Hello everyone! Me in a very good mood today!!! :)))))

Anyway so exams are still coming up for me!! argghh!! Psychology exam 
tomorrow and than the English exam coming up!!! And than, my god. My
worst subject, Maths exam is on the day of my birthday 21st of NOvember!!

Me turning 16, by the way. sigh...sweet 16 and never been kissed. That's
life i guessed though, not that i care :) 

So anyway, seeing it's my birthday soon, it would be nice if i get
TONS Of Emails as a birthday present. I'm not asking for too much am i?
am i ? :)

Oh yeah, changed email address by teh way. it's oceanstarz@usagiandmamoru.com
Sad story, you wouldn't want to know. Just one thing, don't use YOUPY accounts.
They deleted all my emails!!! waaaa!!!! So i decided to change accounts.

Declaimer :By the way, All characters in this fanfic doesn't belong to me,
it belongs to the wonderful lady who created Sailormoon but again i can't
spell her name. Any additional characters in the fanfic do though, but not
any of the characters who could be found in the original Sailormoon.

Oh and please!!! I beg you! Anyone who has any good fanfics to
recommend me, don't hesitate I'm running out of good fanfics to read!!!

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If any of you guys like my story out there! Can you please vote for me
in the Usagi and Mamoru (something about top 25 fanfic) contest! (Sorry, I
can't remember the name probably.

Please!!! Everyone!!!
The address is: 
http://www.lunap.com/votebooth.html

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Please write to me with any criticism, comments and praises to:
oceanstarz@usagiandmamoru.com

My icq is : 77480269

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Homepage: http://www.moonlightdestiny1.homestead.com/home.html
(Please, Please go and sign my guestbook!) 
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I'm looking forward to hearing from you guys!!! 

-------------------------------------Till we meet again-----------------	

chapter 7

	The next few weeks past like a shower on a sunny day. Work
at the hospital became a constant relief from the life she endured at
home when Darien was around. It seemed better that way, she couldn't stand 
to hear him speak of Elizabeth and he couldn't live without his precious 
love. And yet, her heart still continued to ach, over, the constant nightmares 
remains a part of the past she refused to dig out and life had continued on
with or without the existence of any true value. 

Tonight though, something seemed different, Darien's absence seemed to 
make her heart ach even more than usual. Switching on the television, 
she found herself watching The green hope, a series that had began earlier 
on that month. Might as well watch it, Serena decided. There wasn't much 
else on, and lately she had realized that watching the television or hence 
getting involved in the lives of those make believe characters had many 
effects on her. For one, often she would find herself forgetting the hardships 
of her own life temporarily. And secondly it served as a useful substitute
for alcohol. 

Keys turned in the lock, which meant only one thing; Darien was back. 
Switching off the television as fast as she could, Serena turned to leave. 

	"Serena." 

Serena halted in her path; it was too late, he'd seen her already. 

	"What?"  She didn't dare look back. Behind her, she heard Darien 
take a step closer to her.

	"I didn't mention this to you before, but I had a talk with 
Elizabeth earlier this month." Darien began.

	"Oh." 

	"She told me that you were her sister." 

Serena tried to remain calm, really she did and yet she couldn't stop 
the tears that were trickling down her face in a steady stream. "Oh."
She bit down hard on her lips to stop the sobs from escaping her throat;
her back remained facing Darien.

	"Serena?" Darien took a step closer and touched her shoulders
gently.

Serena shrank away from his touch, suddenly the room seemed very quite.

	 "Just leave me alone, Darien." She said at last and took a step in
the direction of her room.

Darien shook his head. He was frustrated, no matter what things had to be 
straightened out today. He wouldn't be able to stand it any longer if 
Serena attempted to avoid him for another day.  Reaching out he grabbed
Serena's arm and spun her around to face him. She was crying.

	"Oh Serena. Why are you doing this to yourself?" He said gently 
as he pushed a tendril of hair away from her face.

Serena looked away from him. Why did things have to happen this way?  She
shook her head sadly "It doesn't matter, Darien." She tried to smile "I
told you, I live another life now. That's all that matters." 

