Just Wishful Thinking
By Douglas Helm and "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl.

Those characters that are original and the story "Just Wishful Thinking"
are copyrighted (c) 2000 by Douglas Helm and Will Wolfshohl.

This story and our other Sailor Moon stories reside at
http://rivendell.fortunecity.com/traveller/861/

Send comments to: Douglas Helm (dhelm@log.on.ca) or
"Tuxedo" Will (wwolfshohl@logicon.com)


Chapter 3 - The Past

It was the soft but insistent tone of the alarm that woke Chiba Usagi.
She blearily stared at the clock, wishing that it would just shut up
when she felt someone reach across her and turn it off.

"Ohayo Usako," Mamoru murmured.

"Ohayo," Usagi mumbled back. <Oh it's too early to get up!> She snuggled
deeper under the covers and let out a long sigh.

"I can make breakfast if you want."

"Too early for breakfast, Mamo-chan," Usagi muttered and looked at the
clock, "It's five-thirty in the morning." Sighing again, she pushed
herself up and shivered in the cool air of the morning. "I'll go make
breakfast." She made her way out of the room and into the bathroom.
After a minute or so, she came back out feeling better. She was still a
little sleepy but more awake than what she would've expected. <Heh!>
Usagi thought as she went into the kitchen, <Wouldn't Rei be surprised.>

"Don't worry, Usako," Mamoru remarked when he came into the kitchen a
short time later, "I'll get that promotion and raise today. We'll go out
tonight and celebrate, ne?" He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms
around his wife. Carefully turning, she wrapped her arms around him and
standing up a little gave him a kiss. "I love you."

"And I love you," Usagi declared softly, "I'm so proud of you,
Mamo-chan." She snuggled her head against his muscular chest. For the
briefest of moments, Usagi imagined that what had been occurring
recently was just a dream. That this was her Mamoru and that they were
alone in the world. "Now you go sit down and I'll get you some tea,"
Usagi told him with a smile as she gave the young man before her a large
hug. <I'm making breakfast for Mamo-chan...> Not one of her dreams but
she always liked doing things for him.

After getting him the tea and then the rest of his breakfast, Usagi
contented herself by sitting at the table and just watching her husband
eat. <My husband...> A smile spread across her lips. <And Makoto's my
imouto.> She was glad her friend had a family. <Mako-chan deserves a
family.> But what were the older Chibi-Usa and Momoko doing now? <Are
they okay? Mom won't like me leaving them alone.>

"Usagi," Mamoru called out, "What's wrong?"

"Wrong?"

"You look so serious," Mamoru observed. "I can turn down the
promotion... if you want me to." The promotion would mean more work and
likely less time at home but they could use the extra income the raise
would bring.

"No," Usagi replied and took his head, "No... I was just thinking." She
gave him a smile and added, "Nothing is wrong. I'm here with my handsome
knight and my two wonderful children." She felt her smile grow larger as
Mamoru kissed her. <Things are so strange but they do feel very nice.>
There was one thing that she would have to do though. <I'll have to be
like Ami and just make sure I know about everything that's happened
before.> She whined a little then and muttered, "And I'm no good in
history."

"Nani?" Mamoru asked.

"Oh, nothing," Usagi replied nervously while reaching back to scratch
the back of her head.

                                 - -

Usagi sat at the kitchen table sipping a cup of tea. It was quiet in the
apartment. Mamoru had left to catch his train so he could get to work on
time and the girls weren't up yet. She was startled and nearly yelled
when Luna jumped up onto the table. "I'm sorry, Usagi-chan," Luna said,
"Gomen. I didn't mean to scare you."

"That's okay, Luna," Usagi remarked and reaching out, gave the cat a few
scratches behind the ears. "I was really just relaxing. I'm not used to
getting up so early." She would have covered her mouth at that slip but
she caught herself.

Luna regarded her strangely for a few moments before saying, "I think
the girls enjoyed themselves yesterday."

"And they were very well-behaved. You do such a good job with them."

"I try, but not being able to talk around your parents creates problems
sometimes." Luna's tail gave a small twitch of irritation.

"Shingo was always a little scared of you, Luna. I don't think he could
handle you suddenly talking," Usagi jibed. Seeing the mildly sour look
on her feline friend's face, she giggled and added, "It isn't really
you, Luna."

"I know, Usagi-chan," Luna replied, "Well... I'll go get the girls up
now." Usagi looked at the clock and noticed that it was quarter to
seven.

