A/N: I'm so so so so sorry for taking so incredibly long to update and making you all wait for this next chapter. School has started again and I am happy to say that I am now in my third year of university...2 more years to go! Also, I got a new macbook!!!! I am so happy with it and I absolutely love it!! It's a joy to work on and it's so awesome to type on it.
Oh, and I have to mention that many of you pointed out something important to me for last chapter. Many of you were right, David couldn't have been Queen Serenity's guide because she arrived in the realm of good souls long before David did. The problem was fixed immediately and what was meant to be said was that Queen Serenity was David's guide and not the other way around. I thank you once again for faithfully reading this story!! Well, it'd be cruel to make you all wait any longer, so without further adieu, here is chapter 17:
Quick Recap: Serena, David, and Hael paid a visit to Queen Serenity who told them that Imperium Silver Crystal held the power to bring souls back to the living world. However, there is a certain cut off time for when you can return because Queen Serenity had tried to go back, but wasn't able to. Also, leaving the realm of good souls isn't without consequences because once you leave, you lose all memories of ever being there. We left off where Serena had relayed all this information to Darien informing him that she intended to return to the living world and he is about to tell her if he chooses to stay in the realm of the living with his parents or go back with her.
CHAPTER 17 - Return
"I choose..."
Serena shut her eyes tightly as she awaited Darien's decision. It was as if she was preparing herself for a big blow.
"...to be with you, Serena."
Serena clasped his hands in her own and said, "I completely understand. I know you wanted so badly to know them and you wished you grew up with them and I understand that you want to stay. I'll always be thinking of you and---wait, what?"
She stared at him unmoving without so much as a blink. Did he really just say...?
Darien gave her a genuine, yet sad smile. "I said I choose to be with you."
She reached up and caressed the side of his face looking into his sad eyes. "Are you sure? Please, don't make this choice on account of me. If you need more time--"
"Even if you gave me a thousand more years to decide, I'd still choose to be with you." Darien interrupted as he rested his forehead against hers.
She couldn't help but feel as if she was taking him away from his parents. After years of being apart and wondering about each other, Darien and his parents were finally reunited and better yet, they were happy together. Suddenly, a memory of David's words rung in her ears.
"You know," David began as he taped up the bouquet paper. "It might be ironic and selfish, but I'm happy I've got my family here with me. We both know though, that means I'm happy they're dead."
Her mind brought forth the image of Lilyanna's teary eyes gazing upon her son as she grieved for the time she had lost with him.
"It's just that this is making me realize how much I've missed."
She sighed. "I missed your first crush, your first dance, your first day at high school, your first girlfriend, your graduation..." She sighed again. David rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "It's alright. I wish I was there for him when he was growing up too, but we'll spend the rest of eternity making it up to him." With that said, he showed Darien a large grin which was returned by a very touched Darien.
Suddenly Serena felt guilty. She felt as if she was in a way snatching a baby bird out of its nest and away from its home where it belonged. That wasn't fair to David and Lilyanna. It wasn't fair to Darien. It wasn't right to have a happy reunion only to be separated once again. Furthermore, if Darien left this realm, it would be as if he had never met his parents in the first place.
"Serena..." Darien said quietly. It was if he could tell exactly what she was thinking. "This is my choice. This is what I choose. If they love me as much as they say they do, they'll respect my decision."
Serena released a heavy sigh. "But what about you? Of course your parents will miss you and be saddened, but what about you? How will you feel? You finally have parents, but if you go back..."
Darien lightly placed his hand on her cheek. "Then I won't remember meeting them which is exactly why it won't hurt as much as it could. Besides, I'll see them again someday." He smiled sadly and added, "Please don't protest anymore Serena. I'm not changing my mind."
"I'm so happy." Serena whispered as she nuzzled her face into his neck. She couldn't help feeling guilty though.
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"Mom, please..." Darien reached out a hand to touch Lilyanna, but she turned away slightly causing Darien's hand to limply fall back to his side. He could tell that she was trying desperately to keep her breathing regular, and fighting to hold back tears, but her face remained frozen in its broken expression. Her glistening eyes that were threatening to pour out a river remained fixated on the wall although her vision was blurred.
