I do so dearly apologize for my prolonged absence. As we all know, life's a bitch. And that bitch took a bite out of me recently. I humbly update this story while praying that I still have an audience.

BTW, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ices for giving this a read through. Now, on with the show.

Nephrite rubbed his shoulder. It was the eighth night that he slept on the couch. He tried repeatedly to get back into Makoto's graces to not avail. Nephrite had forgotten how she could hold a grudge.

The soft creaking of the bedroom door announced the arrival of one upset thunder senshi. Makoto walked past Nephrite without so much as a glance in his direction. She did not understand why Nephrite would tell Zoicite about Ami's condition. Hadn't he heard of minding his business? It was not his place to say anything.

Makoto opened the refrigerator. She pulled out eggs, cheese and a package of English muffins. Makoto planned on cooking breakfast for one, as she had for the last week. As she reached for a pan, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

"I'm in no mood for your nonsense." Makoto pushed past Nephrite.

Nephrite sighed. He did not want to live like this. He refused to live like this. After the incident with Naru, he realized that every moment was precious, too precious to spend fighting.

"Makoto, please --"

"No Nephrite. You had no right to say anything. It's wasn't your story to tell! You've put us in an impossible position and I don't appreciate it. And Ami, did you stop to think what this could do to Ami, to her baby?"

Makoto was slamming pots, pans, cabinet doors, whatever she could get her hands on. Nephrite slowly backed away. The last thing he needed was to get hit in the head by Makoto's cast iron skillet.

"Mako-chan, please let me explain."

"No! Let me explain something to you. You have thrown the lives of my best friend and her unborn child into chaos. An innocent child! For what? Because of some twisted sense of loyalty to Zoicite? You weren't the best of friends in the Silver millennium. You despised him when you were a member of the Dark Kingdom. All of a sudden you two are busom buddies!" Makoto began beating the eggs furiously. "What purpose did telling him serve?"

Makoto's words cut through Nephrite. Until that point, they had an unspoken rule. There was to be no talk of the past. It could not be changed and dwelling on it would not change what happened. Never had she uttered a word about such dark days.

"Mako-chan--"

Makoto threw her hand up in frustration. There was nothing Nephrite could say at this point to abate her displeasure.

"Mako-chan, if the tables were turned could you honestly say you wouldn't tell Ami?"

The kitchen became silent as Makoto forgot to continue beating the eggs.

"Nephrite, it wasn't your story to tell."

"That's not what I asked you. If Zoicite were having a child with another woman, and you knew that Ami was trying to figure out what went wrong, wouldn't you tell her?"

"That's not the same and you know it." The eggs were abandoned as Makoto's full attention was on her fiancee. She sat down at the table and placed her head in her hands. "It's different when it's a man having a child. He's not carrying the baby. His emotional state doesn't directly effect the baby."

"Kino Makoto, you're making excuses. Just admit it. You'd tell Ami faster than Usagi could eat a meat bun."

Makoto grinned slightly at the image of a teen-aged Usagi inhaling a meat bun after yet another lengthy stint in detention. "While I admit there may be some truth to your statement, I neither admit nor deny anything."

"And I thought Kunzite was the only shrewd attorney." Nephrite cautiously inched toward a softening Makoto. "I only wanted to give Zoicite closure. You didn't see it, but he was miserable, a mere shell of himself. All he wanted was the one person who shut him out."

Makoto sighed audibly as she slowly began to understand Nephrite's motivations. She reached over the table and placed her hand atop Nephrite's. Makoto thought back to the last few times she saw Zoicite. She hadn't noticed previously, but after listening to Nephrite certain things began to stand out. He was quieter than usual. The snide remarks that were such a part of his banter were few and far between. Zoicite seemed to have retreated into himself. Makoto chided herself for not seeing it earlier. He was clearly lovesick and she did not bother to appreciate the gravity of his situation. She was too busy fawning over Ami's relationship with Taiki.

"Oh my--" Makoto looked into Nephrite's eyes. "What kind of friend am I? I should have seen what's going on. I was so busy trying to deal with my own problems, that I didn't see what was going on in front of me."

