I do not own sailor moon

Chapter 2

No one enjoyed a good wedding more than Usagi did. She love seeing the look on the groom's face when he first saw his bride coming towards him. Besides her sisters and one other close friend, everyone her own age was already married. Today's event would mark the 13th wedding she had been in and the 27th she had attended. She wasn't really keeping track, but it was hard not too when it was fun to compare the weddings. Minako helped her with her hair. Instead of her usual hair style she had a Heidi braid that came around and connect into a large bun. Normally she kept her buns for weddings, but it was insisted by both grooms that she didn't. Saying good-bye to her sister and father, she headed for the church, gown in bag.

Usagi watched as the row of girls in front of her finally made their way down the isle. Not only was she the maid of honor, but she was also going to walk Motoki down. When the music started to play they linked arms and headed down. She was so happy for her friend that she couldn't be shy even if she tried. The guests gushed about them they as they walked down, but she didn't keep her eyes off the groom. His expression told her everything she needed to know, and it was evident that the two were very much in love. When she let her sight slip to the best man, his eyes bore into her soul. He looked disgusted and clearly felt he bad better things to do. Through out the ceremony she found that every time she looked his way he was staring at her, and she felt her good mood fleeting. By the time the reception came she was red in the face with anger. She had never met him before and he was already at the top of her hate list. When she went to reach for him to link arms to walk back down the isle he refused and left her to escort herself, when they went to take pictures as maid of honor and best man, the photographer would put them close together and as soon as the man would turn around he took a huge step away. She was finally told by Motoki when they had some time alone that it was his new brother-in-law. He hated weddings, didn't like to be touched and though Motoki had only met him a couple times, said that he was a great man with poor personality.

She had gone up to the bar to get another glass of time, and decided to drink it on a bench she found in the gardens. It allowed her to take in the beautiful display of lilies and roses. Finally feeling herself relax she could hear two people approach, who just happen to stop behind her. Their view of her blocked by two large bushes that made up the back of the bench.

"I wish you were having a better time, you know enjoying your brother's one wedding by dancing, eating and mingling."

"I came, I participated and you knew I do not enjoy being forced to spend time with people that I find beneath me and people that I barely know." Usagi couldn't help but frown, and begin to feel bad for being so angry with him. Some people can't help not liking crowds.

"Motoki's maid of honor, Usagi, she is amazing. I know that if you would stop snubbing her, you'd see that you would have things in common with her. She is successful, beautiful and sweet. She is a CE"

"You know I could care less how great of a personality she has, besides your Usagi, she is barely tolerable enough to tempt a frog. Just look at her, dressed up like a bride at someone's wedding, clearly she wants attention. Go find your husband, and leave us single people to our own thoughts." With that he left Dimande shook his head. He tried, but his brother was just too stuck in his ways. His brother Mamoru was intelligent, successful and charitable. He was the world's leading pediatrician, and had the bed side manners of a saint with children. He specifically worked with low income families that couldn't afford the life saving treatment. It was why he was certain that he and Usagi would get along so well.

"Hey Dimande, your brother, he is kind of an asshole." Dimande nearly fell to the ground.

"Usagi, how long have you been there?" She finished coming out from behind the bushes.

"Since before your conversation. I was enjoying the garden when I heard you guys come over. I was going to leave, but I just didn't get a chance. He doesn't seem to enjoy my family very much."

"I'm sorry. He really is a great guy, I don't know what his problem is. I heard there were problems with our sister, but I don't really know any details. Mamoru is her guardian, and takes her care very seriously."

"You've met my younger sisters, I know what it's like to try and handle younger siblings." Dimande chuckled and the two walked back to the party.

"Just don't let what he said get to you, I know who you are inside and out, and you're more than beautiful." Usagi smiled and put every effort into enjoying the rest of the wedding.

When she came home it was well past midnight. The house was quiet, and Usagi did her best to try and stay quiet regardless of all the alcohol she had consumed. She closed her bedroom door behind her.