                                 - -

While Momoko and even Chibi-Usa, much to the surprise of Usagi, were
quite willing to get up, neither child was interested in getting ready
for school. Both children settled into the couch as if they were
preparing to watch television all day. When Usagi called them, both
girls looked at each other and giggled softly. Their mother had been
acting strangely yesterday morning so they were going to see if they
could get her to act funny again. They just hoped they could do it
before it was time to go to school.

"Girls, I won't call you again!" Usagi called from the kitchen as she
sat some toast onto the table, "Come and eat now!"

"But we're watching anime, Mommy!" Momoko and Chibi-Usa sang together.
Usagi sighed a little and walked into the living room. Purposefully
walking over to the television, she turned it off. "Hey!" both children
squawked in protest.

"Mommy... that was a good part," Chibi-Usa pouted and flicked the
television back on.

"I said it's time to eat breakfast," Usagi declared and walking over,
took the remote from her daughter's hand. Ignoring the squeal of
protest, Usagi turned the program off and then pointed to the kitchen,
"Go and eat please."

"Aw... nuts!" both children huffed before sliding from the couch and
moving into the kitchen. Usagi smiled before following them.

"That's good. You want to get your strength up for school," Luna
commented to the children. "And Usagi-chan, you eat something too."

Usagi blinked. <That's right... I haven't had anything to eat yet.> She
was suddenly hungry but mystified at the same time. <Okay, now I know
things aren't normal!> Spreading some jam on a piece of toast, she
chewed it thoughtfully.

"Hey, Chibi-Usa got more milk than I did!" Momoko complained.

"Here," Chibi-Usa squeaked and handed her glass to Momoko.

"You can have my cereal," Momoko said and pushed her bowl towards her
sister.

"Girls, eat your breakfast or no TV after school," Usagi stated
authoritatively. <Whoa... Adult Usagi to the rescue!>

                                 - -

"Momoko," Usagi said sternly, "Get your socks on." She glanced at the
clock and wondered how long her patience would last. "Usagi, don't
bounce on the bed."

"But Momoko did it," Chibi-Usa whined.

"I know and I told your sister not to. Now come and get your fuku blouse
on." Chibi-Usa just continued to bounce. Usagi decided to handle one
problem at a time when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Chibi-Usa chirped.

"No, you don't," Usagi instructed as she caught her daughter, "You get
your blouse on." With that, she left the girls' bedroom and walked over
to the door. "Who is it?" <At this rate, I'll never get them to school
on time!>

"Ohayo Onee-chan!" Makoto's voice chirped from the other side of the
door.

"Ohayo Mako-chan!" Usagi greeted, "What are you doing here?"

"Mako-obachan!" the twins cried and ran out of the room to greet Makoto.

"Now, girls, why aren't you dressed for school?" Makoto asked while
stepping into the apartment. "Don't you want me to walk you to school?"

"Yeah!" they chirped, "But we were playin'."

<Hai and I enjoyed watching you play,> Usagi thought, <But Luna was
right it was time to get ready for school.> It felt odd not having to
rush off to school herself. <But do I have to rush off someplace else?>
Well, she'd sit tight and wait and see what Luna said.

"Come on, girls, let's get ready for school," Makoto said cheerily, "And
maybe I'll take you for ice cream after school."

"Makoto..." Usagi warned. The teen just giggled.

                                 - -

Usagi, who was sitting on the coach, stared at the television for a
moment and then flicked it off. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and
tried to image what she should be doing. <Housework... but I hate
cleaning.> Pushing herself up, she wandered into her bedroom and decided
to make the bed. <That's easy enough.> And it really had to be done.

Once that chore was finished, she went into the girls' room and looked
around. "Time to put the bed away." Instead of folding it up though,
Usagi flopped down on it and reaching up, grabbed the two pillows and
dragged them into a hug. <My girls are so nice. I like being a mom.>
Even with the twins giving her trouble, the hugs and kisses she had
gotten made up for it. <And I'm married to Mamoru.>

"That looks comfortable," Luna stated, "It's lucky you have a day off
work." Usagi opened one eye to look at Luna. "Anything wrong,
Usagi-chan?"

"No," Usagi replied and pushed herself up, "I just wish I didn't have to
get up so early." She smiled then and added, "I remember sleeping in
until it was too late and I'd run all the way to school." Luna chuckled
remembering those days. "It's certainly helps to have Makoto come and
get the girls off to school."

