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.

10. Chapter 6: Tears in heaven

Chapter six: Tears in heaven

"I had to buy it."

Setsuna blushed deeply as she reached again into the huge back that stood next to the soft couch. Yaten next to her giggled as she pulled out another baby pyjama. That one was white. With tiny suns covering the tiny arms and the tiny legs.

"Well, and I simply couldn't leave this one in the department store." The next moment the oldest senshi hold another pyjama in her hands. Now the colour was dark green. Simply dark green. It looked very soft. And very expensive.

"Arigato. But that wasn't necessary." Michiru who sat opposite in the armchair looked at all the clothes that now covered the table of the living room.

"You didn't see the baby shoes she bought." Giggled Yaten and raised protectively his arms as Setsuna looked shortly at him. Her eyes sparkled and it looked as if she wanted to say: traitor! "And you should see all the toys. Somewhere there must be a baby swimsuit. In case that it's a girl." He leaned forward to reach into the huge back, too. Setsuna used her chance and knocked him with the pyjama she was holding on his head. Yaten only grinned and giggled even more.

The whole day they spent in different shops in the inner city of Tokyo. Setsuna behaved like crazy and simply bought whatever she saw. Her shouting like cute and nice and simply fantastic filled the whole shops. Yaten had never seen his girlfriend so happy. And so crazy. It was the total opposite from how she had behaved when one of her best friend had laid in coma.

I love her for who she is. For how she is.

Yaten's grin grew wider as he simply embraced his girlfriend and kissed her. To ask her silently for cease-fire – until they were at home and alone...

All shop assistance who saw them this afternoon thought that they were becoming parents. That Setsuna was pregnant and that they looked for clothes for their future child. First Yaten had been embarrassed as a nice young woman who sold tiny baby shoes asked him how long it would take till the birth and if they already knew its gender and the name. But slowly he changed his mind and at the end of the day he liked the idea. Of course Sejya would went insane and Tahiki would be very shocked when he declared them one day that he wanted to stay on earth – together with his Sessy-chan. Of course the mission was more important right now. They had to find their princess and to defeat Galaxia. But when everything would be over he would stay. He wouldn't return back to their home planet. He would ask Setsuna to become his wife and he would simply stay on earth. With her. His one and only love.

"And the blue swim ring she bought..." Yaten burst out into laughter as Setsuna tickled him. Some baby pyjamas fell on the soft carpet as she held her boyfriend tight and tickled him – without any mercy. But the tender smile on her redden face betrayed all her deep feelings.

"Arigato." Giggled Michiru and hold the tiny shoes in her hands. She loved such moments. When her friends showed her that they were crazy about the baby. Almost as crazy as Haruka and Hotaru. And almost as crazy as she was it herself.

Little one...

She giggled again and put the baby shoes on her huge belly.

"What do you think, little darling, is that the right seize?" she whispered and giggled again. The next moment she gasped for breath as the baby answered. It simply kicked and the shoes shivered on her belly.

"Guess you like it." Michiru smiled loving and laid her hands on her belly to feel the growing life insider her body. She was now in the eighth months and now she really felt like a walrus. She only wore wide dresses and maternity pants and white shirts she stole from her girlfriend. Haruka only smiled when she saw her the first time in those clothes. Now it was almost impossible for her to do many things that used to be normal just a few weeks ago: Closing her own shoes, bowing to pick up something she lost and taking a bath in the tube. Even raising from the bed could be difficult and Michiru was thankful whenever Haruka helped her. Sometimes she felt like a burden and more than once she started to cry because of the slightest argument. When Haruka disagreed that it wouldn't rain in the evening as Michiru suspected, the sea senshi simply started to cry. And so suddenly how it started it stopped again. Hotaru was too tiny to see it and Haruka was very patient. She simply took her girlfriend each time in her arms and comforted her until she felt better.

She's really a crazy becoming daddy.

Michiru smiled and stroke over her belly. Still she felt the kicking and giggled again.

The room they prepared for the child was now full. With baby furniture and thousands of toys. Just like Hotaru's room. Whenever Haruka saw a toy shop she had to buy two huge toys. One for the little one and one for her Himme-chan. She spent some nights in the garage and made a rocking horse for the little one. It took her a lot of time, a lot of curses and a lot of plaster but finally it was ready. Hotaru already had her own one. A little race car she could sit in and rock wildly. What the little girl did a lot during the past weeks. She grew with every day and the day she learned how great it was to walk faster, to RUN, she was a real devil. But a devil they both loved with all their heart. For the little one Haruka made a special rocking horse. It was deep blue and looked like a huge dolphin. The fins held the balance and on the back was a tiny saddle. Haruka wanted that the little one could grab something, just like Hotaru had her steering wheel, and so the dolphin had big ears now. Just like an elephant. Michiru laughed for almost an hour when she saw the rocking animal the first time. Haruka made a depressive face and wanted to put it away, but Michiru embraced her and declared her that she loved it very much. And that she couldn't await to see the little one rocking on it.

"Don't forget to show her all the caps you bought, Sessy-chan..." Yaten tried to escape his Setsuna, but she only tickled him even faster and he laughed even louder. "And all the..." he gasped. "... the sockets... Sessy-chan..."

Michiru closed her eyes and enjoyed the kicking inside her belly. It was a strange feeling and sometimes it could hurt. But it was the most fantastic feeling she had ever felt. Especially after all what happened the past weeks. There had been a lot of funny times. But also a moment of shock and unsafeness. Of fear.

The sea senshi sighed and kept stroking her belly.

It was about two weeks after they returned from Paris when she woke up in the morning. Incredible pain filled her body and she could hardly speak. She only gasped some words and the next hour she was in hospital. Later on she got to know that Makoto stayed at home to care for Hotaru while Kei and Haruka brought her to the doctor. She couldn't remember the drive to the hospital but Kei told her later that Haruka showed him that morning that she was indeed a car racer and that she could use a car very well, even if she laid for over two months in coma and still needed one of her crutches to walk.

That morning Michiru got to know what labour pains meant. Ten weeks too early. In the sixth month. She had been very scared to loose her child and one look into Haruka's pale face told her that the other senshi shared her fears. But Dr. Taka was able to stop them. For over two weeks after that morning she laid in hospital. They controlled her whole body and gave her medicine. And made sure that it wouldn't happen again. Haruka and Hotaru visited her every day and somehow it was strange. As if they changed the roles. This time Michiru was the patient and Haruka the visitor. After those endless two weeks the sea senshi was allowed to return home. Dr. Taka told her that she wanted to see her twice a week to control if everything was alright and that she should have a lot of rest. That she should avoid every kind of stress and hectic. So they didn't went out any longer. They ordered what they wanted to eat from the restaurants whenever Makoto and Kei wanted to go out with the others. They stopped making love and only held each other tight in the night. Or at day. Michiru suddenly felt the great desire to have her Ruka around the whole day and Haruka simply took her into her arm – whenever Hotaru gave her a little bit time and didn't discover another plate of their good dishes.

Every day they walked for a short time along the beach and Michiru enjoyed those times very much. It was now

February and it was the hottest they experienced the last ten years. The trees showed the first signs of an early spring and it was warmer outside with every day. The first birds returned from south and Michiru couldn't wait to see the cherry trees blooming again.

Everything is fine.

Michiru giggled as she heard again Yaten's laughter and his gasped words. Silently she wondered how many bags Setsuna really bought and how they all fitted in her little car.

Everything is fine.

There were four weeks left until the birth and although Michiru was afraid of it she couldn't await to hold their child in her arms. Setsuna brought them many book from the library about the birth and Haruka looked very pale after she read them all. Michiru only smiled and declared her that she was a strong senshi and that she would handle it. But deep inside herself she was scared of what might happen. She had felt the pain shortly after Sylvester and she knew that it had been tiny in comparison with the pain she would feel in about four weeks. But she knew that it would be worth it.

We went to all those appointments.

Michiru giggled again and remembered how excited Haruka had been when they first went to that course. Where they explained them how to breath regularly. How to sit and to lay. How to concentrate and to count the labour pains. Haruka looked very seriously and tried to keep it all in mind while Michiru simply enjoyed it to lay there on the soft ground and to see how her lover cared for her and for their child. Often she teased her and the fast senshi only laughed tenderly. First all the couples there had thought that Haruka was a man. That she was Michiru's husband. Until they had one course in the swimming hall. Michiru had enjoyed those hours the most. To swim in warm water where she was weightless and where her belly wasn't in her way any longer. There had been death silence when Haruka followed her into the nice water – in a swimsuit. But soon they had been over the shock and behaved the way they did before. Some of them even started to tease Haruka around. That she behaved like a becoming daddy of her first child. If she really wanted to give out cigarettes and alcohol when it would be born. Haruka only laughed and declared them that she already promised to give a big party – but with lemonade and a big chocolate cake she already wished from Makoto – with big, pleading eyes. The thunder senshi only laughed and declared that she would make all cakes Haruka wanted her to make as long as the little one was healthy and as long as she was allowed to see it.

