******************
From the Beginning - Round Two
Title: Some time off
Chapter: 8
Author: Bethany ^_^
Editor: Meara
******************
~Approx. four months later~
"Ohhhhhh, that's cold!" Usagi squealed as the doctor rubbed her
stomach with a clear cream. She squeezed Mamoru's hand, gritting her teeth.
"Calm down sweetheart," Mamoru cooed, more for his own benefit, so
she would let go of the death grip on his hand.
The doctor braced himself before placing the cold surface of the
equipment on her stomach to do the ultrasound. "This will be cold, but
only for a second, ne?"
"Mmm Hmm," Usagi said, cringing despite herself.
He placed it on her stomach and surprisingly, she didn't seem to
think that was so cold. A few minutes later Mamoru and Usagi watched in
wonder at the black and white screen showing the life inside her. The
doctor suddenly got a confused look on his face.
Mamoru was the first to notice the changed pace. "Doctor, is
everything alright?"
The doctor smiled warmly, relaxing his features. "Do you see this?"
he asked the couple, pointing to the screen.
Usagi studied it, then noticed what he was talking about. "What is
that?"
He smiled widely, "Your going to have twins."
*THUNK!*
"Mamo-chan? Mamo-chan!! Are you alright?" Usagi asked frantically,
watching her husband's passed out form on the floor. Oh yeah Usagi girl,
she thought to herself happily, you've got your hands full and you haven't
even given birth yet.' She sighed heavily while laughing.
******
"Mamo-chan?!" Usagi cried, shaking her husband.
Nothing.
Haruka and Makoto had managed to carry him to the car and help
Usagi get him in the apartment.
Chibi-Usa slapped a hand to her forehead. "Geez, I haven't seen
dad this stressed out since..." after a reprimanding look from Setsuna,
Chibi-Usa refrained from telling her mother about her other sibling.
"Gomen ne Setsuna-chan."
Setsuna smiled, "Don't worry child, he was worse when you were born."
Both of them shared a laugh that Usagi missed due to trying to wake Mamoru up.
"Geez Mamo-chan! I'm five months pregnant, I can't be sitting here
trying to wake you up!" she screamed in frustration. "I'm hungry!" she
declared, leaving him on the couch in a beeline for the kitchen.
A few moments later she emerged with a jar of pickles and spoon of
peanut butter.
Mamoru had managed to come to, only to gawk in disgust at what his
wife was eating. "Usako, how can you *eat* that?"
"Nani?" she looked up, then back at the pickle in her hand. She
walked over toward him with a devilish grin. "Wanna bite Mamo-chan?" she
giggled, shoving the peanut butter covered pickle in his face.
Haruka, Makoto, Setsuna, Chibi-Usa and Minako busted out laughing as
Mamoru ran across the apartment in fear, hiding behind Chibi-Usa.
Usagi pouted, her lower lip quivering. "You think I'm fat, don't you?"
"Huh?" was all Mamoru could say. One minute she happy, the next she's
crying. Am I going to live through the next four months? Knowing this routine
by heart now, he walked back over to her and wrapped her in his arms. "Of
course not Usako. You're beautiful and pregnant. But sweetheart, I just don't
have a taste for pickles, you know that." He put on his sweetest voice possible
and nibbled on her ear lope. That got her every time.
She had the grace to blush due to the five sets of eyes staring at her.
"I love you Mamo-chan," she sang out, obviously happy with herself again.
"I love you," he whispered back, still kissing on her ear for good measure.
Knowing if he stopped too soon, she'd revert back to God only knew what mood.
She sighed, content for the moment, and rubbed her stomach. "I'm going to
take a nap, will you get some Chinese for dinner sweetie?"
He bowed gracefully in front of her, taking her hand to his lips. "Of
course my princess. Your wish is my command."
She giggled, and floated out of the room. Mamoru shook his head. "If I
have to eat Chinese one more time this week, I'm going to go live there."
"CHIBA MAMORU, I HEARD THAT!" came the scream from the other room.
Everyone, save Mamoru, started laughing. He sighed, forced to face
his fate and started toward the bedroom to confront the worst of enemies...
...a pregnant Usako.
All the senshi in the room stood to attention, hands over their
hearts, humming the funeral march.
