Hello, again. Here is part 2. I'm trying to get this story alittle more interesting. For those of you awaiting "Moonlight Midnight Glory", chapter 4, it's coming. Please be patient. Life has a way of creeping on you, such as a job, my husband, and my children. I just wanted to say thanks to all of you that Emailed me your comments, good and bad. Actually, I didn't expect such a large amount of Emails. Well, here it is, and there's no hentai in this one, just romance! I don't think life can function without sex, but this part is just a prelude of what will come next. Anyhow, we all know who the Sailor Moon characters belong to, and this author contends there is no profit to be made. Well, happy reading. Lady M. Harris. FORBIDDEN PART 2 Celestial Rose Maze Gardens Serena hurried along the path of rose vines and bushes. The blooms were in full regal, the colors vibrant and alive. She did not notice their beauty, her mind elsewhere. She was slightly out of breath, her heart hammering as she practically flew down the path to the gazebo. Darien was waiting there for her, and she was late. He had arrived the day before last, with only his mother, Queen Augusta, accompaning him. His father, King Damian had not elected to come with this visit. She knew his appearance had caused a slight commotion among the moon court. Darien was considered very popular among the ladies of the royal court. Serena had been training with the sailor senshis, in the Palace Tierred Training Grounds. She couldn't get out of training before supper, which then included more training on proper etiquette for hostessing galas and balls. She remembered how many mistakes she had made during the senshi training, with Sailor Mars besting her. Sailor Mars had boasted of her accomplishment, her expression smug. Serena didn't care, her mind on more distracting matters. She had also made countless mistakes hostessing a so-called gala, with her professor throwing up her arms in disgust. Her professor called it a day, resigning to the fact that her pupil was hopeless. Love, her professor had mumbled again, with disgust, must be in the air. Her late evening meal was delivered to her chambers, as Serena paced her marble floor. She had sent a note to Darien, to meet her at the gazebo that following morning. She knew that Darien had been in conference with some of the moon ambassadors the entire day. She felt like a nervous wreck the whole day. Even though, she knew she wouldn't have a chance to see him until the following day. Her had breath caught, when she spotted the perfect red rose laying on the silver platter. It's delicate petals perfectly curled, the rich red color, vibrant and alive. Her note was answered with a yes, signed, 'Love Darien'. Her fingers had lovingly traced the large scrawl that was his signature. Needless to say, she tossed all night, hardly sleeping a wink. She had dreamt of the last time they had been together, as she did countless nights. She had hoped, that he would sneak into her chambers as he had during his last visit. Alas, he did not. Serena had awoken early the following morning with blurry, red eyes. Not able to go back to sleep, she had thrown open her balcony doors to let in the fresh morning sunlight. The moon birds chirped cheerly to each other in the nearby trees and courtyard, that Serena's balcony overlooked. She had breathed in the fresh air, feeling her head clear and senses feeling refreshed, dispite the sleepless night. Glancing across the courtyard, she had spotted Darien's chambers, and felt her body tighten as she spotted Darien emerge onto his already open balcony. The site of him, with his jet black hair wet from an apparent bath, caused her legs to tremble. She remebered thinking at the time, how could such a man, she had known since childhood, cause her heart to do somer-saults? Caused her insides to melt and the pit of her belly, to tingle? Then reasoning with herself, she named countless attributes that were assoicated with Darien. Incrediably handsome, rugged, hard-nosed sexy type, sinew muscles and excellent body structure, noble, intelligent, endurance, and the list went on and on. Not to mention, he had been one of her favorite childhood friends. Even though, he had barely tolerated her tactics and childish pranks. He had stood there on his balcony, sipping from the steaming cup of coffee in his hands. He was shirtless, the identifiable lines of sinew muscles sculpting his lean, hard body. That much was visible to Serena as she gazed across the courtyard at him. There had been others up and about that early in the courtyard, taking care of the palace. Even some noblemen and women were about. An exurberant, mature moon noblewoman waved happily to Darien, when she spotted him on his balcony. Another one of Darien's admirers. It had made Serena smile. He had alot of them lately. He had smiled engagingly, waving back to the moon noblewoman, that Serena hadn't recognized. At the same moment, Darien had looked over to her balcony, and both had stiffen, their gazes locking. She could feel Darien's deep, blue gaze all the way down to her curled up toes on the cool marble floor. She felt as if he had stripped her clothing and was devouring her. She had not been able to breathe or think coherently under his spell. Her eyes had dipped for a moment on the noblewoman in the courtyard. She knew, that their preoccupiedness with each other had not gone unnoticed. Catching on their vibes, the noblewoman was busy furiously whispering behind her raised hand to her female