This is chapter 4 of my fanfic, I hope u like! See you at the bottom I just wanted to say THANK YOU MIRIAMELE!!! I couldn't have Gotten this chapter right w/o you. hehe Standard disclaimers apply ----------------------------------- "You are my Sunshine, My only Sunshine You make me happy When Skies are Gray You'll never know, dear, How much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away." A shaky voice sang, then broke into sobs. Darien stood outside of the door listening to Serena's grief. She used to sing that lullaby to Seth, but now she couldn't finish the song. Darien mentally sang the rest of the song, over Serena's sobs. "Last night I dreamed that You were here with me And I held you in my arms But when I woke I Was mistaken, And I began to cry and cry" Darien just leaned his forehead against the door and cried for Serena, how sorry he was for her to be blaming herself for Seth's death. Now he would only cry a little over Seth's death, more so for her, and how it wasn't her fault. "Daddy" Rini called out. Darien quickly wiped his eyes, turned his head to the right, then turned around to the left. She was standing at end of the hallway in her nightgown, holding her new kitten, Diana (hehe)."Daddy, I can't sleep. I'm worried about Mommy. She's been acting like this all day!" Darien's heart went out, and he picked her up in his arms. "You can sleep with us tonight, and don't worry about Mommy. She's just sad, still." He carried her into his room and laid her on the bed, and tucked Rini in. "Be back in a minute, munchkin." He said, and left the room after turning off the light. Darien closed the door behind him. He could hear that Serena had stopped crying, so he cracked Seth's door open. Serena was sitting in the corner, holding Seth's favorite blanket, her hair hung down over her shoulders and hid her face. "Serena, it's late. Come on to bed, and get some rest. Remember, you have a doctor's appointment tomorrow." Darien said as he walked over to her. "Every night, I see it happen all over again. Seeing that truck coming towards us, and then it hits us. God, Darien, why won't it stop! I don't think I can live with this." Serena cried. Darien wrapped her up in his arms, and listened to her speak through her sobs for a while, till she said, "There can't possibly be anything worse than having the blood of your son on your conscience!" In one swift move- ment, Darien grabbed her shoulders and made her look him in the face. "Serena, don't you ever say that!" he said, then softened his voice. "I hear you doing this to yourself every night, and it tears me apart! I'm afraid I'll lose you to this, and you know you are all I live for." "I'm afraid that I'll not be able to live with this. Don't you get it? Your SON is dead because of me!!!" Serena yelled. Darien caught his breath at this. 'How could she think something like that?' He let go of her shoulders and stood up. "Serena!" he whispered "Do you know what you just said?" he asked. "Yes I do. Truth hurts, doesn't it?" Serena said before bursting into sobs. Darien didn't know what to say. At first he felt shock, then despair. His face then hardened in anger. Without thinking, he slapped Serena hard across the face. She didn't even cry out, just let her head snap over to the side and put her hand to her face. Darien then realized what he had done, when he saw his hand positioned from the follow-through. 'Oh my god, did I just,' his mind screamed, and was answered by the hand print on Serena's cheek turning a bright red. "Serena, I didn't mean to..." he said, and tried to put a hand on her shoulder. "DON'T TOUCH ME!!!" she screamed, the tears gone from her eyes. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!!!" Serena looked Darien in the eyes, shooting daggers deep into him. "I'm not going to take this." she said, and pushed past him, out of Seth's bedroom. Serena opened a hall closet, and pulled a suitcase off a shelf. She muttered something as she drug it into their room, and tossed it in front of the dresser. Darien was immediately behind her. "Serena, what are you doing?" he asked, fully aware that she was throwing her things into the suitcase. "I'm not staying here, not with you!" she snapped, and slammed a drawer shut. "Serena, you're blowing this WAY out of proportion! I told you I didn't mean to..." he started. "BUT YOU DID!!! I don't really care if you meant to or not! YOU DID!" she yelled, and started to zip up the suitcase. A groan came from the bed, and they both looked to see Rini wake up. "Why are you yelling? I was having a good dream!!!" she whines. "Rini, come on. We're going for a car ride." Serena orders, and glares at Darien again. "Mommy, I'm too tired!" Rini starts to say. "NOW!!!" Serena thunders, then pushes past Darien again to put her suitcase in the car. Rini doesn't argue, but follows her mother. Darien rushes past Rini, and grabs Serena's arm. She turns and looks at him. Then she jerks her arm out of his grasp and takes Rini's arm. Serena pulls Rini to the car, and Darien just stands there and flinches when the door slams shut. 