After sharing such passion, her dreams coming true, Serenity could not just sleep. It was time for her and the earth prince to talk. What did he think he was doing, entering her dreams, leaving roses for her in the morning and then seemingly hiding from for days? Serenity hated to admit how much her heart ached for his presence; even now she yearned to be held by him once more. A delightful shudder heated her then, memories of his hot kisses over her lips and her neck, his rough yet tender hands touching her most intimate areas; her body exploded when his fingers entered her. Had she ever felt such aguish pleasure at once? The experience had been both sensual and passionate. Serenity found it difficult not to fantasy about Endymion now, her body already responding to her inner desire.

The strong feelings had seemed to develop so suddenly. It terrified Serenity. Was it not long ago that she desired a completely prince. Yet this feeling was different. Serenity could not clarify her feelings, let alone her thoughts. Why did nothing make sense anymore?

For some reason she decided to wait in his bed-chambers, knowing that he would never dare venture to hers and that she could not wait till the morning. It was now or never. In less than a month they were to be married. Every day now seemed to involve numerous decisions of the day; Serenity paid no heed to them.

Kunzite led the moon princess to the earth prince's bed-chambers on the far-side of the castle. The evening's dancing and passions had left her exhausted and yearning for the comfort of her soft pillows and sheets but she knew that a peaceful slumber would not come.

Waiting for Prince Endymion she surveyed his chambers hoping to find some clues to his tastes. The chamber was huge and spacious, even more so as only the bare essentials furnished it. Even the grand four-posted bed seemed plain and impersonal. Everything was neat and straight; the bed sheets were plain white. She thought painfully how she brought nothing from home to ease the heartache. It saddened her to think that the prince had nothing to hold dear though. When had she come to care for the prince, after he was the one to take her from everything?

But had she not known all along that a future with Prince Diamond was only a fantasy? A childish one at that. Back at the cave Endymion had accepted her love for Diamond, never once trying to force her or his obvious affections on her. He even sincerely regretted hurting her. No Serenity knew she had not forgiven the prince for his actions. Nevertheless it was not within herself to condemn the man forever.

That is when she noticed the ring, glinting on his side-table. It beckoned to her. A sicken feeling erupted over her body. She did not even have to pick it up; she knew from observing the rare gem that it was her ring. No, Serenity gasped, it was Diamonds ring. Their engagement ring, their promised future. How was it here and not with him?

Now Serenity knew why she could never communicate with her dear prince. Bile rose in her throat. Suddenly everything over the last few months, particularly the last week made sense. Everything crashed down upon her fragile limbs. The dreams, the feelings and all the confusion was caused by Endymion wearing the ring. It was the feelings for her that seeped through the ring, not anything mutual between them.

Serenity's knees buckled beneath her; she sobbed into them. Her heart shattered. Never had she struggled to breath, forcing deep gulps down. Never had a cold sweat shook her entire being. And never had she felt such agony. Why had she allowed herself to trust him? Why did she think he could heal the gaping wound in her heart he slashed open in the first place? Why, why, why oh why had she been so foolish?

Behind her the door heaved opened. Anger flashed through her. Those deep blue eyes that haunted her dreams at night. How she loathed them now. Serenity wanted to rip them out of his very skull.

'Serenity! Calm down! Serenity.' Endymion struggled to hold the princess down as she writhed against him.

'How could you? How could you, I trusted you! After everything…I trusted you!' Red-rimmed eyes starred up at him, her body becoming still. 'Endymion, you have torn my heart like no other.'

His face twisted with confused anguish. Every syllable acted like a jaggered claw mauling his heart. A long silence settled over them; Endymion lessened his grip on the still princess. Finally when Serenity felt like she could speak without the agony consuming her, she challenged him as why he had that ring.

'Ring? What ring' as if to answer it winked from the table. 'That ring? It was given to me shortly after we arrived here, just before Yule. But dear Serenity why is that ring so important.'

A glimmer of hope soothed her heart, the constraints easing slightly. He did not know what the ring did, or its significance. Was he lying? Serenity desperately wanted to believe the innocence in his eyes. They were overflowing with such tenderness and compassion.

