Chapter 2: Unlikely Friends

She felt dirty, unclean. No amount of bathing could clean her skin. Each time Diamond kissed her, grabbed her and wouldn't take no for an answer, she felt so disgusted with herself.

And she hadn't seen her Darien in two months now. The once happy Princess was now a saddened Queen of the Dark Moon. So far away from home, from everything she loved.

She sat on a balcony at a table overlooking the garden, a cup of tea in her fingers as her eyes gazed up at the black sky. It was always black here, no amount of light made it to the Dark Moon. The elegant rose garden had been put there simply for her, to make her feel better, but it didn't work.

Leaning her elbows against the table a little, looking down at the cup of tea sitting there in front of her, closing her eyes halfway. She wasn't feeling well that day, but she didn't feel well most days simply because she wasn't at home. She was homesick, homesick for the White Moon, for her prince.

The doors behind her opened and she barely heard the sound of footsteps coming up behind her. "Your majesty.." came a familiar voice.

Looking back, Serenity smiled as she saw Jupiter standing there just behind her. The smile on her lips was the first real smile in weeks.

"Lita..." Serenity said. Moving to stand up, she moved and hugged her friend tightly around her shoulders.

Lita slowly hugged her back, looking at her face. "I'm glad to see you're okay, Serena."

"Okay is a loose word, Lita.." Serenity said. Sighing as she leaned back. "Please, come have tea with me Lita. You must stay for a while..."

Nodding a little. "I will stay for a while, majesty. Mina and myself will be staying here with you for good. We cannot leave you alone here on the Dark Moon.."

Serenity smiled and nodded, moving to sit down and looking up at her friend. "Thank you. I've missed friends...I've missed a lot of things. How are things on the White Moon?"

"Alright I suppose.." Lita answered. Moving to sit next to her friend, looking at her friends face. "Everyone misses you, Princess. Oh, and I have a note from Prince Darien for you.." she aid.

Reaching into the small pocket on her sailor skirt, offering the piece of paper to Serenity slowly.

Taking the letter, the Queen smiled. "How I've missed him.." she said, looking down at the paper, gripping it in her fingers lightly.

"He's missed you too." Lita said, looking at Serenity's face. "How I wish you did not have to go through this..."

Sighing, Serenity looked up at her friend, nodding a little. "With power comes a certain responsibility, Lita. I did this for my kingdom, for my people. Sometimes...sometimes we are not meant to be happy in this life..." she said before looking down at the letter in her hands.

"But you do deserve it Serena. You deserve every happiness you could ever have."

Shaking her head, Serenity looked at her friend and gave her a small sad smile. "What one deserves and what one gets is two different things, Lita. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be doing this for my planet, my people. I just miss Darien...and my friends." she said, looking down at the paper in her hands.

A hand moved to rest over Serenity's, and she looked up at Lita's face with a soft sad smile.

"Say the word, Serena...and we will take you away from here..." Lita offered.

Shaking her head, Serenity smiled at her. "No Lita. That would do no good. I do not want to hide for the rest of my life. Thats what running away would condemn everyone to. You, the rest of the senshi, Darien and myself. I'm strong, Lita, I promise you. I can handle this. Especially now that you and Mina are here with me."

"I don't know Serena..." Lita said with a sigh. "I just want to see you happy again."

"I know, and I will be. When I see Darien again..." she said, a blush crossing her cheeks as she leaned her hand away from Lita's, looking down at the paper in her hands, a dreamy expression on her face.

Looking back towards the doors, making sure they were closed before she looked up at Lita. "Diamond did not steal everything from me. I was with Darien the night of our wedding..." she confessed. She hadn't told anyone out loud, but one of her closest friends was sitting right there, she had to know.

Lita's green eyes widened as she listened to her friend, a blush spreading across her own cheeks. "With Darien? How so?" she asked almost innocently.

"He made love to me, Lita.." Serenity said dreamily. Leaning back in her chair and looking up a little, remembering that night. "Over and over he made love to me. Sweet, sweet love. I never knew something could feel so good, so perfect...so right as the way he made me feel with him. I dream about it, you know..." she said, her voice trailing off a little.

"Thats where you disappeared to..." Lita murmured. The Senshi had been to the wedding and they'd all noticed Serenity had disappeared within the night. They knew it was to meet Darien, but they weren't sure what happened.

Nodding, confirming Lita's suspicions, Serenity sighed a little. "I was. I dream about it...dream about being in his arms, falling asleep with him. But...but when I wake up its just Diamond..." she said, closing her eyes halfway and gritting her teeth a little.

"Have you and Prince Diamond...?" Lita asked, hoping Serenity would understand what she meant.

