A/N - Yo kiddies! Final chapter is here. Ah yes it is! he one some of you have been waiting for!... Before you read on (and for anyone who reads my inane authors notes) I'd just like to say that I don't really condone relationship between guardians etc, but I do condone love and the true feelings that someone of a mature age can have for someone who may be significantly older than them. Don't hate people... don't hate. Anyway enough ranting, thanks to impersonal for all her help throughout all my stories, and to Kaze no Tsurugi for letting me rant to her about crap when I didn't have any inspiration. Anyhow enjoy! - VR

CHAPTER 10 – CONSEQUENCE OF ACTION

It was like time had stopped.

I couldn't move, breathe, speak, think or feel.

I'm not even sure how my body managed to transport me from my room to where I was now; standing dead still in our family living room.

I wasn't aware of anything and yet somehow I noticed everything for the first time; I noticed how our ceiling was painted a lush magnolia, and how one of our light fixtures flickered ever so slightly whenever someone walked on the third to last stair from the bottom of the staircase.

I noticed the three people in the room with me, but my mind could only concentrate on one then the other.

The first person to get my attention was Setsuna. She was staring at Haruka-papa as my father was glaring back at her.

Haru-papa's jaw was clenched and her knuckles were white from where she balled up her fist so tightly that I thought she might break her wrist or crack a knuckle in half or some other serious injury.

Michiru-mama was watching me.

Her eyes conveyed nothing clear to me; I couldn't tell if she was happy I got caught, sad that I got caught, if she was feeling smug or if she , like me, was afraid that Haruka-papa might snap and start beating the ever loving crap out of Setsuna.

My eyes went back to Haruka-papa as soon as she spoke; her voice was still low, barely above a whisper; every syllable cracked with evident anger.

"What the fuck is going on around here? Huh? Well? Setsuna?" I took a breath and lowered my head, my heartbeat began pounding in my ears; it was so erratic, it sounded like a drumkit that was being pounded on by an energetic five year old that thought they could be Tommy Lee.

"You know what you saw, Haruka."

Shit.

They were on first full name terms... this is not going to be good.

I heard Haru-papa give out a short bitter chuckle before shaking her head, every single movement and sound she made seemed to be laced with hate, disappointment and rage.

"Yes. What I saw was you... on h-hime." I couldn't bear to bring my head and look at my own father. She sounded so hurt... so disgusted.

With us.

After a minute I did look up and I saw Haru-papa glaring at Setsuna once more, but Sets was calm and collected – she stared back but not with anger, she was just being as cool as she could be.

"How could you? She's only a child!" Haruka-papa's voice gradually got higher and I flinched without meaning to as I listened to her relentless assault;

"She's our child! She's your child! You've known her since she was a baby for Christ's sake!" Haru-papa began panting heavily as she spoke; a clear indication of her anger, and I dare not move or breathe too loud, for fear that even more of my actions would get punished, just as the repercussions of all my actions these past months were being punished at this very moment.

"Ruka, calm down." Michiru-mama's voice cut through the silence, and I prayed to the Gods that she would have an effect on my raging father's anger.

"Calm down?! You expect me to calm down after seeing th-them having s - ! Doing what they were doing?! Michi, I don't think you understand!... Sets was... touching Hotaru!" I felt my face flush at being reminded of our activities.

"Haruka, calm down – "

"Why aren't you upset, Michi? Our best friend, who is also one of Hotaru's parents was touching her!" I watched as Michiru-mama struggled to find words to say, only to say nothing. Haruka-papa's mouth hung open and she took a step back and shook her head in disbelief.

"You knew..." Haru-papa spoke in a whisper and she looked incredulously at Michiru-mama, "You fucking knew and you said nothing to me?! How could you, Michi!" I watched as my mother hid her face from my father – from all of us. I knew she was hiding tears that she didn't want to fall in front of the three of us.

I cleared my throat and three heads snapped to my attention, all in a blur of yellow, aqua and green.

