Story dedicated to my brother Joe for his loving support to my writing!

Babies Don't Just Appear in Ditches

By Marie J.W.

Chapter One

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Raindrops fell down onto Sailor Moon's long blonde hair, face, and chest, soaking her outfit completely. Her mood was dark as she pondered the night's events. Thankfully there was no thunder or lightening that night or she might have been afraid. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of pouring rain but Sailor Moon wasn't paying any attention to the rain, she had other more pressing things on her mind.

As Sailor Moon walked home with a heavy hear t she couldn't help but think back on the nights events. Once again she had failed to keep her balance and had fallen right in the way of danger. 'Stupid me, if Tuxedo Mask hadn't caught me and taken me well out of harm's way I would have died.'

Tears fell down her face as she felt the pain. She was more than disappointed in herself. The scouts had scowled at her and Tuxedo Mask had given her the strip with his words, cutting through her soul like a thousand knives. Every word stung like nothing else. 'You. Are. Worthless. If it weren't for these scouts this world would be taken over by Queen Beryl'. After that he turned and walked away, his cape wiping in the air, without a backward glance.

'I know that I will see him again and maybe that's why his opinion means so much to me.' Sailor Moon let the tears intermingle with the rain and fall down her face till they disappeared. Silent tears always hurt the most...

Suddenly a loud splash broke her train of thought. Surprised, she looked around; there were no cars on the street. It was deserted.

Then in the distance, heard through the muddled sound of rain, a loud cry was heard, a baby's cry. She looked around searching for the baby. 'Where did that come from? Was it from a house?' There weren't any houses close by but the sound became even more disturbing the more the cry sounded throughout the night. She couldn't put it off as her imagination or something to be ignored. Searching, she turned towards the grass, and carefully stepped down a small hill. Anxiously, she glanced around and then taking more cautious steps she slowly slipped down the muddy ditch. Once she reached the bottom she couldn't miss it. Sailor Moon gasped at the sight of a baby wrapped in a bright baby blue blanket.

"Oh, you poor thing!" She cried before quickly running to pick up the baby. The buddle was muddy and wet but she didn't care. It was lost and alone. She cradled the baby close to her own wet body. She felt so bad for the infant. It was crying and shivering! It probably wanted its mother. Sailor Moon looked around for someone that would be close by even though she knew there was no anyone. 'Who would leave their baby in a ditch?' Sailor Moon thought as she gave one more look around. The baby was crying even harder by now.

Sailor Moon gave the baby her full attention, "Hush, it's okay. You'll be okay!"

However, the baby cried harder, its wails reaching a high pitch 'till soon a bright light engulfed them. Sailor Moon's eyes shut in surprise as a bright light shot out. 'What is going on?' When the bright light dimmed, she looked down at the baby and gasped. On its forehead was a glowing crescent moon! Her breath stopped. She couldn't breathe. The power radiating from the baby was thick and unmistakable. A warm pink aura surrounded the baby and filled Sailor Moon's arms with warmth.

'She's from the Moon family!' Her heart was beating fast.

Sailor Moon's thoughts swirled as she looked down at the wailing baby in astonishment. The baby gave a strong kick to her side, making her jump back to the present. They were both soaked and needed comfort.

'From the Moon family or not this baby needs to get warm!' Sailor Moon tried to think of what to do, 'I can't bring her home. What would Mom say?' She could just picture her Mom freak out and then calling the authorities. No, she needed to think of something else. 'Besides, this is a special baby; the authorities wouldn't know what to do with her! What if her forehead lit up again?!'

She bit her lip as she hugged the baby closer, 'What about the scouts? Ray can't, she lives with her Grandpa and Chad, and besides she's planning a festival. Lita maybe could but she has cooking lessons with her Uncle. Mina can't, she has modeling. Amy? No, she has computer class! What am I going to do?! Sailor Moon panicked. 'Shut up girl and calm down!' Sailor Moon scolded herself.

Sailor Moon breathed in and out while the baby still wailed into the night. 'Okay, first of all you need to de-transform. It's going to look pretty weird if anyone sees Sailor Moon out here with a baby.'

After de-transforming she started to panic again. 'Mom's gonna kill me when I don't show up in bed in the morning! I can't stay out here and neither can this baby! I don't know what to do! I've never had to take care of a baby before!'

