Chapter Twenty-Five: Help

Michiru sat in the rocking chair holding Zephyrus while Haruka sat quietly at the piano. She was playing with all her heart trying to feed Michiru's need for music and allow her to rest. Michiru knew it was wearing on Haruka to be taking care of her and Zephyrus, espcially since she herself had not healed. Haruka coughed into her elbow, missing the next notes of the music. She coughed a little harder before reaching around for her water that was sitting on the coffee table. Michiru could see her face was bright red from coughing and she sat up a little straighter, regretting it right away as Zeph bellowed his displeasure that the music had ended. Haruka moved to stand up, holding her hand up to let Michiru know she would be right back. She trotted off towards the bathroom as Michiru tried her best to sooth the little child. Michiru moved a little faster in the rocking chair trying to sooth the little guy. Haruka walked back into the room smiling, she was wearing a different pair of shorts and Michiru laughed lightly. Haruka stuck out her toungue as she walked over to pick up the crying boy to walk over to the couch where she dropped down.
"Are you sick?" Michiru asked, Haruka shook her head.
"Residual from my diabtese being out of whack for so long. Although wetting my pants I hope will stop soon." Michiru laughed as she watched Haruka lift her shirt so she could feed the crying boy. Haruka smiled as she looked up at Michiru who was watching her lovingly. "What are you thinking about?"
"I can hardly wait to meet our girls." She stroked her belly looking down.
"You better keep waiting, no more early surprises in this house." Michiru grinned.
"I envy you Haruka." Michiru smiled as she pushed herself up from her chair and moved to sit next to Haruka on the couch. Haruka moved her free arm to wrap around Michiru's shoulders.
"All to soon, you will be wishing for the old days, be patient and enjoy what we have right now." Michiru smiled, then moved to rest her head on Haruka's lap. Haruka ran her hands through Michiru's hair lovingly.
"I finished the milk off last night, and the fridge is starting to look a little empty." Haruka nodded, she had noticed the empty frigde this morning when she went to make her breakfast.
"I started a list this morning, I was thinking after I got Zephyrus down for a nap I would head to the grocery store." Michiru smiled deviously.
"You mean I can't go?" Haruka shook her head, "Well then let me see the list, I might have something to add." Haruka moved her free arm to reach for a pad and pen, bust stopped before handing it to Michiru.
"Is this going to be the list of a pregnant woman, do I need to go balance the budget again?" Michiru reached up and took the pen and paper from Haruka.
"You mean we still have a budget, my parents left me everything." Haruka laughed.
"We have a son, and you are expecting twins, yes there is a budget, a loose one, but a budget all the same. Not to mention no one knows when either of us will be able to work again." Michiru smiled, she knew Haruka was handling the finaces properly and that there was no one better to take care of her. Michiru started writing her list and was enjoying the silence that the house was sharing. Haruka jumped slightly as she heard the front door unlock and open.
"Hello!" Haruka smiled as she moved to reposition herself and cover her shoulder.
"We are in here Hotaru, come on in." Hotaru smiled as she rounded the corner of the room. Michiru turned her head to see the smiling little girl.
"What are you doing here?" Michiru asked as she leaned up to see the child properly, before deciding that sitting up was a little to much.
"Haruka-papa, gave Setsuna-mama a key and said we could come by any time we wanted." Haruka nodded her consent and motioned for Hotaru to enter the rest of the room. Hotaru dropped her bag and moved to hug Michiru who was still laying on the couch. Hotaru then sat at the edge of the couch next to Michiru. "Can I?" Hotaru asked excitedly.
"Of course, but if you get them stirred up, you have to give me a foot rub." Hotaru laughed as she put her hand on her mother's belly. The twins both kicked hard, Michiru pushed her hand into her side. Hotaru moved to rest her small head on top of Michiru's belly and she felt the two little girls gently push against her belly. There was a few moments of silence as Haruka reached over and rustled Hotaru's hair, then placed her hand on Michiru's belly. The teenager smiled as she finally sat up, still resting her hand on Michiru's belly feeling the movements. "So you still haven't told us, what brings you here today, on a school night?" Hotaru smiled.