Darien swallowed "Your accident-" His sense of conscience was devouring him.
*You know Darien. Sometimes, I feel, as though, I should be thanking the 
person who ran me over for what he did. My life seemed so much harder to live
before than* Yes, Serena had admitted that she thanked the person who 
ran her over one year ago, and yet were they her true words? 

Serena shrugged "It was an accident." She said simply.

A wave of relieve washed over Darien. "You don't blame the drunk?" 

Serena shook her head. "I said it already. What happened one-year ago
was an accident. I don't blame anyone." 

Darien paused at his next thought. Could he really admit it? That 
he was the person who had ran her over one year ago, that he had lied
to her for so long? 

	"Would you-" Darien paused momentarily, unable to speak. "Would 
you blame me if I'm the person who ran you over?" He asked at last.

Serena took a step back, her hands to her mouth "You?" She was bewildered 
by Darien's words. What was he talking about? For surely, things couldn't
get more complicated than it had already gotten.

Darien sighed and slumped down onto the sofa; he buried his head in 
his hands and for a long time, a dim silence filled the room. Finally 
though, he spoke. "Yes. Me. I was the drunk who ran you over one year ago."

He looked up at Serena and her obviously disorientated expression. "I'm 
sorry Serena-for everything." 

	"I can't believe this." Serena said incredulously as she let
herself fall back into the sofa next to Darien. Her mind was still 
busily absorbing in the detail of Darien's words. He was the person 
who ran her over that mid winter night, he was the person who had
caused her to loose almost a year of her life; that, she did not know 
how to react to. And yet, Darien was also the man who had transformed
her world into something she'd never dreamt of before, here nothing 
mattered except for the fact that the life she lost one year ago was
behind her at last; that, she had to thank him for.

	"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this before. " Darien repeated,
still trying to avoid Serena's gaze. "I was afraid..."his voice trailed 
off into silence. 

Serena considered his apology, than she smiled sadly to herself. "It's 
alright Darien, It doesn't matter. Don't apologise anymore." 

Darien opened his mouth to speak but didn't know of any words that could
express regret to that one year he had made her loose. Finally though,
he turned around to face Serena who looked back at him with expectance
in her eyes. "Serena, that night I-" he began.

Serena shook her head to stop him from speaking any further "Darien, I
remember the night you taught me to drink, you told me that a person
can forget many things when they are drunk." She looked deep into his 
eyes and saw a light flicker deep within. "I believe that meant only 
one person-you." 

Darien nodded slowly; Serena had looked right through him. God, she 
was the only girl who had ever seen him as the way he is now. So 
defeated and the doors of his heart unlocked for the world to see.

	"You see me, Serena." He tried to smile.

	"I see you." Serena smiled back.

	"So you forgive me?" Darien asked at last.

Serena grinned mischievously. "Do you want me to?" she asked.

Darien nodded "Of course."

Serena tried to hide her grin but failed miserably. Everything was
turning out fine after all. "There is a condition."

Darien raised his eyebrows "What is that?"

Serena smiled happily; something she hadn't done in a long time. "That
you'll be my friend forever." 

Darien chuckled lightly. "That's it? Would best friends sound better?" 

Serena's grin widened as her lights lit up and Darien watching her 
thought how no one's smile on this blue planet of love and justice 
could compare to that of Serena's. "Really?" she squealed.

Darien smiled. "Really." 

Serena smiled again and yet her heart sobered at the thought. Would 
she be contented with being just Darien's "best friend" or did she 
want something much more?

************************************************************************

	"Hey Serena!" A voice called from behind her.

Serena on her usual rounds at the hospital stopped in the middle of
the corridor at the recognition of her name and turned around to find
Scott jogging towards her. He seems healthy. She observed, which was good 
because she knew Raye cared for Scott although she had done everything 
she could to deny that fact.

	"Hi, Scott. Are you leaving already?" Serena asked as she 
saw the duffle bag swinging behind him.

Scott nodded. "Take a break, I suppose." He said as he swung his 
duffle bag to the other side of his shoulder.

