Disclaimer: It's when you don't own something, and somebody else does.

"blah" somebody talking

Italics somebody thinking

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Chapter 8

Letting the horse's rest Andrew took his sister down and prepared to hear what she had to yell at him about now that he had removed her. "What do you think that you are doing Andrew? Why couldn't you have left me to do what I wish and find someone that I want to love and spend the rest of my life with?" Serena was fuming mad as she stared up at her brother.

Offering her something to eat he handed the bowl of food to her. "Serenity-"

Her face turned red as she corrected her brother, "Serena!"

"Serenity! Mother and father had told you to find someone at the ball but you ran away before that and now you have no choice but to marry the Prince of Spain."

Her face beat red from anger she shouted at the top of her lungs, "I WILL NOT MARRY HIM! I REFUSE TO DO SUCH A THING!" Storming off inside the tent to get some sleep, she knew that she wouldn't be able to escape her brother or the guards and his own personal guard to boot. "Just my luck finally found the one I love and torn from him." A single tear falling down her cheek as she went to sleep.

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As the night crept on Heero sat at his table not sure of what to do, after all he recognized those symbols as the royal family of France. That must have been the royal Prince himself and it appeared that once he spotted Serena he had taken a liking to her. Burying his face in his hands he faintly heard something that sounded like horses approaching. Then it stopped and he dismissed the sound.

A loud knocking on the door shook him from his position and he went to answer it. Then before he knew it two women pushed him back inside and closed the door behind them.

Sitting him back down and taking seats themselves he was becoming anger. "Who do you think you two are barging into my home at such an hour!"

They looked at each other and then back at him. "Forgive us Heero, you are Heero correct?" The blue haired girl apologized for the both of them. Nodding his head he tried to think if he knew them but came up with a blank.

The tall brunette began speaking this time. "You don't know us but I believe you have met Mina?"

Heero's anger started to fade as he stared at the two women in front of him, "Are you two friends of hers? By the way what are your names?"

Blushing from embarrassment they introduced themselves. Fumbling with her hands the blue-haired woman looked around his house as she introduced herself.

The blue hair girl went first, "My name is Amy and I am a friend of Serena."

"I'm Lita also a friend of Serena's and we know that we're late by the looks of it. We would have been here sooner if 'someone' would have ridden astride!" Facing her friend with her eyebrows furrowed she glared at her.

"Then why are you here, the Prince of France has just taken her, probably to marry her, I wouldn't blame him. Serena is…I mean…she means a lot to me." His eyes were downcast as he spoke.

Taking his hand in hers Lita stared him, "We know that is why we're here to help you get her back from Prince Andrew. After all she is to be married and he won't listen to her."

Standing up and pacing in his kitchen he ran a hand through his hair, "Exactly how am I to get her back I mean she should be thankful that a Prince wants to marry her. She shall learn to be happy and to love him."

Standing up as well Lita brought her fist up and with fire in her green eyes, "Heero! Are you telling us that you don't love her! That is what we want to know, because we are to help you! If you do love her then let us help." Heero stood still thought about all the times with Serena. From when they first met to the time when he had kissed her numerous times.

Of all the people that he knew and met, Serena was the only that seemed to get under his skin. The fact that he actually enjoyed their little mock fights brought a smile to his face. Walking towards the window he stared out of it as he recalled some memories.

"When Serena first started working here, I said she was lazy." A small smile crept onto his face. "She got so mad. No one had ever done that to me before. I was actually amused by it."

Lita smiled at that, "Yes, she can get a little hot tempered at times."

Nodding his head he thought of other times, "Not only that, but she ruined my meal, tracked mud onto my carpet, and put ants in my bed." Amy laughed at all what she heard. She could imagine that when pushed Serena would push right back.

"But of course I…I blamed myself for when she was attacked on her way home. That was one of the many reasons why I wanted her to live here. My home just felt more warmth when I would come back from business trips." Racking his hands through his hair he sighed as he told the two, "Serena did love the meadow with the flowers."

