"We knew you'd be fine Jase," Nick said to the wincing man, "You've only just begun to terrorise Tokyo and you're not one to leave a job only half done."

"Thanks a lot!" Jase grunted before suddenly sighing in relief.

"Done!" Bunny exclaimed and slumped back in her chair.

"Thanks Angel, about how long before you're completely finished?" Jase asked as he stretched experimentally.

Bunny yawned, "One more session should make you well enough for the doctors to let you go home."

"Good," he stated happily, "Then you can get rid of all these bruises and burns for me. They itch!"

"You're never satisfied are you?" Nick questioned mockingly, "Zoe and Kevin have been fritzing both your medical records and your doctors' memories. Angel's been wearing herself out and all you can think about is itching!"

"I want out of here!" Jase proclaimed emphatically, "And no one can blame me, not with the food in here and you won't smuggle me anything good in!"

Nick smiled lazily, "Orders my dear Jase, orders from our wise leader."

"Hmph," Jase snorted. "My brother's getting sadistic in his old age. Most people mellow when their girlfriends agree to marry them but Kevin, oh no! He just becomes more intense!"

"Jase, none of us ever want to see you in here again," Bunny declared fervently.

"And if it takes starving you to do it then we'll starve you!" Nick agreed.

Jase tried one last protest before accepting defeat, "It wasn't like I knew that Beryl's clone of me would be so strong. I mean that's the point of a clone isn't it? To be exactly like the original."

"Beryl apparently believes in improvement," Nick winced in memory. Jadeite had faced off against his clone and had countered him long enough for the other three to destroy the youma Dark Jadeite had brought with him. Then Beryl's pawn had blasted Jadeite with a firebomb of a strength that Jadeite himself could never hope to match. Both the force and the heat of the blast had overwhelmed the hasty shield the blonde warrior had created with his telekinesis. When the flames had died away Jadeite was lying near death on the ground and his twin had vanished. This had proved something that the Guard had suspected but never had a chance to test. When Beryl had created their copies she had expanded on the originals. Each of the Dark Kingdom Generals was individually far stronger than their progenitors of the Guard.

"Kevin has demanded that there be no further duels with them," Bunny mentioned as she straightened in her chair, somewhat recovered from her exertions, "None of us are to face off against one alone."

"I know, Kev already told me," Jase said quietly. Bunny and Nick were surprised at his sober and thoughtful tone.

Bunny realised why her friend was behaving so uncharacteristically, "He was really worried. We all were, you know that don't you?" she said into the quiet.

Jase nodded, "I know that, I always have. It's just... Kunzite's the unshakeable one of us, even those weird floppy things on Neptune didn't phase him and yet when I woke up for the first time he was almost crying!"

"Jade, sometimes you can be such an idiot," Nick said in disgust, also reverting to their old names "Aside from we all were to each other in our last lifetimes, in this lifetime you are his brother. If that's not enough you're one of his best friends. You've never seen him so shaken up before because nothing's ever happened that's hit as close to home as this before. Losing one of us would be like losing a limb to him. Losing you would leave his world a much duller and colourless place. All of us feel that way."

"Neph... Nick, I know," Jase said and examining him Nick saw a greater depth to his friend. Not that he had been the shallow joker that he had pretended before, but at some point since the fight Jason had found a greater awareness and had grown.

"You've finally started to grow up," the brunette man contemplated aloud.

"It took him long enough," Bunny joked trying to dispel a strange sensation that had started to overwhelm her.

Jase noticed and, understanding, looked at her in mock disapproval. "Child, have we not taught you more respect for you elders?"

Bunny eyed him and raised an eyebrow and Nick hid a chuckle at her haughty act. "Are you referring to my conduct towards yourself? I have no worries there... seeing your maturity level is even lower than my own!"

Jase's eyes twinkled madly and he grew a wicked grin. "Cool isn't it?"

Bunny grinned back and winked before standing with a sigh, "Sorry guys but I have to book, I promised to help the girls find the perfect dresses for the opening. By the way Nick only Mina is bringing a date, the rest are going stag."

Nick nodded and Jase asked slyly, "Darien too?"

Bunny shrugged. "I think so why?"

"Maybe since you two are getting so close you'll be able to dance with him."

Bunny scowled, trying to hide the slight heating of her cheeks. "Grow up Jase! You should be more concerned with locating the prince."

"Endy what's he got to do with anything?"

"Apparently he's a doctor at this hospital," Nick explained, "Zoe saw him the night you were brought in. You haven't seen him by any chance?"

"No," Jase replied, "I take it he looks like he did in our last lifetime?"

Nick nodded. "According to Zoe, yes."

Bunny walked to the door. "Well I'll leave you two to it. Jase I'll see you tomorrow, Kay?"

"Fine Angel, have a good afternoon!"

"I will!" she chirped, "Later Nick!"

Jase and Nick watched as the door gently closed behind her and the blonde nodded knowingly to his companion. "The prospect of shopping will cheer her up every time!"

***

Bunny sifted through the racks in the dress shop, waiting for Lita to come out from the changing room. "This would have been easier if you had just asked Setsuna to choose one for you!" she called out, "She would have found the perfect dress no problems!"

"But where would be the fun in that?" Lita asked as she emerged from the cubicle and twirled, displaying the gown she was wearing.

Bunny pursed her lips and circled the taller girl slowly. She began to nod thoughtfully and said, "I like it... but your ponytail won't go with it."

Lita walked in front of the mirror and cocked her head, "I guess not," she sighed sadly.

Bunny walked up to the taller girl's side, the crown of her head barely passing Lita's chin. "Don't worry about it," Bunny soothed, "A green silk scarf tying your hair back loosely will look perfect."

"She's right Lita," Mina commented as she walked up to them carrying her purchase, "You're going to look gorgeous."

"So this one it is?" Lita asked brightening.

"Definitely," Raye confirmed from behind Mina.

Lita examined her reflection a last time before returning to the changing room. Bunny looked at the other girls. "Happy with what you've got?"

"Of course!" Mina gushed.

Raye nodded and Bunny smiled in satisfaction, after five hours and three shops all four of her friends had found the dress they wanted. "Where's Amy," she asked noticing the missing member of the shopping party.

Mina sighed, "She's in the book shop next door waiting for us."

"All right, let's go!" Lita exclaimed as she left the dressing room in her street clothes. Bunny and Mina waited out the front of the shop as Raye fetched Amy and Lita paid for her dress. Suddenly Bunny began to look uncomfortable. As Lita, Raye and Amy rejoined the two blondes Bunny began to twitch.

