MarshAngel
watsonma@hotmail.com
http://angelmoon.sinfree.net
 
After much bombardment on the subject, I have (and it's taken me a while) come 
to the decision that this story deserves an epilogue. I didn't think I had 
anything left to say on the subject because I hadn't wanted a perfect happy 
ending. Unfortunately there's a sucker in me for a happy ending too and since so 
many people asked, I gave in and here it is. 
 
Touch
Epilogue
 
Rei frowned fiercely, frustrated by her inability to concentrate. First it had 
been that annoying group of American tourists who for some reason thought 
watching someone sit quietly under a tree with their eyes closed was a 
fascinating way to spend time and take pictures. Then there was her grandfather 
who apparently couldn't care less about her need for peace and quiet and now 
even with her eyes closed she could sense the presence of someone standing 
around watching her. This was the last time she was ever going to attempt 
meditating outside no matter how nice the weather was. 
"Can I help you with something?" She demanded tersely without opening her eyes. 
"I suppose that's better than the 'what the hell do you want' I expected," a 
cheerful voice said. 
Rei opened her eyes squinting slightly as the light filtering through the 
branches of the tree created a glare making it hard to make out who was talking. 
Whoever it was leaned comfortably against a tree watching her. Her eyes adjusted 
to take in the sight of a petite but curvy woman fashionably dressed in close 
fitting brown leather pants that flattered her long legs, and a blue tank top 
that skimmed her bellybutton. Long wavy blonde hair hung over one shoulder. 
Until she looked into the bright blue eyes she didn't recognize her. When she 
did, her eyes opened wide with shock. 
"Usagi?" she whispered after the worst of her shock had worn off.
"In the flesh," Usagi replied smiling. Her smile faded to a more serious 
expression when she realized Rei just couldn't figure out what to say to her. 
How could she have expected it to be easy? Maybe she shouldn't have come. She 
breathed in deeply steeling herself for what would be the first of uncomfortable 
meetings with her friends. 
It had been a little over three years since she'd seen them. She remembered 
starting dozens of letters only to find that there was not much she could really 
say to make her leaving ok for them. What should she have told them? That life 
was difficult sometimes but she was adjusting? That she liked being married? 
That she finally found something she could do well?  That could probably have 
worked but then she hated writing letters. She had sent a few short notes that 
for the most part only said she was ok, without going into too much detail. She 
didn't want them to think she was happy without them or that everything was 
going perfectly now that she'd abandoned them. She'd sent little gifts sometimes 
but she didn't know where that would put her now. 
"I've missed you, Rei." 
Still there was silence. 
"Please say something Rei," she pleaded. She walked over and sat down on the 
ground before her.  "Rei?"  The priestess continued stare at her. 
"What am I supposed to say? Welcome home? Everything's ok now Usagi? You're the 
princess we were born to protect but you took away our duty but as long as 
you're back lets do the happy dance and everything's ok?" Rei's face blazed with 
anger, her violet eyes narrowing to a glare. 
"I didn't..." Usagi began but Rei didn't let her finish. 
"It's been three years Usagi! I suppose I should be happy that you look amazing; 
that you are obviously doing so well but in three years you didn't even stop by 
to see us once. I hope you weren't expecting a welcome home party because you 
sure as hell don't deserve one." 
"I know," Usagi whispered tearfully. "I was just hoping that the time would.... 
" she didn't know what she was hoping. "I just thought maybe you could forgive 
me." 
"Why should I? Are you planning to stay?" 
Usagi winced. She was definitely not planning on staying. She'd just worked up 
the confidence to visit as she had been planning to for the longest while. 
Endymion had been the one to convince her that they would understand and they 
wouldn't hate her and that the longer she waited the worse it would be. Being 
married had certainly mellowed him a bit. Unfortunately he was obviously very 
wrong. 
"Rei, Endymion is my husband. We've been married for three years and I have a 
responsibility to my people. I won't leave them" 
"Your people," Rei whispered softly. "This world is filled with your people, 
what about them? You abandoned them." 
"No." Usagi whispered softly but forcefully. "They had you and the others. I 
didn't leave them alone. If they needed me I would have been there but they 
didn't. 
