Hi everyone!! Here's another chapter of till we meet again... Hey, so guess what! I'm on holidays right now!!! Yeah!! Anyway, enough with that. So i decided to add a bit more writing to last week's chapter. The paragraph below is in Chapter 7, but I'll put the paragraph here just in case you don't want to go back and read it again. But just to let you know. This happened when Serena was sick and asleep and Darien had just came back in with the water. "And before Darien could stop himself, he felt himself leaning forward until his face was inches from Serena's innocent features-and than he kissed her. A soft, feathery ghost of a kiss and yet it filled him with a perplexing desire for more. "God..." Darien whispered when he'd realized what he had just done. "What am I doing?" His mind churned at his actions. He had just kissed Serena and had known that he was kissing her. So why had he kissed her? Even if it was just that tiny peck on the forehead, it was enough to send his mind wheeling. "You love, Elizabeth." Darien reminded himself. "Do not forget it." Than turning back to the Serena's sleeping form. Darien sighed..." *************************************************************************** So that's it. And please please please write to me!!! I want more emails!! Please write to me with any criticism, comments and praises to: oceanstarz@usagiandmamoru.com My icq is : 77480269 ************************************************************************* Homepage: http://www.moonlightdestiny1.homestead.com/home.html (Please, Please go and sign my guestbook!) ************************************************************************* I'm looking forward to hearing from you guys!!! ---------------------------Till we meet again----------------------------- Chapter 8 Serena grinned and looked down at him "Why do you want to know?" she teased. Looking up into Serena's teasing eyes, Darien suddenly saw in them the simplicity he had always admired and yearned for. "Because it would mean a lot to me." He said at last; never once taking his eyes off her sweet blue eyes. He watched as the smile on her face faded slightly as though unsure of how to tackle his statement. "Well?" She said at last. "I'm not really sure really. Only that when I first saw it there that night, it just struck me as a right symbolization for you." She pointed to the edges of the glass. "You see these edges-they must have once been rugged and sharp like any ordinary piece of glass. However, many, many years later, after so many nights of being battered and tossed about by our ocean's ruthless nature. This particularly special piece of glass just happened to have the privilege of catching my attention and I found it that night on the shore of that beach." Serena smiled. "And the edges weren't sharp and rugged anymore because this piece of glass had learnt and matured to become that brave man I see in you." At her words, Darien was astounded to find the depth in which Serena's words had touched him. Thinking back, he could not imagine another woman who had ever moved him in such a poignant way. *Now detective shield, what is it about this particularly woman that makes your heart beat so quickly?* He asked himself and yet he knew he's heart would never answer. Serena looked at him with innocence in her eyes "Did you understand my little story?" Darien nodded. How beautiful her eyes were. "You flatter me, Serena. But-let's not lie with ourselves, you know I am not a brave man." He said and to Darien, it was the truth. He was a coward and he knew it. Serena shook her head "Don't say that. I speak of nothing but the truth. I mean, who in this world would send a nurse to someone else but himself when his got a life-threatening bullet in his chest but you. "Serena said, retracing her footsteps of that half a year in which she'd lived with Darien. "And who else would have been willing enough to risking his life with a dangerous man to save the life of a nobody. I see that man only in you, Darien and for all that, you have my respect." "You are not a nobody, Serena. I noticed that from the very first day I met you." Darien said. "Trust me, you are someone special." Serena blushed. Was that heat she felt on her flaming cheeks? Darien's words had touched her, she could not deny that. His words were flattering; it had been many years since such words had came from the mouth of anyone. Still blushing and trying in vain to avoid anymore words added onto the previous topic, Serena took Darien's hands in hers. "Let's look at that hand." ******************************************************************************* December 24th 1997. It wasn't just any ordinary day; it was Christmas Eve. Tomorrow was Christmas and Serena knew it. She had woken up in the morning hoping to greet Darien with a holiday greeting but when she had finally entered the kitchen at 7 in the morning, she was face with only a short note from him. GOT TO GET TO WORK EARLY TODAY, SERENA. DON'T WAKE UP TOO LATE! DARIEN And that had been fine with Serena up until the point when she was called