Maternal Moon

Chapter 7

Author: ChibiCori, were you expecting someone else?

Rating: PG, parental guidance strongly suggested! ;)

Disclaimer: Suited to my small existence on this earth, I don't own Sailor Moon. Takeuchi-sensei does, and she refuses to share! Didn't learn much in kindergarten now, did we?

Real fast reading tip: Lady Ika's name is read 'eye-kah'. So, now you know. On with the story!

Maternal Moon

Chapter 7

Usagi looked at her reflection in the gleaming elevator doors. She had never been so nervous. She quietly fidgeted with the folds of fabric in her gown. Bracelets clinked together and she kept adjusting her crown.

Mamoru cast her a side-ways glance, smiled and took her hand in his, "Relax, everything will be fine."

"Fine? Relax?" Usagi choked out, "You said yourself, the person trying to kill me is probably in the palace and I'm supposed to relax, pretend everything is fine?"

"That's why we're going away." He soothed, stroking his thumb along the outside of her hand, it had always relaxed her before, but it didn't seem to work then. Putting her hand back by her side, he watched as the floors ticked off above the doors, than added, "But first you have to address your court."

"I know, but," she looked up at him, the pain in her eyes evident and Mamoru felt his heart shatter, "I don't want to leave the senshi, not again."

"You'll see them again." Mamoru promised, holding her close and pressing his lips against the crescent moon on her forehead, "We won't be gone forever, just until it is safe for you to come home."

"But we shouldn't be hiding! We should-"

"Usagi." Mamoru interrupted deliberately as the elevator doors opened to a bustling room of courtiers, "We'll talk about this later."

Usagi stopped her lip from pulling down into a pout, forcing her face to stay neutral. Now was not the time to talk of this, Mamoru was right. Even though the discussion will more than likely deteriate into another argument that she would lose, because the senshi would back Mamoru's decision up, she had to focus on the present. She had a show to put on.

Usagi and Mamoru stepped from the elevator and the room immediately leapt into formal action. "Their majesties, Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion." sang the announcer's voice that was followed by the Crystal Kingdom's fanfare. Placing her hand on Mamoru's offered forearm, Usagi and he descended the tall, carpeted staircase.

When they reached the bottom, Usagi took her hand from Mamoru's and shot him an angry glare. She didn't want to leave. There was too much going on for her to just pack her things and go. Construction on official buildings to look after, laws to be written and checked. Disgruntled world nations to appease. But no matter what excuse she gave Mamoru and the senshi, no matter how good the reason, they simply crossed their arms in front of them and shook their heads. Usagi felt defeated, and she refused to tell them that her greatest fear was that she would give birth to Chibi-Usa outside the palace, outside of her home. They would just laugh or look at her with pity and tell her that it didn't matter where the baby was born, just as long as both she and Usagi were safe.

But it did matter to Usagi. She wanted to have her baby here, in her home. Crystal Tokyo was built for Chibi-Usa. She in some sentimental way represented the future of her mother's dream to Usagi. Usagi wanted to give birth to her little girl in the palace, where she belonged.

"Your majesty!" Called a light, bubbly voice. Usagi turned towards the origination and saw a bright, orange-haired head bobbing its way through the crowd.

"Oh, no." She murmured.

"What?" Mamoru's head twirled and saw what Usagi had groaned at, "Uh oh."

"I really don't feel like handling her right now. All she does is whine!" Usagi, well, whined.

Laughter erupted from Mamoru's chest, and he quickly coughed to disguise. He looked over his wife's head and tried to keep that one corner of his mouth from quirking up. He put a finger beneath her chin and tipped it up, saying, "Smile, your majesty, she's almost here."

Usagi turned and found one of her Continental Ladies right in front of her. Forcing a smile, Usagi greeted, "Why, hello Lady Penelope. How are you?"

"I am fine, and I am so glad that you are feeling better. You had us so worried." Lady Penelope smiled brilliantly and quickly before her face pinched up, "I hate to bother you with this, so soon after you were ill and all, but you really must do something about Lady Constance."

Usagi inwardly grimaced when she heard the name. She had heard several variations of this exact discussion with both Lady Penelope and Lady Constance so many times, that she was seeing red. The two ladies were constantly bickering and over the most trite things. 'Remind you of anybody?' Usagi nearly smiled when she remembered her and Rei's arguments, but that was when they were younger, these two were her age. Far too old for such silly fights. Sighing, Usagi resigned herself to hearing the story once again, "What has she done?" 'This time,' Usagi remarked with a mental sigh.

