Not quite two decades ago, I started reading Tom Sewell's Sailor Moon's American Dream, a somewhat less magical and more real life like fan fiction involving Usagi and the senshi's life after Galaxia. At the time, the story existed as book 1 in the series, with two complete sequels, three short stories, and a sequel still half-finished. Gradually, the story continued to expand gaining two complete side stories and an unfinished side story. To date, the last book in the series A Year and Change is not finished and may never be finished. Neither is the last side story A Time of Trials.
In addition to the other books in the series, there was a AU side story called Starlights Return by Sylver Saturn. When I started reading this series, it only had a handful of chapters (four) and now after all this time, the story is into it's 62nd chapter. This side story no longer follows the events as they unfolded in Sewell's version. The story is a great stand alone peice that takes place during and after the events discussed in Book 4 A Year and Change.
So with no promise of ever seeing the end of one of my favorite stories, I decided to take a page out of Sylver Saturn's book and write my own piece to this series. Since book 4 was never finished, I opted to scrub it and all of the subsequent side stories that took place after it.
So here is the Alternative Book 4 Heavens and Earth that takes place after Book 3 Nurse Venus. If you would like to read the stories leading up to this one, you can find them at Tom Sewell's author page: u/18572/Tom-Sewell
In order: book 1 - Sailor Moon's American Dream; book 2 - Under Black Wings; book 3 - Nurse Venus. None of the other books/side stories pertain to this alt book.
Chapter 01: Michiru's Schemes Backfire! Haruka Says Yes!
~-~-~ April 2003 ~-~-~
For the most part, Michiru had always acted in a manner to get her way. She was terribly selfish in that she wanted everyone to be paying attention to her at all times. Michiru needed to be the center of everyone's world. That wasn't always possible so Michiru settled for being the center of her friends' worlds. When that didn't work as she hoped, she just eliminated friends. In some cases, she made up horribly embarrassing or else completely cruel stories about the friend and made the person seem so guilty that they had no choice but to accept the lie and disappear to start over elsewhere. Michiru may have been an orphan but the musician inherited more money than she could ever hope to spend.
Being a senshi was altogether different though. Her ploys for attention didn't work as they did with normal people and she couldn't just get rid of other senshi as she did normal people. The job had been great at first when it was just Uranus and Neptune. The perfect duo of senshi to destroy evil before the unsuspecting civilians knew what hit them. It was wonderful! Michiru even planned a few scattered appearances to 'come out' to the news. Maybe they'd make a doll based on her or a video game. There was even a possibility of a movie.
Then came Sailor Pluto who ruined all of her plans. Setsuna reminded them of their past life and the Moon Princess. The senshi of time warned them to keep a low profile because the senshi of the inner planets could not make the sacrifice that the outer planetary senshi would have to make. What a load of crock! But it did have the added bonus of putting Michiru in the spotlight among the younger senshi. The girls were so envious of Michiru's beauty and talent at first.
Michiru was the senshi of one of the outer planets: Neptune. Neptune! Couldn't it have been an interesting planet like Pluto, with the mysterious and powerful manifestations of time and space? All Michiru had as Sailor Neptune was her aqua mirror that sometimes showed the future. Usually it was just blurs of the future and not even enough to make sense of. Sailor Mars could see that and more in her sacred fire.
Michiru was fine with being Sailor Neptune except that everyone's attention was always on Sailor Moon, the precious Moon Princess. Usagi was nothing but a clumsy, stupid girl that was nothing like the Moon Princess of their past. Except now Usagi was. She was grown up and making stupid decisions that affected everyone with little regard to anyone else's feelings - just like the original Moon Princess. Granted Michiru chose to stay in America with the girl of her own free will but that was only because Haruka would have it no other way. She was stuck.
Thanks largely to their jobs as protectors of the outer solar system, Michiru was able to make herself the primary focus of their little group especially after Hotaru spontaneously aged herself. The baby-thing was getting old fast!
It was no great surprise then when she grew tired of the growing 'tumor' in her relationship with Haruka. The other woman was spending far too much time and energy on the infant Titania and not enough time and energy with Michiru. Oh, the soldier of Neptune tried to be patient but unlike Hotaru, Titania would not be spontaneously aging.
