One more strange little ficlet from my teen years. The most AU thing I've ever written, hope you don't mind. Enjoy!

White Roses
Alicia Blade

“Why are you always following me around?” Darien screamed at his seven-year-old sister, Michelle. Her eyes brimmed with tears and she took a shaky step away from him. “I told you to leave me alone! Will you just go away and stay out of my life!”

The girl let out a sob, turned, and fled, her small legs gliding over the soft green grass. Soon, she had disappeared behind a patch of trees. Darien stared at where she had stood a minute ago. He could still see her big blue eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek, and her soft brown hair bouncing behind her as she ran away from him.

His heart sank and he instantly regretted the things he had said. He did love his sister, it was just that sometimes she could be so annoying! And now she was running around in a park all by herself, and it was his fault, as most things seemed to be. Sighing, Darien stomped off in the direction she had gone, calling her name.

--

Michelle crouched in the center of the small gazebo that stood in the center of the rose garden. Tears streaked down her warm cheeks as her hands frantically tried to wipe them away. Finally she gave up and allowed the tears to fall, burying her face in her palms. A peculiar feeling struck her, like another presence in the gazebo, and she opened her tear-flooded eyes and looked up.

Kneeling only a few inches from Michelle was a beautiful goddess. Her crystal blue eyes stared back at Michelle with such warmth and caring and concern that the unwanted tears immediately ceased falling. Her glossy pink lips turned into a friendly smile. Her rosy cheeks highlighted her pale complexion and her stunningly golden hair tumbled in great waves around her shoulders, landing in a great heap upon the wooden floor of the gazebo. She wore a simple and elegant white dress of the shiniest, daintiest material. There was no lace or embroidery or frills, but it was by far the most gorgeous gown Michelle had ever laid eyes on. Strangely, she realized that as she gazed into the large, loving eyes of this mysterious girl, she felt joy. Pure, raw happiness.

“Don’t cry, Michelle.” Her sweet voice ringed in Michelle’s ears like a bell. “Darien didn’t mean it. He loves you. I’m sure if you give him another chance, he will apologize. Why don’t you give this to him as a peace offering?” The girl held out her hand and pulled a white rose magically from the air. The flower's sweet aroma drifted off of the satin petals, filling the gazebo with its delightful scent.

Michelle reached out a shaky hand and took it cautiously into her grasp, pulling it to her chest as if afraid it might break. When she looked into the crystal eyes again, she saw the girl smiling down at her with the same gentle, loving smile.

“Mishy?”

Michelle slowly turned away from the girl to see her big brother Darien staring at them. Her face lit up and she ran to him. A few feet away, she jumped and was effortlessly caught in his strong arms and pulled to his chest. Her feet dangled as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I’m so sorry, Darien! I know you told me to leave you alone, but I wanted to be with you ‘cause you’re my big brother and I...”

“Shhhh. It’s okay Mishy, I’m sorry I yelled you. I do love you.”

“I love you too, Darien.” She pulled away from him with a huge smile on her face. She untangled one arm from behind his neck and held out her rose. “See what the angel gave me? I want you to have it, Darien.”

“Gee, thanks, Mish. But did you thank the... uh...” Darien looked over the small girls shoulder into an empty gazebo. “Where did she go?”.

“Heaven!” Michelle’s voice replied matter-of-factly. Darien smiled at her and put her on her feet.

“Thank you for the rose. It’s beautiful. Now how about some ice cream?”

Michelle eagerly agreed and began pulling him out of the rose garden. Darien looked back, but the girl, or angel, or goddess, was nowhere to be seen.

--

Five years later, an eighteen-year-old Darien sat silently on his bed, thinking, dreaming.

Angel.

That is what they had always called her, he and his sister, since neither had any idea who or what she actually was. Darien knew that she was always nearby. Somehow, it seemed as though she was always watching him. Protecting him.

