Author's Note: here's the first chapter, hope your enjoying! The story basically moves into its plot quickly because its how I planned it to be. It will slow down a bit after most of the events happen.

Ares, King of Earth, proud son of Nemesis, a dangerous, yet most handsome man in the universe, stood on the huge balcony of his Kingdom, his hands folded behind his back, his sharp, opaque eyes riveted on the sight below. In the early morning he wore black trousers and a black shirt, with long black boots that reached to midcalf. His hair was thick and as dark as his attire, his expression hard as he watched the shuttle that had come from the Moon landing slowly on the space port hundreds of feet before the palace. And even though his features were fierce, he looked dangerously handsome, with the wind ruffling through his dark hair. His eyebrows were dark and drawn into a scowl, his nostrils flared, his usually sensual lips drawn into a tight line.

His outer appearance was rigid and tight, the bulging muscles of his arms strained as he held them in check. His shoulders were broad and strong, his chest massive in size from years of training in hand to hand combat. His waist was narrow, his legs thick with muscle as well. Standing there on his balcony, his eyes on the sight in the distance, he displayed the proud countenance of a man in his prime.

The shuttle landed safely, the engines shutting off as he watched. In it was the Queen of the Moon, Selenity, and the love of his late brother’s life. Endymion had loved her fiercely, so much it had amazed him. He himself had never felt love for any woman in such a way. They were there for his bodily purposes, there for satisfaction and nothing more.

He had never met the woman, but from what Endymion had said, she was absolutely perfect. Then again, everyone told him that. It had made him curious to see her, to meet her. He hadn't had enough time in the past couple of years to call her to him, had mostly made excuses to himself, but now he finally had. Everything on his planet seemed to be neutrally taken care of and he finally had time to himself. It seemed the perfect time to meet her and thank her for her alliance to the Earth.

When the knock came at his door, he walked out, shutting the door to his chambers as his head General spoke to him, Endymion’s replacement. "She's landed." Malachite informed him, although Ares was aware of it.

"We go to meet her then." Ares walked ahead of him, Malachite following.

They saddled horses and rode out, the carriage for the royal family following. The carriage would be brought along for Selenity to ride in, as well as her guard. She had brought only two guards with her, leaving the other two on the Moon, from what he'd been informed. It showed great respect to her and her guard for the royal carriage to be there passage back to the palace.

Bringing his galloping stallion to a halt before the shuttle, he dismounted and approached the shuttle, where the Queen remained, waiting for him. "Inform her majesty that I have arrived for her." He told a Moon soldier, who nodded and entered the shuttle.

Moments passed, with him pacing outside. He had always been a restless man, never able to keep still. His mother had often told him he had a restless soul, but he had paid little heed to that. To him, keeping busy was essential in life. He wasn't a man to sleep an afternoon away, or to even sit and relax. Laziness accomplished nothing.

Endymion had been like him to only a certain extent. He had trained with Ares, sparred with him, kept up with him, until his own body had given out. He had often left his older brother to go and relax, take a quiet break while Ares continued his day. There father, Nemesis, had approved of Ares' persistence, of his never faltering desire to achieve his goal until he was the best. He had been pleased with his strong son and been relieved he would leave Earth to such a leader.

Nemesis had always favored Ares over Endymion, praising his older son, never supporting Endymion at any moment. It had confused Ares, made him wonder why there father had seemed forever angry with his younger son. Endymion had been strong and full of courage, like Ares, but Nemesis had never been pleased.

The shuttle doors opened, drawing Ares' attention back to the present time. Stopping his pacing, he walked back to and stood before the entrance at the bottom of the ramp, watching as two tall women emerged dressed in warriors clothing. One was beautiful, with long blonde hair and eyes as blue as the ocean, her features set in an unmoving expression. She had a slim body, yet strong as well.

Dismissing her, he turned to eye the other guard, a large woman with brown hair and deep green eyes. She was even taller and seemed stronger then the blonde woman, her eyes surveying him and his men standing before them.

The two women moved aside and it was then that a brilliant light seemed to fill his vision, so bright he took a moment to blink against it. When it faded and he looked back, a woman with long, silvery hair, deep blue eyes and pearly white skin walked slowly down the ramp. Her features were stunning and absolutely perfect, her eyebrows small and above almond shaped eyes, her nose small, her lips shaped sensually and pink against flawless skin. She was smaller then her guard, barely seeming to reach his shoulders as she came to a stop a few feet before him. She wore a white, flowing gown that clung to her shapely curves, her breasts small and supple, her waist tiny.

He could feel his eyes bugging out of his head, could feel such raging lust filling him as he had never felt before. And being a man, he hardened immediately.

Uncomfortable with it and with the desire he felt for his late brothers fiancé, he cleared his throat. "I welcome you to Earth, your highness. I am-"

"Ares, King of Earth." She interjected, her voice soft and husky. "I would recognize you anywhere. You have your brother’s eyes."

He had known this all his life, but hearing her say it bothered him. He didn't want her looking at him and seeing his dead brother. "Yes, so others have said. It seems that is the only feature we both shared, acquired from our mother."

She smiled, slow and so beautiful he could feel his heart pounding. "Yes, your right." She cocked her head to the side, studying him with such obvious appraisal he was shocked. "You look nothing like him."

When she offered her hand he took it, bending over it and brushing his lips over it. He had never done this act for any other woman, not even his own mother. It made him wonder what kind of power this goddess of beauty and light could already have over him.

He straightened and offered her his arm, her small hand coming to rest in the crook of his powerful arm. Together, they walked to the waiting carriage.

"He flustered you Selene." Mina, head guardian to the Queen of the Moon, stated flatly. She watched as her Queen stood at her balcony, watching something out in the courtyard.

Selene kept her eyes on the man below, the dark man who’s eyes had caused chills to run up her spine. He stood naked to the waist, a sword in hand as he trained with his four Generals. His upper body was thick with muscle, glistening with sweat and filling her with such desire she felt her mouth go dry.

When Selene didn't answer, Mina snapped, "Selene! Did you hear what I said?!"

She snapped to attention, but didn't tear her eyes from him. "What is it Mina?"

"I said, 'he flustered you.'" she repeated, annoyed.

Lita walked to the balcony, glancing down and noting what had there Queen so enraptured. "He is quite the man, isn't he Selene? Makes a woman want when she knows she shouldn't, doesn't he?"

Selene sucked in a sharp breath when he glanced up and there eyes locked, when he stared up at her with an intensity that was almost frightening. "Yes....God, yes he does." when she couldn't hold his gaze any longer she looked away, nervous. This wouldn't do. Endymion had never caused such emotions inside her.

Mina stalked over to the balcony as well, saw him staring up at her still. "No. No, goddamnit no! Not with him!" she whispered it fiercely to them."You cannot want this with him!"

"How do you know what I want?" where her body had never ruled, now it seemed to dominate. Her heightened desire for him was causing her to become frustrated with sexual desire.

"It’s easy to see in your eyes what you want with him." Mina hissed at her, glaring at him when he still refused to look away. "We came here invited and-"

"And I found something I didn't think to find ever." Selene murmured, shocking both of her guard. "Tonight, I will sleep alone. The two of you will sleep in the room across from mine."

