Author's Notes: Sorry about the cliffhanger folks... but sometimes, you just have to do it. Am I right? Also, I have to apologize for the really short chapter, but I have an appointment today and don't have the time to put in the additional scenes. I'm editing this last little bit from my phone while on a bus. Not that easy, let me tell you. I hope you enjoy the two scenes I'm giving you. I just didn't want to leave the cliffhanger in a Christmas story. And I promise, it will get more Christmassy... I'll try to make a longer chapter for tomorrow.

Now it's time for you to respond to me! He he. I want you to be the writer for a minute and tell me what you want. Should I keep Ail (Seijoru) and An (Natsume) on Earth in the end, or send them away? The reason I ask is that I am trying to figure out whether or not to continue this in a New Years story with Fiore, who in my mind is of the same species (even though it's never clearly stated). What do you want? Should I keep them around or send them packing?

Warning: Adult language and a really mad mama!


Sanctuary
A Christmas Story
Chapter Eight


***Mamoru's POV***

Everyone was staring. Mamoru had turned the moment he heard the first wail from Chibi-Usa. His mind filled with horrible images of a Cardian in the arcade. Instead he saw Natsume, her hand gripping Usagi's arm tightly. There were four long scratch marks arcross Chibi-Usa's tiny cheek, and glowing on her forehead was the crescent of the Royal Lunar Kingdom.

Never had he seen Usagi move so quickly as he did then. Before the second wail had ended, Chibi-Usa was hidden in Haruki's arms, a blanket covering her, and Usagi had thrown Natsume in one lightning fast move, swiping her legs from under her with a foot while using her hips and shoulder to thrust the girl up and over her. She landed on the floor with a whoosh as the air was torn from her lungs on impact.

He handed Chibi-Mamo, who was whimpering, to Haruki as well, and the young man quickly covered him with the same blanket so that he could see his sister was alright. The only person who could have seen the glowing mark, other than themselves, was Natsume. And at the moment, she wasn't speaking.

Usagi didn't stop. Tiny as she was, she picked Natsume up and carried her, held over her shoulder, outside the Crown Game Center. Mamoru followed quietly, watching for Seijoru, who he was sure was not far away.

The sliding doors opened for Usagi and he hurried to catch up as she lugged the larger girl outside. He had never been so impressed. His mind conjured images of mothers picking cars up off of their children. Adrenaline could do amazing things. Bears weren't the only protective mothers around.

His only concern was that Usagi would go too far and accidentally hurt the girl. Not that he would care. Usagi would. She would feel awful later if she did permanent damage. He thought the girl deserved it. But in this case, it was Usagi who needed to solve the problem.

There was a small thud as Usagi released the girl onto her feet and shoved her into the wall of the arcade. Natsume stared at Usagi and tried to break her hold, but the blonde didn't budge. She glared, holding the other girl still, and growled at her.

"I've had it Natsume," she said, her tone icy as a glacier. "You have been treating me like crap for a month, and I haven't said or done a single thing to deserve it. I put up with it, dealt with your bullshit, and kept my mouth shut. No more."

Natsume opened her mouth to speak and Usagi glared at her, shaking her head.

"No! You've had your chance. For an entire month, you've had your chance to say what you wanted. Its my turn. I've had it. You have hit me, tripped me, kicked me, thrown things at me, and been verbally abusive to me. And I did nothing. Nothing! But now you're going to stop and pay attention. Because if you ever hurt another child I will destroy you."

Natsume's jaw dropped and for a moment she spluttered, unsure what exactly was happening. Mamoru knew though. This was a mother protecting her child, and she would do whatever it took to accomplish that mission.

"You think you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it. But you're wrong. The world doesn't work like that. People don't get everything they want. In fact, most of us are miserable much of the time because some of us can't even get what we need. We suffer. All of us. And you somehow think we all owe it to you to give you what little we have. So let me be perfectly fucking clear…"

Even Mamoru's jaw dropped at that.

"You will never come near me, or my friends again. You will stay away from my family. You will not so much as speak to me. And if I catch you bullying anyone else, I will continue this lesson. Do you understand me?"

Natsume only nodded, but it was clear she got the point.

"You, and your brother, are banned from this establishment," Motoki added.

Mamoru turned. He hadn't heard his friend come out, but was thankful he had. Seijoru was next to him, staring at Usagi and Natsume in shock. Mamoru couldn't believe he'd been so focused on Usagi that he'd lost track of his surroundings.


***Naru's POV***

Naru stood across the street from the Crown game center, her hand tightly clasped in Umino's, her mouth partly open in shock as her heart pounded a wild rhthym in her chest. She had never seen Usagi act that way before, and it was the biggest shock of her life. Not that Natsume didn't deserve it, of course. But this was Usagi.

Oh, she knew Usagi was Sailor Moon, of course. But those were monsters. This was different. Natsume was human. Wasn't she? She tilted her head in confusion. She watched carefully as Usagi turned away from the other girl and headed back inside.

Very carefully she crossed the street, her eye still on Usagi, who immediately went to a young, red-haired youth who was holding a bundle in his arms. Mamoru went up behind Usagi, wrapped his arms around her, and held her tight for a long moment, before each of them reached for the bundle, which turned out to be two babies.

Naru looked around carefully. People were looking at Usagi like they'd never seen her before. And maybe they hadn't. Usagi was the kindest, sweetest person she knew. She was a warrior, true, but she never stood up for herself against bullies. There was definitely more to this story.

