This fanfic has strong language and sexual content. You have been warned. 
So on with the important info: 
The story is set in what, if you so choose, you could call an alternate 
timeline. Serena and the scouts range from 16-17 and Darien and Andrew are in 
their early twenties (21-23). Darien and Serena are fully aware of themselves as 
prince of the earth and princess of the moon but have no memory at all of the past 
and are therefore still on the warpath as far as each other is concerned. There is a 
lot more I could say but I suggest just reading it. If you have questions you can 
always ask.
This is one of the longest fanfics I've ever written and I like it so I hope you 
do too. Email me whether you like it or not. Now on with the story….

Jail Bait
MarshAngel
watsonma@hotmail.com
http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm


Dear Diary, 
I have this distinct feeling that this world is set against me. On a daily basis 
I make a barrage of mistakes that usually end with me being depressed and angry 
with myself.  Today is no exception. Yesterday I got this distinct feeling, one that 
has been creeping upon me these past year or so, that I am destined to be 
miserable for the rest of my pathetic life, a feeling that was confirmed last night. I 
swear, one of these days when I've fallen flat on the ground as I so often do, I'll 
just lie there and enjoy being close to the ground (It seems that's where I spend 
most of my time anyway) and hope something will take pity and run me over. 
I suppose by now you're wondering as to why, if my life is a regular mess, 
would I choose today to declare my misery. Well, you see, there was another 
stupid youma running around Tokyo last night. You'd think they'd take into 
consideration that people have better things to do at midnight, like sleeping! 
To add to the fact that I was awoken out of a beautiful dream in which I was 
kissing Tuxedo Mask, a thought which now thoroughly disgusts me, I discovered 
something tonight that has left me without any fantasies. Of all the evil, horrible 
events to occur in life, this has to be the worst!
 Life has conspired to make me as miserable as I can possibly be. Tonight I 
discovered that Darien Chiba is my dream lover Tuxedo Mask and the prince of 
this planet I thought I would die of embarrassment, disappointment, and anger. 
After all the time I spent mooning over that snobby Jerk! I can't believe that 
conceited asshole, is my mysterious savior. He instantly reverted to his disgusting 
nature as soon as he discovered that I was Sailor Moon and later the moon 
princess. Life Sucks! Even my fantasies turn into nightmares! I hate my Life! 
Serena

Dear Journal

Sometimes I swear I have the worst luck in this world! As if having the 
Baroness Therese Arianna Dumas-Chiba for your mother wasn't pain enough, I 
have to put up with a spoilt immature teenage superhero with meatballs for brains. 
I don't know what Supreme Being saw fit to endow that childish twit with super 
powers! It must be a cosmic joke of some kind! Serena Tsukino Chandler that 
spoilt brat is Sailor Moon and a princess too; I would never have believed it had I 
not seen it with my own eyes. 
Not too long after my discovery, my oh-so-adoring mother calls me at three 
in the morning from a hotel somewhere in Paris for no apparent reason. She and 
her ex-husband, my father, are the only ones who manage to grate on my last 
nerve as Serena does. They are two very materialistic, imperialist snobs who have 
no idea what it means to be parents.
The only time they ever cared about anything I have ever done, is when I 
chose a double major in geology and botanical science. Needless to say they 
weren't amused. My father expected me to join him in business. Somehow, 
manufacturing computer chips and whatever else he has a hand in does not 
appeal to me. 
My mother was sufficiently mollified when I told her that in the end I'd have 
two doctoral degrees. My aim is to work for NASA in their efforts to terra form the 
surface of mars and create a livable environment. The first manned mission was a 
success three years ago, after the successful creation of an antimatter-powered 
engine. My father is still far from impressed. He even threatened to cut my trust 
fund if I didn't switch my major to business, my mother convinced him otherwise, 
although I'm not sure just how she managed that.
My mother only cares to hear from me when she wants to hear of my latest 
accomplishments so she can boast to her European high society friends. I wonder 
what she'd think if I told her that I run around Tokyo in a tuxedo and mask saving 
short-skirted superheroes from certain death by ugly beasts from another world. I 
have a distinct feeling she'd tell me to make sure that the tuxedo was an original 
design from Armani's latest collection. It's not; if anything, it resembles a Hugo 
Boss original.
She has been asking me of late; whom am I dating? When am I going to 
settle down? And blah blah blah.  It is completely futile to point out to the woman 
that I'm only twenty-two years old and I have at least three or more years to go 
before I can obtain my doctorates, which I intend to do before I even give a 
thought to marriage. 
Sometimes I wish everything would all go away, the annoying parents, the 
superhero gig, the accountant who thinks he's my best friend and insists on 
discussing every detail of how my trust fund is invested, the annoying meatball 
headed blonde, and stupid youma. As things are right now, I wish that all I had to 
handle were my dorky, bespectacled, physics professor who swears to me that I 
have gift and I should switch my major to physics and astronomy. Why couldn't I 
have lived the life of an average person? I hate my life! 

Darien

"It's been a year and you two are still arguing!" The small black cat 
screeched from he spot at Mina's side. "You'd think that after all this time you two 
would learn to stand each other!" Luna yelled at Serena and the grown man, 
whom in Serena's presence seemed to revert to a teenager. She could almost 
understand however, Serena could be absolutely stubborn and frustrating, a lot of 
which was due to Darien's presence.
Being around him had forced her to prove herself to be a stronger, better, 
and more graceful fighter than she was before. She refused to let him save her or 
give him anything more to tease her about, except her hair, of course, which she 
refused to give him the satisfaction by changing. Unfortunately having two very 
confident, powerful, individuals who hated each other, on the same team was very 
exasperating to those who had to sit and listen to the two argue about anything 
and everything and often in the middle of a battle.
It didn't help that Darien had become good friends to Serena's other 
friends. Even when they weren't in battle they were usually hanging out together. 
Being forced to endure each other's company on a regular basis, much to 
everyone's amazement had not in anyway bonded the two. The group had learned 
to be either amused by, or to ignore the snide remarks that the two tossed back 
and forth when they all hung out together. The two were a source of 
entertainment, most of the time anyway.
Serena looked down at the cat from the perch she'd taken on a bunch of 
pillows in Raye's bedroom, all in an attempt to stare Darien right in the face.
"Why are you getting upset now Luna?" Serena snapped at the cat. "We've 
been arguing for a year, shouldn't you be used to it by now?"
Mina looked up from her manga and grinned at Serena's comment while 
Luna sighed exasperatedly. 
"Give it up Luna! It's a lost cause." Mina rubbed the cats back attempting 
to calm her, as they all relaxed at Raye's temple. They were all basically relaxing 
after another night of battling youma.
"Luna, I didn't ask for his help! I could have handled the stupid beast on my 
own!" Serena yelled. Darien had picked her up like a child and pulled her out of 
the line of fire, getting rid of the youma they had faced on his own.
"You're just upset because you didn't get the opportunity to put on a show 
as usual! You seem to forget this is a team. There is no I in team."
"Oh cut the crap Darien. I swear if I hear one more of your corny phrases 
I'll…"
"You'll what? Shove these stupid meatballs on your head down my throat?" 
he yelled squeezing one of the balls atop her blonde head. "No wait better yet, 
you'll strangle me with your stringy hair right?" He tugged on one of her pigtail, 
knowing how much it would annoy her.
"My hair is not stringy! She growled at him, pulling her hair from his hands. 
"Touch my hair again and I will make sure you never walk again!" Darien merely 
smirked at her, which only made her angrier.
"OK guys cut it out!" Amy said coming between the two. As amusing as this 
was to watch, someone had to stop them before they killed each other.
"Oh come on Ames," Lita whined. This was just getting good!" A glare from 
Serena and Darien sent her hiding behind Raye. Those two were scary when they 
were mad at each other.

Serenity sighed sadly as she looked at her daughter arguing with Darien. 
"Beryl, we have to do something, they hate each other! "
"But, it's so much fun listening to them argue!"
"Beryl!" Serenity snapped at her sister.
"Ok, Ok, I get the point!"
"Good! We need to find away to get them together before they hate each other 
forever!"
"Serenity, you were always such a do-gooder. I'm sure if you let things run their 
course they'll eventually fall in love and live happily ever after just like in those fairy tales 
you always loved!"
"You let things run their course with Metallia and your niece eventually killed 
you." Serena and her friends had combined their powers to destroy the demon Metallia 
that had possessed her sister, releasing her finally to the peacefulness of death and 
eternal rest. Ok, so they weren't really resting, no one had to know.
"My point exactly! That turned out just fine. I'm back to my old self, dead and 
loving it!" Beryl grinned happily twirling about like a little girl. Serenity sighed 
exasperatedly. 
"You were always so frustrating!"
"Alright, I'll help you, but I can't figure out what exactly it is you're planning to do. 
We are dead you know, or have you forgotten."
"I've been dead for a while, believe me, I haven't forgotten! It's important we get 
them together as soon as possible. If they continue to hate each other and then Pluto 
has to inform that they must marry for the sake of earth's future, everyone will be 
miserable, them most of all!"
"You know, technically he doesn't have to marry Serena, he could marry any one 
of the scouts," Beryl commented, tossing her hair over her shoulder and looking over her 
nails casually.
"Yes but, Serena's, my daughter and I like Darien. They're perfect for each 
other."
"They do make a cute couple don't they? Well, this should be fun!" Beryl had a 
look of pure delight at the idea of matchmaking. Serenity was suddenly very scared. 
When Beryl got that happy, scheming look on her face, she had to worry. 
 Why had she bothered to include Beryl on this? This would undoubtedly end in 
trouble! She sighed again, and sank her head into her hands; Beryl had been the queen 
of Venus' best friend. Now she could see why. The two enjoyed meddling in other 
people's love lives, something she also enjoyed although to a lesser extent. 

"Hey, dude!" a deep voice called out to Darien as he walked towards the 
Tokyo University Science building. He turned to face the familiar face of the tall, 
lean star or TU's tennis team.
"Yeah, what's up Dave?" 
"Nothing much. I saw you the other day with a bunch of girls. Seems you 
have your own harem!" He grinned lasciviously.
"They're just my friends," Darien defended, somewhat annoyed at Dave's 
suggestion. "What you're suggesting isn't even legal."
"Yeah, I know but you gotta admit, they're kinda cute, even from a distance. 
Why are you hanging out with these high school chicks anyway?"
"They are girls, not chicks and they're friends, that's all." Darien snapped. 
Dave could be so annoying sometimes. The tall dark haired Casanova was always 
on the look out for some 'action'. Dave wasn't a big believer in the possibility of 
platonic relationships between men and women.
"Geez! Did you wake up on the wrong side of bed or what?"
"You would too, if you had to listen to my mother go on and on about 
nothing! I don't know why I had to tell her about Serena!"
"Serena? Is that a new girlfriend I haven't met?" Dave grinned; another of his 
suggestive smiles that he thought made him look cute. Darien wasn't going to be 
the one to tell him that he really looked like child molester.
Darien scowled at the thought of Serena being his girlfriend. "If Serena was 
my girlfriend, I'd either kill myself or put a contract out on my own life!"
"Wait, let me guess, you don't like the girl!" Dave said sarcastically
"There's an understatement if I ever heard one," Darien muttered frowning. 
"That girl, is the bane of my existence!"
"So, let me get this straight, you were telling you mother about some girl 
you hate because?"
"I was annoyed," Darien explained, "so I mentioned her in passing. She then 
wanted to know if she was one of my friends she had met before, as if she'd 
remember any of my friends or care, and I said no. I told her that she was Richard 
Chandler's daughter; Chandler is the CEO of one of the U.S, largest electronics 
companies. He's the one that used to be married to that French designer, Anika, 
who coincidentally is one of my mother's friends. So now she's insisting that I 
calm down and try to be friends with the girl. I think she's attempting to push me 
into a possible marriage that would benefit my father and her societal 
connections.
"What is Chandler's daughter doing, living in Tokyo?"
"She lives with her mother. Her mother married the current vice president of 
some big communications firm. She goes by her stepfather's name most of the 
time, Tsukino."
"So she's rich!"
"And spoilt!"
"Is she cute?" Darien scowled again.
"Don't you ever think of anything else?"
"What else is there? Dave grinned again, flashing his pearly whites once 
more. 
Darien had never spent much time thinking about it. If anything he tried to 
suppress any thoughts of Serena whom always seemed to pop into his head at 
inopportune moments and ruin his day. Now that the question was placed before 
him, he was forced to consider it.
She had been cute when he'd first seen her, long before he was even aware 
of the fact that he was Tuxedo Mask. Since he'd joined her team in their quest to 
find their princess and defeat the last few youma that occasionally appeared out 
of nowhere; she had grown quite a bit. Last year right after he had joined them, 
they had banded together and defeated Beryl and her generals. The mission had 
almost been ruined by their constant arguing but they had survived without too 
many bruises. She had been cute then and she had only grown more beautiful 
since.
He had to admit that recently, however, she had been looking better than 
ever. Her hair was cute, She was cute, and her body was nothing short of 
perfection, not that he cared.  Ok, so she was hot, big deal! There was still, 
however, the matter of her personality, which grated on his nerves every single day 
he had to be in her presence.
"She's ok, I guess. I try to avoid looking at her." Darien made it appoint to 
understate his true thoughts as to Serena's candidacy for girl he'd most like to 
see topless on a swimsuit calendar. She would make his list; he had to admit to 
himself embarrassingly.
"So who cares what your mother has to say," Dave pointed out, "she's 
thousands of miles away!"
"Normally I wouldn't care, but she told my dad and now my father would 
like to meet her, and he's right here in Tokyo."
"What does your father get out of this anyway?"
"He's seeking a deal with Chandler Inc."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Same thing I've always done. I'm going to ignore him."
"Way to go man."
"Yeah, nothing like building familial relationships," Darien uttered 
sarcastically, grinning as he and Dave continued towards the café where Andrew 
was on duty."

Serena let out a low groan as she saw her group of friends sitting by the café 
counter with Darien, and one of Darien's friends. Andrew was busy with his other 
customers and Raye was obviously flirting with Darien, which nauseated Serena to 
no end. Serena built up her defenses and prepared herself for battle.
"Hi guys!" She said when she'd walked over to her friends. Her friends 
returned her greeting with the exception of Darien who smirked and greeted her 
with:
"Hello, Meatball Head!"
"Darien, how did you get into college, when you can't even seem to 
remember a simple name? Did your father buy you a spot?" Serena questioned, 
returning a fake, but nonetheless brilliant smile of her own.
"You would know plenty about that wouldn't you, seeing as how Daddy 
buy's you everything." Darien uttered tartly. His smile having turned upside down 
at the mention of his father doing him any favors. 
"I seriously doubt that all the money in your father's company could 
possibly buy you into any college." 
He disliked any reference to him depending on his father for anything. He 
made it a point to steer his life away from anything that might involve the 
overbearing, controlling patriarch.
"Guy's please not again!" Amy, the one, who always intervened, interrupted 
once more. "Can't we all just get along?"
Everyone glared at Amy as she winced. "Sorry," she squeaked, slouching 
down as far as she could. Even she had to admit that that was pretty corny. 
"I can't believe you just said that!" Raye said.
"Yeah, I know," Serena said. "We usually leave that level of cheesiness up to 
Darien here."
Darien rolled his eyes and turned to Dave. 
"Dave, I have the great displeasure of introducing you to Serena Tsukino 
Chandler, otherwise known as Meatball Head."
Dave stuck out his hand. Serena placed her hands in his and to her surprise 
he kissed the back of her hand. The girls' eyes widened in surprise, while Andrew 
grinned bemusedly from behind the counter and Darien rolled his eyes. Serena 
was equally surprised but managed to smile.
"The pleasure is all mine then," Dave said smoothly. "Darien neglected to 
tell me you were beautiful." Darien rolled his eyes again. This qualified as one of 
the more nauseating displays to which he had ever been subjected.
"That's because anything out of his mouth is pure venom," Serena said, 
smiling rather sweetly at Dave.  Maybe you could teach him a thing or two about 
civil behavior," She said, her eyes twinkling playfully.
The girls were somewhere between giggling and shock.  Was Serena flirting 
with this guy!?
"Dave, don't you have to go to that meeting you were talking about?" Darien 
interrupted. There was only so much of this one could stand before losing their 
lunch.
"Oh yeah." Dave got his books together. "It was nice meeting you, Serena," 
he said, smiling at her rather seductively, ignoring the rest of the group 
unintentionally as he attempted to gain Serena's favor. 
As he got up Darien leaned over and whispered in his ear. 
"Jail bait!"
Dave grinned, amused by Darien's reminder, as he walked out. 
"What was that about?" Mina asked Serena after Dave had left."
"What was what?" Serena asked innocently as she took Dave's place at the 
counter between Darien and Mina.
"Don't play innocent with us!" Lita teased. "You were flirting!"
"He started it," Serena pointed out nonchalantly.
"Yes, and you flirted back!" Mina said exasperated at Serena's casual 
behavior.
Serena rolled her eyes. "What else was I supposed to do?"
"You, say that as though this is an everyday occurrence," Raye said.
It couldn't be, no one would want to flirt with her regularly." Darien said.  
"Well then, " Darien said before Serena could even say another word, "I think I'd 
better get out of here before I learn more than I ever wanted to know about female 
behavior and a woman's guide to flirting." He knew well, that Serena was about to 
be grilled on her interest in Dave which would no doubt lead to how many guys 
Lita had seen that day that looked like her old boyfriend and Mina's guide on how 
to 'trap' a boyfriend.
"Well maybe if you stuck around long enough you'd learn a thing or two. 
That way you could get a date instead of flirting with high school girls out of 
desperation," Serena stated to Darien.
Darien whispered to himself, to calm down. 'Like water off a ducks back.'
"Are you saying you'd like me to stay meatball head?" he asked getting as 
close to her as he dared and looking at her teasingly. When he was this close he 
had to admit, her skin was absolutely flawless and she smelled like flowers. Of 
course so many other girls did as well, he reminded himself.
"On second thought," Serena said hurriedly pulling away from him, but not 
before recording the scent of his cologne in the back of her mind. She couldn't 
recall being this close to him in a long while. It sent a nervous tingle down her 
spine and made her so wary. "I'm sure you have plenty of work to do, why don't 
you hurry home and get to it."
"Are you, sure?" He asked patronizingly. "I could always stay and learn 
whatever it is you claim to have to offer. Although I couldn't possibly grasp what 
that could be, considering you don't exactly have a boyfriend and find it unlikely 
that you'll be getting one anytime soon.
"How do I put this subtly," Serena said, plainly angry, "Leave!"
"Well then, when you put it so sweetly, how can I resist!" Darien smiled, his 
voice dripping with sarcasm. He turned to the other girls. "Well I'll see you girls 
tomorrow, well most of you." He turned to Serena. "With any luck, I won't have to 
see you until you've fixed whatever's wrong with your personality."
He didn't wait for her response; he just turned around and with a wave of 
goodbye to everyone, walked out the door.


"What happened to my little girl?" Serenity moaned woefully watching Serena 
and Darien argue for what had to be the hundredth time. "When did Prince Darien 
become so insulting? "Meatball head? I have that very same hairdo! Serenity muttered 
patting her hair.
"She's learned to stand up for herself. It's about time!"
"Yes well as entertaining as it may be for you to watch them argue it doesn't help 
get them together!" Serenity snapped at Beryl.
"Oh calm down sis! They enjoy arguing. Can't you tell? There is an amazing 
tension between them. He wants her! I bet if you leave them alone in the same room 
together, something will happen."
"I'm trying to get them to fall in love, not into bed!"
"Same thing!" Beryl smiled. "One usually leads to other."
"Why did I enlist your help?" Serenity muttered, completely aggravated. 
"Because you know I'm the best woman for the job," Beryl said very satisfied with 
herself. "

At home Serena was helping her mother prepare for dinner. Her mother was 
the perfect person to complain to. She would understand.
"Darien Chiba is such a pain! You'd think the guy would have something 
better to do than hang out with teenage girls and torture me to death. What did I 
do to deserve this?" Serena was on another rant about Darien, while she helped 
her mother prepare for dinner.
"Honey, don't forget to call your Dad. He wants to know if you'll be going 
skiing with him and Celine this winter?"
"Mom! You aren't listening to me!"
"Of course I am, sweetheart," Ikuko said, as she continued stirring the sauce 
she had simmering on the stove. 
"No you're not! Besides, it's summer now, why does Dad want to know 
about something that won't be happening for months?"
"Because it means that you'll be spending Christmas with him. The whole 
thing has not been arranged yet, but his family is planning to spend the Christmas 
vacation in Europe."
"That means grandma will be there too! I do not like that woman!"
"Serena! She's your grandmother!" As much as Ikuko disliked the matriarch 
of the Chandler family, she didn't want her own beliefs to negatively influence her 
daughters.
"She's a stuck up snob, Mom, not to mention a complete hypocrite. I don't 
mind hanging out with Dad and Celine, but when Grandma starts going on and on 
about how precious her only son is and blah blah blah, I just want to gag!" 
Ikuko couldn't help but smile. Amanda Chandler loved her son and didn't 
hesitate to let anyone know it. She hated Ikuko for having had an affair with him 
and giving birth to her first grandchild Serena. According to Amanda, Ikuko had 
'ruined his innocence'. She seemed to have neglected the fact that her son was a 
playboy long before and after Ikuko. Evident in the fact that he had three 
daughters with three different women and two more children on the way; his 
current wife Celine was pregnant with twins. In just a few months, Serena would 
have yet another pair of siblings.
It was no surprise her son had rebelled. The woman was absolutely 
smothering!
"But your grandfather will be there." Now Amanda's husband, Serena's 
grandfather, Michael Chandler, was a wonderful man. Ikuko couldn't conceive of 
how the two had ever married. Serena loved her grandfather as much as he loved 
her.
"Well, I suppose I could put up with her, as long as I get to see everyone 
else. I'll call him tonight."
Serena loved her family. Although she didn't live with her biological father, 
Richard, the two had a relationship as close as the one she shared with her 
stepfather Kenji. Serena also loved her stepmother and two younger sisters Irene 
and Catherine. Irene was a year younger than Serena, a product of Richard's first 
marriage to Anika St. Andre. Catherine, his youngest daughter was about three 
years old, and lived with him and her mother, Celine, while Irene lived in Paris with 
her mother. It certainly was an international family.
"Anyway," Serena began, "Why are men so rude! He's always picking on me, 
making fun of my hair and anything else he could possibly find."
Ikuko rolled her eyes.  Teenagers! 
"Serena sooner or later you're going to like one of them so I suggest you 
just let go of the frustrations early in life and accept them, or you'll be miserable 
for the rest of your life trying to figure out what makes them the way they are."
"Mother! You're not supposed to say things like that."
"Sweetheart, I'm a mother and a married one at that. That pretty much 
certifies that I know some things.  Men can be strange, but you get to like them."
"Not this one!"
"Ok honey, whatever you say. Could you bring the salad to the table."
Serena wrinkled her nose. "Why do I have to eat this stuff anyway? I am not 
a rabbit." She poked at the lettuce scornfully with the tip of her finger.
"It's good for you."
"Whatever!"