"I... I... this is my f-fault, papa." Bright absinthe coloured eyes stared into my own and I could feel them burning into me, forever engraining their disappointment into my memory.

"I begged Michiru-mama to say nothing to you... but I was going to tell you, I swear!" Haruka-papa shook her head and turned around, facing away from all of us. She inhaled and exhaled deeply.

Setsuna kept her eyes focused on Haru-papa and Michiru-mama took a step forward only to be shrugged off by my blonde parent. A moment later, my father spoke once again.

"I knew something was going on... I didn't know what. I even told you Michi, that I thought Hotaru might have a crush on Sets. And you shrugged me off as being silly because she just got with Diana." Haruka-papa turned around and stared at me, her eyes were blank and filled with so many questions, but the anger had faded... it was still there but just faded.

"So I forgot too... but I never would have thought in a million years that..." Haru-papa looked back at Setsuna, her eyes filled with revulsion, "you would do something like this. Someone half your age, a girl and your daughter no less."

"I don't think of her as my daughter, Haruka. Not now." Haru-papa snorted distastefully.

"Oh really? And when did that end? The first time you slept with her?" My ears burned brightly at the statement and Setsuna came to my rescue.

"We haven't slept together." Haruka-papa searched Setsuna eyes for any falseness... and after a few seconds she seemed angry that she didn't seem to find any.

"Well, what do you call that upstairs then? Or is that your version of a kiss goodnight to your daughter?" Haruka-papa words all came laced with venom and malicious intent. I had never seen her so enraged.

"She's not my daughter, Haruka! Why must you be so stubborn?!"

"Why must you be a perverted little paedophile?!" Haruka-papa took a step forward to Setsuna, growling menacingly as she spoke – Setsuna didn't even flinch.

"I love hime."

"D-Don't call her that! You don't get to call her anything like that! Jesus, Sets I have half a mind to punch you so fucking hard right now... I ought to report you to the police." Haruka-papa spoke with such sincerity in her threat that it made me squeak out in protest.

"No! Don't! We haven't done anything wrong!" Haruka-papa rubbed her temples tiredly.

"I know you haven't, Hotaru... but this... this is wrong. God, it's so wrong. I can't... I can't allow it!"

"YOU HYPOCRITE!" My screeching voice filled the house, leaving three startled expressions in its wake. I stepped towards my father, my blood boiling, my temper raised - how can anyone not allow love?! How can it be wrong?

We're always being told that race, colour, creed and gender should never matter when it comes to love in modern times, but as soon as someone older has a younger lover they're considered wrong? Immoral? I know in some cases it is, but in ours it isn't. There's more to us than meets the eye, we have substance.

No-one seems to understand that. Not even my Haru-papa who taught me most of my values.

I began pounding onto my father's chest with my weak hands, tears already began forming in my eyes and fell slowly down my face with every hit I gave my father and my words eked out in between laboured breaths and sobs.

"You – hypocrite! Michiru-mama and you – you were both brought together – by love and no-one would accept you – because you were both women... and now, you're denying us?! HYPOCRITE!" My fists were stilled by a wrist on my hands; I could feel it was Haruka-papa. I lifted my head and looked up through my tears to see my father was holding my wrists.

She wasn't angry but her eyes showed the pain she was feeling.

"That's different and you know it, Hota." Haru-papa looked between me and Setsuna before seaping once more, "I don't understand... how? A-a-and why?"

"It just did." My voice was small but it commanded everyone's attention.

"When Sets came back, I didn't feel anything at first... but then... something just clicked and papa I know you won't understand but I just don't see her as my parent anymore... and she doesn't see me as her daughter. We're just Hotaru and Setsuna now. And we're still family, but in a whole different way now."

My wrists were released and I felt my father step back, creating a new distance between us.

"Why didn't anyone tell me? I thought... I thought we didn't keep secrets from each other."

Haru-papa's voice was broken and for a moment I thought that she might cry. But she didn't, she kept her resolve and looked me in the eyes for an answer.