David simply stared into the bottom of his coffee cup, his face hard and barely readable although the grip on his mug had tightened quite a bit.
It seemed as if many hours had passed while Darien, Lilyanna, and David stood in the kitchen without exchanging any words. All three remained in the positions they were in when Darien proclaimed his decision. Darien hadn't the slightest idea about how his parents would react to his news, but evidently, his words had shattered the happy atmosphere of their home rendering it uncomfortable and hollow. This was the exact opposite of how their conversation went when he told them about his life as Tuxedo Mask.
When Lilyanna finally spoke, her voice came out shaky and hoarse. "You're leaving us? You don't want to stay." It almost seemed as if she was saying it more to herself than to her son.
Darien chose his words carefully not wanting this to be any more difficult than it already was. "I'm not leaving because I don't want to stay. I wish I could be in two places at once, but I can't. I couldn't have asked for better parents. Mom, you're the example that every mother should strive to be and Dad, I don't know anyone who has a heart that's bigger than yours. You've taught me a lot in the short time that I've been here. I feel like you taught me all the lessons that I should've learned during those years of growing up."
Darien saw that he now had both their attention and he gathered his courage as he looked from one to the other. "Just watching you both taught me to be faithful, honest, kind, and generous. I see those traits in both of you."
He took a couple steps forward while making sure that he still had their attention. "And that's why I'm going back. I know that if a friend or a neighbor was in trouble, any of you would run to help them at the drop of a hat. The world is never far from danger and that's why I'm going back. "
David and Lilyanna simply started at their son, neither of them saying a word while Darien glanced at both of them nervously.
Out of nowhere and to Darien's astonishment, Lilyanna threw her arms around him and began to sob as she clung onto her son. "Then we'll have to find you when you come back here." She managed to get out in a whisper.
Darien looked down at his mother, shocked and yet relieved at her response. He smiled and hugged her back as she gave him another squeeze.
David took a few steps forward and in a gruff voice said, "Just don't get yourself killed again." Then his eyes lightened up and with a joking twinkle in his eyes said, "I better not find you back here again tomorrow."
Darien laughed and stepped forward to give his father a hug. "Thanks. I promise we'll be happy together again someday." He pulled back from his father's embrace and absorbed the sight of his parents. His parents. He truly couldn't have asked for better ones. Suddenly, he turned away from them not wanting them to see his face.
"Darien dear, what is it?" Lilyanna asked worriedly and instantly ran to his side bewildered at his sudden movement. When he finally turned to face them again, Lilyanna's eyes once again became teary when she saw her son's own tears. "Darien..." She said softly as she once again wrapped her arms around her boy.
"I'm fine mom." Darien said with a somewhat wavering voice as he blinked back his tears. "I'm just really grateful that I got to meet you both. I never thought I'd be able to." He pulled back from his mother and looked at her intensely for a few moments and then looked at his father intensely for the next few moments. "I love you mom, dad."
Lilyanna once again took her son in his arms. David impulsively and joyfully wrapped his arms around both his son and wife. "We'll always love you Darien." David replied as he savored one of the most precious moments with his family.
Serena peeked around from behind the corner and smiled as her heart went out to the trio who stood huddled in a group hug.
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Serena, Darien, David and Lilyanna stood in the backyard surrounded by tall trees and well hidden from neighbors' line of vision. It was a day just like any other in the realm of good souls, except for the fact that two would be leaving.
Serena glanced up nervously at Darien's face. She bit her lip not even knowing what exactly was going to happen or how exactly it was going to happen. It was time to go back and truth be told, she was terrified. What if this didn't work? No, it had to to. She had to believe in the power of the Imperium Silver Crystal to work. But what if it didn't? Then what would she do? Darien smiled at her reassuringly as he gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"What are you doing here?" David said, his voice interrupted Serena's thoughts.
Hael smiled sheepishly. "I wanted to witness this. Of course, I also wanted to wish both of you a safe travel." He bowed slightly in Serena and Darien's direction.
