The arcade was once again abandoned with the owner wiping dusty tables. Darien entered for his usual afternoon coffee. He hoped around the counter and started to make his brew. Lita entered like she usually did, she hoped on the stool waiting for the girls arrival. Nathaniel entered, with a book pinned to his face, his eyes moving along with the words. He walked over the 'wet floor sign' and dodged the wet puddle on the floor. He made his way to the stool beside Lita without his eyes leaving the book. "What are you reading?" Lita asked curious. Nathaniel held out the 'marriage for dummies'. She was surprised, he looked around the same age as her and he was already getting married. Matthew soon followed.

"I don't understand why you're reading that?" Matthew said. Nathaniel continued reading ignoring his friends, he rolled his eyes. He shook his head disappointedly and looked up at Andrew who stood in front of him.

"is he getting married soon?" Andrew asked. Matthew shook his head.

"Josh's uncle is proposing to Serena's aunt. Josh's uncle said that if Nathaniel read the whole book and summarized it for him he'd pay him eighty bucks" Matthew stated. Just then a man with blond hair entered, he had baby blue eyes wearing a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. He entered with Joshua, Zachary, and Serena.

"ask her already!" Serena complained. The man sighed hard at the annoying blond. "she's not going to wait forever!" she stated. The man sighed hard and looked at the blond.

"Serena, honey we're talking about your aunt here. She's more of a romantic than you are and we all know she would want something amazing! I just need to think of it and with your help the faster I can ask her!" he stated as he sat down on the counter. He gave a friendly smile to the owner.

"just do it the old fashion way-" Nathaniel suggested

"and ask her father's hand in marriage" Zachary teased. Nathaniel rolled his eyes.

"no you idiot, drop down on one knee-" before he could finish Serena covered his mouth, giving him the shut up look. He sighed and continued to read where he left off. Serena stared at the man.

"do something that's special between you guys." Serena suggested. "From the heart" the man ran his fingers through his hair. "and do it soon" Serena was fidgeting, she was worried about something, Zachary noticed it but didn't want to ask. She knew something. "and I suggest you don't wait eight months to marry her" Serena added, the man looked at her.

"Serena what are you talking about?" Joshua asked with a raised eyebrow.

"See I can't really tell you, act it out, tell someone else, text it to you, spell it out, sing it, dance it, drum it, play a song related to it, and I can't even tap it" Serena stated. The man stared at her. "What? She's my aunt, she knows me too well" Andrew walked over to the group. "Hey drew" she said smiling like the sun. He smiled as well, seeing that she was back to her normal self.

"Hey," Andrew said as he handed her, her favorite chocolate shake. She smiled and began sipping it.

"Come on spill it" the man stated glaring at her. She rolled her eyes.

"Just ask her before eight months" she repeated, they all looked at her confused. "What takes nine months to do?" she asked. They all thought, Zachary stared at her with a 'Oh', then Joshua caught on, along with Nathaniel and then Matthew, the man waited for a few seconds until he understood.

"You mean she's..." he couldn't get the words out. "She's. Baby. daddy." he paused, he sat down trying to put everything together.

"right so take her out to a fancy dinner, ask her in front of a crowd and bam guaranteed yes!" Nathaniel stated.

"yea pregnant women are usual emotional" Zachary blurted out. Serena smacked his arm hard. "ow! What! It's true!" She rolled her eyes as she fought a smile. For some reason, he was one of the boys in her life that could keep her smiling without trying.

"Serena, if someone was going to ask you how to marry them. How would you want them to do it?" Matthew asked. Serena was almost the exact copy of her aunt but a younger version. Serena put on her thinking face. Her tongue sticked out with her finger tapping her chin, her eyes wondering up at the ceiling.

"mhmm" she mumbled. "let me think" she said each word as she tapped her chin. She smiled and faced the man with a smile. "sing to her"

"what?" the man said confused. "sing to her?" She nodded with a grin on her face. He laughed hard "you know I can't sing"

"exactly. But still if any guy had enough balls to sing to me in front of a crowd, I'll marry him in a split second" Serena stated. Darien's head shot up as he heard that. "Seriously, even if you do sing bad. she'll love it." Serena said honestly. The man sat for a second.

