These chapters are getting longer and thus the time in between them is longer. Plus my computer doesn't like to save the stuff I write and will shut down randomly, so for this I am sorry. ^_^ I hope you enjoy this next installment!

Disclaimer: I do not own any Sailor Moon characters

Chapter 13: Mars Merriment

Serenity sat in her chambers on the ship, with her scouts as they flew on to Rei's home planet. Ami sat in a chair with Mina and Lita on either side of her as they sipped their tea quietly. Rei sat on the bed with the princess lying over her lap, running her hands through the long silver tresses.

"I can't believe Endymion agreed to Demetrius being here," Lita sighed.

"It's not like he had any choice," Serenity replied with her eyes closed. "My mother is the end all, be all."

"My brother will surely be surprised to see Demetrius," Rei commented. "The two haven't seen each other since … well … you know."

"Their fight?" Serenity finished.

"Their fight over you," Mina quipped.

"I never agreed to marry Apollo," she whined.

"No, you only flirted with him incessantly," Rei replied, tugging on her hair playfully.

"Ow!" she shouted, clasping her hand on her head to make her friend stop. "I was going through a break up!"

"You were not," Lita groaned. "You and Demetrius had to break up!"

"That doesn't mean she didn't go through a tumultuous time," Ami commented.

"You always take her side," the raven haired scout replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "She flaunts herself like a piece of jewelry."

"I do not!"

"Yeah you do," Mina agreed, tilting her head against her closed fist. "I heard you were greeted by Jadeite in your skivvies."

"I was in silk bloomers and a lace top!"

"That's considered underwear on earth among other planets as well as your own, your majesty," Rei informed her sternly, peering over to gaze into the princess's eyes. "You need to have a little bit more restraint now that you're married. You can't keep trying to make the men in your life jealous so that they'll want you more. You have a husband, Serenity."

"I know."

"Then start acting like it!" she snapped.

There was a knock at the door and a servant entered to announce that they would be landing soon. The girls started to get ready for their descent down to the runway. Rei was especially nervous, trying to make herself look more presentable to her brother. She smoothed her dress out and looked in the closest mirror and adjusted her hair a little bit with a ruby encrusted hairclip. When they received word that they had landed finally, she followed Serenity out of the room to meet up with Endymion and the generals.

"You ready?" the prince asked the women as they watched the hatch go down for them to strut on.

The scouts and Serenity merely nodded silently and then followed the men's lead. They were greeted at the landing strip by ten soldiers with big red and black shields and thick metal helmets with red feathers lined down the middle. In the center of the group was Apollo with his signature helmet that had taller feathers, a different mix of black and red in his uniform, and more metals were donned on his armor. He stepped forward toward the royal couple, his arrogance dripping off of him like water when one stepped out of a shower.

He held his hands out to Serenity and kissed her on either cheek, "You look sensational, your majesty! It's a pleasure to see you!"

"Same to you, your highness," she smiled. She stepped back and gestured to Endymion, "This is my husband, Prince Endymion of the Earth and Golden Kingdom."

"Pleasure to meet you finally, Prince Endymion!" Apollo greeted with as much feigned happiness as possible. "I've heard so much about you."

"Likewise," he nodded, shaking his hand.

"Good things I hope!"

"Oh, only positive words have been spoken about you."

"He's slick on his tongue," Apollo laughed, pointing to the prince.

Rei pushed past the people in front of her and glared at her brother who continued to laugh and opened his arms up to his sister. They embraced one another in an odd way; the princess was hostile and the prince was expressing nothing but love and joy. The people surrounding them exchanged looks of … dismay and confusion. When the siblings parted, Rei still had a stern expression written on her face.

"You are the older of the two of us," she whispered harshly, "please start portraying it."

"Sister! Please! You have nothing to be worried about," he boasted. Still clutching onto her shoulders, he gestured to the rest of them, "Follow me if you will!"

They were guided into the large protruding black castle and to a grand hall that was already filled with happy people swishing drinks down their throats. Rei rolled her violet eyes at the scene that had been presented to her; everything was fake and for the Grand Prince to look like he had a splendid court. In reality, there were rumors, backstabbing, and a coup that could have possibly been forming to overthrow him. Apollo ran up to his throne and gestured to the seat beside him.

"Sister, come join me!" he exclaimed.

But, in her own fiery fashion, the young girl glared at him and stormed through the hall, pushing her way to an empty room. Her brother soon followed with the rest of the group in tow and a verbal fight soon broke out between the two royal Martians.

