Chapter One
Littlest Matchmaker
Hi all, it's me again... This is the first Christmas fan fic I've ever written, but I've decided to try my hand. First off, I'd like to compliment the authors Athena and Alicia, whose wonderful Christmas Fics are absolutely... well, wonderful! Second, I have to thank my best friend Kendell, (Kenny-chan!) for beta-ing this story, even though she hates Sailor Moon (gasp, what a pal, eh?). Third, I have to thank Pam, who helped me work up the courage to send this in... Feed back is really welcome, email me, I'd love to know what you thought. Good, bad, so-so, what ever it is, I need to know!
Legal Disclaimer: I think it's rather obvious I don't own Sailor Moon, and don't bother suing me, I'm thirty dollars in debt to my boyfriend!
Personal Disclaimer: I am a hopeless romantic. Is that new around First Love? I think not...
AND ON WITH THE SHOW!
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~ Darien ~
Drip. Drip. Drip.
I watched the drops of coffee fall from my fingertip and back into the cup. It was Saturday, it was snowing, and I was incredibly bored. I was also sitting in Crown Game Center, waiting for an angel to walk in the door and make the day a little bit better. Okay, so who am I fooling... a lot better. The day I met Serena, I knew there was something special about her.... Of course, the day I met Serena was also the day a war was declared. Between me.... and an angel. Of course I didn't know that I was in love with her then, how could I, I've never been in love before. But now... I glance down at my watch.... 11:36, she's late. Serena might be late for classes and anything really important, but if there's one thing she's always on time for, it's her Saturday game session at the arcade. Oh, wait, there she is... I would know that hairstyle anywhere. Wait, who was that with her?
I had no time to think on that before the doors swung open and Serena entered, with three children! There was a little boy not more than four with red hair and blue eyes sitting on her shoulders, his hands gripping her ‘meatball' buns for dear life as he giggled and laughed. Another child, this one a girl, pulled Serena along, using one of her long golden streamers of hair like a leash. The last child- another girl, remarkably resembling the last- was prancing along beside Serena and holding her hand. The ring leader of the little circus seemed to be having just as much fun as the children she was supposed to be in charge of. I can tell you one thing, they were all loud. As Serena unbundled each of the children in turn, they climbed up on the stools nearby. In fact, one of the girls took the seat right next to me. Much to my surprise, she looked straight up at me with blue eyes a lot like Serena's (though, of course not as beautiful) and smiled.
"Hello, Mr. Tall person," she said. My, my, friendly little thing, isn't she? But, I couldn't help but smile back as I wondered if this little girl was related to my angel. (MY? Getting a little possessive here, aren't we, Darien?). Her dark brown hair was pulled up in two pigtails, tied with purple ribbons, the same color as the cute little dress she wore.
"Hi there," I replied, slightly unsure. After all, I hadn't been around kids that much.
"Hailey," I heard Serena say, and instantly looked up. From the expression on her face, I could tell she was peeved at the girl for talking to me, but only a bit. Most of the annoyance was directed at me. Oh, dear, wha'd I do now... "Why are you talking to Darien?"
"Who's Darien?" the girl-Hailey- asked innocently.
"That guy you're talking to, silly goose!" the other little girl scolded.
"How was I supposed to know, Skyler!?" Hailey asked.
"All right, all right," Serena said, coming between the two. "Sorry I asked," she looked at me pointedly before saying., "Hailey, why don't you come over here and sit next to me?" I realized that the little boy had vacated his stool in favor of Serena's lap, and Meatball head now patted the seat with her hand.
"Why can't I talk to him?" Hailey asked. I laughed out loud at the expression on Serena's face. She was at a total loss for words. Then I felt guilty. If I hadn't been so mean to her before, they wouldn't even be having this conversation. In fact, if I'd acted differently, she might be in my arms right now...
"And JUST WHAT are you smiling at, Darien!?" Serena's voice cut into my pleasant little daydream. Okay, I have a lot of ground to cover, but I'm not giving up. Maybe I can start being nice to her today.... "Hello, ANYONE HOME???" Serena was waving her hand in front of my face, and I realized I hadn't answered her yet. Luckily, I was saved by Andrew.
"Hello," he said to Hailey, "And what can I get you lovely ladies?" he then noticed the little boy, "And gentleman." He corrected himself. I watched Serena's smile light up and was suddenly not very appreciative of my aforementioned savior. After all, I knew Serena had a crush on him.
"Ohhhh, Bunny, can we get THAT!?" Skyler asked of Serena, her hand pointing to a slice of chocolate covered cheesecake.
"Bunny?" Andrew and I croaked out at the same time. Man, and I thought I'd come up with the perfect pet name for Serena, but Bunny was almost better than Meatball Head.
"It's their... pet name for me," Serena explained to Andrew with a little shrug. The boy in her lap giggled and gently grabbed both streamers of hair, pulling them as he repeated ‘bunny, bunny' in baby-talk lisp.
