The proposal

Haruka couldn't wait for Setsuna to return. She'd been trying to figure out how to ask Michiru to marry her for days. She just kept drawing a blank. Everything she came up with seemed cheesy, or too plain, or just not personal enough.

She was sitting at the Piano playing through a few of the pieces that her mother had liked best. Her father sat in a comfortable chair nearby. Michiru had gone to the medical center to greet some of the nobles from Neptune.

"I just love watching her play." The aqua haired maiden whispered as she sank into the chair beside king Gareth.

"Yes, she's so much like her mother." He murmured softly.

"I think she's a lot like you."

"That is what makes her so unique. She is like us both." A few hours later Haruka's hands stilled on the keys. Her father rose from his chair. "Lovely playing my darling. Let's do this again in a few days. I'll see you at dinner in the main hall?"

"Yes father, of course." Haruka stood and pulled Michiru to her feet. "Have your people arrived all right?"

"Yes, the doctor is going over their cases now. Thankfully we haven't had too many illnesses recently." Michiru told her as she wrapped her arms around Haruka's waist.

"I want to show you my mother's pool. I remember how much you love doing your laps." Haruka chuckled. She lead Michiru out a door that lead onto a flagstone patio. The patio lead down to a pool that was cleverly landscaped and built to look like a natural pond. There were a few scented grasses growing around the one end of the pool and a small trampoline hidden in the ground that worked as a diving board. There was a variety of seating areas, a small bar, a table and chairs. All cushioned in her mother's favorite colors. There were solar lanters scattered around that came on at night and cast a romantic glow about. Michiru was entranced, so much so that she stripped right down and dove in right that moment. Haruka just laughed and followed her lead.

Setsuna arrived 4 days later. She found Michiru doing laps in the queens pool.

"I'm surprised Haruka isn't out here with you."

"Oh! Setsu! You startled me." Michiru laughed as she climbed out of the pool. "She's not feeling well today. She's in her room."

"I'll go check on her." Setsu offered.

"I'll join you in a little while." The blue haired girl called as she dove back into the pool.

Setsuna ran through the palace to Haruka's quarters. She sat in her favorite chair on the balcony with a book in her hands. Though she'd dozed off. Pluto gently shook her shoulder. Haruka came awake with a start and a world shaking on her fingers.

"Good lord Pluto, don't scare me like that." The other woman yawned and took the energy back into herself. She then told Setsuna all about her father giving her the ring. Setsu's eye's sparkled with happiness. "You have to help me figure out how to ask her. I can't come up with anything good enough."

"Well she's absolutely smitten with your mother's pool. I hear the view from out there is spectacular during a full moon. When's the next moon?" Setsuna asked.

"I think it's in three day's. I'd have to double check though."

"That's great, so why don't you have her favorite meal fixed and set up out there, we'll put little floating lights in the pool, we can put some candles around out there too. You should get her some flowers, does she have a favorite?"

"White roses"

"There you go, we'll scatter those in the pool too and everywhere. I'll help get everything ready. This is going to be fun!"

Three days later Haruka and Setsuna could hardly contain themselves. They'd gotten Ami to keep Michiru busy while they got everything set up out by her mother's pool. Haruka stood next to the table wearing an outfit Michiru had picked up for her. There was black slacks and a longer white dress shirt that had a fancy black filigree pattern on the collar and cuffs. It had a matching suit jacket but it was too warm to wear it. Setsuna lit the last candle and looked around.

"This is beautiful. Do you have the ring?"

"Yep. This is perfect Setsuna. I can't thank you enough for helping me with this."

"No problem. Good luck! Not that you need it." She dashed into the palace to meet up with King Gareth. They planned on watching covertly from a window in Nerissa's parlour. The room had been sealed off since her death but It was the perfect vantage point to see from. They just had to keep out of sight behind the curtains and leave the room dark.

Haruka went to stand just inside the door to meet Michiru.

"You look very handsome tonight." Michiru smiled warmly as she saw her lover.

"My love you are breathtaking as always." Haruka greeted her with a kiss before leading her out to the terrace.

"Oh how lovely!" Michiru exclaimed with delight when she saw everything. Haruka pulled out the chair for Michiru to sit in. "Sashimi! My favorite! Oh but Haruka you shouldn't be eating this right now."

"Don't worry, I have baked salmon." Michiru stole a bite of Haruka's salmon and the blonde just smiled and fed her a bite of the sashimi. Haruka took it real easy on her fish watching to see how close to being done Michiru was.

"Michiru, there's something that I've been wanting to talk to you about. You see, I don't think I can remember a time in my life when you weren't in it. You have always been my best friend." Haruka took Michiru's hand into her own and dropped down to one knee beside the pool. "Michiru, you are a part of me. You and I fit together like two halves of a whole. In you I know that I have found a true soulmate." She pulled out the ring box and held it open. "Please would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes! A thousand times yes!" The aqua haired maiden screamed. Her hand was shaking as Haruka slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. "Oh Haruka, I remember this ring. Are you sure you.." The senshie of sky stood up and stilled the words with a kiss.

"Yes, I'm sure. This ring belongs to my soulmate. I look forward to seeing it on your finger every day for the rest of my life." She smiled and glanced toward the nearest window. She knew they were there watching and she didn't mind as her heart was overflowing with joy. She simply lead Michiru inside to their room.

"That's my girl!" Gareth exclaimed with a joyful whoop as the two women disappeared from the terrace. Setsuna escorted the old king to his quarters before heading to her own room.