"For Serenity's Sake"
By: Isis @}->--
isis@moonkingdom.com
Rated: G
Disclaimers:  Please do not copy.
AN:  The wrap up and conclusion to another installment of my 
imagination.  Please note, this epilogue is meant to encompass 
several years time.  Dedicated to the dreamers, there are select few 
of us out there, and we have a place… who else can God count on 
to love rainy days and simply need a good book?  ;)


Epilogue
@}->--


Endymion rested his hip against the railing to the first story 
balcony outside of his quarters.  The prince was happy to be back 
to the soil of his birth, yet it felt foreign to him in some way.  The 
experiences of the past week had numbed him badly, and he found 
himself clinging on to some idea of what should have been, more 
than allowing the happens of what was settle in.

The palace was quiet and the wind whistled cold through his 
nightclothes.  And still he stared up at the frozen stars mingling 
their light through the clear ice of the sky.

The battle that took with it both the near insane Council Loki and 
mysterious Lady Styx was still prevalent in his mind… and on his 
conscience.

He was not all that surprised to find that no one had seen Styx, in 
her true form, withholding the blast that was intended to destroy 
them.  None had known how she had accomplished it once they 
found out that it was her powers that had held it at bay enough for 
the core of the explosion to be uncondensed enough to limit its 
power.

And he was not to ever mention what their friend's purpose had 
truly been here, or that her sacrificed was for penalty of using the 
extent of her powers over Time.

Serenity as well had promised to keep her secret and remained 
faithful to that.  Glancing over his shoulder he looked into their 
rooms, ensuring that her door was still closed.  The princess had 
saved the life of her teacher and friend, Luna, by her abilities to 
heal.  And she had come into her own as far as her powers were 
concerned, and grew forward in them readily now.

The Councils of the planets had been aghast at the prospect of one 
of their own driven over the edge and with what could have been 
disastrous consequences.  …Or more disastrous.

He shook his head and looked up to the stars once more.  He could 
not escape Styx's last words, but oddly they did not haunt him, 
instead they gave him hope that her spirit was indeed well.  He did 
not understand the mysteries of her mission, yet he could not 
question her loyalty to them or her obedience to the path that she 
had chosen for herself.

Looking up again, he found, not a bright star, but a patch of blank 
sky, and in that darkness he smiled slightly.  Her domain was 
never Earth, nor even this Solar System.  She guarded all beyond 
that, guarded time itself.  He had nothing to fear for her, or for 
their future.

Turning away he retreated inside; and in the patch that he had 
sighted, there began a faint flicker of garnet light…


The thaw of the spring introduced the Earth's Palace to a warmth 
of heat and color as the snows gave way to the rising temperatures 
and the flowers that dared to peek through the cover of white 
slowly replace it with more intriguing hues.

Though the nights were still cold, the snow had turned to rain and 
when clouds filled the sky of such a night, the rain did not come 
alone…

"Endymion!"

The cry sent the prince from the grips of sleep and to a sitting 
position in his bed only a second before Serenity crashed into him; 
the door that adjoined their rooms just now banging against the 
wall behind it due to the force she had exerted on it.

She leapt onto the bed and headfirst into his arms as another blast 
apparently ricocheted off the castle walls.  Cringing for dear life 
she threw her arms tightly around him and whimpered 
uncontrollably.

"What?" he questioned quickly.  "What is it?  Serenity?"

He cradled her against him as the sound continued from outside, 
this time accompanied by a blast of white light that lit the room.  
She cringed back again and pointed towards the window across the 
bed, too shocked to speak.

He looked to her outstretched hand, tense beside her; yet still 
unsure what it was that terrified her.  Serenity croaked out a 
question, balling herself smaller into his arms, "Are we under 
attack?"

He looked down at her, in the room being lit sporadically by the 
light from the blasts, and the rumble could be heard near 
constantly.  How could he not notice a battle being wagged right 
outside the walls of their protection?

He shook his head slowly and she heard him begin to laugh softly, 
in what seemed like an eternity inside her view of frightened 
energy.  She looked up at him insanely confused, and now 
possibly more frightened.

Yet for his part, Endymion took to holding her a bit more tightly 
and rubbed a hand down her back and a kiss to her hair.  "No, 
there is no attack, Princess," he soothed.