"Are you OK Bunny?" Lita asked as she saw the smaller girl start fidgeting uncontrollably.

Bunny started and nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine... I just gotta find a rest room OK? I'll be a couple of minutes so I'll catch up with you at the ice cream stand OK?"

"Sure Bunny, do you want-?" Lita closed her mouth when she realised the girl was already trotting off.

"That was strange," Mina stated, "Bunny's not usually so rude."

Raye stared in the direction of the departed blonde for a couple of seconds before saying softly, "Amy check your computer for a buildup of dark energy."

Amy's eyes widened in sudden comprehension and she nodded. Hidden behind her friends she conjured the Mercury minicomputer and began to tap, "There's a faint energy signature a block away and it's growing stronger. At the current rate I estimate an attack in six minutes and thirty-seven seconds."

"We'd better get onto it then," Mina sighed and the four girls ran from the mall.

Bunny ran out a service entrance to the mall complex hoping that her friends would not go in search for her. Her one consolation was that if they did she could say that she got lost, in a building as big as the one they were in it would be easy for them to keep missing each other for quite awhile. In the back of her mind she felt two of her guardians mobilising for her need. Mentally she sent a picture of the location of the coming attack, knowing in her instinctive way that it was close.

She ducked into and alley and gripping her small medallion she whispered the trigger words and was enveloped in light and ribbons. Moments later several leaps found Sailor Moon on the ledge of a nearby building. A couple of seconds and several jumps later she was on top of one of the five storey buildings that surrounded her and she examined the area for a sign of her next enemy. The area below her was a wide street filled with people attending the outdoor markets. Brightly coloured stalls were everywhere and the crowds were energetic. Sailor Moon winced as she saw a point of darkness form over the throng, a panic was almost a certainty.

The point of darkness grew quickly and inconspicuously, unnoticed by the crowd as the form materialised into a Dark Kingdom General. Sailor Moon recognised Nephrite's clone and before he had a chance to call any youma to him she shot off a discus of light. He saw it coming and dodged quickly enough so that it only clipped him lightly. Out of the corner of her eye Sailor Moon saw Sailors Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter appear on the rooftop of a building opposite. The blonde warrior threw another of her glowing tiaras and as the dark haired enemy dodged she willed the shining projectile to shatter. The incandescent shrapnel shot out, several pieces connecting with the fake General but causing little damage due to their weak nature.

Across from her Mars and Venus combined a ball of fire with a beam of light and sent them at the floating being. Sailor Moon used his distraction and threw three more full strength discs of light. The General shot a globe of dark energy at her and disappeared, just missing being hit by the various attacks. Instants later he reappeared behind Sailor Jupiter and grabbed her by the neck.

"Pitiful Sailor Brats, how dare you attack me?"

"Let her go," Venus ordered furiously.

Mars scowled and snarled, "Or would you prefer to end up crispy fried?"

Nephrite shook Jupiter by the neck, "But I have such a perfect shield here! Go ahead, give it a whirl!" Even from a distance Sailor Moon could see Jupiter's pain filled expression. Knowing of the feelings the real Nephrite harboured to the warrior woman in green the young fighter was happy to see an indication that they were returned and furious that one of Beryl's pawns would try to taint them. Sailor Moon leapt across the gap between the buildings, heaving an internal sigh of relief when she made the jump unharmed. She pushed past the surprised Mars and Venus and then sneered at the enemy warrior.

"You are a coward, a cheap copy of a true warrior. You have no chance in hell of ever matching the true Nephrite and it shows," she uttered venomously. The man's expression darkened and his hold on the brown haired Scout's neck tightened. Jupiter's expression, however, lightened with hope as she considered the possibility that it was not her friend who was threatening her. Sailor Moon took a step closer and continued, "You are nothing more than a shallow counterfeit with no more depth than a piece of tissue paper. The stars themselves would not sing to you, instead they would turn their light from you leaving you with a yearning for a glory that, unlike the real Nephrite, you will never know. You are an inferior clone of a superior warrior, never anymore than that!"

Nephrite growled and threw Jupiter away from him as he charged Sailor Moon. Even as he was about to reach her Sailor Mercury barrelled into her, knocking her out of his path and leaving him open for Venus and Mars. Fire and a golden chain whipped at him and he was blasted onto the cement surface of the roof.

Mars and Venus prepared to attack again but he hissed, "I won't forget this," and he disappeared just as a lighting strike blew a blast out of the building where he had been laying.

"Good!" Sailor Moon growled as the dust faded. She looked up to where Mercury was laying on her in shock and grinned, "Thanks for the save Sailor Mercury!"

The warrior of ice blushed and stood up, offering her hand to her ally. "You're welcome Sailor Moon."

Sailor Moon accepted the hand and rose to her feet where Sailor Jupiter cornered her. "What did you mean when you said that Nephrite was just a copy?" the tall Scout demanded.

Sailor Moon looked at the four Inner Scouts in exasperation, "Come on, you can't really believe that the Earth Guard is serving Beryl?"

"They've done it before," Mars said seriously.

"Yeah, and Nephrite and Kunzite suicided after Beryl forced them to kill the people most important to them," Sailor Moon exclaimed, "There's no way even Metallia could get them to serve her again. They'd kill themselves first!"

"Apparently they didn't," Mars snapped.

"Apparently you're blind!" Sailor Moon retorted, "There's no-" Suddenly the blonde cut off and sighed, "Look I've gotta book, I'm in for it." At their surprised looks she turned her gaze to the opposite roof.

The other warriors followed her look and saw two armoured forms. "Dragon and Unicorn," Mercury realised aloud.

"Yeah, and majorly ticked because I challenged one of Beryl's lackeys alone." Moon sighed, "Look you lot, we should be working together but because I can't trust you not to try and roast my friends we can't be honest with you-"

"You mean-" Jupiter tried to interrupt but Sailor Moon continued speaking over the top of her.

"Tell Endymion that he should stop relying so heavily on the two of you," and she nodded to Mercury and Mars, "And start using his own senses. The Generals were not only his liegemen but they were his friends. If he truly looked then he'd know what I know." Sailor Moon smiled, turned and was about to leap across the gap when another voice stopped her.

"Sailor Moon," she turned back to see Venus speaking to her, "Sailor Moon you weren't alone, you were with us."

Sailor Moon grinned and nodded before making the leap across to her guardians.

