We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.
"SAILOR MOON ETERNAL"
The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga
Chapter 4
"Rehearsing the Love Duets"
Outside the stately Catholic Church on Tenth Street, one could hear the summer birds singing as the sun's rays beat down upon the trees which stretched towards the One who had placed them all there. The mid-afternoon lull inactivity displayed such peace and harmony that not a soul outside the monument could suspect the pandemonium raging inside.
"OKAY, who stole my folder!?" Hands angrily on her hips, Lita demands in outrage, the past few hectic weeks putting a strain on her usually sunny disposition.
"Don't have a cow, Lita," Rei's sarcasm cuts in. "we'll find it—CHAD!" Her high-pitched voice shrieks out through the sacred walls. A tall man with his eyes hidden beneath his frazzled hair hurriedly comes running up, tripping on the piles of ribbons until now that had been neatly stacked in the corner of the room.
Vainly trying to extricate himself from the sea of ribbons and lace he was wrapped in, Chad Levington looks up at Rei Hino.
"Yeah, Rei?" He obediently asks like a lost puppy, looking at the woman he worshipped, in awe.
"Oh, Chad, you doofus. Look at the mess you just made!" Rei's voice echoes off the high vaulted cathedral ceiling.
"Uh—sorry, Rei, I'll clean it up!" He quickly tries to pull the pile back into their strewn boxes, but the erstwhile ribbons keep unraveling from their spools.
"Never mind that now." Rei sighs, exasperated. "Just go and find Lita's folder—you know—the green and pink one." Like some royal monarch, she waves her hand at him to leave.
"That is, if you can manage that without making anymore messes." The ebony-haired temple maiden hisses under her breath as he trots off wordlessly obedient as a faithful dog. "I don't know why you stuck me with him, Lita." Rei turns back to her friend. "He's such a good-for-nothing." Rei vents, a fire in her voice as she watches Chad crawl on hands and knees beneath the pews in search of the errant folder.
"Rei, don't you think that's a little harsh?" Lita observes absently, her mind really in a thousand other places.
"No, it's not. Why do we have to do this stupid escort thing anyway? And since we do, why couldn't you set me up with a really hunky guy instead of just Chad!?" Contrary Rei Hino was always outwardly tough on the young man, though secretly thinking that Gramps' temple lackey was actually pretty good-looking.
"Rei, don't start!" Lita booms. "I've a billion other things to think about without having to hear your caterwauling and complaints!"
"Here it is, Rei!" Chad comes running up, green and pink folder in hand, a triumphant look on his face.
"Well, finally!" Rei just snatches it from his hands smugly without a single word of thanks, wiping the smile right from his face. Despite her frantic state of mind, Lita couldn't help but feel bad for Chad.
He has such a good heart, and Rei is constantly really cruel to him! Yet still he never complains...
"Thanks, Chad," Lita says, giving him a sincere smile of gratitude.
"No problemo, guys." He brightens up again.
"But—ick! Where'd you find it!" Lita asks in dismay as she opens it up to find the once pristine and neat folder full of dust and grime.
"Oh, like Mina was using it to clean out some spiderwebs and junk." Chad answers.
"Yuck!" Rei hands Lita a towel and she wipes the dusty, webby folder off. Then Lita opens it up and examines the seating arrangements.
"Let's see…" Her forehead crinkles in deep thought. "Rei, you will come in from that entrance over there." Lita points her pen at the side door. But upon looking up, she sees Mina dangling dangerously from a tall stool, attempting to hang ribbons on the wide doorway, but the results so far were not very good.
Oh, Mina, Lita thinks to herself with a smile, you do try so hard, so how can I get mad at you?
Somehow feeling Lita's attention on the back of her head, Mina's cheery voice rings out, "How does it look?"
"Great! Keep going!" Lita bites back her criticism, bowing to her friend's genuine enthusiasm.
"Lita, it looks horrible." Rei says frankly the temple maiden not one for mincing words.
"It's fine, Rei." Lita says quietly, not wanting to hurt Mina's feelings. "We'll just touch it up later."
"What are you going to do about an escort for her?" Rei whispers. Mina, whether she was the self-prescribed 'Goddess of Love' or not, certainly was not lucky at it personally.
"Don't worry. I've invited someone special she'll just love," Lita smiles conspiratorially.
"Doesn't Mina fall in love with every man she meets?" Rei snickers beneath her breath, Mina sneezes as result of being gossiped about, way across the church pews.
Just then Serena and her family come in the chapel's front entrance.
"Oh, Lita, it's already so lovely, dear." Mrs. Hart comments, bubbling over.
"It's lovely." Sammy imitates mockingly. Weddings and fancy dress-up shin-digs were not a young boy's cup of tea.
"Sammy." Mr. Hart scolds at his son as he pushes his black rimmed eyeglasses higher up his nose. "Remember what your Mother and I said."
"Yes, Dad." Sammy answers sullenly, obviously been lectured on his behavior of late.
"It really is wonderful, Lita, everyone! Thank you!" Serena calls out as she looks around in awe at how much everyone was working so hard for her day to be special.
Married. Tomorrow, I'll be married to Darien, Serena starts to lose herself in her own reverie.
She watches her Mom go right to work with Lita and Rei, looking through lists and arrangements. Her Dad and a reluctant Sammy help a tipsy Mina and butterfingers Chad hang the skewed ribbons and lace around the remaining doors and pews.
Serena sighs a happy sigh, realizing that tomorrow everything would be even more wonderful somehow.
"Ahhh!" A sudden scream pierces through her fantasies. Serena watches Mina tip dangerously on that stool she was perched on, teetering back and forth until she catches her balance on the door's wood trim and then—
Her grip slips and she suddenly falls!
—right into the arms of a young man who just happened to be walking in the door at that exact prodigious moment.
Mina Arnold looks up into the eyes of her rescuer and sighs.
What handsome blue eyes he has.
"Are you alright, Miss?" The young man asks bashfully, trying to keep polite hands in all the right places.
Mina just nods, for once in her life at a loss for words.
"Ken, just in the nick of time!" Lita smiles, coming across the room to greet him. "Literally, for Mina's sake!"
Ken, what a lovely name! Mina's mind wanders as if in a daze as he turns his attention to his childhood friend.
"Everyone, this is my friend, Ken Bradley." Lita introduces him.
A collective "hello" comes from the group.
"Hello," Ken answers, then he looks down at the speechless girl still in his arms.
"Oh, Ken. This is my good friend, Mina." Lita crosses her fingers, hoping for good first impressions, Lita knowing from experience how that first glance meant everything to a girl with a fluttering heart.
"Mina, this is Ken." Lita wonders at Mina's sudden silence.
"Hello." Ken smiles.
"Hello." Mina manages to squeak out. He puts her down gently, watching her platinum blonde hair cascade down her shoulders in awe.
"Mina, I've asked Ken to be your escort for the wedding, and he was good enough to agree."
"Oh, it's no bother at all, Lita." Ken answers kindly, "I was actually looking forward to meeting all your friends, especially Mina." The well-spoken young man glances shyly at Mina.
Mina finally catches hold of herself, as Lita's words sink in—ESCORT—for me?! A light bulb flashes on.
"Lita, don't tell me this is the best friend you've been telling us about! No wonder you've kept him hidden all this time!" Mina exclaims, grabbing Ken's unsuspecting arm, dragging him into the church.
"Kenny, we're going to have such fun together! Oh, and thank you for rescuing me before—you were so heroic!" She bubbles excitedly. "If you're Lita's best friend—and I'm Lita's best friend—well—that makes us great friends already! Ha ha! You can tell me everything you know about her and I'll tell you everything I know—well, almost everything—and, oh, this is going to be so great!" Mina excitedly babbles on and on, not letting him get a word in edgewise.