"I have the perfect Idea! I'll see you kids later!" the man stood up and ran out of the arcade like no tomorrow. Serena glanced around the empty arcade, this place used to be a place filled with love, smiles, laughter, childhood. Now it was a place filled with emptiness. It felt like her heart at the moment. Empty. If it weren't for her guys she'd probably wouldn't be there.

"hey come on Serena!" Zachary said dragging the blond girl out of her thoughts and out of her chair. "Andrew said that we have too-" before he could finish. Nathaniel covered his mouth and helped drag out Serena.


"SURPRISE!" they all yelled, Serena quickly jumped behind Zachary. She smiled at her friends and family who surprised her with a 'welcome back party'. After greeting everyone they all sat around, passing around stories. Repeating the meetings of each of the four guys.

"hopefully you didn't change much" Melvin stated. Serena smiled at Melvin and nodded slowly. "so how's your art class" A group of groans was heard, they all looked toward Zachary, Matthew, Nathaniel, Joshua and the man who was named Justin.

"oh geez you got her started!" Zachary complained.

"here she goes with her 'this class is so hard, so boring ' blah blah blah" Joshua said using a mimicking tone.

"hey I don't sound like that!" Serena said smacking Joshua playfully. Joshua smiled at her playfully. "what I don't! See this is why you can't get a girlfriend"

"really I just thought it was because I'm too hot for any girl but you" he teased. Serena rolled her eyes. "oh you know you love me"

"I rather jump into a pool of radioactive waste" Serena stated.

"Ditto!" Zachary stated. "guys are attracted to you more than girls may we remind you"

"that's true!" Serena said jumping up excited. "we were this amusement park right and this guy came up to him and started hitting on him! It was hilarious!" She sang laughing. "Do you remember the look on the guys face when Joshua turned him down?"

"oh god! Yes!" Nathaniel said. "he was like 'I see you prefer straights" he said using a girly tone, while playfully checking out Serena. The whole group laughed as more stories were being pasted around and told.

"and she's a little hustler!" Joshua stated. "first time we played pool, she sucked then once we made a bet bam she's into a pro!" Serena smiled sheepishly. The bell chimes rang, they all turned to face the scouts.

"sorry we're late." Lita said as she put the basket of cookies on the counter, she leaned over to give Andrew a peck on the cheek. Mina did the same to Jason. Serena watched, she felt her heart drop. No one mentioned that they were going out. She ignored the feeling as she focused on her guys. Yes her guys. They'd never do something like that. Would they? She couldn't let one group of people make her not trust the rest of humanity. She shook her head, blinked hard and exhaled slowly.

"so did you find any cute girls?" Andrew asked casually. Serena tried her best to keep it together. It seemed like they were never going to tell her. She would just suck it up for the night.

"oh yeah!" the four boys said in a unison. Just perfect timing.

"too bad they will never be interested!" Serena teased. The four boys gasped dramatically.

"hey we're good looking" Zachary said as he puffed his chest out.

"yea but your ego is all the way to Pluto!" Serena stated. Her mind flashed back to Sailor Pluto. Her mind has been fogged up lately about Pluto; she once again shoved this feeling to the bad of her mind.

"That is... true" Justin said, Serena's aunt aka Aunt Helen, Kissed him on the cheek as she giggled. Serena smiled at their love. "so Sere-"

"no" Serena said knowing where this conversation took place. "Just because I play a very fantastic love doctor doesn't mean you have too!"

"awe why not! Your no fun!" Nathaniel said with a pout. "you always do that with us"

"it's different" Serena said giving them a look. That's when Nathaniel remembered, he sat up straight and nodded.

"Serena!" Sammy said as he entered the arcade with Bobby. Serena hugged her little brother with all her might. "sere. can't..breathe" she pulled away and blushed. "whoa! No more pigtails!" he said amazed. This was the first time he'd seen Serena since she got here since he's been at camp with Bobby.

Serena laughed at her brother's shocked face. "Yeah Sammy, no more pigtails" Serena went to the DDR game to a play a few rounds with her little cousins and brother.

"so did you any of you boys have a thing for m daughter" Kenji asked sternly. The four boys looked at each other frightened. They shook their head scared for the their lives.

"I already told him about it boys." Ikuko stated as she watched her daughter smiling and laughing. "she's very strong, and thank you for protecting her"

Nathaniel nodded. "anytime. Bunny's like my little sister."

"your just two days older" Zachary pointed out.

"doesn't matter I'm still older!" Nathaniel stated.


