Life after Sailor Moon

Enlighten us

By Cindra

Disclaimer: I don’t own Sailor Moon, but I do own this story and all of its original characters.

Notes: I put colons between conversations denoting silent thought between two characters

' and in bold denotes a Heart link between a couple…

italics denotes a characters thoughts

Disclaimer: I don’t own Sailor Moon, but I do own this story and all of its original characters.

Notes: I put colons between conversations denoting silent thought between two characters

' and in bold denotes a Heart link between a couple…

italics denotes a characters thoughts

I decided to try and give everyone a little back story about Darien and Serena's adventure that summer after her High School graduation. Also, Andrew tells all about how long he's known about their secret and we get to find out a little more about the Darien's benefactor Mr. Edwards.

Dinner that evening at Crystal Nucleus

'Poor Mina… They ruined all of her fun.' Sere smothered a giggle, as she sipped her healthy chocolate milkshake.

'She's sulking alright. It's bad form when ones targets finds each other on their own.' Endy smothered his own chuckle.

"Eros. Did you know that Molly has a degree in Natural Medicine and applies her knowledge to several of the treatments that she offers in her Spas?" Sere started up a chat with her cousin.

"Natural healing accelerated my healing process after the accident. It fascinated me so I had to study it." Molly nodded.

"Yes, she's quite the expert at acupuncture, shiatsu, and medicinal Herbology." Endy felt that she was being much too modest, so he described a few of the areas that she excelled in.

"Can't forget that Molly is also a stylist and cosmetologist." Mina jumped into the conversation.

"I like to be hands-on at my place…" Molly blurted out, flushing crimson down to her toes when she realized how that must have sounded to everyone around her.

"Fascinating…" Eros smiled warmly at her, his darkened azure eyes held the promise of something far more sensual than just friendly intentions.

"It's very similar to how I feel about holistic medicine. I would love to confer with you about Avalonian and Tellurian techniques." He added casually, as if his words held no double meaning.

All eyes focused on Molly's wide-eyed flaming red face.

:Marcus, do behave yourself. The poor girl looks as if she might faint.: Kari narrowed her eyes at him, then gave Molly a sympathetic look. "Molly, you must excuse his manners. Eros Marcus is being a bit of a prat tonight."

:Yes, cousin. It is a family occasion and there are little ears about.: Hermes grinned wickedly his cerulean blue eyes danced with mirth. "Marcus will no doubt bore you to tears with his endless passion for healing." He winked at Molly.

"Eros is very dedicated to his life's work." Aaron smirked, highly amused that Marcus had fallen as well. :So, I see that I'm not the only one to have found their destiny on Earth. Mines a firebrand while yours seems quite shy.:

"My mom was extremely dedicated to her own life's work. So I respect that in a person. Gemologists need to be dedicated to their field and her diligence paid off for her in spades. She built her own jewelry empire that spread around the world. She dedicated her life to her work and died doing what she loved." Molly finally found her voice again. It seemed that bonding with Eros had awakened her sleeping Lunarian abilities, so she easily eavesdropped on their silent chat. Shy she most certainly was not.

Eros brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. "They meant no offence, my dove. I'm sorry if they upset you."

"Molly's extremely protective of those she cares for." Ami smiled.

"She's had to be, she practically raised herself since middle school." Sere pointed out what Molly had neglected to add about her upbringing.

"Not true, Rena. I had you and your family to be there for me when I needed you." Molly wasn't used to being in the spotlight or talking about her youth. "Daddy, who was a geologist, died when I was thirteen in a gem expedition in Asia, leaving Momma to raise me on her own. By then her jewelry empire was flourishing and it's not like I wasn't used to being home alone by then. They loved me, gave me everything I needed, but neither of them were ever meant to be stay-at-home parents like Rena's were."

"Mina and Rena were lucky to have scored choice parents like Ellen, Anna, Kenji, and Ted." Lita sighed. "Mine were great while I had them. Raye's dad was a real piece of work. Ami's mom was devoted to her surgical career."

"Mother was wonderful the years that I had her, at least the Senator let Gramps raise me at the temple." Raye sighed heavily.

"I had a nanny until I was thirteen and mother was satisfied that I could manage on my own while she was at the Hospital all hours of the day. Dad was a dreamer. It's a wonder why they ever got married. They divorced when I was three. The irony of it all was that Dad was the only person who could ever make her smile. She secretly collected his paintings for me. But never gave me the letters or gifts that he sent to me for fear that I would dash her dreams of me becoming a Doctor." Ami rarely talked about her parents.