Everything is fine.

Michiru opened her eyes again and looked at all the clothes covering the table. Still Setsuna and Yaten were fighting and now they both laughed. More baby clothes were in huge bags and they had all colours. Red and pink for a girl. Blue for a boy. Green, white, yellow for both genders. Because still they didn't know if it was a girl or a boy Michiru carried. In the first months of her pregnancy she wasn't very keen to know it. Then she simply had been busy and too tired to ask while her lover laid in coma. And all those times Dr. Taka looked into her belly with the ultrasound after her labour pains she couldn't tell them. First the baby showed them its back. Then it had wrapped its umbilical cord around its legs. So they decided now to wait until the birth and to be surprised by its gender. It was alike to them if it was a boy or a girl. As long as it was healthy. Only Hotaru declared determined that she wanted a baby brother. It took them some days to explain little Hotaru that she would get a brother or a sister but when the little girl understood what was happening she looked very happy and babbled with the few vocabulary she already about a girl.

Everything is fine.

Michiru didn't remember a time when she had been that happy. She would spent the rest of her life with her Ruka and her Himme-chan. With the little one – their child.

She laid the tiny shoes carefully on the table and wanted to stand up. After two tries she rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Do you want something, beauty? Can I help you?" asked Setsuna and forgot that she actually tickled her boyfriend. Yaten used his chance and gasped for breath. But he stayed in his girlfriend's arms and looked satisfied.

"Something to drink would be nice. If you don't..."

"Of course I don't mind." Setsuna stood up and Yaten almost fell on the carpet. He grinned and started to empty the next bag. Quickly the hill of clothes on the table grew while the senshi of time walked over to the kitchen. Makoto and Kei weren't at home. The thunder senshi wanted to meet the others to learn for an important grammar test and Kei went shopping with Yuri.

Hope they don't buy any more clothes.

Michiru thanked as Setsuna gave her the glass and drank some gulps. The apple juice was wonderful fresh and she hold the glass in her hands. Again she had to grin as she remembered the day about two months ago when she ate her first chocolate eyes with wiped cream and sour cucumber. Never in her life she would forget Haruka's shocked face again. If Michiru would have had a camera in her hands she would have been able to make the picture of her life.

"Aim faster!" screamed a high voice and the sea senshi smiled as she heard the unsure steps running through the corridor. "Faster!" little Hotaru laughed happily and jumped over the threshold and ran through the whole living room. There she stopped and clapped excited in her small hands. "Daddy!" she shouted and jumped around laughing. "Aim first!"

Her daddy leaned the crutch against the door and hobbled through the room. To chase her daughter. The smallest senshi laughed and tried to escape. She ran around the couch and through Yaten's legs who stood up to collect some more clothes.

"Gomen, singer, but I need to win this race." Told him Haruka as she pushed him carefully on the couch. Setsuna embraced her boyfriend and they all giggled as they watched how the tall blonde hobbled after her daughter. Little Hotaru laughed even more and jumped more than she ran.

"Guess it's helpless. Dangerous racer Hotaru is simply too fast for this world." Declared Haruka and sighed dramatically. Hotaru only laughed even louder and ran around the armchair Michiru was sitting in. The sea senshi giggled, too and shortly she looked into Haruka's blushed face. They both smiled, then Haruka concentrated again on the little girl. Little Hotaru decided that this race got boring and turned around and ran towards her daddy.

"Aim first and you last!" she laughed and ran directly into Haruka's open arms. The tall blonde swirled the little girl around and the smallest senshi laughed even louder. She spreat her arms and tried to imitate a plane. With all noises.

I love you, Himme-chan.

Haruka swirled her around for some more times, until the plane seemed to crash and landed directly on Michiru's knees.

"Hello mommy. Hello sister." Declared the little senshi and smiled happily. "I won!" she looked very proud and touched the huge belly. "I am fastest!"

"Hai, you are, little darling." Haruka smiled and went on her knees before her sea goddess. Shortly she kissed her and blinked as she saw all the clothes. "Do we get twins or even triplets and no one told me?" she asked and raised her eyebrows. She leaned forward and took one of the soft clothes in her hands. Slightly she gulped as she saw the tiny pyjama in her big hands.

So small. So fragile...

"No. Only auntie Setsuna went shopping with uncle Yaten." Giggled Michiru. "And I guess they thought of Chibiusa who will be born in about three or four years and maybe they thought of their own child, too."

Haruka raised her head and saw how the couple blushed deeply and grinned.

"Arigato. They're wonderful." She said and pulled the baby shoes over her fingers. They were tiny, too. Then she winked with them at Michiru. "And how was the last concert, Yaten? Did Sejya argue again with you?"

Yaten only rolled his eyes and Michiru giggled again. She could remember too well the first time the lead singer of the Three Lights and Haruka met. They almost beat each other and looked really angry. Because Sejya did the big mistake of talking with Michiru about the child. And he dared to touch her belly to feel the child. Just like they all did. But somehow Haruka misunderstood Sejya's intention and was madly jealous. She pushed him aside and because Sejya had the same hot temper they screamed soon at each other and showed each other their fists. And almost used them. But Michiru and Usagi had been faster. They stepped between them and called them fools and kids.

"Well..." grinned Yaten wolfish and Michiru frowned as she saw the same dangerous grin on her lover's face.

"And, did it work?"

Work?

Setsuna and Michiru exchanged knowing glances. Knowing that something happened that should better not have happened.

"Of course it did. He got all the water right into his face. It was ice cold and you should have heard him scream!" laughed Yaten and he looked suddenly satisfied. Haruka looked suddenly like a real devil.

Water?

Ice cold?

"Tenô Haruka?" asked Michiru and Haruka's devil grin turned from one second to the other one into an angel's smile.

"Hai, my beloved Michi-chan?"

Michiru leaned forward and stroke through blonde strands to mess them. Then she sighed and shrugged her shoulders. She couldn't change her lover's mind and maybe in one or two years she would like that Sejya or she would argue with him forever. Michiru remembered how the tall blonde had laid helplessly in the bed. Being connected to different machines. With a pale face and closed eyes. To see her like that, like a sweet devil of revenge, it was simply wonderful and Michiru forgave her.

"Nothing, dear. Nothing."

Hotaru climbed from her lap and stumbled over to her daddy.

"Wanna ride!" she declared and pulled at blonde strands. "Wanna ride!"

Haruka blushed and took the little girl in her arms. Carefully she sat her on her shoulders and made a face as little hands grabbed her blonde strands and pulled happily at them.

"Guess I have to ride into the wide western land now." She declared and blushed even more as Michiru giggled.

"When will you return, my little horse?"

"I'll be back right at supper time. I already ordered the pizza. Do you want some, too?"

Yaten nodded hungrily while Setsuna took another huge bag out of the couch's shadow. She looked a little bit guilty but everything was forgotten as Michiru saw the huge rabbit toy.

"Is already Eastern?" teased Yaten and soon he laid again laughing under his girlfriend who tickled him. Haruka bowed shortly to kiss her lover again before her daughter declared her loudly that she was her pony and that she had to ride with her to the mountains.

Michiru smiled loving and watched them how they disappeared to the staircase. She could hear them all through the corridor. With a happy smile she leaned back in the armchair and laid again her hands on her huge belly. To feel the child inside her body.

Hai. Everything is fine.

dbdbdb

Free birds screamed high above her. Wild waves rushed besides her. A little girl ran with unsure steps before her. Black hairs was moved by warm wind and tiny hands were stretched towards a cloudless sky. To reach and to catch the birds. To fly with them. A happy smile laid on a small face and automatically she smiled back.

My child.

She felt the sand under her shoes, felt the wind playing with her wide dress. Felt the kicking inside her body. Automatically she smiled and put her hand carefully on her grown belly.

Our children...

"Everything alright, Michi-chan?"

She raised her head and looked into concerned green eyes. Her girlfriend, no, her fiancée stopped and supported her still weak leg on the crutch. Still she had to use one but she could be fast again. Especially when she tried to haunt her daughter who ran through the light house by the sea laughing.

"It kicked." Smiled Michiru and stroke a curly strand behind her ears. Her hair grew quickly and it almost reached her shoulders again. Maybe one, maybe two more years and it would be as long again as it had been just half a year ago.

Half a year ago...