"Dumbbbbb da dumbbbb, da da dumbbbb," Haruka managed, and evil smile
on her face.
Mamoru turned shortly. "Yeah, yeah. So that was dumb, don't rub it in!"
he yelled, opening the bedroom door, taking a deep breath and preparing for
the worst.
Minako set out in a fit of giggles, "Remind me to bring my video
camera over here one day."
"Why?" Chibi-Usa asked innocently.
Minako was joined by Haruka, "So I can win 10,000 dollars on
Japan's Funniest Videos!" (AN: okay, I don't know if they have that,
but it seemed like a good idea! ^_^)
*****
Mamoru sleepily turned over, his arms searching for Usagi. When he
couldn't find her familiar form, his eyes snapped open. "Usako?"
Silence greeted him. "Usako?"
Again nothing. Worried now, he ran out of the room. She wasn't in
the kitchen, the bathroom, the living room or the balcony. "USAKO?!??"
Chibi-Usa stumbled into the room, rubbing her eyes. "Dad, what's
wrong?"
"Where's your mother?" he asked frantically.
Chibi-Usa snapped her attention out of the remainder of her dreams,
and began running through the apartment. "Mom? Mom!"
"Usako!" screamed Mamoru at the same time.
Desperate now, Mamoru ran out into the hallway. Emptiness greeted
him. "Usako?!"
With nothing else to do, he got out her communicator. Hitting the
'all call' repeatedly.
The first senshi to answer was Rei. "Mamoru-kun, what's wrong?"
"Usako, I can't find her!" he yelled frantically.
"NANI?!? How long has she been gone?" came another voice of a now
wide awake Ami.
He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "I don't know. I
woke up and she wasn't in bed."
"Have you searched the apartment?" Minako asked, now fully aware
of the situation.
"YES, I can't find her, damn it! Where is she?"
Another voice came across the communicator. "Mamoru-san, calm down.
I know where she is."
Mamoru stopped short in his hysteria. "Mako-chan?"
"Hai, she is over here."
Relief ran through Mamoru's veins. Finally he caught hold of his
breath. "Why?"
"Why don't you all come over here, it's nothing serious, but
Usagi-chan could really use her friends support right about now, ne?"
"Sou," came seven voices from all directions. Mamoru stayed on after
everyone else sighed off. "Mako-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell her I love her?"
Makoto smiled, "Sure thing Mamoru-kun."
Mamoru was the last to show up cause they had to take the bus.
Usagi had taken the car and he wasn't going to let Chibi-Usa ride on
his motorcycle.
He entered the now full of female senshi apartment. "Mamo-chan!"
Usagi cried out, coming up to him and wrapping her arms around him.
He allowed himself the comfort of knowing she was alright before
starting in on how irresponsible she had been for leaving without saying
a word. Before he had the chance, however, Minako stopped him. "Usagi-
chan, may I have a moment with Mamoru?"
Usagi smiled, "Sure."
Mamoru followed Minako to the balcony. "Nani?" he asked, just now
really letting himself calm down.
"I know your first thought, or maybe your second, was to yell at
her for leaving without saying anything. But I would advise against it,"
she started in a very unlike Minako serious tone.
Mamoru looked up at the crescent moon. "Why?" he asked finally.
"She needs encouragement, and a lot of it. Telling her anything but
how good she is right now, is going to make her feel worse." Minako
swallowed here. "According to Makoto, Usagi had a dream that she was an
awful parent and you took the twins and left with them. She was shaken
up badly and for some reason was afraid to tell you. So she came here."
Mamoru felt his anger die down, along with his fears. So she
feels the same way? That we aren't cut out for being parents... or
better yet, I'M not cut out.
He sighed long and hard. "I know how she feels."
"Doesn't every parent?" Minako said with far more wisdom than
Mamoru ever remembered hearing from her. "Babies don't come with manuals
or how-to guides. No parent knows what they are doing. But I can tell you
that you and Usagi practically raised Chibi-Usa for the better part of her
childhood and look how wonderful she is. You're ready, believe me. Well,
as ready as your ever going to be."
Mamoru turned and hugged Minako briefly. "Minako-chan, arigato.
Really, you've helped a lot."
She smiled, "Anything for my friends, now," she began on a lighter
note, "Let's go before Usagi eats Makoto out of house and home, and
convince her of the same thing."
