1. Note: this has two time frames--Silver Millenium and the present, picking up with the events after Jaedite was found to be alive.

2. Comments? alinasan@yahoo.com GOM: 9 should be fixed now, if you were wondering about the end of that story.

3. Usual disclaimers + despite my intention to keep the spellings of the names consistent I think I reverted to Rei (rather than Raye). Sorry. I forgot, and I'm too busy to change it (I'd rather read the wonderful stuff that's out there or write more!)

Silver Millenium @)-->---------------

The hot winds of Mars swept over Jaedite as he ran after the black haired Princess. She'd swept him away as easily as she had the stone steps of the sacred circle. Indignation mixed with desire and surprise, exploding in utter confusion in his mind. He wasn't sure why he followed her--to beg forgiveness or to knock her off that high platform of power she seemed to be on? He just knew he had to follow her.

"Wait" he cried out at last, as they neared the base of the palace.

She turned and met his gaze easily. "Are you willing to apologize? Or do I really need to explain your behavior to Endymion..."

"Go ahead..." He dared, knowing Endymion would side with him, and laugh at the pretentious Princess.

"or my father?" She added "You may be a guest on this world, and we treat guests honorably when they have their own honor. It is a grave matter to approach the Princess as you did, and in a sacred spot. If you were a Martian, your punnishment would be more severe."

"Such a strict world." Jaedite said. "I think cleaning the canals way below my dignity..."

"So was your behavior...We are not unfair or unjust--but respect must be learned. Are you going to clean the east canal?" She asked then.

"NO!" He said...Her expression went blank, and she trudged off towards the canals.

She sighed. "Then I suppose I will have to do it myself."

"Wait...why would *you* do that?" He asked, following her.

She looked over at him under her eyelashes, "Because my father thinks the task builds my character...and because it takes so long to turn all the wheels that I can never make it to the dances. I'm always so tired after it!"

Jaedite nodded..he could see why her father didn't want his beautiful daughter around the distracting attentions of ...well, men like him. He grinned at that thought.. In response she gave him a radiant smile. "All you do is turn a set of wheels, to allow the water to flow...it's hard to describe but easy to do....it's actually quite a beautiful sight, at sunset."

"So you were going to stick *me* with your duty?" He inquired as they neared the first wheel. The thing was massive, and he marvelled at how the slight girl turned the heavy golden wheel. She smiled at his expression. "Isn't that hard?" he asked, wondering if he should offer to help. Nervously, he crossed his arms, and sat down on the canal wall. The sun sat, casting a bronze glow over the girl and the large wheel.

"On Mars we have a saying: Even the heavy wheel of destiny is light when turned in the right direction" She said as she spun the wheel.

He laughed. "What does that mean?"

"No task is beyond you, if you get the technique right" She beamed as the wheel turned smoothly.

"I suppose then, you don't need any help" He said. She moved to the next wheel, patently ignoring him. Yet she kept glancing at him.

When she wasn't looking, he moved so that he stood behind her. She didn't notice, and a slight scowl was on her face as she looked at where he'd been sitting. Her head turned to see if he'd left--then she noticed he was standing behind her.

He smiled slightly, but the expression of his eyes was hidden by the faded light. "If I help you, maybe we'll make it back in time for the dances?" His breath tickled the back of her neck, as his low voice flickered over the words like a candle flame.

She wasn't sure if it was deliberate, but his hands touched hers lightly on the sun-warmed gold.

Craning her head around, she saw that his face was near hers, so she ducked a little when she responded "I'm glad you decided to accept your punnishment after all."

He laughed, and said in a low whisper she wasn't really meant to hear, "My Lady, if this is how you punnish, I can't promise to behave."

"Rewards are better--do a good job, and I'll see you when you're done." She squirmed out from under him as the wheel opened, heading back to the palace. He groaned as he noticed how many more wheels there were. What had he gotten himself into?

Present Day ----%@

He wanted to remember. He didn't want to be alone--he was distanced from even the memory of people who might have loved him.

Who had he left behind? Why didn't they try to find him? Why couldn't he find himself?

Too many questions, and no answers. Rei had told him little about how he'd originally come to work at the temple. She claimed he'd showed up, worked hard, and without a word dissappeared just as mysteriously as he'd come. She left out the details. Vague clouds of doubt surrounded everything he knew.

