********** DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon is copyrighted 1992 by Naoko Takeuchi. All except the characters I created belong to her. I'm just borrowing them for awhile :-) Any and all problems with this can be directed to the University of Alabama administration. It's their fault I had a chance to get addicted to the series to begin with! ********* The Cookie Lesson by DQBunny -- Dedicated to all of us who try our best to please the people we love. Many thanks go to my editor, Meara, for looking this over and to the SMRFF mailing list for giving me such wonderful feedback. Usagi stared at the tray of cookies. Let's see, she thought, if I tried baking cookies for Mamo-chan every week since we first declared our love for each other, and I have burned all of those cookies, and we have been dating for at least two years, then I've burned...she held her head in her hands and groaned. Oh, this is too much math, Usagi thought. I can't think straight! But, I do know this, I've burnt, mangled, or somehow managed to poison at least a hundred batch of cookies. Well...make that 101, Usagi glanced at the blackened treats sitting in the tray. With a sigh, she carried the tray over to the garbage can and scraped the cookies into it. She had enough materials left to try and make a second batch of cookies. She didn't even know why she did it anymore, but somehow it became a Saturday tradition for her. Usagi would sleep in late, get up, and attempt to bake a batch of cookies for Mamoru. Then she would go to his apartment and he would proceed to eat every one of them, no matter how bad they were. Several times, Ami wanted to run tests on him to see if being the Earth Prince gave him some type of here to unknown stomach acid, but Mamoru had turned her down. But, Usagi had seen the family-sized bottle of Pepto Bismol Mamoru started keeping in the bathroom once the cookie ritual began, and admired him for not complaining. Usagi picked up the cookbook and read the instructions. I've tried it every way, she thought. I've done ready-made dough in those little tubes, mixes, Mako-chan making the batch for me, and even refrigerating the dough. Still, I manage to burn every batch of cookies I make, she thought. She started mixing the batter together. Eggs, milk, butter, chocolate chips, flour...Usagi measured the ingredients with as much deftness as Makoto did. She even used a knife to knock off the extra flour from the top of measuring cup just like the Mako, the undisputed Queen of baking, did to make sure it was the right amount. She started mixing the cookie dough with a wooden spoon, her slipper absently tapping out each stroke as she did so. Why do I always make cookies for Mamo-chan, she thought. He never complains about it and never tells me to stop. I know he usually suffers because of it, because I can tell when his stomach hurts. I can feel his pain, whether he wants me to or not. It was like when he got sick when Elios was captured. His pain becomes my pain. Of course, Usagi touched the brooch tucked away in her pocket, that's when I usually get him to kiss me really deep so I can use the ginzuishou's power to make him feel better. I think he knows I do that too. He's so much smarter than me. I think he enjoys the kissing too. Usagi grinned to herself with that thought. Usagi stopped stirring and took a small scoop from the counter. Her mother had won it in an auction back when she was in elementary school. It was a special small scoop used for taking cookie dough and shaping it into small balls to create perfectly round cookies. She laid the cookies out on the tray, then picked up a glass with a decorative bottom she had sitting in a dish of water. She pressed the glass onto each ball of dough, flattening it out with a pretty star-shaped pattern etched into the middle of each cookie. Ami had taught the girls how to do that when they held a cookie making session at Makoto's apartment last year. She picked up the tray of cookies and sighed. "I don't know why I bother to do this," she said aloud to the empty kitchen. "I know how they're going to turn out anyhow. Burned, burned, and burned. I should just save my time and not do this to begin with." "No wonder you always burn your cookies. You keep talking like that, and of course the cookies will be ruined." Usagi turned around at the sound of the new voice. She gasped and dropped the tray. A girl about her age, with long golden hair done up in odanga and wearing a white dress with gold trimming ran forward and caught the tray before it hit the floor, saving the cookies. The girl opened the oven, put the cookies inside, shut it, then checked the temperature. "Cookies are easier to make in the 20th century, aren't they?" The girl flashed a grin at Usagi. "When I make cookies for Endymion, the cooks have to keep the fires at the perfect temperature. If they displease me, I just have Rei-chan use her fire powers. They work just as well." Usagi simply stood there with her jaw open. She swallowed a few times, then scratched her head. She rubbed her eyes, then pinched herself. No, she was awake. Maybe she'd better stop easting the raw dough, Usagi thought. She was starting to see things... And standing before her was her past self, Princess Serenity. "Princess Serenity...," Usagi managed to say. Serenity grinned at Usagi and pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and flopped down into it. Usagi frowned. She never thought a princess could flop. But, the princess had managed to do so. "I know what you're going to say," Serenity said, taking an apple from the fruit bowl on the center of the table and biting into it. "You want to know why I'm here, where did I come from, and when is Sailor Pluto going to come in here and drag me by my ear back to the Silver Millennium so I can get yelled at by Luna and the