What life, what spirit she has, Ken muses to himself, her brightness fills the whole room, shining like a beacon of light.
As, led by Mina, they walk away, Lita turns to Serena and Rei. "Do you think it'll work?" She asks, a questionable smile on her face.
"Why not? I believe in love's power more and more every day." Serena answers with all the joy in her hopeful heart.
"You never know." Rei adds skeptically. Then Lita spies someone else coming up the church front steps.
"I think here comes surprise Number Two," Lita smiles cunningly as she opens the door and Amy's long lost love Greg comes in, a few inches taller, a little bit older, and maybe a tad cooler than last they saw him. But still the same old, timid and shy Greg Mueller.
"Hi, guys, it's—it's been a long time." Greg smiles at the girls, nearly stuttering under the crowd of their curious gazes.
"Greg, I'm so glad you could come!" Serena says happily, clapping her happy hands together.
"Well, Lita called, I don't know how she found me. I didn't even know my new number was listed in the directory yet. So...I just had to come…" He shakily starts to explain, but is cut off by a sight he's longed to see for way too long.
"Sorry I'm so late, guys, Class just got out a little…" Amy's sweet voice trails off as their eyes meet across the room.
"How?…why?…when?" All the questions kept going a-jumble as Amy's sharp mind begins spinning.
"Greg?" She asks in disbelief. "Is it really you?" Her gentle voice quivers as she stands frozen on the spot.
"Amy, yes, it's really me. It's good to see you again, Amy." Greg's shyness was obviously still apparent.
' Amy…!' He's saying my name, how do I answer? My heart feels like ice! What do I do? Oh, Greg I thought I was long over you, but I don't know anymore. I don't know…
"It was…good of you to come." Her words come out stiff and coolly, not what she really wanted to say at all.
"Yep. Simple, plain old Greg Mueller here. Hehehe." The dark brown haired teenager was trying to be personable, his self-effacing chuckle proof he felt every bit as stiff as the blue eyed cutie before him.
"There's nothing simple about you, Greg." The studious young woman's eyes soften when she gazes at the boy of her schooldays' romance who had grown into a young man since last they had met.
"I—I know it's been too long. I'm sorry about that, Amy." Greg stutters and starts to wring his hands. I always was on the verge of calling you, Amy, but never felt I was good enough yet, you're so light years above me in everything! And you're even prettier than what I remember…
"But I wouldn't want to miss this important event for our friend, Serena." The words aren't right at all, he thinks. I shouldn't have come, she doesn't want to see me, I've hurt her too badly, it's been too long for us to try again. Greg feels a cool weight pressing down on his heart.
How much taller he's gotten, and even more handsome, too. Amy feels her heart begin to melt.
And she's still as lovely as I remember… Greg thinks again wistfully, a goofy smile etched on his features.
"I suppose you're my escort for Serena's wedding ceremony, Greg. Am I right, Lita?" Amy asks sweetly, breaking the awkward gaze. Lita nods, proud of her feat in tracking their old friend down.
"You're amazing, Lita, for bringing all our dear friends together for my happy day!" Serena congratulates her self-appointed wedding planner. Then the meatball headed bride-to-be turns to Greg with a warm Serena hug he was uncomfortable with, to say at the least. "So glad you came! How did she ever find you?!" Serena coos loudly so everyone in the chapel heard and turned to look, causing shy Greg to blush and look embarrassed.
"She emailed me two days ago via a chat room on the internet." He answers, gazing into Amy's entrancing eyes all the while.
"You chatting on the internet?! No way, Lita!" Serena says in shock, she even less technological than her tall, sporty friend.
"I tried everything else—phone books, newspaper ads, library records—and then I asked Melvin to help me out, and well, here you are, Greg!" Lita gives credit where it was due to their nerdy, yet helpful, old school chum, Melvin Butlers.
"Never underestimate the matchmaking powers of Lita Mitchell!" Rei says proudly, wrapping an arm around their industrious friend's shoulders.
Lita smiles, her good deeds for her friends paying off dividends as she looks at the shy glances passing between Amy and Greg, the noisy chatter of Mina and an awe-struck Ken, the fussing between Rei and her adoring lapdog Chad. And this was, after all, Serena and Darien's happy, happy marriage they were all coming together to celebrate.
Now, the only one left alone, Lita sighs sadly, is me.
If only Rita wasn't coming back all the way from Europe to attend. Then maybe Andrew and I…even just as friends...Lita's thoughts trail off, knowing the depressing answer to her own question. He's Darien's best man and I'm the only bridesmaid left without an escort (sigh)…well that's not exactly true, Susan doesn't have one either. Somehow I've managed (well, actually Serena's Mom did) to get her brother Sammy to escort Tara. And Alex and Michelle…Lita giggles nervously to herself. They said they're coming together, so that leaves just me and poor Susan. I'd try to find someone but… I just don't know any men old enough for her! I mean, what man is suitably eligible for a two-thousand year plus, ageless, extremely shy woman? Sigh. I guess some of us are always meant to be alone, Susan, even at paired off weddings…
Just then, the door opens and Darien Shields, Andrew Hansford and his sister Lizzie walk in. Darien seemed to be in his usual calm mode (no nervous pre-wedding jitters there—yet, Lita smiles despite her sad mood—but Andrew seemed to be off. His generally sunshiny demeanor was mirroring Lita's, in an unusually dejected state, far from the pleasant demeanor he always greeted them with. Lizzie was standing by his side, also looking worried up at her beloved brother.
"You're late, Mister!" Lita playfully smacks Darien's arm with her folder, trying to be normal. "For your own wedding rehearsal, too." She smirks, looking up into Darien's handsome face, seeing worry lines faintly written there, directed at his best friend, Andrew. Lita begins to feel something was wrong.
So must Serena, I can see it in her eyes, too. Serena goes to them, hanging one arm on her love's, the other hooking around her good friend, Andrew's.
"Andrew? What is it?" Serena asks anxiously, concern visible in her voice up at him.
But before he could answer, Mina suddenly comes running up. Never one to tread lightly, she shouts: "Hey Andrew! Lizzie! Where's Rita? Wasn't she supposed to come to the rehearsal today?" Mina asks, wondering why Darien flashed her a sharp look.
"She's not coming today." Andrew says simply, looking out a stained glass window of the church.
"Will she make it by tomorrow morning?" Rei asks, probing gently.
"No, she's not coming… not ever…" His depressed voice trails off, so low you almost couldn't hear.
"Oh!" Serena says worriedly. "Did she get hurt? Is she gonna be all right?" The kind-hearted girl was expecting the worst and still hoping for the best from such a definite answer.
Lizzie couldn't take anymore. "Andrew got a letter this morning. Rita's gone and married some professor at her school." She says, her green eyes flashing in anger at this woman's nerve to break her poor brother's heart.
"Oh, Andrew…" Lita genuinely feels sorry for her friend. She reaches out to him, squeezing his arm gently. His happiness is all that matters. He loved her so much! How could she do this to him! And in a letter?! How cold, how unfeeling! Lita's eyes well up with tears, caring for him so greatly, she could feel the sorrow, her heart thundering with his pain. I've been through this all. I know what you must be going through. Lita thinks, her own heart broken many times before.
Andrew looks up at Lita's touch and smiles at the tears in her eyes for him. Then he pushes away his own feelings of sadness to meet Lita's eyes. What a kind girl, what a good friend she is to be concerned for me so.
"Don't worry." He forces a smile for her sake if not his own. "I guess Rita and I just weren't meant to be, after all." He sighs.
