FA: Stars : Epilogue
"What the fuck?" Crystal voice snapped interrupting all their thoughts, she got up from her spot on the couch where Lunic had been resting on her after being dropped off by Helios. She looked around as she saw the four Sailor Scouts walking through the door of the balcony, followed by Darien in black armour, Travis in gold armour both with a sword on their hips before Serena walked in closing the doors behind her. "What the hell is going on here?"
Travis didn't say anything; truth was he really didn't know what to say to the girl. He'd promised her an explanation and he wasn't really sure he could give that to her, instead he moved closer to the young woman and swept her up in his arms. Her body pressed against his armour as she silently noted the differences between Travis with this armour on and normal Travis. "I love you so much Crystal," Travis said honestly burying his head in her neck and taking in everything about her. "Marry me?" he whispered, his arms never letting her get more a few inches away.
"What?" Crystal asked pushing him back, Serena watched with a smirk, somehow this scenario gave her Deja vu. "You disappear, in the middle of our anniversary date, tell me you are Sailor Sol, Lunic calls me her mother, and then you arrive back here, looking like a knight in shining armour and you think I'll just marry you like that?"
It was Raye who smirked and almost choked on air causing the others to laugh as they looked on with interest to see what the feisty girl had to say. Crystal watched Travis, he looked downright uncomfortable and disappointed in himself, and she touched his arm gently.
"But you're damn right I will," Crystal finally said after a moment of silence as she threw herself at him, Travis pulled her closer than ever pressing her body against him and kissing her deeply.
"I don't have a ring," Travis whispered when he pulled away from her tender kiss, but she just shushed him telling him she didn't care. Travis stepped away when he finally caught sight of his daughter and with nothing but silence he went to her side gently nudging her awake. "Honey?"
The child's eyes fluttered before she rolled over turning away from the man, Serena burst out laughing as the rest of the girls changed back into their civilian forms. "Yeah, she's definitely related to me."
"I would have said Crystal," Travis said with a smirk looking at his now fiancé, she blushed at the truth behind it. His words also solidified the knowledge that somehow, this child was their daughter. She didn't ask a lot of questions, waiting for him to explain, she watched how gentle he was with the angel as he rolled her back over so he could see her blue eyes. "Are you going to wake up for me?"
"Daddy?" Lunic's voice whispered wiping her eyes, she shot up quickly seeing him and wrapped her arms around him, she was crying. "You came back!"
"Came back?" Crystal asked confused. Travis simply mouth over the girl in his arms that he would explain later.
"I'll never leave you," Travis promised.
"We should probably head home ourselves," Mina piped, "my parents are probably freaking out. Sleepover?"
"Sounds good," Lita answered with a small smile at everyone else. "It's been fun guys, but I've died enough for one night."
"That's not funny at all Lita," Raye teased, "We should have a meeting tomorrow?"
"Let's do it here," Darien offered, "I'll order pizza and we can catch up on what's happened in the last month or two."
"Sounds good," Amy said with the others nodding. Serena got to her feet to walk her friends to the door leaving Darien watching Travis and Crystal.
"Uncle Darien!" Lunic said with a little excitement, "where have you been?"
Darien didn't know what to say to the girl he was technically meeting for the first time in his life. He sent Travis a look of sympathy as he recalled what it was like discovering the truth about Reenie. "I've been busy little one."
"Reading your big books?" Lunic asked.
"Something like that," Darien answered with a small smile, "there's something that doesn't quite make sense to me though."
"What's that?" Travis asked.
"When I died, Reenie did too," Darien whispered, "But Serena said she sent Lunic off with Helios before she attempted to heal Galaxia." Travis nodded understanding his question. "How did she survive?"
"She was protected by the light of hope," Luna's voice interrupted for them from the spot she had been watching patiently from.
"Did that cat just talk?" Crystal asked picking the cat up in her arms and looking into her eyes as if expecting the cat to just stare at her blankly.
Luna rolled her eyes. "You can put me down now."
Serena joined them after a few minutes; Darien was on his feet in an instant as she moved grabbing his hands and smiled at her brother. ::Darien and I need to talk:: Serena told her brother through their bond as she led him to his bedroom and closed the door behind them.
"Do I even want to know?" Crystal asked, Travis just laughed getting to his feet and holding his hands out for hers to help her up leading her out to the balcony.
"Don't worry about me, I know how to entertain myself," Lunic smiled grabbing the remote control and turning on the television.
Crystal pulled Travis back quickly before he was able to walk onto the balcony, "Maybe get out of that outfit? People would start talking about weird people on balconies and such." Travis looked down at his armour and choosing not to argue he concentrated sending his armour fading back into the clothes from their date. "That's amazing, how did you do that?"
"Skill I guess," Travis smirked closing the balcony doors behind them, he opened his arms so Crystal could stand infront of him as he leaned his elbows on the railing. "This feels good."