***

Lita, Mina, Raye and Amy looked around as the sat down with their ice creams. They had just returned to the mall after the fight and had yet to see Bunny.

"Where is the Meatball Head?" Raye asked in frustration.

"Cool it Raye," Mina commanded, "She might be looking around for us. Besides we can use a bit of time to talk."

"Yeah," Lita agreed, "Is it my imagination that Sailor Moon just hinted that her friends were the real Earth Guard? Is that possible Amy?"

Amy shrugged slightly, "I'll check it out after we're finished but I don't know. The readings I've taken of the Dark Kingdom Generals were fairly conclusive. If I were able to gain reliable readings of Sailor Moons friends then maybe I could tell you more, but I think their armour shields against scans."

"Lita from what I've sensed of both the Generals and the armoured warriors then there's not much hope," Raye added sadly, "The generals feel more like the Guard than those men in armour do. There's a slight change in their auras but that can be accounted for by swearing loyalty to Beryl. The knights are way too bright, their auras aren't human. In fact... they feel more like they are the elemental essences of Earth's guardian spirits. There's no way that they could be the Guard that we knew. I think maybe the Earth has chosen new guardians or maybe the spirits of magic have decided to become personally involved."

"There's no chance?" Lita whispered, her hope dying. Amy and Raye shook their heads.

Mina bit her lip and murmured absently, "We have to find where Beryl's centred, we can't keep going on like this." She looked up at her friends in worry, "Did you see how many people were around today? If Nephrite had had time to call even one youma then there would have been mayhem. Even if we'd stopped it from hurting anyone, people would have died in the panic it would have provoked."

"We know-" Raye started, "Oops, watch it Bunny's coming."

The only good thing about today is it proved what you thought Raye," Lita muttered quietly, "She can predict attacks."

Raye nodded and the four of them watched as their diminutive friend moved towards them. The girl did not look like her usually animated self. Instead she was serious and intent as she weaved through the crowds with an absent minded grace. She seemed to project a wall of charisma the girls had never noticed before and even as they watched the other shoppers made way for her without thinking about it. In the minds of the four Inner Scouts an image of Sailor Moon confronting a warrior of the Dark Kingdom arose simultaneously.

For an instant the four girls wondered that they had not seen the resemblance sooner and then a glitter at the neck of her shirt caught their attention. The brief glimpse of Bunny's ever-present pendant reminded them of another glittering crescent and for a moment none of them thought of anything at all. Seconds later the young women shook of their daze and began to wave to their friend all of them wondering to themselves what they'd forgotten that was so important.

***

"Basically that's what happened Dare," Lita said as she finished the last of the dishes.

Darien put the plate he was drying on the shelf and picked up a glass, "What do you think about what Sailor Moon said?"

The tall girl dried her hands and began to put the dried crockery away, "I don't know. I know Raye and Amy, I know how good they are at what they do but something's really been bugging me about the Dark Kingdom Generals. Something I should remember about the Guard and don't."

Darien nodded and handed her the last plate. "I know, me too," he said tiredly as he hung the tea towel up, "I trust Sailor Moon, and don't start teasing me about it-"

"Don't worry," Lita assured him, "I'm not going to pay you out about her anymore-"

Thank the Goddess.

"-Not when I know that you and Bunny are perfect for each other!"

Out of the frying pan and into the fire! "Let's not go there Lita, I don't have the energy to argue with you tonight." She grinned at him and he sighed, "As I was saying, I trust Sailor Moon and I trust the Guardians of Magic."

Lita frowned, "Why do you call them that?"

Darien shrugged, "Bunny coined the phrase actually." Now what? Lita's frown had deepened and Darien watched her as she seemed to mentally cudgel herself. "Lita, what's wrong?"

The girl shook her head in defeat, "A major feeling that I'm forgetting something but forget it. Guardians of Magic was one of the names for the Guard wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was. That might mean that Raye was right and Earth has chosen a new Guard."

"Or it could mean that what Sailor Moon said about Beryl's Generals was true. They might really be nothing more than clones," Lita said wistfully.

I hope that's what it is as well Lita. "But that doesn't tell us how it could have happened. Somehow I don't imagine Setsuna would have missed their reincarnation."

"Either way you look at it they were reincarnated Dare," Lita objected.

Darien nodded. If you remember that then it looks a lot more likely that Pluto missed the Guard's rebirth as good guys rather than the Guard's rebirth as bad guys as well as the birth of four new guardians.

"Setsuna also can't explain Sailor Moon," Lita added, hope returning.

Darien sighed thoughtfully, "So maybe I should do what Sailor Moon suggested and try my own senses on both the Guardians and the Generals instead of relying on Raye and Amy." Neither of them had much to do with the Guard in the past. Back then it was Lita and Mina who associated with them the most.

"And what about what Mina suggested?"

"She's right we can't keep going on as we have been." But even if we do find Beryl's base then what? We have no idea how to defeat her. "Thing is we still haven't found the Shadow Bane, let alone freed it. We don't know if that legend of Selene has any significance." How do I 'entreat the aid of the angels for darkness defeat'? What and where is the 'power divine'? "We find them and then we scout out the area. Other than that we can't do much offensively until we know what that wretched prophecy refers to."

Lita nodded and the pair of them left the kitchen to slump into the lounge room easy chairs. Darien picked up the TV guide from the coffee table and began to flick through it, too tired to do anything more energetic. He could feel Lita's speculative stare easily by the way the hairs on the back of his neck kept prickling. "OK Lita, what is it?"

Lita looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before leaning forward in her chair and asking him seriously, "OK Bro, no teasing. How do you really feel about Bunny?"

Where did this come from? "Why?"

Lita's eyes widened, "Wow! You didn't immediately start protesting, what gives?"

I really don't need this right now. Darien examined her. "Lita why won't you let me alone about this?"

"Dare, I'm not trying to pry and if you want to tell me anything then I won't spread it around. It's just that you and Bunny really confuse me. You both say you hate each other but at the picnic you were having a ball together. Before the sleep over was cancelled you were fighting, sure, but it was playful. And look at what she gave you for your birthday," Lita gestured to the balcony window where the telescope's silhouette could be seen.

"Honestly Lita? She scares me," Darien looked at his friend to see her reaction to his confession. Her face was shocked but not mocking and he continued, "You weren't expecting that were you? It's not that I suddenly expect her to come at me with a knife." Though occasionally I've wondered. "She... I... When... I don't know, there's just something about her that I can't deal with. It's easier to fight with her." I don't know Lita, honestly I don't.

