“Wanna swim!” Hotaru crawled over to her daddy and laughed happily. She wore her dark green swim suit and hold a big swimming ball in her hands. Her cheeks were redden and her mouth was brown. She just ate a chocolate ice cream and shared it with her whole body. Her arms and her legs were also covered with brown spots. The dark hairs flew over her shoulders and wind played with some strands. It was a very hot summer’s day. After a rainy May the weather got better and better and the meteorologist promised a long and very warm summer. “Okay.” Haruka took her daughter and her arms and needed two tries until she stood up. There were only two weeks left until the birth and she felt like a big walrus. She wore a long, wide dark shirt instead of her own swimming suit. It simply didn’t fit anymore. Nothing of her whole clothes didn’t fit anymore. Now she often wore wide shirts and trousers that were adjustable. One week ago she searched for something in her wardrobe and looked sceptically at her red racing suit. Wondering how she had ever been so slim to get into it. Slowly the senshi of the wind went over to the swimming pool. She entered it at the side that was very low. So that Hotaru could stand in the water without being in danger of drowning. Although the little girl wasn’t afraid of it. Every time her mama took her into the house swimming pool she laughed happily and threw the water high in the air. As she did this time, too and soon her black hairs were wet. “Are you sure that she doesn’t carry twins?” asked Ami and put her thick book away. She picked up her sun glasses and watched over to the young car racer who sat down at the rim and looked with a loving expression on her face down at her daughter. Hotaru ran through the water, caught her ball and threw it up at her daddy. Haruka threw it back very carefully. The little girl clapped in her hands each time she was able to catch it again. “Hai. Although she often says that she feels like a balloon.” Michiru corrected her summer hat and giggled as she saw how Hotaru tried to splash her daddy and Haruka winced away quickly. She didn’t want to get wet. So everyone could see her state of body. As if anybody could have overseen it. “I can imagine.” Ami giggled, too and rolled her eyes as two shadows run by. "The last one in the water is a lazy chicken!” screamed Minako and her yellow swim suit sparkled in the bright sun. Rei followed her and soon they shouted out how cold it was by splashing each other. It was such a nice Saturday afternoon and they all decided to go to the swimming pool. “Hey, wait for me!” Usagi got to her feet and stumbled over her own shoes. She almost hit the ground but her boyfriend hold her back. Together the run into the water and soon there was a big water battle. And it wasn’t sure who would win it. “Do you know the gender of the baby?” Ami yawned and stretched her arms. It had been a hard week with a lot of tests to do in school. She learned hard for getting only good notes. For having better chances to become a doctor one day. “Hai, but Haruka doesn’t. She doesn’t want to know it.” Michiru’s smile faded slightly but brightened up as she heard Makoto scolding an innocent looking Chibiusa. “Where’s the sandwich? I knew I had two cheese sandwiches and now there’s only one left!” The future Princess of Crystal Tokyo only smiled and chewed very slowly. Then she turned around to play with Hotaru, too. Her pink swim suit fitted perfectly to her hairs and her pink eyes shone happily as she entered the water, took her best friend in her arms and swirled around with her. Hotaru laughed high and more water splashed around. “I see.” Ami nodded understanding but then she looked curiously at the older woman next to her. “And what is it? Please, Michiru! I know we’ll all know in about two weeks but I am so curious about it.” She said and blushed deeply. The young violinist only giggled, then laid back at the huge blanket and looked up at the cloudless sky above. “Guess we’ll have to buy another race car one day.” She whispered and swallowed hard. As long as Haruka isn’t so crazy and gives it away. They didn’t talk about that topic during the past three months and since that afternoon with Usagi Haruka didn’t visit any of those couples again. She went to all appointments and often met her racer’s team. To see how they were doing in the World’s Championship. And to give them some advice. She often watched Michiru playing the violin at some spring concerts and she was a loving daddy to Hotaru. I am so glad that Himme-chan’s too small to know what