A month later, the tour was over and the four of them were back home, the three brothers trying to get over the discouraging thought that they still hadn't found their princess. Taiki and Seiya were taking it considerably better than Yaten because it at least meant they got to spend more time with Ami and Haruka. Rei was doing her best to cheer Yaten, and at times it did appear to be working. It was hard to stay upset during the holidays, especially when Usagi hardly gave them time to sit down before she got them all headed off toward another activity - skiing, ice-skating, parties, parades, a play Hotaru was in at her school, more than a couple of trips to see the Christmas lights in various places, and Haruka had even been pulled into performing with an orchestra at a concert because their usual piano player was sick.

Walking away from that even, Usagi smiled up at her friend. "Does it ever seem to you that maybe it's a little bit too well-known all the things you can do? Racing cars, motorcycles, marathons, piano playing - then with all the things you end up doing with us... you never really get time by yourself anymore, do you?"

Makoto laughed, smiling over at Usagi from her spot next to Minako. "Not with you trying to arrange every minute of everyone else's life!"

Everyone else laughed as Setsuna smiled thoughtfully. "You know, Haruka... I'm not sure if I miss being so much of a loner."

Haruka chuckled with a glance over at the green-haired woman. "I do, at times... but I either get over it pretty quickly or head out to run. But I'm not really compelled to just disappear anymore, like I used to..."

Setsuna smiled down at her almost tearfully. "Kind of feels like we're finally home, doesn't it? It's not something I remember feeling except for rare times during the time of the Silver Millenium, and it's not a feeling that occured very often, even when I was stationed on Pluto."

Hotaru grabbed the older woman's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Helps to have friends and people to love, doesn't it?" She paused to receive the hug that Setsuna stooped down to give her.

Yaten gave a scornful little laugh, backing away a little. Taiki looked over from where he stood next to Ami, holding her hand. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not going to be dragged into any group hug. It's almost inevitable after all that mushy nonsense, and I want no part of it."

Rei grinned a little over at Makoto and Minako, and before the silver-haired idol could do anything to defend himself, the three women had grabbed and pulled him back over into a laughing group of friends to be smashed into the middle of a group hug. Mamoru chuckled from where he had managed to escape having to be involved simply on the basis that he held a sleeping, well-covered Chibi-Usa in his arms. "You should really know better than that by now, Yaten."

"Bah," was all he managed while making an effort to straighten out his pony-tail.

A particular fiery little priestess rolled her eyes, coming over to fix it for him. "You're such a Scrooge. I'm surprised that you even allow yourself to hang out with us and actually participate in all the things Usagi drags us into."

Meanwhile, the group had reached the cars they had used to get here, and a mischievious Makoto had gotten into Minako's car and pulled something out. She came back over it and managed to dangle it over the heads of Yaten and Rei. Minako gave a little squeal. "Aw, mistletoe!"

The two looked up, and Yaten made an effort to scramble away before Rei snagged his tie to pull him back. A moment later, their lips had met in a kiss, and Yaten had actually stopped fighting against it. Seiya chuckled, looking over at Taiki. "Is it just my imagination, or does it seem our dear brother is actually enjoying this?"

Yaten pulled away with a small scowl. "You always have had an active imagination."

"Oh, stop," Rei said, swatting at his arm. "You act like you haven't been kissed before."

Taiki laughed a little. "Actually, I don't think he has. I may be the only one left."

"Nope!" Hotaru said jovially. "I'm right there with you too."

"So am I," Setsuna said with a mock sad-sigh before smiling.

In the mean-time, Makoto had slipped around the edge of the group and snuck up behind another couple. Ami laughed a little and pointed up at where Makoto was stretching her arm high in there to get the mistletoe up above Taiki's head. He blushed, but smiled a little at the expectant look on Ami's face before shyly leaning down to kiss her lightly.

"Well now, isn't this depressing! Now it's just me and Setsuna."

