Serena stood outside her apartment in the hallway debating on what to do.
She could hear the soft sounds of discussion coming from inside so she knew
that Lita and Nephlyte were still inside talking. They needed the time and
space to figure things out between the two of them, so Serena really didn't
want to intrude. On the other hand she had two pints of ice cream that
were going to start to melt on her any minute if she didn't get them in a
freezer.
Rei suddenly appeared, walking around the corner, "Hey. Need a place to crash till Lita clears out of your place?"
Serena looked at the priestess with an odd look, surprised that she had thought to come back and offer Serena someplace to go, "Yeah. Thanks. Can I stash these in your freezer too?" indicating the ice cream.
"Sure. Not a problem." Rei answered.
They teleported to Rei's temple, so that that the ice cream wouldn't melt during the walk. As Serena stashed it in Rei's freezer, she could feel the other girl watching her.
"Darien felt you transform." Rei finally said, breaking the silence with her soft statement.
* * * * *
Rei just stood there, watching her, waiting for Serena to say something. To tell her what had happened. Darien had called her when he felt Serena's transformation, asking if there was an attack. He hadn't wanted to go running to her if she was still dealing with her family.
Rei had told him that she would wait around for Serena to come back and see what had happened. Darien had wanted to, but Rei had convinced him to let her handle it. She knew Serena and had a pretty good idea of what was going through the idiot's head. She was probably blaming herself for everything, beating herself up for mistakes both real and imaginary. There was no way that Rei was going to let her do that and she didn't want anyone else around to stop her from beating some sense into the blonde's head.
"Serena, what happened?" Rei prompted.
"I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I know. I screwed up. I probably put us all in more danger and now everything is even more screwed up. I'm sorry Rei." Serena started babbling, tears streaming down the side of her face as Rei listened in confusion.
Slowly Rei was able to coax the full story of what had happened out of Serena. From what she could tell, Serena's parents had jumped to conclusions and Serena decided to just transformed. Aparently she hadn't given them any time to react before she left either.
Rei,a little shocked, knew that hiding her identity from her parents had always been hard for Serena.
Serena was sobbing, her knees having given out under her during her story so that she was now huddled on the floor. Rei tentatively reached out and hugged her, feeling a little awkward. Serena didn't seem to notice as she cried on Rei's shoulder.
"Shh. Serena, this isn't your fault." Rei said, trying to comfort her.
"Rei, I'm sorry."
"For what?" Rei asked gently.
"For screwing up again." Serena sobbed out.
"You didn't screw up." Rei insisted.
"Yes I did. I transformed in front of my parents. They know who I am and that put you all in danger."
"Serena. We're Scouts. We are always in danger. You didn't put us in any more by what you did."
"Yes, I did. I'm always screwing up and having to be rescued by you." Serena said firmly.
"What!?!" Rei exclaimed, pulling back to stare in shock at her friend.
"You are always the one who has to save me. Even from myself. I know it probably sucks and I'm sorry that I always need saving. I just can't seem to help it. I tried. I really did. But I just keep..."
"You idiot." Rei interrupted, "You have saved me just as often, if not more times than I have saved you. And you don't screw up that often. Hell, most of the time your "mistakes" actually are good things."
"Rei, you don't mean that. You would have been a better leader for the Scouts than me. I know you wanted the job. And then there was Darien. I know you used to like him and then I just kinda stole him from you. And then I endangered your life because I couldn't fight my own battles."
"First of all, I do not want to lead the Scouts." Rei stressed. " I have only one Princess and that's you. You will always be the leader because you are the only one out of all of us with the strength and hope to fight anything that comes at us. And as for me liking Darien - Yes. I did. I *liked* him. You *love* him. There is a bit of a difference there and I have never resented you two being together. And that crap about you not being able to fight your own battles. Since when? Who was it that took on Beryl? Who was too damned stubborn to call in her Scouts and instead fought an entire army of monsters? Damnit! I thought we already went through this. I want to fight by your side. I want to protect you. You are my friend and my Princess. I don't want to be safe if the people I care about are fighting. I am a warrior and I want to fight."