Silently the sea senshi observed how her lover stepped nearer and stroke carefully over her grown belly. Now it was almost impossible to hide it anymore. Even under the wide coats she wore whenever they left the house to go for a while along the beach. For the first months it had been possible to hide her pregnancy but it had only been a matter of time until the journalists found out. They took some pictures and soon the newspaper were covered with them. Yuri was very angry and talked to her lawyer, but Michiru didn't care about it. As long as she didn't have to give any comments to them and as long as they didn't dare to come to her house and to ring the bell, it was alike to her what they wrote down in the newspaper. Just once she called them up and told them that Kei was her brother and not the father of her child. But she didn't say them, who the father was. Of course they suspected soon the famous formula one racer Tenô Haruka and now Haruka got suddenly fan mail with all advises people thought she had to know as a becoming daddy.

Becoming daddy...

Michiru smiled and raised her hands. Tenderly she stroke through blonde strands and pulled her lover closer to herself. Shortly she looked into sparkling green eyes. Then she simply kissed Haruka.

Hai, she's a becoming daddy.

"Daddy! Birds!" Hotaru squeaked and ran again through the soft sand. She stumbled and fell down. The next moment Haruka let go of Michiru with a short kiss and was by her daughter's side. But the smallest senshi didn't cry. She only giggled and pointed again towards the birds. And laughed delighted as her daddy simply took her on her shoulders and pretended to be a wild horse again.

She's a proud daddy.

"Yeah! Horsy!" screamed Hotaru and pulled at Haruka's strands. Michiru giggled and asked herself how many hairs the tomboy already lost. Haruka only grinned and winked with her crutch before she continued her hobbling over the sand.

My fiancée...

Michiru lowered her head and looked for a long time on the ring she wore now on her left hand. Still the others didn't know about their engagement. Only Yuri and Kei. Haruka's aunt only glanced at the ring after they returned from Paris and knew what happened. They didn't need to tell her. She only took Michiru in her arms and declared with a shaky voice that she had always been part of her family. And that she was happy that she finally decided to be her daughter, too. Forever.

First Kei didn't understand as Michiru showed him her ring with pride. He only asked if it was silver or gold and made a stupid face while his sister burst out into laughter. After he finally understood, he grabbed Haruka and pretended to beat her. But he only tickled her a bit and told her that she should make his princess happy. Or that he would be very, very angry if she wouldn't. That he wanted to see his sister only happy in the future. Just like his niece and the other child.

Haruka had looked very seriously as she shook his head and promised solemn that she would do everything she could to make Michiru the happiest women on earth.

Kei tickled her even more until she burst out into laughter, too, and teased her the whole evening around that he wanted to see her in a white dress. And that he already planned the most evil party. With a lot of rice to throw. With happy music and with a coach and white horses.

Haruka only replied laughing that the Three Lights, Usagi and especially Minako would take care that it would become the craziest wedding party the world had ever seen.

That's why we didn't tell the others yet.

Michiru took her hands on her hips to support her huge belly and looked up into the bright sky. It was one of the hottest February Japan had seen the past hundred years. First they wanted this child to be born. There were about three weeks left and Michiru needed her rest. They planned their wedding in summer, maybe in July, maybe in August. Maybe on their special day Michiru forgot the last year. The baby would be half a year old then and it would be easier with the party. Michiru would have regained her strength again after the birth and their lives would be normal again. Although Michiru never wanted them to be normal again. When normal meant not to be together with her Haruka. Not to be the mother of two lovely children. Not to be as happy as she was right now.

Guess Minako will get crazy. Just like Usagi.

Michiru giggled and saw herself already in the boutique to buy her wedding dress.

"What are you thinking?" asked suddenly Haruka by her side and the water senshi felt two arms being wrapped around her body. She leaned back and sighed happily.

"About all those crazy aunts and uncles. And if she shall rent the huge town hall of Tokyo to celebrate our wedding. At least for Mina-chan's big firework." Michiru giggled and felt how Haruka kissed her ear and leaned her cheek against her one.

"You'll be the most beautiful bride, Michi-chan." Whispered the tall blonde after a long while they simply stood there and watched her daughter searching the whole sand of mussels.

You're the most beautiful woman I know.

The wind senshi hold her lover tighter. They had been problems during the past weeks and there had been moments of real fear. Haruka feared of losing the small child when the labour pains suddenly appeared. For the first time it had been her thinking about living a life without Michiru. Her whole life the tall blonde had lived with the knowledge of her illness. That she could be the one who would be forced to leave. She, not Michiru. But the doctors could help her and now everything was fine again.

"I love you." Whispered Haruka and heard Michiru's loving giggle.

It made Haruka happy to see her sea goddess laughing. Although she complaint sometimes that she felt like a walrus, although she threw her narrow clothes more than once out of the window with an angry face, although she was unsure whenever they went to the doctor's appointments, Haruka had never seen her that happy before. Whenever the water senshi stroke over her belly, whenever she talked to the unborn life in her belly while she thought that there was no one around, whenever she stood up in the middle of the night and stood in the new child's room in silence, Haruka knew that this had been a real miracle. Everything that happened in the past year seemed to be a real miracle. Not only that she awoke again. That she got a second chance. That she was allowed to live, to grow old. It was also an incredibly fantastic feeling of the little one kicking against her hands on her lover's belly. It was the real miracle that happened to them. That they would have their own child. That Hotaru would get her own sister or brother.

"I love you, too, my wild racer." Smiled Michiru and they both closed their eyes as they kissed again. Hotaru who discovered a nice mussel hold it up in the air and laughed happily. It shimmered in all colours of the rainbow and it was still wet. Hotaru turned around to show her treasure with pride and stopped. Her eyes grew wide as she saw the shadow. Right behind her parents. She didn't know what it meant. Nor did she already knew what good and evil was. But she felt that it wasn't right. That it was dangerous. That it could harm her parents.

"Daddy!"

Hotaru let go of the mussel and stumbled over to the persons who meant the most to her in her tiny life.

"Mommy!"

Her parents separated and looked asking at her. Her daddy's smile froze as she saw Hotaru's terrified expression. She turned around and saw the youma standing there. Pointing with his big paws at her and growling something in a deep voice, showing ugly, green teeth.

"I wanna your heart crystals!" it screamed and rose. It was about two heads taller than Haruka and the wind senshi gulped. "Pure heart crystals!"

Hotaru stumbled and fell hard on her knees. Automatically she started desperately to cry. But it was not because of the pain but of the fear in her tiny heart.

"Michi-chan! Take care of Himme-chan!" Haruka commanded and raised her henshin. It took her only two seconds to transform. Her thoughts spun around in her mind and she cursed herself that she forgot to take her phone with them. To call up Usagi. Because she knew that she needed the help of Sailor Moon. Sailor Uranus used to be the strongest of all senshi. But that had been in another time. Before the operation. Before the coma. Now the youma was too powerful for her alone. Michiru was pregnant and wasn't allowed to transform any longer.

No stress! The doctor told you no more hectic!

Haruka gulped again and raised her henshin to throw her planet. Surely a very small planet, but maybe it was enough to give her more time. To let Michiru take Hotaru and ran away. Back to the house. To call the Sailor Team.

I have to fight it. I have to keep it occupied. To keep it busy until Sailor Moon is there.

"Earth Shaking!"

Hai, the planet is tiny.

Haruka watched how it evolved from her hands and sighed slightly as she felt how the power strained from her body. The golden ball hit the youma and it looked confused for some seconds. Then it started to laugh.

Laugh. Laugh, that's better than to fight!

Haruka held her henshin tighter and saw how Michiru took their daughter at her hand and walked slowly over to the road. The light house wasn't very far away, but it was still a long way for the pregnant senshi. There were tears running down the little girl's cheeks. But she made no sound. No sob. Her dark eyes were big with fear and Michiru was very pale. She reeled but tried to run. Her belly was in her way.

Of course it is! She's in the eighth months now!

The youma laughed again and raised his paws again. But it didn't attack the blonde woman in front of it. Instead it turned around and attacked the fleeing family. It slapped Michiru right into the face and she fell down on the sand. Protectively she wrapped her arms around Hotaru and tried to protect her with her own body.

Michi-chan!

Himme-chan!

Little one!

Haruka saw how the big paws raised again. To beat her lover again. Her fiancée. Her future.

"NO!"

The wind senshi knew that it was senseless to throw her planet again. She wasn't powerful enough any more and the youma wanted to get Michiru's pure heart crystal. That would have been deadly for the young woman - and certainly for the small child she carried.

"You bloody bastard!"

Haruka jumped between her family and the youma and raised her arms. If it wanted to kill them, it had to kill her first. It wouldn't get Michiru, nor Hotaru. Only over her dead body!

She's in the eighth month!

The tall blonde heard her daughter's terrified scream, heard how Michiru started to cry, heard how the youma laughed again that wicked laugh.

