Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, I never will.

A/N: The original chapter for this had been rewritten many times, but I rather like it, and think it flows well with the rewrite of the story. I didn't take much out, but rather I added a fair amount of new content. Please, read and review.

Chapter 2: Apartments and Meetings.

Ami was walking to Makoto's apartment lost deep in thought of what to say to the brunette. She could just envision things not going well. That frightened her endlessly. The last thing Ami wanted, was to be hated by anyone, least of all, by Makoto. 'She might not be pleased with the situation and needless to say I don't really blame her. I don't want her to reject me, but at least tonight I'll have my answer and I'll know that it just wasn't meant to be." Faint hope was hard to come by, but Ami had that too, even if it was fleeting. "Then again she may accept my feelings." Ami mused. "That would make me the happiest I've ever been in my entire life. I know that it won't ever happen, that is just a silly dream and I need to put that out of my head. I must get a grip, I am losing it.'

Ami took in a deep breath as she neared the double door complex. Each step she took made her heart sink a little more, every shuttering breath made her realize her innocence. She was so naive in matters of the heart, and she knew it. Passionate embraces weren't her specialty, and quickly, fears rose up. Reality wasn't nearly so kind as fantasies. Conclusions could easily be surmised, and Ami wasted no time in doing just that, expectations Makoto may have, something of a poison seeping into her veins. Soon Makoto would be home and then the moment of truth would come.

Back at the Shrine however, the story was different. Rei was standing in her room about to have a little meeting concerning the earlier events of the afternoon. Makoto was sitting on the floor, a very confused look spread across her face. The two blonds sat at the table with the notebook between them. Neither of them were quite sure what to make of this. Seeing that no one was in any position to even begin to talk, Rei once again started it off, seeing no better way than to first deal with the ones that caused the commotion in the first place.

"What in the hell was that back there..." Rei queried, perturbed with both the actions and the outcome. "Usagi, Minako you two have really done it this time. Whatever was in that book, that was for Ami's eyes only. Don't you even dare approach her about it until she's ready. Do I make myself clear?" Rei was fuming at the two blonds for even causing such a scene in the first place. "I swear if you do anything else stupid, I'll light a fire under your asses, literally!"

"We are sorry you know…" Minako attempted to calm the flames that were very evident in Rei's eyes at the moment. "That was unexpected." Minako had lost her bubbly mood, her eyes down cast at the small notebook, it was older than most would have expected, and the coffee stain on the cover wasn't exactly small. Clearly, it was missing pages, ripped out at one point or another. the notebook, in all honesty, looked as if it belonged to Usagi, and never Ami. "We never knew about her..." It was all Minako could offer Rei. "At least not to that extent." However, the endeavor was a useless effort at the time. "And besides that, you can't tell me that it was good for Ami. Keeping all of her emotions pent up like that just..." Minako cut herself off, it was a bad line of thinking. "She does it enough as it is."

"That isn't an excuse." Rei replied back, all the while crossing her arms and glaring at no one particularly. "Ami's always been shy, gentle. You can't expect she'll have a little powwow with the both of you each and every time she has something on her mind. Most of us don't work that way. She's a private person, with her own lives and her own goals. Being a Sailor Senshi may tie us together, but it doesn't change the fact that she's her own person." It was as if Rei's own perceptions of the situation pulled at her deeply, and the only way too keep a distance, was to become angry at everything, even the wall if it would so be damned. "Is it so wrong that she have a few secrets, a couple of unspoken against that bug her, just like every other normal person?"

"We aren't saying that it is." Usagi answered for the both of them this time. "She's got to realize that after all we've been through, something so trivial isn't going to upset us."

"What about Ami?" Rei shot out, her bite something not to be questioned. "The matter isn't trivial, not for her."

"Yes, what about her, Rei?" Minako could see this was getting worse, and tried to break up an impending fight. "Is she alright?"