"Sou."
Usagi took another egg roll from the plate on the table and sighed.
"I'm so scared minna, what if I can't do this? What if that dream is real?"
It took all Rei had not to roll her eyes, just when they thought
they had gotten through to her, she started in again. "Usagi, you're ready.
Look, no one is ever completely ready for children, but you'll do a good job,
don't worry." She smiled, giving her a friendly hug.
Mamoru came back in the apartment and sat down next to Usagi,
completely calm and feeling a lot better about his own fears also. "Usako,
don't worry, ne?"
Before realizing that he hadn't said enough, she started crying again.
"I just want them to grow up healthy and happy, but what if I can't do it!"
Mamoru started to comfort her when a small hand reached out and took
his. He looked up to see Chibi-Usa mouthing something. Finally he figured
out she was saying, "Give me a chance."
Mamoru smiled and moved over to allow Chibi-Usa in-between them.
The small rabbit somehow managed to sit on her mothers lap even
with her very swollen tummy. "Mom?"
"Yes sweetheart?" Usagi said without even thinking about what she
was doing. Hearing Chibi-Usa call her mom was common as hearing Mamoru
call her Usako.
Chibi-Usa held her hand. "You are a wonderful mother to me, and
you'll do a good job with the twins. Believe me, I know," she added,
winking.
Usagi found comfort in that fact. Yes, Chibi-Usa was a wonderful
child - a little spoiled maybe, but she reasoned that was Mamoru's fault,
not hers. And of course she would know if the twins were happy and
healthy, she was their younger sister. Usagi smiled brightly and hugged
her. "Arigato Small Lady, but you know what?"
"Nani?"
"You'll always be my first baby," she said in a whisper.
Chibi-Usa smiled, remembering how her mother in the future would
often say that.
All the inner senshi, cats and Mamoru watched this scene with a
faint smile.
"Now that that is straight," Ami said, "It is four o'clock in the
morning, and I'm sleepy."
Usagi pouted out her lower lip. "But guys, I'm hungry!"
The room erupted in laughter. Makoto brought in some rice cakes.
"Why don't all of you each find a blanket and stay here the rest of the
night? We haven't had a good sleep over since we were all staying at
Usagi's."
"Speaking of which," Luna began and everyone groaned, here it came;
another senshi meeting.
Suddenly a pillow came flying at Luna. "It's too early for a meeting!"
Minako giggled, another pillow in her hand incase Luna insisted.
"Okay, but ten o'clock, Rei's temple. It's scaring me how quiet it
has been for the last six months. Just simple youma attacks? Something's
up and we need to be ready."
To everyone's surprise, Usagi agreed. "Yes, and as the temporary
leader of the sailor senshi, Chibi-Usa needs some training before another
major attack."
Luna smiled proudly. In all of Usagi's nineteen years, she never
thought she would see her say that. Her proud moment was not to last. "But
only until the twins are born, then it's back under me. But first, I want
popcorn!"
Luna sighed, "Always thinking about her stomach."
For once, Mamoru took the defensive, "Wait a second, Usako is
eating for three now."
"Wasn't she always?" Haruka laughed.
A rice cake flew across the room, hitting Haruka in the face. She
opened her eyes in surprise, but Usako was busying herself with something
that only she could see on Mamoru's shirt.
******
An army of dark soldiers stood against the wall, waiting for Beryl's
inspection. She had been waiting millenniums for this moment. She walked
slowly down the line, closely checking each individual.
"You - no good. Go back to training." She pointed to a youma,
holding her nose up in disgust, "How dare you call yourself a soldier
worthy enough to work under me."
"Yes my queen," he said, everyone else down the line straighten
their spines.
Again she walked down the line. Satisfied that everyone presented
was good enough to at least wear the sailor senshi down, she began her
speech.
"You are here today because you have chosen the dark path. You have
chosen the winning side. We are preparing to start a war. All of you will
not come back alive, but those who do will be pleasantly rewarded for your
efforts when I rule the universe. Until then you are to train. We will defeat
them."
"Yes, Queen Beryl," the group said, bowing.
*****
"Come on Small Lady, I know you can do this, now concentrate!"
Usagi encouraged, watching Chibi-Usa try to use the princess halacation
wand.
