A/N - So it begins they are in a room together. His thoughts are going into overdrive.

Enjoy!

~Munchkin1978

Chapter 7 – Him

Moments with Her

I was actually dreading this. It was a last resort and I was putting myself in a room with her and the way I felt about her. I knew she would not like this. So I had stopped the travel party and had Kunzite change to just plain travel clothes. I did the same. When it was time to tell the court and the princess Nephrite advised them what was to happen and I watched as she hugged each of her court. The golden blonde was the one she chose to come with us which I could see made Kunzite smile the most. He went and got them and they followed him so trustingly to where I stood with the waiting horses. She was trying to tighten her cloak around her hair which didn't seem to want to stay.

"Princess we can not be seen as royalty. You stick out like a sore thumb. You need to change your appearance before we go into through the town. It is not that I am being as you stated arrogant but this is to keep you safe." It sounded harsh but I needed her to know the truth of what was coming. She had opened her mouth to say something but closed it and with a small shake of her head I watched as her hair changed from her beautiful silver locks to that of red and her big beautiful silvery blue eyes turned green. Her cloak changed as well. No more simple moon jewelry but a design that matched what you would see on earth. Her maiden had done the same with her golden blonde hair. She changed it to a brown to match Kunzite.

"I can not keep the hair color. At night it will return to silver." She stated starring at me. I must have dropped my jaw because I closed it tightly. With just a shake of her head changes were made.

"We will be staying the night in a small town 4 hours from here. On the border of Middle Earth." Almost home.

"Endymion do you really think it will be safe for all of us there?" Kunzite knew the answer. He was putting on a show for the Princess and her maiden to assure them what we were doing was sane and right.

"They won't look for any of us there." I said to him playing along.

"Do you trust her?"

"No, not really but the options are less than favorable at this point."

"What is going on?" She demanded stomping her foot again. "I am standing right here." I looked at her and told her the truth. Whether she was going to like it I didn't know. Probably not.

"Well Princess, the delicate thing that you are we are going to see some not so pleasant things." I said to her. "Please do not speak unless spoken to when we arrive. We are only staying in a room there."

"Where are we staying?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Why not?" She huffed. "I can look after myself."

"Not at this place you can't." Oh boy she definitely would not be able to look after herself there. She would be taken by one or more men in a heartbeat.

"Then tell me."

"Not now Princess."

I lifted her up without asking and put her on top of the closest horse that was not Helios. I watched the now brown haired maiden mount hers with skill and we followed by mounting ours. I could hear her scoff at the situation and pout just a little as I looked at her. She was definitely having a Princess moment. She pulled the cloak around her head to hide her dissatisfaction but I could see it. It was radiating from her. We all left at a walk's pace as I was in the lead with Kunzite.

It was a short distance before I heard her talking to her maiden who was riding beside her. I looked at Kunzite who could hear them talking as well.

"I don't like this Mina. Something is off. They are keeping something from us."

"If something happens I will be there."

Leading the way we happened to pass by not just forest but fields of wheat and grass. Children playing and other people that would not have known who she was. She was disguised anyhow but some people of Earth didn't even know who I was as well. I could see her smile at the children. It seems that is what brought out her smile more than anything elese, which in turn made me smile. She may have been from the moon but she was just as much like us as we were like them. She had noticed I was smiling at her and quickly looked away. She had said she was not a rider but she seemed to be doing just fine. Mind you we were only going at a walk's pace. I fell back and rode up beside her without looking at her. I had not startled her at least. I watched Mina ride up with Kunzite which made him smile at her for the company.

"Princess. Your riding skills are just fine. I thought we would have to teach you on the way."

"I am a quick learner. Is this the only reason you have chosen to speak to me." She was mad at me again.

"I know you will object to where I am taking you. But no one will find you or any of us there. I wish you didn't have to see this place it is not a fair representation of Earth. It is a getaway for certain types of people who wish to hide and do…"

"And do what?"

"You are fragile and not of this planet. We must change not only our appearance but our names as well. I am Darien when I come here. You should change your name as well. We will be a travelling couple." I paused and waited for a reaction. "My brother is not to know I brought you here. He would disapprove along with my Father." Oh would they ever disapprove. I was taking a chance on this but I was sure she would not be one to spout out that we were going to a brothel.

She starred at me waiting and when I didn't say anything back she spoke again. "Where are we going? Fragile am I?" She was questioning everything yet scoffing that I was calling her fragile. "If you have been here before why are you Darien?" You don't want to know why I am Darien Princess.

"We are going to what Earth calls a Brothel." I looked at her and with a very serious face told her exactly what needed to be done. I could not have anything go wrong here. "We must keep to our selves. Not draw attention. We unfortunately will be there for 2 days as the uprising one of the towns close by is being controlled."

"A Brothel. You are taking us to a Brothel?"

"Yes Princess I am taking you to a brothel."

"Why a brothel?" Her voice dropped from the complaint just a moment ago. "I know of them from Venus but we were only ever told the name and that it is not a place for a prince or princess to visit."

"No one will look for you there." I stopped Helios and her horse by grabbing the reins. I looked straight at her and thought for a minute. I loved her name but it needed to be changed just like I had changed mine when I had stayed there. "I think you are a Serena." I said. It was similar to Serenity. I would continue to call her Princess though.

"I don't want to change my name." She looked at me and if she had been on the ground I am pretty sure she would have stomped her foot again. I pressed my heels into Helios side to start walking again and her horse followed.

"I am sorry Princess for the next two days you will be Serena while we are hiding there. I will bring you food and you can sleep. You must not be seen by the customers."