"What is it?"

"It is only a lightning storm."

She looked to him, more confused than frightened.  "What?" she 
questioned, nearly unheard in another wave of the rumbling.

He smiled at her in the bright flashes.  "It is a rain storm.  Nothing 
more."

"Rain?"  What sort of rain would come with such destruction?

He nodded, pulling her close and settling back against his 
headboard.  "Storms are common here, especially during the 
spring."

"But, what is it?"

He pointed calmly at the window and whispered close to her ear.  
"The flashes are lightning, something that you commonly do not 
have on the Moon since your weather is instituted by the calm of 
the Silver Crystal.  As far as any know, it is a force created by the 
clouds rubbing against each other."

She gazed out the window, mesmerized by the thought of these 
forces being natural, and not the destructive energies of what has 
come to be the sole donation of mankind to creation.  She could 
not turn away, but her hands still clung tightly to her husband.

"The sound is called thunder, it is now being described as the 
direct result of these flashes of energy."

Serenity barely heard his words as a mounting crash smashed into 
them, possibly shaking the foundations of the castle.  She turned 
from her trance and buried her head into the covers, wrapped 
haphazardly around his frame.

Endymion pulled the remainder of the covers up around her and 
held her fast, smoothing her hair and pecking a kiss here and there 
along her head.  "It can not harm you, Princess," he whispered to 
her, using his often-said pet name to sooth her.

She glanced up again, his words striking her.  "No?"

He shook his head slowly as more light poured through the 
windows.  "You are perfectly safe here."

She glanced around her again and settled back against him, wide-
eyed and frightened but more calm.  Perhaps, there truly was 
nothing to fear.  Yet each time she thought that, another roar of 
this "thunder" ripped physically through her.

Each time she would cringe, and Endymion would pull her a bit 
tighter or rub a hand along her neck, to sooth her.  And once she 
quieted her heartbeat enough, she heard his, slow and calm, 
unruffled by the developments of his planet's weather.

Slowly the noise diminished to infrequent busts, yet each time she 
thought to remove herself from her guardian's care a blast sent her 
heart-rate soaring.  Her nerves were trembling and her eyes were 
dry, yet he held her close and allowed her sporadic questions on 
the nature that now terrified her.

Realizing this, Serenity rose herself from his arms just a bit and 
looked up at him.  "I am sorry…"

"For what?"  He tipped her chin up a bit farther.  "I should 
apologize for not having versed you on this before."

She shook her head, "You underestimate the type of coward I am."

He chuckled at her, not very strong, joke and hugged her once 
more, finding her hand in the wad of covers and bed sheets.  He 
slid over to the opposite side of the bed and tugged at her hand to 
come with him.  "There is only one way to rid yourself of that."

She shook her head furiously once she discovered that he meant to 
lead her towards the window.

He nodded again and held her hand fast, but waiting on her to 
finished crewing her bottom lip before slowly following.  She 
realized now that her lip mildly hurt and, she was sure, slightly 
swollen as well from her nervous biting.  She truly would have to 
break herself of that habit…

He padded over to the window that still slowed flashes of light and 
the rumblings were distanced a bit now, but still grudgingly 
frightening.  Endymion led her before the window and wrapped 
his arms around her, calmly standing her before the glass and the 
elements outside it.

The flashes, she now saw, emanated from the clouds seemingly so 
low in the sky.  The waves of light crawled along their lumpy 
surfaces and etched out patterns that, had she not been so numbed, 
would have caused a greater sense of wonder than fear.

Yet off in the distance a line of light, branched and forked in many 
places, slashed like a knife from the sky to the ground of the 
horizon.  A second later, the quick burst of an explosion 
ricocheted around them.  Serenity pressed back into her husband's 
care and he cradled her tightly.

"That is sky to ground lightning.  It has been known to cause some 
mischief, but normally it is more show than fight," he whispered 
aside her ear.  "It is nothing to fear, yet I warn you never to be 
caught without on such a night."

She nodded solemnly that she would never attempt that adventure.

He led her back to the bed and let her sit down.  "Are you all right 
now?" he asked, kneeling down next to her in the light-studded 
dark.

