Sorry for the long wait, but here is another chapter, that I know many of you have been wondering what is going on with Serena, which is explained in this chapter. I am happy to let you all know that I have written up several chapters, and now just have to type them up. Enjoy! Please review!

Second Chances

Chapter 4

Amy sat at the Shrine Temple with Raye and the rest of their friends who had just shown up for an emergency meeting. All the senshi were present except for one, Serena. Raye sat on the floor in front of the fire, Amara and Michelle were sitting on the love seat together, Mina, Lita, and Hotaru sat on the couch, while Trista stood in a corner, Amy sad on the floor to Raye's left and Luna and Artemis sat on the table that was in the center of the room.

"Where is that meatball head at?" Raye growled in anger for their leader being late as she looked at her wristwatch to check the time.

"She hasn't been late in a long time, Raye, give her a few more minutes."Luna stated back to her friend. Just then Amy cleared her throat gaining everyone's attention which made the bluenette more anxious now than she had originally been.

"Actually, I called this meeting without Serena's knowledge." She clarified to them. Everyone looked stun at hearing this except for Trista who just stood there calmly watching everyone.

"Serena should be here," Mina said simply, "She is the leader after all." She finished.

"Mina is right." Came Lita.

"Why would you call a meeting without her?" Michelle asked confusion evident in her tone. Amy stood there listening to her friends wonder why she had not contacted their leader, making the bluenette feel like she was being accused doing something wrong. Add to her emotions of feeling anxious of having to tell her friends of Serena's condition and being tired from comforting Gohan, Amy's anger started to come to the surface, which was rare for her.

"Because Serena is dying." Amy blurt out angrily as she felt she was being accused for doing something wrong. The room grew silent at Amy's outburst, all the senshi starring at her at hearing such news revealed to them.

"What do you mean, Amy?" Raye asked her, the anger in her purple eyes gone for her blonde hair friend at the moment. Amy apologized for her outburst, explaining her emotions, as well as explaining to the group what happened to Serena at the Brief's home so they were up to speed as to the situation with their leader.

"So what did the bottle read?" Artemis asked. Amy sighed heavily before continuing the explanation.

"What Serena has is a disease that has no cure and it is not well known. What it does, is attack the body, putting the person in pain as well as making them weak. As it progresses it spreads just like a cancer does, slowly killing the person as time goes on. It is called the Lancer Disease after the doctor who discovered it." Amy explained. The senshi sat in silence as they digested this new bit of information their friend was sharing about their leader.

"You! You should have seen this coming! After all you are the senshi of time!" Amara yelled angrily glaring at Trista all the while her hands balled up in fists. Trista looked at her fellow senshi with a solemn look on her face, but her garnet eyes held guilt in them, showing her true feelings about the situation of their beloved leader.

"I wish I had, honestly, but I didn't and I feel as though I have failed our princess." She confessed softly to her comrades in the room. All the senshi stood in the room astonish at how Trista had just confessed her feelings towards the situation of their leader. Trista was not one to show many emotions or how she felt, so to say such things to them was a sign at how serious the situation was them all. Upon hearing Trista's confession Amara couldn't help, but feel bad for the senshi of time, her anger towards her disappearing as rapidly as it had come.

"What about the Silver Crystal? Maybe it could heal Serena." Hotaru suggested her violet eyes full of hope at the possible thought. The other senshi eyes started to light up as well hearing her idea.

"I'm afraid she has already tried that. It seems the crystal cannot heal her." Trista informed the group.

"And the Dragon Balls are not able to be used because they were used three months ago." Amy added sadly.

"I don't understand. The crystal should be able to heal her." Raye replied in shock at hearing the news that their leader had already tried it and failed.

"In theory, it should, but the way the crystal works as always been a mystery and I am not sure why it can't heal her now." Everyone sat in silence for a long moment digesting all the new information they were given in such a short time.

"Also, Bulma has made the research of this disease a high propriety too, so let's not lose hope for Serena's sake." Amy added to her friends breaking the long silence.

