Standard Disclaimers apply, the only thing I own is my moon wand and DVD's.

Chapter 2 - Come Back Home

Mina, Lita and Amy stood outside the entrance to Juuhban High where a rather large crowd had appeared. Overnight the school message boards had started up with rumours that popular boy band The Starlight's had enrolled at Juuban High. Most of the students were huddled together and were holding signs and making loud noises in the hopes the rumours would be proven fact.

"What's going on here?" Lita asked, "Are they really that happy we are here?"

"Don't you know anything?" Mina asked not even moving her eyes from the congregation outside the gates. "The schools network went crazy last night with rumours that the Starlight's had enrolled yesterday."

"The Starlight's?" Lita asked, "Aren't they hear for that tour across China, Korea and Japan?"

"Yeah but they released a statement saying they were going to stay in Japan for a bit before continuing the tour yesterday," Mina said.

"Speaking of yesterday," Amy said softly, "how's Serena?"

"No idea," Lita admitted, "I called last night but her mother said she was staying at Darien's place for the night."

Mina turned to Lita abruptly. "Her father was okay with that?"

"I don't think he had much say once Aunt Ellen got involved," Travis' strong voice cut in from behind them. "You aren't really buying into all this celebrity stuff are you?"

"The Starlight's are legends Travis," Crystal mocked from beside him, "have you not heard any of their music, they are amazing." Mina quickly grabbed her hands with fake tears falling down her cheeks.

"Are they not the best band ever?" Mina asked.

"The best ever!" Travis just looked at his girlfriend in shock suddenly questioning how he could be so in love with her if she had a love for this boy band. "Has anyone seen Serena?"

"Not yet," Amy answered finally closing the book she had open during the whole exchange. "How is she?"

"She's okay, just needs a little time to adjust."

"Look!" Mina and Crystal shouted in unison as a black limousine pulled up, the cheering got louder as the passenger door opened. Stepping out of the vehicle were three men, the two blondes squealed in excitement as they caught a glimpse of the three. The attention of the crowd was short lived as soon as the principal made an announcement over the speaker encouraging everyone make their way to their classes.

Travis took his usual seat behind Crystal in English while the seat beside him that was usually his sisters remained empty. ::Serena?::

::I'm coming:: Serena thought back to him through their bond they had been given back in the moon kingdom as a gift from their mother when he had to go to the Sun Kingdom to begin his training.. ::I just slept in:: Almost on cue the door burst open and Serena ran in dropping her bag on her seat and taking a deep breath. "I do not miss running at all."

Crystal laughed at that comment remembering the stories of how late and unreliable she was before Travis arrived in town and they found out he was her twin.

"What's all the commotion that's going on outside?" Serena asked curiously before the commotion she was referring to got louder. "Is that-?"

"Yeah," Travis sank back in his seat when the door opened and Miss Haruna entered the room followed by the three men who caused all the commotion in the first place stood at the front of the class. The girls in the class stopped what they were doing including Mina who started tapping her desk and calling out the name "Yaten."

The three made quick introductions before taking their seats. Yaten had long snow white hair that was pinned back in a low lying ponytail much like his brothers; he took the seat beside Mina while Taiki took the spare seat beside Crystal. Taiki had long brown hair and the last one took a seat beside Serena.

"We meet again meatball head," the man answered teasingly leaning over to her.

"What are you doing here?" Serena asked easing her chair away from him; she recognised him from the airport and frowned. "I thought I told you not to call me that again."

"You did, but I chose to ignore you," the man held out his hand briefly, "I'm Seiya and you are?"

"Serena," Serena answered purely out of politeness.

"What's with your boyfriend?" Seiya asked referring to Travis who just glared at him.

"Ugh, he's not my boyfriend - it would be too weird," Serena said, before clarifying at his confused expression. "He's my twin brother Travis."

"Your brother?" Seiya answered lost in thought. "Where's candy hair?"

She was just about to ask him why he asked about Reenie when Miss Haruna silenced the classroom and opened up the assigned reading requesting the students pull out their homework.

