standard disclaimers apply:  I don't own sailor moonor any of the characters related to it, so pleasedon't sue me!

Don't find a fault.  Find a remedy.  - Anonymous
Only the heart can change the heart.Friends are never far apart when they're together inthe heart.
Love doesn't  imprison, it sets you free.
My love for you - that is my only sin. - WilliamShakespeare

Moments

Sitting in front of the vanity mirror, Usagicarefully combed her long, golden hair with one of thefine combs she picked from the drawer.  The comb wasbordered with gold, and it shimmered in thelight.

She had been waiting for this day ever since shecould remember.  Luckily everything had worked outalright.  The white and red roses arrived just in theneck of time.  She remembered how happyshe was when she found out that the florist now hadenough to finish the bouquets for each of the girls,and of course, one for herself.

She smiled slightly as she saw her reflection in themirror.  Her baby blue eyes revealed many emotions,love, happiness, sadness . . . Her ears were alreadyadorned with a pair of pearl earrings and her neckwith a matching pearl choker.

The door creaked slightly before softly closing.Usagi turned her head to the right and smiled.  Behindher stood her mother who was wearing a navy bluechiffon dress, which went past her knees.  Her handwas embellished with a corsage and her shoulder-lengthblack hair was left flowing freely with a few strandscurled.  She smiled brightly at the young womansitting before her.

"Well," her mother started, "today's the big day!"

Usagi's cheeks turned a bright red hue as she bowedher head a little.

Ikuko continued, "I remember the day we brought youhome from the hospital.  You were wrapped up in thatbunny blanket of yours an-"

Ikuko couldn't finish her sentence.  A few tearsescaped her eyes, releasing all the emotions she sworeto hold in.  Usagi too let out a soft sob and ran toIlene.  The women embraced each other in a long, tighthug.

"Well," Ikuko said, "that's enough of that.   Wedon't want to ruin your make up," Ikuko said noticingthat Usagi's mascara started to run down her cheek,leaving behind a fine, black line, "Now,lets see what we can do about your hair, ok?"

"Um, ok Mom," Usagi replied taking off the whiterobe and revealing a traditional white satin weddinggown, that flowed around her like soft white rosepetals, hugging her figure around her hips and chest,giving her an angelic yet seductive look.

Usagi then handed Ikuko the comb.  Ikuko begancombing her daughter's silky blonde hair slowly.  Shestopped for a moment and glanced at the plush couch.Suddenly an idea popped into her head.

"Usa, honey?"

"Hai?"

"I have an idea.  It's a really good one, trust m-"

"I hear a but coming."

"Demo, its gonna hurt a little."

"Just a little," asked Usagi hesitantly, rememberingthe last time, her mother did her hair.  Usagishuddered at the thought.

"I know what you're thinking, but-"

"Demo Oka-san, remember the last time you did myhair?"

Ikuko paused for a moment, her eyes looked up at theceiling hoping it would provide her with an answer.

"Oka-san, you do remember, don't you?"

"Honey, it wasn't that bad-"

"Wasn't that bad?  Oka-san are we on the samewavelength?"

"Ne Usa, just trust me . . . it'll be perfect.  Ipromise," Ikuko assured her with a warm, motherlysmile.

Usagi sighed in defeat, allowing her mother to beginstyling her hair.  Since Ikuko didn't want Usagi tosee what her hair looked like until she was done, sheturned her daughter around, facing her away from themirror.

"Oka-san?"

"One sec honey."

"Demo Oka-san, it hur-ow!"

"Hold still.  There's just a few more strands.There!  All done!"

Usagi turned around and looked into the mirror.  Shewas surprised at what she saw.  Her hair was put upinto a bun with a few locks curled around it.  Shelooked at her mother and smiledapprovingly.  Ikuko helped her up so that she wouldn'twrinkle the dress.  Both mother and daughter huggedonce more while walking to the couch.

Ikuko then helped Usagi with the veil.  It waswhite, just like the dress, but it gave off a faintsilver glow when the light touched it.  Attached tothe veil was a silvery-white tiara, beadedwith silver sequins.  A crescent moon was in thecenter of the tiara. A diamond was placed in thecrescent moon, adding to its splendor.  The tiara wasa family heirloom, passed on from mother to daughterthroughout many generations.

Once the veil was on, Ikuko moved the curledtendrils of Usagi's hair, so that they would frameevenly.  They smiled at each other, holding back a fewtears.

