I Don't Have A Title Yet

Two

1

The Senshi were on high alert by the time Usagi entered her house. Mina had been in

contact with the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Defense after she received Molly’s frantic telephone call. There had been several temporal disturbances since the early hours of morning. Without the present incarnation of the Senshi of Pluto to decipher them or stabilize the disturbances, the gates to the Underworld and patches throughout Time were vulnerable as was the entire Realm.

Mina was on the verge of awaking the Senshi of Pluto where ever she was; she already had Hotaru, Lita, and Rei searching for her as well Neptune and Uranus. The last thing she wanted to deal with a new enemy that had decided Terra looked like a nice place to sit and conquer.

When Usagi came inside, Molly was close behind her and in her arms was a blue and pink bundle that Mina did not have a chance to identify. Usagi did not stop for; She just hurried her friend up to her bedroom. Ami, Rei, and Dave followed soon after, each with their arms loaded down with bags. Mina sent Lita and Hotaru after Usagi while she went to question the other two Senshi.

Everyone stopped everything they had been doing when they felt the Queen using her crystal. Rei quickly dropped her bags on the closest counter top and then dropped to her knees with her hands folded before her as she started chanting. Red and dark purple magic leapt off her as her aura bled out about the house, camouflaging her Queen’s pure energies.

“What’s going on?” Mina demanded as she helped Ami put away the groceries.

Dave tore his eyes from the still kneeling Rei, his eyes wide in shock as the magic continued to pour off the girl. “I—“ he stammered.

Mina stared at for a moment. Ami cleared her throat to gain Mina’s attention.

“Someone or something is interfering with one of the Gates guarded by Neti.”

The two startled by Dave’s sudden laughter. “Netty?” He snickered.

“Ne-ti.” Mina enunciated. “Princess Neti- Erra, Guardian of Time and the Underworld. She is Persephone’s second in command. And if were you, I wouldn’t laugh at someone with the power to undo my existence with the turn of her staff.”

“If she is so powerful why is she missing?” He asked curiously.

“She died dumb ass.” Mina spat. She shook her head and dismissed him from her thoughts as turned back to Ami. “I am going to need a more aggressive search to find Neti-Erra, Anahita, and Theia.”

“I will find them by tomorrow morning.” Ami assured her.

“Good.” Mina clapped her hands in satisfaction. “Now what fell on this loser’s head?”

“A child.” Usagi told her. She swept in the room with Hotaru at her side. “More specifically, my child, from the future.”

“Yours?” Dave shrieked then he asked, “Whose it father?”

Usa shot him a look that promised pain. “Don’t get cute, Kunzite. I’m not in the mood.”

He shrugged off her foul temper, “Just because you’re pissed off doesn’t mean you get to take it our on me, Blondie. I need to know what the going on and how it will effect Darien.”

Rather deliberately, Usagi turned her back on him. She ignored the meditating Rei; she could feel the other’s girl’s magic flowing over the house, hiding Usa’s own power by pulling up every Terran spirit force she could gather.

“Min, I want answers.” Usa said, her voice sounded weary even her own ears.

Hotaru and Mina exchanged a look, before the golden warrior turned to their Queen. “The seers on Pluto felt a vibration around three a.m., Tokyo time.” The older blonde girl reported. “I was contacted an hour later by the Minister of the Interior at Silver Millennium. His office was at lost as to something had managed to get in or how it entered the System. I was teleported to Palace for a briefing and then I returned to Terra. Once I was here, I telephoned Persephone and Frigga to bring them up to speed on disturbance and have had them working with our colleagues back at the palace, while I put a rush on finding Neti.”

Usagi had said nothing through the brief monologue. An eerie calmness seemed that have fallen about the girl as she moved about her mother’s kitchen. When Mina had finished, Usa, who had now donned an apron, was chopping freshly washed herbs for a marinade.

“What are you doing to find Neti?” she asked as she dropped a handful of parsley into Lita’s beloved food processor.

“I just put Sophia on it,” Mina informed her Queen. “She is confident that she will have the remaining Senshi’s identities by morning.”

Usa glanced at Ami inquiringly. “Are you certain you can do this?”

Ami nodded, “I am confident in my abilities, Usa-chan.” She flashed a superior grin that caused the other girl to laugh. “Usa, doesn’t that recipe call for olive oil?” She asked worriedly when Usagi reached for the canola oil.

“And risk Lita’s wraith?” She cried in horror. “If it’s all the same to you, I would rather keep living, thank you.”

