Disclaimer: I hope you enjoy this story, my mother and I have been working on this for some time now, I do not own Sailor Moon or any character involved with it. It belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.

CHAPTER 9

Serena wasn't sure when the girls left, at some point she had fallen asleep while in their company. Now her stomach was demanding food and had woken her up.

She had slept through supper and wasn't hungry when they had come back from Darien's. She knew there would be leftovers.

Serena crept down to the fridge and pulled out some of everything that tasted good cold. As she stuffed her face, she noticed it was a little after midnight. She wasn't really worried about the time, she knew that once her tummy was full she'd be able to fall back asleep easily.

Going back to sleep wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. She laid on her left side for awhile, no falling back asleep. She tried her right side, but she knew the picture of her and Darien was looking at her. Her tummy protested when she laid on it. She laid on her back for a moment, and Seiya's face was lit by the moon beam reflecting off her dressing table mirror.

She took her phone out on the balcony, and paced up and down. Who could she call, who would be awake this late on a school night.

She took the phone back in and sat on her bed with it.

"I wish you were here Luna," she spoke softly into the night. "I need to know what to do," she sighed.

Serena picked up the receiver, listened to the dial tone for a minute, then hung up. She laid back on her bed, with the phone on her belly.

"Is it to late to call you?" She gazed up at Seiya and picked up the receiver, then hung up.

"If I call Mina, she could send Luna home," Serena surmised.

Serena stared up at Seiya as she again picked up the receiver: "I would love to be held in your arms, Seiya," she said quietly as she felt a lump take form in her throat, and dialed the first of Mina's phone number.

"Serena?" Seiya's voice came through the phone before Serena could dial anymore numbers.

Serena slammed the phone down.

She suddenly felt a hand caress her arm.

Serena jumped and her and the phone fell off the other side of the bed with a crash.

Seiya stretched across the bed to help her up.

She slapped the hand he offered to her. He slid his tummy back across the bed, to a kneeling position on the floor. Serena scrambled up the bed glaring at Seiya with every movement she made.

"What are you doing here?" Serena squeaked.

"You said you wanted me to hold you," he smiled up at her.

"I was talking to my poster, and trying to call Mina," Serena remarked, quite embarrassed..

"You must have picked up the phone just before it rang," Seiya smiled. "Fait must have wanted me to hear your words." He teased and sat beside her.

"Why are you calling me at One in the morning?" Serena gave him a mild scowl.

"I finished reading that book we have to do a report on, and I noticed the full moon shining in my room, and I thought of you," he smiled. "I can go if you want," his smile quickly faded.

She gently shook her head and laid back in the moon beam that shone threw her balcony doors.

Seiya flopped down beside her, then rolled on his side, and propped himself on his elbow: "Why were you calling Mina this late?"

"I wanted to talk to Luna," she replied, turning her head away from him, so she could gaze up at the moon.

Normally, she found comfort in the moonlight, but tonight it offered nothing more than light.

The last time she had bathed in such a bright moon, Darien had been holding her and expressing his love for her.

"Think he sees the moon?" She softly spoke into the moon beam.

She felt a lump begin to constrict her throat: "I don't know what to do anymore," her voice barely a whisper now as a few tears escaped and trickled down into her hair, before she could close her eyes tight enough to stop them.

Seiya wanted to hold her and make her pain go away.

"Tell me how to help," Seiya whispered as he gently wiped the new tears that were rolling out.

"You can't," she sobbed and sat up.

"I can take you to Darien, if that's what you want," Seiya kept his voice soft as he sat up beside her.

"I don't want to see him," she cried, and stood up then walked towards her balcony: "I don't ever want to see him again." She stepped out.

Seiya followed her.

Serena leaned on the railing and held it tight as she stared up at the moon.

"I found him in bed with another woman," Serena spoke, barely above a whisper.

Seiya pressed his chest against her back, and wrapped his arms around her, and placed his hands on hers. As he lightly squeezed her hands, he noticed the absence of her ring.

"I left it on the pillow beside them," Serena sobbed, when she realized Seiya had felt for the ring.

Mixed emotions raced through Seiya. He felt a rage he had never felt before, just the thought that someone could hurt Serena this bad. On the other hand, he was delighted that they had broken up.

