Chapter 11

Serena, Kaden, Darien, and Erin all started cleaning up the kitchen, chatting. Slowly but surely the kitchen came clean. It was a whole lot cleaner than it had been, because Serena had said they had to make it disinfected clean. That meant going as far as taking everything out of the cupboards and cleaning them. They decided on one big sleep over at Serena's in the den instead of going their separate ways for the night.

"Hey, Rena, the hot water's built up again." Mina said coming from bathroom where she'd been sent to check the water.

"Finally. It's going to take me an hour just to get all of this stuff out of my hair. Listen for the twins, Darien. They're in the guest bedroom across the hall. I left the baby monitors on though. I shall be back. You guys look exhausted get some rest. Thanks again for all your hard work." she called as she headed for the shower.

An hour and a half later, she emerged from the shower clean and smelling like cherry blossoms. She laughed to herself as she remembered last time they had done this. Kaden had walked in on her accidentally. She wrapped a beach towel around herself and walked up the stairs to her room. She walked to her suitcase and pulled on a black satin knee-length, fitted night gown, that came with a matching robe. She had just bought it that day. She sat at her vanity and pulled the towel off her hair. It fell to the floor. She picked it up and started brushing it. She brushed it until it was almost dry and fell in shiny silver and blonde waves. She sighed. She knew it was going to turn fully silver soon. All moon princesses did by their 19th birthday.

Serena felt his presence before she saw him. Kaden stood in the doorway just as she finished putting Rini back to bed.

"They look so sweet when they're asleep." he said crossing to her side.

"I think they look sweet all the time. It's going to be when they get older that we have the problems." she said.

"I don't know. You and Erin weren't much trouble. Even as toddlers. In either life, that I can remember at least. You two were always well behaved. Especially compared to my own two headstrong sisters." he said. She smiled at the thought.

"How come you all never found Lilly when you all found Rei again after the crash?" she asked.

"I don't know. When we found Rei, she was alone just like the rest of you. The only thing I can think of is that maybe someone wasn't freaked out by her powers and therefore, she never sent off a signal." he said.

"You're thinking the outer generals, aren't you?" she asked.

"Yes. It makes sense since we never found them either. We can always hold onto that hope." Kaden said as they started back across the hall.

Her phone vibrated in her hand. She didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway. "Hello?" she asked softly.

"Hello, Serenity. You know you're a hard person to track down." a smooth female voice came over the line.

"This better be good." Kaden said.

"Hold on." Serena said into the phone. "I have a feeling you're not going to believe who's on the line. Let's go sit in the living room and I'll put it on speaker." she said.

"OK." he said carefully.

"Hey, you still there?" Serena asked.

"Not going anywhere anytime soon, Sere." her voice said.

"Kaden and I are going into the living room to sit so he can hear, too." she said.

"Kaden's with you? Are you all together?" she asked.

"The Outers aren't here, but we know where they are so yeah I guess. Hold on I'm putting you on speaker now." she said and did.

"Hello, Kaden." she said when she heard the click.

"I thought she was joking when she said who was on the phone." Kaden said.

"No joke. I'm real." she said.

"I can hear that." Kaden said.

"Where are you?" Serena asked.

"Tokyo. Its late here." she said.

"No kidding. We're visiting our parents." Serena said.

"What's going on, who's on the phone this time of night?" Rei asked sleepily, coming out into the living room.

"Sit down right now, and listen to the voice on the line." Serena said.

"Ooh, all that authority. Even after a thousand years her voice still rings with it." she said. Serena smiled.

"Hey, I heard a cool rumor tonight, Rei, wanna hear it?" she asked.

Rei sat there as tears welled in her eyes.

"She's listening, but crying." Serena said.

"I'm trying not to. I heard though, that your sister finally remembered who she was fully a few months ago and started digging to find everyone else. She makes one phone call and instant success. Serena, go open the door." she said.

Serena jumped up and ran to the door unlocked it and threw it open. Lilly stood there, tears running down her face, smiling. She flipped her phone shut and hugged Serena hard.

"Gods, I've missed you." she said.

"We've missed you too. Get in here." Serena said, tears starting down her own face.

"Gods, Sere, your tiny!" Lilly exclaimed.

"I don't try to be." she said as they closed the door and walked in.

"What's going on?" Darien asked coming into the living room. "My god. You've finally come home." he said with a smile.

"Yep, to stay, too." she said wiping at her tears.

Serena winced as the twins started crying. "Damn, and I just got them back to sleep, too." Serena said. "I'll be right back." she said.

"I'll get them, Rena, stay here." Darien said.