David rolled his eyes knowing that Hael had probably just added the last sentence for a 'sincere' effect. He looked at his watch and noted that it was a quarter to two in the afternoon. "You guys ready?" He asked Serena and Darien although he hated to see them leave.
Serena gulped and hesitantly nodded. She and Darien stood face to face, hands clasped. "You can do this. Just concentrate." Darien said noticing her nervousness. In that instant, all her anxieties and fear melted away and she gave Darien a determined nod.
She inhaled deeply and began to focus deep within as she beckoned the power of the imperium silver crystal to come to their aid. Over and over in her mind she repeated her wish and kept her desire of returning to the living world with Darien in focus. Please bring us back, deliver us safely to the world of the living. This is my wish, please grant me this. She became deeply aware of some sort of strength and power that was building within her. She only continued to focus on her intentions and plan and all the while the power inside increased. Without warning, she felt a surge of power burst forth from her and she was blinded by white light that outshone her surroundings causing her to keep her eyes shut tight from the ever brightening light.
She felt herself being lifted, her hair being blown away as it whipped around madly in various directions. The white light was too intense for her to open her eyes and all she could do was be comforted that Darien's hands were still holding hers. She tightened her grip on his hands, afraid that he would slip away and she would lose him.
If at all possible, the white light became even more intense and she felt herself being pulled away backwards. She desperately grasped Darien's hands trying with all her might not to let go, but she was being pulled away from him. She could feel him trying to keep his hold onto her too, but the pull was becoming stronger.
"Daaaariennnnnnnnn!" Serena shouted as their hands slipped apart. She tried to lunge forward to grab hold of him once again, but he was out of her reach and all she could do was be helplessly pulled away.
Her eyes stung with tears as she proceeded to be pulled in an unknown direction. What had just happened? Had she just lost Darien? Was he still in the realm of good souls while she was being taken back? She wanted answers, but to her despair, she had none and neither could she seek them.
Just when she thought the bright white light was almost too much, everything suddenly turned pitch black.
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Mina snatched up her cell phone, annoyed at its persistent ringing. There was so much to deal with right now and she didn't want to deal with anything else besides the situation with Serena. The girls were still sitting absently in Rei's room all lost in their own thoughts as they took an occasional sorrowful glance at Serena lying on the bed.
"Hello?" Mina asked a little too rudely than she meant to.
Suddenly, her face drained of all its color. "H-hello, hello...Mrs. Tsukino." She managed to choke out. She forced her voice to feign calmness. "S--serena? She...she's..."
The rest of the girls looked up at Mina with shock, grief, wide eyes, terror, and utter helplessness. Mrs. Tsukino's voice could be heard by everyone in the room as it streamed through the telephone receiver.
"Do you know where she could be Mina? She hasn't been home for a while and I'm starting to get really worried. She hasn't even called or anything. Ooh, that girl is going to hear it from me when she gets home!"
The girls seemed to be frozen in place, each one feeling frantic, yet not able to move or think of what to do. No one could keep their thoughts in order or think of a reasonable thing to say.
"Mina? Are you there?" Mrs. Tsukino's voice escaped from the telephone clutched tightly in Mina's hand.
"Yes, I'm here." Mina had no idea how she was able to say those three words without panicking.
"Will you call me if you hear from Serena?" Mrs. Tsukino's voice seemed as if she was more concerned than she let on.
"Yes, I will." Mina said wanting to end the conversation lest her tongue slip and blurt something out without thinking. When she finally heard the 'click', the phone slipped out of her hand and crashed to the floor while Mina fell back onto a chair.
"What are going to do?? Her mother doesn't even know! How are we going to tell her family??" Ami asked unable to contain her panic and distress. She looked as if she was about to faint.
"I guess we have to do it sooner or later." A slightly more calm, but still grief-stricken Lita replied. "No matter how we say it, it's going to be horrible news. We should go over to Serena's house soon and tell them gently."
Rei stood up and took a stance. "Now, just you wait! What if--"
"She's dead, Rei!" Lita replied before Rei could finish. "She's gone. I've accepted it, Ami's accepted it, Mina's accepted it and now you have to accept it. She's dead. She's gone."
