SPIN THE BOTTLE 2 By Princess Destiny [ princessdestiny@hotmail.com ] Chapter Two "Oh my god!" Ikuko gasped out, panting as if she were giving birth right there and then. Her blue eyes were dilated with shock and her entire weight was resting back against Makoto-who was supporting her from behind. "HOW can I be PREGNANT, Kenji?" she bellowed at him, almost accusingly. Kenji blinked and held out his hands in front of his body placatingly, as if to say he had nothing to do with his wife's present condition. "Now honey, don't jump to conclusions!" he told her hastily, beginning to sweat. He glanced at her swelling stomach and swallowed hard. "CONCLUSIONS?!" she shrieked at him. "I was just STANDING here cooking and-poof, my stomach balloons out!" "It was amazing" Makoto breathed, caught between shock and awe. Ami quickly pulled out her Mercury computer and aimed it at Ikuko's stomach. She scanned quietly for a long moment, eyes skimming down over the data displayed there. Then, her eyes suddenly widened at the results. "Don't panic everyone-but according to my scans the baby growing inside of Ikuko is already five months old-and it grew in a matter of moments!" "Don't panic?!" Ikuko shouted, flopping weakly back into Makoto's arms like a beached whale. Her eyes took on a wild look. "You can't tell me that this will be a natural birth, Ami!" "Well no" Ami faltered as if not knowing how to go on exactly. "The-the baby is a girl...and she's not human" the blue-haired girl concluded, paling. "WHAT?!" everyone screamed at her. "It's lunarian" Ami added weakly. "LUNARIAN?" Luna gasped in shock, "Are you SURE?" she demanded. Ami frowned down at her mini computer as if perplexed. "It's the same blood type as Usagi's-in fact, it's near identical!" Everyone was pole-axed. "What does it mean though?" Grandpa asked with interest, eyeing Ikuko's stomach with awe. In a very few hours, he had seen enough miracles and displays of powers to last him a lifetime. Re frowned, trying to figure it out. She cast a sidelong look at Usagi and saw that the silver-haired girl looked as confused and shocked as the rest of them. "I wish that Artemis would hurry up and get here" Luna said, almost reluctantly. Usagi blinked, coming abruptly out of her shocked state. ["He'll be here soon enough, Luna"] she told the cat softly. She hurried forwards to where her mom lay, flanked by Mamoru and Rei, and knelt down beside the woman. Usagi smiled gently at Ikuko. "Are you feeling all right, Ikuko? Do you need a glass of water?" Serenity asked, emerging solicitously. Ikuko blinked in a daze, then smiled weakly at her 'daughter'. "No thank you...Serenity. I'm fine. Just shocked" her face suddenly crumpled into shock and despair. "I'd LIKE to know what the hell is going on around here!", she wailed hysterically, bursting into tears. Serenity immediately leant forward, eyes concerned and lay a warm had comfortingly upon Ikuko's brow. Suddenly, the moon Broach burst into brilliant golden light, spilling down Serenity's arm and down to her fingers, where they touched Ikuko's forehead. Serenity quickly pulled her hand away, knowing that the power of the Silver Crystal would hurt anyone not of the Royal Moon family. She gasped in surprise as she saw a small golden crescent moon glowing on Ikuko's forehead, where there had been none before. "What?" Serenity whispered in disbelief, falling backwards away from Ikuko limply. A pair of strong arms caught her up easily and she was surrounded by a familiar comforting warmth of her love. "Are you all right, Serenity?" Mamoru asked her softly, looking at her and then Ikuko with intent eyes. "Is mom from the Moon Kingdom too?" Shingo asked, bottom lip trembling. "Does this mean that she's going to die and bond with Usagi?" "No" Luna said rather sharply, expression wary" The Senshi are the only one's who will die around here. They alone were reincarnated" she hesitated. "They alone are immortal" "Immortal?" Rei gasped weakly. "The power of the Silver Crystal makes us immortal, Mars" Serenity said knowledgably. "Rather, Luna ought to have said that we have longer life-spans. If we are not killed, we will live Millennia and more-as my Mother did" "It's a double-edged sword really" Luna said sadly, eyes upon her Princess' pale face. "That which gives immortality can also drain it's user unto death" "Death?" Mamoru said sharply, blue eyes narrowing on his love. "Did you know this, Serenity?" Serenity nodded, eyes indifferent. However, her hands were clenched in her lap, belaying her expression. She was obviously trying to hide a lot from them all-even Endymion. "Just how much DO you remember, Serenity?" he asked her rather sharply, hands sliding from around her waist up to her shoulders from behind, to grip almost harshly. ["What aren't you telling me?"] ["Leave her alone, Mamoru"] Rei said to him harshly. ["Isn't there enough going on at the moment without you upsetting her?"] the