Author's Note: This little story is tiny. Only about a thousand words, and came to me in the middle of the night. I really hope you like it!

A Second Chance
A Love Shots Story

Mamoru shoved his hands in his pockets, hair blowing over his eyes as the breeze kicked up. Below him, standing on the small bridge over a stream in the park, Usagi leaned against the railing, elbows resting on the rough surface, chin in her hands. She thought no one could see her tears.

As always, he stood sentinel over her, watching and waiting for the moment when she would need him. He could never tell her how much she meant to him, but he could be there, silently protecting her from the world. Desperately he wanted to let himself reach out and pull her into his arms, but it wasn't meant to be. He would be the death of her.

Usagi reached up and wiped her tears, taking a deep breath as she steeled herself to face the day. Alone. Without him at her side. She hitched up her bag and began the slow plod toward the high school.

Mamoru waited until she turned a short corner before making his way after her. It was easier for her not to see him always in her shadow. The dreams screamed in his mind. Shaking his head against the warning, he continued on. He could not be with her, but he could stand guard. He could love her from afar.

"You have to stop this," Kunzite said at his side.

Surprised at the leader of his guard, Mamoru turned, losing sight of the little blonde he would die for. He glared at Kunzite. "I will keep her safe," he growled.

"Do you think she's a fool Mamoru-sama?" Kunzite asked, his eyes flashing silver. "She knows you are there. She knows you love her. Your stubborn insistance on obeying these dreams is foolhardy."

Mamoru clenched his fists together in his pockets and turned away to follow Usagi. Kunzite grabbed his shoulder, but he jerked away. "Maybe she does know I'm here," Mamoru told the other teenager, rolling his shoulders to ease the ache. "Maybe she does know I lied when I said I didn't love her anymore. Maybe that's the only thing keeping either of us from breaking apart," he hissed.

"Don't do this to yourself," Kunzite yelled angrily. "You're making it harder for both of you."

"I don't care!" Mamoru shouted, not caring anymore who heard him. "I love her! I need to know she's alright. Kunzite you all agreed with me."

"That was then," Kunzite said, referring to the start of the dreams a few months before. Since then they had stopped, unless Mamoru made an effort to speak to Usagi. "Now we've spoken to Rei."

"What about her?" Mamoru asked tiredly.

"Rei thinks the message is coming from the future, and from someone connected to you somehow. But she believes the message means exactly the opposite of what you think."

"The man says if I don't stay away from Usagi she will die." Mamoru spread his arms and stared at the leader of his men. "This is me, staying away, even though it makes us miserable."

"You should have told me the truth," Usagi whispered, standing directly behind him. Mamoru groaned and turned to look into the beautiful cerulean eyes. Tears streaked her face, her nose and cheeks bright pink from her latest bout of tears. Mamoru felt his heart stop beating for a long moment.

Turning back, he glared at Kunzite. The silver-haired teen shook his head. "I had to do it," was all he said, then he backed away, bowing to Usagi first, and then to him. "She needed to know."

Mamoru turned back to his soulmate, unsure what to say, or how to convince her they must stay apart. He didn't want to be away from her, but to keep her alive he would do anything. His heart breaking all over again, he attempted to step towards her. Instantly he was overcome with the flash of vision showing Usagi's death and the deep voice that sounded so familiar warning him away from her. He staggered, nearly falling to his knees before he caught himself. Both hands on his head he groaned at the pain.

"Why?" Usagi asked, and Mamoru could hear the oncoming tears. "Why couldn't you just tell me?"

"Because you would have ignored the warning," he admitted, lowering his gaze to the grass that separated them and her little Mary-Janes strapped onto her feet. There was so much he had been longing to say but he wasn't sure where to start. It took every hidden store of strength he had to lift his eyes to hers. The anger, hurt and soul-deep pain he saw there tore at him. A sudden image of throwing himself at her feet filtered through him, but he restrained himself. Barely. "I'm sorry," he whispered instead.

"Sorry?" Usagi asked.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I'm sorry you're hurting. I'm sorry we can't be together. I'm sorry I let you think for a single second that I don't love you more than my own life, my own happiness. I'm sorry."

Usagi was shaking where she stood. He couldn't bear to see all the pain but he couldn't look away. His eyes were caught on hers as his heart shattered further. He needed her to be with him, wanted to hold her in his arms and promise he would never let anything hurt her. He wanted to kiss her senseless and tell her he would never turn away from her again.

The heartbreak he felt was reflected in her eyes, and for just a moment he would have given his soul to reach out and grab her into his arms and never let go again. The last few months had broken him more than the loss of his parents or a lonely life in an orphanage. He would do anything for her. Including walk away.

Usagi took a step forward, reached out and snatched either side of his jacket, then pulled him down to her. Taken by surprise, Mamoru groaned when their lips met and closed his eyes as he basked in the hot mouth on his, the sweet breath that came from her nose as she kissed him, and the smell and taste of her strawberry lip gloss. She was so perfect and she tasted so good and he just wanted to keep her in his arms, where it was safe. There had to be something he could do to stop the visions from coming true. He loved her.

Nothing else in the world felt as right as did Usagi in his arms. He wrapped them around her and pulled the love of his existence closer, holding tight enough he was afraid he would break her in half if he squeezed any tighter. The feeling of her chest rising and falling against his belly, the way her fingertips wrapped in his clothing and held tight, and the shaking of her form as she held back tears were sheer torture. She was as broken as he was.

"I love you Mamo-chan," she said, her voice a soft breath across his skin as she curled into his neck. "I always have, and I always will."

"I love you Usako," Mamoru returned, unashamed of the tears falling across her face and hair. "It's so painful to be apart."

"Then let me help you figure this out," she urged. "If your dream was anything similar to mine we have time. We aren't getting married any time soon, right?"

Mamoru could only nod his head.

"Then let's go talk to Rei," Usagi urged. "We can figure this out together."

"Together," Mamoru murmured. "Okay."

fin

Author's note: This tiny little one shot came to me at three in the morning. LOL. It seems like lately all my inspiration comes in the middle of the night. Anyways, I thought this little piece was a good counter-point to some of my recent stories. A version where Usagi understands what he is doing, where his friends help her understand, and where they can figure the whole mess out together. So, tell me what you think!