Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or associated characters.

Chapter 9: Uncertainty at its Best

After several minutes of trying to position Serenity between the two of them, Endy declared that it would be easier if he just carried her and for Minako to just open doors for him. Minako only gave a token protest at handling a lady like that, but caved in with a stern look from him.

Stepping into the corridor with one arm under Serenity's knees and the other supporting her back, he had her arms lightly draped around his neck. A sudden thought popped into his mind.

I shouldn't be carting her around like a child, she's a princess! How would she like being carried like this?

A soft murmur and snuggling her head against his shoulder gave him his answer. Sober or drunk, she'd like any sort of contact with him. He gave a soft chuckle, but abruptly stopped as questions filled his mind.

She obviously cares deeply for you, how do you feel?

I care for her too! I just don't know the girl that well!

It was true that he had known her for about three weeks now. But most of that time he was unconscious or recovering. In fact, all he really knew about her was her name and that she used to be a slave…

"Are your rooms this way?" Minako asked, pointing down the hallway. She had already closed the door to his study and had waited patiently for a few moments before interrupting his thoughts.

"Aye. I mean, yes! Forgive me, I'm distracted," he said as he started walking the few doors down to his room. Endy wanted to go back to his musings on Serenity, but the perky, light haired princess didn't seem to interpret his mood correctly.

That's one thing Serenity is good at, he surprised himself by comparing the two.

"What kind of foods does your palace serve? I prefer fish, if I can help it. Although, traveling through your countryside has introduced new types of food that I like! There's a lot I enjoyed, but, also some I didn't. I hope I don't insult your father and you if I don't eat some of what is prepared for the banquet…" Her chatter went on, right up to where he stopped at his door.

She opened it for him and began speaking again, walking in right behind him.

"Princess Minako. I'm sorry, but I need to place Serenity in bed and to rest. I'm not feeling all too well. I can get a servant to show you your guest quarters," he let his exhaustion leak into his voice, hoping she would take the hint. She seemed to be a good person, but her non-stop conversation was wearing.

"Oh. Well, I could use some time to freshen up and dress for the banquet tonight," a sad tone could be heard in her response.

Endy turned to head to his bedroom, planning on putting Serenity down before calling a servant to help Minako. To his surprise, and relief, Naru was sitting on a chair in the room with them.

"Prince Endymion! It's been a while. I'm so glad that you are okay!" her eyes sparkled as she stood and curtsied.

Damn romantic! He knew exactly why she was so pleased. Everyone in the palace had the same twinkle in their eye when they saw him with Serenity. Especially, it seemed, while he was carrying her.

"It's fortunate that you are here, Naru. Could you please show Princess Minako to her rooms. I don't know where they are, but I'm sure they are the only prepared guest quarters at this time," he instructed her.

"Yes, my Prince. I helped make them up this morning," she replied, unruffled by his cold tone. Her smirk grew as he continued to hold Serenity in his arms. Before he could give a reply to wipe the smile off her face, Naru's gaze shifted to Minako and started speaking to her. "It's good to meet you, Princess Minako. I am Naru, Prince Endymion's personal servant. May I guide you to your rooms?"

"Oh, yes. Please do," Minako answered politely.

Naru walked past her Prince and took one of Minako's hands into hers. Minako was a bit surprised at first, by the forwardness of Naru, but smiled and let her lead on. He caught the beginning of their conversation as they left his sitting room.

"For a man who claims to avoid women, Prince Endymion sure does have a lot of them around him all the time," Minako confided to Naru.

"Ha! Yes, he does. But, he just has a soft heart. Let me tell you how I became one of his personal servants. I was one of his father's ploys…"

Their voices faded down the hall and Endy slammed the door shut to let Naru know how he felt about their conversation. He leaned back against the door and took a look at his precious load. Her pale face, with its small nose and full, sensual lips, pulled him back into his confusing thoughts of her.

The first time they met, he had given her his coat and embraced her without a thought. She had seemed so frightened, like a lost child. After that moment, by order of the king, she had been near him constantly. While something like that would originally annoy him, he found himself taking joy in her presence.

He found amusement in teasing her gently, then receiving elbows in his ribs. No ordinary woman would do that to him and he respected her for reacting like no other lady would.

He thought that her shyness was cute, but knew it would be a liability later.

'Liability for who? And what am I thinking of later?' his mind rebelled. He couldn't think of his future just now. Too many things hung in the balance just yet.

A silky smooth hand, caressing his cheek brought him out of his thoughts. Staring up into his gaze was Serenity's gorgeous blue eyes, free of any drunkenness.

"Hey! I thought you were passed out," he started to chastise her. His words were cut off as her mouth met his. He couldn't tell whether she pulled up to kiss him, or he leaned down to kiss her. Perhaps a little of both.

All thoughts of who did what or why Serenity wasn't drunk after drinking so much wine dropped out of his mind like a brick. Something new, that overwhelmed everything else in his mind, came to the fore part of his thoughts.

