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Chapter Ten: Gifts Given
Michiru turned around to see the beautiful blonde who was suppose to be helping her pain sitting in the new rocking chair watching her, her hand resting on her belly. She wrinkled her face at Haruka who was smiling softly, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Something wrong?" Haruka asked as she saw Michiru's face.
"I can't reach." Haruka smiled and pushed her body up to take the roller Michiru was offering. She kissed her on the lips before painting the top of the wall that Michiru could not reach. She could hear Michiru walking to the rocking chair.
"If you need a break, I am starving." Michiru grinned as she caught herself from sitting all the way down. She walked by Haruka running her fingers over the exposed back of her lover. A doorbell rang as Michiru made it to the doorway, Haruka raised an eyebrow as Michiru looked curiously at her. Haruka set down the roller and walked to the door, placing her hand around Michiru's waist, walking with her to the front door. They could see through the glass long blonde hair and some brown hair as well as a few others moving around. The door bell rang once more as they two women made it to the door and unlocked it.
"SURPRISE!" The girls all yelled, Michiru was taken aback as Haruka pulled the door open the rest of the way.
"What's up girls?" Haruka grinned, "What is all this?" Michiru was speechless as she looked at the five women who were all holding something.
"This is a surprise baby shower!" Makoto answered as she pushed her way in through the others and with one arm hugged Haruka. "It is so good to see you finally, welcome home!" Michiru seemed to have found herself again and moved to hug Makoto as well.
"Thank you girls so much! This is an awesome surprise, please come on in." Michiru took the cake from Makoto's one hand that was also balancing a bag. "Let's take this to the kitchen, excuse the mess, we were just painting the nursery."
"Excellent, because we also came to help, get this place looking like yours." Usagi grinned as she hugged Haruka. Ami smiled as she followed them.
"What do you mean?" Haruka asked.
"Ami said when she was here the other day that your house seemed to be lacking the personality of the two of you, but resembled the lives you two have left behind." Minako hugged Haruka tightly, the baby kicked her. "Wow," she pulled away and gently touched Haruka's belly, where the baby kicked again. "Life is incredible isn't it." Haruka nodded and Minako moved in to follow the others. Rei walked in and smiled hugging Haruka, who was a little taken aback by what all she was seeing come through the door.
"We are here to help give you what you deserve." Rei waited for Haruka to shut the door and walked beside her towards the kitchen. Michiru and Makoto were already laying out all the food as a buffet for everyone to begin serving themselves.
"Haruka, everything here was made with a sugar substitute or is sugar free, I was very careful and took extra care so you could enjoy everything." Haruka smiled.
"That is awesome, so I can even have some of that cake?" Makoto nodded as Michiru smiled lovingly at Haruka. Haruka moved to help, but all the girls interrupted,
"Haruka," Rei called her over to sit beside her. "Why don't you come over here and let me show you, what the girls and I have planned for the house." Haruka agreed, understanding that with visitors she was not allowed to lift a finger to help. She pulled the seat out next to Rei and eased herself in to it as Rei pulled out several pictures and paint chips. The girls had really gone to great lengths of planning and redesigning the house to give it a taste of Haruka and Michiru.
"Rei," Haruka held up her hand to stop the chattering woman. "Michiru and I cannot afford to do all this right now, maybe after the babies are born and we can get a little at a time done." Rei was shaking her head.
"Shut-up Haruka! This is not a matter of what you can afford, this is our gift to you two, that you will accept."
"Even if we have to force you!" Minako was strong and stern, so much so Haruka shut her mouth quickly and did not continue to argue. Michiru set a plate in front of Haruka, who accepted it gratefully.
"But why?" Michiru asked as she moved to get into the back of the rotating line along with Rei.
"Because Michiru, we have all at some point tried to live our lives apart, but for us it does not work that way." Rei placed an hand on Michiru's shoulder.
"We are a team, our destinies are forever intertwined." Usagi smiled as she took a seat across from Haruka.
"We are more than a team, we are a family and family has to look out for each other." Ami sat next to Usagi and reached out to touch Haruka's hand. "The sooner you accept it, the more enjoyable it will be." Haruka's eyes softened as she smiled. The other girls took their seats around the table.
"Thank you, all of you, so much for everything." Haruka smiled around the table as Michiru reached to touch her hand softly and she held it. She had never before thought of the girls in such a way, five years ago they were annoying little brats that had no idea of the pain the world could inflict, but now looking around she could see in each of their eyes the pain they had suffered and the sacrifices they had made. Time had slowly grew all the women and made them to be more than the brats she had talked down to.