"It isn't like them," Luna frowned a little before concluding, "I think
they were trying to razz you."

"What for?"

"Well, you were acting oddly yesterday..." Luna admitted, "Ami was
worried about you."

"I think it was because of this weird dream I had," Usagi offered,
"Chibi-Usa was my daughter from the future and Momoko was just her best
friend."

"I told you not to eat that ice cream, Usagi-chan," Luna chided, "I
thought it had gone a little off."

"Are we gonna have a Senshi meeting soon?" Usagi asked after a brief
silence.

"Hai," Luna began, "Actually, I was going to ask you if you wanted a
Senshi meeting today. Ami has some new information about our last
battle."

<I get to choose when our next meeting is? Sugoi!> Usagi thought,
<Hmmm... I'd like to see the others... But I'd like to do some digging
first.> "What about tomorrow?"

"Well, you work tomorrow," Luna pointed out, "But I don't see a
problem." She sat silently for a few more moments and then continued,
"Better have it here. That way the girls can be put to bed if the
meeting runs extra long."

"Sounds good, Luna," Usagi agreed, "Well, I better do the rest of the
housework." She giggled then. "Or it'll never get done." Luna smiled and
then said she was going out to meet Artemis.

                                 - -

While doing cleaning and other small chores around the apartment weren't
her idea of fun, Usagi didn't find them as onerous as she did as a teen.
She knew her older self didn't like them either but she did find that if
she worked at them, then they were done quicker. Another factor in her
motivation was that she had other people depending on her to do these
things.

<Paydirt!> Usagi thought as she ran a duster over a shelf, <It's a
picture album.> In fact, there were two of them. Deciding to take a
break, she made some tea before curling up on the couch with the albums.
The first one she had discovered look like just a general picture album.
The first picture she came across made her giggle.

<No way!> she thought, <I never thought Makoto was that small!> It was a
picture of a six year old Makoto, looking slightly bewildered. Giggling
again, she saw another picture of Makoto at a young age with herself. <I
must have been about thirteen.> Well, that would mean that Makoto was
adopted when she was young.

After a few more pages, she came to one that made her eyes bulge.
<Kami-sama, I look like a whale!> Indeed, a young looking Usagi with a
very swollen belly. <I felt like I would burst then.> Usagi blinked a
little bit but didn't do anything else. She was getting used to these
little flashes of memory from her other self. There were some more
pictures during her various stages of pregnancy and then she got into
some wedding photos. <Oh, he looks so kawaii,> she thought tenderly as
she stared down at a young looking Mamoru.

<Oh my gosh!> she thought when she saw a group photo, <Look how young
the girls look.> She must have known all of them when they were under
ten. <Kawaii! Rei's so adorable.> Giggling a little more, she continued
walking down memory lane, her older self occasionally supplying humorous
or serious comments.

                                 - -

After getting another refill of tea, Usagi turned her attention to the
other album. Quickly it became obvious that this album centered around
the girls. Both her daughters and the other Senshi. <Oh, none of the
girls could be older than nine when that was taken,> she thought, <Look
at the chocolate.> It was all over the girls' faces. "Oh poor Luna..."

"Nani? Poor me?" Luna asked. Usagi gave a yelp of surprise and whirled
to see Luna coming into the room. "Gomen nasai, Usagi-chan," Luna
apologized, "Didn't mean to frighten you."

"That's okay, Luna," Usagi replied, "I was just looking at these." When
Luna saw the picture that Usagi had just been looking at, she grimaced.

"I try to forget that," Luna admitted and chuckled.

Usagi giggled and flipped the page. "Oh and look at this one!" Luna
settled onto Usagi's lap so she could enjoy the pictures too.

                                 - -

As Usagi and her two daughters left the schoolyard, the twins started
skipping ahead. "Not too far, Musume," she called out.

"Hurry up, Mommy!" Momoko called.

"Yeah!" Chibi-Usa added, "Or we gonna miss the show!"

"Hai, hai," Usagi said and giggled. She picked up her pace and passed
the girls. They yelled for her to slow down and she giggled. <They
complain about me going too slow and then they tell me to wait up.> By
the time they were halfway home though, both children were content to
hold Usagi's hands and discuss what they had done at school that day.

