What All Need to Grow DOOM TREE SEASON 2 Chapter 4: Memories, a sailor moon fanfic

Well obviously Queen Serenity is still watching over the group. But, she seems to have a new life as well. Now, to tell you all about Jedite and Brooke.

What All Need to Grow

Chapter Four

Memories

As they kissed, Queen Serenity sealed Brook and Jedite together as she did to Neflyte and Molly. The couple began to remember one another's memories.

Brooke had once been a lower Princess on Earth, but the moment Jedite first saw her he was in love – as was she. Brooke had gone to a ball to welcome the Moon Princess to Earth for the first time. She stood near the wall for a good bit of the night; blushing every time she saw the handsome General glanced at her with that amazing smile.

Finally High Prince Darien gave the blonde General a nod, and the man who had Brooke's attentions all night slowly made his way to her side. "Good evening Princess Brooke. Why are you not out dancing?"

"Um, I'm too shy to speak to the gentlemen around us." Brooke could hardly control her breathing and heartbeat. He knows her name!

"I am General Jedite. May I ask for the honor of this dance with your majesty?" He prayed with all of his heart that she would grant him this one wish. She was beautiful, kind, and so wonderful.

Brooke nodded with a smile. How could he have known that she had been daydreaming of being in his arms before the night was over? It didn't matter as they moved out onto the dance floor. A slow song began (unknown to the couple Prince Darien and Princess Serena had insisted that it be played – as the night was winding down, and the orchestra was getting ready to pack up for the evening). The pair was instantly lost in one another's eyes, but that night was to be their only night. Jedite vowed to meet her that afternoon for a horseback ride through the countryside. But inside he didn't want to let her go … it was as if something told him that letting go off his new love meant he would never see her again.

The next day Brooke's battered and bloodied body was found just outside her home. She had been raped and mutilated savagely. Jedite despaired in his rooms for the remaining days until the burial. After a month he seemed to go back to his old self – but nothing is ever really what it seems.

No one knew that Brooke's aunt had paid a man to rape the girl, and then savagely beat the girl herself with chains and a whip before cutting pieces from her dead body. No one knew how horribly Brooke had suffered as she slowly died … crying out her new love's name, begging him to not forget her.

Three months later Jedite was visited by Beryl. The 'Queen' told him the truth of what happened to Brooke, and it ripped Jedite apart. That his love's dying words were for him to not forget her … that her last thoughts were of him … and that he was not there for her when she had needed him the most! Without a thought he joined in with Beryl and murdered Brooke's aunt without conscience.

Not long after that the other Generals joined in as well. But Jedite didn't care, all he every wanted was gone. Really only Neflyte understood how he felt, but even that didn't bring the once close friends together. Then they were banished to the Negaverse for a thousand years.

Even after they got free and Jedite was assigned to gather energy, he didn't care about what was happening around him. She was gone.

Brooke had a wonderful life, until her mother's death. Of the family Brooke and her father were the only survivors of the car wreck, though her father never really recovered. Even after his remarriage, he longed for his dead wife and spent much of his time with his beloved daughter. And when he died mysteriously three years into his second marriage, Brooke's life turned for the worse.

Her stepmother, Cleva, treated Brooke like a servant … lower than that really.

Brooke was locked in her room every night. The windows had already been sealed and bolted tight. She had no way of escape. Cleva claimed that the girl was being home schooled, so there were no child welfare workers stopping by.

That night was rougher than any since the death of Brooke's father.

"Brooke get in the outfit on your bed and get ready to go out. Jimmy will be here in one hour. After tonight you will be in a new position in this house. Do what Jimmy tells you without question. Am I understood clearly?"

Brooke couldn't hide the shutter. She hated Jimmy almost as much as she hated Cleva. "But …"

Cleva slapped her face hard. "All you need to say is 'yes mom'! Jimmy will be teaching you your new job in my house! Get used to it because it is going to be your new life!"

An hour later, Jimmy was there and nearly broke Brooke's arm as he grabbed it harshly. They got a hamburger for him from a fast food place, but nothing for her. Then they drove around for a time. When he pulled into the driveway, it alerted the youma guarding the mansion.

Illion reported in fast. "Master Jedite, a car has pulled into the driveway and a young woman within is being assaulted violently."

