Just a quick note. This story is a sequel to my other one Horizon. If you haven't read that I really recommend you do that first because as this goes along you will have many questions if you haven't read that. Feel free to leave a review while you're there, lol.

To my Horizon followers here you go. I hope it was worth the wait.

And I don't own Sailor Moon.

Enjoy!


"Nooo!"

Haruka sat up in bed, confused as to why.

"Noo! Papa! Haruka-papa wake up!"

Now fully awake Haruka jumped out of bed and ran down the hall.

"Hotaru!" She screamed throwing open the door.

"Noo!" Hotaru lay in bed writhing and it took a moment for Haruka to realize that she was still asleep.

"Hotaru." She said kneeling beside her.

"Papa…papa."

"Wake up hime-chan. Wake up!"

Hotaru sat up in bed and looked around disoriented.

"Hotaru?"

"H-Haruka-papa?" Hotaru said looking at her in surprise. "Papa!"

Haruka caught Hotaru as she threw herself into her arms, crying.

"It's okay hime-chan. I'm here. You just had a bad dream."

"No, it was real," Hotaru cried. "It was real."

"No it wasn't real hime-chan." Haruka said sitting on the bed and pulling Hotaru onto her lap. She began rocking her back and forth as she rubbed her back. "You want to tell me what the bad dream was about?"

"It was dark and you were spinning and you couldn't breathe and you wouldn't wake up. I kept calling you but you wouldn't answer me." Hotaru cried.

"Aww, it's okay hime-chan. I'm here, see. I'm fine."

"But, it was real." Hotaru insisted.

"Oh, I know it feels that way hime-chan." Haruka said wiping her daughter's tears and cradling her face in her hands. "Remember when we talked about the difference between what's real and what's imaginary?"

Hotaru nodded.

"Well, I know bad dreams can feel real that's why they can be so scary. But, it's just imaginary, okay?"

"Okay." Hotaru said softly.

"Okay." She said before leaning forward and giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Now, how do you feel? Are you ready to go back to sleep?"

Hotaru just looked down unable to answer.

"Are you still scared?"

Hotaru nodded slightly, snuggling close to Haruka.

"Do you want me to make you some cocoa?" Michiru asked.

Haruka looked up surprised to see Michiru standing in the doorway.

"You know the best cure for a bad dream is warm cocoa." Michiru said as she moved to sit on the bed beside them.

"It is?" Hotaru asked, peeking her head up from Haruka's shoulder.

"Hai. It's the chocolate. You can only have sweet dreams after drinking chocolate." Michiru assured.

"With marshmallows?" Hotaru asked softly.

"Is there any other way?"

Hotaru just nodded again, at the idea of not having another nightmare and having chocolate this late.

"All right hime-chan, let's go." Haruka said standing up with Hotaru in her arms. She mouthed a 'thank you' to Michiru as they began making their way downstairs.

Michiru went to work in the kitchen making the hot chocolate while Haruka took Hotaru into the living room.

"Papa, can we watch a movie?" Hotaru asked as Haruka placed her on the sofa.

"A movie? This late?" Haruka asked, absently scratching her head. "I don't know hime-chan."

"But, I'm still scared." Hotaru whimpered snuggling closer to her. She looked up at her 'papa' with her most pitiful expression. "Onegai."

Haruka just looked down at her daughter, who thought she was manipulating her. Secretly amused, she tried to hold back a smile. "Well, as long as it's a short one."

As Hotaru went to the entertainment center, Haruka dropped on the sofa. She was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep right now. But, Hotaru looked as if going to bed was the last thing she wanted to do. This certainly wasn't Hotaru's first nightmare but Haruka couldn't remember a nightmare scaring her this much. She didn't know what there was about this one but Hotaru seemed so personally affected that Haruka knew she would have to let Hotaru recover in her own time. Haruka yawned and placed her arm around Hotaru as she climbed onto the sofa beside her.

"Okay, what are we watching?" Haruka asked stifling another yawn.

"Magical Moon." Hotaru answered snuggling closer.

"Again? Don't you get tired of this one hime-chan?"

"No, it's my favorite." Hotaru said smiling as the movie began.

"And so realistic. I'm sure those girls could really fight monsters in those short skirts." Haruka mumbled.

"I thought you liked short skirts." Michiru said joining them with the chocolate.

"Not so much on fourteen year olds, though on you…" Haruka said with a grin. She grabbed Hotaru's drink and handed it over to her. "Now, you be careful with this Hotaru."

Hotaru just nodded, already absorbed in Magical Moon's battle.

"Thanks for the chocolate Michi but you don't have to stay up with us. You can go back to bed." Haruka offered before taking a sip of her own chocolate.

