Author's Notes:

Whoo... this is super emotional. I'm all tense just tweaking it...

Enjoy. ;)

She rounded a corner, her gray eyes taking in tapestries and portraits along the wall. There was none yet of Endymion or his bride.

Roses… Level Three…

She shook her head as the impossible idea floated in her head. She just needed to see the damn portrait than she could be back on her way. She rounded another corner and stopped seeing four women gathered together talking.

"Senshi Cosmos?" Amille questioned alarmed. "I thought you were heading back…" She tried and the warrior approached them calmly.

"Forgive me. I am looking for a portrait of Queen Serenity," she asked sweetly and the four women looked at her taken aback.

"Why Senshi?" Minet asked with wonder and Cosmos let out a breath. She definitely wasn't about to say out loud her suspicions… she didn't want to admit out loud she was losing her mind.

"You do not have any do you?" She questioned and Reilie let out a breath.

"None that are out Senshi. She is painful to see," she confessed sadly and Cosmos nodded.

"Senshi Cosmos… you are doing a grand job. Do not bother with this small planet." Minet soothed, gently pushing a strand of the warriors hair behind her ear. Cosmos visibly relaxed for a second at the warrior's touch and Minet's heart melted a bit at that.

"There is one in King Endymion's private study," a voice suddenly announced and three sets of eyes turned accusingly to their brunette member. "What?" She hissed at them and Cosmos was off.

"Minet!" Senshi Moon's voice carried with panic down the hall and she skidded to a stop before them.

"She figured it out," Reilie said darkly towards her and Senshi Moon looked at them with great guilt. "She is on her way to see her own damn portrait!" Reilie hissed and Litelle suddenly let out a yelp as Amille smacked her arm hard.

"It was already too late," Litelle offered in her defense and Senshi Moon sucked in a deep breath, her entire body shaking.

"We can reset her," she began and Minet's eyes widened in anger.

"She isn't a toy Usa, she is a person!" She roared and Senshi Moon shook her head.

"If I… I… I can reset her," she struggled out and Amille stepped towards her angrily.

"You cannot kill the most powerful woman in the universe to reset her," she growled and a tear slipped from Senshi Moon's eyes.

"I can," she whispered and Amille grabbed onto her roughly, Senshi Moon letting out a gruttle cry of alarm as Amille reached for her throat.

"Say you kill her, than you will be sentenced to death by the Galactic Council!" Amille roared at her.

"Amille!" A voice yelled and the woman released her immediately, Moon falling to the floor. "What is going on here?" Moon let out a breath as her husband's voice washed over them. Gently Elios pulled his beloved from the floor. "I sense so much distress and anger…" He began looking at the women before him for answers.

"Your wife has awakened a sleeping warrior and is now making plans to kill her," Reilie informed, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Senshi Moon winced as she felt her husband's fingers tighten around her arm.

"My love… I know you would not do that as it would kill our unborn daughter and rob me of you," his voice was low and angry and Senshi Moon gulped painfully as more tears trickled down her face.

"I knew the consequences, I cannot let her suffer…" Senshi Moon breathed and Amille pushed past them down the hall. "Amille!" Senshi Moon yelled and the Mercurian Princess turned and slapped the future Queen hard.

"Ami!" Minet screamed, Reilie and Elios moving forward quickly to grab onto Senshi Moon. Amille's frame shook with anger, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared at them.

"Forgive me, I have a warrior to murder," Amille struggled out than turned heading down the hall once more.

"What the hell… you can't do it without me!" Litelle offered rushing after her and Minet looked at them all stunned.

"We should stop them," Reilie hissed urgently and Minet held onto Senshi Moon who began to sob uncontrollably.

"Should we?" Minet questioned and Reilie's eyes widened in horror.

The doors burst open with force. Her eyes moved to search the room than her frame went into fighting stance as the sound of a sword being drawn filled her ears.

"Stand down Senshi Cosmos," Kunzite's strong voice filled the room calmly and the warrior stared at the General before her.

"Senshi Cosmos," Endymion's voice brought her attention to him and she let out a breath as he set his glass down. He looked tired, worn. The first few buttons of his shirt was undone and she obviously was disturbing his down time. She bowed her head in apology at that. "I thought you were on your way out," he offered quietly and Kunzite sheathed his sword once more, standing guard vigilantly in the room.

