MarshAngel

watsonma@hotmail.com

http://angelmoon.sinfree.net

 

After much bombardment on the subject, I have (and it’s taken me a while) come to the decision that this story deserves an epilogue. I didn’t think I had anything left to say on the subject because I hadn’t wanted a perfect happy ending. Unfortunately there’s a sucker in me for a happy ending too and since so many people asked, I gave in and here it is.

 

Touch

Epilogue

 

Rei frowned fiercely, frustrated by her inability to concentrate. First it had been that annoying group of American tourists who for some reason thought watching someone sit quietly under a tree with their eyes closed was a fascinating way to spend time and take pictures. Then there was her grandfather who apparently couldn't care less about her need for peace and quiet and now even with her eyes closed she could sense the presence of someone standing around watching her. This was the last time she was ever going to attempt meditating outside no matter how nice the weather was.

"Can I help you with something?" She demanded tersely without opening her eyes.

"I suppose that's better than the 'what the hell do you want' I expected," a cheerful voice said.

Rei opened her eyes squinting slightly as the light filtering through the branches of the tree created a glare making it hard to make out who was talking. Whoever it was leaned comfortably against a tree watching her. Her eyes adjusted to take in the sight of a petite but curvy woman fashionably dressed in close fitting brown leather pants that flattered her long legs, and a blue tank top that skimmed her bellybutton. Long wavy blonde hair hung over one shoulder. Until she looked into the bright blue eyes she didn't recognize her. When she did, her eyes opened wide with shock.

"Usagi?" she whispered after the worst of her shock had worn off.

"In the flesh," Usagi replied smiling. Her smile faded to a more serious expression when she realized Rei just couldn't figure out what to say to her. How could she have expected it to be easy? Maybe she shouldn't have come. She breathed in deeply steeling herself for what would be the first of uncomfortable meetings with her friends.

It had been a little over three years since she'd seen them. She remembered starting dozens of letters only to find that there was not much she could really say to make her leaving ok for them. What should she have told them? That life was difficult sometimes but she was adjusting? That she liked being married? That she finally found something she could do well?  That could probably have worked but then she hated writing letters. She had sent a few short notes that for the most part only said she was ok, without going into too much detail. She didn't want them to think she was happy without them or that everything was going perfectly now that she'd abandoned them. She'd sent little gifts sometimes but she didn't know where that would put her now.

"I've missed you, Rei."

Still there was silence.

"Please say something Rei," she pleaded. She walked over and sat down on the ground before her.  "Rei?"  The priestess continued stare at her.

"What am I supposed to say? Welcome home? Everything’s ok now Usagi? You're the princess we were born to protect but you took away our duty but as long as you’re back lets do the happy dance and everything's ok?" Rei's face blazed with anger, her violet eyes narrowing to a glare.

"I didn't..." Usagi began but Rei didn't let her finish.

"It's been three years Usagi! I suppose I should be happy that you look amazing; that you are obviously doing so well but in three years you didn't even stop by to see us once. I hope you weren't expecting a welcome home party because you sure as hell don't deserve one."

"I know," Usagi whispered tearfully. "I was just hoping that the time would.... " she didn't know what she was hoping. "I just thought maybe you could forgive me."

"Why should I? Are you planning to stay?"

Usagi winced. She was definitely not planning on staying. She'd just worked up the confidence to visit as she had been planning to for the longest while. Endymion had been the one to convince her that they would understand and they wouldn't hate her and that the longer she waited the worse it would be. Being married had certainly mellowed him a bit. Unfortunately he was obviously very wrong.

"Rei, Endymion is my husband. We've been married for three years and I have a responsibility to my people. I won’t leave them"

"Your people," Rei whispered softly. "This world is filled with your people, what about them? You abandoned them."

"No." Usagi whispered softly but forcefully. "They had you and the others. I didn't leave them alone. If they needed me I would have been there but they didn't.

"No, I suppose you didn’t leave them alone you left us."

Usagi sighed. "Maybe one day you'll remember the way things were in the Silver Millennium. Maybe you'd understand better. Maybe if you loved someone as much as I loved Endymion you'd know why I did this."

"I hope he was worth it. I hope he was worth losing four friends who loved and needed you." She glared at Usagi, fire in her eyes.

"You know something Rei," Usagi began her temper rising.

"Endymion is the love of my life but if you think leaving to be with him was easy for me think again. I have faced all types of monsters and yet loving him and leaving you and my family was the hardest thing I've ever had to do? Did you think I traded you guys for an easy life?