At that question Serenity's eyes grew darker, tilting her head down and nodding softly. "We have...he has..." she said. Trying to stop the tears from rimming her eyes. She shouldn't cry at the thought of her husbands touch, but she wanted to so bad.

Looking up at her friend, plastering a fake smile on her lips. "Its fine, Lita. He is my husband, of course I'm supposed to be with him in that way..."

"Oh Serena..." Lita said. One hand reached out to rest on her friends shoulder. "He...he didn't force you, did he?" she asked, worried.

A small subtle nod made Lita so angry in an instant. How could a man force himself on a woman he said he loved? "Serena..." she said. Moving up to her friend, she couldn't help but hug her tightly to her chest, gripping Serena tightly. "If I could take this pain away, I would..."

Lightly Serenity moved her arms around Lita's waist, one hand still gripping the letter. "I'm okay, Lita. Its nothing like what Darien and I experienced. I can force my way through it. Close my eyes and bear it. I just...I just imagine Darien's face, his voice telling me it'll be okay..." she said, a silent tear slipping down her cheeks.

In an instant, though, the Queen suddenly felt all too sick to comprehend. Leaning back from Lita, one hand clamping over her mouth as if she would vomit right then and there.

"Serena?" Lita asked, confused.

Shaking her head, Serenity stood up, clutching the letter from her dear Prince Darien in one hand, her other hand firmly clasped against her mouth. Quickly running from the balcony, she found the first bathroom she came across and emptied her stomach in the toilet there. Heaving and convulsing as she coughed out hard, dropping the letter on the floor at her knees as her fingers gripped the porcelain of the toilet.

Running after her, Lita was instantly worried about her friend. Coming into the bathroom and closing the door behind her, resting one hand on Serenity's back and rubbing it. "Hey...there there, are you okay, majesty?" she asked concerned.

Coughing up the remnants of whatever food she'd had before she sat back, slowly wiping her mouth and swallowing. "W-Water please..." she asked.

Nodding, Lita complied instantly. Standing up, she went to grab a cup by the sink and filled it with water. Kneeling and offering it to Serenity slowly.

Taking the cup from her friend, she swallowed it, washing away the taste of vomit, cringing at the feeling of it. Slumping back slowly against the wall, taking in a deep breath.

"What happened? Are you sick, Serena?" she heard her friend ask.

Shaking her head, resting the cup down and all new tears filled her eyes, sniffling a little as she looked down. "No...no its worse. I think...I think I'm pregnant. I've been sick the past few weeks and at first I just thought it was Diamond or being on a new planet or something. But...but I don't think so. Lita..." she said, looking up at her friend. "What am I going to do? I don't want to have Diamonds child...gods I don't."

Resting her hands on Serenity's shoulders, Lita sighed a little. "It could be Darien's. You were with him the night of your wedding...it could be his..."

Nodding a little and sniffling slowly, placing one hand to rest on her stomach and sighing. "It could be...I do hope so. A child with Darien's eyes and face...that I could live with. But even then, Diamond would know. He's oblivious to anything." she said, shaking her head.

"He didn't question why you weren't a virgin?" Lita asked, surprised.

Serenity shook her head, looking down a little. "No. He was too busy getting what he wanted."

Lita sighed and nodded. "Alright...it'll be alright, Serena." she said to attempt to comfort her. "We'll take a test. And figure things out. But...but you should relax. Read the letter Darien sent. We also brought something else for you from the White Moon..." she said slowly.

Looking at her friend curiously, Serenity tilted her head to one side. "Something else? What is it?"

Lita just smiled to her. "You'll have to talk to Mina to get that. She has it for you. Its from your mother." she said, offering a hand to the Queen.

Slowly, Serenity took her friends hand. Taking ahold of the letter and moving to stand up with a slow nod. "A-alright. Um...send Mina to my room, huh? I'll go there and hide the letter.." she said.

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Serenity found herself within her bed chambers she was forced to share with Diamond at her side. Since their wedding day the room had turned into her prison, capturing her in a place she desperately wanted to escape from. She remembered her bedroom as a haven from the outside world on the White Moon. A place where Darien showed up at her balcony with a rose and sweet words to say to her.

What a childish thought it'd been...thinking things would remain the same, or even improve. She'd hoped that Darien would eventually share her bed chambers as her husband.

Walking in and moving to lock the doors behind her, wanting a moment alone with her thoughts. Moving to the window, she reached to open it so the glass was just ajar a little. Moving to sit down on the window bench before she took the letter out, looking down at it and closing her eyes halfway.