"I didn't know how you'd react. Michiru-mama slapped Sets and I thought – "

"You slapped her?" Haru-papa looked over at Michiru-mama in surprise and my mother blushed gently while nodding. She sent an apologetic glance to Setsuna who rubbed her cheek in remembrance of the slap. My father nodded gently before looking at Setsuna with indifference in her eyes.

"You got off easy then."

Haruka-papa stepped back from me and moved towards the window; before she reached the safety of the window, she looked from me to Setsuna, then back to me. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes – I could almost sense her pain and right now it was tearing me in half.

"I... I never meant to hurt you, papa." I watched as she clenched her eyes shut as I spoke; her jaw tightened and she angled her head away from us – rendering all of us incapable of reading her usually open expressions.

"I'm sorry, Haru-papa. I am." My voice croaked as I spoke; whether it was from the intensity of the moment or the sincerity of my words I wasn't sure.

I wasn't even sure if I had said them loud enough for the words' recipient to hear me properly.

But she did.

Blonde hair gave way, and moved slowly, giving way to reveal Haruka-papa's face; tears were overwhelming her eyes and I could tell she was fighting the urge to blink for fear of feeling their warm, salty traces making their way down her face.

I knew my father that well.

Emerald eyes darted over to my mother.

"Michiru? What do..." Haruka-papa trailed off, looking to my mother with helpless eyes. My mother sighed and ran a hand through her waves of magnificent aquamarine hair.

"Ruka... babe... I'm sorry I didn't tell you... but... Hotaru want – no, needed time to tell you. She's not lying she really was planning on telling you. Honestly, I know that to be true." My mother hesitantly approached Haru-papa, and gently touched her shoulder with the gentle palm of her hand.

Haru-papa flinched, seemingly unaware of how close my mother had gotten in such short time. Haruka-papa looked at me once more, complete agony in her eyes before she drifted to Setsuna with a burning seething in her eyes.

"I know... that you're angry, Ruka. So was I, believe me. But I've seen it in Hotaru, the same thing I see in you when you're with me. She's happy, she really is."

Haru-papa looked up at Michiru-mama and my breath caught in my throat; my father's eyes were wide and she looked shocked. Was this it? Was she about to realise everything was as it should be?! That age didn't matter? That –

"How do we know she hasn't brainwashed Hotaru or something?" I sighed with pain in my breath – green eyes were back to glaring daggers at the only woman I loved.

I couldn't hold back any further; watching the animosity brewing between my Haru-papa and Sets – two women I loved equally but differently.

Michiru-mama was only helping me because she felt sorry for me. And I had no idea what was going on, where was this leading? It was all too much for me.

I felt my eyes burn and then my voice gave in and I choked out small sobs; the entire room fell silent and the only reason I knew was because Michiru-mama's small whispers to Haruka-papa stopped suddenly. I felt my knees begin to shake but I desperately fought the urge to crash to the floor – it was bad enough I was acting as weak as I was already. I brought one hand up to my face and wiped at my eyes.

It was in vain, for as soon as I wiped the moisture away the old tears were replaced with brand new droplets of wetness flowing freely from my eyes.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and in an instant the familiar and safe feeling of Setsuna overwhelmed me. I turned around and began the movement to stretch out my arms – fully intending to embrace her softness and the protection she offered my soul, my body and the peace of mind she gave me with everything she did.

But before I could hold her, I felt us being separated forcefully.

Green eyes burned into us.

"Get your fucking hands off of her!"

My mouth hung agape, and for the first time in my life I contemplated how much I disliked my father. I was disgusted with her.

I couldn't look at her.

I couldn't even be in the same room as her.

I shook my head, words evading me for the first time in my life and slowly began walking backwards away from the blonde I had once idolized nearly as one woud a God.

Cobalt eyes looked at me before landing on my father and looking on in shock – My mother clearly held the same feelings I did.

Jade coloured eyes were strained as Haruka-papa took in heavy breaths.

Red eyes gazed at me; Setsuna was full of love, concern and understanding as I shook my head.