"You two together?" Lilly asked.

"No. We finally opened our mouths and talked to each other, only after I ran away from it all. I have a bit of a surprise though. It's sorta part of the reason I took off from here in the first place." Serena said as Darien walked out with the two carriers. He set them down at Serena's feet. The crying had subsided, but they were wide awake. Darien handed her Grace then picked up Rini.

"These two are mine. This is Grace and that's Rini. Short for Gracelynn and Serenity." she explained.

Rei finally managed to stand up and walk over to her sister and hug her. Lilly hugged her back. "We missed you so much. I think Rena missed you more though, all things considered." she said somewhere between a laugh and a sob.

"Well I missed you both." Lilly said.

"Kaden go wake everyone up. They'll love this. We got into a huge, sticky, messy ice cream toppings fight earlier and everyone stayed and helped Rena clean up. Technically Erin started it. By the way, he's the only married one. He married Lita last month when they went to Vegas. She's due next month, and they're totally in love." Rei said.

"I want to hear everything." Lilly said.

"We all grew up here in this neighborhood together. The boys lived just over on the next block, too, so it worked out great for us all. They were already here though, when we arrived. Kaden and Setsuna found all of us and sent us here since they were here and Kaden came with. He, Darien, and I were raised together. Mina, Erin, and Serena were, too. Amy and Lita were raised by different parents that live two and three houses down. We all grew up here, but we moved at the beginning of summer, and now all of our parents are moving to be closer to us." Rei explained.

Everyone came out and Lilly was surprised by how much everyone had changed. She noticed Serena hung back. "Hey, Sere, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. I was just observing everything." she said.

"That's something you'll learn about her. She doesn't jump head-first anymore." Darien said.

"I see that." Lilly said.

Serena's cell rang. She picked it up. "This better be good, Viv, it's two-thirty in the morning." Serena said.

"Um, I m sorry, Serena. I know that it is really late, but I am at the studio. I was going over some of the pictures from the other day and someone deliberately ruined them. I need them re-shot please! They are the ones you and Darien did the other day. I know it is late, but they have to be to the printer by five in the morning. I would not call you if it were not urgent!" she pleaded.

"Alright, we'll be there shortly." Serena said.

"Who was it?" Kaden asked.

"Viv. Darien, you and I are needed at the set. Someone deliberately sabotaged the photos and she has to have them in by five." Serena said.

"Alright, grab the gown and I'll run over and grab the suit. You drive." he said. Serena nodded.

"Kaden, call Michi and Heather for me, tell them to meet us there. I'll need them this time for sure." Serena said as she stood and went to get the dress.

"Serena, Lita, and Darien model. Vivien is their boss. Hence the reason Serena's so tiny." Rei explained as Kaden called.

"This better be good, Kaden, it's after two in the morning." Michelle said grumpily.

"It is. First off, someone sabotaged the princess photos and they have to be to the printers by five. Serena needs the two of you to meet her at the studio. Second, Lilly's back. Is that good enough?" he asked.

"Yes. Tell Rena we'll meet her there. Bring everyone with you." Michelle said and hung up.

"Serena, they'll meet you there. They want everyone to come to the studio." Kaden said.

Serena groaned. "I'm tired, crabby, my ankle still hurts, and they want to play happy. I'll give them happy. Someone needs to watch the twins. I absolutely refuse to wake them up again and take them out this time of night." Serena said.

"I will. I'm not feeling up to going out anymore tonight anyhow." Lita said.

"I'll stay, too." Erin said.

"Thanks, guys. I appreciate it." Serena said. "They shouldn't be hungry, I just fed them not too long ago." she said.

"Get out of here, woman, and be careful not to hurt your ankle worse." Lita said.

They made it to the studio just as Michelle and Heather did.

"Rena, you OK? You're still limping." Heather said.

"I know, it still hurts. I'll be fine, we just need to get this done ASAP." she said.

"Rena, when we get done let me take a look at your ankle." Darien said.

"I will." she said and ran toward wardrobe. Everything was done as quickly as possible, with Mina and Lilly helping curl her hair. She had Lilly zip up the back of the dress and with heels in hand, ran toward the front of the studio. Midway, she stumbled over the same cord, twisting her already sore ankle. She heard a small pop and felt shooting pain, but ignored it, and continued toward the front. She arrived, slipped on the heels, and set the tiara carefully on top of her head.

"Stunning." Lilly said.

"In pain." came Serena's remark.

"Yeah, you'd never know it." Lilly said.

"I'm good at what I do. Darien, what the hell did you do to your head?" Serena asked. He walked in holding a bloody rag to his forehead.

