Bunny stretched wearily and glanced at her clock. She blinked and looked again before deciding to haul herself out of bed. It was after one o'clock in the afternoon and she surmised that her guardians had allowed her to sleep in after wearing herself out the night before. She was about to pull on the nearest shorts and t-shirt she could find until she remembered what day it was. August third, the day her parents had died. Her mood had already been low but at the memory it plummeted further and she opened her closet to find something more appropriate for what she planned to do.

It wasn't that she wasn't happy with the Guard, she was. Or that she regretted what she had become because she didn't. The reason that year's anniversary was so hard on her was because it would be the first time she was able to visit her parents' grave and only the second time she had seen it. A sudden anger at the careless man who had crashed his car that day surged through her. The anger grew and it was all she could do to stop herself howling. Only the night before she had been preaching to Darien about making the best of bad situations and she still believed in what she had said. Only it was so hard and so damned unfair!

She selected black jeans, a midnight blue silk shirt and a black suede jacket to complement her mood and pulled out the black leather boots Jase had given her to complete the look. Jason had almost died the night before she remembered and Bunny growled. Beryl hadn't succeeded in taking his life yet for the first time in years he would not be with his charge when she performed the ritual memorial for her parents and his friends. A ritual all of them had created, combining the powers each of them possessed, to honour the dead and because of Beryl he would not be with her and that was not right. Without him everything would be skewed.

After a short shower she strode down the stairs and headed towards the kitchen. Zoe was sitting at the table reading some documents while the sounds of Nick cooking came from the kitchen. As Bunny entered the room Zoe looked up and smiled.

"I was beginning to wonder if we'd see you at all today Angel," she greeted.

Bunny reluctantly smiled back, "Thanks for letting me sleep in."

"You drained yourself," a hint of disapproval was in the older woman's voice to be overlaid by gratitude, "But you saved him, thank you."

Bunny blushed at the heartfelt appreciation and shrugged modestly, "I had to, if I hadn't then life would have gotten a whole lot more boring. What would we do if there was no more Jase to pay out? Nick and Kev would have been bored silly!"

Zoe grinned, "Life would have been a lot quieter."

"But also a lot emptier," Bunny added sadly.

Zoe nodded in acknowledgement before changing the subject. "I can take it you're heading to the cemetery?"

Bunny looked away before nodding, "Ah... yeah..."

"The box is over there then," Bunny looked up again and saw Zoe motioning to the end of the table where a modest metal box was placed. "Kevin's asleep now but we were all going to head back to the hospital when he woke up, say about three. Come back here after you're finished and we'll all go together."

"How did you know?" Bunny asked in surprise.

"That you wanted to go alone?" Zoe asked, "It was guess we'd all had, you've been rather reticent about the whole issue lately-"

"I'm sorry about that. I don't know why I'm taking it so bad this year. It's not like I remember much about them to miss..." Bunny trailed off as Nick came out from the kitchen with a glass of juice in one hand and a sandwich in the other.

"I think it's because you're back here," he said as he handed the juice and sandwich to her, "It must seem a whole lot more real now that you're not half a world away."

"I guess so," Bunny gulped the juice down in a few quick mouthfuls before donning an innocent face, "Can I take the bike?"

Zoe choked and Nick suddenly burst into laughter, "Sure, why not-"

"Jase'd have a fit!" Zoe burst out, "That bike is his pride and joy!"

"Ah but we're talking about the Angel," Nick rebutted, still chuckling, "He can never refuse her anything... besides Kevin wanted a way to make him more careful in battle. I think the thought that his motorcycle would be left unprotected and defended if he's in hospital might make him take more care."

"So I can take it? Wicked!" Bunny exclaimed as she grabbed the box off of the table, "I'll see you guys in an hour or so OK?"

"We'll be here Angel," Nick smiled at her and returned to the kitchen.

"Be careful though, if you so much as scratch that bike, Angel or no, Jase will kill you!" Zoe warned as Bunny snatched the key off the holder by the back door.

"I will!" the blonde shouted, animated once more, "See ya!"

"Have fun!" Zoe replied to the empty doorway before returning to her papers

***

Bunny walked through the grave markers sombrely, her short burst of euphoria having worn off as soon as she'd parked the bike outside the cemetery. She remembered her friends' description of where the graves were, towards the northern most end of the grounds. Suddenly there it was, the tall marble marker that she hadn't seen in fifteen years. She stopped in front of it and carefully placed her box on the ground before kneeling and beginning to pull out the weeds that had gown over the graves. The chore didn't take her long and all too soon she found that there was no more she could do.

She sat back on her heels and looked up at the plaques, 'Ilene Tsukino', 'Kenji Tsukino', 'Samuel Tsukino'. A tear ran down her cheek for the brother she had never had the chance to meet. She looked up further to read the inscription across the top of the stone, 'the light they have given to the world will bring us all hope'.

She reached out to lightly brush her fingers against the cool stone. "Momma, Daddy, I've come back," she whispered softly, "I'm all grown up now and I'm not always tripping over my feet anymore. I'm going to start an art course at Tokyo University in September, I already have a painting in a gallery and Nick's hung another in our new restaurant... Everyone's doing fine, except for Jason but he'll be OK. He was hurt fighting, he was fighting monsters called youma. Momma, they're warriors, they're all warriors and it's their duty to protect the Earth and it's mine now too. I don't know if I can live up to what they expect from me, if I can be what they need me to be. The inscription on your gravestone means me, they told me that at your funeral, and sometimes it's so hard to believe everything.

"There's a man that calls me Meatball Head and sometimes I wonder how a Meatball Head can be the 'light that will bring the world hope'. But I'll try, Momma, Daddy, I will do everything within my power not to fail them, not to fail you and the rest of the world. I promise." Bunny blinked and found that she had been crying. Through a watery gaze she placed her hand firmly on the tombstone and fed it with her power. The crescent moon that that same power had placed there, flared with a fierce silver light. Bunny moved back and watched as the light faded away and was overcome by yearning.

"I want my Momma," she whispered brokenly, wanting the embrace whose absence, no matter how much they tried nor how much they cared, the Guard could never compensate for. Images of a dark haired woman Bunny recognised from photographs her friends had shown her mixed with those of a blonde woman whose face was a mature version of Bunny's own. Longings she had never realised she had welled up within her and she curled herself tightly in a ball to try and deny them. Images of people she had never known in this lifetime, of sensations her current from would never be able to bear, of needs that nothing on Earth could ever satisfy racked her small frame. She began to cry in earnest, huge, sobs that shook her violently, "Momma... Mama... I need you!" Her call echoed through the deserted burial grounds, destined to remain unanswered by either of the women she had called to.