"No, I suppose you didn't leave them alone you left us." 
Usagi sighed. "Maybe one day you'll remember the way things were in the Silver 
Millennium. Maybe you'd understand better. Maybe if you loved someone as much as 
I loved Endymion you'd know why I did this."
"I hope he was worth it. I hope he was worth losing four friends who loved and 
needed you." She glared at Usagi, fire in her eyes. 
"You know something Rei," Usagi began her temper rising.
"Endymion is the love of my life but if you think leaving to be with him was 
easy for me think again. I have faced all types of monsters and yet loving him 
and leaving you and my family was the hardest thing I've ever had to do? Did you 
think I traded you guys for an easy life? 
"It has never been easy. Life there is hard; being married is hard. Knowing that 
you guys were together and I wasn't with you was difficult. Stop making it sound 
like I abandoned you and left you with nothing and that the hardship were all on 
your part. I almost walked out on my own wedding because you guys weren't there 
and I was so afraid. But things got better with time and I was hoping that time 
would make you understand that I made the decision that was right for me and as 
much as you wished that I would come running back home crying that it was all a 
mistake, it isn't going to happen. I'm happy and I only came to see if maybe you 
were happy too. 
"I'll go. You can tell the others I came." She got up and dusted off her pants 
and walked away. She sniffled a bit. She wouldn't cry until she got home. She 
needed to be calm to concentrate on getting back. But the tears kept coming. She 
hadn't even gotten around to explaining the other reason she'd been motivated to 
come now. She wanted them to share in her happiness. She was going to have a 
baby. It was supposed to be the happiest time of her life. 
"Usagi!" 
She froze at the sound of her name being called from a distance. She turned 
around to see a guy waving at her. She almost didn't recognize him. She had seen 
a recent photograph once when she'd gone to the house on a whim when no one was 
home but it was still stunning to see him. He was so tall. 
"Shingo?" 
He caught up to her and just nearly lifted her off the ground. 
"I can't believe you're here." 
His voice had changed too. 
"Rei told me you had just left I couldn't believe it. She's all upset and crying 
because she yelled at you and she didn't give you all the things she bought and 
Mom and Dad will be so happy to see you and people at school think you got 
pregnant and we sent you away, don't know where they got that idea but we told 
everyone you went away to school in America but grandma doesn't believe us 
and..." 
"Shingo!" 
"Sorry," he grinned sheepishly, letting her go so she could breathe. "Are you 
staying long? Mom turned your room into a huge walk in closet." 
"She did not!"
"No but it was funny seeing the look on your face." He grinned widely, a 
charming boyish smile that made him seem almost as young as she'd remembered 
him. "Everything's just as you left it" 
She punched him playfully in the arm." It was good to see that time healed some 
wounds. Absence, it would seem, did make the heart grow fonder for some. 
Her face paled a bit when she realized that she might have to see her parents. 
Of everyone, she didn't expect them to forgive her at all. 
"Maybe seeing Mom and Dad isn't such a good idea." It was strange how three 
years ago seemed easier by comparison to what she intended to do now. For some 
reason the prospect of telling her parents they would be grandparents made her 
so nervous she was close to hyperventilating. 
Shingo's face turned serious. "Usagi Tsukino don't even think about wimping out. 
They've been dying to see you." 
Usagi was stunned at how grown up her fifteen-year old brother was. She supposed 
being taller than her now he was occasionally entitled to lecture her. 
"They have?" She questioned. 
"Of course they have," Shingo replied as though it were the stupidest question 
she could have asked. 
"I'm glad someone does," she muttered. "Wait a second! What do you mean Rei 
bought me things?" 
"You know, mostly birthday stuff, a couple good luck charms. I guess she figured 
you'd be back for them sometime."
"She just wasn't actually counting on it happening," Usagi added wryly. 
"Well the point is she isn't really mad at you.... Well maybe just a little."