Serena looked up at her friend and Rei could see that she still didn't believe her. Serena doubted herself too much. Rei gave a frustrated sigh. A part of her really wanted nothing more than to find Serena's parents and beat them senseless for the pain that they had put their daughter through- for setting her on this downward spiral of self-doubt.
Rei grabbed Serena's shoulders and shook her, "You are not at fault."
* * * * *
Serena struggled slightly to get out of her friend's grip. Rei looked so mad that Serena was more than a little frightened. She knew that the raven- haired girl had a temper and that it was best not to provoke her. People tended to get hurt when you did. But Serena was having a hard time believing everything that Rei said. Rei was just being nice, trying to comfort her.
Rei? Nice?
No. Rei was not nice. Rei was honest. Rei didn't lie. Rei was usually brutally honest.
But she couldn't really mean everything that she said. Could she?
Maybe.
For the first time, Serena allowed herself to consider Rei's words. Maybe she wasn't a complete screw up? If Rei said so...well, maybe.
* * * * *
Rei was mad.
Mad at Serena's parents for being too stupid to realize the pain they were causing their own daughter. Mad at Serena for being Serena and assuming instantly that she must have done something wrong.
That had been what Rei was yelling at the dumb Meatball head about again, when Darien showed up an hour later. Rei had called him after she had dragged the entire story out of Serena in a coherent form. Darien showing up gave Rei an excuse to go fume in another room while someone else comforted her friend. He could probably do a better job of it anyways.
Rei sat down in front of the temple's sacred fire and searched its depths - seeking calm in the dancing red flames. Slowly her breath evened out as she fell into a light meditation, clearing her mind.
Suddenly the priestess' mind erupted- a thousand images flashed through her mind's eye. She couldn't understand everything. There were flashes of battle, a tall pink haired woman wrapped in the arms of some man. She saw all the scouts and the generals standing at their backs, fighting something that was just out of sight. There was a flash of long green hair. There was a city, bathed in moonlight unlike any she had ever seen before.
And over all of this was a feeling of panic and fear. Time was running out and they had to fight. They had to get ready. Now.
Rei came back to herself in a snap and gasped from air, her heart racing. She had never been taken so strongly by her visions before. And yet she didn't understand. She didn't recognize some of the people or places that she had seen. There had been such a feeling of impending danger, and yet she had no idea where it was coming from. The vision had been urging her to do something before time ran out but she had no idea what.
A final, lingering image stayed in her head, so clear that if she closed her eyes she could describe everything down to the last little detail. Not that she needed a vision to force her to remember that face. The face of her one time lover -the only man that had ever made her cry.
Jadeite.
* * * * *
AN: Sorry sorry sorry. I know this took forever and a day to get out and it should be longer and I'm a horrible person for doing this to you all. Sorry. Forgive?
Couple quick things. 1.) Mercural1 voluteered to be my beta. (ha ha ha! sucker!) All mistakes found were probably gleefully made after she fixed my old ones. 2.) Shimmering Angel wrote this awsome parential POV in her review that ppl should check out. Just look at the reviews for ch30. 3.) Kitsune Moonstar sent me a awsome little pic that is going up on my website for getting 500 reviews. She is too cool.
Alright, the responses (OMG there are a lot...)
Lady of Pluto - ack! Seriously? I am so sorry. It wasn't on purpose I swear. I totally blame ff.net! (mostly because I feel really bad for not responding to your reviews so I am trying to blame anyone else) Seriously, I'm sorry. Yell at me if I do that. It means I'm missing reviews and I hate that.
SailorMeteor - sorry I made you cry. I just didn't want a happy, touching reunion for Serena and her family. I'll make it up in fluff later, how's that?
alone in the grave - I can't promise quick updates but I can promise not to stop, how's that sound?
Chibi Pluto - no worries about the reviews. As long as you review some time I am overjoyed. I'm glad you liked how I did Sere's parents. I was a little worried about that scene.
Bunny Moon - hee hee. Thanks.
blackcat212 - I'm thinking about doing something from Sere's partent's POV or Sam's but I have to think about it some more.
