Merry Christmas everyone!  In special recognition of the holiday season, 
I've decided to write a sweet short story about how a Christmas gift can 
change everything.  I hope you like it!

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-----------------The Christmas Gift by Aquamarine Angel------------------
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Bunny Serenity Crescent inhaled the distinct scent of pine and
confectioneries appreciatively as she stepped into the lavish apartment
that she shared with her best friend, Darien Endymion Shields.  She?d
had another long day at work - she was a waitress at Lita?s Home Kitchen
- and was looking forward to plopping herself on the living room couch
and lazing about.  <<If I had a choice, I would sit down and never get
up.>>

?Darien?  I?m home!? she called, slipping off her shoes and coat.  A
tall young man, about twenty-four years of age, stepped out of the
kitchen.  His dark, ebony hair was disheveled and his deep azure eyes
danced mischievously.  He was dressed casually, by his standards in any
case, in a pairs of black slacks and a comfortable holiday sweater,
hands held behind his back as if he was hiding something.

She looked at him, trying her best to fight off the attraction that she
felt for him.  <<God he looks good...  No!  Stop that, Bunny.  He?s your
best friend; he doesn?t like you that way.>>  She sighed, inwardly,
cursing the God who saw fit to make her fall in love with the one man
she could never have.  <<Just friends...  It gets harder and harder to
pretend that I don?t love him each day.  Still, the possibility of
losing him is just to much of a risk...  I can?t tell him.>>

Suddenly, she was jerked from her reverie and into Darien?s embrace. 
<<What?s he doing!?!>>  Then she realized that he had something on his
hands...something sticky.

?DARIEN!!  You?ve ruined my new shirt!? she cried furiously as he
laughed at her hostile expression.

?Call it pay-back for putting salt in my coffee this morning instead of
sugar,? he said flippantly, heading back into the safety of the kitchen. 
<<Note to self: put something messy in his bed.>>

Annoyed, she headed into her bedroom, grabbed a change of cloths, and
went to shower.  The feel of hot water against her skin was relaxing and
often helped her relieve her stress.  And she had plenty of stress these
days; mostly dealing with Darien...and his girlfriend.  She sighed. 
<<Love stinks.>>

For some reason, she couldn?t help but hate Beryl with a vengeance.  It
wasn?t that she was jealous - even though she was - that made her
loath the woman.  It wasn?t that Beryl treated her like she didn?t
exist, either.  In fact, the woman was all sweetness towards her. 
Somehow, however, Bunny knew it was all superficial: an act used to
convince Darien that she was someone she wasn?t.  Darien was "loaded" 
according to most women so there had been a long line of girls after 
him for his money, never mind his dashing good-looks.

Still, Darien seemed to love Beryl and Bunny had no intention of hurting
him so she kept quiet about her suspicions.  Besides, she had no proof.

Just as her skin was beginning to resemble a prune, she turned off the
water and pulled on her favorite outfit (a pink sweater that Darien had
given her for her birthday and matching skirt).  Drying her hair, she
walked into the living room where Darien was waiting for her while
?taste-testing? the large variety of cookies spread across the
coffee-table.

She smiled at him, forgetting that she was supposed to be angry with him
and he smiled back, knowing that he?d been forgiven.

?I love Christmas,? Bunny said, sitting beside him on the love seat. 
She gazed up at the Christmas tree she and Darien had bought just the
night before.

It was by far the most enchanting tree she?d ever had in her life.  Both
being so busy, they had been unable to purchase a Christmas tree any
earlier than December 23.  They?d both been afraid that all the good
trees would have already been sold but Andrew had used all his cunning
to save this special tree just for them.  Bunny had spent the better
part of an hour thanking him repeated until finally Andrew had thrown
his arms up in the air and told her to give him a hug and consider the
favor repaid.  Laughing, Bunny had complied.

