Chapter Two (Beginning Of June)
It looked like it was going to be a hot summer. The sky was cloudless and the air very hot. The racing track shimmered in the bright light of the merciless sun shinning down the arena. Thousands of people sat around the track yelling loudly when the racers crossed the finish line. They ate ice cream and drank cold soda. Most of them wore base caps.
Normally the winners were allowed to take another lap across the arena and normally the best three racers enjoyed it. But this time the first car went into the box while the second and the third one continued their way on the hot asphalt. The crowd continued its yelling and the shinning of the sun seemed to be more intensive.
Haruka climbed out of her race car and stumbled toward the inner part of the box. She ignored the amazing looks of her team as she entered the nice and comforting shadow. With all her powers she opened the door and almost fell over her own feet as she entered the cool room.
She had about five minutes until her trainer would call her up to come to receive the price she had won this time. The woman knew she would use these few moments well.
Haruka took off her helmet and it hit loudly the marble underground. She didn't look into the mirror to see her pale face and her sweaty hair. Her body trembled and it was hard for her to open the door to the cabin.
Slowly she went down to her knees and threw up the food she ate for breakfast.
After she finished she leaned back on the nice cold wall and closed her eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around her belly and thanked God that her mind started to get clear again.
What happened on the track?
She could hardly remember when it started. Okay she didn't feel that well when she woke up in the morning. But she ignored it because today was the first important race of the Grand Prix of Japan. It was normal for her to be a little bit nervous. A car racer without nervousness was not a real car racer. The training in the morning was okay but she couldn't eat anything for lunch. Her stomach rebelled and so she let it be. Some hours later was the start. Everything went fine. She had the pole position and her opponents were far behind her - as always. She could keep up her fast tempo and got faster with every lap. She was fast - as fast as the wind. She nearly broke the track record.
And then...
What happened to me?
Haruka remembered in blank horror that her belly started to hurt and it got worse with every lap. She lost speed and her opponents reached her. It was at the last lap when she almost lost the control of her car and almost crashed into the wall. But she could tear her steering wheel around and saved the situation.
She didn't know how she reached the finish line but she actually did it. Without being killed.
Amazing!
Haruka choked again and sighed. It was not for the first time that she was feeling so ill. During the last few days she could hardly eat anything cooked. Hotaru neither. The little princess was always tired and couldn't sleep properly.
A thin smile appeared on the car racer's pale face. That's what paternity meant: To share everything with her little daughter.
So I'll share a flu with my little tomboy.
Haruka opened her eyes and looked through the window to the blue sky above. The next race would be in about two weeks. That was enough time to be strong again.
"Haruka?" The door opened and a tall young man with short brown hair entered the small room. He wore the same costume as the young woman. He was holding a similar helmet in his right hand. With the left one he ran over his dark eyes. "Is everything okay?" He asked concerned and waited impatiently in front of the cabin door.
"Yes. I think Hotaru is going to get a flu." Haruka came to her feet and opened the door. Confidently she smiled at the young man who was her team partner. He wasn't as good as she, but he was always under the best ten racers. And he was a loyal friend. From the first day he was friendly. And understanding. He didn't feel affronted that she was a woman - and Michiru, too. He liked to play with Hotaru when the small girl was at the track to watch her Haruka-papa racing the car.
On the other hand Haruka protected him from the trainer who could be a real devil when his racers didn't reach the speed he wanted them to drive at.
"You race although you're feeling ill?" The young man watched her with a more and more concerned look on his sun brown face. "That's irresponsible! What would your daughter think when you're in hospital because you didn't take care for yourself and caused an accident?"
"Thanks for your sermon, Hashitzou, but I am feeling fine now." Haruka went over to the washbasin and washed her face with pure cold water. "It won't happen during the next race."
I hope it.
"Okay. I forgive you. But only for this time! The next time I'll take you into my car and drive you home!"
Haruka looked at him in surprise. Then she nodded and found herself kneeling on the ground of the toilette within the next moment.
