Hey everyone, sorry it’s taken me so long to update. I went overseas for the Easter break and I had no internet connection.

Please keep reading and please, please keep reviewing! Its so nice to come back and see my inbox full of nice reviews!

All right I know that Serena and Darien’s behaviour is a bit confusing. To make it simpler you must remember that Darien doesn’t have any indication at all what Serena is feeling. She, on the other hand, is plagued by low self -esteem but she is in a committed relationship with Darien so her feelings toward Darien yo-yo between utter bliss and total insecurity.

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Chapter 7:

“Disguise power! Make me into Darien’s perfect girl!”

Serena waited for the transformation pen to do its magic. She waited. And waited.

“What? Hello! You’re supposed to work!” Serena cried out, banging the pen against the palm of her hand before waving it around frantically.

“Disguise power! Make me into Darien’s dream date!” She tried again.

After a minute, she looked down at herself and saw exactly the same image she had always seen. Her long cream skirt was exactly the same; her light pink off the shoulder top hadn’t changed. Her meatballs were still securely fastened on top of her head.

“What the effing...argh! You stupid, stupid pen! How can I be Darien’s best girl if you wont even do your stupid bibbity-bobbity-boo crap!” She yelled at the pen a little desperately.

She took a deep, calming breathe before letting out a slow, even rush of air. She closed her eyes, bringing the pen to her chest clasped between her two hands.

She remembered Luna telling her that her powers were often tied to her emotions. She was exhausted from the intensive Sailor Scout training, and she was also emotionally drained from her earlier out pouring confession to her friends.

It was little wonder she could even hold herself upright, let alone channel enough positive energy to her transformation pen. She recognized defeat when she saw it, so for the last time that day she raised the small star shaped transformation pen, high in the air.

“Disguise power! Make me into the smart, sophisticated woman Darien deserves!”

For half a second, Serena’s heart fluttered in hope when she saw the pen glow and flicker. Her excitement was short-lived, however, when nothing happened. For the third time.

Serena brought the pen back down to her side. She blinked back tears of disappointment and failure.

She slumped against the wall behind her. Great sobs of agony washed over her. If the transformation pen didn’t work, she didn’t know how she was ever going to be the woman Darien deserved.

It seemed like she was frozen in her spot. Paralyzed by the force of her tears and her fears. She was so self-absorbed in her problems that she didn’t detect the dark figure rushing toward her before two strong arms wrapped tightly around her limp body.

“Serena! What’s wrong baby? Oh please Sere. Are you hurt? Tell me what’s wrong?” A strong but panicked voice slowly trickled through Serena’s fog filled mind.

“Darien?” She mumbled, crushed to his hard chest.

“Yes, yes I’m here. Are you hurt?” Darien was torn between keeping Serena crushed against his chest and from also taking a physical step back so he could confirm that she wasn’t hurt in any way.

“Darien,” She moaned, practically sagging against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and refused to let go.

If he wasn’t really here, Serena thought, then she didn’t want to let go of this warm mirage. It was too sweet. To remiss of their old relationship before all of her doubts began to taint her view of the relationship.

“Serena, are you hurt?” The voice demanded to know.

She shook her head; with a whisper she forced the word out, “No.”

She felt him release a deep breath at her answer. She could also feel him tremble slightly under her touch like he was barely restraining himself, under the weight of all his emotions.

“That’s good, that’s good.” Darien repeated mainly to himself, to control his erratic heartbeat.

Her head lifted slightly to look into the eyes of her beloved, “Why?”

He frowned at the vacant look in her eyes. She may not be physically hurt but she acted like she was someone who was mentally traumatized. A low pained groan escaped from him as he took her by the shoulders and shook her a little, “Why? Why is that good you’re not hurt? How can you even ask me that Serena! I could feel your pain from clear across the other side of town. I could feel that you were hurt and that you needed me and I couldn’t get to you fast enough.”

The truth evident in front of her, she noticed for the first time that he was slightly damp, like he had run a great distance to get to her quickly.

“Why?” She whispered again.

“Because I don’t know how to love anyone but you. When you hurt, I hurt. I’m so deeply linked to you…I need to know that you’re all right. I need for you to know that you’re protected and safe.”