She lay curled on the ground with her head burrowed into her knees, her breath coming in great gasps as she found herself unable to control her grief. She whimpered, in her mind her friends reached to her mentally but she longed for their physical presence and knew that it was by her own choice she was bereft of it. Even as her anguish deepened warm arms wrapped themselves around her and pulled her into a strong embrace. Just grateful for the support she did not care who it was that held her. She let his arms soothe her body, even as her friends were doing to her soul, while she cried into his shoulder.

***

Darien placed the roses he had conjured in the urns on either side of the headstone that marked his father's grave. Well Dad, it's been another year, what can I say? I passed my tests, though with one of them I scraped through by the skin of my teeth. I met a really strange girl that my friends believe is psychic and I can't figure her out. Sometimes she seems so immature and sometimes she seems like she's a thousand years old. I guess she's kind of easy on the eyes but it's not what everyone thinks. She seems like one of the Scouts and she's fun to fight with. Oh by the way did I mention that the next ShadowWar has finally begun?

Darien smiled wryly as he stood up and brushed the dirt off of his knees. What more can I say? Life's gone on, Lita still hasn't gotten a boyfriend and I've gotten a year older. He looked away from the tombstone, off into the distance. Life's gone on... well... I guess I'll see you next year Dad, if I survive the ShadowWar. 'Til then, I miss you Dad.

The lean man began to walk away from the grave, heading back to his car when an anguished cry reached him, "Momma... Mama... I need you!" The cry died away to be replaced by the sound of crying. What on Earth? Darien looked around and saw a small form huddled about a hundred metres away, partially obscured by the large marble marker. Darien would have left the mourner to grieve in peace except a flash of gold caught his attention. It couldn't be... Darien stepped closer to get a better look and then began to run.

He knelt beside the weeping girl and carefully gathered her into his arms. Meatball Head! Goddess Meatball Head, what's happened? He held her to him tightly and stroked her hair as he rocked her in his lap. She turned in his hold and buried her head in his shoulder as she continued to cry pitifully. Darien maintained his embrace and looked up at the tombstone she seemed to have been visiting. Ilene Tsukino, Kenji Tsukino, Samuel Tsukino. All of them died on the third of August fifteen years ago. Well that explains why she seemed so depressed yesterday. I guess having her friend in hospital made things even worse for her.

Darien tightened his grip and began to whisper to the hysterical girl, "Come on Meatball Head, things aren't as bad as all that. Everything'll be OK, you'll see. Everything'll be fine." Come on Meatball Head, don't do this to me. You're supposed to be the annoying brat I fight with, not a beautiful girl needing my help! Having you in my arms is really starting to mess with my mind. Snap out of it before I do something that we'll both regret. "Everything will be fine, I promise."

She pulled away from him and he loosened his hold. Still on his lap, her tear stained face looked at him with disbelief as she sniffed and said belligerently, "And how do you know that?"

Thank you, this I can deal with! "I'm all knowing, weren't you aware of that?" he asked her innocently, trying to coax her into either a smile or a fight. Which ever, anything would be better than seeing her so miserable.

"Since when?" she demanded, rubbing at her face with the heel of her hand.

"Since the moment the gods graced the Earth with my presence," he replied flippantly. If that doesn't get a reaction then she's worse off than I thought!

"Could you're ego get any bigger?" she retorted and hiccupped.

"Do you feel better now? Or should I keep provoking you?"

"No, thank you," she sniffed again before looking back at him.

Her face was a mess, the remnants of her tears streaking her cheeks, most available skin smeared with dirt and a couple of leaves tangled in her hair. He had never felt more attracted to a girl in his life. Dare, Endy, get your mind back on track. This is the Meatball Head, she needs your help and she is not a prospective girlfriend!

"You must think I'm a total idiot, losing it like this," she mumbled and he smiled gently.

"No," he stated as he picked the leaves from her hair, "I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes things just become too much." You've got to let it out or you'll explode, I think it was you who told me that.

"Somehow I can't imagine you wallowing in the dirt while you're crying you're eyes out. It would totally ruin your image as Mr. Cool."

Mr. Cool? "I admit that I've never done that before." That's not to say that it won't happen in the future. The way things are going I'm not going to rule anything out. "What I did was, after my mother died, go out of Tokyo, as far as I could get. I found the biggest tree I could and I started punching it." I nearly killed the poor thing, I hadn't adjusted to being Endymion and I had trouble controlling my strength. "I ended up beating my fists bloody." That was a very bad month. Mom's death, my memories and suddenly having the fate of the world dumped on my shoulders. I was not a good person to be around then.

"Ouch!" she winced, "Personally, I think my method might have been more intelligent."

"Demeaning though," he commented.

"With some things pride has to be forgotten," she smiled wistfully and shifted in his arms.

Point... Um... Not that I'm complaining Meatball Head but you'd probably want to move. My thoughts are taking a decidedly alarming turn. He dug out a handkerchief from his pocket with one hand and passed it to her, "I'm afraid you look rather the worse for wear."

Bunny seemed to realise their position and she crawled off his lap to sit beside him on the ground. She accepted the handkerchief and began to scrub at her face with it. After a couple of moments and a stained hanky later she looked at him with a wry smile. "I guess I should give it up as a bad joke huh?"

Don't look at me, I've lost my objectivity for the moment. Give me a minute and I'll be able to think straight again but... I really wish you hadn't moved. Darien stared at her blankly while he mentally hauled himself back on track. He blinked and smiled sardonically, "Do you really want the truth?"

She shook her head and replied, "I don't think so."

He chuckled and they sat together in companionable silence. Darien examined the headstone again and this time noticed the inscription at the top of the marble block. 'The light they have given to the world will bring us all hope' huh? I wonder what that means? It sounds nice though and the crescent moon at the top is a nice touch. I guess whoever ordered this thing enjoyed being enigmatic. He looked at the girl beside him from the corner of his eye. Why are you here alone Meatball Head?

"Um, Darien?" her hesitant voice made him start.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Could you stay here with me for a bit?" her voice was uncertain, "There's something I have to do and I don't want to do it alone."

"Sure," he agreed, "Ah it doesn't involve any pain on my part does it? A ritual sacrifice or something of the sort?"