Serena smiled. "Have you spoken to Raye yet?" 

Scott shook his head "I'm on my way there now. To you know, thank her
for saving my life and all." 

Serena nodded in agreement. "That's good, she's a good person, Raye. You 
should-" she cleared her throat and nudged him in the ribs gently. "You 
should, you know get together with her sometimes." 

Scott grinned carelessly sideways at Serena but inside his heart,
the word "Raye" pounded relentlessly against the rib cage of his chest.

	"Say Serena. Want to be my sister?" 

Serena gaped at him. "Your sister? How?" 

Scott laughed. "Yes. My sister, from now on I call you sis and you can
call me whatever you like." And seeing the laughter in Scott's voice,
Serena laughed as well. At least, it was a substitute for the family
she left behind one year ago.

	"Okay, Scott. It's a deal." 

****************************************************************************

Raye looked up to the knocking on her office door. "Come in." She said in a
tired voice. It had been a exhausting day, apart from Serena's daily gossip 
there had also been the typical student doctors and regular room to room 
check ups to put up with.  Now, just minutes after she had retired to her
office, someone was knocking impatiently on her door. 

	"Great. More trouble." She groaned and shifted in her sit as she 
waited for the person to enter.

	"Hey." It was Scott. He was holding a duffle bag in one hand.

	"Oh. Hi, what are you doing here?" Raye asked and again she 
shifted in her sit; apparently nervous at Scott's presence.

Scott shrugged and sat down onto the chair opposite Raye. "I came to say
goodbye."

Raye shot up in her chair. "What?" 

Scott sighed. "I'm leaving today." 

Raye shook her head. She didn't get it, why was Scott leaving now? Raye
started to open her mouth again to speak but stopped when she realized 
that she didn't want him to leave. Three months. It had been three months
since she'd first met Scott in the hospital, back than he'd the kind of 
man she tried to avoid, the kind of man she didn't want to fall in love 
with and yet now she didn't want him to leave. 

	"Where are you going?" she asked now.

Scott shrugged. "Overseas-don't know where yet." 

	"Why?" 

Scott shrugged again. He seemed to shrug a lot these days; it was
as though he didn't care about himself or anyone anymore. "You knew 
I needed to get away from the world." He looked away "I want a break 
from this-to live my own life. You understand."

Raye shook her head. She didn't understand. Why did he have to
leave? Wasn't Japan big enough to sustain him and his love for freedom?
And yet, what could she do? She was nobody really, just -nobody. She
didn't dare think on.

Raye nodded, although her next words were lies. "I understand." She paused. 
Will you come back?"

Again Scott shrugged "Perhaps." A grin touched his chiselled features 
"Will you miss me?" 	

Raye blushed deeply and tried rather unsuccessfully to hide her
embarrassment and the stupid grin that was forming on her lips. 

	"I-Don't ask such unnecessary questions!" she blurted out at last.

Scott laughed. "I see." Than standing up, he quickly leaned over and 
kissed Raye on the lips. "Well I'll see you around, Dr." He laughed again,
loudly as Raye attempted to wipe her lips. "Good bye." 

Raye watched silently as he left the room, her face flaming with
discomfiture. How dare he! She seethed. How dare he! Yet her heart cried 
a different voice and tone altogether. Come back soon Scott, I'll be waiting...

*************************************************************************

	It was in the early hours of the night when Serena finally
retired home from the hospital to nurse her burning headache. Ironically 
it was Darien's day off and hence he was there to greet her.

	"Hey, what are you doing home so early?" he asked. Serena noticed 
that he was bent over something he' been working on earlier.

	"Have some compassion, I'm sick." Serena groaned and promptly 
slumped down onto the nearest sofa.

Darien's forehead creased "Are you alright?" 

Serena shrugged and closed her eyes; however the pounding in her temper 
continue to throb. "I have a temperature." She squeezed the bridge of 
her nose and sighed softly.

Darien was by her side at once "Do you want me to drive you to the hospital?" 

