Chapter 16: Epilogue

Strangely enough, normality returned rather quickly for the sailors who had regained their memories. Serena slept and rested through the remainder of the night, of the great battle, and she awoke refreshed and grateful for the new bright day. She attended class, fell asleep again in the graduate studies lounge and then took up her post at the diner once more. It was a busy shift with lots of excitement and news about the Sailor Soldiers but Serena settled back into her routine as if it had never been interrupted.

"Sailor Moon saves the day again," Joss said as he switched to another channel on one of his many television screens.

"For now, I guess," Serena said with a smile as she passed him to retrieve a decanter of fresh coffee.

"Come on, Serena, you've never been a pessimist. Cheer up and get excited," Joss warned and teased all in the same breath. "I feel safer knowing they are back, and the thing that they chased away last night...I hear it was epic."

"I've got work to do," Serena said with a laugh as another familiar face was heralded by the ringing of the bells on the door. "And so do you, or have you forgotten? So get back in that kitchen and quit gawking at Magical Girls."

"Go, help the people," Joss shooed her away as he slowly peeled his eyes away from the TV and moved back into the kitchen.

"What's up doc?" Serena asked cheerfully as she leaned on the booth Darien sat down in. "What can I get you, aside for this cup of fresh, hot coffee?" She asked as she poured it for him.

"I'm having some serious deja vu," Darien quipped with a laugh.

"My whole life is deja vu, Darien," She countered with a wink.

"I'll have a cheese burger, and a chocolate shake," he said and watched her smile grow.

"Coming right up," she said as the door bell chimed again and her four former companions walked in together and moved to sit in the booth with Darien. "Did you all plan this?" She asked, "to check up on me, or just to swamp my evening with work?"

"Maybe," Rei said as she slid past Serena into the booth. "Or maybe we just have a lot of life to catch up on and that makes people hungry, and desperate for coffee," She added and pushed an empty cup toward Serena.

Joss rushed over at the sight of the Five Star chef in his diner.

"Oh my, Serena, give your best service because you have Lita Kino in your section," Joss gasped and straightened his apron. "In my diner, she's in my diner! Can you believe it?" He added as he stared.

"Lita and I grew up together, Joss. Calm down, you're embarrassing me," Serena scolded her boss and shooed him away again. "Sorry Lita," she added with a laugh.

"Hey, no problem, my restaurant is totally closed for now, so am I really a Five Star chef anymore?" Lita asked and waved at the man who stared at her from the counter. "Maybe I should ask for a job."

"But you're going to rebuild, aren't you?" Darien asked when the laughter died away and Joss rushed into the kitchen sheepishly.

"Of course, but I have to wait for insurance, and construction and building permits to come back in. I'll need a complete structural analysis of the building to see if we can save any of it or if it's got to come down. It's going to take a long time for that part of town to get up and running, especially after the additional damaged from last night."

"I'm so sorry, Lita," Serena whispered sorrowfully.

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault, and you saved all those people. I'm sorry I didn't come running when you called. You needed me and I was too busy. I was a terrible friend," Lita apologized.

"We don't blame you, I think some of us would have done the same thing under different circumstances," Ami admitted.

"Really Ami?" Lita asked in shock. "You, of all people?"

"I'm a doctor now. It's been a tough few days," Ami said with a nod.

"I'm ready to get back to life," Mina said honestly. "But I think it's time to get my business affairs back here. I need to be closer to you all. I've been away a long time. Not just for Sailor business but I missed you even though I didn't know it."

"The pull to come back is so strong," Darien added.

"Well, I won't complain that you're all back as long as you don't complain about my terrible service," Serena joked and rushed away.

She came back moments later as the Stars walked in and pulled a table up to the booth to join the party.

"Should I pull another table over and make room for the outers?" Serena asked.

"Good call, they should be here too, any minute," Seiya said with a nod and got up again to help.

"You are all supposed to be getting back to life," Serena scolded.

"We are, you don't want our money?" Hamara asked as she snuck up and sat down. Michelle, Trista and Hotaru joined them as well.

"What's with the party?" Joss asked almost overwhelmed.

"Sorry, my friends are all in town, and we never get to see each other like this. This was the best compromise we could come up with," Serena apologized. "I just didn't anticipate the diner being this busy tonight."

"You could have called in a favour," Joss said as he reddened with embarrassment. "I would have given you time off."

"Don't worry, Joss. This is more fun," Serena practically sang as she danced away to retrieve menus.

"Well at least you're smiling, Serena. I've been worried about you these past few days," Joss said and then disappeared into his kitchen once more.

"So have we," Ami admitted. "Are you all right?"

"I will be," Serena answered. "I promise. And I hope we can all be at peace for a while."

"Yes, we have new bonds to build and people to get to know all over again. A time of peacefulness will be good for all of us," Trista commented.

"I agree, we can live and protect the planet together," Hotaru said. "And I'll get through my high school entrance exams."

"Watch out for those elite prep schools, they like to harbour darkness," Serena joked and winked at the youngest among them.

"Ha, you're funny, Serena!" Hotaru mocked.

"I'm just glad you're all here, for now," Serena added.

"We'll be just a call away, we're not leaving you completely," Michelle commented and blushed.

"One thing is certain, this world will have a change because of all of you," Darien said as Joss called Serena back to pick up food for another set of tables and sent her away.

"And what about you and her?" Rei asked as all eyes turned to stare at the doctor.

"I'm going to do my best to win her heart," he said with a smile. "Instead of assuming I already have it, I'm gonna make her fall in love with me."

"How romantic," Mina sighed and Lita joined in.

"What's romantic?" Serena asked as she returned and poised herself to start taking orders.

"Nothing," Mina and Lita gasped and blushed.

"You two haven't changed," Serena said and laughed. "And terrible, terrible liars!" She accused.

"I know," Mina said with a shrug. "But some things you have to hold onto. That's something I plan to never let change."

"I'll let you have your secrets, for now," Serena said. "But I'll need to get some orders from the lot of you before Joss throws you out." The orders were given and Serena dashed away again.

"So this is our new start, is it, all over again?" Yaten asked seriously.

"Generally, this is how it goes, yes," Lita answered. "But there is always a new adventure this way and it keeps you on your toes. Not that we have our memories, we'll train together and be ready together, and you'll be apart of that."

"Why would Serena ever think that life was spelled out for her when you live like this?" Taiki asked. "It sounds like things are always changing, and that you'll always have each other."

"They are," Serena said as she came back. "But only because I refuse to let my future be spelled out for me. I'll make it what I want it to be and change it if I have to," she said optimistically and surveyed the tables in her section. "Looks like it's going to be a long night." She added as the bell rang from the kitchen once more and Joss hollered for her.

"Well, I guess you won't be able to sit with us," Darien said as the door opened again.

"Sorry, I can't," Serena said, "But I'll always be close by if you need me," she added and dashed away again.

"And that is our Serena," Ami said with a giggle as they watched Serena quickly make friends with the new comers and set them to browsing the menu.

"She really hasn't changed all that much, now has she?" Michelle asked.

"She has, but so have we," Ami said, having been the one of them to know Serena with and without her memories. "But she has kept all of her best qualities, and those are things that will never change."

"Thank goodness for that," Rei said and smiled as Joss called Serena back to the window for another pick up and their food started arriving at the table.

"Need anything else?" Serena asked when it was all settled.

"I think we're good, for now," Darien answered.

"Okay, just holler if you need me," Serena said and fluttered away to be helpful where she was most needed.

The End