Author's Notes: First, if you want to know what has been going on in my life, take a look at my profile, as I wrote about it. Second, I am so sorry for not writing more. I was recently reminded that these stories are an escape for people, and that I CAN do something, even if I can't heal the world.

This story is dedicated to a very special reader who shared her story of loss with me. I won't share her name, but I ask any of you who pray to do so, because she lost someone very, very important to her.

Finally, I want to ask you a favor. If you can do something small to shine a light on someone else's life, do it. Don't wait. Every one of us has a little light to share with the world. We can't hide away and shut down. Do something kind, something fun, something daring. Make your light shine.

This story is titled Hope, because you, my readers, have given it back to me. Thank you, all of you, for reaching out, and for being the people you are. The people who love and care about others. And for the two nurses I know who read my stories (I hope you actually have the time to do so right now) I want to say thank you for doing what you do. You are heroes!

HOPE
A Love Shots Story

Usagi touched Chibi-Usa's soft pink hair and tucked the blanket closer under Chibi-Mamo's chin. She couldn't get over just how much she loved her children. Her son had been rather a surprise, since only Chibi-Usa had visited from the future a few years before. Now, with two newborns in her arms, Usagi couldn't imagine a world without them in it.

She sighed a little and looked out the window in her hospital room. It was raining. Even though she was afraid of thunder, Usagi loved the rain. It had a softness to it at times, and a wildness at others. If she was honest, it reminded her of herself. She could be loud and crazy one minute, and feel like her heart could bleed for someone the next.

People assumed she wasn't very smart. She knew that, and didn't entirely mind. She had cultivated that belief carefully through the years in order to protect her secret identity, and to keep her family and friends out of harm's way. No one would believe that Tsukino (excuse me... Chiba) Usagi was the warrior that had protected Tokyo for the past seven years.

As she watched the clouds wander past her window, Usagi thought back to the early days, when it was just her and Luna against the dark kingdom, she had no idea Tuxedo Kamen was Mamoru, who was the secret love of her life, and when everything had seemed so overwhelming. How had she ever been so young and naïve?

Nurse Maya opened the door and peeked her head inside. "I thought your husband would set up camp," she whispered, careful not to wake the sleeping twins on Usagi's chest.

"He'll be back," Usagi promised. She knew Mamoru well. He couldn't stay gone for long. When her water had broken, his pants had been soaked, but he'd been in too much of a panic to change before heading to the hospital, half-carrying her in spite of very loud protests. She knew he would rush through a shower and be back before her dinner arrived.

"Is there any news?" Usagi asked, frowning.

The nurse sighed. "The numbers aren't good," she said sadly. "Many people are dying all over the world. I wish I could go and help more of them. We've had a spike over the last few days. It worries me."

"Me too," Usagi whispered, wishing more than anything that there was a way she could heal the whole world. She wished she knew what to do, how to help. Now, more than ever, she wished she could call on the mother from her former life, Queen Serenity. Usagi wasn't sure if there was a way, but she wanted to find out.

"How are the babies doing? Did you have any problems feeding them?"

"It was like they knew exactly what to do," Usagi admitted. "It just felt natural. I think I was a little scared, but they made it easy."

"I'm glad," the nurse said softly. She moved closer and ran the back of her finger over Chibi-Usa's soft cheek. "These are precious little ones. You will be a wonderful mother."

Usagi smiled up at the nurse. Maya had been known to her for several years. They'd met when Usagi had collapsed after releasing her henshin at the end of a fierce battle with one of the Shadowman's minions. Thankfully, Maya had willingly kept the secret, and had helped them often since. She was good friends with Doctor Mizuno, Ami's mother, as well.

"Arigato." Usagi's eyes were drawn to the window again. "I just wish I could heal everyone. I wish this epidemic would go away and that people would be safe and happy again."

"I know the feeling. Most of us feel completely helpless. Especially when we see hard-hit areas we can't get to. Being a nurse has been the best, but now I feel..." her voice trailed off as she searched for a word to fit her mood. "Impotent," she uttered after a long moment of silence. "I feel powerless."

"I think we all do," Usagi said.

Chibi-Mamo stirred, raising his little arms over his head as he stretched. Usagi couldn't help smiling down at the handsome little face she already knew would be nearly identical to his father's. He was a perfect copy of him, though his hair had much more of a purple tinge to it than Mamoru's had taken on after they'd claimed their birthright.

"I did find out you'll be released tomorrow," the nurse whispered, her eyes sparkling again. "Apparently your Senshi healing has been helping you." She grinned. "Wish I could have some of that. When I bashed my forehead last month I couldn't see straight for two days."

Usagi grimmaced in sympathy. She said her goodbyes to Maya, who had to get to other patients in the ward, and turned her attention back to the babies she held. What sort of world would they grow up in? Would they live in constant fear their whole lives, wondering when the pandemic would end? Had the disease changed the future? Would Crystal Tokyo even happen?

