Once again, Michiru sat in the rocking chair outside of the balcony. Her hand rested lovingly over her well-expanded abdomen. In her other hand, was a book of baby names. This time, however, she wasn’t alone. The aqua-haired beauty turned to her lover, who had pulled a chair up beside her. “What are we going to name our girls?” she whispered softly.
“Eh?” Haruka responded suddenly. She was surprised at herself, and although Michiru was eight months pregnant, she hadn’t given it any thought.
Michiru smiled wryly. “You have no idea do you?”
Haruka sighed. “Well, how about Haruko?”
Michiru frowned in distaste.
When Haruka looked as if she was at a loss for words, Michiru continued. “What about Aya, Ayaka or Hikari?”
The blond shook her head then turned to Michiru with a smile on her face. “Hey, how about Kiseki?”
Michiru thought for a moment. “Kiseki,” she repeated, listing to how the words sounded on her tongue. Kiseki meant “Miracle”. Both of her babies were miracles, so she didn’t want one to feel less of a miracle than the other. “I like it, but we’re having two babies. I want them to both feel equally loved and important."
Haruka nodded. “That’s true. Well, what about Michiko?” she suggested.
Michiru smiled. “Michiko and Kazeko,” she responded.
The blond grinned. “That’s cute, but how will we know which will be which once they’re born?”
Michiru giggled as she patted her tummy. “Oh, maternal instinct.”
Haruka chuckled. “Now I feel left out.”
“There’s always that sympathy suit you borrowed from Lamaze class,” she suggested.
Haruka jerked up. “No way am I going to be seen wearing that!”
“Then don’t complain!” Michiru retorted.
“I wasn’t!” Haruka insisted.
“You were too!”
That afternoon, Michiru decided to walk to the shore in front of their house. The senshi of elegance didn’t feel so elegant these days as she waddled down to the sand. For the last month, she had been on strict bed rest. Ami was concerned about Michiru’s ability to carry two normal sized babies with her petite frame and didn’t want the aqua-haired woman to do anything to stimulate premature labor.
Michiru just couldn’t take being so cooped up any longer. Wearing a knee-length maternity sundress, Michiru walked towards the oceans’ front and slipped her feet into the water. As the breeze flowed through her hair she took a deep breath. It was wonderful being by the oceanfront, enjoying a nice spring afternoon.
The aqua-haired beauty watched as a few couples, some with kids, walked by the shoreline several yards ahead of her. She smiled. She enjoyed the coolness of the water rushing over her swollen feet. As the voices of a couple approached her she turned. It was the same couple she had met several months ago. As they neared her, they recognized her face and waved. “Konnichiwa!” “Konnichiwa!” Michiru responded happily.
The woman carried a baby on her chest that must have been no more than six or seven months old. She stopped in front of Michiru and took in her pregnant frame. “You’re pregnant. Congratulations! When are you due?”
Michiru smiled cheerfully and cradled her pregnant belly in her arms. “Next month!” she responded excitedly.
“That’s great! What are you having?” The dark haired woman inquired, gingerly touching her son’s little hands.
“Twins, twin girls.” Michiru responded, smoothing her hands over the silk of her dress.
“Oh my!” the woman gasped. “You’re going to have your hands full.”
Michiru giggled. “Hai, I know. It’s okay though, I’ve wanted this for such a long time.”
The couple had questioning looks on their faces. “Really, I don‘t mean to invade your privacy, but did you have trouble conceiving?” she asked gently. Michiru shook her head. “Iie, it’s okay. My partner and I have wanted children for a while and a miracle was bestowed upon us.” She smiled looking down at her very pregnant tummy.
The older woman smiled and placed her hand gently on Michiru’s tummy. “It’s okay, I understand. My husband and I weren’t able to have children for the longest time either,” she explained, then turning to look at her little son. “Takehiro was a miracle for us too, I thought I was infertile for the longest time!” she explained. “So, I bet you can easily relate.”
Michiru smiled. “Hai.”
The older woman pulled a pen and paper from her purse and quickly jotted down her address and phone number. “When your babies are born, perhaps we can get together again for a play date.”
Michiru took the paper and pocketed it. “Hai, that sounds wonderful.”
The woman’s husband slid his arm around her waist and urged her forward. “We should go. Hope to see you soon. Have a successful delivery.”
Michiru smiled and waved. “Arigatou. Bye bye.”
“Bye.” The couple parted.