Usagi sighed but her problems with Rei immediately disappeared from the 
forefront of her thoughts and she stopped mid-step looking intently at what was 
before her. Together they had walked the familiar road to her house and now it 
loomed large before her. She swallowed hard, looking intently at the home she'd 
grown up in. It seemed nothing had changed, except perhaps, for the marigolds in 
the front yard, those were new. Funny, the things one remembered. 
Her brother walked ahead of her towards the front door. Of course he didn't see 
this as a dramatic moment, she thought to herself. He came home everyday.
She walked through her front door, taking in the sight of her living room. It 
was just as it had been the last time she'd been here. Nothing had changed it 
seemed. It even smelled the same. There, towards the back of the room on the 
shelf next to the couch was the figurine that she'd broken and glued back 
together with stuff she'd gotten from her art teacher. Her mother still probably 
didn't have any idea it was broken. 
Her nervousness at seeing her mother was building. She wiped her sweaty palms on 
her pants but they simply slid off the non-absorbent leather. 
"Mom", her brother yelled from the entrance to the kitchen. She continued 
looking around, looking at her father's recliner that had been in the same spot 
for as long as she was able to remember, the family pictures on the side table, 
her mother's apron hanging over the side of one chair. She guessed her father 
was at work. It was still early so he shouldn't be home for another few hours.
"Mom," Shingo yelled again, this time up the stairs. 
"What is it boy?" Her father yelled, coming in from the backyard, pulling off 
his work gloves. He had been working in the garden. As he looked up for the 
first time seeing her, his eyes went wide. 
"Usagi?" 
"Hi Daddy," she said almost casually looking him up and down as though she'd 
never seen him before. He was dressed in jeans and an old t-shirt. She didn't 
even know her father even owned a pair of jeans. "What are you doing home?" 
To her surprise he didn't freeze as Rei had. He immediately pulled her into a 
huge bear hug, squeezing so tightly she gasped. Obviously it was a 'like father 
like son' kind of thing. He eventually let her go after a few moments and 
stepped back. "I retired," he stated simply. 
Usagi was shocked by his statement but didn't get a chance to tackle it as her 
father held her at arms length looking her up and down. 
"What the hell are you wearing young lady?" 
Usagi blushed. It was nice to see he was still full of bluster and fatherly 
objections. 
"Daddy!" 
"You look like, like..." he sputtered. "You look like one of those American pop 
singers." 
"I am wearing a lot more clothes than that!" She objected sternly, a little 
miffed.
"So you finally decided to drop in," he commented, layering on the guilt 
immediately. 
Usagi frowned feeling terribly guilty. "I'm sorry. I needed some time and I 
thought you might too. I thought you were still mad at me." 
She heard a long-suffering a sigh from her father. Children were a trial. 
"We were never mad at you to begin with. We just thought you'd made a bad 
decision and you refused to give our opinions any consideration. I hope that 
bastard is treating you well. Is that why you're here? Did he hurt you?" 
"No Daddy, I'm fine, Endymion's fine. And please don't call my husband a 
bastard." 
His eyes widened. "So you got married." He seemed a bit surprised as though he 
had been certain Endymion wouldn't have done the honorable thing. 
"I've been married for three years." 
He sighed again. "You're so young." 
"Daddy..." her tone warned him not to continue this pointless discussion. 
"You should have finished school, maybe even gone on to college. I still don't 
understand why you couldn't have waited." 
"I know you don't. But I've learned more in the last three years than I would 
have sitting in a classroom getting terrible grades." 
"You don't know that," he countered. 
"It doesn't matter anymore. The argument has been put to rest and I didn't come 
here for that." 
"Why did you come?" he questioned. 
She couldn't prevent the hurt look that came over her face. How could he ask her 
that? 
"I came to see you of course. I missed you guys." 
His face softened. "We missed you too Usa. You really should visit more often; 
let us know what's going on in your life. Maybe you could bring Endymion as 
well." 
Usagi's eyes widened at the olive branch just offered.
"I promise, Dad." She was crying again. Damn hormones.
"There is another reason I stopped by." She added sniffling. "I had wanted to 
tell you and Mom together but I don't think I can wait that long." 
"What is it?" her father asked, immediately worried.
"I'm going to have a baby." She smiled. 
