That night Michiru lay with her head in Haruka's lap. The blonde had come in fresh from a shower after exercising and hurled herself onto her side of the bed to read the latest racing magazines.

Her interest in motor sports was reasserting itself. After the baby was born, she hoped to be able to continue her career. Her old titles had passed away, but now she could earn new ones even though that wasn't why she raced.

"Please hurry." Michiru was stroking her tummy. "We're waiting for you. We've waited for so long . . . "

This last part was said to Haruka who smiled and brushed her wife's bangs.

"Want me to rub some lotion on your stomach?"

Michiru gave a sigh of contentment. "That would be wonderful, but make sure you warm it." Her blue eyes narrowed in dire warning.

Haruka gave a resigned sigh and a smile of remembered laughter quirked her mouth. "Hai."

The first time Haruka had done this she'd simply poured the cool lotion onto her hands. However, the second she'd brought them in contact with Michiru's warm stomach, Kazuko had given a terrific leap, protesting the sudden chill. After she'd gotten over her surprise, Haruka had a hard time controlling her chuckles at her unborn child's antics. Michiru, however, having been the recipient of a strong kick to the ribs had found the whole thing decidedly less amusing.

Haruka returned with the lotion and took her time gently massaging Michiru's tummy. The violinist closed her eyes and sighed with contentment. After a time the violinist rolled to her side, but her wife kept up the steady caresses.

Haruka was still far more comfortable showing her love than saying it aloud. So she poured her heart into the strokes leaving nowhere untouched that she thought might ease some of Michiru's discomfort.

Her wife was still curled on her right side.

"Roll over," Haruka whispered.

"That's easier said than done." Michiru grunted as she sat up and pushed her body to the other side.

"Gomen." The strong hands once again resumed their loving touches.

"Mmm . . . " Michiru whispered. "Remind me to do this for you some day."

The blonde smiled down indulgently, but said nothing. When she felt that her work was finished, she put the cap back on the bottle. She looked down at Michiru who was fast asleep on top of the comforter, breathing softly. Haruka etched the tender image in her memory before moving to get a spare blanket from the hall closet. She gently covered her wife before giving her a quick kiss and turning out the light.

It was a week later when Michiru added another dab of paint to her canvas.

"So what do you think?" She asked her unborn daughter.
There was a little movement as the child responded to the sound of her mother's voice.

"Hai, me too. Maybe more yellow on the reeds," the violinist said thoughtfully.

Her works now were bright and vibrant, very different from the darkness of her early pieces. This was her second painting today. Michiru was surprised. Her once flagging energy was rebounding. The very pregnant artist set her brush down and critically eyed her work. It was finished.

Still feeling antsy, she decided to clean the kitchen and bustled down the hall at a rolling gait. Once there she pulled all of the supplies out from under the sink which was more difficult than she had anticipated because it involved bending down and undoing the safety latches Haruka had installed. The house had been thoroughly child-proofed.

When the blonde came through the front door with a bag from the pharmacy, she found Michiru busily mopping with classical music playing in the background. Haruka's eyes were wide with shock as Michiru made another pass under the breakfast table with the mop.

"Oh, you're home!"

"Didn't you hear me call?"

Michiru gave the blonde a kiss. "No, I was cleaning."

"So I see. Should you be doing that now?"

"Better now than after the baby is born, ne?"

"I told you I would take care of the housework." Haruka leaned against the counter, her arms folded.

Michiru's eyes softened. "I know. I just seem to have a lot more energy these days."

The blonde nodded slowly. "Just don't overdo it, onegai."

Just then the violinist stiffened and sucked in a breath.

"Michiru!" Haruka was quickly at her wife's side relieving her of the mop.

"I'm fine."

Teal eyes looked unconvinced.

"It's just more Braxton-Hicks contractions." Michiru sighed.

She'd had several the last few months. Although they were somewhat painful and annoying, the doctor had assured them that they were nothing to worry about.

"I think I'm going to vacuum downstairs and do another painting."

