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His arms wrapped around her tightly, holding her securely as they stood in the gardens. One hand stroking her blonde hair reassuringly.

"I thought this kind of relationship wasn't possible."

"Me too." Serenity stated raising her face up to gaze lovingly at him, his chiseled face and strong jaw. Those eyes softly returning the look to her. "I'm glad I have you, Endymion."

Serenity's eyes popped open, her heart pounded thudded against her chest in surprise. Dreaming about the Terran Prince of all people. This was lunacy. She sits up and looks across the room before her eyes land the curtains covering the windows. Daylight was beaming through and underneath Luna still slept soundly.

Did the dreams mean something? It wasn't the first dream she had since their encounter with Diamond. She stood and reached for the silver robe hanging at the end of the four poster bed and wrapped it tightly around her frame. It would have to wait, Rei's dress fitting was today and Makoto and Ami were arriving as well.

She walked over to the window and glanced out, to her surprise, Prince Endymion was stood in the rose garden, clipping some from the bushes. He wasn't in his formal attire, curiously enough. He wore a loosened white shirt that was clinging to his torso. As if sensing he was being watched from above, he turned toward the window were Serenity stood and stared back at her.

Blushing furiously, Serenity closed the curtains and stepped away from the window.

"Food. Let's find some food."


Jadeite and Rei were not silent. The engaged couple slept until two hours ago, when Rei rolled over and pulled Jadeite close to her, rubbing her hands along his sides, wrapping her legs around him. That was two hours ago.

"Jadeite!" Rei moaned as she collapsed on top of him still breathing heavy. She could feel his heart racing under his skin, pulsing between her legs as they both came down from their high. Her fingers raked over his bare chest and his arms wrapped tightly around her.

"I don't think I could do that a third time."

She smirked and looked up at him from under her bangs. "Wore out already?"

He returned the smirk and grabbed her and pushed her up toward his face so their noses were touching. "You don't have it in you either, Rei." She pressed her lips to his gently, completely blissful.

Jadeite is lying if he said he wasn't happy. He couldn't ask for more when it came to Rei. She complimented him in every way. Looking at her, feeling her close to him like this, he wondered if she would still choose him if they weren't destined to be together. He would choose her in every life time.

"Jed, what is it?" She suddenly asks watching his face change and his eyes lock on hers.

"I hate to ruin the mood but I have to ask you something." He might as well ask. What could it hurt? He liked her brutal honesty. He wouldn't have her any other way. She pressed a tender kiss to his neck before hoisting herself up on her elbows, still watching him. "If there was no such thing as soulmates and bonding, would you still choose me? I guess Serenity has me thinking."

Rei blinked a few times and mulled it over.

Jadeite was different than her usual suitors on Mars. She wasn't even sure why he was visiting when they bumped into each other. He didn't push himself on her and follow her around like a desperate blue balled Martian. He was confident and laid back.

"I would choose you if soulmates weren't a thing. You're witty, laid back, and confident in your abilities Jadeite. You've always had my back." She responded lovingly. "I couldn't ask for more from you."

As pleased as Jadeite was hearing her words, reassured too, he pressed on, "You are my world, Rei." He watched her face red as the blush rushed to her cheeks. "I don't expect you to feel the same way I do after the two months we've known each other, but dammit, I love you."

Stunned and touched by his sincerity, Rei smiled from ear to ear. She didn't think their relationship would be more than what it was. She was comfortable and happy with it. She didn't see a reason to involve more feelings if there wasn't room. Clearly she was wrong. She repositioned herself and snuggled closely, kissing his neck, "I will love you, Jadeite. You are my world."

"Good, I have to get ready. Kunzite wants us ready to greet Nephrite and Zoicite before we return to training."

"Ugh, he really needs to get laid." Rei pouted, scooting over so Jadeite could crawl out of bed.

"Minako is still giving him a hard time." Jadeite informed her. "I mean he didn't admit it when I asked but he was trying not to show he was sulking."

"Kunzite sulking? Now that I'll have to see." Rei grinned watching Jadeite walk toward his en suite bathroom, naked. "I'll settle for this view, right now."


Later that evening, as promised, Ami and Makoto arrived with their significant others, on Earth to Serenity's delight.

The men bid their partners adieu and joined Kunzite for sparring across the Palace grounds in the coliseum.

Makoto pursed her lips watching Minako turn away from Kunzite and cross her arms haughtily. "Trouble in paradise, Mina?" She teased.

Makoto is the Guardian of Jupiter, preferring hand to hand combat over her elemental attacks based on lightning and nature. She is the tallest of the girls with fair skin, green eyes and long brown hair pulled back into a stylish ponytail.

"Just a disagreement."

Ami tilted her head, "Was it about the contents of the pouch you sent me for analysis?"