"A sacrifice, no. A ritual, yes," she answered, "It's something the guys devised for me a long time ago. You don't have to do anything other than be here and watch."

Good. That I can do.

She correctly interpreted his silence for assent and reached for a metal box that he hadn't noticed lying in the grass. Opening it she revealed a polished golden bowl, a large flask and two canisters. As he watched she laid the bowl in the centre of the plot and emptied the flask into it. As soon as the bowl was filled with the clear liquid she opened the two canisters and emptied them into the bowl as well. One of the containers held nothing but petals and the other had been full of something that resembled glitter. When both canisters were empty Bunny pulled a packet of long matches from the metal box and lit one of them. She smiled briefly at Darien and held the match to the bowl.

What the-? Oh! Darien exhaled, captivated by the sight. The liquid in the bowl had caught alight and the sudden whoosh of flame had caused an air current to lift the petals and glitter and swirl it up into the air. The polished surface of the bowl reflected the light of the fire inside of it straight up so that even in the light of day it seemed as if a golden beam of light shone from the fire into the heavens. The petals and glitter swirled upwards in the beam, the glitter sparking in the light, so that it seemed as if they were journeying straight towards the clouds.

"It's beautiful," he whispered in awe.

"It's even better when it's done at night," she told him.

I can imagine, it would be utterly spectacular.

"The petals are kisses and the sparkles are tears. The light will carry them to the heavens so that where ever they are, my first family knows that they are loved and missed."

"It's incredible," he breathed. And so are you.

She moved closer to him and he put his arm around her as they watched the light deliver its messages of remembrance.

***

Lita sighed as she held the phone to her ear, "Come on Bunny, pick up your phone!" She listened to it ring three more times and decided to give up. As she was about to replace the handset she heard a male voice and quickly brought it back to her ear.

"Hello, is anyone there?" the deep voice asked, irritably.

"Uh, hi, I'm Lita Kino and I was wondering if Bunny was available."

"I'm Nick and no, sorry she's not around at the moment. You're the girl with the amazing recipe for stir-fried veggies aren't you? I've been told a lot about you." The irritation had vanished to be replaced by genuine pleasure.

Lita's eyes had bugged out when she heard the speaker identify himself and both Haruka and Mina laughed at her expression. "You're Nick Cook?" she exclaimed.

"Last time I checked," the other voice chuckled.

Haruka leaned close to Lita and whispered, "Thank him for giving you the recipe for that chocolate fudge!"

"No don't, he's an evil man!" Mina argued and when both Lita and Haruka looked at her in surprise she patted her stomach, "I don't want to think about how much weight I gained after last night's feast!"

"Mina!" Lita hissed in consternation.

The man on the other end of the line chuckled again, "Don't worry about it, I've been called worse by weight watchers all over the world. I'm glad that you all seem to have enjoyed the recipes but she ought to remember that I wasn't the one that cooked them. At least half of the glory or blame rests on your shoulders!"

"Thanks sir-"

"Call me Nick,"

"Thanks Nick, you have no idea how much that means coming from you," Lita exclaimed.

"Way to play hard to get Lita!" Haruka joked.

Lita glared at her and covered the receiver with her hand, "I am not trying to get anyone!"

"Sure Lita, whatever you say," Mina drawled knowingly, "You don't hang on every word Bunny tells us about him!".

Another chuckle came from the phone and Lita reddened, understanding that Bunny's guardian had heard everything. "Out!" she demanded furiously, "Both of you out! I'll deal with you later." The two blondes, the short haired tomboy and the future model, both burst into laughter as they ran from the angry look on Lita's face.

Lita was about to speak into the phone again when Mina poked her head around the door a last time, "You go girl!"

"OUT!" Lita screamed and counted to five, twice. She breathed deeply and returned her attention to the phone conversation, "I'm sorry about that Nick, they're on a sugar high right now and are way too hyped up."

"Don't worry about," he replied, "It doesn't sound too different from what goes on around here!"

"Do you mean Jason? Bunny told us that he was a joker."

"Did she mention that she encourages him? It's pretty much a sure thing that if one of them is involved then the other is as well."

Lita smiled. "No she didn't say anything about that... I wonder why?"

Nick laughed again and replied wryly, "Strange isn't it? You'd better watch out she's a incurable practical joker and she learned from the best. Waking up to find yourself with a whipped cream beard is one of the milder surprises they give you."

"I'll remember that at the next sleep over," Lita laughed and then sobered, "Which reminds me, how is Jase, and Bunny for that matter? She looked pretty bad when she left here last night."

"Jase is fine, in fact we're already taking bets on how long it is before the doctors kick him out." The voice sounded cheerful which relieved Lita's worry though she was slightly confused.

"I thought he'd been seriously hurt," she commented, "I wouldn't have thought he'd have been leaving his bed anytime soon."

"He was," and for a moment Nick's voice was very grim, "But he pulled through and is already raising hell among the nurses. He's lucky he has such a thick head or he'd have gotten another concussion. We all figure no more than a week before the doctors have to release him to stop the nurses from quitting."

Lita chortled, "Fair enough, and Bunny?"

There was a pause and Nick's voice was measured when he finally answered, "She's handling it. I'll be glad when she gets back though, I'd rather she was with us at the moment."

"Ah..." Lita murmured.

"Anyway, was there anything you wanted me to tell her?" his tone of voice had lightened but Lita could still hear the faint worry present.

"Oh yeah!" she exclaimed remembering the purpose of the call, "It's Darien's birthday today and us girls all decided to throw him a surprise party. It's a really last minute thing, and we were wondering if Bunny'd like to come."

"Darien... Is that the Darien with the, what was it... 'sub zero personality problem'?"

Lita hooted, "She really said that?"

Nick replied humorously, "She's strangely closed mouth on the subject of one Darien Chiba, but, yes, that was one of the first things she said about him."

"He called her a midget with a weird hairstyle," Lita recalled fondly.

"And you're inviting her to his birthday party? What makes you think she'd want to go or that he'd want her there?" Nick voice quivered with repressed amusement.

"She gets to him, no other girl has ever managed to make him loose his cool the way she does."

"Do you want to know something interesting?" he asked casually.

"Spill," she ordered.

"He does exactly the same thing to her. She wonders why Jase teases her about him..."

"It's because with anyone else she'd just laugh it off or ignore it. Only with him does she brood about it!" Lita finished, understanding instantly.

"Bingo!"

"Darien's exactly the same way!"

"They'll figure it out eventually, until then we can enjoy watching them."