"And just who are you?" Andrew asked, reading my mind.
"Oh," Serena said, "These are my cousins, Hailey, Skyler and Logan."
"We're twins," Skyler informed Andrew as she pointed to Hailey. No wonder they looked so much alike.
"We're here to visit for Christmas!" Hailey put in.
"Santa!" Logan added. Oh my, well, they all certainly had Serena's energy.
"Can we have the yummy cake, Bunny?" Skyler prompted again. Hailey scrambled down from her stool to get a better look, then returned. She didn't look quite as interested as her sister.
"I want a fudge sundae!" she announced.
"Cookies!" Logan demanded. Yup, these kids were DEFINATELY related to Serena. I watched as the young woman took out her wallet and began counting her money.
"Sorry, guys," she heaved a sigh, "I don't have nearly enough. Not if you want to play games." I watched as the children's faces fell. Perfect timing.
"Go ahead and get whatever you want, Serena, I'll pay for it," I offered. She looked at me with her big blue eyes, full of surprise, not only for my offer, but at the fact I called her Serena, and not Meatball Head. I knew instantly that the little offer had been totally worth it.
"I don't need your charity, Darien," Serena said bitterly. My face fell, but I quickly put it back together again, complete with a smile.
"Oh, but it's not charity. I'm just trying to make up for teasing you, Meatball Head," I laughed. The kids were tugging at just about anything they could reach on their older cousin, a sleeve, part of her skirt, her hair, begging her to accept my offer.
"Oh, all right, but only because I'd have an all-out war on my hands if I don't get these kids some sugar." Serena conceded, gracefully. I let them order, then paid Andrew.
"I like YOU," Hailey informed me as she watched Andrew bring over her sundae. Well, at least the kids liked me, that might help.
Now, I thought Serena could scarf down food like no one else, but I was wrong. Hailey and Skyler gave Meatball Head a run for her money. I swear Hailey inhaled her's in less than a minute flat. Pretty soon, all four of them, Serena included, for she'd decided to have a shake, had their fill, and next thing I knew, Hailey was tugging on my sleeve and asking if I wanted to help her play the claw game.
"Come on Hailey," Serena said, "That's enough, we don't want to bug Darien." Bug me? Meatball Head, you could never bug me... heaven knows when you leave I'll no doubt be headed home for another day of studying....
"Don't sweat it, Meatball Head," I told her, then turned my attention back to her cousin, "I'd love to help."
"Great!" she said, hopping down from the stool and taking my hand. "You sure are tall," she remarked as I slipped a coin in the slot. I looked down at Hailey, her little face tilted up to look at me, her blue eyes sparkling with admiration. Suddenly, I thought of my angel, surrounded by a clan of black and blond-haired children, all sporting blue eyes. Making wedding plans already, Darien? I glanced over at Serena, who was holding Logan up so he could reach the mini-basketball hoop. I had to admit, she did look good as she held out the little boy, and she seemed to have a way with kids. The same magic she had with everything else. "Darien?" I realized Hailey was waiting for me to respond.
"Sorry," I said, "Spaced out for a second," she nodded with acceptance,
"Anyway, I'm sure you'll be tall too someday."
"As tall as Bunny?" Hailey asked, holding her breath.
"Probably, maybe even taller," I told her. She nodded and smiled, pushing the start button while I held her up so she could work the claw.
"I want to be just like Serena when I grow up," Hailey informed me as she worked the claw, fishing for one of the stuffed toys.
"You really love your cousin, don't you?" I asked her. I'd never had any close relatives, but from what I'd seen, Skyler and Hailey practically worshipped the ground Serena walked on.
"Yeah." she replied, frowning in concentration, "She's cooler than even Sailor Moon! And way prettier too."
"You've got that right, "I whispered, without realizing I'd spoken aloud. The game over sign flashed above us as Hailey turned around in my grasp.
"You like Serena, don't you?" she asked me, eyes wide with innocence. Well, how was I supposed to answer that question? I bent down so I was eye to eye with the little imp, and whispered:
"Can you keep a secret?" She nodded silently and made a motion as if to seal her lips, "All right then, yes, I do like Serena."
"Are you her BOYFRIEND??" Hailey asked, a little louder than I would have liked.
"Shh.." I told her, "No... but I'd like to be." She seemed to take that in for a moment, before smiling and giving me a hug. She didn't comment on it anymore as she continued to feed the claw machine the coins Serena had given her. At last she was down to her last two and still without a prize.
"Could you try for me, Darien," she pleaded. Nodding I slipped in another coin and quickly fished out a purple stuffed kitten.
"My favorite color!" she squealed with delight. "Try it again!" she urged me. This time I managed to grab a little pink bunny with big floppy ears. Handing it to Hailey, I could practically see the wheels in her mind turning.