"We're out of vacuum bags," Haruka informed her wife. The blonde was secretly glad. She much preferred Michiru sitting and painting than pushing around the vacuum cleaner in her condition.
"We're out of a lot of things." The violinist reached for the handwritten list where she'd stuck it to the refrigerator with a magnet.

Sighing, Haruka took the list. Then she held her wife by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Fine. I'll go to the grocery store. Just promise me you won't try to climb up on the roof and clean out the gutters while I'm gone."

Wide blue eyes stared up at her. "The gutters need cleaning?"

"Michiru."

The artist giggled. "Actually, I think I'll go take a shower."

Haruka gave a mental sigh of relief and kissed her wife - twice, before heading for the front door.

"I'll be back soon," she called.

A teasing voice floated back to her. "I'll count the seconds"
Michiru stepped out of the shower and dried herself. She avoided looking in the mirror. Her stomach was so stretched that her belly button protruded slightly, which Haruka had assured her was cute, but the violinist wasn't so sure. Her back tightened again and she froze. A few moments of breathing deeply alleviated the pain. When the pressure eased, she went into the bedroom. The baby had dropped a few weeks ago. Now they were only waiting for Kazuko to decide to make her entrance into the world.

The artist was in her robe and picking out an outfit when there was a warm rush down her legs. It seemed strange. As she slowly mopped up the fluid, she realized what had just happened. Excitement and anxiety crashed over her at the same moment. She went to the closest phone and called her wife's cell phone.

"Moshi moshi."

"Haruka, come home."

"Michiru? Are you all right?"

"My water just broke and I think I'm having regular contractions." The violinist's tone was matter-of-fact.

There was a squeal of tires and a horn blew.

"Haruka?"

"Sit down and take it easy. I'll be home in a minute." The blonde's voice sounded strained and distracted.

"Don't hurry. I was just going to make lunch."

"Nani?" the confusion was evident.

"They won't give me anything to eat in the hospital and I'm hungry," the violinist said sheepishly. "I was going to have some miso and maybe a little leftover calamari."

There was a sigh. When her wife spoke, Michiru could hear a hint of exasperation in her voice.

"I'll be home in a minute."

"Sore ja."

"Ja ne." The line closed.

Michiru hung up the phone and went to the kitchen. Haruka stormed in ten minutes later and loaded the violinist's things in the car.

The aqua haired woman was at the kitchen table dressed in loose flowing brown slacks and a cream button down shirt. She was finishing off her soup. Haruka got a glass of water and drank deeply.

Michiru blotted her lips lightly with the napkin and took a deep breath. "All right. I'm done," she said softly.

Haruka moved forward and placed her hands on Michiru shoulders before leaning down and planting a firm kiss on her wife's head.

"Let's go," she whispered, gently rubbing the slightly tensed shoulders. The artist released a breath and leaned back against Haruka's stomach.

"Hai."

When they arrived at the hospital, Michiru was checked in immediately. They had already filled out the paperwork weeks before, so she was wheeled directly into a well-decorated private room to wait for her labor to progress. Haruka was upstairs not too many moments later with their overnight bag. Michiru was put on a cocktail of medication that negated the pain but still allowed her to feel pressure.

"We've come a long way from the dark ages," a nurse explained and Haruka understood that she was speaking of 20th century medicine.

Several hours past and Michiru slept as her body continued to labor. Haruka held her wife's hand until it became apparent that the violinist was deep in a drug induced sleep. The nurse would come in every so often and check the aqua haired woman's progress.

The procedure looked uncomfortable. Haruka was glad she wasn't on the receiving end of such prodding.

Restless, the senshi of the wind rose and paced. Any little sound brought her restless eyes back to the bed. The blonde jingled her keys in her pocket before realizing what she was doing and folding her arms over her chest instead.

The nurse came in again. Michiru moaned lightly and shifted.

"Is it time?" Haruka asked seriously.

"Not yet, but she is dilated to seven centimeters. It won't be too long now."