Lady Penelope's cheeks suddenly flamed and she cast her eyes towards the floor, before nervously moving them to look at her queen's again. "Umm, well it isn't exactly Lady Constance herself, but you still must talk to her. Her lands are so overrun with bandits and thieves that they've taken to piracy. It appears that Australia has nothing of worth now, so they're moving to the seas. Not one of my merchant or diplomatic ships have returned to harbor unscathed. And not just mine, all the Ladies are experiencing the same problems. All but Lady Ika of course, since she governs that godforsaken Antarctica."

"Really?" Usagi asked, her voice steady and authorative as she shot Mamoru a scathing stare before returning to Lady Penelope's problem, "I had no idea things were becoming this serious. I will approach Lady Constance with your worries so we may settle this quietly. That is, unless you and the other Ladies would like to drag this into public proceedings?"

Lady Penelope's eyes darkened momentarily, then she waved her hands frantically in front of her, "Oh, no! I wouldn't want to cause a scene. It is quite obvious that I've been the first to bring you this news, so the other Ladies might not be having as many problems with it as I. But something must be done quickly your majesty."

"I will attend to it, Lady Penelope. I think that court will be in session in a moment, so you had better go sit down." Usagi stated, taking Mamoru's arm again as the trumpets blasted and signaled that court was in order. The Ladies sat in their small thrones, positioned in a semi-circle facing Usagi and Mamoru. Their thrones, in a gesture of equal voices, closed the horseshoe level with theirs. No dais, the only high spot in the room were the stairs leading into the hall. There were three or four leading up to where they all sat now, but that was only a consideration for the crowds beyond them. Sitting in her large, ornate, crystal throne, Usagi waited patiently for the squabble to begin.

Mamoru sat in his throne, next to hers. They made a commanding force, the king and queen of Crystal Tokyo, perched on two mighty thrones above the court on a marble dais. Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion, the leaders of their new world. The second hope for Earth. Usagi swallowed silently as she swept a regal glance over the attendance. Her back was stiff and she sat tall in her seat, her neck stretched and her head held high. This is what the people wanted to see, a beautiful, self-confident queen. They could care less that the woman sitting in the throne had once been a simple mortal, just like them. That her heart pounded loudly in her ears and her palms grew moist each time she ascended the stairs to her throne. That she had once been one of them. Had protected them as Sailormoon. All they cared about is what she presented to them. A queen. Their queen. One they were proud of; bragged about. She was a graceful and purposeful ruler, a true lady in every sense of the word. The people in this room could care less about poor, pregnant Usagi. Poor Usagi, who was scared out of her wits that, at any moment, her life and the life of her unborn baby could be taken. She coughed in her throat delicately and looked up again to look eye to eye with the vultures.

The back of the room had been filled wall-to-wall with diplomats and other important people. They whispered and murmured to each other, the hum of their joined voices resonated through the room. Usagi shook her head and turned her eyes to The Continental Ladies. Seated in their thrones, which were miniatures of Usagi and Mamoru's own, they too spoke with each other quietly, hands held over their mouths as if to hide the fact they were talking. All seven continents were represented by these seven women. There was Lady Jessica from North America and South America had sent Lady Rose. The Asian representative was Lady Amiko. Africa had sent Lady Chandra, who was seated next to the infamous Lady Constance of Australia. Lady Constance sat next to a fuming Lady Penelope, who hailed from Europe.

Noticing the death glares that the two women kept shooting at each other, Usagi leaned over and whispered into Mamoru's ear, "Remind me to change their seating arrangements." In response, Mamoru smiled widely, than winked at her. Usagi fought with all her might to keep the corners of her mouth from curling up into a smile. He could be such a rascal sometimes, but an adorable one.

A sudden chill crowded into the room, forcing Usagi to look up. Standing in the entryway to the hall, was a tall and formidable woman. Her hair was long and an icy shade of green. Held in a high ponytail on her head, it fell around her like the water that spilled from a fountain. Her skin was pale, and her limbs were long. Her face held no emotion, her crystal blue eyes holding no warmth or passion, only the cold of her native land. It was the Lady Ika of Antarctica.