"What is wrong with you?!" Rei exclaimed.

"Me?!"

"Yes you! You're acting like a five year old child!"

"I'm merely trying to greet my guests with as much positive expression as possible!" he replied.

"Well stop it! Bring back my brother! Where is Apollo?!" she asked, clutching onto his hands.

He sighed and brushed his knuckles down her smooth cheek, "I'm sorry, sister. I should have just been myself. I wish we could have had a discussion about your arrival during the week," he whispered.

"With the wedding and the preparations, you know that would have been near impossible," she replied, shaking her head.

"Speaking of which, why weren't you at the wedding, Apollo?" Serenity asked as she broke away from her husband's grasp and started to glide through the room. She let her fingertips slide over the long dark wooden table as she studied the décor of the quarters.

"I had other business to attend to."

"That's no excuse."

Rei examined her brother's facial features for a moment and then inquired, "What's going on? There is something deeper, but you won't let me read you."

He took a deep breath, stepped back and started to explain himself, "I wanted to receive the blessing of the new royal couple before anyone else. I needed their reassurance that we would back one another up always."

"Why wouldn't we?" she asked wearily.

Apollo looked around the room, removed his helmet, exposing his long, shiny black hair, and said with a curious tone, "Well, the king's health is extremely questionable at this point. I figured that once he passed on, we could have a stronger allegiance with Prince Endymion."

"My father's health is in tip-top shape! Where did you hear this false accusation?" Endymion asked.

"The rumors around this court fall on my ear often," he answered.

"Rumors are rumors," he replied. "You cannot believe what people here say!"

"And yet, you questioning the statement more than what I would consider normal."

"Apollo…" Rei warned.

Endymion looked over his shoulder at his guards who all avoided his gaze. This made him fume and turn red in the face with anger, "Well?! Is it true?!"

Kunzite merely coughed which gave him his answer. He snapped his light blue gaze back to Apollo and said, "I will not make any agreement with you on a military basis until I find out for myself if there is any truth to these statements. Good day, sir."

He pushed through his guards and walked out of the castle as quickly as the drunken people dancing around would allow him. Serenity ran up beside him and said, "Endymion! Where are you going?"

"Back to earth. I'm going to get to the bottom of this," he growled.

"Let me go with you!"

"No!" He spun around and narrowed his gaze at his wife; she knew. She clearly knew that this was true. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed his forehead against hers, "Stay here. Make nice with Apollo in my absence. I'll be back soon, I promise."

She shifted her weight to her other foot and said regretfully, "Fine. Come back as soon as possible please." Her eyes moved around the grand hall, knowing that people were reading her lips, "I don't like being here for that long. I feel … uncomfortable."

He straightened himself up and scanned the premises, "I know what you mean…"

Endymion kissed her goodbye and walked away with his guards flanking him. Serenity exhaled loudly, hugged herself, and asked Ami over her shoulder, "Are my chambers prepared?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Good. I want to relax a bit."

As they all strolled down the twists and turns of the cobblestone hallways, Lita asked, "How are we supposed to show off the royal couple with only half of the twosome here?"

"We'll do our best," Mina shrugged. "Just keep mentioning how happy you are with Endymion."

"That won't keep Apollo off of Serenity," Rei mentioned.

"Can you keep your brother roped in at all?" Lita replied.

"I can try," she suggested.

"Trying might not be a strong enough verb," Ami said as they entered the large chambers given to Serenity.

"What's on the schedule? Do we have to attend a ball tonight?" the princess asked as she sat down on the edge of her bed.

"Yes," the blue haired scout answered. "You will be presented formally to the Grand Prince, dance a little bit, and receive some gifts from him. However, with the prince's sudden absence, we might have reschedule or cancel the proceedings all together."

"Let's hope there isn't another fiasco like with Demetrius," Lita remarked.

"Luckily the men are gone," Mina smiled. "So you don't have to worry about a blast of testosterone getting in the way!"

"Oh joy," Serenity said sarcastically while flopping backwards on the bed, letting her feet dangle off the edge.

"Did you know about the king's health?" Rei asked the princess directly as she sat down at a table next to Lita.

Mina was lighting the fireplace as she heard her mistress answer, "Yes. Jadeite told me yesterday when he was bombarding me to have sex with the prince."

"So because the king is of ill health, everything rests on your shoulders?" Ami asked. "That's quite stressful. Has this changed your thoughts about having making love with him?"

"No. Not at all. They call it 'love making' for a reason."