Haruka glanced at her watch. It was 5:00 a.m.. She rubbed her tired eyes and looked up to find Michiru watching her through a puffy gaze.

"I'm sorry," the violinist murmured.

"For what?"

"I fell asleep and left you here all alone." Her blue eyes were slitted open and Haruka could tell Michiru was fighting the pull of sleep. She took her wife's hand and kissed it.

"You're going to need your rest."

"Hai." Michiru sighed drowsily. "I'm awake now though. It's getting very uncomfortable." She shifted as another contraction hit her.

"Make sure you breathe," the blonde reminded her wife. Haruka felt Michiru squeeze her hand as the pressure increased. This she was prepared for. It was much better to be working than to endure endless waiting.

"Haruka."

"Hai," the blonde answered worriedly.

"I want to stand up." The violinist's voice was a little desperate.

"Um . . . " The taller woman looked around frantically for the nurse. The last thing she wanted to do was endanger Michiru and the baby.

"Onegai? It hurts." The look of distress on the artist's face decided the matter and the blonde helped her up.

Michiru gripped the metal bed railing with white knuckled hands as she concentrated on breathing. The hospital gown hung loose on her small frame. Haruka slipped a hand under a flap and pressed a warm palm firmly against Michiru's lower back. Immediately, her wife seemed to relax a bit.

Michiru gasped as she dealt with the growing discomfort of her labor. Haruka was thankful that the pain was dulled. She didn't think she could stand to see Michiru suffer in some of the ways she'd read about.

Thirty minutes later a nurse came in and pronounced that it time to move Michiru to the delivery room. Once they had been moved, Haruka requested and received some ice chips, which she fed her weary beloved. The nurse who had been lenient in letting Michiru stand, now helped Haruka get her settled in the bed.
"Arrigatou," the racer thanked her distractedly.

At this point the contractions were hard and regular. Michiru clung to Haruka's strong hand. The blonde kissed her mate's slender fingers. They were both excited and nervous. Their child was about to make her entry into the world. The doctor burst in at 6:31a.m., her hazel eyes bright over the top of her mask.

She touched Michiru's leg. "How are we doing?"

The violinist nodded in greeting as she paused to take a deep breath. "Well, you are at ten centimeters. You aren't crowning yet, but since your contractions are so intense, it should be any time now."

Nurses bustled about preparing instruments and things they would need for the infant.

"We're almost there, 'Papa'," the doctor said conversationally to Haruka, but there was no answer from the blonde as a powerful contraction nearly folded Michiru in half.

"Kami-sama." The violinist hissed.

Haruka leaned down and whispered encouragingly to Michiru, but noting the look of fierce concentration in her wife's eyes she wasn't sure her mate even heard her.

The doctor watched the fetal monitor closely but the baby's heartbeat remained strong.

"Ok. It's time." The doctor's voice brought everyone to attention.

"Kaioh-san, I have a mirror if you'd like to see your baby's head."

The answer was muffled slightly, but clear. "Hai." Michiru leaned forward to get a good first look at her daughter. "Oh, Haruka." The violinist's voice was low and elated.

The blonde licked her lips nervously, eyes looking anywhere but the mirror.

"Ok. It's time for pushing."

The artist took a steadying breath and focused on bringing her child into the world.

This was something they were doing together and Haruka held on tight as again and again Michiru pushed hard.

"Yes! One more time, you can do it." The doctor's voice was steady and encouraging.

"Michiru. She's almost here!" Haruka was excited now. They were almost through.

The violinist panted and gathered her strength for the right moment.

The doctor was already working on clearing the baby's airway. "Just one more big push."

"Hai!" The word ended on a sharp note as Michiru locked her hand around Haruka's in a death grip and delivered their wet and squalling offspring into the doctor's waiting hands.

Haruka stared at the tiny red arms and legs as they flailed and her child began to communicate with indignant squawks.

"Michiru, she's perfect," the blonde breathed reverently feeling warm surges of protectiveness. The new parents kissed joyfully, too tired and delirious to care who saw them.

