Hey guys! Thanks everyone for your wonderful reviews. As always, I am glad that you are enjoying the story. Special thanks to sabina21, Aiyoku Saotome, LoveInTheBattleField, GraphicsChyk, mrs. yarley, ISana55 and everyone else who reviewed the last chapter. Also, thanks to everyone who has favorite and is now following Ever After.

Aiyoku Saotome, thank you so much for your compliment. It means a lot to me. And I totally agree that fillers are important also. You want to get to the end, but the journey there is just as important.

Guest, This is for the guest who asked about the dream scene. Is it a dream or was it real? It will be explained later on in the story, but it's more symbolic for future events.

reader, for the reader who asked about making Darien pay. Oh, don't worry, he will.

mrs. yarley, thank you so much for your review and compliment. It means a great deal to me, too.

ISan55, thank you for your review, and I am glad that you are enjoying the story. Sometimes, it takes mom to help us move forward.

sabina21, here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Chapter Fifteen

Home Sweet Home

Serena rode in the backseat of a taxi with her mother and daughters. Katie sat on her grandmother's lap discussing animals. Serena looked amused. Katie spoke to her grandmother the entire twelve hour flight about animals and asking a series of questions about airplanes. She was very inquisitive for a four-year-old. Her favorite question was "Why?"

The taxi cab stopped in front of the Tuskino household. Serena stared at the house of her childhood after not seeing it in eight years. She turned to see her mother already out of the car along with Katie. Serena slowly opened her door feeling like a sense of nostalgia. Rini slid out after her as her mother looked at the white two-storied home.

Rini grabbed her suitcase and stood next to her mom. "So this is the home that you grew up in?"

Serena nodded.

The front door of the house slowly crept opened. Serena stopped moving when she saw her old man standing in the doorway. Serena stilled when she realized that the old man was her father. Their eyes met. Ken Tuskino's stroke had taken years off of his life. The young, loving but stern father of Serena's youth no longer existed. He looked more like a man in his fifties than in his mid-forties. His hair was the color of salt and pepper. A few wrinkles etched permanently on his forehead and along his mouth. His eyes dull and no longer luster like the days of his youth. His eyeglasses were thicker as his vision had grown weaker over the years. His body frame appeared weaker and skinner. He was also shorter. His face skinner and paler almost ashen. He walked slower with a brown cane to support him since he broke his leg three years ago when he slipped and fell off the roof while cleaning the gutters. The doctor informed him that he was no longer a young man so his bones would not heal like a child's would. He now walked with a limp since his leg never completely healed. His back pain worried him, another problem that occurred from his fall from the roof. He constantly had to take powerful pain relievers to heal the pain. He moved slower now functioning the best way he could. It took him a minute to get up the stairs or even bathed and brushed his teeth and placed on his clothes.

He was dressed in a sweater and slacks and dressed shoes. He stared at the beautiful young woman in front of him. She was beautiful with her blue eyes and shoulder length blonde hair. She no longer had the baby fat of when she was a child. Her body was thicker as most women get once they become mothers. The little girls behind her were the split image of Serena as a child. The older one had Serena's looks and personality, while the younger one had her spirit.

In her eyes, there was a sense of sadness, embarrassment, and fear. Her innocence was gone since she had experience some of the cruelties of life. Her once bright eyes were as dull as his. She was no longer that beautiful little girl that he knew. She was a woman, the one that he saw her slowly become before Darien impregnated her and took her away from them. She was a stranger to him also since life had changed both of them over the last eight years. He feared that he was hallucinating. Serena slowly walked up towards him. He dreamed many days that his prodigal daughter would return to him seeking his forgiven for her sins. His wife informed him that he was a fool. Even though she despised what Darien did, Irene knew as much as Ken did that Darien loved Serena and would give her the best life that he could possibly give her just to spite them. Irene was right. Serena never returned to them. Darien had to leave her for this moment to happen. From the way Irene explained the strange conversation that she had with Darien before she left to bring back their daughter, Ken realized that letting Serena go was the hardest decision Darien Shields ever had to make in his life.

Serena said quietly breaking her father out of his thoughts, "Hello father."

