Hello, Watcher here.  Well, here's just one more short story, written
some time after Serena and Darien made it back together.  As usual,
if you like it, send e-mail to gambit56@hotmail.com.

Once again I state:  Sailor Moon does not belong to me, will never
belong to me, and I have very little worth suing for, so don't
waste your time.

This story is rated G.

Past Explanations
by The Watcher

   Darien could feel the restlessness.  The unease.  He sat up in
bed quickly.  What could be causing...of course.  Serena.  He had
been worried about her for some time.  She hadn't been acting like 
herself.  He siliently transformed and left for her house.  Luna was
also been worried, he recalled.  She had mentioned that Serena wasn't
sleeping well, and appeared to be having constant nightmares.  That
was bad enough, but she wouldn't talk about them.  This had puzzled
Darien.  He knew that she had been having nightmares when they broke
up, but now they were back together.  So what could be wrong?  He
resolved to find out the reason tonight.  'Whatever it is,' he
thought, 'I'll find out.  If it's something I've done, I'll make it
up to her.'

   When he reached her house, he slipped inside her room.  He became
somewhat alarmed when he saw Serena.  She was tossing and moaning, 
and seemed to be in torment.  Luna looked up and noticed Darien's
presence.

"She'll wake up soon." she whispered.  "She always does.  Her door
is locked, so her parents can't get in, but try not to make any
noise.  It's not worth the risk." 

   Darien nodded understanding.  Luna jumped up to the open window.

"I hope you can help her." she told him.  "I leave her to you."

   Almost as soon as Luna left, Serena jumped and sat up with a sob.
Only this time someone was there to catch and hold her.  She gasped.

"Shhh...It's just me, Serena." Darien murmered.  "Are you all right?"

"Darien!" she gasped.  "Yes...I'm fine.  Thank you."

"Serena.  What's wrong?  Luna says you've been like this for days.
Nightmares, restlessness...And she can't get you to talk about
it."

"Nothing's wrong, Darien." she replied cooly.  "I'm fine."

"Serena, please!" he ground out in frustration.  "Tell me what
started this!  I care about you..."

"Do you?" she interrupted.

"What?"

"Do you care?" she continued.

"What do you mean, Serena?" he asked.  "You know I do.  How could
you think I don't?  How could you..."

"Doubt?" she finished.  "Well, let's see.  You never explained why
you broke up with me.  You still keep your distance whenever we're
together.  You hardly ever seem to know what to say around me...
Darien, am I really so bad?" she cried.

   Quickly Darien motioned for her to keep quiet.  In spite of that,
he could tell she was on the verge of crying.  And he couldn't
blame her.  Everything she had said was true.  The problem was, he
wasn't sure how to explain his feelings, even to himself.  It
sometimes frightened him when he realized how completely this
girl...no, this young woman had stolen his heart.  However, he wasn't
being fair to her.  He steeled himself to try and explain himself
to her.

"Oh, Serena.  I'm sorry.  I...I'll try to explain.  Will you listen
to what I say?"  She nodded slowly.  "I'm not really...good at
talking about myself and my...feelings, but I'll try.  I don't mean
to keep my distance from you.  Believe me, I don't.  It's just, well,
I never really knew how to express my feelings.  When you've been
alone as long as I have, you become very careful about not feeling
anything.  It's safer that way.  When I realized how much you affected
me, how much you made me feel...it frightened me.  It scared me to
think about how much I loved you, or how much I would be hurt if you
left.  When I broke up with you, I thought I was protecting you.  
You see, I kept having the same nightmare that you would die if we
were together.  I couldn't stand the thought of losing you.  And
even now, it's hard...to know how to express my feelings to anyone.

   By now Serena's eyes were full of tears, and she was shaking.  She
had never seen Darien be this open.

"Oh, Darien.  I'm sorry." she cried. "I should have been more
understanding, but instead I hurt you by pushing you away and
doubting you."

   She started to cry softly.  Darien imediately started rocking
her, holding her, trying to soothe her.

"Shhh, Serena.  It's all right." he whispered.  "I was wrong not
to trust you.  I should have been more open with you."

   After a few minutes Serena began to drift towards sleep.  Darien
started to ease her back onto her bed, but she cluched at him.  She
plainly did not want him to leave.

"All right, Serena," he murmered, "I'll stay awhile."

   Finally she calmed down and fell asleep.  Darien sat for a long
time, stroking her head, and thought about just how much she had
changed his life.  He remembered their early meetings, and his slowly
changing feelings for her.  He could still remember the desperate
way he used to search for her, not admitting to himself the reason
for his obsession.  And then the realization(on both of their parts)
that each had a hold on the other; a hold that neither one could break.
His breathlessness at their first kiss.  The way his heart had jumped
when she had first told him that she loved him, making him feel that
he could die of happiness.  The way in which she had slowly crept behind
the walls he had put up, gently assuring him the whole time of the fact
that he was not alone, would never be alone.

   As he thought over all these things, he realized it was getting very
late.  He had intended to go home as soon as Serena had fallen asleep,
but now he found himself streching out beside her.  Surely a few minutes
wouldn't hurt...The next thing he knew, Luna was poking him, trying to
wake him up.  He looked up.  Soft gray light was coming in through the
window.

"Did you sleep well?" Luna asked.

"How long have you been here?" Darien asked stupidly.

"I came back after a couple of hours." she replied. "You had already
fallen asleep.  I knew you would want to stay with her, but you'd
better leave soon.  Did you find out what's bothering her?"

"Yes.  It was a misunderstanding, one that we had to talk through.
She's all right." he answered.  

"That's good.  I'm glad you could help.  You'd better go, before her
family wakes up." Luna warned.

"Okay, Luna."

   Quickly Darien transformed and moved to the window.  He turned and
asked one final question.

"Luna, can you tell her something for me?"

"Of course, Darien." she replied.  "What is it?"

"Tell her...I love her.  Very, very much."

   After saying that, jumped through the window, headed home.


Well, that's it for this story.  Did you like it?  I hope so.
I can always be reached at hotmail.  I may have another short
story coming up soon.  I haven't been able to write anymore long
ones(I guess I burned out with that first one!!!)but I've been
having a lot of fun writing the short ones.  Well, I'll see 'ya
later!

The Watcher