"What!" The voices of her father and brother snapping out their shock loudly was 
enough to make her jump. 
She couldn't help rolling her eyes and smiling widely at their confounded 
expressions. "You do understand the concept right?" she teased. "You, Uncle, You 
grandpapa," she pointed at each, mocking their stupefied expressions with 
Neanderthal speech. 
"You're pregnant?" her father questioned as if he still didn't understand. 
"Yes, I'm pregnant." 
The Kitchen door opened and her mother walked in with an armload of groceries. 
The moment she saw her daughter the bags fell to the ground with the loud thud 
of cans denting as they hit the floor. 
"Usagi?" Usagi swore she hadn't ever heard her name spoken so often in that 
strange shocked tone as she had today. 
"Hi Mom." 
"I thought you'd never come back," her mother exclaimed tearfully as she 
embraced her daughter. 
"I'm sorry. I should have come sooner but I wasn't sure you'd want to see me." 
"Why wouldn't we want to see you?" her mother questioned. 
"I don't know," Usagi muttered. I thought you guys were mad at me." 
"Teenagers," her mother muttered. They were always making things out to be worse 
than they were. 
Ikuko let her daughter go and looked at her husband and son. Questioning their 
strange expressions. "What's the matter with you two?" 
"She's pregnant," Shingo announced bluntly. 
Ikuko turned a wide-eyed expression on her daughter, looking her up and down to 
see if there was something she'd missed. 
"Only two months," Usagi answered her mother's silent question. 
"Isn't it a little soon?" Her father voiced his concern. 
"We waited three years, Daddy. We think things are a bit more settled now so we 
decided it was time." 
"Ikuko stared at her only daughter, so grown up and responsible. Had it only 
been five years ago when she'd worried that this day would never come, that she 
would be an always be an irresponsible child? Now she was having a child of her 
own.
. Now she almost wished she could go back and relive the days when Usagi would 
climb unto her lap and fall asleep or when she would have to chase her around 
the house and confiscate the candy she was determined to eat before bedtime. 
They grew up so fast. 
"Oh my god I'm going to be a grandmother," she realized with a dismayed look on 
her face. 
Usagi smiled. 
"I'm getting old," she complained in a whining tone reminiscent of Usagi's. 
"You're not getting old Mom," Usagi reassured. 
"That's right. She's starting young," her father stated disapprovingly, looking 
at her. Usagi and Shingo glanced at each other and rolled their eyes. 
"Is he taking care of you?" Ikuko demanded suddenly. 
"Of course he is," Usagi replied. It's odd how after a while it had seemed 
ridiculous to think it could be any other way. Endymion was perfect...well almost.
 
Usagi lay on her small bed in her old bedroom staring up through the dark at the 
ceiling she couldn't really see. She was on the verge of falling asleep but the 
events of the day still ran through her mind. She'd had dinner with her family 
and it had been like old times, without the teen angst and a whole lot more 
questions. They'd been curious about everything and by the time she'd told it 
all and it was time to go to bed her throat had been dry and scratchy.
She closed her eyes, intending to sleep. She missed her husband. The bed was too 
small, too cold, and too empty. She sighed heavily and rolled over unto her 
side. The recently vacated spot sunk with new weight and an arm settled over 
her. She smiled happily. She pushed back against his warmth as he settled his 
head against her shoulder, smelling her hair. 
He pushed her hair aside ands kissed her neck. Guiding her face toward him he 
covered her lips with his and kissed her with building passion. She made that 
soft moaning sound in the back of her throat that he enjoyed hearing. The sound 
droned off into a groan of disappointment however and he released her. He was 
familiar with the sound as well that indicated he'd started something they 
couldn't possibly finish. 
"We can't do this here," she whispered but didn't attempt to pull away.
"Why not?" He questioned, kissing her shoulder. 
"For one thing this bed's too small and for another my parents are just down the 
hall." 
"They won't hear a thing, especially if you make an effort to be quiet. And the 
bed's just right." 
Usagi flushed. It wasn't the first time he'd mentioned her tendency to be loud. 
"And if one of my parents walks in on us?" 
"We are married you know," he replied dryly. 
