Hi, there minna-chan!  Remember this?  I wrote it about five months 
ago and saw a few things that I wanted to change.  This is the 
revised version of "To Be Held One More Time."  Same as last time-
Short and sappy and chucked full of romance!  Just the way you 
Sailor Moon fans should like it!  :)  I know that's how *I* like 
it!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of this except the plot. 

Rating: Somewhere between G and PG.  Little violence, no swearing, 
only romance!


TO BE HELD ONE MORE TIME


<:Darien's Dream:>

I can barely remember where I am, and that I don't want to be here.  
This place reeks of cold and death.  Thousands of restless souls 
are confined in here for all eternity.  In my own way, I hope mine 
will be one of them.  I do not deserve Heaven or Hell after what I 
have done.

I tried to kill my Princess.  My only love.

I can feel her healing energy coursing through me at the touch of 
the Star Locket.  Our locket.  How could I have ever forgotten this 
girl?  This girl who saves the world, who saves me?

Yes.  She saved me even before this day.  It was the day we first 
met,  when she hit me in the head with that 30% test grade.  I only 
did two things in my life before her: work and study.  But when she 
came, I felt something about her, something I just couldn't ignore.  
I began to take an interest in her and learned more about her.  I 
would wait every day, hoping for a chance to see her or if I was 
lucky, to talk to her.

My heart knew it was love, long before my head did.  But they say 
that when you do not trust your heart, you do not trust yourself.  
I suppose that is what I did.  I was always led to her, but 
somehow, I kept myself away from her.

The healing power has stopped, but I can still feel the love of her 
energy wrapped around me.  I drop my sword and fall to my knees 
before her.  It is an act of begging for forgiveness, not showing 
how weak I was after the regeneration.

"Oh, Darien!" my Princess called to me.

Looking up at her, I truly see her for the first time in weeks.  
She is bloody and beaten, but somehow, more beautiful than ever 
before.  Her crystalline blue eyes have tears in them and she has a 
frighteningly angelic look of worry on her face.

How can she worry about me?  Why would she worry about me?  I just 
tried to kill her!

I don't say that, in fact, I don't say what I want to say, what I 
truly feel for her in my heart.  "Thank you," is what comes out 
instead.  "I'm...free."  I know that I am letting a slight smile 
play on my lips and in my heart.  She knows it too.

Her eyes go from concern to love in a split second.  Her eyes begin 
to smile as well as her lips.  Such beautiful lips.  Even if the 
one on her mouth is not full, the joy in her heart that is 
reflected in her eyes is impossible to miss.  

My Princess' arms go around my neck and she hugs me to her chest.
"I know, Darien.  I know."  She says the words with such love and 
compassion and... FORGIVENESS?!  She is going to forgive me?  But 

why?  Why would she?  I don't answer those questions.

For a moment I forget where I am.  I am happy encircled in her 
arms.  I realize one thing about my little rabbit: nothing would 
keep her from forgiving me.  Not even that snake, Beryl.

I pull away from her and gaze into her eyes, drowning in her blue 
depths.  Extending my hand, I reach to touch her face, just once.  
The first time in one thousand years.  She is looking at me with 
such love and hope that it takes my breath away.  But then again, 
she always did.

From behind me I hear a tormented scream of anger.  The shriek 
snaps me back to the present and I whip my head to the source.  
Queen Beryl is standing there with a larger version of the crystal 
spear that Zoisite hit me with in her hand. "You are mine!" she 
screams to us as she hurls the harpoon at me and my Princess.

'Protect her!' is what my mind is screaming to my body.  Standing 
up, I pull out one of my roses.  I notice before I flick my wrist 
that it is once again red, not the deathly black that it had been 
before.

The blood red rose goes sailing toward the deadly trap Beryl has 
sent us.  My rose crashes straight through the middle of it, 
shattering it into dozens of pieces.  Not thinking, or perhaps 
thinking for the first time, I grab my Princess and pull her down, 
shielding her body with my own.

