Author's Note: well now, here is yet another new fanfic. I'm always trying to make up new fan fictions and add them because variety is good, right? Right! Anyway, this isn't just one fanfic, this is a trilogy. It's actually another one like those I'm working on for the Three Lights. This one centers on three best friends and the dreams and hopes they all have together. I'm starting a lot of fanfics right now that are trilogies and wrap around one another, so E-Mail me and tell me what you think of this! Anyway, this is the first, on Serena and Darien of course, I hope you enjoy!!

Reflections of Dreams

Prologue.......

Monterey, California

Three young girls sat on the cliffs overlooking the beaches of Monterey, the wind whipping across there faces, the sky awash in violent splashes of red and orange as they watched the sunset into the horizon. They wore tang tops and shorts, showing off there growing bodies and the golden hue of there skin.

At the age of fifteen, all three were beautiful young girls on the verge of womanhood, with bodies that were beginning to shape and faces that were losing there touch of innocence and childhood.

Serena Carroway sat studying the sky and sun, her knees tucked into her chest, her arms wound around her legs, her chin resting atop her knees. She gazed out at the sky, contemplating her life, her dreams, and most importantly, boys.

She turned to look at her two friends and frowned at the look of concentration Amy had on her face." Amy's thinking about school again." she said with a bit of annoyance. Then, changing her mind, she clucked her tongue, rolling it into her cheek." Or maybe she's thinking about that cute nerd that likes her. What's his name?"

"Albert."Lita immediately supplied, getting into the roll of things, turning to eye Amy around Serena, who sat in the middle." Albert Hart. He's in your computer class, isn't he Amy?"

Amy blushed, choosing to ignore there teasing." Have you guys studied for the biology test? Its going to be tough and-"

Serena and Lita both groaned." No school, please."Lita begged.

Serena threw herself back, tucking her hands behind her head and looking up at the sky." It's the weekend, were supposed to be relaxing, having fun."

"Pal, that's all you ever do."Lita said mildly.

Lying back, looking up at her two friends, Serena studied them, Amy's gracefully sloped back and neck, her neat, short little hair cut; Lita's shoulders thrown back, her head held up high, her wild brown hair blowing about her, her green eyes sharp and narrowed against the wind. Two very different people, yet two very close people also.

Amy Stanford was the daughter of a very prestigious family. Her father was a Senator and her mother was his well raised and well known wife. Thomas and Anna Stanford, with there two promising and well groomed children, Darien and Amy. Amy had been brought up to know how much was expected of her, the daughter who would carry on the legacy along with her older brother. According to what Serena knew, Darien was six years older then Amy. He had been born and her parents hadn't expected to have anymore children, but six years later Amy had come. And even though Amy had been an accident, her parents had loved her, especially the older brother who had always hoped to have a little sister.

Amy had short black hair that fit well on top of her heart shaped face, big blue eyes, a little nose and little lips, with a pretty smile. She would one day be a very pretty young woman. Not beautiful, but lovely in that neat and classy type of way.

Lita Bass was another different matter. When Lita had been four years old, her father had left her and her mother, leaving them alone. From then on her mother had raised Lita, but had soon after her husband's disappearance become an alcoholic. Growing up, Lita had had to put up with her mother raising a hand to her on nights when the alcohol became too much and the anger and bitterness at her husbands abandonment came down on her. Her mother had of course had a steady job, working as a businesswoman and always making sure they had everything they needed. But that hadn't kept her from beating her daughter every now and then.

Lita had long brown hair that was always flowing down her back, always let loose, never tied back. She had large, bright green eyes that were always watching everything about her, always on alert. Her face was beautiful, wild like her, untamed. She had a mysterious look about her, intriguing others, especially men. People couldn't help but stop and notice her.

Serena knew where she stood among her friends. The daughter of Preston and Lily Carroway, the heir to the Carroway fortune. She was to one day take over for her father, something she had known all her life and was building toward. Carroway Hotels, known for there wealth and grace, there accommodations always perfect. She was the perfect little princess her parents had pampered her whole life, who had always gotten what she wanted.