"Please promise me to go to bed for the next days and to go to a doctor." Hashitzou helped her up. Haruka couldn't look in his dark eyes. Finally she sighed.
"I promise."
Then the door was pushed open and a huge man stood on the threshold.
"What the hell happened?" He shouted but the loudness in his voice just covered his concern.
"Everything is okay. She's just a little cold. That's all." Explained Hashitzou to their trainer and gave Haruka her helmet back.
"I won, didn't I?" asked the young woman and the bright smile returned on her pale face. Her trainer just grunted then he went back into the warm sun.
"In five minutes they will honour the victors. I don't want to miss you there, TenĂ´-san!" he said with a cold voice and vanished in the bright light.
"Hai..." Haruka held her helmet tighter as she followed him ignoring the growing dizziness in her head.
"What the hell..." Haruka looked confused at Yaten who leaned against her silver Ferrari.
"Give me your keys." He seemed to be uncertain and looked anywhere but at the young woman in front of him.
"You won't drive my car!" shouted Haruka wildly and tried to push him away. But it didn't work.
Is Yaten becoming stronger?
Or am I becoming weaker?
"That's not my idea. Setsuna asked me to take you home."
"What is Setsuna thinking? Is she nuts? I just won a race and I can take care for myself, thank you very much!" Haruka tried to open the door and to sit down on the diving seat, but Yaten held her back.
"Please, Haruka. For Setsuna. She saw the race this afternoon on TV and was so concerned about the last lap that she doesn't want you to drive home alone."
Haruka looked straight into Yaten's green pleading eyes, then she sighed.
"This woman controls you too much." She finally said and gave the car keys into his smaller hands.
"Not more than you or the others." Smiled Yaten and seated himself behind the steering wheel. Haruka lowered her head and realized how tired she actually was when the car speeded up.
"Be careful! There is another car! And it seems to..." She screamed but they passed by and Yaten slowed down a little bit.
"And you call yourself a car racer!" joked Yaten but his eyes were serious.
"Yes, because I am one." Haruka turned her head to see out of the window to the near ocean. The steady rush of the waves remembered her of Michiru.
Michi-chan. I miss you.
It was now over two month that her lover had left her and went on tour through Europe. She had already visited Germany, Italy and Spain. Now she was going to give her next concerts in France. Paris. The city of love...
It had been the most terrible months in Haruka's entire life. She could hardly sleep in this huge, lonely bed. Although Michiru called her up every evening she felt alone. Hotaru was with her and there were the others of the Sailor team, as well, but life wasn't the same without her lover being with her.
"Mako and Minako were to see the doctor with Hotaru this afternoon." Yaten saw how Haruka spun around making a terrified face.
She's a good mother. Or father...
"Don't worry. I asked them because Setsuna was in the library and I had a rehearsal with the guys. The doctor says that she has a cold and will be soon recovered. He gave her some medicine. During the next weeks we should take attention that she will dry herself quickly after she leaves the water." Yaten remembered the hot day last week when they went for a picnic at the ocean near the house.
Haruka nodded then she glanced back at the endless sea next to the bending road. Silence fell over the car and Yaten didn't know what to say. What he should say. What he was allowed to say. Without hurting Haruka. The strong woman never showed any pain or hardly any other feelings. But Yaten knew that Haruka missed her Michiru like hell. That's what he would do if Setsuna would be that far away.
"What happened during the race? Setsuna was as concerned as I have hardly ever seen her before. She said you almost caused an accident."
I don't know.
Haruka looked back on the road. Finally she closed her eyes.
"I guess I have a cold, too. And it was very hot in the car." She sighed slightly and knew that everything she would do this evening would be going to bed and sleep. "But it's nothing to worry about. I'll be fine in about a week."
"Did you ask your doctor?"
"I will next time." Haruka didn't open her eyes because then Yaten would have noticed that she lied. But she didn't like these questions.
"Do so. Well, you know Setsuna." Yaten smiled. But he knew that he was as concerned as his girlfriend.