Rei's eyes began to spill over with tears. "No, please wait--"
"Rei, we all want to believe she's still alive or that she could somehow come back to us, but we have to face the truth. It's time to face the truth." Ami said, her eyes looking Rei straight on.
Rei looked to Mina for support. "Mina, help me--"
Mina shook her head causing Rei's shoulders to sag. "Sorry Rei. She's gone. I know it's hard. She would want us to keep being strong."
Rei release a long and sorrowful sigh as she hunched over. "I don't ever want to believe she's gone. All I ever do with her is fight!!" She cried quietly letting the pain in her chest let itself be known. "All those names I called her and all the times I told her she was just a klutz or just a meatball brain...I never got to tell her I never meant any of it!!" Rei's shoulders heaved up and down as she let the tears flow freely.
The rest of the girls quietly made their way over to comfort her. Mina gently rubbed her back to soothe her. "I'm sure she already knew Rei."
Lita gave a small smile and agreed. "Yeah, I'm sure she did. She still put up with you, didn't she?"
Rei nodded and sniffled.
After a few long quiet moments, Ami said, "We should tell her family soon." She didn't want to be the one to say it, but it had to be done. "Will you be ok Rei? You don't have to come if you don't want to."
Rei wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "Just give me a few moments. I'm going to get changed."
When Rei re-entered the room, the girls all looked at each other, trying to draw strength from one another. With one last look at Serena, the girls all began to file out of Rei's room.
"Where are you guys going?"
Ami, Rei, Lita, and Mina all froze and stiffened at the sound of the voice behind them. It seemed like ages before any of the girls moved, but finally, Mina slowly turned around.
A gasp of unbelief escaped her lips as her hands flew up to cover her mouth. She blinked several times trying to make sure that her eyes weren't deceiving her.
As if on cue, Ami, Rei, and Lita turned around and they too, were stunned beyond anything else they had ever known. Ami collapsed onto her knees, Lita collapsed against the wall, and Rei began to cry again. It was a long time before anyone could force words out of their mouth again.
There, Serena was, sitting up in Rei's bed with no signs whatsoever that she had just been dead. Serena looked at her friends quizzically, unaware of their reasons for acting the way they were. "What's wrong, everyone? Did something happen?"
Rei almost wanted to laugh. Almost.
Mina was the first to regain her composure. "Serena, we thought you were...well, actually you were, but, oh nevermind!--erhm, do you remember what happened?"
Serena shook her head initially, but the next instant, her face began to dawn with realization and not too soon after, horror dominated her features. "Diamond attacked...and I...I must've been unconscious, but---" She choked on her words as she remembered, tears racing down her cheeks. "Darien..." She whispered through lips that had been moistened with tears. "NO! He was trying to protect me!!" Her crying turned hysterical as the images of Darien's death crowded in her head. "No!!! I want to see his...him." She asked frantically as she impulsively shot up to her feet. The instant she stood up, her knees buckled under her and dizziness overwhelmed her, robbing her of all balance and causing her to fall to the ground.
"Serena!" Rei called out as she ran to her side. "You need to take it easy."
Serena only shook her head from her position on the floor as she continued to cry, overwrought with distress. "Darien's gone! I don't care if he doesn't want to be with me, just as long as he's alive!!" She pounded her fists on the floor sobbing like a child.
"His body's in the guest room." Rei said knowing that this wasn't really something that could provide solace, but at least she could see him one last time. "You can go in there if you want. Have some time alone."
Serena promptly nodded, as she was helped up to her feet by Rei and Mina. They slowly walked her across the hall to the guest room and held their breaths as she let out another hysterical sob upon seeing Darien's lifeless body.
"Darien! Darien! Please, Darien! Come back!" She called to him even though it was clear he could not hear.
Mina and Rei silently slid the door closed wishing that there was something they could do.
