Arms Wide Open by Orchyd Constyne All comments are welcome, email me at orchyd_constyne@fanfictioncentral.net -- but please, keep the complaints to a minimum. This is my fic and I have worked hard on it. I like it, you don't have to. But, why tell me, in detail, how much you hate it? All it will garner is a nasty response. So, *think* before you email me! ^_^ Also, this is a companion piece to "This Woman's Work" I worte a few months ago. Though you do not *need* to read it, it explains why Haruka and Michiru have a 7 month old baby. Utausora - Sing to the Sky Uta - Song Sailor Moon is *not* mine -- although I can wish ^_^* ********** *Well I just heard the news today *It seems my life is gonna change *I closed my eyes, begin to pray *Then tears of joy stream down my face I looked at Rei, surprise written clearly on my face. Not surprise. Shock. Pure shock. Rei just continued to smile. "Mamo-chan?" I slowly turned my face to my wife, who was kneeling the same as I, before Rei's mystic flames. Tears ran down her soft features, a smile playing on her rosebud lips. Fear and surprise were showing in her eyes, but were softened by the joy that shined through. Love, she welcomed the news with boundless love. "Mamo-chan," Usagi spoke my name again, "in knowing our destiny from the moment we awoke, I believe this is a wonderful gift -- the gift of surprise, even with an event we thought we knew." I looked at her. Yes, it was refreshing. But, I needed to retrieve my heart from the floor before I could rejoice. I smiled at her then, her hands gently cupping her large, hard belly. I still look at her, to this day, in awe of being able to have experienced the miracle of pregnancy and of birth. But this... this was... A tear finds it's way down my cheek. "ChibiUsa... you never cease to amaze us." The three of us laughed and were at ease. So much to plan for now. And the announcement to the Senshi, a time of peace and joy. And surprise. *With arms wide open *Under the sunlight *Welcome to this place *I'll show you everything *With arms wide open "I felt something now," she had whispered to me. "That a star was being born inside of me. That soon, our daughter... a new sailor soldier will be born." Usagi had bowled me over 6 months ago with that statement. We had not really had any idea when ChibiUsa would decide to grace our lives, and when it was confirmed two weeks after our marriage, I was still struck with amazement. Many times I had wondered about the circumstances of her pregnancy, the birth, and her childhood. Now, in the dim light, with my slender wife smiling down at me, I felt pure happiness. "Usako, I love you and our family. I am so happy now, I hope nothing ever changes." She just cuddled up to me placed my hand on her flat stomach. "What about when I am 9 months pregnant, eating everything in sight, and as big as the castle?" I just chucked. "How is being 9 months pregnant and as big as a house an excuse for your already gluttonous eating habits?" She pinched me and we laughed. She laid her head on my shoulder and my heart calmed. "You are beautiful now, we are happy now, and we are lucky now. And, over the next year, you will become even more beautiful, we will become even happier, and we will exceed all bounds of luck." I knew she smiled then, her slightly vain uncertainties eased. A baby. Our ChibiUsa. I couldn't wait. I couldn't wait to meet the little pink-haired child I had missed all this time. I would finally be able to experience what I had before only been able to dream of. *Well I don't know if I'm ready *To be the man I have to be *I'll take a breath, take her by my side *We stand in awe, we've created life The less glamorous side of the pregnancy was how sick Usagi was. All the time. It must have been torture for her, so nauseous, she couldn't even eat chicken broth. She ranted and raved about ChibiUsa being a pain even before she was born. How she, even in her womb, could ruin a moment between us by causing a bought of nausea to overpower her. But, I watched her. I watched her slender figure blossom. How beautiful she was, the glow she emanated the further along she got in the pregnancy. Her hips curved out more in my palms, her breast slowly filled out, and her belly protruded, and I watched it all. Held just an arms length from this act only Usagi could do... only a woman could experience. Being on the outside... it was bittersweet. Usako took such pleasure in preparing the nursery, in buying the tiny clothes, she relished in the pregnancy. I was jealous the further along she got, when she first come to me, flushed and smiling. She snatched my hand and placed on the underside of her belly. "Feel that?" She looked at me expectantly. I waited, and waited. "No, Usako. I'm sorry." Her face fell slightly. "It's probably too early for you to feel outside, but... Mamo-chan... she kicked me! I felt her move!" She rested her hands on her belly and looked down in wonder. "I felt her move," she whispered and walked away. I felt a slight anger then. It wasn't fair she should be able to feel our daughter and I couldn't. And immediately I regretted thinking that. She was *lucky* and happy! I smiled then and followed her into the house. ChibiUsa's room needed another coat of bright pink paint. Three weeks later, I think Usagi was about 6 months pregnant, I had my head resting on her belly in that dream state between waking and sleep and I felt a little jab at my cheek. I sat up quickly and saw Usagi smiling at me. "Feel that one?" I must have looked like an idiot cause Usagi laughed and jabbed me in the side. "She wanted to let you know she knows you are waiting for her!" I just looked at the spot my head was and slowly put my hand on it. Another gentle jab. I looked up at Usako again and then laid me head back down on her belly and just watched her while ChibiUsa stretched and kicked. Usagi began to stroke my hair and then... I must have fallen asleep. *Now everything has changed *I'll show you love *I'll show you everything *With arms wide open When Usagi was nearing