Author's notes: Hi. I'm a new SM fanfic author here. **Fanfare! **

This is a nice, short Usagi and ChibiUsa fan fiction, which takes place after the end of SM Sailor Stars, and it is actually the first to be completed out of several other U & C fanfics I have been working on right now. Hope you enjoy this! ^_^

One more thing.... Since I really enjoy reading U & C stories that other fans wrote, I have put up a web page with a few such fan fictions (Many thanks to the authors whose permission I have asked to post their stories on my page ^_^!!) as well as my story in progression. The URL is: http://www.homestead.com/usachibi/

If you have any comments or complaints, e-mail them to: jellicatso@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I wrote this fanfic just for the fun of it. I do not own Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi, and all terms, names etc., associated with this or other series - they are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi, DiC, Disney, Bandai, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and... uhh, other big companies, I think. (Just how many owned Sailor Moon, I wonder?? @_@)

******************

THE GIRL FROM THE FUTURE

By Jellicatso

Rated: PG

Usagi sighed deeply and rubbed her swollen belly. She was very tired (she hadn't gotten much sleep last night) and longed desperately to turn over with ease on the futon and just go to sleep. A really long good sleep - uninterrupted, if possible. But it was not to be. Her unborn daughter was quite active, moving and kicking and making it impossible to sleep anyhow.

"Shhh, shhh, ChibiUsa-chan. Can't you ever give me a break?" Usagi murmured softly, massaging her stomach in a futile attempt to placate the restless baby. Usagi felt another kick and groaned. "Yeah, I know. Today is THE day, and you just can't wait to get out of there, ne?"

In the front of her a paper-paneled door slid open and Rei, with a slight frown of concern, poked her head into the guestroom where Usagi had taken to the bed half an hour ago. "You okay, Usagi? I can hear you groaning from the other room."

Usagi leaned back on big pile of pillows behind her and nodded. "I think so. My ChibiUsa is very restless, though."

"I see. I've called Ami at the hospital, and she should be here any time soon. Let's hope ChibiUsa can hold on a while longer." Rei walked farther into the room and kneeled at the odango-haired woman's side. She smiled, and brushed the waylaid strands of golden hair out of her friend's face. "Want something to drink, or do you need anything else?"

"I think a glass of juice will do," Usagi said, smiling back. "I sure wish my husband is here with me right now." She cocked her head and sighed, "But Mamo-chan happened to be out of town to an important meeting, and if he doesn't hurry back he's going to miss his daughter's birth!"

"Don't you worry," Rei said, "Now that we've already called him, he is on way and should arrive anytime soon!"

"Good!" Usagi rubbed her stomach again and murmured, "Sorry about the incident in your kitchen, Rei-chan. I wasn't expecting my water to break so early, especially when you guys are throwing a birthday party for me!"

"Don't worry about that!" Rei reassured her. She rested her hand gently on Usagi's stomach. "Eh, I can feel her kicking all right. Simmer down, will you, kid!"

Usagi giggled softly. Rei bent down to kiss the blond woman on the forehead and stood up. "Be back with a glass of juice for you!"

"Domo arigato, Rei-chan," Usagi said, watching her friend retreat across the room. The young Shinto priestess nodded graciously, went out of the room and slid the door close behind her.

Good old Rei.

The baby kicked again. Usagi moaned softly and tried to get into a more comfortable position, with limited success. Already, she could feel contractions coming and going intermittently. "Ami-chan, you better hurry up now!" she muttered and sighed again, thinking about her other friends who were two rooms down the hall, sitting around waiting patiently for the news concerning Usagi's condition...Minako, Makoto, Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna, and Hotaru as well as the Lunar Cats.

Poor guys, they would be tossed out of the house if they tried so much as slide one shoe into the blond odango-haired mother-to-be's room. That's how fiercely protective Rei was of Usagi in her condition. They had not been very pleased about being kept away from their princess, but Rei had insisted that Usagi not to be disturbed by too many noisy people crowding around her. Rei even sent her own husband, Yuuichirou and their two small children scooting off to the park just to get out of the way. Oh well.

Usagi was not feeling comfortable, so she shifted to a different position and began to think about her baby. Her mind drifted back to the time when ChibiUsa came from the 30th Century to stay with her for about a couple of seasons. The golden-haired mother-to-be smiled to herself, remembering how ChibiUsa, who was destined to become daughter someday, used to tease her and call her "Baka Odango Atama" from time to time. Ah, that little pink-haired girl could be real bratty sometimes. Like any ordinary little sister Usagi never had.

But, despite their up-and-down relationship, Usagi loved ChibiUsa dearly and knew deep inside the little girl loved her too. After ChibiUsa returned home to the future, Usagi was surprised at how deeply she had missed her. She had no idea how much the little girl had meant to her. And she suspected ChibiUsa must have missed her too - more than the little girl was willing to admit, because she had turned up unexpectedly on Usagi's wedding day, sitting up front on the pew and grinning from ear to ear. Usagi had been so surprised and delighted to see her again....

Those bittersweet memories made Usagi's heart ache. Now she REALLY missed the girl from the future. When was the last time she saw ChibiUsa? She tried to recall the day she last saw ChibiUsa. Well, all Usagi could remember was that twice a month after the honeymoon ChibiUsa had arrived at their apartment to spend the weekend with Usagi and Mamoru. It sure felt a little strange, as though she and her future self - that is, Neo-Queen Serenity in the 30th century – had joint custody with ChibiUsa, with Usagi having the visitation rights on weekends. Still, it was fun to have ChibiUsa around... until the day Usagi became pregnant.

