YAY! New chapter! Well this is the last chapter that I have written down so the next ones may be a little bit slow in their forth coming... I'm sorry... I'll try to write as fast as I can and hopefully I won't have a writers block. I know how the story is pretty much going to go I just need to add all the details. And so that no one gets confused, there is a little bit of lapping in switching from Darien's POV and Serenity's POV, but this contains thoughts that I thought should be added. Sorry. Well enjoy!

P.s. – I'm currently looking for a beta reader if interested please contact me.

Thanx again to:

MoonPrincessMagic

Chapter 3 of TsukiHime,

The Time Before

Princess Serenity looked up at Prince Darien and bit back a giggle, his expression is hilarious! It looks like he didn't even realize he had been eating. After pondering this thought, the sudden realization that she might have to go get him more food and stay here even longer began to form, but before she could ask Darien was standing up. He bowed causing her to remember that just a short while ago he had done that... but with out a shirt on. When he straightened he said, "Thank you for bringing me my food, it's very much appreciated, and your time even more so."

She felt a blush creep up her cheeks, so to hide it and to be polite she curtsied in return replying, "Your welcome." She knew it was time to leave so she turned and walked towards the door; she felt relief wash over her at having been spared of bringing him more food. She paused at the door and decided that something else needed to be said so she said the first thing that came, "Good Night Prince Darien." After that she promptly left shutting the doors quietly behind her.

She walked straight across the hallway and pushed open her silver doors; once inside her sitting room, her napping maid gave a start, to cover her mistake, she quickly stood up and dropped a deep curtsy before she began to apologizing profusely, while adding how happy she was to see she was safe and then chided her for disappearing. Serenity began to get irritated and needing some time alone dismissed her saying, "Thank you Lisa. You are excused for the night." After saying this she turned around and opened the door to her sleeping quarters and paused when she saw that Lisa hadn't left yet.

"Yes? Is there something you have to say?" She asked. "Well I just thought that your Majesty might like to know that a handsome young man came to your rooms earlier today while you were… gone." And with that she turned and left, leaving Serenity to wonder why someone would come looking and if it had been Darien.

Entering her spacious bedroom, she hurried over to her canopy bed and fell on to her back with an arm flung over her eyes. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes, and let the memories of today come flooding back to her.

Flashback

Serenity stood in her mother's private antechamber and was fiddling with a blonde pony tail. Her mother had called her in here to reminder her of the procedures and duties to be done before the arrival of Prince Darien for Earth. She wasn't looking forward to meeting him; she could only imagine what an arrogant and stuck up man he would be, and she assumed he would be a lot older than her.

Deep in her thoughts, she jumped when Rei poked her sharply in the back. "Pay attention!" She whispered, anger giving her voice and edge. Serenity inwardly scowled at the reminder of where she was, the Guardians are never any fun, they're way to serious, she complained in her head.

"Serenity!... Serenity!" Her mother was saying, "Are you listening to me? You are excused! The scouts have already left" Serenity's thought scattered at the insistent tone in her mother's voice. Blushing, she curtsied and turned to leave, "And Serenity, dear," Her mother added in a warning tone, "Do not be late!"

"Yes mother." She replied and walked out into the hallway. She mentally ran through her list of duties and decided which one she wanted to do first and sorted the rest out in her head till she established an order. First I'll go down to the flower specialist, second will be the head chef, then the head maid, and finally, go to the Arrival Transportation Room.

Serenity came to the stair case and her favorite banter to slide down, checking to make sure there were no servants around she slid down and landed with a soft thump. I must be getting rusty if I can land on my feet any more, but oh well. She thought about her first duty and was happy; she had actually been ordered to come and visit Mr. Thompson, well she was actually supposed to be checking up on his progress, but she knew that would only take a few moments and she could spare some time to catch up with him when that was done. She stilled remembered the day she had first discovered the Palace gardens; she had been 6 at the time and had been sneaking away from her Guardians and her Governess, Luna.

The memory of how she got to the Gardens was pretty fuzzy, but she quiet clearly remembered her first glimpse of the flowers; it had been mid-spring and the flowers were in full bloom. At this moment she heard the voice of Mina calling for her and to her escape her she ran into the Gardens and their towering hedges.

She kept running and taking which ever direction presented it's self ; she didn't stop until she reached a large fountain surrounded by smaller hedges and stone benches. She decided to catch her breath and sat down on the closest bench, admiring all the bright flowers and different sounds that could be heard. She sat for a while and decided that maybe she should go back, she really didn't want to get in trouble… again. She got up and looked around, trying to remember which entrance she had come in from, at this point she began to get scared; they all looked the same, and in every direction the hedges blocked the view of the castle.

At this point she heard a merry whistling, and looked around trying to find where it was coming from. An middle aged man holding a pot with a Midnight Lily in it came strolling in from one of the four entrances in the hedge; Serenity tried to duck down behind one of the benches so the weird man wouldn't seen her but it was to late.

"Hello? Who's there?" He called while setting his pot down. Serenity stayed crouched down, she closed her eyes and kept repeating in her head, 'if I can't see him, he can't see me'. She was forced to open her eyes when the sounds of his boots stopped and a shadow fell over her; he had a kind face and a dirt smudge on his cheek. "Why hello, Your Little Highness! You gave me quite the scare you know! What ever are you doing out here all by yourself?" His voice was as merry as his whistle; she looked up at him and she found she wasn't scared any more.