purple- haired girl sighed, then reached up to run a hand across her eyes weirily. "You know that Serenity can't use the Crystal yet until she learns to control it's powers-so there's no use worrying about what's the future" she glanced pointedly at Ikuko. "Deal with the now" "She's right" Serenity said slowly, tilting her head back to gaze limpedly into Mamoru's eyes. "Ikuko is what is important at the moment- not my matery of my Mother's Crystal" "Very well" Mamoru said rather distantly, arms falling from about Serenity's shoulders. He got to his feet gracefully and steped back a pace, face cold. ["Don't be like that, Mamo-Chan!"] Usagi pleaded, emerging abruptly. Her eyes almost filled with tears at the distant look in his beloved face. Endymion turned his face away deliberatly. It hurt him that Serenity was taking such risks and bearing the burdon all upon her slender shoulds. By herself. ["We will talk later"] he told her icily. "Yes, Endymion" Usagi murmured quietly, turning back to face her mom. She smiled tremelously. "So-lets try and figure this out, mom" "What's to figure out exactly?" Ikuko demanded irrationally, already displaying side-effects of being pregnant. Her flittered over everyone, her nose twitching. "Shingo!" she ordered, flapping a hand in his direction. "Get me that plate of pancakes I made!" Shingo's mouth fell open slightly at her tone, but then he scrambled to obey her. He ran to the counter and grabbed the plate piled high with pancakes, then hastened to his mom. He offered her the plate-which she snatched up eagerly. Everyone watched with shock as Ikuko procedded to stuff her face full of pancakes, hardly finishing mouthfuls before shoving another pancake inside. "Is this normal?" Makoto asked, green eyes wide. Her long pink-brown hair slid forwards over her shoulder and onto Ikuko's back as she peered down at the woman doubtfully. Kenji nodded, smiling fondly in rememberance. "Oh yes. Ikuko was like this through both usagi and Shingo's pregnacy. No food was safe-" he looked at his daughter, blinking. "That might explain your abnormal love of food" he uttered. Usagi's face flushed. "Daaaaad!" she wailed at him, covering her face with her hands. "I am NOT a pig!" she turned her eyes back to her mom, who had almost finished of 20 or so pancakes. "Mom just did way better than I could have" she pointed out. "It's close. Real close" Makoto muttered, looking down at the empty plate, as Ikuko placed it on the floor. Ikuko groaned, then smiled contentedly. "Okay, I feel better now" she looked at Ami. "Can you please figure out what is goign on here, Ami?" she sighed. "Frankly, I'm surprised that I panicked so much-given what I've discovered about you all over the last few days" "No one ever expects it to happen to themselves" Grandpa pointed out. Yuuchiro peered down at Ikuko's stomach. "Dude!" he exclaimed. "Is her stomach even BIGGER now-or is just me?" Immedieately, everyone's eyes went to Ikuko's stomach...and sure enough, it was looking bigger! "OH NOOOOOOOO!" Ikuko wailed loudly. She shook her head in denial. "Don't tell me I'm going to give birth today!" "Six months now" Ami said after a moment of loking at her mini- computer. "At this rate, you'll be giving birth within the hour" "WHAAAAAT?!" Ikuko screamed, eyes wild. "An HOUR! NO NO NO!" she thrashed about, trying unsucessfully to get to her feet. "I will NOT give birth to my baby on the kitchen floor!" she announced, out of no where. Everyone stared at her. "Take me to my bedroom!" Ikuko bellowed up at them, glaring. "I'll get her" Kenji said, starting towards his wife, but Mamoru abruptly moved forward. "No, I'll take her. I'm stronger" he said, not boasting at all. He WAS in fact, a lot stronger as both Tuxedo Kamen and Endymion. He was no longer mortal. "You-" Kenji began automatically, face suffusing with fury. Then he caught himself up, giving Mamoru a strange look. "Fine, you help your mother...I mean Ikuko upstairs, Mamoru" the man corrected himself hastily, flushing. ["Why did I just call my wife Mamoru's Mother?"] he wondered, completely bewildered. Sure, he's accepted that Mamoru would one day marry is little girl-but had he really-in a mere day-fully accepted Mamoru as his son in law? Usagi smiled at her dad, having caught the slip-up. "Thank you, dad" she whispred to him. He smiled back in embarassment. "You're welcome honey" He turned all business-like as Mamoru leaned down and scooped the pregnant woman into his arms easily. "Er-this way" he led the way out of the room. Rei and Usagi followed close behind Mamoru's form as they acended the stairs and went along the hall to the room that Ikuko and Kenji had chosen. Just a few doors down from Usagi, Rei and Mamoru. "In here" Kenji pointed to the bed and watched as Mamoru carryed his wife there and tenderly deposited her upon the covers. He smiled rather proudly at the young man as Mmaoru brushed the blue bangs back from Ikuko's forehead