"Andrew didn't even want to come today, but Darien convinced him. And I told him being with all you guys would make him feel better." Lizzie brightens at Andrew's slight terms of closure, rather than the pensive silence she'd been dealing with since last night's letter.
"For sure!" Mina explodes boisterously. "We'll take good care of you, Andrew! Don't let yesterday's frown get you down, when there's so much to smile after a while! We've got a wedding to rehearse, today, my lad!" Made-up ditty on hand, lively Mina drags the blonde medical college student away.
"Oh! I know, I know!" Freezing in her tracks, Mina suddenly exclaims as if inspiration suddenly struck her.
"You can escort Lita to thw wedding tomorrow! She doesn't have anyone yet!" Ignoring Lita's mortified shaking of her head behind them, Mina presses on nonetheless. "That would be so perfect! Who needs silly old Rita anyway?" Mina's over-the-top enthusiasm was so overpowering that Andrew couldn't help but smile.
He turns back to face an utterly mortified Lita. "I'd be glad to." He looks down into Lita's green eyes and wonders why the pain in his heart suddenly didn't hurt as much as it did minutes ago.
"Really, Andrew?! Are you sure?" Lita feels her spirit lifting, electrified with sudden happiness. She gazes into his eyes as he nods.
I shouldn't be so happy, Lita scolds herself, breaking the gaze quickly. But I can't help it! Lita was trying to contain herself she looks at the clock's rapidly moving hands as it hangs near the church's ceiling.
"Whoa! Two o'clock already?! We're way behind schedule for the wedding rehearsal! Everyone get into places!" She orders, excitedly pointing and directing with new vigor.
"Rei, Chad's in the wrong place. Ken, you stand beside Mina there—just like that, right. Andrew," she turns to him, blushing, "you and I go right here. This is how we're going to walk out so everyone remember their places."
"Mom, do I have to?!" Sammy whines.
"Sammy!" Mrs. Hart chides. Lita smiles at Sammy's resistance and then glances out the window. "Now where can Alex, Michelle, Susan, and Tara be?"
How does it always happen this way? Just my luck to be stuck with you… Alex moans silently, giving a hard shove to the skinny-ass passenger squished next to her in the front seat.
"Hey, Ally, what's this little thingy here for?" Sayer reaches through the steering wheel and presses his finger on the oil pressure gauge on the dashboard.
"Keep your hands off my dashboard." She rumbles at him threateningly.
"Just asking. Geez, bite my head off." He shrugs, pouting. Then, with a defiant, wicked look in his eye, Sayer stealthily trips a switch on the panel in front of him, making the windshield wipers swish back and forth.
"You're just doing this to be extra annoying, aren't you?" Alex angrily flips the switch off, keeping a watchful glance in her rear view mirror which she adjusts to see the two passengers in the seat directly behind her.
Michelle meets her gaze in the mirror, knowing what was on Alex's mind. She giggles at her cousin's protective nature.
"What?" Robin whispers from next to her, noticing her spike of emotions on a psychic level.
Michelle shakes her head, aware Alex was listening to every word, as the aqua beauty tosses her hair over her shoulder instead.
How lovely she looks, her hair blowing in the wind ripples like water…The art lover in Robin admires Michelle's elegant attractiveness. He was still uncertain if she was picking up his personal thoughts when the pretty debutante simply giggles back at him, with a conceited brush of her curled tresses.
Susan watches with interest the budding romance between the pair in the seat next to her. How nice it must be to be free to fall in love, to be able to win a man's heart…She blushes deeply, finding her own gaze entranced on the wide-shouldered, chestnut brown haired figure in front of her.
'No!' her mind screams. 'Don't even think it—you can't!' But even more than two thousand years of restraint couldn't stop the longing in her heart. She tears her gaze away, looking out at the whizzing world speeding by without her. 'The story of my life.' She sighs, holding back the tears in her eyes.
Terry was unaware of the yearning attentions of the lady behind him, and likewise unaware of the attentions of the young girl he held on his lap. For being such a man of intelligence, there was still much about the female psyche that he had yet to discover. Space being limited in the sports car for seven people, Terry had kindly offered for the child to sit on his lap and Tara had jumped at the chance eagerly. It was the least he could do for this sweet girl and he found himself growing rather fond of the fragile little creature.
Tara, for her part, was growing more than fond of this tall stranger. She was falling in love—her first love–and for a teenager in love, nothing was more fantasized than to be held in his arms. So Tara felt like she was in heaven, looking up into his violet eyes, his handsome face.
Sigh, her eyes glaze over.
"Is this the same route to your school?" Terry asks pleasantly making conversation with his small charge, mistaking her sigh for boredom.
"Uh-huh." Tara nods in a trance.
"Sure, we're gonna pass by it right over there!" Sayer points to the school on the left, brushing his hand against Alex's hair as he does so, receiving a nasty glare in return.
"Oops, sorry." He says casually as if he did nothing wrong, smiling artlessly, like the cat who ate the canary.
Just keep your mind on the road, don't let him get to you. What is it about that wicked smile that drives me absolutely nuts?! I've gotta get out of here! Alex swerves a hard right into the church parking lot, coming to an abrupt stop. She throws the Ferrari in park and, without even opening the door, the race car driver springs from the open convertible as fast as she could—which was almost at blinding speed.
"What's with her?" Sayer asks innocently, smiling. As he gets out of the car, he looks up at the tall imposing building, his playful mood broken, his smile fading.
"So this is it." Sayer Starr says, more to himself than to anyone else, blowing air between his lips.
It's been nearly a year. And a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought about her. I've wondered what she was doing right then, or if she was safe. I've wondered if he was making her happy, if he was taking care of her tender heart. Why do I ask these questions? Why do I care so much? It doesn't matter anymore how I feel. I'm just going to go in there and see her and then I'll know. I'll know everything, once and for all.
Introspectively contemplating the reason he had come back here, this Fighter from the stars walks up the stairs slowly, taking a deep breath. Sayer then decides to not go it alone, and stops at the top step, waiting for his brothers, grateful for the gentle wind washing over him as he closes his eyes.
Terry opens the car door and helps the little sprite hop off his lap. Then, like the perfect gentleman he was, he helps Susan out of the packed car, offering her his hand. Not used to such attention, Susan meekly accepts the hand, feeling as if time stops when their hands meet. Once out, she quickly pulls her hand away. "Thank you." she says quietly.
Terry walks up to Sayer, a look of concern etched on his face. Tara rushes to his side, Susan a few steps down, with Michelle and Robin lagging behind. When they all catch up to him, Sayer opens his eyes and turns to them.
"Ready, guys?" He says jauntily, trying to disguise the uncertainty in his soul.
Alex hurries up the church steps right past them from where she had been assessing the street from the side of the church building, realizing how late they were, and how furious Lita will be.
But that's not it. It's what you're running from, isn't it? A little voice inside her mind asks. Alex pushes the thought away as she does the same to the chapel's front door.
"There you are, Alex!" Lita exclaims, obvious annoyance in her voice. "You've been holding everything up! Where're the others?"
"They're coming." She cocks her head towards the door noncommittally.
"Why're you so late?" Rei demands, her faux flowers in place of tomorrow's real ones already wilting.
"Well, we ran into a few problems." Alex answers mysteriously, making everyone wonder.
"Hey, 'Problem #1' just heard that." A familiar, smooth singer's voice pierces through the doorway's sundrenched blindspot. Everyone freezes in shock.
"SAYER!" Serena shrieks in utter glee, the first to recover. Dropping the bouquet of flowers she was carefully doting over just seconds before, she rushes to him, warmly throwing her arms around her long absent friend.
"Meatball…" He whispers and, in that moment their eyes meet, in a flash faster than the speed of light, he knows. As he holds Serena Hart tightly in his arms, he knows.