Darien sat perfectly still. Glancing at the clock he noticed it was already past midnight. How long had he been sitting there? Three hours? Four? It didn’t matter. His eyes returned to the vase that had held his attention so thoroughly. It contained eleven white roses, all in full bloom. Each one of them was so perfect. No scratches, bruises, thorns…

One of them was the rose the angel had given to Michelle during their argument. It never wilted. It never lost its color, or its scent. It remained as beautiful as it was when the angel had first pulled it from the air. The other ten were also from the angel, though he hadn’t seen her those times. When she gave them to him, they would just appear. Always when he was sad or angry. And they always brightened him up instantly.

When his first girlfriend broke up with him, there was a rose in his locker. When his grandmother died he found one in the hospital chair next to him. And when he broke his wrist and couldn’t play in the state High School Basketball Championship, there was a rose in his duffel bag. All and all he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his angel—if that's what she truly was—would always be there for him. He found comfort in that solitary thought.

Closing his eyes, Darien sighed longingly. His memory held the image of the golden-haired beauty as if he’d been looking at her five minutes ago. Her smile, her eyes, her figure, were all engraved into his mind. His heart would tear every time he thought of her. He wanted to sing and dance knowing that she existed, that she was nearby. But he also wanted to shout and scream. He couldn’t see her, hold her, talk to her. He had no idea how to find her, no clue where she could be. Once he had tried to make himself cry in the hopes that she would show up to comfort him. She never did. What was worse, he hadn’t heard from her in so long. The last white rose, the eleventh bud, had came to him eight months ago to the day. He felt strangely worried that something had happened to her, as so much time had never passed between her appearances before. He desperately hoped that she was okay. He wished with all his might he had some clue of how to find her.

“Darien?”

He opened his eyes to see his twelve-year old sister standing in his doorway. Michelle had matured a lot over the past five years. She was still his baby sister, in his eyes, but he couldn't deny that she was quickly growing into the woman she would some day be. She no longer tagged along with him and his friends, or throw tantrum fits at the slightest deprival from him or their parents. She had always been intelligent for her age, almost wise beyond her years, to the everlasting pride of her older brother.

“Hey Mish, come on in.”

She didn't hesitate in making herself comfortable on his bed. As they usually did, Michelle’s eyes focused on the vase that stood on Darien’s nightstand. Tilting her head to the side, she reached out and took it carefully into her lap.

If it had been anyone else, Darien would have snapped at the innocent touch. No one else realized how important the flowers were, no one but Michelle. She had been there the first time, after all. She was all too aware of the magic contained in the flowers, of the magic contained in their mysterious giver. “How are you doing?” she asked, her gaze glued to the vase.

“Alright, I guess.” A silence draped over the room as Darien rubbed at his sleepy eyes. Finally, he said, “I miss her.”

“Who?”

“The angel.”

Michelle nodded. “Me too. I wonder where she is right now. If she’s… flying around the sky, or sitting on a cloud, reading a book…”

“Tending her rose garden,” he added with a small grin. Michelle smiled as well, before placing the crystal jar back onto the nightstand.

“I was wondering if you would drive me out to the mall tomorrow morning.”

“Sure, no problem. What are you looking for?”

“Just stuff.”

“Alright, we’ll get going around eleven then.”

“Thanks, Dare. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“’Night, Mishy.”

“Sweet dreams!” she called as she skipped out of the room.

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Darien closed his door and switched off his light. Moon beams poured through the window, attaching to the perfect snow-white roses.

Pulling his sheets back, Darien climbed beneath the covers, solemnly looking up at the moon. “Good night, angel.”

--

A scream pierced the silence of the night, waking Darien from his not-so-peaceful sleep. Startled, he sat up and nervously scanned the dark room. After listening for a moment, trying to hear over his pounding heart, he thought he heard a muffled squeal from down the hall. Immediately jumping from his bed, he ran out into the hallway, tearing Michelle’s bedroom door open.

“Mishy?” he called, flipping on the light switch. His gaze was met with an empty bed, an open window, and a white piece of paper fluttering in the breeze on the window sill. Shakily, he crossed the room and ripped it from the nail that held it in place.