Michiru decided it would be best to get back to the house before Haruka sent the hounds after her. The blond was very protective over her these days. Besides, they had the baby shower later that evening. Just then one of the babies started to kick. Michiru gingerly rubbed the spot. “That’s right little one, we’d better get back before that father of yours starts to worry incessantly, then your mama will never hear the end of it!”
A few minutes later, Michiru entered through their front door. “I’m home!” she called.
A split second later, Michiru could hear feet pounding down the halls. “I’m only gone an hour and you’ve already disappeared on me!” cried a worried Haruka. The blond had a towel draped around her neck and was wearing her jogging clothes.
“Gomen, I just needed some fresh air. I can’t stay cooped up forever,” Michiru sighed, leaning against the wall for support.
Haruka possessively slid her arm around Michiru’s waist and playfully bit her neck. “All you had to do was tell me. You know how much I worry about you and our babies,” Haruka said cupping Michiru’s tummy between her hands.
Michiru looked down at her swollen middle, enjoying Haruka’s attention. “Well, a certain girl would be thrilled for a ride along the coastline in your car,” Michiru grinned, raising a brow.
Haruka looked reminiscent for a moment as she processed what Michiru was asking. “Eh? Hai!” she conceded. The blond moved closer to her pregnant wife, her belly pressing against her waist. Michiru felt her face flush. “Would you like a ride in my car, pretty girl?” she said huskily, closing the distance between them and pressing her lips against Michiru’s.
Michiru caught her breath as she pulled deeper into the kiss, moving as close as she could. She placed her slender hand behind Haruka’s neck, deepening the kiss. Suddenly a movement between them caused it to be short-lived. They both looked down at Michiru’s tummy. Michiru blushed. “I guess I’m not the only one whose dream is for a ride along the beach in your car,” she giggled.
Haruka chuckled as she gently moved her hands along Michiru’s pregnant belly. “Well then, anything to make my pretty girls happy,” she responded, giving Michiru a peck on the cheek.
“Let’s go, then. We have the rest of the afternoon before we have your baby shower.”
Minutes later, the duet was cruising along the coastline underneath the gentle sun. Haruka had a special seatbelt installed for the passenger side. The shoulder strap came along her chest and the bottom part rested on her pelvis as to not put pressure on the abdomen. This also made Michiru feel much more comfortable. As they rode along the coast, Michiru smoothed her hands over her stomach in a soothing motion to calm the kicking babies.
Haruka, unknowingly to Michiru, looked over at her and smiled as she watched her. Michiru was beautiful.
“Feeling better, Love?” she inquired.
Michiru was drawn out of her reverie by Haruka’s voice. Like she’d always done, Michiru moved her hair out of her face using her arm and turned to Haruka. “Much better,” she responded, moving one of her hands to rest on Haruka’s free one.
Haruka enjoyed the wind caressing her hair and being next to her wife. They were going to have two beautiful babies soon and she couldn’t have been happier. Later that night, Setsuna and Hotaru were the first ones to arrive at the baby shower that they had incessantly planned for Michiru.
Hotaru eagerly embraced Michiru once she emerged from the doorway.
“Michiru-mama, I’ve missed you!” she cried.
“Careful, Hotaru,” Setsuna said to the girl.
Michiru held Hotaru as close as she was allowed. “It’s okay. I’m so huge, I’m more worried about crushing her,” she responded as she parted from Hotaru.
Setsuna laughed. “I didn’t think about it that way,” she admitted.
A moment later, Haruka was beside her daughter, ruffling her hair. “Can I count on you to help with diaper changing, feeding and babysitting, Hime-chan?” she chuckled.
Hotaru giggled, “Hai.”
Setsuna then brought in many bags, setting them on the large sofa near the fireplace before turning to Michiru as Haruka and Hotaru went into the kitchen. “Do you have the babies’ room all set up?”
Michiru giggled. “Haruka and I hired someone to paint the walls because she insisted that I not be exposed to any of the toxins.”
Setsuna smiled. “That’s a good idea,” she said as she patted her best friend’s tummy. It’s not going to be too long now.”
Michiru sighed as she led the way to their babies’ room. “I know. As much as I enjoy being pregnant and being fussed over, I am ready to get my body back and hold my children in my arms.”
Setsuna giggled. They arrived at the babies’ new room and Setsuna gasped. The walls were painted in a light blue, with an ocean painted trough half the walls and the ceiling was decorated with glow-in-the-dark stars. The garnet-eyed woman gasped. “Kami-sama, it’s beautiful.”
