Moon entered the vast room, checking his watch. A bit late to the party, but what could he do about that? He was a night owl, and never came to a party before dusk, and rarely left until dawn. He put away his watch in his left crater pocket, then scanned the room. There they were. This was his first party in a millenium, and he was excited to meet up with his old friends. He took a glass from a passing star waiter's tray, then hurried over to the chatting group of planets.

"Hello, Moon!" Exclaimed Jupiter, her plump face creasing in a smile.

"Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune." Moon nodded, grinning at his friends. Ah, how he had missed talking with them and hearing their voices. A soft hand tapped his shoulder, and he turned around. "Earth, darling! Good to see you again!"

"Likewise," Earth replied, smiling brightly. "Funny how we are next door neighbors, yet we rarely talk."

He loved Earth. Oh, how he loved her. So perfect, so colorful. "And how are the people of your world?"

"Ah, yes! Do tell!" Exclaimed Jupiter, her dress flouncing about as she jumped with excitement. "You are so lucky, Earth, to have the only form of life living with you. I have my moons to keep me company, but you have breathing life forms who can walk about and love you and take care of you."

Saturn smiled. "I'm sure it's quite ticklish having humans walking all over you."

"Indeed." Mused Moon, raising his glass.

"Well?" Jupiter urged. "How are they?"

"Oh, same ol' same ol'." Earth laughed, "They still think Mars is hiding something."

Moon smiled. Neptune and Jupiter giggled. Saturn simply rolled his eyes, "Humans are so tiny minded. They waste so much time believing they aren't the only ones 'out there.' They must be terribly lonely."

"Well, I shouldn't think so. There are billions of them. I don't see how I keep track of them all. And they love to build shuttles all the time and race into space. I don't understand why we don't -" she stopped and grabbed Moon's shoulder, pointing in awe at the gorgeous figure who had just entered the room. "Oh my. She just gets hotter and hotter all the time, doesn't she?"

Sun stopped in the center of the room, scanning the planets surrounding her. She was decked in a shimmery golden gown, with glowing plumes extending from the bodice. Orange highlights tinted her golden hair, accenting her fiery eyes. Moon noticed Neptune and Pluto moving as far away from her as they could. Sun looked in their direction, but she didn't seem to care.

"Yes," admitted Neptune, messing with the cuffs of his sleeves, "She does have a certain flare to her."

"I met a blue star the other day." Saturn touched his rings absentmindedly. He had never cared much for Sun, and everyplanet knew so. He was too cool and she was too hot-headed. "Beautiful thing she was. Sun had nothing on her."

"Well, I didn't say she was the hottest one in the galaxy, now did I?" Earth huffed.

"Oh, don't get your continents in a bunch."

She scoffed in disgust. "If you remember correctly, my continents were in a bunch! And it was nicer that way. I didn't have to always keep track of them then. Sometimes you say the worst -"

"I'm sorry." He sighed. "I've been saying things like that all night, haven't I?"

"Yes. Why?"

He shook his head. "I've been feeling rather lonesome lately, and I say mean things when I'm feeling that way. Don't mean to. Sometimes it's frustrating having rings and no one to give them to. Venus will have nothing to do with me, says we're too far apart. And Uranus said we could be just friends. She's the closest planet I have, and yet she insists we're just friends. Do I have bad luck or what?"

"You could try a different perfume, for one thing." Neptune chuckled, waving his hand in front of his nose. "Must you use Gas Giant by Galaxy always?"

"Don't judge." Saturn replied glumly.

"You have all of your moons to choose from." Earth reminded, "I think Mimas and Dione are very nice. Surely one of them would suit you."

He shook his head. "Titan is so protective of his sisters. He's refused every offer that I've made. He even threatened to take all sixty two away with him once, but Gravity kept him where he was. I hate it - Titan's atmosphere is so thick sometimes."

"Well, you'll find one eventually. Maybe when Andromeda comes to visit, she'll bring a few planets for you to meet. There's always someone for everyone."