When she and Haruka first reconciled, Michiru was ecstatic because she'd been the one in the 'right' in their relationship. The soldier of Neptune had been faithful as far as Haruka knew and Haruka had cheated. So while Haruka spent countless time trying to make up for her infidelity, Michiru was just basking in the attention.
Then, Titania was born and it all went out the window. Haruka spent so much time taking care of the infant that she neglected Michiru royally. Two wrongs don't make a right and another baby only makes things worse! If only Michiru knew that before she went through with the artificial insemination.
Michiru needed a way to garner Haruka's attention away from the little spore of an infant. Hotaru had worked wonders in getting sympathy for Michiru when she was a baby. Haruka was always catering to her because she was acting as Hotaru's 'mother'. It was high time that Michiru have a child of her own.
She didn't just want any man to father her child though. In her deepest thoughts, the soldier of Neptune desired the one man that would always be unattainable to her: Mamoru. His love for Usagi kept him from fully committing to anyone including Ami, Rei, and Minako. If he was sleeping with everyone else, why couldn't Michiru have a turn?
Except Michiru was supposed to be in love with Haruka and not interested in men though. That threw a wrench in her plans. Her only choice was artificial insemination if she could convince Mamoru to be the donor. She thought about seducing him as she'd done to Haruka and others in her past but he was engaged to Minako now. The aqua mirror warned her of the repercussions should she take that route.
Something had to be done, at two years old, it was clear that Titania was a musical prodigy. Michiru had a few options available at this point in time. The famous musician could teach the young Titania and sabotage any chance the child had in a musical future. Then again, it could back fire entirely and ruin Michiru's image in her own profession. On the other hand, Michiru could teach her and promote her as her own prodigal child. In the long run, it would do a lot to further Michiru's image but might also have negative connotations on Michiru's career. There was so much at stake either way. Ugh! Michiru could not stand the little upstart of a girl.
If only Haruka hadn't gone to that wretched musician for lessons! If only the senshi hadn't had to stay in France for so long to defeat that enemy! The senshi needed Sailor Moon's power but Usagi was wallowing in her own below average intelligence in America at that point. The other senshi wouldn't even hear about getting Sailor Moon involved.
Michiru's next step was to discuss the matter with Usagi and then Mamoru. She was pleasantly surprised when neither party objected: this would be Mamoru's first child. Michiru would be the mother of the first child of Earth! It took three long months for the whole procedure to take after the doctors started the artificial insemination process. It was another four months till they found out what the sex of their baby would be: secretly, Michiru wanted a boy. The senshi of Neptune had her fill of raising girls with Hotaru and now Titania.
By November of that year, the ultrasound technician showed them that they were having a girl. What a disappointment! Angry but not without plans, Michiru played up her pregnancy so she was cared for and pampered by Haruka and Mamoru. It helped that her doctor deemed the pregnancy high risk, at least on paper. It had taken a little of Michiru's charms to maneuver that one.
That had all worked for a little while and Haruka even paid more attention to her than she had since Titania was born. At the same time, Michiru was getting more attention all around as she would be having Mamoru's first child, a girl. The other senshi wondered if the girl would be the senshi of Neptune or the senshi of Earth. Who would the baby growing inside her take after?
Midway through her pregnancy, Minako and Usagi both wound up pregnant naturally by Mamoru. Michiru had been outraged until she learned that Mamoru was single again. Minako stepped back for Usagi but Usagi still refused to be with him. Unfortunately, Mamoru then vowed he would be with no more senshi as it hurt too many people all around.
The rest of the pregnancy was miserable. She would not go through this again if she could help it. She wasn't fond of children to begin with but this was surely torture! Even with the added attention from Haruka, Michiru was miserable. She hadn't thought this plan through so well.
As soon as Nereid was born in March, Michiru played a dutiful mother and garnered Haruka's attention that way. But like when Titania was born, the everyday caring for the infant grew tiresome.