Mina was aghast. "You mean to welcome him into your bed? You mean to-"

"What I do is my concern." Selene looked back at him, found his blue eyes seeming to be asking her a question. "What I do, I do willingly."

At dinner she went with her guard to the dining hall, finding him waiting. She was a bit surprised to find him pacing the room, but didn't mention it when he stopped to move forward and take her hand. He led her to a seat, scooting it back in for her when she was seated.

Once the food had been brought in and set on the table before them, he sat back with his glass of wine in his hand, swirling the dark fluid as she delicately ate her meal. "Your the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." he whispered, completely captivated by her beauty.

She stopped eating and smiled at him, flattered by the honest statement. "Thank you." she was quiet a moment. "I must say, I've never seen a more handsome man, but your seriousness does frighten me. Do you smile?"

He stopped swirling the wine, stared at her, then began to laugh. "I think that’s the most honest thing anyone has ever said to me. Not even Endymion would ever-" he cut off, frowning suddenly and staring down into his wine.

The air between them was heavy with guilt, guilt that they could desire one another with such ferocity when the one they had each loved had died not so long ago. "I remember him now as the man I once loved." she whispered to him, watching his eyes lift slowly to meet hers. "But he is only a memory. I have to move on with my life. I cannot stay trapped in the past for the rest of my life."

He knew the truth in those words, but Endymion had been his brother, his other half. "I miss him."

She reached out, covered his hand with hers. That simple touch sent a hot current of desire over them, so much she snatched her hand away and stood, backing away from the table as he shot to his feet, his chair crashing back with the force with which he had stood. Lust bubbled up and into her throat, but fear came with it. When he began advancing on her, she squealed and turning, ran from the room.

He stood there alone, cursing his stupidity, cursing the fact that he could desire his brother’s fiancé.

But his brother wasn't there anymore.

Endymion had been dead for four years now, four long years of loneliness for him and he was sure for Selene as well. Even though there had not been much turmoil in the galaxy for the past years, he knew that the two of them had deliberately avoided one another, deliberately spoken through messengers to avoid seeing Endymion in each other.

He trudged upstairs to his room, going inside and running a frustrated hand through his hair. Perhaps they had had the right idea in avoiding one another. Perhaps they should have kept there distance, at least until one of them had married.

That thought made him wonder. If Endymion had lived, if he had met Selene four years ago, would he still feel this raging desire for her inside him? Would he still want her more then anything he had ever wanted in his entire life? Would he have felt everything he was feeling now, then as well?

The thoughts burned his tired brain and he wasn't even sure what the answer could be. There was no way of knowing how they would have felt such a long time ago. What mattered was how they felt now.

Pacing his room, angry with himself and his out of control hormones, he walked out to his balcony, standing under the moonlight and staring up at the dark sky. Closing his eyes, he let the cool air wash over him, let it calm his insides. And just as he felt himself evening out, he opened his eyes and looked to his right, finding Selene stepping out onto her balcony several feet from his, wearing a thin, cream colored robe over her exquisite body.

The passion came back, so sharp he could almost feel it clawing at his back. Staggered, but curious to watch, he stood quietly, not disturbing her.

She did the same as he had, staring up at the Moon with a sort of wistfulness in her eyes. Her silvery hair shone like glass under the Moon, her blue eyes two pools of blazing sapphires. Her small hand came up and clutched the robe tightly about herself and he watched her shiver delicately, watched her eyes falter and dart over to him, as if she felt his intense gaze. And as there eyes met, time seemed to stand still.

Staring at her, into her, he felt something warm spreading over him, something soft and gentle coming from his heart and enveloping him. Admiring her there, under the soft light from the Moon, he fell in love.

Her eyes were huge as she stared at him, as she stood watching him. He read something in her eyes, but couldn't make it out. Hoping it was acceptance, he took a step forward, but stopped himself. Swearing violently, he turned and stalked back into his room, shutting his terrace doors with a snap.

He couldn't do this to his brother, he just couldn't. Endymion had loved her with everything he could give, everything he had. He could still remember the joy that had come across his brother’s face, the love and longing that had filled his voice when he had spoken of her. She had been so much to him.

Cursing violently, he reminded himself that Endymion was no longer among them. He had mourned his memory for years, how much longer would he? Would he give up a woman who made him feel more then anyone else ever had for his dead brother?

When the night grew warm, he stripped off his shirt, kicking off his shoes. Leaving his black trousers on, he paced the room silently, thoughts running riot in his head as he argued with his mind and heart in what to do. Without his realizing it, time ticked by, so much that before he knew it it was past one, the palace quiet now except for the soft steps of the night guards patrolling outside.

Because he had never given himself luxurious, never allowed it to himself before, he marched from and left his room, padding down the large hallway of the palace toward the room he had placed her in. His mind set and determined, he made it to the double doors of her room, standing outside quietly, debating with himself whether or not to enter.

Taking a deep breath and praying she wouldn't screech at the sight of him, he quietly opened one door, stepping in and shutting it behind him with a soft click. She had left the curtains to the balcony open and the light from the Moon shone in, preventing the room from being pitched in darkness. It occurred to him then that her guard might be with her, as was custom. When the Queen went on visits to foreign planets her guard always slept in the room with her, ready for any type of danger that might come.

As the thought crossed, his eyes surveyed the room, his body tense for an attack that might come at any moment. Studying his surroundings, he realized her guard were not with her. She was alone.

Amazed at his luck, he walked across the room to her large, four post bed, the filmy, see through white curtains drawn around it. He watched her lying there, her silvery hair spread out around her like a soft cloud, her pale skin gleaming under the light from the Moon, her body covered by a single sheet from the bed. She was naked beneath.

Just as the thought struck, his body roared to life, his hands clenching into fists at his sides to restrain himself from simply reaching out and grabbing her. He wouldn't frighten her. She was fragile, soft as nothing had ever been in his life. This he would treat with the utmost care.

When he was sure his control was in place, sure he wouldn't grab her and ravish, she opened her eyes, looking up at him calmly as if she had known he was there.

Her eyes, the swirling blue of them, captivated him, caused his insides to melt as nothing ever had. As if in slow motion he watched her sit up, watched her hold the thin sheet against her naked torso, watched her reach out with her free hand and draw back the see through curtain. Breath held, he watched her small hand curl around his large one, and felt her tug him gently in.

Taking the initiative, he climbed in and on top of her as she let the sheet drop and revealed her beautiful, perfect breasts to his view. As he lowered onto her, as her back touched the mattress and her arms came up to twine about his neck, he felt those exquisite breasts touch the hardness of his chest, felt the small nipples graze him and cause desire to rage through him.

With his eyes on hers he lowered his lips to hers, halting when her fingers curled into his hair and held. "I was hoping you'd come." She whispered before raising her lips to his.

That statement alone was enough to drive him wild, but he calmed himself, pressed his lips to hers and enjoyed the sensation of becoming familiar with her texture and taste. He made sure to keep one of his hands on her waist, his thumb rolling lazy circles around the sensitive flesh, while his other large hand cupped one of those perfect breasts and massaged it gently. When she gasped at his touch he took the advantage and slid his tongue into her mouth, took the kiss deeper as his hand palmed her breast, his thumb flicking across the hardened, tiny tip, her legs opening and creating a cradle for his body to sink into.