to the one of the big power's office anyway. Now all the work in the world could not have balanced out the anxiety pulsing through her veins as she waited outside the room of her awaiting judgment. "I must have done something wrong." Serena mumbled to herself, remembering the time when she had forgotten to throw the chocolate wrapper she'd had for tea in the bin. "Or maybe it's because I turned the lights out five minutes too late!" Serena muttered and began picking at the non-existent flakes on the hospital wall. "Probably, dribbling in your sleep is not allowed in the hospital." Her feet came into sight as her head dropped lower and lower in shame. "Maybe, they'll fire me." She groaned aloud at this thought. "God no...I need the money..." She hoped god heard her. The door opened. "Come in, Serena." Serena recognized the voice as Amy Anderson's and thus belonging to the head of the brain surgical department. Serena poked her head in. "Do you want me? Dr Anderson." She squeaked. Dr Anderson smiled at her. "Yes, infact I do. Come in Serena." She beckoned. "There's someone here that I would like you to meet." Serena allowed herself to take two more step into the compacted room and found herself looking into the eyes of a handsome young man. Smart and distinct looking with sandy blonde hair and a masculine jaw, Serena assumed he was the few men in this world who still holds that inexplicable air of charisma that was now almost extinct in most men. And than she noticed the scar, on his right cheek and strangely parallel to hers. It was all Serena could to do, not to stare. "Hi. Nice to meet you." The man said with his eyes trained on Serena and held out his hands for her to shake. Serena shook it. "Nice to meet you too, Mr?" Her voice trailed off when she realized that this man's name was still unknown to her. "My name's Chad. Chad Lavelle." He offered. Curiously, his eyes were transfixed on Serena just as Serena could not bear to take her eyes off him. And somewhere in that outlandish dimension between them, there seemed to subsist a bizarre connection of union. As though once upon time, there lives had been parallel to each other's; perhaps in an environment primitive to the real beginning of life. Serena smiled. "I'm Serena." Chad's smile did not falter. "Serena what? That's all? No last names?" Serena's smile subsided a little. "No, no last name. Just Serena." "Anyway, Serena." Dr Anderson put in. "Dr. Lavelle here, is the new addition to our hospital." She said. "He's our new psychiatrist." Serena nodded. "That's nice..." Her voice trailed off and she didn't say anymore. The reason for her presence there was still unknown to her and simultaneously, her mind began to create strange illusions about this man in front of her. Indeed, the scar on his face mirroring her's did not help in burying her thoughts. Somewhere in Serena's mind she could remember one voice who had reminded her night after night in her dreams of an impending escape. The voice never failed to leave her mind for long periods of times and now Serena could hear it again. *Today I'll run away from this hell. But one day-one day I'd come back. And you won't forfeit your life here either because I'll come back and save you.* Had that been the voice that had kept her going on for so many years before she had had her fateful car accident? Who was this person? And somehow, Serena knew that whoever this person was, he would not hurt her. Yet, why did the sudden appearance of Chad remind her so much of a person that had disappeared from her life so long ago? "...Serena, I want you to be Chad's guide and take him around the hospital until he is familiar with our big community." Dr. Anderson was saying. Serena blinked and returned to the real world as Dr. Anderson's words pierced into her thoughts. "Be his guide?" Dr. Anderson nodded. "Yes, Serena. That's exactly what I was saying. You can lay down all your other jobs until further notice." ****************************************************************************** *Today I'll run away from this hell. But one day-one day I'd come back. And you won't forfeit your life here either because I'll come back and save you.* You held on to life Serena, just like I told you to and now, as Chad stole a sideway peek at the nurse next to him, he felt his adrenaline rise. Same hair, same name and-same scar. It had to be her. She didn't recognize him but Chad would never forget her face, those deep blue eyes, sweet smile and that cascade of blonde hair; there was no mistake. He'd found her at last. "So Serena, how's life going?" He tried to sound as informal as possible by making casual conversation. Of course it didn't exactly work as he notice Serena cast him a questioning look but she was a carefree soul and answered his question with ease. Serena shrugged carelessly. "Not bad, I have my own lifestyle and way of life." She said simply. "Of course, I've had my ups and downs but I believe everything turned out for the best in the end." "Downs? You've been unhappy?" Chad stopped at once and stood facing Serena in such a way that their scars were once again mirroring each other. Serena was startled by his reaction but didn't react in any way to reveal her puzzleness in a man who was so interested about her life. She forced a smile. "I guess Amy didn't tell you, but I was in a bad car accident about 16 months ago." Serena's face clouded. "I lost most of my memory in that car accident." "You were hurt?" A jolt of pain shot up Chad's body and he grabbed Serena's wrist in a iron grip. Serena dropped the folders she was holding and tried to twist away. "Oww! Let go Chad, you're hurting me!" *What was wrong with the man?