Rei stood up and sat cross legged in front of the fire. The room went quiet as she started to glow slightly while reading what the flames had to say to her about the future. Even without Serenity asking for it, she would look into what the stars had to say for them.

"Your thoughts will change," Rei announced, shaking her head a little bit. "The king's health isn't what we think."

"But he seemed fine the other day at the wedding! Bright and happy even!" Serenity exclaimed as sat up suddenly.

"You will become queen soon," she replied. "I'm sorry, but the fire showed me a crown with the earthly colors."

"Earthly colors?"

"Deep blue sapphires and emeralds," Ami informed her.

"That adornment could very well be for someone else!" she exclaimed.

"You know that there is a difference between a female and male crown, your majesty," the raven haired woman responded. "This was clearly a female formed crown."

"Goddess of the moon …" she whispered. "Would you all kindly leave me with my thoughts? I need to be alone."

The princess curled up on the bed as the scouts bowed to her and followed her orders. They left the room quietly and shut the door behind them. When Serenity knew that they were gone and even Rei's overbearing presence had vanished completely, she let herself cry and sob out loud. How was she supposed to give way to her natural feelings and emotions? She wasn't in love with Endymion yet, by far. She was slowly moving toward that realm, but it would be quite some time before she would be able to give herself to him mind, body, and soul. She hadn't even seen who he could really be as a prince or human being! The thought of consummating their marriage troubled her; it meant they were really a married couple. For this whole time, she felt like this was just some fun little game she had been playing and maybe there was a consequence here and there for not completing the marriage all the way through, but he had reassured her that he would never lay a violent finger on her. Could she trust him? The fact that she had to ask that question answered it all.

Endymion stood in the room where his mother sat alone, donned in all black, tears streaming down both of their faces. She didn't need to speak a word; the décor and garments of everyone answered his inquiries. Queen Rhea had just sent a letter out to him the day before to the Golden Palace, but it had reached them when they had left, thus the prince had no idea that his father had passed on to the other side so quickly. He tightened his fists, clenched his jaw, and dropped down to his knees roughly right in front of his mother who let out a small wail in response. He bowed his head into her lap and let her embrace him, her tears falling down onto his cheek and mingling with his own salty droplets.

"He was fine … he was fine when I saw him," Endymion cried into his mother's thick black, bejeweled skirt. "Why wasn't I told about his health?"

"We didn't want to worry you with your wedding preparations," Queen Rhea replied, her voice quivering heavily.

The prince pulled back from her lap and looked up at her with watery eyes, "I should have known! I should have been informed! I looked like a fool on Mars in front of the Grand Prince Apollo!"

"Son—"

"What does this make me now? What I am in the kingdom? Do I have a title still or will I be notified after the whole galaxy knows?!" he exclaimed as he leapt up to his feet.

"You are to be inducted as King of the Golden Kingdom and of the Earth," she sniffed.

He stared at her for a moment, not sure that she was serious, but when her expression didn't change, he knew that she was. He ran a shaky hand through his hair and looked around the empty room; even the servants had left them alone to weep in privacy. The queen stood up and moved toward the huge gold box that was on the table, opening it up. She took a step back and exposed two gold crowns that were for the newly donned king and queen of the kingdom.

"It's not even a full day and you are already showing these off to me?!" he roared at his fragile mother.

"You need to see them. You will be crowned within the next few days," she replied. "There will be a short mourning period. It is said that you will be allowed to finish your time on Mars, come back here, and become the king that you have been raised and destined to be."

"What will happen to you?"

"I will be second to Serenity. She has the royal blood running through her veins; I do not. I will be at the coronation ceremony and be the one to present you with the royal emblems. After that, it is my duty to sit back and relax…"

Her voice trailed off wearily making him take a stride toward her and pull her into a hug. Endymion felt his mother cry into his chest and he rubbed her back as she did, trying his best to sooth her.

Pulling away from him so she could look into his eyes, she stated, "You must return to Mars immediately and give Serenity the news. It's only right if it comes from you."

"She will be devastated, I'm sure," he murmured, bowing his head.

"Then you must comfort her as she will you," his mother informed him as she tilted his chin back up.

After a well filled pause between the two of them, he asked her, "When will the coronation happen?"

"It is generally right after the passing, but in this case it will happen when you come back from Mars."

He nodded in response and straightened up. The prince cleared his throat, told his mother that he would be in touch with her every day until he was back on earth. As he boarded his ship and was taken back to Mars, he wondered how he was going to bring this up with Serenity. It wasn't an easy topic by any means; his father was dead and he was king. Was he supposed to tell the Grand Prince Apollo of this news or keep it to himself? He supposed that Kunzite would take care of everything for him.