She tastes like strawberries! His head reeled from the passion that burned within him. He dimly perceived that Serenity's lips seemed as hungry as his.

Before the kiss really began, a squeaking noise had them pull away from each other. Ami's head poked out from behind his bedroom door. Endy felt himself get a little angry at being balked again.

"Oh, I didn't know you were back, Prince Endymion," Ami got out while valiantly trying to fight back a grin. A fight she lost. The rest of her body appeared from his sleeping chamber.

Endy slowly let Serenity's legs down so she could stand beside him. For a moment, he thought that she wouldn't let go of his neck, keeping him from straightening up. But she slid her arms down to his waist and was content leaning against him. Her embrace felt nice, so he didn't bother pushing her a proper distance away. It wasn't like he could keep her away, she would've just clung to the arm pushing her back.

He didn't know whether the lightheaded feeling was from his poisoning or from the kiss. He was sure that Ami had at least seen them parting. He didn't want to think of the consequences of the rash act that he initiated.

Or did she kiss me?

It wouldn't matter. The rumors would say that he kissed her. The Prince took advantage of the new Princess. He nearly choked on himself. The whole palace, no, the whole Kingdom would be ecstatic if he showed interest in a girl.

"Ami, knock that out. There was nothing going on," Endy tried to convince both of them. Ami didn't buy it. Her smile nearly stretched ear to ear.

"Of course, Endy," Ami replied, sounding like she was consoling him, "Just don't do anything foolish before the wedding." She started walking towards the door.

"WHAT WEDDING?" His yell made Ami jump in surprise. Serenity wasn't unaffected by the sudden outburst either, but the grip his coat tightening was the only reaction from her.

"Well, yours and Serenity's," Ami said, matter-of-factly.

Geez, I thought father went behind my back and arranged a marriage between Princess Minako and me already. Wouldn't put it past him, though.

"We aren't even engaged," he replied, confused.

"You should get going on that, then," she said as she lightly brushed past him and out the door.

"Ami. I trust you to be discreet with whatever you may think you saw," Endy tried to impress the importance of his order upon her. A rumor like that could be taken as an insult to the Gonfuto Kingdom, something he just didn't want to deal with. A slight nod was all the answer he got from the back of Ami's head.

"Damn that infuriating woman!" Endy mumbled under his breath, once Ami closed the door. He awkwardly walked over to his bedroom, with Serenity wrapped around his waist making the going difficult. Almost to his bed, he remembered a thought that had occurred to him before kissing Serenity. Or was that she kissed him? So confusing.

He gently pulled her from around him and lightly pushed her onto the bed. She landed on her backside, looking only slightly alarmed.

"I thought you were passed out!" he said, accusingly. She had the decency to look abashed, light red coloring her cheeks.

"It was juice," she said softly, almost a mumble.

"Why did you… What in the…arrrgh! I have three other silly women to deal with, I don't need another! Why did you pretend to be drunk then?" he knew that he was just blowing off steam from all the recent events, from the feeling of losing control. Nothing seemed to go his way since he had returned.

But she definitely doesn't deserve any of your frustration, now does she? The small voice in his head rebuked him. He knew that the voice was right.

"I just wanted to be alone with you. I just… I don't…" she trailed off. He knelt in front of her, taking her face into his hands.

"I'm sorry, Serenity. I didn't mean to sound angry or mean. I've just been through a lot of events recently. This is no way for me to treat a princess," he felt annoyed that his self-control was slipping away.

"It's okay. I don't really feel like a princess anyway," she said, lowering her eyes.

Endy's eyes widened in surprise, although they really shouldn't have. Then his head dropped as well.

She never had the chance to be a princess before, so why should she feel like one now?

"Unless I'm with you…" she whispered. He barely heard her, but the words almost knocked him to the ground. His head snapped up, with eyes searching for hidden meanings. He found misty, half lidded gorgeous blues staring happily back at his.

"Hey, look… ummmm…," he looked away, scratching his head, "I don't think… ummm, I'm really tired. I need some rest before the banquet." Her attention had him unsettled, double thinking everything, and grasping at any topic to fill the silence.

Endy looked back at Serenity's face. Dismay colored her expression, draining the earlier aura that had encompassed her. She turned her head, breaking his light hold on her face. A slow burn ignited in the pit of his stomach. Anguish and rage seeped up.

Right before he began to scream his confusion, a realization came into his mind. Just because he didn't know what to do at times like this doesn't mean she deserved his anger.

"I'm sorry, Serenity. After I have some rest, I should know what to do," Endy reached down and took her hands in his as he spoke, trying to convey his sincerity.

Serenity, on her part, flashed him a small smile, forgiving him for his miss-steps.

"I really do need rest, my Princess. I don't think I'm over the poison just yet," he told her as he stood. "You're welcome to join me if you wish." He didn't know whether he offered to make her feel better, or because he wanted her to join him.

