Chapter 3

Secrets

Serena managed to find a job at some kind of computer firm as a stand in secretary. The pay was good and she was overjoyed at her luck in finding such a job. Of course Mina's parents were a big help as well.

One night she was looking at a baby names book when her mind wandered. She wondered how her family and the scout were doing. Being away from them gave her a chance to strengthen her fighting and leadership skills. Maybe she left to prove that she could be a good leader. She knew one day she would have to go back and face them.

Them and Darien.

She sighed picturing the annoying, mean hearted, handsome as hell jerk who fathered her baby. She would be blind to not notice how devastatingly handsome he was. Just like Tuxedo Mask. How can they be the same person? Tuxedo Mask was so kind and helpful, always saving her when she was in trouble. And when they made love in the alley, she knew he put all himself into it like she did. She guessed it was a bit unfair of her to avoid him without telling him why. But she had been so angry and shocked that Darien was her dream man, she didn't care what he thought. She guessed that Darien wasn't that bad. He called her name and teased her about being clumsy and eating too much, but she always enjoyed the oral fights they got into. It was something that she liked...consistency.

She lifted her self off her soft bed and went to the window over looking the glittering city of Los Angeles. It was so nice here. The weather was warm and sunny. She sighed into peaceful night, but her contention was short lived when a scream pierced the night air. Startled, she looked down to see what all the ruckus was about.

She gasped when her eyes landed on the disturbance. "A yomen? What the hell. Did they follow me here?" She hesitated at the window. No, that's why she was here, to get away from it all. Freedom…

A loud scream made her turn her attention back to the window. A girl was there. She was too far off to make out her features. The only thing she could see was that she was dressed in orange. The yomen slammed her to the ground with a loud crsh and Serena winced as she imagined the pain. The girl stood on shaky legs and dodged another attack just in time. People ran as far away as they could as the girl fought to keep out of reach. Serena desperately wanted to look away, wanted to run away from the battle but was unable to tear her eyes from the scene. Her hands brushed over the center of her chest where her broach would have been. The girl was weakening and Serena coudnlt take it any more and grabbed her purse from under her bed. Inside, her tormenter gleamed in the dull overhead lights. She took the broach from its place and ran to her door. Outside she peeked around the apartment to see if Mina was in, then let out a sigh of relief, but then tensed again, hearing a sound from the kitchen. She went to investigate.

"Oh, it's just you Artemis." Serena said and gave the white can a scratch under his chin. "Mina's not around is she?" She asked absently and then flipped open her broach lid.

Artemis eyed the girl. There had been a strange yomen attack and Mina had to go fight.

"Moon Prism Power!" Serena called out and transformed in to Sailor Moon.

Artemis stood in shock as the girl transformed in to the leader of the scouts. What was she doing here? She was supposed to be in Earths energy spot, Japan, leading the other scouts. What did Luna do?

Serena ran out the apartment to see the girl still fighting. She was in an orange Sailor Scout uniform with long, thick blonde hair with a red bow in it.

"Venus Crescent Beam... Smash!" She said and a golden blast of energy shot out of her finger. Serena had to blink a couple of times to actually register what was going on and register that this girl had powers just like her scouts.

The yomen howled on pain as it cut through its ugly green arm. How come most of the monsters we fight are female? Serena asked herself and ran to tackle Venus down when a dark blast of energy was aimed at her.

"Hey negatrash! How dare you case the wonderful night to shiver with your presence?! I am Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice, and in the name of the moon, I shall punish you! Moon Tiara Magic!" She threw her tiara at the monster it was moon dusted in an instant. It was surprising how weak it was. There was no kind of fight at all. She didn't even have a scratch on her.

"Huh? Sailor Moon? What are you doing here?" Venus demanded picking herself up.

Serena turned to the scout. "You are one of my scouts Venus?"

"I am, but we were not to meet until later. Why are you here in America?" Her blue eyes searched for the answer.

Serena turned from her. "My own personal reasons. I don't know there would be another scout. But I guess you would have betrayed me with the rest." She said resentfully.

"Betray you? Why would I do that?"

"Because I'm not the best leader. They can't expect me to be perfect. I had a perfectly good reason why I was late to that last battle, but did they listen to what I had to say? NO!" Serena huffed. Maybe she wasn't as over it as she thought she was. She hadn't meant to yell at Venus, but tonight's little tussle brought back very bad memories for her. Goods she was a hundred miles away from her life, but her duties just followed her here. There was no escape, not even for just a small piece of her life. No matter where she went, she couldn't shake her bad luck and her stupid hero calling!

"Sailor Moon, I have no idea what you're saying! What do you mean they betrayed you?" She heard the hurt in her voice and was immediately ashamed of her explosion.

"I'm sorry Venus. I know you weren't part of it. I apologize for my outburst." Serena said and fled before Venus had anything to say.

She made it back to her room. I did everything for them, for strangers who didn't care. Why, why was she chosen? What kind of strengths could she give people? Why did they give her such a dreadful calling? She didn't like pain and she didn't like lying to her family and friends. She hated the stupid negaverse for coming, despised them for it! Serena miserably threw herself on her bed, crying herself to sleep, not bothering to change back to her normal clothes.

XOXO

Mina opened the door to her apartment, still thinking about what Sailor Moon told her. It was troubling. It was to easy to assume that the other scouts were the reason Sailor Moon was not where she was suppose to be. She wondered what on earth happened to her, where she was staying and…

"Mina you need to come quick. I think something's wrong with Serena." Artemis said running to Serena's room. Mina followed, worried over her new friend. She pressed her ear up to the door and listened. There were sniffles here and there.

"She sounds fine Artemis." Mina said with a frown. Was she crying?

"Open the door." He urged. Mina hesitated, not wanting to barge in her privacy. "Please." He pleaded, his blue eyes filled with trouble. Mina sighed and twisted the knob and quietly peeked in. Serena was fast asleep with traces of tears on her face and dressed in a sailor costume.

With her head reared back, Mina looked to Artemis. "Serena's Sailor Moon?" She asked flabbergasted at the news.

"Something's wrong Mina, she's not supposed to be here. I would contact Luna, but I have a feeling she knows what's going on, and I think Serena wouldn't want her or the other scouts to know where she's at."

"And she's pregnant." Mina murmured to her mentor. She looked younger too. Not the age she was earlier this evening. She looked to be about her own age. Jeeze, that was pretty young. Even in America teenage pregnancy was frowned upon, but to be back home in this kind of situation, man, Serena dug herself into a deep hole didn't she?

"She can't be Sailor Moon until her baby is born. We have to protect her."

XOXO

Serena opened her eyes to the morning sunlight. Thank the gods it's my day off today, she thought and rolled to her side to see Mina holding a tray of food and juice.

"Morning Sailor Moon."