CHapter 2: Peace and … family

Usagi was still not feeling confident despite physically being eighteen for over six months, the recently engaged woman was nervous about enrolling in university. "Usako, you can't just keep sitting around the apartment besides I will be there taking classes so, it's not like you will be alone."

They were sitting at the crown arcade talking with Motoki on his break. "I think you will really enjoy yourself, Usagi."

Usagi sat chewing on her lower lip anxiously. "I still don't know. What am I supposed to take?"

"Well, most first years take electives as you need to get enough credits to get into most programs." Motoki told the couple. "What are you going to be studying, Mamoru?"

"I have always wanted to help people and have decided to go into the medical field. It will take several years, but I feel it will be worth it in the end." Mamoru said proudly.

"I'm not even sure what I want to do? Or what career I want to pursue?" Usagi told the two young men.

"Well, what did you dream of being when you were younger?" Motoki asked trying to help.

"I never really thought about it," she said aloud although in her mind she thought, [I thought as far as getting married and having a family … until the dreams.]

"Why don't you talk to a career counsellor at the university?" Motoki suggested as he looked up, "But I have to get back to work."

"We'll talk to you later, Motoki." Mamoru said as his friend got up and headed back to work.

"What is a career counsellor?" Usagi asked as she took a drink of her milkshake.

"They help people figure out how to begin, change or advance their careers and can even help you figure out what you want to do." Mamoru explained. "When your done, we can head to the university to take a look around and make an appointment with one." Sensing his fiancé's nerves he added, [There is no harm in talking to them.]

Usagi shrugged as she reached the bottom of her milkshake and took his hand as they got up to leave, giving one final wave to Motoki. [I just don't know. I though I would have three to four years to decide on this and now I have weeks.] She sighed.

"I know it can seem overwhelming," Mamoru said aloud as they walked. [It would also be an opportunity to make friends your own age… I know how that sounds, but it is true. The world sees Usagi Tsukino as a 18-year-old high school graduate and through no fault of your own your friends are all just starting high school.] She sighed again as she continued to chew on her lip, not looking at him. They continued to walk in silence for a while before they turned into the park on their way to the university.

As they walked Mamoru started to look around for a good place to help distract his fiancé from her woes, when he swore, he heard a familiar voice. "They should be here." Came a familiar girl's voice.

"Are you sure we are in the right place?" a young boy's voice asked.

"Yes! For the umpteenth time, YES!" came the girl's voice, sounding a lot like his fiancé.

Mamoru started to look around, [I swore I just heard…]

[Chibi-Usa and it sounded like she was …]

[Arguing with a boy?] Mamoru finished as they spotted the pink haired odangos on the other side of a bush. Following the path to the area surrounding the fountain near where they thought they saw … "Chibi-Usa?!" They both exclaimed.

The pink haired girl stuck her tongue out at a boy, who appeared to be close in age and was a miniature version of Mamoru. She looked older than the last time they saw her as in more than even a year's growth. She sucked her tongue back in and smiled up at her parents, "That is my brother Alexander. Here is a letter from mommy explaining." Chibi-Usa said handing over an envelope.

The Letter read: Dear Usagi and Mamoru,

As you did such a wonderful job of caring for Small Lady and the twins, we hope we won't be imposing by asking your help in training the next generation of senshi and warriors. Alexander and Small Lady have learned as much as one can during times of peace and I am sure will be helpful if any enemies should appear.

The twins are growing like weeds, but I fear if I say any more than I will have an angry senshi on me.

Thank you and please enjoy the enclosed pictures.

Neo Queen Serenity

Usagi and Mamoru read the letter and glanced at each other before they looked in the envelope to find three pictures: one of twin girls, and one of each girl on their own. [Well, I guess the university will have to wait.]

[Who is going to tell your father?] Mamoru asked dryly as he was not looking forward to that discussion. Any time Chibi-Usa is brought up it ends with a lecture on how he better not touch his baby girl until after marriage. [Boy, would he throw a fit if he knew what happened almost every night.]

Although, it had been hard they had gotten Usagi a doctor's appointment to get her a prescription for birth control and then waited the recommended time before re-starting activities in the bedroom. The also used their crystals, when they remembered, to help prevent an unplanned pregnancy, but they were young and in love. Even through out the day Mamoru sometimes had trouble keeping his hands off of Usagi as she was now legal, it had been easier when she was 15 to remind himself that she was too young, but since her age jump… well all bets were off. Mamoru laughed at himself.

[Hentai! There are children present.] Usagi scolded as she pretended that she was still reading the letter or examining the pictures. "Well, I guess we should get you two back to the apartment and make some room." Usagi said to the children as she smiled sweetly at Mamoru ignoring the arousal that was coming through their bond.