He was silent for a few moments. Lita was starting to get worried and whispered to Amy. "Amy, do you think that he has fallen asleep?" Gesturing towards him for he had yet to move in over five minutes.

Rubbing her arms Amy scrunched her eyebrows together, uncertain herself. "I don't know, we did arrive that late. But I doubt he would fall asleep standing up."

"Yes, I am in love with her and now I've lost her." Sinking down into a chair Amy placed a hand on his shoulder.

She tried to comfort him and said to him, "It's not too late Heero, there is still time. That is if you want her back into your life. We know where she will be and Raye and Mina will be there to stall for time. But you need to make a choice now." Not needing to think twice he shot up and went into his room coming back with a small velvet box in his hand.

Amy and Lita exchanged smiles and did thumbs up signal to one another. Running towards the stalls they got their horses and were off, but immediately Amy fell off her horse causing Heero and Lita to stop and wait for her.

Grumbling she looked at her horse threw her hands in the air and got back on this time astride. "Forget being lady-like right now we have a friend to save!"

With her mouth hanging open Lita promptly closed it and they all galloped at top speed towards the palace. They would reach there in the morning hours.

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Arriving at the palace Andrew's guards took their horses to the stalls and was ordered to get rest and to go to their homes. Leading his sister by the hand he brought her into the throne room where their parents were discussing about some minor issues that they needed to attend to.

When looking up the Queen faltered for a moment and then touched her husbands arm. He too then had tears running down his face and they both went to hug their daughter, Princess Serenity.

"My darling daughter how I've missed you!" Her mother crying into her hair and Serena returned the hug and then hugged her father who didn't need to say how much he had missed his only daughter.

Turning towards his son he embraced him in a hug as well. "Son you have made me proud you will make a great King one day! We too have missed you as well and are glad that you are safely home."

The Queen leading her daughter out of the room talked to her, "Come dear we shall have a bath prepared for you and taken out of these clothes and fresh new ones in place of them." Smiling she stared at her daughter who had her eyes downcast, "Serenity now that you are home we can proceed with your wedding to the Prince of Spain!" She watched as tears sprang from her daughter's eyes and flowed freely down her face.

Stopping she placed her hands on her cheeks and turned her daughter's head to face hers. "Serenity what is wrong! Please tell me what has happened?"

Embracing her mother in a hug she sobbed for a moment before continuing. "Mother I cannot marry the Prince of Spain not anymore!"

Marie stroked her daughters back she wanted to help her in anyway possible, "Why?"

"How can I when I am in love with another?" Serna kept her eyes closed as she told her mother the reason for her objection this time.

Shocked she pulled back from her daughter and stared at her. "Oh my…you are in love! Does this man love you in return?"

"He does, but he thinks that I am a servant since I didn't want someone that I would fall in love with to know who I really am. He wants to try to protect me by not asking me to marry him."

Hugging her daughter she replied, "My daughter it seems that you truly did find your true love! If he comes before you are wed tomorrow then your father and I will talk with him. To see if this man truly does love you." Gently pushing her off she ordered her daughter to take a bath and get some rest. Tomorrow would be a very busy and tiring day she could feel it.

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Walking towards Raye's room the Queen thought about what her daughter had revealed to her and she was shocked that she hadn't seen it on her face. Knocking lightly on the door she hear 'coming' and then the door opened to reveal the raven hair girl who gasped and then bowed in respect.

The Queen entered the room and Raye closed the door behind her quickly setting a seat down for the Queen to sit in and then Raye sat down herself. "Raye I have come to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."

Shocked Raye nodded her head in acknowledgement, "Of course not your majesty!"

Then suddenly in burst Mina who ran in and started shouting, "Serena's back! Serena's back! Where are Lita and Amy with Heero? They should have been back before Andrew and Serena the plan is going to be ruined and-" Looking over towards the calm figure she bowed "Sorry your majesty."

"That is alright Mina I was hoping that you would be here as well." Taking a seat she joined Raye and the Queen.