"Yes," she mumbled shakily.  And by the quiet she knew he did 
not believe her.  "Truly, I will be well."

He chuckled and rose to place a kiss on her forehead, "Then why 
do I still feel a desperate fear from you?"

She sighed hopelessly, how did she lie to someone that could feel 
her emotions?  "Perhaps, but I have taken up enough of your rest," 
she commented.

"Indeed."  He scooted her over and crawled into the bed beside 
her.

She was surprised at the move and she now found herself rather 
shamed at having spent so much time within his bed already 
without even thought of it.

He curled the covers up again and glanced at her, pulling her chin 
over to look at him.  "Stay here tonight."

Serenity did not know what to say, it was not as though they were 
not married, yet they were fully without relations…

"You will never get to sleep alone and you are still frightened."  
He smiled at her, "Allow me the honor of your protection, 
Milady."

He bowed just a bit and she could not help but smile at his 
warmth.  "I should not impose," she muttered though.

"No imposition, I would just like you to feel safe."  He hugged her 
lightly and she fell warmly into his embrace.

"If you so insist, my Prince."

He lowered them to the mattress snuggled the covers close.  She 
felt a bit unplaced again and wondered at the properness of the 
situation, yet with the receding sounds of the storm, she did feel 
safe still wrapped in his arms and within these walls.  She felt a 
blush rise to her checks as she noticed for the first time that both 
her and her husband were clothed in much less than they had 
previously seen each other in, and she became rather thankful of 
the dark.

The thoughts continued, yet she slowly began to slip off, 
comfortable as she was against his side, and her worries for the 
future also began to melt away as she would look back on this 
from time and again.


The darkness penetrated everything, and was everything.  Deep 
and cold in a place outside of existence, two figures stood in this 
emptiness filled with all that they knew.

A circle of light illuminated by images held within its spherical 
frame.  They spiraled rapidly, projecting a loop of snap-shots of a 
singular couple; a young woman with long blond hair, and a man 
cloaked in armor.

The visions continued to play without pause as they reflected the 
pair, here dressed and dancing at a ball, here atop a horse in the 
countryside of Earth.  Once it showed them wrapped within a 
blanket, just kept from the rainfall outside the shelter of the 
overhang of the balcony above them.  Another flash illumined 
them back-to-back in a makeshift argument.

Several hundred moments flew by in the timeless instance of these 
two figures… yet it came to pause upon a scene frozen in the 
second of a flash of lightning.  The two lay curled together, 
wrapped under covers in soft sleep.

"God grant that they shall last," came a soft feminine voice from 
the keeper of space.

The other remained, silent and watchful.

Looking to the other the first asked, "Will you be this subdued 
when you meet him again?"

Lady Pluto turned to regard her.  "Time has a way of altering 
things, and it shall be the one to tell."  
Without farther comment the other walked away, headed once 
more for the cold outer rim and to her waiting rest.

The other looked after her before turning once more to the globe 
still before her.  With a flicker of her hand the ball extinguished 
itself in a bust of light and the black of night was only interrupted 
by a formless voice.  "And once in motion, a force shall forever 
remain in motion."


Kunzite looked up from his book as someone walked into the 
library.  The ball was still in full display, yet Mina happily 
wondered into the dimmer lit sitting room.  Flipping her long 
golden hair back behind her she walked forward, clasping her 
hands behind her back.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of the Social Light visiting me?" 
he asked setting his book aside.  She stopped before him, still 
draped in her formal gown.

"It is my duty to ensure that you do not skip out on your duties," 
she said easily.

He frown up at her, "What would that be?"

She blinked a few times, realizing that her joke did not seem to 
work.  "Well, to attend these functions of state," she mumbled, 
more to the floor than to him.

"I see," he said, eyeing her playfully.  "Would that be because the 
prince would like to see me there, or because you would?"

She looked up at him, a bright blush busting in her checks.  
Stuttering she lost eye contact again as she found the floor tiles did 
not have her script written on them.

Kunzite rose from his chair and, smiling, tipped her chin up to 
look at him.  "I am hoping for the latter," he mumbled.  Before she 
could gain herself for an answer he lowered his lips to hers to 
quiet them.  The initial shock wore away quickly as he heard a 
dreamy sigh before she sweetly kissed returned his lips' visit.


