Silver Fireworks, by Sailor GlitterGirl, July, 2001

Hey, peoples! This is a Fourth of July fanfic, just in
case you couldn't guess from the title. Just to let you
know, I personally think this one didn't turn out too
well. *shrug* Oh, well. Go ahead and read it anyways,
though! Ja ne!

-Sailor GlitterGirl


		*@*@*@*SILVER*FIREWORKS*@*@*@*
		       ****************	

By: Sailor GlitterGirl
At: sailorglittergirl@sailormoon.com


	The beach was crowded with excited teens, tired
parents and cranky children, all here for the Fourth of
July. But nonetheless, there was still an atmosphere of
happiness, excitement, and companionship.

	Serena Tsukino was among them, accompanied by
her four best friends in the universe, Amy Anderson, 
Lita Kino, Raye Hino, and Mina Aino. The four beautiful
teen girls were giggling and chatting, sitting in a 
circle on their lawn chairs, and blanket in the middle,
each of them holding a beverage of some sort.

	"Hey, when are the fireworks gonna start?" Mina
asked, glancing at her watch. Squinting, she pushed a
button on the side of the face of the wristwatch, and
the dials lit up. "They should have started half an hour
ago."

	"Maybe they're having problems," Raye shrugged.
Lita didn't answer, as she was watching a boy across the
beach.

	"He looks like my old boyfriend," the girls 
heard her mutter. Amy rolled her eyes over her novel.

	Raye turned back to Mina, and they once again
began chattering about a certain guy.

	Serena, however, was unusually quiet. She 
sighed, her thoughts on a certain black haired, sapphire
eyed young man, a young man that she was certain hated 
her with a passion. It wouldn't have been so bad,
except...

	She was in love with him.

	For all his teasing and hurtful remarks, she, 
being who she was, saw something beyond those cold eyes,
the cool demeanor, and icy tones. She saw a warm and 
caring soul, someone who was generous and warm and kind,
someone who had been hurt because of that.

	She had simply teased him back, not wanting to 
loose the only excuse she had to even talk or look at 
him.

	Serena sighed again, looking up at the stars 
that were bright, sparkling, seemingly without a care in
the universe.


*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*


	"Geez, Darien," Andrew threw up his hands in
despair after trying to get his best friend's attention
for the past five minutes. Scowling and narrowing his 
eyes, the blonde haired, blue eyed man looked in the 
direction that Darien was gazing. He raised an eyebrow
as she saw a group of five girls he knew rather well -as
they came to arcade that he worked at and his father 
owned nearly every day. The sophmore grinned wickedly,
and elbowed his friend in the ribs.

	"Hey, seems like you finally got a girl-capable
heart, eh, buddy?" Darien blinked, then turned to face 
Andrew, his expression warning away the tone that Andrew
had used.

	"Don't even think about it." Darien growled.

	"Think about what?" Andrew asked innocently, 
feigning hurt. "You think that I would contemplate 
dragging you over there by your hair, and throwing you
before those girls and -in front of them all, including
Meatball head- demand to know which one you've been 
staring at for the past hour?" Andrew sniffled. "How 
could you think so ill of me?"

	"Easy," Darien replied, glancing at the girls 
one last time before unhooking a soda can and flipping
it open. "Because you are ill if you think that I'm 
interested in a girl."

	Andrew rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right, whatever."
The teen glanced up at the starlit sky. "Man, when are 
those fireworks gonna START?" He exclaimed. "We're 
almost out of refreshments." He glanced down sadly at
the remains of the picnic. "And no more chips! Darien,
how can we watch fireworks without chips?" Darien rolled
his eyes, discreetly throwing yet another glance towards
the girls, oblivious. Andrew glanced over at the group 
of girls again, a wicked smile on his face as a plan
formed in his mind.

	"Say, Darien?" Andrew asked, smothering the 
wicked grin and replacing it with an innocent, begging
smile. "Would you mind going over to the girls and see
if they have any chips to spare?"

	Darien glared at Andrew. "Why the girls?" He 
asked.

	"Well, because a) I already know they have chips,
b) it would be rude to ask it of someone we didn't know,
and c) I don't think you want to go looking around for
someone else we know." Andrew shrugged. "Besides, you'd
think you were afraid of going over there!"