Then her world exploded in pain. She gasped and automatically held her belly as the youma hit her right into her stomach. With his big paws. It didn't want her heart, it wanted Michiru's. So it only wanted to kill the tall blonde to get to the pregnant woman.

"Shit..." Haruka gasped hard for breath and raised her henshin again. Her arms trembled and she could see the shadows waiting at the rims of her eyes. But she wouldn't faint. She wouldn't run away.

I'll never leave my family again behind!

"Earth Shaking..." It was nothing more than a whisper and she knew that it was senseless. She heard how Michiru screamed. How she threw sand and some stones at the youma. How Hotaru cried even louder and shouted bad words at the youma Haruka never taught her.

Surely Chibiusa...

Haruka smiled a painful smile and concentrated again on her henshin. Her whole body trembled and the pain was almost more than she could bare. She saw how the youma raised its paws again to hit her again. Surely for the last time...

"NO!" Michiru came on her feet and stumbled over to the youma. But she knew that she had no chance.

No...

"Star Serious Laser!"

"Star Gentral Utterance!"

"Star Sensitive Inferno!"

Suddenly the air was filled with shimmering stars. Haruka glanced at them and wondered if she was already unconscious. If this was a strange dream. But at that moment the youma started to scream and shook in front of her eyes. It lost one of his paws and green blood suddenly covered the sand. There were more and more stars and the youma didn't have a chance.

But how... and why...

Haruka let her henshin fell on the ground and held her belly again. With a silent groan she went on her knees and tried to ignore the pain that evolved inside her body. A pain she got to fear too well during the past half year. A pain that let her almost do the biggest mistake in her whole life. A pain that seemed to be the end then.

More and more stars and as Haruka raised her head she saw three shadows fighting with the youma. But they were no senshi. Or at least no senshi from their galaxy. She had never seen them before. Sailor Moon told them about those knew warriors some weeks ago, but somehow Haruka didn't believe her. Setsuna never heard of other senshi and if the senshi of time didn't know anything about them...

"Ruka..." she heard the shaky voice next to her and turned her head a little bit. Just enough to regret that motion. Her head ached and it seemed to explode. Michiru sat there next to her. In the dry sand. She hold a still crying Hotaru in her arms and looked very pale. And terrified. And concerned.

"Ruka..." More tears ran down pale cheeks and Michiru trembled even more. "Ruka..."

"Everything's fine, Michi-chan..." whispered Haruka and tried to breath regularly. Just like they learned in the course they took part the past weeks. "It was just the shock..." Haruka groaned and held her belly tighter. Then she glanced again over to the warriors. They were obviously female and their dark costumes were complete different from the sailor fuku.

"He will never do any more harm!" The tallest one with long brown hairs looked at the remaining of the youma - an old toy grizzly - and shook her head.

"But that wasn't any of our fights!" argued another one and stroke her dark hairs on her back. "Healer, really, I don't know why you were so excited! I almost crashed into another car and now... look at my shoes. They're full with sand and..." carried the dark haired woman on and looked really angry.

"Shut up!" sighed the smallest of them and went over to the kneeling couple. Her silver hairs shimmered in the sunlight and sparkling green eyes remembered Haruka of someone. But she couldn't tell whom.

"But you simply screamed and now everything is...!"

"Just once in a lifetime, shut up Fighter!" snapped the smallest and surely youngest of them and for a short time there was surprised silence. Before the dark haired woman started to complain again. The young woman only rolled her green eyes and went on her knees next to Haruka. For some seconds she looked at her with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Tenô Haruka.

The fast car racer.

Sessy-chan's friend.

Healer remembered too well how sad the tall woman had been. How desperate when the blonde racer laid in bed. Healer would never forget how she stumbled into the small hospital room and saw all the machines there. Standing around a bed. Trying to keep a fragile looking person alive. A person who was almost dead. Who was in coma.

Setsuna almost gave herself up. It took Healer endless nights to convince the green haired woman that it wasn't her fault. That it had been simply destiny. And that no one could control destiny. Even with the key to the time's portal.

She survived it. And woke up again.

Too well Healer remembered the great welcome home party. How they sung karaoke. How they laughed a lot and how Setsuna smiled the whole evening. How crazy she was about her unborn niece or nephew. How she walked into every shop and had to buy baby clothes.

That youma hit her rudely.

Healer swallowed hard and placed her hand carefully on Haruka's shoulder.

"Everything alright, Haruka? Can we do something for you? Shall we bring you to hospital? Our car is right over there and it won't take us..."

"Healer!"

The silver haired woman ignored her partner's warning voice.

"Nani?" Haruka raised her head and frowned.

Shall I trust her?

"Everything okay, Haruka? Say a word, you had a complicate operation and it simply kicked into your belly. That's not a joke. And you know that."

She knows about my operation?

Healer sighed and laid her personal henshin aside. She heard how her partner gasped and felt the prickling that always ran through her body when she transformed. Her clothes changed into a worn out jeans and a wide t-shirt. And her body turned from female into male.

"Yaten?" whispered Haruka surprised and let Yaten help her up. She nodded thankfully as he gave her back her crutch. But he didn't let her arm go. His light green eyes were still concerned and he tried to figure out if she was really feeling okay or if she only wanted to be a hero. And very stupid.

"Healer!" Fighter walked over to the youngest member of the Star Lights and shook his head in disbelieve. His face was dark red and suddenly Haruka knew that this woman was Sejya. It was suddenly very hard for her not to burst out into terrible laughter. Her belly still hurt but to imagine male and cool Sejya as a girl, it was a really funny thought.

"Or shall I say Yaten?" Fighter blushed even deeper as she saw the hidden grin on the tall blonde's face. "What do you think you're doing? To tell them who you are! Are you nuts!" Fighter looked as if she wanted to beat the smaller young man but sparkling green eyes hold him back. Just like Maker.

"Really, that wasn't necessary." He sighed and walked over to Michiru. To help her and her daughter up. And to handle her a handkerchief. Even if their mission was in danger, that was no reason to be rude. Michiru only mumbled a small arigato and stepped nearer to her Haruka. Automatically she took the blonde's free hand and held it determinedly tight. Shortly they exchanged glances and Haruka only nodded. She was already feeling better.

Surely it only had been the shock of being hit by the youma.

"What will your girlfriend think about that?" argued Fighter and took her personal henshin aside. Soon Sejya stood next to Yaten and looked really rude. "What will your nice Setsuna think when she gets to know that her cute boyfriend is also a girl?"

Yaten blushed deeply and Haruka felt how he started to tremble.

Okay, that's enough!

The tall blonde wanted to say some rude words to the grinning pop singer as she heard the silent voice next to her.

"She already knows it."

"NANI?" Sejya's scream could be heard all over the beach. "She knows that you have both genders and still she's with you? What the hell is she for a per..."

"Think of what you're saying!" answered Yaten with a warning look and supported Haruka determinedly who didn't need so much help any longer. She already felt better and was grateful that nothing worse happened.

"We loved each other and that's all that counts. If you have any problems, then go!" Yaten's eyes sparkled. This time because of the tears. He grew up with Sejya and his behaviour hurt him somehow.

"Okay, guys, let's bring those two home before they get a cold and then we'll sit down and discuss it like civilized people. Okay?" suggested Maker and transformed into Tahiki.

"Civilized people?" asked Haruka with a wolfish grin on her face and looked over to a still blushed Sejya. Yaten calmed down and giggled while he guided her over to their car. There she sat down, took a still trembling Hotaru on her lap and cradled her carefully until the little girl calmed down. Until she fell asleep on her chest. Michiru sat next to her and only took her into her arms. Her face told Haruka that she was very relieved that everything was fine again. That they survived that attack. That they didn't awake of that wonderful dream they shared during the past weeks.

Normally the drive home only lasted five minutes. But the Three Lights needed over half an our to decide who was allowed to drive the car this time.

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"They're still discussing?"

Michiru yawned and rubbed her tired eyes. She remembered that she laid on the soft couch. Next to her Ruka. The tall blonde read a book about the wonder of birth while Michiru watched a romantic movie about a couple being separated over thousands of miles but never forgets each other. Hotaru had been already in her bed and some when after midnight Michiru fell asleep. Of course right before the happy ending.

Surely they got each other. It was an American movie after all.

"Hai." said Makoto and giggled as Kei stole her a roll. She was about to prepare something to eat for the people sitting in one of the guest rooms and talking for hours. There were only six persons but they talked and talked and talked. The Three Lights, Usagi, Mamoru and Setsuna discussed sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly about their missions, their pasts and their tasks.

"Surely Usagi will save the boys from killing each other." Answered Makoto and shrugged her shoulders. Of course she was interested, too, what they would decide, but six persons were almost too much for such an important meeting. And she trusted her future queen completely. Just like Ami, Minako and Rei did.