Mamoru watched worriedly from the side. "She's eight months
pregnant, she don't need to be out there, she needs to let everyone
else train Chibi-Usa," he mumbled for the twenty time in the last half
hour.
Haruka smiled. "She knows what she's doing, don't worry."
"That's what worries me." He watched as Chibi-Usa finally got
the sequence right and gathered the energy to the wand.
"Now put it down, don't shout the activation words yet, we don't
need you destroying Rei's temple," Usagi said gently, obviously tired.
Haruka sighed, "I'm going to go train."
Mamoru kept his gaze straight ahead, watching with worry as Usagi
sat down and rubbed her lower back.
Usagi flinched as one of the babies kicked her stomach. "Stop that
you two, your gonna bruise the inside of my stomach," she told them
gently. There was a deep chuckled behind her and she turned to see Mamoru
watching her with glassy eyes.
"Nani?"
"You talk to them like they can hear you," he informed her, sitting
down and starting to massage her back and shoulders.
"They can hear me, they stopped kicking."
He laughed again. "Wonder if they'll listen that good once they
are born?"
Usagi didn't answer him right away. A tightening pain shot across
her back. But just as quickly it was gone. She dismissed it as back
aches and smiled at Mamoru. "I doubt it."
"Come on Mars! You can aim better than that!" Venus yelled,
dodging her fire sniper again.
Mercury was training with Neptune not far from where Venus and
Mars were fighting. "Chabon Spray!"
"MERCURY!!" they all yelled.
"No since in training now, I can't see my hand in front of my
face!" Jupiter said, throwing her hands up dramatically.
Haruka slapped her on the shoulder, "That's okay, we need a
rest anyway."
They all powered down and sat on the steps in front of the
temple. "So," Seiya started, looking around, "What now?"
Usagi leaned back on Mamoru, feeling tired very suddenly.
"Usako, you alright?" he asked, pushing the bangs off her forehead.
She was starting to break out into a sweat.
"Yeah, just so tired."
Rei sighed, "Well you ought to be after getting out there and
training with Chibi-Usa."
Usagi didn't have the strength to argue with her. "Can I go lay
down in your room?"
Rei scrunched her eye brows up but nodded yes.
Chibi-Usa watched as she slowly entered the temple. "Small Lady,
go with your mother," Setsuna said.
Chibi-Usa nodded and followed her, leaving a confused Mamoru in
her wake.
Usagi laid down carefully, lifting her shirt to rub her stomach.
"What's wrong with you guys today?"
Chibi-Usa stopped outside of the room to listen. Her mind was
searching for a date, a date when the twins birthday was. September,
no... oh no!...today! "Crap Mom, say something so we can get you to the
hospital," she whispered, opening the door to the bedroom.
Usagi smiled up at her. Chibi-Usa walked in slowly, amazed at
how huge her stomach was.
"Go on, you can feel them kick," she whispered to her daughter.
Hesitantly she placed her small hand on her mother's round stomach.
She felt a slight budge and giggled. "I think they are ready to come out."
"I think your right," Usagi agreed.
*****
Mamoru half listened to the conversation about Beryl and the Dark
Kingdom. He didn't want to listen at all, he wanted to be with Usagi.
However, one of them needed to hear this and since she wasn't here, it
had to be him.
"I hope they gave up, but probably not," Minako stated.
Mamoru had this over bearing compulsion that he needed to be with
Usagi. He stood up and went inside only before he got there to be plowed
down by Chibi-Usa.
"Dad! Dad! Hurry!"
Mamoru took off in a run for the room where Usagi was laying.
Chibi-Usa continued outside. "Minna!! Hurry!!"
The senshi, cats and lights ran inside after the bouncing pink
haired girl. Fearing the worst.
When they got there however they weren't ready for what they
seen. Mamoru was helping Usagi up and the floor was soaked in water.
"What's going on?" Minako asked, before Michiru hit her upside
her head. "Mo Minako-chan... can't you see that Usagi-chan is in labor??"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few things do I *really* enjoy writing more than labor sences. I can
just imagine Mamoru loosing his once cool exterior for a trade in on
a brand new pair of twins ;) What do you all think? Let me know! Email!
