DISCLAIMER: Yes Mai Otome and its characters are still Sunrise property and no I am not jealous. I am playing with them, no more no less.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: There were no original chapter notes; this is only an updated draft.

9/18/09: The fun begins…

Our Legacy ch21

Kimiko Helene screamed her way into the world at the morning's first light giving her people true hope. The small child had been keeping everyone waiting for over forty hours. With her little fists shaking uncontrollably, Kimiko seemed to be saying she didn't care. Midori cried at the sight of the child and left feeling her world grow and then suddenly close all at once.

Youko knew Midori would come back in her own time, but was too tired right now to actually try to call out for her. Shizuru had been sitting with Youko when they brought the baby to momma for their first feeding. Shizuru left even though Youko told her it was not necessary.

"She is beautiful Youko and I think she will aptly grow into her name," Shizuru said rubbing her own rather large stomach as she waddled out of the room.

Yes dammit waddled, the child she was carrying had some weird ideas for food. The cravings had been mad and endless. Shizuru never wanted to see mayonnaise ever again, but knew that this was never going to end. Miso soups had been even worse, especially with the extra seaweed and of all things mayo.

People would stop her to talk at the strangest times, like mostly when the baby was pressing on her bladder. Miss Maria actually had to laugh once because the sight of a pregnant Otome was one thing. The same pregnant Otome holding her stomach, cursing as she ran for the bathroom was quite another.

Natsuki had gotten use to Shizuru insisting to sleep on the couch because there was no comfort in their bed. It never disturbed Natsuki, because she would then have the fortune of watching the most beautiful woman on Earl, sleep whenever she needed to.

Yes, baby Kimiko Helene was the first newest occupant of Garderobe and Natsuki Kruger had the day commemorated by planting flowers over by the reflecting pools. Yes, Natsuki had done this with the help of Erstin Ho. As Garderobe's ward, Natsuki had vested quite a bit of time to Erstin. Right now they would only be seeds, but by the time Erstin would graduate there would be a bed of beautiful carnations in full bloom.

Nao had been waiting for Midori to come as she knew that the moment was upon them. Midori had done just that and Nao received her willingly. This was a beautiful day that was to be shared, but all Midori wanted to do was hide now in Nao's arms. The child gave her the sense of a new beginning and a future that Midori would share probably even long after this child had lived a long life.

"Just take what you need love, I'm not going anywhere," Nao said as Midori collapsed into her arms.

"She named her Kimiko." Midori said as she felt her world expand and contract once again.

"Without equal, eh" Nao said actually liking the sound.

"Amongst the Aswad there will be no equal. She is the first of many to come and she is strong." Midori laid her head against Nao's bosom and spoke no more. Whenever they were together words were never actually needed.

A week later, Nina finally came home after being undercover for so long. It had taken so long because Nina excelled in what she did and this covert meeting had been arranged through a simple line in a newspaper.

"Neptune is in the seventh house."

Mashiro met with Nina alone before allowing her to leave the palace. It had been so very long since these two had last spoken face to face that each noticed the differences. 'Nina really needs a haircut,' Mashiro thought to herself even though it was the Otome's much stronger looking physique she was staring at.

'Arika must really love playing with those,' Nina thought absent mindedly noticing Mashiro's slightly larger breasts. It was that thought that made her want to scream at the top of her lungs. Duty be damned, Nina wanted nothing more than to be holding Erstin right now.

"We can finish this after you go say hello to your beloved. She has missed you quite awfully," Mashiro said leading Nina towards the door.

Upon entering the Garderobe dorms, many people where watching Nina closely, some barely recognizing her with her much longer hair. Word had just begun passing through the dorms that the Aries' President was in labor. Nina had to smile as she thought of the wonderful gifts about to be bestowed upon the lucky women. Nina didn't stop until she was in front of her lover's door.