"Here." Their doctor interrupted the moment by handing Haruka a pair of surgical scissors.

"Nani?" her husky voice was shocked, and Michiru laughed tiredly.

"Clip the cord. Right here."

Haruka deftly snipped the umbilical cord and the baby was whisked away to be weighed and measured.

"Ok, Mom, let's get you taken care of."

"Mama," Michiru whispered softly as the reality of her new title hit home. All the discomfort and pain had vanished from her thoughts leaving only a sense of tired happiness.

A nurse returned and placed the wrapped baby in Haruka's arms. The blonde examined the tiny scrunched face. Her daughter mewled and a tiny fist uncurled and flexed. Haruka just stared, overwhelmed.

Tenoh Haruka had been born more than fifteen centuries ago. If not for her destiny to be Sailor Uranus, she would have died long before this day. She would never have held this being, her child. Michiru had been right; this fate was beautiful.

A pale hand reached out and brushed her own tanned fingers where they protectively cradled the warm bundle. Haruka didn't even realize she was crying until the first tear splashed on the back of her wife's hand. Michiru's eyes were shining also.

"An ordinary life isn't so bad, ne, Haruka?" The mezzo voice was a soft murmur.

'Ordinary?' This was anything but ordinary.

After the ordeal of giving birth, Michiru had given in to the exhaustion that had been pulling at her. Once her wife was asleep, Haruka made several phone calls. Saturn was away, but she was assured by a quirky palace retainer who she had come to trust that Pluto would be given the message. Next, she called the Queen's social secretary and found that the thin woman was to alert the King and Queen as soon as she was informed of the birth. Both palace officials had heaped congratulations on her which the blonde promised to relay to Michiru when she awoke.

The nurse then found Haruka and told her that mother and daughter were doing well so it would be perfectly all right if she returned home to sleep. The tall blonde had simply stared at her at a loss. She and Michiru had been together for so long that they were part of each other. Haruka never slept well, if at all, when they were separated. She would just wait by her wife's side until Michiru awoke. There was a reclining chair and Haruka caught a few catnaps. The maternity ward was really too warm to be comfortable she decided.

At one point she picked up her squirming daughter and sat down beside her sleeping wife. She watched as the dark blue eyes blinked sleepily at her. She could already see the encroaching rays of green. Catching a tiny waving hand, Haruka kissed it and was delighted when the tiny fingers wrapped around her own and squeezed. Soon the baby was fast asleep and her Papa placed her gently back in her bassinet.

At ten in the morning, Michiru was still asleep, but flowers began arriving. A huge bouquet of pink roses tied to a luxuriously soft teddy bear came from the Royal family. The palace staff sent a bundle of lilies and a silver rattle. More gifts and flowers began arriving from various senshi groups and ambassadors with whom they had dealt. The interplanetary Teleflora must have made a mint today she marveled.

A frazzled looking nurse dropped off yet another large pink assortment basket. She stared at Haruka suspiciously for a moment before she left. The woman was obviously trying to figure out if these new parents were someone famous that she should know. In truth she assuredly had seen them before but their transformations were enchanted so that unless someone actually saw them henshin, they would never recognize them on the street. Queen Serenity had been very wise to think of such a thing.

Michiru's entire body hurt when she awoke. She shifted gingerly and when someone pressed a cup of water to her lips, she drank gratefully.

"How do you feel?" Haruka's husky voice was concerned as she smoothed sweaty aqua hair back from the violinist's face.

Michiru smiled and nodded. "I'm all right. Where's Kazuko?"

"They just took her for a few tests." Blue eyes looked slightly alarmed. "She's fine. It's just routine." Haruka reassured her mate.

"Oh my." Michiru had just noticed the bursts of color around the room.

Haruka winced. "When I called the palace, I didn't tell them not to tell anyone else."

The aqua haired woman giggled and the sound warmed her mate's heart. "Well, who would have thought?" Michiru asked amazed as she reached out and took Haruka's hand and gave a warm squeeze.

