With one quick pull and a mad sigh, Darien opened the door to his apartment to four female faces looking back at him. He rubbed his eyes. "Ladies. What time is it?"
Lita stepped forward, but before she could say a word, Mina put her hand out to stop her. She then looked at Darien. "We came to get Serena."
He looked at all the girls. Mina was a step in front of Lita. Amy could be seen between them. And just a step behind all of them and looking over the elevator was Raye.
"All of you?" He asked confused.
"Yes." Mina said sweetly. "We figured if we all came together, we can protect her better." She smiled.
Darien sighed.
"Sorry Darien, we need to take her." Her smile faded.
"Yeah...if we don't take her now her parents may start to worry." Amy added.
Darien stared at all of them. He wanted her to stay so bad, but he also knew she had to go. He pulled the open a little more and waved his hand in to let the entire group in. Mina walked in first as the three followed behind her. He closed his door once they all got in. They all just stood there looking at him.
"We brought her some clothes, so her parents don't suspect anything." Mina handed him a small duffle bag.
"I guess I will go get her." He shrugged and headed down the hall. He entered his room but forgot the close the door all the way.
Raye, Mina and Lita creeped a little closer to the hallways.
"Ladies. We should allow them some privacy." Amy said tapping her little black shoes.
"Shhhh..." Lita said putting her finger to her mouth. She then turned her focus back to the door. "Stop breathing so hard!" She whisper scolded Mina and Raye.
They both shot her an angry look as Amy just shook her head.
In the room, Darien observes Serena. She laid on her side facing the pillow he once slept on. She looked so peaceful. Curled in her blanket. Two hands under her small angelic face. He crawled into bed next to her. Pulled up the blanket and slowly crawled in. He leaned in, gave her a small peck on her cheek. She did not move. He then kissed her nose. Her nose crinkled. He then kissed her lips. She sniffed and then he kissed her again.
She groaned.
"Wake up sleeping beauty." He kissed her again.
She went to pull the blanket over her face, but Darien stopped her.
"Come on Serena..." Darien whispered. "You need to wake her up."
Her eyes started to flutter and she let out another groan.
"The girls are here to get you."
Her eyes opened a little wider.
"They brought you some clothes." He whispered. "You can shower really fast and they will take you home."
She blinked a few more times. Rubber her eyes.
"Come on!" He put his hand on her hips and shook her a little.
"Okay. Okay." She rolled over and stretched out a little bit. She yawned.
"The bathroom is over there. I will tell the girls you will be a minute." He leaned in to kiss her one more time. And then he rolled off the bed and headed out the door closing it behind him.
He walked down the door to see the 3 standing there awkwardly. He gave them a look as they just pretending to observe the ceiling. Amy just sat in the blue chair, shaking her head.
"She is going to shower real quick. Can I get you guys a drink?" He offered awkwardly. Lita's death glare kind of scared him and knowing she could call thunder from the sky that could stop his heart in a second caused him to have an inner panic attack.
"We are fine Darien." Mina finally answered. "Thank you for taking care of her."
"Don't thank him yet, we haven't even seen Serena yet. For all we know he could have been attacked on his way home or worse, he could be working with them and could have hurt her."
"Lita..." Raye hissed.
"Don't take his side. I am still annoyed you are here. But we need all four us incase anything happens on the walk back." Lita shot back.
"Ladies." Darien interrupted to prevent any further fighting."I promise you Serena is fine. She will be out soon and you will see." He brewed his coffee and then poured himself a cup.
The room was quiet. All that could be heard is the ticking of the clock and the sound of everyone breathing. Finally they all heard the bedroom door opened and they turned to see Serena walking down. She threw the pink bag over her shoulder.
"Serena!" Lita said excitedly. "You're okay!" Lita threw her arms around her giving her a big hug.
"I am fine Leets." Serena smiled. She looked around to see her friends. She finally noticed Raye.
"We all came to make sure you make it home safe." Mina explained as she noticed the look on Serena's face.
"We should really head out." Amy said getting up.
Darien let out a dry cough. The 5 girls turned their attention to him.
"Again thank you for taking care of her." Mina said.
"No problem." Darien walked to the door and opened it.
One by one the girls walked out. Darien nodded at each girl as they gave him a little smirk. Finally it was Serena heading out.
"Thanks for bringing me back here." She flipped her hair behind her back. "And taking care of me." She smiled at him as he looked down at her.
He missed seeing that smile. It had been so long since he seen it. Though most the time in the past it was not at him, he was reminded of the happiness it always brought him."Of course." He kissed her forehead. "Please call me when you get home, so I know you are safe."
She nodded and headed out the door. He closed the door and leaned against it. He took in a deep breath. Her scent still lingered.
The girls cautiously walked up the stairs to Serena's front the door. They constantly looked around make sure nothing or nobody would be able to sneak attack. The whole walk, Raye walked in front with her hand in her pocket ready to pull the scroll paper at any moment. Lita walked in the back her hands in tight fists. Amy and Mina were each at her side. They had plan at each turn.