'She's gone! What have I done?' he thinks, then goes into the den and plops down on the couch. Darien looks around the room, and glances at all the pictures. He reaches for one in particular, one of them on their wedding day. They were kissing, and everyone around them looked very happy. Something snapped inside of Darien and he threw the picture across the room. The glass in the frame shattered, and the frame itself bent. Darien sighed, and leaned back against the back of the couch, throwing his head back. He brought his hand up and covered his eyes with it, then ran it through his hair as he sat back up. Darien glanced around the room again, and saw the phone. He realized he needed to talk to someone, so he picked it up and dialed Andrew's number. It took several rings, but then he heard a grumpy voice answer. "Hello?" Andrew asked. "Andrew? This is Darien." "Darien! Do you know what time it is? It's almost 1:00!!! What is it?" Andrew griped. "Serena's gone." ----------------------------------- Serena stood in a pay-phone booth, and dropped a quarter in. After she dialed the number, she wiped away a tear that was running down her face. "Hello?" she heard Rei say. "Rei? This is Serena. I know it's late, but can you please do me a favor?" "Sure! What?" Rei said, becoming concerned after hearing Serena's tone of voice. "Can Rini and I stay at your place tonight? Darien and I had a fight." "Of course! I'll be waiting. I'm sure Chad won't mind. What happened?" "I'll tell you when I get there, okay? See you in a minute." When Serena got to Rei's house, Rini was asleep, so they laid her on the couch. "Serena, what happened?" Rei asked, finally seeing the hand print on Serena's face. It wasn't as red, but it was still visible. "I was crying, I don't even remember what I said, and then he slapped me! I told him to get away from me, and then the next thing I knew I was driving away in the car." Serena said, then started crying. "Oh Serena," Rei said, and hugged her friend. ----------------------------------- Darien listened to the phone ring as he held the receiver to his ear. "Hello?" Mrs. Tsukino asked. "Hello Irene, this is Darien. Is Serena there? I can't find her." "No, she isn't. Serena's with Rei." "Thank you, Irene." Darien said, then hung up. 'I should be at work.' "Oh well." He said out loud in an answer to his own statement. Darien groaned as he got up to go to the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of water. He was going back to the living room with it when the door opened. Darien froze as Serena walked in quietly. She jumped when she saw Darien, then said, "What are you doing here?" "What am I doing here? Well, after my wife left me, taking my daughter with her, I'm trying to over come the shock! Now, what are you doing here? I thought you were at Rei's!" Darien said. "What I do isn't any business of yours any more." Serena said, holding back the tears that came into her eyes at what Darien said. After a minute, she sighed, and said "I came to get some things of Rini's." Serena started to go to Rini's room, and Darien started to move aside. Darien dropped his head down and sighed as Serena passed him. Then, once again not really thinking, he shot out an arm and grabbed Serena's wrist. With one smooth movement he pulled her to him, and covered her mouth with his. Serena's eyes widened under his, and she tried to pull away. Darien wouldn't allow it, and put his arm around her waist. Several surprised squeaks came from her mouth, but then she became silent. Darien pulled his head away and let go of Serena. He looked at her, at the tears that had started running down her face. Finally she opened her eyes, and locked her gaze with Darien. He started to turn and walk away, but Serena said suddenly, "So you still love me?!" Darien froze, and turned back to face her. He opened his mouth to say something, but can't for a moment. "Serena, of course I do! Don't ever doubt that." "Then kiss me again!" Serena sighed, and held out her arms. Darien smiled, and took her in his arms. He put his forehead on Serena's. "Did I tell you how sorry I've been?" he said, and THEN kissed her. ----------------------------------- Darien was sitting in his chair, watching Serena put a few more flowers in Rini's red hair. "Mom! That's enough flowers already! I don't want my head to look like a garden!" Rini griped. "Just let me put this one..."Serena started, but Rini jumped away before Serena could hold her still. Darien laughed as the two ran around the room, and out the door. He stood up, and went to the door. Outside, Rini had picked up the train of her dress and running full force back to Darien in high heels. Serena was close behind, waving a white flower in her hand. Just in time, Darien stepped back, reached out his arms, and caught Rini. Rini yelped as she was swung around. "Rini, let your mother put that one flower in your hair. It won't hurt anything, only make you even more beautiful than you already are." Darien said as Serena came up, and triumphantly pinned the flower in Rini's hair. Rini pouted, and turned away to the mirror. Part of her long, red hair was French braided along the sides of her head, and connected in the back (with flowers) with the rest of her hair, which