Heaven's Starlight

by aprileagle

COMPLETE! Haruka leaves Michiru. She doesn't want to go. She doesn't want to leave. But she has to. Until Michiru finds out that her Ruka is an angel's child. Desperately she starts to fight for her love.

9. Chapter 5: Candlelight

Chapter five: Candlelight

No need to cry and hide, it's a wonderful, wonderful life...

The music filled the light room. Just like excited voices and happy laughter.

"Do you really want to eat that?" Big blue eyes looked sceptically in the bowl and tried to guess what it was.

"Well..." Haruka smiled at Usagi and her smile grew wider as Rei appeared behind the blonde.

"Don't you tell me that you want to let Haruka starve. You're soooo greedy, baka. I can't believe it!"

Usagi blushed and swirled around.

"I am not greedy. I am simply concerned, fool."

"Jerk!"

"Idiot!"

"Baka!"

"Ah!"

Suddenly they were haunting through the room and Makoto was suddenly very busy with the big basket she was wearing.

"This is for you. That you'll recover soon." She said and put the bowl with the hospital food carefully aside as if it was dangerous poison. "Do they want to poison you? That can't be good." She put different plates on the small table next to Haruka's bed and the tall blonde saw chocolate cake and chicken and other delicious meals she wasn't sure how to eat it. It was now over one month that she awoke from her coma but still she felt weak. Her throat was still sore where all the hoses had been. She did improve and Dr. Taka promised her that she would be able to return home before Christmas. But to eat so much, she had been fed over the drip for such a long time now that she wasn't sure if her stomach would bare it. But nevertheless she smiled friendly up to Makoto who seemed to spent the whole last night to prepare those meals.

"Oh, can I get a piece?" asked Usagi as she saw the chocolate cake.

"But that's for Haruka, you baka!"

"Oh, Rei!"

Again they haunted around and Haruka asked for the umpteenth time why they didn't stumble over something. The ground was covered with flowers and books and CDs. Each of them brought something to bright her sometimes very long days at hospital up. Of course they came more than just once a week and so Haruka already wondered where to put all those things at home.

Home...

She raised her head as she felt how Michiru took her left hand and simply hold it tight. Tears sparkled in deep blue eyes. The sea senshi smiled, too.

I just want to go home. With her.

"I still don't see why I shouldn't get a piece! It's too much for Haruka all alone."

"But it's HER cake!"

"Baka!"

"Greedy jerk!"

"Ah!"

Again more haunting. Makoto only grinned and put some bottles of orange juice out of the basket and placed it next to the plates.

My throat is too sore and the juices are too soar.

Nevertheless Haruka smiled.

"Arigato, Mako. Guess my Michi-chan would have starved without you."

"Just like my dear brother." Teased Michiru and giggled as Makoto blushed deeply. She mumbled something that sounded like okay and not a big deal and searched again in her basket.

Did she make anything more?

Haruka swallowed hard and felt how Michiru squeezed her hand gently. Still Haruka laid in bed. She was already allowed to leave it twice a day but it was very exhausting. The nerve in her left leg had been damaged during the operation and so she needed crutches to walk around. It took her some tries but slowly she understood how to use them. And she knew that she wouldn't use them forever. Just for the next time until her body would regain strength again.

She only did that for me?

Haruka watched how Makoto put some fruits out of her basket and blushed even more as Michiru talked about the delicious meals the thunder senshi prepared during the past weeks. And how greedy they all had eaten them. "Then it's time for me to come home." Chuckled Haruka and Makoto blushed even more.

"She can't eat it all alone..."

"Then ASK her, you baka!"

"But..."

"Don't tell me that you wanted to steal it!"

"No, but..."

It's a wonderful, wonderful life...

The music even increased. Minako walked into the hospital room about one hour ago and put the CD player simply down. Since then she played one song after another. And of course she needed to sing along the songs. She stood there next to the now closed window on a chair and misused her hairbrush as micro. Loudly and a little bit wrong she sung but she seemed to have a lot of fun. Ami only blushed deeply and shook her head. To be doomed to sing two songs with her girlfriend. It were very popular and they ended how Ami wanted to escape and Minako simply held her tight and the both of them stumbled together from the chair towards the bed. Ami blushed even more while Haruka had to giggle. Minako only showed the hairbrush around and soon they all had to sing one or two lines. Now she was standing again alone on the chair and accompanied a man's voice. Singing how wonderful the life was. That there was no need for tears nor sorrow.

Hai, it's a wonderful life.

Minako winked at her girlfriend and Ami automatically stepped back and tried to hide behind Kei. But the love senshi didn't want to get her up to her personal stage again. Instead she grinned happily and winked at Haruka who winked back and giggled again as the blonde sung with more enthusiasm than before.

We're all relieved that she's recovering now. That she's awake. That she won't leave us.

Ami ducked again behind Kei's back but silently observed her girlfriend. Minako wasn't shocked anymore. Quickly she got her wildness back. And with every day Haruka got stronger and healthier again the love senshi got again crazier. Just like the others got normal again.

Ami glanced over to Setsuna who sat on a chair next to a singing Minako. A young man sat on her lap and from time to time when Minako didn't force them to sing along with her they shared a quick kiss. But their eyes betrayed that they wanted to share longer kisses.

She's not so pale anymore.

Setsuna simply gave up. She didn't want to eat any longer. Nor did she want to go out. She simply crept into her bed and didn't want to leave it again. She almost lost her job and they all agreed silently that the time senshi would have gone insane if there hadn't been Yaten around. He talked to her for hours and comforted her. He came to her to the hospital again and now he was there again. To see that the blonde who meant so much for his girlfriend slowly recovered. That there was nothing left to fear.

I am so glad that they're all here. My friends...

Haruka squeezed again Michiru's hand tenderly and smiled happily up to her.

... and my family.

Hotaru laid next to her under the blanket. She felt safe and secure in her daddy's embracement. Deeply she slept and didn't even hear her auntie Minako's crazy singing. All she ever wanted, all she ever needed was right by her side. She was simply content.

It's a wonderful, wonderful life...

Haruka sighed slightly and pulled her sleeping daughter a little bit nearer. She loved such moments. When she could be together with the ones she loved. Even if such moments were still rare. Michiru still had to go home in the evening and the others were only allowed to stay for one hour. Or two if the nurses didn't pay attention. Just like today.

Hai, it is a wonderful life.

The tall blonde leaned over her daughter and kissed her tenderly on her forehead. Hotaru smiled in her child's dreams and grabbed the thumb she was holding in her tiny hands tighter.

And I never want to lose it again. Never.

No need to run and hide...

At the moment as the song reached its climax and Minako stepped on the table next to the flowers the door was pushed open.

"What the hell..." Dr. Taka looked shocked at the chaos. And in disbelieved at the still rocking love senshi who actually didn't notice her. And at the meals Makoto tried to balance on the tiny table. And at all the flowers. And the CD player. And the books.

And a happy, but very tired smiling Haruka.

"Nani?" She simply stood in the frame until her colleague pushed her gently aside. Dr. Mizuno stepped into the room and one look into her daughter's blushed face told her more than any explanation.

It's a wonderful...

Minako turned around to reach for her girlfriend's arm to swirl around with her and stared terrified into sparkling blue eyes. Eyes that were just like her love's. But the same time completely different. The hairbrush fell loudly on the ground as the song ended. The CD was over and suddenly silence evolved in the room.

A crowded room.

Dr. Mizuno frowned but she wasn't keen on counting. She knew that there were too many people in there. And she knew that the visiting hour was over. A long time ago.

"That's not the intensive care unit, young lady, but it's still the hospital!" said Dr. Taka with a very serious and angry voice and grabbed for the hairbrush. Minako jumped from the table and looked suddenly very guilty. Just like Makoto who tried to hide the food behind her back. Of course she tried it in vain.

"And I don't think that you should..." Dr. Taka's voice died away as she heard a high laughter she had never heard before. She turned around and stared at Michiru who held her grown belly and simply laughed. Tears ran over her redden cheeks. She looked up, saw again the confused expression on Minako's face and laughed even more. Her lover squeezed her hand and Haruka had to giggle, too.

"Guess there's no need to punish them." Said Dr. Mizuno and ran a friendly hand through her daughter's blue hairs. Ami just shrugged helplessly her shoulders, but she had to smile, too. It was a long time ago that they heard Michiru laugh. So happily.

"Hai, the patient is recovering." Dr. Taka looked at her watch and then again at a still giggling Haruka. Her eyes were red and she looked a little bit pale. "But nevertheless the visiting hour is over. Tenô-san needs her sleep and a little bit peace before you'll come back tomorrow." She sighed but there was a smile on her face, too. "Because I fear that there's nothing that will hinder you to come back again."

"Nope!" answered Minako and grabbed for her hairbrush. Then she tried to hide behind Ami's back and ducked as a hand reached for her blonde hairs. But Dr. Mizuno only stroke over her head. Then she turned towards her colleague and there was again that helpless expression on her face.

"Forgive my future daughter-in-law. She's simply wild." She teased and grinned as her daughter blushed deeply. Of course Dr. Mizuno knew that her daughter loved the wild blonde. But somehow she never found the courage to tell her. Maybe this evening would be a good time. She invited them for supper and afterwards to watch a good movie on TV.

Plenty time to talk.

"Just as wild as you had been at her age when I do remember."

They both smiled and had to giggle, too as Makoto turned around too quickly and stumbled over the table with all the food. Delicious food that landed now on the bed and partly on Haruka.

dbdbdb

Slowly everything is getting too narrow.

Michiru stood in front of her opened wardrobe and looked sceptically at a dress she had worn the last summer. She hold it against her body and frowned.

How could I ever fitted in that dress?

The sea goddess sighed slightly and threw it on the ground. Right to other clothes that now formed a small, fast growing hill.

It was already afternoon and they wanted to visit Haruka in the hospital. It was a nice sunny day outside and Michiru simply wanted to be beautiful for her love. But whatever she hold in her hands, it didn't fit any longer or she simply didn't like it.