"Darien...Darien...please come back. Darien! Darien!!!" She knew that no matter how loud she shouted, he wouldn't hear her. Still, she didn't want to accept it. She briefly shut her eyes tight to get rid of the tears that were blurring his face. She softly pushed his hair away from his closed eyes, her finger then tracing his jaw. She inhaled a shaky breath as she looked at his peaceful face. She brought her face to hover over his as she let her tears spill causing teardrops to fall onto his eyelids.
She kissed one of his eyes and whispered, "If only you would open your eyes so I could look into them one last time." She kissed his other eye and closed her own eyes as rested her forehead against his.
She missed his deep blue eyes that made her to want to solve the mystery in their depths, yet not mind if she got lost in them. She pulled her face away to look at his peaceful face once more.
But instead, there were two deep blue eyes staring back at her.
She gasped and backed away, unbelieving of what she had just seen. Was this really happening? Slowly, she stepped forward again hoping that her eyes had not played tricks on her. "Da--Darien?"
"Serena?" His voice came out in a hoarse whisper.
She broke out in fitful sobs and fell to her knees at his bedside, clutching him tightly as if to have the intention of never letting him go ever again. "Darien!! Don't ever leave me ever again!"
"Serena, what's going on? What do you mean?" He asked, his memory hazy from having just woken up.
She buried her face into his shirt. "You were...at least I thought you were. Wait, how are you...? Oh, never mind, that's doesn't matter! All that matters is that you're alive and you're here!" Her joy and relief overpowered anything else at this moment. "Do you remember Darien? The battle with Diamond?"
She waited quietly, her head resting on his chest while memories filled his head as his fist squeezed tightly when he remembered the details of the battle.
"Serena, I'm so sorry for everything that I did--" Darien began to say, but Serena put a finger up to his lips to quiet him.
"That doesn't matter to me anymore. I thought I lost you!" A tear slid down her cheek at the memory of having thought Darien was gone.
He gently kissed the finger that was pressed against his lips, afterwards taking her hand and resting it on his heart. He looked into her eyes and said, "I meant what I said."
Serena's face scrunched up, not knowing what he was talking about, but then his words came ringing through her head right on time.
"I never meant to hurt you. Please believe that everything I do and have ever done is because I love you." She remembered now. That was what he said right before he died.
She smiled with pure joy and brought her face down to capture his lips in an emotional and heartfelt kiss. Her lips quivered at the sensation of his lips touching hers and she reveled in the glorious feeling because it felt like it had been a million years since she had felt this. He rested his hand on the nape of her neck as he pressed her face closer to his own to deepen the kiss.
"Serena," Rei stopped instantly when she saw Serena kissing Darien and blushed furiously. She cursed herself for not knocking before coming in. Of course, it's only natural for Serena to want to have one last kiss with the love of her life before having to say goodbye to him. "Forgive me!" She said hastily. She was about to turn around when she noticed something that caught her eye. Not only was Serena looking at her, but...but...Darien was too!!
She nearly choked on her own spit. "Darien??" She asked, her mouth shamelessly hanging open. "I thought...how?..." She threw her hands up in the air. "Oh, forget it. Too many unbelievable things happening today, why not just go with it?" She smiled at the couple, happy for Serena.
"I'll go make some tea." Rei offered and scampered out of the room leaving the two alone once again.
It wasn't long after when they heard Mina's voice squeal, "Whaaaaat? He's alive????" Footsteps were heard coming toward the door, but then Rei was heard saying, "No, don't go in there!!! Give them some time to be alone!! Mina, get back here!!"
Serena giggled, relieved and at peace that Darien was with her and that things seemed back to normal.
Darien cleared his throat. "Ahem. Now where were we?" He flashed Serena a wicked grin.
She moved in closer to him and brought her lips an inch away from his. "I think I remember." She murmured as she threw her arms around his neck. She sighed with content as their lips met again.
"I'm sorry to interrupt...again..." Rei's hesitant voice came from the door way. Serena pulled away from the kiss and shot Rei a look of annoyance.
Rei twiddled her fingers and said, "There's just this tiny issue of well, your parents wondering where you are because you haven't been home in a long time. Since we don't have to tell her you're dead anymore, I think you should call your mom and let her know you're alright so that she doesn't worry about you anymore."