"Here, here," Lita cheered, giggling.

Nick chuckled and soon they were laughing as they compared notes on what their respective housemates had been doing to each other. It took them five minutes to calm down and Lita finished with a mild case of the hiccups.

"So you'll pass it -hic- on?" she asked.

"Sure, where and when?" he replied cheerfully.

"Tell her it's at Haruka and Michiru's and starts at four."

"I'll tell her but I can't guarantee that she'll go, today really isn't a good day," responded more seriously.

Lita remembered that his friend and Bunny's was in the hospital and replied, "Yeah I know, even if she just drops in for a couple of minutes. It's his twenty-first, tell her it's a great chance to pay him out on his advancing years, we are, and I'll bet she'll come."

Nick snorted, "Maybe, by the way she gave you the invitations?"

"Yep," Lita exclaimed, "We'll all be there, and three of us might be bring dates if that's OK."

"Sure just let me know numbers a couple of days in advance."

"Don't worry I'll be able to tell Bunny today or tomorrow."

"Cool. I look forward to meeting you face to face Lita."

"It's mutual," she assured him, "Give Jason my best wishes."

"Have a good day Lita and my regards to Darien for his birthday."

Lita hung the phone up and hugged herself, he sounded so cool! He was great to talk to and his voice was amazing, Lita closed her eyes and tried to imagine what the owner of that voice would look like. Mina and Haruka chose that moment to reappear.

"I take it you two hit it off," Haruka said.

Mina grinned, "Yeah, come on girl, tell!"

"There's nothing to tell," Lita shrugged as she walked away from the phone.

"Come on Lita," Mina said in disbelief, "You were only on there for what? A half an hour?"

Haruka nodded in agreement and Lita's eyebrows shot up in disbelief, "You've got to be kidding me!" The other two girls shook their heads and Lita sighed, "We were just talking about Jason and the opening. Nothing major. Jason's going to be fine by the way."

"Good," Haruka said seriously, she had seen how scared Bunny had been when she'd driven her to the hospital and she never wanted the little blonde to feel like that again.

"So is Bunny coming?" Mina asked, too energetic to be sober for long.

"She's out at the moment but Nick said she'd be back soon and he'd pass the message along. If she does some, she'll only be there for a little while."

"That's OK, as long as she makes it!" Lita and Haruka eyed the shorter blonde girl in alarm.

"What are you planning Mina?" Lita asked suspiciously.

Mina looked at them innocently, "What on Earth are you talking about?" Lita flipped her brown ponytail over her shoulder and with together with Haruka she used her superior height to loom over Mina. Mina sighed, "Oh come on they're perfect for each other, everyone knows it! They keep moving together even though they just end up arguing. All they need is a small push and they'll stop arguing and start kissing!"

Haruka shook her head and ran a hand through her short sandy hair. "Not a good idea," she stated positively, "If you start pushing either of them then they'll start running in the opposite direction."

"Then what about-" Mina began.

"Making them jealous of each other won't work either," Lita cut her off, "Leave them to work it out on their own. We have to get going now anyway so stop plotting and start taking the food out to the car."

Mina pouted but did as she was commanded, she might have been the leader of the Scouts but when it came to catering it was Lita who ruled.

"We'd better swing by the cemetery to catch Darien," Lita added as she and Haruka followed Mina to the kitchen.

"Making sure that he knows to show up would probably help," Haruka agreed and they turned their attention to the food.

***

Darien held his hand out to Bunny and she took it to help her rise. She tucked the repacked box under one arm and glanced at the tombstone one last time. Darien noticed the three small stone vases placed before the stone each had four different coloured roses, one white, one yellow, one orange and one red.

"Are you going to leave a flower?" he asked.

She followed the direction of his eyes and shook her head, "Those must have been left by Nick, Kevin and Zoe. Kevin would have brought the red one for Jase. At the funeral we each brought a different coloured rose, mine was pink. I'd forgotten all about that and didn't bring any."

What if I...? Darien thought for a moment and said offhandedly, "I was visiting someone here as well, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I gave a couple of the roses I brought to you-"

"Darien, you don't have to-" Bunny objected.

"Just wait here," he cut her off, "I'll only be a minute." He dashed off before she could protest further. He stopped as soon as he was concealed behind a large memorial. OK Meatball Head, pink roses you want, pink roses you get! He gestured and a red rose appeared in his hand. All right! Red, just what I was trying for... not! At least it's not steel tipped. Darien concentrated harder and another red rose appeared. What is going on here? He closed his eyes and emptied his mind, an image of a small blonde girl giving him red roses flashed across the inside of his eyelids. Red might have been what I needed back then but it's not what I need right now. He visualised a perfect pink bloom, focusing and soon held three pale pink blossoms along with two crimson ones.

A quick glance around showed him an old grave that looked as if it had been neglected for years. Here, you look like you might appreciate these. He placed the two red roses before the simple cross that marked the site and jogged off. A couple of seconds later he stepped out from behind a headstone to find Bunny already turning to meet him. With a flourish he presented the roses to her and was rewarded by a brilliant smile. I wonder if I shouldn't try getting her to smile like that more often. I think it could be addictive.

Bunny closed her eyes for a second before straightening again, "I'm ready to go if you are or did I interrupt you before?"

"No I was just leaving when I heard you," he began to lead her to the parking lot, "Did you want a lift somewhere?"

"No, I'm right... You do realise what would happen if any of our friends saw us like this? Being polite to each other?"

"I'd never hear the end of it," Darien sighed.

"Lita would get Amy to check us out, in case we were sick," Bunny added.

The horrible thing is Amy would take her seriously. "It's a good thing they're not here then." They reached the parking lot and Darien noticed the blue motorcycle, "That yours?"

She shook her, "Nah it's Jase's. I'm... requisitioning it while he's in hospital. Usually he's the one who drives me around so I'm just going to have to make do until he's back on his feet." Her wicked grin told him that she didn't mind 'making do' at all.

I believe your Jase is going to have a tough time getting his bike back. Not that I blame you, it's a beauty. Darien stepped back and examined her briefly. At her raised eyebrow he explained, "Your clothes look fine, it's only your face that's a mess. I'm afraid you can't hide that you've been crying, there're tear tracks all over your face. The dirt only makes them more obvious."

"Wonderful," she said dryly, "Ah well, my helmet'll hide it until I get home and then I can wash my face. It's not like I can hide it from the guys. They'll know and I don't want to keep it from them anyway."

