Serena's Birthday Present 
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
E-mail: salud731@earthlink.net
Rated: G
One-part fic
Timeline: First Season
Disclaimer: Why can't I own Darien at least?! Naoko is sooo
lucky! Not fair!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
ANs: Hi! My first stab at writing a one parter fic.  Just a small
break from my multi-parter fics. I just had to write a b-day
fic in honor of Meatball Head's birthday. I thank Silver
Bunny-chan for the great idea! I also thank all my friends,
you know who you are, all my readers, without you, I still
wouldn't be writing, and all the people who post my stories,
thanks for accepting my fics and making them a part of
your sites! THANK YOU!!!!!! ^ - ^

"Anyone can make a fool of themselves, but not everyone
can go up to a person and tell them that they love them."
                               -Anonymous


---------<----------<-------------<----------<-------<-------<------------@


Serena and Darien are driving back to his place to enjoy a nice
quiet evening at his apartment. Today is Serena's 20th birthday
and they celebrated her birthday by going to a fancy restaurant,
a moonlit stroll along the beach, and dancing in the park 
surrounded by the scent of roses. Serena had a great time and
treasured this evening more than anything else in the world. 
As she looked down at her hand, she played with the ring
on her finger as she remembered tonight's earlier events.

*Flashback*
Darien and Serena were swaying to a slow song on the radio
of Darien's car.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath 
Truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong I will be faithful
'cause I'm counting on

A new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning

I want to stand with you on 
a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

And when the stars are shining 
brightly in the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish to send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry
The tears of joy for all the 
pleasure in the certainty
That we're surrounded by the
comfort and protection of

The highest powers
In lonely hours
The tears devour you

I want to stand with you on
a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Oh can you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cause it's standing right here
before you
All that you need will surely come

I'll be your dream I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love 
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath 
Truly, madly, deeply do

I want to stand with you on a 
mountain  
I want to bathe with you in the sea 
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

As the song ended, Darien and Serena sat on a nearby
bench.
"Serena?"
"Yes, Darien?"
"You know that I love you and I'd do anything to make you
happy."
"Of course I do."
"Well, I wanted your birthday to be a special day that you'll
never forget. So here goes."
As Darien said this, he got off the bench and bent down on 
one knee.
"Darien I---"
"Shhhh. Don't speak until I finish what I have to say," 
Darien said as he kissed Serena lightly on the lips. "It still 
amazes me everyday how you could ever love someone like 
me who had a heart of stone and pushed you away many 
times. I don't even deserve to have your love to begin with. 
The only reason why I kept pushing you away was because 
I was afraid of getting too close to anybody. I mean, I lost my 
parents in the car crash and I didn't want to love anybody for 
fear that I would have to face the same heartache all over 
again. But ever since I met you, you showed me that it's better 
to experience love than to not have at all. You're the sunshine
in my life and always will be. I don't know what my life
would be like without you. Without you, it's like I lost a piece
of my soul. With you, I feel complete and whole. I guess what
I'm trying to say is, Serena Tsukino, you are my life and my 
world. I would do anything to make you happy and make
sure that you are safe from harm. I'd give up my life for you
if it were necessary. Serena, will you marry me?" Darien asked
as he took out a blue velvet box and opened it for her to see.
The ring was a simple gold band with tiny diamonds in the 
middle. Inside had the inscription, Darien and Serena 6-30-00.
(AN: That's the same way my Mom's wedding ring is like. It's
just too beautiful and I had to use it as Serena's ring. ^ - ^)
When Darien had finished his speech, tears started to flow
freely down Serena's face. She was filled with happiness and
joy for finding someone as special and sweet as Darien. After
the speech that Darien had made, she started to fall in love
with Darien all over again, and knew that he's the one she
wants to spend the rest of her life with.
Serena was still crying and was very speechless.
"Serena? Is that a yes or no?" Darien asked worriedly. If
it's all too fast for you I completely understand and---"
"Shhhh," Serena hushed Darien.
"I don't know why you think you don't deserve my love,
because my heart will always belong to you just like yours
belongs to me. I love you, Darien. And I will love you till the
day I die and more after death. You're my soul mate, my
other half. So no matter how much you pushed me away in
the past, we will always be bounded together by fate. 
Nothing can change that. So my answer is yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes!" Serena said smiling.
"It's a yes," Darien said, trying to register all that has been
said. "You said YES!!!! Oh, Serena! You don't know how 
happy you just made me! You're going to be my wife!" and 
he picked up Serena off of the bench and started to hug 
and swing her around the park. Both couples were floating 
on cloud nine. When Darien finally put Serena down, he 
took the ring from its box and placed it on Serena's right
finger. The rest of the night was spent dancing and kissing
under the stars.