	Grumbling and growling as Andrew laughed, Darien
rose to his feet and started off towards the girls. When
he was close, he saw a black haire girl -Raye- look at
her watch and scowl.

	"Man, these guys are taking FOREVER!" Raye 
grumbled. The others voiced their complaining agreements.
All except Serena that was, who was gazing peacefully up
at the stars. Darien felt his breath leave his body as
he looked at her. Face tiled upwards, sapphire eyes 
twinkling with the captured starlight within, golden 
hair glimmering silver in the moonlight, her face as 
pale and smooth as a moonbeam.

	Rose-red lips soft and lush, glimmering slightly,
the gloss reflected the nightlights. He heard her sigh
somewhat forlornly, and he found himself wanting nothing
more than to sweep her into his arms and kiss the living
daylights out of her, wisking her away from anything 
that might make her unhappy.

	Darien suddenly jumped as a voice over a sort of
loudspeaker jolted him out of his reverie. He shook
his head, chiding himself for letting him think like 
that; she'd never want him! A heartless, cold, unfeeling
guy who'd done nothing but torment her.

	Sighing in regret, he tuned into the 
announcement.

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	"Whoah, whoah, guys, listen to this," Mina 
hushed everyone to listen to the announcement.

	"Sorry, folks, but due to unknown complications,
the fireworks display has been cancled." A collective
groan filled the entire beach, and a few children wailing
could be heard. "So sorry about all this. However, feel
free to stick around and enjoy the refreshments and 
beautiful moonlight. Happy Independence Day!" The 
loudspeaker clicked off, and Lita slammed a fist into 
her palm.

	"After all this waiting!" Raye grumbled.

	"Well, at least we, er, I got in some good study
time," Amy said, recieving rolled eyes, and she chuckled
as well.

	"Come on, girls," Mina said with a heavy sigh of
regret. "Let's pack up and go."

	"Yeah..." Serena sighed. Suddenly, her eye was
caught by a little girl, obviously near a tearful
breakdown, but doing her best to hold them in, while her
parents simply argued and shouted.

	Resolve hardened within Serena, and suddenly, an
idea so enthralling she was shaking with excitement 
came to mind.

	"Minna!" Serena hissed quietly, excitedly. The
girls all looked over at her, and she motioned them 
over to her urgently. Looking at each other out of the
corner of their eyes, then shrugging, they dropped what
they were doing and huddled around Serena, crouched 
down on the sand.

	"I've got an idea!" Serena exclaimed excitedly.
Raye gasped mockingly. "How shocking!"

	"Oh, hush," Serena said tolerently, her spirits
too high to be bashed. "Now listen..."

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	"Hey, Darien," Andrew came up behind his friend,
hiding behind a large trashcan near the girl's claimed
spot. "Hey, dude, come-"

	"Ssshhh!" Darien hushed him, desperately trying
to hear what Serena was whispering to her friends.
"They're planning someting, and Serena is really worked
up about it."

	"So?" Andrew was a bit grumpy about the 
fireworks. "What else is new? Serena's always excited
about the least little thing, that's what makes her so
special."

	"Don't need to tell *me* that!" Darien muttered
under his breath, too low for Andrew to hear. "But I'm
serious, Drew," Darien whispered, louder. "You should
have seen how her eyes lit up, all sparkling, and lively.
It was like her spirit just got super charged with 
loving life, and-"

	"Darien." Andrew stated.

	"What?"

	"This is why I never believe you when you say 
you don't have feelings for the girl." Darien grumbled
as Drew laughed softly.

	"Hey, look!" Darien suddenly said as he saw the
aforemention fivesome of girls get up, leaving their 
stuff, and run full out towards the direction of the 
parking lot that had been reserved for shooting off the
firework display.

	*I wonder what they're up to,* Darien thought,
narrowing his eyes, and, grabbing Andrew by his collar,
dragged him quietly after the group.

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Mina giggled as they all ducked behind a 
large trashbin, hiding from a weary worker walking by.
He opened the gate in the solid, collapsable wall that
surrounded the entire area housing the fireworks. The
worker sighed, shook his head, and went inside, pulling
the gate closed behind him.