Prince Endymion of Earth,

You take my princess, and I will take yours. The girl will be unharmed for twenty-four hours. After that, I make no guarantees. I want Princess Serenity by then, along with the Silver Imperium Crystal, or your precious sister will never again see the light of day.

I make no idle threats.

Sincerely,
Prince Diamond of Nemesis

His eyes scanned over the paper, his blood rushing until he saw red, his knuckles whitening.

Breaths becoming ragged, he crushed the paper in his grip before fearlessly leaping out of the window. he hit the soft grass below, thinking of nothing but the scream that had awakened him—his sister’s scream—as he ran past the orange streetlights on the deserted sidewalk. His breaths puffed up in the cold night air as his eyes searched for any sign of life or movement. They found none. Unsure of how many blocks or miles he had run, Darien finally began to slow his pace, a feeling of helplessness suddenly welling up in him for the first time.

He had no idea where they had taken her. He had no idea how to get her back.

“MICHELLE!” he screamed, turning in circles. His voice echoed for only a moment before disappearing down the dark streets. “No…” he murmured, feeling dizzy and hollow. "This can't be happening. It can't be real. No… no… no… Mish...” Darien collapsed to his knees, dragging his hands roughly through his hair, his eyes searching the cloudless, star-filled sky as if it could guide him in the direction of his sister, but the stars just twinkled innocently back at him.

“Darien…”

Startled, Darien jumped to his feet and spun around, not noticing the tears that had slipped down his cheeks. He gasped. The word angel hung on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter it.

“Darien,” she quietly repeated, her voice comforting him as much as her presence stunned him.

“Y…you… you’re the angel,” he stuttered.

Her lips closed and she stared at him silently a long moment, before inhaling slowly and speaking again. “I’m sorry, Darien. This is all my fault. It’s my fault they have Michelle with them now. I’m so sorry. I never meant for either of you to get hurt. I just…”

“Wait! What are you talking about? What does this have to do with you? Who… who are these people? Where is my sister? Who are you?” he started screaming at her, overflowing with worry and anger. The angel turned away, looking down at the pavement. Darien gasped for breath, trying to control his temper no matter how furious her silence was making him. He knew she could only be an ally and screaming at her could solve nothing. “Please, tell me,” he said with infinitely more patience.

Shaking her head, the angel looked up at him once again. “It’s a very long story, and we haven’t enough time. Michelle needs you now.”

“Where is she?”

The angel clasped her hands before her and watched him, unmoving and emotionless.

“Where is she!” he screamed again, reaching to place his hands on her shoulders. He gasped, pulling back as his hands slipped through her body.

“What the...”

After briefly examining his hands, he looked at the girl again. Her pale blue eyes glimmered with withheld tears. “You’re not real,” he whispered.

She shook her head. “No, I’m simply not alive. There is a difference.”

“I… I don’t understand.”

She sighed, glancing up at the moon. “We don’t have time for the whole story, but you need to know this: I am Serenity, Princess of the Moon, and heir to the Silver Millenium. At least, I was until it was destroyed. You see, a thousand years ago, I was betrothed to Prince Diamond of a faraway moon called Nemesis. But then I met and fell in love with another young prince, this of Earth. I convinced Queen Serenity, my mother, to call off my engagement to Diamond so that I might marry the Prince of Earth. She did, but Diamond soon flew into a terrifying rage. He destroyed my kingdom, and my people. He would have killed my love, but I threw myself in front of the blast, dying in my prince’s arms.”

She closed her eyes tightly, her long hair falling around her shoulders.

“Prince Diamond killed my mother and stole our most valuable heirloom, a gem called the Silver Imperium Crystal. It is the most powerful thing in this universe. It was then, and it still is now. But before Diamond could do anything with it, my fiancé grabbed it from him and used his own power to stop the evil plans of Diamond. I can still feel his love and power flowing through me as if I was not dead, and I…” Serenity paused, raising her eyes to Darien. “I’m sorry, I’m getting too detailed and we don’t have time for this. Perhaps I will finish the story another time, but for now…”

“Wait, what happened? Just… please, tell me what happened…”

She sighed. “In the short version, my love saved the day by sending the people to the future to be reincarnated. He was, his family and my family were, even Diamond was. But for some reason… I was not. And so I have wandered this Earth as a spirit for a thousand years, waiting for my prince to return.”

