Chapter Ten: To The Truth

The three of them walked back in silence. Sere was uneasy while Darien was lost in thought. Rei kept glancing at them. Rini would skip ahead a few feet and then wait for them to catch, always grabbing Sere's hand for a few more feet and then back to skipping.

The silence was unbearable, and Rei had had about enough of it.  "So Sere, how long are you in town for?"

"Don't know yet. I've got to talk it over with the guys. Knowing two of them they will want to go around the town, the other will want to go shopping and the other well he'll tag along with the two that are likely to cause the most trouble."

"Oh."

"You know what those four need?"

"What?" Rei asked suspiciously.

"They need a female in their lives. One needs to loosen up a little, two need to come down to Earth, and the other well he just needs something other than shopping to concentrate on." Rei's face lit up with hope.

"And I know just the people!"

"Thought you might."

"Well what about you? Don't you need someone in your life?" Darien spoke for the first time in a while.

"I have Rini, that's all I need." Her voice was colder than she intended for it to be.

"Okay, hey Rei I'll see you later, I've got to get to work."

"Bye Darien." With that he turned a corner and jogged off.

"Do you think the other girls will go for it?"

"You are talking about the ones that were drooling over your picture in a magazine. They will go for it. But you do need to talk to them."

"Yeah I know. When is the next meeting, without him being there?" By this time they had made it to the building.

"Actually I could call one tonight, they want to know what happened anyway."

The exited the elevator to this and Rini ran ahead down the hall and into the room.

"I don't know. Maybe I should just let it all play out, like it did with you."

"Sere, listen to me, if you let it work like that it will never work."  Before Sere could say anything to that there was a beeping sound. "Damn, not again." Rei reached into her pocket and pulled out what looked to be a compact and flipped it open. "Mars here. Where's it at?"

"The out door mall."  Venus voice came across.

"Be there in a few. Mars out." With that she flipped the thing closed and looked at Sere.

"New design cool. Transform in my bedroom and use the window."

"Aren't you coming?" Sere shrugged in answer and pulled her down the hall.

"Go they need you."

"We need you!" Rei said as they entered the room.

This got a startled look from the guys and a smile from Jag. They girls didn't pay them any attention as they closed the door to one of the bedrooms.

"Go on ahead, and don't tell then anything. I've got to tell the guys. We'll be there right after you. Okay?"

"Guys?"

"I'll explain it all when we are together. NOW GO!" With that Rei transformed in a shower of red and was gone out the window.

Sere watched her go. 'Here goes nothing.' She walked out of the room and into the living room. "Guys, they are going to need our help. We've got to go."

They nodded in understanding and quickly called upon their powers. "Everything will be explained tonight. Are you prepared for whatever may come?"

"You know we are Sere. We'll be there with you." Zane gave her a shoulder a squeeze and they waited for her.

"Sailor Pluto, Guardian of Time, I call upon you!" Sere yelled to the ceiling. She had no way of knowing if this would work or not, but it was worth a try.

A few minutes later a black and green portal formed by the window and Sailor Pluto walked out. "You call princess?"

"You know the situation, I'm sure." At a nod from the guardian of time she continued. "Can Rini stay with you during this one? I don't think that I will be able to protect her, as she needs to be. There will be other worries. I'm not sure what part she plays in this but I do know that she needs to be safe."

"A short time at the Time Gates shouldn't hurt. But I can't allow this for long."

"I know, and thank you. Rini, go with Pluto, she's going to watch you for a while okay?"

"But momma…"

"Don't but me. When I'm through I will come and get you. Now go." Rini looked like she was about to cry but nodded and ran over to Pluto who picked her up and stepped back into the portal. 

"Let's go guys." As she turned around her clothing changed into that of Sailor Eclipse. "The out door mall is downtown. Concentrate on the scouts power signatures and it'll get you there." With that she was gone in a small flash of silver light.

The guys arrived right after her on the rooftop about the scene. Together they surveyed what was going on. The street where destroyed and the scouts where standing a little ways apart but not acting, the monsters where also just standing there. It looked as if they were in the middle of a staring match.