"Forgive me your majesty," Cosmos began and bowed, the bouquet of roses hanging from her left hand. "I am on search for a portrait of your wife," she stated calmly and Endymion glanced at Kunzite and the General quietly made his way out, closing the doors behind him.

"I am not sure what my wife's portrait has to do with your mission here," Endymion said slowly, his fingers tracing the lip of his glass, the liquid still burning down his throat from the last sip he had taken.

"You make me uncomfortable," she admitted suddenly and his eyebrows rose with surprise. "Is that a normal reaction people have to you?" Cosmos faltered, confusion flittering across her features and he let out a breath knowing she was going to lose it at any moment.

"I'm sure I have done it to a few people over the years," he mumbled and she stepped forward.

"I want to let you touch me… and no one is allowed to touch me," she confessed and Endymion narrowed his eyes at her.

"No one is allowed to touch you?" He questioned and she nodded.

"No one speaks to me unless they are asking if I need food or sending me on a mission," she began to rattle off and his eyes widened. "And this is the first mission I have been on in three centuries," her voice choked and she stepped back from him.

"You are not a weapon Cosmos," Endymion huffed and she shook her head.

"I am the duty. I am proud of my duty," she breathed strongly and he felt his heart go out to her. "What I do is of vast importance," she began to rattle off and he watched patiently as she began to pace, the flowers in her hand swinging back and forth carelessly. "I protect the universe!"

"And we are forever grateful," he answered bowing his head in respect. His eyes lifted when she slammed the bouquet on his desk before him.

"I've seen these… in my dreams," she mumbled and he froze. "I am the universe' only known level Nine… It has always only been me. They would never erase the record of another so powerful," she hiccupped, emotions starting to well within her. "Please… may I see her?" Cosmos breathed and he glanced into her eyes that were slowly starting to glaze over with tears.

"No," he whispered and she slammed her hand on the desk, her eyes closing tightly and a tear trickled down her cheek. Her eyes opened to plead with him once more when she noticed a tapestry hanging behind him that covered the entire wall. She moved quickly and with grace to a cord in the far right corner. He was immediately near her grabbing onto her, pulling her away from it. "Cosmos," he began and she yanked tugging on the cord and the curtain yanked away from the wall slowly from the left to right revealing three fifteen foot portraits.

Everything went still.

"King…" her voice caught in her throat and she stumbled forward, her gray eyes taking in the woman before them. The silence between them seemed to stretch on for eons… he watched painfully as her grey eyes tried to memorize every facet, every detail of the three portraits before her. Endymion sucked in a painful breath, pulling away from her as he moved towards the first painting.

"This is our wedding portrait… the first time she became my beloved Queen of Earth," his voice was broken, old, and yearned for the woman in the picture before them. She had blonde hair, a gold and white gown hugging to the young woman's frame as the Prince's arms enveloped her, a gold crown resting on her head as her blue eyes shimmered like sapphires. "My Seren," he whispered reverently.

His fingers suddenly scrolled the gilded frame of the next portrait.

"When we met again… she was young and crazy," he chuckled lightly to himself as if remembering a funny memory. He was dressed casually in a green blazer and jeans, the young girl in his arms was laughing as she clung to him lovingly. Her hair was identical to the first portrait yet she was in a schoolgirls uniform of white blouse and blue skirt. "Usako was so unlike Seren it was astounding yet somehow not a surprise. She needed to be that way… to be free… to be young without the burden of the galaxy upon her," he whispered and Cosmos tried to gulp as if it would ease her dry throat.

"And than when we had Usa… we were so excited to become parents," he confessed looking at the last portrait that contained the couple holding a newborn baby girl with pink fuzzy hair.

"My…" Cosmos began, her eyes dissecting the three large portraits as her hand subconsciously touched her hair. "But…" she breathed than she touched her chest where her crystal lay in a jewel crusted broach. "I have no family… I was born in LaLuna, raised by mute maids… I remember my life, I know who I am." Her knees buckled a bit but she regained as her whole existence seemed to flash before her eyes. This was insane. She was not this woman… she must be having illusions of grandeur…

But his touch…

"Cosmos…" his voice brought her back to reality and she gazed at him. He was standing before her and she let out a breath as his thumb touched her cheek, wiping away the tears that were flowing without her knowledge. Gently her fingers reached out and touched his shirt, her frame still and he sucked in a shallow breath.