He simply stared at her for a moment. Calmness rushed over him that he had not felt since the last day he saw her. Losing Serena slowly killed him inside. He took it hard and spent many days damning Darien for taking his child away and ruining her life. He prayed for their failure. He prayed that their marriage would fail and everyday wished for his daughter to return to his arms and apologized for going against his wishes. But that day never came. He spent years worrying about her. He wondered if she was well or even alive. She never sent him a birthday card or postcard. Every night he prayed that she was safe and happy and that God would bring her back to him. Every time he heard something negative about United States or about a young woman matching her age and description, he worried that it was his child. There was no worse feeling in the world for a parent than not knowing whether your child is safe in the world. He knew that Serena could handle herself, but she was his only daughter, and he worried about her well-being more than Sammy, even if feminists would call that sexist. She was always going to be his princess.

He knew that Serena had the baby and started to envy their friends who were now becoming grandparents bragging about their grandchildren as if they were the smartest and most beautiful children in the world. He even noticed the sadness in Irene's eyes as she watched her friends with their grandchildren.

Serena gulped with worried eyes as she waited for her father to say anything to her. His face was hard and then a happy sigh escaped his lips. Serena scoffed in relief. A youthful energy rose through him. His dull eyes brightened. He dropped his cane and held out his hands to her. Serena smiled as she rushed into his arms inhaling the scent of his fresh aftershave and cologne. They embraced each other. He held her in his arms as tightly as his skinny arms would allow. He inhaled the scent of her strawberry shampoo. Serena closed her eyes as she broke down into tears and her father began to cry also he closed his eyes. A yellow aura surrounded Serena as she held her father. His leg and heartbeat grew stronger. His back pain faded away. A youthful energy renewed inside of him that he had not felt in years. Serena cried in relief, "I love you daddy."

Ken said, "I love you too, sweetheart. I never stopped loving you. Welcome home, princess."

Ken gasped when Serena slowly backed away from him. He held out of his hands as he slowly clench and unclenched them easily. He smiled at his ability to compete the simple act of forming a fist again. It was something simple that a healthy person takes for granted and had become difficult for him to do in recent years due to his arthritis. He touched his back and there was no pain. He walked passed her and his legs strong again. He no longer needed his cane. He laughed out loud startling the girls and shocking his wife. His laughter was rich and jolly like he had not laugh like that in years. He turned to Serena with a look of contentment. She did not understand that look but she smiled when she saw the happiest in his eyes that were bright once more. The girls giggled at the silly old man that they assumed was their grandfather.

Ken raced passed his daughter and grabbed his cane. He jumped. He skipped and hopped around as he danced like a character in an MGM musical twirling and tossing his cane around. He jogged over to his wife whose wide eyes quickly lit up as she covered her mouth in amazement. She had not seen her husband so lively in years. The girls laughed when he picked up Irene effortlessly and spun her around in his arms. He started singing the tune of an old love song that they first danced together to when they were young and in love. Irene smiled as she looked into her husband's eyes as they danced in the streets as Irene laughed like she was a teenaged girl once again at his off key singing. She was surprised when he effortlessly dipped her and lifted her back up. The taxi driver grinned at the scene. Serena smiled as she watched her father slowly twirled her mother back to him and kissed her passionately on the lips telling her how much he loved her. The girls said, "Yucky" and poked their fingers in mouths in disgust to their grandparents and mother's amusement.

Ken went to help them with their luggage. Serena crossed the threshold of her childhood home and she felt a sense of lightness that she had not felt in years. Katie and Rini stood outside as Irene introduced Ken to his granddaughters. The girls were amused by the situation and instantly liked their grandfather. They giggled when he embraced Irene and placed a kiss on her cheek. Irene playfully slapped him. Serena's presence was bringing her husband back to life.

