July 25 ~ July 26

July 25 ~ Darien's Apartment

Darien woke up with a smile, like he did every morning since Serena came back to him. Just knowing she was asleep next to him made life grand. Only this morning she wasn't in his arms asleep, he opened his eyes in shock. She wasn't even in bed. He looked at the clock, 5:50 am, same time he always woke up. Serena was never up this early. Darien jumped out of bed, literally. "Serena! Serena, sweetie where are you?" Darien walked out of his bedroom into the living room then into the kitchen. "Where could she be?" That's when he heard the apartment door open and close very quietly. "Serena?" Her head popped into the kitchen doorway.

"Darien, what are you doing up?"

"It's after 5:30. I was wondering why you were up so early?"

"I used to go for a run every morning since I didn't have to run to school anymore. So when I woke up early this morning I thought I should start running again. Especially since the competition is nearing."

"Oh! Well, you should have left a note."

"Must of slipped my mind, sorry to worry you."

Darien walked over to her and kissed her. "I missed having you there when I woke up."

"Get used to it, because I'll be running every morning now." She gave him a quick kiss. "I got to get going or I'll be late."

"Practice?"

"And more practice. Is it our night to fight off some Nega sleaze?"

"No, want me to pick up some movies after I stop in at work?"

"A night at be all by ourselves, it's been a few days. I'll try to get home early."

"That sounds nice!"

"What?"

"Home!" Darien said before he kissed her again.

Serena got home shortly after five, Darien ordered pizza, which they ate while they talked about their day. After they cleaned up the small mess [an: Darien's apartment must be spotless, even if Serena is living there!] Serena sat on the couch while Darien put in the video. The Darien lay down on the couch with his head on Seren's lap. (They made such a cute picture!)

"You're going to fall asleep on me?"

"No I won't, my Serena-Star."

The movie started Darien turned his head so he could watch the screen. Serena rested her head on one hand and gently ran her fingers through Darien's hair with the other. Soon she fell asleep, her hand still in Darien's hair. Darien looked up at his sleeping angel.

"Angel, wake up." Darien whispered, as soon as he started to sit up she woke, sort of.

"Where are you going, Darien?"

"I'm not going anywhere, just moving you."

"Ok then." Darien laid Serena down on the couch, and then he laid down behind her. Soon they were both asleep.

"Wake up, Prince!"

Darien woke as soon as he heard the voice. Who was in his apartment? He saw a woman in her mid twenties, tall, with long dark greenish hair.

"Who are you?"

"I am Setsuna, a.k.a.: Keeper of Time, Princess of Pluto, and/or Sailor Pluto. It is good to see you with the Princess, again."

"Let's go into the kitchen and let her sleep."

They walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

It must be pretty important if you came."

"You still don't have any memory of me do you? Wait, I already know the answer. It is not too important, just a few reminders to Serenity. Plus I wanted to talk to her."

"I don't want to wake her, she is still regaining her strength."

"Of course she is. Sailor Moon form may not use so much energy, but the energy loss builds up on top of her already low energy."

"Puu, you really shouldn't talk about me behind my back. And I'm fine see, ready for a nice clean fight, or a slimy fight, whatever!"

"Not tonight Angel, remember?"

"Well, that's fine too. More time to talk to Puu. Whatcha come for, other than to visit of course?"

"I must remind you of a few lessons you have been taught from Ryan + Birdie, Toby + Jason, Luna + Airtimes, and even your mother Queen Serenity has told you again and again. Know your facts, all of them, before you destroy. You can't live with the guilt of killing an innocent person."

"Ok that one is easy to remember, since all of my teachers have been telling me that since they started teaching me. But it can also be the hardest thing to act upon at times."

"Don't lose your faith in any of your friends and believe they are all with you."

"Never would doubt them, in a billion years, haven't yet!"

"Prince, don't let our Princess forget. She will also need your strength through this."

"I am never leaving her side again."

"Good, now that I've got that said. When will I get my helpers back ever since I let Kyle out Amethyst in never around. Plus, now Topaz is always here helping you fight!" Setsuna said jokingly with a tad bit of seriousness in her voice.