soothingly. "Do you need anything?" Mamoru asked her gently, noting the beginning of black smudges under Ikuko's eyes. He half-turned to look at Ami. "Ami, I think it's about time we let your mother know about us. Besides, she's going to worry when she comes home tonight and doesn't find you there" "IS that a good idea-involving another perosn?" Grandpa asked anxiously, eyes falling upon his grand-daughters strained face. "My mom is a doctor, Grandpa" Ami explained lightly, eyes on Ikuko. She shrugged, hands tightening about the Mercury computer clutched between her hands. "I have to tell her some time....I guess" "I'll come with you" Makoto offered from the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. "No" Mamoru said firmly. "Get her to come here instead. We still don't know for sure how long Zoisite was following Motoki and Reika. It's possible that the Dark Kingdom knows where we all live" Ami's eyes widdened. "Oh my god, Mamoru! Then she's in danger!" the blue-haired girl turned and ran out of the room, followed closely by Makoto, Yuuchiro and a curious Shingo. Ikuko placed a hand over her bulging stomach, smiling weakly at everyone. "I guess all we can do is wait-until Ami's mother gets here" Usagi nodded, eyes shadowed. ["I hope that she can do something for mom"] she whispered mentally ot Rei and Mamoru. Hadn't she heard that some mothers died giving birth? "It won't happen" Mamoru said grimly, leaving Ikuko's bedside. He crossed to his love in a few strides and enveloped her into a hug, arms strong about her. Rei moved to the side awkwardly, blushing. She still had to get used to her best friend and the guy that Rei had wanted to be with, being so close now. And it made it worse that she was privy to their private thoughts. She frowned lightly upon the two of them, as they held each other close. Usagi and Mamoru had been powerfully attracted to each other since the other night-but as they changed into Endymion and Serenity, it had disappeared somewhat. The bewildering thing was-that Endymion and Serenity had been QUITE passionate with each other...even in front of witness'-until Usagi and Mamoru began to regain their memories. Usagi looked at Rei from Mamoru's chest, having heard the girl's thoughts. The thought oo, had bothered HER. She wanted to kiss Mamoru so BADLY at times, it was like a physical blow not to just...touch him. It was as if she NEEDED to touch him...to do-something. Strange images filled her head suddenly, of Endymion in his armor and she in her white dress laying on her bed in her chambers in the Moon Palace. Endymion leaned over to kiss her and a warm flush spread through her body, coiling low in her stomach... Usagi and Mamoru both gasped outloud similtanously, having had the same vision. The blood was burning through their veins all of a sudden ,sending waves of pleasure spiraling all through their bodies. Usagi reeled against Mamoru, feeling limp under the anslaught. "M- Mmaoru" she gasped at him, reaching out to cling to his broad shoulders. Her vision swum as feelings raged through her unchecked. "Usagi?" Ikuko called from the bed, eyes dark with worry. "What's going on?" Kenji added sharply, hands tightening into fists. Mamoru's arms tightened almost painfully about Usagi's slender body. ["I feel so-hungry"] he said to her, voice filled with dark longing. ["What is going on?"] Rei demanded on a gasp, staring from Usagi to Mamoru. She was being pelted by overwhelming waves of desire from both of them, making her head spin. She staggered over to Ikuko's bed and reached out for a pole to the canopy, clinging for dear life. She turned back to stare at Usagi, who's legs were barely holding her. "Need....to..." she moaned, face flushign uncomfortably. Her eyes glazed over as she tilted her ead back to stare up at Mamoru, hardly knowing what she was doing. "Kiss..." Maoru finished for her, moaning. His lips swooped down, obeying his mind and capturing Usagi's. Sensation exploded inside of them both, blood boiling. A raging tide of desire was fighting it's way therough them both. Their kisses became harder and then more frantic, passion zinging from one to another. They'd denied themselves this for far too long, being caught up in the events of the last few days. Both had even forgotten all about Ikuko, Granda, Rei and Kenji-who were gaping, eyes shocked. ["Endy...mion"] Serenity moaned into his mouth, mind merging with his own. Her arms sliped up his shoulders slowly, savoring the feeling of the muscles under his tuxedo jacket. Endymion released her waist, quickly shrugging off his jacket-and all without removing his mouth from hers. He devoured her sweet lips hunmgrily, wrapping his arms tightly back aroun her back and waist. He hauled her closer, molding their bodies together. ["Guys?"] Rei said mentally, flushing to the roots of her hair. She quickly flung a glance at the others, noting their pole-axed expressions. And from usagi and