Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the canon characters. I do have my own original characters that are mine to use as well as changes to canon characters and to the plot. I will not receive any monetary compensation for this piece.

Author's Note: This one has been a long time coming. If you haven't read A WISH, please go do so now before starting this story. You really do need to know what happened there to get what is happening here.

A HOPE
A WISH: Book Two
Chapter One
Memories

It had been nine long months since Usagi had met Luna. Nine months of fighting and terror, or lying to friends and family, of meeting new friends and then watching as they suffered the loss of their soulmates. And then Usagi had brought them back to life thanks to a simple Wish. An unselfish Wish that the Silver Crystal had granted. Things, unfortunately, had gotten a little crazy in the wake of that Wish. The Silver Crystal had drawn her into a portal, encased her in a cocoon-like structure while she slept, and for three days she had been pregnant with the Shitennou, only reappearing at Mamoru's feet when she was in labor.

After the four babies had been reborn Usagi's health had taken a turn for the worse and several family members and friends had learned who she was as a result. Now, three weeks after Usagi and Mamoru had been married, with the Shitennou fully grown once more and the threat of some new danger still on the horizon, Usagi and Mamoru were out on their nightly patrol.

It had been exactly three weeks and one day since they had taken their vows in front of their family and friends. Three weeks of the most joy Usagi had ever felt. They hadn't gone on a honeymoon, as the school year had resumed after August vacation. Now, a month into the final half of the year, with Mamoru and Motoki both at the public school so Mamoru could be protected by his men, she felt whole and happy and so much better than she ever had before. The Wishes that had healed her in the hospital had strengthened her physically. She no longer had to worry about not gaining enough weight.

She would still probably need to eat more than most however, which in her own mind was a good thing, because she knew with certainty that she could never give up chocolate. Stifling a giggle, Usagi took a look around her, wanting to be sure they were still unobserved. They'd crept out the back entrance to the large building they shared with her parents, Doctor Mizuno, and their friends. It was very important that no one associated Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen with that address.

It was very early in the morning, already around three. She and Mamoru were on a normal patrol. There had been fewer and fewer Youma escaping from the remnants of the Dark Kingdom. Ami had suggested they make a trip to D-Point and check it out for themselves so they could be sure there was nothing left to harm anyone. Usagi agreed, though she wasn't looking forward to going back. The place had caused her so much pain. Still, they'd all put it off for one reason or another.

"What do you think?" Mamoru asked. They were standing in the shadows of the alley beside the Crown Game Center. It was as good a place to henshin as any. But they had to make sure no Youma saw them. There was still also the newest worry. Nephrite had dreamed about other Dark Generals and they didn't know if they were still alive out there in the world or not. Not to mention Luna was insistent that they couldn't let their guard down because she sensed a new threat.

"I don't sense any Youma," Usagi said finally. "Although I seem to sense them better when I'm transformed."

"Hai," Mamoru murmured. "Maybe we could cut through this alley and get to the park. We can transform and go to the rooftops and do a broad sweep before we get back."

"Makes sense," Usagi shrugged. She felt his hand wrap around her own and smiled. He was still more overprotective than he had been before the return of the Shitennou. Their experiences had changed all of them, but him most of all, she thought, though no one else noticed.

They made good time walking to the park. Neither spoke. They didn't have to. Even if she couldn't feel his emotions or speak to him telepathically, Usagi would know just what he was thinking and feeling because she had learned to watch him so long ago. She knew he would quirk his eyebrow at her when he was amused, or that he would clench his fists behind his back when he was truly angry. She knew he would smile politely even when he wanted to run screaming from social interaction and that he was a secret chocoholic, just like she was. All in all, there wasn't much about Mamoru she didn't know.

After transforming in the park, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen jumped to a rooftop and they raced together over the city. "Any idea what it is Luna is worried about?" Sailor Moon asked when they were perched at the top of the Tokyo Skytree several minutes later.

"I don't know," Tuxedo Kamen murmured, wrapping one arm around her waist as he stood behind her looking out over the lights of Tokyo. "Whatever it is though, I've begun to sense something too. I feel like I'm just waiting."

