Sailor Moon Married Life

#include <takeuchi_disclaimer.h>

Important Note: Sailor *Scouts* refers specifically to the Inner Senshi.

The Outers are always referred to as the Outer Senshi.

Married Life Chapter 2: Explanations and New Problems

Tokyo, Japan
August 9, 1998

        Luna had made the transition from the Tsukino home to the Chiba
apartment fairly easily.  Although Serena and Darien were saving their
money to make a down payment on a house, with individual-family units so

scarce and so expensive in space-conscious Tokyo, it would be a long
time before the college student and the materials-engineer had anywhere
near enough.  She prowled the apartment, nose eagerly on the scent of a
fat mouse, which had gotten into the building a week ago.  Since Serena
wasn't small enough to get into anyplace where it would be possible to
get the little creature (and besides, the job didn't exactly appeal to
the human), the task fell to Luna, who hadn't had a challenge of this
type for nearly four years.

        Despite her intelligence and dignity, there was something about
stalking a mouse like a non-intelligent house cat that was appealing to
Luna.  It was a challenge to her cunning, which required a combination
of chess skills, good muscle tone, response time, and a fast foot speed.

She had set out a small hunk of cheese from the fridge for the uninvited

house guest.  After five hours, the mouse came out to get the cheese.
One pounce later and Luna was carrying her first live prey in a very,
very long time out to the balcony to enjoy her small meal.

        Serena saw the slight trace of blood on the kitchen floor.  "Oh,

Luna..." She took a sponge and cleaned up the mess.

        Near seven o'clock, the human occupants of the apartment met at
the door, exchanged a brief yet passionate kiss, and exited - Serena to
take a walk and Darien to drive his motorcycle to his job at a chemical
company.

        Just outside the apartment, Serena ran across Rei who was
walking Naoko in the stroller.  "Hi, Rei," she said before kneeling down

to say hello to the baby.  Naoko smiled and cooed at Serena.

        "I don't know what's more exhausting, classes or this baby,"
complained Rei.

        "You're the one who wanted to take the late-summer session."

        "Besides Amy, you're mean," Rei agreed laughingly.  Even though
the blue-haired genius was beginning to get better, she had a long way
to go before she reached a healthy level of studiousness.  Greg wasn't
complaining about the progress she had already made, though, and the
problems Serena had sensed earlier in the summer were pretty much
resolved.  (Author's note - see The Wedding Part 5 for details)

        She added, "Count yourself lucky - your first kid doesn't show
up for another thousand years."

        "Not necessarily.  According to Sonya and Amy, Darien and I are
more or less physiologically normal while we're not in our warrior
forms.  What that, of course, means is that. . ."

        "Any time you want kids, you could probably have them with a
little planning."

        "Yeah.  Not that I really want to have kids at least until I get

out of college, but it's nice to know that we won't have to wait a
thousand years to have any."

        Luna jumped down from the second-floor fire escape and walked up

to the two Senshi.  She nearly jumped up to Serena's shoulder, but
remembered what she had just been doing and simply said, "Hello, Rei.
I'm headed down to the park, would you, Naoko, and Serena care to join
me?"

        "Sure, Luna.  Not like we've got anything else to do, my classes

don't start until noon."  She turned to Serena and said, "Time was when
you wouldn't even be out of bed before noon if you didn't have to be."

        "Yeah, I remember.  Thank God those days are over."

        Luna and Rei agreed with Serena.  The two women and cat chatted
about current events until they turned onto a busy street, when Luna
fell silent and Serena and Rei kept up their conversation without
missing a beat.

        While the friends talked, Naoko slowly moved toward slumber,
until suddenly the baby began to scream in fear.  Not even her mother's
warm embrace could quiet the child.  Then, Rei felt the same thing that
Naoko had: the unmistakable feeling of a youma draining the energy out
of a human being.  Serena turned toward the emanations.  "Rei, get Naoko

out of here, I'll call the others."  The Senshi of Fire nodded and
turned to get her baby to a safe place.

        Within minutes, six of the nine Senshi: Royal Moon, Eternal
Venus and Jupiter and Super Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn, were present.
"Let's announce our presence with a bang - Uranus-san, I want you to
Shake his World and then the rest of us will attack.  Got it?"