"You're young, Hotaru, you'll get a guy eventually," Setsuna said with a small smile. "Now come on, I know I can't be the only one who's cold out here. Let's get going." Everyone seemed to agree and started climbing into cars. Usagi opened theirs and helped Mamoru get Chibi-Usa settled in as Hotaru and Setsuna got in with Makoto and Minako - the four of them had planned some sort of slumber party so they could start out early the next day to take care of their Christmas shopping. Taiki got into the car he shared with his brothers, next to Ami in the back seat, then Yaten and Rei got in up front while Seiya and Haruka got into her car before they all pulled away.

The next day, the group of friends (minus Haruka and Seiya) had gotten together again - this time at the mansion now owned by the brothers for a Christmas Eve dinner. At the moment, they were settled about the living room with drinks, occasionally munching lightly on crackers or the cut-up vegetables until the main dinner was ready, talking as if they hadn't just seen each other less than twenty-four hours ago. Hotaru looked up from where she andSetsuna were playing with Chibi-Usa by rolling a ball back and forth, attention caught by a conversation between the others about Haruka and Seiya. "Hey, where are those two, anyway?"

The others fell silent at Hotaru's question, and Taiki and Yaten glanced at each other. "Yeah, I haven't seen either of them since after the concert yesterday," Usagi added from her spot curled up next to Mamoru.

"Well, uhm..." Taiki cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Seiya... didn't actually come home last night or all day today either..."

Everyone fell silent, and as if one cue, they heard the front door opening, then being shut. A few moments later, the couple in question entered the living room from the entrance hall. Haruka froze at all their curiously amused expressions, while it took Seiya a bit longer to notice because he was putting their jackets into the hall closet before turning to join her. "Uh... did we suddenly sprout an extra arm or something? What's going on?"

Mamoru chuckled a bit. "We were actually hoping you would tell us that."

"Yeah, so... you guys went back to the apartment and played cards, right?" Makoto said, trying to hide a smirk.

Seiya blushed as Haruka shook her head. "You know, the press left us alone, you would think our own friends could at least do the same."

Ami blushed enough for the rest of them, then apologized on their behalf. Yaten got up and disappeared into the kitchen, then popped back out a moment later to break the tension. "Dinner's ready."

Hotaru got up and took Chibi-Usa with her to help her get settled and was closely followed by Haruka and Seiya, eager to get away from the scenario that had just occured. Mamoru went to help Setsuna pick up Chibi-Usa's various things as everyone else filed toward the dining room. Setsuna smiled a bit up at him as she tucked the things away into the bag from which they had emerged. The two started off toward the dining room. Usagi gave a small giggle, pointing above their heads. "I should mind, but, I know better than to worry."

The two glanced up and spotted the mistletoe that had been placed there. Hotaru and Haruka exchanged a look as Setsuna blushed darkly and Mamoru gave a nervous laugh. As he started to bend down to give her a friendly little kiss, she seemed momentarily frozen before turning and taking off. Seconds later, they heard the front door slam. Usagi frowned. "What was that about?"

Without an explanation, Hotaru and Haruka left the room, slipping past Mamoru in the process. He watched from his spot as Hotaru got her jacket, as well as Haruka's and Setsuna and went after Haruka, who was already making her way out the door. Awkwardly, everyone tried to get back to normal as they settled around the table, though the conversation was a little strained.

It was nearly an hour later when they heard the door open and close once more. There was silence, then Hotaru and Haruka re-appeared in the room. It was apparent that they were both upset and Hotaru had even been crying. Neither had bothered to remove their jacket. "Usagi, do you happen to have your extra key to Setsuna's business?"

Confused, she nodded and rose, left the room momentarily, then came back and handed the key to Haruka. "What... what's going on?"

Haruka only looked at her for a moment, obviously restraining her anger, before she simply turned and left. Hotaru sniffled a little, looked up at the rest of them, and answered in Haruka's place. "Setsuna's leaving, and she said she doesn't think she'll be coming back for a long time. She even wants Haruka to take care of selling her seamstress business."

"Why?!" Makoto asked, just as surprised about this development as everyone else.

Hotaru shook her head, then turned and ran off to catch up with Haruka. Not long after, the dinner party broke up, hoping things would become clearer the next day, and that they would at least be able to enjoy themselves on Christmas with their families, and then when they got together the next day at the mansion to exchange gifts with their friends.

None of the outer senshi showed up.