Maybe I'll use my wide pullovers again.

She pushed another dress aside and sighed again. It was about ten minutes ago that she finished her shower but still she couldn't decide. Was the blue or the green pullover better? At least it was clear that it had too be wide. She was now in the fifth month. Everyone could see her state of body if she'd wore narrow clothes. So she decided for wide pullovers and thick jackets. That was no problem, it was slowly winter outside and it was getting colder. No one saw the difference. Especially not the reporters. Michiru didn't want them to write about her unborn child. Not now. Not when all she was caring about was Haruka. Her lover who had to recover. And not be concerned about what reporters might think.

They will get to know it soon enough.

Or a red one?

Michiru ran her hands through her wet hairs. They already touched her neck again and covered her ears completely. But still she didn't want to look into the mirror to see what she had done to herself. When she had been angry and all alone.

When I had been selfish and blind.

Still she didn't know why she hadn't seen the signs. Why she believed in Haruka's incredible words. Why she didn't hold her better back and asked her more determined. To get to know the truth.

I had my friends, Ruka had no one...

Michiru swallowed hard and swore to herself never to let her Ruka suffer again. Then she took the blue pullover that fitted perfectly to her eyes and stepped over to the bed. To get dressed. To get to the hospital together with Yuri, Makoto and Hotaru. Kei was in the city. He wanted to shop anything and so she didn't ask any more. He was old enough and Michiru knew that he didn't like Haruka very much. That he only came to the hospital to be nice to his sister. But that he didn't really care about the young car racer.

No wonder Kei hates her.

Michiru sighed slightly and looked again into the wardrobe. This time for fitting pants. Maternity clothes as they were called. They were wide and adjustable.

But as soon as he'll really get know her he'll surely like her. When he sees that she didn't want to hurt her. That she lived this hell just to pretend that I might suffer.

"Ganny Ui!" laughed Hotaru happily and walked with unsure steps into the sleeping room. Two hands hold her tiny arms and the little girl squeaked in pleasure as she simply went over to the bed. She grabbed for the thin blanket and pulled it over her head. Just to be searched again from the older woman. Dark eyes shone happily into sparkling blue ones. "Luv ya, ganny!" babbled Hotaru and stretched her tiny arms. To be taken into a loving embracement.

"Ganny?" asked Michiru and turned surprised around. She knew that her daughter couldn't say "r" properly right now and that it would take her another time to learn it. "Granny?"

"Well..." Yuri blushed and it was the first time that Michiru saw her blushing. Showing any fear or even doubt. Carefully the woman laid the girl down on the bed and Hotaru grabbed again for the blanket and pulled it over her head. She laughed happily and kicked with her tiny legs around.

"I never had time nor opportunity to have any own children." Explained Yuri while she tickled the little girl. Hotaru laughed in joy and kicked even wilder around. "After Gendo's death I raised Haru-chan as if she was my own daughter. So..." Yuri blushed even deeper and sighed slightly. "So Hotaru-chan is a kinda granddaughter for me." Shortly she looked up and Michiru saw into concerned blue eyes. There was a look in them which remembered her of her Haruka. When they searched for the talismans. When they almost sacrificed themselves. When they finally brought Hotaru home and weren't sure if they'd be the good parents the little baby needed so badly.

"Are you mad now, Michiru?"

It was a silent whisper and the young violinist automatically shook her head. A tender smile laid on her face as she came over to the woman she called auntie for the past five years. Who was a little bit like the mother she never really had. The family she always wanted to have and finally found in Haruka.

"Why should I?" asked Michiru very silently and opened her bathrobe. She took Yuri's hands and placed them carefully on her grown belly. Blue eyes grew wide and the woman stared in disbelieve at the young violinist. She hadn't seen the signs. But now as she looked at the naked skin she remembered Angela. How she had carried her twins with so much pride.

"You're pregnant?" she asked and looked shortly into sparkling eyes. Michiru's cheeks were redden and all she could do was to nod.

"You're..." It was only a stammer and Yuri felt how her thoughts started to spin around in her mind.

"I am now in the fifth month, auntie Yuri."

"But..." Shortly the older woman looked from a still laughing Hotaru being cradled in the thin blanket to the young violinist who loved her niece with all her heart. Who cared for her from the first time Haruka invited her for supper. Who was the first one who broke through the walls Haruka had established around her heart. The first one who really understood the wild car racer and gave her all what Yuri never really could: Safety.

"You'd never, would you?"

For a long time Michiru looked silently at her. Still the sea senshi felt those warm hands on her skin, felt how Yuri automatically stroke over her grown belly. As if she wanted to greet the tiny life that grew inside her body.

"I'd be proud if you want to be the granny of the little one, too." Said Michiru finally and put her hands over Yuri's one. She searched in blue eyes. But she didn't find hate as she had feared. Not even disgust. Only joy. And endless confusion.

"But..."

"Think whatever you want to think, auntie Yuri, but this child is mine. And Ruka's."

There was again a long time of silence. Yuri stroke over the skin and remembered how happy Haruka had been the past weeks at hospital whenever she saw the sea goddess.

She knows it. She knows that her girlfriend is pregnant.

They never talked about it in the presence of the others. But suddenly Yuri remembered how Haruka sometimes stared dreamily at her lover's body. How she stroke more than once over her belly under the wide pullovers. How they both had smiled so tenderly at each other.

Haru-chan knows it. And she is happy about this child. However Michiru managed to get pregnant.

Yuri shook her head. She didn't want to know it. She didn't want to know what they had done to get another child. An own child. Even if it would only have Michiru's genes.

Maybe it's better this way. Then it won't inherit Angela's illness...

Suddenly tears sparkled in blue eyes and Michiru was about to step away and to close her bathrobe again.

She's too shocked. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to...

The next moment she felt how Yuri simply took her into her arms and embraced her tenderly. Hold her loving tight as she had done so many times after the thin girl moved into their house. To make her sure that she was welcomed. To show her that she was family.

"My Haru-chan awoke from the coma and is laughing about her crazy friends." Whispered Yuri and felt tears burning in her eyes as well. "I've seen a bloody miracle the past weeks." She squeezed Michiru harder and felt how she hesitantly embraced her in return. "I'll believe in anything as long as you two are happy."

Michiru raised her head and looked through her tears up into auntie Yuri's face.

"We are, Yuri. We are."

dbdbdb

Haruka raised her head as someone knocked at the door. Slowly it was opened and Kei stepped into the room. For a long time they looked at each other in silence.

"Where are the others?" teased Haruka and raised one eyebrow as she saw the big book in the young man's arms. He hold it carefully tight. It seemed to be very important for him.

"I escaped them. Don't ask me how I managed that." He grinned but got serious again within the next moment. "I need to talk to you, Tenô Haruka." He explained and walked over to her bed. Haruka only nodded and put the manga away she just read. It was very crazy. About a boy turning into a girl and a boy turning into a duck. Minako gave it to her and so she had an excuse whenever the nurses smiled that she still read such things.

"That's good, Kei. I wanted to talk to you, too."

Kei sat down next to her on a chair and put the thick book carefully on her lap. He knew that the wound from the operation wasn't really healed yet and he didn't want to cause her any pain. Shortly he observed her arms, saw all the scars there from the drips and the injections. He swallowed but concentrated again on the young woman as Haruka stroke over the black leather.

"Open it!" he demanded and watched how she nodded and did as he told her.

"A photo album?" she asked surprised and looked asking at old black and white photos. They looked yellowed and a little bit pale.

Nani?

Haruka frowned and looked for a long time at a little boy of maybe three or four years. He hold a baby tight in his arms and smiled proudly into the camera.

Michi-chan?

"On that picture my princess was about a month old." Kei sighed slightly as Haruka turned the page. There were more yellowed pictures. Of that little boy changing nappies. Feeding his sister. Or telling her a good night story.

"Our mother didn't want us. We were..." he took a deep breath. "... accidents. Maybe she was happy when she got me and a boy, that's always something special. But when she did the same mistake and got pregnant again... she hated that child inside her. But she had been too afraid to abort it. So my princess was born. A little girl our mother hated. So I tried to care for her the best I could."

Haruka frowned and slowly raised her head. And looked directly into dark eyes.

She never told me about her mother. About her parents. About anything that was before I got to know her...

"Maybe you wondered why there's no resemblance between Michiru and me. That's because we have different fathers and somehow we inherited our appearance from our producers."

Haruka turned automatically the page and saw a little girl sitting on a dirty street and playing with an old toy bunny. It was dirty. Just like her clothes and her face.

"A neighbour took all the photos and gave them to me. Later. When everything was over..."

When everything was over?

Haruka turned again the page and gasped hard for breath as she saw the dark spots on the little girl's arms. And her naked legs. The grey eyes on the black and white photo looked sadly into the camera. Hopelessly.

"She beat her?" she asked quietly and stroke thoughtfully over the photo. Only seeing the little girl her lover once had been. A cute child. A beautiful child. A very, very desperate one.

"She didn't know it any better. Her parents beat her, too. Until she ran away from home and tried to get by on the street on her own." Kei sighed deeply but carried on in his memories. Again seeing how his little sister ran into their dirty children room and tried to hide behind his back. How he comforted her the whole night and promised her that everything would become better. Surely become better. That they would escape their mother one day and lead a better life. That she only had to be patient and nice. That had been a big mistake that almost cost his sister's life.

"She earned her money with..." The young man bit on his lower lip. "She was a whore." His voice was silent and insensible. Haruka swallowed hard but didn't dare to look up. Instead she turned the page and carefully unfolded the old newspaper articles.

"She was a whore and gave out the money she got for drugs. Not for food and especially not for her children. She never wanted us. But she had been too proud to go to the orphanage to get rid of us. Until authorities got to know about us. From a neighbour who called the police after she broke down again. Because she used too many drugs again and was high. They came and wanted to take us away from her."

Nani...