Serena felt like crying. But then she saw a sight she never thought she would be glad to see! 'Darien!' Serena watched him as he slowly walked down the sidewalk in the rain on the other side of the street with his hands in his pockets of his green jacket and his head down. 'Didn't I hear that he lives by himself?' Serena thought. 'But what about the forehead? Well, he'll just have to keep the baby happy! Besides I don't have much of a choice right now!' Serena hurried across the street. As soon as she stopped in front of him his head snapped up.

"What are you doing out here, Meatball head?" Darien asked as he stared at the crying baby.

"I um, was going on a walk? Oh, Darien you have to help me! I wouldn't ask if I had any other options but please say yes!" Serena begged.

'What is she doing with a baby? Is she trying to drown it? And whose is it?' Darien stared at them confused. 'You idiot! Do something! She's asking for your help. And right now isn't a time for asking questions!' Darien nodded before putting his hand on Serena's back and quickly started leading her to his apartment. It wasn't far.

The trio quickly walked into Darien's apartment. Both Serena and the baby were freezing. Serena quickly laid the baby on the couch and took off the wet blanket. The baby squirmed on the couch, its arms and legs flying everywhere, tears streaming down its pink chubby cheeks.

"I have no idea why you were out in the rain 'with a baby' and I'm sure I don't want to know but may I ask one thing, Meatball head? Are you insane?!" Darien had to yell above the baby's cries. He came in with a towel and a blanket and gave them Serena.

Serena ignored him as she completely undressed the crying child and wrapped the warm towel around the infant. It was obvious by just a glance that the baby was a girl. 'Poor little darling!' She frowned.

After drying the baby Serena wrapped the baby girl up in the huge blue blanket Darien had brought in and picked her up again, bouncing her slightly, trying to calm her down.

Serena turned around to face Darien, "I need you to keep her here."

"What?" Darien asked with a stunned expression..

"Darien, please! I have nowhere else to put 'her'!" Serena begged.

Darien gulped as he looked down at the baby, "You think I know how to take care of a baby?"

"No, I don't but right now you're her only choice! Just keep her here until I can figure out what to do with her," Serena forced the baby into Darien's arms.

Darien unsure of himself held the baby, "Who's the Mother?"

"I have no idea! I found her in a ditch by the road," Serena bit her lip, "I can't bring her home and my friends are all busy."

Darien looked at Serena shocked before looking down at the baby, "Who would do such a thing?"

Serena saw a small smile appear as Darien's face. The baby's cries had softened to small weak cries every few seconds.

"I think she's already grown on you, Darien," Serena smiled softly.

Darien looked up surprised, ready to deny it but noticing Serena's wet form he quickly protested, "You're soaking wet! We need to get you dried off."

Serena looked down at her wet clothes and blushed, "Oh, ya! But so are you!" she giggled, "I'll be fine. I just need to get home and change!"

"Home? You're going to leave me 'alone' with her?" Darien held the baby out a little.

"Well, ya. Just for tonight, Mom will kill be if I'm not in bed in the morning!" Serena looked at him like it was obvious, "I'll be here early tomorrow morning! Don't worry!"

Darien sighed, "You're going to walk home in the rain?"

"Ya, it's not like I can fly!" Serena stepped back towards the door, "I'll see you first thing in the morning, Darien. Oh, and you might want to feed her something." Serena reluctantly left turned towards the door, "Be really careful with her, kay?" With that she opened the door and left the apartment leaving Darien alone.

Darien stood in the middle of the living room with the baby in his arms, stunned.

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"Ringggggggg...Riinnnnnngggggg..." Serena rolled over away from the phone near her bed, "Five more minutes, Mom," she mumbled into the pillow.

The ringing blissfully stopped. Serena sighed and relaxed into her blankets.

"Serena. Serena! There's some...someone on the phone for you!" Serena's Mom yelled up to her from downstairs.

Serena groaned the yelled, "Tell them to call back later!" With that she covered her head with the blanket.

"Serena," this time her Mother sounded much closer, "He says it's urgent."

Serena opened her eyes. 'Urgent? Artemis can't use the phone. What if it's Andrew?' Serena jumped out of bed and grabbed the phone from her Mom who was now standing in the doorway.

"Yes, hello!" Serena greeted.

"Serena! You said you'd be here in the morning! I have to go to work and I haven't gotten any sleep! I'm going to be late! Get over here! I can't believe that you-" Serena hung up the phone wide eyed. 'Oh, my-gosh! I totally forgot about Darien and the baby!'