Yes, I still love her.
I love her dearly—but it's not that kind of love, not the love between a man and a woman, more the kind between brother and sister, between friends who are more like family.
The acknowledgement feeling warms his heart as any final doubts evaporate. As he looks into her clear blue eyes he sees her happiness and her joy, and Sayer was glad he can now truly be part of it with all his heart. He feels a great weight lifting from his soul, his questions finally all answered.
Serena looks up at Sayer, smiling. "I knew you'd come." Her voice was full of unmitigated joy as she hugs his thin body close to hers. "I knew it." Tears stream down her emotional cheeks through her biggest smile for the boy who had become one of her dearest, closest friends.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Sayer smiles down at her, wiping away her tears tenderly with a pair of thumbs.
"Would we, guys?" He turns to Terry and Robin, his arms still snug around Serena's waist.
"Of course not." Terry offers her his hand and Serena grasps it tightly. "Terry." she whispers sweetly, then feels a light tap on her other shoulder.
"Don't forget me, Princess." Robin, on the opposite side of Sayer, uncharacteristically offers his hand as well.
"How could I, Robin? How could I ever forget any of you!?" She beams at the three of them. Like sweet déjà vu, Serena smiles from ear to ear. These boys from the stars were even wearing their Three Lights' signature colors in quite dapper new suits.
Susan, Tara, and Michelle come in unnoticed, joining Alex beside Lita. Alex had watched the scene play before her in wide-eyed interest, especially the exchange between Serena and that Sayer Starr.
There is something more between them still, it's undeniable. But how far does it go? The Princess will be married tomorrow so nothing else matters, does it? And why do I care so much?
Alex wasn't the only one whose interest was piqued at the tender embrace. Darien never really knew the man, met him only for a few moments before they left Earth.
There was definitely something happening with that guy and Serena while I was gone, Darien muses, I never did find out how deep that went. But that doesn't matter anymore, I am certain of Serena's love now. I need no other proof, although…how eagerly she ran to him, how well they fit together…Darien could not help but let those little jealousies creep into his mind as he watches his bride-to-be in another man's arms. What exactly is between them?
First shock over, the other four Inner Scouts all scream their names in glee rushing to the Three Lights like a tidal wave. Each girl clings to her own respective favorite, pushing Serena even closer into the huddle. Lita and Amy hug Terry while Rei and Mina hang all over Robin in a gaggle of shrieks and giggles, of "I missed you!" and "Hi, Terry! Hi. Robin!" and even a few "Oh, Sayer!" mixed in.
The abandoned escorts look on coolly at the newcomers who had caused such a panic. Chad lifts the hair from his eyes to get a good look at the little silver-haired one Rei was hanging on.
Those must be the "idols" they were all continually screaming over in the backroom of the temple when I wasn't supposed to be listening. What's so special about them!? Especially that little short one! And why can I never get Rei to act like that for me—even a little? I'm a rock star, too! Chad lets the hair fall back into his eyes, that old depression setting in.
Greg watches in shock as his usually calm and composed Amy lets out a loud squeak and runs (yes, actually runs) to that tall man who just came in. That's not like Amy at all—well at least not the Amy I remember. It's been years and she probably has changed, meeting other people in her life, other boys…As he looks up sadly Greg realized his "competition" was not a boy at all. But a tall (really tall) man with a great physique. How can I compete with that? Greg worriedly frowns.
"Who are they?" Ken Bradley asks out loud. The girl who had been clinging to his arm had suddenly screamed, "ROBIN!" at the top of her lungs and took off like a bullet for her favorite idol. Feeling slightly tossed aside like yesterday's old news, Ken shakes his head still trying to get his equilibrium back after Mina's deafening explosion.
"That rock band, the Three Lights, I think." Andrew answers, matter-of-factly, remembering the frenzy the group had sent through every girl in the arcade where he worked, not to mention his own sister's wall being plastered with their posters. He turned to Lizzie for confirmation only to find her flattened to the floor, obviously fainted after her high-pitched scream. Andrew hurries and lifts her up.
"Are you all right?" He asks as Lizzie comes to.
"AHHHH!" She screams again. "The Three Lights!" And she rushes off to join the crowd of Inner Scouts forming around the trio, without even a backwards glance at her caring brother.
Ken chuckles. "Like a bunch of screaming banshees, huh? I guess it's understandable. They were popular."
"Yeah," Andrew answers surveying the scene, as he watches Lizzie go from singer to singer like a real fanatic, begging for signatures. First she went to the dark-haired one in the front, the one that Serena was still clinging to. Then she moves to the shorter silver-haired one on the right, the one that Rei and Mina had blown out their eardrums for. And then finally she floats on the tall mahogany-haired one, who Amy and Lita were fawning over.
For some reason, his eyes remain on this tallest man, as he watches Lita gabbing happily with him, her eyes lit up, making her even prettier than she normally was. Such a pretty girl, always so kind, but I wouldn't take her for the rock star type. Looking again at the pair, Andrew feels a strange sensation inside he couldn't explain. Lita's such a good friend to me, I must just be feeling protective of her. They are rock idols after all, and you know all about idols…Andrew folds his arms, not quite pleased with the new situation.
"Some of Serena's friends I don't know about?" Mr. Hart asks his wife, straightening his glasses as he examines the young men who had just entered the chapel he was helping decorate.
"Oh, yes, they're those famous, but nice young boys who went to Serena's high school a year or two ago when you were away on assignment with your photography. I always did wonder what happened to them. They were so nice to the girls." Mrs. Hart hands her husband another ribbon, unfazed by the commotion.
"Hmph." Mr. Hart grunts. Those boys looked a little wild to him, with their ponytails and designer clothes, especially the dark-haired one his daughter was apparently so attached to. Strange I never met them before. Must've moved away before I got back. Oh, well, a lot of strange things I've got to get used to in this nutty world.
"My little girl…" Pondering the 'big picture,' Mr. Hart sighs out loud, looking at the beautiful woman his daughter had blossomed into. He looks down at his wife.
As if reading his mind she says, "I know, Honey, I know." with a rub to his arms and a shared sad smile.
Sammy watches this exchange between his parents, shaking his head.
"What's the big deal? Weddings are a stupid waste of time." The young teen declares, jaded, much rather being out playing with the other boys at the arcade than having anything to do with silly girls.
"Sammy, you'll never grow up, will you?" Mrs. Hart smiles at her son.
"If it causes all this trouble, I sure hope not." Sammy comments decidedly—making both his parents laugh.
Susan hears the laughter and smiles. Such a happy family. She thinks, reflecting on her own sad fate where the guardian of Pluto lived a solitary existence for countless millenia, with no one even remotely close enough to call 'family.' Through the Princess and her friends, living these two years on earth with my fellow Outer Sailor Soldiers, I have glimpsed what family is like.
Then looking back at the group, Susan suddenly noticed something, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. Certainly Amy was also talking to Terry, but it was Lita who caught Susan's eye. Lita's sudden shy demeanor, the way she lowered her eyes, the flashes of crimson in her cheeks—and to her horror, she was sure there was something in Terry Starr's handsome eyes, too. The way he's looking at her…Oh, why does my heart feel like it's splitting apart! I should not care, I do not care, I CAN NOT care, her mind spins in tumult as the tears spring to her eyes.
"They were quite popular with all the girls, weren't they?" Susan hears Michelle say from behind her.
"Yes, they were." Susan smiles brightly, any signs of distress vanishing from her face. This is her secret and it must remain her secret—locked forever in her heart.
"I suppose all rock stars have that…" Michelle trails off, the tinge of jealousy on the borderline in her droll voice. But suddenly it was her turn to notice something amiss as she watched the reunion between the Three Lights and the Inner Scouts with interest.