We rode up to the brothel that had a sign on the outside that said Beryl's Gentleman's House on the outside. She was conflicted on what to think. I could see it in her face. I dismounted and asked the others to wait while I secured the rooms with Beryl. I was dreading this. I know she would bring up how I had stayed a week here before. I am sure she would try to line up a few of the girls just for me. I entered the door and was greeted by Beryl.

"Darien you came back."

"Yes Beryl but I am not on my own. I have company. I was hoping to rent your private top floor rooms. We have been travelling and seek shelter to rest. You are the closest place. We could not travel any further."

"I still have the rooms. They are yours. I would be happy to have you stay. Maybe partake in.."

"No Beryl I have settled with someone. If I should have the need I will come down." I lied to her. This visit and stay I may just have to come down to release if I am going to be in close proximity to her.

We headed outside to Kunzite and the ladies. I would have to be very careful with names. Especially in the hallway. She is not going to be happy. She is going to see the worst of the worst here. I could tell she was not weathered in the knowledge of what a brothel was. I could see her watching Beryl from a top her horse and the thoughts she was thinking. Kunzite helped her down as she started to shrink back.

"Well I had no idea Darien had someone to share his life with. I will be happy to have you both and Kellan you are welcome as Darien is. Please come with me."

She was glaring at me as I took her arm. I didn't say anything I just made sure she was on my arm the whole time and not being a princess at that particular moment. We entered the building from the same door I had just come out of with Beryl. I could tell she was looking around as I felt her balk at going further. I knew she wanted to say something. She always did. I put my one hand on hers that was over my arm to tell her it was okay. She came with but it was a little bit at first to get her to keep up.

I knew the hallways here. They were etched in my head since I had been here. I knew the ladies because I had fucked some of them. I didn't turn to see them I just followed Beryl. I knew from the way the Princess was moving that she was watching what was going on around her. She gripped me tighter than I think she was expecting but she didn't let go. I kept my hand on hers and snuck a peek at her. Her cloak hood was still up and her eyes were a wide as the horizon. I was pretty sure that she had never seen the act of sex before let alone been alone with a male in any shape or form. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Kunzite smile again at what Mina was saying to him.

"Now Darien my dear supper will be in an hour will you be joining us?"

"No Beryl we have been travelling and must rest. We will take our supper to our room."

"Of course." Beryl climbed the stairs and took us to the top floor. "Here we are a room for you Darien and Kellan you are just down the hall. No one will bother you both here."

Beryl left us standing there in the hallway on the top floor. I opened the door and entered. She entered after and was about to turn to leave. From her facial expression she was not impressed. Since the door was still open I had no choice but to use the false name. "Serena it is not ideal but it will keep you safe."

"Is one room for Mina and myself?" She asked with hope that she could stay with her lady.

"No to keep up appearances I will be staying here with you. You can have the bed."

"This is no place for us. We can not stay here."

"We must," I said softly, "Until Jaedite and Zoesite have handled the route we need to take. Nephrite is with your court. They are safe. Mina is safe with Kunzite. It is what it is. You just need to stay put. This is no place for a princess to be. Or a prince for that matter." I said to her closing the door.

"But you have been here before. You know her. Where you one of them like downstairs?" I watched as her very innocent question turned into moment she had regretted. She clamped her hand over her mouth once she realized what she had asked. "I'm sorry." I watched her flush a bright pink at her own question. I wasn't sure she wanted the answer.

"I am not proud of the fact but yes I was." I watched her. I told it like it was. I couldn't lie to her right now. She needed to know the truth. "It was a short time ago. Like I said I am not proud of the fact but I was hiding from my father and brother at the time and it happened." I waited for her to respond but she didn't. She grumbled at herself probably scolding herself like I did on plenty occasions. I watched as she sat and removed the cloak with the red locks spilling out behind her. Something in me stirred. She would be very close tonight and tomorrow. I had to be in control. "I like the red but I like the silver as well. Reminds me of a time long ago." I put down my satchel I had taken from Helios. "There is a bath if you wish to bathe. I know we have been travelling for a few days." I would take it easier on her right now. This I am sure was a lot to take in.

"That would be nice."

"I will secure some dinner and be back up in a while if you want to bathe. I am sure Mina is doing the same."

"You are different today. Not like the day we met." She said quietly. She was looking at her hands and trying to hide them inside the cloak in her lap.

"I didn't want to have to bring you here. But it was a last resort. There is so much unrest on Earth. I didn't understand it when I was little but the people on Earth were not given a chance to fight off the evil that was here from another planet. I am sure it is back again. Someone or something is against the moon kingdom and it is showing more now than ever."

"Your worried."

Of course I was worried. I wanted, no I had to protect you Princess. You have been who I have been dreaming about finding for years. The dream that I had of her popped into my head as I gave her the red rose. "Yes. I think someone is controlling my Father. I see little instances but not sure if they are real or not. I don't know why I am telling you this." Too much information Endymion.

"I don't know why either." She looked straight at me questioning me. "I think I will take that bath while you go down for food." She had changed. She was not so Princess like in this moment.

"I will be back in a little while." I left her sitting in the chair and went out the door. I heard her get up and start drawing the water in. I went down the hallway and knocked on Kunzite door. He answered it as Mina was getting her surroundings.

"Mina stay inside we will be back with some food for the night."

"Okay it is just like the brothel's on Venus so I know to stay put or be drawn in."

I was a little taken aback at her comment. By the sounds of it she had been in a brothel before. I headed down the stairs before Kunzite said a word to me.

"She knows we have been here before. She can read the emotions. She is going in overdrive with everything going on around her."

"She figured it out did she?"

"Yes. As soon as we entered."

"Well lets keep our wits about us."

"Lead the way."