"What does?" Crystal asked leaning into him, the moon rising into the sky.
"Not having to hide anything from you," Travis whispered, "It feels normal."
"You said you'd give me answers," Crystal said.
"Ask away, we've got all the time in the world."
"When?"
"Since I was born I guess, but I didn't know the truth until I moved to town and met Serena," Travis wrapping his right arm around her waist pulling her even closer. "It was nice to have family again."
"She's really your sister then?" Crystal asked, he nodded. "So, Sailor Sol is really Sailor Moon's brother?"
"Yeah, but there was never meant to be a Sailor of the Moon or of the Sun."
"That outfit you were wearing before, why did you have the armour but the others were as Sailor Scouts?"
"That's my true form, we aren't normal Crystal." Her breath hitched not knowing what she should expect from that revelation. "The sailor scouts were all born on their respective planets; Serena and I were born as Serenity and Tranquility to Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom over a thousand years ago."
Crystal was silent as he began to recount the little memories he had from his time on the Moon Kingdom, how he spent every waking moment with his sister until their fifth birthday when he was sent to the Sun to begin his training to take over his father's throne while Serenity was taught to rule over the Moon Kingdom.
"If you have all those memories, how can you be truly happy with me?" Crystal asked, his arms tightened around her.
"Hey," Travis whispered gently, "I love you; there is nothing that can change that."
"You're a prince though, I'm just plain," Crystal lack of confidence was a surprising factor. "What if I'm not-"
"Never say anything like that," Travis was firm as he kissed her cheek moving inch by inch closer to her mouth and turning her around so she had her legs against the railing. "You are the only one for me, does this not feel right?" His hands held hers and he laced his fingers with hers putting her hand on his heart. "Can you not feel my heart beating?" She nodded, "it only beats like this with you."
"And Lunic? Where does she play into all this?" Crystal asked the question that had been burning in her head since she first her say the word 'Mommy'.
"Exactly who she said she was last night," Travis watched her carefully as she took in what he had said.
"Ours?" Crystal looked at him pointing to the inside of the apartment. "She's ours? But I haven't' gotten pregnant, we haven't even-"
"Not yet," Travis interrupted her quickly, "She's from the future."
"Oh sure," Crystal threw her hands in the air, "Sailor Scout, Prince in hiding, why not a daughter from the future." He was silent as she continued her little rant. "How long have you known?"
"Only a few weeks."
"Is that why you avoided me?"
"A little," Travis admitted, "The truth was I didn't know how to approach it with you, I didn't know that she was your daughter until a week or so ago."
"What would you have done if she wasn't?" Crystal asked seriously, "Would you have broken up with me?"
"No," Travis admitted, "I don't know, it's something I don't want of think of."
"When will she be returning to the future?" Crystal asked curiously as he nodded his answer. "She's such an intelligent little girl, when your friend Helios brought her back here, she was so distraught, she didn't tell me that you had been hurt."
"I never want to put you in that situation again," Travis answered, "I'll always find a way back to you."
"And what if you don't?" Crystal had tears forming in her eyes at this thought, "I never knew how much I wanted it all until I held her in my arms, that little girl who sung my own song back to me, that girl who returned was nothing but a shell that looked like she'd been through world war three. What kinds of parents send a child into such trouble?"
"They didn't send her intentionally," Travis stated, "You know about Pluto right?"
"Yeah, she doesn't seem to be around that much though."
"That's because she's busy as the guardian of time, she guards the timeline and protects the gate between the present and Crystal Tokyo." He forgot that he hadn't explained about Crystal Tokyo. "Crystal Tokyo is Tokyo one thousand years from now. It is ruled by Neo Queen Serenity and Neo King Endymion."
"Darien and Serena?"
"Is it okay if I come out here with you?" Lunic's voice interrupted their discussion, but it was Crystal who nodded her approval and tapped the seat next to the little table beside her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I thought I could show you help explain some things."
"What would Pluto say?" Travis asked the girl seriously but she just shrugged.
"She told me there were some things I could tell her, she said it would help her understand what the future holds." Lunic said indifferently as she took the seat next to her young mother. She pulled her own communicator off her wrist and flicked open the top of it pressing a button and having a hologram style image show in front of them of a selection of photographs of herself, some with Reenie.
Crystal and Travis watched on in interest as they gazed at the girl who would be their daughter, the thrill of learning new things about her when they didn't have much time with her to begin with.
Darien flipped her around so her back was on the door and pressed himself into her, he'd missed everything about her. His lips moved in sync with hers, her hands moving on their own and moved to unhook his cape from his armour. "Don't you ever do that to me again," Serena said seriously pulling her lips away from his.
"I don't plan on it princess," Darien whispered back moving to trail kisses along her neck.
"You really shouldn't wear this," her hands moved around the arm while she tilted her head up to accept his kiss. "It reminds me of all the times sneaking around on the Moon."
