Chapter 10
A/N: I was just thinking of my other story Utopia, which has another, shorter take on Michiru's pregnancy. I think I like this one a lot more. I really wanted to explore H&M's characters in this one as Michiru progressed through pregnancy. I watched a lot of Charmed when writing Utopia, hehe, not sure if anyone noticed the similarities. After going over reviews, I realized some of you have read Utopia. When you guys review let me know if you have read it, just to satisfy my own curiosity.
Michiru awoke to another lazy morning. She turned to see that Haruka was no longer by her side. Using her fists, she pushed herself to an upright position. She groaned as her stiff back grumbled at her. Finally managing to stand up, Michiru looked in the mirror and her nine month pregnant belly. Her tummy felt so big that even her maternity clothes had started to fill a little snug. She looked down at her tummy. "You two better come soon; mommy doesn't want to buy any more maternity clothes." She rubbed her tummy.
Michiru quickly took a shower, did her makeup, hair and walked towards the closet. She scoured for something easy to slip into. Changing clothes was a difficult procedure these days. She picked one of her favorite maternity dresses and put it on. Her stomach rumbled. "I hear you, sweeties; mama is going to get you something to eat." Her voice sang as she eased herself down the stairs. Michiru knew that at this point, her babies could hear outside of the womb. She took every opportunity to talk and sing to them. Haruka talked to them too.
Once arriving in the kitchen, Michiru prepared herself some pancakes and they were devoured instantly. All grace had been thrown out the window since the beginning of the third trimester. Once she was finished, she placed the plates in the washer and headed back up the stairs. She knew Haruka would be back from her morning jog anytime now. Once she reached the top of the stairs, she paused in the doorway. She noted her violin case that had been lying on its side on the opposite side of the room.
She felt her children kicking inside of her. Her hand cradled her tummy as she walked towards the violin. She gingerly eased herself down to pick up the case. The violinist opened it to reveal what made her famous all those years ago. She removed it from the case and walked onto the balcony. She placed the violin near her chin and began to compose a simple melody.
The wind stirred her hair and made her dress flow about as she felt the kicking inside of her slowly calm. She continued to play for at least fifteen minutes, just enough for the once incessant kicking to stop. She smiled and gently placed the violin down on the dresser beside her, hugging her belly.
Her tranquil moment was interrupted, however, when she heard something move behind her, causing her to jump. She turned to find Haruka standing in the doorway. "Haruka, how long have you been there?" she inquired, blushing How long had she been standing there?
Haruka smiled as she walked closer to Michiru. "Long enough to see you composing a beautiful melody for our children," she said as she slipped her arms around Michiru's tummy. The blond noticed the stillness of Michiru's womb. "They're calm."
Michiru nodded, placing her arms over Haruka's. "Yes, they can hear things now; us and music," she said simply.
Haruka moved and got on her knees in front of Michiru. She gently moved Michiru's dress up and kissed the flesh of her belly. "We cannot wait for you to come into this world so we can hold, love and protect you," she whispered, hugging Michiru's waist.
Michiru smiled and ran her slender fingers through Haruka's hair. When the blond stood up, Michiru said, "Love, let's walk down the shoreline."
Haruka looked at her skeptically. "Are you sure you wouldn't be overexerting yourself?"
Michiru shook her head. "You worry too much; besides, I am due any day now. Exercising a little bit actually helps ease the birth."
Haruka sighed. "Okay, but don't get too carried away."
A few minutes later, the duet walked down to the shoreline beside their house. Haruka intertwined her fingers with Michiru as they stood beside the shore. "It's a beautiful day isn't it?" the aqua beauty smiled.
Haruka chuckled and ran her fingers through her sandy blond hair. "Hai," she responded, allowing the breeze to caress her face. When Michiru's hand slipped from hers, she turned immediately. Michiru lifted her dress and slipped her feet into the water. Haruka gasped. "Michiru, be careful!"
As Michiru moved further into the water, she turned and flashed her lover a smile she couldn't resist. "Silly Haruka, you forget I am the soldier of the ocean. I won't drown," she giggled.
Haruka placed her hands in the pocket of her coat and sweat dropped. There was no restricting Michiru from anything she wanted to do. "Okay," she said with a hint of uncertainty. She walked a little further down the path and stopped to gaze up into the sky. "Kami-sama, please let Michiru deliver safely," she whispered.
She heard a giggle from Michiru's direction and stopped to see her lover knee deep in the water. Michiru had turned and was smiling at her. Her soft aqua locks caressed her face as the sun shined over her. Haruka's heart skipped a beat as Michiru, goddess-like, was beaming at her.
