IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR (PLEASE READ):

I'm so sorry for the delay in this chapter; I am suffering from writer's block. I am finishing this up rather late, and my eyes are very tired, so expect a lot of grammar issues. I really wanted to get this out today. Thank you for your patience.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Crossroads in Life

Written by Princess Kayla

Inspired by Naoko Takeuchi's "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon"

Chapter Sixteen

View from a Rabbit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Are you okay?"

"Ye..."

The deepest blue eyes I had ever seen...messy raven black hair.

"I hope I didn't add to the damage." His words echoed.

My face felt warm. "That is very rude."

"Don't take it personally, Dumpling Head." He lifted a strand of my hair.

. . .

Irritatingly handsome.

"This is Mamoru Chiba. He just moved here..."

. . .

"You're a big fake, Mamoru Chiba. You make everyone think you are a totally different person, but I know how you really are. You are cruel and no one cares about you. I don't care about you. Your so-called friends don't care about you. I bet your own parents don't care about you." The words...did they truly belong to me?

"Usagi Tsukino, do you think it means anything to me if people care about me? You're the one who needs to admit your desperate need for other's to like you."

That hurt. "That's not true."

"The only thing that is unique about you is that ridiculous hairstyle."

"I hate you, Mamoru! Stay away from me!"

It seriously did hurt.

. . . . . . . . . .

Blinking not only because of the horrible bright light, but also because of the tears that slipped down my face. My eyes burned. I bit my lip at the wave of pain that came over me. My whole body hurt, and it was hard to breathe.

"Oh, Usagi, are you hurting?"

Yes, I was, but it was more than a physical hurt; I was emotionally broken. I wondered why I was recalling those memories - the memories of Mamoru that I thought I had buried away.

"I'm going to go get the nurse."

"Okay." Struggling, I turned my neck towards the familiar voice. My mother's face slowly came into focus. She immediately stood and looked over me, "Usagi, can you hear me?" I managed a very small nod, and she gave me a weak smile. She spoke with a sob, "Oh, sweetie. Thank goodness."

I opened my mouth to speak, but instantly regretted it; I could only manage a rough gasp.

My mother gently touched my shoulder, "No, don't try to talk."

"The nurse is coming." My father appeared before me, clearly distress. "Oh, my little bunny, it's so good to see those eyes open." He ran a soft hand across my forehead, but the touch made me flinch. He abruptly pulled his hand back, "I'm sorry!"

I took a deep breath and forced out a low, harsh, "What happened?"

My mother shook her head, "Don't worry about that right now, sweetie. All that matters is that you are safe."

I was so confused, and the endless sound of beeping wasn't helping. After allowing myself a moment to look around, I realized I was in a hospital room. I couldn't register why I was there. My head hurt so much.

I tried to move myself up and pain shot through my back. It felt like I had been shot.

Shot...

The beeping increased rapidly.

"Usagi, calm down," my father urged, "The nurse will be here any minute."

Swallowing the horrible lump in my throat, I struggled to speak, "Chibiusa?"

"She's fine," my mother squeezed my hand, "She is staying with Setsuna and Hotaru. She is perfectly safe and sound."

I felt the tears spill from my eyes as things began to become clear. Mr. Juanbi kidnapped us, but I tried to fight back and got shot. However, somehow we got away. "How?" I murmured.

"Okay, I have some pain medicine," a nurse appeared in the room. She smiled down at me, "I'm so happy to see you awake, Miss Tsukino, but I think it will be best if you continue to rest right now. This will help."

"Just rest, sweetie." As my mother whispered those words of comfort, I felt myself drift away.

. . . . . . . . . .

The bracelet rested in his hand. The little tiny rabbits, roses and moons sparkled. I whispered, "This is my white flag; I don't want to fight anymore..."

. . .

"Maybe we could be friends."

"Friends? I don't think I would be a very good friend."

I didn't want to leave it at that. "Let me be the judge of that."

"Okay, let's be friends." A smile pulled at my lips when I heard his words.

. . .

"Turn around." He raised the necklace over my head and latched it around my neck.

After freeing my hair, I let my hand rest on the golden rose. I was in awe. "Mamoru...I will treasure it forever.

. . .

"Usako." I looked up at him. There was a deep sadness and longing. I leaned forward, and he met me halfway...our lips touched. Desire, need, want, and pain - I began to cry.

"Usako, I'm sorry," his voice cracked, "Please, don't cry. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry. I should go."

. . .

"Mamo-chan, please, don't go. Stay here in Tokyo - with me."

I loved him and wanted him for the rest of my life.

My lips carefully brushed against his. He closed the gap, and the kiss deepened. I pushed myself close to his body, and my desire for him increased. The kiss intensified. My heart sang.

My eyes met his. "I want to be here, Mamo-chan. I want this." I wanted his heart. I wanted all of him.

Then there was passion. I was intoxicated. He smelt of roses in the summer sun. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, and he lifted me off my feet. We disappeared into his room, into our own world of ecstasy.

. . . . . . . . . .

A sigh escaped me as I slowly opened my eyes. Very dazed, I returned to the hospital room. Again, Mamoru had filled my dreams, leaving me almost breathless. Even though they were dreams, I could still feel his touch.

A hand embraced mine, causing me to put those dreams aside. I glanced over to see the top of Seiya's head resting on the side of the bed.

"Usagi!" My attention turned to Minako as she hurried next to me. Her eyes brimmed with tears, "Oh, Usagi, you're awake."

Suddenly, Seiya's head popped up. He rubbed his eyes and stared at me, still holding my hand. "Usa!" he gasped. His face became distorted as he kissed my hand. Uncontrollably, he sobbed, "Usa, I am so sorry. This is all of my fault."

I strained my voice, "Are you okay?"

He let out a rough, surprised laugh, "Usa, you are the one that matters. You should've never been put in this situation. It was all because of me. I'm the reason Mr. Juanbi..." He stopped and looked down in shame, "I'm the reason we almost lost you."

