A/N: Sorry I'm taking forever to get this started, but I live in a madhouse where there is always a distraction. Between dogs needing emergency vet runs, and a very near disastrous experiment in the kitchen, it's amazing I've written anything!

Disclaimer: I still own no part of Sailor Moon or any of these characters.

Haruka woke much calmer than she had the night before. The sun came through the windows and kissed her cheek. After a moment, a pair of lips did the same.

"Good morning, love."

She felt Michiru snuggle her head into the crook of her shoulder. Yawning, she reached up to hug her close. Silky hair fell all around them, and Haruka gently brushed it back. She trailed her fingers down Michiru's arm, feeling a sleepy giggle against her neck.

"That tickles."

Lowering her face, Haruka brushed her lips across the top of the aquamarine head. Michiru raised up onto her elbow to lean in for a real kiss. An explosion of pounding made both jump.

"What in the world?!?" Haruka demanded, sitting up quickly. She raised her voice to shout, "What's going on?!?"

The soft sound of bare feet running across the floor greeted her question, then the door flew open. Setsuna hurried in, looking very pale and worried.

"I can't get into Hotaru's room! There's something in front of the door, and she won't answer me!"

Both the other women scrambled out of bed, Michiru reaching for her long, cream-colored bathrobe. She took two steps, tying her belt, then stopped. Her face grew whiter than even Setsuna's.

"Hotaru!"

"What is it?" Haruka demanded, hurrying to her side. "Michiru, what's wrong?"

"I just remembered! Last night, I went to get a drink of water, and I heard the strangest sounds coming out of Hotaru's room!"

Setsuna looked taken aback, but suddenly Haruka, too, recalled the night before. She looked at her lover with shock. Last night, Michiru had pushed her away coldly, indifferent to her pain.

"What was she doing?" Setsuna asked, unaware of Haruka's alarm.

"I don't know. I didn't check." Michiru looked wretched. "Oh, God, how could I have done such a thing? And..."

She spun to Haruka, beautiful eyes wide with horror. "No! I would never have said those things! I didn't mean them! Oh, Haruka!"

The taller, roguish Senshi caught her beloved as she threw herself into her arms. Setsuna looked worriedly at Michiru, clinging to Haruka's neck.

"I'm so sorry! Please, don't be angry!"

"I'm not angry," Haruka said dully. "But we need to get into Hotaru's room."

Michiru stepped back, eyeing her face nervously. "You are angry. I don't blame you. I was cruel."

Something changed in Setsuna's face, as though she, too, suddenly remembered something terrible. Lifting a hand to her head, she closed her eyes, a pained look on her face. Then she shook herself, and forced her eyes open.

"Haruka's right. We need to get to Hotaru," the dark haired woman said. "Come on."

The other two followed her into the hall. Just as they reached their surrogate daughter's room, they heard Usagi's voice issuing from Haruka's wrist.

"Haruka?"

She stopped, and looked into the communicator. "What is it, kitten?"

"Something weird is going on. Is everyone alright?"

Haruka looked up at both her pale, distracted companion's, trying to force the door open.

"Of course! We're fine!"

"Well, in that case, can you meet us at Ami's? We need to talk. All of us."

"Hotaru, open this door!"

Haruka smiled reassuringly at her young friend. "We'll be there in about an hour."

She did not wait for a response, cutting the conversation short. Setsuna and Michiru both threw their shoulders against the door, but it would not budge. They gritted their teeth and shoved with all their might. The door remained firm.

"Oh, this is ridiculous!" Haruka cried. "Stand back! URANUS, WORLD SH-!"

Michiru leapt forward, slapping a hand over her mouth. "You'll destroy the whole house!"

"Why don't we try the window?" Setsuna added, eyeing Haruka nervously.

As Haruka lowered her hands, and Michiru released her mouth, they heard a tiny voice. "Setsuna-mama? Michiru-mama? Haruka-papa? Are you there?"

"HOTARU!"

All three flung themselves at the door again, pressing their ears against the wood. "We're here, sweetheart!" Setsuna called. "What's going on in there?"

"I'm locked in my closet!"

"Your closet doesn't lock!" Haruka yelled back, confused.

"I know, but I can't get it open!"

Michiru jiggled the door handle. "Why can't we open the door?"

"The bed is in front of it."

The three exchanged baffled looks, but as one decided they would ask questions later.

"Mama? Mama? Papa? I really can't get out! Help!" Hotaru's voice sounded terrified.

Suddenly, Michiru appeared possessed by a demon. She stepped back, and kicked the door as hard as she could. It shuttered and groaned. She kicked again, and the barest crack appeared. With almost a growl, she hurled herself at the offending wood, and sent it toppling down onto the bed.

Haruka sped by her, crawling over the door and the bed, making straight for the closet. A book had somehow lodged itself in the crack between door and floor. She kicked it away and flung the door wide.

Crying out with joy, Hotaru ran out into their arms. "Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, Setsuna-mama, I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright, sweetie," Michiru reassured her. "You just scared us a little."

"No! You don't understand! I thought such terrible things about you last night, and I know they're not true, because you do love me!" She lifted her face from Setsuna's shoulder to look at them all forlornly. "Don't you?"

"Of course we do!" Haruka shouted. "Why would you think we didn't?"

Michiru rubbed Hotaru's back soothingly, but her eyes had taken on a strange, distant look. "You thought these things last night? Never before?"

"No! I promise!"

Beautiful, sea-blue eyes met Haruka's. "Perhaps we should hurry and meet the others at Ami's. Last night appears to have been most eventful."

Osaka Naru yawned as she walked through the park. She had woken the night before from the strangest dream, and couldn't get back to sleep ever since. Dropping exhaustedly onto a bench, she covered her face with her hands and tried to remember what the dream had been about. It danced just beyond her memory, taunting her.

"It doesn't matter, I guess," she muttered into her hands. "But I can almost... Argh!"

Naru groaned with frustration, letting her head fall to lay against the back of the bench without opening her eyes. She didn't even realize someone stood beside her until she heard a voice that should not have been there.

"N-naru?"

Her eyes flew open wide, and she gasped.

Yra: I'm sure you can all guess who it is. ;-)