Seiya gingerly peeled her hands off the rail, so he could turn her around.

Serena buried herself in his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

He grabbed her tighter and gave the top of her head a little kiss.

"Don't let go," she whispered her plea.

"I will hold you forever, if that's what you want," he whispered back.

A big smile graced his face when he felt her squeeze him.

It wasn't long before the cold night air turned her sobs to shivers.

"Let's go inside," Seiya urged, feeling her shiver.

Serena glued herself to his side, as he turned slightly.

"I won't let go," he assured her.

His arm kept her at his side as he escorted her back to bed.

He brought her to the front of him as he reached behind his back and took hold of her hands. He pulled her off him to sit her on the bed. As he lowered her to the beds edge, he lowered himself to his knees before her.

He let go of her left hand, so he could gently brush her cheek, as his hand made its way to her chin. He gently lifted her head so she could see the sincerity in his eyes as he told her: "Everything will be okay."

"Are you leaving?" Her eyes remained locked with his and her voice quivered.

Seiya took a deep breath, then smiled: "I'll stay till you're asleep."

She let go of his other hand and scooted over to the far side of the bed, offering him to share it with her.

Seiya laid on his back and held his arms apart. Serena inched over to lay her head on his comforting chest. She slid her arms up his sides as he once again wrapped his arms around her to hold her safe.

As she listened to his heart beat, she thought to herself: "This is where I need to be. No, this is where I want to be," she corrected herself and a smile took shape on her face.

A big smile also crossed Seiya's face as he felt Serena clench her arms like a hug.

He was content to close his eyes and concentrate on her rhythmic breathing against him. He would wait till he was sure she was asleep before he slipped away, just as he had promised her.

Serena opened her eyes to find the sun dancing through her room.

"Oh my God!" She shrieked when she saw Seiya still in bed with her.

Seiya crashed to the floor.

"What time is it?" She asked him, at the same time her asked her.

"My alarm clock is broken," Serena mentioned and jumped to her feet. "Stay here," she ordered Seiya and crept out of her room.

There wasn't a sound in the house as she dashed into the kitchen.

No dad, no Sam.

"It's almost ten," she spouted wide-eyed as the door bell chimed.

Serena flew up the stairs.

"Seiya," she bellowed as she burst into her room.

She glanced around, but all that caught her eye was the sun reflecting off the picture of her and Darien.

She took hold of the picture and growled: "Keep your Jenny."

With all he might, she threw the picture at her balcony doors. The picture sailed through the small open area of the doors, and she heard glass shatter outside.

Serena dropped to her floor, with her knees together and her feet out on either side of her as the tears raced down her cheeks.

"Serena," Sikora's voice came from Serena's doorway.

Serena's shoulder's dropped and her head drooped.

Then she felt Sikora kneel down beside her and place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Serena," Sikora called softly. "What happened? Where is Seiya?"

Serena took a very deep breath and exhaled slowly, attempting to gain some control over her tears.

Serena held her head back up, turned her face and looked into Sikora's eyes: "Please don't be mad at Seiya," she pleaded and sniffed. "I broke up with Darien, I didn't want to be alone. I asked Seiya to hold me till I fell asleep. I guess he fell asleep too," Serena dropped her head back down. "My alarm clock is broken, Seiya left when I went to see what time it was."

Sikora pulled Serena close and cradled her, the way a mother does when her child is hurting. Then she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled a small package of tissues out. She took a tissue and gently wiped away some of Serena's tears.

Serena began to babble. She told Sikora about the phone call she had with Darien, then what she saw when she went to Darien's. She also told her about the ring and where she had left it.

"I shouldn't have left my ring," Serena sniffled deeply. "If we just talk, maybe we can work things out."

"Can you forgive and forget what he has done, and accept him back into your life?" Sikora questioned.

Serena was silent and looked up to Sikora's eyes, and realized Sikora did have Seiya's eyes. Her thoughts drifted from Darien to Seiya, and a tiny smile formed on her face.

"You want Darien back?" Sikora returned Serena's smile.

"I have to take him back," Serena sobbed, no longer looking into Sikora's eyes. "We are to marry, rule Crystal Tokyo together, and have a beautiful daughter named Rini."