A soft knock broke them out of their thoughts,

"Come in," Ikuko said.

The door creaked open, revealing eight girls, eachwearing similar dresses.  The only difference was thecolor of each. Usagi decided that she couldn't choosejust one color, so she let eachof her best friends choose their favorite color.

"Hello girls."

They smiled brightly and said their hellos to Ikuko. Ikuko smiled at them and turned to her daughter,

"I'm very proud of you.  I'll leave you with yourfriends now.  Your father will be here soon.  I loveyou," with that she hugged Usagi and left the room,closing the door softly shut.



"Ne Usagi, you look great!" exclaimed Minako.

"Hai, Mina-chan is right," Ami agreed.

"Who did you hair?" Makoto asked, stepping closer toinspect it.

"My Oka-san did it," Usagi responded

"It goes perfectly with the veil," Rei said.

"I agree, don't you?" Michiru said turning toHaruka.

"Of course.  Moon face, you look like an angel."

Usagi blushed, "Arigato Ruka-chan."

"Ne, Usagi, you shouldn't be blushing now," Setsunastarted with a sly grin, "you need to save thoseblushes for tonight."

Usagi blushed an even darker shade of red.  Shetried to cover her features with her hands.  The girlsgiggled.  Hotaru looked at them with a confusedexpression on her face,

"Usagi-mama, what are they talking about?" Hotaruasked.

"Minna!  There are children here!" Ami said.

The girls giggled and told Hotaru that she'd findout when she was older.

"Minna, I'm gonna miss all of you!"

"Odango, its not like you're going away forever,"Rei said trying to hide the tears that had welled upin her eyes.

"I know, demo, it won't be the same."

"Usa-chan, we'll see each other often.  We'refriends forever, ne?" Ami said placing a hand onUsagi's shoulder.

"Hai, we're friends forever," each girl repeated,joining Ami.

"Arigato Minna.  I love all of you."

"I sense a group hug coming on," Minako said.

"Alright, just this once," Rei said.

"Rei's right, I mean, I do have a reputation tokeep.  Me wearing this dress is definitely not helpingit," Haruka said.

"I like the dress," Michiru commented.  Harukablushed a bright red hue.

"Group hug Minna!"

"Group hug!"

Another soft knock interrupted the group.  Setsuna,being closest to the door, opened it a little.  Theother girls tried to hide Usagi behind them.

"It's only your dad Usa."

Usagi smiled.

"Is it?"

"Hai, Usa," her father started making his waythrough each girl, "it's time."

Kenji kissed his daughter on the forehead, then oneach cheek.  Each girl left the two alone, allowingthem some privacy.

"Daddy . . . "

"I can't believe how much you've grown!  Sometimes Ithink that you're still the little girl we broughthome from the hospital."

Usagi bowed her head, but her father's hand cuppedher chin, lifting her face up.  Tears were brimminghis eyes,

"I'm very proud of you.  I know that I haven'ttreated Mamoru very well . . . I wanted to let youknow that I like him, he has my approval.  I can seehow much he loves you and I know that he'llmake you happy.  If he doesn't, you come and tell meand I'll take care of him, ok?"

Usagi smiled.

"Ok?"

"Hai Daddy, I will."

"Well then, let's do this.  Poor Mamoru must bewondering what's taking you so long, ne?"

She nodded.  Her father wiped the few remainingtears from her face and brought the veil down,covering her face.  He gave her his arm, which sheaccepted with a smile.  Opening the door, heled her out and waited behind the procession.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A tall young man waited anxiously at the alter asthe procession began.  He could barely hear the organplaying in the background or the comforting wordsbeing spoken to him by his bestfriend and best man, Motoki.

He too had been waiting for this day.  It wasfinally here and he would be with his only love, hissoul mate, his life.

It took them a long time to get together.  Heremembered how they denied their feelings for eachother in the beginning.  What a fool he had been tonot tell her sooner.  But that was in the past and hehad the whole future to make up for that lost time.He would make it up to her, this ceremony symbolizedthat for him.

Each girl walked slowly towards him before takingtheir rightful places on the other side of him.  Theyeach give him a warm and friendly smile.  He somehowmanaged to smile back at them whilethinking of the first time they had kissed.  It wastruly magical.  He hadn't wanted it to end.  Afterthat kiss, he knew that she was the *one*.  The *one*he wanted to spend the rest of his life with . . .the *one* who would love him . . . the *one* who-

He heard the music change and the sounds of peoplestanding up.  He looked up to see the most beautifulsight before him.