"I was expecting you hours ago!" Minako startled her so badly she screamed and fell to the floor. After picking her up off the floor and putting her on the bed, Minako explained why she was just up and arms. " Motoki and Dimande texted me and told me all about Mamoru Chiba. How the hell our sweet nature Dimande could be related to to such an awful wanna be man!" Usagi just let out a muffled sound of agreement as she tried to wiggle out of her dress.

"I decided to not let it bother me. He isn't worth getting upset about. I doubt we'll really see each other anyway. I can't expect the whole world to love me, and I know now that I can't expect myself to love the whole world either." The girls talked for a little bit longer and finally went to bed.

Usagi tossed and turned all night. Her dreams were plagued by Mamoru. It wasn't his words that affected her, it was his looks. When she first laid eyes on him, he nearly took her breath away. He was by far the most attractive man she had ever met. Motoki had filled her in a little about what he did, but he had never prepared her for the man's midnight black hair and eyes so dark blue it was like looking into space. They could see right into her depth, and just remembering his voice caused shivers to run down her back. Sunday and Monday morning she woke up drenched in sweat and cursing him. She loved a good morning, it was the start of a brand new work week, and for her it meant being able to sit at her desk and help people. Since it was the first of the month her Monday would start out with a meeting with her board.

"I would like to introduce a non-profit I have been hearing about. They have been mainly working on the west coast, but I want to work out something so that we can open up a facility here. Gratis started about 5 years ago, and is complied of doctors in 10 fields. They offer low in come families need medical treatment for children, that is usually life saving. The doctors work probono, and take donations to keep their clinics up and running. Because they all still have their own practices and hospitals they use their weekends to perform surgeries. Because they handle 100s of cases, I believe that opening a clinic here on the east coast will allow us to take some of the pressure off of them, and allows families to stay a little closer to home. My plan though in the next 12 months is to get 6 of these clinics open all along the east coast. If you look in the business plan, I have already found 7 doctors who are willing to take time out to help."

"Usagi, ma'am, we just don't deal in medical. We have worked very hard the last 3 years and I honestly believe we should just stick to what we know. It can take up to 3 years to get approval for clinics, funding and supplies. And even if we could, then we would have to pay for advertising to get the word out to the whole east coast." Sapphire was one of her youngest board members, he was only a couple years older than herself. He had graduated top of his class at Brown in business, but she couldn't help but pity him for the fact that he could never get past hard numbers.
"Listen, I know that this is new, and I know some of you might think that we are just too new to start to branch out in a project this big, but right now we are just helping out families learn to survive. With combining forces with Gratis we will truly be helping our families live. And Gratis is going to send over one of their founders to help us get started. This isn't just going to be us starting this from scratch, just helping another organization expand." She stood up. "3 years ago when I came to each of you with my vision, you weren't sure about me. You knew of my family, many of you had worked with my father, but you still choose to come together with me. I trust you with my dreams, and I know you trust me with your money, reputation and your dreams." She looked around and flopped back into her chair. "6 months ago we helped a single mom get into a house. Her husband had died in a car accident and her oldest son was badly injured. When her husband died they lost his medical insurance, and ended up loosing their house because they couldn't afford medical bills and a mortgage. Her oldest son had to stay in the hospital because his heart was damaged. One month before I met her, her son had died because she couldn't afford to pay for the doctor to perform the transplant surgery. I called that doctor to ask him why he wouldn't help out this woman who had lost her husband, was loosing her son and worked 3 jobs to make sure her two other children could at least eat, and he told me, he told me so matter-of-factly, 'I have a mortgage to pay.'" She licked her lips and paused fighting back the tears of remembering the woman's face. "A partnership with Gratis will make sure that we will never have to worry about loosing another child because money is the bottom line. We will never have to look at a parent's face and see the struggle because no matter how hard they try, they just can't seem to help the one thing they love the most. Please vote yes and see how that yes is a promise that we will not stand by and watch our future dwindle away because a piece of paper is more important than they are."

By the end of the meeting every member voted yes, and Usagi had felt herself drained and alive all at the same time. Sitting back at her desk and wasted no time in preparing a meeting with Gratis. By the end of the day she had received 37 texts and phone calls from her mother making sure she was going to be leaving on time, to be home in time for her father's dinner party. A chance to meet the single, handsome smart new partner her father had at his firm.