        Uranus nodded once, then turned to the youma.  It was
particularly ugly, all eyes and teeth with little in the way of classic
youma body structure to it.  "WORLD SHAKING!" she cried out, and slammed

a sphere of golden energy into the pavement.  The ball skimmed across
the street and slammed into the youma's back as Sailor Moon cried out,
"I am the Champion of Love and Justice, Royal Sailor Moon!!  On behalf
of the Moon, I'll right wrongs and triumph over evil," she ducked a
thrown I-beam, "Meaning you, scum-bucket!"

        "Ooh, hooray," said the youma sarcastically.  It fired a number
of energy beams at the Sailor Senshi.  Eternal Sailor Jupiter parried
three shots by bringing the Thunder Javelin, a polished Joivan metal
spear, into existence and wielding it like a bo staff.  Eternal Sailor
Venus cried out, "Venus Love Chain Encircle!" and used the chain of
hearts to block the blasts aimed at her.  Eternal Sailor Moon's Moon
Rapier flashed in a rapid pattern as she blocked ten bolts of energy
aimed at her or in her direction.  Super Sailors Uranus, Neptune and
Saturn just dodged the attacks headed at them.

        "Sailor Moon, duck!" called Sailor Neptune.  Sailor Moon hit the

pavement just before Neptune called her new super attack, "Oceanic
Blast!!"  The huge sphere of energy passed two feet above Sailor Moon's
prone body and slammed into the youma.  Sailor Moon winced in
near-sympathy.  That blast was a very, very harsh one.  She looked again

- the youma was still standing.  *Not for long,* she thought grimly.

        She aimed the Moon Rapier at the creature.  "Moon Rapier. . .
ANNIHILATION!!" she cried, focusing her energies and those of the Moon
Crystal through the weapon to blast it.  Within moments, the youma was
no more.

        "Let's get out of here, guys, before people start asking awkward

questions."  The Eternal Inners took wing, while the Super Outers leapt
away, following the younger women.  Sailor Moon fell back behind the
other Inners and caught Uranus before the last of her upward momentum
died away, then Jupiter and Venus followed suit with Saturn and Neptune.

        When the six reached a safe distance, they transformed back to
their civilian forms.  Alex noted, "Serena. . .  Have you been eating
too much again?"

        "How could I, Alex?  Thanks to being a Senshi, I take in about
four thousand calories a day and still go to bed hungry."

        "Look down."

        Serena did so, and noticed that her stomach was bigger than it
should have been.  "Hmm. . ."  Her eyes became saucers as she thought
over the last month, noticed one small but significant change compared
to every month previous since the age of thirteen.  "Alex, where's your
car from here?"

        "Pretty close - why?"

        "I. . . think it may be a good idea for me to see the doctor
this morning."

        "Okay."  Alex had a pretty good idea what Serena was hinting at.

So did the others.


The Negaverse

        Quartzite scowled.  These Sailor Senshi were too damn good.  Her

plan could survive some setbacks, but if the Senshi kept showing up at
every turn. . .  she just couldn't win like that.  It'd be a good way to

wind up like Jadeite.

        Jadeite watched over Quartzite.  He would protect her.  It's the

least I can do to atone for my sins against Their Highnesses.  He had
watched over Serenity's wedding to her beloved Endymion in the same
manner, foiling not one or two, but six youma which had determined to
avert the occasion.  He felt toward his Prince, now his King, the same
as his Rei felt toward her Queen, to the point where he would lay down
his life for his beloved friend.  It was too bad that they had only met
in this lifetime as enemies.

        Perhaps once Chad has gone to the grave and Rei has had time to
mourn her husband, then I will return to the lives of my friends and my
love.  Jadeite's sense of honor would not allow him to break up Rei's
relationship with Chad, although it pained him to be separated from the
life of the baby he considered to be somewhere between a niece and a
step-daughter, not to mention from his love.

        The spirit of Queen Serenity appeared before Jadeite.  "General
Jadeite."

        "Please, Majesty, my rank was Colonel before Beryl brainwashed
me."