Sikora wiped some of the new tears away. "You have seen one of many possible futures," Sikora explained. "You're still very young. There will be many obstacles for you to over come between now and when you become Neo-Queen Serenity."

"But, Rini," Serena whimpered.

"Rini is within you," Sikora smiled and lightly patted Serena's belly. "Darien may become part of your life again. Or maybe Rini's father had changed."

"To Seiya," Serena's voice bubbled with a joyous tone.

Sikora laughed, then gently shook her head: "We won't rush that idea."

Serena's bubble burst and sadness returned: "I know it can't be Seiya," she took a deep breath. "You'll have to leave one day."

Sikora sat Serena up and looked right into her sad eyes and smiled: "He can come to you across the galaxy as easy as he has come to you from across town."

"Really?" A bright smile came to Serena and her eyes sparkled.

"Yes," Sikora returned the smile. "But you need time to decide what you want to do."

"I want Seiya," Serena stated confidently.

"Do you want him because he is the one who has comforted you during Darien's absence, or because your heart tells you he is the one?" Sikora asked.

Serena sat silent, she hadn't thought about that.

"I don't know," she admitted with a whimper.

"That is why I said you need time," Sikora said softly. "In time, your heart will tell you what to do. Everyone knows your heart guides you. Until it has had time to heal, just be the fun loving Serena we all know," Sikora gave her a big grin.

"That I can do," Serena bubbled and sniffed back the last of her tears. "Thank-you. I feel a little better."

Sikora reached in her pocket and pulled out a business card.

"This is my cell phone number. You can call me anytime, even in the middle of the night," Sikora smiled and handed Serena the card.

Serena took the card and read it, then flipped it over. Then she did this process again. She closed her eyes, then looked at the card and smiled. she turned and slipped the card into her book bag.

"Memorized it?" Sikora snickered.

"Yup," Serena beamed and stood up.

"Now why can't you do that with your school work?" Sikora gave Serena a slight scowl.

"I don't like school," Serena giggled.

Sikora beamed, knowing where she ranked with Serena.

"Since there's only one class left before lunch," Sikora mentioned. "I'll call the school and make up an excuse for you missing classes, and we'll go grab an early lunch. Then I'll drop you off for your afternoon classes."

Serena smiled, then bounced over to her closet.

Fridays always took her longer to dress, she didn't have to wear her school uniform. The only problem was, what to wear. Today was easy, she opted for her favorite baby blue sweater and a pair of jeans. This sweater always gave her comfort when she was feeling a little down.

"If you still want to spend the weekend," Sikora said while Serena was digging through her clothes. "You could pack up what you want to take now, and then leave it in the car."

"OK," Serena replied.

Sikora called the school while Serena pulled her chosen outfits out. She crammed them into her over night bag, then picked up today's attire and headed out of her room.

"Meet me in the car," Sikora said through the closed bathroom door, as Serena was getting ready.

The first thing she noticed when she looked in the car, was the picture of her and Darien laying on the seat near Sikora.

"I thought you might want it one day," Sikora remarked and flipped the picture over.

"Seiya does that every time he goes in my room," Serena noted as she watched Sikora lay the picture face down.

"He's been in your room a few times?" Sikora quarried with a raised eye-brow.

Serena turned a crimson color, pulled the door shut and gazed out the window.

Sikora giggled: "To the Crown?" she questioned while pulling the car out of the driveway. "Or did you want to go somewhere else?"

"The Crown makes the best milk shakes," Serena replied.

"And I would like to try a hamburger," Sikora grinned. "Do they make those?"

"One of the best," Serena told her, and then added: "You've never had a burger?"

"Nope," Sikora admitted.

Serena thought that was the funniest thing she had ever heard.

Serena automatically headed for her usual booth. She scooted into the middle, leaving Sikora the choice of sides.

"Good morning," an older lady smiled at them, a few moments after they sat down.

"Hi, Mrs.Furuhata" Serena smiled. "Two chocolate shakes."

"And for you?" Mrs.Furuhata turned to Sikora.

Serena started laughing: "I'm having one and Sikora is having the other one," she said, pointing at her table mate.

"I'm sorry," Mrs.Furuhata gave Sikora a slight bow of her head. "I have seen Serena have four shakes for lunch before."