“Coward.” Rei’s mocking voice came from the front of the counter.

“Frankie’s love slave.” Usa smirked.

“Eww, what are you trying to do?” The miko demanded, “Are you trying to give me bad luck?”

“You are supposed to be helping us?” Ami reminded their friend.

Usa looked her friend up and down and she snorted. “What are you doing? Man, if I needed someone to stand around eating chips, I would have called Darien.”

“I’m hungry.” Ami complained.

“Yeah, yeah,” Usa muttered sarcastically. “Mom left her credit card beside the telephone; Go order us some dinner, Helper.”

Ami popped another chip into her mouth as she ambled over to the kitchen’s phone. “Who all is staying?”

“You, Moll, Rei’s coming back after her thing at school, and the kid.”

“Burgers?” Ami suggested.

Usa thought for a moment, then she nodded, “Yeah. Molly’s vegetarian, so you have to get her a Garden burger—ooh, no. Get her portabella sandwich with the works and Provolone cheese. Oh, man those things are good.”

“Is that what you want?” Ami grinned at Usa’s obvious affections for food.

“Naw, I just want a burger with the works and plenty of fries.”

“I’ll have the same as Molly.” Rei said as she rose from the floor. “Usagi, I have the concealing spell in place. It will remain active until remove your spell.”

“So the kid is hidden?”

Rei nodded.

“Alright. Then you should get out of here.” They leaned across the counter and touched cheeks.

“I’ll be back as so as this meeting is over with.” Rei said as she walked over to Ami.

“Have fun,” Ami told her as they also said hugged.

“Hey, if you want the Menace off your back, try to hook up with someone from Abuzu.” Mina smiled at the Martian Senshi. “One of Darien’s friends is a student there and he on the Abuzu Prep’s Festival committee.”

The other Senshi burst out laughing at their friend’s obvious discomfort.

“C’mon, David,” Rei said gruffly as she stalked out of the kitchen. “I am going to be late if we do not hurry.”

“Flashing eyes, heighten color about the face,” Hotaru laughed, “Me thinks the lady—“

“None of you are my friends.” Rei hollered over her shoulder.

“We love you, too, sweetie.” Mina called to her.

“Bite me.”

“I told you before, you should let Frankie do that.” Usa shouted back.

2

Around eight of clock, the four girls were seated around kitchen table, having a late supper since they decided to wait for Rei to return. Hours before, Usa had given her little house guest a bath and fed her some of Lita’s homemade Minestrone soup before exhaustion over took the child and she passed out in Usa’s arms.

The kid, Serena, was the current topic of their conversation. Usagi had managed to get the kid’s name (Serenity Gaia Milena Shields), her age. She had just turned four a few months ago. The little girl proudly told Usa that she shared her mother’s birthday, but that happiness faded just as she remembered that she wasn’t with her mother.

Usa had put the child in her bed and sat with her until Rei returned.

She called Darien before Dave could talk to him. She was exhausted and as much as she loved Darien, she did not want him coming over making a big ta-do about the situation. He could do that tomorrow, after she had rested and gotten the answers she wanted.

When she came down to the kitchen, Usa found her two friends at the kitchen sink. Molly was staring in open mouth amazement at Ami who held her hands over the frozen water in the sink. Ami’s eyes were glowing an icy blue and her lips were moving silently as she stared unseeingly ahead.

The doorbell rang, Usa went to answer it; She was signing for dinner when Dave drove up and let Rei out. Rei went up the guest room to put her school bag down then check in on the little girl for Usa.

“What are you going to do with her?” Molly asked her best friend around a mouth full of fries.

“Keep her with me until we can send her back to where she belongs.” Usa dipped a couple fries in the small pool of ketchup on her plate. “Ames, you having any luck with tracking Neti?”

“Some,” Ami admitted as she yawned behind her right hand. “I would have more success had she been closer to water.”

Once again, Molly was staring at the raven-haired genius in shock and awe. “You can find people through water?” She asked in awe.

Ami flicked her eyes in Molly’s direction before she turned back to her meal. “Water and ice are my elements to control. I can feel anything everything that touches them.”

“Okay, so how are you looking for this Neti person?” The red headed girl asked.

“It is very simple, for me, water exist in all forms and it is constantly moving. Anything it touches, I feel.” Ami clarified before either of her two friends could comment. “It’s also distracting since you Terrans are mostly water.”

“What are you?”

“Not water.” Ami told her.