I was standing in the threshold of the kitchen. I struggled to open my mouth but after a few seconds I managed to utter out the three most hateful words I knew to exist at that very moment. And I directed them all at my father.

"I hate you."

Water.

I never really appreciated its beauty before. I never really knew how it could truly quench a thirst before now.

Now, when my throat was burning up so much it felt as though it might explode into flames at any moment. The intensity with which I had thrown those three life-changing words at my father were enough to think my hate actually caused fire to emerge in my throat.

And now, even after glugging down one full tumbler of ice cold water, I felt as though it wasn't enough, as though it may never be enough.

Or was that how I felt now?

The feeling that I'd never be enough, that is.

Now, Haruka-papa would always see me as inadequate, I'd never quite measure up anymore.

I never thought either of my parents would ever lose their love for me, that it would ever diminish... but now I doubt that.

I thought unconditional love truly existed between me and the parents I had known and loved for nearly eighteen years.

On my second glass of water, I stopped drinking as soon as I could feel another presence in the room; I hoped to the all the gods in existence that it was Setsuna, but something deep within me told me that it wasn't her.

That something deep within me was right.

I didn't need to turn around; I remained still as I stood in front of our sink. I placed my glass on the worktop's surface and watched as the cold glass allowed a small bead of water to travel in an off-straight line down the glass until it collided with the faux marble surface under it I watched as it disappeared into nothingness under the mixture of dark colours of the night and the kitchen's general decor.

I listened as she cleared her throat, the lack of polite grace Michiru-mama had clearly indicating it was Haru-papa as she coughed loudly and without regards to her environment. I gulped and decided to take the lead in this conversation – setting the tone so to speak I suppose.

"Yes?" I couldn't keep out the defeated tone in my voice as I commanded her attention; but still I didn't turn around.

"So now you hate me, huh?" She sounded a mixture of amused and angry. Like my angry teenage phase had arrived too late and aimed at the wrong person – no doubt the person she thought I should be angry with had green hair and red eyes in her mind.

I sighed and hung my head. There was no use responding – I had a feeling she was only out for an argument.

Where was Michiru-mama when I needed her to restrain the atmosphere between us? Or to be more accurate, where was she when I just needed her in general?

I couldn't even crane my head to look into the living room as my father was blocking off the visibility to the room.

Instead of trying to gaze ever so desperately into the family room I settled instead for sparing a glance at Haruka-papa.

She's staring resolutely at me, although I can't see the exact expression on her face due to the lack of light.

"Right now... yes, I do... but I don't want to." I watched with a cautious gaze as my father nodded her head slowly before she leaned against the kitchen counter, her back pressed against it, propping her hands on the side and poising herself as though she were leaning against a mountain and not a part of our kitchen units.

"I'm not the enemy here, Hotaru." I snorted out loud in disbelief. Did she really think me that naive? That everything she had done up until now, she really expected me to believe that it was all for me? That she wasn't being the baddy of my late adolescent drama?

"I'm just doing what is best for you." She gave me that small smile that usually would convince me that there was no fault in her actions.

Tonight, that smile did not have its effect.

No, instead my mind was ambushing itself by echoing the last words spoken to me by my blonde parent.

She was doing what's best for me?

I never really understood the anger that some people experienced when they ranted about their parents and that sentence was thrown in. Chibiusa was the last one to use it – "Mamo-chan wants me and Helios to have some time apart and away from each other. Ugh, I hate it and I couldn't even say no 'cos he went all it's for my benefit on me... parents are such a drag, Hota, honestly!" And at first I had thought her ranting was rather over the top.... but right now? I not only understood but I felt I exemplified it in this instant.

My body shook with anger and I feared my skin might turn as red as my vision. I had never felt such rage in all my life;

"You know what's best for me?" I gritted the sentence out between my teeth and watched as my father's small smile disappeared from her face and was replaced with a mask of confusion.

I shook my head, I couldn't believe all of this.

