Chapter Twenty-Two

Bury Me

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Hello everyone! I'm back with the latest chapter. Thanks for the wonderful feedback from the previous chapter. It is always a pleasure to hear your thoughts and constructive criticism! I believe this chapter will answer some of the questions that most of you guys have been asking. But without another word, here is the next chapter of Ever After. Enjoy!

One year later…

January

In the ruins her family's temple in Tokyo, Raye disguised as Raven continued to mediate daily. She was searching for Darien. Two years had passed and they were still not able to find him. There was no trace of him online and she could not sense his presence anywhere. She prayed that he was still alive.

After two years of searching, the government never found Raye or Serena. They destroyed the temple and rampaged through Serena's home searching for her. Serena's family was ostracized by their community and great dishonor was bought on their families' names. Raye decided to remain in disguise with Serena in order to protect their loved ones.

Raye knew that Serena was trapped in her disguise thanks to Dragon. They continued their search for Darien. Raye sensed that Serena was reluctant to find him. She could feel the sense of relief every time a trail turned cold or it was not the Darien or man they were searching for. Darien was a master of concealment and could not be found until he was ready to be found.

Raye discovered this by accident when she first used her psychic powers to sense his presence in the world. She was fourteen-years-old at the time and they were dating before they found out that he was meant to be with Serena.

It was nine o'clock on a cool Friday night on the lively streets of downtown Juban. Traffic was back to back. Frustrated drivers honked their horns at other drivers that pulled off slowly when the lingering light finally changed green. The streets congested with people walking across the crosswalks and sidewalks chattering. The sounds of the blustery weather and the idle engines of cars filled her ears and chilled her skin.

Darien was late for their date to see a new popular movie she really wanted to see. She paced back and forth in front of the theater fretting he stood her up. The movie trailers were playing. The movie would start playing in about fifteen minutes. She actually liked watching the fifteen minutes of movie trailers for upcoming films. The queue grew longer snaking around the corner and made her antsy fearing that the guy she liked wasn't really into her.

Someone tapped her shoulder suddenly. She turned around to find Darien standing in front of her. He feared that she was upset. She opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted stating that he knew she was upset and apologized for being late because he got off of work late. She was not upset. She was relieved that he had showed up. He happily showed her the tickets in his hands. He was friends with one of the guys behind the food counter and was able to get them free food so they did not have to wait in the long line. Within five minutes, they were sitting down in the dark movie theater with a gigantic bucket of popcorn and two supersized cups of soda. Raye glanced over at Darien who was totally emerged in the final trailer as he munched on the popcorn and slurped his soda. A sense of relief came over Raye. Her worries vanished even though it surprised her that she could not sense his presence like she did everyone else. She grabbed a handful of popcorn, sat back and enjoyed the movie that was starting at that moment…

With all his sophistication and brilliance, Raye knew that resourceful Darien Shields would not allow the war to take him out so easily.

Raye could tell that Serena was burnt out looking for Darien after months of trying. Raye suggested they take a break from searching to Serena's relief.

They spent the rest of year travelling the world searching for witches, enchanters or anyone else that could possibly help restore Serena's ability to transform. Serena surprised Raye more and more every day. She had no idea that Serena could heal wounds without transforming, knew about alternate realities, sensed spirits, and even knew about the mystical community on Earth. Raye knew that Shinto Priestesses and psychics existed because she was one. She knew that some delusional humans believed that they are vampires, werewolves, or witches because they are obsessed with the culture. For those supernatural beings to actually exist on earth, frightened and fascinated her at the same time. Most of them perished in the war. Some died trying to defend their people. Only a few remained and one by one, the mystics informed Serena that they could not help her or turn her back into her old self.

Serena and Raye travelled to South America to a small village hidden deep inside the darkest parts of the rainforest, untouched by modern civilization. They travelled for days through the forest to a tiny enchanted village. An invisible but powerful barrier prevented outsiders from entering the village and had kept the village hidden from civilization for over several centuries. Less than a hundred people occupied the village. Serena and Raye saw small children playing. Serena spoke to the child in a language Raye could not understand.

When did Serena become a masterful linguist? She barely passed English in junior high school. Something about Serena changed when she turned seventeen. She was distraught when Darien left her again, but his absence allowed her to discover more about herself. She still possessed Serena's qualities like pigging out, shopping, and sleeping all day. But there was a refinement about her almost like the princess that she was. She no longer tripped when she walked or cried about her problems. She went from drawing stick figure to creating masterpieces. She went from being a "C my way through student" to a straight A student even making her junior high teacher Miss Haruna questioned her health. She became more athletic and suddenly a great cook never burning another batch of cookies. She flirted back with guys instead of acting goofy and blushing. Everyone dismissed her sudden personality change as her finally maturing, growing up, and applying herself, but Raye now suspected there was more to the story.