"Amy is right. We are her friends and no matter what will be there for her." Mina exclaimed her blue eyes filled with hope.

"Mina is right. We have to be there for her any way we possibly can be." Luna added on.

"Well, why don't we go visit her today?" Mina brought up to her comrades cheerfully.

"Sounds like a great idea to me!" Raye stated happily.

"I can make some of her favorite cookies to take over." Lita proposed excitedly to her friends as her emerald eyes light up eagerly at the idea of baking.

"I don't think that is a good idea, at least not today." Amy chimed in sadly to her friends, causing everyone to frown at the blue hair genius.

"Why?" Hotaru asked curiously.

"Gohan is very upset as well as the rest of the family. Right now, it is best to give Serena time with her family to process everything that has happened. They need a couple of days before we go charging in." Amy reasoned to them.

"Amy is right. We need to respect Serena and her family. After all, we are not the only ones affected by Serena's condition, and must keep that in mind," Luna continued, "And when the time is right we will visit Serena." Luna stated taking the leadership role in the situation.

"In the mean time, why don't do you all think of something that we can all do, that will cheer Serena up." Artemis supplied to them.

"Well, that's easy." Michelle said confidently with a small smile on her lips.

"You already have an idea?" Artemis asked surprise to hear the answer come so quickly. Amara smirked at the white cat before her.

"Besides eating, there is one other thing kitten loves to do with us all, that always puts a smile on her face." Amara replied coolly. Artemis blue eyes look at the senshi of wind wondering what she was thinking about, while all the other girls in the room understood what the other two outer senshi were speaking of.

"And what would that be?" He asked.

"Shopping!" All the women in the room said at once happily before laughing at the way it came out. Once the laughter dyed down Luna looked at all the girls with solemn face which the girls noticed.

"Luna?"

"Someone has to tell Darien." She said quietly.

*C.C.*

Serena woke up feeling well rested as well as back in the infirmary room once more. She sighed heavily as she remembered the conversation she had with her family finally finding out about her condition and the raw emotion that brought with it. She remembered her brother being so angry with her at first and her mother, father, Amy, Vegeta, and Bulma being so sadden at news. She remembered Trunks looking confounded when Vegeta voiced out what was going on. The last thing she remembered was crying in her father's arms, until she fell asleep, which is when he most likely brought it back here to get some rest. She looked up at the clock on the wall to notice that it read 9 am. 'I must have been exhausted to be out for this long.' She thought to herself.

The young blonde notice some clean clothes on a table to her right on a chair next to her bed. She got out of the bed; grabs the clothes, then went into the bathroom that was in the infirmary to get cleaned up. Fifteen minutes later, the young blonde emerged from the bathroom feeling clean. She sensed everyone's ki to find that they were in the dining room, so she made her way towards that direction. Moments later Serena entered the dining room to find Bulma, Vegeta, and Trunks in the room eating.

"Good morning, everyone." She replied cheerfully with a bright smile on her lips. Trunks looked up from his plate amazed to see the young blonde in a good mood. He notice from her ki level was back to normal.

"Serena, you shouldn't be out of bed." Bulma stated surprised to see her out of the infirmary room. Bulma made her way over to the blonde to take a look over to make sure she was ok.

"Why? I feel great." She said to Bulma while looking over her. Bulma was too shocked to hear the young blonde say that, but after the incident that had occurred she wanted to double check for herself before she let Serena march around the house for the rest of the day.

"Very well," Bulma said nodding in approval having made sure Serena's vitals were in order, "But after the incident that happened yesterday, as well as learning about your condition, your parents, and I have discussed it, and you will be staying here for now on instead of your apartment." Bulma stated to the young blonde her face holding a serious look to it.

"Ok, but what about my stuff?"

"That is where your parents are at now with Gohan and Amy. They will be bringing the rest of it over here soon. I have prepared a room for you to stay in and for your stuff to go too. Also, if you should leave the house someone must be with you at all times." Bulma finished.

