*I'll be your dream
*I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy
*I'll be your hope I'll be your love
*Be everything that you need
*I'll love you more with every breath
*Truly, madly, deeply do
*I will be strong I will be faithful
*'Cause I'm counting on
*A new beginning
*A reason for living
*A deeper meaning, yeah

Michiru sat at her vanity brushing her hair, looking at her perfect
complexion.  On her hand, glinting in the dim lights of her room, was
a two-carat diamond resting on the third finger of her left hand.
Beside that rested a single band of gold, both glinting warmly in the
light.  She and her lover, Tenoh Haruka, had moved back into their
suite of rooms in the Crystal Tokyo palace.  Time had passed as time
does.  Michiru found herself reflecting on her years.

For fourteen years she had been a complacent daughter.

For four years she had been a soldier.

For 40 years she had been a wife and mother.

She was now celebrating her sixty-seventh birthday, though she did not
look a day older than twenty-five.  Her body and mind were fit and
young.  The magic of Crystal Tokyo kept them all young, extending
their lifetimes.  So much time for them to fill.  Their children were
now in their forties and thirties, one of their grandchildren was
already a parent.  Michiru glanced to the photos on the dresser top.

There was Kaze and her husband, Mamoru, with their three children.
Their oldest, Hikaru, already had a two year old.  Next to the photo
of Hikaru with her family was one of her and Haruka's two younger
children.  Michiru smiled thinking of the two precious people in her
life.  Kiseki had been born five years after she and Haruka had
remarried.  Michiru had finally been honest with Haruka about her lack
of ability to bear more children.

Haruka had quickly taken Michiru to Ami and demanded a thorough
examination.  It was then that Michiru was given the news that the
doctor had informed her wrong, her uterus was intact.  There was some
scarring, but they could repair that.  Ami oversaw the impregnation of
Michiru with the second child she and Haruka had wanted.  This time,
the pregnancy and birth went smoothly and they were blessed with a
little boy.

Three years later, Michiru and Haruka got pregnant a third time. 
Kumo was born happy and healthy, a second girl for the family.  Hotaru 
now had two sisters and a brother, not to mention her own grandchild.  
The Senshi had a vast family now, all related in some way.  Even Ami 
had taken the step and had a son.

*And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky,
*I'll make a wish send it to heaven
*Then make you want to cry
*The tears of joy for all the
*pleasure in the certainty
*That we're surrounded by the
*Comfort and protection of
*The highest powers
*In lonely hours
*The tears devour you

Tonight was a grand ball, all the Senshi and family were to attend.
More like a family reunion than a ball.  Michiru was eager to see
Setsuna and Rei again.  It had been so long.  Michiru stood up from
the vanity and slipped on her dress, a long, green slip of silk that
just kissed her skin.  She powdered her exposed skin with a
iridescent powder and swept her hair up into a clip.  As she slipped
her feet into her heels, Haruka came out of the bathroom.

Haruka also remained young.  Her hair just clipped, carelessly brushed
back, looked almost windswept.  She was tall, the black tux
complimenting her masculine figure.  Haruka always smelled like the
wind before a storm, though she never wore cologne.  Haruka took in
the sight of her wife and smiled.  They had come down a long and
winding road to get to this point.  Michiru offered her hand to
Haruka, smiling that glowing smile she had.  Haruka took the offered
hand and led Michiru out into the main room of the suite.

There, sitting proper and quietly, was their son, Kiseki, now a
handsome man of thirteen and their youngest daughter Kumo, who just
turned ten.  Kiseki was blonde like Haruka and Kaze.  In fact, he
was the spitting image of Haruka.  Kumo, though, looked like Michiru. 
Kumo was tall like Haruka, but had the gentleness of Michiru.  Her 
hair was long, thick and a pale green.  Her green eyes flashed like 
her father's, but her temperament was all Michiru.