Darien sat down at the park, feeling the breeze of the night. Green haired women walked up towards him. She bowed her head gracefully.

"my king" she whispered as she straight herself. Darien took a good look at her, another women appeared wearing men's clothing. She had short sandy blond hair. He bowed and straightened himself. "Sailor Pluto and Neo-Queen Serenity found us and told us you needed our help. I am Sailor Neptune and this is Sailor Uranus." Darien stood dumbfound. More scouts.

They reached the Crown Arcade, Sailor Uranus whose name was really Amara entered the arcade. Serena smiled at the tomboy. Amara grinned sheepishly at the girl.

"Hey Amara! Hey Michelle!" The four boys said in unison. Darien stared in shocked, he then remembered Amara telling him to follow along with whatever they say. They were after all sent by the queen.

"how are you boys doing? Keeping the trouble maker out of trouble right?" Michelle asked with a smile. Serena pouted her lip out with her arms crossed. "don't you think I forgot" Amara barked out a laugh, she slapped her knee as she continued to laugh. A smile appeared on the blond girls face, she dropped her arms.

"hi, I'm Michelle and this is Amara. We attended the same school as Serena. She was in my class actually" Michelle said shaking hands with Ikuko and Kenji.

"how is she doing?" Ikuko asked, as they got into the conversation of Serena's grades Serena sat beside Amara.

"hey you little devil" she said grinning. Serena slapped her arm playfully. She chuckled and stared at the boys. "did you tell anyone of the story"

"what story?" Everyone asked drawing attention to the six.

"well, I kind of sorta" Serena paused, scared to see her parents reaction. "keyed. someone's car" Andrew and Melvin spat out there drinks. Molly's mouth drop. "it was for a good reason!"

"Just answer me this! What kind of car was it" Andrew said slowly.

"it was a Lamborghini" Amara said calmly. All the boys gave a deaths stare to the blond, even her father.

"like I said good reason!" Serena exclaimed. "it was for Matt. I told him I didn't like that girl but he went out with her, stated that he was in love after a month. Then we caught her cheating on him. so I keyed her car." Serena explained. "no one messes with my boys without getting any payback"

"she did more than key it! She tortured the poor car! They were key marks everywhere! The headlights were busted and she spray painted the windows black" Nathaniel explained.

"she was lucky I didn't slit her throat right there and then!" Serena defended.

"I hate to be the sucker that breaks up any of her best girl friends" Melvin stated.

"speaking of which. If any of your friends want to go out with my besties, If they cry just one small tear I will make sure that he will have no sperm left" Serena stated. Joshua barked a laugh.

"poor sucker" Andrew muttered. Serena smiled, she then turned to Michelle.

"so what brings you two in town?" She asked, Michelle smiled.

"we'll I'm working at the college here for extra credit. You should sign up and raise your grades" Michelle stated. Serena groaned. It was vacation for her after all and here was more work for her. "Serena! Young lady you need too-"

"enjoy education because one day when we won't have one you're going to be begging for one. Don't you know that their kids around the world that wish to be learning the way you do now?" Serena started in her mimicking Michelle voice. "and don't you know how many people wish to be in your spot! You have talent and you should start using it wisely! Getting a career in art is very tough-" Amara covered her mouth with her hand containing laughter. Serena pushed his hand away. "See this is what happens when you give a poor cute girl like me the same lecture" Serena said smiling innocently.

Michelle laughed at the blond girl. "But missy your paintings are lacking every time you turn one in!" Serena rolled her eyes as Michelle started off her lecturing. Amara covered her mouth this time.

"Michelle, leave Serena alone it's break time! Not work time!" Amara stated. Michelle pouted. While Michelle and Serena's parents turned into a discussion, Serena slipped into the bathroom. She could feel her heart pound in her ears. How did Darien know Amara and Michelle? Some cruel person out there was surely trying to get her for something. And then she thought of King Endymion who'd haunted her dreams ever since she a boarded the plan. She tightened her eyes shut as growl escaped her lips. Why couldn't the stupid king of the earth, the future scouts, Sailor Pluto and everyone out there that wanted her to give in, leave her alone! She used the bathroom, washed her hands and started to walk out. She sat beside Joshua as she watched Sammy play DDR with Bobby. Joshua put his arm around Serena.

"So Bunny, how do you think my uncle is going to propose?" he asked, Serena sighed hard.