        "No, Jadeite, you were slated for promotion to Brigadier General

when you disappeared.  Poor Rei - she cried for a week after you
vanished."  The Queen giggled slightly, "She only recovered after my
dear daughter slapped her across the face and said, and I quote, `You're

a Princess of Mars, stop acting like me!' That not only stopped Rei's
crying, but she stared at Serena with the most startled expression you
ever saw on her face for ten full seconds before she broke out
laughing."

        Jadeite laughed gently, although there was some pain in his
expression.  "It's my fault."

        "No, it is Beryl's fault.  If you must place blame, or
Metallia's, but not yours.  Even your mental powers and training could
not hope to withstand the pure blackness that was Metallia.
Fortunately, the Dark Queen and her pawn are both rotting in Tartarus,
and our dear friend Hades is making sure that their eternal torment is
most appropriate."

        "And my friends?"

        "Zoisite and Malachite finally were freed of this life by my
daughter, and thankfully found their eternal rest together.  I ensured
that Hades did not judge them too harshly by reminding him of certain
debts he owed me.  He gnashed his teeth for the longest time, but he
agreed finally."

        "And my blood-brother?"

        "Nephrite is not quite dead.  He will not be ready to rejoin the

living for a few decades yet, but he is most definitely not dead."

        *               *               *

        "Congratulations, Mrs. Chiba, your results are back.  You're
pregnant." Serena's gynecologist, Doctor Ashley Irons, was a blade-slim,

fiftyish woman with hair that fit her name.  Despite her body type, she
had a very pleasant smile and an open, approachable bedside manner.

        Serena's face lit like a million-candlepower floodlight.
"Really?"

        "Absolutely.  I take it that you've already decided that you're
going to keep this baby?"

        "You bet your doctorate!"  Serena's happiness upon hearing the
news was contagious.

        Dr. Irons' lips twitched into a smile, "Good for you, Serena.  I

understand that some young women who suddenly find themselves pregnant,
especially women with such an active lifestyle as yours, immediately go
for an abortion and find themselves regretting that rash decision for
the rest of their lives.  It's not a load of guilt I would wish on such
a nice girl as yourself."

        In the lobby, Alex was casually reading Car & Driver as she
waited for Serena.  "These new American cars are all the same - one
extended curve.  Sheesh."  Michelle was more interested in the
newspaper, looking at an editorial cartoon which lampooned the Diet as a

youma sucking the energy out of everything in its vicinity, with the new

reform party as an ersatz Sailor Moon figure.  Ironic, considering how
much Serena hated the reform party's politics.

        "I'm ready to go, guys," said Serena.  She had composed herself
fairly well after leaving Dr. Irons' office.

        "Are you pregnant?" asked Alex.

        Serena nodded, smiling gently.  "Yes, I am."

        "Congratulations, Serena," said Michelle, "I sincerely hope that

you and Darien are ready, though!"

        "Hey, let's go for some lunch and celebrate!"

        *               *               *

That evening. . .

        "Hi, Usako, I'm home!"

        "Darien," said Serena, her voice just above a whisper, "Could
you come in here?"

        Darien entered the bedroom.  Serena looked up from the desk.
Her uncharacteristically serious face brightened quickly, and she stood
up and embraced him.

        "Serena. . .?"

        After three false starts, Serena whispered, "Congratulations,
Darien.  We're going to have a baby."

        "A baby!?"  Darien's eyes lit up with amazement and pride.

        "Yep.  I found out today, after the fight this morning."  She
hugged him tighter, as though she didn't want to ever let go.

        "I hope it's a girl," Darien whispered, his lips delicately
brushing his wife's ear, "with your beautiful crystal-blue eyes."

        "Just as long as it's not Reeny," Serena replied, laughing.  Not

that she didn't miss the girl she had thought of as her first daughter
(even though she wasn't), but she just wasn't ready for Crystal Tokyo!

        "That'd be really strange," agreed Darien.

        Serena continued, "Amy did some scans of my body this afternoon,

in Sailor Moon form and as Neo-Queen Serenity.  It looks like in Sailor
Moon form, since I became pregnant, my abdominal muscles become
super-hard, to protect the baby.  As Serenity, no such luck, but
Serenity's really not meant to fight, so she doesn't need it.  As me, of

course, I'm just a twenty-year-old woman in peak physical condition and
the fifth week of pregnancy."

