The group decided to stay after Serena's confession as it was the first time since the battle had begun that they had sat together peacefully and just enjoyed the day in each other's company.

Jokes and laughter were shared and Darien even started to see Serena being her old self again, being silly with the girls and just enjoying the time spent with her closest friends, maybe getting her to talk was a good thing after all.

The sunny warm afternoon atmosphere suddenly shifted and Serena felt an icy chill go down her spine as the four beaten, desperate soldiers approached her and her friends.

It was a good thing that they were in a secluded area of the park since they could have won first prize at a comic-con. But she knew better.

She knew that look, she had worn it herself for what felt like an eternity only two weeks ago.

They stood in unison as their company drew closer. The girls were poised, ready to fight, Darien kept his position firmly in front of her

"You're Serenity" it wasn't a question.

Serena examined the woman that spoke, she looked aged for her years.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Gabrielle, these are my friends" she gestured to the two men and woman on her flanks. They all stood as if ready to fight, and yet they looked exhausted.

Serena and the others stood still and silent, Gabrielle pressed to her matter.

"I've heard of you, we didn't even know if you were alive, but I had to find out"

"Why?" Darien asked.

"You're a legend on our planet, the Moon warriors that put Galaxia down for good" She paused and looked Serena in the eyes, her blood ran cold and her heart broke into a sprint before she heard the next words out of Gabrielle's mouth. She knew what was coming.

"We need your help"

She couldn't speak, another fight? She only stared at the woman's pleading eyes. These soldiers looked beaten and tired, just like she had been. They were lost and alone. Just like she had been..

Images from that fateful day ran through her mind, the pain, the loneliness, it was deafening.

She couldn't hear Darien asking her what was wrong or the girls telling her it was ok and to calm down.

She was shaking her head, silent tears rolled down her face as she answered "No" her head continued shaking as were her hands that Darien was now trying to grasp "I'm sorry no"

Serena avoided her friends' shocked faces as she reached for her bag and ran from the park in any direction that would lead her away from where could lead to another war.

Darien ran after Serena but she was fast 'all those late mornings for school were paying off' he thought.

"Darien!" Rei shouted after him

"Leave him Rei, he'll take care of Serena, we have to take care of this" Amara said calmly, she took charge and turned to the newcomers.

"Where have you come from? And why do you need our help?"

Gabrielle looked thoroughly intimidated by Amara and the outer's stance, but tried to keep her composure.

"We come from beyond this Galaxy, a great threat has put our planet to sleep in the hopes of brainwashing it's inhabitants to completely take it over, including our King and our best warriors, we are no match for them, they were too strong for us to fight alone"

The girls listened in silence to the rest of what Gabrielle had to say.

Serena managed to make it back to Darien's apartment before he caught up with her but she could still hear him shouting her name behind her. But she couldn't turn and face him, she just had to keep running. She reached the right floor and got to the door but started to struggle with the keys, her hands were shaking too much to open the door.

Darien saw the love of his life drop the keys and hit the door in frustration and fall to the floor sobbing. She was broken, he knew she hadn't been right since it ended, the smiles and promises of everything being alright were just a mask. A mask to cover this.

This image of his broken Serena would haunt him forever, but her was determined to heal her.

He ran to her and took her in his arms, she continued to cry and wet his shirt with her tears.

"I can't, not again" she managed between sobs. He stroked her hair, and kissed her head

"Shh, it's alright" he kept saying "Come on" he grabbed Serena's keys and took them both inside the apartment. He led her to the couch and curled her up on his lap where she continued to cry and he continued to comfort her until dawn fell.