Jupiter suddenly turned to Moon, her bright eyes twinkling. "I've heard from Earth that some of her little life forms think you are a massive egg and that you have a sort of creature living inside you."

Moon laughed. "And who on Earth believes that?"

"The...oh, those life forms with the pretty voices who drink too much tea."

"The British?" Earth stared at Jupiter, then chuckled as she remembered. "I told you that was just from one of their picture things they've got that get displayed on funny little objects called television sets."

Jupiter frowned. She never liked to be laughed at. "But what if it is real?"

"Well," Moon patted her on the back sympathetically. "If I did have a creature living inside me, I wouldn't tell you anyway."

Jupiter chewed her lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore the teasing. She loved getting broadcasts from those television waves, especially the ones from those fascinating humans who liked tea. She had always wondered what tea tasted like. Maybe sweet? Or bitter? She had once watched a show about something called cooking, and had learned how to brew the perfect cup of tea. If only there were tea leaves to brew. She would drink it all the time while she watched the humans in their bow ties and scarves and fancy coats going on their daring adventures. Oh, how she wished...

"Hello, everyplanet." Sun stepped into the group, her dress shimmering in the light. Saturn took a few steps back and began fanning himself. She smiled a haughty grin. "Am I making you uncomfortable, Saturn?"

"No," he replied obstinately, pulling at the collar of his shirt.

"Well, good. I just came over to congratulate you all."

"For what?" Piped up Jupiter.

"For being such good little dears and always staying in line. What would I do with myself if I didn't have all seven of you revolving around me all the time?"

"Eight." Corrected Jupiter, eyeing Pluto in the corner of the room.

Sun followed her gaze, then laughed as if she had just heard a joke. "Oh, well then. All eight of you. Earth's funny little life forms can never agree with themselves on dear little Pluto, now can they?"

Earth sulked but said nothing. Sun continued, "Anyway, I'm so glad to see you all again up close."

"The feeling is...mutual." Saturn lied, sweat glistening on his forehead.

Sun sauntered away, hips swaying, to another group of planets. Jupiter puffed out her plump cheeks and huffed in annoyance at the haughty star. "She's always gotta be the center of attention!"

"Red star of the show." Added a relieved Saturn as he stepped back into the circle, not quite as uncomfortable now that Sun wasn't nearby.

"I'm surprised she didn't say 'oh, Jupiter darling, isn't it past your bedtime? You do have such short days, it seems.'" Earth stuck out a hip and sauntered around in a circle, mimicking the glorified movements of Sun. The other planets laughed and begged her to do another imitation. She obliged with a smile and proceeded to mimic Mercury's tiny voice, then Uranus' ever freezing form. "My goodness, it's always so cold around here! Is anyplanet else freezing?"

As the party came to an end and the planets and stars began to exit, Earth took Moon by the hand and led him out of the vast room into the galaxy where they lived so close, yet so far apart.

"Earth?"

"Yes, Moon?"

"When will we talk again?"

"In the next millennium."

Moon sighed. "So long."

"Terribly."

"I have one last question to ask before we have to leave."

Earth smiled at her best friend. "And what is that?"

He grinned as he took his place in the system. How beautiful Earth looked from where he stood. She would have to leave soon. He must ask this burning question that he had pondered for a millennium. Surely she knew the answer.

"How do you adopt a star?"

Earth furrowed her brow, thinking for a long moment. "I...I don't really know. Why?"

"I was just curious." Somehow, someday, I'll adopt you a star. Maybe the lovely North one that always shines the brightest, and never ever leaves.

Earth smiled; Moon smiled back. She let go of his hand. Too soon, Moon thought. He hated saying goodbye. She would walk back to her place in the galaxy, alone. He would have to watch her from afar again, wishing he could be just a little bit closer.

"Until the next millennium." Earth murmured, softly kissing Moon on his forward. His smile grew wider, a bittersweet kind of joy. She had always been taller than he was. He watched her turn and walk away, her green and blue gown swishing as she stepped through the spacepath.

"Until the next millennium." He whispered.