I feel the pieces enter my body, and hear my beloved cry out for 
me.  I turn my head ever so slightly to see if the rose hit its 
real target.  I smile and realize that it did.  Beryl is kneeling 
on the ground with her hand desperately trying to pull out the 
rose.  'Sorry Beryl.  My power will tear you apart before you have 
any hope of prying that out.'

"You haven't seen the last of me, Sailor Moon!" she gasps out 
before she sinks like the slime she is into the floor.

Smiling smugly, I realize now that I am lying on my back with my 
head facing my Princess.  She is holding my head up in her lap, and 
tears are spilling down her flushed cheeks.  I close my eyes in 
pain, but open them when she speaks.  "Oh Darien!  Can you hear me?
Answer me!"

The pain I feel is slowly dying away, as am I.  I don't want to 
leave her.  She is my life and light.  Her friends are already gone 
and I need to help her.  My body protests to me staying conscious.
I look to her and hope against hope that she can see how much I 
love her.  I know she can.

"I'll find a way back to you," I whisper hoarsely.

She gives a start but understands.  No begging me not to go, no 
whining, no anger.  Just understanding.  She knows I want to stay, 
but can't.  Giving me a smile that I know is genuine she speaks to 
me again with a slight laugh in her voice, "Hey, you can call me 
Meatball Head."

I have no choice but to smile with her.  I give a little laugh as 
I feel the darkness come around me and take me.

My last thoughts I pray reach her as I send them out with all my 
power and love.  'Meatball Head, I love you.  I always have and 
always will.  Promise me you won't forget.  I'll always be by your 
side, Serenity.  Forever.'

I know she heard me, because I can feel the joy that isn't my own 
welling up inside me.  Her joy.  'I love you too, Darien.  My 
Prince Endymion.'

<:End Dream:>

I wake up in a cold sweat in my bed, gasping for air.  "Not...
again!"  Looking out the window, I remember the other times I'd had 
the dreams the last few weeks.  But this one had gone further then 
any of the others.  So many more details and so much more emotion.
I have never experience a dream like that before, ever.

"Meatball Head?  I only call Serena that.  Wasn't I just thinking 
about how we met?  The test paper?  She did look like Serena 
though.  But that woman, Beryl? called her Sailor Moon.  She called 
me...Endymion?  Serenity?  Who are they?  What does that mean?"

I look out the window again and see a sight I wasn't expecting to 
see.  There was the girl in my dreams and fantasies, leaning over 
the bridge on the ground floor.  Her gold hair was in its usual 
'meatballs' and she was dressed in pink pajamas.

"What's she doing in pajamas?" I wonder out loud.  Then glancing 
at my bedside clock, I see what time it is.

"What is she doing out at *three o'clock?!*"  Deciding that 
something must be wrong, I get dressed and run from my apartment to 
see her.

I would never admit it to anyone; I have just barely admitted it to 
myself, I have fallen in love with Serena, the girl that I 
affectionately call 'Meatball Head.'  I know that there is no way 
she could possibly feel the same for me.  She hates me, as I 
pretend to hate her.

<:Serena:>

I watch as another tear makes it's way down my face.  'Why am I 
crying?  I've cried every night about the same thing, the same man,
and I still can't stop.'

Yes, I am crying about Darien again.  My tears increase as I think 
his name.  I have had my memory back for weeks and he still 
doesn't.  Luna doesn't know what to do, and the Scouts have tried 
everything to get him to remember.  I had dropped many not-so-
subtle hints myself.  He still doesn't show any recollection of 
what we shared.

I may not remember much of the Silver Millennium, but I do remember 
him.  I remember the happiness from that time.  I remember the look 
in Tuxedo Mask's eye's when he saved me, so many times.  I remember 
the look in Endymion's eyes when he lay dying on the floor of Queen 
Beryl's Palace.  He told me with his mind that he loved me; 
Meatball Head.  Not just Serenity.  He does, or did, mean that 
right?

Even in this time, he's always there for me.  A constant in my 
life.  I'd never admit it to him or anyone, but I enjoy being 
teased by him.  Lita said that his teasing was flirting, but I 
don't think so.  But he doesn't love me.  No, he couldn't.  He 
hates me in this life.  Since we were brought back, he's hated me.
I hate destiny.  Serenity and Endymion are destined to be together; 
Serena and Darien are merely hosts for their souls.  He was telling 
me he loved me out of pity.  Only trying to give me the strength to 
face that witch.

