We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.

"SAILOR MOON ETERNAL"

The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga

Chapter 8

"The Morning After"

The bright rays of the sun make their way through the lacy curtains, shining down onto Tara's sleeping face. Waking up at their prompting, she goes through last night's events in her mind.

Yes, Susan kissed Terry. But when I ran away he came to rescue me! He carried me in his strong arms the entire way home. He cares for me, he must! I know he does! Maybe, maybe, if I could just be as bold as Susan then maybe he would…

Tara begins to plan what she will do to make the man she was in love with fall for her, too. She feels Susan stir softly beside her. I even have to share the same bed with her. Strange, she's' usually up long before I am. Lazy! Tara thinks sourly at her rival. Slipping out of the bed to shower and dress, her eyes are pulled to Susan.

Susan and her hair unusually askew. Susan curled up in a clingy ball, clutching her pillow to her face. Susan and her lipstick splattered across her face, her neck, even on her chest! Susan in a man's shirt, unbuttoned. Slow disbelief sets in as Tara realizes what it all means.

Susan has…has…Tara's innocent mind cowers from the mere thought of such an adult thing.

But I'm an adult, too! Her mind screams back at her. I know what's going on. Susan has been with a man. Tara moves closer to her sleeping form and still from a distance she can smell him.

His scent. Terry's. Backing against the wall, Tara shakes her head in total and utter horror. No! The tears spring to her eyes as she runs to the bathroom to escape. Susan has made love to my Terry. My Terry! She collapses on the cold tile floor crying uncontrollably. Then she turns from total sadness to extreme anger. How dare she! She growls in her mind. It's not his fault, he's a man. She's only using him! She doesn't really love him, not like I do! Well! Tara takes hold of herself trying to calm her blazing emotions. I'll just have to show Terry that I'm every bit the woman Susan is, she thinks as she strips off her clothes.

Looking in the mirror she nods determinedly, her furious mind warped enough to believe her small girlish body could compete with Susan's womanly form. Jumping in the shower, Tara plots the destruction of her one-time friend. In Tara's book, Susan de Venici was now public enemy #1.

Glancing at the clock hanging on the wall, Michelle quickly jumps out of bed.

It's 9:30! It'll never do for the host to be late! I forgot to set the alarm! Why hasn't Susan gotten me up! She runs barefoot to the bathroom for a quick shower forgetting all about the guests staying in the house. Rushing in, she sees Sayer shaving in the mirror, standing there with only a small towel wrapped around his slim waist. She squeaks, surprised, quickly retreating out the door again, slamming it shut, leaning against it, grateful that was all she saw.

"'Chelle, come on in! I'm done now!" She hears his voice through the door. Smiling meekly she goes in, more than a little ashamed.

"Sorry about that, I was just in a hurry."

"Uh-huh. I just think you wanted to have a look at my stunning physique. Probably to compare it with Rob's, which I'm sure you had more than a glance at last night." he teases wickedly as he passes her on the way out.

"Ohhh!" she grunts in astonishment at this man's gall to say such things. "Get out!" Stopping just in front of the door, he turns.

"Now that you've had a good long look, what's the verdict?" He poses, flexing his muscles, grinning from ear to ear. He gets his answer in the form of a soaking wet washcloth smacking into his head.

"Hey, good shot." he removes the towel from his head. "But you still didn't answer the—" He doesn't get to finish the last word as a bar of soap comes flying at him, whacking him on the forehead so hard he could see stars.

Terry comes into consciousness with a dull throbbing pain stabbing at his temples. Groaning softly, he opens his eyes. As they slowly come into focus, he finds a dark green blouse tangled up in his arms. Susan's blouse? He asks himself recognizing it as the one she wore last night to Serena's party. How did it get here? His mind had either totally forgotten last night's drunken events or had blocked them out for propriety's sake. Either way, Terry had no idea how Susan's blouse could be here in his bed.

Must've just been here before, she must have forgotten it here when she was…cleaning. Yes, that must be it. Terry's proper mind refuses to even consider any other reason.

