Bedtime Story: Epilogue, the first part
Later that night, Ranma and Akane sat on the roof watching the stars.
"It must have been tough for you," Akane commented, studying Ranma closely. "That last part isn't a part that you talk about very much."
"It isn't. I knew I was going to have a real hard time telling it, but something Shinji said made me tell it anyway."
"Oh really? What was that?"
"That 'if you have a hurt, you have to tell someone so they can maybe fix it or else the hurt won't go away.'"
Akane's face, earlier creased with concern, now crinkled with laughter. "That Shinji is more insightful than we give him credit for."
"He's a smart kid, but Kasumi deserves the credit. She's the one that told him that."
"Well Ranma, did talking about it help? Did the hurt go away?"
Ranma kissed the top of Akane's head. "I don't know if it will ever really go away, but it did help a little…especially at the end."
"So," he continued, snuggling his wife closer. "Just how much of that story did you overhear?"
Akane laughed. "Enough to know what my favorite part is."
"Well, if you're good, maybe I'll tell it to you from the beginning sometime."
"Hmm…that would be very nice. I don't think I'd mind hearing it over and over again. You can tell it to our kids." She took Ranma's hand and gently placed it over her belly. "Starting with this one."