"Have you ever been in love Dare?"

?!!...

Lit stared at him searchingly, "As either Darien or Endymion? Maybe the reason she scares you is because you don't know how to deal with those kind of feeling she arouses in you."

"I've had girlfriends," he retorted defensively. Of course I know how to deal with my emotions. I have them perfectly under control.

Lita shook her head and said gently, "No, as Endymion you had mistresses and as Darien you've been completely alone. You've never had a sweetheart. I think you fight with Bunny because you're afraid that even if you open up she'd still insult you and that then you wouldn't have your armour to defend you. I think you're underestimating yourself and belittling Bunny."

"Maybe," Darien answered quietly, "But even if you were right and if I were to be totally open there would still be something between us. Even if I were to tell her how much I like her I can never tell her who I am. What happens when I'm forced to keep running out on any dates? When I'm constantly tired and blowing her off for no reason? Even if you were right Lita, there's no real chance that anything between us could ever amount to anything."

"Maybe she'll understand. Are you willing to spend the rest of your life alone because you won't take a risk?"

"Lita, Bunny and I have a friendly enmity. We argue, it's fun. If one of us needs help then the other will help but there will never be anything more than that between us." Never.

***

Bunny stood and stretched, "That's it Jase, the doctors should pronounce you well enough to go home after this afternoon's checkup. All you have to do is wait and you'll be home free."

"Kevin and Zoe have made sure that they won't be too suspicious over my rapid recovery?" the blonde man asked as he gently moved his now whole arm.

Bunny nodded, "Yeah. Don't ask me exactly what Kevin's been doing but Zoe's been hacking into your records nightly to change them."

"Good," Jase looked at her and smiled, "And thank you Angel."

Bunny smiled back and hugged him, "No problem, I couldn't let my favourite lift rot away in hospital. And once you get out of here I'll even relieve you of all those bruises, burns and scrapes you have so we can recognise you again."

She released him and Jason rubbed his jaw ruefully, "I had wondered why all those nurses had turned my offers of dinner down." Bunny chuckled and Jason frowned in sudden thought, "Um... speaking of lifts Angel-"

"Don't worry Jase," she winked at him, "Your bike's in perfect condition, I haven't put a dent on her."

"I feel so reassured," he muttered.

"You should," she retorted and then licked her lips, "Ah, Jase, I'll be back in a couple of minutes, but I'm dying for a drink."

Bunny walked to the door and out into the corridor followed by Jase's voice saying, "Bring me some chips or chocolate back with you. Anything other than hospital food!"

She smiled as she walked to the vending machine and popped a couple of coins in as she made her selection. By the next evening Jase would be completely healed and back at home. The down side to that was that she'd no longer be able to outrun his digs about Darien. She sighed as she collected the soft drink and the packet of chips. He confused her enough without Jase adding his two cents in. She would never admit it but she could no longer see him as the jerk she said he was. In fact she was chagrined to think that she saw the side that made him so close to Lita, Amy and the rest and she was mortally afraid that he had come to mean more to her than that.

She started to head back to Jase's room, resolutely not thinking of the aggravating college student when someone started to walk beside her. She didn't notice for a couple of seconds and then a slightly mocking chuckle caught her attention. She looked up to find Darien strolling along next to her.

"Oh, hi. What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Nice to see you too Meatball Head," he answered dryly.

She shrugged, "You surprised me."

"Obviously. You were off in la la land."

"I was not," she retorted.

"You were to, I could see the vacant sign in your eyes."

She turned to him and glared. "When were you staring into my eyes?"

A slight flush coloured his cheeks and he replied defensively, "I didn't need to, 'not at home' was blinking in big red neon letters. I would have been blind to miss it."

"Oh hah hah," she snorted and began walking again, "You're such a comedian, I'm surprised I'm not rolling on the ground helpless with laughter."

"Do I hear a little sarcasm?" he asked.

"You must be deaf," she responded, "Because I'm using a lot more than a little."

"You wound me!" he clutched at his white coat mockingly.

"Is it mortal?" she shot back dryly as she stopped by the door to Jase's room.

"No," he cocked his head at her, "Haven't we done this before?"

"Probably, but then again with your imagination we're bound to keep repeating old arguments."

"Hey I didn't start this one," he protested.

"Did too," she objected.

"Did not."

"Did too," she repeated as she opened the door.

"Did not," he growled as she entered the room.

"Did too," she retorted turning again to face him.

"I do not believe you Meatball Head, all I did was say hello."

"No you were laughing at me."

"You're paranoid."

"With you around why wouldn't I be?"

"Children, children," an amused voice came from behind Bunny.

Bunny and Darien turned their attention to the occupant of the bed who was obviously grinning through his extensive collection of bruises. Bunny scowled at him and muttered, "You stay out of this."

"Ah Angel," the man chuckled, "You two can argue later, right now how about you introduce me to your boyfriend?"

Bunny groaned and replied as if much put upon, "Jase this is my nemesis Darien Chiba. Darien that sorry excuse for an adult is my guardian Jason Ice. And Darien is NOT my boyfriend!"

The man on the bed chuckled again as Darien stepped forward to shake his hand. As they made eye contact a quick flash of recognition flashed across Jason's face followed by realisation. The emotions came and went too quickly for either Bunny or Darien catch and so neither of them connected the injured man's close examination of Darien to anything other than the inspection of a new acquaintance. For a couple of moments there was an uncomfortable silence that was broken when Jason's doctor entered the room.

"I'd better be going, I've still got a few things I need to have done before I finish for the day," Darien said before turning to Doctor Carlyle, "Hi John." The doctor smiled in return as he began to check Jason's vitals.

"It was nice to meet you Darien, when you have time you'll have to stop by for a longer chat. During the day when no one else is here maybe. You can tell me what Angel really gets up to when she's not at home," Jase said easily, ignoring the physician who was prodding him.

Darien smiled as Bunny blushed and started to look slightly alarmed, "I'd like that," he replied, "Later Buns."

"Go clean some bed pans," she answered darkly and he chuckled slightly as he left.

"I see you all know each other," John Carlyle said as he jotted a few notes on a clipboard.

"Unfortunately," Bunny mumbled.

John looked at her in surprise, "You don't like him? I thought every female in Tokyo had a thing for him."