"What are they doing?" Came Nate's low question.

"They are in a staring match." Jag answered.

"No their not. Go! Get the scouts out of there now. Knock them out if you have to. But get them out now."

Together they jumped from the building and ran to their scout, the girls where too much in shock to do anything and didn't protest when they swept them off of their feet and where back on the roofs.

'Tux boy! I suggest that you get on a roof NOW!' Sere's voice entered his mind so quickly that he didn't have time to think he just acted. Somehow Sere and Tuxedo Mask wound up on the same roof while the scouts and knights where spread around the youma.

Mercury looked shocked but quickly went to work on her computer, Jupiter looked like she was about to jump Jove. Venus looked startled and then like she was going to say something. Mars was the only one not surprised and she held on to Deimos for a moment longer than necessary.

The youma let a blast of energy loose form it's hideous mouth. It spread in a circle around it and if the scouts would have still been there they would have been killed with that one blast.

"Just in time Eclipse!" Mars yelled from where she was standing.

"As always!" She responded to her with a wink that she knew Mars couldn't see before turning to Mercury. "Found anything Mercury?"

"The weak spot is in the back of his head. It's a small circle. If it's hit just right with one blast it will kill it."

"Who do you suggest take that shot?"

"Whoever does needs to make it fast, the rest of us need to distract it."

"Mercury who?!"

"I say Mars or Jupiter."

"Volunteer?"

"I'll do it." Mars spoke after exchanging a look with Jupiter.

"It settled then. We'll distract it while you fry it. Deimos, you stay with her and cover her back."

"Got ya!" He yelled back. With that they started making noise and shooting random attacks off here and there to annoy it and get it confused. Mars and Deimos moved to a building directly behind it under the cover of Mercury's fog.

'Plan, plan…need a plan. Hmm…what about a game of hide and seek? Yeah that should work.' Eclipse's mind worked frantically as Mars and Deimos moved into position. "Yeah that should work." She repeated the last bit out loud and just under her breathe.

'Scouts, knights and Tuxedo Mask, here is the deal. Mercury create the best cover for us that you can and maintain it. Mars can you see what you are too hit?' She waited for her to respond before continuing; when she got an affirmative she went on. 'The rest of us are going to have a game of hide and seek going on. The fog will be our hiding place, the youma is base, and you have to hit 'base' with your attacks. But we've got to keep it still so that Mars can do her job. Questions?' When none were forth coming from anyone she finished by saying 'And so let the game begin.'

With that they went to work. Mercury had to recast her fog many times because her concentration kept slipping when she would cast another one. Attack after attack was fired and from the sound of the youma they hit their mark.

"Mars! You had better do something fast!" Eclipse shouted. She could feel the strain in her bones at holding this up and knew that Mercury's must be worse.

In response to her order Mars' voice could be heard slightly above the crackle of lighting that Jupiter was preparing. "Mars Flame Sniper!" The fog quickly disappeared from around Mars and Deioms, leaving them in full view of the others. The burning arrow took flight and hit's mark as Jupiter's lighting hit the thing from the front.

The youma let out an unearthly scream as it dissolved into dust. Mercury let the fog go and sagged against Diomedes who was there to catch and support her.

"Great job." He whispered into her ear and causing her to blush. Everyone joined Eclipse on the ground.

"Good job everyone. Excellent job at keeping the fog up for so long, Mercury, go home and get some sleep. Diomedes take her home, she's exhausted. Wonderful marksmen ship Mars." She inclined her to Mars and then to the rest of the girls. "But now I must be going."

Mars spoke before she could turn and leave, the other girls seemed to be in shock at having someone new come in and take over the position that was normally Rei's and have her not say anything to her about it. "Eclipse, meeting in an hour. The knights are welcome."