Haruka stared with open eyes at the old newspaper article.

Prostitute almost kills her children and commits suicide

Nani...

Tears sparkled in dark green eyes and she stroke over the picture next to the lines. It showed an ambulance. How it carried away a little girl. A boy of maybe seven years stood next to the doctors and the police men and looked very shocked. And very angry.

"When they came our mother simply freaked out. She locked the doors and took the next knife. I tried desperately to protect my princess but..." Kei swallowed hard and finally looked away from the picture. It hurt too much. Still now. After so many years. "... but I had been too weak, Haruka. I simply couldn't help Michiru as mother pushed her into the bathroom and hurt her deeply with the knife..." Kei stared for some seconds out of the window and saw the naked branches moving in the winter's wind. "Finally the police simply broke into the apartment. They found mother dead in the tube. She took all drugs she still had and died because it had been too many."

"And Michi-chan?" whispered Haruka and suddenly remembered the scars on her lover's back. Once she had asked her and Michiru only winked and said that she once fell from the bike and fell right onto a broken bottle. That it had been a nasty mistake. But nothing Haruka should be worried about.

An accident...

"She had five stitches in her back. One was very deep and they all thought that she would die. They operated her quickly and she stayed for almost half a year in hospital. But she had been strong. Very strong. Stronger than me." Kei sighed again and Haruka turned again the page. Now the brother and the sister were older. They sat under a green tree on a yard Haruka recognized as the orphanage's yard. Michiru hold an old book in her hands while her brother simply embraced her.

"She survived and after that time we went into the orphanage. Our grandparents didn't want us and there was no other family left. Michiru was only four years old and they tried to give her to foster parents or even to people who wanted to adopt her. But no one wanted an ill child. For over a year Michiru needed special medicine and to go to the doctor twice a week. When she had been really recovered she had been too old for the adoption. So she was taken from one family to another one. And no one ever wanted her. Often she came back and cried. And I felt so miserable that I couldn't change this damn hell."

Kei looked again at the younger Michiru in his arms on the photo.

"I did the worst mistake in my life when I simply ran away and left her behind. While I was in jail she wrote me one letter. Only one, but it was very long. That she changed to a new school. That she got to know a real friend and that she lived there. That she finally found a new family and that she was now allowed to play the music she always wanted to create." Kei smiled in memory. Still he owned the letter. He would never throw it away. Because in the last lines Michiru promised that she would be forever his sister. And that she would be there whenever he needed her. That she trusted him and forgave him what he had done.

"And then I am finally released from jail and find her sobbing. She comes to welcome me but all she's able to do is to cry and to break down right in front of me."

Because of my stupidity.

Haruka turned again the page and saw her lover sitting in the grass. Setsuna laid lazy next to her and played with the sunglasses in her hands. Michiru looked very pale and tears shimmered in her blue eyes.

That's the day the youma attacked her and she was almost killed by that bloody truck...

"I know why you've done all this silly stuff, Haruka. Yuri told us a lot about your mother and your father. And about your illness." Kei leaned forward and grabbed carefully her collar. He wouldn't hurt her. But he wanted to make his point clear. "But the day the doctors told me that my princess would survive the dangerous stitches I swore myself never to let her suffer again. That I'll always protect her." Directly dark eyes looked into watery green ones. "And if you'll ever even try to hurt my princess I'll kick you right into your ass. Did you understand me, Haruka?"

The young car racer nodded. Turning her head away from him and staring again at her sad Michiru sitting in the grass. Still remembering the newspaper article. Of different doctors running over the dirty street. Of different police men watching concerned at a pale boy standing next to the vehicle. Of a lifeless person laying under the blankets inside the ambulance.

Michi-chan...

"I love her..." answered Haruka very quietly and closed the photo album with a deep sigh.

"I hope so!" There was a smile in Kei's voice and as the wind senshi raised her head she could see that he really grinned down at her. "Because we'll need someone to stand up in the middle of the night and to take care for the crying baby."

Haruka put the photo album away and leaned back against the pillow. She knew that she would need a lot of time to think over what she had got to know during the past hour but the nights could be very long in hospital. Damn long...

"I'll be glad to take that task. As long as they'll leave me out."

Kei grinned deeper and walked over to the table and observed all the delicious meals Makoto left there. Shortly he tried a piece of an apple pie and it was simply delicious.

"You're really a miracle, Haruka..." he declared chewing and giggled as he saw how she rolled her eyes. She had heard this word too much during the past weeks and still didn't know how to react.

Hai. I am a miracle. Just like the pyramids...

"And how do you get that crazy idea?"

Kei sat down on the soft mattress and grinned wickedly at her. Suddenly he enjoyed it to tease her around. And suddenly he knew why his sister loved that tomboy so much.

"Because I never thought that I'd get a sister-in-law."

Haruka had the politeness to blush deeply.

dbdbdb

"See ya tomorrow, honey." Michiru leaned over her lover and kissed her tenderly. Haruka wrapped her arms around Michiru's waist and tried to hold her back. It was late in the evening and she knew that Michiru had to go home. To care for Himme-chan and to get some rest for herself.

Don't go. Please!

Haruka knew that her wish was selfish. But the nights could be so dark and so long at hospital. And so lonely. She simply didn't want to sleep any longer on her own. She missed the warm body next to her. The regular breaths. The tender hand stroking her hairs until she felt asleep.

Please, don't go.

Nevertheless Haruka let her girlfriend go and looked for a moment with yearning into deep blue eyes.

"Have a good night." Whispered Michiru and gave her another short kiss. Then she turned around and left the room. Followed the others who waited already at the car. Shortly after Kei had showed Haruka the old photo album Michiru, Yuri, Makoto and Hotaru arrived. They stayed the whole afternoon and watched how she ate her dinner. Then they left. With the promise to return tomorrow.

Good night...

Sure!

Haruka sighed deeply after the door closed. Then she switched off the small lamp light and pulled her headphones over her ears. Soon soft violin music filled her mind. Michiru brought some of her CDs to the hospital and whenever Haruka couldn't sleep she listened to them. She often did. Because she seldom could really sleep. Too many things she had to think about. Too many fears that were still in her heart. To fell again into deep sleep without a chance of waking up again. Dr. Taka told her that this was impossible. That once she woke up after the operation she wouldn't fall into coma gain, but Haruka wasn't sure. But she knew that she never wanted to see her Michi-chan suffering like she had seen during her strange dream. Shortly before she woke up from coma.

Has it really been just a bloody dream?

Or a vision?

Or has it been reality?

She didn't dare to ask. She didn't want to know. She was still alive and Michiru was happy again. That was all that counted.

Haruka turned her head and stared outside the window. The trees were now naked and grey. It was the end of November and the sky looked like snow. Surely it would be another cold and stormy winter. Maybe even white Christmas.

It was summer when I broke down.

But it had been late autumn when she finally woke up again. Since that day she could see how winter took control. Haruka didn't care so much that two months were now missing in her life. But she cared a lot what happened during those months. Especially to her Michi-chan.

I want to get out!

Haruka clenched her fists and played with the string of her headphones. She only wanted to go home. To forget all this bullshit that happened the last months. Simply to start from the beginning again. Together with her Michi-chan and her Himme-chan. And their unborn child.

Shortly bright light covered her bed and she blinked. Then it died away as the door was closed again. A shadow headed towards her bed and she pulled her headphones down.

Nani?

The visiting hour was long ago. She already had her supper. And Dr. Taka didn't look at her at this time. She made sure that everything was fine with her most famous patient and left her sleep in peace for the rest of the night.

So who...

"Michi-chan?" she whispered surprised as she heard her lover's well known giggle. "What are you doing here? I thought you went home with the others..."

"Well, if you want me to go, I am pretty sure that I'll be able to get a taxi." Teased Michiru and wanted to take her jacket again she simply threw on a chair.

"No!" Haruka's response was quickly and she coughed as she felt how she blushed in the darkness. "No, Michi-chan, please, don't go if you don't have to."

"If you want me to stay..." Michiru's voice was soft and full of love.

"Of course I want, Michi-chan." Haruka took away the CD player and lifted her blanket a little bit. She felt how Michiru slipped right beside her under it and embraced her tenderly. Haruka swallowed as she felt the grown belly against her slim one.

"How could you..." she stammered and embraced her lover in return after she made sure that Michiru was completely covered with the warming blanket.

"I blackmailed the nurses with Makoto's chocolate cake and so they will simply oversee that I am here the whole night." Michiru giggled and leaned her head against Haruka's shoulder. "They only told me not to do any stupidities. I only showed on my belly and told them that I've already done that. You should have seen their faces before they burst out into laughter, Ruka."

Haruka nodded. Then she closed her eyes and simply enjoyed the presence of the other one. Feeling that there was still a future possible for them. Together. Michiru hold her Ruka tighter and sighed happily. It was such a damn feeling to know that her Ruka was still there. That the senshi of the wild wind wouldn't die during the next days, months or even years. That they had indeed the chance to grow old together. To raise their children and to see some day their grandchildren.

"Kei showed me some old pictures of your childhood." Said Haruka after a long time in pleasant silence and felt how Michiru winced beside her. Automatically the tall blonde hold her lover tighter and kissed her tenderly. To make her feel her love. Even after she got to know the truth.

She's seen all those bloody pictures? And surely Kei showed her all the old newspaper articles. Why did he do that?

But the same time Michiru knew her brother too well to deny an answer.

"Gomen Ruka, but I couldn't tell it to you." Michiru crept deeper into her lover's embracement and simply felt safe and secure there.

I want to stay this way forever.

"I simply couldn't tell you that I am the daughter of a whore who loved her drugs more than her own children. I..." Michiru took a deep breath and felt how her lover stroke through her sea green curls. To calm her down. To say in her silent way that she was there. That she would listen to her. No matter what she had to tell her.