Serenity paced the room back and forth upon hearing that her husband would be returning within the hour. She had tried to read, tried to do some sewing and stitch work, but she couldn't concentrate on any of it. Along with the message that Endymion was on his way back, there was word that King Cronus had passed away. There had been no indication of ill health at the wedding, but sometimes death hits men harder in the comfort of their home than on the battlefield; at least there they're prepared to die. Just the thought of death made her chest feel more clamped up in the bejeweled corset she was wearing and the light gold and pearl crown that was placed on her head felt like it was as heavy as a horse.

"Your majesty."

She turned around to find Demetrius bowing to her with his cape sweeping across the floor. She waved for him to stand back up and continued on with her pacing motion as though she had never been bothered.

"There are rumors going around that you are now the crowned queen," he said.

"You know how fictitious the statements that float around this court are!" she snapped, her eyes flaring at him.

"You're scared?" he asked, tilting his head.

This made her stop in her tracks and slouch her shoulders, "Yes… yes I'm scared. I don't know what to do at this point."

"Well that's what I'm here for," Demetrius suggested. "I can help you with your troubling dilemmas."

"Forgive me, my lord, but you are not the one to go to for advice on conceiving an heir," she blushed.

"Ahem," he coughed. "No…. No, I suppose you're right."

Memories of their past relationship rushed over the both of them. They had been such passionate lovers – emphasis on passionate. Demetrius could tell that the flame she had burned so wholeheartedly for him hadn't yet gone out. He tilted his head as he examined her confused and solemn face. Her skin was silky smooth, probably felt like a cloud to the touch of his hand as he had recalled so vividly.

"I should have stolen you when I had the chance…" he whispered.

Demetrius was moving closer to her and was about to close the gap between their bodies completely when a heavy clamoring of footsteps interrupted the silence that enveloped them. In came Prince Endymion, back from his trip to earth a lot faster than anyone had expected.

"Get out," he ordered quietly. "Leave me and the … erm, my wife, alone."

Demetrius bowed to them both and then followed the group of generals who were standing at the entrance of the room. When the door was shut completely, Endymion practically ran across the room to Serenity's opened up arms and buried his face into her chest. He didn't cry or wail out loud necessarily, but he was visibly upset. She could feel hot tears melt against her skin as he clenched fistfuls of her dress into his grasp. She rubbed his broad shoulders as she felt his body heave up down, coupled with large breathy noises. When he pulled back away from her, she wiped his damp face with her hands and then kissed him gently on the lips.

"I assume you've heard?" he asked.

She nodded, "Yes…"

"We're supposed to return to earth once we are done here on Mars—"

"There's not a whole lot else to do. You and Apollo will meet and—"

"I know what comes with these visits," he stopped her. "I'm just informing you that after this trip, we will go back to earth, have a mourning period, and then we will have a coronation ceremony where we will be inducted as the King and Queen of the Golden Kingdom."

"That's why you hesitated before," she said.

"Excuse me?"

"Before, when you had entered, you hesitated and didn't know what to call me. You can just deem me as Princess of the Moon if you are uncomfortable with any other title at the moment," she offered.

"I will forever be comfortable with the title of 'wife' for you and nothing else. Whether you are queen or princess, you will always be my wife," he replied with a grin across his lips. The smile fell from his face quickly as his eyes darted from their intertwined fingers and her face. "You know that this will put more pressure on you…"

"I know."

"Are you prepared for this?"

"Yes. I think so."

"You can always find refuge in my arms; I will never pressure you for an heir until you're ready," he promised.

Serenity shook her silver haired head before saying to him, "You're too good to me…"

"I'm just being what a husband should be; supportive."

"Well, as supportive as you're going to be, I will have to do my supposed duty as your wife and conceive an heir soon. The pressure will surmount within days … even hours of this news."

"Whatever you decide to do," he murmured, cupping her face into his hands. With a gesture of his head, he said to her, "I'm going to go and talk to Apollo before bed. Will you sleep in my chambers tonight?"

"Yes. Have someone come retrieve me when you're ready."

Endymion bent over and kissed her on her forehead before pulling away from her completely and strolling out of the room. He was joined by Kunzite outside who had been waiting for him the whole time.

"Apollo is anxious to speak with you," his general announced.

"I can sense it already," he replied curtly.

"How are you holding up through all of this?"

"Fine."

"And her majesty?"

