I know, I know. . . some of you have been waiting impatiently for 
this next chapter. Well, your wishes have been granted! Here's chapter 
two. . .
	Author's notes at the bottom. . . I don't need to clutter up this 
story any more than I already have!





Finding the Arms of Love-chapter two
			by Sailor Elysia






	". . . so he's gone to the States, and he won't be back 
for supposedly a month or more?"
	Serena nodded numbly, clutching her mug filled with hot cocoa. 
Tears slipped down her face, and splashed 
unnoticed onto the tablecloth.
	"We had a fight the night before, longer and louder 
than it had even been. But I never thought it would ever turn 
out like this. What am I going to do, Mom? Just look at me, 
I'm a wreck." She gripped her cup harder, her knuckles turning 
white with the pressure. 
	Ilene placed her hand on Serena's arm. "I remember 
you telling me about the problems you've started to notice. I 
honestly don't know what to tell you, Serena. I've never been in 
the middle of something like this. Keep your hopes high, and 
I'm sure things will be all right."





		~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~





	Serena pulled out her journal early one afternoon, 
since it was the only way she knew how to cope with the 
loneliness she felt surrounding her.


	October 15.


	"It's only been a week since I came home, but it 
doesn't feel like my home anymore. Home is *our* apartment, 
where I would wait for Darien to come home every night, and 
we would do something. It didn't matter what it was, it was 
always special because we did it together. Now Darien's in a 
totally different country, and I'm here by myself, wondering if 
he's even going to come back.

	I always listened to him, held him close. If I could go back in time,
 I would change, I know I could. If it would have kept Darien here, I would 
do anything. After all we've been through to be together, how could it be 
so easy for him to 
leave it all behind?

	He always knew how to keep me safe, and I know he would never hurt 
me. Maybe he just can't see what's happening between us. There's got to be 
a way to make him understand.

	We've never really even talked about having a family 
of our own. I know how much he loves children, but I'm 
curious, is he trying to get away before things get too deep?"




	Just then, her mother called up the stairs. "Serena? There's a 
telephone call for you."
	She jumped up from her chair, and raced down the stairs, grabbing 
the phone from her mother's hand. 
	"Hello?" she said excitedly into the phone.
	"Serena? It's Darien," came the fuzzy reply.
	"Darien! You made it! How was your flight?"
	"Could have been better, but I'm here now in New 
York. Sorry I didn't call sooner, but I've been overwhelmed 
with the seminar as soon as I stepped off the plane. I haven't 
had a moment to myself until now. It's about two a.m. here, 
and I'm just finishing up a last minute project."
	She propped the phone up on her shoulder, and 
cradled it there. It was *so* good to hear his voice again. 
"Two a.m.? I won't keep you long, so you can get your rest."
	"Thanks. I'll try to keep you posted if any changes to 
my schedule come up, okay? But I can't count on anything."
	"It's all right. I'll write you every day, because I know phone 
calls overseas are costly."
	"Okay, but I can't promise you'll get a response every time. I'm 
going to have my hands full with this seminar."
	"I know you'll do your best, like you always do. Just don't overload 
yourself," she replied.
	"Listen, Serena, my time is almost up, so I have to 
hang up now. I'll try to call you again sometime."
	"Okay, Darien. I miss you!"
	"Miss you, too."
	"I love you!" she responded. 
	There was no reply, only the sound of a faint dial 
tone. She stared at the receiver. He hadn't said he loved her 
back. Maybe their connection had disconnected before he had 
heard her. She hoped that was the case. Serena slowly hung the receiver 
back up, and silently walked up the stairs to her room.





		~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~





	Ilene opened her eyes, and glanced at the digital clock on the night 
stand. One-thirty. What would have woken her up so abruptly? She lay still 
in bed, listening for sounds that 
would give her clues. She determined that whatever had 
brought her out of such a deep sleep must be elsewhere in the 
house.
	She crept quietly out of bed, careful not to wake her husband, 
grabbed her robe from the back of the door, and slipped it on as she 
stepped out into the hall. 
	The open door to her daughter's room across the hallway caught her 
attention as she glanced around. Ilene stood silently and looked in, 
tears coming to her eyes from the sight before her. She knew Serena had 
been crying herself to sleep during the last few weeks, but she had never 
seen her this distraught.
	Serena sat on her window seat, surrounded by the full moon in a deep 
velvet sky, twinkling with stars, and sobbed 
into her favorite bunny pillow. However, the pillow did little to 
quiet her sobs. She was also clutching a small glittering object, 
shaped like a star, in her fist. Ilene remembered seeing this 
before, back when Serena was still in junior high and high 
school, but didn't understand her daughter's attachment to it.
	She walked further into the room until she was at her daughter's 
side. She gently laid a hand on Serena's shoulder, 
not wanting to startle her.
	Serena glanced up to see the tear-stained face of her mother. 
Immediately she wrapped her arms around her, and 
Ilene knelt down so she could do the same.
	"Oh, Mama," Serena whispered, "I can't stand having him away. What 
if. . . what if he doesn't want to come back? Mama, what would I do without 
him? I need him to hold me, comfort me, tell me everything will be all 
right. I'm nothing without him!" Serena buried her face in her mother's 
shoulder.
	"Ssh, sweetheart, everything will work out." She fingered the locket 
Serena was clutching. "I've seen this 
before. Where did you get it?"
	Serena blushed momentarily, not sure how to describe its 
sentimentality. She might believe the story that Darien had given it to 
her, but would she accept the fact he had done so more than a thousand 
years ago?
	"It's something that Darien gave to me a long time 
ago, something that means more to me than anything in the 
world," she said simply, and left it at that. Ilene nodded. 
	"Darien still loves you, I'm sure of it. He just needs a little time 
to realize how much he needs you. He'll be back in a month or so, and 
everything will be normal again, you'll see."
	As Ilene had been consoling her, Serena had finally fallen asleep, 
clutching her pillow, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. Ilene 
kissed her on the forehead, brushed 
the loose hair out of her face, and propped her head against 
another pillow. She quietly stood up, and took one more look 
at her daughter.
	"Sweet dreams, Serena. I promise you everything will turn out for the
best."





