blueeyeddevil06, thank you for going through and editing this.

Chapter 13 – Growing Relationships

Next morning at breakfast, Serena's uncle and the guys looked over at her and waited for her to talk. They knew Darien was there last night, and he looked happy when he left. Serena took her first bite and looked up at them all.

She swallowed and said, "I guess you're all curious about last night. Darien and I talked, and he told me what happened. Jadeite has filled you all in I suppose?" They all nodded. "Good, I don't want to have to go through all that again so soon. Where do you all stand?"

Her uncle spoke first, "We stand on your side whatever that means. We all support the decision you have or will make. All of them." The guys nodded. "We all know you love him, and he loves you. Knowing you as we do, we already know you're working towards a reconciliation, cautiously. How much he has said or done last night to aid in that, we don't know."

Serena replied, "Well, that makes this easier to say. First, he isn't good at all at expressing his emotions. In fact, I'm the only one he ever fully showed them to. He even holds back around Andrew last I saw. That said, it made last night's confession even more poignant. The exact words are mine to cherish, but the sentiment I will share. I'm everything to him, he lied when he broke up with me, and he truly regrets what he did. I believe him."

They all made noises of approval, and Zoisite spoke up. "Well, we won't give him too much of a hard time then. Mainly though, I'm happy for you." Everyone else nodded along.

Serena chuckled, "Should I even ask what qualifies to you all as 'too much of a hard time'?"

They all shook their heads no.

She replied, "Very well. We have a date Saturday night. He wanted to go out tonight, but I said no. Also, he is aware it's a date, and that I'm not his girlfriend now."

"Where are you going? "Jadeite asked.

Serena shook her head, "Not chance in hell am I telling any of you, and if Darien is smart at all, he won't tell you either."

"Touché." Was the reply she heard mumbled from one of the guys.

The next morning, Darien was in his apartment planning their date for Saturday or at least trying to. After a long time mulling it over, he decided on taking her to an art gallery opening he had heard about and dinner. It would give them the opportunity to talk and catch up, but it would also give them something to discuss if things started to feel awkward. Serena loved discussing beautiful things, and he loved the look in her eyes while she did. With that set, he headed off to class.

Mina saw Molly walk in right after she had sat down to eat lunch at the Arcade that day and tried to decide what her next move was. Molly smiled, walked over to her, and asked if she would mind company while she ate. Mina nodded and figured that made the decision for her.

Molly spoke up first, "How have you been? I know Serena is really glad to be back and connecting with you all again."

"I'm glad to hear that. We missed her a lot while she was gone."

"Oh! I let Serena know only recently and I figured I should inform you too. She would hate to keep a secret, yet she wouldn't tell you because she would hate to feel like she was betraying my trust. I know who you all are, if you get what I mean."

"I am sorry I am not following," she was truly puzzled.

Molly glanced around and checked for anyone who could hear her. She then whispered anyway, "I know you're Sailor Venus and who everyone else is."

"Ah! So, that is what you mean. How long?" Mina was completely surprised.

"Years. I told Serena now because I had a feeling that she would need to really be able to talk to me about things. Also, telling her over the phone would have felt strange."

"Wow! Okay. How?"

"You all aren't really that quiet when you discuss things here. Not to mention I have known Serena since we were children. I noticed a lot about her I pretended not to see."

"Good to know we need to be more careful. I wonder who else knows."

"Andrew," she said without hesitation.

Mina sighed in frustration. "We're really bad at keeping secrets, aren't we? Well, if you heard us here, it makes sense he would have too."

Just then, Andrew stopped by and took their order.

Mina decided to broach the topic after he left to place the orders. "So, I noticed you went out the other night with one of Serena's new friends. Did you have fun?" She felt that sounded casual enough.

"Yes, I did. I worried it would be weird for Serena, but we talked about it and she's fine. I was really glad we did though since he asked me out on another date."

Mina froze at that momentarily and struggled to hide her reaction.

Molly continued, "It's been nice, especially since Melvin ended things the way he did."

"Do you still have feelings for Melvin?" Mina hoped she did.

"Hurt feelings, but that probably isn't what you meant. No, I don't want him back. I worry about Kunzite and I dating though."

"And, why is that?"

"I know he is from Serena's past. We talked about that, and he just got incredibly vague on his past relationships. Honestly, I was hoping to pry and see how much you remember. You all knew each other."

"What did he say?" she tried to feel out how she should answer.

"He said he would be honest about his relationship or their relationships in general."

"Relationships?"

"Apparently, all of the guys discussed it together. He said they had all been in relationships, but the girls they were dating don't really exist anymore. None of them are tied to past relationships, but that they all do remember them. I mean what does that even mean?"

Lunch arrived then and Mina used that as an excuse to organize her thoughts. The last thing she wanted to do right then was eat though. She had thoroughly lost her appetite. She was trying to hold in her feelings.

Molly looked at her and grew pale. "Be honest. Which one of them did you date? Don't deny it. I just saw it in your face."

"Kunzite." Was all she choked out. She was devastated. She looked at Molly and didn't understand what she saw in her face.

Molly took a deep breath and sighed. "I am canceling the date."

"You don't have to." She desperately wanted her to cancel the date.

"One, you do actually exist. That means he lied to me. Two, you aren't going anywhere. If I continue to date him, I'm the one going to be left hurting in the end."