Holding his head, he gets out of bed, wondering why he wasn't wearing anything. How unusual, I generally do wear them to sleep, he thinks, his eyebrows furrowing as he scans the room for his missing briefs. Spotting them near the bed, he bends down, scooping them up, as he pullsvon a new pair quickly, still looking down where they laid he sees that some kind of black fabric had been hiding under them. Curiously, he picks it up, it's crumpled form falling out, revealing that it was a skirt—a mini skirt in fact—a woman's skirt. His eyes widen at the implication now combined with the blouse.

It's Susan's but…I have no idea how it got here. She must have dropped it here accidentally…that's it. Yes. Terry continues to try to convince himself, desperately grasping at excuses, as implausible as they may be. Confused, he neatly folds the skirt and places it on the nightstand on top of the blouse. Shrugging his shoulders at the unanswered questions in his mind, he decides to push them aside, and begins to make the bed. The next item he finds could no longer be ignored. Peeking out from in between the white sheets Terry sees a lavender bit of cloth sticking out. Lifting it up, it strings out to his shock and horror revealing a lacy, little lavender bra.

"No…" He whispers, disbelieving the certain implications this new evidence thrust forward. Just then the door opens a crack and Terry guiltily hides the damning article of clothing behind his back as Sayer sticks his head in, his eyes looking around the room for—something, or— someone.

"I saw that." He smiles letting himself in. "Can I come in yet—or is she still coming back?" Sayer looks at his brother with a strange new respect in his voice.

"She…?" Terry repeats, his breath catching in his throat in terror. "Who?" He asks, praying that Sayer was teasing somehow, that this was all a bad dream.

"Who?!" Sayer looks at him with a confused smile. "Susan, you sly dog. Or did you think you could keep that kind of thing a secret from me?"

"What—what 'kind of thing'?" Terry asks worriedly, frightened of the answer.

"C'mon, don't hold out on me. What was it like?" Sayer asks, dying to know. Looking at Terry's blank, scared expression it finally dawns on Sayer what he was actually saying.

"You don't REMEMBER!" he asks in shock and Terry shakes his head. "You've slept with a beautiful woman and you DON'T REMEMBER!" Sayer's jaw drops at the thought.

"I…I did?" Terry swallows hard, looking at Sayer, the ignorance of the event plain on his face.

"Yes, you did." Sayer says matter-of-factly, grabbing Terry's hiding arm, pulling it close to Terry's face, the lavender brassier amply displayed, and in Terry's mind flashes a vision of shapely Susan without…

No, stop! Don't even start…he chides himself quickly, guiltily.

"Oh, Sayer…" Terry sinks to the bed, shocked that his moral standards could be compromised so easily. "What does Susan think of me? How could I have been so ungentlemanly?" he demands of himself.

"Hey, it happens." Sayer says nonchalantly to his brother as he goes from drawer to drawer collecting his own clothes for the day.

"Do you think she….feels I just used her? Or that I did it just because I was drunk?" Terry asks worriedly, not wanting Susan to think it only that. He was slowly accepting it as a fact that he could not change—and secretly did not want to, as he imagines what must've taken place.

"Ter, don't sell yourself short. Women don't just do that unless they want to. Susie's crazy about you. I saw it coming. Just didn't figure it'd be so soon that you two'd…" Sayer's eyebrows waggle as he glances at the bed pointedly. "You got a good eye, Ter. Susie's a good looking woman."

"I know she i.," Terry gets a faraway look in his eye, smiling. Then looking at Sayer's accusing smirk, he clears his throat. "We'd better get ready. It's a big day today."

"Yeah, then maybe tonight again you and Susie can…" Sayer teases as Terry smacks him with a pillow playfully, imagining last night's "fun" with a sigh.

Finally ready, Michelle runs to the kitchen, happy to see the boys and Tara chatting amiably as Tara finishes preparing them scrambled eggs. Robin, still holding his head, brightens when she comes in, smiling at her warmly. Looking down, she smiles back, a little embarrassed at last night's events.

"Making breakfast?" Michelle says to Tara surprised to see anyone other than Susan at that stove. "Where's Susan?"

"How should I know? Last I saw her, the lazy girl was still in bed." Her usually soft small voice snaps, making Michelle's eyes open wide. "Besides, I can make breakfast as well as she can. Terry's already told me that my eggs are delicious." she smiles sweetly at her idol, who nods politely, unaware that his kindness was throwing flames on the embers of her envy.

