Chapter 11

Amy shut the door to the room Serena was staying in. She sighed heavily knowing the next call she was going to have to make. She knew that the other senshi would not take the news any better once they heard about it. She dreaded having to tell them, but she was going to do what she could while Sailor Pluto looked for more answers on the information, they had learned about what was really causing Serena's illness. The senshi of water stood up straight before making her walk back downstairs readying herself on how the Sons were dealing with it, particularly her own boyfriend as of now. As she descended the last few steps, she found Goku on the right of the couch with Chi-Chi in the middle of the couch, in Goku's arms crying softly into his chest. Goku and Gohan both sat across from one another with an defeated look on their features. Amy's heart broke at the scene before her eyes. She knew this was not how they normally were. This family was so confident with any issue in life. Goku and Gohan had face so many villains with near and actual death experience during their battles, were able to find a way to prevail. Yet, this was one enemy they could not defeat no matter how much power they had. She noticed that Vegeta and Bulma were nowhere around either. She assumed they must be giving the Son's some time to themselves while trying to also process the news in their own private time too.

The young bluenette made her way over to Gohan on the couch to sit down next to him. The sudden movement of Amy sitting next to him brought the young sayian out of his thoughts. He looked over to see his girlfriend looking at him. Her blue eyes holding sorrow in them.

"Hey." He said softly.

"I am so sorry Gohan." She whispered softly with unshed tears starting to form. Amy was not sure how to comfort him, when she was unsure of her own emotions, she was keeping at bay currently, knowing she still had to tell the others. Hearing the soft words from her lips cause his features to soften with understanding swirling with his own grieving emotions.

"I know sweetheart." He started before pulling her into his arms as he kissed the top of her head in comfort. He knew this was just as hard on her too if not harder, since she had been helping Bulma to find a way to save his little sister. "You and Bulma have done your best, but we will have to just stay strong for each other in the meantime." He finished choking out before his own tears started to come down now. This was the final straw for Amy to hear before the dam she had been doing her best to hold back, finally fell completely. All of the emotions she had been feeling for the day came flooding out as she cried with Gohan. While she did know there was a possible a chance to save Serena, she could not tell anyone in case they could not save her in time, which she wasn't sure they could pull off either. As she was held by the man she loved and cried with him.

It would be later that evening by the time Amy would be free to make the emergency call to the other senshi to meet at the Shrine Temple. Once Chi-chi had cried herself to sleep in Goku's arms, Bulma suggested Goku take his wife to a spare bedroom to lay her down to rest. When Goku returned from putting his wife to bed upstairs, Vegeta stood in the doorway waiting for him. Nothing needed to be said between the two men as they walked out of the room together. However, Goku stopped to turn at Gohan who was still holding Amy on the couch. At this point the two were no longer crying and were just laying back on the couch in a comforting silence snuggling each other.

"Gohan, you want to join us?" Goku asked his son. The two young adults knew exactly what Goku was asking without needing any explanation from the older sayian. At hearing the request Amy started to pull away from Gohan.

"I think you should go with him." Amy said simply. Gohan looked at her with the concern and continued speaking before he could object to the idea. She knew he say no at the idea of leaving her alone after what they had learned about his sister. "I need to meet up with the others and tell them." She finished saying to him. He nodded his head before speaking.

"Do you want me to come with you to tell them?" He asked her.

"No, I can handle this. You need to be with your family right now." She said softly before giving him a peck on the cheek. Gohan gave her hand a light squeeze in comfort with a small nod to her.

"Ok." He said before turning to his father to answer him. "Yeah, I will join you." Goku nodded his head before turning to continue the direction Vegeta had been going. Gohan got up to follow his father. Amy was now alone in the living room with no one around. She got up from the couch to head out the front door. She made her way outside she pulled out her communicator. Once she was outside, away from others hearing her use the communicator, she hit the button to call all the senshi. Within 30 seconds every senshi except for Serena could see her with a serious feature set in place.