"Would you like something to eat?" the blonde asked. "I'll go get whatever you want from the cafeteria."

The artist nodded. "Get whatever you think looks good." Michiru was already working on pulling her hair back in a loose braid. "I need a shower. I must look a mess." She sighed softly.

"First food, then shower." Haruka leaned down. "You look beautiful." The blonde planted a quick kiss on her wife's soft mouth before going. Michiru smiled after her mate's tall form.

When Haruka returned with breakfast, Michiru had their baby in her arms. The violinist looked up, beaming at her partner. The racer laid her head against Michiru's arm. They watched together as Kazuko stretched and yawned. It was apparent that they had fallen in love all over again, only this time with their child. Haruka began to feed Michiru bits of fruit and some toast with a thin coat of jam. Michiru preferred a more European breakfast - a holdover from the time she'd spent in France as a girl. When the violinist could be persuaded to part with the baby, Haruka helped her shuffle to the bathroom and warmed the water. Working together they got the new mother bathed and dressed in a soft cotton nightgown they'd packed in her overnight bag.

They were just in time because there was a sharp knock at the door and Dr. Mizuno Ami burst in smiling.

"They all want to see you, but I got here first." She winked.

The couple exchanged glances. They knew exactly who "they " were. Haruka inclined her head with a smile.

"Ami-chan," Michiru said brightly. "Thank you for all of the referrals you gave us." The violinist's smile was sincere.

"Oh, she is beautiful!" Ami exclaimed, leaning over the hospital issue bassinet. She took in the fine curls that dotted the child's head and the tiny rosebud mouth.

There was another knock and in strode Haruka and Michiru's embryologist.

"Good morning! Oh, Dr. Mizuno. Am I interrupting? I could . . . " he gestured toward the door.

"No, no. Come in."

The doctor turned his attention to the tiny person curled up fast asleep by her mother's bed. "Wow. You took after your mother." It was true. The tiny twirls of hair were very close to Michiru's in color. "I like to come see them when they're born." He confided, then looked back at Kazuko. "She's perfect. In a few years she'll be breaking hearts. Siblings do best two to three years apart. If you want to have another one, just give me a call."

As he was moving in to say goodbye, he bumped into one of the many floral arrangements littering the floor.

"My office was going to send a little plant, but I think we need to make it a big plant to compete with the jungle you have in here," he observed with a grin. Michiru laughed politely. The man shook Haruka's hand, kissed the back of the violinist's and clapped Ami on the shoulder before sweeping out the door.

"He certainly has a lot of energy," Michiru said diplomatically.

"Hai," Ami and Haruka said together in low, slightly stunned voices.

The phone on Michiru's bed rang. Haruka deftly snagged it before it could wake the sleeping infant.

"Haruka-san?" an excited woman cried.

"Minako-chan?" The elder blonde placed the voice.

"We're coming up."

"Hai, that's fine. I'll lock the door." Haruka's eyes were shining mischievously.

"Haruka-san!"

"Oi. " The blonde winced as Minako's voice hit a piercing note.

There was a scuffle. "We'll be up in a moment." Rei's prim voice sounded over the line.

"Hai, mata ne." Haruka replaced the receiver, chuckling.

"So they're here." Michiru observed with a smile.

"Hai."

Haruka's mind traced over her friends. Minako was still Sailor Venus, although a much better dancing Venus thanks to the ballroom lessons she took with Raoul. So far love had continued to frustrate the blonde, but she had caught the bouquet at their wedding so there was still hope.

Rei was still working as Sailor Mars and probably would stay active until Neo Queen Serenity surrendered the throne to her daughter. She spent much of her time meditating and fine tuning her sixth sense. She had become quite the charismatic priestess.

Minako bounced through the door.

"Congratulations, Haruka-san and Michiru-san!"

Ami whirled to face the blonde. "Shhh!"

Minako went from one extreme to the other. "Gomen," she whispered and with an exaggerated tiptoe crept toward the bed.

A smiling Rei and Makoto soon entered.

