AN: Hi yes, I am still alive and haven't abandoned this story! I know 2+ years is bad, even for me, and I'm so sorry about how long it's taken me to update. In the past two years I've moved halfway across the world and back again, continued working towards my degree in English literature, and doubled down on my efforts to finish the novel I've been working on for so long. So, between school and my work n my original fiction, I haven't had much time for this, for which I apologize.

But I'm determined to see this story to a proper end! Thank you all for your patience. My loyal reviewers who have ben following this from the beginning and new readers who are just stumbling upon this both mean so much to me. Many thanks to the reviewers of the past chapter: jdsfire, TropicalRemix, TinkStar87, lilymoon80, maryyorke, flaxj, Jakeros, Princeskarlita411, Shikisai-san, James Birdsong, slightlyxjaded, and Astraearose-silvermoon. You guys are what keep me going even when times get hard, and I appreciate you all so much!

There was a moment of silence, before Shingo burst out laughing. "You, Sailor Moon? Come on, Usagi, don't be ridiculous. No one believes that a crybaby like you could be a champion of love and justice."

Usagi frowned, pursing her lips. "I'm serious."

Kenji sighed. "Usagi, you have many lovely qualities, but being a superhero just isn't realistic and lying isn't becoming of you." He paused. "And you're definitely not pregnant, right?"

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Definitely not pregnant. And fine, I guess it was too much to expect that you would just believe me." Grabbing her brooch, she took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She knew she was doing the right thing, it was time for her family to know, but… what if they didn't accept it? What if they didn't accept her? When Ikuko first found out, she'd been upset and angry. Of course, Usagi had sprung it on her at a bad time, and things had gotten better, but she was still nervous.

But there was no going back now, so she called out, her voice clear, "Moon Prism Power, Make Up!" Somehow, she just knew it would work this time, and it did. The familiar spark of power ignited in her veins, and in a flash, it was over and she stood before her family as Sailor Moon.

Kenji gaped. Shingo laughed nervously. Ikuko was the only calm one, though even she did a slight double-take, and Usagi remembered that her mother had never seen her as Sailor Moon before, even though she knew the secret.

After a moment, Usagi dropped the transformation, changing back into her civilian identity, figuring it would put her family more at ease.

"So…" she said after a moment, when no one spoke, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot.

"This is… some kind of illusion, right?" Kenji asked, his face pale. "Surely it can't… not possible…"

"It is, though," Usagi said softly. "I'm Sailor Moon."

"How…" Kenji's voice was hoarse. "How long as this been going on?"

"Um… always, I guess?" Usagi said with a slight shrug. "Well, only about a year ago, if you want to be technical. When Sailor Moon first showed up. That was me from the beginning. But that was only when I first heard about it from Luna, I've actually always been Sailor Moon. Well, kind of, it's a little complicated." Realizing she was babbling, Usagi bit her lip to cut herself off.

Telling her family she was Sailor Moon was one thing, mentioning that their family cat could talk and was originally from the moon and that Usagi herself was the reincarnation of the Moon Princess was probably too much, too soon. Best not to mention that she'd technically died twice, either.

"I… I think I need to sit down," Kenji said. Usagi didn't point out that he was already sitting.

"I know it's a lot to take in," Usagi said. "But I need you to understand—I'm still me. I'm still crybaby Usagi. I'm still your loving daughter and your annoying big sister, I'm just also the champion of love and justice." She dropped the transformation, hoping that might help drive her point home a bit, and glanced over at Shingo, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, but he wouldn't even meet her eye. Kenji buried his head in his hands and Ikuko squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

"Why now?" Kenji asked. "Why tell us this now?"

"Because things change," Usagi said. "I'm tired of lying and going behind your backs, and you thinking less of me because of it. All those times I've snuck out late at night or broken curfew haven't been because I was out partying or doing drugs or anything like that. It's because I'm Sailor Moon."

"I can't believe this…" Kenji was still ashen, and Shingo still wouldn't look at her, but Usagi caught Ikuko's eye, and her mother gave her a slight, reassuring nod, which gave Usagi the courage she needed to press on.