"Well," Michelle could see right through the child's vain efforts, "let's get going then. Oh, Terry? Could you drive us? You boys will need the car to pick us up later, that's why I'm asking."

"Certainly," Terry smiles politely, not letting the pain behind his eyes get to him.

"Good." She looks at the clock. "9:50 already! Where is that Susan? She knows we have to be there before 10!" She watches as Sayer shoots a smirk at Terry, who looks down guiltily. But at the time, Michelle thinks nothing of it. "I'd better go get her. Terry, warm up that car. We'll be right out." she rushes to Susan's room.

"Susan," she knocks on the door. "Do hurry up." No reply. She lets herself in.

"Susan, we're going to be—" Searching around, she finds Susan fully dressed, sitting on the bathroom floor, her head buried in her pulled close knees.

"Susan?" Michelle goes to her friend, putting a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "What is it?" In all the time they'd spent together, Michelle had never seen Susan anything other than calm and collected. What could be wrong?

Susan looks up at her, finally revealing that she was holding a white shirt, and that she had been crying into it. It didn't take long for a French girl like Michelle to realize that it was a man's shirt she was clutching. Suddenly she recalls that little scene in the kitchen between Sayer and Terry and then last night how a drunken Terry was all over Susan and…

"Oh, Susan, did he…?" Michelle asks, concerned kneeling next to her, sure that men are capable of anything, especially when they're drunk, but not wanting to believe it of such a kind soul as Terry. But Alex always told me to watch out for anyone.

"It's all my fault!" Susan's depressed mind speaks in riddles. "I wanted him to. He was so gentle." a blissful smile comes over her face, as she caresses his shirt on her cheek, cementing Michelle's belief that something did happen for certain. Then she's overtaken once again by that anxious, faraway stare.

"Then what's the problem? You wanted him and he wanted you. It's that simple. There's nothing to be ashamed of. It's perfectly natural." Michelle smiles, mistaking Susan's emotional state for first time jitters. I wonder if I'd be like this if Robin and I had….Oh well, Michelle sighs at Susan's good fortune.

"Well, let's get going! We're already late. We'll talk about this again later, all right?" Michelle pulls Susan up and smoothes a stray hair into place.

Stealing the shirt from Susan's hands, she tosses it on the bed as they pass on the way out. Michelle giggles at Susan's longing glance back at it.

"You won't be needing that. You'll have the real thing in a minute." she smiles as they rush out, thinking it rather sweet, quite certain that there must be a "special" memory attached to that shirt.

"Bye, boys," Michelle waves as she tugs Susan out the door of the kitchen, neither of them noticing Sayer's keen interest in the darker haired woman.

"Did you know Susie wears purple undies?" He ask out of the clear blue.

"Sayer! How do you know such things?!" Robin drops his fork, scattering scrambled eggs across the table.

"Don't ask me," Sayer plays the innocent. "Ask Terry." Robin's eyes pop open wide.

Rushing to the running car, Michelle shoves a weary Susan into the backseat, then scoots in next to her.

"All right. Shall we go?" Michelle says to Terry, whose eyes were glued to Susan in his rear view mirror since the moment she entered the car. But Susan keeps her eyes down, avoiding his.

Stepping onto the gas, Terry pulls out onto the road somehow still being able to drive even though he keeps stealing glances back at Susan. Tara, seated next to him in the passenger's seat had been trying to get Terry to converse with her, but finding it difficult, since most of his answers came as a simple polite "Yes" or "No" and that was it.

He has changed since last night, she thinks wounded, at his indifference towards her. Look what you've done, Susan! You'll pay. Tara steams inside, but outside puts on her sweetest of smiles in Terry's direction. "I'm so excited. I can't wait for you to see my dress!" She exclaims cheerfully.

"Yes," Terry seemed to barely hear her, "I'm sure it's lovely," He adds after a long pause, totally uninterested in anything but that woman in the back seat.

Why won't you look at me, Susan? What did I do to you? You must think me so ungentlemanly. He desperately tries to remember.

