Author's Notes: First of all, mahalo plenty to the following for their reviews: rkf22; mistressamy; narugami; midnightblue08; nickybluejess; princess moony of the moon; squirrel holding a bazooka; jovian sun; moonlight phoenix; manga mania; sailormoonaddict; loveinthebattlefield.

Mangamania: To answer your question, in Chapter 10, I briefly mentioned Jason's last name. I should have been more specific when I said, "Austin Parties." Jason's parents, the Austins love Christmas and they throw a big Christmas Party during the first week of the month and thereafter as a prelude to the biggest even of them all, Christmas itself. But in any case, I will write all of the character's full name to alleviate any more confusion. I feel like I'm writing an attendance sheet.

Serena Usagi Tsukino

Mizuno Ami

Hino Rei

Kino Makoto

Aino Minako

Chiba Mamoru

Tenou Haruka

Kaio Michiru

Tomoe Hotaru

Meio Setsuna

Jason Austin

Zachary "Zack" Townsend

Nicholas "Nick" Stuart

Mark Baldwin

Chapter Twelve - Dilemma

"Your Highness." Pluto addressed Serena only. "Prince Endymion and three of the Senshi are here."

As Pluto spoke those words, Serena's knees buckled. Thankfully, Jason was right there to catch her right before she fell. As the group tried to digest the new information, Jason helped Serena to the couch and quickly went to the kitchen to fetch his friend a bottled water. Serena remained quiet and slowly brought her hands to her forehead and massaged it. She's done everything she can to hide her location. Their severed link, Mamoru and Serena's, there was no way that he could ever find her. He had hurt her. Was it too much to ask for her to be left alone in peace whilst she tried to pick up the pieces of her broken life?

Jason returned with the bottle of water and remained uncharacteristically silent. No one spoke. They didn't know how to digest the new information and how they would protect Serena. It was obvious that she wanted nothing to do with the Inner Senshi or Prince Endymion and they had to respect those wishes.

"What do you mean they're here?" Serena finally asked.

"They arrived at San Francisco International Airport jew a few minutes ago." Pluto explained.

"What happened? Aren't you supposed to stop them? Couldn't you have stopped time?" Haruka asked.

"I'm not allowed to interfere, only to protect and serve Princess Serenity. For me to change anything in the time line meant I'd be changing the outcome the future. I'm sorry."

Serena didn't panic at all, although she never anticipated this. She thought, that even with Serenity and Endymion's ties that have been broken when Mamoru cheated on her, it would take a few years to find her, but she did remember her conversation with Motoki and Mamoru's invasion of that conversation by asking her address. She needed to figure out how to stay away from their radar and with Ami being there, there is a possibility that will find her or figure out a way to reach her.

"Final exams are next week. My classes are relatively easy and given that I am an unusual late transfer into the semester, my professors have agreed for me to write an essay about what I've learned in my classes in Japan. Let me speak to Beryl. She would understand my situation."

As Serena opened up her binder and found Beryl's phone number, Michiru and Haruka glanced at each other and wondered why Serena was so trusting of the woman who had created so many problems on the moon and on earth.

Serena waited for Beryl to pick up the phone and when she did, the woman on the other end seemed to be surprised that Serena had called her. The spoke for a brief moment and ended the conversation by giving Beryl her address.

"Are you crazy? Giving your address to that witch? How did you know where she is?" Haruka yelled.

"Don't worry. She's been reborn as human. She's my professor and my friend. She was fully healed by the ginzouishu at our last battle. She's not the enemy Haruka. She's coming here to help us figure out a way I can stay hidden and not jeopardize my classes. The pizza should be here soon, so can you help me get some plates and drinks ready while I go get my wallet?"

Beryl arrived at Serena within fifteen minutes of their phone conversation. Beryl understood what Serena was going through. She knew that it's difficult to live a peaceful life when her past haunted her every step.

"They don't know what college you're attending. For all they know, you're in Stanford right now." Beryl said. "You just need to dye your hair and wear colored contacts. They wouldn't know its you. I know dying it seems drastic, but you can dye it back or it will grow back to its natural colour."

"Why don't she just stay here at home, write her papers and turn it in via e-mail? I know we talked about the round the clock protection, but I'm not going to stay cooked up in an apartment. Someone else has to do it."

"I don't like your idea Haruka. Beryl's seemed to be the most logical choice. Don't you remember, you must attend the final exams in order to pass the class. A no-show gives you an automatic F for the final." Michiru told Haruka who still wasn't keen on the idea of Serena leaving the condo.

"We agree with Michiru and Beryl. We can better protect her and most definitely hide her on campus. Here, she's cornered, no way out but to face them." Mark said.

Everyone agreed with the original plan but instead of dying Serena's hair blonde, they decided to get her a short, brown wig and hazel colored contacts. Feeling as though they've accomplished something, each one said their goodbyes with promises to return later with Mark staying behind to watch over Serena.

"Where are we supposed to get our luggage?" Ami asked looking at the screen.

"I don't know. Where are the monitors?" Minako asked.

Mamoru sighed. Ami and Makoto haven't been out of Japan and Minako was too busy trying to find the right English phrase book to purchase. "Come on. I know where it is," he said as led them towards carousel thirteen.