“Then what?”

“Not water.”

“Tell me.” She begged.

“No.”

Molly turned to Usa for help, the blonde blew her off, “C’mon, Usagi. Don’t you want to know what she’s made of?”

“I know what her body is composed.” Usagi winked at her. “Ames, can you sense if Neti is moving or anything?”

Ami closed her eyes briefly before answering her friend. “She is covering a great distance very fast.”

“Maybe she’s in a car?” Molly suggested. “Or a bus?”

Inspiration stuck Usagi at that moment. “I know how I can help you.” Before anyone could speak, Usa was up and around the table and she touched her hands to Ami’s temples. When Ami tried to turn around and ask her what she was doing, she was shocked to find that she could not move much less speak.

“Just relax, Ami,” she felt Usa’s comforting presence in her mind. “I am just going to look about for a bit.”

Rei and Molly shared a look then turned back to the faintly glowing girls. Ami was staring ahead with unseeing eyes.

Usa stood behind her with her eyes closed, her head tilted back slightly. Her faint touch raced along Ami’s awareness, going deeper as she searched for the bond she knew was there.

“What is it?” Ami asked as she followed the blond girl through her mind.

A deep frown marred Usa’s delicate features, “Have you ever noticed that you guys rarely speak to each?” She asked unexpectedly.

Incomprehension showed on Ami’s features as she stared at her friend. “I don’t know what you mean—“

“I mean, you my friend and Senshi, do not speak to the others.”

“That is not so, we converse all the time.”

Usa shook her head, “Not necessarily.” She smiled reassuringly at her. “It only means that you are comfortable with this that never notice it. And I guessing, neither Venus or the others have noticed it either.”

“What is it?” Ami asked her again.

After a moment, Usagi whispered almost distantly, “Your connection with the others.”

“Why mine?”

“Next to Min, your have the second strongest connection to all the other Senshi. You are the intelligence officer. Everyone would pass information on to you and you relayed it to Venus. Ah, there. I found them.”

Shocked in silence, Ami could only stare at the girl beside her in wonderment. How different her friend was now than when they had first met. Usagi had always been confident in herself, as well as brave, loyal, and open towards everyone. Ami admitted that she had been a bit envious of her petite friend, for in her personality, Usagi was everything Ami wished that she could have been. Of course that was before she really came to know Usagi and in turn discovering herself. Usagi had shown Ami that she, too possessed the same confidence in herself, the furious bravery and intense loyalty that defined not only Usagi, but every Senshi; Usagi was just the epitome of it all. Now, now she was so much more than that. Never again could her first friend ever go back to girl she once was.

Looking at the brilliant person standing beside her reminded Ami of difference that separated them.

“I have awaken the bond inside of you,” Usagi was saying. “Soon, you will know the location of every Senshi and guardian in this System.” She turned to face Ami, her insubstantial moving to cup the Mercurian warrior’s face. “Prepare yourself,” she sounded excited, “This is gonna better than anything you’ve ever felt in your life.”

Without warning, Ami threw her head back, her mouth parted in silent scream while a wild current of information rushed through her brain. It was like Usagi has jacked into her head, pouring in all the knowledge of the about life, the planets, and stars; force feeding information into her hurting mind until it felt as it was going to explode. It did not stop, her conscience swelled and when it seemed as if she could accept no more, something in her mind clicked. The pain vanished, and flow of information into head seemed now not to be enough.

A hunger awoke her mind now, which now felt starved for learning. It lusted for knowledge and longed for everything that she was knew in her former life. Oh, but should something inconsequential as death deny her of what she wanted? The wisdom and knowledge she possessed once before was still there, imprinted on her soul just like her destiny as a Senshi.

She shrugged off Usagi’s hands and reached out herself for what she knew was there and she found it. It crashed through her, overwhelming her, but only for a moment. Her thirsty mind opened up and swallowed all that her soul had to give including her past life.

Outside, Usagi staggered back and would have fallen to the kitchen floor had Rei not been quick enough to catch her.

“Molly,” the miko said sharply, “get a damp cloth and a glass of water. Usagi! Usagi, can you hear me?” She demanded as she tapped the sides of the girl’s face. “Usagi?”

Molly rushed back to them, she handed Rei the glass as she tried pressed a damp dishtowel to Usa’s brow. The smaller girl gently slapped Molly’s hand away, “I’m alright, guys.” She assured them, but her voice sounded rusty and hollow. Usagi pushed herself in a seated position, she moved to stand, but her legs were trembled thus causing Usagi to fall back against Rei.

