Chapter 2
Haruka wished she had been able to stop herself. She was very rarely impulsive. However, once the words were out, she was unable to take them back. Now, in the privacy of their own home, they had done nothing but argue since they were on the beach, something that they rarely did. Thankfully, Setsuna and Hotaru were not due back home for another few hours.
"Haruka, tell me what it is!" Michiru demanded, almost to the point of tears. She had been asking this for the last thirty minutes.
As much as Haruka hated seeing her wife in this state, she feared the truth would ultimately take her from her. "Shimatta!" Haruka finally cried.
Taken aback, Michiru fell silent and slumped into a nearby chair. Haruka got onto her knees and covered Michiru's hands with her own. "Onegai, I just can't bear the thought of losing you," Haruka confided and she let her head fall into Michiru's lap. Michiru saw Haruka's shoulders shudder. Crying was something Michiru very rarely witnessed Haruka do. Michiru gently ran her fingers through Haruka's sandy blond hair.
"Haruka, I have to know." Her voice broke. Haruka cringed. She knew Michiru would never be able to let this slide. She was hoping for the impossible. She finally collected herself and moved to sit next to Michiru.
"A few days ago, I was watching the news," Haruka started. Michiru remained silent as Haruka continued to speak. "Ami-san, among several other doctors, think they have found a way to make two eggs into a successful embryo. However, it has not been perfected and the procedure has yet to have been tested on humans." As Haruka finished, she saw Michiru grabbing her purse and keys, making her way to the door.
"Michiru, where are you going!?" Haruka cried. Michiru came to an abrupt halt and turned to Haruka. Haruka fell silent. She had never seen such a look of hope and desire on Michiru's face. "To the palace," Michiru's voice was almost a pleading whisper.
Haruka suddenly felt her heart thudding against her chest. The sound filled her eardrums as she began to process Michiru's intentions. "Michiru, we can't, it's too dangerous right now!" Haruka pleaded with her.
These facts didn't seem to discourage Michiru in the slightest. "I don't know about you Haruka, but I am sick of waiting. It could take ten or twenty years before they perfect this prodecure… IF they ever do! I am not about to give up on the chance to have a child--and not just any child, but YOURS, Haruka." Tears threatened Michiru's features once again.
Haruka slowly moved from the sofa and to where Michiru was standing. Once they were eye level, Haruka stopped. Michiru continued. "I don't care what it takes; I'll do anything to have a baby, YOUR baby. Even if it means my life!" Haruka swallowed. That was what she worried about, but she also knew Michiru wouldn't be complete until she had her baby. She could never compromise Michiru's chance at happiness because of her own selfishness.
Hesitant but somewhat convinced Haruka said, "Let's go then." Only minutes later, Haruka and Michiru pulled up beside the large palace that lay in the heart of Crystal Tokyo. Haruka removed the keys from the ignition, opened her door and walked around to the passenger side to open the door for Michiru. They hadn't spoken a word to one another since they left the house. Fear and anticipation plagued them both.
Haruka instinctively reached for Michiru's hand as they made their way to the entrance of the palace. Being senshi, the massive gates in front of them automatically opened. They smiled as they passed the security guards who nodded them through. Everyone in the palace knew of their identities, including the guards. All of the citizens outside of it were still uninformed.
They walked hand in hand down the massive hallway until they saw Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion in the great hall.
"Haruka-san, Michiru-san!" Neo Queen Serenity quickly embraced the two before they could even get the chance to bow.
Haruka couldn't help but give a small chuckle at their odango haired Queen. Some things would never change.
"It's been such a long time since I've seen either of you!" Serenity exclaimed.
"Hai, it certainly has." Haruka chuckled.
"It's great to see you!" Michiru said cheerfully.
All of a sudden, they heard a small voice cry out "Michi, Ruka!" Haruka and Michiru turned towards Endymion who carried a small pink-haired girl that was Chibiusa. 'She can't be more than two years old now,' Michiru thought. She smiled as she approached the King and small toddler. She gave a quick bow and then gently touched the child's cheek with her finger. "Hello, Small Lady," she whispered. The small girl gave Michiru's finger a squeeze.
"Michi!" she repeated.
Serenity smiled lovingly at her husband and daughter. "I can tell she's missed you and Haruka a lot!"
As Michiru stared at the baby lovingly, she turned and smiled at Haruka. She knew Haruka was feeling the same things she was. Haruka smiled at the baby before turning back to Serenity. It was now or never. The blond sighed. "We have a special request."
Serenity tilted her head to the side, a behavior she would use all the time when she was younger. "Eh, well, what can I help you with Haruka and Michiru-san?" she inquired.
Michiru closed her eyes and bit her lip before reopening them. "Well, we've wanted a baby for some time now," Michiru began to explain, taking one last look at Chibiusa.
Serenity picked up Chibiusa protectively. "I know Chibiusa is cute and all, but you've seen how terribly annoying she gets when she's older!"