Now as she stared up at the tall evergreen, decorated with elegant
silver ribbon and ornaments, she suddenly realized that something was
missing from the dazzling display.  ?Darien,? she said, ?we seem to have
forgotten the angel at the top of the tree.?

He followed her gaze.  ?So we have...  Wait here a minute.  I have just
the thing!?  Bunny stared after him, puzzled, as he darted out of the
room and down the hall.  <<What in the world is he up to?>>

Her question was soon answered when he returned with a relatively small,
florid white box tied off with ribbon in his arms.  With a mysterious
smile, he hand her the box.

?Open it, but be careful.  It?s fragile.?  Bunny stared up at him,
baffled for a moment, but her curiosity soon got the best of her and she
slowly untied the ribbon.  She gasped when she saw what was inside.

She was made of fine, white porcelain with blushing cheeks and full,
pink lips and a delicate nose.  Her eyes were as blue as the deepest
depths of the ocean and seemed to sparkle with joy and intelligence. 
Upon her forehead a golden crescent moon was proudly worn.  Her hair was
pure gold, pulled into two familiar buns at the top of her head with two
perfect streamers falling from them.  Her gown was of real, white silk
and lace with gold trimming which fell down to her slippered feet.  On
her back were a pair of dainty wings.

?She?s beautiful...  Where did you find her?? Bunny asked, eyes locked
on the precious doll which she held in awe.  So enrapture by the fine
workmanship, she failed to notice the way Darien glowed at the praise.

?Actually, I made it myself with a little help from Amy, who showed me
were to buy the materials and how to paint the features without screwing
up and splattering paint every where,? Darien said, proudly.  ?Do you
really like it??

Bunny tore her eyes away from the doll and looked at Darien, astonished. 
?You?re really talented, Darien.  Believe me when I say ?I love it!? 
Actually, it kind of reminds me of me...?

?I had you in mind when I made it...  I still think the real thing is
much more beautiful, though.?  Bunny stared at Darien, shocked.  <<Did
he just say I was beautiful?  No, I must be hearing things.>>

?Will you help me put it on the tree?? Bunny asked timidly, breaking the
silence that had momentarily fallen between them.  Darien nodded and
lead her over to it.  He then effortlessly, as though she was nothing
more than a feather, lifted her up so that she could reach the top of
the tree.  When the doll was firmly in place, he gently set her down but
failed to let go of her petite waist.

Bunny?s breath was caught in her throught as she looked up into his
eyes.  They were so close...  So close.  If she were to lean upward just
a few inches...  <<Stop it!>> she scolded herself.  <<He doesn?t feel
that way about me.>>  *Then why is he looking at you like that?* a voice
asked in the back of her mind.  <<I probably have something stuck in my
teeth and he?s wondering whether or not to tell me about it!>> she
argued.  *Do you really believe that?*  <<Yes!>> she shot back.  <<Oh my
God, I?m arguing with myself!  I?m hearing voices!  Someone commit me to
a mental institute!>>

?Do...do I have something on my face?? she stammered.  He abruptly let
go of her, seeming a bit embarrassed.  She was sorry to feel his warm
body pull away from her but she made no move to stop him.

?I?m sorry, Buns.  I was just thinking...  Do you mind helping me with
something?? Darien said, looking a bit nervous.  She nodded.

?Of coarse, Dar.  What is it??

?I...bought a promise ring.  I want your female opinion of it,? he
replied slowly, pulling a small box out of his pocket.

She felt her heart shatter into a million pieces and fought back the
tears that threatened to escape.  <<A promise ring...for Beryl.  I guess
their relationship was more serious than I thought.  Oh Darien, how
could you fall for that woman!?  Why can?t you see what?s right in front
of your nose!>>  She wanted to scream and cry out in pain.  She wanted
to cuss and slam things around.

Instead she opened the small, velvet black box and stared at the ring
that would ruin her life.