This was all done because she didn't like it, why couldn't she admit it now, instead of covering it up and pretending all her actions and words tonight were because she had my best interests at heart?

"No, dad... you don't know what's best for me right now. With everything else in my life? Yeah, you probably do... but to know what's best for me in this instance? To say that the love I feel for Setsuna, and the love she feels for me isn't good for me... that hurts, dad. More than I can describe right now. It makes my heart hurt to know you think so little of my feelings for her."

I took in a deep breath and surveyed the damage so far. My father's face was a mask of indifference.

"I know that it's not the most perfect thing that everyone imagined... Jesus! Even I tried to fight it at first... Sets sure has hell did!... and now? We couldn't lie to ourselves... we knew that everyone would hate us for no reason. We haven't broken any laws... legally she's not my parent and I'm not her child. Lord knows over the ten years apart she certainly wasn't a parent to me." Haruka-papa opened her mouth and I instantly quietened, allowing the utmost respect even now for her.

"It doesn't change the fact that one of my best friends for nearly twenty years wants to schtup you." I ignored her crude wording and instead focused on her tone; indignant, betrayed and a hint of remorse. I decided to work with what I had and just get out what I needed. I ignored the burning need to shout and scream obscenities at her and instead focused on a feeling that always existed around this woman whom I loved more than any person that represented family to me.

I took a step towards her; her hawk-like eyes observed me with an intensity that intimidated me and at the same time gave me courage to approach her. I gently laid my hand on my father's and tried to withhold the flood of tears I could feel pining away to escape from my eyes.

"Papa, I never meant to hurt you and I'm sorry because I know you feel betrayed but... right now, I need my dad. I need your love - your unconditional love. I need my father because usually my father knows just the right thing to say to make me know that everything is going to be okay... and right now, I need to know everything's going to be okay, dad. I know I messed up, it wasn't Sets at all, it wasn't Michi-mama; it was me. Me being a coward. I know I messed up our happy home, I know I was being selfish... and I'm gonna be selfish again and beg for you. For you to make this all better. Please, Haru-papa... will you please forgive me?"

Haru-papa sighed heavily and moved her hand, instantly cutting off the small piece of contact we shared. She sighed heavily.

"I'm always going to be here for you Hotaru, you know that. But... this... it's all too much."

I nodded my head slowly – I knew what she meant. She sighed again and ran her hands through her hair.

"I-I-I am sorry. I... don't want this to tear us apart. I... Will we be okay?"

Haruka-papa looked at me sharply; her eyes going over every single aspect of my face. I don't know what she was looking for and I don't know if she found it.

She looked out into the living room that she could see into clearer than me. She bowed her head seconds later and brought it back to me.

"I... I don't want to see you hurt, Hotaru. You know that right? But... back there... when I saw you cry, I wanted to hold you hime... and make your pain go away. If there's anything I hate to see - any parent hates to see – then it's their child in pain, crying, inconsolable. But then... I saw how Setsuna moved to you... and in an instant you seemed to know no pain. It's like it just disappeared."

I looked up into upset emeralds in confusion. I said nothing, hoping Haru-papa would continue to speak. And she did. She bowed her head in shame and spoke barely above a whisper.

"I could see she eradicated your pain. The same way your Michiru-mama does for me. In just one touch, in a soothing word, just being. And... I thought for a moment that know you had this... you, like me and your Michiru-mama, would have no need for your mother and father. You'd abandon your parents for this new person in your life... this new person who is your life."

Oh... poor Haru-papa.

To think I'd never need her again.

I ignored the slow trickling of tears against my face again.

"That's why I told her to get her hands off of you. She was your parent and now she's... not," I ignored my urge to smile endearingly as my father could not bring herself to say the word lover, "And in my weird messed up head... it seemed like now you have Sets, you don't need us. And Hotaru, me and your mother love you... I don't know what we'd do if you never needed us again... if you replaced us."

The last few words were barely spoken but I heard them and I couldn't stop myself; I flung myself against my father, my head landing on her shoulder and I hugged her ferociously.