"I didn't really get to see you this weekend, I miss you two, you have been gone for so long." Haruka frowned, she could hear the lostness in Hotaru's voice.
"Oh honey, I am so sorry." Michiru reached up and gently stroked her cheek.
"No," Haruka's voice sounded strained. "I am sorry, Hotaru, it is my fault that we had to leave you, and I have regretted it all these years. I hope you can forgive me for my stupidity and selfishness." Hotaru looked at Haruka, she had never known Haruka to talk like this, with this much emotion and conviction.
"Papa, I never blamed you, either of you. These past five years have been wonderful, my father has been good to me. Rei and Setsuna have spoiled me with all there love, but it still hasn't stopped me from missing you. However, the past is the past, I am just so happy to see you both here and happy today." Haruka tried to smile, she knew she had wronged Hotaru just as much as she had wronged Michiru, but the young child she had left behind at the age of ten was now a bright young woman. "So what are we going to do today?" Hotaru looked at the two women beaming. Haruka felt Zeph finish his midday meal, she slipped her free hand under his head and her other arm back into her shirt before removing the blanket. Haruka then moved the little guy to her shoulder to burp him. Hotaru looked longingly at the tiny boy that was her brother. "Can I hold him again?" Haruka nodded as she heard the air escape.
"Why don't you move to the rocking chair? Let's see if you can get him to fall asleep." Hotaru smiled as she did what she was told. Haruka gently walked over and handed Hotaru her tiny son. Michiru who had lost her pillow looked as if she was going to pout, but Haruka returned to take a seat. "My plan for the rest of the afternoon is to go grocery shopping." Hotaru laughed, she remembered how much Haruka hated grocery shopping, but something was very different about her now.
"Are you excited about that?" Haruka shrugged as she ran her hands through Michiru's hair.
"Does it matter? Michiru can't go anywhere, and there is no one else living here." Michiru and Hotaru both grinned. "Unless you know something I don't?" Haruka raised her eyebrow looking between the two when the doorbell rang. Haruka grinned, as she pushed herself up and left the room to answer the door. Rei, her son Raven and Setsuna were all standing at the door smiling. Setsuna was holding three bags, while Rei held one in each hand.
"I'm sorry, the bed and breakfast is not curretnly open, you can try down the street." Haruka tried to keep a straight face as she pushed the door shut, but Rei caught it with her hand.
"We are not looking for rest and relaxation, but we hear that some of our dear friends need some help. Now if you could point us to the spare bedrooms, we know this place is huge." Haruka grinned as she invited the women in.
"So seriously, who invited you to stay here?" Michiru quietly peered around the corner of the living room hallway. Haruka raised her eyebrow again, "Really? You called them?" Michiru walked out stroking her stomach.
"We can't do this alone Haruka, we need help, either your mother returns or Setsuna and Rei." Haruka smiled as the other two women stood back away from the tense moment.
"Thank you girls so much, I don't think I could handle to much more of my mother." Haruka threw her arms around both of the women, who smiled hugging her tight. "Let me show you to your rooms. Haruka moved to take one of Setsuna's bags, but caught Rei's eye. "Just kidding," Setsuna laughed as she picked up her bags and made to follow Haruka.
"We should hurry, there are groceries in the car."
"Hotaru said she would meet us here, she can start unloading the groceries." Rei suggested as Raven climbed clumbsly behind them.

Once the two women were settled in and all the groceries were put away, all the women congergated in the kitchen while Rei and Setsuna set to work at making dinner. Haruka took a sip of water while she sat at the bar, Michiru was sitting at the breakfast table next to Hotaru who was showing her pictures of her summer. Haruka shook her head as she realized she was starting to feel a little weak. She reached for her blood draw kit, she pricked her finger and placed her blood on the strip, she did a double take at the number. Michiru, who had noticed Haruka testing looked at her curiously.
"Is is high? I told you that midnight snack last night was a bad idea." Haruka shook her head.
"No, 54 that is really low seeing as I ate just a few hours ago. Rei will you look up in that cabinet and behind the peanut butter Michiru has a twix hidden." Rei laughed as she saw Michiru's face flicker. She turned to pull down the twix bar and hand it to Haruka who was punching in her blood sugar and then her carb count.