To the best of my ability, I squeezed his hand. "Seiya, you didn't..." I couldn't finish.

"Here, Usagi," Minako lifted a Styrofoam cup towards me, guiding the straw to my lips. She gently lifted the back of my head up so I could take a sip. When the water touched my tongue, a wave of relief came over me. Once I was done, I smiled up at Minako in thanks.

A phone rang, and Seiya pulled his cell from his pocket. After checking it, he frowned and spoke to Minako, "It's the detective again."

"Go ahead," Minako said, "I'm not leaving."

He nodded and looked down at me, "Usa, I will be right back." With a swift kiss on my hand, he answered the phone and left the room.

Minako sat down next to me, "Usagi, the doctor says you are going to be fine. Yes, you will be incredibly sore, but you will go home as soon as you feel better."

"Mina," I said, my throat more relaxed, "What happened? How did we get away?" The expression that crossed her face perplexed me. "Mina, what is it?" I asked.

Letting out a long sigh, she collected her words. "Usagi, this is going to be very hard to understand; I honestly have no idea how it's possible, but Mamoru found you."

Everything went still. Even though the beeping of the monitor began to increase, only one sound filled my ears. It was the sound from a hazy memory. It was the sound of someone yelling, 'Usako!'

Upon instinct, I reached for my necklace, but it was missing. In panic, I looked around, "My necklace!"

Minako gently touched me, "Please calm down, Usagi. Your mother took all of your belongings home. Just breathe."

She guided me, showing me how to steady my breathing. I followed her direction until my heartbeat returned to normal. Finally, I was able to speak, "I think I heard him call my name."

"He saved your life," Minako explained, "I don't know how he found you but he did."

I was in awe, "He saved me?" Then the thought crossed my mind and I had to ask, "Chibiusa? Does he know?"

She shrugged, "I don't know, Usagi. I don't think so, but I really don't know. I only saw him when you were first brought to the hospital. Motoki has kept him updated about your condition through text message."

"How long have I been here?" I questioned.

"About four days," she stated to my disbelief, "You've been in and out, but mostly you have been sleeping. You've needed to rest. Everyone has been here at different times; your parents will be back tonight."

"What about Mamoru?" I couldn't help but ask.

With a frown, she replied, "No, we didn't think that would be good right now."

Understandingly, I nodded, "Yes." Glancing at the door to make sure we were alone, I asked, "Did Seiya talk to Mamoru."

"No," she answered, "Seiya went straight to your parents when he got to the hospital; he was pretty distracted. Now, he's been overwhelmed with the police and the press."

"Seiya," I suddenly felt wretched. My heart was racing with thoughts of Mamoru, but I was barely paying attention to how Seiya, my fiancé, was dealing with everything.

In that moment, as if he heard his name, he returned to the room. He looked so defeated. He hurried to my side, "I'm sorry about that, Usa." He frowned, "I'm sorry about everything."

"Seiya," I reached for his hand, "Please, don't blame yourself." His frown deepened. "Seiya," I began.

He interrupted, "Usa, I promise to never let anything like this happen again." I gave him a weak smile, but it was cut short by an uncontrollable yawn. He kissed my hand, "You need to rest." Agreeing, I let my eyes close again.

. . . . . . . . . .

"You're doing unbelievably well, Miss Tsukino," the doctor told me as he observed me walking from one side of the room to the other. It had been a week since I woke up, and I was healing very well.

Chibiusa came to see me a couple of times, but it was hard for her to see me because of my appearance. From my fall on the concrete, my face was very damaged. The cuts on my body were healed but horrible bruises covered me, making me look somewhat disturbing. It saddened me the first time I saw Chibiusa and her eyes filled with tears and fear. She was doing well thanks to the comfort of my family, but when she saw me, I think flashes of that event returned to her mind. It broke my heart that part of her innocence was taken away. I desperately needed to get better and get home to her.

"Okay, sit down and let's have a look at your back." I followed the doctor's request and took my seat on the bed. He opened the back of my gown and inspected the bullet wound. "This is looking great. How is your pain?"

"It still hurts to breathe times, but it's getting better," I explained.

"That's understandable," he stated as he closed my gown and came in front of me, "You were so very lucky, Miss Tsukino. If it hadn't been for the man who found you...well, let's just say things could have been a lot worse."

I swallowed, knowing he meant that more than likely, I wouldn't have survived.

"Well, that's it for today," he jotted something down on a clipboard, "Do you need help to get settled?"

"Would it be okay if I sit up for awhile?" I asked.

He nodded, "Yes, but if you start to feel weak, rest."

"Okay, thank you," I agreed as he left my room. Flinching, I reached over my shoulder and touched the bruise by my wound. The doctor was right; I was very lucky. I was lucky that Mamoru was there. I recalled that time he pushed me out of the way of that car. Yet again, I owed Mamoru my life. I didn't understand how he found me or why he even cared, but I wanted to know.

I grabbed my new cell phone that Seiya purchased for me after mine was damaged. After dialing Minako's number, I waited.

"Usagi? Hello?" she answered.

"Hey, Mina," I said slowly.

"Are you okay? What's going on?" Stress filled her voice.

I tried to calm her, "I'm fine, Mina. Really. The doctor just came in and looked me over. He said that I am healing well. I bet I go home soon."

"That's great!" she responded.

"I could use your help," I said.

"Anything," she stated with eagerness to assist me.

With hesitance, I gave her my request, "Could you see if Mamoru will come to the hospital? I want to talk to him."

There was silence for several moments. Finally, Minako asked me softly, "Are you sure about that, Usagi?"

"Yes," I swallowed.

She exhaled slowly, "Okay, I will see what I can do."

. . . . . . . . . .