happens with her daddy. That she’s too small to understand that she’ll have a brother in two weeks. And maybe that she will loose him... Michiru blinked her tears away and smiled a sad smile. She avoided the topic of adoption and also Haruka slowly changed her habit. They took several photos of Haruka’s arched belly and Michiru loved to see the sparkle in her lover’s eyes each time the baby kicked wildly around. Maybe she didn’t change her mind during the past months. The young violinist smiled even more as she remembered the small toy she once discovered in the cradle that stood – still untouched – near the TV set. It was a violet mouse with shinning eyes, big ears and huge feet. Michiru knew that only one person could have bought it – for their child. “Great!” was all Ami could say. She glanced again over to the pregnant woman, then she turned her head and looked at Makoto who still observed their picnic basket. “Let’s go into the water, Mako-chan. It’s too hot for sitting outside and it’s too early for lunch.” She declared, grabbed Makoto’s hands and together they run into the fresh water and joined the rest of the Sailor Team in the great water battle near the slide. Usagi’s screams could be heard all over the swimming pool. “And, what is it doing?” Michiru sat down behind her lover and embraced her. Chibiusa threw the ball again and Hotaru screamed exited as she ran through the low water to catch it. She stumbled, fell into the water and stood up again – wet all over. But there was a happy smile on her face as she took the water ball and threw it back at her best friend. “Sleeping, I guess. It’s too hot.” Answered Haruka, bowed her head and closed her eyes as the young violinist started to massage her shoulders. Since her belly became bigger and bigger her back often hurt. Michiru spend a lot of hours massaging Haruka who laid silently on their wide bed. The senshi of the wide ocean enjoyed those hours very much. As she enjoyed the hours she took a long shower with Haruka and washed slowly the arched belly, feeling the child under her caressing hands. Sometimes Haruka’s hormones were playing crazy and although she kept strong when she was together with the other senshi and although no one ever saw her crying but her Michiru and only for one single time their future Queen, Michiru knew how hard it was for her lover. The nightmares were still haunting her down. Not as often as they had during the winter but there were some nights she spend holding her sobbing Haruka tight in her arms. Rocking her for hours. Trying to calm her down. Her hormones let grow her feelings stronger. Her happiness and her luck, but also her sadness and her despair. It’s okay. She can cry as much as she wants. As long as she’s able to smile again afterwards. Michiru’s hands slipped under the wide black shirt and Haruka gasped for breathe. “Not now. We’re in public.” She said and wanted to put those soft hands away. But Michiru was faster. For the first time in her whole life she was faster than the senshi of the wind. And stronger. She didn’t misuse that strange power she suddenly got. Only sometimes. Like now. “Hai, now. We’re in love, can’t you remember?” Michiru giggled and stroke over the arched belly under the wide shirt. There was no kicking yet. Certainly the child was sleeping now. Deep and tight. In her lover’s womb. “And we’re pregnant.” Haruka didn’t respond anything. She just sat there, hearing her daughter’s happy laughter, feeling her lover’s soft hands caressing her body. Again she remembered the words once a young man had said to her. With a sad look in his light green eyes. He’s right. We should be grateful for the things we have. Haruka gasped as she felt those soft hands on her breasts. There were bigger now and sometimes she asked herself how she could ever hide them behind her race track. How anybody could ever thought about her as a man. They were full of milk and sometimes she felt herself like a cow. Michiru only giggled when she told her and teased her a little bit around. Haruka bit on her lower lip and felt how she became exited. First she had been scared to love her Michi-chan. She thought that she would never be able to love her with her body after the rude man hurt her so much. And she had been unsure if Michiru would like her arched belly. But the young violinist did. The young car racer opened her eyes as she felt cool water on her naked legs. She saw into several grinning faces and couldn’t help but to blush. “You’ll have enough time for that later.” Declared Minako with a wicked grin on her