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Travis answered before anyone else could. "Because no one was expecting it. After all, I'm from Virginia and we're from separate families. No one even knows, besides us four and Serena's parents, that she's adopted." He thinks for a moment. Then he looks at Serena and his Uncle Darien, "Do you want us to keep it a secret? Serena, if you tell your parents, you'll have to let them know that you know you're adopted. And Uncle Darien, if it gets out everyone will know I'm adopted."
Everyone grew quiet as they thought it over. Then Jacobson spoke. "It doesn't matter anymore, if you're adopted or not, Travis. I don't mind if it gets out." He looks at Serena, "And if she's going to be around for a while, maybe you had better call me Uncle Jake instead. A lot of my friends call me Jake so I won't have any trouble getting used to it." Travis nodded grinning.
Serena spoke up a minute later. "I have to talk to my parents. They need to know. But I don't think we should tell anyone else until I've talked to them, okay?" Travis and Jacobson nod. "Reenie? Is something the matter? You did promise you wouldn't say anything until I gave permission."
"I know and I won't, but not even the others? I thought you didn't keep any thing secret from them?" Reenie looked up at Serena, "And what about Darien?"
"No one Reenie, not even the others. I tried to talk to Amy and Lita about what we suspected today, but they weren't talking to me, probably still mad about last night. Besides, this really has nothing to do with them, it's a family thing at the moment. And by the time 'he' comes back, everyone will probably know." Serena thinks for a long moment. "I need to find time to talk to them when Sammy's not at home."
"How 'bout tonight? Sammy's eating dinner at Bobby's I think." Serena nodded. It was obvious to everybody that she was already nervous about it.
Travis looked at his guardian, "Do you mind if I eat dinner at Serena's tonight? I know it's your first night back, but I think she needs the support."
"I have a better idea." He said quietly. "Serena?"
"Yes?"
"I hear that Travis has been eating at your house every morning. I think it's only fair that we return the favor, besides I should meet the parents of my ward's best friend, don't you think? Why don't I invite them over for dinner tonight? It will at least help to put you all on neutral grounds. I think that might be important."
"I think that would be a good idea. Thank you." She suddenly grinned. "Uncle Jake."
That night
"Thank you for inviting us, Mr. Jacobson. I'm sorry our son couldn't come with us tonight, but he had already made plans." Mrs. Tsukino said as she came through the door.
"That's alright, Mrs. Tsukino. Reenie told me he was eating at a friends tonight, but since I'm never sure how long I will be able to stay at home, I decided to invite you over when I could." Jacobson said as he showed the Tsukino's into the dining room where Travis, Serena and Reenie were bringing out the food.
The conversation was light during dinner, focused mainly on Mr. Jacobson's job as a photojournalist. The Tsukinos noticed that Serena didn't eat as fast as usual and rarely talked, but put it down to good manners. They told Jacobson what a good influence Travis was on their daughter. He got a laugh out of Travis's form of a wake-up call.
Then dinner was over and it was time.
All through dinner, Serena tried to think of a subtle way to open the subject. She failed, so finally she decided on her usual way, blunt. As her parents sat down on the couch in the living room, Serena asked it. "Why didn't you ever tell me I was adopted?"
She was watching her family as she said it. Her mother dropped the glass she was holding and her father's face got white and tense.
"How did you know?" her mother asked quietly.
"I've known for years, Mom." Serena said, going to her knees in front of them. "Remember that family tree I did in third grade? You showed me pictures and paintings of all my ancestors. Not a blond among them. Even at that age, I knew it wasn't possible. Then a couple of years ago I found this." She reached over from where she was sitting and Travis handed her a paper.
Her parents barely glanced at it. "Your adoption certificate," her mother said, even quieter. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Do you love me?" Serena asked.
"Of course we do! How could you even ask such a thing?"
Her father than spoke for the first time. "We loved you the moment we saw you, you were only about three months old and looked so little and helpless."
Serena leaned up and kissed her parents on the cheek. "Then 'this' doesn't matter," she said, pointing to the papter her mother was holding. "As I told Travis, when I told him I was adopted. 'Families are made of love. My family loves me. Nothing else matters.'"
"That's sweet." Mrs. Tsukino said, looking at her daughter with new eyes.
"Why did you bring it up, then?" her father asked, still unsure about what was going on and her reaction.
Serena, who was in a very sensitive mood at the moment, saw it and understood. She squirmed up between her parents, and tried as best she
could to hug them both at the same time. She turned around so she was facing them again and took their hands. She spoke forcefully and looked them in the eye so they could 'see' she meant it.
