Konnichi wa, minna! Here's the grand finale, part 6! I hope you have lots of paitence, because this one is gonna be long! ^_^ That should make up for all the pathetically short ones. I have time to write because it's Spring Break! YEEEAAA!!! Before I begin, I want to THANK YOU ALL for your support!! It's been great working on this series, and I hope you'll all read my NEXT series, Eternal Love! It'll most likely be my last Darien and Serena story, with the exception of Chase the Darkness Away. There are enough of those stories out there. I think I'm really gonna start focusing on the outers, especially Pluto and Saturn. But who knows, I might just write more romance. YOU tell ME! What do you think I should do? I love to hear from people, it's soooo fun to reply to messages. I love making friends! I'm gonna switch this around a bit and write thank-you's up here.. so yer gonna have to listen to me babble on. Have fun!! ^_^ A whole big pile of thank-you's go out to these people, in no particular order.. Allie, Razzz, Lianne, Sidnei, SamusStar, Kaos95, Person wm, Forever636, pinai7, Rain Ayo, Jade, and anyone else who sent me encouragement but whose name I have either forgotten or never knew. ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ You're all great! *~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~* Love Will Still Live On *~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~* ((In the future, circa 3000 A.D.)) King Endymion was, to say the least, incredibly bored. He was sprawled out sideways over his throne, his legs over one arm of the throne, and his head touching the ground on the other side. The whole world seemed to be upside down. He sighed. It was so quiet around the palace with most of the senshi and his daughter off on some kind of training trip. Neo-Queen Serenity was in their room resting. She'd been awfully tired lately, and nobody could figure out why. Endymion figured she'd just been stressed lately, what with all the palace nonsense that was usually going on. Preperations for the Autumn Festival left them all tired. Suddenly, an upside down face appeared in his line of sight. He blinked a few times. "Luna?" The cat who owned the face chuckled. "No. Diana. Mother is with Queen Serenity." Endymion smiled. "You look more like your mother every day. What can I do for you, Diana?" "I was wondering why you're sitting like that. I came in and you were upside down." "Oh. Well, I'm bored, and when I was younger I always sat like this." Diana's pretty face curved into a smile. "I see. I'm glad you're not injured. Well.. I'll be on my way, then." "See you around, Diana!" "Goodbye." Diana turned around and left. Endymion returned to staring at an upside down wall again. Life was getting duller and duller every day. He crossed his arms, decided that was uncomfortable, and let one dangle over the side while the other rested on his leg. he thought. He jumped up and promptly fell over. "Ow, goddamnit.." He shook his head. Sitting upside down for that long had messed with his balance. Slowly, he stood up. He took a few steps to reassure himself, then strode quickly out of the throne room and to their bedchambers. Being careful not to wake her should she be sleeping, Endymion slowly opened the door. Serenity was laying on top of the covers on their bed. Sunlight from an open window shone on her. Endymion's breath caught in his throat. Even after all these years, her beauty still shocked him. He slowly walked over to her and sat down beside her. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at him. He smiled softly and reached out to stroke her golden hair. He noted with surprise how tired she looked. There were small lines around her eyes that he'd never noticed before. He dismissed it with the thought, He bent down and kissed her gently, then raised up again to study her. She smiled faintly at him and raised her hand to his cheek. "Thank you for visiting me, Endy.. I get lonely." He only smiled at her. She had never recovered her hearing. He had learned to deal with it, but even now, it brought tears to his eyes knowing that he would never be able to talk to her. She put her arms around him and pulled him down beside her. He relaxed and pulled her into his arms. he thought. He sighed softly. He still couldn't push the nagging feeling that something was wrong with her away. She wasn't keeping anything from him.. was she? He hesitated, then gently pushed her away and stood. She looked at him in confusion. He smiled at her and guestured towards the door, his watch, then back here. She got the message and nodded. He strode out the door and went to Mercury's room. She was the only scout who hadn't gone on the trip, namely because she was the supreme doctor in the kingdom. He knocked on the door. "Come in," lilted her sweet soprano. He opened the door and walked in. "Hiya Amy," he said with a smile, using her old name. "Hello, King Endymion," she said, taking her goggles off and turning away from a microscope to face him. "How may I help you?" He smiled to himself. Even now, she was still so formal. "Actually, yeah.. Is something wrong with Serenity? She's been so tired, and she's seen you a few times now. I get the feeling I'm being left out. Is it a conspiracy?" He winked at her. "Of course not," she said seriously. "Actually, I was meaning to contact you about this. Of course, Serenity dosen't know yet. I wanted you to be the first to know." "Go on," said Endymion, puzzled. Amy smiled warmly. "Congradulations, Endymion," she said. "You're going to be a father.. again." He blinked a few times. "Say.. what?" She laughed. "I take it this wasn't planned." "Oh.. um, no no, of course it was!" he stuttered, blushing. Amy laughed. "I believe you. Now, go tell Serenity." "Yeah.. I should tell her.." He said. "Thanks, Amy." "Any time.. Darien." *~!~**~!~**~!~**~!