"You can't be serious! I don't need to be babysat. I am not a child!" Serena burst out angrily while glaring at the older woman before. Trunks frowned at seeing her upset, while Vegeta just looked on with interest, curious to see how this played out between the two stubborn women before him.

"Serena, I'm not treating you like a child, but it is for your own safety." Bulma tried reasoning to her.

"I'm not doing it Bulma." Serena crossed her arms, her sapphire eyes holding determination in them.

"Serena, you are not getting a choice in this. I'm sorry, but it is my house, therefore my rules." Bulma replied back stubbornly standing her ground as she defended her new rules.

"This is why I didn't want any to know. I just wanted to be left alone and treat normally." The blonde growled out before she stormed out of the kitchen furiously. Bulma sighed heavily looking over to her husband.

"Well, that went well." She said wryly.

"I can't say I blame her. After all, you are telling her that she has to be with either her parents, or you or dad. How do you expect her to feel other than that you are treating her like a child? If I was in her shoes I would feel the same way." Trunks commented calmly to his mother.

"Then what do you suggest?" Bulma asked her oldest son.

"I'll do it. I have the least stuff to do and she can be with someone her own age, which then she will be more willing to go out of the house with your rules."

"I don't know." Bulma sighed hesitant at the idea as she tried to think of all the situations that could possibly come up with Serena's condition.

"The boy has a point. Besides he has already proven that if something happens to her he knows what to do."

"Ok, but how are we going to get Serena to go with this? She is already upset with the original rules I gave her." She replied looking at her husband worriedly.

"Leave that to me." Vegeta arrogantly replied back with his usual smirk on his mouth. Trunks and Bulma both looked at him skeptically at the idea of Vegeta getting Serena to do what they wanted.

Serena sat on top of the roof of Capsul Corp just looking out over the horizon, watching the clouds pass by in the sky. She was still very upset with the rules Bulma had impose on her. She heaved a big sigh as she tried relieving some of the frustration she was feeling at the moment. Serena was sadden that her family found out about her disease, but just as she predicted they were upset, which they had every right to be, however, they were now treating her differently, which is not what she wanted. As she sat there trying to sort out everything that happened in the past twenty four hours, the young blonde notice a shadow looming next to her on the roof, and knew who was next to her at the moment. He sat down indian style, his arms as usual cross over his chest, and a scow on his face.

"I'm impressed with how well you handle yourself these past two months with your condition all alone." Serena held a small smile at hearing the compliment pass Vegeta's mouth. It was rare for the full blooded sayian to show any kindness to anyone at all, but when he did, he meant it.

"Thank you."

"But what you are going through no one has control over," He said to her. Serena turned to the full blooded sayian to retort his comment, but he stopped her by putting his hand up. "Nor do you, but you had some control of anyone finding out sooner or later, about your condition. My point is that is what your parents and Bulma are trying to do. They don't want to control you, it is the fact you are dying sooner than they want you too, is what they want to control." He explained to the young blonde next to him.

"It is the best thing that can give them comfort when I am not around is what you are saying."

"Yes, but you won't have restrictions on doing things or your parents watching you. Instead Trunks will go with you. I don't have time to watch you brat when I have training to get done." Serena smiled, hearing Vegeta act more like his arrogant self. Vegeta held his smirk, but his ebony eyes soften while speaking to her.

"Yes, we would not want to waste your precious training time." Serena stated back sarcastically with a small smile on her lips. She knew deep down he would do anything for her even if he did his best to hide the true nature of his feelings.

"So do you think you can handle these new rules?" She sighed heavily gazing out at the sky again at the passing clouds as she thought about his question.

"I guess so," She finally answered him, "I just feel like…"

"You are losing your freedom." He finished for her. She nodded turning her sapphire eyes to him.