Endy strode over to the end of his bed and threw himself onto it. As he got comfortable, Serenity laid her head on his shoulder and made a sigh of contentment. As he wrapped his arm around her slender frame, he knew that he wanted her there but didn't want to admit it to anybody. A prince shouldn't need to rely on anyone for anything. At least that's what he tried to tell himself before sleep took him into darkness.

Endy wasn't sure if he was awake or not, but the warm light that surrounded him made caring hard. He imagined the light as a blanket and pulled it tighter around himself.

I know this light! he thought.

His eyes popped open, shredding any illusion of sleep that he might have held onto. Serenity was laying on top of him. Her hands were clasped to each side of his face and she was staring intently at his eyes. What drew most of his attention was the light that didn't dissipate with the dream. He had a better look at her glow this time. It was as if the moon was directly behind her, making a halo around her body.

A bead of sweat was hanging on the tip of her nose. He gently wiped it away. Serenity blinked a couple of times, seemingly coming out of a trance and focusing on Endy. The glow faded away and a smile replaced the look of concentration on her face.

He pulled himself and Serenity up in a sitting position. Gently pushing a few stray hairs out of her face, he prepared himself for hearing the answers to the questions that needed to be asked.

"Serenity, what was that light coming from you?" Endy's gaze betrayed nothing, not wanting to give the wrong impression. Her smile faltered and an uncertainty grew in her eyes. A few moments passed before she answered.

"I'm a Healer," she said softly. He waited for more, but none was forthcoming. She looked expectant, waiting for his reaction.

"What is a healer? You mean like a Herb Woman, or a Medicine Man? Or like a Battle Surgeon?" She gave a slight shake of her head at each title. "I'm not sure I understand, then."

"I've never had to explain it before. I'm not sure how to now. Everyone I've met just knew what a Healer is," she put a finger to her lips and thought for a moment. A surge of lust overcame Endy for a moment and unconsciously started to knead her hips.

Serenity wiggled, putting her hands on top of his, but not stopping him. "I can't think when you do that!" she giggled.

"Oh," he realized what he was doing and stopped. "Apologies for that, but you were going to explain what a Healer is?"

When he stopped massaging her hips she had another look of dismay. He wasn't getting what she wanted. She seemed sad that he stopped, but it was inappropriate for him to continue.

What should I do?

"Do you know the feeling when you're completely relaxed and you feel like you're melting into whatever you're lying on? Becoming one with it?" she waited for his response before going on. He nodded, remembering a few times in his life when that had happened. In fact, it felt like that when he woke up with her glowing. "It's mostly like that. It's your personal energy merging with what's around it, becoming one. I'm able to merge my energy with anyone else's and direct both to heal. That's what makes me a Healer."

Endy took stock of himself. He wasn't deciding whether to believe her explanation or not, he'd seen her power in action, so that was a moot point. No, he was incorporating the new information into what he knew to be true.

If she has a power like that, can't others have the same or different powers? And then a smaller, jealous part of him wailed, why not me?

"Have you healed me before?" he asked. Endy knew the answer already, but he wanted to see if she told him the truth.

"Of course I have! It took me two days after you collapsed to get you alone. Your palace healer, Azumi, was by your side all that time. She isn't a Healer like me, so she couldn't help you like I could. She thought you were going to die, so left you in peace. I took care of you then," Serenity started in a rush but ended in her near whisper that she used a lot.

"So, you saved my life," he said it like a statement rather than a question. A small smile played across his lips. Serenity surprised him by starting to cry.

"Your captains thought I did it! They thought I tried to kill you. I told them so many times that I didn't do it. I could never kill you!" her voice was becoming hysterical. Tears were streaming down her cheeks now.

"Calm down, little Princess. I know you didn't try to kill me. My Captains know that too. They were really stressed out, that's all. And what do you mean, you could never kill me? I'm sure even a small lady like you could manage it," he meant the last remark as a joke, but also for Serenity to use as a focus for her reply.

"I could never kill you," she replied, calmly. Then she looked away. "Because I love you."

Even though Endy knew about her feelings already, he felt a little surprised when she voiced them aloud. He felt bad when he knew that he couldn't return her feelings. He liked her a lot, but that wasn't love.

There was the fact that he liked her more than any other girl. But that wasn't love, was it?

I should let her know how I feel at least. She was brave enough to share her feelings.

"Serenity, I can't say I love you too because that would be a lie and unfair to you," tears started making their way down her cheeks again, "But I can say that I care for you more than any other girl I know. Even though we've spent some time together, I barely know you. I want to get to know you."

Endy gave her a smile of encouragement, hopefully to take away any pain he may have caused. Serenity turned back to face him. Her cheeks were still wet, but she wasn't crying anymore. In fact, a impish grin spread her lips wide.

Serenity had an idea.

AN: Live from JAPAN! Yeaa! The food here is awesome, the people here are so polite, and the scenery is very nice. Back to the story, where is all the action? I'm on it. Next chapters are all about movement. Enough with all the mushy stuff… maybe. As with any other chapter, please let me know of any mistakes. Until next time.