"Did you see Haruka somewhere?" yawned Michiru and felt very tired with a sudden. Her back hurt and all she wanted was to lay down and let Haruka massage her shoulders.

"Your beloved car racer went upstairs to take a bath." Teased Kei and put the other half of the roll into his mouth, too. Makoto only rolled her eyes, but giggled again. "That was about an hour ago. She had a book in her hand. Guess it'll take a little bit longer."

"A book? Do you mean she's still reading Wonder of birth ?" asked Makoto surprised and opened the fridge to get the butter. As she turned around another roll was missing.

"Sometimes I think she's the one getting the child, not you, princess." Teased Kei and walked over to her. He took the roll secretly into his pocket and stroke carefully over her grown belly. "How are you feeling, princess? Can I do anything for you?"

"She has her Haruka! And you already promised me to make the rolls and the coffee." Said Makoto and looked suddenly very busy.

"Of course I'll help you, my Mako-chan." Giggled Kei and messed brown hairs.

Mako-chan?

For a moment Michiru watched them in silence. How they teased each other around. With red cheeks. With sparkling eyes. With a tender smile on their faces.

Are they really...?

The sea goddess yawned again and wrapped her arms around her suddenly freezing body.

Maybe not now. But I am happy if they'll ever discover their love for each other.

"No, everything's fine. Arigato, Kei."

"Are you sure?" Now it was the thunder senshi who looked concerned.

"Hai, everything's alright. And now, make your rolls that they won't eat each other." Michiru giggled and went over to the corridor. Supporting her belly with both hands. "I'll be upstairs to find someone who wants a walrus like me." She giggled and heard how Makoto and Kei chased each other through the whole kitchen and the near living room. Just like two children. Or two teenagers in love. Their first real love.

Walrus... hai, that's the real expression!

Michiru sighed deeply. Then she climbed the steps of the staircase. Although Haruka wanted them to sleep in one of the guest rooms downstairs Michiru intended to stay upstairs. There was the better light and she wanted to woke up in the morning with nothing above than pure glass.

I must have been made when I made that decision!

Michiru groaned slightly and sweat covered her face as she reached the top. Finally. After ten minutes.

New record, girlie!

She sighed again and walked over to their sleeping room. Haruka's clothes laid overall on the carpet and Michiru grinned as she saw them. Now it was Haruka's task to pick them up again after her bath. Because the sea senshi was too exhausted and her belly too big to pick them up by herself.

I can't even close my shoes properly.

The water was working. Steam came from the half open door and Michiru frowned. Didn't Kei tell her that Haruka went upstairs over almost an hour ago? Or did she read the book and forgot her bath?

That would be typical her.

Michiru smiled and walked slowly over to the bathroom. Still supporting her belly with her hands. Still yawning. Wishing herself a nice bath, too. And a soft mattress. And her lover's tender hands.

"Ruka?" Michiru giggled as she opened the door. "Do you really think that it's necessary to know everything about the human birth that they wrote..." The sea goddess's voice got more and more silent until it died away. There was no book and the tube was empty. The water ran down the white marble and right into the drain. The mirror were covered and the whole scene looked wrong.

"Ruka?"

Her lover kneeled there. On the white carpet. Right in front of the tube. She only wore her yellow bathrobe. Her naked body trembled under it. Surely icy hands hold a grown belly tight.

"Ruka!"

Michiru was by her lover's side within the next second. She gasped hard for breath as she saw how Haruka tried to get on her feet. How blood ran over her legs and covered the white carpet with a small red lake. Dark green eyes were wide and full of fear.

"RUKA!" Michiru grabbed her as the tall blonde stumbled and went on her knees again. She choked and groaned slightly.

"Michi-chan..." it was nothing more than a whimper. It remembered Michiru of a scene she experienced just half a year ago. In a small apartment. A scene she thought she would never have to live again.

No!

NO!

"Ruka! What's up! Ruka! Tell me what's wrong! Ruka!"

The tall blonde was very pale and seemed to faint the next moment. She raised her head again and blonde strands fell into a sweaty forehead. Bloody hands held her belly tighter and she trembled even more.

"Help me, Michi-chan..." whispered Haruka and felt her lover's arms being wrapped around her shoulders. Felt the grown belly against her aching body. "It hurts so much..."

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She opened her eyes and looked expressionless at the white ceiling.

Again that bloody ceiling!

She had seen it for too many times in her young life. And she was fed up with it. She never wanted to see it again. She never wanted to return. She never wanted to experience this hell again. And now she was laying there. Simply there. Without the slightest chance of escape.

Shit!

She could hardly remember how she got here. First she had kneeled on that soft carpet and thought that the world was going to end. The pain was incredible and she thought she would die. Then there had been the high, the strange noise outside. And suddenly the small room had been filled with people. Different people. In white coats. They all talked friendly to her and gave her some medicine. Connected her to a drip. Carried her away.

Michi-chan!

Haruka wanted to sit up. To leave this bed. To walk over to the nurses and to ask for her lover. She remembered too well the sea goddess's pale face, the frightened expression on her face as they rolled her away to the ambulance. The drive hadn't been too long and Haruka was sure that the driver did a very good job. It was just a few seconds that they carried her into that room and connected more drips to her aching arms she only wanted to wrap around her suddenly grown belly.

Surely it hurts.

But somehow she couldn't feel any pain right now. Only a dizzy feeling in her head and a strange knocking inside her belly.

Surely they gave me some pain killers.

Haruka sighed deeply as the door was pushed again open. Energetically.

Again...

"Tenô-san!" Dr. Taka breathed deeply and looked directly into dark green eyes. Looking terrified up to her. Then she pulled the white blanket and the bathrobe the tall blonde was still wearing aside and gasped hard for breath. Haruka only closed her eyes and did what she didn't do during a long time: She started to pray.

Please, let everything be fine. Please!

But the silence that evolved told her something different.

"What happened?" asked Dr. Taka in a strange calm voice and stroke over the grown belly. Haruka looked now like she had looked shortly before her operation. Even worse.

"You wouldn't believe me." Said Haruka and wanted to scream as the pain flashed suddenly again through her belly. She turned her head and saw how Dr. Taka felt her belly and made a very, very serious face. More and more pain filled her world and Haruka laid her head again on the pillow. Suddenly she felt simply tired and exhausted.

Please, let me live. I wanna see Michi-chan and Himme-chan happy. And the little one...

"What happened, Tenô-san!" demanded the older woman and her voice was suddenly sharp. "I need to know all information for the operation!"

Operation?

Haruka gasped hard for breath and wanted to sit up. It took her all her powers and suddenly the whole world spun around herself.

"Someone kicked me right into my belly." Gasped Haruka and looked down at her body. Saw the old scar that was still very red. Of an operation she almost died of just half a year ago.

No... Michi-chan...

"Kicked..." gasped Dr. Taka and hold her tight as she couldn't control her body any longer. As she simply fell and almost fell out of the bed. "Kicked?" The older woman stroke through blonde strands and looked into a very pale, very painful face.

"Accident..." whispered Haruka and choked. Suddenly blood was running down her chin and Dr. Taka gasped again hard for breath. She pushed the rest of the blanket aside and saw that the whole bed was red. From the blood. That still ran down her patient's legs.

"Don't worry, Ruka. Everything will be fine." She said and held the young woman tighter who fainted with a singe whisper.

"Michi-chan..."

Shit! Who can do such things to her? To an innocent woman?

Who?

"We need to operate! Right now!" screamed Dr. Taka and suddenly the room was full with people. The older doctor grabbed a nurse and looked with wild eyes at her. "And we need a fucking big amount of blood!"

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It rained outside. The drops were crashing against the window pane. Automatically she wrapped her arms around her body and tried to control the shaking . She tried it in vain.

It was dark outside. There were only some street lamps shinning. And the lamps in the waiting room. She could see her pale face looking back at her. With terrified eyes. With a tired expression.

Not again. Please, not again!

Michiru sobbed quietly and two tears ran down her sunken cheeks.

There was again the well known feeling inside her huge belly. The child moved slightly.

OUR child...

She sobbed even harder and held her belly tighter. Ignoring the growing pain. Inside her body. But she couldn't ignore the pain in her heart.

Please, not again. I can't stand this all again.

Helpless Michiru had to watch how they brought Haruka to the ambulance. How it drove away. With all lights and all noises. Simply driving away and taking her the most important person in her life. Makoto volunteered to take care for Hotaru while Kei and Yuri drove her to hospital. Yuri was walking around the hospital like a ghost and Kei drank one coffee after another.

I am feeling so damn helpless!