*End of Flashback*

"Serena? Serena, are you there?" Darien asked as he 
waved his hand in front of Serena's face.
"Hmm? What?"
"You've been spacing out for a while now. What were
you thinking about anyway?"
"Oh, I was thinking about how you proposed to me 
back at the park," Serena said with a smile gracing her
lovely face.
"I should have known. Well, I'm just as happy as you 
are. I can't wait to get married, but of course, we'll have 
to get married after you graduate from college." 
"I know that. I think it's better that we wait anyway. I
don't think my Dad will take it very well once he finds out
that his little girl just got engaged when I'm barely even
out of college yet."
"Tell me about it. I think your Dad is going to come after 
me with a gun once he finds out that I decided to propose
to his daughter so early. He already wants to kill me for 
dating his little girl. I don't think we need to upset him 
further with the announcement of our engagement. We'll 
wait when you're out of school."
"That's a great idea. And it's safer. I don't want to be a
widow before I get a chance to marry my fiancée," Serena 
said as she cuddled up with Darien in the front seat of the
car. 
As they kept driving on, Serena was starting to feel a little
depressed. Darien noticed Serena's quick change in moods.
"Serena, what's the matter?" concern evident in Darien's
voice.
"Darien, don't take this the wrong way. I did have a 
wonderful time with you, and you made my birthday really 
special for me, but I just wish that all my friends and family 
weren't so busy on my birthday. Some even forgot that 
today is my birthday. I really wanted to spend time with 
them, along with you," Serena said sadly.
"Oh, Serena. Are you sure they forgot your birthday?"
"Positive. This morning they all treated today as a regular 
normal day. I even hinted that it wasn't like those days 
today. Some couldn't get what I was trying to tell them and 
some finally got it, but just said 'Happy Birthday' and 
changed the subject after that as if it wasn't important that 
today is my birthday."
"I'm sorry, Serena. I wish there was something I could do 
to make you feel better," Darien said, trying to console his
girlfriend while giving her a peck on the cheek.
"It's okay, Darien. You made up for it by taking me to dinner,
the beach, the park, and that proposal back at the park. And I
love you for doing all of this for me."
"I'm glad I made you happy, and we're here," Darien said as 
he parked the car in the apartment building's garage. 
Darien and Serena got out of the car and took the elevator 
to the eleventh floor.
"Serena, there is another reason why I took you back to my 
place other than spending more time with you."
"There is?" Serena asked, looking up at Darien curiously.
"Yes. I have another present waiting for you back at the 
apartment." 
"Really? Why didn't you bring it with you when you gave me
the ring?"
"Well, it was just too heavy to carry and it's too big to fit in 
the car."
"Darien, what did you get me? An elephant or something?"
"No, it's a surprise. I can't tell you," Darien smiled 
mischievously.
"Fine. But I still think you got me an elephant or something. 
What else could be that big and not fit in your car?"
"Just wait and see."
The door to the elevator opened to the eleventh floor and 
both got out. Darien took out his keys to his apartment and 
unlocked the door to a dark apartment. Serena found a light
switch and turned on the lights. The darkness was replaced 
with a light filled room.
"Serena, why don't you go into the bedroom. I think the 
gift is sitting on the bed."
"Okay," and Serena left the room to go into Darien's room. 
When she opened the door to his room, she was greeted 
again with more darkness.
"Where is that light switch?" Serena said to herself as she 
groped around the wall of the room to find the switch. "Aha! 
Here it is!"
Once she flipped the switch, five girls popped out of no
where.
"Surprise!" the group of girls yelled out.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"
"Serena, lower the decibels will ya!" her annoyed friend, 
Raye, said as she covered her ears.
"Well, excuse me! You're all the ones who startled me and 
nearly gave me a heart attack on my own birthday!" Serena bit 
back.
"Come on you, guys! No bickering tonight. Raye, it is Serena's 
birthday after all and we did startle her so give her a break," 
Lita said, trying to break up the argument.
"Okay. But just for tonight," Raye said smiling as she followed 
the other girls to hug Serena.
"I thought you guys were too busy to celebrate my birthday, 
or you just plain forgot," Serena said, still in shock as she hugged 
each of her friends.
"You thought that your own friends would forget your own 
birthday. We would never do that to you, Sere," Mina said smiling.
"Yeah, Serena. You're our friend and we love you," said Molly 
as she hugged her friend once again.