After lunch Haruka and Michiru led the girls into the sitting room, where they disappeared before bringing in several bags. Haruka about chocked on her water as she saw all the women laden with gift bags. Rei took to sorting them as Haruka looked over at Michiru's whose eyes were wide with excitement and curiosity.
"What is all this?" Haruka asked looking around as Rei took a seat next to them with a pen and clipboard.
"These are the the baby gifts, a pile for you and a pile for Michiru."
"Girls, this is to..." Rei held up her hand to stop Michiru who was peeking into the bag closet to her.
"We are not taking no for an answer." Michiru nodded and picked up her first bag, she opened it and pulled out several different outfits of various blues.
"Thank you Ami," Michiru smiled even as she heard Haruka giggle. "What is so funny?" She asked looking at each individual outfit.
"Even the girls know you are going to have a girl." Michiru blushed as Haruka picked up her first bag, pulling out several onessies and looking them over, all had some type of racing reference to them. Haruka laughed;
"Rei, these are incredible, thank you." Rei smiled as next it was Michiru's turn. By the end of the gifts the two women had several sets of clothing, towels, bibs, diapers, wipes and many other fun toys. Makoto helped Ami carry everything up into the spare bedroom and then they peeked into the nursery. They saw the room was almost painted, but the shower had gone so long that would be the only thing getting finished today, but it was enough, the men had said they would be able to help out over the weekend. Rei picked up the roller and wet it a little more before going over the last of the wall. She smiled as Ami started picking up in the room, Usagi and Makoto were downstairs fixing dinner for the girls and cleaning up the kitchen. Minako looked through the house, taking down ideas and making a list of things to get done.
"Ami?" Rei muttered as she was finishing the room, Ami turned around from where she was putting the lid on a can of paint. "Haruka, she isn't doing as well as she appears is she?" Rei looked concerned;
"What makes you say that?" Ami asked, by law she could not discuss her patients' medical records or needs.
"Her ankles are really swollen, she kept rubbing her head and fiddling with her pump. Not to mention every time I have seen her recently she looks flush, exhausted and under weight." Ami didn't say anything, but turned back to what she was doing.
"Ami, you are so strong." Rei jumped at the sound of Haruka's voice, she had a jacket on and her arms were crossed as she leaned against the door frame. Ami looked at the tall blonde, "It's okay Ami, I clearly can't hide it much longer." Ami nodded as Haruka walked over to the rocking chair, "Rei, you can't go telling Michiru, but you are right to believe that I am not well."
"Haruka, it is none..." Haruka held up her hand to stop Rei from speaking.
"Let me speak, because if something happens I want you to take care of Michiru for me. My diabetes is on boarder of out of control, because of that my blood pressure is off the charts and it has been causing heart problems. This pregnancy is the best thing that has ever happened to me, next to knowing Michiru, I want more than anything for the baby to be healthy, but I don't know how much more my body can take." Rei looked into Haruka's eyes, they were full of regret, but more than that they were scared. Rei set down the roller as she finished and walked over to Haruka. Rei touched her hand,
"Haruka, if anyone is strong enough to fight this battle, it is you." Ami nodded.
"Thank you," she stood up and moved to help Ami take the last of the brushes and rollers downstairs.
Meanwhile Michiru was downstairs talking with Makoto and Usagi while they fixed dinner for the couple. She was still so blown away by the generosity of the girls and their thoughtfulness. Each of them was chattering away, catching up on life. Usagi of course was talking about ChibiUsa and her starting kindergarden in the fall and Mamoru's plans for them to have another child in the near future. Makoto had a set of twins, who were nearing the age of three, each with their own personalities.
"Oh Makoto, I am dying to meet them, it must be exciting." Makoto laughed as she thought hard about her two girls. "Where are all the children today?"
"Father and child bonding day, about once a month the men take the kids out all together and do something fun, giving us a chance to do something we enjoy."
"What a great idea, it sounds like so much fun." Michiru smiled, imagining Haruka taking both of their children off and giving her a chance to paint of play her violin.
"So tell Michiru, how are you holding up? Is pregnancy all you thought it would be?" Usagi asked, eyeing the beautiful aqua haired woman.