* "Chad!" Chad's shoulders slumped and he quickly let go of Serena's wrists. He'd just made a mistake; impulsiveness on his part would not help him or Serena in this case. Serena had mentioned a car accident that would explain her unfamiliarness towards him. And yet, his heart was aching for Serena. 11 years ago, he'd made a vow to protect her and today he'd do anything to keep that promise. "I'm sorry Serena." Chad did not offer an explanation for his action. Serena rubbed her wrist moodily and sighed. "It's alright Chad. Forget it." She smiled and soon they were talking again. "What about your family? You sound like a person who had grown up in a happy environment." Chad said and knowing that he's statement was in actual fact totally opposite to reality, he was not surprise to see the smile on Serena's face drop. God, 11 years and she hadn't lost that bright smile. "I left my family life behind that night in the car accident." Serena voice sobered. "And I'm not expecting to pick it up again." Her beeper beeped suddenly and Serena stopped to read the message. DINNER AT ROSE'S CAFɠTONIGHT, SERENA. 7:00 SHARP. DON'T BE LATE! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! DARIEN Serena tried not to let the pleasure surface on her face. But inside, her heart wanted to smile and laugh like there was no tomorrow. Christmas! They were going to spend their first Christmas together! "Something the matter?" Chad asked when he saw the sweetened look on Serena's face. Serena grinned up at him. All the sadness from their previous conversation disappeared from her eyes and she was one happy girl again. "Merry Christmas, Chad!" She laughed and walked off. Chad chuckled to himself. "Merry Christmas Serena? I haven't had a Merry Christmas for 11 years..." *************************************************************************** "You know, Raye. This is a really special occasion for me." Serena added as she followed Raye around in her office. "I mean it's Christmas! What do you think I should wear?" She didn't wait for Raye's answer. "My white dress perhaps. I know Darien likes white and it seems to suit the season." She frowned suddenly and looked at her heap of hair. "I wish I could tie all these hair up but-" she sighed and pain fleshed across her face. "Then everyone would be able to see my scar." Serena sighed, than all of a sudden the merriment danced across her features once more. "And what about that pink skirt I brought recently? Hey! Do you really think I should wear a skirt? You know, Darien is a cop-perhaps he doesn't like girls wearing skirts..." Raye sighed as she slipped a red folder into a gap on her office shelf. Ten minutes ago, Serena had hopped into her office babbling of a Christmas dinner with Darien. And now, Raye has had enough. Yes, she loved Serena as a sister and she was prepared to put up with any nonsense Serena was going on about but she was not about to spend her Christmas eve afternoon worrying about what Serena should wear for her dinner that damned man. "Serena." Raye began. "You do realize that the man you are seeing tonight is dating another woman. For god's sake Serena, get that fact into your head! If you want to come between the two, than it's no use just thinking about what kind of clothes you should wear tonight." Raye watched as the expression on Serena's face change dramatically from a happy childlike adult into a young woman trapped in a bottomless pit of whirling problems with no way out. "Don't be silly, Raye. I don't like Darien. Why would I even consider coming between him and Elizabeth." Serena's voice was determined and yet the pain in her eyes was a telltale of the emotions inside her pounding heart. Raye pointed Serena to a chair and sat down beside her. "You told me this yourself Serena." She paused and swallowed hard. "Sometimes, the best things we're at are deceiving ourselves." All merriment left Serena's face and suddenly badly concealed pain clouded her eyes. She tried to make a joke of it. "Hey you know, I heard that line from a movie." She forced a laugh. "Don't believe in those rubbish, things from the movies are never true." Raye shook her head in frustration. "Don't you get it Serena! I've heard you going on months about this guy called Darien. Every conversation we have, you've mentions his name." She looked into Serena's eyes. "Don't you think by now that perhaps, you do care for this man?" Serena looked away as a lump the size of a tennis ball