Cruel, cruel destiny.

Looking up to the sky I see my home, my true home.  Or maybe it's 
Serenity's true home.  The Moon.  To so many, it is just a rock in 
space, but to me it is where the greatest moments of my lives 
happened.

<:Flashback:>

I walk down the stairway to the ballroom after seeing Endymion.  
The guards chased him away because he is from earth and they think 
he can no longer be trusted.

A warm, familiar hand suddenly grabs mine.  I attempt to jerk away, 
but can not, the grip is so strong.  I almost burst out laughing 
when I realize who it is.

"Princess, may I have this dance?  Could be our last one."

Smiling and nodding I let Endymion take my hand.  "I'm so happy you 
came back."  He pulls me in closer to him.  We have been together 
since I turned fifteen, one year, and I am still amazed at how 
perfect we seem to fit together.  Like our bodies were made for 
one another.

He leans closer to my ear, "I couldn't leave without having one 
last dance with you."

He tells me of the problems that I will have to endure.  I hear 
what he is saying, but don't want to believe it.  The two of us 
dance gracefully across the floor.  He spins and dips me, but I 
always end up back in his arms where I know I belong.


After he pulls me in one last time I lean my head on his chest and 
inhale his scent.  Roses.  Always roses.  Almost as if he spent 
life in a garden.  I can feel him doing the same thing with my 
hair.  He puts his arms around me as a reassurance.  But it does 
little good.

His next words make me feel somewhat better.  "Your mother knows 
I'm not a spy.  She's asked me to stay and help defend her 
kingdom."

His warmth leaves me, and my body protests to it.  I whimper 
slightly and look up at him longingly.  Gently taking my hand, he 
pulls me out on to the balcony.  We stand in silence for a moment 
or two.  I reach up to his face and pull off the mask that he is 
hiding behind.  My fingers rest on his cheek for a while longer 
before I let them fall from his face.  I clasped them together in 
front of me and struggle to hold in my fear.

"Endymion, I can not believe this is happening."  I know my voice 
seeps with worry; I can not help it.  Worry-that if we do battle, 
his life will be lost.  As will mine.  My life, my love, my joy.

His eyes are said to be the coldest in the universe.  But even 
while his eyes look cold, I can see the love in them.  And the 
concern that is not for himself, but rather for me.  Oh, Endymion.
Why must it be this way?  I would gladly die to keep you safe.  
"Queen Beryl is relentless and she'll destroy absolutely everything 
that is in her way to get exactly what she wants.  I'll fight as 
hard as I can."  He takes my hand into both if his.  The cold eyes 
melt away and they are replaced with unconditional love and caring.
"But you must know I might not come back.  I just hope you know how 
much you mean to me."

My eyes threaten to over flow with my tears.  He isn't serious.  He 
must come back.  I'll take my own life if he doesn't!  "I do."

Looking up, I can see that he, too, looks like he is going to cry.
"You're in my heart."

"And you will always be in mine."  I close my eyes, hoping that my 
tears will go away.  I suddenly feel one of Endymion's hands let go 
of mine.  He uses the free hand to pull his cape around the two of 
us.  Pulling me in closer, I can feel his face nearing mine.

Our lips meet as they have so many times before.  But there is 
something different this time.  This kiss holds so much more 
passion then I'm used to, probably more then he is used to either.
I know why this is different.  Something inside of me tells me that 
this will be our last kiss for a long, long time.

I won't let myself do anything as a tear slowly makes its way down 
my cheek.  After we pull apart, I say the only thing I can.  
"Endymion, I love you."

He holds me closer, if possible, and puts his lips to my ear.  "I 
love you, too, Serenity.  I can't live without you.  I would die 
if anything ever happened to you.  Please, stay safe."

<:End Flashback:>

I wipe the tears from my eyes at that memory.  My mother had 
originally showed it to me, but when I got my memories back a few 
weeks ago, I actually remembered that night.