So this was eye opening for many of those listening at the table.

"He left me a sizeable trust when I turned eighteen. I was to use it to follow my dreams. Mother lived to see me off to Harvard, before she died of a sudden massive coronary. After her death I vowed to raise a family as well as practice medicine. It was only after going through her things when I realized the lengths that she had gone to prevent me from ever meeting my Dad again. He had died of a broken heart not long after the 'sweet sixteen' party that Rena's mom had thrown for me. It broke my heart that I never got to know him. He was such a gentle loving soul…"

"Well, I am more than happy to be a surrogate mother for all of my girls." Ellen smiled, in her eyes they were hers the minute Rena had befriended them.

"Ellen, is right. All of you will always be our girls." Kenji loved all of them as if they were his own.

Samuel was home from Harvard University and was getting his first glimpse of the Palace. "Hey, I'm not complaining. Though, it was hell sharing a bathroom at times or keeping the secret of all secrets about your alter ego's. Having babes for big sisters was high on the list too." He grinned. "Being the little brother to the Queen of the Earth… that's life-altering to say the least."

"Sam, why didn't you tell me that they were harassing you at school?" Sere frowned.

"I'm a second year med-school student and can more than handle the sharks or the occasional talk around campus." He shrugged his shoulders.

"It's only now that I'm home that trying to dodge them had been a pain. Mika's doll exhibit is coming up. They had better not mess that up for her…" Sam chuckled when Rosie left her booster seat to cuddle on his lap. "Hello munchkin. All finished eating?" He kissed the top of her head.

"I miss, Uncle Sammy." Rosie yawned as she sleepily rubbed her eyes.

"Me too…" Rafe easily escaped his own booster seat to squeeze in next to his sister on their uncle’s lap.

"I missed you too." He absolutely adored all of his nieces and nephews.

"We miss." The other little ones chorused from their highchairs.

"We want story, Uncle Sammy." The twins pleaded up at him with their expressive blue eyes.

"Story!" The others echoed going as far as to bang their tiny fists on their trays.

"Story time it is then." Sam pushed his chair back and rose with the two of them cuddled in his arms.

"Sam, no Sailor Moon tales please." Sere told him softly.

"Rena, I'm saving those for when they're older." He winked at her. "I'll stick with the classics and fairy tales for now."

"Give us a few minutes and we'll bring the munchkins to the Playroom." Kev grinned.

"Not a problem. It'll take these two that long to choose the story." Sam gladly left the dining room full of couples. It was unnerving being the only one without a date for dinner.

"Poor Sam," Sere sighed, unconsciously worrying her lower lip with her teeth.

"Why's that, my sweet?" Endy brushed a gentle kiss across her brow.

"He's surrounded by couples tonight and Mika has class tonight so he had to come stag." She laid her head on his shoulder.

"He's here for the summer. They'll have plenty of time to be together." Ellen reassuringly patted her daughter's hand. She was over the moon to have both of her kids where she could keep an eye on them.

"Dearest, you're forgetting that Sam is working at the hospital this summer." Kenji reminded her.

"Oh dear, that's right he is." Ellen frowned.

"They'll figure it out. Those two have been soul bonded since pre-school." Molly said.

"Mika will be lucky to squeeze Sam into her schedule, with her taking classes at the University, apprenticing under me, and preparing for her doll exhibit." Michelle was exceedingly proud of her finest pupil.

"Love always finds a way, darling." Justin leaned over to kiss his wife.

"Patience and nurturing perseverance are key as well." Stephen added smoothly winking at his wife.

"Well, some dreams need to be met and fulfilled so that one can focus solely on the love of ones life." Erica found herself being kissed mindless by her man.

"Others sneak off and secretly elope with their prince so as to focus on future careers and the like." Mina pinned Sere and Endy with a lets-see-you-talk-yourselves-out-of-that look.

Sere reigned in her temper and ignored the heated flush spreading to her toes, while Endy choked on the wine that he had downed as soon as that had left Venus's mouth.

*So it's gonna be like that is it, Venus. Well, I can take it as good as you throw it at me.* She none too gently gave her prince's back a few whacks to help him with his coughing. 'Breathe, Muffin. I'll handle Mina.'

'I'm not choking, Meatball Head. I swallowed wrong, so ease up on the pounding will ya. Now as for Mina, well, she's all yours. Feel free to tell-all, but leave out our honeymoon, seeing as half the family as waiting with baited breath to hear what either of us has to say. ' Endy gasped for air, but managed to get out. "We damn well earned that special time that summer…"

"It's alright, Muffin. I'll handle this." She crooned soothingly as she patted his back.