Darien's handwriting was recognizable on the front of the envelope, her name written by his hand. Her fingers took a moment to run along the impression made in the paper, imagining Darien sitting at a desk, scribbling her name onto the envelope before handing it off to Sailor Jupiter.

She smiled, content with the image before she opened the envelope, taking out the paper that lay within and unfolding it, looking down at the hand written note from the man who held her heart.

My Dearest Serenity,

Every day I am away from you pains me deep in my soul, Princess. I long to hold you in my arms again, to feel your embrace, hear the laughter from your lips, see the smile you reserve only for me. It is a longing I cannot bare. I have sent you a gift along with Mina that no doubt you will receive after you read this. The gift is from both myself and your mother. She feels for you, her only daughter. Not because you are away from me, but because you are on a strange planet and thrust into Queen-hood all too soon. It is no secret that your mother does not agree with our union, but she has agreed to help with sending you this present to protect you on the Dark Moon.

With that said, I entrust that King Diamond treats you well. If he would ever lay a cross hand on my dear Serenity I would see to it that it be the last thing he ever does. Your life and safety are my everything, my love. I just wish I could be bringing you such happiness you deserve rather than thinking of you in the castle of the Dark Moon. It is my castle you belong in, my bed, not his.

But, before I let my anger get away from me my little bunny, I will tell you that I will see you soon. I've come along with Jupiter and Venus to see you. Use the item I have sent along with Venus to sneak out and meet me the night after you receive this in the city, by the Starlight Tower just at the outskirts.

You hold my heart forever and always, Serenity. I long to see you.

Love always,

Prince Darien

She read the letter more than once as she sat there by the window, smiling a little at her prince's words. Slowly folding the paper and leaning her head back, turning her face to look out the window. She wondered what Venus would be bringing her, and wondered why she had to wait until tomorrow night to meet him. She had no idea what was going through Darien's mind. Then again, she never did. Leave it to her Darien to have a plan. He always had a plan.

Sighing, realizing she probably shouldn't linger on what she couldn't know at that moment. She would trust her prince to have a plan for her, to know how things would work out. She had to rely on that constant variable. He would come for her, be with her for at least a little while. That had to provide some glimmer of hope behind her saddened eyes.

When she heard someone at the door, a knock coming to it. "Queen Serenity?" a womans voice came from the other side.

"Y-Yes? Who is it?" she asked. Scrambling to her feet and moving to her vanity. Looking through the drawer and finding a safe place to hide Darien's letter. Diamond never went through her vanity, it was her private domain, the semblance of privacy she had. Though she made sure to hide the envelope well in the back corner before closing it.

"King Diamond wishes your presence in the throne room my lady." the servants voice said.

Nodding a little, and then realizing she couldn't be seen, she sighed. "I will be right there. Just let me freshen up."

"As you wish majesty." she said.

Serenity almost hated the formal titles. She didn't want to be a princess, or a Queen right then. She just wanted to be Serenity; Serena. She wanted to be a normal girl with normal problems, and she wanted her prince to be a normal man right along with her. It was almost worth running away for, spending her life on the run. The idea of a perfect life without the stresses of queenship, of being married to a man she detests.

A sigh came from her lips as she walked to close the window, locking it shut before walking out of the double doors that led to the hallway. She knew where the throne room was, and it was wise for her to go to Diamond immediately. He seemed to get impatient when he was without her when he wanted her. It was rather spoiled of him, she mused.

A chuckle crossed her as she thought of Diamond, a spoiled brat, whining because he didn't get the favorite toy he wanted when he wanted it. Really, it fit. She could see Diamond being spoiled as a lot of royal children could be.

That thought carried her to the throne room. Slowly walking into the area and slowly up to the two seats that sat at the head of the room. One was filled with King Diamond, and the other was meant for her.

Her stare iced over as she entered the room, putting on her careful disguise to hide the churning agony she felt at just being in his presence. Her mind flashed to just the night before, when he took her in their room. It took all she had not to lash out at the man once she saw him. All of that fire and anger wanted to bubble over the usually happy woman. He was the reason her happiness was stolen from her, he was the reason for her anger and misery.

"You wished to see me, Diamond?" she asked, not even using his formal name.

Looking up at her, grinning slowly. "Ah, my beautiful queen. Please, sit with me." he said, holding out a hand for her to take.

She looked at it for a moment, almost contemplating on what she wanted to do. Well, she knew what she wanted to do. But what she should do. Dutifully she reached to take his hand, stepping up on the pedestal the chairs sat on as he led her to the seat next to him. Once she was seated, he still did not let go of her hand.

"There is something I wish you to witness, my queen." he said, looking at her face. Leaning to brush a small kiss on her cheek. "Watch well, Serenity." he whispered almost knowingly.