Freshly bathed, I tried to prepare myself for the meeting ahead. I sat on the bed in a clean gown with hair dried and tied in a ponytail over my shoulder. I had the nurse try to help me cover some of the bruises on my face with makeup. It was probably silly to go to all of the effort, but my insecurities were in overdrive. I had waited for a time when I knew all of my family was busy elsewhere. I had to do this alone.

Closing my eyes, I tried to steady my breathing by listening to the ticking clock on the wall. However, my emotions wouldn't rest because my thoughts were controlled by my last image of Mamoru. The moment I watched him drive away in that taxi. I remembered fighting the desperation to run after him. The emotional pain still lingered.

Then came a knock on the door.

My eyes shot open and my heart skipped a beat. There, in the doorway stood the person I had long tried to forget but was never able to. The Mamoru from my memory looked similar yet very different from the Mamoru who stood before me. He was still tall and fit with that raven black hair and those mesmerizing blue eyes. Yet, in contrast to my memories, he was an older, even more handsome man. After all of this time, he still made me weak.

We simply stood staring at each other for several moments, until I eventually managed a soft, "Hello."

I watched him swallow and let out a breath. Slowly, he bowed in greeting, "Hello."

Motioning to the chair next to me, I offered, "Please, come in." He followed my direction and took a seat next to me. Another moment passed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, breaking the silence.

With uncertainty, I touched my face, "I'm better. Still healing."

"That's good," he commented and pointed at my shoulder, "Motoki told me that your wound is healing well, too."

I nodded and quietly said, "The doctor said I wouldn't have made it if you hadn't been there."

Mamoru looked down at his lap, "I wish I had gotten there sooner."

"Why were you there? How?" I questioned.

"It's really hard to explain," he stated, "It's honestly hard to believe."

"What do you mean?" His statement confused me.

"I learned that you were kidnapped, so," he looked up at me, "my friend Rei helped me find you. She is a priestess at the Hikawa Shrine."

"What?" I was even more confused.

"She has psychic abilities - visions. She had one of you at the motel, and we were able to track you down and direct the police there," he explained, but all I could do was stare at him in disbelief. He sighed, "Listen, it took me a long time to believe in Rei's gift, but it's real. She was the reason we found you."

"I see." Truthfully, I didn't. It sounded made up, but at the same time, it was such an odd story to tell. Either way, he found us and saved us, so all I knew to say was, "Thank you for saving us."

"How is Chibiusa?" he asked causing my body to tense. Hearing him say her name startled me. "Is she okay?" he asked again, this time with evident concern.

"She is okay physically, but she is struggling emotionally," I explained.

"I can't imagine how this has affected her. She is just a child." I noted a hint of anger in his voice.

"Yes, I know, but she is strong," I stated.

"Like you," he said, causing my face to heat up. He went was quiet after that, but his expression hinted that there was something that he wanted to say.

A question lingered in the air, and I needed to know the answer, "Mamoru, do you know?"

Bewilderment flashed across his face. "Do I know what?"

My lungs felt constricted as everything battled within me. Part of me screamed, 'Tell him,' while another part screamed, 'He doesn't deserve to know.' I thought how I would feel if I were Chibiusa, and my mother never told my father about me.

He watched me, waiting for me to answer. I studied him, trying to view him not as the man who broke my heart, but as the father of my child. I realized that he never knew of his role, so I couldn't judge him in that respect.

With all the strength I possessed, I said the words that I rehearsed in my head over and over. "Chibiusa is your daughter." He went still but the look on his face gave me the answer I waited for. "You do know," I said.

"Yes," he confirmed, "I found out the night we brought you to the hospital."

"Who told you?" I inquired.

"Actually, my friend, Rei, did," he replied.

This alarmed me, "How did she know?"

"She just knew," he shrugged. "Sadly, I was unaware," he frowned deeply, "I assumed that Seiya was her father."

"Seiya?" I was surprised.

"Yes. Her black hair," he explained, "I thought she got it from him, but now I know..." His words trailed off. What he said did make sense. Seiya also had black hair, but Chibiusa had other features that clearly reflected Mamoru. I knew them by heart.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. Staring at him, I remained quiet. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I am very sorry for all the pain that I caused you. I should have been here for you and Chibiusa."

Slowly, I shook my head, "You didn't know."

"But that is because I never called you," he said.

"I did try to call you, but your phone didn't work," I stated and then looked down sadly, "Motoki told me you changed your number."

"Yes," he confirmed, "my other phone was broken."

Swallowing, I kept my eyes low, "I did get your number from Motoki and called you once."

"You did?" I could hear the shock in his voice.

I nodded, "Yes, it was a little while ago, but a woman answered." I glanced up at him. "She said that you were outside with the children," I continued, "I hung up because I thought it would be wrong of me to interfere with your family."

"What?" he didn't understand, "Children? I..." Suddenly, his expression changed, "You must have called when I was working at the children's camp. I was a counselor."

His explanation surprised me, "You were a counselor at a children's camp?" He nodded. I tilted my head, considering him, "So, you aren't married?"

"No," he replied, and my heart swelled with an odd sense of satisfaction. I shouldn't have been happy, but I was. "And," he added, "the only child I have is...well, Chibiusa." Again, I was content. He sighed, "You are her mother, and I will respect whatever wish, but if there is some possibility of me getting to know her. I would love that."

I bit my lip.

"Everything can be on your terms," he clarified.

I took a couple of minutes to consider his request, and then nodded, "Okay." Suddenly, fear overwhelmed me, "But you have to swear to me. You can't leave again, not like before."

He flinched. "I swear," he agreed fervently.

"Mamoru," I said firmly, "I have to be honest. This all makes me very nervous, so we have to take this slow."

He nodded, "Whatever you want. I never want to hurt you again." I wanted to believe that, but I was still apprehensive.

My phone suddenly began to ring. I looked at the screen to see my mother was calling me. "One second," I said to Mamoru and then answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Usagi, how are you feeling?" she asked.