It came to him in his aroused state that his large body fit perfectly against hers, as if they had been made to fit one another.

Drawing his lips from hers, he gazed down at her, at the half closed blue eyes, at the parted lips that now panted out uneven breaths as he continued to squeeze her breast. Enjoying her distress, he pressed his hips into hers so she could feel his desire for her, felt her own small hips arch against him. Smiling, he lowered and began kissing her neck, working his tongue to her ear, where he took the small lobe between his teeth and pulled. Licking it gently, he continued his pursuit and worked his way down until he made it to her free breast, where he ran the tip of his tongue torturously around the nipple.

"Ares...." she groaned, arching against him, "please....."

"Please what?" he asked, his voice low and almost growling as he slowly ran his tongue across the nipple over and over.

"Oh God...."her hands were clutching his hair, pulling as he continued his sweet torture. "Oh....oooooh...."

Deciding he'd waited long enough, he clamped his lips over the small nub and drew her into his mouth, sucking fiercely, hungrily. With a small cry she released his hair and dug her hands into the mattress, her hips arching off the bed and lifting him with her.

"Sweet little one." He murmured, taking the nipple between his teeth and pulling. "I've been waiting for you."

Releasing her other breast from his hand, he slid his way down her flat stomach, to the hot, aching center between her thighs. Before she could comprehend what he was doing, he had cupped her golden mound and slid a finger in, testing the wetness, the tightness there. She could only gasp and open for him, panting heavily as his hand and mouth worked magic over her body.

He'd never thought of sex as making love before, never bothered to consider it could be a gentle, sweet act and not the fast, animal urge he had always looked at it as. The other women he'd had had known his game, had been aware what he wanted and how he wanted it. They'd known not to get ideas on becoming the new Queen of Earth because he would never marry. He'd long since decided marriage wasn't for him. He'd even decided that the first male Endymion and Selene produced he would name his heir.

Perhaps things would change now, he mused as he stroked his finger inside her, licked delicately at her breast. He'd never felt this way before, never loved anything or anyone, except his brother.

When he rose, when he positioned himself and thrust inside, his mind went blank for a moment as her hips froze beneath his.

She was a virgin.

He could feel her tightening her inner muscles around him, had heard her sharp cry of pain and watched now as she shut her eyes tight and bit her lip. Amazed, completely taken back, he bent and kissed her, kissed her until she was once again languid beneath him.

When he pulled back she gazed up at him, her blue eyes soft. "I didn't know." he whispered to her, his meaning clear.

She smiled, reached a hand up to stroke his cheek. "Now you do." she murmured back.

After another moment of kissing her and stroking her breasts, he began to move, slowly, letting her become accustomed to him. When she began to gasp, when her nails clawed at his back and urged him on, he picked up the pace, slipping his hand beneath her buttocks and lifting her closer to him.

He couldn't see anything but her, couldn't breathe anything but her scent. It was as if the world had faded away and only the two of them existed, had always existed for this one moment, this one time.

The two of them were the most powerful beings in the universe, although others thought she wasn't. She was too delicate to be and that was what her guard was for after all. But she had no need for her guard, could protect herself against anything or anyone. And as there bodies grew hotter, as there mating grew more passionate, a aura was being released by them, an invincible aura of immense strength and mysterious power.

Panting and straining, teeth clenched, they plunged together.

Mina and Lita sat awake in the room across from Selene's, unable to sleep after the huge surge of power they'd both felt. They'd known what it had come from, and each wondered what to believe now. There Queen had been pure, a virgin, even untouched by Endymion.

Now she had been taken by the most notorious man in the universe.

"What now?" Mina mumbled, Lita turning to look at her. "He's taken her. She belongs to him."

"Why do you say that?"

Mina gave Lita a look. "No two people could ever release such energy together. They did it, it came from them. It’s a sign, you know that."

Lita nodded. "Yea I know." and it worried her, that unlimited power they'd felt. "I never thought it would happen with him. I thought it would have been Endymion."

They were both silent a moment. "Perhaps it would have happened with Endymion, if he had lived."

"Perhaps." Lita walked to the balcony they had in there room, looked up at the stars and thought of her home, Jupiter. "This worries me. It worried me with Endymion, it worries me now with his brother as well."

Mina frowned, went to stand next to her. "What are you talking about?"

"Haven't you ever wandered who Selene's father was?"

Mina blinked. "I....thought about it, but never too much." she shrugged. "She was the Queens daughter, that’s always been enough for me." she watched Lita's expression, felt dread niggling at the back of her mind. "What is it?"

Lita ran a hand through her wild hair, blew out a breath. "My mother told me stories about the former King of Earth, Nemesis, before she died. She described him like.....like Ares. Tall, dark, dangerous, extremely handsome. He had a way with him that every woman within a twenty mile radius was drawn too." she rubbed a hand over her eyes. "It was rumored that he fathered Selene, but no one ever knew for sure."

"But....how? That’s not possible, they never met before the Millennium War."

"That’s not true. Not too many people know, but my mother told me stories. Stories on the both of them. She was Queen Serenity's guard, just like your mother was, like Amy and Raye's were. When they were young at least. Then they all married, had all of us, and went there separate ways. Queen Serenity no longer needed them and she also wanted them to have there own lives." she took a deep breath, remembered her mother's words to her in the last days before she had died. She had wanted Lita to understand just who she would be protecting, and also what might come. "He went to the Moon on an unexpected visit. My mother, all of our mothers, they were captivated with him. She said that the moment they all saw him they fell in love with him, that they couldn't help but. He was the most gorgeous man they had ever seen."

"They fought over him constantly in the first days he was there. Queen Serenity had been away on visits to one of the Outer planets, so he stayed and waited for her return. During that time they argued over him, even though he didn't pay attention to any of them. My mother said it was almost as if he had been there on a mission, something he'd been planning for sometime. He was....restless. He preferred to be alone then in there company." she ran her hand over the stone railing of the balcony, wandering if her own mother had ever stood here, in this place. "Then the Queen came back and he changed. One look at her and he was speechless. My mother said he acted like a young boy with his first love, stumbling over words with her, always wanting to please her."

"And the Queen? How did she react to him?" Mina whispered, wondering why her own mother had never told her any of this before passing on.

"My mother said she acted indifferent toward him, but they all knew she desired him. Not love, but desire. She said there was a great difference between the two." Lita shrugged. "I have yet to understand what that means, but its what she said. But anyway, nothing happened while he was there. None of them ever found out why he had even gone to see her and the Queen never told them either. They were friends and when they asked why he had come, she told them she didn't want to speak of it. She was different after. Something had changed in her."

"Time passed and lives changed. Our mothers all met there husbands, married them, and left to go home to there own planets. After that my mother wasn't sure what happened between the Queen and Nemesis, but she said she was aware that he visited her again. You, Raye, Amy, and I had already been born, all of us were a couple of months old when he went to the Moon again. He was there for two days before he returned to Earth." Lita shut her eyes a moment. "Selene was born nine months later."

Mina could feel horror filling her. If what Lita's mother had said was true, then that meant....."Oh God, no. That can't be. If that’s true then....there.....there....."

