AN: Hmm, the chapters keep getting longer...
Thanks for all the reviews.
"Zack, would you stop primping! Rei is already going to be mad that I'm late, and you're just going to make it worse. You look fine."
Zack sighed and mumbled, "This is a really bad idea." He took a breath and turned to the impatiently waiting Jay. "I'm not primping, Jay. I'm making sure that I look presentable. Ami is going to feel ambushed as it is."
"Ugh, that's your own fault, Zack. If you had just told us that the mysterious doctor you were trying to get to go out with you was Ami… well, we would have probably dragged you to something like this sooner, and you could have had the help of her best friends. Now, stop being a girl, and let's go before we're any later."
"I'm not being a girl. And we're not late!" He sighed, thinking that Usagi owed him big for this, especially since he had not heard from Ami since the lunch in which he had told her everything. Unfortunately, Usagi had refused to let him bail.
Mamoru pulled up to Neil's home, smiling over to Usagi. "Usako, please, don't push Ami and Zack. If Ami's not ready, we have to respect that, ok?"
Usagi nodded, "I know, Mamoru."
He shook his head as they got out of the car, "I still think you should have told the other girls that Zack is Zoisite. Even if Ami is ok, the others might not react very well."
She grinned at him over the top of the car, "Oh… after what Artemis told us, they might be willing to give him a chance. Everything will work out, Mamoru. Don't you see? They're destined to be together!"
"Usagi, don't try to push that on Ami. And remember that destiny isn't everything."
She blinked as he came around the car to her, "Mamoru?"
The surgeon grinned and pulled the love of his life into his arms, kissing her. "Much more important than destiny is choice. I chose to love you, Usako. Not because of our past lives or even because of the future. I chose to love you, for you, not for destiny."
Usagi grinned up at him, "Mmm. Good. But Zack already loves Ami. And Ami liked him, she just was over-thinking everything."
"Maybe, but that's for them to decide, Usako."
"Fine. But everything will work out. You'll see, Mamoru."
He chuckled, gently shaking his head, "I'm sure I will."
"Hey! Are you two going to make out in my driveway all day, or were you planning on coming in?" Neil was grinning from the doorway as he watched the two. "Usagi, I think Makoto wanted you try something and let her know if its good."
"OH! I'm sure its great." Usagi gave Mamoru another quick kiss, before pulling out of his arms and running in to do the taste testing. "Hi, Neil!" She stopped momentarily to give the tall man a quick hug.
Mamoru grinned as he came up, and clasped arms with Neil. "Are we the first ones here?"
"Yep. Though the others should be showing up shortly, though. Come on in. Makoto is putting the finishing touches on dinner, and has informed me that I am to keep everyone in the living room until she's ready. With the exception of Usagi."
Mamoru chuckled, "Oh, I'm sure Makoto will send her out to join us after her treat."
As Neil lead Mamoru into the living room they heard, "Oh! Makoto, that's delicious. Don't you dare change it even a little bit."
Then Makoto's laughter, "Good, now go join the guys in the living room. Scoot!"
Usagi came into the living room, grinning. "Mmm… she's outdone herself. Neil, you are so lucky. You do know how lucky you are right?"
Neil grinned, "I do Usagi. Believe me, I do."
Mamoru smiled, but there was a touch of wariness in his smile, though neither of the other two seemed to notice it.
A knock at the door and then it opened admitting Minako and Kevin, "Knock knock!" Minako entered without waiting for Neil to let her in with Kevin behind her, grinning a bit at his love's presumption.
Neil grinned as he stood to greet them, "Glad to see you don't stand on formality, Mina."
The blonde grinned, "You know you love me." She gave him a quick hug and then headed towards the kitchen. "Mako! Do you need any help?"
"Minako, don't you dare come in here. Neil!"
Kevin laughed and grabbed his love around her waist. "You know how Makoto is about her kitchens, love. Come on, let her be."
Neil lead the two of them into the living room, where the girls squealed and hugged each other.
Kevin shook his head, "You know, those two act like they never get to see each other."
Mamoru smiled, "You act surprised, Kevin. You've been with Mina long enough to know that these two might as well have been separated at birth."
"Oh! Wouldn't that be great, if we were long lost sisters?" Usagi grinned.
"I thought we were." Minako winked at her friend. "I could probably totally disguise myself as you, don't you think?"
Mamoru half choked hearing that, while the girls seemed to be quite enjoying their joke.
"Oh! You so totally could!"
"I don't think you could." The girls turned to look at Kevin, whose expression was serious, though his eyes looked like he was smiling. "You're similar, but I would never mistake which one was my love, and I'm sure Mamoru would say the same thing."
"Aw… how sweet. Kevin." Rei rolled her eyes as she entered the living room with Ami. "Neil, I hope you don't mind that we let ourselves in."
"It was sweet, Rei." Minako grinned and moved to Kevin, putting her arms around him. "Where's Jay?"