The three blondes sat in the bleachers watching as Lita and Travis attempted their hand at athletics, Luna joined them not long after the final bell rang and the three watched on eagerly.

"So how are you really Serena?" Crystal asked, while it was no secret the two started off with a rocky relationship it was now getting into a more comfortable friendship. Both of them, along with Mina had been given the nickname of the Blonde Trinity by their friends with how often they would hang out together.

"I'm okay," Serena's eyes moved to her hand subconsciously, she still hadn't been able to keep her eyes off the fact Darien had bought her such a nice ring. "It's just weird."

"It will be," Mina added with concern, "but you're staying at his apartment right? That's got to be helping."

"It does a little," Serena started to play with the ring, "especially with Reenie there."

"What's that?" Mina pointed to her ring as Crystal grabbed the girl's hand pulling it up for a clearer view. "Crystal is that what I think it is?"

"It's exquisite," Crystal admitted moving the girls hand closer to Mina so she could see it closer. Serena pulled her hand back nervously.

"What are you two on about?" Serena was clearly confused about what they were seeing.

"Serena," Mina started, "did Darien propose to you?"

"No!" Serena jumped in quickly, "he said that this was for me to have a piece of him with me that's it."

"I don't think so girlfriend," Crystal said defensively, "that's an engagement ring if I ever saw one."

"And one hell of a one as well," Crystal let go of the hand as Mina started to squeal. "Wait til the girls hear about this!"

"Is it?" Serena asked looking down at her hand a crimson spreading across her cheeks, 'Was that really what you meant Darien?' she thought to herself in silence before allowing a few tears to trail down her cheek.

"Serena?" Crystal asked concerned, sometimes she felt like she was missing part of a bigger picture when it came to Travis and her friends and this felt like one of those moments as she watched Mina study her friend cautiously.

"I'm okay," Serene got to her feet. "I'm just going to head home, tell Lita and Travis I'm sorry, I just really need to be alone for a bit."

::Are you okay?:: Travis' voice boomed into her mind unexpectedly making her eyes dart up and catch him running around the field sitting in second place.

::Yeah, I just need some space. Come over tonight?:: Serena asked her brother before saying goodbye and leaving her friends to stare after her as she went back to her place to grab a bag of things.

Serena was thankful arriving at the Tsukinio residence when she saw that her father was at work. It meant that it was only her mother at home with Reenie in the kitchen making a pie. She took her shoes off and placed them neatly by the door before joining the women in the kitchen. Even she could notice herself how much she had changed over the last few months. She put the new found maturity down to the influx of memories she appeared to be slowly regaining, losing Reenie really flicked a switch for her as well.

"Hi Mom, hi Reenie," Serena took a seat at the counter watching her future daughter bond with her grandmother. Her own relationship had gotten a lot closer since she learnt about her own daughter. Sometimes she wished she could tell her mother about Reenie, but she also knew that it would put her family in such danger.

"Hi Sweetie," Mrs Tsukinio said gently her eyes averting from Reenie to Serena as she picked up two spoons. "Now I want you to get two spoons like this and grab the mixture to measure correctly, then roll into balls and put on this tray over here."

"Okay Aunt Ellen," Reenie nodded enthusiastically putting all her concentration into the mixture in her small hands. Serena watched as her mother washed her hands before taking a seat beside her daughter.

"Are you okay?" Mrs Tsukinio asked her daughter cautiously.

Serena rolled her eyes knowing how worrisome her mother could be. "Yes."

"Are you sure?" Mrs Tsukinio was gentle in words, "I've had all your friends call last night to make sure you are okay since he left."

"I am really," Serena whispered considering how to bring up what was on her mind, "But I actually wanted to talk to you," her mother had her full attention on Serena after being satisfied with the few cookies Reenie had done infront of her. "I want to stay at his apartment until school ends."

"I don't think your father would agree," Mrs Tsukinio spoke honestly; "It was easy to convince him for one night. But he won't like the idea at all; you know he still sees you as his little girl."