Minerva smiled triumphantly at the young woman beside her as 
the two made their way quickly away from the prince's quarters.  
Ida, the child-maid of Princess Serenity, giggled along happily 
beside the elder servant of the Earth's court.  The two were not 
prone to eavesdropping, yet they had ears, surely the wish was to 
not allow their disuse…

"The princess would think of having us both flogged should we 
mention this to anyone," she sighed as they dismounted the stairs 
from the young heirs' second story wing.

"Indeed, I believe Endymion would allow her the spectacle," she 
muttered between chuckles.

The two continued to laugh their way along the corridors, now in 
search of such friends as would be interested in hearing what two 
old and two young ears had to say…


"It is impolite to spy upon your friends," seemed to be the only 
thing Ami had to say as she was tagged along behind Lita, Zoicite 
and Nephrite.  Yet she was being physically dragged by Lita as 
they follow, nonchalantly, behind the two generals.

"Come on Ami, they have been out here for hours, they could be 
in some sort of trouble."

"We would know if there was trouble," she commented 
practically.

Zoicite circled back around and placed an arm around her waist.  
"Come now, we will only ensure that they are all right," he 
soothed.

She was still unsure of sneaking around, looking after their lieges, 
yet she found a blush to her checks at being carried along by the 
general.

The group came to a crossing in the gardens and Nephrite snagged 
onto Lita's arm, calling her back from the front of the group to 
creep up behind a bush.  "I would not have figured you for the 
type to play pranks like this, General Nephrite," Lita commented, 
giggling as lightly as possible.

He smiled a bit at her, "In truth, neither did I."

The four chuckled over their goofiness, yet they continued to inch 
forward until the group was in earshot of two voices.  They paused 
to listen for a few moments, unable to catch any good gossip, and 
only managing the weather report and a few varied accounts of the 
flowers nearby.  The group slowly slinked away again.

"That was almost dejecting," Zoicite commented as they left 
again.

"It was simply not right of us."

At that Lita spun around, arms crossed and rolled her eyes.  "Oh 
come on," she sighed.  "We are made to live lives, not look at 
them!"

Ami held to her proper position and simply folded her hands in 
front of her, lowing her eyes and preparing a lecture.  "I just do not 
think—"

She squeaked loudly as she found herself picked up bodily from 
the ground and placed in the arms of Zoicite.  Looking up she 
found herself nose to nose and inches from his crystal green eyes.  
"We are going to have to teach you to be a bit more lively."

The other two laughed at the sight and he carried her easily 
towards the fountain, central to this area of the rose garden.  
Seeing this she clutched onto his neck, determined not to be 
dumped off.  "You would not!"

He chuckled, "Of course not."

She sighed, relieved.

"But I have wondered how far your manipulation over water 
goes."

She smiled sweetly, and found an evil idea plant itself in her mind.  
It would be his own fault for being such an influence.  "Only as far 
as I need them to," she commented.

He looked at her oddly, and was rather unprepared for a splash of 
the fountain to rise up and dump itself over the top of his head, yet 
barely dampening her.

His ponytail was soggy, and once he reopened his eyes, his bangs 
were draped over them and dripping.  She could not help but laugh 
at his expense, yet helped to remove the hair from his eyes.  Yet 
without warning, and with one hand not supporting her, she found 
herself dropped from his arms into those of the fountain they were 
beside.

The cold of its water sprung a shiver up her back and she shrieked 
beside herself.

Even at that, Zoicite was quick to offer her a hand to rise from the 
water, and once soggily on her feet again; he wrapped his hands 
over her shoulders, laughing uncontrollably.  "I am sorry," he 
mumbled between bouts of chuckles, and for reason she was not 
sure of, she returned his laughter at their predicament.

The other two continued to laugh uncontrollably, Lita holding on 
to Nephrite's arm to keep herself upright.  "Of course you know 
what this means," she managed to him.

"What?"

Leaning up she showered over him an avalanche of leaves, picked 
up from a newly racked pile behind them.  "We can not allow 
them to outdo us!"


A quiet blanket of snow covered the winter ground.  Its quilted 
patterns overlay small bushes and trees tucked in for the long night 
of their peaceful sleep.  The dim winter quiet permeated the air 
and hung in the heavy drapes of clouds above; promising more 
snow once the night's cold was sufficient.