"WHAT did you just think!?" Michelle's whisper was so ferocious it make all heads in the church turn. Everyone looks at the bristling young Frenchwoman in confusion.
"Who are you—?" Susan starts to ask her friend when she sees Robin's head suddenly jerk up, a beyond guilty expression on his face.
Rei was on one side of a suddenly frightened eyed Robin, with Mina still clinging to his arm.
Everyone looks back and forth between Michelle and the silver ponytailed Three Light whom she was giving daggers eyes across the room.
'You're attracted to her, aren't you!?' Michelle's voice cuts into his mind accusingly.
'Michelle…it's not what you think…I just haven't….seen Mina for awhile. And she looks…different…' Robin tries to cover up his indiscretion.
'You think that of that, that little blonde—' Michelle breaks off her thought, truly hurt.
'No! Not really. Actually…I think it more of you…Michelle'. Robin removes Mina's arm (to her displeasure) and looks across the room at Michelle, slightly embarrassed, but intent in emotion.
Finally meeting his gaze, Michelle blushes, smiling. "Oh, Robin, you do?" She whispers softly aloud, leaving everyone to wonder what had just happened, unaware of the silent, argumentative exchange.
Lita looks into Terry's light purple eyes dreamily one more time and then snaps back to her responsibilities. "I'm so glad you guys are here!" She bubbles, "This is so perfect!" Lita's mind races at her new "brainstorm." Grabbing each of their arms, she tugs Sayer, Terry, and Robin away from the other girls, leaving them in amused astonishment. "It's just what the doctor ordered! We just needed three more guys!" She announces, grabbing a perplexed Susan by the arm, dragging her over to where Terry was standing.
"Here! Terry," She says his name so sweetly, Susan feel those pangs of jealousy again, but those feelings are quickly erased by Lita's next words. "you can be Susan's escort." She states in a matter-of-fact, no-questions-asked tone. Terry nods, quite pleased with the arrangement and smiles at Susan, who looks down, shyly blushing, inside, her heart leaping for joy.
"Michelle." Lita leads her by the hand to Robin. "You two can go together." Lita states as Michelle smiles sweetly and Robin takes her offered hand with a squeeze, glad to be out of the jam he had just been in moments earlier.
"And—" Lita grabs Sayer's wrist and then pauses, looking rather unsure of herself for once, but quickly lets it spill out. "Alex—" She looks up into Alex's unforgiving eyes, rather terrified as she even speaks the words. "You and Sayer can—" Lita feels the words choke in her throat as Alex gives her a killing glance.
"DON'T EVEN SAY IT." The sailor of Uranus' low voice rumbles, threatening.
"But you guys are the only ones left." Rei pipes up from behind Lita, trying to fill in her friend's silence, until she receives Alex's flashing angry eyes as well.
"Ooh, if looks could kill." Mina says as they all cower in the corner of the chapel.
"C'mon, Ally. How bad can it be?" Sayer touches her arm in a peacemaking gesture, but she shrugs it off quickly, giving him a dirty glare like he was a leper.
Ouch! Sayer mouths to his fellow Three Lights, as Terry chuckles and Robin sniggers at his tough female trouble.
"Amara, now don't be so difficult! It'll be fine…" Michelle tries wheedling again.
"Michelle, you and I, we were supposed to…" Alex finds herself grasping at straws, more than a little hurt at how easily Michelle had discarded her for that silver-haired shrimp. Though Robin Starr had grown several inches in the past year, he still was reaching only 5' 6", and 5' 10" Alex Sokova still felt the right to look down on him.
Especially since he was the one taking her place with Michelle…
"Oh, Amara dear, we must all do our part." Michelle smiles sweetly, signifying the end of the argument.
"But—" Alex says, her hope fleeing.
"Hey, Ally, any girl would die to be in your place!" Sayer's old confidence and arrogance returns, as he feels his good mood rising.
"I'm not just 'any girl!' And you'll be the one 'dying' if you call me one again." She snaps vinegar at him, not willing to give an inch, despite everyone else's pressure.
Seeing this turn of events as a challenge—and I never back down from a challenge—Sayer smiles that wicked grin, turning it upon Alex full force.
"You're not afraid of dancing with me, are you?" Comes the audacious star man's dare as everyone surrounding rubberneck the confrontation with baited breath to see who pulled the next punch.
Everyone gives a collective gasp until the one person who loved both opponents dearly steps into the fray.
"Alex, please, just this once? For me?" Serena's gentle voice flutters in, a hopeful smile on her pretty, round and friendly face as Sayer takes this chance to stick his hand out towards the golden blonde soldier of rebellion.
How can I deny the Princess anything? Especially today. But why she puts up with this conceited, arrogant, full-of-himself lout…I'll never know! Alex stews to herself with a smirk on her exotic features. Turning to the navy blue haired alien man with puckered lips and steely eyes, the fierce female grabs his extended hand hard and gives it a vehement shake.
"All right. I'd dance with the devil for you, Moonface." Alex states her allegiance to her leader with a resigned sigh, guarded dark green eyes locking with Sayer Starr's wolfish blue ones.
Sayer smiles triumphantly, making her want to punch him again, right in the face now.
"I knew you'd give in." The rock star chuckles, a smug smile on his comely, yet asking-for-it face.
"Grr." Alex grits her teeth then turns to Lita, who thought she had been forgotten in the scuffle, but wasn't that lucky.
"You're gonna pay for this, Mitchell." Alex threatens. Lita cringes because she knew Alex always carried out her threats.
Oh well, I'll think about that later. This problem is solved! Lita breaks from Alex's gripping eyes and clears her mind with a big mental check on the 'escort' situation.
"All right, everyone! Places!" She watches all the pairs timidly join together (well, except for Serena and Darien; and oh, Ken and Mina, who was never timid). Then catching a glimpse of little Tara, who looked hurt and a little spacey, Lita thought, she takes the child's shoulders and leads her to where Sammy was standing.
"Sammy!" Lita calls ahead to the boy, an enthusiastic smile pasted on her face. Oh, boy, here comes another difficult case, she thinks to herself, knowing Sammy's dislike of escorts and weddings and "anything to do with girls" as she vividly remembered him complaining one day, not long ago.
"Sammy, this is our good friend Tara. Tara, this is Sammy, Serena's brother." As Lita makes the introductions, Sammy's mouth literally drops open.
"Hello." Tara's small voice comes out softly.
"Uhh-uh…" Sammy stumbles over the words to the pretty girl in front of him.
"Oh, this is Tara?!" Mrs. Hart comes over, interested in meeting Sammy's new little friend Serena had talked so fondly about. "So nice to finally meet you, dear." She coos. "I'm Sammy and Serena's mother."
"Nice to meet you." Tara says sweetly to like-aged teen, though her eyes kept drifting back to a tall, more masculine figure behind him.
"Okay, you two get to know each other, while I get everyone else set up. Sammy, you know your place, right? Show Tara, 'kay?" Lita reiterates again.
The boy just nods absently.
What's with him? Lita thinks to herself as she scurries away. I was at least expecting a sarcastic 'Yeah, yeah, Lita,' or at least rolling his eyes or something.
Oh, well, can't figure kids these days. Lita's thoughts turn to her own churning emotions. Oh, Andrew, are you really going to be my escort? I feel bad at the reason why, but…I can't help but feel glad, too! All right, Lita, focus, you've got a wedding to direct! She walks up to Andrew.
"You and I go out over here, right after Rei and Chad, okay, Andrew?" She smiles up into his green eyes, glad to see his old familiar smile back at her.