She stood and gazed up at him wondering if he would be mad at her for running away and make her go back. He seemed nice and she knew she should go back now anyways, so she told him how she and the Guardians were playing then when it was time for lessons she had snuck off and ended up here. He just chuckled to himself when she was done and got down on one knee. "Well Princess Serenity, I am Mr. Thompson, the Royal Florist, and it is very nice to meet your acquaintance. Now, would you like me to take you back to the Palace or would you like to stay here till I'm done and then go back?"

Serenity thought about this for a while and thought about all the trouble she would be in, so she replied "Yes sir, Mr. Thompson, I would like to go back now." He took her hand and turned to his pot on the bench saying, "Now you stay here and don't move while I'm gone." She giggled at this and thought about how silly talking to a plant was.

They had made it back in short order and she had been in a lot of trouble, but this was the first of many expeditions to the Gardens. She grew to love them and learned a lot about flowers and gardening from Mr. Thompson. These lessons were almost always during the time when she was hiding from some one. She now knew all the names of the flowers that grew here, and even some from Earth, she also knew when they would bloom and many other gardening tips. And Mr. Thompson always asked her the same question he had on the day they met, even know that she knew the Gardens like the back of her hand.

Gathering her thoughts and fond memories, she strolled in to the Gathering Hall, hair and dress trialing behind, and glanced around till she found Mr. Thompson. Spotting him and catching his attention, she made her way over to him where he stood in front of a large vase of Midnight Lilies and Silver Sigh's. These were two of her favorite flowers and they looked amazing together, I'm so glad he knows what he's doing because every one else would be quite lost. Tilting her head to him, she formally said, "I'm glad to see you Mr. Thompson. I trust that the arrangements will be finished by the arrival time of Prince Darien?"

Bowing deeply in response he said, "Of course Your Highness, and they will be maintained as well." By the time he had finished his sentence, Princess Serenity had on a big grin and Mr. Thompson saw that the required formalities had passed. She suddenly grasped him into a childlike bear, which he returned with much affection.

"It's been to long, Princess Serenity, and oh how the Gardens miss her most precious flower!" He said after their embrace. Blushing and laughing gaily at his comment she replied, "Why Mr. Thompson, you're still as sweet as ever! And yes it has been to long indeed, but I'm a very busy Princess now."

Giving his usual chuckle, he commented "That didn't stop you before as I recall! As I remember you were there almost every day at the same time you lessons would be. Did they finally catch up with you?" Serenity shook her head with ruefulness and knowing he was right responded, "They did indeed, much to my dismay. Well it's truly been wonderful to see you but I have other duties I must attend to."

She hugged him good-bye and with a promise made to come visit him soon, she left the Gathering Hall and went to the kitchens to talk with the Head Chef. Upon arriving, she peered in the door and tried to spot Mrs. Miller, head of all cooking and meals. She was a very short and stout woman, approximately 55 years old and as stern as an ox; she commanded her kitchens with the same effectiveness and smoothness as an army. She was hard to spot, so Serenity listened for her voice and easily found her; she walked over and tapped her on the shoulder politely and waited for her to finish whipping some eggs.

"Hello Your Majesty. I assume you are here to confirm that I have the menu and banquet planned for tomorrow?" Miller stated with out setting the bowl down; Serenity opened her mouth to answer but the Head Chef was way ahead of her. "There is no need, I've already finished it and have begun preparations. Now if you'll excuse me Your Highness, I must get tonight's supper ready."

She returned to her eggs and began issuing miscellaneous commands; Serenity just shook her head at the Chef's abruptness and went on her way to the final duty before she was due at the Arrival Transportation Room. That woman has been cooking here longer than I've been alive and she still hasn't gotten any nicer.

Serenity found the Head Maid in the Servants quarters scolding a new maid for dropping a vase; she decided that it would cause the young girl less embarrassment if she stayed out in the hall way till she was done. A few moments later she came scurrying out and practically squeaked at the sight of finding the Princess standing in the hall way before she dropped a low curtsy and continued on her way.

"I know you're there Your Majesty. You can come in now." Came an elderly and stern voice from the same room the girl had just left. Walking in to the room, her eyes came to rest upon Helen, the Crystal Palace's Head Maid and the person who kept it running day-to-day. "Still as busy as ever I see," Serenity commented, then added, "And still sane, which quite fascinates me. What's your secret? My mother has me doing so many duties and lessons that I find myself on the brink by the time I go to bed each night."

Helen smiled sagely and answered, "It comes with age young Princess, and that you gain by living. Now tell me, have you come to gossip with this old maid, or are you here to do some of those duties you just spoke of." Serenity sighed and wished it was just a please visit. "Yes I'm afraid you're correct, it is my duties that bring me here. I'm just here to see if the room for Prince Darien is ready." At this time a servant came into the room and whispered urgently into Helen's ear. She dropped a curtsy replying, "I'm sorry but I have something I need to attend to. Oh, and yes his rooms are ready." With that she swept out of the room, leaving Serenity finished with all her tasks and plenty of time to kill before she needed to be at the arrival ceremony. Hhmmm…what is there to do? Oh! I think I'll go out the Gardens and relax for a while.

Ok... so I went off on a little tagent-ish thing about Serenity's relationship with Mr. Thompson and the Garden, but I wanted to make the characters realistic and give some background information... sorry. Please Read and Review!!!

W/ love, Hime-chan