"Hai," Sailor Moon agreed. "I keep thinking I'm going to blink and something will suddenly appear that we'll have to fight."

"Exactly."

Sailor Moon scanned the city, using the built in sensors in her hair to listen for any trouble. Reaching into her subspace pocket, she pulled out the mask she rarely used and held it in front of her eyes. Nothing appeared in the lenses. Which meant, at the moment, there was peace.

"Come on," Tuxedo Kamen said, "we need to get home. Tomorrow is Monday and we really could use a couple more hours of sleep."

She followed him down the side of the tower, leaping several feet at a time. It was easy now. So much easier than she would have believed when Luna found her just over nine months before. She hadn't come up with the idea of running over the rooftops until she'd seen her masked protector doing it. Then she'd come up with the idea of trying it herself with surprisingly good results. Soon they were hidden in an alley and they had both released their transformations.

They walked hand in hand, the closeness between them obvious as they made their way back home. "What I don't get," Usagi said, resuming their conversation, "is why Rei hasn't seen anything in the Great Fire. I can tell she is getting frustrated."

"So is Jed," Mamoru told her. "And Nephrite has told me twice that he sees nothing in the stars. I don't understand it. I can feel that some great challenge is about to change everything. The odd thing," he added, frowning down at her, "is that I don't sense real evil. Just..."

"Pain," Usagi said. "That's what I've been sensing too. And Naru said something the other night about hearing crying in her sleep."

"It doesn't make much sense," Mamoru said.

They snuck back through the back entrance. Usagi smiled when she saw her father standing at the back door, a cup of coffee in his hands. That meant it was after four already. Chances were they wouldn't be getting any more sleep. It wasn't fun when they got the third watch of the night. There wasn't enough time to go back to bed. Second watch wasn't much better as there was no point in laying down for an hour or two only to get back up, but you could always go to bed early.

Kenji opened the door. "Any problems?" he asked.

"Not a one," Mamoru said, grinning. "You would probably know faster than we did," he added. "It's amazing how much having a newspaper editor has come in handy." Mamoru wasn't exaggerating. Several times people had called into the paper to report strange noises. The Senshi and Shitennou had investigated. They'd found a Youma in a sewer, another hiding in one of the smaller parks, and still another trapped in an elevator shaft. Most weren't that bright. Cornered they were still dangerous however.

"Artemis said something about a meeting after school," Kenji informed them, handing each a travel mug. "You forgot these," he added.

Usagi took a sip of her mixture. She loved hot chocolate, but not so much having to drink coffee. So she mixed them together, going heavier on the hot chocolate. The drink was still warm, so she took a long sip of it after thanking her father.

"Is mom up?" she asked.

"Not yet. She and Minako were having a talk until late."

"Is everything alright?" Mamoru asked, the concern evident in his voice.

"I think so. She had a nightmare the other night and Kunzite apparently had the very same nightmare. According to Rei it happened once to her and Jadeite too. I think it's just their memories. You two have the advantage. I had no idea the Soul-Bond would restore all your memories the way it did."

"Not all of them," Mamoru reminded him.

Usagi frowned. She'd restored Mamoru's childhood memories shortly after they'd been married. They'd both expected them to return when the Silver Crystal was found, and then again after the Soul Bond was formed. Instead, she'd had to use the Silver Crystal to pull them out of him. And that was strange, because as far as she knew the only thing that could lock away memories that way was the Silver Crystal. And she wouldn't have done that to him.

"Get something to eat," her father suggested, kissing the top of her head affectionately. "Tonight you have first watch."

"Awesome," Usagi breathed. She liked first watch the best. Mamoru steered her towards a chair in the large dining area and pressed her down, then went into the kitchen.

Kenji sat down at his spot and leaned back in his chair. "I don't want to go to work today," he muttered.

"Why not?" Usagi was curious. Her father loved his job. He always had. Why would he suddenly not want to go to work?

"I don't know. Just a feeling that I have." He frowned down at the table. "Do you know that when your aunt died I had the same feeling? I was set on staying home but the reporter who was supposed to interview the Emperor was in an accident, so I went. That same accident killed your aunt."

