A/N: Whoot! I know you love me now! Plus you'll love me even more when you find I've started chapters for Julliard and Defying Destiny. My other story is once again on hold as I'm not sure where exactly I'm going with it…but then I rarely do with stories so we'll see.

Serenity scampered happily through the mall. The past weeks had been blissful. She spent every free moment with Darien. They had gone to the beach, the park, they danced in the moonlight…she was falling in love with him all over again. The only thing that dampened the mood was the fact that he still seemed distant to her, even when she looked deep in his eyes, she couldn't find recognition or love. She needed him to remember, it was tearing her apart to be away from her people, and slowly having to face the idea of him not wanting to remember.

"Serenity if you don't still your thoughts we'll never find dresses for the ball!" Mina said, the happiness in her voice matching Serenity's. They would find the perfect dresses, and she would find the dress that would make Darien remember…if she had to get it from the moon herself.

They raced through the mall, going into one store after another and somehow none of them were satisfied. After three hours Serenity gave up and decided to cheat her way into a dress.

"That's it guys, I say it's time we use the Luna pen." Serenity said with a devilish twinkle in her eyes.

"Hmm you could do that or you could wear this." Malachite said coming up from behind the girls. In his hands he held a white dress of shimmering silk. Its waist and neckline were trimmed with gold. The dress had no sleeves but the skirt of the dress draped down and sparkled as if covered in diamonds. Nephrite came up holding a pearl tiara, something that she once wore as a young princess when her crown seemed ill-suited for her head. Zoicite held shoes, and Jedite, always the charmer, held her star locket, and her pearl bracelet.

"Where did you get all this?" Serenity asked incredulously as she and the other girls ran to examine everything the guys held.

"Yeah…I mean having this much fashion sense I'd think you guys were gay." Lita said taking a long look at the dress.

Amara burst out laughing at the red faces of the generals and prompting Jedite to let the girls in on their secret.

"We sent notice up to the moon when we first heard about the ball and had dresses and tuxedos made for everyone." Upon hearing that they also had beautiful moon gowns awaiting them the girls let out a joyful shriek, and even Amara seemed grateful to be able to stop shopping.

"Serenity have you decided whether or not you will sing at the ball?" Raye asked as they followed the guys out of the mall.

"I don't know I've tried everything but I can't seem to make Darien remember or even show that he loves me." Serenity heaved a sad sigh, it was bliss and happiness being with him but she wished he would give any sign that he remembered or that he loved her…

"Well we have yet to play the jealous card, if I recall Endymion used to get jealous even if you even danced with another guy." Mina said with an evil gleam to her eye. "I mean we could have your ex-boyfriend show up at the Ball in the hopes of winning you back."

"You guys could do a duet!" Zoicite's excited cry was silenced instantly by a glare of death from Haruka.

"No that would be perfect! You could sing the love duet from the play! That would be sure to get Darien jealous." Mina jumped up happy that they had a surefire plan. At least if this didn't work they knew they had no hope of getting Endymion back.

"NO! No! NO! I already acted like a lovesick puppy…that was enough cuteness and sweetness for a lifetime. There is no way I am singing a love song to my Princess! Besides you're all conveniently forgetting the fact that I cannot sing!" Haruka shouted out her last point with glee. That would surely get her out of having to sing a love song.

"It could still work…Malachite could sing backstage…all you would have to do is mouth the words." Nephrite said earning his own angry glare from Haruka.

"Please Haruka…it's been a month and he's not cracking, with this new enemy I need to get back to the moon as soon as possible. If this works we'll be home sooner. Please Haruka I need you." Serenity gave her best pout and mournful face, earning the groan of everyone around.

"NO ONE on the moon EVER hears of this you understand!" Haruka said admitting defeat and preparing herself for the most humiliating night of her life.

………………………………………………

Darien dusted off his tux for the third time as he stood outside Usagi's door waiting for someone to answer.

Eventually Malachite appeared in his tux and cape and shrugged an apology as he showed Darien in. Darien wore his own tuxedo and cape, around his eyes he donned a white mask. (come on all of you know he's Tuxedo Mask'd out) He stood inside the main foyer gaping at the size of the house.

"A lot of us live here" Malachite offered as some sort of explanation. He need not have bothered for the moment when Serenity began to walk down the stairs Darien's mind was lost in taking in her beauty.