"I was afraid that you'd run away from me after you've got to know the truth. That you wouldn't love me any longer and that your auntie would throw me out. So I kept silent and thought that it wouldn't be so important for us. For me it isn't that important any longer. My mother died a long time ago and I don't feel responsible for what she had done. It wasn't my fault. Nor Kei's..." Michiru took the stroking hand and hold it tight in her own one. "But I should have told you. Just to show you that I trust you. That I love you..."

Haruka squeezed the smaller hand gently and kissed her Michiru again loving on the shaking lips.

"You don't have to apologise, Michi-chan. I did the same mistake. I really thought that I could forget my illness as long as I denied it. That nothing would ever happen to me as long as no one knew about it." Haruka sighed deeply and freed her hand. She placed it on her lover's grown belly and started tenderly to caress it. "I've been a complete fool and panicked when Dr. Taka-san told me that they had to operate. I once promised my father never to let other suffer. But..." Suddenly tears sparkled in dark green eyes and Haruka lowered her head while she still felt the grown belly under her gentle fingers. "But I didn't realize how much I really let you suffer with my unconsidered behaviour."

Michiru hold her lover tighter and covered her face with tiny kisses. They tasted salty.

"It's okay, Ruka. Everything is fine."

The sea goddess raised her head and kissed her lover tenderly. Feeling how Haruka slowly relaxed. How the medicine she still got every evening from Dr. Taka did its job. Soon Michiru felt her girlfriend's regular breaths and heard the fast heartbeat next to her ear as she cuddled nearer to her Ruka.

"It's okay Ruka. I love you. No matter what happens, I love you." Michiru smiled tenderly, still feeling the other one's warm hand on her grown belly. As if Haruka wanted to greet the young life growing inside her lover's body. Sleeping safe and secure in its mother's womb.

For a long time Michiru watched her Haruka sleep. Simply watched her and enjoyed every second. Knowing that her lover was still alive. That she wouldn't leave her. That this bloody nightmare was over. At last.

Michiru stroke tenderly through messed blonde hairs and kisses her lover again on nice warm lips before she rested her head on those soft shoulders. To embrace her girlfriend. To simply hold her tight. And never let her go again.

You never wanted to let other suffer, Ruka. But all this time you had been the one who suffered most.

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There was a huge sign over the entrance door. It was written by different people and every letter looked unique and had another screaming colour. There were suns, stars, moons and rainbows all over it. It was the biggest kitsch Haruka had ever seen in her life but the same time it was the most beautiful sign someone ever made for it. In giant letters stood only two words. Two words that warmed her heart:

WELCOME HOME!

Haruka gulped and simply froze while Setsuna was busy to get her things out of her car's boot. For some seconds she stared at the still closed door and remembered all the mean things she said to her lover. As she went through that door and didn't return.

It's now over four months ago...

Haruka winced and turned her head as she felt the soft hand on her right arm. The arm that hold the crutches which still supported her walk. Dr. Taka examined her leg for a long time and finally said that it would take her a long time, maybe six months maybe even a full year before she was able again to walk as quickly as she had before the operation. Dr. Taka looked seriously at her and the results and said to her that she should be grateful that she was still alive. That it was a real miracle that she woke up again. Her girlfriend never gave up hope but all the other had known how to interpret the results. Haruka's chance of waking up had even been tinier than her chance during the operation.

Maybe I'll never be able to drive a formula one care again.

Dr. Taka knew how good the tall blonde had been. That she already won the world championship. But Haruka only answered in a silent voice that it was okay. That she achieved what she wanted to achieve. That it was now time to be there for her family. And simply to enjoy life.

Shortly dark green eyes looked sadly into shinning blue ones.

She's surely thinking at our argument.

"It's okay, Ruka. Just go in. And be aware of our friends." Michiru giggled and squeezed her arm a little bit tighter. Then she pointed over to the big sign and the shadows behind the door. There was excited whispering and one voice they knew too well shouted angrily:

"You baka!"

There was crying and suddenly the shadows were in action. Haruka heard how Setsuna giggled while she carried the bags. Michiru wrapped her jacket tighter around her freezing body and followed her. There were only a few weeks left till Christmas and yesterday it started to snow. Little flakes danced down from a grey sky. Still it didn't cover the streets or the sand. But the people on TV said that they expected a white Christmas this year. The first one after almost a decade.

"Baka!"

"You are sooo clumsy! I can't believe it!"

"You pushed me!"

"But you ruined the whole cake!"

"But... wahhhh!"

"Hush, they're coming."

Haruka had to grin as she heard the angry whisper behind the door. The light was switched off and the shadows really tried to be silent. Of course they failed.

"It took her the whole night to get it ready and you only stumble into it! I can't believe it!"

"Wahhhh!"

"Hush now!"

"Wahhh!"

"It's okay, I can fix it. Don't worry."

"Wahhh!"

Michiru opened the door with her keys and the lights were switched on again. They all stood there with big grins on their faces and silly party hats on their heads. They hold flowers in their hands and cheered up as Haruka entered the light house by the sea on her crutches.

"WELCOME HOME, Haruka!" they sang to a well known melody. They sang it very loudly and a little bit wrong but it was the most beautiful song Haruka had ever heard. She felt how her throat tightened and how some tears burned in her eyes. She turned her head a little bit and could see tears in deep blue eyes, too.

"Actually we wanted to give you a nice cake Makoto prepared for your..." started Rei as they finally finished singing and pointed over to Usagi who cried silently. "But that baka stumbled over the cake and so..." She pointed at Usagi's legs. They were covered with wiped cream and chocolate. The remaining of a big chocolate cake stood on the table in the middle of the entrance hall. Makoto was busy to rescue what she could still rescue.

"Wahhh!" Usagi only cried and was taken into Yuri's arms. The older woman giggled a little bit because she had never seen such a crazy party preparation.

"It's okay, Usagi, we'll make a new one." Tried Makoto to comfort her while she shrugged her shoulders and declared silently that it was senseless. The wiped cream laid on Usagi's legs and on the ground and it all looked really, really messy.

"Wahhh!"

Haruka giggled and hobbled over to the table. Shortly she tasted the messed cake and nodded.

"Well, you know my cooking, Odango." Haruka chuckled and smiled at a still crying Usagi. Even Rei looked a little bit depressed now. As if she regretted her words. Just as she always did. "And this cake is really delicious." She smiled and felt how her body started to tremble. She was still too weak to support her whole body on the crutch for more than a couple of minutes. But it would become better. The harder she worked with herself the faster she would be strong again.

Michiru saw it. Just like Makoto.

"Let's go over to the living room and listen to the music Mina-chan prepared." Giggled Setsuna and laughed out loud as Rei made a depressive face. They all knew Minako's big CD collection. And that she really found the best songs for each event. Or the worst songs...

"By the way, where is Minako?"

Setsuna only giggled and pointed over to the staircase. Two girls sit there. Close to each other. Very close. They had wrapped their arms around each other's waist. They didn't seem to notice what happened around them. Probably the didn't even see how Usagi stumbled over her own feet and landed right on the chocolate cake. Probably they didn't hear how they all song the well known song with the changed lyrics Minako tried them to learn with so much enthusiasm over the last two days. Surly they didn't notice the silence that fell around them. And the silent giggle. They only felt each other, hold each other tight. They kissed with passion.

"Ami? Minako? Didn't we want to celebrate that Haruka's coming home?" giggled Setsuna and they all grinned widely as the two girls looked finally up and blushed deeply.

Minako was the first one who managed to talk. She pointed over their heads and shrugged her shoulders.

"Mistletoe." She mumbled and blushed even more.

Soon they all went into the living room and sat down, or in Usagi and Rei's case, haunted each other through the whole house. Hotaru escaped Chibiusa's arms and ran with her unsure steps over to her beloved father.

"Daddy!" she stretched her tiny hands towards Haruka who simply went on her knees although that action hurt. She took her daughter in her suddenly trembling hands as the little girl stumbled and almost fell down.

I love you, Himme-chan.

She simply hold her daughter tight. Not caring any longer about an always arguing Rei haunting an always crying Usagi. Not caring about Makoto and Kei setting the table and talking about how they tried to get all things done for today. Not caring about Setsuna looking often at her watch and waiting that the door bell would rang and that her Yaten would stand outside. Hoping to get a kiss from his girlfriend - and maybe a piece of that delicious cake, too, Setsuna talked about the whole last evening. Not caring about Minako and Ami sitting on the couch - again very close to each other. Looking loving into each others eyes. Not caring about Chibiusa pleading that Mamoru would play cards with her - and let her win.

All Haruka cared about was the little girl in her arms. Her daughter she feared to have to leave four months ago. To have lost forever.

I love you so much, little Himme-chan.

She squeezed her harder and heard her daughter's happy laughter.

I'll never leave you again, little honey. I promise.

Michiru messed her blonde hairs and as Haruka looked up she saw the love in her lover's blue eyes.

I love you.

I love you, too.

"And now let's eat." Makoto put some more cakes on the table Usagi didn't stumble over. Then she searched for the two still arguing girls and simply pulled them with her. Makoto could be very determined and she was very strong. At the moment she was the strongest of all senshi and Rei and Usagi knew when they had lost. Although they still showed each other their tongues while they followed Makoto helplessly. They knew they had no other chance.

Soon they all ate with passion and talked a lot about the last days. What happened during the past days. Especially at school. Soon there would be the Christmas vacations and of course all teachers wanted to write some more tests and of course all teacher decided that at once – in each lesson. For the first time Ami didn't say that they needed to learn the whole next nights to get only best marks. She only glanced at Minako and Haruka was sure that the water senshi had other things in mind than math or Japanese culture.

Rei told them how busy it was right now in the temple with all the people praying for a good Christmas. Today her grandfather took the whole work so that she was able to sit here and drink coffee. Then they talked again over other topics. Like the coming Christmas. And that they wanted to celebrate it here, in the light house. Where there were no parents around and where they had enough space. Suddenly different pleading eyes looked at Haruka and Michiru and they agreed laughing. Makoto already dreamed of all the delicious meals she would create and Kei offered voluntarily to help her go shopping for all the food.