"You are a sayian brat, which of course we don't like our freedom taken away. So it was only natural of you to be as defiant as you were." Vegeta just smirk at her as he remembered her little outburst earlier that morning. He stepped off of the roof and started to float freely back down to the ground.

"Vegeta," Serena called out to him. He stopped his decent turning to face her one more time is usual scowl on his face. "Thank you." He just curt his head sharply before continuing the rest of the way down to the ground to head to the gravity room to train.

It had been an hour since the fight between Serena and herself, Bulma made her way to her office to get some work done, while Vegeta attempted to talk to the young blonde. She was in her office working on her papers when she noticed a knock on her door.

"Come in." she called out. The door opened to reveal Serena on the other side of the door.

"Am I disrupting you?" the blonde asked as she poked her head in. Bulma quickly put the stack of paper she was working on aside.

"No, Serena you weren't, come in." She said as she waved her hand indicating to come into the room. Bulma got up to start making some tea while Serena came into the room waiting for Bulma to finish what she was doing. Bulma turned with mugs a few moments later in her hand for Serena and herself. Bulma gesture for the young blonde to sit down in the chair in front of her desk before handing the tea for Serena to drink, that she had made for her.

"Bulma I want to apologize for my behavior earlier. I should not have gotten so upset with you." She said sincerely to the older woman before her. Bulma was surprised at this apology from the young blonde. 'Vegeta must have said something right for her to not be upset anymore.' Bulma thought to herself.

"Serena, it is alright. All of our emotions are running high with this new information, including yours. I'm sorry if I upset you and should have explained myself better. We're just worried of something like yesterday happening again, but next time no one being around to help you."

"I understand everyone's concern and I will do this, but I am not going to stop seeing my friends or doing fun things with them. I won't be cooped up in a house."

"I understand and you may do things like that as long as you have the strength." Bulma stated back to her. Serena nodded her head in agreement.

"Good, I'd like to take the boys to the park still. I promised them I would." She said to Bulma. Bulma thought about it for a moment.

"Sure, if Trunks goes with you." Serena nodded her head in agreement.

~Park~

Serena sat on the bench watching the boys play at the playground, having a good time. Trunks sat next to her also watching the two boys enjoy themselves. Serene smiled seeing that they had forgotten about the episode that happened yesterday.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, and especially those two yesterday, but I am happy you were there." She said truthfully to Trunks, turning her attention away from the two boys for a moment. Trunks turned to the young blonde sitting next to him with a small smile on his lips.

"I know you did not want your family to find out that way, but I am glad I was there, and able to get help."

"You've done so much already. Do you really want to babysit me when you could be doing other things?" She asked him, feeling guilty that he would have to spend his time watching her.

"I am having fun hanging out with you. Besides, it is either I watch you or train with my father." He stated simply.

"You make a good point." Just then Chibi and Goten came up with to two young adults with huge smile on their faces stopping any further talk between the two young adults.

"Serena can we get ice cream now?" Goten asked his older sister. She looked at the two warily.

"Who said anything about getting ice cream?" She asked them her look never wavering from them.

"He did." Chibi stated while pointing to his older counterpart with a frown causing Trunks to smirk.

"But I also said only if you two behaved, could you get ice cream."

"Well, I don't know if we can get ice cream." She replied back winking at Trunks before the two boys turned their attention back to the older blonde before them.

"Why?" Goten asked looking upset at the idea of no getting ice cream now.

"Well, there is a monster running around out here."

"What does it look like?" Chibi asked arrogantly with his hands crossed over his chest.

"Well, let's see, it's about this high," She indicated with her hand before continuing, "And it has blonde hair, blue eyes, and takes children to the park." She explained to them.

"Wait…you have blonde hair and blue eyes." Chibi pointed out looking at her suspiciously.

"And we are at the park too." Trunks added.

"Which makes me the monster!" She stated back excitedly as she got up from the bench to chase after the two little boys who darted away quickly at her sudden movements laughing as Serena chased them. Trunks chuckled watching them run around having fun.