"She's upset." Rei answered after a moment. Biting her lips, she pushed herself to lean on a nearby wall. "She's hurt, and confused... but most of all, she's got herself thinking that it is a big deal. She feels like you guys will hate her. And besides that, it isn't like she's been told otherwise. Even Haruka and Michiru gave us the chills at first, so no duh Ami would think we'd be the same way about her." Minako and Usagi didn't have anything to say to that, at least, not to Rei. After excusing themselves with whispers of apology they decided to head home.

Makoto on the other hand, still sat on the floor as pensive as ever. It was very evident she had absolutely no idea what to make of her own thoughts. With brows furrowed, she stared at the notebook with uncertainty. Rei, no better off herself, paced the room, stress evident in her stride. Finally after a few tense minuets, Makoto spoke. "Did you know?" Rei continued to pace, every speckled crumb an item of interest. Every small slat in the wood a trail for her eyes to follow. When the question went unanswered Makoto tried again. "Rei, did you know about Ami liking me...in that way?"

This drew a rather long sigh from Rei who continued around the table and sit beside her friend on the floor. "I can't say I knew that it was you for certain, but I can't say it caught me totally off my guard either." Rei's tone was soft, as if she had her own lingering secrets on the matter. Her own pains nearly peaking through. "She has never taken any true interest in romance like the rest of us, yet when I think about it all, logically it makes sense. Ami's quiet, reserved. It isn't like she would say stuff like this as if were a weather forecast. She's not like Usagi or Minako. That comes easy for them..."

Makoto knew the implications. All of them had things that went unsaid. Mostly about past fights, memories of past lives, or even their own feelings about relationships. However, some were more tight lipped than others. Ami, was among the most removed from those types of conversations, how Makoto and Rei weren't far off. Not that they didn't enjoy a good gossip session as well as the next person, it was just complicated. Loneliness spurred them into discussions, the need for compassion overwhelmed them into group debates. Ami, for her part, didn't appreciate such open honesty about her personal issues. She spoke too them, but only selectively, and always very privately.

"She's just not that type of person. I knew she had an, interest, shall we say, but she wasn't ever willing to gush details. I never knew who that person was, and I had no idea if she was really in love, or if it was just a passing phase." When the brunette just stared on at the miko as an invitation to continue, Rei shook her head. "Answers will need to come from Ami, not me. I gave her an out, so she's not here anymore. Go on ahead to your apartment, she'll be waiting for you there. Just, promise me you'll be gentle, no matter what happens."

Makoto agreed willingly, as Rei knew she would. No more needed to be said as Makoto started the walk back home while trying to place together everything in her mind. There were many questions she could ask, and many others she knew would eventually have to be. A depth in Makoto mind wanted to deny it. Throw away the feelings of fear that stiffened her back, cast aside a hope, harden herself for the eventual pain. Makoto could do that, and had done that many times in her life. her mind found solace for the ever creeping reality as the time ticked by. When the tall girl arrived at the third floor of the complex, Ami was sitting propped up against the door. "Why didn't you let yourself in, did you leave your key at Rei's?" Makoto, to her own surprise, kept all emotions neutral, something that she was never good at.

Ami stood and pulled out a small chain. "No, I have it…I just didn't know if you'd want me to walk into your home. I'm a freeloader now." Makoto shook her head while unlocking the door. She pulled Ami inside and slammed the door, pushing the smaller girl to the sofa, forcing her to have a seat. Makoto joined her, acting as if the day, and the information, hadn't even happened at all. "Ami I don't blame you. It was an accident, on everyone's part. If anything at all, you got stuck as a victim in a prank that went a little too far for it's own good." Then Makoto sat back and closed her eyes, sighing discontented. There wasn't any good way to ask. "I'm not going to make a huge deal out of it, but I do need to know." Makoto finally said. "What do you feel towards me?"

A lot when through the minds of both girls. What would they say to each other? When blue eyes met those of shocking green, it was clear that a lot could change. The emotional weight settled over both girls as the silence became far too much. Ami took a deep breath as if it was now, or never uttered again. "Well it's hard to say really." Ami fumbled, as they both expected she would. "I like you more than a friend." She said with clarity. "I know that goes without question. I just... I don't know what to think about this. I haven't found an attraction to other women in the same way I do you." She paused, trying to figure out what Makoto was thinking behind closed eyelids.