It made her concerned at what she was about to see. What did Diamond have up his sleeve? Her eyes narrowed as she brought her hand away from his, gracefully folding them within her lap to appear cool and collected.

"Bring him in!" Diamond called.

But what happened next shattered her existence. The big double doors slammed opened and four guards walked in, dragging someone along with them by the arm. The man they dragged with them had his hands cuffed behind his back, and he looked pretty beaten up. He had short dark locks and wore a suit that had probably once been pristine, a cape connected and falling down.

She didn't connect the dots at first. The man was thrust forward in front of the couple, forced onto his knees. One guard went and grabbed his black locks and pulled his face up. "Look at the King and Queen!" the guard demanded.

Serenity's eyes widened in horror as the man opened his eyes, and the familiar blue eyes looked into hers. Her mouth dropped open and one hand moved to rest over it, unable to contain her horror.

Prince Darien looked back at them, up at his princess, seeing the shock and horror in her eyes. "W-What...what is this?" Serenity asked quickly, her eyes locked on her lovers.

Diamond grinned as he watched his queens reaction. "He snuck onto the planet on the very ship your Sailor Senshi were sent on. Do you know him, my love?" he asked.

She could only nod softly as she stared at Darien. "Y-Yes.." she said slowly, biting her bottom lip and trying to recollect herself. She had to, to keep her friends and the man she loved safe. "I do. He is the prince of Earth. Release him at once, Diamond!" she demanded, turning her gaze finally to her husband.

Her eyes held all the hatred she felt towards this man. It had been one thing when he violated her, but to capture the man she loved in this way? "Prince D-Endymion is the crowned prince of Earth, next in line to take his fathers throne. We had peace with the Earth on the White Moon. Capturing him and beating him will surely evaporate that peace. Do you really want a war, Diamond?" she asked, almost threateningly.

She'd almost lost her cool and called him Darien. He was Darien, and Endymion all in the same. Endymion was his formal name, and only those close to him called him Darien. Just as only those close to her called her Serena.

"Perhaps..." Diamond mused, looking towards the man that knelt there. "Why have you come here, sneaking onto the Dark Moon none the less?" he asked.

Darien grit his teeth, turning his eyes from his love to Diamond. "I...I came with the Sailor Senshi. To...to visit Queen Serenity. We...we have been friends since childhood..." he whispered through grit teeth. It was not a complete lie. He had met Serenity when they were just children. But they spent years apart until they finally reconnected at a ball on the White Moon, and their love blossomed from there.

Nodding, Serenity quickly backed up his story. "Yes, he is my friend. Please Diamond, let him go. Its all been a misunderstanding."

"Then why sneak aboard the ship? Why not be granted passage like the Senshi?" Diamond asked.

"Because...while we are at peace with the White Moon, my parents do not agree with my friendship to the Queen Serenity. While there is peace, there is not as much tolerance..." Darien answered in a very diplomatic tone. That was true, indeed. Peace between the Earth and the White Moon has always been tentative, filled with a hatred for each other that was slowly disappearing as new generations took over. But Darien's parents held onto the old ways.

Serenity nodded again to back up his story. "Right. Please now will you let him go Diamond?" she asked.

Narrowing his eyes, Diamond looked at his wife, contemplating. When Serenity turned her face from his to look at the captive man, he saw the look in her eyes. How he longed for her to give him that look. Serenity was good at putting on a mask, but her eyes were sometimes windows into her soul. He could see the love she felt for this man kneeling there.

Serenity looked at Darien, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears for the man she loved. And his blue eyes met her own, wishing he could take this pain from her.

Taking in a breath and swallowing back her unshed tears and cries before she looked at Diamond. "I'll do whatever you ask, Diamond...but please, let Prince Endymion go. I cannot watch anymore pain, anymore bloodshed. There has been too much of that on the White Moon. We should be at peace, I want to rule in peace."

He contemplated her words and a grin formed on his lips. "Anything I ask?"

The Queen nodded meekly. "Anything..." she whispered slowly. She knew what that could possibly mean, and it scared her. But...she would do anything to ensure Darien's safety.

Looking at him, the look in her husbands eyes, she knew what he would want. Her. All of her.

"Very well. We will discuss that in private, later. However, Prince Endymion will be let go for the time being..." he said, looking towards Darien. "And you will never step foot on this moon again. This will be your last contact with my wife." he declared, enjoying the look of pain in Darien's eyes at his sentence declaring Serenity as his.

"I will give you one afternoon with your friend, Serenity. And then he is gone. Your friends will be the Sailor Senshi, and the people of the Dark Moon." Diamond insisted, looking to his Queen. "You will fall in line, Serenity."