"Want a drink?" Usagi asked her girls. When they nodded, she directed
them to the Crown Fruit Parlor. As they entered, she spotted her younger
brother. She felt her eyebrows raise though as she noticed that Shingo
was performing liplock with no other person than Aino Minako. <Oh... I
just can't resist!> Walking over to her brother, she announced, "Your
girlfriend is going to get jealous if she sees you kissing Minako."
Shingo gave a start and jerked away from the blonde. Chibi-Usa and
Momoko giggled before running over and hugging their uncle.

"Girlfriend?!?" Minako screeched.

"Minako-chan, YOU are my girlfriend!" Shingo protested, "Usagi's just
causing trouble." <Baka Onee!> He gave her a black look. "Go away,
Onee-chan."

"I thought you made a kawaii couple yesterday."

"So that's why you couldn't take me to the park, Shingo-KUN!" Minako
hissed.

"Please, Minako-chan," Shingo pleaded, "I love you."

<Kami-sama! I didn't think it was that serious,> Usagi berated herself,
<Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.> Her guilt rose when she saw
tears shimmering in Minako's eyes.

"You knew I was studying. You even met her yesterday," Shingo tried to
explain, "Remember, I came around and introduced her to you?" He shot
Usagi a nasty glare. Minako fumed. "Come on, Minako-chan, you want to go
to the movies tonight, ne?"

"Can we come?!" both children asked.

"Sure, you can go," Minako answered sweetly, "Because I'M NOT GOING!"

"Minako-chan..." Shingo wailed as his girlfriend stalked out of the
Crown Fruit Parlor.

<Kami-sama, Shingo's gonna kill me!> Usagi thought, <And here I was
worried he didn't have a girlfriend.> By the looks of it, he didn't at
the moment. <Baka Odango Atama!> Well, she'd give Minako a call when she
got home. "Come on, girls, let's get you those drinks, then we can go
home."

They had gotten some juice and were sitting at the table when Shingo,
who had to no avail ran out after Minako, came stalking towards them.
"How could you do that?!"

"I-I'm sorry, Shingo," Usagi apologize and blushed while looking at the
table, "I didn't mean to cause trouble. Gomen nasai." She peeked up at
her brother who was standing with arms crossed. "I'll give Minako a call
later on. I promise."

"You know how I feel about Minako," Shingo stated coolly, "You were
teasing me yesterday about it." His lips thinned in annoyance.

"I am very sorry. Gomen nasai," Usagi said softly and bowed her head, "I
will call Minako." The twins watched this interchange silently. They
could sense that saying something imprudent could cause trouble so they
decided to stay quiet and see what would happen.

"Usagi, you know I want to marry Minako some day." Shingo regarded his
big sister and continued, "You know she looks up to you."

<Minako?> Usagi thought, <I always looked up to her.> At least when it
came to fighting as a Sailor Senshi. Her older self took over at this
point and explained, "I know I caused a lot of trouble and I'm sorry.
Please let me talk to Minako before you talk to her. Maybe I can at
least get her to listen to you."

"Oh... okay," Shingo sighed. Not that he relished the idea of his sister
talking to his girlfriend at that moment, but Minako did look up to
Usagi. So maybe, just maybe, Minako would listen to her more than she'd
listen to him. "Onee-chan no baka," he mumbled out when Usagi gave him a
quick hug.

                                 - -

Usagi was being indecisive. She wasn't sure whether or not to prepare
supper for a variety of reasons. None of which were foremost in her mind
at the moment. She had tried calling Minako but she wasn't home so she
had left a message. What was even more distressing was that Minako
wasn't answering her communicator.

Hearing a strange noise, Usagi stopped in her pacing and listened. <That
better not be...> Turning towards the twin's bedroom, she walked with
measured steps and called out, "Momo-chan, Chibi-Usa-chan, what are you
doing?"

"Playin'," came the voice of Chibi-Usa but the noise didn't continue.

"What are you playing?"

"Bunnies!" Momoko responded.

Coming into the doorway of the bedroom, Usagi saw both Momoko and
Chibi-Usa happily bouncing on the couch. "Girls, you have five seconds
to sit down on that couch."

"But Mommy..." Chibi-Usa began.

"One."

"We're just havin' fun," Momoko whined.

"Two."

"You be a bunny too, Mommy."

"Three."

"Yeah, Mommy, you be a bunny."

"Four."

Just as Usagi started to say five, both girls plopped down onto the
couch giggling the entire time. The couch groaned under the
mistreatment. Usagi crossed her arms and carefully made her way across
the room. Stopping, she picked up a school uniform and asked, "Whose is
this?" Both girls raised a hand. "Why didn't you put it away?"

