STAR-CROSSED 3: Romance Darien smiled as he rang Serena's doorbell. This was going to be a great day. It was just the right temperature out today, sunny and warm. "AHHH!!! Sammy, stop that! I'll get it! Nooo!!! Get out of my room you little alien!" was most of the conversation that he could hear going on inside. But soon, all was quiet and Serena opened the door. "Hi Darien! Bye Mom! I'll be back latter tonight!" and she slammed the door. Darien smiled as Serena hopped on the back of his motorcycle as fast as she could, obviously wanting to get away from her family. Awhile latter they stood just inside the carnival gates. "So, what do you want to do first Serena?" Darien asked. "Hmm..." Serena said as she looked around. "Oh! Let's go in the haunted house!" she cried grabbing his arm and dragging him towards it. Inside was your typical haunted house. Moaning ghosts and ghouls, cobwebs, oddly slanted floors, graveyards, the works. Serena eagerly stepped forwards, still holding Darien's hand. It felt so natural, so normal she almost didn't notice. Almost. It still made her feel warm all over and very... "Oof! Oww!" Serena was brought out of her daydream with a thud and a thunk. She clutched at her ankle. "Oww! It really hurts!" she cried as Darien kneeled beside her and looked at the ankle. "Looks pretty bruised. I think you twisted it. Here, I'll carry you until we can find a bench or something where I can look at it in the light." He said scooping her up in his arms. Serena winced a bit at first but then lay her head against him. This was very nice. Darien smelled really good. She couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was, but it smelled familiar. Like he had carried her before, and recently too. "Mmm..." she murmured to herself and closed her eyes. Darien tried not to look down. He could smell her, her hair, her skin. Whatever it was it smelled great. His arms ached, but not because he was tired. He wanted to hold her and make all her pain disappear. Serena made a sound and he looked down. Her eyes were closed and her head was against his chest. "Does it still hurt?" he asked her quietly. Serena opened her eyes and nodded, but even as she was hurt and sad looking, she seemed happy too. For some reason that made Darien smile. When she had cried out in pain it had been like a knife through his heart. He always felt happier when she smiled for some reason. 'Jeeze that's goofy.' He thought to himself. 'I sound like some love sick puppy.' He told himself. 'Love sick?!' Did he love her? He looked down at the small form in his arms. His heart seemed to get louder and beat faster, his palms got hot and sweaty and all he could do was stare at her. 'Could she be the princess?' he suddenly wondered. All of a sudden, the locket started to play in Serena's pocket. She opened her eyes and pulled it out. "My locket! Why did it start playing?" she asked aloud as she closed it and brought the music to a stop. 'Listen with your heart...' Darien closed his eyes and heard the music again. The locket wasn't playing this time though. This music seemed to some from long ago... 'Serena...The princess!' realization flowed over him and he started walking again before she noticed. 'I've got to set her free again... but how?' Soon they came blinking into the outside world. Darien found a bench and sat her down on it, kneeling by her ankle to see how serious the damage was. "Yeah, it's definitely twisted. It should be fine if you don't walk on it for a few days." He frowned and then: "Do you want me to take you home?" he asked reluctantly. "No, I don't want to miss the carnival! We'll just be a little slow. Can you help me walk?" she asked. She put one arm around his neck and limped along side him to the milk bottle booth. Serena sat on the counter and Darien bought three balls. The first one sailed through the air and straight into the bottle, as did the next two. The man running the booth said Serena could pick out any toy she wanted, even one of the big ones. She picked out a large-ish Tuxedo Mask doll and giggled at Darien's bewildered look. "You like Tuxedo Mask?" he asked her incredulously. Serena smiled. "Yeah! I think he's totally hot!" Then she blushed. "Oops! I can't believe I just said that!" Darien simply smiled. She had no idea how happy that made him. "Come on! Let's go in there!" he said cheerfully. After an hour or so there was only one ride they hadn't gone on; The Tunnel of Love. "Come on!" Serena said laughing. "If we go on this one, we can say we rode every ride here!" Darien blushed a little but was pretty happy Serena wanted to go on the ride. When they were at the front of the line he lifted Serena into the swan boat and climbed in after her as the ride started into the long