A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter! I greatly appreciate all the comments and feedback :) As always, thank you to my beta reader, MoonlightLegends!

I did want to note one thing thought; the abuse in the first few chapters is not to make Makoto seem weak. The thing about abusive relationships is that they can happen to anyone, whether they're physically weak or strong.

Anyway, on with chapter 7! I hope you all enjoy it. Standard disclaimer applies - I don't own Sailor Moon.


Chapter 7

-The Time of Silver Millennium-

"Princess!" Juno's irritated voice echoed off the marble floors of the proud Moon palace.

A petite woman with long silver hair pinned up in the royal odango stopped dead in her tracks, shoulders hunched forward in defeat that she'd been caught. Slowly she turned to face her guardian from the planet Jupiter; by far the strongest of those sworn to serve and protect her, and the one with the strictest sense of duty she'd ever seen. Juno never seemed to smile, laugh or jest with the rest of them; she focused only on her duty to her planet and the Silver Millennium. "Yes, Juno?" she answered sweetly, her crystalline blue eyes showing her own frustration.

Juno's emerald green matched her princess' hard stare. With two more long strides she stood in front of her princess, arms crossed in front of her chest. As was her custom, she wore the armor of her planet instead of the sailor guardian uniform the others preferred. It was sleek and comfortable, allowing for maximum movement, yet intricately decorated with runes telling the story of her royal blood line. "This sneaking off alone must stop, Serenity," she chided her charge. "We have an agreement with the Terran prince; you will be accompanied at all times by one of we guardians."

Serenity scoffed and stuck her nose in the air. "You would not understand, Jupiter," she said coolly, "it deals with matters of the heart."

Juno was struck hard by her comment. Contrary to popular belief, she cared deeply for her princess and the other guardians, which was one reason she took her duty so seriously. As usual however, the princess from Jupiter held her stoic appearance. "Matters of the heart or not, your duty is to your kingdom. If something happened to you on one of these-"

Serenity narrowed her eyes and cut Juno off mid-sentence, "Endymion would never let anything happen to me." She stepped closer to her guardian and glared up at her, making for an ironic scene. Serenity was a full head shorter than the Jovian princess, and where Juno was athletic and strong, Serenity was dainty and thin. "You have no idea of what you speak, Jupiter," she spat.

It was now Juno's turn to grow angry. "And what, dear Princess, happens when your secret dalliance is made public?" Her voice was low and even, her request less of a question and more of a warning. "Terra and the Silver Millennium are not allies, Princess. They are barely speaking. You are playing a very dangerous game, one that-"

Serenity cut her off again, this time turning away with tears in her eyes as Juno's words struck a chord in her heart. "Stop it, Jupiter. I do not wish to hear a lecture!" she cried and started to make her way back down the corridor.

Juno grabbed the smaller woman's arm and stopped her in her tracks. "No, Princess. You must hear this. This game of yours is dangerous in the worst way. Terra is not on friendly terms with any of the planets in the alliance. One wrong move and you send all of our kingdoms to war." Serenity was silent, staring at the floor instead of looking into Juno's blazing eyes. "Are you willing to ask your people, soldiers who fight for you, to die so that you may indulge in something as selfish as love?"


Serenity wept into her lover's strong chest, having recounted her earlier interactions with Juno of Jupiter. Endymion wrapped his arms tighter around her small form and held her close, kissing the top of her head. He breathed in the sweet lavender scent of her soft, silken silver hair and closed his eyes. Deep down he knew her guardian was right; what they were doing was incredibly dangerous and yes, selfish.

"She is the most selfish, awful…" Serenity had launched into a tirade.

Endymion sought to soothe her, running his hands through her loose hair. He loved that she let it down only for him. "My darling, she is your guardian. She is trying to keep your safe," he said softly. "I did give her my word we would adhere to the schedule we set with her." Icy blue glared up into his deep sapphire eyes at the insinuation that she was in the wrong. He smiled sadly. "Serenity, we must start to work official channels. We cannot keep our affair a secret for much longer."