She only gave a small nod, looking towards Diamond. "I will...thank you..." she said slowly. But she knew the price she would pay would not be that easy. It couldn't be, it never was.

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The guards had let Darien go, and he waited in the sitting room that they'd harshly thrown him into. He wasn't sure where Serenity was, but he was instantly worried about her when he heard her make that promise. How had he been so foolish as to let him be captured? To put his princess in so much distress to drive her to make a promise such as the one she had. He cursed himself as he rubbed his sore wrists, looking down at them.

His wrists were red from the handcuffs, he had small cuts and bruises on his face and body, but otherwise he was fully intact and fine.

It almost startled him when he heard the doors open. But he did not have to turn to know who had come in. He felt her. The familiar soul brushing up against his as she entered the room. His everything.

Turning and setting his eyes on his princess, he closed his eyes halfway. "Princess..." he said in a soft voice.

Serenity slowly walked in, closing the door behind her. She held a small bowl filled with water in her hands, a cloth laying across her arms and a small box was what she balanced the bowl on. Walking in, slowly she moved to rest the box down on an end table, motioning for him to come and sit down.

He followed her direction, moving and taking a seat by her, looking up at her slowly.

Wordlessly, she took the cloth and dipped it into the water carefully, squeezing out the excess water. Bringing the cloth up to carefully brush along his face, cleaning the cuts slowly with a gentleness that only she possessed.

His eyes watched her, seeing her face, the pained look in her expression and in her eyes. He wanted to whisk her away from there, from the palace she dread so much. One of his hands reached up to take ahold of her wrist, halting her movements. "Serena, stop." he declared.

Blue eyes rose to meet his as he stopped her, a sigh coming from her lips. "Darien..." she whispered.

Standing from his position, standing just in front of her, their bodies touching one another's as he held her wrist. Taking the cloth and discarding it onto the end table before taking her hand. "I am so, so sorry. I...I got careless. This is all my fault. I put you in this position. I pray you'll find it in your heart to forgive me, my love. I had to see you...it was that selfishness that brought this upon you..."

Shaking her head as she looked up at his face. "Darien, no. Don't apologize. I would lay my life down for you, you know that."

"But you shouldn't have to. You are my sweet princess, I want nothing more than to protect you..."

"But you cannot. Especially not anymore.." she said, looking down and shaking her head. Bringing her hands away from his and taking a step back. Turning around, she moved her arms to hug herself slowly.

"I wanted to see you too, Darien. So, so bad. But...but we cannot do that. I'm married, a Queen now. I...I cannot do this. I cannot put both of us in so much danger, along with the Sailor Senshi, my friends." she said, muffling a soft sop as she moved her hands to hide her face in her palms.

Slowly stepping up to her, he rest his hands on her shoulders and run his fingers along her skin. Leaning down and kissing the base of her neck, bringing her back against him. Letting his arms slide around her waist from behind, holding her tightly. "My little bunny...I cannot just leave you in that mans hands. I cannot. I have had a taste of you...you're like a drug, Serena. I cannot give you up."

Sniffling a little, her hands lowered to rest on his arms, turning her head and looking at him. Tears rimmed her eyes, slipping down her cheeks slowly. "What can you do to change things? How can you not give me up when I belong to someone else?"

"Because I love you. You hold my heart, my whole heart. You're my other half, Serenity...as if we're two halves of one whole. You're the yin to my yang, the other side of the coin. My entire spirit yearns to be close to yours. It pains me when I'm away from you, more than I've ever felt in my life. You are my life. Without you, I have no life..." he declared.

Closing her eyes halfway and nodding. "I feel the same. But...but we cannot do anything. We can't. Theres nothing I can do now. Please Darien...please..." she said. Sniffling as she turned her head forward, closing her eyes halfway. "This separation has been hard enough. Please do not make it harder. You...you have to go. Not come back. You..you have to find happiness with someone else..." she said. Even as the words left her lips, a twinge of jealousy twisted in her stomach. Or, could that be the child growing there causing her stomach to churn?

A blush swept across her cheeks as she thought of it. Of maybe being pregnant with Darien's child. She wanted nothing more than to have children with the man she loved with every fiber of her being. No, this child was Darien's, not Diamonds, she knew it somehow. Somehow, deep inside her she could feel that the child in her stomach grew from Darien's seed.

Bringing her bottom lip into her mouth and chewing on it. How did she even know she was pregnant? She didn't take a test yet...didn't see a doctor. But she just knew.

"There is no happiness without you, Serena.." he whispered against her ear. Gently kissing the rim, his lips brushing against her ear lobe making her shudder against his body.