"Emergency meeting at Shrine Temple now." Amy said in a tone that left no room agreement. Everyone agreed in unison saying nothing more before the screen went black again. Amy put her communicator back in her sub space pocket before she started to make her way to the meeting herself.

~*Shrine Temple*~

Twenty minutes later Amy stood at the door of the Shrine Temple. She could hear talking from the other side of the door. She guessed that most likely some of the senshi were catching up while some were wondering what Amy was going to tell them. Amy took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves before she walked in. She took one last deep breath, then exhaled slowly while standing tall as she opened the door. As the door opened and she walked into the room, all talking ceased as eyes were upon her instantly. Amy quickly surveys the room to see who was there before she started to speak. She noticed that all the senshi had arrived including Darien. Michelle and Amara sat on a love seat with Hotaru on the arm next to Amara. Ray, Lita, and Mina sat on the couch that was facing the love seat with a coffee small coffee table in between the two couches. Darien sat on the floor in front of the coffee table with Luna and Artimise sitting on it. Pluto stood at the other end of the love seat that Michelle sat at. Amy and Pluto exchanged subtle nods knowing what they had to do as she shut the door and walked into the room.

"Good your all here." Amy said in a matter-of-fact tone as she cleared her throat in a hidden attempt to hide her nervousness.

"What is going on Amy?" Mina asked her Mercurian friend the worry very evident. Amy knew she just could not beat around the bush and was going to have to just tell them the truth.

"There is no easy way for me to tell you guys." She started causing complete silence in the room, "but Serena's condition has worsened." Upon hearing this there were some gasps and wide eyes staring at Amy.

"How bad is it Amy?" Amara asked her. Amy swallowed in hopes to keep the dry spot on her throat from bothering her.

"Serena's body is shutting down. Bulma and I ran the numbers she has at most two weeks to live." She said simply.

"What?!" Amara said in surprise while others gasped again in shocked, and Mina and Luna started to cry upon hearing the news of their Princess.

"I don't understand the sudden change. I just video chatted with her the other day and she seemed fine." Raye stated reasonably with confusion and sadness.

"I know." Amy said acknowledging what Raye was saying before she continues on, "Bulma and I knew this when we ran all the tests, to try to figure out what changed. We think her body is just not capable at fighting this disease. Her white cell numbers are drastically down which is a sign of the Lancer disease progressing further in her body." Amy explained simply so they would understand science easily behind Serena's condition. Everyone stood or sat in silence not sure what else to say at this point. Everyone was trying to process the devasting news about their princess in their own way. Some just sat quietly holding the others that were crying. What felt like eons to Amy before Lita finally spoke up.

"So, what do we do now?"

~*Briefs House*~

The next morning Serena woke up to find Trunks lying next to her watching television. Hearing the change in her breathing cause Trunks to turn his head to see a pair of beautiful hazy filled sapphire eyes staring back at him. He smiled at seeing her awake looking at him.

"Glad to see you are awake, sleeping beauty." He replied with a small smile trying to hide the worry from her, but Serena could see it was there. She did her best to stay strong for Trunks in her family. The only thing that was keeping her strength up was the hope that Trista would figure out what was going on with her soon.

"Good morning" She said sleepily with a smile on her lips. Just then there was a knock on the door causing the two lovers to break their eye contact with one another. Serena starts to push herself up to be in a more sitting position for whoever was coming into her room. She felt very weak and did not have a lot of energy in her to do this simple task. Trunks noticed as she tried to sit up herself.

"Come in." Trunks answered for Serena while he helped her sit up. The door opens to reveal Amy walking in with a smile on her lips with a black cat in her arms with a gold crescent moon on her forehead. Amy shut the door as she came into the room to ensure no one overheard their conversation with a certain feline.