"You mean a lot to us, Serena," Amy piped in.
"We only pretended that we forgot your birthday so we can 
prepare for your party," Lita added.
"Don't be such a Meatball Head," Raye teased.
"You guys are the best," Serena said through tear filled eyes.
"Why don't you go into the living room, Serena. We want to get 
your presents out of their hiding places and we don't want you to 
know where they are," Mina said to Serena.
"Okay. I need to go find Darien anyway. I wish my family 
weren't so busy so we can all celebrate together," Serena said as 
she left the bedroom and headed straight for the living room only to 
be greeted with a dark and empty living room.
'Not again!' Serena thought to herself as she desperately tried 
to find a light switch. 'I'm really starting to hate this apartment. 
Now where is that light---aha!' and she flipped it on.
"Happy Birthday!" a large group of people shouted out from their
hiding places.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!!! Stop doing that!!!!! I already had enough heart
attacks for one night! What are you people trying to do?! Kill me or
something?!" an annoyed Serena cried out angrily.
"Serena, dear. Calm down. We just wanted to surprise you, that's
all," Serena's mom, Ilene Tsukino, soothingly said.
"Yeah, Meatball Head. Don't have kittens," Serena's 16 year-old 
brother, Sammy, said.
"Oooooohhhhh, you little brat! Well, since it's my birthday and my
family and more of my friends are here, I'll let that comment slide," 
Serena said calmly as she smiled and went up to hug all her family 
and more of her other friends who had just arrived.
The party was in full swing and everybody was having a good time
including Serena.
While Serena was talking to Andrew and Rita, Darien came over to
them.
"May I talk to you for a moment?" asked Darien to Serena.
"Sure," Serena said as she excused herself from the conversation,
and let herself be led out onto the balcony by Darien.
"Are you having a good time?" Darien asked once outside, away
from all the commotion of the party.
"Yes. And thank you so much for this other present. I love it. You
don't know how much this means to me."
"Well, you should thank your family and the girls, cause it's mostly
their idea. I was just the distraction to get you away from your home
while they brought all the things for the party to my apartment."
"Still, you let them use your place for the party so you get partial
credit for it."
"Then, you're welcome," Darien said as he pulled her into a long,
passionate kiss.
When they finally broke the kiss, they went back inside to join in
on the rest of the festivities.
Serena was talking and laughing with her friends on the couch when 
Lita asked Serena a question.
"Serena, you never showed us the gift that Darien gave you. What 
did he give you?" Lita asked while the other girls and Andrew leaned 
in closer to wait for Serena's answer.
"Um....well....I can't really tell you guys."
"Oh come on, Serena! We want to know! PLEASE?" begged Molly.
"Yeah Serena. What did Dare give you?" Andrew asked curiously.
"Um..........."
"Serena, you're not going to slide so easily. So come on and tell us
already, will ya?!" Raye pressed on.
"Uh............"
"Serena, you're hiding your right hand behind your back. Could it be
behind your back?" Mina asked mischievously while the others got an
evil glint in their eyes.
"Oh, no you guys! You're not seeing my hand," Serena said as she 
quickly got off the couch and slowly backed away from her friends.
"Come on, Serena! Just one little peep couldn't hurt," Rita said slyly
as she slowly got off the chair she was sitting on and moved ever so
closely to Serena.
"You guys stay away from me!" and Serena took off running, trying 
to avoid all her chasing friends.
"One peep, Serena!" Raye said, running after her friend.
"AMY!!!! HELP!!!!!!" Serena cried out desperately.
"Actually, I'm a bit curious myself," Amy said mischievously.
"Not you too, Ames! They brain washed you, too!" Serena said as 
she ran away from her blue haired friend.
Serena and her friends spent several hours running around the 
apartment while bewildered guests looked on in amusement at the
little display Serena and her friends were putting on for the guests.
Finally, Ilene Tsukino stopped the little cat and mouse chase.
"Alright, that's enough all of you. You're all scaring the guests."
"But Mrs. Tsukino we wanted to know---"
"I don't care what you want to know. It looked like a three ring 
circus around here. Now leave Serena alone."
"Thanks so much, Mom," Serena said as she hugged her mother 
tightly. When they finally pulled away, Mrs. Tsukino noticed 
something sparkling and shiny on her daughter's right hand.
"Serena, is that an engagement ring?"
"Uh.........."
"An engagement ring?!" all her friends said in disbelief.
"I knew it! Pay up Lita," Mina said smugly.
"Oh, drat!," Lita said as she pulled out a few bills from her purse.
