My temptation was to let this story sit for a week on chapter 20, to allow some time to soak in, however since I do have some returning and devoted readers I will give you the next chapter. Don't forget to comment.

Chapter Twenty-One: Rejoicing

Haruka sat recovering next to the small cot that held her son. The tiny little boy weighed only four pounds three ounces and was only sixteen inches long. Ami had assured her that his body was functioning well and that the tubes were temporary. Zephyrus, had finally cried opening his lungs and allowing his mothers to know he was alive. Haruka was masked and gowned as she sat in the rocking chair, reaching through the small opening in the incubator to hold her son's hand. Michiru stood quietly beside Ami as she watched the tall blonde, so tomboyish and yet so maternal with the tiny child. It had only been two hours since the little boy had made his appearance at sunrise, but already Michiru and Haruka's hearts were filled with love for the small child who was fighting for his life.
"He is small, but it appears he is strong. Once we make sure he has no ill effects from the immune suppressants and is feeding by himself, you can take him home." Michiru smiled as she looked at the woman who sat in front of her. She had seen Haruka be gentle, she had even felt Haruka's gentle touch and spirit, but never before has she seen this side of Haruka and never before had she believed the tall blonde runner from the highest of society could be this person.
"And what about Haruka?" Michiru asked.
"We will keep her here one more night to make sure her blood sugar, blood pressure and any other ill effects have worn off and we can stop medication." The women looked on as a nurse approached Haruka. "You better go in, the nurse is going to show you how to feed him." Michiru nodded and beamed. She stepped through the doors where she washed her hands, then was aided into a gown and a mask before walking through the next set of doors. Michiru hurried quietly over to where Haruka was sitting and gently rested her hand on the tall woman's shoulder to comfort her. The nurse was giving her instructions on how to hold the little boy, she paused seeing Michiru. However Haruka gently touched Michiru's hand and smiled,
"This is my wife, please continue." The young nurse nodded,
"So depending on how you would like to proceed we can get you started on feeding him." Haruka smiled as she squeezed Michiru's hand.
"I would like to try breastfeeding." The nurse nodded and walked away, returning with another rocking chair for Michiru and a few other tools. Haruka stood up with prompting and pulled off her sterile gown exposing just her hospital gown which opened now at the front. The nurse prompted her to step forward as they opened the incubator and showed Haruka how to pick up her son. Tears were rolling down Haruka's cheek as she gently picked up her son for the first time and held him. Zeph, made a small noise, that made Haruka chuckle as she was so happy. Slowly and ever so gently Haruka moved to sit in her chair. The nurse gave her several instructions and Haruka listened ever so carefully as Michiru sat right beside her watching the strong arm of her lover hold tight to the infant. She felt the tears in her eyes beginning to form as she dabbed them away. Haruka smiled at the beautiful woman sitting next to her as she whispered;
"Look, he is feeding." Michiru could not keep her joy in any longer as she radiated it around the room. The two women sat in silence as the little boy fed. When he finished the nurse walked over to check on the couple, showing Haruka how to properly hold him so he could burp. Adam walked up smiling at the two women, he had the little boys chart in his hand.
"Would you like to hold your son?" The nurse asked Michiru, Haruka looked up from the little boy's deep blue eyes that so resembled Michiru's.
"I would love too," the nurse talked Haruka and Michiru through how to pass the child to the other. Michiru felt the child's warmth as soon as he rested in her arms. Again the little boy cooed softly, at home in Michiru's arms. Haruka really was crying now, tears were staining her cheeks as she watched them. Michiru felt a gentle push on her belly, and then another as if to let their brother know they were there and they were coming. Michiru smiled as she looked down, "He is so beautiful, just like his mother." Haruka blushed as she tried to wipe her eyes, however it was no use. Adam cleared his throat to remind the couple he was standing there. Michiru turned her attention to the doctor and Haruka looked up, covering herself fully.
"His blood test and everything else have come back normal. We would like to keep you both overnight to watch and observe his breathing, if all goes well I am comfortable sending you both home." Haruka smiled, she was far from confident about taking such a tiny infant home, but Michiru touched her arm, giving her the assurance she needed. "Now as long as he is handling being held this well, the nurse can take you two over so he can have his first bath." Haruka was speechless, but Michiru moved to stand up holding the little boy,
"That would be great, where do we need to go?" She gently pressed up under Haruka's arm to make her stand up. The nurse led the couple over to where the babies and their mothers could bath them. Michiru gently handed Zeph back to Haruka who held him close. Gently, as if afraid to break the child Haruka followed the nurses instructions in taking the swaddling blanket off and then his diaper. Haruka's breath left her as she looked over the perfect tiny little body she had carried. Haruka gently touched what was left of her belly. The nurse had her gently place the small child in a seat that sat in the sink, then showed her how to feel the temperature of the water was perfect, the little boy started to whine and Haruka jumped handing the water back to the nurse.