"What would it take for him to let me do it?" Serena asked, she wanted to tell her mother that she just needed this. "I'm just house sitting until he gets back."

"It's not the house sitting part he opposes Serena," Mrs Tsukinio's face faltered as she caught the gaze of her daughter's eyes beginning to water. "Don't pull that face Serena."

"Travis will be with me, I just, it makes it easier and it's closer to the school." Serena brushed her hair over her shoulder as a nervous reflex when her mother noticed the ring on her hand, quickly she grabbed her daughters hand her eyes going wide.

"Are you engaged Serena?" Mrs Tsukinio neither had anger or happiness in her tone, it purely neutral. "Be honest with me."

"I don't know," Serena confessed, "everyone is saying the same thing, but he gave it to me at the airport yesterday."

Her mother looked it over again and muttered the words 'expensive' and 'he's a college boy right' while she looked at the ring. "It's beautiful."

"It should be, we spent ages trying to find the perfect one for her," Reenie dusted her hands on her apron facing the two women with a serious look on her face. Ellen's mouth dropped open when she saw Reenie looking just like her daughter at that age.

"You helped him pick it?" Serena asked looking at her future daughter in awe snapping her own mother out of her inner thoughts. "Thank you."

"He said he needed my help for one that was perfect, he wanted to make sure he got the right ring he knew you should have," Reenie explained, "it's just like the one my Mommy wears all the time."

"It's very beautiful," Mrs Tsukinio admitted, "But it also looks very expensive, how did he afford something like this while putting money away for college?"

"Darien's very good financially mom, honestly," Serena whispered, "I wish Daddy would give him a chance."

"He may have to with that ring on your finger," Mrs Tsukinio admitted with a laugh, "He's going to have a coronary." Her mother scooted to her feet and grabbed her daughter. "Alright, should I be taking this as an official start to you moving out of home? That way I can slowly ease your father into the idea?"

"I don't know, like I said it's housesitting, and really it'll be good for me to be so much closer to school," Serena whispered, truth was she was just trying to think of as many excuses as she could. Being in the apartment made it easier to cope without him here, she felt closer to him by being in his home – a home she hoped to share with him soon enough.

"I'll tell you what?" Serena looked up at her mother, "Travis needs to house sit with you the entire time, I love your brother, but your father seems to think he can keep you in line since the day he met you and got you out of bed. You need to check in every day."

"Anything Mom, I promise," Serena smiled up at her mother thankfully before wrapping her arms around and hugging her tightly. "You don't know how much this means to me."

"I may change my mind when your father gets home," Mrs Tsukinio teased as Serena raced up the stairs to her bedroom to grab a few things to take with her. The woman looked at Reenie who stared just as confused after the teenager, "don't ever get that weird Reenie, stay just the way you are."

"I'll try," Reenie promised with a smile on her face.

"Seiya, will you stop staring out the window," Yaten grilled his brother from his spot on the couch in front of the television.

"We aren't getting any closer to our princess by sitting here," Seiya pointed out carefully, his body not moving from its position as he continued looking out the window.

"That's why we have our princess' song, she will hear it and come to us," Taiki added from his post across from Yaten.

"What if she can't?" Seiya said through anger, "what if all this is for nothing? Not to mention the dreams and the strange energy we are sensing here."

"We need to have faith, our princess led us here and-"Yaten paused mid-sentence when the three sensed a spike in energy. "Did you feel that?"

"Let's go," Seiya got to his feet standing strong for a moment before Taiki grabbed the house keys and the three raced out the door.

She stood nervously in front of her master with her head bowed, not out of respect but out of fear. Darkness and stars surrounded her as she stood with her short white hair pinned up in two pigtails at her sides barely reaching her shoulders; she wore a leotard that was as white as her hair, golden wrist bands glowing in the darkness that surrounded them.

"Sailor Iron Mouse," the woman on the throne demanded barely blinking. "What have you found for me?"