"So is Darien still at Harvard?"Lita inquired, breaking into Serena's thoughts.

Amy shook her clothes delicately, sand falling away."Yea, but he'll be coming home for Christmas." she couldn't keep the excitement from her voice.

Serena spoke, her expression wistful." Dad says we'll be going to Europe for Christmas."

"Europe?"Lita turned on her." But why? I thought you were staying this time."

"So did I, but Dad wants to see my grandmother. You know my parents: the moment I have time, were off to Europe."

Lita's face fell." I was hoping to spend Christmas with you Serena."

Serena turned pleading eyes to Amy and she picked up her cue." You can spend it with me Lita. My parents would love to have you over."

She immediately perked up." Really? You wouldn't mind?"

"I think she'll manage to live through it." Serena said on a sigh of relief. She and Amy had always done the best they could to save Lita from a horrible Christmas with her mother since they were all five.

"Of course I wouldn't mind. My parents will be very glad to see you and Darien's coming home for Christmas, he'll be glad to see you too."

At this Lita let out a heartfelt groan."Oh I had forgotten how HOT your brother is. And I'm goanna get to spend all of my vacation with him."

Serena immediately sat up."Thats not fair! Why is it that every time I go away on vacation he comes to visit, and whenever I actually stay, he doesn't! It's been years since I last saw him."

Lita grinned at her, egging her on." Because he doesn't want to see you."

"That's not true." Amy cut in, always the peacemaker." Darien remembers you Serena. He wish's he could see you too."

"Yea right." she pouted a bit, only because she knew Amy would indulge her." I have the better end anyway. He'd probably just tease me or put something in my hair like when we were kids."

"But Darien's not a kid anymore, he's a man."Lita let out a long, dramatic sigh." Maybe I can experiment with him while he's here or-"

"Spare me your disgusting fantasies." Serena snapped.

It had been five years since she had last seen Darien. She had been ten years old and he had been a sixteen year old boy, already big and already gorgeous. Of course at the time she hadn't thought much of him, but she had noticed how there always seemed to be girls hovering around him, always giggling and flirting. She had thought these girls were insane. Back then he had always put bugs, gum, whatever he could in her clothes and hair. He had delighted in tormenting her, delighted in watching her get red and yell at him.

She shrugged to herself, not really caring if Lita would get to see him. He had always annoyed her and she was sure he would still. It didn't matter to her. She knew how beautiful she was, she knew how much men liked her. She had a string of them at school, after all. They were always following her, always begging for a date. Sitting up straight and flinging her long, silvery blonde mane over her shoulder, her blue eyes large and fascinating, she was already gorgeous at the age of fifteen, showing promise of how devastatingly beautiful she would be in the years to come.

And looking out at the setting sun, she wondered what the future would bring." Amy. Lita. Will it always be like this?" she asked quietly, her hand gripping first Amy's, then Lita's, all of them tightening holds, as the quiet of the afternoon came over them, as the sun finally set into the horizon and left them with a feeling of magic and dreams.

"No,"Lita said definitively," no, it will be better."

"Yes." Amy agreed." It will."

When Amy Stanford turned eighteen, her parents threw her the biggest party they could. They had to do it in secret for her because Amy was kind, but she couldn't stand being the center of attention and could be the most stubborn person alive when she set her mind to something, which in this case, would have been stopping the plans for her birthday.

Serena had helped to plan the party, along with Lita. It was one of the last things she knew she would truly be able to do for her friend. Next week she would be leaving for Yale, and after that, between classes and homework, she wouldn't have time to even call her friends. The thought of not seeing her two closest friends for months broke her heart. They were her friends, her sisters. They had shared everything together, cried, bled, and screamed. Everything. And now they would be going there separate ways.

It was life, Serena knew. She had always known this day would come. She just hadn't thought it would come so soon.

She was standing in Amy's room, smoothing her clinging white, silk dress down, admiring herself in the mirror. Who would have thought that she would grow to be so damn beautiful, she thought with a smug grin. It was something she was proud of, even if it was wrong to be.