"Oh, I am loving every moment, except for those spent in the bathroom. I never imagined being able to experience this so I am soaking it in."
"Pregnancy suits you, you are glowing and carrying well. When I was four months I was huge and still growing every day." Usagi was nodding in agreement with Makoto's statement. "but what's bothering you?" Michiru sighed.
"Well Haruka really worries me, she collapsed the other day after she stood up to quickly and it really scared me. I know she is doing better now, but she is still not her normal healthy self. I've noticed some swelling in her legs and her blood pressure and sugar are both still fairly high. Ami keeps throwing around the eclampsia word. It scares me."
"I am not going to lie, eclampsia is scary, I had it in my last two weeks of pregnancy and it was scary, but it can be managed with plenty of rest." Makoto offered her reassurance. "It will not be easy taking care of her the farther along you go, and you have to take care of yourself or knowing Haruka she will do it for you, but really allow her to rest." Michiru nodded as Makoto touched her gently on the hand.
"It is why we are all here, we know and understand. We have all been in your position, do not be afraid to ask for help." Michiru smiled as she allowed Usagi to squeeze her into a hug.
"Hey now Usagi, that is my girl that you are hugging." Haruka walked in following Ami and Rei. "You don't want to see me jealous." Michiru laughed along with the others, but Haruka walked over and kissed Michiru on the lips. "Really girls, thank you for everything." They all nodded smiling.
Haruka yawned as she laid in bed, Michiru was up and getting dressed because the other girls and their husbands would be at the house soon. She grinned watching the silken skin of her beauty dress. Haruka's legs were pounding, she could tell that for her health is was going to be better if she could stay in bed, but how she could communicate that to Michiru without alarming her was bouncing around her head. She felt her breath leave her as she caught the outline of the pregnant woman. Taking in a few extra breathes could feel her baby jumping around and kicking her from the inside. Michiru noticed as she winced in pain and climbed back over the bed, where she pulled the covers off and Haruka's shirt up. Haruka was taken aback at how fast she had moved, Michiru touched her lips to Haruka's belly and whispered quietly. His kicking had stopped,
"Have you thought of any names for him?" Michiru asked as she rested her head lovingly on Haruka's swollen belly. Haruka shrugged, the trust be told she had considered a few different names, but nothing had made an impact on her. Michiru smiled as she moved to sit up. "Why don't you rest today, it has been a hard week and you are still recovering from being sick last week. The men will be here working in the other rooms, when and if they decide to do our room you can lay on the couch." Haruka was taken aback, here was a ready made excuse to stay in bed all day.
"That sounds like a great idea, why don't you stay here with me?" Michiru laughed.
"I still have a few more months before I need a day off and if I stay you will not get any rest." Michiru said as she picked up a few of the throw pillows and propped them under Haruka's swollen feet, the relief was almost immediate. Michiru covered her back up and finished getting dressed. "I'll bring you breakfast and your things up here, is there anything special you want. Haruka shook her head, still shocked from Michiru's treatment. She enjoyed her breakfast in bed with Michiru, taking her medications and starting her pump. She laughed watching Michiru flinch as she inserted the cannula.
"It really doesn't hurt." Michiru shook her head as chills went up her spine. Michiru cleared the tray and proceeded downstairs while Haruka drifted off back to sleep.
The girls arrived with their families, the plan was Ami, Usagi and Michiru would watch the children down stairs in the recreation room and pool room while the men and others set to work; making the house clean, new and very much Michiru's and Haruka's. Ami's little boy was nearing five months old, Michiru just sat in awe watching him sleep and at how small he was. Makoto's twins were wild animals, Michiru laughed watching ChibiUsa and Usagi trying to catch them and contain them, all the while Rei's son, Raven, crawled up into Michiru's arms with a book for her to read to him. Ami turned her attention to Ami before picking up the book the little boy had handed her.
"If you don't mind, can you give Haruka a check up sometime today. She had a seizure last night in bed, and she does not seem to remember, either that or she is ignoring it for my sake." Ami nodded,
"I was afraid of this, I will give her a check up, but you really need to be ready for some tougher love. Honestly I am surprised the hospital in London allowed her to leave the ER, because she should be in the hospital until her blood glucose gets under control." Michiru bit her lip and bowed her head.
"Thank you for your honesty, Ami. I have to say I have been fighting the battle on the inside, but whatever you think is best, we will do." Ami acknowledged Michiru's strength reaching over and touching her knee.