"Better," I replied, "I think I will get to go home soon."

"That's so good!" she cheered, "Would it be okay if I brought Chibiusa there for awhile?" I glanced at Mamoru. "She has been very persistent about coming today."

"Okay," I gave in, "that's fine."

"Great," she said, "We will be heading that way shortly."

"See you soon." I set the phone aside and returned my attention to him. "My mother is on her way.

"I see," he said, and I noticed a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I can leave."

I nodded, "That may be best right now."

"If we could..." he stopped for a moment, and I could tell he was considering his words. "If it would make you more comfortable, you and I could plan to meet again to discuss things first."

Because of my uneasiness, I knew his suggestion was probably the best. I wasn't ready to allow him straight into Chibiusa's life - honestly, not my life either. I needed time. I also needed to talk to my family. Suddenly, I felt sick because I knew I had to talk to Seiya too.

"If you don't think that's a good idea, we can work something else out," he interrupted my thoughts.

Struggling against the nausea that I felt, I eventually managed, "I think that's a good idea. I will text you to set things up."

The smile that came to his face surprised me. I don't think I had ever received such a genuine smile from him before.

"Thank you, Usako," he said and I felt a stab in my chest. Immediately, he tensed - a reaction to my expression of hurt.

His calling me 'Usako' brought up so many emotional memories that were painful. I didn't want to feel those emotions anymore. It was too hard, so I shook my head, "Mamoru, please don't call me that anymore." He bit his lip as I continued, "Our talking again is for Chibiusa, nothing more." He looked at the floor.

Sighing, I glanced at the clock, "You probably need to go."

Slowly, he stood up and nodded. "Thank you for meeting with me," he bowed his head.

Nodding, I replied, "I will text you, but it will probably be after I get to go home."

"Take your time," he said. Hesitantly, he lifted his hand to wave at me, "Goodbye. I hope you get better soon." With that, he left the room.

The whole conversation felt strange; he was so different, so accommodating. Perhaps, he simply felt sorry for me because I was in the hospital or because he wanted to know his daughter.

I put my hand to my chest and thought that maybe, just maybe, he regretted everything he had done to me. If that was the case, I wondered if I could find some way to forgive him.

However, fear caused my heartbeat to rise under my hand, as if my heart was telling me, 'Guard yourself, Usagi. Don't let him break your heart again.'

. . . . . . . . . .

Flinching, I bit my tongue as my mother changed the bandages on the bullet wound. She grimaced, "I'm sorry, Usagi."

I shook my head, "It's okay. Even though it's almost healed, I'm still tender there." Finally, I was home, and thankfully, my mother came by often to help me. I still got weak very easily.

"I'll try to be more careful next time," she said as she finished, "What time is Seiya coming by?"

Carefully, I slipped my shirt back into place. "He's bringing dinner for us tonight." I grabbed my rose necklace and snapped it around my neck, and then picked up my engagement ring. As I slipped the ring on my finger, I sighed.

"What's wrong?" she asked me as she cleaned up the bathroom counter.

I met my mother's eyes in the mirror, "I'm telling him about Mamoru tonight."

"Oh," she said simply. The day after Mamoru visited with me, I told my mother everything. I told her how he was the one who saved Chibiusa and me, and he now knew that Chibiusa was his daughter and asked to be in her life. When I told her that he suggested us meeting up to talk more about the direction we needed to go, her face was covered with concern. However, while she asked me to be careful, she agreed with the importance of discussing the future for Chibiusa.

"Momma!" Chibiusa ran into the bathroom.

"What is it?" I smiled at her, so very thankful to be out of the hospital and back home with her.

She held out a piece of paper to me. On it was an adorable coloring of Luna; Chibiusa's favorite hobby was drawing and her skill was enhancing. "This is so good, Chibiusa!" I encouraged, "I'm going to put this one of the fridge right now!"

She clapped her hands with glee as we walked out of the bathroom to the kitchen. There amongst the many other drawings, I placed her newest addition. "Perfect," I commented.

"Well, I need to head home and cook some dinner," my mother hugged Chibiusa, "I will see you tomorrow." She then came to me and kissed my forehead. A reassuring smile pulled at her lips as she met my eyes. I knew she was giving me silent support for my fast approaching conversation with Seiya.

"Thank you, mom," I whispered.

After she left, I went and sat down on the couch. Immediately, Luna appeared before me and took her place in my lap. She purred as I rubbed her head; she was thrilled I was back home as well.

Chibiusa sat down next to me and studied my face. Carefully, she touched my forehead where a faded bruise remained. "Does it hurt?" she asked me.

"Not anymore," I gave her a comforting smile, but her eyes began to fill with tears. "Sweetie," I said with worry, "What's wrong?"

She began to cry, "Don't die." My heart broke as the realization of her fear came to me. She should have never experienced such horror. I couldn't image what I looked like to her after I was shot and unconscious. Because of all of that, she would forever be scarred.

Running my hand through her hair, I shushed her gently, "Chibiusa, I'm okay. Don't worry. I was hurt, but the doctor helped me, and I'm all better now." As her sobs continued, Luna gave me an oddly understanding look and moved onto the cushion next to us so I could pull Chibiusa in my lap. I rocked Chibiusa back and forth, "I love you, Chibiusa. I'm so sorry you were scared, but we are safe now."

Her sobbing began to decrease, and her breathing steadied. "Momma," she sniffled, "did my daddy die?"

I stiffened at her question. Adjusting, I was able to make eye contact with her, "Why did you ask me that?"

She rubbed her nose, dampening her words, "Hotaru's daddy died. He's gone."

"Yes, I know that," I told her.

"My daddy is gone," she stated, trying to make a connection, "He's dead?"

Taking in a few deep breaths, I chose not to lie to my daughter. "No, Chibiusa, your daddy is not dead," I whispered.

She wiped her eyes, "Where is he?"