"What about your new song?" asked Haruka after a while and changed the topic. The young man ran through his silver hair with his free hand and grinned.
"You know Sejya. He always wants a love song. And Tahiki wants a serious one. So we argued half of the afternoon without any success. Now everyone goes home and writes his own song. Tomorrow we will discuss about the different versions and maybe we will find a nice one."
"What are your ideas?"
Yaten turned his head but Haruka sat there motionless with her eyes closed. The wind ran through her short blond hair. For a moment she looked fragile. But the moment was gone as fast as it appeared. The young man blinked then he concentrated again on the road.
"I don't know. Sejya always wants to sing about a girl and a boy who meet for the first time and fall desperately in love with each other. And Tahiki wants to sing about the death of a loving person. He's too theatrical sometimes. I think over a song about a person who is together with the one he loves for a long time. Maybe an old grandfather who watches his wife cradling their grandchildren, and he thanks God for having shared his whole life with her. Maybe he thanks God that she is still at his side and when she will leave him one day he can be sure that she will wait for him in heaven. Because they're both grown old together."
There was no answer from Haruka and Yaten wondered if she fell asleep or thought that this was a silly topic for a song.
"Well, I guess it's a very strange idea for song of a boy group, isn't it?" He imagined Sejya singing such a song and couldn't fight back a wicked grin on his young face. Yes, everyone would believe him being young and in love. But old and still in love, too? With an old woman next to his side? Cradling his grandchildren? No, that was unthinkable. At least yet.
"You love Setsuna really, don't you?"
Yaten turned his head as he heard the quiet voice beside him. Haruka's eyes were still closed but a smile laid on her pale face.
"Yes, I do." Yaten answered truly and his grin widened and got more tender. Everyone declared him being nuts as he begun this relationship with the serious, green haired senshi of time. Because Setsuna was about a head taller than him. And she was nearly ten years older.
But Haruka had the opinion that every love was okay - if it's true love. She protected Yaten and Setsuna. Once she fought with Sejya and almost broke his right arm.
After this incident Usagi spoke a sharp word with every senshi and after this discussion their relationship was accepted. Or at least no one actually said anything bad about it any longer. But the glances of the other Star Lights were sometimes more than clear.
After a some minutes while they drove along the road near the beach Haruka opened her eyes and looked at Yaten. Her smile was as bright as ever but her eyes were a little bit darker. More serious than normal. As sad as they were since Michiru left for Europe.
"I'd like your song very much." She declared, then she watched the endless ocean again.
Yaten nodded thankfully while the melody slowly evolved in his head.
"That's cuuuute!" Usagi looked down at the tiny pyjama in her hands. It was of a deep blue with sparkling stars all over it. "Thank you, Haruka!" She embraced the taller woman so fast that Haruka couldn't react. She felt the arched belly against her own as Usagi squeezed her hard for some moments. Then the small Queen sat back and took a deep breath. It was too hot for her and Chibiusa drudged wildly inside her swollen body.
"I bought it for Hotaru once but she grew too quickly too tall to wear it."
Haruka sat down at the large table. All senshi were on the huge terrace looking with loving eyes at their pregnant Queen. During the next weeks Chibiusa would be born and they all could hardly wait to see the tiny Princess of future Crystal Tokyo.
Today it was Usagi's birthday and there was a huge mountain of presents piling behind her chair. There were mostly baby cloths and teddies for the unborn Princess.
"Keep sitting, dear. I'll do it." Mamoru gave his wife a short but loving kiss, then he offered their guests coffee or milk.
"Haruka-papa! Look what I've done!" Hotaru ran from the garden to her father and sat down on Haruka's knees to show her the flowers in her hand. They looked like a small body in the young woman's eyes. Maybe Chibiusa.
"How was the training?" asked Setsuna and took place next to the car racer. Haruka wanted to answer but she was interrupted by Rei.
The young priest gave Ami a warning look. "Mizuno! Close this book! Immediately!" The young woman with short blue hair blushed deeply and put a big book aside.
"Hai." She whispered and bowed her head.