"I will always need you papa. You and mama. And I will never stop loving either of you. Never." I looked up, ignoring the need I clearly had to wipe my eyes and continued to speak, not daring to speak above a whisper at this point, for fear I might break the taut atmosphere that had collected in the room and that it might then shatter into a thousand pieces.

"You and mama had different parents, you told me so. Very different to you. Not as caring, loving... accepting. I'm never going to replace you two. I couldn't and it's not possible." I buried my face into my father's shoulder and moments later felt two strong arms wrap around me and return the hug.

I'm not sure how much time passed, all I know is I savoured the smell of Haru-papa, she smelt of the same cologne I had known since my childhood – Joop Jump. It was my father's scent, something I'd always associate with her – like motor oil, Sapporo and salads.

A few moments after this thought, I felt my father shift and hands at my shoulders, gently pushing me away from our hug.

Gentle olive coloured eyes looked at me; it looked as though she had shed some tears but I couldn't be sure as my own eyes were so blurry it seemed as though even the walls had shed a few tears.

"Hotaru?" My attention was caught implicitly by Haru-papa. I listened attentively to my father; her attention drifted to the living room before settling on my own amethyst eyes.

"Do you love her?"

I could tell my skin was burning up and for once my father didn't tease me for blushing but instead she patiently waited for my answer. I nodded slowly, carefully choosing my words.

"Hai... I'm pretty sure I'm in love with her. I... I'm sorry." My father's eyes clenched shut as I apologised and she shook her head.

"Don't apologise. Hotaru, don't." I was about to exclaim out loud when I felt my father wriggle away from me and make her way into the living room.

She strode powerfully, masterfully and I quickly followed when I realised that Setsuna was still in the living room, in the pathway of my most irate parent.

As I entered, I noted that Michiru-mama and Setsuna were on the sofa, but quickly jumped up as they noticed Haru-papa and I had re-emerged from the kitchen. Setsuna swiped at her eyes but at this distance I couldn't tell if she had been crying or not.

Haruka-papa stopped literally just inches short and I felt the air catch on the ridges in my throat. I took a shaky step forward but stopped as soon as I heard the menacing tone of my father. This time, she wasn't angry... but protective.

"I've known you almost twenty years Setsuna. We've gone through a lot of shit together... and I considered – consider - you one of my best friends. Do not make me regret that. If I ever find out that you break my little girl's heart, I will kill you. I won't dramatise it, just mark my words, I will kill you. Here are the rules; One - you cannot be in the house when Hotaru is here alone. Two - No PDA at any times, at all, ever in the house. Even if we're not here... in which case you should refer to the first rule, you shouldn't even be here when Hotaru is on her own! Do not make me regret this... and make no mistake... this isn't because I approve of this – because I don't."

Haru-papa turned to me and gave me a slight smile.

"I'm doing this because it's best for Hotaru. It... it's what she wants."

A silence engulfed us and I blushed at all the attention being showered on me.

"Thank you, papa." I heard a grunt in response and assumed that that was my father's way of saying 'no problem, hime'.

"Thank you, Haruka." My father's lips formed a straight, tight line and she didn't move a muscle – but the fact she didn't try to strangle Setsuna pretty much meant she was saying "You're welcome" in her own special way.

Suddenly feeling relief lift off of my shoulders, I relax my shoulder blades which I hadn't noticed had bunched up and given me a hunched look. As I rolled my shoulders back, I noted Haruka-papa moved back to Michiru-mama's side, glare in place but it would just be a matter of time until she gave into Michiru-mama's 'apology'. My father noted my droopy eyes as I relaxed my shoulders and her familiar parental-love-filled gaze landed on me.

"Tired, Hotaru?" I nodded slowly as I stopped stretching my muscles. Michiru-mama stretched eloquently and yawned politely behind her hand.

"Ah, yes it is rather late... almost 1am!" Wow, time really did pass quickly!

"It's been a tiring night... we should all go to bed. Our own beds." Haruka-papa narrowed her eyes at Setsuna who rolled her eyes.