3 Bethany
Bethany212@aol.com
03-19-01
From the Beginning - Round Two
Title: Some time off
Chapter: 8
Author: Bethany ^_^
Editor: Meara
******************
~Approx. four months later~
"Ohhhhhh, that's cold!" Usagi squealed as the doctor rubbed her
stomach with a clear cream. She squeezed Mamoru's hand, gritting her teeth.
"Calm down sweetheart," Mamoru cooed, more for his own benefit, so
she would let go of the death grip on his hand.
The doctor braced himself before placing the cold surface of the
equipment on her stomach to do the ultrasound. "This will be cold, but
only for a second, ne?"
"Mmm Hmm," Usagi said, cringing despite herself.
He placed it on her stomach and surprisingly, she didn't seem to
think that was so cold. A few minutes later Mamoru and Usagi watched in
wonder at the black and white screen showing the life inside her. The
doctor suddenly got a confused look on his face.
Mamoru was the first to notice the changed pace. "Doctor, is
everything alright?"
The doctor smiled warmly, relaxing his features. "Do you see this?"
he asked the couple, pointing to the screen.
Usagi studied it, then noticed what he was talking about. "What is
that?"
He smiled widely, "Your going to have twins."
*THUNK!*
"Mamo-chan? Mamo-chan!! Are you alright?" Usagi asked frantically,
watching her husband's passed out form on the floor. Oh yeah Usagi girl,
she thought to herself happily, you've got your hands full and you haven't
even given birth yet.' She sighed heavily while laughing.
******
"Mamo-chan?!" Usagi cried, shaking her husband.
Nothing.
Haruka and Makoto had managed to carry him to the car and help
Usagi get him in the apartment.
Chibi-Usa slapped a hand to her forehead. "Geez, I haven't seen
dad this stressed out since..." after a reprimanding look from Setsuna,
Chibi-Usa refrained from telling her mother about her other sibling.
"Gomen ne Setsuna-chan."
Setsuna smiled, "Don't worry child, he was worse when you were born."
Both of them shared a laugh that Usagi missed due to trying to wake Mamoru up.
"Geez Mamo-chan! I'm five months pregnant, I can't be sitting here
trying to wake you up!" she screamed in frustration. "I'm hungry!" she
declared, leaving him on the couch in a beeline for the kitchen.
A few moments later she emerged with a jar of pickles and spoon of
peanut butter.
Mamoru had managed to come to, only to gawk in disgust at what his
wife was eating. "Usako, how can you *eat* that?"
"Nani?" she looked up, then back at the pickle in her hand. She
walked over toward him with a devilish grin. "Wanna bite Mamo-chan?" she
giggled, shoving the peanut butter covered pickle in his face.
Haruka, Makoto, Setsuna, Chibi-Usa and Minako busted out laughing as
Mamoru ran across the apartment in fear, hiding behind Chibi-Usa.
Usagi pouted, her lower lip quivering. "You think I'm fat, don't you?"
"Huh?" was all Mamoru could say. One minute she happy, the next she's
crying. Am I going to live through the next four months? Knowing this routine
by heart now, he walked back over to her and wrapped her in his arms. "Of
course not Usako. You're beautiful and pregnant. But sweetheart, I just don't
have a taste for pickles, you know that." He put on his sweetest voice possible
and nibbled on her ear lope. That got her every time.
She had the grace to blush due to the five sets of eyes staring at her.
"I love you Mamo-chan," she sang out, obviously happy with herself again.
"I love you," he whispered back, still kissing on her ear for good measure.
Knowing if he stopped too soon, she'd revert back to God only knew what mood.
She sighed, content for the moment, and rubbed her stomach. "I'm going to
take a nap, will you get some Chinese for dinner sweetie?"
He bowed gracefully in front of her, taking her hand to his lips. "Of
course my princess. Your wish is my command."
She giggled, and floated out of the room. Mamoru shook his head. "If I
have to eat Chinese one more time this week, I'm going to go live there."
"CHIBA MAMORU, I HEARD THAT!" came the scream from the other room.
Everyone, save Mamoru, started laughing. He sighed, forced to face
his fate and started toward the bedroom to confront the worst of enemies...
...a pregnant Usako.
All the senshi in the room stood to attention, hands over their
hearts, humming the funeral march.
