my
breath, resigning to that fact. Not that it ever bothered me before. Of
course, I never even wanted to go to one of these parties before either. I
stared at the ground, watching my shoes kick up rocks and dirt, the latter
staining the lace edges around my dress. I wrinkled my forehead at this, and
lightly picked up the front so that the white wouldn’t be dirtied anymore. I
heard a slight laugh from my companion, and I looked up to find him
sniggering at me. "What?"
        "Since when are you concerned about getting dirty?" He gestured to
my
seemingly unknown act. Lace forgotten, I thrust my hands on my hips,
preparing to make a snide remark.
        "Since....I don’t know, but I am!" My mind had snapped shut like a
bear
trap, and for once, I didn’t have a quick reply to shut him up. In fact, it
seemed even odd to me that I was worried about getting my dress dirty. It
wasn’t like me at all. He chuckled merrily at the idea that he had gotten
the better of me and my mind seethed as each laugh rolled form him.
        "Don’t tell me you expect that to get you an escort." I whirled
around, my
eyes blazing at his chiding.
        "Let me guess, it won’t help, even if I were, right?" He was taken
aback,
and swallowed hard as he tried to regain his composure.
        "No, Serene, that’s not what I meant....." He started, but I hurried
off
before he had a chance to finish. His footsteps soon followed, but I kept my
head low, muttering a few obscenities his way, eyes focused on the trail I
was quickly blazing. "I just meant it wasn’t like you, that’s all." I
whirled around.
        "So? Aren’t I allowed to change? You, after all, didn’t even find
Suzanne
at all interesting a year ago, but here you are now, falling all over her,
and she isn’t even around!" I snapped, my knuckles turning white as my hands
angrily gripped the fabric of my dress. He gave me a curious look, stopping
in his tracks.
        "What does that have to do with anything, Ser? I was just pointing
out that
you never used to care about things like that before. I didn’t mean to get
you all riled up." I clenched my jaw, my breath hot on my lips as I spoke.
        "Well then next time you might want to be more careful." I spun on
my heel
and trotted off, my head high, leaving behind a very bewildered best friend
in the dust.

*****

        "I can not believe.....the _insolence_ ....." I sputtered, barely
able to
make the words audible to myself as I trudged heavily up the stairs to my
room. "As if I am not allowed to change! Look at him.....Tripping over
himself...going after that...that harpy!" I spit the words out, slamming my
bedroom door behind me angrily. "What does he SEE in her?" I flopped down on
my bed and rolled onto my back. Sighing in defeat I covered my face in my
hands. "And why do I CARE?"
        I groaned at myself and my own ignorance. I used to think I
understood
almost everything about myself and anything else you could throw at me. So
what happened? When did my mind become so foreign to me? I whimpered a
little, glad Darien couldn’t see me. If he thought I had changed then, what
would he think of me now?
        "He says I’ve changed.....It seems like all he can do lately is
chatter on
about her...." I shuddered at the mention of Suzanne. "Damn it, what _does_
he see in her?" I cursed his name, one of the many bad habits I picked up
from Darien and my father. "She has absolutely nothing inside her head! And
the things she talks about! Lord, she thinks of nothing but herself!" I
groaned, grabbing my scalp with both hands, my anger only rising as I
dwelled upon it. "He would have a better time if he went with...." I paused.
I almost said it. I almost centered upon it, my mind barely grasping the
idea. I whimpered again, not sure why I even thought that. It was true
though. He would have a better time with me. But why did I care? Since when
did I actually WANT to go with him?
        Did I just think that? I want to go with him? I didn’t....Did I? Did
I want
to go with Darien? I could feel my pulse race at the very idea. No.....No, I
can’t.......Could I?

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*sighs* Kinda short, I know. But the next will be a little better. Little
note, this volume will be split up into two sections, separated by about two
years. Don’t worry, you’ll understand when the time comes. Oh, and the
second section will be from Dariens POV, just because it will be soooo much
easier that way. Anyway, I’m already throwing myself headlong into this
story line, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! ^_^ Remember, e-mail
good! Ja!

slr_europa@yahoo.com

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/5870/femmey.html

ICQ # - 3329922
Michelle Merriman