It had been 15 minutes since Usagi had walked Mamoru down to his car and the girls were getting anxious. Ami paced as Makoto cleaned up the kitchen. Rei stood with her hands on her waist and eyed the door expectantly while Minako layed on the floor stretching her gum from her mouth; holding it between her teeth and pulling it with her first two fingers on her right hand.

Rei let out a frustrated groan. "What could be taking them SO long? I want to hear about their date already! PLUS discuss this new guy that suddenly decided to freak Usagi out! Am I the only one?" She looked around incredulously at the others who seemed to be in their own little world.

Minako let her gum fall back into her mouth and she sat up, crossing her legs. "I'm sure they're just saying a long goodbye. You know how the beginning of a relationship can be. You shouldn't be so tense."

Makoto brought out her brownies from the oven and took a spatula to them. "Here, have a brownie. It'll calm you down for sure. Don't forget to add the powdered sugar!" She handed Rei a plate and nodded her head towards the dispenser that held the white powder.

Rei huffed, blowing her bangs out of her face and started to fix a plate of brownies for each of them; Usagi included. "I guess you're right. She'll come up eventually." She brought the plate to the coffee table and sat on the couch with a brownie in hand. Minako stuck her gum to the side of the plate, grabbed a brownie from the plate and took an eager bite. She moaned pleasurably. "My GAWD Makoto! These are INCREDIBLE!"

Rei chewed hers slowly and sat back with her eyes closed. Once she swallowed, she sighed contentedly. "These can really cure the worst of ailments."

Makoto beamed. "Thanks you guys! Chocolate is my favorite hobby!" She sat down with a smile and pride welled within her as she watched her friends indulge on the dessert. Ami, of course, was the only one who cared to use a napkin; aware of how much of a mess the powdered sugar was going to make.

Oddly enough, she didn't have the resistance to keep from speaking with her mouth full. "Usahgee is goan to lawve theese!" All three girls looked at Ami with a teasing smile. Ami's face reddened once she realized what she had done and the girls burst into laughter.

It was then that Usagi and Mamoru came through the front door of the apartment and all four girls turned, expecting to see Usagi walking in alone, yet to their surprise, for the second time that day, Mamoru was with her. Ami wondered if they were ever going to see Usagi just by herself ever again or if it would even become something that they minded. Mamoru fit in as well as any of them had when their friendship had first begun. As far as she was concerned, he was one of them.

Makoto was the first to speak. "What's going on guys?" She smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to sneak him to the bedroom, Usa? You might want to wait a little bit later than this; we're still all up!" Minako and Rei giggled slightly and looked to Usagi for a quirky response.

Their demeanor drastically changed, however, when Mamoru stepped forward and started to speak about the events that had occurred just within the past few minutes downstairs.

Minako jumped up when she heard about Usagi being assaulted by Demande. She ran up to her friend and hugged her. "Usa-chan! I feel terrible! We just thought that you and Mamoru were taking your time saying goodbye!" Ami, Makoto, and Rei got on their feet and joined their friends. Ami brushed Usagi's bangs from her face while she surveyed her with concern. "I never dreamed that he'd be so aggressive with you Usa-chan." Rei crossed her arms and Makoto smashed her fist into her hand. "This ends now! Usagi just got out of her step-sisters' clutches. She doesn't need another reason to be cautious or afraid."

Mamoru was so happy that Usagi had friends that were so concerned about her. He knew that they would help him protect Usagi no matter what. Still, he felt that he had a special obligation to his Usako in protecting her. He decided that it was his turn to speak.

"I think it may be wise to have Usagi stay with me for the time being since he followed her here. We'll have to watch our backs to ensure we're not followed, but I can't leave her knowing the possibility that he could find her alone. I'm not saying that you girls aren't capable of protecting her, but it would help me be at ease knowing that she's safe. I hope you can understand."

Ami and Minako nodded while Rei and Makoto silently schemed on how to put that Demande character in his place the next time they saw him.

Usagi started to step towards her bedroom. "I'm going to go ahead and pack a few things. I hope this doesn't ruin our plans for tomorrow. We still going to the mall? 11am?" She smiled and winked at Mamoru. "I hope you're ok with following around a pack of girls on a shopping spree Mamo-chan!"

Mamoru's eyes softened and a grin appeared across his face. I absolutely love her ability to become cheerful so quickly after such an ordeal. "As long as I'm with you Usako, I don't mind what I'm doing."

Minako's eyes shimmered and a giant smile was plastered across her face. "YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTEEEE!" She brought her hands to her chest and sighed dreamily.

Rei chuckled and started to grab another brownie. "Yeah it's a little depressing." She shoved a brownie into her mouth and sunk into the couch completely entangled within the euphoria of the chocolate.

Ami made her way towards Usagi's bedroom. "Since it's still Saturday night, can you two stick around a little longer? I'd hate for you to leave right now Usa-chan after finding out what just happened."

Usagi came out with her things packed up inside her pink backpack and looked at Mamoru. She shrugged. "I don't mind if you don't, Mamo-chan."

