Author's note: There is a mild lime scene in this chapter. And yes there will be some similarities between this story and the main story.

Chapter 3 Second Chances

That evening after Tofu and Kasumi had disappeared into the bedroom, Ranma started to get some water again to change, but Akane stopped him. "Remember what I told you last night," she growled seductively, "I want my fiancé with me from now on." They crawled into the futon together.

Akane held her fiancé and kissed him hungrily. Ranma reached out and held the love of his life close to him. He could feel her body where she pressed up against him. Suddenly, Akane growled, and rolled Ranma over onto his back and straddled him. She pulled one of his hands and placed it on her breast. He froze for a second and then he brought his other hand up to the other breast and slowly began to caress them gently through her pajama top. Her nipples came erect under his hands. She leaned forward and kissed him, parting her lips, her tongue darting forward.

Akane began to unbutton her top, when suddenly they heard some moaning. Akane's eyes grew wide and she began to laugh. Ranma said, "I don't remember Kasumi doing that on the last trip." Akane blushed as she realized what she had been thinking a moment before. She rolled off of Ranma.

"Ranma, I'm sorry. I got carried away," Akane said.

"That's all right," Ranma stuttered, "But maybe we ought to pull the wedding forward. I don't know how much longer I wanna wait."

She agreed happily. Ranma rolled over onto his side and held out his arms. She fell into his arms gladly and embraced him. They began kissing again, this time trying to stay in control. Finally, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

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Late that night, outside of the Tendo home, a shadowy figure jumped over the wall separating the street from the Tendo property. As the figure approached the house, the full moon came out from behind the clouds that it had been cowering behind to reveal the Black Rose of St. Hebereke High School, Kodachi Kuno, dressed in her skintight green leotard. She was muttering to herself, saying, "First that trollop has the audacity to proclaim herself the fiancée of my Ranma darling and then to brutally attack Brother dear. Of course, he deserved it for hitting Ranma darling with his sword. I will have my vengeance, Akane Tendo. And when I am done, Ranma darling will declare his love for me and take me to new heights of passion!" She laughed her manic laugh and then jumped to Akane's windowsill. She opened the window and then sprang to attack the figure sleeping in the bed. She let out her evil laugh again as her ribbons wrapped around the figure. She moved closer to gloat before maiming her rival only to freeze when she saw that she had attacked a stuffed pig.

"She's not here!" Kodachi said in anguish." Where can she be! No matter, I'll check on Ranma darling and take him away from this prison." She crept silently down the hallway to the guest room and slowly opened the door. In the dim moonlight coming in through the windows, she saw two figures sleeping in separate futons. She walked over to that figure, only to recoil as it rolled over to reveal that it was a giant panda. 'Why would they allow their pet to sleep in the guest room,' Kodachi wondered to herself, 'Peasants!' The other figure was obviously female, that of the Chinese bimbo.

Kodachi cursed and left the guest room. 'Maybe he's in the dojo,' she thought. Suddenly she recalled what her faithful ninja Sasuke had told her. She crept up the stairs to the small attic room, ready to spirit her beloved away. She carefully opened the door, and as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw that the room was deserted. She walked in and searched, discovering that while there were signs that it had been recently occupied, there were no personal belongings left.

She quietly walked over to the window, and opened it. She carefully climbed out and jumped to the ground. She walked over to the dojo and discovered that it was empty. "Oh no, that peasant wench has spirited my Ranma darling away from here! Where could she have taken him?" she cried. She vanished over the wall, leaving her trademark black roses behind.

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Nodoka opened the door to her house early the next morning to find Ranma and Akane standing there on her doorstep, holding hands. Her eyes darkened when she saw the large bandage adorning her son's left arm. She noticed two other things as well, one of which puzzled her. Akane had an engagement ring on her left hand, the same hand that was resting on the hilt of the Saotome family blade. Nodoka greeted Ranma by simply saying, "Son," in an emotionless voice.

"Mother," Ranma replied in the exact same voice.

"Hello, Akane," Nodoka said a bit warmer.

Akane nodded coolly and said, "Hello, Mrs. Saotome." Behind Nodoka's iron mask of a face, a small wince could almost be detected.