The doors opened and in walked Amy and Lita, Amy looking elegant and lovely in her blue gown, Lita looking wild and mysterious in her low cut, green gown. They were arguing over the party and how they had done everything behind Amy's back.

"I just feel betrayed." Amy said once again, even though they both knew what was really bothering her was that she was horrified at the thought of being the center of attention for so many people that night." Were supposed to tell each other everything, not keep secrets."

"Oh please. Like that time you 'told' me I got drunk at Noah Summers party and threw up all over him while we were kissing? You sure did warn me that time Amy, that's why the next day he wouldn't even go near me."Lita pointed out.

Amy turned red in embaressment."Thats beside the point. This is different."

Serena decided if they were ever going to get downstairs, she needed to intervene."Hey, we should really head downstairs. There waiting for the guest of honor."

The color drained from Amy's face, leaving her as pale as a ghost."Oh God." she put a hand to her stomach.

"None of that now, there waiting." Serena ran her tongue around her teeth, enjoying Amy's distress." Think of all those people Amy, looking at you, kissing your hand, whispering about that stain on the back of your dress."

"What stain?!" Amy ran to the mirror in the room to look, so intent she didn't notice how Serena threw herself back on her bed and burst out laughing. Lita watched with amusement, but went to answer the door when someone knocked on it.

"Hey Lita, you look good." Darien Stanford stood in the doorway, wearing a black tux and looking perfectly gorgeous. His blue eyes moved up and down her body, a slow grin coming to his lips." Real good." he added, winking at her.

Lita hummed to herself, glad she hadn't swallowed her tongue at the sight of him. God, what that man did for a tux had to be a sin, she thought." You're not so bad yourself."

"I've come to escort the two most beautiful ladies down to the party." he frowned when he stepped into the room and saw his sister looking at her dress in the mirror, turning frantically from side to side."Hey kid, what are you doing?"

"Three ladies."Lita cut in, and then decided to shut the door. As she did so she heard Serena's quiet sultry laugh and remembered that she and Darien hadn't seen each other for almost eight years. Well well, she thought with a grin, it was about time those two finally met again. With how beautiful Serena was and how breath taking he was, she was sure this was going to be a night she would never forget.

"Three?" he halted when he heard the soft laugh, and then turned toward Amy's bed. He froze when he saw, lying there and looking every inch a man's most darkest fantasies, a young woman he had never seen before.

"Well now,"Lita watched him, liking the way he was standing there with his mouth hanging open, his eyes bulging out of his head," I don't believe you two have met in the last eight years."

"Oh Serena, I don't see it." Amy abruptly stopped looking for the stain, turning to see Serena on her bed laughing. Her eyes narrowed into slits, but at the sight of Darien, she forgot the joke. "Darien!" she threw herself into his arms." I thought you weren't going to be able to come!"

"I....well...."he stammered, his eyes glued to Serena as she slowly stopped laughing and sat up, tossing her hair back and stretching her perfect little body.

Amy noted how strange he was acting and looked at Lita. She immediately realized what was going on when Lita rolled her eyes at the two of them."Oh Darien, you two haven't seen each other for years."

Serena noticed him then and stared, a little frown puckering her brow. He liked how small she was, how delicate she appeared to be. And how perfect she also seemed to be.

"Darien, you remember Serena." Amy said.

"Serena?" he spoke, his voice full of disbelief. He watched her stand then, watched her approach him, her dark eyes narrowing.

"You don't recognize me, do you?" she knew how sultry, how deep and sexy her voice was. And she used it now to get back at the man she had always vowed would pay for tormenting her as a child.

"I-ah-"he couldn't seem to find his voice. But when he finally saw how she had a knowing, little smile on her lips, he came to attention." Well, you don't have the pigtails anymore."

She didn't even blink." Your right." she ran a hand down her hip, making sure he saw what she did have now.

"I think we better get downstairs before you two set the bed sheets on fire with those looks." Lita said, earning a glare from Darien.

"Yes, Lita's right." Amy coughed to cover her laugh.

"Come on." he gripped Amy by the arm and dragged her, grinning back at her friends all the while, out of the room. With a laugh, Lita linked arms with Serena and they followed.