"Got it." The tall med-school student says, impressed with Lita's organizing of the whole wedding singlehandedly, it seemed. Looking over, seeing everyone in the right order, Lita says: "Now girls, take the arm of your escort and…" She stops midsentence, not realizing what trouble such a simple task could cause.
One by one, each girl takes the arm of her man—euphoric Serena and perceptive Darien, with knowing smiles; shy Amy and hesitant Greg, wearing uncertain glances; a smug Rei bossing her eager Chad; blushing Lita directing polite Andrew; vivacious Mina wowing a friendly Ken.
Next, artful Michelle clings to acquiescent Robin's arm tightly, drawing him closer to her; a timid yet secretly ecstatic Susan and gentlemanly Terry, who offers his arm cordially; as little Tara accepts the arm of smitten Sammy in the rear of the cavalcade, his adoring focus on her, with hers on the tall man in front of her, leaving only…
"You've got to be kidding me." Alex just looks at Sayer in disdain.
"Ally, I don't bite." Sayer says trying to cooperate. "Well, not at first." His flirtatious tone was not quite appropriate for the holy location as the irreverent teen had not adhered to since his first excursion into a church setting with Sister Angela.
"The hell you won't." She answers snidely, sarcastically, rebel Alex's respect for religious order not what it had been for a very long time.
"So you are scared?" His eyes light up with the double dare—and Alex never could back down from a dare, either—as, in a flash, her arm snakes its way into his forcefully, more akin to arm wrestling than polite society escorting.
"Happy now?" Her low voice practically growls at the misbegotten scenario.
There's that feeling again, the kind I get when I race my car, her heart skips a beat.
"Very." Sayer answers, squeezing her arm within his to be tightly pressed against his well-muscled abs and pecs.
"Pretty nice…for faux hardware." Alex lowly makes the gender swipe at this Starlight's tight, alter ego form.
"Wait 'til you feel Fighter's." Sayer meets her challenging eyes with sexy ones lowered with the enticing offer.
"Looking forward to it." Their quick-flying barbs reminded Alex of her daredevil motorcycle racing circuit. This Fighter's swift wit matched hers fast and furiously as the pair move forward in a neck in neck competition to see who would drop the hammer to be the frontrunner in this lap.
As for Sammy, coming in the rear behind the tallest triple sets of Three Lights and Outers, the boy was feeling inadequate to say the least as he watches Tara's forlorn face gazing upwards at the pair in front of them.
Oh, why do I still have to be so short and scrawny!? If I was just a little bit taller, maybe, maybe I could've been paired with Terry. How lucky Susan is and she doesn't even appreciate it! Well, at least, I get to walk behind him. I can pretend he's my escort and he's holding my arm. I love how his ponytail swishes back and forth….why is he looking at her that way? It's that mini skirt she's wearing. He can't help it if Susan wears such showy clothes. I wish I had a skirt like that, too, and then maybe he'd look at me that way… Tara's purple eyes glaze over, lost in a young girl's fantasy world.
Sammy shyly looks at his companion out of the corner of his eye. Wow, she's so pretty! Why didn't Serena or Lita tell me they knew such a pretty girl? Ditzes they are, they don't care about anything but their stupid wedding. She's a little spaced out though, I wonder why. Sammy follows her unshakable gaze to the back of the head of the tall (I mean tall!) man in front of them. The sad realization dawns on Sammy. Though a young boy, he was a quick study and it didn't take much power of deduction to see what was clear on Tara's face. She likes that guy—what's his name?—Terry, right? Everyone was screaming it before, how could I forget? He's way—way too old for her—and it looks to me he's more interested in that girl, Susan anyway. What Tara needs is a younger man, more her age, someone smart and funny, someone…someone like me! Now if I can only get her attention away from that big oaf…
Going unnoticed under the center aisle pew, Luna crawls along slowly, hanging her head and letting out a lonely, mournful 'meow!'
I always knew my Robin would find someone, and the Sailor of Neptune is an impressively fine lady, but…that's not it. It just hurts to be reminded once again I'm only a cat. She glances over at her equally sullen furry white friend. Certainly I have Artemis, but it might be nice to have a choice in these matters, not just be thrown together because we're the only two talking cats on the entire planet! Luna, get a hold of yourself! Tomorrow will be one of the crowning achievements in your duties, the Prince and Princess will be wed, as they should have been a thousand years ago. Destiny will be fulfilled at long last. And I'm here to see nothing stands in its way. Luna peeks around into the crowd, until her gaze lands on Sayer Starr.
Nothing.
She repeats decidedly.
Artemis sees Luna stretch her head forward with that angry "Don't make me use these claws" face up in the direction of the Three Lights and their Outer Sailor Scouts' escorts. The longsuffering feline mistakenly concludes she must be directing her gaze at Michelle, who was clinging tightly to Robin's arm. Oh, Luna, why? Not that starman again. When are you going to realize that this cat loves you more than life itself? You've always been the only one for me, Luna. Someday I'll marry you, too, in a church just like this, or even bigger! Then you'll forget all about these silly infatuations of yours for human males with silvery white hair. Artemis just finishes his thoughts as he and Luna join the departing entourage outside the church on the front steps, not realizing the color of his own fur.
"That was great!" Lita smiles broadly at the well-timed pairs who had moved in picturesque synch down the chapel aisle. And on their first real practice, too! Lita was glad her plans were all coming together so well. "Now…" She begins to explain what will happen next tomorrow at the actual event.
Serena looks back at her crowd of friends, not hearing Lita anymore. Everything is so nice. Now if only one more special little girl could make it, then it would be perfect! Serena looks up towards the heavens, closing her eyes. Rini, Rini, if you can hear me…please come! My wedding wouldn't be complete without you…please…
In answer to her prayers, a sudden cloud forms over the group, swirling, swirling, an energy buildup in the center. A blinding flash of light, then three figures once again fall from the sky. The first ones to recover, the Three Lights rush to catch the plummeting packages.
Plunk! Terry catches a pink-haired, cone-headed little girl with a strangely familiar face.
Plop! Sayer dives to find himself holding the little fuchsia-heart-bun-head, who he'd come to know so well two years ago when they were here on earth.
Poof! Robin thinks he miscalculated and missed, then looks down rather pleased to find a tiny grey furball purring softly in his cupped hands.
"Rini!" Serena shouts, as Rini jumps down from Terry's arms and runs to her with a hug.
"Diana!" Luna squeals happily, unaware of how much she missed her time-hopping kitten as Diana leaps and bounds towards her.
"Chibi chibi?" The little fuchsia-haired sprout still had no grasp of the language, still using baby talk as she coos in Sayer's uncomfortable grasp.
"Doesn't anyone want to claim this little one?" Sayer struggles to keep a hold of the wriggling fuchsia pink package.
"Here, give me." Alex unceremoniously grabs the child from his arms as she was only too glad to be extricated from herself after that rehearsal fiasco she had endured. "You behave yourself." She commands with a pointed finger in Chibi's face. The child immediately clams up, not used to such strict authority, her eyes wide.
"Hey, you're good with children, Ally!" Sayer looks astonished at the tough as nails woman who didn't strike him—or anyone for that matter—to ever be the motherly type.
"That's why I get along so well with you." Alex says pointedly, sarcastically. Sayer feigns hurt feelings with a very mature, stuck out tongue at her.
Shock wearing off, Serena looks to Rini, a question on her face. "Rini, who is this child? I mean I know who she is, but…just how is she…back here with you?" Serena whispers, her high voice wobbling with curiosity.
"Oh right, you wouldn't know, not yet anyway, in this time frame." Rini smiles crookedly in a confidential whisper. "Everyone, this is my sister, Daria." She announces as Rini reaches up and Alex hands her the toddler.
"Da-ri-uh…" The toddler repeats her name's syllables with a silly giggle.