companion. For a princess of her nature, she knew she had been inapproiately dressed. She was dressed in her silver, shimmering long slip of a nightgrown. It was a nightgown of elegance, yet it was made to be viewed by the owner's lover. Perhaps, that is why she had dressed in it. It was not a nightgown her mother knew she owned. Yet, her mother was still trying to get over the fact her daughter no longer dressed like a boy. Serena had turned her back on Darien, giving him a very clear view of her creamy, long graceful back, that was exposed by the vee of her nightgown. There had been something very wicked running through her veins when she did that. She had sensually looked over her shoulder at Darien, noticing how he had become very still. His coffee cup, frozen at his lips. Her eyelids and dark sooty lashes had slowly covered over her bright blue eyes, withholding her thoughts, conveying mystery. She had known then, with their apparent display of wantoness, that rumors would fly. So be it. No one had known who had captured Darien's heart, rumors all the way from Earth had leaked to the Moon. Now speculation would center on her, and not on the older ladies who had taught Darien the ways of the world. Oh yes, she had known of that. He was a man, after all. Young, dark, handsome and ohhh soo very sexy, too. Yet, now he belonged to her. All hers. She had bearly been able to enter her rooms again, without collapsing. Her heart had been racing, and her limbs were trembling. She had had to sit on her bed, lifting a shaking hand to her forehead. A cheery chambermaid had entered then, announcing that her bath was ready. The rest of the morning flew then, but it had taken all of that morning for her to get her thoughts in the right order again. The chambermaid had reminded her of her appointment with her mother and Queen Augusta, in the Palace Morning Room. It did not occur to her that her meeting with her mother and Darien were at the same time. With her blood beginning to sing, her chambermaid Shama and Serena went through her drawers and closet with vigorious enthusiam. Too childish, too tom boyish, too childish and too tom boyish, the list went on and on. This outfit was discarded, this one was too small. Serena wanted to cry. Dresses and outfits lay scattered hapazardly around her room. Serena sat on her bed trying to remember when was the last time she had ordered any dresses. It had been quite a long while, considering dressing pretty had been one of the least important matters to Serena. She had never once given any thought to ordering new dresses before Darien had arrived. Her chambermaid Shama stood next to her mistress, clucking almost motherly, trying to rack her brain. With an idea in mind, Serena's chambermaid had rushed out her chambers only to return with a bundle of clothing that turned out to belong to Princess Raye of Mars. Princess Raye had discarded the dress for the color and frillies that adorned the dress. The dress had been a gift from one of the many wealthy merchants of the moon to Princess Raye. Another one of her admirers. Apparently, the man lacked color and taste coordination. The dress was hedious. It was the color of ice blue and cream. A color that did not suit well with the Princess Raye's dark complexion. Dark green roses garnished the entire dress' sleeves and neckline. Bright red lace also adorned the sleeves and skirt seams. Even Serena's nose had wrinkled, with her chambermaid giggling. Yet, as her chambermaid began with her shears flying, if you snipped the roses off here and there? You do not see where I snipped, no? She had asked. The lace was sewn inseam, and if you removed them, here? And there? Voila! All that was left was a beautiful creation of ice blue satin, with dainty sleeves and a gauze of billowy, cream ivory underskirt. Serena had yelped with joy, her hands clapping and embracing her chambermaid. Serena had then flown out of her rooms, remembering the time ticking away. She had been a breathtaking vision with her gold mane down and flowing like golden strands of sunlight. Many admirers, moon noblemen and palace hired men had stopped to take in the lovely picture she had made. A high ranking delegate from the planet of Mercury, ran into a pillar staring at the disappearing Moon Princess. He hadn't been to the Moon for almost a year. Things and people had changed. He had never seen Serena in a dress, much less looking like a seductress. Serena ran past the Palace Morning Room, forgetting of the appointment with her mother and Queen Augusta. Neither ladies had noticed the vision of gold, blue and cream run pass them. From across the courtyard, Princess Raye and Princess Lita of Jupiter noticed the lady running through the palace hallways. Neither princesses recognized the Moon Princess, as her meatballs were down. Raye thought the dress the lady was wearing familiar, though. Not placing where she had seen it, she shrugged her shoulders and asked Princess Lita if she knew where Prince Darien was. Serena came upon the gazebo nestled in the quiet maze. As she came up to it, she slowed to a walk. She tried to calm her racing heart as it beat loudly in her heaving chest. She raised a shaking hand to the steady her frame, and stepped lightly up the steps of the gazebo. The bright morning sun was filtered out and replaced with a cooler shade. As she slowly stepped around, her eyes quickly sought out her heart's desire. Darien. That's it. Hope you read Part 3. I hope, I've piqued some interest out there in this story. Lady M. Harris