Disclaimer:I do not own Sailor Moon (I just wish I did). Takeuchi Naoko's characters and storyline are all her own. I do not receive monetary compensation for my fanfiction. My own characters may appear in any of the stories I write. They, my story lines, and the changes in plots, are mine. You can find a list of my characters on my profile page. I will not receive any monetary compensation for this work.

Author's Note: This story is based on an anonymous request. It is slightly more anime based, but with a few manga bits in there. One of my OC's is in here (at least one for now). It is also AU to a certain extent.

Update Note: (2/4/20) I am going through and editing this story for ages. Usagi 16-Mamoru 18

Sanctuary:
A Christmas Story
Chapter One

***Usagi's POV***

There was something off about Seijuro and Natsume. They'd been at the school only a few weeks, but it was more than enough time for Usagi to know they were no ordinary brother and sister. Anytime Seijuro talked to a girl Natsume got jealous, and if she talked to a boy then he became jealous.

They were definitely not American, as they claimed, because what Natsume spoke wasn't English, just gibberish. Usagi's friend, Bradley, grew up in America. Not to mention everyone in the school studied English as a required course. So it wasn't English.

At school that day Seijuro had tried to get her to agree to a date. Usagi wasn't remotely interested in getting involved with him. Not with the way his sister acted, and not with the way he always got into her space. And he said strange things to her. Things that maybe he thought were romantic, but made her feel like she needed a bath.

And honestly, she already knew she could never love anyone but Mamoru.

She could admit, to herself at least, that even she had thought Seijuro was cute the first day. With his flute playing, all the girls had fawned over him. But then her memory had been returned. And there was no comparison, at least to her, with Mamoru. Even though she couldn't have Mamoru back, she wasn't going to be with anyone else. Her heart couldn't take it.

Closing down that line of thinking before depression got the best of her, Usagi peered around the edges of her hiding place. She shivered as she hid behind a tree. The reason for her musings passed by.

She hated the days when Naru was absent. Usagi had hidden at lunch time so he couldn't find her, and now, as school was letting out, he seemed to be looking for her again. She waited until he had passed and ran out of the gate. She was just through when a foot came out and tripped her.

She looked up. Natsume. Crap. "Stay away from my brother," the girl hissed.

"Believe me, I'm trying!" Usagi told her, brushing herself off as she stood. "If you hadn't tripped me, I might have made it away without him seeing me. Crap!" She heard Seijuro calling her name again. She picked up her school bag and took off as fast as she could. She heard the girl yell something after her, but didn't turn.

She raced to the Crown Game Center and slipped inside, hiding beside the door to check out the window beside her. Neither of them was nearby so she moved to the counter. She'd been ducking them for over a week now. Natsume liked to make her life miserable because she had the audacity to be the object of her brother's affections. Seijuro wouldn't stop in his quest to get her alone, and it was a bit frightening.

She wished her parents were home. She missed them, and Shingo. But her brother had won a contest to do with some sort of rocket booster and they had taken him to the finals, which happened to be in another country. There were three more rounds to go, and she was hoping he won. She was very proud of him. But she missed her family. Worse, she didn't like being alone.

It didn't feel like Christmas without them. She was supposed to put up the decorations. The truth was, she hadn't even gone to the attic to retrieve them yet. She wasn't even sure they would be home in time.

With a sigh she looked over at Motoki.

"Usagi-chan," Motoki said happily and a minute later he had slid a chocolate milkshake in front of her.

"Hey Motoki-onii-san. How was school?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Had a pop quiz in chemistry," he said. "I doubt I did well."

"You sound like me with math," she giggled. "I'm barely passing it most of the time."

"You're passing math Odango Atama?" said an incredulous voice. "I find that hard to believe. I've seen some of your test scores."

Usagi frowned, not wanting to turn, but struggling to hold herself still. She didn't fight back the way she had in the past. It just hurt too much that he didn't remember her. All her attempts with him had failed. She sucked down her shake and ignored the comment.

Then she heard it. Seijuro had just entered through the side door and was looking for her again. She heard his voice, and the way the other girls all reacted to him. She stole a quick glance over her shoulder, ducked a bit, and slipped off the stool.

"I have to go. Bye Motoki." She waved, stole one fortifying glance at Mamoru when he wasn't looking, and slipped out the door.

