Ebony smiled

Ebony smiled.

"We did it… we did it!" he grinned, and laughed joyfully, truly.

Ebony laughed heartily and threw her arms around Diamond. He caught her stomach and twirled her around, then brought her to his body. Their embrace softened as her set her on the floor, still pressed against him.

"Oh, Ebony." Diamond sighed and pulled her closer to his lips. They could feel the heat of each other's breath and bodies, but didn't kiss.

"Thank you, Ebony… I never… I never would have done this… without you." He whispered just loud enough for her to hear. She smiled and her eyes sparkled.

"Oh, Diamond!" she pushed towards his lips, greeting them in a passionate shimmer of happiness. He felt her body on his, vibrant with a glittering aura that he enjoyed so much more than he ever gathered he could. Though he wanted her again, badly now, he held her in his arms, in a bliss of being with someone so extraordinarily wonderful.

"I'm so proud of you, dear Ebony. You stood up to Wiseman and told him off… Nobody has ever talked to him like that, and that was a very daring move." He finally said to her, holding her tightly.

"I should be giving the thanks. Diamond, you were my backbone, and that's what helped me become strong. I did it to help you. And I'm so glad I did."

Diamond's eyes grew glittery at her emotion, and by his, too. He sighed shakily with overwhelming bursts of swirling sensation. Leaning to her once more, he kissed her with such passion, such force, that she broke apart gasping for a second, then bent to his lips again.

Sapphire stood at the doorway, leaning into the post, smiling. He resisted the urge to scold himself for doubting Diamond, and for talking wrongly with nasty assumptions about Ebony. She had, after all, had some kind of wonderful affect on Diamond, and Sapphire loved it. She had put emotion back into him, filled him once again with life instead of the coursing emptiness so prolongingly taking over his mind. Sapphire still had his inner voice, but he could feel it- the emotion ran so thick through Diamond's veins, which his actions proved. He could sense it, being his brother. He had almost no doubt in his heart that Diamond was in love. It was a silly idea, he knew. But what else could possibly make a person so filled with hatred and rage and desire so sweet and true?

He grinned again, then turned around to Emerald. She stood, biting her pink feathered fan, looking away from Diamond with tears in her eyes, but she didn't cry. He could tell she held it in, for her love was strong for him.

"You are so strong, Emerald. You shame this man." He smiled, and rubbed her shoulder, then swiftly waltzed to the room where Diamond stood.

Emerald looked after to Sapphire, her eyes semi-shut in concentration on holding back the tears. He was so kind to her… She didn't feel so irritated by his feelings for her; she needed his shoulder to cry on, and he was good to talk to.

She turned her head slightly and looked at the three in the other room. Looking to Diamond, she saw the look in his eyes towards Lady Ebony. He didn't have that look for her. She yawned back a sob. Sighing, she knew.

Emerald, Sapphire's right. You can't keep on loving him knowing he is… in love. With another. She gulped. He's not the man for you, and you can't make yourself miserable waiting for him when you know he cares for another.

She straightened herself, then walked into the room with the others.

Sapphire embraced his brother as he wanted to do for so many years.

"I just knew you would make the right choice. I thank you." He said softly and smiled as Diamond hugged him right back.

"Thank Ebony, Sapphire. If it had not been for her, I never would have been able to gather myself to do it." Diamond took Ebony's hand tightly in his, and she sighed in contentment.

Emerald tiptoed to Diamond slowly, shyly and stood quietly beside him.

"Thank you, Diamond. You have saved yourself such emotional stress, and spared many people their lives." She nodded her head.

Diamond laughed and hugged her lightly.

"Just because I'm with someone else doesn't give you a reason to be such a stranger!" he chuckled once more. He let her go and saw her eyes sparkling.

"I know, Diamond. I just didn't know…" she trailed off, seeing the others staring at her and she blushed.

"Well, it's fine." He smiled in forgiveness, and she sighed in happiness.

Emerald leaned to Ebony's ear in a whisper.

"And thank you, Ebony, for helping bring out the wonderful person in him. I knew it was there, but only one person holds the key to another's heart, and the fool is made from she who stands around desperately trying to unlock it with a hairpin." She shrugged her shoulders and laughed to the stunned Ebony. Taking Ebony's hand in hers, Emerald shook it gently and grinned.

"But, I've got to get going. I need to take a shower. My thanks to you, Ebony, and you too, Diamond." Emerald nodded, then spun around and trotted to her room.

Sapphire smiled to himself.