Mamoru, there was no answer. Their presence was gone....which meant that it was now Serenity and Endymion...making out. She flushed brighter. "Princess!" she shouted, hanging off of the pole still, eyes rather wild. Serenity and Endymion began to undress each other, quickly peeling off clothes as fast as their hands could move-lips still locked. "USAGI!" Kenji bellowed, utterly horrified. He switched his gaze to his wife...and was astonished to see a strange expression on her face. Like-tenderness. ["What-?"] he thought, bewlidered. Ikuko usually would have been screaming at her daughter...but looked instead...rapturous and triumphant. "GUYS!" Ami wailed, coming back into the room with Makoto. She took in the scene quickly, ntoing that usagi was down to only her pj top, long legs and undies showing xclearly to all. maoru was down to his pants- and both were ignoring EVERYTHING but themselves. "Usagi!" Makoto faltered, lost for words. ["Need more"] Serenity moaned helplessly to Endymion, burrying her tongue into his mouth. They kissed long and deeply, not even needing to breath. ["I'm here, Serenity"] he moaned back, hand slipping under her top and caressing the silky skin of her back. His ever senses were filled with her. He could smell her, feeling her-even his mind was merged with hers. And he knew what she wanted him just as badly as he wanted hers...and, he was going to HAVE HER! ["I've waited so long!"] he said triumphantly, blood on fire. ["So long...."] she repeated, in agony. She wanted him so much. So much!" Ikuko abruptly screamed, arching with agony. Her hands clutched at her distended stomach, eyes closing with pain. The bed under her was wet with liquid from the broken water. "It's coming!" she shrieked at Kenji. Serenity and Endymion froze, waking suddenly to where they were and what they were doing. They jerked away from each other, staring into each others eyes. Tehir ardour cooled immedieatley as Ikuko's pain comunicated itself to them. "Oh my god" Usagi whispered, hand flying to her mouth. She covered her lips, eyes wide and shattered. ["What were we doing, Mamoru? I-I couldn't control myself!"] she cried out to him, spinnign away. She couldn't bear to even look at him. A draft swept up her legs, revealing her near-nakedness, but Usagi was more intent on getting to her mom's side. She raced over, folowed by a totally shocked Mamoru and a bewildered Rei. "Mom, is the baby coming?" she asked urgently, eyes going to her mom's stomach. Somehow, in the time that she and Maoru were kissing-Ikuko had gtown full term with the baby. Ikuko nodded frantically, head thrashing from side to side. "Help me! Oh god it hurts!" she screamed at them, tears running from the corners of her eyes. "Kenji!" she reache out her hand blindly to him. He grasped it quickly, trying to breath along with her. "Deep breaths, Honey" he encouraged, looking very pale. "You remember how it's done!" "I REMEMBER!" she screeched, arching again. Her breath came in short gasps, the sheets under her stainign with blood rapidly. Usagi stood uncetainly, eeys wide with horror and helplessness. She'd never witnessed a birth before-and it looked so painful! She tuend to look at Ami pleadingly. "Please hep her!" Ami's hands fluttered nervously at her sides. "I-I don't know what to do! Mom is the doctor!" "Heeeelp meeeeeeee!" Ikuko screamed shatteringly, hurting all their ears. She began to glow faintly and then steadily golden as the power spread from her head to her toe. Ikuko went limp, the pain fading. She felt light and-wonderful. "Mom?" Shingo said anxiously from behind. She didn't answer, eyes closing peacefully. "MOM!" he shouted, fearing that she was dead. "Mom!" Usagi whispered fearfully. Her mom was so still, all though she had the strangest half-smile playing about her lips. Mamoru and Rei hovered nearby, then Mamoru stepped forward to take command again. He lightly picked up Ikuko's right arm and felt for a pulse. The golden light still played about her body. "She's alive" he reassured Usagi and Shingo gently. Usagi relaxed slightly-silver eyes flittering over the still form of Ikuko. ["Then why is she so still, Mamoru? Aren't births supposed to be incredibly painful?"] she asked anxiously. ["Yes"] was the short answer. Mamoru was very worried. As a practicing student of medicine, he KNEW very well that Ikuko should have been screaming her lungs out! He turned his head, eyes alighting on Makoto. "Can you go get me a cloth, Makoto?" he asked her softly. She nodded hesitantly, backing from the room, her face pale and green eyes glittering. "Sure-wait a sec!" she ran out of the door. Usagi thought of something and turned to Ami. "Can you scan her, Ami? With the Mercury computer?" she said carefully, trying to be calm. Her mom would be all right-she would! ["Of course she will, love"] Mamoru said soothingly. Makoto ran back into the room with a wet cloth and he took it from her, then leant over Ikuko