A/N: It's been a long road to the end of this fic, almost a year! I'd like to thank you all for reading my fic and for all your support. Thank you for giving The Masquerade your love and care, I couldn't ask for anything more :) This story has been one that has stuck with me for a long time and I have loved every moment of writing it. I hope you enjoy the finale, the epilogue, and that you all walk away glad that you read this story.

Thank you once again. :)

The Masquerade – Epilogue (The Man Behind the Mask)

TWO YEARS LATER – JUNE 30th

"Harold! Have you gotten the electron samples I asked you for?" Ami called out to her co-worker.

"On it, boss!" Harold said as he rushed through the lab door.

Ami laughed, shaking her head. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her lab coat as she sat down at her work table. She began gathering her things together, getting ready to leave.

"Where are you going? You still have to help me finish this processor and work on the new teleportation device!" Andrea, another one of Ami's coworkers said.

Ami tilted her head to the side. "Sorry, Andrea! I've got to go! My husband's picking me up today. I've got to be at the Moon castle in a few hours!"

Andrea turned to the rest of their colleagues. "The boss gets married and suddenly we never see her around here!" She exclaimed throwing her hands in the air as she hobbled off to work on the processor.

Jimmy, one of the newbies at Mercury's engineering lab, nudged his friend beside him. "I don't get it, why is the boss going to the Moon?"

Andrea appeared behind him, smacking him on the head with her clipboard. "She used to work as the Queen's Consul, you dummy! She quit a year ago when she decided politics wasn't her thing and that she wanted to do research. She's famous for her innovations in science and technology that have been incorporated onto the Moon which until recently, never allowed any technological developments! Honestly, I don't understand how you've made it this far Jimmy if you didn't even know this!"

Ami laughed. "Hey, go easy on him, will you Andrea?"

There was a soft knock on the glass door of the lab room. "Zoisite! You're early!" Ami exclaimed.

"I thought I'd surprise you!" Zoisite smiled, taking Ami's hand in his and waving at her colleagues.

Jimmy whispered to his friend beside him. "So that's the notorious husband, huh?"

Andrea grabbed her clipboard and hit Jimmy on the head again.

"OW!"

"Have a nice time, Ami!" Andrea called after the happy couple.

The little baby girl was running around on her little feet, her raven hair cascading behind her. Her cerulean eyes were bright as she looked back in excitement at her grandfather.

The aging man was settled in his wheelchair and his white hair was pushed back from his forehead. He wore wrinkles beyond his age, but nothing brought him greater joy than the sight of his granddaughter.

Down the stairs of the Phobos-Deimos place, Rei ran, collecting her things in her purse and checking that everything was in order.

"Father, we're leaving soon. Promise me you'll be careful at home, and please ask the maids for help if you need it," Rei implored him.

Rei's father smiled. "Don't worry over me. Just have fun tonight, Rei. You look beautiful and I'm sure your mother would have thought the same."

Rei smiled. "Thanks. That means a lot."

She straightened her silky red ball-gown as she yelled up to the second floor. "Jadeite! Hurry the hell up! We're going to be late at this rate!"

Jadeite in a perfectly pressed black suit came down the stairs, while straightening his tie. "I'm here! I'm here! Honestly, woman! You should tame that temper of yours," Jadeite teased running a hand through his curly blond locks.

Rei glared at him, narrowing her eyes and puckering her lips just a bit.

Jadeite stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned forward, kissing Rei on the lips.

She pushed him off and smacked him on the chest.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Jadeite protested, rubbing a hand on his chest.

"What you mean what was it for! What did you kiss me for?" Rei demanded.

"You puckered your lips!"

"I was glaring at you!"

"You know I can't resist kissing you when you make your angry face!" Jadeite explained. "We're late now because of your antics, let's get going." He turned to his daughter, kneeling on one knee to catch her as she came running towards him with a giggle. "Come on, sweetheart."

Rei laughed, stopping her husband for a short kiss.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing," she said with a smile, stalking off to the carriage outside.

"Here's your order, sir! Two chocolate cakes and a bouquet of lilies!" Lita smiled at her last customer for the day.

The bell on the shop's front door rang as it shut and Lita pulled her apron off and grabbed her things. She turned around to find Nephrite with a bouquet of pink roses and a vanilla cake in hand, their son riding on his father's shoulders.

"Surprise! I thought I'd bring you something before we headed for the castle tonight," Nephrite said.

"Yeah, Mommy! But Daddy wouldn't let me get the chocolate cake I wanted. He wanted to the get cake you wanted inst– " The boy was cut off as his father put a hand over his mouth.

Nephrite smiled innocently. "I thought he needed to stop eating so many chocolaty things. That's all."

Lita laughed. She ruffled her son's dark brown hair. He had his father's chocolate eyes. She looked into Nephrite's eyes and smiled. "I think I want chocolate cake next time too," she said.

Nephrite smiled, pulling her by the waist for a hug. "As long as you're the one to make it. You know I love anything made in your kitchen."

Lita laughed. "Oh, I know. I could tell by the empty jar of cookies I found last night!"

"Wasn't me!" Nephrite exclaimed pointing at their son with a guilty expression.

"Hey!" the boy cried. "Daddy, just admit. You ate it all. It's fine. We won't judge you for it."

"Thanks, that's reassuring," Nephrite replied.

Lita grabbed both her boys by the hand and pulled them out the door. "Come on, we're going to be late!"

Kunzite rubbed his forehead. The lamp offered little light now that evening had fallen. He put aside his things on his desk, reaching for the stack of letters he'd receive that day.

Kunzite,

I'm happy to inform you that Adonis is making much progress. After we found him that day in an alley in the slums on the Moon, I think we did the right thing bringing him back to Mercury. Their superior medical science is really helping out with his case.