"Mom knew something was wrong," Usagi said, thinking back to that day. "She got so quiet and pale and just went and stood by the phone. She was staring at us kids trying not to cry and just reached out and picked it up when it rang. She knew."

"Do you remember what else happened that day?" her father asked.

"Hai. It was the day I had the dream about the green-haired girl. I wouldn't let Haruki leave."

"That dream saved his life. Rei told me that some of the Youma could affect dreams, so I've been careful since then, but I was thinking about how antsy all of us have been feeling. We know something is coming, just not what."

"I have a feeling it's nothing any of us would expect," Mamoru said, coming into the room with two bowls of cereal. He placed one in front of Usagi, then sat next to her and stared into his own for a minute. "I never told you about my imaginary friend," he added. "Fiore." Mamoru shook his head. "I met him right after my parents died. I was in the hospital when I saw him. He was laying in the street, passed out in the rain. No one seemed to notice him, or care that he was hurt. So I snuck out and brought him back inside."

Usagi was fascinated by the story and held her breath as he continued. "The earth was making him sick. I don't know how exactly, but he said he felt too heavy. So he had to leave. I cried buckets," he added. "If it wasn't for a sweet little girl giving me a rose I think I would have given up completely. I mean my parents had just died and my first friend ever had to leave the planet." He shook his head. "Of course the doctor thought I was imagining him. I eventually started to believe him. But, I don't know, this feeling I've had lately reminds me of him. It's so familiar."

"Wow. That must have been so hard," Usagi murmured. "I would have been scared."

"A girl gave you a rose?" Kenji asked, a strange note to his voice. Usagi looked over at him and saw he had on a blank look, which meant he was thinking something important and didn't want her to know what it was. That only made her more curious.

"Hai," Mamoru said, laughing now. "She came right into my room and hugged me. It startled me. Then she gave me a rose and told me everything would be okay."

"Where did she get the rose?" Kenji asked.

Mamoru shrugged. "I don't know where she got the roses. But she was bringing them to her mother, who had just had a baby."

Noting that her father had a huge smile, Usagi kept quiet, wondering what he was thinking. She listened as he asked Mamoru another question. "What did she look like?"

"She was small. Probably three or four. Blonde hair and blue eyes. She had her hair up in these little buns with..." Mamoru's voice trailed off and he gulped audibly before turning to look at Usagi. "...long streamers. Though they were much shorter then."

"Nani?" Usagi asked, curious as to why he was staring at her.

"Usagi," her father said softly. "Tell me about the day Shingo was born."

Finally understanding, Usagi squeaked and stared at Mamoru. "You mean he's my boy?" she asked. "My lonely boy who I couldn't find anymore?"

"Tell him," Kenji ordered.

"We were at the hospital. It was just me and Haruki in the gift shop. Well, we sort of got lost going back to my mother's room and he stopped to ask a nurse for directions. But I heard crying. I saw a boy who looked sad and lonely. I wanted to be his friend, so I gave him a flower."

Mamoru stared at her for a long moment before reaching out and plucking her out of her chair and into his lap. He buried his face in her neck and Usagi could feel him shaking. "My Usako," he whispered.

Minako bolted upright in her bed, panting heavily and stared at her bedroom door. She could almost feel Kunzite's panic. Not sure how she knew he needed her, she tore out of her bed and then out of her room. Reaching him was as easy as going one door down the hallway and opening it. He was thrashing in his bed, his silver-blonde hair half covering his face as he cried out her name in what sounded like terror.

"I'm here Kunzite," she whispered, climbing on his bed and leaning over him.

She put a hand to his cheek and watched his silver eyes open. All of the guys had been plagued with nightmares since their third day of life, so she should have known he would react instantly. Without being fully awake, Kunzite grabbed her and then rolled, shielding her body with his own as though there were an enemy in the room.

"Kunzite," she said, slightly louder. She reached up and grabbed him by both shoulders. "Kunzite, wake up!"

Silver eyes closed, then opened again. It took a long moment for him to suck in a deep breath and then he simply stared at her for a long moment before ducking his head and burying his face in her hair. "I'm so sorry," he whimpered, sounding very much like he had when he was small and feeling guilty over Usagi.