After the accident on Christmas Eve ten years ago, Serena died on the operating table for several minutes. Raye sensed her death and sobbed uncontrollably that day praying for her to awaken. When the doctors were on the verge of declaring her dead, Serena's heart started beeping again baffling the doctors. Raye was relieved but Serena returned to the world differently than she was when she left out of it. Like the humanoids, she had the memories of her past life, maybe lives. She acted and played the role of Serena perfectly, but something was different about her like another entity had taken possession over her body. Raye could not put her finger on it. When Darien questioned Raye shortly after the accident about Serena's sudden change in behavior and growing indifference towards him, she feigned ignorance and agreed with the doctor's diagnosis that Serena suffered from postpartum depression. But something was off about her.

The small child led Serena and Raye through the small village to a cylinder shaped hut at the center of the village. The roof was covered with straw, the walls made of clay, and smoke was coming out of the chimney. Serena thanked the small child. The child smiled before running off to go back to playing with his friends. Serena and Raye stepped inside the small abode to find an elderly woman in her seventies clad in brown rags made of animal skin. Her skin was the color of chocolate brown. Her long wild hair was snow-white. Her eyes were dark and crazed. Her wrinkled face was hard and covered in white war paint. Her waist was tiny, hips wide, and buttock large. Her breasts sagged to her stomach. She looked quite frightening to Raye as the old woman stood by an enormous black pot hanging over a large burning fire. The pot bubbled and boiled some foul smelling stew that made the entire hut stink from the intoxicating, funky odor. Serena looked unfazed. The witch was their final resort. She had no name and she was referred to as the old witch.

Serena spoke to the old witch in the same language she spoke to the child. The old witch stared at Serena's antsy friend. The old witch spoke in Japanese and Raye was stunned as she now understood their conversation.

The old witch informed Serena to Serena's displeasure that when Rick killed the Lunarian cats, he destroyed her link to the past world. She could never transform into Sailor Moon again. The old witch then glanced over at Raye to Raye's astonishment. She warned Raye that she was grave danger of losing her powers also. If their transformation sticks were destroyed, the source of their powers, the other sailor scouts would lose their powers and their ability to transform like Sailor Moon. The old witch apologized to Serena and told her that she could not help her. She also informed Serena that Dragon's powers surpassed her own or any other mythical being in their world.

Serena and Raye left the village leaving through the barrier and turned to watch as it disappeared from the world. Raye asked amazed, "How is that possible?"

Serena answered quietly, "It's a mystical world inside this world created by the ancient ones of the past to protect their people."

"So it's mystical like Elysian?"

Serena nodded. "Yes. They will survive the end of mankind even if they have to teleport to an alternate reality where their worlds still exist and mankind had not brought upon their own destruction."

"Can't they just teleport to another reality?"

Serena shook her head. "No, there are rules to traveling through different space and times. Two versions of the same person cannot co-exist together in the same reality. If they ever made contact with one another, it would cause a time ripple and distort the balance of time, butterfly effects, and once the balance is disrupted, all hell will break loose."

"Basically, a large clusterfuck?"

"Of gigantic proportion."

"So how can they exist in another reality?"

"Technically, they don't exist anymore. They are a part of ancient world that doesn't exist in our reality anymore like the Ancient Mayans and Egyptians, Roanoke or the legends like Atlantis or Camelot. In a way, they are an alternate reality. They protect themselves from being seen by outsiders."

"But they saw you."

"As Princess Serenity, I existed in a time where they ruled. My spirit is connected to the ancient world along with yours, Endyimon, and the other sailors. That's why we are allowed to cross their barriers. A mortal could not."

Raye wondered, "Who are you? Are you really Serena?"

Serena smiled at her. Raye watched as Serena's green eyes glistened with tears. Her smile faltered as she began to sob uncontrollably. She collapsed to her knees as she held herself. Raye's heart broke for her. She cried, "It's like I'm dead. I can't go back. Even if I were to return to being Serena, my life, our lives, are over. I can't be with my children. My husband…my ex-husband…." She remembered they were divorce now. Their divorce had been finalized. "…if he is alive… he has another family now."

Raye knelt before her. At least, Serena experienced happiness with a man who loved her and had children. Raye wasted a decade of a life alone with no children or lover. She dated Darien, but she never really had him. He dated her out of boredom and he wasn't really into her. He showed more passion fighting with Serena than he had on one date with her. When she lost him to Serena, it wasn't a bigger shocker because he never really belonged to her in the first place. The only other guy that liked her was Chad and she allowed him to walk out of his life. He was married now and happy. She mentally slit her wrists when she went online and saw photographs of the happy couple a couple of years ago before the war started. Nothing had happened in her life. The world was coming to an end, and she was still a virgin. At least, Serena lived. Raye died inside a long time ago. Travelling around the world to find Darien and help Serena was the most excitement that she had in a long time.

