-Delivery Blues-

Disclaimer: I don't own any of it.

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Chibi Usa ran happily in the park that was just outside the towering glittering mass that was Crystal Tokyo, laughing happily as the kite she held onto rose into the sky. One of her favorite adults in the whole world, Sailor Pluto, had offered to baby sit for King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity, giving Chibi Usa the chance to escape the dull adult world of court functions and to just be able to run around like any other young girl her age.

"Look Puu," she exclaimed happily, "Look how high up it is."

Pluto smiled, "My goodness Small Lady, I never knew you were such a good kite flyer." As the youngster stood still finally, holding onto the kite string as the black kite swung up and down in the wind, her small guardian Diana ran up to her.

"Small Lady," the grey kitten said respectfully, "It's almost time to go back to the palace. Mars is coming to visit, and…"

"Awww…" the pink-haired girl pouted, "Do I have to visit with Mars?" she asked, giving the kite string a sudden jerk. The kite quickly transformed back into the Luna-P and floated back down to her.

"Small Lady?" Sailor Pluto asked, "Why don't you like spending time with Mars? She is your godmother after all."

"Well," Chibi Usa muttered, "She's not fun like you. Her and my mom always talk about boring court stuff, or she's spending time in front of her fire, or else she's in the palace shrine. I wish you were my godmother instead of her, Puu."

Pluto frowned at that. "Come here, Small Lady," she said as she took the girl's hand and led her over to a nearby park bench. The girl sat down as Diana leapt up on her lap and the Luna-P hovered nearby. "Small Lady, do you know why Mars is your godmother?"

Chibi Usa shook her head, "No Puu, I don't."

Sailor Pluto smiled, "Then I think it's high time you learned."

"Pluto-sama," Diana asked, "May I stay to hear the story too?"

"Of course. You see Small Lady, it all took place after your mom and the Senshi graduated from high school, but just before the rise of Crystal Tokyo. Now your mommy and daddy loved each other very much, and from their love they made you."

"Oh, I know all about that Puu," Chibi Usa said proudly, "My classmates and I are learning it in health class right now."

"Indeed?" Pluto asked, a bemused expression on her face, "Well anyways, you were still in your mommy's belly, and…

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Usagi sighed restlessly as she continued pacing around the living room. She and Mamoru had been happily married for a little over a year now, and his career in the business world was taking off. She was happy for him, but also a bit uneasy. They both knew that Crystal Tokyo was destined to have its beginnings soon after the birth of Chibi Usa, and as Usagi fidgeted about the room straightening tablecloths and arranging pillows on the couple's loveseat, she looked once more down at her large belly.

"Four days overdue," she muttered as her nesting urges continued to motivate her actions. She'd taken the feather duster up and had begun to dust the top of the TV set off when she felt a strong and comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Usako, what are you doing?" Mamoru asked, "We have to leave soon to pick up Rei, remember?"

Usagi turned to her Prince Charming with one of those looks that melted the future king's heart. Today they were scheduled to go to the hospital Ami's mother worked at for a checkup to see if everything was alright with his love. He had become a typical worried expectant father over the past few weeks, his anxiety only increasing with both the approach of the due date and each day overdue. He'd been given leave by his superiors, and in the last few days had noticed certain changes, such as her nesting and her strange food cravings. Granted, with Usagi, a girl more than willing to eat just about anything, one would think it hard to notice any weird food urges. However, when she began craving Minako's cooking...

Usagi waddled out to the car and, after Mamoru helped her with the seatbelt, they headed to the Shrine to pick up Rei. Each week, whenever Usagi and Mamoru went for her prenatal visits, one of the Senshi would travel with them. Even the normally aloof Outers made it a point to be there for their princess. Usagi still smiled every time she thought of the first time she and Mamoru showed up with Haruka, causing the young receptionist at the desk to ask which one was the father. "Guess," the racecar driver said, winking at the blushing receptionist as she did so.

At the shrine, Rei came out casually dressed in a pair of jeans and a light-blue blouse. As she got in the back seat, Usagi thought back upon their relationship. In the beginning, the two girls used to bicker and squabble like five year olds, their arguments usually ending in both girls sticking their tongues out at each other as they both accused the other of being immature.

Over the years though, their relationship had slowly changed and matured to the point where they were as close as siblings, and both young women were closer to one another than to any other of the Senshi.

"So Usagi," Rei asked as she made conversation, "How are you feeling today?"

"Okay I guess," she said as they drove away from the Shrine, "But Chibi Usa is kicking a bit more than usual today. And my back aches a bit."

"Make sure to tell that to the doctor," Mamoru said.

