Rating: Teen (for very mild language at the end)

Genre: Hurt/Comfort and a touch of Angst

Song: Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls

And I'd give up forever to touch you,
Cause I know that you feel me somehow.
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be,
And I don't want to go home right now.

"Hi, you've reached Chiba, Darien. I can't come to the phone right now, but I'll call you back as soon as I can!" Darien's answering machine played his message through his apartment. He heard the beep, and then...

"Darien? If you're home please pick up." He heard Serena's voice in the answering machine. "Darien? Sweetheart? You haven't answered or called me back in almost two days. Please call me." She sounded worried and a little desperate to hear his voice.

Darien sighed in guilt, and took another drink of his beer. He turned the picture of he and Serena away from him. He just wasn't in the mood to be around his Serena. He had himself convinced that he just wanted to be alone. Just him and his beer. He wasn't going to get drunk, he just wanted to be numb on that day. Serena being around while he as drinking would make him feel even guiltier then he felt from ignoring her and not telling her why.

A tear fell from his eye as he tried to block the images of the past from his mind. He had spent every July 17th on his own as long as he could remember having the power to make it that way. Darien had been with Serena for 3 years, and she was suspicious, but he had never told her why he would go MIA for 2 days every year.

Darien finished his beer. "I need to take a walk." He said to himself. He didn't want to be in his cold apartment anymore. When he got outside, he looked into the sky, a small smile barely showing, then a sad frown, and tearing up eyes.

And all I can taste is this moment,
And all I can breathe is your life,
And sooner or later it's over,
I just don't want to miss you tonight.

Serena was worried. She knew he was fine, but it still scared her to not have talked to him. She missed his voice. They hadn't seen each other in over a week, because of a family vacation. And, to make spending time with Shingo even more cruel, Kenji refused to let Darien tag along. Even with Ikuko trying to compromise, he stood firm.

She wanted to see that he was okay. So she headed out of her house.

"Serena!" Her mom yelled.

"Yes mom?" She said, stick her head back in the door.

"Where do you think you are going?" Ikuko asked, very cranky sounding.

"To go see the girls. We are going to get smoothies and dinner. We are meeting in about 20 minutes, and should be there until about 6. Then we are going to Lita's to plan Rei's party." She came up with the lie so quickly she surprised even herself.

"Okay. But call me when you are leaving Lita's."

"I will, Momma." Serena left, making her way to Chiba, Darien's apartment. She had a key, that she had never used, but she took it with her.

And I don't want the world to see me,
Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.

Darien returned to his apartment at 9. He walked in and turned on the living room light. He was startled by Serena, asleep on his couch. He was in tears, and didn't want her to see him like that. He picked her up, and took her to sleep in his bedroom. He laid her on the bed and put a blanket over her.

Darien walked back to his kitchen and grabbed a beer. He went out onto his balcony, and took a few drinks. The sky was cloudy, and threatened to rain on him. Which, it did after about 15 minutes. Darien grabbed his beer and stood, looking out of the glass doors.

His buzz had returned after another beer. 'Why the hell did she have to come over?' he asked himself. 'Damn her.' His mind quickly switched subjects with remembering why he didn't want her there. His head and arm were resting on the glass as he tried not to sob.

"Darien?"

And you cant fight the tears that ain't coming,
Or the moment of the truth in your lies.
When everything feels like the movies,
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive.

"Darien?" She repeated, warmly, from behind him "Dare, are you okay?" She asked, seeing the beer in his hand. She took a few steps closer.

"Leave." He said coldly.

"But-"

"Damnit Serenity! Just leave." He said angrily.

"I'm not leaving until you answer me!" She retorted, with just as much rage. She noticed the beer bottle, because it barely tapped against the glass door.

"Leave Serena." He said quieter. She walked toward him, snatched his beer from his hand and threw it across the room. It shattered against the door. With both hands free, he changed positions to where both hands were stretched out on the glass. His head hung low.

"Darien, this is getting ridiculous. Now tell me what the hell is going on?!" She yelled at him. She still hadn't seen his face. He did nothing. No response. Serena moved to the side of him, herself leaning against the glass to try and see his face. She could see a tiny glimmer run down his cheek.

And I don't want the world to see me,
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.

"Dare." She said, moving her arm under his, and softly wiping the tear away.

Once it was gone, Darien looked to his dear Serenity. "16 years ago..." He started and she put her hand back to her sides. "16 years ago on July 17th, was the wreck my parents died in. I was in the backseat. My father died on first impact, and my mother reached back to make sure I was okay. When she did, another car hit and because of the way she was, it snapped her neck." He said slowly with severe pain in every word. Darien's eyes were watery and about to let the flood gates down.

And I don't want the world to see me,
Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.

Serena moved under his arms, and took him in a tight embrace. She could feel all of his guards collapse as he began to cry. Serena dropped her and Darien to the floor, but never let him go. They just stayed like that. Darien feeling emotional and helpless, and Serena feeling horrible for him. She just held him. And the rain continued to poor down the glass doors, it flickered lightning and a small sound of thunder.

"Darien. I'm... I'm so sorry." Was all she could manage. "I'm so sorry." She said, her own eyes tearing up. He moved back and looked at her.

"No. I'm sorry. I should have told you." He tried to apologize.

"Hush." She put a finger over his lips and gave him a small kiss.

And I don't want the world to see me,
Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,

I just want you to know who I am.

I just want you to know who I am.

I just want you to know who I am.

I just want you to know who I am.