Endy's face turned fire-engine red with embarrassment.

The guys were snickering.

The big-brothers more so than his generals, but it was mortifying nonetheless. "One laugh or cheeky comment and you die…" He croaked out, but his eyes dared them to defy him.

They grinned at him. "Easy Endymion. She's called you that since forever and you teasingly call her dumpling head because of her Lunarian hairstyle."

"If you don't want to hear our side of the story then Endymion and I can adjourn to our wing…" Sere growled, narrowing her eyes at them.

"Ignore those prats over there and get on with the details." Raye growled.

"We'll behave. We promise." The guys winked at her.

"I was eighteen and my parents and Sam were our witnesses. Muffin…" She scowled when Eros, Aaron, and Hermes couldn't help themselves and started chuckling. "I hear that Limbo is quite pleasant this time of year…"

The three men instantly sobered up. "Sorry about that, please continue."

"Endy had been secretly planning with Mom and Daddy for months. They knew that I had my heart set on marrying him much more so than focusing on anything after High School. I had graduated in the top ten of our class. Which had beyond thrilled my parents and my prince…The thing was they also wanted me to continue on with my education, so they came up with a solution, a surprise wedding on my eighteenth birthday. So, Minako, my parents are well aware of that summer after graduation." She couldn't help but smirk at her courts stunned expressions.

Endy had finally managed to find his voice, all be that a little hoarse, again. "By then Dad and I had come to an understanding. She was my life and I hers. We both would give her the world, so we made her wish come true. My sweet was already sulking, because Molly and Melvin had married the week after graduation. Little did she know that they were in on it and it was one of the reasons why I gifted them their honeymoon in the States. Everyone had veered off in their own directions. Ami was settling in at Harvard. Lita was attending the Sorbonne in Paris. Mina was thriving with her skyrocketing idol career. Raye was devoted to Cherry Hill Temple and starry-eyed over her relationship with Chad. All of you were too busy fleeing the nest, to pin down, let alone confide to about our surprise for Serena. The Earth was at peace and had been for years, so you were all free to go off and chase your own dreams."

"Endy, it's alright if you wanna include me. After all, I was your Best Man." Andrew grinned sheepishly, when all of the girls glowered at him.

"So that's why you caved so easily about attending the convention with Mom, Daddy, and me." Lizzie remembered all too well how her brother had barely showed his face all week.

"We were all so relived that you were getting over Rita and taking a much needed break from your studies." Tony Hunter calmly sipped his wine.

"I was thrilled to see you actually smiling again." Meri Hunter smiled.

"Rita and I parted as friends, so our break-up, at least in my eyes, was not nearly as traumatic as all of you thought it was." Andrew rolled his eyes.

"You're mine." Dora blew him a kiss.

"Always, my darling." Andrew went to pull her out of her chair and into his arms, but the growl coming from his little sisters was enough for him to clear his throat and get on with the explaining.

"Medicine had always been my passion. And I was more than content to focus all of my energy on achieving that goal, but nothing could have prevented me from being there for my two closest friends on their special day. I finally got to meet and befriend the four of them. After hearing about all of their antics at Harvard, I was beyond curious to meet the guys that had finally managed to put a few dents into his highnesses all too perfect demeanor." He grinned at the four in question.

"Yeah, well, we were curious to meet the guy who Darien saw as his own brother." Kevin was all smiles.

"Yeah, that and how you managed to stay sane while you mediated their on again off again relationship." Nate smirked.

"It was never boring. No. Actually, it was quite fascinating being the sounding board for the two of them. The hardest part for me was keeping them from finding out that I was all too aware of their secret identities…"

He had everyone's undivided attention.

"I do pay attention you know." He grumbled, narrowing his eyes at their astonished faces. "It's not as if the girls wore masks to disguise their appearances and Dare completely up and vanished after that incident in Tokyo Tower. I stood by helpless watching as Rena moped around for days on end and I couldn’t find any sign of Darien. I knew something major had happened when I got a call from Mr. Edwards…"

Endy arched a brow at him. This was all news to him.

"He was concerned that you had taken ill, so much so that you were missing all of your classes, and weren't answering your phone or door." Andrew took in Dare's puzzled expression before continuing on.

"So I went over to his place and found evidence that he'd tried to patch himself up, but no sign that he'd been there for days. Nearly all of His roses had all died and the ones still alive had turned black. He'd written down a time and place on a note pad that placed him at the scene at Tokyo Tower. He'd even written Zoisite in bold letters below it, even more troubling was that he had left his computer on…"

"You said that I left it at your place…" Endymion frowned.