Serenity was silent, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. He was right, and deep down she knew Juno to be right as well. She just wouldn't admit it to herself. "Alright, my love," she smiled through her tears, knowing the road ahead would be tenuous at best. She could hear her mother's lecture in her head almost immediately; it wouldn't be too far off what Juno had said earlier in the day. She was quiet a moment before being struck with an idea. "Endy…" she purred. He looked down at her with a bit of dread, she'd obviously had some sort of devious idea. "Your cousin wanted to spend time with Juno, did he not?"

Endymion raised an eyebrow, wondering to himself where she was going with her line of thought. "Yes, he started cautiously, "but that cannot be, Serenity."

The young princess scoffed and softly kissed his cheek. "We just need a distraction." She planted kisses down the side of his neck. Endymion felt his rational side fade off as her soft lips assaulted his skin. Serenity leaned back and grinned, happily watching as lust darkened her prince's eyes. "Perhaps then she will leave us some time to ourselves."


"Why the sudden change in heart, Endymion?" Evander asked as the two walked deeper into the forest nearest the castle. They were to meet with Serenity and the guardian from Jupiter, a meeting he was very happy to attend. He had wanted desperately to see the Jovian princess again since their last meeting, a desire his cousin had deemed impossible since that day.

Endymion was silent, knowing the true reason was truly a selfish one. Evander had accompanied him to visit his Princess several times, but always when the other guardians would be there, never Jupiter. His attraction to her could spell disaster for their family. If the truth about his aunt was made public, the scandal could rock the very kingdom to the point of war.

Finally they reached a clearing settled along a quiet stream. Wild roses grew just outside the shade of the ancient oaks that lined the edge of the clearing, a symphony of pinks, reds and yellows contrasting beautifully against the greens and browns of the forest floor. This was Endymion's favorite spot. As children they would sneak off from their governess and race here to swim and play in the stream. As an adult, this was the place Evander always knew he'd find his brooding cousin, lying along the stream bed in the soft grass, staring up at the sky.

However, to Evander, the beauty of this quiet place paled in comparison to the vision before him. There she stood, the angel who had haunted his dreams since they first met some weeks ago. Instead of an elegant gown, she was instead dressed for battle. She wore her shiny auburn in a simple braid that fell to the middle of her back instead of the intricate weave he'd seen before. Her bronze colored armor gleamed in the sunlight, and emeralds glistened on the hilt of the great broadsword sword fastened to her back.

Juno sat facing the stream with her eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the surrounding forest. This place reminded her of Io, the castle and surrounding grounds given to her by Queen Serenity the day she pledged her life as one of the Princess' guardians. She felt the prince and his companion approaching for what felt like ages. Like at home, she connected to the forces of nature on this planet. She could hear the trees whisper in the wind, the earth tremor under their feet as they approached. While she would never admit it, least of all to her Princess, she enjoyed this planet and its lush nature.

"Hello, Prince Endymion." Juno's voice rang clear though the air as the two men approached. With one graceful move she stood and faced them. She gave a curt bow toward Evander, "Your grace. We have something to discuss." She smiled to herself as confusion settled on to Endymion's face. He was wondering where Serenity could be, no doubt.

Evander watched his cousin shift his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. This was definitely not what he had been expecting. "Alright, Jupiter," he addressed her by her guardian name, "what is there to discuss?"

Juno's eyes narrowed on the Terran prince. "You and the Princess will desist from anymore 'unscheduled' visits going forward." Evander chucked to himself; it didn't sound like she was here for much of discussion. "If she sneaks off once more, these visits will cease completely, and the Queen will be informed of your dalliance. For both the Princess' own good and for the good of all our kingdoms."

Endymion was silent for a few moments. He had no doubt that the Jovian warrior was deadly serious. "I agree, Jupiter. I gave my word to the terms we set a month ago." His voice was steely and even. Evander looked curiously at his cousin; he was truly intimidated by this female soldier. "I have spoken with Serenity at length regarding this matter, and we will begin official negotiations."

Juno thought a moment, and deciding she was satisfied with the Terran prince's answer, nodded her head. She closed her eyes and searched for the bond she shared with her fellow guardians. Blazing orange filled her vision as she connected with Venus. Serenity may follow, she thought, willing the message along her own ribbon of electric green.

Seconds later, Serenity appeared in a blast of silver. Evander was dumbstruck, having never actually seen how the Moon Princess and her guardians traveled before. He looked to his cousin and found him already with his arms around the tiny woman, holding her close while locked in a devastating kiss.