"I ran into Zach's cup head-first and it busted. Kaden's going to take my place. Viv said it was OK." he said.

"I hope so." Serena said.

"If this goes as well as we think it will, then we'll wait and go to the hospital afterward." Darien said.

Kaden came out and Serena drank him in. He took one look at her and was very glad that Darien had injured himself.

"Places." Vivien called. They took their places. "I changed my mind. We need a moonlit background, by a lake, the moon has to be on her. What is close?" she asked. They groaned.

"The rose gardens at the park. Only a few blocks from here, and the moon is full, so let's move." Kaden said. They all moved surprisingly quickly.

"Your dress is all wrong, Serena, do you have another one with you?" Vivien asked.

She didn't, but she had an idea. "Let me run to my car, and change. Lilly, Rei, Mina, come with me please?" she asked. They followed a limping Serena to her car. "Cover me, I'm conjuring a gown I haven't worn in awhile" she said. With a small flash of light, she'd changed before their eyes. In front of them now stood Princess Serenity herself.

"Serenity, are you sure you want to do this?" Rei asked.

"Yes. Trust me." she said, and they walked back.

"Perfect. Where did you get it?" Vivien asked.

"It's something I've had for a long time."

"Now he looks all wrong though. Kaden, can you be fixed?" Vivien asked.

"I can, but I'm not quite sure what she's up to." he answered.

"Go change, Kaden. It will be worth it in the long run." Darien said, catching Serena's drift. It had been in very similar gardens during the Silver Millennium that he'd tried to get her to break her promise to her mother. He had been unsuccessful, but understanding. Kaden returned, changed.

"Perfect. You two are the best." Vivien said.

"Darien, has your head stopped bleeding yet?" Kaden asked.

"No, why?" he asked.

"Cause if it had, I was going to make it bleed again." Kaden answered. Everyone laughed.

"OK, do we know what we are doing now?" Vivien asked.

"Oh yes. I hope your ready cause I'm only doing this once." Kaden said.

"We are ready." Vivien said. They got into position and the wind picked up slightly, blowing Serena's hair out behind her just as they snapped the picture. Silence ensued for a few seconds as the two just stayed there staring each other.

"The shot was perfect. Thank you both for coming on such short notice and so late. Darien, I hope that your head heals soon." Vivien said.

"You owe me." Kaden said to Darien.

"I'd say we were even." Darien said. Kaden raised an eyebrow at him but shook the comment off.

"Darien, go get your head looked at." Serenity said.

"I'm going. How's you're ankle?" he asked.

"I don't know. Does not being able to any pressure on it at all qualify as pain?" she asked.

"I though it was just sore." he said as they walked, rather he walked she limped, toward the cars.

"Was. I stumbled earlier at the studio again, and this time I heard something pop. It'll be OK." she said, wincing as she got into her car.

"I think you should get it checked, Rena." he said.

"You know something?" she asked.

"What?" he asked.

"For once I think you're right. I can't bend it without pain. Lilly, will you drive please?" Serenity asked.

"Um, no. I don't have a license. I've always relied on good ol' public transportation." she said.

"I don't trust Mina." she said.

"Hey I have a license." Mina said.

"Yeah, and a bunch of speeding tickets. No way." Serenity said.

"Amy, go with the guys I'll drive." Kaden said.

"OK." Amy said and got out. Lilly quickly got out and took her place. Kaden looked at Serenity.

"Can you move?" he asked. She got out without trying to put weight on her ankle. She started to hop around to the other side of the car, when Kaden scooped her up.

"Thanks." she said softly.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing." she answered as he put her gently in the passenger seat of the car.

"We'll talk later." he said as he got into the car.

They drove to the hospital in silence. She powered down, and midway pulled on jeans and a shirt. "Sit for a minute." Kaden said. He got out and came around the other side. He picked her up and carried her in.

"Oh lord. Serena, I thought you outgrew your klutzy stage." Nicole said upon seeing her in the waiting room.

"I was running and tripped over a power cord that runs some equipment at the studio." she said.

"Alright, come on back. Can you walk?" Nicole asked.

"On one leg." Serena answered.

"Alright, I'll get you a chair." Nicole said and got her a wheel chair.

"How many stitches did Darien get?" she asked as Nicole wheeled her back.

"Nine. It's going to swell and bruise. Lucky for him he's not normal, and in a few days time, you'll never even know. I told him to come back in five days and I'd take the stitches out. How are the twins doing?" she asked.

