Hey everyone! Does anyone still remember me out there? No, I was worried about that... I'm sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I promised to update quickly, but I got hit with the worst writer's block after I posted the last chapter. Everything I've written has been crap and I wasn't going to post until the chapter was something I could feel proud of and that I thought was worthy of being read by you guys. Please forgive me!!!!!!! Anyway, this is the last chapter. Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story. You guys are fantastic. A special thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter, Aleric and seragirlforever. Also a special thank you to sangoscourage for the suggestions that helped me get over my writer's block. I hope you guys enjoy. Please review and tell me what you think.
I cover my mouth to stifle a giggle at my mother's antics. After spending a month in the imperial capital with a constant stream of interruptions, we all decided it was best to move things to some place more out of the way so we have returned to the farm where I first felt truly at home. The first place I first felt truly welcome. It is so wonderful to be back. It's funny you know. I've heard people speak of "home" with such longing and joy, but never understood until now. It was something I never really felt at the palace and even now when I think of home I don't think of those cold, silent halls. I think of this place.
"Mom, perhaps I can help," I start toward my mother. She has decided that she is going to cook tonight despite the loud protests of my father and sister. Mother never cooked for me before, so I didn't understand their reactions but I think I'm catching on.
Mother points at me with a large cooking spoon. "Sit! I'm working on it. If I can rule a kingdom, I can figure out cooking. It's just been awhile..." Her voice trails off at my look of skepticism. Things are smoking and I just pray that the house doesn't burn down. This disaster plus the looks of horror from Father and Usagi tell me all I need to know about my mother's cooking ability. A pot starts bubbling over and Mother jumps a bit. She smiles at me sheepishly. "Okay maybe I need a little help," she finally consents after turning off the stove.
"We'll do this together. It'll be fun," I tell her and I am rewarded by the pleasure reflected on Mother's face. I show my mother how to do some of the easier tasks while I handle the more difficult ones.
"Is everything okay?" Tamiko asks anxiously running into the still smoky smelling kitchen. She, Usagi, and Etsu were out feeding the horses and therefore missed the more out of control part of cooking.
"Tamiko-chan, calm down," my sister says as she and Etsu enter the room. "Smoke is what you get when you leave my mother in a kitchen."
Mother rolls her eyes. "Very funny, young lady. Keep up that attitude and you can eat the stuff I made on my own."
"What a horrible thing to say to your daughter?" Sailor Mars says teasingly to my mother as she walks into the kitchen. The Senshi were horrified at the idea of us wandering off with no protection so despite protests from my parents, they insisted on coming along. Not only do they act as protection, but they bring news from the capital so my parents can continue to rule. Tonight it is Mar's and Venus' turn. It took some work, but together we worked out how balance our time together and time for running the kingdom. My first reaction to this situation was one of trepidation, but it is working out well. I'm learning there's a whole side to my parents and the Senshi that I never knew was there. "Eating your cooking is death." Mother sticks her tongue out at Mars, who responds with a laugh. "Very mature, my queen," she teases.
Mother smiles as she starts setting the table. "At this moment I'm not queen." She pauses, her smile widening, "That feels really good to say. The others are still planning on joining us for dinner, right?" she asks Mars. We have invited all the Senshi to dinner tonight. I'm looking forward to tonight as it will be the first time everyone is together like this in who knows how long.
Mars starts to answer, but is interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. A slightly disheveled Venus enters in an obviously annoyed mood. "Never again," she declares loudly causing Mother and Mars to smile devilishly. Venus and Mars flipped a coin earlier over who they would follow today and Venus got to follow Father. Under normal circumstances this would not have been a problem, but Hiroshi has been taking full advantage of having my father around by recruiting him for some of the jobs Tamiko and I have trouble helping with, in today's case repairing fences, and since Venus was going to be following them anyway she got enlisted to the team.
"Oh it wasn't that bad," Father says as he and Hiroshi enter the kitchen. Pleasure runs through me at seeing Hiroshi and I run over to greet him with a kiss. He starts to pull me close, but is interrupted by Father. "At least wait until I'm out of the room to do that," he grumbles. Father has accepted our relationship, but he does seem to enjoy his fatherly duty of grumbling.
"Oh Endymion, stop it," Mother scolds him gently. "They aren't doing anything wrong." She sighs happily, "To be young and in love is such a wonderful thing."
Father drapes his arms around Mother gently and kisses her cheek. "To be old and in love isn't bad either," he responds.
"You're correct there, my darling," Mother whispers kissing Father's lips gently.
There's a knock at the door, which Tamiko goes to answer. The other Senshi have arrived.
"Fantastic! Everyone is here now," Venus says. "Let's move this into the dining room. After today's forced labor I need some nourishment before I collapse."
"Everything is ready, so everybody grab something and go," I announce.
As everyone shuffles out, Hiroshi whispers in my ear, "How are you doing with all this?"
"It's amazing," I answer honestly as I lean against his chest and listen to the sounds my friends and family in the other room. "Thank you for everything Hiroshi-kun."
"For you my beautiful Keiko-chan, anything," Hiroshi says kissing me again. "We should go join them."
"I'll be right there," I tell him. Incredible. It's just all so incredible. I am a very lucky girl to have found him and Tamiko. Although this experience was quite painful at times, I have learned so much about myself. I have learned that hidden deep within me is a strength I never dreamed possible. I have learned what it means to love and trust with all my heart and what it truly means to forgive. More importantly I have learned that self-definition doesn't come from any exterior sources like what others think of me or what duties I perform. It comes from inside. I have found where I belong which is here with the man I love. I'm not lost anymore and it feels wonderful.
"Keiko-chan, do you need help in here?" Mother says reentering the kitchen. "We miss you out there."
"I'm coming, Mom." I use the more informal name for the first time and smile. We all still have plenty of ground to cover in repairing our relationships, but we're certainly off to a good start. I feel certain we're going to make it.