Evander immediately looked away, feeling as though he was imposing. His eyes settled on the Jovian warrior once more, and he could have sworn he saw the hint of a smile tug at the corners of her full, pink lips as she watched the two lovers. She looked his way again, nodded and then returned to where she'd been sitting when they had approached the clearing.

Evander approached slowly and sat down next to her. She was staring out at the calm water of the stream, seemingly off in her own world. "I had no idea you could connect to the earth the way Endymion and I do," he said quietly, not really knowing how to start the conversation.

Juno turned slowly, her emerald eyes meeting his cerulean. A small smile tugged at her lips. "Is that so?" She knew very little about Endymion or his cousin, and even less about any abilities they might possess. He was quite handsome, she decided, with kind hearted eyes that were filled with laughter and a bit of mischief. Something seemed familiar about him; part of her felt as though she was talking with one of her countrymen.

Evander nodded with a grin. "When I was a child, my mother told me stories of the mystical abilities held by the Jovian royal line. I never in my wildest fantasies imagined I would have the pleasure of meeting one."

Juno smiled a bit in confusion. "How would your mother know about the Jovian royal line? Is she a Terran scholar or diplomat of some kind?"

Evander shook his head and looked out over the stream. "My mother is Jovian," he answered simply. "As you could imagine, it is not something spoken of outside my family." For some reason he felt completely at ease talking to the princess; much more at ease than he ever would have imagined. He decided she was much warmer than his cousin gave her credit for; he couldn't see past the warrior. Evander looked over at his cousin and the Moon princess and smiled wider. "I'm a bit envious of how in love they are."

Juno snorted. "They are selfish with zero regard for their duty to their kingdoms and people." Evander faced her once more to find the warmth in her eyes replaced by ice. "Your cousin knows it as well; this affair will start a war. Their duty as heirs of their respective kingdoms is to put their planet, their people and their duty before their own desires."

Evander was a bit taken back by her sudden mood shift. "You truly think this will end in war?"

Juno nodded, "Jovians know one thing above all else, and that is war."


The grand ballroom was filled with royalty and diplomats from all the planets belonging to the Silver Alliance. Terra was also represented, to the surprise of most in attendance. Princess Serenity and her lover claimed the dance floor, lost in their own world.

Juno excused herself from the tired conversation she'd been having with a dignitary from Mars and made her way out to one of the balconies facing west. Letting her guard down for a moment, she leaned against the intricate crystal railing and looked up into the dark sky. Jupiter hung high, glowing like a bright star. She sighed, wishing desperately she could visit her home.

Evander leaned against the balcony's doorway watching as Juno looked up into the sky. She wore a gown made from green silk, held in place by two thin braided ribbons that crossed over her back. The gown itself was simple, with a modest neckline and skirt that reached the small of her back. Her hair was gathered up off her shoulders and neck, woven together in an intricate pattern that he could only guess had taken hours. It was a far cry from the armor she had worn the last time they'd met. "A bit homesick?" he asked softly, a smile playing on his face.

Juno spun around quickly, reaching for the knife attached to her calf before she realized who it was in the doorway. "Your grace," she said as she straightened and smoothed her dress.

Evander chuckled and moved to stand beside her at the railing. "Please, Princess. There is no need to be so formal; please call me Evander."

Juno smiled in spite of herself. "As you wish, Evander. You may call me Juno." She turned back toward the sky; Evander followed suit. "To answer your earlier question, yes, I suppose I am."

"I have always longed to see Jupiter," he confessed.

"The clearing from a few weeks back reminds me of Io; I think you would like it there." The two were quiet for a few moments. Juno looked over at him and asked, "Why did your mother leave? I have never heard of a Jovian who left for any reason other than duty."

Evander was quiet a moment; his mother's past was not a pleasant one. "She was sold by her family when she was a child. My grandfather bought her; he was not a kind man from what my father and uncle told me."

Juno could feel the anger rising in her, starting in her belly. Electricity was crackling in the air around her. She remembered the stories of the now extinct clan that sold their children to neighboring planets.

