Title: Moments Missing from Much Ado

Characters/Couple: Usagi x Darien

Summary: While volunteering to take care of baby Jordan, Darien gets a glimpse into the person that lies beyond the klutzy Meatball Head. Told in short interconnected drabbles.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Sailor Moon franchise or characters.

Moment Number One: On the walk home

Ami was right. I was being impulsive, but Jordan reminded me of those orphanage days. The old feelings of abandonment, being unwanted, and being a burden on those taking care of me in the orphanage kind of threw me into my current situation. What was my situation? Oh, just a baby bag on one arm, a baby seat with a baby of a woman I just met safely fastened in it, and one Meatball Head to "assist" me.

"What have you gotten yourself into, Darien?" I asked myself.

Another sigh escaped me before I finally noticed the unusual silence that surrounded me and Meatball Head. In a quick glance, I saw the thoughtful expression marring her face. No one was walking our way, so I took the chance to study her in this unheard of moment of peace. Her thumb nail was being warred on between her teeth. Her blue eyes were dampened and scrunched up in some melancholy look. She looked like she was ready to cry at any moment. I thought I was the one that was supposed to be crying? I was the one stuck with babysitting an infant and a fourteen year old whiner.

"What's with the face, Meatball Head?"

Her big eyes landed on me in surprise as she whispered, "What?"

"Please, your hearing can't be that bad." I grumbled back.

She swiftly turned her eyes to the sleeping baby before she said, "I heard. I've just never heard you speak to me like that before."

I could feel myself rolling my eyes at the comment. "You've never heard me call you Meatball Head. Now I know you're crazy."

The two yellow buns on top of her head moved as she shook her head. Two glowing eyes stared into mine for a second before a blush spread across her cheeks and she turned her eyes to the sidewalk ahead of us. "I mean your tone. It was soft. I think I only heard you use it with others or before…" Her voice drifted off, but there wasn't time to ask about it.

Jordan was waking up. Dear Kami, I didn't know a baby could get so loud. Just as I set the baby down to find a bottle in the baby bag Meatball Head swiped in to pick up Jordan.

"Hey, little Jordan! Did you enjoy your nap?" She asked him.

There was something off. Meatball Head's cheerful voice didn't match her eyes, so I tried again.

"What are you thinking about, Meatball Head?"

She stopped rocking Jordan in her arms to glance up at me through her bangs. For split second, I thought I saw a misery that could match my own, but the moment she blinked her eyes, it wasn't there. Jordan silently sat in her arms as she began to rock again while walking forward.

"I was thinking about Jordan's mother and the others. They were all hurt. When I left to go to the restroom in the hospital I heard all the babies' mothers crying. They were so sad. The sobs, they were heart wrenching." Her voice started to break, but she stayed two steps ahead of me so I wasn't able to see her face. However, her slumped shoulders just screamed depressed. "Why does such evil exist? Why do innocent people have to get hurt?"

I didn't recognize when I had stopped in my tracks, but as I gazed at Meatball Head's retreating back I think I saw a glimpse of what Andrew talks about. Maybe there was more to her than the horrible grades and whining. Andrew said she's more than just stupid smiles, someone worth getting to know…

A deep sigh left my lips before I started walking after the two.

"Do you even know where you're going, Meatball Head?"

~*~*~ Moment One Fin ~*~*~

Special Thanks to my Beta-Reader:

ThickerThanLove

AN: I hope you all enjoyed! This is my first posted Sailor Moon fan fiction. It's on one of my favorite episodes and I don't think fan fiction writers really see the potential to write on it. With any luck, I inspired someone out there to build on the episode. Thank you again for reading.

About the Story: This particular story will be kept within ten chapters/moments. I think anymore may be stretching it, but if you enjoy say so (*hint* *hint* "Review" button) and I'll see if I can conjure up moments to share!