"T'was the night before christmas...and all throughout the house...not a creature was stirring...not even a mouse. "

No proud words beforehand. I do hope you enjoy this chapter and please remember to send reviews. It's not very long, but it is something to get you prepared for the new year. ENJOY!

"Good morning, Love's Beauty this is Ashley, how may I help you?"

"I'm one my way into the main office, can you make a call for me?"

"Lita already had Brian drop off Danishes, coffee, lattes and bagels."

"Suck up," Mina muttered before continuing. "No, I actually need you to find Matthew Haven's number for-"

"The tanning bed guy? Woah what's that about?"

"And call him to set up an appointment in say one hour."

"What if he's unavailable? Do I fit you into his schedule?"

"No, I'm his new priority. Don't worry he'll show at that time if he knows what good for him."

"Aino making threats? I thought we left that up to competition?"

"Good thing it wasn't a threat then. Is that a phone call coming in I hear?"

"It's just this guy that keeps on calling for you. I've told him a zillion times, I'll have her call you when she arrives. He keeps saying, I'm from Trelawney Pharma-"

"ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE!" Mina yelled when as she walked into her building. 'Selene, help me.'

"Lily…Pawelski? Why are you reviewing her file? I thought she was being handed over to CS today?" Amy asked when she walked into Darien's office.

"Not if I can help it," Darien replied gathering his materials.

"How do you plan to stop them? True, you're one of the most successful doctors this side of the hemisphere, but you also work a 12-12 with call ins of an extra 5 hours. Sometimes you're not even home for a day or three at a time. What judge would give your custody? Not to negative- realistic.'

"If I can prove she's of relation. Any judge."

"Darien, you can't change tests to-"

"I do believe we took the same oath, no? It's real," he said handing her the results of a test he had taken earlier.

"You hold nine alleles in common? You're her uncle? How is that possible seeing as how you have no siblings."

"Randolph, Lilliana? Ring a bell?"

"Darien this is incredible! Have you told the others yet?"

"Telling them isn't-" he began but was interrupted by the phone ringing. "Can you get that?"

"Dr. Shields office. Dr. Anderson speaking."

"This is ungodly," Jason muttered. "Didn't we decide on 9am?"

"Which means 7am to Matt. You should have known that Sherlock," Nate replied as he stretched out his muscles.

"Do you realize other than the battle yesterday, we haven't trained since months before Serena told us we were returning?" Zach said.

"Thanx for the reminder."

"ON YOUR FEET!" Matt shouted when he entered the room. "I want to start off with some simple hand to hand before exploring our new powers. We don't want another accident like the one a millennia ago."

"Good ole Zoicite. We could see for miles into the palace without moving from a single room."

"I wouldn't talk Mr. Soul Swapper. I bet King Endymion is still pissed about that."

"Can we get back to business? Thank you.

"Lita? Where the hell have you been? You run out here yesterday, don't return my calls or even stop by. I thought you were dead," Ken said when his boss walked into the office. "Do you hear me talking to you? Hello? YO KINO!"

"Huh?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Not really. Do you where I put that file on Nathan Pathfinder at?"

"The soufflé guy? It's on your desk. What is going on with you today?"

"Busy."

"So is that restaurant out there. So is every waiter and cook you employ. What make you any different?!"

"Can you please stop yelling at me? Thanx."

"I don't mean to yell, I'm just… …worried. You left yesterday to go talk with Serena…what did happen with that?"

"I… …I'm changing my approach on that… …Hello, may I speak with Mr. Pathfinder? … …I did not call for that. If you're still interesting in the position being offered, then you're hired….see you then."

"You hired him?"

"We need a new cook don't we? What'd you want me to do cook myself?"

"The customers would love that."

"Get over yourself Kenneth."

"Past the moon, love. What different approach are you taking?"

"I guess you'll just have to wait and see.'

"Oh come on Lita. We-"

"HEY! CAN I GET SOME HELP OUT HER?" a waiter yelled.

"What the hell you doing man?" Jason asked when he walked down the hallway.

"Serena's in there," Matt replied.

"I'd think so. Unlike us, she didn't have someone ordering her up four hours ago for training sessions."