Transcendant Pig - me either. I think I would have totally given up by this point if I was Sere.
happygolucky111 - coolies! I love it when people think I'm being original. hee hee. There are so many SM stories that is probably one of the greatest compliments ever.
Lil-PrincessK - hee hee. No worries, I obsess over fictional characters all the time. And yell at my comouter screen when they act stupid. Nice to know that I'm not the only one.
Serenity's Rose - aw *blushes* thanks. Um, originally I was thinking of bringing in the outer (beside Pluto who will be making more of an appearance) but this story is getting a little long. Though I am entertaining ideas of a sequal bring them in. Yee gods.
Prophetess Of Hearts - they will. Give them time. They are just being stupid. Don't worry, I will give them guilty conciouses soon enough.
Jabba1 - thanks. Sorry about almost making you cry. I was trying to actualyy *make* you cry. lol. just kidding. Thanks!
BenRG - thanks. Actually, you tipped the scale in favor of it being Rei who beat some sense into Serena in this chapter with your review. I was torn between her or Darien. But hey, Darien has had enough time in this fic devoted to him. Also the way I am writing Serena is with a ton of little insecurities. In a way, you are right. She is almost convinced that she doesn't deserve to be happy because of everything that has happened in her past.
Shimmering Angel - OMG! My fanfic inspired a fanfic! lol! That rocks! You are too cool.
roswellachick - How about if I sick Rei on the parentials. She can beat them up for ya.
Ocianne - I know, no one likes angst but I think I got the most reviews ever for that last chapter. Hee hee. That is not motivation to write happy.
Kitsune Moonstar - YOU ARE AWSOME!!!! Thanks!
Bluejello hee hee, the parentials will be showing up again but not for a little time. I'm going to give them some time to think about everything and grill poor Sammy.
Chibi J - Hey, its cool. I would do longer chapters for this but then I think that nothing would ever get posted. I'm a major procratinator and would have just kept adding to the chapters without ever posting. At least this way I update.
Usako4life - hee hee. Thanks. Unfortunatly, I was slow on the new chapter writing here. Sorry about that. I'll try to do better.
serry - One new chapter...slighlty slow in coming out.
missaw - hee hee, angst is all well and good in my book as long as all ends well. And you aren't alone in loving the angst. I got more reviews for that last chapter than any of my others I think. Wow.
chris - hee hee. More candy?
crazy-lil-nae-nae - ah, a person of few words. lol. Thanks for the review!
Ellen - Thanks for the cookie! It was delicious. I was going to have it framed but then I decided to just eat it because it looked too good. (don't mind me, I'm just tired)
angel313 - arg. I know I failed the soon catagory for getting this out. But if it makes a differance, I've already started the next chapter.
aurora - Hey! Wow. I'm impressed you read it all in one shot. Something always interupts me when I try and read a long story. Congrats.
Kaji1 - thank you so much. I'm really glad that you liked everything so far. Oh man, that doesn't really say how much I loved that review. You are great! Thanks!
Marni - improve?!? mwhahaha... Umm, yes. They will. Eventually.
Sailor Momoiro Hoshi - YES! I GOT THE ENTIRE LUCKY CHARMS COOKIE COLLECTION!!! WOOT!
Divamercury - wow. You read it all in one sitting?!? Thats awsome. One of the things I get worried about is that anyone reading the whole thing all at once would be bored or something with it. Thanks!
Mercurial1 - *waves* hey! I talk to you too much already. Well, grovel at your feet. But whatever.
JerseyGirl03 - hmm...Spain...let me see. I actually have been trying to figure out where Jadiete is so maybe. If I can make it work. Is there anything special about the western hemisphere or Spain?
X5-452Star - so. Here's the deal. You inspired this chapter. Originally, I was just going to have serena pretend nothing was wrong and help Mina. But no. You had to remind me about Darien which led to this. Hope you like!
Mercury Guardian - Wow. A lot of people seem to have started reading this for the first time. That is so cool. I love new readers. Especially the ones the review!