Remembering how his true love had suffered such a cruelty before her death, Jedite forced himself to his feet. "Then let us do a little something about it."

They both teleported to the unknown car and could hear the young woman's cries for help. It sounded like … but it couldn't be! Jedite signaled the youma to rescue the girl while her taught the little boy how to treat a lady. He ripped the scum out of the car as the youma dragged the young woman out of danger. The sudden movements aggravated Jedite's wounds and the pain only added to his anger.

He wanted to kill this scum! No one was allowed to do such to a lady! Not while Jedite still breathed and was near enough to help! It would only take a little more pressure to crush the slime's windpipe. Just a little more.

"Jedite … don't do it … please, you're better than him!" That voice … it just couldn't be her! But, how would this young lady know his true name?

Looking over Jedite was stunned … it was her! "Brooke"

He dispensed with the sleaze and quickly escorted her to the house after warning the boy to not harm Brooke in touch or word. When she took control of the situation, he knew that his love hadn't changed in the centuries that had parted them for so long. And now they remembered one another's past, along with Jedite finding himself nearly completely healed.

Brooke was tired, but Jedite knew that all that they both needed was a night's rest. "Don't go home, Brooke. Stay here with us."

"If I could just be free of my stepmother, I would never leave you again. I lost you once … I don't want to lose you again." Brooke sniffled into his chest. All she wanted was to remain in this safe place.

'Neflyte, I am going to need help. I have Brooke back, but we need to get her away from her stepmother! Please my friend.' Jedite sent without a second wasted.

Neflyte was stunned. 'I will take care of it first thing in the morning. Give my best wishes to Princess Brooke, and welcome her for us old friend.'

'Thanks my friend, and she already feels at home. We're going to get some sleep. She helped to heal me, but we both need to rest because of the energy drain it has caused on us both. See all of you in the morning.' Jedite smiled as he carried her already dosing body to his bedroom.

Zoicite and Malachite had picked up on Jedite's call as well. The only Lady General had to put her two cents in. 'Thank Princess Brooke for us all. We have been trying to get you to get in bed for three days!'

'I'll deal with you in the morning, Zoi. Goodnight everyone!' Jedite growled.

The others wished him the same, and then rushed off into battle against the lion Cardian.

The problem was that Jupiter wasn't up to her usual strength and had to lean on a telephone pole to keep from fainting. Moon was the first to see it. "Hey, Sailor Jupiter, you okay?"

"Yeah . . . just a little tired." She hoped Moon would take her at her word, but Jupiter could see that the truth was plain to the Scout leader.

"Oh no you're not. You're still weak from giving all that blood last night. You shouldn't be here. You should go home and get some rest." If nothing more could be said about her, Sailor Moon was the most faithful of friends.

"I told you, I'm fine." Jupiter forced herself to stand, just to prove herself right.

"Jupiter, I'm scared. You're gonna get yourself hurt, so please, why don't you go home now?" Moon was going into flake mode. She had a friend who was weak and obviously needed to rest, but didn't know how to convince her of the truth. "I know I can be a whiner, kinda slow and clumsy, and a wimp, but I'll try extra hard today."

"What? Wha . . . I-I don't get what you're saying." Jupiter stuttered out.

"Please, Sailor Jupiter, don't fight today! I'm afraid you'll get huuurrrt!"

"Thanks a lot, Sailor Moon, but I've gotta do whatever I can do to stop this monster before it attacks some other poor victim, the same way it attacked Ken!" Jupiter calmly explained.

Zoicite too was worried, but could understand how Jupiter felt as well. "Princess, Jupiter is the strongest of us. I think she can at the least handle early hand to hand combat and maybe some distracting if worse comes to worse."

"Well, all right. I won't try to stop you, but you gotta be careful. You have to promise me." Moon conceded.

"Sure, it's a promise. Now, gotta book it." Jupiter smiled as the trio caught up with the others.

Quickly the groups found the lion Cardian attacking a young couple, but before he could drain their energy that Scouts arrived – with Jupiter in the lead.

"You're not so scary." That got the lion's attentions onto Jupiter and fast. "So, you wanna pick on somebody, ya fur ball! How about picking on somebody your own size, huh?!"