She flowed with gentle grace, her dress trailing behind her. He had never seen anyone so beautiful or look more like a princess. HIS princess, the more he looked the more Usagi looked like his princess, as he continued staring the less difference he could find. He began to wonder if just maybe…

He shook the intruding thoughts out of his head and went to take her hand as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Wow Se-Usagi, you look beautiful, just like a princess." Darien said as he kissed her hand gently and led her out towards his car. Serenity couldn't help but feel nervous as they sped toward the theater. She wondered if making Darien jealous was the right call, or if he would take it to heart and never want to see her again. But she couldn't waste time…she needed…they needed to be back home to ensure that her people were safe from whomever this new enemy was.

…………………………….

Serenity was dancing joyfully in Darien's arms as the band played old fashioned waltzes, it all seemed so familiar to her, and she hoped it seemed just as familiar to Endymion. She remembered the times when he was not permitted to attend Serenity's suitor balls so he would come donning his mask and sweep her away so her parents would think she was actually considering a suitor besides Endymion.

"I just can't get over how beautiful you are Se-Usagi- sorry it's just that you remind me so much of someone…and I just can't get it out of my mind." Darien's words filled Serenity with unbridled hope.

"Pray tell who, Darien." Serenity asked gently prodding.

"Just a girl in a dream I had once, as silly as that sounds. It's really nothing I just find it strange." In reality it was a dream he had every night and it was everything to him.

Serenity did her best to hide her disappointment and looked around for Jedite to call her up to the stage to sing. She had waited to tell Darien to hopefully surprise him since he had wanted her to sing as another way to boost her confidence in herself.

Right on cue, Jedite appeared beside her. "Come on Usagi…if you don't get backstage soon you'll never be ready to sing on time." Jedite gave her a small wink as he headed backstage himself.

"What's that about Usagi? You never told me you were going to sing tonight." Darien said surprise and happiness evident in his voice.

"I wanted to surprise you, Jedite and Malachite set it up." Serenity gave him a kiss on the cheek and headed back stage leaving a smiling Darien behind her.

Upon going backstage, Serenity was greeted by a red faced Haruka who was trying to rid herself of the girls' ministrations as they constantly straightened and rearranged her tux. Michelle laughing the entire time. "I.Will.Never.Forgive.You.For.This." Haruka said as she glared toward Serenity.

"Yes but at least she'll get over that by watching it on tape over and over again." Zoicite said with a smile as he appeared behind them all with a video camera in tow.

"You wouldn't dare…" Haruka began, the girls having to use all their strength to hold her back.

"You're right I wouldn't dare to miss this opportunity to catch the oh so tough Haruka acting like a hopelessly romantic guy." The entire company burst out laughing at Zoicite's remark, only to stop when they heard the announcer call out to the audience.

…………………………………………..

"Ladies and Gentlemen I thank you all for coming here tonight to celebrate tomorrow's opening night performance of the Phantom of the Opera. As a special treat we have two of your very own to sing the infamous love duet from the musical. May I present Tsukino Usagi and Tenoh Haruka!"

At the announcer's words Darien felt his heart still. He knew that name, it was name Usagi had only spoke of once…it was her ex. The one she had worked so hard to win back. Fear crept through him as he wondered if it was he that Usagi wanted to be with. He watched the stage ashen faced, hoping to see an uncomfortable Usagi, hoping that she was only doing this in order to sing in front of an audience…

…………………………………….

Haruka took the stage first and heard a roar of applause and numerous shouts of "what a hunk." She cursed under her breath and once again contemplated ways to make Serenity pay. Serenity entered next to her own applause which was slowly silenced as all stopped to admire her beauty. The music began and both on stage took a deep breath.

Malachite's rich voice echoed out to the audience as Haruka, on her knees, began lip singing to Serenity, playing the part of a lovestruck boy to perfection. Slowly as she lip sang she rose to her feet and enveloped Serenity in a loving embrace. One glance towards Darien's ashen face told both they were accomplishing their goal.

"No more talk
of darkness,
Forget these
wide-eyed fears.
I'm here,
nothing can harm you -
my words will
warm and calm you.

Let me be
your freedom,
let daylight
dry -your tears.
I'm here,
with you, beside you,
to guard you
and to guide you . ."

Serenity braced herself for her lines, she wanted to look directly at Darien as she sang them, hoping to let him know the words were for him and not Haruka.

"Say you love me
every
waking moment,
turn my head
with talk of summertime . . .

Say you need me
with you,
now and always . . .
promise me that all
you say is true -
that's all I ask
of you . . ."

Serenity stared into Darien's eyes for every word but his ashen face of sadness and anger never faltered. As she turned toward Haruka as part of the act of listening to her words of love, she began to lose faith that she would ever again be with her Endymion.