It was a real great afternoon and a funny evening. With them sitting around the table and playing different games. Usagi often pouted when she lost and Chibiusa danced more than once happily through the living room whenever she won. Haruka didn't care about the games. She simply hold Hotaru tight who sat on her lap and tried more than once to eat the cards. The little girl smiled happily and was simply cute. More than once Michiru had to stare at her and got lost in her thoughts and of course lost the game, too. But sitting next to her Ruka, seeing her being awake and alive, hearing her laughing and teasing Ami and Minako around that was more important to her than any game would ever be. Of course they sang karaoke, too. The love senshi danced over the whole couch and when the song reached it's ending she simply fell down and embraced her Ami who sat on the couch and blushed deeply. Makoto and Kei sang in duet and Setsuna stared in silence at Yaten who sang, too. First he didn't want to, but his girlfriend's admiring eyes convinced him. Rei and Usagi frowned, because they thought to know that voice. But they didn't know from somewhere. But they forgot as it was their turn. And of course it ended by them chasing after each other. All senshi burst out into laughter and even Yuri giggled. She loved the friends of her niece and suddenly she knew why Haruka never wanted to leave Tokyo. Even after she won the formula one championship travelled around a lot she didn't want to live somewhere else than in the light house by the sea she inherited from her parents.

They're a big, lively team.

Yuri smiled and asked Mamoru to sing with her as Usagi pushed the micro into her hands. Of course he agreed and of course Chibiusa joined them, too. Although Usagi blushed and looked really angrily at the pink haired girl who only showed her tongue in return.

They're a big, lively family. I am happy for her.

Mamoru took her hands and danced around with her while Chibiusa jumped over the carpet and repeated the chorus.

As I am happy for me.

Hai, it had been indeed a great welcome home party. They laughed a lot, talked about many things and played a lot of games. And ate Makoto's delicious food. But no one dared to talk about the past months. Of the hell they went through, of the fear they all felt while the wind senshi laid in coma. While the doctors told them that there was no chance for her to ever wake up again. While they sat helplessly at the bed and watched her slowly dying.

Only once Usagi leaned back on her armchair and watched how Haruka fed little Hotaru with apple pieces she dipped into chocolate cream. Love was written all over the tall blonde's face.

"I am happy that we're complete again." Usagi smiled and felt how her boyfriend took her hand to hold it tight. "I am very happy that we're all alive and together."

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It was silent in the hospital room. Tears sparkled in his eyes as he walked over to the bed. He saw the figure of his partner laying under the thin blanket. An ask on the other man's pale face helped him to breathe. There were no hairs left on his head and his eyes were closed. He was almost blind and he knew that he wouldn't survive the night. The doctors and the nurses didn't tell him, but he had felt it. How they treated him. His whole family had been here and they congratulated him for his great victory. For his last one.

Michiru leaned back on the couch and watched the movie on TV. Her eyes filled with tears while she watched how the Spanish looking man said goodbye to his love. How he carefully put the mask away and kissed softly those shaking lips. How he stroke tenderly over the sweaty face and only looked at his boyfriend. To be there for him when he had to go. Forever.

"It's almost eight. Don't you want to see the news?" Haruka sat down next to her and opened the paper to look if there was any interesting film this evening. Her crutches leaned against the wall and she hobbled over to the couch. She didn't like the crutches a lot but she needed them whenever she left the light house by the sea.

"What are you watching, Michi-chan?" she asked and groaned as she read that they wanted to send a reportage about the French cuisine. Surely Makoto would like to watch it.

"Michi-chan?" Haruka frowned as her lover didn't respond. She raised her head and a sad smile appeared on her face as she saw the tears running over her girlfriend's cheek. One look into the TV set was enough to recognize what film Michiru watched. Haruka knew the music too well, they both liked the soundtrack and the movie a lot. Especially the actor. And the content.

It's not the right film to watch after what happened the last months.

"Hey, honey." Haruka took her now sobbing Michiru softly in her arms and rocked her. "It's okay, this is only a movie." Michiru nodded and sobbed even harder. Feeling her lover's embracement. Hearing the sad song in her ears. Knowing that the actor in the movie just died and that all his family was at his funeral to remember what for a cute boy he had been. Knowing that this could have happened to her, too. If Haruka wouldn't have woke up the last month maybe they wouldn't have celebrated Christmas in about two weeks. But a funeral, too.

"Hey, darling. Everything's alright." Haruka embraced her tighter and kissed tenderly away those clear tears. "I won't leave you again, Michi-chan. You know that, don't you?" Michiru nodded again and wrapped her arms around the other one's waist. To hold her tight. To never let her go.

"It's only a bloody film, Michi-chan. I am here and I am alive. And I am going to annoy you the rest of your life." Haruka whispered and kissed softly on warm lips that shook a little bit. At that point Michiru giggled sadly and pushed her into the pillows. To kiss her in return. Haruka simply took the remote control, switched the TV set off and concentrated again on her lover's tender touches.

"I won't let you suffer, Michi-chan."

"I know, Ruka."

None of them saw Kei who stood in the frame. He wanted to call them for supper. Makoto declared that the noodles were ready and Hotaru looked very hungrily into her mash. But now he simply leaned against the frame and watched them in silence. A thoughtful expression laid on his face.

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"That was refreshing." Michiru brushed her wet hairs while she stepped out of the bathroom. She just took a shower. A nice warm shower. First Haruka wanted to join her, but still she wasn't strong enough to support her body on her right leg for too long. So they decided that she would take a nice bath Michiru didn't bare any longer. She used to take long, hot baths, too. But that had been before she got pregnant.

Pregnant...

Michiru put her hairbrush down and stepped naked before the mirror. For a long time she stared at her grown belly. Now she was in the sixth month and no one could deny that she carried a child. Especially not when she didn't wear any clothes at all – just like she did right now.

"Hey, little one, how are you feeling?" she teased and stroke carefully over the skin. She knew she had to hurry up. In about half an hour the others would arrive. They wanted to go to the cinema. Yaten and Setsuna offered to take care of Chibiusa and Hotaru while the others should have fun with a film they had already seen the last weekend.

What shall I wear?

Michiru sighed deeply but still she didn't want to turn away from the mirror. Her whole life she wanted to be a mother. But as she got to know and to love Haruka she had to see that this was impossible for her. Because she only wanted a child from Haruka. Not from someone else. Not from a stranger.

Our child...

Her watch beeped and she knew that she really needed to get dressed. Maybe the blue dress she bought the last Monday. It was made for pregnant women and as long as she wore her wide coat over it no one saw her state of body.

I am only in the sixth month. Why am I already feeling like a walrus?

She giggled and stroke again over the belly. Seeing and feeling the incredible miracle that had happened.

Our own child.

Still they didn't know if it was a girl or a boy. Michiru had been too afraid to ask while Haruka laid in coma and since that very day the tall blonde opened her eyes again the sea goddess hadn't have another appointment with the doctor.

Himme-chan's brother or sister.

"Michi-chan?"

She turned around as she heard the low voice. Haruka stood near the door. A towel was wrapped around her body and wet hairs hang into her blushed face. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at her lover's naked body. At the grown belly.

The tall blonde had known that her girlfriend was pregnant. She had felt it whenever she touched her belly. But to see her like that, it was a complete different view. It was as if she recognized right now what the word pregnant indeed meant.

She's so beautiful...

Haruka's throat tightened and she hobbled over to her lover. She laid the crutch away and simply embraced her Michi-chan and kissed her tenderly.

I love her so much.

"And how's it doing?" she teased and stroke over the soft skin. Still the baby didn't move inside its mother's belly but the doctor told Michiru once that she had to be patient. That the baby would start soon enough to kick around and to keep her busy.

"Sleeping." Smiled Michiru and kissed her again. For a long time. Until the bell ringing remembered them that they should get dressed. They separated and Michiru sighed deeply as she saw all the clothes that didn't fit any longer.

Maybe the red one? Or the blue pullover? Or...

"Hey, Ruka. You know we don't have time for flirting." Giggled the sea goddess as Haruka embraced her again from behind and hold her tight.

"You're my girlfriend and I am allowed to flirt with you whenever and wherever I want." Whispered Haruka and covered her neck with little, warm kisses. Again her hands stroke over the belly and for a second they both looked into the mirror. Seeing themselves as proud parents. Of a still unborn child.

"Today I talked to Dr. Taka-san and she and I agreed that it's time for you to start enjoying your pregnancy." Haruka declared and giggled as she saw how Michiru rolled her eyes.

"I shall enjoy being a walrus?" asked the sea goddess and leaned herself on her lover. A tender smile betrayed all her feelings. Of course she would enjoy every moment of her pregnancy. As long as Haruka was around and behaved like crazy. Just like a becoming daddy.

Her eyes grew wide as she saw the tickets that appeared suddenly in her lover's hands. Three tickets for a visit in Europe.

"Paris?" frowned Michiru and blushed happily. She had always wanted to visit that city. The city of love as they called it. Paris, France. Romantic and good vine. And the Louvre.

"Do you know a better place where you can enjoy your pregnancy?" Haruka smiled as she saw her lover's happy face. "It's the week between Christmas and New Year. Hope you still have time."

Michiru only nodded, turned around and kissed her lover again.

They almost missed the cinema.

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The light house was illuminated in the night's darkness. The snow sparkled in all colours of the rainbow. Some birds flew terrified away. Because of the loud music filling the air. Live music.

A door was opened and a girl stepped out of the balcony. She leaned against the handrail and her brown hairs covered her back while she raised her head to watch the stars shinning above in an endless sky. It was a perfect evening. A hectic one. A typical one with the Sailor team. And it was Christmas Eve. Of a white Christmas. Just as the people at TV had promised.

"Mako?" Kei followed her and closed the door behind himself to make it possible to talk with the tall girl. The music was incredibly loud. Especially with Minako singing. And the boys, too.

