Title: A long evening
Author: Ree
Theme: Chibi-Usa (insomnia)
Genre: General
Version: Manga/Anime Crystal Tokyo
Rating: G

This lovely child and her friends were the creations of Takeuchi Naoko. I am just playing with some really nice dolls. ( And hiding them from my daughter and niece.-)

A long evening

Pluto stood quietly next to the Gates of Time listening. She knew who she was listening for, and knew she shouldn't be. The sound of small slippers making their way down the long hall made her smile. 'She should be asleep. It is well past mid-night.'

"Puu, I can't sleep." The pink haired princess pulled her housecoat tighter around her body. "Can I stay up with you?"

Pluto looked down into the sleepy eyes that gazed earnestly up at her. "What is bothering you so much that it is keeping you awake, Small Lady?"

Small Lady dropped her eyes slightly. "Jacob is getting married tomorrow." She didn't have to say anything else. She knew Pluto would understand all the hidden meanings behind that statement.

Pluto searched her memory to pick out who Jacob was, not that it was important. It was the same problem every time a friend grew up and moved on. Small Lady wanted to know why she didn't. She was now nine hundred years old, and was still physically seven or eight years old. Pluto could have explained part of the reason, but she was afraid to. Small Lady remained close to the age that Pluto had learned to love her. It was the same with all her friends. All of them had matured slightly, but they never really aged. She wasn't sure if it was allowed, but somehow she slowed the time of the ones she loved. Never intentionally, but the results were the same.

Pluto hid the guilty look with practiced ease. "Another long night before an even longer day. Are you sure you don't want to try to sleep?"

The dark pink eyes frowned up at her. "I have tried. I went to bed at nine o'clock. I tossed and turned, I counted sheep, I even drank a glass of warm milk. Nothing is helping."

Nodding slightly, Pluto accepted her answer. "Then I would be honored to keep you company tonight, my Princess."