"Dumbbbbb da dumbbbb, da da dumbbbb," Haruka managed, and evil smile
on her face.
Mamoru turned shortly. "Yeah, yeah. So that was dumb, don't rub it in!"
he yelled, opening the bedroom door, taking a deep breath and preparing for
the worst.
Minako set out in a fit of giggles, "Remind me to bring my video
camera over here one day."
"Why?" Chibi-Usa asked innocently.
Minako was joined by Haruka, "So I can win 10,000 dollars on
Japan's Funniest Videos!" (AN: okay, I don't know if they have that,
but it seemed like a good idea! ^_^)
*****
Mamoru sleepily turned over, his arms searching for Usagi. When he
couldn't find her familiar form, his eyes snapped open. "Usako?"
Silence greeted him. "Usako?"
Again nothing. Worried now, he ran out of the room. She wasn't in
the kitchen, the bathroom, the living room or the balcony. "USAKO?!??"
Chibi-Usa stumbled into the room, rubbing her eyes. "Dad, what's
wrong?"
"Where's your mother?" he asked frantically.
Chibi-Usa snapped her attention out of the remainder of her dreams,
and began running through the apartment. "Mom? Mom!"
"Usako!" screamed Mamoru at the same time.
Desperate now, Mamoru ran out into the hallway. Emptiness greeted
him. "Usako?!"
With nothing else to do, he got out her communicator. Hitting the
'all call' repeatedly.
The first senshi to answer was Rei. "Mamoru-kun, what's wrong?"
"Usako, I can't find her!" he yelled frantically.
"NANI?!? How long has she been gone?" came another voice of a now
wide awake Ami.
He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "I don't know. I
woke up and she wasn't in bed."
"Have you searched the apartment?" Minako asked, now fully aware
of the situation.
"YES, I can't find her, damn it! Where is she?"
Another voice came across the communicator. "Mamoru-san, calm down.
I know where she is."
Mamoru stopped short in his hysteria. "Mako-chan?"
"Hai, she is over here."
Relief ran through Mamoru's veins. Finally he caught hold of his
breath. "Why?"
"Why don't you all come over here, it's nothing serious, but
Usagi-chan could really use her friends support right about now, ne?"
"Sou," came seven voices from all directions. Mamoru stayed on after
everyone else sighed off. "Mako-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell her I love her?"
Makoto smiled, "Sure thing Mamoru-kun."
Mamoru was the last to show up cause they had to take the bus.
Usagi had taken the car and he wasn't going to let Chibi-Usa ride on
his motorcycle.
He entered the now full of female senshi apartment. "Mamo-chan!"
Usagi cried out, coming up to him and wrapping her arms around him.
He allowed himself the comfort of knowing she was alright before
starting in on how irresponsible she had been for leaving without saying
a word. Before he had the chance, however, Minako stopped him. "Usagi-
chan, may I have a moment with Mamoru?"
Usagi smiled, "Sure."
Mamoru followed Minako to the balcony. "Nani?" he asked, just now
really letting himself calm down.
"I know your first thought, or maybe your second, was to yell at
her for leaving without saying anything. But I would advise against it,"
she started in a very unlike Minako serious tone.
Mamoru looked up at the crescent moon. "Why?" he asked finally.
"She needs encouragement, and a lot of it. Telling her anything but
how good she is right now, is going to make her feel worse." Minako
swallowed here. "According to Makoto, Usagi had a dream that she was an
awful parent and you took the twins and left with them. She was shaken
up badly and for some reason was afraid to tell you. So she came here."
Mamoru felt his anger die down, along with his fears. So she
feels the same way? That we aren't cut out for being parents... or
better yet, I'M not cut out.
He sighed long and hard. "I know how she feels."
"Doesn't every parent?" Minako said with far more wisdom than
Mamoru ever remembered hearing from her. "Babies don't come with manuals
or how-to guides. No parent knows what they are doing. But I can tell you
that you and Usagi practically raised Chibi-Usa for the better part of her
childhood and look how wonderful she is. You're ready, believe me. Well,
as ready as your ever going to be."
Mamoru turned and hugged Minako briefly. "Minako-chan, arigato.
Really, you've helped a lot."
She smiled, "Anything for my friends, now," she began on a lighter
note, "Let's go before Usagi eats Makoto out of house and home, and
convince her of the same thing."