Lita managed to sneak some champagne over to them later in the night, all three girls drinking and wrinkling there noses at the sharp taste." This is good." Serena said, even as she made a face.

"I'm just glad we finally got some alone time."Lita looked at Serena, her eyes shrewd." Now we can talk pal."

"Oh yes." Amy turned to look at Serena also." About you and Darien."

Serena continued sipping." What are you two talking about?"

"He's been staring at you all night."Lita glared at her." As if you didn't know."

Serena shrugged." So what?" she had noticed his searing looks, but she wasn't about to admit she had been watching him just as much." In case YOU didn't notice, he came here with a woman." and it had hurt her more then she cared to admit.

Amy waved her hand in dismissal."Oh, her. She's no one."

"Are you two trying to set me up with Darien or something?" Serena asked sharply.

"Is it going to work?"Lita said with hope.

"No. No way. I'm not interested." she sniffed.

"Yea right. The only way that would be true is if you were a lesbian, which I happen to know you are not. The guys gorgeous and he wants you. Why not give it a try?"

"Amy, do you hear this? Look at how she's talking about your brother."

Amy glanced back at him, saw him staring at Serena, and couldn't prevent a smile." I hear it all right. So are you going to or not?"

Serena downed the rest of her wine."No."she snapped, and then turned to march off into the maze that lined the back of the estate. In moments she disappeared, several other couples strolling in and out of them.

"She wants him."Lita said her tone smug." She wants him bad."

"Yes, she does. I suppose that's my cue to tell him someone wants to meet him in the maze?" both women grinned at each other in delight.

While Darien was trying to figure out where Serena could have gone off too, he didn't even see Amy approach him." Darien, someone's looking for you in the maze. They say it's urgent."

He barely spared her a glance." Not now Amy."

She rolled her eyes." NOW Darien. They said NOW."

Growling with frustration, he excused himself from his friends and left to head off for the maze. He entered them and barely realized he hadn't asked Amy who was looking for him and where they would be. He was stomping along when he turned a corner and saw Serena up ahead, looking up at the dark sky. Forgetting his anger, he walked toward her as if in a trance.

It still amazed him that little Serena, the spoiled princess of the Carroway castle had turned out to be so utterly gorgeous. He remembered a skinny, little girl who he had loved tormenting, loved watching her scream and rage at him. He hadn't expected her to grow to be so.....perfect.

And for the first time in years, he felt nervous around a woman." Nice night." he commented, watching her swing around, her smoky blue eyes narrow on him." The stars are bright."

"Yea, they are." she tried to act indifferent toward him, tried to act cool as she always did when other men came to her, interested her. It intrigued them, had them chasing her even more. "Perfect night for Amy's party."

"I'm glad I was able to come. Lots of surprises." he eyes roamed over her." Lots."

She decided she didn't want to tease. She wanted to confront. Looks like her hers demanded confrontation, demanded flirting." Do I surprise you Darien?" she made sure her voice changed from cool to hot, made sure he noticed. And from the way his nostrils flared, he had.

He took a moment to answer. She was only eighteen, a child, but she was surer of herself then most of the women he had met in his life." Yes, you surprise me."

Satisfied with his answer, she turned more fully toward him." Did you expect to find a child?"

He wasn't sure what he had expected, but it hadn't been this." I suppose I did. But I found you. A woman, and all grown up."

She hummed to herself, decided she liked the hungry, yet calm way he was regarding her. She wanted men to want her. She wanted men to worship, to humiliate, to plead for her. Testing the waters on Amy's gorgeous older brother suited her just fine.

"Look at you Darien. All grown up too." she approached him, touched a small hand to his chest, had his eyes narrowing on a quick jolt of lust." What a pair we make."

He looked into those sultry eyes and didn't like what he saw. Smug satisfaction that she knew she was stringing him along, amusement at his extreme attraction to her, and the fact that she was toying with him, using him to experiment her beautiful advantages with.

He caught the hand tightly in his grip, his temper flaring up." Don't play with me Serena. You want to flirt, fine. You want to touch, fine. But don't do it here." he was shocked the words were coming out of his mouth, even more shocked he was pushing a beautiful woman away, something he would never do. But for some odd reason, he wanted more then just casual flirting from her.