Using the sofa as a lever, Serena levered herself from the sofa and
stood up. "I just came from the hospital, Darien." She smiled, pleased 
at his concern over her. "Raye said I'll be okay, just needs some rest."

Serena headed for her room but stopped half way as a wave of nausea swept
over her and she had to grab onto the wall for support. "God." She groaned 
and didn't dare move in case the dizziness returned.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong and powerful arms wrap around her 
small waist and Serena squealed softly as the arms proceeded to lift her 
off the ground. "Maiden in distress." Darien whispered in her ears and began 
carrying her towards her room.

Serena smiled to herself and let her head rest momentarily on Darien's 
shoulder and felt herself falling into the bliss of the moment. Inside, 
Serena felt a light in the hidden caress of heart secretly establish itself 
within her. What was this feeling? Serena wondered and yet she didn't want
the answer to her question because she knew without being told that such 
an answer would only make her life more complicated than it already is. 

For now, she must indulge in the present.In her room, Darien pushed away 
her blanket and gently laid her down on her welcoming bed. "Tonight." He
smiled. "I'll play the nurse." He said as he tugged the blanket around Serena. 

Serena nodded and smiled. "Thanks Darien." And for that moment, they sat 
silently in comfortable silence. Suddenly, Serena laughed.

Darien looked up from the tiny spider besides Serena's bed; he'd 
been studying earlier. 

	"What?" He grinned. "Hey, look." He pointed at the spider, 
which was slowly making its way towards the far wall.

He knew it was a mistake the minute the words were out of his mouth. The
moment, Serena's eyes fell upon the tiny spider inching it's way away 
from her. A sick nurse or not, she began to scream bloody murder at 
the top of her voice. 

	"Oh my god! Darien!" She shrieked. "Kill it!" 

Darien allowed himself a good laugh and a few good tugging from Serena at
his shirt before he grabbed a tissue from the tissue box and squashed the
tiny spider between his fingers.

	"Okay, here we go." He shoved the spider in Serena's face. "Happy?"

Serena shrank away from him. "Eww...okay, I get your point. Now get it 
away from me!" Serena shrieked but her eyes were laughing and Darien knew
she was just having fun.

He laughed as well. "Okay." He said and deposited the spider into the bin.

Meanwhile, Serena was smiling at him from her bed. "Hey, Darien, I
distinctly remember you telling me that there was no spiders in this 
flat-that was the only reason I even considered moving in with you." 

Darien chuckled. "No, you've got that wrong, Serena. I said I would 
protect you from the spiders, I didn't say there weren't any spiders." 

Serena laughed. "I was tricked than." She paused before she allowed their 
conversation to slide into more serious ground. "Why-Why did you ask me
to live with you, Darien?" 

For a moment, Darien was speechless and it surprised him because policeman 
or not, Serena was the first woman to had ever left him speechless. "I-"

The expression on Serena's face sobered but she smiled nevertheless. She 
didn't like to see the troubled expression on Darien's face and anyway, 
she knew the answer already. He had asked her to live with him as a 
compensation of her lost memory. She understood.

Serena shrugged. "It's alright Darien. I understand. You don't have to
say anything else." She knew her accident was a sore subject for Darien and 
she didn't like to press on. 

She coughed suddenly and reached to the side of her bed for a cup of water. 

The cup was empty. 

Seeing this, Darien said. "Don't worry, I'll get you some." Watching as
Darien left the room, Serena suddenly felt the slightest redness creep 
into her already flaming cheeks. Oh stop it. She told herself. He's your 
best friend, Serena. Remember that. Yet, what was that fluttering in her 
heart? Had it been another man, would she still have felt the same way? 
Exhausted, Serena shook her head. Remember Serena, Darien belongs to Elizabeth. 
She grimaced at the thought. Why hadn't god spared her any happiness? Why had
it always been Elizabeth? Why? 

	"Everything's going to be okay." She whispered softly to, trying 
to comfort herself and even gave a slight smile as a sign of reassurance.
Suddenly though, Serena felt the tablets she'd swallowed just before she 
arrived home, kick in and feeling sleepy, Serena laid back her head and 
fell into deep sleep...