"Trust me, Haruka, I'm exhausted... I'm going to my own bed now... are we okay?" Setsuna genuinely looked into Haruka-papa's eyes and searched for her answer.

A few tense moments passed before Haruka-papa shook her head.

"No... but we will be."

Setsuna gave a small smile to my father and another weight was lifted from my shoulders – liberation was generously released throughout my body; their friendship was not irreparably damaged! Everything would be fine in due time.

Slowly we all began ascending the stairs, Michiru-mama getting all the lights as she and Haru-papa walked up the stairs at the back, Setsuna was behind me and I walked resolutely ahead, intent on just getting to my room.

"Night, Hotaru. Michiru... Haruka." Setsuna spoke simply before entering her room and closing the door behind her. I pouted – hey, don't blame me I was disappointed... but I knew that a goodnight kiss was out of the question... especially right now!

"Night, hime... it's all going to be okay." My mother spoke the words gently into my ear as she kissed me gently on the cheek, making sure that my father wouldn't hear... and for the first time all night I knew that Michiru-mama wasn't being as cold as she pretended... she was worried, but she still loved me. She was rooting for me... regardless of what Haru-papa would have done.

"Hai... night hime. Love ya." My father planted a kiss on my forehead and smiled warily at me. I smiled back at her – it was time to let her know everything was going to be okay.

I kept my smile until I entered my room and closed the door behind me before blindly turning on my light switch and slowly making my way over to my bed and sitting down on the edge of it – I propped my hands up on my knees and my head resting on the palm of my hands.

It would take hard work but it would all be worth it right? Sure, it would difficult for my parents to initially see me and Sets sneak a kiss here and there but soon enough it would be as commonplace as Usagi's sugar comas in the ice cream parlours. People would make comments of course, but they wouldn't know us, they wouldn't know what we had was real... it wasn't all novelty. It was authentic – the love we felt for each other.

And damn all those people who would criticise us and try to hurt us or break us up!

I sighed out heavily and tried to ignore any of the negative thoughts running through my mind.

Would it all really be worth it?

A light tap at my door alerted my senses.

I stood up, my brows furrowed and vigilantly opened my door.

Crimson eyes and a soft smile greeted me.

I opened my mouth to warn her that Haruka-papa was more than likely on the prowl for her after everything that happened tonight... but... I was cut off by the soft lips I needed like the need to breathe.

Every coherent thought left my mind as I felt her tongue gently trace my lip, but before I could even think to open my mouth and invite her in, she pulled away, a small devious smirk plastered on her sensual lips. She leaned in and spoke gently into my ear.

"I know PDA's a no-no... but it was worth the risk. Night, hime."

With one final peck to my lips she disappeared from my sight as I stood there, dazed and grinning like an idiot.

With one simple gesture – one simply amazing kiss might I add... I knew it all. Everything was thrown into perfect clarity for me.

It was all going to be fine. As long as I had her by my side.

I slowly closed my door and turned off my light. I made my way to my bed, knowing the route perfectly since being thrown into my moment of flawless lucidity.

I crept under my covers and snuggled into the warmth – that idiotic grin still on my face, I'm proud to admit.

Hell yeah... everything we were going to inevitably go though was going to be worth it in the end.

I'd like to believe love always is worth the fight.

A/N 2 - So there you have it. My third completed story. Hope that kept you all happy. Leave feedback and just so you know - I'm not beyond thinking of a oneshot to completely complete this but this was always the sort of ending I had in mind. I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed - impersonal for being my long suffering beta-reader. Reverend Tammy McLuderson III for being spiritual inspiration (LOL!)... and everyone in general. If you'd like to see a oneshot sequel to this... leave your opinions and thoughts on it and I shall brew it over. Once again thanks to everyone who has stuck by me for my first non HaruMichi main pairing Sailor Moon story and I really hope you all enjoyed it! Take care and see you at whatever installment I being tot he table next. Ja ne - VR