rose to her throat. "Don't talk nonsense Raye. I don't care for him-not in any way more than a friend anyway. And why would I be deceiving myself anyway? I never run away-" Raye stopped her and her voice increased several decibels. "That's exactly what you're doing Serena. You're running away from the fact that, the man you're in love with is in love with the sister you wanted to hate. Is that it Serena? I don't want you to lie to yourself, that is no way to solve your problem." Serena stood up suddenly-so suddenly that the chair she'd been sitting on almost fell over at her abrupt movement. "I-I've got to go and give an injection to one of my patients now." Serena said hastily and swinging Raye's office door open, she ran out of the room. Raye frowned. "Wait Serena! Wait! I thought you just told me you were being a guide to some doctor and didn't need to do any hospital work!" She called after Serena but it was too late and even as Raye stood up to chase after Serena, she was out of sight already. "Oh Serena." Raye whispered. "When will you ever admit to your feelings?" ***************************************************************************** Night was falling and now as Serena waited outside Rose's caf黠she was shivering in the damp atmosphere outside the caf鮠She had taken special care with her appearance that night and deciding that a more casual outfit would probably suit her more, Serena had opted for a simple white top and a long blue flowery skirt and a warm jacket to go over that. As for her hair, there hadn't really been another option but to allow it to fall in soft waves over her face. Impatiently, Serena looked down at the smooth surface of her watch for the hundredth time that night. 6:55. She'd been early, so there was no need to worry-not yet anyway. "Hey Serena." The voice came from behind her and Serena gasped when she heard it. Than recognizing the owner of the voice, Serena laughed. "Darien!" Serena breathed a sigh of relieve. "Thank god you came." Darien grinned and stepped into view and as his gaze fell upon Serena, it was all he could do not to let his mouth drop open. She looked beautiful, absolutely stunning. Darien had known that Serena was an attractive woman but never ever had he seen her with such elegance and divine beauty. It was as though an angel had fallen in his path. Still, it was that deeper beauty, that dimension that reached below her skin and into her heart which had so toppled Darien's usual composure. And yet, Darien refrained himself from saying so. Instead, he allowed himself a steadying chuckle. "Don't be silly. Of course, I would come." Serena smiled up at him with a mega watt smile he could not tear his eyes from. "You know Darien, this is our first Christmas together." Her smile powered down but the happiness remained clear in her deep blue eyes. "Let's make it a night we'll never forget." Nodding, Darien grinned. "Of course." Than taking a small box out of his pocket, he handed it to Serena. "Your present, Serena." Serena's smile disappeared immediately and she looked at him in horror. "My present?" she squeaked. Darien threw her a questioning look. "Yeah, your present." He pressed the box into Serena's hand and nodded for her to open it. Serena shook her head furiously. "I-I can't take it, Darien." She dropped her head in shame. "I didn't know we were going to exchange presents-I'm sorry..I didn't get one for you." Inside her mind screamed at her for her stupidity. *Idiot! How could you have not gotten him a present? It's Christmas!* Darien laughed, this time a true hearted one. "Don't worry about it Serena. I didn't make this present for you just so I can get one in exchange." Again he nodded at the box. "Go ahead, open it." Serena still stood unsure of what she should do, but seeing that circumstances was not going to be kind to her, she obeyed Darien and flipped the box open. She gasped when she saw what was inside. For never in her whole life had anyone given her such a precious gift, something so priceless that Serena didn't think anything this beautiful could be bestowed upon her. "Oh-" Serena gasped and took out the rose that Darien had carved especially for her. "Oh Darien. It's beautiful." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Is this really for me?" Darien nodded, happy his present had appealed to Serena and at the same time trying not to show this appreciation. "Do you like it?" Serena shook her head. "Like it, Darien?" she laughed. "I love it!" Than clutching the rose in one hand and laughing with joyous in her heart, she threw herself at Darien-so hard that Darien had to brace himself to remain balanced, and hugged him tightly. Darien laughed with her. "You are one special woman, Serena." Serena looked back at him with stars in her eyes while inside her heart was beating at faster than she'd thought it was capable of. "Oh Darien." She whispered and realized with flaming cheeks that their faces were only inches apart. "Thank you so much." Darien smiled at her. She's so beautiful. "You don't have to thank me for anything