"Sister?" Darien smiles the same crooked smile as Rini, he leaning down to scoop up Daria from her.
"I'll explain later." Rini whispers to Serena, "Too many people here."
"By the way. We call her 'RiRi,' for short, back home." The poofy pink cone headed little girl informs her 'sister' about the youngest of their 'sibling' brood to tell Irene and Kevin Hart, their 'parents' when the pink pair return home with them this day.
"Right," Serena nods, still confused, I thought Chibi—uh, RiRi—was just the light of hope but…another daughter? Mine?! Serena reels from her own mystifying future knowledge. "I'm so glad you made it!" Then Serena smiles, leaving behind her doubts of tomorrow to embrace the assurances of today.
"Me, too." Rini hops up the steps happily. "I heard you call, and I just had to come! Mommy and Daddy send their love." And for the first time Rini feels strange about saying that. In a way, tomorrow, you and Darien are going to become my mommy and daddy. Not really, just kinda, sort of. Oh well, I'm just glad to be here, in time! Get it? In time? The cotton candy pink little girl chortles at her own lame joke concerning her time-hopping future studies.
"Mina?" Ken asks confused. "What just happened?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing." Mina waves her hand at him nonchalantly. "Just a few more guests dropped in."
Down-to-earth Ken smiles it off, pleasantly enough as Mina leads him away.
Shrugging to one another, Sayer, Terry, and Robin dismiss the odd encounter, having seen far stranger things happen in their intergalactic experience as they go back into the building. Greg follows, unable to shake the clairvoyant feeling that he'd seen those children before, somewhere. After a good slap, Chad totally forgets everything as Rei drags him inside without so much as an explanation. Sammy, Mom and Dad, fall back into their hypnotic states as to who both children are, seeing Rini and Riri both as younger sisters living with Serena back at their house. The Scouts all lead their escorts inside, the cats scampering behind them, leaving only Lita and Andrew on the front steps.
"Lita?" Andrew asks quizzically. "Did those children just fall outta the sky?"
The truth was such an innate part of her that Lita could not bring herself to lie to this good, honest young man. "Yes." She answers him slowly. "Oh, look at the time!" She then quickly glances at her watch. "Let's get inside!" Lita changes the subject quickly, praying Andrew doesn't ask anymore questions, as she strides headlong into the church.
Andrew smiles, shaking his head. "Girls and their curious secrets." Maybe I'll ask Darien about it later, he thinks, following Lita back inside. What a strange day this is turning out to be.
Diana looks around at the new scenery with a kitten's wide-eyed curiosity. Although a few years older than the last time we saw her, Diana's small size and penchant for asking numerous questions remained unchanged, perhaps due to her human-like qualities that left her still a learning kitten than a full-grown cat.
"Mother…?" She asks out loud turning to Luna, a million questions spilling into her mind.
"Diana, hush." Luna scolds in a whisper, her eyes instructing her forgetful kitten on her place in this century, hoping nobody heard her little voice in the crowd.
But someone did.
Leaning down, close to the trio of cats, so no one else could hear, Robin Starr smiles. "Did I just hear that kitten call you 'Mother,' Luna?" Sensitive Robin knew by now that Luna was no ordinary cat.
"Well, I—yes, but…" Luna stumbles, not knowing quite where to begin.
"A gorgeous kitten." He tickles Diana's pleased tummy. "And you must be the lucky father of such a beauty?" Robin looks to Artemis. Artemis simply smiles crookedly, unsure of how Luna was taking in all of this.
"I always knew there was something between you two." Robin's green eyes sparkle as he pats the two cats on the head affectionately, awarding the white tomcat with a wink. "You're a lucky fellow, Artemis." Robin's praising words make Luna realize the truth behind them.
"I always hope to be the best I can be, for Luna." Artemis speaks to the Sailor of the Star Healer, whom he once was so wary of, with pride that Robin Starr even remembered who he was and even his name. Then Artemis looks at Luna shyly. Yes, we do have something, don't we?
Luna remembers all the times Artemis was there for her, even when she didn't appreciate it. Maybe she judged him too harshly, maybe, she looks down at the wide-eyed kitten at her feet, maybe, the future just might be looking a whole lot better.
The afternoon wears on, Lita and Mrs. Hart directing everyone to and fro, making sure they all know their seating arrangements. When to stand, when to sit, all the boring details over and over until it's all ingrained in their memories.
"Okay! I think that about wraps it up! Ladies, I want to see you all bright and early at Michelle's. Okay!? Before 10 AM." Lita stresses, counting on last minute bridesmaids' dress alterations.
"And escorts—" She turns to the men, most of whom were draped across the pews by now. "We expect you to be here at the Church no later than 1:00 o'clock. Got that?" She knocks Sayer's draped arm off the nearest pew and looks at them threateningly. "1:00 PM." Organized Lita takes a few slips of paper, and hands them out. She then smiles cheerfully after saying that mouthful.
"You all did wonderfully!" Mrs. Hart calls out after them as each say a special goodbye to Serena and Darien, and their own "respective" girl.
"Bye Serena…uh, Darien." Greg looks a bit frightened, but considering their past, it's not surprising.
"Bye, Greg," Serena smiles comfortingly. "Thanks for coming."
"Bye," Darien nods to each of Serena's friends who were now the lonely, stoic man's own, too.
"Uh, no prob." Greg looks to Amy. "Um, Amy, uh…"
"Call me later, number's the same." Amy fills in the words Greg couldn't find and he smiles appreciatively.
"Gramps is gonna have a fit if we don't get back to the temple like, right now, Serena!" Rei rushes about, gathering her things. "Gotta go. Bye, guys. Say 'goodbye,' Chad!" Rei pulls the poor man out the door before he could say a choked out word.
"Bye, Rei. Bye, Chad. Oh! Rei! Wait a minute! There's something I want to do!" Serena rushes to her father.
"Oh, wait, I forgot to tell Serena something. You go on, Chad! I'll be along soon!" Rei waves Chad off, returning inside the church.
"We've gotta get going, too, my shift at the arcade, you know." Andrew and a starry-eyed Lizzie come up. In her hands were autographed napkins, streamers, and ribbons that the Three Lights signed and even a scrawled "Sayer Starr" across the back of her white T-shirt.
"I'm never gonna take it off!" Lizzie squeals in pleasure, her eyes still glued to her three rock star idols, who were casually leaning against the back wall. She waves frantically, Robin rolls his idle idol eyes, Sayer winks at her like a cool rock star, and Terry gives a polite little smiling wave back, making Andrew's little red-headed sister nearly faint again.
"They're causing quite a stir, huh?" Andrew comments to Darien, considering the three men and the effect they had on his sister.
"You can say that again." Darien frowns as Serena's attention once again was drawn to Sayer Starr when she returns armed with her Dad's camera. Daria giggles as Sayer tosses her up and down in the air, to the child's squealing delight.
"Sayer and RiRi always did get along so well!" Serena says to Darien as she loads the film, amazingly—a cameraman's daughter, after all—getting it right.
"Yeah…I heard about that." Darien answers absently, a little green-eyed monster growing into a mossy mountain inside him.
"Darien, what is it?" Serena finally notices his silence. "Aren't you feeling well, Muffin?" There was innocent concern in her sweet voice.
"I'm fine, really, I'm fine." Can't let her think I'm jealous, of him! I'm not. Why should I be? There's nothing between them. Nothing at all.
Darien doesn't even notice one of his 'groomsmen' Ken say 'goodbye,' his mind so absorbed. That is, until he finds Terry Starr standing right in front of him, his hand outstretched, with Tara and Susan on either side.