"They're crazy." Declared Makoto silently and shivered. Surprised she looked up as she felt the soft jacket around her shaking shoulders. Kei only smiled back.

"No one knew that Yaten is the youngest singer of the Three Lights and that they would really bring their instruments with them." He laughed and stroke comforting through her brown hairs.

"Oh, Sets surely knew it. But for her it's not important what money a person owns but what heart he has." She smiled and turned again to watch the stars. A sad expression laid on her face. The Christmas party was great and even Yuri enjoyed it. But not all where there. Three persons were missing. Three persons she really missed.

"Hope our three travellers are feeling well and that they have such a fantastic Christmas, too."

Kei stepped behind her and squeezed softly her shoulders.

"Our four travellers are surely enjoying their Christmas Eve." He whispered and smiled in memory how excited his sister had been when she showed him the tickets. That she would go with her Ruka and her Himme-chan to Paris. To have vacations. To forget all the things she experienced the past months. To regain strength and to get prepared for the little child she carried. A child she didn't care about when Haruka laid in coma. A small child she almost lost by rescuing Ruka from death. A child she already loved. Just the way she loved her Himme-chan. Her daughter.

"Just like I enjoy it. With that crazy girl and boys in there." Kei smiled and squeezed her shoulders again. "And with you, Mako-chan." For a while they watched the stars in silence. Finally Kei turned around to go again into the light house. Where it was louder but warmer. And a lot happier. "Come, Mako-chan, before you're getting a cold."

Makoto nodded and turned around.

"Kei?"

He frowned and looked asking into her smiling face.

"Arigato."

Makoto stepped on her tiptoes and quickly kissed his cheek.

"Arigato for all you've done for us. And for me."

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Pater noster, qui es in caelis,

sanctificetur nomen tuum,

adveniat regnum tuum,

fiat voluntas tua,

sicut in caelo, et in terra.

Panem nostrum supersubstantialem da nobis hodie,

et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris,

et ne inducas nos in tentationem,

sed libera nos a Malo...

"Why can't they speak Japanese or at least English?" whispered a low woman's voice and a high giggle answered. "I don't understand a lot of French."

"That's Latin, little baka, not French." Michiru giggled again as Haruka rolled her eyes and crept a little bit closer to her love. Carefully she embraced her lover and hold her tight. Then she raised her head and looked around in the big church. A very old church. About eight hundred years old. Maybe even a little bit older. Haruka had never been keen on history lessons nor in numbers. But she knew an interesting building whenever she saw it. And that church was indeed a special one. It was huge and mysteriously. It had been light outside when they entered the church but inside there was a strange semi darkness. The light was changed when it fell through the huge, coloured windows and danced around the whole place. The altar was huge and there was less gold in it but more stone. And figures made out of stone. Dangerously looking gargoyles and friendly smiling angels. Haruka blinked and tried to remember if the angel's wings hadn't been closed the last time she looked. Now they were wide open.

Notre Dame.

As if this church would have it's own character.

Michiru whispered "Amen" as the prayer ended and the nuns started a high, but very well sounding song. Soon all the people accompanied and they all song along with each other.

It's Christmas Eve.

Haruka squeezed her Michiru a little bit tighter and looked around at all the other peoples. The church was crowded and they all came here to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Here in Europe the festival seemed to mean a lot for the people. Especially for religious people. In Japan it was also a nice festival, but they simply celebrated it for fun. Not for a deeper meaning.

"Is that still Latin?" she whispered and smiled as Michiru giggled again.

"No, that's French again." She explained and moved her lips silently to the words. She knew that song. Everyone who normally had a lot of concerts at Christmas time knew that song. A typical Christmas song. That sounded a little bit more religious now.

Haruka turned her head and looked over to the huge organ as it started to play. Automatically she shivered slightly. Hotaru babbled next to her in her child's seat and played with her old teddy bear. She liked the music. Although it was very cold in the church she didn't freeze. She wore her thick winter clothes and a warm blanket covered her legs and her chest. Her cheeks were redden and happily she grinned up to her. Automatically Haruka grinned back and corrected the blanket. Then she leaned her head against Michiru's shoulder and closed her eyes. She wasn't so keen on the music like her girlfriend, but she simply enjoyed it to be there. Together with her family. To celebrated a Christmas she had feared never be able to celebrate.

Notre Dame.

They arrived in Paris the last evening. After a long fly. It lasted over twelve hours and afterwards they had been very exhausted. Only Hotaru was awake after she slept the whole fly. Michiru's back hurt and Haruka could barely balance her tired body on her crutches. So they only went to their hotel, ate a small dinner and went to bed. The whole morning they slept and when they finally left their bed it had been noon. They ate lunch at a noble restaurant at the Champs Elyseé and finally decided to celebrate Christmas in Notre Church.

A whole week. We have plenty of time to see more of the city.

So far they liked it very much. The French people were very nice and Hotaru fell in love with the pancake called Crêpe. She dirtied her pants with the sugar and grinned happily up to her parents with her gluing little mouth.

I love them so much.

Haruka smiled while the priest started again to talk. In a strange language Haruka hardly knew. She let her thoughts drift away and asked herself what the others did right now. Surely they were eating Makoto's delicious meals and teasing each other around.

Surely Rei's haunting Usagi again.

Haruka grinned at that thought and giggled a little bit. She felt how soft hands ran through her blonde hairs and she cuddled even nearer to her lover. She knew that they were in a church. In not just in any church, but in a very famous one. Notre Dame. She knew that there were many people around. And she knew how some of them might react when they'd find out that she was a woman, too. But she didn't care. She simply felt as great as she hadn't felt the last months. Here she felt free. Together with her Michi-chan. And her Himme-chan. Together with her family. Facing a wonderful future.

Her right hand slipped under the dark wide coat her girlfriend was wearing and stroke over the grown belly. As if she wanted to greet the little life that grew inside her lover's womb.

It's your first Christmas, little one.

Haruka's grin grew wider as she remembered how the others reacted when they finally said that they got a child. That Michiru was pregnant. The sea goddess didn't tell the others but Makoto and Kei and because she had always worn Haruka's wide pullovers they didn't see it. Especially not during those two months of despair and sorrow.

First there had been dead silence and everyone looked shocked and in disbelieve at the young violinist. Then a smiled had bloomed on Usagi's face and she was the first one who simply stretched her hands and touched the grown belly. Suddenly the two outer senshi were surrounded by laughing and teasing girls who all wanted to touch the belly. And to congratulate them. And to tell Haruka that she did a great job.

No one asked how they managed it. How they actually got a child. How Michiru got pregnant. They only congratulated her and declared giggling that they couldn't wait to be aunts to that child, too.

You'll surely love them. Your crazy aunts.

Haruka didn't know if this child would be senshi one day, too. That day was still a far away. Just like the day when Hotaru would hold again the scythe and turn into Sailor Saturn, the senshi of death. Haruka didn't want to think of this. Not today. Not at Christmas Eve. Not when she was so happy.

The service slowly ended and the people rose to left the big, mysterious church. To go home to their family. To celebrate Christmas with a delicious supper and a brightly shinning Christmas tree. And with curious children looking more than once at the still wrapped gifts.

"Better, we'll go, too." Whispered Michiru and rose, too. But she didn't turn towards the huge doors. Instead she stepped closer towards the altar and looked at the stone figures. At the gargoyles and the angels. And at the wonderful pictures that hold the windows. The glass was coloured and the light that shone through it formed a lake of light on the stony underground. Of soft light. Michiru stood right in the middle of that circle. Her now almost shoulder long hairs shimmered and her blue eyes sparkled.

She's so beautiful.

For a long time Haruka watched her in silence. Then she made sure that Hotaru was safe and stood up, too. To walk over to her. To enter the sea of light. Michiru's world. To be there for her. Forever.

Little Hotaru didn't care about that. She laughed happily and tried to pick the little glow worms suddenly filling the whole church. Not recognising that they were far away candles. Lightened up to fill the church with a soft, warm shine.

I love her so much!

Haruka embraced her lover and together they looked at the picture in the window. Slowly they rocked each other by a music only they could hear. In their minds. A tender melody they once wrote together. For a violin and a piano. It expressed their feelings for each other. The deep love. The trust. The knowing that the other one would be there. No matter what happened.

"I love you, Michi-chan." Whispered Haruka quietly and wondered why her voice suddenly shook. The young violinist giggled and automatically took cold hands in her own ones to warm them.

"I love you, too, my Ruka." She answered and leaned her head against her girlfriend's chest. Now there were hardly any people left. Only the priest and the nuns. And some visitors. But they didn't notice them. All they felt was each other right by one's side.

"I want to stay forever with you." Carried Haruka on and they both watched how some dust flew through the mysterious light. Weightless. Simply dancing around.

"I know." Michiru's hands squeezed the cold ones tenderly and a soft smile appeared on her face. Her cheeks were redden and she was the most beautiful woman Haruka could ever imagine.

My girlfriend. My love.

She swallowed hard and kissed sea green hairs.

My soul mate.

"I want to raise our children with you. I want to grow old with you. I..." she took a deep breath but this time Michiru didn't interrupt her. She only closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm arms being wrapped around her waist. She knew that Haruka wouldn't be able to support their both bodies for a long time without her crutch but that little time she wanted to enjoy. She wanted to experience and simply keep into her mind. To remember it whenever she would have been parted from her Ruka. Even if it was only for some seconds.

"I want to marry you, Michi-chan." Haruka's voice was a very silent whisper next to Michiru's ears. The sea goddess opened her eyes in surprise as the tall blonde simply let her go. She went on her knees and for some seconds pain flashed over her face. Michiru wanted to bow to help her up, but Haruka only shook her head and suddenly she hold a blue rose in her hands. If Michiru would have been able to think a clear thought she would have asked if Haruka had used now the same methods with which Tuxedo Mask always threw his roses during the fights. But she couldn't think clearly any longer. Not when Haruka kneeled right in front of her with that typical grin on her face. Her dark green eyes sparkled and they were full of love. And a little bit of unsafeness. Although they both knew the answer of the question Haruka was about to ask.