Sere nodded her head and winked out of sight in a flash of silver light. Jag gave Mars' hand a squeeze as if saying that they would be there and followed his 'leader' in a flash of red. Nate nodded respectively to Jupiter before doing the same with green. Kaz stood there for a second and also followed but not before giving Zane a meaningful look. He got a smile in response and was gone in yellow.

Zane looked around the group as Kaz's voice filtered through his head. 'Take the Lady Mercury home and get here we have some talking to do.'  He didn't need to respond to that so with feline like movements he picked Amy up and turned around.

"Where do you think you are going?" Jupiter's voice stopped him.

"I'm taking her home. She needs to sleep."

"We'll take her home."

'Okay out numbered here, but got to try something.' "Eclipse said for me to take her home and that's what I plan on doing. If you have a problem with that I suggest…"

"Diomedes put her down, I'll make sure she gets home." Mars spoke to him. He nodded and walked over to where she was standing and gently placed Mercury on her feet.

"Until later then, Lady Mercury." He bowed and with a quick smile was gone like his friends in a flash of blue.

"Explain." The word came from Venus who was standing there looking quite puzzled.

"It's not my place to. Everything will be explained in time. But right now I think we need to get cleaned up. Ami do you think it would be better to be in civilian clothes or in uniform?"

"I'm not sure."

"Better go civilian then. You know how grandpa gets, plus we can transform quickly if we have to."

With that the girls started towards the shrine after making sure that no one was around and de-transforming. They took their time walking and made it to the temple with thirty minutes to spare.

"Rei you know something. Spill it!" Lita finally had enough of the silence.

"I know a lot…but very little of it makes since. Anyway I can't tell you guys anything, at least not yet. But be prepared for a surprise. And that's all I'm saying."

"Okay, okay. We get the idea."

"Are the cookies ready yet?" Mina asked anxiously.

"They will be in a few minutes." Lita said with a smile. Rei had graciously let her use the kitchen again. But the surprising thing was that it was Rei's idea that she bake something. Now the kitchen and hallway smelled of freshly baking chocolate chip cookies.

The girls' chatter continued about everything until the clock read ten minutes till. 'Rei?'

The voice was so clear that she looked around for the speaker. She wasn't used to someone's voice popping into her head unexpectedly. 'Sere?'

'Yeah, what about Rini? I can't leave her with Pluto much longer.'

'Might as well bring her. After all they will find out sooner or later better if they get everything at one time. Don't ya think?'

'Yeah. You're right. Be there in a few. Want me to come in late like it doesn't matter?'

'Do whatever. But you had better have Jag with you.' She thought that she heard a soft laugh but didn't pay it any attention. 'See ya then bye.'

Fortunately the girls had missed her little lapse of attention and were still talking. "Okay guys show time. Umm let's take the spare room. That way there will be enough room."

They filled out of the kitchen with Mina trying to snatch a cookie from the plate that Lita was carrying and failing at it.

Darien hadn't come back to the temple with them but showed up before Eclipse and the others. Rei gave him a meaningful glare that plainly told him not to say anything about anything. He apparently understood and nodded slightly to show he did.

The cats were taking catnaps in the corner and they sat up as the girls entered.

"Where is the guest of honor?" Darien asked taking a seat by the door.

"Guest of honor?" Luna questioned glancing around the room. Artemis had a slightly puzzled look on his face before realization struck. He kept his thoughts to himself until he knew for sure.

"They will be here." Rei told them all and as if on cue the middle of the room light up in six different colors, silver, red, blue, green, yellow, and a soft pink. When the light died down there stood Eclipse and the Knights as well as the little girl, who Eclipse was holding.

She glanced around the group and smiled, unconsciously taking a step closer to Kaz. She had become used to his presence that it was natural for her to do so. Rini looked around with wide eyes and seeing the man that she had thought was her daddy caused her to frown then she saw Rei which caused her to smile. She hadn't known her long but she already liked her. She was a lot like one of the ladies back home.

'Show time guys…don't know if I'm ready.'

'You'll be fine Sere don't worry. Rei understood and was happy that you were back the others will be too.'  Kaz answered for the group and placed an arm around her shoulders. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mina's eyes darken and her face scrunch up.