"And you! Can't you wait! Just this one time?" Rei's voice got louder and Minako stopped chewing at this very moment. The cake in front of her was missing a cherry and the young woman looked ashamed.
"Can't we just wait until everyone gets his drink? That's not too much what I've asked for, is it...?" Rei's voice got more and more quiet until she stopped speaking. Usagi was grinning her bright innocent smile at her. At the top of the cake were now two cherries missing. Usagi's mouth was redder than normal.
"Why do I care?" asked Rei to the world in general, but then she returned her friend's smile that faded as the three boys continued their arguing.
"Oh, just SHUT UP!" Rei stood up and shouted loudly through the entire garden. The boys from the famous boy group Three Lights looked up to her in disbelieve and three sheets of paper fell upon the ground.
"That's better." Satisfied Rei sat back. "Then let's begin." She took a great piece of cake, just like the others did.
"Hm! That's delicious!" She shouted chewing.
"That's good." Makoto blushed and laughed happily.
"How was your training?" After a while of silent eating Setsuna remembered her question, ignoring her boyfriend who started to discuss again with his two friends about the new song. They actually couldn't decide about one version.
"But a tragic moment in life is..." started Tahiki but was interrupted by Sejya. "Hey, that's what no one wants to hear. Young girls want to hear that they are loved by young attractive men!"
"Men like you, yes?" Tahiki took his sheet of paper and held it towards Seiya's face who got angrier. Yaten just sighed and looked up to the bright blue sky.
"It was okay. The trainer thinks that we have a good chance to win the race on Sunday."
"That's in two days." Ami looked down her watch counting the days.
"Hai. This time it's in the Great Hall of New Tokyo." Haruka studied her own piece of cake and the aching in her belly returned. The same did the nausea. She pushed her dishes aside and instead continued to feed her daughter. Hotaru got over the cold and was now as strong and wild as normal. But somehow Haruka didn't get over her own cold. The dizziness stayed and it got harder and harder for her to drive the race car properly in her state. She couldn't hardly eat and these lonesome nights were the worst. Almost every morning she had to throw up the few things she ate for dinner.
Maybe I should go to the doctor. Maybe Setsuna and Yaten are right.
"I wish you luck." Rei smiled and took her second piece of the cake. Haruka watched her and her belly ached more and more.
"Thank you." She answered and drank a bit of her milk. She stopped drinking coffee a week ago. This seemed to support the pain inside her body.
"... and then the doctor gave us this photo." Usagi smiled proudly at the ultrasound picture of small Chibiusa inside her body. "Hey, small lady! That's too wild for your old mother!" She put both hands upon her swollen belly and her happy look met the happy one of Mamoru. "She starts arguing with me before she is born." Usagi sighed gladly. "It's good that she soon will be born. Because I missed her all those long years." All at the table agreed and Minako started telling stories about Chibiusa when she came from the future to mess up their entire lives. But now they were very happy to have her back again. Because some years ago the future Chibiusa returned to the 23rd century and wasn't allowed by the Neo Queen Serenity to return. It was hard for Usagi because she loved her future daughter very much.
That's why Usagi was the happiest woman of the world when she got to know that she was pregnant. That was about eight months ago.
Hotaru left her father's knees and came to the smiling Queen and looked too serious for such a small girl at the Usagi's big belly.
"Do you want to feel her?" The young woman stroked the dark hair of the smallest senshi and took the tiny hands in her own and held them to her belly. In that very moment Chibiusa got bored inside her mother's body and kicked against the belly. Hotaru looked up in surprise and met the Usagi's lucky shinning eyes. Her blond long hair shimmered in the afternoon sun and with her white dress she almost looked like an angel.
"That's my little Chibiusa." Declared the Queen and squeezed the small girl's small hands.
"Hello, Chibiusa." Hotaru returned the young woman's bright smile and carefully caressed the swollen belly. Chibiusa kicked again. "I hope you love playing cards. Last birthday I got a very good card game." Hotaru whispered mysteriously. The senshi around the table began to laugh and Mamoru gave the future Sailor Saturn a warm smile. As they had been in their last lives Chibiusa and Hotaru would become the biggest of friends.
