Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its associated characters I merely wish to borrow them for a short period of time for this story and then I promise to put them back where I found them. Scout's honor.

Elfgurl: It almost did stay a one-shot but then a plot bunny developed and I just had to continue it.

Hobbes the Cat: wow thanks for the sweet review! Yeah, I think I might have made Ami a little too harsh in the last chapter, I might have to revamp that a little. Yeah, she pretty much had their relationship figured out or in my mind she did anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed hope you'll like this chappie too.

Birdofflame83: I'm always happy when readers can relate it means that I've got the story right. I'm really glad you're enjoying the story thus far.

The day had begun so perfectly. A snowstorm the night before had blanketed the city with white and the trees with a glistening frost. Due to the unexpected amount of snow and ice school had been canceled. A giddy Usagi, who usually would not be up before noon on a day off, called all of her friends at 9:30 that morning to invite them out for a day at the park and arcade.

It began with a snowball fight. A ball of slush had hit Rei in the back of her head about half-way to the arcade. She had sputtered and whirled around looking for the guilty party. And found Minako with a mischievous gleam in her eye and an innocent mask on her face. From there it was a quick descent into an all out war. Rei threw a snowball at Minako who ducked causing the snowball to hit Ami. Ami looked on horrified at first as Makoto who had been standing next to her picked up a ball of snow and threw it back in defense of her. Her aim was vicious and true. With a smirk and a cheerful yell of "snowball fight" all chaos ensued.

It ended with Makoto on her hands and knees coughing violently and trying to catch her breath. Her friends had all gathered around worriedly but she tried to wave them off saying that she was alright, that she only had a little bit of a cold.

Ami's eyes narrowed, "Mako-chan this isn't a cold, you know it too."

Smiling nervously at Ami's tone, "I—I really don't know, I never got this bad before." She replied between coughing spells.

Concerned at her friend's state Minako had knelt down beside her and taken her hand and then felt her forehead, "Jeez Makoto, you're burning up!"

"You're sick and you came out with us?" Rei asked her friend.

"Seemed like a good idea at the time." She said weakly, "Let's just get to the arcade, somewhere warm at least." She groused climbing unsteadily to her feet.

Ami rushed to steady her friend, "No, we're taking you back to your apartment right now."

"I don't want to ruin your day off." She muttered lowly.

Ami sighed, "You aren't. Sometimes things just change." She smiled softly.

Makoto blushed and looked away, "yeah, I guess they do."

The four friends worked diligently to get Makoto settled into bed. Makoto scowled the entire time her protests that she could do some things herself went unheard and when her friends finally filed out of the room she sighed loudly glad for a reprieve from their efforts. Hearing clanking out in her kitchen her eyes widened and she literally jumped from her bed. The sheets got tangled around her legs and she fell ungracefully to the floor. Hearing the loud noise her friends rushed back into the room to find a slightly stunned Makoto laying on the floor.

"Don' let 'sagi in my k'chen." She mumbled painfully into the rose-colored carpeting.

Despite the severity of the situation they burst out laughing especially when Usagi crossed her arms and said she wasn't that bad at cooking.

Getting her back into bed was slightly easier the second time. And with much reassurance that it was going to be Rei and Ami in her kitchen they settled her down. Exhausted she fell asleep shortly after the left the room.

"She's wearing herself down, going out when she's sick is just stupid, and she could have told us she wasn't feeling well." Rei groused to Ami as they prepared a light lunch.

Ami sighed, "She's stubborn like that." She replied, "It's one of her many faults or virtues depending on the day."

Rei chuckled, "it is at that. Has she been sick like this before? I mean I heard her say she 'never got this bad before'?"

Ami looked down, "I don't know, really. I'm worried about her she shouldn't have gone out today and I well—you know she smokes, right?"

Rei blinked, "I hadn't…" Rei replied, "But that makes sense, I guess, smokers get sick easier don't they?"

Ami nodded, "Their lungs are weaker they can't filter out viruses as easily because the mucus membrane is damaged by the carcinogens." Ami replied.

Rei nodded, "Is she going to be okay?"

Ami shrugged, "Eventually, it's probably just a virus."

"I didn't mean physically." Rei said quietly.

Ami looked perplexed, "what are you talking about?"

Rei shook her head, "Just something Minako said to me, really."

The shrill ring of the phone interrupted their conversation.

"Moshi moshi, Kino residence," Minako answered.

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, "Is Makoto there?"