"Their half brother and sister." Lita finished for her. "Yes, I know. But what can we do? They've already.....been together. And even if it hadn't been him, it would have been Endymion."

"But THIS. Lita, we have to tell her." Mina started for the door but was brought up short by Lita's restraining hand.

"No. We don't know if the story my mother told me was true. She was....delirious her last days." and it hurt to remember, much less accuse her of anything. "She might not have known what she was saying."

Mina weighed Lita's words, knowing how much it cost her friend to say it. "There's only one way to find out."

"How?"

"Raye. Her mother is the only one left."

She was sleeping, her eyes closed softly, her body naked and sprawled across his chest. He brought his hand up and touched her silvery hair, fingering it, wondering at the color. She was so beautiful it took his breath away, made his heart lodge into his throat. He wondered if she would always have that affect on him.

With that thought came the reminder that he had taken her virginity. She had been untouched by even his brother. Even though he knew it was wrong, he was glad Endymion had never touched her. This possessive side of him surprised him, but he couldn't help it. He loved her. He had never loved another woman in his life.

He ran his hand down her naked back, felt her stir beneath his touch. "Ssshhh, go back to sleep." he whispered to her.

She lifted her head and smiled at him through eyes heavy with sleep and sated desire. "I think I'd rather stay awake."

He grinned, something he had rarely done in his life. "I bet." he ran his hand around and cupped her breast, watched her eyes flutter and her breath hitch. "Your soft." he observed, rolling her over and beneath him.

"And your hard." she smoothed her hands up his muscled arms, gasped when he pressed his hips into hers. "Really hard." she managed.

He laughed out loud, kissing her hard. "God I love you." Immediately horrified, he froze above her, then rolled from her and got out of bed, striding to the balcony and outside.

He stood leaning against the railing, uncaring to his naked state, listening as she joined him moments later, tying her robe on as she stopped next to him. "Does the thought horrify you that much?" she whispered, hurt.

He turned to look at her, surprised. "No. Not in the way you mean at least." taking a deep breath, he turned to her. "I've never loved another woman before in my life. I've never felt so strong for anything or anyone."

She lowered her eyes because she couldn't look at him and say the same. She had loved his brother with all her heart, with all her being. When he had died, she was sure she would have died with him if she hadn't had so many responsibilities. His loss had ripped at her heart.

And now she stood here, with his brother. This was something she never would have thought to happen, never would have planned in any way. But it had and she wasn't going to deny it to herself.

She reached out and took his hand, bringing it up to rub against her cheek. "I never thought I would feel this way again." she looked up at him, saw the hope there. "But I'm glad I do."

Hearing her say it lifted a heavy weight from his chest, but also made him think if what she felt for him was less then what she had felt for his brother. "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that." he drew her to him, held her and rested his cheek against her hair.

She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I also want you to know that what I feel for you is so different then what I felt for Endymion." she felt him stiffen and wondered what could have caused it. "Ares-"

He was already pushing her away, his face rigid. "It’s all right. I don't need an explanation."

"Yes you do. I want you to understand that-"

"No!" his shout cut her off, had her eyes widening, than narrowing when he turned his back on her. "I don't need to hear that you'll always love him more and that I'm the substitute brother."

Angry and insulted he would say that, much less think it, she stepped forward and slapped a hand on his arm, watching him turn to her with raised brows. "If you'll let me speak then I'll tell you what I wanted to say." her voice was cool, enough to make him curious to listen and forget his jealousy and hurt. "What I meant was that what I felt with Endymion was unique and I did love your brother." she waited a moment, knowing this moment would change her life. "But it pales in comparison to the love I feel for you."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing, what she had just said. He'd hoped to have her love, but never dreamed she would give him this much. "Selene....I...I didn't-"

She raised a delicate brow, eyeing him. "Didn't what?"

Not saying a word, he grabbed her and kissed her with such a fierceness and intensity she felt her heart constricting with all the love and desire she felt. Riding on that, she threw her arms around his neck and laughing, kissed him back.

Mina and Lita stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs the next morning, waiting impatiently for Selene to come downstairs for breakfast. It was already nearing noon and she hadn't appeared. Mina was worried still about all the things Lita had told her the night before, but Lita remained calm, standing still while Mina paced.

Hearing noise coming from the front of the palace, they both turned toward it and found Ares striding in, his four Generals right behind him. He saw them and scowled deeply. "You haven't disturbed her, have you?" he lashed out at them.

Mina opened her mouth to snap back, but Lita cut her off. "No, we haven't. We've been waiting for her to come downstairs, but she seems to be extremely tired." her meaning was clear.

Ares didn't even blink. "I go to get her." he left them there.

Mina glared at his retreating back, not noticing Ares' head General, a tall, handsome man with white hair and deep blue eyes eyeing her, moving closer. "You have a dislike for his majesty?" he asked, startling her.

She turned to him, blinked a moment at how gorgeous he was, how well built and absolutely male. "What I feel is none of your concern." she retorted, her mouth going dry when she saw those blue eyes making a slow survey of her body, lingering on her breasts. Between protecting her Queen and being head Guard to Selene's troops, she'd hardly had time for men in her life. Oh she'd had her share of lovers, but no man as handsome as this one had ever come across her. "What? Do I have dirt on my face?" she snapped when his blue eyes remained steadily on her face.

A prickly one, Malachite concluded. But the most beautiful, prickly woman he'd ever seen. Granted, she wasn't as beautiful as her Queen, but then, what woman was? "No, no dirt." he grinned at her, deliberately enflaming her anger. "I assume you are her majesties head General?"

A ripple of pride moved over her and she turned more fully toward him. "Yes I am. Mina, Head General to her majesty the Queen's troops, and Leader of Venus." she extended her hand to him.

Leader of Venus, he mused with some awe. That was impressive. There were only two ruling superpowers in this universe, the Queen of the Moon and the King of Earth. All others paled in comparison to there extraordinary strength. "Malachite, Head General to his Majesty the Kings troops, Guardian to the Northern regions of Earth." taking her hand, he bent over it and kissed it, amused when her eyes flamed with anger.

She snatched her hand from his, disgusted he would do such a thing. She had offered her hand in belief to there mutual strengths, not for the sake of his idiot desire. The last thing she would ever do was become involved with one of Ares' guard. Just as her lip curled, Lita interrupted what she could see would be a fine show of temper.

"I'm Lita, Guard to her Majesty the Queen and Leader of Jupiter.” she didn't offer her hand, but merely nodded to Malachite, then turned to the other three men, all extremely large in build, but not as much as there King. They were handsome, but the one closest to her was exceptional, with his deep chestnut hair and his sharp green eyes. She could feel his gaze on her, considering her as much as Malachite had been and was still considering Mina.

"It’s a pleasure." the gorgeous man spoke, taking another step closer to her. "I am Nephlite, this is Zoisite and Jedeite. We serve under Malachite."

Mina was still brimming with anger, especially since Malachite continued to grin at her. "What are you looking at?" she felt her anger rise when his grin widened.

"I thought you would know. Someone as beautiful as you, that is." amazed when she didn't so much as blink at his compliment, he watched her turn toward the stairs, grabbed her arm when she started forward. "Where are you going?" the seductive note had dropped and was now serious.