“You’re prince," he whispered, a chill crawling up his spin. "It… it’s me, isn’t it?”

She returned her sad gaze to his, a small hint of hope flickering deep in her eyes. “Do you remember?”

Darien gulped and shook his head. “No, but this Diamond creep left me a note. He called me Endymion, the Prince of Earth.”

Lowering her eyes, Serenity turned and walked slowly away. “I see.”

“But, I don’t understand. I mean, I’m no one special, just your everyday teenager who’s going to college in a couple months, and…” Darien paused when Serenity began giggling slightly. “What?”

She looked up to him, her blue eyes glazed over in love and admiration. “Believe me, you are anything but an everyday teenager. I should know.”

Darien gulped at the strange look she was giving him, afraid of the secretive glance, and yet delighted by it all the same. She continued, “You, Darien Chiba, are the reincarnated Prince Endymion of Earth. Like it or not. Understand it or not.”

“What does Michelle have to do with any of this?”

Serenity turned away again. “Nothing, I’m afraid. She was just… born to be your sister, not by fault of anyone. Oh, it is all my fault that she was brought into this! I became careless!”

“How? What did you do?”

“The roses. I shouldn’t have given them to you. I should have known that Diamond would find out about them eventually. I should have realized that he would track you down! Oh, but I couldn’t help it. It hurt so much to see you sad or angry… I could feel your pain as if it was my own… I simply couldn’t stop myself. I’m so sorry, Darien.”

“The roses? He found us because of… the roses?”

“It’s hard to explain, and I can’t do anymore explaining right now! We have to go! You have got to go save your sister!”

Slowly, Darien nodded.

Serenity walked closer to him, her tears wet with unshed tears. “Be careful,” she whispered. “Remember, that I will always be by your side, even if you can’t see me.”

With those words, whispered so lovingly into the surrounding night, Darien was washed in a glowing white light before everything faded away to blackness.

--

It took a long time for his head to stop spinning. He felt weak and sick to his stomach, but he slowly forced himself to open his eyes. A dim light invaded them and he squinted against it, forcing his eyes to adjust. Shakily, he pushed himself off the ground and looked around. The large room had dark green marble floors and candle sconces that created an orange glow and dancing shadows on the walls. The candles did nothing to fend off the chill of the room and Darien wrapped his arms around his body. He was still in his pajamas—sweatpants and a black tank top.

From behind him, a deep sinister laugh echoed through the room. Spinning around, he saw a golden throne before him. Molds of dragons and serpents surrounded the great chair and small demon figurines sat upon the back. On the throne sat a man, casually sipping at a glass of red wine. His silver hair fell over crystal blue eyes, the bony fingers of his free hand tapped mindlessly on the arm of his chair. A white uniform with pale blue embroidery stood out against the bronzy gold. He appeared to glow, all white and lightness in the dark and shadowed room.

“Welcome to my humble abode, Endymion of Earth. I am Prince Diamond of Nemesis, the Dark Moon. Shall I call you by your royal name, or would you prefer... Darien?” He spat the last word as if the sound was distatseful on his tongue.

“Where’s my sister?”

“Oh, no small chit chat before we discuss business? What a shame. I’m quite interested in what you’ve been doing with your life these past eighteen years. Been… growing many roses, have you?”

Clenching his fist, Darien forced himself to stand straighter despite the weakness in his knees.

“Where is she? I want her back now!”

The man laughed. “I’m afraid I can’t give her to you. Not until you’ve completed your side of the bargain.”

“We never had a bargain.”