tunnel. Serena leaned against Darien resting her head on his shoulder. It had been a tiring day, but this seemed as though they were meant for each other, fitting perfectly together. Darien put one arm around her shoulder and Serena snuggled under it, sighing. "What's the matter meatballhead?" Darien asked, sounding concerned. "I'm so comfortable and soon I'll have to get off this ride... I like this so much too..." she said sadly. Darien looked down at her. He leaned closer, he couldn't help himself but he turned her face towards his and gently kissed her full on the lips. Serena was surprised but happy and returned the action with intense emotion. A moment or two latter Darien pulled away to catch his breath. Serena opened her eyes and stared back at Darien in wonder. The ride came to a stop and they got out, Darien carrying Serena to a bench where they sat down. Serena held on to his hand and leaned against him. 'Who would've thought? It's odd but...nice...' she decided silently. "Darien?" she asked him. "Yeah Serena?" he answered, trying not to freak out. It was only noon, did she want to leave already? "Let's get something to eat." She finished to his relief. "Alright Serena, you stay here and I'll get the food." He said standing up. Serena let her fingers free of his at the last possible second. 'Oh, wow....' She thought to herself. 'He is soooooooo amazing! Forget Andrew and Tuxedo Mask, this is who I'm gonna marry...' Her hand and lips tingled still and her head spun. That kiss had given her butterflies in her stomach and everything. A few minutes latter Darien came back with the food and they dug inn, though Serena finished minutes before him, as was normal for her. "What do you want to do now?" Darien asked her when they were both done. "Let's go for a boat ride in the park. I hear the rose gardens are totally amazing..." she replied. The next few hours were heaven for the two. They rented a rowboat and circled the lake a few times, explored the rose gardens extensively, and 'watched' one of Darien's movies again, though neither of them remember what it was, seeing as they were slightly pre-occupied at the time. After the movie, they wound up on a hill in the park watching the sunset. Serena was leaning against Darien with her arm around his waist and his arm around her shoulders. "Isn't it a gorgeous sunset tonight Darien?" she commented. "Yeah, but I like watching the moon better..." "You like watching the moon?" Serena asked, her curiosity instantly piqued. "Mmhm. I think it's one of the most beautiful things in this world..." Darien sort of dazed off into his own little world. Serena smiled. It was nice to see this whole new side of him. She had always just accepted him as a cranky, arrogant and mean, though cute, jerk. But that was all in the past. Serena looked up at Darien again but then focused on the sunset. "AARRRGGHHH!!! YOUR ENERGY IS MINE!" Serena and Darien whipped their heads around at the same time and saw a youma (monster for all you DIC-ers) attacking two teenagers in the field below them. Their minds were ablaze in fury. 'Should I transform? No, not in front of Darien, but I've got to help them!' 'What can I do? I can't get Serena involved, she's the princess! I have to keep her safe!' Serena made her choice. "Darien, go call 911, I'm going to help them!" she commanded. Darien looked torn, but nodded and crawled away. "MOON PRISM POWER!" she cried angrily. Meanwhile, Darien had found a bush to transform behind. He looked back up the hill to make sure Serena was ok. She raised her right hand into the air and yelled something he couldn't hear. Then, to his shock and surprise, pink ribbons of light enveloped her and soon, Sailor Moon stood in her place. "It all makes sense now..." he whispered to the cooling night air, still staring at 'Serena'. He shook his head to clear it and transformed. "Hey you! I stand for love and justice! I won't let you continue this! In the name of the moon, YOU'RE PUNISHED!" she leapt into the air and came down kicking the youma brutally in the neck, but as soon as her feet touched the ground her twisted ankle gave way beneath her and she fell to the ground, clutching it painfully. "Ahhh! My ankle!" She cried out, trying to hold back the tears. The monster came dizzily to its feet. Then it saw Sailor Moon, helpless on the ground and it grinned ghoulishly. "Heh heh heh...now you are MINE!!" it cried and prepared to kill its prey... NEXT: PART 4 of STAR CROSSED, HEROIC DEEDS AND TRUTHS OF HEART So? What do you think? Comments, flames, requests, idle cash and ideas welcome at moonklutz@yahoo.com Visit my web page and check out my other works at: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/8614/MoonWorld Hope you likes! WRITE ME!