"You are my parents. I love you and will 'always' love you. Nothing in this world or any other can change that. I am 'your' daughter. I always will be. Don't ever doubt that, please." There were tears in her eyes as she finished.
Serena's mother hugged her for a long moment. Tears dripped down her face. Somehow she had never expected this. Sometimes she had nightmares about Serena finding out and not loving them because they weren't her 'real' parents. Serena had just put all her fears to rest. She knew that Serena had meant every word she said. She looked over at her husband and caught him watching them with a slightly misty-eyed expression. "Why?" she asked.
Serena reached back. Travis again put a paper into her hand and she gave it to her parents. "Look at them," she said, settling back onto the floor.
Her parents stared at the two nearly identical pieces of paper in front of them. Almost simultaneously they raised their heads to look at Travis and Serena, and then at each other. Mr. Tsukino got his voice back first. "Travis William...Aton?"
"Once, but I'm Travis Watson now, the same way Serena is a Tsukino. It's your decision now." As they both turned to look at him, he continued, "If you don't want anyone to know that Serena's adopted, that's fine. Nobody has to know we're twins. As long as we know, it's alright. You have to decide whether we tell anyone else or keep it a secret."
The Tsukino's thought for a long time. They had kept it a secret because they were afraid of how the children would react. Based on Serena's reaction, they had worried needlessly. They talked quietly for a moment before Mr. Tsukino spoke. "It's fine with us if you want people to know.
Just give us a few days to tell Sammy and get him used to it and then you can announce it to the world."
"How about on our birthday?" Travis asked. As they looked towards him inquiringly, he continued his thought. "We could have a double birthday party here at the house and tell everyone at the same time."
"That sounds like a good idea, except for the fact that you didn't ask your guardian first." Mrs. Tsukino laughed for the first time in the last couple of hours. She grew serious once more. "Travis, I want you to think of yourself as part of the family. As our daughter's brother, you are, and we would like you to think of yourself that way. Alright?"
As Travis tried to swallow the lump that had grown in his throat, Jacobson added, "Serena, that goes for you too. You are welcome here whenever you wish. You can even call me Uncle Jake."
"Does that mean we can have the party here?" Serena asked. She grinned at Reenie who had been sitting quietly the whole time. "If the fungus here doesn't wreck everything by tripping over her own feet."
"I'm not the one who klutzs out, Meatball Head!" And the arguement they started dispelled the rest of the tension in the room.
Several days later
The secret the three kids shared bonded them closer together. Serena was happy about that. Sometimes it seemed they were the only friends she had. The other girls still were barely talking to her and not even Luna could find out why. Because of that, none of them knew about Serena and Travis. Wednesday afternoon, the three of them went to the arcade.
"Serena, can I talk to you?" Andrew seemed unusually serious and Serena was worried as they followed him into a back room. He started, "Early today I got a call from a friend of mine in Denver. Darien went there on vacation."
Serena bust in. "Something's happened to Darien?"
Reenie followed. "He's okay, right?"
"I'm afraid not. He was exploring some ruins and fell into a pit. It collapsed on him. They couldn't even find his body. I'm sorry. I know you liked him." Serena was just shaking her head as Reenie began wailing.
"NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I don't believe you! You're lying! Darien's okay. He's got to be!" Travis rushed to her as she screamed. She started hitting him on the chest. "He's okay. I would know if he was hurt. He can't be dead! He can't! He promised he wouldn't leave me alone. He promised, Travis! He always keeps his promises. Always! He's not dead! Make Andrew tell the truth, Travis.
Make him admit he lied. Please! Please, Travis!" Finally she collapsed to her knees, crying as if her world was destroyed. Travis just held her, rocking her, and trying his best to comfort her. He reached out with one hand and pulled Reenie to him and held them both as they cried. Half an hour later, Reenie had cried herself to exhaustion and was asleep on the floor of the storeroom. Travis still held Serena, she still cried. She wasn't wailing anymore, but nothing he could do could stop the endless rain of tears. After making sure she would be alright for a moment alone, he went into the arcade to call his guardian.
Andrew came up to him. "I didn't think it would hit her that hard."
"She loved him," he said simply and then made his call.
Fifteen minutes later, they were at his house. Jacobson had carried a sobbing Serena out to his car, while Travis followed with a still sleeping Reenie. Reenie was laying in one of the guest bedrooms, while Serena was in another, still sobbing. Luna was in there with her and asked for Travis to leave them alone for a little while.