Nephrite reached for Makoto's rapidly waving hands. "I don't think anyone will blame you for being distracted. You've had a lot to deal with."

"Nephrite, my troubles were recent. What about the months before that? How could I have missed a pregnant Ami? How could I have missed Zoicite's agony?" Makoto stood up and walked to the counter. She resumed beating the eggs. Perhaps she could atone for her neglect through cooking.

Nephrite ran his hand through his hair. Why was everything so complicated? Beryl, Metallia, Galaxia, Seiya. Any of them would have been a welcome interruption at this point. Nephrite shook his head, maybe not Seiya.

"Mako-chan there's nothing that we can do now. We just have to hope that this works itself out."

"We will be arriving in Tokyo at 4:30 p.m. local time. Fasten your seatbeats and return your trays and seat backs to their upright position."

The nasal tones of the flight attendant annoyed Zoicite. Her saccharine voice took the focus off the task at hand, what he would say to Ami. Zoicite looked at his right hand. Within his clenched fist was the ring box. As he stared at, Zoicite could not believe that he was willing to throw it away. Nephrite's words rang in his head.

"Ami's pregnant."

Zoicite never imagined that two little words could change his life. He opened the box and took yet another look at the ring. The sapphire sparkled, as if telling him that everything would work out. Zoicite chided himself. Looking for portents was Nephrite specialty. Still, he could not help but wonder why Ami kept the pregnancy to herself. Zoicite could hear Nephrite's voice in his ears, he shook it off. Zoicite refused to acknowledge the possibility that the child Ami was carrying was not his. He did not come back from oblivion to lose Ami again.

"Excuse me sir, can you put your tray up?"

Zoicite looked up to see a very attractive young woman looking down on him.

"Sorry."

He quickly put Ami's ring in his jacket pocket and placed his tray in the proper position.

"She's a lucky woman."

"Pardon?"

"Whoever that ring is for, she's a lucky woman." The flight attendant gave Zoicite a friendly wink before continuing down the aisle.

Zoicite stroked his chin with his hand. If only that young lady knew that he was the lucky one.

"I am not watching this!" Taiki lunged for remote control.

"You would deny pregnant woman her favorite show?" Ami put on her best pout as she hid the remote behind her.

"Don't you dare try that on me. Have you forgotten that I am immune to the Sailor senshi pout?"

"C'mon Taiki. I just want to watch 'Coupling.' What's so wrong with that?" Ami crossed her arms over her chest.

Taiki grabbed a DVD case off the coffee table. "You make it sound like it's so innocent. You own box sets for seasons one through four!"

Ami readied herself to make a snappy comeback when the phone rang. Taiki jumped and ran to the kitchen. Ami laughed to herself while she turned on the DVD player. As she sat down, Ami heard a knock of sorts.

"Taiki, is everything okay?"

"Yes Ami-chan," he replied distractedly.

Ami slowly made her way to the door as Taiki found himself engaged in a most uncomfortable conversation.

"Taiki-san, I think there is something that you and Ami should know." Makoto's voice was uneasy. "My thick-headed fiancee told Zoicite about Ami's current situation."

"Oh."

"Nephrite thought that Zoicite had a right to know, something about Zoicite being the biological father."

"Zoicite? Where would he get an idea like that?" Taiki was trying his hardest to remain composed, but his efforts were in vain. Makoto could hear the distress in his smooth baritone voice.

"Taiki-san, are you really this child's father? Is that even possible? I thought that you were biologically female and the male persona was nothing more than a disguise, a glamour to help you find Kakyuu."

"Makoto-san, the paternity of Ami's child is not a topic that I will discuss. It is not my tale to tell. All will be revealed when Ami-chan decides to do so."

"You really do care for Ami, don't you Taiki-san?"

"Yes I do. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for her."

"I see." Makoto had all the proof that she needed. She now was certain that Zoicite was correct. Taiki was no more the father of this child than she.

