DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this whole story. The characters belong to their creators.
Chapter 1 - Home
In the royal limousine heading back to Crystal Tokyo, the four inner senshi sat together in silence. Rei was looking out of the window, sighing brokenly thinking of all she had left behind while Minako sat beside her staring straight ahead at the space above Ami's head. Ami sat opposite Minako writing up the papers for Relena's adoption and Makoto sat quietly watching Minako and then Rei worriedly. Rei and Minako had never spent so long not talking to each other. Makoto nudged Ami knowing Ami was the one who would have something comforting to say.
"Relena is going to an excellent family Rei, they are rich, part of high society, I think they are related to some sort of royalty, the Sanq Kingdom, they will take good care of her, she will be called Relena Darlian Peacecraft," Ami said pleasantly thinking that Rei would appreciate being told what was to happen to her child and Ami was justly was shocked when Rei shot her an icy gaze.
"I never want to speak of this again," Rei told them all darkly as she leaned forward and signed the papers dismissively not even looking them over. Her tone made it clear that this part of her life was never to be spoken of by any of them ever.
Papers signed, Rei's gaze wandered back to the window. Ami tried to speak again but Minako shook her head and Ami kept her silence. Rei needed time, only time could heal her soul and soften her heart.
Hours passed by until finally the limousine came to a stop at the steps of a magnificent Crystal Palace. Home. On the steps waiting eagerly for them was a young girl eight years of age, hopping from one foot to the other impatiently. Her light pink hair was pulled into two cone-shaped buns and pig-tails on either side of her head, with wide red eyes, her face had a cute button nose and bright pink lips, she looked just like her mother. On her forehead was a gold crescent moon proclaiming this child was royalty, she was a Moon Princess, like her mother before her.
Minako stepped out of the limousine to be the first one to greet the child.
"Hello Small Lady," Minako said fondly and Rini threw her arms around Minako's waist happily laughing.
"I'm so glad you are all back, mother and father are so busy, they hardly have any time for me," Rini said unhappily and Minako gave the small child a comforting hug as Ami stepped out of the car next, smiling widely.
"We are glad to be back," Ami reassured Rini pinching her cheek affectionately and Rini giggled loudly when Makoto grabbed her and swung her around in the air like a helicopter.
"Mako!" Rini squealed happily and Makoto chuckled depositing Rini on the ground again and like a perfect little princess, she rearranged her dress, smoothing out the creases painstakingly. Rini looked at the door to the limousine expectantly waiting. Rei slowly stepped out of the car, her face smiling brightly and Rini beamed at her, in her naive youth Rini didn't see the pain showing in her favourite Godmother's eyes.
"Rei did you miss me?" Rini asked cutely holding her arms out waiting to be held and Minako caught her breath when Rei didn't answer straight away. Rei just seemed to stare at Rini with that pained expression.
"Of course I missed you Small Lady," Rei replied kneeling in front of Rini and Rini encircled her chubby arms around Rei's neck as Rei scooped her up in her arms as she always did. Rini looked up at Rei's face affectionately, and reached up to touch a new tear that had rolled from Rei's eye.
"Why are you crying?" Rini asked and Rei sniffed back her tears kissing Rini's forehead just as she had done to Relena, her darling baby girl whom she had left behind.
"If I ever had a daughter, I'd imagine her to be just like you," Rei whispered and Rini smiled hugging Rei's neck tightly.
"You would be a great mother," Rini whispered back and she couldn't understand why Rei cried so bitterly when she said that.
Later that night Rei sat on the bench in the Crystal Gardens, by herself, thinking of Relena, and imagining what her life could have been if only she had had the chance. If she hadn't been a senshi, if the man she loved hadn't……She didn't even notice that she wasn't alone anymore.
"Rei, you were quiet at dinner," a male voice commented as Endymion sat beside her on the bench. His cobalt blue eyes watched Rei's sad face, as she brushed back her fringe distractedly.
"Endymion, I didn't realise you were there," Rei said shifting uncomfortably moving away from him and Endymion frowned when Rei hid her eyes from his gaze. Endymion could always tell what Rei was thinking. It was a blessing and a curse that they shared. Something from the past they always thought had happened in their past, from the Silver Millennium, it was pity they couldn't remember much of it.
"What's wrong Rei? You can tell me," Endymion persisted taking Rei's hands in his but Rei pulled away as though touching fire, jumping off the bench and covering her face with her hands.
"No I cant, you don't understand, I can never tell," Rei started sobbing, her shoulders heaving as the gravity of her secret weighed heavy upon her shoulders. She felt horrible keeping things from Endymion, he had always been there for her, but she could never tell him hr secret. For he would tell Serenity, his wife, the perfect Queen.
From out of the darkness Serenity stepped out, looking beautiful as ever and Rei realised it had been a Royal Family ambush. They had planned to catch her like this, unawares and vulnerable. Serenity placed a delicate hand on Rei's shoulder and Rei shuddered involuntarily. Serenity pulled her hand away, not knowing what to make of Rei's strange behaviour, and hurt that Rei couldn't bear Serenity touching her.
"Can you tell me?" she asked gently and Rei turned to Serenity, tears of self pity streaming down her face.
"No, please don't ask me ever again, I can never tell you, never," Rei pleaded then she turned on her heel and ran back into the palace, and into her room.
Serenity and Endymion watched her go and Endymion, seeing Serenity was upset that Rei hadn't confided in her took his wife's hand lovingly kissing it.
"Something is going on Endymion, I have to find out what it is, they are hiding something from me, the had done it before but this is different, its really something, something big," Serenity said thoughtfully, her wide blue eyes sad that her senshi felt they had to hide their secrets from her. Endymion was a little more weary of the secret. He knew the senshi would protect Serenity with their lives, if they were hiding something from Serenity, there had to be a good reason.
"What if its something that will change our lives forever?" Endymion asked cautiously and Serenity paused breathing deeply and bravely.
"Then I want to take that chance."