I'm so sorry. Please just look at me once. I need to talk to you. To tell you…

His mind races, not hearing a word of Tara's background chatter. So wrapped up in his own thoughts he almost doesn't hear Michelle's voice until she repeats it in a shrill tone.

"Turn here, Terry!" she says urgently. Terry spins the wheel, tires screeching as they just make the turn. "You're not paying attention to a single thing we say, are you?" Michelle smiles at him, knowingly.

"Well, I…I…." Unusually he stumbles with words to say.

"You didn't get much sleep last night." Michelle fills in a reason. "Yes, I certainly figured that one out." she smiles at Susan whose only response is her blushing cheeks as she continues to keep her eyes down.

"There's my house." Michelle points to a huge mansion overlooking the coast. They pull up the long driveway, and Michelle jumps out her side door, as does Tara. Terry seizes his opportunity, and rushes to open Susan's side door, only to find she had slid out Michelle's side, purposely avoiding him.

"Don't be late for us at noon!" Michelle calls back, leading Tara and Susan up the steps to the double front doors. "I mean it this time." She throws out a final warning, recalling the events of last night.

Terry nods sadly as he watches Susan disappear into the mansion. Oh, Susan forgive me please. How could I have done such a thing to her! I must tell her I only did it because….because…I'm in love with her. But how can I prove it now? He wonders as he gets back in the car.

"What have I done to you?" Terry's troubled mind worries over her unsettling silence as she, Michelle and Tara had left the car without Susan even looking back at him once. Terry tries desperately to recall last night, but his memory fails him.

Something happened. I think something happened. He thinks, confused, but then he remembers this morning's shocking evidence in his bed. Yes, I'm sure something happened, He logics out decidedly, not totally displeased with the idea, just with the fact that he couldn't remember it. But most of all, he wondered what was wrong with Susan.

Could I have…? His mind searches for the reason for her avoiding him, no matter how unbelievable. Could I have hurt her somehow? In the heat of passion did I… even if it was an accident, could I have…I can't believe I would ever do anything to hurt her. I just wouldn't. His mind crosses out that unseemly option. No, it must be something else. He sits in the car trying to piece together what had happened. Maybe…a sudden unwelcome thought strays into his male psyche. Maybe I…I wasn't…good enough. His mind, embarrassed, shuns away from this demeaning theory. No! That couldn't be it, at least I hope that's not it, Terry silently prays for the degrading thought to be untrue. Then what could it be? He closes his eyes trying to imagine how it all transpired. How did I get Susan to…? His question is interrupted by a horrifying new thought. Could I have…somehow forced myself on her? He swallows hard at the terrible explanation. Could that explain why she's ignoring me?! His mind races to a feverish pitch. I couldn't! I wouldn't! Not even if I was drunk. I respect Susan. I…He leans his spinning head back. She would have said something, wouldn't she? No. I would never do that to a woman. Especially not one I care for this much. No. he relies that his morals would never be compromised like that.

It can NOT be that. What could it be then, Susan? What are you afraid to say to me?

Gazing out the window, he sees a familiar figure with long, golden flowing ponytails walking towards the mansion, a baby in her arms and a little pink-haired girl beside her. Watching them thoughtfully something catches his attention. It was the way the girl was holding the baby. It was her baby, Terry could tell that she was. He didn't know how the little magenta-haired child could be Serena's since last time he was here, but he was certain of it. The feeling they exuded was different this time.

Just as Serena was certain of it. Certain that this baby was her own. Certain of the baby's future. Certain of her baby's father. Feeling as if his eyes had been opened, he slumps back into his seat, his mind reeling as Serena catches sight of him in the car and jauntily skips up to him, the happiness in her heart exuding from her very being.

"'Morning, Terry!" she bubbles. When she receives no answer she sticks her head into the window further, assuming he didn't hear her from the dazed expression on his face.

"Terry?" she touches his shoulder.

"Miss Serena," he says with a start, not noticing her arrival.

"Anything wrong?" Serena asks, slightly concerned.

"No—no. Nothing wrong at all." he suddenly smiles brightly, his depressing mood totally flipped around at his new "idea" of what he decided was wrong with Susan.