"Well," I tried to be careful with my words, "He moved away before you were born."

She looked down sadly, "When will he come back?"

Honestly, I was unsure of what to say so all I managed was a, "Someday."

Suddenly, she grinned. That grin assured me of my meeting with Mamoru; I knew then that I had to work things out with him for her sake.

A knock interrupted us. "Hey, it's Seiya!" a muffled shout came from outside in the hall. Chibiusa jumped off my lap and hurried to greet him.

"Seiya!" she exclaimed when he came inside.

"Good evening, Chibiusa!" he grinned at her as he carried a takeout bag to the kitchen table. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes!" she cheered.

"How about your momma?" he asked, looking at me.

She glanced back at me so I nodded, "Yes, I am. Let's get the plates."

After setting the food aside, he came to me and gave me a light kiss, "How are you feeling?"

I smiled, "Much better."

"I'm so glad," he said, with a regretful sadness in his eyes.

Gently, I touched his arm and whispered, "Seiya, please don't worry anymore, okay?" Silently, he nodded.

I turned my attention back to Chibiusa, only to find her struggling to reach the plates on the top of the counter. "Let me help, Chibiusa," I said.

"No," Seiya moved in front of me, "I'll get it. You just rest." Since being home, he had treated me like a fragile flower. It was aggravating at times, but I knew he just wanted to be some sort of help to me, so I kept my mouth shut.

I took my spot at the table and as soon as everything was set, Chibiusa shouted gleefully, "Let's eat!"

. . .

After tucking Chibiusa safely in her bed with Luna cuddled at her side, I turned off the light and left her room. Quietly, I pulled the door until it was open a crack; Chibiusa had been experiencing small panic attacks every time she was shut in a room alone. My heart broke more every time.

"Is she asleep?" Seiya grabbed my attention as he put the last clean dish away.

I nodded, "Thank you for cleaning up; I really appreciate it." He grinned in response. Slowly, I went to the table and took a seat; I was nervous about the coming conversation. "Seiya," I said gradually, "I have something I need to discuss with you."

Concern furrowed his brow as he sat down next to me, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," I paused, "I guess."

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"Well, this is so hard to believe," I sighed, "Do you remember the man who found Chibiusa and me?"

"Yes," he affirmed, "I didn't speak to him though."

"I see. Well," I tried to collect my words, "His name is Mamoru Chiba and...he is Chibiusa's father."

Seiya's expression went blank.

I continued, "He came to the hospital after I was feeling better. He told me that he realized that Chibiusa was his daughter the night he found us."

An odd look crossed his face, and I realized he was processing everything. "He came to the hospital to talk to you?" he questioned.

"Actually, I asked him to come," I said.

"Oh." He was surprised.

"Seiya," I glanced down, "I am going to meet up with him to discuss Chibiusa."

Shocked, he stared at me, "Why? Is he demanding custody or something?"

I shook my head, "No. It's nothing like that. He just wants to know more about her."

"Are you okay with that?" Seiya's voice seemed to tense.

Sighing, I shrugged, "I don't know, but I want to do this for Chibiusa." Silence took over the room, as Seiya appeared to be battling with his emotions. Suddenly, I felt very guilty and insecure. After a couple of minutes, I whispered, "Seiya..."

"I don't like it," he said sternly, startling me; he had never used such a tone with me before. "Usa," he gritted, "This guy tore your heart to pieces and left you alone to raise his child. He took no responsibility, but now he wants to?"

"Seiya, remember, he didn't know about Chibiusa. I was never able to tell him," I rebutted.

"That doesn't matter," he argued, "He still hurt you."

Frowning, I nodded, "Yes, he did, but this isn't about me."

"Of course it's not," he shot back sarcastically. He stood up, turning his back to me, clearly fighting to control himself.

Distraught, I clenched my teeth. I didn't know what to say to make this situation any better.

Finally, he exhaled and turned to face me. "Okay, Usa, you're Chibiusa's mother, so I have to respect that, but I do love Chibiusa as if she were my own." His words felt like a kick in the gut. He walked towards me and squatted in front of me. Gently, he took my hands, "I love you, Usa, and I worry about you. You have been through so many things lately, are you sure you want to add him to all of this?"

Taking in a deep breath, I answered, "Yes."

Defeat was evident as his shoulders drooped. "Okay," he said softly, "Thank you for being honest." With that, he let go of my hands.

. . . . . . . . . .

I couldn't help but tap my feet on the concrete as I waited outside my apartment building. Anxiously, I glanced at my watch, realizing only a minute had passed since I had last checked it. I was so nervous.

My heartbeat quickened as an obviously used black car pulled up to the curb in front of me. Quickly, Mamoru jumped out of the driver's side and hurried towards me. "I'm sorry it took me so long," he stated.

I shook my head, "You're fine." I pointed at the vehicle, "I like your car."

He shrugged, "Thanks. It's old, but new for me. I really needed something for work, but I didn't want to spend a lot."

"I see," I said as he opened the door for me. "Thank you." I got into the car, and he rushed back to his seat.

He snapped his seatbelt in place and looked at me, "Is there a specific place you would like to go?"

"Not really," I replied, "but there is a teahouse a couple of blocks away."

"Okay," he smiled and put the car into gear.

We were quiet besides my giving of directions, so the drive felt uncomfortably long. I let out a sigh of relief once we arrived. Right after he parked, Mamoru again hurried to open my door. It was hard to believe how polite he was being; it made me a little nervous.

"After you," he stepped to the side as we entered the teahouse. We found a seat and placed our order. It seemed like a matter of seconds before our waitress returned. As I carefully blew on my tea and took a small sip, Mamoru smiled at me strangely.

"What?" I asked.

He let out a light laugh, "It just surprises me to see you drink tea. I thought the only hot drink you enjoyed was hot chocolate."

I sat the cup down, "Things change."