"I can't believe you're engaged, Serena, and you didn't want  to
tell us?! Some friend you are!" Molly cried a little too loudly.
"Molly, just keep it down a little, will ya? I don't want my Dad to
hear---"
"What? Engaged?!"
'Too late!' thought Serena.
"Oh, no! My daughter is not going to get married at such a young 
age! Where is Darren, Derrick, whatever his name is?! Is he going 
to get it!" Serena's father, Ken Tsukino, said furiously.
"Dear, if you would just calm---"
"I won't calm down, Ilene! That boy needs some sense knocked 
into him. Who does he think he is? Proposing to my baby girl? 
Sammy get me a bat, shotgun, or something. I'm going to kill that 
boy if it's the last thing I do!"
"Daddy, no! If you would just listen to---" but Serena was cut off 
by someone who just walked into the apartment.
"Okay, I got more soda and chips if anybody wants any," said 
Darien whose face was covered with shopping bags.
"YOU!" Mr. Tsukino said in a menacing tone.
"Uh........."
"Come here, young man. I want to have a word with you."
"Um........."
"RUN DARIEN!" Serena cried out as she grabbed Darien's arm and 
ran out the door with Darien dragging behind.
"Come back here!" Mr. Tsukino started to go after them, but was 
held back by Mrs. Tsukino and Sammy.
"Dear, calm down, please. You're in no condition to go after them."
"Yeah, Dad. You look like a raving lunatic."
"I can see why Serena didn't want to tell us yet," mumbled Lita to
her friends.
"Yeah, her Dad is blowing a gasket," Mina quietly observed.
"Okay, I'm calm," said Mr. Tsukino to Mrs. Tsukino and Sammy as 
he stopped his struggling.
"You sure?" asked Sammy skeptically.
"Yes, I'm sure. You can let go of me now," Mr. Tsukino said calmly, 
and Mrs. Tsukino and Sammy let go of their hold on Mr. Tsukino.
Once they let go, Mr. Tsukino made a mad dash for the door.
"Honey! Dad!" Mrs. Tsukino and Sammy called out.
"Oh, Sammy! Get the car. We've got to go after your father,"
and Sammy left to get the car.
"We'll take care of everything here, Mrs. Tsukino," Raye said.
"Oh thank you, Raye. I've got to go get Serena's father before he
strangles Darien," and Mrs. Tsukino grabbed her coat and went out 
the door.
The entire guests of the party stood there gawking at what had 
just happened a few minutes earlier.
"Uh, they'll be back, I hope," Mina laughed nervously.
All the guests just turned and talked about how this was the 
craziest party that they have ever been to before. At about 12:00
midnight, most of the guests had already left while Mina, Lita, Amy,
Raye, Molly, Rita, and Andrew all stayed after to clean up and wait 
for the entire Tsukino family and Darien to return. At about 3:30 AM
the group was awakened by the sound of an opening door. Serena, 
Sammy, Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino, and Darien all came into the apartment
looking tired and weary.
"You seem unharmed, Darien," yawned Andrew.
"We explained the misunderstanding," Darien said tiredly.
"We told Dad how we planned not to get married until I graduate
from college," said Serena yawning.
"I still don't like it," grumbled Mr. Tsukino.
"Dear, give it up. At least you know that she'll finish school first
before she gets married. Now stop your sulking and let's go home. 
I'm tired," Mrs. Tsukino crankily said.
"Fine. Serena, we're going home now. You better come home 
tomorrow because I want to talk to you some more," Mr. Tsukino said 
as he kissed his daughter on the forehead.
"I will."
"Good. And I would like you to come too, Darien. I'm still a little angry 
that you proposed to my daughter just a tad too early, but I guess if 
she's happy with it, I'm happy, too," Mr. Tsukino said as he extended 
his hand to Darien.
"I would love to come over to the house tomorrow," Darien said,
shaking his hand graciously.
When the entire Tsukino family wished Serena a happy birthday and 
left, her friends followed suit. 
Serena and Darien were left with a nice, quiet, and peaceful 
apartment to themselves. Both walked over to the couch and sat down. 
"What a night!" said Serena with a tired sigh.
"You can say that again," agreed Darien.
"Well, at least my Dad accepts the fact that I'm engaged."
"Yeah, after running through the park, hiding behind bushes, and 
going into late night fast food joints, just to get your Dad off of our trail."
"But at least we finally compromised and explained our plan to him."
"That's a good thing," Darien said as he wrapped themselves in a 
blanket.
"Darien?"
"Hmm?"
"This is one crazy birthday I'll never forget."
"You are so right." 
And they both fell asleep on the couch in each other's arms.


WHOOHOO! I'm done! I hope you all liked my one-part fic! Now
I can't stress this enough: e-mail me. I would love to hear your
comments. I don't bite! I'm a very nice person when I want to
be. ^ - ^ And HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENA!!!!!!! ^ - ~