They gazed at each other for some time, Darien fearing his face betrayed his innermost thoughts—Serena's blue eyes boring into him, trying to see it all.

He took a breath and said carefully, "what do you think, Serena? This is your wedding. This is your day."

Her face seemed to soften, but her words had a bit of an edge when she spoke. "It's been some time since the incidents."

"Yes," he agreed. His eyes didn't leave her face. She really was very lovely. His hands began to sweat.

She turned back to the mirror, and he was surprised to see a bit of sadness overtake her features. He realized suddenly that her appearance seemed more aged than ever. All this apparent insanity she'd been exuding was resulting from the fact that she'd been forced to grow up through all that had happened, without wanting to. Without truly growing up. She was trying to fit into some very big heels and didn't quite know how. Marriage. Marriage, really? It was the expected way of things. Eventually, she would be Queen and he, King. She was mechanically trying to operate into the future. Was it time? What did they know what happened between now and then? What was left? Maybe this was all part of it, and she knew it.

"I think we should invite them," she said, finally. She turned back to him, young again.

"So do I. They deserve it. Things can go back to the way they once were. They can have lives, be together. Be with us." Darien's tone was firm, but cautious. He did not want to upset her any further. Their relationship, the shape of things—as delicate as rose petals.

"Fine, then. I will take care of it. Now, wasn't there something you wanted to ask me?"

He was able to smile naturally for the first time in months. "How much is this going to cost?"

Miraculously, she smiled back. Her voice changed—back to the light and airy breeziness he'd ever fallen in love with. "It's pricey, I admit."

"Don't worry, I can take care of it." Darien put on a mock-serious tone, "though I do think we need to look at those bridesmaids' dresses, again."

Serena laughed. Goddamnit, she laughed, and it was contagious. "Maybe you're right. They are a little—extreme."

"I do like the pink, though," and it was easy to admit. He did like the color. He thought he might re-set the ring, have some pink diamonds put into the band.

Serena was smiling, she was radiant. Darien was surprised at the ease with which he slipped back into the dream. Maybe Setsuna had been right. This was the way of things. Serena needed time. She needed him. Perhaps it was time to give up the old entanglement. He knew the truth, they all did—and maybe it needed to be left alone.

"Will you come with me, to the meeting? To invite them back?" Honest curiosity in her voice, but there was a tinge of suspicion.

And with her suspicion, he was again surprised to feel a pang of guilt and regret. Not for loving Setsuna, but for not loving her. The ache at the thought of her face when they went to meet with the so-called outer sailor scouts. The strained smile, the mask of happiness for Serena and Darien's wedding.

"Of course," he said automatically, still trying to hide his inner turmoil.

"We'll go tonight, then. The sooner the better."

"I'll be ready," he lied. He did not remove the ring from his pocket.

"So, I thought about what you all said," Serena went on, pausing to sip her raspberry latte, "and Darien and I are going to ask the others back for the wedding, tonight."

"And forever?" Lita asked quickly.

"Yes," Serena said.

Raye eyed Serena. There was a glow about her that had been absent for longer than she could remember. Something had changed. "I would thank you," she said, "But what you did in the first place was wrong."

"I know," Serena admitted, and the shame on her face was not false, it was not an act. "I was wrong. I'm really sorry. You're my friends, all of you. I let a lot of things get in the way of that."

"A lot of what you wanted," Lita said hotly.

Amy shifted uncomfortably. "That's over, now. Isn't it?"

"Yes," Serena said. "It's all over. I understand if you're still mad." She looked off behind her friends and out the window of the café, not really staring at anything. "I've been away from myself."

"Well, we've missed you," Mina said, smiling. "We're glad you're back."

Lita relaxed. Raye, too, managed a smile.

"There's something else," Serena said, pulling a catalogue out of her purse. "I want you all to pick a dress you like. They have to come from here, and they have to be the same color, but you should all pick a style. This is my one wedding. You're my best friends. I want everything to be perfect."

"Oh, Serena!" Amy's sudden delight made them all laugh, even Serena.

"I'm going to hit the bathroom," Raye said, standing from the table. The others began to sift through the catalogue, and she hoped they wouldn't notice that she went past the bathroom and toward the exit. She bummed her first and only cigarette from a woman outside and took a long, heavy drag.

The others seemed ready to let it all go, to accept Serena's drastic and sudden change with a sincere but strange apology. Her sudden reversion back to her old self. Her sudden desire to bring them back together. To have them share in her special day, rather than observe it. Raye was confused and slightly disturbed by it. What had happened?

She supposed, coughing a bit on the cigarette, that Darien must have come around and been mysteriously lifted from his own dark depths, as well. Things must have been repaired between them.

But, what about the rest of them? How were they expected to simply recover? And what about Rini, in the future?

Raye shivered and put out the cigarette without finishing it. She felt something strange, something she couldn't explain or properly foresee. She went back into the café, putting on a habitual grin, inexplicably dreading the results of Darien and Serena's meeting that night.