	"Now!" Serena hissed, and Raye threw a rolled up
version of one of her priestess slips. The enchanted
parchment with sacred writing on it lodged between the
clasps that would have locked them out.

	All of them smiling gleefully, eyes sparkling 
with excitement at Serena's plan -which Raye had to 
admite was pretty good- they darted forward, sticking
to the shadows as much as possible. Raye yanked the 
paper out, and Lita slipped in, silent, holding it open
just enough for the four other slender girls to slip
inside.

	Bursting with anticipation, none of them noticed
a small, but beautiful bloom, a red rose, lodge itself
between the two halves of the clasps, much as Raye's
parchment had.

	"Okay, there's the switch box." Raye pointed to
something that looked like a puplit, a tall metal 
recantle with tons of knobs and gagets and lights on
top. Wires ran from the bottom to all the little 
minature cannons, of which they're had to be hundreds.

	"Good," Serena whispered, nodding. They were
still keeping to the shadows, least that one worker 
come by. "Amy, go check it out; see if you can figure
out what's wrong, just in case. No use taking 
unnecessary risks if we can help it."

	...silence...

	...silence...

	...silence...

	...silen-

	"NANI????" They all screeched. Serena, her eyes
flying wide open, hushed them feverently. Glaring, she
demanded. "What? And would you guys mind keeping it
down? We're on a mission, here!"

	Lita gulped, Amy's jaw dropped, Mina was 
giggling uncontrollably -she knew her leader was
capable of acting like who she was; a leader!- and 
Raye...

	Raye fainted dead away.

	Serena rolled her eyes. "Come on," She laughed,
smiling. "Go on Amy. The rest of us will check the wire
connections, though first I think we ought to transform.
I think we'd get questioned less about what we were
doing in here less if we were somebody famous."

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Darien's eyebrows shot up, and Andrew jaw 
dropped.

	*'Transform?'* Darien echoed mentally. *What...
what did they mean?*

	Shaking aside the possibilites that he didn't
want to think about, he suddenly realized how mature
Serena had been sounding. Was this his Meatball Head?

	*Whoah, hit the rewind button, a second, there,*
Darien thought suddenly. *MY Meatball Head? Since when
was she mine?*

	Unable -or unwilling- to answer that question,
Darien turned his attention back to the group.

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Raye groaned, and Serena waved a hand over her
face. "Have you decided to join the living?"

	"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Raye grumbled. "And I
heard; you don't need to explain it."

	There was a quiet collective laugh, and the
girls waved their hands in front of their chests, nimble
fingers weaving intricut pattens in the air. The 
subspace pockets were opened, and they pulled out their
transformation pens.

	"Ready?" Serena whispered. The others nodded.
"Okay, then. Henshin yo!"

	"Mercury Power: HENSHIN MAKE-UP!"

	"Mars Power: HENSHIN MAKE-UP!"

	"Jupiter Power: HENSHIN MAKE-UP!"

	"Venus Power: HENSHIN MAKE-UP!"

	"Moon...Prism...Power...TRANSFORM!!!"

	There was a beautiful colored lights display,
visible only to the scouts, and anyone else with a pure
heart. 

	When the lights cleared, there stood the 
legendary Sailo Senshi, guardians of truth, justice,
peace, and love.

	Serena's ears perked as she could have sworn
she heard a muffled screech. Reaching up and gently
touching a red hair jewel on one of her buns, she closed
her eyes and listened intently. She felt a slight tug 
in her mind, and Serena opened her eyes to find herself
starting right at a rather large crate, only two yards
away from herself and the girls, now all standing.

	Serena -Sailor Moon- smiled gently, and resisted
the urge to laugh out loud. She should have known! Luna
would be mad enough as it was about this whole chirade,
but NOW? Serena shuddered inwardly. Oh, boy, she was in
trouble.

	"I feel like we should be spitting out a speech."
Mina laughed, absently smoothing her golden-orange satin
skirt.

	"Same here." Serena smiled, taking out her hair
jewels; her hair style was heavy enough! "But we've got
work to do; Mercury?"

	"I'm scanning them now," Amy -Sailor Mercury- 
was indeed typing away furiously at her mini data 
computer, a transparent blue visor covering the top half
of her face.