Mamoru smiled and fell back onto the recliner they had in the living room. He sighed contently. "We can stay here tonight if you want. I'll just sleep on this wonderful thing and accompany you all to the mall in the morning."

Minako squealed and tackled Usagi. "Sleepoverrrrrr!"

Usagi grunted with the impact and fell backwards onto the floor with Minako on top of her.

Usagi groaned from underneath Minako. "Minako-chan you've gotta lay off the chocolates."

Minako sat up quickly with a slight blush across her cheeks. She looked at Usagi and saw that Usagi had a teasing smile and was starting to laugh. Exasperated, Minako grabbed a couch pillow and smacked Usagi in the face with it while she stood up.

Usagi giggled and held the pillow against her chest when she sat down in front of the coffee table eyeing the brownies.

Ami leaned back against the arm of the couch. "So what are you going to do Usagi?"

Usagi bit her lip and reached for a brownie. "Well, Ami-chan. First I'm gonna enjoy this beautiful masterpiece created by Mako-chan." Mamoru and Makoto chuckled. "And then I'm going to focus on the incredible people that I am lucky enough to have in my life. C'mon guys. One weirdo is not going to faze me." She winked and took a bite of the chewy chocolate square and moaned pleasurably. "Mmmmmm. Mako-chan, you really have a gift."

Rei shook her head at her friend and pursed her lips. "I love your attitude about it Usagi-chan, but we really should discuss the worst possibilities in case this guy decides to try something else. Not that we're planning on it, but what if he catches you alone again?"

Minako's attempt at uplifting the mood was shattered at Rei's statement and she sunk down in her seat. "As much as I hate it, she's right Usa-chan. We do need some sort of plan." She rested her chin on her hand and looked in the direction of Mamoru. "What do you think we should do?"

Mamoru ran his hand through his hair and leaned forward. "Well I would say to avoid him, but it sounds like he'll be going to our school, so we're going to have to deal with this for at least a few more months."

Usagi chimed in. "I feel like this is my fault. I welcomed him into our group so eagerly because I just thought he needed friends."

Makoto put her hand on Usagi's shoulder reassuringly. "No Usa-chan. This isn't your fault. You're an uplifting and amazingly cheerful person. One of the best things about your is your willingness to see the good in everyone and your happiness radiates through everyone. I'm sure anyone who knows you would agree. That doesn't mean that it's your fault just because this guy felt the need to take advantage of that part of you."

Usagi upturned her lips slightly. "H-hai. Arigato, Mako-chan."

"I suggest that we approach this rationally. He's been aggressive within the first 24 hours of meeting Usagi-chan and looked for the opportunity to get her alone. Our solution should be just to not leave her alone in any circumstances. Makoto, Minako, Rei, and I all have classes with Usagi and spend our lunch time with her, so it's not likely that he'll have that chance while at school. Her job would be the biggest issue. We all can't just sit at the Crown and watch for him. Even if he does show up, it's a public place and he has every right to be there. Mamoru, you should make sure that you're present when she arrives and leaves her work, though. Is that something you're willing to do?"

Mamoru nodded. "Most definitely and I'm willing to do all my homework at the Crown. Honestly it's better than doing it by myself in my apartment. That way I can bring Usako home with me and keep her safe."

Eager to once again liven the mood, Minako popped up. "Well." She sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Now that that is taken care of, can we move on people?"

Usagi laughed. "Yes. Let's."

The night went on with laughter, junk food, a game of truth or dare, and Rei braiding Usagi's hair into an intricate hairstyle that made her look like a renaissance princess.

Mamoru had retired in Usagi's bedroom since the girls took over the living room and decided to sleep in there until Usagi came to wake him up so she could go to sleep. She never came. Mamoru woke up at about 8am in confusion; first at his location and then at where Usagi could be. He got up and stretched, noting to himself how incredibly comfortable Usagi's bed had been. He dressed himself appropriately in case the other girls were awake and walked into the living room.

He had to stifle his laughter at the sight that was before him. (Yes, dear readers, like their last sleepover, the girls were ALL over the place.) Makoto took over her recliner once again while Ami and Usagi cuddled up on the couch next to each other. Rei had the couch pillows arranged on the floor with her head off of them. Her raven black hair was entangled with Minako's golden tresses. Minako was the best sight. Her mouth had formed a drool puddle and her legs were up in the air against the recliner that Makoto had been sleeping in. Makoto had been cuddling with her left leg as the right one fell off to the side. Junk food and bottles of nail polish were scattered across the floor around them.

Mamoru had to do his best navigating his way around them all quietly to make his way to the kitchen to start some coffee. He was happy that Makoto happened to like the same brand that he did and that he was familiar with their machine. Before no time, he had a cup of his favorite drink steaming in his hands and decided to read a book that Usagi had left on the counter to wait for his new favorite group of friends and beloved girlfriend to wake up.

*Author's Note: Sorry peoples! I had a pretty busy two weeks with my classes! I'm trying to get back into the groove of writing and thinking about what will happen next in this wonderful tale. I'm always open to suggestions ya know! Leave a review and tell me what you think!

I hope you're digging it and as always, there will be more to come!