Umino was uncharacteristically silent. His eyes were wide as he stared. Together they followed Motoki inside the arcade, and walked toward the couple.

"How's her cheek," Mamoru was asking as they approached.

"I don't think it will scar," Usagi told him as she rocked a pink-haired infant from side to side. "I could just kill Natsume for hurting her though," she muttered.

"I think you handled it well," Mamoru said. "She needed to be put in her place. Do you think anyone saw the mark?"

Usagi shook her head. "I hope not. They sent them here for us to protect them," she muttered. "Now look at what's happened. I'll never forgive myself."

"Usako," Mamoru whispered, making Naru pause in shock, "this wasn't your fault. Sit down. Please."

Usagi slid into the bench and Mamoru moved to sit beside her. Naru watched as Usagi leaned her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his free arm around her. He was holding a putpled haired baby who was staring at the pink-haired one in Usagi's arms, looking for all the world like he too wanted to cause harm.

"Hey Usagi, hey Mamoru," Naru said, and she moved to the other side of the table and slid into the seat next to the red-haired teen, pulling Umino down beside her. "We just got back or I would have been there today. What the heck just happened with Natsume?"

"She grabbed me and scratched Chibi-Usa." Usagi looked extremely angry. Naru had only ever seen her that way once before. The day after Mamoru had been taken. That was the day she'd figured out Usagi's secret, though there had been plenty of hints before then.

"That… cow!" Naru hissed. She glanced at the boy beside her, who chuckled at her response. "I'm Naru. One of Usagi's best friends. Do I know you from somewhere?" She paused, and then it hit her. "Haruki?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Just moved back to stay with Usagi here. Try to keep her out of trouble."

"Never happen," Mamoru said with a grin.

Naru and Usagi had a silent conversation with their eyes. She glanced quickly at Mamoru and Usagi nodded. Apparently his memories had returned. She slid her eyes to Haruki as well and Usagi nodded. So her cousin knew her secret.

"Where did the babies come from?" Umino asked. He too knew the secret, but Naru wasn't sure if Usagi was aware of that fact. From the panicked look in Usagi's eyes, she suspected the babies story was a complicated one.

"This isn't the place for that discussion Umino," Naru told him in a quiet voice. "I'm sure she'll tell us when it's safe."

"Thanks Naru," Usagi said, a frown crickling her forehead. "It's been a bit crazy."

"I heard. Two attacks in two days. All over the news. But they didn't mention help had arrived."

"Just yesterday," Usagi said. "Let me get something in my belly and we can go downstairs."

Mamoru stared hard at Naru and Umino for a long moment, and he must have seen something that comforted him because he nodded.

"So why did Natsume scratch her?" she asked.

"She was trying to grab me. Earlier she slammed my head into my desk at school and Haruna-sensei saw and gave her detention. She must not have stayed for it, because I had just picked Chibi-Usa up when she grabbed me." Usagi was obviously still angry about it.

"Well, Umino and I are back. We can help during school at least. What about her brother? Is he still… making passes."

Usagi frowned. "He didn't today, but that's mostly because I hid on the school roof during lunch."

Naru giggled. "Thats a new one."

"Desperate times." Usagi said. She stopped speaking for a moment and Naru watched as she and Mamoru stared at each other. Their facial expressions said they were having a silent conversation. Mamoru looked a bit grim, but Usagi appeared on the verge of laughter.

Motoki arrived with several plates. He already knew what Naru and Usagi would order, and apparently had figured out what Umino would get as well. Mamoru had a coffee, as did Haruki, while the three of them had burgers and fries. She shared a look with Usagi. They both loved American food.

"Hey Naru, Umino. How was the trip?" Motoki asked.

"Boring," Umino complained. Naru laughed. Umino wasn't the most coordinated person on the planet.

"I loved skiing, but Umino was afraid to try," she explained.

Unazuki hurried over with two bottles. "Did I get the temperature right?" she asked, handing the bottles to Usagi and Mamoru. She watched as Usagi upturned the bottle in her hand and dabbed it on the inside of her wrist. She nodded.

"Perfect. Thanks Una-chan."

"Any time. I saw what happened. Is she okay?" Unazuki, who was Motoki's younger sister, frowned as she looked at the four scratches on the baby's cheek.

"Yeah. I'll clean them as soon as she starts eating," Usagi told her. Unazuki nodded and rushed away as quickly as she had come.

"I'd better go help. We're a bit busy today," Motoki said, and he waved as he moved away.


Author's Thanks:

I just want to say thank you to all my lovely reviewers who have been helping and encouraging me. If you aren't a writer as well you may not fully understand just what it means to get a review that asks you to keep the story going. Basically, it means the world. And you have all given me the world this week.

I was having major issues with a guest reviewer saying some pretty horrible things, including telling me I should go jump off a bridge, and it was really upsetting me for a time. Then I finally decided enough was enough, and I responded in an earlier chapter of this story. Not rudely, but enough to show I wasn't going to be bullied into quitting. And then the responses poured in. Not just reviews, but messages to me, telling me not to quit, thanking me for standing up for myself, and saying that I was a good author.

It meant more to me than I can ever express. It's one thing when your family or friends tell you that you're doing a good job. Its entirely different when its a complete stranger. I thought it was hilarious when my son threatened to have the Marines tie me to my computer. I thought it was sweet when my husband told me I was the best writer on the planet. But when I got all the messages and reviews from you guys I felt empowered. I felt happy and hopeful again. So thank you. Thank you all so much.

You're the best!

- Tori -