"Yes, they do," he agreed and sipped his tea.

"So," I started, "Are you planning on staying in Japan?"

"Yes," he affirmed, "I am working on getting my own place now. I just started my residency at a pediatricians office."

"Pediatrician?" I repeated in surprise.

He nodded, "Yes, I have decided that is the direction I want to take as a doctor."

"Really?" I was shocked a little.

He smiled, "Yes. After I worked at the camp, I realized that I want to care for children." Warmth poured over me as I studied his joyful face; though it seemed odd, I believed him. His heart seemed to have softened, and for children no less.

"I guess that means you found your calling," I stated.

"Yes." He then gestured to me, "And, you. You are an author."

My eyes widened, "How did you know that?"

"I read your work for the Cherry Project," he said. Heat rose to my face as I imagined him reading over the stories that I wrote. I wondered if he realized how much of my work was inspired by him. He interrupted my thoughts, "Your work is amazing, Usagi. And...your voice is still beautiful."

"What?" I was taken aback.

He looked down at his tea, "I was there the day Seiya proposed to you."

My heart skipped a beat. I thought back on that day and remembered when I was on stage. I had sensed something...someone in the crowd. Since Mamoru revealed to me that he was there, I wondered if he was the one that I had sensed. I mentally slapped myself because I knew that was impossible.

"I haven't told you yet," he whispered with strain in his voice, "Congratulations on your engagement."

I murmured, "Thank you," and took a sip of my tea.

"He seems like a nice guy," he commented softly.

"He is," I affirmed. Another quiet moment passed, so I directed the conversation towards its main purpose. "So, Chibiusa," I started, "She doesn't know about you. I mean she knows that you exist, but not who you are. I don't really know how to explain things to her since she is only three."

"I understand," he said sadly, "Does she ever ask about her father?"

"Sometimes," I replied.

Suddenly, his posture seemed to weaken. "Has she suffered because of me?"

I blinked. That was a question that I hadn't expected. Looking back over Chibiusa's life so far, I answered, "No, she has been very loved and cared for." I smiled at the thought of my sweet little girl, "Honestly, it's impossible not to love her. She is so caring and warmhearted. She makes everyone laugh." I sighed happily, "She is the best thing in my life."

"I'm so glad," he smiled weakly, "Thank you...and your family...for loving her so well."

"Of course," I said, "That's what a family should do."

"I imagine so," he stated.

"Imagine?" I was confused.

He let out a long sigh, "Usagi, there is so much I hid from you." Unsure of what he meant, I remained quiet, eager for him to share. Slowly, he continued, "My parents died when I was very young, and I was passed from orphanage to foster home over and over."

Abruptly, the memory of that first horrible fight filled my mind. I had remembered my words clearly, 'I bet your own parents don't care about you.' My body flinched as I recalled his anger. Now, it made sense. He was hurt, and it was like I had punched him right in the wound.

However, I also remembered him talking about his 'old man.'

"But I don't understand," I commented, "What about your father? You mentioned him a couple of times."

"I was speaking of the man who eventually adopted me," he clarified. "I was on the run for awhile until I found myself in his yard."

"On the run? What does that mean?" Everything he was telling me left me baffled.

He took in a ragged breath and then replied, "I was often beaten in the homes that I lived in; so I tried to run away a few times."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "That's horrible! Why would they put you in such terrible homes?"

"It just happened. There are a lot of homeless children, so it's hard to keep up with them all," he shrugged.

"There was one home though..." He looked somewhat dazed as he shared things he had hidden from me, "I've never told anyone this before." He slowly shared his story, "A woman took care of me. She was the first woman I remember really looking at me and telling me that she cared for me. She even told me that she loved me and wanted to be my mom." His forehead twisted in sadness, "But she had a boyfriend who would stop by, now and then. He..." he swallowed hard, "He was an alcoholic and would beat her a lot, but she would make excuses for him every time I asked her to call the police."

I could barely breathe as he continued.

"One night, I heard her screaming, so I ran into her bedroom," his breathing quickened, "He had her up against the wall by the throat."

Instinctively, I touched my neck, imaging the feeling of being strangled.

"I just reacted," he explained, " I grabbed a lamp and threw it at him. It hit him in the back of the head, and he let go of her. He was definitely drunk; I could smell the alcohol from across the room."

I watched his hand clench around his teacup as he spoke. "He came at me then, but I dodged and hit him in the stomach." Stressed, he rubbed his hand across his forehead, "But then she pushed me out of the way. I thought she was trying to protect me, but I realized she was yelling at me to stop hurting him. She wanted him. I couldn't understand it."

"What happened?" I asked quietly.

He sighed, "She took me back to the orphanage. They asked her why and all she said was 'He's just not good.'"

My heart clenched as I remembered his words from years ago. Those words he said as he desperately tried to push me away. 'I am not...good. All this pain you have, you don't need to feel it. I am not worth it.'

"Mamoru..." Our eyes locked, and all I could see was deep-rooted pain. He had carried this with him all this time. Things he had said to me years ago started to make more sense.

Abruptly, he looked away, "And the worst part of this is I did to you what he did to her."

"What?" I was startled, "You never beat me."

He shook his head, "But I did emotionally." Hesitantly, he turned back to me, "Usagi, I am so sorry for all the things I said to you and all the ways that I hurt you. I let my past get in the way of our relationship."

He met my eyes again, and I felt like I was swimming in a deep ocean. "And...Usagi, I never told you," he said to me in a weak voice. My heart began to race. "I never told you that I..."

"Stop!" I interrupted. Immediately, I stiffened. I didn't know why I had cut him off, but I did.

His eyes were wide with shock, and I was overcome with insecurity. "I'm sorry...I...you..." I stumbled over my words. I took a moment and collected myself, "Mamoru, it's fine. I get it now."

"What?" he questioned.

"It's horrible the way you were treated when you were a kid. Of course, it affected you as you got older," I stated.

