Title: Saying Goodbye to Dorothy Smith - Epilogue
Author: Alicia Blade
E-mail: Kammi22@sprintmail.com
	
Hey minna!! Told this one would be finished soon! Hope you all enjoy 
the epilogue as much as you've been enjoying the rest of the fic! 
Please email me with your comments, ideas, suggestions, etc. Also, a 
few notes, first of all, I will be taking my poetry to a publisher 
hopefully within a month or two. I have no idea how long it takes for 
something to get published, but just to let you know I'm still gonna do 
that. And also, BIG news!! After much prodding from just about everyone 
in my life, I'm writing a book!!!! Fun, ne? It will be fantasy/science 
fiction (think The Hobbit) with LOTS of romance and comedy, etc. You 
know me! ^_~ Although I just started, so don't go beg your parents for 
the money YET? tee hee? But please keep it in mind and I hope most of 
you out there will be interested when it's finally published. 

Like stories like these?? Go visit First Love, a fanfic archive for 
first season romances! www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Spa/4410

Also, I have another site for you all to check out! It's a beginner, 
but very kawaii so far, and I know none of you would be disappointed! 
http://www.homestead.com/aneternalstarlitromance/welcome.html  Have fun!!!

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, 
for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
							Matthew 5:12


"I can't believe I'm doing this," Darien muttered beneath his 
breath, straightening his blazer. Serena giggled, holding onto his arm 
tighter than she already was. 
	"Are you sure you're ready?"
	"As ready as I'll ever be," he said uncertainly, staring at the 
door as if it would spring forward and attack him at any minute.
	"Don't worry, sweetie, everything will be fine, you'll see. 
They'll love you! Just? like? me?"
	He forced a small grin, looking down on her happy face, into her 
cerulean blue eyes. "You really think they'll like me?"
	"Of course! But remember, we're just dating. If my parents found 
out I was engaged, my dad would blow a gasket and Mom would probably 
faint."
	Darien chuckled lightly. "Alright, just dating."
	"Are you nervous?" she asked quietly, fixing a wrinkle in his 
tie. 
	"A little. Well, okay, a lot."
	"Why? There's nothing to be afraid of."
	"Well? it's just? I've never met your dad before and I'm afraid 
that I'll make a bad impression? And I haven't seen your mom since the 
day of the funeral and we were just friends back then, so?"
	Giggling, Serena pulled his head down, lying a soft kiss on his 
lips. He stared at her, a bit surprised, before smiling lovingly. "What 
was that for?"
	"I think it's absolutely wonderful that you want my parents to 
love you. It's so sweet!"
	He laughed, tying his arms tighter around her waste. "It's just 
that? when we finally DO tell them the good news? I want to have your 
father's blessing. I want them to like me and know that I do love you 
and that I'm going to take care of you. I mean, you hear about families 
on TV all the time where the parents absolutely hate the son-in-law and 
then their daughter is forced to choose between them and? I don't want 
that to happen to you. You deserve nothing but complete happiness in 
your life."
	Her blue eyes glazed over in pure delight, her arms wrapping 
around his neck, toying gently with his hair. "Don't worry Darien, 
they'll love you, I know they will. I have a back up plan in case they 
don't." She winked at him slyly, a mischievous smile taunting her lips. 
He responded by raising a curious eyebrow, before realizing it didn't 
matter and chuckling slightly. 
	"Well in that case, I guess there's no sense in standing out on 
the porch all day, right?"
	"Yup! I'm getting hungry, and I'm pretty sure Mom was gonna mix 
up some of her world famous chow mien casserole!"
	"Ooh, sounds delicious."
	Stealing one last kiss from her fianc鬠Serena turned to face the 
door again, placing her hand on the doorknob, before pausing. "Oh, 
yeah, and one more thing, love."
	"What's that?"
	She turned to face him, staring into his deep eyes. "If ever I 
did have to make the choice between you and my family, I would choose 
my husband without a second thought."
	And on that serious note, leaving Darien somewhat stunned, they 
walked hand in hand into the house.
	"Mom, I'm home!" Serena called, slipping off her shoes. Darien 
followed her example, gulping nervously. They walked into the living 
room and his eyes began analyzing the homey feel to it all. The house 
was warm and caring, filled with love. Family pictures and meaningful 
trinkets littered every available table space. 