"Has it been high recently?" Rei asked, she still didn't fully understand Haruka's illness, just that Haruka had lived with it her entire life.
"Not since Zephyrus was born, ever since I started breastfeeding it seems like I need less insulin, the problem being I can't seem to figure out the new ratio."
"Well lower is better than higher right?" Hotaru asked.
"Not if you have to live with Haruka." Michiru interjected, everyone laughed as Haruka stuck out her lip.
"Low is not the worst thing ever, except it zaps my energy and as my loving wife who is such a giver has pointed out makes me cranky. However it is nice to feel normal." Haruka took a bite of the candy bar savoring the flavor.
"Let's face it Haruka, none of us know what normal is." Haruka laughed.
"Well tell me, since we are on that subject, what happened two nights ago? You called and told me not to come, but I never heard anything more about it." Hotaru looked up and exchanged a worried look with Setsuna, "Is there a new enemy?" Michiru was looking up as well, she could tell by the look on all the women's faces something was serious. "Damit!" Haruka banged her fist, "I am still a senshi."
"We are not completely sure, you know how there is a fluke in the system every now and then. You two were not needed, we defeated the monster and there were no clues about who sent it or where it might have come from. We will just have to wait and see if another one emerges."
"It's a good thing you didn't come, just protecting Ami was hard enough." Hotaru saw her papa's face change,
"And what makes you think I cannot fight?" Haruka stood up defensively.
"Because weather you admit it or not, you are not 100% and entertaining the idea of fighting in either of your conditions is ridiculous." Hotaru stood up to face the tall beautiful blonde who she loved dearly, she was ready for a fight because she cared for the two women who had raised her, however she barely got the words out when she noticed Setsuna and Rei moving towards the falling woman. Setsuna slid on the hardwood floor and caught Haruka just before she hit the floor. Michiru moved to stand up, but Setsuna held her hand up so as to calm her.
"She is fine, she just fainted." Setsuna gently laid the tall woman down on the ground. "She probably stood up to quickly, that's all. Hotaru get me a rag and wet it." Hotaru did as she was told after making sure that Michiru had eased herself back into her chair. Rei walked around to bend over Haruka who was slowly coming around.
"Hi cutie," Rei smiled as she brushed aside Haruka's sweaty hair and took the rag from Hotaru. Haruka nodded as she took a deep breath. "Do you know where you are?" Haruka nodded,
"At home on the floor, Hotaru and I were fighting and I stood up to quickly." Haruka moved to push herself up on her elbows.
"Take it easy," Rei and Setsun both placed there hands under her shoulders and heaved her up to a standing position, before Hotaru scooted a chair underneath Haruka so she could sit down.
"Thanks," Haruka mumbled. "I guess you are right small fry, I am in no condition to be fighting." Hotaru grinned. "Will you get me some water?" Hotaru nodded and left the circle of concerned women. Haruka rubbed her head and turned to look at Michiru who was leaning forward looking concerned. "I'm okay sweetie." Michiru smiled and leaned back a little in her seat. Hotaru handed Haruka a glass of water which she took gratefully. After assuring themselves that Haruka was alright Hotaru returned to her seat next to Michiru and Setsuna returned to what she had been doing in the kitchen. Making sure no one was watching Rei leaned forward and whispered into Haruka's ear.
"I saw you grab your heart before you collapsed. You need to talk to Ami, if the damage to your heart is that bad." Haruka's eyes opened wide, she had been trying to hide the ill effects she was suffering from allowing her diabetes run rampent for almost five years. Haruka took another sip of water, as Rei stood up and moved to hand Haruka the rest of her candy bar, while she returned to cooking dinner. Haruka turned and moved her chair closer to the table so she could prop her arm against it and set down her water glass. Michiru reached out across the table, Haruka's hand met her half-way to hold it.
"You feeling alright baby?" Michiru wisphered.
"I just stood up to fast, that's all." Michiru raised her eyebrow, "Especially with my blood sugar being low, I promise, I am fine." Michiru nodded smiling lovingly.