"So, Serry, got a plan yet?"
"Don't call me that, and no!" Serenity snapped at her little sister.
"Beryl rolled her eyes. How did you get that name? You are so…" she searched for 
the right word, "cranky! Of all people I should be the last person in the world to tell you 
to relax."
"I would relax if I had some idea how to get them together. Damn these 
intangible bodies!"
"It's not a life or death situation! You have plenty of time to get them together."
"I'm afraid that's not true. Pluto informs me that this timeline is unstable, which 
is why they're not together as yet. Nothing is guaranteed.  The only thing we're sure of is 
that it's within everyone's best interest that we get them together as soon as possible."
"Ok, so I guess we really need an idea soon. How are we supposed to do this 
without bodies?"
"That is our hurdle. We can appear in dreams, and make whispery suggestions. 
But, there is no guarantee that they'll remember, or hear. They're so stubborn that even 
if a thought came to them that just maybe they might be attracted to each other, they'd 
end up denying it and suppressing the idea completely! Even if we were capable of 
talking to them directly, there is no way we could force them to fall in love."
"Well maybe we need a stronger method."
"I'm open to suggestions," Serenity said. Her sister appeared deep in thought. 
They were both quiet for a long while, until Beryl's pale face suddenly lit up."
"I have a wild idea, one you won't like, but it's the only way I can think to have an 
effect on the real world."
"What is it?" Serenity asked warily. She was sure she wasn't going to like this."
"Well, we don't have bodies of our own, but we could always use someone else's."
"Oh no you don't! You can't possibly be suggesting we posses someone!" 
Serenity was certainly surprised. It was just like Beryl to come up with something that 
rubbed her sense of decency the wrong way.
"Oh come on Serenity, do you have a better idea? This is the only way I can think 
of to get this done."
"We can't just go around possessing people!" She paused for a moment. She had 
to admit she didn't have a better idea. She took a deep breath; not quite believing she 
was about to employ this idea. 
"Assuming we followed this plan of yours, you do realize how much energy this 
would take. We wouldn't be able to make another attempt for months!"
"So we'd only have one chance. We'd just have to do our best to make it work."
"OK. I'm willing to try this, since it appears to be the only idea we have that has 
any chance of working. So how do we go about this?"
"Do I have to do everything?"
 Serenity rolled her eyes at her sister's statement.
"Ok, we can't go directly to Serena and Darien so whatever we do has to be 
without their knowledge. We're trying to get them to acknowledge that they have some 
feelings, any feelings for each other, which they won't do in front of their friends, so we 
need them alone."
"I'm getting the feeling you've done this before," Serenity said, surprised at how 
quickly, Beryl was putting this plan together."
"Darling, darling," Beryl began in her best snobby socialite imitation, "I am a 
professional." Serenity couldn't help smiling. 
"We need to posses someone they trust, someone whom they'd believe 
implicitly…"
They turned and smiled at each other, they're thoughts in sync for the first time in 
a long while.

There they were again, the happy couple. Serena wasn't sure whether she 
should laugh or gag. Raye was, of course, hanging all over Darien, while Darien was 
doing his best to detach himself. That girl just didn't get it. 
Serena didn't get it either, Raye could have almost any guy her own age. 
Why did she have to be hanging all over the one guy that didn't want her, with 
whom she had absolutely no chance? Why anyone would want Darien was beyond 
her.
He was probably gay anyway, why else would a single college guy hang out 
with a bunch of teenage girls? Serena chuckled at that thought. No, gay men were 
usually nicer and infinitely more attractive. 
That wasn't true either. Even she had to admit that Darien was one of the 
best-looking guys she knew. It was just such a tragedy his personality didn't quite 
match up.
He was just another spoilt rich kid. He had the trademark resentment 
towards his parents, whom he probably secretly adored. He lived in an awesome 
condo atop one of the nicest buildings in the city, undoubtedly paid for through 
his trust fund. He obviously thought himself so much better than everyone else, 
which is why he was always making such a great effort to study and be perfect in 
every way he could.
She knew her parents were equally rich but they didn't live the pretentious 
socialite lifestyle his family did. In fact, if you excluded her unusual number of 
parents, grandparents, and half siblings, her family was normal and loving. They 
didn't flaunt their wealth in the faces of others; something Darien's father did 
constantly. 
She wasn't really in the mood to fight with him today, she thought to herself 
as she walked over to where Raye, Darien, Amy and Andrew were already sitting. 
She had managed to get here before Mina and Lita. Darien wasn't supposed to be 
here, but she had gotten used to him showing up randomly. 
"Hi guys." She was going to attempt to be civil today, maybe if she ignored 
him altogether they could get through this day of shopping without a fight. 
"Andrew, I didn't know you were going to be shopping with us."
"Actually, Darien and I were just hanging out, when we saw these two," he 
gestured towards Raye and Amy. 
"Cool! Will you be shopping with us for the rest of the day?" She asked 
speaking directly to Andrew. Darien raised an eyebrow, as he observed her quietly. 
No snide remarks, no scowling, this was certainly interesting. He had a feeling she 
was ignoring him though, somehow that didn't rub him the right way. He didn't 
even notice he was frowning.
"Actually, we know better than to get involved in one of your shopping 
marathons," Andrew said, glancing over at Darien wondering when the snide 
remarks would begin.
 He was surprised Serena hadn't already commented on the scowl that had 
developed upon Darien's face. 
"We just came by to pick up a few things, we have a study group to get to."
"Well, don't let us keep you from your studying," Amy said. "That's 
something I would be doing myself if I hadn't been dragged unwillingly from my 
home." She cast a sideways glance at Raye, who was looking awfully satisfied with 
herself and not in the least bit guilty.
"Well I guess I'll see you girls later," Darien said to Amy and Raye, 
completely ignoring Serena's presence. Serena raised an eyebrow but said 
nothing, much to the surprise of everyone. Darien and Andrew left the three girls 
and Serena took her place at the table across from Amy and Raye.
"I'm impressed Serena. Does this mean you two will be getting along from 
now on?"
"I seriously doubt that, Amy. I just didn't feel like arguing with him today. I 
bet he thought he looked awfully cool with his sunglasses and that nasty 
expression."
"Oh come on Serena! Darien is cool! Not to mention cute!"
"Raye, he's an ass! I can't believe you like him."
Raye simply rolled her eyes. It was difficult to imagine that Serena was 
unable to see that Darien was the best looking guy they knew. Did she really hate 
him that much? She was still thinking about it when Lita and Mina finally arrived. 
"You're late," Serena said, satisfied that for a change she hadn't been the 
one.
"There was an accident in town. The bus had to take a detour. There was so 
much traffic too," Lita said.
"Well, let's not waste another minute. Bargains await!" Mina almost yelled, 
causing a few people to look at her strangely. "Oops! I guess that was a little loud.
"Just a little," Lita said, slapping the blonde hard on the back.

Serena slumped down on her bed, absolutely tired. Shopping was very hard 
work.  They had visited just about every store in the mall. She was quite satisfied 
however. She'd added to her collection of CDs, bought a tank top that she would 
never let her parents see her in, and pigged out on cinnabuns and frappacinos 
until her stomach hurt and she'd developed a caffeine-induced headache.
She was relaxing on her bed, drifting off to sleep to the sounds of her new 
CD. She should be doing her homework, but she could save it for later. Maybe she 
could finish it up early tomorrow morning before school. She was a decent student 
now; missing one day of homework wasn't going to kill her. 
Suddenly she felt something land on her chest. 
"Yo, airhead! It's dinner time!" Sammy yelled through the door of her room.
She threw the stuffed bunny that had landed on her chest at her brother 
who was standing in the doorway to her bedroom. The bunny just missed his 
head.
"Get out of here you little imp!" He stuck his tongue out at her and ran 
down the hallway.
Serena groaned. Just when she was getting comfortable.

"Beryl, I can't believe we're doing this! Why this place? This is not going to work. 
There is nothing to stop them from leaving once they get here."
"Don't worry I took care of it! We just need to get them here."
'This is not going to work! This was a bad idea."
"Oh relax Serry," Beryl said stretching in her new body. "They'll talk when they're 
alone. I can almost guarantee it. Everything they argue about is just a show for their 
friends."
"I certainly hope so. We won't be able to do this again for months if this doesn't 
work."

Serena was actually doing her homework, close to midnight, when Luna 
walked in. She was just about ready to fall asleep; math was so boring! 
"Serena!" Luna said with urgency in her voice.
"What is it Luna?" Serena said somewhat annoyed at the interruption, but 
also grateful for the break.  
"We have a problem!" Ok she was not that grateful!
"What now?"
"The scouts need your help! They've been trapped by a group of very strong 
youma."
"What??!!!"
"I'm not sure how or what happened all I know is they're being kept at that 
hotel on seventh avenue."
"You're kidding me right?! Why would a youma keep them in a hotel?"
"How am I supposed to know? What does it matter anyway? They need your 
help. Transform and go to them!"
"Ok, ok I get the point." She was still pondering the reasoning behind a 
hotel. This seemed more than a little ridiculous. 

"Darien, the scouts need your help!"
"Ok, lead the way Artemis." Artemis was surprised that that went so easily. 
This guy has way too much time on his hand, Artemis thought. It was midnight 
and this guy was ready to go kill youma!"
The truth was Darien was tired of studying. There was a test tomorrow on 
plant biology but after a while all that information became a mass of useless crap. 
He needed a break and something to take his aggression out on. A youma would 
do just fine.
"Where are we going Artemis?" Darien asked as he scooped the cat up in his 
arms and jumped off the balcony of his building, his cape flying high in the 
updraft. "Why didn't the girls call?"
"They thought they could handle it on their own. Unfortunately it turned out 
there was more than one and well now their trapped in a hotel room with a couple 
of energy sucking beasts."
"A hotel room? The youma rented a hotel room?!!" Darien was absolutely 
incredulous. He knew that it was inappropriate to laugh under the circumstances 
but this was the most ridiculous thing he'd heard.
Artemis rolled his eyes as best a cat could.  "Obviously they didn't pay the 
bill in advance!"

 Sailor Moon arrived in front of the hotel, out of breath from having ran all 
the way there. It wasn't a big building. It was only about five stories high, shaped 
like a U. It was nice. From what she could see from the front of the building it was 
somewhat classy. In fact she was sure she'd seen an ad for this place as some sort 
of hotel and day spa.
"What now? Where are they?" she asked between breaths.
"They're on the third floor, room 311. You'll have to go around back."
"They have a room?" Serena asked dubiously.
"Just go!" Luna snapped 
"I'm going already, no need to be rude!" Luna muttered something under 
her breath. Serena chose to ignore her. Things were certainly very weird tonight.
Serena was forced to jump a fence, landing somewhat clumsily on the other 
side by the pool. It had been raining earlier in the evening and the smooth tiling 
was somewhat slippery. 
"Which room is it?" Serena asked the black cat in her arms as she looked 
around at the rooms. Each room had a balcony that face in towards the large pool 
in the center. It was dark, with only a few lamps. Most of the lights in the rooms 
were out, understandable considering the late hour.
"The one on the third floor with the lights on." Luna almost growled.
"Geez! What is wrong with you?"
"There's nothing wrong with me. You have job to do. Get to it!"
"Alright already." Serena put the cat down and jumped up to the third floor 
balcony without too much difficulty. Luna was so grouchy sometimes.

Darien landed gently on the top of the hotel building. He set Artemis down 
on the flat roof top. 
"So where are they?"
"Third floor, room 311."
"You have to be kidding me!"
"Just go! The girls need your help."
"Alright, but this is way too weird," Darien mumbled. 
He went over to a small cottage-like protrusion on the roof. There was a 
metal door that was locked. With unnatural force he twisted the handle hard, 
hearing a snap as the metal broke. 
Darien made his way down to the third floor using the stairs. On his way 
down the third floor hallway, he passed by a drunken couple. The man was 
supporting the woman as she stumbled and giggled her way along. They both 
stared at him rather oddly but said nothing even if they thought his mask and 
formal wear seemed somewhat out of place.
He went over in his head the oddness of the whole situation. Youma were 
rarely intelligent, especially without guidance, how did they manage to get into a 
hotel room without notice and subdue five super-powered teens without making a 
mess of things?
He finally arrived in front of the door. He twisted the knob hard, breaking it 
easily. When he entered the room he was surprised to find it neat and empty with 
the exception of a single blonde female standing around looking rather confused. 
He soon found himself falling victim to that very same confusion.
"Where are the others?" Darien asked
"I was about to ask you the same thing!"
"Artemis said you were trapped here and needed help."
"Luna said the same thing!"
"Well obviously they were mistaken! It's a good thing too I would hate to 
depend upon you to save my life."
"Don't worry. I wouldn't have tried!"

I thought you said they weren't going to argue!" Serenity snapped at Beryl as she 
looked in on the two. Their spirits were drained from the exhausting ordeal of inhabiting 
Artemis' and Luna's body and using their human form to get these two rooms and 
getting Serena and Darien there. When the two cats woke up, they would think they'd 
had very strange dreams.
"Give them time Serry, really, you need to be much more patient!" Beryl scolded 
"Mother must surely have had a sense of humor when she named you Serenity. As it 
turns out, your daughter is just like you!"
"Oh be quiet and let me listen!"

Darien and Serena, decked out as their superhero counterparts, were in the 
heat of yet another argument. Their voices had risen to a rather loud level. They 
hadn't even been aware, until there was a pounding on the walls. A voice came, 
somewhat muffled, through the walls telling them to 'shut the hell up,' before they 
called hotel management.
"Now, look what you caused!" Serena snapped.
"Me? You are the loud mouth that caused this problem."
"That is so not… never mind, I'm out of here. I have better things to do than 
sit around here arguing with you." For a moment Darien simply stared at her, a 
blank look on his face. 
"What!?" Serena frustrated with Darien's weirdness and general annoying 
behavior threw her hands up in frustration.  She stomped across the room out 
unto the balcony. 
 Darien stared at her disappearing form. She was so beautiful and for a 
moment he had been stunned by that recognition. He was at a loss for why they 
had been arguing in the first place or why this had suddenly occurred to him just 
now. He followed her out unto the balcony watching as she jumped gracefully off 
the balcony edge and down to the tiled terrace below.
She let out a squeal as she landed somewhat less than gracefully on the 
slippery tile. The smooth bottoms of her shoes offered her no resistance and she 
felt herself slipping and sliding across the wet tiles. She came to a stop at the 
edge of the pool. Her momentum sent her careening over the edge and into the 
water.
Darien couldn't help chuckling as he watched from the balcony. That had 
certainly been amusing. He jumped down from the balcony, more carefully than 
she had and landed rather gracefully. 
Serena was floundering in the pool, an amusing sight that turned Darien's 
chuckling into a full-fledged hearty laugh. She managed to drag herself to the 
edge of the pool, but was having a difficult time getting out. 
"I don't suppose you could help me up now could you?"
"Now why would I want to do that, Meatball Head? 
Even after saying that, a little voice inside his mind spoke to his sense of 
decency, which usually disappeared in her presence, scolded him, and forced him 
to be nice. 
He stuck his hand out to help her up, just as she had hoped. With a hard 
pull on his arm, she sent him flying into the pool. Without another look behind her 
to see how he was, she helped herself out of the pool. She obviously hadn't needed 
his help in the first place.
She stood on the edge of the pool, soaking wet and gloating. Revenge was 
definitely sweet. Darien floundered for a while; his cape and tuxedo making him 
look rather amusing. His mask had floated away from him as he attempted to get 
his bearings back.  Eventually he managed to drag himself out of the pool.
Serena was still laughing hysterically, when his dark menacing figure walked 
appeared, towering over her. Serena's laughter came to a swift halt and she began 
backing up as she saw the cold unforgiving look on Darien's face. Her laughter 
faded, as did the smile she'd had just moments before.
Darien had every intention of intimidating her to the best of his ability. At 
least that was his plan. He took of his dripping jacket and threw it to the ground 
angrily, all the time glaring at her angrily. He was definitely going to let her have it 
now.
Serena gulped, as much from the look of the wet shirt clinging to his lean 
body as from his intimidating stance. Were those rippled muscles she was staring 
at through the thin wet cloth? His hair was clinging to his forehead in the same 
way that three hairdressers would have spent two hours attempting to get the 
same look on a model. For the first time, rather odd considering the situation, she 
was willing to admit that he was absolutely gorgeous, especially with water 
dripping from his thick lashes, each drop reflecting the dim light of the lamps in 
the area. He was glowering at her with his midnight blue orbs, or attempting to. 
The end result was far sexier than intimidating.
Darien was doing his best to intimidate the girl standing before him. It was 
getting more and more difficult with her staring at him so intently. She was so 
cute, even with her blonde curls plastered to her forehead and clinging to her 
body. Her cheeks were a brilliant shade of pink even under the dim lights and her 
radiant blue eyes stared up at him so innocently, he wondered how he had 
managed to be so mean to her all the time. Ok cute might not be the right word he 
thought as he glanced over her mature body.
He gulped when he realized that the sailor scout outfit she was wearing was 
obviously not meant to get wet. The whole outfit was almost completely 
transparent now that it was soaked thoroughly. Her perfect breasts and were 
plainly visible, as was the narrow line of her tight stomach that led down to her 
belly button. The short thin material of her pleated skirt clung to her hips and 
upper thighs like second skin. 
A blank look overshadowed his face. She wasn't just cute. She was 
absolutely gorgeous, and unbelievably sexy. His mind was boggled at the effect 
she was having on him. Sadly, in typical male form in these situations his brain 
pretty much turned to jelly and the only thing he was aware of was how much he 
wanted her at the moment.
Serena was suddenly bewildered by the strange look that had overcome 
Darien's features. He was staring blankly at her as though she had just grown an 
arm out of the side of her head. No, that wasn't true. He wasn't really staring at 
her head.
She followed his line of vision to her own body and suddenly realized where 
his eyes were staring with such intensity. Her eyes suddenly took note of the 
thinness of the material that covered her body and her erect nipples. She felt 
enormously self-conscious. She could feel her entire body turning a brilliant shade 
of red. She slapped her hands over her chest attempting to cover her body. 
She stared up at him in shock, embarrassed to be seen like this by him of 
all people. She was suddenly aware of how close he was standing to her and the 
irregularity of his breathing as well as her own. She glanced over his body and her 
eyes went wide as she realized his own 'reaction' to her. Her mind kept telling her 
this was not happening, while her body accepted his closeness, and his heat 
quietly begging for more. She could feel his heat even across the short distance 
between them.
She willingly let him bridge the distance between them allowing him to 
touch and kiss her. She melted against his body as they kissed. His hands ran 
over the thin wet fabric, covering her skin, running up her waist until his hand 
settled over her breast, causing her to gasp as he caressed her nipples. She felt 
his hardness against her and knew that she didn't want to stop anytime soon. 
Her brain was not explaining to her or reasoning with her on the matter. 
There was no resistance from her body or mind as she found herself sinking unto a 
lounge chair and it felt as though she were sinking into the best dream she'd ever 
had. There was no awareness of anything but his body and her own. 
She desperately desired to have his warm skin against her own. Even the 
thin, wet, layers of clothing between them became a nuisance. She began pulling 
at his shirt and pants, rubbing her hands over his smooth, hot skin, as it became 
available. She unknowingly released magical constraints of her own clothing, 
leaving her naked beneath his body. Darien's clothing began to melt away with an 
unnatural ease.
Darien found himself desperately kissing and caressing every inch of her 
perfect body that seemed to fit his own just perfectly. The taste of her skin was like 
ambrosia on his tongue. He loved the feeling of her soft breasts beneath his 
tongue.
They were both completely lost in utter bliss. She begged for him to join 
with her in a way she had never known before. Her cries of pain as he breached her 
virginity, filling her completely, were lost in a sea of kisses. As he moved inside her 
cries quickly became moans of pleasure joined with his own. They came together 
and sank down into their dream world unaware of nothing but the steady feel and 
sound of each other's breathing.

"Beryl!" Suddenly her sister was nowhere to be found. "Beryl! I know you're here."
"I know what you're going to say," Beryl began defensively, but how was I to know 
they were going to do it. I've never worked with horny young people before!"
"Horny young people! That's your excuse? Prince Endymion has just taken my 
daughters virginity on a lounge chair, by a pool, in the middle of the night, at some 
hotel, and all you have to say to it is that it's not your fault they were 'HORNY!'" Serenity 
was barely restraining herself from screaming at her sister.
"Look Serry, I'm sorry." Beryl was genuinely repentant. She really hadn't known 
that would happen! 'Not that it was that bad', she thought to herself. 'I bet they had 
fun!'
"I just thought that if they were alone for a little while without any outside 
influences they'd realize their feelings for each other, and… well I hadn't planned much 
beyond that point." She was suddenly realizing that she hadn't been as organized as she 
had led Serenity to believe. She had intended to lock them in the room. She had 
magically locked the door after Darien's entrance; a waste of time when one considered 
the balcony as a means of exiting. 
"Well, if you look on the bright side, at least they know there's something 
between them now."
Serenity massaged her translucent temples. If the dead could have had 
headaches she knew that she would have had one at the moment. She was seriously 
beginning to regret having involved her sister. At this point there was nothing more she 
could do but sit back and watch the results of their meddling.