"From there she worked as a maid in the castle, where she became close friends with my father and to a lesser extent, my uncle. When my grandfather died and Uncle took the throne, he released Mother from her bond and ensured she was afforded an estate and title of her own. Father says he had always had feelings for Mother, even when they were children, so he pursued her. The rest, as they say, is history." Evander was quiet for a moment, before adding quietly, "She died last spring."

Juno's eyes softened, her anger replaced by sympathy. "You have my deepest condolences, Evander."

Evander faced her with a sad smile. "Thank you, Juno." The two were silent for a while; staring up at the planets and stars that could be seen from the Moon. It was a comfortable silence; one Juno was unwilling to break. She was happy sitting in silence, staring up at where she knew her home would be. A few moments later, Evander's voice broke into her thoughts once more. "Do you ever think about falling in love, Juno?"

"No," she answered honestly, "when the time comes, my father will come to an agreement which he believes will be of the best benefit for Jupiter."

"I understand your duty, Juno, but what about your dream?"

Juno smiled sadly, "Evander, here is where you and I differ. I have no right to dream. I am first and foremost a guardian to the Moon Princess. Second I am the crowned princess of Jupiter. My dreams matter not, only my duty to my Princess and people." She gave a small curtsey and headed back into the ballroom.

Late that night, after the festivities had ended, Juno lay awake in her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was restless, rolling around the events of the evening. She remembered watching Serenity dance with Endymion; they looked so happy and at ease. In the times when she was alone with only her thoughts, she could finally admit that she did want what those two had with each other. Yes, she had her duty and she would always put that first, but here in her quiet space, she could finally admit to herself that she wanted to find a true love of her own.

Inwardly, she was happy her Princess had found her soulmate. Serenity was, for the most part, a kind soul. Hopelessly naïve, but that was to be expected given her age and how sheltered she'd been since she was born. Juno even liked the Terran prince. He seemed responsible, kind, strong and intelligent, with an innate sense of duty – at least until Serenity entered the picture. Juno sighed, when it came to her Princess, it seemed the Terran prince had lost all sense.

Soon her thoughts drifted toward Evander, the Terran prince's cousin. An unconscious smile touched her lips. Juno had enjoyed their talk, and a growing part of her wished they had danced. She had rarely been so comfortable with another person, and certainly not since her time began on the Moon. She and her sister guardians had a working relationship, held together by a common goal: ensure the safety of their Princess. By no stretch of the imagination was it a sisterly bond, however. They were all much more lenient of Serenity's antics; they encouraged them even. The chief instigator was nearly always Serenity's cousin, and the leader of the guardians, the Venusian princess.

Juno huffed and rolled over to her side, trying to push all the thoughts from her mind. She wrapped her blankets around her and closed her eyes. Just before sleep claimed her, she could have sworn she heard Evander's soft voice echoing in her mind: "Sweet dreams, Angel."


"I need a favor, Cousin," Evander said between blows as he and Endymion sparred. The two men were quite evenly matched in both strength and skill, having been trained together since childhood.

Endymion quirked an eyebrow at the request and hesitated for just a moment, a moment of which Evander took full advantage, knocking the prince's sword to the ground and holding his own dull blade at Endymion's neck. Point to Evander.

Endymion pushed Evander's blade aside and retrieved his own sword from the ground. "Pray tell, Evander, what is it you need?" he asked with a bit of snark, knowing that it most likely had to do with a certain guardian.

Evander grinned and stood en garde, ready for another round of sparring. "I want to enter into marriage negotiations with Jupiter." Endymion did not answer, only raised his blade. The two men began to fight. "Think on it, Endymion," Evander continued over the clanging of the two swords, "if we were to negotiate some sort of treaty with one of the most powerful planets in the Alliance, it could help your situation with Serenity."


In a rare moment to herself, Juno walked through the gardens just outside the Moon palace. It was her favorite place to visit when she found a spare moment; the vibrant colors from the nameless blooms transported her back home. It had been months since she'd visited her home, and decided she would return at the soonest possibility.

"Princess!"

A frantic voice broke through her thoughts. Immediately Juno turned to face an out of breath Jovian messenger. "Princess, an urgent message from the King." He bowed low and handed her a sealed note.

"Thank you," she answered simply. The messenger bowed once more and left as quickly as he'd appeared.

Juno tore into the note. Her eyes widened as she read her father's hand. She had to return to Jupiter immediately.


Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think, either pm me or lead a review!