'That ring is one of a pair. I have the other hidden in my bedchamber and I thought Prince Diamond had the other. They were our engagement rings. He gave them to me back on Venus the last time we were there.'

Endymion pulled back, physically shocked at the rings origins.

'Yet there is more. Each ring is encrusted with a precious gem. A magical jewel that, when both people wear the rings they can communicate with one another, no matter how far the distance.'

The reality of her words sunk into Endymion slowly. He tugged a hand through his thick hair as he turned deeper into the chamber, unable to face her. When an exasperated sigh left him, he barley heard the whisper.

'It was our promise of the future we wanted to share. That one day we would be together, no matter what. And until then, we could be together this way.'

The weight of defeat slumped on Endymion's shoulders. 'You will never love me, even just a little. Your love for him is so strong.' It was hard to keep his voice from breaking. 'And I cannot take that from you, because…' he made himself face her again, to see her reaction to the words he so long wanted to voice, 'you are my love Serenity.' Saying her name, his voice finally faltered.

Serenity bit her lip. Hearing her name in such a way constricted her chest. A new agony embraced her. The prince was offering not just his love, but his entire being to her. Without knowing why she stepped towards him, not daring to breath. He too was holding his breath. Time itself seemed to cease. Laying her palm against his chest she was relieved to feel his heart beat; slow and unwillingly it thumped against his cheat. Gazing up into his eyes she searched his spirit, her head aching with the effort to understand the pain. Could she not take this heart right now and cease his pain, stop it from beating forever? Why did that terrify so? Surely she could take the love he offered and nurture it until it blossomed. Tears scorched her eyes once more.

'Why do you love me so? I have been nothing but cold and distant to you from the day we meet.'

Endymion cupped her face and brushed her tears away with his thumb. Now he had to tell her the truth. 'Princess Serenity, I have loved you for many years, since the first time we meet…on Venus.' Her tear-filled eyes widened. 'There was a night of a masked ball. I had attended on a whim. Sometimes it was just nice to escape this planet and indulged with others like me, and with a masked ball my identity was hidden. You were so care-free, so beautiful that night beneath the stars. And when we kissed, I had never felt so alive or complete.' Memories flooded them both.

'You…you were that man I mistook for Prince Diamond! And…'she screwed her face before another gasped escaped, 'The next morning…you were the man in the kitchen! Oh my…stars!'

All this time she believed she shared a passionate kiss with a random stranger. Her first kiss at that. No she realised, all along it had been Prince Endymion, and he knew, he knew that I mistook him for Prince Diamond.

'You had long silver hair!'

'Back then I had longer hair yes. And that night I was convinced to wear moon dust in it. It was a masked ball so I saw no harm in it. That is until you kissed me, thinking I was your Prince Diamond.'

'All this time, you knew!' Serenity slapped his hands away. 'Is that why you separated us? You were jealous!' her chest heaved with the effort of her screams.

'No! I swore never to see you again.' Serenity snorted un-princess-like. Endymion punched the wall, silencing her. 'Even when I heard of the plans to arrange our marriage I was against it. Believe princess, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you but taking you for my own. I wanted to meet you in person, to discuss the arrangements, to love you in my own way. But that night when I heard through the door of your plans, when I knew I would never get the chance to see you again, something inside me snapped. And seeing you together; a part of me surfaced that I had hoped died long ago. And for that I will forever condemn myself.'

Listening to the Endymion tore at the fabric of her being gently. Serenity knew she should be angry at the prince, for everything they had been through. Yet the strain in his voice, the torment in his eyes; he had suffered so much alone. And all because of her.

Could she condemn him forever for his love? He still loved her even though all this time he had known of her devotion to Prince Diamond. All she wanted to do was weep with him, to take his suffering with hers and devour it with their affection. Had she not grown to care for him over the past few months? Was there not hope for them? Serenity did not know.

'I do not think I can ever forgive you Prince Endymion' was all she could say. Not knowing what else to say and too afraid to hear anymore she slipped away. Back in the confines of her chambers she allowed the tears to rack her body. White agony seized her mind as with the greatest effort she thought back over the last couple of months with Endymion. Tonight she would know her heart, even if it destroyed her.