As they walked Usagi asked the kids about themselves while Mamoru tried to listen. They had found out that it had actually, been several years for them since the black moon, Chibi-Usa was almost 11 years old, and Alexander was a year older and preferred Alex. As much as Small Lady took after their mother was as much Alex took after their father. The duo planned on taking several extracurricular activities as well as attending school during their stay.

They stopped at Yoshi's desk to get the kids codes for the elevator and after testing the codes they were on their way to the family's floor. As the doors opened, they couldn't help, but notice that someone had remodelled the floor. [Mamoru, are we on the right floor?]

Mamoru double checked the elevator and nodded. [There is only one floor above us, which is the penthouse…] The quartet stepped out of the elevator to stand on the landing. There was a door to the left which had a picture of stairs on it and a matching door to the right. [I guess this is our door?] Mamoru said slowly as he put his key in and turned it… The door opened and the couple stepped in ahead of the children.

[I think we have been left out of a very big loop.] Usagi said as she looked around the massive apartment.

The apartment appeared to take up the entire floor minus the three feet in front of the elevator. To the Left was a kitchen and dining room and to the left was the living room. There was a wide hallway that seemed to go on forever. "Awesome!" "Thanks, Pluto!" The kids said running off to explore.

[Someone definitely, knows more than they are letting on.] The couple just stood frozen as they heard the kids running in and out of doors, yelling to each other what they found. The kids came back with smiles.

"There is a playroom just over there and it even has an X-Box!" Chibi-Usa told them pointing to one of the doors, "Uncle Shingo is sooo, going to want to move in."

"The bedrooms have plaques on them just like at Auntie Katherine's ranch." Alex explained.

[So, at least we will know the names of who is coming…] Usagi said still overwhelmed.

[Good thing that Rose and the shitennou are going to be gone a while. I don't even know where to tell them their stuff is.] Mamoru said trying to wrap his mind around their new circumstances. [I don't even know how much this would cost to rent if my family didn't already own the building.]

"Can we go get Uncle Shingo?" "Yeah, I want to meet him and see if he can teach me how to play X-Box." The couple nodded barely registering what the kids had said as they ran out the door.

[Well, at least WE didn't have to lift a finger.] Usagi said coming out of her shock and walking down the hallway. Mamoru following on autopilot. Usagi checked each door and as the kids said their were plaques the first two said "Alexander" and "Chibi-Usa". She also noticed that they had walked by a couple open doors that were bathrooms. The hallway ended at a junction of sorts, she could see two doors with blank plaques to the left and straight ahead a plaque that said "Mom and Dad".

[I guess this is our room?] Usagi said opening the door to a massive suite with a balcony off to the right and an Alaskan king-sized bed. There was a vanity and what appeared to be a dressing area with full length mirror on either side of a walk-in closet.

Mamoru had walked to the far side of the bed to take in the view from the balcony, it always calmed him. Then he saw a door that was open just a crack. [Hey, we have an ensuite.] Usagi told him. He licked his lips, something about this door made him nervous. He slowly pushed it open and looked around the room.

"Hey, did you hear me?" Usagi asked coming up behind him as he looked around the room. There were large windows that started from about a foot off the floor and a rocking chair in the corner with a bookshelf with kids' books next to a toy box. He saw two cribs as his eyes came around to the right side of the room, a change table, and dresser. This was very obviously a nursery. Afraid if he looked to close the owners of said cribs and beds would appear.

Mamoru licked his lips again and said, "You may want to call Pluto…" He said turning and blocking her view of the new room.

"Why? What's in there?" Usagi asked trying to push past him.

"I don't think you want to know." He warned as he closed the door and guided her back out of their room. He definitely was NOT in the mood to be alone with her in that room, not that they hadn't in other places, but with the kids due back at any time. "Let's see what we have in the kitchen and start making supper, especially if we are going to have guests."]

[You realize that I will find out what is behind that door sooner or later.]

[I realize that but trust me you have had enough dropped on you… we have had enough dropped on US today already.] Mamoru said as they arrived in the kitchen.

The kitchen was very spacious with plenty of counter space and a breakfast bar for the kids. The appliances were white but fit the space and appeared to be the latest models. The pantry and fridge were well stocked to feed a large family and the couple slowly fell into step as they started cooking some curry, vegetables, and rice for supper, they even put some cakes in the oven to surprise the kids when they returned.

Gates of Time

Sailor Pluto stood at the gates watching the royal couple as they busied themselves preparing a meal. It never ceased to amaze her at how quickly they adjusted to what was thrown at them. They transitioned from passionate, intimate, newly engaged couple to reserved, private, couple with an appropriate amount of public displays of affection almost instantly.