Remembering her manners, Nodoka said, "Please come in." She led them to the living room, where she served them some green tea. Nodoka sat there in silence feeling the temperature of the room drop, slow degree by slow degree.

After watching the two of them sit there in silence while they sipped their tea, Akane finally said, in a disgusted voice, "Well at least I know where he gets that stubborn pride from. You're both idiots, you know that."

Ranma had the grace to look a little guilty. He replied, "Mother." He stopped and started again with a somewhat warmer voice, "Mom, I was really hurt that you didn't come talk to me about the lies that Nabiki was telling you. You knew how I felt about Akane and that she was the only woman for me. You should have known that I would never have betrayed her with any one. Because of that, I said many things in anger that I shouldn't have thought, much less said." He bowed formally, and said, "Gomen Nasai, Mom. I'm very sorry for what I said. It was hurtful and I hope eventually you can forgive me."

Nodoka bowed to her son and replied, "Ranma, I'm as much to blame if not more so. You're right, I did let you down. Nabiki was just so convincing. She had her story down pat, with the pages of her diary talking about the nights that you had spent with her, and then the results of a pregnancy test to back it up. Then she played on my sense of honor. Her crying was most effective, especially about how her life would be ruined if you didn't marry her before her condition became obvious. Then Gemna backed up some of what she said, commenting about how he had seen you sneaking out of her room early in the morning. I let that baka influence me. I should have known better. I hope that you will come to forgive me as well."

Akane breathed a small sight of relief. "That's a bit better you two," she said, "At least you're talking to each other now."

Ranma hesitantly reached out his arms. His mother's face lit up as she gladly entered his embrace.

"Akane, dear, thank you. It will take more than this before all of the pain will go away, but thank you for helping us see we were being foolish. Thank you for helping me regain my son," Nodoka said, gratefully, "Can you forgive me as well?"

Akane said, "Nodoka, it will take a little time for me as well, but I'm not anywhere near as angry with you as I am with Nabiki and Father. What they attempted to do was inexcusable." Her aura began to glow with her anger.

Ranma reached out a hand to Akane to calm her down. Her aura slowly dissipated, then she said, "I'm sorry about that."

Nodoka took a deep breath and then said, "I'm sure this wasn't the only reason you came here, but I wanted to ask you a couple of questions first. Akane, dear, when did you two get engaged, and why are you the one carrying the Saotome katana?"

"Well, he asked me two nights ago. We would have told you the next morning, but, well you know what happened," Akane replied. An awkward silence filled the room, as they all tried to avoid thinking about that.

"As to why Acchan is carrying the honor blade, that's simple. You felt that you had lost your honor over what happened and were no longer worthy. I'm obviously your child, because I felt the same way. Acchan on the other hand did nothing dishonorable, so I felt she should bring it back to its home," Ranma answered finally, "Besides, she's better with a katana than I am." He smirked as he admitted that last.

Nodoka face-faulted. "My son has grown up, admitting that there is something that someone else is better at. I never thought that I'd hear that," she said, finally. Akane began giggling at the expression on Nodoka's face.

Nodoka finally asked, "Ranma, tell me how Kuno of all people managed to wound you?"

Ranma looked guiltily at his mother. "Acchan and I had spent the lunch period up on the roof. I was showing off to her so I jumped down with her in my arms. I hadn't put her down yet when Kuno came. I guess he didn't like seeing her in my arms and he definitely took exception to our engagement. He swung at me while I wasn't quite ready and got my arm. Tofu stitched it right up so it will be fine. Acchan took care of him, though, he's in the hospital with a broken arm and two cracked ribs," Ranma said finally.

Nodoka grew angry. "So that is how he honors his sworn word to leave the two of you alone. Our clan will see to his demise," Nodoka snarled. Ranma grew pale at the anger he saw on his mother's face.

Akane suggested, "Auntie, instead of calling out a blood feud against the Kuno clan, let us handle it. I'm already pressing assault charges against him."