        "Wow."  Darien felt completely awestruck, and more than a little

humbled as he ran a hand over the slight bulge of Serena's stomach, the
clear indication of new life beginning.  And unlike Reeny, no matter how

amazing it had been knowing and to some extent raising her, this child
was of them, in the here and now, the child of Darien and Serena Chiba,
not of Endymion and Serenity.  "Who have you told?"

        "Alex, Michelle, and Heather know already, they drove me over to

the doctor's office.  Amy already knows, obviously.  I have to tell
everybody else."  She picked up her communicator-watch and pressed the
`All-call.' "Everybody, this is Serena.  There's something really,
really important I have to tell all of you.  Can you meet over at my
apartment in fifteen minutes?"  Everybody signaled back that it was
okay.  "Thanks," Serena said, and signed off.

        Fifteen minutes later, the girls were arranged on the floor and
chairs, Alex and Michelle on the floor leaning against each other,
Heather sitting with Sonya, Amy sitting quietly in Serena's comfortable
armchair, her backpack leaning against one leg, Rei sitting facing Alex
and Michelle, talking animatedly with them, and Mina and Lita engrossed
in a conversation of their own.  As Serena swept into the room, with
Darien a pace behind her, the conversations died down.

        "Thanks for coming on such short notice," she said.  "The first
order of business: Amy, Alex, Michelle, Heather, this is old news to
you, but everybody: I'm pregnant!"  The Senshi crowded around Serena and

congratulated her.

        "Second order of business: Although as Sailor Moon, my body
changes to protect the baby, Luna and I think it best that Sailor Moon
temporarily retire as the field leader of the Sailor Senshi.  I'll still

be there, no question, but we feel it's better that another Scout lead
in the field until I have my child.  I'll now take nominations."

        "Why only Scouts," asked Alex, "Why not make this election open
to all of the Senshi?"

        Serena sighed heavily to buy time while she thought of how to
delicately phrase it.  Striking out on that score, she decided to go
with brutally honest, "Because the Scouts have been fighting as a team
since we started fighting the Negaverse.  You Outers have fighting
spirit, but your team skills aren't as good as those of the Inners."
Alex looked hurt, so Serena continued, "It's not that I don't trust you,

I swear by the Moon that I trust each and every one of you with my life,

but until *I* see, and Luna sees, that your teamwork is improving with
the Inners, I can't trust that an Outer in command wouldn't lead to a
serious factional problem within the Senshi, though your actions today
were a great start.  That is also why I will remain in overall command
of the Sailor Soldiers."

        Alex nodded once and said, "Objection withdrawn."

        Rei raised her hand, "I nominate Sailor Venus to lead the Sailor

Senshi until Sailor Moon returns to active status."

        "I nominate Sailor Mars," countered Mina.

        "I second Rei's nomination," said Serena.

        "My nomination of Mina, or Mina's nomination of me?"

        "Both."

        "Mina's got more experience, she should lead," said Rei.

        Serena called out, "Those in favor of Rei leading until I return

to active duty?"

        Mina, Lita, Michelle, and Heather raised their hands.

        "Those in favor of Mina leading?"

        Rei, Amy, Alex, and Sonya raised their hands immediately.

        "Darien, you're the deciding ballot."

        "Serena, until you return, I really can't - as Tuxedo Mask, I'm
the protector of the Queen, not Earth, and as Endymion, my powers aren't

enough for me to qualify as a Senshi Earth."

        Serena was silent for a very long while before she spoke up,
"Congratulations Sailor Mars, you are the temporary leader of the Sailor

Senshi."

        Mina congratulated Rei, and Serena brought out some food.  "Of
course," groused Rei, "You would pick the one woman here who already has

a kid."

        "Rei, you've wanted to lead since we were fourteen, now's your
chance."

        "Serena, I could never replace you as our leader, especially
now."