Haruka couldn't help but smile back before turning to continue slowly down her path. Michiru hugged herself and for a moment, felt one with the ocean. A moment later, she felt a sudden rush between her legs, which caused her to gasp. She clutched her stomach.
Haruka, who must have had animal-like hearing, came to an abrupt stop and whirled around in Michiru's direction to see her bending over, clutching her stomach. "Michiru!" she called, running towards her. The blond felt the tug of the wind against her clothes as she made a mad dash towards her lover. Soon she felt the cold water seep through her shoes and then her slacks. She could have cared less what she looked like when she was through; all she cared about was getting to Michiru. Michiru turned towards Haruka who was beside her in an instant. "What's wrong?" the blond cried, placing her hand on Michiru's stomach.
Michiru smiled a happy, teary smile. "It's not going to be too long now, Love," she whispered.
"Huh?" Haruka looked at her quizzically.
"My water just broke."
Once the shock passed, Haruka was instantly starting to guide her out of the water. "Well then, we need to get you inside and call Ami-san," she said urgently.
As fast as they could, the couple hurried back into their house. Michiru looked at her soiled dress in dismay and decided to change into another. She didn't know how long it could be until she went into labor so she decided against slacks. Michiru scoured through her closet as she listened to Haruka on the phone with Ami. A moment later, she felt a hard contraction rip through her abdomen and her back tighten. "OH!" she cried louder than she wanted. She had been experiencing Braxton Hick's contractions for the last three months, but this one was definitely different than the others.
A moment later, she heard feet pounding up the stairs and Haruka's worried voice. The blond was instantly in the doorway with the phone in her hand. "Michiru?" Haruka's voice was traced with worry. The blond knelt to help Michiru onto the bed with her free hand.
"Are you okay?"
Michiru nodded as she pulled back a stray hair. "Hai, but I think I just had a contraction."
Haruka nodded and spoke to Ami through the phone. "Michiru's water just broke and she thinks she's having contractions," came her strained voice.
Michiru could barely hear Ami's voice through the phone as she spoke back to Haruka. She faintly heard Ami say that labor could take up to 24 hours since Michiru was a first time mother, but also that it depended on how fast the contractions came.
She watched as Haruka paced the room and then, a moment later, hung up the phone. The blond turned to Michiru and got on her knees. She held Michiru's hands in her own and gazed up into her beautiful eyes. "Listen, Love, Ami said to wait until your contractions are closer together and then we will give her a call and she'll be right over. In the meantime, she said you can relax in the birthing tub as you labor." The blond's hands were shaking as she held Michiru's.
Michiru could sense Haruka's nervousness with being new at this whole parenting and birthing process. She gave her lover's hands a reassuring squeeze. "That sounds like a wonderful idea right now; my back and feet are killing me."
Haruka nodded. "It's very important we time your contractions so we know when to call Ami," she explained.
Michiru nodded. "Okay, but can you call Setsuna and Hotaru? I'd like them to be of company to me while I am in labor. I don't want to be bored," she managed a laugh.
Haruka nodded. "Alright, I'm going to run the bath for you and I will give them a call."
Once Haruka left the room, Michiru found one of her sports bras and a pair of elastic swim shorts.
About twenty minutes later, she arrived in the room she had chosen for the birth. Michiru noticed the little thermometer that she had gotten from her baby shower floating around in the tub. The birthing tub they had decided to rent was the size of a sauna. Haruka appeared a moment later to help ease Michiru into it. Haruka rolled up the cuffs of her sleeves and placed her fingers into the water. It was warm, but too warm.
Just then, Michiru felt her lower back constrict and the familiar discomfort present in her abdomen. Michiru sucked in a breath and slowly released it. Haruka was instantly behind her, wrapping her arms around her chest to help ease Michiru through the discomfort. Once it had passed, Haruka looked down at Michiru. "How long has it been since that last contraction?"
Michru gingerly massaged her abdomen as she looked up at Haruka. "About twenty minutes or so."
Haruka nodded. Ami had instructed Haruka to give her a call when they were closer to five minutes apart. Ami had insisted that they use this time to rest and relax while preparing for the delivery. Seeing the small beads of sweat present on Michiru's forehead, Haruka picked up a small white cloth and dipped it into some cold water. Wearily, Michiru looked up at her worried lover as she placed the cool cloth over her forehead.
"Setsuna and Hotaru should be here soon. Is there anything else I can get you, Love?" Haruka asked, hating to see her wife experience such discomfort.
Michiru shook her head. "Just a glass of water would be fine."
Haruka managed a smile as she removed the cloth and kissed Michiru's forehead. "You got it. I'll be right back." And Haruka was off.