As Emerald walked to her room, she found the door unlocked. Shaking her head, she found it odd, but said nothing of it- it did save her time fiddling around for keys.

Gasping, she found her room lit with candles. The dim light gave a romantic glow to the room, making her want to sigh. She was quite surprised as she saw her bedroom clean and smelling handsome of men's cologne. She breathed in the rich scent and blew out her breath heartily.

Stepping lightly, she looked upon the floor. Gazing into the darkness, her eyes set on a dark rose petal, a deep red; scarlet, in fact. Emerald glanced to the side and found another rose petal. And not too far from that one, another. It seemed to be a trail of them, so Emerald followed them one by one, picking them up as she went along.

The trail ended upon her pillow, leaving her in a gasp. There, in the darkness of candlelit satin, she found a deep scarlet red rose. The petals seemed to flow around the stem in such a beautiful array, Emerald couldn't help but sigh.

On the stem was an attached note. It read:

Dear Emerald,

I pray you good dreams, and I thank you for consulting me to your troubles.

God rest you safe and happy.

Sapphire

What a thoughtful gift… how kind he is to me… her mind trailed off, thinking to how nice he had been to her, how he had lent her a helping hand when she needed it. Sighing once more, she thought of his smile. So genuine, so sweet…

Emerald picked up the rose, stared at it thoughtfully, and brought it to her nose to carry its' sweet scent through her body.

Ebony and Diamond lay on his bed, holding each other. She breathed in his sweet scent as he smelled hers. It was such a wonderful feeling for the both of them, and neither of them wanted it to end.

"Ebony…" he whispered in her ear, making her quiver.

"Yes, Diamond?" she replied almost under her breath, still in mid-inhale of his body.

"I want to tell you something." He cooed.

"Hm-hm." She laughed slightly. "Yes?"

"Today, when you told Wiseman off, and when you stood up for me… well…" he began, still utterly quiet.

"Yes?" Ebony asked, stoking his smooth chest, which gleamed from the halfway-unbuttoned shirt. They had made love a couple of times after the confrontation to celebrate, and neither of them were fully clothed yet.

"Well… I've never been more proud of anyone in my life. You were incredible, and I just want to thank you once more… For all you've done for me… you'll never know…" he sighed.

Ebony gazed up at him voluptuously with a lazy smile.

"Show me." She grinned, eyes crinkling in amusement.

Diamond laughed and nuzzled her neck.

"Gladly." His lips trailed up her neck to her face, then to her ear until he felt her relax. Then, looking into her eyes, his fiery desire was once again visible.

"Are you hungry again, Diamond?" she laughed.

"What can I say? You're delicious." He remarked and licked the side of her cheek playfully.

"You are too much." She shook her head and giggled.

"On the contrary, Lady Ebony. I fear I am not enough." His smile lessened, only enough for it to look kind and sincere.

She gazed at him in amazement.

"Diamond, look at this." She slid her open shirt off of her round breasts, setting it to the side. Standing up, her dress fell to the ground, revealing her nude body in the golden daylight.

"My eyes, my lips, my body, my passion, these-" she motioned to her breasts. "-have all been revealed to you. Again and again and again. You own my body, Diamond. And you own my heart. You are so much more than what you think yourself to be." Ebony covered her mouth with the side of her hand, afraid she might have said too much.

Diamond, for once, had nothing to say. She really felt this way about him? His heart pounded harshly in his chest, thrashing against the walls of him until he feared she might hear it. No, he must have been mistaken… she couldn't have said those words to him… could she? And he knew, he had known from the very beginning, that he felt about her. From that transformation kiss that held for what seemed to be so long, to the very moment they stood, he felt it deep in his soul. And he was utterly confused about it, too. What in her could have made her feel so strongly about her? He just didn't understand it. Yet, it felt like he knew. Like it was hiding inside his cold heart, waiting for her to melt it again.

"Ebony… you really feel this way about me?" he questioned her, trying so hard not to show how incredibly ecstatic he was, and how much he wanted to be near her forever, never letting her go.

"Yes, Diamond. I do." She uttered silently, but solemnly.

He couldn't keep it in. He broke out in a big grin, as cheezy as they get.

"Ebony… you've got ahold my heart... but I don't want it back… I want you to keep it…" Tears formed in his eyes, and he didn't notice them, though they didn't fall.

Ebony smiled lusciously.

"And as long as I can, I will." She embraced him warmly, kissing his with all her strength as she didn't try anymore to stop the tears of joy from streaming down her face.

They once again got touched with a wave of passion as Diamond became aware that the body he clutched so tightly, the woman he was falling for, was entirely nude and as titillated about it as he was.

