[Scene: Halloween Morning on a hospital in Seattle. Mamoru is lying on the bed, sleeping, with an IV hooked to his arm. The machines makes reassuring lines and noises. Usagi is sitting at Mamoru bedside, her hands clasped around one of his and her eyes redrimmed and puffy from crying. Occasionally she shudders and a few tears escape but she doesn't make a sound.]

[Usagi looks up and wipes her tears away quickly as there is a gentle rap on the door and Ami peeks her head in.]

Ami: May we come in?

[Usagi leaps from her chair and sprints through the door on her tiptoes, closing it behind her, and facing Ami, Rei and Makoto in the hall.]

Usagi : [in a defeated whisper] Don't worry. He's just sleeping. The surgery was a complete success. He's going to be ok.

Rei: What happened to him?

[Usagi looks away for a moment.]

Usagi: I'm not entirely sure, to be honest...[looks down as she taps the tips of her index fingers together]...My memories are a bit fuzzy...We were at Zoi's Sweet Sixteen party and there was some kind of explosion...A big shard of...something...was blasted right toward my heart. It would have killed me, but Mamo leapt in front of me and it went through his belly...The doctors say it was a miracle he survived long enough for them to operate, but now he's going to be ok.

[Usagi lowers her head and starts crying mournful tears again.]

Makoto: If he's going to be ok, why are you crying?

Usagi: [listless] Because he hasn't said a word to me since he's been in the hospital...We made up...At least I thought we did...But he won't talk to me...[sobs quietly]...He just lies there and sleeps. All the time. I try to talk to him, but he acts like doesn't see me...Like I'm not even there. Like he wishes he could take back all those sweet things he said to me after the accident...

Ami: Maybe he's still weak, from the bloodloss and the surgery?

Usagi: No. He gets up to use the bathroom. All by himself. But as soon as he's done, he goes right back to sleep again without saying a word.

Rei: [sneers] Oh, Jesus Christ, Usagi. Just listen to yourself.

[Rei pantomimes sobbing and wiping her eyes with her fists]

Rei: "Oh, boo-hoo! Woe is me! My boyfriend just got skewered like a kabob but by some miracle he's going to make a compete recovery! Meanwhile, the pediatric cancer ward is filled with little kids who should be out trick-or-treating tonight but instead they have to fight for their lives! But I'm the biggest victim here! Because my boyfriend-that just experienced a terrible near death experience-isn't in the mood to listen to my constant WHINING!"

Usagi: [aghast] Oh my gawd, Rei! Why do you always have to be so mean!

Rei: Why do you always have to be so STUPID?

Usagi: You-you-

Makoto: [Gets between them] Hey!Stop it Rei! Give Usagi a break! She's been through a lot!

Usagi: [giggles happily] No, it's okay. She's kinda got a point. [Gives Rei a sidelong smile] And taking my frustrations out on Rei has given me a rush that has left me better able to cope with my feelings. [narrows her eyes at Rei] But you knew it would, didn't you?

[Rei smirks knowingly]

Usagi: Ha! I knew it! You old softy! [throws her arms around Rei and hugs her tight]

Rei: Face it. You need someone like me in your life.

Usagi: I most certainly do...[pulls the others into a group hug] ...aw, guys I missed you all so much...how come you all stopped speaking to me?

Rei: Sorry about that. I know I've been acting like a complete bitch lately, but we've been going through some shit for the past few weeks involving those bear attacks and the missing campers, and I really didn't want anyone I cared about getting involved in any of it.

Makoto: [nods vigorously] We're talking really heavy "end of the world" stuff.

Ami: But don't worry. It all turned out to be much ado about nothing. Artemis informed us the danger has passed.

Usagi: [startled] Artemis?

Rei: Artemsis...is...a little hard to explain.

Usagi: Try me. I'm just so happy that you're talking to me that I'm willing to believe anything you say.

Rei: O-kay. Girls, tell her who Artemis is.

Makoto: He's a cat...ghost...from outer space...that only Rei can see.

Ami: Technically, Minako can too, but only when she looks in a mirror.

Usagi stares without blinking then bursts out laughing]

Usagi: Oh, wow! You guys are so silly!

[The others force laughter]

Usagi: So does this mean we're all friends again?

Rei: If you'll have us.

Makoto: Though, as far as I'm concerned we never stopped being friends.

Usagi: Me neither!

[Usagi dances a happy little jig then pulls them into another group hug]

Usagi: Where is Minako, by the way? I would have thought she's want to see Mamo...[ looks down as the bitterness creeps back into her voice]...seeing how they are so close...

Ami: She said she'd be by later, but first she had an errand to run.

[Meanwhile back in Hen Tie, Washington]

[Zoi is coming down the stairs with his hair hanging loose, finishing dressing himself in jeans and a t-shirt as the doorbell rings incessantly]

Zoi: Just a minute! Just a minute! Sheesh. I just woke up.

[He has. Which is weird to him since it seems he's slept the entire duration of his sixteenth birthday, for no good reason whatsoever, and that's put him in a surly mood.]

[He runs his fingers through his hair to sooth it into place as he reaches the door. He opens it a crack and sees Minako on the other side, wearing a Sailor V mask.]

[He leaves the security chain latched, just to be spiteful.]

Zoi: Well looky here. If it isn't Bimborella in her Sailor Skank costume! It's it a bit early in the day for you to go trick-or-treating?

Minako: Is your father home?

Zoi: I don't think so.

Minako: Good. Because I'd hate for him to have to witness this.

[The chain shatters to pieces as she kicks the door in.]