AN: Here's some sweet, sweet fluff for your Sunday. I adore this little drabble. My usual thanks to FloraOne for her amazing beta skills, and for just being a lovely, lovely human being. 3 Hope you enjoy, and I love your feedback!

"Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious."- William Shakespeare

Mamoru stood with Motoki in the large ballroom, eyes scanning the room as he slowly sipped on a glass of champagne. It was the evening of the hospital's annual ball held for its charitable foundation, and every doctor, much to Mamoru's chagrin, was expected to attend.

Motoki watched his best friend out of the corner of his eye with amusement. There was, perhaps, no one in the world who looked as comfortable in a tuxedo as Mamoru, but his discomfort at the situation he was in was incredibly obvious to anyone who really knew him.

To anyone on the outside, which was pretty much everyone, Chiba Mamoru was the picture of calm, cool and collected. But to the insiders, Motoki was grateful to consider himself as one, the way he clutched his glass a little too tightly, the way his lips set in a straight line and his tendency to pick invisible lint from his jacket were all dead giveaways that he'd rather be anywhere else but here.

"Stop fidgeting, Mamoru. They'll be here soon enough," Motoki chided. Mamoru let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. He was more than ready for his wife to make an appearance.

Usagi had insisted on getting ready and arriving separately from him. She and Reika had gone dress shopping for the occasion together, and after finding what Usagi had described as the, "most perfect and amazing dress ever created," she wanted her outfit for the evening to be a surprise.

Mamoru couldn't wait to see her. Of course he was excited to see this magnificent dress she'd found, but mostly, he needed her there to calm his nerves. These kinds of functions were so much more bearable with her by his side. Usagi had a way of taking over the conversation so that he didn't have to, but she somehow always managed to make him feel included as well. Her comforting little hand on his arm was so soothing…

He was brought out of his reverie by Motoki's elbow jabbing him in the ribs. When Mamoru glared at him, he saw Motoki nod his head at the staircase behind them. Mamoru slowly turned around, and when he caught sight of her, his breathing stopped.

She was a vision. She was always beautiful, but this was...other worldly. Ethereal.

Usagi wore a gown of the deepest royal blue. The bodice was a delicate, floral lace that extended over her shoulders and down to form sheer three-quarter length sleeves. Her tiny waist was cinched off by a small bow, and the skirt that extended to the floor was full from layer after layer of chiffon and taffeta underneath. The odangos her hair was so famous for remained, but instead of the two streams that normally came out of them, the rest of her hair was let loose to fall in gorgeous curls down her back. She looked regal. Royal. Every bit the princess she was.

Without another word to Motoki, Mamoru briskly walked towards his wife. A brilliant smile spread across his features, and as he reached her, he held out his hand to her. She took it, giggling, as he spun her around to take in the full scope of her attire.

"Do you like it?"

"Like doesn't even begin to describe it, princess," he replied, kissing her forehead tenderly, enjoying her blush of pleasure at his endearment. "Let's get you something to eat so you have enough energy to dance with me the rest of the night, but no punch!" Mamoru stopped to wink at her, and Usagi's mouth hung open in mock indignation. "There's a lot of balconies around here, and I'm not sure we can survive another tumble off of one." He winked, again, as she playfully swatted his arm and stuck her tongue out at him for good measure.

The rest of the evening went by in a blur. Usagi always managed to make time go by much more quickly than it would have otherwise. They danced, ate, exchanged polite pleasantries with Mamoru's colleagues, and before either one knew it, they were saying their goodbyes to Motoki and Reika.

"Would you like to walk home? The apartment's not far, and I want the chance to stare at you in that dress a little while longer." There was just a hint of teasing in his voice, but Usagi knew the sentiment was entirely true. She also knew she'd struck a home run with the dress, but hearing him say so was the icing on the cake.

"Stare away, Mamo-chan," and she kissed his cheek softly, taking his hand in hers, she continued, "You don't look so bad yourself, you know."

"Really? In this old thing?"

"Mhmm. A bit predictable, but handsome nonetheless." There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Predictable, huh?" Mamoru leaned down and whispered seductively in her ear, "How about I get you out of that dress, and show you just how predictable I can be, princess?"

Her eyes went wide, and before she could think, her voice rang out in the night air, "Taxi!"

End