Mage Raistlin - I'm looking forward to the end of this monster. If you see the end, could you let me know? I don't see it any where.
kalinda - thanks. I will try and get out at least one more chapter before finals since I made you all wait so long for this one. Deal?
Rei suddenly appeared, walking around the corner, "Hey. Need a place to crash till Lita clears out of your place?"
Serena looked at the priestess with an odd look, surprised that she had thought to come back and offer Serena someplace to go, "Yeah. Thanks. Can I stash these in your freezer too?" indicating the ice cream.
"Sure. Not a problem." Rei answered.
They teleported to Rei's temple, so that that the ice cream wouldn't melt during the walk. As Serena stashed it in Rei's freezer, she could feel the other girl watching her.
"Darien felt you transform." Rei finally said, breaking the silence with her soft statement.
* * * * *
Rei just stood there, watching her, waiting for Serena to say something. To tell her what had happened. Darien had called her when he felt Serena's transformation, asking if there was an attack. He hadn't wanted to go running to her if she was still dealing with her family.
Rei had told him that she would wait around for Serena to come back and see what had happened. Darien had wanted to, but Rei had convinced him to let her handle it. She knew Serena and had a pretty good idea of what was going through the idiot's head. She was probably blaming herself for everything, beating herself up for mistakes both real and imaginary. There was no way that Rei was going to let her do that and she didn't want anyone else around to stop her from beating some sense into the blonde's head.
"Serena, what happened?" Rei prompted.
"I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I know. I screwed up. I probably put us all in more danger and now everything is even more screwed up. I'm sorry Rei." Serena started babbling, tears streaming down the side of her face as Rei listened in confusion.
Slowly Rei was able to coax the full story of what had happened out of Serena. From what she could tell, Serena's parents had jumped to conclusions and Serena decided to just transformed. Aparently she hadn't given them any time to react before she left either.
Rei,a little shocked, knew that hiding her identity from her parents had always been hard for Serena.
Serena was sobbing, her knees having given out under her during her story so that she was now huddled on the floor. Rei tentatively reached out and hugged her, feeling a little awkward. Serena didn't seem to notice as she cried on Rei's shoulder.
"Shh. Serena, this isn't your fault." Rei said, trying to comfort her.
"Rei, I'm sorry."
"For what?" Rei asked gently.
"For screwing up again." Serena sobbed out.
"You didn't screw up." Rei insisted.
"Yes I did. I transformed in front of my parents. They know who I am and that put you all in danger."
"Serena. We're Scouts. We are always in danger. You didn't put us in any more by what you did."
"Yes, I did. I'm always screwing up and having to be rescued by you." Serena said firmly.
"What!?!" Rei exclaimed, pulling back to stare in shock at her friend.
"You are always the one who has to save me. Even from myself. I know it probably sucks and I'm sorry that I always need saving. I just can't seem to help it. I tried. I really did. But I just keep..."
"You idiot." Rei interrupted, "You have saved me just as often, if not more times than I have saved you. And you don't screw up that often. Hell, most of the time your "mistakes" actually are good things."
"Rei, you don't mean that. You would have been a better leader for the Scouts than me. I know you wanted the job. And then there was Darien. I know you used to like him and then I just kinda stole him from you. And then I endangered your life because I couldn't fight my own battles."
"First of all, I do not want to lead the Scouts." Rei stressed. " I have only one Princess and that's you. You will always be the leader because you are the only one out of all of us with the strength and hope to fight anything that comes at us. And as for me liking Darien - Yes. I did. I *liked* him. You *love* him. There is a bit of a difference there and I have never resented you two being together. And that crap about you not being able to fight your own battles. Since when? Who was it that took on Beryl? Who was too damned stubborn to call in her Scouts and instead fought an entire army of monsters? Damnit! I thought we already went through this. I want to fight by your side. I want to protect you. You are my friend and my Princess. I don't want to be safe if the people I care about are fighting. I am a warrior and I want to fight."
Serena looked up at her friend and Rei could see that she still didn't believe her. Serena doubted herself too much. Rei gave a frustrated sigh. A part of her really wanted nothing more than to find Serena's parents and beat them senseless for the pain that they had put their daughter through- for setting her on this downward spiral of self-doubt.