Ami could be heard laughing at the juvenile antics of Taiki while she crossed living room. As she opened the door, the remnants of her laughter died in her throat. Blue was all she saw as her world rapidly faded to black.

"…should be fine." Taiki froze as he heard a crash. "Makoto, I'll call you back."

Taiki unceremoniously hung up the phone. Rushing into the living room, he was confronted by a most unusual scene. Zoicite was kneeling in the doorway, holding a semi-conscious Ami in his arms.

"What-what's going on?" Taiki took slow careful steps toward Ami.

"I don't think I was who she was expecting." Zoicite gently brushed Ami's blue-black strands from her face. He immediately noticed that her hair was long, much longer than she had ever worn it before. Zoicite smiled to himself. It suited her.

With a single, seemingly insignificant movement of his hand, all the resentment Zoicite felt melted away. His primary concern became getting Amis back into his life. Zoicite's eyes travel down Ami's torso until the inevitable happened. He saw her abdomen.

"Mmm.." Ami started to stir. Consciousness was merely a couple of moans away.

Zoicite gently lifted her into his arms. Walking quickly, but carefully, he placed her on the couch. He sat down and patiently waited for her to wake up.

Ami's eyelids fluttered, then opened violently. She was surprised to find herself on the couch. Giggling nervously she looked at Taiki.

"I guess I've been thinking too much about what Makoto said. I'm beginning to hallucinate."

A bottle of water appeared in front of Ami's face. "Now what could cause the perpetually cool Mizuno Ami to start seeing things? Could it be a bit of old fashioned guilt?"

Ami's blood ran cold as the voice registered in her head. She shot Taiki a worried look, and he returned it in kind.

"I thought that women in your condition were supposed to drink plenty of water. I'm just trying to make sure that our child is properly hydrated."

Staring at Zoicite incredulously, Ami curled her legs underneath her and inched to the end of the couch. He was too close to her. She desperately needed more space.

"Ami-chan, I think that Zoicite needs to be told the truth."

"For once, I will say that Taiki is right." Zoicite's eyes pleaded with Ami. All he wanted was a chance. Zoicite could see the apprehension, rather the fear in her eyes. Ami was afraid of him. She was staring at Taiki, as if waiting for him to swoop down and rescue her. Taking a cue from Ami, Zoicite put some more space between them.

"I-I think I'll give you some time to talk." Taiki excused himself and walked toward the extra bedroom.

Zoicite watched the Starlight curiously. Taiki walked past Ami's bedroom without hesitating.

"So how long have you and Taiki been together?"

Ami suddenly found herself wishing she had taken that water Zoicite offered. She examined the ends of her hair for split ends. One could never be to careful when it came to adequate hair care.

"How long Ami-chan?"

"For a while." Ami refused to look at Zoicite. There was something in his green eyes that always got to her. She was never good at denying him anything. This was one time that Ami would not let emotion overrule sound judgement; it was just too costly.

"I guess I should have known that Taiki would be the one for you. You would get this look on your face anytime his name was mentioned. I hoped it was simply the remnants of an adolescent crush, but now I realize that he was always the one."

Zoicite placed his head in his hands, leaving just enough room to gauge Ami's reaction. Part of him felt like a heel for playing the guilt card. There were more meaningful, substantial thoughts swimming in Zoicite's mind. He lifted his head from his hands and continued speaking.

"When we found each other again, I promised myself that I would not cause you anymore pain. I was going to be the man that you knew that I could be. I wanted to make all of the dreams you had a lifetime ago come true. I truly believed that I had been forgiven, that I was making a fresh start. Someone obviously forgot to tell karma about it though." Zoicite let out a half-hearted laugh.

"Karma?" Ami dared to steal a glance at the man her heart longed for.

"Do you remember all the nights we spent in the Royal Library? I would watch you look through Queen Serenity's wedding album. Of course you didn't know that I was watching you." Zoicite looked at Ami with more than a hint of regret in his eyes. "Every closed eye is not asleep. I would sit perfectly still, praying that you would not discover that I was feigning my sound slumber. When you thought that I was sleeping soundly, you'd pull out the album. You had such an idyllic smile. It was one of the few times that I saw the woman behind the scientist."

