Disclaimer: Sailormoon and all its characters do not belong to me. Any resemblance to any other story is coincidental and not intentional.

This story happened after the senshi defeated Beryl and *** deviates*** from the original version. It is a continuation of the story, Failure.

Mamoru is 20 years old and Usagi 15.

Chapter One – Gunning for the Ring

"Mmmm… Mamo-chan! I have to go in now – I bet Daddy is peeking through the window!" Usagi said as she reluctantly pushed away from her boyfriend's arms and warm kisses.

Mamoru sighed resignedly. He looked towards the front door and window of Usagi's house and sure enough, the curtains suddenly closed with a swish. He chuckled and looked back at his Odango Atama

"I'm afraid we've been caught red-handed, Usako." Mamoru apologised. "I'm so sorry."

Usagi giggled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss Mamoru on the cheek. "Don't worry, Mamo-chan. I'll handle Daddy. He should know by now that we're a couple and that we do couple things."

"But I don't think he approves of me kissing you on the sidewalk in front of your house, Usagi. I think he still believes you're his little girl", reasoned Mamoru.

"I'll always be his little girl, Mamo-chan. But I'm your girlfriend now and he can't stop it." Usagi smiled slyly. "I wonder how you would behave with any daughter of ours?"

Just thinking about such an occurrence made Mamoru blush red in anger. "Well, I . . . won't do that.   No  No  No, I won't," he stuttered out.

Usagi giggle once more and gave Mamoru a final kiss.

"I have to go now, Mamo-chan. But I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked. It was holiday time and Usagi did not have to go to school. She fingered the promise ring necklace Mamoru had given her a few days ago at a surprise party.

Flash back

"Usako."

Hearing her name called out, Usagi stopped eating her fourth banana split and turned to see Mamoru standing next to her.

"Mamo-chan?" she asked, confused at the silence that suddenly came over the Arcade.

She gasped as she saw Mamoru drop to one knee. "Mamo-chan! What are you doing?"

"Oh Odango, shut up!" yelled Rei from behind the crown which had gathered around the couple, once again. "Can't you see he's trying to say something?"

Mamoru looked up at her with a strange rectangular box in his hands.

"Usako, Usagi. We've been going out for only a few months but it has seemed like we've been together forever. I want to declare my love for you in every way possible. So I hope you will accept this small present from the bottom of my heart."

He opened the box and there inside was a delicate silver filigree necklace. The most spectacular thing about it was the diamond ring threaded on the necklace.

Mamoru looked up expectantly. "I know we're still young but I hope that this ring may someday become an engagement ring in the future. What do you say?"

The silence in the Arcade became even more silent.

Usagi's eyes clouded, tears silently flowing down her cheeks. "Oh Mamo-chan! YES, YES, YES!!!"

Mamoru smiled, relief written on his face. He got up from the ground and took the necklace out of the box.

"Let me put it on for you," he asked.

Usagi lifted up her trademark hair to help him put it on.

After it was on, Usagi threw her hands around Mamoru's neck and cried silently into his chest.

'Oh, Mamo-chan,' could be heard from his chest.

Suddenly, a clap sounded from somewhere in the crowd. Then everyone started clapping.

Usagi lifted her head and surveyed the Arcade. All her friends were watching and clapping with smiled on their faces. She started to grin herself and looked up at Mamoru.

"I love you," she told Mamoru.

"I love you, too," replied Mamoru.

And they kissed.

End of Flashback

"Of course, Usako. As if I would miss one moment of time that I could spend with you." Mamoru smiled down at his girlfriend.

They pulled out of each other's embrace and Usagi departed down the garden path with, "I'll see you tomorrow, Mamo-chan! I just love school holidays!"

Mamoru waved good-bye thinking how lucky he was to have found such a wonderful partner. He stuck his hands into his green jacket and walked home with a smile on his face.

*** Inside the House ***

"Kenji!" Ikuko scolded her husband. "Get away from the curtains! They will start to think we're spying on them!"

Usagi's father turned around. "But, honey, they've been out there for ages now! What can they be doing?"

Ikuko laughed out loud. "What do you think they're doing, Kenji? Don't you remember what we did?"

Kenji blushed and sputtered out, "Yes, of course I do but it . . .  it . . . it. . .  still does not excuse them! Look; here she comes. They've said goodbye finally!"

He stepped into the foyer and opened the door before Usagi had reached the doorknob.

