Hi! I'm getting back into the swing of things here! Yay!! This is chapter nine. It's short, but a (hopefully) relief from the fighting. Hope everyone likes it! As always, HUGE thanks to my editors--you guys are so great to me!!! **HUGS!** The next chapter of Shell Presto's "Dead Inside" should be out next week!! *see Bethany jump up and down!* if you haven't read it, you should!!! It's SO good! And Aimee's back!!!!!!!! YAY!! That means the next part to "The Coldest December" should be coming out soon!!! Umm... let's see -- oh yeah!! My web page http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/9333 is now co-owned by my best friend Serenity Raye! We will be expanding it BIG time! I'm talking new web graphics, more fanfics, bigger music section, lots!!! BTW, another great story that is DEFINITLY worth reading is "The Less Glamorus Life" by Miss J!! That story rules! And Meara's "Blessed Event" It's sooooooooooo good!! Okay, I know, I know... I'm starting to sound like an advertisement co. here, so just one more then I'll stop.. S Addiction!!! Read it!!!!!!!! Lady Mirage (gee, I hope I spelled that right..) I'm going to be putting it on my web page, its the best story!! Okay, I'm over that part.. hehe japanese translations gomen ne - I'm sorry sou - right shimatta - dammit or shit -which ever nani - what hai - yes ne - okay that's all I used! aren't you proud?? ^^ ****************** From the Beginning, Round Two ~ Part IX Title: Childbirth Author: Bethany ^_^ Rated: Pg (language) Editors: Meara, Luna's Meow, Heather, America Author Email: Bethany212@aol.com ****************** "Mamo-chan, slow down! So help me if I get out of this alive, you won't live!" Usagi screamed as Mamoru let off the gas petal slightly. "Gomen ne, but I'm going to be a daddy!" Usagi sighed and gently laid her hand on top of Mamoru's on the steering wheel. "Mamo-chan, please slow down. Unfortunately your not going to be a daddy if you crash before we get there," she said, trying the smooth voice instead of yelling. Chibi-Usa held tightly to the door handle in the back seat of Mamoru's car. "That's red light number two dad, your gonna get a ticket," she mumbled, knowing it will do little good. "Gomen ne, gomen ne," he mumbled, unknowingly pressing harder on the gas petal. "Mamo-chan, if you don't slow down, so help me I'm going to let Chibi-Usa drive!" Mamoru glanced down at the speed odometer, "Gomen Usa... I'll try." He took a deep breath and relaxed his muscles. He managed to get them there, in one piece. All the way through the hospital Usagi mumbled about being lucky to be alive. If she could live through Mamoru's driving, she decided, she could beat anything. Minako walked beside the wheelchair Usagi was in while Mamoru filled out papers. "Usa-chan, you know, I don't think I've ever seen Mamoru this shaken up. Do you think we should let him back here?" Usagi thought about it for a minute. "He deserves to see his first children born, but if he gets to be too much I want Makoto and Haruka outside the door to drag him out of here," she snickered. The doctor helped Usagi to a bed and placed a belt over her stomach and hooked some machines to it. "This will keep a track on your contractions and the babies heart rate." He took a minute to check her cervix before continueing, "You don't have long to go, but a little while. I'll be back," the doctor told them and left the room. Usagi sighed, already she wished Mamoru was in there. "What's taking him so long?" "I'll go find out," Minako volunteered, stepping out of the room. She walked quickly back to the waiting room where Mamoru was holding a clip board, trying to fill it out with shaking hands. Chibi-Usa was doing her best to get him to calm down and the rest of the senshi stood around with knowing smiles on their faces. "Mamoru-san, let me," Minako said, taking the clip board. She filled out what she knew about Usagi, then turned to Mamoru. An evil smile formed on her lips. "Umm, what's Usagi's madien name?" ". . . ." "Mamoru-san?" ". . . I don't know!" he yelled, "I gotta get to Usako!" Up on his feet now, he ran out of the room. "Go get him," she motioned to Haruka and Makoto with a yawn. "Bring him back until we get him calmed down." "Sou," the two mock saluted and ran after him. They went opposite directions down the hall, glancing in rooms and dodging nurses and doctors. "Did you see a man about 6'4 with dark hair run past here?" Makoto asked the nurses station. "Yeah, he went to the elevators." "Shimatta!" "Nani?" Haruka said, coming up behind her. "He's on another floor. Probably maternity. Let's take the stairs." The emergency exit opened and Mako and Haruka stepped in the hall way, breathing heavily. "Look, there he goes!" Haruka screamed, taking off around a corner that Mamoru had passed a second before. Her shoes slid about on the waxed floor and she held onto the wall for balance. Mako regained her balance first and ran as fast as her legs would take her down the hall. A small scream left her throat before she slammed into an empty hospital bed coming out of one of the rooms. Haruka passed by, "Don't worry, I've got him!" Mako shook her head. "He can be so fast when he's determined!" Her eyes bulged as Haruka fell to the floor. "SLIDE IN FOR THE HOME RUN!" Makoto screamed, not giving another thought to everyone watching them. Haruka slid down, grabbed Mamoru by his ankles and dragged him to the ground with her. "YES HARUKA!" Mako yelped and whistled. Together the two bruised warriors pushed a screaming and kicking Mamoru back to the waiting room. When they entered the room, Rei did the only logical thing she could think of. She burst out laughing. Mako was holding her stomach with one hand, her auburn ponytail halfway down her back. And if Makoto wasn't funny enough, Haruka was a *real* sight. Her blonde hair looked like she had pulled it almost out in frustration, the front of her white shirt was black as well as the front of her jeans. Both of their faces were red and sweat dripped from their hair. "What happened to you two?" Ami asked in surprise after returning from Usagi's