Michiru cursed herself and more tears sparkled in her eyes, ran over her pale cheeks. Again she remembered how happy she had been just a few hours ago.

Just a few hours? Can luck be over? So quickly? So suddenly?

Again she remembered how Haruka went on her knees in Notre Dame to ask her to become her wife. Again she saw how happy Haruka had been on the Tour d'Eiffel. How she was on the roundabout with Himme-chan. How they stood on the d'Arc Triumphe on New Year and felt the first motions of their child.

It can't be over. Not so soon. Not now!

Michiru lowered her head and stared at her grown belly. She knew that there was no chance this time. This time she couldn't go into Haruka's dreamland to take her back. This time Sailor Moon wouldn't be able to safe them if Michiru would die there. This time everything would be real. And final...

"Princess?" she felt how her brother took her into his strong arms. But this time his embracement couldn't calm her down. As it had done all those time in her childhood. Although he was there she felt suddenly all alone. Left behind.

"They started to operate ten minutes ago." Whispered Kei and swallowed hard. "The nurse told me that Dr. Taka-san does everything to save her."

That bloody youma!

But Ruka told me that she's feeling fine...

The sea senshi saw again all the blood on the carpet, saw again Haruka's painful expression. Saw again how Dr. Taka ran through the whole corridor just a few minutes ago. How she shouted around angrily.

Please...

Michiru covered her face with her icy hands and started desperately to sob.

And Ruka's illness?

"Everything will be fine, Michi-chan. Just believe in us, okay?" Kei held her tighter and tried to comfort her. Although he knew that it was senseless this time. All they could do know was to wait and hope.
And pray that Dr. Taka really had the power to help her.

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Shit!

There was blood. Only blood. A red hell. All she could see was the red fluid that seemed to be everywhere.

Shit!

Dr. Taka stared for some seconds in disbelieve at her patient. One second ago she opened the belly, opened the old scar again. Now she stood there, holding her surgical instruments tight in her hands and looking with big eyes in disbelieve at the damage. The belly was filled with blood and she couldn't see any organs any longer. It all seemed to be only one mash. A red, ugly mash. A deadly mash...

Shit!

"That's too much. The drip's too slowly to..."

"We need..."

"More..."

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Dr. Taka blinked and tried to concentrate again on her work. The nurses and the other doctors were all around. They tried to get away the blood from the belly and to push new into the veins of the arms. But it was senseless and she knew it. It was already too late.

NO!

Dr. Taka took her scalpel tighter in her hands and bowed again over the battlefield. Still she only saw blood and more blood. It seemed to fill the whole belly and slowly and dirtied their green blankets. Now she had to do what she tried to hinder in the first operation. To take Haruka any chance to have her own children one day.

If she'll awake again after the anaesthesia.

Dr. Taka gulped and tried to do the next important cut.

If she'll survive this operation...

The older woman worked quickly and professional while she tried to ignore the signs. They couldn't stop the bleeding and all tries to get away the red fluid from the open belly failed.

She'll bleed to death...

Suddenly Dr. Taka felt incredible angry about the person who dared it to kick her patient into the belly. A tall woman who survived a dangerous operation just half a year ago. Very tight. Who woke up after two months in coma and was a miracle for the whole hospital. Who had a pregnant girlfriend and a little daughter who needed her. Who simply wasn't allowed to go. Not yet!

Shit!

"I can't find the..."

"There's too much blood!"

"I want..."

"But..."

They all tried their best. They all knew that it was in vein. But they would have never given up. Not until...

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Beep...

Shit!

Dr. Taka raised her head and looked terrified at the screen. Knowing that she had lost.

Shit!

Beep...

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The didn't change during the months. It was the same beautiful. The same quiet. The same calming.

I love this place.

She walked along the sand and felt the sun burning on her face. She raised her head and smiled.

But I won't stay here. Not this time.

"Haru-chan!" She winced as someone jumped into her arms. A wide smile bloomed on her face as she saw the little boy. His blonde hairs were messed and his face was dirty. He hold a ball in his arms and showed it to her.

"Do you wanna play?"

She held him tight for some seconds and felt how tears burned in her eyes. The same green eyes like his ones.

I love you so much.

She wanted to cry it out loud. She didn't want to leave him. She wanted to stay with him forever. Her little brother she missed her whole life. But she knew that it was impossible. She didn't belong here. In heaven. Not yet.

"Do you wanna play with me?"

"I want, Shinji. But not now." Explained Haruka and put him carefully down again on the ground. But she simply couldn't let him go. She kneeled down before him in the soft sand and took him again into her arms to hold him tight. "I love you, don't you know?" she sobbed and now the tears were running down her cheeks.

"Hai." giggled the boy and stroke over her cheeks. To wipe away her tears.

"But I can't stay here with you. Not now."

I love you, my little brother!

Suddenly the boy looked very serious and nodded silently.

"I know." He whispered, still holding his ball tight. "You belong to Michiru and the child." He whispered and smiled again.

"We're only angels, but you have the chance to be a real human, Haru-chan."

Haruka winced wildly as soft arms were wrapped around her body. She looked up and saw directly into shinning green eyes. Her mother held her tighter and kissed loving her cheeks.

"Mommy..." cried Haruka and remembered her childhood. How that wonderful woman had laid in the big bed. How she had been so pale and so lifeless. And how much she had loved her. "I... please..." More and more tears ran down her cheeks. The pain was almost unbearable and she wanted never to let go. But the same time she wanted to stand up and to return. To her Michi-chan. To her Himme-chan. To the little one.

I want so badly to live.

"You will love, my darling. Just believe in yourself." Her mother wiped tenderly away her tears and smiled loving down at her daughter. "Don't cry, honey. We're in heaven. And tears aren't necessary here." She kissed lightly on shaking lips and Haruka knew that she would never forget this kiss. Never.

I love you. You're my family.

But Michi-chan's also my family...

Haruka watched how her mother took her brother into her arms and went over to her father. They all smiled friendly and understanding. And a little bit proud.

"We love you, Haru-chan. Never forget that. Never!" said her father and embraced her mother. Shinji laughed and threw the ball high into the air and caught it again. They looked like the perfect family. A family Haruka wanted so badly to have, too.

With my Michi-chan...

"We'll always watch over you. As long as you live, Haru-chan, we're near you. We'll never leave you alone, because we're angels." Smiled her mother and stroke through Shinji's blonde strands. "We're you're guardian angel's, Haru-chan. Yours and the ones of your family."

Haruka came hard on her feet and wiped away her tears. Then she nodded and felt again the pain deep inside her heart. It was so easy. She only had to go over to them. To embrace them. To go with them over to the mountains and to stay there. With the family she lost over fifteen years ago.

Daddy! Look!

Wanna fly, daddy!

Again Haruka saw the little girl in her arms, felt tiny hands grabbing for her blonde strands and sitting not very patient on her shoulders.

I am feeling like a walrus, Ruka.

Don't laugh, Ruka! That's not fair!

What's wrong with chocolate ice cream and ham? That's delicious... YOU don't have to eat it!

Haruka gulped and saw again her lover sitting next to her. Smiling at her. Embracing her.

I love you, Ruka.

Kissing her.

I love you, too, Michi-chan.

Haruka sighed deeply and looked towards the wild sea. She could see the shadow standing in the flat water. Stretching her hand out. The tall blonde recognized the sailor fuku and knew that there was no time left for her. To be together with her parents. To tell them how much she loved them. To tell them that she was thankful that they decided for her over twenty years ago. That they gave her her life.

I love you.

But she knew that she had to use her chance to say goodbye.

"I have to go now." She whispered and felt again those tears burning in her eyes. Knowing that the pain would never disappear at all. But it would be more bearable. Now that she knew that her parents were safe. That they were happy. That they were together with Shinji.

"... guess it's time to say goodbye."

"Not to say goodbye. Not forever." Grinned Shinji. "You wanted to play with me, remember?" he threw again the ball and grinned even cheekier.

"We'll wait for you, honey. A lifetime isn't more than a week here." Said her father and Haruka nodded. There was a big gulp in her throat and there weren't any thoughts left she could tell them.

"Just go."

Haruka looked for another moment in her mother's smiling face. Then she smiled back and wiped again away her tears.

"Arigato, mommy." She whispered and turned around. And took the warm hand that would lead her home.

Home.

To her Michi-chan.

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Beep...

Shit!

Dr. Taka tried to operate while the first nurses already gave up. They looked with sad eyes at the machines, the flat line and their doctor.

Shit!

NO!

More and more blood poured out of the fragile body that stopped to breath some seconds ago. Or had it been minutes? It seemed to be eternity for Dr. Taka who simply didn't want to give up. Because giving up would have meant to let the tall blonde died. And that would have meant to look into sad blue eyes. To tell a pregnant young woman that her girlfriend didn't survive the operation.