"With the door locked."

"No way."

"Yes way. She's not answering my knocks or calls."

"Did you try calling her cell?"

"Are you listening to me or are your ears filled with wax?"

"Full of wax. Excess amounts of build up," Zach said when he rounded the corner.

"How was your slumber again Zachary? Cold, lonely, frigid, empty, ICY?"

"Lick my frigid balls."

"I think I'll leave that to female company-that is if that's what you prefer."

"At least my blue haired preference reciprocates my feelings versus your raven haired terror. What's wrong with Serenity?"

"She locked herself in the room," Matt replied. "Can you get a read off of her Jason?"

Closing his eyes he focused on Serena, but was met by a wall; several in fact that he could not manage to get around.

"No, she's blocking my powers. We know she's in there-alive and in no mortal danger."

"Then why the locked door?" Zach asked.

"Something happened last night…she wants to deal with it alone."

"Any clue to what happened?" Matt asked.

"Now whom has the wax build up?"

"Call me when she comes out, I have a meeting to get too."

"I have an appointment at the hospital."

"More like a sex-capade!" Jason shouted after them.

Without replying Zach flung his arm towards Jason and smirk as the wind velocity blew him down the hall.

"HEY! No powers against each other unless in training!"

"Learn to think on your feet, my friend."

"Amy? It's Raye, is Darien there?"

"What don't I even get a hello after you used your Martian magic on me?"

"I'm sorry about that Amy…actually, no I'm not sorry. I did what I had to do for my friend. For that I will never apologize."

"Well hello to you too Raechel. I do have one thing to say to you though-when you decided to have the next scout meeting with Darien present, invite me as well."

"…Sure…"

"Raye? What just happened?"

"I wish I knew. I was calling to ask you to be at Lita's restaurant tonight for dinner-late dinner."

"Amy doesn't get off till… after midnight," he said watching Amy write the words down before him.

"That's fine. We need to…well I'm sure you know what we need to."

"Yeah, our exact sentiments."

"We'll see you then," she said and hung up the phone. 'This had better work,' she thought as she left the room to go meditate.

"Serena? I'm leaving," Jason called out when he went pass her door again. He had managed to shower and dress himself with still no sign of Serena. "Come on Sere, open the door."

"Just go away Jase."

"Well at least you answered me. Now the next step in progression is to open the door."

After waiting what seemed like an eternity, Serena opened the door and said, "Can I help you?"

"What's with the tears? Ah, come here," he said and enveloped her in his arms. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really," she said and went to sit under her covers.

Walking over to her he crawled behind her so that she was snuggled in between his legs and his chin rested on top of her head. "Well we can sit in here in silence and enjoy each other's company. But you know after awhile my snores are going to kick in and your going to get a cramp in that leg of yours and then you'll try to wake me up but to no avail while you desperately try to untangle yourself from your cramping muscles. Followed by you falling on the floor and being-"

"Okay, okay! I get the point."

"I don't hear you talking. It couldn't have been that bad."

"Wanna bet?"

"As long as Beryl has found a way to resurrect herself and our clones then we nothing to worry about," he said and watched how Serena's face took on a weary look. "Please tell me your joking."

"Yes, I'm joking," she said laughing. "It's nothing that bad. It's…Darien."

"Serena maybe we shouldn't talk about this. Last time we almost bit each other's head off."

"We learn from our mistakes," she said and snuggled in closer. "Do you remember when tried to make it work between us?"

"My biggest mistake and yet my smartest piece of judgment. Too bad our hearts weren't in it."

"No, they were. Just tied to other people," she said and turned to face him. "Jason, you're the best friend I've ever had. You…you don't judge me or pick on my faults. You understand me better than Luna can at times. I love you as much as a sister can love a brother. You're my rock, you know that don't you?"

"You're mine too Sere. What's all this about?"

"He…came to me last night Jason. He was right here in my face."

"He who?"

"Endymion! He said that what we had wasn't finished. That our destiny still awaits us-together. He said that it took him six years to push through all of the pain and anger within Darien, but he did and he wasn't going to let his reincarnation's stupidity stand in the way of what he wants."