It had been a long flight and a long wait time to get the first available tickets on the next flight the United States. Now, all that Mamoru wants to do is get the rental car and head over to Alameda where they would be staying and collapse on a nice comfortable bed. When they've finished grabbing their luggage and getting a rental car, Mamoru relied on Ami to help him navigate the roads. After taking the wrong exit and getting lost in the bad part of Oakland, they finally found the route to their destination and arrived at Shoreline Drive in Alameda where the house was located. It was a little late and they were hungry. They unloaded their bags and Minako exhaled a sweet sigh of relief.

"A bathroom! A bed! Oh, the sweet amenities of life," she said as she ran straight to the bathroom as she's held it in since they arrived at the airport.

Ami and Makoto laughed whilst Mamoru decided to do some grocery shopping. When Mamoru returned, the bags had been unpacked and he was settled into the master bedroom. Thankful that Mamoru had done the grocery shopping since her English wasn't that well, Makoto was the one to settle Mamoru in the master bedroom.

"You didn't have to do that Mako-chan." Mamoru said as they both unloaded the groceries. Minako and Ami were in their rooms taking a nap.

"Of course I did. You were kind enough to help me pay for my ticket and I don't know what your colleague is charging you for our stay here."

"Don't worry about it. I'm just thankful that you're all here to help me find her. It's my fault she's gone." Mamoru replied.

"Don't worry. We'll find her and you know how forgiving she is. It will be like nothing ever happened, I hope."

"Yeah Mako-chan. I hope."

Mark stayed behind with Serena as the rest of the group went out and did their personal errands. He was surprised that Serena didn't panic at all. Before everyone left, they decided that they were going to go out to dinner and even a movie, minus Beryl who sadly turned down the invitation since she had papers to grade.

"What movie did you want to watch?" Mark asked as he helped her clean up their mess from the pizza.

"I don't know. I'm thinking about the Sherlock Holmes movie." Serena said as she dried the dishes. "I'm thinking about seeing it in Japantown at the Kabuki Theatres. I bet Michiru and Haruka would like it. It's not my first choice to go, but Japan is their home and I bet they miss it."

When everyone returned, they told them the new plans for the evening. With the news they just received, everyone welcomed a change of scenery and a change of topic. With Setsuna watching over Hotaru, who did not want to go to the movies, they piled into Nick's black Suburban and headed towards Japantown.

Makoto was about to make dinner, but Mamoru and Minako had dissuaded her to abandon her cooking and go out to Japantown to get a bite to eat instead. Thankful that she didn't have to cook, Makoto gladly threw her apron to the side and placed the ingredients back into the refrigerator and they headed to Japantown.

When they arrived, Mamoru suggested they try Izumiya, which was located at the Kinokuniya building since his colleague suggested it. When they arrived, the bustle of Japantown replaced their appetite for food to an appetite of curiosity. They walked around and was astonished at the different authentic Japanese cuisines and merchandise that flanked the shops. They hadn't expected something like that in America. When they finally came to the Kinokuniya building, Ami spotted the bookstore and decided to peruse it whilst Makoto and Minako checked out the video arcade. Mamoru followed Ami into the bookstore. He loved books as much as she does and decided that he was going to find something good to read when he's not looking for Serena.

"Let's go into that bookstore. I need to get a new book." Serena said as she pulled Mark's arm and dragging him into the bookstore.

"Serena, you do understand that we're going into a Japanese bookstore, filled with Japanese books. It isn't like Barnes and Noble." Mark replied. "And ease up will you? You're stretching my arm another five inches than its normal size."

"Ah poo! You're sure a party popper." Serena said as she smacked his arm.

"I'm not a party popper. I'm not one who suggested dinner and movie, remember?" mark replied as he rubbed his arm where Serena had hit it hard. He had no doubt that underneath his sweater, there would be avery red handprint on his arm.

"Okay. Okay. I'm just going to get a craft book. One of those Amigurumi ones? Are you going to deny me that? I've already decided to take up crochet and you're going to tell me no? Who are you? My father?" Serena asked jokingly

It was too impossible to say not to Serena and Mark conceded. "Just hurry up. We don't want to miss the show."

As Serena browsed the craft section of Kinokuniya Bookstore, Mark wondered why Endymion would do such a thing. Serena was filled with light and optimism and even though things seemed a bit gloomy in her life, she still maintained a smile on her face and made the best out of everything.

"I'm ready." Serena said as she pulled out her wallet form her Coach purse.

"Hurry up! We're going to miss the movie!" Jason yelled from outside of the store.

"Go ahead Jase. We'll meet you there." Mark replied. Jason shook his head and ran towards the waiting party.

After Serena paid for the book, she and Mark headed out of the bookstore, but on their way out, she'd bumped into someone. It didn't take her long enough to realize who it was. He smelled like roes and hot chocolate. She quickly murmured and apology, grabbed Mark's hand and dragged him out as quickly as she can. Mark didn't have time to register what was going on and kept his pace with Serena with the fear his arm might just get five feet longer if he didn't.

Mamoru had forgotten all about his book. On his way inside, a petite girl bumped into him. He thought nothing of it as she murmured an apology and dragged a platinum blonde haired man along with her. But when he inhaled her scent of strawberries and vanilla, he knew who she was. Serena. He wondered who was with her and what was his relationship with her. Darien seethed as thoughts about being replaced invaded him. He was going to pound that man to bits if he'd replace him in Serena's heart.

He tapped Ami shoulders and told her that they needed to go. Makoto and Minako watched Mamoru's expression as he and Ami emerged from the bookstore. They all knew what that look meant. He had seen Serena