"After discovering that you were nowhere to be found Mr. Edwards filed a missing persons report. If I hadn't taken your journal and computer, then all your secret identifies would have been blown." Andrew shot him an amused look.

Endy knew that look meant trouble, but was helpless to prevent him from continuing on with his confession. He had very few memories of that time, but from what he had seen in Sere's anime he could only imagine what was coming next.

"Your confusion over Serena and her similarities to Sailor Moon and your princess would have made you out to be a pedophile. She was fourteen after all. Your spare bedroom turned out to Tuxedo Mask HQ. It took me all night to dismantle it. I thought your map of all the Raye Hino stalking incidents was highly amusing. Particularly, the notes on how to explain to her that you were flattered, but felt wrong even holding your hand, and that being around her was like having a pesky little sister. Meatball Head was upset about it and for some reason that bothered you more than you wanted to admit."

"Andrew, what happened to it all? He never had anything near that fascinating in that room after he got his memory back. It was just a boring old study/Guest room." Sere arched a curious brow at him.

"I stored it all in water tight steamer trunks and stashed them in a corner of The Crowns basement. It was all old news. You had very little memories of that time and after that insanely rough patch during the Dark Moon arch of your tremulous romance. I thought it best if it stayed buried. You two were finally happy and the two of you had so little time before you had to go to Harvard…" Andrew found himself hugged by a bawling Sere.

"You're so important to us and all we've ever wanted was for you to finally find your soul mate and be happy." She sobbed against his shoulder.

"Easy, baby sister. I feel the same about all of you. I'd do anything to keep all of you safe during those dark times, even fly halfway around the world to separate Stephen from Rena. If Galaxia hadn't wreaked havoc across the globe I would have ditched Hopkins and been on the first flight out. Planes were vanishing all over the globe, so all flights were grounded. I hadn't heard a word from Darien and Rena's letters were tearing me to shreds. I've never felt so helpless in my life being stranded in the States, while all of you were fighting for your lives, not to mention the Universe. It was all unraveling again and I was helpless to fix it. Let alone explain to Darien's Uncle of sorts that it was pointless to search for his ward when odds were that he was trapped in another dimension again."

"Uncle Michael was all too aware of my alter ego. He had me followed one night during the Death Busters arc in our time as heroes. I found him sitting in my living room calmly downing shots of whiskey when I returned home from the battlefield. I was so exhausted that I hadn't bothered to de-transform. I was already stressed out over how much danger Serena and the girls were in. Add to that there were two new Senshi on the scene. I wasn't all that certain that they were on our side and Renny was back again. So when I saw him I collapsed on the couch and gave in to years of pent up emotion. I cried like a baby for hours and he listened to all that I had to say." Endy sighed able to continue now that Sere was once again cuddled in his arms.

"Gods, it was nice to have someone to sound off on. I trusted him completely. He'd been my mentor for years. After I was all talked out, he finally confided to me that he had been close friends of my parents and had been off the map for years before news of their deaths finally got to him. He had no immediate family of his own and devoted his life to making sure that the youth of the world had bright futures. He had been busy building schools and hospitals in third world countries when my parents had died and since his empire was in good hands was able to keep out of touch for years at a time. He'd wanted to take me back with him to England, but by then I was in middle school and would only tolerate a mentor figure in my life. So he relocated his empire to Japan and devised a plan to keep me under his protection without my ever knowing it. It was no coincidence that made me his heir. Serena had absolutely enchanted him at the party that all of us had attended and he knew her father quite well. Her Dad ran his newspaper and media empire here in Japan. I assured him that we all were pros at fighting evil now and that even during the darkest of times my princess always found a way to save us all from whoever we were battling at the time. That she'd already sacrificed so much already by giving up her life time and time again and without her all of us would be hopelessly lost. She was my life and although it killed me to see her have to fight battle after battle…I knew that without her and the Senshi all would be lost and it was an honor to fight and protect her as Tuxedo Mask."

Kenji was finding this chat highly enlightening. "Hmm…that more than explains his change of heart about how we were to covering our girls and their cleverly masked protector. It was quite a relief for me, as I already was well aware of my Rena's nighttime activities. You see, Sam and I followed you one night thinking that you had developed the habit of walking in your sleep."

"Daddy, you and Sammy could have been hurt." Sere's eyes widened, all of this was hard to take in. "One thing that kept me centered was that all of you were safe at home sleeping in bed."

