Chapter Eleven:

Time & Time Again

That morning, Saturn decided to take Rini to the park again. She had loved spending her time with the young princess, due to the fact that she had a lot of time. There was much more to life then just killing people, she had thought some time ago. She closed the door to her apartment and dialed the phone number to the Palace.

"Hello?"

Saturn smiled at the voice her 'mother'. "Hey, Michiru. Is Endymion or Serenity around?"

"Well, Serenity is off in a meeting with Rei and Lita. Endymion is in his office...Do you want me to transfer?"

"Yeah... that would get great."

There was a small silence as she walked down the hall. "Hello?"

"Endymion, Hey."

"Saturn, what's going on?"

" Oh, I thought I would let you know that I'm on my way to pick up Rini."

"Oh, she's waiting for you. She's been dressed since about ten this morning."

"Really? Well, tell her I'm on my way."

"Will do. I'll see you when you get here."

Saturn hung up the phone and placed it in her back pocket. She took the elevator downstairs to the main part of the building. She stood there, trying to figure out they would do after the day at the park. There was so much to do, but there was just... she closed her eyes, thinking that maybe she should consider on dating. She smirked, "Yeah... me dating? Please... I don't need-" her cell phone when off again and she looked at her caller id. "Hello, Lita... what do you want?" She heard the young woman giggle on the other line and replied, "Hey, I thought you would like to go out to dinner with Trowa and me. I thought it would be okay, considering you're always in that apartment of yours." Saturn rolled her eyes and walked off the elevator. "Well, I guess... What time are you talking?" she asked. There was a small pause and then she heard, "About seven-ish... is that okay?" Saturn waved to the sercuity guard and then looked at her watch. "That'll do...I'll see you guys later."

Rini raced over to Saturn once she came inside the door. "Saturn... are we going to go?" she asked. Saturn smiled and then looked at Endymion, who had appeared from his office. "You have everything?" Endymion asked his daughter. "Yes, Papa... I do." she stated. Saturn smiled and said, " I'll bring her home in a lil bit." Endymion nodded and then reached into his pocket. "Lita told me to give this to you. She said that if you have any questions to call her." he stated. Saturn raised an eyebrow and wondered what it was. She opened the folded piece of paper and looked at the numbers. She looked at Endymion and he shrugged. Saturn grabbed Rini's hand and walked to the door. She wondered what this meant.

At the park...

"YOU DID WHAT!"

"Calm down... it's okay... believe me." Lita stated.

Saturn couldn't believe it! Lita had given the bartender her phone number and the piece of folded paper with the numbers on it was his. "I can't believe you, Lita! I didn't want the guy's phone number!" she told her.

"Would you calm down? After you left he came over and asked about you."

"He did?"

"Yeah, I just told him that you were a friend of mines and then he wondered if you going out with someone. I told him I didn't know, even though I knew you weren't really going out with anyone, and he gave me his number and I gave him yours."

Saturn sat there as she looked over where Rini was playing. She couldn't believe it... a guy was actually interested in her. She sighed and stated, "We're going to talk about this at lunch. Don't think you're off the hook." She hung up the phone and looked over at Rini. She just could say no... not to mention the guy was really cute. Rini walked over to her and asked, "Can we go to the Ice Cream Place?" Saturn smiled and grabbed her hand. "Yes we can, Rini."

They walked out out the shop and headed back to the park. Saturn had spoiled her enough, even though the King and Queen did most of it. She watched as Rini sat on the swing set with her strawberry ice cream. She smiled a bit, wondering if being a parent was all that great. She would really know anyway. She turned around to head to the bench, but paused when she saw Heero.

"What do you want? Are you here trying to kill me again?" she asked in a cold tone. Heero looked at her and replied, "I just want to get something clear is all." he told her. Saturn walked over to the bench and sat down, her smoothie in hand. "I really don't want to talk to you." she told him straight out. Heero looked at her with a blank expression. "So, tell me... everything is over right?"

She looked at him with a glare. "Damn right!"

Heero stood there. "Then tell me you don't love me anymore and I'll leave you alone."

Saturn stood up and looked Heero straight in the eyes. "I don't love you anymore, Heero. You've put me through so much Hell that I can't even count for it. I don't love you anymore, and I hope that you understand that this may be the end of our friendship as well. I know I did you wrong and you did me wrong. So, if you think about it... we're even.. neutral... So, Heero... this is good bye... for good." She walked around him and called for Rini. Rini raced over and took her hand. Saturn knew what she had said and done was true. She could not bare being walked on, put through Hell and in the hospital again. "Who was that, big sis?" Rini asked. Saturn looked down at her and replied, "Someone just asking for directions."