"Growing like ragweed. They weighed in at nine pounds the day before we left. The doctor said they were healthy, but that they might have problems flying. So far though, they haven't fussed at all about their ears. I'm grateful." Serena said.

"OK. They sound wonderful." she said wistfully.

"Still none?" she asked.

"No, and we keep trying." she said.

"You've both been checked, had several procedures, and still nothing. I would have thought at least by now. I'm sorry. Here you are trying for the last five years, and I have a one-night stand and wind up with twins. Then your daughter comes home and tells you you're going to be a grandma. Hey, as a way of saying thanks, will you let me use the silver crystal on both of you?" she asked.

"I don't know how much difference it will make, but sure." she said with a small smile.

"You never know, it could be the answer to your prayers." Serena said.

"You're a sweetheart, Serena, like a second daughter to me. You know that?" she asked.

"Thanks." she said.

"Now about your ankle." she said as she looked at it. An hour and two x-rays later, Nicole had a diagnosis. "You fractured your foot. You also tore ligaments in your ankle. No heels for you for awhile. I need to do a scan of your ankle and see just how bad you tore them." she said. Serena's ankle was scanned. "Well, young lady, you're lucky. They don't need surgery, just plenty of rest and a walking cast, that needs to be as tight as you can stand it, and crutches to keep the stress and weight off the ankle and foot until they heal. OK?" she asked.

"Yes." Serena answered. Nicole put the cast on for her and a very tired Serena walked out on crutches.

"That's bad, Rena." Kaden said.

"Could be worse, I could have to have surgery. I also could actually have broken it instead of fracturing it." she said.

"Here I was thinking that you out grew your klutzy stage." he teased.

"Did you take everyone else home?" she asked.

"Except Lilly, she went to get a soda downstairs. Here she comes now." he said.

"How bad?" Lilly asked.

"I fractured the foot and tore the tendons. No weight for three weeks, no heels for six." she said.

"Ouch." she said.

"Tell me about it. She gave me drugs to sleep and help with the pain. I'm going to pump when we get back so the twins have food. I need someone to listen for them and Darien's already sleeping. Mom will be getting up soon, maybe I can stay up till she's up and..."

Kaden cut her off. "I'll listen for them, Serena. You just get some rest." he said.

"Are you sure? I really don't want to put you through the trouble." Serena said.

"They're not trouble, and I don't mind." he said.

"Thanks, Kaden. I owe you. Even more for what you did tonight. The idea just hit me all of the sudden when she asked me to change. Thanks for helping us." she said.

"You're more than welcome." he said and they went home.

"My poor baby." Irene said as Serena hobbled in the front door.

"Mom, what are you doing up?" Serena asked.

"We were worried about you. Darien said you hurt yourself on the set. What happened?" she asked.

"I apparently haven't outgrown my klutzy stage like we thought. I tripped over the same thick wiring twice. Kaden kept me from falling the first time, and the second time I managed to keep my balance. I have a fractured foot and torn ligaments. I don't have to have surgery though." she explained.

"So optimistic. The twins have been sleeping since you left. I sent Lita and Erin to bed an hour ago." she said.

"Good, maybe they're going to start sleeping longer now. I'm going to go pump some bottles. Then I'm going to bed." she said.

"How are you getting upstairs?" Kaden asked.

"I'll sleep in the guest bedroom down here. I just need a few things first." she said and hobbled down the hall. She made four bottles, gave them to Kaden, and went to bed.

When she woke up, it was noon. "Good morning, sunshine." Darien greeted her from the doorway.

"Hello. I suppose it looks worse than it feels?" she asked him.

"Yeah. I still can't believe it happened. I heard you fared worse though. A fracture and torn ligaments. You'll know every time the weather changes." Darien said.

"Thanks for the heads up. The twins up?" she asked.

"No. I just put them down. They started getting fussy and you weren't up so we made them some formula. Is that OK?" he asked.

"To me it is. You're the pediatrician, not me." she said.

He smiled. "Breast milk is always better, but when its not available, a supplemental high nutrient formula with iron is good." he said.

"Right out of the text book. Would you like me to name the author?" she asked.

Darien laughed. "You bought one?" he asked.

"Nope. I got your dad to send me one." she said.

"'General Practitioning For The New Mother.' My dad's latest." he said.

"It's helpful, and besides, I like your dad. I trust him, and that's why I only buy his books, or his highly recommended books. I have a whole set now you know. I like to fill my head with helpful hints." she said.

"It's cold and rainy, and everyone is here. They don't expect a fashion show, they're just bored." he said.