To make Serena feel better, she agreed to remain in her disguise if Serena could no longer be Serena. On that day, Serena became Alex and Raye became Raven.

In early January, Raye and Serena returned to Japan to their empty apartment. Serena donned a blonde wig and blue contacts and disguised herself as Serena Tuskino. She was a few inches shorter than Serena since Alex was only five feet tall. Serena shrugged her shoulders hoping the government did not realize the height difference. Raye transformed back into Raye. They placed on their sunshades and walked into a car dealership. An eager salesperson rushed over to them. Raye spotted a yellow convertible that she liked. She strutted over to golden beauty as she admired the cool interior and design. The salesperson grinned as he turned towards Raye. His eyes roamed to her body in her form fitting mini dress and her shapely bottom accentuated by her black stilettoes. He turned back to the plain brunette in front of him with her boyish haircut and look. His eyes widen as the brunette's eyes glowed yellow as he stood in a trance. He found himself going back into his office and retrieving the keys to the yellow convertible the sexy raven beauty was eyeing. The brunette held out her hand as he dropped the keys in her hand. She smiled as he wished her a good day. She walked passed him as she tossed the keys to the raven haired woman. They hopped in the car placing on their seatbelts. The dark haired woman started the engine. She grinned at her friend as she listened to the smooth purr of the car. Once they drove off the lot, the salesman shook his head. He panicked as he quickly called the authorities.

People's eyes grew wide and whispered amongst themselves on the sidewalks, in taxis, buses, and in their cars as the two women drove passed them. People did a double look at the wanted posters posted on walls, buildings, and holographs in the sky of wanted images of them offering a million of dragoons for their capture and then at the women again. The government was immediately alerted about their appearance. They could hear the sounds of the sirens of police cars heading at their way. Raye's eyes turned red as she saw the cops heading their way. She saw a vision showing her that the government had barricade every exit out of the city. Police cars swerved around the corners with their sirens blazing as the cops chased after them. Serena glanced over at Raye. Raye glanced over at her best friend. Serena smirked. Raye winked as she shifted gears increasing her speed.

Irene stood in the kitchen chopping carrots and onions on a wooden cutting board for her curry. The midday news played in the background. The butcher knife dropped from her hands into the sink. Her heart skipped a beat at the news reporter saying her daughter's name. She grabbed the remote on the counter next to her and turned up the volume.

One of the waiters raced into Lita's café rushed into Andrew's office excited and telling he had to check out the news. He closed the door. Andrew flipped on the television and his eyes grew wide at what he saw. He grabbed his jacket and keys and rushed out of the office.

Irene watched in disbelief as she watched a live speed chase. The news reporter informed the viewers that the two women were indeed fugitives Raye Hino and Serena Tuskino, wanted for the murder of Rita Furuhata and her children two years ago. The news stations broadcasted over the airways on every major network from a helicopter flying over the scene the live car chase with Serena and Raye speeding off on the highway in a stolen car with dozens of police cars hot on their trail. The camera zooming in on them with Raye driving at an extremely high speed barely dodging and maneuvering her way through the traffic as dozens of police cars chased at them. Raye was heading into the Juban International Tunnel. There was a road block of police cars and SWAT team waiting for them with guns ready to fire at the other end. There was no way for them to escape. Raye zoomed into the tunnel followed by police cars. There was a large explosion. Smoke and flames were shown coming from the tunnel.

Irene covered her mouth when the news reporter confirmed minutes later the driver lost control of the car and the car crashed. The government found their bodies burnt to death and declared them dead. Irene went into a state of disbelief as the news reporters repeatedly informed the viewers that fugitives Raye Hino and Serena Tuskinos, wanted for the murders of Rita Furuhata were dead, killed, or had died, burnt to death. Every channel she turned to said the same thing. The remote slipped from her hand and crashed onto the floor. The back popped out and the batteries fell out. She did not care. Her daughter was dead.

Raye and Serena reappeared into the center of town disguised as Raven and Alex. They joined the crowd of shocked observers watching the hologram images of their doubles burnt to death in the car a magical courtesy of the old witch. Raye and Serena glanced at one another for a moment at the bittersweet moment then walked away from the scene. They soon returned to their apartment to see a distraught Andrew waiting for them. He looked at them with angry eyes then embraced them tightly not wanting to let go. He was relieved they were alive. Serena melted in the warmth of Andrew's arms. She closed hating herself for doing what needed to be done. As she predicted, their friends and family were left alone by the government. Their loved ones prepared their burials a week later.