Haruka watched her daughter in silence. A sad expression appeared in her green eyes as she remembered why Michiru went on tour through Europe and America. This was a scene Michiru would never experience. She would never have her own child. And Hotaru would never have her own brothers and sisters.
Haruka winced as the pain increased. She stood up quietly not interrupting the happy scene and slowly went into the huge light house that was surrounded by a great garden at the edge of Tokyo. It was a little bit colder inside and the noise of the laughing voices faded slightly. Haruka took a deep breath and opened a door to the light bathroom. Quietly she closed it and went into her knees as she had done almost every day during the past weeks. The cold of her daughter was over but Haruka was still feeling weak and ill.
That's not good.
She took another deep breath but still the nausea increased.
In two days there's the next race. Until Sunday I should know what's wrong with me.
Haruka looked up to the window as the nausea reached it's climax and threw up her breakfast. She choked for some time, then she sat back on the cold tiles. She didn't tell anyone. Not even Michiru at the telephone. She didn't want to concern anyone. But as the days passed and nothing changed she got more and more concerned.
Michi-chan's first symptoms were as innocent as this, too.
Haruka shivered and her eyes filled with tears. She was so tired!
Maybe it's a worse flu than Hotaru's and needs more time to recover.
The young woman sighed. She couldn't believe her own lies anymore.
Better I'll go to the doctor tomorrow. Then I am ready for the next race.
Haruka sighed and came hard to her feed. Her legs trembled and she felt as weak as she had never felt in her entire life. Slowly she opened the wardrobe to take a towel to wash and dry her sweaty pale face.
Or I am ready to go to hospital for a long time.
Haruka took the towel and scolded herself for being so stupid. She was okay. Hotaru needed her and Michiru was on tour. She wasn't allowed to be ill.
The young woman froze in motion as she saw the small box next to the stack of towels. Startled green eyes looked down at a package of sanitary towels. She actually couldn't remember her last period. It never had been irregular. Never...
Haruka went down to her knees again and shook her head in disbelieve. Then she covered her burning face with her ice cold hands.
"Congratulations. You are pregnant."
"What?" Her dark green eyes grew wide as she stared at the doctor in disbelieve. "Are you sure?"
"Hai." The doctor behind the desk looked up from his papers as he heard the confusion in his patient's female voice. "Wasn't it planned?"
Wasn't it planned!
Haruka thought of Michiru playing the violin. Of Michiru laughing at her. Of Michiru caring for their daughter. Of Michiru holding her tight. Of Michiru loving her...
How could it be planned when it was impossible!
"Planned?" Haruka voice was very quiet as she asked this stupid question in return. Her startled green eyes watched the doctor in confusion. "Planned?" Then she started to laugh. A desperate laugh. An almost mad laugh. It stopped as quickly as it started.
"Oh, then it was..."
"Some doctors told me that I would never be able to have children." Explained Haruka. Well no doctor ever said to her that she was infertile, but naturally it was impossible for two woman to have their own child. And Michiru had been the only person in her life. Her only lover. "So you are really sure?"
"Hai." A confident smile returned on the doctor's surprised face. If that was the young woman's only problem he could solve it. For some moments he had almost feared that she didn't want this child. That she would abort it. The man loved his job and he loved to be a doctor, as well. But aborting children was the hard thing about this job. He avoided it where ever he could. But sometimes...
"But how..." The young woman in front of him looked down at her slim body and touched her belly in disbelieve. She was very pale with a sudden and still shook her head for a few times.
"Well there's a simple explanation, TenĂ´-san. All those other doctors were wrong. That's normal. We doctors are just humans as all the other people, too. Aren't we?" He smiled a warm understanding smile. Then he laid one hand upon her shoulder.
