Hello everybody! This is my first fanfic so I'd really apreciate you

letting my know what you all think. Oh! And because of Floyd I'm not

sure when I might be able to get back to you all...but don't worry! I

will! Here's a note: I've never had a chance to see any of the show

beyond DIC's representation...so I'm sure there are going to be some

things that don't quite up...that's the good thing about poetic

liscences. Serena and the girls are seventeen/eighteen and are in

their fourth year of high school (GO Seniors!)

Oh! and don't let the prolouge confuse you...

Enjoy!

I'll Be There For You

Part ONE:The Beginning

Chapter 1

Rated: PG (13?)

She sat before the fire in deep meditation. Her raven black hair

looked almost alive in the red and orange shadows cast by the flicker-

ing flames. Her large eyes were shut tight, her hands held before her

in concentrated prayer. The fire danced and spat at the cool night

air--the only sound in the night. She cleared her mind... concentrated

on inner peace...on harmony...on loving...

An image forced its entrance into her calm being: a beautiful girl

with long blond meatballs for hair, crying out in pain.

Raye's eyes snapped open.

"Serena!"

Serena groaned with boredom and fell back on the bed, her long blond

pigtails falling to either side and grazing the floor.

"Amy," she whined. "Do we have to do homework? I understand it,

really I do!" she said, punching the pillow beneath her head. "I just

can't prove it on tests," she mumbled.

"Serena," Amy began in her calm, intelligent way, never looking up

from her book, "You asked for my help."

"I know, I know," she sighed, closing her eyes and rolling over onto

her flat stomach. "I really hate school. It's not like I'm going to

use any of this stuff in my life."

The blue haired girl look up at her friend now, her blue eyes snap-

ping. "Even a queen must be smart."

Serena shot her a dirty look. She was about to comment on that when

the phone beside her shrilled.

"Hello," Serena grumbled, still looking at Amy. "Oh, hi Raye!" Her

rotten expression melted away as a smile for her best friend replaced

it. "Huh? What? Yea, I'm fine. A Meeting? Um, okay, I guess. To-

morrow after school? Sounds fine. Yea, I'll see you then. Yea, I'll

tell the others. Okay. Bye."

Serena hung up the phone and looked over at Amy, a frown of puzzlement

sketched on her face.

"That was Raye," she said needlessly. "She wants us to meet her to-

morrow at the temple for a meeting. She says she has something to tell

us."

Amy gave that requested some thought, and then, deciding she'd find

out the cause for the meeting, she nodded and then returned to the

schoolbooks in front of her.

"So what's this about, Rei?" Mina asked, plopping down unto a cush-

ion and popping a muffin in her mouth.

"Where's Serena?" Raye asked, her dark blue eyes searching around the

other girls.

"We left her at the Arcade to play one last Sailor V game," Lita said

with a smile, handing Mina another muffin.

Raye and Luna sweat-dropped.

"That girl!" Luna was saying. "One of these days she's going to have

to--"

Just then the girl in question came rushing up the chairs, panting

hard. "Lost...again," she said between breaths as she dropped to the

floor.

"You know," Mina was saying with a smile, "I'm gonna have to make you

stop pretty soon, if you don't stop killing my every time you play."

Artemis laughed from his seat in Mina's lap.

"That'll be the day," he said.

"Oh, Mina," Serena replied, waving her hand and with the ease that

was known to Serena, she reached over, snatched a muffin, and crammed

the entire pastry into her mouth. "Mmm, Lita, these are sooo good,"

she said, snatching another one up.

"Thanks!" Lita said, smiling at her friend as she passed around

another plate.

"Good, we're all here," Raye was saying, sitting down so she was

facing them all. With a flick of her head she sent her black raven

waves cascading over her shoulders and down her back.

"So what's this all about anyway, Raye," Serena asked, popping

another muffin in her mouth.

"Last night, as I sat before the sacred fires," Raye began with slow,

precise words. "A vision came to me." She stopped and looked at each

of the girls. "It was Serena," pause, "Screaming out in pain." She

let the words sink in. At first no one said a word...no one knew what

to say. Raye looked around her, trying to understand what each girl

was thinking. The same thing she had last night: this couldn't be

good.

"Screaming out in pain?" Serena asked, fear making her speak first.

Her lower lip trembled. "That doesn't make sense, Raye," she said,

shaking her head slightly. "What? Was I hurt? Was I-was I dying?"

There was a sharp intake of collective breath as everyone now that

about that possibility.