Although it is unfortunate that his memories were completely wiped after the accident and that he's unlikely to ever get them back, I'm glad that he's physically sound. It's strange how he was able to survive the wounds you told me of from the ordeal ten years ago, but I think that since Wiseman brought him back to life and Queen Serenity broke the control he had on him, this is a good opportunity for him to start over.

He's learning new things every day. He may be a grown man on the outside but he currently has the mind of a two-year-old. But his growth is becoming more rapid. I foresee that in a few years' time he may be able to reach his true mental age.

I know the pain that you and Adonis, as your friend, and your wife, have gone through because of the events from your past, but I encourage you to look past it one day. I think the one thing Adonis needs more than anything is someone who cares about him. A friend.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Doctor Pierce

P.S. Congratulations.

"Is that a letter from Doctor Pierce?" Mina appeared next to him with a hot cup of cocoa. She placed it on the desk and took the letter from Kunzite's hands.

He nodded. "He's making progress."

"That's wonderful," Mina said sincerely. "I hope you will find in your heart to go see him soon. Like Doctor Pierce said, it's time we forgive him for the acts that were out of his control. He needs his friend. As do you," Mina said, leaning down to kiss Kunzite softly on the side of his temple.

He took her hand as she straightened up. "So… what is Doctor Pierce congratulating me about?"

Mina smiled. "You caught on about that, huh?"

Kunzite gave her an expression that said, Well?

Mina came around the side of his chair to settle herself in his lap. "I was out with Jenna a few nights ago and she noticed something…. So I called Doctor Pierce and talked to her about it and… I didn't tell you because I wanted to be sure. But, Kunzite…. We're having a baby!"

Kunzite's eyes widened and he pulled Mina into a tight embrace. "I love you. I have always loved you, you know that?"

Mina smiled. "Of course I know. You tell me every day."

The graveyard was quiet in the evening and the stars were bright in the sky. The birds were singing soft lamentations and Sophie's ears were acutely aware of her footsteps on the soft grass.

She came up to the row she'd been looking for, a quaint plot set off from the rest of the graveyard. A plot especially reserved for the fallen people of Nemesis. After the last battle with Wiseman, Serena had been kind enough to grant the families of the deceased with this plot so that they could receive proper burial.

The headstone Sophie was looking for was somewhere around here. It was made of the purest diamond on one half and the bluest sapphire on the other. A pact between brothers.

When she finally found the headstone, she was not surprised to find someone already there, kneeling in front of it, praying.

"I thought I'd find you here," Sophie said with a smile, settling down on her knees beside him. "It is the anniversary of his death after all."

"I didn't want him to be alone today. And I knew you'd come if I was here. You know how Saphir liked you. He's probably ecstatic that you're here at his grave, praying with his brother," Diamond joked. His silver blue hair was shorter than it was two years ago and his heart now wore a burn mark where previously there'd been a control mark.

Sophie entwined her hands with his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad that I am not visiting two graves tonight, Diamond. But that you are here with me now, alive and well. I know Saphir would be glad as well."

"I know," Diamond said, brushing away a tear. He squeezed her hand. "I think it's time we go. We're already late for the ball."

Sophie nodded, getting up off the ground with Diamond. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close into him, placing a soft kiss on her forehead as they walked away from his brother's grave.

Sophie wrapped her arms around his waist tighter. "Serena's going to throw a fit because we're late."

Diamond laughed. "I'm sure we'll be fine."

"But, I'm glad that they're happy again. There was a time when I thought they wouldn't recover from losing their first baby," Sophie admitted.

Diamond squeezed her hand. "I did too, but I think that Rini has brought them enough joy to heal those scars. They named her Renata after all, meaning reborn. She is their happiness reborn again in the form a little girl with pink hair."

Sophie laughed. "She looks exactly like her mother aside from that."

"Ready?" Darien asked his wife, wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. Serena's focus was on her reflection in the mirror.

"Is it really true?" Serena asked. "Luna was telling me the other day that I've been looking more like my mother every day."

Darien gazed into her eyes through the mirror. "I think that your mother would be happy to know that her daughter has surpassed her in beauty and charm."

Serena laughed. "Thank you."

Darien smiled. "Anyways, where's Rini gone off too? You know, more than you and your mother, Rini is like your exact copy."

"Oh don't say it! It wasn't enough that she's born on the same day as me! And she's always taking all of your attention," Serena complained.

Darien laughed, taking Serena's hands between his. "You can't be jealous of you one-year-old daughter, are you?"

Serena scrunched her nose.

Darien pulled her close and gazed into her eyes, eyes that he'd fallen in love with time and time again. "I love you, Serena. I have from the moment I met you. I just didn't know it back then. And I will keep loving you until my last breath. You are mine as I am yours, to love, to hold, and to cherish. Never forget that."

Serena breathed a happy sigh, touching her fingers to the wispy locks of hair that tickled Darien's neck. "How did the man in the mask turn out to be exactly the person I needed?"

Darien smiled. "He wanted to protect her. That's all he ever wanted."

"I love you," Serena said, stretching on her tiptoes for a kiss, which was abruptly cut short by their daughter Rini, tumbling into the room with Luna between her small fists. The cat meowed in protest as the little girl tugged on her ears.

"Oh, Rini!" Serena cried.

THE END.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the end! I'm sorry for any heart attacks from the previous chapter! Like I said in the author's note above, I sincerely thank you all for your love for my story, despite my many delays on updates and horrible typos and all the things I'm lacking as a writer.

THANK YOU for sticking with this story until the end!

Don't forget to shoot me a review with your thoughts on the ending or any reactions at all! I love to hear what you all have to say!

Here's a last goodbye to The Masquerade. :) I hope you all find your man behind the mask ;)