After two hours of questions she got out that Serena was in love with a man named Heero. He appeared to be very wealthy and very much in love with Serena. Thinking about this she was also told that he was devastatingly handsome but a quick temper and stubbornness just as her daughter. Smiling to herself she thought indeed they are a perfect match for one another.

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Arriving at the palace at around one the next morning the three travelers were inside the palace and heading towards the man's bathroom.

Stopping in front of the door they looked at their only male companion, "Trust me Heero you might want to take a bath and get some rest, we plan on doing the same and no buts about it!"

Not arguing since he was already tired from their nonstop journey he went inside to have a warm bath. After a refreshing bath he got dressed into some slacks that he found and waited outside the lady's bathroom, after about twenty minutes Lita and Amy came out and were dressed in their night gowns.

Lita gestured to Heero, "This way to the guest room." Walking they noticed that he wasn't following but stood there with his arms folded across his chest.

Amy rubbed her temples she was tried and just wanted to sleep. He really needed to be more cooperative, "Heero, we're tired as you! It won't do any good to see her now when you're about to fall asleep where you stand! Don't make me drag you to your room!"

Starting to follow them they lead him to his room where upon contact with the pillow he fell into a deep sleep. Then Amy and Lita made it to their rooms and fell asleep as well.

Seven hours later the girls were well rested and up to start the day, they met up with Raye and Mina who told them about their talk with the Queen. All of them headed to see where she was at the moment, and to tell her that Heero was here and asleep.

Arriving in the breakfast hall they found the royal family there eating breakfast. When the King looked up he nodded his head and addressed them, "Good morning ladies and will you be joining us for breakfast?"

Smiling they took seats and some more servants brought in their food.

Mina smiled and bowed before the royal family, "Thank you your majesty and we have a guest who is still sleeping, and maybe I could go deliver them their breakfast?"

Mina looked at the Queen who understood. "Well nonsense Mina! You have just arrived for breakfast yourself as all of you did! I will take your guest their food, after all this gives me the chance to meet the mystery person."

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Hearing knocking on the door he sleepily got up and opened it to see before him a lady carrying his tray. "Here is your breakfast, Heero is it?"

Nodding his head and stepping aside she came in and set his tray down and had a seat in one of the chairs, "Please sit down and start eating." Not sure what she wanted she sat down but didn't eat. "I don't bite young man!"

Slowly he began to eat his breakfast and he had some questions for her. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled at his inquiry, "Someone who is looking out for Serena and I have heard your name mentioned. Tell me why did you come to the palace?"

Setting down his cup of coffee his jaw tightened and then he responded, "To get Serena back, I love her and I want her to be a part of my life."

Nodding her head she asked him, "Did you come to this conclusion before or after she was taken by the Prince?" Stopping to think about it he responded, "Before, I guess when I first met her and she blew up in my face."

Smiling gently she got up and asked once more, "Heero tell me from your heart. Do you love Serena? Do you love her enough to see who she is and to not worry about protecting her from stares or mockery because she is a servant?"

Looking up at her he lowered his head and then raised it again, "Yes, two of her friends knocked sense into me and now I see that it doesn't matter whether or not if she is a servant. That doesn't change my love for her." Nodding her head she smiled and patted his shoulder and started to leave.

Turning around he asked, "You still haven't told me who you are." Stopping midway out of the door she turned around with a smile on her face, "You shall find out later, but I suggest that you finish your breakfast and get dressed. I have heard that the garden is her favorite place to be, that you cannot miss." Then leaving him with that piece of information he quickly ate breakfast, had his shower, brushed his teeth and got dressed.

In an hour he was dressed and ready to go and find Serena. Hoping that she was safe and that no harm had come to his Serena. Running at full speed he bumped into four ladies he recognized as her friends. Nodding his head they pointed him in the direction that Serena was currently located. Thanking them he started running once more until he came upon the gardens.

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AN: I lost track of time. School and homework will do that. Anyway just one chapter to go and then this story will be complete. I will try to have the last chapter out in a timely manner. Probably a little bit after two weeks, homework is coming at a faster pace.