Darien felt as though he were waking from a dream. He felt light headed and 
droopy-eyed.  He could Serena's chest rising and falling evenly beneath his own 
and new she was still sleeping. 
His mind was a mass of emotions. He felt scared and nervous. He had made 
love to a girl at whom he had been yelling and teasing for the last few years. He 
had claimed to hate her but now he couldn't even begin to explain how he felt.
He eased off her naked body trying his best not to wake her. He wouldn't 
know what to say if she were to wake up now! He could see the faint light in the 
sky signifying the rising of the sun. He hadn't realized it was so late or in this case 
early. If Serena weren't home soon, she would be in a lot of trouble.
He pulled on his damp pants and shirt and wrapped her body in his sodden 
jacket. He picked her light body up easily and took off over the hotel walls with her 
nestling in to the warmth of his body. 
'Damn that girl slept deeply!' he thought to himself. In all the time it had 
taken to get her home, prying her window open as quietly as he could and putting 
her beneath the sheets, she had not so much as stirred. In less than two hours 
she would have to wake up to go to school with everything that had happened the 
previous night on her mind. They both had a lot to think about.

"No, please not yet…" Serena muttered as Luna licked her hand, trying to 
wake her up for school. 
"Serena you've been good about this lately. Don't revert now. It's time for 
school. Now get your lazy butt out of bed!"
"But I'm tired!" Serena moaned, forcing herself to sit up.
"Well you're already awake so I suggest you get ready." The cat snapped, 
jumping up on the windowsill. "I'm going to talk to Artemis, I had some strange 
dreams I'd like to discuss with him." With that she hopped out and was gone.
Serena threw off her sheets, suddenly aware of her nudity when she felt air 
on the skin that was normally covered by her pajamas. Darien's jacket lay rumpled 
beneath her sheets. Suddenly everything came rushing back to her.
Her eyes widened with the realization that she was no longer a virgin; the 
soreness between her legs, a definite indicator. The other fact was significantly 
more shocking. Last night she'd made love to the one man she thought she'd hate 
forever. 
She was suddenly very confused. She didn't know how she felt about the 
whole situation. She had the semblance of mind to take a shower, washing the 
scent of his cologne off her body, and managed to get dressed and drag herself 
out of the house and make it to school just as the bell rang.
For the entire day the events of the previous night ran through her mind 
causing her to blush periodically. Her teacher snapped at her twice for not paying 
any attention. She supposed she'd eventually have to talk to Darien about this 
whole situation but she truly hoped she wouldn't have to see him anytime soon. 
She wouldn't have any idea what to say. She would have to sort out her feelings 
first, whatever those were.

Darien ran a hand through his hair. He was tired and the monotone of his 
professor's voice was threatening to put him to sleep. He'd arrived late to class 
with a lot on his mind. Dave had looked at him curiously when he'd taken his seat 
next to him in the back of the auditorium. Darien was almost always on time.
"What's the matter with you dude? Those girls wearing you out?"
Darien's eyes widened at that statement until he realized that Dave had no 
idea what he'd been doing last night. 
"You know, that girl you hate, Serena right?"
"Yes, what about her?" Darien asked suddenly very wary and nervous at the 
mention of her name.
"Is she really just in high school? She's kinda cute! I wouldn't mind taking 
her out." Dave was showing his pearly whites again in a rather sickening display. 
He knew exactly what 'taking her out' involved.
He suddenly felt very guilty and hypocritical. Just a week ago he had told 
Dave she was jailbait; too young for him. But then just last night he had made love 
to the same girl. It was suddenly just dawning on him that his little escapade with 
the gorgeous sixteen-year-old high school girl was, in the eyes of the law anyway, 
statutory rape. 
His face turned white. He had taken the virginity of a young girl who was 
probably not prepared for that kind of 'involvement'.  In addition to that fact, if 
anyone said the right thing to the right person he'd end up behind bars.
"I really don't think that's a good idea." Darien muttered. 
"You're probably right. She's only like sixteen right?"
"Yes, just sixteen," Darien muttered, imagining his head on a block with 
Serena's fathers arguing over which one of them could get to bring the axe down 
on his neck while her mother and stepmother cheered on in the background.
"What's the matter with you?" Dave asked, suddenly becoming aware of 
Darien's sinking mood.
"Long night," Darien replied tersely.
"I can tell, you look like shit!" Darien's hair was a mess, he'd overslept the 
three hours he'd allowed himself and he hadn't had time to shave. Morning traffic 
had been horrendous and the lecture on seismic events was beginning to sound 
like a lullaby. 
"Gee thanks!"
"Anytime!"

 
Serena managed to make it through the day with few incidences. All things 
considered it was a normal day, which bothered her considering the events in her 
own life. She really began to look at the other girls around her. They, like her, 
looked so innocent; she wondered if they were all virgins and did the fact that she 
was no longer one show in her face. She began a close examination, attempting to 
expose to her prying eyes those who were no longer innocent.
It occurred to her that she was being ridiculous but she couldn't get the 
thoughts out of her mind. She had seen the girls at lunch and they'd commented 
on her distraction but she excused it by saying she didn't get much sleep last 
night. That was certainly true enough.
When she walked into her house, she got nervous wondering if mothers 
could see these things. She could easily imagine her mother examining her 
closely, taking in every detail before letting out a gasp and exclaiming over the 
loss of her daughter's innocence. After that her mother might start weeping or 
wailing or maybe a bit of yelling. Ok maybe not.
Serena said hi to her mom, who offered her half an apple, which she 
courteously refused and went upstairs to make up for the sleep she missed last 
night. She had told her friends she was too tired to hang out with them, and 
they'd wished her happy napping. There were no scout meetings and she certainly 
hoped the youma could restrain themselves for a while.
Speaking of youma, she wondered to herself, with all of last night's events 
she had forgotten her reason for going to the hotel in the first place. Luna had 
either lied to her or had been misinformed. Before she'd even had the chance to 
ask, she had learned that all the girls has obviously spent the night comfortably at 
him. She couldn't find any reason why Luna would lie to her but obviously 
something strange had happened. 
Did Luna even know what happened between her and Darien? Hadn't she 
been worried when Serena didn't come home? There was also the question of 
Darien and why he'd been the only one there. Everything was a mass of confusion. 
Luna had quite a few questions to answer. If Luna didn't know what had occurred 
between her and Darien, Serena would make sure she didn't find out.
When Serena opened her bedroom door, Luna was lying on her bed, curled 
in an adorable ball, napping comfortably in the sunlight.
"So this is how you spend you days." Serena commented. The black cat 
didn't stir. 
"Luna!" Serena shouted in her ear. The cat arched her back, the hairs on 
her neck and back rising. She let out a hiss and sank her claws deep into Serena's 
sheets.
"You tore my sheets!" Serena grabbed the cat up, pulling the fabric from her 
claws and dropped her on the floor.
"Next time don't yell in my ear and you won't have a problem!" Luna hissed.
"Well someone has to wake your lazy butt! I want to take a nap too."
"You're calling me lazy? Who's the one who didn't want to get out of bed 
this morning?"
"Maybe I wouldn't have that problem if you weren't sending me out on wild 
goose chases in the middle of the night!"
"What are you talking about?" Luna asked looking rather confused.
"You must be getting old! I guess those thousands of years eventually creep 
up on you. You sent me to save the scouts from some youma at some hotel, when 
they were obviously at home comfortably resting in their own beds where I should 
have been." Serena wasn't really upset; she easily realized she didn't really regret 
last night, as disturbing as that thought was to her mind. She just wanted some 
answers.
"I have no idea what you're talking about! I don't remember telling you 
anything last night."
Serena was both surprised and relieved. This at least meant Luna had no 
knowledge of what happened.
"I guess you must have been sleep walking," Serena attempted to explain.
"I do not sleep walk!" Luna exclaimed indignantly.
"Then how do you explain sending me on a wild goose chase in the middle 
of the night and not remembering anything about it?"
"I…I don't know." Luna stuttered. Serena rolled her eyes. 
"If you don't know, then I don't see how you can deny this. You know what, 
It doesn't matter. Nothing happened, so just move over and let me catch up on 
my sleep.
"This is all so strange!" Luna exclaimed. "I was telling Artemis today that I 
had the strangest dream last night. I was human and I was sneaking into some 
building and then all of a sudden I was a cat again and you and I were hopping 
across rooftops. He said he had a similar one too. Maybe we were having some 
sort of flashback."
Serena thought for a moment, as she crawled into bed and nestled beneath 
the covers. "You were definitely doing some kind of sleep walking. I really thought 
you were awake but then again there was that guy that killed his wife while sleep 
walking so I don't know. Anything's possible I guess.
I'm going to take a nap. If you do fall asleep try not to kill Artemis. You're 
awfully cranky when you're sleep walking."
Luna rolled her eyes as best a cat could. She curled up on a sunlit spot on 
the carpet but found it difficult to fall asleep with what Serena had told her on her 
mind. Could she really have been sleepwalking? Stranger things had happened she 
supposed, but this was very odd indeed.

Fortunately for Serena, there were no more youma attacks that week or the 
following. She successfully managed to avoid seeing or speaking to Darien for the 
better part of two weeks. In her more desperate moments she had even procured 
detention for herself in her efforts to avoid him. 
She would even manage to avoid him this weekend without really trying. Her 
family would be spending the weekend in the mountains. Her Dad was insisting on 
family time together; naturally this involved going without TV for two days.  Her 
portable CD player and Raye's mangas would definitely be keeping her company 
when she wasn't fending off her little brother. He was as annoying as the damn 
mosquitoes. It was well worth it though, if she could avoid facing the confusion of 
real life for just a little while longer.

Darien was actually sitting at lunch with his father and having civil 
conversation. So far they'd talked about school, the weather and the latest news. 
They'd run out of things to say to each other and an uncomfortable silence settled 
heavily between them.
His mind trailed off. He started wondering if he'd look like his father when 
he was his age. He certainly hoped so. Despite all his other faults, his father was a 
handsome man. 
He had luxurious black hair, silvered in exactly the right spots. He had an 
unusual pair of light brown eyes that worked to seduce some and intimidate 
others. He was as tall as Darien with an intimidating stance. Darien was still 
considering his future possibilities when his father broke the silence.
"Why don't you spend the weekend with me?" Darien almost choked. His 
father wanted him to spend the weekend with him?
"You want me to spend the weekend with you?"
"Yes. Why do you have something else to do?" His father questioned, daring 
him to come up with an excuse.
"No, I just don't understand why."
"I didn't think I needed a reason to spend some time with my own son."
"You're a little late aren't you?"
"Don't be obnoxious young man! I have some friends to meet and a small 
business matter to attend to. I just thought you would like to meet some of them 
and spend some time with your old man. Is that so hard you believe?"
Darien was tempted to answer the question but decided not to test his 
father's good mood.
"OK. I'll come. Where are we headed?"
"Greenwood Lodge."
"Nice place for a business meeting."
"It's not all business. I thought you, me, and Brandi could spend some time 
together. I'd like you two to get to know each other."
"I was wondering where the negative aspect to all this was."
"She is my fiancé! I think it's time you get to know her. After all she's going 
to become your stepmother."
"Stepmother?" Darien exclaimed incredulously. "That woman will never be 
my stepmother! She's young enough to be your daughter!" Darien could see the 
muscles in his father's jaw and neck tighten, yet another physical characteristic 
they shared. He was trying hard to keep control.
"I expect you to respect her," his father began concisely, "she is going to be 
my wife.
Darien conceded, he had no intention of fighting anyway. Nodding his head 
in acceptance. As much as he disliked many things about his father he still held a 
deep respect for the man. He would do this for him.
"What time are we leaving?"
"I'll pick you up around seven."
"Good, I'll see you then. I have to get back to school." He left the expensive 
restaurant, his dad had chosen for Friday luncheon. He was expected at the 
computer center where he worked part time. 
He'd had no experience when he'd been hired freshman year, but with a 
little help from his boss he'd learned just about everything he'd ever need to know 
about computers. He now got paid pretty well to fix the computers and debug 
software all over the campus. 
It was an easy job with flexible hours and he gained some very useful 
knowledge. The last thing he needed his father to know was that he had any 
interest in computers at all. He'd never hear the end of it.
 
As Darien drove down the crowded Tokyo streets, his mind wandered back 
to Serena. He hadn't seen her for a good two weeks after they'd been together 
that night. Granted, he wouldn't be sure what to say when he saw her but all the 
same, he was somewhat confused. One part of him wanted to see her again and 
the other said it would be better if he didn't. 
His mind easily accepted that what he'd done with her was wrong. But he 
had to admit that being with her had felt so very right. It certainly didn't feel right 
to leave what they'd had in the past as just some one-night stand.   
He also was fully aware that he was delaying the inevitable. He would 
eventually see her again. Things between them would be strained especially in the 
presence of their friends. He'd have to see her before then. If Serena hadn't told 
the girls, he didn't want them to be aware of what had happened between them. 
The more he thought about her the more he realized that his vision of her in 
her mind had suddenly been elevated.  Unexpectedly she had become this 
gorgeous angel, a gorgeous nude angel with this tiny waist and perfect breasts, 
and her tight…
He suddenly realized how close he was to the car in front of him. He was 
forced to brake and come to a screeching halt that threw him forward in his seat. 
He breathed a sigh of relief when the car came to stop just short of the rear 
bumper of the car before him. He obviously needed to get his brain out of his 
pants.

Darien was seriously beginning to regret this trip. He stared out the window 
at the gorgeous view, admiring the bright greens and blues of the environment 
outside the utility vehicle his father had chosen to drive instead of having his 
chauffeur drive him up in the limo as usual. Darien's mind however, was miles 
away back in Tokyo where he knew Andrew, Dave, and his other friends were 
probably drinking beer and enjoying a good baseball game.
He was wishing he didn't have to sit here and listen to Brandi, his father's 
fiancée, chatter on endlessly about the new dresses she had acquired for the 
small expensive store she ran in Tokyo, courtesy of his father. It amazed him that 
his father could stand her incessant chatter when he was so controlling and 
impatient in all other matters. He was beginning to grind his teeth at the sound of 
her perky voice.
He found it difficult to understand why his father had chosen her, other 
than her superficial qualities, which he was forced to admit were quite exceptional. 
She had sharp, but elegant features, a pair of beautiful pale green eyes, 
surrounded by dark sooty lashes. She also had beautiful strawberry blonde curls 
and a body to die for. Unfortunately she was fully aware of her beauty and flaunted 
it as much as possible. 
With the exception of her beautiful features however, he found little else to 
appreciate. She seemed shallow, self-absorbed, materialistic, and vain. Of one 
thing he was sure, while it was perfectly conceivable that that she was attracted to 
his father, he had a distinct feeling she cared about nothing but herself and the 
money she hoped to get from his father.  He smiled as he thought about how she 
would probably run screaming when his father brought out the prenuptial 
agreement.
His father glanced back at him through the rear view mirror and saw the 
smile on his face.
"What's so amusing, Darien?" He asked, attempting to include Darien in the 
conversation.
"Nothing really; just thinking about a girl I know," Darien replied. Brandi 
really was just a girl at barely twenty-five, a mere three years his senior and less 
than half his father's age.
"I see." His father replied. "I heard from your mother, that you like that 
Chandler girl, Sally or something. You mother told me, you and she were having a 
discussion about her?"
Darien almost choked on his own tongue when he realized his father was 
referring to Serena. He also had to remind himself about what his father did not 
know.
A small frown appeared on Brandi's perfect features at the mention of his 
mother. Darien's mother shared his dislike of Brandi, believing her to be nothing 
but a "gold-digging tramp." Brandi returned the resentment mostly because 
Therese was everything she wasn't.
Darien's mother came from a wealthy aristocratic European family and 
maintained her high society connections and life style. She had friends in the royal 
families of Europe and all the grace, class and sophisticated beauty of a princess. 
Brandi despite her own beauty found it impossible to live up to that and resented 
it. 
"I never told mother I was seeing Serena, or that I liked her. She's hung up 
on the idea that I should be settling down soon."
"So what you're saying is that you and Serena have no relationship."
Darien considered that for a moment. They had never been friends and 
except for that night that had suddenly become such an enigma in his life they 
had no real personal relationship to speak of.
"No, we don't. We have mutual friends."
"Well you must know each other if you were discussing her with your 
mother."
"I would hardly call it a discussion." He wished his father would change the 
subject. He'd really not discuss with him a girl who already occupied so much of 
his thoughts. 
"Well, you could use a girlfriend. Maybe you should reconsider her." As he 
had figured, his father had already designated her a perfect candidate for 
marriage based solely on what he knew of her father.
"Dad, if you're seeking some kind of deal with Chandler inc. through a 
marriage between Serena and myself you are fantasizing."
"Why is that so impossible? If you like her why don't you pursue a 
relationship with her. Any business deals between her father and me would just be 
an added benefit."
"That's just your way of rationalizing a business marriage. If and when I get 
married it won't be because my parents think it's a good idea to join two wealthy 
families." Darien knew that that was a harsh thing to say but he wanted to put an 
end to this conversation. His parents had had and unsuccessful marriage of the 
type he'd just described. It was a sore spot between the Dumas and Chiba 
families. 
"Your mother and I want you to be happy. We haven't seen you exploring 
any long-term relationships."
"I will when I'm ready," Darien replied tersely. 
"I don't understand why this Serena girl is so out of the question for you."
"You don't know anything about her."
"Well I know she comes from a good family. Isn't she attractive?"
"You have no basis for that statement and whether or not she's attractive is 
irrelevant."
"Well do you find her attractive or not?"
"She's attractive, but that's besides the point!" Darien was once again 
forced to think about Serena's perfect body that he desperately wanted to make 
love to again.
"Well she's attractive and you obviously have some interest in her or you 
wouldn't be discussing her with your mother, what's stopping you from asking her 
out?"
Darien sighed. "Dad, I hardly think its appropriate for me to be asking a 
sixteen year old girl out on a date," no matter how much he wanted to, "but I 
guess you have no problem with unrealistic age differences."
A tense silence fell over atmosphere in the car. Once again Darien found 
himself observing the tightening muscles in his father neck and jaw. The 
conversation was over; not as he had intended but all the same, it was done. He 
was really beginning to regret this trip. It was going to be a long weekend. Darien 
sighed and returned to looking out the window.


"When the hell did this happen??!!" Serena's father thundered. 
Her family stood in the middle of their luxurious cabin. It had once been one 
of the best cabins around, having every luxury except television, and radio. It had 
lots of space, and even a hot tub and mini steam room. As they stared at it 
however, they were struck by the destruction that had been left behind by some a 
freak storm that had passed through not too long ago.
Their caretaker had quit two months ago and her father had assumed the 
cabin would have been all right left alone for a while, until he could get up here 
and hire a new one. Obviously he had been wrong. They looked around taking a 
quick assessment of the damage.
There was broken glass and branches all over the floor and a tree leaned 
against one side of the house, threatening to collapse the wall and roof. Whatever 
water had blown or leaked in, had since dried and left water spots on the natural 
wood floors. Serena was as annoyed and upset as her father. Their family weekend 
had been ruined.
"What do we do now Sweetheart?" Serena's mother asked. 
She comforted her husband by putting an arm around his waist. He had 
built the small deck himself on one of their vacations.
 "We can't drive all the way home now."
 She didn't have to look at her watch. Night had fallen and they were all 
tired. They had immediately set out as soon as Serena and Sammy had come 
from school. Kenji had taken half the day off for this trip.
"Well I guess we'll have to go down to the Lodge. It's the only hotel open in 
the off season." All the other hotels catered to the crowds of skiers that came up 
in the winter as they sometimes did.
Serena had to admit she wasn't too disappointed. The Greenwood Lodge 
was a very nice, if expensive hotel. They had swimming pools and tennis courts 
and an arcade. She just might be able to save the batteries in her CD player for 
another time.
 
Darien was downstairs in the lounge; all dressed up and ready for dinner. 
He was trying to be civil and social among the small group of his father's business 
associates and their dates. He had spent the day playing tennis with Jerry Weisler, 
one of his father's lawyers and now they were meeting a second associate of his 
father's who had just recently arrived, while they waited for Brandi to come down.   
"It's nice to meet you too Mr. Van Buren," Darien said formally while 
shaking the hand of the silver-haired man before him. 
His father's lawyers and business partners had decided to combine a bit of 
business with pleasure. They'd even brought their wives or in the case of the dark-
haired lawyer, Weisler, his girlfriend. His wife was at home with their two children.
"Your son is as handsome as his father I see," Elaine, Van Buren's wife, 
commented to Michael, smiling at Darien brightly. "I assume he's as brilliant?"
"Yes of course, just not in my business," Darien's father began. "He's out to 
tread a path of his own. He doesn't want to follow in his old man's footsteps. My 
only hope is grand children, but he doesn't seem too much in a hurry to produce 
those either." He slapped Darien on the back playfully while Darien did his best to 
produce a brilliant fake smile to match his father's artificial façade. His attempt 
was less than spectacular.
"He's still young," Van Buren said. "Give him some time."
"What is it that you are interested in?" Melissa, Weiser's platinum blonde 
trophy asked. 'What do you know the doll can talk,' Darien thought to himself. 'I 
wonder how many different words and phrases she can say when you pull the little 
cord in her back. I bet she even comes with a red bathing suit and pink corvette.'
"I have a double major in geology and botanical science."
"Oh, how interesting!" Melissa smiled brilliantly, looking even more like a 
Barbie doll. 
"And what are you hoping to do with those?" Van Buren asked skeptically.
"I'm hoping to work on the mars terra-forming project, in cooperation with 
NASA."
"Very ambitious of you," Van Buren said. His eyes told Darien he really 
didn't care much and held the same regard for Darien's scientific pursuits as his 
father.
"You must be proud to have such a brilliant son Mr. Chiba," Melissa said 
mindlessly. Darien could see Elaine rolling her eyes at Melissa's perky little voice. 
Everyone ignored her comment. Obviously she couldn't pick up on the general 
feeling that his father didn't really approve of his son's choice of career and 
apparently no one else was impressed either.
"So," Van Buren began once more facing Michael, "Where is that lovely 
fiancée of yours?"
Michael glanced at his watch. "She should have been down by now. I can't 
think what could be keeping her." He turned to Darien and said: "Could you go 
upstairs and see if you could get Brandi down here. We're ready to go to dinner." 
"Sure, Dad." He was happy to get away from the suffocating group of elitists. 
This weekend was getting worse as the moments passed.