Not recognizing the voice Minako answered carefully, "she's asleep right now, can I take a message?"

"Oh, well then could you tell her that Haruka called?" The voice asked.

"Haruka? This is Minako." Minako replied.

There was a chuckle on the other end, "Hmm, I thought I recognized your voice. Could you tell her that Michiru and I are planning a lunch later this week and we'd love for her to join us?"

Minako nodded, "yeah, sure I'll tell her that."

"Thanks, bye Minako."

"Um, bye." Minako stared at the phone dumbfounded.

"Who was that?" Rei asked.

At a loss for words Minako shook her head to focus her thoughts, "It was Haruka did you know that they are friends?"

Rei shook her head, "Not really," she shrugged "I guess we could all call them friends."

"Yeah, but do we get invited to have lunch with them?" Minako asked slowly.

Makoto woke slowly to the smell of food cooking. Her head felt fuzzy and she had a throbbing headache. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes she sat up slowly her body aching ever so slightly. Absently she noticed that it was already getting dark out. Slipping her feet slowly out of the covers she stood up and shakily made her way out of her bedroom.

The happy chatter of her friends filled the apartment and she smiled despite how she felt. Standing back she watched them as they congregated in her living room. Usagi, Ami and Rei had the couch, Ami in the middle effectively separating the two friends. Minako sat in the worn arm chair facing them and the hallway where Makoto now stood. Looking up Minako smiled and waved for her to come into the room.

"Are you feeling any better Mako-chan?" she asked in a concerned tone.

Makoto smiled weakly, "Much better, I think the sleep really helped." She finished with a small cough.

Minako stood up quickly and ushered Makoto into the arm chair and covered her with a throw blanket.

"Would you like some soup?" Minako asked, "don't worry Rei made it," she added with a wink.

Makoto smiled slightly and nodded.

After settling into the arm chair with the soup Makoto waited for the onslaught of questions that never came. Silence prevailed over the tiny apartment and Makoto found herself shifting uncomfortably.

Finally deciding she had, had enough she asked, "so, what did you do while I was asleep?" in a genuinely curious tone.

Usagi grinned, "We snooped through your apartment."

Minako who now sat in front of the couch nodded in agreement, "Yeah we found some really cute baby pictures of you."

Makoto choked on her soup her eyes widening comically.

Ami shook her head, "They're just kidding Mako-chan."

"Aw Ami-chan did you have to ruin our fun?" Minako fake-pouted and winked at Makoto.

Rei smiled, "Actually, Ami had us working all day. Especially Usagi, who I'm sure is ready for her test tomorrow." She said her tone vaguely threatening.

Usagi laughed nervously, "I'll do my best."

Makoto chuckled lowly before sobering quickly, "I'm sorry I ruined your day out Usagi. I'm sure you didn't plan on studying today." She said contritely.

Usagi waved her off, "no, no it's fine. I'm just glad you're going to get better."

Makoto smiled, "Yep I'll be one hundred percent by tomorrow and ready for that test."

"Oh, no you won't. You will be staying here tomorrow and resting." Ami commanded.

"But I can't miss this test." Makoto protested.

The disagreement lasted only a few more seconds with Ami holding her ground a quiet resolve set upon her face. At receiving "the look" Makoto's determination crumbled and she reluctantly agreed to rest.

"Ah well, I can't argue with Doctor Ami." Makoto shrugged and winked at Ami.

"Oh, by the way Haruka called when you were asleep." Minako commented.

Makoto raised her eyebrow slightly, "Really, what did she want?"

"Just to invite you out to lunch with her and Michiru, when did you become such good friends with them?"

Makoto shrugged, "we have an understanding, that and Haruka has been an off and on again sparring partner for me."

"Oh that's nice." Minako smiled.

Makoto watched as her friends started to file out of her apartment. They had stayed as long as they dared without incurring the wrath of their parents. Makoto wouldn't have minded if they had stayed longer but she was getting tired again and she still had a conversation she needed to have. A conversation she didn't know if she was prepared for yet.

"Hey, Minako can I talk to you for a minute?" Makoto asked deciding to get another opinion on the matter at hand.

Minako turned from the door and nodded, "sure thing."

Makoto waited until Rei had left. She hadn't failed to notice the look that Rei had given Minako. She couldn't decipher what it meant but there was something definitely going on between the two of them, a silent communication.

"I—I have a question that I think you can help me with. Do you mind if I smoke?" she gestured to the pack that was sitting in plain sight on the coffee table.

