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Disclaimer: Sailormoon and all its characters do not belong to me. Any resemblance to any other story is coincidental and not intentional.

This story happened after the senshi defeated Beryl and *** deviates*** from the original version. It is a continuation of the story, Failure.

In this chapter, Mamoru is in America, studying in Harvard Medical University while Usagi and the senshi are still in Tokyo.

Chapter Three – Visiting the Holidays

Mamoru sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. How was he going to tell Usagi that he could not go back to Japan for the holidays? She would be crushed by the news. Mamoru sighed. He missed his Usako so much that it hurts. However, he needed to tell her that one of the professors were offering an extra credit project and Mamoru had to take it in order to complete his course in the prescribed year.

Resigned with the duty facing him, Mamoru steeled himself to the trademark wails of Usagi whenever she was sad or hurt. How he wished he did not have to do this to her!

Looking at his watch, Mamoru noticed he only had half an hour before he had to start getting ready for class. As he was leaving his bedroom to get the phone from the living room, Mamoru bumped into David.

David smiled. "Going somewhere, Mamoru?" he asked.

Mamoru shook his head, looking very pensive but continuing towards the phone.

"I have to call Usagi to tell he I can't go home for Christmas," replied Mamoru as he sat down on the sofa next to the phone.

"Aww…bad luck, Mamoru. I'll bet she'll be missing you a lot," David sympathised, wishing something would cheer his roommate up. Mamoru had been sad and moping ever since he returned from the main office yesterday and received the information about the holiday project. This triggered a memory in David's mind, when Mamoru returned flustered to change out of his pyjamas.

Flashback

Mamoru looked up and smiled at his friend. "Thanks, David. I'll go do that now!" He quickly got off the sofa and left the apartment.

David got up as well and chuckled as he realised something.

"I wonder how Mamoru would handle when he notices that he is still wearing his pyjamas."

And sure enough, a few seconds later, a red-faced Mamoru returned to the apartment with a slam of the front door. David fell down laughing at the sight of his roommate leaning heavily against the wooden door as if a human-eating monster was on the other side.

Mamoru glared at David and retreated to his room to change out of his Singlet and shorts. When he returned, David was still on the floor, laughing at Mamoru's expression when he first came in.

Mamoru went up to him and nudged him on the side.

"It's not funny, you know! I was mobbed by those giggling girls from across the hall!" Mamoru accused his roommate. "I've never felt that many wandering hands at one time before!"

David could only gurgle in laughter as the image brought more hilarious thoughts into his mind.

"David!" Mamoru sternly reprimanded.

David pointed up to him. "You. . . you. . . got. . . ha ha ha. . . mobbed. . . ha ha ha!?!" he laughed out and burst into fresh laughter.

Giving up on his roommate, Mamoru went to the front door and opened it up to a crack. He peered outside to see if the girls were still there. He shuddered in remembrance of how many hands had travelled up and down his chest and arms.

How can girls be so wanting? He thought to himself. Mamoru only wanted one person to touch him and she wasn't here. This thought reminded him that he had to get to the office before it closed for the day.

With one last look through the door gap and at his uncontrollable friend inside, Mamoru quickly and quietly slid out of the room, trying not to announce his presence in the hallway.

End of Flashback

Mamoru dialled the number for Usagi's house, praying it would not be Kenji who will pick up the phone. Even though Usagi's parents had accepted his presence within their daughter's life, Kenji still held some resentment towards Mamoru for taking his little girl away from him and had often threatened the couple with his frequently missing shot gun.

*Ring Ring*

"Ohayo" greeted Usagi.

Mamoru sighed in relief. "Usako?" he asked.

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi squealed. "You called again! Oh I miss you so much! I wish you. . ."

Knowing Usagi's trend to continue talking, Mamoru quickly cut in. "Usako, I have something to tell you."

Silence came across the line.

"Usako?" questioned Mamoru.

Suddenly a loud wail could be heard from across the continent and oceans. Usagi had begun crying and with that burst of sound immediately coming over the line, Mamoru held the phone a good foot away from his ear. However, the wails could still be heard loud and clear. After a few minutes, Mamoru carefully brought the phone back closer to his ear.

"Usako! Usako! Please stop crying!" pleaded Mamoru.

"You. . .hic. . don't. . hic. . love. . hic. . . me anymore! WAH!!" wailed Usagi.

"No, no!" Mamoru quickly reassured her. "I love you so much!"