"Mom, I don't have anything nice to wear. I can't going down to dinner like 
this," she said pointing to her tank top and jeans she had brought to hang around 
the cabin all weekend. 
"There's nothing we can do about that Serena. I'm just as unprepared as 
you are." Serena raised her eyebrow at that, looking over her mother's casual floral 
print summer dress.
"At least you have a dress," she mumbled. "Can't we just order room service 
or something?"
"No." Serena's father interrupted smiling. "We're going to make the best of 
this situation and have a nice family dinner together. We didn't spend the day 
together so we should at least have this moment.
Serena and her brother had spent a good portion of the day in the arcade 
and by the swimming pool. It was certainly proving to be a relaxing and enjoyable 
weekend. Serena missed her friends however. 
"Are you ladies ready?" Kenji asked his wife and daughter. They both 
nodded. Good, then let's go.

Darien took the elevator up to their rooms on the fourth floor and knocked 
on the door of the room his father and Brandi shared.
A muffled female voice came through the door. "Come in, it's open."
He walked into the luxurious suite to see Brandi in a short black dress with 
the back open. She looked sexy as usual. It was what she aimed for.
"Could you help me zip this up?" She asked, smiling brilliantly at him.
Darien merely nodded. She turned her back to him and lifted her hair 
unnecessarily. Darien wasn't really paying too much attention as he slid the zipper 
up along Brandi's smooth back making the material tighten around her curves. As 
soon as the zipper came to a stop, Brandi did a full graceful turn so that she faced 
Darien. Darien raised an eyebrow at the sudden change of position and situation. 
Just what was she up to?
"Thank you so much, Darien," She said sweetly batting her lashes and 
running her tongue over her ruby-stained lips. He made a mental note of the 
display of cleavage before him and reminded himself of his mother's words: " 
"Gold-digging tramp!" 
She placed a hand on his cheek, running her finger down his strong jaw line. 
"You really are as handsome as your father, you know. If I wasn't already 
completely in love with your father," she said moving even closer to him, "you 
would definitely have a shot!"
"I'm sure," Darien said sarcastically. He turned away from her. "I'm 
supposed to escort you downstairs. Are you ready?"
"You don't like me much do you?" She asked, almost managing to sound 
wounded.
"You're very astute for someone who uses her body to get her way."
"You could try to be civil! I am going to be your stepmother after all," She 
said tersely, disappointed at having her advances shot down. She made it a point 
to emphasize stepmother, knowing how much it would annoy him.
"Let's get something straight Ms. Hallowell, you and I will never have any 
sort of relationship, neither stepmother nor otherwise. As for this thing you have 
with my father, I advise you to back out before you suffer a severe disappointment. 
I assure you, you won't ever be a part of this family and you most certainly won't 
be sharing in its wealth. Now let me escort you downstairs before my father gets 
upset," Darien finished coldly.
Darien's speech had turned Brandi's triumphant smile into a nasty sneer 
that downplayed her pretty features. She grabbed her purse and strode 
ungracefully out the hotel door with Darien following her; satisfied that he'd gotten 
his point across.
They stood together quietly in the elevator until Brandi ran her arm through 
his. 
"I'd hate to have your father think we weren't getting along."
Darien nodded, but said nothing. The elevator opened and they got out 
together.

As they were about to be seated for dinner, Serena turned around to look at 
her mother who was standing directly behind her. 
"Do you have some lip gloss mom?"
"Of course." Ikuko began fumbling through her purse for her lip-gloss. As 
Serena's mother's head went down, Serena caught sight of a beautiful couple. The 
woman was absolutely beautiful, dressed in a short black cocktail dress and the 
man by her side was tall, dark, handsome and…Darien?
Serena's eyes went wide at the sight of Darien arm in arm with the tall sexy 
blonde woman. What was he doing here? She suddenly felt flustered and nervous. 
The two disappeared from sight. She was grateful he hadn't seen her.
"Is something wrong sweetheart?" Her mother asked, aware of her 
daughter's wide-eyed stare.
"No. Nothing's wrong," Serena said too curtly to be believed.
"Are you sure?" Her mother asked again, concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine." Serena replied. She was not fine. She felt used and empty. 
They followed their waiter to their table.
She knew she had no real emotional involvement with Darien but she had 
hoped that their night together had been more to him than a one-night stand. She 
should have known however, he would have more sophisticated tastes in women. 
What would he want with a high school girl, other than quick roll in the sack?
She was suddenly aware that over the last few days she had placed so much 
meaning into what had obviously been an event born of hormones and pure 
unadulterated sexual desire. But how could she not? She had given her innocence 
to him so willing only to discover how little it had meant to him. Over the past two 
weeks he'd become more to her than he'd been before, suddenly he hadn't just 
been 'The Jerk'. He was the guy she had given the gift she could never give again, 
he was this mysterious lover whom she feared and lusted after. 
Obviously her first assessment had been correct. While she had been caught 
up in the strange dreamy emotions, he had obviously known exactly what he was 
doing. He was everything she had known him to be and so much worse: a jerk and 
a user. She had been subconsciously convincing herself not to cry but the very 
thought set her eyes watering. 
"Serena!" Kenji was surprised to see the forlorn look on his daughter's face 
and her eyes filling with tears. "What is the matter?"
Serena wiped at the tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm fine. I guess it's just a 
little PMS," Serena said forcing a smile in an attempt to cover up her misery. "I 
think I need to go to the bathroom." She left the table at which they had been 
seated just moments before, leaving her family feeling very confused and 
wondering if scientists would ever figure out the mysteries known as teenage girls. 

Serenity was extremely upset. This was not going as they had planned. It seemed, 
if anything, their plan had placed Serena in a more painful situation than either she or 
Beryl had intended.
"We should have let things stay the way they were." Serenity whispered.
"I'm sorry Serry. I had no idea thing's would turn out this way." Beryl said quietly, 
taking the blame on her own shoulders.
"It's not your fault Bea. We made a mistake and now she's paying for it. We can't 
even interfere again to make things right. It's just not fair." 

It rained all Sunday. Serena thought it a fitting ode to her mood. She was 
quiet on the ride home. Her parents, while concerned about the sudden change in 
her mood, said nothing, knowing it was best to let her work out whatever was 
bothering her on her own. She was a teenager; they had their moods.

Darien sat silently in the back of his father's car, happy to be going home. 
He stared out the windows once again, watching the rivulets of crystal-clear liquid 
run down the glass. As they entered the city again the droplets of rain began 
reflecting the multi-colored lights of the city. He was suddenly reminded of the 
way water had run down Serena's pink cheeks as her two brilliant blue orbs had 
stared up at him begging to be rescued from the swimming pool. 
He had this distinct sensation of pure and utter loneliness and confusion; 
an emotion he knew couldn't possibly be his. He closed his eyes, a voyeuristic 
sensation engulfing his mind. In his mind's eye he saw a very similar view to the 
one outside his own window.
Rain ran down windowpanes, reflecting bright lights in so many colors. 
Tears he could almost feel running down his own cheeks, distorted the view. He 
opened his eyes and reached up to his own cheeks to wipe away tears that just 
weren't there.

"Hey Serena, how was your weekend?" Amy asked, joining her friend in her 
walk down the school hallways. Serena hugged her books close to her chest and 
her eyes seemed focused on nothing.
"It was fine," Serena replied with no enthusiasm. 
"You guys went up to the mountains right?"
"Yup."
Amy was beginning to worry at this point. Serena was not only early rather 
than just making it on time as she usually did, something Amy hadn't bothered to 
point out, she wasn't her usually happy self. 
"Serena is something wrong?" Serena had come into school prepared to 
have everyone know she was in a bad mood. She was reconsidering that right now. 
She couldn't afford to have everyone questioning her mood, knowing that for every 
question she would be forced to lie. She just might eventually break down and 
admit to what had happened between her and Darien and that was something she 
would never wanted anyone to know. That would remain between her and Darien, 
always.
She took a deep breath and decided to behave as normal as possible.
"No, I'm fine. Just a little tired I guess." That really was no lie. She was a bit 
tired. She smiled brilliantly. "So, did I miss anything this weekend?" 

"You know something Serena," Lita said as she, Amy and Serena walked 
down the street towards Arcade after school, "You haven't been here for a long 
while.
"Yes," Amy agreed. "Don't tell me you've gotten tired of playing video 
games?"
"Of course not Amy! As if that's possible. I can't wait to play the Sailor V 
game again." She had successfully avoided answering the question as to why 
she'd been avoiding this place.
"Well did you know, Andrew installed a new game? Its way better than the 
Sailor V game!" Lita exclaimed. "It's a two player. Darien and Andrew went head to 
head on it last week. Naturally Darien kicked Andrews ass." 
"There is nothing natural about that," Serena sneered. 
"Oh come on Serena," Lita began, "even you have to admit that Darien is an 
excellent fighter.
"As compared to whom? Joxer the Mighty?" (If you've ever seen Xena you'll 
understand what I'm talking about.) Amy and Lita giggled at Serena's comparison.
For the first time Serena felt justified in her verbal abuse of Darien's 
character. She felt justifiably bitter over her situation and felt a certain in release 
in returning to the insulting comments she usually made about him.  It had been a 
while since she'd even spoke out loud to or about Darien and she had every 
intention of returning to some semblance of normality. She would not let him 
change the direction of her life no matter how much it hurt.

Darien knew she would arrive soon. He was still contemplating whether to 
leave and avoid putting on display for their friends of whatever tension and 
discomfort lay between them. He found himself anxiously sitting, waiting, and 
drinking his mocha cappuccino sporadically. 
"What's the matter with you?" Andrew asked, watching Darien space out, 
wipe his sweaty palms on his pants and now and again glance at his watch. "You 
have a date or something? You need to stop drinking that coffee."
"Huh?"
"Darien!" Andrew snapped. "What the hell is wrong with you? You've been 
spacing out since you got here. Did you even hear what I said before?"
"No, sorry, Drew. I just have some stuff on my mind."
"Mind sharing?" Andrew asked, curious as to what could have unsettled the 
man who didn't even shrink in the face of Serena's scathing insults.
Darien considered for a moment, sharing his secret with Andrew but 
decided against it. Until he spoke to Serena, his secret would remain just that.
"Actually, Drew, this one's going to have to wait." Andrew raised an eyebrow 
his curiosity piqued. He accepted Darien's choice although he was somewhat 
insulted that Darien didn't feel comfortable talking to him about whatever was 
bothering him.
Andrew was suddenly distracted by the opening of the doors.  In came three 
familiar teenage girls. They immediately came over to the counter where Darien 
and Andrew were conversing. 
"Hello girls," Andrew greeted. "Long time no see, Serena."
They all greeted Andrew and Darien. That is, Amy and Lita greeted Darien. 
Serena just ignored his presence all together without even a stray glance in his 
direction. 
"I've been kind of busy lately, not much time to hang out you know." Serena 
said brightly. "But I think I'll be around more now."
"That's great!" Andrew exclaimed in his usually cheerful tone. "Now that 
you're back, I take it you'll be having your usual?"
"Of course!" Serena said gleefully. 
"One double chocolate milk shake coming right up!"
Darien hadn't realized how strange the sight of her would make him feel. As 
she had walked through the door, with her pigtails flying behind her he had 
suddenly had a flash of her screaming in ecstasy beneath him. The vision had 
made him even more flustered than he had been. He had been surprised and 
disappointed when she hadn't even glanced his way or uttered a single word of 
acknowledgement. He had to force himself not to stare at her as she chattered 
away with Andrew.
"So how was your weekend girls?" Darien asked. Mina and Lita turned to 
answer him, but Serena merely continued sipping the milkshake Andrew had 
placed before her.
"We didn't do much this weekend," Lita began. We had a sleepover but it 
wasn't much fun without Serena there. "She had to spend quality family time," 
Lita said teasingly, smiling at Serena. Serena rolled her eyes.
"You never told me what you guys did at your cabin in the mountains." Amy 
said.
Serena thought about whether or not she should mention that where she'd 
spent her weekend with Darien sitting right there. She had to admit she would love 
to see the look on his face when he realized how close to each other they'd been 
this weekend. Would there be any reaction at all? If he considered what had 
occurred between them to be of little consequence, as she believed he did, then 
he shouldn't care at all.
 "Actually, when we got there we discovered that a freak storm kind of 
wrecked the place. We had to spend the weekend at the Greenwood Lodge." She 
looked directly at Darien waiting to see how he'd react.
Darien's eyes widened in surprise. How could she have been there? Wouldn't 
he have seen her?
"Actually I saw Darien there."
"You did?" Amy and Lita asked at once.
"Yeah," Serena replied still looking at Darien. "It seems he's not such a 
loser after all. He had a date! And a pretty hot one too." Serena refused to show 
any emotion. She returned to sipping her milkshake. 
The girls turned to look at Darien with raised eyebrows.  
"My date?!" Darien asked confused as to whom Serena was referring.
"Yeah," Serena said brightly as if none of this mattered to her. "You couldn't 
possibly have that many so you should remember this one. "You know, tall, 
blonde, cleavage." You do remember right? Or has your brain finally turned to the 
mush I always assumed it to be?"
Darien suddenly realized whom she was talking about. What he didn't 
understand was why she was behaving as though none of this mattered at all and 
as though everything was as it had always been.
"I see," he said. "I suppose I could see how you could mistake my step-
mother to be for my date. She's certainly young enough."
Serena almost choked on her milkshake. 
"Your step-mother!" Lita and Amy squealed.
"Not yet, and not if I can help it," Darien said. He looked at Serena 
curiously. Was he imagining things or could she have been a little jealous?
Serena was suddenly very embarrassed. She had jumped to conclusions 
and now she was sitting here not quite knowing what to do. She had cried about 
this! She suddenly felt absolutely embarrassed. She felt the sudden urge to run 
back home and hide her face under her pillow.
"Um, guys," Serena began suddenly and nervously, "I just remembered I 
forgot my mother wanted me to do something for her right after school. I have to 
go. See ya later!"
She grabbed her bags and raced out of the arcade. Darien stared at her 
back curiously, along with all the others.
"What the hell was that?" Lita asked.
"It's not that strange," Andrew said. "This is Serena after all."  

Serena sank her face into the pillow. She was silently considering what she 
would do from this point on. She couldn't possibly avoid him for the rest of the 
week. 
Where did things go from here? Knowing that the beautiful woman she had 
assumed to be his date had been his father's fiancée, did not change anything 
between them. They still had not discussed how or if their relationship to change.  
She knew they'd have to talk at some point, and having seen him today she 
was curious as to know what would happen. Would things just continue as though 
nothing had happened? Was he interested in her at all?
She realized she needed to ask the same question of herself. Did she really 
want to be in a relationship with Darien? Just a few weeks ago she had been so 
sure she hated him but now she wasn't so sure.
When they'd made love she'd felt so complete. In those moments she had 
been one with him and for a moment and had known him more completely than 
she'd known anyone. In those moments she had felt something she'd never felt 
before. They had bared themselves to each other in every sense of the word.
For the first time since she'd known him, Serena was willing to admit that 
everything she had assumed about him had been completely false. Whenever she 
made an effort to remember the feelings she had sensed from him, she easily saw 
that he was not the conceited, self-absorbed, jerk she had made him out to be. He 
was actually intelligent, honest, and in so many ways very vulnerable. 
She realized that she was shying away from talking to him because she 
really did want him in her life. If he rejected her she would be even more miserable 
than she had been during the time she thought he had found someone else. She 
couldn't bear to be rejected by a man she'd declared her mortal enemy; that 
would be too embarrassing. 
Serena spent more time thinking about it before finally deciding that if he 
said yes then the risk of embarrassment would be well worth it. After all it would 
only be between them. Her friends, hopefully, would never know if things went 
wrong. If something did happen between them however, her friends would be 
beyond shock. Raye might hate her for a while but she'd get over it.
Serena glanced at the cat shaped clock on her nightstand. It was still 
relatively early. She wondered if Darien was home as yet. She wanted to talk to 
him as soon as she could. In the time she had been thinking she had built up her 
anticipation. She wanted to know how he felt about her and she didn't want to 
wait to do it.
She changed from her uniform to a comfortable casual white summer dress 
and sandals. She had to admit she wanted to look good when she talked to him. 
She began pulling and tossing the pins from her long hair, letting the long gently 
curling tresses down from the two buns atop her head. She brushed hair and put 
only half of it up in her usual 'meatballs' as Darien called them. The other half 
hung loosely falling freely to her calves.
She ran down stairs, to discover that her mother was still not home from 
whatever it was she did with her friends. Her brother was undoubtedly at Kenny's 
a friend of his from school and her father would, as usual be working late. She was 
free to go without being grilled.


Mina and Raye were helping Lita bake at Lita's tiny apartment. The truth of 
the matter was Lita was baking, Mina was waiting and making an enormous mess 
and Raye was playing with matches.
"Why aren't Amy and Serena here?" Raye asked, lighting a match and 
watching it burn down almost to her fingertips before blowing it out. 
"Yes I know," Mina agreed attempting to wipe flour off the end of her nose 
but succeeded only in adding more. "I feel like I haven't seen Serena in ages. 
Where has she been?"
"I guess you two haven't seen her for a while since we haven't had any 
meetings lately," Lita said. "I guess those stupid youma can take a hint after all. 
Anyway I don't know where; she didn't really say. Today she just took off all of a 
sudden. As for Amy she is where she always is; in the library studying away for an 
exam she doesn't have for another two weeks."
"She just took off?" Raye asked surprised. "Didn't you tell her we were 
baking?"
"Never got the chance," Lita replied. "One minute Darien was telling us 
about his step-mother to be, who incidentally was mistaken by Serena for his date 
when she was up at the Greenwood Lodge this weekend, and the next she 
suddenly remembered something she had to do for her mother and was out of 
there like lightening." Mina and Raye were staring at her intently. 
"I guess I have a little bit of a story to tell don't I?"
By the time Lita was done with her story, Mina was halfway done with the 
cookies. The girls were on their way out of her apartment and to the comfort on 
their own homes when Lita stopped Mina.
"I almost forgot," she said suddenly. "Mina could you drop of the double 
chocolate chip cookies at Darien's on your way home? He made me promise to 
give him some this time."
"Sure Lita!" Mina said cheerfully. "He is so obsessed with chocolate!"  The 
girls left, Raye and Mina taking their separate routes.


