Chapter 4

Haruka finished her test drive and pulled into the garage. Michiru was smiling as Joe walked up to the window and Haruka started her way out. Haruka was usually fast, but with her ribs aching Joe got up under her arms and pulled her out. She smiled as she straightened up and looked at the car.
"Thanks for the help, how did I do?" Haruka asked pulling off her helemet and taking the towel Michiru had brought her.
"If you can maintain the speed you did today, you should have no problem placing, but remember this is an older car." Haruka ran her hand through her hair causing it to stick up and then crumple.
"I want you to take another look at the engine, I know she's not perfect and probably will never be again, but we need to get as close as possible. We cannot afford to lose any of our races." Joe nodded and popped the hood. He leaned over it as Haruka unzipped her uniform and pulled her arms out of the sleeves and then pull it to her waist, her white undershirt sticking to her thin body. She leaned over the car next to Joe as they talked for a few minutes. "Joe, I have faith in you, do what you can. I will be back in the morning for another run."
"See you in the morning Haruka, get some rest." Haruka smiled as she waved over her shoulder, her other arm wrapped around Michiru's waist walking to the locker room. A few minutes later Haruka walked out into the fresh air outside of the racetrack, she inhaled the sweet summer's air as the two women set off on foot.
"Tenoh!" Haruka turned around at the sound of her name, "Tenoh, may I please have your autograph?" She smiled at the young boy who was being closely chased by his father, his hat with her number outstretched and a pen in the other hand. The two women stopped and waited for the boy and his father to draw closer. "That was a bad wreck last race, do you have a new car?"
"Yes, they just shipped it from Tokyo." The little boy smiled as she took his hat and pen signing it.
"Can you win all three? Do you think you will take the title this year?" Haruka smiled.
"I sure hope so, I'm going to give it my best try." She handed him his hat and pen back.
"Good luck! I'll be watching from the stands this race." Haruka smiled.
"Well then, I better not let you down. Keep watching kid!" Haruka shook the father's hand and then the young boy's hand.
"Thank you," the little boy smiled and Haruka once more wrapped her arm around Michiru's waist as they walked away.

Haruka rounded the track and saw the crash light up her rear window, but she was safe, she was in the lead and the checkered flag waved as she crossed the finish line. Joe and her other pit crew memebers were cheering widely as she entered the pit area and they pulled her out. Haruka was grinning ear to ear as everyone clapped and cheered, while others grabed what they could to get the flame out of control. The four cars that had been right behind Haruka were one fire and a heap of debrie was littering the grass, but the flag was still waving in the remaining racers. Haruka jumped from her car and race behind Joe and the others to help. All four drivers were crawling hands and knees away from the burning pile. Haruka partnered with the new kid as they grabbed one of the drivers by the shoulders and dragged him farther away, other crews were doing the same. Haruka coughed and chocked her way from the smoke which had now changed directions, a paramedic approached and took over so she could make her way back to their garage. She held her ribs tightly as she walked back, coughing. Joe moved to help her walk back in and take a seat, she took a few deep breaths of clean air before looking up and around. Everyone was doing just what they should be, the firefighters and crews were putting the fire out, all the drivers were safe as well as those in the stands. She took another deep breath and could feel the pain in her ribs. She looked up to see Michiru crying, the remnets of a chili dog up and down her front. Haruka laughed slightly, that was a meal she loved, but her healthy, food conscious partner would never choose. Michiru walked over and Haruka stood up to embrace the tear stained woman.
"That could have been you, it almost was you. I don't like you racing, please stop." Haruka wrapped her lover in her arms.
"It wasn't me, come on now, you know I am better than that and no one was seriously hurt. Sweetie, this has been my life for ten years now, why all of a sudden?" Michiru stopped her sniffling.
"Because we have more to think about now than just the two of us." Haruka bent over and kissed her on the lips.
"Sweetie, it's going to be alright. I promise to be more careful." Michiru nodded and Haruka pulled her closer. "Now where is my chili dog?" Michiru laughed and looked up.
"Well..." she gave Haruka those huge puppy dog eyes.
"You ate a chili dog and did not bring me one?" Haruka sounded disgusted, it was her favorite snack after a race.
"No I bought you one, but I ate it, along with my own." Haruka looked stunned. "The babies were hungry." Haruka smiled as she heard the music sound outside, this signaled her time to walk out and take her stand at the first place winning mount.
"Well I guess your punishment will be to walk out here with me." Michiru nodded and wrapped her arm around Haruka's so she could be led out. Joe right beside them as head of her pit crew.