She checked several times over her shoulder to make sure Seijoru wasn't following her, and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see him. Ducking through an alleyway she moved toward her house, hoping to avoid him.

She heard screams as she passed the park. Another Cardian was sucking energy from people, this time elementary school kids. She hid behind a tree and transformed into Sailor Moon. She lifted a hand to her tiara and pulled it down as she stepped out, charging it in one smooth motion. The Cardian saw her though and sprayed an ice attack.

The icicles hit her, one landing hard on her cheek, one bashing her in the hairline, and another hitting her nose. For one desperate moment Sailor Moon wished the other Senshi had their memories back. She dismissed the thought almost as soon as it entered her mind. As much as she missed them, and would have loved their help, this was their only chance for a normal life.

She spun quickly and threw the tiara but was knocked down the instant she released it by another string of icicles that beat at her, bruising her from head to toe. The tiara hit it's mark, creating a fine powder as the Cardian disintegrated, leaving only a single card on the ground. Her whole body ached, and her head was pounding. She put one hand to her forehead and stumbled before crashing to the ground, praying the strange aliens weren't nearby.

***Mamoru's POV***

Mamoru wanted to kick himself. Yet again he had chased Usagi away. He frowned, unsure why he kept treating her the way he did. It used to be, from what he remembered, that she would give as good as she got. They would tease each other. Now she always remained silent while he put his foot in his mouth time and again.

He wanted to ask Motoki for advice, but his friend beat him to the punch.

"You know," Motoki said, almost sounding casual, "one of these days you're going to push her too far and she won't come near you anymore. Every time she sees you she gets this look of pain on her face. If you don't fix it, and fast, you'll lose her forever."

"I don't know why I act this way," Mamoru admitted. "All I want is to take her in my arms and never let her go. Protect her from everything and…" Mamoru trailed off. He really couldn't go into all the things he wanted to do.

"I know. But you push people away. Kami Mamoru, you used to do it to me. I'm pretty darned persistent. Usagi used to be, and then…" Motoki frowned. "I can't remember exactly, but something changed. I feel like I'm forgetting things that are important."

Mamoru nodded. He could distinctly remember meeting Usagi, the way the test paper had hit his face, and the way her shoes tended to launch themselves in his direction. He remembered her plowing into his chest on almost a daily basis for the past year. But some of his memories were gone. He knew he and Usagi had been growing closer and closer, and then it was like there was a blank wall where his memories should have been.

"I don't either," Mamoru murmured. "I wonder if she does."

"Me too," Motoki said.

"Can I ask you something?" Mamoru frowned.

"Sure," Motoki said, resting his forearms on the counter.

"Has Usagi seemed a little worried lately?"

Motoki nodded. "I think something, or someone is scaring her. Sometimes when certain people come in she takes off, but she ducks down first, like she's afraid they'll see her."

"And she's had bruises," Mamoru added, his voice tight with frustration and anger. He would do anything to protect her. "Do we know if she's being abused?" he asked, almost afraid to let the question out for fear of the response.

"Not at home," Motoki said. "Her parents are gone. Shingo won a place in a major contest and there are still several rounds to go. They're over in America."

"Why America?" Mamoru asked, then shook his head, not really caring.

"Oh, the contest was through one of their space programs. But the point is, it isn't them doing it. I have my suspicions, but…" Motoki stopped speaking and glanced around carefully.

Mamoru followed his gaze, using the reflection of the mirror behind the counter. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"What?"

"There are a couple people I see follow her sometimes. A boy and a girl. Don't know their names, but a few times the boy has grabbed her arm or gotten into her space. And every time he does, Usagi sort of freezes. She's always polite, but I wonder about her reaction. People don't think I see, but there's a reason I stand here when I work. I see everything."

"Has he hit her or hurt her?" Mamoru asked, his temper rising.

"Not that I've seen, and I haven't asked directly. But whenever he shows up now, she hurries out. It wasn't you that chased her away Mamoru. Not this time. It was him and the girl coming in here that made her leave."

"Where are they now?" he asked.

"They left, right after she did." Motoki said, with a worried look.

Mamoru frowned. He had a lot to think about. Motoki put another cup of coffee in front of him and went to get the orders of a few customers who were sitting in the booths around the games. The sounds of laser blasts and pixelated guns and monsters filled the air. But he didn't hear any of that.