“Oh, but I beg to differ. Your dear sister for Princess Serenity and the Silver Imperium Crystal. A fair trade. Well... perhaps not entirely fair, of course, but a trade nevertheless.”

Darien’s breathing quickened, his jaw ached from the clenching of his teeth. “Listen, Diamond, I…”

“Prince Diamond.”

Darien continued angrily, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have any crystal, and I certainly don’t have a princess!”

“Ah, then who gave you those beautiful roses might I ask? Don’t play dumb with me, boy, I know very well that you’ve communicated with her. I’ve been watching you. Don’t you think I know that she’s still dead? Whose fault is that, by the way? She died protecting YOU! The love of MY life died because of some crazy infatuation with the prince of EARTH!” Diamond stood, his voice rising as he spoke. “A prince who doesn’t even love her. Who never loved her!”

“Where is my sister?” Darien screamed back at him, anger and agitation pulsing through his veins.

“If you truly loved her, you would be able to touch her now. I was watching you two before you came here, alone on the street. You still cannot have her! You can’t hold her, touch her, kiss her, because you don’t really love her. And yet her childish concept of you remains. It made my stomach churn, the way she looked at you. The tone in her voice when she said your name. And you noticed none of it! All you’re worried about his your stupid Earthling sister! Well THERE’S your sister!”

Diamond waved his hand and a scarlet curtain pulled back from the wall. Behind it was a small nook, and chained to the wall inside Michelle watched with wide eyes. She'd been crying. She looked as if she would start crying again at any moment. She screamed as Diamond’s wineglass came flying at her, shattering on the brick wall by her side. She flinched away from it but was held fast by the chains.

“Darien...” she whimpered.

“Michelle!” he screamed, immediately trying to run toward her, but a blast of stone-hard air knocked him backward. Collapsing to the ground, he glared up at Diamond. “Let her go.”

“Not until I get what I want,” he hissed back.

“What do you want from me?”

“The heart that you stole! I want the love and devotion of Princess Serenity. She is rightfully MY princess! You stole her from me. You took away her kingdom, her rule, her power, things that I would have had! I want them back!”

“Take them! I don’t care, just let my sister go! Leave her alone! Take anything you want, but don’t hurt her!”

A silence filled the room, the only sounds ticking off the walls were the Michelle's sobs and Darien's heavy breaths.

Diamond’s voice calmed to a whisper, serene and complacent, sending a chill down Darien's spine. “You fool. How dare you call yourself a prince? I see now just how ignorant Serenity was to have believed she was in love with a nobody like you. You don’t deserve her. You never did, and I assure you now, that you will never have her again. Mark my words, PRINCE, if I don’t have Princess Serenity, nobody will.”

Darien pushed himself to his feet again. “Kind of ironic, don’t you think? Saying you just called me a nobody.”

The small grin on Diamond’s lips melted and he held his open fist out toward Darien. “You will die now, for stealing my love, and for hurting her as you did. This time, no one is here to protect you.”

His hand began to glow with blue energy. Darien frowned, fear and amazement building, unsure of what was happening or what he could do to stop it. Suddenly as a bolt came flying out of Diamond’s hand, heading for Darien's chest. He gasped, unable to move.He would never forget the many screams that echoed in his head at that moment. Perhaps one was his, he wasn’t sure.

Michelle had called out his name, her voice laced with fear. Then he heard an unfamiliar scream as a white and golden mass fell before him. Diamond shrieked, retracting his hand as if burned, before pushing it away as if a villain had taken control of his limb. Darien’s stunned, ocean blue eyes drifted down to see a shaking body lying on the marble floor in front of him. Golden locks of hair sprawled all around her, tiny white fingers clutched at her side as crystal tears began splashing to the floor below.

The chaos was replaced in calm silence. His mouth running dry, Darien collapsed to the floor. Michelle murmured, “The angel…”

“Serenity…” whispered Darien. He scooted closer to her and reached out shaky fingertips stroke her golden hair.

Tears pushed to the corners of his eyes when again his hand slipped through her. A loud startling sob fled from him as he pulled back, falling to his elbows, his head hanging down. His body shook as tears streamed down his cheeks.