"It has never been easy. Life there is hard; being married is hard. Knowing that you guys were together and I wasn't with you was difficult. Stop making it sound like I abandoned you and left you with nothing and that the hardship were all on your part. I almost walked out on my own wedding because you guys weren't there and I was so afraid. But things got better with time and I was hoping that time would make you understand that I made the decision that was right for me and as much as you wished that I would come running back home crying that it was all a mistake, it isn't going to happen. I'm happy and I only came to see if maybe you were happy too.

"I'll go. You can tell the others I came." She got up and dusted off her pants and walked away. She sniffled a bit. She wouldn't cry until she got home. She needed to be calm to concentrate on getting back. But the tears kept coming. She hadn't even gotten around to explaining the other reason she'd been motivated to come now. She wanted them to share in her happiness. She was going to have a baby. It was supposed to be the happiest time of her life.

"Usagi!"

She froze at the sound of her name being called from a distance. She turned around to see a guy waving at her. She almost didn't recognize him. She had seen a recent photograph once when she'd gone to the house on a whim when no one was home but it was still stunning to see him. He was so tall.

"Shingo?"

He caught up to her and just nearly lifted her off the ground.

"I can't believe you're here."

His voice had changed too.

"Rei told me you had just left I couldn't believe it. She's all upset and crying because she yelled at you and she didn't give you all the things she bought and Mom and Dad will be so happy to see you and people at school think you got pregnant and we sent you away, don't know where they got that idea but we told everyone you went away to school in America but grandma doesn't believe us and..."

"Shingo!"

"Sorry," he grinned sheepishly, letting her go so she could breathe. "Are you staying long? Mom turned your room into a huge walk in closet."

"She did not!”

"No but it was funny seeing the look on your face.” He grinned widely, a charming boyish smile that made him seem almost as young as she’d remembered him. “Everything's just as you left it"

She punched him playfully in the arm." It was good to see that time healed some wounds. Absence, it would seem, did make the heart grow fonder for some.

Her face paled a bit when she realized that she might have to see her parents. Of everyone, she didn't expect them to forgive her at all.

"Maybe seeing Mom and Dad isn't such a good idea." It was strange how three years ago seemed easier by comparison to what she intended to do now. For some reason the prospect of telling her parents they would be grandparents made her so nervous she was close to hyperventilating.

Shingo's face turned serious. "Usagi Tsukino don't even think about wimping out. They've been dying to see you."

Usagi was stunned at how grown up her fifteen-year old brother was. She supposed being taller than her now he was occasionally entitled to lecture her.

"They have?" She questioned.

"Of course they have," Shingo replied as though it were the stupidest question she could have asked.

"I'm glad someone does," she muttered. “Wait a second! What do you mean Rei bought me things?"

“You know, mostly birthday stuff, a couple good luck charms. I guess she figured you’d be back for them sometime.”

“She just wasn’t actually counting on it happening,” Usagi added wryly.

“Well the point is she isn’t really mad at you…. Well maybe just a little.”

Usagi sighed but her problems with Rei immediately disappeared from the forefront of her thoughts and she stopped mid-step looking intently at what was before her. Together they had walked the familiar road to her house and now it loomed large before her. She swallowed hard, looking intently at the home she’d grown up in. It seemed nothing had changed, except perhaps, for the marigolds in the front yard, those were new. Funny, the things one remembered.

Her brother walked ahead of her towards the front door. Of course he didn’t see this as a dramatic moment, she thought to herself. He came home everyday.

She walked through her front door, taking in the sight of her living room. It was just as it had been the last time she'd been here. Nothing had changed it seemed. It even smelled the same. There, towards the back of the room on the shelf next to the couch was the figurine that she'd broken and glued back together with stuff she'd gotten from her art teacher. Her mother still probably didn't have any idea it was broken.

Her nervousness at seeing her mother was building. She wiped her sweaty palms on her pants but they simply slid off the non-absorbent leather.

"Mom", her brother yelled from the entrance to the kitchen. She continued looking around, looking at her father's recliner that had been in the same spot for as long as she was able to remember, the family pictures on the side table, her mother’s apron hanging over the side of one chair. She guessed her father was at work. It was still early so he shouldn't be home for another few hours.

"Mom," Shingo yelled again, this time up the stairs.

"What is it boy?" Her father yelled, coming in from the backyard, pulling off his work gloves. He had been working in the garden. As he looked up for the first time seeing her, his eyes went wide.

"Usagi?"