"But Usagi, I let it..." he started, but I interrupted again.

"You let it affect the relationships you have with people, including me, but it's okay," I said, "Thank you for telling me and apologizing." I forced a smile, "It's okay now. I'm okay now. I've moved past it all."

I lied.

He looked completely broken as he spoke, "I see. That's good." He then pointed to my neck, "You're still wearing the necklace."

My hand flew to the rose charm. Just like everyday, I wore it, but he didn't know that. "Oh, yeah," I pretended to be indifferent, "You gave me this, didn't you?" I watched him flinch as he nodded 'yes' in reply. My heart ached.

"Mamoru," I spoke gently, "I do think you are different now."

"I am," he affirmed.

"Then, I do want you to get to know Chibiusa. She will be confused, so I don't want to just throw this on her," I paused and considered my next words, "But are you sure you are ready?"

He stared straight at me; "I don't want to lose any more time with her." His eyes had a determination in them that I had never seen before.

My stomach bubbled with anxiety, "Okay. What should our next step be?"

"Well," he pulled out his phone. He touched the screen a couple of times until he handed it to me. "There is a fall festival in a few weeks," he stated as I read over the online ad. "I thought, maybe, we could meet there and take baby steps. You could introduce me, but not as her dad just yet. Then, we could just go from there."

I read over the ad once more and slowly nodded, "This could work." I handed the phone back to him and met his eyes, "Baby steps."

He nodded, "Yes."

I knew that I didn't need 'baby steps' just for Chibiusa. I needed them for myself as well.

. . . . . . . . . .

As some red and gold leaves fell around us, it was hard to believe that summer had disappeared so quickly. My whirlwind of emotions must have made me lose all concept of time.

I held Chibiusa's hand as we approached the festival area. Carnival booths and rides filled the area as well as the many smells of food. "Yummy!" Chibiusa commented as she sniffed.

I sniffed as well, "Something does smell yummy." I smiled down at her; "We will get something later." She cheered.

Searching the crowd, my eyes finally caught sight of Mamoru. He was searching as well. I waved my hand in the air until he eventually saw us. His eyes brightened as he hurried towards us.

"Hey!" he waved as he stopped in front of us.

"Hi," I smiled, pretending that this was a random meeting. I glanced down at my daughter who stared up at him inquisitively. "Chibiusa, this is Mamoru Chiba. We've known each other since before you were born."

She stared at him for a long time before saying, "You saved my momma."

Her memory surprised me, "Yes, he did."

Mamoru squatted down in front of her, "It's good to see you again, Chibiusa. I am so happy that your momma is all better."

Chibiusa nodded, and then frowned, "I was scared."

He frowned as well, "I bet you were. I was too, but she is very strong."

She looked up at me, and I squeezed her hand. "Chibiusa, why don't we let Mamoru spend time with us today so we can thank him for all of his help?" Gradually, she agreed, and I noticed Mamoru exhale gratefully. "What would you like to do first?" I asked her.

She gazed around at all of the rides and eventually pointed at some spinning cups. "That one!" she exclaimed.

I nodded, "Okay, let me go get some tickets."

"I have some," Mamoru stopped me, "And I would love to share."

"What do we say, Chibiusa?" I glanced at her.

She murmured shyly, "Thank you."

"You're very welcome," he smiled.

"Yes, thank you," I added and then grinned at Chibiusa, "Let's go!" She pulled me forward with excitement.

As we got in line, Mamoru whispered to me, "Are you feeling okay to ride?"

I nodded, "Yes, I am fine now."

Once we were through the line, we took a seat in one of the cups. "Do you want to spin fast?" I asked Chibiusa. She shook her head with a silent 'no.' "Okay," I said as the ride began to move.

Mamoru and I grabbed the wheel in the center, and gently started to spin the cup. I kept a close eye on Chibiusa's face. First there was apprehension, but eventually a smile of glee claimed her lips. I grinned as well. "Is this fun?" I asked her loudly over the carnival music.

Suddenly, she shouted out, "Faster!" Both Mamoru and I smiled and started to turn hard on the wheel. The cup sped up and Chibiusa began to squeal with delight. "Faster!" she cheered. We turned harder. "Faster!" she shouted again.

"We need your help!" Mamoru exclaimed, "Grab the wheel with us!"

Without hesitation, she took the wheel. As her face showed her straining to turn, her smile stayed strong. I glanced over at Mamoru, and he winked at me. That's when we really started to spin. He had been holding back. We all cheered with delight.

"Now let go!" Mamoru shouted and threw his hands in the air.

Chibiusa immediately followed his action. I grinned at them and let my hands fly free as well. We continued to spin, but having our hands in the air made it even more exhilarating.

Slowly, the ride came to a stop, but all I noticed was the overwhelming amount of giggles coming from my daughter. "So fun!" she exclaimed.

"I know!" Mamoru agreed, "We needed your help to really make us spin! Good job!" She clapped her hands, and an obvious expression of accomplishment covered her face, causing Mamoru and me to laugh.

"Okay. Let's go ride something else." As I stood up, my legs wobbled underneath me. I swayed, and suddenly, Mamoru grabbed my arm, steadying me. I looked at his concern filled eyes. Gaining more control over my body, I straightened up. "Thank you," I mumbled, feeling a familiar heat rise to my cheeks. "I'm fine, just a bit dizzy." His concern eventually faded as we walked together off the ride.

Chibiusa grabbed my attention, "That one!" She pointed at the giant slide, "What's that?"

"You race down the slide while you sit on potato sacks," Mamoru explained.

"Okay!" Chibiusa hurried towards the attraction.

"Slow down, Chibiusa! Stay with us!" I shouted, my pace quickening; ever since the kidnapping, I feared losing her. That's when I noticed Mamoru staying close behind her, watching over her. I relaxed a bit.

