~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't Let Me Go: Eternity
Final Chapter
By: Bethany and Patch
Rated: PG
Editor: Meara
~~~~~~~~~~~~
--3 years later--
"Silver Moon--" Kioko looked up, startled by what sounded like
a door slamming shut, hard.
Silence permeated the afternoon air, all around was nothing but
silence. Suddenly the silence was penetrated by a shriek, followed by
the slapping of leather against marble floors.
"YES! YES! YES!"
Kioko looked up from where she sat on the floor of her parent's
bedroom with her twin, playing with Barbie dolls. Her head moved to the
side adorably, one eye sparkling as the sun barely hit it. "Nani, Chibi-Usa?"
Across from her, another small child sat in a blue sailor suit
identical to the one Kioko wore. "Not sure, want to find out?"
With a nod of her head, the Barbies were soon forgotten and the
two children took off down the hall of the palace. Curiosity taking
hold, they turned towards were the sound of conversation. It filled
the air and the twins stopped in the entryway to the main dinning hall.
Inside Hotaru was running around the table, showing off something
and every now and then squealing with excitement.
The two looked towards each other, in the room, and then towards
each other again. "Kioko?"
Instead of answering, Kioko took off into the room at top speed,
heading for her mother's chair at the head of the table. Not wanting to
be left behind, Chibi-Usa followed suit and ran to her mother as well.
"What is all this noise about?" Kioko demanded, her small hands
on her hips.
Usagi just smiled and brought her daughter up close to her,
hugging her tightly. Chibi-Usa looked confused by the noise around
the room, and then climbed up in her father's lap.
"Poppa? What is happening?"
"Shhh," Mamoru exclaimed, laying his finger over her mouth.
"Wait and see."
Michiru stood and hugged Hotaru tightly, a tear trailing from
her eye down her face. Behind them, Shingo stood at the door, a smile
plastered from one side of his face to the other.
In the last three years Shingo had gotten taller, if that was
possible, and his features matured. But not so mature that he didn't
look like a mischievous little boy waiting to see if his trick had worked.
Hotaru had also changed, after marrying Shingo one year earlier.
She had left behind the little girl and become a very talented young
woman with a dream to be like her mother, Michiru. She practiced daily
at playing the violin, and beautiful music filled the halls of the palace
constantly.
Mamoru hugged Chibi-Usa close to him and watched the scene before
him, images of past events passing through his head. His eyes wondered to
Momoko and he remembered how long it took to build Crystal Tokyo to what
it was today. He remembered the shock of having not one child, as he had
always believed, but two. The days and nights that seemed to last so long
then now were vague memories in light of his present joy.
Eventually, like always, his eyes would land on his wife and he
would smile gently. Her beautiful silver hair gleamed in the sunlight
and her blue eyes sparkled as she watched Hotaru run around the room
telling her news. Every now and then their eyes would meet and she would
blush and look down, leaving Mamoru to wonder why - after so many years
of marriage - she blushed when she caught him looking at her. What
puzzled him more, however, was why *he* blushed when she caught him.
Michiru sat back down and leaned against Haruka, smiling when
her lifemate's arm automatically came around her shoulder. The smile
on her face wasn't about to leave any time soon as she watched her
daughter run to Setsuna, exclaiming her news in a giant whoosh.
"We done alright with her, didn't we?" she whispered to her love.
"Hai Michiru, we did. Look at her... beautiful and in love,
like us, ne?"
Michiru gave a small smile of delight at her comment, but made
no move to answer. There was no need, she was sure Haruka knew.
Finally Hotaru approached the King and Queen. Shingo moved
into the room to stand next to his wife. His nervous smile vanished
when Haruka gave him a thumbs up. He smiled briefly and put his arm
around Hotaru as she smiled at Usagi.
"Usagi-chan, Shingo and I are going to have a baby!" she
exclaimed, practically jumping up and down within Shingo's arms.
Usagi gently placed Kioko on the floor and stood up, the room
spinning slightly when she did so. "You're..? That's wonderful!" Usagi
hugged both and sat down, the room once more taking flight on her. She
smiled gently at Mamoru's worried expression, but said nothing.
Much later as Usagi was walking to her room she heard someone
call her name. Turning around she smiled warmly as Hotaru approached
her.
"Usagi-chan, I was hoping to get some time with you alone today,"
the younger woman said, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear.
Her gaze didn't stay focused on her friend's face, but instead shifted
nervously.
"What is it Hota-chan?" Usagi asked, winking as she repeated her
daughters' nickname for their long time babysitter. She opened the
door to a sitting room and motioned for Hotaru to join her. "You're
nervous about something aren't you?" she asked, sitting down on one
of the settees.
Hotaru looked at her, eyes wide. "H-hai... I am. She grinned
sheepishly and bent her head shyly, "I guess I must look kind of
obvious but you knowing makes it a bit easier." She raised her
head and looked at her Queen with troubled eyes. "I'm afraid Usagi-chan."
Usagi sat back and looked at her calmly. She had had an
inkling that Hotaru would be a little nervous about her pregnancy
but she hadn't expected Hotaru to come talk to her. She felt...
touched that Hotaru had come to her out of the so many people in
this palace.
"Why?" she asked simply.
"I am excited, don't get me wrong and I love this baby so
much already... But I'm afraid that when the time comes, I'll do
something wrong. Something to make Shingo upset and he'll see me
as a bad mother or something worse."
Usagi slid off her seat and fell to her knees in a swish of
cloth in front of Hotaru. Grabbing the other woman's hand, she
looked up with crystalline blue eyes into the unsure ones of Hotaru.
