**This is a repost... my earlier attempt apparently didn't work...?**

Okay.. I admit it... I wrote this in about 30 minutes today, so please be
gentle.

With the subject matter of my series "Almost a Miracle", and the fact that
it's Mother's Day tomorrow, this story just *begged* to be written.

As always, C&C is welcomed and appreciated.

Coutuva.

+++

All *Real* Ranma 1/2 Characters copyright Rumiko Takahashi, and are used
without permission, hopefully to entertain.


Mother's Day - A Ranma 1/2 FanFic
_______________________________________________________________________


Onna-Ranma stood naked before the mirror in the bath room, her left hand
stroking the long scar just below her navel.  In her right hand she held a
scrap of calendar page, having torn it in bitter anger from the calendar
in the kitchen a few minutes before.
       Her heart was heavy as she stared sadly at the ugly mark, wishing
it never had to be.  Deep inside, she knew she had truly wanted to be
a mother to the small life that once existed where her hand now rested, and
whenever she thought of the loss, she could feel her heart break yet again.
        Raising her right hand again, she glared at the scrap of paper, and
crunched it just a little more in her shaking hand.  On the protruding edge
of the scrap, she could still make out the words that had triggered her sad
trip down memory lane.
	"May 11 - Mother's Day".
        The male Ranma had woken up as usual this day, wandered into the
kitchen looking for Akane, and glanced at the calendar.  Instantly, he
snatched the corner of the page off, and stormed from the room, ending
up under a bucket of cold water in the bath room.
	Her anger now turned to anguish as she lowered her red-maned head
and turned from the mirror.  Absently, she let the paper fall from her hand,
then used the same hand to wipe her stinging eyes.
	In her mind, a dizzying array of what-ifs played out, each bespeaking
a great future for the daughter she almost had.  With each possibility, her
sadness seemed to deepen, until finally the tears that had so far only
threatened began to flow, leaving slender, glistening trails along her cheeks.
	For a brief moment, she considered seeking revenge on the person who
brought her this grief with his vapid acts, but being the honorable individual
she was, she could not, she knew, in any good conscience go against the
promise she had made to Akane.
	Cursing to herself, she wiped her eyes again and reached for her
oversized shirt that lay draped over the stool beside her.  As she slid it
on, her eyes breifly caught sight of the scar again, bringing a deeper scowl
to her face.
	Walking slowly out of the bath room, she absently wandered out into
the dining room, not even caring that neither Soun or Genma were there.
Despite her melancholy, she did hear squeals and laughter coming from outside,
and slowly walked to the sliding door to investigate.
	The sight that greeted her in the yard made her smile in spite of
herself, as she saw her family playing happily.  Akane chased a surprisingly
quick and spry Miyabi about the yard, while Masao lay on his back, squealing
at the spectacle.
	"Akane..."  the name rolled absently off her lips.  It occurred to
Ranma then that she was not the only one that this date held significance to.
Akane was a mother, the mother of two of the most beautiful children a man
could ever want.  As such, she had given him the most precious gift a woman
could give, and Ranma knew, from his brief experience, exactly how precious
that gift was.
  	It was beyond a doubt the most important time in a woman's life, and
one that exacted a huge toll in energy, patience and love, and Ranma suddenly
felt honoured that Akane had allowed him to be the father of her most
cherished children.
	A new tear formed in her eye now, only this one was of thanks for the
two beautiful children she loved, and, equally as precious, the woman who
bore them, raised them, and loved them selflessly.
	Ranma continued to watch the spirited play in the yard, smiling with
pride, yet still crying with thanks to be able to do just that.
	After a few emotional moments more, onna-Ranma turned away from the
window and strode purposefully back to the bath.  A few more seconds elapsed,
and the male Ranma emerged from the room and headed up to get dressed.
	In the bedroom, Ranma sat before a pen and a sheet of paper, and with
no hesitation composed a note.  Upon getting dressed, he folded the note
carefully and tucked it in the back of his pants.

	Out in the yard, he walked up to the most honored woman in his life
and bowed deeply before her.  When he rose, Akane could see that he had been
crying.
	"Ranma... What's wrong?"  she asked, reaching for him.
	"Akane-chan;  I was sitting in the bath earlier, crying about our
lost daughter, and feeling very sorry for myself..."  he began, lowering his
eyes.  "I was being selfish.  It's Mother's Day today, and I almost wasted it
on *my* misery.  I... want to say something to you, and I wrote it down so I
wouldn't screw it up, too."  he continued, raising his eyes to meet hers.
	Akane's face softened as she regarded her husband, and she immediately
sought to reassure him.  "Ranma, you don't.."
	She was abruptly cut off by Ranma's hand rising before her face.
	"Akane... I must.  Please hear me out."  he insisted, his eyes
imploring.
	Akane simply nodded, biting her lower lip.  Miyabi quietly wandered
up beside her, clung on to her flowing yellow skirt, and looked curiously at
Ranma.  Even at her tender age, she could see that something was bothering
her Papa.
	Ranma cleared his throat, sniffed to clear his sinuses, and withdrew
the note from his waistband.  With a quick glance at Akane, he unfolded it
and began to read aloud.
	"Akane my love... I stood today before a mirror, seeing only the
scars of a battle lost, a life ended, and a future destroyed.  My thoughts
were only for me and the great sorrows that buried my heart.  But, as I stood
looking at myself, thinking these thoughts, I remembered that the reason I
was thinking them was that it is Mother's Day.  The day set aside to celebrate
the love, happiness and pride of being a mother, and to recognize those who
have sacrificed so much for the simple joy of raising their children.
	I remembered that you, Akane, are the mother of the two most
beautiful children a man could ever want, and you have given me the honor of
being their father.  This is the truest sign of love, and it is for this
great, selfless act that I thank you, Akane... I am truly the most fortunate
man alive today, for you chose to give me these wonderful gifts, an act which
I can never hope to match.  It is with all that I am that I express my love
for you, Akane Saotome... and with the greatest of gratitude and indebtedness
that I say... Happy Mother's Day."  he concluded, bowing deeply once more.
	Ranma looked up from the paper to see Akane looking back at him with
shimmering eyes, her face flushed and body trembling.  He reached into his
front pocket and produced a small gold locket and chain, and opened it before
Akane to reveal two tiny pictures within... one of his children, and the other
of her.  Wordlessly, he closed it again, and gently placed it in Akane's
hands.  Looking into her still shimmering eyes,  he smiled gently.
	"Suke Dayo, Akane-Chan."  he said, quietly.  "Thank you."
	Akane could bear no more.  Bursting into tears, she wrapped Ranma
in a passionate hug, nearly knocking him off-balance.
	"Suke Dayo, Ranma-san." she whispered between sobs. "I wouldn't want
anyone else to be the father of my children... or, to be their Daddy.  And
you should be very proud of your part in our family..."  she continued, her
voice trailing off.
	"I am... but I'm more proud of you, especially when I see them
together... and you with them."  Ranma replied, squeezing his spouse a
little tighter.  "You made them what they are, Akane... and I love you for
that."  he continued, his own voice starting to break.
	Akane smiled through her tears, not wanting to talk any more.  She
had her children, she had her husband... and she had their love.  It was a
perfect Mother's Day.



============================================================================
END - Mother's Day - A Ranma1/2 FanFic by V. Coutu


Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com

Catch all my 'Fics (and more!) at Water's Edge!
http://waters-edge.home.ml.org/archive/Vic/

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he achieves it... like it's damn-near
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