Serena took a deep breath to abate the nervous feeling in the pit of her 
stomach, as she stood in front of Darien's apartment door preparing to ring his 
bell. What if he wasn't here? What if he was? What did she say first?
She raised her hand and pressed the small button beside his door. She 
heard the muffled ringing sound inside the apartment. She waited a while but got 
no response. She rang again and waited, still nothing. She considered leaving but 
decided to ring one more time. Once again there was no response. She turned to 
leave here heart sinking with the weight of her disappointment. 
Suddenly she heard the door opening and did a quick turn to face Darien. 
She let out a small gasp and her cheeks reddened as she realized he was wet and 
wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. She could see that he was 
extremely surprised to see her.
"Serena!" Darien gasped. She was certainly not the person he had expected 
to see. He especially didn't expect to see her like this. She looked angelic. He had 
never seen her like this, or if he had he had been too concentrated on not liking 
her to notice.
Her golden curls hung loose around her bare shoulders. She wore a white 
embroidered, thin-strapped, short, summer dress. The white was a beautiful 
contrast to her lightly tanned skin and brilliant blue eyes. In short, she looked 
absolutely beautiful.
Serena found herself fascinated with Darien's muscled skin. It's smoothness 
emphasized by the droplets of water still running over it. His hair was a wet mess 
than made him look adorable.
"I'm sorry," Serena apologized. "I didn't mean to interrupt your shower."
It was like a strange dream that she spoke so softly and gently to him of all 
people. He couldn't recall ever hearing nice things coming from her lips directed 
at him. It was refreshing.
"It's ok," Darien reassured her, smiling. "Why don't you come in."? He 
stepped aside to allow her entrance.
Serena couldn't ever remember Darien smiling at her, a real smile that is; 
not one of the mocking ones or smirks he usually reserved for her. He had a 
spectacular smile. It felt wonderful to have it directed at her for the first time.
As she stepped past him, her shoulder brushed against his bare chest. The 
sensation sent tingles down her spine. She desperately needed to get a hold of 
herself. 
Serena glanced around Darien's luxurious apartment. Unlike the other girls 
who stopped by on a regular basis, this was Serena's first visit. She was very 
impressed. It was neat and well-decorated, not to mention enormous. 
An entire wall of his living room was glass and had an amazing view of the 
city. Everything else was painstakingly decorated in a rather minimalist 
combination of black, white, and blue. He had few personal effects about besides a 
three-color abstract painting against one wall and a glass sculpture beside his 
black leather couch.
"It's beautiful," Serena whispered. She did a quick turn, not realizing how 
close behind her he was, and found herself up close and personal with the niche of 
his neck. She blushed and took a step back.
"What is?" Darien asked quietly, disappointed that she had stepped away 
from him.
"Your apartment," Serena replied.
"Oh. Thanks."
"Would you like anything to drink, eat?" Darien asked. He wasn't quite sure 
how to handle her being there.
"No thanks. You probably want to get dressed anyway right?"
"Uh, yeah," Darien answered grinning. He had completely forgotten that he 
was half naked.
Serena didn't really want him to get dressed. She knew however, that she 
would have a hard time having a serious conversation with him standing there half 
naked. It would be far too distracting. 
When Darien came out he was wearing a black pants and a dark blue shirt. 
Serena stared at him for a moment unsure as to where she should begin.
"Darien," She began, "I…" She froze. She'd walked all the way to his place 
and she found herself unable to say anything. 
"I can't…" She began again but was too embarrassed to continue. She 
turned around and headed for the door rather quickly. She felt like a coward and a 
loser. She'd come here with so much purpose and expectations and yet she could 
find nothing to say.
As her hand reached for the doorknob she felt his large hands grab her arm 
and her small waist and pull her to him.
"Don't go," he whispered. She found herself staring in his eyes as he held 
her close to him. They stood like that for a while.
Darien wasn't quite sure what he was doing. He hadn't expected her to 
come to him but now that she was here he knew that he didn't want her to go. He 
felt overcome by her beauty, and her innocence. He was intensely aware of how 
close they were as well as how badly he wanted to kiss her.
Just looking at her lips he could already feel their softness. There was no 
denying how much he wanted her. It was a feeling that he didn't really 
understand. What had turned his intense dislike for her into this unequivocal lust? 
He couldn't seem to help wanting to touch her, kiss every inch of her perfect body, 
and make love to her endlessly.
Serena had never been so tremendously aware of anyone before, physically 
or emotionally. She had come here to discuss their relationship, but talking was 
currently the furthest thing from her mind. She knew she wanted him and it was all 
she wanted.
Darien wrapped his fingers in her silky curls and brought his lips down 
passionately on hers. He traced her lips with his tongue, suggesting to her that 
she open her mouth to his explorations, which she did readily. Their tongues 
danced together as their idle hands found work exploring each other's bodies. 
Unable to wait much longer, and foreseeing the outcome of their 
explorations, he lifted her off her feet and brought her into his bedroom. He placed 
her gently on his bed and removed the shirt he had put on just moments before. 
He helped her unzip her dress and removed her underwear, tossing the clothing 
aside harshly as though their very presence offended him. Once again she lay 
naked beneath him, her hair spread beneath her as though each strand had been 
perfectly placed for his viewing pleasure.
This time around, as he settled over her, he took the time to explore every 
crevice of her curvy figure. He kissed the curve of her neck, feeling her pulse 
beating fast against his lips, caressed her perfect breasts with his mouth and 
hands, and made his way down to the mysteries below her flat stomach.  
Serena gasped as she felt his mouth against her, his expert tongue tasting 
and caressing her womanhood. The feelings of pleasure were so intense as to be 
completely overwhelming. She wrapped her fingers in his wet hair, pressing him to 
her. Darien enjoyed the undeniably sensuous taste of her on his tongue. He felt 
her suddenly go still as she came against his mouth.
He settled his body over hers once again, slowly pushing his hard length 
into her. Serena wrapped her long legs around his hips bringing him deeper inside 
her. Together they built up a rhythm, intensifying in pleasure as he moved within 
her. 
They were both too busy enjoying the pleasures of each other's bodies to 
hear the doorbell ring. Mina, realizing the door had been unsafely left open 
stepped inside, Darien's apartment. She looked around curiously seeing no one. 
She heard strange sounds coming from Darien's bedroom and prepared 
herself for the possibility of an intruder. In one hand she held a bag of cookies and 
in the other her transformation wand. She stepped towards Darien's bedroom the 
strange sounds getting louder as she went. 
As Mina came before Darien's doorway, she heard a woman scream and the 
muffled sound of a man's voice. Her battle honed nerves sent he racing towards 
the door. What she saw caused her jaws to drop in shock.
A man, she instantly recognized as Darien by his hair and build and the fact 
that it was his bedroom in his apartment, lay completely nude between the two 
long legs of a woman whose face was hidden from her by Darien's body. She was 
completely frozen as she watched Darien, still completely unaware of her 
presence, roll off the body of the woman in his bed. As he moved aside, she first 
blushed at his nudity before enduring further shock when she realized that the 
woman was none other than Serena. She barely prevented herself from fainting in 
shock.
"Mina!" Darien yelled, suddenly aware of her presence in his doorway. He 
grabbed a pillow held it in his lap to cover himself. His face instantly turned a 
brilliant shade of red. 
"Mina!" Serena suddenly sat up screeching. She tried covering her breasts 
with her hands before grabbing one of Darien's pillows to cover her nude form. 
"What are you doing here?" Darien asked.
"I uh…" Mina was in still in a state of wide-eyed shock. She stared back and 
forth, first at Serena and then at Darien. Weren't these two the same ones who 
were always fighting, sharing bitter insults?  How long had they been together? 
And so close together at that.
"I just came to drop these cookies off," Mina began finding her voice again, 
"and you didn't answer your doorbell but your door was open and I thought that 
maybe there was an intruder. I heard weird noises so I came in here and…"
The couple on the bed flushed brightly at Mina's mention of 'weird noises'.
"How long have you two been keeping this secret? Are all those fights you 
have just staged for our benefit? I can't wait to tell the girls!" Mina squealed. "This 
is the greatest gossip of the century!" She began giggling and chattering 
endlessly. "This is soooooo romantic: a secret romance while you pretend to be 
enemies!"
 Serena groaned. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to make a big 
deal out of this before she and Darien had the opportunity to sort out their own 
feelings.
Darien suddenly realized that he'd once again given into his lust and made 
love to the under aged girl again. It wouldn't do to have Mina telling the world that 
she'd caught the two in bed together. Being arrested for statutory rape was not on 
his list of things to do in life. In addition, they wouldn't exactly have much of a 
relationship if he were locked away in a prison cell. 
He conceded that he was being slightly paranoid. It was unlikely that the 
fact that he'd made love to Serena would ever find its way to the police unless of 
course her parents found out and decided to press charges. Once again he was 
seized by the vision of his head on the chopping block while her father grinned, 
wielding the axe as though he was born to do it.
"Mina, please! Is it too much to ask for you to keep this one thing to 
yourself?" Darien pleaded with the energetic blonde who seemed on the verge of 
jumping for joy. 
Mina suddenly ceased her antics. "You can't possibly be serious Darien! 
This is the biggest news all year! How do you expect me to keep quiet about this?" 
Looking intently at her, Darien was almost sure he could see tears welling up in 
her big baby blue eyes at the idea that she should keep the information to herself.
"Mina," Serena pleaded. "Can't you just please not say anything for a while? 
We need to work out a few things first."
Oh come on you guys, Can't I tell just one person? Someone, anyone, my 
cat?" She pleaded desperately. 
"Mina!" Serena began threatening to whine the girl into submission." It 
must have been the cat thing that upset her. Artemis was an even bigger gossip 
than she.
Mina, seeing the pleading look on Serena's face and hearing a whine 
threatening, finally gave in.
"Oh alright!" She muttered, sorely disappointed. She finally had gossip 
worth telling and she was being denied the opportunity.
"Could you let us get dressed now?" Darien asked.
Mina blushed brightly realizing for the first time that she was intruding on 
the couple's privacy. Darien did look rather amusing, naked except for the pillow 
between his thighs. Serena was achieved a Venus de Milo effect with her hands 
across her breasts, a barely successful venture and her hair floating around her, 
and a pillow in her lap. 
"Oh, sorry. I have to go home now anyway." She rushed out of the room and 
through the front door, all the time wondering how Serena and Darien had 
managed to keep up the appearance of enmity.


Serena rolled off the bed and began putting on her clothes as Darien did the 
same. When they were finally clothed. Darien simply sat on the bed and looked at 
her for a while. She was standing before him, once again dressed in her white 
dress. All her hair hung loose around her. For a moment she looked too much like 
a little girl.
"We need to talk." He said simply.
"I know," she said softly.
"I don't know what keeps happening between us," Darien began. "All I know 
is I can't stop wanting you." He took her hands in his, rubbing her small soft 
fingers. "When I make love to you, I know that I feel complete. I feel as though I've 
known you all my life."
She was staring intently at his handsome face and he felt his heart breaking 
inside him. "I know that I'm falling in love with you, and I know I can't let that 
happen. We can't…" He found himself unable to say more.
She pulled her hands from his as if she'd been bitten. She couldn't believe 
what she was hearing. She had opened herself up to him so completely, preparing 
to tell him how she had fallen in love with him. She had wanted to tell him that she 
had felt their souls bonding. 
Her eyes welled up with tears and she felt very angry. She refused to let him 
see her cry. He was rejecting her after all. She should have known better than to 
come here and put so much trust in him as to allow him to make love to her again.
There were many things she was tempted to say to him but she knew she 
wouldn't be able to say the words without letting him see her cry and she wouldn't 
give him the satisfaction. She turned on her heels and ran out of the apartment, 
slamming the door loudly on her way out.
Darien sat silently on the bed, angry with himself. Who was he kidding? He 
asked himself, as a tear ran down his cheek. He was already in love. 

Serena ran up the stairs without saying hello to her parents who had long 
since returned home and had been wondering where she'd disappeared to without 
calling. She'd run most of the way home and out of breath she now threw herself 
down on her bed and cried her eyes out. Life was definitely set against her.
She wanted to hate him so much and yet she couldn't. It had seemed so 
easy to do just a few weeks ago. Now all she felt was anger, as much towards him 
as towards herself. She was naïve to have believed that he was different from any 
of the other men in the world, who for centuries had used and abused women. 
Even her own father used women for his own pleasure and then walked away 
as if nothing he did held any consequences. How else did the man have three 
daughters with three different women; at least those were the ones they were 
aware of. She wondered if she had any other siblings out there. 
How could she have been so stupid? She sneered at the thought of how 
she'd gotten all dressed up and gone over there like a little hussy. She'd let him 
use her and toss her aside like she was some kind of slut. 'Maybe I am' she said to 
herself.
"Sweetheart?" Ikuko called outside Serena's bedroom door.
"What's the matter? Can I come in?"
"Just leave me alone!" Serena yelled. "I don't want to talk to you or anyone 
else!" 
She knew it was unfair to take her anger out on her mother, but she couldn't 
seem to help herself. Her mother, having been a teenage girl once, understood 
however, and was prepared to let her be. 
"Do you want me to bring up dinner?"
"No! I'm not hungry." It was a lie. She was starving. She just didn't want to 
have to talk to anyone. She cried herself to sleep.
Hours later in the middle of the night, she woke up to find her hunger had 
not abated and was at the point where it was almost overwhelming. She got out of 
bed, making an effort not to wake Luna, who had at some point had come through 
the window and curled up at her feet.  She made her way down the stairs to the 
kitchen where she spent a good hour indulging in cookies and ice cream and a 
good fifteen minutes later feeling nauseous. 
She spent the rest of the night awake, unable to go back to sleep, having 
cried herself into exhaustion earlier. She sat down in front of the TV watching the 
images without really seeing. Her eyes finally closed as the sun rose. Her mother 
found her asleep on the couch that morning, took pity on her and let her sleep 
until late morning; missing one day of school wouldn't kill her.

Lita and Amy were worried when Serena didn't show up for school. When 
they got together at Raye's temple she still did not show up. They called her 
house but got no answer. 
Secretly Mina wondered if she had spent the entire night with Darien and 
had been too tired to go to school. She was very sorry she'd promised to keep 
their secret. She desperately wanted to let the cat out of the bag.

Serena was happy her mother had allowed her to stay home. She wasn't 
really in the mood for schoolwork anyway, not that she ever was. When she'd 
woken up, her mother had insisted they go shopping an obvious but winning 
attempt to cheer her up. At some point she knew her mother would have to ask 
'the question'. She just hadn't expected the question to be: "So, who's the guy?"
Serena had just about choked on the ice cream she'd been eating as they 
walked through the mall. She had been expecting the question since they'd 
stopped by the ice cream shop to satisfy her craving but that was not the question 
she had expected. She had been anticipating the usual 'what's wrong?' or 'what's 
been bothering you lately'. She could at least pass half of that off to PMS and teen 
angst.
"What makes you think there's a guy?" Serena asked uneasily. Her mother 
couldn't possibly know!"  
"Oh come on Serena! I'm your mother. I think I know when there's a guy 
involved."
"Does motherhood endow you with some kind of psychic power?" Serena 
asked half joking. 
"I can't tell you that!" Serena's mother gasped, pretending to be shocked at 
the suggestion. "The secret motherhood society would have my head if I ever told 
you such a thing! That's something you will have to discover when you have a 
child of your own."
Serena found herself giggling at her mother's antics. She always knew how 
to make her feel better. 
"So who's the lucky young man?" Her mother asked.
"I'd rather not talk about him Mom. I won't be seeing him again anyway." 
Serena said. She wished she could get off this topic. She didn't want to talk about 
Darien or think about him.
"He hurt you really badly didn't he?" Serena merely nodded.
"First loves are always the worst. But don't worry sweetheart," Ikuko said 
pulling her only daughter close to her, "you'll get over it and look back on this one 
day with fondness."
"Was daddy your first love?" Serena asked, grasping at the opportunity to 
steer the conversation away from her.
"Which one?" Ikuko asked playfully?
"Well that just answers my question right there." Serena replied cynically.
"Actually my first love was a guy named, Marco de la Cruz."
"Spanish?"
"Portuguese."
"He was a year older than me and his family had just moved to California. 
Naturally my father hated him. Eventually he moved away and we broke up."
"Has there ever been a guy you liked that grandpa liked?"
Ikuko pretended to think for a moment before answering. 
"No. He had two daughters and he swore he would protect them from the 
male scourge. I thought he would have a heart attack when I told him I was getting 
married. He's a lot like Kenji. I bet if you ever brought a guy home he'd start 
shining those swords hanging on the living room wall."

"Well he doesn't have to worry now. I think I'll be staying away from guys for 
a while!"
"I'm sure your father would be happy to hear that." 

"Darien, if you don't tell me what the hell's wrong with you, I swear I'm going 
to beat it out of you," Andrew growled. For the second day in a row Darien was 
behaving very strangely. Since he'd come in, he hadn't said a word. He'd not done 
anything but stare at the mocha cappuccino Andrew had placed before him.
"I'm a selfish bastard and a pervert!"
"Pervert?"
"Amazing how you just skip the selfish bastard part and just jump right to 
pervert!" Darien commented, smiling wryly.
"Well the first part I knew, but this pervert thing is a new one for me," 
Andrew responded, grinning one of his brilliant white-toothed smiles.
"I love having friends! It certainly saves me the trouble of making enemies."
"Well as your best friend, I demand you tell me what's going on!"
Darien sighed and gave in to Andrew's demands. 
"Have you ever done something that you knew was so wrong but felt so very 
right?"
"Well I once had two beers, thee vodka martinis and a half bottle of root 
beer schnapps and it felt very right until I woke up the next morning." Looking at 
Darien's raised eyebrows Andrew decided to amend that. "I doubt that's the kind 
of indulgence you're referring to."
"Actually I was referring to something a bit more controversial, more 
specifically, one very, very sexy, absolutely beautiful and much to young teenage 
girl."
"What! Darien what are you talking about?"
"Have you ever been attracted to someone much younger than you?"
"Yeah. I had a thing for Serena for a while but I decided that that wouldn't 
be a good idea." Darien's eyes opened wide in shock! He wasn't even aware that 
his mouth was hanging open.
Andrew seeing Darien's shocked expression rolled his eyes and decided to 
explain. 
"You know Darien, just because you don't like her doesn't mean no one else 
does. I mean you'd have to be blind not to see that she is absolutely gorgeous!"
Darien could hardly believe his ears. 
"Do you regret not asking her out?" Darien asked, curious as to whether 
Andrew still had feelings for her.
"Well I still find her attractive, but it was just a crush, one that has been 
over for a while. "
"So who's this teenage dreamboat of yours?"
"You won't believe me." Darien stated simply.
"Try me."
"Ok, but you won't believe me."
"Just tell me damn it!"
"It's Serena." Andrew stared at Darien blankly for a good long while.
"I know you're kidding. You can't possibly expect me to believe that you 
asked Serena out!"
"I didn't ask her out, Andrew." Darien said quietly.
"Then what do you mean? I'm not sure I understand."
"We kind of skipped the whole date scenario and jumped to the 
honeymoon."
Andrew was speechless. It would have been rather difficult to speak anyway 
with his jaws hanging that widely. 
"And therein lies my dilemma."
"Holy shit!"
"Calm down drama queen!" Darien snapped. "They're kids around."
"Let me get this straight: you and Serena in bed together; no yelling no 
insults, no one screaming bloody murder? The world is ending isn't it? This is a 
goddamn miracle!"
Darien rolled his eyes. 
"There may have been screaming but it wasn't bloody murder!" Darien said, 
smiling wryly. "Well now I think I made a huge mistake and told her I couldn't see 
her anymore and I didn't even get a chance to tell her why. Now, she hates me 
and we're both miserable. We're back to where we started except this time she 
really means it. 
I can't apologize to her because every time I see her…well I can't seem to 
keep my hands off her. It don't think it's a particularly good idea to try apologizing 
anyway, she's only sixteen and I'm way too old for her and I think I am so far guilty 
of two counts of statutory rape. I rejected her in order to save my own ass."
"Wow!" Andrew was all Andrew could say. He was still shocked at the idea of 
the two mortal enemies in bed together not to mention the guilt trip Darien was 
giving himself over his situation.
"I don't know what to say, Darien. You have gotten yourself into one hell of a 
situation. Just a random question, have you ever met Serena's dad?" 
Darien glared at Andrew who was grinning at him mockingly.
"That's not funny Drew!" Darien growled.
"Tsukino has those three katana swords in his living room so you better 
watch out! I bet Chandler has one or two weapons of his own." 

"Serena where were you today?" Raye asked over the phone. "Lita and Amy 
said you didn't show up for school are you sick or something?"
"Something like that. I had some ice cream last night and got sick and my 
mom let me sleep late," Serena half-lied
"You got sick from ice cream! You east the stuff almost every day!" 
"Yeah, and I could eat some more right now!"
"Pig!"
"Oh lay off! I went shopping with my mother today though. We had fun."
"So what did you buy?"
"Nothing really. We mostly window-shopped."
"Am I understanding that your mother let you stay out of school because 
you got a little sick after eating too much ice cream and then took you shopping?"
"Yup!"
"Why can't I be that lucky?" Raye groaned.

Serena knew she didn't want to see him but she knew she'd have to get 
used to it. If she had any luck maybe he would avoid her instead. It certainly 
seemed that way. He hadn't been there for the past three days so she had 
managed to keep up her act with her friends.
 She'd had detention today for not paying attention in class so she was on 
her way to the arcade on her own. As she walked down the street she remembered 
something she'd told Mina only two days ago when the other girl had asked her 
about her relationship with Darien. She'd still been upset and bitter and had said 
the words without meaning them at all.
Mina had come over to her house and they'd sat together in her room. Mina 
had playfully asked how the two 'lovebirds' were and Serena had answered 
harshly.
"We're not love birds, Mina!"
"Oh come on Serena. Admit it you and Darien are very much in love! It's time you 
let everyone know about your relationship!"
"Darien and I don't have a relationship! We had sex. That's all there is to it and 
quite frankly that's all there'll ever be to it!"
Mina had stared at her open-mouthed with shock. Looking back she realized 
she'd belittled the experience making herself sound like, in her mind, a slut. She 
hadn't meant it. It had definitely ended any conversation concerning Darien.
 She didn't want Mina think less of her. She was supposed to be this 
graceful, sweet, honest, and perfect princess and over the last few years she had 
improved in many regards. She didn't want Mina thinking that Her Royal Highness 
Princess Serenity just randomly slept around as if it were the most normal thing in 
the world.
Except for her random emotional lows, Serena had to admit she was 
handling this rather well. None of her friends had any inkling of what had 
happened to her and that's how she intended to keep it. She'd seen Darien from a 
distance yesterday getting into his car. She'd felt a slight chill of anger at him but 
had managed to keep herself in check as she and her friends walked together.
When she walked into the arcade she was surprised and unnerved to find 
Darien sitting on the edge of a seat by the booth with her friends. She built up a 
wall around her emotions and walked over. 
"Hi guys!" She greeted, smiling much too brilliantly. She didn't dare glance 
at Darien at all. They returned her greeting as she stood there. She managed to 
squeeze in next to Mina and Lita. She could feel a slightly building tension 
between her and Darien of which no one but Mina seemed aware.
Darien suddenly got up; he couldn't help glancing at her. She wasn't looking 
at him. In fact, it was plainly obvious she was making it a point not to. He wished 
he could tell her but knew that if he did the guilt he was feeling would be 
overwhelming. It was much easier to know she was angry than if she were 
obviously depressed or forgiving. He couldn't stand it if she forgave him. Nothing 
would feel worse.
Serena could feel his eyes on her. She knew he wasn't really staring but she 
could feel his presence down to her very bones and it was very unnerving. She was 
suddenly feeling very queasy and wished he's just go away instead of standing 
there bullshitting up a reason to get away from her.
"I have to go now," he said hurriedly inventing a good reason. "I have to go 
talk to my father about something. That Brandi is really beginning to get on my 
nerves you know."
"Oh yes," the 'evil step mother' huh? Raye commented.
"Not exactly. The 'gold digging tramp' is closer to the truth. Well I'll see you 
guys later." With that he walked out the door.
"Is it just me, or have you guys actually been getting along lately?" Amy 
asked Serena.
"Yeah, I know" Lita added. "I wouldn't call it getting along but you guys 
aren't arguing with each other! I miss the arguments! Those were so much more 
amusing than this silent treatment. What happened?"
"Nothing happened," Serena lied. She seemed to be doing that a lot of that 
lately. "I just decided he wasn't worth arguing with and I guess he agreed," she 
said nonchalantly.
"So you guys just agreed to ignore each other's presence?" Raye asked 
incredulously. She hadn't believed it was possible for the two to agree on anything.
"Well at least they're agreeing on something." Amy pointed out.
All through their little conversation Mina said nothing, amazed at the 
display Serena was putting on for her friends. She could hardly believe this was 
the same girl she'd known for so long. Serena was lying and doing a good job of it. 
She wondered how long she'd been carrying this on.
She was both worried about and annoyed with Serena. Her outburst two 
nights ago had shocked her to the core. Everything she thought she'd known 
about Serena had come into question. 
She'd always assumed that Serena shared her romantic notions about love 
and sex. She'd even assumed that Serena would wait until she'd married or at 
least been in a serious, loving relationship. She'd been shocked when she'd caught 
Serena and Darien together in bed but she'd naturally assumed that they had 
some secret romance. 
The last thing in the world she'd expected to hear from Serena's lips was 
the declaration that whatever had occurred between her and Darien had been 
nothing but sex. That was something you heard on a soap opera not from the lips 
of your best friend. Serena had obviously changed and Mina wasn't sure she liked 
this new Serena.
Serena noticed that Mina hadn't said anything. She had an idea what she 
was thinking. For what seemed like the hundredth time, she had been lying again 
and Mina knew it. 
Serena felt very ashamed of herself. She desperately needed to explain to 
Mina the mess she'd made of her life. She just needed to get her alone. 

