Chance Encounter
an Alternate Reality Sailor Moon Romance
by Time Guardian

Chapter 9 - Baby steps to Love

The room seemed unnaturally silent as Mamoru put the phone back on the table, which only served to unsettle him.

The look Usagi was giving him only served to unsettle him more.

She finally broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was the stalker, wasn't it?"

For a moment Mamoru thought to protect her, but his face must have betrayed something to her for Usagi lunged forward, grabbing him by the wrist. "Don't lie to me. What did he say?"

He sighed. "He said that he wanted me to stay away from you, that what happened to Toya could happen to me."

Usagi's eyes started to brim over with tears. "The police told me that the boat was sabotaged, but I didn't believe- no, I didn't WANT to believe them. Now my stalker is threatening you."

She released her hold on him and backed away. "I put you in danger."

Enough was enough.

Mamoru grabbed her wrist and held on tight. He kept his voice low and even. "How many times do I have to tell you? I am not going anywhere, and I have been committed to you from the beginning. I know you are scared- hell, that call did nothing good for me either, but I care too much about you to see you tackle this all by yourself. This person- whoever he or she is- is sick, and would do anything to make sure you are theirs-forever."

Silence followed his words and Mamoru felt her arm tremble under his grasp.

If he wanted to scare her, he was doing a good job.

Before the phone call Usagi was warring with her feelings for him. Now, she was having trouble wrapping her mind around the idea that Toya was killed by her stalker.

And now, Mamoru was the stalker's next target.

It was too much. "I- I-"

Her last defenses around her heart crumbled, and with a sob, she freed her wrist from his grasp and threw her arms around his neck.

All the stress from months of hiding, the loss of Toya, her feelings for Mamoru- they all fell away as she leaned heavily into him, her sobs muffled against his shirt.

Usagi felt his long arms wrap around her, pressing her close.

His voice was low and reassuring. "It'll be ok, I promise. This stalker will not get the better of me, and I will not let this creep get to you"

Mamoru felt her body tremble with sobs, and it tore at his heart. He held Usagi close, lightly stroking her back for what seemed like an eternity before she finally stilled under his touch.

Releasing his hold on her, he looked down into her blue eyes. "You look tired."

Usagi nodded slowly. "I knocked out all of my chores before my writing session, so yes. I feel like I could sleep a week, and I still didn't finish a song yet."

She looked over at Chibi-Usa sleeping in the playpen. "At least I was able to feed and change her before I started my writing session."

"Well then, since daughter is taken care of, it is time to take care of mother," Mamoru said with a smile. Leaning down, he gathered Usagi into his arms.

Usagi squealed in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to bed. You need a good night's sleep if you want to write the two songs that you need."

Mamoru took her into the bedroom, and laid her gently on the bed. Grabbing a blanket from the foot of the bed, he gently draped it over her.

He planted a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well. Everything else can wait. We will talk in the morning."

"But what about chibi-Usa? I need her in here with me and-"

Mamoru smiled. "Chibi-Usa will be my responsibility tonight, and no buts. Now, good night and sweet dreams."

To settle the matter, he walked out of the bedroom and closed the door.

Once Mamoru walked back to the living room, he started to pull out the sofa bed when he heard a whimper come from the playpen. He went over to check on Chibi-Usa, and found that she was in a sitting position, and from the look in her tiny eyes, she was not happy.

A brief touch of panic settled in. How in the heck was he supposed to calm her down this time of night?

He quietly walked to the playpen, picked up the whimpering Chibi-Usa and gathered her into his arms.

He spoke quietly to Chibi-Usa. "Shhh, little one. I promised your mother that I would take care of you tonight. You remember me, right? I was the one who helped you come into the world."

Apparently this did nothing to quiet her. In fact, her whimpering grew louder.

Since he hadn't pulled the sofa bed out, he went ahead and took Chibi-Usa over to the sofa and sat across the length of the sofa with her cradled in his arms.

Mamoru chuckled. "So you hold a grudge then? Heh, I'll let you in on a secret, Chibi-Usa. That wont be the last time you will feel hurt. You'll learn and grow into Womanhood, fall in love, maybe get your heart broken a time or two, and then fall in love again."

This declaration seemed to mystify Chibi-Usa. She quieted her whimpering, and stared at him almost in question.

Mamoru shook his head. "Don't look at me like that young lady, I'll confess- I am in love with your mother. She has such a strong creative soul, and she is so warm and caring. She fills my heart with happiness- you know, like when you get your favorite bedtime story?"

Chibi-Usa smiled and cooed.

Mamoru shook his head quickly in disbelief. "Heh, for a moment there, I thought that you just agreed with me. I don't even know why I am telling you this. My heart is full whenever I am around her, and for the first time in a long time since my parents died, my heart feels complete. So what do you think, am I the right one for your mother?"

When he looked down this time, Mamoru found that Chibi-Usa had closed her eyes and had fallen asleep in his arms.

"Well, so much for that."

It was morning when Usagi woke up, feeling unusually refreshed. Chibi-Usa hadn't woken her up at all that night, and-

she had just remembered that Mamoru promised to take care of Chibi-Usa last night and- he kissed her- again.

She sighed. Life was getting complicated. Usagi was sure that he had feelings for her, and though part of her heart still grieved for Toya, she was falling in love with Mamoru.

Slipping out of bed, Usagi realized that she still had her clothes on that she had worn yesterday, and decided to stick with them.

Quietly opening the bedroom door, she walked into the living room, half expecting almost any scenario-
except for the one before her.

Mamoru sat on the sofa lengthwise, sound asleep. Chibi-Usa lay in his arms, eyes closed and also sound asleep.

Usagi's heart melted at the sight. Silently as she could, she walked over to the sofa, carefully scooped Chibi-Usa up in her embrace, and headed towards the kitchen. Chibi-Usa's sleepy eyes opened and she gave her mother a quizzical smile.

Usagi smiled down at her in reply. "Let's let Mamo-chan sleep for a little while longer, Chibi-Usa. I have some tasty breast milk for you in the fridge."

She stopped for a moment as she realized what she had called Mamoru. "Um, let's let that one be between the two of us for now, ok Chibi-usa?"

Usagi went to open the fridge, when she heard a distinctly amused male voice behind her.

"Your secret is safe with me, Usako."

Turning around in surprise, she saw Mamoru leaning against the kitchen wall with the biggest smile on his face.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the reviews I have received. I took a little risk with this chapter, since romantic emotional moments aren't my main forte, so what do you think? Too sappy, or just the right amount of warm fuzziness?

Till next time,

Time Guardian