Serena." He looked at her. "You deserve it." Tears of happiness brimming in her eyes, Serena buried her face into the front of his shirt and wanted to cry, to laugh and the embrace the person she loved even tighter than she was already doing. Oh god, I love him. She wanted to shake herself, to shake and shake herself until that impossible thought was out of her mind. How could she love him? Of all the people in the world, she was in love with Darien Shield. Was it fate? And yet, what future could come out of a relationship that has never even begun. What's more, Serena knew she was no match for her sister. Darien loved Elizabeth, Serena had known that from the very beginning; fate or not, Darien would never be hers. "Does woman always take so long getting ready?" Darien said suddenly. "Elizabeth is late." The mention of Elizabeth's name penetrated into Serena's thought like a knife slicing through her heart. "Elizabeth." She said monotonously. Darien nodded. "Yeah, Elizabeth." Again he looked at his watch. "She should be here by now. Do you woman always take so long when getting ready?" Serena didn't want to know the answer but the words came out of her mouth before she could stop it. "Elizabeth is coming?" A lump formed in her throat and suddenly Serena found it very hard to remain focus. No! No! She wanted to scream, to scream so hard and so damned loud that the whole world would hear her cries and save her from the bottomless pit she had so foolishly thrown herself into. No! Not Elizabeth! Why does it always have to be Elizabeth? Darien laughed. "Of course she is." And suddenly, it began to rain... ****************************************************************************** "Now what's a beautiful woman like you doing in this part of the street?" Annoyed, Elizabeth shook away the comments and continued her way through a dark alleyway and nearer to Rose's Caf鮠She looked at her watch. 7:10, she was late. Hurrying her footsteps and at the same time trying to ignore the filthy remarks passer-bys was throwing at her; Elizabeth continued down the alley in quick strides. It was unfortunate already that she was late for she and Darien's Christmas dinner but because of her lateness, she had had to take this particular shortcut to hurry to her destination. "Hey Belle! Care to join us?" A hand grabbed her suddenly and spun her around. Turning around, Elizabeth found herself facing 2 tough looking men who were looking at her as though she was their next big meal. Roughly, Elizabeth pushed the hand away. "Get lost." The men shook their heads. "Oh no, not until you join us." Elizabeth's heart began to pound. "Look, find someone else alright! I'm in a hurry." She turned to walk away again but a hand blocked her way. "Oh no my pretty, you aren't going anyway." And suddenly rough hands grabbed her wrists and Elizabeth felt herself being forced into another small and even darker alley. "What do you want from me?" She cried and tried to shake off the men's hands but to no vials. One of the man bent close to her and buried his face into her hair while the other man held body in an iron grip. "Mmmm...you smell nice." Panicking now, Elizabeth tried to kick him away. "Get away from me you bastard! Get lost!" she tried to sound tough but the sickening smell radiating off the men's body was too much to bear. "Help! Help me!" Elizabeth began to scream. "Help! Hel-mmph." Her screams faded away to muffles as one of the men pressed a wet handkerchief with an overpowering smell of alcohol over her mouth and nose. Elizabeth started to kick at the men. Her body thrashed helplessly as she tried to shake off the wet handkerchief but suddenly her strength was failing her and she found herself sliding from the man's grip and falling weakly to the ground. No! Elizabeth realized too late. The handkerchief had been doused in some kind of substance to drug her. "Help!" Elizabeth's voice was weak as she tried to crawl away from the two men. "Help me, Darien!" God, was she going to die tonight? No. Elizabeth told herself, not now, not this night. A white light appeared before her eyes as one of the men grabbed her and pressed the nauseating smell deeper into her lungs. "No..." She gasped, her hands failed weakly but it was no use. "Help..." Elizabeth managed another whisper as her eyes began to close and she found the gathering darkness envelope her into it's overpowering grip... End of chapter 8---------------------------------------------------------------- Next chapter: Probably some drama and a little bit of action. Elizabeth doesn't die yet, in case any of you are interested in knowing. She dies near the end of the story. Okay, so some people may feel that Darien is kinda unsettle about who he is in love with and may flounder abit between Serena and Elizabeth which may make him sound unfaithful to them. But i never intended for any of them to be perfect characters who lives in a perfect world, everyone has their flaws and Darien not knowing who he truly loves may seem like a flaw but really it is also reality. That's it for this week. Alice