The lion roared knocked out a charging Jupiter with an energy blast. Mercury tried to warn the angry Scout, but it was too late. The group hurries to her side, but Jupiter was unconscious.

"Oh no. Jupiter." Moon felt so guilty for not insisting that her friend return to rest, like Neflyte had with Jedite. She didn't know that it was seemingly meant for him to stay home for this fight. "Jupiter, come on. You gotta speak to me, please."

"You're gonna pay." Mars growled as she prepared one of her spell scrolls, while Sailor Moon continued to try and wake Jupiter. "I call upon the power of Mars. FIREBALLS CHARGE!"

The scroll didn't come close enough to the lion before the beast shredded the fine paper with its claw. Venus started to try next. "VENUS CRESCENT . . ."

But the lion's next energy bolt takes out the rest of the Scouts. Moon gasped in panic and fear. "Sailor Mars! Sailor Mercury, Sailor Solaris and Venus!"

Neflyte attacked the beast next, but with a shake of its mane, it deflected his starlight attack right back at the Generals, wounding him in the leg. Zoicite's petals had the same luck, ripping up her arms. Malachite's swords two were deflected, but he was lucky enough to doge and stop them before anyone could be harmed.

"Ooh! You messed with my friends! Now, you're gonna have to mess with me! I am Sailor Moon, and in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" Moon shouted in her anger at seeing nearly all of her friends hurt.

"Buzz off, little girl!" She dodged the beast's energy bolt attack, but slightly flaked when it turned at her with a hungry look in its eyes. "Ah! Uh oh. Think he missed breakfast."

A rose hits the grown, which startled both the beast and Sailor Moon. "Tuxedo Mask?"

She thought that Darien didn't remember her. Could it be that he returned as his other identity to protect her like he once did? But the rose was white … Tuxedo always threw enchanted RED roses.

High in the tree before her was a handsome young man in white Arabian clothing. Like he had come out of a book of "Arabian Nights" or something. "The moonlight's so very beautiful tonight. Far too beautiful for a creature as ugly as this, don't you think?"

"Is it . . . possible?" Moon stuttered, but the Generals could give her no answer. They were as stunned as she was.

Most of this new young man's face was covered, but it could be their Prince had gone into his subconscious to his favorite stories from the time of the Moon Kingdom and reinvented his alter persona. But why, and what name did he use now?

"Uh, who are you? Huh?" Moon stuttered.

The masked man seemed to smile at her, with such devotion in his eyes. "I am called . . . the Moonlight Knight."

"The Moonlight Knight? Prince Darien?" Like the Generals, Sailor Moon was hoping that maybe Darien was slowly returning to them as he had before the battle with Queen Beryl. The lion chose then to attack the new player. "AAH! Moonlight Knight, watch out!"

But, he had seen it coming and leapt out of danger before the lion could react. He pulled out a knife, and before sending it at the energy wheel shouts, "monster from the Negaverse, I banish you!"

"End o' the line, kitty cat!" The new knight chuckled. Losing the energy wheel shocked the lion unconscious. The Moonlight Knight quickly returned to his perch in the tree.

"Oh, Moonlight Knight. Oh . . . how can I thank you?" Inside Sailor Moon knew without a doubt that somehow her Prince had returned to protect them all when they needed him the most.

"Your beautiful smile is thanks enough, Sailor Moon. It's as beautiful as the moonlight. See you again." He saluted a goodbye to her with two fingers and disappeared … just like Tuxedo Mask would! It had to be Darien! But, how much longer before he would return to her side with his memories?

"What happened with the lion?" Jupiter woke up with a headache at that moment. "Sailor Moon! The lion!"

They had all underestimated the lion and it was bearing down on Sailor Moon hard and fast! Jupiter cried out, "fight him, Sailor Moon!"

But the lion was already there, and head butted Sailor Moon into unconsciousness – pinning her to the ground with its paws. Jupiter and Malachite knew that they would have to do something soon, or all would be lost! "Hey, fur-face! You hear me?! Back off!"

"Sailor Moon, wake up please." Malachite called in worry.

Moon finally woke, but panics and flakes out.

"Sailor Moon . . . and Ken, my best friend." Jupiter hated feeling so powerless! She wasn't ready to let the monster win this time! "I'll never forgive for what you've done. Guardian Jupiter, bring storm clouds, bolts of lightning, wind and fire! JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!"

