--------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, here it is! The really mushy part that I'm sure everyone's been waiting for. I hope you all have strong stomachs. ;-) Well, this is definitely rated a PG13. MAYBE even a very soft R, for you sensitive types out there, but no worse than that, I promise. I do have Christian morals, after all. Well, let's get on with it then! Rated PG13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Out of the Blue" by Stormlight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CHAPTER NINE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena stood with her back to Darien, watching as her friends faded into the shadows. She wanted to run after them, but she knew that it wouldn't do any good. She'd still have to face Darien tomorrow...and the next day...and the next, until he inadvertently cornered her, and then she'd be right back where she started. Frankly, she was tired of running. She felt his presence a moment before a warm hand rested on her shoulder, and she felt herself stiffen. **What now?** she thought, panicked. **What am I supposed to say? To do? I...I'm just a kid! How could Darien ever see me as anything else?** "Want to take a walk?" his soft voice said at her ear, and she shrugged, trying to show that she wasn't as terrified as she felt. It was funny...she had battled off the worst monsters in the Negaverse without so much as a twitch (well...at least not after she'd gotten into the fight...) but the thought of facing Darien was more terrifying than any monsters she'd ever faced. If given the choice...she'd rather be fighting the Negaverse. His hand left her shoulder and a moment later grasped her own, his fingers twining themselves through hers, just exactly the way she'd often seen couples walk. She glanced down at their joined hands, thinking how perfectly they fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle. "No sense in letting all their trouble go to waste, is there?" Darien was saying. She blinked. "Uh...no, I guess not," she replied, her brow furrowing slightly. "Look...I...I'm really sorry about all this. The girls were just...trying to help in their own ways. I don't think they meant any harm..." She shrugged. "If I'd known anything about it, I would've stopped it right away!" "Would you have?" The question stopped her dead in her tracks, and she looked up at him, frowning slightly. "Well...wouldn't you?" she asked. Then, before he could answer the question, and possibly break her heart, she continued on recklessly, "They...I don't even know WHERE they got the idea that we...that you and I...YOU know!" He made a soft "hmm" in his throat. "Well, one of us had to have given them that idea," he replied with a slight grin. "I mean...we've been spending quite a bit of time together lately." Serena paused. "Are you saying that it's MY fault?!" she asked indignantly. "Calm down, Meatball Head!" he replied with a chuckle. "For all we know, it was my fault!" Well, THAT stopped her dead! She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face with hidden hope, looking for some clue as to what he was thinking, and he met her gaze fully. "Was it?" she finally asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. Instead of answering, Darien reached up to trace long fingers lightly over her face, holding her chin gently in his hand, his thumb brushing her lips in a light caress. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted softly on a silent gasp at this intimate gesture. His gaze dropped briefly to them, and something appeared in his eyes that both frightened and fascinated her. How often had she dreamed of a man looking at her like that...had she dreamed of DARIEN looking at her like that? "If I kissed you now, would you hate me?" he suddenly asked, his voice a low murmur. His breath stirred the hair on her forehead, and heat flooded her cheeks at the question, but she shook her head, only once. How could she hate him when she already loved him? He smiled. His hand moved to cradle the back of her head, and his other hand rested gently on her lower back, pulling her close against his strong body. She let her arms hang, uncertain as to where to put them, before shyly resting them on his shoulders. He was lowering his head now, and his black-lashed lids slipped over eyes as brilliant as stars. Serena instinctively let her eyes close, as well, waiting for the moment she'd been anticipating for days. His lips were like warm silk when they brushed her own, in the softest of touches, and immediately all the feeling flooded from Serena's legs, turning them to butter. Only the strong arms supporting her kept her from falling, and he used her sudden shift in weight to pull her even closer to him, slipping both arms around her in an almost fierce embrace. Again his lips brushed across hers, leaving a trail of fire that