"knowing that he's related to you. He'll spaz out half way" Serena stated, Joshua playfully pushed her. "ops, never mind I'm thinking of Zack" she blurted out. Zachary shot a look at her. "What? It took you three weeks to ask the girl of your 'dreams' out"

"better than Andrew, he waited six months" Jason blurted out. Mina let out a giggle, this ticked Serena off. So they wouldn't tell her that they were dating her ex best friends but they just blurted out like it was nothing. She shrugged it off, it was suppose to be a time where she would enjoy this. She noticed Molly was gone.

"where's Molly?" She asked looking around.

"she left" Melvin said sadly, she was still in contact with Molly and Melvin while she was away. And she knew that they broke it off with their 'loved ones' and were now friends but hiding secret feelings for each other.

"I think you should ask her out" Serena stated.

"what?" Melvin said starring at her.

"come on ask her!" Serena said, she was trying to push away the madness from not knowing aside as she helped her friend. "think about it, if you don't ask her. She might get married and you're going to be on the sidelines going damn, that should be me. And when your fifty with eighty-two cats you're going to wish you listened to my wonderful-" Melvin cut her off.

"alright alright I'll ask her! Just stop making me picture myself alone!" he declared as he grabbed his jacket to catch up with Molly.

"You're so annoying you know that" Nathaniel said walking toward her.

"yep, but it pays off!" she said with a smile. Her mind kept fluttering with images of the past. Why was this bothering her now? She thought she moved on. She shook off the images as everyone said their goodbyes. The four boys and Serena started walking home leaving the scouts, Andrew, Amara, Michelle and Darien alone.

"we have a lot to discuss your majesty" Michelle said in a serious tone.

"can you refrain from calling me that please" Darien asked nicely. Michelle nodded, the scouts looked at the three confused.

"Sorry, I'm Sailor Neptune and this is Sailor Uranus" Michelle introduced formally. "we were sent by Neo-Queen Serenity, Queen Serenity, and our friend Sailor Pluto to help you guys. Her coming here isn't a coincident. There are four others helping us at this moment but they will be remained secret because three of them do not know."

"she's not going to like this" Lita explained. Michelle nodded.

"we know, but the Dark Moon Kingdom has reawaken. This time Beryl and Prince Diamond are working together. Neo-Queen Serenity explained to us the battles during those times and fear that they're working together may cause some serious damages to the future, the past and the present"

"so just by getting Serena and Darien together will fix everything?" Lita questioned.

"we questioned too about that Sailor Jupiter but the Queen and Pluto stated that it's more than just getting them together and saving the future. It's to rebuild everything you five tore down. It won't fix the fact that Beryl and Prince Diamond's plans but it will fix the battles you face ahead. King Endymion also explained during your last battle with Prince Diamond you were all struggling because you weren't working together. Because Serena had too much pride to give in." she explained once more.

"we mustn't explain anything to Serena. Not yet. Not until it is time and we are all ready" Amara explained. "King Endymion also explained that you must give the crystal back to Serena. She's going to need it"


Serena woke at six am, she noticed the house was still sleeping. She slipped on a pair of jeans and a white V-neck. She grabbed her black vans, brushed her hair and headed out the door. She took her time walking around the neighborhood. She reached the park when she felt a shadow following her. She turned around seeing nothing, she sighed as she continue to walk around the park. She hasn't really talked to girls since her encounter here, not without the boys anyways. She sat down near a rose garden which was beside the pond. Her leg stretched out as she fell back looking at the gloomy sky. The sun was beginning to rise. She closed her eyes as she sat up. Something didn't feel right on her head. She touched her head realizing what was missing. Her pigtails or what Darien called them. Meatball head. She closed her eyes remembering that day she cut her hair. Someone called her meatball head and the memories were pouring inside her head and in her heart. She took off to the nearest hair salon and chopped her hair off. She tied her hair into a ponytail and fell back with her hands behind her head, playing with her pony tail. Darien was on his usual morning runs as he ran, he closed his eyes and let the music pour into his head, heart and ears as he ran he tripped over someone, tumbling down the hill along with the stranger. When they finally reached the bottom the stranger was on top of him. He looked into those baby blue eyes, his heart softened and ached at the same time.

Serena opened her eyes and looked into a pair of midnight blue eyes, her chest was pounding with ache, and she rolled off of him and looked down at her arms seeing if she was hurt. She then looked over to check Darien.