When Nereid was three months old, Minako gave birth to Ishtar and then when Nereid was five months old, Usagi gave birth to Kimberly.
It wasn't until Usagi and the rest of the inner senshi returned from the Moon Angel world that Michiru started booking tours again. She often left the baby in Usagi's care with Mamoru getting his turn when he wasn't in school or doing homework. It was clear at that point that Nereid was her mother's child and chibi soldier of Neptune. Ishtar too took after her mother and was chibi soldier of Venus. That left Kimberly as the chibi senshi of earth; however, Kimi-chan was not the senshi of earth.
The teal-haired musician was able to get Haruka to go on tour with her but was not able to convince her to leave Titania behind. Time spent caring for Titania was time that Haruka did not have for Michiru. That had been when Michiru first sent one of many letters to Titania's father; however, the letters had been intercepted by Roland's wife Luisa.
Despite Roland's sordid love life, Luisa informed her under no uncertain terms that the child was a bastard, to which Michiru agreed, and that Roland would never claim her. She told Michiru that there would be no money from them. Luisa doubted the child was even her husband's child because who would sleep with such a manly-looking woman. Oh, that had angered Michiru at first because whether or not Luisa knew it, that insult had been a direct hit at Michiru, herself.
Michiru pushed the issue a little further by contacting Roland's manager and agent. However, that tactic failed miserably when his agent responded quite passionately about how Michiru should convince her partner to go public with the affair. The agent claimed it was the only way that Roland would ever know about the child. It was just another chink in Michiru's schemes. There was no way that Haruka would go public with Titania's paternity. The self-centered soldier of Neptune was having a hard time convincing Haruka to let the little prodigy perform in local performances to showcase her talents.
~-~-~ September 2006 ~-~-~
Roland Descartes was in a bad way. His wife and most of his children had been taken from him by a terrible automobile accident. His only other child was with her grandparents, Luisa's parents, and not his who were deceased. The arrangement was temporary unless they could wrestle custody away from him permanently like they were threatening to do.
The famous musician was known for cheating on his wife. In fact, the press often placed him with more women than he'd actually slept with. The issue had never been a problem between his late wife Luisa and himself. Luisa knew all about his insatiable desires in the bedroom. She accepted that he needed something she couldn't give him while he was away from her. Granted, he was always faithful when he was home even if he was only home for a couple weeks at a time.
Her parents were another matter altogether. They resented him for his philandering ways regardless of their daughter's feelings on the matter. Or maybe it was because of her feelings on the matter that they hated him. They wanted to deprive him of the last piece of his late wife he had: Adrienne. She also happened to be his last remaining child.
Most of Roland's current troubles centered on a box of letters he'd discovered from the famous violinist Michiru Kaiou. She had written a series of letters to him and Luisa but Roland had never seen a single letter till after Luisa's death.
It really should have come as no great surprise that his wife might keep this secret from him. While she tolerated his cheating, she in no way acknowledged it especially toward their children. Dear sweet Luisa only sought to protect the children. At the expense of another child, he argued repeatedly with his in-laws.
Oh, Roland remembered the affair in question fondly. The musician met Haruka in France when she'd stayed with his much younger cousin Elsa for the summer months. During that time, Haruka took a dozen or so lessons and Haruka proved to be one of his better students. In the beginning of the tutelage, Roland would never have given one thought to the young woman as anything more than just a student.
However, there was something in her nature that awakened a deep-seated raw passion in him. As soon as he learned her time in France was coming to an end, Roland had turned on his charm thinking she would be all over him but Haruka was stubborn. She was in a committed relationship with Michiru Kaiou, a rival and musical prodigy.
It took a trip to Japan to finally get what he wanted. He spent one glorious night with Haruka using a latent power that he dared not speak of. Roland might have pursued a longer affair with the younger woman except that his power wore off the next morning. Haruka was furious with him and even accused him of drugging her.
It wouldn't be long before Haruka learned of his wife and children. She broke Roland's heart when she sent him away. Actually threatened him with family connections if he ever tried to contact or see her again. That was the end to any potential relationship.