"Sou."
Usagi took another egg roll from the plate on the table and sighed.
"I'm so scared minna, what if I can't do this? What if that dream is real?"
It took all Rei had not to roll her eyes, just when they thought
they had gotten through to her, she started in again. "Usagi, you're ready.
Look, no one is ever completely ready for children, but you'll do a good job,
don't worry." She smiled, giving her a friendly hug.
Mamoru came back in the apartment and sat down next to Usagi,
completely calm and feeling a lot better about his own fears also. "Usako,
don't worry, ne?"
Before realizing that he hadn't said enough, she started crying again.
"I just want them to grow up healthy and happy, but what if I can't do it!"
Mamoru started to comfort her when a small hand reached out and took
his. He looked up to see Chibi-Usa mouthing something. Finally he figured
out she was saying, "Give me a chance."
Mamoru smiled and moved over to allow Chibi-Usa in-between them.
The small rabbit somehow managed to sit on her mothers lap even
with her very swollen tummy. "Mom?"
"Yes sweetheart?" Usagi said without even thinking about what she
was doing. Hearing Chibi-Usa call her mom was common as hearing Mamoru
call her Usako.
Chibi-Usa held her hand. "You are a wonderful mother to me, and
you'll do a good job with the twins. Believe me, I know," she added,
winking.
Usagi found comfort in that fact. Yes, Chibi-Usa was a wonderful
child - a little spoiled maybe, but she reasoned that was Mamoru's fault,
not hers. And of course she would know if the twins were happy and
healthy, she was their younger sister. Usagi smiled brightly and hugged
her. "Arigato Small Lady, but you know what?"
"Nani?"
"You'll always be my first baby," she said in a whisper.
Chibi-Usa smiled, remembering how her mother in the future would
often say that.
All the inner senshi, cats and Mamoru watched this scene with a
faint smile.
"Now that that is straight," Ami said, "It is four o'clock in the
morning, and I'm sleepy."
Usagi pouted out her lower lip. "But guys, I'm hungry!"
The room erupted in laughter. Makoto brought in some rice cakes.
"Why don't all of you each find a blanket and stay here the rest of the
night? We haven't had a good sleep over since we were all staying at
Usagi's."
"Speaking of which," Luna began and everyone groaned, here it came;
another senshi meeting.
Suddenly a pillow came flying at Luna. "It's too early for a meeting!"
Minako giggled, another pillow in her hand incase Luna insisted.
"Okay, but ten o'clock, Rei's temple. It's scaring me how quiet it
has been for the last six months. Just simple youma attacks? Something's
up and we need to be ready."
To everyone's surprise, Usagi agreed. "Yes, and as the temporary
leader of the sailor senshi, Chibi-Usa needs some training before another
major attack."
Luna smiled proudly. In all of Usagi's nineteen years, she never
thought she would see her say that. Her proud moment was not to last. "But
only until the twins are born, then it's back under me. But first, I want
popcorn!"
Luna sighed, "Always thinking about her stomach."
For once, Mamoru took the defensive, "Wait a second, Usako is
eating for three now."
"Wasn't she always?" Haruka laughed.
A rice cake flew across the room, hitting Haruka in the face. She
opened her eyes in surprise, but Usako was busying herself with something
that only she could see on Mamoru's shirt.
******
An army of dark soldiers stood against the wall, waiting for Beryl's
inspection. She had been waiting millenniums for this moment. She walked
slowly down the line, closely checking each individual.
"You - no good. Go back to training." She pointed to a youma,
holding her nose up in disgust, "How dare you call yourself a soldier
worthy enough to work under me."
"Yes my queen," he said, everyone else down the line straighten
their spines.
Again she walked down the line. Satisfied that everyone presented
was good enough to at least wear the sailor senshi down, she began her
speech.
"You are here today because you have chosen the dark path. You have
chosen the winning side. We are preparing to start a war. All of you will
not come back alive, but those who do will be pleasantly rewarded for your
efforts when I rule the universe. Until then you are to train. We will defeat
them."
"Yes, Queen Beryl," the group said, bowing.
*****
"Come on Small Lady, I know you can do this, now concentrate!"
Usagi encouraged, watching Chibi-Usa try to use the princess halacation
wand.