She jerked her arm, fuming when he didn't release it. "Not that it’s any of your concern, but I'm going to get my Queen."

He shook his head, his blue eyes deadly serious. "His majesty went to get her. Do not disturb what is between them."

"Between them? Between them?!! There is nothing-"

"You felt the surge of power last night, just as I did." he said it quietly, carefully, watching her eyes widen, feeling Lita's own surprise. "You know, just as I do, that there bound, body and soul."

"Shut up." she whispered it, not willing to believe it. "Just shut up. You don't know, you don't-"

Lita placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. "Lets go Mina." her eyes cut across Malachite, to the other three, lingering a moment on Nephlite. "Come on." she took her by the arm and led her away.

Malachite watched them walk away, the two powerful guard, one so beautiful, yet so openly defiant. "There intriguing women, aren't they?" Nephlite said from behind him.

Malachite nodded slowly, smiling a bit when Mina glanced over her shoulder and shot him one, sharp glare before they disappeared around a corner. "Very intriguing." turning to them, he clapped a hand on Nephlite's shoulder. "But intriguing or not, we must keep close watch on them. Ares has given us our orders and we obey them."

He found her sleeping, her breath fanning out softly, her hand curled into the sheet that was draped just under her shoulder. She looked stunning even in sleep, like beauty sleeping. It amazed him, humbled him, to know she had allowed him into her bed.

He sat next to her and touched her shoulder, studying how his large, dark hand compared to her white, delicate skin. When he bent to press his lips to her shoulder, she stretched, sighed out his name. "Morning." he murmured, watching her eyes flutter and gaze warmly into his. "You look beautiful. All heavy eyed and drowsy from sleep."

"Hhmm, thank you." she pushed her hair away from her face, sat up and held the sheet to her. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon." he watched, delighted with the horrified look that came across her face. "Sleep well?"

"Almost noon? Almost noon!! And you didn't wake me?!!" she jumped from the bed, the room whirling for a moment before she found herself flat on her back, pinned beneath him. "Ares!"

"I want to play." he nuzzled her neck, kissed the hollow of her throat.

Even as she felt the quick ripple of response, she bucked beneath him, blew her hair out of her eyes when he merely lifted his head to grin down at her. "Get off me. God, I can't believe you didn't wake me!" she pushed at his shoulders with her hands.

"You were tired. I wore you out last night."

Sputtering now, she shoved him hard, almost sighing when she felt his hand cruise along her bare thigh and up. "Stop. Don't! Let me-," when his mouth covered hers, when he tore the sheet from her and took her, she could do nothing but give.

She found Mina and Lita in the gardens, Mina pacing as always, muttering under her breath, Lita standing by. Lita's cool calm was the reason she usually paired the two of them. It was also why she paired Raye and Amy. Raye and Mina had explosive anger, and an almost violent, possessive nature to watch over her. Lita and Amy were always the one to lend there patience, there calm. It kept a balance between them.

She would need that balance now, she thought as Mina turned to face her, her entire being radiating rage.

"You let him touch you. You let him-"

"Mina, stop." Lita cut her off sharply, ignored her when she hissed at her. "Selene, do you realize what you've done?"

"I've given myself to him." she said it calmly, prepared for the shouting to come.

"And you say it so calmly? How can you?!! He is Nemesis' son! Do you forget Nemesis loved war, loved chaos and destruction?" Mina spat.

"I recall him coming to my mother’s aide when she needed him."

That statement caused Mina to pale, reminding her of everything Lita had told her in the night. Before Selene could look at her and see the horror, she'd turned away, her hand over her face.

Lita glanced at Mina, glad she'd had enough sense to shut her mouth. For once. "Selene, do you know what happened last night?" she held up her hand when she began to speak. "Not the physical, but the spiritual."

She frowned. "I don't know what you mean."

"You are unaware that you and the King released an enormous amount of power?" at Selene's blank look, she shook her head. "I should have known. The first time, at the moment of release, the two of you joined strength, joined power, and it blasted from you, so large and potent, I'm sure any man or woman with the knowledge of it felt it."

She stared at Lita's face, seeing the truth there. "He and I? But that’s not possible, that’s not-"

"You are the most powerful beings in this universe. It does make sense."

She knew Lita was right, but this....she had never thought....."I had no idea." she managed.

"I thought as much." Lita cocked a brow at Mina, watching as she whirled, ready to once again do battle.

"If you can fully realize what that means, then you know you must end it!" Mina said furiously, gripping Selene's arms. "Cut it now, before it’s too late!"

She shut her eyes tight a moment, against the sheer shock of what they'd just told her. "I....I don't know what to do."

Mina shook her, had her eyes snapping open. "Its too dangerous, HE'S too dangerous! You know that!"

"I need to think." tearing away from Mina's grip, she walked some feet away, to where the roses bloomed, there soft fragrance filling her, soothing her. "I want to be with him." she whispered.

"Your bodies desire's can't rule over your common sense." Mina said, aghast.

"It’s not my body that cries for him!" she half shouted, turning to them. "It’s this!" she thumped a hand over her heart. "It’s inside. I won't deny it was my body that first burned for him, but now it’s more. I feel....connected with him."

Lita remembered what her mother had told her and knew that they would have to speed up there plan of speaking to Raye's mother. She could see that the relationship between these two was going to take an extremely sharp turn. "I'm glad you feel that way." and she was. "Just please make sure you think through what your going to do."

"How can I think when all I can do is feel? He makes me forget everything around me, all my responsibilities." blowing out a long breath, she closed her eyes and calmed herself. "I understand your concern, but....I need to think."

"I believe we'll be staying here longer then we originally thought. "Lita said, watching as Selene nodded slowly. "That’s fine. We'll leave you to your thoughts." gripping Mina by the arm, she dragged her away.

She looked at the roses once they'd gone, really looked at them, and the memory came back to her. A quiet afternoon, long ago.

She had been sitting in her own garden, amid her flowers, when he had come to her, wearing his black armor and looking exceptionally handsome. She'd been afraid, as she'd always been, that he came to say goodbye. But his smile had been easy, his eyes full of love as he bent on one knee before her and took her hand, kissing it reverently as he gazed up at her all the while.

It had been young love, young and new to them, but stronger then anything they'd ever felt. He'd leaned across her and snapped a rose from its stem, holding it up to her and making her sigh, taking it from him to inhale the soft scent.

His hand, so strong and so familiar, had curved around her cheek, his eyes gentle. "This rose, this time and place, this-"he took her free hand and put it to his chest, lay his own hand over hers, the steady beat of his heart felt by them both. "This warmth is my love, this passion my constancy." he released her hand and reached into his pocket, withdrawing a pearl, so beautiful and breathtaking she could only stare in awe. "This jewel I offer as a sacred promise to remain true to you, from this moment to my last breath."

She'd been overwhelmed by him, had watched as he opened her palm and placed the pearl there, closing her hand around it and sealing the promise with a kiss. As his lips had lingered over hers, his hand smoothing up her neck to slide into her hair, she'd believed with all her heart the promise would remain true, as he'd said.

But when he'd died he'd taken that promise with him, taken everything with him. He'd been her love, he'd been her heart. Everything they'd shared, every moment he'd given her, had ended in one split second.