face. “Now it’s time for party.” She looked around and the other agreed. Then they splashed the two outer senshi with all their forces. Even Setsuna who had swam silently though the swimming pool joined them and soon Haruka and Michiru sat at the rim – wet all over. Hotaru and Chibiusa laughed loudly and then the water battle got even worse. Harder. And funnier. Haruka felt how her lover moved into the water and took her with her. The young car racer didn’t defend – even if the cloths pasted now to her belly and didn’t hide anything any longer. The other senshi were nice to her and they had a great afternoon. Even if Usagi almost fell from the slide and cried until her Mamoru bought her some sweets – which she had to share with Chibiusa who shared her prey with Hotaru. Even if Minako almost drown at the attempt to get Ami under the surface – but the water’s senshi was simply faster than her. Even if Rei almost burned one of Makoto’s sandwiches because she wanted to have her cheese melt. I changed my opinion so often during the past months. Haruka smiled as Michiru helped her down the blanket, wrapped a towel around her wet body and fought with Usagi for something to eat. Makoto scolded them both but all she earned where wicked grins and she screamed out loud when they tickled her until they got what they wanted. There’re only two weeks left to make up my mind. Haruka sighed slightly and took her daughter in her arms who climbed on her lap and enjoyed it to get dried by her daddy. Secretly in her heart Haruka knew how she would decide. But she didn’t tell it to Michiru because she wasn’t really sure yet. And she didn’t admit it to herself. *** “Now the basket is almost light.” Declared Makoto and her still wet plaid swirled through the air as she turned back to her friends who followed her. Mamoru wear the huge blanket in the one hand and some bags in the other one. Michiru wore some more bags. They came to the swimming pool by food. There was a huge park they had to walk through to the next bus station and they enjoyed the walk. Over sandy ways, through the shadows of huge, green trees beneath. Although it was late at evening the sun still shone. Her light got weaker and it was pleasant cool outside. Fresh wind played with their summer clothes and Minako started to sung. Soon they accompanied her and Ami’s book fell on the ground as the senshi of love grabbed her hands and danced around with her. Rei laughed and almost cried of laughing, because they both danced into Usagi who couldn’t hold her balance anymore. She seized on the other senshi and the three fell down on the ground. A big, lively family. Haruka smiled and took her daughter’s hand into her own one. Hotaru insisted to walk but Haruka would carry her when she’d got to know that the little girl was too tired to walk anymore. Chibiusa ran over the sandy way and collected some flowers she gave to every one – but her future mother. Usagi scolded her and soon there was another loving argument. After they calmed down they all decided to go to a nice Italian café they all liked very much to eat an ice cream. Tomorrow was Sunday and they all had enough time to get enough sleep to survive the next week at school, at university, at library or at stage. “Everything alright?” Michiru looked up at Haruka who supported her arched belly with her free hand. The taller woman turned her head and smiled at her. It was a honest, happy smile that moved Michiru’s heart. She raised her hand and ran it through short blonde hairs that felt like velvet. They were still a little bit wet and looked wet. My tomboy! “Hai. It heard something of ice cream and now it wants one.” Declared Haruka and slowed down a little bit. To walk could be exhausting for her. For the strongest of all senshi who was as fast as the wind. The other mentioned it and got slower, too. Only Rei and Usagi speed up. Because they were haunting each other again. Rei simply couldn’t oppress a cynic word and Usagi was now very angry with her. But their giggles betrayed their real feeling, their deep friendship. “It’s kicking around very wildly now.” Haruka took Michiru’s free hand and hold it up to her belly. Michiru smiled as she felt the kicking under the skin. Then she suddenly put her bags down and gave her lover a tenderly kiss. “You baka!” “Rei, you can’t...!” The voices of the other died slowly away. They knew when it was time to leave the couple alone and so they decided to go and to wait at the next bend. “I love you, Michi-chan.” Declared Haruka and blushed deeply. Michiru gave her another