"Oh please!" she exclaimed as she threw herself into the chair by her friend's bed. She opened her can of soft drink and passed the chocolate to Jase. When Dr Carlyle raised an eyebrow at her she looked at him innocently.

Jase waited no longer, he ripped the wrapper of and bit into the sweet and swallowed with a gulp. His next bite he savoured and integrated so much drama into the chewing and swallowing that his doctor was forced to applaud.

"I take it hospital food is not to your liking Mr. Ice."

Jase looked at him as if he were crazy, "I live with a chef, what do you think? By the way haven't I told you to call me Jase?"

Dr Carlyle grinned, "I stand corrected Jase. Well you'll be pleased to know that you can go home tomorrow. Your recovery is excellent and basically you're only waiting for the bruises to heal now."

"Thank god!" Jase said fervently as he swallowed the last of the chocolate.

"Thank god!" Bunny echoed.

Both of the men looked at her strangely and she shrugged, "If you're at home then you and Darien won't be having any long talks will you?"

"Is there something that you don't want him to tell me... or me to tell him?" Jase questioned mockingly.

"Of course not!" Bunny retorted, her cheeks only faintly warm, "I just don't want the two of you ganging up on me, which I know would happen."

"Your boyfriend's right Angel," Jase grinned, "You are paranoid."

"I am not," Bunny denied, "And he's NOT my boyfriend!"

Both doctor and patient began to laugh and the teenager started to sulk.

"He's a popular young man," the doctor said as he calmed down.

"Oh?" Jason prodded, his eyes twinkling as he noticed Bunny's interest.

"Yep," John Carlyle continued, only too happy to oblige, "All of the single female patients, staff and students you've been trying to woo, Jase, would gladly kiss his hurts better." Bunny grinned, knowing her older friend had tried that line several times since he had arrived. "Quite a few of the married ladies would agree and a couple of males as well." Bunny started to choke at the thought of Darien turning down advances from male and female patients alike. "Oh sure, laugh young lady. It might be funny for you but for the nurses languishing after him it's depressing... on the other hand for the rest of the hospital staff one day he's going to be quite profitable."

Bunny and Jase looked at each other and both began to snicker as the same thought occurred simultaneously. "I don't think it'd suit him Angel," Jase managed to get out as he laughed.

She shook her head and replied, "You only just met him, I think he'd make a wonderful gigolo!"

Dr Carlyle's eyes widened at the thought, "That wasn't quite what I meant," he chuckled, "Although, if a get rich scheme were required... it's something to keep in mind for the next fund raiser." Jase and Bunny both started laughing again and the doctor cheerfully continued, "What I was referring to was the betting pool. Young Chiba has had women throwing themselves at him ever since he got here and yet he's succumbed to the charms of none. For the last six months uninvolved parties have been placing wagers on the kind of girl who'll finally catch him. The winnings have added up over the months and there still looks to be no end in sight."

"Have you placed a bet?" Bunny asked.

The man shook his head, "For some reason I can't imagine the girl who could catch him. Who ever it is will be something special."

"I don't suppose you'd place a small wager on my behalf?" Jase mused.

"What would I be placing it on?" the doctor returned casually.

Jase appeared to be concentrating although his eyes were twinkling at Bunny, "Oh diminutive, shapely, blonde, definitely blonde. She'd have to have long hair and her eyes would need to be blue I think, of a shade that he would want to drown in."

John Carlyle caught on and his lips twitched as Bunny started to frown.

"She's need to be a cheerful and outgoing person. Someone who could draw him out of his shell, someone who could make him lose his self-control. She'd have to be able to put up with his ego and arrogance and yet not let him walk all over her. Strong and capable, someone who would challenge him yet someone he could take care of... is that enough?"

Bunny was scowling and the doctor winked at her guardian, "Do you have a name in mind? If you can pick the name then the pot's yours, no disputes."

Jase grinned and he eyed Bunny blatantly, "I have faith in Angel's charms. She'll get her man!"

Bunny went red, "He is not my man!"

"Yet!" Jason added the qualifier.

"I don't like him in that way!" Bunny wailed.

Jase smiled at his doctor, "I'm slowly making headway, a month ago she would never have admitted that she liked him. Give me a half an hour and I'll have her ready to proclaim her undying love!"

"Over my dead body," the provoked teen growled.

The doctor laughed, "I'll leave you to organise your ward's love life."

"Will you place the bet?" Jase asked cheerfully.

"If you can get her to cooperate," the doctor replied as he opened the door, "I'll be back soon."

Bunny glared at Jase, "You seem to know a lot about his tastes for someone who only just met him!"

Something unreadable passed across Jase's eyes before he grinned at her, "It's not hard to see Angel."

"Jase," she said in a warning tone.

"Angel," he replied mockingly.

Bunny slumped and rested her head against his mattress, "Why do you keep harping on this?"

Jase observed her for a moment, several emotions flickering on and off his face. Finally he carefully lifted her chin with a bandaged finger and made her meet his eyes, "You can't lie to me Angel, not to any of us. He's the only man any of us have ever heard of who can drive you to such extremes. I can feel the way you lean towards him when ever you're near him."

Bunny stole one of the man's pillows and buried her head underneath it. Her voice came out muffled, "I do not!"

"You do too," he said gently.

She raised her head from out of under the pillow and glared at him almost desperately, "I don't Jase."

"Why won't you admit it?"

"Because I don't!" Bunny almost shouted as she stood and began to pace around the room. "Jase, he's arrogant and his ego is the size of the United States. He's constantly calling me names and he doesn't like me!"

Jase watched her sadly, almost regretfully but also peacefully as he concentrated on forcing her to understand her own emotions. "What makes you think that?"

"Well he's kind of made it clear that he thinks of me as a pain, a ditz and a meatball head, to name just a few. I'm just a pest to him," she threw her arms out in emphasis.

Jase ignored her theatrics and continued softly, "Is that why he held you and comforted you when he could have just walked away? The both of you set the rules by which you associate, both of you protecting yourselves and if you want to change then one of you is going to have to make the first move."

She stopped pacing and faced him, her face troubled, "I can't," she whispered.

"Why not?"

"I'm a warrior and I'm fighting a war, getting involved with me might get him killed. I can't ever tell him the truth of everything, he'd never believe me. I'm only temporarily human, one way or another I won't be one for much longer," she shrugged and said wildly, "Take your pick." Bunny sighed, slumped back into her chair and reburied her head under the pillow.

"Are you sure he wouldn't understand?" Jase demanded of her gently, "Are you sure that you couldn't tell him?"