		~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~





	The key turned easily in the door as it normally did. Serena silently 
opened the door, and glanced around the quiet apartment. She hadn't been 
back since she had gone to her parents', and coming here brought back all 
the memories.
	What they had had to go through just to get this apartment had been 
hard enough, and just knowing that it was finally *theirs*, gave her a 
sense of satisfaction.
	She couldn't bring herself to go back into the 
bedroom. That was *their* room. She had never slept alone in 
there, except for the night after their fight. Right then, she 
promised herself not to go in there until Darien came home, 
how ever long it took. 
	Serena stared at the bookcase, her gaze falling on a framed picture, 
the one they had taken the day they were engaged. She took the picture in 
her hands, and leaned against the wall as the memory of that day replayed 
in her mind.



		~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



	"Darien, why won't you tell me what we're doing tonight? You know I 
hate being kept in the dark," Serena complained, tugging on his arm, as 
they walked along the 
street. Night was just beginning to fall, and they were out for 
one of their customary walks.
	He looked down at her, and simply smiled. "I told 
you, it's a surprise," he replied, as he playfully pressed her 
nose with his finger. He bent down and kissed her gently on 
the cheek. "You're just going to have to be patient."
	Darien led her to a bench beneath a huge oak tree, on 
the shore of the small lake in the park. Serena immediately recognized it
as 'their' bench, the one place they always came 
to just to be together.
	He turned, fully facing her now, and took both her 
hands in his. "Serena, do you know what today is?"
	She thought momentarily, then the memory hit her. 
With a large smile, she replied, "Of course. Four years ago 
today was the day when we officially started dating." She 
removed her hands from his and threw them around his neck, 
delighted that he would remember such an occasion. "Is that 
your surprise?" she said, gazing at his handsome face.
	Darien grinned, and planted a light kiss on her lips. "That's part 
of it. But there's something else." He stepped away from her, Serena's 
arms dropping back to her sides, and she watched him pace slightly, shoving 
his hands into his pockets, and removing them just as quickly.
	He came back over to her, took hold of her arms, and 
led her to the bench, setting her down gently. "Serena, I 
brought you here tonight because. . .well, because I wanted to 
give you something to remember this day for more than 
something that happened four years ago." His left hand 
disappeared into his pocket again, then hung behind his back.
	Serena craned her neck, trying to see what Darien was holding behind 
his back. But before she could, in one swift motion, he was down on one 
knee, staring directly into her 
face, his features soft and full of love. She held her breath, not 
daring to hope.
	His hand came from behind his back now, and in his palm lay a small 
velvet box, with the most beautiful ring she 
had ever seen in her life nestled inside. It was a simple gold 
band, with tiny diamonds shaped into the form of a small heart 
in the center.
	Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked into 
his face again, the smile on his lips bringing one to her own.
	"I remember that day too, it being one of the finer 
days of my life. But I want to remember today for something 
more special than something that happened in the past. 
Nothing in the world would make me more happy than having 
you being by my side for the rest of my life. Serena Tsukino, 
will you marry me?"
	For one of the first times in her life, Serena was speechless. This 
was certainly a surprise, the last thing she had expected Darien to do on 
one of their nightly walks. Her emotions surged within her heart, all of 
them combining into 
one feeling, one word.
	Serena looked again at Darien through teary eyes, the hopeful 
expression on his face evident. Without warning, she flung herself into 
his arms. "Yes!" she cried out, "a thousand times yes, Darien, I will 
marry you!"
	His arms immediately came around her in a loving embrace, pulling
her close to him. He laughed as he tried to stand up with her still in his 
arms, his first attempt failing. She helped him the second time, and 
finally they were standing 
next to the lake, not wanting to let each other go.
	"Serena," Darien whispered into her ear, "you've just made the 
happiest person alive."
	She turned to him, tracing his facial features with the 
tip of her finger. "That makes two of us," she replied, and 
pulled him closer to share a tender kiss, one that said more 
than words could ever describe.



