Haruka and Mamoru had agreed not to tell the other Senshi until it was
absolutely necessary, on account of wanting to enjoy the pregnancy, and not deal
with betrayal and hurt feelings.
"Haruka!" Mamoru
called. "Look at these." He held up a tiny yellow dress,
and a little blue jumper. Frowning, he asked, "What do you think it'll be?
The baby, I mean."
Haruka shrugged, strolling over for a better look at the
clothing. They had traveled to the
border of Tokyo, to go shopping where no one they knew could catch sight of
them.
"It's still too early in the pregnancy to tell,"
she replied, running her fingers over the satiny material of the miniature gown.
She looked at Mamoru, "Do you want to find out, or be
surprised?"
"Be surprised."
Mamoru answered instantly.
Haruka nodded, grinning.
"Yeah, I agree."
The two paused to kiss, and giggle.
"Well," Mamoru said, putting down the clothes.
"Since we won't know until then, I don't think that we should break the
bank buying dresses and suites."
Haruka nodded. "We
can do the shopping when we tell the other Senshi.because you know, no matter
how upset they are, Minako-chan and Hotaru will probably want to help."
"Yeah, you're right."
Mamoru conceded. "Besides that, they can't stay mad forever--especially
not when they see what a beautiful baby we've made."
Haruka chuckled. "Whatever
it is, I hope that the baby gets your eyes."
Mamoru grinned, leaning closer, "And your
lips..."
They kissed quickly, still too excited about the baby to
stop traffic with a display of public affection.
Taking Haruka's hand in his own, Mamoru led her out of that store, and
through the mall, until they reached the bookstore.
"Now," Haruka said, "Here's some stuff that
we shouldn't wait to buy."
Mamoru nodded, leading her to the section marked
"Conception, Pregnancy, Birth, and Raising Children".
The two parents-to-be stayed in that aisle for almost an
hour, then spent the next thirty minutes trying to decide what books to buy, and
what books to put back. Finally, they were headed off to lunch in the park.
"Ooohh," Haruka cried.
"Let's eat here."
Mamoru nodded, and the couple spread out a blanket on the
ground. Getting up, Mamoru asked,
"Okay, how many hotdogs do you want?"
"One." Haruka
replied, "With ketchup."
Mamoru didn't seem convinced
"Only one?" he asked.
Haruka nodded slowly.
"Only one."
"Haruka," Mamoru said seriously, "You're
eating for two now."
"I know," Haruka replied.
"But I don't need to *look* like it."
"If the baby's going to get..."
Haruka sighed, cutting him off.
"Fine. Have it your
way."
"Two?" Mamoru
affirmed.
Haruka nodded in aggravation.
"Yes, Mamoru--two."
Grinning happily, Mamoru rushed off to make his purchases.
He was back in record timing.
*Probably afraid to leave me here, all helpless and alone.*
Haruka smiled at the thought, then rose to help Mamoru with the hotdogs.
"Thanks," she said, taking her *two* hotdogs and cup of
lemonade.
"No problem."
Mamoru replied, sitting Indian-style across the blanket from her.
A slight breeze played with his ebony hair, and he kept brushing it out
of his face, only to have strands blown back.
Haruka had to smile at the image.
"So," Haruka started, "What do you think we
should name it?"
"You know," Mamoru said, "I haven't given
much thought to the baby's name, but it's one of the most important
things."
Haruka nodded earnestly.
"It is." Then she grinned. "Hey,
don't we have a book of baby names?"
Mamoru nodded, reaching into one of the shopping bags.
"Here it is," he said after a minute of searching. "It's
called One Thousand Baby Names."
"Go to the part that lists popular baby names."
"Okaaay." Mamoru drawled.
Flipping through the book, he suddenly let out an, "Aha!"
glancing up to make sure that Haruka was listening, Mamoru started.
"Female: Michiko, Meiko, Miko, Himeko," he took a breath.
"Yumeko, Hanako, Hikaru, Chiharu, Rika, Sakura and Aiko."
Haruka thought for a moment.
"I like Himeko, Chiharu, Hikaru and Sakura."
Mamoru nodded. "Male:
Souichi, Kouichi, Daichi, Satoshi, and Hitoshi.
I think that I like Hitoshi and Daichi the best."
"Me too." Haruka
agreed.
By the time that they were back at Mamoru's apartment, they
had chosen a few favorite names: Himeko, Chiharu, Kamikaze or Sakura, if it was
a girl, and Daichi or Hitoshi if it was a boy.
Right now they were lying, underneath the covers of
Mamoru's bed. Both were almost
asleep, tired from the days "activities".
Mamoru rolled so that he was facing Haruka.
"Happy?"
Haruka nodded, her eyes still closed.
A faint smile touched her lips, and she wriggled closer to Mamoru,
sighing in contentment. Mamoru
kissed her forehead, staring at Haruka's stomach, which still showed no signs of
the pregnancy.
The thought drifted into his consciousness just before
sleep took him. *I wonder what the
next few months will bring?*