"If you don't trust me, I'll show it to you. Normally I use the ultrasound at the second session but your case seems to be special." He smiled and Haruka followed him with weak legs. The underground of the narrow bed was cold but she didn't really notice it. Her thoughts spun around and her head began to ache. She covered her tired eyes with her cold right hand and the darkness that surrounded her was pleasant.
Automatically she uncovered her slime belly with her left hand and shivered as she felt the cold fluid upon her skin.
"Does your husband know about it?"
Husband? A yeah. The ring I wear. Michiru gave it to me the very day she decided to love me. And I wear it since we are a family together with our small princess.
But she'd never really had the courage to ask Michiru to become her wife.
"No."
She can't know it. How? I've never expected...
Again she shook her head in disbelieve. "I told you that we didn't expect this."
"Did you use any contraceptive?"
A weak smile appeared on Haruka's face.
Why should we have used it? What for?
The smile got more ironically.
How should we have used it?
"No. And we're together for so many years now."
"Then your husband will be very glad about it, won't he?"
Haruka thought at her Michi-chan and panic grew inside her.
What if she doesn't believe me? What if she doesn't want to be the father of this child? Or the mother? Or whatever she would be? What if she leaves me calling me a swindler? A whore?
No she would never call me this way!
Haruka swallowed hard and tears burned behind her icy fingers inside her eyes.
She would never, would she?
How could Michi-chan believe me when I can't believe it by myself?
"When did you have your last period?" She heard the doctor's voice from a far distance and some machines made high peeping noises. Haruka swallowed hard then she counted the weeks Michiru was away on tour.
"About two or three months I guess."
This must be a dream!
Haruka sighed slightly. She couldn't decide whether it was a wish becoming true or the beginning of a real bad nightmare. One she would not awake from.
"Then you must be about in the tenth or eleventh week. Hai, that can be. The size is about the right one." Said the doctor in his steady calm voice. "If you want to risk a look...?"
Haruka opened her eyes and stopped to breathe as she saw the picture on the monitor next beside her. It was black and white. Most of the screen was black but in the middle there was a small white spot. It was in motion.
"Well you can't actually see anything special but you can see that it is there and that all those other doctors were wrong. Congratulations." Repeated the doctor and smiled happily. His smile faded as the young woman pushed the scanner away from her belly and sat up. Her face got paler and before she covered it again with her cold hands he could see the tears sparkling in her green eyes. She shook her head twice then she staid motionless. Silent. Unbelieving.
The doctor took the scanner and the expression of his old face became sadder.
"If you don't want this child you should decide quickly. If you're right and your last period is nearly three months ago you only have one or two week to abort it." His voice became very quiet. He hated this part of his job but sometimes he couldn't avoid it. It was the decision of the women who came to him. Not his own ones...
The young woman looked up and he feared that she would faint. She was whiter than the wall behind her. She bit on her lower lip and her green eyes watched him in blank horror.
Abort Michiru's child...?
I am not crazy!
"Please come back next week when you made your decision. My nurse will make an appointment with you." The doctor's voice was colder now but Haruka didn't notice it.
Abort Michiru's child?
She survived this dangerous operation and now a wonder happened. Yes, it must be a wonder because no one else than the young violinist could be the father of this baby. Or the mother. Or whatever...
I can't kill this wonder! Michiru's greatest dream...
Haruka thought of Hotaru and how this little girl changed her life.
I guess my small princess will be glad to get a brother or sister. And Michiru...
The young woman wasn't sure about her lover's feelings. Neither was she sure about her own feelings. But she would handle it. Somehow.
"There's no decision to make." She whispered and silence fell upon the room. The doctor nodded in disappointment, then he stood up and wanted to take away the ultrasound.
Haruka watched him and a thin smile appeared on her pale face as she laid back on the cold underground.
"May I have a picture?"
It was silent on the beach. The full moon shone down at the dark sea. The only sounds heard were the rushes of the waves and the singing of the birds. The last lights of day faded and night fell upon the world.
The young woman sat in the warm sand and watched the wide ocean in front of her. Slowly she drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as if to shield herself from some dangerous force. Wind blew and she slightly shivered in her thin summer clothes. In one hand she held a crumpled sheet of paper as if it was her only life line. As if only it could rescue her from anything bad.