Shaking her head quickly, she whined. "Darien stop." she said, turning her head and looking at his face. Should she tell him? Tell him that she carried his child in her womb? But that would make him even more persistent to stay, she knew that.

But, he deserved to know.

A sigh came from her lips as she took his hands slowly, gripping them. "Darien...I do have something to tell you..." she whispered.

"Tell me whatever it is you like, my love. I'm listening." he said. Taking advantage of her being distracted as he kissed along the side of her neck. How he yearned to be close to her again. That night they'd spent together was forever etched into his memory. He'd fall asleep dreaming about her silky smooth skin, the look on her face as he moved inside her, the way she trusted him entirely to take the only thing she could offer him.

His lips on her neck were entirely distracting, but she had to focus. Taking his hands and moving his arms so his palms rested against her stomach. Looking down at his hands, he didn't seem to realize what she was doing at first. It was her next words that caught his attention.

"I'm with child, Darien...o-our child..." she said slowly. Turning her face tentatively to look back at him, almost worried about his reaction.

When he heard her words, his eyes widened as he looked up at her face. Realizing that his palms pressed against her stomach as he looked up at her face. "C-C-Child?" he asked.

And she nodded slowly. "I wasn't sure a few hours ago. But..but I haven't felt good and I've been getting sick on a moments notice and...and now that I've thought about it, I can feel it. I can feel your child growing inside me. I can feel another being inside mine, and I know it to be true. Its yours, Darien. I..." she started, looking away. "Diamond...was with me that way. But...but it doesn't feel like his. It feels like something we created. And I've only suspected for a few hours, but Darien...I love this little life growing inside me, the life you've given me..." she said.

Darien gripped her a little when he heard that Diamond had been with her like that. "Diamond was with you? He...forced you?"

"Please it doesn't matter Darien. Don't you hear what I'm saying?" she asked, turning her head and looking at his face.

He nodded slowly, bringing her up against his chest as much as he could, his fingers moving along her stomach lightly, looking down at it. "Oh gods, Serena..." he said, his lips stretching into a small smile. "A baby. Our baby. You've made me the happiest man in the universe, Serena." he said. Looking up to lock his eyes with hers. For a moment he forgot about their predicament, about the fact that she wasn't really his.

Smiling, he stood up, bringing her around to face him before he leaned down to wrap his arms around her just underneath her butt. Lifting her up happily, he playfully twirled her around as he held her securely.

Serenity squealed a little but giggled as he twirled her around. Her arms found his shoulders, gripping him a little. "Dariennn! Darien stop, you're making me dizzyyy..." she said in soft laughter. She didn't remember the last time she'd truly laughed.

Leaning down, she slowly pressed her lips against his in a soft kiss, letting her eyes drift closed as he moved.

Her kiss slowly made him stop his spinning, but he still held her. Kissing her slowly, tilting his head to one side. Gently his tongue moved up to ask for entry to her sweet mouth to taste her. Once entry was granted, his tongue explored her slowly, hearing her groan in his arms.

Slowly he shifted to bring her down a little, but her feet were still off the floor. Keeping his lips against hers as he held her. She was no longer just the love of his life, but now she was the mother of his child.

It was her that leaned back from the kiss first, a small strand of saliva still connecting their lips as she blushed down at him. "Darien...we shouldn't..."

Shaking his head, he held her tightly. "No, we should. You cannot tell me you are having my child and expect me to stand down. I won't do it, Serena. I will not leave the two things most precious in my life here for Diamond to torture! My child will know me. I want to be there. I want to watch as your stomach swells with our child...I want to feel it move in your belly. I want to be there when you give birth. I want to help choose a name for our baby."

Sadness enveloped her again as she sighed. "You can't be. This is how things are. Life isn't fair, Darien. And somehow I believe it will never be fair to us. Our fates are intertwined, my love. But...but I feel as though we are fated to be ripped apart, never truly together, never truly happy. And that scares me, saddens me. I want nothing more than to be happy with you, be pregnant with you, raise our child with you. But...but the fates are cruel..." she said.

Slowly she moved her arms around his neck, hiding her face into his shoulder as she gripped him. "Its not fair..." she whined softly as she couldn't help but cry against his shoulder.

His arms encircled her and he held her tightly, resting his chin atop of her head and closing his eyes halfway. "Come with me..." he said suddenly.

It made her sniffle and lean her head back, looking up at his face. Her ocean blue eyes were filled with unshed tears, streaks of the ones she'd shed fell down her cheeks in messy lines, staining his shirt. "W-What?"

"Leave with me, Serenity. We can run away, to Earth. Not live in the castle but...but live somewhere else. Amongst the people. Raise our child, get married. Be happy." he suggested.

