It was a quiet day in the city, making it so much easier for Usagi to rock her newborn child to sleep. Chibiusa was certainly not a baby who enjoyed naps; she always was curious as to what was surrounding her and Usagi theorized that if her daughter slept, she would be distraught that she missed such important happenings… that she would soon surely forget. Knowing her child previously when the young girl trained to be a powerful senshi, Usagi learned that Chibiusa was an observant and creative child, qualities that Usagi was envy of. Usagi knew she had matured quite a lot, but she wished she could have been more observant and especially more studious in her younger years. Her grades definitely would have significantly improved. She would have to teach her child to learn from her mistakes.
Placing her slumbering child in her crib blanketed in pink, the young mother carefully crept over to the bed which Mamoru and she shared. She immersed herself in the depths of depressing thoughts about the day's anniversary, that she didn't hear or see Mamoru walking in their room and climbing onto the bed, wrapping his arms around her torso. She sighed contently and her muscles relaxed to her love's tender embrace.
"Usako, daijoubu?"
"Hai," she replied with a bright smile that nearly reached her cerulean colored eyes.
"It doesn't show. What's on your mind, love?"
"I just feel as if I could have done something," the golden- haired mother confessed, glancing over where her brooch lay. It gleamed happily for it was finally taking a break from overuse, transforming the young woman into a moon senshi, being bended from shattering into a million pieces, and battling complicated villains. But it seemed as if it would always taunt her of the power that she held within her. The crystal was a blessing, but at the same time it was like a curse. She had the power to do anything, save anyone, but it took such a toll. After the battle with chaos, she was asleep for a good week and nightmares still plagued her sleep.
"There was nothing to be done," his breath tickled the back of her neck, causing goose bumps to scatter across her delicate skin and her breath hitched slightly. She knew her Mamo-chan wasn't trying to seduce her, but it couldn't be helped. He had that kind of effect on her.
"My heart hurts from how I could have saved all of those people, Mamo-chan. I know I was extremely young when the disaster occurred, but the thought just constantly haunts me. The war. The bloodshed. What if I could have stopped it? I know it would have been possible."
Her eyes met his with such pain embedded into them, that Mamoru had a loss for words. It broke his heart every year to hear the same thoughts spill from her lips about how she could have stopped the terrorist attacks in America. It seemed different this year, the speech. Being a mother brought more caring and thoughtfulness into Usagi, if that was even possible.
"Usako, listen to me. Please stop putting so many heavy burdens on your shoulders."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Demo…"
His lips captivated hers in hope to frighten away the words that were tumble from them.
"We'll soon create a world where everyone will be safe. You already did so by defeating Chaos. Because of you, we all have been given a second chance in life," Mamoru reassured her, showering her with simple, yet meaningful, kisses.
AN: In memory of the 9/11 victims. Rest in Peace.