Smiling at her family, Michiru waved for them to come along.  Slowly
walking through the warm halls of the palace, Michiru felt at peace,
felt at home.  In the distance they heard the music in the ballroom. 
Everyone had probably already arrived, Michiru liked to be slightly
late.  Kumo and Kiseki went ahead to join their friends, no fun being
with their parents.  Holding hands, they entered the huge hall, decked
out in all its splendor.

They were welcomed with hugs and loud cheers.  Every person in the
room was somehow related to Michiru now.  From the roots of only a
mother and father to having a room full of family filled Michiru with
such heat.  Haruka took Michiru to the head table where they joined
the other Senshi.  Time had not touched them, either.  Usagi and
Endymion sat at the head, smiling and whispering to each other.  Ami
and Hotaru were discussing Hotaru's newest grandbaby, Hane, who was
two years old.  Michiru chuckled to herself as her great-
granddaughter slept on Hotaru's shoulder.

*Oh can you see it baby?
*You don't have to close your eyes
*'Cause it's standing right here before you
*All that you need with surely come

Kaze and Mamoru sat a table nearby with their youngest, Nikkou, who
fidgeted, wanting to join her Aunt Kumo and Uncle Kiseki who were
near her age.  Kaze and Mamoru had had three daughters.  Hikaru, the
oldest, had married Hotaru's son, Ame.  Tsuyu, their second oldest, 
had just wed Kobe, Makoto's son.  Everyone had been caught by 
surprise, since there was a 19 year difference.  Kobe was just under 
fourty-two when they wed.  Still no children there.

Minako's daughter, Ai, had wed Makoto's daughter, Junsui.  Together
they had a family of four, with a boy and girl.  Tetsu was their
oldest and he had taken a fancy to Nikkou.  Nikkou took the crush in
stride, since she was seventeen and Tetsu was only twelve.  Shinchou
was their eight-year-old daughter who was best friends with Kansei,
Ami's eight-year-old son.  Michiru saw a lot of Kaze and Mamoru's
young relationship in Kansei and Shinchou.

Rei had decided to remain chaste, never marrying and not having any
child of her own.  Instead, she took in the children of the street,
raising the castoffs and loving them as her own.  Finally, there was
the Time Guardian.  The Eternal One.  Setsuna never had a child, never
took any in.  She just enjoyed the children of her fellow soldiers. 
Sweeping over the room, Michiru laughed again.  She knew that one day
she would probably be related by marriage to everyone in the room. 
And the idea filled her with happiness.

They were served dinner, an eight course meal that was enjoyed over
three hours.  After dessert, Haruka asked Michiru to dance.  They
twirled around the floor, basking in each other's attentions.  As the
clock crept toward eleven, Michiru collapsed in the chair giggling
with the intoxication of the night.  Haruka sipped water and watched
her glowing wife, contentment radiating from them.  As soon as they
had caught their breath, the queen approached Haruka.  She asked
Haruka if she would mind sharing a dance with her.  Haruka looked to
Michiru, worry creasing her brow.  Michiru smiled and nodded.

*I want to stand with you on a mountain
*I want to bathe with you in the sea
*I want to live like this forever
*Until the sky falls down on me

Haruka and Usagi entered the dance floor slowly and danced
lingeringly to a soft song while Michiru sat and watched them quietly. 
She sipped her wine, crossed her legs and hummed with the music.  Out
of the dim corner a movement caught Michiru's eye.  She turned and
came face to face Endymion.  He asked if Michiru minded if he joined
her.  She said no.  They sat in silence, watching their spouses dance. 
Finally, Endymion spoke.

"Are you alright, Michiru-san?"

She looked to him and smiled.  "Yes, Endymion-sama.  I am more than
alright."

He nodded, then asked, "Is there anything you want?"

She surveyed the room of dancing couples, laughing children, and her
lover.  In all honesty she answered, "No, Endymion-sama, I have
everything I want."

--- The End ---