"You can give it to Serena, if you want," she suggested hopefully. Quite the little matchmaker, aren't we, Miss Hailey? I thought to myself. But, it wasn't such a bad idea, I considered as the little girl handed me the prize.
"Hey, Hailey, Darien!" Skyler called from the Sailor V game booth, "This is SO cool!" I laughed as I watched Hailey's twin concentrating on the game, with Serena looking over her shoulder and giving pointers.
I followed more slowly as Hailey rushed over to her sister. The game over sign flashed, signaling the end of their playing session, and I frantically thought for a way to give the bunny to Serena. I shouldn't have worried, NOT with Hailey around.
"Hey, Bunny," she said to Serena, "Look what Darien won for you!" Serena's head jerked up from where she was zipping up Logan's coat. She looked at me a tad suspiciously as I handed her the stuffed toy. But the minute she saw the prize, her eyes melted.
"AW!!" she said, "It's so cute!" She hugged it to her with a smile. Man, I wished I was in the rabbit's position. I didn't have to wish for long, because Serena had flung her arms around my waist in an impulsive ‘thank you' hug. I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the feel of her arms around me, before opening them as she pulled away. "Um..." she stuttered, "Thanks so much, Darien. For the bunny and for the treat." She smiled self-consciously before turning to help the twins into their coats.
"No problem, Meatball Head." I said, not managing to catch myself before I'd uttered the much-hated nickname. To my eternal surprise she merely nodded and smiled. Wow, am I dreaming or something? Apparently not, because I felt a brief bit of pain as Logan playfully whacked me with his new plastic sword. I looked at the little boy, who sat on my angel's shoulders trying to look innocent. he wasn't pulling it off.
"Now, Logan...." Serena scolded gently as she lead her little troupe out the door. "Bye, Darien!" she called out as they left. Hailey opened the door again to poke her head back in the arcade. After giving me a rather obvious wink, she scurried off to catch up with the others. Man, what a day.
"Hey Darien!" another voice intruded in my thoughts. I turned around to see Andrew leaning against the counter, looking rather interested, "You've got some explaining to do!" Oh, boy.
~ Skyler ~
I sat on the bed in the guest room brushing out my doll, Rachel Michelle's, hair. I'd had a lot of fun at the arcade this morning, but it had started to snow on the way home and now Hailey, Logan and I were stuck inside. To make things worse, Bunny got all starry-dreamy-mushy-eyed on the way home, retreated to lala land and now she was in her room. So, Hailey, Logan and I were sitting in the guest room waiting for the snow to stop.
"Hey Skyler?" Hailey asked. I looked up to see my twin sister, sitting on the window seat with her book of fairy tales in her lap. That girl lives and dies by her fairy tales.
"Yeah?" I said, returning my attention to Rachel Michelle.
"Don't you think Serena should be Darien's girlfriend?"
"Huh?" I asked, looking up at Hailey. I could see that devious mind of hers going to work. She s not as innocent as she sells herself to be, in fact, she's the one who's always coming up with these impossible schemes…
"Oh, Hailey, I thought we were going to have a nice peaceful Christmas Break!" I protested. She merely smiled at me pleadingly. Oh dear, here she goes. My twin is extremely persuasive, in case you didn't know. I'm gonna need help on this one. "Logan, we don't want to get involved in another one of Hailey's plans, do we?" My brother looked up at me from his place on the floor, where he was dead set on shoving a wooden car in his mouth.
"Santa!" was all he had to say as he returned to the task of eating the poor car. Some help you are, bugger butt.
"Come on, Skyler," Hailey said, "Didn't you SEE them!?" she hopped off the seat and hurried over, carrying her fairy tale book with her. "See," she pointed to the painting on the page next to the "Princess and the Moon" story. Sure enough, there was a blonde princess who looked a lot like Bunny (right down to the hair-too!) all dressed up in a beautiful party dress, and a prince standing with his arm around her... a prince that looked like Darien. Well how could I argue with that?
"Oh, I guess," I mumbled in defeat.
"Great!" Hailey said, giving me a hug, "We'll talk to that Andrew person tomorrow."
"Why?"
"So we can get some help, I can't do it all by myself!" she insisted. With that, she turned back to the window seat and went back to watching the snow. After a while, she said;
"I think Serena and Darien could be a princess and prince. Maybe they'll even be Queen and King of Earth one day!" I stifled a giggle and shook my head at my twin.
"Hailey, I think you're pushing it."
"Wait and see, Sky, wait and see." Uh, oh, she used that tone. That tone that always makes me very, very worried. After all, the last time she used that tone, I soon found myself with a broken leg after falling out of a tree trying catch a squirrel Don't ask. Well, so much for a quite Christmas.
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Now now, Minna-chan, don't be shy... tell me what you think! Pretty please...?
To the world you may be one person, but to the person you may be the world.