"Daddy!" Usagi said, surprised her father had opened the door for her. "What are you doing here?" She stepping inside and took off her coat.

Kenji placed his hands on his hips. "What do you mean, what am I doing here? I live here, young lady!" he said sternly. "And what were you doing out there for so long? Just because you're off the trial period doesn't mean . . . "

"Darling," Ikuko intercepted, "We have to trust Usagi and Mamoru. That's the only way they will learn."

Usagi smiled with relief at her mother. "Thanks, mom! I'll see you at dinner!" And with that, she flew up the stairs, leaving her parents in the foyer, staring at her long blonde tresses.

*** Dinner-time ***

"Honey, what a wonderful necklace!" Ikuko stated when Usagi came down the stairs for dinner. "When did you get it? How come I've never seen it?"

Usagi blushed and wondered if she should tell them the significance of the promise necklace showing in the wide neckline of her shirt. 'Oh heck, I can't lie to them or they won't ever trust Mamoru and I ever again.'

"I got it a few days ago, Mom. Mamoru gave it to me," said Usagi as she stepped into the kitchen. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Oh bless you, dear. Can you set the table?" Ikuko asked her. "You mean, Mamoru got it for you? How sweet!"

Usagi's mother went up to her and took a closer look at the necklace. "Oh! It's a ring!" Ikuko looked at Usagi with questions in her eyes.

Seeing that curiosity, Usagi looked away quickly and went into the dining room with the dishes and cutlery. Feeling Usagi's discomfort about the subject, Ikuko decided to drop the subject for the moment.

*** At the table ***

"Is that a ring I see around your neck, Usagi?" asked Kenji sternly who still wasn't over seeing his little girl with a grown man. They were in the middle of eating dinner.

Usagi's hand immediately went up to the object in question. "Urgh . . .  yes, daddy. It is a ring."

Ikuko added, "It's from Mamoru, isn't it Usagi? Isn't that sweet, Kenji?" she asked looking at her husband.

In the background, Shingo made gagging noises and then an exclamation of pain could be heard when Usagi kicked him under the table.

"A ring?" exclaimed Kenji. "An engagement ring? Erghhh!!!" He stood up and looked around.

"What is it, dear?" asked Ikuko.

"Where's my shotgun! I need my shotgun! Where is my shotgun?!" shouted Kenji as he stalked around the dining table.

"Daddy!" Usagi caught one of his hands as he passed by her seat. "It's not an engagement ring!" She paused.

"You paused!" exclaimed Kenji, as he stopped walking behind his wife's chair. "You had a pause there! What do you mean by not an engagement ring?"

Usagi began slowly. "Well, it's actually a promise ring, Daddy. It's  . . ."

"What kind of promise is that Chiba guy promising!" barked Kenji. "What?" as Ikuko reached up behind her to hold her husband's hands.

"Honey, let Usagi finish. I'm sure there is a suitable explanation for all this. Keep going, Usagi," encouraged Ikuko.

"Yeah, Odango, continue digging yourself into a hole," added Shingo, an interested spectator.

Usagi scowled at her brother and then looked up at her parents. "It's a promise of an engagement, Daddy. Mamoru knows I'm too young to be engaged but we wanted something to show for our love for each other," she explained as she fingered the diamond ring hanging on the necklace.

Ikuko sighed at the romance.

Kenji, not satisfied but acknowledging Usagi's answer was legitimate, started pacing again.

"I still don't like this. My shotgun will still need to ready just in case." Kenji looked around. "So, where's my shotgun. Did you hide it again, Ikuko?" He stalked out of the dining table.

Sighing once again, Ikuko shook her head at her husband's stubbornness.

"Mom!" Usagi's plea reached through her mother's thoughts.

"What is it darling?" Ikuko replied as she looked up at her children. Shingo had resumed eating while Usagi's plate still contained some food.

Usagi looked worried and asked, "Daddy's not really going to shoot Mamo-chan, will he?"

Ikuko chuckled, "No, he won't. I promise I will stop your father before it gets that far." She leaned towards Usagi and whispered, "And between us two only, I hid the shotguns in a place your father will never look."

Usagi leaned back in relief. "Thank goodness. Thanks mom!"

She smiled at Ikuko and begun eating again, scoffing down the food like there was no tomorrow. Ikuko sweatdropped.

Next Chapter – Calling from the Heart