Their loved ones honored Raye in the ways of the Shinto faith. A private Shinto ceremony was held where they worshipped and honor her at the ruins of her family shrine. Her ceremony was filled with her friends and her family. Her father and his wife and children appeared. The government had acquitted him of all wrongdoing and allowed him to live. He was heavily guarded and constantly watched but they allowed him to remain free and human if he swore his allegiance to Dragon. The world watched as Prime Minister Hino, the man who convinced the East to go into war for their freedom, bow down and submit his allegiance to Dragon and the New World Regime. His submission signified the end of the war and the end of the world as humans knew it. It broke Raye's heart to watch her father yielded to the powers of evil so willingly.

He looked tormented by his daughter's death as he wept of what could have been. Raye felt a sense of sadness as she looked at her father. She was shocked when she noticed Chad standing off in the distance. He looked handsome with his hair cut shorter out of his face. He wore a dark suit and had a bouquet of white tulips in his hands. Raye smiled. It was her favorite flower. She looked at the sadness in his eyes as he placed the flowers on her grave.

Serena was honored in a Christian funeral. The church service was beautiful. Everyone was dressed in black. The large cathedral sized church was filled with red and white roses. Her pearly white coffin was decorated with red roses around the closed casket. Next to the coffin was a large photograph of her smiling face surrounded by red roses. It was surreal for Serena, who sat in the back of the church at her own funeral with Raye sitting next to her. She flipped through a funeral program with her picture on the front between the dates of her birth and death, twenty-eight years of her life. There was a beautiful poem written inside by her children about how much they loved their mother. She knew which parts Rini wrote and which parts Kate wrote. Her eyes started with tears as she read their sweet poem. The musicians played her favorite songs. Her classmates from both from junior high and high school each performed a tribute in her honor.

The church was filled with people she met throughout her life. Their lives were touched by her in some way. The church became so packed that the ushers ended up placing folding chairs along the aisle and walls for people to sit in. But it was not enough and people stood along the walls of the church throughout the ceremony. Her family and her best friends occupied the first two pews. The first pew was occupied with her parents, her daughters, Sammy and his girlfriend, Lita embracing Andrew on the end. The second pew sat Ami sitting next to her boyfriend Eddie, and crying Mina sitting next to her soon to be eighteen-year-old sister Ariel, who embraced her sister.

The rest of the church was filled with faces that she had not seen in years. She saw a very pregnant Molly with her husband Melvin and their three children. She saw Stacey and Steve. She saw the four sisters of the Dark Moon family. She saw her junior high teacher Mrs. Haruna who was married now. Chad was also there. She saw the old gardener, now an elderly old man, from the park who she spoke to as he tended to the roses. She saw Jake with a beautiful blonde next to him who she figured was his wife as she noticed their wedding bands. He looked as handsome as ever. Peggy and her husband sat next to him. She saw many of her classmates from junior high and high school. There was not a dry eye in the house even Serena found herself crying as she listened to story after story by people speaking of how wonderful she was as person and how pure and kind she was. Everyone laughed when Jordan, now fourteen-years-old, spoke about how Serena and Darien babysat him once when his mom was sick in the hospital because his nursery was attacked by a youma. He joked about how upset but thankful his mother was when she found out that he spoke and walked for the first time in front of Darien and Serena not her.

Serena's parents and her children's cries echoed throughout the church. Sammy placed a comforting arm around his nieces. Lita and Andrew sat next to them. Andrew consoled a crying Lita in his arms. He was upset. He was not upset that they were dead. He was upset that they were alive and pretending that they were dead and putting their family and friends through pure hell. He was upset that he had to lie to his wife about it.

Andrew glanced back and shot an angry look at both Serena and Raye. Serena looked guilty at him. She watched as his facial expression turned from anger to shock. His gaze travelled upwards to something above her head. Serena heard a stir rise around her as people turned around in their seats as they stared at something behind her. She gasped as a spark of electricity shocked her body. Her heart pounded faster against her ribcage and her blood flooded warmly through her body. Her body grew very sensitive as the hairs on the back of neck and skin rose as a tingling sensation vibrated inside the pit of her stomach. She grabbed the top of the pew in front of her. She suddenly became weak as she slowly turned around and looked stunned even though her body already felt him there before she even saw his face.

There stood Darien dressed handsomely in a dark suit. His hair slick back, his eyes were red like he had been crying. He looked out of it and full of pain and hurt. The crowd parted in awe moving out of the way to allow him to pass by them. The people who sat in folding chairs along the aisle scooted their chairs over making sure they were not in his way as they stared at him like he was divine creature as he passed by them never taking his eyes off the white coffin at the end of the aisle. Serena stilled for a moment and took a deep breath as he passed her pew. Her body and mind contradicted one another. Her mind told her to stay put, while her body responded to Darien's presence as if it was commanding her to come to him. She slowly turned back around and watched along with everyone else in the church as he continued along the aisle towards the coffin.