"Roses," she wept and he sucked in a shattering breath looking at the broken woman before him. Quickly he pulled her into his arms, his only instinct to protect her and take her pain away. Her arms wrapped around him tightly as a feeling of comfort and warmth washed over her. His arms tightened around her and he felt his legs start to go weak at just the pleasure of being able to hold her. His hands gently pulled her back, their eyes meeting and he gulped.

"You have to go," he breathed urgently yet his fingers clutched to her desperately, his eyes weak as they greedily took her in. She let his fingers scroll over her arms and neck and grasp to her with possessiveness and she felt her stomach warm and legs go weak. She was having a hard time catching her breath as she leaned into him, an ache filling her for something she didn't understand.

"Will you forgive me?" She asked desperately and he looked at her confused.

"Forgive you what?" He struggled out, her frame resting in his arms when suddenly she pushed forward and her lips interacted with his. For a moment he stood frozen yet soon he responded like a man who had been trapped in the dessert for years who had suddenly found a spring.

It was fast and needy, his lips meshing over hers as she clung to him in order to keep herself from hitting the ground completely. Her insides seemed to explode and her mind went completely befuddled as images and voices filled it.

As soon as it began it was over, he pulled away with a plop and took a few steps away from her. He was trying hard to regain his breath as she fell to her knees trying to regain hers. She wanted to explode in every direction. It was raw and desperate and… she didn't want it to go away. He turned to her hoping to see some recognition on her face but only saw her start to cry.

"You would not…" her voice choked on a small sob. "You would not kiss me if I were not her… You have only ever loved her," her voice was broken and raw and he was stunned at her revelation. Had he been so transparent? How could he let himself go? Was he so weak that he couldn't not touch her? The resounding yes in his mind was drowned out by her quiet sobbing and he looked down upon her with guilt. He had caused her to snap by his touches that he could not bring himself to not give.

"Don't… Sere… Cosmos," he corrected, quickly cursing himself for his lapse and she shook her head sadly.

"Tell me I did not give this up easily… tell me I did not let them erase my memory without having agonized over it," she wept, the words escaping from her throat painfully and he immediately knelt before her, yanking her into his arms.

"For years my love… We had no choice," he cried into her hair and she clutched onto him. "You did it to save her… save her from being like us. Save our friends from the same fate over and over…" He wept holding onto her tightly. She clutched to him tightly as if he was the only thing keeping her from floating into the universe. Her head shook helplessly as her fingers wiped at the tears that slipped from his eyes.

"Why are you still here? Why did you not move on?" She desperately asked, her frame pulling away to stare at him and he stilled, gently stroking her face.

"I could not leave knowing you were somewhere alone without me," he confessed sadly and despair etched across her features. She felt as if she would throw up but instead she kept her gaze on him… on the pain on his features at having her once more yet knowing he couldn't keep her. "Raised by mutes… no one touched you or talked to you?" His voice broke as he gently stroked her head and pulled her closer as if it would erase the childhood he thought was horrifying yet to her was all she knew.

She couldn't even think of the words to try and comfort him… but that she wanted to comfort him. That her body moved towards him on it's own without her prompting. His skin was smooth and she could feel his heart beating fast against her breast. She dove, her lips interacting with his once more, wishing with each mesh that the memories of her past life with him would come to her. They seemed to war with one another and his hands messily grabbed at her uniform as hers yanked off his coat. She pulled away painfully from him and sucked in a deep breath, their arms wrapped around each other tightly.

"What are we to do? I wish to never leave this," she wept quietly and he held her tightly.

"Oh Seren how I would give the skies to have you with me forever," he breathed into her shoulder and she crumpled into his arms.

"Forgive me for making you go through this again…" She whispered, pressing her face lovingly against his.

"A moment is worth centuries of agony," he breathed, kissing her cheek lovingly.

She stilled as his words registered on her. The grand love story… his love story… it was her. She was his love. His every dream come true… the one he waited thousands of years for. She glanced up at him and their eyes met and he saw something twinkle within them. Love. Affection. She couldn't possibly remember…

She leaned forward, her arms wrapping around his head as her lips meshed with his slowly and lovingly, her body moving to press against his. He responded more eagerly than he'd like as memories flashed through him. How easily this came back to him and his hands moved touching her where he knew she liked and when small moans filled his ears he wanted to cry. Instead he pulled back, her bright eyes opening to stare into his with question. He kissed her lips sweetly once more to confirm she had done nothing wrong… in fact everything she was doing was driving him insane. For a woman who had not let others touch her ever she quickly picked up on how a touch could mean the deepest of affections.