"She's remarkable."

"And … what of the subject of an heir, sire?"

"It is a private matter."

Kunzite stopped him right outside the door where he was supposed to meet with the Grand Prince and declared, "Not anymore. Now that your father has passed on, everyone's allegiance to you has grown and all eyes are on you. If you do not continue your bloodline, then you put your throne in danger of civil war and even planetary war."

Endymion rolled his eyes and replied, "You're out of line, your grace. Wait until I come to you about this subject before you speak about it again."

With that, he entered the room and found Apollo and his sister, Lady Rei, in deep conversation with one another. The two of them stopped and snapped their gaze to him. There was a thick tension filling the room upon his arrival and he knew that this wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.

Rei bowed to the prince, "Your majesty."

"My lady." He looked over at Apollo and nodded to him, "My lord."

"Your majesty," he replied. "I heard about your loss. I am terribly sorry."

"He was a great man."

"You will carry out your time here?" Apollo asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Good. We will be going riding tomorrow morning!"

"My wife will want to accompany me, I'm sure," he smiled. His gaze jumped to Rei, "Am I right?"

"Yes," she replied, her face still not registering any happiness or feigned happiness. "She loves the Martian country side."

Apollo looked over at his sibling and asked, "Sister, would you leave us be?" She resisted with her harsh stare and low growl, making him ask again, "Now, please?"

Rei eyed the two of them and then stormed out of the room, her temper emanating from her pores. Endymion knew that she had a vicious personality, but he never in his days would believe that there wasn't a reason for her enraged disposition. He glanced at Apollo who was leaning against the mantel of the fireplace, his own expression looking … peculiar.

"I have a deep suspicion that there is trouble afoot," Endymion stated.

"I have something to confess to you, my lord."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"Your wife and I were once lovers," he stated boldly, straightening his body posture up. "We had quite the courtship before you were even considered a candidate for her heart and hand."

"So then there is no problem if that is indeed the case."

"I would be careful with her, Endymion. Serenity is not easily held onto."

"I don't care if you were friends, lovers, courtiers, or what have you," Endymion snapped. "She is my wife and she is legally bound to me."

"I'd like to see how 'bound' to you she is in the future. With no heir sitting between you two, she could slip out of your hands all too easily."

Endymion shook his head and started to back away from Apollo, "You can say what you will, but she has matured a lot more since you knew her last. She has strong dedication and responsibility to her home planet."

"Right … we'll see how long that lasts."

With that, Endymion left the room, walking past Rei who was waiting patiently for her brother. She looked at the prince over her shoulder as she entered the chambers after him to find her sibling still leaning against the mantel of the fireplace. She crossed her arms over her chest and clenched her jaw as she studied his casual demeanor and attitude.

"What did you say to him?" she asked.

"I merely told him how flighty the princess can be and that they will never have a strong enough relationship until they consummate their marriage and have a child between the two of them."

"You know that could backfire against your favor," she replied.

"How so?"

"I know that you want to get her back."

"Have you been investigating my mind?"

"Please! You don't need to be psychic to see that you still have feelings for her," she scoffed.

"I almost had her…"

"And so did Demetrius. You two are ridiculous. Leave her be! She's a married woman!"

"That never stopped either of us before," he grinned.

Rei let out a disgusted grunt and spun around on the ball of her foot to leave the room. She couldn't believe her brother! He would try to get Serenity under his thumb, but not get married as their parents had clearly wanted both of them to. If Rei had been the older of the two, she would have been married by now, with children running around and the Martian world would be better for it. Granted all of this social and political banter that was fluttering around everyone in the royal industry was more for imagery rather than for happiness. If one was apart of a stable family, it would look like the world or area they were ruling over was just as stable and beautiful.

Her thoughts of marriage and babies were interrupted as she made it to her chambers. Rei was stopped right at the doorway by a ward who informed her that she had a visitor by the name of Lord Jadeite. He had wished to have an audience before her … unannounced. She sighed loudly, adjusted herself in her blood red dress, and then entered the room. She smiled at Jadeite who was standing in the middle of the drawing room with his hands folded behind his back. He bowed halfway to her and greeted her kindly.

"Good evening your grace," she replied. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"You know very well that I come on political matters."

"Oh? Please continue."

"With the king's unfortunate passing and Endymion becoming crowned within the next few days, there needs to be an heir at his disposal," he explained. "Is there a way to push her majesty forward on this subject?"

"You know just as well as I do that Princess Serenity is stubborn in all of her ideals and notions."