“Oh, boy.” She panted, “I do not want to do that again.” She looked up them and smiled wearily. “You guys think you can help me off the floor.”

With sheepish grins and lots of laughter, that was done. Usagi slumped down in her chair and threw her head back. Lord, she wondered what possessed her to do what she had done. Creating that protection spell around her house and the kid had almost wiped her out. This time, she had pushed her already tired body and in the process, she drained her own energy. She could feel the Terran gravity pulling on her, nor did it help that she felt as if she were enchased in a suit of lead for her clothes were also weighing her down.

“God, Usa,” Molly looked worriedly at her friend, “Do we need to call a doctor or something?”

She tried to shake her head, but that was an effort at that moment, “I’ll be fine. I just need to rest and…” She was cut off as Ami started to cough and gasp for air. Usagi struggled to rise and help her friend.

Rei had hurried over to Ami, but the other girl had stumbled to her feet and ran to the kitchen sink and attached herself to the faucet. The other three girls watched in fascination as Ami gorged herself on water for five minutes. When she was done, Ami sank to the floor groaning as like she was in pain.

At the table Usagi started to giggle and snorted.

Ami levered herself off the floor long enough to point and laugh at her friend. Caught between the hilarious pair, Rei just threw up her hands and stomped out of the kitchen.

“Rei,” Molly called as she hopped up and raced after the miko. “You can’t leave me in here with them.”

Serena awoke with a start. She looked about, somewhat disoriented as she pushed her hair back from her face. Wait a second this wasn’t her hair—Furthermore, this wasn’t her bed. The little girl pushed the long shimmering strands away from her as she sat up in the small bed and looked about at the foreign room and the strange shirt she had been sleeping in.

She was in a bed with two other girls; One had long, shining white hair just like her mother’s and the other one had short, blue black hair that resembled her father’s. The one with the blonde hair rolled onto her back and yawned as she rubbed the heels of her hands into her tired eyes.

“Serena?” The blonde said sleepily. She reached out grabbing a brass clock and bleary stared at it for a moment. “God, kid, do you normally get up this—“

The little girl stared down at her before she launched herself Usagi crying, “Mama.”

Usagi grunted loudly as she went tumbling from the bed in a flurry of hair, blankets, and pillows. Usagi lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling in a daze; Serena had pushed herself up and was now sitting on Usagi’s stomach. The kid had a big grin on her cute face as she beamed down at her mother’s younger self.

Back on the bed Ami rolled over, groping for the covers but she came up empty. “Usagi, you hog…”

Usagi draped her right arm over her eyes and groaned, “Shut up, Ami.”

“Mama,” Serena tired to remove Usagi’s arm, “I’m hungry.”

“Mama.” Ami chortled. She leaned over the side of the bed, a big goofy grin on her face as she smacked Usagi on the ankle. “What are you making for breakfast, Mama?”

“Go to hell, Ames.” She grumbled.

“Shouldn’t you watch you mouth?”

She made an obscene gesture with her left hand but she did sit up, Serena scrambled off her, but she bouncing around Usagi like bunny. The two older girls cringed in disgust.

“That’s not right.” Ami muttered. She reached down for the blankets only to have them snatched away, she protested when Usa threw the bedclothes across the room, but the girl wasn’t listening.

“If I gotta be up at—“ Usagi glanced at the clock on her desk, “—eight o’clock in the morning, you will be too. In fact—“

“No!” Ami cried, she almost fell off the bed in her hast to reach her friend.

Usagi started laughing as she raced out the room with Ami close on her tail. Slowly, Serena followed the two laughing girls down stairs.

An hour later, Lita came down stairs still dressed in her pajamas. She was yawning as she pulled her long hair up in to a loose bun and clipped it. She saw the three sitting in the family room watching anime and eating ice cream.

“I’m making waffles,” she told them.

“Strawberry?” Usagi asked absently.

“Blueberry?” Ami looked down into half empty container.

“Just plain Belgian.” She told them.

“No, Kaiba!” Usagi wailed heartbroken. “Yuugi’s a punk with MPD. That little freak can’t win all the time.”

Ami looked at her in disgust. “It’s just a cartoon.”

“Shut your blasphemous mouth, Mizuno.”

“You are never getting that game back.”

“I will tear up your PS2 if you don’t give me back my game.” Usagi growled menacingly.