Serena knocked on the front door of Mina's condo. The large building had 
only four luxury apartments, very similar to Darien's, but a bit larger. Mina's 
gorgeous, older brother Mark answered door and let her in. 
"Hello," Serena greeted. "I didn't realize you were home!" 
"Just visiting for a little while, he replied. Mina's upstairs, why don't you 
head up." 
"Thanks." Serena said. Mark was almost ten years older than Mina and lived 
and worked in Osaka as an architect. He had the same blonde hair and blue eyes 
as his sister and the build of a professional athlete. He occasionally came to visit 
the place he still called home. He must have missed having his mother asking him 
when he and his girlfriend Allie were going to tie the knot. 
Serena headed up to mina's room. She had gone home before heading over 
here to avoid any questions the other girls might have had.
She loved Mina's place, although it was definitely not the greatest place for 
teenagers to hang out. Mina's mother, an interior decorator, had decorated it with 
impeccable style and subtle wealth. Serena and Mina's fathers worked together at 
TIC together but chose completely different modes of living. Kenji enjoyed a low 
profiled family life whereas Jonathon Aino preferred a high profile fast paced 
lifestyle. Both he and his wife were almost always busy which left Mina to do 
almost anything she wanted.
Serena rapped gently on Mina's door. 
"Come in."
She pushed open the door and went in. At Mina's behest her mother had 
painted her room a warm golden yellow. Everything in the room including the pile 
of clothing in the middle of the floor that matched up with the one Serena had in 
her own, seemed to be touched by sunlight.
Surprisingly Mina was doing her homework on her bed with her TV on. 
"Hi, Mina."
"Hi, What are you doing here?" She had been expecting her brother not 
Serena. 
"I just think you deserve an explanation after what happened on Tuesday."  
Mina said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
"What happened between Darien and me is…" That wasn't a good start; she 
paused.  "What I'm trying to say is, I lied. It wasn't just sex."
"Well you seem to be doing a lot of that lately," Mina said, instantly 
regretting it.
"That's not fair, Mina." Serena said quietly. "Why don't I start from the 
beginning?"
"I'm sorry Serena, I didn't mean that."
"We both seem to be saying things we don't mean," Serena said giving a 
tiny smile.
Serena began her long story and by the time she finished, she was in tears. 
She hadn't meant to cry, she just couldn't help herself. 
"I'm sorry Serena," Mina said, hugging her friend. "I guess I was a bit 
judgmental. I didn't mean to be, I was worried. I guess I thought..." 
"…I had turned into a slut overnight? Serena finished her sentence for her. "I 
worried about the same thing too." Serena said, smiling wryly through her tears.
"So now what are you going to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"You love him don't you?
"Yeah, but what difference does it make it's not like he wants me. It's over 
Mina. I made a mistake and now I have to move on."
"I just don't think Darien is that type of guy Serena. I can't see him using 
you like that purposefully. It just doesn't make any sense. He had to have felt 
something for you in the first place!"
"Um Mina, you need to cut down on your romance novel intake! Sex and 
love just aren't the same thing. Darien didn't make love to me because he was in 
love, Mina. He made love to me because sailor suits are transparent when wet!"
Mina turned red. Serena was being very blunt. "Oh!"
"Sorry," Serena said, realizing she'd embarrassed Mina. She had to admit, it 
was a relief to finally be able to tell someone what had happened.
"Are they really that transparent?" Mina whispered curiously.
"Mina!" Serena rebuked, before the two fell to giggling.   

Serena spent the weekend hanging out with her friends as usual. She felt so 
much more relaxed now that she had let out her painful secret to someone. The 
hurt didn't stop however. Inside she was as miserable as the moment he'd hurt 
her.
Over the next two or so weeks, she saw him occasionally. They even battled 
youma together. It was strange how they'd gone from loud, disruptive arguing to 
this wall of silence. It was as though in the eyes of each other they didn't exist.
Darien however, was painfully aware of her presence. He'd have preferred 
arguing to this thick silence. It was hard to be around her and not want to touch 
her. It seemed every day they were apart she grew more beautiful. She had a glow 
on her face that he saw in no one else's. Every thought he had about her, sounded 
like sentimental drivel. 
He was beginning to regret having let her go. How could have he been so 
selfish? He had hurt her to save his own pathetic ass from a paranoid fear of what 
everyone else would think and how much trouble it could cause them.
He had spent much time arguing with himself over the matter and boring 
Andrew to death with his questions of whether or not he had been right to let her 
go. He sometimes managed to convince himself that it was the right thing to do; 
he was much too old for her. It would have been a strange relationship of which no 
one would approve. Besides, she seemed to be quite happy without him.
Sometimes, especially at night he felt so alone. He thought he could hear 
someone crying. He even felt tears on his face but there were never any. 
He felt like an ass and he certainly deserved a kick in it.   

"Is there anyway we can hurt him?" Beryl asked.
"Unfortunately no; not for now anyway. If we ever get enough energy together we 
can repossess Artemis and Luna's body and give him a few scratches. "
"I can't believe you thought this loser was a perfect match for Serena!"
"Oh shut up Bea! I didn't hear you complaining before. Not to mention, this entire 
thing is your fault!"
"My fault!" Beryl screeched indignantly. "This was your idea!"
"It was not my idea to put them up in a hotel so Prince Darien could make a 
valiant attempt to 'rescue' my daughter!" Serenity yelled shrilly.
"Well I didn't see you coming up with a better idea! " Beryl screamed back. "I 
help you out, and this is the thanks I get! You wanted them together and I got them 
together! It's not my fault that they couldn't keep their pants on and it sure as hell isn't 
my fault the prince you chose for your daughter doesn't know a good thing when he sees 
it!"
 Serenity turned and glared at Beryl. Then she did something she had ever done 
in life. She growled, a low, menacing sound that made Beryl take a step back. She then 
raised her hand, snapped her fingers and disappeared to a place where annoying 
siblings just didn't exist… a small island in the south pacific.


Serena's eyes were drooping again. Her head was about to hit the desk at 
any moment. When her Biology teacher saw the two blonde balls atop her head 
sinking below the head of the person before her he said her name rather loudly, 
snapping her out of her dream world. She didn't even know why she was so tired, 
not that this boring lecture was helping any.
She hadn't had a good morning. She had woken up to find that if she didn't 
hurry she would be late again, something she'd had a recurrence of lately, having 
improved over the last year. She had rushed through breakfast and was about to 
fly out the door when she felt the sudden urge to puke. And she did; she lost 
everything she'd eaten. That would be the last time she tried to break the speed of 
light with her eating habits. She'd also had a minor recurrence of Klutziness when 
she arrived at school and had tripped over a shoelace into the classroom.
"Ms. Tsukino!" Mr. Yamamoto yelled. "Am I boring you?"
"No, no of course not," Serena replied hurriedly. "There was just something 
interesting on my desk. I had to take a closer look."
Her comment set the class giggling and Serena breathed a sigh of relief as 
he rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the chalkboard.
"Tomorrow we'll begin the chapter on reproductive biology, so I suggest you 
read Chapters eleven through fourteen for our next class. We'll be discussing both 
human and amphibian fetal developments so don't forget to read. Class 
dismissed."
Serena was happy it was over. This was her last class of the day. A few 
minutes longer and she might have been drooling all over the desk. She wasn't 
looking forward to reading these chapters on reproductive biology. There was 
nothing interesting about science, absolutely nothing. She'd have time to read the 
chapters in detention.

Serena flipped through the pages of the biology book not really reading. She 
just wanted to see the pictures. She came across a diagram of a half section of a 
pregnant woman.
She began reading the text next to it becoming more nervous as she read. 
The book was describing the symptoms of pregnancy, the missing period, sensitive 
breasts, emotional instability, nausea, fatigue and weepiness. All of which she'd 
been experiencing recently. She considered the idea for a while but fearfully 
decided she was just being paranoid.
Still, she couldn't get the thought out of her head. It just wasn't possible 
that she could be pregnant. It was ridiculous. She shut the book harshly, unwilling 
to subject herself to the idea anymore. She was not pregnant, and that's all there 
was to it.
She was amazed the thought hadn't come to her before. She'd had 
unprotected sex with Darien on two occasions it certainly was a possibility. It 
wasn't one she even wanted to consider however.

Still worried, Serena made her way home. She slumped down on her bed 
with the intention of taking a nap but she still had this vision of herself in her mind 
with a protruding stomach. She rolled over and laid her hands on her flat stomach. 
What if she was pregnant? What would she do? Her parents would kill her! What 
had she gotten herself into now?
She had to know. It would be a relief to prove to herself that there wasn't a 
small child growing in her womb at the moment; a child whose father didn't want 
her and most likely wouldn't want any child she carried. Serena found herself 
running over to Mina's again. She couldn't do this alone.
When she got to Mina's Mina opened the door at Serena's persistent 
ringing. Seeing the panicked look on Serena's face, Mina went into panic mode.
"What's the matter?" She asked, grabbing Serena's shoulders.
Serena glanced around to make sure no one else was around. "I think I 
might be pregnant. I need to take this test" Serena pulled a box out of her bag. 
When she had gone to the pharmacy, the woman had given her this 
condescending look that had made Serena feel guilty and even more nervous. 
"You what!" Mina exclaimed loudly. 
"I was reading my biology book and I have all the symptoms and I think I 
might be pregnant so I bought this test but I didn't want to take it at home 
because my mom's there and you're the only one who knows so I came here and 
can you please help me I can't be pregnant my parents will kill me!" Serena 
gasped for breath at the end of her panicked statement.
"Slow down Serena! Let's go to my room."
"Mina," Serena began nervously. "What if I'm pregnant?"
"I don't know Serena. Let's just take one thing at a time." She hugged her 
friend and then removed the test from the box and began reading the directions.
Ten minutes later the two girls were staring at the test. Mina's eyes went 
wide and Serena went into a panic.
"It can't be right, let's do it again!" Serena said apprehensively. She pulled 
out a second box.
"Serena! We did the test right. There is a big plus sign right there," she said 
pointing to the test. You should skip the next test and go to the doctor."
"But I can't be pregnant Mina! I still kiss my parents goodnight!"
"Serena please calm down!" Serena took a deep breath to calm her 
hysterics.
"Mina," Serena began calmly. "How am I going to tell my parents, all four of 
them, that I'm going to have a baby?"
"Serena we're not sure yet," Mina said not even believing her own words. 
"We could have done the test wrong."
"No we didn't. Everything points to the fact that I'm pregnant and I suppose 
I have been pregnant since the first time Darien and I…Oh God! Darien! 
Serena sank her head into her hands and began crying as Mina attempted 
to calm her. 
"This wouldn't be so bad if I at least knew that he cared!" She mumbled.

"Serena!" Ikuko was beginning to suspect something was seriously wrong 
with her daughter. Even for a teenager, these mood swings and sudden upsets of 
hers were unusual. It was becoming a common thing for Serena to run up to her 
room in tears without explanation. Later she would come down and act as though 
nothing had happened and her usual cheery smile would be back on her face.
Although there were no locks on any of the bedrooms in the house, there 
was a general respect for privacy. She was getting tired of her daughter's constant 
mood swings, however. Just now Serena had come into the house all teary and 
was in her room sniffling. She had to know what was wrong; this couldn't keep 
happening!
"Serena?" Ikuko asked quietly pushing open the door to her daughter's 
bedroom. Her daughter was sitting on her bed hugging a pillow and staring 
blankly out her window, her face stained with tears. 
"Serena, honey, what's the matter?"
"I'm fine." Serena whispered. Ikuko rolled her eyes. Surely she didn't expect 
her to believe that, while she sat on the bed looking like her world had just ended.
"Serena. I know you can't possibly expect me to believe that. You have to 
know you can tell me anything. Whatever is bothering you, I'm sure you'd feel 
better if you talked about it." 
Serena said nothing for a while. She just continued staring. 
When she finally said something, Ikuko cold barely hear her. 
"Mom, if I did something really stupid, if I made an enormous mistake, what 
would you do?"
"I couldn't tell you that, Serena. I can't know what I'd do if I don't know 
what the situation is," Ikuko replied calmly. "Serena, everyone makes mistakes! No 
one is in infallible but we learn to deal with our mistakes as best we can and learn 
from them." Ikuko wiped her daughters cheeks with her fingers smiling gently at 
her. "Will you tell me what this mistake is?"
"Can you promise not to tell Dad? At least, not for a while. Please?"
"Serena, your father and I don't keep secrets."
"Please Mom. This is important. You can't tell him yet."
Ikuko thought for a moment before promising her daughter to keep her 
secret. 
"I promise." 
Serena took a deep breath before beginning her explanation after which her 
mother was bound to go into hysterics.
"Do you remember that guy Darien I was telling you about?"
"Oh yes, the one who gets on your nerves." Ikuko said.
"Uh yeah." Serena muttered nervously. "Well you see we kind of slept 
together twice and then he told me that we couldn't see each other anymore and 
well we haven't spoken in more than two weeks and today I took a pregnancy test 
and as it turns out I'm pregnant please don't kill me, I feel horrible enough as it 
is!." Serena finished her run on sentence. She'd spoken fast to prevent any 
interruptions. She didn't look at her mother for fear of the expression on her face 
or what she'd say.
Ikuko's brain was oscillating between 'slept together' and 'pregnant'. She 
couldn't believe the words that had just come from Serena's lips. It was certainly 
not anything she'd expected to hear from her daughter. She was in complete 
shock."
Not hearing any sounds from her mother, Serena raised her head to see the 
expression on her face. Ikuko had a blank stare on her face. She was still incapable 
of saying anything. 
"Mom? Please say something," Serena begged, tears streaming down her 
face again.
"I…I don't really know what to say Serena. I never thought anything like this 
would happen, not to you!" 
"I'm sorry Mom. I didn't mean to disappoint you." Serena whispered 
repentantly. 
There was nothing that IKuko could find to say to her daughter. She 
couldn't condemn her for this mistake when Serena was evidence of one of her 
grander mistakes. She'd had a short affair with Richard Chandler right before 
she'd been married, resulting in Serena. Still Serena was only sixteen years old. 
She pulled her daughter in for a hug as much out of a sense of mourning as for 
support. 
"Now which father were you referring to exactly?" Ikuko asked trying to 
break the tension in the room.
Serena giggled a bit, feeling much better having spoken to her mother. 
"The crazy one with the swords in the living room." Serena replied.
"Have you told Darien yet?"
"No," Serena replied in a fearful whisper. "I'm not sure I want to."
"He has a right to know Serena."
"I know. I'm angry with him but I love him and I don't want daddy to kill him 
if I ever bring him here."
"Serena," Ikuko began reassuringly, "we'll worry about your father later, and 
you need to explain this to Darien. We'll worry about the rest later; I'll make an 
appointment with the doctor tomorrow. Now, why don't you try to get some sleep 
and try not to run around so much in the morning, it makes the morning sickness 
worse."
"Thanks Mom," Serena said gratefully, hugging her mother.

Serena walked into the arcade looking around nervously to see if anyone she 
knew was around. It was too early for any of her friends to be up except Andrew 
who was sitting behind the counter drinking his coffee. There weren't many people 
around. It seemed it wasn't just she who liked to sleep in on a Saturday morning. 
She had been woken up this morning by the nauseating smell of pancakes. It was 
strange that the same pancakes she normally adored had sent her puking to the 
bathroom.
She'd been hoping to find Darien here at this time but he wasn't here. She 
walked over to the counter to greet Andrew.
"Hi Andrew," She greeted. 
"Wow, Serena is that really you? You're up before one?"
"Oh lay off Andrew, I can get up early if I want to." Andrew gave her a 
skeptical look.
"Besides, I couldn't sleep any longer," She added miserably causing Andrew 
to smile.
"So what brings you here so early in the morning?"
"Actually," Serena began slowly, hoping to spare Andrew any shock. "I'm 
looking for Darien. I called his place but he wasn't there." Serena was surprised 
when Andrew merely raised his eyebrows but didn't mention it.
"He's on his way here, I just spoke to him on his cell phone. Why are you 
looking for him? Don't tell me you two are secretly friends?" Andrew asked 
smirking.
"We aren't friends, secretly, or otherwise," Serena said tersely.
"Ouch! Why do you hate him so much, Serena?" Andrew wished he could fix 
whatever had happened between Serena and his best friend. He hadn't meddled 
however. Darien's reasons were actually pretty logical.
"I don't hate him. I just think he's one of the most deceptive people I've ever 
met and I don't trust him as far as I can throw him and if I could throw him, I 
would."
"So that doesn't explain why you're looking for him?"
"Looking for whom?" Darien asked.
He had walked into the arcade to find Andrew talking to a blonde girl he had 
thought for a moment was Serena. He'd dismissed the thought however, when he 
considered that it was too early on a Saturday morning for her to be up. Besides 
this girl wasn't wearing meatballs, just a long braid.
"You." Andrew replied.
The girl turned around to face him and to his surprise, it was Serena.
"Serena? You're up early!" Serena rolled her eyes. 
"Occasionally I do get out of bed before one." 
"You're looking for me?" Darien asked shocked that she'd even want to 
speak with him at all.   
"Uh, yeah. I have to talk to you, alone." Serena said nervously.
Darien glanced at Andrew questioningly, as if asking if this was his doing. 
Andrew merely gave a confounded shrug. Darien guided her over to a corner booth 
where they both sat down. Darien was actually somewhat nervous mostly because 
he had no idea what she was going to say.
Serena's palms were sweaty and the queasiness in her stomach was 
increasing. In her mind she had been going over the many different ways to begin 
her speech; none of the ways seemed right. 
"Serena?" Darien asked, concerned. Apparently he wasn't the only nervous 
one, he thought to himself as he saw Serena wipe her hands on her jeans for the 
second time. She also seemed to be going over something in her mind, a type of 
rehearsal for whatever she was about to say.
"I guess I should talk now, right?" She said with a tight smile. She took a 
deep breath before beginning.
"I'm pregnant! Okay that did not come out the way I intended!"
"What!" Darien muttered in shock. He hadn't heard her say that she was 
pregnant; he hadn't.
"You're not going make me say it again are you? Ok…I'm pregnant," she 
repeated.
She'd said it twice, the second time with more assurance. He wasn't 
hearing things she'd definitely said the word pregnant. He stared at her rather 
stupidly for a while.
"Darien?" Serena called softly.
"I…I'm going to be somebody's father?"
Serena nodded. "I can't believe I'm going to be a mother to a little person." 
Serena spoke gently her head hanging down, staring at her hands resting on the 
table between them. "I know you don't want me in your life so I don't know if…" 
She broke off as she felt his hand on her chin. To her surprise as he raised her 
head so she could look at him, he was staring at her rather intently. She cursed at 
herself for crying again; damn hormones.
"Serena, I didn't mean to hurt you. I thought I was doing what was best for 
both of us when I told you we couldn't see each other anymore. As it turns out, I 
think I was just being selfish. What we have together isn't something your parents 
or the law really appreciates. Still, I think you should know that I do love you. I 
won't walk out on you now, if that's what you're thinking."
"You love me?" Serena asked skeptically.
"Yes, I love you Serena." He whispered.
"I love you too." Serena replied. Darien leaned forward and kissed her gently 
on the lips.
Andrew watched on amazed. The same lips that had spouted some of the 
most creative insults he'd ever heard pass between two people, were kissing. Luck 
guy, Andrew thought. 
"You're pregnant," Darien stated attempting to apply real meaning to the 
words that didn't' quite seem to do their situation justice. "I'm dead meat aren't 
I?"
Serena nodded. "My mom said not to worry about Dad, but I suggest 
wearing armor anyway. He doesn't know yet.
"What about your real dad?"
"He's all business, he'll probably sue you."
"Before or after he has me charged with statutory rape?"
Serena's eyes widened. She had never considered that. Despite her 
constant ranting, Serena had always accepted Darien as a part of their group. 
She'd never really considered that he was about five years her senior. What held 
them together as a group went beyond the usual. 
"You mean that's why you…?"
"Yeah," Darien replied ashamed of himself. "I guess I figured if I was in jail 
we wouldn't have much of a relationship anyway."
Serena raised her eyebrows in a cynical gesture unwilling to grace Darien's 
paranoid nonsense with words. 
"What about your family? Will they care?" Serena asked.
Darien hung his head in defeat. "I think my father is going to give me that I 
told you so look and insist we get married as soon as possible, and my mother is 
going to be happy I finally found someone suitable to my social standing," Darien 
finished, rolling his eyes. "I think she had some strange fear I would bring home a 
girl like Brandi. She'll also be relieved of the annoyingly painstaking duty of 
meddling in my life and finding me  'the right girl'."
 Serena stared at him incredulously. "Why would your father say 'I told you 
so?"
"Well, a few weeks ago, for some strange reason, I was complaining to my 
mother about you being the most annoying person I'd ever met." Serena gave him 
a rather harsh look but said nothing. "Naturally she skipped right to the Chandler 
section of your name and decided that you'd be perfect for me and then she 
called my father up who naturally thought that if we ever got married he'd have 
the perfect opportunity to make a business alliance with Chandler corp. If we 
hadn't already known each other my mother would have found a way to ensure we 
met through your sister's mother, her friend, Anika St. Andre, your dad's ex-wife."
"I'm sorry I asked," Serena muttered. 
"What are you guys doing?" Lita asked nervously as she walked over to the 
booth where Serena were talking quietly. 
Serena rolled here eyes. "We're talking Lita."
"But, that's impossible!" Amy uttered. "You guys haven't said a single nice, 
calm statement to each other since the day you met!"
"Things change, Amy," Darien pointed out. 
"But not this!" Amy said. "Have you two been brainwashed?" Amy asked 
jokingly.
"Aren't you the one who's always trying to get us to stop fighting?" Darien 
questioned.
"Are you telling me, I actually succeeded?" Amy asked skeptically.
"No, I'm afraid you can't take credit for this one Ames," Serena said. "This 
one's a miracle, divine intervention."
"It would have to be," Lita said. "Nothing else could work."
"So what were you guys talking about?" Lita questioned the two, looking 
back and forth between a suddenly pale Serena and a red-faced Darien.
"We were talking about my family," Darien answered. My Dad thinks I should 
marry Serena!" Darien said grinning, knowing he would shock Serena and everyone 
else.
The girls' eyes widened and they stared back and forth between the two. 
Serena suddenly turned an even pastier shade of white.
"I think I'm going to throw up!" She gasped and shoving Lita out of the way 
she rushed for the ladies' room.
"Serena doesn't seem to like that idea too much!" Lita exclaimed grinning.
Andrew walked over to the table, curious as to what was the matter with 
Serena. 
"What just happened?" Andrew questioned the three still sitting at the table.
"Darien just announced that his father wants him to marry Serena and she 
ran to the bathroom to throw up!" Amy replied. "I'd take that as a hint Darien," 
She teased.
Andrew raised a questioning eyebrow at Darien. Darien returned it with a 
subtle look that told Andrew that he'd find out all about it later. He was about to 
go back to work, when Serena came from the bathroom looking a little better than 
she had when she'd gone in.
"Are you ok?" Andrew asked. 
"Yeah I'm fine. I just lost my breakfast but I am so hungry! Can I have a 
double cheeseburger with pickles, fries and a chocolate milkshake?"
Everyone stared at her with wide-eyed incredulity.
"What?" Serena snapped. "I'm hungry!"
"Serena do you think it's wise to eat all that after you just threw up? You 
could have a stomach virus!" Amy asked.
"I'm fine Amy. Stop Worrying! A girl's got to eat, you know."
"So says the bottomless pit." Lita commented teasingly.
"Hey! Just because I don't waste food like other people, doesn't make me a 
bottomless pit!"
Darien watched on amusedly, smiling unintentionally. He was happy not to 
be apart from her anymore. He watched as she laughed and talked with her 
friends and suddenly felt shame wash over him. 
He was ashamed, for not feeling as upset or guilty about impregnating a 
sixteen-year-old girl, as he should. She had her whole life before her and he'd 
changed her life forever. He wondered if she'd for a moment considering aborting 
their child? He knew the answer to that. She hadn't she wouldn't, no matter how 
much easier it could make their lives. Serena cared too much about life to even 
consider it.
 That was just one of the things he'd felt within her when they'd made love. 
In those moments he'd known her every hope and dream. He'd fallen in love with 
everything about her and everything about her was beautiful. Even the way she 
was inhaling the fries Andrew had just placed before her. 
He was amazed at himself for taking all this so well. He was going to be a 
father. In a few months there would be a squealing infant who'd eventually call him 
Daddy. It was disturbing but somehow natural. In his mind he's even already 
decided that he would marry her. He could just imagine the look on his friends' 
face when he told them he was going to be a father and a husband. 
Suddenly there was a low-pitched beeping and Serena groaned as Amy and 
Lita pulled out their communicators. Raye's face appeared in the small view 
screen at the top of the sick pink plastic communicators.
"You know the drill. Youma at the tower; it's a big one." Raye said calmly.
"We'll be there soon," Lita replied.
"Let's go guys!" Lita said.
"I'm not done yet," Serena grumbled over a fry. 
"Come on," Lita said grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the booth.
"Actually, Lita. Serena's not going," Darien said.
"I'm not?" Serena asked, surprised. 
"She isn't?" Amy and Lita asked at the same time.
"No, she's not. Serena isn't feeling very well today are you Serena?"
Suddenly remembering the tiny child inside her, Serena sat down. 
"No, I'm not," Serena agreed. She definitely didn't want any harm to come 
to her baby even if she couldn't feel him or her just yet.
"She'll feel much better once she's transformed," Amy informed.
"No, I won't. This is ah…different."
Amy and Lita looked at her rather skeptically until Darien filled in.
"I'm sure we can handle it on our own guys," Darien said. "We don't have 
time to talk about this." They gave in and left Serena by herself to finish her food.
"Where did everyone go Serena?" Andrew asked.
"Oh, they had a little emergency." Serena replied nonchalantly as she took a 
bite out of her burger.
"And you didn't go with them?" Andrew asked, with an unbelieving 
expression on his face.
"No. I'm hungry." Serena replied and continued chewing.
Andrew shook his head and returned to work. He knew some very strange 
people!

