Haruka was at the garage, sitting in her racecar. Her chest felt tight,
and the urge to cry nearly overwhelmed her, but no tears would come.
*Well, Haruka, now you've done it.*
She thought. *Now everyone's going to know the truth, and Mamoru will
probably leave.* The idea brought tears to her eyes, where they had not come
before.
"Maybe he won't leave," she whispered.
"Oh, God, please don't let him leave..." her legs were becoming
cramped, so Haruka got out of the car slowly and began walking around the
garage, trying to work out the kinks.
*Whatever happens,* she knew, *No good will come of hiding
this from him.* Now she scoffed.
*Like I could.*
Her decision made, Haruka walked out of the garage and over
to her yellow Ferrari, which was parked in her registered parking space.
Getting in, Haruka pulled the car out of the parking lot, and started
driving in the direction of Mamoru apartment.
*How am I going to tell him this?* Haruka wondered. *And
what of the baby?* As much as she
resented her unborn tenant, the thought of aborting it rankled.
Adoption was always an option, but suppose it turned out to be a Senshi?
*Should that happen, it'll need both me *and* Mamoru.*
Haruka still couldn't come to term with the idea of being a
mother. *Me.
Tenou Haruka...a mother?* Just
the thought was ludicrous.
By now she was at Mamoru's apartment building. Haruka
glanced at the clock on her car's dashboard. *Five thirty-two.
He should be home. Or,* she
snarled, *Out with Usagi.* Her mood
managed to turn sourer yet, and she slammed the door with more force than was
required.
Walking into the apartment building, Haruka pondered over
what she would say on the occasion that Usagi was there.
*I could just say that Michiru and I had another fight, so I came over to
talk it out with Mamoru...No,* she discarded the option.
*She'll just want to help, and once I've spilled out a good lie, she'll
go and wreck it by calling Michiru.*
Reaching the elevator, Haruka pushed the button and waited
impatiently. There was a 'binging'
noise, and Haruka stepped into the elevator.
Much too soon, the ride was over, and she was on Mamoru's floor.
Taking a deep breath, Haruka strolled out into the hallway and over to a
door that she knew by heart.
Resisting the urge to just walk right in, Haruka knocked on
the door, praying to any deity who may hear, that Usagi would not answer the
door. Her prayers were answered
when Mamoru opened the door. His eyes lit up when he saw her.
"Haruka," he smiled, ushering her inside.
"God, it's good to see you." He
bent to kiss her, but Haruka turned, only granting him her cheek. "Haruka...?" he asked, trailing off.
"Is something wrong?"
Haruka nodded mutely.
"We need to talk."
Nodding his understanding, Mamoru lead her to the couch,
waiting for her to sit before he did so himself.
Haruka was looking down, dodging his piercing gaze.
"Now," Mamoru smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"What's wrong?"
"You know that I went to pick up my test results
today." Haruka said, stalling
despite herself.
"Haruka," Mamoru took her hands in his.
"Are you alright?"
Haruka laughed, but it sounded more like a sob.
"Haruka...?"
Mamoru released one of her hands, putting a finger underneath her chin
and forcing her to meet his gaze. Deep
blue met two puddles of ocean blue, and searched, trying to find whatever it was
that troubled his love so. Finally
he broke the gaze. "You're
pregnant, aren't you?" he asked quietly.
Haruka nodded, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.
"I'm so sorry." She
whispered. A tear slid down her
cheek, but Mamoru brushed it away.
Pulling her into his arms, Mamoru held Haruka gently, as if
afraid she would break apart. "We're
pregnant," he whispered, his grip tightening slightly.
"And I love you." Haruka
started to cry, and Mamoru rocked her gently, back and forth. "Oh, God...!" he whispered, his voice excited.
"We're pregnant. Pregnant!
A baby...our baby!"
"You're not upset?"
Haruka asked, her voice muffled by his shoulder.
"Upset?" Mamoru
chuckled, pulling far enough away that he could look her in the eye while he
spoke. "Not in the least. Nervous,
a bit...excited, Hell yeah." His gaze turned serious.
"Look, we made this baby together, and we'll handle this
together."
Haruka nodded. "But
what of the others?"
Mamoru shrugged, leaning back into the couch, his arm
around Haruka's shoulder. "What
of them?" he asked.
"We'll have to tell them sometime," Haruka
reminded. "No one would believe us if we said that Michiru impregnated
me."
"Well," Mamoru thought aloud, "When they do
find out, there'll be trouble; and we want to enjoy this pregnancy as much as we
can."
"You mean as much as *you* can," Haruka teased.
"I'm the one who's gonna get as big as the Goodyear blimp."
"Don't worry about that," Mamoru said, kissing
her forehead. "I don't love
you because you're beautiful."
Haruka blushed. "Beautiful?"
she asked with a laugh.
Mamoru nodded earnestly, "Haruka," he said,
"I consider you the epitome of female 1perfection.
You're the most *real* person that I know, and you're not afraid to be
yourself. Not to mention that
you're brave, but kind, and," he grinned, "You've put up with me so
far."
Her eyes glistening with tears, Haruka gazed into Mamoru's
eyes. "Oh, God...I love you,
Mamoru."
"I love you, too," Mamoru grinned, lowering his
head and kissing her stomach. "Both of you."