Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any character involved with it. It belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.
Chapter 16
"I need a milkshake or two," Sailor Moon said in a monotone voice, after emerging from Darien's apartment.
"I think you need to change outfits first," Luna remarked, not knowing what else to say.
Sailor Moon looked at Luna with expressionless eyes, and face.
"I want to go home," Sailor Moon's tone and distant stare remained unaltered.
Sikora picked up Luna, and wrapped her other arm tightly around Sailor Moon.
As soon as Sailor Moon saw she was in her own room, she changed back to Serena.
Serena let herself slowly fall to her knees then sat back on her legs. She blankly glanced around, reached out and drew her book bag close: "I have homework to do," her monotone voice remained.
Sikora sat down beside Serena put her arm caringly around her. Serena did not look at Sikora or Luna.
Serena broke down and began crying with the pain of heartbreak.
As she had done before, Sikora pulled Serena into her lap and cradled her.
Sikora pulled her vibrating cell phone from her pocket. She glanced at the number being displayed. She then pushed a few buttons and replaced it in her pocket.
Sikora began to gently rock Serena, while she soothingly rubbed her back.
Luna fetched a box of tissues and returned to Serena's side.
Luna's own eyes appeared to fill with tears as she watched her dearest friends body wrench with sobbing breaths.
"I'm scared," Serena whispered, once her crying subsided enough to speak.
"You two have been through a lot together and leaving someone or something you felt safe and comfortable with is scary," Sikora spoke softly with the voice and comforting abilities of a mother. "This pain you feel will not go away as quickly as a cut finger. But in time you will be able to deal with it. Venturing into the unknown is scary; just remember your friends are there."
Sikora reached over and took a few tissues from the box and dabbed Serena's eyes.
"I'm sorry we came here and caused you such pain and heart..." Sikora whispered.
"Darien caused the pain," Serena snapped, cutting Sikora off.
Serena was still gulping air with sobs, as she sat up.
With her tear stained face, she looked at Sikora: "I'm glad you are here. You are the mother I need. I love my mom, but she doesn't know me. I wanted to tell her about myself, but I knew that who and what I am has to stay a secret. I won't burden her with the worry she would get every time I walk out the door. I decided it was my burden to carry."
Sikora handed Serena the tissue box.
"It is not a burden you carry. It's an honour given only to a special person with an undying love for life. You have the ability to find the good in all living things," Sikora said proudly.
Sikora pulled her cell phone out again, glared at it and put it back in her pocket, while Serena blew her nose and wiped the last of her tears.
"Your friends will always stand by you," Sikora continued. "They will protect you and they will die for you if they have to. They know that special quality must survive, even Kakyuu knows that."
Serena curled back up in Sikora's lap, wrapping her chilled legs in her bathing robe.
Sikora smiled down at her and noticed a big grin cross Serena's face and a little giggle replaced the sniffles.
"If I marry Seiya, then you will be my mom too," Serena batted her blue eyes.
Sikora took a deep breath smiled and gently shook her head.
Luna, who had been sitting quietly, now laughed, looked at Sikora and laughed harder.
"I listen to your fears, dreams and thoughts about your future. I try to give you advice and words of comfort like a mother," Sikora smiled. "And you keep secrets from me like you would keep from your own mother," Sikora remarked with a raised eyebrow. "I would say I am as close to being your mom as I can get without blood or marriage."
"You poor woman," Luna sarcastically remarked.
Serena had sat up when Sikora had mentioned secrets. Her face bore the look of confusion: "What secrets?"
"Seiya," Sikora replied.
"That's not really something I'm going to run and tell his mother or mine about," Serena mumbled with her head lowered to hide her embarrassment.
Sikora laughed: "I'm sorry I meant you not coming to me when Seiya got hurt."
Serena folded over and let her head crack down on Sikora's knee.
Sikora gave the back of Serena's head a rub while Serena lay in her embarrassment and Luna laughed uncontrollably.
Serena kept her head on Sikora's knee as she told Sikora about Seiya getting hurt trying to protect her once. How Taiki and Yaten refused to let them talk after her got hurt and that she was the cause of all their problems. This time she hoped Kakyuu could quickly fix Seiya and no one would know what happened.
"I was being selfish," Serena mumbled. "I didn't want you to keep him away from me."
Serena sat back up and looked right at Sikora: "I wanted to go get you Saturday, but Seiya said no. I was also worried Taiki and Yaten would go looking for Darien and that could cause problems. I don't want anything to get in the way of what you have to do," Serena took a big breath, but before she could continue, Luna cut in: "You weren't being selfish," Luna hopped onto Sikora's thigh so she could get closer to Serena. "You were doing what Serena does best, trying to help everyone."
"She is right," Sikora smiled. "You are always too concerned about those around you to have time to be selfish."
Luna sprang up with fright when she felt Sikora's cell phone vibrate under her feet.
Sikora pulled the phone out and snickered at Luna.
"Maybe the Maliki has sent a message," Luna said, recovering her composure.
"Maliki would not call me from this number," Sikora stated. "I already sent a message that I was not to be disturbed."
Luna kept her gaze on Sikora.
"Yes," Sikora answered the phone with an annoyed tone.