Her attack toasted the lion and reverted it to the card it had come from. But, Jupiter fell to her knees in exhaustion. Malachite and Moon both rushed to her side. "I'm all right. Really, I am. Just need a . . . a little rest."

Moon hugged her. "Oh, I'm just glad you're okay."

"So, did we miss all the fun?" Mars asked shakily as the others began to recover.

A feminine chuckle panicked them all. "I'd say that is a little obvious Princess Mars."

Jedite and a girl came out of the shadows with knowing grins on their faces. Solaris blinked a couple times before the memory returned to her. "Princess Brooke? Is that really you?"

"Yeah, it's me Solaris … or are we still friends enough for first names, Princess Molly?" Suddenly Brooke didn't look as confident as they all knew the girl to be. Something had to have frightened her bad to shake her heart so hard.

"Of course we're still friends! I can hardly believe that you're back!" Solaris turned back into Molly with the Scouts and Generals following her lead.

The girls embraced tight, with tears running down both of their cheeks. They had been good friends before Brooke's death.

Feeling that Molly was weakened by the battle, Brooke instinctively gave some of her strength to Molly and the rest in a wave of power. Molly sensed it and gave her friend a knowing smile. "Brooke, you didn't have to heal us!"

"I know, but I wanted to. You know I hate to sense or see any of my friends hurt."

Neflyte wasn't surprised when he looked at his leg and saw that it was fully healed. Zoicite's arms hadn't a single mark on them. And Jupiter felt fine, as if she hadn't helped Ken the day before.

"Yeah, but it wears you down eventually." Luna added worriedly.

"Still the worrier of the group, Luna? And Artemis is here too? What is the entire group back together?" Brooke chuckled, but didn't really hide that she was leaning quite heavily on Jedite – though he really didn't mind it.

Serena swallowed. "All but Darien. He still doesn't remember me!"

"Oh, he'll be back before you know it Serena … before anyone expects I'll bet." Molly tried to encourage their leader.

Seeing that the group still was weak, Luna decided that it was time to head home. "Well, we had all better get some rest. There are things that need done if we are going to have that party on Saturday."

Before Serena started up the stairs for a hot shower and bed, she dialed Darien's phone number. It was late, but at the least she might as well give him the information on his answering machine.

To her shock he answered it, and sounded as if he rushed to the phone. "Hello?"

"Um … hi Darien. It's me Serena."

"Hey Serena, I'm glad you called. You're lucky I was just walking in the door when you rang." Darien actually sounded like he was happy to hear her voice.

Serena kept the reigns on her hopes, knowing that he was expecting her call. "Same here. Late night with the girls and all. Anyway, if you still want to go to the party on Saturday …"

"Of course I want to go. After all you proved that you're not just a meatball head, just like I always hoped you would someday." Darien couldn't believe he just told her that!

Serena couldn't hold back her blush. "Well, my family and I are going to be leaving here at about seven. You could always meet us here and we all go over together? Unless you wouldn't be comfortable with that" Serena barely stuttered out.

"Sounds like a plan to me, meatball head … goodnight. Oh, and I'm proud of you Serena."

Serena barely acknowledged the annoying buzzing on the phone that told her that her dream guy had hung up on his end. She settled the phone down on the cradle and started to numbly climb the stairs when her mother interceded.

"So, what did Darien say?" Irene cheerfully asked.

"He's proud of me. He said he's proud of me." Serena muttered.

Irene could see that her daughter was in shock … though the mother of two just somehow knew that he would be. It was just going to take sometime yet. "Is he coming to the party?"

"Yeah, he'll meet us here about seven." And then it all hit her hard. "Mom! He's proud of me! Oh, I've almost got him back!"

And with that the little Moon Princess got in the shower to hopefully calm down enough to sleep. But, she was still stuttering in her excitement by the time her parents stopped by the check on her on their way to bed. Her father simply shook his head. The leader of the Scouts and one time Princess was in full flake mode. "Serena you need to get some sleep baby."

"But, dad! I'm too excited to sleep! I mean this has to mean that he still loves me, right?" Serena stopped her jumping up and down and looked at her parents with tears in her eyes.