"Oh Hotaru, if there's one thing I've learned in this life...
and my other life... is that you can never doubt yourself nor can
you doubt the love between you and your other half. There were so
many times I was sure I had lost Mamo-chan's love for me. But time
and time again I learned that he would never give up on me - never
doubt me as I doubted myself.
"Don't think that Shingo will ever see you as a bad mother,"
she continued, "Don't doubt yourself like that because I know and
you know that you'll be the best mother that baby growing inside
of you could ever have. Always have faith in yourself and Shingo."
"And if that doesn't work, just call one of us and we'll knock
some sense into him."
Both women turned their heads at the new voice. The King stood
in the doorway, leaning against the wood, his arms crossed, and his
mask dangling between two fingers.
Hotaru blushed and then leaned down to hug Usagi. "Thank you,"
she whispered, "your words meant a lot and I thank you for your faith
in me."
Usagi only smiled as Hotaru then straightened and walked away.
She winked at Mamoru as she passed him and said airily, "I'll keep you
to that offer Endymion-sama. It might come in handy one day."
Mamoru chuckled in response and, after closing the door,
walked to Usagi and crouched down beside her. He tucked back a
tendril of silver hair and smiled tenderly.
"Hey you," he said softly and then pressed his lips to hers
in a simple kiss. He moved back and stroked his thumb against her
cheek. "Are you feeling alright?"
Usagi tilted her head to the side and smiled warmly. "Why do
you ask?"
Mamoru waved his hand behind him. "You didn't look so good
back there, almost as if you were light headed."
Usagi blushed deeply and looked away. "Always the observer,
ne?"
"When it comes to you, hai," he whispered in her ear,
wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I'm fine, perhaps a little tired. I'm so happy for them,
Mamo-chan. Hotaru is so very excited too."
"As she should be," he continued, helping Usagi to her feet.
"Remember how excited you were when you became pregnant?"
Automatically Usagi's eyes shifted away, almost guiltily,
before she cleared her throat and smiled. "Yes, I do. Because it
was ours, something created out of our love, and they are so beautiful."
"Usako?"
Again Usagi shifted her eyes away. "Hmmm?"
Mamoru smiled, a deep joy coming to his eyes at the thought
that passed his mind. "Nothing dear. Nothing at all."
~~~~~~~~~~
It was huge.
There was no other word for it. No matter how many times
Motoki drove up in front of the Crystal Palace, he swore he'd
never get used to his best friend being King.
Another hand found his and Motoki smiled gently at his
wife. "You ready?"
"Hai," she responded, dreading the stairs leading to the
palace door. "They need an escalator," she mumbled when Motoki
opened her door.
"Motoki! Reika!" two voiced yelled, the twins bouncing
down the steps at top speed. Behind them Usagi and Mamoru walked
out of the palace, as stunning as ever.
Reika pushed herself out of the car and took a second to
gain her footing before plastering a giant smile on her face.
"Hello girls!"
"Whoa!" Kioko exclaimed, drawing back from the older woman.
"What did you eat last night?"
Reika opened her mouth but for a second words refused to
form. Finally she laughed loudly, rubbing her huge stomach.
"Let me tell you a secret girls," she whispered, her eyes twinkling.
Slowly the girls moved closer, their eyes large as they
stared at Reika. "You see how big my tummy is?"
Both children nodded simultaneously. "That is because
there is a baby in there, and he's almost ready to come out."
"I want to see!" Chibi-Usa screamed, placing her hand on
Reika's stomach. "I don't see no baby! I just see your tummy."
Disappointed, she moved back to stand beside her twin. "I want
to see the baby."
"Me too!" Kioko echoed.
Reika giggled and allowed Motoki to help her up the palace
steps. "If you wait another few weeks, I'm sure you can see the
baby as much as you want to," Reika informed the girls, nodded
her finger playfully. "And when you get older, you can baby-sit
him."
"Him?" Usagi asked. "I thought you all wanted it to be a
surprise?"
"Well, Reika asked and was told," Motoki laughed. "Which
is okay, I guess. We had a bunch of girl stuff anyways and this
gives us the chance to take it back in exchange for boys clothing."
"Can't help you there," Usagi smiled, grabbing up Chibi-Usa
and Kioko's hands. "Everything around here is pink."
The six filed into the living room where they were served
tea, discussing old times and such.
Chibi-Usa and Kioko, try as they might to fight it, kept
shutting their eyes in exhaustion. Usagi excused herself and
lead the two to their rooms for nap. After tucking them in,
however, she had the urge to go to her room.
Without thinking, her feet lead her to the room she shared
with her husband. "What am I doing in here?" she asked herself,
her eyes searching the room, but for what, she didn't know.
"I summoned you here," a voice said, and Usagi turned
quickly on her heels.
The sun streaming through the windows cast a glow around
Galaxia as she walked towards Usagi. She offered a genuine smile
of pleasure towards the Queen. "I needed to speak with you."
"Galaxia-san!" Usagi rushed over, hugging her briefly.
"What brings you to this end of the universe?"
"I am here to offer you a gift of gratitude for all you
done for me." Slowly she brought her hands up and revealed a
small glowing star.
Usagi watched in fascination as the star burst with light
before entering her body. She blinked in confusion, and smiled
at Galaxia. "What was that?"
"My gift." At Usagi's blank expression, Galaxia continued,
"I know how much you loved Chibi-Chibi. And after trying for so
long, I finally broke her away from the star seed and she became
a human life. All she needed was a host, or mother, to live in
while she grew."
"And you just.."
"Put her inside you, yes," she explained. "I know you
liked the idea of her being yours and Mamoru's daughter. And
now you have your wish."