"No, it's fine." Michiru answered before doing the same. "Are you sure you should be staying up with your race tomorrow?" She asked, remembering Haruka's requirement about getting ten hours of sleep per night on race week.

"I'll be fine." Haruka answered yawning again. "It's just the practice. The qualifying is the Saturday that is where my time will matter for pole position in the actual race on Sunday. Tomorrow's run is just to get us acquainted with the turns. It's not just driving in circles you know." Haruka teased, quoting the artist's words from what seemed like so long ago.

Michiru just gave her an indignant look. "Is it hard? The track I mean."

"Well, Suzuka is one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit. It is the only figure 8 configuration and has some intricate turn combinations some of them pretty tricky even for a skilled driver like the 130R into the last chicane and the esses." Haruka looked to Michiru realizing everything she said to her must've sounded like Gibberish. She also knew that was not what Michiru wanted or needed to hear. Haruka knew that even though Michiru wouldn't admit it, the artist was nervous about the upcoming race. All Haruka's other races for the season had been in Europe and other places outside the country so it was the first time Michiru was actually going to see her. Haruka gave her partner a smile to reassure her. "Don't worry I've got this. Besides, I've been at the arcade getting accustomed to the track."

"I can't believe that research for your job involves going to the arcade. How difficult your life must be." Michiru answered unable to suppress a laugh.

"Well, we each have our crosses to bear." Haruka said with a wink.

"I'm done." Hotaru said pushing her cup towards Haruka.

"All right hime-chan are you ready to go to bed now?" Haruka asked. "You can sleep in my room with us."

Hotaru looked at Haruka as if considering it, her eyes surreptitiously went to Michiru and back to Haruka again. She shook her head to reject that idea as she snuggled closer to Haruka.

"Why don't I just take the cups to the kitchen and clean up then." Michiru suggested.

"Oh, you don't have to do that Mi-"

"Papa, you're missing it." Hotaru complained, tugging on Haruka's shirt.

"Sumimasen hime-chan. What did I miss?" Haruka asked, as Michiru began collecting the cups.

"Magical Moon just found out that the Phantom Knight is really the boy who always teases her."

"Oh, really." Haruka answered, returning her focus to Hotaru.

Haruka knew that Hotaru, like any only child to a single parent, was still adjusting to her new life and the idea of not being the only object of her attention. At the same time, she knew her daughter. Haruka knew how much Hotaru actually liked Michiru. Hotaru's instant attachment to Michiru was proof. Even now, Hotaru was enchanted by everything that was Kaioh Michiru: her beauty, her music, her art and her person. All Hotaru needed was time to see that Michiru being a part of their lives was not going to take away from Haruka's affections for her. Haruka had no doubts that soon enough Hotaru would give up her mild standoff and fully accept Michiru. Hotaru just needed a push. Tonight however, was not the night for pushing.

Michiru took the cups to the kitchen to wash. Knowing Haruka they would sit in the sink for too long anyway. It was obvious why the racer had someone come in and clean for them every week, Michiru thought with an amused smile.

She and Haruka had been together for about six months and by now they were…well, Michiru wasn't exactly sure what she and Haruka were. Haruka didn't like labels. She was fundamentally against them in fact: as all they did was force someone to define themselves for society's benefit whether it was, sexuality, gender identification or relationships. A label didn't change who a person was or how they felt so Haruka didn't see the need for them. Michiru was not as adamant as Haruka was but she did not care about the label as much since she knew it meant nothing without the commitment. Michiru had no doubts as to Haruka's feelings about her, even though the racer had yet to actually verbalize it. Haruka still had trouble articulating her feelings. She was definitely an actions speak louder than words person.

Michiru suspected that a lot or at least a considerable portion of Haruka's hesitation came from her concern for Hotaru. Michiru knew that Hotaru liked her and they got along well but there was still a level that Michiru and Hotaru had yet to reach. Haruka was Hotaru's parent and the light in her eyes. That much was certain. And, Michiru knew for Haruka it was the same. They had spent so much time with just the pair of them that it seemed they had their own secret world, full of jokes and teasing and a fair bit of indulgence that no one could get into. Haruka always—when she remembered—tried to include her but more often than not Michiru was left out.

Michiru could see that Hotaru had not completely embraced her. Everything was fine when Michiru was just a pretty lady she liked. But when she saw that pretty lady becoming a more permanent fixture and that Michiru spending the night was becoming more of the rule than the exception in her life, Michiru could see Hotaru start resisting the change to her world. She was perceptive enough to realize that another woman was essentially taking away what was until recently Haruka's undivided attention.