"It's okay, you are not going to break him. This is unfamiliar to him, his desire is to be wrapped up because it feels safe." The nurse explained with patients as Haruka took the water back from her and did as she was instructed. Michiru just watched soaking in all the information, and the moment. Haruka gently lifted the child out of the sink and onto a towel where she softly dried him off, placed a diaper on him before swaddling him and picking him up again. "See there, that wasn't so difficult." The nurse encouraged Haruka who picked up her little boy and walked back to his crib. He fell asleep in her arms and being exhausted herself the nurse and Michiru both encouraged Haruka to return to her room. Reluctantly Haruka agreed and left her newborn in the capable hands of the nurses.

Haruka turned over in the bed as someone was gentle shaking her awake. She opened her eyes and smiled as she saw a loving and kind face looking down on her.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Haruka moved to push herself up in the bed and raise her bed so she could look at the woman straight on. Her mother moved around to the other side as the nurse pushed in the small cot with Haruka's son wrapped tightly and crying. Haruka shook her head, she was confused at the sight.
"The doctor just gave him the all clear, he can stay here in the room with you now." Michiru walked in behind the nurse.
"It's feeding time, mom." The nurse smiled as she lifted the little boy out of the cot and Haruka prepared herself to feed her son. She felt a little hazy as she had just woken up from one of the best sleeps she had experienced in a long time. Michiru beamed at her as she walked around and moved to climb on the bed next to Haruka.
"Thank you," Haruka smiled at the tiny nurse who made sure everything was going alright and then left. "Mom, you didn't answer my question, what are you doing here?" The older blonde smiled, but before she could answer in walked a tall man with broad shoulders and a solid jaw line. Michiru jumped from the bed where she had been cuddling with Haruka and flattened herself against the wall.
"We came to meet our grandson and make sure our daughters had everything they needed." Haruka blinked, just as shocked as Michiru was at the sight of her father. The little boy started crying, no doubt feeling his mother's intrepidation and her sudden movement. Haruka looked down and bounced him gently until continued feeding, she then pulled the sheet up over her shoulder creating a tent. "Michiru," Haruka's father turned and looked at the aqua haired beauty that was still trying her best not to be seen. "I am sorry to hear about your mother, your father is terribly troubled by the whole ordeal and truly regrets what he has done to you." Michiru swallowed. "However, my delight with you could not be higher, welcome my child to our family." He held out his arms to embrace Michiru. Haruka and her both exchanged looks, before she walked forward and hugged the tall man. "You have brought happiness to my daughter, something I never could truly give her, at least not the kind you have. Thank you," The man let go and Michiru stepped back and eased herself onto the edge of the bed.
"Dad, you better explain." Haruka was looking just as confused and shocked at Haruka. The tall man walked to the door and shut it before he returned and motioned for his wife to take the chair next to Haruka.
"Your mother has been working on me since you left. You see about eight months ago we started getting back together, but we haven't really told anyone so that the pressure would not be there. Well of course you know once your mother gets it in her head she is going to do something she does it." Michiru giggled,
"Much like Haruka here." Everyone laughed.
"Well yes, that is where she gets the stubborn streak from." Haruka's mother snorted and Haruka winked at her encouragingly. "So slowly since you left she has been working on me and I finally realized when Kaioh called me last night that I don't want to lose my daughter or see her suffer, but my deepest desire has always been to see you happy, so if this is where your happiness is, then I can accept it." Haruka beamed, she could not be more happy as she moved her free hand to squeeze Michiru's and Michiru slowly eased herself back into Haruka's arm where she had been previously.
"Welcome dad," Haruka moved to sit up a little so her father could bend over her and give her a kiss. "This is my wife, Michiru she is carrying our twin girls." Haruka's mother let out a gasp as she bounced up from her seat to hold Michiru tight in her arms.
"Michiru, it is a pleasure that you can grow our family. We look forward to getting to know you better." Michiru blushed. Haruka stuck her head under the sheet to see that Zeph was finished feeding, he was not just yet, but she smiled to herself at the ever growing family.
"So when can we meet this little prince of the early morning?" Haruka smiled, her mother had always called her the princess of the evening sky because Haruka had been born at the setting sun and under the planet Uranus, her mother of course not knowing her destiny.
"He is almost done I think," Haruka said as she adjusted the sheet from her shoulder. A knock came at the door and Michiru made to get up, however Haruka's father held up his hand to stop her and headed himself towards the door.
"Oh, I am sorry, I was looking for Haruka Tenoh?" Michiru heard Usagi's voice hesitate at the sight of the tall man.