"And… there's more," she said. "A new enemy showed up recently, and I'm scared they might target you. I've always lied to you to keep you safe, but I don't think I can anymore. Remember that youma attack at our home a couple months ago? That was because of me. The enemy found out who I was, and they attacked you to get to me. Ignorance can't keep you safe, but maybe the truth can."

"I think… I think I need some time," Kenji said. He looked over at Ikuko. "How are you so calm about this? This is our daughter, Ikuko."

"I already knew about this," Ikuko admitted.

"You what?" Kenji bellowed. "How could you not tell me? We're supposed to share the parenting decisions, and we can't do that if you keep important secrets from me!"

"I made her promise not to tell anyone," Usagi said. "Mama discovered me sneaking out, and I had to tell her, but I didn't want to potentially danger you and Shingo, too. The more people who know my secret, the more dangerous it is, for everyone involved."

"And just what made you think you had that right, young lady?" Kenji asked, getting to his feet. Now that he'd recovered the shock, he just seemed angry. "You do not get to keep secrets from me or your mother! And, by the way, you are grounded. For… forever! Until you're 18! I don't care if you're Sailor Moon or not."

"Papa…" Usagi said. "You can't ground me just for being who I am. I didn't do anything wrong. And more than that, the world needs Sailor Moon right now."

"I don't care!" Kenji said. "You are not going out again until you're 18! At least! Or else I'll… ship you off to a nunnery, oh yes, I will. Don't tempt me! You stop being Sailor Moon, right now. And I don't want you hanging around those friends of yours, either, they're part of this, too, aren't they?"

Usagi sighed and bit her lip. She knew he was just scared and overwhelmed by all this new info, and that all he wanted was to keep her safe. She knew that, and she knew that with time, he would likely come around, he just needed some time to adjust to the fact that his baby girl was off fighting the world on a daily basis and was a lot more mature and grown up than he'd ever realized.

But that didn't mean his words didn't sting a little.

"I'm heading up to my room," Usagi said. "I need some sleep, and you clearly need some time to process this."

She trudged up the stairs slowly, exhaustion seeming to set in more and more with each step. The painkillers Ami had given her were clearly wearing off, and Usagi became acutely aware of a growing sharp pain in her ribs and abdomen, and a deep, aching pain in her leg. Not to mention her throbbing head. Considering she'd only regained consciousness a couple hours ago after nearly dying not long before that, it was remarkable progress, but she was still in pain and exhausted.

Finally, Usagi reached the top of the stairs, opened the door to her room and faceplanted on her bed, too exhausted to even roll over. After a minute, she heard a knock at the door, and groaned. She just wanted to be alone. But, ignoring her family wouldn't help matters either, so she forced herself to sit up. "Come in."

A pink head tentatively poked itself through the door, and Usagi smiled. "Chibiusa. What is it? Come sit down."

The little girl trudged across the room and sat down on the bed next to Usagi. "I heard people arguing downstairs."

"Ah." Usagi winced. "You heard that, did you? Well, there's no need to worry. I was just having a discussion with mama and papa and Shingo, and they need some time to process it."

Chibiusa frowned. "But why?"

Usagi bit her lip as she tried to think how to explain it in terms a 6-year-old would understand. "You see, my family isn't used to this. You've grown up always knowing about magic and bad guys and the Sailor Senshi, right?"

Chibiusa nodded. "Mama… Mama talks about them a lot. And Papa used to always tell me stories about how brave and heroic Sailor Moon was."

"Right." Usagi smiled. "But for my parents, they don't know any of that. I didn't even know any of that until almost a year ago, when Luna told me I was Sailor Moon. In this timeline, things are different, and it's taken people some time to adjust to the fact that there are bad guys now, and good guys who fight them. And then for my parents to find out that I'm involved, well… it's kind of a shock."

Chibiusa didn't say anything for a minute as she thought it over. "Why are they mad at you for fighting evil and saving lives?"