"Hmm," Nodoka mused, "That might be a better revenge anyway. I can call on the clan to ensure that he doesn't escape justice." She continued thinking. After several minutes, she smiled coldly and said, ice dripping from her voice, "Kuno however has insulted both our clans. Our honor demands that he pay. Since he is so lacking in honor that he would come between the engagement, I think it is fitting that we remove what little honor he has left."

Ranma's eyes narrowed as he realized what Nodoka was suggesting, "Having him convicted of assault would destroy his honor, Mom. That's all that we need to do. Once that happens, his own family will disown him to remove the shame."

Nodoka pondered that. She finally sighed and said, "That will be satisfactory. Now, let's talk about more pleasant things than that idiot. When do you two want to get married?"

Ranma blushed bright red as he looked at his fiancée. "Mom, we had been thinking about waiting until August when we get out of school. But, well, after everything that's happened, I don't think we should wait that long. I just don't know how to do that with both of us underage," he said, a little sadly.

"Ranchan, I'd marry you tomorrow, if I could!" Akane said, her eyes shining.

"If that's what you two want, I think I can arrange it. Not tomorrow of course, but soon," Nodoka said, with a little laugh, "Akane, if you could, I'd love it if you would call me Mom. After all, you'll be my daughter soon."

Akane smiled and came over to Nodoka and hugged her. "Okay, Mom," she whispered.

"Now, I'd like it if the two of you moved in here with me. This house is certainly large enough, and I rattle around in it all by myself. If Tofu and Kasumi want to come as well, they're more than welcome," Nodoka said.

"What about Gemna? I kinda burned some bridges the other day," Ranma said, grimly.

Nodoka raised an eyebrow at that, thinking, 'He's serious about no longer considering that idiot as his father.' Nodoka sat there silent for a long moment, and then replied, "This is my home, and your home, not his. Who I chose to have stay here is none of his business. He is no longer welcome here. I delayed dealing with him out of hope that I could influence him and regain the man I married. I see that is no longer possible after his cooperation with Nabiki."

Ranma smiled sadly as he looked at Akane. She shrugged her shoulders, as if to say the decision was up to him. "Mom, I'd like that, really I would, but I need to think about it first. It makes a lot of sense, because there's really no room at the clinic, but I don't want to rush things too quickly, either. It'll have to happen soon though. If nothing else, we need to give the two newlyweds some privacy." He smirked as he said that.

Nodoka's eyes widened in shock that Ranma would say something like that. Then she giggled. Ranma almost fell off his chair, listening to his mother giggle. Nodoka replied finally, "I understand, Ranma. At least I know you'll be here soon. Now you two better hurry or you'll be late for school." She kissed her children.

Akane walked over to the fireplace and placed the Saotome sword in its stand on the mantle. She stood there for a second, her eyes mysterious, then bowed to the sword. Nodoka was touched by the courtesy the young woman her son had selected had displayed. Then she watched as the two of them dashed out the door to school. She slowly wiped a tear from her eye, smiling as she realized that a piece of her life was beginning to fix itself.

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The school day went quickly, though once again Akane had several notes on her desk from her classmates that she left unread. Ranma solved the problem of him receiving any notes by dramatically ripping the first one that he had received into tiny shreds and then glaring at anyone who neared him. The only blemish on an otherwise fine day was when Nabiki tracked them down as they were leaving the schoolyard.

"Hello, Ranma, Sis," Nabiki said as she blocked their exit from the schoolyard.

Akane eyed her coldly. "What do want now, Nabiki? Don't you have some money to count or something? Stop calling me Sis, I don't recognize that relationship anymore, remember?" she said, ice dripping from her voice.

Nabiki closed her eyes against the venom in her sister's voice. "I just wanted to warn you guys. Kodachi apparently came by the house late last night. She left her black roses behind. I don't know why she came by, but I thought you two would like to know that. By the way, how's the arm, Ranma? It looked like a pretty bad cut when I saw the attack yesterday."

Ranma said, curtly, "It's fine."

"Some high-priced lawyer spoke to the magistrate at the bail hearing and after that, Kuno was denied bail. He won't be getting out any time soon," Nabiki said. 'He absolutely hates me now,' she thought sadly to herself.

"How much is this news going to cost us?" Akane asked, icily.

"It's free," Nabiki replied softly.

