Love is in the Christmas Air ... 		Chapter One : Signed, A Friend ... 
Author : P-120Rating : GE-mail : baer@ce.net 			((((*))))
	It was Christmas eve, an ordinary day for him.   Darien was
alone, sitting in his living room watching the 11 o'clock news.  There
was nothing much going on around the city.  Just the same old stuff. 
Darien got up from his place on the couch and moved to the window.  He
looked out it, there were lights and people bustling about below.  A 
desolate loneliness crept over him as he backed away from the window 
and picked up his psychics book to further expand his knowledge, or so
he told himself.  He wanted to hide, pretend it wasn't Christmas, 
pretend he wasn't alone.  After reading for an hour, he placed his
book on the table and walked quietly to the bedroom to sleep.  Today 
was Christmas, another Christmas to spend.. alone. 
	Darien awoke the next morning at about 9 A.M.  He got dressed 
and came out into his sparse living room.  Picking up his psychics book
he was once again going to read when he heard a knock on his door.  He 
opened the door to find no one there.  He was about to shut the door 
when he saw a package and card at his feet.  It was a rather small box,
for the size of jewelry.  He picked it up and closed the door.  				((((*))))
	A shadowy figure watched as Darien opened the door and picked 
up the package and took it inside.  The figure smiled and barely 
managed holding in a giggle before slipping into the elevator and
leaving his apartment building.  			((((*))))
	Adter Darien entered the apartment he sat the mysterious small
box on the counter.  He looked at the card that was in an off white 
envelope.   It read : Darien in beautifully scripted handwriting.  He
opened the envelope carefully and cautiously.  It was a Christmas card.
On the front there was a Christmas tree lavishly decorated.  It read
" Merry Christmas " above it.  Then he opened iton the left side there
was a picture of a lit fireplace with stockings hung from it.  On the
right was written : 		
	'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
	Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse 
	The stockings weren't hung by the chimmney with care
	While dear Darien sat all alone in his chair
	All alone for this Christmas just as before
	Until you heard a knock on your door
	Merry Christmas, Happy New Year a time to rejoice
	I'll be here as always forever your choice. 				Signed,				A Friend .. 
	Darien was surprised.  No one had ever sent him a Christmas 
Card.  It wasn't Andrew, and of that he was sure.  Who else did he
know that might send him a card ? Rei ? No, she wouldn't.  Serena ? 
Why would she send me a card ?Not to say I would mind he thought and 
then quickly dispatched it.  And the feeling of loneliness swept over 
him again.  And then he remembered the package.  He gently tore away 
the wrapping paper to reveal a small black velvet box.  He opened up
the box, and inside was a gold necklace with his initials.   There 
was a note tucked gently inside the box lid.  He took it out and it read : 
	Hello Darien, 		I'm sure you probably didn't expect this. Neither did
	I.  Please accept the gift which I went through so much trouble
	to pick out for you.  I'm not sure if you know who this is from
	if you do DON'T return it to me.  If you don't all the better.
	Well I wish you the best Christmas, but I imagine it won't be
	the best of times for you.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
	Have you made a resoultion ? I have .. 				Signed,				A Friend ..
	Left bewildered Darien looked back down at the necklace.  It 
was beautiful.  Who would waste their time on me ? he wondered.  I
don't deserve this.  He closed the lid and let it sit there.  But that
card and gift was all he could think about all day.  						(((( A Day Later ))))
  	Darien still upset about the pacakge yesterday walked along
the park trail.  No one was really out today.  It was too cold and 
even more so it was family time.  True Christmas had been yesterday, 
but the streets still seemed barren.  During his zoned out stage 
someone slammed into him knocking the breath out of him.  His first
thought was Serena.  He looked down to see her, most haphazardly 
tossed to the ground, the breath knocked out of her too.  He held out
his hand and swiftly pulled her to her feet.
	" Why are you out Meatball Head ? Shouldn't you be at home ? "he asked. 
	" None of your business Darien," she said indignantly not moving an inch.  
	" So you just decided to walk in the snow ? " he asked.
	" Why not ? I walk in the rain.  Does it make a difference.  
Why are you out ? " she asked.
	" Couldn't think.  I needed air. " he said honestly.
	" Oh, so your just walking aimlessly or clearing your head?" 
	" Aren't we the curious one," he said evasively.	" Just wondering," 
	" I'm trying to clear my head.  " he said.
	" I'm trying to get LUNA out of mine !! That stupid cat of mine.