"I'm.. pregnant? With Chibi-Chibi?" Usagi looked at her
still flat stomach, and back at the woman before her, amazed.
Galaxia smiled back, nodding her head slowly.
Usagi looked down again and her eyes began to show suspicious
traces of wetness. "I... I just don't know what to say. I mean...
I loved Chibi Chibi with my whole being and then Mika came... and
now she's inside of me... growing..."
Her hand covered her stomach and she looked at Galaxia.
"She'll be my baby now..."
"Our baby, Love. Or did you forget that I helped in the
process?"
Usagi whirled around to see Mamoru walking towards her,
a mischievous grin lighting his face. But there was more. She
could see the shock, amazement and absolute joy in his eyes.
"You're not forgetting my role are you, Usako?" he asked
again, coming to stand beside her, his gaze still locked with
hers.
For a moment she couldn't speak. But then she smiled, her
head still tilted upwards. "Iie, Mamo-chan. Of course not.
Chibi-Chibi is our baby, a precious gift from Galaxia," she
finished, turning her head to the front.
But where Galaxia had stood, beautiful butterflies now
fluttered, and a sparkling light began to fade. "Take care of
her, King and Queen of Earth. I have faith in the both of you,"
her voice came, sounding distant.
"We will," Mamoru whispered and then hugged his wife to him.
"So when were you planning on telling me about our newest pride and
joy?" he asked, his breath tickling the tendrils of hair around her
ear.
She ducked her head and spoke shyly. "I was going to wait
for the right moment." She turned in his embrace to face him.
"But you knew, ne?"
"Maybe." He nuzzled his face in her hair and with a muffled
voice spoke. "I love you, Neo-Queen Serenity, Chiba Usagi... my
Usako. I love you very much."
"I love you... when you say my title like that," she
replied giggling.
Mamoru's mouth fell open and then he too began to laugh.
He lightly pushed her towards the door. "Come wife, Motoki and
Reika are probably wondering where we went off too."
They entered the room where Motoki sat with Reika, talking
quietly to each other.
"Gomen for keeping you waiting. We were interrupted by someone
very special," Usagi said, upon entering the room.
"Any clues as to who?" Motoki asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Galaxia... and she gave us a gift," Mamoru answered.
"A very special gift," Usagi added, one hand coming to rest at
her stomach.
Reika noticed the movement and her eyes widened. "No," she
breathed, "you can't be serious. Really?" she asked Usagi.
In response, the other woman smiled and nodded. "Hai, it's
a wonderful gift to both Mamo-chan and I."
"That's wonderful, Usagi-chan! I'm so happy for you! This is
just incredible!" Reika exclaimed.
"Will someone please tell me what just happened between these
two women?" Motoki suddenly asked. "I could've sworn I missed a
moment in time just a few seconds ago."
Mamoru shook his head quickly. "Don't Motoki. Don't even *try*
to figure out what just happened. It's called... woman's intuition I
believe. It's better to just stay quiet."
Both the women giggled until Motoki spoke again...with a whine.
"But what did I miss?"
"You baka," Reika answered, whacking his arm lightly.
"Usagi-chan is pregnant! Can't you tell?"
Motoki squinted at Usagi's stomach. After a long silent moment,
Mamoru coughed and Usagi's other hand covered her stomach nervously.
"Motoki!" Reika slapped her husband a bit harder than before,
breaking him out of his trance. "Stop staring at Usagi's stomach!"
"Gomen, gomen. I kind of got lost there for a moment."
"So, how long will you be staying with us?" Usagi asked.
"Well, we were planning on-" Motoki began but Reika interrupted.
"Leaving. We're leaving right now!"
Everyone gasped in shock.
"Uh, Honey, don't you think that's kind of rude? To leave
this early would be insult-"
"I said we're leaving now!" Reika yelled, trying to pull
herself out of her chair.
"But... why?" Mamoru suddenly blurted out, losing some of
his Kingly composure.
"Baka!" Usagi yelled. "Can't you see? She's in labor!" she
informed him, before rushing over to Reika. "Let me help you Reika-san."
Mamoru simply gawked and Motoki in a high feminine voice said,
"It's womanly intuition Mamoru. Don't ask. It's better not to."
"Get me out of this chair, Motoki," Reika called out with
gritted teeth.
"Yes, love. We'll be going now, Usagi, Mamoru. I'm sorry about
this," Motoki said, walking past them with his wife.
"It's alright, we completely understand," Usagi replied happily.
"Have a safe delivery, Reika! Don't grip Motoki's hand too hard!"
"Don't *let* her grip your hand, Motoki," Mamoru added, wincing
when his wife elbowed him.
Motoki and Reika left and the royal couple were left alone once
more.
~~~~~~~~~~
The long hall seemed even longer as Sailor Pluto walked it.
She could clearly hear the King and Queen's words in her mind.
"You don't have to do this, Setsuna-san," Usagi had insisted,
tears in her eyes. Gently she laid her hand on Setsuna's arm and
looked at her through pleading eyes. "You can live among us. There
is no reason for you to return to the Time Gate."
Pluto blinked back tears and continued down the hall, her
face determined. No matter how much the world she was leaving behind
called to her, she knew in her heart that what must be, must be. She
must return to the Time Gate for the order of events to flow in the
right direction. The Doom Phantom was coming soon and she knew what
would happen.
The large doors stood before her, the other side wanting to
begin her lonely fate once more. No human contact; the thought made
her shiver.
But there was much to look forward to, as well. For soon the
twins would follow the long hall to see her, and she wouldn't be so
lonely.
As she turned once more to look at the palace, Pluto smiled
slightly. "Sayonara," she whispered and once more disappeared into
the Time Gate.