"Oh, he should be here shortly. He's bringing a friend."
"Oh! That's right, I forgot." She grinned as Neil moved to welcome both the girls with hugs.
Ami however, raised an eyebrow at Rei and Mina as she hugged Neil, "Neil?"
Neil smiled innocently down to the woman he considered to be a little sister, "Mm-hmm?"
"Ami, its ok. No pressure. He's just a friend of the guys" Mina smiled, moving over to hug their bookworm. "You'll like him. From what I've heard of him, he's a good guy."
Ami sighed, letting Mina hug her. "All right." The last thing she needed right now was to be set up, and they had to know that. So surely they did not mean anything by this. She hoped.
Neil smiled, almost apologetically down at Ami, and she took a deep breath and then was able to smile reassuring at him.
Everyone sat in the living room. Usagi and Mamoru sat close together on the couch, with Rei sitting beside them. Kevin had Minako snuggled up against him on the love seat, and Ami sat in a chair by herself. Neil grinned, "I'm going to go get drinks. You know, its really been too long since we've done this."
Neil had gone into the kitchen to get the wine, when the door opened again, "Hey everyone! I'm here, the party can now begin!"
Rei grinned for a moment, but then schooled her features into a scowl, as she got up to meet Jay, "You're late!" She kissed him, before smiling to the man with him, and speaking softly, "Hi, Zack. She's kind of anxious, so just take it easy."
Jay rolled his eyes and turned to Zack, "I told you she'd be mad that we're late."
"Its my fault, Rei. Don't be mad at Jay." He grinned to her.
Rei blinked for a moment at Zack, and then her eyes widened. She'd known Zack for a while, he was Jay's best friend. But now, he looked different, and it only took her a moment to realize why. "Um, you know… on the other hand, I'm not really sure this is such a good idea." Her eyes had narrowed at him.
Zack sighed, but before he could agree with Rei and slip out, Neil had come back with the glasses, "Oh, Good. Jay, Zack. Now everyone's here. Join us in the living room."
Ami blinked, "Did he just say, 'Zack'?" She stood from the chair she was in, her face losing color. She was shaking her head, and trembling.
Usagi and Mamoru grimaced at Ami's reaction. Neil, Kevin, and Jay thought that they knew what was going on. "Ami, listen. I didn't realize he had been trying to ask you out when I invited him, but no one is trying to force anything on you. I swear."
Minako had thought the same way that the guys did, until she saw Zack as he sheepishly followed Jay and a fired up Rei into the living room. Suddenly she too was on her feet, taking a defensive pose.
Usagi sighed, "Minako, Rei, relax." Minako blinked, hearing the command in Usagi's voice, and turned to look at her, sitting down after a moment, beside a now very confused Kevin.
Rei however did not take Usagi's command so well, "You knew?! What are you playing at, Usagi?"
Usagi sighed again and stood, "Rei, why don't you and I go talk for a moment?"
"Fine…" She turned to Zack, "Hurt her, and I will kill you."
"You're not the one I'm afraid of, Rei." His answer was soft, but apparently satisfied the fiery Priestess who stormed out, followed by Usagi.
"Ami…"
"Zack." Her voice was tense, though as he looked at her, he was not entirely sure that the anger was aimed at him, or even at Neil or Usagi.
Jay blinked, "Dude, what did you do to her to get the other girls so angry at you?"
Zack didn't even hear him, his attention entirely focused on the young woman trying to maintain control of herself. "I'll leave if you want me to."
She stared at him for a moment, the others caught up in the tableau before them. "No. Stay." Ami took a deep breath, feeling herself calm down, "I would like to speak with you, for a moment please. If everyone will excuse us."
He nodded and gestured for her to lead the way.
Makoto came in to announce that dinner was ready, just as she saw Zack following Ami out of the living room, and saw the expressions on everyone's face. "What did I miss?"
"What are you playing at Usagi! Just because you trust them does not give you the right to put Ami through this!"
Usagi took a deep breath, not allowing Rei to get to her. "Ami is stronger than you're giving her credit for, Rei. And I'm not putting her through anything. Neil invited him. Yes, I realized who he was, but he is also Jay's best friend, Rei. They cannot be kept from each other forever."
"Did you see the pain in her face, Usagi? Look, not all of us are meant to have some great destined fairy tale relationship! You should have at least warned her!"
Usagi shook her head, "She would have found a way out of coming if we did that. Look, Rei, if nothing else, they have to learn to get along enough to work together. And you know that better than anyone else."
Rei, "At what cost, Usagi? This is not fair to Ami!"
Usagi smiled a bit, "No one said this would be easy, Rei. Just, try to calm down. Try to act civilly to him."
"Is that an order, Princess?"
Usagi shook her head, "I'd rather it not be."
Rei sighed, "Fine. But if he hurts her…"
Usagi grinned, "Then anything you do to him will just be defrosting him, Rei."