"Hi Daddy,” she said almost casually looking him up and down as though she’d never seen him before. He was dressed in jeans and an old t-shirt. She didn’t even know her father even owned a pair of jeans. “What are you doing home?"

To her surprise he didn't freeze as Rei had. He immediately pulled her into a huge bear hug, squeezing so tightly she gasped. Obviously it was a 'like father like son' kind of thing. He eventually let her go after a few moments and stepped back. “I retired,” he stated simply.

Usagi was shocked by his statement but didn’t get a chance to tackle it as her father held her at arms length looking her up and down.

"What the hell are you wearing young lady?"

Usagi blushed. It was nice to see he was still full of bluster and fatherly objections.

"Daddy!"

"You look like, like...” he sputtered. "You look like one of those American pop singers."

"I am wearing a lot more clothes than that!" She objected sternly, a little miffed.

"So you finally decided to drop in," he commented, layering on the guilt immediately.

Usagi frowned feeling terribly guilty. "I’m sorry. I needed some time and I thought you might too. I thought you were still mad at me."

She heard a long-suffering a sigh from her father. Children were a trial.

"We were never mad at you to begin with. We just thought you'd made a bad decision and you refused to give our opinions any consideration. I hope that bastard is treating you well. Is that why you're here? Did he hurt you?"

"No Daddy, I'm fine, Endymion's fine. And please don't call my husband a bastard."

His eyes widened. "So you got married." He seemed a bit surprised as though he had been certain Endymion wouldn't have done the honorable thing.

"I've been married for three years."

He sighed again. "You're so young."

"Daddy..." her tone warned him not to continue this pointless discussion.

"You should have finished school, maybe even gone on to college. I still don't understand why you couldn't have waited."

"I know you don't. But I've learned more in the last three years than I would have sitting in a classroom getting terrible grades."

"You don't know that," he countered.

"It doesn't matter anymore. The argument has been put to rest and I didn’t come here for that."

"Why did you come?" he questioned.

She couldn't prevent the hurt look that came over her face. How could he ask her that?

"I came to see you of course. I missed you guys."

His face softened. "We missed you too Usa. You really should visit more often; let us know what's going on in your life. Maybe you could bring Endymion as well."

Usagi's eyes widened at the olive branch just offered.

"I promise, Dad." She was crying again. Damn hormones.

"There is another reason I stopped by." She added sniffling. "I had wanted to tell you and Mom together but I don't think I can wait that long."

"What is it?" her father asked, immediately worried.

"I'm going to have a baby." She smiled.

"What!" The voices of her father and brother snapping out their shock loudly was enough to make her jump.

She couldn't help rolling her eyes and smiling widely at their confounded expressions. "You do understand the concept right?" she teased. "You, Uncle, You grandpapa," she pointed at each, mocking their stupefied expressions with Neanderthal speech.

"You're pregnant?" her father questioned as if he still didn't understand.

"Yes, I'm pregnant."

The Kitchen door opened and her mother walked in with an armload of groceries. The moment she saw her daughter the bags fell to the ground with the loud thud of cans denting as they hit the floor.

"Usagi?" Usagi swore she hadn't ever heard her name spoken so often in that strange shocked tone as she had today.

"Hi Mom."

"I thought you'd never come back," her mother exclaimed tearfully as she embraced her daughter.

"I'm sorry. I should have come sooner but I wasn't sure you'd want to see me."

"Why wouldn't we want to see you?" her mother questioned.

"I don't know," Usagi muttered. I thought you guys were mad at me."

"Teenagers," her mother muttered. They were always making things out to be worse than they were.

Ikuko let her daughter go and looked at her husband and son. Questioning their strange expressions. "What's the matter with you two?"

"She's pregnant," Shingo announced bluntly.

Ikuko turned a wide-eyed expression on her daughter, looking her up and down to see if there was something she'd missed.

"Only two months," Usagi answered her mother's silent question.

"Isn't it a little soon?" Her father voiced his concern.

"We waited three years, Daddy. We think things are a bit more settled now so we decided it was time."

"Ikuko stared at her only daughter, so grown up and responsible. Had it only been five years ago when she'd worried that this day would never come, that she would be an always be an irresponsible child? Now she was having a child of her own.

. Now she almost wished she could go back and relive the days when Usagi would climb unto her lap and fall asleep or when she would have to chase her around the house and confiscate the candy she was determined to eat before bedtime. They grew up so fast.

"Oh my god I'm going to be a grandmother," she realized with a dismayed look on her face.

Usagi smiled.

"I'm getting old," she complained in a whining tone reminiscent of Usagi's.