"I don't know," her whisper reached him muffled.

"Don't you think it's worth the risk?" from the corner of his eye Jase noticed the door opening quietly and he asked louder, "Do you love him?"

Her replied was mumbled and too quiet to be heard.

Jason looked at the form in the doorway and asked firmly, "Serenity, do you love him?"

His tone and her confused emotions combined and Bunny threw off the pillow and shouted, "YES! Are you happy now? I've admitted it, I'm in love with Darien Chiba OK?"

There was a soft gasp from the door and she whirled to see who it was had overheard her. the girl paled radically as she saw the tall form of the man who so confused her.

***

Darien walked down the corridor that would lead him past Jason's room. Visiting hours were almost over and he thought that he would remind Jason and his guest. Who are you kidding Endy? You just want to see her again. So much for, 'we can never be more than friends'! Why don't you just ask her out? Get it over and done with? Darien shook his head hoping that the annoying little voice would just shut up. She's the Meatball Head and I am not attracted to her. Yeah right! Then why haven't you been able to stop thinking about her since Lita and I talked? Damn Lita! I wish she had left well enough alone, it was easier before I admitted that I liked her. Darien stopped and looked at the wall consideringly before rejecting the thought that occurred to him, bashing his head would not help him think clearer.

So much for my vaunted self control. My royal father would have laughed if he could see me now, the great Endymion brought low by a slip of a girl barely five feet tall! Ack! Stop thinking about her... Angel! I wonder where Angel's mother is? I still haven't found her and I've looked all over. Hmm Meatball Head's friend called her angel, I wonder if... Ack, why me? OK I admit defeat. I cannot get that girl out of my head. Darien ceased his efforts at dismissing the confusing girl from his thoughts and instead built up an image where his affections were returned with equal passion.

Oh Goddess, I have it bad! He reached the appropriate door and heard the murmuring behind it. He took a deep breath and gathered the rags of his composure to himself it's only the Meatball Head, and opened the door. The first thing he noticed was Bunny had her head covered by a pillow as she leaned against her friend's bed.

Even as Darien looked in he heard the man on the bed ask, "Do you love him?"

Love him? Him who?

The girl mumbled an answer and Darien's wide eyes suddenly made contact with the green eyes of Jason Ice. Why are you...?

"Serenity, do you love him?"

Bunny threw off her pillow and yelled, "YES! Are you happy now?"

Darien felt his throat constrict and his heart leapt in his chest. Who? Who could possibly be good enough for you? He closed his eyes as his heart started to break, I knew it wasn't possible, I knew-

"I've admitted it, I'm in love with Darien Chiba OK?"

Darien's eyes flew open and he gasped. As he watched her, stunned, she whirled to see him in the doorway. The both of them stared at each other for an endless moment before Bunny's cheeks flushed crimson and she shot past him, knocking him into the doorframe.

Me? He stared down the corridor after her helplessly, completely dumbstruck.

"Darien?"

He turned back to face the man on the bed and examined him properly for the first time. His face was covered in bruises, scrapes and burns, disfigured badly enough that its original appearance couldn't be seen. His hands were bandaged but otherwise he in no way appeared to be a man that, a little less than a week before, had been at death's door. His eyes caught Darien's attention the way they had only moments previously. Leafy green, clear, forthright and, most of all, familiar, showed concern and anxiety. Why would he do that? He obviously cares for her, why would he force her to admit to something like that when he can't possibly know what kind of person I am?

"She'll be back in a minute," Jase said quietly and motioned to the small backpack left, forgotten, on the floor at the foot of the bed.

The voice struck a chord of familiarity in Darien but he ignored it. "Why?" he asked searchingly, "Why would you do that to her?"

The green eyes that stared at him were strangely knowing, and held a hint of regret, "Life is far too short to keep wasting it as the two of you have been."

What does he mean? "What-"

"You love her don't you?"

... Yes!

"You will have so little time, don't squander it."

Why do you sound so regretful? It's almost as if you knew who I was but I don't think that's what you're referring to. What do you know that I don't?

At that moment a small form pushed past Darien. He started and saw that Bunny had returned and had gone straight to her backpack, not making eye contact with either male. None of them spoke as the teen quietly picked her bag up and started to leave again. As she came abreast of Darien she stopped and slowly looked back to the blonde man on the bed. It's almost as if they're telepathic. They're saying so much without a word being spoken.

After a moment Jase nodded and Bunny looked away. For an instant she stood besides Darien, unmoving as she straightened her thoughts and then she finally met his eyes. Darien stared into her blue eyes, mesmerised. Did you mean it Meatball Head? Please tell me you did.

Softly she whispered, "You won are you happy?"

What? I don't-!

He didn't have the chance to even open his mouth as she stood on tiptoe and pulled his head down to meet hers. Darien froze as she kissed him, shocked and elated at the fire that spread from her lips throughout his whole body. As he gathered his wits and started to respond she pulled away and without another word started to run down the corridor towards the exit. Released Darien fell back against the doorframe, his knees barely able to support him. I... wow!

"Chiba!" a voice barked from behind him and he spun to find John Carlyle standing outside the room, next to the door with a stern expression on his face, "Chiba, what do you think you're doing, making out while you're on duty!"

Darien stared at him for a moment, speechless before answering with the first thing that came to mind, "I finished five minutes ago." She... I... She meant it!

"Then what are you doing here?" the doctor barked.

Huh? Oh man... I'm dead!

"She's getting away you idiot!" John Carlyle continued in exasperation.

Darien blinked at him and then turned to look at Jason Ice who rolled his eyes at him. John's right! She's getting away! Darien started to run in the direction Bunny took, the men's laughter following him. What on Earth did John mean about placing a bet?

***

Bunny walked into the arcade, depressed. She seated herself in a booth and buried her head in her arms. "I don't believe I said that. I don't believe I did that!" she mumbled to herself.

"Bunny?" a concerned voice asked her, "Are you OK?"

Bunny looked up to see Andrew staring at her in concern. "I'm fine Andy, it's just been a bad day."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Bunny bit her lip for a second and nodded, "Get me a triple choc, super fudge sundae. With extra everything plus smarties."

Andrew's eyebrows rose, "Boy troubles?"

Bunny buried her head again. "How did you know?"

"That much chocolate in addition to a long face means boy troubles. Do you want to talk about it?"

Bunny snorted, "That's what got me into this mess in the first place."

"I don't understand."