Darien checked himself then looked at Serena, seeing that the side of her forehead was bleeding he quickly got up to reach her. She saw his hand move closer to her face, she backed away but his hand was already at her forehead. She winced in pain, she touched her forehead and winced, she saw the blood on her fingertips and gulped hard. She hated doctors, blood and injuries. She flinched when Darien put a cloth on her, she put her hand over her hurting forehead which touched Darien's. An electric bolt spreaded through the two's body, Darien didn't move. Serena quickly dropped her hand on her lap. Her head was pounding. He helped Serena up while putting pressure on her forehead.

"come on, we better get that checked" before she could reply he dragged her to the parking lot, which confused her because she swore that she was on the other side of the park, in front of the pond. Not on a hilltop. Her head was throbbing more as she thought about it and decided to drop it. When they reached the car she noticed the time on the radio was nine o'clock.

"is your clock ahead?" Serena asked, Darien looked at her funny and shook his head. Did I fall asleep? How did I end up on the hill? Ugh my head is hurting!

"are you okay?" Darien asked worried, Serena had been quiet with her eyes shut tight, gripping on her head.

Oh I'm just dandy Darien, sitting in the car with my exboyfriend. Just Dandy she thought sarcastically. "yea" she muttered in pain. Another thing hit her mind. The hill was only grass, no sticks, trees, rocks or anything to hit her head against except for Darien's hard chest but during the fall she didn't feel herself hit the grass or floor just a hard, warm chest. When they reached the hospital Darien refused to leave her side until she was okay. She exited with a ice bag on her new unknown bruise. "you didn't have to stay here you know" she muttered.

Darien shrugged, he wasn't the type to say 'I love you' first, or the type to show any love or affection. But he didn't want to blurt it out making things awkward. "can we start off as friends. now." he asked, it was a hard task for him. But this way he had a reason to protect Serena if anything did go wrong.

Serena was dumbfounded. He wanted to be friends? She shook her head, she couldn't handle being friends with him because she hasn't moved on. Her heart still ached when he wasn't around. But she didn't want this tension anymore, her head and heart ached and life just didn't seem to make sense. "um, " she said awkwardly. She'd have to handle this later, right now she was starving. "look the arcade!"


Zachary said on the stool, tapping his fingers against the table. His eyes would turn to the door every few seconds. After eighty three looks someone entered, she had short blue hair. She was small, skinny, and sea blue eyes. Zachary watched as she sat at the booth with Lita, Jason, Raye, Andrew and Mina. He turned to the bathroom door when Joshua came out.

"hey," Zachary said as Joshua sat down. Joshua gave him a weird look.

"hey Andrew have you seen Serena?" Matthew asked as he entered the Crown arcade. He walked over to the table, he noticed at Jason put his arm tighter around Mina. A pit of jealousy hit him which he tried to shrug off.

"no why?" Andrew asked worried.

"she went off somewhere early in the morning and it's already twelve and I'm tripping out!" Matthew stated as he looked around the arcade.

"don't trip about it bro, it's Serena she's probably at the mall, at the park on top of a high building to watch the sun rise-" Nathaniel said but was cut off by the chime bells, everyone turned to see Serena holding an ice pack on her head, followed by Darien.

"young lady!" Matthew said in a parental tone. "where have-"

"no lecture! I'm tripping balls right now!" Serena exclaimed.

"she's what?" Andrew said confused. The girls laughed at Andrew's cluelessness.

"what happened?" the four boys asked in a unison.

"kay I went to the park around six thirty, I was sitting in front of the lake under a tree watching the sun rise. One blink later I'm tumbling down a hill filled with only soft grass, no rocks, no sticks and I get this now wounded bruise on my head! And then I find out it's nine, I'm trippin' balls here! I don't recall moving or falling asleep and if I did fall asleep how the hell did I-" Serena was interrupted by Nathaniel who covered her mouth with his hand.

"maybe your over thinking it Serena, maybe you moved but you forgot because some fat person probably sat on your head while you were tumbling down" he stated. Serena laughed, Darien wasn't fat. He was in shape, her spine shivered as she thought of him shirtless. "did you get your head checked?"

"yes daddy I did" Serena teased. "but now I'm starving" Andrew took that as a cue to stand and make Serena some food. "but I better get back, I promised my mom I'd help with aunt Helen's dress for her date tonight" with that she winked at the boys and walked off.