The couple was obviously aware that they were going to end up with more "house guests", but Pluto was still trying to keep as much of the future a surprise as possible. She knew that they were aware that they were going to have a large family, but just how big was up for time to tell.

Tsukino household

Chibi-Usa led her brother to their grandparent's home. They stopped in the front yard, "What's up?" Alex asked his sister noticing how she had froze, "Come on! I want to meet everyone."

"I just realized I don't have Luna-P!"

"So…"

"I never asked if they found out about who I really am." Chibi-Usa explained as she started fidgeting.

"What do you mean? I thought they got told everything when Grandma had Celeste."

"Well… Luna and Artemis did mind melds. So, what they were told was never vocalized and so…"

"So, we walked all the way over here not knowing if we will be allowed in?" Alex exclaimed as the door opened.

"Mom! Chibi-Usa is back! And she brought someone with her," The blond teenager yelled behind him as he opened the door to let them in. "You two aren't as quiet as you think," He laughed at their shocked expressions.

"Well, at least now we know." Alex said elbowing his sister.

The kids walked into the living room where their grandfather was sitting reading the paper and took seats across from him as they waited for their Uncle, Grandmother and Celeste to join them. Shingo followed them in and stood behind the couch with his hands behind his head, he knew they were waiting for his mother to join them. "Welcome back," She said acknowledging Chibi-Usa as she came in with juice, tea and cups on a tray.

"Thank you. Will Celeste be joining us?" Chibi-Usa asked accepting a cup of juice.

"Celeste is on an exchange program for a couple months. I believe she is due back just before your mother's birthday." Kenji said putting the paper down and looking to his wife for confirmation.

"I am happy that you all remember me." Chibi-Usa said. "This is my brother Alex."

Ikuko nodded and stopped as she thought of something, "Welcome Alex. Now, I could be wrong but you look older Chibi-Usa."

"At least she doesn't age as fast as Celeste did." Shingo scoffed from where he stood. His mother gave him a look and he shrugged.

"From our prospective it has been almost 5 years since I was here." Chibi-Usa explained.

Kenji looked very seriously at both kids, sat back and said, "Last time everything was given to us through Luna and Artemis. So, how about we get proper introductions this time?"

The two kids looked at each other before standing up and facing their mother's family, "My name is Usagi Small Lady Serenity, daughter of Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion, Crown Princess and heir of Silver Millennium." Chibi-Usa said with a curtsey.

'I guess we are going all formal.' Alex sighed before standing up straight, "And I am her older brother Alexander Kenji Endymion, Crown Prince and heir to the Golden Kingdom."

"Well, you two don't need to be that formal, we are family after all." Ikuko said with a laugh.

Kenji looked suspiciously at the two and asked, "Can I assume from the way your sister named your parents as King and Queen that you two don't happen for quite some time?"

Alex looked to his sister he hadn't expected to be asked any questions, let alone serious ones. 'I guess I answer as honest as I can. At least he didn't ask if we had any older siblings.' He shrugged at his thoughts and looked his grandfather respectfully in the eye and answered, "That is correct."

[Hey, Usa, how long do you think he means by "quite some time"?]

[I don't know, Alex. Just be glad he hasn't asked about siblings. I don't think we want to be around for that conversation.] Chibi-Usa told her brother telepathically.

"Not that we don't want to spend time with you but… I was kind of hoping to have Uncle Shingo come hang out with us at the apartment." Alex told his grandparents.

[Is it really an apartment? I am pretty sure it is an entire floor of the building.] Chibi-Usa asked.

Alex shrugged as everyone looked to Shingo, "It is up to you, son," Kenji said.

"Sure, I guess. What did you have in mind to do?" Shingo asked begrudgingly, he was sure his parents wanted him to get to know his niece and nephew but the last time he was at his sister's apartment it was a two bedroom that was more suited for the couple.

"You'll see," The two said with smiles. "As it is already late afternoon, can he stay the night?"

"As long as Usagi and Mamoru don't mind." Ikuko said happy that her and her husband might actually have a quiet evening alone.

Chibi-Usa hung back in the living answering questions for their grandparents while Alex dragged Shingo upstairs to pack and bring his school stuff as he had already made his mind to have a marathon of gaming for the rest of the weekend. The boys quickly returned and the trio said their good-byes with promises to spend more time with them and headed down the street towards the apartments.

Shingo wasn't sure what he expected as Alex asked him question after question about his likes, dislikes and relationship prospects, when they heard screaming coming from nearby…