Usagi remembered with a shudder the day she marched into court, looking exactly the way she did standing in the doorway. She came with scores of servants and personal guards, demanding that her lands be recognized by the court of Crystal Tokyo. Her voice was cold and level, with what Usagi could swear was a hint of disgust.

"I'm sorry." Usagi had apologized, "I was not aware that there was a nation in Antarctica. Had I known, I surely would have extended an invitation."

Lady Ika's eyes had narrowed as her lips curled into a smile slowly, "I am not surprised. We are a small population, your majesty, but I have every intention of remedying that."

Usagi hadn't liked the way she had said that. She had heard an evil ulterior motive before, and Lady Ika's words had just that. The smile that curved her ruby-red lips was false, the perfect imitation of courtesy and respect. But ten months had passed since the day Lady Ika had barged into the palace and demanded recognition. Ten months and she had done nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, Lady Ika was one of her most promising Ladies. She was smart and picked things up quickly. Her diplomatic skills were extraordinary, though her people skills were, needless to say, lacking. Eventually, Usagi let down her guard and shrugged off the Lady's comments at their first meeting, thinking that the freezing climate in her homeland had something to do with her odd behavior.

Which led Usagi's thoughts back to the present, with Lady Ika standing at the door, grazing a cold and aloof stare at the crowd. Her eyes then made a slow, almost lazy scan over the Ladies until they finally alighted on Usagi. Her eyes then glinted, something that shocked Usagi. It was the first time that Lady Ika's eyes had ever given away any emotion, or thought. And the look she had right then was a daring one, challenging the queen to say something.

Usagi obliged, though she did not dignify the challenge by standing to address her, "Lady Ika, you are late."

"So it appears." Lady Ika nodded, then cocked her head ever so slightly, "Is that a problem, your majesty?"

The back of Usagi's neck burned in indignation, "Yes, Lady Ika, it is. You are here for a reason, to represent your people and continent in these talks of peace and advancement of our world into the solar system. Unless you have decided that Antarctica is going to have no involvement with such things, you are to be here, on time, for court. Is that clear?"

Lady Ika's eyes flashed, so fast Usagi barely caught it. Then, with a deep, almost mocking bow, Lady Ika apologized, "In that case, I am sorry, your majesty. It will never happen again."

The way she had said 'your majesty' made Usagi's flesh crawl and her back straighten to ramrod stiffness. Lady Ika looked directly at Usagi the entire time she walked to her throne and then settled herself in it, directly across from Usagi. Leaning her cheek into one pale hand, elbow propped on the arm of the chair, she raised her brows and issued Usagi another silent challenge. This one, Usagi didn't understand.

A man took the heavy silence between them as a signal to stand and read from the official manuscript he held in front of him, "Ladies, gentlemen, diplomats, world leaders and Ladies of the Continental Court, the court of Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion's Crystal Tokyo is now in order." A light smattering applause followed and then quickly died, "Our first matter of business is the treaty between the northern region of-"

"Hold." An authorative voice called into the room. All eyes left the official and tried to pick out who interrupted. Finally, a small round of gasps rung through the room as they realized who had done it. Mamoru stood and held out a silencing hand, looking every bit the king they thought him to be. And he was. Right at the moment, the Mamo-chan that Usagi loved dearly became King Endymion, Neo-Queen Serenity's husband and joint-ruler to the twin thrones of Crystal Tokyo. His face was drawn and his lips set in a hard line. She had seen that look so many times before, usually when he was Tuxedo Kamen, her protector. No-nonsense-Mamoru. Tried and true.

"I am sorry to interrupt these important matters of state, but her majesty, the Neo-Queen Serenity and I have an announcement we would like to share with you, our devoted court."

Mamoru held his hand out to Usagi to help her from her throne, but Usagi ignored it. Her blue eyes darkened as she bore them into his, screaming at him in her mind to just sit down and stop being so, so, Mamoru-ish. When Mamoru stared back at her with equally determined eyes, Usagi sighed internally and then turned her head to the side and did something that completely astonished. She smiled shyly and batted her lashes at him, managing to blush and adding a very convincing soft giggle when she said, "Oh, I'm too embarrassed darling. You go ahead and tell them."

Mamoru glared at her, but she simply blushed brighter and cast a subtle, but naughty wink at him. Seeing he was plainly alone in this, he cleared his throat and dropped his hand to his side. 'Geez, she's getting crazy already.' He thought as he turned back to the court to give his promised announcement.