        Serena drew herself up to her full height and became Serenity.
The Neo-Queen rested a hand on Rei's shoulder with a feathery touch.
"Not only can you, Senshi Mars, but you must, for you have been sworn to

protect me.  Do not shy away from your duty now."  She transformed back
to Serena and added, giggling, "Besides, there's no way I'm letting miss

`I-could-lead-better-in-my-sleep' off the hook!"  Serena thought the
look on Rei's face hilarious and laughed at her discomfiture.  Then she
sobered and added, "Rei, there is no one in this world or any other
whose judgment I trust more than yours.  Please trust that I'm making
the right decision here.  You must trust yourself.  I will still fight
if Sailor Moon is needed, but I will not go into action until needed.
For now, my modus operandi is going to have to be the same as Tuxedo
Mask's," Serena leaned against Darien's shoulder as she said the words,
"for I will not unnecessarily endanger the life of my daughter or son
before it even begins."

        Two hours later, the Sailor Senshi crowded into Serena's
parents' home.

        "And to what do we owe this visit," asked Kenji.

        "Mom, Dad," began Serena, pausing appropriately before her voice

became excited, again, "We're going to have a baby!"

        Ikuko gathered her daughter into her arms and said,
"Congratulations, Serena!"

        Kenji looked stunned.  "You're going to have a baby?  Already!?"

        Ikuko gave him a wry look and said, "Kenji, we had Serena barely

nine months after the ceremony, remember, not even the first
anniversary.  Try `the pot calling the kettle black' on for size, dear."

She turned back to Serena, "But what are you going to do now?  You can't

be Sailor Moon while you're pregnant, can you?"

        "I can, because my transformation adds armor for the baby when I

become Sailor Moon, but I'm not going to unless absolutely necessary.
Rei will lead the Senshi until I have my baby, and Alex will continue to

lead the Outers, as always."

        Rei broke in, "For the next nine months, it's going to be the
way it always should have been: the eight of us protecting the Queen."
Her voice showed a tremor of trepidation.

        "Rei?"

        "Serena, the reason I nominated Mina was only partly because I
thought she could lead better than I could.  It's also because, I'm
scared for myself.  When I was only living for me and the rest of you,
it was easier, because you were everything that was important to me.
Now, I have Chad and Naoko to worry about.  It scares me, because if I
were to leave them alone, what would happen?"

        "That's exactly why I chose you, Rei.  You have
responsibilities, so you aren't going to go off half-cocked.  I love you

dearly, Mina, but you do some of the dumbest things I've ever seen so
far, except for some of my own actions, because you used to going solo,
and you can get away with a lot of dumb things when you're all alone and

your mistakes don't endanger your teammates.  But Rei has never been a
Sailor Soldier without being a part of the Senshi, so she knows
instinctively how badly going off half-cocked is."

        Her face was gentle throughout the explanation, harsh though it
was.  "Also, much though I hate to choose amongst my friends, Rei has
been my best friend, with the obvious exception of Darien, for ten
millennia."


The Negaverse

        Imbrium began to pound at a flaw in the prison of brainwashing
Roxix had trapped her in.  If she could take back control of her body
from this impostor known as Quartzite, she could escape to Earth,
reunite with Serenity.  Suddenly, a small hole opened in the prison, and

her link to Serenity, millennia dormant, re-opened.  The joy of her
sister's soul was blinding, and what was this. . .  Attached to her,
growing from her life force. . . a baby!  Bless the gods, my sister has
found her true love at last!  Despite the gloom of Imbrium's
surroundings, she felt her heart soar.  Carefully, a song in her heart
and new confidence in her eyes, she began to pick at the hole to try to
make it larger.

        Quartzite felt a strange feeling of joy and love pervade her
being.  It was unlike anything she had ever encountered in her ten
millennia of life in the Negaverse.  Centering on the darkness of the
Negaverse, she desperately tried to hang on to her bitterness against
Endymion, but it was lifted from her heart, revealing a piece of herself

long-hidden: Imbrium's love for her sister and her sister's beloved.

        Watching her, Jadeite smiled.

------
What's going on here?  Am I rambling?  NO!  Things start to come to a
head in Married Life Chapter 3: Moon Storm Rising Part 1.

Write to me!  mberger8837@vax2.winona.msus.edu