"You heard what he said about me."

"He's angry right now. Serena saved them all. They were dead, and she not only brought them to life, but she also healed them and accepted them just as they were. She's like a beloved sister to them all. Your relationship with her will be restored, and he will forgive you and will have that whole past with you. I truly didn't know about the two of you…" She chuckled. "That is why Serena wanted to know where I saw this going. She would never betray a trust, but she did make sure I wasn't too emotionally invested right now."

"She really looks out for her friends." Mina smiled at that.

"Yes, she does. I'll stop by and see Serena tonight. I'll tell them both what I know and cancel the date."

"You really don't have to."

"This is just as much for me and my dignity as it is for you. Who wants to be second best to anyone?"

"You're an amazing woman." Mina reached over and grabbed Molly's hand.

"I just had this conversation with Serena. Now to find the guy who agrees. Oh well. No hurry." She wasn't bothered by the decision. The whole conversation made her feel stronger. She was calling the shots, and it felt good.

They finished their lunch, chatting about their day and plans for the weekend. Mina left in a better mood and with a deep appreciation for Molly and her kindness. She didn't know if Molly was telling her the truth about her feelings on ending things with Kunzite. She knew it might just be kindness that made her cancel her date. Mina knew she was just selfish enough and in love enough to let it go.

That evening, Molly stopped by the house. By the time she left, three things had happened. One, she had canceled her date with Kunzite for that weekend. Two, Kunzite was rethinking his stance against dating Mina. Molly had been right. He had already begun to see the woman he had fallen in love with emerging in her. Three, Jadeite was smiling. He knew for a fact everything was over between him and Raye. Now, he had to just convince kind, sweet, and perceptive Molly about that. Well, he knew he first had to talk to Kunzite and Serena about his budding feelings. Man, did he think that sounded girly.

Serena sighed as she went into her room. She was glad Molly figured it out on her own. She had so many strong loyalties that she didn't know what to do at times. Her phone rang as she sat on her bed.

"Hello, Darien." She wondered if he could hear the smile in her voice.

"I realized we didn't plan a time for our date. How does dinner and then an art gallery sound? I could pick you up at six." He instantly wished he led with something else. Now she could hang up.

"That sounds wonderful. I'll be ready."

He wanted to ask about her day and find out more about her. He had resolved to and it came out as, "I've missed you." Great, he thought. How awkward does that sound?!

"Honestly, I have missed you too."

He quickly realized he was smiling like an idiot, and he didn't care. He was so happy that he was not able to reign in his awkwardness. He next led with, "I forgot why I wanted to be a doctor. I know I had a reason before I met you, but that reason paled in comparison to how I felt about it when I was with you. I remember my new reason now. You were proud of me and my abilities as a med student. That felt so good. You're the first person I can ever remember being proud of me."

"You aren't becoming a doctor because of me." She didn't let on how it made her feel for him to be opening up even more to her. This was what soothed her broken heart. These moments started to put the pieces back together. The moments where she could fully believe he loved her and was vulnerable with her.

"No, I'm not. No matter what I become, it would matter more to me because you're in my life. I adore you and I want to build a future you can be proud of. I do know you haven't promised me that future."

"I haven't, but we both know it is one I am hoping for too. One where we are together and where you don't cut me out of decisions. You owe me the right to be involved in making decisions regarding my life and what I am willing to risk."

"You're right of course. It was arrogant of me to unilaterally make that decision no matter what I believed at the time."

"At least you're learning from it."

"I adore you."

She smiled and felt such joy to hear that from him, "Charmer."

"That isn't anything I have ever been accused of before."

"I was teasing. The fact that you aren't really a charmer matters to me. It makes it mean that much more to me. It makes me not feel like you're just saying what I want to hear to get me to forgive you completely."

"I'm only trying to be transparent with you. I almost ruined things when I wasn't truthful. I can't do that again. I can't lose you. I can't go back to living like I was. That wasn't living. That was surviving. It was terrible."

"It was terrible. I agree. I still love you; I still need you. Please, please, please fix this. Please regain my trust. I need you in my life so much it hurts," she spoke from the bottom of her heart.

"I would do anything for you. Especially that. I wish I were there. I would kiss you now."

"Oh, would you?" She said playfully.

"I would try and slip you some tongue too." He chuckled.

At that, she burst out laughing. "Well, I would let you."

He made a deep growling sound and said, "I'll be right over."

She laughed at his joke and wished him goodnight. He told her goodbye.

Fifteen minutes later, Serena was answering the door, and Darien swooped in and kissed her. She felt the warm press of his lips before she opened her mouth to him. He made a deep growling sound again and slid his tongue in her mouth. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, deepening the kiss. Her whole body buzzed, and so did his. He ran his fingers through her hair and then parted from the kiss. They were both left gasping for air.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, my love." He then turned around and walked back to his car waving as he pulled away.

"Smooth." Nephrite said behind her.

"Huh?" Her blank mind supplied.

"Exactly." He chuckled. "Goodnight. I will skip the kiss though." Then he sauntered upstairs.

Jadeite had witnessed it all from the kitchen. He had been stealing some of Zoisite's ice cream, so he had been standing in the dark. He smiled a genuine smile, finished off the ice cream, and threw the carton away. He decided he needed to talk to Darien. It was time to begin to restore their relationship.

Jadeite would do anything for Serena.