He agreed and was now worrying in the living room. He had tried calling Serena's parents, but they had decided to go out of town for the night with Sammy, since they knew Jacobson could and would take care of the girls and they needed to talk to Sammy alone.
Travis went in to check on Serena. He was very surprised when he got there. Serena wasn't in her room. Luna sat on the windowsill, looking worried. She turned to him. "She got a call. There's a fight going on at, of course, the park. She went, but she's not in any shape to fight. I'm worried about her." she finished, looking out once more.
Travis didn't hesitate. "I'm going after her. I'll tell Uncle Jake that she's asleep and not to bother her."
"What can you do?" Luna asked. You're not a Scout and I don't think you know how to access your prince powers yet, do you?"
"No, I don't. But I will do whatever it takes to make sure she gets home safely." He turns to leave.
He told Jacobson not to bother Serena and that he was going out for a walk. As soon as he was out of sight of the house, he took off running. Apollo found him a moment later. "What's the matter, Travis? Unlike Luna, I am not allowed inside the house. I saw you carrying Serena inside, is she hurt?"
"Not in the body, not yet, anyway. We recieved word that Endymion had died earlier in the week. She's still in shock and then was called on to fight." Travis wasn't really paying attention to his words. He was more interested in making sure he got to the park.
"That's not possible." Apollo said. His grating voice cut through Travis's thoughts.
"She's Sailor Moon, she's expected to fight. Why isn't it possible?" Travis asked.
"No, I meant Endymion having died and you just getting word. I remember how close you three were. I've seen you limp for a week when he broke his leg. And you were half a solar system away at the time. You would have felt his death, believe me! I've been watching you and Serena this weekend. You've shown no signs that he's even been hurt.""Maybe the link doesn't work anymore." Travis said.
Apollo shook his head. Travis almost smiled at the sight. "How does Tuxedo Mask always know when Sailor Moon is in trouble? The link is still active and 'cannot' work one way. He's still alive."
"Are you sure, Apollo? If you're right, it's wonderful news, but I won't get Serena's hopes up on a possible." Apollo just looked at him. "Well you believe it, so it problably is true. Why do I have a link with him, anyway?"
"You don't remember?" At Travis's look. "I guess not. You were blood brothers. When you performed the ceremony, you became linked the same way you and Serenity were."
"I need to tell Serena this. Here's the park." He looked towards where lights were flashing. "And there's the fight."
Sailor Moon just collapsed weeping.
Travis stared up at Apollo. "I've got to help them. I'm the prince of the Sun, can't I become Sailor Sun, or something."
Apollo shook his head. "Not without the Sun Stone, and I'm not entirely sure where it is."
Travis was about to ask more questions when the action in the clearing took up his attention.
"JUPITER THUNDERCLAP ZAP" "MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND" both hit at the same time. Almost all of the monster's tentacles fell off.
"MERCURY ICESTORM SPLASH" "VENUS LOVE CHAIN ENCIRCLE" took off the rest of them.
"Now, Sailor Moon!" Mars called out, but Sailor Moon just lay there, crying. Mars ran up and slapped her across the face. As Sailor Moon looked up, shocked, Mars said, "You are our leader and you will act like it. Or we'll find a new leader. Do you understand?" It was obvious she meant it.
Sailor Moon got to her feet and looked toward the droid. She took out her scepter "MOON SCEPTER ELIMINATION" turned the droid into dust. Then she got up and walked away.
Travis met her as she left the clearing. "Are you alright?"
"That's a dumb question. The man I love is dead and it looks like my best friends are turning on me, and you ask if I'm alright?" she almost screamed.
Travis looked on in sympathy. "Apollo doesnt think he's dead." he said simply. As she looked up, he continued, "he says that the link, which always tells Tuxedo Mask when you're in trouble, works both ways, and that if he had died you would have felt it."
"Thats true, Princess. The bond between you two was strong enough, that when Endymion got hurt, you felt it up on the moon. There is 'no' way in which you could have not felt him dying while on the same planet."
Sailor Moon thought about it for a very long time. They were almost back to the house by the time she spoke again. "I do remember. I felt it when Zoisite wounded him. I just didnt know what it was." She turned to Travis. "Do you really believe that he's still alive?" her eyes were begging for reassurance. Travis gave it to her.
"I do. Apollo said, Endymion and I are blood brothers and the bond we have by that is almost as strong as the one you two have. And I don't remember feeling anything was wrong this entire weekend. I think, that until they find his body, I will not believe he is dead. You shouldnt either."
"Ill try." Sailor Moon jumped up to her window. "Ill try."
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