"Michi-chan." She whispered softly, cradling herself. "I miss you." Then she lowered her head and stared at her own feet.
I can't tell her about it. That would be unfair.
Haruka sighed and nodded thoughtful. Michiru needed her time in Europe and America to recover. To understand what happened to her body. Then she would have the power to understand what happened to her lover's body.
You're just frightened of how she will react!
Haruka stood up with a sudden movement and started to run as she always did when she couldn't find a perfect solution. Or any solution at all. When she was confronted with a messy situation where she was helpless. She ran about ten minutes, then she had to stop. Desperately she looked out to the calm ocean while she gasped for breath. In the last weeks she got tired very fast.
That's not normal.
Haruka thought at the paper in her hand and a weak smile appeared on her now reddened face.
Now it is normal. Normal for the next six or seven months!
Six months. That was enough time for Michiru to recover and for herself to win the Grand Prix.
And after that time?
The smile grew brighter when she remembered their little baby-Hotaru almost five years ago. Michiru had been on tour to Hiroshima when Dr. Tomoe died. Haruka took the crying girl home with her and decided to adopt her. She didn't want Hotaru to grow up the lonely way she did. The young violinist agreed with her and a day after Michiru returned from her tour they bought the first clothes for the tiny baby and a wonderful cradle with white curtains and a big teddy on the blanket. They were good parents to Hotaru and the little girl loved them with all the love a small child possessed.
Haruka couldn't imagine her life without her little daughter.
Why shouldn't we be able to handle another child? It can't be wilder than our sweet princess, can it?
Haruka laughed as she remembered that she was one parent of this child that grew inside her body. The laughter stopped.
And if Michiru doesn't believe me? Because it's impossible for two women to have their own child!
The young car racer looked down at the picture in her hand. The wind ran through her short blond hair and the wide shirt she wore.
It is possible. But somehow...
How will the others react?
Haruka took two steps until she stood in the fresh soft water. She decided to tell no one about the baby until Michiru returned. And Michiru would return when she thought that it was on the time.
At least she promised to be back before Christmas. And the child won't be born before New Year.
Haruka walked through the water for some minutes. It wasn't the best solution she found but it was an idea to begin with. In about three or four months they all would know. But until that time she would hide it and live her life as she always had done.
Well not quite the same way...
The car racer stroked some blonde strands out of her dark green eyes and a the first happy smile this day appeared on her face that wasn't pale any longer. She looked down at her body and the smile grew wider.
Congratulations... she heard the low voice of the doctor in her ears.
"Welcome to this world, little Michi-chan." She whispered and slowly returned to the silver Ferrari that was parked near the beach. It was late. She should go home. Surely her small princess was waiting for her and Setsuna and Yaten, too. They both were certainly full of concern. And anger. Because Setsuna didn't like her coming too late for dinner. Especially when she wanted to cook her favourite meal.
Yes this place was a special one. With all those wonderful people in it. The Sailor team was the best family Haruka could imagine. Maybe they would be shocked for the first moment or two, but when they'd accepted the baby they would be as crazy about it as they were about Hotaru and Chibiusa.
As Haruka sat down behind the steering wheel, she caressed her belly as if she wanted to greet the new life there.
How cuuute! She could almost hear the exited voice of Usagi. And the other voices, too.
When will it be able to eat my cake?
It's too young for your cooking! It doesn't even has any teeth. But, may I lecture it a fairy tale?
How boring! I want to sing a song for it! That's more interesting!
I made this talisman for it.
How cuuute!
We've decided to write a song for it. Really? No one told me! I think it's not tragic enough! But I like it! So keep silent!
I will protect it with my life. I will care for it as I do for the others.
I want to play with it, Haruka-papa.
It looks like it's mother. The last voice was deep and belonged to Mamoru.
Oh Michiru ...
Haruka sighed but the smile didn't fade.