Instead, he focused on Usagi, and what had changed. His lack of memory frustrated him. Hearing Motoki say his memory was altered as well was no comfort. What if it was something trying to keep them apart? He knew he and Usagi had been getting closer and closer. The more he saw her, the more he interacted with her, the firmer that belief grew.

A few weeks ago she had tried to convince him they were more than friends. He had been shocked and thrown off by his lack of memories. But they had been coming back more and more. And then, without warning, she'd stopped trying. She still came to the arcade, even still spoke to him, but she didn't try to get him to remember anymore. Why that made him so sad he couldn't explain.

***Usagi's POV***

It was cold. That was her first thought. She heard someone shout something, and there was a rush of light and what sounded like a fierce wind, and then silence. The only part of her that was warm was the crook of her arm, which for some reason was wriggling. She slowly opened her eyes and looked down her body to find a bundle cuddled into her arms.

Tiny fists were waving in the air from inside, and she could see two heads peeking out. One had bright pink hair, the other dark purple. Both had blue eyes, though they were rimmed with the color of their hair. They were both cuddled into one large blanket, with two smaller blankets inside.

Sailor Moon almost screamed.

She was somehow holding two babies. She looked around her, trying to find out who had left the children. Luna and Artemis were nowhere around. She slowly sat up, cradling the infants close. The pink haired baby was a girl, that much was obvious by the pink blanket with the words Small Lady neatly embroidered just under a stitched picture of a baby bunny. The purple haired baby was a boy. His blanket had the words Small Lord embroidered under the picture of a shield.

She pulled the children closer, hoping to keep them warm and heard the crinkling of paper. She reached inside the outer blanket and pulled out a handwritten letter. It was smudged and there were several teardrops on it. Obviously it had been written in haste and distress.

Dear Usagi,
I need your help. My children are in grave danger. Someone has threatened to take them, possibly to harm them. I have no choice but to hide them both with you. They are very precious. You are their only hope of survival. We call our daughter Chibi-Usa or Small Lady. Our Son is Chibi-Mamo, or Small Lord, whichever is easier for you. Please, please protect them. I will return for them as soon as I can. Please save my son and daughter Sailor Moon!

Usagi gulped. Someone knew her identity. Furthermore, how was she supposed to care for infants, go to school, and fight the Cardians at the same time? She carefully stood, making sure the babies were safe, and tucked the note into her subspace pocket. On the ground, just behind where she had lain was a diaper bag with a stitched bunny and a shield on the front that matched the baby blankets. She picked it up and frowned. She had to get the babies inside, and fast, to warm them up.

As she was leaving she turned and hurried back. Laying half-buried in the pile of ash was the card, blank now that was the remains of the Cardian. Artemis would need it. It was difficult to grab the card while kneeling with two infants, and she grew dizzy when she bent to grab it.

She struggled to carry both babies as well as the diaper bag. Thinking quickly she tied the outer blanket around them, and then created a sort of strap around her neck to make sure neither fell. She didn't know what to do or where to go for help. She just knew it was very cold and she needed to get them both inside where it was warm. And dry. She thought perhaps it might snow.

Moving behind a tree she released her henshin, becoming plain Usagi again. She shivered. Her school uniform was not the warmest clothing and the air had cooled considerably. It was also growing dark. She wished her parents were back. Her mother would have helped her care for the babies while she went to school. She couldn't tell her who they were of course, but her mother could help, show her anything she didn't know, and support her at the very least. But they wouldn't be back until Christmas... if then. She sighed.

How was she supposed to care for two infants and still go to school? It wasn't like she was on break! What was she supposed to do? She walked quickly toward the one place she knew was close and filled with friendly faces. She made it into the Crown Game Center in less than five minutes, walking as fast as she could without falling. Her arms ached from holding them carefully around the little ones for so long. Her back began to hurt a bit as she kept the babies steady. She wasn't used to the added weight.

The happy jingle of the bell greeted her as she entered, causing her to wince as the sound rang through her head. She moved quickly toward the booths to rest. She was tired, she hurt, and she was cold. And the poor infants had to be cold as well. She rocked them gently, hoping to keep them warm, and hummed a little tune as she walked.

"Oh Kami! Usagi, what happened to you? Are you okay? Who hurt you? Is that... a baby? Two Babies!?" Motoki had rushed from behind the counter as soon as she entered the arcade and he put an arm around her to lead her to a booth.