The buoyancy of the water helped ease the pressure off of Michiru's heavily pregnant body. She just couldn't imagine giving birth in a stuffy hospital. It would have been way too stressful and even if she did, she planned on having an all-natural birth.
Michiru looked down at her pregnant belly. It was so expanded that her belly button protruded outwards. She smiled and smoothed her hands over her tummy. "Please make your entrance into the world soon little ones. We've been waiting," she whispered.
It had only been about fifteen minutes before she was hit with another contraction. She stiffened and sucked in a breath until it had passed, then releasing it slowly. A moment later she could hear voices approaching the vast room in which she would be giving birth.
She smiled once she saw who her visitors were. "Setsuna, Hime-chan!"
Haruka followed shortly behind Setsuna and Hotaru.
Hotaru, who was wearing shorts, tossed her flip-flops to the side and placed her feet into the warm water next to Michiru. Setsuna gave her a warning look. "Hime-chan, the water needs to stay clean for the baby."
When Hotaru frowned, Michiru smiled. "It should be okay. Besides, I could use the company."
Setsuna nodded reluctantly before taking a seat in a beach chair next to the large tub. "How are you holding up?" she asked softly.
Michiru's face felt as if it were on fire. She turned to Hotaru and slipped a free arm around her shoulders despite her growing discomfort. She turned back to Setsuna who was sitting on the back of the beach chair, facing her. "I'm doing okay, but I'll feel much better once I have my body back," she said with a small laugh.
While Michiru talked with the older woman, Haruka gently patted her love's forehead with the dampened cloth. Only ten minutes had passed until Michiru felt another contraction. As she stiffened and groaned in pain, Hotaru frowned. She didn't like seeing her mama in such discomfort. The raven-haired girl sat next to her, despite Michiru's girth.
"How long has it been?" Haruka asked.
"Ten minutes." Michiru responded.
Haruka called over to Setsuna, "It shouldn't be too much longer then. Ami-san said to call once they are five minutes apart."
The four outers nodded in unison and Hotaru gently moved her hand over Michiru's descended belly. She placed her head there and closed her eyes. Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna smiled at the sight.
About an hour or so later, Michiru's contractions had gotten much closer and they decided to phone Ami. It wouldn't be long before Michiru was ready to push. The aqua beauty hummed as she gently rocked her pregnant body in the water in an effort to soothe the coming contractions and let her cervix get closer to becoming fully dialated.
Meanwhile, Setsuna had gathered Michiru's hair from her sweat-ridden face into a ponytail and wrapped it with a ribbon to keep it in place. She had instructed Hotaru to get out of the water as they prepared Michiru for the birthing process. Michiru had closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sound of the ocean nearby to take her mind off of the pain.
Ami arrived a short while later with a bag full of medical supplies. The young doctor was already in scrubs preparing to help birth the babies. She turned to Setsuna and Hotaru. "Will you be staying for the birth or would you prefer to wait?"
Setsuna looked to Hotaru and decided that this should be Haruka and Michiru's moment. "I think it would be best if we waited-" The garnet eyed woman was about to continue until Michiru raised her hand. Hotaru nodded excitedly and seemed slightly disappointed when Setsuna had decided against it.
"No, please stay." the violinist chided. Michiru looked over at Hotaru. "Hotaru is old enough to see her baby sisters be born," she said, wanting her oldest daughter to feel included. Michiru smiled and reached out to touch Setsuna's arm. "And you're like a sister to me--to us. You're going to be the Aunt AND Godmother to these babies and…KAMI-SAMA!" Michiru finished the end of that sentence with a grunt as she bore down.
Ami laughed. "Our expectant mother has definitely made her point; now let's get ready to deliver these babies!"
Ami had instructed Setsuna and Hotaru to get towels and blankets. Luckily, the room was well equipped for the delivery with a sink and running water nearby. Ami placed the medical supplies, should she need them, on top of the counter near the sink. Meanwhile, Haruka helped Michiru ease out of her elastic shorts. With the contractions at five minutes apart, it wouldn't be long before Michiru would start to push.
Michiru made breathing motions to help ease the pain of labor. Haruka came up from behind her wife and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Michiru gave her a deathly stare. "You did this to me, Tenou Haruka!" she had the blonde's hand in a death grip as another contraction hit.
"Eh?" the blond responded quizzically, trying not to wince at Michiru's grip on her hand. She sure hoped it wasn't fractured by the time Michiru finished with the delivery.
Once Ami witnessed Michiru experience another contraction, she was immediately beside them. "It looks as if you're almost ready to push!" she said excitedly.