"We believe that they are here Sailor Galaxia," Iron Mouse answered dutifully. "All three of them."

"Have you found the earth's star seed?" Sailor Galaxia asked seriously, "Without that star seed we cannot take over this planet and move on to the next."

"It's on the move, Sailor Tin Nyanko is current scoping it out, we will continue to track it until we have a time in which we can attack."

"In the meantime, we need to find our trio of trespassers, bring them to me before they find that measly princess of theirs," Sailor Galaxia said agitated, "I don't care how you do it but make it happen."

"Yes ma'am," Iron Mouse bowed her head again as a telephone box appeared behind her, she stepped into it closing her eyes when the box vanished and reopened it when it appeared in an apartment. Opening the door to the personal phone box she stepped out into the room finally letting the box disappear.

"What did she want?" A small voice said from behind her flicking the lights on in the small apartment they'd concocted for their stay on Earth. Sailor Iron Mouse was no longer in her white leotard instead she wore skinny jeans and a lose fitting white shirt with a gold bracelet on each wrist; the civilian looks purely for blending in, she turned around quickly to greet the voice.

"Sailor Lead Crow," Iron Mouse answered quickly.

The woman had long red hair trailing down her back; she wore black shorts and a black tank top. "So what did she want?" Sailor Lead Crow asked moving to the kitchen, pulling a bottle of juice out and grabbing two cups. "Did she say how long we were going to be here for?"

"She thinks the three trespassers are here," Iron Mouse admitted taking the cup from Lead Crow; it was simple things like now that reminded her that she was still part human despite being a Sailor Scout.

"If they are then they got here before us and have probably already sensed us nearby," Lead Crow was concerned at this; the only reason they were so successful on previous planets was because their arrival was unexpected. "Aluminium Siren called not long before you got back; she got what the Galaxia was after she's on her way back now. Tin Nyanko is investigating a lead she got earlier."

"How are we going to find all the star seeds?" Iron Mouse asked.

"Best way is to blend in and find the brightest ones we can," Lead Crow picked up their dirty glasses and put them in the sink. "We need to find those trespassers as quick as possible so we can move on and stop them from finding their princess."

The good thing about the darkness was it was easier to sneak around, to stalk your prey and make sure you had the upper advantage. A young woman stood tall wearing a dress that was trimmed in red but mostly black with a bowl on the front and cat bells lined down the middle. Three rows of bells adjourned the headgear she wore with a bright gold star in the middle.

"Such strong power here," she whispered to herself when her eyes settled on a young man sitting along on the bench. "What are you doing here all alone?" The young man looked up from his phone surprised, but didn't answer. "It doesn't matter, I don't really care I just want your star seed."

The girl moved her arms in front of her; her bracelets began to glow when energy flew out of them knocking the phone out of the boy's hands. A diamond shaped crystal fell out of his body as his body went limp dropping to the ground, she moved forward and snatched the crystal looking at it carefully before stuffing it in her pocket. 'What a waste' she thought to herself.t

"JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"

"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"

"SOLAR FLARE!"

Sailor Sol appeared out of nowhere rushing for the girl and catching her by surprise. He wore a one piece pant suit that hugged his body rather tightly showing the contours of his muscle. His shirt was white with yellow sleeves, complimenting the gold sheen of his pants that moved down to ankle boots a similar shade to his matching belt with the sign of the sun in the middle. On his right side rested his white scabbard he now held in his hand.

"Is that all you got?" she shouted as she jumped out of the way of his attack barely avoiding Mars and Jupiter's attacks. "So the legends are true."

"HOLD IT!" Sailor Moon cut in as the other Sailor Scouts appeared, "What do you think you're doing on this beautiful planet? You dare bring darkness here and destroy what we've fought for so long to protect. I am Sailor Moon."

"And I am Sailor Crescent Moon," Sailor Crescent Moon mimicked the same movements Sailor Moon did, her skirt was the same blue as the older scout but her bows and boots were the same pink as her hair. "And in the name of the moon we will right all wrongs and triumph over evil."