"Why weren't they here with you?" That little ritual was something you said you all did together, why were you alone?

Her expression was chagrined, "For the last couple of days, I've felt like I wanted to do this alone, really put the past behind me you know? It's the first time I've been able to come here since they died and I guess I wanted to apologise."

"For not coming before? I don't think they'd have minded that."

"No," she shook her head and looked at him, pleading for understanding, "Because I think of Nick, Zoe and Kevin and Jase as my family now. My guardians are more important to me than my parents are. When Jase was hurt last night, I was more scared of losing him than I remember being when my mother was dying."

Ah! She feels bad because she thinks she replaced them. "I think your parents would be happy that you've found a place where you feel so accepted. They would be glad that you are so close to your guardians and that you didn't suffer or lose too much just because you didn't have them."

"I know that, I guess. Maybe what I was trying to do was reassure them and myself that they were still important to me. Even though they aren't here, I hadn't forgotten them. Of course I should have known better than to come alone after last night. It shook me more than I thought."

I thought so. "You're OK now though?"

She nodded, "Yeah, I'm gonna go home and hug the living daylights out of Nick, Zoe and Kevin and let them do the same to me. Then I'm going to visit Jase and give him a long lecture on the perils of scaring me like that."

Darien chuckled, "I'll leave you to it then. Take care Meatball Head."

She sniffed, "You are so lucky that there is almost nothing you could say at the moment which would make me angry at you."

Oh really?! He began to grin and opened his mouth to comment but she cut him off.

"Don't push it," she growled.

His grin grew wider as he started towards the opposite side of the parking lot where his car was concealed in the shade of a nearby tree.

"Darien?" he turned at the soft call to find her looking at him with a gentle expression, "Thank you."

"It was my pleasure," he smiled and she returned it before turning to pack the metal box onto the bike. Darien resumed his journey to the car. Yes Meatball Head, it was my pleasure.

A couple of seconds later the sound two motors made him look back. Bunny was astride the bike, rubbing at her face for a couple of moments before donning her helmet and roaring off. Darien watched in admiration, man she can handle that thing. The other motor was that of a sports car which pulled up next him.

He leaned against his car's bonnet as the passenger window of the new car was wound down.

"Hey Dare, was that Bunny we just saw?" Mina demanded as she leaned over Lita's shoulder from the back seat.

"Yeah she-"

"Has she been crying?" Haruka asked in concern.

Would she really want them all knowing? "For a little while, she-" Darien began uncomfortably.

"Darien you didn't!" Lita exclaimed in a horror stricken voice.

Didn't what? Kiss her? Take advantage of her? Ravish her? I wish, but no so what? He opened his mouth to reply but couldn't even get a word out.

"You did! I don't believe it, how could you?" Lita's voice was coldly disapproving and took Darien aback.

What did I do?

"Endymion," Mina's tone was one of deepest disappointment.

Whoa, 'Endymion'? I haven't done anything, what do you lot think has happened?

"She did not need you on top of everything else Darien Chiba!" Lita spat, "I don't believe I invited her to your party, she's going to think I'm out of my mind."

What? I haven't done anything to her! What party?

Haruka looked at Darien with as much confusion on her face as he felt. Lita turned to her and ordered, "Get us out of here before I belt him and our precious prince finds his perfect profile not so perfect anymore!"

Haruka looked at the brunette dubiously and shrugged at Darien, "There's a birthday party for you at my place." Before he could respond she had her foot on the accelerator and the car quickly screeched out of sight.

Darien sighed. I'm going to have to go after them and find out what she imagines I've done. With Haruka driving her she's going to have plenty of time to tell everyone what crime she thinks I've committed. I'm about to become the most hated man in Tokyo and I don't know why. What does she think I've done to Bunny? Goddess. Why me?

***

Bunny quietly closed the back door behind her, though she knew that her friends were all well aware of her return. She placed the metal box on the kitchen table along with the keys to the motorcycle before walking into the lounge room. Nick was unpacking a crate and passing items to Zoe and Kevin who would put them in their respective places. None of them had had the time or inclination to finish the chore since they had moved to Tokyo and so, over two months later, there were still crates cluttering the place up.

"It's about time we finished doing that," she said as she walked into the room. As soon as she had spoken the woman and two men stopped what they had been doing and went to her, folding her into a group embrace.

"Group hug huh?" she quipped burrowing in closer between Kevin and Nick.

Zoe kissed her forehead and returned, "You need it Angel. You scared us you know."

"I'm sorry about that, I didn't mean to. It's just..." Bunny trailed off, unable to explain.

"You started remembering something of what you used to be," Kevin finished for her, "You weren't prepared for it."

"I didn't know... some of the things I felt... I don't understand any of the things that went through my head."

"Your memories only deal with you being human, you don't have any experience being anything else. Once upon a time though you weren't and for some reason you touched that part of yourself today," Kevin explained to her, "It doesn't mean that you're about to start remembering your lifetime as the moon princess."

"Thank the Fates," she muttered with heartfelt gratitude, "I'm not ready for that and if it's anything like today then I don't know if I'll ever be."

"When we manage to free your people it'll be different, those longings you were feeling today will be fulfilled. You'll feel whole," Zoe told her.

"I don't feel like I'm not whole right now," Bunny objected.

Zoe continued, "That's one of the reasons you don't remember everything, the trauma of a Lunarian soul in a human body... if you remembered then you could never experience a moment of happiness. It's the reason we've never tried to trigger your memories. Everyday would be like what you felt at the cemetery."

Bunny blanched and hugged herself harder to the two men, "I'm sorry I didn't go with you guys, I'm sorry I thought I could do it on my own. I can't, I need you guys, please don't ever leave me. Promise me that you'll never leave me."

"You're not about to get rid of us now Angel," Nick assured her.

"We'll always be here for you Angel, we'll never leave you." Zoe added.

"We're never more than a thought away," Kevin finished.

Bunny nodded and Zoe began to brush new tears away from the girl's eyes, "Good grief Angel you are a mess!"

Bunny sniffed and gave a watery smile, "So I've been told."

Zoe rolled her eyes, "Well believe it, wait here," and she went into the kitchen in search of a cloth.

Kevin and Nick steered the girl to the couch and Kevin seated her next to himself while Nick kneeled at her side. Bunny leant back into Kevin's side, still tightly holding Nick's hand. Kevin's arm was over her slender shoulders and she closed her eyes and revelled in the warmth, both mental and physical, pair sent her. Moments later Zoe returned with not one but three face washers and began to work on Bunny's face.