Usagi shook her head slightly. "They're not mad because of that. I don't think they're mad at all. They're scared, because they still think of me as a child, and now they have to accept that I fight evil, which can be scary. And they love me, so they don't want anything bad to happen to me."

"They yell at you because they love you?" Chibiusa cocked her head to the side, frowning.

Usagi laughed. "I know, it sounds funny. But sometimes people aren't good at handling their emotions, especially fear. And it comes out as anger because they don't know what else to do. Especially with my papa—he's very traditional-minded, he thinks that both as a man and a father, it's his job to care for the family and protect his children— Shingo, too, but especially me, since I'm a girl. And it scares him that now he can't do that."

"But what does being a girl have to do with it?" Chibiusa asked. "Mama is a girl and she's queen. She's the most powerful, beautiful queen ever, and everyone both admires and respects her. Papa says so all the time."

"I know," Usagi said. "But my papa, Uncle Kenji, is very traditional. A lot of men his age are, because things were different when he was growing up. It's harder for him to accept that women can be powerful and take care of themselves."

"I see," Chibiusa said, though she still sounded confused.

"It's nothing you need to worry about," Usagi said. "Especially not for my sake. Papa is scared right now, but once he has some time to adjust, he'll be okay. And Shingo, too. For now, I need some sleep though, okay?"

"Mmkay," Chibiusa said, hopping off the bed. She paused briefly before wrapping her arms around Usagi's waist, slightly awkward, given that Usagi was still seated on the bed. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too," Usagi said, pressing a kiss to the top of Chibiusa's head. "Me too."

When Usagi woke the next day, thankfully a Saturday, the house was empty. A note by the downstairs phone informed Usagi that Kenji had some extra work he needed to do at the office, Ikuko was off grocery shopping and Shingo was out with friends, but that Usagi shouldn't hesitate to call Ikuko if she needed anything.

She poked her head into the pantry and raided the fridge, eventually settling on a breakfast of only slightly-burnt toast with butter and jam and a glass or orange juice to go with. Sighing, she crunched on her toast as she thought about what the next steps were. She was alive, she and Mamoru were a team again… all was good. Except the Black Moon Clan was still a huge threat and would only continue to get worse if they didn't do something and soon. But how? They could fight off droids endlessly, but it wasn't going to make much of a difference unless they targeted the center of the Black Moon Clan itself.

Groaning, she buried her head in her hands right as the front door buzzed.

"Coming," she called out, sliding off the stool she'd been sitting on, and brushing her hands clean on a napkin.

She wasn't quite sure who she was expecting to see when she opened the door, maybe the mailman needing someone to sign for a package, or maybe even one of the Senshi dropping by to check in on her. But she was definitely not expecting to find a slightly sheepish looking Mamoru standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Hi," Usagi said, suddenly painfully aware of her tousled bedhead and bright pink and yellow pajamas.

"Hi," Mamoru said, looking as nervous as Usagi felt. "I, um… just wanted to stop by. And bring you these, as a 'get well soon' present, I guess. And also an apology. Uh… can I come in?"

Usagi giggled slightly, Mamoru's nerves putting her at ease. They'd made important steps in healing their relationship, but it was nice to know she wasn't the only one a little bit nervous about bridging the remaining distance between them and fully reconciling.

"Thank you, Mamo-chan, they're lovely," she said. "I'll put them in a vase."

"I was also wondering if you wanted to get something to eat?" Mamoru asked, slightly shuffling his feet. "I… was hoping maybe we could talk. Get to know each other again, that sort of thing."

"I'd like that," Usagi said, smiling shyly. "Just, um… give me a few minutes to get dressed and fix my hair?"

"Oh!" Mamoru's eyes widened and he seemed to just now take in the fact that Usagi was still in her pajamas. "Of course. I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

Usagi giggled and shook her head. "You baka, how did you not notice?"

"I wasn't… I just…" Mamoru spluttered, which only made Usagi laugh harder.