Serena blinked. The depressive haze slowly lifted from her mind. Unfortunately the uneasy feeling of not knowing whether he was here for her or because of his link to Sailor Moon, still ate at her insides.

“I’m okay,” Serena quietly affirmed, easing back from his embrace.

He started to reach for her and then stopped abruptly. In an equally low voice he asked, “What happened? Does this have anything to do with what happened yesterday?”

She remained quiet. She had already experienced one emotional breakdown today; she didn’t think she could handle another quite so soon.

“No. Sometimes a girl has just got to cry. Not everything is about you.” She lied.

Darien was unconvinced. The force of the pull, the force of her desperation and hurt was unlike anything he had experienced, even with him fighting alongside her as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask. In that moment, he knew however, that he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms again. To reassure her as much as he could reassure himself that she was really all right so he went along with her lie.

“Ok then. Will you come back here anyway to me so I can apologize again anyway? Hopefully even kiss it better?”

She hesitated before she allowed Darien to pull her back into his arms. She was confused, overwhelmed and exhausted and at that moment she wanted nothing more than for Darien to kiss and make her believe that everything was instantly better.

“Go ahead.”

“Yes ma’am. The apology first I guess. Yesterday was horrible for both of us. I’m really sorry about the way Natalie treated you but I’m more sorry for the way I reacted.”

“You mean the way you didn’t react?”

Darien smiled sheepishly, “I’m not going to make up excuses, my behavior was inexcusable, I didn’t act in a very boyfriend-like way, and I didn’t even act in a gentlemanly way. I was a total tree stump and I let you take the brunt of the fire, while I stood dumbstruck and watched the blaze. I guess what I’m trying to ineloquently say is that I’m sorry that I didn’t tell Natalie where to shove it. I’m sorry I didn’t ask Luna to claw her, just a little in revenge.” Serena laughed at that.

“I’m incredibly sorry that you were hurt yesterday. I’m sorry that I ran out in the middle of our picnic lunch. You know how much I love spending time alone with you and I know how much you love your food. So I’m sorry that I spoiled that for you. But what I’m most sorry for is forgetting to do this before I left.”

His hands cradled Serena’s face tenderly before he lowered his lips to gently taste her mouth. Two silent tears rolled down the side of her face. The bittersweet joy she felt when he kissed her- she sighed hopelessly.

His mouth hovered centimeters above hers, “Do you forgive me?”

She looked at him with he big sad blue eyes and he knew that he had inadvertently caused some shift in her feelings for him.

“Please Sere, I love you.” He’s voice cracked.

“You can’t just kiss away all our problems Darien.”

He nodded, “I know, I know but please I need you.”

She studied his face and her heart melted. She reached up and kissed the side of his mouth, simply relishing in her power to kiss such a sinfully handsome and caring man.

“I love you,” He whispered again before stepping back, “Which is why I want to make up for our date yesterday.” Darien looked around and noticed that it was nearing dusk.

He refocused on Serena, presenting a perfect red rose; he bent down on one knee, “Serena will you go out for dinner with me tonight?”

Serena grinned, playing along, “Like a date?”

“Like a date” Darien confirmed beaming now.

“In that case I would love to go out with you.”

Darien couldn’t resist pecking her on the lips after he gracefully rose from his kneeling position at her feet. He kissed her repeatedly in a series of quick concessions but before she could protest he eased away, “Great, lets go then.”

A look of pure horror passed over Serena’s face, “Now?” She looked down at herself, “I’m not dressed!”

“You look pretty dressed to me but if you want me to help you undress all you have to do is ask,” Darien teased.

“Oh you!” She hit his chest playfully.

He looked at his watch, “Oh alright I guess I can give you an hour to get yourself ready if you really need to.”

“Darien! You know I need at least two hours! I need to shower and my hair alone takes at least forty-five minutes minimum. Then I need to find what to wear and do my makeup and that all takes valuable time!”

He laughed.

“Okay two hours but only because I love you.”

Serena smiled and kissed him on his mouth as a thank you but she didn’t repeat the sentiment back to him.

He frowned but didn’t push her. He would find out what was eating at her. One way or another.

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