and wiped her heavily sweating forehead. "You're going to be fine" he whispered to her. Ami gestured, the Mercury computer falling smoothly into her palm from her subspace pocket. She opened the cover and scanned Ikuko quickly. A sigh of relief escaped her. "She's okay. Just in some sort of trance. I THINK it's helping her to give birth" the girl said doubtfully. "Helping? Are you sure?" Shingo said, biting his lip. "She'll be fine, son" Grandpa said, staying back politely. "Yeah" Yuuchiro added, taking his cue from Grandpa. However, his eyes were on Rei. Rei sighed, running a hand through her long hair. ["I wonder what's taking Motoki and Reika so long?"] she wondered idly. Mamoru's leant back from Ikuko, eyes dark with worry. ["And Ami's mom and Minako"] "Right! Sailor Venus and Artemis are coming!" Rei exclaimed, having forgotten them momentarily. Kenji blinked at his wife, wiping the sweat from his own forehead with a shaky hand. "Do you think she knows anything about giving birth?" he asked them. Ami shut the computer lid and stared solemnly at Ikuko. "My mom will" "This is it!" Minako said, looking down at a white piece of paper to double-check. "Are you sure?" Artemis said suspiciously. Minako WAS known to stuff up here and there. She wasn't the smartest Senshi, but she had a very big heart and was amazing to watch in battle as Sailor V. "Don't worry so much, silly!" she waved a hand down at him negligently, grinning. "We're here and this is the right place-and we better hurry 'cause we need to meet the others pronto" "No kidding" Artemis muttered, annoyed. He WASN'T looking forward to meeting Luna again. As he remembered, she had quite the temper. Especially now that she knew he was Central and had been reporting to HIM all those months. He winced. "Hmm-" Minako looked at the tall iron gates and then at the panel to the side with all the numbers on it. "Something tells me we're going to have to break in" "Really?" Artemis sighed. he leapt up onto Minako's shoulder and peered at the panel also. "Why not just press the intercom-and THEY'll let us in" he suggested dryly. Minako flushed to the roots of her hair, thinking herself an idiot. And in front of her guardian too, not less! She rolled her blue eyes, flung back her golden hair and pressed a manicured nail for the red intercom button. "Hello, hello! This is Minako! Er-Sailor Venus? Let me in you guys!" she sang out into the speaker. "Minako! You DITZ!" Artemis yowled into her ear. "Make sure you have the right house first!" Minako turned her head and gave him a haughty look. "Look here buster, I've GOT the right address, okay? Okay?" her eyes narrowed at him. "And quite calling me a ditz or I'll dye your fur bright pink, Artemis!" "Okay, okay! Don't get your panties in a bunch!" he muttered, looking away. He stared back at the intercom. "Minako-not to rub it in or anything...BUT TAKE YOUR FINGER OFF THE INTERCOM SO THAT THEY CAN ANSWER!" he roared at her, loosing all patience. Minako flushed, jerked her finger off the button, then glared murderously down at her cat. "What-you think this is a walkie-talkie?! They didn't answer!" "Because your finger was there, you ditzy blonde!" he yelled back at her, white fur bristling. "Pink" she said sweetly, reminding him. Her blue eyes narrowed on him further, a wicked smile curving her lips. "Fluorescent pink" An amused laugh came from behind them and Minako whirled around, almost throwing Artemis off of her shoulder. A woman stood there with black hair, blue eyes and a doctors white coat. Minako blinked at her. "A doctor?" she questioned, forgetting that the woman had just heard her and her cat talking! "Hello, you must be a Senshi?" the woman said warmly, holding out her hand. Artemis almost fell off of Minako's shoulder, eyes bugging out. "Meow?" he tried, looking innocent. "Senshi? What's a Senshi?" Minako tried to act dumb also, eyes going wide and vacant. The woman laughed again, highly amused at their antics. "I'm Ami's Mother, Marie. And don't worry, your secret is safe with me" she told them both calmly. Minako slumped in relief. "Whew! Thought I'd blown it there! Ami's Mercury-right?" "That's right" Marie said, looking past Minako. "And you are-?" "Minako. Sailor Venus" Minako said promptly. She pointed to her shoulder, where Artemis was looking pole axed. She didn't blame him! If Marie had been a normal person, their secret would be all over Juuban by now! "And this is Artemis" "And you don't know the combination?" Marie guessed. She passed Minako and pressed a finger to the intercom. "Hello? Ami? Are you there, honey?" she pulled her hand away and waited. Yet again there was no answer. "Hmm-" she said in concern. "This doesn't sound good" Artemis muttered, recovering from his shock. "Right!" Minako answered, brightening. "So-this means we HAVE to break in...right?" she said mischievously. Artemis rolled his eyes. "Yes, Minako. Break in" "Ha! Tricked you!" the blonde