"You're not getting old Mom," Usagi reassured.

"That's right. She's starting young," her father stated disapprovingly, looking at her. Usagi and Shingo glanced at each other and rolled their eyes.

“Is he taking care of you?” Ikuko demanded suddenly.

“Of course he is,” Usagi replied. It’s odd how after a while it had seemed ridiculous to think it could be any other way. Endymion was perfect…well almost.

 

Usagi lay on her small bed in her old bedroom staring up through the dark at the ceiling she couldn’t really see. She was on the verge of falling asleep but the events of the day still ran through her mind. She’d had dinner with her family and it had been like old times, without the teen angst and a whole lot more questions. They’d been curious about everything and by the time she’d told it all and it was time to go to bed her throat had been dry and scratchy.

She closed her eyes, intending to sleep. She missed her husband. The bed was too small, too cold, and too empty. She sighed heavily and rolled over unto her side. The recently vacated spot sunk with new weight and an arm settled over her. She smiled happily. She pushed back against his warmth as he settled his head against her shoulder, smelling her hair.

He pushed her hair aside ands kissed her neck. Guiding her face toward him he covered her lips with his and kissed her with building passion. She made that soft moaning sound in the back of her throat that he enjoyed hearing. The sound droned off into a groan of disappointment however and he released her. He was familiar with the sound as well that indicated he’d started something they couldn’t possibly finish.

"We can't do this here," she whispered but didn't attempt to pull away.

"Why not?" He questioned, kissing her shoulder.

"For one thing this bed's too small and for another my parents are just down the hall."

"They won't hear a thing, especially if you make an effort to be quiet. And the bed's just right."

Usagi flushed. It wasn't the first time he'd mentioned her tendency to be loud.

"And if one of my parents walks in on us?"

"We are married you know," he replied dryly.

"Try explaining that to my father."

"Did you know that long ago on there was a tradition among some for the parents to be in the room on the wedding night?" He informed softly, with a touch of amusement.
Usagi captured a suitably horrified expression that Endymion didn’t need to see to envision.

"That's disgusting!"

He laughed softly. "They required proof of the bride's virginity so there needed to be witnesses."

"And if she wasn't?"

"The marriage would be annulled in some cases and the brides family forced to pay. The girl was of course disgraced and unacceptable for marriage."

"That's barbaric!"

"Perhaps. You are fortunate your mother wasn't a traditional queen."

"Why do you say that?"

"When she came to power she repealed that ancient law."

Usagi froze in shock. "That was a Lunar tradition?"

"There were variations but essentially yes. If she hadn't, you may have had to be examined periodically to check that your virginity was intact, particularly since you were a princess. You had to be above reproach."

"I guess I would have been in quite a bit of trouble then."

"Just a bit," he understated. She could have heard the smile in his voice.

"Do you suppose if she hadn't repealed that law we still would have...?”

"I'm beginning to think we were meant to be together. I'm sure we would have found some way."

"I think you may be right."

She was getting sleepy; he could hear it in her voice. She snuggled closer to him and he wrapped his arms around her waist, once again in wonder at the idea of the life that was growing inside her beneath his hand. She slept even more than usual because of the baby. Already he could hear the slow sounds of her deep breathing, indicating that she was already drifting off.

He wouldn't leave her tonight. He had gotten used to her warmth next to him. The prospect of facing an empty bed held absolutely no appeal. He groaned a bit, trying to adjust his body to a comfortable position. The bed was a little too small after all.

 

When Usagi awoke the next morning Endymion was, to her disappointment gone. She wouldn’t have minded another attempt to make love to her as he often did in the morning. There were other wonderful ways to wake up in the morning however although not quite comparable. She went downstairs following the sweet aroma of pancakes she had missed more than she thought. The smell didn’t assault her stomach the way her usual breakfast of scrambled goose eggs did these days. She certainly was going to make every effort to get as much of her mother’s good cooking down as possible. She was almost certain that before the end of the day at least some of it would come back up.

 “That smells amazing…” She froze mid sentence and mid-step as she was faced with the sight of her father in an apron before the stove.

“Daddy? You can cook?”

“Don’t look so shocked. I do have skills you know,” he replied.

“Your father has taken up a few hobbies since he decided to retire,” Ikuko said, nursing a cup of coffee by the kitchen counter. “Fortunately this means I get a break from making breakfast.” Usagi still had a hard time believing that her father had retired from his job. She supposed that while lucrative, the insurance business was a bit boring. Her father had decided to enjoy the rest of his life, and she was happy for him.