~~~~~~~~~~
The patter of small shoes on the marble floors echoed down
the halls of the palace.
Kioko made a horrible face, her small hand making a fist
and jabbing into her hand so hard that Chibi-Usa flinched. "They
can't say that bout you, Chibi-Usa! I won't let them!"
Chibi-Usa forced back her tears and kicked her heel into a
nearby wall. "Am I too small? Do you think I'll ever be able to
transform into a Senshi, like Mom?"
Kioko looked down the hall, her eyes becoming blurry. "I'm
the same size as you. We're together, no matter what, right?"
"Un!" Chibi-Usa agreed. "C'mon! I have an idea!"
Curiously, Kioko followed her twin into their mother's room
and stood before the Ginzuishou. "What are you doing?"
Chibi-Usa brought her LunaP ball in front of her. "Get your
Artie ball out, hurry!"
Both girls stood before the case holding the stone and closed
their eyes as they threw their toys at the glass and listened to it
crash to the ground.
Chibi-Usa stood on her tiptoes and grabbed the crystal and
brought it between herself and her twin. "Onegai, Ginzuishou, make
us ladies! As pretty as Mommy!"
Before their stunned eyes, the crystal grew larger until it
started spinning in the air, only to break and half and fall into
the children's hands, loosing all it's glow.
"Oh no!" Kioko cried, looking around the room. "What
happened to it?"
"Please shine again!" Chibi-Usa begged, shaking the stone
in her hands. "Please!"
"Lady! Small Lady! Are you there?"
"Oh no! We broke it and Mom and Poppa will be mad!" Chibi-Usa
cried, looking at the two stones unbelievably.
"Quick, we gotta hide!" Kioko grabbed Chibi-Usa's arm and ran
behind the curtains as Usagi walked in.
Usagi moved further in the room, and that's when she saw it.
An audible gasp left her throat, at the same moment the palace
seemed to shake on its foundation. "Nani?" she screamed. "Where
is the Ginzuishou? Lady! Small Lady?! Where are you?"
As fast as her legs would take her, Usagi ran through the
palace halls, calling for her children. Her search took her
outside where she screamed once more for the twins.
Behind her, Chibi-Usa and Kioko stood in horror has a single
stream of light penetrated the dark sky, heading straight for their
mother.
"Usagi-san!" Saturn screamed, Uranus and Neptune running
behind her; the inners not far behind.
The inner and outer Senshi threw them selves around the
Queen, calling upon their powers, but instead of it countering
attacking the beam of energy, the light engulfed the Queen.
"USAGI!"
Chibi-Usa and Kioko ran, Sailor Mars' call for their mother
echoing in their ears. Within minutes they came to the Time Gate
door and pushed the large door open. The hinges groaned in protest,
but opened nonetheless.
"Chibi-Usa!" Kioko called and bounced her Artie ball.
The area in front of Sailor Pluto filled with smoke, and
before she could react, small fingers grabbed the keys from her
belt and the two Princess' ran off into the Time Stream.
~~~~~~~~~~
Her mind worked furiously as she ran, her stomach groaning
slightly in protest. It was too soon! What had happened?
Luna slid to a stop in front of the room where Mamoru was
leaning over Usagi, pleading with her to not leave him. She choked
back a sob and padded into the room. "Mamoru-san, what happened?"
"I think this is the first attack of the Black Moon," Mamoru
explained. "But, the twins, they went into the Time Stream."
"What?!" Artemis cried, now standing beside Luna. Luna groaned
slightly, the excess weight from her pregnancy not helping her panic
state.
"This is all wrong! What did Pluto say?" Luna demanded.
Usagi moved slightly within the glass. "Remember, my Love,
history never repeats itself. This isn't what we remember, because
this may happen differently."
Mamoru forced back the tears that wanted to spill from his
eyes and nodded. It made perfect sense to him, but that didn't mean
he liked it any better.
Luna groaned once more, and started fall over to one side
before Artemis held her up. "Luna!" he called, urging her to stay
awake. Finally defeat set in, and Artemis helped Luna back to their
room. He knew what was to come, and wanted to make sure she was
comfortable when she fell into the sleep.
Mamoru watched the two leave the room before he turned back
to his wife. "Usako, if things are happening differently, that
means you don't have to go into that long sleep, ne?"
Usagi wanted to reassure him that she was going nowhere, but
sleep called to her and she had to answer.
"Mamo-chan, I have to protect myself and our baby. I must do
this. You will be fine. I have faith in you, my love. I believe in
you." Usagi placed her hands on her stomach and smiled slightly.
"It's okay, Mamo-chan."
"Usako!" Mamoru once more called her back from the darkness,
knowing this would be the last time. "Promise me something?"
"Anything," Usagi answered.
"Never let me out of your mind, never forget me." Mamoru didn't
attempt to stop the single tear that left his eye. "Onegai, don't let
me go."
Usagi licked her parch lips, and managed a small smile as her
vision left, leaving her in total darkness. Seconds before she gave
in to the demand of sleep, she whispered softly;
"Never. I'll never let you go."
---End Don't Let Me Go: Series
Patch had some notes.. but my floppy disk tore up and won't let
me access them. So I will put them here later ^^;;;
Other wise, I have to say we have had fun with this fic. Even
though it took a life of it's own, we finally got through it and
even managed to keep some readers ^^;;
*hugs* to everyone who stuck with us, I hope it was worth it!