Serena slapped her forehead. "I didn't even think of that! She's probably going ballistic! Great! Just great!" She raced out of the room towards the telephone out in the hall.
Rei watched her scramble around with the telephone keys as she dialed her house number. She didn't want to rub it in everyone's faces, ok, actually, she did and she would, but she knew Serena would come back to them. And she did.
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Serena sighed as she lugged her heavy book bag along on the way home. The sun was getting ready to set and the breeze played with the strands of hair in front of her forehead. She reached up to flick a stray strand out of her eye.
She had no idea why, but suddenly the girls were being more attentive and caring than before. Suddenly, Rei had stopped calling her names like meatball head/brains or klutzazoid. Lita, for some reason was bringing over baked goods to her house nearly everyday and when asked why, Lita would simply reply "I just felt like it." Ami was now more willing to help out with homework and was always offering to let her borrow her study guides and notes. Then there was Mina who who would drop off brand new clothes at her house and would say, "I saw this at the mall and I thought it would look great on you!"
Serena had no clue what was going on, but it was as if the girls were doing things for her like they might never get to do these things for her again. Yes, it was bizarre, but she had to admit, she didn't mind any of those things at all!
She stopped when she saw a familiar figure in the distance. His hands were in his pockets as he stood still just staring at something in front of him. His black hair caught the late afternoon sun's rays making his hair glisten in its light. Serena quickened her pace and walked in his direction.
"Darien?" She said as she came closer.
He whipped his head in her direction as if he had been wrenched away from his trance. "Serena, what are you doing here?" He asked when he became aware of his surroundings once again.
"I was just on my way home from school and I saw you..." Her voice trailed off when she realized that they were standing in a cemetery. In front of them, stood two tombstones. Serena let her eyes roam over the inscriptions on the smooth stones. The one on the left read, "David Chiba - Loving Father and husband and always willing to give a piece of his heart to everyone." and the one on the right read, "Lilyanna Chiba - devoted mother and wife who possessed a light that could brighten up a dark room." Serena looked up at Darien who seemed to have re-entered his trance-like state. She dropped her book bag on the ground and carefully took his hand. "Darien...are these...are they?"
Darien kept his eyes on the stones before them and said, "Yeah, they're my parents. I don't know why, but lately I've been feeling drawn to them, you know? I barely remember them, yet I feel their love for me stronger than ever." Serena squeezed his hand.
Without warning, she stepped forward and bowed. "Mr. and Mrs. Chiba, my name is Serena Tsukino. I have no doubt in my mind that if you were here to see Darien today, you'd be every bit as proud of him as I am."
Touched, he stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He kissed her cheek and said, "I wish they could have met you for real."
Serena smiled and leaned back against him. "Me too."
She smiled at the tombstones, her eyes lighting up. "Mr. and Mrs. Chiba, I'd like to personally thank you for making such a handsome creature like Darien otherwise I'd be missing out on a heck of a lot!"
She giggled when she looked back and saw Darien blushing. She turned around and brought herself close to him as she stood up on her toes, her eyes shining at his pinked cheeks. "You're so cute when you blush!" She teased.
"I'm not blushing!" He protested, but he was smiling.
"Yes you are!" Serena said bringing her lips closer to his.
"How about we see if I can make you blush?" He said with a grin as he brought his lips to hers , planting several sweet butterfly kisses to her mouth. He then planted soft, almost ticking butterfly kisses all over her face causing her eyes to flutter in ecstacy. He ended with five quick consecutive kisses on her nose. She sighed contentedly and he pulled away slightly and was met with the sight of a bashful Serena, her cheeks tastefully colored.
BEEP! BEEP!
"My communicator!" Serena said, hesitantly pulling herself away from Darien to reach into her book back to retrieve it.
"Serena! We need you here now!" Ami's face appeared on the screen, her facial expression frantic.
"Ami, what is it?" Serena asked, prepared to break into a full sprint.
"You won't believe it. It's Diamond."
Serena and Darien looked at each other, their faces suddenly drained of color.