Darien and I haven't kissed in centuries.  Perhaps we never will 
again.  I sigh and say it out loud this time, "I hate destiny."

"Why do you say that Meatball Head?"

<:Darien:>

When I was down the stairs, I still can't help but keep wondering 
*why* Serena was out so late.  I mean she is only fourteen, and 
does have school tomorrow.  No that's not what I'm worried about.
I'm not worried about her lack of sleep, or the fact that she would 
be late for school, as she is every day.  No.  I'm worried about an 
angel that somehow passes for a girl.

She used to get really choleric when I would call her 'Meatball 
Head.'  But now, she almost doesn't even notice it.  Like she could 
like it-like me maybe?

Yeah, in my dreams!  But isn't that where she always is?  In my 
dreams?  I can now see the outline of her form by the bridge.  I 
know I should call to her, but something makes me stop.  

She is standing with her back to me, obviously in deep thought.  
She looks like a goddess in the moonlight.  Her lips part and I 
can scarcely make out what she is muttering.  I think it is 
'Endymion.'

Yes that's what it is.  WHAT?!  How can she know that name?  That 
is the name Serenity calls me in my dreams.  But Serena looks an 
awful lot like Serenity.  Maybe she...no way!  Darien, don't even 
think that!  You'll just get your hopes up and then have them 
crushed again.

I walk in closer to her and see that she is crying.  What could an 
angle like her have to cry about?  Wait an ANGLE?!  Darien, man, no 
more sushi from THAT takeout place any more.  You must be sick.  
This is the Meatball Head Serena that you're talking about.  The 
Meatball Head Serena that you have fallen head-over-heels in love 
with.

As I get closer I hear her say something I definitely was not 
expecting.  "I hate destiny."

I have never heard Serena sound like that.  She is always happy and 
sunny and cheerful.  Nothing can get her down, not even me.  Even 
when we fight, I still believe that she is having fun.  Well I 
won't lie; I have fun, too.  Confused I told her in the subtlest 
manner I could that I was there.  "Why do you say that, Meatball 
Head?"

She spun around quickly, obviously surprised that I was there.  For 
a moment, I saw pain flash in her eyes.  A pain that was quickly 
covered by fear.  I have never seen such beautiful eyes covered in 
fear.  She shouldn't need to be afraid of anything.

"What are you doing here, Darien?" she asks me while looking down 
at her feet.  I can barely see it, but a tear is slowly making its 
way down her cheek.  Something is very wrong.  She wails to let 
people know that she is in pain.  This is silent crying, and to be 
frank, it scares me.  It almost terrifies me that she isn't 
screaming attention to herself.

"What no, 'Don't call me Meatball Head?'  Sarcastic comments, 
rudeness or test papers?" I say to try and get something, anything, 
out of her.

She stiffens very noticeably at my comment and I wince inside.  
"For your information, I just came out here to think, ok?  So lay 
off!  I'm not in the mood, or need, of you and your so-called 
personality!" 

<:Serena:>

I flinch at my last comment.  No I wasn't supposed to talk to him 
like that!  I was supposed to tell him that I loved him, needed him.
But I am tired of how he treats me.  Of everything he has been doing 
since we came back.

Darien, cocky Darien, looks down at his shoes in embarrassment.  
"I'm sorry, Serena."

Whoa, wait a minuet.  Back up here, just hit the rewind button!  
Did Darien Shields just apologize to me?  Maybe he remembers?  No 
I would know if he remembered.

He continues, "I couldn't sleep.  When I looked out my window, I 
saw you standing here.  It's not safe to be out in the streets at 
night, you know."  

His eyes gaze into mine.  I could drown in them.  Loose myself, 
only to find myself again.  My God, he is so beautiful.  "You 
were...*worried* about me?"  I didn't believe the words as I said 
them.  He didn't care for me, no one did it seemed.  No one could 
love meatball headed Serena.  Not even him.

His eyes look into mine, piercing my soul.  "Yes, Serena.  I was 
worried."

"Why?" I ask.  "Don't you hate me?  How could you care about me?  
All we ever do is annoy each other."