senshi, right?" Usagi nodded. "I am here to make sure you never burn another batch of cookies again," Serenity said with a grin. "How?" Usagi pulled out another chair and sat across from herself. "Well, it's a simple thing. You know, you should really study instead of sleep in class, Usagi. Rei-chan doesn't allow me to sleep," Serenity said. "And Pluto doesn't know I'm here, although I bet she does now and is promptly throwing a fit up at the Timegate about it. I am a spirit. I'm from inside you, Usagi, and I refuse to go back until you resolve your feelings about Mamoru. Or rather, Endymion. Although, I do like the name Mamoru. Chiba Mamoru. Means 'Earth Protector,' doesn't it?" "I thought ghosts couldn't sit in a chair or hold anything," Usagi pointed out. "You have to give me some credit. I am royality, you know," Serenity held up one of her ponytails and gasped. "Oh, I have a split end!" You've got to be kidding me, Usagi stared at the past version of herself, who was now moaning over her hair. I could have never been that shallow! "I heard that. I'm not shallow," Serenity dropped her ponytail. "Silly, silly Usagi, remember that I am a part of you. I can sense what you're thinking. So, let's get this thing started, shall we?" The princess bounced to her feet and kicked off her shoes. They flew across the room and landed in the doorway to the front hall. Serenity walked over to the oven and opened it. She nodded at the cookies, then closed the door. She turned to Usagi. "You want to know why you always burn your cookies?" Serenity said. "I tell you that I, Princess Serenity, always baked the best cookies for the Prince of the Earth, Endymion. People wanted my recipe from all reaches of the universe, and even stole the batches of cookies from Endymion. But, if I wasn't the one making the cookies, then they tasted horrid. I was even better at baking cookies than Sailor Jupiter! You want to know how?" Usagi's eyes lit up. "Hai, hai! What recipe did you use?" "It's called confidence, which you have little of, Tsukino Usagi...Eternal Sailor Moon and future Neo-Queen Serenity," Serenity found Ikuko's nail file lying near the sink. She picked it up and began filing her nails with it. Usagi jumped to her feet. "That's not true! I have plenty of confidence!" "You have confidence when it counts, that is true," Serenity said, her attention on her nails. "After all, I couldn't face down Galaxia. This I do admire you for." She held out her hand and gazed at it. She flashed it toward Usagi. "Got any pretty nail paints for them? Polish, ne?" "Stop being so self-centered and tell me why I have little confidence!" Usagi grabbed the nail file from Serenity and shoved it in a drawer. Serenity pouted. "And you say I'm self-centered. Anyhow, you have confidence in everything, except when it comes to Mamoru," Serenity said. "Or, do you want me to call him Mamo-chan?" "Only I call him Mamo-chan, even if you are part of me," Usagi muttered. She turned her back on Serenity and began to clean the mess on the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. "Fine, fine, be like that," Serenity checked on the cookies again. "Anyhow, you keep baking cookies for Mamoru because you want to be a good wife for him. That's the same reason why I made cookies for Endymion. Oh, he loved them! He's a really good kisser too. I imagine Mamoru is too," Serenity winked at Usagi, who blushed in response. "Oh, he's a wonderful kiss...wait!" Usagi cried. "What does my wanting to be a good wife for Mamo-chan have to do with this?" "Everything! I know I would had been a good wife for Endymion if we had gotten married. I would had been the best wife, and he would had been so proud of me," Serenity sighed wistfully. Usagi gazed into the princess's eyes to see the look of longing in them. Her heart went out to Serenity. At least I know that one day I get to marry Mamo-chan, Usagi thought. "But you're not convinced that you'll be a good wife for Mamoru. Oh yes, you love him and he loves you, but you're not confident that you will be a good wife for him in regards to the... domestic things...," Serenity wrinkled her nose. "Personally, I feel a fleet of servants can take care of the nasty stuff for you, but I suppose you 20th century housewives must do everything on your own." "I can't cook, I'm nowhere near as smart as he is, I can't hold my own in a conversation with his friends unless it's Motoki- onii-san, how can I be a good wife for him?" "Don't you ever stop to think he may think he's not a good husband for you?" Serenity said, taking a banana from the fruit bowl and took off the peel. She bit into it. "I mean, come on, Endymion has his faults. Sure, he is the sexiest thing ever born into the universe, but I think his sense of romance is sorely lacking at times. And those dirty wars that he and the generals like to go play in," Serenity wrinkled her nose. "I can't stand Endymion getting blood on my dress." Serenity threw the peel on the counter. "Do get rid of that, Usagi?" I am not your servant, you pompous, self-centered snob, Usagi thought, picking up the peel and throwing it in the trash can. She groaned. I just called myself a snob! "I better get the point across before you hurl anymore mental insults toward me. You know, if you were anyone but myself, I'd have you arrested for insulting me," Serenity took another apple from the bowl. "Anyhow, the point of the lesson is that if you have more confidence in yourself about being good enough for Mamoru, then you will bake the best cookies in the universe. I did!" Serenity raised her hand in the air and waved it around. She disappeared before Usagi's eyes. "Ja ne, Usagi!" Serenity's voice floated in the air. "If you burn this batch of cookies, then you really wouldn't be a good wife for Mamoru anyhow!" "I will be the perfect wife for Mamo-chan, you snob!" Usagi yelled. She