Time stood still as Nina thought of what she should do when the door suddenly opened and beauty greeted her with open arms. Erstin too had let her hair grow, but not as long as Nina's. Erstin's green eyes welled up with tears as she realized that yes this beautiful creature before her was Nina.

"I don't know what to say?" Nina said as her heart cried out to embrace this girl.

"To Hell with words…" Erstin replied pulling Nina into the room and closing the door.

Too many months had separated them; all she wanted to do was hold Nina. They had an hour of peace before the word started to circulate through the dorms that Shizuru too was in labor. Nina just had to laugh because it would seem another rivalry was about to be born.

"Yukino has to deal with double the labor pain, I feel bad for her having to go through that alone," Erstin said as she held Nina close. Her door was closed, but they really didn't want to fight off distractions. Their physical intimacy could wait.

"For some very odd reason Ers something tells me she's not going through it alone," Nina replied smiling and pointing to her own GEM.

Granted the pains had been about twenty minutes apart, but that was long enough for her whole attitude towards Haruka to change. The very few comments she made at first were both loving and mean-spirited. Haruka had agreed to be her labor coach and this was only rightly so as Yukino was the womb-mother.

The tirade of curses became constant as contractions were five minutes apart and two minutes long. In a fit of inspired rage, Yukino whispered so that Haruka had to lean forward to her only to realize that she had been authorized.

"As Master I am ordering you to materialize Haruka Armitage. We shared the kicks, the roll over's, and even some of the cravings. So my dear if you ever want to spend another night in my bed, you will do as ordered damn you," Yukino was smiling, but Haruka was not so sure she remembered this one.

"But Yukino…"Haruka was frozen with fear as another painful contraction gripped Yukino.

"To Hell with the Limitation treaty, Haruka… Materialize now damn you, now…now…now," Yukino grabbed Haruka and was clearly ready to strike her.

"MATERIALIZE…oh damn it. This is not normal GEM usage, this is cruel…" Haruka's words were lost as the next contraction gripped them both.

Word had come from Aries that Ayame Armitage had been born twelve minutes earlier. Her twin was determined not to leave the womb until good and ready. Chie Hallard was nearly in tears as she relayed the message to Irina who was running the board. Shizuru's labor had been fast and intense from the very beginning and the child was not about to wait.

Natsuki endured a lot of verbal abuse from Shizuru every time there was a pause in the contractions. The worst for Natsuki had been the "you are never touching me ever again comment" that Shizuru was throwing at her with each string of curses. Natsuki made the mistake of looking into the mirror when she heard crowning and nearly passed out.

Shizuru had gripped Natsuki's hand so tightly that she could swear she had felt a finger break in the process. Through clenched teeth, Shizuru said something that made Natsuki go deathly pale only to receive another squeeze.

Shiori Kruger had come into the world one minute before Kaede Armitage. Both little girls had been very silent until they had been cut from the umbilical cords that connected them to their womb-mothers. Natsuki would clearly remember this moment for a very long time, not only as the day their daughter had been born, but also as the day Shizuru broke two of her fingers.

As word passed between Chie and Irina it was clear that Chie was thankful that Aoi was not her master. With what Irina relayed to her of Shiori's birth, Chie wasn't sure she liked either scenario. Aoi though demure compared to Chie was surprisingly strong.

"I am so screwed, Irina. I pray that I pass out or something," Chie said laughingly while being swatted by Aoi.

Yukino had later apologized to Haruka, but it really wasn't necessary. Even as they were still separate individuals, the GEM had allowed them to share this very unique experience. Every subtle/ extreme nuance of their little girls' births would forever be imprinted in both of their memories. Haruka cried when she left the room to go take a moment to be alone.

Whenever asked how Haruka would remember that day she would reply, "It was the most painful beautiful day I have ever had in my life."

A tall black haired woman bumped into Haruka in the hall and quickly excused herself. Haruka didn't pay the woman too much attention and just barely replied before the woman disappeared on the elevator. Haruka really was too lost in her thoughts and did not care about anything else except seeing all three of her girls' again. She now had a family to protect and to love outside of the one she had been given in her years at Garderobe.