loving kiss and smiled up at her pregnant lover. “I love you, too, Ruka.” She whispered. “Love you!” shouted Hotaru and smiled happily as they both looked down at her. They wanted to say anything more as the shadow stepped out of the shadows. The rushes of the leaves increased and the wind got wilder. Some birds flew screaming into the dawning sky. “Hi, beauty.” Said a low voice and someone grabbed Michiru’s right arm and pulled her away from her lover. She turned around. Too surprised to say anything. Too surprised to defend herself. “Do you wanna come with me?” She made a face as she could smell the alcohol and the sweat. The man was taller than her and certainly he was stronger. His brown hairs were fatty and he didn’t shave for a long time. He smiled a wicked grin and she started automatically to freeze. Then she was able to move again. “Leave me in piece!” she shouted and kicked him. He didn’t expect it and let her go. But not for long, she could see the sparkling in his dark eyes. “Go or I’ll call the police.” She said determined and searched for her handy while she stepped back to her lover. Haruka didn’t respond anything. She only took her daughter in her arms and stared at the man with an empty face. But her dark green eyes burned. They were full: Full of despair. Full of disgust. Full of hate. The man came nearer again while Michiru dialled a number. But he slammed it out of her hand and tried to get her in his arms again. Where the hell are the other senshi? Michiru shook her head but at the next moment Haruka stepped protectively between her and the man. “Didn’t you hear what she said? Leave her in piece!” she declared with an icy voice that didn’t seem to belong to her anymore. It sounded strange in her own ears and she bit hard on her lower lip. She wanted to scream. To shout. But she knew that it wouldn’t change anything. “YOU!” The man blinked and looked at her. Then there was another expression in his face. It wasn’t greedy anymore. It was simply annoyed – and surprised. Shocked he looked at her arched belly and shook his head. “Why didn’t you abort it, you silly brat?” he declared and laughed a rude laugh that were haunting the young car racer down. Every night in her nightmares. Every day when she was awake and felt how the child moved inside her body. Not knowing how she should love it – after all what happened. “Don’t expect that I’ll pay for it, you whore. I believe you slept with so many men, I am not the father.” He shouted and raised his hand to beat her. Haruka didn’t move. She simply stood there, looking at him with a look in her eyes that made him shiver. That drove him crazy. “DEEP SUBMERGE!!!” A huge blue planet hit the man and he flew several meters before he landed hard on the grass. A young woman in a sexy uniform stood over him. Her deep blue eyes shone down at him and suddenly he was sure that she would kill him. Maybe he was very strong but suddenly he knew that she was stronger than him. “You aren’t it’s father!” declared the senshi of the wide ocean and grabbed his collar. He seemed to be weightless as she pulled him on his feet and pushed him against a tree’s trunk. “You asshole! Can you imagine how much you hurt her?” screamed Michiru and tears were running down her cheeks. She slammed him right into the face, right into his stomach. He groaned but she didn’t mention it. “You asshole! I’ll kill you for what you’ve done to my Ruka!” she raised her knee and he groaned even more as she kicked him between his legs. He wanted to go on his knees but she hold him up. “I’ll kill you slowly and bit by bit. You’ll be happy to be in hell. Because the devil is friendly compared with my revenge!” She pushed him against at the trunk and he tried to defend himself. But he couldn’t. She was too strong. Too desperate. Michiru didn’t see him. She didn’t see his blood, didn’t hear his groans. Didn’t mention that she was really killing him. All she remembered was her Ruka how she sat down in the shower, staring afraid into nothing. How she broke down sobbing when she got to know that the AIDS test was negative. How she cried for the first time in her arms of her girlfriend after they made love. How she sat at the snow covered beach telling her that she had been a coward. That she couldn’t abort the child. How she became more and more desperate after every meeting she had with potential parents for her child. How she yelled at her because of the cradle – and bought the tiny toy mouse some days later. How she hold her hands towards her arched belly and smiled with tears in her eyes, because