* Happy Saint Valentines everyone! I rushed to correct it so to post it today, so please bear with me if there's more mistakes than usual.
Yayyyy last chapter! Enjoy! and PWEASE leave comments of what you like and didn't like about the story. It would really mean a lot to me and help with my future stories.

Late Night Escape

Chapter 11

She bent to pick up her sailor scout uniform, turning her back on Darien. As much as she wanted to think their night together had been a mistake, she couldn't. She wouldn't regret it. She loved him. Back then for sure, and it was starting to bloom in the deep dark recesses of her heart now. She knew it at this point. But that didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Darien pounced off the bed, his strong arms engulfed her, forcing her movements to stop.

"Why Serena?" He didn't plead, he didn't argue; he used the same matter of fact tone her own voice held. Even though everything inside was screaming. The fear, the paranoia of losing her at the forefront of his thoughts, his being. His worst nightmare was happening all over again.

"I am the guardian of this solar system and every single life on this planet. Protecting this world is now my responsibility!" She turned on him, twisting in his grasp unphased. "Wielding the crystal comes with a price and I do it willingly. My mom gave up her life to save this world, and that might be asked of me one day…"

Pointing to the bed where their locket rested, Darien didn't miss a beat. "I realize that, I wield one too now that my father is dead! Or have you forgotten? What makes you think you're bound to die!?"

"Isn't it obvious!? The Negaverse is still around! So is Metallia. Beryl…" Her face held contempt, her voice aggravation and a twisted sense of amusement as she confronted him.

"Serena, the same thing will not happen again," he snapped. "I didn't fool around with women this time around. I've been faithful to you!" God he wanted to shake some sense into her but he wanted to beat his past self even harder. "They might still be around, but we're better equipped to face them this time. Together. Plus, you have the other scouts to help. The Negaverse is weaker than they were before. Your mother made sure of that. She did it so we could have this chance."

"No Darien, she gave me this chance! To finish what she started!" Serena didn't want to feel his touch, couldn't stand his proximity. He was her kryptonite, her one downfall. "The crystal might take my life in exchange for defeating the Negaverse as it did with my mom..." Why couldn't he understand. Why couldn't he just let her go? "If that's the case, you will be left alone! I want you to find love and peace in this lifetime; get married, have kids, become a doctor…" Her voice chocked as the emotions and revelations suffocated her as she turned to reach for her clothes again. "I don't want you to get killed in front of me again… It was too painful to watch last time! That's why its better if we don't get into this."

"Don't get into this!? Don't get into this?!" He twisted her around fast, kissing her ruthlessly. "We're already in this, Serena! I love you. Not Endymion! Me! And I'm not going to lose you again! I don't plan on getting married or having kids or that picture-perfect scenario if you're not going to be in it Meatball Head! Do you even hear yourself, seriously!?"

Serena just gapped at his angry explosive outburst.

"I haven't stayed by your side for four years just to give up because of maybes or possibilities of danger. I wanted to protect you when you first started fighting in this life. Fuck! It pissed me off! You had to do it all on your own! I could only come and shield you!" His anger suddenly deflated, resignation painting his handsome features. "Now I understand why. It was to prepare you…Prepare both of us… But I'm staying by your side! I'll shield you. I'll support you!"

Spinning around, he grasped the locket and trust it between them. "See, our crystals have joined in our promise. Yes, we screwed up last time. God knows I screwed up, but I will make it right in this life time!" Pitching the locket back onto the bed, Darien picked up Serena and threw her back onto the bed beside it. "So stop acting high and mighty. You're still just a girl in this lifetime and you deserve to be loved and cherished for. Just because you're Sailor Moon and the Silver Crystal's bearer, doesn't mean you have to give up on life! What is there left to protect if you let go of everything and everyone? Of what we have?" Climbing next to her, he kissed her with all the frustration, exasperation, fear, love and hope he felt unchained. "If you need to be selfless, then I'll be selfish for both off us."

As his kisses heated her body, she understood why she had wanted to run away, why she had wanted to fight it. He had been the reason she had killed herself in her last life. He was the reason for all the trouble. She needed to be strong and noble like her mother, it all depended on her.

But then how to explain the locket? Her crystal shouldn't be joined with his stone…

Darien touch reminded her that he was also the source of a love rarer than the most precious stones. Fate had a twisted sense of humor! What were the odds of them meeting again, falling again, doing this same dance all over again?

"Serena, darling. I am more mature in this life time. You're older. We're wiser…" He coaxed, mumbling anything that crossed his mind between kisses. "We won't let history repeat itself." Cupping her face in his steady assured hands, his indigo stare held hers. "We'll make this work." Another kiss followed before he rested his forehead on hers. "I can't… I won't lose you again!"

A sudden shrill noise broke the tenseness filling the room. Serena took a moment before she reached into her sub-pocket, taking out her communicator. Avoiding Darien's awaiting reply, she popped open the screen only to be met with the sight of four scouts and two cats in disarrayed states of sudden wakefulness. Keeping the screen high, a blush formed across her cheeks down to her chest. Maybe she should have gotten dressed before answering…

Everyone seemed nervous, fidgety, unsure of what to say.

"Um… Sereni… Ehh.. Ser…" Artemis began, his usual decisive scornful nature very muted.

Snapping out of her shock at her leader's frown, Luna blurted: "Our memories have returned. We wanted to know if yours came as well and if you knew the reason behind it?"

"Yea! And our foreheads started glowing in the middle of the night! Then our crystals appeared. And… And," stammered Venus, holding her crystal in front of the screen.

"Yes, I remember everything and as for why… Umm…" Nibbling her bottom lip nervously, Serena debated on how much should she reveal.

