A/N: Hey everyone!! Thanks so much for sticking around for this long!!

I am sorry about the wait, but I got a serious case of Writer's Block and that, coupled with the fact that I have a lot of other stuff happening right now, has made this drabble take a while!! Well, it's here now!!

Thanks heaps to Ala Verity, who was an enormous help with this drabble (as always!) and to everyone who reads and reviews!!

Please tell me what you think of this one!! It's pretty long (I think it might actually be longer than my oneshot, 'Gomenasai', AND that one includes song-lyrics! (Oops!)) so feel free to tell me to stop waffling on and get to the point. I get that regularly!

Oh, and I've had word that if you reviewed version two of 'Future' (while it was a separate chapter) you can't review because it says you already have?? How annoying!! Solution: Send me a PM! Please? I really want to know what you all think!!

Thanks!

15. Mistake

Usagi was lying on her bed reading comics when the phone rang.

"Hello! Tsukino residence. Tsukino Usagi speaking."

"Hi, Usako."

The deep, smooth voice made her shiver with delight, even over the phone.

"Hi Mamo-chan!" She managed to keep herself from squealing into the receiver. Just.

"Um… Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?"

Usagi let out a small shriek of delight.

"Er… Are you alright, Usako?"

"Oh, um… Yes, sorry! Sounds fun! Where are we going?"

"The Cooing Dove."

Usagi gasped. Mamoru had named the most expensive restaurant in Tokyo. Couples from around Japan, around the world, went to The Cooing Dove for its great food, fast service and romantic atmosphere. And Mamoru wanted to take her there?

"Usagi? Are you still there?"

'Um… O-of course, Mamo-chan. I'd love to! What time?'

'I'll pick you up at around 6.30?'

'Okay. See you then!'

'Bye.'

Usagi looked at her clock as she hung up the phone. "5.30? I've only got one hour?" she wailed, "what am I going to wear!?" Realising that two minutes had already passed while she was crying, Usagi darted to her closet, scolding herself for wasting precious time. No matter how nervous she was, she was determined to make this a night Mamoru never forgot.

An hour later, Usagi settled into the passenger seat of Mamoru's car, carefully arranging her pink satin dress so that it spread delicately around her, falling to her pink-clad feet. Two white bows rested in her shining hair, and a small white handbag was clutched tightly in one hand.

"You look beautiful!" Mamoru gasped, barely able to take his eyes off her to drive. Eventually she had to remind him to look at the road, but every so often she caught him glancing at her sideways.

"Seriously, Mamo-chan, you must have given your driving instructor brain damage!" Usagi yelped as they narrowly avoided another innocent pedestrian. "No one in their right mind would let you onto the road driving like this!"

"Sorry. I'm just slightly… distracted tonight!"

When they arrived at the Cooing Dove, a tuxedoed waiter came to seat them.

"Chiba, reservations for two," Mamoru calmly stated, and the waiter excused himself.

When he returned, he showed them to a small table in the corner. The cutlery shone in the light of a single candle, the serviettes lay fanned out next to the wine glasses and in the centre, a single red rose stood in a clear glass vase. Looking around, Usagi saw that their table was the only one with such a display of floral decoration, and suspected Mamoru had organised this himself. Smiling, she went to sit down. Unfortunately, she underestimated the distance, and slipped to the floor. Blushing, she reached for the back of the chair to pull herself up, but instead her hand found different support. Smiling gratefully at Mamoru, Usagi took a seat, somewhat more gracefully than last time, a faint blush still visible on her cheeks. Mamoru took his seat, smiling slightly.

"Do you want a drink, Mamo-chan?" Usagi hurriedly asked, fanning her red cheeks. "It's a little warm in here, don't you think?" She reached for the water pitcher.

"Let me get that for you, Usako!" Mamoru reached for the pitcher as well, but Usagi had already lifted it off the table. She watched in horror as the pitcher fell to the floor with a loud crash.

The waiter rounded the corner, took one look at Usagi and the watery mess surrounding her, and stopped in his tracks. He was not the only one. Usagi could feel hundreds of eyes watching her, waiting to see what mistake she would make next.

"Don't worry, Madam," the waiter said, quickly regaining his composure, "these things happen. Can I get you a towel?"

Usagi noticed with surprise that her lap was also soaked through.

"Uh… Yes, please!" Usagi tried to make light of the situation, although she knew Mamoru was probably wondering what on Earth had possessed him to bring her of all people here.

"Are you okay?" Mamoru leaned in close so no-one else could hear their conversation.

"I-I'm sorry… I-"

"Are you ready to order yet?" The waiter interrupted, carrying a soft-looking towel, which he handed to Usagi.

"Sure, I'll have the venison ravioli with red wine sauce," Mamoru replied easily.

"And I'll have… what he's having!" Usagi said quickly. She didn't know what venison ravioli was, but she trusted Mamoru. She would stick to what he ate.

Mamoru looked over at Usagi. She was staring at her lap, a sullen look on her face.

"What's wrong, Usako?" he asked gently.

"Do you think you made a mistake?"

Mamoru shot her a puzzled look. "About the ravioli? I'm sure it will be delicious. Ravioli is pretty much the same wherever you go."

"Not that..."

"Then-?"

"About me… And you…" Usagi stumbled over the words that pained her so much to say. What if he said yes, he did regret bringing her here, that she was an embarrassment? What if he was thinking at this very moment that he should have stuck with the take-out in the park, where no one would judge her, judge him? What if…

"You and me? What do you mean?" Mamoru asked, gently pushing her chin up so that she was looking directly at him.

"Well, I'm so clumsy, and I'm still in junior high. You must be so embarrassed being seen here with me…"Usagi replied miserably. By this time there were tears in her eyes and pouring down her cheeks to mix with the water on her lap, but she continued:

"You should… Just go… Find someone who you aren't embarrassed to be seen with…"

"Usako," Mamoru interrupted, unconsciously tracing patterns on her hand. The rose of his heart, his world, believed that she was unworthy of him? He could have almost laughed, but instead he said, shaking his head, "Is that what this is all about? You are everything to me, Usako! I wouldn't care if you couldn't walk a metre without tripping, so long as it kept you falling into my arms. As long as you're with me, I can take on the world, and your Dad!" His eyes sparkled, although Usagi couldn't tell if it was from amusement or unshed tears.

With that declaration, Mamoru stood up and, keeping hold of her hand, knelt in front of her.

He didn't care how many people were watching, didn't even notice their prying eyes. He kept his gazed fixed on the only person in the room who mattered.

"Don't you see, Usako? Without you there is no me. There's just a ghost with my name and face."

Looking up at Usagi, Mamoru saw her face light up with a golden smile, 'to match her golden heart,' he thought.

All around them, there was a roar. The sound barely registered in their minds.

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

Mamoru happily obliged.