"Guys, we are here. You can let your guard a little bit!" Serena tried to reason. "Mother! I am home!"
"Hello sweet heart!" She yelled from upstairs. "There is some food in the kitchen if you and your friends are hungry!"
"Thanks mom!" She yelled back. She looked at her her friends standing at the door. It has been so long since she scene this moment. However, Raye was still standing on the other side of the threshold, outside the house. She smiled a little. "Why don't all four of you get get comfortable. I will go make you guys a plate." She turned to the kitchen.
Raye was looked at Amy surprised. She just smiled back at her and waved her in.
"Serena close that door! I can feel a draft!" Irene yelled from upstairs.
"Okay mom!"
Raye scooted in quickly shutting the door behind her.
"Serena let me help you!" Lita yelled as she glared at Raye. She finally entered the kitchen and she stood at the edge of the counter. "Serena tell the truth." Lita whispered. "Did he hurt you?"
Serena paused and looked at Lita.
"Tell me. If he did I will shock him out of skin and make it look like a damn accident."
Serena laughed. "Lita..."
"I am serious!" Lita raised her voice slightly.
Serena walked over to her and hugged her. "Thank you for always having my back." She patted her shoulder. "I am so glad I can always count on you."
"You can always count on us too." Lita hugged her. "So tell me the truth."
Serena pulled back from her hug and turned to the fridge. "No he didn't." Serena smiled remembering what happened last night. "It was actually perfect. Minus the attack part."
"Obviously." Lita rolled her eyes. She remembered how hard she fought to keep them away from her.
"Lita you do not have to feel guilty for not being able to protect me. You did everything you could. And I saw it. Mina saw it. I am so grateful for you." She smiled at Lita.
Lita let out a breath of relief. She then looked up at Serena. "You don't feel guilty either."
"For what?" Serena looked confused as she dished out the food.
"You love him. I can see it in your face. And..." Lita shook her head. "I can tell he does care about you too. Even before all this happened, he just didn't know how to express it."
"That makes no sense. Why am I feeling guilty."
"Because Raye."
Serena bit her bottom lip.
"And you don't have too Serena." Raye's voice came from the entry way of the kitchen. "I can see it in your face when you look at him. He and I were nothing, and I guess it just took me a lot longer to realize that then I should have."
Mina and Amy entered the kitchen next and sat on the stools and Raye stood next to Lita being extremely mindful of how close she was to her.
"You guys..." Serena shook her head.
"We can't explain it Sere. But something brought it all out him and it is real. I can feel it." Mina said with a huge smile.
"Look. You don't have to tell us all the details." Amy started.
"Not yet at least!" Mina interrupted. She looked at the girls scowling at her. "What eventually we are all going to want her perspective on what it is like. Don't lie to yourselves!"
The girls all looked at Mina with a confused look. Then at each other. Then they all started laughing.
"Mina you are such a weirdo!" Lita said grabbing a glass for water.
"Well isn't this so sweet!" Irene came in. "I missed hearing all your voices together." She walked in and one by one gave the girls a hug. "My litte fab five is what I call you when I speak to my coworkers. You fight and laugh likes sister, and I guarantee you guys will conquer the world together."
"Mom..."
"I am just getting some tea and I will be out of your way!"
The girls all watched as Irene did as she said. When she was finally out, they all turned back to Serena.
"Sere..."
She looked up to Amy.
"We really miss you."
"Yes. Please come back!" Mina added.
"Guys I am right here."
"You know what we mean." Lita disputed.
"Guys I am only going to hold you guys back. And I am sure Raye got this!" She put on a fake smile and looked to Raye.
Raye let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. "I actually don't got this." She rubbed her face in embarrassment. "I am not you and I cannot bond with the broach or the wand."
"And not to mention we are all getting our asses kicked." Lita interjected.
"You got your asses kicked when I was there! At least this time you guys don't have to worry about me too!" She tried to argue.
"But you at least killed the damn monster." Mina disputed.
"We are still fighting the same monster and honestly Sere..." Amy folded her hand across the counter. "We still worry about you. At least when you were Sailor Moon you could transform and we would get the sense you were attacked."
"Now we don't." Mina explained.
"Look Sere. I know the last night was a lot for you to process. So we are not going to force you." Raye reached in her bag pulled out the bag that Serena once handed her slid it across the counter. "But really think about this. Sailor Moon is part of who you are. You can pretend like you are fine. You can make over yourself a million times. But we." Raye pointed to herself and the other girls. "We know she made you the amazing person you are and the amazing person you can be."
Serena looked at the bag.
"I am sorry for everything I said. You were always nothing but great to me, and you never deserved it." She smiled at then went to sit next to Amy.
"I really missed you guys." Was all Serena had to say before four teenage girls came stampeding over to her with opened arms.