"Try explaining that to my father." 
"Did you know that long ago on there was a tradition among some for the parents 
to be in the room on the wedding night?" He informed softly, with a touch of 
amusement. 
Usagi captured a suitably horrified expression that Endymion didn't need to see 
to envision.
"That's disgusting!" 
He laughed softly. "They required proof of the bride's virginity so there needed 
to be witnesses." 
"And if she wasn't?" 
"The marriage would be annulled in some cases and the brides family forced to 
pay. The girl was of course disgraced and unacceptable for marriage." 
"That's barbaric!" 
"Perhaps. You are fortunate your mother wasn't a traditional queen." 
"Why do you say that?" 
"When she came to power she repealed that ancient law." 
Usagi froze in shock. "That was a Lunar tradition?" 
"There were variations but essentially yes. If she hadn't, you may have had to 
be examined periodically to check that your virginity was intact, particularly 
since you were a princess. You had to be above reproach." 
"I guess I would have been in quite a bit of trouble then." 
"Just a bit," he understated. She could have heard the smile in his voice. 
"Do you suppose if she hadn't repealed that law we still would have...?" 
"I'm beginning to think we were meant to be together. I'm sure we would have 
found some way." 
"I think you may be right." 
She was getting sleepy; he could hear it in her voice. She snuggled closer to 
him and he wrapped his arms around her waist, once again in wonder at the idea 
of the life that was growing inside her beneath his hand. She slept even more 
than usual because of the baby. Already he could hear the slow sounds of her 
deep breathing, indicating that she was already drifting off. 
He wouldn't leave her tonight. He had gotten used to her warmth next to him. The 
prospect of facing an empty bed held absolutely no appeal. He groaned a bit, 
trying to adjust his body to a comfortable position. The bed was a little too 
small after all. 
 
When Usagi awoke the next morning Endymion was, to her disappointment gone. She 
wouldn't have minded another attempt to make love to her as he often did in the 
morning. There were other wonderful ways to wake up in the morning however 
although not quite comparable. She went downstairs following the sweet aroma of 
pancakes she had missed more than she thought. The smell didn't assault her 
stomach the way her usual breakfast of scrambled goose eggs did these days. She 
certainly was going to make every effort to get as much of her mother's good 
cooking down as possible. She was almost certain that before the end of the day 
at least some of it would come back up. 
 "That smells amazing..." She froze mid sentence and mid-step as she was faced 
with the sight of her father in an apron before the stove. 
"Daddy? You can cook?"
"Don't look so shocked. I do have skills you know," he replied. 
"Your father has taken up a few hobbies since he decided to retire," Ikuko said, 
nursing a cup of coffee by the kitchen counter. "Fortunately this means I get a 
break from making breakfast." Usagi still had a hard time believing that her 
father had retired from his job. She supposed that while lucrative, the 
insurance business was a bit boring. Her father had decided to enjoy the rest of 
his life, and she was happy for him.
"It's nice to see some things haven't changed," Ikuko said to her daughter 
nodding towards the clock.  
Usagi smiled. It was late in the morning. She had never been an early riser. 
Rising with the sun was greatly overrated. She grabbed a plate and headed for 
the table. 
Another surprise faced her at the table. Ami, Mina, and Makoto were all sitting 
at the breakfast table.  They stood up immediately and rushed to embrace her. 
Unfortunately there was only one of her with only two arms to go round so it 
became a group hug.
"It's nice to see you guys again," Usagi announced smiling widely. 
"Are you staying?" Ami questioned. Usagi nearly winced at the obvious hope on 
her face.
"No. I'm sorry. I have to go back."
There was a disappointed silence and then a quick change of subject to avoid the 
painful subject.
"Rei told us you were here," Mina said. "She didn't say too much when she called 
me last night other than that you guys had a fight that is. She's really sorry 
by the way."
"I know," Usagi whispered. "I'm not mad at her. Besides she was kind of right. I 
should have come sooner. I'm sorry."
"We're just happy you're here now," Ami stated. "How long are you planning to 
stay?"