A/N: Ok, only about 2-3 more chapters left of this story! I'm going to be honest with you and say that the next chapter probably won't be out until next friday because as I mentioned up top, I have recently started school again which keeps me busy all week. Don't worry, I have every intention of completing this story and believe me, I wish I could work on it at my leisure, but sadly with projects, assignments, papers, practicum, presentations, etc., I can't. Please, once again let me know what you think!
ella: Thanks for the compliment! I'm so sorry for making you wait this long!!
SweetSoldier: I read your story and I have to say that I am very impressed! Please continue it! I am so flattered by your compliments because you're such a great writer yourself from what I've read so far! I'm sorry for making you wait this long for this chapter! Thanks for reading, I really appreciate it!
Jypsee: I'm so glad you're enjoying it!! I enjoy writing it! Sorry for making you wait this long for it to be updated!
brokenandbleeding: Thanks for reading! Thanks for taking the time to review!
inufan155687: Thanks for reading! Thanks for loving it!! I love reviewers like you, lol! Now you get to see sort of how things turned out due to the "not remembering the realm of good souls" situation
moongirl818: I apologize to you one million times!!!!!! I'm so so so so sorry for leaving a cliff hanger like that and then taking this long to update!!! I honestly didn't mean to take this long!! I know how it feels to want to know so badly what's going to happen next.
Emerald124: Thanks for continuing to read!! I'm sorry for taking so long to update! No need to thank me for continuing to write the story, because it's fulfilling enough when people read and review.
Lunarian Princess Serenity: Of course I don't mind if you use Lilyanna for your daughter's name! Hehe, I'm thinking of using it too! Please accept my apology for making you wait this long for my update!! Thanks for continuing to read, it means a lot to me that people are interested in my story.
MoonPrincessMagic: I'm so incredibly sorry for the 1. the horrible cliffhanger and 2. making you wait this long for this next update. I hope you know I really appreciate your faithful reading! I'd love to read your drabbles and I'll try to get to them sometime, but I am in school full time, but I'll try to read them sometime.
Hannah42992: Thanks for reading and I loved all your questions because I see that it got you thinking. I hope you got your answers from this chapter.
Unknown reader: I agree with you that Darien will see his parents later on anyway. I know it's hard to think that our favorite characters will die and I know I was cruel to let that happen in this story, but now they're alive again so everything's ok! hehe! You got your wish, Darien chose to be with Serena! Merci beaucoup for reading!!!
sailormoonforever: You got your answer in this chapter. I'm sorry that I didn't update soon, but I do see that YOU little missy are on a roll with your wedding story. You've been updating lately...can't say the same for me. LOL. I really wish I could though. I love writing.
silvermoon8573: You're absolutely correct, Darien and Serena have to end up together, that's just the way it is and I think I would get yelled at by a lot of people if Darien chose to stay with parents and not go with Serena.
Tori Kay: You are correct, only 2-3 more chapters left. Sadly, it is coming to a close, but I had great fun writing it! And yes, I intend for it to go out with a bang, smash, boom, and pop! Lol, pride & prejudice! It's such a lovely story!
lovedustfairy: Thanks for noticing the mistake, it's fixed now.
storycrazy22: Thanks for the compliment! I wonder what would happen if he chose to stay with his parents? LOL, I think people would yell at me if he did.
raven-the-dark-princess: I'm sorry for the cliffhanger and making you wait this long for an update! Yes, you're correct, David couldn't have been Queen Serenity's guide. Silly me! The mistake was fixed immediately!
empty-spaces: hehe, what would you choose? Serena or your parents? You're right, it's a hard decision.
PrincessSerene15: Thanks so much for compliments! They're really flattering! I'm sorry for making you wait this long to find out what happens next! I hope you got some more answers in this chapter!
NeoQueen Serena: Sorry for that silly mistake! It was meant to be the other way around.
Thanks also to skye668, Lady Sylver, grapesandoats, UF Gator, serenity11287 and SerenityDeath for taking the time to review as well!!
All of you are amazing!! Thanks for your support and encouragement!