"Diamond…" was all she could mutter before she gasped in ecstasy as he began kissing her breast softly. She obeyed her instincts and threw her head back, breathing deeply. Diamond was pleased with her reactions to his motion and took the other one to his mouth.

"Oh!" she was provoked by this, and began caressing his hips. Her hand dipped into lower areas and he stopped abruptly with a surprised and aroused gasp.

Ebony's hand stroked up and down in a repetitive motion, feeling his force beneath her fingers and liking it. She pressed her hand against it with a bit more intent. Diamond drew in his breath quickly, utterly unable to speak. Placing her hand against the zipper, she pulled it down and pushed the pants down to his mid-thigh. Then, taking it practically in her hands, she caressed it with swift motions of her fingers, feeling the texture harden after every provoking moment.

"Oh- oh go…" he shook with pleasure, trembling beneath Ebony's fingers as well.

She smiled. This was a fascinating reaction- she liked it. As she tightened her fingers, then released, he gasped and put his hand to hers.

"It's too much, Ebony- I don't know if I can…" he whispered hoarsely.

She grinned, then wrapped her fingers around the band of his briefs. Using lazy motions of her hand that yet lingered on him, she pulled them down carefully, making sure to tempt him still with her nimble and tactful fingers before she thrust herself upon him.

Just before he entered her, Diamond placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her lips, licking them lustily.

"My Ebony…" he uttered in an almost silent tone, sincere though raspy.

"Oh… Diamond…" She cried out softly, smiling. "It words could tell you…"

They joined as one in a passionate embrace, both feelings each other's heart pulsating inside the other.

Ebony opened her eyes, moments later. Diamond laid beside her, kissing her neck gently. Lazily rolling over, Ebony smiled and Diamond returned her loving gaze. The fire still burned in them both and they throbbed for more, set aside that they had just made love for the fourth time in the day, Ebony gathered.

"You're just so full of ardor, Diamond." She laughed lightly, lusciously.

"With your body beside me, it's hard not to be." He slid his hand over her stomach up to her back. Then, pulling her closer, he prepared to come to her once more.

Suddenly, the door burst open. Sapphire stood in the doorway with an urgent look upon his face. It changed abruptly as he saw the two mangled on the bed in such a loving manor. Whipping around, he blushed immensely.

"Oh, go-I'm so sorry, Diamond! I'm so sorry, Ebony! H-holy shit!" Yet he stood there, stiffly, utterly disturbed by what he saw.

A moment passed, Diamond shoving himself off of Ebony, whilst she covered herself quickly. Sapphire still stood in the same place.

"…Yes, Sapphire?" Diamond groaned.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Diamond, but you have a speaker on the pictacom." Sapphire spoke heavily, obviously more disturbed by the call than the sight. He referred to the intercom-type machine they had to communicate that showed the picture of the person who spoke- much like the machines in the 21st century they had on the internet that allowed them to chat practically to each other's faces- it was done with web-cameras. It was much like that, yet more compact, save the screen, and was less complicated.

Pulling the silver shirt over his lightly-sweaty shoulders, he shook his head and groaned again. Sighing, his kissed Ebony before he left, him fingers lingering on her chin in promise of returning.

As the two walked down the hall, Sapphire tried smoothing Diamond's hair, though the prince shoved the hand from his head.

"Shit, Diamond. I'm sorry, but I didn't think you'd be that pissed about it.." he huffed.

Diamond stopped shortly, then embraced his brother, catching him off guard.

"I'm sorry, Sapphire. I didn't mean to upset you. Just a little upset, I guess. There's no one's call who could be more important than Ebony." He apologized.

"I regret taking this call, but I know you had some kind of business to take up with her, even with Ebony." He sighed.

Her? Diamond thought in confusion. Who the hell could I have business with that's a woman… Could it be? He hit his head with his hand. Of course!

Walking into the room, Diamond saw the face of the ever-desired Neo Queen Serenity, frowning in contempt as well as fear. Diamond did not shudder as he saw her face, but instead looked fiercely back at her. This surprised her, and she was taken aback.

"Yes, Queen. You desired a word with me?" he asked simply.

"Give back my daughter, Diamond. I don't care what you want of me- just give back my daughter!" she demanded.

Diamond stood there, unbudging, giving the same cold, hard look.

"Prince, I am willing to give you anything- even if it comes to the bottom-bearing moment where I have to give myself- I will- just give me back my daughter!!!" she screamed.

He didn't move, didn't speak, barely breathed, and didn't blink, but gave her the same unmoving glare as before.