Dr. Taka would have rather killed herself than facing Kaioh Michiru. Not after they had been able to wake up the formula one racer after she laid over two months in coma. After everyone gave her up and simply let the expensive machines do its job.

It had been a miracle.

Dr. Taka looked at all the blood that now covered her transparent gloves as well. It was impossible for her to operate or even to stop the bleeding.

Beep...

Just a miracle. All I ask for is one bloody miracle!

Dr. Taka swore loudly and all the nurses froze. Unsure what to do. Unsure if they should carry on. To take care for an already dead woman.

I can't let her die like that. Please, just this miracle!

Be...

Suddenly time seemed to stop. All noises died away. The air seemed to stand and even the light didn't flicker any longer. There was nothing around. Not even the slightest breeze. Not even the quietest cough. Not even a single scent. Of blood. Of sweat. Of fear. Nothing. Not even silence.

Nani?

Dr. Taka raised her head as she saw the bright light. She blinked and watched in silence the shadow stepping nearer. She wore a strange uniform. Just like the uniform Dr. Taka's daughter had to wore at school. Shinning eyes looked for some seconds at her, then the shadow smiled. She walked over to the pale blonde and stroke loving through messed strands. Then she bowed over the fragile body and disappeared within the next moment.

Nani?

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Nani?

For some seconds Dr. Taka stood there like in trance. She stared at her patient, but the shadow was gone. Just like the light.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

No more flat line?

Dr. Taka lowered her look and gasped hard for breath as she saw that all the blood disappeared. It simply disappeared into nowhere. For some seconds the woman hesitated. Then she started again to work. She had seen the damaged veins and now she knew what she had to do to save the tall blonde's life.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

A miracle...

Tears sparkled in her eyes while the nurses did their job.

Arigato.

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She felt terrible. Her whole body trembled and the pain was almost more than she could bare. She felt sick and choked a lot the past two hours. More than once she went to toilette and threw up. Until her stomach was empty. Until there was nothing left she could have thrown up. Kei was by her side and tried to help her. But he was the same weak and helpless as she.

Please...

Tears burned in her blue eyes and she hold her belly tighter as the door was opened. The door that closed about three hours ago behind her lover.

Please, let her live!

Michiru choked again and almost fell on the ground as she saw how Dr. Taka went over to them. She looked exhausted and tired. Her white dress was covered with a red fluid. With blood.

Ruka's blood...

Kei held her tight and she took a deep breath. Silently she shook her head and he let her hesitantly go. To be there if she needed him. Again.

For some seconds that seemed to be last longer than eternity Dr. Taka looked into terrified blue eyes. Michiru held her breath. Not able to ask. Not able to scream. Not even able to whimper.

"And, Dr. Taka-san? How is Haru-chan doing?" asked Yuri who was able to break the silence that evolved between them.

Dr. Taka took a deep breath and smiled a tiny smile. But it was the most beautiful smile Michiru had ever seen in her whole life.

"She'll never be able to give birth of her own child, Tenô-san." Shortly Dr. Taka glanced at Michiru's grown belly and knew that this wasn't important any longer. The both women already full filled their dream of their own child and the older woman remembered too well the love she had seen in green eyes whenever Haruka looked at a little girl with dark hairs.

"We could stop the bleeding and repair what the accident damaged. She'll has to stay for a long time in bed and this time I won't let her out earlier - alike how much she or you..." she pointed at Michiru with a tender smile on her face "... will beg me. This time she won't leave the hospital until she isn't fully recovered."

Kei took a deep breath and sighed relieved.

"She didn't fall into coma like the last time?" asked Yuri who wanted to be sure. She kneaded her handbag and looked really nervous.

"No. Still the anaesthesia works and she'll sleep until tomorrow and wake up with a really bad head ache, but we controlled her and all she's doing now is sleeping. And recovering." Dr. Taka smiled and walked over to Michiru. The pregnant woman only stood there, holding her belly and watching her with big eyes. It didn't look as if she really understood what was going on.

"She's a real miracle, Kaioh-san. Take care of her."

"She's alive?" Michiru's voice was nothing but a whisper and slowly, very slowly she seemed to wake up from her personal nightmares. "My Ruka's still alive?"

"Hai, she is." Smiled Dr. Taka. "There're some things she won't ever be able to do again, just like racing with her formula one car, but she'll live. And if she'll take care of herself she can get a hundred years old."

She's alive.

Ruka will live.

She'll grow old with me.

She'll raise Himme-chan, too.

I won't be alone the rest of my life.

I'll be happy again.

There's still a chance of a future - together.

Michiru looked down at her grown belly, feeling again the pain in her body. She gasped hard for breath and groaned as it grew.

She'll be able to see and to love the little one...

With a slight slob Michiru fainted.

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Different nurses ran through the small room. She felt the soft underground, heard excited voices around her. The pain increased inside her belly and she groaned again. Someone was taking her hand and stroking over her shaking fingers.

"Princess?"

She turned her head and looked into big dark eyes. Her brother was very pale and looked very concerned although he tried desperately to hide it.

"K..." It was hard for her to speak. "Kei..." she bit on her lower lip as a nurse gave her an injection.

What's going on?

She gulped and felt how Kei stroke her sweaty strands out of her forehead.

"Soon you'll be a mother, princess." Whispered Kei and kept stroking. "You have your labour pains again and this time they can't stop them. The little one didn't turn around yet and so they have to do a caesarean."

More stroking.

Caesarean? No! That's three weeks too early!

Michiru wanted to get up. To walk away.

Where's Ruka?

To search for her lover and to find her. She had imagined the birth of their child in another way. She wanted to experience it. To feel how a new life would be born. With her Ruka by her side. And now she wouldn't experience anything at all.

No, please, not...

But she was too tired, too exhausted to get up. To escape. To run away.

"But don't worry, princess. Everything will be fine." He smiled and stroke again through her strands. Michiru nodded. Suddenly very sleepy. She wondered what the nurse gave her but she couldn't ask. Couldn't move any longer. Couldn't do than laying here and waiting helplessly for her destiny to happen.

"Everything will be fine with you and with the baby." Smiled Kei and looked suddenly even paler. "It's a strong baby from a strong mama."

Michiru smiled sadly and closed her eyes. Her eyelids were suddenly very heavy and all she wanted was to sleep. Just to sleep and to wake up in a better world. To wake up from this horrible nightmare she simply couldn't believe any longer.

"I'll be here, princess. Just as I promised you a long time ago. Can you remember, princess? I'll never leave you nor your family. As long as I live." The soft voice accompanied her while she sank deeper into her dreamless sleep. Into the darkness she couldn't bright up again. Not by her own.

"Let's say hello to your child, princess..."

Hello.

Child.

Princess.

Michiru smiled as the medicine started to work and the sleep overtook her.

I only wanted to have a family. With my Ruka...

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Big tears were streaming down a redden cheek. Blonde hairs covered the back and the girl simply sat down as the nurse walked away.

"Michiru's child..." sobbed Usagi, not knowing why exactly she cried.

Maybe Rei's right and I am a real baka.

"Haruka's child..." now she had to cry even harder. She felt how her boyfriend took her into her arms and rocked her gently. He understood his girlfriend's feelings. They all had felt the same fear. Until now.

"Let's call the other up." He whispered and squeezed her loving. "And tell them that we have one more senshi in our big family."

The future queen of crystal Tokyo only nodded.

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White curtains covered the windows. But she knew that it was light day outside. She didn't know why but she knew it. And she knew that she slept the whole last night.

No, not the whole...

Slowly her memories returned and she wanted to sit up. To leave the soft bed she was laying in. To run out of the small hospital room she didn't seem to have to share with someone else. To ask the nurses where her Ruka laid. To visit the wind senshi. To tell her how much she loved her. To tell her that they really got a second chance.

But she couldn't jump out of the bed. She couldn't even sit up. Her whole body hurt and her head seemed to be an exploding bomb. She was very hot and thirsty. And she wanted to talk to someone.

Ruka...

"Princess?"

The voice was happy. Michiru could hear her brother smiling before she turned her head and looked at him. "Kei?"

"I am so proud of you, princess." He stammered and took her left hand again in his ones and held it tight. Tears burned in his eyes, too. Suddenly Michiru was grateful to have such a brother. Even if that had meant to walk through hell in their childhood. It had been worth. He had been worth all this pain.

"I am so damn proud of you..." now tears ran down his cheeks and he wiped them away with his free hand as if he was ashamed of them. "So proud..."

"Is my child okay?"

Child... still I don't know if we have a daughter or a son.

"Hai." whispered Kei with a slight sob. "Healthy and beautiful. The most beautiful child I've ever seen, princess. You child."