giggled, moving towards Marie. She grabbed her about the waist easily and pulled her close, sizing up the gate with her eyes. "What are you doing?" Marie exclaimed, utterly bewildered. Artemis dug in his claws to Minako's yellow sweater, grinning. "Hold onto your hat, Marie! Sailor V is in business!" "What?" Marie said, still in the dark. Minako took out a small pen, then smiled mischievously at the woman. "We're going to JUMP over the fence, then break into the house!" s he announced calmly. Before Marie could blink, light surrounded her and the golden-haired girl. "Hello?" Motoki called out, walking along the long corridor. He hadn't found a soul downstairs, though there was evidence that someone had been in the kitchen cooking. He and Reika had been walking around the bottom floor of the house for about 20 minutes with no luck and now they were trying upstairs. Reika frowned. "Where do you think they are?" she asked her boyfriend, bewildered. She bit her lip. "I hope nothing bad happened to them!" The fight with Zoisite was still clear in both of their minds. "HELLO!" Motoki shouted, increasingly worried. He looked at Reika grimly "Maybe we should have left informing the police till later" "It had to be done, Motoki. The neighbors had already discovered the state of the Tsukino's house" Reika said soothingly. She smiled. "At least now the police have a description of Zoisite and that other guy and can keep an eye out for them!" "Right" Motoki answered. He raised his voice again. "HELLO!" "In here!" Rei hollered back from just a few doorways ahead. Motoki and Reika hurried down and walked through the doorway-then stopped dead. Their eyes bugged out incredulously at the scene before them. Ikuko was on the bed-obviously VERY pregnant-and glowing a golden color, while everyone else hovered about her worriedly. "WHAAAAAAT?" Motoki yelled, eyes impossibly wide. He gasped, looking from face to face. "What-how-WHEN....HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?" he finally thundered, feeling faint. "We weren't gone for THAT long, people!" "About a half-hour ago" Mamoru said calmly, reaching out with a cloth to wipe the sweat gently from Ikuko's forehead. He checked her temperature with the back of his hand and sighed. There'd been no movement from Ikuko for about 10 minutes now. Reika blinked, dazed. "How?" she managed in a squeaky tone. "We've been asking ourselves that question too" Makoto said dryly, green eyes fascinated. "Is she okay?" Motoki whispered, noting that Ikuko's eyes were closed peacefully., She continued to glow like a small sun. "She's in some sort of trance-" Ami began, when I voice cut in. "What's her temperature, Ami?" a familiar voice asked calmly. Ami gaped and spun with a welcome smile. In the doorway stood her mom, a strange golden-haired girl and a white cat on her shoulder. "MOM!" she cried out gladly. Minako blinked around, smiling. "Umm-did we come at a bad time?" she said, surprised. No one had mentioned anyone being pregnant on the phone. But here was someone clearly ready to give birth! "Who is that?" Artemis said sharply, staring at the golden glow surrounding the woman. "It's my wife-Ikuko" Kenji said, wringing his hands. "I assume that you're Minako and Artemis?" he asked them, eyes blood-shot. He looked at Marie. "And you're Ami's Mother" "Marie" she offered, eyes going to the very pregnant Ikuko. She took in details calmly as the other's talked. "About time you showed up!" Luna told Artemis resentfully. She sniffed and turned her back on him. "Same old, Luna" he muttered sourly. "How did you get in?" Usagi asked curiously. Her silver eyes were shadowed, but she managed a smile of greeting to their newest friend. "There's a security panel" Minako grinned, holding up her fingers in a triumphant V sign. "There's NO security system that Sailor V can't get through!" Artemis groaned. "I knew I shouldn't have taught you that" "YOU'RE sailor V?" Usagi said, blinking at Minako. She grinned briefly. "Wow! You're my idol!" "Well-thank you!" Minako giggled back, blushing. "Ami, why didn't you tell me that Ikuko was pregnant? I assumed it was one of your friends hurt" her mom demanded, interrupting the two girls. She went swiftly to Ikuko's side, pausing only slightly, as she saw the glowing golden color suffusing the woman's body. "She's almost ready to give birth!" Ami blushed, bewildered by her mom's absence of curiosity. Here Ikuko was, glowing like a small sun. Mamoru, Rei and Usagi with glowing symbols on their foreheads....and all her mom could ask is what Ikuko's temperature was? She suddenly felt a surge of pride. Her mom was a true doctor all right! "I'm-sorry, mom" she said awkwardly. "She wasn't like that five minutes ago" Rei muttered, frankly not knowing what to do. ["Thank god Ami's mom is here!"] "OR four hours ago!" Motoki put in, eyes darting around the room nervously. "Er-HOW did you say this happened, everyone? Mamoru?" he said