[:::Chapter II:::]

Setsuna was sitting in the living room of the Tsukino residence with Chibi- Usa smiling in her arms. -How much I love this little one- she thought to herself with a smile beaming across her face.

Usagi walked in carrying a tray of snacks and tea, assisted by Mamoru. She set the goodies down on the table and took her seat across from Setsuna. As she watched her future daughter laugh and play she wondered, -Why doesn't Chibi-Usa look at me with that kind of love in her eyes? - But quickly banished the thought.

That night they were planning a going away party for Mamoru and Chibi-Usa, he was to leave for America the next day to continue his studies and she was to return to the future to be with her mom and dad. Usagi wasn't as sad as she was last time for the simple fact that she knew that it wouldn't be worse than last time, she could at least contact him.

Mamoru had a distant look in his eyes, anyone could tell that something had been on his mind for the past few weeks. No one really seemed concerned about it though, as they all just figured that he was sad to be leaving again. If it could only have been so simple.

The night that Usagi and he spent together after defeating Galaxia, the conversation that they had on the ocean's side, played over and over again in his mind.

-flash back-

"Do you love me?" she asked her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Hai!" he said without hesitation.

"Like how?" she asked with a certain pout to her lip.

"Why so suddenly?" he asked, thrown off guard at her question.

"Please, like how?" she restated.

"It just feels good to be with you."

She had giggled and they embraced and she looked up longingly for her kiss that he gladly provided.

-end flash back-

-Why did she ask me that? - He couldn't get the thought out of his head. Just then his concentration was broken by the sight of Usagi right in his face.

"Earth to Mamo-chan. come in Mamo-chan. What's the matter with you, we have to start heading over to the temple now, the party is going to start without us. I don't want to miss any of the great snacks Makoto has made so get off of your butt!" Usagi said in an annoyed, but joking manner.

"Calm down Usako, they can't start without the guest of honor! ME!" Mamoru's face brightened up as he winked his bright blue eye and fingered his chest.

Usagi, Chibi-Usa, Setsuna and Mamoru all piled into his car. Setsuna was sitting shotgun (of course out of respect) leaving Usagi and Chibi-Usa to fight in the back.

"I'm really glad that you could take the time to come and see me off," Mamoru said as he glanced over at Setsuna.

"Prince, I would do anything for you" Setsuna stated with respect in her eyes.

The happy group soon arrived at Rei's temple. From the outside it appeared as if no one was there yet, but as they stepped in (greeted by the perverted stares of her grandfather) they realized their mistake. Everyone was around the room talking and laughing; music was playing in the background, making this the perfect party atmosphere.

They all enjoyed the cake that Makoto had made, the songs that Rei sang, the little computer animated movie that Ami had designed, and the picture book that Minako had made for Mamoru's departure.

The night drew to an end and people started to disperse (the sailor soldiers were not the only ones at the party, Usagi had invited some of Mamoru's friends). Everyone said their good-byes to him since they wouldn't be seeing him the next day before his flight.

This left Setsuna, Rei, Usagi, Mamoru and Chibi-Usa behind. "I'll take Small Lady home, we were going to stop at Hotaru's house first." Setsuna chimed in.

"I'm going to clean up and go to bed." Rei said.

Usagi and Mamoru were left alone. Mamoru had wanted it this way; he had planned to ask Usagi what she had meant by her comment that night, so that it wouldn't plague him any longer. "Usako?. Why did you ask me that so suddenly that night?"

Usagi looked up at him, completely perplexed by the question and asked, "Ask you what, what night?"

"Why did you ask whether or not I loved you and how I did?" He asked again this time without looking directly at her.

Usagi felt her heart rise into her throat, as if it were stifling her response. She could sense that this wasn't just a light question that her Mamo-chan had just had pop into his mind. She knew this was a question that he must have been toiling over in his mind.

"So." he asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

"I don't know." She said. And she had meant it too. She couldn't understand why he was making such a big deal of it. After all it was just a question.

"Usagi. " He hesitated.

-Oh god, he called me Usagi, not Usako. -

"I'll be leaving again tomorrow, I don't want to leave you though if you have doubt in your heart." Said tenderly this time looking directly into her eyes.

-Doubt in my heart. What is he talking aabout? -

"What doubt would I have? I know you love me. Don't you?" She asked, realizing her mistake but could not take back the words.

He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end at the question. again she had asked this of him, again even after confronting her with it. "I don't know, what do you think?" he asked with a smirk coming over his face.

Usagi couldn't understand why he would have such an evil grin on his face but replied anyway, "I think you do, but not as much as you used to.." Her voice trailed off at the end and kicked herself for saying so, especially the night before he was to leave. She had the faint hope in her mind that he hadn't heard the last part. and she was relieved when he didn't reply.

He did though, he had heard and he felt his heart tear a little. Tomorrow he was to leave, without clearing anything up, except now he was leaving with extra baggage. The burden of the thought that his love may be doubting him.