Everyone remained speechless as they watched him even her parents were shocked to see him. Darien approached the casket even as a powerful force tried to push him away. He gently splayed his hands over the cool white surface of the coffin. He stood in disbelief that she was dead. She still felt alive to him. He felt her presence the strongest in this church even though everything and everyone around him told him that she was dead. He looked up and saw a large photograph of her smiling face adorning with red roses. He looked down at her coffin again. He could not believe it. He had to see her face, but her casket was closed. He was told that she burnt to death in a car crash and her body was unrecognizable.

He spoke quietly trying to hold back the tears, "You were not supposed to die." He yelled angrily at her coffin as tears rushed down his cheeks. Tears landed on her coffin. "You weren't supposed to leave me! I was trying to make you happy." He cried shaking his head. "I thought it was what you wanted." He broke down into tears as his knees buckled underneath him. Andrew quickly got up and caught him before he collapsed to the ground. Andrew helped him to his feet. Darien cried nonstop in Andrew's arms. Raye glanced at Serena who was crying as she watched Darien. He sobbed, "Why? I loved her. She was all I had for so long, and I left her!"

Andrew said comfortingly, "I know."

"She can't be dead! This can't be real!" Katie and Rini broke into tears watching their father cry over their mother's coffin. His presence and his words made it too real. This was not a horrible dream. Their mother was really dead and never coming back. Ken and Irene broke down into tears as they watched Darien. Sammy wanted to comfort his family, but he found himself crying too as it finally hit him that his sister was dead. He bawled over into tears as his girlfriend embraced him pulling him into her arms as he cried inconsolably into her bosom.

Katie cried out loud, "I want my mother!" Katie jumped out of her seat and ran over to her father. Darien broke away from Andrew and fell to his knees as Katie crashed into her father's arms. He comforted her as he hugged her tightly and kissed her strawberry blonde hair. He looked up at Rini who was crying too. Their eyes met for a moment. She looked so much like her mother. He held out his hand for her. Rini hesitated for a moment before rushing over to her father as he hugged his daughters tightly and cried as he mourned the loss of Serena with his children. Serena glanced down at her hands that were shaking as she fought against the powerful force compelling her to race towards her family.

After the burial at the graveyard, some of the guests at the funeral came over to the Tuskinos. Irene had cake and punch ready for everyone to eat and drink.

In the early hours of the morning of the day of their daughter's funeral, Ken came downstairs to find Irene in the kitchen baking a cake. He listened as she pretended to be her normal self and told him how she knew the guests would be hungry after….She stopped finding it hard to say her daughter's funeral. He sighed as he told her not to say up too late. Irene nodded as she continued preparing the cake. He went back to bed, but he could not sleep a wink.

While everyone else was at the funeral, Patricia and Sharon stayed at Irene's home watching Sarah, Josh, and Zayden, who played upstairs in Rini's room. Patricia and Sharon cut up Irene's cake into the cake squares and prepared the homemade punch and rice cakes for everyone to snack on. Irene thanked them for helping out when she returned home from the burial with her husband, son, and grandchildren. Patricia and Sharon placed a reassuring hand on Irene's shoulders saying they were glad too.

Lita and Andrew officially adopted Zayden after his parents' death. He took it pretty hard when he was told that his parents had died. He had a concept of death, but he still missed them. He was resilient and soon bounced back to his normal self after a few months of grieving. Everyone was shocked when they read in the papers that Dr. Tomoe had blown out his brains shortly after his wife and daughter were killed in the war.

Shortly after the war ended, the girls held a private ceremony in honor of their fallen friends at Raye's temple before the government destroyed it. Andrew placed a comforting arm around a crying Mina. Ami and Lita clasped hands. Josh cried as Ami let go of Lita's hand and knelt down to comfort the crying child causing her to cry too. They had no idea where Serena and Raye were since they had not seen them since the war and assumed the worst. Andrew looked over Mina's head and met the eyes of Raye and Serena in the distance watching the scene sadly. He sighed as his glanced over at his wife. The war had changed her as she held their son tightly in her arms. Sarah looked around at the temple that looked eerily and ghostlike since the war ended.

Lita, Mina, and Ami mingled with some of their classmates that they had not seen in years.

Serena walked around the room so did Raye. She smiled as she listened to people say how much they were going to miss her. She expected them to hate her, but no one in that room believed that she was a murderer. They all suspected that she was setup by the government. It comforted her to know that people still believed in her.

Raye saw Darien standing off by himself. She wanted to talk to him about Judgment Day. She bumped into someone. She jumped when someone accidentally wasted their punch on her top. Her top was ruined as the cold juice seeped through her dress. "I am so sorry." Raye froze when she saw that it was Chad. He continued to babble and apologize. He grabbed a napkin off the nearest table and began to wipe her top. Raye simply stood there not believing she was seeing him. His face turned red when he realized that he was touching her chest. He quickly apologized.