"I would be happy just to hold you… to hear your voice," he whispered brokenly and she sucked in a steadying breath.

"I… I feel in order to keep myself at my best I should not deny any form of enlightenment that will help me understand the people I desire to serve," her voice was breathless and hot against his skin and as her words registered he almost laughed aloud. So mischievous…

"Who am I to hinder you in your education?" his voice was gravely and her fingers traveled into his hair as his hands held her against him. Her lips curled upwards in a deep smile and his eyes softened lovingly at her.

"We're you always my first?" She asked with a sweet innocence and Endymion smirked as he gently ran his thumb over her broach than diagonal and she blinked as her uniform faded away completely. How did he know how…

"Two out of three…" Endymion smirked. "But always your last," he groaned as his lips covered hers and she clutched to him.

If a moment could hold him over for centuries… than she would give him a damn good moment.

Kunzite stood still outside the door, his gaze fixed across the room and Amille let out a breath before him.

"I don't think he is going to move," Litelle offered and Amille glanced at her companion and let out a breath.

"That's why I did not ask," she mumbled turning to lean against he opposite wall to wait. They waited quietly when four sets of feet suddenly filled the hallway.

"Amille," Minet began than stilled seeing her beloved guarding the door. "Are they both in there?" she questioned and Kunzite raised an eyebrow at her and than glanced back across the room, guarding diligently the door behind him.

"You must not be here to stop us since you gave us ample time to kill her," Litelle growled at her leader and Minet huffed glancing at the Mercurian warrior.

"So… Cosmos and my dad…" Usa offered into the air but no one answered her. "Right," she let out a breath and felt her husband gently put his hands on her shoulder to calm her. "Well, maybe this will solve it! She remembered the roses… maybe she…" Usa began and Minet let out a breath, her eyes looking at her beloved and he returned her sad gaze. It was a great heartache to watch your charge lose their heart…

"Usa… When your mother went willingly to the Galactic Order I had gone with her. I watched as they… as they erased her memory… let her old self die so she could be reborn as Senshi Cosmos," Minet began and color slowly drained from Usa's face. "That is why she looks a bit younger than us… that isn't even technically your mother's body," she breathed. "Just her raw power… reborn," she mumbled, confusion playing on her face at the events that had happened moments before.

"That being said… you have made her go insane. Apparently she put two and two together that Serenity sacrificed herself to make us a Level Three planet," Amille filled in and Senshi Moon gulped.

"What scenario did you plan for that would have actually ended well?" Reilie questioned and Usa let out a breath.

"The kind where my father got this moment…" Usa whispered gently and Elios pulled his bride into his arms.

It had been an explosion. An explosion of emotions she didn't even know she possessed. In fact she didn't feel like she had been living until that moment. Now it was as if she discovered colors… or music… or… love.
Her gray eyes took in his chiseled form as he slept beside her. She had been with him for hours and after many lessons in her education she knew he needed this rest. His fingers curled around her and she breathed in his presence. He was strong… powerful… loving… gentle. He felt like home. Her face pressed against his chest as she held him tightly, never wanting this moment to end. Her body still tingled in the places he had touched her, her insides felt as if they were glowing from the responses he had coaxed so willingly from her. It had been electric and exciting and perfect… Slowly a tear trickled out as she realized the gravity of her situation.

Being on his planet she made this system a Level Nine… she put it in danger. His family… his friends… her family. Her eyes closed tightly as more tears escaped. A family she did not remember. A daughter who wanted to tell her in person she was with child when she knew she would not remember her… Her heart panged painfully at what Senshi Moon must have gone through just to have her here. How much they must have loved her… how much she must have loved them.

Slowly, with regret she pulled away from him… He had done the impossible by finding her heart and she had given it so willingly once he pointed it out. How could she not? Even without knowledge of him she loved him… wanted him… needed him. Her lips pressed lovingly to his forehead and in a moment she was gone.

The hallways were deserted as darkness took over the planet. The door creaked upon her opening and she quickly shut it behind her. A form stilled on the ground and she froze when suddenly she took in Senshi Moon's frame.

"Mom?" She questioned groggily than she sprang to her feet. "Cosmos…" She whispered, sleep leaving her as she sprang awake. "I am so sorry… I…" She began when suddenly the warrior yanked her into her arms.

"If you want to go unstable because your mother left you can… I'll forgive you but I won't be happy about it since I did all of this for your protection," she breathed and Senshi Moon let out a small chuckle as she wrapped her arms tightly around the powerful senshi.