"The Neo-Queen and I are very pleased to announce to you all that we are expecting a baby."

The entire room erupted with sounds of excitement and proclamations of joy. Usagi jumped in her seat as a parade of well-wishers pushed their way toward her throne, thrusting hands into her face and enthusiastically telling her how happy they were for her. Faces that she barely recognized kept jumping into her line of vision. Eventually, the Ladies managed to push their way through and grabbed at her hands and shoulders, squeezing fiercely, their faces beaming so brightly Usagi squinted.

"Oh, your majesty!" Lady Penelope cooed, "How fabulous! You must be ecstatic!"

"Oh, yes. Thank yo-"

"This simply takes my breath away!" Lady Constance announced; her face finding its way in front of Penelope's.

Penelope shoved Constance aside like she was an extremely annoying bug. She forced her hand into Usagi's, pushing whoever was holding it first out of the way as well, "This is too exciting! I am going to plan the most fabulous baby shower for you."

Usagi's eyes widened in shock and her mind screamed at her to get away. She didn't want these women, these strangers, to hold a baby shower for her. Her real friends were going to give her a shower, and Mamoru was supposed to be holding her hand right then. Suddenly wanting to get far away, Usagi detangled her self from the grasping arms and hands of the Ladies and quickly stood next to Mamoru, slipping her hand into his big warm one. Feeling infinitely better, she stood in tip-toe to whisper in his ear, "Don't we have something else to tell them? And hurry up, I think Penelope is calling for shower invitations as we speak!"

Mamoru nodded mutely as he lifted his hand firmly above his head, while keeping Usagi held close next to him. Seeing his signal, the official took a deep breath and barked out into the crowd, "Order! Order! All be seated!"

When the crowd began to slowly ebb away from her, Usagi felt her heart finally settle and her breathing become normal again. Seats were taken, but the electrifying sound of conversation continued until it quieted to only a few side whispers.

"Neo-Queen Serenity and I would like to thank you for your well-wishes. We are as excited as you about this blessed news and we are only thankful that we can share the birth of the heir to the Neo Millennium with all of you. The queen and I can only be thankful that our child shall grow up in this time of peace and be safe from any harm."

Usagi worried the corner of her mouth and looked up at Mamoru. He told the lie with a strong, masked face, not one sign of the truth seen in his eyes or gestures. She was suddenly glad he was telling them, for she would not be able to. Mamoru had always said she was horrible liar, and it was true. And in this instance, she knew that Mamoru told the most sorrowful lie of all. Chibi-Usa would never be safe; she would always be in danger.

From the moment she took her first breath to the day she finally went home to the future for good and most likely beyond even what any of them knew; Chibi-Usa would be in constant peril. She would become Sailor Chibi-Moon and fight along side Sailormoon and the other senshi, just as bravely, and with a fierce determination to do right by her birthright. She would eventually become the Sailormoon of the future, a future that Usagi was bent on building for her. Usagi wanted the battles to be easier for Chibi-Usa, easier than the ones she and her friends had fought, but Usagi had the sinking feeling that Chibi-Usa's would only be harder. Usagi knew that Chibi-Usa would fight for as long as she could for Earth and the Moon Kingdom. Just as Usagi had.

But nobody in the room knew that. Only she and Mamoru knew what fate held for their daughter and kingdom. And they would never tell, never whisper one word to anyone or even their little girl, the one who would be most affected. Nobody would ever know that even the great Crystal Tokyo would have its share of invasions and hardships, just like in the past.

Or did they? One person knew; they knew that no world was perfect. Someone who had started the wheels of Chibi-Usa's destiny rolling already, while she was still in Usagi's womb. But who? Who could want them dead?

"Now, to tell you the rest of our announcement." Mamoru spoke, his words breaking into Usagi's wondering. She grimaced slightly, bitterness swelling in her heart. Yes, the proclamation, the sentence Mamoru and the senshi felt was necessary to be set upon her. Self exile. The thought spoiled instantly in her mind and she felt herself falling into a black mood again.

"Don't tell us you're having twins!" A merry voice called from the crowd and the hall laughed, the volume rattling in Usagi's eardrums.

Mamoru chuckled softly and he shook his head, "No, nothing like that. Due to her majesty's poor health as of late, we have decided to take a short hiatus."

This time, when the crowd began to roar with voices, they were in panic and protest.

"She can't leave!" Lady Chandra cried, her eyes wide in horror at the thought.