"Sam was positive that you were actually Sailor Moon, because the resemblance was uncanny. I, on the other hand, couldn't accept that theory. It terrified me beyond words to think that she was the leader of our resident female superheroes or that it meant that Tuxedo Mask could very well be the young man that was vying for my baby girl's heart. I mean, how could I fault the young man who risked his life to protect her?" Kenji continued on.

"Oh Daddy…" Sere sniffled.

"Now, Rena, let him finish." Ellen wiped her own damp eyes with her napkin. "It was all I could do to keep him from sending you off to my parents place in the States."

"I wouldn't have gone. If anything I would have hid out at Raye or Lita's. There was no way that I could ever abandon everyone that I loved. I was more than willing to sacrifice my life in order to save everyone…" Sere frowned.

"Yes, I know that, sweetie, and so did your mother…"

"You knew…" She stared at her mother in wide-eyed shock. "How? When? I was so careful…After Galaxia I didn't have any choice, but before that…"

"Now, Serena, don't get all upset. I've known about your secret identity ever since I found your diary, pouring out all of your feelings, and thoughts about what was impossible for you to ever confide to anyone about, in Sammy's room..."

"It helped that she showed me your diary, which convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were capable of doing anything that you set your mind to, and had already endured more trials and hardships at fifteen than anyone three times your age. It also convinced me that Darien was truly worthy of my baby girl and I trusted him completely with you." Kenji's smile turned wary, as fire lit up his baby girls azure blue eyes.

"I kept it hidden in a locked box in the top corner of my closet under a pile of stuffed toys…" Sere's eyes narrowed to slits at the thought of her little brother being privy to her inner most thoughts for years. "That little brat…"

"Serenity, what was done is done. There will be no repercussions against your little brother, now calm yourself." Shantasia ordered in a soft but firm tone of voice.

"But he…trespassed…read my inner most thoughts…" She was seething mad and ready to throttle her little brother.

"Serenity, you will calm yourself or adjourn to your quarters for the night." Cronos growled softly.

"But… Daddy, it's not right…I risked my neck day in and day out to save the little brat and ensure that he actually lived to see puberty and all that time he was spying at me by sneaking into my room and taking my diaries!! My only outlet to conveying everything that I had bottled up inside me that I never allowed everyone to see… it was private for-my-eyes-only and he had no right to…"

Sam was standing in the archway with the twins in his arms.

"Momma, no be mad at Uncle Sammy." Rosie's tiny voice cut her off in midrant.

"Uncle Sammy, loves Momma. He worries…" Rafe echoed after her.

"I had every right after you saved me and Mika and it dawned on me that you were Sailor Moon. I wasn't an idiot, Rena. It wasn't as if you wore a mask or changed your hair color or signature hair style. You didn't even disguise your voice. None of you did, but then again who is gonna believe that five teenagers were the heroes that were saving all of our skins." Sam passed the twins over to Cronos and Shantasia, so that he could go have it out with his big sis.

"Sam, that isn't a good idea right now, she can and will hurt you." Endy warned.

"I agree with, Endymion," Sel was in full agreement. "If you push her she may very well break her cardinal rule."

"Kid, she's very pregnant. I'd let her be." Trevor added that bit of sage advice.

"This is gonna take a while, but feel free to carry on with desert without us." He ignored their warnings, easily scooped his fuming sister into his arms, and carried her out of the dining room.

"With her in that much of a snit, the kid is toast." Cam kissed Hotaru on the nose and fed her a bite of sinfully chocolate cake.

"Cam, this isn't humorous at all. She really could hurt him." She worriedly eyed the others.

"Well, I'll say this for the kid." Stephen was impressed by the kid’s courage. "He's got guts going toe-to-toe with her when she's in that kind of temper."

"That's not Rena's style." Erica smirked. "It's just not in her to hurt anyone she loves and Renny is living proof of that."

"She's had a very emotional week." Shell laid her head of Justin's shoulder.

"True, but then again when isn't our Rena emotional?" Justin kissed the top of her head.

"She's just reeling over information overload." Lita smirked.

"That's putting it mildly, Red." Nate cuddled his sleeping baby girl in his arms.

"Diary reading is a capital offense in our eyes. Now if it was one of us, well, not so much. I'm so curious that I wanna find them and read them now." Mina had a very determined gleam in her eyes.

"Don't even think about it, V. She's just barely forgiven you for trashing her figurines." Kevin growled softly, as not to wake Kyle.

Next Chapter 18

Well you see…

Cindra©2002-2009