"Where's Serena? What's going on?"
Serena could hear Seiya begin a barrage of questions.
A furious scowl dominated Sikora's face: "We are fine. Do not call back," she barked her orders and hung up.
Serena looked at Sikora timidly.
"They have this inability to follow my orders lately and it is really getting on my nerves," Sikora said crossly, then took a deep slow breath through her nose.
Serena curled back up in Sikora's lap and closed her eyes.
Sikora held her and gently rocked for several minutes.
"If we go get a milkshake or two, can I see my bouncy little friend that always brings a smile to my face?" Sikora asked.
Serena looked up at Sikora and gave her a little grin and a chuckle. Then she sprang to her feet.
"When you're angry or upset or just feeling 'blah', the best thing is a milkshake," Serena's bubbly demeanour came through as she gently tugged Sikora's arm to get her up.
"If Serena was in a coma and someone mentioned milkshake, she would come back to life," Luna snickered.
"Mother's always know how to make you feel better," Serena remarked, digging through a pile of clothes.
"What is with this mess of clothing all over the place?" Sikora questioned, holding up a few shirts.
"I was trying to find something to wear," Serena told Sikora and continued to toss a few tops out of her way.
"She basically emptied her closet on Friday night, trying to find the right clothes for her date with Seiya," Luna sighed with her ears folded out to the side of her head.
"Did you want to go home first?" Serena asked Sikora, while she was yanking on a sock.
"This is fine," Sikora smiled.
"Coming Luna?" Serena inquired.
"I think I'll let you two have some mother, daughter time," Luna laughed her way out of the room.
Serena enjoyed her afternoon with Sikora.
Milkshakes and burgers were followed by video games. Serena was happy that she found someone she could win a few games against, even if it was only, the first round or two. Sikora was quick to understand the way the games operated.
When the girls returned to Serena's bedroom, Luna gave a big waking up stretch: "Did you two have fun?" She asked after a big yawn.
"I found some of those video games intriguing," Sikora smiled. "I have to try a few of those fighting moves you can make your video characters do."
"Maybe we can go do something next Sunday?" Serena said eagerly.
"Maybe," Sikora grinned. "If you have your homework done first."
"She sounds like your mom," Luna snickered.
Serena gave Sikora a big hug: "I had fun, thank you."
"Me too," Sikora replied. "Now clean this room," she told Serena with a giggle and disappeared.
Serena jumped onto the bed next to Luna.
"Did you hear from the girls?" Serena asked and laid back to admire her poster.
"I tried to tell Ami I had only called her to make sure they were all Ok," Luna sighed. "But of course, Ami didn't believe me. She said I wouldn't call them if it wasn't very important. I tried to argue, but she hung up on me."
Serena's door burst open, scaring the life out of Serena and Luna, and they sat up.
"Somebody ransacked your room," Rei yelled with surprise. "Were they looking for the crystal? Did they find it?"
"Are you Ok?" Mina ran to Serena.
"Serena," Lita and Ami called softly and also made their way over.
"I made the mess," Serena told them and sat up.
"She couldn't decide what to wear on her date Friday," Luna added.
"Ami said we had to meet here right away," Rei said, as she kicked her way through some clothes. "What's going on?"
"I broke up with Darien," Serena let out a deep breath and hung her head.
"We know that," Rei huffed.
"I told him face to face," Serena added.
"He's here?" Lita was awe struck.
"He's gone back to America by now," Serena glanced at her clock.
With a calmer mannerism, Rei sat on Serena's floor near the bed.
They all looked upon Serena without uttering a sound, waiting for Serena to tell them whatever she needed to say.
Serena looked at Luna. The happy little face Serena had moments ago, were gone.
"They need to know," Luna told Serena.
"You have to promise me, you'll do nothing when I tell you what happened," Serena stated and mostly looked from Rei to Lita.
Serena sat silent, waiting for their Promises.
Usually Serena continued with her story without actually waiting for them to make their vow of silence, but not this time. It took a moment for them to realize they had to give their word.
"I promise," Ami was the first to answer, the others followed within seconds.
They all sat in quiet disbelief after Serena told them about her weekend. Serena had of course left out the fact that Seiya had stayed in the cabin with her and Luna.
It was Rei who first came to comfort Serena, as she held Serena tight she said: "We believe in you."
"Mind you," a sarcastic tone now came from Rei, "I can't see myself ever bowing down to Seiya."
Laughter echoed through out the room.
Serena forced herself to fall back on her bed, taking Rei down with her. Serena smiled up at her beloved poster.
"Are you sure about this?" Rei inquired, seeing Serena's dreamy eyes gaze up.
"Mmhh," Serena mumbled as a radiant glow flushed her face.
"Did you leave something out about this weekend?" Rei probed, propping herself up on her elbow so she could stare Serena in the face.
The radiant glow was quickly replaced by the burning red of embarrassment.
The rest of the girls sprang onto the bed to look at Serena and there was no way they would allow her to move and hide her red face.
"When? Where? How was it? Who started it?" They bombarded her with questions.
"I won't be able to look him in the eye for awhile, without laughing," Lita teased.
Serena just closed her eyes and let a wondrous smile grace her face.