Raye was shaking her head now, too. "I don't know," she said a little

hopelessly. "The vision was gone as soon as it came and... and I

couldn't trace it."

"So what does it mean?" Mina asked, looking from Raye, to Amy, to

Serena. Her blue eyes were large with...wonder. She twirled a strand

of golden hair between her fingers.

Both Amy and Raye shook their heads, not sure of the answer. Serena

wrapped her arms around her, trying to control the shivers that had

begun to Goosebumps her flesh.

"Is someone trying to hurt me?" she asked with a shaky voice.

Lita's fist pounded the small table. The teacups jumped and danced.

"We won't let them!" she vowed, her green eyes hard with determination

and wrath at the thought of someone trying to harm *their* princess.

"So what do we do?" Mina asked, tilting her head to the side and

now biting on the strand of hair.

"Sailor Mars' visions have never led us astray before," Luna said,

looking at each of the girls in turn.

"You do what you've always done," Artemis said, jumping over to

where Luna stood. "You protect the princess."

"Don't worry, Serena," Mina said. "We'll be right here with you."

"No matter what," Raye added.

"And we'll hurt anyone who tries to hurt you!" Lita said, slamming

her fist into her open palm.

The girls moved on to more interesting topics...Mina mentioned some-

thing about a new transfer student and Lita said he looked like her

old boyfriend. Amy was talking about the geometry test and how she

was sure she must have missed one of the questions. Raye was consul-

ting a new fashion magazine and suggested they all go over to the mall

to see what they could see.

They all jumped on this idea--eager to pretend that something wasn't

in the air...all of them except Serena, who, as a matter of fact,

hadn'tsaid much of anything for most of the afternoon. She bailed

out on them...saying she was really tired and she thought she'd go

home. The girls all watched her leave...feeling bad...but not

knowing what to say...

In the end none of them went to the mall.

Amy pleaded out, saying she was only four chapters ahead in her

physics homework...

Lita said she wanted to make some special cookies for tomorrow...

Mina wanted to go home and...think...

Raye watched them leave, and when the last girl had passed through

the temple gates she whirled and headed straight back to the fire

room to see if she could learn anything new...

***********************************************

Chapter 2

The hand was tracing circles over her back, lulling her back to

wake-fullness. Serena blinked the sleep from her eyes and stared

up into Darien's intense gaze. She smiled, purring deep in her

throat. He leaned forward to taste the smile from her lips.

"Hello," she murmured when he pulled away. "How was your night?"

Her arm hooked around his neck, holding him close to her. Their

foreheads touched as he leaned over her.

"It just got better," he replied, rubbing his nose against hers.

"Good answer." She sighed and the yawn. "Mmm, what time is it?"

"Nearly eleven," he answered, trailing kisses over her cheek and

down her neck.

"Nearly an hour," she replied, leaning back into the pillows and

pulling him down with her.

Serena stretched in Darien's arms and then settled back against

his chest. His arms held her close to him as they laid there on

his bed. Her fingers traced invisible patterns over his arm. Her

mind was busy thinking over the meeting the girls had had this

afternoon.

"We had a meeting today," she said after a while.

"Hmm? What about now? Mina and Lita have a new love-interest?"

he asked sounding amused. There used to be a time, not long ago,

when the Scouts would have meetings once a day. But that had been

back when there was evil to fight. Lately, everything had become

quite, almost boring, and the Scouts had gone from holding meetings

once a day to once a week, to once a month, till finally they stopped

holding meetings. Oh! They still held training sessions. The

scouts were constantly in training...aware that one-day something

was going to happen. Something had to happen eventually...

"No," she said on a whisper. "Raye had a vision."

His arms tensed. If Mars was having visions that called for a

Scout Meeting than something was up.

"About what," he asked.

"About me."

He moved to look at her. She could see the question in his eyes.

She knew she was going to have to tell him. She had wanted to tell

him after the meeting. That was why she had come over here in the

first place. But then, she had forgotten he was working late tonight

and she had fallen asleep on the bed waiting for him. But now her

insides churned, and she questioned telling him the truth. 'It's

too late now, Meatball Head,' her mind told her.

"She said she had a vision of me," she said. She swallowed a

breath of courage before continuing.

"And I was screaming."

He waited for her to continue, to explain, but she remained

silent. "Well, what else did she say? Was it a youma? What were

you screaming?"

She shook her head. He pushed off the bed and went to the balcony.

A full moon hung high in the sky, bathing his body in pale light.