She's killing me with her complaining.  " said Serena.
	Darien raised his eyebrows in question.
	" She's a loud cat.  And if you don't do everything perfect
she starts to scream her head off.  It's killing me.  She seems so much
more demanding at Christmas," 	" Well pets are like that I guess," 
	" Do you want her ? " Serena asked.
	" No thank you," he said with a slight smile.	" Too bad," came her cold reply.
	" It was nice seeing you for once Darien," she said.
	" Yeah, yeah. See ya Meatball Head," and he turned to walkaway.
	" Darien .. Once more second ! I have something for you. " 
she said and ran up to him.  She took her hand out of her pocket.  She
picked up his hand and dropped the contents of it into his palm.  He
looked at her strangely for a moment and then looked down at his hand.  
It was an intricately created friendship bracelet.  
	" You're always wearing greeen and black.  I made that for you
last night.  I couldn't sleep," she said.
	" Why.  I'm never nice to you," he said astonished.
	" Maybe not.  But over the last couple of months you've become
a challenging figure in my social circle.  And the girls don't like 
that one bit.  You tend to make me later than I normally am. " she said
with a smile.  	" Are you sure you want to give me this ? " he asked still
shocked.		" I'm sure," she said.  She took the hand he had the bracelet
in and placed her hand inside of his with the bracelet between their 
joined hands.  She leaned up and gently placed a kiss against his cheek.  
	" Merry Christmas Darien. Stop looking so gloomy," she said.
	" I would if you would stop throwing stuff at me. " he said
desperately trying to break this moment between them.  He was nervous
and uncomfortable.  
	" I'd stop throwing stuff at you if you'd stop calling me by
my infamous nickname," she said. 	" Well I'm not going to," he said determined.
	She smiled at him. " Neither am I," she said and turned. " See
ya Darien " she called continuing her trek. 		(((( After Christmas Vacation ))))
	Serena ran down the street.  She could hear Rei yelling at her
now for her tardiness.  In her daze she collided full foce with 
someone else both hitting the pavement.  
	" Good afternoon to you too meatball head !" he snapped dusting
off his clothes. 	Serena was on the found rubbing her head with her eyes closed
tightly.	" Ouch ! That one hurt.  What do you do wear steel plates 
under your clothes ? ..jeez .. " she said standing up from the ground
her short school skirt now dirty.  
	" Judging by your speed I'd say you were late for something ?"he asked.
	" oh no ! Rei's gonna kill me ! " she said picking up the
book she had been carrying and dashed off.  Darien shook his head and
started off again.  Momentarily letting her comment filter through his
head ' what do you do wear steel plates under your clothes ' he found
some slight satisfaction from the remark.  			(((( A Year Later ))))
	Christmas .. again! thought Darien to himself.  I wonder ..
last year .. someone sent me that present.  Tomorrow was Christmas. 
Tomorrow was Christmas.  Tomorrow was Christmas.  Tomorrow was Christmas.
he thought over and over again.  A knock at the door startled him from
his reverie.  He went to the door half expecting no one to be there.  
	" Serena ? " he asked shocked.	" Hey Darien.  What's up ? " 
	" Um .. nothing.  Want to come in ? " he asked.
	" Thanks. I'm here for a reason.  So I won't bother you.  I 
figured you'd be here.  I don't exactly know how to say what I want to
say .. Last year I left something on your doorstep .." she stopped.
	" That was from you ?! " he asked now convinced nothing else in
this world could shock him.	" Depends .. " 	" On what ? " 
	" On what it was that I left .." she evasively.
	He took out a box and opened it for her.  	" This ? " he asked.
	" That would be it," she said.
	" Why didn't you just give it to me .." he asked.
	" I don't know.  Didn't want to I guess," she said.
	" So why are you here now ? " 
	" Because.  This is a nice apartment Darien. Not very elegant
in decoration, but pleasing," she said.
	" I'm sorry if you don't like it. " he said sarcastically.
	" It's fine with me you're the one who lives here,"
	" Why are you here again ? "	" Am I annoying you ? "
	" Is that a trick question ? " he asked with a grin.
	" I'm here because it's Christmas Eve and I wanted to see how
you were.  My sparring partner has been pale and depressed and I can't 
insult you when you're acting like that.  " she said her eyes showing
her concern for him and his heart was touched.   He watched her as he 
eyes traveled slowly up the wall reaching the ceiling in quite a comical
manner.  And as he watched he could no longer contain a laugh.  