"Good!" She smiles from ear to ear. "Today's the day!" She sings out with a wave as she trots up the steps, RiRi gigging happily in her arms, Rini looking back at the man in the car, critically scrutinizing him.

"Yes." Terry gazes up at the huge mansion, feeling his hopes rising, just knowing Susan was inside. That must be it! That must be what she's afraid of! Oh Susan you don't have to be afraid! But I guess you don't know that, we really have just met. I'll take care of you forever! You and your baby. You and our baby. Terry feels such pride in the completely erroneous thought, but looks down blushing at the circumstances in which the child was conceived. I know we shouldn't have…we weren't married…but—a baby! He thinks dreamily, imagining a happy, normal life with Susan at his side. I do love you, my darling. Later I'll tell you everything I feel, I'll put all your worries to rest and we can be together. I'll make it right for you, my love. He starts the engine jauntily.

"Yes. Today is the day!" he smiles, agreeing with Serena's words, as he drives away his spirits uplifted at the dream of a future with Susan, unknowing that her future had already been decided long ago.

"Where have you been?!" Rei's cutting voice says as Michelle, Tara, and Susan enter into the spacious fitting room on the second floor of Michelle's ornate mansion.

"Forgot to set the alarm. Do forgive us." Michelle answers flippantly, not at all affected by Rei's outbursts.

"You know we're helpless without you guys!" Mina murmurs, her mouth full of pins as she attempts to finish the hem on Amy's dress and fails miserably in a lop-sided stitch, much to Amy's anxious dismay.

"Susan, could you help me with this part? I'm not quite sure…" Lita trails off in confusion, holding up Serena's long white chiffon veil.

Without a word, Susan simply nods. Taking the veil from Lita, she seats herself in the window box and begins to sew slowly, her eyes being drawn to something outside, searching. Then a dreamy smile comes to her face when she obviously finds it.

Puzzled by her strange behavior, Lita shrugs to Rei, Mina, and Amy, who look just as confused as they shrug back. Before she has a chance to ask Susan what it was, there comes a knock to the door and the butler enters with a radiant Serena at his side.

"Miss Hart and her sisters, Madame," His snooty English accent making it sound like he just introduced "Miss Hot" instead, quickly disappearing out the door in eerie silence.

"Hi-hi!" Serena bubbles over, full of the day's happy expectations, with Rini and RiRi smiling from ear to ear.

"You're late, Serena, as per usual." Rei wouldn't stop criticizing Serena simply because it's her special day.

"Hi, Tara!" Rini greets her best friend cheerfully, but is disappointed by Tara's unenthusiastic "Oh, hello Rini." as if she wasn't interested in her old friend any longer.

"Well, Mom and I had some last minute things to do. You know how it is, we picked up some dresses for Rini and RiRi." Serena raises the bags in her hands, then puts down a wriggling RiRi, who giggles spotting Susan's unmoving hands in the window seat, as she breaks her gaze and looks down at the little girl with a wispy smile still on her lips.

"ChibiChibi's?" the baby tended to call herself in baby talk still.

"No, little one, it's for your Mommy." she says sweetly, just looking at the tiny face stirring strange emotions within her.

"Mommy!" Daria smiles gleefully giggling at the mere mention of her beloved Mommy.

"Yes, that's right!" Susan suddenly scoops up the child, holding her to her chest, hugging her warmly, a look of desperate longing on her face. And for once, as if understanding somehow, Daria does not try to wriggle one little bit.

Stranger and stranger for Susan to ever show such an outburst of emotion, especially towards a small child, many thinking her cold. The girls look at each other in curious bewilderment. Seeing their interest and knowing the reason herself, Michelle attempts to cover her friend's "little secret" by changing the subject.

"A new dress, Rini? May I see it?" Michelle smiles as if there was nothing wrong at all. One eye still on her "Puu" Rini takes out her little pink dress and holds it up.

"It's very pretty. Why don't you try it on?" Then still seeing the girls watching in amazement—Susan sew with one hand and stroke Daria's hair with the other, her eyes glance out into the driveway.

Michelle quickly decides to garner their attention.