she didn’t know how to love that child. How she listened to the tiny heartbeats and looked terrified with her big green eyes at the screen of the ultrasound. How she wanted to be so desperate a loving mother – but wasn’t simply able to. Because of that asshole! She kicked him again and again while tears were running down her cheeks. She sobbed hard and she finally let him go into his knees while she reeled. Helpless her shoulders hang and she choked as she saw into dark eyes that still didn’t understand what he had done. That he destroyed not only one single life with his lust. How my Ruka wakes up almost every night. Screaming, trembling. Crying as if the world would end... “I hate you, you rude...” she reached her henshin high into the air and Neptune’s planet slowly formed in her shaking hands. “ignorant asshole!” She screamed and her scream could be heard in whole Tokyo. Maybe in whole Japan. Maybe in the whole world. Quickly she lowered her hands and the planet flew up to him. Now he didn’t grin anymore. Now he looked very frightened with a sudden. But Michiru didn’t care. He also didn’t care when he hurt her lover. The man groaned deeply and fainted. He wasn’t dead. Michiru knew that she had huge powers but she also knew that her Neptune’s planet couldn’t kill anyone as long as she wasn’t in life danger. It couldn’t kill anyone by attacking him. But it could by defending herself. He’s alive. He’ll be alive until he dies one day. As an old man. Michiru turned around and went over to Haruka. The young car racer didn’t move during the whole battle. Her cheeks were wet. She cried, too. But she made no sound. No sob, no chock. She simply squeezed her Himme- chan knowing that she would do it again. To save her daughter she’d do anything. Even dying. But at the same time she knew that it was over. As he fell down and fainted she knew that he would never ever hurt her again. He was still alive. But Michiru hit him so hard, so aimed and made sure that he would never ever be able to hurt any woman again. Blood covered his trousers and she knew that he would never ever rape a helpless woman again. A woman who only wanted to defend her daughter. Slowly Haruka went on her knees because her whole body trembled to much. She let go of Hotaru who watched her parents with big eyes not understanding what happened. Then she wrapped her arms around her arched body and bowed her head. It’s not it’s fault It never been. She swallowed hard as her lover embraced her. She could feel how her Michi-chan trembled as much as her. She heard her silent sobs and felt salty kisses on her cheeks. “What...?” Several senshi ran towards them. They had heard Michiru’s desperate cry and transformed quickly. Sailor Moon forget her ballet and looked terrified at the bleeding body in the grass and at the crying woman, holding each other tight. “Guess he got his fair punishment.” Whispered Mamoru and took the handy that laid still on the ground. Silently he dialled the number and called the ambulance. Ami took the future senshi of death in her arms and she and the other senshi exchanged glances. Not knowing what to say. Not knowing what to do. They stood there as the ambulance came. They stood there as the men in white carried the man away – not asking how it happened. They stood there as the ambulance was gone. Watching at the two outer senshi. With pale faces. Only Setsuna smiled a thin smile. Knowing that it was over know – even if the birth would be in about two weeks. They went through hell. But now they finally reached paradise. Together. Setsuna didn’t ask the future. She didn’t have to misuse her powers. She simply knew it. *** The pain increased inside her body. She groaned oppressed and wanted to get up. It took her several tries before she was able to leave the bed. Slowly she went over to the bathroom and stayed near the opened window. Fresh wind played with her sweaty short blonde hairs and she took a deep breathe. Both hands were holding a huge belly. They came home late at night. Hotaru was with Usagi so that they had some time on their own. That they could hold each other the whole night. Comforting each other. After the battle in the park. I am grateful for such nice friends. She winced as the pain increased again and bowed a little bit. It can’t be. There’re two weeks left. She gasped hard and took to steps to get to the toilette. But she didn’t reach it. The pain was taking her breathe away and she went on her knees on the soft carpet. She bowed her head and tried to breathe regularly. As she had learned during the