~-~-~ Flashback to 1998 ~-~-~
"Do you know who my father is?" the young woman demanded angrily.
Roland tried to reach for her hand. How could he make her understand how he felt for her? "I care for you, Haruka," he tried lamely.
Haruka jerked back away from him, "If you don't leave now, I swear that I will bring the full wraith of the Tenou family and all the families down upon you. I want nothing more to do with you!"
Roland shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry it has come to this." He didn't fight her. The musician just walked out, brokenhearted. He had no intention of fighting the Yakuza.
~-~-~ September 2006 ~-~-~
Roland never dreamed that their one night together would result in a child. A prodigy if Michiru could be believed! He was curious about his daughter and he wondered how Haruka was doing now. Did she ever think of him as he often did her? Maybe he could convince Haruka to come be with him now that Luisa was gone. Somehow, the musician doubted that would make a difference.
It didn't take him long to track down Michiru. Some investigative work conducted by his manager located Michiru and Haruka in Kensington, California. The lovers stayed in Japan for roughly six months before leaving to stay with a friend. They returned to their homeland just long enough to put their affairs in order before they moved to the United States permanently.
Roland hated Michiru. Mostly, he hated her raw talent and how she could show him up with little effort. The elder musician had little choice in this matter, however. Roland needed to know about his daughter.
For her part, the normally cold woman seemed too friendly in his skeptical eyes. Michiru volunteered information that he thought he'd have to beg for.
"I had given up that you might ever want to see your daughter."
There it was: 'his' daughter. Not 'Haruka and his' and not 'Haruka and mine'. Maybe that was why Michiru was so friendly, it seemed that the cold woman wished the child gone. "I never knew. Luisa," he paused for effect, "my late wife, never gave any clue. I need to know my daughter, Michiru."
That was exactly what the teal-haired musician needed to hear. Michiru then told him about a recital in Oakland where his daughter went to school. In addition to being able to see her play, Roland would be able to get a feel for everyone before he approached them. It was neutral ground and Haruka might well hear him out if they were in public.
Titania mesmerized him with her talents on the violin. He wondered if that was the only instrument she could play or if her talents extended to other instruments like the piano. Roland was a grand master behind the piano and the girl's mother wasn't bad herself. One day, her talents would exceed even that of Michiru's, he thought.
~-~-~ October 2006 ~-~-~
Roland had anticipated some hesitance and even some anger from Haruka. He wasn't wrong. "Please Haruka," he begged. "Just hear me out?"
"What is there to hear?" she responded angrily. "You were a married man and you still pursued me!"
"I know and I'm sorry, Haruka," he said, not truly sorry. "There was just something about you that drew me toward you. I could not help myself!" Roland added truthfully.
Haruka snorted in disgust, "Be that as it may, my time with you is done. I don't need your help."
"Now wait just one minute! Titania is my daughter too and had you told me about her from the beginning, I would have been here then," he accused making Haruka feel slightly guilty. "I only just found out about Titania. As for being married, my wife Luisa died a year ago along with all but one of my children. Adrienne is all I have left of them."
"So?" Haruka questioned, her guilt still lingering but softened by the mention of his wife and other children.
"Apparently, Luisa knew about the two of you but she never told me. Michiru sent her letters and even a few pictures of Titania through the years."
Haruka stared at him, her face a perfect example of shock. "Wait! Michiru did what?"
"It's true. I wouldn't have believed it myself but she's the one that told me about Titania's recital the other day. She told me where I could find you," Roland pulled a small folded up paper from his pocket and passed it to the angry blond.
Haruka took the paper, slowly unfolding it to stare at the familiar handwriting that seemed to glare back at her. She couldn't believe what she was reading. Fury swept through her and the air itself began to stir.
Roland glanced about nervously, the unnatural wind setting him at ill-ease. "I just want the chance to get to know her. That's all I'm asking, Haruka."
Breathing deeply, Haruka calmed her temper before looking at Roland incredulously, "Time? That's all you want?"
He nodded in acquiesce. "I want to be a father to my daughter. I want to be in her life, Haruka! More than that, I want Adrienne to know the companionship of having a sister again." Roland was trying his best to plead his case, his cause. "Just give us time, please?"