Rei grabbed Serena's shoulders and shook her, "You are not at fault."
* * * * *
Serena struggled slightly to get out of her friend's grip. Rei looked so mad that Serena was more than a little frightened. She knew that the raven- haired girl had a temper and that it was best not to provoke her. People tended to get hurt when you did. But Serena was having a hard time believing everything that Rei said. Rei was just being nice, trying to comfort her.
Rei? Nice?
No. Rei was not nice. Rei was honest. Rei didn't lie. Rei was usually brutally honest.
But she couldn't really mean everything that she said. Could she?
Maybe.
For the first time, Serena allowed herself to consider Rei's words. Maybe she wasn't a complete screw up? If Rei said so...well, maybe.
* * * * *
Rei was mad.
Mad at Serena's parents for being too stupid to realize the pain they were causing their own daughter. Mad at Serena for being Serena and assuming instantly that she must have done something wrong.
That had been what Rei was yelling at the dumb Meatball head about again, when Darien showed up an hour later. Rei had called him after she had dragged the entire story out of Serena in a coherent form. Darien showing up gave Rei an excuse to go fume in another room while someone else comforted her friend. He could probably do a better job of it anyways.
Rei sat down in front of the temple's sacred fire and searched its depths - seeking calm in the dancing red flames. Slowly her breath evened out as she fell into a light meditation, clearing her mind.
Suddenly the priestess' mind erupted- a thousand images flashed through her mind's eye. She couldn't understand everything. There were flashes of battle, a tall pink haired woman wrapped in the arms of some man. She saw all the scouts and the generals standing at their backs, fighting something that was just out of sight. There was a flash of long green hair. There was a city, bathed in moonlight unlike any she had ever seen before.
And over all of this was a feeling of panic and fear. Time was running out and they had to fight. They had to get ready. Now.
Rei came back to herself in a snap and gasped from air, her heart racing. She had never been taken so strongly by her visions before. And yet she didn't understand. She didn't recognize some of the people or places that she had seen. There had been such a feeling of impending danger, and yet she had no idea where it was coming from. The vision had been urging her to do something before time ran out but she had no idea what.
A final, lingering image stayed in her head, so clear that if she closed her eyes she could describe everything down to the last little detail. Not that she needed a vision to force her to remember that face. The face of her one time lover -the only man that had ever made her cry.
Jadeite.
* * * * *
AN: Sorry sorry sorry. I know this took forever and a day to get out and it should be longer and I'm a horrible person for doing this to you all. Sorry. Forgive?
Couple quick things. 1.) Mercural1 voluteered to be my beta. (ha ha ha! sucker!) All mistakes found were probably gleefully made after she fixed my old ones. 2.) Shimmering Angel wrote this awsome parential POV in her review that ppl should check out. Just look at the reviews for ch30. 3.) Kitsune Moonstar sent me a awsome little pic that is going up on my website for getting 500 reviews. She is too cool.
Alright, the responses (OMG there are a lot...)
Lady of Pluto - ack! Seriously? I am so sorry. It wasn't on purpose I swear. I totally blame ff.net! (mostly because I feel really bad for not responding to your reviews so I am trying to blame anyone else) Seriously, I'm sorry. Yell at me if I do that. It means I'm missing reviews and I hate that.
SailorMeteor - sorry I made you cry. I just didn't want a happy, touching reunion for Serena and her family. I'll make it up in fluff later, how's that?
alone in the grave - I can't promise quick updates but I can promise not to stop, how's that sound?
Chibi Pluto - no worries about the reviews. As long as you review some time I am overjoyed. I'm glad you liked how I did Sere's parents. I was a little worried about that scene.
Bunny Moon - hee hee. Thanks.
blackcat212 - I'm thinking about doing something from Sere's partent's POV or Sam's but I have to think about it some more.
Transcendant Pig - me either. I think I would have totally given up by this point if I was Sere.
happygolucky111 - coolies! I love it when people think I'm being original. hee hee. There are so many SM stories that is probably one of the greatest compliments ever.