Irene shook her head in exasperation. "Serena, he will never completely stop loving you. Now into bed, and I'll tuck you in like I did when my darling daughter was still just my little girl."

Serena did as her mother asked. Irene tucked the covers up over her child's shoulders with a smile on both of their faces. A kiss on the forehead, both thumbs sliding down the sides of Serena's face as they made eye contact, and Serena was out like a light. After a few moments of watching their little girl sleeping, both Ken and Irene slid across the room to the door.

Irene looked in once more as Ken said. "I have never figured out how have ever made that work."

"A secret whose truths were forgotten long ago. Goodnight, my baby bunny girl." Irene softly called out with a slight tear in her eye. "Oh Serena, if I could only tell you all of it! Be happy my darling."

For a moment the reflection of Irene changes in Serena's mirror. But it was fleeting and none really would have seen it, even if they had been looking. But, Irene knew it all too well – and why it happened.

That Saturday came agonizingly slow for Serena. Finally she would be with Darien without having to deal with Ann trying to take him away.

She opened her eyes on Saturday with a happy smile on her face. "Today's the day! Oh Luna, just think Darien's going to be there tonight!"

"And next week is the graduation ceremony. Why not hold the party off until then?" Luna yawned as she stretched.

Serena got out of bed shaking her head. "Because there is going to be a private party then too, but right now we're showing Mr. Yamada just how wrong he was about me!"

"And how proud all of us are of you." Luna chuckled as Serena jumped into the shower.

An hour later the doorbell rang. Who could that be?

Irene came to the bedroom door. "Serena you have a guest."

"Hey meatball head!" It was Darien!

Serena fought back her tears, as she rushed into his arms. "Darien! I thought that I wouldn't see you until tonight."

"Yeah, well I came by to see if you would like to go out. Hey, what are these?" Darien noticed one of Serena's drawings.

"Um, some pictures I drew a few days ago. I was going to show them to you when I invited you to the party, but Ann interrupted me." Serena doubted they would do anything to bring his memories back.

Darien smiled as he looked at them. But then he got to the sixth one and looked startled. "I saw this one in one of my dreams recently. How about telling me about them?"

"Well okay." Serena shrugged as she sat next to him and set the pictures into the right order. "Once upon a time, long ago, the prince of the Earth fell in love with the beautiful princess of the Moon. But, nasty Queen Beryl and her evil forces from the Negaverse attacked them. The Prince disguised himself as the superhero known as Tuxedo Mask and saved his Princess from the evil queen, but then the evil Queen killed the couple because the Prince and Princess refused to be separated.

"The Good Queen of the Moon, Serenity, saw that her daughter and her kingdom were gone. She used all of her power to banish the evil Queen and her forces to a cold and dark world far from her own. She could have destroyed the evil, but the children of the kingdom would be gone. She decided to ensure the futures of those children, but it cost her her life. She died, but they were all reborn a thousand years after the battle that killed them all. None of them remembered what happened, that is until the evil Queen found a way back to their world.

"The good Queen had left each of the seven guardian children powers to defend the world. Six, including the Princess, battled the evil Queen. The Prince too returned to protect his only love. The evil Queen captured him and turned him against the Princess and her guardians, but three of his guardians who were turning against the couple the millennium before see the truth and returns to guard the Princess from the brainwashed Prince. The last remained with him to help bring the Prince back to his Princess.

"They destroyed the evil Queen, nearly giving their lives in the process. The Crystal that gave the Princess her power healed them all, but all of their memories were recessed so that they could all lead normal lives – until they are needed once again."

Darien hadn't said a word throughout the story. He wore a look of shock. "Just like my strange dreams. Serena could this mean that you and I were in those battles?"

"You're having dreams?" Serena had to swallow to hold her tears back.

Darien nodded. "Yeah. And last night I had one where a lion was chasing this beautiful girl who reminds me of you. I was dressed as an Arabian Prince and protected her."

"Oh Darien! You're starting to remember! How do I help you though?" Serena thought to herself.

"Darien? Serena? Are you two going to stay for lunch?" Irene called from downstairs. She knew that it was too soon for them to be reunited. Just for now.

That snapped both out of the spell Serena had unknowingly been casting – one that would have brought Darien back far too soon. "Um, no mom. We're going out."