Haruka nodded slowly, "I will give Titania the choice but I will not force her." She sighed, "We'll have to make arrangements for after this school term. Are you staying in California?" Haruka pulled a cell phone from her pocket intending on inputting dates the two could meet up so Titania could get to know Roland.
Roland frowned but shook his head. "I have to go back home. Luisa's parents are trying to fight me for custody of Adrienne. They didn't take too kindly to the news about Titania," he revealed. "Then again, after I saw her recital I couldn't help but sing her praises." Roland smiled sadly.
~-~-~ November 2006 ~-~-~
Haruka had waited more than a month before confronting her lover. "Why Michiru? Why did you do this?" Haruka held up the first letter sent to Luisa and Roland about Titania. The sandy blond had convinced Roland to send copies of all the letters to her in preparation for this confrontation. She wanted to present irrefutable proof of Michiru's betrayal when she ended their relationship.
Michiru looked shocked at the accusation. She clearly hadn't expected her role in Roland's sudden knowledge of Titania to be revealed. The teal-haired woman was hard pressed to find an excuse that would get her off the hook. She could deny it...
Narrowing her eyes, Haruka's voice was cold when she next spoke. "Don't try to deny it, love. No one else even knew that Roland was her father."
It was true. Granted, it wouldn't be hard to figure out that Titania was the illegitimate child of the famous musician. The girl shared many of his features. Not to mention, it was no secret that Haruka took lessons from Roland Descartes prior to Titania's birth. One only had to put two and two together to figure out the secret. Still, Michiru had not counted on this outcome. She had but one option left to her, "Of course I wrote him!" she admitted. "He has as much right to know his daughter as Takao has of knowing his son."
Haruka sucked in a breath. The topic of Haruka's family had always been off limits including the ever present argument between Haruka and her best friend Elsa on why, in Haruka's opinion, Elsa should come clean to Haruka's brother Takao about their son Daniel. The young boy was the same age as Titania just a couple short months apart.
The story was that Takao ran track with Elsa. The pair hooked up at an away competition but decided they were better off as just friends before they even made it back. Of course, there were other factors involved including Takao being a hopeless playboy that had a different partner every other week or so and Elsa was more interested in other women. The one-time couple went their own ways after they graduated with Elsa moving back to France and Takao going off to university in Tokyo.
Elsa found out she was pregnant while Haruka and her friends were vacationing in France. Haruka learned about Elsa and Takao's secret short-lived relationship and Elsa learned the identities of the sailor senshi. Michiru hadn't cared one way or the other about Elsa and Takao but she was furious about Elsa knowing who they were. Haruka, on the other hand, was angry about Elsa and Takao but not so much about Elsa knowing who she was. Rather the senshi of Uranus was relieved that someone knew who she was.
"Don't try to turn this around!" Haruka countered angrily. "I would never go behind Elsa's back like you've done to me." It was true. Haruka thought Takao should know about Daniel but she wouldn't betray her friend's trust. Then too, it wasn't her secret to tell. "Elsa is responsible for telling Daniel and Takao the truth."
Michiru almost growled but settled on a small frown. "Well, I'm helping to raise Titania or did you forget? I'm the other parent here," she threw in Haruka's face.
"No, you were my girlfriend. I was the only parent for Titania!" Haruka responded. "Usagi and Setsuna are more parents to Titania than you are!"
The teal-haired woman glared. It was one thing to compare her against Usagi. The blond leader of the senshi was a mother to everyone including the other senshi these days. But to compare her against Setsuna who was hardly ever home? "If that is what makes you feel better about ambushing me like this, fine." Michiru brushed imaginary lint from her expensive clothes. "But Titania has been asking who her father is. She's been upset because all her little friends have fathers and she's only got you." It was a lie but Haruka didn't know that. She couldn't know if it were true or not because she wasn't around Titania twenty-four hours a day.
The color in Haruka's face drained. She never imagined that her daughter would suffer for not knowing about the man that had never been a part of her life. Haruka could have lied from the beginning and told the young girl that her father died or some other such nonsense but lying had been out of the question for Haruka. "I never knew," she uttered.