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Darien's breathing was fast and irrgular, his 
large hand clamped firmly over Andrew's mouth, both of
them gaping at the sight before them.

	Upon seeing five already gorgeous girls turn 
into goddesses, warrior goddesses, actually, Andrew had
nearly fainted, put instead settled upon a shriekd that
was positively feminine.

	Darien had grabbed his friend and yanked him
down just as Serena -no, Sailor Moon?- had looked their
way.

	*Oh, my...oh, my sweet stars above...* Darien
still couldn't grasp that Serena -Serena! Meatball 
Head!- was Sailor Moon!

	*What are they doing here?* His mind suddenly
thought. *Is there a youma?* He glanced down at Andrew,
whom was still in shock. He wasn't much better. How...
how could it be that Serena, a whiny, klutzy kid could
be the warrior that he himself fought beside from time
to time!? It was just...unthinkable!

	Though in a way...it sort of made sense...As
Tuxedo Mask, he was in love with Sailor Moon, and as
Darien Shields, he was head over heels for Serena. It
made things considerably less complicated.

	Thinking of his alter ego, Darien found himself
fingering the pendant at his throat. A red rose wrapped
around a long sword, the hilt bearing the kengi of 
Earth Protector -his name;- it was his own version of
the Senshi's transformation pens.

	"You can let me go now," Andrew whispered 
hoarsly. Darien nodded and released his friend, and the
two of them looked around the corner to see Mercury -no
Amy!- typing away at a small computer. Presently, she
spoke.

	"Some goof got the electronics all wrong." The
blue haired, blue clad warrior announced with a sigh.
"I'd have to completely rewrite the system. And this
stuff is so primitive it would take me hours!"

	"If we waited that long, it would be useless!"
Serena wailed, leaning against the fence.

	"Oh, don't have a cow meatball brains," Mars
chided. Darien grinned slightly. That was definately 
Raye. Why hadn't he noticed before how similar Mars and
Sailor Moon's brawls were with Raye and Serena's?

	"You said you had a plan b, right?" 

	"Oh." Serena's unshed tears vanished. "Oh, yeah,
right." She laughed nervously. "Well, here it goes. 
You ready?" Darien furrowed his brow as he saw the other
Senshi go into the beginning stances for their
respective attacks. "Follow my lead, guys!" And with
that, Serena reached up on slender, satin gloved hand
and pressed her fingers to her tiara. The jewelry 
glowed, becoming golden, as it came off her head in her
hands. The discuss began to glow brighter, fizzings and
sparkles coming from it in all directions as she raised
it above her head.

	Darien looked on in confusion. What was she 
doing? This wasn't her attack; it was different. What
was she doing?

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Serena smiled brightly. She just hoped there
were enough people left to enjoy this.

	"SILVER STARLIGHT STARBURST!!!" With her shouted
command, the golden tiara abruptly became a blazing
silver. Serena released it with her mind, gave it a 
gently, mental nudge upwards, and it went shooting off
into the sky. It disappeared for a moment, then 
beautiful, breath taking spirals and explosions of
sparkling silver light. Silver and gold starbusts 
erupted in the night sky, creating an intricut display
of silver fireworks with speckles of sparkling gold.

	Other colors soon joined the silver and gold as
the Senshi added their newly created, for-enjoyment-only
powers.

	"MERCURY BLUE SUNSPLASH!!!"

	"MARS FIRE RAIN!!!"

	"JUPITER ELECTRIC SPARKLES!"

	"VENUS GOLDEN STAR FLOWERS!!!"

	Burst of ice blue, glittering rains of fire red,
sizzling sparkles of pink and green, and spinning, 
twinkling golden flowers danced in the sky.

	"There, that ought to do it." Sailor Moon said.
The others nodded their agreement. Smiling wickedly,
Serena suddenly couldn't hold back any longer. Oh, the
looks on their faces. Smiling, she tipped her head back
and watched her and her friend's powers dance and weave
among the starlight in the sky, their powers caressing
the moon and dancing on the moonbeams.

	"Darien, Andrew, you boys can come out now." 
Serena said suddenly, nearly choking against the urge
to laugh. The others started suddenly, looking at their
leader with bewilderment.