They stood silently in the guest bedroom that Ami had lead Zack to. Had the circumstances been different, he probably would have made a crack about her dragging him into a bedroom, but he knew better than to make any such jokes at this time.
"Ami…"
She bit her lip and looked at the floor. "I'm trying, Zack. I believe you, but…"
Zack let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, "You believe me? Oh, gods, Ami…" He moved to her, wanting to hold her, to kiss her.
She stepped back and looked up at him, "But its not that easy. I'm trying. I really am. I thought I had a little more time before I'd see you, time to try to figure out what I want."
"What do you want, Ami?"
She sighed and closed her eyes, "You."
The answer a whisper, but Zack heard it, and this time, he did step in and wrap his arms around her. "Ami."
For a moment she let him hold her, then her own arms came to hug him. "Zack, I need you to understand that I can't just go back to what we were. I need to take this slow. I need time to trust you again."
Zack smiled and looked down at those beautiful blue eyes, seeing not ice, but the depths of water, depths he could drown in. "As slow as you need, Nymph." He wanted to kiss her, but knew that would probably not be considered 'slow.'
She smiled a bit and then let go, slipping out of his arms. "Thank you."
Usagi and Rei were the first to return. Rei smoldering, and Usagi smiling as if nothing had happened.
Makoto blinked, wondering what exactly she had missed, while the others had expressions of confusion, including Minako. "Um… ok. Uh, dinner's ready. Should someone get Ami and Zack?"
"We're here." Ami smiled, seeming genuinely happy and at peace, which to Makoto's surprise, deepened the confusion on the expression of all of the others. Except for Usagi, who seemed to be positively beaming.
"Ok. Good. Let's eat!"
As they moved to the dining room, Rei grabbed Ami and whispered fiercely in her ear, "Are you all right?"
Ami smiled to Rei, "I'm fine, Rei." Before her friend could protest she held up a hand, "No, Rei. I really am. I believe him. And, as long as he's willing to take it slow, I'm willing to try."
Rei blinked, "Ok… well, all right. Just, Ami. I support you in whatever, ok? And if he hurts you…"
"Rei, thank you, but I'm a big girl. If he hurts me again like that, fire should be the least of his worries." She gave Rei a quick hug before moving to sit beside Zack.
Rei shook her head and moved to take her place beside Jay.
After that, dinner was rather enjoyable. As always, Makoto did indeed outdo herself, and announced that she had made up boxes for everyone for lunch tomorrow as well. Neil, after being pressured, told about his latest trip and the project to help the village be able to rise out of poverty without giving up their own way of life. Minako gushed on about the dresses for the wedding, while the guys tried to pretend interested, and Mamoru announced that Zack was going to be the finally man to even out his side of the attendants. Usagi talked about the kids in her class, and after a few minutes, even Rei talked about some exciting things happening at the Temple. Jay answered questions about his dissertation, and Kevin drew Ami and Zack into the conversation by talking about classical music.
When Minako and Usagi began going on about the wedding again, Zack sat back and took the moment to really observe the group. He'd been friends with Jay for as long as he could remember, and with Neil and Kevin for almost as long. But he had not really seen much of them with their ladies. Suddenly, he really did wish he had given into their invitations earlier.
He smiled to look at Ami, who smiled back at him with a soft blush. This felt right. It also felt… familiar.
He turned back to the table and blinked. His eyes growing wide as he looked at the couples. He knew the girls were the Senshi from the occasional meetings which had been held in Mamoru's apartment. What he hadn't realized however, was just how right all of his friends seemed to be with the girls.
"Um, excuse me for a moment." He shot a meaningful glance to Mamoru before pushing away from the table. "I'll be right back."
Mamoru blinked, "Um… I'll see what's up. Everyone, keep talking."
Zack had moved to the living room and was pacing.
"Zack?"
"That's them, Mamoru. Don't ask me how I know. But it is."
"Who… the guys? Zack, come on. I mean, yeah, that'd be nice. And it'd be great for the girls, since they're already in love with them, but isn't that kind of wishful thinking."
Zack shook his head, "Both half of my souls fell in love Ami independently, Mamoru. I'm willing to bet it's the same for the others. Look at them. Look at them closely. Kevin's always been protective, a leader, tends toward seriousness, but his eyes give away his amusement. Sound familiar?"
Mamoru's eyes widened, "And Neil is compassionate, a deep seated need to help others achieve their dreams, to help others reach for the stars. Jay is as much of a smart ass as you, easy natured, calm enough to withstand Rei's temper, and passionate enough to match her." He sat heavily on the couch.
"Even you. A genius, thoughtful, sensitive, but able to balance strong emotions with thoughtfulness. Its been right in front of me all along."
Zack smiled, "Again, Mamoru, until recently, you thought we'd live in stones forever."
"Should we tell the girls?"
Zack grimaced at that, "Um… that, I don't know."