"Well, now you do," Michiru said. "What do you plan to do about it?" The teal-haired woman expected any number of answers from Haruka except what came out of her lover's mouth.
"Roland has asked for time to get to know our daughter," Haruka responded. "But you probably already knew that," the sandy blond wagered. "It would probably be best to move to France for the time being so that Titania can get to know her father and sister."
Michiru sat completely speechless.
"I've already talked it over with Usagi, Hotaru, and Setsuna. Titania and I will be moving to France during the winter holiday so as not to disrupt her school any further. Roland has even agreed to hire her a private tutor to teach her French and ensure Titania has no trouble in the schools there."
The message was loud and clear: Haruka had talked over the situation with those that mattered and Michiru was getting the memo as an afterthought. Haruka's mind was made up and Michiru was out of luck.
~-~-~ May 2007 ~-~-~
Titania was adjusting nicely to her new surroundings even if there was a bit of homesickness. The eight-year-old missed her friends and 'cousins' as they had come to be known to her as; however, she was getting along better than expected with her eleven-year-old half-sister Adrienne. It had not taken long at all for the older girl to become protective of her American half-sister Titania.
Roland thought there might be some resentment from his older daughter and there had been at first but then Adrienne met Haruka's other 'daughter' Hotaru and the resentment seemed to melt away. It appeared that Adrienne was more upset at Roland than she was at Haruka or Titania.
Adrienne's grandparents weren't helping the matter at all. The aging parents of his late wife were instigating trouble between Roland and Haruka with Adrienne's unknowing help. Unwilling to compromise with Roland, Luis and Natividad Carnera fought him on every front.
Whenever he went on tour, he was now required by the courts to leave Adrienne in their care unless she traveled with him. He could not leave her in care of Haruka so that they could get to know each other better or else that she could get to know her sister. It was wearing thin on his nerves because it meant that he could either not work or else he had to ask Haruka to put her life on hold to join him on tour for the sake of his children. Neither Haruka nor Roland were happy with the arrangement.
Several months into their newly established routine, Roland had enough. He thought he and Haruka had come to a somewhat comfortable arrangement if not a little strained due to the actions of his former in-laws. Now the true test would come.
Adrienne was still with her grandparents when Roland returned home from his performance for the Queen in England. Titania was in classes to catch her up to the French curriculum. He was home alone with Haruka.
Immediately, Roland went to find the mother of his youngest child. He found her in the garage working on one of the many cars. "Marry me, Haruka," Roland blurted.
Haruka jumped, not expecting him home so soon and spluttered at what he'd just said. "What?!"
Roland sighed. He knew he would have to explain and convince Haruka that it was for the best that they tie the knot. "When Luisa died," he started coming over to her, "I sent Adrienne to live with Luisa's parents while I was on tour. The understanding was I would return for her when the tour was up. For a short time, Luis and Natividad were content that I still allowed them to be a part of Adrienne's life. Now, it is not so much. They hate me and they would do anything to make me suffer for the death of Luisa."
Haruka looked up puzzled at him. She had already learned much from past dealings with Adrienne's grandparents. She slipped the battery cables back on the battery. The car would be ready to test shortly. "But you had nothing to do with Luisa's death. She was killed by a drunk driver, right?"
Nodding, Roland handed Haruka a grease rag to wipe her hands off. "I was not even in town when Luisa and my other four children were killed. I rushed back from Madrid when I heard the news. My life shattered in a blink of an eye by some drunken idiot but still Luisa's parents blame me. They've landed a sympathetic judge now and they wish to take Adrienne away from me permanently."
"What does that have to do with you wanting me to marry you?" Haruka asked, confused. She hated to sound so uncaring. In truth, she'd come to care for the other child as if she were her own. It seemed like raising Hotaru all over again.
Roland looked troubled, "I'm getting to that." He raised his hands to cover his face for just a second. "After the tour, I returned home with my daughter. We were going through some of Luisa's old things when I stumbled upon the letters about Titania."