Usagi quietened her wails by a decibel. "Then you got another girl pregnant and have to marry her now! WAH!!!" Fresh tears came out.

"No, no!" repeated Mamoru. "Usagi, I've been loyal to you like I promised. I love YOU."

Usagi stopped her wails but started to hiccup slightly. "You do? Love me?"

Mamoru sighed. "Yes, my darling Usako. I love YOU and no one else."

Usagi squealed again, so loud Mamoru had to remove the earpiece from it close proximity to his head, in hopes of preventing his eardrums from bursting.

Across the sofa, David chuckled at Mamoru's expression.

"I love you, too, Mamo-chan! Only you!" Usagi said happily, leaving Mamoru astounded at the pace her mood could change at.

"Usako, please, I have something to tell you," restarted Mamoru. "It's about Christmas."

Silence came across the line.

Mamoru prepared for the worse. Another crying bout from Usagi but no such thing happened.

"What do you mean, Christmas?" Usagi slowly said. "You're not coming home?"

"No, I'm afraid I have to take this project a professor is giving out. It's worth a lot of extra credit," explained Mamoru. "I'm sorry, Usako."

"No! No, don't apologise, Mamo-chan. We always knew you might have to stay there over the holidays." It was Usagi's turn to reassure Mamoru. "You have to stay there then."

Mamoru began to be suspicious.  It was not like Usagi to take things so lightly.

"Usako? Are you sure you're all right with this?" he asked.

"Yes, Mamo-chan. I'm sure. I'm sure we can meet some other time," sniffed Usagi.

Mamoru looked at the clock hanging on the wall then and gave a sudden start. "Usako, I have to go now. My class starts in 15minutes!"

"O.K. Mamo-chan. Call me later?" asked Usagi.

"Of course, Usako. I love you," replied Mamoru.

"I love you too, Mamo-chan."

Mamoru hung up then and faced David who was sitting there with a thoughtful look on his face.

"I hate doing this to Usagi." Mamoru said to him.

"I know, man. But it's what you have to do, right?" asked David.

Mamoru nodded and then got up from the sofa. "I better go and get ready for the class.  See you, Dave."

*** Usagi's House ***

Usagi was sitting on the sofa with the phone still in her hand.

"Usagi, dear? Are you going to put the phone down?" Ikuko asked. She was sitting across the room from Usagi and had seen all the emotions going through her daughter's phone call.

Usagi slowly put the phone down and turned to face her mother. Her face was streaked with tears and she started sobbing.

"Mamo-chan can't come for the holidays, Mom!" she sobbed out.

Ikuko placed her magazine down and crossed the room to where Usagi was sitting. She pulled Usagi towards her for a hug.

"Oh, darling. I'm sure he had a good reason," Ikuko said.

"He does. . . hic. . . but it . . . doesn't make. . . hic. . . it any easier. . .hic. .  . to take!" Usagi replied into her mother's arms. "I miss him, so much!"

Ikuko patted her head, trying to comfort her. "I know, darling. And I know how much you were looking forward to spending some time with him."

Silence came over the room, with only a few sobs from Usagi breaking quietness.

Suddenly, Ikuko gently pushed Usagi away and while still holding her by the arms, she looked at her daughter.

"What about, instead of Mamoru coming over here for the holidays, you go over there?" Ikuko asked.

Usagi lifted her head at the suggestion. Wheels started turning in her brain and a smile slowly crept up her face.

"Do you mean it? Won't it be expensive?" Usagi asked.

"Let's consider it an early present for you doing so well in your studies for the past year," replied Ikuko.

"What about Dad?" Usagi was doubtful her father would allow her to travel to a foreign country to be with Mamoru, even if it was only for a few days.

Ikuko shook her head. "You just let me handle your father, dear. Why don't you go clean up your face and I will call the travel agent to see which flight you can get on, alright?"

Usagi nodded, her sadness forgotten and replaced with anticipation of flying to America.

"I've got to call Mamo-chan!" she said excitedly and got up to get the phone.

However, Ikuko stopped her. When Usagi looked back at her mother, she saw a smile flirting along her mouth.

"Why don't you make it a surprise visit to Mamoru? I'm sure he would love it," explained Ikuko.

Usagi thought about it and nodded excitedly. "Mamo-chan will be so surprised! I've got to go tell the girls right now!"

And with that, she left the room.

Next Chapter – A Parent's  Release