"Arrrrggghhhhhh! You kept this a secret!?" Serena reafffirmed with a raised fist. Luna cowered beneath Serena. Normally, Luna would have whipped out her claws at such a reprimand, but guilt made her sit tight. She merely nodded remorsefully.

"You knew, that he was Tuxedo Mask. You knew that he was Prince Darien. And you didn't tell me!?" Serena howled, her voice causing Raye, Lita, Mina, Amy, and Darien to shield their ears from the horrible sound. It hung in the air for seconds, reverburating around Raye's temple.

"Queen Serenity swore me to secrecy," Luna began in a low voice. She winced under Serena's glare.

"And why would she do that," Serena spat, with her arms crossed self-righteously.

"Only when your memories had been naturally recovered, could you turn back time and regain the lives that were rightfully yours. That's how each of you beat death."

Serena sat back, Indian-style, on the floor with the fight taken out of her.

"So we did-die?" Serena asked in disbelief. Luna nodded, once again. Serena pondered the thought for a moment, her chin in her hand. Suddenly, she marched in front of her friends who all sat in a row beside Luna.

"And you!!" Serena declared while pointing an angry finger at the group," You guys were sleeping through the whole thing, weren't you?" The girls bowed their heads solemnly waiting for her to continue. They hadn't been exactly "sleeping", but they felt guilty nonetheless for being unable to protect their princess.

Surprisingly, in a sweeping motion, Serena collapsed onto her knees and began to wail.

"Waaaaaah! I'm can't believe it's over and we're still aliiiiiivve!!!!!!!!!!!!" Serena managed to say between sobs.

She didn't stop wailing until she felt a gentle hand rest on her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder and met Darien's gaze. He smiled down at her thoughtfully.

Then, she lept into his arms and began to sob again. She rested her head on his chest while he looked down at the petite frame in his arms contentedly. Taking their cue, Luna, Artemis, and the scouts all went outside leaving the couple in solitude.

In a few moments there was nothing but silence. Serena stepped back to look at his eyes, not leaving their embrace. He looked down at her passionately; his eyes spoke everything he meant to say. But, there was something else shining in his midnight blue depths. It was bigger than his pupil and seemed to grow as if emerging from behind something dark.

With a flash of her hand, Darien was dragged outside behind dangerous, golden pigtails. They disppeared out the back doors just as the scouts walked back inside.

"I was wondering why it was so silent..."

"Darien, isn't it beautiful?" Serena asked pointing into the night sky. Darien wrapped his arms around Serena's waist from behind, with his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Where did they go?"

"Yeah," Darien agreed, but his eyes only saw Serena's face.

"Yeah, I'm worried. Shouldn't they be in bed? It's only been an hour since they woke up, and eighteen hours ago, they we're almost killed."

Serena turned around realizing his attention was on her, "Do you love me?" She turned around to face him.

"Oh, I wouldn't be worried. They're probably outside making out."

"More than you'll ever know," he whispered, his lips mere inches from hers. Soon, the distance between them was closed and they met in a passionate kiss. Serena stood on the tips of her toes to press her lips against his more strongly. Never before, had she experienced such bliss; not even from a triple hot fudge sundae.

"Is this really where it all ends?"

Serena and Darien now sat on the steps gazing peacefully at the sky. The moon shone serenly upon them, brimming with hope. She suddenly, turned towards the doors and yelled," No, guys. It's just the beginnning."