Sikora looked over at Serena, obviously surprised by what Mrs.Furuhata had said.

"That's Andrew and Lizzy's mom," Serena told Sikora, when Mrs.Furuhata headed over to the service counter. "She owns the Crown, and works here once in awhile."

"Four milkshakes for lunch?" Sikora questioned with her raised eye-brow.

"Ladies," Maliki smiled as he approached their table.

"Now I don't mind waiting for computer parts," he admitted as he sat next to Sikora.

"I thought they told you, the parts would be in this morning," Sikora replied.

"Something happened to their delivery truck, and it won't be in till after lunch," Maliki explained. "They will call my cell. So I got all my other running around done."

"Then you can join us for lunch," Sikora smiled as Mrs.Furuhata placed two milkshakes on the table.

"Coffee, please," Maliki said to Mrs.Furuhata, when she looked at him.

"Now, why aren't you in school?" Maliki questioned Serena.

"I slept in," Serena mumbled and began working on her shake.

"We were talking," Sikora had said at the same time as Serena.

"What could you have to talk about, that's more important then school?" He looked from Sikora to Serena, and back again.

"Girl stuff," Sikora remarked.

"Seiya?" Maliki scowled.

"That too," Sikora replied.

"Did you want to order lunch?" Mrs.Furuhata inquired, placing Maliki's coffee down in front of him.

"Sikora's never had a burger," Sikora giggled to Mrs.Furuhata.

"When you have decided which burger you would like to try, give me a wave," Mrs.Furuhata smiled and proceeded to a new table of customers.

"I didn't realize there was different kinds of burgers," Sikora looked at Serena.

"A burger, is a burger," Serena explained. "It depends what you want on it. Unless you want a chicken burger, or a veggie burger."

"I would like to try it the way you eat it," Sikora told Serena.

"I always have a double cheese burger with the works," Serena mentioned.

"You eat two burgers, made of cheese?" Sikora asked, not really surprised after hearing about four shakes.

"It's two burgers on one bun, with cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, and sauce," Serena informed her. "Did you want to try that?"

"If that is what you are having," Sikora nodded.

"You wanna try one?" Serena asked Maliki.

"After they call about my computer parts," he smiled. "It sounds like it would take some time to eat, and even longer to digest."

"Nah," Serena said with a wave of her hand. "I can wolf one down, in a few minutes."

"Not everyone, can eat the way you do," Lita spouted when she reached the table. Her approach had been unnoticed by the tables occupants.

Maliki did his gentleman thing, and stood up until Lita slid in beside Serena.

"Is everyone coming here for lunch today?" Serena questioned her friend.

"Afternoon classes have been canceled," Lita grinned. "There's something wrong with the school's main computer."

"Where's everyone else?" Sikora probed.

"They're slow," Lita remarked. "I got out of there before, they changed their minds and made us go back to class."

Maliki stood up, and took a chair from a near by table, and sat at the head of the booth. "I assume I will be the first to leave," Maliki replied to the three quizzical looking faces.

"Milkshake?" Mrs.Furuhata asked, as she made her way passed them.

"The others are coming. School has been canceled for the afternoon," Lita announced. "You might want to start at least four."

"Where were you?" Mina yelled over at the table, when she strolled up with Seiya and Yaten behind her.

"I slept in," Serena admitted, when Mina reached the table.

"So did he," Mina gestured over her shoulder in Seiya's direction. "But, at least he showed up for class."

"They probably woke up around the same time," Yaten snickered, and quickly jumped into the seat next to Lita.

"Can I squeeze in there please?" Mina batted her eyes at Sikora.

Sikora gave way to Mina's little pout, and stood up so Mina could sit next to Serena.

Seiya sat on the edge next to Yaten, and kept his head somewhat lowered, to avoid eye contact with anyone. He did however sneak a quick peek at Serena.

"Where's Ami and Taiki?" Sikora inquired.

"Like the other computer nerds, they stayed to help fix whatever's wrong with the schools main computer," Yatne responded.

"The computer went wacky," Mina smiled. "It started making the lights go on and off. The bell kept ringing, then the fire alarm sounded. Sprinkler systems came on in a few rooms," Mina started howling with laughter. "You should see the cooking class."