HUGE thanks to Meara. Without her, I would never get through
any of my fics, let alone this series. ***HUGS the best editor
in the world***
luv -n- hugs minna,
Bethany and Patch
Don't Let Me Go: Eternity
Final Chapter
By: Bethany and Patch
Rated: PG
Editor: Meara
~~~~~~~~~~~~
--3 years later--
"Silver Moon--" Kioko looked up, startled by what sounded like
a door slamming shut, hard.
Silence permeated the afternoon air, all around was nothing but
silence. Suddenly the silence was penetrated by a shriek, followed by
the slapping of leather against marble floors.
"YES! YES! YES!"
Kioko looked up from where she sat on the floor of her parent's
bedroom with her twin, playing with Barbie dolls. Her head moved to the
side adorably, one eye sparkling as the sun barely hit it. "Nani, Chibi-Usa?"
Across from her, another small child sat in a blue sailor suit
identical to the one Kioko wore. "Not sure, want to find out?"
With a nod of her head, the Barbies were soon forgotten and the
two children took off down the hall of the palace. Curiosity taking
hold, they turned towards were the sound of conversation. It filled
the air and the twins stopped in the entryway to the main dinning hall.
Inside Hotaru was running around the table, showing off something
and every now and then squealing with excitement.
The two looked towards each other, in the room, and then towards
each other again. "Kioko?"
Instead of answering, Kioko took off into the room at top speed,
heading for her mother's chair at the head of the table. Not wanting to
be left behind, Chibi-Usa followed suit and ran to her mother as well.
"What is all this noise about?" Kioko demanded, her small hands
on her hips.
Usagi just smiled and brought her daughter up close to her,
hugging her tightly. Chibi-Usa looked confused by the noise around
the room, and then climbed up in her father's lap.
"Poppa? What is happening?"
"Shhh," Mamoru exclaimed, laying his finger over her mouth.
"Wait and see."
Michiru stood and hugged Hotaru tightly, a tear trailing from
her eye down her face. Behind them, Shingo stood at the door, a smile
plastered from one side of his face to the other.
In the last three years Shingo had gotten taller, if that was
possible, and his features matured. But not so mature that he didn't
look like a mischievous little boy waiting to see if his trick had worked.
Hotaru had also changed, after marrying Shingo one year earlier.
She had left behind the little girl and become a very talented young
woman with a dream to be like her mother, Michiru. She practiced daily
at playing the violin, and beautiful music filled the halls of the palace
constantly.
Mamoru hugged Chibi-Usa close to him and watched the scene before
him, images of past events passing through his head. His eyes wondered to
Momoko and he remembered how long it took to build Crystal Tokyo to what
it was today. He remembered the shock of having not one child, as he had
always believed, but two. The days and nights that seemed to last so long
then now were vague memories in light of his present joy.
Eventually, like always, his eyes would land on his wife and he
would smile gently. Her beautiful silver hair gleamed in the sunlight
and her blue eyes sparkled as she watched Hotaru run around the room
telling her news. Every now and then their eyes would meet and she would
blush and look down, leaving Mamoru to wonder why - after so many years
of marriage - she blushed when she caught him looking at her. What
puzzled him more, however, was why *he* blushed when she caught him.
Michiru sat back down and leaned against Haruka, smiling when
her lifemate's arm automatically came around her shoulder. The smile
on her face wasn't about to leave any time soon as she watched her
daughter run to Setsuna, exclaiming her news in a giant whoosh.
"We done alright with her, didn't we?" she whispered to her love.
"Hai Michiru, we did. Look at her... beautiful and in love,
like us, ne?"
Michiru gave a small smile of delight at her comment, but made
no move to answer. There was no need, she was sure Haruka knew.
Finally Hotaru approached the King and Queen. Shingo moved
into the room to stand next to his wife. His nervous smile vanished
when Haruka gave him a thumbs up. He smiled briefly and put his arm
around Hotaru as she smiled at Usagi.
"Usagi-chan, Shingo and I are going to have a baby!" she
exclaimed, practically jumping up and down within Shingo's arms.
Usagi gently placed Kioko on the floor and stood up, the room
spinning slightly when she did so. "You're..? That's wonderful!" Usagi
hugged both and sat down, the room once more taking flight on her. She
smiled gently at Mamoru's worried expression, but said nothing.
Much later as Usagi was walking to her room she heard someone
call her name. Turning around she smiled warmly as Hotaru approached
her.
"Usagi-chan, I was hoping to get some time with you alone today,"
the younger woman said, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear.
Her gaze didn't stay focused on her friend's face, but instead shifted
nervously.
"What is it Hota-chan?" Usagi asked, winking as she repeated her
daughters' nickname for their long time babysitter. She opened the
door to a sitting room and motioned for Hotaru to join her. "You're
nervous about something aren't you?" she asked, sitting down on one
of the settees.
Hotaru looked at her, eyes wide. "H-hai... I am. She grinned
sheepishly and bent her head shyly, "I guess I must look kind of
obvious but you knowing makes it a bit easier." She raised her
head and looked at her Queen with troubled eyes. "I'm afraid Usagi-chan."
Usagi sat back and looked at her calmly. She had had an
inkling that Hotaru would be a little nervous about her pregnancy
but she hadn't expected Hotaru to come talk to her. She felt...
touched that Hotaru had come to her out of the so many people in
this palace.
"Why?" she asked simply.
"I am excited, don't get me wrong and I love this baby so
much already... But I'm afraid that when the time comes, I'll do
something wrong. Something to make Shingo upset and he'll see me
as a bad mother or something worse."
Usagi slid off her seat and fell to her knees in a swish of
cloth in front of Hotaru. Grabbing the other woman's hand, she
looked up with crystalline blue eyes into the unsure ones of Hotaru.