	Another shriek ensued, one that this time was
muffled too late. Laughing, Serena motioned her hand
over towards the crates, but it was not needed, as
Raye and Lita were already dragging out the poor 
evesdroppers.

	The looks on their faces were too much, and 
Serena dropped to the ground, clutching her side as
bouts of laughter so hard they were painful wracked her
body. Serena -being the only one of the Senshi that had
known they they they were there- was, however, the only
one laughing. Mina and Amy still in shock, as was
Darien and Andrew- both from seeing them transform and
having been so casuall caught- and Lita and Raye were
positively furious.

	"Stuff if, meatball brains." Raye growled. "This
is NOT funny!"

	"Yes...yes it-it is!" Serena gasped, Mina 
helping her up. "Oh, you guys should have seen your
faces!" She burst out laughing again, and this time Mina
joined her with tiny chuckles, and soon she, Amy, Lita
and even Raye were laughing.

	Darien and Andrew were still gaping.

	"Uh, yo, Darien-baka, you okay?" Serena suddenly
noticed that the source of her amusement was hardly
tracking at all. She walked up to him and waved her hand
in front of his face, barely managing to smother the
desire to grab his face and kiss him. His ebony,
midnight hair blowing in the slight breeze...Those dark
azure eyes glowing in the moonlight...

	Sailor Moon gasped as she suddenly realized that
she'd been staring into those eyes, and he was doing the
same, seemingly looking deep within her soul.

	Sailor Moon gulped. Darien's eyes flickered.
Absently, Sailor Moon noted Andrew on the ground beside
them, Mina, or rather, Sailor Venus consoling him out
his traumatic state.

	"S...Serena?" Darien managed to choke out, still
gazing at her with wide eyes. Serena blushed crimson,
and nodded.

	"Yeah, it's me." She said quietly, then smiled.
"What, no 'fail anymore tests, Meatball Head?"

	"Serena, I-"

	"Or how about, 'Oh, boy, our best super hero is
a klutz who can't walk one block without falling down
and taking at least three other people with her?'" 
Serena had tears in her eyes as she forced them back. 
She didn't know what had brought about this sudden 
malicious burst of truth from her, but she somehow knew
she wasn't going to be able to stop.

	"I was kind of expecting a, 'I'm surprise you
can fit into that skimpy Sailor Uniform with all the
junk food you eat.'" Serena's voice was becoming choked,
and she failed to notice that all eyes -including a
somewhat alive Andrew- were on her. She also didn't
take notice of the tears in Darien's eyes.

	"Or what about-"

	"Oh, that does it." Darien said suddenly,
rather loudly. Before Serena could even catch on enough
to even protest, a pair of warm lips were smothering her
own. When her mind caught up with her body, she 
discovered herself being crushed, yet craddled against
a warm, solid form.

	Forcing down a whimper and a sob, Serena just
let her shock take over, melting into his arms.

	When they finally broke apart, Serena's ears
picked up giggling and snickers from behind.

	"I...I think we need to talk..." Serena managed
to whisper. Darien nodded, though she couldn't bring 
herself to look at him.

	"Though I doubt this will do," He said, 
referring to the girls and Andrew around them, all with
gleefull looks on their faces and...

	Exchanging money?

	"Come on, Princess." Serena shivered as Darien
whispered in her ear, then suddenly shrieked as a 
shimmering gold and red light surrounded them both.
When it cleared, Sailor Moon looked up and gasped.

	"Tux...Tuxedo..." Serena didn't finish her words
as she found herself airborne, swooped up into her
rescuer's arms, bounding from roof to roof and tree to
tree, the senshi's powers still exploding above them.

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Darien couldn't stop berrating himself.

	*You just HAD to go and kiss her, didn't you?*
He scolded himself fiercely. *You just HAD to transform,
on top of that, too, didn't you, buddy boy? Add to 
your poor best friend's shock, too, didn't you? You had
to give them all a reason to pay up their bets, you
just COULDN'T stop yourself from giving in, could you?*

	Darien held back a sigh, and smiled slightly.
Still, the look on his Meatball Head's face had been
worth it.