"It's a good thing its the weekend," Lita noted: "Or they'd want us to clean up the cooking classroom, tomorrow or something."

"You can catch up on the stuff you missed this morning," Lita turned to Serena.

"I think a nap is a better idea," Serena grinned at Lita's scowl.

"Didn't get much sleep, last night?" Yaten smirked at Serena.

Serena started drinking her milkshake, as fast as possible, hoping it would cool down her burning cheeks.

"Seiya, might need a nap too," Yaten added, and started laughing uncontrollably.

Seiya put his hand on Yaten's head, and pushed him under the table. Yaten was laughing to hard to fight back, and ended up on the floor still laughing.

"Seiya," Sikora snapped.

Seiya put his hands on the table to show he wasn't holding Yaten down there.

Mina and Lita had no idea what was going on, but they found the whole thing amusing, and began laughing, and peeking under the table at Yaten.

"Yaten, get up," Maliki ordered.

Yaten was still snickering as he slid back up his seat.

Mrs.Furuhata placed a tray of shakes on the table, then started handing them out. "Did you want to order lunch?" Mrs.Furuhata asked, as she handed Seiya the last shake off the tray.

"I'm not really hungry," Seiya admitted.

"He had a dumpling breakfast," Yaten burst out laughing.

Seiya jabbed his elbow forcefully into Yaten's ribs, causing Yaten to fold over, and stop laughing.

Maliki stood up so fast, his chair almost hit Mrs.Furuhata. Mrs.Furuhata just stood there, with pen and paper in hand, and the serving tray tucked under her arm.

"Go sit in the car," Maliki ordered Seiya, and slammed his car keys on the table.

Seiya never looked at Maliki, he just picked up the keys and walked away.

In unison the girls started working on their milkshakes, trying to ignore what was going on.

Lita and Mina were both looking at Serena, Serena was staring into her milkshake. She knew Lita and Mina were looking at her, and she was trying to ignore their stares.

"I'm having what Serena is having," Sikora said to Mrs.Furuhata calmly.

"Double cheeseburger with the works," Serena quickly spit out, and went back to her milkshake.

"I'm fine," both the other girls mentioned.

"I'm good," Yaten replied.

"I'll have something when I get back," Maliki told Mrs.Furuhata, as he answered his cell phone. "I won't be long," Maliki smiled at Sikora, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Once he had walked away from the table, Mina and Lita turned their heads and stared intently at Serena.

"You slept in, Seiya slept in," Lita stated, directly at Serena.

"Dumpling for breakfast," Mina added. "That's what Seiya calls you."

Yaten started laughing again.

"My car is still out front," Sikora scowled at Yaten.

"Seiya fell asleep at my house last night," Serena quietly mumbled.

Yaten got up, and left the table. His snickering could be heard as he walked away.

"You were asleep when we all left," Lita scowled.

"I woke up," Serena continued to mumble quietly.

Mina looked Lita right in the eye, then glanced over at Sikora, then back to Lita.

"I already know all about it," Sikora smiled at Lita, making Mina turn and look at her wide eyed.

Sikora had to laugh at the look on Mina's face.

"So tell us what happened," Lita now smiled at Serena.

Serena gave the short version of the night, she told them about the phone incident, which they all found funny. She explained that after she told Seiya about breaking up with Darien, she wanted Seiya to stay until she fell asleep. In her version, she said Seiya had only laid down beside her. She didn't think anyone needed more details then that, especially Sikora.

Lita and Mina, went to find Yaten and play some games, when Serena and Sikora's food arrived.

Serena had devoured her burger in no time. Sikora was barely half way, when she saw Serena cram in her last bite. Serena was not one to watch anything resembling food go to waste, so she washed down her burger with Seiya's milkshake.

"It's been sitting to long," Serena grinned at Sikora. "He'll need a new one."

Sikora laughed.

As Serena noisily sucked out the last drops of the shake, Maliki strolled back in.

Serena looked passed him, but there was no Seiya. She looked at Sikora with sad little eyes.

"Why don't you go play a few games, while we talk," Sikora whispered to Serena, while Maliki was getting a chair.

Serena's sad eyes faded slightly when Sikora grinned at her.