was curled and grazing down her back. Rini's cheeks were slightly flushed, only adding to her features. Her long, white gown was the same one Serena had worn when she had gotten married. Now, it was Rini's turn. Darien came up behind her, as Serena went to go welcome guests. He didn't say anything, just stood there. "This is such a beautiful dress, don't you think, Daddy?" Rini suddenly said. It took a moment for Darien to answer. "Yeah, it is, munchkin." "I'm 24 years old, and you still call me that little baby name?" Rini laughed, laying her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, I guess I do! I guess that's cause you always will be my little girl." Darien said, then the room was silent again. Darien glanced at his watch. "Rini, you'd better get going. It's almost 6:00. Matthew's waiting." Rini took a deep breath, and turned away from the mirror. Darien offered his arm, and she took it. He escorted her into the church, which was, by now, crowded. Everyone was quiet, letting the organ music echo through the building. They stopped in the foyer, when Darien glanced at Rini. Her eyes were full of tears of love and happiness, as she glanced into the church. Looking back to her father, she sighed, then smiled as he placed a kiss on her forehead. The doors opened wide, and Darien lead her down to give her away. Later, while dancing with Serena, he noticed things about her that have changed since their wedding day. Her skin was older, and her blonde hair considerably grayer. "What?" She asked, noticing the way he was looking at her. "Your still as beautiful as the day we were married." Darien said, with a gleam in his eyes. "Well then, I still think you are the dashing young police officer that swept me off my feet. Only with gray hair." Serena laughed. The song they were dancing to ended, and Darien lowered Serena into a dip. When he pulled her up, they both were laughing. "Come on, Rini and Matthew are going to drive off soon." Serena said, and pulled Darien through the growing crowd. About 5 minutes later, a couple came crashing through a cascade of rice, and into the awaiting limo. Rini waved to her parents, then the car drove off. Darien put his arm around Serena, who reached up and took his hand. He squeezed it, and she laid her head on his arm. --------------------------- Author's note: I'm making time pass VERY quickly in this chapter, since it is the last (there will not be an epilogue), like 20 to 30 years in a scene. So don't get confused. I don't think I need to say this but I will. In that last scene (Rini's wedding) Serena and Darien were like in their 50's. :) Now, in this next scene, it's back to where the prologue was. The next scene after that is roughly 5 months after that. Don't forget, otherwise you won't get it. --------------------------- Darien opened his eyes. The room was dark, and at first he thought that he was the only one in it. His head was throbbing, but in a weird way, he was immune to the pain. It scared Darien at first, but he then brushed it off. He thought he felt a small depression in the bed, and saw that it was Serena lying next to him. She was asleep, with her head towards him. Darien lifted a shaking hand and brushed a white wisp of hair from her face. She stirred, and after a minute opened her eyes. "Hey. Guess what? The pain is gone." Darien whispered, trying to be a little happy, even though he knew what was going on. "That's good." Serena said, catching his meaning as her eyes filled with tears. "Don't cry, Serena! You'd only make me feel worse. I don't want to leave you anymore than you want to leave me!" he managed to get out. "I know! It's just...I love you so much." She whispered. "And I you." Darien pulled himself closer to Serena, and put his arms around her. She reached back and took both of his hands in hers, removing his arms from around her. Both of their hands shook, they couldn't help it, for they had for years. Serena kissed each of his hands, tears now flowing freely down her face. "I'm going to miss you." She said after a while. "Me too. But you know what?" Darien replied "What?" "I'll be waiting for you." He said as he closed his eyes. "I'm just so tired right now." That was the last thing Darien said to Serena. A few minutes later, his breathing stopped, and his hands grew cold, but Serena didn't let them go. She held on all night, and a good part of the morning. -------------------------- Flowers covered the casket that was raised above the ground. A small amount of people were there, the few relatives and friends of Serena's that were still alive. Rini and Matthew were there, of course, with their children, and great grandchildren all in black. "This concludes the funeral services for Serena Shields." The reverend said, and the crowds began to leave. Rini and Matthew stayed behind, watching as the flowers were removed and the casket lowered. "Well, they're together now, right?" Rini asked. "I'm sure they are." Matthew said as he put his arm around her and lead her away. -------------------------- Okay. That's the end of my story. I'd like some e-mails, but If you don't' want to send them, BE THAT WAY!!! Okay, bye! Dragonfly