Mamoru was looking her over, and for once didn't seem to have an insult for her. The worst part of them all forgetting her was him insulting her again. It was hard to go from their one loving embrace back to the cold cruelty. But instead he stood and loomed over her, a worried frown on his face.

"Who hurt you Usagi-chan?" Motoki asked again.

It took a moment for her to remember the battle, the icicles that had hit her. She flinched as soon as she thought about it, realizing what it looked like. Her nose was probably broken, and she knew one of her eyes was probably black and blue. She hadn't thought of that. Luna was going to be so angry with her. How could she be so careless?

"Why do you have those babies? Did someone try to hurt them too?" Mamoru asked in a quiet voice, coming to the table. His voice sent shivers through her. He sounded so like Tuxedo Kamen in that moment. It brought back painful memories and she had to hold back her tears.

"I'm fine," she said, "I, uh, fell." Usagi nodded to herself. It would have to do. Everyone knew about her klutz attacks. "I'm babysitting," she added a moment later.

"For how long?" Motoki asked. "Aren't your parents and brother going to be gone for a while?"

She nodded, then hissed. There was a rather large cut on her neck. She held still, looking around her carefully without moving her head. Nearly everyone was staring at her. She heard Motoki and Mamoru whispering, and then Mamoru was trying to take the children. She held on tighter, refusing to let go.

"Come with me Odango," he ordered. "I'm going to check your wounds. I think your nose might be broken."

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"No, you aren't. Hand me the babies. Motoki can carry them to the break room." Mamoru ordered again.

He untied the blanket that was wrapped around the back of her neck and succeeded in plucking the babies from her tired arms before gently handing them to his best friend. Then his arm was around Usagi's waist and he was lifting her to her feet, half carrying her to the back. She was too tired to fight him anymore. She'd been through so much in the past few weeks, and she was tired, and hurting, and all she wanted was someone to help her.

Motoki put the babies on the couch and propped a pillow partially under one side of them to keep both still and safe. "Usagi-chan, how long are your parents and Shingo going to be gone?" he asked.

Usagi frowned. "I don't know. At least another week I think. Maybe they'll be home for Christmas. Why?"

"Because you obviously need someone to help you," Mamoru said quietly.

"I can handle it," Usagi said angrily. She had known eventually he would harp on her not being able to do anything. It was his pattern after all. Tears stung her eyes.

Mamoru shook his head, and one hand came up to rest on her shoulder. "You're hurt," he whispered. "You need help." She stared up into his midnight blue eyes. One lock of his thick black hair fell in front of them, but he ignored it and focused all his attention on her. She felt pinned down by his gaze, almost as though he could read her thoughts.

Motoki came over holding a first aid kit. "You've got her?" he asked in a quiet voice and Mamoru nodded. She watched as he walked out of the break room and wished he would stay. He was always a buffer between her and Mamoru, and she didn't think she could handle him tonight. Not with the memories filling her. It was already dark outside now, and she somehow had to get the babies home safely.

Mamoru opened a bottle and poured some liquid onto a cotton pad. "This might sting a little."

She bit her lip so she didn't screech and wake the children, then nodded. She hissed in pain as he began cleaning her cuts. He was gentle, but whatever he was using stung every time it touched a wound.

Mamoru reached for her nose but she put up a hand to stop him and put it back in place herself. She had long ago learned it hurt less if she did it, the same way pulling knots out of your hair hurt less if you were the one holding the brush. It had been broken several times and once she'd bitten Makoto when her friend had set it.

Unfortunately, now that people had seen the damage, Usagi couldn't just henshin and sleep in the moonlight to heal quickly. She should have realized how visible her injuries were. Mamoru gave her a strange look when her nose was back in place.

"Who is hurting you Odango?" he asked, barely controlled anger in his voice.

"No one. I fell," she insisted.

He didn't say anything else. He gave a small nod though, and she nearly sighed in relief. As much as she missed him and wanted him to remember her, she also could never do that to him. He deserved a chance at a normal life. And honestly, she wasn't sure a relationship built on the love of a past life was strong. She loved him for who he was, but he only loved his dream princess.

They'd formed a friendship. And she had begun to love him long before she knew he was the prince from her dreams, but she didn't think he had been in love with her, and that stung worse than the cuts he was cleaning.