"No, she can't," reiterated a random crowd member.

Several other shouts sounded off, saying things to the same effect. The noise became deafening and Usagi held her hands up to ears, trying to dampen the shrieks and howls coming at them. Her eyes desperately sought Mamoru's, and then begged him to stop them when their eyes locked. Mamoru shouted out into the crowd and waved his arms in an attempt to silence them, but no one paid any attention. Seeing that the crowd was one notch away from becoming a riot, and was fast approaching exactly that, Usagi decided to take matters into her own hands.

Throwing her arms to her sides she stood over the jumbling mass of bodies and took in a deep breath. Then she released the blood-curdling cry that in her youth had made her famous, "Enough!"

Every noise came to a sudden halt as jaws dropped wide and eyes stared in disbelief. Neo-Queen Serenity glared at them angrily, her hands balled up into tight fists at her sides. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath after the earth-shattering scream and her body was racked with sudden shakes, which she promptly forced away. Regaining her composure, she straightened and un-balled her fists. Counting to ten silently, she smoothed her hands over the fabric of her gown. After finally reaching 32, Usagi finally looked up and penetrated the room with a regal glare.

"That is much better. I think you all will find it much easier to discuss this in a more rational matter then screaming at each other like wild animals." Usagi, or rather Neo-Queen Serenity scolded. She smiled inwardly as she took in the drooping heads in front of her. They all looked like they were on their way home after being sternly reprimanded at school and now had to face their parents. Usagi herself had been in the situation enough to exactly what each one was thinking. She cleared her throat to regain their attention as she continued, "Now, I am willing to answer your questions. But one-" Usagi held up a declarative index finger, "at a time."

It was silent for a long moment, not one of the faces looking up at her knowing what to ask. They just stared with blank expressions, a couple of the Ladies blinking almost audibly. The silence became as loud as the previous noise had been and Usagi began to feel her already waning patience slipping from her quickly.

Finally, someone made a move. It was Lady Ika, who hadn't said one word since they had announced Usagi was pregnant. She had merely stayed in her seat, cheek in hand and the other placed haphazardly in her lap. But now she was standing, looking directly at Usagi, her eyes once again cold and unfeeling as she asked, "May I speak, your majesty?"

Usagi eyed her suspiciously as she noted that the 'majesty' again sounded mocking. A splinter of cold entered her at the base of her spine and Usagi suddenly wanted to say that she did not want to hear one word Lady Ika had to share with her, or anyone else. Unfortunately, she had to. Usagi had promised answers. It didn't matter that every time lady Ika was in Usagi's presence she wanted to run away. And it may have been her crazed, whacked-out hormones messing with her head, but at that moment, Usagi did not feel like running away, she felt like punching Lady Ika's cold - yet smug - face square in the nose.

Usagi sighed as she settled for answering Ika's question, "You may." 'You iceberg.' There, that felt better.

Lady Ika gracefully bowed her head, then boldly stared Usagi straight in the eyes, "Why, exactly, are you leaving, your majesty?"

"I am glad you asked, Lady Ika." Usagi began, ignoring the 'majesty' and launched into the explanation Mamoru had her memorize, "You all know that I have not been well for the past month. This has worried me and the King greatly, so we have consulted the royal physician. He believes that the mix of my stressful work and my," Usagi cringed inwardly as she said the next phrase through clenched teeth, "delicate condition, has been causing my illness. We all agree that the healthiest action to make for the baby and I would be to get some rest, away from Crystal Tokyo. King Endymion and I are going to take a short vacation, that is all." Usagi emphasized the short and shot a quick, side-ways glance at Mamoru.

Lady Ika looked at her for a few, freezing moments, than bowed her head again, "Thank you, your majesty."

'If she says your majesty one more time like THAT, I am going to-'

Usagi's angry, dark thoughts were interrupted when a voice from the crowd called out, "But the child should be born here, in Crystal Tokyo!"

"And she will. I will not be gone the entire time." Usagi quickly stated, noticing Mamoru getting up to intervene. But the quick gaze he received from the corner of her eyes stopped him in his tracks.

"You said 'She'." Lady Penelope grinned, jumping on the offered morsel, "Are you expecting the baby to be a girl?"

Usagi blushed, she hadn't meant to say that, it had just slipped, "Uh, girls run in the family." She hastily covered up.

The audience accepted this, however, another call from the crowd had them uneasy in a frightful moment.

