[June 30, 2004] Mamoru had seen the films. He'd dutifully accompanied Usagi to all of the classes and worked with her on her breathing exercises. He'd patiently listened and sympathized with her as she'd grown increasingly irritable, sore, ungainly, and generally sick of being pregnant. When her due date passed without any sign that Chibi-Usa was ready to make her grand debut, he had commiserated with his wife and gone on long walks with her, trying to help the process along. Both he and Usagi were anxious for the baby to be born, but for different reasons. He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms. She was tired of having to pee all the time and being unable to stand up without assistance. Of course, everyone knew when Chibi-Usa's birthday was, but Usagi still had seemed somewhat determined to get her out as soon as possible. Some women took well to being pregnant. Usagi was not one of them. Mamoru wondered which phrase he had heard more often over the last few months, "No more babies" or "It's all your fault". "They never mentioned the smell," he thought as Usagi faded in and out of consciousness. Mamoru sat up at his wife's bedside, close to her head and well away from where the actual work was being done. Once the drugs had kicked in, she'd calmed down quite a bit. She'd perk up with each contraction and then settle back into a daze in between. On his last visit, their doctor had predicted that it would be another hour or so. Mamoru wished he'd thought to bring a book along. He was also glad that Usagi had forbidden Hotaru from videotaping the event. A tight squeeze of his hand brought Mamoru back to the moment. "You're doing great, Usako, just keep it up," he told her, wiping the sweat from her brow with a cool washcloth. "Thanks, love," Usagi whispered, once again fading back into semi-consciousness. "Do you want any ice chips?" he asked. "No, I'm fine," she murmured. "Just stay with me." "I'll never leave you, darling," he replied, even as she closed her eyes. "I'll always be by your side." ----------- It just didn't make any sense. Though she wouldn't start medical school officially until the fall, Ami had a great deal of experience doing high-level research. While she couldn't do any primary experimentation, she could and did review all the data and reports she could get her hands on. Between her mother and Rei, she had access to just about every study being done on what was now being called "hypercancer." Throughout her summer vacation, Ami had pored over all of these materials, trying to make sense of it, applying all of her prodigious intellect to the task. Still, she couldn't find any angle to pursue, no line of inquiry that wasn't already being investigated, mostly without result. Despite the lack of success, or perhaps because of it, Ami devoted more and more time to her work, to the exclusion of almost everything else. Deep down, Ami knew why she pushed herself so hard. Yes, she did feel a true calling. The mystery of this radical new disease had become a cause celebre throughout the world. The fact that it had claimed the life of a childhood friend, and threatened the life of another only served to heighten her commitment. Still, the long hours and diligent research also diverted her attention from the central fact of her own life. She missed Makoto, more than she'd ever imagined she would. Ami and Makoto still emailed every day. They still called each other as often as they could, at least two to three times a week. They even sent letters, gifts, and little romantic greeting cards to each other from time to time. Those things helped, a little. But every day they were apart, Ami could feel the cold, dark void inside of her growing. She knew she could survive on her own, that she didn't need another person to find worth or value in herself. None of that changed the fact that she was happier with Makoto near and miserable away from her. Pushing those thoughts aside for the millionth time, Ami flipped to the next medical journal. Before she could really dig into the articles there, however, the phone rang. A quick glance at her calendar verified what she'd suspected. Smiling for the first time in days, she picked up the receiver. ---------- Michiru hung up the phone and smiled at Haruka, Setsuna, and espeically Hotaru, all of whom waited anxiously at her side. "Everything is fine. Chibi-Usa and her mommy are both doing well and sleeping. Mamoru said we could go visit in the morning," she announced. Hotaru cheered happily while Setsuna and Haruka exchanged looks of joy and relief. No one had expected that there would be any problems, but believing and knowing were two different things. After Hotaru ran to her room to finish up the welcome basket she was working on, the other three Outers moved into the kitchen, along with the cats. "So, what now?" Haruka asked as she served tea to the humans and fresh milk to the kitties. Setsuna took a sip from her cup before replying. "I think it's time we told the others." "Are you sure this is what we need to do?" Michiru frowned over her mug. "The future is always cloudy," Setsuna explained, not for the first time, "but some things shine clearly. Our place has always been the outer rim. Because of the disruptions caused by Queen Metallia and then Pharaoh Ninety, we have been needed in this place. Though I cannot be certain of its exact nature, the next crisis is upon us. Once again, we are needed here, but once it is complete, it will time to resume our duties." Luna hopped up onto the table. "And you're sure you cannot tell what this threat is or when it will hit?" "I thought that's what she just said," Haruka said defensively. Only her love for Michiru could rival the strength of her feelings for the guardian of time. She was simultaneously advisor, mentor, sister and friend to both of her counterparts, not to mention their partner in raising young Hotaru. Setsuna lifted her hand to let Haruka know everything was fine. Her understanding of the future and the past came so naturally, but was nearly impossible to explain to others. She had long ago grown accustomed to their confusion. "Something is wrong, Luna, or soon will be. King Endymion in Crystal Tokyo told us that something would come to pass in this time that would require the freezing of the entire world. Though he did not mention it specifically, I can even now feel the call of my own planet." Haruka and Michiru nodded. It had started the night that Hotaru had opened Chibi-Usa's last message and gift. It had grown stronger each day. Their fates were pulling them to where they belonged, to the place where they were always meant to serve: the outer rim. "Are you sure we need to don't need to go now?" Michiru asked quietly. "What if the threat is coming from beyond the solar system and we are not in place to meet it?" "I've considered that," Setsuna admitted, "but from what I can glean and what I recall of Endymion's words, the threat begins and ends here on Earth." Artemis joined Luna on the table, having finished off both his milk and hers while everyone else was speaking. "Well, I think Luna and I had better double our efforts. We've been scanning the whole planet and have found no spikes of negative energy that would indicate a new invasion." Luna meowed her agreement. Haruka rose to gather the dirty dishes. "Ok, I guess we keep on doing what we've been doing. We should let the others know that a threat may be looming, however. I'll take care of that. We can start with Minako, since we'll be seeing her at the benefit concert in just a couple weeks." Michiru moved to help her love with her chore. "You're right, 'Ruka. We should do it in person. Such conversations shouldn't be done over the computer or the phone." As the two of them worked together, Setsuna excused herself and went to check on Hotaru. They'd need to tell her, too, though Setsuna suspected that she already knew. It was difficult to tell what Hotaru knew and didn't know, both of the future and of the past. That was one reason the two of them got along so well. Being mysterious was a difficult business. ---------- Ikuko laid the sleeping baby back in her crib, marveling again at how very small she was. She began to try to recall what it had been like to hold Usagi and Shingo when they were newborns, but that line of thought threatened to bring on tears and Ikuko had no desire to break down on this happy day. Laying a hand over her shoulders, Mamoru guided his mother-in-law to the recliner in the corner. Usagi still slept, worn out from her exertions and the various painkillers in her system. Despite all of that, though, Mamoru could not recall a time when she had appeared more beautiful to him. "I wish Kenji could have made it," Ikuko said gently. "It's hard for him to make it into the city any more." "It's ok, we'll take her to see him in a day or two," Mamoru reassured her. "And, you have plenty of pictures to take home with you." Ikuko laughed, looking at the pile of photos on the table next to her. She had gone through two rolls of instant film. "He'll be anxious to see them, but he can wait a little bit." She gazed fondly at both her sleeping babies. Mamoru smiled knowingly. He too had no desire to be anywhere other than in this room with the two most important people in the world to him. As the sun set outside, the two of them enjoyed the tranquility of the moment, knowing that all too soon, it would pass.
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