“Who wants bacon?” Lita hollered over them, drowning the two bickering girls out.

The two hopped up and rushed in the kitchen, once again living Serena to follow them.

“You better help me out,” Lita grumbled, “I’m not feeding you people for free.”

3

The morning started had off bad (she had woken up and tackled before breakfast) and the rest of the morning had taken on a slightly normal bend, and that was weird. After breakfast, Lita went out back and set up the grill for Usa. While she was doing this, Rei and Molly came down, dressed, chipper, and eager to start the day. Usa and Ami went upstairs to clean up. When they came down, Rei and Molly had helped Lita load the dishwasher and wipe off the counters. Serena was sitting on a counter top, munching a large strawberry that Molly had given to her.

Usa had the clothes the little girl had worn the day before in her arms as she walked over to the girl and scooped her up.

“Lita, I know you said you didn’t want to cook, but I gotta take Sere shopping.” She told her cousin.

“Sere?” Lita looked at her skeptically.

Usa shrugged her shoulders as she began to dress the child. “Yeah, she doesn’t like Chibi-Usagi, Reenie, or Bunny.” She leaned forward to kiss the tip of the little girl’s pixie nose. “I can’t believe you have pink hair.” She laughed as the child wrinkled up her nose.

“Pink is my favorite color,” Serena told her.

“At least it’s a dye,” Ami told them as she pointed out Serena’s pale strawberry blonde roots.

“That hair colour must be a genetic flaw.” Usagi laughed as Lita gave her the finger.

“Fine,” Lita told her, “You need money?”

Usagi shook her head, “I still got all that money that I got from selling that stuff Luna sent to me.”

“Oh, God,” Lita laughed, “You better pray Darien never finds out about your stash.”

“Please, I’m just selling stuff I can’t use. I mean what use do I have loose gems and gold coins?” Usagi scoffed. She looked down at the little girl and smiled proudly. “My baby girl is so pretty!” She crowed. “Aren’t you so pretty?”

Rei had been in the process of drinking a glass of water only to spit it out. Molly fell on butt laughing

“Usa, please.” Ami muttered. “That’s sickening.”

Usa ignored them. She turned to her cousin and flashed her most pathetic, watery-eyed, lip trembling puppy-dog face. Lita drew back in fright.

“Li, please, let me barrow your jeep?” Usagi begged. “Please!”

“Oh, God,” Lita turned her back her. That damned look always got her. “My keys are in the living room. Drive carefully and put gas in the tank.”

Usagi bounded over to her and hugged her tight. “Thanks, Li. I should be back in two hours.” She promised.

A slight smile graced Lita’s features as she returned the young girl’s embrace. “Be careful, knucklehead.” She ruffled Usagi’s pale bangs before giving her a gentle shove. “Who are you taking with you?”

Rei threw a dishtowel at Ami, she gestured for Ami to volunteer. Ami was shaking her head no.

“Sam and Frankie were supposed to be stopping by in a few minutes.” Lita said. Upon hearing that, Rei happily volunteered.

As soon as they pulled out onto the street, Usagi swore.

“What’s wrong?” Rei asked.

“Damn that Lita,” the irritated blonde cried, “She knew she had no gas. What more she had the balls to tell me to put some in. Well, I’m going to show her. Freaking little—“

“Usa-chan,” Rei said seriously, “What are you going to do with this child?”

Usa glanced into the review mirror and smiled at the pretty girl. “She’s my daughter, Rei. Something happened that caused her to be here and until I find out what, I’m keeping her with me.” A little sigh escaped her then, “I already spoke to my parents, and we are going to talk about this situation some more after they come home today.”

“What did they say?”

A bitter smile crossed Usagi’s lips as remembered her parents reactions from their phone conversation last night.. “They are not happy with my decision but they understand and respect it.”

“And that means…?”

“That means Serena stays with me, I am responsible for her well-being until she goes home.”

“Are you certain you want this added responsibility?” Rei asked softly.

A small frown marred Usagi’s brow. “What other choice do I have?” She glanced at her guardian and advisor, “She came seeking my help. I cannot turn her away.”

“You are right, but I want you to remember, you are not alone Serenity.” Rei smiled. “I will help out as much as I can and I know the others will too.”

“Thanks. I know I will be taking you up on your offer. We can’t forget Darien in all of this.”

Rei glanced back the little girl and smiled. “No, we cannot.” She turned around and studied Usagi’s profile. There was a new maturity in the other girl’s face. A maturity and strength that was never there before and it seemed make Usagi older than her fifteen years.