Raye shook her head snapping out of her trance. She smiled. "It's okay."

Chad sighed in relief that she was not upset. He asked, "So how do you know Serena?"

Raye smiled. "I went to high school with her."

Chad said, "She was a wonderful person with such a kind soul."

Raye smiled. "She was. So how do you know Serena?"

Chad smiled as he placed a hand on her lower back as Raye's stomach tightened. He led her to a nearby sofa and sat down with her. "Her friend worked at the local temple. I had the hots for her, but she never noticed me. Serena and I clicked and became close friends. It was easy to befriend her." Raye smiled sadly. She knew he was referring to her and how she treated him indifferently. He did not believe she cared about him. At least not in the way he wanted her too.

Raye asked, "What was the name of the girl you liked?"

Chad had a whimsical look on his face like he was remembering her. "Her name was Raye Hino, and she was a Shinto priestess. I came to her temple because I felt lost in life. Her grandfather and she welcomed me with open arms. While searching to find myself, I fell in love with her. She had this fiery personality that matched her eyes. She had long beautiful hair and legs that went on for days. But it was her personality that drew her to me. She always kept me on my toes and she knew what she wanted out of life. She was so talented and could do anything. She made me believe I can do anything too." He exhaled as sadness dawned over his handsome face. "But she didn't love me, so I moved on." Raye's heart broke. She looked at him as he stared at her with warm eyes and continued to talk about Raye in past tense. Raye sighed. She could not believe she let him get away. She glanced at his finger and saw a wedding ring. He was still married.

Andrew walked over to Darien who stood in a trance. Darien smiled when he saw Andrew. A big smile crept on his face as he embraced his dear friend that he had not seen in years. They patted one another on the back before backing away.

Darien asked happily, "Hey man! How have you been?"

Andrew said jokingly, "I'm happy."

Darien looked stumped as he glanced at Lita mingling with her classmates. "I thought you and Rita-"Darien turned back to Andrew. "I'm confused."

Andrew asked amused, "Where have you been Shields? Living under a rock?"

Darien said, "I've been in a rural part of Africa helping underprivileged people get the medical attention they needed for the last couple of years. There was no technology. I was unplugged from the world." Darien sounded relieved to get away from the digital age for a while. "It was quite peaceful there."

"So the war did not affect you?"

"No, the village that I worked in was protected by mystics. I wasn't aware that a war had happened until news spread that China had fallen and the West had defeated the East."

He continued, "When I returned to the modern world, I saw reports everywhere saying that the East had lost to the West. The outer Senshi were dead. Serena and Raye disappeared after the war. Raye and Serena killed your wife and kids. They were terrorists and on the run. Then I received breaking news on my phone that they were dead so I rushed out here. My ex-wife and ex-girlfriend killed your wife and kids."

Andrew stared at him amused. Darien added puzzled, "To see you married to Lita now and we are now talking about this in my ex parent-in-laws' home and you are completely cool with it."

Andrew laughed confusing Darien more. "Rita and my kids actually died three years ago. Serena and Raye did not kill them. Serena and Raye saved my life. I wouldn't have been here if it was not for them."

Darien did not know what to say. "Well, I am happy that my exes are not murderers, but I'm sorry that your family died. Rita was a great woman."

Andrew smiled remembering Rita for a moment. "She was and I enjoyed our life together, but I am happy again." He quickly glanced over at Lita. She saw him and smiled at him briefly before returning to her conversation. He turned back to Darien who watched him happily. "I have another son. His name is Zayden."

Darien said, "I am happy to hear that. Congrats!"

"Thanks! So what about you?"

Darien said showing him his wedding ring. "I got remarried. Her name is Karen and we have ten-year-old son named Derrick."

Andrew said, "Yeah, I heard about that." He asked, "Does she make you happy?"

Darien nodded with a smile. "It's not intense as Serena and I was, but I am happy with her."

Andrew smile placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "I'm happy about that then." Darien chuckled before taking a sip of his punch.

Serena stared at the two young men through the crowd. She watched as her father approached Darien. Darien and Andrew glanced at one another anticipating the worst. Ken stared at Darien with an exhausted face. He was not fatigue but he was tired of the grudge between them. His daughter was dead and Darien lost a wife. Ken knew that Serena would have wanted him to make peace with Darien. He held out his hand in front of Darien. Darien glanced down at Ken's hand then slowly shook it. There was an understanding between them as they looked at each other eye to eye. Ken pulled Darien into a bear hug as Darien embraced him. Andrew smiled. They held each other for a long time. Irene and Serena smiled. They broke away from one another. Ken smiled at Darien as he placed a hand on Darien's shoulder.