Michiru dried her hands and walked back into the living room. She stopped and smiled at the sight before her. Haruka lay on her back, her foot hanging off the sofa with Hotaru sprawled atop her both sound asleep. Michiru resisted the urge to get her sketchpad, trying her best to commit the image to memory as she got a blanket from the closet. She gently placed it over the pair and turned off the movie.


"Hotaru!" Haruka sat up with a start to find herself alone on the sofa. She looked around disoriented. Morning was just breaking and she got up, ripping the blanket away from her. She followed the noise and stretching walked into the kitchen to find Hotaru and Michiru busy at work. "What's all this?"

"No, papa! You can't look." Hotaru said excitedly.

"Oi, be easy hime-chan." Haruka said laughing as Hotaru placed her palms on her waist and began pushing her out of the kitchen.

"But, you can't. I'm making you breakfast." Hotaru stated.

"Breakfast? All by yourself?" Haruka asked, glancing at Michiru.

"Weeell, Michiru obasan did help." Hotaru conceded.

"Oh, did she." Haruka said grinning.

"Hai, but it was Hotaru's idea." Michiru stated. "Now, you get ready and everything will be done by the time you return."

"Well, since you guys look like you have everything handled, I'm going for a quick run." Haruka said before quickly making her way upstairs to change. She wanted to make sure she got her muscles warm and agile for her lap on the track later. Her morning run was one of the few rituals she had. When Michiru was here she could do the run early when the day was still cool and the streets were quiet. If it was just she and Hotaru, Haruka had to wait until after she took Hotaru to school.

Haruka returned from her run and quickly took a shower. Coming downstairs in jeans and a t-shirt she saw breakfast on the table.

"Oh, it looks great hime-chan." She said bending down and kissing a beaming Hotaru on the forehead.

"It's to make you strong and drive really fast today." Hotaru said proudly.

"Oh really. So does this mean you guys are cooking breakfast for me tomorrow and Sunday too?" Haruka asked.

"Don't push your luck." Michiru said grinning.

"So, you feel better now hime-chan? No more nightmares?" Haruka asked as they sat at the table.

Hotaru looked at Haruka confused, having already forgotten everything that had taken place the night before. She was half asleep for so much of it that she barely remembered watching Magical Moon or even what her dream was about.

The trio continued their breakfast, making plans for dinner afterwards. Hotaru was excited to see her papa race and to know that afterwards they were going to ride on the Big Wheel at the Motopia theme park at the track. Hotaru could barely contain her excitement for the coming weekend, while Michiru tried to suppress her nerves at her first time seeing Haruka race.

It was Hotaru's first time seeing Haruka race as well but since it was a practice Haruka allowed it. During an actual race the margin of error and potential for accidents is higher. People are more daring and as a result more reckless when they are trying to win. Haruka didn't want to risk Hotaru seeing a racer get into an accident and then be worried that the same thing would happen to her. This practice was the racing equivalent of walking the track. It was the safest thing for Hotaru to see as her first race and she had been asking Haruka to come for years. She even had a brand new outfit, courtesy of Michiru, to show her support for her favorite racer.

"Aww, hime-chan kawaii." Haruka said, as Hotaru modeled her racing outfit that bore Haruka's sponsors' logos.

"See, papa I'm on your team." Hotaru said excitedly.

"I see." Haruka said grinning, as she ruffled her hair. "And where is Michiru?"

"She's here." Michiru answered, coming down the steps.

Haruka looked up and smiled as Michiru joined them in the foyer. She wore a white tailored dress that buttoned down the front and reached about mid thigh. It hugged her hips and put her shapely legs on display and made Haruka a bit distracted as she considered how easy it would be to get Michiru out of that dress later that night. She smiled at still being that affected by Michiru every time she saw her.

"Aww, Michi kawaii too, ne?" Haruka said pulling her closer and bringing her lips to hers.

"Papa! You're being gross again." Hotaru complained. She shuddered, as her six-year-old mind did not understand the concept of kissing and why her papa and Michiru did it so much.

Haruka just laughed. "What's the matter hime-chan? Do you want kisses too?" Haruka said picking her up.

Hotaru screamed and laughed as Haruka began kissing her cheeks and blowing raspberries on her neck.

"All right you two." Michiru began, before this got too out of hand. "We'd better leave before you are late. We still have to check into the hotel remember?" Haruka decided it was easier and more logical than commuting from home, so the trio was going to stay at the Suzuka Circuit Hotel, along with most of the other drivers.

"Good point." Haruka answered, casually throwing Hotaru over her shoulder. "Are you ready hime?"

"Hai!" Hotaru answered, still laughing.