Bunny lifted her head and looked at the man he was saddened to see the tears in her eyes. "One of my friends and I were talking and he said that he thought I was wasting time and I was. So I told the boy that I liked him."

"And?" Andrew prodded gently.

Bunny's face paled and her tears started rolling down her cheeks as she once more lay her head in her arms.

"I'm sorry Bunny," Andrew whispered, "He must be a jerk."

"No he's not," she disagreed almost silently.

Andrew patted her shoulder and left to get her ice cream. As he added the finishing touches to her sundae Darien walked through the door and headed straight towards Bunny. Andrew started to stop him until he noticed that Darien still had on the white coat that he only wore when working at the hospital. Andrew watched as the tall man tapped the girl on the shoulder and she muttered something without even looking up. Darien once again tapped the girl's shoulder and this time she raised her head to snap. Before a word had left her mouth Andrew saw her face pale and he realised who the boy she was crying for was.

The arcade worker watched as his friend tried to talk with the distraught teen but she wouldn't listen to him. Instead she rose and tried to push past him. Darien grabbed her and looked around searchingly. Understanding that his friend wanted some privacy and that, if he judged Darien's expression correctly, Bunny would not have a reason to cry for much longer if he got it, Andrew motioned to the storeroom. Darien smiled in thanks and dragged the girl with him into the off limits area. Andrew grinned to himself in self-satisfaction and placed the sundae in the freezer. If everything went as well as he hoped, it would be the perfect thing for a new couple to share.

As soon as the door closed behind them Bunny whirled to Darien and opened her mouth to start yelling at him. He didn't give her a chance to say anything, instead he followed her previous example and forestalled her by kissing her. A shock of electricity ran through her and her knees gave out, forcing Darien to break off the kiss as he caught her. He chuckled as he picked her up and took a seat on some boxes with her in his lap.

He gently forced her look at him and whispered, "OK let's try that again..."

That time the touch of his lips on hers was not such a shock that she was unable to respond. Instead both of them clung to the other as they accepted their feelings whole-heartedly. When they pulled apart Bunny rested her forehead against his and closed her eyes, savouring the feel of his arms around her.

"If this is a joke Chiba, I'm going to kill you," she mumbled softly.

"No joke," he returned hoarsely, "And what did I tell you about calling me Chiba."

She opened her eyes, stared into his dark blue ones and whispered, "Darien."

He shivered slightly at the way it sounded, and relishing the sound as if he had never heard it before. She had interjected a love and longing into the three syllables that had made the name sound like a totally new word. He pulled her even closer and kissed her again, enjoying the feel of her lips against his. Inside him a feeling of completeness welled up and he understood that he had been waiting for her for all his lifetimes.

The kiss ended and he buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent deeply. He pulled back and stroked her face, "I'm afraid I still don't know what to call you. Buns is OK for friends but it doesn't say half of what I feel for you."

She smiled at him tentatively, "My guardians call me Angel."

He whispered the name, rolling it around his mouth and testing the feel, "Angel... my Angel." He lightly kissed her lips again and then returned for another, deeper kiss. "Perfect," he breathed against her lips.

Her mouth was open beneath his and as he delighted in the taste of her, her arms snaked around his neck, allowing her fingers to tangle themselves in his hair. He followed her example and ran his own hands through the silky lengths of her hair, coiling it around his palm as if to keep her bound to him. When the kiss ended they were both breathless and she lay her head on his shoulder as her breathing returned to normal. He rested his chin on the top of her head and they stayed like that, just holding each other until the door to the storeroom opened and Andrew stuck his head inside.

"Hey Dare? Have you got the girl yet?" he called into the dim room.

Darien looked down at the tiny woman in his arms and raised an eyebrow, "Have I?" he whispered throatily before briefly kissing her.

She sighed and snuggled even closer to him as she murmured, "Definitely."

Darien chuckled and called out, "Yeah Drew, I got the girl."

"Cool, then come out, I need my store room back!"

Darien sighed and Bunny muttered a protest as he stood up and set her on her feet. "I was comfortable there!" she whined.

He found her hands and clasped them in his own, "So was I but it is only fair of us to give Drew his room back." Suddenly Darien's stomach growled and his cheeks started to heat in embarrassment, "Besides I haven't eaten since breakfast." He began to pull Bunny out of the room and she followed readily as she remembered the order she'd given Andrew before Darien had arrived.

"How does a triple choc, super fudge sundae sound?" she asked as they returned to the well-lit arcade.

His stomach grumbled again and his eyes lit up in answer, "Heavenly."

He led Bunny to the booth that she'd been occupying before he'd arrived and they sat down opposite each other. Darien turned to signal to Andrew and found that it wasn't necessary, his friend was already bringing the large confection he'd saved to the couple.

"It's about time Bud," he quipped as he placed the cool dish on the table along with two spoons, "I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever wise up!" Then he winked at Bunny and sauntered off, whistling happily.

Darien handed Bunny a spoon and they began to eat in silence, neither quite sure of what to say to the other. Bunny concentrated on the sundae and on not scarfing the whole thing down before Darien had had a chance at some. She focused her eyes on her spoon, not daring to look straight at the man she had been making out with. The ice cream became even more fascinating as she remembered and she began to blush as she swallowed another spoonful. Darien was paying more attention to her than he was to what he was doing and barely missed dropping a spoonful of chocolate topping onto himself. He quickly caught himself but not before she'd seen his slip and began to giggle.

He mock scowled at her and she just began to laugh harder. He enjoyed the musical sound, glad that she was no longer so embarrassed, and finished the sundae off while she was distracted. He placed the spoon in the bowl and before she had realised what he was doing he had moved around the booth to sit directly next to her. His eyes laughed at her and his fingers found the ticklish spot that he'd marked at the picnic so long ago.

"Laughing at me are you, for that you'll pay!" he growled comically.

She began to giggle harder as she squirmed in her seat and he manoeuvred her so that she was trapped between himself and the wall before allowing her a chance to calm down.

"That wasn't fair," she gasped.

Darien trailed his fingers down her cheek and she leaned into the touch. "All's fair in love and war," he murmured softly, thoroughly distracted by her presence.

She reached up to hold his hand still against her cheek. "Are we at war?" she asked almost wistfully.

"Not anymore," he answered as he stared at her, "I think we might be in love instead."

"Ah," she nodded wisely, "I think you might be right."

"I'm always right," he teased.