Usagi met Rei’s stare and she smiled at her. “Don’t worry,” she reached for one of Rei’s hands. “I will be alright.” She told her, “We all will.”

Shortly after Usa and Rei had left with Serena, people started to arrive.

Sam did show up, but Frankie was not with him. Sam had gone to the airport to meet his parents and had taken Hotaru with him.

On the drive, Hotaru had answered all of the Tsukinos questions about the little girl that Usa through was hers and Darien’s. Hotaru assured them that the child was indeed the Queen’s but she was from the future. That was where Kenji and Sam seemed lost therefore Hotaru had to tell them about the missing Sailor Pluto. She was the only one who could have send Serena to the past and take the child back to her proper time.

Ilene still wanted to talk to her daughter about this situation; it wasn’t going to be easy for any of them, let alone Usagi since she wanted to keep the child.

Soon after, David and Jiro showed up. They came to help set up the picnic tables and chairs and Josh came with Seiya and Yaten Kou. They brought two twenty-gallon trash cans filled with ice. Soda was in one and beer in the other. Darien called to say he was coming by later; his dad was in town, Ilene quickly extended an invitation to his father, after some prodding, Artemis gave in and agreed to come.

Usagi returned, while she carried her purchases inside, Rei helped Serena out of the back seat. She was on her way inside when she heard someone call out her name.

Rei turned around and smiled at the guy trotting up the walkway. “Asanuma-san,” she said politely once he reached she and Serena. “What are you doing here?”

“Darien invited me,” he replied with a sheepish grin. “He said be here early to help out if I wanted to eat.”

Rei did not know why, but the way he was looking at her was causing to feel nervous. Not nervous in a panic, frighten way, but a shy, sort of self-conscious way that caused a slight blush to touch her cheeks.

She glanced down quickly just as he looked away. An awkward silence fell between them as they tried not to look at each other.

“Hino-san…”

“Asanuma-san…” They said almost together. They met each other’s gaze and both started to laugh.

Asanuma stared down at her, looking into her amethyst eyes and he felt his shyness dissipate. “Hino-san, I was wondering, if you had some time free—maybe tomorrow—I was wondering if you would like to go—ah, join me at the Fruit Pallor and maybe see a movie?” he finished quietly.

Incredulous disbelief was evident on her face. This was the first time a guy was actually asking her out, on date. The first thought to cross her mind was to refuse him. She had enough trouble dealing with Frankie and after that horrid mess with Yuuichirou; the last thing she wanted was to have another male in her life.

That was why she was so surprised to hear herself saying yes.

“You will?” Asanuma cried. His dark brown eyes were alight with joy that Rei felt awful at the though of resending her answer. “Oh, this great!” He grabbed her hands in his and he turned the full effect of his smile on her. “I’ll pick you at your temple at five?”

Rei felt a tight grin stretch out on her face as she nodded, committing herself to this date.

“Cool.” With a shock, Asanuma remembered why he came to Tsukinos in the first place. “Yeah, well, I guess I should get out back and help with the—“

“Hai,” she said weakly.

Gently, he let her hands trail from his as he started to step around Rei and the little girl he had just noticed. “Well, I’ll see you inside?” He said with a goofy grin that was almost endearing.

Rei nodded. She waved him inside. When he was gone, Rei looked down at the little girl who was looking up at Rei inquiringly.

“Rei-chan, is that your boyfriend?”

An expression of pure horror crossed the miko’s face as well as a heavy blush. “No, Serena. He’s not my boy, we’re just friends.” She held her hand out to the little girl. “Let’s get you inside for lunch.”

Serena took her hand and Rei led her inside. As they reached the door, they saw Usagi standing there. Usa held her arms out of the little girl who ran to her without hesitation. Rei smiled at the loving sight yet she was unaware of the wistful little sigh that escaped her once Usa had turned away.

“Hey, Rei,” Ami called from the front room, bringing her out of her thoughts. “Come in and join us, Lita is making brownies and we’re all helping.”

All unhappy thoughts fled as Rei went to join her friends. She wondered if Lita would make those special brownies with the white chocolate chips that she loved. She grimaced, of course she would have to help with the clean up, but she didn’t mind since all her friends would be helping as well.

Rei hurried over to Ami’s side and linked their arms. “Oi, Li-chan, you think you will make a batch of white chocolate chip brownies?” She called merrily as she pulled Ami towards the kitchen.