Speaking of Garderobe, she would later call with Yukino to share congratulations with her friends. 'Three births left,' Haruka thought as she headed back to Yukino's room. Haruka would spend the next week telling Hallard just what she would be missing. Though Chie was truly glad she would not have to share those kinds of memories with Aoi, she envied Haruka's strength and commitment.

When the word reached Annam of the three births, Ahn so badly hoped that Sarah would get to her soon. Ahn's time was not far off and she really didn't want to bring their daughter into the world without Sarah. The First Column would arrive the next day, but still Ahn worried. Cold feet, nervous jitters, mood swings or whatever you wanted to classify them under Ahn was in the extreme.

King Nguyen was extremely happy to have Sarah back so that his daughter would have one less worry. The young woman was kind and intelligent having grown so much since his first encounter with her. Ahn and Sarah had asked if he would pick one of the three names they had chosen with which to bless their daughter. The good man waited until the delivery of his granddaughter to bestow upon her the only name that made any sense to him.

Ahn had the most complicated of the deliveries because the umbilical cord had wrapped around the baby's neck and it was becoming a fight to keep them alive. Sarah paced like a mad woman not believing she could lose mother, child, or both. Each of their friends across Earl prayed silently for mother and child, awaiting word uncomfortably. They had been together nearly a year and a half now and Sarah felt blessed and yet suddenly so cursed.

While things were at their darkest, Sarah could do no more than sit with her head in her hands and cry. King Nguyen came as soon as he had received the word, but could do no more than sit quietly supporting Sarah. The king did not frown upon their relationship for it had brought so much life into his home and his daughter. The night seemed endless as Sarah watched and waited for the doctor, even though it had only been little more than an hour.

Sarah did as the king said and went to the bathroom to refresh. Sarah took this to mean scream, cry, beat the inanimate objects in the room then wash her face and hands before returning. The doctor had arrived just before Sarah and was smiling pleasantly at the king.

"He says we may go to see your daughter now. This is very good because I still have yet to name her," King Nguyen said leading Sarah down the hall to mother and child.

"Oh Sarah is she not the most perfect being, our daughter," Ahn said as Sarah went to her side, love capturing her heart at the sight of that round beautiful face.

"She will be Cara in name for any and all who ask. My beautiful daughter and her most precious love have given me this gracious child, Cara…" the king said as Ahn finished for Sarah's benefit.

"Precious jewel"

Chie wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry when Aoi told her it was time. All of Chie's calm seemed to vanish in a whirlwind, running in circles trying to remember if they had everything prepared. Aoi laughed and left Chie in the room still running the list in her head. By the time Chie had realized that Aoi was no longer in the room, she mentally kicked herself and ran to catch up with Aoi.

"Everything we need is right here you fool, you and a very ready to deliver me," Aoi said as she controlled her breathing and tried to walk. As large as Aoi was, this was no small feat.

"Are you sure because they told us in class…" Chie never finished the thought as Aoi gave her the look.

"Okay I get it please turn off the hostile pregnant woman stare," Chie said as she slowly joined Aoi in her breathing. Chie had so badly wished she could materialize right now. This stupid car was the last place Chie wanted Aoi giving birth.

"I want to name her Mitsuko, Chie," Aoi said as she dug her nails into the upholstery and Chie.

"Child of light is fine by me so long as we don't have to name her Mercedes' okay," Chie said looking toward the black haired woman driving for them tonight. The woman was wearing glasses and made Chie a little uncomfortable. This was one of the older embassy cars and had no partition so Chie tried to focus on Aoi.

"So this is you first child is it?" the woman asked looking once again at Chie.

Aoi answered yes as Chie tied two seat belts together around Aoi. The look in her eyes said 'forgive me' as she tried to attack the driver. Fear and adrenaline kicked in as Chie tried to both take control of the car and render its driver unconscious.