There were too many worries for one tired woman to handle alone. Her heart had been breaking over and over for months as she watched the stories of people who had lost loved ones to the horrible pandemic that had spread over the world. She wished, not for the first time, that she had the power to heal everyone.

The door opened again and Tsukino Ikuko crept into the room, looking around furtively to make sure Usagi was awake. She had a small smile on her face and her eyes were lit with excitement to finally meet her new grandchildren. Usagi smiled at her mom, glad she had been allowed to visit. She hadn't been certain it would happen with rising numbers of patients.

"I thought you would be asleep by now," Ikuko murmured, bending to kiss Usagi's forehead.

"Who can sleep with these two to stare at?" Usagi answered, grinning.

"No one," Ikuko said, already sneaking her arms around Chibi-Usa. The little one didn't wake as her grandmother pulled her close, and Usagi let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, she's perfect," she whispered. "So beautiful, just like you were. She's like a carbon copy."

"With pink hair," Usagi corrected.

Ikuko rolled her eyes and reached for the ends of Usagi's long hair, which had turned pink when she'd accepted her birthright as the future queen of the solar system. Most of the long length was still vividly blonde, but the ends had changed.

Sticking her tongue out at her mother, Usagi readjusted her son and sat up higher in the bed. "I'm starving," she whispered. "I don't think I've ever been this hungry."

Ikuko laughed. "Now I know you're okay," she said, still chuckling.

It wasn't long before the door opened and Mamoru walked in, looking cleaner, but no less worried, until his eyes lit on the two women holding his son and daughter. He smiled at Ikuko, kissed Usagi, and reached for his son. His eyes were drawn to the sweet face of the boy in his arms and he couldn't seem to stop staring. It had been a bit of a shock a few months before when they'd learned Usagi was pregnant with twins, and he still hadn't gotten used to the idea of having a little boy.

"How was it out there?" Ikuko asked.

"Fine," Mamoru said softly. "Even with the surge we've had over the last few days, we aren't as hard-hit as other countries. I just wish I could heal everyone. We did it once, Usagi and I, after Metalia took everyone's energy. I just know there has to be a way to stop this stupid disease."

"Ami has been searching for months," Ikuko reminded him. "If anyone will figure out a way, it will be her. Remember, she lost that patient in her first few weeks of training. She's determined to find something to help."

Usagi sighed. Ami had been desperate for answers after the loss of a middle-aged woman from the pandemic. Everyone in the medical field seemed to be the same way. And though they were much closer to a vaccine, Usagi was certain there was no cure. She had heard stories of people suffering for months after recovering from the worst of it.

Tired, worn out, and in a little bit of pain, Usagi leaned her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes. She could remember what she had been doing when she'd first heard about the pandemic. She'd been shopping for baby things. At only three months along, she hadn't been showing yet, and her mother had insisted she wait until she hit the three month mark. Mamoru had taken a day off of work and they'd gone shopping together. Before the end all of their friends had been commenting on patterns and which toys were the best for early development. Having a baby had felt like a group effort. When they'd heard about the pandemic, none of them could have imagined that it would go on so long, and that it would kill so many people.

Months later, she knew the truth. It wouldn't go away completely without some miracle. And she had no idea where to find a miracle like that. She had watched the news avidly, made signs about wearing masks, and had been volunteering with a group writing letters to elderly people who were stuck inside without friends and family to keep them company.

She wished she could do more. She had never felt so helpless before. Even in her worst battles, when all hope had seemed lost, there was some spark inside her that told her to keep fighting, to keep hoping for something more, for the battle to end and her friends to be restored. Even after losing Mamoru in battle she had kept fighting.

Now she had no enemy to face. There was nothing physical she could hit or kick to make it all better. She and Mamoru had even tried their advanced form of healing, to no avail. They were powerless against the pandemic, and it felt like it was the end of the world.

But there was hope.

Usagi fought against the exhaustion and looked over at her mother and Mamoru, who were standing close together with the twins held between them. There was hope when she looked at the next generation. They might heal the world. Maybe they were stronger than she was. Maybe they could do what Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen could not. Find a cure.

But until then, Usagi was determined that she wouldn't give up. When she got home, after a long rest and some time with the babies, she would call the girls and see about trying to find a solution. Maybe if they tried the healing as a group, it would work. Whatever happened, she wasn't going to give up. She wanted her children to have a future.

The sun was going down and the cloudy sky growing darker as Usagi made her resolution. Even if she couldn't heal the world, every single person who tried to do what was right brought others a step closer. So she would do what she could. She would wear the mask, even though it gave her pimples and made her ears hurt. She would wash her hands a million times a day if she had to, and she would stay away from other people wherever possible.

There were other heroes out there. Doctors and nurses, and ordinary people who did what was right, even though it was hard. Ordinary, everyday heroes, who might not know they were heroes at all. She smiled as a thought occurred to her. Heroes wore masks.

Final Thought

Be a hero. Wear a mask.