"That was only a small part. The rest is nothing." Minako assured the blunette.

"Oh please," Rei rolled her eyes and turned to Makoto, "Serenity's twin here overheard Kunzite and Endymion calling Serenity a threat. She threatened them with Sailor Saturn and us."

"Hey!" Serenity pouted, "I'm only a threat to ice cream! Makoto have you tried it?"

Smiling the brunette nodded, "We can get some tonight."

Minako waved her hand nonchalantly at Rei and they walked inside. At least Serenity wasn't thinking too much about it. Eventually they needed to discuss her manifesting powers with her and everything that has happened. More likely than not, they needed to get her away from Endymion.

As they made their way into one of the sitting rooms on the second floor, the maids appeared with various materials such as silk to begin sewing the dresses for the girls.

The girls jubilantly shared the adventures they had since the last time they were all together. They couldn't help but laugh at Minako's love/hate relationship with Kunzite. She described him as 'grumpy' and sometimes 'tolerable'. Rei rolled her eyes and reminded her this wasn't the tune she was singing when she first mated with Kunzite.

"That is hardly the point, Rei." Minako pivoted and crossed her arms over her chest. "He called Serenity a threat to the Earth and expects me to back down. My job is protect to Serenity and her honor."

Serenity sat perched on a chair, yawning from boredom and twirling a strand of her hair around her thumb. She didn't know how many more times she had to listen to this.

"Serenity zapped Diamond. I doubt she needs us protecting her very much." Makoto said smiling to the princess who huffed out more air.

"If Serenity has offensive powers, the Silver Crystal is activating. If it activates that means that Serenity found her mate." Ami rationalized aloud, causing the other girls to go quiet. Even the maids with the various materials looked toward the young Princess and stopped their sewing.

"I am not mating with anyone, Ames." Serenity reminded them. "The idea is disgusting."

"Relax, she is only pointing out the obvious. We're all thinking it." Rei explained earning a scowl from Serenity.

"Your mate could very well be Endymion. Your powers activated to protect both of you, right?" Ami asked as a matter of fact. Minako turned to Ami and glared until the blunette looked down sheepishly.

Minako had conveyed her concerns about that possibility via communicator when she sent Ami the contents of the pouch. She didn't necessarily want that revealed just yet. She wanted proof or something.

Silence.

Serenity opened her mouth several times and shut it unceremoniously. Endymion and her? She didn't know what to think if that became her reality. They hardly spoke since their encounter with Diamond. He had his duties and she lounged about his home with her Guard. He ate dinner privately with his own Guard. If they were, did it mean she would be moving to Earth? Would her mother forbid it?

"It isn't a bad idea." Makoto said earning her share of pointed looks from Minako and Rei. "Endymion has powers. He isn't some weakling. If we can't protect her, at least he could. That is my point."

"Great. Plan our marriage next." Serenity stated and lacing her words with sarcasm. Soulmates was all anyone wanted to discuss. Serenity stood and excused herself from the room. She didn't want to hear anymore and wandered around the Palace until she found a door leading outside to the gardens.

She walked alone and found herself among the rose bushes, feeling at ease finally. The Terrans definitely knew how to take care of flowers. The garden was full of red and white roses. There were a few trellises with pink roses climbing up the Palace walls. They placed a huge marble fountain in the center of the garden.

She took a seat on the adjacent marble bench and soaked in the sunshine, relaxing. "I could get used to this." She said with a smile. She looked around, at the garden that seemed to go on forever and a warm feeling overcame her suddenly. She closed her blue eyes allowing it to envelope her.

"Decided to get front row seats instead of peeking from your window, Odango?"

Her eyes opened hastily and turned to see Endymion smirking at her and using that awful nickname. Scrunching her nose up and flushing red she turned away from him and muttered, "Baka."

He chuckled at her and sat down beside her, "Shouldn't you be upstairs with your Guard?"

"They were too busy discussing their mates."

He stiffened, completely understanding. Serenity stole a look at him. His attire was different than earlier this morning, his bangs hanging in his eyes and his brow furrowed curiously. Yet still handsome. No, Serenity. Keep it together.

"Then they have this wild idea about me and-" She stopped herself and shook her head, "They are just ridiculous."

Endymion didn't like Serenity's stressed mood. It didn't suit her. Though they weren't close, he just knew he didn't like it. Among other things he was beginning to know. "Want to grab ice cream?" He offered and watched as she lit up at the suggestion.

"Do you have it here?!"

"I'm the Prince of Earth. Of course I have some. Chocolate ice cream?" He stood and offered his hand which she immediately took and they walked to the kitchen to find ice cream. Endymion was too happy to help her feel better. Serenity totally forgot about the previous stress.

"I can't wait to try it!" Serenity squealed excitedly.