Okay, like I promised, Here is chapter 1. I don't own these characters, never will. So there *blows raspberry*. See you at the bottom! ----------------------------- Serena was walking down a dimly lit street at about 1:00 at night. It was a cool, spring night; she didn't have to wear a jacket. She was about 20 when she first met Darien, and this was the night she did. Serena was wearing a knee length shirt, and a very pretty halter-top. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, with her bangs all over her forehead. She was heading back to her apartment, after a night of parting. She was walking home, because her apartment wasn't too far away. She turned down an alley, to avoid all of the construction debris they had strewn all over the sidewalk in front of her apartment. Serena reached into her purse for her flashlight, only to find that she left it at home. Slowly she made her way down the dark alley, and just when she thought she reached the fire escape behind her apartment, all she found was a brick wall. Serena had turned down the wrong alley! She wasn't sure, but she thought she had heard some voices behind her. She looked back, but didn't' see anyone there. She got this spooky feeling, but ignored it. After making sure that her apartment wasn't back there, she turned around, only to find herself surrounded by a bunch of men, all in black, their faces all hidden by the night. Serena gasped, and backed up against the wall. Before she could scream, one of them clapped a hand over her mouth. In desperation, she bit the hand, and the man released her. "Damn bitch bit me!" Serena heard him say as she was grabbed by several strong arms. Serena looked up to see that man's hand connect with her face. Her head snapped to the side, and she cried out. Her head was suddenly snapped back the other way when his fist connected with her temple. Serena felt the men began to drag her out of the alley before she lost consciousness. When Serena finally woke up, she found that her hands and feet had been tied, and she was sitting in a chair. Nearby, a group of the men were playing craps, not paying any attention to her. About 5 minutes after she woke up, one of the men looked up at her, set down his cards, and stood up. He had shaggy, black hair, and piercing blue eyes. He walked over to her, but Serena didn't see him there until his shoes appeared in front of her intent gaze on the floor. Startled, Serena looked up. He grabbed her shoulder, and roughly pulled Serena to her feet. Then he brought his hand up, and took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, then turned her head to view her profile. No one but Serena saw him wince slightly from the bruises Serena had on her face. She tried to break free from his grasp, but to no prevail. He turned her face back to his, and looked in her eyes with an almost apologetic look. Her eyes widened in surprise as he suddenly brought his face down to hers, kissing her harshly. Once again, Serena tried to break from his grasp, but he was too strong for her. When he finally raised his head, Serena had a few tearstains trailing down her face, which was flushed red from anger. All of the other men in the room were whistling, carrying on, at the site of him taking advantage of Serena. Fear entered her eyes as he drug Serena by her shoulder into a back room. She struggled the whole way, as she wasn't going to go without a fight. Once in that back room, he released Serena. When he stepped closer to her, she did a backward crawl thingie to get away from him. She didn't get far. He reached down, and untied the rope that held her feet. Then he reached for Serena's hands. She jerked away, moving herself that much farther away from him. "Be still, I'm not going to hurt you! I promise!" he said, and grabbed her wrists. It took awhile for Serena to realize he was helping her, and he finally got the knots undone. Then he helped Serena to her feet. "Who are you?" She asked. "Me? I'm an undercover cop. I've been trailing this one gang for about 5 months now. I've planed a big raid tonight, which is why I had to get you out of here." He said. "Oh. Well, then, my name's Serena." She said, and offered her hand in a handshake. "Darien. Nice to meet you, and you have hide. I don't want any of those gang members to find you after we bust in on them." Darien says, then looks around for a place to hide Serena. He steps over to a closet, and opens it. Serena steps up behind him, and he moves aside so she can get in. He smiles, then closes the door. For the next ten minutes, all Serena heard was a bunch of yelling, then silence. After about a minute of silence, she heard footsteps in the small room she was in, then the closet door opened. When she looked up, Serena expected to see Darien, but one of the gang members was standing before her, with a gun. Serena screamed, as he pulled her up and put the gun to her head. He walked her over to the door, opened it, and stepped out into the main room. It was deserted, so he hurried with Serena to the front door, his only escape. Once he opened it, he came face to face with Darien, who was standing there, also with a gun. Darien, hearing the door open, whirled around, aiming the pistol. He froze when he saw the gang member's cover. "Drop the gun, traitor! Everyone, drop 'em!" The gang member said to Darien. He and the other cops around all did. The gang member then moved around all the cops, and once he had traveled a good distance, out of firing range, he threw Serena to the ground, and ran for it. Darien and a whole bunch of other cops took off running after the member, but Darien stopped