	*Okay, there you go again; she is NOT *your* 
Meatball Head!* Darien looked down at the princess in
his arms, whom was looking down and blushing, 
occassionally sneaking a glance up at him when she
thought he wasn't looking. Now was one of those times,
and he caught her eye, and smiled in spite of himself,
and gave her a wink.

	*She may not be mine now, but by the end of 
tonight she'd better agree to be or I'll just go ahead
and take her!*

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Serena was completely bewildered. Darien was
Tuxedo Mask? How could that be? Her knight in shinning
armor and the love of her life whom is supposedly her
worst enemy the all the same person? It was too good to
be true!

	She glanced up at him, a light pink staining her
cheeks, and he caught her eye. He smiled that smile that
she had longed to be directed at her for so, so long,
and winked. Serena felt her heart melt, and she wanted
to be his more than anything.

	*Get real, Serena,* She beratted herself 
bitterly. *What would a guy like him want with you? 
Probably the most you can hope for now that he knows
you'r Sailor Moon is a truce, a stiff comrade
friendship, nothing more.* But if she could have more...

	"We're here," A light whisper jolted her out of
her thoughts, and she found herself on a balcony of an
apartment, still in the arms of Tuxedo Mask. Blushing,
she leaped out of his embrace, and turn to face him
sheepishly.

	"Um...I'm guessing you're not exactly happy?"
Serena smiled nervously, winding a strand of flyaway
golden hair around her finger.

	Surprisingly, Darien just laughed, for he was
just Darien now, his transformation having faded away in
a flurry of gold and red. Serena followed suit, stroking
her gold and pink locket over her heart. Her Sailor fuku
became bright pink and glittering silver ribbons admist
rainbow colors. When the light show faded, there was
simply Serena.

	"Um, surprise?" Serena said sheepishly. Darien
shook his head.

	"Oh, boy is that an understatement." He laughed,
and suddenly she found herself in his arms again; she
hand't even seen him move.

	"But I'm glad, just the same." She heard him
whisper. Serena felt tears in her eyes, but she quickly
shook them away, pulling out of his grasp slightly, enough
so that she could look at him.

	"Why is that?" She asked quietly.

	"Serena..." Darien started. He sighed. "There's
really just no easy way to say this. Serena, I think, no,
I KNOW that I've fallen in love with you. Both as me,
Darien, and as Tuxedo Mask. As your hero I was in love
with Sailor Moon, as well, though if I'd had to choose 
I would have chosen my Meatball Head in a second. Finding
out that you really are the Champion of Justice makes
things a whole lot easier, is all."

	Serena was in shock, pure and simple.

	"You... you don't hate me?" She whispered, part
of her terrified that this was just a sick joke.

	"I couldn't even me mad at you even if I wanted
to." He whispered to her. A tear ran down her face, and
Darien rubbed it away with his thumb, his hand resting
on her cheek.

	"Really?" She asked, her voice hardly daring to be
hopeful. Darien smiled.

	"Definately. I never hated you, Serena."

	"Then why...why did you tease me so?" Serena 
asked, her voice hushed. Darien pressed his forehead to
hers gently, looking straight into her eyes.

	"Because...Serena, I," He sighed. "I've never 
been very good with words," He confessed.

	"You were doing fine," Serena told him, absently
reaching up and brushing aside a lock of silky black hair
out of his eyes. This for some reason prompted Darien to
continued. Taking a deep breath, he did so.

	"To be honest, Serena, I think...I think I was 
scared. Scared of what falling in love with you would
bring. It was the same with me as Tuxedo mask falling for
Sailor Moon. With the way we're always fighting evil, I
didn't want to set myself up for a heartbreak of loosing
you-"

	"Ever hear 'Tis better to have loved and lost,
than never to have loved at all?'" Serena qouted.

	"I know that now," Darien told her, pulling her
even closer, if that were possible. "Somehow, finding out
about you...somehow discovering that has made me realize
that." He looked down, unable to meet her eyes anymore.

	"I know, I've treated you horribly, love, but
please know that I never, *ever* meant a word of it to be
hurtful. I couldn't have meant any of it. Serena, I-"

	"There's a funny thing about falling in love with
someone," Serena whispered suddenly, cutting him off. "It
tends to let you see things about the other person, even
if that person doesn't even realize it himself."