Then, Ami fumbled again, not sure how to fully explain her emotions. "I can't say it's love exactly, but it's not just lust either. I'm not sure where this places us in the grand scheme of things, and honestly I've no idea what to even think will happen now. I didn't want to change things between us. I don't want to lose you as a friend, not just because I've got weird feelings that I can't seem to sort out." The bluenette said drumming her fingers on her knees. The noise pulled Makoto from her thoughts, her eyes glancing down worried at the fingers tapping away at a measured, yet frantic pace.

"Ami?" Makoto spoke softly attempting to get the bluenette to settle down a bit. "Ami, calm down, It's okay." The brunette said carefully as she took hold of Ami's hands. What the taller girl had thought would be a slight bit of comfort apparently only caused more panic within the shy girl.

"I'm sorry Makoto, You've been such a good friend, I know that wanting more of you is a lot to ask. I've never even had a relationship!" Ami squeaked out in great haste, her eyes clenched shut, her body trembling. "Please Makoto, don't hate me. I don't even know what came over me. If I had kept my thoughts at home, away from everyone, I wouldn't have made such an uncomfortable situation for you." Makoto listened very carefully to Ami to make sure not miss any key points. After a moment of silence, Makoto formed her thoughts into very carefully spoken words. Ami was shaking, the girl was still petrified.

"Well first off, I don't think anyone has any objections towards you." With great care, Makoto pulled Ami closer to her. Slowly, so not to frighten her more. "No one will treat you differently. They aren't like that, except for maybe Luna, but Usagi can handle that battle, I'm sure. As far as we are concerned, Ami, I don't know what it was that drew you and I so close in our years of fighting as Senshi, I do know however, that you and I have spent quite a lot of our free time together. You practically live here." Makoto smiled a bit then, some of the jovial humor coming back to her voice. "In all reality of the situation, if we haven't started something more than a friendship already I don't know what else we would call it." Makoto didn't want to deny Ami, didn't want to hurt the girl. "Give me time, I don't know how to handle this. We can test the waters, see where we end up."

Ami was more than thrilled with that answer. The smile in her eyes reflected that greatly. Things at the apartment went as usual that evening. Homework having been finished at Rei's left the night free. At first, they spent a lot of time talking, although it wasn't anything deep. Makoto cooked dinner and Ami washed the dishes. After that it was off to the living room for television. Makoto, as per usual when Ami stayed over, continued to sleep on the futon to allow Ami a warm bed. Things were the way they should be, and they knew school would be their first real test.

The morning began like every morning Ami knew of. She would be up two hours before her alarm even went off. Her internal clock worked odd hours, and Ami just got used to living on little sleep. Senshi battles had honed the girl into a robot in the best of times, and at the worst, she'd mastered finding her way around with her eyes half open. All of them had acquired the skill, although some took more use of it than others. Ami wasn't the first to admit it, but even she had called into school feigning illness so she could stay home, sleep not unlike a long lost friend in those times. She showered and dressed before poking at Makoto, who's laziness knew no bounds.

On the early mornings before school, Makoto could often times pass for Usagi. This morning, the thunder Senshi was the epitome of their princess, hiding under the blankets as if the light of the sun would melt her. "Makoto get up, we're going to be late." Ami had been trying for the last ten minuets to get the brunette out of her peaceful slumber, but to no avail. She had done everything she could think of. "Desperate times called desperate measures." She picked up a few ice cubes and placed them down the back of Makoto's nightshirt.

"Holy frickin' freezing!" Makoto dove out of bed to save herself from the ice cubes, yanking them from her shirt, and away from her neck. "Where's the fire? Is there a youma attack?" Panic set in for a moment as she produced her transformation pen. She was gawking around the room, looking for her communicator, and perhaps a large, preferably heavy object. It took a moment before the sleepy haze fell away from green eyes.

