I am proud to say that it is still 2013 (meaning I managed to update in the same year as the previous update)! This is what we're going to call the final chapter. I suppose there is a chance of an epilogue in the future, but I make no promises. I'm ready to put this story to bed. I've been absent from writing a lot of this year. I wasn't even at my last job a year before I transferred into a different branch of our program for a new job. It's been an interesting change. So, I've been settling into that and then set myself what seems like it might have been an impossible goal for this year to read 100 books. I'm at 90 and not much time left to finish the last 10. My goal for the next year will be to spend far more time writing. I will come back and consider an epilogue at that time.

Thanks for sticking with me! I've appreciated every single review and all the time you guys have spent reading. Enjoy this last piece of Her Escape!

12.6.13

Chapter 21: Two Years

"Hey, college girl," Mamoru greeted as he slid onto the stool beside Usagi. Pressing a quick kiss to her lips, he turned to his waiting best friend. "Coffee, black. Thanks, Motoki."

"Hi, Mamo, and I'm not a college girl yet. I still have graduation tomorrow before it becomes official."

"Close enough, Buns," he assured. "Where's Minako?"

"Volleyball team party for the graduates," Motoki supplied as he leaned against the counter across from them. "She wasn't planning on staying long, so she'll be here soon. And, I'll be off work in about twenty minutes."

"I think maybe we should take a walk in the meantime. How about it, Buns?" Mamoru nudged her gently with his elbow and downed the rest of his coffee when she nodded. He lagged a moment behind as she rose, exchanging a look with Motoki who winked at him. He released a deep breath and followed after her.

Usagi wrapped her hand around Mamoru's and tucked herself close into his side. "This seems surreal," she murmured.

"Hmm?" he replied.

"Just thinking about all the changes," she assured him. "I know I was only at Tomoe a year, but I don't entirely think I'm ready to leave yet. College will be crazy. Especially since Minako and I will be separated for the first time in ever. How do I do that?"

"Oh, Buns… You may be going to different colleges, but you're still going to both be here in Tokyo. You are both going to be living at home again, but you'll make time to get together with her. We double with her and Motoki at least once a month, usually more often than that even. And, I very much doubt that your mothers are going to stop getting together and involving you and Minako in that."

"I know." She sighed. "I know." She walked on with Mamoru, deep in her thoughts. She did not even notice as he steered her through the park in a familiar direction.

"Have you seen Makoto and Ami lately?"

"What?" Usagi asked, confusion crowding her face.

"Just wondering."

"Well, yes. Minako and I met them a few times to study during our finals. Momma made us treats and we hung out at the house so we could keep each other company. And, we got together for pedicures yesterday."

"So, you live in the same town and go to different schools, but you still manage to see each other?" he questioned. Usagi shot him an exasperated look and rolled her eyes. He just smiled with raised eyebrows in response. "That is exactly why you can make it work with Minako."

"I know, Oh Wise One." Usagi laughed as Mamoru did a small happy dance as they walked. "Wait." She stopped and looked to Mamoru. "Why are we headed to the rose garden?"

"Why not since we have a little time to kill? It's always been one of my favorite places, especially for the last couple years," he told her with a wink. "I found the cutest little bunny there one day."

Usagi settled herself onto what she had come to think of as "their bench" while Mamoru wandered nearby and smelled some of the roses. She never really tired of watching him, figured there was no way she ever could. He had purpose, even in his wandering, just like he had in his life. He knew what he wanted and, oddly enough, it included her. She had to smile at her own good fortune.

Mamoru breathed deeply to center himself. He could feel Usagi's eyes on him, patiently waiting for him to settle down. His nerves jangled, but he forced himself to take a seat beside her. "The roses look beautiful this year." It wasn't what he meant to say, but had just come out.

"They do," she agreed. "They always do." She could sense his nerves, but couldn't bring herself to worry that perhaps he was going to break up with her. She was perfectly content to just wait him out.

Mamoru twiddled his thumbs and tried to come up with something else to say, but any other words than the ones he brought her here to say had disappeared from his mind. Angling his body to look at Usagi and lay his arm along the back of the bench, he realized he mirrored the position from when he first met her. "Usa…Buns… I don't know what I would have done without you for the last two years."

"Me too, Mamo. You know that."

"I do. And, on top of that, I don't know what I would ever do without you. You've not only welcomed me into your life, your family has as well. They've become my family. You light up my life. Something wonderful happens and the first thing I want is to be able to share it with you. I want to be able to share things with you for the rest of my life. So, it may seem like we're young yet, but…" Mamoru paused to slip off the bench and kneel in front of Usagi. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a small box. Flipping open the lid he asked, "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife someday?"

Usagi nodded, trembling hands grasping his hand holding the ring box. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes."

Mamoru grinned, moving to take the ring from the box and slide it on Usagi's finger. Rising, he pulled her up with him and pressed a deep kiss to her lips and he picked her up and to impulsively spin her around. "I love you," he told her with another kiss. "I want us to wait a few years, but it felt like this is something I needed to do now. And, as long as we hold to that waiting a few years, your dad has agreed not to kill me for stealing away his little girl."

"You talked to my dad?" she asked with a grin.

"Of course, silly bunny. Your parents are far too important to not ask. Actually, they weren't the only ones I had to ask. I think Minako made me sweat more than your dad did."

Usagi laughed, the joyous sound escaping her freely. "What else are best friends good for?"

"What indeed? I think she already started planning details even though I told her it would be a few years."

"That sounds like, Mi-chan." Usagi smiled again and wrapped her arms around Mamoru to press more kisses to his lips.

The noisy group quieted almost immediately as the last couple entered and all eyes snapped to them. Smiles quickly appeared on both faces as Usagi held up her hand to show off her new ring. Noise quickly resumed as all their friends congratulated them and hugs were exchanged.

"Should have known he'd be the first to fall from the very minute he started talking about you," Jedite teased Usagi.

She hugged him tightly in return. "And you'll be the last at the rate you're going, mister. I know some girls from Tomoe who would be more than interested."

"No, thanks. At least not quite yet anyway." He passed her on to the next well-wisher.

Motoki, Minako, Usagi, and Mamoru waved to the others as they headed in the opposite direction. "Well, love," Minako started as she linked arms with Usagi, "I think you managed to snag a good one."

"We both did." They walked on in silence for a short while. "Mi-chan, you will be my maid of honor, right?"

"Yes."

"In a few years, though."

"I know."

"I'm not sure how we ended up here, Mi-chan, but I wouldn't change this for the world. It's like the last two years have been escaping everything bad before the day I met Mamoru."

"Best. Escape. Ever!" Minako joked. She leaned her head against Usagi's shoulder and the two walked in peace watching their boyfriend and fiancé walk ahead of them and joke together. Their futures were coming together perfectly.

Let me know what you thought! And whether or not you'd like to see an epilogue!