Two months later, Setsuna’s big day had finally arrived. Michiru paced around their two story house taking note of its emptiness. As she walked up the stairs towards her bedroom, she stopped at Setsuna’s bedroom. It was now completely empty. She frowned as she allowed the same emptiness to tug at her heart. She sighed and walked a little further until she paused at Hotaru’s bedroom. It was the same emptiness she felt when passing by Setsuna’s bedroom. Tears made their way into her eyes as she allowed herself to remember her happy violet-haired adopted daughter.
So many memories, she could recall the times she helped Hotaru with her violin lessons or when Haruka would playfully wrestle with her. Michiru absently placed her hands on her swollen tummy and traced the noticeable curve that had settled there. Although she was still in her second trimester, she was already very noticeably pregnant. Michiru recently had her bridesmaid dress altered to accommodate her rounded belly. It was altered so that the dress flowed from the breast down.
Michiru absently wiped away the tears that unconsciously made their way down her cheeks. Although Hotaru had insisted on going with Setsuna and her new step-dad- to-be, Michiru wished she would have done more to try and convince her adopted daughter to stay. Without realizing it, Michiru was in tears. A moment later, she felt a pair of strong yet slender arms encircle her from behind.
“What’s wrong, mermaid?” Haruka whispered softly into Michiru’s ear. Michiru sniffled. “I feel like such a horrible mother. We’ve let our daughter down,” Michiru cried.
Haruka gently rocked Michiru’s pregnant body in her arms, hoping to sooth her wife. “Don’t say or think that. Hotaru loves you so much that she wants your focus to be on the babies and since Setsuna and Shukensha don’t have any children…yet, she figured it would be better to go with them. She’s a teenager now. She understands,” Haruka coerced.
Michiru used her free hand to wipe away the tears on her face. “I hope so; I just hope she knows that she is more than welcome to come back anytime if she changes her mind.”
Haruka smiled. “I’m sure she does. If you don’t think so, you can always remind her when you see her today before the wedding.”
Michiru was finally able to stop her tears from coming. Morning sickness, thankfully, had ceased, but the midnight cravings, emotions and body aches had only worsened. She sighed. “I suppose your right. I’ll have to talk to her…ooh!” Michiru gasped. She would have doubled over if not for Haruka’s supportive embrace.
Haruka immediately panicked. “What’s wrong, are you okay?”
Michiru stiffened and then relaxed a moment later. “I am more than okay, didn’t you feel that? Our daughters are kicking! At least, one of them is.” Michiru placed Haruka’s hand gently against the spot where one of their daughters had delivered a swift kick to her abdomen.
Haruka’s panic was replaced by wide smile as she felt the small movements coming from Michiru’s womb. “Has this happened before?”
Michiru shook her head. “No, I mean, I’ve felt sensations, but never anything like this. It’s wonderful!” Michiru smiled as she cradled her tummy.
Haruka laughed. Every day, she counted her blessings for having wonderful wife and having a wonderful wife who decided to go through this ordeal to try and have her children. She felt like the luckiest person in the world.
The blond smiled and placed her head next to Michiru’s tummy. “I bet you both will be beautiful, just like your mommy!” she chuckled.
Michiru giggled. “Well, I hope at least one of them looks a lot like you.”
Haruka laughed. “Oh? But then I wouldn’t be your one and only if there was another version of me running around.”
“I will always love you Haruka. I just want a little Haruka running around. Is that bad?”
Haruka laughed.
“Nani?”
Haruka smiled. “Nothing, we should go and get ready for the wedding. Setsuna would kill us if walk in during the ceremony.”
“Hai.”
In a small, quiant section of the palace was a petite powder room in which the girls were getting ready. Michiru hadn’t seen most of them since Setsuna’s bridal shower. They had all heard of her pregnancy after she’d nationally announced that she was going on hiatus as a famous violinist in order to focus on her impending family.
She couldn’t get over all the attention she received from the younger girls as she appeared in her bridesmaid’s dress. Her now rounded belly was very obvious under the thin silk of her dress.
