So I feel like this chapter isn't really exciting, but I needed a bit of a calm before I got closer to finishing the story.

Yes! I'm getting closer to finishing! I know a particular lovely lady who'll me PMing me not long after this is uploaded scolding me. (you know who you are aha)

Mamoru didn't say much on their commute home, and neither did Usagi. There were too many words bouncing around his head, he wasn't sure which ones were supposed to come out in what order. For now, he was content walking in silence, his fingers intertwined with Usagi's.

They arrived at her street, and Usagi froze. Mamoru rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I know, I know…" He whispered, slowly releasing his hold on her fingers.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't be, Usagi." Mamoru hushed her, resting his lips on her forehead. "It's okay."

Usagi looked up into his eyes, and Mamoru gave her a quick smile. She smiled back, took a deep breath, and strode down her street. She produced a key from her pocket and unlocked the front door, calling for her Father.

"Usagi, isn't it a bit late dear?" A woman's voice called.

"Mama, since you're still up, I've brought someone." Usagi called, taking her shoes off.

Mamoru felt too anxious to follow her through the doorway, so instead he stood waiting outside the house. A woman with long dark hair rounded the corner, followed by a professional looking man. Her Mother smiled, and Father scowled.

"Is this the brave Mamoru I owe my thanks?" She asked, clapping her hands together.

"Mama, Papa, this is Mamoru." Usagi introduced.

"Hello Mamoru, I'm Ikuko and this is Kenji. We're so pleased to meet you." Her Mother smiled.

Her Father strode to the door and extended his hand. "Kenji Tsukino. Why won't you come in?"

"Mamoru Chiba. I didn't want to intrude, I'm still a stranger after all." Mamoru shook his hand.

"Nonsense, come in." Her Father invited. Mamoru did as ordered, took his shoes off, and followed Usagi and her parents to the dining room. Usagi's parents sat on one side of the table, Usagi and Mamoru on the other.

"I know Usagi sent you our thanks, but we truly are grateful to you Mamoru." Ikuko beamed. "A young girl like our daughter really shouldn't walk alone at night."

"I completely agree, it's not safe for anyone at night let alone a young girl. It's not fair, but it's the society we live in I suppose." Mamoru agreed.

"How did you two meet?" Kenji asked.

"Papa…" Usagi pouted. "I already told you."

"Yes but I want to hear him say it, see if it's true. I don't want him leading you down the garden path, Usagi."

"The...what…?" Usagi and her Mother questioned. Mamoru could see where she got it from.

"I'm good friends with an employee at the arcade Usagi frequents, I'm there often myself. We run into each other from time to time." Mamoru answered. "I know her friends, lovely girls."

"Especially that Ami!" Ikuko exclaimed. "Such a good influence."

"And how old did you say you were?" Kenji asked, as if his wife had never spoken.

"Kenji dear, please be more polite." His wife asked kindly, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"My apologies, but Usagi is my only daughter. You can see why I worry."

"Of course Mr Tsukino." Mamoru replied, resting a hand on Usagi's knee. "I would never do anything to your daughter that you wouldn't approve of. I only wanted to see her home safe."

"For that, I thank you Mamoru." Kenji replied.

"Speaking of that, thank you again for bringing her home." Ikuko said. "I wish there was something we could do to repay you."

"I'd refuse to accept, chivalry doesn't need to be repaid." Mamoru said.

"It's getting late, Mamoru. Would you like to stay here tonight?" Ikuko asked.

"No, I've intruded enough. I'll walk home."

"Nonsense boy." Kenji butted it. "It's reaching an hour that's unsafe even for you to wander the streets. Please, accept my wife's offer. We'll put you up in the spare room."

Mamoru looked at Usagi, she smiled at him. "My parent's won't take no for an answer."

Mamoru felt his heart skip a beat. "Okay…"

10 minutes later, a futon was set up in the spare room and Usagi's parents had gone to bed. Mamoru was restless, he wanted to be able to touch Usagi again and smell her hair.

"I finally have you, I finally have you Usagi. You may want it to be a secret, but why do I care? The important thing is that I have you, and I will do anything to keep you."