"This is her room, please come in." The man stepped back to allow the women in the room then followed them in as well, taking his place to stand behind his wife's chair.
"Well?" Usagi smiled as she looked around the room. "He is here? He is healthy?" Haruka nodded pointing to her shoulder and arm that was covered and thanking herself fully that she was well covered.
"What did you name him?" Minako asked as she tried to sneak a peak at the baby who was feeding at his mother's breast. Haruka adjusted her sheet once more.
"Zephyrus Oberon Kaioh-Tenoh." Michiru beamed as she made the announcement to the awaiting crowd.
"Details please," Usagi urged as she was dying to catch a glimpse of the little prince.
"He weighs 4.3 pounds and is 16 inches long. He just got a clean bill of health from Ami and Adam, we are heading home in the morning." Haruka was beaming. She looked down as she felt him detach and then gently covered herself back up before dropping the sheet and moving the small baby to her shoulder to burp. There was a communal awe around the room as the little guy emerged and Haruka moved to place him on her shoulder and cupping her hand patted his back. She heard the tiny burp and lowered him into her arms. "Everyone, meet Zephyrus Oberon Kaioh-Tenoh, or Zeph for short." There were tears forming in Haruka's mother's eyes. Everyone stepped forward to see this little boy who cooed as he looked around. Haruka looked down at the little boy as well, she was still awe-struck at the tiny little boy.
"May I hold him?" Haruka smiled as she looked up at her mother.
"Of course, Michiru could you help me?" Haruka looked over at her shoulder to see Michiru sound asleep, she smiled as she turned to her mother. "Sure, do you mind walking over to the other side and taking him. She has been up with me for hours now." Haruka's mother nodded and walked around to take her grandson in her arms. Haruka moved to gently reposition Michiru in her arms, the aqua haired beauty readjusted without waking.
"Maybe we should come back?" Usagi suggested, but Haruka shook her head.
"No, it's alright. Mom, Dad, these are my friends, Usagi," the little girl bowed, "Makoto," she nodded towards the tall man. "Minako and Rei." The girls both bowed as her father returned the gesture.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all, thank you so much for taking care of my girls." Rei smiled as she looked the tall man up and down.
"What a pleasure it is to meet you sir." Rei returned the encouraging words with a hand shake. "How long will you be in town?" The tall man though about it for a moment.
"I unfortunately can only stay a week, however if the girls will have her Haruka's mother can stay longer." Haruka smiled as she looked at her mother, but her mother shook her head.
"I am afraid I can not stay longer than a week, I have things I must be getting back to." Haruka frowned. "Don't you worry sweetheart I will be back to visit, but I can not vacation forever, especially since I have to show up for the birth of the girls." Haruka nodded as she kissed the top of Michiru's head. Haruka's stomach growled as she looked at the clock;
"You guys didn't perhaps bring some food did you? I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday, unless you count the rubber they tried to feed me earlier." The girls all laughed, but Makoto jumped up from where she had been sitting on the ground.
"Let me see what I can find." She left the room as Haruka waited hungrily, "Well, all I could find out here was some of my famous chicken salad sandwiches and this cake." Haruka moved to sit up a little more as she craned her neck to see what Ami and the nurse were bringing in. The cake read, 'Congratulations Haruka and Michiru!' Haruka smiled, she knew Michiru had come through on her word. Lita started handing out plates of food as Zeph fell asleep in the arms of his Grams and the nurse took Haruka's blood sugar. The nurse showed Haruka as she nodded acknowledging that her blood sugar was fairly normal. Ami looked at the number and smiled.
"The body is a miraculous thing, it knows how to take care of itself. When women are beast feeding their need for insulin can lower, so hold off on giving her anything until after she eats, because she might not need as much as you think." The nurse nodded and set down the insulin. Rei pushed the tray with a plate of food in front of Haruka who with one arm started in on her cake first. Haruka's mother opened her mouth in protest;
"Haruka, I know we taught you better." Haruka's mouth was full of food as she looked around.
"I just carried and gave birth, I can do whatever I want." Everyone laughed including her mother.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Michiru snickered into Haruka's chest as she looked down as the goddess who was leaning against her looked up.
"You didn't sleep very long?" Haruka said smiling as Michiru moved to kiss her.
"Your mother is right, you shouldn't be talking with your mouth full." Haruka grinned. Makoto walked over and handed Michiru a plate. "I smelled food." Michiru took the plate from Makoto. "Thank you all so much." Michiru smiled as she looked around the room. Haruka swallowed her bite of food.
"Yes, Thank you all for everything." The girls all smiled back at the two women. "It is nice to have all your support, I can't thank you enough."