"I- I didn't know." Ami leaned slightly toward Zoicite. He could see the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes.

"Back then, things were simple."

Ami gave Zoicite a look that made him rethink his previous statement.

"Simple, in a relative sense Ami-chan. But now, being forced to watch you from afar is painful. For months I sat alone in my apartment and wondered where I went wrong, what I could have done to make you turn away. I even took a page out of your book and ran. I went to Italy, with no intention of returning. Then I got an enlightening phone call.

"When I heard I was angry, furious. All I could think of was how you betrayed me. Then I remember that not too long ago, it was I who betrayed you. So, I decided to come and find out for myself what happened." Zoicite reached out for Ami. When she did not recoil, he placed her chin in his hand.

"I want you to tell me the truth. Who is the father Ami-chan? If you tell me that I have no claim to the child, I will walk away."

Ami lowered her head, uttering not a word. The chance that she wanted had presented himself to her and she was unable to seize it. All she had to do was tell Zoicite a lie, one small lie. She raised her head to speak when something dark caught her eye. As her brain processed the image, her ears identified the muted creak of a jewelry box opening.

Silent tears streamed down her face as she looked at the ring. Familiarity colored her features. Ami had seen this ring before. It was an exact replica of Zoicite's mother's engagement ring. Ami had admired it immensely. She often commented about the understated beauty of the ring. Now she was gazing upon the very object of her unacknowledged desires in her hand.

Why was this happening now? Was this karma coming back to bite her in the ass? It could not be karma. Karma dictates that what you put out into the world is what comes back to you. Ami had done nothing to deserve such understanding, such compassion. Silent tears became audible sobs as her mistakes crashed down on her.

"Zoicite, I don't want your pity. I will not take a ring given out of obligation. I want you to want to be with me because you love me, not because you got me pregnant." Ami pushed his hand, holding the ring, away from her face.

Zoicite quirked his eyebrow. "So, finally you admit I'm the father."

Ami's eyes widened in shock. She had not intended on revealing that to him. Her careful planning had just been dismantled. A fresh round of tears made their way to Ami's eyes. Zoicite could once again see the sheen that preceded a tear's descent. He quickly grabbed her hand.

"Ami, please don't cry. What I am about to tell you may change your opinion of my proposal. I had this ring made before you went on that conference to the States. Remember the last time we were at Jove's Garden together?"

Ami nodded her head. She remembered that night all too well. The lights were dim, yet Zoicite's eyes sparkled like the brightest stars in the heavens. That was the last time Ami spoke to Zoicite before she found out she was carrying his child.

"I had the ring in my pocket that night. I was going to ask you to marry me then, but you dashed out to cover someone's shift."

Ami shook free of Zoicite's grasp. Slowly she reached for the box, almost afraid that she would taint it. Just as her fingers were going to make contact with the box, Ami drew back her hand.

"I can't do this. I'm sorry."

Zoicite sighed. This reaction was not unexpected. He carefully closed the box and set in on Ami's coffee table.

"I'm going to leave this here. Take your time. Thoroughly obsess over it. When you have made your decsion, return the box to me."

Zoicite stood up and smoothed the front of his pants. Taking a few steps, he glanced back and observed the woman carrying his child. Ami could feel his eyes on her. With her head lowered, she looked up at Zoicite. He smiled weakly and walked out the door.

For the first time, Ami gathered the courage to hold the box. Carefully, she opened it and gazed at the ring inside. The sapphire was a deep blue, much like her own eyes. The more she looked at the ring, the more she realized that she may have thrown away the best that ever happened to her. Ami could clearly recall the look in Zoicite's eyes as he walked out of the apartment. It was hollow and cold. Zoicite was a proud man. There was no guarantee that he would be waiting for her to return. At that moment, Ami wept bitterly.

Karma indeed was a bitch.

There it is, another completed chapter. I have done my part. Now it is time for you to do yours.