"Lady Rei," he pressed on, "please. There must be some way…"

"I'm sorry my lord, but she is not to be moved."

"You are certain?" Jadeite asked, lowering his gaze so that it was partly obscured by his thick blonde bangs.

"I am. Why are you pressuring me so?"

He stepped toward her and tilted her chin with his index finger, "I find that part of this obstinate temperament that you speak so openly about comes partly from you."

"You are stepping over your boundaries, my lord," she hissed, slapping his hand away from her skin.

He smiled widely at her, surprised that he could get so much arousal out of her. Jadeite's satisfaction was met with disdain from Rei who tried to step away from him, but she was suddenly taken aback by his harsh grasp around both of her wrists. He pulled her up against him and examined her face intently. Her lips were thin and stained with deep red with lipstick. Her violet eyes were splattered with gold flakes, drawing him in.

"We are like two overlapping circles, you and I," he whispered. "I find you enticing."

"And I find you boring," she replied saucily.

"You don't even know me."

"I don't have to. I can know all of your thoughts and secrets as I see fit," she whispered harshly.

"I'd like to see you try…"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged, "Just try to read my mind and you will see."

She exhaled loudly through her flared nostrils and placed her slender fingers on either temple right beside his eyes and let herself examine his brain. However, upon entering his conscience, she couldn't find anything. She was surprisingly soothed by this; everything went silent and her own mind was cleared much like his. Rei removed her clutches from him and stared longingly into his eyes. Most men had images of her naked, of her fellow ladies naked, or even of men naked. Here she found nothing.

"I can't tell if you're intelligent beyond your years or just empty-headed," she concluded.

"I learned how to clear my mind when I was in the army," he explained.

"It's … relaxing," Rei breathed.

"You are stressed from most people's thoughts, aren't you?" he asked.

"If you saw the things I have, you would be under duress as well."

"Thus why I believe it is in your best interest to never view my mind."

She cocked her head to the side and smirked at him, "You are an interesting man, Lord Jadeite."

"I hope to keep your interest, my lady," he murmured as he bowed to her and kissed her hand. "Now if you'll excuse me. I must retire. Goodnight Lady Rei."

"Goodnight your grace."

Endymion sat in his chambers that morning with the sunlight fluttering in through the tall windows. He hadn't been to bed that night as planned, but instead stayed in the drawing room looking over the landscape of the Martian palace. He heard the door creak open and light footsteps padded into the room. He could tell just by the way the movements were made that it was his wife. He felt a pair of slender arms surround his chest and throat. Endymion pulled her lavender scented arms toward his mouth and kissed the light colored skin gently.

"Good morning," she cooed in his ear.

"Good morning my dearest," he whispered.

"You call me dearest as though we've been married for years."

"It feels that way, doesn't it?" he asked in a monotone.

"Are you alright?" Serenity asked, walking around the couch to sit beside him

The prince glanced at her for a moment and then wrapped an arm around her before continuing on, "I'm distracted a bit by this landscape."

"Beautiful, is it not?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I'm excited to go riding today," she smiled. When she only received a grunt of approval in response, she inquired, "Are you deeply upset about your father?"

"I feel I should be," he shrugged plainly. "I was raised by nannies, tutors, priests, and my mother. My father merely took me in during joyous moments and slapped me across the face when I was … unworthy of his gentle touch."

"So why do you have such a somber expression in your voice?"

"With him – my father – gone, it leaves everything on my shoulders. When we return back to earth, I will be made king, have to really look over all of the problems of the court, not just those of the Golden Kingdom. I've never been placed with such responsibility…"

"I'll be there to help. This burden is not all of yours to bear," she comforted him, pressing her head against his chest so she could listen to his heartbeat.

"You have your own worries to deal with."

"Such as an heir?"

"Yes," he answered instantly. Endymion paused for a moment before correcting himself, "When we try for one."

Serenity sat up and studied his light blue eyes a bit, "There will be great wars and trifles if I do not produce a large belly soon."

"I am willing to risk that."

She giggled a little bit, "It's so funny to me that you were once completely enamored in your mistress and now you are all too faithful to me."

"Your majesty forgets that I promised her I would end all relationships before entering into this marriage. My whole world revolves around you."

"My lord, you have it the other way around; the moon revolves around the earth."

