***I DON'T OWN INUYASHA OR SAILOR MOON***

**I ALSO DON'T OWN F. SCOTT FITZGERALD BUT JUST LOVE HIS WORK**

Chapter Thirty-One: Haunted

"You are nothing"

"You will kill us all"

"I could never love a problem like you"

"You aren't worth it"

Serena bolted upright in bed, a small gasp of air leaving her mouth, she slammed her hand over her mouth to stifle her breaths. Her heart pounding in her chest. Frantically searching the room for danger. It was dark out and Sesshomaru was still fast asleep laying on his stomach, his arm hanging loosely around her waist. Passing her hand across her sweaty brow Serena knew she had to do better at disguising waking up from these nightmares. They were happening frequently throughout the night. She was lucky that fatigue and numerous sleepless nights had finally caught up to the silver-haired demon laying beside her. Otherwise, he would have woken up and questioned her about the dreams. She couldn't have that. Now she knew that they weren't normal nightmares, she had to do whatever she could to keep her family protected. She wouldn't drag them into another thing. Now that Sion was in her mind. He was able to get into her head like he had created a doorway to come and go as he pleased. To torture her nightly.

Laying back, she was careful not to wake Sesshomaru. Serena tossed and turned for over an hour before groaning, she was frustrated. Laying there wide awake she tried to take deep breaths but every time she closed her eyes all she saw were the lifeless bodies of her family and the voices saying horrible things to her. She glanced over at Sesshomaru gently brushing a piece of hair from his face. She let her fingers rest on his cheek, smiling softly.

'He is so beautiful' she mused 'sometimes I cannot believe he was made for me'

Turning back to stare the ceiling, Serena sighed maybe some tea would do the trick. She slipped out from under his arm, placing light butterfly kisses on his face. Pulling on her robe, she tied it closed and softly padded downstairs and into the kitchen. She turned on the kettle before grabbing a mug and throwing in a chamomile teabag. As she was waiting for the water to boil, Serena leaned her hands on the counter, hanging her head as a sigh escaped her lips.

"Can't sleep?" asked a voice

Serena practically jumped out of her skin whirling around, her hand coming to her chest clutching the front of her robe. Toga stared back at her, slightly bemused. She scowled at him.

"Oh my stars, you nearly gave me a heart attack Dad" she grumbled at him

He chuckled raising his hands in mock surrender

"Sorry, heard someone shuffling around and came to investigate" he said closing the gap and placing his hands on her shoulders looking down at her, searching for something "what's wrong?"

She pulled her mask up "just couldn't fall back asleep"

"Are you sure?" he pushed further "the other day…"

Serena stepped into Toga's embrace, resting her head on his chest like a small child.

"I'm okay" she whispered. Trying to convince herself more than him, hoping that if she said the lie enough that even she would start to believe it too.

Toga nodded, not believing her. He knew she was trying her hardest to stay put together. The kettle whistled, Serena pulled away pouring the boiling water into her mug.

"Why are you awake?" she questioned glancing over at Toga

"Work" he lied, in reality, he had spent the night worrying about her and researching anything he could think of.

Toga paused "do you want to keep me company? Just until you fall asleep." If she was with him, he could watch over her like a father should and keep her calm. He knew that was what Matis would do if he were here with her. Keep her mind focused on something other than the chaos happening.

Serena nodded following him into his home office. Toga's office was a large room with tall ceilings, painted a dark red and had wooden beams lining the ceiling. One side had a big fireplace surrounded by ceiling to floor bookshelves. They were filled with various texts both new and old as well as dozens of scrolls. He had a large oak desk with two big leather armchairs facing it. Behind his desk, a few swords hung on the wall proudly displayed.

"Wow what are those?" she asked pointing to the swords putting her mug down.

"Those belong to Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and I" pointing to the different swords explaining what each sword was called and what they did. He explained how they were from a time long past but he kept them for what they symbolized, for training and in case of times they would be needed. Times like now.

Toga settled behind his desk pulling up some documents on his computer that required his attention. As he worked, Serena wandered around the bookshelves pulling out various books, flipping through them before sliding them back into their spot. Toga kept glancing at her browsing his collection, he could almost picture a tiny Serena climbing her father's selves to reach the books with her small hands. It made him smile. Suddenly she spotted her favourite.

"You have Fitzgerald" pulling out a copy of 'The Beautiful and Damned' flipping through its pages. It was a first edition and signed too.

"You like F. Scott Fitzgerald?" he asked looking over at her

"Oh yes, he is my favourite author" she paused "the victor belongs the spoils" she quoted smiling at him.

He chuckled "I enjoy his work, he was an interesting fellow. Terrible personal life but terrific artist. I haven't read that book in years"

Serena bit her lip, flicking her gaze between the book and Toga's downturned head. She took a tentative step towards him.

"Can I…I mean I could read it to you" she shifted nervously "if you want"

Toga paused his work looking up at Serena.

'She wants to read to me' he thought 'just like she did with her father'

"That would make me very happy" he answered motioning to one of the armchairs. Serena's face broke out in a wide smile, making her way over. She curled up in the chair, it was large enough that she could draw her knees up and rest the open book in front of her feet. She began to read.

