18 weeks

R/R

The 16 week checkup went fine with no alarms. Ami told them that if the baby cooperated they'd be able to see for sure if it was a girl at the next appointment in two weeks. The shape of Haruka's belly now clearly said that there was a baby inside and not just food.

The two women spent nearly every free moment at the piano together working on their performance. They refined their song choices and polished their original pieces as well. King Gareth came out to sit most days to listen to them. Haruka had bought Michiru a new violin so that she would have one on each planet. This one was a wooden violin called a Stradivarius. Reputed to be the very best. Michiru had bought them a variety of supplies from staff paper, to tuning forks, pencils, even a metronome. They worked on a few original songs as well.

Sitting in the medical center two weeks later found Haruka admitting she was a little excited. They'd get to know the gender of the baby for certain today. Michiru was too.

"How have we been doing lately? Are you starting to get excited about meeting that little one yet?" Ami asked as she began the ultrasound.

"I can actually feel it moving around in there a little bit. Not really kicking or anything yet but like flips and rolling around a lot. She certainly is an active little thing." Haruka said as the other two laughed. "None of my clothes fit properly though and everything in the maternity store is just so... feminine." Haruka complained with a sour expression.

"We can always go see a seamstress if you really want too. We could have a few outfits made for you. If it will help you be more comfortable, I don't mind the expense." Michiru stated as she watched the screen.

"That's not a bad idea, Michiru is right. The more comfortable and happy you are, the better it is for baby. In fact, I have the name of the lady who made princess Usagi's coronation dress. I brought it for Michiru. She makes amazing wedding dresses. She'll come here so you don't have to worry about traveling either." Ami offered.

"Thank you Ami-chan. We'll definitely be calling about the wedding dress. I usually just wear my sweats as long as I don't have to be seen in public."

"You can not wear sweatpants to our concert next week. I forbid it." Michiru frowned severely. Ami laughed and Haruka blushed.

"Fine, good grief. I'll go find something at the store." Haruka caved looking just a little chagrined. Ami finished up the exam then.

"Everything looks great. That little girl in there is right where she should be. Her heartbeat is strong and she's very active, just like her mother. I'll see you two at the concert next week. I'm coming over to inspect the medical center there. Plus, I absolutely wouldn't miss seeing you two play for anything." Ami stated as she handed Haruka some towels to wipe the goop off her belly with.

Michiru drug Haruka down to the baby store then. She picked out some outfits that she insisted Haruka try on. For pants she came up with a pair of maternity jeans, a pair of black slacks, and a gray pair of lounge pants. Then the aqua haired maiden handed in several shirts. She ignored the blondes grumping and grumbles. There was a silk top with an empire waist that was fairly plain and the color suited her so well that Michiru insisted she buy it. They found another nice button down, this was also simple but was cut in a way that would allow Haruka to make use of it for the next several month's. She even picked up a long sleeved gray sport's team themed top for nursing. Michiru picked up three more tops and a few other things for Haruka.

"Is this really necessary?" She whined coming over to the counter and eyeing the pile of stuff on it.

"Yes. It is. You'll thank me later." Neptune smiled and then drug her lover to the baby stuff after they paid for the clothes. They picked out some bedding, a swing, and then Michiru picked out several outfits that were just too adorable not to buy. Haruka just rolled her eye's and laughed. She did pick out a small stuffed rabbit for the baby. They arranged for the baby furniture to be delivered and left each of them carrying several bags.

"Babies are exspensive." The warrior of sky complained rubbing her belly absently. Aida stepped up then and took the bags from Haruka. He handed them to another gaurd who took the one's from Michiru and darted off back to the palace. Aida and his cousin lead them to a training room where they made Haruka sit down and drink some water while he lined up a few candidates for the special gaurd unit for her to evaluate. She looked each one over with a scrutinizing gaze. She asked questions, asked for demonstrations, she even tossed out a few hypothetical scenarios. There was only two that didn't make the grade.

"Excellent work Captain Aida. Will they be ready for the concert on Neptune next week? Princess Mercury will be attending as well. I think it would be smart to have a vip section roped off with a few gaurds. I half expect that all of my young friends will show up for this." Haruka pointed out. Michiru nodded as well.

"Yes that's likely. You know how Usagi can be about things like this." She stated.

"Yeah, I know she'll have her own gaurds, but I still want one of ours in there. The rest can do as Aida-san see's fit." Haruka stated standing. After a quick trip to the restroom the girls made their way back to the palace. They were greeted by Haruka's father.

"It's good to see you getting excited about the little one." He smiled warmly.

"Michiru's doing." The young woman said wryly.

"Perhaps this will help." He lead them to the former queens suite of rooms. He threw open the door to reveal that it had been completely redone to reflect tastes of both Uranus and Neptune. The furniture from when Haruka was a baby had been set up and polished to a gleam. The rest of the furniture was her mother's furniture with new bedding and pillows. Everything in here matched and had all been custom made for the former Queen Nerissa. Haruka looked around with tears of joy streaming down her face. She threw her arms around her father's neck and Michiru was hugging him as well.

"Your mother would be over the moon with joy for you. Let's not be sad that she's not here to participate in this. Let's instead enjoy it that much more because she can't. She'd want you to be here. This room was designed to accommodate babies." The king said leading them to the alcove where a changing table was tucked away beside the most beautiful crib that either woman had ever seen. Beside the bed there was a beautiful matching bassinet as well. The crest of Uranus was featured prominently on both pieces.

He showed them where the bathroom was. It looked almost more like a lagoon than a bathroom. There was a huge sunken tub that blended in with the river stones that made up the floor. Gareth pointed out the rock pool fountain by the tub. The old king told them Nerissa had designed. It was similar to a fountain the merfolk used for bathing their young in her former home on Neptune. He recounted the story with a smile on his face. Michiru adored everything. He showed them the door that lead out to Nerissa's swimming pool, and where the path branched off to her private garden that also extended to the kings study. He even revealed a heated stone sasuna that Haruka had never seen before. They went back inside.

"It would bring me great joy to have this space once again full of life. Nerrissa would love it too. Just consider this a wedding present and a baby shower gift combined. I love you darling, so very much." Her father said as he gave her another hug.

"I love you too Dad." She whispered as she looked up at the portrait of her mother, in this one she held an infant Haruka on her lap.