"Who will protect us if you and the Silver Crystal are not here?"

Usagi had not been prepared for this question. She was given no answer, no speech to memorize. She looked at Mamoru helplessly and opened her mouth to speak, to say something, but the only sound that escaped was a few strangled gasps.

"We will," called a familiar voice from the back of the room. All heads turned to see the new player and found four women staring back at them, all dressed in sailor fuku. Another ripple of voices sounded off as the strange looking warriors entered the room and walked in a straight line toward the queen. As each bowed on one knee before

Usagi, the crowd's eyes grew wide with recognition.

Usagi smiled down at her friends gratefully, who then winked up at her, giving Usagi back her use of speech, "People of Crystal Tokyo, these warriors will be your true protectors. Their destinies started long ago, when King Endymion's and my own began. Sworn protectors of the royal family, and champions of the Earth and the Moon Kingdom, I shall let them introduce themselves." Usagi then gestured for her friends to rise and be recognized.

Minako was first, "I am the Beautiful Child of Love, Sailor Venus, senshi of love!"

"I am the spirit of the flame, the senshi of war, Sailor Mars!"

"I am Sailor Mercury, the warrior of ice and senshi of wisdom!"

"I harness the thunder-storm, I am Sailor Jupiter, the senshi of protection!"

The audience stared in awe, no voice escaped until Lady Constance gasped, "Can it be?"

"People of Crystal Tokyo," Usagi repeated, sweeping her hand regally over her friends' heads, "I give you my protectors, the Sailor Senshi."

There would be no quieting the room when she finished her statement. The people immediately began to move. Reporters rushed to telephones, each trying to out-scoop the other. Diplomats argued passionately at the effects the senshi would have on world relations and businessmen saw dollar signs as they thought of the huge merchandising opportunities they could use them for. All the Ladies rushed up to meet the senshi, each shaking hands with them enthusiastically. All, but one.

Lady Ika stayed seated, just as she had the last two times chaos had taken over the room. She gripped at the arm of her throne, a miniature of Neo-Queen Serenity's, so tightly that her pale knuckles managed to grow even whiter. She watched the Ladies through slit eyes and hissed quietly through her teeth. The Ladies flocked around the senshi, chattering like a bunch of monkeys in a cage. How she hated them all.

She finally allowed her grip on her stupid throne to release as she violently waved one of her servants toward her. The servant hobbled up behind her nervously and bowed his head low, his body shaking in fear. Lady Ika noted this with unashamed pleasure, then snapped her fingers in the man's face, causing him to visibly blanch, "Bring the car around, I refuse to stay in the same place as these ninnies any longer. Besides, there is no reason for me to stay any longer. I go to Dark Ice, call ahead and make sure they are ready for me."

The servant's eyes widened in horror when Ika mentioned her castle, Dark Ice. It was far from Crystal Tokyo, in the north, and it was always as cold as death there. Not many mortal men could survive in the halls of her frozen empire.

Lady Ika noticed the servants hesitation and snapped at him angrily, "Why are you just staring, you idiot! Go and do as I commanded you! I want the home fires burning when I get there." Ika smirked at the contradicting term. No fires could stay lit in Dark Ice, only one, and it was only for her use.

The servant swallowed and nodded nervously, bowing as he backed away from her, "Y-yes Milady. Whatever you say, M-Milady."

Ika grunted unattractively as she turned back around in her seat. Her gaze immediately fell back to Neo-Queen Serenity. She could almost believe that if she just stared long enough, and concentrated with all her might, she could burn a hole through the queen's pretty, little crescent moon on her pretty, little forehead.

"Sweet queen of Crystal Tokyo, you are turning out to be much more trouble than I had planned." Ika hissed and waved for another servant to bring her fur coat. Putting it on, she stroked the deep, velvety fur, than moved her hands up to finger an iced green strand of hair. She felt a cruel smirk tug at the corner of her mouth as she finished,

"You can run where ever you want, but I'll find you. I won't rest until I take back what was once mine. What rightfully belongs to me. You and your child are mine. This is where your destiny ends, and mine begins."

To Be Continued…

Whoa. I wonder who the bad guy is in this story? Any guesses? Eh eh eh? Thank you for reading! Write me! Read and write go together. Those are two of the three R's.

;o) And I'm off!

Cori!

Written in: July of 2000

Revised: Feb. 2, 2002

Note: Still write me!