~* Endymion was on his way back to Serenity when a glowing form appeared in front of him. He gasped and stumbled back a few paces. When the form took shape, Endymion didn't believe his eyes. "I, too, offer my congradulations," said the vision. "M.. M.." He swallowed thickly. "Melody?" She chuckled and floated to the ground. "Are you surprised to see me? Don't be, old friend, I won't hurt you." "H.. how?" Endymion appeared unable to complete a sentance, which made Melody laugh even more. "Oh, Darien, come on! Don't be a fool! Just talk to me as if I were alive, okay?" "I.. I saw you die! I was THERE!!" "I know you were," she said softly. "I was there too, remember?" She grinned. "Well.. it's good to see death hasn't impared your sense of humor," he said dryly. "No way! You think a minor thing like death would mess ME up?" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Really, Darien, I thought you thought more of me." He snickered. "So. What brings you here from, um.." "The afterlife?" supplied Melody. "Well, I wanted to visit, you know, see you and stuff." She shrugged. "You know." He grinned. "Actually, I don't, but I'll take your word for it. Why don't we go somewhere and talk?" "Sounds good to me." Melody followed Endymion down the hall and into the throne room. He sat in his throne and Melody hovered about six feet off the ground. "Mel, when you died.. or, rather, BEFORE you died.. do you happen to remember what was bugging you? That has been bothering me for the past 2000 years and I'd really like to know.." She sighed and layed down in the air, on her side, facing him. "I figured you were going to ask that. I was always good at figuring you out, Darien." He raised an eyebrow at her, and she continued. "Well, I was upset about Serena, and I was all mixed up. Other things in my mind." "Such as.." he prompted. She smiled faintly. "A certian male," she said vaguely. "One I loved but I knew would never love me back." "Really?" he asked, leaning forward. "Tell me, who WAS this guy? I could have hooked you two up, you know!" She laughed. "I seriously doubt you could have, my friend." She rolled onto her back and stared at the celing. "I get the feeling you're not planning on telling me," he said. She turned her head to look at him. "You're wrong. I'm thinking of how I can put this." "Think away," said Endymion with a grin. A few minutes passed. Finally, Melody "stood" up and floated down to the ground. She walked over to him and stood a few feet away. "I guess the easiest way is to simply say it. Do you know the real reason I took the bullet for you?" He blinked a few times. "No.. I figured it was because you didn't want me to get shot." "Well, yes," she said. "It was that, but it was also because.. well.. Darien, I knew you had a great life ahead of you. I didn't think it would last QUITE this long, but I knew it would last awhile. It's simple - you had alot to live for. I didn't." He slowly nodded. "There's more," she said. "I also did that.. because.. I loved you." He looked at her, surprised. "You.. did? Why didn't you tell me?" She laughed and spun around, a full 360. "Why didn't I tell you. That's a good one! I didn't tell you because I didn't want to destroy our friendship, that's why." "Oh.. I.. see.. well, this is certianly a surprise." She nodded slowly. "Hey, you want to tell me what happened after I died? After the funeral and all that. What happened with you and Serena?" He smiled faintly. "Well, it's not a really long story, but I'll tell it anyway. *~!~**~!~**~!~* Flashback *~!~**~!~**~!~* Darien stood alone out on the balcony. Normally, he would have been enjoying the weather, but he was too deep in thought. In his hands he held the glass rose Melody had given him. He moved it around in his hand, looking at it from different angles. he thought. His eyes slowly filled with tears. He closed his eyes. he told himself firmly. He opened his eyes again, and they were clear. The pain lessened, but it didn't vanish completely. He slowly walked back inside and put the rose on the mantle, where it belonged. With a sigh, he walked to the bedroom he shared with Serena. She was awake, reading a book. She noticed him and put the book down. With a smile, she reached for him. Almost mechanically, he walked over to the bed and lay down beside her. She cuddled up to him and he instinctively put an arm around her. he thought. *~!~**~!~**~!~* "Reeney was concieved that night," said Endymion with a fond smile. "She's such a sweet girl. And now, another is on the way." Melody smiled. "I'm glad you got over the fact that she was deaf. I know it meant alot to her. She looked over her shoulder. "Oh. I have to go, Darien.. Maybe we'll meet again someday?" He grinned at her. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." "Okay, then.. I'm counting on seeing you!" With a wave and a laugh, Melody vanished. Endymion shook his head, laughing. he thought. Then, he looked up. He dashed back to their bedroom and walked in, closing the door behind him. Serenity was gone from her place on the bed. thought Endymion. A sparkle on the mantle caught his eye. The rose, the one that Melody had made for him centuries ago. He walked to the mantle, picked it up, and walked out onto the balcony. He stood with his elbows on the rail, looking at the rose. It glittered and sparkled in the moonlight. A gentle hand touched his shoulder. He turned around and saw Serenity standing behind him. He took her in his arms with a smile. Immediately, a familiar warmth filled him, as it always did when he held her. She pulled back slightly and gazed into his eyes. Her eyes were the color of the summer sky, so filled with joy. She looked very, very happy. thought Endymion. He smiled back at her. She got up on tiptoe and kissed him. The action surprised him, but he returned the kiss. He tightened his grip on her. The glass rose he held slowly slipped out of his hand. As it fell, it caught the moonlight, and sparkled with the light of a thousand stars. When it shattered, little stars went everywhere.. and Darien was at peace at last. *~!~**~!~**~!~* The End. *~!~**~!~**~!~* Tiga Shadow http://members.tripod.com/~PaladinStar/index.html Tiga2@hotmail.com