"Good. I have plenty of ways to keep everyone busy. I need to get upstairs, do you think you could help with that or will it hurt your pretty head?" she teased.

"I couldn't possibly. I might break a nail." he joked.

She threw a pillow at him. He laughed and Kaden came in.

"Mornin' sunshine." he greeted Serena.

"Hey, beat him up for me, he's being a brat." she said.

Kaden looked at Darien, who was still holding the pillow, and laughed.

"She needs to go upstairs and get things." Darien said.

"What do you need?" Kaden asked.

"Never mind, I'll conjure it down here." Serena said as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and grabbed her crutches.

"Ooh, miss independent." Kaden teased.

"I'm not in the mood, leave me alone." she said dryly.

She hobbled out to the living room where she conjured her clothes and everything else she needed to work on. Then she grabbed a change of clothes, went, and changed. She came back out.

"Are you hungry?" her mom asked.

"I could eat. Any chance there's any of dad's chicken legs left?" she asked.

"Coming right up." Irene said.

"Hey, you all want something to do, you can help me instead of watch TV and whatever your doing."

"What do you need?" Erin asked, scooting over to her.

"Go through all of these magazines, in the fashion sections, and tell me what you do and don't like about the clothes. There's boxes of them. I request early copies of every magazine. There are also the last two weeks worth in them. I need opinions. I figured why not start with all my friends, right, Lilly?" she asked, as Lilly plopped down next to her.

"Yep." Lilly agreed.

"How do you tell them apart?" Ken asked.

"Whom?" Lilly, Serena, and Erin asked.

"Lilly and Rei. How do you tell them apart?" he asked.

"Lilly's an inch taller, her hair is longer and she always wears it back, except at night. She's about an inch taller and thinner. Her eyes are different than Reis Her eyes are usually blue when she has her contacts in." Erin answered.

"Or green." Lilly piped up. Erin nodded at his friend's concession. Before Ken could ask how he knew that the subject was changed.

"Serena, what's the deal with this shirt? It looks like its been through hell and back, and then put back together." Rei said.

"It's fashionable." Serena said.

"Wouldn't catch me in it. I like clean cut lines and well put together clothes." Erin said.

"Me, too. What's the deal with these destroyed jeans?" Kaden asked.

"So, what do you guys want in jeans then?" Serena asked.

"Something we can be comfortable in." Erin said.

"Something that's new and looks it, with the comfort level of well-worn jeans." Kaden said.

"Good. Darien?" she asked.

"I hate fitted jeans, but I don't want them falling off my ass either. For work meetings though, I like those stain resistant, waterproof things. Sometimes they feel starchy though." he said.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes it feels like you shouldn't try to sit in them." Nate said.

"Good." Serena said. She quickly sketched a pair of pants that had come to mind. "Double duty, gentlemen. Comfort and style. The question is, would you wear them?" she asked and passed around the sketch.

"I would if the material was good." Zach said.

"OK, let me get this into the computer real quick, and do something." she said, and traced her design with the digital computer pen.

"Cool! Where'd you get that?" Zach asked.

"Um, it's a prototype Ames invented for me. Very useful, too. All I have to do is trace what I'm working on or do it freestyle. I can write in my own handwriting on the computer, spell check it, and print it. I keep telling her to get a patent on it, but she hasn't." Serena said.

"I'd buy one." Ken said.

"Yeah, me, too. Sometimes when I'm working on some pictures, I don't want to scan the whole thing, just part of it, but I always end up cropping it and trying to freehand the rest with a mouse. That would work great. I'll pay you if you make me one." Irene said.

"OK. I made several at the same time and I have the software for them, too. There's different ways to use it and I put a easy to follow guide in there. It doesn't take up that much room on the computer either. I have them at my parent's. Let me conjure them and then I can show you how to use them. I didn't think they'd be very interesting so I haven't made a patent or anything. I never thought of using them for pictures, though I know they work on them." Amy said, then conjured the pens.

Serena and Amy kept everyone busy throughout the day from discussing the pens to discussing fabric patterns. Serena sat on the porch in the cool evening air looking at the moon.

"Are you wishing you could go home?" Kaden asked as he dropped a warm jacket over her shoulders.

"Thanks. Yes I was. I love it here, don't get me wrong, but I miss how things were that we knew. If we could just figure out the spell, maybe we could go back to normal. I know it's an impossible dream." she said.

"No, it's not. Maybe someday we'll find a way to break the spell, or even find a teleporter. We just have to keep trying." he said as he sat next to her.

"Do you miss Mars?" she asked

"Yes, I do." he said.

They sat in silence for a while before they went in for the night.