Michiru smiled, “I insisted on painting that part,” she conceded.
In the room where Hotaru used to sleep was one large double crib that consisted of two little beds. In each bed were little pink stuffed animals. A small mobile, consisting of stars and crescent moons, hung from each bed. In the corner of the room was another rocking chair Michiru had planned to breastfeed in. A dresser was opposite the room.
Setsuna, open-mouthed, gazed in shock. “You’ve really outdone yourself here; I hope there are some things you still need from this baby shower,” she laughed.
Michiru smiled, sensing her friend’s mind might be elsewhere. “Is there something you’d like to tell me, Sets?”
Setsuna grinned. “I thought I was the all-knowing time guardian; don’t take my job from me now.”
Michiru laughed. “It’s just intuition; I guess it’s a part of becoming mother.”
Setsuna looked down. “You’re right. Well, if you must know, Shukensha and I have been trying…to have a baby,” she admitted.
Michiru’s expression turned serious. “You want to start a family; there is nothing wrong with that, Setsuna.”
Setsuna laughed. “Of course I know that, but it’s not that. The truth is, I am worried about how Hotaru will feel. You and Haruka are starting a family. Hotaru had decided that because of that, she would feel like less of a burden if she moved in with me. When we have children, I don’t want her to feel pressured to move out or feel like she’s been replaced,” she conceded.
Michiru felt tears in her eyes. “I think that, no matter what, Hotaru knows that she will never be replaced. She is a daughter to all of us and we love her just as much as we will love our own.” Michiru looked up and smiled.
Setsuna moved to embrace Michiru. “Arigatou, I needed to hear that.”
A sound at the door caused them both to jump. Michiru glanced at the clock in the babies’ room. She realized that everyone was supposed to be over at six. Time passed rather quickly.
Michiru smiled at Setsuna. “Let’s go welcome our visitors,” she said as she waddled as fast as she could to the door and pulled it open.
“Michiru-san!” Neo Queen Serenity exclaimed cheerfully, holding Chibusa’s hand.
“Konbanwa, Serenity-sama.” Michiru made a feeble effort to bow.
Serenity laughed. “That’s not necessary, Michiru-san, especially in your condition,” she said as she embraced the slightly taller woman. The ondago-haired Queen smiled and gently smoothed her hand over Michiru’s tummy.
“You are glowing. Pregnancy definitely suits you. I remember when I was pregnant with Chibiusa, I was so swollen when I was at your stage,” she laughed.
Michiru shook her head. “Trust me, I am feeling it. I always have to make frequent trips to the restroom or have midnight cravings; I am ready to see my babies now,” she laughed.
All of the girls were seated around Michiru as she opened her gifts. She received various matching pink outfits. She received a set of bibs from Setsuna and Hotaru that looked familiar as well as some colorful tropical- like outfits. “I got those when I went on my honeymoon in Hawaii,” Setsuna admitted.
Haruka sat next to Michiru, her arm lovingly wrapped around her. She enjoyed seeing her mate so happy as she’d been worrying about her since she’d been on bed rest.
Michiru received more than she could possibly imagine: diapers, wipes and little walkie talkies that she could place in each room so she would be able to hear when the babies cried. Not only that, but she received a two seated stroller from Serenity and Endymion as well as blankets embroidered with ‘Kaiou Tenou,’ leaving the first names to be put in later.
“Have you decided what you’re going to name them?” Minako asked.
Michiru smiled and turned towards Haruka. She clasped the blond’s hand. “Were thinking possibly Kazeko and Michiko, but that could change!” she said, wanting to keep the girls surprised.
Michiru had been the center of attention as each of the girls asked questions. They ate dinner shortly after and they bid everyone good night.
Haruka was washing dishes in the kitchen when she saw Michiru gasp and clutch her stomach. “Michiru?” Haruka was instantly at her wife’s side. Michiru looked up at Haruka and smiled. “Don’t worry; it’s just Braxton Hicks’ contractions. I’ve been having them off and on this past week,” she explained.
Haruka’s face was blank. Michiru smiled. “It’s false alarm contractions that prepare for the birth. It’s normal during the duration of the last trimester,” she assured.
Haruka smiled. “Okay, but promise me if they get any closer that you will let me know,” the blond said seriously.
She was well aware of the fact that there was the possibility that Michiru could go into premature labor if she exerted herself too much. Michiru smiled and kissed her love. “Hai.”
To be continued…