"You will love them." She laughed as she turned the key and speeded up and drove away.
For the first time she didn't cross the speed limit.
The meal was delicious. Hotaru talked the entire time about the shopping she had done with Ami and Minako in the afternoon. She showed the tiny bunny she got from the two around with pride.
After dinner Yaten disappeared into the rooms they lived during the time Michiru was on tour and Setsuna cleaned the dishes. Haruka washed her small princess and got her ready for bed.
"Just one more tale. Pleeeease, Haruka-papa." The pleading expression in her daughter's eyes made her smile softly. She could hardly say no to the small girl's wishes.
"Okay. But afterward you will sleep and dream."
"I promise. And I will dream of Michiru-mama."
The smile of Haruka became a trace more sadder but then she started the fairy tale about a young hero who had to go through many adventures until he finally got the woman he loved. Hotaru clapped into her hands and laughed as her father imitated the different persons of the tale.
"Good night, Haruka-papa." She finally said as the fairy tale was over.
"Good night, honey." The young woman gave her daughter a soft kiss on the forehead, then she switched off the light and left the room.
Slowly she entered her room. As every night she bravely tried to ignore the huge lonely bed but as every night it didn't work. Haruka looked at the picture in her hands, then she put it under the soft pillow.
It's late.
The car racer looked down her watch and took the cell phone in her right hand.
But it's never too late to call her up.
"Haruka?"
She turned in surprise because she didn't hear him enter. Yaten already wore his silver pyjama as he came quietly over to her.
"What did the doctor say?" he asked as he sat down next to her watching her seriously with his light green eyes. They didn't tell Hotaru that she had to go to the doctor because the small child got worried very fast. Especially since her mother had been on hospital for a long time.
Shall I tell him?
"He said that everything is fine." Haruka decided not to tell Yaten the truth. Shortly after all of the Sailor team would know, and the young woman needed some time on her own to understand it.
"It was just a bigger cold than Hotaru-chan's. I will be soon recovered."
In about six or seven months.
Yaten watched her for some moments in silence and she suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Really?" he asked.
"Would I lie to you?" Haruka couldn't look into these concerned eyes any longer so she played with the cell phone in her hands.
"No. Certainly not." Yaten yawned. It had been a hard day although it had been a Saturday.
"Are you still arguing over this new song?"
"Hai. You know Sejya. He just can't stand singing for an old woman." The young man laughed in memories. "Sometimes I wonder how we ever could start this Three-Light-Thing. But it seemed to have worked until know."
"And you will overcome this argument, too."
Yaten looked at the young woman who still played with the phone.
"Sure." He replied and laid some sheets of paper down next to her on the soft blanket. "If you want to read it, I tried some lines." Yaten stood up and slowly went to the door.
"Haruka?"
"Yes?"
As the young woman looked up he could see that she was very tired although she tried to hide it.
"Be careful on the track tomorrow. Hotaru needs you."
And Setsuna and I need you, too.
"I will be." The young woman promised and dialled her lover's number.
"Good night, tomboy." Yaten left the room and closed the door quietly. Haruka could hear him walking down the staircase to the rooms he shared with Setsuna.
"Good night, crazy singer." She whispered towards the closed door.
We're glad to have you with us. You're a tender lover for Setsuna. I've never seen her that happy in all those years I know her. And you're a loyal friend for us all.
Then she took the papers in her left hand. Shortly she studied the notes and hummed the sweet melody.
Yes. I'll like this song.
"Michi-chan?" she asked as the ringing of the cell phone stopped and she could hear a sleepy voice at the other end of the line. "Hai, I know it's quite late and you'll have another concert tomorrow, but..." The voice became more exited and Haruka laid back on the soft blanket and closed her eyes imaging that her lover would be right beside her and not that far away.
"No, nothing happened. I just wanted to hear your voice again and..." Haruka smiled as her violinist interrupted her. Her hand stroked thoughtfully over her belly as she listened to her small senshi on the other end of the world. Her lips curved in a tired smile.
"I love you too, my Michi-chan..."