to his best friend, pleading for an answer. Mamoru moved away from Ikuko and Ami's Mom, the wet cloth clenched hard in his hand. "We're not sure. It just happened" he murmured quietly to Motoki and Reika, who had moved closer to the birthing bed in deference to Mamoru, Rei's and Usagi's bond. His deep blue eyes narrowed as he cast a look back at Ikuko. "Take a good look at her forehead though, Motoki. That's a crescent moon like Serenity's" Motoki craned his head past his best friend, eyes gluing to Ikuko's heavily sweating forehead. Sure enough, there was a small golden crescent moon. His eyes widened. "I didn't even NOTICE that past her stomach!" he muttered, flushing. "Is Ikuko from the Moon Kingdom too?" Reika whispered, utterly amazed at the developments. She and Motoki had only been gone for a few hours! Ami's mom looked up briefly after pressing lightly on Ikuko's swollen stomach. "She's in some sort of trance. If she doesn't snap out of it, the baby might die" she said solemnly to them all. "Ikuko HAS to push or I'll have to do a C-section" Everyone rushed back to the bed, surrounding it and the pregnant woman. Ikuko lay there calmly, eyes closed and a half smile playing about her mouth. Other than that, the golden glow still surrounded her body in a comforting warmth. Suddenly, her eyes opened and she stared around peacefully. "I'm not in a trance. I'm just-incredibly relaxed. No pain at all" "NONE?" Several voices asked simultaneously. Everyone exchanged a look, then stared at Ami's mom expectantly. Marie looked shocked, then laughed half-nervously. "Er-I have no idea everyone. Really" she gazed back at Ikuko, who was regarding her with a calm expression. "You know, if I already didn't know something of this, I'd be freaking out about now" she confided to them all. Ami's eyes widened, her mouth falling open. "What do you know, mom?" she asked tentatively. Marie looked at her daughter with an amused expression, then at Usagi, Mamoru, Rei and Makoto. "Well for one darling, your friends have glowing symbols of the plants on their foreheads-" she smiled at Rei and then Makoto. "And as far as I can remember, Rei never had dark purple hair and Makoto's was certainly never pink" her eyes flittered over Usagi. "And Usagi was always a blonde" Everyone stared at her, not knowing what to say. They really should have expected it, however, with such changed looks. "Right" Makoto said with embarrassment, reaching up to lightly touch her pinky hair with a rueful expression. "We sort of forgot about that" Marie smiled wider, leaning down over her patient to check Ikuko's slightly murky eyes. "And of course-" she added casually. "Knowing that my daughter was sailor Mercury was a big clue" "WHAT?!" everyone screamed at her, stunned. Ami's eyes went even wider, her face paling. "You-you KNEW?" she stammered incredulously. Marie threw her an amused look over her shoulder. "Of course, Ami. You're my daughter. AND I'm a doctor too. Did you think I didn't notice and wonder about all those bruises and cuts you came home with? I knew you weren't the sort of girl to get into fights-and one day you were in a hurry to get to a battle and I saw you transforming in your room" Ami looked chagrined as everyone looked at her. "Sorry everyone" she murmured, flushing brightly. Of them all, SHE was the genius...and yet it had been HER that had betrayed herself to her mom. She flushed harder, a hand going to her cheek. "Oh dear" "Don't worry about it, Ami" Usagi said gently, smiling at her friend. "It could have happened to any of us. Right now I'm glad that your mom DID know-or else she wouldn't have come so quickly" "That's true" Marie said slowly, lost in thought. "Of course, I didn't realize that it was for a pregnancy when you called and said it was an emergency or I would have sent an ambulance. I thought that maybe one of the Senshi had been injured and so came alone" "Whew!" Makoto breathed in relief. She gestured at Mamoru, Usagi and Rei. "We'd have had a WONDERFUL time explaining those three to the ambulance crew!" she said sarcastically. "OR School" Rei muttered thankfully. "Yes" Marie frowned, glancing at Ami. "It's coming!" Ikuko said, breathing hard. Sweat dripped down the side of her face as it contorted. She wasn't in pain, but it DID take some effort to get a baby out-as she well knew. "Everyone back off!" Marie ordered, waving everyone back. Motoki turned away, a hand firmly over his eyes. "This, I do NOT want to see!" he announced weakly, grimacing. The girls all glared at him, huddling in a group with Mamoru on the other-side of the bed from Marie. "Breath honey!" Kenji said anxiously, hovering behind Marie. "I AM, Kenji!" Ikuko exploded back, glaring. Her eyes softened somewhat. "You're not helping, hovering like that-come and hold my hand!" she ordered him gently. He hurried forwards and picked up one of her limp hands in a death- grip. "Not-so-hard-honey!" Ikuko gasped out, clenching