He looked up at the moon, as if asking the white sphere for guidance,

and then he looked back Serena, still sitting on the bed. Her eyes

looked wide, huge with fear of the future. He went over to her,

kissing her lips and pulling her up into his embrace.

"It'll be alright," he told her. "We've faced the odds before,"

he said, pressing a kiss into her cheek. "We can handle anything

they throw at us."

Her arms wrapped up around his waist and she held onto his tight,

as though he was her sole connection to sanity. "I'm scared," she

told him, pulling back to look into his eyes.

He had known, had seen the fear in her eyes. "Don't be," he told

her, kissing her and pushing thoughts of fear far from her mind.

********************************************************

Chapter 3

Serena was quiet in the car as Darien drove her home. He didn't

force her to talk. He himself was deeply in thought. It upset him

to think that Serena might be in trouble. When was this trouble going

to happen, and just what exactly was going to happen?

He stopped the car one block away from Serena's house and got out to

open her door.

"Usako," he whispered, cupping her cheek. She rushed into his arms,

wrapping her own arms around him like steel bands. He could feel her

shaking though she didn't say a word.

"It will be alright, my Usako," he told her.

She looked up at him and it broke his heart to see the tears in her

lovely blue eyes. "I'm scared Darien," she said, her voice quivering.

"Everything has been so quiet lately." She shook her head. "I don't

want it to stop."

He touched his forehead to hers.

"Whatever happens, Usako, I will always be here with you." He touched

his lips to hers.

"I love you Mamo-chan," she whispered against his lips.

"And I love you, Usako..." he whispered back.

******

Serena closed the front door as quietly as possible. It wasn't quiet

enough, especially to a worried parent's ears.

"Usako?" her mother whispered from the kitchen.

Serene made light steps towards the kitchen, praying that her father

was not also up. She was relieved when she found her mother sitting

alone at the table. "Mama?"

Ikuko smiled at her daughter. "Did you have a good night?" she

questioned.

Serena's brows puzzled. What was her mother up to? "Fine," she replied.

"Was that Mamoru's car I saw drive away?" She took another sip of tea.

Serena nodded. "He had to work late so he only got home a little

while ago."

Ikuko seemed to think on that, and then, "I like him," she said.

"He seems like a nice young man."

Serena blushed. "I like him, too," she finally replied.

Ikuko's pleasant expression began to fade. "My dear, darling Usako,"

her mother said sadly. "How much you have grown. One day soon you

will be a woman, with your own husband and your own family to take care

of..."

"Not anytime soon!" Serena answered. And then she smiled wickedly.

"I'm having too much fun to go tie myself down to bondage yet."

Her mother frowned. "Then you do not wish to marry Mamoru?" her

mother asked.

"Of course I do!" Serena replied, sitting down beside her mother.

"But we'll have plenty of time to get married." And rule Crystal

Tokyo, too, she thought. A thousand years' worth of time.

"Usako-" her mother began and then bit her lip. "Usako," she tried

again. "You are so beautiful," she said finally. "Please be careful."

And with that Ikuko got up and left the kitchen.

Serena stared after her, confused. Finally she shrugged and went

upstairs to her room. She was beat.

But before she could get into bed, she had to remove Luna from her

pillow. The black cat yawned and looked at her princess.

"Serena, really," she said stretching her back as she sat up. "Do

you have to come in this late every night?"

"As Sailor Moon I would come back even later, Luna," the girl replied,

shrugging out of her school uniform and into her pj's.

"But Sailor Moon wasn't out defending the world tonight," Luna replied.

"No, Serena was out spending quality time with her boyfriend," she

said, slipping into bed. "Maybe you've heard of him? Prince Endymion?

Future King of the Earth and my one-day husband?"

"Hmphf!"

"Good night, Luna," Serena said, turning out the light.

"Just don't blame me if you sleep late tomorrow and are late to school

again."

"Really! I haven't been late to school in years!"

"More like months, I should say," Luna said, curling into a ball on

the pillow next to Serena's head.

"That's still a long time," Serena said, yawning.

"For you it is," she replied, closing her eyes...

But Serena was already asleep.

*****************************************************

Same old Serena... or not? Read on.

Okay, I promised an explaination for my madness...here it is:

the reason for Serena's mother using Japanese is cause I felt like it...

that and I thought it looked nicer for an adult Japanese persong to

be *speaking* Japanese and *not* slang (which I consider the American

names to be).