Our child...

"And Ruka?"

"She's still sleeping. But she's okay, too. Dr. Taka is very confident."

She'll live.

Michiru smiled happily and closed her eyes. To open them again as she heard the soft voice from the other side of the bed. Yuri's voice.

"Michiru?"

She turned her head and looked at the woman who was the mother she always wanted to have. Looked into blue eyes and saw the tender smile on a grandmother's face. Stared at the bundle she hold in her tender arms. Michiru's mouth was now even drier and she felt how tears burned in her blue eyes.

"Auntie..." Michiru wanted to ask so many things at once. Her thoughts spun around but all she could do was to observe Yuri with big eyes. To watch how the woman put the tiny blanket away and showed her the tiny child. The most beautiful child Michiru had ever seen before.

Our child...

Fluffy blonde hairs covered a tiny head. But they weren't as bright as Haruka's. They were darker at the ends and some strands were unambiguous red.

Red? Just like Yuri's hairs? Just like Haruka's father's hairs?

Michiru gulped and stretched her arms automatically towards the baby. Still one arm was connected to a drip but she didn't see it. All she saw was their child. Her little one.

She gulped again and tears simply streamed over her face as she felt the warm bundle being carefully put into her trembling arms. Michiru stroke over the tiny face, counted the fingers.

Ten.

Counted the ears.

Two.

She couldn't take an eye from the little child. It was small and it came a little bit to early to the world. But it looked strong and it was a little fighter.

Just like its daddy...

Michiru leaned forwards and kissed a tiny forehead. The baby smelled so nice, so sweet. She never wanted to let it go again.

I love you, little one.

At that moment it opened its eyes a little bit and looked tiredly at her. Deep blue eyes blinked, then it settled again into sleep after it yawned. It was the cutest picture Michiru could ever imagine. She only held the little child tight and simply felt happy.

"Do you already know what it is, Michiru?" asked Yuri and giggled as she looked into startled blue eyes.

No, she didn't care about the gender. She only wanted a healthy child.

"It's a little girl, Michiru. Haru-chan and you have a little baby girl. And Hotaru-chan has a little baby sister." Said Yuri and stroke through sea green strands.

"And I am the happiest granny one can imagine."

Michiru lowered her head and watched again the sleeping child for a long time. Suddenly the pain that was still inside her belly didn't matter any longer. Suddenly it wasn't any important to her that she laid in hospital and that she would spend her next days and nights here. Suddenly everything else was less important to her. All that counted was this child. And the knowledge that it would grow up in its family. With mommy, daddy and crazy bigger sister.

A girl.

Michiru kissed the little baby again and giggled as she frowned disturbed.

My daughter.

She took the tiny hand into her own one and hold it tight. Counted again and again the fingers. Wondering that they were really so tiny. Wondering that this beautiful being had really been inside her belly. Growing with all the love she could give her.

Our daughter...

Michiru leaned back on the bed and felt her daughter by her side. Satisfied she closed her eyes. Satisfied and still very tired.

We all love you, little one. Don't you know?

Michiru smiled as she felt how tiny hands squeezed automatically her big one. It was a very weak, a very slight touch but it was the most gentlest touch the sea senshi had ever felt in her whole life.

Hai, you know it, little one.

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Her green eyes sparkled while she watched the tiny girl in her arms. Not as strong as they had been just a few weeks ago but the doctor told her that she would regain most of her strength again.

Little devil.

She smiled and rocked the baby gently.

You're so tiny and you already hold my heart in your tiny hands.

"Wanna see her, too!" demanded Hotaru and climbed on the bed next to her daddy. A grin grew on her little face while she looked down at her sister. "Love sis." She declared and her innocent words expressed what they all felt.

Still Haruka had to lay in bed. Even three weeks after the operation. They were less people allowed to visit her. Mostly only her family and maybe Kei or Makoto. But the rest, especially Minako, weren't allowed to visit her yet. Dr. Taka was very strict this time. She knew that a third miracle wouldn't happen and this time she wanted to be really sure that her patient was recovered. Still they did some tests because they feared that Haruka's heart got some damage while she almost died during the operation. Still they weren't sure and even if Haruka had to take medicine for the rest of her life, even if she had to take care of herself and to avoid stress and hectic, she knew that it was worth it. Life was worth it. Her family was worth it. To give up her sport and her formula one races. To lead a calmer life. To give up being Sailor Uranus - or at least to give up fighting against youmas.

There were more important things in her life now.

Haruka played with her daughter's hands and felt how Hotaru simply embraced her right arm and held it tight. The little girl had been very concerned. Although she was only eighteen months old she understood what it meant to be a bigger sister. And she knew what it meant that her daddy wasn't at home. That she was at hospital. For nights she had terrible nightmares but her mommy could calm her down. She brought her with her to the hospital and as Hotaru could see that her daddy was fine and that she would return home soon, she felt better. The nightmares disappeared and Hotaru enjoyed it more and more with every day to be a big sister.

Michiru sat down on the other side of the bed and kissed her fiancée on the left cheek. Shortly they exchanged glances and smiled tenderly at each other.

I love you.

I love you, too.

They didn't need to say it loud. They knew what the other one thought.

"Setsuna's still so crazy?" asked Haruka and smiled as she heard Michiru's happy giggle. The sea goddess was allowed to leave the hospital three days ago - together with her new born daughter. Since that day the girls returned from school to look after her - and the little girl. Hotaru was happy, because each time she got a little gift, too. She never got so many gifts in so less time. Setsuna was the worst of them all. She bought even more baby clothes and even a baby phone. And she already signed in for baby sitting in the case that Haruka was out of hospital and they wanted to go out. Yaten only grinned and took his girlfriend in his arms. He knew what it would be like when Setsuna would be a mother one day. Somehow he seemed to like her that way a lot.

"Not as crazy as Minako." Michiru giggled again and stroke over fluffy blonde hairs. The next moment Hotaru climbed over the pillow and laid the next moment in her arms. Michiru smiled tenderly at her older daughter and started to stroke her dark hairs, too. "Yesterday she discovered what the ring I wear really means. Now she's already planning our wedding, Ruka."

Haruka groaned and looked to the ceiling. Knowing that there was no supernatural power to help them. But the smile on her face betrayed her feelings.

"Did she already order the food?" she asked and laughed as she heard Michiru's answer.

"Hai. And the flowers. But I told them that I want to wait to buy the wedding dress before you aren't out of the hospital."

"Hai, hope that's soon. It's boring here." Haruka cradled her new born daughter and made some silly faces. The little girl didn't understand them but she started to laugh as Michiru and Hotaru giggled.

Last week Yuri insisted of doing some tests with the little girl, too. First Michiru had been very afraid. She had known what the tests meant. What if had meant for her and Haruka if they had been positive. But they had been positive. The little girl didn't inherited the bad illness that almost cost Haruka's life. Not only once.

The little child obviously got those genes from her mother. She was healthy and although she was only three weeks old she had the ability to get what she wanted. Just with a wink with her blue eyes and everyone was crazy about her. Just as they all already were crazy about Hotaru.

Guess it'll be hard for Chibiusa when she'll be born again. Especially with Usagi as mother.

It was now dawn and surely they all already sat at the light house by the sea and waited impatiently to come home. Kei would drive her home. He wanted to come in about an hour. Enough time for her to spend some time on her own with her lover. And some time for Usagi and the others to do their homework before they would continue to play the best role of their lives: Being aunts.

Michiru giggled again and leaned over to her lover to kiss her again. Deep they looked each other into the eyes and simply felt happy.

The past year seemed to fade away. Like a nightmare. All that would remain was a bitter sweet aftertaste. Until it would be gone one day, too.

Haruka watch her daughters sleeping for a long time. The little girl slept in her arms, Hotaru fell asleep in Michiru's. They both looked cute and the tall blonde loved them with all her heart. Suddenly she didn't know how she ever got the strange idea to leave them. Simply to give up and to give in her illness. To run away and not to stay. Not to fight. For them every fight was worth it. Whatever happened, they were worth every fight, every battle, every nightmare.

"My family..." whispered Haruka and kissed redden cheeks. Michiru smiled tenderly and messed Haruka's blonde hairs. Again she remembered her sad childhood. How desperate she had been when her mother yelled at her that she didn't love her. That she never wanted her. That it would have been better for her to die. Again Michiru saw the knife in her mother's hands and knew that this time was over. Forever. Now she had her Ruka. And their daughters. Kei was happy and the longer Makoto teased him around Michiru was sure that he would stay in Tokyo. That he would finish school, find a job and one day to live together with the funny, always laughing and brilliant cook.

"Hai. Our family."

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This night three stars sparkled brighter than ever in an endless heaven.

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