During the last seven months, their roles dramatically reversed. With Mamoru nearly recovered from his operation, it was now his turn to assume all the duties that Usagi took care of before while her pregnancy progressed.
Usagi closed her eyes and felt the warm summer breeze flow over her as they strolled along the stone path, remembering how wonderful it was to have Mamoru fuss over her so much, even if he did tend to overreact on occasion.
Glancing over in her direction, Mamoru stopped, a concerned look crossing his features. He drew her close to him, whispering, "Usako, are you all right?"
Opening her eyes slowly, Usagi smiled lovingly at Mamoru, and slipped her arms around his neck, stopping only when her round tummy got in the way. "I'm just fine. A little tired, but that's normal."
Mamoru spotted a nearby bench, led Usagi to it, and gently helped her to sit down. Sitting down next to her, he remarked, "Maybe we should go home now. You need to rest."
Placing a hand on his arm, Usagi shook her head. "The fresh air makes me feel better. I--" She gasped as a sharp pain shot through the lower half of her body. She bent over and breathed in and out slowly.
Feeling her grip tighten on his arm, Mamoru glanced worriedly at his wife. "Usako? What is it? What's the matter?"
Through clenched teeth, she replied, "Slight change of plans, Mamo-chan. What's the quickest way to the hospital?"
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Counting the speckled black and white tiles, Mamoru paced up and down in the waiting room in the maternity ward, anxiously awaiting any bit of news.
"Mamoru-san?" A low voice brought his head up, and he found himself face to face with Kenji and Ikuko. Mamoru stared at them momentarily, realizing this was the first time he had actually seen Usagi's parents. He was not disappointed. Usagi had gotten her beautiful eyes from her mother, and by the looks of it, he was sure she had the same strong-willed nature as her father.
Mamoru shook himself out of his trance. "I'm glad you could come so quickly. The doctor says it shouldn't be much longer, but that's all I've heard so far." He turned to look down the hallway. "I can't wait," he whispered anxiously.
Kenji couldn't hold in his opinion any longer. "How do you expect to support a family with your condition, Mamoru-san? Usagi will have to stay home now and take care of the baby, and there's no way-"
Holding up a hand, Mamoru interrupted him. "I'm sorry, Tsukino-san, but I have no condition. The operation seven months ago took care of all that. And I do have a job now, a well-paying one as a matter of fact. I knew that I would be supporting Usako and the baby, so I prepared early on. Usako and I are extremely happy. We just wish you would share that happiness."
Mamoru continued, his voice gentle and his manner calm. "I know you feel like I took your daughter away from you and turned her against you, but I didn't. I just helped her to become the person that she is now. This is a huge stepping stone for us, and we may need your help along the way. Please don't shut us out any longer."
The three of them stood in the middle of the waiting room in an uncomfortable silence, then Ikuko stepped closer to Mamoru and took his hand in hers. "Thank you, Mamoru-san," she replied softly, winning a stern look from her husband and one of shock from Mamoru. Thank you for helping our Usagi to grow up." She squeezed his hand in gratitude, thrown off guard when Mamoru scooped her up into a warm embrace.
"Chiba-san?" The doctor stood in the middle of the hallway, obviously embarrassed to break the mood. "The delivery went well. Usagi-san's tired, but she's asking for you."
Mamoru let go of Ikuko, quickly following the doctor down to Usagi's room. He stopped and stood in the doorway, gazing upon his beautiful angel. Her eyes were closed, her blonde hair matted down and her face still shiny with sweat. She opened her eyes slightly when she heard someone enter the room.
Her face broke into a loving smile when she saw him. "Mamo-chan..." she mumbled groggily, reaching for his hand. He took it in his, leaned down and tenderly kissed her. Usagi gingerly turned to her side, and pointed to the tiny bassinet at the side of her bed. "Come see your son, Mamo-chan. He looks just like you."
Mamoru's eyes widened, and they brimmed with tears. "I have a son?" He walked briskly around to the other side of the bed, where the tiny infant lay, gazing at his new surroundings before drifting off to sleep again. Usagi slowly sat up in the bed and nudged Mamoru. "The doctor says he weighs eight pounds."
Not taking his eyes off his son for one moment, he bent over and delicately picked the baby up in his arms, careful not to wake him. He lightly touched the tiny fingers and toes, and marveled at the soft downy black hair that covered his head.
Usagi smiled at the scene before her and asked softly, "Are you happy, Mamo-chan?"
He looked down at his wife with loving eyes, and then turned back to his son. "Yes, Usako," he murmured gently, "more than you could ever imagine."
From the hallway, Kenji and Ikuko looked on in silence. The two of them walked back to the waiting room, satisfied the love Usagi and Mamoru had for each other would always be more than enough.