The two laughed heartedly and snuggled against one another before a servant entered the room and announced that the Grand Prince was waiting on them. They jumped up off the couch in surprise and ran off to their separate closets to get changed. Serenity called out for a maid to come help her into her tall boots. When they both exited their closets, they strolled down to the garden where a few horses were waiting them. Rei was sitting on a giant black beast with her outfit matching the princess's, but in different colors; blood red velvet pants, black boots, and a deep violet silk and bejeweled blouse where as Serenity wore colors that matched her husband's which were silver and black. The royal couple mounted their horses while Apollo greeted them.

"Good morning Endymion, Serenity," he nodded.

"Your grace," they nodded in unison.

Endymion noticed that there was an extra horse waiting around for its rider. He was going to ask who was going to ride it when Jadeite breezed in and quickly jumped up onto the horse. He was confused as to why just one of his generals and one of Serenity's scouts were joining them, but then he noticed the exchange, as small as it was, between the two of them. He knew what happened; Rei and Jadeite were engaged in an emotional courtship. He couldn't help but grin at this thought. Jadeite was the one who was so cautious of women and yet here he was caught in the web that the Princess of Mars had weaved so delicately.

Suddenly, from around the corner of the stables another horse bounded toward them with Commander Demetrius on top of it. Endymion was clearly angered by this and didn't try hard at all to keep the expression off of his face. The young man nodded to everyone and closed in on Serenity, reaching out for her hand in order to kiss it. The outlandish and rather bold move made everyone in the group feel uneasy.

As they started to trot along, Apollo declared boisterously, "I thought a small party would suit us. It makes our time more intimate, don't you think?"

"Yes, quite," Rei said flatly.

"Sister, you don't hide your sarcasm at all."

"Why would I? You're my brother."

Apollo gestured to the three other men around him to come on either side of him while the women kept ahead of them in order to be out of earshot but not our of Rei's psyche which calmed Serenity. The men started to converse with one another quietly under the shaded path.

"Demetrius, what is your occupation here?" Apollo asked.

"I am to be the princess's personal diplomatic regent," he answered.

"She has my sister for that," he replied with a confused tone.

"Forgive me, your grace, but Lady Rei is of Martian decent and does not have the moon's full interest at heart."

"So because she is from a different planet, she can't help the princess?" Jadeite asked indignantly. "That is the worst excuse I have ever heard. Lady Rei, as well as the others, is among the most wonderful resources known to man and woman."

"I beg to differ…" Demetrius drawled.

"Oh?" Apollo argued.

"Please, can you not see the way that Jadeite is tied around your fair sister's finger? The two must have recently been wrapped up within one another…"

"I-I … I do not need to explain myself!"

Endymion rolled his eyes as Rei backed up and started in on the argument, "Are you invading my privacy again?! Apollo!"

"Rei, I'm simply looking out for your best interest!" he argued.

"What is wrong with you?! I can take care of myself! May the god of fire and brimstone have a curse on your thick head!"

While they all fought bitterly with one another, Endymion trotted toward Serenity and whispered in her ear, "Would you care to go somewhere else away from this negativity?"

She nodded silently and giggled as they started to canter away from the group without their notice. They kept on the path in case they caused any alarm from their fellow riders. After a few minutes of riding, they came upon a deep pool of water and giant water fall. The liquid on Mars was a deep burgundy color and looked like it had been created by gallons and gallons of wine. Serenity got off of her horse and tied it up around a nearby tree with Endymion doing the same thing. He watched her silently as she removed her clothing slowly and then glanced back at him over her shoulder when she started to get down to her underwear. He started to follow suit and stripped down to his underwear as well without removing his gaze from hers. Serenity grinned devilishly at him as she became completely naked and then quickly ran into the water. Endymion chuckled and shook his head as he dropped his skivvies down to the dewy grass and then jogged into the pond after Serenity. Her hair had been tinted pink now thanks to the water as she swam toward the waterfall. She stepped up onto a boulder and climbed behind the curtain of pink liquid while gesturing with a wave of her finger for Endymion to follow her. He did as she had asked and they ended up in a small, damp cave area.

"Did you know about this place?" he asked, his voice bouncing off the walls.

She leaned against the rough cave, her hair covering the front of her body, "Yes. Apollo showed me once."

"When you two were together?"

"Don't be jealous."

"I'm not."

He stepped closer to her and watched as she dragged her pink nails across his well sculpted chest and stomach. Her hands cupped his face and dragged him down to her, pressing her lips against his harshly and stabbing her tongue into his mouth. The two of them breathed heavily as they held onto one another's naked bodies tightly. Endymion could feel himself rise as he pressed his hot skin against hers. He pulled his lips away from her unexpectedly so he could speak freely.