Serena walked around the house exploring it. Everything looked the same for the most part. The living room had new furniture. Serena saw a picture on top of the fireplace of Sammy posing in his cap and gown standing between his proud parents for his high school graduation next to her high school graduation picture with her friends. There was another picture right next that one where he was posing on a college campus with his parents next to him. Sammy looked quite handsome in the photograph with his brown hair, brown eyes, and boy next door good looks. He was taller with broad shoulders. She could totally see him as a lawyer. He had a playful glint in his eyes like he still caused mischief. Serena smirked. Both his high school diploma and college degree sat on the fireplace's mantel. Serena lifted it up and was surprised that her brother graduated with honors and top in his class. Who knew her brother was a genius?

She walked into her bedroom and was amazed that it was exactly the same way she left it decorated in pink with stuffed animals and her pink cover with the stars and crescent moons all over it.

"Wow, mommy! This is your room!" Katie and Rini walked into the room in amazement as they explored their mother's old room.

Rini laughed as she turned to her smiling mother. "Mom, you liked pink more than me."

"Rini, look!" Katie was sitting in the bed playing with the stuffed animals. Rini walked over to her. Katie played with a stuffed giraffe while Rini played with a gray stuffed hippopotamus.

Rini laughed as she hopped on the bed next to her sister. "This looks like my classmate Troy! I'm going to name him Troy!"

Serena glanced behind her and saw her parents standing in the doorway. Ken had his hand around Irene's waist. They both looked at the scene happy. Serena turned her head around and smiled at her daughters.

The accommodations that her parents made for Serena and her children surprised her. They gave the girls Serena's old room. They also fixed up the guest room for Serena to stay in. It was located at the far end of the hallway and it was much more mature. It was a nice-sized room with white walls and queen sized bed with red covers and pillows. It also had a white Chester drawer. On the other wall opposite the bed was a white door that was a small closet. Next to the door was a small TV on top of a DVD player on a small maple oak TV stand. The floor was colored with white carpet. Serena prayed that her daughters would not ruin it.

Serena realized that her parents were making this a long term situation. Serena smiled as she followed them downstairs. The girls were jumping up and down on their new bedroom as they watched Japanese cartoons.

"Mom, Dad…"

Her parents stopped at the end of the stairway. Ken asked, "Yes sweetheart?"

Serena asked, "Guys, you know this is not a long term situation, right? As soon as I get on my feet and find a place to stay, we're moving out."

Irene looked disappointed. "Serena, this is your home. You are more than welcome to stay here."

Irene and Ken walked into the living room as Serena followed. "Guys, I'm not going to be a burden."

Ken sat on the sofa and crossed his legs with one hand on the back of the sofa. He grinned to himself enjoying doing the simplest things that he once took for granted. Irene sat next to him as she leaned over and reached for the remote off of the square oak coffee table. Ken said, "Nonsense, you're staying."

Irene said flipping through the channels, "There's no rush dear. You have a home. The girls start school in a couple of weeks. We want to get to know my grandkids, so focus on getting yourself back together." Irene leaned over placing the remote down when she found something she was interested in watching.

"Guys-I'm going in two months…." Serena rolled her eyes when she realized they had tuned her out. They were into some soap opera.

Serena rushed upstairs. She opened the door and the girls looked guilty when she caught them jumping on the bed. The bed was a mess.

Katie gulped and quickly pointed to Rini. "She made me do it."

Serena snorted. "Make the bed back up and meet me downstairs." Serena closed the door behind her.

Serena strolled down the streets of her neighborhood holding her daughters' hands as they walked with her. Serena showed the girls around the neighborhood. She showed them their new school. She showed them her old junior high school and also where she went to high school. She showed them the park where she allowed them to run around and play for a little bit. They laughed when she took them by the lake as they watched couples on rowboats in the water as they stood on the pier. They gushed when Serena told them that this was their parents' first date.

Rini said happily, "Cool! What happened next?" Serena glanced down and smiled. She remembered her second kiss with Darien being interrupted when another version of her daughter Rini descended from the sky and landed smack onto Darien's lips.

Serena said amused, "You came along and he dumped me the next day." Serena walked away while Rini and Katie looked confused as Rini asked her what she meant but her mother never responded.

As Serena walked along the sidewalk towards The Crowd, she gasped for air when she felt a presence move through her. She stopped moving and turned around. It was a younger version of herself dressed in her old junior high uniform with a bawled up test paper in her hand. The girls stopped. Serena smiled as she relived the moment she first met Darien. She accidently tossed her failed test paper on his head. He read it and saw a thirty and called her an idiot. It was their first argument too.