her eighth month, Rei felt something strange whenever she was around Usagi. Usagi began to worry, and I worried for her and ChibiUsa. Rei would meditate looking for evil and the source of these feelings but she was having such a hard time. And the more she tried the harder it became. I finally told her to just relax and to leave it be for a little while. And then, a week later, we find ourselves where I began. Kneeling in Rei's temple with me looking at my beautiful wife, so big with life. Life we both helped to create. A little piece of her and I, joining to make the life inside her. She gently rubbed her belly and then flushed suddenly. "Mamo-chan..." and the color drained from her face. Rei jumped up the same time I did and I grabbed Usako by her arms to help her up. "Mamo- chan, I think ChibiUsa wants to meet us...," she doubled over for a moment in pain, "Now." We rushed to the hospital, Rei promising to meet us with everyone else in a few minutes. I was not prepared. Nine months and I was not ready for the birth... to finally become the man I was to become. I looked over at Usagi as they wheeled her into the room and helped her into the bed to wait out the labor. She was sweating, flushed, and crying. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. And she was my wife, my partner, my other half. I smiled, took her hand, and stroked her forehead with my other hand. "She always has to crash in on our moments, doesn't she?" I asked. She giggled slightly and closed her eyes. She slept in between the contractions... at least until they became so close she had only enough time to breathe a few breaths and then grit her teeth for the next one. This went on for 13 hours. I have never lied, I used to think Usagi could be such a whiner. But, she rejected pain medication. She faced this birth head on, always wanting the best for our children. The doctor came in and checked on her. "She's ready now. We're going to go into the delivery room now. Would you like to accompany us, Mamoru-san?" I looked from the doctor to Usagi and back again. "Of course." And I followed them into through the hall, noticing the green of the walls, the sterile smell, the noise. I could hear Usagi breathing quickly, I could sense the wind touching the trees outside, and I could sense ChibiUsa's impatience to be born. The screech of the doors opening for us and the rolling of the wheels. I entered the room a married man awaiting the birth of his child. I knew I would walk out a married man, a father, and a future king. I took a breath and stepped over the delivery room threshold. *If I had just one wish *Only one demand *I hope he's not like me *I hope he understands *That he can take this life *And hold it by the hand *And he can greet the world *With arms wide open... "Bear down, Usagi-san. You must push the baby out. It cannot do it on it's own." I watched Usagi pull herself up again for yet *another* push. She took a ragged, tired breath and bore down, pushing as hard as she could. "Good! The head is coming! Keep pushing!" Usagi took a quick breath and pushed again, this time I could feel her arms shaking with the force, and I feared she would collapse. She suddenly relaxed and laid back. I turned and the doctor presented me with my child. "Congratulations, Mamoru-san. You have a son!" A son! Yes! Wait. Rei had been cryptic when she told us we would be blessed with both a son and daughter. I just didn't realize she meant at the *same* time! Or, was it that we would have a son first? The nurse took the squealing baby and weighed him, measured him, and did all the nurse things. I looked down at Usagi. She smiled, then got this far off look in her eyes. "What, Usako?" The doctor looked up and said, "Twins. There is another baby, Mamoru-san, and it seems it's going to be a little easier to deliver. Give one good push Usagi-san. One really good one and it will greet the world." Usagi sat up, wearily and with tears of fatigue and frustration spilling down her face and pushed. She took a deep breath, braced herself by grabbing my hand and the other nurse's hand and *pushed*. The doctor smiled and held up the second baby to us. "A girl!" "ChibiUsa!" I cried out. A son and a daughter. I held Usagi close to me as they cleaned her up. We waited while the doctor finished his job and they helped Usagi to sit up the bed. Then, in the silence of the delivery room, I was handed our son and she was handed our daughter. I looked from my exhausted wife to our two sweet babies and basked in the glow of my family. I had regained what had been taken from me at a young age. My son would never suffer the heartache of being without parents. Never would either children suffer as I had. I kissed Usagi gently on her trembling lips and then kissed my children. *Now everything has changed *I'll show you love *I'll show you everything *With arms wide open *With arms wide open *I'll show you everything *Ah yeah *With arms wide open The hospital room was full of gifts, flowers, and Senshi. Michiru was cooing over ChibiUsa while Haruka was bouncing their baby girl, who had been born not 7 months ago. Rei and Ami were marveling over Uta. "What did you name him?" Minako asked. Usagi smiled. "Utausora. We plan on calling him Uta." Minako leaned down and began to tickle him feet and talk to him in a hushed voice. They traded back and forth, Uta loving the attention and ChibiUsa screaming when she was ignore. Holding Usagi in my arms and looking at the Senshi, I felt so surrounded by love. I had found my home. I had found the family I was always searching for. And now I had the bonus of a son. I look at his bassinet and he looked at me over the lip. Our eyes met. And I knew he would be something great. ChibiUsa may inherit the throne of Crystal Tokyo, but Uta would be a great protector and warrior for his sister. *Wide open I welcome all the Senshi, my wife, and my children into my heart now. Now, armed with their love and their friendships, I know I can be something great as well. I embrace my future with my arms wide open.