lessons she took part at – together with her Michiru. First the other couples had stared at them but soon they got used to the couple always teasing each other around. Joking over the baby and laughing when the teacher scolds them. It can’t be. She whimpered as the pain filled her whole world. Then she felt something warm running down her legs. It wasn’t blood. Her shirt was wetted by sweat and she knew that she had to wake up her girlfriend. But she didn’t know how. It can be! “Michi-chan?” she whispered and wondered how shaky her voice suddenly was. Of course she had read all those books Setsuna brought them from library. Often they sat at the couch in the evening studying them together. Looking at the picture and discussing the text above. They talked a lot about the birth but suddenly Haruka feared that she wasn’t ready now. “Michi-chan?” I’d never be ready for it. The door was pushed open and the light was switched on. Michiru was at the next moment at her lover’s side. She saw scared deep green eyes and knew what happened. “Two weeks too early.” She mumbled and helped her lover up. Slowly they walked over to the bed and Haruka sat down. She breathed hard as if she just ran a very long way. Michiru opened the wardrobes and searched for some clothes. Soon the whole sleeping room was a mess and Haruka knew why they packed that special bag a long time ago. She sighed relieved as the pain decreased but she knew that it wasn’t over yet. “Are your labour pains coming quickly?” asked Michiru and pulled a summer dress over her suddenly trembling body. She shortly brushed her hair. Then she helped her lover out of the wet shirt, dried her body with a soft towel and helped her into a wide maternity dress she bought special for this day. Haruka didn’t even protest that she didn’t want to wear a dress. She simply hold her belly and gasped hard for breathe. “I don’t know...” she whispered and groaned again. There was the next pain coming and she almost fell on the ground. But Michiru hold her tight. She grabbed with one hand the bag with the other one her groaning girlfriend. “We should hurry up. If he’s as impatient as you then we’ll see him before we’re getting into the hospital.” Teased Michiru while she helped Haruka downstairs. Suddenly every step was too high and the senshi of the wind seemed to need eternity. “Car racers!” Haruka froze and Michiru blushed deeply as she recognized what she had say. “He? It’s a boy?” Haruka asked and looked down at her arched belly. She never asked about the gender because she feared... What the hell did I fear? She didn’t know. She simply didn’t think of anything else than the pain returning inside her belly. “Hai. We’ll have a small son.” Declared Michiru with a shaky voice and opened the door. Haruka took another deep breathe but she felt too weak to argue again with her lover. Why should I argue with her? She didn’t find an answer of that question, too. “Don’t forget the car keys.” Whispered Haruka and leaned herself against the handrails. She took another deep breathe and smiled as Michiru’s eyes widened and she ran again into the light house by the sea. *** “Breathe. Regularly breathe!” Michiru hold her lover’s right hand tight. Haruka rolled her eyes and groaned again as the pain increased to a level she didn’t expect yet. “What do you think I am doing?” she growled and laid her head again on the pillow. Her sweaty hairs hang in her pale face and she wanted to take a shower. But didn’t know how the get up from the bed. They got to the hospital in a speed Haruka feared that Michiru would cause an accident. She simply speed up and let her know that they drove a Ferrari. That she was indeed a car racer’s girlfriend. Michiru helped her out of the car and yelled at all nurses that this was an emergency. They helped Haruka into a wheelchair and brought her away. Michiru wanted to follow her but they didn’t want to let her pass. Because she wasn’t a family member. That was the moment when the senshi of the wide ocean screamed very loud and very raging. So they let her through to get their peace again. "Hey, I didn't went to all those lessons to keep silent now! So I'll tell you how you'll have to breath!" teased Michiru with a big grin that showed that she felt with her lover. Not only mentally. Her whole body trembled, too and the young car racer asked herself if it wasn't even harder to become a daddy than a mommy. "I do it. I do it. You don't have to yell at me." "Gomen..." Michiru blinked and looked wildly around. But there was no doctor yet. The nurse left three minutes