"'Cause you do, Mommy," Momoko replied.

That's right, she did. Deciding to leave the school uniform for the
moment, she crossed the rest of the way to stand in front of her
children. "Girls, didn't Mommy tell you not to jump on the bed?"

"But we were jumpin' on the couch," Chibi-Usa countered boldly.

"Didn't Mommy say not to jump on furniture?" Two little heads nodded.
"So why were you jumping on the couch?"

"Mommy, the couch not furry-ure," Momoko squeaked, "It's a couch."

<Oh Kami-sama!> Usagi thought, <I must have explained...> Her thought
was broken off as the phone rang. "You stay right there, and don't jump
on the couch." Turning, she left the room and crossed over to the phone.
"Moshi moshi, Chiba residence."

"Hello, Chiba-san, did somebody call looking for me?" Minako's voice
said stiffly.

<Oh Minako, you sound so sad.> "I did, Minako-chan. I wanted to talk to
you about Shi..." She was cut off as the phone on the other end was
slammed down. <Maybe now just isn't a good time.> She tried the Aino
home again but got the same response. <I'll try later tonight.> She was
just about to go back to her children when the apartment door opened.

It was Mamoru and he looked radiant. In his arms were flowers and a
couple of stuffed animals. Giving a squeal of delight, she rushed
forward and hugged him. "Oh Mamo-chan, you got the promotion!"

"And I couldn't have done it without you, Usako," Mamoru declared. He
handed his wife the flowers. "These are for you, beauty for beauty." The
young woman blushed lightly while looking down at the bouquet of red
roses. "Where are my girls?"

"In their room," Usagi replied. She turned to call their children and
found the girls had come out to see what all the commotion was about. <I
can't scold them. Not now.> "Your daddy has a surprise."

"Nani?" the twins asked.

"I got a big raise, so look what I bought you," Mamoru announced and
held out the stuffed animals. The girls ran up and took the toys while
thanking him. They then giggled while Mamoru lifted both of them up and
hugged them.

"Were we good?" Momoko asked.

"Hai," Mamoru answered, "You and Chibi-Usa and Mommy helped me get that
raise." Without their support, he wouldn't have even tried.

"Oh Mamo-chan," Usagi gushed and sniffled a little. She stepped forward
and hugged her family. Blinking rapidly, she stepped back and wiped at
her eyes.

"Mommy, why are ya cryin'?" Momoko wondered.

"Yeah?" Chibi-Usa agreed then added, "I not jump on the furry-ure,
promise."

Usagi giggled and gave her daughter a light tap on the head. "I'm just
very proud. I'm very happy." She wiped at her eyes again. "Here you
bring presents and I don't even have supper ready."

"And I said we would go out," Mamoru replied and added, "Girls, go get
into some pretty dresses because I'm taking your mommy and you out for
supper."

"YEAH!" the twins cheered.

"I agree," Usagi said, "YEAH!" and wrapping her arms around both
children and husband, hugged them again.

                                 - -

Usagi, in a state of warm fuzziness, settled herself by the phone and
dialed Minako's number. <Strange that it hasn't changed,> Usagi thought.

"Moshi moshi, Aino residence."

"Minako-chan?"

"Chiba-SAN?"

"Minako-chan, please don't hang up. I want to apologize for my behavior
today. I was out of line." Usagi held her breath for a moment but this
time, Minako didn't hang the phone up. "Minako-chan... I am very sorry.
Gomen. I was just teasing Shingo."

There was a little sniffle before Minako answered, "Usa... Usagi, I
thought you'd understand. I... I feel so special when I'm with him. I
think I feel what you and Mamoru felt when you were young."

"You were a little jealous of him, ne?"

"Yeah..." Minako confessed softly, "I couldn't understand it really. But
I thought you were so pretty and then you and him got married."

A sudden thought flashed through Usagi's mind and she felt a shiver run
up her spine. <No way... Well, I'm not going to say anything yet. I've
already put my foot in my mouth once today.> "Minako, I can tell both of
you care about each other. Shingo was very upset with me."

"But at lease you let me know about HER."

"Now Mina..." Usagi began, "I was just teasing Shingo." She giggled as
Minako made a disgruntled noise. "I know that my otouto loves you very
much."

"You sure Shingo loves me?" the fifteen year old asked. Usagi could
almost here her pouting. "I mean she's nice looking, ne?"