"It's alright Kun," Minako murmured, rubbing his back. "Why don't you tell me what you were dreaming about?"

Kunzite's dreams were often disjointed memories of their past life, his life in Tokyo before the Dark Kingdom, and his time as a Dark General. Sometimes it helped him if he could talk them out with her. Other times he refused to speak and just clung to her. After a moment, Minako realized this was going to be one of those mornings. It was hard when he wouldn't talk to her, but she understood some things were just too painful to talk about.

"Everything is okay," she murmured, her fingers playing with his hair. "You're safe, here in Tokyo. Usagi and Mamoru are safe. I think they just got back from patrol a little while ago, since I think the sun is coming up. Your brothers are all here and okay. The girls are fine. Shingo and Haruki are both okay. Ikuko and Kenji are alright. Everything is okay."

It took several long minutes of her reassuring him before he moved, rolling off her and onto his back. He sighed and covered his face with both hands for a moment before dropping them and turning his head to look at her. "I'm sorry," he said again, much more calm than he had been.

"It's okay," Minako told him. "I'm just glad I could be here for you. And I'm glad you're there for me too," she added, hoping he understood this wasn't a one-way thing. She needed him just as much as he needed her. She stretched, groaning slightly. "I don't want to go to school," she whined.

Kunzite's chuckle did more to tell her he was alright than any words. He sat up and grabbed her, pulling her into his own arms for a moment before setting her on her feet. "I don't either, but I also don't want mom coming in here with a big bucket of ice water again." He shuddered dramatically.

Minako giggled. "It was only a cup," she argued. It had been rather hilarious. His third day of school Kunzite had decided he wasn't getting out of bed. Usagi had listened calmly when Minako told her what was going on. Then she'd turned to her mother and smiled before grabbing a very large cup, filling it with ice and water, and had promptly marched up the stairs. Shouts had echoed through the house a moment later. Kunzite had never argued about getting up since.

"Still," he muttered.

Minako crossed the room to the door. "I'm going to get dressed and take my shower. Don't let Jadeite into the bathroom until I've had my turn," she added. Jadeite was the worse bathroom hog she had ever seen, and she'd been a model, so that was saying something.

Kunzite laughed and waved his hand at her. "I won't" he promised.

Mizuno Saeko was just getting out of work as the others were getting up for the day. It was still mostly dark, though she could see a change in the light, indicating the sun would soon rise. It had been a long night and she was tired. It would be good to get home and climb into bed.

She still couldn't believe how much her life had changed since just over a month before when her daughter and the two cats had appeared in the apartment she shared with Ami. She'd thought her daughter was gone with the others. Ami had admitted to lying about where she'd been and then informed her rather shocked mother that she was Sailor Mercury and that Usagi, who was Sailor Moon, was in trouble.

Ever since that moment her world had expanded. She and Ikuko, Usagi's mother, had become very close. She was even rather close to Kenji, who had taken sort of a brotherly stance around her. He was the overprotective sort, not that she minded. Between the couple and Grandfather Hino she didn't feel quite so lonely anymore. She had other adults to talk to. Plus she had all the kids to dote over.

But as she was walking to her car, Saeko looked up and gasped in surprise at the person standing next to it. Shocked, and very angry, she stopped where she stood and glared at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to stop her voice from trembling with heartache and fear. She hadn't seen him in so long and he had hurt her so deeply.

"You don't live in the same place," he said, his voice soft. "When I couldn't find you, I panicked."

"Why were you looking for me," Saeko asked, determined not to get her hopes up.

The silence stretched out into what felt like an eternity. She stared at her husband and he stared back. He didn't look much different. His long hair was mussed, as though he had been running his fingers through it. His long overcoat was unbuttoned and she could see his white dress shirt and tan slacks underneath. Taking a deep breath, Saeko took a step closer to him, and then another. His eyes were filled with so much emotion.

Heart breaking, just a little, she wondered for the thousandth time why he had left her and Ami and disappeared. What could have been more important than his family? Where had he been all this time? And why was he back now.