Disclaimer: Sailor Moon universe is not mine. However, the rest of the characters are. Although Lars' name comes from a god awful romance novel, and most of the Court's first names are stolen from LJS but their actual characters are mine.

Note: Fangboy: Princess Diaries? That Disney pretty woman for teenyboppers thing? Never seen it. Albert Einstein High was a name a friend of mine suggested. *glares at Lexy who has hidden in Hogwarts* she thought it was an actual school though. And as for Lars- that was just cause I needed a big burly security guard name. Actually the name came from a similar c in this awful futuristic romance novel…

Anyway, I guess I'll have to go watch that movie now!

Chapter 6

Tokyo- Late August, earlier that year

"Darien, dude, you look awful," Andrew said, eyeing his friend. "Who died?"

Darien blinked, sliding into a booth across from him. "What? Nobody died."

"Hmm. That leaves one option- you've just realized what an idiot you are and that you've probably lost the one girl you'll ever love. Right?" Andrew said before inhaling a whole slice of pizza in one gulp.

"Uh… what? No, I just didn't get any sleep. But speaking of inconvenient females- I haven't seen Serena around in ages…" Darien was attempting to keep the emotion out of his voice as he pushed the pizza around on his plate.

"Well duh. She's in New York…" Andrew paused, putting his pizza down to stare at Darien, who had gone very pale very quickly. "You didn't know?"

"New York? Why?!"

"Her parents split up Darien. A few weeks back… Serena went with her dad…" Darien couldn't hear Andrew's voice properly, his blood was rushing through his ears…

'I really can't see you anymore…' it brought an odd laugh from her.

'I-I know. That's why I'm here. I just thought I ought to say…' Eyes bluer than any ocean staring up at him, disappointment, sadness, hurt, all written in them… 'Goodbye, Darien.' No tears, no sobs, just those words spoken so softly… and she was gone, walking away without a glance back. And he had let her, too stunned to move, too dumb to call her back…

"Darien! You there? Wake up!"

"Wh-what? Oh, sorry Andrew, just thinking… What were they doing letting her go to New York? She's just a kid… She'll get lost and end up in gangland!"

Andrew stared at Darien. Blinked. And laughed. "Dude, you really have got it bad for her… But you gotta wake up. Serena is already gone! She's been in New York for weeks already. Mina told be she'll be back next summer though… So you can convince her to stay safe then."

Andrew was right- Next summer he'd find Serena, tell her he'd been stupid, apologize. She'd stay here, where she would be safe, where he could be there to catch her when she fell…

Tokyo- Early May

The scouts were gathered at the Cherry Hill Temple for their weekly meeting. There had been no monsters since before Serena left, so they only had to meet once a week to train and talk. Mainly about the lack of correspondence from their princess and friend.

"It's just like that stupid meatball head to forget to even write a postcard!" Rei ranted.

"Yeah, and the other night when I sent her an Instant Message she just went offline," Mina said, looking hurt. "It's almost like she doesn't even want to talk to us anymore!"

"Oh come on Mina!" Lita argued. "You know Serena would never do anything like that. Her server probably just disconnected or something."

"But she hasn't even emailed Ami for months!" Mina shot back.

Ami sighed. "You're right, Mina. Not since… February. But you know how forgetful Serena can be, and besides that she was really trying to work on improving her grades. I know she managed to get straight A's her first semester."

The others shook their heads in disbelief. "I still wonder how that happened- Maybe New York really is a good thing for her," Luna said.

"I still wish we knew a little more about what's happening," Artemis added.

* * New York- The Present * *

Serena took a deep breath and gathered the courage to look Theirry in the face. Her story was finished and he knew everything now. From the Silver Millennium, to that awful first night as Sailor Moon, about the Scouts- all of them- and even Darien. She'd told him about the future- the Crystal Millennium where she would rule Crystal Tokyo as the Neo-Queen with her King Endymion. She didn't want to see what would be in his eyes. She hadn't looked at him the whole time she'd been speaking. But she forced herself to lift her head. To look up… And see his eyes, so dark and sad, full of sympathy and understanding… and love.

"It certainly explains a lot," he said, gently squeezing her hand. "But why didn't you think we'd understand? All of us have had past lives- have had to deal with them. You knew that…"

"But none of you still had duties that went with them! You weren't still tied to them! You didn't have to try to be something you weren't anymore… And I didn't want to lose you, not any of you. What would have happened if I'd told you I was Sailor Moon, and a Moon Princess and you'd laughed?'

"I'll never laugh," Theirry told her, his eyes meeting hers. Serena had to smile, her eyes misty with fleeting memories.

"I know." Two simple words, but the look in her eyes… Theirry started, his eyes flaring in surprise.

"You- you remember?"

"Of course. After all, you can't only remember one life without waking up memories of others… Now are you going to kiss me or do I have to kiss you?" she asked, pouting. Theirry chuckled.

"Anything for you, my lady…"