	How he yearned to belong here. 
	"Hi, sweetheart," said a new voice. Darien looked up to see 
Serena's mom walking into the living room wearing an apron and carrying 
a wooden spoon. "You're home just in time, dinner's almost ready." She 
gave her daughter a quick hug before looking up at the guest. "Oh, 
hello Darien, it's so nice to see you again!" she said with the same 
love in her voice she had for her daughter. 
Darien was about to respond politely when she gave him a simple 
friendly hug, kissing his cheek gently. "I'm so glad Serena finally 
decided to bring you to dinner. She never stops talking about you, you 
know."
	Darien blushed slightly, beginning to stutter a "Hello, thanks 
for letting me join you" when a buzzer sounded in the kitchen. 
	"Oh, there's dinner. Serena, why don't you take his coat, and 
then come join us at the table." And with that, she disappeared back 
through the door she had come through. 
	With a wide smile, Serena looked at her boyfriend lovingly. "See, 
no problem. One down and one to go. Here, I have to take your coat 
now."
	He finally managed a smile, happy that her mother was so kind, 
before slipping off his jacket and handing it to the bouncing blond. 
She returned a few moments later, threading their fingers together and 
leading him into a fairly large dining room. He gulped as he peered 
inside. There was a man in his late thirties sitting at the end of the 
table, a young boy in the chair across from him, both eagerly waiting 
for dinner to be set on the table. 
	Feeling Serena tense, just slightly, next to him didn't help 
Darien's composure much. He gulped, attempting to remain calm as he and 
Serena walked into the room. The man looked up immediately, the smile 
on his face fading when his eyes met Darien. 
	"Who are you?"
	"Daddy, this is the guy I was telling you about, Darien Chiba, my 
boyfriend. Darien, meet my dad."
	Stepping forward, Darien extended his hand mannerly. "Pleasure to 
meet you Mr. Tsu?"
	"What is the meaning of this, you are too old to be dating my 
daughter. Get out of my house!" he yelled, standing up from the table 
briskly. 
	Darien's eyes widened and he quickly took a step back, coiling 
his arm to his side. 
	"Dad! Be nice! He is not too old for me, he's a very nice man. 
You don't even know him and if you'd listen?"
	"No, it's bad enough you're dating at all, I will not put up with 
some creep who's 10 years older than you. You are still a little child, 
Serena!"
	"I am NOT a little child, and besides, he's only 5 years older?"
	"FIVE YEARS?! No, no way, no how. Get that man out of?"
	"Ken Benjamin Tsukino, you listen to your daughter!" screeched 
Ilene, coming angrily into the dining room. "You are going to treat Mr. 
Chiba as a guest or you'll be sleeping on the couch for a week!"
	"I'll sleep on the couch for a month, but I assure you my 
daughter will not continue to see this arrogant, egotistical, lustful?"
	Darien stood back and watched silently as Ken bickered with his 
wife. He could see anger boiling inside of Serena. Slowly, he laid a 
comforting hand on her shoulder, feeling her immediately begin to relax 
at his touch. 
	"Maybe I should go," he whispered in her ear. She looked back up 
at him, shaking her head. 
	"Wait a little while, okay?"
	Taking a deep breath, he let his shoulders drop. Again, his 
attention turned to the stereotyped accusations on himself. At the 
table, Sammy continued to sit and stare innocently. 
	When she had finally had enough, Serena reached into her pocket, 
pulling out her back up plan. "Dad, LOOK!" she screeched, handing him 
the piece of paper.
	He took a careless glance down, looked up at his wife, yelled for 
a moment longer, then froze. Slowly, his gaze lowered to the paper 
again, and he began shaking. 
	"Wha?what's this?"
	"That's yesterday's math test. MY math test."
	"But? it says? 94? T?tell me this is 94 out of 500 or something?"
	"No daddy, it's 94%. I got an A. And all because DARIEN believed 
in me and offered to tutor me when no one else would. You have him to 
thank for that grade, and not to mention the past 4 tests I've brought 
home. Do you remember those, Daddy? First a 92, then an 86, an 81, 90, 
and now THIS. You should be praising Darien for the change!"
	Ken stared at the paper for a moment longer, slowly raising his 
disbelieving eyes to his daughter, then the worried and frightened man 
next to her. His eyes repeated this circle a few times, before finally 
slamming his fist down on the table, a grin pulling over his face. 