<:Darien:>   

Yeah, all we ever do is annoy each other.  She's right about that.
But something makes me want to comfort her.  To let her know that 
I'm here if she needs a shoulder to cry on.  No time like the 
present.  This urge to comfort her, kiss her, love her...NO!  Not 
now!

"Yeah, I know I'm always teasing you.  I'm sorry.  But do you think 
you could forgive me?  I am worried about you because I am your 
friend, Serena.  I don't hate you.  I can't possibly see how anybody 
would hate you.  It just seems to be impossible."

She has a look of surprise on her face.  Like she had always wanted 
me to say that.  She looks up, and I can see that she had been 
crying for a long time.  Her face is too red for these to be fresh 
tears.

<:Serena:>

He just apologized to me?  Why would he do that?  Oh, I'm not 
complaining or anything.  Sure, it's not like he just pledged his 
love to me, but hey it IS a start.

Moving quickly, I draw him into a hug.  Darien just stood there for 
a moment then wrapped his arms around me.  It's so perfect.  Just 
like all of his other embraces.  I didn't want to let go.  Please, 
let this moment last forever.

We have been standing here for a few minuets now.  It seems that he 
doesn't want to let go of me either.  But he pulls away and I look 
down again.  "Thank you, Darien.  I really appreciate that you want 
to be friends.  I want to be your friend, too.  I don't think I 
could *not* forgive you."

Looking up again, I see that he is in shock.  He really didn't 
expect me to forgive him.  How can I not forgive someone who is 
sometimes as lost as a child?  Who has saved me countless times?  
Of course I forgive him!

"Now," Darien asks again, this time with a slight smile on his 
face.  "Why are you out so late?"

<:Darien:>

She's hesitating.  Why is she hesitating?  Doesn't she know that 
she can trust me?  Maybe she's in trouble or something.  "Are you 
in trouble?  Has someone hurt you?"

She doesn't answer me.  Why won't she answer me?  I take a step 
towards her and cup her chin in my hand.  "You can tell me, Serena.
I promise, I won't tell anyone.  Just trust me, please."

I can tell she is thinking about it.  Why?  I'm only trying to 
help.  I don't know why I expect her to open up to me.  If I were 
in her shoes I would be slapping me right now and running off.  
Hope she doesn't do that.  I don't want to be her friend, I want to 
be more.  Much more.

She looks up to me and I suddenly loose all rational thought.  She 
looks so much like an angle in the moonlight.  Almost as if she 
belongs to the moon.  Her pink lips are so slightly pursed; so very 
kissable.  

I can't resist any longer.  The pull is too much.  Slowly, I lean 
forward, and ever so slowly, close the gap between our lips.

<:Serena:>

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!  He's not going to.  Is he?  Darien and my 
lips are just inches apart, with the space closing every second.  
Why is he trying to kiss me?  He doesn't remember, I can tell.  But 
then why?  

I look in his eyes and see emotions I haven't seen in a very long 
time: love, confusion, sympathy and...lust?  He loves me?  He 
want's me?

With a quick move from Darien, out lips are sealed together, and I 
kiss him back.  Slowly, I can feel him deepening the kiss.  But I 
can tell, he still doesn't remember.

<:Darien:>

Oh God, what have I done now?  I'm kissing a FOURTEEN-year old 
girl!  Not just any fourteen-year old, this is Serena.  Meatball 
Head Serena.  Wait, she's not pulling away?  Why would she stay 
here?  I start to deepen the kiss and realize how much I am actually 
enjoying this.  I could get used to this.
 
A sudden pain hits me full-force and I release Serena from my grip.
I grab my head as my world starts spinning around.  Serena grabs my 
shirt and I think she is asking if I'm okay.  I'm not okay.  I 
can't think; I can't breathe.  It's like my world is suddenly going 
dark.  Well if I'm gonna go, that kiss was a good thing to leave with.

Almost as quick as it happened, the pain is gone and Serena and I 
are standing by the bridge alone.  She has let go of me, almost as 
if she has sensed something about me.  