?It?s the most exquisite piece of jewelry I?ve ever seen.  I?m sure
Beryl will love it,? she said softly, closing the box and handing it
back to him.  She tried to smile, to be happy for him, but her smile
never reached her eyes.  <<I don?t think I can enjoy myself now...  I?m
too heartbroken.>>  ?Darien, I?m sorry, but I?m not feeling very well,
right now.  I think I?m going to retire early.?

?Retire early?  But it?s Christmas Eve!  I thought we were going to stay
up late and sing Christmas carols until the neighbors screamed,? Darien
said, disappointed.

?I?m sorry, Darien.  Maybe tomorrow.  Good-night.?  With that, she
headed to her room, closed the door behind her, and through her face
into the pillows.  She soon cried herself to sleep.

And despite her efforts to muffle her sobs, Darien still heard her cry. 
Soon after her lamenting had ceased, he stealthily entered her bedroom
and covered her with a large quilt.  With a soft, sorrowful kiss on the
cheek, he left her to sleep off the days events.

The next morning, she woke up so a scent she hadn?t smelled in years. 
<<I didn?t know Darien could make French toast.>>  Her stomach grumbled. 
And she crawled shoved the quilt off of her...and found that she was
still dressed.  Memories of the previous night struck her, full force. 
Biting her lip, she forced on a mask of happiness, slipped a robe on
over her wrinkled clothes and proceeded towards the kitchen where
breakfast awaited her.

?Mmmm...  Darien that smells delicious!? she exclaimed.  He looked up
from his place by the stove and saluted her with a spatula.  She giggled
at his antics and sat down at the table, humming to herself.  <<It?s
Christmas so I just forget all about last night and enjoy myself.  There
is no way Beryl is going to ruin my holiday!>>

A few moments later, both she and Darien were talking away through
mouthfuls of French toast, beacon, and eggs, previous night pushed
aside, if not forgotten.  With a sigh of content, Bunny pushed her empty
plate away from her.

?Darien, you spoil me,? she commented.  <<It?s no wonder I fell in love
with him...>>

His eyes twinkled mysteriously as he too finished his breakfast.  ?Wait
until you see your Christmas present,? he teased, pulling her up and
over to the Christmas tree.  She smiled at him and pulled his gift out
of her stocking.  She faltered when she saw that it was a small black
box identical to the one which had held the promise ring.

<<He must have bought me earring...>>  Opening the box, however, she
discovered that she was wrong.  It was a gorgeous gold ring which a
single, perfect heart-shaped diamond.  Her eyes welled up with tears,
unbidden.

?This looks like the promise ring you showed me last night...the one for
Beryl,? she whispered, fighting back tears.  <<I?m so confused.  Why
would he buy me and Beryl the same gift?  And a promise ring at that!>>

?Buns...I broke up with Beryl last week when I discovered that I was in
love with someone else.  Someone very special to me...you.  I love you
Bunny Crescent and I want to give this ring to you as a sign that I?ll
always love you,? Darien told her, both anticipating and fearing her
reaction.

She was silent for a moment as his words sunk in.  Shyly, she lifted her
gaze from the ring to his eyes.  Without another word, she flung herself
into his arms, tears of joy streaming down her face and Darien didn?t
restrain himself from kissing away her tears until finally their lips
met and they knew only bliss.

They were so caught up in their own little world that they failed to
notice the small black cat with a golden crescent moon on its forehead
watching them from the window...smiling the way only a cat can.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The End ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, what do you think?  Should I write a sequel?  How about a New Years 
fanfiction?  Let me know and e-mail me at aquamarineangel@sailormoon.com 
or visit my web site at www.geocities.com/universe_guardians

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---------The Christmas Gift is copyright ? 2000 Aquamarine Angel--------- 
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---------Sailor Moon is copyright ? 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha--------- 
---------------------------and TOEI Animation.--------------------------- 
----------English Language Adaptation ? 1995 DiC Entertainment.---------- 
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