Sniffling a little, she shifted to lean her cheek against his chest, closing her eyes halfway. "Oh how I would love to do that, Darien. But you know I cannot just leave. Diamond will hunt me down, he'll start wars to get me back. Gods, he'd started a war to get me in the first place!" she said. She'd suspected that the war between the Dark Moon and the White Moon had been started deliberately by Diamond. Her and Diamond had met years ago, and he grew to love her, whereas she did not return his feelings.

His hands gripped her a little more, running his fingers along the skin of her back, sighing a little. "You don't know he started the war to get you..."

"Don't I?" Serenity asked, looking back up at his face. "Darien, the man has been obsessed with me for years. Its creepy. And I have no doubts he would start wars to get what it is he wants." she said with a sigh.

Slowly Darien stepped back, bringing her with him and taking a seat on the couch. Moving his arms around her waist and gently pulling her down into his lap so she sat sideways there. His fingers moved up, running along her stomach slowly as he looked down at it. "I cannot leave you here...not knowing you carry my child. Not knowing that the sorry excuse for a man you were forced to marry will force himself upon you and pretend that my child belongs to him." he said.

Settling her cheek against his shoulder, curling up against him as she looked down at his hand. "There is nothing we can do, Darien. I want nothing more than to be with you...but I'm afraid. Afraid of Diamond starting some stupid war over it. Afraid of people dying while I seek happiness. I cannot be happy knowing my people are being thrust into a battle to die."

He sighed, looking down at her face and smiling. "Princess, you have too much of a kind and loving heart for your own good. But...but I do love that about you."

Looking up to meet his gaze, she let herself smile softly, a smile only reserved for him. "A heart that belongs to only you. Diamond will not get a piece of my heart, never. I can live with everything else...I can cope. So long as you hold the keys to my heart." she said. Reaching one hand up to rest on his cheek, running her thumb over his skin.

"Have you told Diamond yet? About our baby?" he asked, curious to know. A jealousy steamed in the pit of his stomach at the idea that Diamond would know of his child before he would.

But, Serenity shook her head with a soft smile. "No. He does not. I wanted to tell you first anyway. Even if our meeting was still tomorrow night, I'd have told you first."

Nodding at her words, looking down at her stomach, moving her fingers along it. "Gods...I'm going to be a father..." he whispered slowly.

"You are." she said, looking up at his face, watching the amazement and wonderment that went over his features.

He just had to find a way to be in Diamond's good graces so he could come back, come back to his family that Diamond stole from him. His fingers slowly gripped her dress over her stomach, looking at her face. "I will come back. I will see you again. I will see our child."

"But how? Diamond has revoked your passport to the Dark Moon..."

"On Earth we have a saying, my sweet princess..." he began slowly. "Keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer."

She furrowed her brows at the foreign statement she'd never heard, tilting her head to one side. "And what does that mean?"

"It means, I will become Diamond's friend...his ally. I will offer the allegiance of the Earth, gain his trust, be close to him, so I can be close to you.."

Biting her bottom lip, shaking her head. "I don't know Darien..."

"There is no discussion about this, Serenity. I will do it. I will do this to be in our child's life somehow.." he said. Slowly he shifted her off his lap. His hands moved up to cup her face, leaning in for a soft kiss, closing his eyes as he caressed her lips with his.

Their kiss was soft and gentle, she tilted into him, pouring her love for him through one kiss with her head tilted to one side, leaning up close to his chest a little. She wanted to feel him close to her, feel his skin underneath hers as he hovered overtop of her. And a blush crossed her cheeks at the very thought. She was no virgin, no, but she was new to wanting a mans touch as she wanted Darien's. She was new to not cringing at the thought of a mans hands moving over her skin as he made love to her.

Leaning back from the kiss slowly, Serenity looked at his face with a passion in her eyes. But, she leaned from him. Walking to the door and securely locking it, making sure it was closed very well and locked up so nobody could get through before she moved back to him.

Gently bringing up her dress in her hands, climbing on top of his lap, straddling his waist and looking at his face. Her fingers let her dress go, letting it pool around them as she straddled him. Her arms moving slowly around his neck as her lips claimed his once more in a deeper kiss.

Her boldness almost startled him. But he didn't deny her. Kissing her back, his arms moving around her body as his hands slid down her back. "Mm, oh Serenity.." he whispered to her kiss slowly.

Their lips parted, but still barely touched as she took in a few deep breaths, feeling his breath on her skin making her tingle. "Make love to me, Darien. Remind me how nice it feels to love someone..." she asked, opening her eyes halfway and looking into his.

"Be Diamond's friend. Earn his trust. But always be mine, my love." she asked, a blush on her own cheeks even as she asked it.