*****************************************************

Chapter 4

The car horn beeping outside was what woke Serena up. Years of

being late had made her an expert of getting dressed and getting

out of the house in less then ten minutes...

The amazing thing was...her hair always looked neat!

"Hurry up, Serena!" Mina called from the front seat of Amy's car.

"I've brought breakfast!" Lita added as incentive.

Food always worked wonders on Serena and soon she was climbing into

the backseat of the car next to Lita and on her way to school. Mina

turned around and looked at her.

"Artemis suggested that we start working out more," she said,

snatching a chocolate chip muffin from the plastic container Lita

was pulling out of her bag.

"I agree," Lita said, handing the container over to Serena.

"All this quiet has really let my skills go to waste. It'll be

great to get some practice going again."

"That sounds like a great idea, Mina," Amy said, pulling into

the school parking lot. "I think we've all gotten a little rusty

from lack of practice."

"I hate working out!" Serena whined.

"Look at it this way," Mina said, winking at Lita. "You can start

working off all those calories you've been shoving in your mouth!"

*****

They met at Raye's temple that afternoon, dressed in tights and

leotards.

"Okay ladies," Lita cried, her ponytail bouncing behind her.

"Let's get ready to sweat!"

They started their workout off with fifty jumping jacks, followed

by thirty minutes of unarmed defense moves. By the time they had

jogged around the temple grounds several times they were more then

ready to call it quits. The girls came falling to the temple steps,

Lita in front leading, Serena following behind, last.

"Whoa!" Lita said breathing heavily. "I didn't know I was so out

of shape!"

"Neither did I," Raye exhaled, falling to the steps and holding her

side.

"Its...a...good...thing...I'm...not on...the track team," Mina said,

stopping and leaning over to caught her on breath.

Amy was right behind her, her hand up to her neck, taking her pulse.

Her eyes widened a minute later. "Oh, my!" was all she said.

"Hey...guys!!" Serena cried, panting. She was still several yards

away. "No...fair!" Pant, pant. "You...didn't...wait...for me!"

"We can't wait for every slow poke!" Raye retorted.

Serena cried out but before she could say anything Lita spoke up.

"Okay, ladies! Don't whimp out yet! We've still got to-"

Groans greeted her.

"Oh, Lita, please," Mina pleaded. "Not today, it's too much!"

"But-"

"I don't think my heart could take much more of a work out today,"

Amy said looking very hesitant. "Perhaps we should do more tomorrow,"

she suggested.

"Yea!" Serena chimed in. "Tomorrow. But I don't think I could take

more exercise today."

"I agree," Raye said, leaning back on her elbows. "We're too out of

shape to push it all in one day!"

Lita looked at the four girls now sitting on the steps facing her.

She was overruled. Luna and Artimis walked out of the temple just

then.

"That was a good warm up," Luna said. Groans and sweat-drops

answered her comment.

"Wow!" Artimis said, sitting down on the top step. "I didn't

realize how out of shape you girls were getting."

"You're telling me!" Mina said, wiping sweat from her brow.

"Well, we'll just have to work harder!" Lita said, slapping

her fist into her open palm.

"We never should have stopped..." Raye said, rolling her neck

to release some of the tension building there. "Just because

everything got peaceful again that doesn't mean..."

Her voice trailed off as they all thought about the vision

she had had. Serena was the first to break the silence.

"We'll just have to work harder," she said.

All eyes flew to her, and they could see it. They could tell

she was afraid of what was to come.

*****

Serena sat at her window looking out at the night sky. The

book she had been reading laid slack in her lap. Her angelic

face was bathed in soft moonlight. Seeing her as such was a

treat. It reminded one not of the clumsy teenager she was,

but of the graceful princess she had been on the moon.

And that is what Luna thought of as she walked into the

bedroom that night.

She stopped for a minute to study the beautiful young

woman her charge had become. In the years since they had met,

Serena had matured into the woman sitting before her. Luna

felt a sense of love and pride wash over her.

"Serena?" Luna called lightly.

The angel's face turned towards the door. Moonlight washed

over her, brightening the soft blue eyes, shining off the long

silky blond hair, glistening off the rosy lips that trembled

slightly, shimmering off the twin trails of tears that ran

down her cheeks-

Serena stared at her guardian, unwilling to speak least she

betray herself more then her tears did. Afraid to hear the

quiver in her own voice.

"Serena, what's wrong?" Luna asked stepping farther into the room.

"Nothing," she whispered, turning back tot he window.

"'Nothing?'" Luna didn't buy that. "Did you and Darien have

another fight?"