Nothing disturbed this white loneliness…  Except for a few flying 
snowballs.

"Oh!" Rei squeaked, as she fell over, off balanced by the sudden 
splat of frozen water against her muffed right ear.  Toppling over, 
her aim was thrown off and her shot at the now-ducking Lita went 
wide.

"Come on, Pyro, too cold for you?"

The fallen princess picked herself up, dusted off the snow, and 
glared ice cycles at her offender, who for his part stood a ways 
away, bouncing a prepared ball up and down in one hand.  "That is 
princess to you, General Jadeite."  Walking slowly forward with 
one hand on her hip she continued to glare at his mockingly 
smiling face.  "Of course if you would like me warm things up a 
bit I would be more than happy to," she added.

He nodded happily as she slid up next to him.  "Oh would you, 
Princess?" he asked leaning his check down towards her for a 
peck.

"Of course," she mumbled, hopping up on one toe and promptly 
bringing her other hand up to knock his remaining snowball, hand 
still attacked, to smash into the side of his face.  "I am said to be 
the Queen of Cold Shoulders," she sighed happily and walked 
back towards the fray, spinning just fast enough for her length of 
black hair to whip past his face as well.

"Funny," the other mumbled, wiping the wetness from his face, "I 
thought I was the one that gave you that title."

Endymion and Kunzite stood slightly behind this whole scene and 
neither could help but laugh at their comrade.  They continued to 
laugh at the sight of five royal princesses throwing snow at each 
other.  And of course, Jadeite was not the only one that had been 
lead into the fray either.  Zoicite was right at home in the snow 
and was more than happy to show the girls a few strategies.  
Nephrite likewise had been carried out by an insistent Lita, who 
somehow had become a favorite target.

And acting as a protector he was not fairing as well either.  
Coming from a section of Earth that, like Kunzite's home, never 
saw snow, he was doing all he could to keep both of either heads 
down.  The prince and the high general had so far been able to 
avoid being drug into this little war, yet they were not going to last 
long either.

A surprise attack was launched from behind as they had been 
absorbed by Jadeite's terrible flirtation display.  Two snowballs 
flew out of nowhere to land upside either of their heads.

Two figures, nearly indistinguishable in the overstuffed coats and 
makeshift pants, blond hair spilling from around the hoods, 
giggled merrily.  The two men wiped snow from their faces and 
looked at each other hopelessly.  "You realize that they do not 
believe that we will retaliate, correct?" Kunzite asked quietly.

"Correct," Endymion responded.  "But neither of them realize how 
frosted I am just standing here."

The two nodded, and while their opponents were distracted, they 
attacked.  Kunzite scooped up a handful of snow and narrowed the 
gap between them too quickly for Mina to run far.  Catching her 
arm he spun her around from her gasped flight and threw the 
powdery snow into her face, bracing her from falling over 
afterwards with a supportive arm around her back.

Endymion never bothered picking up the pillowing fluff, he only 
caught Serenity by the waist and spun her around.  A decisively 
too quick movement that left them off balance and waveringly 
landed them in the nearest bank.

Endymion heard Serenity mumble something and looked up to 
find her pulling herself upright, white powder cascading off of her 
face as she had landed right side down into the mound.  The prince 
could do nothing but lie there and laugh at the sight she made, 
brushing her already red checks off with the sleeves of her coat.

Hearing him laugh at her she promptly smacked him with her 
sleeve as she shook her head to get the snow out of her hair.  He 
continued to laugh as he pushed himself up to one elbow and used 
the other hand to brush her bangs back from her face.  Her nose 
and checks were both cold and red, yet she smiled at him 
warmly…  Warm enough to melt his heart that much more.

A small snow-shrouded bush hid them from view of most of the 
still rampaging others and he could not help but see them as 
secluded enough.  Looking up into those two beautiful blue eyes 
that he had come to know more deeply than his own, he carefully 
leaned up towards her, using the hand he held on her chin to bring 
her down to meet him.  She giggled a bit at the move, but did not 
back away as he met her lips to his, warming the frostbite from 
them both in a sweet embrace.  Releasing her lips he rubbed his 
nose over hers, her breath warm on his check.  Giggling 
hysterically she backed away, rubbing her nose with her sleeve 
again, as though the cold had amputated her hands.