"What did he want, dear?" Ilene asked puzzled.

Serena turned around to face her Mom, "I am so dead! I have to get dressed!" Serena raced around her room getting her clothes then ducked into the bathroom to get dressed. Ilene stood there, shaking her head.

'What has gotten into her?'

Serena popped out of the bathroom and ran to her closet searching through all the clothes and junk that had ended up on the floor, "I know they're in here somewhere! I was wearing them yesterday!"

Ilene looked around the room and spotted the shoes she was looking for half shoved under her bed.

'Darien is going to kill me after this! And what about the baby?! The poor thing being in 'Darien's' presence all night! That's got to be painful!' Serena thought frantically to herself.

"Serena?"

Serena looked up to see her Mom standing behind her holding her shoes, "Oh, thanks Mom!" Serena slid her feet into her pink shoes then ran to the mirror and put her hair up into its usual style.

"So, what was so urgent?" Ilene asked as she stood behind her daughter looking at her in the mirror.

"Oh, um. I promised to help this..." Serena almost choked on what she was about to say, "friend with a project."

"Oh, something for summer school?"

Serena nodded in agreement, "Ya, extra credit thing."

"Well okay. Just make sure that your home for dinner and be careful running, it rained last night," Ilene smiled at her daughter before leaving the room.

Serena snorted. 'Friend? More like an enemy!' Serena grabbed her backpack which was full of baby things. As soon as she got home last night she had snuck up to the attic to grab some of her old baby things. And boy was it hard! Those floor boards creaked so loud!

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Darien tightened his tie as he looked at himself in the mirror. He looked tired and ragged from lack of sleep. The baby had cried and cried all night! Darien was sure he would never get enough sleep after this.

'I fed it milk; I fed it juice and still the baby cried! I even changed its diaper!' Darien could still hear the baby's wails. He had laid the baby on the couch and surrounded it with pillows so it wouldn't fall off. 'You would think there was some kind of medical problem with it! Where is Serena? She said she would be here early in the morning! Why did I believe her? She never gets up early in the morning and she certainly is never on time! I'm definitely going to be late! Mrs. Leaver is definitely going to want to know what happened! I'm already late for my first appointment!' Darien looked down at his watch for the hundredth time that morning.

A knock came at the door and Darien rushed to get it. He swung open the door to see an out of breath Serena leaning against the doorframe, "I came as fast as I-" Serena stopped then ran into the living room,

"What did you do?"

Darien growled, "I didn't do anything!" He looked down at his watch, "I'm late! Do whatever you want but stay out of my room!" Darien quickly left, shutting the door firmly behind him.

Serena stared at the door upset, "How dare he be mad at me! Jerk!"

Serena turned back to the still crying baby and smiled. "Let's see what Nurse Serena can do for you." So picking up the baby Serena tried to sooth the baby to sleep but it wasn't working. Serena sighed and put the baby down again then went over to her backpack and unzipped it. She pulled out a pacifier, diapers, baby powder, baby blankets, baby clothes, and two baby bottles.

"I think some of this should be cleaned before you suck on it though," Serena told the baby. She got up and took the pacifier and baby bottles to the kitchen.

After cleaning both baby bottles, Serena came back and put the baby into something more comfortable.

"I wish we had some baby formula, it would be a lot better than that cold milk in there," Serena commented as she changed the baby's diaper.

The baby was still crying and even now it was starting to give her a headache.

"Ring, ring, ring..." Serena got up and answered the phone.

Before she could even give a greeting someone yelled into the phone, "Shut that baby up, Chiba! I don't know when you got married but I want some peace and QUIET!"

Serena held the phone away from her ear before hanging up, "Gesh!"

An hour later Serena had a bottle of cold milk ready for the baby and immediately the baby quieted as she sucked on the bottle. Serena smiled, "Is that what you wanted? You were hungry, weren't you?"

The baby stared up at Serena as she continued to suck on her bottle.

"Now, I wonder what your name is. I can't keep calling you baby," Serena looked down at the baby curiously, "Mmm, you have pink hair. Maybe your Mother called you...Pinky!" Serena almost laughed out loud, "No that would be too cruel! There has to be a way to know what your name is. Maybe I can give you a temporary name..."