Serena shook her head.

"Then what's wrong?" The black cat jumped up into the girl's

lap, forcing her to look at her.

"Luna, please," Serena pleaded. "I really don't want to talk

about it."

Luna was quiet. She seemed...hurt almost.

"Fine," she said, jumping down to the floor. "But maybe

you should discuss it with Sailor Pluto," she added before

pawing her way out the door.

Her words, however, hung in the air after her departure.

Even more, they stuck like crazy glue against the walls of

Serena's mind.

**********************************************************

Wuz up with that? Read on to find out!

I mean, really! the girls out of shape...yea right! like

that would ever happen!

And then Serena snapping at Luna that way??? I don't think so!

It makes you wonder...*why* was Serena crying...

[i'm such a little chessure cat...I can't stop smiling, cause *I*

know and you don't! ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! should I make you wait for

another week...or was I nice and sent it in along with this one???]

***********************************************************

Chapter 5

The bell above the door danced and jangled as the door opened.

"*Greetings!" came the cry from the back of the store. "I will

be with you in a moment!" the gay voice called out.

She waited and was rewarded by the presence of a beautiful,

dark haired woman who seemed to glide over the floor. Well,

float really. She began talking before she looked up to she

who her visitor was.

"I apologize for making you wait," she said, wiping her hands

off on the apron she was wearing. "How may I-" She looked up.

"Serena!" she cried. "What brings you here today? Need a dress

for the Harvest Feast already?"

Serena smiled at her friend and her deepest confident next to

her mother, her real mother that is...

"No, Puu," she said, walking farther into the room. "I come

on a personal matter today."

Setsuna looked around, as though to make sure the empty store

housed no walls with listening ears. "Senshi business?" she

asked concerned as she looked back at Serena.

Serena shook her head. "Personal."

Setsuna frowned.

"Can we talk," Serena asked, her eyes pleading.

Setsuna studied her. She looked tired, as though her dreams

were keeping her from sleep. Even her meatball headed hair

seemed limp with fatigue.

"Of course," she said, moving to lock the front door. She

motioned Serena to the back, where she handed the younger girl

a cup of tea. "What is troubling you, my friend?" she asked,

taking the seat beside her.

"Ray had a vision the other day," Serena began. "She said

she saw me screaming out in pain." And then it all came rushing

out. "I was screaming but she couldn't tell why or where I was.

She couldn't tell," and now she looked at the older woman, "when

I was. And now I can think of nothing else but the pain that

might come...who knows when..."

Serena's eyes were pleading. A light of understanding was

quick to enter Setsuna's eyes. Pity was close at its heels.

"Sailor Mars' visions are hardly wrong," she said slowly,

carefully. But then a sad look covered her face and she shook

her head lightly.

Seeing the doleful gaze, Serena became desperate. "Please,

Setsuna! As Sailor Pluto you have possession of the key to the

Time Gate. As Senshi of Time, surely you must know what is to

come. Even if you can not tell me everything that is to happen,

can you not just tell me something to alleviate my fears?"

Setsuna took pity on the girl who would one day be her queen.

"You trials begin soon," she said mysteriously. "But they will

not come to fruition for near a year from now."

Serena wanted to cry: What the hell does that mean? She wanted

to tear her hair out in her frustration. But she remained calm.

She knew the Senshi of Past, Present, and Future could not reveal

her knowledge. It was a prison of solitude she was forced to live

in, in solitude from even her own self.

Serena hugged her friend, thanked her for her help, and told

her she'd be in touch for that dress. And then she left.

"Goodbye, my princess," Setsuna whispered after her shadow.

"May the gods protect you from what lies ahead of you."

*************************************************************

you know it's time to be worried when the senshi of time

asks the gods to protect you...

*************************************************************

Chapter 6

Setsuna's mysterious words followed Serena as she walked to the

temple for the scout workout. Halfway there she changed direction and

headed towards the lake. The crystal blue waters glittering in

the sunlight seem to heal her sore emotions. There, beneath the

tree she and Darien shared on many occasions, Serena sat and let

the words reveal themselves to her.

" 'Your trials begin soon...but they will not come to fruition for

near a year from now.'"

Her trials? What trials? What was about to happen? Even more

importantly, what was going to happen in a year from now?

Serena remained under the tree, soaking in the peace and calm of

the scenery surrounding her, for another fifteen minutes. Finally

she forced herself to her feet and made her way towards the temple.

She knew what needed to be done.

