Ch 1: The Nightmares
Bunny woke up with a start. Why was her heart racing and her bed covers all tangled? What had she dreaming about? Then she remembered. It wasn't a bad dream, it was bad memories. The same bad memories that had been making her life miserable for the past few weeks. She sat there for a while, telling herself that it was over, Darien was safe now. She looked over at Luna and Rini, she hadn't woken them up, that was good. Bunny laid back down and tried to sleep, but the memories kept coming back. They were memories Bunny thought she had forgotten, about when Darien had been kidnapped and brainwashed by Queen Beryl. Memories about the Moon Kingdom when Darien died trying to save her, and she, herself, committing suicide. Bunny shuddered, she didn't want to think about it, it always made her upset. She couldn't be upset today when she was with Darien, he would start to ask questions and… how could she tell Darien about this?
She stroked Luna as she looked out at the Moon. What had made these memories come up? They were finally at peace, a peace they had never had together. All 10 scouts were there and Darien couldn't be sweeter then he had been lately. Bunny started to wonder what Darien wanted to ask her that day. They had made plans to meet at the park around 10 this morning. Why did Darien want to see her so early? Bunny had a lot of questions, but who could she ask. That 'person' woke up next to her. "Why do you look so sad Bunny?" Luna ask.
"Oh, Luna, you're up. What? Sad, no. I've just been thinking," Bunny replied.
"Bunny, I know you too well, your upset about something. What is it?"
Bunny told Luna about how she had woken up with all the bad memories. She told her how she'd thought she had forgotten about all of it. Luna listened and then told her that she would never forget completely and that the memories may continue to come back to haunt her. Then Luna told her to put it out of her mind and to start getting ready to go. Luna knew that a walk alone in the park, waiting for Darien to come would cheer Bunny up.
By 10 o'clock Darien and Bunny were strolling through the park, arm in arm. Bunny seemed perfectly happy, and she had successfully put the troubles of the morning out of her mind. Darien was looking at Bunny with a wistful look, like he wanted to ask her something, but was scared of what she might answer. He started leading her out of the park, and to his apartment, so he could ask her in privet.
"So, what is it you wanted to ask me today, Darien?" Bunny wondered when they had settled on the couch.
"Well, Buns" (Bunny loved the way he called her Buns) "I wanted to ask you if you would like - to - to move in - with me?" Darien finally got out, looking hopeful, yet fearful she would refuse.
"Move in with you? Darien, I - I don't know what to say. What brought this on?" Bunny responded, with much surprise.
Darien, looking almost crestfallen at her reaction, now took both her hands and looked deep into Bunny's baby blue eyes, "I - I can't tell you what made me think of this, I just can't - can't be away from you so much. Please say you will stay with me."
"Of course, I'd love to stay here with you, but … my parents … I don't think they will allow it."
"That's okay, Rini has offered to use Luna-P to help us. She seems to think that we should be together more."
"Rini! Rini has offered to help? With Luna-P? That is great news, only, how come Rini already knows?"
"Well, because I asked her if she would help. I've - we've - all your friends, have been worried about you Buns. You haven't been your self lately and we want to help you feel better. And the more downcast you became, the more I wanted to be with you."
Bunny was startled. She hadn't realized that the memories were effecting her so much that her friends had noticed. Why hadn't anyone said anything? Then she realized that she had been so preoccupied with the memories that she might not have heard them. She looked at Darien, his deep blue eyes where looking so sadly at her, like they were yearning to know what was going on inside her head so he could help. Those deep blue eyes, the same blue as the Earth, she never wanted to see them this sad and worried. "Yes, yes I'd love to move in with you! And don't worry. I'm fine now. I've just had a lot on my mind lately." Bunny couldn't bring herself to tell Darien what was really bothering her. They hadn't talk about it since it had been over, she didn't want to remind him.
Darien looked very relieved. He pulled Bunny into his arms and wouldn't let her go. Bunny didn't want to leave, she felt safe in these arms, like nothing, not even memories, could get at her there. About ten minutes later there was a soft tap at the door and Rini appeared. She looked at them and seemed relived in some way.
"So, she said yes? Bunny's going to stay with you Darien?" Rini asked hopefully.
"Yes, Rini. You're going to have your own room at last," Bunny smiled at Rini and held her arms out for a hug, a hug Rini readily ran to.
"Great! Luna-P's all ready so that we can get your mom and dad to agree. I'm so happy for you both," Rini was smiling up into their faces.