That realization had him taking a safe step back from her, releasing her wrist. The confusion in her eyes enraged him even more.

"Look, no offense, but I'm just not biting." amusement came and replaced the anger, to his surprise, when fury and insult filled her eyes.

"You're not biting?" she asked calmly, too calmly.

He rocked back on his heels, tucked his hands into his pockets, and bit back his smile."Nope."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she lashed out, unable to hide the trembling fury in her voice.

He realized rejection was a first for her. Well well, he thought, it looks like it's not just my ego on the line tonight." It means you should go test out your skills on some other poor guy."

Serena's eyes widened when she realized he had just voiced out loud exactly what she had been doing. Anger came swiftly, replacing the shock." I don't know what you're talking about."

He did smile this time when she stuck her little nose in the air."Yea, I bet you don't."

She whirled on him." I don't know where you got the idea I was testing anything on you. Your just as despicable as you were eight years ago when we were kids." with that said, she turned to march away, but he was quicker. His hand whipped out and gripped her arm, jerked her up against his hard chest, close to him, his head lowering so his lips hovered just above hers.

He knew she was only using him, he knew she didn't actually see him as he wished she would, but at that moment he didn't give a damn. She was hot and practically vibrating against him, she was sultry and erotic, she was driving him insane. He needed one taste, just one.

He smirked down at her, despite the rage there." Let's see if you think this is despicable." before she could protest or move away, he covered her lips with his, vised his arms around her, and ravaged her lips. It was a thrilling shock to find her so tasteful, to find he wanted more and more. He was barely aware that she was holding on tight, that she was straining against him, that her hands had fisted in his hair and were pulling him roughly. He feasted upon her, drew more and more, until he didn't think he would ever let go.

He was gnawing at her lips, trying to eat her alive, and hadn't realized she was beating her fists on his back now, trying to make him release her. He was too wrapped in his own desire to hear or feel anything else.

Finally, she grabbed hold of his hair and yanked him back, both of them gasping for air. As soon as she released her grip on his head, he sought her lips with his again, coming in contact with her smooth cheek when she turned her head away.

She had wanted this. She had wanted to test her flirting, her temptations on him, but she hadn't expected this. She hadn't expected to almost lose her mind with passion, to almost forget who and where she was. No man had ever made her feel that way. She had always managed to stay in control when she was fooling around with someone; always made sure she stayed in her right mind and didn't lose herself in the moment. She didn't want to lose herself in the moment; she didn't want the control taken from her hands. She was too young for this. She was too young to find someone who could already do that to her.

She pushed at him when he began kissing her throat." No, stop it. Let me go."

He had gotten himself into this, he knew. He had grabbed her and kissed her. But he hadn't expected to find something he never wanted to let go of. He couldn't stop himself when his hands ran down her back to cup her buttocks, grip her there and grind her closer as he almost ate at her skin with his lips and teeth.

"No." she didn't want this, she told herself. It was too soon, she was too young." Stop it!! No! Let me go!!"with a mighty push, she got away from him, stumbling back. The straps of her dress had been pushed off her shoulders by him so she slid them back up, made sure to get far away from him. When he took a step toward her her eyes widened and she held up a hand in warning." Don't come near me!"

He halted, shocked at himself. God, he had NEVER lost control like that. He had never come that close to actually forcing a woman to his own will. He had been so blind with passion; his vision had been red, hazed with lust.

He turned away, rubbed a hand down his face." I'm sorry, I didn't mean- "he stopped, not sure of what to say to explain his actions." I'm sorry Serena."

She didn't care for his apologies; she just wanted to get away from him. If he touched her again, she wasn't sure she would be strong enough to push him away this time.

"Just-just don't come near me." she warned him, not caring when he his head whipped around, when his blue eyes were filled with hurt." Stay away." with that said, she turned and ran from him, disappearing back into the maze.

He watched her go, wondering if he would ever see her again, wondering how she would have reacted if he had told her he was already in love with her.......

Stay tuned for Chapter 1!!!