Author's Note: It all ends here, or begins depending on how you want to look at it.

I know you probably want more of this story, but I think it makes more sense to skip ahead a few years. I want to show how different the world is because of a few small changes... Namely the kids meeting in early childhood. What do you think will happen when Artemis and Luna appear, since Minako and Usagi are already friends? Will the boys still be kidnapped and forced to become dark generals? Will there still be romance and adventure?

So here is the first ending... I hope you enjoy it and come back for more!

The Meaning of Love:
A Story From Beginning to End

Chapter Ten
The First Goodbye

Kunzite shifted nervously from foot to foot. He bit his lip and looked down at the carpet.

Daddy held his hand, and Nephrite's. He hadn't said very much, only told them he had a surprise, but now they were at the hospital. What sort of surprise could there be at a hospital?

A pair of double doors opened and daddy showed something to a man standing behind them. Then he took Kunzite's hand again and led both boys down a long hallway.

Then he could hear a baby crying. Everything started to make sense. "Mommy had the baby," he said, feeling excited.

Daddy laughed. "Yes she did," he said in a happy voice.

"And she's okay?" asked Nephrite, his own voice trembling.

Kunzite let go of his daddy's hand to hug his cousin. Nephrite was shaking and scared. Kunzite could only imagine how sad he must be.

"Your aunt is fine Nephrite. So is the baby."

His cousin let out a shuddering breath, and then smiled. "Good."

They made their way past a tall desk with nurses behind it. The ladies were all smiling and happy. It made him feel like smiling too. He skipped along, Nephrite copying him, until they reached a door that daddy pushed open.

Mommy was sitting up in the bed. She had her hair in a ponytail and no makeup was on her face. To Kunzite she looked more beautiful than ever. In her arms she held a tiny pink bundle. His baby sister.

"Come meet Maemi."

Kunzite and Nephrite walked toward the bed. They both scrambled up to sit at the end and mommy unwrapped the blanket so they could see Maemi.

Instantly, Kunzite knew he loved her and would do anything to protect her. Mommy told them to sit very still and put the baby across both their laps.

She had tiny everything. A tiny little nose and tiny silver hairs on her head. Tiny eyes that were closed as she slept. Tiny little red lips that made a sucking motion. Her little hands had tiny fingernails too.

"Pretty," Nephrite breathed. Kunzite nodded. She was beautiful. So small and perfect. Like a person in miniature.

"We will protect you Maemi," he promised. Nothing, and no one, would ever hurt his baby sister. He and Nephrite would protect her. Jadeite and Zoicite would help and all his other friends.

"We will take care of you," Nephrite added. "No one will bully you or make you sad."

He met his cousin's eyes and nodded. They would so whatever they had to do to keep her safe.

Chibi-Usa and Chibi-Mamo stood, silent sentinals, where soon a car would crash through the barrier and down an embankment to the rocky ground below. Even knowing attempts had been made to stop the events in several other time lines, causing the deaths of Jadeite and Zoicite as well, Chibi-Usa was horrified she was forced to let the accident happen.

In this timeline it would only be their parents and little Aika in the car. That didn't mean it wasn't the most awful thing the boys would ever experience.

Silent tears caused down her cheeks, but Chibi-Usa refused to hide her face or close her eyes. It was all she had to give... Being there at the end so they didn't die alone.

Rain hid her weeping, though she could tell her brother knew. She heard the squeal of tires and sent out a prayer to the Kami that their deaths would be instantaneous and without pain.

The screech of breaks, the sounds of twisting metal and breaking glass sounded over the storm. As soon as the car went over the side the twins raced to the embankment and scrambled down.

The roof of the car was peeled back like a tin can and they could see inside. Chiaki and Hiro both still sat in their seats, but it was clear neither lived. There was no stirring of life, no gasps or screams of pain.

And then Chibi-Mamo shouted. She turned to look where he was pointing. She gasped. There was no car seat. The back seat of the car was empty, the buckles undamaged. The baby hadn't been in the car.

"Where's Aika?" she asked, swiping a wet strand of hair out of her face.

"I don't know!" Chibi-Mamo shouted over the rising wind. "Lets call for help and go find out!"

Making her way to the car, Chibi-Usa kissed her hand to the parents who would never see the heroes their children were going to become. Her brother pulled out his phone and called emergency services. Then there were police cars and fire trucks at the top of the hill.

The twins told an officer what they had seen, then they were given a ride back to the little room they were renting while they stayed in the past. As soon as the officers drove away, they raced back out and hurried to Usagi's house.

Ikuko opened the door, little Aika on her hip. Chibi-Usa broke into tears at the sight of the little belong ringlets on the child's head.

"What's wrong?" Ikuko asked, reaching out. "What happened?"

Chibi-Mamo explained about the accident in a rush while she wept uncontrollably. Something had changed the time line just enough to save one more life. Perhaps things had gone wrong with Nephrite's father, but now Chibi-Usa felt hope.

They had done what they set out to do. It was time to go home. The children had to support and help one another throughout their childhood years. Jadeite and Zoicite were orphans now, as was little Aika. They would move in with their aunt and uncle.

In just over a year, Makoto would lose her parents as well, and she and Haruka would move in with the Tsukino's who would receive a monthly stipend from Haruki's parents.

Naru would lose her father, Umino his mother. Michiru's parents would leave her with Ami's mother and father while they divorced and her mother would die of cancer. Her father would have no contact with her.