Ken said proudly, "I was wrong. You are a good man. Thank you for taking care of my daughter. She was happy with you."

Darien choked, "I left."

Ken said, "No, you tried your hardest to save your marriage. You did the right thing when you let her go." Darien nodded feeling a sense of relief that Ken was telling him that he did the right thing by leaving. Ken said, "You are always welcome here. You are the father of my granddaughters. You will always be a part of my family." Darien bowed his head. It meant a lot to him for Ken to tell him that. Ken smiled then walked off.

After the gathering and everyone had left, Irene stood at the end of her dining room table standing by her husband who sat at the head of the table. Sammy was now twenty-four-years old. He sat next to his father while Darien sat across from him. Sammy stared angrily at his nieces' father. His parents may have forgiven him for abandoning his sister and nieces for another family, but he did not. He listened as Darien tried to convince his parents to give him custody of his daughters. He wanted to raise them with his new wife and kid. He argued how important it was for the girls to have a relationship with their brother. He wanted to make his family whole. Irene and Ken looked at him solemnly. Serena left no living will informing her parents of who she wanted her children to live with if she passed. They knew that she would want them with Darien. She always talked about how great of a father he was. To give their granddaughters to Darien would be like saying good-bye to their daughter again. The girls brought so much life in their household that had not been there in years.

Sammy reached the boiling point. He exploded interrupting Darien's speech, "How the hell is he a good father when he abandoned his wife and kids for another family? The girls have not seen him in two years and the day of their mom's funeral this deadbeat pops back up and now wants to play daddy again. This is bull and you know it!"

Irene lashed out at Sammy, "Sammy!"

Darien said in a pleading voice, "I know I made a mistake. I want to right it. I can provide my daughters a good life-"

"No." Everyone turned around to see Rini standing in the doorway still in her black dress. Katie appeared next to her in her black dress. Rini stared directly at him. She said, "No! Sammy is right. You abandoned us when we needed you the most. For two years, we had no mother and did not know whether she was dead or alive. Grandpa, grandma, and Sammy were here when you should have been the one to take care of us. So you do not get to show up here on my mother's funeral and ask my grandparents to let you take us because your new wife decided that we can be included in your family now that our mother is dead. Katie and I are happy here with grandma and grandpa. Leave. We don't need you!"

Darien snapped back, "You will not speak to me that way young lady. I am your father and you are my daughter!"

Rini retorted sharply, "You gave up your rights to be our father when you left. You have no daughters. As far as Katie and I are concerned, our father died the day that you left us. We have no father."

Darien was stunned to silence by her words. "Rini-"He turned to Katie who looked sadly at him. "Katie-"

Katie diverted her eyes from him and stared at nothing in particular. Darien looked hurt that his daughters were turning on him.

Rini said coldly, "Good-bye Darien." Darien froze as he stared into her cold eyes. His little girl had never been so angry at him before or addressed him by his first name. Darien glanced at a smirking Sammy. Ken and Irene stared equally stunned at the forceful words of their granddaughter. He became angry at Serena. She must have poisoned his daughters against him.

"No, that was your fault." He turned to Rini. She had read his thoughts. Darien stood up abruptly and stormed off passed his daughters. Irene sighed as she looked at the scene. She felt sorry for both the father and children.

Darien stepped outside in the cold night closing the door behind him. He stuffed his hands in pockets frustrating with himself and the fact that his daughters hated him. He could not blame them. He shouldn't have left them. It was wrong of him to.

"Darien." Darien turned around. Irene closed the door behind her. She stood next to him. She folded her arms across her chest. Darien turned back around and looked at the street. Irene looked at the street also. She smiled. "Go back inside and talk to your daughters."

Darien glanced at her. "They hate me."

Irene said, "Rini lost her mother today. She's upset. And Katie follows along with everything her big sister says. Go talk to them."

Darien said, "I don't know what to say. I abandoned them for two years. I have no right-"

Irene cut him off, "You have every right. You are their father." Irene looked at him sympathetically. "You're not perfect, but you are their father. They should live with you."

Darien looked stunned. He was not expecting her to agree with him. The girls wanted to remain with their grandparents. "Irene…"

Irene said, "You have a wife and son. It's time you make your family whole."

Darien could not fathom why Irene would say that. Karen was not their mother. Irene read his thoughts. "The girls need a female figure in their lives. I love my granddaughters but grandmother is getting too old to chase behind two little girls again." She sighed. "They are also ostracized here because Serena's name has tarnished us. They are constantly picked on at school. They have no friends besides Lita's daughter Sarah and Josh. They need a change of environment. A fresh start."

Darien gave her a sad smile. "My daughters hate me. Rini has never spoken to me like that. I was always the cool parent. Serena was always the strict one. I never seen Rini looked at me that way before."