"There, all clean," Zoe stated in satisfaction a few minutes later, "We can see your skin again."

Bunny winced, "Was it that bad?"

Nick chuckled, "Remember the day Jase and Kevin took you go-karting?"

"Oh dear..."

Kevin nodded, relieved laughter rumbling in his throat, "You are feeling OK now Angel?"

Bunny nodded and all three friends sighed in relief.

"When you started to cry we were terrified," Nick informed her, "We couldn't think of anything to help."

"What you did was enough," she told him.

"No it wasn't," Kevin disagreed, "But we were very lucky to have someone there who took up the slack. Who was it that comforted you Angel? I'd like to thank him."

Bunny blushed and whispered something too quietly for her friends to hear.

"What was that Angel? I couldn't quite catch it," Nick said a wicked gleam of humour lighting in his eyes at her obvious embarrassment.

She glowered at him for a moment, knowing that he was enjoying her discomfit. "It was Darien," she stated clearly as if challenging them to make something of it.

Nick saw Kevin's eyes begin to sparkle and Zoe's mouth developed a tremor. He shook his head, ruthlessly suppressing any teasing thoughts, now was not the time. "We owe him a debt of gratitude then."

Bunny reluctantly nodded, "I know... I guess he isn't the jerk I thought he was," her cheeks had heated again and then irritation caused the blush to vanish, "He still calls me Meatball Head though."

"I thought you'd gotten him to stop that," Zoe frowned in confusion.

The blush returned and Bunny quickly shrugged and tried to change the topic of conversation, "To top it off he's started calling me 'Buns'."

"That's not so bad," Kevin commented.

"If I came from a bakery," she added sarcastically.

"The cad!" Nick said mockingly, "I guess you don't want to have anything to do with his birthday party this afternoon then?"

Bunny sat upright and stared at him, "Birthday? This afternoon? Since when?"

Nicks smiled wryly, "For the last twenty-one years I would imagine."

"Hah hah!" she glowered at him, "I meant how long ago was this party organised?"

"Lita said it was a last minute thing so I would assume last night, this morning."

"Lita? You talked to her? She's wicked isn't she?" Bunny enthused, and Nick grinned in agreement before she returned to the topic, "His twenty-first, I knew his birthday was soon but today? What can I get him a this late notice?" The three warriors watched her thoughtfully and she flushed, "After this afternoon it's the least I could do for him!"

Kevin nodded, "I agree, any suggestions?" Again Bunny found herself the focus of their attention.

She rolled her eyes, "How about a leather bound book of insults or mirror?" Their stares didn't waver, "Look why me? He's someone I fight with, not my boyfriend. I don't know what he likes!"

"You're the one that wants to give him this gift besides you're also the only one who's met him," Nick said reasonably.

Bunny sighed hugely and began to look thoughtful. "Well he likes books and I lent him that one on mythology you all gave me a couple of years back."

"Books and mythology, that's a start Angel," Zoe interjected.

"He seems to have a thing for cars and motorbikes as well as coffee and chocolate. He's studying to become a doctor and Lita said that he liked sports. She also said he was an amateur astronomer-"

"Stop right there!" Nick exclaimed, jumping to his feet, "I think I might have just the thing..." and he dashed out of the room.

Bunny looked at Zoe and Kevin who both shrugged.

"If he's not careful he's going to turn into another Jase," Zoe said pensively before taking a seat on the side of the couch, next to the girl.

"Perish the thought," Kevin uttered dryly before turning back to Bunny, "Will he be coming to the opening? I'd rather like to meet him."

"Me too," Zoe put in.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to any of them since last night. Did Nick say if Lita had mentioned it?"

At that moment the tall, auburn haired man returned carrying a large cedar case. He lay it across Bunny and Kevin's knees before opening it. The top half swung back to reveal a beautiful old telescope. It was antique and in superb condition, its glossy black finish and silver fittings in no way harmed by the passage of time.

"I found this that year we did the tour of the UK. This made up for the constant drizzle we had to endure when we went through that small town in Scotland," he told them.

"I remember that," Zoe replied as she gently stroked the folded stand, "The road was closed for three days, Jase spent the first two complaining and on the third he discovered the local moonshine."

"We almost couldn't drag him away," Kevin reminisced, "Eventually a group of local fathers got together and bundled him up for us so we could leave."

"Jase has always been rather popular with the ladies," Nick grinned.

"You two weren't doing so badly yourselves," Zoe commented sourly, "Not that you were around often, but when you did finally turn up to help Kevin with Jase the girls began to think it was their lucky year. Three new hunks all at once." Kevin blushed slightly and Nick rolled his eyes. Zoe turned to Bunny, "The two of them started to celebrate with Jase, thought they were a little more moderate. They were all still up at six am on the fourth day when the roads were reopened. That's when the locals formed a committee and poured Jase into the car before helping those two stagger along afterwards. Then while the mothers restrained their daughters I was given polite but very firm directions on the fastest way out of town. The parents in that town were glad to see the four of us go."

"Wicked, way to go Nick, Kev!" Bunny whistled.

Kevin was shaking his head at his lover, "It did not happen like that, you're exaggerating. I don't remember the locals being anything other than helpful."

"You wouldn't, that's the point!" Zoe shot back darkly.

Nick winked at Bunny who giggled and he ignored the older couple to finish his explanation, "Well I was stuck in that town for three days with the options of listening to Jase complain, drinking myself stupid, or exploring. Unlike our fearless leader and his lady here Jase and I did not have other options." He paused significantly and Bunny saw that both Kevin and Zoe were blushing. Nick nodded with a look of vindication and continued, "Well Jase started talking with the patrons of the inn we were staying at and they introduced him to that vile brew which led to his downfall.

"I, on the other hand, ventured out in a relatively dry stint only to be forced undercover ten minutes later. The shop I ducked into was a church thrift shop. It was full of all sorts of neat stuff and there was a huge pile of unopened crates that had just been donated. Apparently they had been sitting in some law firm's attic for years and had been about to be tossed when they moved to larger offices. The janitor thought it a waste and contributed them to the shop. The old guy who ran the place was having a bit of trouble with arthritis because of the damp and so I spent the next couple of days helping him unpack and catalogue the stuff. One of the things we unearthed was this. When we'd finished he gave it to me in thanks. It'd be worth a small fortune to a collector but in the thrift shop he would have been lucky to get five pounds for it. 'Better for it to go to someone who would appreciate it,' he said and I've had it ever since."