A short time later Bunny was back home, packed with her parents permission to live with Darien. She was so happy. She truly had forgotten about what had been bothering her for so long. When she was back at Darien's, no, their apartment, she was so happy that she thought she would burst. Imagine her surprised when all her friends showed up about an hour later. First came Amy, Raye, Lita, and Mina. They had brought food and decorations for a party. A party that Darien and Rini seemed to already know about. Then came Amara, Michelle, Trista, and Hotaru. This was the even greater surprise. Though the outer scouts had become friends with the inner they rarely came to any group thing, especially anything non scout. They all had a great time and Bunny and Darien couldn't have been happier. They were taking one more step to what they knew was their destiny. To get married and have Rini, and rein as King and Queen of the Earth. This destiny was somewhat unbelievable but having Rini there was living proof.
After everyone had left, and they were ready for bed Darien finally voiced his happiness, "I can't believe that I can finally be with you all the time. I no longer have to just dream of when we would be together, we really are together."
"Yes, finally I don't have to leave your side," and with that Bunny dropped off to sleep, after what had been a wonderfully exausting day.
"No! Endymion! No! This can't be happening! No! Don't die, please don't leave me!" Bunny awoke from her memories again. She was just reliving the moments before she had committed suicide in her past life on the Moon. Had she really called out or was it just in her mind. She didn't want to see if Darien was awake. If he was… what would she do?
She didn't have to open her eyes, she felt Darien drawing her closer in his arms, he had heard her. She looked over and saw a puzzled, worried look on his face. How was she supposed to say this? How would he react? Luckily he started before she could get to lost in her mind. "Why were you crying out for me Buns? Why did you think I was going to die?"
"I...umm...well...You see, I've been having these nightmares, only they aren't nightmares, they're memories. Sad memories, of our past," Bunny started to explain how she was reliving all the tragic parts of their history, both on the Moon and on Earth. Darien just listened, holding her close. Like he was trying to protect her from the past.
By the time she had finished explaining they both had tear stains on their cheeks, and where holding each other as if scared to let go. "Oh Buns, why didn't you say something, why didn't you tell me? You shouldn't have to go through that again, not alone," Darien looked and sounded very worried about Bunny, as if the memories could in some way harm her.
"But I didn't want you to know. I didn't want us to both have to relive it. Once was enough and I didn't want to be the one to make you remember. I wanted to spare you the pain I was going through," Bunny was trying to explain something she didn't quite understand herself. True she was trying to spare him, but there was something else, something else kept her from telling him.
"Oh Buns, most of those memories where my fault. If I hadn't let Beryl brainwash me, if I'd only remembered, listened to my heart..."
"No, don't blame yourself! It's not your fault! I've never blamed you. Anyway it's over, it's done with. I don't know why I keep thinking about it. It's like someone's trying to torture me with my memories," Bunny was crying openly, trying to keep Darien from blaming himself. That's why she hadn't told him. She knew how he would react.
"No Buns, no don't cry. I wont blame myself. Just, please, don't cry. Is that all you've been remembering? Just Beryl, nothing else? Please, I want to know. I don't want you to go through this alone anymore," Darien was rocking Bunny, like she was a little child. He was crying as well. He hated it when Bunny cried, he felt so powerless to do anything.
Bunny was about to say that it was only Beryl she was remembering. She just wanted to put this behind them, but the look of true concern in those deep blue eyes, she could never lie to those eyes. "No, I've been remembering another time. A time that seems almost worst then when Beryl was involved, 'cause I didn't know why you were - you were avoiding me," Bunny couldn't even look at Darien. She knew he could only blame himself for this one. Not trying to explain to her, or her friends about the dream. That dream that told him to stay away from her. Bunny knew it wasn't really his fault, but the memory of him avoiding her, not telling her why, not even telling her friends or Rini, sometimes she couldn't help herself. She did blame him, but only sometimes.
"No, you mean you were reliving that time with the Negamoon? When I foolishly believe that stupid nightmare I had every night. I'm so, so sorry. Every time I think of that time I wonder how you ever forgave me. I was so stupid and did some really mean things. Buns I'm sorry." The look in those eyes full of pain and regret. Bunny couldn't stand to see them like that, to see Darien so upset about something.
"It's okay. That's all in the past. It's over now and we're together. Just promise me, promise me that you will never, ever leave me again. I don't know what I would do without you. You are my strength. Just as your crystal guides mine, you guide me."
"No, we will never be apart. Never again. I promise." Darien was looking at Bunny with all the love in the world and she was looking at him the same way. They kissed, to seal the promise, then laid down and went back to sleep, Bunny's head on Darien's shoulder.