"Hi Amy. What brings you by?" Serena said happily not seeing Luna at first as she moved to get into a more comfortable position with Trunks' aid. Once the young blonde was settled, she looked at the foot of her bed to see Amy standing there with a smile and cat in her arms. But before Serena could say anything Amy answered her question.

"I brought someone to see you!" Amy said as Luna jumped out of Amy's arms to land gracefully on the bed.

"Luna!" Serena exclaimed happily to see the feline guardian prance her way up to Serena's arms. Luna just meowed loudly as she was scooped up by Serena to be held tightly. "I have missed you so much." Serena said as she held the cat who was purring in response. Trunks watched as Serena happily held her cat with a huge smile on her face with her head buried into the cat. This made him happy to see something simple give the young blonde beauty joy still with everything going on.

"So, this is the infamous Luna." Trunks stated out loud so the two did not forget they weren't alone. Serena pulled away her head with a smile still on her lips as she sat the black cat down on her lap. Luna sat tall and proud while still purring at the same time.

"That's right…. you two have not met before. Trunks meet Luna, Luna this is Trunks." Serena said happily. Luna meowed unsure of what the young sayian before her knew. The meow caused Serena to giggle and Amy to talk.

"Oh Luna, you can talk in front of Trunks." Amy explained to the cat. Luna looked at the Mecurian with a raised eyebrow turning her attention to the young man sharing the same bed as her charge.

"Oh, does he now?" She simply responded.

"Serena has spoken quite a bit about you." Trunks said with a smirk on his lips as he laid on his side with his arm propping him up.

"And what exactly as she told you about?" The feline asked seriously while just starring at him. Trunks figured Luna was protective of Serena and was not surprised with how she was acting in the slightest.

"Serena informed me of what she deemed important enough for me to know about you and the rest of the senshi." He simply responded before adding, "Everything she told me of you was all good." He finished with a wink. This caused everyone to laugh including Luna.

"Well, I trust Serena's judgement and if she feels you have earned the truth about her senshi life then you have earned my confidence as well." She informed him assertively with a smile on her lips.

"So, now that the awkwardness is out of the way, what brought you two here?" Serena asked curiously. Luna turned to her charge with a more serious look with sadness reflecting in her red eyes. Luna could see her skin was paler. While Serena showed excitement to see Luna it was evident, Serena was not at her full strength with how Serena held Luna only moments before and the tone of her voice.

"Amy told all of us how there has been a change in your condition and that…" Luna trailed off looking at Serena with unshed tears in her eyes.

"I only have two weeks left." Serena finished for her. Luna could only nod trying her best to keep her emotions in check. Serena knew Luna was trying to be there for her and trying to not cry but was having a hard time. The young blonde picks up Luna holding her gently again.

"Oh, Luna please don't cry." Serena choked out trying to hold back her own tears. That was the last straw for both when the onslaught of tears came out. Amy stood with her own tears in her eyes at scene before her. Trunks sat on the bed knowing this was something he had to let the two work out and that all he could do was be there when the crying stop.

It would be about twenty minutes later when the crying between Luna and Serena would finally stop. As the tears came to an end Trunks gave Serena a tissue so she could wipe her noise and eyes with. As Serena threw the tissue into the small trash can on her side of the bed, she turned to face Luna and the others. She could tell Amy had been crying as well.

"Well now we all look like basket cases." Serena joked as she tried to lighten the mood between everyone.

"But you are all good-looking basket cases in my book." Trunks replied to them. This gave a small chuckle to everyone in the room. Amy looked at her watch to see the time. She realized she needed to let Chi-Chi know that Serena was awake to eat and she had promise to stop by to see Bulma too.

"Well, that is sweet of you Trunks, but I doubt that." Luna said with a smile before turning back to Serena. "Serena the reason I came is I wanted to spend some time with you and help Trunks with taking care of you. I know I have been away with Mina and Artemis since she has been traveling and I know my help is limited, but I wanted to do what I can, if that is of course alright with you?" Luna asked her seriously. She knew Amy had to go and wanted to have an answer before she left. Serena smiled at her cat guardian knowing how much Luna loved her and would do anything for her.