Bunny lightly touched the engraving on the side and Nick smiled as he noticed, "The name suits her."

Bunny looked up at him, "Are you sure you want to give this up? You said it yourself, it's valuable besides that, it's also beautiful."

"If I ever need to use a telescope again then I can always borrow Kevin's. Besides as lovely as she is, the poor old girl has never quite been to my taste."

Bunny carefully closed the case and Kevin pulled it away so that she could move. She rose and hugged Nick hard, "Thank you, it's perfect."

Nick kissed her hair, "For helping you I would gladly give your Darien a hundred telescopes."

She pulled away and looked at him in annoyance, "He's not my Darien!"

He grinned innocently, "Whatever you say."

She pouted but a glint of mischief appeared in her eyes, "Zoe's right, you are turning into another Jase!"

Nick looked at her in mock horror, "Ack! Angel save me!"

"I say let him suffer Angel!" Zoe retorted and Nick stuck his tongue out at her.

"Nick, quit that!" Kevin ordered before his lips twitched, "The likeness is becoming more and more uncanny."

Nick obeyed and sighed, "If I'm not careful it might become a habit and I wouldn't want to do the idiot out of his job as comic relief."

An awareness in Bunny's mind suddenly came alive in protest and Bunny yelped in astonishment.

"That was Jase!" Zoe blurted in surprise.

"Yeah and he doesn't appreciate your topic of conversation Nick!" Bunny laughed, slightly giddy after the shock she had received.

"He heard?" Nick asked, seeking confirmation for something he already suspected. Bunny nodded and Nick grinned in satisfaction, "Good, it'll teach him not to eavesdrop!"

"You knew he was there?" Bunny questioned, "How?"

Nick scowled, "You may be used to him in you're head but I'm not! He's clumsy and nosy and it's like I had someone reading over my shoulder. Besides he should have asked."

"I think I'd better have a chat with my brother on the merits of respecting people's mental privacy," Kevin muttered.

"You all heard him?" Bunny asked.

Zoe nodded, "Apparently the link between all of us is getting stronger."

"That's a good thing though, right?"

Kevin sighed, "Under normal circumstances, yes, but-"

"Currently he's in a state of enforced idleness. He has nothing else to do but annoy us, just think of the trouble he can cause now," Nick groaned.

Zoe winked at the girl and Bunny grinned, both females aware of the fact that Kevin and Nick were more elated at Jase's strength than dismayed at his application of it. The blonde warrior would have much more leeway than normal for the next few days as his friends recovered from the fright he'd given them. Presumably Jase was aware of that and already plotting on how to make the most of it. A pang of confirmation rang radiated from the bond in her mind that led to her blonde guardian and Bunny stifled a giggle.

"Speaking of Jase, seeing as he his currently awake and seemingly up to no good maybe we'd better go and see him," Zoe suggested.

Nick released a huge gust of breath Kevin nodded in agreement. Despite their jokes they were both as eager as Bunny and Zoe to see their friend again.

"You guys go on ahead," Bunny told them, "I'll stop by at the party for a little while and give Darien his present before joining you."

"Are you sure Angel?" Kevin asked her, "We'd be happy to stop by on the way."

Bunny shook her head, "Nah, it might take me a while to get away. Besides Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna all live way out of the way. It'll take me half an hour getting there and back again. Do you really think it's fair on his nurses to leave Jase unsupervised until then?"

"You'll be taking Jase's bike again I take it," Nick said and when she nodded he smiled beatifically, "Good, I'll take great pleasure in telling him that you're taking care of it for him."

Bunny had retrieved the cedar case and started walking towards the door but at that she turned back to Nick. She commented in surprise, "You're feeling nasty today."

Nick shrugged irritably. "The idiot scared me last night, it's got me a little on edge."

Bunny cocked her head at him. "In that case have fun, see ya!" and she and the telescope vanished through the door.

***

Darien sighed again and rested his on his hand as the people around him either mobbed him or shunned him depending on whether or not they knew a certain blonde meatball head. I don't believe this! I can't get a single person who knows what's going on to talk to me. That means all the Scouts and Andrew are currently steaming and I still have no idea why. At that moment Andrew rushed up to him and began to apologise.

"I'm sorry Dare, I guess I overreacted. But when Lita told me what you'd done then I kind of just flipped."

"I'll forgive you on one condition Drew," Darien replied.

"What?"

"Tell me what I'm supposed to have done!" Please! Put me out of my misery!

Andrew looked at him strangely, "How could you not know?"

"Drew, I honestly have no idea what Lita and co think I've done. I'm assuming it has something to do with Buns." Yeah, Lita screaming at me, asking how could I do that to her, was a subtle hint.

Andrew's lips twitched, "Buns?"

Darien scowled at him darkly. "Andrew," he said in warning.

Andrew took him seriously. He sat down on the couch next to Darien and explained, "Lita saw Bunny earlier, she said that she looked awful, that she'd been crying badly, that her face was a mess and that she was trying to get way from you as if you were out to get her. She assumed you two had been fighting again and you'd gone too far. Said something really terrible that made her break down. I mean everyone knows what the two of you are like and you mightn't realise how fragile she is after her friend was hurt."

Doesn't that girl have any faith in me? In the Meatball Head? Darien sighed, "Drew did Lita happen to tell you where we were when she met up with us?"

"No, why?"

"We were at the cemetery," Darien waited for Andrew to comprehend in vain, "She was there visiting her parents grave."

Sudden understanding lit up the blonde man's face, "Ooooh! Oh man, I'm sorry Dare! I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."

"You didn't jump you were pushed," Darien said dryly, "What made you talk to me anyway?"

Andrew suddenly grinned in anticipation, "Oh I forgot, Bunny's out front!"

Buns?

"I figured if she came then what ever it was that had happened between the two of you couldn't have been that bad. Especially as she had off loaded a large wooden box out of her bike's sidesaddle."

A present?

"When I came to talk to you she had just been met up by Lita-"

"Oh boy, come on Drew, we'd better go rescue her," Darien interrupted as he stood up. Andrew just looked confused as he followed the black haired man through the crowd. "Lita's in supportive mode. I do not want to consider the ammunition she might be providing the Meatball Head with." Besides I want to know what she got me!

The pair pushed their way through the partiers and Darien ignored the flirtatious glances of several girls. A couple of minutes later they found Bunny who had been cornered by not only Lita but also Raye and Mina. As soon as she saw him her eyes lit up and Darien almost laughed at the relief she showed. Now you understand what I have to put up with Meatball Head.