"You should have remained ignorant Hallard." Tomoe said using a can of mace on Chie while Aoi tried to control her breathing and the rising panic she felt.

"You will not get away this time Tomoe. What the Hell were you thinking?" Chie asked even though her eyes burned and her body screamed.

"Screw off Hallard, unless you want your brains spread across your girlfriends face and everything else in the back," Tomoe said trying to pull up her gun as Chie grabbed the wheel and yanked sending them into the barrier and unto their side. The car slide for what seemed like forever as Chie tried to continue her fight against Tomoe in vain.

Everything went black until sirens could be heard. Chie could not see but she could here. Thankfully Aoi was still with her, but was being rushed immediately to the nearest hospital. Chie asked about the third woman, but was told there was no third woman. Chie asked of Aoi's condition and was thankful to hear she would be okay, thanks to the double seat belt trick.

"The knot you tied held her pretty good; we actually had to hold her up to cut her loose, Captain Hallard. Some cuts, but nothing that will leave a permanent mark. Your eyes are a different matter altogether. Captain Hallard, can you tell me how many fingers I am holding up right now?" the man's voice asked Chie as she reached to check for bandages on her eyes already knowing the awful truth.

"I'd love to hazard a guess, but I'd be wrong with trying to touch your hand right now," Chie said as she tried to remember Aoi's smiling face, her crying face, anything about the woman she loved so dearly.

"Was it mace?"

"She really didn't say and I didn't have time to ask. Does it look scarred?" Chie asked.

"Not really Captain. It's just red and really swollen right now," the voice said again as Chie felt the vehicle moving under her suddenly.

"Stupid me, thank the Founder for the bloody nanomachines," Chie said to herself.

'Just great,' Chie thought worrying about Aoi and their daughter. Mitsuko Hallard came into the world before Chie arrived at the hospital. The doctors restrained Chie, because she wanted to hold their daughter before getting herself checked out and tried to fight them off.

Haruka arrived at the hospital an hour later going to Chie's room, where the younger woman was still restrained. Haruka wanted to beat Chie so badly, but knew the younger woman was capable of doing so herself.

"Can you see anything yet, Chie?" Haruka asked moving her hand back and forth in front of Chie's face. Haruka knew she was breaking protocol in addressing her junior officer by her first name.

"Just a cool breeze from the movement you are making right now. Is the redness and swelling gone?" Chie asked because she really couldn't tell.

"Looks fine but one of our doctors is on the way in to look you over. Between friends Hallard that was really stupid and really inconsiderate to Aoi and your daughter. The three of you could have died because you took on this person," Haruka said hating the sound of her voice.

"The driver for the embassy tonight was Tomoe Marguerite." Chie said knowing how right Haruka was.

"I'd ask you to double check ID for me, but that will have to wait. Describe her for me," Haruka said holding one of Chie's restrained hands.

"Just trust me Haruka; it was Tomoe with jet black hair and bad glasses. I know her face well enough not to be fooled by something as simple as that lame disguise," Chie said as Haruka hissed through her teeth.

"You are here because I didn't pay attention the day Yukino gave birth. She ran into me in the hall after I dropped my materialization. I could have prevented this if I was doing my job like I was trained to damn it," Haruka was now really pissed that she had let her guard down.

"Past is past Haruka. Besides after listening to your experience I would have missed her too," Chie said feeling Haruka undo her restraints.

"No, you wouldn't, because tonight is proof of that. I can't believe she's been on our door step all this time just laughing at us," Haruka said lifting Chie out of bed like some child.

"Where are you taking me, Haruka?" Chie asked feeling really helpless. It was one thing to address each other as friends, but what was this.

"To the woman you love and your child. I'd like to see them try to stop me right about now," Haruka said as she carried Chie on the elevator up one floor to Aoi's room.