"Oh Hotaru, if there's one thing I've learned in this life...
and my other life... is that you can never doubt yourself nor can
you doubt the love between you and your other half. There were so
many times I was sure I had lost Mamo-chan's love for me. But time
and time again I learned that he would never give up on me - never
doubt me as I doubted myself.
"Don't think that Shingo will ever see you as a bad mother,"
she continued, "Don't doubt yourself like that because I know and
you know that you'll be the best mother that baby growing inside
of you could ever have. Always have faith in yourself and Shingo."
"And if that doesn't work, just call one of us and we'll knock
some sense into him."
Both women turned their heads at the new voice. The King stood
in the doorway, leaning against the wood, his arms crossed, and his
mask dangling between two fingers.
Hotaru blushed and then leaned down to hug Usagi. "Thank you,"
she whispered, "your words meant a lot and I thank you for your faith
in me."
Usagi only smiled as Hotaru then straightened and walked away.
She winked at Mamoru as she passed him and said airily, "I'll keep you
to that offer Endymion-sama. It might come in handy one day."
Mamoru chuckled in response and, after closing the door,
walked to Usagi and crouched down beside her. He tucked back a
tendril of silver hair and smiled tenderly.
"Hey you," he said softly and then pressed his lips to hers
in a simple kiss. He moved back and stroked his thumb against her
cheek. "Are you feeling alright?"
Usagi tilted her head to the side and smiled warmly. "Why do
you ask?"
Mamoru waved his hand behind him. "You didn't look so good
back there, almost as if you were light headed."
Usagi blushed deeply and looked away. "Always the observer,
ne?"
"When it comes to you, hai," he whispered in her ear,
wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I'm fine, perhaps a little tired. I'm so happy for them,
Mamo-chan. Hotaru is so very excited too."
"As she should be," he continued, helping Usagi to her feet.
"Remember how excited you were when you became pregnant?"
Automatically Usagi's eyes shifted away, almost guiltily,
before she cleared her throat and smiled. "Yes, I do. Because it
was ours, something created out of our love, and they are so beautiful."
"Usako?"
Again Usagi shifted her eyes away. "Hmmm?"
Mamoru smiled, a deep joy coming to his eyes at the thought
that passed his mind. "Nothing dear. Nothing at all."
~~~~~~~~~~
It was huge.
There was no other word for it. No matter how many times
Motoki drove up in front of the Crystal Palace, he swore he'd
never get used to his best friend being King.
Another hand found his and Motoki smiled gently at his
wife. "You ready?"
"Hai," she responded, dreading the stairs leading to the
palace door. "They need an escalator," she mumbled when Motoki
opened her door.
"Motoki! Reika!" two voiced yelled, the twins bouncing
down the steps at top speed. Behind them Usagi and Mamoru walked
out of the palace, as stunning as ever.
Reika pushed herself out of the car and took a second to
gain her footing before plastering a giant smile on her face.
"Hello girls!"
"Whoa!" Kioko exclaimed, drawing back from the older woman.
"What did you eat last night?"
Reika opened her mouth but for a second words refused to
form. Finally she laughed loudly, rubbing her huge stomach.
"Let me tell you a secret girls," she whispered, her eyes twinkling.
Slowly the girls moved closer, their eyes large as they
stared at Reika. "You see how big my tummy is?"
Both children nodded simultaneously. "That is because
there is a baby in there, and he's almost ready to come out."
"I want to see!" Chibi-Usa screamed, placing her hand on
Reika's stomach. "I don't see no baby! I just see your tummy."
Disappointed, she moved back to stand beside her twin. "I want
to see the baby."
"Me too!" Kioko echoed.
Reika giggled and allowed Motoki to help her up the palace
steps. "If you wait another few weeks, I'm sure you can see the
baby as much as you want to," Reika informed the girls, nodded
her finger playfully. "And when you get older, you can baby-sit
him."
"Him?" Usagi asked. "I thought you all wanted it to be a
surprise?"
"Well, Reika asked and was told," Motoki laughed. "Which
is okay, I guess. We had a bunch of girl stuff anyways and this
gives us the chance to take it back in exchange for boys clothing."
"Can't help you there," Usagi smiled, grabbing up Chibi-Usa
and Kioko's hands. "Everything around here is pink."
The six filed into the living room where they were served
tea, discussing old times and such.
Chibi-Usa and Kioko, try as they might to fight it, kept
shutting their eyes in exhaustion. Usagi excused herself and
lead the two to their rooms for nap. After tucking them in,
however, she had the urge to go to her room.
Without thinking, her feet lead her to the room she shared
with her husband. "What am I doing in here?" she asked herself,
her eyes searching the room, but for what, she didn't know.
"I summoned you here," a voice said, and Usagi turned
quickly on her heels.
The sun streaming through the windows cast a glow around
Galaxia as she walked towards Usagi. She offered a genuine smile
of pleasure towards the Queen. "I needed to speak with you."
"Galaxia-san!" Usagi rushed over, hugging her briefly.
"What brings you to this end of the universe?"
"I am here to offer you a gift of gratitude for all you
done for me." Slowly she brought her hands up and revealed a
small glowing star.
Usagi watched in fascination as the star burst with light
before entering her body. She blinked in confusion, and smiled
at Galaxia. "What was that?"
"My gift." At Usagi's blank expression, Galaxia continued,
"I know how much you loved Chibi-Chibi. And after trying for so
long, I finally broke her away from the star seed and she became
a human life. All she needed was a host, or mother, to live in
while she grew."
"And you just.."
"Put her inside you, yes," she explained. "I know you
liked the idea of her being yours and Mamoru's daughter. And
now you have your wish."