"Hey! Meatball head! You're late!" Cried Raye as she kicked Lita.

"Extra pushups for you!" Lita cried as she blocked Raye's kick and

returned the favor.

Serena didn't reply to the taunts. Instead she watched the girls.

Mina and Amy were paired off and sparing ten feet away from where

Raye and Lita were practicing. These four women had sworn their

lives to protecting her...and they had died several times because

of it.

Serena's heart gave a funny tug, as though someone was trying

to tear it from her breast.

These four women were four of the most powerful creatures

on this planet. And now they were out of breath after a simple

series of sparing exercises. Something that was simple-much

easier than fighting a youma. She herself had become weak...

feeble from lack of practice.

Her decision was made with a blink of an eye. She wasn't

going to risk all of their lives because she had gotten lazy.

She grabbed the brooch from her school uniform and raised

it to the sky.

"Moon Crystal Power!" she cried.

The four girls stopped their exercises and looked at her.

When the light and ribbons faded away and the transformation

was complete, Sailor Moon stood where Serena had been.

"Power up, girls," she said. "It's time to play hard."

The girls hesitated for a brief second...and then four hands

thrust into the air.

"Mars Star Power!"

"Mercury Star Power!"

"Jupiter Star Power!"

"Venus Star Power!"

The light faded away from the temple grounds and revealed

the Inner Senshi standing, ready to fight: Sailor Mars, her

long raven black hair falling free behind her, Sailor Mercury,

her short blue hair sleek as if freshly washed, Sailor Jupiter,

her auburn hair tied up into a ponytail, and Sailor Venus, her

blond waves held back by a large bow. All four girls stood

ready, looking at their leader eagerly.

"Each girl for herself," Sailor Moon cried. "Let's have some

fun." She smiled and then took off running.

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

Immediately the area began to cloud with a thick fog...and

the games had begun.

"Venus Love-Me-Chain Encircle!"

The golden heart chain went flying towards Mercury. Mercury

cried out and ducked just in time to miss the attack.

"Jupiter Thunderbolt Crash!"

A huge ball of lightning went hurtling through the air straight

towards Mina. She jumped out of the way, somersaulting over the

ground. She kicked her leg and swept Lita's feet out from under her.

"Hey!" Jupiter cried as she landed on her butt.

"Mars Fire Surround!"

Fireballs went shooting towards Venus's back.

"Mina!" Amy cried. And then, "Mercury Ice Crystals Freeze!"

The ice crystals sped towards the fireballs, mated, and the two

attacks fell to the ground as harmless water. Lita was up on her

feet and swinging. A bright disc flew between Venus and Jupiter,

separating the two girls. The disc flung around and returned to

Sailor Moon's outstretched hand.

"Girls didn't forget about me did you?"

Luna and Artimis watched their charges from their perch on a tree

limb. They studied the girls' weaknesses and strengths. At the

end of the two hours of hard 'play', the girls fell into a piling

mound on the ground...all save Sailor Moon.

"Good job, guys," she said, powering down into her street clothes.

"I'll see you all tomorrow morning, here at five."

And with that Serena walked away. The four girls' jaws dropped as

they watched her leave.

"Did she say five o'clock?" Mina asked, sounding in shock.

"Meaning five in the morning, five o'clock?"

The others girls sweat-dropped in shared shock.

*************************************************************

You know it's time to be worried when the author

of the story doesn't even know what's up!

*************************************************************

Chapter 7

Serena let herself into the apartment using the key Darien

had given her a long time ago. As one familiar with her

surrounding, she put a pot of pasta on the stove to begin

cooking. She rubbed her hands up over her face and felt

the grimy residue left from her workout.

"Shower," she said heading towards the bedroom. "Definitely."

She was out of her school uniform and under the hot water

in no time at all. Sighing, she left the scolding water wash

away the stress of the day. But even the water couldn't banish

the memory of Setsuna's words...

Darien came home, tired and hungry.

Immediately upon opening his door the smell of cooking pasta

attacked him. His stomach rumbled. He followed the scent into

the kitchen, eager to shove some food into his mouth. But before

he could grab some, the sound of the shower caught his attention.

Serena.

He smiled and turned off the boiling pasta. Food can wait,

he thought as he headed for his bedroom.

He was pulling his tie off when the water turned off. He waited

a few quickening seconds...and was rewarded with the sight of

Serena wrapped in a skimpy white towel. Her flesh was rosy from

the hot water she liked to bathe in.

She smiled.

