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Chibiusa clutches the note Helios had left on her pillow that morning in one hand, unable to completely banish her nerves.
'Come home early tonight. I have something for you. — Helios'
She knows Helios loves her. He makes no secret about his feelings—it is one of her favorite things about him.
But she is tired. She has been away in class all day and then at a group study session and it is only now that the sun has set that she finally can make her way back home. She's been adamant about returning to her mother's era to study, wanting to complete her degree before she returns to study under her mother, but it's not as easy as she'd hoped. To that end, Sailor Ceres, Sailor Vesta, Sailor Juno, and Sailor Pallas have accompanied her.
Chibiusa does not think there's any enemies to be concerned over, but she's grateful to have her friends with her. It makes her feel less out of place when her own mother has her bodyguards and friends in this era and so does Chibiusa herself. With her mother's scouts now dating or married themselves, along with her own mother, she feels like less of a fifth wheel with her friends living in the same apartment building as her, close to the university where they all study together.
What's more, all of her friends like Helios. Though Chibiusa isn't directly seeking anyone's feedback—she's adamant about that, no matter what others think—it's nice to have that reassurance nonetheless.
She takes a deep breath as she opens the door to the apartment she shares with Helios, hoping for the best.
A shower of rose petals and glitter falls over her as she gasps.
Helios is waiting for her in the center of their small living room. He's dressed in a white tuxedo, a pink rose bouquet in hand, as he smiles at her. He's lit a bunch of candles that add a golden glow to his looks, making him look even more like a prince her eyes.
But then, he's always looked like a prince to Chibiusa.
She rushes forward, hugging him eagerly as his arms close around her. "Helios!" She can't help but grin into his broad chest. "You did all of this?" She waves a hand to the picnic basket on the living room table beside them.
He smiles as he pulls back, encouraging her to follow him down to a blanket he's spread out on the floor on the balcony, bringing the picnic basket with him. "I did," he tells her quietly, his expression proud as he gestures to the night sky before them. "Look, my dear lady." His smile is brilliant. "The stars."
She melts. He'd listened one night when they'd been dozing off to her mumbled comment about wanting to see the stars. It has been her favorite thing to look at ever since she's a kid. "Helios—" she begins but she doesn't get far as he kisses her gently.
When he pulls back, it's to pull out all of her favorites from the chilled picnic basket, a beautiful array of food coupled with an adorable cake that she recognizes almost immediately by Makoto's delicate style. "Happy anniversary." He kisses her again. "Life has well been worth living, Serenity, because living it meant I found you."
And then, as he pulls her in to snuggle with him, tossing a blanket around their shoulders before moving to serve them both food, Chibiusa cannot help but think that there is nowhere else she'd rather be.
She promises herself later that she will do something just as spectacular as her gift to him.