Happiness is a warm hubby

As they so often did on their days off duty, Makoto and Nephrite had slipped off to spend some private time together in the thickly forested area that Neo-Queen Serenity, knowing how her guardian felt about both plants and privacy, had so graciously dubbed Jupiter's Woods and set aside for that Senshi and her beloved.

Makoto sighed blissfully, tucking the champagne flutes back in the wicker picnic basket. She loved these days, for in contrast to the hectic life at court, it was so peaceful here. And it went without saying that she loved spending time alone with Nephrite. They could both let their hair down sit under the oaks and evergreens and talk (or not) and be themselves without any prying eyes or hearing ears. She could have happily stayed there forever. It was her idea of heaven.

As soon as the tiny chore of packing up the breakables had been completed, Makoto resumed the infinitely more pleasurable task of stroking Nephrite's long mahogany hair, as he was resting his head in her lap, lying full and content and a bit sleepy after her gourmet picnic luncheon.

Out of the blue he commented, "I've always wondered something, Makoto. Why is it that you and Ami-san don't have guardians? Serenity-sama's always had Luna. Minako-san's got Artemis and Rei-san's got both Phobos and Deimos. What happened to yours?

The inquiry drew a gusty sigh from his wife, making Nephrite tense. He knew she had, in her life, been wounded deeply and carried scars that ran deep, and he'd known her long enough to know that particular sigh wasn't a good sign. She sounded like that whenever he asked her about her parents. She'd also stopped stroking his hair.

Her voice scarcely more than a whisper, Makoto replied. "Well, I don't know about Ami, but I had one…a pretty little red squirrel. Her name was Io."

Makoto ducked and turned away, hiding her face behind the fall of her hair. "It was so tragic. We were out one day…there was a car and…" She broke off, her shoulders shuddering as she sniffled and lifted her hands to her face.

Horrified, Nephrite jerked upright, enfolding his wife in a protective bear hug. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to upset you. Don't cry, honey, please…" He snatched up one of the linen napkins she hadn't yet repacked and reached to dry her tears…

…which weren't there.

Nephrite's mouth dropped open as he caught a glimpse of the sly smirk playing about Makoto's lips. Her emerald eyes twinkled wickedly beneath her lowered lashes, full of mirth. The shoulder shaking was from the force of effort she was expending not to laugh out loud.

"Gotcha," she crowed, snickering slightly behind her hand at the success of her small prank.

"Why you little minx!" he bellowed.

"Gomen nasai," giggled the thunder senshi, acting much more like a schoolgirl than a seasoned warrior, "but I couldn't help myself." She patted his cheek tenderly. "If it's any consolation, darling, you responded just right. My hero."

Disgusted with himself at being so taken in, he couldn't help sulking a bit at the trick. "I was serious, Makoto. And I was worried about you."

Sobering just a tiny bit, she grabbed his hands, although he tried to pull away. She persisted, trying to control the urge to smile. He was absolutely adorable, though, when he pouted like a little boy, his lower lip jutting out pugnaciously, and she was hard pressed not to smile at that.

"I know. I know. So don't be mad and I'll tell you the truth. I really don't know why Ami hasn't got one. I've never asked her. But I do have a guardian…of sorts." She grinned winningly at him and he tried to remember why he was put out with her. It was hard when she was looking at him with those deceptively angelic evergreen eyes.

"You know I've always loved plants and how they seem to grow for me no matter what. Well, they're my guardians. They communicate…not talking like Luna or Artemis but quietly…gently. I can't really explain it. I just know what it feels like."

That was plausible, given the way he communicated with his stars, but he was in no mood to admit it. He looked at her, his jaw jutting out stubbornly like a bulldog. "Yeah. Right. You expect me to believe that crock of…" He went silent as she pressed her fingertips to his lips.

"Shhh. No language like that in front of my guardians, sweetheart," she murmured almost reverently, calling his attention to the lush green woods around them.

Nephrite huffed in a breath when she suddenly leaned up against him, pillowing her head against his shoulder and batting her long dark eyelashes outrageously. The heady floral scent of her perfume drifted up from her soft curls, beguiling him as she cooed, "You were so sweet and kind, trying to help me deal with my…grief."

"I'll show you grief, you little vixen," growled Nephrite, pouncing on his wife, rolling her off the blanket and into the grass. She let out a squeal and shifted her weight, rolling them both over until she was on top, but that lasted just a moment. Again and again they rolled over and over until he finally pinned his laughing spouse firmly beneath him, lowering his head to show her just exactly how Shitennou dealt with provocative little teasing Senshi.

And as they kissed, lying within their soft, cool bed of sweet clover, the surrounding trees spread their protective, sheltering branches wide, tiny wildflowers blossomed their brightest, and tender ferns uncurled their fronds to the light, each with its own soft song of approval telling their ward that, however credulous he might occasionally be, she had found the mate destined for her.

(Author's note: Nobody kill me...the reason I haven't updated this in a while is because I've been working on Lock & Key, but I have started working on the next story in the overall arc of these drabbles and it shouldn't be too long before it's posted. I know this one is pure mush, but it was sooo sweet and I'd had it holding for a while after a picture of the wooded area around Crystal Tokyo at CU's return home sparked the idea.)