ago to call for someone and suddenly the young violinist didn't know what to do. What shall I do if the baby's coming right now? And I am the only one who can help her? I don't know how to bring a child in this world! I don't... Haruka smiled a tired smile as she looked at her exited lover beside her. Is she even more scared as I? "Hey, Michi-chan. Calm yourself down. Everything will be right!" Michiru turned her head and smiled nervous back at her and Haruka knew that she was right. "How do you know that?" she asked in a very shaky voice and the young car racer could see tears sparkling in those wonderful deep blue eyes she loved so much. She’s my light. She’s my life. I don’t know how I should have survived all those months without her. "Instincts." Haruka squeezed the icy hand tenderly that was holding her own one tight. The senshi of the wind knew that Michiru would never let her go. That she would hold her - as long as it would take to give birth to this child. “I love you.” She gasped and bit on her lower lip as the pain increased again. Michiru nodded with tears in her eyes. “I love you, too.” It was not more than just a shaky whisper. The door was opened and Dr. Sagurasa entered the room. She smiled friendly at the couple. "It's nice to see you again. To see you in that situation is pleasure for my old eyes." She said and came over to the bed. Almost tender she stroke over sweaty short hairs and looked into scared green eyes. "Nice to delight you..." breathed the young car racer through her teeth and wondered how much pain she could bare. How much it would take the child to push her to her limits - and how easily she would cross them. "Joker." Said Dr. Sagurasa and smiled. Then she controlled Haruka’s state of body. She looked once at Michiru then decided quietly that she was allowed to stay. The pregnant young woman needed her and the doctor didn’t care a lot about hospital rules. Maybe the see green haired beauty didn’t belong to the other’s family by law. But if love made family then she was one of the groaning one’s closest member. “It’ll have a lot of aunts, am I right?” she asked and smiled as Haruka rolled her eyes and groaned again oppressed. She clenched her fists around her girlfriends hands and her face showed how much pain she felt right now. The young car racer didn’t want any medicine before the child wasn’t born and again Dr. Sagurasa knew that the young woman already loved that child. Although she didn’t admit it to herself yet. “They’re already here?” asked Haruka and bit again on her lower lip. She tasted blood and felt tears burning in her eyes. She looked up at Michiru and knew that she needn’t to be ashamed about the weakness the young violinist saw right now. The senshi of the wide ocean giggled and squeezed Haruka’s hands back. For her her lover wasn’t weak at all. Right at this moment she was the strongest woman Michiru had ever seen. Giving birth to their child. "I promised Usagi to call her up when you're in hospital." Said the young violinist. “Guess they’re making all the nurses crazy.” Said Haruka oppressed and started to breathe harder again. The pain was almost unbearable and she had to fight hard against herself not to cry out loud. “How could you guess?” asked the doctor and placed herself between Haruka’s legs. The young woman wore a white shirt now and it smelled of disinfectants. Normally she would have been ashamed to lay in such a helpless position. But now she didn’t care about it. She only wanted that pain to be over. And she wanted her child to be born. At last born. So that I can see it. And decide... “Instincts.” Laughed Haruka and groaned loudly as the pain reached it’s climate. She grabbed her lover’s hands tight and heard the soft voice she loved so much saying calming words. "It's okay, Ruka. I am here. Right here. I won't leave you. Not now. Never. I love you..." She didn’t listen to them. All she felt was the pain inside her body. All she heard were the words of the doctor. “And now press, Haruka. That looks good. You’re doing it very well.” It was one of those moments when Dr. Sagurasa decided that there was no need anymore to be too polite. But there was a need to be familiar. She saw the tears running down over two pale faces. The young woman closed her eyes and did as she was told. “Just a little bit harder. Hai... That’s good.” The door was opened again and one nurse came into the room. She said nothing but took position right behind the doctor. To help her and to call quickly other doctors if there were any complications. But there weren’t