Title: To Brave the Darkness

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon

Authors Notes: Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. Here's another chapter! Please continue to let me know what you think. I've already made a few changes based on notes given to me by all of you. I hope you continue enjoying my work!

Serenity awoke late the next morning, feeling groggy. She looked around, confused as to her surroundings before remembering that she was still in Endymion's house.

She sighed as the happenings of last night came back to her, and almost immediately the tears wanted to spill again.

It had been hard, convincing herself to ignore what he had said. As soon as he had said it she realized it was what she wanted. She wanted him to want her. She wanted him to love her, no matter how out of reach that was. His lust was driving him now, and that was almost enough. But she couldn't trust him and she wouldn't allow herself to be pulled into his games.

She washed slowly, taking her time in the bath that had been prepared for her. Raye had left her a note saying she was already downstairs and wouldn't leave without her. She was ready to go back home with her friend, but dreading going downstairs and seeing Endymion.

When she was finally dressed, she steadied herself before going out to join them.

As soon as she walked in the room she felt his eyes on her.

"Thank goodness," Raye said dramatically, " I thought you'd never wake up."

"I'm sorry for being late," she said, not looking at him.

"Are you hungry?" Raye asked.

Serenity shook her head, feeling the knots in her stomach again. "Not really. I think I had too much wine last night."

Raye nodded, not thinking her answer was anything less than logical. "I know what you mean. I definitely went overboard. That reminds me, Mina sent me a letter this morning. She wants to know if a leisurely stroll through her father's gardens might be enjoyable to us."

It sounded lovely, but also exhausting. "I'm not sure I'm up to it today."

Raye nodded, glancing at Endymion with a curious expression.

Serenity refused to look at him.

"I guess your friend won't be joining us?" Raye asked Endymion with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Serenity heard him move his fork around his plate. "She went home."

"Upset I would wager."

"I wouldn't know."

Raye looked at Serenity, obviously confused about something but not saying it. Serenity just looked away, still not even glancing towards Endymion. She didn't want to see him. It was easier if she just pretended he wasn't there.

It was harder when he insisted on speaking.

"I've made a decision to take a break for awhile," he said to Raye.

Raye looked surprised. "A break from what?"

"From a lot of things," Endymion said. "My business I will have to continue with, but from my own home. I'm not going to travel unless it's necessary."

"Does that mean you're bringing them back with you now?" Raye asked with surprise.

She heard his chair move when he leaned back. "Like I said, I'm taking a break for now."

If Raye had been confused before, she definitely was now. "So…" she started, glancing again at Serenity. "Is there a reason for that?"

"More than one," he said. "And none I want to talk about."

"So you're changing?"

"I'm taking a break Raye. Don't read more into it than I have."

"But…"

"I said enough," he said with an edge to his voice.

Raye put her hands on her lap, looking back and forth between them. "Okay, I think Serenity and I are going to leave now. There's obviously something we have to talk about."

Serenity was only too eager to get up and leave. Her abrupt standing startled Raye. Despite herself, Serenity looked at Endymion, and wished she hadn't. He looked hurt. He looked sad and a little angry. She immediately looked away, but only had enough time to try and fight the sudden urge to cry before he spoke again.

"If you don't mind Raye, perhaps you can meet Serenity in the front hall."

Raye looked at Serenity for a moment, eyes concerned, and then nodded as she hurried from the room.

Serenity stayed rooted to the spot, unmoving.

For a moment, the room was almost deathly quiet.

"I meant what I said," he said with no emotion in his voice.

"A break sounds good," she said with equal emotion.

"I meant what I said last night."

She sighed. "So did I."

"So then that's it?" He asked, standing up and walking around the table towards her. "That's all you have to say to me?"

"What were you hoping for?"

"I was hoping that you might be somehow affected by what I said."

"I am," she said honestly, "but that doesn't change things. I won't ever trust you."

"You're the one who told me I should change."

"If you're changing for me, then don't bother," she said seriously. "The guilt you felt last night had nothing to do with me. If you're going to change then change because you know what you've been doing is wrong and you want to make amends. If you change to win me, then you're going to revert right back to what you used to be as soon as you realize there's no hope."

He reached up to gently stroke her cheek, letting emotion filter through his eyes. "Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?"

She shook her head softly. "I can't see anything that would work."

"That doesn't mean there isn't a way."

