Bea: ok, here's the deal. I know I have already posted and finished this story, but I was re-reading it, and frankly was ashamed almost to the point of tears (not quite THAT bad but you get my drift).

Well, I have read the guidelines so I'll be taking the original 'Taking Charge' off of . You can find it on my account at . And as I finish re-vamping each chapter I will be uploading the "new and improved" 'Taking Charge' story, ever-so-cleverly named 'Taking Charge 2.0'. -_-'

I dedicate this story to my readers and muse, who have one and all kept me going in my stories, inspired me, helped me improve via constructive reviews and advice and by just reading my stories and letting me know what you think of them.

You guys rock my socks off and leave me in the dust, sitting on my rump in awe! Luvs ya all and here we go! *takes a deep breath and plunges in recklessly*

Taking Charge 2.0

By: Honest Beauty

Chapter 1: Warning Signs

Mamoru walked out of the school grounds with a very happy Chibiusa skipping ahead of him. Well she should be, she just won first place in her race. Mamoru thought fondly and smiled. But the smile vanished as he walked into a white-hot thread of agony that quickly coursed throughout his body and centered in on his heart and lungs.

Mamoru felt like his chest was bound too tightly by a vice and his heart was being wrapped in barbed wire. His breath caught in his throat, preventing him from uttering a sound or he would have screamed in pain. All that emerged from his lips was a strangled moan. Mamoru collapsed to his knees, grabbed his chest, closed his eyes in pain and gasped as soon as he was able to, his face a twisted mask of pain. The whole thing only lasted maybe a second, but felt much longer to the Prince of Earth.

"Mamoru! Are you alright? What happened?" Mamoru forced his eyes to open to see his future daughter look at him with worried eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Mamoru replied, not wanting Chibiusa to worry, "I just tripped."

Later the three met up with Usagi and the others at Crown Parlor. Mamoru noticed that even though the skies were clear, it was a little dark outside. Usagi's worried glances at the sky told him he wasn't the only one that noticed it.

However they shrugged the feeling off. Eventually they left, the girls and Chibiusa exiting first, happily chatting about the race while Mamoru and Usagi followed hand in hand. Suddenly both of them stopped, clutched at their hearts and gasped painfully in unison. The other five hurried back asking what was wrong. Mamoru, not wanting to cause a scene, mindsent :This happened to me earlier around 9:30.:

:You too? Yes I can feel your memories, and the same thing happened to me except that it was a tiny bit less painful:

:What do you think is happening?:

:I don't know, but we should try not to worry the others.:

:Right.:

"Mamoru! Usagi!" Chibiusa said worriedly, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, we just tripped, that's all." Usagi said as the two of them painfully stood upright.

"Are you sure Usagi?" Rei asked, "You did this earlier too."

"Same with Mamoru!" Chibiusa exclaimed as all five looked at the couple.

"We'll be fine, don't worry." Mamoru said as they masked their pain and caught up with the group.

"Hey, Usagi-chan, Mamoru-san, what's that on your shirts?" Ami asked abruptly, grabbing a near invisible thread that lay on the couple's chests.

"It looks like a spider thread." Makoto offered as Ami examined it.

"I'm going to analyze it once I get home." Ami said and everyone headed home.

Bea: what do you guys think? Good, bad, ugly, boring or a possibility? I would love you forever if you leave me some feedback, esp. from those who have read the original TC.

Ja ne!