"That's your question?" Minako asked her brow furrowed.

Makoto laughed, "No that was just me being polite, before we get into a topic that makes me nervous."

"Oh, well, it is your apartment." She said in indifferent approval.

"Thanks." Makoto lit her cigarette and took a deep calming drag.

Minako shrugged, "So what's bugging you and how can I help?"

Makoto sighed, "I have a question about love, well, a crush really." She said unhurriedly.

Minako smirked, "Well, you've come to the right person then that is my expertise."

"Yeah, I figured. So, anyway I've had this crush on this uh person for several months and I wanted to know if I should tell them and how."

Minako's brow furrowed, "well, I would. But you'll want to make sure that they're going to be receptive to you when you do. This person that you like are they blunt or soft-spoken?"

"Soft-spoken but blunt when they need to be I guess."

"Okay, how much do you like them is this fleeting or long-term?"

Makoto swallowed nervously, "Long-term, I hope."

Minako nodded, "Is she worth it?"

"Yes," Makoto answered automatically then did a double take her cigarette nearly falling from her fingers, "how'd you know?"

Minako smiled, "You studiously avoided pronouns. And you never once said that they looked like your old sempai."

Makoto laughed, "Am I really that obvious?"

Minako nodded emphatically, "yes."

Inhaling deeply on her cigarette and then rubbing it out in the ashtray she asked, "Are you okay with me liking a girl?"

Makoto walked into the crown gaming center looking for Haruka and Michiru. Smiling when she spotted Haruka who waved her over, she sat down across from her still smiling.

"You seem to be in a better mood today." Haruka observed.

Makoto smirked, "I got an 86 on my history exam that I took yesterday."

Haruka smiled, "good job. But I sense that there is something else that's causing your giddiness." She pried, "did you tell Ami?"

Makoto averted her eyes, "not exactly. I talked with Minako about my situation though."

"And?" Haruka prompted her.

"Where's Michiru?" Makoto asked.

"She'll be here in a few minutes; she just had to look at this dress in a store down the street." Haruka rolled her eyes.

Makoto chuckled, "not a shopper?"

"I consider it one of the seven deadly sins." She dead-panned.

Makoto grinned, "Has our server been by yet?"

Haruka nodded, "yeah, I asked her to come back in a few minutes." She replied, "now, don't think I haven't forgotten that you didn't answer me."

Makoto shrugged, "I'm just stalling for time and waiting for Michiru to get here. I hate repeating myself."

"Fair enough," Haruka smiled, "and here's the lady of the hour."

Makoto turned in her seat to smile at Michiru in greeting. Absently she noticed that she had a shopping bag clutched firmly in her hand.

"Sorry to keep the two of you waiting, but I couldn't pass this dress up." She smiled softly, "I think I'll wear it for my performance next month. What did I miss?"

"Makoto here was just about to tell me what Minako said about her 'situation' and she got an 86 on her test."

"good job Mako-chan." Michiru smiled.

"Thank you. Now as Haruka has been eagerly awaiting this for the past five minutes and I'm not sure how long her attention span will last…" she jabbed.

"Hey, I resent that." Haruka pouted.

Makoto and Michiru laughed at Haruka's bruised pride.

"Well, as I was saying, Minako gave me pretty much the same advice you did."

"That's it?" Haruka asked in exasperation, "you are excited because she agreed with us?"

"No, I'm relieved because she doesn't care that I have a crush on a girl."

"You didn't tell her that it was Ami, did you?" Michiru asked.

"Eh, not exactly." Makoto replied sheepishly remember that night. If you like her go for it Mako-chan! Anyone who turns you down would have to be blind or an idiot! Minako's words echoed through her mind and morbidly she thought, or straight. "I'm just afraid that she'll turn me down." She said sadly.

Michiru smiled encouragingly, "you'll never know if you don't try."

"I know I won't get hurt if I don't tell her." Makoto stated.

Haruka shook her head, "You know that's not true. You'll always wonder what if."

Makoto smiled sadly, "why is it so hard to be brave?"

Haruka smiled, "because if it wasn't life wouldn't be so interesting."

"If by interesting you mean stomach-turning, then I agree." Makoto said her face slightly pale.

Well, look at that chapter four done. I thought I'd never finish it especially when I got stuck on page 4. So, anyway I hope you enjoyed it and I really hope you'll leave me a review for it whether you like it or hate it.