"You worthless fuck!!! Why won't you fucking answer me?!?" the queen shrieked at him.

He didn't flinch, let alone move.

"Give some fucking clue that you understand me, damn it!!!"

Diamond remained still.

"I swear by the moon- I'll get you if you do anything to my daughter!!!"

Nothing moved.

"Won't you fucking say anything?!? I'm offering you anything you want, whatever it is, I don't care- I just want my baby back!!!"

The prince stayed as still as stone.

A tear trickled down Serenity's face, revealing her fear, along with a gaze equally traumatizing.

"Please, Diamond. Please say something. I don't care what you say, but give me some sign that you understand me, and know that… I will do anything to help my poor daughter."

Diamond laughed. Serenity's face grew red, but he spoke just as she was beginning to scream at him once more for mocking her emotions and her, herself.

"Save it, Serenity. I have done nothing with your daughter except help her get what she wanted." He stated calmly.

"She's fucking eight years old!!! What the hell could she have possibly wanted?!? A new remote-controlled Barbie?!?" she shouted sardonically.

"She wanted to be loved." He said.

"You asshole!!! I loved her more than she ever knew!!! I love her more than anything in this entire world!!!" the queen cried.

"You loved her- but you did not love her in the way she needed to be loved. She is a special wo-child- a very special person, Serenity. You didn't notice that in the past, as Usagi. She doesn't know, but she has been sent to the house of the former you. Usagi treats her like as child, so cruelly. Ebon-Chibi Usa, I mean, is a wonderful person, just waiting for someone to realize her potential. She's smart, funny, wonderful, cute, sweet, powerful, and an incredible person. She wants you all to see that, and she feels so shunned about all her abilities in life. I was the first to see this in her and I am helping her get what she wants from life- recognition. This was originally my mission, but your lovely daughter has helped me see that the mission I was leading was utterly useless, and helped me rise against my unhealthy desires and become a wonderful person."

"But you have failed to see that in her, Serenity, and I cannot forgive you for that. She is someone who deserves so much respect, so much love and you are unable to give it to her." His voice turned sharp at the queen who was taken aback by the concept and the prince.

"She will be the one to talk to you about it, so I shall say no more, leaving her to fight her own battles- she can, Serenity. I thank you for listening." He bowed politely.

"You damn well better get her on the phone, Diamond." She shouted snottily.

"She's not presentable, Queen. Allow her some time to get herself together."

"There is no time, Diamond. If I cannot see her now, we must schedule a meeting." She demanded.

"Come to Nemesis, Queen. Tomorrow, at five p.m." The prince told her.

"Diamond, I can't trust you after the assaults and attacks, threats, and all of the Wiseman's black magic." Serenity explained fearfully.

"Serenity, let me assure you the Wiseman is gone. Eb-Chibi Usa, your daughter, let me see how much I was…." Diamond shook his head. "Well, anyway, I found no use for him. He wasn't leading my battles, but his own. He was vengeful, Queen, and I have dismissed him from our family."

"And if he attacks the city, our Crystal Tokyo, by himself, he will surely have enough power. What shall you do then?" she asked him.

"I shall boldly fight with you, if you need." He nodded once more.

"Diamond, I don't trust you. One moment, you are trying to win my heart and taking over Crystal Tokyo, and the next minute, you offer to fight for it with me, but it seems your desire for me has grown." She scoffed.

"No, Queen. I have no feelings for you anymore." He spoke truthfully. "One has helped me see that, and so much else…"

"Then why would you abandon your life mission and protect your opposing side?" she was baffled.

"It's not for you. I just want to do what's right. The only reason I ever kept up on the mission was because I wanted to come back to Earth, and live a life with the right to see beautiful natural flowers and to lay in the grass with a loved one, to sit on the beach and watch the stars… And because I was a drunk." He added.

"You were leading a mission and you were an alcoholic?" she asked with distaste.

"No, I was a drunk."

"What's the difference?" she questioned curiously.

"An alcoholic is a person who drinks so much alcohol for whatever reason, and can't stop for the likes of anything. A drunk is someone who has nothing better to do and can stop at any time he pleases, but has no reason to, so he keeps drinking." He explained, shrugging his shoulders.

Serenity sighed.

"Be here at five o'clock sharp tomorrow. I don't want to find you late, and if my daughter is harmed in any way, I swear I will…" she glared once again.

Diamond chuckled.

"Believe me, Queen. I wouldn't hurt your daughter for all the world." He smiled, bowed, then walked swiftly out of the room.