Irene said, "The only way you are going to get your daughters back is to prove to them that you are not going anywhere again. They need to know that their daddy still loves them and his is not going to leave them again. Show them and you'll get your girls back." Darien smiled as he hugged Irene surprising her.

March

A couple of months later, Serena and Raye confessed to Lita, Ami, Mina, and Serena's parents that they were still alive one late night at Andrew and Lita's home. Their loved ones went through a sense of shock, confusion, acceptance, anger, happiness, and finally relief. Serena and Raye explained to them that they needed the government to believe they were dead and their loved ones' grief was real. Raye told them they remained in disguise in fear of being found out by the government. Serena then informed them that she lost her ability to transform into Sailor Moon and could never look like Serena again.

Irene wept with joy. Serena was relieved when her parents and her friends told her that they did not care how she looked as long as she was alive and still here with them. Her mother told her that regardless how she looked she was still her daughter. She would simply tell everyone that Serena was her niece Alex. Serena smiled at her mother. Their friends threatened to kill Serena, Andrew, and Raye for lying at first, but were relieved to find out that their friends were alive. The girls had a girls' night with Andrew at Lita and Andrew's home. Ken and Irene took turns embracing Raye and Serena before leaving them with their friends. Serena informed her parents that she'll come over in the morning. Irene and Ken nodded in agreement.

Serena was confused when she searched her parents' house the next day for her daughters and they were not there.

She came downstairs to ask her parents about her daughters' whereabouts. Her mother was dusting the furniture in the hallway near the stairs while her father sat on the sofa watching a fishing show.

Irene said coolly as she continued dusting, "They're with their father."

Serena thought she misunderstood her mother. "What!"

Irene did not respond as she continued dusting. Serena stepped in front of her mother. "What do you mean they are with their father?"

Irene said, "I did not stutter Serena. Darien asked for his daughters to come live with him the night of your fake funeral and we said yes."

Serena could not believe what she was hearing. What was worse was that her mother sounded completely indifferent as she told this to her. "You shouldn't have done that. He doesn't deserve them after what he done to them. He's wasn't there for two years!"

Irene turned to Serena. "And neither were you!" Serena stood there startled. Her mother never yelled at her like that before. Irene retorted angrily, "Your father, brother, and I were there for them, but you weren't, Serena."

Serena said in her defense, "I was on the run for the law, accused of a crime I did not commit. I stayed away to protect them." Ken sighed as he turned up the volume with the remote. He knew Serena was going to trash talk about Darien again. "He left us. He abandoned us for that woman and her son! She stole him for me!" Irene rolled her eyes as she dropped her duster on the table she was dusting. Her blood pressure started to rise.

Irene said sharply, "Shut up Serena! I am sick and tired of you bashing Darien. We all are! That woman whose name is Karen did not steal your husband. You gave him to her." Serena frowned. "You ruined your marriage. You cheated on your husband and don't know who the father of your daughter is."

Serena was hurt that mother would say such a thing. She yelled, "He cheated on me with that woman!"

Irene sighed again. She yelled, "You made out with another man, Serena. You were broken up! You weren't married. The boy was across the world working his butt off to make a good life for you and you cheated on him with another man. He became upset and made a mistake. A child came from that mistake that he did not know existed until two years ago." Irene said, "You screwed up, Serena. You handled the situation poorly and you did not appreciate your husband. " Irene saw her daughter staring at her upset eyes. She calmed down. "Karen is a good woman. Darien loves her. You're not going to get him back. You had a good man. You didn't appreciate him. He moved on and he's happy with another wife."

Serena turned her back to her mother. She looked over to her father for support. He simply gave her a sympathetic look. Ken said, "Your mom's right. A man can only take so much. You broke him Serena. He's happy with his new wife." Serena stared at her father. She listened at the finality in his voice. Even her father was telling her to move on without saying it.

Serena turned back to her mother. "And where does he live? Where are my children? I want to take them back."

Irene shook her head. "So you can abandon them again? Continue on with your disappearing act?"

"Mother!"

"You brought shame to this family, Serena. Everyone ostracized us. We lost friends because of you. Your children went through pure hell at school."

Serena cried, "It wasn't my fault."

Irene cried, "I know baby, but there were consequences to your actions." Irene paused as if something weighed heavy on her heart. "If you are not prepared to be a mother to your children, then let them continue to believe that you are dead." Serena gasped in shock as she covered her mouth. Irene pleaded, "Serena, let them heal. They cannot take losing you again." Serena closed her eyes. "Karen is a good woman. She is a good mother. She's maternal. They need a mother. If you know for certain that you are not going to walk out of their lives again, then go to your daughters. I'll give you the address right now. But if not, let Karen be the mother figure that they need." Serena looked at her mother with hateful eyes. She left the house without bothering to ask for the address.