Slowly he picked himself to his feet, helping her up as well, but 
not letting go.  With the others still chasing themselves around the 
once proud gardens, he pulled his wife into a warm hug and she 
willingly snuggled in close.  "You were not suppose to retaliate," 
she muttered.

He laughed again, "I know."

With her hood partially folded back from the surprise attack he 
pecked a light kiss on her hair.  Placing his chin on her head he 
noted a snowflake fall gently down in front of his eyes.  Looking 
up he could see that it had started in again sooner than they had 
expected, probably attempting to make up for the damage that the 
group had done to the beautiful landscape it had created earlier.  
Looking around he was tempted to call the rest of them inside for 
the night, yet he found no one near…

He did not get the chance to figure out where they had gone before 
a full barrage of flying snow hit the two of them from all sides.


"Is there a reason that you must be so persistent?"

General Jadeite followed the red-cloaked woman out onto the 
balcony of the Moon's Imperial Palace and continued to pester the 
young woman.  "I simply asked you for your hand in a dance, 
Milady."

She spun back with an annoyed gurgle.  "For the last time, 
General, I am not interested."

"No?" he questioned looking hurt.  She spun away; nose tilted a 
bit too high as she walked on.  He followed with a smile.  "But 
perhaps I am?"

"I do not particularly care."

Her haughty voice only led him on as Jadeite continued his 
frequent bickering with Lady Rei.  She was the only person that he 
had come to know that could always return his banter, never 
faltering to have a comeback.

He had no doubt that he annoyed her, but in truth the few times 
that he had resolved to lessen his attempts at gaining her interests, 
he found himself wrapped in a conversation just as vibrant, and 
usually by this lady's fault.  Perhaps wishful thinking, yet he could 
not help but try his hand at this woman… time and again as it was.

She glanced behind her to see him still following along, taking in 
the scenes of the night while tagging in her footsteps.  And she just 
as quickly turned back around, throwing only a "Will you quit 
following me?" back over her shoulder.

He chuckled, and stepped up his pace to stride beside her, "Do you 
mean me, Princess?"

She did not even flutter a response as she sidestepped onto a 
downward stairway and away from him again.  He did not follow 
but instead turned back the other direction and prowled along her 
path above her as she made her way through the beginnings of the 
garden just below this balcony.

She paused at a small bench and turned to look behind her, yet 
found no one there.  Looking more curiously around her she still 
found no sight of him and seated herself with a sigh on the stone 
directly beneath Jadeite's feet.

"Why might I be so cursed by that man?" she asked herself aloud.  
Shaking her head she looked back again and still finding no one 
she giggled to herself and leaned back upon her hands, looking up 
at the sky with a happy sigh and smile touching her lips…  Only to 
have that smile washed quickly away.

"Cursed indeed," he muttered indignantly, staring openly at her.

With a growl she jumped up to her feet and then surprised him by 
bounding up atop the bench she had been seated on to rise to a 
height just above that of the railing he lounged against.  "Is there a 
specific purpose why you are incapable of leaving me be?"

Pausing thoughtfully, Jadeite tapped his finger against the stone 
rail before quite straight-facedly stating, "No."

She slapped a hand atop his tapping finger to quiet it and 
threatened to turn away.  Catching her hand though he stopped her 
and she wheeled back to him on being restrained.  "Although, I 
could be forced into submission, should the lady allow me only 
one dance this evening," he smoothed over, attempting a quick 
peck on her hand, though not making contact before she yanked it 
away.

"Why should I want such a thing as that?"

"To get rid of me?"

She laughed heartily and stood up to face him fully, "I do believe I 
was told that before."

"Yes, but that only lasted for one night."  He bowed his head to 
lounge it against his hand held by the elbow on the railing and 
smiled at her.  "How should a man be able to content himself with 
just that for the rest of his lifetime?"

"Your lifetime may be shorter than you anticipate, General."

There was no fire behind her words, but it was that argumentative 
indifference that he was truly growing very fond of.  "Then you 
would not disallow a dying man a last wish, would you?"