"Come on!" Chibiusa grinned as we each grabbed a potato sack and walked up the steps. "I'm going to win!" she declared as we reached our turn. We put our sacks on our each of our spots and sat down.

I smiled at her, "Ready?!" Her eagerness and determination made me laugh. "Go!" I shouted and we all pushed off down the slide.

Before I knew it, we were at the bottom, and Chibiusa jumped to her feet, "I won!"

"Good job!" Mamoru clapped his hands as he stood up. He then extended a hand towards me. I stared it self-consciously and then accepted it. He helped me to my feet and I smiled weakly. After we exited the slide, he asked, "Now what should we do?"

. . .

"Help!" Chibiusa said as she sat in my lap at one of the side games. I held her hands on the gun, ready for the bell to ring.

'DING!' the bell chimed, and our water guns started shoot straight at a large circle target. I did my best to guide her as she held the gun.

"You're doing great!" Mamoru encouraged. Quickly, our target began to glow and turned green just as the bell chimed.

"Congratulations," the man behind the counter said, "Here is your prize." He handed Chibiusa a small Pegasus stuffed animal, causing her to grin from ear to ear. She hugged it tight and thanked the man.

I glanced at my watch and noticed how late it was. This was the first night I had spent out so long, and my body was feeling it. "Chibiusa, we better head home now," I said.

"No!" she frowned.

I shook my head, "It's way past bedtime."

Her frown deepened, "One more!" She gave me that horribly adorable pout, and I heard Mamoru snicker under his breath.

Sighing, I gave in, "Okay, one more."

Chibiusa jumped happily and scanned the area until she noticed the Ferris wheel. "That one."

"Okay." At least it was a more relaxing ride. The lines were shorter now, so we got right on. As we stepped into our box, I sat down on one side while Mamoru sat across from me. Then I was shocked. Instead of sitting next to me, Chibiusa went straight to Mamoru and climbed onto his lap as if it was a completely normal thing. As she gazed out the window, Mamoru only looked at me. His face clearly revealed how shocked he was as well.

Around and around the wheel carried us until we came to a stop at the top. I looked out the window at the beautiful night-lights of Tokyo. It was entrancing.

A yawn pulled my attention away from the pretty sight, causing me to look back across from me. My mouth dropped open a bit as Chibiusa rested against Mamoru's chest, eyes closed and completely peaceful. It had been weeks since she had fallen asleep so easily.

My heart skipped a beat as I watched Mamoru stare down at her as if she was the most precious thing in all of creation. He remained that way until we returned to the bottom of the wheel and the operator opened the door. Carefully, like he was holding glass, he carried Chibiusa out of the ride.

Following behind with her Pegasus prize in hand, I whispered, "I can take her now."

"Where did you park?" he asked me.

"We rode the bus. I don't own a car," I stated.

He quickly shook his head, "No, let me drive you."

"You don't have to do that," I argued.

"I want to," he pleaded, as he cradled her. Eventually, I agreed, triggering him to smile. "Follow me," he guided me out of the festival grounds.

The parking lot was almost empty as we arrived at his car. I opened the back door, and he looked at me with concern, "Is she going to be okay back there? I didn't think about a car seat."

I nodded, "I'll sit with her." I got in the backseat and motioned for him to place her across the rest of the seat. As he did so, I gently adjusted her head onto my lap. Even with all the movement, she continued to sleep.

He took his spot in the driver's seat and started the car. "Ready?" he asked me quietly, and I nodded in reply.

As we drove home, I ran my fingers through Chibiusa's loose black hair. "I bet she sleeps all night," I whispered.

"That's good," he agreed, and even though it was dark, I could tell he was smiling. "Everything you said was true," he said softly, "She truly is amazing."

I grinned, "Yes, she is."

When we arrived at my apartment building, I was surprised that I felt disappointed. I was exhausted, but I didn't want the night to end. Seeing Chibiusa so happy brought me so much joy. When Mamoru opened the door for me to get out, all I could do was sigh.

Once I was on my feet, I gently pulled Chibiusa in my arms. She mumbled something incoherent as I adjusted her to an easier position.

"I can carry her," Mamoru stood next to me, prepared to help.

I shook my head, "It's okay. I have her." I walked past him towards the building, but before I stepped through the door, I turned back towards him. "Thank you, Mamoru. She had so much fun," I paused and gave him a small grin, "I had fun too."

The street lamps lit up his face, allowing me to see a brilliantly, handsome smile. It took my breath away. "It was one of the best nights ever," he stated, "Thank you so much, Usagi."

I nodded. "I will text you tomorrow, and we will figure out another time for you to see her," I said as I stepped back, "Goodnight, Mamoru."

"Goodnight," he replied softly. He waved as I walked into the building.

Chibiusa got heavier as we rode the elevator. The doors opened, and my feet drug across the floor as I approached the door. Awkwardly, I unlocked it and headed inside. Luna greeted us with a welcoming meow and followed as I took Chibiusa to her bedroom. Gently, I rested Chibiusa in her bed and took of her shoes and coat. Even as I got her under the covers, she remarkably continued to sleep.

My phone startled me as it chimed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a text message from Mamoru. It read, 'Just want to make sure you made it inside okay.'

Curious, I went to the window and looked down to see Mamoru waiting, phone in his hand. I texted back, 'Look up.' After a moment, his attention went to our window. I could see him let out a sigh of relief. My heartbeat quickened as I realized that he wasn't going to leave until he knew we were safe. I waved down at him, and he returned the gesture. With that, he got in his car and drove away.

I closed the curtains and went back to Chibiusa's bed. I removed my shoes and jacket as well and carefully crawled in next to her. Slowly, a soft grin pulled at the corner of her mouth, and she snuggled into me. As we rested there, I realized that this was the first night that I actually felt safe. Gradually, I gave into sleep, thankful for the overwhelming feeling of peace.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please Pardon Grammatical Errors and Review.