A/N: ACK I am so sorry for this late late update :( But we're an epilogue away from finishing, so it's time to take care of business. I apologize for any sappiness; I feel as though it's a given when wandering into Serenity/Endymion territory sometimes. Thanks again reviewers, you all are awesome :)
Serenity lay on her silk sheets, wide awake and wondering if she'd ever need to sleep again. She felt lighter than air, and energized; Serenity felt like she could've gotten up at that moment and carried out a full day's activity, though she had been at the ball late into the night. She rolled over onto her side and hugged a pillow to her chest, picturing Prince Endymion in her mind's eye.
A moon cat scuffled in the bushes beneath Serenity's window; her chambers overlooked the royal garden, a private, intimate space for just her and her mother to enjoy. Used to the noises of small animals moving around in the plants, Serenity imagined the moment when she first descended the main staircase in her new white silk gown with the beaded bodice. She vowed to remember Endymion's expression for the rest of her life; he looked as though-
"Princess!"
Serenity sat up and looked to the window. She knew that the cats and crickets in her garden did not talk, and so it had been something else moving around beneath her window.
"Princess, it's Endymion. Please, come to the window!" Serenity nearly fell out of her bed as she rushed to the window, stopping at the mirror for just an instant to make sure her hair was in order and rushing into her closet to grab a robe.
"Endymion?" She stepped out onto the small balcony that overlooked the garden. The prince was standing on the ground and staring up at the balcony, and the look of love and admiration that crossed over his face made Serenity blush. "Why are you here?" she asked.
"You look beautiful," Endymion said, holding his hand out in supplication. "Can you please come down? I need to tell you something urgent."
"I am on the second floor, silly," she giggled while leaning over the railing.
"Jump, and I'll catch you," the prince replied with a grin, stepping forward. Such was the trust that Serenity held in this prince she had only met days ago that she readily complied, swinging herself over the balcony railing and falling back. She landed in Endymion's arms, eyes shut and laughing breathlessly.
"You are alright?" he asked while righting the moon princess.
"If you always catch me, I will always be alright," she said with a shy grin. Endymion took her hand, and led her to a small bench a short distance away from her room.
"Princess, I have something to tell you. It's important." Serenity looked away for a moment, imagining a profession of a love or even –dare she think it-a proposal of marriage, but she was confused when she turned back to Endymion and saw his tortured and pained expression.
"What's wrong?" she asked, laying her hand over his in concern.
"I am called back to Earth," he said. Serenity frowned a bit; she knew, in some back corner of her mind, that Endymion could not spend the rest of eternity on the moon with her, but she chose to pretend otherwise.
"I know you have to go home," she said reassuringly. "But we have so much time together before then, and so much to do! Mother is planning an expedition to the Sea of Clouds, and everyone is invited-"
"Princess, I am called back today."
Serenity felt the wind knocked out of her for a moment. She was not prepared to surrender her prince so soon. She quickly recovered, and smiled the brightest smile she could muster.
"Well, that is fine, only you must promise to come back to me as soon as you can." Endymion closed his eyes and sighed.
"Princess…Serenity, I do not know when, or even if I can return to you."
She thought her heart had stilled. Before she knew it, tears poured vigorously from her blue eyes and she hugged herself to try to ease the pain.
"You don't like me anymore?" she managed to ask. "You don't want to see me anymore."
"That, my sweet princess, is not within the realm of possibility," Endymion said firmly, gathering the crying girl to his chest.
"Then why…?"
"There is political unrest in my home. Some people on Earth do not agree with the Silver Alliance, and do not wish to follow your mother and her friends. They threaten my family."
"They don't threaten you, do they?" Serenity demanded, filled with new worry.
"Don't trouble yourself with these matters," Endymion murmured into her hair. "I simply must go home so that I and my kings can help my father with this situation. As soon as everything is dealt with and set to right, I will return to you."
"So…you do like me?" Serenity asked tentatively, chancing a peek at Endymion's face.
"Serenity," he said softly, tracing a fingertip over her cheek. "I do believe that I love you." Serenity felt as though she might melt in the Terran prince's arms. She rested her head on his chest, feeling for a moment perfectly content.
"I love you too," she whispered back. Endymion's arms tightened around her.
"Will you stay with me for just a while?" he asked softly in her ear. Serenity looked about the garden; it was the very early hours of the morning, and faint sunlight was just starting to spill onto the ground. No one would be up for a while since everyone, including the palace staff, had been up all the previous night at the ball.
"I will stay with you," she conceded. She shifted so that her back leaned against Endymion's chest and his arms encircled her waist. They stayed silent for some time, just enjoying each other's presence and the slow progress of the sun over the horizon.
"Tell me, Serenity, are you betrothed to any one?"
"You know I am not," she said. "Why do you ask?"
"No Martian count or Venusian knight waits for your hand?" he persisted. Serenity giggled, and twisted in his arms so that she may tap his nose.
"I swear on my royal office that to the best of my knowledge, I am not betrothed to any man. Why so pesky?"
"Serenity, I cannot ask you to be mine when my home is cursed with unrest," Endymion said earnestly, catching her hand and holding it to his face. "Would you be willing to wait for me to bring Earth back to peace?"
"I promise myself to you," Serenity said passionately. "I promise I'll wait for you until the end of time."
"And I promise myself to you," Endymion replied seriously. "I'll carry your crest on my flag so that all will know that I am champion only for you."
Silence fell between them. Serenity pulled her hand away from Endymion's face, and then held it out, palm facing out. Endymion pressed his open hand to hers, and their fingers interlaced. Serenity imagined that that was what their hearts looked like, so intertwined that one could not tell where Endymion's ended and Serenity's began.