And then last night, he'd had this dream:

He was standing in a garden, a palace rising up in the distance. Rich green tendrils of plants and roses in rainbow of colors surrounded him. Yet despite the peace of the scene, he'd felt this uneasiness. He was tense. A beautiful woman with long dark Raven hair, a soft red gown stood before him. She said "Be safe my love--"

"Your visions--why won't you tell me what you see? It hurts me that you carry this burden by yourself." He told her.

"I must learn...for what am I to do when I am cut off from you--who knows how long it will be--" Came her reply.

"What do your visions say?' He asked her.

"Forever" she said under her breath, but forcing a bright smile. "You must keep a positive attitude--you will win, you must. And then, I'm just worryng needlessly. It's just with the moonshield--and the cessation of travel between our worlds..the war on yours...I'm feeling out of sorts...Oh, just hold me...that is why I came." She said.

He opened his arms to his beautiful love. "It will be lonely without you." She said, her head nestled in his chest..

"You are in my heart--so I cannot be lonely." He replied, jokingly chastizing her. "Don't be so serious. I want to hear your laugh."

"You are never serious. But take this." She said, handing him a scroll with silverly writing on it.

"What is it?" He said fingering it.

"If you are attacked--if your life is in danger,--use this and you can teleport right into the MoonKingdom, despite the shields. It...will only work for you once--but"

"Does Queen Serenity know of this?"He asked.

"No....I didnt tell her or anyone else...but only use this if you are in desperate need..or else you will be in grave danger!" She mock threatened...the sadness and fear were too strong for her threat to seem real.

"Keep safe my love," She said, as she vannished in a red light, her clothes instantly changing to a short skirt adorned with bows.

"Remember I love you." He called. "And with that love --nothing bad can happen."

What the dream meant, he didn't know. The level of d etail made him feel as if the dream was more than just a dream...Was he looking at shadows for meaning?

Jaedite pondered his situation, as he entered the meditation room. Perhaps soothing his mind would lead him to know more about himself...or at least ready himself for the knowledge. What would he do, he asked himself again, if he didn't like the answers? That is if he ever found any...

Resolutely he narrowed his eyes, willing the world away. A sharp catch of breath brought the world, and Rei sharply into his focus. She was usually cool or angry, but she was definitely neither now.

"I didn't mean to disturb you..." she said, visibly disturbed herself.

"What's wrong?" He said, his own worries forgotten...that something was burning into her was obvious. Hot tears had recently streaked down her delicate face, and her eyes were limp, their usual sparkle hiding under the emotion that overpowered her.

"Nothing...I..."She murmurred softly.

"Then why were you crying?"

"I wasn't--I ...oh, I stubbed my toe." The lie was obvious. " Are you done?" She said, though her reply was not as snappy as he was used to. "I want to meditate...alone"

He was tempted to say fine, forget her, if she does not want his help. Yet he could see that beyond that wall, she was shaking inside. She did not want to ask for help but she needed it.

"So what weren't you crying about?" He asked softly. "Where were you?"

Maybe she would have started to tell him, but her grandfather came in.

"AH! Jed...you did a good job on the trees--but now I have another chore for you. You must find more pretty young girls, for the ceremony...and .oh, hello Rei." He said noticing his granddaughter .."And of course ...he stopped, noticing her angry look.

"Grandpa, have I not told you to stop..."

"I'm not doing a thing--it is for a traditional celebration... "

"Oh really? Which one? " she said.

He smiled... "You should tell me. " He said mysteriously. "Where did you go today, young lady?"

"I went to see Chad...but Grandfather..."

Her grandfather was beaming, though he still cut her off. "Ah, yes, the life here has not been the same without him...it will be good for it to return to normal..."

"Normal?" She asked, her voice tearing.

"Someone from his family called to reserve the temple for a wedding....I should be angry with you Rei, for not telling me!" Her grandfather scolded. As he left the room, .."And at him for not asking permission! He'd get it of course..But I am so happy.. I have so much to do to prepare for the wedding!"

"Congratulations Rei." Jaedite said dryly. Why did it bother him to know this girl was to be married? He had no claim on her life....or her heart...he pushed that emotion aside. "Who's the lucky guy? When's the wedding?"