"I was expecting the Sailor Scouts to be here. I apologize if we are interrupting anything." Sere spoke politely and regally.

"Come off of it Eclipse." Rei told her with a roll of her eyes.

"Make me."

"Is that a challenge?"

"You can't do anything but fry me." There was glint of something in both of their eyes. It had been too long since they were able to go back at each other like that. The guys were holding back a smile and the girls looked shocked. The cats…well their kitty faces didn't reveal anything.

"Want to bet?"

"Truce for now?" Eclipse asked diplomatically. When Rei nodded, she went on. "Do know that this isn't the end only a time to rethink strategy, and will be continued."

"Understood." Rei stood up and held her hand out to Eclipse, who shook it.

The knights bowed stiffly to Darien who was more than a little shocked at the proceedings. He returned the favor with a nod.

"Where to start?" Sere asked more to herself than to anyone else.

"Why not dropping the transformation?" Luna suggested.

"I was not asking you. But that can wait for the time being." Sere had opened the link that she had with Rei and Rei knew this so deciding to use it to her advantage.

'Sere, you've got to show them. They won't listen otherwise.'  Sere shot a glare that made Rei proud and nodded.

"Guys if you would…?"

"Gladly." Jag didn't let her get through with the sentence before he moved to stand before Darien where he kneeled while shooting a smile and a mischievous look at Rei. The other guys followed suite.

Darien rolled his eyes and spoke coolly. "Get up." They did so quickly with a grin and waited for further orders. "Well go." He knew what they were waiting for and didn't see fit to prolong there wait. With that the guys spilt and went to the girl of their choice. Each kneeling before them and waiting for them to say something.

Rei was the first to speak and with a thought Jag was kneeling at her feet in his civilian clothes. Their eyes met and each smiled. The other girls followed suite a little more slowly, each changing back into their civilian form and causing the girls to gasp.

Sere smiled and was the first to speak, no one noticed as they were watching the guy at their feet that she had let her transformation and was now standing before them as Sere. "If I may introduce to you, Nate, Zane, Jag, and Kaz of the Earth Squad. Also known as the Eclipse Knights or the Knights of Earth, guardians to Prince Darien."

Rei, expecting this didn't show any surprise as they girls looked back and froth from the guys to Sere and Darien and back again, the cats following their example.

"If they are the knights…" Luna began.

"I am Sailor Eclipse the Sailor that should never have been, according to Sailor Pluto, better known as Sere the lead for the Earth Squad."

"Finish." Rei spoke softly, but her voice was demanding. "But I think they may already know."

She drew herself up to her full height, back straight head held high, and spoke again. "And Sailor Moon."

This startled only one person in the room, Rini. Her momma had been a Sailor, her daddy always talked about Sailor Moon and her sacrifice. Could it be that this really was her mother?

The next instant the three girls had tackled Sere and where lying on the floor in a heap, each crying and hugging and asking a million questions.

'HELP! Can't breathe!' She sent the call to the guys and Rei, hoping that one of them wound help. Rini had run out of the way when she saw the girls move and was now standing by Rei.

"Momma okay?"

"She will be in a minute." The guys where already moving to get the girls off. Within a minute they had moved back and Sere sat cross-legged on the floor gasping for breath.

"…warning…next time…would be…nice." She was finally able to get out.

"Where were you? Do you know how worried you had us?!" Mina practically yelled.

"I went away. America. I can only guess at how worried you guys must have been. But I had to get away from here. I know I should have told you what was going on, but I was hurt and confused and I couldn't think straight. And every time I thought about writing you I would lose all my nerve and it never came out. I regret leaving you guys. I don't know if you can forgive me but I do hope you know I regret it."  Sere let her head drop afraid to see the look in their eyes. Rei had said that they would forgive her but wasn't sure. There was still a lingering of doubt.

Darien listened passively as she told her story. He wanted to go to her and tell her that he was sorry for the pain that he caused her. He wanted to explain everything to her, but knew that he couldn't until she was ready to listen.

