Beta'd by The Seventh L

Usagi held Chibi-usa in her arms, finally able to care for her baby after weeks of not being able to due to intensely painful bruising on most of her body. Her body was finally starting to heal, the bruises fading and the cuts knitting together; with some of them turning into scars whose pinkness shined on her delicate pale skin. Chibi-usa had been taken care of by the other scouts the whole time Usagi was convalescing and they had been told her tragic tale. She had made them promise not to exact revenge on Mamoru, which had been extremely hard, especially with the fiery Haruka. Only her tears convinced them. Almost all of them still had dreams of what they would like to do to him if given a chance.

She buried her face in her daughter's hair. "I'll never let him hurt you." She continued to rock her back and forth until they were both lulled to sleep.

-----

Each day she grew stronger and stronger and there was still no sign of Mamoru. She still jumped at every loud noise and flinched whenever anyone reached for her. Still hid whenever she heard the door open, afraid it would be him, but at the same time perversely hoping he would try to take her back. She felt ashamed every time she missed him or thought of all the happy times they had spent together, like she was betraying Chibi-usa and all the other scouts.

She knew that he didn't want her back and she knew that she see it as a good thing. Rei had found all of her and Chibi-usa's things mixed in with the trash at the collection site by their house and had rescued them.

But she still hadn't taken off her wedding ring. When she was checked out of the hospital it had been the only possession she'd had to pick up, and she'd slipped it on when nobody was looking. Rei hadn't mentioned it but she could see the look that crossed the other girl's face if she happened to glance at it. Not disappointed, just worried.

Most of all Usagi missed her parents and her brother. She hadn't been able to visit them since "the incident", as she referred to it when she had to. She didn't want to see the worried looks on their faces, or worst of all, shame. But her constant excuses wouldn't be able to hold them off forever and she knew it and tried not to think about it.

-----

Usagi stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing out her long blonde hair, getting it ready to place it in their customary odangos. Running the brush through her hair, she let her mind drift . . .

"I love your hair," Mamoru whispered into her ear, sliding one hand through her luxurious tresses. It was their wedding night and they lay naked in each others arms in bed, cuddled in the rumpled sheets. He held up a loose handful of her hair and let it slide through his fingers. "So beautiful." He kissed a lock of her hair. "You're so beautiful, Usagi. I love you."

"I love you too, Mamoru."

Usagi shook her head, trying to dislodge the image, before continuing brushing her hair.

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi giggled as her husband placed a braided crown of daisies on her head.

"Now you really look like a queen," Mamoru said. He lay down beside her on their picnic blanket and spoke at her very obviously pregnant tummy. "And that makes you a princess, sweetie." Usagi gazed down lovingly at her husband and unborn child.

Usagi ran the brush roughly through her hair, a frown on her face.

"Mamoru!" Usagi gasped in pain as his hand fisted painfully in her hair.

"Shut up!" he yelled, violently pulling her towards him. All Usagi could do was shield her face as he began striking her.

Usagi grimaced and threw the hairbrush down onto the floor. It seemed like everything was a painful reminder of her husband. Memories were constantly welling up, both good and bad, and both types were equally painful. She would do anything to help ease the pain. Making up her mind, she began searching the bathroom for what she needed to get the job done. Standing in front of the mirror, she grimaced, and began.