Title: Artemis and Luna

Rating: PG

Author: Alcandre

Alcandre - Well, here it is .. The long awaited chapter 3!

Kat - Long awaited, my butt.

Alcandre - Oh, yeah. This, dear readers, is my muse and good friend, Kat. Of course, she is just imaginary but we all need and have those kinds of friends.

Kat - *nods* Yep! *pause* HEY!

Alcandre - *laughing* Anyway, sorry it took so long getting this chapter out. I've been busy with school and work and jazz. Stupid professors and all the work they give!

Kat - You know you love 'em.

Alcandre - Whatever! *sigh* Well, on with the story!

Kat - Wait, you forgot ...

Alcandre - Me. Own. Nothing. Me Tarzan. You Jane. Ungauwa!!!!
A couple years went by and I eventually turned 16. Luna is a few weeks older than me so until my birthday, she teased me relentlessly about being older. But it was around that time that I realized I was in love with her.

It was after lunch and the princesses were in the library with Luna learning simple addition and subtraction. I had just left a meeting with the queen about the upcoming ball when I decided to sneak in on the learning session.

I quietly opened the door to the library and stuck my head in, wanting to catch Luna off guard. And that's when I saw her, standing in front of two tables with the princesses sitting there, listening. Well, Ami was listening, Serenity was asleep, Minako was pretty close to sleeping, Rei was poking Serenity, and Makoto was doodling in her book.

Anyway, I felt myself gasp in surprise. Luna was beautiful! The sun coming through the window fell over her and made her practically shine. And her smile, oh gods her smile! I about fainted right there when she started laughing at Rei when Serenity finally woke up and started yelling at her friend. Then she grew serious and firmly told them to hush. That's when Minako noticed me in the doorway.

"Artemis!!" She jumped up and ran over to me. She threw her arms around my legs and kissed my knees. She, out of all the princesses, had to be my favorite. She was like a little sister to me.

"Well, hello Minako-chan. How are you?"

She looked up at me and scrunched up her nose. "It's boring learning Math, Onii-chan."

I grinned and looked up at Luna. She shook her head, sighed, and looked back at the others. "Why don't we go out to the gardens and play a game?"

The four remaining princesses practically bolted from their seats and started talking excitedly. Minako pulled on my pant's leg and said, "Artemis, can you carry me?"

"Of course, Imouto-chan." I picked her up and we started toward the gardens, the others behind us with Luna. I could hear Luna telling the girls that this was only because it was so pretty outside and they wouldn't be doing this everyday.

"We know, Luna-chan. And we love you for it!" Serenity exclaimed.

I turned around and saw the blonde hugging Luna around the legs, just like Minako had done to me a few minutes ago.

We got outside and it did indeed feel wonderful! I took a deep breath and put Minako down on the ground. She hugged my legs once more and ran off to join her friends who were playing a game of "Monster." Serenity dubbed Rei the monster and the others were screaming and running away from her.

Luna chuckled and sat on the bench we were next to. "They are all so precious."

I nodded and sat beside her. "Serenity sure looks up to you."

She smiled and looked over at me. "And Minako seems to just love you."

I laughed and we sat in silence for a few minutes. I started thinking about the past two years we had spent on the Moon. Luna had matured greatly. She didn't seem as carefree as she was when we were kids. But I guess seeing her parents dead reminded her how precious life really is.

"Do you ever think about home?"

I blinked and looked back at her. She seemed very upset and I could see the tears gathering in her eyes. I gave a sad smile and nodded. "All the time."

That night, as I was getting ready for bed, I felt a strange tugging at my heart. Stopping mid-brush to my teeth, I just stared at my reflection in the mirror, wondering what the feeling was. I slowly finished my teeth and walked out into the hallway. And then I heard it. It was coming from Luna's room right next to mine. She was crying. She was crying really hard.

I didn't even bother knocking on the door. I felt her sadness from my room and I knew she needed me. I opened her bedroom door, walked in, and sat on the bed beside her. No words were spoken and no noises made. She threw herself in my arms and cried herself to sleep.

As I watched her sleeping that night, it hit me again that I loved her. It wasn't just a lust that all young men go through but I really did love her! She was my everything. If I wasn't around her I thought about her. I dreamed about her and what our life would have been like if our world was still in existence. I finally fell asleep at around 3 o'clock the next morning, her head resting on my chest and my arms still around her.

"I told you so!!!!"

That was the sentence that jerked me from my peaceful slumber the next morning. Before I even opened my eyes I knew who it was; Minako.

"How did you know?" That had to be Serenity.

An exasperated sigh came from Minako. "I AM the Scout of Venus, Sere! What do you expect?"

"But you're only seven." That was definitely Rei.

"So?" I heard Minako walk over to the bed. "I told you they were in love and see?" She paused. "They are!"

I chuckled and opened my eyes to see Minako standing very close to me, Rei and Serenity in the doorway and Makoto and Ami behind them looking curious.

"Good morning, Imouto-chan," I said to Minako.

She gave a small "eep" and turned to look at me. "Onii-chan!!!" She started to hug me but stopped when Luna began mumbling something.

"Now you woke her, Mina-chan!!" Serenity stated firmly.

"I did not!" Minako retorted.

"Yes you did!!"

Before the argument could go any further Luna sat up, looked around the room, and sighed. "Girls," she began.

"She did it!" Serenity accused, pointing at Minako.

"Hey!" Minako yelled indignantly

Luna laughed. "Isn't it breakfast time?"

The girls gasped, Serenity and Minako louder than the rest, and ran out. "See you two in a minute!" Rei shouted over her shoulder.

The two off us laughed softly and I watched them disappear around the corner. It wasn't until I felt Luna looking at me that I turned my eyes on her.

"Thank you," she said softly.

I smiled. "Anything," I stated, giving her a hug. "If it makes you feel better, I'll do anything."

To be continued ..

Alcandre - Yay! I finished this chapter!!

Kat - *yawning* And it's only midnight! Let's go to bed.

Alcandre - But-

Kat - Not buts! Bed. Now!!!!!!

Alcandre - Awww, man!!!! Bye, y'all!!!!!!