Realization dawns on me.  A locket, a kingdom, and a love that 
somehow has survived so long.  A small, sly smile slowly creeps 
across my face.  "Serenity?" I question, afraid that this is a 
wonderful dream.  If this is a dream, I never ever want it to end.

<:Serena:>

He just called me 'Serenity'.  Tears of hope are running down my 
face, and I don't want to stop them.  "Endymion?" the words are 
foreign on my lips.  I can't think of a name more beautiful, or 
anything that holds more power over me.  It is just a name, but it 
is the only name that could bring me to my knees. 

His eyes light up when I say the name.  Oh, God he does remember.
But I must be sure.  "Do you..." my voice trails off as he pulls me 
into his arms and holds me.

I can feel his hot tears in my hair.  He's crying?  

<:Darien:>

I haven't cried in years.  Not since...I can't even remember the 
last time I cried.  But I know I cried in sadness.  Not this time.
This time I cry for joy.  "Oh Serena."

I don't try to stop my tears.  I'm not afraid to cry in front of 
her because I love her and should not be ashamed to show her my 
feelings.  Tears are streaming down her face, too.  She pulls out 
of my embrace and holds out her hand, as if to touch me, but 
suddenly pulls back.

"Serena, what's wrong?  Do you remember me, Serenity?  Can you ever 
forgive me?"

At my last question, her eyes spill over.  Oh no.  She can't forgive 
me.  I tried to kill her.  How could she forgive me?  I'm a fool to 
think she would even consider forgiving me.  She can find someone 
else.  I am not worthy of such a girl.

Suddenly I am in her arms once again.  "Oh, Darien.  Didn't I just 
tell you that I forgive you?  What you did was not your fault, it 
was that witch Beryl.  She did that to you.  I have forgiven you 
and so have the others.  I could never stay mad at you, Love."

"Nor I at you."  I pull our bodies closer together, and kiss her 
again.  Not a simple brush of the lips, not even as innocent as the 
one a few minuets ago.  This is a kiss I have wanted to give my 
Princess for a thousand years.

When we pull apart, minuets later, I speak again; "I remember 
everything.  Oh, Serena, how could I have forgotten?  I'm so sorry, 
Meatball Head."  

Seeing the disapproving look on her face, I remind her of her own 
words.  "Hey, *you* are the one who said I could call you that!"

"Alright," she sighed in mock annoyance.  "But only if you promise 
me, that you will never leave me again.  Ever."  She ends the last 
phrase in a whisper.

I smile and say what she wants to hear, what I know is true.  "I 
promise."

<:Serena:>

He said he would stay with me!  This is the greatest day of my 
life.  I haven't felt this happy for a long time.  We kiss once 
again and I feel the warmth and comfort in his arms that I have not 
felt for a thousand years.

When we pull apart I tell him what I have been trying to tell him 
for all these weeks, months, actually, since I first saw and hit 
him with my test paper.  "I love you, Darien."

Well, it was true enough.

<:Darien:>

Her words sink in to me quickly and I respond on automatic.  "I 
love you, Serena.  I love you so much it hurts."

<:My POV:>

The two lovers bend in towards each other and kiss again.  The kiss 
lasts for a long time with only the moonlight to see.

Well...almost only the moonlight.

"Jeez!  Think they could kiss any more?"

"Who would of thought that Meatball Head could get that lucky!"

"Raye give me the binoculars!"

"Stuff it, Mina!"

"We really shouldn't be doing this.  They'll kill us!"

"Then why are you here, dear Amy?"

"Well if I'm hear, I may as well enjoy the show.  I got next call 
on the binoculars!"

"No way Amy!  I do!"

"You know guys, Amy's right.  We are gonna kill you."

"Opps."

The four looked up to see two VERY angry friends looking at them.

"Crap."

"I told you that they would kill us."

"SHUT UP, AMY!"

THE END

Ok, there was like, no revision on that.  There were just a few 
things that bugged me and I had to change.  You probably didn't even 
notice the changes; not really.

PLEASE E-MAIL ME!  I got maybe one e-mail when this story first 
came out!

LATER guys!

Stef-chan