"Not long. I'm supposed to be at the dedication of our first library in two 
days. There aren't many books, mostly really old stuff we've managed to recover 
and a few manuscripts but I'm sure with time we'll collect many more."
"Never thought I'd see the day you entered a library voluntarily," Ami teased.
"I think even you'd find these documents interesting. I was actually thinking 
that you could even come and look at them one day."
"Is that an invitation?" Ami asked, surprised. After all this time Usagi was 
actually inviting them to visit.
"I guess it is," Usagi replied grinning. 
"Why didn't you come by before or invite us to come?" Makoto asked.
"I felt we needed time. I guess I felt guilty and I figured you'd all be angry 
with me. As for not inviting you, there was no suitable place for you there. The 
palace is only now coming close to completion. It was in nearly complete ruin 
when I first got there. Endymion had been working on improving housing for the 
people first. We eventually got around to the palace. It's not quite up to its 
former glory but at least it's safe now."
They were all stunned to hear her speak. Perhaps it's they way she spoke with 
genuine care or maybe it was the fact that, contrary to what they may have 
imagined, she hadn't left to enjoy a paradise in the arms of her lover. 
"It takes a lot of energy to teleport between dimensions. I won't be able to 
transport anyone for a couple of months, let alone myself so when I go back I 
won't be able to come back for at least seven or eight months. You'll have a 
while to think about it."
She was about to continue until she saw the looks of confusion on her face. She 
grinned widely. "I'm pregnant."
Three stunned faces looked back at her. 
"Oh my god!" Mina squealed. "A baby?"  
"I knew you were...but I never thought... wow!" It seemed Makoto was at a near loss 
for words. Ami simply stared; unable, it seemed, to get a word out.
"We should have a baby shower before you go back," Mina announced suddenly.
"Absolutely!" Makoto agreed emphatically. 
"Really, you guys don't have to do that," Usagi discouraged, but was, however 
touched by the idea. "I'm only going to be here for a few days and don't these 
things usually happen when I'm really fat and about to burst?"
"We'll just have to work with the time we've got," Makoto announced 
determinedly. "Give us two days. I assure you, you will be suitably amazed."
Intuitively she was aware that arguing would be useless so she gave in, and two 
days later, after managing to convince her grandmother that she hadn't gotten 
herself in 'trouble' and run away, and convincing her friend Molly whom she'd 
run into while shopping with her father, that similar rumors (courtesy of her 
boyfriend, now fiance, Melvin) of her having been sent away to a European 
convent to give birth were entirely false, she found herself sitting in Makoto's 
living room surrounded by her friends and her mother. She was, as Makoto 
promised, very amazed.
They had truly outdone themselves in such a short time. It seemed that they must 
have been awake and busy for the past forty-eight hours. The room was festively 
decorated with balloons and streamers in a compromise of lilac and pastel yellow 
since the baby's sex was a mystery. The truly amazing part was the table covered 
in all her favorite desserts, and that covered a lot. There was also a mound of 
gifts in the corner awaiting her, and she had to admit she was very excited.
While her friends had been busy with the plans over the past two days, she'd 
been left to herself, or more precisely to her father and brother whom she had 
dragged shopping with her. They hadn't complained too much, considering it 
quality time they wouldn't enjoy for months; that is until they had had to carry 
endless packages of diapers, bottles, and all the other necessities she foresaw 
herself needing in a few months. 
The past few days had been better than she'd dreamed. Even Rei had eventually 
calmed down and in typical fashion, set about, commandeering the baby shower. 
And that is how she came to be sitting with the first of many gifts on her lap. 
The package was not nearly as neatly wrapped as some of the others, which 
indicated, without looking at the tag, that it was from Mina, who willingly 
admitted that she was terrible at any kind of craft, particularly gift-wrapping. 
Anticipation building, she ripped open the package and couldn't have been more 
surprised if they'd all shown up naked. 
She picked up the item, her face colored with embarrassment and confusion. She 
cleared her throat that seemed to have fogged up the moment she'd opened the 
gift. 
"I don't think the baby can wear this."
She heard a lot of giggling as she stared in shock at the dark red lace bustier, 
complete with garter straps, stockings, lace thong, and a sheer robe. 