"Endymion stop," she pleaded. "Just do whatever it is you think will make you happy one day."

When he leaned down to kiss her she didn't move away. She let his lips touch hers, gently at first, and sweet. It felt like he was asking her to stay, reminding her what had happened between them. But she kissed him back saying goodbye, and pulled away when he tried to make it deeper.

"Goodbye Endymion," she said shakily.

He didn't stop her from leaving and she didn't turn back, not once, too look at him.

The next few days seemed to stretch on for Serenity. She suddenly didn't feel like doing any of the things she had loved so much since her stay here. She didn't want to go to town and she didn't want to ride around the lake with her friends. All she wanted to do was stay indoors and read.

Raye would have none of it, and despite her protests, dragged her to everything she could think of to get her mind off of Endymion.

Serenity had told Raye what had happened, and Raye wasn't surprised.

"I thought you might have feelings for him when he first brought you here. I know how hard it can be to see the man you first gave yourself to, especially when he's stupidly good looking."

Serenity looked at her in surprise. "You do?"

Raye smiled sadly at her. "Endymion never told you and I respect that he didn't. It was a long time ago."

"You slept with Endymion?"

"No!" She said quickly. "No, of course not. I just meant that Endymion knows about it. It wasn't anything really. Before my parents died, I was being courted by a gentleman of Endymion's acquaintance. We fell in love and planned to get married. When I gave myself to him it was because I thought we would be together forever so I wasn't really betraying any future husband."

"What happened to him?" Serenity asked.

"The King ordered him to his army. He never returned."

Serenity swallowed, feeling so much sincere pity for her friend it was almost choking. "Is that why you don't seem interested in marriage?"

"It is," Raye said. "My situation is different than yours, but I understand."

"Only Endymion is still here."

"Yes he is," Raye said with a soft smile. "But I understand your hesitation. He is who he is, and there's no guarantee he'd be able to change for you, no matter what he says."

Serenity nodded.

It took Serenity forever to really figure out why she was so unwilling to experience life suddenly. She knew it was because she felt like she had lost Endymion, even though she had made the decision to walk away. It wasn't as immediately obvious just how much she liked him.

It made sense. He had saved her in more ways than one, and he had been her first. She felt connected to him in a way she had never felt connected to anyone. Perhaps the reason he felt the same was because she was the only one who had ever stayed around. He couldn't possibly like her because of her personality, because he didn't know it.

She argued with herself, trying to convince her own mind that it was wrong in the assumption that she had simply been hurt to actually see him take another woman to his bed.

Days later Raye received a letter from him, saying he was going away on business.

"That didn't take long," Serenity said sadly.

Raye smiled gently at her, her gaze pitying. "Maybe it's not what it seems."

"It's better this way," Serenity said. "Now I can't argue his case. He is who he is, as you've said. I've made the right choice."

Mina and Lita asked and were told about the situation, and Serenity was glad that she had her friends around to help cheer her up. With Endymion gone, they were all she had, and she loved them dearly.

Life settled into a little rhythm, and Serenity felt at home where she was. It was a strange feeling that she had hardly felt since her mother had died, and she relished it at every moment. Even the leisurely strolls around the lake were wonderful, and she felt wonderful being a part of them.

But the threat of her father never went away.

It was late at night when a thundering pounding came at the door, awaking them both from sleep.

Serenity hurried out of her room, wide-eyed and afraid, to find Raye doing the same, looking slightly ruffled. She motioned for Serenity to stay at the top of the stairs, out of sight, as she went to join her manservant to see who it was.

Serenity could hear every word.

"We're looking for Lord Endymion. We were told he sometimes spends time here."

Raye's voice was clear and strong, and unfaltering. "He has not been seen around here for some weeks. I believe that last time I saw him was two weeks ago at my birthday celebration."

"We believed he is harboring a young lady."

"That would not be unlike him," Raye said dryly. "He always has one young lady or another on his arm or in his bed."

"This young lady is particular. Her fiancé is eager for her return."

"And he thinks Endymion has her."

"It stands to reason she would go to him."

"Endymion may have his faults, but he has never kept a woman around for more than a night or two. If he is hiding a woman, I know nothing about it."

"I believe your cousin is here staying with you."

Serenity held her breath at Raye's pause.

"I'm not sure that is of a concern to you."

"Perhaps we could meet her."