“Michiru-san! Iwai no kotoba!” Minako, Makoto and Rei cried in unison. Michiru blushed slightly and smoothed her hand over the object of attention. “Arigatou gozaimasu.”
The younger blonde woman approached the aqua haired woman. Minako was just as famous as Michiru these days. Nationally, Aino Minako was the famous pop princess. Michiru smiled at the younger girl. “Would you like to feel the baby?”
“Hai!”
Not only Minako, but Makoto and Rei placed their hands gently on Michiru’s tummy. “Sugoi!” Minako cried. “I felt a kick!” Michiru giggled.
“What are you having?” Makoto already knew the answer, since two females could only produce a female baby, but decided to ask anyways for conversation’s sake. Michiru smiled as she cupped her tummy. “Twin girls,” she said proudly.
Since Michiru was the first successful patient to conceive using the haploidization procedure, most of the senshi knew how the babies were conceived. She honestly, didn’t expect much privacy, but she didn’t care as long as she had her babies resting beneath her heart.
The three girls gasped in awe. “Maybe I could have twins someday,” Minako sighed longingly.
Makoto and Rei laughed.
A moment later, Ami appeared in the room, wearing her dress. “Michiru-san, how are you doing?” the young doctor asked.
“I couldn’t be better or any happier.” Michiru gave a contented smile.
“I’m glad to hear it and I look forward to your appointment next week to see how the babies are doing,” Ami replied.
“Hai.”
As the four other girls walked away to finish getting ready, Michiru turned to see Hotaru enter the room, already prepared for the big day. “Hime-chan!” Michiru cried.
“Michiru-mama!” the girl’s eyes lit up and she ran to Michiru, embracing her in a fierce hug.
Hotaru pulled away and hugged Michiru’s tummy. “How are my sisters doing?”
“They are doing well, but they miss you already, Hime-chan.” Michiru placed her hand to her tummy and she could feel tears already welling in her eyes.
Hotaru looked up at her mama, noticing her unease and sensing her sadness. “What’s wrong Michiru-mama?”
Michiru knelt down as best as she could and held Hotaru’s hands. “You don’t have to leave us if you don’t want to.”
Hotaru smiled. “I am not leaving Michiru-mama, I will only be living within walking distance. I want to make sure there is plenty of room and time for you to have with the babies.” She smiled.
Michiru bit her lip and pulled Hotaru into a tight hug. “There will always be room for you, Hime-chan.” Her voice broke.
Hotaru held her mama tightly back. “Arigatou. I promise to visit every day and help take care of my sisters.”
Michiru pulled back and wiped away a few stray tears. “Okay, I will hold you to that.”
Hotaru laughed and placed a kiss to Michiru’s tummy. “Ashiteru, Michiru mama. Ashiteru, babies.” Hotaru then slipped out of the room. “Please take care of yourself and my sisters,” Hotaru called back.
Michiru watched Hotaru leave with a sad smile. “Ashiteru, Hime-chan.” She whispered.
Haruka appeared in the room a short while later as Canon in D began to sound outside. “Are you ready? The ceremony is about to start, so we’d better get into line.”
Brushing away the last few stray tears, Michiru nodded. “Hai.”
It wasn’t long before the start of the ceremony. Michiru had been paired up with Haruka and they had slowly started to walk their way to the outside of the palace as the others followed. The ceremony was held in a beautiful garden setting.
Many friends and family were seated in white chairs overlooking the garden. The faces turned towards them as they filed their way down the aisle. Shukensha had already been standing at the altar, nervous, but anxious to see his beautiful bride. Michiru felt nostalgic as she remembered her own wedding a few years ago, only it had taken place next to the ocean. She smiled at Haruka, knowing she felt the same way.
Once all the groomsmen and bridesmaids were filed out and by the altar, Michiru and Haruka smiled lovingly as Hotaru followed dropping rose petals along the way. She was wearing her hair as usual and a cute little white dress. Catching their gaze, Hotaru smiled as she moved to stand next to them. A moment later, they started to hear ‘Here Comes the Bride’. The minister requested everyone to stand.