"If we keep this up, my actions will grow rash and I don't know how much longer my heated body can wait," he exhaled. "Are you in love with me?"

She shook her and shrugged at the same time, "I don't know."

"Then I won't continue on any further," he whispered.

Endymion kissed her again and then led the way back to the pool of water. At the edge of the pond, they found that their group had followed and were staring at them with angered expressions written over their features. They made it back to the bank and got dressed silently like two children who had just been scolded for not eating their vegetables. Serenity retied her hair up into a quick bun and then ascended back onto her horse, following Apollo, Demetrius, and Jadeite with Endymion on one side of her and Rei on the other. She could feel her scout's eyes tearing away at her mind, trying to read what happened behind the falls. When she discovered that they hadn't done really anything, she removed her violet orbs and instead concentrated on Jadeite again, trying to get a good reading on him. However, she was disappointed yet again; although he was in deep discussion with the two men ahead, he was still able to block his mind.

When they made it back to the palace, Serenity was going to kiss her husband farewell but Rei tugged her away violently and took her back to their joint chambers where Ami and Mina were waiting around, looking over papers together.

"So do you love him or not?!" Rei snapped, thrusting the princess across the room.

"What's going on?" Ami asked.

"Why is your hair pink?" Mina laughed, pointing to the princess.

"She," Rei gestured to Serenity, "ran off from us while riding today and got in the water with her husband … naked."

"Did you two do anything?" the scout of Mercury asked.

"No," Serenity answered truthfully, sitting down in a chair.

"Will you do anything?" Mina pressed on.

"I … I … I don't know."

"She's being a tease again," Rei hissed.

"I am not!"

"Yes you are! Make up your mind!"

"I will gladly do so and kindly ask that you do not make up my mind for me!" she roared, jumping up to her feet.

"I just don't want this to create conflict on either world! I am the daughter of the king and queen of warfare after all!" she exclaimed back.

"Will you two stop it?" Mina begged, placing her head in her palm. "Clearly you are distressed about something else Rei … what is it?"

She plopped down into a chair and chewed the inside of her lip before answering, "It's that goddamn Jadeite! I can't read him! Why can't I read him?!"

"Sounds like the perfect match," Ami grinned.

"Will you … will you find out for me any personal information about him?" Rei asked tentatively.

"Would you look at that? She's gone soft!" a voice exclaimed from behind.

Lady Lita walked in from another toss in the sheets with Nephrite. Even after a bath with rose petals and vanilla extract, she could smell his sweat imbedded in her skin. She plopped on a small love seat that was near Rei who merely grimaced at her friend.

"You've already bedded him?" she asked the scout of Jupiter.

"You don't need to read her mind to know that…" Mina coughed.

"So what if I did?"

"Maybe this is why Serenity is so confused as to what to do," Ami suggested. "We have one scout who believes solely in chastity, one who doesn't give a fig, one who believes in the all encompassing love, and then me who has no say in the emotional and physical matter!"

"I'm not confused," Serenity announced, quieting the room. Mina sat up straight as she listened to what their mistress had to say on the matter, "I'm falling for him fast and it scares me. I want to pursue a more physical relationship with him, but I want to feel comfortable with myself, my body, and my mind before I can commit to such a physical attachment."

With that said, she resided into her bedroom and bathed herself so she could get the tinge of pink out of her tresses. When Serenity returned to her bedroom, dripping wet and draped in a towel, she was greeted by a note on her bed and mini white chest. She opened up the letter and read it aloud.

"To my dearest wife: Today I had the royal jewels of queen delivered to my dormitory and I thought it would be fit for you to wear them tonight upon our departure of the planet and arrival on earth. The ball has been cancelled, much to Apollo's great angered disposition. I request that you ask for Lady Rei to calm her bloodline down before he decides to do something dense. In the meantime, I hope that these jewels may wrap around you in remembrance of me for I wish it was my own flesh that was touching upon yours. Forever your lover, your legally bound husband, and servant in this world and the next – Endymion."

She closed the letter and then popped open the trunk where there was a crown, a necklace, a choker, and a large ring all encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, and deep blue sapphires. A gasp escaped from her lips unexpectedly as she touched them delicately with a single finger. She breathed through her nose harshly as she stepped back from the box and started to get dressed. Her eyes kept glancing at the jewels calling out her name while her maids helped her get sewn into her garments. The sparkling adornments were shouting, "You are queen! You are queen!" It was a scary moment and she was expected to be just like her mother now… it was official.

Up next: The coronation! ^_^ Please review!