“No… Not again…” he cried as visions of another time overcame him, duplicates of the nightmare he was living now.

“NO!” Diamond roared. Pulling himself from the clutches of shock, he ran forward to the girl lying on the ground. Dropping beside her, he slipped a hand beneath her back, holding her head to his chest. Shakily, he began running his hand through the golden mane, attempting to comfort the fading princess.

Darien stared in shock as he watched Diamond effortlessly touch and hold her. He felt a sharp pang of confusion and envy when Diamond kissed her forehead. The jealousy quickly mixed with anger and he jumped to his feet.

“Get away from her!”

Eyes filled with sorrow and hatred lifted to his. Strong arms tightened around Serenity. “Why should I? I’m the one who loves her, not you!” he hissed.

Darien clenched his teeth. “That’s not true!”

“Oh, isn’t it? Then tell me, why can’t you hold her?”

Darien could offer no explanation. Gently, Diamond placed her back onto the floor, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek before rising to his feet again. He stepped over her body, coming closer to the seething Earth prince.

“You never loved her. I was the one who could have given her everything, and I would have. I would have given her the stars, all the moons in the galaxy. I would have filled her with love and nurturing. But she chose you. And all you’ve ever done was hurt her. You took her for granted. Honestly, was she ever more than a pretty face and being of power to you? Ever?”

“That’s not true. None of that is true!”

“Isn't it? I don’t hear you proclaiming your undying love, as she always did with you! You don’t love her!” Darien stumbled back with every step Diamond took toward him. Unsure arms tied themselves around his waist and he found it increasingly difficult to keep eye contact with the progressing man. “I… I…”

“And now, Endymion, Prince of Earth, you will pay for breaking her heart, as you broke her mind and soul. You will pay for forcing her to pine over you so, and never giving her what she deserved.”

Again, a beam of energy glowed around Diamond’s hand. Darien looked around, searching for any sign of help, anything he could use to protect himself. What he saw was his sister, who had always been there to love him and talk to him, and an angel, who had given him hope and happiness when he thought there was nothing left. She was dying. Michelle would die also, if he lost this battle.

“I won’t lose… I won’t lose them…” he whispered to himself. Tear after unknown tear slipped from his eyes, but one stopped in thin air. Gleams of white swirled around it, forming a glowing white stone in front of him. His hands reached out to it as he felt a warmth invade his body. His mind began to throb as an image of long ago filtered back to his thoughts.

--

“I won’t let you do this, Diamond!” Prince Endymion screamed from his crouched position in the ballroom.

Princess Serenity’s lifeless body was strewn on the floor only feet away from him, along with eight soldier suited girls about the room, all having died attempting to destroy the villain left standing. Crumpled on the floor at Diamond’s feet, a dying queen struggled for her last breaths of air. In Diamond’s hand, a silver stone shimmered. He cackled, ready to kill the Earth prince, and claim the kingdom for his own. He dodged easily when Endymion’s sword was thrown at him, skimming by his armor-clad shoulder, then laughed and turned back toward his attacker, but then he froze. Prince Endymion was no longer there.

“What?” he screamed when the stone was suddenly grabbed from his fist. Whirling around, he faced Endymion, who was holding onto the Silver Imperium Crystal tightly in his grasp.

“You will pay for all that you have done, Diamond!” the Earth prince yelled, holding the crystal above him. With a flow of power, a loving look directed to the princess fallen on the floor, and a scream of agony, the glowing light of the crystal engulfed them both and all the bodies, dead and dying, around them.

--

Darien fell to his knees on the marble floor, gasping for breath. The dull stone clattered to the ground beside him as the last screams from Diamond echoed and died in his ears. Closing his eyes, he listened thankfully for the beating of his heart and his heavy breathing, stirring the silence in the large room.

“Endymion…” whispered a small voice. He opened his eyes to see that the princess had managed to pull herself to her knees before him.