"And that means you," the duo said in unison.

"That's odd; there was never a Sailor of the Moon in the Silver Millennium."

"What would you know about the Silver Millennium," Sailor Sol asked getting to his feed agitated.

"Simple, I am Sailor Tin Nyanko," Tin Nyanko introduced herself proudly, "Proud warrior of Galaxia; Soon to be destroyer of this planet."

"Not on our watch!" Sailor Jupiter shouted moving forward with Sailor Venus at her side.

"JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"

"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK

"GALACTICA DARKNESS SURROUND!"

Sailor Tin Nyanko moved her hands in front of her again before raising them to the sky, dark clouds formed and lightning began to spin around her until she opened her arms wide. The energy moved and raced around each one of the scouts pulling them together and landing them in a heap.

"Pathetic," Tin Nyanko mocked, "What a waste." She moved to Sailor Moon and Crescent Moon watching them carefully. "There's a few of you I'm not familiar with," her gaze moved across Mercury, Mars, Venus and Jupiter before settling on Sailor Sol. "You three I don't remember from the last time we were in this part of the universe."

"STAR HEALER TORNADO!" A blast of wind slashed forward breaking the barrier that surrounded the scouts on the ground and sent Tin Nyanko back a few steps.

"What the…" Tin Nyanko froze as she spotted the three figures standing infront of her. Three figures infront of her wear short skirts with straps wrapping around their waists forming into the tops of their shirts stood in front of them. "YOU!"

"Forget them," A voice interrupted, "Return Tin Nyanko, it's too dangerous."

"Yes Galaxia," Tin Nyanko didn't even look back instead she just vanished leaving the scouts silently questioning these figures infront of them. Sailor Moon raced forward holding her arms open.

"Who are you?" She asked demandingly.

"None of your concern, with the Sailor Animamates here your planet is doomed," the first one spoke, Sailor Moon looked at her trying to figure out where she had seen the black eyed beauty before.

"You need to be more careful, if they get your star seeds this planet will be destroyed," The second one added, brushed her long brown hair off her shoulder.

"Be on guard Sailor Scouts," The third added before the three vanished.

"What the hell was that?" Sailor Mercury asked surprising everyone as she typed away at her computer. "Their energy levels are through the roof."

It was Amara who stopped what she was doing in the kitchen of the apartment she shared with Michelle, Hotaru and a lesser extent Setsuna when she was in town. She felt the surge of energy spike putting the cup of coffee she held back on the counter top.

"Did you sense that as well?" Michelle asked the blonde as she stood in the doorway, her long aqua hair pulled to the side in a low ponytail with a black ribbon. In her hands she held her mirror, her reflection a little hazy around her reflection. "I sense a change."

Amara narrowed her eyes when she turned around, "not for the best I can only assume?"

The sound of the front door opening didn't get her the time answer as they moved into the main room quickly. Helios stood in the middle of the room seemingly out of place in a pair of jeans and button up dress shirt the same colour as his priest robes.

"Helios?" Michelle asked kindly as she noticed the child standing next to him, she looked just old enough to start elementary school if she was lucky, she had long blonde hair pulled up in a ponytail, a thin braid spread from the left to the right like a built in headband. Her baby doll dress the same blue as her eyes, she held onto a doll and a small box. "How bad is it?"

"Can't really say," Helios answered seriously, "Setsuna wants you to look after the munchkin until she can get here."

Amara watched the priest carefully her eyes moving over to the child before she frowned. "I imagine this didn't go down without a fight?"

Helios just shrugged, "You'll have to ask her about it when she gets here," he knelt down to the child so he was at her level. "Behave squirt," the child let go of his hand as he looked up at the women in the room. "Setsuna says she needs to be here please make sure she is kept safe."

"Bye Helios," the child answered putting her doll on the table in the middle of the room before climbing onto the couch and making herself comfortable.

"What brings you here little one?" Michelle asked sitting on the couch next to the child and gently running her hands through the child's hair as she refused to let go of her box and doll. The Outer scouts were often required in the future to help Setsuna on certain missions where the future court didn't necessarily have the manpower behind them.