******************************************************************************

	"Serena, I've got your wat-" Darien stopped in mid sentence when 
he entered to room and found that Serena had fallen asleep with her 
head against the back of the bed stand.

Smiling light-heartedly to himself, Darien chuckled softly and placed
the untouched cup of water beside Serena on her side table. Allowing
himself to sit down on the chair beside Serena's bed and knowing that 
he'll have nothing else to do for the rest of the evening, Darien
watched as Serena's chest rose and fell in her slumber.

A piece of stray hair had fallen across her face and Darien reaching 
out to brush it away felt the roughness on his skin as he's fingers 
contacted with the scar on Serena's face. 

	"We all wish to forget some things, don't we?" Darien whispered
softly to the silence in the room. "Sometimes, I think the things we are
best at are, is to deceive ourselves." 

Deceive ourselves? Darien was surprised at his own words. Deceive ourselves?
What did it mean? He didn't know, and reaching out to pull up the blanket 
around Serena, the zip on the blanket suddenly caught on the cut on his 
fingers and he winced as the wound opened again. 

	"Damn." Darien hissed and examined his fingers. 

He'd cut it previously while carving Serena's present. Serena's present.
He smiled.Christmas is just around the corner, and he'd thought it'd
be a nice idea to make her a Christmas gift. And from learning the art 
of sculpturing earlier on in his adolescence, he'd decided to carve her
a miniature rose made from soft wood.

A rose; he didn't know why it had strucked him as a suitable Christmas
present and yet somehow there were nothing else he could think of that
would be appropriate for Serena's present. He laughed lightly to himself.
Indeed, a rose's hot passion and it's symbol of undying love seemed more 
fitting for Elizabeth and yet, he had claimed specially it for Serena. 

For Elizabeth, he would think of something else. And than there had been
the other factor that had puzzled Darien; he'd been especially conscious 
with the outcome of this particular gift, he didn't know why but every 
move, every delicate stroke came from his heart.  

Now, he held his fingers to his lips and sucked. The bleeding wasn't
stopping' Darien was just about to reach out to grab a band-aid from 
Serena's draw when some thing in the corner of her drawer caught his eyes.

It was the star. The piece of glass Serena had found by the ocean that had
been shaped like a star. *It's something that reminds me of you* Darien smiled 
at her words and yet he didn't know why such minor words had such an effect
on his heart. Reaching out to hold it in his palm, Darien suddenly knocked
the glass of water from Serena's side table and it crashed onto the ground. 

	"Damn it." He said for the second time that day. 

	"Darien?" Serena opened her eyes and stared at Darien with big
blue eyes. "How long have I been asleep?" 

Darien grinned. "Not long. Only about 15 minutes." He bent down and began
picking the splintered pieces of glasses up off the ground. "Sorry. 
I'll clean it up for you. Just go back to sleep, Serena." 

Collecting the pieces in his palm as fast as he could, Darien winced as
a piece of particular sharp glass grazed his fingers.

	"Darien! You're bleeding!" Immediately, Serena took his hands in 
hers and examined the cut and the star shaped glass he'd been holding in 
his other palm fell with a soft thud onto the floor.

Taking her eyes off Darien's hands momentarily, Serena stretched out 
and picked the star off the floor; she squeezed it between her palms and
looked up at Darien.

	"You remember this?" Serena asked.

Darien chuckled. "How could I'd forgotten, I got bashed up for it." He's
voice grew serious again as he turned his attention back to the star.
"I'd always been curious of one thing though." He looked into Serena's eyes.
"Why did it remind you of me?"

Serena looked away.

End of Chapter 7-------------------------------------------------------------

There, that's all i have to offer...As for next chapter...i'm not sure
cause i haven't written it yet and don't know what to write. For your sakes
i will try my best to put some Serena and Darien mush in it.

And your payment to me? EMAILS!!! Write me Emails!! Please, i love emails
and feedbacks are just lovely as all you readers and fellow authors know :)

Anyway, that's it for this week :)

Alice