when he got to Serena. "Hey, you're okay! He's gone!" Darien whispered, as he helped her up. Serena started sobbing, and clung to Darien, in shock of what all had just happened to her. Darien, wrapped his arms around her in comfort, and kept whispering, "It's okay! It's all over." Soon, the other cops came back, and checked on Serena. "Hey, man, is she okay?" One asked. "Yeah, just in shock. I'm going to walk her to my apartment, see you guy's tomorrow." Darien said, then turned and slowly walked Serena to his apartment. Once there, Darien asked, "Let me take a look at those bruises, Serena. You got hit pretty hard back there." He took her hand and led her to the bathroom for medicine "I guess I don't even need to say that I have a killer headache." Serena mumbled as Darien took out something for her bruises. "Ouch!" She winced when he put his fingers gently to her head. "Sorry. This stuff should help. I use it all the time, and it's usually better in no time." Darien said, slowly rubbing medicine on her bruise. There was silence for awhile, until Darien asked, "What were you doing in that alley anyway?" Serena's eyes dull slightly, and she says, "I was in a nearby dance club, and I was heading back to my apartment. I took a turn down the wrong alley. There is a bunch of street construction in front of the building, so I usually go in the alley to avoid it, and climb up the fire escape. I carry a flashlight in my purse, but I had forgotten it." Darien smiled, and said, "Well, I guess you will have to have a spare flashlight for a key chain now! All done. Does your head feel better?" "Yeah, thanks." She said, then chuckled to herself. "I'm usually not this quiet. *yawn* Probably just tired. It is 3 in the morning" glancing at her watch. "You want to sit down?" Darien asked. "Sure!" He led her back to the living room, and Serena plopped herself down on the couch. She closes her eyes for a minute, then looks around the room, then back at Darien, who is watching her. Almost nervously, she clears her throat, and asks, "How long have you had this apartment! It's nice." "Oh, since I was about 16." "16! Why weren't you living with your parents? Or do they own this complex?" "No, I don't remember living with my parents. I know who they are and everything, I just have never been able to actually remember them." Darien said, in a calm voice, as if it never bothered him at all. "You were orphaned! I'm sorry!" Serena said, scooting over next to him, and putting her hand on his. "It's all right. I've gotten used to living without them. I had no other choice!" he said. "No it isn't! I mean, having to live without the 2 most important people in your life? No one should ever be punished like that." Serena said firmly. Darien turned his hand over and laced his fingers with hers. "You're right, but I have good friends, that are always there for me." Darien said, looking Serena in the eyes. He looked away after a second, then reached over for a picture sitting on a nearby coffee table. It was of a man and a woman. Then woman pale red hair, almost pink, and the man looked so much like Darien, it was scary! While he was looking away, Serena glanced at her hand, blushed slightly, and smiled as he sat back up. "Is that your girlfriend?" Serena asked, with a small hint of disappointment in her eyes. "No, it's my mom, and that's my dad. I've always had this picture, and I keep trying to remember them, but nothing ever happens. Still, they comfort me, somehow." Darien let his head hang down, and Serena laid her head on his shoulder. His hair fell down over his eyes, and he began to really think about what Serena had said. Darien's eyes began to fill with tears, and before he could wipe them away, one fell onto the picture he was holding. Serena saw this, and lifted his chin up with her finger. She smiled gently, then carefully wiped another tear that had slipped down his cheek away. "It's okay to cry, Darien." Serena whispered, and wrapped her arms comfortingly around him. Darien felt more hot tears sting his eyes as he lay his head onto her shoulder. He tried not to cry too hard, for his pride's sake, but eventually, he couldn't hold back all the sobs that were buried deep with in him. Subconsciously, he put his arms around Serena, for a slight bit more emotional support. Serena kept her arms around, and kept whispering that it was okay to cry. She removed one hand from his back and stroked his hair instead. Darien was thinking how it wasn't fair to grow up without his parents, but it wasn't their fault. His mind drifted through his childhood, the orphanage, the kids there, no one had understood him or even tried to. After he left the orphanage when he was 16, he felt so lost, not knowing what to do, with no friends. He had met Andrew, who helped him to get his first job and on his feet. Now he was here in the arms of an angel that he hardly knew, crying his eyes out. By know, he was just crying from confusion. After a while, Darien lifted his head up, and wiped his eyes. "Feel better?" Serena asked, her arms still on his back, though not in a full embrace. "Yeah. Thank you. You were right, I needed that." Darien said. Serena smiled, a little unsure of what to do next, either release her hold on him, or... Darien finished that thought for her. Only this time when he kissed her, it was no where near being harsh. It was just a touch at first, then Darien let his lips stay on hers for a second longer on a second touch. The next time their lips met, Serena held Darien against her and took over the kiss. He was a little surprised at first, but then got back into the kiss. It rapidly