"Hello," she said as she moved to give him a quick kiss. He held

her close and deepened the kiss until both their blood coursed like

lava through their veins. "Mmm," she murmured pulling back slightly.

"You taste good."

"So do you," he told her, kissing her again. "You taste better,"

he decided, trailing kisses over her cheek and down her throat. He

sucked on the warm, moist flesh.

She giggled. "Your shirts all wet," she said, picking at the now

wet material.

He smiled. "I guess I'll have to take it off."

A light jumped from his eyes to hers.

"I guess I'll have to help you," she replied, returning her lips

to his.

They didn't make dinner until much, much later.

Serena put the rose Darien had given her into a vase and set it

on her windowsill. She sighed and laid back on her bed, staring at

the walls around her. Staring and thinking.

Across from her bed was her clothes chest. Inside one of the

doors was a picture of Tuxedo Mask hold a rose up in salute.

Underneath it was a picture of all the scouts saluting.

Inside the other door was a picture of Darien-one taken during his

modeling career. A picture of Amy, Mina, Raye, and Lita was

underneath it.

Over the window hung two, old, dried out, red roses.

The first rose Tuxedo Mask had ever given her. Beside it, was

the first rose Darien had given her when his memory returned after

Allen and Anne had been defeated.

On the nightstand was a copy of the same picture that was on

Darien's nightstand: Darien holding Serena, looking very much in love.

In her desk was a scrapbook filled with clippings and articles

of Sailor Moon and the other Sailor Scouts.

On the floor next to her bed was a stack of Sailor V comic books.

Other then those few little things, her room looked like that

of a normal teenager. No one, upon seeing the room would have

guess that the Senshi of Love and Justice lived here. No one

would have guess that it was she who laid her head down on this

bunny pillowcase. That it was she would help save the world

night after night after night...

Serena sighed, turned, and shoved her face into her pillow.

How many times had she wished she was normal?

How many times had she sat on her windowsill looking up at

the moon asking if this was a joke?

How many times had she wished she was someone else?

How many times had she thanked the gods that Darien loved her?

She shook her head, as if to shake the thoughts from her mind.

As if by magic, other thoughts took their place.

Trouble was coming again, she thought.

Trouble was coming and they were going to be ready for it...

No matter what IT was.

She looked at the clock on her nightstand. 10:40

In six hours she planned on being at the temple.

No matter what, the senshi were going to be ready.

*************************************************************

You know, I really wish I knew what this girl was planning...

Oh! And sorry for not warning you about that *terrible* scene

at the beginning! My bad!

*************************************************************

I'll Be There For You

Chapter 8

Serena laid back down in bed, willing her rolling stomach to calm down.

'Ewe,' she thought to herself. 'I must have picked up some sort of flu.'

She took a few short breaths and then tried to sit back up. A quick

glance at her clock told her it was already 4:45. If she didn't get up

soon she was going to be late for practice. She hadn't been late for

practice in the last eight weeks. Now would be a terrible time to start,

she told herself.

'What was even more annoying,' she continued to herself, 'is that I

seem to be getting weaker while the others are all getting stronger.

She shook her head. At least all this extra practice was helping. All

the girls were looking better than they had in years. Not only were

they in extra-good shape, but they were actually getting enough sleep

at night because they weren't fighting any youmas.

But Serena wasn't sure how long that was going to last. She padded

into the bathroom and stared at the reflection in the mirror.

'I look pale.' She slapped her cheeks to bring some color to them.

'For as much sun as I've been getting, I look like I haven't set foot

off the moon!'

She washed her face and finished up the rest of her toiletries by

combing out her long thick hair into the two smooth sleek ponytails that

was her trademark. She looked at her face again and sighed.

'No sense in putting make up on when I'm only going to sweat it off.'

She turned off the light and headed downstairs.

********

The girls had set up their routine by the end of the first week. They

started their mornings off at five at Raye's temple with a lot of

aerobics, mostly jumping jacks followed by ten laps around the grounds

followed by some sparing one on one. That left them enough time to

take a quick shower and get ready for school on time. Then after school,

they'd come back for more punishment. Again, they'd start with their

jumping jack, laps, and one-on-one, but for the second hour, they would

power up and work with their powers.

Serena refereed to that as the 'fun time' or 'time to play.'

The girls adjusted well. Lita usually made extra food anyway and now

she just stored it at Raye's so they always had break-fast and lunch.