	"Wha-"

	"I could always tell that despite your ice walls
and cold, seemingly hurtful remarks, I always somehow 
knew you didn't mean it, even if you told yourself you
did." Serena's voice was quiet, her eyes closed as she
spoke, the breath hardly leaving her lips, but Darien 
heard every word, and he took every word to heart.

	"Serena, I-"

	"And not only that, but-"

	"Serena!"

	"I just want you to know that-" Serena drew in
a sharp breath as she was effectively silenced by Darien's
warm, hungry and passionate kisses, his lips devouring 
her own in heated caresses.

	She immediately lost all sense of time, the
feeling in her legs flying from her nerves. She clung to
the man that was holding her, delving into her mouth
like she were a exotic oasis in a desert.

	Giving her lips on last lingering stroke with 
his own, he pulled away, both of them breathing heavily.

	"Now, what were you saying?" He whispered
hoarsly.

	Swallowing shakily, she leaned up to press her
forehead to his.

	"I love you," she whispered. She felt Darien's
arms tighten around her.

	"Well, I'm afraid I'll have to challenge that." 
Serena jerked away, shock and surprise in her face.
She looked up to see Darien grinning devilishly. Quicker
than she could track, he laid yet another butterfly kiss
on her mouth, before whispering into her ear, "Because
I love you more."

	Serena let out a choked sob, and threw her arms
around her love's neck and buried her face in his
shoulder, just loving being loved.

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	"I knew it!" Mina squealed happily. Raye growled
and jabbed her in the ribs.

	"C'mon, Venus, share!" She glowered.

	"Yeah, we want our turn!" Lita glared. Mina
turned and stuck her tongue out at them before handing
them the binoculars. Both girls lunged for the item,
and clouds of dust from the collected dirt on the 
rooftop of the building next to Darien's apartment,
over the balcony, concealed their fighting forms.

	When the dust settled, it was seen that neither
Raye nor Lita held the binoculars. A now smug and 100% 
recovered Andrew burst out laughing as the other three
senshi's jaws dropped.

	Ami was giggling madly as she spied on the two
lovers down below, oblivious to the goggling looks she
was recieving.

	"Well, whadya know?" Mina cocked her head,
glossy pink lips smiling. "Looks like tonight is a night
for more than two romantics."

	"I couldn't agree more." A gentle voice
whispered into her ear. Turning her head in surprise,
she blushed as she realized that her back was bare 
centimeters from Andrew.

	Before she could so much as blink, Andrew had 
her whirled around, her back bent backwards, and her
voice convientently silenced, as her mouth was rather...
occupied.

	Pulling apart, both of them flushed, Andrew
stood her up again, and Mina couldn't help but giggle
as he folded her in his arms.

	Looking up, the two of them blanched as they
saw the Senshi -all three of them growing horns and
spiked tails- advancing on them.

	Mina looked up at Andrew.

	"Run." They chimed together, and took off
running, romance addicted Senshi at their heels.

*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

	Serena sighed, enjoying the sound of hers and
Darien's hearts beating in time as they shared a
reclining lawn chair out on the balcony, her small form
snuggled up to his, still wrapped in his arms. Her
head laid on his chest as his hands absently ran through
her long golden hair, which had come out of their buns
and was now strewn all about the two lovers like a 
golden aurora.

	"Darien?"

	"Yes, love?"

	"Tell me; why did you protect Sailor Moon? I
mean, before you fell in love with her; why?" She looked
up at him. He looked thoughtful for a moment before
answering.

	"For a while now I've been having dreams of a
beautiful princess, calling to me, asking for my help.
Mostly she asked me to 'set her free,' and bring her the
Imperium Silver Moon Crystal. When I began defending
you as Sailor Moon, I told myself it was because I
wanted you to lead me to the Crystal, or the Princess."

	Darien tightened his hold on Serena, bring her
form even closer to him, laying a gentle kiss on her
forehead as he continued.

	"But really...the real reason was that you
reminded me so much like the Princess in my dreams. In
the dream, I could almost feel how much I loved the
Princess, whoever she was. And when I was around Sailor
Moon, I felt this overwhelming sense of protectiveness.

	"It wasn't until recently that I admited to
myself that I had fallen for you, as the Moon Warrior.

