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It was not often that Bo Hanley thought to prepare in advance for anything, but there had been a time when Sailor Neso had possessed a certain gift for remembering special dates and anniversaries. He would throw lavish parties on his homeworld whenever he got the brief opportunity to return there. He plotted for months to put on a massive display for the birthdays of the members of the Zodiac Court. But, of course, no one received more of his special attention than the single most important person to him: Princess Chronos.

That day held a special significance for Princess Chronos and the Handmaiden Neso, even though he was fairly certain he would be the only one to remember it.

For that reason, he had left a note at her home asking her to meet him by the fountain of Chronos Castle. All of the Zodiacs took their turns monitoring the Surrounding, though Neso was probably the most defunct in his duties. On that evening, the stars were bright overhead, and he was in his full fuku with the small addition of a glittery neon blue bow tie at his throat and two white cuffs on his wrists. It looked like the outfit at Chippendale's dancer might wear, even with the coat and short-shorts of his fuku.

His hands were folded behind his back, back facing the open doorway, eyes on the stars twinkling above the fountain.

The moment the Princess of the Zodiacs arrived, the air began to buzz. Neso wasn't sure if it was a true energy he was feeling, or just perception -- his own feelings muddled his senses. In any case, the sound of her delicate heel clicks brought a bright smile to his face long before her voice called to him.

With a melodramatic flourish, Neso spun to face her and then bowed deeply, flickering his eyes up to her face as he stood. "It is a special occasion, Princess," he said, practically vibrating with joy. "You look radiant as ever." Neso said that to a lot of women, but he especially meant it as far as Princess Chronos was concerned.

The tall Senshi of Summer crossed over to the much smaller girl. He extended his elbow to her. "Shall we?" A joyfulness buzzed in his limbs. Even for Neso, he seemed extra excited.

With the princess on his arm, Super Sailor Neso strolled along the outer courtyard of Chronos Castle. The damage to it was minimal here, and when he closed his eyes, he could still imagine it as it had been, at least he thought he could. Neso had lived at the Surrounding for more or less his entire life. It was more of a home to him than his home moon. He had been taken from the Neso moon at such a young age. Sure, he visited at holidays and for really great parties, but mostly, he had grown to adulthood in the comfort of the Surrounding itself.

"Sometimes, when I'm here with you, I forget that our home was ever attacked by Chaos," he said, leading her along the path and out to the outer ballroom. It had been one of his favorite places -- just a dance floor and the stars above. "I like to think that, when this is all over, all of us will come back here, fix up the outposts, and have one big dinner together out here. Even the ones who aren't here anymore. I imagine us all." This sort of talk was slightly uncharacteristic of Neso. He tended to ignore the death and destruction.

When the pair got to dance floor, Neso excused himself from Chronos' arm and skipped over to an iPod dock complete with his iPod stationed in it. Apparently it was battery operated. And apparently Neso owned an iPod long enough not to lose it! "Okay, this isn't your beautiful classical music, but I swear these songs are excellent too," he said, pressing play.

After a moment, "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House began to play. Neso quickly crossed back to Chronos and bowed deeply. "Shall we dance, Princess?" He held out a hand to her, goofy smile on his lips.

Neso grinned at Chronos' compliment, twirling her in a neat circle across the floor. "All music has beauty in it," he said. "Just like all people do." Even the Negaverse, though the Senshi of Summer didn't say so.

In his happiest dreams, everyone who had ever done evil -- senshi and civilian alike -- were purified and attending a massive party at the Surrounding. Chronos was there, of course, radiant and smiling -- happier than he had ever seen her. A tiny part of him envisioned himself as the source of that joy. He would paint himself beside her, holding her hand, receiving a love from her that he had longed for in his heart since the first time he laid eyes on her. But even his dreams wouldn't lie. Eon would be there, taking Chronos' soft hand from his and leading her out onto the dance floor, arms wrapped around each other, trapped in the bliss that only true love can create. And even then, Neso felt happy. Happy that the people he loved could experience such a perfect moment and that he could be a part of it, even if a minor one.

Happiness had always come so naturally to Chronos. Though people had always said that he radiated joy, he knew that Chronos was a nexus of it. She still shone bright like a star, but something was different. That lack, that tiny dimness, burned at him. He wanted Chronos to always be trapped in euphoria. In this new life, he sensed that this was not so. If Chronos was not perfectly happy, then he was failing her as a handmaiden, wasn't he?

The song ended, slipping seamlessly into the next: First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes.

"Princess," he said, voice careful. It was difficult for Neso to be serious, but he still had worries like anyone else. He just tended to ignore them a bit more diligently. However, when it came to Chronos, he made himself overcome it. "Are you happy?"

Neso read a lot into the lapse in words from Princess Chronos. He had lived a life being utterly concerned with her happiness. In the past, with Eon there, it had been mostly a sure thing. In this new life, the Senshi of Summer had watched his princess soar from high to low with far more frequency than he was comfortable with. The song that played behind them meant something to Neso too -- it was how he felt about her, Chronos, the first time he saw her. For as long as he could remember, he had loved her. He knew she could never return the love, but being close to a happy Chronos, he told himself, would have to be enough. So her unhappiness felt like an arrow in his heart.

His hand rested in the small of her back, guiding her across the dance floor. I guess so. The answer made his heart sink, the sadness flickered in his eyes, but his smile did not dip. He would always be a ray of sunshine for her. "Princess, I..." his words failed him.

The song changed and became the twangy rhythm of "Flowers in Your Hair" by the Lumineers.

His eyes held her for a moment, lips empty of words. Then the guitar began to pick up. The cymbals slapped a pulsing beat. Neso glanced down to his feet, and then flashed them back up to hers -- smile fully lit. His hands slid from her waist and took her hands. The beat clapped and Neso leaped backwards, pulling Chronos with him. Laughter spilled out of him, and he began jumping and twirling in circles.

"Let's move!" he said, laughter in his voice.

No more sadness. No more, not tonight. All Neso needed was to see her smile, and he could remember how to breathe once more.