Katie asked, "Mom, why have we stopped?"

Serena said, "This is where I first met your dad." She explained the story and the girls laughed.

Serena walked towards The Crowd which was now Lita's Café. Serena walked through the door of the busy café as the bell chimed above them. The door slowly closed behind Katie. A beaming hostess greeted them. Serena smiled warmed at them.

A tomboyish waitress named Vanessa greeted them and showed them to their table. It was small booth next to the window. Vanessa handed Serena a regular menu and handed Katie and Rini paper kid menu with a small box of colors. The girls looked happy.

Rini stared thoroughly at the menu as she sat across from her mom and Katie. Katie sat up on her chair watching the people outside walked by.

Vanessa came back with their drinks. Serena asked Vanessa, "Is Lita in today?"

Vanessa said, "I'm not sure. I'll go check." She glanced up at Vanessa. "And who are you?"

Serena smiled. "Just tell her that I'm an old friend."

Vanessa muttered, "I heard that one before."

Serena heard her. She asked perplexed, "Excuse me?"

Vanessa blushed. "I'm sorry. I didn't know I said that out loud."

Serena asked, "What do you mean?"

Vanessa gave a nervous laugh and shook her head. "I can't discuss it."

Serena gently placed a reassuring hand on Vanessa. Vanessa turned towards Serena and stared into her eyes. Serena said with a smile, "You can tell me. What happened?"

Rini and Katie watched as Vanessa said in a daze, "There was a man that came in the Fourth of July. He looked homeless and he asked for her. I heard her say his name was Andrew."

Serena removed her hand and said, "Thank you, Vanessa. I'll like a cheeseburger with a sprite and you can give my daughters chicken nuggets with juice." Vanessa shook her head as a confused expression appeared on her face.

Vanessa stared at Serena and smiled. She took the order and Serena's menu and walked away. Serena stared at her daughter who was staring at her.

Rini blurted out, "Did you control her mind?"

Serena smiled and laughed. "Sweetie, that's ridiculous! That's as silly as saying that you can move things with your mind." Rini and Katie looked stunned. Did their mother know about Rini's power?

Serena took out her smartphone and started typing a text.

In Lita's office, Nick sat in her chair as Lita straddled him. Her sleeveless black dress hiked up around her hips. She wrapped her arms around her husband's neck as she passionately kissed him. Nick's hands caressed Lita's back. Their marriage had improved and Lita agreed to go to marriage counseling with her husband. Their sex life was on fire. He had sex with her like he was trying to make a baby as she tried to desperately not think of Andrew. Her desire for her husband gradually faded away as he tried to make love to her. She found ways to provoke and anger him causing him to treat her like a slut again as she discovered ecstasy as she screamed out loud hitting notes she did not know she could reach.

Lita tilted her head back as Nick planted soft kisses on her chin and neck. His face still was healing from the beating that he took from Andrew. He asked, "So when are you going to allow me to move in?"

Lita moaned as he moved to kiss the other side of her neck. He asked her the same question every day since the incident with Andrew a few weeks ago. Lita tried to distract him with great sex but he still asked.

Lita groaned as Nick's hands slowly roamed over her breasts, molding them and cupping them with his hands. Nick said, "Answer me, Lita. It's time to make our family whole again." Lita brought her head down and tilted her head as she kissed him hungrily on the lips. Their tongues tangled. Her hands traveled down his waist. She could feel his arousal for her as she grinded her hips against him until they were practically dry humping. "Lita, we need to talk."

"Just shut up and fuck me." Lita's hand gently brushed his shaft. In frustration, Nick pushed Lita gently off him. Lita looked confused as a flustered Nick bolted across the room while she sat on her desk in confusion. He ran his hands over his silver hair and over his face trying to gain his composure as he paced the floor. He turned to her.

Lita looked worried. She knew he still wanted her because she felt his arousal for her. She had no idea what was going on.