"Of courses Luna." Was Serena's answer which cause Luna's smile to brighten even more.

"I told you Luna." Came Amy's retort which only cause the feline cat to roll her eyes. Serena just giggled at the antics of her friends.

"Well now that is settled, I'll let your mom know you are awake so she can bring you up some lunch." Amy said.

"Lunch? What time is it?" Serena asked out of confusion. Serena had outgrown her old habits from sleeping in years ago and was not like her to sleep in so late if it was nearly lunch time already.

"Sere, it's no big deal, you have been sleeping more." Trunks said in a comforting tone of voice.

"I have been?" Serena asked looking at the three of them with confusion swirling in her sapphire eyes. Amy sighed heavily knowing Serena had not realized how much she had been sleeping with her body fighting the poison in her system among other things growing too.

"You have been sleeping more due to how weak you have been. It is not surprising with how weak you are; your body is trying to make up for it, which means you sleep more. But to answer your question it is going for one in the afternoon now." Amy explained to her in a gentle voice. Serena sighed heavily upon hearing this new bit of information.

"And here I thought I kick these old habits." Serena joked trying to make light of it. Amy just shook her head with a small smile on her lips.

"Well, just relax and between Trunks and Luna will keep you warm." Amy said winking at Luna and Trunks as she made her way to the bedroom door.

"Of course, I will!" Luna replied happily before laying down on Serena's lap.

"I need to meet up with Bulma so I'll see you guys later." Amy said as she opened the bedroom door. "Call me if you need anything." Amy finished saying.

"Thanks Amy." Serena said while Trunks just nodded his head. Amy smiled nodding her head back before she left the room.

"Well, I guess we can just find something on the television to watch until mom brings up some food." Serena replied simply as she pushed back into her pillows that were propping her up.

"Sounds like a good plan to me." Luna replied.

It had been a week since the heart-breaking news had been learned of Serena's condition. Serena had spent a little bit of time with her friends and family when she was awake. But she did a lot more sleeping due to the battle her body was fighting. Trunks had been by her side every step of the way. He helped her go to the bathroom or take a bath if she felt she needed one. However, he knew not to push his limits because even though she was weak, she was still a stubborn sayian that wanted to be able to do a few things on her own at times. Yet, remained patient while always trying to remind the young blonde she needed to watch with not pushing it in here current state. The concern that was in Trunks' eyes always helped Serena remind her that he was only trying to keep her safe and she back down most times due to not having the energy to fight and give him some peace too.

Serena woke up that morning from bed to see she was alone in her bed with Luna curled up on her right side. She strength her legs and arms while yawning to try and get the sleepy feeling out of her. After she stretched, she slowly sat herself up feeling movement on her right side. She looked over to see Luna doing her own stretching and yawning too.

"Good Morning, Luna." Serena said as she smiled at the black cat before her. Luna's ears perked at a noise she heard as Serena spoke.

"Good Morning, are you feeling alright, Serena?" The young cat asked her charge as she made her way onto Serena's lap to sit on it gracefully. Serena just shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"I don't feel any different than I did yesterday." She replied simply before continuing. "Why do you ask?"

"I can't be worried about my charge?" Luna quipped quickly in a joking manner which caused Serena to laugh while keep Serena from realizing the real reasoning for her question. Luna could hear a subtle change in Serena's breathing, but she realized it must be too subtle for Serena to notice even with her good sayian hearing, which mean Trunks would not notice it either. She knew would just have to keep an extra close eye on her princess. Just then the door opens to Serena's bedroom and in walked in Bulma.

"Well, I am glad to see you laughing." Bulma said with a smile before she noticed Serena was alone in her room besides Luna causing a frown to replace the smile.