"I can always change if you prefer," Darien suggested with a smirk.
"Preferably not," Serena squealed as he swept his arms under legs and picked her up walking over to the bed and putting her down. She didn't know what to do, this was never a situation the two had found themselves in before, but Darien looked like he was ready to undress her.
His hands traced the bare skin of her shoulder blades as he took off her shoulder straps, trailing his soft kisses around her shoulders instead. "I've missed you Serenity." Her skin was flustered hot as he touched her.
"I missed you to Endymion," Serena said, using their royal names often brought them back to the time a thousand years earlier when Endymion would have to sneak around the palace to see her. "I never want to lose you again."
"You'll never lose me my love," Darien moved so he was over her body trailing his hand up and down her side, he reached for her hand that held the ring on it he had given her before he left. "This was only the start of it all."
"Reenie said she helped pick it out?" Serena asked giving him a kiss.
"Our daughter has great taste," Darien smirked.
"Where'd she go?" Serena asked, "she didn't come back with everyone else."
"Setsuna said she returned to the future," Darien answered seriously sitting up and changing himself into his civilian clothes. Serena went to do the same but he stopped her. "I like the dress Princess."
Serena blushed; he moved to the head of the bed and rested against the frame opening his arms for the young woman to move closer. "So we have a niece hmm?"
"We do," Serena answered, "She's lovely, honestly."
"Crystal is her mother?" Darien asked.
"He hoped, but he was afraid when we learnt that Princess Kakyuu and he had an 'arranged' marriage of sorts back in the Silver Millennium," Serena started getting to her feet, "let's go join them."
She held her hands out for his and led him out the room after changing. They found the three of them on the balcony laughing at something Lunic was showing them. Crystal got up quickly seeing Serena and Darien emerge and took a seat on Travis' lap.
"Lunic was just showing us some photos," Crystal explained with one arm hanging over Travis' shoulders.
"This is nice," Serena answered, "The five of us together like this."
"It is," Darien answered.
"I have to go home soon though," Lunic said quietly, "I wish I could have spent more time here, it's so different to back home."
"You'll be back soon enough," Travis said with a small smile, "Reenie always is."
That made the child smile; she clicked the button on her watch making the pictures disappear and climbed up to sit in between the two couples. For now everything seemed to settle as the sun continued to rise into the sky, the darkness fading with the dawn bringing a new day, and a new future.
"Here we are again," Darien whispered as he held the duffle bag over his shoulder, his other hand holding onto Serena's. She looked up at him, once again the tears fighting for release as she stared up at him. His hand traced the ring on her finger and he pulled her close, earlier that morning they had sent Lunic back to the future with Setsuna leaving everyone to adjust to getting back to reality.
"It'll be different this time Darien," Travis assured his brother from behind the two, Crystal was beside him. "There is no Galaxia this time."
"What about the person who killed Galaxia? We know he's out there planning," Darien didn't let go of his girlfriend as the words escaped his lips.
"Darien's right Travis," Serena whispered.
"Enough what if's," Travis said adamantly, "We've got a few months before graduation," Travis was concerned himself about what his sister had told him she had witnessed about Galaxia's death. But he knew better than to put everything on hold for it, he was trying to have faith in their friends and their training to be prepared for whatever was to come. "You need to get back to what you were doing before all this happened."
"Are your parents and Uncle Jake still okay with you house sitting for me?" Darien asked his brother with a small smile knowing that he was right.
"He is now that you are leaving," Travis teased, Crystal laughed.
"Sounds familiar does it?" Crystal teased with a smirk, "Have a safe trip Darien, I'll keep her company when Travis has had enough of her."
"Hey!" Serena said feigning agitation as Darien thanked Crystal.
"I really need to go now," his attention quickly turned back to his girlfriend. "I'll see you at graduation."
"If she graduates," Travis ducked his head barely avoiding his sister's hand. A smile formed on her face and he made a mental note to thank his brother for easing the situation. Serena pushed her brother away with one hand; Crystal moved to drag her boyfriend away from the couple so they could say their goodbyes.
"I love you meatball head," Darien whispered dropping his duffle bag to the ground.
"I love you too," Serena answered as he picked her up easily, her legs went to wrap around his waist as he kissed her deeply not wanting to let go. After a few moments he put her down and straightened up her dress.
"I'll call you the moment we land," he promised, "then when I get to the dorms."
"You don't-"she started but a finger to her lips cut her off. "Okay, I look forward to it."
"Not long to go now, and then we'll never be apart again." He promised.
One more kiss and he finally let her go picking up his bag again, he handed his pass to the hostess standing by the counter turning to give Serena his trade mark smirk. Serena watched him as he walked down the tunnel to his plane until he was out of sight. This time things were going to be different and he would come back to her.
Soundtrack: Au Revoir - One Republic
Authors: Til Part 2 - Au Revoir!