	" What's funny ? " she asked.	" Nothing," he muttered.
	And then all of a sudden she froze.  Her whole body stiffened 
and her face fell.  
	" Serena ? " he asked he followed her gaze to a tiny spider that
was on the wall staring back at her.  
	" Serena ? " he asked again reaching out and touching her hand
and she pulled him in front of her.
	" Do you live with that .. thing ? " she asked.	" The spider ? " he asked.
	" Ewwww ! " she said and he felt her body quiver. " Darrienn, 
it's moving," she said backing up.  
	" Spiders do that," he said enjoying her fear slightly.  He'd
never seen *anyone* as afraid as she was right now.  The spider reached
the ceiling and started towards Serena.  
	" Darien," she pleaded and continued her backward pace.  
	" Serena it's just a spider," he remarked.  He had been trying
to repress a laugh a laugh earlier, her fear of spiders was unbelievable.
	" Darien," her voice came again.	" Would you like me to kill it ? " he asked.
	" Um .. that might be advisable," she said hitting the opposite
apartment wall and then sliding down to the floor.  And there she
remained until she was sure the spider was dead.   Even then her face
was as pale as a sheet.  
	" Are you all right ? " he asked.  he asked thinking about her
fear.  That was defintely funny.  He would have to remember that !!
Maybe get a pet tarantula. 	" Fine," she said impersonally.
	" Now you were here to cheer me up correct ?" he asked trying
to get her attention focused on him again.
	It worked her eyes flickered to his.  " Yes and to give you
this," she said and held out a light sea green enveloped card.  
	" Is this another Christmas Card ? " he asked.	" Um . . yes," 
	" Thank you. I don't exactly have one for you,"he said uncomfortably. 
	" I know that .. duh !! That's why I brought it over personally. 
And besides I dont' exactly like signing, ' a friend'.  which doesn't
exactly fit our relationship," she said. 
	" So you brought me this why ? " he asked being purposely difficult. 
	" One because it's Christmas.  Two because you didn't have one
for me.  And three because this kind of thing makes people nervous and
slightly tense.  Especially you,"  she said with a grin.	
	" But why would you give me something if I didn't have anythingfor you ? "
	" I like giving the gifts, not receiving them," she said.
	" Well then," he said uncomfortable still.
	"So can I stay for a while ? " she asked.
	" How long does this cheering up last ? " 
	" Not long I guess.  I don't really know.  You Darien are 
bordering on the impossible.  But I'm willing to give it a shot," she
said easily.	He smiled, something she'd never seen.  " Well then .. " he said.
	" Already said that," 
	" So .. what are you going to do to cheer me up ?" he asked.
	" I don't know.  Let's have a Darien and Serena Christmas shallwe ? " 
	" How do we do that ? " he asked slightly afraid of whatever that meant.  
	" I'm not sure, let's just wing it," she said with a smile.			((((*))))
	Serena stayed until 10 P.M.  Her watched in wonder as she tried
her best to cheer him up.  Surprisingly enough he had board games that
Andrew had left.  They played Monopoly for hours.  Serena had refused to 
play Scrabble due to the fact that his vocabulary was a sky high level
and that she was doomed to start.  Darien made coffee so he could keep
up with her.  He gave her some, but she didn't seem to like it much.
	" You don't like coffee do you ? " he asked her. 
	" It's .. a very strong beverage. I don't care to drink it," 
	" I didn't think so," 
	" I like the way it smells.  But I don't like the taste it leaves 
in my mouth for hours.  
	He laughed slightly and she smiled weakly.  This was working
wonderfully, she thought.
	" You look happier.  How do you feel ? " she asked him.
	" Better.  I guess I've just been used to being alone," 
	" You don't have to be.  I can see you don't let people close
to you.  And I won't say I understand because I don't.  But if you ever
need a distant friend Darien .. I'm always around," she said cheefully.
	" Your like a little wind up doll with an energizer battery," 
	" Not funny CJ* " she remarked.	" Sorry Meatball head ! But that was funny,"  
	" Well I have to go but before I forget.  This is yours," she
threw him a retangular object he could tell was a book.  
	" Serena ! " He said as she came forward. 
	" Sorry Darien. " She kissed him lightly on the cheek and 
whispered. " Merry Christmas Darien you deserve it,"  before disappearing
out his door.   He couldn't repress the feeling of joy that she had 
brought him today.  She made him feel secure in himself and in her.  
NOTE : * = conceited jerk 				- end one -