"I'm.. pregnant? With Chibi-Chibi?" Usagi looked at her
still flat stomach, and back at the woman before her, amazed.
Galaxia smiled back, nodding her head slowly.
Usagi looked down again and her eyes began to show suspicious
traces of wetness. "I... I just don't know what to say. I mean...
I loved Chibi Chibi with my whole being and then Mika came... and
now she's inside of me... growing..."
Her hand covered her stomach and she looked at Galaxia.
"She'll be my baby now..."
"Our baby, Love. Or did you forget that I helped in the
process?"
Usagi whirled around to see Mamoru walking towards her,
a mischievous grin lighting his face. But there was more. She
could see the shock, amazement and absolute joy in his eyes.
"You're not forgetting my role are you, Usako?" he asked
again, coming to stand beside her, his gaze still locked with
hers.
For a moment she couldn't speak. But then she smiled, her
head still tilted upwards. "Iie, Mamo-chan. Of course not.
Chibi-Chibi is our baby, a precious gift from Galaxia," she
finished, turning her head to the front.
But where Galaxia had stood, beautiful butterflies now
fluttered, and a sparkling light began to fade. "Take care of
her, King and Queen of Earth. I have faith in the both of you,"
her voice came, sounding distant.
"We will," Mamoru whispered and then hugged his wife to him.
"So when were you planning on telling me about our newest pride and
joy?" he asked, his breath tickling the tendrils of hair around her
ear.
She ducked her head and spoke shyly. "I was going to wait
for the right moment." She turned in his embrace to face him.
"But you knew, ne?"
"Maybe." He nuzzled his face in her hair and with a muffled
voice spoke. "I love you, Neo-Queen Serenity, Chiba Usagi... my
Usako. I love you very much."
"I love you... when you say my title like that," she
replied giggling.
Mamoru's mouth fell open and then he too began to laugh.
He lightly pushed her towards the door. "Come wife, Motoki and
Reika are probably wondering where we went off too."
They entered the room where Motoki sat with Reika, talking
quietly to each other.
"Gomen for keeping you waiting. We were interrupted by someone
very special," Usagi said, upon entering the room.
"Any clues as to who?" Motoki asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Galaxia... and she gave us a gift," Mamoru answered.
"A very special gift," Usagi added, one hand coming to rest at
her stomach.
Reika noticed the movement and her eyes widened. "No," she
breathed, "you can't be serious. Really?" she asked Usagi.
In response, the other woman smiled and nodded. "Hai, it's
a wonderful gift to both Mamo-chan and I."
"That's wonderful, Usagi-chan! I'm so happy for you! This is
just incredible!" Reika exclaimed.
"Will someone please tell me what just happened between these
two women?" Motoki suddenly asked. "I could've sworn I missed a
moment in time just a few seconds ago."
Mamoru shook his head quickly. "Don't Motoki. Don't even *try*
to figure out what just happened. It's called... woman's intuition I
believe. It's better to just stay quiet."
Both the women giggled until Motoki spoke again...with a whine.
"But what did I miss?"
"You baka," Reika answered, whacking his arm lightly.
"Usagi-chan is pregnant! Can't you tell?"
Motoki squinted at Usagi's stomach. After a long silent moment,
Mamoru coughed and Usagi's other hand covered her stomach nervously.
"Motoki!" Reika slapped her husband a bit harder than before,
breaking him out of his trance. "Stop staring at Usagi's stomach!"
"Gomen, gomen. I kind of got lost there for a moment."
"So, how long will you be staying with us?" Usagi asked.
"Well, we were planning on-" Motoki began but Reika interrupted.
"Leaving. We're leaving right now!"
Everyone gasped in shock.
"Uh, Honey, don't you think that's kind of rude? To leave
this early would be insult-"
"I said we're leaving now!" Reika yelled, trying to pull
herself out of her chair.
"But... why?" Mamoru suddenly blurted out, losing some of
his Kingly composure.
"Baka!" Usagi yelled. "Can't you see? She's in labor!" she
informed him, before rushing over to Reika. "Let me help you Reika-san."
Mamoru simply gawked and Motoki in a high feminine voice said,
"It's womanly intuition Mamoru. Don't ask. It's better not to."
"Get me out of this chair, Motoki," Reika called out with
gritted teeth.
"Yes, love. We'll be going now, Usagi, Mamoru. I'm sorry about
this," Motoki said, walking past them with his wife.
"It's alright, we completely understand," Usagi replied happily.
"Have a safe delivery, Reika! Don't grip Motoki's hand too hard!"
"Don't *let* her grip your hand, Motoki," Mamoru added, wincing
when his wife elbowed him.
Motoki and Reika left and the royal couple were left alone once
more.
~~~~~~~~~~
The long hall seemed even longer as Sailor Pluto walked it.
She could clearly hear the King and Queen's words in her mind.
"You don't have to do this, Setsuna-san," Usagi had insisted,
tears in her eyes. Gently she laid her hand on Setsuna's arm and
looked at her through pleading eyes. "You can live among us. There
is no reason for you to return to the Time Gate."
Pluto blinked back tears and continued down the hall, her
face determined. No matter how much the world she was leaving behind
called to her, she knew in her heart that what must be, must be. She
must return to the Time Gate for the order of events to flow in the
right direction. The Doom Phantom was coming soon and she knew what
would happen.
The large doors stood before her, the other side wanting to
begin her lonely fate once more. No human contact; the thought made
her shiver.
But there was much to look forward to, as well. For soon the
twins would follow the long hall to see her, and she wouldn't be so
lonely.
As she turned once more to look at the palace, Pluto smiled
slightly. "Sayonara," she whispered and once more disappeared into
the Time Gate.