"Really, Makoto I think it's a blessing you're not late for school when there's no one around to wake you up." Ami said calmly attempting to relax the hyped up Senshi of courage. After waking the sleeping thunder, it took only fifteen minuets and they were out the door. Makoto did the first logical thing that came to mind, and put her arm around Ami's shoulder in a sort of half hug. Both of them had a slight blush on their face not exactly sure what to make of this new, yet comfortable position.

Everything was fine, at least up until they starting hearing a mix cat calls, and wolf whistles. That was followed promptly by a small thud and wailing that could only have come from Usagi. The couple turned around to face their three friends in a large mass of limbs. Usagi was on top of Rei's back, but, her right arm was under Minako, who's leg was tangled in a combination of Usagi's long hair and Rei's skirt. The rather odd scene was completed by the fact that papers were strewn everywhere and book bags were haphazardly tied in a very odd knot.

"Get off you two, your squishing me!" Rei growled highly aggravated.
"Ow your pulling my hair!" Shouted Usagi indignantly.
"Usagi! Get your elbow outta there!" Retorted Minako as she attempted to rid Usagi's arm from underneath her.
"Minako, stop yelling at Usagi! And get your knee out of my skirt..." Rei again, this time it was Minako's body providing the indecent exposure.
"I can't move my elbow until you get off of my hair!" Usagi bellowed again.

"We better go help them before anyone needs to go to school naked..." Makoto said laughing at the display of an almost shirtless Minako and Rei's apparent issues with a knee in a less than ideal spot.
"Mako really, don't you think that's just a bit much?" Ami said as the shouting war continued until the two figures stood above them silencing the entire limb battle. After the jumble was undone and the papers picked up they commenced walking to school. Rei had to break off to go to TA while the others continued to their own.

Ami and Makoto were back to walking hand in hand and as a result earned quite a bit of snickering for the blonds. "Are you two an item now? Tell us what went on last night." prodded Minako as she stepped in front of the two lovebirds. Minako's frolicking around was a common early morning occurrence, especially if juicy gossip was involved. "I wanna hear all the details. Was it everything you expected Ami?" Clearly, Minako had been hoping for an extravagant tall tale.

"Nothing out of the norm." Replied Ami a little pink on her cheeks. "It was a rather quiet evening in."

"Yeah. Nothing earth shattering, but even if something did happen, it's not something I would go off blabbering to everyone. What about you two, anything interesting happen last night?" Makoto added with a hint of sternness, her stance slightly protective, as if to say "Back off a bit, she's still nervous." Minako quickly backed up, and went back to her giggling.

Luckily for everyone present, Usagi actually picked up on Makoto's hint and salvaged the situation. After elbowing Minako in the side, Usagi shrugged, she did have information, but she wasn't fond of it. "Not really. Setsuna wants us to meet them at their house after school. She didn't really say much about it. I don't have a clue other than she said it was urgent. I wonder what it could be about. She never just calls a meeting unless something big happened."

"It could be any number of reasons, but for right now we are going to be late, the bell will ring shortly if we don't hurry." Ami gently reminded the group. This in turn started the race to the school as Usagi dragged Makoto and Minako grabbed Ami. Later at lunch, the four Senshi were attempting to come up with some explanation for why Setsuna would call a meeting. The only time she did that, would be when the universe would implode due to some calamity that involved some evil force. Atop the school's roof, they found themselves alone, and free to discuss what they wanted freely. Ami still had her miniature computer open though, looking at her radar for anyone coming close.

"Another enemy perhaps?" Ami inquired "It has been rather quiet as of late. Someone may be planning something." Ami carefully spoke, trying to analyze the situation with a clear head. "Either that, or perhaps someone has come back, perhaps a former acquaintance and Setsuna doesn't want us to believe they could be an enemy. It seems every year we encounter something drastic, and sadly, were due for something."

"I don't really like the sound of that, I was hoping not to have to fight, at least for a short time." Makoto said after taking a bite of her curry.

"As long as we don't have a repeat of D-point." Minako shuddered to think that the Dark Kingdom would somehow be back.