	"It complicated my life a great deal, as I
already knew I was head over heels for a certain
Meatball Headed, bubbly, beautiful, loving blonde known
as Serena Tsukino."

	Serena giggled, and snuggled her face into his
shirt, smiling.

	"Darien?" She asked again after a moment. Darien
smiled. 

	"Yes?"

	"This Princess...who do you think she is?"

	"Honestly?" Darien looked down at her golden
head, then smiled. "I think she's you."

	"ME?" Serena shrieked, sitting up bolt right.
"Me? The Moon Princess? Don't tease, Darien."

	"I'm not teasing." Reach his arms up to wrap
around her again, he gently pulled her down beside him
again. "I'm perfectly serious."

	"Well, what if I'm not?" She whispered,
clutching a handful of his blue shirt, almost 
posessively. She looked up at him, desperation in her
large blue eyes. "What if she's in love with you? And
what if you were in love with her in the Silver 
Millennium?" Tears came to her eyes, and she looked
down. "What if the only reason you think you're in love
with me is because I remind you of her?" She whispered.

	"You know the two words I hate the most?" Darien
growled. Serena looked up at him.

	"Wha-?"

	"The two words I hate the most are 'what if?'
Especially when they're used to question my love for the
only girl for me." Before she could reply, her mouth was
buried beneath his.

	He pulled away quickly, and she found herself
blushing yet again.

	"You know, I think thats the most successful
method anyone has every come up with to shut me up." She
told him, and he laughed.

	When the laughter quieted, Darien leaned over
slightly and pressed his forehead to Serena's.

	"I am only going to tell you this once, so don't
make me repeat it, and don't forget. I. Love. *You!*"

	Tears came to Serena's eyes, and she threw her
arms around the man leaning over her.

	"Thank you," she whispered.

	"For what?" Darien murmured into her hair. "I
am the one who must thank you. You're the one who
brought love and light and warmth into my life." Serena
only squeezed him tighter, snuggling her face into his
neck.

	"I love you," she whispered. She felt Darien
smile against her hair.

	"And I, you, my princess." He told her, and tears
of happiness flowed down Serena's face.

	Suddenly, the golden haired girl jerked away,
gasping as a thundering bom shook the air. Both of them
scanned the skies, and laughed, smiling, as they saw
beautiful, glitting silver fireworks bursting overhead.
The patterns and spirals were more intimate than the
brush strokes of the most talented artist, as delicate
as the newly blossoming love of the couple that they had
been meant for.

	Serena looked up at her love, and he looked down
at her, smiling.

	"Think that's a sign?" He said, smiling.

	"Definately." She laughed. Their lips met halfway,
and this one was slow and gentle, progressing into
passionate like their love.

	Down below, two slender, lithe figures smiled as
they watched, leaning dreamily on their tall staffs.

	"Think that did it, Laxa?" The raven haired one,
with golden highlights and ever more radiant gold eyes
asked the other beside her. The other woman smiled, silver
white hair blowing elegantly in the breeze, her silver-
blue eyes glittering under the fireworks.

	"Versia, sister dear, have you ever known one of
*my* plans to fail?" Laxa raised an eyebrow at her
sibling. Versia looked thoughtful as she fingered a black
pearl on her gold staff.

	"Hmm...now that you mention it..." She pondered.
"Ouch!" She yelped as her sister slapped her lightly.

	"Oh, hush, you!" Laxa laughed.

	Smiling and laughing, they turned and walked out
of the alleyway. But instead of stepping into the street
as they turned out of the alley, they both waved their
staffs, and stepped into a dark, silver and gold swirled
portal.

	They both paused for a moment, and looked back at
their Prince and Princess over their shoulders, both of
them still involved in the heated kiss. The girls
chuckled, and turned once more, and stepped through the
portal, heading to their home in the stars.


THE END


	Hi there, minna-chans! Don't know who Versia and
Laxa are? Go read 'The Light Never Fades' and find out!!!!
	
	Until later!!! Ja ne! -Sailor GlitterGirl

P.S. Sooo sorry this took so long to get out. It was
supposed to up on the Fourth of July! Well, thats little
old blonde me for ya. Ja ne! -Glitter