Mamoru watched worriedly from the side. "She's eight months
pregnant, she don't need to be out there, she needs to let everyone
else train Chibi-Usa," he mumbled for the twenty time in the last half
hour.
Haruka smiled. "She knows what she's doing, don't worry."
"That's what worries me." He watched as Chibi-Usa finally got
the sequence right and gathered the energy to the wand.
"Now put it down, don't shout the activation words yet, we don't
need you destroying Rei's temple," Usagi said gently, obviously tired.
Haruka sighed, "I'm going to go train."
Mamoru kept his gaze straight ahead, watching with worry as Usagi
sat down and rubbed her lower back.
Usagi flinched as one of the babies kicked her stomach. "Stop that
you two, your gonna bruise the inside of my stomach," she told them
gently. There was a deep chuckled behind her and she turned to see Mamoru
watching her with glassy eyes.
"Nani?"
"You talk to them like they can hear you," he informed her, sitting
down and starting to massage her back and shoulders.
"They can hear me, they stopped kicking."
He laughed again. "Wonder if they'll listen that good once they
are born?"
Usagi didn't answer him right away. A tightening pain shot across
her back. But just as quickly it was gone. She dismissed it as back
aches and smiled at Mamoru. "I doubt it."
"Come on Mars! You can aim better than that!" Venus yelled,
dodging her fire sniper again.
Mercury was training with Neptune not far from where Venus and
Mars were fighting. "Chabon Spray!"
"MERCURY!!" they all yelled.
"No since in training now, I can't see my hand in front of my
face!" Jupiter said, throwing her hands up dramatically.
Haruka slapped her on the shoulder, "That's okay, we need a
rest anyway."
They all powered down and sat on the steps in front of the
temple. "So," Seiya started, looking around, "What now?"
Usagi leaned back on Mamoru, feeling tired very suddenly.
"Usako, you alright?" he asked, pushing the bangs off her forehead.
She was starting to break out into a sweat.
"Yeah, just so tired."
Rei sighed, "Well you ought to be after getting out there and
training with Chibi-Usa."
Usagi didn't have the strength to argue with her. "Can I go lay
down in your room?"
Rei scrunched her eye brows up but nodded yes.
Chibi-Usa watched as she slowly entered the temple. "Small Lady,
go with your mother," Setsuna said.
Chibi-Usa nodded and followed her, leaving a confused Mamoru in
her wake.
Usagi laid down carefully, lifting her shirt to rub her stomach.
"What's wrong with you guys today?"
Chibi-Usa stopped outside of the room to listen. Her mind was
searching for a date, a date when the twins birthday was. September,
no... oh no!...today! "Crap Mom, say something so we can get you to the
hospital," she whispered, opening the door to the bedroom.
Usagi smiled up at her. Chibi-Usa walked in slowly, amazed at
how huge her stomach was.
"Go on, you can feel them kick," she whispered to her daughter.
Hesitantly she placed her small hand on her mother's round stomach.
She felt a slight budge and giggled. "I think they are ready to come out."
"I think your right," Usagi agreed.
*****
Mamoru half listened to the conversation about Beryl and the Dark
Kingdom. He didn't want to listen at all, he wanted to be with Usagi.
However, one of them needed to hear this and since she wasn't here, it
had to be him.
"I hope they gave up, but probably not," Minako stated.
Mamoru had this over bearing compulsion that he needed to be with
Usagi. He stood up and went inside only before he got there to be plowed
down by Chibi-Usa.
"Dad! Dad! Hurry!"
Mamoru took off in a run for the room where Usagi was laying.
Chibi-Usa continued outside. "Minna!! Hurry!!"
The senshi, cats and lights ran inside after the bouncing pink
haired girl. Fearing the worst.
When they got there however they weren't ready for what they
seen. Mamoru was helping Usagi up and the floor was soaked in water.
"What's going on?" Minako asked, before Michiru hit her upside
her head. "Mo Minako-chan... can't you see that Usagi-chan is in labor??"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few things do I *really* enjoy writing more than labor sences. I can
just imagine Mamoru loosing his once cool exterior for a trade in on
a brand new pair of twins ;) What do you all think? Let me know! Email!
3 Bethany
Bethany212@aol.com
03-19-01