It could still hurt, she realized, shutting her eyes against the tears that threatened. She hadn't allowed herself to shed any tears after the thousands, had closed them off or else she felt she would die with him. It had been almost four years since she'd cried for him, four years of forcing thoughts of him aside.

But she felt it now, as she struggled to keep them away, her eyes burning. Now, in his home, where the memory of the rose and that single afternoon flooded her. Reaching up, she touched the silver necklace she wore, fingered that pearl he had given her so long ago. She'd worn it every day since the moment he'd given it to her, held onto it and sobbed after his death. It was all she'd had left of him.

She sensed him coming, a trigger he pushed inside her. Composing herself, she waited for him to walk to her, waited for him to step in front of and face her.

And when she looked up at him she smiled, not allowing any of the misery she felt to show. "Hello."

He saw it in her eyes, hidden behind a guard she'd put up against him. It hurt to know she would want to block him out, but he would have patience. She barely knew him and he barely knew her. Trust would come. "What is it?" he stroked a hand down her hair, soothing.

She couldn't tell him what she felt. It would hurt him to remember and also to know she even thought of his brother. "It’s Mina. She's angry about....what we did."

He felt anger clawing at his insides almost immediately, but kept himself calm for her. "And why should she care?"

There was an edge to his tone and she turned to look at him, but his expression was only mild curiosity. "She believes you are your father’s son for a reason, that you love war and destruction as he did."

That was a reasonable argument, but it still made him angry. "I am my own person."

"And also because we-" she cut off, biting her lip and worrying on how exactly to phrase it.

"Because you gave yourself to me?"

"No! Well yes, it is that, but not entirely that." when he stared at her, she huffed out a breath. "Did you know, last night, the moment we both....we both...."

"Orgasmed?" he supplied, amused by her embarrassment.

"Thank you for putting it so bluntly, but yes, that. The moment we did, we both seemed to merge power and release it. She says it was huge, that there sure most everyone in the universe felt it."

He let out a breath, smiled and kissed her cheek. "I know darling."

She stared at him in shock. "You knew?!"

"Of course. You would have too, but I suppose I had you to busy to notice." he grinned when she flushed.

"I won't argue with that, but don't you realize what this means? We-"

"Are going to marry." when her eyes widened even more, he sighed, took her hands in his. "I love you. Those words have never come easy for me, even for my own brother. You do something to me Selene. From the first moment you have. You are everything."

She nodded, overwhelmed by him. "Are you always going to leave me speechless?"

"I hope not because I wouldn't want to deprive myself of your sweet voice."

She laughed, tucked her hand into his as they began to walk. "You don't know me so well yet. I have a terrible temper."

"Then I'm glad because it will take one to match mine." he chucked her chin, bent his head to brush his lips across hers. "How is it you came to me?"

"Fate." she sighed back, then grinned. "And luck. How was I supposed to ignore a man who looked ready to bow at my feet?"

"Bow?! Me?!" when she only laughed, he grabbed her into his arms and tickled her mercilessly, enjoying how her delightful little body writhed for him. "Now who looks ready to bow?"

"Stop." she gasped out, squealing with laughter when he only tickled her sides more fiercely. "Please. Stop....Ares...."

"Tell me I'm the best. Tell me you'll let me do whatever it is I want with you." he nuzzled her neck as he tickled.

"Fine....ok! Your the best!" when he didn't stop she struggled for breath. "Ok, ok. Whatever you want."

Releasing her, he dragged her up and kissed her before she could smack him, kissing her so hard and so long her head was spinning. When his lips gentled, when his hands cruised along her waist and up to her breasts, she slid her arms around his neck, held on as he buried his face in her neck.

"I feel as if this is a dream." he said softly, kissing her throat. "I feel as if I'll wake any moment."

"If this is a dream, then it’s the best I've ever had." she whispered back.

"I don't want this to be a dream. I don't want to lose you."

She ran her hands through his hair. "Sshh, your not. You never will."

Later that night, Mina and Lita joined hands alone in there room, closing there eyes and concentrating all there power on communicating with the other two senshi. They had to keep there power level low to make sure Selene wouldn't feel it, but also great enough to reach the others.

The moment there minds touched there's, Raye and Amy understood what they were attempting to do, although it confused them. They kept no secrets from there Queen, unless it was extremely important.

There, on Earth, when Raye and Amy had joined there own powers and communicated back, they materialized before there friends. They appeared as ghosts to Mina and Lita, but were there just the same.

"What is it? What’s happened?" Raye asked urgently, worried.

"It’s Selene. And Ares. They-"

"She gave herself to him!" Mina cut her off, emitting a sigh from Lita and two gasps of horror from the other Senshi. "Last night, did you two feel it?"

They knew without her telling them. "That power....it was them?!" Raye shouted, already becoming riled.

"Yes, it was them. They've.....there...."Mina was filled with too much horror and disgust to continue.

"This is good. Selene would never give herself to a man without love." Amy spoke calmly, her eyes meeting Lita's in agreement.

"That’s not all." when Mina would have spoken, Lita gave her one sharp glare to stop her. "There's more and I need you two to listen closely."

She told them the story her mother had told them, watched fear and disgust fill them at what it could mean. When she was done the room was quiet, before Raye filled it with the volume of her voice.

"You need to get her and come back, now!" Raye's face was red with her outrage. "Bring her back, get her away from him! Don't you realize what this means?! What they could be to one another?!"

"Raye, will you shut up!! You need to listen to me!" taking a breath, Lita went on. "It won't be that easy because she's fallen in love with him, deeply fallen in love with him."

"Like Endymion?" Amy whispered, dreading the answer.

"Maybe more then when she was with Endymion. And him....the King is a powerful man, but also a lonely one. There's no possible way he would ever let her go now." Lita took a breath. "Raye, you and Amy need to go and speak with your mother on this. She's the only one left from Queen Serenity's guard, the only one that could know. We cannot stop them from doing anything without some sort of proof."

"Oh we'll go speak to her all right. We'll leave tonight." when Amy opened her mouth to protest, Raye slid her one long glare. "We’re going tonight Amy. We can't afford to not speak to her. She's..."pain crossed her face now, "she's dying. She doesn't have long left."

"All the more reason to leave immediately." Mina spoke, pushing her rage aside to give orders. Selene had chosen her as the head of her guard for a reason, after all. "We have to keep in touch. Next time we need to communicate with each other, we give each other warning so as not to alarm Selene to what were doing. She doesn't need to know unless we HAVE to tell her. Understood?"

Raye and Amy nodded in agreement. "You two have to keep an extra eye on her."

"We will. Good luck Amy, Raye. Keep safe." with that said, Mina broke the connection.

"Will there be enough time for us?" Lita asked her.

Mina shook her head. "I don't know. I-"she cut off, whirling on the darkness of the room and drawing her sword from her side, Lita immediately doing the same, each with there back to each other so as to guard one another. "Do you feel it?" she whispered to her, turning slowly with Lita, eyeing the dark.

Lita nodded. "Yea. I feel it." she lifted her sword higher.