Nick turned to her and threw his hands up in defeat. He yelled angrily, "Enough! No more sex! I am tired of you treating me like I am a piece of meat. I am person and I having feelings." Lita looked slightly amused. "I came here to talk about our marriage not to have sex with you. All you want to do is have sex, sex, sex…" Lita opened her mouth to speak but Nick held up his hand stopping her. "No, let me get this out." He took a deep breath. "We don't even make love anymore. We have rough sex in random places and I am tired of it." Lita's lips quivered as she held back her desire to laugh. Her phone vibrated for a second. She picked it up and glanced at the text and smiled. She then stopped smiling when she saw the seriousness in Nick's face.

Nick looked at her as he poured his heart out to her. "For twenty-seven days, I have asked you repeatedly to let me move in. Our sex life is great. I have no complaints. But I want more than just sex in random places. I want my wife back. I want to be your husband again and I want to move back in. I want to make love to you again." He stared at her with emotional eyes. "I have been on my best behavior. I haven't touch or desire another woman in three months. I want you back. So I am not going to have sex with you again. I am not going to allow you to distract me with sex." He grabbed his jacket and tie. "Call me when you want to be my wife again." He walked out. Lita sat on her desk staring at nothing in particular.

Serena glanced out the window and saw an upset Nick walking fast down the sidewalk. She hardly knew him and only met him once at Lita and Nick's wedding. All she knew was that he was some top notch lawyer, Lita loved him, and Mina despised him. Mina broke the news to all of them that Lita lost the baby, but she was doing better now.

"Serena!" Serena turned around and smiled when she saw Lita standing in front of her. She quickly stood up and embraced her friend.

"Lita, I missed you."

Rini and Katie's eyes lit up. "Aunt Lita!" They took turns embracing Lita as she squeezed her little munchkins tightly.

Lita said happily, "Hey girls! You are so big now and so beautiful."

Lita looked at Katie as she picked her up. "Wow, you got so big! You have your father's eyes." Serena felt a pain in her heart.

Katie wrapped her arms around Lita's neck. "Aunt Lita, can I eat some of your treats?"

Lita said in a silly voice, pinching Katie's cheeks, "You sure can. Pick what you want. It's on the house." Serena cleared her throat tossing Lita a disapproving look. Lita saw it and turned back to Katie. "Okay, one treat on the house."

Rini smiled. "Is Sarah here?"

Lita jerked her head towards the back. "She's in the back." Rini raced off. Katie quickly moved to get down. Lita let her down as Katie followed after her sister.

Serena yelled, "Girls! No running!" The other patrons stared at the girls as they ran through the restaurant and stopped with goofy faces when their mother and aunt yelled at them.

Lita and Serena soon found themselves sitting back and reminiscing about good times. Lita had one of the waiters bring them a large slice of strawberry cheesecake. Serena savored every bite. The girls were in the back playing with Sarah.

Lita laughed as she told Serena about her situation with Nick.

Serena laughed. "So you turned your husband into your bitch?"

Lita laughed. "I have never heard of a guy constantly talk about wanting to talk. I am offering him all this great sex like he wanted. He cheated on me because our sex life was boring. Now, he doesn't want the sex anymore because we don't talk enough and wants to move in."

Serena asked, "Are you really talking to me about this? I had the perfect husband and he divorced me for his other family he just met a couple of weeks ago."

Lita cringed. "Ouch! I heard."

Serena raised an eyebrow. "How?"

Lita cut a piece of the cake with her fork and took a bite. She savored the taste. "I am such a good cook!"

"Lita!" Lita laughed.

"Sorry! Mina read Darien's Facebook page and he changed his status to separate."

"What!"

"Mina told me. I told Ami. Ami told Raye and Raye glanced into the fire and saw your dysfunctional marriage. We were all in disbelief. So he has son…"

Serena said sadly, "Yeah…"

Lita sighed. "Are you upset that we know?"

Serena shook her head as she looked down at her cheesecake. "No, I'm kind of glad." She looked up. "At least I don't have to put up a happy façade." Lita gave her a weak smile.

Afterwards, they found themselves leaving the restaurant along with Lita and Sarah and walking to Raye's temple. Rini and Katie were amazed as they looked around the beautiful shrine with Sarah tagging along and explaining things to them.