	"Well then, by golly, pull up a chair! Heck, if you'll get her 
past high school, I'll let you marry my daughter!" Laughing, he sat 
down in his chair, looking over the test paper in awe. 
	Darien and Serena exchanged glances, grateful, and trying their 
hardest not to laugh at her oblivious father's comment. 
	"Ilene! Let's bring Mr. Chiba some food, hurry it up! Hey, would 
you like a cigar? One of the finest! Actually, I don't smoke, and you'd 
better not either or I've got a word or two for you, but I think we 
still have some of the chocolate cigars. Sammy, do you know what we did 
with those?"
	He continued to babble unconsciously as Serena and Darien took 
their places at the table, hands laced together beneath the white lace 
cloth, unknowing to the others.
 

	"I can't believe I'm doing this," Darien muttered beneath his 
breath, straightening his blazer. Serena giggled, holding onto his arm 
tighter than she already was. 
	"Are you sure you're ready?"
	"As ready as I'll ever be," he said uncertainly, staring at the 
door as if it would spring forward and attack him at any minute.
	"Don't worry, sweetie, everything will be fine, you'll see. They 
love you! Just? like? me?"
	He forced a small grin, looking down on her happy face, into her 
cerulean blue eyes. "But do you really think they like me THAT much?"
	"Of course! Darien, we've been dating for two years. It's about 
time they found out we're engaged. We have to tell them sooner or 
later."
	Darien sighed, lowering his head slightly. "Serena? I know that, 
it's just? to them you're still a little girl. You're only 16, hardly 
old enough to be planning a wedding? and? I just really, REALLY want 
your parents' blessing. I want them to think of me as their son, not as 
the guy who stole their little girl away."
	Giggling lovingly, Serena wrapped her arms around his neck, 
waiting for his hold to inevitably tighten around her in response. Once 
they were wrapped in each other's embrace, she inhaled his scent, the 
cologne so familiar, and yet dazing her senses like it had the first 
time he'd worn it. Tilting her head up, she smiled gently, kissing his 
lips in tenderness. 
	"Darien, they already love you. They have since the day you met. 
Even Sammy is crazy about you! And furthermore, they know I love you. 
They had to at least be expecting that I would want to spend the rest 
of my life with you. They'll be happy I found true love so early, and 
believe me, we will have their blessing. Nothing is ever going to keep 
us apart." Kissing his cheek, she let one hand drop to a chain around 
her neck. Her engagement ring hung around it, always close to her 
heart. "And besides, now I can FINALLY wear this around them!" she 
added on a happier note.
	Grinning now himself, only traces of his nervousness showing, 
Darien reached around her neck, pulling the necklace off of her. 
Unsnapping the clasp, he slipped the ring off, before once again 
placing the chain around her neck. Pulling her left hand to his chest, 
he slipped the ring on its appropriate finger, kissing it gently. 
	"There, just where it always should be," he whispered, lying a 
soft butterfly kiss on her smiling lips. 
	"And always will be from now on," she whispered with equal 
affection. They kissed again, a bit longer than the last, her hands 
once again returning to their position around his neck. 
	"Are you two just gonna stand out there making out all day? The 
neighbors are gonna be sick!"
	Laughing, Serena and Darien pulled apart. Pivoting around in her 
fianc駳 arms, Serena quickly smacked Sammy on the head, only hard 
enough that he flinched slightly, glaring at her in good nature, before 
turning to look at the tall man with his arms wrapped around his 
sister's waist. 
	"Hey, didn't I tell you that if you got fresh with my sis I'd 
have to kick your?"
	"Is Dad home?"
	"Huh? Oh yeah, him and mom are in the living room."
	"Great, come on, Darien." Serena grabbed onto his hand, leading 
him into the house that now actually felt more like a second home to 
Darien. Walking past the short sandy haired boy, Darien shook his head 
at Sammy's cute over-protectiveness. Of course, Sammy looked at Darien 
like an older brother, a complete role model, and knew he would never 
actually do anything to his sister, but he still liked to kid him about 
it. Grinning down on the 13-year-old kid, Darien slapped him a few high 
fives as he was pulled into the next room.
	"Hello Serena! Hi Darien! Come watch some Jeopardy with us," 
called Ilene as soon as she saw the two walk through the front door.