He forced a smile, inching closer to her. “Princess… are… are you alright?”

Her pale blue eyes dawned with a tiny smile, gazing back at him with more love and compassion than he thought it was possible for a person to have. “I’m fine, my prince, but…” Darien’s grin turned to concern as he saw the girl began to become transparent. “Wha… what’s going on?”

“You have no need of my anymore. I must leave now,” she whispered.

“What? No! No, you can’t leave! I do need you! What about the roses and… and the crystal? Wait, you can’t leave me, not now, not after everything!” He reached out a hand to her, but once again broke into tears. He could feel nothing where she was but empty air.

“Diamond was right, my prince. You never truly loved me. That is why you can’t feel me, and why we can’t be together.”

“No, that’s not true. You must know that that’s not true!”

“You never said the words, my prince. I know that you love me, I always knew in my heart. But… did you? Did you know that you loved me?”

“I… I do. I do…”

“What, Endymion?”

“I… I…”

“Shh…” her eyes became paler as her body faded away. “I know. Please, be happy. And remember, I love you…” her last words shimmered on the air as the last of her golden locks disappeared from his view. Silence once again draped through the room. Darien’s eyes searched frantically for any sign of the princess, but he found none. Choking on his sobs, he collapsed fully to the ground, pounding at the marble with his fists.

“I do love you,” he whispered, then repeated louder, “I DO love you! Why can’t anyone see that? Doesn’t anyone have any idea how much I love you? How much I NEED you?” Tears falling, he chanted the phrase over and over, asking why, begging her to come back, declaring his love and devotion.

Minutes later, and still crying, Darien weakly stood and walked to his sister. She had tears streaking her cheeks as well as she watched him silently free the binding chains.

“I know you love her,” Michelle whispered quietly. A tiny smile tugged at the corners of Darien’s lips as he released her. They stared at each other for a moment, before he pulled her into a tight hug, and they cried together.

--

The blue sky was dotted with white clouds. Birds hopped around the grass, twittering and playing and searching for an afternoon snack. In the distance there was laughing. He knew that somewhere in the distance there was a couple of lovers. Many couples. Many lovers. Happy, holding each other and playing, teasing, kissing, and loving. He knew that somewhere in the distance, the words I love you were on someone’s tongue, ready to brighten the day and life of another. How he wished he was that someone.

The grass below him was warm from the sun, itching at the back of his neck. Looking down at his hand, he watched as a small red ant climbed over one of his fingers before disappearing in the forest below. A patch of white daisies was not too far away. A warm summer breeze made the leaves sing and dance above him. The large oak tree shaded his eyes from the blinding sun, letting patches of golden light sparkle through. It reminded him of her hair.

The sky reminded him of her eyes.

The birds reminded him of her voice.

The breeze reminded him of her words.

“I love you…” he said to the air.

He didn’t know how many times he had said those three simple words in the past week, since the fearful day at Diamond’s palace. Not enough. His memories of a thousand years ago were intact. He remembered loving her, feeling her love engulf him every time they were near each other. He had known then that they were meant to be together.

And he remembered every time she had told him she loved him. Every time the words had escaped her lips. He also knew that not once had he returned the favor. He never could bring himself to say it, for reasons he didn’t understand. Fear of rejection, or loss? Possibly. But he regretted it now. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was completely in love with her. He had been a thousand years ago, and he had been the first time he’d seen her in the gazebo at the park. This park, to be exact.

He knew that if ever he had another chance, he wouldn’t hesitate to tell her the truth. To tell her his feelings, his love for her. IF ever he had another chance. He knew how unlikely it was. She'd waited for him a thousand years, only for him to fail her again.

He closed his eyes sadly, ignoring the familiar tears as they fell down his cheeks. He wondered if there were many more tears left in him to cry. It seemed that’s all he did these days.

On the warm breeze, the soft scent of roses flowed over him. His brow furrowed. The last time he had smelled such a delicious scent was... eight months and seven days ago. His eyes opened. He sat up, wondering if his imagination was teasing him, but there at his side was a perfect white rose lying amidst the patch of daisies.