became more passionate. Darien parted her lips, only to meet Serena's tongue against his. She raised one of her hands to the back of his head, running her fingers through his black hair. In the back of each of their minds, they were saying 'Stupid! You hardly know him/her! But, somehow, this feels so right!' Darien tilted his head to the right as he pressed his lips harder to Serena's. She could feel her lips bruising from his touch, yet once again she parted her lips. Darien felt her mouth open, and he slid his tongue against hers again. She was bursting for breath by the time Darien softened his kisses. Then it ended. They both drew apart slowly, both trying to slow their breath. Serena opened her eyes, and for the billionth time that evening, smiled. "Well, that was a whole lot different from how you kissed me earlier!" she joked. "Yeah, and this time you actually kissed back!" Darien said, laughing. "I'll sleep in here for tonight. You can have the bedroom." "Thank you, Darien. Thanks for what you did for me today." Serena told him, as she was walking into his room and closed the door. Darien spent the night on the couch that night, and the last thing he remembered thinking was how beautiful she was. --------------------------- AN: The next memory that Darien remembered took place several years later, when Serena was 23, and Darien was 26. --------------------------- Darien and Serena were taking a walk in a beautiful park near a river, just before the sun had set. They were walking hand in hand, and stopped at a bench right along the river. They both sat, and Serena laid her head on his shoulder. "Serena, I have a present for you!" Darien said, with just a touch of nervousness in his voice. "Oh, how sweet! What is it!" She asked, not detecting the nervousness. Darien pulled out a perfect, white rose from inside his jacket, and handed it to her. "Oh, it's beautiful!" Serena said, then gave Darien a quick kiss on the lips. "Don't kiss me just yet, Serena. Take a closer look!" Darien said. Serena looked at the rose again, and this time she noticed a white ribbon coming out of the center of the rose. She reached down, and gently pulled it. The ribbon slowly began to slide out of the rose. With a little harder tug, it came out, with shimmering gold and diamond ring tied onto the end. Darien slid off the bench, onto one knee in front of Serena. By now her jaw had dropped, yet she had a good guess of what he was going to say next. Darien took her hand that held the ribbon, untied it, and slipped it on her hand. "Serena, I can't imagine living without you. You have helped me so much, and given me a cause to go on. Will you marry me?" He said. Serena was speechless for a minute, even though she knew exactly what she wanted to say. After Serena found her voice again, she dropped into his arms, so she was also kneeling, and half-cried, half-laughed her answer. "Yes!" Darien's world had stopped for a while. He was afraid that she would say no. In an instant, he imagined what life would be like without Serena, cold, lonely, and empty. Then he saw her, in slow motion, drop down to hug him, and he barely heard her say "Yes!" But he did hear, and as soon as h e did, Darien lifted her up, off the ground, and spun around once. Serena felt Darien stand up underneath her, and all of the sudden, spin her around. She squealed in surprise, and then Darien lowered her to the ground. "Who are we going to tell first?" Serena asked. "I don't know, but for now", and Darien leaned down and kissed Serena, just as the sun slipped over the horizon. -------------------------- Darien stood at the front of a church, in a very handsome tuxedo. Serena stood next to him, in a beautiful gown. The bodice was a silver material, with white flowers embroidered all over it. It was strapless, but her shoulders were hidden bye a white veil. Her hair was piled up on top of her head, with pearls scattered in the golden mass. Her veil neatly hid her face, but not her shimmering eyes, or obvious beauty. The skirt of Serena's gown slightly billowed out, in clouds of lacy material. It had a slight train on the ground, but not enough to really notice. They both were looking into each other's eyes, halfway listening to the preacher speaking. Darien halfway snapped out of his trance when the preacher said "Do you, Darien Shields, take Serena Tsukino, to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" "I do" He answered whole-heartedly. "And do you, Serena Tsukino, take Darien Shields to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" "I do" Serena said, with equal trust and devotion. "Then with the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The preacher said, as Darien lifted Serena's veil. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, which spilled over when their lips met. Darien whispered, for Serena only, "I love you" "I love you too!" Serena said, their lips still touching. They pulled apart, smiling. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Darien Shields." The preacher said, as Darien led Serena down the aisle. The rest of the ceremony went by fast, and all the guest agreed that the highlight of the day was seeing the two drive off. A heart was outlined in shoe polish, with the words "Just Married" on either side on the back window. As soon as the limo pulled away from the curb, Darien leaned in for a kiss, and the young couple was centered exactly in the heart. ---------------------- Okay, I'm ending Chapter one there. I hoped you liked it. Chapter 2 gets even better, maybe not as happy, but DEFINATLY better. Bye Peeps! Dragonfly a.k.a. NeoPrincessMars