Haruka looked angered, "I already know about the letters now. While I still think Michiru should have left it to me. I am not so angry that you know now. Titania is happier now that you are a part of her life. She adores her big sister as well," Haruka admitted.
"Based on the pictures, I could tell she was mine," Roland continued as if Haruka had never spoken at all. "I never forgot you, Haruka." He took a step toward her, hoping the admission would get him in her good graces. He was wrong.
She growled threateningly at him. Haruka wanted no part of marriage to him. "I am just fine without you."
He needed Haruka and Titania like he'd never needed anything else in his life. "The courts will take my daughter away from me in favor of Luisa's parents unless I can give her a mother again!"
Haruka stared wide-eyed at Roland. "What?"
He looked so tired and worn through suddenly like the world on his shoulders was about to collapse. "I acknowledged right away that Titania was mine. I even told Adrienne about her. At least what I knew from the letters. I didn't realize that sometimes news like that has to be introduced slowly." He moved to sit down. The story weighing heavy on his heart. "Luisa's parents were furious because it was proof of my infidelity to Luisa so they decided to fight me on custody. My lawyer said my best hope is to marry you and bring you and Titania back home with me. I have already brought you back home but it is not enough."
"How can you be sure it isn't?" Haruka asked, a sudden chill sliding down her back.
"Luis and Natividad have made it quite clear that they won't rest until I am stripped of all contact with my daughter. They have threatened to drag this out in court till Adrienne is grown and continue to poison my daughter against me until she is old enough to say goodbye forever." For once there was no hint of manipulation in his voice, just frustration and sadness.
"Why me? Why not someone else?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
He sighed, "Because it will prove in some manner that you weren't just some one night stand I had while touring. Because you are my other daughter's mother."
Haruka nodded slightly. She did not want to marry Roland, not after everything she had been through but a part of her ached for something only a marriage could give her, even a sham of a marriage like theirs would be. "I have conditions," she blurted. Was she really agreeing to marry a man?
Roland looked up, a look of surprised excitement on his face, "Name them!"
"No sex," she responded. "Separate rooms because I will not be sleeping with you ever again and if you ever try what you did before I will cut off your..."
"I get it!" Roland exclaimed in horror. He was visibly paler.
"Second condition: If I am to be seen married to you, you will exercise discretion with the other women you choose to sleep with. Your children do not need to hear about their father sleeping around. And for heaven's sakes, use a condom! That's how you got into this mess to begin with!"
Roland flushed at the chastisement and nodded in acquiesce. Haruka didn't seem to care about the other women. That was more than he could hope for in any type of relationship.
"Also, stay away from my friends! All of them! If I hear one word, the deal is off and I won't go through with this. Or else I'll divorce you so fast, your head will be spinning!" she warned. Haruka was pacing back and forth now. "I need time. This is all so sudden!" She threw her arms in the air before bringing them to cover her face.
Roland nodded in understanding, "You don't know how much this means to me."
"I wasn't finished!" Haruka glared. "I don't love you, Roland, and I never will," she stated, looking him in the eye, "I'm only doing this for the sakes of Titania and Adrienne. What Adrienne's grandparents are doing isn't right and I can't just stand by and let it happen while knowing I could have done something to prevent it." She was still glaring at him when she added, "I remember the way it was with my brother before our falling out: One day, Titania and Adrienne could share that same kind of bond. Maybe."
Roland silently thanked whatever deity was watching over him at that moment. This marriage of necessity may turn out to be the best thing that has ever happened to him.
~-~-~ July 2007 ~-~-~
"It's not like it's a real marriage anyway," Haruka mumbled as Usagi carefully wrapped the rose stems with ribbon to keep them from hurting the bride-to-be. Mako-chan had sent the roses with Usagi since Haruka wouldn't allow but a small handful of guests.
Roland's parents had passed away already and he had no siblings to speak of. Of course, he had invited Luisa's parents as they were still fighting him on custody of his daughter and Roland wanted his former in-laws to meet the woman that would be Adrienne's step-mother face-to-face. Other than the pair and his daughter, all that was left was his manager and a few cousins.