Fervently, he looked around, reaching blindly for the rose as his eyes scanned the horizon. Above him, he thought he heard a giggle. Looking up, he watched as a stream of gold disappeared in the leave of the tree.

“Serenity!” he yelled, jumping to his feet. The tree branches ruffled. Running around the trunk, he saw the figure of a girl drop from the above branches before scampering away. “Wait!”

Clutching the rose, he took off after her, watching and listening for her gentle laugh, her golden hair. But soon, she was out of sight again. He continued running through the park as fast as he could, unbelieving that she'd returned. Unbelieving that she'd ran from him.

He came to the rose garden and paused, gasping for breath. Walking through tha lanes of flowers, he searched the garden for any sign of life or movement. In front of him stood the wooden gazebo where he had first seen Serenity with Michelle, so many years ago.

Walking closer, he saw that a girl was standing in the gazebo, facing away from him. She wore a Crossroads school uniform, with a blue pleated skirt, white blouse, and navy collar. Knee high socks and black mary-janes adorned her small feet and shapely legs. Golden hair was tied into two matching buns on top of her head, with ponytails that came to her knees. Darien gulped, striding up to her with sweating firsts and furiously beating heart. At the top of the steps to the gazebo, he paused and looked at her. She stood still, ignorant of him behind her.

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he inhaled a sharp breath, before taking a few more shaky steps toward the girl. “S…Serenity?” he asked uncertainly.

“Hm?” the girl turned to face him, large blue eyes sparkling curiously from beneath soft bangs.

Darien gasped, a smile tugging at his lips. On seeing him, the girl turned around completely as well, her pale pink lips opening slightly. Her gaze traveled down to the white rose held in his hands, before she met his stare once more.

"Serenity…” Darien whispered, astonished.

The girl’s grin widened and she took a step toward him. “Please, Endymion, my name is Serena now.”

He smiled as well, a surprised and relieved chuckle escaping from his lips. “And I’m Darien.”

A silence filled the air between them as Darien looked at the girl in awe and amazement. She blushed under his analysis, looking down at the wooden floor as her hands began to tie themselves in front of her stomach. After a moment, Darien whispered, tears clouding his eyes, “You… you came back to me.”

“I had to,” she whispered back, still refraining from looking up at him. “There’s something… I need to hear.”

Biting her lower lip, Serena glanced up at him through her thick eyelashes. Darien could feel his heartbeat speed up with the tempting looks she was giving him. He stepped closer to her, lessening the distance between them enough so that he could reach out and touch her. Or could he?

“Serena… can… can I touch you?”

“Do you want to touch me?”

“More than anything.”

She looked at him for a moment, and he thought he could see something shimmer in the corner of her azure eye. She gulped. “Yes… if… if you could do something for me… I… I came back because I need to know if… if you…”

“If I love you?” he whispered, startling her from her train of thought.

Their damp eyes met and she signaled yes with a quick movement of the head, too frightened to do anything more. Darien smiled. With shaky hands, he reached up to trace a finger along her jaw. She shivered at the touch, and he sighed blinking away a tear. His lips curled up in a wide, delighted grin.

“I love you,” he said. “I’ve always loved you. And I promise to tell you that many more times in the future.”

A sob of happiness fled from Serena’s lips and her tensed body relaxed as she relished in the simple words. He repeated them to her again and again, growing quieter, as well as closer, until she was stunned at the feel of warm lips pressing against her own.

Darien wrapped his arms about her waist, pulling her closer to him as he kissed her with every bit of love and passion he had been holding for this angel for over a thousand years. His lips teased her, even after they had pulled apart, and he refused to let his hold loosen from around her waist.

As they walked happily away in each other’s arms, Darien could not keep the words away and her delighted giggles echoed in his ears and heart for the rest of both their lives.

The End

Strange, I know. Enjoyable? Please review!

Everything I post from this point on will be brand new (cheers!). Fairy Tale coming up next.