Disclaimer: Nope. I still don't own them. I know you're disappointed. Try to survive it…

Note: I know I know. A hideously short chapter. Oh well. You'll live. I think…

And I must continue to grovel in thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! It's great to know people are actually reading this and liking it too! Wow…

And for those of you dying for some romance- just wait till the court gets here. About two chapters from now I think…

Chapter 11

Serena looked directly at Rei, then Luna, then Artemis as they each in turn proceeded to lecture her on her need to focus and mature, her need to reconcile with Darien, and other things that she didn't bother to register. She nodded as they paused, looked down when it seemed appropriate, and the entire time she was debating which clubs she would take the Court to. It was easier to pretend she was sorry and that they were right. When they finally finished she nodded and looked as chastened as she could. "You're right… Hey, is anyone hungry?"

She had begun to think that they would never leave, that the lectures would just keep going and going. But finally they all began drifting off, obviously thinking about what they'd seen. Serena hadn't told them much more than she had before- she'd told some basics about all her friends, about all the parties, about making cheerleader and winning a spot on the dance team. She'd stared at them when they asked about the parties and getting drunk. Apparently none of them had been to a real party or even a club yet.

And finally when she'd begun hinting about jetlag and resetting her inner clock, they'd begun making excuses to go. She had even convinced Luna to stay with Mina a few days- citing familial tensions about the divorce. Serena knew her reasoning had made it seem that the cat was an outsider and that it had hurt Luna. She couldn't bring herself to feel that badly.

Of course, she hadn't been entirely lying. She knew her mother was feeling guilty, much as Dad still was, but for Ilene it was worse because she hadn't been there to see her only daughter grow up. And Ilene was apparently determined to make it up to Serena- first with a new room, and she'd been mentioning something about a day spa, although it had also been mentioned that they should take a day to see some of their relatives… Serena's nose scrunched in distaste, but she was distracted by another loud crash from her room. Soon enough her mother was coming downstairs. "Honey," she said, "You can use the guest room tonight. I moved most of your clothes in there today- and don't you even think of opening that door!" The glare she was giving Serena would have done Rei proud.

Ilene watched Serena like a hawk as the girl climbed the stairs and wandered into the guest room. Tomorrow the decorators would finish the make-over and she could not wait to see the look on Serena's face… Maybe it would even put some of the bounce back in her step. Ilene hadn't been blind to the fact that Serena had look relieved to close the door behind Ami. Poor little Serena had apparently outgrown her friends… Sighing because she knew nothing to help her daughter, Ilene went to the kitchen to find something to tidy.

Upstairs Serena had fallen asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. But it was not a pleasant sleep. She found herself alone, the mists crowding around her. The waves lapped at the small boat, rocking it gently. Where was she? She called out desperately for her friends. "Theirry? Ash? Diana!… Anybody! Where are you?"

The dream was familiar, she'd had it every night since she became Sailor Moon. Since she began awakening memories of her past. When she had moved to America the dreams had gone, she had thought for good. But here she was, in a rowboat, in the middle of some lake or sea or pond, blinded by the white mist. And she could not call her circle… it was too far to reach them… She reached into herself to summon the power...

Nothing. Something heavy settled in her stomach, and she felt very cold. Cold and alone. She sank to her knees, hugging her arms around herself, and scarcely noticing the tears steaming down her cheeks. Abandoned. Not again, oh please not again… she was sobbing, "Mother!" she called into the mist, "Mother!"

The only answer was the swirling of the mist and the water rocking the boat.