"And what will happen when you let Jason out?" Serena asked in the same type of voice.

"Who's Jason?" Darien asked the girls. Both of them look at him in shock.

"I didn't trigger any of your memories of him?"

"Um, no!"

"Princess, you are to weak don't risk it! The Prince and the others can remember him in time." Then she tried to change the subject. "Are you all ready for the competition?"

"I'm working on it. I'm still worried about most of my jumps, since I lost so much time in practicing."

"You'll do wonderful. I best be going, I might go see the others before I head back to the gate."

"Bye Setsuna!" Darien said.

"Bye Puu, see you soon!" Serena hugged Setsuna before she disappeared in a flash, literally.

"All by ourselves again." Serena said while walking over to Darien. "Want to finish the movie?"

Darien stood up and kissed his angel. "Considering we both feel asleep, I have a better idea." He kissed her again, deeper this time. Her hands wrapped around his neck and tangled up in his wonderful black hair. While Darien wrapped his arms around his beautiful Serena-Star and held her really close. He planned to never let her go.

"Mmm...I like this much better than the movie." Serena said in a sigh, Darien laughed softly.

"Actually I had something else planned." He took her hand and led her out onto the balcony.

There they danced in each other arms under the beautiful stars and glorious moon.

"Darien promise me something." Serena asked him.

"Anything for you my Serena-Star."

"Promise me you will love me forever."

"Serena I will love you through death, torment, and until forever ends and even then will I still be loving you, my angel, star, and princess."

"My Prince I will love you beyond forever, no matter what happens." They sealed their undying love with a passionate kiss.

July 26 ~ Noon ~ Lita's Apartment (a.k.a.: Research Center)

"Serena it's time to eat." Mina pointed out.

"Just let me start this download first."

"You are getting worse than Amy with this research." Andrew said.

"Serena I have cooked all of your favorites so come on and eat all ready." Lita said

"Ok I'm coming. I took today off practice to get away from all of the nagging."

Serena left her computer and went to the table to east with Mina, Lita, Raye, Andrew, and Ken. Yet, she still hardly ate anything.

"Serena, you've got to eat!" Ken pointed out.

"I am I never eat much launch, because of my skating work schedule."

"Oh get over yourself!" Raye said as kindly as she could with the same force she always had behind her words. [an: what she said was for Nik-cola!] "I never thought I would see the day that people would have to beg you Serena to eat food."

Serena then ate more, but still not a whole lot. "What have we found out so far?"

"Nothing much, but we just started. Give us more time." Mina said.

"We don't have much time more to waste. Attacks happen constantly at night. That reminds me who's up for tonight?"

"Chad and me, plus Avery and Prisma." Raye said.

"I'm up for some battles tonight." Said the flash that materialized as Amethyst.

"Plus me and Darien will keep watch while you are battling. Mina and Andrew your back-up right?" Serena asked.

"Yep, poor Amy and Greg were fighting most of last night along with Ryan, Toby, Birdie, and Catsie."

"Yeah, well I think back-up is worse. You sleep lightly never knowing if or when you will be called to battle." Ken stated.

"Don't lose hope as soon as we gather enough information, so we know what we are up against, it will get better. Right now I need to get home and rest some before Darien returns from work see ya." Serena left after everyone said goodbye.

"Home? As in Darien's apartment?" Mina asked.

Then the three girls laughed leaving Andrew, Ken, and Amethyst in bewilderment.

"Sorry! It's just that Serena couldn't wait until she could move in with Darien." Raye said between laughs.

"At east now they are both finally happy again." Andrew said.

"After they broke up everything was a mess." Lita said. They were mostly in forming Ken.

"Serena crying all the time, plus she wouldn't eat or sleep." Mina said.

"Darien was just as bad." Andrew informed everyone.

"I only wish she wouldn't have left." Raye said.

"Serena's back and the two of them are together. If it weren't for the battling everything would be perfect." Mina said with a sigh.

Previous Chapter!! ~*~ Back to Main Index!! ~*~ Next Chapter!!