Haruka and Michiru watched in anticipation as a tall figure moved to the start of the long walkway. She wore a floor length veil adorned with small Swarovski crystals. The net over her face, however, just reached her shoulders. She had her dark green hair pulled up into her the normal ondago above her head, however the loose hair that flowed freely had been curled with Michiru’s help before the wedding. She had beautiful teardrop diamond earrings with a matching necklace. She was stunning.
As Setsuna started down the aisle, she had the most gorgeous gown. It was a white, off shouldered sweetheart portrait neck gown adorned with crystal beading and sequins. The train was cathedral length as it extended several feet behind as Setsuna walked. Haruka and Michiru smiled at Setsuna as she arrived at the altar.
“With the horizon our only walls, the sky our only ceiling, and the earth our floor we meet here in nature to affirm our love,” the minister began. As the minister went about the usual wedding ceremony speech, a little voice could be heard in the audience, “Puuu!”
Setsuna turned for a moment to smile at little Chibiusa before turning back to the minister. He was middle-aged and slightly balding. She smiled as she stared into Shukensha’s violet eyes.
The ceremony, being nondenominational, was not long at all. Shukensha and Setsuna exchanged rings shortly after. Setsuna’s wedding ring was a beautiful golden marquise, which fit perfectly with the engagement ring. Around the marquise were several other round diamonds. The wedding ring she gave Shukensha was a golden band with a few round accenting diamonds.
Haruka and Michiru watched in anticipation as they repeated after the minister their vows. “Do you, Meiou Setsuna, take Shukensha to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, until death do you part?” Tears were forming in the Time Guardian’s eyes. “I do.”
The minister turned to Setsuna’s husband, asking him to repeat the same vows. Shukensha responded with the same, “I do."
After a few more words by the minister, he pronounced Shukensha and Setsuna husband and wife. Cheers arose from the crowd as the newlyweds embraced and exchanged a passionate kiss. Haruka and Michiru couldn’t help but smile at Setsuna’s happiness. The Guardian of Time had tears in her eyes. Rose petals were thrown by Hotaru and she embraced her new parents.
Haruka and Michiru clapped cheerfully for their best friend and hoped only for the best for her.
The reception was immediately after the wedding and took place inside the royal palace. The newlyweds took several dozen pictures with every combination imaginable. The dinner was buffet style and the cake was massive. It was stacked and decorated with white dots and whipped cream frosting. It was very similar to Haruka and Michiru’s own reception.
Following the cutting of the cake, they had the champagne toast which was hosted by Haruka and Michiru. They told many stories about Setsuna and wished the newly wedded couple the best of luck. Michiru, of course, had opted for cider instead of champagne. Afterwards, they enjoyed a waltz following the bride and groom dance. Michiru gently rested her head against Haruka’s shoulder and sighed. “Are you alright, Michiru?” Haruka whispered softly into her ear.
Michiru looked up. “Hai,” she replied softly. “Just a little tired,” she admitted. A moment later she felt herself nearly stumble as her tummy bumped into Haruka’s side. Haruka instinctively moved to steady her wife with both hands. “Ohh,” Michiru gasped, smoothing her hand over her tummy.
“Are you sure you are okay?” Haruka asked with evident concern.
A little wearily, Michiru looked up and nodded. “I guess I’m just getting a little less graceful these days.”
Haruka chuckled. “You will always be graceful to me,” she whispered before pulling Michiru into a deep kiss, unbothered by the girth of Michiru’s tummy pressed against her. “Ashiteru.”
To be continued…
A/N:
“Iwai no kotoba” means congratulations. Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying it so far! I really do love and enjoy pregnant Michiru stories. There are very few out there that don’t involve Michiru getting pregnant using some sort of IVF from an anonymous donor, turning Haruka into a man for a night (good lord >_<), or Michiru getting raped. So, I wanted to try something different but not beat around the bush with it.