"Serena, that's not pos-"

"Possible? Then can you explain to me all of the roses I found in the room this morning?"

Turning to her dresser, bathroom and along both of her balconies, there were roses of all shades-prominently red- surrounding the space. The sight was utterly breathtaking. The more he observed he even began to notice the rose petals that danced along the floor in front of her closet and around her bed.

"This is why you wouldn't come out this morning?"

"I needed time to think. You know Endymion as well as I. He won't give up without a fight."

Looking back at the room again and at his princess, best friend, his sister he said, "Then you need to ask yourself does he have a fighting chance?"

When she gave no reply he said, "Going up against Darien is one thing, but you can fight everything you feel for Endymion and Darien? You already know I don't like the guy-he doesn't deserve you. Endymion though, this is what you two always dreamed. You've waited over millennia for this time to come. You have every right to take it. If that's what you want."

"I have an idea."

"Ms. Aino, Mr. Haven is here to see you," Ashley said into the phone. "Yes, ma'am…you can just wait over there. She'll be with you when she's ready."

"And how long might that take?" Matt asked.

"Not very long I'm sure. She's anxious to meet with you."

"Exceedingly in fact. Please follow me, Mr. Haven," Mina said when she walked out of her office.

"I was surprised that you called-"

"Don't be. This has nothing to do with the past, but everything involving our future."

"Future? How so?" he said taking a seat.

"Water? Tea? No…you were a coffee man-black with just a dash of sugar."

"Should I be impressed or apprehensive?"

"The head general of the Terran-"

"Moon Army," he interjected.

Plastering on a smile she seethed back, "I meant head general of the pas-"

"I know what you meant Aino. Let's stop playing games and get down to business. Oh and I'll decline on the coffee."

"Too bad, it's to die for."

"Consequently why I declined. From the figures I saw a few days ago, it looks like your marketability isn't where it should be. You advisors aren't doing there job where-"

"They should be, I know. I also understand that the projected scale of progression is off the Richter scale by half. (A.N.- no I do not have any idea what that means. I'm just throwing words together that I think sound good.) What I don't know is how to correct this error?"

"I'd first fire the brainpans who gave you those figures and then hire some new ones."

"My sentiments exactly. How would you like a-"

"No."

"You didn't even let me finish my question. I could have been asking you about one of Lita's Danishes."

"Please don't try to insult me or yourself with that bull. We both know that you want me here working for you so that you can keep a closer watch on me. The answer is no."

"Malachite-"

"Matthew."

"Same difference. Different present history, but the same body and soul."

"If that is all you wanted me for," he began and stood from his chair.

"My company sent you a business letter a few months ago and received no reply. We attributed it to your move from continents and confusion of materials but I'm beginning to think otherwise," she said as she leaned back on her desk. "Are you afraid to work along side me, Mr. Haven?"

"What would I have to be afraid of? You have no power over me."

"But don't I?" she said and slink up next to him. "We shared so much back then didn't we? I could even say I know you better than your own men."

"You knew Malachite. Matthew grew up in a different time and holds different values. Have a nice day Ms. Aino."

"Mal never would have run from a challenge. He would have faced me down like the man he was."

"Baiting me with past transgressions won't work for you. I thought you were above that, Amina. The 21st century sure has changed you."

"Dr. Anderson should be coming out of surgery. You're welcome to wait here for her."

"Thank you, Molly. Don't tell her I'm here though," Zach said.

"Anderson isn't too fond of surprises, believe me. Plus, I could lose my job."

"Just tell her that someone is waiting in her office, please."

"That I can do," she said and closed the door.

'Magna Cum Laude, Valedictorian, she excels at everything, doesn't she?' he thought while looking around her office. 'Did she ever take time out for herself? I gotta make sure she gets some more sun.'

"Hello, the nurse told me you were here to-… …Zach?"

"Hello Amelia," he got out before she rushed into his arms.

"You must be Nathan right?" Ken asked when he saw a man with chestnut hair hanging loose around his ears. "Lita said for you to go ahead into the back and she'd be with you in a minute."