Because they'd been using there energy and attention on communicating with Amy and Raye and keeping there power hidden from Selene, they'd let there guard down to any other possible danger. The moment they'd broken the connection, they'd felt it, like a rippling over there skin, like a darkness filling there mind and warning them.

Mina raised her sword, cleared her mind and searched the dark. She saw in her mind's eye, them standing by the balcony, where the shadows hid them. Maneuvering herself toward it, she pointed her sword at them, felt there surprise. "I see you, son of a bitch. Get out here or do you want me to come after you?" her meaning was clear as her sword glinted in the moonlight.

Malachite stepped out, his white hair catching the light from the Moon, his blue eyes dark and focused on Mina. "That was very impressive. I've never known anyone except his majesty to be able to-"he cut off, raising a brow when Mina advanced on him, bringing the tip of her sword to right beneath his chin. "Problem?"

"You bet your ass there is." she smiled now, slow and with malice. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you open."

"Mina, calm down." Lita had resheathed her sword as soon as she'd seen him, now stood watching the exchange.

Malachite gave her a charming smile, despite the blade at his throat. "Just one reason?"

"One good one."

"Because you find me irresistible?" at her answering snarl he moved fast, whipping his hand up and gripping the sword handle just above her hands, holding it still. "Still think you can rip me open?"

Mina let out a scream of outrage, surprising him when she released the sword and gave him a swift kick to the head, knocking him down. The pain was so great and so unexpected he let go of the sword, watching through the pain in his head as she snatched it up while it was still in the air, swishing it quickly in her grip and pointed it down at his neck once again, her legs spread on either side of his hips.

Despite the pain, his body reacted to her, his eyes on the long gorgeous legs before him.

"Try that again." she dared, teeth clenched.

He kicked her legs out from under her, rolling on top of her as she fell onto the ground, his own large body covering hers. "Tried." he winked down at her.

Lita sighed and decided to let them wrestle. It was obvious that even though Malachite was in pain, he was enjoying it immensely. As for Mina, she thrived when in a fight. It was why she had trained her body so hard.

Mina bucked her hips under his, wrapped her legs around his waist. She felt his arousal pressed against the soft flesh of her stomach and decided to use that desire against him. Thrusting herself into him, she watched his eyes darken, focus on her and his hands released her wrists, coming down to mold her breasts.

Even as her body responded to him, she brought her elbow up and hit him on the side of the head, taking his shout of pain as a chance to force his body from hers, rolling and at the same time removing the dagger she had hidden in her boot, until she was on top of him. Even as he reached up to grab her, she was pressing the dagger into his throat, smiled thinly when he froze and his eyes sharpened on anger instead of lust this time.

He had given her a fair fight, she thought with some satisfaction. He had underestimated her, as all men did, and been shocked when she retaliated. Usually she had men flat on there backs after that first kick, but he had come back. It pleased her to know he wasn't such a weakling, that he was indeed Ares' head General for a reason.

He could read her smugness and it pissed him off only because he had let her get the upper hand at his own lapse in control. The moment she'd arched into him, his mind had gone blank and he'd acted on animal instinct.

Perhaps the same could work on her.

She was straddling him, her center pressed intimately into his although she didn't seem to notice as she kept her eyes on him. He arched up ever so slightly, but when she didn't even blink he frowned.

"I have trained my body not to rule over my mind. Try that again and I'll slit you." she warned, although sweat had broken out on the small of her back.

"That was impressive Malachite, I have to give it you. I've never seen any man or woman that could up against Mina that long." Lita had been thinking during there scuffle, decided perhaps keeping Mina on him while they questioned him was best. "Now we need to know what it is you heard."

"Nothing." he lied, swallowing when Mina pressed the blade deeper.

"Don't lie." she hissed down at him. "What did you hear?"

"Nothing." he kept his eyes on hers, made sure she didn't see how much he wanted to glance into the darkness. "I swear. I came hoping to get you into bed." he knew he was likely to lose his life for that, but he needed to stall.

Her eyes flashed with rage, but her grip on the blade didn't waver. He felt admiration stir at the immense control she had. "I should kill you for that." she spit on him instead. "But you’re not worth my blade."

"Hey, just telling the truth. How about we make use of-"he cut off, watching her eyes widen, but she didn't so much as glance away from him for a second. He knew she felt it just as they approached. "Lita, behind you."

But he'd already grabbed her, had his own sword to Lita's neck as they rounded so that Mina could see. "Get off him and I let her go." Nephlite said, hating that he had to do this to her.

"There's no need for that." Lita gripped his arm and flung him over her shoulder, snatching his sword from him and bringing it against his throat as he lay there, blinking. "You were saying?"

Malachite shut his eyes and cursed. He had thought he would only need Nephlite with him for this. Obviously he'd underestimated these women's ability to fight.

"What did you hear?" Mina asked sharply. "Tell me now!"

"Everything." Malachite snapped back. "Everything."

"And what are you going to do about it?" Mina asked carefully, the edge in her voice evident.

Malachite and Nephlite slid glances at one another. "It wasn't what we were expecting to hear actually." he said truthfully. "It’s making us re-think our own situation."

"Which is?" Mina pressed.

God, what a woman, he thought. Gorgeous and with enough fire to match his. He could see why Selene had chosen her to lead her guard. She was brilliant.

"We were ordered to keep an eye on the two of you. Ares feels your threats to him and the Queen. Now we see your only trying to find the truth for her sake, if not his." Malachite explained, waiting tensely for her response.

Mina stared at him hard, than stood, resheathing the dagger back into her boot. She nodded to Lita and she released Nephlite as well. "This information must remain within these walls. If either of them finds out, I'll kill the both of you." Mina said in a pleasant voice, although her eyes were glittering with warning. "You've been warned."

"I hate admitting this, but your plan is the best course to take." Malachite said as he stood, rubbing his throat. "So for now we'll keep our mouths shut." when she only stared at him he decided he should get her back for basically kicking his ass. "Want me to rub your back for you sugar?"

Her face turned red. "Maybe you should just go rub your ass." her meaning and insult was clear as she turned and left the room, Lita following.

He blew out a breath, rubbed at his heart. "Point taken. She's something, isn't she?" already half in love, he didn't realize his expression was foolish.

"Yea. Both of them are."

Raye stalked down the huge halls of her home, Amy close behind her. It had been two days since they had communicated with Lita and Mina and during that time they had prepared there things, left late during the night, and taken a shuttle to her home. The flight had been long and boring for them, while Amy had read and calculated, Raye had paced and cursed. Amy had told her to calm herself and have a nap, but Raye had merely hissed at her and continued her pacing.

She came to a stop before the huge double doors to her mothers room, standing for a second and taking a deep breath. She hadn't seen her mother for months, and before she had been somewhat healthy, but still sick. During that time she had kept communication with her as much as she could, learning over time that her mother was dying and had little life left in her.

Amy put a hand on her shoulder and she shook herself, finding the courage to finally open the doors quietly and walk in.

Her mother lay in bed, her long, dark hair spread around her, her face pale and her eyes closed. She seemed to be asleep, but the moment Raye and Amy walked in she opened her eyes, smiling at her daughter and holding out a hand. Shaken, Raye went to her and took her hand, sitting down on the side of the bed with her.

"I knew you were coming." her mother spoke quietly, her eyes gentle. "I could feel it. Your mother hasn't lost all her powers yet."