He nodded slowly. His hands moving to cup Serena's butt, shifting to lay her back on the couch and leaning and kissing along one side of her neck. "Your wish is my command, Princess." he whispered as he kissed up to her ear, nibbling on it slowly. "I will make sweet love to you as much as you ask of me. Whenever, however you wish it. I cannot be your husband...but I will be your lover." he told her.

A smile spread across her lips at his words, tilting her head to one side as he kissed her neck. "I love you..."

"And I, you." he said.

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Darien's mind reeled with the fact that he'd just made love to his princess that was pregnant with his child. And the idea that he would do it again, numerous times. It wasn't the position he wanted in her life, no. He wanted to be her husband, he wanted her to belong solely to him. But if all he could be was her lover, he would take it. Anything to be in her life.

But, even he didn't enjoy his own idea. To become Diamond's friend to be close to the woman he loved. But it had to be done. He had to earn Diamond's trust in order to be around his beloved Princess.

Walking down the hallway from the room he'd left from being with her. He could still feel her touch on his skin, the way she pulled his shirt off and it made him shudder a little. He couldn't have her on his mind when he spoke to Diamond, he couldn't.

Coming up to a door one of the guards said Diamond was in, looking at the guard outside of it. "Please tell Diamond that Prince Endymion of Earth requests an audience." he said.

The guard nodded, ducking in for a moment, seemingly speaking to Diamond. Darien could feel his pulse in his throat as he tried to swallow the rage he felt for this man. This man that held his princess captive, hurt her so much.

A few moments later, the doors were open and Darien was directed to go inside. He took in a breath before he entered the office the man he hated with every fiber of his being was in.

Diamond's office was elegant and large. Book cases lined two of the walls filled with all sorts of books. A couch sat on one side with a coffee table in front of it. And then there was Diamond's desk. It was large and black, and behind it Diamond sat in his chair. The desk was plain, papers sitting in various places in neat piles. The only picture to speak of in the office hung on the wall just behind Diamond. It was a painting, one of Diamond and Serenity. In the painting Diamond sat on his throne seat while Serenity stood behind him, one hand resting on his shoulder as she looked forward. The painter did not do his sweet Serenity justice, he knew. And it was a very diplomatic painting...one that most every King had of his queen, he was sure.

But, if Darien was Serenity's king, it would have been different, a more loving pose between the two.

Looking back down at Diamond who sat behind the desk as the guards closed the doors, Darien took in a breath, but it was Diamond who spoke first.

"Prince Endymion...did I not tell you that your last day on the Dark Moon was today?" Diamond asked.

Darien nodded slowly. "You did."

"Then what is it you're doing here? I thought you wanted to see your friend, MY wife?"

"I did have a talk with Queen Serenity. She wishes to have peace. She has a great ideal that the universe should be at peace all of the time..." Darien began.

Diamond chuckled a bit. "Women and their ideas. What do they know of politics and war? They spend their time painting their faces, looking pretty."

Gripping his fists a little at that, Darien took in a breath. He held Serenity at a much higher regard than Diamond seemed to when it came to that. If Serenity were his Queen, he would seek her opinions in matters of politics and war. He would rule with his Queen, not for her. She had a brain in her head, her opinion should matter.

"But...I agree with her on this. I wish to invoke a peace between the Earth and the Dark Moon. It would be mutually beneficial if we became friends, King Diamond. Our planets could help out one another. An alliance between us would be a grand idea..." he suggested.

Diamond seemed to consider the idea. Leaning against his desk a little and looking up at the earth man standing before him. "Friends? With someone of the Earth? What do earthlings know of our planet and living here? Nothing."

Shrugging a bit, Darien stepped towards the desk, resting his hands against it and looking down at Diamond. "Regardless on what we know of each other, we can aid each other, Diamond. We have troops, forces, technology that your planet lacks. It could be a useful alliance. And, of course I would be the spokesman for Earth. We can be friends."

Looking up at Darien, Diamond thought about it and nodded slightly. "Alright, you've intrigued me. I suppose it would make Serenity happy to have a childhood friend around as well...so long as thats all it is."

Gripping his fingers against the desk a little before he spoke. "That is all it is, friendship. But she is not the reason I wish this alliance. It is mutually beneficial, you can see that. I am a Prince, soon to be King. You know how business comes before everything." he lied.

"Yes, I certainly do." Diamond said, looking up at his face. "Please, sit, lets discuss this further..." he started.

And then Darien knew he had what he'd wanted. Sort of. He had a way to Serenity, even if it meant being allies with Diamond.

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A/N: I hope you're enjoying! Read and review :-).