AN: hey there, lovelies! Welcome to my newest drabble series! The next 40 chapters should be fun as we delve into the development of Mamoru's relationships with Usagi and some of our other Sailor Moon characters!

A huge thank you to FloraOne for not only coming up with these themes to celebrate Mamoru's birthday, but for being the sweetest friend an beta a girl could ever hope for.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

oOo

Chiba Mamoru was the picture of relaxation as he sat on his usual bench in Amishiro Park, reading a distinguished looking novel. But looks could often be deceiving.

Mamoru had become a master of hiding what he was feeling. Years living in an orphanage could do that to a person. And if one looked closely at him, sitting on that park bench, looking as if he owned the world, they might just notice how his eyes weren't really focused on the page or how his eyes would nervously glance up every few seconds to scan the area, as if he were waiting for someone.

In fact, he was waiting for someone. The most important someone in his world. The one who had changed everything for him, had brought happiness, and light and joy back into his life. Usagi. His Usako. The one for whom his heart beat. The one he lived to protect. The one whose heart he had recently shattered into pieces when he had broken up with her. The one who loved him anyway.

Checking his watch, he smiled to himself. She was late, as usual. And while this would have bothered the 'old' Mamoru, the new Mamoru couldn't care less. He knew that she would come without fail. She always did, always would. Even after all the pain he had caused them both, she would never let him down.

They had rid the universe of the Black Moon Clan just days before, had said goodbye to their future daughter early that morning, and Mamoru knew this had all taken a toll on Usagi. As extraordinary as she was, at the end of the day, she was still only fourteen. And she, unfairly, was forced to carry the burden of the world on her shoulders. As much as he wished he could take it all from her, to bear the weight on his own back, he knew he couldn't. He wasn't strong enough on his own. All he could do was be there to whisk her away if she needed it, to lend her his strength whenever necessary.

But the time for battles seemed to be done, at least for now. And they were free to be in love. No enemies, no fighting, no pink-haired girls falling from the sky, no prophetic dreams sent from future kings. Just Usagi and Mamoru.

Mamoru could feel her presence, even before she came into sight. The bond that tied their souls together, though not as strong as it once was a millennia ago, still drew them to each other like a moth to a flame.

He looked up from his book just as she came to a stop in front of him. Dressed in a white lace summer dress, her hair in their usual buns, and her cheeks rosy from skipping all the way to the park, she was the personification of innocence, and his heart swelled with love.

A wide grin made its way onto his lips. "Odango," he spoke, deep and low, as he inclined his head in acknowledgement of her.

Usagi's nose wrinkled adorably in mock annoyance, the look of pure joy on her face giving her away. Sticking her tongue out at him, playfully, she responded, "Mamoru-baka."

They stared at each other, smiling, for what seemed like minutes, neither speaking, simply content to soak in the other's presence.

Mamoru was the first to speak, as he closed his book with a snap, and stood to move towards her, the need to be closer finally too much to bear. Slinging his arm around her shoulders, he asked her the one question he knew would always bring that glorious light to her eyes. "How do you feel about sharing some ice cream with me?"

A sweet giggle escaped her. "Well, I don't know about the sharing part, but I would love some ice cream," she answered, her eyes alight just as he knew they would be, as she snuggled deeper into his side.

He smiled down at her, unnamed emotions swimming in his eyes. But she knew what they were. She knew his soul. And as they walked together towards The Crown, he couldn't help but feel that everything was finally as it should be.