	"Hi mom, dad. Actually? could we turn that off for a minute, 
Darien and I have something kind of important to tell you."
	She glanced back at the man with his fingers laced through hers, 
the dark blue eyes quickly filling with nervousness. "Now?" he mouthed 
to her silently. She nodded her head, squeezing his hand reassuringly. 
	"Can't it wait? They just got to round two!" her dad said, 
eagerly awaiting the line of questions on 'famous cover stories'. He 
WAS a reporter, after all, and couldn't wait to show off his vast 
knowledge of the quizzical world. 
	"I don't think this one can wait, Daddy," said Serena, finally 
slipping her palm from Darien's grasp and walking over to the TV, 
flipping it off before turning to face the rest of her family. Sammy, 
who had followed them in, instantly claimed a spot on the couch, next 
to her mom. Ken set the remote down, and Ilene set the magazine she'd 
been reading during commercials on the coffee table. 	
	"Well what is it, dear?"
	Serena looked up at Darien, signaling for him to come over to 
her. He took a deep breath, walking to the center of the family room 
and placing an arm around her waist, making unsure eye contact with her 
family. They watched them anxiously. 
	"Well? Mom, Dad, Sammy? we? um? well?" she looked up at Darien, 
who offered little help, save a patient smile. She took a deep breath. 
"Darien proposed to me and I said yes. We're going to get married."
	His arm tightened around her waist as she let the rest of the 
breath out quickly. 
	Her parents stared at her silently for a minute. Then two 
minutes. Five minutes?
	"Mom? Dad?"
	Ilene cleared her throat slightly. "Uh? you're? engaged?"
	"Yes, Mommy."
	"Ah?" she said, breathing in deeply. 
	There was another long moment of quiet, before her father spoke 
up, surprisingly calm. 
	"Are you sure that is what you want, Serena? It's a life changing 
decision, and a huge commitment. Do you think you're ready for it?"
	Sighing in relief that he hadn't gone into hysterics, Serena 
nodded her head vigorously. "Yes, I'm sure of it! I love Darien with 
all my heart and want to be with him forever, I know that."
	Darien gulped, still looking between her and her parents. 
Finally, he cleared his throat. "Um? Ken, Ilene? I know she's still 
very young and I'm sure you were expecting her to? wait a bit longer 
until, really, even considering marriage. But? I can assure you that I 
will provide for her, and take care of her. I love your daughter more 
than I love myself, and will do anything humanly possible to keep her 
healthy and? happy. All I ask? is for your blessing on the wedding and 
marriage. I hope that? that's not asking too much."
	Ken looked down, eyeing the floor, his hands ringing almost 
roughly in his lap. Finally, he let his palms relax and looked up at 
the couple again. Stealing a quick glance at his own wife, who looked 
somewhat pale, a mix of shock, happiness, and fear mixed into one. 
Gulping, he looked directly into Darien's eyes. "If I don't have to 
spend too much money on the wedding, you have my blessing," he said, a 
somewhat forced smile dawning on his features. Then with a more serious 
undertone, he added, "Darien, I know you love my little girl. And 
though it's hard for me to imagine anyone taking her away from me, I'm 
glad she chose you."
	"Yes, I agree with your father. Serena, you're still very young, 
but you've matured a great deal the past few years and I believe you 
can make your own decisions now. As long as you're happy, I am too. You 
have my blessing, also."
	Slowly, a smile broke on Serena's face, her blue eyes widening in 
great happiness. "Oh? thank you!" she squealed, running forward to give 
her parents large bear hugs. After squeezing them each to death, she 
ran back to her now 'official' fianc鬠wrapping her arms around his 
waist. He returned the favor, a shocked grin still on his face, before 
looking down on her and pressing his lips to hers. 
	In the back of his mind, he could hear Sammy asking, "Does this 
mean I have to wear a tux?"

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Darien muttered beneath his 
breath, straightening his tuxedo jacket. Andrew chuckled from behind 
him, his hands casually relaxed in his pockets.
	"Honestly, I can't either. Are you sure you're ready?"
	"As ready as I'll ever be," his best friend replied uncertainly, 
staring awkwardly down the white aisle before him. 
	"Don't worry, Dar, everything will be fine! You guys have been 
engaged for how many years now?"
	"Three, though only one according to her family."
	"You see, it's time to tie the knot. She loves you, you love her. 