"Serena, you're a good story teller. Maybe you should consider that. Come on, I have some people I want you to meet." Darien offered her a hand up.

Serena smiled and nodded. As they drove off, Serena thought to herself, "what was happening between me and Darien? Oh, I know now that the Moonlight Knight is my Darien, but how do I get him to remember?"

They pulled up to a house. "Come on, Serena."

"What's up?"

Darien winked and smiled. "A surprise that I know you are perfect for."

Without knocking he led her in. "Hey everyone, new friend to meet!"

Several people came into the hallway. Serena could feel herself slowly sinking into flake mode; she had to fight it. Darien's voice snapped her back into reality. "Everyone, this is Serena. Serena, these are a few of my friends from the University's drama troupe."

"So, you're the meatball head Darien has a hard time shutting up about? About time he introduced you to us! I'm Donna." The dark haired girl beside her smiled as her introduction made Darien blush.

To save their friend, the red head guy closest to Darien took his turn fast. "Hey, the name's Roy. I do a lot of the behind curtain work."

An overly dramatic blonde came forward and shot Darien a seductive smile. "I am Francis … the star of the group. Darien, have time to help me work on some lines?"

A woman with her dark hair pulled back into a loose braid shot Francis a dirty look. "Francis, you don't have any parts coming up! Anyway Darien brought Serena by to introduce her to us. Hi, I'm Kathy. But, you can call me Kat."

Francis stormed out of the room, making Serena chuckle. "And I thought that Raye could have an attitude."

"Yeah, listen … I brought you by to see if you would like to join in with us. I only started a few weeks ago, but I'm sure I can convince Marge to add you in." Darien explained.

"I'd like that. And with the high school I've been accepted to being on the University campus it shouldn't cause any problems." Serena smiled shyly. She just liked that Darien would be there with her.

He smiled as if he had really been afraid she would say no – especially after meeting Francis. "Great! I'll talk to Marge later on. How about we go out to eat?"

"Sure."

After they finished eating they met up with Lita and Amy at the hospital.

Amy smiled. "So, Ken's going home. I'm glad he's finally getting better."

"Whatcha waiting for? Aren't you going to his welcome home bash for a little while before our party, huh, Lita?" Serena asked.

Lita simply shook her head. "No, I'm not. You know how Ken always used to watch over me. Well, today, I think I'm gonna watch over him. He'll be at the party at Stanton International too."

"Well he's lucky to have a good friend like you, Lita." Darien said as they all watched Ken get into his parent's car to go home.

Darien dropped Serena off to get ready for the party. She was in the door and up to her room before anyone could say a word to her.

The party was fancy, and only the students, faculty, and their families were coming. That is if one excluded the media, but even that was a few papers Neflyte could intercede with personally if anything were to happen and the Sailor Scouts would be needed.

Irene had found a gown that was similar to the one Serena wore on the Moon, and had laid it on the girl's bed. When she saw it, Serena almost flaked!

"How do you like it, Serena?" Ken smiled as he rubbed his wife's back.

Serena turned and saw her parents in the doorway. "Oh, thank you! It's perfect!"

"I thought it would be. Now you don't have much time, so hurry up Serena." Irene smiled as she and her husband left their daughter to get themselves ready.

An hour and a half later the doorbell rang. It was Darien in a beautiful tuxedo with a dozen red roses! "Hello Mrs. Tsukino."

"Hello Darien. And please call me Irene. Come in, Serena's just finishing getting herself ready to go. Serena … Darien's here!"

"Almost ready!" Came the singsong answer from upstairs.

Darien could hold back the smile that sweet voice brought out of him. He had seen her change and felt so proud of Serena. Heck, in the past few weeks she was his first thought in the morning and what he dreamed about at night. Yet, she was so much younger than he, and could Serena have that depth of feeling for him? It would be better to wait … just until he was sure that she was ready for that kind of relationship.

Irene smiled at the sight of him. She knew the battle being waged in his mind. Deep inside Darien remembered his relationship with Serena; it just had yet to surface completely. This was the moment to begin pulling the Prince back. And the look on his face was priceless!