A few hours went by and finally the baby was asleep and Serena could stretch. Serena laid the baby back onto the couch, making sure that there was no way that she could fall off. Serena looked around the room. It was a pretty nice apartment for a single guy. It was clean and decorated in blues and greens. It smelled nice too, like roses. The apartment looked the same as last night except for the small mess she made while searching through her backpack.

'Where does he get all his energy to be so clean?' Serena looked around and decided he wouldn't like the mess she had made in the kitchen nor in the living room, so she cleaned it all up and made sure everything was just how she found it.

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Darien walked into his office feeling worn out and ready for a long nap. Slouching down into his big black leather chair, his favorite, and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

Mrs. Leaver came in with a stack of papers, "Mr. Agias needs you to look these over and sign them. And he wants them on his desk by ten this evening."

"Thanks. Did you reschedule my eight-o-clock appointment?" Darien asked.

"Yes, but I was meaning to ask… I have never seen you late for work or miss an appointment Mr. Chiba and I was wondering if there was something wrong or anything I could do."

Darien smiled, "No, nothing's wrong I just didn't get any sleep last night. Thank you anyway, Mrs. Leaver."

Mrs. Leaver smiled and nodded. 'What is wrong with him? Something is definitely wrong. He never misses an appointment with important clients...' Mrs. Leaver left his office and went back to her desk in the next room.

Darien picked up one of the papers and sighed. 'I have a long day ahead of me!'

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Serena paced the floor while holding the baby up against her chest. 'Where is he? Doesn't he know what time it is?' Serena glanced at the clock for the hundredth time. It still read 8:54pm. 'I wonder what could be taking him so long! I probably should go home but I can't leave the baby here by herself. Where did he go anyway? I remember Andrew saying he didn't have school. Ohhh, doesn't he know what time it is?'

Serena slouched down on the couch. The baby was sleeping peacefully. Serena was very glad that she had finally gotten her to sleep. It was a waste of energy on both their sides if she kept on crying.

An hour later Darien still wasn't home and Serena was getting tired of waiting up for him. 'I suppose I better call Mom. Oh, no! Mom! She told me to be home for dinner! Oh, I'm so dead!' Serena slowly put the baby down and quickly found the phone.

"Where have you been? It's nine-thirty!' Her Mother yelled over the phone, "Your Father's upset. You better get home right now young lady!"

Serena quickly tried to fix the situation, "Mom, I'm really sorry! I know I should have called but I need to stay here. Please understand!" Serena quickly went on before her Mother could say anything, "My friend needs me to help take care of- its little sister. She's kind of sick right now." Serena cringed at lying to her Mother. 'But it's sort of true.'

Ilene sighed, "Well if you called earlier..."

"I promise I won't forget next time!"

"Alright, but I want the phone number to where ever your staying in case I need to call you."

Serena quickly gave her Mom the number off the phone cradle before hanging up. 'At least I didn't get grounded.' Serena went back to the couch and sat down. She looked up at the clock. 9:58p.m.

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Darien sighed and picked up his dark blue jacket. It had been a long day and he was going to be very glad to get home!

"Goodnight, Mr. Chiba!" Mrs. Leaver called on Darien's way out.

"Goodnight!" Darien waved then went out to his black sports car and unlocked the door. 'If I ever, ever do another favor for Meatball head it will be my last!' Darien thought as he got in the car and started it up.

When Darien opened the door to his apartment all the lights were off and the room was quiet. Blissfully quiet.

Darien flipped on the lights to see a shocking but beautiful sight. Serena was lying on the couch with the baby close to her chest. One arm was wrapped around the baby, giving it no chance to fall off, as the baby clutched the front of her shirt. Serena's long hair flowed onto and around the baby creating a lovely scene.

Darien sucked in his breath; did he dare wake her up? It felt almost against the law to do so. She looked so peaceful and so tired he didn't have the heart to wake her. 'I guess I'll leave her there,' Darien thought to himself. 'I wouldn't want her to accidentally wake up the baby in the process! It being this quiet in here is a miracle!' Darien smiled then turned off the light and tiptoed to his room to get some much needed sleep.

'What would I give to know how Meatball head, of all people, got a baby to go to sleep...' Darien quietly chuckled to himself before shutting his bedroom door. 'Maybe they have something in common.' Darien meant it to be a joke to himself but he would soon realize how right he was…