Haruka's guest list had a few more people: They were having a somewhat traditional wedding after all. She'd asked Usagi to be her matron of honor and Roland didn't have a best guy friend so Mamoru was standing in as his best man. As the youngest child, Titania was the flower girl with Elsa's little boy Daniel being the ring bearer.
Haruka had wanted Hotaru to be in the wedding but Hotaru's surprise pregnancy was already giving her trouble. Usagi's brother Shingo was sticking close by her just in case he had to get her out of there quickly. Last but not least, the asteroid senshi came to watch over the first and second moons while their mother and father were preoccupied.
The last people on Haruka's list of guests were her father, mother, and brother. She didn't expect her parents to come since they disowned Haruka just after she'd gotten pregnant. Takao probably wouldn't come either in deference to their father.
The sandy-haired blond didn't want anyone else knowing about her wedding. Specifically, she didn't want Michiru to know just yet so she stopped Usagi from telling too many people. Haruka wasn't making a big production out of the wedding as the marriage would never be real: however, she also wanted the traditional wedding if only for show. There were no allusions, Haruka did not love Roland.
In a way, Haruka wished Michiru were here to talk her out of going through with this or at least coach her through the whole ordeal. The teal-haired woman had done plenty of distasteful things in her life and it wouldn't have been that hard to manage this one thing. Haruka knew that Michiru was playing the victim card again as if Haruka had stabbed her in the back.
This whole mess had started because Michiru took it upon herself to mail Roland and his late wife Luisa about Titania. Haruka was angry at her and her anger was only made worse when Michiru tried to blame Haruka. All the same, Haruka knew it would hurt Michiru to see or even know about the wedding which is why she'd kept the whole affair quiet. The world would know soon enough.
"Then why are you going through with this?" Usagi asked, interrupting Haruka's thoughts.
The sandy headed blond just stared back in a sort of stupor. "Huh?"
Usagi laughed, "I asked why you are going through with this wedding if it isn't real?" she repeated. "And don't tell me Titania because you and I both know that isn't the reason."
Usagi and the rest of the group had flown in a few days early to help set up everything as Haruka wanted. The senshi of Uranus told herself if she was going to go through with this sham of a wedding, she at least was going to do things her way. Roland did not object as he was just glad Haruka was marrying him. "You tell me, you can read my mind," she responded without thinking.
The blond in the wheelchair frowned, "I don't read minds when I don't have to especially not of my friends."
Haruka nodded, "I don't know, Koneko." She fidgeted with the veil on the table in front of her. "I mean, part of me would like to know what it feels like to be a family. A real family and not that thing I grew up in. I want Titania to have an actual family with a mother and father that care about her no matter what. I guess I want that for Adrienne too, now that I've gotten to know her. She is like my daughter already. It would be nice to have her around full time and not just when Roland is home."
"You invited your parents hoping to reconcile?" Usagi questioned.
"I thought you said you didn't read the minds of your friends," Haruka asked skeptically.
Usagi blinked, startled, "I didn't. It was a guess. You never speak of them and I knew you'd had problems with them in the past."
Haruka nodded. "They did not approve of my choices," she left Michiru's name unspoken but it was a given. Hideki and Musako Tenou had been furious when Haruka made the very public display of their relationship. Of course, her father had threatened everything imaginable including replacing her with a big shot racer in the tournaments.
Finally, Haruka committed the ultimate sin in his eyes and she'd gotten pregnant with Titania while still dating Michiru. Of course, Hideki had assumed that the pair had gone through with having a child together via sperm donor and Haruka had immediately been disowned. The truth was more welcome but Haruka hadn't bothered to tell them since her family hadn't given her so much as a chance.
When Haruka moved to America, she'd looked at the whole thing as being given a second chance away from everyone that knew her family. Titania had a chance to grow up without the threat of Haruka's family connections. "Maybe they will hear me out now that I am away from Michiru and marrying Titania's father. Maybe Okasan and Takao will want to be in our lives again."
The wheelchair-bound blond smiled sadly up at her friend. "For what it is worth, you make a beautiful bride, Ruka-chan."