" I told her this would work!" Beryl muttered out loud to herself. "Wait till she finds 
out the Prince and Princess are about to become Mommy and Daddy. If I weren't already 
dead I'd write my will!"

Serena finally took the last step up to the shrine feeling awfully tired by the 
time she was done. If they weren't here, she'd kill them just because she had to 
climb all those stairs for no reason.  She dragged herself over to the entrance of 
the temple and too tired to lift her feet, she tripped over the steps and found 
herself falling into Raye's room.
She never hit the floor as she felt herself landing in a pair of strong arms. 
"You know meatball head, if you keep tripping over yourself like that you're 
going to seriously damage something!" Darien commented teasingly.
The girls, who were sitting around the room, waited for her to blow but were 
shocked when she was now standing on her own and still calm.
 "Are you always going to call me that, Darien?" Serena asked sweetly.
"For as long as I can get away with it," he replied smiling.
"Hmmm," was all she said. All the girls stared at the two, their jaws hanging 
open. Wasn't that smile the same one she'd given Dave when she was flirting with 
him?
"So Serena, what happened to Sailor Moon today?" Raye asked crossly as 
Serena took a seat next to Darien. They'd just gotten back to the temple after the 
battle. Amy had twisted her ankle a bit and was still in her Scout form to speed up 
the healing process. 
"She won't be appearing for a while." Serena answered calmly. Mina glanced 
at Serena, realizing with some surprise, what her friend was doing. Obviously she 
had worked things out with Darien.
"What are you talking about now, Meatball," Raye asked tersely.
"Well as much as I hate depriving Mina of the opportunity for good gossip, 
I'd rather skip over the details she'd be bound to give," Serena began, causing 
some color to rise to both Darien and Mina's cheeks. Darien was so cute when he 
was embarrassed.
"Sailor Moon won't be appearing for a long while because I'm pregnant." 
The room was silent as all except Mina and Darien stared at Serena in shock.
"Did you just say you were pregnant?" Amy asked, still running Serena's 
words through her mind. Serena nodded.
"But you don't even have a boyfriend!" Raye said. "Who's the father?"
"I am!" Darien spoke up.
"Ok, now I know you're joking!" Raye said. "You almost had me there." 
When the serious expression remained on Darien and Serena's faces and 
they saw him move in closer to her, Lita, Raye, and Amy realized the two were 
serious. 
"I think they're serious guys," Lita muttered, completely shocked out of her 
mind.
"They can't be." Raye announced. "That would mean they'd actually have to 
sleep together!" Serena blushed and Darien gave a sly smile. Raye was slowly 
realizing that they really weren't kidding. Had she been anyone else, Raye swore 
she might have passed out. Instead she just stared at them blankly.
"You knew?" Amy asked Mina. Mina nodded, smiling sheepishly.
"And you didn't tell us?" Lita screeched. "You knew these two were doing 
the hanky panky in secret and you kept it to yourself!"
"They made me!" Mina defended. "I didn't know she was pregnant, nor for 
that matter did she, until yesterday!"
"Just how pregnant are you Serena?" Amy asked curiously.
"Just a little." Serena replied jokingly.
"Serena!" Amy uttered.
"A little more than a month," She answered seriously.
"This is unbelievable!" Lita muttered. "And I thought you guys hated each 
other!"
"I guess it is a miracle!" Amy proclaimed.

"Why is there a limo outside your house Serena?" Darien asked as they got 
out of his car. He was already nervous enough as things were. He'd forgone the 
armor for a casual suit. If he couldn't protect himself he might as well make an 
attempt to impress. 
"I don't know," Serena replied worriedly. 
They walked into the house to find it filled with people.
"Serena!" a loud voice squealed. A dark-haired girl flung herself into 
Serena's arms.
"Rena!" Serena gasped. "What are you doing here?" Serena asked her 
younger sister Irene. As she looked around she realized most of her family were in 
her living room. 
"Daddy!" She ran over to her father, Richard, and gave him a hug; she then 
gave another hug to her very pregnant stepmother and then bent to pick up her 
excited little sister Catherine. 
The tiny blonde Cherub, looked a lot like Serena. She had big blue eyes, 
golden curls and the most adorable pink cheeks. She looked like a life-sized doll. 
"Kat!" Serena squealed twirling the little girl around, as she giggled 
excitedly.
 Darien watched Serena and her family. He could easily imagine their own 
child replacing Catherine in Serena's arms. Looking around at the two large men, 
who were Serena's fathers (an odd thing to say), he was suddenly very, very 
nervous. It was going to be a long evening.
"What are you guys doing here?" Serena asked excitedly, completely 
forgetting Darien and why he was there.
"Celine just got it into her head that she wanted to pay you a surprise visit," 
Richard said pointing to his wife.
"Who's your 'friend'," Serena?  Irene asked her sister, drawing attention to 
the gorgeous guy standing beside her. Serena suddenly remembered her purpose 
and became very flustered. She managed a decent introduction.
"Mom, Dad, Celine, Dad, Irene, Catherine, this is Darien," she introduced, 
"my boyfriend, she finished in a whisper.
Darien found himself shaking a lot of hands, including that of the toddler in 
Serena's arms. At least two of those handshakes had been rather painful, 
accompanied by intense glares. And to think they hadn't even heard their 
'wonderful' news yet, Darien thought.
To Darien's great dismay, while Serena and Irene helped Ikuko with dinner 
and Celine and Catherine attempted to fight jetlag by taking a nap upstairs, 
Darien found himself alone with two very protective fathers.
"So how long have you been 'secretly' dating my daughter young man?" 
Kenji demanded. The man certainly had a way of getting directly to the point. He 
began to answer nervously under the intense gaze of the two fathers.
"Approximately a month sir," Darien replied, his voice sounding more 
confident than he felt. He eyed the swords above the mantel nervously. "I have no 
intention of bringing harm to your daughter sir," 'except for impregnating her and 
making her go through the horrors of child birth before the age of eighteen' he 
added to himself. 
"Whatever gave you the idea that we assumed you'd hurt her?" Richard 
asked. "Of course if you did…"
Darien gulped. That unfinished sentence left his mind open to many 
possibilities. The axe dream came rushing back to him. 
"I was just saying that just in case you thought…" Darien had no idea what 
he was trying to say.
"Kenji, Richard, I hope you're not trying to intimidate this young man," 
Ikuko interrupted, much to Darien's relief. "Why don't you come help us in the 
kitchen Darien? You men can intimidate and interrogate some other time.

"He is so cute!" Irene giggled.
Serena smiled. This slightly younger, giggling, dark-haired version of herself 
made her feel so old when she considered all the things Irene didn't have to deal 
with. Irene went to a boarding school in France where there were no youma, no 
Sailor Scouts and no boys. 
"How long have you been going out?"
"Uh…we haven't exactly gone out per say."
"I don't understand. I thought you said he was your…"
"He is, I guess." Serena broke in. "We just haven't gone out."
"Ok. Then…?
"You know what Rena, I might as well tell you now before you hear it later, 
just try not to freak out on me."
"Ok," Irene agreed, already concerned. 
"I'm having his baby!"
"You're what!" Irene yelled, just as Serena slapped her hand over her 
mouth. 
"I told you not to freak out!"
"How am I not to freak out?" Irene began hurriedly in French. "You just said 
you're going to have baby with some guy you haven't even been out on a date 
with!! How long have you even known this guy?" 
"Long enough to know I love him! I spent two years arguing with him. Believe 
me I know him."
"You haven't told them yet have you?" Irene asked referring to their parents.
"I told mom. I brought him here so we could tell Kenji and it looks like I'll be 
saving myself that third explanation now that Dad's here."
"I so do not envy you?"
Serena sighed and continued tossing the salad, one of the few things she 
was actually capable of in the kitchen.
"How old is he? He looks older than you."
"That's because he's twenty-two," Serena replied. Irene balked.
"You're in for it!"
"I know. I wonder if he's still alive out there?"


"So what exactly do you do Darien," 'apart from impregnating sixteen year 
old girls on a whim'? Ikuko added to herself? She had to admit she was somewhat 
angry at Darien. He was after all a grown man. He should have been more 
responsible than this. She had known twenty-two year old men however, and she 
had to admit that they were not that much more mature than teenage boys.
"I work for the University computer center, just don't tell my father, but I'm 
also a full time student."
"Your father?"
"Yes, Michael Chiba of Chiba Tech. He wants me to go into the computer 
business with him."
"What do you want to do?"
"I'm majoring in geology and botanical science. I want to work on the mars 
terra forming project."
 "You're very ambitious."
"It's one of the few things I have in common with my father."
"And Serena? How do she and this baby fit into your life?"
"I don't know yet. It's all very new to me," Darien replied truthfully. "I'm only 
sure that I want them with me."
"Well, I suggest you come up with a plan pretty soon. I guarantee that the 
two men I just rescued you from are going to want to know the details." Ikuko 
didn't mean to be blunt but he needed to know that this was not going to be easy.

At dinner, Darien was relieved to find himself seated between Serena and 
her mother. The dinner table had been expanded to include all their guests. 
Darien was amazed to find how well Richard and Kenji got along. Personally, if his 
fiancée had had a child with another man he wouldn't have forgiven her. Then 
again if his teenaged daughter got pregnant by a man five years her senior he'd 
probably try to kill him. He certainly hoped Kenji was as forgiving of him.
Dinner went relatively well, his interrogation was rather limited. A few 
questions had been tossed his way that were uncomfortable, but in the end little 
had come of them. By the end of dinner however both men were eyeing him with 
suspicion. He had a feeling it had something to do with him being in college, still 
they hadn't asked his age…yet.
Suddenly, as he was beginning to settle a bit the question came.
"What year of college are you in Darien?" Mr. Tsukino asked.
"I'm a senior sir," Darien answered as confidently as he could manage. 
"That would make you…?" Richard asked, leaving the question open for 
Darien to fill in the blanks.
"Twenty-two, sir." There was a sudden silence at the table and Serena easily 
recognized the clenching of her father's jaw that had nothing to do with his 
chewing. 
As dinner came to a close, Serena grew more nervous. She felt her stomach 
do a belly flop after the table was cleared.
"Irene, why don't you take your sister upstairs to wash up. Sammy go with 
them."
"But mom," Sammy complained. He wanted to watch TV but the look on his 
mother's face told him there would be no arguing. Irene wanted to stay and see 
what happened but she decided she'd let Serena explain later.

Serena's parents sat in the living room waiting for her to say something as 
she and Darien sat across from them. Richard and Kenji both suspected bad news 
when they saw Serena nervously slip her hands into Darien's. She cleared her 
throat before she began speaking.
"Darien and I have some important news." She didn't bother addressing any 
of them by name; that would have been rather confusing. "We're going to have a 
baby." Her voice shook as she said it and the nervousness she was feeling 
increased ten-fold as she waited for a reaction. Darien squeezed her hand, feeling 
it shake.
"Mr. Tsukino…"
"Don't say a word!" Richard interrupted tersely. Darien gulped but remained 
silent. 
The entire room fell so still that the only sound was the loud ticking of the 
clock on the wall. Darien suddenly felt as though it was counting down to the 
moment the axe fell on his neck. 
"I suppose this is what you meant when you said you'd never do anything to 
hurt my daughter? I suppose you think by knocking her up before she's even had 
the chance to finish high school is doing her a favor!" Richard yelled angrily.
"Serena, you're coming with me when I leave. This bastard can find some 
other young girl to knock up after you leave." Richard snapped at her.
"What!" Serena screamed. "I'm not leaving!"
"Yes you are! I suggest you start packing your things."
"I'm not going anywhere with you! Do you think you can just come here and 
demand that I do exactly as you say when you want it? I'm not your employee; I'm 
your daughter."
"And as my daughter you are my responsibility. You will do as I say."
"No I won't!" Serena screamed. "This is my life and my baby and I'll be 
damned if I let you ruin it."
"Serena," no one's trying to ruin your life." Ikuko intervened trying to calm 
the situation.
"We don't have to," Kenji said angrily. "Chiba here, seems to be doing a 
damn fine job all by himself!"
Darien was unnerved by all the yelling in both English and Japanese. He 
was beginning to wish he'd never set foot in this house. Chances are he had ruined 
Serena's life. He didn't even have any solid plans for their life ahead of them. Their 
relationship would begin the hard way, with a third person being introduced before 
they even had the chance to really talk and get to know each other. He knew he 
loved her but was it enough?
"I love your daughter," Mr. Chandler. "I can promise you I'll do whatever it 
takes to give her the best life I possibly can."
"You won't be giving her a damn thing! Just who the hell do you think you 
are waltzing into this house with some pathetic drivel about love and a whole 
bunch of useless promises? Is that what you think it takes to raise a family?" Kenji 
yelled.
"Look, Mr. Tsukino," Darien said beginning to get angry, "I'd bet my trust 
fund that you didn't have any idea just what the hell you were doing when Serena 
was born! I'll bet you screwed up many times, but she turned out just fine. I'd 
appreciate it if you'd give me a chance to raise my child, make my own mistakes 
with the woman I love. If you can't understand that then I can't see how God saw it 
fit to give you a child to raise!"
Darien could stand no more. He turned his back and showed himself out the 
front door. 
"I hate you both!" Serena yelled angrily at both men before storming out the 
door after Darien.

Darien sat in his car, his head on the wheel. He heard the passenger door 
open and Serena got in. 
"Well that went about as well I expected." Serena said quietly. "Maybe a bit 
better; the sword are still where they were."
"Yes, and my head's still attached," Darien added. He even managed a 
small smile. Her presence was already making him feel better. She slipped her 
small hand into his.
"We really don't know anything about raising children," Serena said 
seriously.
"We'll learn."
"We'll have to. There isn't much choice in the matter is there?"
"No. I guess not. I'm sorry Serena; you shouldn't have to deal with this now. 
You haven't even finished high school yet."
"It's not all your fault you know."
"I'm older I should have known better."
"Maybe, but if I could go back and do it all over I still would."
"Stay with me?" Darien asked.
"Always, but not tonight. I need to go back inside before I'm disowned." She 
kissed him goodnight before walking back into what she was now visualizing as the 
mouth of hell.

"I could hear you guys screaming from up here! What's happened?" Irene 
whispered. While the rest of her family had gone back to the hotel, Irene had 
stayed with her sister in her room.
"Well, Dad threatened to take me to back to San Francisco with him, Darien 
stormed out, and I told them I hate them both." Serena said calmly, watching as 
her sister's eyes went wide. 
"And?" Irene asked wanting more details.
"I'm moving in with Darien, at least that's what I want to do. Dad insists he 
won't, and I quote, "allow me to marry some delinquent pedophile whose only 
concern is where he'll stick his prick next." He's still considering a lawsuit, but 
hopefully he'll calm down by tomorrow morning. I seriously doubt it though; Kenji 
has threatened to maim Darien if he so much as touches my person and I think he 
just sprouted ten gray hairs.  Mom has a migraine and Celine burst into tears at 
which Dad snapped at me about how all this nonsense I've gotten myself into is 
putting undue strain on the mother of my future siblings. 
The deal I managed to get with Mom's help, is that, I can move in with 
Darien as long as I have a private tutor and agree to finish high school. I now have 
control over the expense account of my trust fund. Dad, for his own benefit to keep 
him from looking like he just lost his argument, has informed me he'll be watching 
Darien's every move."
"Oh my God! Aren't you scared? I mean you're going to have a baby!"
"I have never been more scared in my life!" 


"Hey Darien! What's up?" Dave yelled. He had with him a group of friends 
that Darien hung out with occasionally.
"Hey guys!"
"Where are you headed?" 
"I was going to my Dad's place, why?"
"You have time to hang out a while?"
"I guess so. What are you guys up to?" Darien hadn't set any time with his 
Dad. He certainly didn't feel any guilt delaying the visit.
"We're just hanging out. Come to the cafeteria with us." Darien couldn't 
understand why anyone would actually voluntarily eat the food at the university's 
cafeteria, but he went with them anyway.
"Hey guys," Dave began, addressing the two other guys in his group. There 
was Rob, a tall redhead also on the tennis team and Kai, an exchange student 
from Hawaii. "Darien here has a monopoly on this really hot group of high school 
girls! And get this the hottest one is the one he doesn't get along with!"
 "Isn't it bad enough you can have all the college girls, you have them before 
they're even legal!" Rob said in a rather congratulatory tone.
"Guys!" Darien warned. He wasn't particularly appreciating this line of 
conversation. The girls were after all his closest friends along with Andrew. He 
even had a picture of them torturing him in the park. It had just been one of those 
playful days and Serena had snapped a strange shot of Amy holding his head in a 
head lock, while Raye sat on his back and Mina and Lita pulled at his cheeks. It 
certainly wasn't him at his best but he kept it around to remind him of the 
wonderful friends he had.
"I'm still considering asking Serena out," Dave said. "She's really cute!" 
He suddenly went still when Darien glared at him, the muscle in his jaw 
clenched tightly. In that moment he looked as intimidating as his father.
"I suggest you find another candidate," Darien said icily.
"Whoa! What's the matter with you?" Kai asked, interrupting the stare down 
Darien was giving a reasonably uncomfortable Dave.
"Absolutely nothing. I just don't appreciate having my friends being treated 
like toys for your personal amusement."
"All, I said was I was thinking about asking her out! Besides, last time I 
checked you guys weren't exactly friendly." Dave said, slightly irked about the way 
Darien was behaving. "It's not like she's a little kid. 
"Ok. I'll put it simply. Feel free to ask any of the other girls out, and get shot 
down, or you can hit on Serena and I'll personally break your arm in three places." 
Darien said calmly.
"Oh my god!" Dave whispered. "You have a thing for her!" 
'Well that's the understatement of the year!' Darien thought to himself.
"When did this happen!?" Dave questioned. Darien merely shrugged, 
refusing to answer the question.
"Weren't you the same guy who told me she was jail bait?" Dave asked 
incredulously. 
Darien was regretting having said anything. "Forget I said anything ok?"
"Hell No!" Dave said. I want to know the details.
"Well since you're going to find out at some point. I might as well let you 
know now. Serena and I are a couple. She's moving in with me." Darien informed 
them in a rather casual fashion.
"You're kidding right? A few weeks ago you couldn't stand her and now 
she's moving in with you!"
"Wait a sec, this girls parents are letting her move into an apartment with 
you? Rob asked unbelievingly.
"She's pregnant," Darien said simply. "It's much more convenient for her to 
live with me. I'm the lucky father after all." Darien had to admit he was enjoying 
shocking them.
"Whoa, hold on!" Dave said. "I know you just didn't say you got Serena 
pregnant!"
"Yeah. Aren't you Mr. Perfect?" Darien rolled his eyes at the ridiculous 
statement. He was unwilling to accept even the idea that many people seemed to 
have that he and his life were nothing short of perfect.
"Looks like you're being domesticated really early!" Kai teased. "I can't 
believe you are the same guy who said he wasn't interested in any serious 
relationships until he graduated."
"I am not 'domesticated'! I knew I shouldn't have told you guys anything. 
I'm out of here. I'll see you guys later." Darien got up and left the guys to mull over 
the shocking news with which he'd left them.