“It’s nice to see some things haven’t changed,” Ikuko said to her daughter nodding towards the clock. 

Usagi smiled. It was late in the morning. She had never been an early riser. Rising with the sun was greatly overrated. She grabbed a plate and headed for the table.

Another surprise faced her at the table. Ami, Mina, and Makoto were all sitting at the breakfast table.  They stood up immediately and rushed to embrace her. Unfortunately there was only one of her with only two arms to go round so it became a group hug.

“It’s nice to see you guys again,” Usagi announced smiling widely.

“Are you staying?” Ami questioned. Usagi nearly winced at the obvious hope on her face.

“No. I’m sorry. I have to go back.”

There was a disappointed silence and then a quick change of subject to avoid the painful subject.

“Rei told us you were here,” Mina said. “She didn’t say too much when she called me last night other than that you guys had a fight that is. She’s really sorry by the way.”

“I know,” Usagi whispered. “I’m not mad at her. Besides she was kind of right. I should have come sooner. I’m sorry.”

“We’re just happy you’re here now,” Ami stated. “How long are you planning to stay?”

“Not long. I’m supposed to be at the dedication of our first library in two days. There aren’t many books, mostly really old stuff we’ve managed to recover and a few manuscripts but I’m sure with time we’ll collect many more.”

“Never thought I’d see the day you entered a library voluntarily,” Ami teased.

“I think even you’d find these documents interesting. I was actually thinking that you could even come and look at them one day.”

“Is that an invitation?” Ami asked, surprised. After all this time Usagi was actually inviting them to visit.

“I guess it is,” Usagi replied grinning.

“Why didn’t you come by before or invite us to come?” Makoto asked.

“I felt we needed time. I guess I felt guilty and I figured you’d all be angry with me. As for not inviting you, there was no suitable place for you there. The palace is only now coming close to completion. It was in nearly complete ruin when I first got there. Endymion had been working on improving housing for the people first. We eventually got around to the palace. It’s not quite up to its former glory but at least it’s safe now.”

They were all stunned to hear her speak. Perhaps it’s they way she spoke with genuine care or maybe it was the fact that, contrary to what they may have imagined, she hadn’t left to enjoy a paradise in the arms of her lover.

“It takes a lot of energy to teleport between dimensions. I won’t be able to transport anyone for a couple of months, let alone myself so when I go back I won’t be able to come back for at least seven or eight months. You’ll have a while to think about it.”

She was about to continue until she saw the looks of confusion on her face. She grinned widely. “I’m pregnant.”

Three stunned faces looked back at her.

“Oh my god!” Mina squealed. “A baby?” 

“I knew you were…but I never thought… wow!” It seemed Makoto was at a near loss for words. Ami simply stared; unable, it seemed, to get a word out.

“We should have a baby shower before you go back,” Mina announced suddenly.

“Absolutely!” Makoto agreed emphatically.

“Really, you guys don’t have to do that,” Usagi discouraged, but was, however touched by the idea. “I’m only going to be here for a few days and don’t these things usually happen when I’m really fat and about to burst?”

“We’ll just have to work with the time we’ve got,” Makoto announced determinedly. “Give us two days. I assure you, you will be suitably amazed.”

Intuitively she was aware that arguing would be useless so she gave in, and two days later, after managing to convince her grandmother that she hadn’t gotten herself in ‘trouble’ and run away, and convincing her friend Molly whom she’d run into while shopping with her father, that similar rumors (courtesy of her boyfriend, now fiancée, Melvin) of her having been sent away to a European convent to give birth were entirely false, she found herself sitting in Makoto’s living room surrounded by her friends and her mother. She was, as Makoto promised, very amazed.

They had truly outdone themselves in such a short time. It seemed that they must have been awake and busy for the past forty-eight hours. The room was festively decorated with balloons and streamers in a compromise of lilac and pastel yellow since the baby’s sex was a mystery. The truly amazing part was the table covered in all her favorite desserts, and that covered a lot. There was also a mound of gifts in the corner awaiting her, and she had to admit she was very excited.

While her friends had been busy with the plans over the past two days, she’d been left to herself, or more precisely to her father and brother whom she had dragged shopping with her. They hadn’t complained too much, considering it quality time they wouldn’t enjoy for months; that is until they had had to carry endless packages of diapers, bottles, and all the other necessities she foresaw herself needing in a few months.