There was a light knock on the door a few seconds before it opened, Mamoru rolled onto his side and watched as Usagi stepped into the room and slowly closed the door. The only light that kept the edge of darkness away was the lone streetlight below the window, Mamoru could only make out her figure. She knelt next to the futon.

"Are you awake?" She whispered.

"Can't sleep?"

"I've never had a boy stay at my house before, besides my brother's friends, I was nervous."

Mamoru shuffled over so there was a space for Usagi to sit, she sat cross-legged facing him.

"There's no reason to be nervous. I'm not going to bite you in your sleep."

"Mamoru...why?"

Mamoru was stunned. "Why...won't I bite you in your sleep?"

Usagi let out a quiet squeal and smacked him in the shoulder. "Baka, baka, baka!"

Mamoru could only laugh under his breath, he couldn't stop imagining how the blush that was definitely be on her face would make her faint freckles stand out.

"I mean...why me?"

"Well you friend Rei is a bit too feisty for me."

"Mamoru be serious."

Mamoru rolled onto his stomach and looked up at Usagi. "No, not tonight. Give me one week, then I'll tell you."

"Why-"

"No more questions, Silly Usagi."

He could hear a little huff come from Usagi, that's how he knew she was pouting.

"You'll never go to sleep if you're just sitting there, Usagi. You need your rest."

"But I'm restless." Usagi mumbled.

"Lay with me for a while, we can talk until you fall asleep."

He wished there was more light, so he could see why Usagi stayed quiet. He could feel her shifting slightly, but he wasn't sure if she was uncomfortable or hesitating. He was about to suggest that she didn't have to when he felt her shuffle about and lay beside him.

"Now, what do you want to talk about, Usagi?" Mamoru asked, making a nest for his head with his arms.

That one little question opened a flood gate of topics and chatter. Usagi hopped from subject to subject like a frog hopped from lilypads. One minute she was whining about her teacher always punishing her, the next she was telling him about an anime she had recently watched, then she'd tell him a funny story about Minako, then she bragged about the latest game she had played. Of course, Mamoru didn't mind. Admittedly, he did fade in and out of listening to her ramblings, but only because of his own exhaustion. He tried his hardest to stay conscious enough to hear her.

"Mamoru?" Usagi suddenly asked.

"Hmm..yeah?"

"You look really tired, I'm sorry for keeping you awake."

Mamoru laughed weakly. "No, it's okay, keep talking."

"You're helping me fall asleep, I want to help you. Name anything."

Mamoru thought for a moment.

"May I hold you?"

Usagi was quiet for a moment, but shuffled closer to him. Mamoru rolled to his side and wrapped an arm around Usagi's small waist, he tucked the other under her head as a pillow. He already knew she was much smaller than him, but only now did he actually realise just how tiny and fragile she seemed. Her head was tucked under his chin yet her feet only reached his mid-calf. Her body was so tiny that he swore he could wrap his arms around her twice. Her delicate hands were only slightly larger than half the size of Mamoru's as one was placed over his. The smell of her hair and the natural scent of her body were overwhelming, he felt like he were drowning in her sweet scent. He felt her body slowly become more limp, more comfortable, and soon her heard her snore quietly.

What felt like minutes later, the room began to become slightly brighter. He looked over at the window behind him and saw the sun was beginning to rise. He looked down at Usagi's sleeping figure.

"I want to kiss you, I want to hold you, I want to become one with you, I never want to let you go my Usagi...but…"

He slowly unraveled his arms from her small body and tucked them under her knees and shoulders, lifting her effortlessly from the futon and carrying her gently back to her room. He tucked her up in bed, making sure not to disturb her cat who lay on a pillow beside her desk, gathered his clothes, tiptoed down the stairs and wrote a note to both Usagi and her parents before he left the house.

"Thank you for putting me up for the night, I would have loved to stay for breakfast but I have a few things I needed to take care of first thing this morning. It was wonderful meeting you Mr and Mrs Tsukino, I hope to see more of you two in the future. Usagi, see you at the arcade some time? Warm wishes, Mamoru Chiba."