Darien walked into the enormous house his father and Brandi shared. The 
new housekeeper, Lucy, answered the door and informed him that his father and 
Brandi were sitting down to dinner. 
"Darien. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show," his father greeted. 
"Take a seat. I can't say I expected you to come. You hardly ever show your face 
around here unless we insist."
"I have important news," Darien said getting directly to the point."
"Well don't keep us waiting, please speak your mind." Darien's father said 
impatiently.
"Since you insist, I'm going to be a father." His father was quiet for a 
moment a confused look on his face.
"I'm not sure I understand you correctly. You say you're going to be a 
father? Of a child?"
Darien had to smile. His father was usually rather eloquent and he 
considered him the most intelligent man he knew but that was certainly the 
dumbest question he'd ever heard escape the man's lips.
"No, of an Orangutan, of course of a child!"
"Don't be impertinent! Who may I ask is the mother of this child?
"Serena Chandler." His father was silent again.
"The same girl you said you weren't interested in and whom you claimed 
was too young for you to ask out. Is there some sort of strange standard you 
young people have these days that I'm not aware of. She's too young to be asked 
out but young enough to sleep with!" Darien knew his father was in his own way 
saying 'I told you so'.
"I didn't exactly make plans to sleep with her! It just happened.
"These things don't just happen!" Michael said, calmly taking a bite of 
baked potato.
I thought you'd be pleased to know that in some round about fashion I took 
your advice. She is, of course, the same one whose father you wanted a business 
deal with. I seriously doubt now would be a good time to approach him however, 
he's very upset at the moment. I think it might have something to do with his 
pregnant daughter."
"Don't be impudent!  You obviously think this is some kind of joke!"
"Not at all Dad. Everyone in this family gets what they want, except you 
Brandi; you're only after the money after all. I get the girl I love, Mother gets the 
daughter-in-law she's always wanted and you get the business connection you 
want. You should be pleased."
"There is no need to insult Brandi or this family. We didn't get you into this 
situation. We certainly didn't raise you to behave this way."
"You didn't raise me at all! I was raised by an English nanny by the name of 
Marie. She died four years ago and you were too busy to attend her funeral." 
Darien said coldly. 
Darien realized he was being unfair. His father had been relatively receptive. 
He had been worrying about details and by the time he'd gotten around to his 
news it had thrown him off track. He had automatically gone into defense-attack 
mode in expectation of the usual arguments he normally had with his father.
"I'm sorry Dad. I guess I'm a little tense. Serena's family wasn't particularly 
receptive, not that I expected them to be, but it has been on my mind."
"When do I get to meet this young lady? Why didn't bring her with you?"
"She's spending the day with her family. Her family arrived from San 
Francisco to see her yesterday. You'll meet her soon hopefully."
"I hope to meet her family as well."
"Of course. You're taking this rather well."
"I'm not Puritanical. Your mother doesn't look as young as she does 
because she's a blue blood as she claims. She looks young because she's only 
thirty-nine. The business marriage you are so opposed to did not actually occur 
until five months before you were born."
"I'm not repeating your life am I?" Darien asked suddenly worried about 
turning into his father. There was too much evidence pointing in that direction. He 
wouldn't mind the looks but the rest his father could keep.
"That depends. Are you harboring any computer knowledge I'm unaware of? 
If you are, then you may end up repeating my life after all. I was a biology major 
studying to be a doctor before I picked up on the computer trend and made a 
career change. My father wasn't particularly happy but he changed tunes later."
"And you think I'm going to do the same?" Darien asked.
"I don't know. Are you?" Michael asked his son teasingly.
"I thought you disapproved of dramatic age differences, Darien" Brand 
commented suddenly, in her sickeningly sweet tone."
"Five years is quite minor as opposed to twenty." Darien replied tersely, 
reminding her of the age difference between her and his father.
"Let's not do this." Michael ordered.
"Of course, dear," Brandi conceded, her nauseating tone unsettling Darien's 
stomach.

The moment Darien had informed his mother of his new girlfriend and their 
coming baby, she had booked a flight for Tokyo. In just an hour two families would 
meet to either become one or kill each other. He looked in the mirror and 
straightened his tie once again. 
He was ready far earlier than he needed to be which left him with plenty of 
time to panic, worry, and pace the floor of the apartment before heading over to 
the restaurant. He had decided on neutral territory; that way Chandler and 
Tsukino would probably think before harming him. He certainly hoped Chandler 
would be much calmer than he had been before.
Serena brushed her hair for the final time. She had had to change her mid-
calf skirt and silk blouse for a full-length formal summer dress when she'd felt the 
waist was just a little tighter than it had been before. This baby was slowly 
becoming a reality. 
She was a little nervous about meeting Darien's parents. It was an 
enormous comfort that they would be much calmer and more accepting than her 
own parents. Of course, they didn't have a pregnant teenage daughter.
Yesterday she hadn't said a word to any of her parents. She had gone out 
with her Dad and Celine to lunch, where she'd eaten quietly with the exception of 
a few words to Irene and Catherine. Her little sister had made her feel slightly 
better and she'd spent a good part of the day playing with her. Catherine was so 
sweet and innocent and she was the only one whose view of her hadn't changed.
 She could hear her mother calling her. She looked herself over in the mirror. 
She was wearing blue, a color that looked especially good on her. Looking good 
did little to assuage her nervousness. Tonight the rest of her future would be 
decided. She closed her eyes, said a little prayer, and went downstairs.

"It seems your son has impregnated my daughter Chiba," Richard said 
cutting to the chase as soon as dinner was ordered."
"Daddy, Please!" Serena whispered, embarrassed at how forward he was 
being with people he knew nothing of but their names. 
Serena had been surprised when she'd met Darien's parents. Mr. Chiba 
looked exactly like Darien only older and with a startling pair of light brown eyes. 
His mother had luxurious black hair and the same shade of blue eyes as her son. 
Serena was truly amazed. Arianna didn't look old enough to have a son Darien's 
age. She had the air and grace of a princess. It was enough to make Serena feel 
like a clod.
Unlike Serena's parents, Darien's seemed calm and had already attached 
themselves to her in a way that was comforting to her considering the situation 
she was having to deal with her own parents, more specifically Kenji and Richard.
"It seems he has." Chiba replied calmly. His casual reply left little else to be 
said, but Richard managed to find something.
"I'm sure you're aware my daughter is only sixteen. I'm very tempted to 
report him to the police and have him charged with statutory rape!"
Serena and Darien sucked in a deep breath. Kenji nodded in agreement and 
Celine and Ikuko glared at Richard, a pointless act considering he seemed to be 
completely oblivious. Michael however, remained calm.
"You're an intelligent man Chandler, I'm sure you're fully aware that if you 
were to charge my son with rape we'd both end up with an everlasting court battle 
pitting the best lawyers against each other, and if by some miracle you were to win 
all you'd get was a pregnant daughter with no father for her child."
Richard being the intelligent man he was easily recognized the logic in that 
statement. If anything however, it made his blood boil that he hadn't realized the 
stupidity of his threat in the first place. His anger at Darien while not completely 
misplaced was bordering on the irrational. 
The deed was done, his daughter was pregnant, and the young couple 
seemed very much in love. Darien was very willing to stand by her side and take 
care of his responsibilities. He only had one thing to insist on however. Before he 
could say anything, Chandler's ex-wife interrupted. Looking at the beautiful woman 
he had to seriously wonder what sane man would choose to divorce her?!
"Mr. Chandler, Mr. Tsukino," Arianna began diplomatically in her gentle, 
accented voice, "My son and your daughter are obviously well-matched despite 
their age. I think it would be in all our best interests to make the best of the 
situation and accept that we will be joined as a family. It's best you men put your 
anger aside and let Darien and Serena work things out on their own."
"We really have no problem with that," Ikuko said. I think what Richard and 
Kenji would like to ensure security for Serena and their child. We would like to see 
these two married as soon as possible."
Serena's eyes doubled and she gulped. Her life was being planned out 
before her eyes. Just last year her only concern had been where to spend the 
holidays, what to do on the holidays, and which guys were the cutest. Suddenly 
everything was a whirlwind. In the last two months everything had changed. She 
was expecting a baby, moving in with a man she had just realized she loved, and 
now there was talk of a marriage, which in her mind hinted at wedding and her 
seventeenth birthday was only two weeks away. 
Darien was equally surprised. While he had every intention of marrying 
Serena he had hoped that it would be an event decided between them not 
between three sets of parents bent on running their lives. How had one moment of 
ecstasy led to this? His whole life, his future, was changing moment by moment 
and it was extremely unsettling.
"Naturally, we expected the same thing," Michael agreed with Ikuko. There 
is a problem with age however. Your daughter is only sixteen, she does not meet 
the age requirements for marriage in this country. If there is to be a wedding it will 
have to be somewhere else."
"Well, they could get married in Florida." Celine suggested.
"I don't know, Ikuko said. "Is it possible for them to marry in Paris?"
Serena and Darien looked at each other, frustrated at the direction of the 
conversation. By the time the waiter arrived, they were both equally upset. 
Somehow at the mention of a wedding their families had bonded but left the two 
subjects of conversation out. The men were discussing money, and business and 
the mothers were discussing all the other possibilities from location to maternity 
gowns. 
They gave in however and just enjoyed their dinner in silence, rolling their 
eyes at the comments and suggestions being tossed back and forth and smiling at 
each other. Their lives were being planned around them but at this point in time 
they really didn't care. This would give them the opportunity to focus on more 
important things like Serena's doctor's appointment tomorrow, the baby and each 
other.


Serena stared at herself nervously as Celine placed the wreath of silk roses 
with its short veil down on her loose blonde hair, perfectly curled around her in 
ringlets for the wedding. Everything was happening so fast! On short notice the 
wedding had turned out to be medium sized affair that was taking place in a 
garden in the south of France.
Everything was perfect. Her sleeveless empire-waist wedding gown was 
cream silk with pale gold and white roses, designed by Irene's mother and altered 
to fit her protruding stomach. There were flowers everywhere, a mini orchestra and 
a brunch buffet awaiting the guests after the wedding. She was amazed by how 
much her mother, her new mother-in-law, her stepmother, and her sister's mother 
had gotten done on such short notice. 
It had been her father, Richard, who had insisted on a formal affair with 
many guests. In his own way, he was secretly happy, if somewhat dismayed, to see 
her married. Serena was quite surprised to find herself looking forward to actually 
being married, something she hadn't expected to happen for years.
Over the last few weeks she had come to accept her situation with less 
distress and more ease than she's thought was possible. The moment of truth and 
acceptance had occurred when Darien had held her hand as they heard their 
baby's heart beat for the first time. It was certainly an amazing feeling to know 
there was another tiny heart beating inside you.
She settled the veil around her shoulders and her mother and stepmother 
helped her settle the long edges of the gown around her. With tears in her eyes, 
Ikuko handed her the bouquet of cream roses and left the room to make their way 
to the area outside where the guests were all seated. Serena would walk down the 
aisle alone rather than choose between the two fathers whom she viewed equally.
The music began to play and she found her feet, as if on their own accord, 
walking timely down the aisle. She glanced around at the guests, a sea of pastel 
colors, finding her friends seated close to the front. Her closest friends had all 
been flown all the way to France just to see her married. Technically she and 
Darien were already married, having signed the licenses at a short stop in Miami. 
It wouldn't be complete however, without the ceremony that would declare them a 
couple before their friends and family.
Serena found her eyes settling on Darien's expectant face and grew 
impatient with what was beginning to seem like an everlasting walk. Darien had no 
doubts as he stared into the face of the young lady approaching him at a pace so 
slow as if intended to be torture. She had never looked more beautiful and nothing 
he'd ever done had ever felt so right. 
When she finally arrived and he took her hands into his and refused to let 
go. He was a little nervous and his hands shook a little. When it finally came time 
to say their vows his nervousness increased as he began to recite the vows he had 
spent an entire week writing.
"Serena, we weren't always the best of friends and now I swear it must have 
been a miracle that made me realize how much I've always loved you, because I 
was so sure I could choose when, how and with whom I'd fall in love. I always 
thought I could plan my life and make things the way I wanted them. You came 
into my heart unannounced, changing everything I thought I knew about life and 
love. I realized that you can't plan to fall in love. You are the unexpected gift I 
never knew I wanted or needed but now I can't live without you. 
I promise to love and care for you as long as I'm able. You are the love of my 
life, the one I choose to be with forever and always. I swear to protect and honor 
you in all ways and make every attempt to make our lives together a never-ending 
joy. I love you, and I choose you to be my one and only loving wife."
By the time he completed his vows both he and Serena were teary and 
smiling. He could see the loving adoration in her eyes and it made his heart beat 
faster as she prepared to say her own vows.
"For so long I denied the great things I saw about you. I denied myself the 
love for you that was deep within, a love that now makes me feel strong and 
complete whenever I am with you. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I have 
known you so long without giving in to the love that is so strong between us now. 
You can be sure that I will never give up on our love. Our love will be the 
center of great things because it is eternal. I am blessed to know you and even 
more so to love you. I love you, and I choose you to be my one and only loving 
husband."
They both barely heard the minister pronounce them man and wife as they 
reached, without prodding, to kiss each other, joining them not only as man and 
wife but as a family. 


Serena unpacked the last of her clothing, looking around the new condo she 
and Darien now shared. It was a wedding gift of sorts from both their parents. His 
place while comfortable had been the ultimate bachelor pad and there had been a 
need for more room. Their new place was certainly beautiful and similar in size 
and layout to Mina's place. 
The second wedding gift had come from Irene's Mom. It had been a 
honeymoon on a European cruise line, which to her great satisfaction kept her out 
of a swimsuit, something she refused to wear with her swelling stomach. Her 
fathers quote on hearing of the week and a half long cruise was a rather loud 
whisper to her mother; "What do they need a honeymoon for? Isn't that what got 
them here in the first place?" It was now safe for her to laugh at that. 
She found herself beginning to wonder if it were possible for her family to get 
any larger and stranger. She now had three sets of parents. During the planning of 
the wedding she had noticed something happening between Arianna and Michael, 
something that had annoyed that Brandi woman who seemed to be so self 
involved. If things turned out to be as she saw them, Darien would have his 
parents back the way he preferred them.
She looked herself over in the mirror. At eight months pregnant she was 
enormous. There was this round ball protruding from her middle making her look 
alien. Her body certainly didn't feel like her own. Being pregnant always seemed 
more attractive on other people and it certainly felt more attractive on someone 
else. 
Except for the swollen feet and aching back however, she had to admit she 
felt rather good. Every now and then her child would kick either gently tickling or 
mildly painful reminder of its existence. Feeling her baby moving inside her was 
the strangest yet most marvelous feeling she'd ever experienced.
She was suddenly aware of Darien's eyes on her, watching her amusedly.
"How long have you been there?"
"A while," he replied smiling but not moving from the doorway. "You look 
beautiful." He looked over her rounded figure. Her face was aglow with warmth and 
the weight she'd gained from her pregnancy made her look like a cherub.
"I look fat!"
"You look pregnant."
"I'm scared Darien. What if my labor is as bad as Celine's was?" Her 
stepmother had given birth to two rather large baby boys only after the doctors 
had sped up the labor process after the first twenty hours.
"Everything will be fine, Serena. Celine had twins; this is very different. We'll 
have a healthy baby, you'll be fine."
She certainly hoped so. She couldn't bear to lose this baby now. It meant so 
much to her and to Darien. She wondered whether it was a boy or a girl. If they 
had a boy, it would be named after Darien's grandfather Anthony Chiba as well as 
her own Michael Chandler if it was a girl it would be named after Darien's mother 
and his nanny Marie who had died a few years ago.
She really couldn't wait to have this baby. Her body was feeling very 
uncomfortable but she still had another three weeks to go before their baby was 
due. 
While her friends were out of high school on vacation she had completed a 
good amount of her studies. She still had the better part of a year of tutoring to go 
but it was so much easier and more interesting than high school. Her tutor, a 
beautiful woman named Setsuna seemed to know everything and had far more 
interesting and comprehendible methods of teaching them than any of her high 
school teachers.
"Don't worry Serena," Darien said reassuringly. "You'll make me nervous 
too." He walked over and put his arms around her, enjoying having that much 
more of her to hug. 
"I love you."
"I love you too." He kissed her temple and she turned around I his arms, her 
round stomach between them. He leaned in for a kiss only to hear her say, "I'm 
hungry! Is there anything here to eat?"

Serena missed Luna. Intelligent as she was, she was still a cat and therefore 
posed a health risk for her and her baby. So when she and Darien had moved in 
together, Luna had not been able to go with them.
Luna had been disappointed but this gave her an excuse to do something 
she hadn't done for more than a thousand years and certainly didn't feel 
comfortable with. She and Artemis made a concentrated effort to regain and be 
comfortable in their human forms. She certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity to 
hold Serena's baby once the child was born.

Serena and her friends had been waiting for Darien inside a café on the 
university campus. They were all chatting happily, with the exception of Serena 
who as a bit quiet. She was feeling anxious and tired, a feeling only slightly 
relieved when her handsome husband (she loved the sound of the word) arrived. 
They relaxed together for a while talking and chatting until a beautiful redheaded 
girl headed over to their table. 
"Hello Darien," the tall redhead uttered flirtatiously, batting her eyelashes. 
Darien was curious as to why she was flirting so obviously when he was 
surrounded by five young women any of whom could be his girlfriend to the best of 
her knowledge, especially the very pregnant one sitting next to him. The rings on 
Serena and Darien's fingers apparently hadn't tipped her off in the least.
"Hi Mandy," Darien said nonchalantly. 
Mandy looked around at the group of girls. They were all cute but none of 
them could be his girlfriend, they had no sophistication or maturity. The fat 
blonde was as beautiful as the others but she really needed to lose some weight. 
"There's going to be a party at my sorority house this weekend, would you 
like to come with me?" Mandy asked sweetly. Darien was so stunned by this girls 
stupidity he was unable to answer. Fortunately that's what wives were for.
"Mandy, is it?" Serena began with a brilliant, if fake, smile on her face. "While 
I'm not against a little fun once in a while; I really don't appreciate my husband 
dating other women especially when I'm on the verge of giving birth to his child."
Mandy's eyes widened. "But, he can't be married to you!" She squealed 
incredulously. "He's the only guy on campus worth…" she trailed off suddenly 
realizing she was making a fool of herself. She composed herself and gave a forced 
smile. "I'm sorry I didn't know."
"That's fine, just try to be more careful next time." Mandy walked away with 
a confused expression on her face. That girl couldn't have been more than 
eighteen.
"You're good," Darien said smiling.
"Thank you!" Serena replied smiling brilliantly as she planted a kiss on his 
cheek. "Now where did you meet her? That had to be the third one this week."
Darien looked around in vain but found no help from the girls that 
surrounded him. 
Serena suddenly felt a cramping all along her lower stomach. She winced in 
pain as the sudden realization that she was actually in labor came over her. 
"I guess I am on the verge of giving birth," she said smiling weakly as she 
felt water running down her legs. "Darien, my water just broke. Get the car." Darien 
sat and stared at her for a while not quite believing she was actually ready to give 
birth. 
"Sweetheart" Serena said, "If you don't go get the car now, you'll have to 
deliver this baby yourself. You're brilliant but I'd really rather have this baby in the 
safety of a hospital room."
Ten hours later after threats to Darien's well being, severe labor pains, 
screaming and sweat, Serena gave birth to healthy screaming baby boy. Three 
sets of parents, five young women, Andrew and Dave awaited the happy couple. 
Even shortly after birth it was obvious that Michael Anthony Chiba looked very 
much like his father.
His eyes were brilliantly blue and curious and he was the most precious 
thing both his parents had ever seen. Darien was instantly in love with the small 
child and Serena knew this child was very much his. She'd be lucky if he'd let him 
go long enough to let her feed him. 
The reaction of her numerous parents had been most amusing. The group of 
knew grandfathers had become easily fascinated, completely monopolizing the 
baby and refusing the new grandmas any opportunity to hold their grandson. 
There would be no lack of babysitters. Even Andrew had found it endlessly 
amusing watching the baby's face crinkle as he opened his toothless mouth for a 
sleepy yawn. 
Serena had thought she'd have been just relieved to have labor over with 
and she was but she had been instantly impatient to hold her child. After holding 
her baby in her arms for the first time, looking at the tiny miracle with loving 
fascination, fatigue had taken over and she'd fallen asleep in Darien's arms. 
And then came the diapers…

 Epilogue

Darien woke slowly as he felt something burrowing into both sides of his 
body right beneath his armpits. He tried to raise his body a little but something 
was resting on his chest. He opened one eye slowly knowing the bright morning 
light would hurt his eyes. His vision was blurred but he managed to make out a 
little pudgy blonde mess resting on his bare chest. He glanced to his left to make 
note of a mass of blonde hair all over his arms, the head to which it belonged lay 
hidden, pressed into his side. He smiled a little and glanced to his other side to 
see a black-haired munchkin, face buried in his side taking advantage of his 
warmth.
He opened his eyes wide and smiled up at the two-year old blonde resting on his 
chest, intently chewing on her fingers, drool coming from her mouth about to fall 
unto his chest at any moment. He didn't dare move however. His wife's 
extraordinarily long blonde hair had tangled his arm as she nestled into his side, 
and his five-year-old son had buried himself into his other side. Luckily the toddler 
on his chest chose that moment to lie down on top of him and bury her head 
beneath his chin. It was then that he made the decision to close his eyes and go 
back to sleep.