She rolled her eyes and swished her long shadow of hair behind 
her.  She leaned forward against the railing and gazed up at him a 
moment.  "What wrong did I do you in a past life to make you 
hunt me like this?"

"No wrong," he smiled, settling lower in his stance.

"Then you simply enjoy these arguments?" she questioned 
indignantly.

"Of course," he answered honestly.  "One of the best of your 
features…" he muttered, taking in her, and the bright earthlight he 
was slowing becoming accustomed too.

Her dubious expression softened slightly but she laughed at him 
just the same.  "I am so thrilled that you noticed."

"Always," he smiled, lowing his chin to his crossed arms above 
the railing, looking her directly in the eye.

She seemed surprised by his switch of tactics, but she was no less 
without a comment.  "Is there not someone else that you could 
take your 'affections' out on?  Why am I so singled out?"

He smiled, still gazing her, wondering just the same thing.  He had 
never imagined being so knotted by a single woman… but none 
also had those perfect violet eyes.  "Because you have an answer 
for almost everything," he said instead.

She blinked, "Just almost?  It seems to me that—"

He nodded, and leaned in closer over the rail that separated them 
before allowing her to finish.  "Let me just test it," he whispered, 
before he thought of his actions, and leaned in; brushing her lips 
with his in a small kiss.

Pulling away he looked up to see her eyes wide and stunned.  
Realization clicked in his head a few seconds too late and he 
leaned back.  He had just committed what would be a high treason 
against a maiden of her years without her consent.  Violating his 
soldier's protocol was not the foremost care on his mind as he 
looked back at her unblinking stare, realizing that that simple kiss 
was completely unbidden and unreturned.

"Rei," he muttered, tearing his eyes away, "please forgive me…"

"Forgive you?" came a breathed question.

He looked back down at her, swallowing hard.  To his surprise she 
held a smirk to her lips and a glimmer in her eyes.

"Why should I want to do such a thing as that?"  He shook his 
head absently and she stepped up on tiptoe, placing her hand on 
his shoulder to being him closer, "I always have a come-back."

Sliding her hand up to his neck she brought him closer yet and 
rose to meet her lips to his again.  Shocked it took him a moment 
to register everything before he raised an eyebrow, closed his eyes, 
and kissed her back.


The snowfall continued lightly though the early evening and into 
the night, yet Endymion stood a moment at the balcony door's 
glass and studied the flakes' reflection in the guard-post fires that 
lit the outer edge of the castle wall.  They spiraled slowly down in 
a serene pattern that somehow calmed every soul beneath their 
originating clouds.

He smiled to himself and glanced back into the room, with its fire 
burning warmly and the night's pressure to rest settling heavily.  
His young wife still sat perching on the sofa, wrapped round with 
a blanket and curled up before the fire.

…Serenity…  That one thing was for what he truly lived.


@}->--_____________
"Take away love and our earth is a tomb." - Robert Browning

"A psychiatrist is a person who will give you expensive answers 
that your wife will give you for free." - Chad Woerner


Ending Author's notes:

Well, yet again I bid you farewell, but invite you to write to me 
any time.  I am entering my last years of college and do not know 
if I will be able to continue writing.  <sniff>  Although I love this, 
and am truly amazed at the people that I have been able to talk to 
through this universe, this may be the last work that I am able to 
do… at least for a while.  I am hopefully going to get my web 
page out of mothballs and put up, and another mixture type story 
put together, but I do not know yet.

For any developing information I have a profile set up at Yahoo! 
with any forthcoming info.
   profiles.yahoo.com/isis_cw
BTW, alternate e-mail address is 
   isis_cw@yahoo.com
in case you have any trouble with my normal one.  I thank you all 
for reading through this and I pray that my writings have helped 
you in some way (at least as a combat to boredom!)  I am also 
available for any consultation, I just love mail!  ;)

If this is my final work, I thank all of you sooooo very much for 
the wonderful experiences I have had.  God bless.

Sayonara,
Isis @}->--

copyright January 3, 2001.

"My books are water; those of the great geniuses are wine. 
(Fortunately) Everybody drinks water." - Mark Twain

"I have never written a thing; I have only been privileged enough 
to have been able to read a few things before anyone else."  - 
Carolyn Weber @}->--