Nightfall, Saturn went through her closet for some clothes. She didn't know what to wear, really. She was out of options! She hit the wall with her fist and yelled. "This is not like me!" she thought, looking at her closet. She decided to go with something simple and downright... not her. She reached for the box on the top shelf and pulled it down. She opened it and sighed. It was the only thing she hadn't worn. Endymion and Serenity had given to her as a gift, considering most of her clothes were jeans, t-shirts, tanks tops, and etc. She pulled it out of the bos and looked at it. It was black, which she liked. She held it up and looked at in the mirror. "This thing is short!" she stated, looking at her reflection. She then realized what she could do with it. She smiled and went back into her closet for a pair of light blue jeans and black boots.

Lita sat back in her seat and sighed. "Maybe it was a bad idea. I mean, after all, she didn't sound like she wanted to come." Trowa looked at his sister and stated, "She could be running late. You know how she likes to back in entrance."

"You got that right."

The two turned around and looked at Saturn. She was wearing a tube top that looked like a dress, but really wasn't. She had chosen a nice pair of jeans and matching boots. "What have done with Saturn?" Trowa and Lita asked in unsion. Saturn sat down and order a shot of whiskey. "Are you sure that is what you want?" the server asked. Saturn glared at him and he walked away. "Nothing, just gave her a new look." she stated. Trowa cleared his throat and Lita looked at her.

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"Why the hell you gave that guy my phone number!"

Trowa looked at his sister. "You gave the bartender her phone number? I thought you were joking about that."

Lita smiled and replied, " He was interested in you. Come on, Sat. You need to loosen up a bit. You're not the person we knew a few years ago. Even though you were a body guard, you were still this let loose young woman who would give the finest guy her phone number."

Saturn looked down. Lita was right about that. She was that person... before she met Heero again and he screwed everything up. The waiter placed her drink before her and she looked up. "I guess you guys are right... maybe I do need to loosen up. But, it takes time to go back to being yourself again." she stated. Lita and Trowa nodded. She sipped the shot glass and asked, "So, what's his name?"

"His name is Eclipse. He's really cute."

"I figured that."

"I mean, under some light, he looks cuter."

"And?"

"He graduated from Tokyo University, top of his class. He majored in... now what was it... E... Eggtyology? Trowa, what did he major in?"

"Egyptology, sis."

"Yeah, that. And he also majored in... what is it?"

"Physics?"

"Yeah, anyway, he's a real cool person... I asked him why he had become a bartender and he replied-"

"I'm only earning extra money to go back to school for a doctorate."

The all looked up at the young man who had mysteriously appeared. (okay... I'm going to sum this up... he looks like Eclipse from Demon Diary... only human... I didn't mean for that to happen, but I just finished reading book one again.) Saturn stared at the guy with dark blue, streaked with gray eyes. "I was going to talk to you myself, but you left." he stated. Saturn stood up and smiled, "It's quite alright... but still, you should have said something." Eclipse smiled, blushing a bit. Lita smirked and asked, "Hey, you want to join us?"

"Sure, but I was wondering if..." He looked over at Saturn. "I was wondering if I could take you to the movies... Just a movie and nothing more." Saturn smiled and looked down. God, right now she felt like she was back in high school. She looked up and looked at Eclipse. "Sure... we can go do that." she stated. Eclipse smiled and Saturn grabbed her jacket. "Sorry, you guys, but I have to go. See you around."

After the movie, Eclipse drove Saturn home. She sat in silence, thinking of what she had suddenly done. "Oh, it's for the best. Heero can rot in Hell for all I care." She thought. "So, your friend Lita said that you work for the King and Queen. What's that like?" she heard. She looked over at him and replied, "It's okay... something that you have under your belt of jobs. I work under them only because it's like a family tradition... you know, your parents protected their parents thing." Eclipse turned a corner and asked, "Which apartments?" he asked. Saturn pointed to the one that was painted dark blue. He pulled over at the front entrance and smiled at her. "Well, my lady. This is where I let you off." he stated. Saturn smiled at him and asked, " I know it's none of my business, but have you ever have anyone hurt you to the point that you think that if you see them again... it'll only make things worst?" Eclipse turned off his care and looked straight ahead. "Yeah... it was my last year in college and my ex was finishing her finals. She told me that after college would end, she would move in with me. I was excited about it, know that it would be really cool. Then... I found her with my best friend at a party. She told me she was sick and I told her that I was going to a party... I didn't think to see her with him." He looked over at her and saw concern in her eyes. "It's alright. I'm over her now... I have a new life." he stated, smiling. Saturn looked down, thinking about the words. Eclipse got out of the car and opened the door. "Here you go, My Lady." he teased. Saturn took his hand and got out. She smiled at him and he blushed. They walked over to the door and Saturn turned around. "Well, thanks for the movie... I just wished that we met in a better way."she told him. Eclipse laughed and replied, "Yeah, but it's better now then later on in life." Saturn nodded and tiptoed, kissing his cheek. Eclipse blinked a bit and blushed. "Good night, Mr. Bartender." she teased. Eclipse nodded and replied, "Good night." He watched as she walked into the door of the apartment building. He had to admit, she was a really different person.