It all seemed so horrible, knowing the future for the children. She lifted her head from her hands and stared at Ikuko.

"Please," she whispered, " take care of all of them." Her lip quivered as another rush of tears fell, but she watched Ikuko gulp and nod her head as though she truly understood the gravity of the request. She would mother all of the children, love them, and support them.

Chibi-Mamo stood then. "We have to leave in one week," he said. "We will come back to say goodbye," he promised.

Chibi-Mamo wasn't sure why he was so upset. It wasn't like he wouldn't see his parents, grown and wise as they should be, the moment he returned to his own time. Still, it felt like tearing off his own arm to say goodbye to the younger version of the people he loved.

They met in the park. Ikuko and Kenji brought all of the older children with them. That was a lot of little ones. Most of the babies had been left with Etsuko and Katso. They only brought Shingo and Hotaru, which was oddly appropriate. Both slept in a double stroller being pushed by Kenji.

The children were in pairs. Haruki was in front with Setsuna, who had become his friend in the past few weeks. Kunzite was next, his hand holding Minako's as he walked slowly.

A very sad Jadeite and Zoicite followed after them. Little Ami and Rei were close behind them, giving silent support. Nephrite followed, talking quietly with Makoto, who was looking around cautiously, still unused to the safety of the suburbs.

Haruka and Michiru were next, neither speaking. Their families were both away and the girls were quiet and unsure.

Mamoru and Usagi were last, clinging together. Usagi was weeping, her face in Mamoru's chest. Chibi-Mamo hated to see the child version of his mother cry. He knew they would see each other again, when he was younger and she was older, but it still hurt to say goodbye.

For half an hour, he and his sister played with the kids, a game of hide and seek that made everyone smile. Then it was time. He reached down and picked up Usagi.

"I love you," he whispered. "I promise, one day we will see you again."

Usagi seemed cheered by the thought. Chibi-Usa took her and cuddled the tiny blonde close.

He turned to the child version of his father. "She will need you," he said. "And you will need her. Stay together."

"Always," Mamoru promised.

One by one he said goodbye to the other children, stopping at Shingo and Hotaru, who would one day be his uncle and his aunt. Already their personalities were beginning to shine through.

Then he hugged his grandparents and he and Chibi-Usa waved goodbye. They backed away before turning and running to the hidden place where they had entered the past. Chibi-USA held up the time key and spoke the enchantment. They clung together in the vortex and stumbled out into the arms of their parents and family. Their younger brothers and sisters gathered around them talking in excited voices.

Chibi-Mamo gave a half-hearted smile, then clung to his parents, needing the connection with them. He needed them to be strong for him this time. He heard Chibi-USA weeping and realized that he too was crying. It had been hard to say goodbye.

Usagi grinned as she found herself in the dream. "Endy!" she called, racing through the field of wildflowers, startling several fluffy bunnies.

"There's my sweet little one," Endy said, scooping her up and swinging her around. "How have you been?"

"I made friends," Usagi told him. "Lots of friends." She sat on his lap and told him all about the boys, how sad Nephrite was, and about the girls and how horribly Rei had been bullied. "I'm going to take care of them and make them feel better, just like you do for me," she said.

"That's good little one. You will need them as much as they need you over the years."

"I will?" Usagi asked.

"Whenever you feel scared, or sad, or lonely." Endy chucked her under the chin. "They will be there for you, each in their own way."

"Oh. That's very nice of them," Usagi said, but she threw her arms around Endy. "But I just need you and my Mamo," she added.

Endy laughed, but it sounded sad. "You don't need me so much anymore sweet child. I will still be here for you, always. But things will begin to change soon. You will learn to lean on the other girls and they will be as sisters to you. My sweet Serenity and I begin to fade. We will still be your guide and Mamoru's. And I will always be here, ready to speak to you, encourage you, and love you."

"Are you saying goodbye?" Usagi asked, sniffling.

Endy shook his head. "No dear one," he said softly. "I'm only saying you don't need me as often."

Usagi snuggled against his shoulder. "I will always need you," she said.

Mamoru looked around for Tee as the dream began. He soon found her sitting on a bench overlooking the water. He settled next to her.

"Everything is changing," he said, unable to keep the sadness from his voice.

Serenity nodded. "Time moves fast," she said softly. Before you know it you'll be in highscool and will have no time for silly things like girls and toys." She spoke with a smile, but it was a sad one and Mamoru thought she looked like she needed a hug, so he wrapped his arms around her as she had done so many times for him.

"There are some girls who are worth the time," he said. Tee was, and Usagi was. His other friends too.

"Remember that," Serenity said softly. "You will come to see me less and less over the next few years. Keep close to Usagi. She will help you understand one day."

"You sound like you're saying goodbye," Mamoru accused. "You said you wouldn't leave me."

Tee brushed the hair away from his face and looked into his eyes. "I won't ever leave you," she said again. "But one day, things will be different. One day you will not need me anymore. You'll know when its time. You will come then, with your Usagi, and you will say goodbye to childish things."

"I don't understand," Mamoru said, confused.

"Of course you don't. It isn't yet time for you to understand. One day, you and Usagi will learn who you really are and you will help Endy and I to move on."

"I don't want you to go," Mamoru argued. "I want you to stay."

"And I will," Serenity said, smiling. "You will always have me."

End of Book One