"Michi-chan, do you want to become my wife?"

Suddenly tears sparkled in deep blue eyes and ran over redden cheeks. All Michiru was able to do was to nod before she started helplessly to sob.

Haruka was on her feet the next moment and took her carefully into her arms.

I am such a baka!

Michiru giggled under her tears and simply kissed her girlfriend with all the passions she felt. With all the luck. Of a moment she thought she would never be able to experience. Not after Haruka simply closed the door behind herself and walked away. Not after the strong senshi fell in coma after the operation. Not after her Ruka simply spreat her wings in the strange vision.

"Hai, Ruka, hai..." sobbed Michiru between two kisses and hold her lover tighter.

"Is it really so bad to have such a crazy girl like me as fiancée?" teased Haruka but there was a big lump in her throat as well. Too well she remembered how desperate she had been when she got to know the results of the shadow. That they had to operate. That she would never be able to lead a happy, a long life with her Michi-chan. That she bought that beautiful ring in vain. That she would never be able to ask her lover.

But now she had been. And Michiru really agreed.

Michiru giggled again and only kissed her. Kissed her passionately. While they stood in the light's shine. In a small lake. Between bright waves. In the middle of a sea of burning candles.

At that moment the bells of Notre Dame started to ring.

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Silently she hummed a sweet melody and covered her daughter with a soft blanket. The little girl slept deep and held the old teddy bear tight in her tiny arms. A smile laid in her face and she babbled something in her dreams. It had been her second Christmas Eve. Still the little girl didn't know its meaning, didn't know why she got all those nice gifts. She liked them. But not as much as her most favourite toy.

"I love you, little princess." Whispered Michiru and kissed the smallest senshi. Thoughtfully she stroke over her belly as she crossed the room of the hotel. Well, maybe not the smallest any longer.

They went a little bit through a Christmas Paris and ate in a very delicate restaurant for dinner. Hotaru soon covered her whole jacket with noodles and laughed happily up to them with her red mouth. They simply couldn't be angry with her..

It's so romantic here.

Michiru sighed and giggled as she remembered how Haruka ordered a horse coach for them to ride through the now empty streets of Paris. Most people were at home after the mess and unwrapped their gifts. They only sat there cuddled near each other with Hotaru in their arms and watched all the nice buildings Paris was famous for. The Tour d'Eiffel was really giant and there were light games all around the place. The fountains worked near it and the Champs Elysée was humiliated, too. Just like the d'Arc Triumphe. They took some photos and Michiru knew that Haruka only did it for her as she stepped near one of the white horses and let the horseman taken a photo of all of them.

She doesn't trust horses.

Michiru giggled again and hold her back. It ached a little bit. Just like it did the past weeks whenever she stood for a long time or walked a long way. Or simply had an exciting day.

An exciting but wonderful day.

She opened the door that connected the child's room to their sleeping room. They stayed in a nice hotel right in the middle of Paris. When she looked out of the window she could Notre Dame and behind that big church Sacre Coeur shinning on a hill over the city. Haruka chose it because they were the only ones who still offered whole suites shortly before New Year. Actually Kei chose it. Haruka only gave him her credit card and told him to book the journey. That had been at a time when she already walked around the hospital but hadn't been allowed to leave it.

Michiru smiled to herself and closed the door carefully behind her. She didn't want to wake her daughter up. At the beginning she had been afraid that Kei and Haruka would argue the whole time. First Kei looked really angry whenever they went to the hospital. He simply refused to talk to the tall blonde and Haruka herself looked as if she didn't trust her girlfriend's older brother. But suddenly, it seemed to happen from one day to another, they seemed to understand each other. They even seemed to like each other. Kei started to talk and Haruka smiled a little bit more often to the dark haired young man.

The sea goddess turned around and gasped for breath. The sleeping room had looked great when she brought her daughter to bed just half an hour ago. With the huge bed in the middle and the transparent curtains around. With the silk blankets and the big pillows. Just like Michiru liked them. But now it simply looked fantastic. The whole ground was covered with candles. They all burned in a warm shine. They had different colours and heights. Some simply stood on the thick carpet, others on the table or on the chairs. They looked like glow worms. Or like stars. Stars of heaven.

Am I dreaming?

Michiru blinked but the vision didn't disappear.

Nani?

She winced and then giggled as soft arms were suddenly wrapped around her waist. Tender hands slipped under her wide dress and caressed her grown belly. Warm lips kissed each inch of her neck and let her shiver.

"Ruka?"

"Don't you tell me that you expected someone else." Haruka laughed that low laughter Michiru loved so much and turned her carefully around. Dark green eyes sparkled as she looked down at her lover. At the grown belly her hands still laid on. At the swollen lips and into shinning blue eyes.

My fiancée...

Haruka simply leaned forward and kissed her Michi-chan. She felt how the sea senshi embraced her in return and answered her kiss. Soon it got more passionate and deeper. It lasted for a long time. Maybe minutes. Maybe even hours. They couldn't define as they finally separated.

"Dance with me." Requested Haruka suddenly and soft classic music started to play. Somewhere there was a CD player. Michiru didn't know where. And it didn't matter. She only looked into her lover's blushed face and nodded. Haruka leaded her over to a small circle where no candles stayed and took her again into her arms. Felt the grown belly against her slim one. Felt her lover right by her side. They didn't care about any rules as they simply started to dance in slow rhythm.

"And your leg?" whispered Michiru as she suddenly remembered that Haruka was surly in pain as the tall blonde stumbled and hobbled slightly.

"It's okay." Answered Haruka and chuckled. "As long as you don't want to dance Rock'n'Roll."

"With that?" answered Michiru and pointed giggling at her pregnant body. "I don't think that our little one will be happy to be swirled around."

They both smiled tenderly at each other and kissed again. Then they concentrated on the music and danced for another long time. Michiru laid her head against Haruka's shoulder and felt how Haruka stroke tenderly over her neck. She shivered as that soft hand slipped under her dress and caressed the naked skin of her back. The sea goddess smiled and closed her eyes. Simply let herself being taken away by the quiet music and the romantic atmosphere. And her Ruka being so close to her.

"Ruka?" she whispered after another long time they simply enjoyed the presence of each other.

"Hm?"

Again they only rocked to the slow rhythm and the candlelight seemed to surround them.

"I love you."

Haruka stopped to dance and bowed a little bit so that she could see directly into Michiru's now opened eyes. There were some tears sparkling in the deep blue that remembered her always of a clear mountain's lake. She always seemed to drown in.

"I love you, too." Answered Haruka and suddenly her voice was shaky.

I almost went away, left you forever.

Haruka simply leaned forward and kissed her lover again. With all her deep feelings. With all her longing. With all her love.

I almost lost you.

Michiru repeated the kiss and hold her Haruka tighter. Felt how the tall blonde trembled. Felt how she was a little bit exhausted, too.

Wordlessly Michiru took Haruka's hand and leaded her over to the huge bed. Caring that she didn't step on one of all those candles.

"Can't believe that you enlightened them all for me." She whispered and nodded thankfully as Haruka gave her a wine glass. But it was filled with apple juice instead of wine. Still Haruka had to take medicine that didn't work with alcohol. Michiru stopped herself drinking any alcohol at all when she found out about the little child she carried. Maybe it didn't fit to France, Paris. Maybe it didn't fit to such an evening. Maybe it didn't fit into the atmosphere. But as Michiru drank some gulps it was unimportant for her. It tasted and it was wonderful sweet. And she could drink it here. Together with her lover.

"Well, I had no other Christmas present, Michi-chan." Haruka grinned and took the apple juice away after they finished. "So I thought it would be okay for a special evening. After a special day."

"No Christmas present?" Michiru came on her feet and grabbed her lover's hands. Carefully she pushed Haruka down into the pillows and looked for a long time down in a blushed face. "You're here, Ruka. You're here. Alive and awake. That's the biggest present I ever got." Michiru bowed down and kissed her again. Pushing her girlfriend deeper into the soft blankets. She kneeled over her and simply kissed her. After a while she let go of Haruka's hands and felt how the tall blonde played with her sea green curls. How she ran a tender hand over her cheeks and wiped away some tears the sea goddess couldn't hold back any longer.

"But normal girls..." whispered Haruka and heard Michiru's high giggle.

"I've never been a normal girl, Tenô Haruka. Didn't you notice?" she laughed and opened Haruka's shirt and simply threw it on the ground. There was a short second before Haruka bowed quickly down and saved it to get burned. Michiru used her chance and tickled her girlfriend from behind. Haruka burst out into laughter and tried to turn around. But the laughter made her weak and Michiru simply didn't stop.

"Michi-chan!" laughed Haruka and tried to escape. Suddenly Michiru embraced her and simply hold her tight. Haruka could feel the grown belly against her back and smiled tenderly.

"You're evil, don't you know?"

"Just like you." Chuckled Michiru and stroke over her lover's slim belly. Feeling the scar. Where they had to operate quickly to safe the tall blonde's life. Where she almost lost her life and a little bit of her femininity. Haruka shivered as Michiru stroke over her skin in little circles and pulled her a little bit closer.

"Does it still hurt?" she asked and swallowed as she saw the still red line crossing her lover's belly. Haruka never complaint, only took her medicine as she was told and wore a wider jeans now. So that nothing would touch the scar. It was only two weeks that they could remove the seam.

"Not much." Answered Haruka and gasped as Michiru replaced her bra and tried to threw it on the ground, too. Haruka was suddenly very busy to catch it, too.

"Do you want to burn my clothes?" she asked with that typical tomboy grin on her face and turned around. Her lover's cheeks were redden and Michiru giggled.

"Maybe..." she smiled and simply pulled her lover with her. Tenderly she kissed her again and felt how Haruka now laid over her.

It feels so damn good.

