From the Moon to the Earth

A/N: Happy Birthday, Mamo-chan! It's a little but it's still the third for me! :O This one diverges from the First Season theme-but I'm sticking it here anywhere because I don't want to clutter my profile with one-shots. *stares nervously at my NCIS one-shots from ages ago* Please enjoy!

. . .

"Mamo-chan, do you love me?"

A nervous, pink-tinged Usagi sways on the balls of her feet, waiting for the man seated at the counter in front of her to respond. Mamoru looks over, his eyebrows knitting together as he sets the book he was reading down. "Of course I do, Usako. You know that."

Her blue eyes brighten. "How much?" It was impossible to ignore the glee that seemed to glow from her person. There are ulterior motives hidden behind her questions. And everybody in the Crown Arcade stopped to figure out what the blonde was thinking this time.

After all, this is the couple. The one who met and started bickering. For months. Until one day everything snapped and Mamoru Chiba kissed her. That's right. The quiet, studious high school boy kissed the bubbly slacker of a middle school student. In front of the whole arcade.

To a stranger, the scene would seem improbable. Impossible, even. But to the friends who were close to this couple-it was only a matter of time before this happened.

Mamoru pushes himself from his seat and advances towards his girlfriend of five years. Even he's not dense enough to play off Usagi's antics as just simple questioning. He raises his hand to her forehead and relief floods his body with the knowledge that she's not sick. Usagi, however, is less than pleased to be kept waiting for her answer. "Mamo-channn," she whines, her lower lip sticking out.

"Well," he starts, moving his hand from her forehead to fluff her bangs. "I love you from your odangos to your toes." Usagi smiles-but Mamoru is far from done. "I love you from Tokyo to Osaka. I love you from Japan to America." With each declaration, Usagi's cheeks grow warmer- until Mamoru drops his face to hers and whispers his last testament of love.

"I love you to the moon and back, Usako."

"Good."

Mamoru blinks. "Good?"

Usagi's smile spreads across her face and she drops to her knees. "Mamo-chan, I love you from your blazer to your shoes-from Tokyo to Osaka. I love you from Japan to America. I love you from the moon to the Earth." She pulls a velvet box from her skirt pocket, offering it up carefully. "Mamoru Chiba, will you let me love you forever?"

The arcade is dead silent.

Nobody says anything.

For a second, Usagi freezes, wondering if she somehow screwed up. Which was impossible seeing as the Goddess of Love herself helped her concoct this foolproof plan. But her hesitation melts away as Mamoru's normally stoic face breaks into a broad grin meant only for Usagi. He falls to the ground in front of her and pulls her into his arms. Tears spring to his eyes as he pulls the blonde to his chest, seeking her warmth.

"Only if I'm allowed to love you back for just as long."

At this declaration-the whole arcade erupts in applause. Immediately Rei, Minako, Makoto, and Ami burst in from the back room alongside Motoki and Reika. They toss streamers in the air and shout their congratulations. Bottles of champagne and apple cider pop open and what was meant to be just a regular day in August transforms into a full blown celebration.

Usagi and Mamoru remain on the floor in each others' arms, exchanging kisses and smiling like idiots together.

But before they join the party, Mamoru pulls her in close, kissing slowly up her jaw before meeting her eyes. "Why today?" He whispers, trying to put the pieces together. It's not any number of the anniversaries they shared. They first met in April, first kissed in October, and officially started dating in early November. It simply didn't fit.

"Remember?" Usagi holds up her left hand, a pink heart jewel glittering on her ring finger. "You promised to stay with me even when you were in America." Her cheeks flush. "And now that you're back in Japan for good-I wanted an extension of our time together."

Mamoru smirks. "An expansion, huh?" He buries his face into the crown of her head, dwelling in the smell of her strawberry shampoo. "Forever is a long time, you know."

She pulls away and smiles. "I'm sure we'll manage."

A smile stretches across Mamoru's face. Around them both their friends and strangers celebrate in harmony their special day. If it was possible- he would live in this moment forever. Usagi in his arms, a ring on his finger, and the laughter of their loved ones. The only thing that could make it better is their pink bundle of joy. But she would be here in due time. Usagi's only 19- and Chibiusa isn't born until she turned 22.

Then his life would be perfect.

"Oh, Mamo-chan, I forgot one thing."

Mamoru breaks from his thoughts to look down to Usagi batting her eyes at him. "Hmm?"

Her smile extends to her eyes and she pulls his face down to place a chaste kiss on his lips. "Happy Birthday."

. . .

A/N: Ahhh! I don't know how I like it because I wrote differently than normal. :O Please tell me what you think so I know how to improve!

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