Author's Note:Ok, almost a year has passed since they met and were going to see whats been going on. Chapter 5......      Almost a year had gone by since Serena's trip to Earth and during that time nothing in her life had changed. Her mother had never found out and the Senshi had kept there word on keeping it a secret.      But for her many things had changed. For one thing, she was a woman now, and those stolen moments with Darien haunted her daily. At night she lay awake for hours remembering his touch, his voice, his handsome face. She didn't like admitting it, but she missed him. She missed him every single day and moment, which actually confused her. She didn't even know him.      She was sitting in the gardens, twirling a rose around her fingers when Mina came to her."Serena, your mother wants to speak to you."      She glanced up."Oh really?"she said in a detached voice.      Mina sighed."Serena! Come on!"      She stood reluctantly, putting the rose to her nose, inhaling the sweet aroma."Alright. Lets go."she walked slowly to the meeting hall, where her mother stood waiting for her. Mina left them alone.      "Come closer dear, I have something I have to tell you."the Queen said.      Serena moved to stand before her."What is it mother?"      "I believe I told you of the Grand Ball thrown every 100 years here on the Moon where every planet in the universe is in attendance."the Queen began."Its a tradition that began millions of years ago and has continued into today....and now its our turn."      She looked at her mother."Every planet? Even Earth?"she asked softly.      "Well, lets hope there King decides to attend. Relations with them are so tense because they refuse to join the Silver Millinium, but hopefully they will."she smiled at her daughter."This is an important day in your life. It is the day everyone will meet you, the next Queen of the Moon."      She nodded, looking away, her thoughts on Darien."Yea....important."      The Queen studied her and decided to let her go. Serena hardly seemed interested in what they were speaking of."Dear, go ahead and go. I'll take care of everything."      "Ok."she turned and left the room, stopping when she came face to face with Mina standing outside the door.      "Serena, whats wrong with you? Ever since that trip to Earth you haven't been the same."Mina said."Did he matter that much to you?"      That snapped her out of her mood."No, he didn't matter to me. He mattered as much to me as I mattered to him."she walked away and Mina followed.      "Well then he must have mattered a lot."Mina said."Because according to what I've been hearing, Darien hasn't been the same ever since a certain party thrown almost a year ago. No more women, no more parties, he hardly talks to anyone. They say that its because a mysterious woman came and left him."she leaned closer to her."They say he loves her."      "Enough Mina, I don't want to hear it."she struggled to hide how her words had upset her."Its over and I don't want to speak of it ever again!"      Darien was training in the fields with his men when a messenger came. He didn't move to retrieve the message, so Malachite did, taking it and opening it to read it.      "Darien, the Queen of the Moon is throwing the Grand Ball in a few days and she wants you to attend."Malachite said.      He didn't answer, only continued training.      "You should go."Jediet, Neflyte, and Zoisite approached them."This is something that happens only once a century."      Malachite nodded."This would be good for relations."      He stopped and wiped the sweat from his face with a towel."I don't think so."      "Darien!"Neflyte said, frustrated."You have to forget about that girl and get out! This ball is a perfect oppurtunity!"      "He's right."Malachite agreed."You can't keep this up. You have to come back to us one day."      He glared at them."I'll think about it."      They all grinned."Thats better then nothing."      The Grand Ball took place on a beautiful, starry night, with hundreds of happy men and women in attendance. There were fireworks, shampagne, and dancing.      Serena stood at her throne through it all, as still as a statue, her eyes observing over everyone. She looked absolutely radiant, wearing her silk white Princess gown, her hair in her usual style, her beautiful features set in a serious expression. She would nod to people who spoke to her now and then, but made no attempt at having a conversation with anyone.      The Outer Senshi had come to the party, all of them shocked at the change that had taken place in there princess. Amara climbed the steps to the throne, holding her hand out to Serena, looking exceptionally handsome in a black tuxedo.      "Dance with me?"she asked quietly.      Serena smiled at her and took her hand."Alright."      Amara led her out onto the dance floor, taking her in her arms and leading her gracefully across the room."Whats happened to you Serena? Has my absence really affected you that much?"she teased gently.      "I'm the same as I was last time you saw me."Serena whispered.      Darien walked into the Grand Ballroom, his four Generals following. He adjusted his tuxedo, glancing about the room, a frown on his handsome face.      "Well....here we are."he ignored the sudden rush of women who were all pointing at him and sighing openly."I hope the four of you are satisfied."      Moments later he was taking the Queen of the Moons hand, bending over it and kissing it."Its an honor to finally meet you in person, your highness."he said, staring at her intently. She looked.....she looked so much like her.....      "As you Darien. I'm very pleased you decided to attend, my daughter seemed acutely interested in whether or not you would be here."the Queen replied.      "Your daughter?"he asked quietly.      "Yes, she's right up there."she turned and pointed at the throne's, but stopped when she didn't see her."Oh well, she was there. Serena is so unpredictable."      He hardly heard what she had last said because he had seen a flash of golden hair, a flash of pure white skin. He frowned and walked past the Queen, into the crowd of dancing couples....... I know its getting good, but I just had to cut it off. More will come soon! So stay tuned for Chapter 6!