"I won't," she breathed and clung to the woman. "I miss you… I miss you so much," she wept and Cosmos buried her face in her hair.

"I do not think anyone could be more proud of you than I am. I am so excited for you," she breathed into her hair and Senshi Moon clung to her desperately.

"I wish you didn't have to go," she wept and Senshi Cosmos nodded miserably, pulling back to see the tears falling down the sweet woman's face. Moon frowned sadly at her as she pushed the tears off Cosmos cheeks. "I am so honored to be your daughter. So honored by your sacrifice," she breathed and Cosmos let out a small sob. "There is a reason you are the greatest in the universe. Because of your heart…" She breathed gently putting a hand over her mother's chest and Cosmos closed her eyes painfully as more tears escaped. "I knew you could not have forgotten us," she wept suddenly and Cosmos pulled her once more into her arms. She felt so perfect there… as if a piece of her was returned to her.

"I love you Usa," she whispered quietly and Usa hugged to her tightly, never wanting to let go.

She pushed each heeled boot forward with difficulty. Her legs felt heavy but her heart was sure as she headed quietly into the Earth's transporter room for her journey home. Home… She glanced at the crystal walls and her gaze fell once more to her feet. She had a home once upon a time… and she was loved.

She sucked in a stabilizing breath and then paused in the entrance before her ship.

"Do you plan to murder me with a small knife?" She inquired quietly and bright blue eyes glanced at her from her left in the darkened room.

"I prefer the term dagger," Amille whispered back and Cosmos let out a defeated sigh.

"At least she has a sword," Cosmos mumbled motioning to her right where Minet stood, her sword in her hand at her side.

"Maybe a grenade?" Minet offered as if it would be a more dramatic demise for the most powerful senshi in the galaxy.

"I do not remember," Cosmos confessed quietly. "I have nothing to remember," she breathed and Amille and Minet stepped towards her, their images escaping from the shadows.

"I know," Minet whispered painfully and Cosmos placed a hand on her heart, it still felt warm from where Senshi Moon had touched her.

"You do not have a law against fraternizing with your King do you?" Cosmos questioned and Minet couldn't stop the small smile that puckered at her lips. She heard Amille let out one sad laugh.

"No, we do not," Amille confirmed and Cosmos nodded as a breath escaped her lips.

"Good, because I am guilty of that," Cosmos confessed than shook her head sadly.

"It must be part of your personality to desire things you are suppose to be forbidden from…" Minet offered with a sad smile and Cosmos tilted her head curiously as that thought.

"I do not want you to suffer," Amille suddenly spat, emotion churning on her face and Cosmos glanced at the woman before her and could almost feel the affection coming off of her.

"A moment is worth centuries of agony," Cosmos repeated with a small smile and Minet let out a painful breath. "I am more than a weapon," Cosmos whispered suddenly and Amille glanced at her curiously. "I was loved. Thank you for loving me."

Cosmos smiled at the two women, her grey eyes filled with gratitude and Minet felt her vision blur. When she tried to focus she noticed that Amille had thrown herself into Cosmos embrace.

"Oh for the love of… Amille," Minet snapped at her as she wiped at her tears. Suddenly the emotion was too much for her and she felt as if she couldn't breath. It was sitting on her chest and she spoke without any thought. "It was my greatest joy in life to have loved you," Minet said brokenly as more tears leaked from her traitorious eyes. "You are so missed," Minet choked and turned away trying to hide her emotional outburst from her.

Her warmth touched her back and her eyes closed painfully as Cosmos gently intertwined her fingers with one of her hands, her head leaning near hers from behind.

"I will always protect you…" Cosmos breathed and Minet nodded painfully.

"I can still kill you if that would be easier on you," Amille suddenly offered, knowing if she didn't turn the conversation her beloved leader would morph into an emotional puddle on the floor. Cosmos let out a giggle, her fingers leaving Minet's as Minet chuckled as well.

"And rob me of my new favorite memories? That would be a very mean thing to do indeed," Cosmos responded gently, her form already within her ship to part from them. "Protect my family?" Cosmos questioned meekly and Minet smiled at her, Amille wrapping an arm around her leader's waist holding onto her. She knew at any moment they both could fall over.

"Our life's one mission," Minet breathed crossing her arm across her chest in salute and Cosmos nodded thankfully. And then she was gone.