"Let me be
your shelter,
let me
be your light.
You're safe:
No-one will find you
your fears are
far behind you . ."

Haruka actually finished mouthing those words with a smile, words about protecting her princess she could deal with, but having to listen to her princess spout love sonnets to her was another story. Still she kept on the act of being love struck as she listened to Serenity sing.

"All I want
is freedom,
a world with
no more night . . .
and you
always beside me
to hold me
and to hide me ."

Haruka gulped and paled they were nearing the big finish and she wondered if she could really pull off the act.

"Then say you'll share with
me one
love, one lifetime . . .
Let me lead you
from your solitude . . .

Say you need me
with you
here, beside you . . .
anywhere you go,
let me go too"

Finally Usagi and Malachite's voices blended together for their finale

"Love me -
that's all I ask
of you . . .
Anywhere you go
let me go too . . .
Love me -
that's all I ask
of you . ."

Haruka blanched as she knew this was the moment where they were supposed to pretend to kiss, she leaned in just close enough so that it would appear to the audience, and Darien, they were kissing, but still keeping enough distance away that Haruka, really didn't have to plan a way to kill her princess.

As they bowed to the applause, Serenity took one look at Darien and her heart sank, he was hurt and angry. He was definitely jealous, but was he ever going to admit that he had feelings for her now?

Serenity ran from the stage and ran backstage and out back to the floor to find Darien. She had to try and explain or at least see if he was really angry with her. She found him making his way towards an exit.

She followed him out to the rainy streets, finally giving up on trying to catch up to him and tried calling his name.

"Darien! Darien where are you going?" She was glad to see him stop and turned and she raced toward him in her wet and ruined dress.

"Is that why you didn't tell me Usagi? You didn't want to tell me you were going to sing a love song with your boyfriend?" Darien's words were fierce and accusing…she had hurt him just like he had thought she would, everyone he loved ended up hurting him.

"What is wrong with that Darien? Wasn't that what this was all about? To get me back together with him? Does it matter that after all this, it's not even what I want anymore!" Serenity cried out to him trying to make him see. She only wanted him that was all she ever wanted.

………………………………..

Darien felt hope rising within him as she spoke. Did she really want to be with him? Did the beautiful and perfect Usagi want to be with him, or was it all just a ploy to hurt him again.

"Then what do you want Usagi? Because from where I was standing it certainly looked like you wanted him. You've loved him all your life remember?" Darien's words were biting. He couldn't let himself be taken in by her, she'd only hurt him.

"I want you Darien! You're all I've ever wanted, you are all I will ever want. Don't you understand? It's you I love, and no matter what you say or do tonight, you will always be the one I love. It's you my heart cannot be without…but I know you will never love me back…" Serenity fought the impulse to fall on her knees and cry. But she was stronger than that now, Darien had made her stronger.

Darien's heart begged him to tell her the same. To tell her how he loved her since that day at the orphanage, to tell her how she was the first person, since his parents died, to ever make him feel love again, to tell her anything but the words that came out of his mouth.

"You're right Usagi, I don't love you and I never will." Darien forced back tears as he turned and walked away from her. Never seeing her fall to her knees crying in her ruined ballgown.

……………………………………………..

The next day Serenity walked sadly into the arcade, followed by the senshi and the generals. They had come to say goodbye. After the events of last night Serenity knew Darien's heart was not hers to claim. She would have to remain with the dreams and memories of her Endymion.

"What's with all of the sad faces?" Andrew said as he greeted his early morning visitors. For a moment no one wanted to tell the story, but eventually it was Lita whose monotone voice spilled the story. At its conclusion, Andrew leaped over the counter and took Serenity in his arms.

"I'm so sorry Sere." He gently stroked her hair and listened while the others informed him that they were going back home that day.

"We're going to miss you Andrew…at least we'll see you in a few months for the coronation." Nephrite said trying to make the leaving easier.

"That's nearly a year away" Serenity said mournfully, she missed her old friend dearly and she was not in the mood for another goodbye.

"Don't worry Sere, I'll come see you guys as soon as I can. I've still got a teleport key to get back whenever I want…I just have to find the time for the trip. Takes a bit longer when you don't have senshi power to back you up." He said trying and failing to lighten the mood.

They all said their goodbyes once again, each giving Andrew a hug goodbye, and then heading back to the privacy of the mansion to teleport home.

A/N: Don't hate me! No worries I have amazing plans for the next few chapters you guys are going to love it!