Glimpses of Strangeness

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any related characters in any way, shape or form.

Author's Notes: for a series where the core concept is several girls trying to get the hand of a specific guy, and where "future shots" (that is, stories set after the events of the series) are so popular, it just strikes me as strange that there are so few fanfics about the girls actually becoming mothers (no, I do not consider those… abominations… to count). And, seeing as how all the ones that I know of are Ranma/Akane, I decided to give the other girls some love. No Kasumi or Nabiki entries, because I'm not really that fond of them as matchups and there are far more of those pairings in general on FFN then there are any of these others. Rather than risk accusations of favoritism, I decided to do the girls in the order that they appeared in the show.

Maternal Moments

Kodachi
Waistline: she knew it was to be expected, to an extent even welcomed, but she still couldn't help but be disconcerted about how quickly her waistline ballooned out.

Defiant: oh, she knew what they called her, when they thought she wasn't listening, knew how they stared at her swelling abdomen, but let them do as they like. This was the symbol of her love.

Awkward: as she tried to cover the tears in her leotard, her cheeks bright red, the only consolations that came to mind were the fact that it was only Ranma who had seen it, and it was nothing that he hadn't seen before.

Sensual: she had no idea what had possessed her to try and prove she could be just as attractive as she was before she got pregnant, but she certainly wasn't unhappy to find she could still knock her lover's metaphorical socks off, even with a stomach that felt like a watermelon strapped to her waist.

Revelations: "What do you mean, brother dear, that this news doesn't surprise you?" "With how you and your boyfriend have been indulging, my twisted sister, I'm honestly surprised this didn't happen sooner."

Pickles: she popped the last tart, salty, chewy, delicious morsel into her mouth, crunching down with obvious delight, savoring it until the last. When it was gone, she raised the jar to her lips without the slightest hesitation and chugged down the brine. Realizing only after she had drained it dry that Ranma was standing in the door and watching her with amusement, she blushed deeply, daintily wiped her lips… and then belched like a thunderclap.

Music: she has heard many well-known musicians, both western and eastern, and many different songs as well. Yet, to her ears, she thinks that none quite compare to the music of her beloved singing to their firstborn child.

Dreams: when she sleeps, visions come to her of what the child in her belly may come to be. Sometimes, it is a little boy who shares her laugh, running and jumping with his father's inexhaustible energy across the estate. Sometimes she sees a little girl who pirouettes with dedicated grace, rigorously practicing alongside her mother. There are so many variations, and she always wakes wondering if they are dream, or perhaps something more.

Shampoo
Heartbeat: Ranma smiled up at her from his kneeling position, a touch of wonder in his eyes and pride in his voice. "Strong, healthy and full of life. Just like her mother."

Fears: even though she knew that both she and her husband had cured themselves first, she still woke up sweating at nights from nightmares, nightmares that, unlike other expectant mothers, always seemed connected to Jusenkyo.

Cravings: she did not find the jokes about her child being guaranteed to have cherry-red hair very funny. The mocking debates about whether she'd call it "Sakuranbo" or "Ying" were even less funny!

Lineage: when she heard that Ranma's family was a subject of mockery from some of her acquaintances, she wasted no time in tracking down the most vocal of them and beating them to a pulp. Her child had a father to be proud of, no matter what his parents were like.

Surprise: "What you mean, Shampoo having twins!"

Morning Sickness: kneeling at the toilet, Ranma holding her long hair out of her face, choking for breath and moaning in agony in between bouts of vomiting, she began to wonder if maybe being a mother was worth this… and she had to put up with this for four or five months?

Beauty: Ranma stared at his nude wife and the mother-to-be of his children as she sat on a rock in the river, water-slicked skin glistening beneath the gentle sunlight, and for the first time wishes that he knew something about poetry.

Swimming: the cool water feels wonderful against her hot, itchy skin. She feels so light and carefree floating in its depths. A part of her wants to never leave here, at least, not until after the children are born.

Ukyo
Changes: as she looked into the mirror, turning this way and that to scrutinize every inch of her gravid form, she couldn't help but think about how no one could possibly mistake her for a boy now.

Libido: "Aren't girls supposed to be put off sex when they're pregnant?" "Why are you complaining? Now, come 'ere, lover boy!"

Fierce: she was rather confused that Happosai would sooner flee than try to grope her, once he found out she was expecting, until her husband told her that the old pervert had almost died after trying his usual antics on a pregnant woman.

Gender: truth be told, she didn't care whether their baby was a boy or a girl; she knew that they would both raise a child the same way, no matter what it was.

Labor: the pain was worse then any battle she had ever been in, it tired her out more than any sparring session ever had, but when it was all over and she was holding her baby in her arms, it was all worth it.

Conception: puzzling over the mental arithmetic to determine date of conception, she blushed brightly enough she would have sworn she was glowing. How was she supposed to tell her children (or even her boyfriend) that that was how she got pregnant?

Taste: she gagged and spat in disgust, nearly retching to clear the unspeakable bitterness from her tongue. She guessed that maybe that old wives tale about pregnancy sharpening the senses was true… that, or her ingredients had somehow gone off without her being aware of it.

Embrace: she lies in his arms, nestled against his chest, her ear to his heart, his hands on her belly, and she is content.

…Yeah. A pointless little brain-clunk, but I hope it wasn't too hard on the eyes.