Mamoru started to laugh as well, and then hung his head. "I'm sorry. I've been so nervous about all of this, I keep wondering if maybe you'll change your mind, and stay rightfully angry, or if what happened was just a dream. I practiced what I was going to say when I saw you again, and I was so nervous that I just stuck to the script, and was too absorbed in my own thoughts."

"It's okay," Usagi said, leaning up on her toes to give Mamoru a quick kiss on the cheek. "I've been nervous, too. But it's like you said—together, we can face anything. I'm not going to give up on us just because you're a baka who doesn't know how to communicate."

"Okay, I deserved that," Mamoru admitted. "And… thank you. For giving me a second chance."

Usagi smiled. "Of course. Now, let me go get dressed, and we can get some food. I'm starving. You just saved me from a breakfast of burned toast, so thank you."

Mamoru just laughed. "You? Hungry? Good to know some things never change."

"Oh hush," Usagi said, batting him on the arm. "Anyways, I'll be back down in a few minutes."

She left to go get dressed, a new spring in her step, despite the lingering injuries. It was good to be with Mamoru again.

Mamoru had parked right outside Usagi's house, so after she got dressed, she climbed into his car, grateful that he had drove. It was a pleasant day, and the downtown area wasn't a long walk at all, but with her injuries, walking for extended periods of time was still a bit challenging.

"Where to?" Mamoru asked as he started up the car. "There's a new sushi place that opened up, it's gotten great reviews."

"Hmm…" Usagi thought about it. "Sushi is great, but do you know what I'm craving?"

"What are you…?" Mamoru trailed off mid-sentence as he realized what Usagi was talking about. "Seriously, Usako? How do you not get tired of milkshakes and burgers all the time?"

"Pleaaaaase?" Usagi asked, batting her eyelashes. "I haven't had one of Motoki's milkshakes in ages."

"Ages, huh?"

"Okay, so a few days," Usagi said. "But I can't help it!"

"Fine," Mamoru said, rolling his eyes.

The Arcade was a very short drive from Usagi's house, so Mamoru pulled up to the curb in no time. Usagi was about to hop out of the car, when she paused.

"Wait. Motoki."

"Ah, shoot," Mamoru muttered. "I hadn't thought about that."

"I know you wanted to talk," Usagi said. "And I really do, too. But… I want to wait for the right time to tell Motoki. Our relationship is still so new, and we're only just figuring it out again and… is it selfish to want to keep that just for us a little bit longer?"

Mamoru smiled and picked up Usagi's hand, kissing it. "No, it's not. I feel the same way. I hate lying to my best friend, but… I want to keep this just to us for a little bit longer, too."

"Good," Usagi said. "We don't have to stay long, we can go somewhere after to properly talk, but I need my sugar fix. Just pretend you hate me, like you used to."

Mamoru laughed. "I never hated you, Usagi."

"Really?" Usagi said, raising an eyebrow is disbelief. "You did an awfully good job of pretending you did, then. You insulted me every chance you got!"

"I know, and I'm sorry for that," Mamoru said. "I did think you were air-headed and irresponsible—"

"Hey!" Usagi interjected, smacking him on the arm.

"But," Mamoru continued, wincing slightly and rubbing his arm. "I also thought you were wonderfully compassionate and capable of brilliance if you applied yourself. I was envious of how much love and light there was in your life, I could see how people lit up in your presence, how you lit them up."

He gave a slightly sheepish shrug. "I was bitter and lonely, because all my life, I've wanted that, and have never had it. I've never had a family, and Motoki is my only friend. So, I lashed out, because your radiance made me painfully aware of my shortcomings, but that was never your fault. And I'm sorry."

"Oh, Mamo-chan," Usagi said, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "It's okay. You have me now, and you will always have me."

"I know," he said, holding her hand to his cheek for a moment longer.

"… but for now, just pretend that you're still bitter and resentful, because I really want a milkshake," Usagi added.

"Okay, okay," Mamoru laughed. "You go in first, I'll join a few minutes later so it doesn't look like we came in together."

Usagi climbed out of the door and headed into the Arcade, the bell over the door chiming as she walked in.