***SESSHOMARU***

Sesshomaru shifted in his sleep and felt a lack of warmth from Serena's body. Feeling around the bed for her body but noticed quickly that it was empty. His eyes snapped open and he bolted upright, pulling on his mark. He let out a sigh of relief when he found she was still in the house, his pull strong. Getting out of bed, he pulled on a pair of light sleep pants growling inwardly he decided he was going to have to start tying her to their bed.

'What is she doing awake at three in the morning?' he thought padding down the hallway. He was concerned for a moment the nightmares had returned but she had assured him after the first night that they were gone. On top of which, he hadn't heard her wake up all night. No screaming. No cries for help.

On his way past, he stuck his head in Rin's room chuckling at his daughter. She sprawled across her bed, snoring lightly with her stuffed dolphin clutched in her small arms. Sesshomaru quickly made his way downstairs in search of his little mate to be.

He paused training his elven ears picking up all the sounds then he heard her. She was in Father's office. There he found Izayoi standing outside his office door smiling to herself. When she noticed Sesshomaru, she placed a finger on her lips telling him to be silent before motioning for him to come over and peek inside. Sesshomaru leaned over her head and peered in. His little star was curled up in one of the chairs reading out loud as Father worked, making the occasional comments causing her to rebuttal or laugh at him. Her voice floated through the air like music on the wind.

"She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. She is beautiful." – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sesshomaru's gaze softened, she was basically describing herself. She was a goddess. Serena had this way of making everyone else feel like they were the centre of her attention when she spoke to them. But Sesshomaru knew that her family was the centre of her universe, more specifically Sesshomaru and Rin. He knew this from the way she looked at him, kissed him and loved them both. The way she smiled at him made his heart light up and the way she cuddled closer to him made his heart beat faster. But the way she described her love for him made his soul sing for he could feel it through his mark. Her love was pure and bright, just like her. Izayoi tapped him on the shoulder and motioned for him to follow.

"She's been in there reading to him for the past hour or so" she whispered settling on the couch. He sat across from her, just happy he knew where she was and she was protected.

"It's good for her" he said "have a piece of her old life"

Izayoi nodded fiddling with her hands. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her hands, she was hiding something.

'Woman is terrible at hiding things' he thought

"What is it?" nodding at her hands.

Izayoi sighed

"You know your father knew her mother; Serenity, from when he was younger?" she began

Sesshomaru nodded, he had mentioned they had been friends a long time ago. But he suspected that there was more to this story than he previously realized. Urging her to continue with a jerk of his head.

"Well it was more than friends. He was in love with Serenity" he opened his mouth to reply but she stopped him "no please let me finish. She wasn't his true mate but it was his first young love. However, she was in love with another boy. One from Mars, Serena's father. Her mother didn't approve, he wasn't from nobility so she approached your dad about marrying her. Serenity begged him to say no so she could marry the one she loved, and because he loved her, he said no" Izayoi paused letting Sesshomaru absorb this information "they lost contact after her mother cut them off from Earth. He was happy that she was happy and knew it was the right choice, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten you or Inuyasha or met me. He hoped to reconnect one day as friends" she laughed softly "I think he hoped to introduce you two but your mother passed and you were in such a dark place than Serenity was killed. Your father was devastated. That's why he is the way he is with her, if he had married Serenity, Serena would be his daughter. I think he wants to do right by his first love"

Sesshomaru was shell-shocked. His father had been in love with her mother. Raking his hand through his hair, he felt his frustration rise. Why hadn't he told him? Why keep it a secret?

"That is a lot of information to process" he started "It does explain everything about his behaviour, however. You know he needs to tell Serena right? He can't keep this from her"

Izayoi nodded "I know and so doe he, he is just waiting to find the right time. Though I felt you should know"

She stood announcing she was returning to bed and asking him to tell Toga to come to bed. He nodded before returning to his father's office door. Sesshomaru slid down the wall, bringing his one leg up bent at the knee and rested his arm on it. He wouldn't interrupt their moment, it clearly brought solace to them both. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes listening to her voice.

'Her voice is heavenly' he thought 'like music'

After another half hour, he noticed her voice tapered off and went quiet. He waited to see if she picked up again. She didn't.

"She's asleep son. You can come in" his father's voice called out.

Sesshomaru stood strolling in. His little star was curled up in the chair fast asleep. He turned to his father.

"Izayoi told me. You should have been the one to tell me" Toga turned to face him sighing

"Does she know?" he asked, his gaze flicking to Serena's face.

Sesshomaru shook his head "no that is a conversation you have. And you will have it"

Toga nodded "I will, I didn't intend to keep it from you. I wasn't sure when to bring it up, especially with recent events" holding out his hand "hand me the book so I can save our spot"

Sesshomaru passed over the open book to his father looking back to his girl. She looked so small in that chair, all curled up fast asleep. It was nice to see her sleeping soundly, her face calm.

"I understand why Matis enjoyed it, it brings a real sense of calm" Toga said placing the book on his desk pausing his hand on it. Sesshomaru easily lifted her up into his arms breathing in her scent. She snuggled into his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck and sighing deeply. He nuzzled his nose into her hair.

"Goodnight Father" he said walking out "Izayoi is expecting you"

"Goodnight Son" he replied watching them leave. Toga sighed, he knew he was going to have to have that conversation sooner rather than later. He just hoped that when he did, she didn't hate him for it. Turning his eyes to the stars outside his window, he closed his eyes and sent a silent prayer to his lost first love and her husband.

'I will protect her. I will love her and I will cherish you as you both did. I swear to you' he thought.