Disclaimer: I don't own sailormoon

Hey guys. Well My worm has not gone, but I was able to get another chapter written for you. Sorry about any errors, it was a little rushed and i will fix it up later. Have fun with Serena.

Tandem

Chapter Nine

Serena walked into the dining hall and looked around for her charges, smiling when her gaze found them sitting comfortable at their table, enjoying a hearty dinner. Davie, one of her deaf charges, was in the middle of his latest clowning act and had the attention of most of the tables in the hall. Serena smiled with inner pride and headed towards them. In the three weeks Serena had been here, she had been introduced to every single one of the kids in residence, and been given five of her own to look after. Davie, the clown, was her newest and liveliest, then there was Chantelle; who was quiet and reserved, Katie; who gave Davie a run for his money when it came to being boisterous, Harry; the smallest and most interchangeable of the lot, and Jay; Serena's little helper and friend. As was usual they were all together at the one table for dinner, with her place empty at the head. The center liked to keep the groups together as much as possible, including at meal times and even going so far as to have them sharing rooms. It helped them to cultivate skills with a family like group, with kids with different abilities and disabilities, which they would undoubtedly find in the outside world. Serena's job was to help them with school, 'family' life and anything else they wished her to help them with. She loved it.

Serena sat down at the table and smiled at the little faces that turned to her. They smiled back and used a few brief hand signals to say hello. She signed back and looked down at her plate. And recoiled instantly, pushing her chair back so hard it leaned back onto two legs and nearly went flying from underneath her. She waved her arms frantically in the air, letting out a strangled 'aaargh!' as she tried to regain her balance. She manage to get both her feet firmly back on the floor and paused to catch her breathe before looking up to glare at her kids, who were all smothering smiles behind their hands.

Anyone going to tell me what this is? She signed looking around the group, waiting for the guilty parties eyes to dart away from hers, a little surprised when none did.

The sat silently staring at her, none of them moving, except for the occasional twitch to the corner of their mouths.

No? Ok then, Davie... Serena signed, turning to the most likely candidate.

Yes Serena?

Was it you?

Nope, not me Davie signed, looking completely innocent for once.

Jay? Serena asked, hoping her little friend would let her know who it was.

Jay shook his head. Serena looked at him expectantly...and got nothing. A little disappointed she turned to look at the others and raised her eyebrows. They shook their heads, still watching her intently.

Well someone put this... Serena signed, and picked lifted the dripping THING out of the gravy on her plate and displayed it for the children to see. She dropped it to sign the rest of her sentence.

...on my plate

Maybe it was you Davie signed, giving her a cheeky grin.

And why would I do that? How could I have done that? I've only just come in. Serena pointed out.

Maybe it was the boogie monster Katie replied.

There is no such thing as the boogie monster Katie!

The cat? Chantelle added.

The ghost in the attic Davie put in.

Ghouls?

God?

Aliens?

Super models?

Big green gobble-de-goops?

All right, enough already Serena signed frantically, trying not to laugh at some of the suggestions they had been making.

You're not going to tell me are you?

They shook their heads and grinned cheekily at her.

Is anyone going to tell me what it is?

They seemed to ponder the question for a moment, then Davie perked up and signed to her just exactly what it was. Serena looked down at her plate, back up at the kids and then pushed her chair back away from her plate, as if in slow motion, suddenly coming up against someone's legs. Serena tilted her head back and her eyes met Ken's eyes. He raised an eyebrow at her expectantly. Serena opened her mouth to explain, when a roar was heard down the hall outside the hall.

The hall was completely silent for a while. Then the children at Serena's table started to giggle, causing everyone to look over at them. Serena looked down at her plate and lifted the soggy thing off. The children at the next table took up the giggles, when they recognised what it was and the connection between the thing in Serena's hand and the roar coming steadily closer to the dining hall. Unfortunately so did the man storming through the door.