Akane pulled some money from her pocket and tried to give to Nabiki. When she refused to take it, Akane dropped it on the ground and said, "Nothing with you is free, Nabiki. I won't be in your debt, ever again." The two of them brushed past Nabiki and left. A single tear trickled unnoticed down her face as Nabiki bent down and picked up the cash from the ground.

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That afternoon, after Ranma and Akane had returned to the clinic from school, Kasumi called them into the small kitchenette to talk to them about how their day had gone. "How did the talk with your mother go, Ranma?" she asked sweetly, while handing them a plate of fresh baked cookies.

"Thanks to Acchan here, it went pretty good. If she hadn't a jumped in, we'd probably still be sitting there staring at each other," Ranma replied, hugging Akane, "We still have a ways to go, but the worst part is taken care of. We still love each other after all. She also agreed to see what it would take for the two of us to get married soon as well."

"That's wonderful!" Kasumi exclaimed, "But I thought the two of you were going to wait."

"I don't want to wait any longer, Sis. Ranma's mine and I want the world to know that," Akane said, a fierce glint in her eye. Then she relaxed and added, "She's also invited all of us to move in with her, Sis. I think it's a good idea. I don't want her to get lonely again, and she'll just rattle around in that big house of hers, and to be honest we could use the additional rooms."

Kasumi frowned quickly, so quickly that if Ranma had blinked, he would have missed it. "Are you sure that is a good thing to do?" she asked.

Ranma pondered the question for a while and said, "I think what happened with Kuno kinda brought some sanity back into things. If Akane hadn't been ready to take care of Kuno, I might not have survived. I think that scared Mom. I know it bothered me. It made me understand that I didn't want to lose Mom over something that one of us said or did. Don't get me wrong. I expect we'll be walking on eggshells around each other for a while."

Akane said, "She explained how Nabiki fooled her into believing her lies. She was very upset with herself for doing that. I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't find forgiving herself harder than forgiving Ranma. Just like Ranma will forgive her first long before he forgives himself."

"Oh my, you two certainly seem to have thought it through. If you two decide that it's the right thing for you, go ahead," Kasumi replied, "I think it would be best for you three to spend some time together, first, so I think Tofu and I will just stay here by ourselves for a while longer."

"Acchan, we could probably stay there tonight, if you want?" Ranma suggested.

Akane thought for a few minutes and said, "Why don't you call her and let her know we'll coming? I'm sure she'll be thrilled."

Ranma nodded, and went to the office to call his mom. After several minutes, he came back and said, "She's expecting us for dinner. She sure sounded happy, Acchan."

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After an excellent dinner with his mother, Ranma and Akane helped her do the dishes and clean up the kitchen. Then Ranma and Akane went outside so Akane could practice her katas while Ranma watched. After a couple of hours of that, Akane came back in and washed up, while Ranma went to find his mother. He found her sitting in the living room staring at her blade up on the mantle.

Nodoka asked, "How's she doing?"

"You talking martial arts, or something else?" Ranma asked.

"Something else. How's she taking what Nabiki did?" Nodoka asked in a worried tone.

Ranma replied, "She's very angry with Nabiki and her father, still. She loves both of them deeply, and what they did hurt a great deal. If Kasumi hadn't walked out with her, I don't know what she would have done. Gemna she would just as soon turn into a panda-skin rug. Come to think about it that would be the most useful thing he would have done in years. Kasumi is worried about her a bit, I know. The sparring that she does is helping her keep herself under control. Acchan is getting the movements down pretty good. Now that she's gotten her speed up, she really looks good. There's a few more things that I want to teach her, but while she's not yet my equal, she makes a good sparring partner," Ranma said.

"Thanks, Ranchan. I'm glad to finally here you say that about me," Akane said from the doorway.

Ranma blushed and replied, "It's only the truth, Acchan. I'm proud of you. You worked hard all these many months. You came a long way from when we first met. Mom, Acchan and I need to finish our homework and then we're going to bed. See you in the morning." He kissed his mother lightly on her cheek. Akane followed him upstairs to the bedroom they were going to share.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews; I'm glad that it has been enjoyed. As always, constructive criticisms are appreciated.