But as she debated, Darien kissed languorously her shoulder before wrapping his arms around Serena's waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. And judging by the expression of her friends faces, they had witnessed it. The deep blush that had covered Serena's faced turned scarlet. Oh, the humility of being caught like this. The passed Queen would turn in her grave if she knew…

Lita held a very satisfied knowing smirk. Mina was barely holding in a loud girly giggle. Rei was in shock at her best friend's boldness. Ami was blushing probably as much as Serena. But Luna's and Artemis's expressions were by far the best; their mouths gapping wide open, as if unhinged!

"The princess and I remember everything, but we'll discuss the how's and why's with you tomorrow. Now, we bid you goodnight." Even everyone coming to attention at his imperial tone was quite comical. But Darien didn't wait for replies as he closed the communicator, flinging it to the floor. Pulling Serena down onto the bed, he pulled the covers over their still very naked bodies.

In the dim light from the hallway, he watched as she debated for a millisecond about what to do, only to snuggle right against him. Burying her blushing face into his side, she muttered angrily and very incomprehensively into the mattress.

But his intense stare didn't waver. The question still hanging in the air.

"Stop hiding bunny," but she refused to look at him, burying her face even tighter against his side.

"I'm not…" came the muffled reply.

"Then?"

"Wen wat?" Her reply even more inaudible.

How could his little bunny be embarrassed at this point. Headstrong, sure. Cold in seconds, checked. Tease and drive him crazy when it suited her, of course. But shy? "Meatball head!?"

"Ok... ok." Her face popped up, pouting.

"Ok?" He probed teasingly. Only to have her look away. "There's no reason to be shy or embarrassed?"

That got her attention as her cute pout turned to a frown. "Shy? Emba… What the hell are you talking about Jerk?!"

Grabbing her swiftly, he pinned her down to the bed, resting his weight on her. Well, there was a way to get her defenses down, to get her to answer. His lips were at her throat in seconds, kissing down until he was fondling and licking at her breast. His cock brushed against her core, teasingly, keeping that pleasure she was slowly getting addictive to just out of reach.

"That's cheating Asshole!" she moaned out as her legs wrapped around him instinctively, trying to get him closer. This man was really the work of the devil sometimes.

"Lil bunny," nibbling on her bottom lip, he pulled back before she could deepen the kiss. "All you have to do is give in," he whispered to her ear. "Then I'll give you what you want."

'Definitely the work of a devil!' she thought defiantly. Serena slowly slid her hands up his back until she grasped and yanked hard on his hair. Biting his collar bone got her the respond she wanted. Darien lifted his weight to the side, allowing her to flip him until she was sitting on him.

"Alright, ok… But I have to get home before sunrise or my parents will kill me!"

Saturday evening found the arcade in a buzz and crowded near the rear booths. Surrounded by a group of youths, Mina and Rei lay sprawled on a table, bright red and out of breath from blowing a tone of balloons that Andrew was busy tying around the place. Lita was busy fixing the last of the candles on her freshly baked cake by the counter. Ami was checking the audio sound, lighting and organizing the music list for the birthday girl.

There was a huge turn up for Serena's birthday, but it hadn't surprised anyone. After all, it was going to be the last big party before prom and then all their friends would go their respective ways.

"Did you guys here about our venue?" Melvin's annoying voice drowned out even the music as everyone turned to face him, curious. "The placed got soaked because a sprinkler system malfunction!"

Shouts and gasps broke through the ranks of youths. "What about the prom?"

"Relax guys," Molly stepped in reassuringly. "They said that the repairs will be done within a month, they rescheduled it in a month. The date and changes will be send on Mond…"

The cute petit redhead never got to finish her story, as a couple walked into the arcade. They stood in the entrance, the man holding her possessively, her head resting on his broad chest. His hand rested on top of her blond windblown hair and around her waist, while hers clung to his white shirt. His dark ebony hair and royal blue eyes a deep contrast against her fair skin and azure eyes. They really did make an attractive couple; her with her low cut white tank top and crochet skirt, and him in his loose white shirt and black jeans.

"Since when are they dating?" Melvin's shocked whisper broke the apparition.

"It should be illegal to look that sexy." Alan grumbled. Darien had lied to him and gotten the girl. But even he had to admit they looked perfect together.

"Since when does Darien have a piercing?" Andrew wondered.

"You mean since when did they exchange rings?" Molly gasped as she took in the rings on the black double looped leather strings around their necks.

Lita just smiled at all the comments and reactions. All was right. Yes, they still had the Negaverse to deal with. And some personal heartaches to get over… But at least in this moment, all was right. Their big-hearted friend, strong leader, and benevolent princess had found some happiness and comfort in this life.

"And to think it all started with Serena going clubbing." The brunette whispered to Ken, grinning broadly.

"WHAT?!" came the shocked reply of Ami, Rei and Mina who were standing right behind their Amazonian friend.

In a freezing underground chamber, four young man awoke. Pushing open the glass cover lids of their coffin like beds, they looked at each other quizzically. Standing on wobbly naked legs that could barely hold their weight, their bodies were thin, malnourished and looked drained. But what startled them more were the crumpled bodies by their respective beds.

A white-haired man forced himself to stoop by the body, turning it around. An audible gasp echoed through the room as the man laying on the floor was revealed to be an almost identical replica of the man leaning over it. As the disturbed man reached to touch the dead one's face, sudden past and present memories rammed into his brain.

The other men having reacted the same found themselves shaken even more firmly.

Frowning, wasting no time, his cold grey eyes already calculating. "Our clones are dead. Now that the Prince has the Earth's power, we are freed, our gems have returned to us." His comrades nodded silently, as they stripped the dead clones and put on their clothes. "We must find Endymion at once."

* For all those who wanted more, I started the sequel: A Final Escape! Check it out!