Lita asked one of the miko where Raye was. The girl informed her that Raye was in the meditating room. Lita and Serena thanked the girl. Raye sat by the fire. They walked in and Raye's back was facing them. Lita and Serena smirked at one another wanting to surprise her. They sat on opposite sides of Raye.

Serena opened her mouth to say something cunning, but stopped when she saw teardrops falling to the floor. Raye was shaking and crying. Serena and Lita placed a comforting look on her shoulders.

Lita embraced her. "What's wrong?"

Raye cried, "Chad got married today." Serena's heart broke for her as she embraced her. Raye cried on Serena's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Raye."

Lita said, "I'm sorry too." They held her and simply let her cry.

Serena watched from the doorway as Raye slept peacefully in her bed. She slowly closed the door behind her. She found Lita sitting down on the steps. Serena sat down next to her.

Serena asked worried, "What's going on with Raye?"

Lita sighed. "She's been like this for years. Ever since her grandpa died, she refuses to leave. He was found dead on his bedroom floor. He died of a massive heart attack alone and no one was there. So she feels guilty and refuses to leave. She says she's happy, but she stopped living after he died. Her father offered to take her away, but she refused him. Chad wanted her to come with him when he left, but she refused."

Serena asked, "What would happen to the shrine if she leaves?"

Lita shook her head. "It's not that, Serena. This shrine is fine without or without Raye. She could always hire another caretaker to take care of it or she could give it away to someone else to manage. The shrine isn't the problem. It's her letting one moment last a lifetime."

Lita added guiltily, "I stopped hanging out with her as often as I used to because I hate seeing her like this. I don't know what to do to help her. How to snap her out of it? She's so talented and she's wasting her life away in this temple."

Raye's eyes snapped open. She quickly sat up in bed. She grabbed a staff from under her bed. She slowly got up.

Rini, Katie, and Sarah played by the ema. Raye walked out of her room. She saw Serena and Lita off to the side talking with their backs turned towards them. She slowly walked towards Katie, Rini, and Sarah playing. She stared at Rini and threw her staff at an unaware Rini.

Serena sensed danger and quickly turned around. A confused Lita did the same as they looked in horror at the staff aimed at the children. The staff transformed into a pointy spear. Serena looked horrified as she held out her hand.

Rini sensed danger and quickly twirled around. Her eyes turned golden as she held out her hand and a wave of energy surrounded her. Sarah and Katie stopped played. The spear stopped inches from her head and fell to the ground. Rini's eyes returned to normal. Raye smiled.

Serena and Lita rushed over. Serena said angrily at Raye, "What the hell is wrong with you? You could have killed them."

Raye said calmly, "Serena, Rini has her powers. It's time to train her." She glanced at Lita. "Your powers have passed down to your children. It's time to teach them how to harness them."

Lita glanced at Sarah.

Raye looked at Lita. "She's going to get her powers too."

Serena shook her head and said, "No! No more fighting! The sailor scouts are over! We've saved the world from the apocalypse."

Raye smiled touching Lita and Serena's arms. "No we haven't."

Lita and Serena looked in horror as the day turned into night and a blood moon appeared and rose in the sky. Everything was red as a powerful wind blew around them and the ground of the temple crumbled around them. They watched in horror as their children screamed as their bodies quickly burned and turned to ash. They heard the screams and cries of people begging for help. They screamed as they held onto to Raye as the ground collapsed beneath them and they saw the earth core and lava moved around underneath them. Serena and Lita looked up behind Raye to see a gigantic ball of energy heading towards them. Lita and Serena screamed as the blast hit them and they were blown into smithereens.

Lita and Serena opened their eyes when they saw they were back at the temple in daylight and the girls were playing around at the ema. They let go of Raye's hand.

Lita cried out breathing heavily, "What was that? It felt real."

Raye said, "The apocalypse." She looked at Serena then glanced at the children. "I cannot see the face of this new evil, but it is more powerful than any enemy we ever faced, and we are going to need all of the sailor scouts to stop it, even the new generation." Serena and Lita glanced gloomily at their daughters.