"Where is Trunks?" She asked in confusion, but before anyone could answer there was the sound of a toilet flushing that was coming from bathroom that was attached to Serena's bedroom.

"Ah, never mind, I know the answer." She said with a smile as she continued to walk over to Serena's side of the bed with her bag of doctor gadgets in her hands. The frown was quickly replaced with a smile once more knowing her son had been close by the entire time.

"So, with Trunks in the bathroom, what had you laughing?" The curious genius asked as she sat on bed next to Serena pulling out a few items that were in it. Just then Trunks came out of the bathroom with a raised eyebrow wondering how Serena was going to answer this question since Bulma did not know Luna could talk.

"Oh…just Luna being with her kitty antics. She was going after my foot underneath the blanket." Serena said in a nonchalant voice. Just then Luna started rubbing up against Bulma's arm as she meowed quietly. Bulma gave Luna a few pets on the head before returning to looking over Serena. Bulma heard Trunks making his approach to the bed as she sat listening to Serena's pulse.

"Good Morning, Trunks."

"Morning." He said simply as he semi flopped back onto the bed with the remote for the television in his right hand. He turned it on with the volume low so that it did not disturb is mom.

"What is on the food agenda for Chi-Chi today?" Trunks asked his mother as he laid on his back with his head propped with his right arm as he watched his mother, Luna, and Serena. Bulma was not taking a sample of Serena's blood and filling a vial up.

"I believe she is making buttermilk pancakes for breakfast, then for lunch barbeque chicken wrap, and for dinner some sort of stew." She answered him simply.

"That all sounds good to me." Trunks replied happily which caused Serena and Bulma to laugh.

"Typical sayian." Bulma muttered in mirth as she put away her items back into the bag before getting up.

"Well, everything looks good today. Let me know if you guys need anything. Chi-Chi said she be up in about fifteen minutes with food." Bulma told the two young adults as she made her way to the door. Once Bulma was gone Trunks was next to Serena in a heartbeat.

"Good Morning, princess." He replied sweetly with a smile with his lip's inches from hers. The sudden movement from him just made the blonde giggle while Luna only rolled her eyes at the young love antics but was happy that Serena had found her mate.

"Good morning..." she started to say but was interrupted with Trunks lips meeting hers in a gentle slow kiss. After a moment Trunks pulled away looking into her sapphire eyes.

"So, what sappy movie would you like to watch tv?" He asked her with a grin still on his face. Serena started giggling out loud which was exactly was hopping her reaction would be.

Serena ate her breakfast then started to watch movie before falling asleep in the middle of it. Trunks turned off the movie when he noticed her asleep so they could watch it up from that spot later. He then turned the channel to something he could find more interesting to watch while Serena slept. Chi-Chi had brought up lunch for the two, but as usual, Serena was sleeping. She would give Trunks his meal before leaving the room to let her daughter sleep in peace. It was late in the afternoon and Serena had been sleeping for several hours at this point. Trunks feeling the need to get up and walk around for a few minutes grabbed the empty plates that were on the nightstand on his side of the bed.

"Luna I am going to run these down to the kitchen really quick." Trunks said as he made his way towards the bedroom door. Luna had been laying up against her charge's stomach but was not asleep currently. Serena was laying on her right side.

"I'll be here." Luna replied from her curled up position against Serena. Full minute goes by afternoon Trunks is out of the room when Luna feels movement again. She perked her head up to see if Serena was waking up or just moving in her sleep. She heard Serena cough a moment as her eyes flutter opened confusion, worry, and hazy sleepiness in her sapphire eyes.

"Sere, are you ok?" Luna asked softly gaining Serena's attention as she quickly got up to be closer to the blonde princess.

"No, Luna." She said as she took a few deep breaths. She could feel her chest was heavy and she was having a hard time breathing, which Luna picked up instantly. "It's hard to breath." She finished as she tried her best to remain calm. Luna nodded her head to signal to Serena she understood as she spoke. She knew Serena needed medical attention right away, but did not want to leave her alone, with Trunks currently downstairs.