Five minutes later, Setsuna and Hotaru had the room fully equipped for the newborns-to-be and had settled beside the tub. Haruka was in shorts and a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her hands gently massaged Michiru's shoulders.
Ami checked the temperature of the water once more. The water was at ninety nine degrees and Ami made sure Michiru was fully dilated. Ami held a special device in her hand as she placed it into the water and on Michiru's abdomen. She explained that this device helped monitor the baby's heart rate as it descended into the birth canal. Michiru held onto each side of the birthing tub as she rocked her hips back and forth, feeling one of the babies descend into the birth canal.
Michiru had been instructed to feel the crowning of one of the babies' heads between her legs. Ami instructed Michiru to begin pushing. Michiru took deep, ragged breaths through each push. Ami reached back in with gloved hands to feel the baby's head. It was out. She smiled at Michiru. "Your daughter's head is out, one more strong push and you'll have her in your arms!" she encouraged.
Michiru, who was leaning against Haruka, bore down as hard as she could for the final push. She felt one of the little lives she carried slip out and she fell back into Haruka's chest, taking huge gasps of air. Ami smiled. "She's out!" she cried as she quickly placed the baby on Michiru's chest. All pain and discomfort were suddenly forgotten as they held their daughter in their arms. Ami came around with a blue object with a narrow tube and placed it inside the baby's nostrils to clear the airway.
Setsuna and Hotaru leaned over the tub to get a better view of the newborn. As Hotaru reached her hand out to touch the baby, Setsuna instructed. "Hotaru, you should wash your hands first. Babies are very sensitive to germs."
Hotaru nodded and went to wash her hands. Setsuna smiled as Haruka cut the umbilical cord. A few moments later, small cries were heard from the newborn. Ami carefully wiped the vernix off the baby's skin as they held her. This little one had blond hair and ocean blue eyes. When Hotaru returned, Ami had announced that it was time to prepare for the delivery of their second baby. Michiru groaned eager to hold her two newborns in her arms, yet not anxious to repeat the birthing process again. Ami quickly washed off the first born, wrapped her in a pink, fuzzy baby blanket before handing her over to Haruka.
Haruka, smiling at her squalling offspring, placed her in Hotaru's arms. "Here you are, Onee-san." Haruka winked at her oldest daughter. Hotaru's violet eyes widened in amazement at the little life she carried in her arms. She'd never seen such a small, pink little person. She sat next to Setsuna, with the baby in her arms.
Setsuna chuckled. "She looks like you, Haruka."
Hotaru continued to stare and placed a finger near the newborn's little hand. A moment later, Hotaru felt the little hand clasp around her finger. Hotaru giggled. "Totemo kawaii!"Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna were overjoyed that Hotaru was responding well to her newly found role.
Haruka moved back to her position behind Michru who was preparing for the birth of their second child. Michiru was still fully dilated and the head of the second baby was emerging from the vaginal area. The three of them repeated the same process they had before. After a few strong pushes, her second daughter was out. The second newborn was quickly brought to Michiru's chest and they cut the cord. The second little twin had aqua hair and teal eyes.
"She's beautiful," Michiru whispered.
"Just like you," Haruka said, admiring the second newborn.
"She has your eyes though."
Haruka nodded. Once Ami had cleaned the second newborn and wrapped her up in a matching blanket, she brought the baby back to Haruka and Michiru. Hotaru surrendered the first-born to Haruka as Michiru held the other. The two newborns cried in unison.
"Exactly ten minutes apart," Ami commented, glancing at her wrist watch. "Congratulations to you both, They are beautiful. What are you going to name them?" she asked.
Michiru smiled, looking down at the child who shared her aqua hair and had Haruka's eyes. "Well, this one will be Michiko Kaiou Tenou. It means 'beautiful child,'" she smiled knowingly.
Haruka chuckled, staring at the child who resembled her in so many ways. "And this one will be Kazeko Kaiou Tenou, 'child of the wind.'"
The new parents smiled at one another. Haruka felt her heart swell with pride, not only at the sight of the children she never thought she'd have, but for her wife who carried these precious beings beneath her heart for nine months and enduring the pain of childbirth so they both could be parents. "Ashiteru." The blond whispered before placing a kiss on her wife's lips.
To be continued……
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this long awaited chapter! I had so much fun writing it! Onee-san, if you didn't already know, means "older sister." I was having trouble deciding whether or not Setsuna and Hotaru should be present for the birth, but since they are a close knit family and it was home birth, I figured they should be a part of it. Sango'scourage, I tried to incorporate your idea as much as I could! Please R&R everyone!!!