Raye gripped her hand and pressed it to her cheek. "Your more powerful then I'll ever be Mama."

The leader of Mars shook her head. "No, it’s your time now Raye. But that’s not why your here." she began to cough, terrifying Raye into jumping to her feet.

"I'll get someone. I'll be right back." she moved to go, but her mother grabbed her hand and held on.

"No, don't. I'm beyond help." she tugged until Raye sat back down reluctantly. "You've come for something. The both of you." she looked at Amy, who stood back with tears in her eyes. "How are you, Amy?"

"Very well." she said in a voice filled with sorrow.

"I'm glad. Now, are you two going to tell me what it is you came for?"

Raye hated making her remember times long past, but she had come with a mission. "We need to know about Serenity and Nemesis."

Her mother blinked, stared, then let out a long sigh. "I wondered if this day would come."

Amy stepped forward. "Could you tell us everything you know? Anything you remember?"

She nodded, sat up with Raye's help. "I'll tell you everything." she took a breath and a moment to lean back against her pillows. "Serenity was happy in her single life. She was very happy for the first thousands of years, content to have men come to court and pursue her." she smiled, remembering those times. "We were all like sisters. We were her Guard, but also her friends. We had several happy years together."

"One day, Serenity left to Neptune to visit its leader. The first day she was gone he arrived." she was quiet a moment, remembering the commotion his arrival had caused. "He was....magnificent. All of us were captivated by him, enchanted, and immediately in love. Nemesis had a way with him, a way that made any woman want him so much and so blindly, you could see nothing but him. We fought over him, fought bitterly and constantly. Who could have him, who did he actually want, who loved him more." she shook her head. "But during our quarreling, none of us realized he didn't want any of us, that he didn't want anything to do with us. He completely ignored us, wandered the Moon on his own and stayed away from everyone."

"Why was he there?" Raye asked.

"We never knew. I asked him that once, when I was attempting to seduce him, and he only snarled at me and walked on. He was gorgeous, but dangerous. There was something evil in him, in his heart. It surrounded him, almost like a black shield." her voice drifted for a moment, her eyes staring into space, but Raye squeezed her hand, bringing her back to the present time. "He was a mystery to us, which only added to the appeal. When Serenity finally arrived home, we all ran to her, all told her who was waiting for her. She listened to us sigh over him, listened to us begin to argue once again who he would belong to, when he stepped out of the shadows and they saw one another for the first time."

She took a moment to press a hand to heart, to shut her eyes and let out a deep sigh, the memory of it coming back to her. "It was....magic." she decided. "Like magic. Two powers, two hearts meeting finally. Time seemed to stand still."

When she remained silent, Amy spoke up. "They fell in love."

The older woman looked up at Amy, smiled softly and nodded. "Yes, they fell in love. Fell in love deeply, which was a surprise to us and also a blow to our pride. He was enchanted with her, treated her like glass, acted like a man insanely in love. It was a pleasure to us to see our Queen so enraptured as well, so obviously in love."

Raye felt no joy for the late Queen, only greasy sickness for her daughter. "I thought she didn't care for him."

"Oh she acted as if she didn't, but I could see how much she loved him. And also how much she desired him. Nothing happened that first visit, and we all wondered just why he had come to see her. He had no purpose, no motives. Only came, fell in love, and left days later with that love clouding his eyes."

Her smile brightened, as well as her eyes. "I met your father just weeks after that, blew into my life like a fierce wind, and into my heart. It was odd how things happened, but I met your father, and my friends met there husbands as well. It seemed....destined. But anyway, we met them, we fell in madly in love, finally accepting Nemesis wasn't for each one of us, and we married them. Serenity wished us all good luck and good fortune, and we left to our home planets."

When she said nothing else, Raye prompted her. "And after? What happened after?"

"He came back one year later. It made us all wonder why it took him one year and why he even bothered to return. He was a married man, with a wife and two sons. There love was destined to failure." she shook her head slowly. "But I know where there are love and passion, sense has no matter. He returned to the Moon, on a visit of ten days this time, then went home once again." she rubbed a hand over her aching chest. "Selene was born nine months later."

Amy could feel the dread she'd been carrying for the pass forty eight hours grow stronger. "Oh God."

"It was a joyous occasion for her, for everyone joined to the Silver Millennium. We came, met the new little Princess, introduced our own children to her, and celebrated the birth of an heir."

Raye stood, paced away from her mother. "Celebrated. Right."

She watched her daughter, frowned. "What is it Raye?"

"It’s nothing." rubbing her temples, she forced herself to think, to find perhaps a hole in the story somewhere.

"Don't lie to me Raye. I know my daughter enough to know something is wrong." the girls father had had the same pride, fury, and devotion inside him as well, she remembered with fondness. And she'd always been able to read him like a book.

"Mama, its nothing, really. I just-"

"A crisis has occurred with the Queen, Selene." Amy cut in, ignoring Raye when she snarled and glared at her. "She went to Earth on a visit, to discuss relations and meet the new King." she was quiet a moment. "Selene and Ares have fallen in love."

She gasped, her dark eyes widening. "No....no, that can't be. Oh God, not again. Didn't this just happen with Endymion? Didn't we pass through the same horror then?" she asked more to herself then them.

Raye's dark eyes cut from Amy to her. "What? What does that mean?" leaping forward and gripping her mothers shoulders, she looked her in the eye. "You knew? You knew! Even years ago when Selene and Endymion had fallen in love, you knew!" she shook her once, her anger blinding her to her mothers gasping pain. "You never said anything, you never warned her!"

Amy moved forward and clapped a firm hand on Raye's shoulder, catching her attention. "Raye, let her go."

Realizing she was shaking her dying mother, she let her go, horrified with herself. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry Mama, oh God I'm sorry." falling to her knees and burying her face in her mothers lap, she blinked back the tears of shame that threatened to fall. "I wasn't thinking."

"No you weren't, but its all right. You were protecting your Queen." she stroked her hair, smiled down at her daughter. "You have a fierce devotion for her."

"It doesn't excuse what I did."

"No it doesn't, but it makes me proud to know I raised such a strong, loyal woman."

Amy watched them a moment, felt grief for her own mother who had died months before. "Raye, we need to speak with Lita and Mina."

Sniffling a bit, Raye nodded, stood. "You’re right. Mama, thank you for telling us everything you knew."

"It was my pleasure. If you need-" she cut off abruptly, her body veering up as a slash of sharp pain ran through her. White hot and enough to have fear bubbling up inside her, she didn't see Raye panic.

"Oh God, Mama no! Don't! Shit, Amy stay with her!" she raced out of the room, shouting for help.

Amy took her hand, watched her eyes glaze with fear and pain. "Just hold on, please. Don't leave us."

She struggled through the red heat spreading through her torso, focused on Amy's calm face, faintly hearing Raye's frantic shouts for help. "You....need to....." she clutched her chest, wheezed in gulps of air. "Anna....speak.....with.....An-" cutting off, she felt a dark oblivion consuming her, creeping over her eyes and heart, pulling her deep and away from Amy's now frantic voice. She saw Raye's father waiting, handsome as he had always been, smiled and went to him.

And never woke.