Rini was the first to move and threw her small arms around Sere's neck. "Don't cry, momma," she mumbled just loud enough for Sere to hear, "it'll be okay."

Sere in return hugged her back and whispered to her reassuringly. In the next instant four pair of arms were around them in a hug, offering the forgiveness silently and the best way that they knew how.

The guys stood back and watched. With any luck Sere would be happy now. Ever since they had first met her it seemed like she was missing something. Maybe this was it. But for some reason they wanted to say that there was still something else and they all had a feeling that they knew what that was.

"Welcome home Serena." Ami said once they had parted.

"Thanks Ami."

"Who's the kid?" Lita asked flat out.

"My daughter."  She shot a glare at Rei quickly daring her to say anything. "Rini I would like you to meet Lita, Ami, and Mina. The cats over there are Luna and Artemis. And the gentleman behind us is Darien."

"Nice to meet you." Rini curtsied to the three different groups before seeking refuge in Sere's lap.

"Who's the father?" Mina asked curiously glancing back to where Kaz stood.

'It's not Kaz or Zane so don't worry. It's a long story one of which I'm not getting into right now. I'll tell you later. And Kaz is free. So go after him.' She added with a wink.

Mina's face broke into this huge smile and she had stars in her eyes. Lita's eyes traveled quickly back to where Nate was standing leaning against the wall and then back to Sere asking silently.

"Why don't we have dinner together tonight?" She looked around hopefully.

"We'd love to Sere." Nate spoke for the guys and apparently for the girls as well.

"Suggestions as to restaurants?"

"Well there is this really good one down, Lita you know the one with the outdoor dinning room?" Mina suggested.

"Yeah…it'll be prefect. I'll bet we can get the garden to ourselves. I'll go find out." With that Lita practically ran out the room and to the telephone that was in the hall. She came back a few minutes later with a smile. "We can get it at 7:30."

"What is the dress?" Sere asked.

"Nothing dressy but not jeans. Something nice. That means that we need to be leaving now. That way we have time to get ready." Mina said in a rush.

"Mina, take a breath." This caused the girls to giggle. "But I have to agree with her. We do need to leave so that we can get ready. Were should we meet?"

"Umm…let's meet at your place Sere. Uh…where are you staying?"

"My building." Darien spoke for the first time.

This comment had the girls exchange glances but they nodded in agreement.

"Okay so it's settled then? We'll meet at Sere's in an hour and a half." After everyone agreed Sere and the guys left leaving the girls and Darien. After five minutes of talking they left as well to get ready for the night.

The guys where lounging on the furniture in the living as Sere and Rini came in. Two minutes later there came a knock on the door.

"I'll get it guys." She had been watching as they played with Rini. She was having a good time and they were to. 'Maybe there were other reasons for Pluto sending her to me.' She smiled as she opened the door and immediately it feel so that her face showed no emotion.

"Darien." She said in greeting her voice cool and distant, regal even. She moved so that he could enter and then closed the door. 

He looked her over when she opened the door. She was gorgeous. There was no other word for it. The baby blue dress looked marvelous on her and with white flat sandals and hair flowing in soft waves, Gods…she looked like a Goddess…

'Okay Darien stop staring…you are going to start drooling next.' He walked in and heard laughter coming from the floor he looked and saw all four of the guys on the floor with a very amused Rini sitting on Kaz's back. His chin was propped up on his hand while the fingers of the other hand tapped the floor.

AN:

I am soo sorry about this being this late. I'll admit that with everything that I had going on, I totally forgot about everything that I was writing. Once again my sincerest apologies, ~bows formally~. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, and I'm going to start, well…finish the next chapter now. I hope anyway. If there is anyone that would be willing to beta this for I would be really grateful. I'm sure you've all caught mistakes, and I'm horrible at checking my one work. Thanks again to everyone. And hopefully the next chapter should be out soon. And as for the other ones I have in the works, well I'm going to get back to them too!

~Silvra