Rei looked as if she were about to explode. "Stop it! Stop it! Don't congratulate me!!" She screamed.

"Why not? What's wrong? Don't you want to get married?"

"Yes!"

"Then what's the problem?"

"Because, you dimwit, *I*'m not getting married!" She ran to her room.

"Then why are we having the ceremony?"He called after her as he followed her there.

"Chad wanted my grandfather and I to have the wedding here..his wedding to Sarah...." She put her head in her hands, mumbling the sounds.

"Who's this "Cad?" He asked.

"Chad. "

"Whatever...who is he?"

"He's...he was a discpile here...he was my friend.... outside of the Sai, er the girls, he was my best friend.. He was part of my life....."

"And?" he asked, coming closer. He knew what she meant-- she didn't let everyone into her life--like the walls that surrounded her temple, she gaurded herself. For whatever reason, she'd let this Chad in, and he'd walked out... Jed wanted to hold her, physically hug the pain out of her...but he knew he couldn't get too close too soon. He wasn't behind the walls yet...and like fire, Rei needed careful handling, if he ever was to gain entry to her world.

"And he was in love with me!" she looked up, her black eyes wet with tears. "I told him I couldn't love him. .and he left..."

"So you turned him down..he found someone else....you should be relieved."

"Should be...but I'm not...I ...feel like I just woke up--and its too late. I love him."

Jaedite paused..He hadn't expected that. The thought occured to him, that he had an opportunity here--she was vulnerable...she'd been hurt.. but, no, he didn't want to win entry that way. He wanted her respect, her friendship...and if that was what he wanted, he had to deserve it. He edged away, and leaned against the chair.

"It seems to me, that if you love this guy , then you can't just give up."

"What do you mean?"

"It's never too late for love, so don't give up." He said in an offhand tone...like he was reading a greeting card. It was trite and meaningless, and he knew it.

"He's the one that gave up."

"No...he may just be confused and lonely--Did you tell him how you feel?" He was more serious, his voice low, comforting.

She paused as if thinking of something..or someone... "Why would that matter? Destiny guides you to your love." She said softly. "But not everything is meant to be... no matter how you feel."

"Exactly...I don't think you should give up like this--arrange the wedding and smile all the while your heart is breaking? I'm just a stranger, and I don't know you...but I know that is not you."

"No...I don't suppose it is...but neither is disrupting things that are meant to be. You don't know me if you think I would do that "She said... "It's not as if I've never stepped aside before....what if they're destined to be together? How could I stand in the way of destiny?"

"You can't....but only cause it has no way.. Destiny exists only retroactively. It's merely what we call a chain of past events."

"I don't believe that. Some things are just *meant* to be."

"Maybe...but how do you know which? Who's version do you want to believe? One that makes you happy--or one that condemns you? Be fair to yourself."

She laughed dryly, without amusement. "What do you know? A man without memory, morals or honor...what do you know about duty...love...justice" She said.

To his credit, he let the unprovoked attack roll off him. He knew she wasn't angry at him but at the situation.

"I don't remember myself enough to disagree with you." He smiled wryly. "Look, Rei, I'm only telling you what I believe...because I can't see life as worth living if my choices didn't matter.... We can't get in destiny's way--we create it."

"I have a friend who'd disagree with that..." She said calmly. "Destiny is set"

"In that case, even better, because you can't mess it up." He smiled. "You need to make yourself happy."

"Happiness is most fleeting when pursued for itself" She said. "That is the difference between you and I. I believe that other people's happiness matters as much as mine."

"Actually, that's not the difference. I think we both know people who's happiness matters more to us than our own" He paused, his tone lowering again ".but that doesn't mean sacrificing our own will make others happier...it may make things worse" He continued. "Your assuming they're meant to be without even, I bet, having seen them together or telling him how you feel. Right?"

She lowered her head, staring at her hands "How could I say anything?"

"How could you not? Rei, this is your heart... Give him a choice, and give yourself a chance..." He edged out the door.

"And while your at it, Lady Rei, give me one to prove I'm not evil."

Confused she stared after him.

Early the next morning, as Jed practiced the sunrise exercises, he turned to find Rei watching. She had to admire the graceful and powerful figure he made--he'd certainly caught on to the practices much quicker than Chad...