~~~~~~~~~~
The patter of small shoes on the marble floors echoed down
the halls of the palace.
Kioko made a horrible face, her small hand making a fist
and jabbing into her hand so hard that Chibi-Usa flinched. "They
can't say that bout you, Chibi-Usa! I won't let them!"
Chibi-Usa forced back her tears and kicked her heel into a
nearby wall. "Am I too small? Do you think I'll ever be able to
transform into a Senshi, like Mom?"
Kioko looked down the hall, her eyes becoming blurry. "I'm
the same size as you. We're together, no matter what, right?"
"Un!" Chibi-Usa agreed. "C'mon! I have an idea!"
Curiously, Kioko followed her twin into their mother's room
and stood before the Ginzuishou. "What are you doing?"
Chibi-Usa brought her LunaP ball in front of her. "Get your
Artie ball out, hurry!"
Both girls stood before the case holding the stone and closed
their eyes as they threw their toys at the glass and listened to it
crash to the ground.
Chibi-Usa stood on her tiptoes and grabbed the crystal and
brought it between herself and her twin. "Onegai, Ginzuishou, make
us ladies! As pretty as Mommy!"
Before their stunned eyes, the crystal grew larger until it
started spinning in the air, only to break and half and fall into
the children's hands, loosing all it's glow.
"Oh no!" Kioko cried, looking around the room. "What
happened to it?"
"Please shine again!" Chibi-Usa begged, shaking the stone
in her hands. "Please!"
"Lady! Small Lady! Are you there?"
"Oh no! We broke it and Mom and Poppa will be mad!" Chibi-Usa
cried, looking at the two stones unbelievably.
"Quick, we gotta hide!" Kioko grabbed Chibi-Usa's arm and ran
behind the curtains as Usagi walked in.
Usagi moved further in the room, and that's when she saw it.
An audible gasp left her throat, at the same moment the palace
seemed to shake on its foundation. "Nani?" she screamed. "Where
is the Ginzuishou? Lady! Small Lady?! Where are you?"
As fast as her legs would take her, Usagi ran through the
palace halls, calling for her children. Her search took her
outside where she screamed once more for the twins.
Behind her, Chibi-Usa and Kioko stood in horror has a single
stream of light penetrated the dark sky, heading straight for their
mother.
"Usagi-san!" Saturn screamed, Uranus and Neptune running
behind her; the inners not far behind.
The inner and outer Senshi threw them selves around the
Queen, calling upon their powers, but instead of it countering
attacking the beam of energy, the light engulfed the Queen.
"USAGI!"
Chibi-Usa and Kioko ran, Sailor Mars' call for their mother
echoing in their ears. Within minutes they came to the Time Gate
door and pushed the large door open. The hinges groaned in protest,
but opened nonetheless.
"Chibi-Usa!" Kioko called and bounced her Artie ball.
The area in front of Sailor Pluto filled with smoke, and
before she could react, small fingers grabbed the keys from her
belt and the two Princess' ran off into the Time Stream.
~~~~~~~~~~
Her mind worked furiously as she ran, her stomach groaning
slightly in protest. It was too soon! What had happened?
Luna slid to a stop in front of the room where Mamoru was
leaning over Usagi, pleading with her to not leave him. She choked
back a sob and padded into the room. "Mamoru-san, what happened?"
"I think this is the first attack of the Black Moon," Mamoru
explained. "But, the twins, they went into the Time Stream."
"What?!" Artemis cried, now standing beside Luna. Luna groaned
slightly, the excess weight from her pregnancy not helping her panic
state.
"This is all wrong! What did Pluto say?" Luna demanded.
Usagi moved slightly within the glass. "Remember, my Love,
history never repeats itself. This isn't what we remember, because
this may happen differently."
Mamoru forced back the tears that wanted to spill from his
eyes and nodded. It made perfect sense to him, but that didn't mean
he liked it any better.
Luna groaned once more, and started fall over to one side
before Artemis held her up. "Luna!" he called, urging her to stay
awake. Finally defeat set in, and Artemis helped Luna back to their
room. He knew what was to come, and wanted to make sure she was
comfortable when she fell into the sleep.
Mamoru watched the two leave the room before he turned back
to his wife. "Usako, if things are happening differently, that
means you don't have to go into that long sleep, ne?"
Usagi wanted to reassure him that she was going nowhere, but
sleep called to her and she had to answer.
"Mamo-chan, I have to protect myself and our baby. I must do
this. You will be fine. I have faith in you, my love. I believe in
you." Usagi placed her hands on her stomach and smiled slightly.
"It's okay, Mamo-chan."
"Usako!" Mamoru once more called her back from the darkness,
knowing this would be the last time. "Promise me something?"
"Anything," Usagi answered.
"Never let me out of your mind, never forget me." Mamoru didn't
attempt to stop the single tear that left his eye. "Onegai, don't let
me go."
Usagi licked her parch lips, and managed a small smile as her
vision left, leaving her in total darkness. Seconds before she gave
in to the demand of sleep, she whispered softly;
"Never. I'll never let you go."
---End Don't Let Me Go: Series
Patch had some notes.. but my floppy disk tore up and won't let
me access them. So I will put them here later ^^;;;
Other wise, I have to say we have had fun with this fic. Even
though it took a life of it's own, we finally got through it and
even managed to keep some readers ^^;;
*hugs* to everyone who stuck with us, I hope it was worth it!
HUGE thanks to Meara. Without her, I would never get through
any of my fics, let alone this series. ***HUGS the best editor
in the world***
luv -n- hugs minna,
Bethany and Patch