Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and co. are not mine. Alas, I am only borrowing them… and I promise Dic I won't kill Darien… just maime him.

Note: Thank you for your review Allure… I hope I do manage to work it out uniquely… though it's probably not going to look like it for another chapter or two… Oh, and again, due to my hazy SM timeline I've made one up. D's a freshman in college, tis the summer b4 Serena, Ami, and Mina go to high school.

Chapter 1

Serena looked around the table at her friends' stunned faces. They were gathered at the temple, having responded the next morning to Serena's only half-coherent phone calls. Lita was the first to speak, "Gee Serena, that's awful… I'm so sorry…"

"Yeah," added Mina, "I mean, you're really going to miss your dad, aren't you?"

"Well, yes, of course… I think… I mean, unless I go with him."

Now her friends' jaws really dropped. There was silence and then… "hahaha!" Rei was laughing, "You nearly had me Serena. Just think- you in New York! In America?"

Lita and Mina grinned. "Serena, you wouldn't know what to do- you'd be so hopelessly lost!" Lita said, her laughter joining Rei's.

"Of course you aren't going to New York," this from Luna, who'd jumped onto the table. "It's out of the question. You could never handle yourself in a strange environment. You wouldn't even have the scouts of Tuxedo Mask."

Serena frowned. "Well I happen to think I'd do really well, Luna." She glared around the table at her friends. "I'd have my Dad, there aren't any monsters attacking New York on a daily basis, and… well…" she took a deep breath, and glanced at Ami, "there's no entrance exam for high school in America. There's not as much academic pressure everywhere- the schools that Dad is looking at can actually tailor my curriculum for me! Maybe the change would help my grades."

Ami sighed. Serena had a point- she knew her friend, her princess, was bright, but she just didn't seem to fit the academic model here… maybe a change would help. "Serena does have a point guys. She might just need the breathing space, or just the shock and change of it all. I think you would do fine if you went," she smiled and was nearly strangled by Serena's enthusiastic hug.

"But what about your responsibilities as Sailor Moon?" Luna demanded.

"There's no really pressing problems Luna… and if you do need me, I can be here in a day or two."

"And if we don't have a day or two?"

"Then call the others. Uranus and Neptune are way more powerful than I'll ever be!"

"Serena, I still don't…"

"I've made up my mind." Serena stood up, her voice taking a tone they had seldom heard since the Silver Millennium. The Scouts knew that Princess Serenity was speaking now. "I will go to America. This is something I feel is necessary…" she grinned suddenly. "Besides, I'll be back for the summer!" but even as she laughed and changed the subject to food her mind had drifted away again. Away to dreams of New York, of a new life, of new friends, of a new love.

* * *

Cut to 6 weeks later

Her suitcases were packed, the bon voyage party over, the passports and visas in order, and the plane would leave the next morning. She only had one thing left to do. One last thing. The one thing she'd been putting off for the last six weeks. She was going to say good bye to Darien. Not that he cared she would be gone, no she had no illusions on that point, but still, she needed to. Maybe it was that one last chance for him to put his arms around her and tell her to stay, maybe it was just to remind herself he really was a cold hard stranger now. Maybe both. Maybe neither.

Serena tried not to think of those things, or any others for that matter, as she made the walk to his apartment. She had a not in her purse, in case he was gone…no, no such luck, his car was there. Damn. Oh well, can't have everything.

She managed to space out for the entire elevator ride. And suddenly she was standing in front of his door. 'WhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdo? Oh, yeah… knock. Goddess I'm dumb.' She knocked. 1…2…3…

"Just a moment!" Darien called… a split second before he opened the door. She could almost see his eyes ice over. "Serena," he said coldly. "I really can't see you anymore…" She laughed. A nervous, odd, alien-sounding laugh. But a laugh just the same.

"I-I know. That's why I'm here! I just thought I ought to say…" she stopped, looked up at him, at his eyes, and wished with all her heart he'd just turn back into Endymion or even the old Darien. The one who cared… "Good bye Darien."

She smiled then, bowed her head slightly as if in remembrance, and walked away, leaving Darien frozen in his doorway. She'd said goodbye… walked away… no tears… no quaver in her voice… And she was gone. He watched the elevator doors slide closed, his last glimpse of her was a flash of golden hair.