Lita, his Jovian love. The woman he wanted as his wife and the mother of his children. Part of his heart and soul would always belong to her.

It would be the only thing that would save him in the end.

Everyone was gathered at Nephrite's condo, taking up every available place to sit and then some. It was the only place that was big enough to accommodate 10 people plus two cats. There was electricity in the air, and none of it coming from the lightning scout sitting next to Nephrite. They has all agreed that it was time to sit and sort things out. Not that it was going very well.

"I can't see why you want us to just drop our guard and let them in!" Mina was raging, pacing back and forth in front of the large flat screen tv on the wall. It was on the cable news channel, but muted. Ironically, they were covering the latest Sailor Scout battle.

"Mina's right." Rei flamed up, violet eyes sparking in anger. "They murdered us! We loved them and they took our lives and destroyed the Moon Kingdom."

Nephrite shifted guiltily. He knew every word they spoke was true, and there was no possible way to go back and change things. Fate was written and time was set. The stars had taught him this. He also briefly wondered who was more likely to explode and do some serious damage. Mina and her deep bound fear of history repeating itself. Rei with her firey hair trigger temper. Or Malachite, for having to have the past brought up; a past Nephrite knew he was ashamed of and felt that he would never make recompense for.

"This is not up for debate." Darien ground out. He was standing firm, his arms crossed and his usually impassive face as dark as a thundercloud. Beside him Serena stood, the picture of complete calm, hands folded together in front of her. Artemis was trying to calm Mina down while Luna jumped up onto the coffee table. She little black cat glared at each of the generals before addressing Darien.

"Yes it is." Her tail swished back and forth in irritation. "Anything involving the scouts is up for debate."

Darien opened his mouth to reply, but Jedite beat him to it.

"That's rich, coming from you." Beside the tactician, Rei visibly bristled. Vaguely Nephrtie noticed how each couple had paired off, even if they were consciously aware of it or not. "I seem to recall you telling Darien and us Generals to stay out of scout business, and that we had no rights to even offer opinions over a thousand years ago."

"Luna!" Serena scolded, and Nephrite felt Lita giggle beside him.

It felt so right to have her snuggled up against him on the love seat, his arm draped across the back cushions. Lazily he trailed his fingers in a circular pattern on her shoulder, unable to get enough of her skin. Until later that is, when they were both ready to return to the lovemaking they had once known. Around them the room erupted into shouting matches, and Lita sighed heavily. Leaning up out of his embrace she placed her pinkies in her mouth and gave a shrill whistle.

"Enough!" Everyone immediately froze to stare at the green and brown clad woman.

Inside Nephrite was cheering her on. The lightning queen had a temper as well, but it took quite a while for it to be riled up when it came to those she loved. She preferred patience and love to fighting. That didn't mean that she couldn't give as good as she got however. She was the toughest fighter out of all the Inner Scouts. Only Sailor Uranus was able to match her.

"I know you think you are protecting all of us by this senseless fighting, but don't you see? There's no point now. We all know who we are; there are no secret identities. Nothing to protect or hide." Lita slipped her hand into Nephrite's, so familiar and perfect. His heart thumped slowly.

"They can still betray us!" Mina burst out, and that spurred Malachite into action.

"Do you know how much it hurts that you throw that back in our faces?" The silver man stood to tower over his former lover. "Do you think I don't regret every second of what that witch made me do while I was under her spell? That I burn with the hatred of myself that I wasn't strong enough to break her hold and protect you?"

Silence stretched as everyone took in the outburst from the normally quietest person of the group. That and the fact that his words echoed true. Nephrite knew he and Lita would be able to repair the damage that had been done so long ago, but he prayed the others would be open to becoming what they once were.

"My decision stands. Only for me however." Darien spoke coldly. "I suggest each of you resolve your differences alone. Each of you are bound to the other, whether you like it or not. I would hope for the sake of the universe you would get over your fears and your egos. We cannot afford to be divided and protect innocent people."

Quietly everyone left in pairs until only Lita remained, staring at her hands and refusing to look at him.

"Love, what's wrong?" Please don't shut me out now that I've found you.

It was taking all of Lita's strength to not attack Nephrite where he sat. All of her memories had returned, including those of the nights they would spend in the cabin he owned on Earth, making love all night. They would split off from the others for a night or two here and there to be alone. It was at that cabin that Nephrite had asked her to marry him. She smiled at the memory.

"Nothing my love." She gathered up the courage to look at the man she wanted to marry. "Just remembering the cabin. How free we were back then."

"We can be again." His big, rough hands cupped her checks and tilted her face up to his, voice warm and dark like it had been all those nights. She knew he was remembering as well; his check bones were tinted and his eyes were heavy and dark. His thumbs stroked the soft skin under here eyes, brushing away the tear that had fallen.

"Are you sure?" She whispered. "What if the others make it difficult?"

Lita wanted nothing more than to surrender. To give in and love the man she had missed for a millennium. To feel the power of his touch and the love of his soul. She watched as his lips quirked into a crooked smile, melting her heart a little more.

"When did that ever stop us." He brushed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her closer, enveloping her in his hard arms and chest. "Besides, I have a feeling that everything will turn out all right in the end."

"Did your stars tell you that?"

His hot, soft lips pressed a moist kiss to the curve of her neck and she felt him stir underneath her. Then he breathed into her ear,

"No, you did. A thousand years ago when you stole my heart."

OK readers. I need your opinion. Should I write a love scene for Neph and Lita, or should I stop the story here? This ending seems to wrap it up nice, but I originally had intended for there to be more smut. Let me know what you think!