That night the girls were laying in bed, Haruka nibbling on Michiru's ear. Michiru sat up sunddenly. Haruka looked at her curiously.
"What's wrong sweetheart?" Michiru smiled lightly, but grimaced.
"I don't feel good, there is like a burning in my throat and it feels as if I am going to be sick, but I'm not nauseous." Haruka giggled until she saw Michiru's worried look.
"You have heart burn, that's what you get for eating my chili dog." Michiru looked at her curiously. "Really, you have never had this before?"
"You have? How did you survive?" Haruka through off the covers and stood up.
"You better check on what type of heartburn medication you can take while pregnant." Haruka pulled on her shorts and her track jacket. "I'll run downstairs and get you some milk." Michiru moved to sit up as she felt her stomach reach for her throat again, she gaged as she reached for her tablet which was laying next to her bed. "Careful you might end up puking, you know your gag reflex has been sensetive of late." Michiru scowled as Haruka left the room. Haruka walked down stairs yawning, she looked at her phone to see the text Michiru had sent her, she laughed as she walked out the door, of course she would pick her up chocolate milk. She pushed the light at the corner and waited, there was no one on the road so she looked both ways and crossed the street. Before she entered the store she felt the wind change direction, she shuddered, she still not feel her best and fighting a monster right now was not what she wanted to do. She looked around and closed her eyes sensing the disturbance, then took off running. Haruka transformed as she rounded the corner and witnessed a monster attacking a young homeless girl. Haruka summoned her sword, but before she could attack she heard someone else calling out. She turned as she could not believe what she was witnessing, another sailor scout. After the starlights she had been awaken to the knowledge that there were scouts everywhere, that they were from the stars in the galaxy sworn to protect their worlds. This scout was doing a good job fighting, but one was not enough, Haruka called upon her attack and threw it at the monster, before he left he screamed out
"Be CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!" Haruka swallowed looking taken aback, but in the next moment the monster was gone and Haruka had another problem.
"Wow!" The other scout looked at her amazed, "You are Sailor Uranus, what an honor to meet you." Clearly this was a young scout, Haruka noticed she had barely came up to her chest.
"You did excellent work kid, keep up the good work." Haruka turned and started walking away.
"Wait, are you here to help? What happened? Where did you come from?"
"Are you new to this?" Haruka asked stopping. The kid shook her head, then realized her back was still turned to her.
"No, I've been a scout now for a full year."
"Do you have teammates in the area?" Haruka asked, still not turning to face the young girl.
"Well I do, but they are all idiots, they are nothing but children who have no idea." Haruka interrupted the girl's bashing of her teammates.
"Trust them, rely on them and be their friend, only then will your true power be born." Haruka took a deep breath, "Whatever was said or done, apologize because those here in your town are your teammates and they are your only means of survival. Take it from one who knows kid, bury your pride. I will not be here to aide you in your battle again, that is what your team is for." The little girl nodded, Haruka knew she was being harsh, but the little girl needed to know how valuable her teammates truly were.

Haruka walked in the room to hear Michiru in the bathroom, she huffed as she locked the door, setting her keys and the bag of meds and milk on the table. She walked into the bathroom to see Michiru hovering over the toliet. Michiru leaned back against the wall as Haruka wet a wash clothe and dabbed at her face, neck and mouth, before bending over and kissing her.
"What took you?" Michiru asked grinning.
"The wind changed it's tune before I made it to the store. I ran in to another Star Scout, hopefully I set her straight on teamwork." Michiru smiled as Haruka stood up and offered her a hand. Michiru took her hand and allowed her to pull her to her feet.
"Hopefully that scout heard your message and she's not as stubborn as we were." Michiru stopped to brush her teeth as Haruka started undressing and making her way back to bed. She was still mauling over the words the monster had uttered before vanishing, but shaking her head she pulled the covers over her long legs and watched her beauty come out, open her milk and the medicine bottle she had brought home. Michiru threw two of the heartburn pills back and followed it by her chocolate milk. Haruka grinned, pregnancy was definitely taking it's effects on Michiru, she sighed, how much more was to come, she had already experienced mood swings, morning sickness, cravings, and heartburn. Haruka grinned again as Michiru curled up next to her and nibbled her ear, the two women falling asleep curled up close.