The earth king roared at his son like he never had before.

'What do you mean; you no longer wish to marry Princess Serenity!'

As still as stone Endymion faced his father in his private meeting chamber as the first rays of sunlight bore onto his desk. The king slammed his fists into the same desk when his son did not provide an answer. Forcefully he tugged at Endymion's scruffy shirt.

'Do you have any idea how much is staked on this union? Do you?...No my son. I have been patient with you. You will marry her. You will take her on your wedding night and conceive an heir. And you will obey me!'

'Take her? You mean like you did mother?' his father stepped back as if Endymions words had physically slapped him. 'Yes dear father, I know exactly how you treated mother after your arranged marriage to one another. How you forced her. Time and time again over the years, right until the moment it killed her.'

Never had Endymion seen so much regret and sorrow in his father's eyes. Suddenly the king in front of him was gone and in its place stood only a man.

'My boy…you don't understand. As a man…as a king I had to…we needed you.'

Endymion had dealt with these demons long ago. It had hardened his heart and mind. Not a day passed when he did not miss his mother. She always had a kind smile and such a sweet laugh. Like Serenity.

'Dearest father, let me tell you something that I am grateful you taught me long ago. That is no way to bring a child onto this earth. That is no way to love a woman, and so that is no way to live your life.'

'Kunzite let me go! Where are you taking me' only a few moments ago the general had abducted her from her bed, disturbing her disturbed slumber and wrenched her across the castle.

At a small door he stopped, pushed a finger to his lips and then gestured through the open door. Serenity squinted at the brightness invading her eyes. Familiar voices argued down below.

'But you love her, do you not son?'

'She will never love me, no matter how much I love her. And if you force me to marry the moon princess, the earth will have no heirs. I will not force her father.'

Serenity walked away from the door the general held open, arms clenched at her sides. With icy eyes Kunzite glared at her retreating back.

'Very well. If that is how you truly feel, then I will stop the wedding. You must love her very much to let her go. But you know that she can never marry the dark prince? She will return home humiliated. Would not a marriage to you, a man who loves her be better than that?'

Endymion shook his head. 'I would rather love her forever far than live with her eternal hate.'

He barely acknowledged the door behind heavy open, nor the hurried footsteps. At the last moment he dared himself to turn. The thought of not seeing Endymion every day horrified Serenity, a vile taste sticking to her throat. Last night, even without the ring on she had dreamt of him. It was of their first time together on Venus, sharing their first kiss, without their masks. She knew she had to convince him not to cancel the marriage.

Then something happened that had not in a very long time. Serenity caught the hem of her skirt in her bare feet. Instantly she hurtled towards the startled prince, only just registering his wide fathomless eyes.

Endymion caught her in his well-toned arms. Without hesitation he pulled her into a deep embrace, arms wrapped protectively around her. In earnest she gazed up at him, breathless and face flushed.

'Please do not stop loving me, Endymion. You will not live with my hate, or endure a lifetime of loneliness.'

Serenity took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply, hoping her affection for him was enough to convince him to hope. Yes she would always love her silver-haired prince but she wanted to love the dark-haired prince like no other.

He could not help himself; Endymion pulled back from her sweet lips but only a breath away. He needed to see her eyes, those bright blue orbs. And what he saw stole all the breath from him. It allowed him to hope like never before. Swiftly he tilted her head back, kissing her deeper than he ever dared to before, breathing in her entire scent, becoming lightheaded with its purity.

Beside the entangled couple the king cleared his throat nosily. It was only on the third attempt that they actually noticed. Seeing them both glowing and giddy from their passionate kiss drew a faint grin on the king's face. He never intended his son to suffer the same loveless life he endured. Not one day passed when he regretted his treatment of Endymion's mother. There was hope for his son yet and that pleased him immensely.

Grabbing the couple in a slightly awkward embrace, he simply stated, 'I take it the wedding is still on?'

All three of the them giggled together.

Thanks for all who leave reviews...it is great to hear people enjoying the writing/story so far. Also I wanting to give fair warning in advance for the next chapter - huge lemon!