Her face was veiled as her father began to walk hertoward him.  He could barely make out her features.He did however know that she is smiling brightly, thesmile she reserves only for him.

She is by his side.  Her father reluctantly lets goof her arm.  Mamoru gives his arm to her.  Sheaccepts.  Her father pats him on his shoulder andslowly walks away, joining his weeping wife and son inthe first pew.

The ceremony begins . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 year later . . .

She let out her long golden tresses.  They cascadedover her shoulders like a waterfall.  Sitting in frontof the vanity mirror, Usagi carefully combed her hairwith one of the fine combs shepicked from the drawer.  The comb was bordered withgold, which shimmered in the light.  She heard thefront door creak open and moved her head to the sideslightly.  She could see the outline of his figurein the doorway as he closed the door.  It creakedshut.  She smiled and continued combing her hair.

Mamoru sluggishly walked into the apartment and shutthe door behind him.  Leaning his forehead on theframe of the door, he sighed out loud.  His shoulderswere slumped and his muscles ached.  He could feel amigraine coming on.  He sighed again, bringing hisleft hand to push the strands of ebony hair that fellover his eyes.

"Ashke," a sweet voice called out, "is that you?"

He left his briefcase by the door and rubbed histemples.

"Mamo-chan?" she called out again.

"Hai, Usako.  It's me," came his reply.

He took his jacket off and tossed it on the diningroom chair.  Next he began to unbutton a few of thebuttons on his white shirt, revealing part of hisbare, muscular chest.  He then loosenedhis tie while walking towards their bedroom.

He reached the door, which was slightly closed,letting a few rays of light creep through the smallgap, illuminating the whitewalls of the hallway slightly.

He opened the door and started saying, "You kno-"

He was cut short by the sight before him.  His wifesat in front of the vanity coming her golden locks ofhair, wearing a sleeveless, lace, light pinknightgown.  She turned to face him andsmiled,

"Ne, Mamo-chan, you were saying?"

Rather than responding, Mamoru walked to her withquick steps and kissed her while lifting her smallform from the chair.  He carried her to the bed, theirbed, headache, backache, everythingforgotten, everything that is, except the kiss.

Usagi reluctantly ended the kiss.  She knew wherethis would end up and she wanted to tell him about itbefore they ended up doing something else.

Mamoru was surprised that she pulled away,

"Usako?  Daijobu ka?"

"Daijobu."

Before Mamoru could ask her another question, shesilenced him with her finger.

"Mamo-chan . . . "

"Hai Usako, what is it?  What's bothering you?"

She looked away from him and stared up at theceiling, "Um, Mamo-chan . . . um, are you hungry?" she saidsuddenly, trying to get up.

Mamoru held her back.  He knew she was trying totell him something.  But, what could it be?  Suddenlyan idea popped into his head, he knew what wasbothering her,

"Usa, does this have anything to do with yourdoctor's appointment today?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Tell me about it," he said softly, coaxing her toopen up to him.

"Um, Mamo-chan, I really don't know how to saythis."

"Just tell me."

"Ok.  Um . . . " she whispered in his ear.

His cobalt eyes widened.  She looked away, thinkingthat he was upset.  Tears began forming, clouding hervision.

He cupped her face with his hand, moving it to facehis.  She brought her sapphire blue eyes to face hismidnight blues.

She gasped.

He was crying.  Tears were flowing freely from hiseyes.  His eyes revealed love.  She wiped some of thetears from hiseyes and hugged him.

"Oh Mamo-chan!  I didn't know how to tell you!  Ididn't know how you'd take it!"

"Usako, I'm going to be a father!  I've alwayswanted a family, not just any family, but a familywith the one I love, a family with you.  AishiteruUsako."

"Aishiteru Mamo-chan."

He then captured her lips in another deep,passionate kiss, showing just how happy he was . . .

================
Japanese Translations:
hai - yes
oka-san - mother
demo - but
minna - everyone
arigato - thank you
ne - right, eh
ashke - beloved
daijobu ka? - is everything fine?
daijobu - i'm fine
aishiteru - i love you


this fic was sort of spur of the moment.  part of itwas from a story i wrote for my creative writingclass.

send feedback!  onegai?  feedback is good.

ja ne!
redrose

=====
~Always~
And now your face lights up the sky
Somehow I feel that you're close by
And when I'm happy you can see
I know you're watching over me...Always
BBMak ~ Sooner or Later