"Usagi!" Motoki said, looking up as he walked in. "My most loyal customer. I haven't seen you in several days, that's practically a cause of concern for you."

"Ugh I know," Usagi said, trying to slip back into the easy façade of ditzy teenager. "I've had so much homework, and then I was grounded. Grounded! So unfair."

Motoki just shook his head. "Is it your usual today?"

"Yes please!" Usagi said with a bright smile. "With extra whipped cream. And also a side of fries."

"Coming right up," Motoki said, disappearing back into the kitchen to get everything prepared. On busier days, there was a full team of cooks and waiters, Motoki was just the owner and manager, but on slow days like today he did everything.

The bell above the door chimed and Usagi glanced over her shoulder to see Mamoru walk in. She tried hard to school her features into a disapproving look, when all she really wanted to do was smile.

"Ugh, it's the baka," she said, dramatically rolling her eyes.

"Odango," Mamoru said dismissively, taking a seat at the counter, carefully leaving one stool between them.

He glanced around, and, upon noticing the arcade was fairly empty, leaned over to whisper to Usagi. "Is Motoki here?"

"He's in the back," Usagi whispered back. "So just play along for a bit."

Mamoru nodded, straightening up, and just as he did so, Motoki returned with Usagi's shake.

"The fries will be out soon," he said. "But here you are, chocolate milkshake with extra whipped cream, as requested."

"You're the best," Usagi said, eagerly wrapping her hands around the frosty glass as she pulled it towards herself.

"Mamoru!" Motoki said. "I haven't seen you in a while. You two being here at the same time won't cause issues, right? You can play nice?"

"I'm always nice," Mamoru grumbled.

Motoki looked skeptical. "I know you two don't get along, but it's been a quiet day at the Arcade and I'd like to keep it as a quiet day, so try not to fight too much, okay?"

"As long as the baka can keep his insults to himself, I'll be fine," Usagi said.

"Of course," Mamoru said. Usagi gave him a pointed look—he was being too agreeable—and he cleared his throat. "Uh, I mean, as long as Odango Atama keeps her dumb opinions to herself, I'll be fine as well."

Usagi sighed slightly. Maybe this had been a bad idea. Mamoru was stiff and awkward; he didn't sound remotely convincing. There was none of the spite, none of the witty retorts, none of the snappy comebacks.

"Aren't you going to order something?" Usagi prompted. "Coffee, black as your soul, perhaps? Or did you just come here to bother me?"

"Yes, I'll have a coffee if you don't mind, Motoki," Mamoru said. "Just plain, straight-up. None of that frivolous nonsense that Odango has."

"It's not 'frivolous,'" Usagi said. "It's chocolate."

Motoki just sighed. "Tsk tsk, I swear you two will be the death of me. One black coffee, coming right up."

Usagi sat there, happily sipping her milkshake, and sneaking furtive glances at Mamoru, who was studiously reading the paper, or at least trying to—she caught him sneaking a few furtive glances at her.

"He's your coffee, and your fries, Usagi," Motoki said, returning a few minutes later. He turned his back to them as he cleaned a few dishes that had been sitting in the sink.

For a few minutes, Usagi and Mamoru sat there in silence, but with Motoki standing several feet away, and his back turned, it spurred Mamoru on to be a bit bolder.

"Can I have one?" Mamoru asked quietly, gesturing to Usagi's plate of fries.

"No, get your own!" she said, swatting away his hand as he reached for a fry.

"Just one?" he asked, trying to reach again.

"No!" Usagi said, but she was giggling.

Motoki turned around, and the two of them immediately straightened up, Usagi flushing pink and Mamoru yanking his hands back to himself.

"You two are being awfully quiet," Motoki said, narrowing his eyes at the two of them. "Suspiciously so. Normally there'd be loud bickering, and things being thrown."

"Just trying to be on my best behavior," Usagi said, forcing a bright smile.

"Hm," was all Motoki said and he turned his back again.

Taking advantage of the situation, Mamoru darted a hand out and stole a fry before Usagi could react.

"Hey! Baka!" Usagi complained.