"Minako-chan," Usagi said with a grin, "I know this girl. She already
has a boyfriend and my otouto wouldn't want to mess with him. Now come
on, at least talk to Shingo or he'll be mad at me forever."

"But you deserve it for teasing my Shingo like that," her friend
admonished. She'd have to do something special to make it up to him. The
teen made a sour note as Usagi giggled. "Oh all right, Usagi-chan, he is
sorta dreamy." Minako sighed.

Usagi was about to respond when Chibi-Usa came padding out of her
bedroom in her pajamas and walked over to the phone. "Mommy, is Minako
gonna read us a story?"

"I don't know, Chibi-Usa-chan, why don't you ask her," Usagi suggested
and handed the phone to her daughter.

"Konbanwa Minako-chan!" Chibi-Usa called into the phone, "You gonna read
us a story?"

"I'm sorry, pumpkin. I can't tonight."

"Aw... but I like your stories." She turned and called out, "Momo-chan,
you like Minako's stories, ne?"

"Hai!" Momoko answered and came quickly out of the bedroom. She took the
phone from her sister and greeted Minako. "Read us a story. Please?"

"I said I couldn't, sweetie," Minako said again.

Usagi, seeing that this could go on all night, instructed, "Please give
me the phone." After a moment, Momoko handed her mother the phone.
"Arigato, Momo-chan," she told her daughter, "I'll talk to you later on,
ne Minako-chan?"

"Hai, ja!" Minako chirped and then there was a click of the phone
hanging up.

"Come on, Musume," Mamoru commanded, "It's time for good little girls to
be in bed."

"Are you sure they're good?" Usagi asked with a glint of mischief in her
eye.

"We're good, Mommy," the twins sang.

"Then what are you doing up?" The girls looked at each other, their
mother, and then at each other again before scrambling for their room.
Usagi smiled and pushing herself up, walked into their bedroom. "Now do
you want me to read you a story?" Both girls nodded.

                                 - -

A little while later, both girls were sound asleep. Usagi carefully
pushed herself off of the bed and turned the light off. Pausing for a
moment in the doorway, she looked at her little girls and smiled. Coming
into the living room, she smiled at Mamoru who was sitting on the couch.
Walking over, she bent down and gave him a long, deep kiss. "I'm so
proud of you, Mamo-chan." Her heart sped up a little as Mamoru kissed
her back. Sitting down beside her husband, she snuggled close and lay
her head on his shoulder.

"I'm so lucky to have found you, Usako," Mamoru declared, "To think we
met over a black eye back in junior high." Usagi sat upright and gave
him a shocked look. Grinning impishly, Mamoru amended, "Not your fault
you were such a klutz then." He gasped as his wife poked him
none-too-gently in the ribs. Usagi didn't resist when he drew her into a
hug. "I love you, Usako."

"And I love you, Mamo-chan," Usagi mumbled while kissing him again.
<This is right.> What she said next made Usagi blush. "Come to bed. We
have to work tomorrow." Mamoru smiled gave her a quick peck on the cheek
before standing. She took his offered hand and allowed herself to be led
into the bedroom. As the door closed and Mamoru looked tenderly at her,
she could feel the heat raising to her face.

"You are so beautiful," he remarked softly.

"And you are, my handsome prince," she replied. Moreover, as the light
was extinguished, she felt his hands gently caressing her. She was both
unsure and expectant. What would it be like? Did she want it? The older
part, the more mature one did. A tiny thrill ran through her as he
slowly undid her nightgown.

<I'm only fifteen!> Usagi's mind wailed at one point but then she
relaxed, <Mamoru would never hurt me.> She then allowed herself to let
go and let nature control her reactions. What followed was both gentle
and reassuring as Mamoru followed her lead, and what a lead!

                                 - -

Late that evening as she lay with her head on his chest, she felt warm
and content. <Oh Mamo-chan... that was so wonderful.> A memory of that
fateful night flitted through her mind and she blushed. <I love you.> It
had been like her dreams. <No, BETTER than my dreams.>

Sighing a little, she snuggled a little closer. <I would like to talk to
you, Mamoru, about what is happening but that would hurt too many
people.> She wouldn't hurt the children that made her so happy, even
when they strayed. She would not want to see the man she cared for so
deeply for, who depended on her, hurt. <Mamoru depends on me.> And she
felt a little pride in knowing, with absolute certainty, that she could
provide that support.

End of Chapter 3

Coming next in Chapter 4 - The Present