Before she turned the corner, Serena took a deep breath and prayed that she wouldn't flake out. Then she slowly walked over to the top of the stairs. What she saw took her breath away! Even without the hat, mask, and cape … the sight of Darien made her heart leap into her throat. Suddenly she was afraid of flaking anymore, she simply glided down the stairs until she was able to slip her tiny hand into his warm offered one. Serena could feel that …

… something clicked. Warmth began to shimmer in his heart the moment he saw her at the top of the stairs. Darien couldn't help but think of her as a Princess in the gown she wore – his beautiful Princess. As she walked down the stairs, he smiled and drank her all in. For the first time in so long, Darien felt complete the moment her felt her hand slip into the one her hadn't remembered offering. But, could he really hope that her parents would agree to his seeing Serena on a more serious basis?

Ken and Sammy didn't know it yet, but Irene knew. Darien had begun to return, and at just the right time.

Hope had begun to grow in Serena's chest. It felt as if things were starting to go right for them. She knew that look in his eyes well, it was the same one he gave her the day she told him she would marry him. At least he had some kind of love for her still.

"You look beautiful, Serena." Darien muttered out after a prolonged silence.

Molly giggled as she spun around in her new fancy floor-length gown.

The bodice accentuated what little curve she already had. It was made of a dark midnight blue silk with a design embroidered in dark blue thread and silver beads sprinkled about. The whole design of it made Molly think of the stars in the night sky. The long flowing skirt was a dark blue-violet velvet that looked as if each thread was a fiber optic line that lit and went dim as she spun in the lights.

"I think that you will be the most beautiful lady in the room tonight my love. I'm going to have to worry about some other guy sweeping you away from me. Did we invite Melvin to this?" Neflyte asked as he leaned against the doorframe.

Molly turned around to tease him, but ended up gasping in shock! She remembered when Neflyte had worn that tux to make her think he was Tuxedo Mask, but this time he was beyond handsome … beyond beautiful … there were no words to describe him at that moment. "No, Melvin wasn't invited, but then again maybe we shouldn't have invited any single women either. After all with you looking like that, I'm going to have serious competition on my hands all night!"

Neflyte chuckled as he pulled her into his arms. "No one, and I mean no one, could ever compete with you my dearest. You are the only one I want as my wife. And, in a little over eight months, I'm going to make that so by placing a gold band on your left ring finger."

He barely saw her cheeks softly blush before claiming her lips with his own. She sighed as he pulled his lips from her own. "I just wish we could do it sooner."

"Well, we could start the planning at any rate. What do you think? First thing tomorrow?" Neflyte smiled. If he could her would have turned this party into their wedding.

Molly's eyes sparkled in her joy. "That's a great idea! Oh, I love you Neflyte!"

"Not as much as I love you, Molly."

Twenty minutes later the group was gathered at the party, mingling with the few other guests. Molly was shimmering in her happiness, which was exactly what Neflyte had wanted for her.

Darien was staying close to Serena, and that had the Generals wondering. Had their Prince begun to remember?

Amy was happily surprised when Greg came up to congratulate her. It seemed that Neflyte had gotten the young man in a program similar to theirs and he too was graduating that year at the top of his class – the day after the others. She mouthed out 'thank you' to Neflyte when he looked at her with a knowing grin on his face. The leader of the Scout guardians simply nodded to her.

Lita was seated with Ken and his family chatting happily. Mina and her family too were enjoying the festivities.

Jessica had a sneaky smile on her face as she walked up to Neflyte and Molly. "I have a surprise for the two of you. This is Mr. Hiro Kano. He works at the municipal office and want to talk to the two of you about his daughter Lydia."

"I know Lydia! She and I were friends in elementary school. How is she?" Molly smiled. It had been a long time since she saw the girl.

Hiro smiled. "She's fine. I brought her here with me. It's been so long since you two separate to the different schools that I know you would recognize her. See, do you remember when the Sailor Scouts had to fight the monster that took over that hair salon not too long ago?"

"Yes." Molly asked warily. Had anyone see her change?

"Well, Lydia told me that she was in the middle of getting her hair style when she saw you walk in with two friends. The monster attacked before she could saw anything to you, but she saw you get out to get help before she passed out. I wanted to thank you for helping my little girl, Ms. Baker."

Molly chuckled. "You can just call me Molly, Mr. Kano. I'm glad I was there to help."