any. Please, come out! Haruka pressed her eyelids hard together, felt her lover’s hands holding her own ones tight. The pain seemed to torn her apart. Please, be healthy, small boy! “Press. That’s good. Hai, right this way. And here comes the tiny head.” Commented the doctor with a calming voice that remembered Haruka suddenly of her mother. When she had been a small child. Loved by her family... Suddenly her fears were gone and she trusted the doctor. Although the pain was incredible she pressed once more as she was told. Please, let me love you! The pain almost torn her apart. She couldn't hold back a scream and grabbed hard her girlfriend's hands. Michiru stopped talking. Now she held her hand tight, too. Being with her. All the time. Suddenly Haruka felt how something left her body. Someone... “And here he comes.” Said Dr. Sagurasa and Haruka could hear Michiru’s sobs. And then she heard a high, protesting scream. It filled the whole room and it was the most beautiful scream Haruka had ever heard. It sounded angry as if the child didn’t want to be born. That it wanted to be back in it’s mother’s belly. That it was cold outside. It was an angry and wild scream. It remembered Haruka of the scream of a bird flying high in the sky. Being carried by the wind. Under it there was the wide ocean. The sea that would hold it if it would ever fall... Haruka sobbed and her head fell on the pillow again. She breathed hard and felt suddenly very exhausted. Very tired. But at the same time so excited. So happy she had seldom been in her whole life. “It’s a little boy.” Declared the doctor and a warm bundle was laid in Haruka’s arms. "And don't tell me he wasn't worth it, Haruka." It sounded like a warning but Haruka knew it wasn't. The young woman swallowed hard. Then she opened her eyes and stared into deep blue ones. The small child yawned tired and stopped exhausted to scream. It’s skin was red and crumbled. But it was the most beautiful face Haruka had ever seen. The tiny head was covered with wet, fluffy hairs. The colour was a light blonde. Like her own strands... Again another yawn. Two tiny hands reached for her and touched her. Haruka swallowed again and more tears were running down her cheeks. She wasn't ashamed about them. She didn't even mentioned them. He's so tiny. He's so weak but yet so strong.. Haruka lowered her head and kissed automatically the child's tiny forehead. He closed his eyes and made a face as if he didn't want to be disturbed. As if he needed his time to get some sleep. To be ready to face this world. His future. His family. He's my son... “He’s beautiful...” whispered Michiru with a shaky voice and more tears run down her cheeks. “I love you, Ruka.” She said and trembling hands touched carefully tiny ones. The baby didn’t mention it. It yawned again and settled down into sleep after an exiting birth. “And I love him too, Ruka. Our small son.” Haruka didn’t respond anything as she heard her lover’s soft words. So true words. She didn’t feel the pain anymore that was still in her body. That would die away during the next hours. Dying away forever. All she saw was the tiny child in her arms. Sleeping deep and tight. Trusting her. At that moment she made her decision. “Congratulation.” Whispered Dr. Sagurasa relieved as she saw the proud couple with their child. *** “It’s a boy!” The scream filled the whole hospital. Some patients and some visitors look up in surprise as a blonde haired girl crashed into the waiting room. “It’s a boy!” Minako smiled such a big grin that some of the visitors feared that her face would break apart. A wild shinning sparkled in her light blue eyes. Ami rose from her chair and threw the book high into the air. Makoto shouted happily while Rei jumped on the table and did a loud and moving prayer of gratitude to the goods. Chibiusa took Hotaru in her arms and swirled around with the still very tired girl who didn’t know what was happening. “It’s a boy!” Usagi grabbed Setsuna’s hands and danced with her through the whole waiting room. For the first time the senshi of time didn’t care about her age or what other people thought and danced with her future Queen. Happily laughing. Only Mamoru stood in at the wall and smiled knowing at them all. “It’s a boy!” Then they took each other by the hand and danced through the whole hospital as if it was Sylvester or carnival. The nurses let them do. Some of them even clapped in their hands as they sung well known songs. But they changed the texts completely. “It’s a boy!”
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