She looked at him in warning, "If you're not careful your ego's going to crush you under its weight one day." She brought his hand down and cradled it between both of hers as if it were a precious treasure.

"And yet here you are with me," he noted, admiring the way her delicate fingers fit with his, "despite my ego-"

"Don't forget arrogance," she added.

He stared at her levelly for a moment before continuing, "My ego, my arrogance-"

"And your personality," she finished thoughtfully.

"What's wrong with my personality?" Darien challenged her indignantly.

She smiled at him slyly, "Only what I've been telling you since we met, it's in dire need of help. You're a real fixer-upper Darien."

Darien was caught between delight at the way his name sounded from her lips and aggravation. "I suppose I'm too much for you then Meatball Head," he cracked back.

Her eyes twinkled, "I never could refuse a challenge. You're a jerk in need of work but you're my jerk."

Darien chuckled, "You're never going to get rid of me now Angel."

"I wouldn't want to," she answered.

They watched each other in silence for a moment, not an uncomfortable one.

"So," Darien broke it finally.

"So," Bunny repeated.

Darien fidgeted for an instant before gathering his courage, "Do you want to get together tomorrow?"

"Like on a date?"

He looked at her wryly, "That's generally what a man and a woman do when they meet someone they're attracted to." She poked a face at him and he sobered, "Angel would you like to spend the day with me tomorrow? None of the girls, just you and me."

She smiled at him cheerfully before her face fell. His own hopes were dashed and he began to pull away from her. "I'm sorry Darien I can't tomorrow... how about the day after?" she asked anxiously.

His smile returned and her face lit up in response. "Sure," he agreed, "That'd be great. So what's on tomorrow?""

She grinned at him, "Jase is coming home!"

"Oh!" Darien exhaled before he frowned in confusion, "I thought Jase had been seriously injured. Surely he couldn't have healed that fast?"

"Maybe it wasn't as bad as everyone thought," Bunny shrugged dismissively and changed the subject by groaning in mock horror. "Oh man, I just realised..." she trailed off melodramatically.

"Realised what," the man prompted, diverted.

She looked at him piteously, "He's gonna be at home and he's gonna tell everyone about today. I'm never going to live it down and I can't escape it!"

Darien snickered before remembering that he was in a similar fix and wincing himself. "You only have four adults to tease you I have seven teenaged girls plus Setsuna. I think that's worse."

She shook her head at him, "You don't know Jase, he's been teasing me about boys ever since I turned thirteen and he's not going to let me forget that I used to think you were a jerk."

"Used to think? Past tense, I like that," he smiled wickedly and it broadened at the sigh she released. His unguarded smile caught her unaware and wormed its way past any defences she had remaining, charming her completely. "But I still have you beat," he continued, "You have met Lita... and Mina... and Raye and Amy, Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru and don't forget Setsuna! They have been needling me about you since the day you got here, when they find out they're going to let me have it!"

"Maybe we can keep it from them for a little while," Bunny mused.

"Hmm?" Darien murmured his attention wandering as his free hand found its way to the nape of her neck.

"You're not the only one they'll tease," she whispered absently, arching her neck, "Besides it's not like the guys'll tell them and if you ask, I'm sure Andrew'd keep it quiet for awhile."

"I'd like that," Darien breathed, leaning forward. Their lips brushed each other softly and before the kiss could become any deeper an amused voice broke into their reverie.

"Is it my imagination or is the temperature rising in here?"

Bunny look over Darien's shoulder and blushed. Darien turned, following her glance and glowered at his friend.

Andrew chuckled again, "Oh don't mind me! I was just fetching your empty dish. Please feel free to continue!"

Darien growled and retreated slightly from Bunny, though the hand she held still remained tightly entwined with hers. "Drew, you are so close to dying right now!" he muttered.

Andrew grinned unrepentantly, "Would you like anything else? It's on the house, a reward for finally waking up to yourself Dare."

Bunny's lips twitched and Darien's eyes began to shine with mischief. He turned back to Bunny, "Well, you heard him Angel, would you like anything?"

Bunny blinked and then she smiled brilliantly at Andrew and began to make a list, "Oh a milkshake would go down great!" Andrew nodded and began to leave but her voice drew him back, "Also chips, a burger, extra cheese, do you have any pizza slices? Two ham and pineapple if you do, a piece of your apple slice, a chocolate banana split-"

***

Darien stared at the door where his girlfriend had just left. My girlfriend... my girlfriend Angel. I like that.

"Earth to Darien!" Andrew said dryly. Darien turned to him and his friend rolled his eyes, "What were you dreaming about? Or do I really have to ask?"

Darien raised an eyebrow, "I was just thinking about your face when Angel started to order all of that food."

"I should have remembered who I was talking to," Andrew sighed, "And I shouldn't have been surprised when you ordered the same."

"I couldn't help myself, I couldn't let the crack about the temperature go unanswered. You're just lucky Angel was too embarrassed to reply." The pair of us pretending to order everything on the menu would have been nothing compared to what she might have come up with.

"Don't kid yourself," Andrew retorted, "You're as big a chocoholic as she is. By the way what's with calling her Angel?"

Darien shrugged, "I've never liked calling her Bunny." It never fit her. "And though I'm still going to use it Meatball Head doesn't go down well with her. Besides you were the first one to point it out, she's special, like an angel." Andrew's face started to go red as he heard Darien out. You'd think I'd just admitted to being an alien or something! Darien stared at his friend levelly, noting his fidgeting and twitching lips, and gave in. "Oh go ahead and say it!" Darien threw his hands up in disgust.

Andrew grinned and began to dance around, "I knew it! I knew it! Didn't I tell you so? I knew you two were right for each other!"

Darien watched the display straight faced, ignoring the look some of the other customers were giving them. "Are you finished?" he asked wryly.

Andrew shook his head, "Oh no Dare, I've barely begun. After all the grief you've given me over girls I've finally got you where I want you!"

Darien rolled his eyes, "You need a life," before a huge grin broke out on his own face. "But not mine!" he exclaimed ecstatically.

"Just wait until Lita and the rest of your girls find out," Andrew remarked cheerfully, "If you think I'm bad then you're in for trouble."

Darien calmed down and summoned up a pleading expression, "Drew, would you do a small favour for me?"

"What?" Andrew asked cautiously.

"It's nothing serious, just let me and Angel tell them in our own time," Andrew stared at him and Darien added, "For her sake?"

Andrew smiled softly, "Sure Bud. You two are going to be good together."

Yes! "I know."