"Good to see you again, Mr. Shields." He shakes Darien's hand firmly. "Goodbye, Miss Serena." Terry smiles, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"We'll be back tomorrow." Robin smiles with a wave out the door, Michelle on his arm.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! Everybody!" Serena bubbles smiling at Terry, Robin, Michelle, Susan and Tara. "Since today was our last day of school and you're all here, too, I'd like to have us all in a picture together, okay?" Serena holds the camera up cheerily.
"Certainly." Terry smiles, Serena's generous warmth and friendship all coming back to him.
"Great idea, Meatball!" Sayer comes bounding up, having dumped Daria unceremoniously to Mrs. Hart. Serena smiles up at her old friends, linking her arms with theirs as she leads them outside.
"C'mon, girls! Outside for a photo!" Serena calls over her shoulder, assuming that Darien was right behind her.
Which he was, watching every move of the dark-haired young man who fit so snug on Serena's arm.
And he wasn't the only one. Like father, like daughter, no matter from how distant a future, Rini was also a bit nosy of Serena's relationship here in this era with 'that guy.'
Meeting Michelle and Robin on the front steps, Serena points to the park across the street.
"There! That's the perfect spot!" She sings as Rini trots up next to Tara who was surprisingly able to keep the quick pace today, her eyes gazing up adoringly at the tall man who had caught Rini earlier.
"This is exciting! Isn't it, Robin?!" Mina scurries up to her favorite idol, grabbing hold of his arm, pulling him forward with her. In her enthusiasm, she didn't notice she left Michelle behind.
As she watched Robin being dragged away from her, Michelle stops short in her tracks, fuming.
"Idols. Here one day and gone the next." Alex interrupts disapprovingly as she strides up to Michelle, offering her own arm as replacement.
As it should be anyway! Alex's temper was at its limit with these rock stars.
And Michelle takes her Amara's offered arm as she always did, not wanting to let her cousin think that Robin's popularity with the girls bothered her. So she holds her tongue, not wishing to cause a scene, and in so doing leads Alex to believe that she had just won a small victory in the battle over Michelle's attentions.
"All right, this looks good!" Serena stops midstride, looking through the camera lens for the best shot. "Everyone, group shot!" Serena plays the cameraperson. As everyone gathers in a close formation, camera hogs Mina, Rei, and Rini place themselves smack in the middle, with Mina grabbing a shy Amy and putting her in the center so she herself didn't look (dare she think it?) conceited. Lita finds herself in a nice enough position next to the Three Lights, who were doing their best not to steal the spotlight, trying to just be part of the gang on the side lines. (Well, Robin was posing a bit, forever the camera-loves-me-model.) But one might actually mistake Sayer and Terry for normal boys, not rock stars, the casual way they joined the scene, even if Terry was well dressed in a suit.
That's what's so nice about them, I think. Lita smiles up at Terry but finds his attention elsewhere, towards the Outer Scouts on the far left side of the group. That's exactly where Alex had made certain to place Michelle and herself, as far from the Three Plagues as she could get, with Susan and Tara naturally tagging along wherever Alex led them. Darien takes his place behind Rini, folding his arms. Seeing them ready, Serena smiles, looking into her viewfinder. "Okay, everyone, say CHEESE!" Serena looks hard into the camera moving it up and down. "Hey, where did you guys go?" She asks, still searching through the professional camera's lens.
"It would help if you took the lens cap off." Robin says, sounding annoyed, his hobby with cameras made him an expert in photography.
"Oh!" Serena giggles, embarrassed. "Now which little button do I push…?" She struggles to find the correct button amidst the numerous ones on her Dad's expensive camera.
Seeing her fumble with it exasperatingly, Terry, always the gentleman, offers to come to her aid. "Miss Serena, I'll take the photograph if you'd like and that way you can be in it as well."
"Oh no, Terry! I want all three of you in it for sure!" Serena shakes her head, knowing that soon her distant friends would be returning to their planet, leaving again. But she didn't want to think about that now, she just wanted to take the darn photo!
"Princess, please allow me." Susan leaves her spot, going up to Serena, holding her hand out for the camera.
"Oh, but Susan….I want you there, too!" Serena whines.
"As you said, today was your last day of school. I don't need to be in it, since I did not attend your school's classes." Susan smiles reassuringly with calm logic.
"C'mon Serena! I'm late enough as it is! We'll take another one with Susan later, all right?" Rei's cutting voice says as she dashes forward, pulling Serena into place right in front of Darien.
"Good." Susan nods, not minding (or was it that she was just accustomed to it?) being left out, especially not for the Princess' sake.
"Is everyone ready?" She asks politely, looking in the viewfinder. Through it, Susan's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the tall man on the left whose entrancing violet eyes seemed to be giving her a sideways glance, looking right at her.
At her pause, impatient Rei takes control once again, starting the familiar: "CHEESE!" to prompt her older friend, in which Serena, Amy, Rini and Lita join in all big smiles.
CLICK.
The picture was taken by one self-sacrifing 'young' woman whose gentle kindness and consideration for others did not go unnoticed this day by a certain mahogany-haired, handsome gentleman on the far right of the photograph.
Going back into the church, they each say their goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Hart, and little Daria who soon depart for home. And then it was time to say goodbye to the bride and groom-to-be, Serena and Darien.
"Miss Serena, Mr. Shields," Terry nods to Darien respectfully, kissing Serena's hand.
"See ya tomorrow." Robin somehow had gotten Michelle back to being attached to his arm as they walk out the church door together.
Sayer then sprints up to Serena. "Meatball!" He smiles that bright smile of his Serena remembered so well. "It's really good to see you again." To her surprise—and Darien's even more so—the impulsive visitor from another star takes her shoulders firmly, kissing the Moon Princess' forehead goodbye warmly.
Unintentionally ignoring a fuming Darien, Sayer jogs out the door, down the steps until he caught up to Robin and Michelle. Then he calls back through the doors: "Come on, Ally! 'Chelle's in a hurry for her picture show!"
"It's an art exhibition!" They could hear Michelle's angry voice, faint, in the distance berating him.
"Michelle has an art exhibition tonight." Alex stops to explain, not ready to rush to any man's beck and call, especially one who gives out kisses so freely to engaged girls. Her mind still steaming from the innocent scene a few moments before, Alex's own jealousies twist it into something other than innocent. How can the Prince just stand there when that jerk does things like that?! I couldn't put up with it. Not that it's any concern of mine really, anyway. Alex clears her mind.
"I'll catch you later, Moonface." Exchanging a nod with the Prince of the Earth to watch over their shared princess as Darien wraps a possessive arm around Serena's shoulders no other man should touch after tomorrow, Alex then strides out through the church doors.
"Bye Alex! Have a good night! God bless you all!" The shining Moon Princess waves to her adored friends as they leave with the blessing for all their safety until they meet again here tomorrow.
"I'm gonna need it." Amaralexis Sokova leaves a waving Serena with a backhand two fingered salute, bracing herself for the no doubt trying, definitely perplexing ride ahead of her.
"A noisy bunch of kids today, huh, Honey?" Mr. Hart asks, cleaning up strewn ribbons and streamers.
"I don't know about noisy, dear, just full of life." She turns to Serena. "I like your friends, Serena dear, they're all very sweet." Mrs. Hart picks up RiRi, taking Rini's pudgy digits in her other motherly hand. "Now I've got to get your sisters home. Big day tomorrow! Don't be out too long, you two!" She gives Serena and Darien each a kiss on the cheek. "Tomorrow you'll be part of our family, Darien." Mrs. Hart hugs him warmly. "I want you to now how glad we are to have you."
"Thank you." Darien answers sincerely, the first heartwarming feeling he's had all day, as he squeezes Serena's thin shoulders close to him protectively.