Suddenly Haruka stiffed and rolled from her. Her dark green eyes were now a shade darker than normal. With concern she looked at her lover next to her.

"What's up, honey?" asked Michiru and it took her two tries to sit again. Her belly was really in her way and she wondered how hard it would get in about two or three months. When there were only a few days left until the birth.

"Ruka?"

Haruka swallowed hard and stretched her right arm to touch again the grown belly.

"Our child..." she whispered and swallowed again. "I mean... I...I don't want to hurt you nor our child." She blushed even deeper and was grateful about the candlelight that darkened the whole room.

"You won't." smiled Michiru and leaned again over to her. That Haruka cared so much for their child warmed her heart. "Just be softly."

"Hai..."

Again they kissed and Michiru giggled as she helped Haruka out of her pants. She hold them over her head and before Haruka could react they landed on the ground, too.

"Michi-chan..." giggled Haruka and rolled over to the rim. Just quick enough to rescue the poor clothes from the candle that stood right next to the bed. "... today you're a little fire devil." She put the pants carefully away and turned to take her lover again in her arms. And froze in motions. Her eyes grew wide and her chin dropped. For a long time she only stared at her Michi-chan in silence.

You're so beautiful...

The sea goddess kneeled next to her on the soft blanket. She didn't wear anything. Only a small necklace sparkled around her neck. Haruka gulped as she saw the silver ring between her lover's breast. They grew, too. During the whole pregnancy. Soon they would be filled with milk. And in about three months they would fed a little child. Their own child. Himme-chan's brother or sister.

"Michi-chan..." was all what Haruka could stammer. She saw how the smile grew wider on Michiru's face and how the sea goddess laid down next to her. They didn't say a word. They didn't need to. They simply embraced each other and hold each other tight.

Haruka gasped as she felt the naked skin on her own one, the grown belly on her slim one. With no clothes in between.

I love you so much.

Haruka looked for a long time into blue eyes. Her Michi-chan. Her guardian angel. Her saviour. Her fiancée...

I love you, too.

Michiru looked back into sparkling green eyes and smiled tenderly. Her Ruka. Her strong senshi. Her soul mate. Her fiancée...

They closed their eyes as their lips meet. In a deep, never ending kiss.

It lasted the whole night.

And even a little bit longer.

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"This is wonderful..."

Michiru stood at the rim and looked over at a lightened up Paris. At the sparkling Tour d'Eiffel, the shinning Sacre Coeur on its hill and the mysterious Notre Dame. Wind played with her sea green curls and a happy smile laid on her face. Too well she remembered the last week. Time seemed to rush by and she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so often. When she had felt so happy.

We went to the Louvre.

Michiru giggled as she remembered how she pushed Haruka through the most famous art gallery of the world. How she stood for almost an hour in front of the Mona Lisa and explained more than one tourist why Leonardo da Vinci drew it and how. Haruka only sit down on a bank and played with Hotaru and the old teddy bear. She simply let her lover run around to watch all the drawings. Until Michiru remembered her and looked at her with that guilty smile on her face. Haruka only laughed and they left the museum hand in hand. While Hotaru tried to reach the glass pyramid. It hang upside down and the little girl was fascinated with the light that was reflected in the pure glass.

We went to the Tour d'Eiffel.

Michiru smiled tenderly as she remembered how Haruka simply stood there on the top and spreat her arms. How she leaned the crutch against the handrail and enjoyed with closed eyes the wind playing with her blonde hairs. How she simply enjoyed it still being alive. Hotaru hold her crêpe proudly in her tiny hands and Michiru simply raised her camera and took several pictures.

We went to Sacre Coeur.

Michiru loved the light cathedral. The strange architecture. The building was very young, only one hundred years. They listened to a silent prayer of a young nun and Hotaru babbled excited when she took a ride on the roundabout right in front of Sacre Coeur. Happily she smiled into the camera. Haruka who sat right behind her daughter to hold her tight laughed a little bit embarrassed. Because she was too old to sit on the roundabout and on the wooden horse. But for her daughter she would have done anything.

We went along the Champs Elysée.

Haruka bought them all a huge ice cream and teased them around with her really bad French. So she blushed embarrassed when a young woman asked her where she could go to the next subway station. Haruka stammered a lot until Michiru finally helped her. The young woman bowed and thanked them in perfect Japanese. That was the moment when the sea goddess burst out into laughter. Her girlfriend's confused look had been too good.

And now we're on the d'Arc Triumphe.

She took a deep breath and giggled happily. It was almost midnight and Hotaru already laid in her bed and slept deep and tight. There was a special service the hotel offered. There were nursemaids who would take care for the guest's children when they wanted to go out in the evening. Normally Haruka and Michiru took Hotaru to everywhere they went. Even into the old Opera where they listened to one of Beethoven's symphonies. Or to Notre Dame where they enjoyed one of Bach's most famous organ pieces. Hotaru was a nice little girl and hardly she screamed or was annoyed. But this night it was simply too late for the sixteen months old girl.

She's so beautiful...

Haruka watched her fiancée for a long time and felt as happy as she had never felt before in her whole life. The hell they went through the last months slowly disappeared. Just like a bad nightmare. Until nothing would remain than a bitter aftertaste.

"This is great!" whispered Michiru and shortly turned her head. Her eyes sparkled and a tender smile laid on her lips. They weren't alone on the old building. But they didn't care about the other people who counted loudly from ten till zero.

"Ten!"

Michiru and Haruka exchanged loving glances.

"Nine!"

I love you so much, Michi-chan.

"Eight!"

I love you, too, Ruka.

"Seven!"

I never want to leave you again.

"Six!"

I never want to lose you again.

"Five."

Suddenly tears sparkled in blue eyes and Michiru raised her hands to wipe them away.

"Four."

Tenderly the sea goddess smiled at her lover and watched how Ruka stepped slowly over to her.

"Three."

Haruka leaned her crutch against the rim and simply embraced her Michi-chan. She rested her head against the other one's.

"Two."

Together they looked into the cloudless sky. They could see the stars sparkling and the moon shinning.

"One."

Haruka hold her Michiru a little bit tighter and kissed softly her right ear. Michiru only giggled and leaned herself closer to her lover.

"Zero."

Jubilation started all around. People laughed happily and greeted each other. Strange people embraced each other and wished each other good luck. Light in all colours of the rainbow danced over the endless sky above Paris as the firework exploded. Like warm rain it fell down. In a golden shimmer. In a silver one. In a deep purple and a bright green one. In circles. As flowers. As rainbows. Like diamonds. Loud but hypnotising. Michiru shivered automatically and remembered all the New Year's she had experienced together with her Ruka. Knowing that a lot of other New Year's would follow.

"Wish you a happy new year, darling." Whispered Haruka in her ear and kissed her cheek. Michiru giggled and nodded.

"Happy new year, darling." She said in return and sighed slightly. Simply happily. She heard all the people singing around on the d'Arc Triumphe. Dancing along the Champs Elysée. Lighting up their own firework on and around the Tour d'Eiffel. The fountains looked like a waterfall of golden light. Of flames.

It's all so mysterious.

Over all the firework and the singing and shouting people suddenly the clocks started to ring. The low ones of Notre Dame and the higher ones of Sacre Coeur. And of all the other churches, too. Time seemed to stop for a moment and all people seemed to be content with themselves and the world. The cars stopped and more people danced on the street. Some took photos, some drank expensive or not so expensive wine. Some simply raised their hands and waved towards them on top of the famous building. Or up to all the balls still exploding between sparkling stars.

What a show.

Haruka giggled and suddenly remembered what great fireworks Minako always planned for themselves each year. Mostly it had been Ami who convinced her that a small one was more effective and that she didn't need fifty huge rockets.

I miss them a little bit.

But the wind senshi knew that they surely celebrated a great New Year. Just like them. That they now had to sing karaoke or to taste the drinks Makoto mixed.

"Love you." She whispered and felt the wind playing with her blonde hairs. Felt how her lover giggled and turned her head a little bit and simply kissed her. They both closed their eyes and kissed each other longingly while the sky exploded over Paris. The city of love.

Nani?

Oh...

Some tears ran over Michiru's redden cheeks as the kiss ended slowly. Her hands trembled as she took her lover's and looked deep into asking green ones.

"Everything all right, Michi-chan?" whispered Haruka and wondered why her fiancée's hands were suddenly so cold. Okay, it was New Year. And it was midnight. And they were outside. But they wore thick clothes and warmed each other.

Michiru only nodded and leaded Haruka's hands under the warm coat she wore. Carefully she placed them on her grown belly and waited in patience.

"Can you feel it?" she asked silently and more tears sparkled in her eyes. Haruka frowned. Then a bright smile bloomed on her face as she felt the light prickle under her fingertips. It was like being kicked. By a small being. By their child...

"Michi-chan..." stammered Haruka and nodded finally. Her hands stroke carefully, almost respectable over the soft skin and again she felt the feeling. It was incredible. It moved her heart and tightened her throat. She closed her eyes for some moments and as she opened them again tears were running down her cheeks as well.

"Michi-chan..."

She was so proud of her. She loved her so much. She only wanted to hold her tight and never let her go. And she wanted so badly to tell her all the crazy thoughts that spun now around in her suddenly dizzy mind. But she simply wasn't able to open her mouth and to say anything at all. Not as long as she felt how the little life moved inside her fiancée's belly.

Michiru didn't need any words. One look into Haruka's blushed was enough to let her understand. She turned around, still feeling Haruka's hands on her belly. Still feeling the prickle inside her body.

"Michi-chan..."

The sea goddess smiled and wrapped her arms around Haruka's neck. Then she stepped on her tiptoes and kissed her tenderly. Felt how Haruka's hands ran along her sides and her back until she embraced her, too. Brought her tighter to herself.

"I love you..."

More firework exploded and more and more people danced happily on the roads beneath. To celebrate a wonderful New Year. To congratulate each other. To wish each other luck. And to see into a new year. Into a bright shinning future. Into a surely happy one.

"I love you, too."

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