Hey, this is my first attempt at writing a worthy fanfic, so please bear with me and email me and let me know what you think. timmer@hci.net… Thanks. Nova Starlett When Eternity Ends…. Mamoru held Usagi tightly in his arms. "My Usako," he murmured. They sat on his couch together. Usagi was sleeping soundly. Usagi and Mamoru had only been married two weeks before. She had revealed to him only two hours ago that she was already pregnant with his child. Mamoru allowed his hand to fall to Usagi’s stomach, gently caressing her stomach and imagining the life that was growing there. "Could this be Reenie?" He quietly asked himself. "I hope not," he murmured, coming near to sleep himself. "The closer we come to Reenie, the closer we come to the real battle. Usagi is too young for Reenie now." Rei sat before the fire in the temple. She had felt it when it had happened. She already knew that a child was coming. "Please," she asked the fire. "Please do not let it be Reenie this time. Please wait a little longer. I’m not ready for this battle…." Mamoru sat with Usagi at her bed. The baby had only been born two hours ago. So much had happened in the last seven months. The birth of Crystal Tokyo, the building of the palace. And even their own crowning. The whole world was waiting for the birth of this one child and Mamoru still did not know if it was a boy or a girl. The doctor walked in with an impossibly tiny bundle in his hands. Mamoru captured the small bundle in his hands and the first thing he saw was the beautiful abundance of dark black hair. "It’s a boy," Ami said as she stepped in. "You can go, Greg. I’ll talk to them." The young doctor beside her smiled and kissed her on the cheek as he left the room. "Mamoru, I’m only warning you briefly. Your son has been born two months early. He will be fragile for the first few days, so we’re going to keep an eye on him until then. He only weighs four pounds even. That’s very dangerous." "Derren, Derren will be his name. And he will grow to be much more than four pounds, Ami. I can already see it." He kissed Ami on the cheek and then walked back over to Usagi and handed her the small bundle. "He’s beautiful, Usako." "Only as beautiful as you, Mamoru," she whispered as lay beside her in the bed and they fell asleep together with their child. Ami smiled at the beautiful sight and left them there to dream. * * * End * * * Standard Disclaimer: Although I wish they were, the characters in this prologue are not mine. The ownly original character in this prologue is Darren. He is one of my most important characters, so if anyone takes him without asking I will be very put out. I don't care as long as you first ask. Favorite Quote: He who angry for being yelled at, is often actually the one who did think to first ask.... Chapter One Two years old Daddy took my hand, and led the way, Through the lightning bright, I took my arms and folded them, Around his neck, very tight… Mamoru and Darren raced across the yard, Mamoru purposely staying a few feet behind his toddling two-year-old son. Just as Darren almost made it across, Mamoru swept the young boy up into his arms and spun him around quickly. A servant suddenly entered through an archway on the other side of the garden where Mamoru stood. Mamoru looked longingly at his small son. "I'm sorry, Darren," he whispered. "Daddy has some work to do. Do you want to play with Hotaru today?" The small boy shook his head. "I want Daddy," he sniffled. Mamoru looked away from the sad little face. "I'm sorry, Darren. Daddy has to work. You can have anything else in the world." "Mommy?" the boy asked, barely understanding. "Except that," Mamoru said. "You know Mommy's sick with Reenie. Her and Reenie are sleeping." The boy did not understand. Mamoru did not force him to. "Go play with Hotaru, Darren. She's over there, in the roses." Mamoru pointed to the sixteen year old Hotaru who stood picking roses at a bountiful bush. Darren gave Mamoru one more longing look and then raced towards Hotaru. Mamoru sighed in sadness. Ever since Reenie had been born, Usagi had been sick. Mamoru could not tell if it was from worry, or if she was truly sick. All he knew is that she spent all her time with Reenie, and that Darren barely saw her. Once a day, on average. Mamoru slipped his jacket on with his tuxedo. He stepped into the throne room. Many, many people stood there, waiting to see him. Mamoru knew that all those people were waiting for him. The servant gave him a questioning look as Mamoru looked back towards the garden. Mamoru started to step towards the garden when the servant spoke. "Your highness, your presence has been requested. Lady Tomoe Hotaru will care for him adequately. There has never been a problem before. I can send for Lady Aino Minako if you really doubt Lady Tomoe Hotaru's capability." "No," Mamoru said quickly. "Hotaru is far past capable of the responsibility. But the responsibility should still be mine…." "You're highness…" the servant started to say. "Yes," Mamoru said. "I know. I'm ready." Mamoru stepped into the room as all eyes turned towards him and everyone bowed to their knees in respect. Mamoru closed his eyes and wished, as he had wished millions of times before, that everything could just be like it was again. Three years old… The wind swept me up, like Daddy's arms, Then took me by the hand, He led the way, until the day, When the storm did not come again… Mamoru