It was bound to happen sooner or later," he joked, nudging his stiff 
friend. 
	Cracking a smile, Darien finally turned his attention to his best 
friend since Dorothy. "You know, I have been dreaming of this day since 
we met and now that it's finally here? I can't seem to wait for it to 
be over."
	Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Excited for the wedding night much?"
	For that comment, he received a glare and smack in the stomach. 
"Get your mind out of the gutter!"
	He laughed lightly in response. "Just kidding. Why are you so 
nervous anyway? You're? not having second thoughts, are you?"
	"What? No way! Just the thought of Serena finally being my WIFE 
makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I just? I don't know, I guess I'm 
not used to being the center of attention, that's all."
	"Ah, don't worry about it. You'll do fine. Besides, no one ever 
pays attention to the groom, just the bride. You know that. As long as 
you have your vows memorized."
	"Like the back of my hand."
	"Excuse me, are you the best man?" asked the wedding coordinator. 
Andrew turned to the new voice, nodding his head. "Yup, that's me."
	"The ceremony's about to start, you need to go take your place."
	"Alright, I'm on my way."
	As the coordinator walked away, he turned to Darien once more, 
slapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. 
Just keep your eye on the honeymoon?" And with that, he quickly jogged 
down the aisle, away from danger.
	Darien sighed, his eyes running over the crowd, beginning to hush 
as music drifted through the church. Soon, Andrew and Serena's maid of 
honor, Raye, began walking down the aisle linking arms. After 
separating at the altar, Mina and a friend from Darien's college began 
walking down. Slowly, Darien's eyes moved over the other onlookers. 
There was Serena's mom, crying while Sammy sat next to her, asking what 
was wrong. Her grandparents were in the next aisle, as well as aunts 
and uncles he'd met briefly at the family gathering last week. Serena 
had been set on introducing him to her relatives before they were 
hitched. He could see some friends from her school, and even some of 
her teachers. 
	The other side of the church was noticeably emptier, but still 
held quite a few of his friends and acquaintances. His stare washed 
over his English professor, some college buddies, Ms. Otomadachi and 
Kevin Saotomai, Dorothy and her husband, Rita and some of her friends, 
employees from his work? 
	'Wha?'
	His stare darted quickly back to a short, plump woman sitting in 
the front row, next to Ms. Otomadachi. His jaw fell for a moment, 
before he forced himself to pick it up. Dorothy smiled at him, mouthing 
the words 'I promised.'
	A smile pulled at his lips and his eyes looked down the aisle for 
a moment as the flower girl, one of Serena's cousins, came skipping 
toward him and the music changed. When he looked back at the piers, 
Dorothy and her husband were gone. He sighed silently, knowing she was 
still watching him, and his eyes lifted to watch the angel now floating 
down the aisle. 
	Once again, his breath caught.
	The sheer veil hid most of her golden hair, but select tendrils 
framed her glowing face. She seemed to sparkle with radiance as she 
slowly stepped toward him, their eyes locked. Her dress was made of 
fine satin, reflecting the soft light coming through the stained glass 
windows of the church and candles placed among the aisle. A diamond 
choker and simple sash around her shoulders made her look like a queen 
as she walked down the aisle, her arm strung through her father's, and 
the train dragging a few feet behind her.
	He gulped, not trying to quit his gawking. This gorgeous, 
incredible, ethereal creature? was about to become his wife? His lips 
curved into a smile as he looked deep into her glowing blue eyes. He 
heard a few words being spoken as she stopped a few feet away from him, 
and her father deserted her side. Shakily, and yet very certain, Darien 
took his spot, hooking her delicate arm in his.
She smiled at him lovingly, a million thoughts in her head, 
ranging from cake to klutz attacks, and yet always filtering back to 
the man who was grinning down on her now. He held more love and joy in 
that simple gaze than she had believed anyone could hold for a single 
person. And yet, her heart was matching his exactly?
	Their feet guiding them before the priest, they turned to face 
each other, her soft hands being taken into his warm and caressing 
hold. 
	"You look beautiful," he whispered so that only she, and possibly 
the priest, could hear. She blushed slightly, as he knew she would. "I 
love you, princess."
	Her gaze looked deep into his soul, her eyes becoming damp, and 
whispered adoringly, "And I will love you always, my prince."
	"We are gathered here today?"

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Luv and God bless!
<3 Alicia