"Mm, good fries," he said, not even looking remotely sorry.

Usagi scowled. "You owe me a fry, mister."

"Hmm whatever could I do to repent for this?" Mamoru teased, a wicked glint in his eye.

Usagi rolled her eyes. "You could buy me fries next time we go somewhere."

She returned her attention to her milkshake, taking a deep sip. "Ah, this is what life is about. Chocolate and cream."

She was so preoccupied with her milkshake, that she didn't see Mamoru's hand reaching out until it was too late and he'd stolen a fry.

"Mamo-chan!" she whined, momentarily forgetting that Motoki was just a few feet away. "Give it back!"

"If you want it, you'll have to give me something in return," Mamoru said, dangling the fry above Usagi's head, out of her reach. "How about a kiss?"

Motoki turned around to clean the front counter, and once again, Mamoru and Usagi leapt apart, each blushing slightly.

Motoki glanced between the two of them, his eyes narrowed, and his lips pursed as he took in the situation. "Mamoru, give Usagi back her fry."

"Fine," Mamoru said. "It's not my fault the Odango can't properly keep an eye on her food."

"Baka," Usagi said, sticking her tongue out at him.

While Motoki was cleaning the front counter, he could see them, so they each kept their hands to themselves, though Usagi squirmed in her seat a little bit. It was harder than she thought it would have been, pretending to bicker with Mamoru the way they used to.

"Okay, I give up," Motoki said a moment later, throwing his towel down on the counter. "You two are acting suspicious. Every time I turned around, you guys have jumped apart and looked guilty. Now, ordinarily I might believe that you were just feeling guilty for fighting when you'd promised to behave, but I also could have sworn I heard Usagi call you Mamo-chan, which would never happen, and everything is just… off."

He crossed his arms. "Is something going on between you?"

Usagi bit her lip and glanced over at Mamoru. She'd wanted to keep it secret a little longer, but there was a difference between a lie of omission and outright lying to Motoki, and she wasn't comfortable with the latter.

"Maybe we should tell him?" she murmured, and Mamoru nodded.

"Motoki…" Mamoru trailed off and reached over to grab Usagi's hand. "Usako and I are dating."

"You're… you're not mad, are you?" Usagi asked. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you right away, we just wanted to keep it to ourselves for a little longer and… we weren't sure how you'd react."

Motoki didn't say anything at first, just stared at them, and then he threw his hands up. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew all of that bickering and fighting was just because you two idiots were hiding your feelings for each other! No one can argue that much without it being caused by repressed sexual tension."

"Motoki!" Usagi said, blushing, but she was laughing as well.

"Well, if you knew, then you knew far before we did," Mamoru said. "I can guarantee that the arguing wasn't an intentional disguise. It took us awhile to figure out how we really felt about each other."

Usagi smiled at him and he squeezed her hand. It had taken them the reveal of their secret identities, the return of memories from their past life, and several near-death experiences—not mention actually dying and then being reborn—but they had finally figured out that they belonged together.

"So… you're not mad?" Usagi asked tentatively.

"Mad?" Motoki shook his head. "Are you kidding me? I'm delighted. I've been waiting for you two idiots to realize you were in love for ages. It was the math tutoring that finally did it, right? I helped you two figure it out, right?"

"Um… sure," Usagi said, laughing. "Among other things."

"I knew it!" Motoki said. "I knew it!"

Mamoru laughed as well and picked up Usagi's hand that he was still holding and kissed it. "Well, I for one am glad we finally figured it out."

"Me too," Usagi said, beaming at him.

"Ugh, you two are disgustingly adorable," Motoki said, rolling his eyes and Usagi laughed once more.

Usagi knew that they still had a long fight ahead of them—they needed to figure out how to stop the Black Moon Clan, and it wasn't going to be easy. But right now, sitting in the Arcade with her boyfriend, enjoying a milkshake, and coming clean about the truth to one of her dear friends… it felt right. And Usagi was happy.

AN: There you have it, a new chapter at last! I'll do my best to get the next one up at least slightly sooner, and in the meantime, please review!