"Come see the baby!" Minako delivered the line in a theatrical whisper.

"I see you beat us here," Mako-chan teased her.

"Only because she ran down the hall," Rei groused good-naturedly.

Ami looked horrified, but before she could say anything Michiru spoke.

"Welcome, minna," she said graciously. Her wife nodded in acknowledgment.

Makoto scooped up the baby immediately with the ease of one who has had a lot of practice. Indeed she had with three little ones of her own.

Minako was still hovering over the baby in Makoto's arms making faces at the sleeping child. Haruka was watching the gregarious senshi of love with an expression somewhere between frustration and amusement.

"We're like her fairy godmothers!" Minako clasped her hands in front of her chest. "Magical beings who will watch over and protect her." Light blue eyes turned glassy as Minako got caught up in the fantasy she was creating.

"Oi," Haruka said softly touching a hand to her head.

"Minako-chan! Aren't you being just a little bit presumptuous?" Rei hissed.

"What's her name?"

"Kazuko," Haruka offered.

"Ah," the girls sighed.

"It's very beautiful," said Makoto. "And very fitting. You're lucky. My boys were never this quiet." She gently replaced the little girl into the bassinet.

"You know she doesn't look very much like Haruka-san." Minako was inspecting the sleeping child.

"Sure she does." Rei stalked to her best friend's side. This was the first time she'd gotten a really good look at the baby. "She has Haruka-san's . . . well . . . " The senshi of fire sweatdropped.

Even Ami was now looking at the sleeping child askance.

Minako glanced slyly at Michiru whose eyes widened at the knowing look.

The infant's eyes suddenly opened and the unusual catlike shape at once proclaimed her heritage. She blinked up at the three unfamiliar faces that were looming over her crib.

"Ah," the three women breathed as one.

Kazuko began to fuss. Haruka slid through the crowd, scooped up her daughter and delivered her to Michiru. At once the artist began to coo to their fretting offspring.

"I should really get down to the lab," Ami said and bowed before quickly leaving.

"I think I have training today. Congratulations," Rei offered. The priestess was clearly embarrassed.

"Yes, Michiru-san. Congratulations on having Haruka-san's baby," Minako trilled with a smile.

"Arrigatou," Michiru answered wryly.

Makoto was leaning against the wall with a look of amusement on her face. She moved to the bed and took Michiru's hand, careful not to dislodge Kazuko, and squeezed gently.

"She's beautiful, Michiru-san."

Blues eyes smiled brightly. "Thank you."

Makoto gave Haruka a big hug.

"I would say let me get a sitter and you and I could go play some basketball." She winked. "But something tells me you aren't going to be getting much sleep the next few weeks . . . and not for the usual reason," she finished with a smirk.

Haruka chuckled. "Hai."

Author's Notes:
Kazuko Kaioh-Tenoh June 23 at 7:01 Am.
Yay! She's here! I think I have one chapter left. Two things to note: Lilies are usually a funeral flower, but I made an exeption here for the obvious yuri tie-in. I like lilies myself.
Second, you can't hyphenate names in Japan (Nihon), but since this is Crystal Tokyo I thought we could make an exception.
Michiru's mad cleaning spree if referencing the evergy burst some women get just before they give birth. It helps them get through the intense work required by labor. My friend cleaned her whole house.
Well I hope you like it. I didn't want to describe her and leave it up to everyone's imagination, but they made me do it! I can't remember who they are.. but it was them! I did want her to have Haruka's eyes though. You have to love those eyes.
Yes, I used the Inners for comic relief again. I do love them though!
Thanks to Myu )
Thank you to my dear editor for feeding me a new chapter.
Thanks to all of my pre-readers: Harukalover, Captain Tenneal and Selina.
Thank you to Maus and Ichigo for all of the encouragement Thank you to Angie who tweaked the last line for me. Arrigatou.
I have a dream of breaking 10 reviews on Hamena..onegai ;
PS: I will definitely be having surgery in the near future.
So you may not see me for while.