her muscles. "Right! Right!" Kenji nodded frantically, loosening his grip. Usagi fixed her eyes firmly on Ikuko's face, looking for any signs of pain. If her mom looked as if she were in danger, Serenity wouldn't hesitate to use the Crystal. ["I won't"] she vowed, a hand raising to cover the broach pinned to her bunny pj's. Mamoru frowned at her, then slipped an arm about her waist, hauling her tightly against his taller frame. "There will be no stupid moves here, Serenity!" he whispered into her ear, breath stirring the bangs at her temple. "Whatever you do-we do together" "Of course, Endymion" she said absently, sending him a slight smile. Then her eyes went back to her mom. ["Push"] she urged silently. ["I think she IS"] Rei said faintly, eyes on all the blood over the sheets. It reminded her too much of watching Usagi and Mamoru dying on their living room floor...An arm came about her waist and pulled her close to a warm chest. She glanced up in surprise to see that she was pressed hard against Mamoru's side. She smiled tentatively. "Thank you" she whispered. "We're all one here, Rei" Mamoru said perplexingly, eyes darkening as they rested on Ikuko. ["All one?"] Rei questioned, bewildered. But there was no answer and it didn't look as if Mamoru was going to give one. "Just a little more!" Marie urged, leaning over Ikuko and obscuring the view from everyone else. Kenji's face paled and then went red as he watched the usually excruciating procedure. Suddenly, a wail broke the silence and everyone's breath exploded out violently. At the exact same moment of the birth, the room was filled with a blazing golden light, spiraling out from the bed to fill the whole room. Everyone it brushed was left with an intense feeling of love and protectiveness. Marie fell back, revealing that Ikuko was glowing like a small sun, the baby clutched in her arms. Even as Usagi watched, then crescent moon symbol faded from Ikuko's forehead and reappeared on the baby's-then everything abruptly clicked. ["MOTHER!"] she exclaimed, mind reeling. "MOTHER?!" Rei shrieked, having heard Usagi's thoughts and immediately connecting it. Ami, Makoto, Artemis, Luna and Minako ALSO got the meaning and blanched, eyes going with disbelief and shock. "No way!" Minako breathed in awe. "Queen Serenity!" Luna and Artemis chorused, stunned motionless by the revelation. Mamoru merely smiled, having realized at the same time as his love, just who Ikuko was giving birth to. A moment later, the golden light as sucked back and into the baby, who smiled and then closed silver eyes, contentedly. Ikuko merely lay there, looking totally dazed, her eyes blank. All sign of blood was gone from the sheets and Ikuko looked as clean and unruffled as if she'd just had a shower. Not even one hair was out of place. However, she was now sporting a beautiful baby upon her flat stomach. "What just happened here?" she demanded, eyes sharpening. Her arms came automatically around the baby in a protective way, despite the fact that she had NO IDEA how it got inside her. Marie blinked, then smiled in a daze. "Well-" she said, blinking again. She gazed at the naked baby, who appeared to be sleeping peacefully in Ikuko's arms. "It's a girl" she said finally. "It's my MOTHER!" Usagi corrected absently. Ikuko's mouth fell open, she looked from her daughter to the baby, comparing crescent moons and such. "Queen Serenity?" she gasped out, blue eyes wide with incredulity. "She-I....we...WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" she bellowed, momentarily forgetting the sleeping baby. "Your Mother?" Marie said in bewilderment. "Queen Serenity!" Luna cried out, bowing down on her front paws. Artemis did the same and then a moment later all the Senshi followed, along with Endymion. Usagi let Serenity's memory's fill her and walked hesitantly towards the bed, the bond separating from her and the others. "Mother" she whispered, leaning over the bed to touch one small warm cheek. The baby opened her eyes and gazed at the Princess with calm knowing eyes. ["Serenity. My daughter"] the baby thought joyously, extending the mental embrace out to all present. Promptly, Kenji fainted, falling like a sack of potato's onto the floor. Yuuchiro followed a moment later, sprawling at Grandpa's feet. Marie gaped, eyes glazing over. "This-I wasn't prepared for" she said faintly. "Interesting" Grandpa rumbled, eyes on the baby. The Senshi just gaped, Rei still clinging to a bemused Mamoru. And as for Usagi-the threw herself onto the bed and tenderly clasped both Ikuko and the baby into her arms. The Silver Crystal responded by glowing a brilliant silver that encompassed the three...and it sang! A beautiful wordless sound with a haunting melody that Serenity faintly recognized. "My Mothers" she whispered to them. Queen Serenity smiled peacefully, a small hand going out to touch her daughter's silver hair. ["At last"] she thought to them all. ["At last"]