finished cleaning the kitchen with determination. Ooh, how did everyone stand the past version of myself? How dare she say I'm not good enough for Mamo-chan? I AM good enough for him! I am a good cook to him! He eats my cookies and my cooking! He does love me, and I will do everything to the best of my abilities for him! The timer went off and Usagi pulled down the oven door. I can get better at cooking, and Mamo-chan will love it! He doesn't love the cookies. He loves me! It doesn't matter if I gave him leaves from trees. He'll eat them because it'll make me happy. I am worthy enough to be a good wife for him, no matter if I can cook or talk smart or whatever! He loves me for being myself. Usagi pulled the tray out and thumped it on the counter, burning herself because she forgot to use a potholder. She glanced down at the tray, ignoring the pain. The cookies had been baked to a perfect golden brown. She waited for a moment for them to cool, then took one from the tray and bit into it. Her eyes lit up in surprise. She quickly scooped the rest of the cookies into a bag and ran off toward Mamoru's apartment. Once she got there, she used the spare key to open the door. She peeked inside to see Mamoru lying on the sofa asleep, an opened book on his chest. Usagi closed the door behind her and took her shoes off. Slipping on the pair of bunny slippers she kept over there, she smiled at him, Serenity's words ringing in her mind. 'He's a really good kisser, too. I imagine Mamoru is, too.' Usagi smiled and nodded. "Oh, he is, Serenity," she whispered. "He really is." She approached him and set the cookies on the table before the sofa. She took the book off his chest and set it down next to the cookies, then reached for the afghan that hung on the back of the sofa. Usagi covered Mamoru up with the afghan and moved to give him a gentle kiss on the lips. She would wait until he woke up to give him the cookies. Her lips touched his, and he responded. His midnight blue eyes fluttered open, sleep crusted into the corners. Usagi took a finger and wiped the sleep out of his eyes. This feels like we're married, she thought as he initiated a second, longer kiss. When they broke off the kiss, they smiled at each other. Usagi pulled back so he could sit up. "Gomen, I didn't mean to fall asleep," Mamoru ran a hand through his hair to try and put it in some semblance of order. Usagi sat on the sofa next to him and picked up the bag. "I made some cookies, Mamo-chan!" Usagi held the bag out. "Have some!" A wary look appeared in Mamoru's eyes, but he opened the bag and took one out. It appeared to look good. Still... "Why don't I go make some coffee to go with these?" Mamoru started to stand. Usagi grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "Onegai, Mamo-chan, please eat one now. It's really important to me." He didn't think twice. Mamoru bit into the cookie he held. Usagi waited, her heart pounding. After a moment, he swallowed, and a big grin appeared on his face. "Sugoi! These are great! Did Makoto fix them?" "No, Mako-chan did NOT fix them you baka!" Usagi threw the cookies at Mamoru and stood up. She marched outside onto the balcony and stared miserably at the street below. Baka Serenity, for a princess, you don't know what you're talking about. Of course, being me, I suppose you have to be an airhead. Usagi's vision blurred, and she felt tears roll down her cheeks and fall down toward the street. After a moment, she felt a hand on her back. She refused to turn around and look at him. "Gomen ne, Usako...it's just...well...you've never... it's just rare that you...," Mamoru knew he was getting into hotter water with every word he spoke. "Okay, you make the worse cookies in the world!" "And that's suppose to make me feel better?" Usagi muttered. "No. But the cookies you brought me today are better than any I've ever eaten. Better than Makoto's." Usagi straightened up. She turned to face them. He had another cookie in his hand and was eating it. She wiped away the tears. "But, I didn't make them any differently than I made the other cookies," she said. "Something is different about them," Mamoru said. Usagi thought back to the conversation with Serenity, then it sunk in. This time, I had enough confidence in believing I would make a good wife for Mamo-chan - that I could bake good cookies. She smiled. It wasn't the ingredients or the oven or any of the material things! It was all me! The smile turned into a happy grin and Usagi threw herself into Mamoru's arms. He staggered back from the force, then returned the hug. "Feel better?" he asked her. "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings." "Arigato, Mamo-chan, for eating every single cookie I ever baked for you," Usagi kissed him enthusatically. The passion in the kiss stunned him, but he returned it eagerly. They stayed there on the balcony and held each other as the sun started to go down around them. And one day soon, I will be your wife, and I will be a good wife. Usagi turned her face back to his, and he rewarded her with another kiss. His arms wrapped around her slender waist, one hand still clutching the cookies. The kiss grew deeper, soul-binding. From in the air, the spirit of Princess Serenity watched her modern reincarnation with a smile. "Not bad...Usagi-chan," Serenity whispered. "You will make a wonderful wife." A hand rested on her shoulder. Serenity turned around to see her love, Prince Endymion, smiling at her with warmth and love in his midnight blue eyes. "And you, my love, would had made a wonderful wife as well," Endymion said in a low voice. "After all, you made the best cookies, Serenity." He took her in his arms, and the spirits floated in the air above Tokyo, locked in a passionate kiss which equalled that of their reincarnated selves in the city below, a kiss which would ring true throughout time.