"I'm going to do it." She said. "I'm going to get him back."

Jed looked up and pushed away the urge to ask himself what he had done..And what he was doing? But the renewed sparkle in her eyes made him feel he'd continue. "Good. Now you need a plan."

"A plan?" She asked..."Why?"

"You have to time these things...its a delicate situation. Have you even met the fiance?"

"Chad asked me to have tea with her tomorrow." Rei said.

"There you go. Meet her, and maybe you'll see a reason why they're not right together. At least you'll see the competition."

Jed smiled to himself. That was something he'd like to do-- meet this Chad. For he'd started thinking of him as the competition.

"I won't view this as a contest." Rei said....though she couldn't stop picturing herself, crowned champion, with Chad as a trophy..embarrased she shook off the picture..

"No, it's war..."He said winking at her. Annoyed, but not sure why, she shoved him out of her way. His low, sonorous laugh followed her down the stairs of the temple.

"So, Rei why the sudden interest in how I make these things?" Lita said as she helped Rei prepare special sweets.

"I have a tea tomorrow." Rei said, frowning as she tasted her product--still not quite right. "I have to try again. This isn't perfect..."

"Of course not" Lita giggled. "This is hard, and took a lot of practice for me to make! Why don't we try something more basic?"

"NO. It has to be *this*. " She said adamantly.

"Why is this Jaedite's favorite?" Lita asked.

"No, it's Chad's---"Rei said before she thought.

"Chad?" Lita's eyes widened. "What about Jaedite?"

"What about him? He was our enemy, now he's a man without a home, studying at my temple"

"But you have memories..you and he were..."

"He knows none of that." She said.

"But you do..."

"I try to forget it...The Jaedite I loved betrayed me. It's ancient history anyway...Jed's just Jed to me."

"If Nephrite were alive..." Lita said dreamily.

"You'd what? Don't tell me I should just welcome him into my life--Serena and Darrien weren't easy to get together...and they were *destined* for each other."

"So, maybe we were destined for them" Lita said, her tone still dreamy but unsure. "It's what we've all thought... and you have a second chance.."

"Second chance? There's no chance I will *ever* *love* that traitor...he may seem a different person, as if he's cured...but I can't trust him, let alone love him!" Rei caught up, went on "Don't you see-- I gave him my love, and he served BERRYL. ..we died twice trying to defeat her, or don't you remember?"

"He's a new person now, Rei." Lita said, calmly despite her irate friend's tone, Lita didn't want to battle. "Just like we were reborn."

"I don't care. That time of my life is gone. They're gone. It was never meant to be..." Rei said pounding the unfortunate tea delicacy.

Lita's anger flared up at that. "Well, Miss Perfect,I think you're ungrateful. We saw what happened in the past--what you meant to each other. You can't walk away from that."

"He walked away the day he betrayed me." She said with finality "And beside's, Jed's not the man I love...."

Lita tried to calmm herself...."And who is?"

Rei also snapped a lid on her temper. "Chad." The word came out like a sob.

Lita's eyes went wide again..."When did you decide that?"

"When I heard he was getting married." Rei confessed." To someone else"

Lita slumped, gasping against the counter...aghast, she declared "I don't believe it!" She paused..." So that's why your not interested in Jed?"

"No." She looked at her watch. "I have to go, or I"ll be late."

"I can't believe it...Chad's getting married...." Lita sighed. "He always was so cute with you...too bad you didn't know how you felt about him before he found someone else.." Rei nodded....gathering her things. "didn't take long though."Lita added, earning a death glance from Rei.

"Thank's a lot Lita" Rei sputtered, opening the door.

"Still...Jed sure is cute...kind of like my old boyfriend..." Lita said, her eyes fogging up with thoughts of romance. "I wonder if he'd go for me?"

"NO. STAY AWAY FROM HIM" Rei snapped. A second later, she calmed a bit, embarrased at her overreaction. She added "Goodbye, thanks for the cooking tips"

Lita mumbled " Yeah...Bye....Well...how do you like that" she muttered to herself. The phone began to ring. Before answering it, she mumbled to herself, "She doesn't want him for herself, but won't let me have a shot... she's as bad as Serena was four years ago!"

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