room. Mako pointed to Mamoru with disgust. "He's what happened to us!" Mamoru glared at them, but didn't say a word. Minako had already informed him that he wasn't going to see Usagi until he calmed down. And screaming at them wasn't the best way to show he was in control. After careful consideration, Mamoru decided that he couldn't take on all eight senshi, three lights and his daughter to get out of the room. Seiya walked back from the snack machine with a bag of chips and a coke. "Here Mamoru-san, drink this and then we might take you to her." Mamoru growled and took the can. In two swallows it was gone. His face scrunched up, "What the hell did you put in that?" Taiki laughed, "Umm, something to keep you calm." "Now can I go to her?" he pleaded. Everyone looked to Minako. "Why does everyone keep looking at her?!" he yelled, forgetting to be *in control*. "Cause I'm the leader, so I make the rules." She smiled, "Say your sorry and you may go." "Gomen ne," he whispered. "Nani? I couldn't hear you," Minako giggled, there was nothing like kicking a man when he was down. "I said, Gomen Ne!" he said in his most controlled tone. "Okay, Haruka, Makoto. Usagi has requested you stay outside the room until the birthing is over. Just in case your needed - if you get my drift." "Yeah, got ya," Makoto mumbled. "Let's go Mamoru-san." Ami sat down before exploding in a fit of giggles. "What did you do to that poor man?" "Usagi said to bring him to her after he calmed down. But he escaped," she sighed, "How's Usagi-chan holding up?" "The doctor said any minute now, she's doing it natural, no drugs, can you believe that?" "NO WAY!" Rei yelled. "That wimp is doing it natural? That's worse than any injury youmas give!" "I know," Ami said, "But she didn't want to be drugged up." ***** Haruka grabbed Mamoru's arm. "Don't do anything stupid in there, she's in a lot of pain." "Don't worry," he hissed, then caught the look in Haruka's eye. She wasn't trying to be mean, she was worried. "It's okay," he said softer, "I just want to be with her." Makoto slapped him on the shoulder, "Don't worry, she'll be fine if she doesn't call you every name in the book in the process," she giggled. Mamoru nodded and entered the room. Immediately Usagi looked up and her face took on a relieved look. "Mamo-chan!" she held her arms out to him and he came and embraced her. "Are you okay?" "Hai, doctor said *gasp* we are going to push *gasp again* on the next set of *gasp one more time* contractions." He pressed his forehead against hers, "Don't worry, I'm right here and in no time at all our babies will be in our arms." She nodded and felt the pain beginning again. The doctor came in, preparing quickly he looked up from his position. "Okay, here we go!" As Usagi pushed, she screamed - and so did Mamoru. He clenched his teeth together so hard that he thought they would turn to dust. Covering her face with his hand, trying to comfort her, he only succeeded in blocking her breathing. "Mamo-chan! *gasp* Dammit! Let go!" she screamed. He moved his arm briefly before doing it again. "MAKO-CHAN!" she screamed. Makoto came in the room, and grabbed Mamoru's arm. "Your going to cut off her breathing!" she shrieked. Mamoru took a deep breath and moved his arm. "Push, come on Chiba-san, one more!" the doctor urged. Usagi tensed up her exhausted body and pushed with all her might. The room went strangely quiet before a loud wail broke out. Makoto laughed, "Definitely Usagi's child." The doctor handed off the first child to a nurse before beginning work on Usagi once more. "Okay, the second is going to be easier, but you still need to push slightly, ne?" Usagi nodded and grabbed Mamoru's hand again. With one last push, another even higher pitched wail echoed in the room. ***** Mamoru looked down at the child bundled in a pink blanket in his arms. Her black hair glistened in the light. In Usagi's arms was a child bundled in blue, black hair also covering his head. "They look like you Mamo-chan," Usagi breathed. Mamoru smiled, "...yeah..." A knock sounded at the door. "Come in!" Usagi called allowing her parents, eight senshi, star lights, and Chibi-Usa to come in. Everyone gathered around looking at the babies. "They're beautiful," Rei commented, taking the girl from Mamoru. "No denying who this little one's father is, looks just like you Mamoru-san." "...." Mamoru leaned in closer to Usagi and kissed her lips lightly. Usagi handed the boy to Ikuko. "What did you name them?" she asked, cradling the child close to her heart while Kenji watched. "The girl is Sorano and the boy is Kazeno." ** "I like those names," Michiru and Haruka said at the same time, sending everyone into a fit of laughter. Chibi-Usa went up to Ikuko. "Grandma, can I hold him?" Ikuko looked at her with a small smile. She had known for quite a while that Chibi-Usa was her granddaughter, but the child had always addressed her as Tsukino-san, the new name was a wonderful change. "Of course dear, but you need to sit down." Chibi-Usa smiled at the boy. "Hi, I'm your... umm, younger sister," she giggled, "It's hard to believe that this is the same Kazeno that bugs the crap out of me at home!" "Gonna be good lookin' kids," Haruka smiled at Sorano. "Just hope they don't have Mamoru's looks *and* determination. If so, your going to be in a lot of trouble Odango," she laughed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ** - I couldn't think of any names at all for the twins, so I asked Lianne if I could use the names she gave the set of twins in her story and she is soooo nice and said I could!! *hugs* arigato Lianne! Sorano means "of the sky" and Kazeno means "of the wind." I know it's short, but I hope everyone liked the little break from fighting! the next chapter gets the ball rolling again. Only two more chapters until the big fight! ^_^ Email me!!!! I love email!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^ Bethany212@aol.com Also, if anyone is still reading this far down -- I'm thinking of making this a series, what do you think? Please tell me if I should leave it alone, or keep going! Arigato!