"Thank you," Nate said and headed back to her office. 'Why didn't she just meet me out front? … …She wouldn't try to kill me with people in her establishment, would she? Then again…' his thoughts were interrupted when he walked into Lita's office and was met with a right hook to his jaw. Caught off guard he staggered to the side, giving Lita a chance to close and lock the door and head back over to him.

"Lita, wait what are you doing?" Nate asked when he looked at her and saw not Lita but Sailor Jupiter. "Sailor Jupiter?"

Without answering him she gave him a kick to the side and sent him down onto the ground. She grabbed the knife she had brought in with her and held it to his throat.

"I have only one question for you Nathan."

"And what would that be Lita?"

Looking him in the eye she saw intense brown orbs starring into her emerald green ones. She wanted to be strong and hold on to the anger she felt but something was pulling at her heart. And while she hated to admit it she knew exactly what is was. She climbed off him and dragged him to his feet. "Alright spill it Nathan. Who are you and what the hell do you want from me?"

"You don't already know that? The Great Sailor Jupiter fighter for all that is good and weaker than she? Princess Litianya daughter of the Great Jupiter King?"

"Stop it!" she shouted and powered up a ball of electricity in her hand. "I don't care how you know any of that, all I want to you to do is answer me," she said.

"What exactly are you asking?"

Extinguishing the ball of energy she walked closer to him, starred him in the eye and said, "Were you brainwashed that night or had you really turned against us?"

"That night?"

"You what I'm talking about-I know you do. Did you turn against me that night? Against everything you stood for? Because if you did I swear I'll make you pay for everything you put us through."

"And if I didn't?"

"Answer the question Nephrite."

"Ms. Kino called me here for a job, did she not? Do let her know I'll take her up on the offer."

"Tell her yourself," she said and de-transformed. "You should probably change your clothes and get into the kitchens. The dinner rush will be arriving and it's going to be packed."

"Lita-"

"If you have any questions let me know," she said and opened her office door. "Good luck."

"Darien, are you sure about this?" Raye asked.

"More than I have been about anything. Thank you for doing this," he said with a nudge.

"It's no problem, but I only studied the politics of law. I don't understand how I can be of any help."

"If they request a character witness-you're it. Plus, I need you to explain some of this garbull to me."

"Well the state is questioning your petition of guardianship. Do you have documents proving her relation?"

"Right here."

"You know you're going to have to perjury yourself."

"No, she's really my niece, Raye."

"I mean about how you found out. The judge is going to want to know why you even tested your blood against hers. Out of all the kids who come out of that hospital what is so special about her. Do you have another doctor's results other than your own?"

"Yes, I had Amy run them again before I left and Dr. Patterson along with a lab tech."

"And all four of you say the same thing. The state won't be able to throw that out. Can you provide her with a stable home?"

"Raye."

"I know, but it's what he will ask. You're a doctor Darien with demanding hours. Why shouldn't he put her in a home where two parents can take care of her?"

"Most likely they won't. She'll end being tossed around from home to home like I did. I won't let that happen to her. She's all the family I have left Raye."

"I think… you just won your case."

"Where are they?!" a voice yelled.

"We…we don't know sire. We lost them when they jumped the loops," a warrior replied.

"You lost them? You lost them? How do you lose-"

"Relax, sire. Don't let these creatures overwork you. Where were they last spotted?" a woman asked.

:"Near the 20th loop."

"Well that's not good at all. Find them and find them now! Is that understood?"

"Yes, sire," he replied and vanished from their sight.

"They wouldn't have… they know better than we what dangers could arise."

"That is what worries me."

Okay people, I know it was not much, but I figured I'd get soemthing out for christmas plus I wanted to set up a few pins to knock down. No to mention I want to finish this story up because it is becoming too long. dont get me wrong, I love you all and this story, but enough is enough.) I'm hoping to do maybe 5 more chapters-nine at my max. then I'm done. I figure thirty is a nice round number to end everything off on don't you? so if that means you'll be getting twenty paged chapters then so be it! Please enjoy your CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR OR KWANZA, HANUKKAH, RABBIT YEAR, ALL THOSE HOLIDAYS! I wish you all my best and bless it be!

Selene Grace