burned the whole way into her stomach. She had never known a simple touch could do such incredible things! The third time their lips touched, she responded, trying to prolong the contact. She could feel his surprise as her arms slid around his neck and pulled him closer again, and his own arms tightened in response. Then all thoughts were firmly swept away as Darien's lips brushed her own yet again...and stayed there, turning the brief touch into a deep kiss, filled with passion and love and everything Serena had only read about in books. Her breath left her, and her head spun, and she felt tears slip from her eyes at the beauty of it. Never, ever let this end... * * * * * Darien could hardly believe that he was there, holding his angel so tightly, kissing her so passionately, as he'd dreamed of doing for such a long time. It was everything he'd hoped...and then some. His arms were filled with light, and her tender lips were warm and yielding and so soft against his own. She was the missing half of him, the light that filled his empty soul, making him complete. He would never let her go, not ever again. They belonged to each other. When he finally raised his head, after endless moments of pure heaven, they were both gasping for breath. Serena gazed up at him, her cheeks burning with heat and her lips rosy and swollen from his kisses. Her eyes had never looked so luminous as they did then, gazing wondrously into his own. He thought that she had never looked more beautiful. She looked as though she was struggling to say something, but he was afraid that words would only break the spell they'd cast, and he didn't want it to end just yet. He silenced her with another soft kiss, whispering her name through the kiss. She sighed blissfully, murmuring against his lips, and his eyes suddenly flew open wide. WHAT had she just said?! * * * * * Serena was startled as Darien suddenly pulled away, looking up at him in confusion. Had she done something wrong? She tried to recall... She had been melting into his arms, thinking how much she loved him... Her eyes grew large suddenly. She HAD only been THINKING those words...hadn't she? But...the look on Darien's face told her that maybe those thoughts hadn't been so silent, after all... "What did you just say?" he whispered to her, his gaze locked on her own, seeming to burn right though her. "I...uh...nothing," she replied quickly, pulling herself out of his arms. Her cheeks still burned, but it was no longer from the heat of his kiss. **Stupid, stupid, STUPID!** she screamed at herself. **What have you DONE! You told him you LOVED him?! Are you CRAZY?! He'll laugh at you for certain now!** Shivering from more than the cool, night air, she stepped away, her eyes cast to the ground. "Serena, tell me what you said," he commanded quietly, in a tone that brooked for no argument. Serena shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. She could never repeat those three words she'd spoken, not if she expected to keep him as a friend. Even if he tormented her and called her Meatball Head until he was blue in the face, at least he would still talk to her. But if she ever told him how she really felt...his rejection would tear apart her soul. A warm hand was suddenly lifting her chin and her eyes flew up to meet Darien's concerned gaze. "What's wrong?" he sked softly. "Why won't you tell me what you said?" She bit her lip. **Because I don't want to ruin this magic between us,** she thought. **Because I still want you to tease me and make me mad and make me walk on air when you smile at me. Because I don't want you to laugh at the silly little schoolgirl who thinks she's in love with you...** Out loud, she merely said, "It was nothing important. Never mind." She was glad that her voice didn't break. Darien gazed at her another long moment, and she knew the expression on his face. It was his "I'm determined to get my way and nothing you say will stop me from getting it" expression. She had seen it on his face many times before...and every time, he HAD gotten what he wanted. She wouldn't stand a chance against him if she didn't leave. If she stayed, then her relationship with Darien would be over before it had even begun. "I...I have to go home now..." she whispered, preparing to back away and run. She never had the chance. Darien's arms were around her again almost before she'd even seen him move, and then he was kissing her with such tender force as to make his other kisses seem like a peck on the cheek in comparison. She felt her world tilt crazily, and realized that part of that was because he had dipped her back so that she was supported fully in his arms, his hand stroking her back as the other cradled her head again. He pressed his lips to her own in a hundred tiny, fluttering kisses before trailing them across her cheek and down to her neck, making her gasp as soft, black hair brushed her face. His breath was warm against her skin and he was doing incredible things to her neck, and her arms were once again around him, her hands gripping the back of his jacket for support as she gazed blindly up at the full moon. **Wh...what is he doing to me?