Haruka walked quickly through the aisles at the grocery market--it was eleven thirty on a Saturday night, so barely anyone was there.  Haruka usually hated grocery shopping, but she didn't mind it being her turn this time, seeing as it gave her an opportunity to think.

            Today was April fifteenth, and she had only seen Mamoru a few times since, usually on weekends, when all the Senshi got together.

            *I wonder how he's been doing without me?*  The thought came unbidden, and with it a wash of bitterness. *Stop thinking like that,* Haruka chided herself.  *He loves me, and I love him...no problem there.*  But she wasn't governed by her heart, and knew the difference.

            "Haruka!"

            The voice broke Haruka from her reverie, and she spun.  "Mamoru!" grinning madly, Haruka raced up to her love, hugging him tightly.

            "I've missed you..." Mamoru trailed off, gazing lovingly into her eyes.

            "And I've missed you."

            The two continued to talk as they shopped, their conversation turning from polite chatter to politic and religious debates.  Soon that too turned to talk of them as a couple, and there, they found no answers that they would accept.

            "I wish that this was easier."  Haruka said.  "I wish that we didn't know the future...didn't know Chibi Usa, didn't know about Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion. I wish that it could just be us, together, now."

            "But it is."  Mamoru said, smiling.  "We're us, we're together," he showed her his watch, "And look!... It's now."

            Haruka sighed in exasperation, smiling.  "Don't tell me why I love you, Chiba."

            Mamoru shrugged, nonplussed.  "Probably for the same reasons that I love you, Tenou."

            Grinning, Haruka kissed him quickly on the lips. "Tag!" she cried, ducking behind her cart. "You're it."

            Laughing, Mamoru dashed around the cart and after Haruka, who was already racing toward the furniture. Because she was laughing, Mamoru had an easier time catching up with her.  Hiding behind a couch, Haruka panted, still laughing in between breaths.

            Striding purposefully around the couch, Mamoru locked his gaze on Haruka's.  She stopped laughing, and smiled.  The time for running was over.

            Catching her in his embrace, Mamoru kissed Haruka, leaning her against the couch for support.  Grinning into his mouth, Haruka wrapped her arms around him, as well.

            Mamoru levered her down onto the couch, but Haruka let out a squealed, "Ouch!"

            "What?"  Mamoru asked, sitting up.

            Haruka was rubbing her breasts gingerly, "Did you...?"

            Mamoru shook his head.  "My hands were behind your head, remember?"

            Recalling, Haruka nodded.  "Guess I've been exercising too much."

            Mamoru agreed.  "Are you alright now?" he asked, putting his forehead against hers.

            Haruka grinned, nodding, and their lips met again.

            "Eh*em.*"

            They jumped up, only to see an elderly couple gaping at them.

            "Sorry."  Haruka mumbled.

            While walking back to their carts, the two remained mostly silent, glancing at each other now and again, just to smile and look shyly away.

            "Haruka," Mamoru broke the silence.  "What are you doing tomorrow?  Do you think that you could get away from the family and meet me at the park or something?"

            Haruka winced.  "'Fraid not."  She answered.  "I entered a new race, and had to take a physical exam.  My results'll be ready tomorrow."

            Mamoru sighed.  "We've got to see each other more, 'Ruka."

            Haruka nodded. "Got to."

            By that time they had reached their carts.  "Well," Mamoru said, taking his.  "I've gotta go."

            "Ja ne."

            "Yeah, ja ne."

            Haruka wasn't in a very good mood as she rushed to her appointment.  She didn't see why they couldn't just give her the results over the phone...but then again, this company had always been that way: impossible.

            Hoping to make this quick, Haruka rushed out of her car, slamming the door.  Trotting to the front door, she pulled it open and hurried inside, rubbing her hands together in the cold.

            Shuffling up to the front desk, Haruka signed in and took a seat in the waiting room.  Picking up a racing magazine, she proceeded to leaf through it, stopping at articles that caught her eye, and skipping past articles written about her.

            "Tenou: Haruka."  The desk clerk read from her list.

            "That's me."  Haruka said, standing up and trying to smile.

            "The doctor will see you now, Mr. Tenou."

            Haruka let the misconception pass unchallenged as she followed a nurse out of the room, down hallway, and past a great many doors.  Her shoes made clipping noises against the marble floor, but the nurse seemed used to it.

            "In here, please."  The nurse instructed, opening a door for Haruka.  "The doctor will be along to see you in a few minutes."

            Haruka nodded good-naturedly, but let her thoughts run, wondering why she had been told that the doctor would see her, if all she would be doing were waiting in a smaller room without racing magazines.

            "He-llo."  The doctor drawled, his voice entering the room before he did.

            "Hello."  Haruka greeted.

            "Well, well, well," the doctor said.  "So you are the famous Haruka Tenou."

            Haruka nodded.  "'Fraid so."

            "I'm doctor Winston."  Dr. Winston was an elderly man, with a British accent.  His white hair was combed neatly, and he smelled of burnt incense.  "But you may call me Doc."

            Haruka smiled, instantly liking the old man.

            "Now." 'Doc' had pulled out a few sheets of paper while he was talking.  "These are your results from the last test," he said, "And these are your results for this test."  Handing them to Haruka, he smiled warmly.  "You're healthy as a horse, young lady, and certainly in your prime." he looked at Haruka kindly.  "But do you suppose that it's very *safe* for you to drive in your condition?"

            Fear gripped Haruka.  "My condition, Doctor?" she asked cautiously.

            Doctor Winston smiled kindly.  "You don't need to hide it, Ms. Tenou.  You're early enough in your pregnancy that I can't forbid you from the race...but far enough that I would be careful--"

            "What?"  Haruka asked breathlessly.  "I *can't* be pregnant!"

            Now Doctor Winston looked at her closely.  "Hmmm. Can't be, you say?" he asked, taking the papers from her and looking over them again.  When he finished, the doctor looked her directly in the eye.  "You are, then, not sexually active?"

            "I--" Haruka stopped herself.

            The elderly doctor continued as if she had not answered him.  "You have not skipped your cycle?"

            "I'm very athletic," Haruka came to her own defense, "I don't always get one."

            "Have you been experiencing unexplainable mood swings, nausea, tenderness or swelling in your breasts, or strange eating patterns?"

            Haruka hung her head, the truth not escaping her lips.

            Doctor Winston nodded once.  "Well, then, let me be the first to congratulate you, Ms. Tenou.  According to this test, you should be in your twelfth week right about now..."

            Haruka let the doctor's words fall past her, unheard.  The same words paraded through her head ceaselessly. *A baby...?*

Chapter 16