"You can have my seat," Serena said to Maliki, as she slid along the bench.

"Thank-you," Maliki smiled. "But since we are now waiting for Ami and Taiki, you guys might be back before we're ready to go. So I'll keep the chair here at the table," he slid the chair tightly into the head of the booth and sat next to Sikora.

"Serena," Mina bellowed into the restaurant from the archway, that led to the arcade are. "I got us a turn on that racing game."

"I'm coming," Serena yelled back and ran off.

It wasn't long before Serena had to relinquish her seat to the new challenger against Mina. Yaten hopped in as soon as Serena stood up.

"I challenge you," Lita grinned evilly at Serena, while standing at one of the fighting games.

"You know I can't beat you," Serena sighed.

"Just let me practice," Lita whined at her. "Yaten kicked my butt, I need to practice."

"Don't kill me in the first round," Serena smiled at Lita.

"I wouldn't get much practice if I did that," Lita giggled.

"I'll have to try him in Sikora's sparring ring this weekend," Lita whispered, when Serena joined her at the game.

"I thought you wanted Sikora to show you some stuff," Serena mentioned.

"If I challenge one of the boys, I'll learn some of her techniques before I go in the ring with her," Lita smiled. "She trained them, therefore they will use some of her training" Lita remarked, pleased with herself. "I don't want her to kill me in the first round," she snickered, and hit the play button on the game.

Lita seemed to enjoy taking Serena's character to the brink of death, then backing off so she could practice some other moves.

Serena couldn't control knobs and buttons as fast as Lita, or remember all the combinations.

"Your turn to race the speed demon," Yaten sneered from behind the girls. "If you're finished torturing Serena."

Lita killed Serena in three moves. Serena's shoulders dropped when Lita killed her off, and sauntered over to race Mina.

"You can't come to school, but you can come play games," Ami criticized, while standing behind Serena.

"I spent most of the morning talking to Sikora about last night," Serena remarked boldly.

"I wasn't surprised that you weren't there," Ami smiled warmly. "Are you feeling better?"

"Talking to her helped," Serena gave a little sigh. "I still don't know what to say to Amara and the others. Since Luna didn't come to see me, I guess Mina didn't tell her what happened."

"We decided you would tell everyone when you were ready," Ami rubbed Serena's shoulder with compassion. "Lets enjoy the weekend, and we can decide when to tell the others, after we have some fun."

Serena noticed Taiki approaching them, and she smiled at him.

"Your tea is at the table," Taiki told Ami. Then he turned to Serena: "I thought Seiya would be in here with you," he commented after glancing around the room.

"Maliki made him go sit in the car," Serena sighed.

"Why?" Taiki inquired with a look of extreme surprise.

"Yaten was teasing him about falling asleep at my house last night, and something about eating dumplings, which I don't understand. Anyway, Seiya got mad and elbowed Yaten really hard, so Maliki made Seiya go sit in the car," Serena explained.

"Seiya spent the night at your house?" It was Ami's turn to be extremely surprised.

"I didn't want to be alone," Serena said sadly. "I picked up the phone to call Mina so she could send Luna home, and Seiya was on the line. He came over, and we talked for awhile and we fell asleep."

Taiki was just shaking his head.

"Come have a tea," Ami suggested. "Or a thick chocolate shake," she smiled at Serena.

"I had two shakes, and a burger," Serena replied. "I just want to play a few games."

Taiki was still gently shaking his head as he walked away.

"Rei is out early on Fridays," Ami remarked. "She should be here in about half an hour. Then we'll probably go get our stuff and head out to the estate. Did you pack some clothes for the weekend?" She asked Serena.

"My bag is already in Sikora's car," she grinned.

"If you guys don't come back to the table before Rei gets here, I'll come and get you," Ami informed her.

Once Ami left the arcade, Serena looked around, and saw her friends all occupied with games. She headed for the main doors of the arcade, she knew she couldn't cut through the restaurant without being seen.

Out the doors, around the building, and straight for Maliki's car.

Her body sighed when she saw the empty car. She assumed Seiya was already at home. Now she had to wait for Rei to hurry up, so they could go to the estate.

Chapter 10 is very long so you might have to wait awhile, while I type it out. Please feel free to comment and review this story. Thank you all!!!