Mina, in one of her more creative modes, made them all little bags with

their names and some symbols that represented them so they had a place

to put their work out clothes. Amy ran-off a bunch of charts that spewed

information about target heart zone and fitness and stuff. And Serena

showed up on time all the time, and praised them, and thanked them, and

told them they were doing great. And for some strange reason, that made

them want to work harder.

"Umm, Lita, these turnovers are great! I hope you brought some for

lunch!"

"Mina, these are sooo cool! Look! Mine's all covered with moons and

stars and hearts and--oh Mina! Bunnies! Thank you!"

"Raye! No wonder you don't have a boyfriend! They'd be too afraid of

you if they see you like that! You nearly took my head off!"

The practice was going good. They weren't sure what they were going

to be up against, but they all knew they were going to be ready. Darien

showed up a couple of times a week, too...when he wasn't at work...mostly

just in the mornings. But it was enough to let him know he'd been

slacking too. So he started working out on his own. Started jogging

like he use to do. Started doing stomach crunches.

Serena noticed.

Oh, boy, did she notice!

She also thought, 'I like what I see...I really like what I see.'

And then she would jump up and down like a mad woman, singing to herself:

"He's mine, he's mine, he's all mine!"

This made her very happy, and for the next month, no matter what time

of day it was, even if she had just gotten out of bed, she was smiling.

And then, one day, at 'play,' Serena/Sailor Moon, fainted.

***********************************************

Oh no! What's going to happen?

Read on and you'll find out!

Aren't I mean?

Not really 'cause chapter 9's just... right...there!

*************************************************

Chapter 9

Sailor Moon dodged the ice crystals. They froze the air where

she had been standing just a moment before.

"Nice try, Mercury!" she cried. "But you'll have to do better

then that!"

"Hey Sailor Moon! Dodge this!

"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"

Sailor Moon turned around in time to see the attack hurtling

through the air aimed directly at her. Her reaction time was

slow; the attack was quick. Just when it was about to hit her,

arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her away.

"You made it," she said as they landed on a tree limb.

Darien, um, Tuxedo Mask kissed the side of her throat. "Mmm

hmm." Was all he said.

He hadn't been worried about her getting hurt. They'd discovered

a long time ago that the senshi couldn't really hurt Sailor Moon...

not after they had each given a piece of themselves to save her.

That doesn't mean their attacks didn't have any affect on her. They

stunned the hell out of her when they hit...but nothing serious.

Besides, being a senshi meant you healed faster, so no one stayed

hurt that long anyway!

But he had missed her...and he hadn't been satisfied until he held

her in his arms.

She turned and looked him straight in the eye. "We're practicing,"

she reprimanded.

"So I am," he told her, giving her another kiss.

"Oh, yea?" she asked, trying and failing to keep a straight face.

His lips felt so good when they were touching her. "For what?"

"For tonight." A mischievous grin teased her.

"And what are you doing tonight?" An eyebrow raised.

"Oh, a little this," he said moving to kiss her lips, brushing them,

and then pulling back. "And a little that." His mouth returned to her

neck.

"Mmm, with anyone I know?"

He pulled back and smiled at her. "Ma-ay be." He leaned back

against the tree trunk. "She's this really great girl I've known

for a long time now. She's real pretty." He paused, and then,

"Beautiful blue eyes that I want to fall into each time I look

at her...Gorgeous hair that looks incredibly sexy when she lets it

down and it falls all around her...and a great body that I'm just

crazy about."

"Hmm...great body, huh?" Serena said trying not to laugh.

"Sounds like I lucky girl."

He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist, and

rubbing her nose with his. "I'm a lucky guy." He gave her a quick

kiss on the lips and then pulled back. "So I'll see you then?"

She pondered that for a moment-more to make him wait then because

of any indecision. "Dinner included?"

He smiled and pulled a rose from the air. "And a rose."

"Then I guess it's a date," she said, taking the rose he handed her.

"Good." He gave her another quick kiss and the vanished.

She jumped out of the tree, smiling, laughing softly in her

happiness. She returned to the 'playing field' and watched the

others at work. They were magnificent to watch: beautiful but

deadly warriors. She stepped into the swirling mist and began

to power up an attack to get their attention. But before she

could call the words of the manta her eyes blacked out, the world

tilted, and the ground rushed up to greet her.

------------------------------------------------

Oh no! this can't be good!

section: Part Two - The Awakening

Doesn't that just sound like a Stephan King novel or something...?

Please remember to write me with comments, flamers and praisers, I like

mail period!

Andrea Readwolf