"It is an ungodly hour in the morning and she is asleep. Come back at a reasonable time and I would be happy to introduce her."

"The King has issued a warrant for her, and whoever is caught hiding her will be charged."

Serenity couldn't believe that. How had her stepfather managed to get the King involved? Everything she knew about the monarch was good. He must have lied somehow. Would he go as far as lying to the King?

"Then I hope you find her alone, so nobody gets hurt. Good evening." Her tone was very clear; she wanted him gone.

"Good evening my lady. Sorry to have disturbed you."

When Raye closed the door, Serenity crept down the stairs to meet her half way.

Raye looked worried. "He doesn't seem to be forgetting about you."

Serenity bit her lip, trying to think over the pounding of her heart. "Perhaps it's best I go. If they find me here…"

Raye waved her hand dismissively. "That will be the last time you ever broach that subject. You are my cousin and you are here staying with me. But perhaps we should further your alibi in case they look into it."

"What if they know what I look like? My stepfather may have shown them a painting of me. He had a couple commissioned for himself."

"We will deal with this Serenity."

Serenity nodded, fearful. "What about Endymion. If they think he's involved, he might be in trouble."

"He's not," Raye said. "Endymion is smart. He'll know what to do."

The night was spent restlessly waiting for the morning. Serenity was afraid. Obviously the search had made it this far, and now that the King was involved, there was very little she could do to hide in the city.

Raye sat up with her, thinking quietly as she gazed out the window towards Endymion's house. You could just see it over the ridge, tall and proud, as he was.

The sun rose slowly, casting dull shades of gray over the land.

Serenity couldn't help but think that sitting here, pretending to be someone she wasn't, was not helping. Eventually, she would be found, and Raye would be in serious danger. She would die if something happened to her friend.

Raye seemed to be thinking something along the same lines. Her tired gaze looked worriedly at her.

"I think we need to go to the King," Raye said.

Serenity nodded, unsurprised by the suggestion. "I think you're right."

"The problem is that I don't know how to get to him. He isn't a cruel man, and is willing to hear his public, but the usual lines of making an appointment would make our appearance very public. We might never make it in to him before your father heard of it and came to get you."

"I have not even had the chance to glimpse the king," Serenity said. "I don't know what he looks like."

"I do," Raye said, "but I am not of a high enough class to be admitted to see him without reason. The only person I can think of who would be able to contact him directly is Endymion."

Serenity looked at her in surprised. "Endymion?"

Raye sighed. "Endymion's father was a crass man, but he had his uses. He valued family rank as highly as he valued his women. Endymion grew up in the company of some very important men. One of which was the young prince who has now become King."

"Endymion is friends with the King?"

"He was once," Raye said, "before their disagreement about Endymion's lifestyle."

"Oh," Serenity said, disheartened. "Its just as well. He may not want to help me anymore. I've been nothing but trouble to him."

Raye rolled her eyes. "Right, he's completely done with you." She got up, shivering in the cold morning air. "I will go to Endymion's and speak to his men. He usually leaves word with them of where he intends to be. When I return, we'll stay inside today and rest. Tonight we'll ride out under cover of dark to find him. If he's far away, we'll stop and rest once or twice. I have acquaintances throughout the kingdom. When we find him, we'll tell him what's going on. If he can't help us, he'll certainly know who can."

Serenity was immediately nervous about asking Endymion's help. How many times now had he helped her? How many times had he done what she asked? And now, after she had rejected him, she was asking him to help again.

She worried she would damage their fragile bond beyond repair. As much as she didn't trust him, she had assumed that they might talk when he returned, and work out some sort of common friendship. She couldn't bear the thought of him not in her life.

Raye left immediately and did not return until half way through mid-day. Serenity was almost stir crazy by the time she returned.

"There are guards posted at his house," Raye said. "I had to pretend I had hoped he might have returned. It took me a long while to be let through."

Serenity felt her stomach clench in worry. That wasn't a good sign.

"I think it obvious that your stepfather believes Endymion knows where you are. Thankfully, his servants know very well how to keep a secret. They didn't tell anyone where he's gone."

They spent the rest of the night getting ready to leave. Thankfully, he was little more than a day's journey away. If they traveled through the night and all of the following day, they would arrive just late enough not to be inappropriate.

When all was ready, they got into the carriage and were off.

The threat of Serenity's father followed close on their heals.

End of Chapter nine! Please review