"So we've got trouble Helios?" Amara frowned, "should have known better."

"I felt it too; I was hoping the peace would last long enough for the others to at least finish their studies." Michelle said sadly as she continued to run her hands through the now sleeping child's soft hair. "I hope that for Setsuna's sake, when they realize she is here she is prepared for chaos."

"I have to go back," Helios interrupted, "I can trust her in your protection until Setsuna gets here?"

The two women nodded.

"I have to go back to Elysian, please don't tell the other's I was here," Helios expression remained serious as he vanished as quickly as he arrived leaving the small child looking between the two women with her.

Serena sat alone in her usual booth at the arcade as groups of girls gathered around the latest addition to the high school. There had been complete chaos when they arrived and slowly as each passed it was decreasing, not that it really made much of a difference for her. She'd spent the last few days with her heart in another country on the opposite side of the world.

"Chocolate Fudge Milkshake," Andrew interrupted her thoughts pushing the tall glass infront of her. "Cheer up Serena."

"I am Andrew," Serena looked at him gratefully taking the milkshake in her hands as the blonde male just looked at her with a raised brow. The truth was he'd known this girl since she was in grade school and right now he knew she was only putting on a brave face. "What?"

"Travis will be here soon, so you might want to fake your happiness a bit more if you don't want him to worry," Andrew suggested with a hint of sarcasm knowing how well the two knew each other inside and out. He took a seat opposite her and just sat still watching her carefully as she drank the milkshake. "Want to be honest with me?"

Serena pushed her glass away from her hands towards Andrew and looked at him; tears were beginning to brim in her eyes. Andrew quickly went from sitting opposite her to moving to her side of the booth and placing an arm around her.

"I didn't mean to make you cry Serena," Andrew answered sincerely.

"Darien hasn't called or anything," Serena cried into him.

"He's probably just busy," Andrew said positively. "Remember he's in medicine school now so he is probably working crazy hours and everything to get as much experience as possible."

"I know," Serena wiped her eyes, "but it's just so hard, I just got him back you know?" Andrew nodded understanding where she was coming from. It was during after their second showdown with Nehelenia when Darien had been forced to explain the truth to his best friend when he found him unconscious in his apartment before disappearing before his very eyes.

Regardless to say Andrew proved to be more intuitive than anyone thought before and he wasn't as shocked about the identities of his friends. Only Serena, Travis, Darien and Reenie knew that Andrew knew their secret but it was decided it was best to keep it a secret from the other girls.

"Serena!" Reenie's voice carried across from the door as she raced over to the booth pausing at the edge when she saw Andrew. "Serena," her voice dropped a few decibels she looked on concerned when Travis reached the table, his girlfriend Crystal standing beside him. Crystal was half a foot shorter than her counterpart.

"I'm okay," Serena's sobbing gently eased, "Sorry guys."

"It's okay Serena," Andrew said truthfully, "I'm gonna go get you a new milkshake." Her eyes lit up briefly as Andrew got up letting Reenie climb in beside her. "I won't be too long guys."

Travis stepped back and let Crystal slide in before following her, Reenie moved closer to the girl who would be her mother in the future and looked up concerned.

"Still no word?" Travis asked his sister cautiously, she nodded.

"I know he's got a lot going on for him," Serena explained.

"Who does he think he is?" Crystal snapped turning to her boyfriend. "If you ever did that to me, I would kick your ass so hard you wouldn't know what hit you."

Travis gulped looking at his feisty girlfriend, "Let's hope it never comes to that."

"Would you really hurt his pretty face?" Reenie teased, Crystal smirked.

Soundtrack: Come Back Home – We Are The In Crowd

Authors Notes: Hi guys! Sorry for the delay, hope you all had a great Easter regardless of where you are in the world. I love knowing that people are reading, so remember if you read to leave a review and let me know your thoughts. Love it? Hate it? Let me know!