The past few days had been better than she’d dreamed. Even Rei had eventually calmed down and in typical fashion, set about, commandeering the baby shower. And that is how she came to be sitting with the first of many gifts on her lap. The package was not nearly as neatly wrapped as some of the others, which indicated, without looking at the tag, that it was from Mina, who willingly admitted that she was terrible at any kind of craft, particularly gift-wrapping. Anticipation building, she ripped open the package and couldn’t have been more surprised if they’d all shown up naked.

She picked up the item, her face colored with embarrassment and confusion. She cleared her throat that seemed to have fogged up the moment she’d opened the gift.

“I don’t think the baby can wear this.”

She heard a lot of giggling as she stared in shock at the dark red lace bustier, complete with garter straps, stockings, lace thong, and a sheer robe.

“No, but you can,” Mina announced. “We didn’t get a chance to throw you a bridal shower either so we’ve decided to combine them both.”

Usagi shot a wary, embarrassed glance at her mother but her mother merely grinned widely and handed her a pretty blue box that looked like it had been wrapped by a team of artists. Warily she opened it and almost sighed in relief at the rows of beautiful colored bottles inside, until she looked at the labels, edible massage oils, except they were of course called ‘Body Liqueur’. Her mother assured her they were quite tasty. 

“Mom!”

“I’m sure Endymion could use a massage every now and then.” She almost sounded innocent, almost.

This was turning out to be more embarrassing than she had ever dared to dream. Of course her embarrassment had only begun since it was immediately followed by Rei’s gift of five embroidered satin thongs and chocolate body paint. If she had blushed more in her life she couldn’t recall it. She fluttered between embarrassment and utter shock when she unwrapped Ami’s gift of the Illustrated Kama Sutra.  She didn’t dare open it, although she had to admit she was more than a little curious. She was certain there were positions she was quite familiar with and the idea that her mother should know that she was, was simply too much. Of course Ami’s face was as red as her own. The final gift from Makoto turned out to be another book called Cooking in the Nude complete with a bottle of wine and a red silk rose.

Endymion was going to be very amused when she got home. She had a rather silly image of herself decked out in the bustier, with the rose between her teeth, massage oils by the bed with the Kama Sutra, and a bottle of wine (which she was assured would only taste better in seven months) and chocolate body paint in hand.  Fortunately her dirty train of thought was broken before it could get further down the track by an array of cute baby gifts from blankets and cute little jumpsuits, to teething rings and teddy bears.

It occurred to her only later that she was going to have a bit of trouble getting the gifts and everything she’d bought back home. Fortunately men were more useful than they appeared.

Endymion appeared in her bedroom the night before she had decided to leave. He was immediately hijacked by her entire family, and unused to being subjected to a determined mother-in-law and a commanding father-in-law, was compelled to have breakfast with her family and serve as her gift-transport.  It seemed his royal status was of no relevance because Kenji saw fit to demand that he take good care of his daughter and grandchild. To his credit, Endymion tried not to be too insulted at the idea that he could do anything but. No one mentioned his bad behavior on their last meeting and Shingo seemed suitably impressed by his commanding presence.

When the time eventually came, she wasn’t surprised by her tearfulness. Although her father and brother (Endymion pretending to be more dignified) rolled their eyes at Usagi’s crying friends, they admitted they would miss her enormously. And with accusatory glares, they all demanded that she visit more often. Somehow, however, despite all the tears, everything felt right. She felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. When she mentioned as much to Endymion later however, he teasingly pointed out that the weight was simply relocating to her stomach and hips. 

 

Lying in bed next to Endymion, sans the bustier which had disappeared under the bed at some point during the night, and smelling of strawberry oil, Usagi smiled. The night had been amazing. The bustier hadn’t hooked all the way because of her expanding middle but then Endymion hadn’t seemed to mind. It was amazing that they had survived three years of marriage and five months of pregnancy so far and she was as excited to see him every time he walked through the door as she had been in the beginning.

With four months to go she could hardly wait to see the little girl she was sure was nestled inside her. Endymion was convinced it was a girl as well and he was certain she’d have black hair and blue eyes just like his. She’d rolled her eyes at that thought. Several generations of Serenity had produced little girls who looked just like their mothers and she had no doubt this little one would be no different. She just hoped she’d be more coordinated.

She was amazed at her life. It wasn’t that it was perfect it was simply that she loved it. Endymion’s arm snaked around her waist pulling her closer to him.

“Stop all that damn thinking and go to sleep,” he grumbled.

She settled in and closed her eyes, secure in the warmth of his embrace. It seemed several minutes later he grumbled in her ear. “And she’s going to look like me.”