Lita was saying, "I'm sorry Bunny. About Darien I mean. I never thought he would be so insensitive-"

"Lita-" Bunny tried to interrupt.

"I'll beat him up for you if you want. He's my brother so it's my responsibility to teach him his manners-"

"Lita-"

"Bunny it's OK. You're my friend, I won't let anyone, even Darien, treat you like that."

"Darien," Raye said darkly as she noticed him.

"LITA!" The three girls turned in shock to the small blonde who had bellowed.

Well done Meatball Head!

Once she saw she had their attention Bunny continued in a normal voice, "What on Earth are you going on about?"

Before Lita or the other two girls could answer Darien responded, "They saw you leaving the cemetery this morning and thought I'd been at you badly enough to make you cry."

Bunny looked at him in disbelief before turning to where Lita, Mina and Raye were standing. At her look they nodded slowly and blushed as she began to laugh. "You thought that Darien...? Oh man that's rich!"

I wonder if I'm somehow being insulted there?

"Lita, guys, thank you for being so concerned but there's no reason," Bunny finished as she began to calm down.

"Then explain-" Raye started.

"What happened?" Bunny finished and the three girls nodded. "Well why do people go to cemeteries? Darien and I met up there and I was crying. He helped me to calm down and we left together. You really thought that he was the reason I was...?"

"Well look at it from their point of view Bunny," Andrew told her from behind Darien, "The two of you never get along and Darien's somewhat insensitive to emotions at times. They thought he put his foot in his mouth royally!"

Thank you Drew, for that wonderful vote of confidence.

Bunny looked at them in honest confusion, "I realise that I haven't known you all for long and that I know even less about Darien but I don't see him like that. He has a female following the size of America's army, ignoring their worship's probably a method of self-defence. I've found him to be quite sensitive to people's moods, I don't see how you could think that he'd deliberately drive someone to tears or do so even by accident. He's too nice for that!"

Darien's eyes were wide. Thank you Meatball Head, I think that's the nicest thing any one's ever said about me. He looked around to see the other four listeners were staring at Bunny in shock.

Bunny saw it too for she blushed and stuttered, "Oh don't take me wrong! I still think he's a jerk I just don't think he's the kind of jerk who would hurt someone like that and not try to fix it afterwards. Besides," she continued in a more irritated tone of voice, "He doesn't upset me, he aggravates me! He's more likely to drive me to violence than to tears. How could you think that I'd let him get to me that much?!"

A good thing too, I wouldn't stand a chance if you attacked me with tears instead of words... So, we're back to normal Bunny? He was slightly disappointed by the notion but also relieved. For a reason he did not understand the small teen threatened him and it was a threat he did not know if he was capable of meeting.

"Anyway since today is his birthday I brought him a gift," and she motioned to the case that was lying next to her feet. She retrieved it and handed it to him, "I hope you like."

Darien accepted it and grinned briefly, "I hope it isn't booby trapped!" He walked over to a small table and placed the case on it. Bunny moved beside him and he saw that her face was thoughtful and held a faint trace of regret. Is that for opportunities lost? Or for the dirty trick you're about to play on me? If I end up with a cream pie on my face Meatball Head I am not going to be happy. Carefully he unlatched the lid, opened the case and gasped incredulously. Behind him he heard Andrew, Lita, Raye and Mina doing the same. "This is gorgeous Buns!" he murmured as he gently lifted the antique telescope from its case to examine it.

"So you like?" she asked, grinning in delight.

"Of course!" he exclaimed, "She's perfect! But I can't accept this, it must have cost you a fortune." The fittings are real silver! I love it but...

She shook her head emphatically, "No, Nick found it in a... well you'd be surprised. Anyway it's your twenty-first! Twenty-first birthday gifts have to be memorable. Please, we all want you to have it."

He looked at her with gratitude, "Thank you. She's the most wonderful thing you could have given me." This is also a thank you isn't it Meatball Head? Not from you but from your friends.

Bunny blushed and, uncomfortable, quickly tried to change the topic, "Well I have to book, I'm meeting the guys at the hospital. Jase is awake and we all wanted to see him. I'm sorry for not staying longer but I really have to go." She hugged Lita. "Thanks for being such a good friend Lita, even if it wasn't necessary." She turned and hugged Mina and Raye as well, "Mina, you'd better tell the others it wasn't Darien's fault. I bet you've all been ragging on him. Give him a break hmm? It is his birthday."

She then hugged Darien. He stiffened in surprise and she giggled as she said, "Happy birthday." Then she kissed his cheek softly and whispered, "Thank you," before releasing him and heading towards the door. "See you later guys!" she called as she shut the door behind her.

Darien stared after her, shocked, before lightly touching the cheek she had kissed with one hand. How come I feel as if I've just been hit with one of Lita's lightning bolts? He shook off his surprise and turned to his friends who seemed even more astonished than he was. One by one they snapped out of it and then began grinning at Darien. What now?

"Dare-" Andrew began with a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

"Have you been holding out on us?" Mina finished with that same twinkle.

He shook his head at them. "We have a truce for the day. Tomorrow we'll be back to normal. Nothing special."

Lita sighed and said, "Pity!"

Andrew, Mina and Raye looked at him skeptically. "Sure Dare, what ever you say."

***

Setsuna drifted through the laughing people, enjoying the music. Close by she heard Mina talking with Andrew.

"So it's in two weeks and is formal attire. Bunny said it would be a great night would you like to go?" Mina was saying.

"To the opening of her restaurant? On a date? With you?" Andrew replied, sounding startled.

"Um... yeah,"

"Sure!" Andrew blurted before continuing with more dignity, "I mean I'd love to..."

Setsuna smiled and walked on. She went into the kitchen to find it deserted except for the polished wooden case on the table. Curious she opened the cedar lid to reveal the black and silver telescope inside. She gasped and very carefully lifted it for a better look. It took her but a moment to find the inscription and she smiled in wonder.

Adam Shields had entrusted her with ensuring that several items of great value to him would find their way back into his possession in his next lifetime. Five years ago she had given Darien his legacy only to find that the law firm who had stored them for her had misplaced the most precious of those objects. She had always felt as if she had failed her prince with that simple loss, even though he did not remember it in this lifetime.

Gently she replaced the telescope and closed the lid. The 'Eagle Eye' had returned to her proper master.