The After Effect

Six years. We'd been fighting the good fight for six years now. The toll it'd put on the girls and I was insane. However, the most taxing part was between Darien and I. Each strenuous battle to destroy the leader of some evil Negaforce put strain on our relationship because it forced our plans to change and it constantly forced us to put our love for each other on show for the whole world just to pool enough strength to defeat whatever bad guy had reared it's ugly head.

Most of the time, one of us, or both, ended up ridiculously injured. More than I wish to count, I've sacrificed myself and on a wing and a prayer have been brought back to life. Because of this, there have been several occasions where Darien asks me to stay with him for the night. Just to make sure I'm still alive come morning. In the last six years, the girls have come to automatically provide alibis for me when this happens. Even now. At twenty years old, I still live at home because Darien and I have pushed our wedding back twice in two years. Luckily, with the help of all my friends, I had made it into college and the excuse to pull all nighters with them always worked with my parents.

Tonight was no different. After battling for weeks to defeat the enemy, it was finally time to rest. Darien was badly bruised, I'm sure I was covered in them. All I had to do was call once stating we were staying at Rei's to study. He didn't even have to ask this time. I just knew what he needed. When it came time for us to split ways, I went with him without a word. I could see that he appreciated it.

Sitting up in his big fancy apartment he had upgraded to for us, the silence was deafening. I cared for his wound, binding the worst of them on his arm. I could sense him staring at me wearing one of his baggy t-shirts that always drowned my slim form. Without looking up at him, I sighed.

"You're staring." I stated, tying off the bandage.

"I can't help it. I almost lost you. Again."

"Almost is the key word."

"Serena.." He said softly, tipping my chin up to look at him.

"Darien, I'm fine." I said soothingly, brushing his hand away.

"You are not. I saw you when you changed. You're covered in scrapes and bruises yet you only worry about me. Every time, every night, you sit here and care for me. Then you leave and I don't see you for days because you have studying and other things to catch up on. Who takes care of you if you're always taking care of others?"

"I do. I take care of myself." I offered him a smile the best I could.

"Serena, that's not okay. I should be the one taking care of you. But because we let this sailor business keep getting in the way, we aren't married yet. I can't take it anymore."

"What're we supposed to do, Darien? We have to protect the future. There is no other choice."

"There is."

"Oh yeah?" I asked sarcastically. "What do you suggest?"

"We push up the wedding. We know we're safe right now. Please. We don't need fancy. I just need you. I can't do this anymore. I can't watch you leave after every fight and know that I can't care for you. I can't soothe the nightmares and help you back to full strength. I can't wipe away your tears and kiss you goodnight."

"Darien.." I said softly, unsure of what to say.

"Serena, please." He took my hands in his, squeezing them lightly. "I can't live like this any more. Only getting nights with you after you've almost died." He said softly.

I smiled up at him, nodding. "Alright. We'll go speak with my father in the morning. We'll push up the wedding." I don't think he's ever pulled me into a hug so quickly as he did just then. I could feel the excitement and love radiating from him.