Rei nodded, "You and Mamo-kun were lucky to get a woman prenatal doctor. She probably understands this stuff much better than a guy could… No offense Mamoru."

Both Mamoru and Usagi chuckled as they turned down the street leading to the hospital.

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Meanwhile, in the hospital waiting room, the brunette receptionist looked up from the small pile of paperwork on her desk to see an older-looking man with a white mustache and a tool belt around his waist walking over as he sipped coffee out of a Styrofoam cup. "Oh, hello Kyoshi," the receptionist said with a smile, "What's the good word?"

"Well," the old man said as he used a large monkey wrench to scratch his back, "I think I know what's wrong with the elevator," he said as he motioned with his head towards one of the two elevators across from the reception desk. "But I don't have the replacement parts to fix it with me, they're in the shop. I'm going out to the truck to grab a couple signs to hang up on it on each floor to keep people off it. The other one's fine, but I'm telling you right now sooner or later that elevator's going to fail at the worst possible time," he said, his voice grave as he took another sip of his coffee.

"I see… Then you'll be back shortly won't you?"

"Oh yes," the mechanic answered with a smile, "My shop's just across the city. I'll just hang up the warning signs, head over to there and be back before lunch." He turned away to head out of the hospital's main entrance, walking out to his truck just as Mamoru and Rei were walking in with Usagi.

"Rei," Mamoru said with a smile, "Could you take Usako up to the forth floor while I sign us in at the reception desk?"

"Sure Mamoru-kun, no problem." Her cheerful disposition changed in an instant as Usagi suddenly clutched her belly and grimaced in pain, "Usagi, are you alright?"

"Uh… Y-yeah," she said, "I told you Chibi Usa's been kicking more than usual today, but that last kick…"

"Usako," Mamoru said as he came over and held her close, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Well," she joked, "If I'm not, I couldn't pick a better place to get ill in, could I?"

Mamoru shook his head and smiled. Even now, four days overdue and obviously in discomfort, his love still had her cheerfulness about her. "Okay then, you go up with Rei, and I'll join you soon." They kissed tenderly, then Mamoru walked over to the reception desk as Rei and Usagi went over to the elevators. As the elevator dinged and the doors opened, Mamoru smiled down at the young receptionist who was still working on her paperwork, "Hello, I'm here for the twelve o'clock appointment for Mr. and Mrs. Chiba."

"Yes of course," the receptionist said cordially as she looked up, "Just sign this… Hey! Hey you!" she yelled, standing up as she tried to get someone's attention behind Mamoru, "Don't get on that one!"

Mamoru turned around just in time to see the elevator doors close on Rei and Usagi. Turning back around, he saw a worried look on the young woman's face. "Oh, no," she groaned.

"Miss?" Mamoru asked, suddenly feeling a bit nervous by the woman's behavior, "What's wrong?"

"That elevator," she sighed, "I was supposed to keep anyone from getting on it. It's defective."

"What?" the future king asked in alarm. Turning back around, he watched the numbers above the elevator light up as it hit the first floor, then the second, then… stop. Just then, the repairman came in with his warning signs. Taking one look at the scene, he frowned.

"Don't tell me it happened again," he said exasperatedly.

"Gomen," the receptionist said, "I was momentarily distracted, and…"

"Sir," Mamoru interrupted, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Well, you can see for yourself," he said, sipping on his coffee as he used a screwdriver to point at the doors to the elevator, "The elevator's stuck between floors again."

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There was a brief moment of panic as the elevator abruptly stopped and all the lights went off. Rei immediately put a protective arm around her princess and friend, noting with concern that Usagi seemed to wince as the infant inside her once more began kicking. Within a few seconds though, the lights came back up and Rei moved back.

"It's okay Usagi," she said, trying to encourage the blonde, "The lights are back up."

"Rei," Usagi whispered, shutting her eyes tightly as an intense pain hit her abdomen.

"Still," Rei muttered to herself, "It's strange that the elevator would just stop like that."

"Um, Rei," Usagi said as she could feel a sharp shift in pressure suddenly take place within her.

"I mean, I'm sure the elevator will be up and running again just as soon as…"

"REI!" Usagi screamed, causing her friend to turn around in alarm. The pungent smell of what had just happened reached her nostrils before she actually saw the stain on Usagi's skirt or the puddle beneath her feet. Rei immediately held her princess as the blonde slid down the wall of the elevator to the floor.

"Usagi!" Rei shrieked, her heart gripped with fear as she felt her own pants now soaking wet as she knelt beside Usagi, holding her friend's head close to her heart.

"Rei," Usagi gasped, her breath coming out in short bursts, "My water just broke."

-To Be Continued-

End Notes: Don't worry; the rest of the cast will be joining the fun next chapter.