** she cried silently, shivering as she felt his lips bury themselves against her throat, kissing her there deeply. **Oh...Oh, saints, please don't let him end this...** Finally, she felt his lips lift softly from her neck, although he didn't raise his head. His breath was harsh, and she could feel him trembling under her hands...or was she the one trembling? She honestly didn't know anymore... "Serena," she heard him whisper, and his voice sounded pleading. "Will you tell me what you said?" Her eyes flew open, and she fought back indignation. All that had been a ruse just to get her to repeat herself? She tried to step back, but his arms tightened around her, refusing to let her leave. Brilliant sapphire eyes rose to meet hers and she met his gaze helplessly, trying to understand the foreign emotions she saw burning in their depths. He was so very close...a mere tilt of the head from either of them would send them falling into another kiss... "Please?" he whispered, and at that moment Serena understood what it was that shone in his eyes. It was love. Pure, unadulterated love. Her breath caught, then quickened. Was...was she imagining things? Could it possibly be...? He was moving again, his head lowering just enough so that their lips were once again connected, a mere touch. "Please?" he whispered yet again, turning the touch into another kiss that quickly grew into something much more heated. She could feel his desire, though he was controlling himself fiercely, and she moaned softly, helplessly. She'd been right. She didn't stand a chance, and the words he so wanted to hear were dancing on her tongue, just waiting for their chance to escape... And they did, as Darien finally lifted his head. They slipped out in a helpless sigh. "I love you, Darien. I tried not to, but you made me love you," she whispered, her eyes closing as crystal tears slipped from beneath long lashes. She tensed, waiting for his exclamation of disgust, waiting to be pushed away from him; to think, a mere child had the gall to love him! But he did neither. Rather, he pulled her closer to him again, cradling her head against his chest, stroking her hair softly as the other arm wrapped about her waist. He nuzzled his face into her soft hair, whispering softly, "Oh, Serena..." She clenched her jaw. He sounded almost SORRY for her! She didn't want his pity, either, she realized. Pity would be worse than disgust. At least the disgust was something she was somewhat used to, and could deal with on some level. But pity...she didn't know how to deal with that. She didn't WANT to deal with it! She closed her eyes and tried to gather the willpower to leave his arms...but it was so hard... Then Darien spoke again, and he sounded...almost amused? "It serves you right, you know," he told her, his voice filled with tenderness. "All's fair, after all. Maybe now you understand what I'VE been going through!" Her eyes flew open and she turned her astonished face up to meet his own. "Wh...what do you mean?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Oh, Serena," he murmured, and his voice was achingly tender. "Do you really not know?" He placed a long finger against her lips when she tried to speak. "The truth is...I love YOU, as well," he continued softly. Her eyes widened in astonishment, and he grinned. "I know, shocking, isn't it?" he chuckled. "That grumpy old Darien is in love with a beautiful, caring, kind, passionate young woman! He's completely gone on her, you know. Those were Andrew's words. He told me that, the night you came in from the storm, but I didn't believe him, of course. But when I saw you, all I wanted to do was to protect you from all life's hurts, but instead I teased you and made you feel worse." A look of sorrow crossed his expression. "I've been a real jerk to you," he added regretfully. "I don't deserve to have you love me...but by some miracle of God, you do. And I love you, as well, and it took a near tragedy to make me realize it. But now that I know I love you...and that you love me (although I still don't understand why), do you think that maybe we can...put the past behind us, and begin all over again? As...friends?" Serena chewed on her lower her lip as she gazed up at him, her eyes calm. "Only friends?" she asked. A smile twitched his lips. "Well...very GOOD friends," he amended, and she smiled back. "I'd like that," she replied shyly, snuggling into his arms again. He wrapped her into his embrace as they stood beneath the full moon, gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. Sometimes dreams could come true, after all.