Haruka entered the pit with Michiru and Hotaru. Hotaru was placed safely on her hip so she wouldn't be tempted to run around and get in the way of the busy pit crew.

The area was bustling with activity as the pit crew worked on the cars. Michiru looked around nervously, jumping every now and then at each new and unfamiliar sound. It was the loudest place she had ever been with the clanging of tools, the bouncing of tires, the roar of the engine and high pitched drilling sounds she could not identify. The pit crew raced around as if in chaos while they each efficiently performed their own function.

"Papa is that your car?" Hotaru asked excitedly, bouncing on Haruka's hip.

"Yeah, hime-chan do you like it?" Haruka asked.

"Hai! I want one. A purple one."

"We'll see about that." Haruka said grinning. "What do you think Michi?"

"It's… nice." Michiru answered feigning confidence.

"Oi, Mori!" Haruka called to her pit manager.

"Haruka-san, you're here." He said approaching them, as he removed the grease stained gloves from his hands, and slipped them into his pocket. "And, is this the firefly I keep hearing about?"

"Hai, this is Hotaru."

"Hey, chibi-chan. You came to see the race."

"Hai!"

"Mori this is Michiru." Haruka continued. "Michi this is Fukumori Kenji, the best pit manager in the circuit."

"Nice to meet you Fukumori-san." Michiru said, still wearily eyeing the black and red racecar behind him.

"Just Mori. Nice to meet youMichiru-san." He said with a knowing grin. "Don't look so worried Haruka-san is a great driver." Mori said.

"Papa, I want to drive too."

"You're going to have to wait a few years for that one hime-chan." Haruka said laughing.

"Well, until then chibi-chan do you want to sit in the seat to see what your papa sees?"

"Hai!"

"All right then come here." Mori said taking Hotaru from Haruka.

"Are you certain it's okay with so much going on around here?" Michiru asked.

"Don't worry Michiru-san. I'll take care of her." Mori said. As he began to leave he turned to Haruka. "Wouldn't want to get you in trouble with the wife by endangering your daughter." He teased nudging Haruka with his elbow.

"Yamatte!" Haruka said, punching him in the arm as Mori began to depart laughing heartily.

Michiru hid her grin at seeing Haruka embarrassed, relaxing for the first time since she had arrived at the track.

"What do you think Michi?" Haruka asked, beaming.

"It's very… hectic." Michiru answered. She looked up to see Haruka's expression start to fade. She could see how much Haruka loved this. Haruka hadn't even begun racing yet but she was already obviously in her element. It was also obvious how thrilled Haruka was to finally share this part of her life with her. Michiru sighed internally. She knew she would have to push aside her anxiety for the sake of Haruka's excitement. She leaned forward and gave the racer a kiss. "It's great. I see why you love it so."

Haruka just smiled.

"Aww, don't worry Michi." Haruka said wrapping her arms around her. "You'll love it once you watch a race, which by the way I've got to get ready for." She leaned forward and gave Michiru another kiss, before going to retrieve Hotaru.

She gave them kisses before leading them out of the pit and sending someone with them to take them to their seats. Michiru and Hotaru were seated directly behind the pit station so they could see Haruka as she got ready and they had some of the best views of the entire track.

"Michiru-chan!" Rei called from their seats at the front of the Grandstand. She Jadeite and Nephrite were already at the seats while Michiru and Hotaru took their pit walk.

Since it was a Friday and only the practice race most of their friends weren't there. The rest of them would be coming for the qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday. Nephrite and Jadeite were the die-hard race fans so they were not willing to miss a day. Rei was mostly there for moral support knowing how secretly nervous Michiru was.

The first practice was already over and most people were just milling about waiting for the second practice run to begin.

"So, Michiru-san are you still nervous about your first race?"

"Jade!" Rei scolded.

"Gomen." Jadeite said ducking as if about to be stuck. "Don't worry Michiru. It's really much safer than you think. Once you see how skilled the drivers are you'll be able to enjoy it." He assured.

"I don't think I'll even know what's going on." Michiru answered.

"It's all about understanding the circuit." Nephrite said, leaning on the rail at the front of the Grandstand. "Don't worry I'll talk you through it."

The drivers for the second practice lap were getting ready. One by one they announced the racer, team and country.

"Driving once again for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, UK's Lewis Hamilton."

"He was the winner last year." Nephrite informed Michiru.

"Driving for Ekelson Wireless Finland's Klaus Alhainen."

"Wow, he's back?" Jadeite said moving forward.

"Who's he?" Both Rei and Michiru asked, looking at the Nordic looking man in his yellow and green team colors.

"There was some scandal earlier this year about an accident that he was involved in." Nephrite explained.