prepared to leave his son again. He turned towards the boy, who was used to the treatment by now. Darren turned to leave towards Hotaru who was picking roses again. Then he saw a boy with her. Mamoru noticed too. He could put Darren onto Hotaru today, knowing she was with someone. Darren didn't think that way. Mamoru tried to think of whom he could leave the boy with. He didn't like leaving Darren with servants. The servants already had to many duties. Makoto suddenly walked up, pulling Mamoru out of the flames. "Makoto!" Mamoru said. "Boy am I ever glad to see you!" "What do you want this time," Makoto asked. She saw Darren running around Mamoru's legs. "You need someone to watch him?" "If you don't mind," Mamoru said with a guilty look on his face. I'm desperate." "You know it's never a problem," Makoto said. "Whenever you need help." Makoto took Darren into her arms. Mamoru walked away slowly and looked back once as he shook his head. He had stopped apologizing long ago. Darren needed him, and he couldn't be there. He shook his head and continued to the throne room. Four years old But sometimes, there's a storm, That we cannot avoid, Sometimes in life, there are things, That just won't fit our molds… Mamoru saw the dirty look Makoto gave him as he deposited Darren into her arms. He knew the look. He had done this daily for the past year. He gave her an apologetic look. He started away from her, knowing she was trying desperately to care for her own baby, while caring for his. He spent the entire day, looking over documents, approving treaties, and planning parties, and until he came to the bottom of the stack the thought never crossed his mind. He understood suddenly. "Damn," he cursed softly. He saw the small invitations he had himself made for Darren's birthday party. He was turning four years old, and the party was in five minutes. "Damn," he cursed again. He looked at his stack of papers. He stood up. He started to leave. A member of his parliament suddenly put a hand on his shoulders. He gave him a meaningful look. "Your highness, there is still much work to be done before you can leave." Anger flooded Mamoru's face. "Don't tell me about work you fool. I'm the king around here, not you. Right now, my son matters more than a ten foot stack of treaties and documents." With that he tossed all the papers from his desk to the floor. He saw servants rushing to pick up the important documents and sorting through the ones that had been taken care of and not. He looked at them. "Don't do that!" he yelled. "Don't clean up my mess!" They looked at him in surprise. "I made the mess and if a single one of you touches it I'll have you're fingers chopped off at the knuckles!" The papers scattered to the floor as the servants rearranged the mess to look like it had before. "Leave it alone!" he yelled. They scattered instantly and left the room. "Everyone get out!" He saw instant scattering as everyone left the room. Suddenly he was alone. He left the room and the mess behind as he went to be with his son. Five years old There are some things, that we can't plan, There are some things that just won't stand. Up to the falls that always come, But you will be there, the only one… Darren sat on Mamoru's lap as he signed more papers. Mamoru sat the other half of the stack onto the corner of the table for later. "Come on, Darren," he said. "Time for dinner." Darren grabbed Mamoru's hand as they headed for the kitchen. Usagi was asleep again. This wasn't unusual. Darren very rarely saw his mother or the three year old Reenie. Reenie was usually sleeping or with Usagi. Mamoru shook his head at the thought. He set Darren on the counter of the kitchen and placed a finger on the boy's nose. Darren scrunched his face, knowing that he was to stay. Mamoru fixed two sandwiches and gave one to Darren after cutting it in half. Darren scrunched his face again as Mamoru laughed. Mamoru picked him up and hoisted the boy onto his hip. Darren laughed as they walked down the hallway and to the boy's room. Mamoru sat with the boy on the bed where they took out his homework while still eating the sandwiches. The kindergarten homework was of course, very easy, but its purpose was more to evaluate though process. Mamoru only watched as the boy sped through each task. "I'm done, Daddy," he said. Mamoru looked. Not only had the boy finished his homework, but he had finished his sandwich as well. Mamoru smiled. "Come on," he said. "Let's go play in the garden." Mamoru's thoughts wandered briefly to the stack of papers on his desk, he shook the though away and went to play with his son. *****End***** To be continued… I'm sorry, this chapter was pretty bad, but I'm a little pressed for time at this point. This chapter was written late one night while I toiled over my ten page English report, so be with me please. I've worked really hard on this story, so please let me know how I can make it better for you. Thanks! Nova Starlett—timmer@hci.net Chapter Two Six Years Old Maybe I worried too much, Took to much for advantage, But you were there, Always to stay with me…. He was a lively young boy at the age of six. Nothing particularly wrong with that except… well, like Serena, he was… a little exuberant. Well, maybe very exuberant. A dangerous mix of Darien’s Chocolate fetish, and Serena’s clumsiness, usually put him to the point of bouncing off of walls and getting stitches at the same time.