"No, but you can," Mina announced. "We didn't get a chance to throw you a bridal 
shower either so we've decided to combine them both."
Usagi shot a wary, embarrassed glance at her mother but her mother merely 
grinned widely and handed her a pretty blue box that looked like it had been 
wrapped by a team of artists. Warily she opened it and almost sighed in relief 
at the rows of beautiful colored bottles inside, until she looked at the labels, 
edible massage oils, except they were of course called 'Body Liqueur'. Her 
mother assured her they were quite tasty.  
"Mom!" 
"I'm sure Endymion could use a massage every now and then." She almost sounded 
innocent, almost. 
This was turning out to be more embarrassing than she had ever dared to dream. 
Of course her embarrassment had only begun since it was immediately followed by 
Rei's gift of five embroidered satin thongs and chocolate body paint. If she had 
blushed more in her life she couldn't recall it. She fluttered between 
embarrassment and utter shock when she unwrapped Ami's gift of the Illustrated 
Kama Sutra.  She didn't dare open it, although she had to admit she was more 
than a little curious. She was certain there were positions she was quite 
familiar with and the idea that her mother should know that she was, was simply 
too much. Of course Ami's face was as red as her own. The final gift from Makoto 
turned out to be another book called Cooking in the Nude complete with a bottle 
of wine and a red silk rose. 
Endymion was going to be very amused when she got home. She had a rather silly 
image of herself decked out in the bustier, with the rose between her teeth, 
massage oils by the bed with the Kama Sutra, and a bottle of wine (which she was 
assured would only taste better in seven months) and chocolate body paint in 
hand.  Fortunately her dirty train of thought was broken before it could get 
further down the track by an array of cute baby gifts from blankets and cute 
little jumpsuits, to teething rings and teddy bears. 
It occurred to her only later that she was going to have a bit of trouble 
getting the gifts and everything she'd bought back home. Fortunately men were 
more useful than they appeared. 
Endymion appeared in her bedroom the night before she had decided to leave. He 
was immediately hijacked by her entire family, and unused to being subjected to 
a determined mother-in-law and a commanding father-in-law, was compelled to have 
breakfast with her family and serve as her gift-transport.  It seemed his royal 
status was of no relevance because Kenji saw fit to demand that he take good 
care of his daughter and grandchild. To his credit, Endymion tried not to be too 
insulted at the idea that he could do anything but. No one mentioned his bad 
behavior on their last meeting and Shingo seemed suitably impressed by his 
commanding presence.
When the time eventually came, she wasn't surprised by her tearfulness. Although 
her father and brother (Endymion pretending to be more dignified) rolled their 
eyes at Usagi's crying friends, they admitted they would miss her enormously. 
And with accusatory glares, they all demanded that she visit more often. 
Somehow, however, despite all the tears, everything felt right. She felt as 
though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. When she mentioned as much 
to Endymion later however, he teasingly pointed out that the weight was simply 
relocating to her stomach and hips.  
 
Lying in bed next to Endymion, sans the bustier which had disappeared under the 
bed at some point during the night, and smelling of strawberry oil, Usagi 
smiled. The night had been amazing. The bustier hadn't hooked all the way 
because of her expanding middle but then Endymion hadn't seemed to mind. It was 
amazing that they had survived three years of marriage and five months of 
pregnancy so far and she was as excited to see him every time he walked through 
the door as she had been in the beginning. 
With four months to go she could hardly wait to see the little girl she was sure 
was nestled inside her. Endymion was convinced it was a girl as well and he was 
certain she'd have black hair and blue eyes just like his. She'd rolled her eyes 
at that thought. Several generations of Serenity had produced little girls who 
looked just like their mothers and she had no doubt this little one would be no 
different. She just hoped she'd be more coordinated. 
She was amazed at her life. It wasn't that it was perfect it was simply that she 
loved it. Endymion's arm snaked around her waist pulling her closer to him.
"Stop all that damn thinking and go to sleep," he grumbled.
She settled in and closed her eyes, secure in the warmth of his embrace. It 
seemed several minutes later he grumbled in her ear. "And she's going to look 
like me."