"He's a great driver though. Really daring." Jadeite said.

"Really reckless if you ask me. He's lucky he didn't get expelled for that stunt he pulled in Monaco." Nephrite grumbled.

"I can't see. I wanna see!" Hotaru complained, at being left out of the adult's conversation.

"Gomenasia chibi-chan." Nephrite leaned down and picked her up. He placed her, sitting on the rail before him, and leaning on his chest so she could get an aerial view. "Is that better?"

"Hai!"

"Be careful Hotaru." Michiru warned, seeing her excitement could barely be contained. She was already bouncing up and down.

"Don't worry, I have her." Nephrite said securing his arms around her.

"Look it's papa!" Hotaru said reaching out to Michiru.

"Driving for Mitsubishi Ryoku in his first start at home, Japan's own Tenoh Haruka!"

Michiru looked around amazed to hear the crowd chanting. "Tenoh! Tenoh!"

Haruka stepped out in her red, white and black racing jumpsuit and waved to the stands. The home crowd erupted with cheers for their Japanese native. Haruka turned around to show the crowd her logos: the three diamonds and the dragon from Ryoku's energy drink.

Hotaru was waving excitedly and Haruka looked up to find her before giving her a thumb's up sign. Hotaru returned the signal with a beaming smile.

The drivers did their warm up lap around the course just to feel out the track for the first time before getting ready at the starting line. The lights went out one by one until the signal to start. Haruka took off and went to an early lead around the first turn.

"Okay now comes the esses." Nephrite said to Michiru.

"The what?"

"The next series of five turns in a row."

"It looks like Haruka-san dropped to third." Jadeite noted.

"It's still good time though." Nephrite said as the cars began going though the Dunlop curve.

Haruka pulled forward taking the lead again as they pulled into the Degner curve. There was a lead pack of five cars each taking turns with the first position.

"I thought Haruka said time didn't matter today." Michiru asked.

"That's what they say but to make a good time still says a lot and they are on record breaking pace right now." Nephrite informed as the cars pulled out of the spoon.

"Now here comes the tricky part." Jadeite said leaning forward.

"What?" Rei asked.

"The crossover." Nephrite answered going from watching the track to watching the video feed. "It's the 130 R blind and straight into the last chicane." He informed.

"Chicane?"

"Um, turn: the Casio triangle. It's really tight." Nephrite explained.

"They are making really good time." Jadeite said excitedly. "I think Haruka-san may break the record after all."

"What the hell is he doing?" Nephrite yelled, lunging forward anxiously as the drivers pulled into the Casio triangle.

Michiru watched as the Finnish driver Klaus Alhainen rocketed forward in the tight space to cut off Haruka.

Haruka looked up to see that Alhainen trying to cut in front of her had miscalculated his space. His car fishtailed clipping the front of Haruka's car with his wing. Hitting the button for the brakes, Haruka desperately tried to reduce her speed. Haruka struggled to regain her bearings after her car was clipped but she immediately saw what was unfolding before her. The events that followed happened in such quick succession that Haruka barely had time to react.

The Finnish car's tire blew out from the hit causing it to spin and do a full 180 turn. The front of his car smashed into Haruka's and she was knocked to the side. Her car jerked upwards, the front lifting off the ground. She could hear the pop from in front of her as the tire blew off and her car immediately flipped over. Unable to see, Haruka could only feel her body being upside down and turned in all directions as the car repeatedly flipped over, bouncing as it traveled. There was nothing she could do but ride it out. She could hear the loud cracks as her car broke apart sending pieces and tires flying in all directions. Each time her car connected to the ground, she could feel the impact to her body. The car was already filled with black smoke. Coughing as the hot smoke burned her throat and infiltrated her lungs, Haruka could feel the pain in her chest, as the smoke arrested her lungs and her head getting heavy from a lack of oxygen. The last thing she remembered was hearing a loud snap and feeling the searing heat as if her leg was sliced before hitting her head.

Michiru screamed, watching in horror as Haruka's car, billowing black then white smoke rolled across the track. All four tires had gone in separate directions and both the front and back wings had ripped off the car and were littered across the track. The, cockpit, the body of the car surrounding Haruka, was the only part still in tact. It crashed hard into the wall, before finally coming to a stop.


A/N: So what did you guys think? Review and let me know. Are you surprised. I hope you didn't see that coming. I wanted to start off with a bang but I always had that ending from when I first thought of the story so it's not that much of a ploy, lol. Hope you enjoyed all the firefly goodness and didn't think it was too slow. Meanwhile, I had to do so much F1 research for just this chapter that I think I may be a fan now,lol. Okay that's all. Please review now ;