"Only if you will both call me Hiro." He agreed shaking Neflyte's hand.

"I'd like it if you would call me Maxfield then."

Molly smiled. She was happy that for once at least one of the Scouts was being indirectly thanked. "Where is Lydia?"

"Right here silly bean! Have I heard true that you are waiting to get hitched?" Came from behind the couple.

Molly turned and was stunned. The girl was a little taller than her, and her black hair was much longer (down to below her knees. It was obvious that the girl was wearing contacts, and hadn't worn her glasses in a long time. She was wearing a mauve floor length empire evening dress with illusion sleeves and square neckline.

"Liddy! You dad's right … you really have changed, and all for the better! Yeah, I'll be getting married to this guy right here once I'm old enough for us to get a marriage certificate. Maxfield Stanton this is one of my oldest friends, Lydia Kino. Lydia, this is my fiancé Maxfield." Molly proudly introduced the two.

Politely he bowed and kissed the young lady's hand, but it was obvious who held tight to his heart. "Please to meet you, Ms. Kino."

"It's Lydia, and it's nice to finally get to meet you. I thought that Molly would never find a guy to show her what real love is." She smiled as her friend blushed just softly.

Neflyte too smiled at it as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "A lesson she too has given me. And please call me Maxfield."

"Alright. Um, daddy … I think that idea you were asking me about on the way here has presented itself." Lydia smiled.

Molly looked up at Neflyte and the looked at Lydia who was barely hiding her giggles. "What are you talking about Lydia?"

Hiro smiled softly. "I didn't know what to get you as a graduation gift and as a thank you for saving my daughter. But, now I have the perfect idea. The two of you want to marry obviously, and I still have a few favors owed to me by the right people. Come down to the office tomorrow and I will make sure that you will have your marriage certificate."

Molly's hold on Neflyte's hand hardened as she used him from collapsing in shock. "You mean we won't have to wait the eight months till my birthday?"

"I can't do anything about the parental consent, but I can get them to excuse the age. Besides, it looks like your mother is going to love being a mother-in-law." Hiro chuckled.

Lydia was happy for one of her first friends. "Yeah, and you can start high school with your new name."

"Oh …" Molly could barely hold her tears back.

Neflyte too was stunned. "I don't know what to say."

"Nothing to say, except that I should be expecting you two and Jessica in my office before lunch tomorrow." Hiro chuckled with a gentle smile on his face.

Molly nodded before Neflyte could ask, and Jessica too nodded from a few tables away – obviously she knew what was to happen before she even walked up to them. Smiling back at Hiro, Neflyte answered for them all. "Well will be there. Thank you. You will never know how much this means to us."

"You have no idea how much my daughter means to me. I wish you both the best. Come on Lydia, I'm sure that there are many others here you will want to talk to." Hiro shook Neflyte's hand before he and his daughter left them.

Before a word could be said, the group was gathered around them. It seemed that was what Jessica had been doing … gathering the others for the private group announcement – including Raye's grandfather.

"Everyone, Molly and I were just informed that we can get our marriage certificate tomorrow morning."

Quietly as they could the others celebrated for their good friends. Serena spoke up first, "so when will the day be?"

"Well that depends on how soon would be too soon to Maxfield (Raye's grandfather was *somehow* still in the dark about everything) and Raye's grandfather." Molly beamed with joy. Soon she wouldn't worry about losing her love or getting with child too soon.

Grandpa chuckled at that. "All depends on how fast afterward you can drag him to the temple. After all don't want those feet to ice up."

"Grandpa!" Raye snipped.

Neflyte simply smiled. "How about just after lunch tomorrow, then we'll all go out for lunch. Or would that be too fast, my dear?"

"Kinda slow, but I'll live with it." Molly giggled.

Well, how is this? Now we definitely have a wedding on the way. I don't know about all of you, but I couldn't wait for Molly's birthday to come again for these two to get hitched! Well they make it all legal (although I recently found out that she is legal for the bedroom (13yrs old and above in Japan all) come next chapter. More than one wedding this season? You'll just have to wait and see. Oh, I will have them hearing about the VR episode, but I won't be writing it in as a chapter. Oh and at least one (maybe more) chapters will be and interlude(s) from Doom Tree to Nemesis. Thanks for the great reviews everyone.