"Why don't we all try our dresses on? It is getting rather late if there're any problems still to fix on them." Nodding, the girls scatter about collecting their gowns. Satisfied she avoided their wondering about Susan, Michelle opens the closet to fetch her own gown. Mina finds hers quickly and is the first to ditch her street clothes. Standing there in her slip, she suddenly remembers something and turns to Michelle.

"Don't let that butler of yours in. He gives me the creeps!" They all laugh, Susan's oddness forgotten in the hustle and bustle.

The room fills with happy girlish chatter as the young women don their first bridesmaids' dresses.

"Do you think my hair would look better put up or just down?" Rei asks, demonstrating.

"Is my dress stained?!" Mina exclaims then realizes it only a shadow.

"Has someone seen my shoes?" Lita finds her shoes missing.

"Do you think this dress makes me look older?" Tara asks, studying herself in a full length mirror. Rini nods, smiling.

"I'm going to be the flower girl!" Rini sings happily pinning some flowers to her pink lacy dress.

"No! Chibi Chibi flower girl," RiRi corrects her sister.

"You're both flower girls, silly." Amy pats the baby on the head as she ties bows in her hair.

Michelle crosses the room to where Susan was still perched in the window, her poufy aqua dress rippling as she walked.

"Aren't you getting dressed yet, Susan?" Michelle puts her own earrings on.

"I….just want to finish this…There, I'm done," Susan finishes the delicate stitching necessary for such an elaborate rose covered veil.

"Well, hurry up, after all, you do want to make yourself beautiful for someone today, don't you?" Michelle teases as Susan blushes. Leaving her post at the window, she hands the veil to an astonished Serena.

"Oh, Susan, it's even lovelier than I imagined! You're such a wonderful seamstress!" Serena gives her a quick hug, displaying the veil to the girls. Susan smiles.

"I'll get changed now." she slips away to the large walk-in closet to find her gown, with one more backward glance out the window.

"Hey, Michelle, Michelle," Rei whispers, her hand hiding her lips, "What do you mean 'someone'? What's with Susan?"

"Yeah, what's the scoop?" Lita says softly, along with a curious Amy start forming a crowd around Michelle.

"Well, I suppose I shouldn't say…" Michelle says a bit too invitingly.

"What?!" Serena whispers in her infamous "train" whisper that could be heard across the room, but luckily not into the closet.

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute!" Mina runs from the other side of the room with all the grace of a bow legged ostrich, one shoe on, one shoe off, her unbuttoned dress sliding down her shoulder.

"You guys can't be gossiping without me!"

"Gossip?" Rini's interest piqued, just like her future mother's, as she starts to go towards the crowd but Tara stops her with a hand on her shoulder.

"It's nothing much, Rini." she lies trying to conceal her beloved's transgressions with another woman.

"Here, help me with this zipper," Tara tries to change the subject. Shrugging her shoulders, Rini stays to please her friend, one nosy ear still listening in for the juicy details Tara obviously didn't want her to hear.

"Well, Michelle?" Lita prompts her again but Michelle hesitates.

"You know something! Tell us!" Mina seems about to explode if she doesn't find out.

"Well," Michelle guiltily glances at the closet to make sure of Susan's absence. "If you must know…" She lowers her voice even more. Her hand at her mouth as the girls listen with rapt attention in a huddle, their heads close.

"AHHHHHHHH!" Mina's shrill shriek pierces through the near silent room as she clutches her chest as if going to collapse.

"No way!" Lita's eyes pop open wide as Rei shakes her head clicking her tongue disapprovingly, "tsk, tsk, tsk…"

"Are you sure?" Amy's sweet voice says in disbelief. "Terry?"

Michelle nods with a knowing smile. "You should have seen him last night."

"Really?" Serena says in shock and astonishment of proper Susan and gentlemanly Terry being…doing…

"Wow…" Serena says at the thought.

"What's going on over there?" Rini whispers knowing the conversation must be too adult for her ears, but when did she ever care about that?

"Tara? What's up?" Rini knows the girl knew what was going on, but then her concern grows as she looks at Tara's forlorn face.

"Nothing, Rini. Absolutely nothing…" Tara finally answers, tears in her eyes, her small voice breaking - just like her heart.