Lil-PrincessK - hee hee. No worries, I obsess over fictional characters all the time. And yell at my comouter screen when they act stupid. Nice to know that I'm not the only one.
Serenity's Rose - aw *blushes* thanks. Um, originally I was thinking of bringing in the outer (beside Pluto who will be making more of an appearance) but this story is getting a little long. Though I am entertaining ideas of a sequal bring them in. Yee gods.
Prophetess Of Hearts - they will. Give them time. They are just being stupid. Don't worry, I will give them guilty conciouses soon enough.
Jabba1 - thanks. Sorry about almost making you cry. I was trying to actualyy *make* you cry. lol. just kidding. Thanks!
BenRG - thanks. Actually, you tipped the scale in favor of it being Rei who beat some sense into Serena in this chapter with your review. I was torn between her or Darien. But hey, Darien has had enough time in this fic devoted to him. Also the way I am writing Serena is with a ton of little insecurities. In a way, you are right. She is almost convinced that she doesn't deserve to be happy because of everything that has happened in her past.
Shimmering Angel - OMG! My fanfic inspired a fanfic! lol! That rocks! You are too cool.
roswellachick - How about if I sick Rei on the parentials. She can beat them up for ya.
Ocianne - I know, no one likes angst but I think I got the most reviews ever for that last chapter. Hee hee. That is not motivation to write happy.
Kitsune Moonstar - YOU ARE AWSOME!!!! Thanks!
Bluejello hee hee, the parentials will be showing up again but not for a little time. I'm going to give them some time to think about everything and grill poor Sammy.
Chibi J - Hey, its cool. I would do longer chapters for this but then I think that nothing would ever get posted. I'm a major procratinator and would have just kept adding to the chapters without ever posting. At least this way I update.
Usako4life - hee hee. Thanks. Unfortunatly, I was slow on the new chapter writing here. Sorry about that. I'll try to do better.
serry - One new chapter...slighlty slow in coming out.
missaw - hee hee, angst is all well and good in my book as long as all ends well. And you aren't alone in loving the angst. I got more reviews for that last chapter than any of my others I think. Wow.
chris - hee hee. More candy?
crazy-lil-nae-nae - ah, a person of few words. lol. Thanks for the review!
Ellen - Thanks for the cookie! It was delicious. I was going to have it framed but then I decided to just eat it because it looked too good. (don't mind me, I'm just tired)
angel313 - arg. I know I failed the soon catagory for getting this out. But if it makes a differance, I've already started the next chapter.
aurora - Hey! Wow. I'm impressed you read it all in one shot. Something always interupts me when I try and read a long story. Congrats.
Kaji1 - thank you so much. I'm really glad that you liked everything so far. Oh man, that doesn't really say how much I loved that review. You are great! Thanks!
Marni - improve?!? mwhahaha... Umm, yes. They will. Eventually.
Sailor Momoiro Hoshi - YES! I GOT THE ENTIRE LUCKY CHARMS COOKIE COLLECTION!!! WOOT!
Divamercury - wow. You read it all in one sitting?!? Thats awsome. One of the things I get worried about is that anyone reading the whole thing all at once would be bored or something with it. Thanks!
Mercurial1 - *waves* hey! I talk to you too much already. Well, grovel at your feet. But whatever.
JerseyGirl03 - hmm...Spain...let me see. I actually have been trying to figure out where Jadiete is so maybe. If I can make it work. Is there anything special about the western hemisphere or Spain?
X5-452Star - so. Here's the deal. You inspired this chapter. Originally, I was just going to have serena pretend nothing was wrong and help Mina. But no. You had to remind me about Darien which led to this. Hope you like!
Mercury Guardian - Wow. A lot of people seem to have started reading this for the first time. That is so cool. I love new readers. Especially the ones the review!
Mage Raistlin - I'm looking forward to the end of this monster. If you see the end, could you let me know? I don't see it any where.
kalinda - thanks. I will try and get out at least one more chapter before finals since I made you all wait so long for this one. Deal?