		~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



	Serena sighed as she stared at her ring, mesmerized 
by its beauty. Had it only been two years since that memorable 
day? Things had certainly changed since then. Oh, how she 
wished to go back to the time when life had been so much 
easier.
	She set the photo down next to their wedding picture, the one she had
been holding the night of their fight. As she looked more closely at it, 
she saw something she hadn't 
noticed before. In the lower corner, the ornate frame had 
started to visibly crack. 	Was this supposed to be some sort of sign? 
The tears spilled over once again, and she fell to her knees. Why was 
this happening to them? She thought everything was all right between them. 
Where had they gone wrong?
	Serena glanced at her watch. It was almost noon, and she was planning 
to go over to Rei's soon. She wiped her face, slowly stood up, and put the 
picture back in its place. Glancing once more around the silent apartment, 
she sorrowfully closed the door behind her.






		~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~





	Serena slowly walked up the steps to Rei's temple. 
They had called a meeting, rather just to get together than to 
discuss any business; it had been quite a while since they were 
last together. There wasn't any business to discuss anymore, anyway. 
Normally, Darien would have come with her, but. . . She shook off the 
tears she knew were trying to fall. Crying 
and pouting about it wouldn't bring him back any sooner. Only 
time could tell now.
	"Serena, glad you could make it," Rei said 
sarcastically. Serena just gave her a look to shut her up. She 
was in no mood for Rei's biting comments today.
	They started talking, but Serena couldn't concentrate. The 
others didn't notice, because they were off in their own world, 
catching each other up on different events. But 
something seemed different today, something was out of 
place. . .
	"Where's Darien, Serena?" Mina finally asked, 
bringing it to everyone's attention. It seemed odd without the 
only male member of their group present.
	Serena bit her lip. "Umm. . . he's not here."
	"Duh," Rei broke in.
	Serena looked at her again, the tears trickling down 
her cheeks. "He's. . . gone to the States. He's been there for 
almost a month for some medical conference, and I don't know 
when or even if he's coming home," she replied quietly, too 
quiet for her usual behavior. 
	The girls knew that since her marriage, Serena's emotions 
didn't surface as easily as they used to. So there was something 
definitely wrong here.
	Lita placed a hand on Serena's shoulder. "What happened? 
Why didn't you go with him?"
	She hugged her knees to her chest, and buried her 
face in them. "He claimed that I wouldn't have anything to do 
while he worked on the conference," she said, her voice 
muffled. "We had a fight the night before he left, and we said 
some things that I know I'll regret for the rest of my life."
	"Like what?" Rei asked, wanting to find out more. As much 
as she enjoyed teasing Serena, she also hated to see her hurting 
so much.
	Serena lifted her head, and looked at Rei with red 
eyes. "Please don't ask me to recall that awful night. I keep 
wishing it was all a nightmare. But it wasn't, and because of it, 
he's not here.
	"Without Darien here, it's even a struggle for me to 
get up in the morning. I didn't even want to go out of the 
house today. But you guys are my best friends. I couldn't let 
you down."
	Ami came over, and gave Serena a tight hug. Of all 
the girls, she had a feeling she knew what she was going 
through, because she had experienced this as a child with her 
own parents. The others quickly followed suit, and soon they 
were in a large group hug around Serena, each of them sending 
her strength and support.
	"It's probably just a phase. I watched my parents go 
through the same thing, only it was much more severe and they 
weren't willing to compromise over anything. There's not much 
you can do, except wait and hopefully, he'll come around," 
Ami said, trying to reassure Serena. 
	Serena wiped the tears from her face, and made a 
feeble attempt to smile. "Thanks, guys, for being here for me. I 
don't know what I'd do without you."





		~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~





	After she had eaten a light breakfast, Serena sat down 
at her desk with her customary cup of hot chocolate. It had 
been a week since the meeting with the girls, and she hadn't 
left the house since then. She had no reason to, not with Darien 
gone. She wrote him letters every day, but hadn't sent any of 
them yet. 
	However, today was different. She planned to send it this time. 
If this letter didn't get through to him, she was afraid nothing 
else could.


	Dear Darien,

	I hope everything is well in the States and with your 
seminar as well. Do you think you'll be home soon? I miss you 
so much. 

	I've been thinking a lot over the past few weeks. It 
hurts too much to think you wouldn't be coming home. I can 
barely get through a day without thinking of you and wishing 
you were here. There have even been a few times when I 
wanted to jump on the next flight to New York, just so I could 
be near you.

	Darien, I love you with all of my heart and soul. I 
have from the very moment I first saw you. Living without you 
is too hard for me to bear. I've only been back to the apartment 
once since you left. It seems very cold and empty, and it's just 
not the same without you here. Nobody ever said marriage was 
supposed to be easy, it requires a lot of work. But it also 
takes two to make it happen.

	Enough of my whining. I know your work is 
important to you, so I won't keep you from it. I hope 
everything is working out for you, and that you are enjoying 
the time you are having in America, even with all the projects 
you have to do. 

	Please come home soon. I need you here by my side. 
I can hardly wait until I see you again.

	Always and forever yours,
		Serena