And then he'd been turned evil and she'd been forced to fight against him. She did sigh thinking of that. It had been horrible. She never wanted to be forced to fight him again. He was better off as he was. Wasn't he?

The pink-haired baby stirred and she leaned over to check on her, wincing and throwing her hand against her rib as she did so. The infant sighed and settled back down, but Mamoru was pressing Usagi back and started lifting her shirt. She fought him for a moment, but then he had it lifted up and he hissed.

"Usagi, you're really hurt."

"It's not that bad. Not even broken," she insisted.

"How on earth would you know? It could be fractured."

She pressed her hand over it, gently feeling around her ribs. She shook her head. "No, it isn't. I don't have any problems catching my breath and the pain is more of an ache, not a burn or a sharp stabbing. Definitely not broken."

He gave her an odd look, but said nothing and dropped her shirt. He finished cleaning the cuts on her face and arms, then went to one on her shin. "You are covered in cuts and bruises. What happened?"

"I fell," she insisted.

"Okay," he said quietly. "I'm going to bandage a couple of these that are deeper. I'm pretty sure you don't need stitches on any of them, but there are a few that could get infected if you don't take care of them."

"Okay, I'll take care of them," she murmured, hoping he would leave it at that. She didn't need him getting suspicious. He could be like a dog with a bone when he set his mind to something.

"I've got the car today," he said a moment later. "I know you don't have car seats with you, but it's dark. I'll give you all ride to your house."

"Thank you," she said, surprised and grateful for his kindness. She wasn't going to argue. She needed to get the babies to the warmth and safety of her house as soon as possible.

***Mamoru's POV***

Mamoru wished, for one second, that he was a superhero. Then he shook his head. This wasn't a problem for superheroes. It was a problem for him. He could at least be a friend to Usagi. He focused on that. She probably didn't like him very much, but he could change that, if he tried hard enough.

He focused all his attention on her, working to heal her injuries the best way he could. He was thankful she was alive and alright, but his worry for her was growing. She needed help. She needed someone who would stop whoever was hurting her. Someone who would protect her and be there for her.

Someone to love her.

He pressed her down into the cushions and told her to rest while he pulled his car up, motioning for Motoki on his way. His blonde friend hurried over to him quickly, his hands wringing with anxiety.

"Did she tell you what happened?" he asked.

Mamoru shook his head and growled. "No. She insists that she fell Toki. What am I supposed to do? How can I help her if she won't trust me?"

"I don't know Mamoru. Just be there for her, I guess. And no insults," he added in a hissed whisper. "What can I do to help?"

"I'm going to get my car and I'm going to drive her home. Can you hold the babies so I can get her settled inside? I think her rib is worse than she's letting on."

Motoki nodded. "Try and get her to let you stay," he suggested. Then he gave a small frown. "And keep an eye out. Whoever hurt her might try and come back for more."

Mamoru had thought of that. He planned to be at her side as much as possible from here on out. Even Motoki didn't know Mamoru was head over heels in love with Usagi. But he was. And he would do anything. Literally anything, to protect her.

He hurried out into the darkness, his mind on the possible danger to his little Odango. He raced to his car and pulled it right in front of the Crown, not caring that he wasn't supposed to park there. He climbed out and went back in to gather the woman he loved, his arm wrapped around her good side as he helped her out.

Motoki held and rocked the babies until she was in the seat and buckled, and then handed the children to her. Mamoru heard the intake of breath as she reached for them and bit back a snarl. He needed to make sure she never ended up this hurt again.

"Go to the left and then down three blocks," Usagi said, then yawned.

Mamoru didn't tell her there was no need for the directions. He simply drove and did as she said. He wasn't even sure how he knew where he lived. He just did. It was one of those strange things that remained even though his conscious memories were gone. It was like muscle memory.

Somehow, he was certain, there was more to his relationship with Usagi than he remembered. Maybe at one time he'd gone to see her every day. Maybe they'd even dated. Had he ever kissed her? Somehow he thought he had. He let out a sigh as he pulled into her driveway.

The house was dark. Empty. There was no way he was leaving her alone.

Author's Note: So, you may have noticed it's not just Chibi-Usa. She has a twin. Chibi-Mamo. You can find him in some of my other stories as well, and the information on him is in my profile. I'm using this story to help me set up his baby personality a bit, which will come in handy as they will soon be born in one of my series. I'm also trying to set Chibi-Usa's infant personality. Tell me what you think!