Haruka and Michiru looked at one another, confused.
Endymion sweat dropped. "Love, I don't think that's what they--" before he was able to stop his wife from babbling, she continued.
"She's a horrible child, really, you don't want her…" she insisted.
Haruka shook her head. "No, we're not trying to take Chibiusa." The blond laughed.
Serenity moved closer and gently clasped Michiru's arms in a comforting motion. "Have you tried the local adoption agencies?"
Michiru shook her head. "No, we have Hotaru and I thought that was enough, but I felt something was missing," she confided. "I want to experience the joy of motherhood and carry a baby inside of me, but not just anyone's baby---Haruka's baby," she finished.
Serenity smiled sadly at her two older friends and protectors. She was so used to them coming to her rescue, but for the first time, here they were, feeling helpless and needing her help. Serenity's expression was much more somber. "Ami had mentioned some sort of procedure to me, but stressed it's a dangerous one."
Michiru's eyes had begun to fill with tears, but she came here for a solution and she wasn't turning back now. "Please, let me speak with Mizuno-san," Michiru pleaded.
Serenity looked down. "I don't think it would be a good idea to speak with Ami, Michiru-san."
Upon seeing the look of disparity in Michiru's eyes, she clenched her fists and looked up. "Please, let us speak to Ami-san."
Serenity was taken aback; she had never seen these two stoic women so desperate. Serenity looked towards her husband, who was holding her own child. She remembered her own pregnancy and although it was never easy, it was one of the most amazing experiences she had ever had. She couldn't deny her friend the same happiness. "Alright, I will take you to the special clinic located inside of this palace. Please take my hand." she instructed.
Michiru and Haruka smiled at Endymion before turning back to Serenity. They moved to take the Queen's hands.
"Arigatou." Haruka said gratefully.
Endymion simply nodded to see them off before they disappeared.
Moments later, the trio materialized in front of the door which led inside the clinic. The Queen knocked on the door of the quarter in which she knew her friend worked. Moments later, the blue-haired beauty opened the door with a smile. Her glasses rested on her nose, which made her look even more intelligent than she already was. "Konnichiwa, Haruka and Michiru-san," she said happily. Ami looked from Queen Serenity to the older women. "What may I help you with?"
Queen Serenity smiled. "They would like to speak with you Ami-chan." Ami smiled and bowed slightly. "Yes, I would be honored." Queen Serenity turned to Haruka and Michiru. "I guess I will be going. Good luck!"
Moments after the Queen disappeared, Ami led the two women down the hall and into a private office. Haruka and Michiru took the time to admire how mature and sophisticated the younger woman had gotten over the years. However, she couldn't have been more intelligent.
Ami stopped and opened the door to a small office with a bed and basic medical supplies. "Come on in." she offered, ushering Haruka and Michiru in before her. She closed the door behind them and took a seat at the desk. "Please, sit down," she instructed. Haruka and Michiru eagerly did so and waited for what Ami would say next.
"What brings you here?" she asked gently.
Michiru looked down at the clenched hands in her lap. "Well, uh, as I was telling Serenity-sama, we have wanted a baby for quite a while now. We love Hotaru and couldn't have a better adopted daughter, but, I would like to have a child of our own and to experience the joys of motherhood and pregnancy." Michiru explained, bringing herself to meet the younger woman's gaze. Haruka looked at Michiru who she noticed was still struggling to hold back tears. "I heard that you and a team of other doctors have done successful experiments utilizing two eggs and making them into successful embryos," she explained.
Ami looked at the two with the same somber expression Serenity had. A moment later she sighed and removed her glasses. "Haruka-san, Michiru-san, I am not going to lie to you, but I am sure that you've also heard of the potential risks. We have yet to yield the same results on a human subject," she explained. Michiru sighed. She had heard it all before, but she was not about to give up. "I don't care what it takes. I'll do anything, please!" she insisted. Ami swallowed. "Michiru-san," she started.
"I cannot take no for an answer!" the tears that Michiru had barely been able to hold back, now slipped free.
Haruka stood up and touched Michiru's shoulder and looked over at Ami. "Mizuno-san, please."
Ami, who was shocked by Michiru's sudden emotional outburst tried to manage a smile. If there was one thing that hadn't changed, it was that once the Outer Senshi set out on a mission, there was no stopping them. She could gather from Michiru's facial expression that there was no changing their minds.
"Alright, let's set up a consultation for you both. I will tell you how the procedure will work, the risks, possible complications, and we will go from there," Ami explained.
Michiru sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. Haruka, on the other hand, swallowed at the last words, 'risks and complications.' She couldn't lose Michiru. There was no talking her out of it at this point. The blond felt helpless, like all she could do was stand back and watch.
Ami wrote a time and date on an appointment card and handed it to the couple. "In the meantime, I will need to discuss this situation with my team of doctors and see what we can do," she explained.
Michiru, ever so grateful, stood up and embraced the younger woman. "Mizuno-san, arigatou!"
To be continued….