"No, it can't be them! I refuse to let anyone die again! Twice was enough. No D-point, No Dark Moon Kingdom, and while we're at it, no Galaxia. None of it, do you hear me!" Usagi was still very upset over the events of D-point since it was her first real battle alone. She didn't have anyone, and at the time, she had believed that no one would ever come back. The Galaxia battle even after a year had passed, was still very fresh in all of their minds and on occasions like this, it took a very deep toll. "I'd rather not think about any of that. I'd rather pretend it never happened."

"It's alright Usagi, I don't think we will need to resort to that again, at least I hope not. Whatever it is, I'm sure that it won't hurt to have the help. We have gotten closer together recently, perhaps they're just warning us about something they know about." Makoto attempted to say in a comforting tone. "I know we aren't best friends, but we all fight together when it really counts."

"Yeah, you'll see. Setsuna only wants to have a small little talk. That's all." Minako said just as reassuringly. "Still, she could have told me. I wonder why she only told you, and not the rest of us..." That was one question of many the girls didn't have an answer for. Lunch was over long before their conversation could be, and it made everyone even more edgy. School seemed to go by faster than usual since everyone sat on pins and needles. As per request all of the Senshi were congregated inside the mansion home by late afternoon, all awaiting the time guardian.

"Does anyone even know why Setsuna called us here? Will there be another battle?" Rei asked largely worried. "Or is she just paranoid about a broken future." Rei began eying Ami, thinking it could be about her relationship with Makoto. "Did the flow of time just screw up again? If so, I think it's not too critical."

"Nothing like that Rei…" The cool melancholic voice answered. "This little event, though interesting as it may be, is not exactly an enemy. Think of this more like a mission from our future selves to correct an-" Setsuna began before being interrupted.

"Speak of the devil, thank god you're here Sets! I was getting a little nervous...you being late to a meeting is never a good thing!" This earned the blond a nice hit in the head with the end of the guardians staff.

"I am time you idiot. I govern it with merely my whims." Setsuna told Haruka dryly. "Therefor I am never late. I arrive exactly when I'm meant too, and not a moment thereafter. You'll do well to remember that." Setsuna growled as she closed her eyes and remembered why she was indeed late. Ah yes, she was certainly busy gallivanting around with a certain doctor for the better half of two hours. It wasn't as if she wanted to be late, and surely it didn't look as if she had been misplaced, yet Setsuna knew well enough that her little family was far more aware of her abilities than those of the other Senshi.

"Yeah, yeah, old hag. Get on with it." Haruka teased knowing full well Setsuna was sensitive about her age.
"Please watch what you say dear." Michiru said bringing forth a tray of drinks and snacks.
"I'd be glad to watch what I say…when Setsuna finally admits that even she can show up L-A-T-E." The blond continued to egg on the eldest Senshi.
"Beg your pardon?" The mage said as she was pulled from her thoughts highly annoyed.
"Nothing I said nothing… blasted ole bat." Haruka said again, only attempting to aggravate the older woman further.
"Ruka! watch your mouth around Hotaru!" Michiru scolded for the countless time.
"It's alright Michiru-mama, I'm used to this by now." Hotaru said then took a seat between her three parents on the floor while Setsuna sat down on her favorite chair behind her daughter, clearing her throat to speak.

"Anyway as I was saying I have received word from a person whom I was not expecting to see for quite some years yet… I have been unable to see the gates as clearly as before do to changes in the time line. While this can pose a threat under normal circumstances it apparently is not one in this case. More like a joke that I don't find funny in the least, and we have only ourselves to thank."

"What did we do?" Rei piped up confused.
"You gave the Mercury of Crystal Tokyo a reason to toy around with scientific medicine to a point beyond nature." Came a voice oddly like Setsuna's, however it was not Setsuna.
"Where in the hell did that voice come from?" Haruka asked quite perturbed by the random voice.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Saria the biological daughter of Setsuna, and as my mother, my abilities are within the flow of time." Came the voice again. This time she made her presence further known.

There was silence in the room as everyone absorbed the situation. It was all most could do to not fall off of the surface on which they sat. Setsuna had a daughter, she was here among them, and was apparently cause for the meeting. Now it was anyone's guess how everything would play out.

TBC

Chapter three coming at you later this week, more likely on the weekend.