It wasn't the girl in the picture at all. In her place was a delicate looking child with purple eyes and black hair.

"This is Hotaru," Setsuna introduced, "Since the girl playing the part hasn't been chosen yet, Hotaru will be serving as your model."

Serena took a liking to the girl as she worked with her through the class. Hotaru didn't speak very much and tended just to look at Serena in a very strange way. After classes, Serena made her way over to Mina's dorm to ask her about borrowing some clothes. As she suspected, Mina wasn't as oblivious as she usually is and confronted her about why she needed the clothes.

"Now, Serena... you hardly ever dress up... let alone borrow MY clothes, so out with it!!!" Mina was towering over Serena who was sitting on the bed.

"Uhh.... I have a date," Serena offered and winced... 'Wait for it...'

"Oooohhhhh mmmmmmmmyyyyy gooooooossshhhh! Isn't that the best thing EVER! What kind of date? Oh nevermind, I'll just get out all my clothes and you can try them on right now," Mina shouted gleefully as she bounced over to her closet and started flinging all sorts of clothing out of it. Serena heard her mumbling something that she couldn't make out over all the bustling and it sounded something like 'who are you going out with'.

"Daimon. He's that guy in my metal works class that helps me out sometimes," Serena said thoughtfully. She still wasn't sure how she felt about him yet, but she thought it was only fair that she give the guy a chance. She can't always wait around for prince charming.

"FOUND IT!" Mina called out gleefully from the mountain of clothes. She held up a light pink spaghetti strap dress. Serena looked at it and decided it was rather pretty, but that she'd better try it on first. She went into the bathroom and got changed. The dress was made from a soft fabric and fell just below her knees. It hugged in just the right places and Serena thanked kami that Mina and her were so similar in size. She exited the bathroom to more of Mina's shrieking and giggling.

"You should take your hair out of those buns. You need to look extra special. Here, let me help. You can see how I do it tonight and then you can do it tomorrow for your date no prob," Mina said as she sat Serena down and started putting Serena's hair into rags and wetted them. "Those should be lovely springy ringlets for tomorrow!"

Serena looked at herself in the mirror and let out a small smile; she felt beautiful. 'I should really dress up more often. It just makes me feel great.'

Mina started experimenting with her makeup and was fluttering all around Serena to make sure she looked perfect. Serena couldn't help but think that this felt all too familiar, but she shrugged it off. Once Mina was finished they chatted a little about the week and agreed to meet later that evening for scout training.

It was cold on the way back to Serena's apartment and she pulled her jacket tightly around her shoulders. It was just starting to get dark, so she would have to get back and get something to eat soon. She opened the door and went through to the kitchen.

'Time for some French toast I think,' Serena thought to herself as she got the necessary ingredients out of her fridge and started to make dinner. Sure it wasn't the most nutritious dinner, but sugar always helped for having to train. I guess the bonus of the scout training is that she didn't have to worry about practicing new techniques with junior master Darien Chiba. 'Great, now I'm mad again,' Serena thought as she remembered the shouting match from the day before. She couldn't believe the guy. Just when they had managed to get along reasonably well for a little bit he had to go and ruin everything. 'He probably just wants to see me flunk out of this school like Beryl does.'

With those thoughts in her head she made her way into her bedroom to rest for a little bit before meeting the girls in the clearing. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed another red rose and a note.

Serena,

You misunderstood me the other night. I didn't mean to control your life in any way, it's just that you're not used to University life and I don't think you know how different the guys are here. Be careful of this Daimon fellow. I don't trust him.

- Darien

And that was it. For goodness sakes, that boy had issues. She grabbed her water bottle and headed out the door for another night of intense training.

---

Lita had managed to get a punch to Serena's stomach when she was distracted by thoughts of her date tomorrow. Unluckily Raye had seen and had gone off on her again about paying attention and taking responsibility. 'One of these days that girl is going to blow her head off from all these remarks,' Serena thought as she was standing there taking the criticism that was in no way constructive.

She collapsed on her bed that night and didn't even bother to change into her pjs. A brief thought of how Darien managed to leave the rose on her bed entered her mind before she drifted off to sleep and forgot all about it as she had another dream.

The dream

There he was. The most handsome man she had ever seen. Her mother had just come to Earth on a short political trip and decided to bring her only daughter along as to familiarize her with what she would have to think about as a future Queen.

Upon arrival she had graciously greeted the King and Queen of Earth who said she was allowed to wander around the grounds while they talked.

The Princess was excited about being in a new place and began wandering around the gardens. She heard some noise coming from a nearby lake and decided to investigate. Hiding herself in the grove of trees, she was now admiring the man who was wandering along the edge of the lake. Just when she thought he couldn't get any better, he rid himself of his shirt and started on his breeches. Serenity gasped. She had never seen such a thing before and immediately closed her eyes. Curiosity however willed her to open them and to her disappointment he was already swimming about in the lake.

She was just about to head back to the castle when she heard the man speak.

"You may as well come out, I know you've been there for the last 10 minutes." Serena was shocked and promptly fell and tumbled into the water. Spluttering she stood up only to find the object of her attention standing over her with a look of concern on his face. She must have looked like a codfish with her mouth wide open and gulped as she saw how close his proximity was.

He looked at her closely, "who are you? I know most of the people in my kingdom but I am not familiar with you." Serenity felt a little uncomfortable about the way the man was looking at her. She suddenly realized that she was wearing her traditional white dress, and that it was now wet. She plunged herself back into the water again.

"It's none of your business," Serenity spat as she transported herself back into the waiting room at the castle and dried herself off. Her mother came out of her meetings and they head home. She would not return to Earth for another three years and all that time she never forgot the handsome man she met at the lake.

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Wow, you guys are brilliant for waiting so long for this update. I'm now on winter break and it's great to finally have time for this fic. Thank you all for your encouragement in the reviews ;)

Akiko Koishii - Gotcha! It wasn't Chibi-Usa just yet... Gotta keep something for later chappies ;)

Hidden Sovereign - Ah, you tricked me with the name... ::shakes head:: I bow to your ability to deceive me... though it's really not hard as I'm rather dense :P .... meantime, nope, wasn't Rini... and as for the suspense... yes... I attempt to be as suspensful as I can...cause I know how much that irritates me when I'm reading :D Glad you love my story though!

MoonPrincess568 - Glad you love the fic and I'm sorry I didn't quite update ASAP... but yah... school ain't exactly fun eh? Just wait till the date in the next chapter!

Sailor Moon Serenity - ::Looks around her room... "I knew I left the rest around here somewhere":: Hopefully this chapter sustains you for the next wee bit.

mae-E - Always with the predictions :D And yet again I shall reveal nothing! Mua hahaha.... Some quality Darien time on the way... No worries :)

PhantasyDreamer - I'm glad you like it :) I shouldn't be stopping anytime soon, so don't worry about any author's notes :)

Starlit Warrior - Thanks for the luck! Did it do any good? You'll have to review and tell me ;P

Neonlights - It's cause I'm evil... yup... really.... I won't be so long in the next update

Keiko's Horsebrat - Cute name :) Meantime, please don't die... ::tosses chapter 13 to stop the choking in pain:: You managed to get me off my butt and writing again... good stuff.

Meantime... Review please guys, always great to hear your thoughts. - trimarian