"Don't try to talk. Just take slow deep breaths and remain calm. Trunks just went to put the dishes in the sink." Luna explained as evenly to her. Serena did as she was told, but she could feel the weight on her chest only getting heavier. Just then as Serena took a few deep breaths, she could feel Trunks coming towards her room and was not far.

"Trunks…" she rasped out as loudly as she could hoping his sayian hearing would hear her as he was coming up the stairs. As he made it up the stairs, he heard her voice and immediately was by her side in seconds using his sayian speed.

"Serena what is wrong?" He asked as he tried figure out what is going on with her now.

"She can't breathe, Trunks. I am going to go get Amy or Bulma. Stay with her." Luna explained to him although the last bit came out as an order. Trunks had no problem taking orders from the feline for he was more worried about Serena. Trunks used his right hand to rub Serena's back as he sat on the bed next to her. Serena reached out taking his other hand into hers.

"Don't worry everything will be ok." He said soothingly never taking his eyes off hers. Serena shook her head before answering.

"Not this time Trunks." She started before coughing to catch her breath a bit. "I can tell it is time, no matter what Bulma tries to do." She rasped back honestly to him. Trunks shook his head at her refusing to believe this was it.

"No, you're a fighter. You can fight this." He choked out trying to keep the emotions in check for Serena's sake. Serena eyes soften at him knowing he was not ready for this moment and it upset her that she was putting him through this.

"I am a fighter…. but my body cannot fight anymore against it…. I am ok with dying now…. but I am sorry for putting you through this." She rasped softly as her breathing gets labored. Trunks could see how much Serena was struggling to breath at this point. He could hear how it was wheezing sound was getting strong and he could hear she was getting enough oxygen into her system. Serena's eyes started to flutter shut.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I would have rather been in love with you than never have been in love in my life." He said as the tears started to come down his cheeks. Serena nodded that she heard him as she took in one last breath before her eyes shut. Trunks watched her like a hawk waiting for her to breath out and noticed she was completely still.

"Serena…" he called out to her while shaking her body. He could feel it was heavy and limp at this point now. "Serena wake up." He choked out to her again, but nothing happened. He knew in his heart that she was gone, but he searched for her ki. But he could not feel anything.

"SERENA NO!" He screamed as he collapses onto her body sobbing onto her. Just then Bulma and Vegeta came rushing into the room. There they found Trunks on the bed collapsed onto her body sobbing into it.

"No." Bulma gasped putting her hand to her mouth in horror at the scene before her. Vegeta stood wide eye with unshed tears in his ebony eyes. Just then Goku, Chi-Chi, Gohan and Amy came into the room.

"Serena!" Chi-Chi wailed as she went into Goku's arms. Gohan just stood there with Amy next to him. Both had tears coming down their own eyes.

"We were to late." Amy whispered as the realization of what happened before she turned into Gohan's arms which Gohan took into his arm right away. Both trying to comfort and support one another in this time of loss. Vegeta who stood for a moment starring at his son who was sobbing at the loss of his mate could not imagine the pain he was going through. He wished he could take it all away for him in that very instant. Vegeta went over to his and sat on the bed before grabbing his son on the shoulder. Trunks push his father's hand off his hand only wishing to hold his dead mate and be left alone. Vegeta though would not let his son be alone. Vegeta grabs a hold of his son's should pulling forcefully hard to him. Trunks tries to fight him, but Vegeta overpowers him easily and holds his future son in a hug that he is unbreakable.

"I am here." Vegeta whispered to his son. He knew his son needed all the support right now from him even if it was not in his nature to normally show it. This was going to be the hardest thing for Trunks to survive after everything the poor boy had been through already. Trunks gave up the fight and continue to sob in his father's arms. The pain so unbearable with his mate fully gone forever.