And then ChibiUsa stopped coming.

Her hand resting absently over her belly, Usagi shifted her weight some more until she found a position that afforded just enough comfort to suit her, and leaned back into the pillows once again. She closed her eyes and found herself wishing she could see ChibiUsa again. Of course she knew she was being foolish. ChibiUsa -the baby- would be arriving soon anyway. All the same, she wished she could see the young girl from future one more time. Indeed, just this once.

Another door on the wall behind Usagi slid open and soft, hesitant footfalls were heard approaching toward her.

"Onee-san?"

Usagi's eyes popped open and her head whipped around. A gasp escaped her mouth, for there stood in front of her ChibiUsa. The girl from the future.

Only she was not so little anymore. She was much taller, slimmer and pretty much filled out and looked very pretty with longer, waist-length pink ponytails tied up with cone-shaped odangoes. In fact, if anyone cares to compare, ChibiUsa looked close to be the splitting image of the young Usagi from the not-so-distant past. In a junior high school uniform, no less.

"Onee-san, you're pregnant already!" the young visitor cried, looking at her with mixture of surprise and wonderment in her wide, reddish-brown eyes. "Oh, wow. I didn't think you would look so...big! Are you sure it's really only me?"

Usagi stared, speechless for a moment, then with a joyous cry, "ChibiUsa-chan!" She tried to sit up but groaned instead and fell back on the pillows.

The teenage girl from the future quickly dropped her backpack to the floor, ran and fell to her knees at Usagi's bed. "Are you all right, Onee-san?" ChibiUsa asked anxiously, putting her arm gently around the blonde woman.

"I'll be okay, ChibiUsa-chan... But oh, you've come back!" Usagi gasped and wrapped her arms around the young girl in a fierce hug. "Oh, Kami-sama. I was just thinking about you! I am so glad to see you again, I miss you so!"

The teen ChibiUsa threw her another arm around her mother-to-be and hugged just as exuberantly. "Onee-san, I missed you, too."

Usagi continued to hold her for quite a while and stroked her silky pink hair, too giddy to say anything else for a moment or two. Her wish had come true. ChibiUsa from the future was back.

ChibiUsa was resting her head on Usagi's shoulder. "I have been looking all over for you through this house. I've forgotten how many rooms there are in this place! It's like getting lost in a maze!" At length ChibiUsa raised her head, sat back and looked at Usagi with a warm smile. "But I'm glad I finally found you, Onee-san! Happy birthday!"

"Happy birthday to you too, ChibiUsa-chan! And I'm glad you found me!" Usagi said happily. "I haven't seen you for a while. Let have a look at you. You're taller.... How old are you now?"

"I'm 14!" ChibiUsa said promptly and proudly.

"Well! So you're not so 'chibi' anymore!" Usagi said with a laugh. "Um, did you get to see Hotaru? And the others?"

The pink-haired teen paused, looking slightly embarrassed. She cast furtive glances around her, then bent and whispered to Usagi, "To tell you the truth, I'm not supposed to be here. If Puu sees me now, she'd blow a gasket. So I can't let them see me now!"

Usagi looked at her in astonishment. "Why not?"

"Well I wanted to keep coming back and visit with you as often as I like," ChibiUsa said, "But my mother said that since my senshi training is completed it is better that I stay home and start preparing to take on responsibilities as the future Queen. Even Puu agreed." Now she blushed, "Because I really wanted to see you just this once I, uhh...swiped a Crystal Key and sneaked out all the way to 20th Century."

Usagi raised her eyebrow. "Oh, ChibiUsa-chan." She shook her head gently, looked at her daughter-to-be and was about to say something else when she groaned loudly and shifted her weight again.

"Are you really okay?" ChibiUsa asked again, worried.

"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling very comfortable right now,” Usagi said as she sought to find a more comfortable position. "And if Ami is not going to arrive soon enough for the delivery, I'm going to have my baby right on the spot without her!"

ChibiUsa seemed startled. "So the baby's coming any time now? Wow, that is cool! Uhh..." Here she stopped and looked at Usagi with consternation. "I think I came here at a bad time. Should I leave now and return some other time, after you had your baby?"

"Oh, no!" Usagi's hand flew forward and grasped ChibiUsa's wrist to prevent the young girl from leaving. "You just got here, and I'm not going to let you go just yet!"

As the pink-haired teen opened her mouth to protest Usagi went on, "ChibiUsa-chan, it's okay, actually. I wasn't expecting to see you this soon, but don't worry about it! I want you to stay and visit with me as long as you like! And even if Rei makes a fuss I'm not going to let her kick you out of here!"

"Are you sure?" ChibiUsa asked dubiously, eyeing Usagi's round stomach with some trepidation.

Usagi nodded vigorously. "Hai, now come and sit near me, please?"

ChibiUsa thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Okay, then, Onee-san." She sat down next to her future mother and took her hand. "It's just that I had no idea you'd be expecting a baby!" She gave a lopsided smile. "When I came back here, I wasn't watching carefully to see which year I'd arrive at! To tell you the truth, it sure feels very strange to see you pregnant with me, Onee-san, and here I am sitting right next to you!"

"Now that you mentioned it, I guess it is kind of weird, isn't it?" Usagi agreed with a small giggle. She continued to rub her belly with the other hand slowly.

"I'm a bit curious," ChibiUsa said, "Where's Daddy, and how come you're not at the hospital?"

"Mamo-chan is on way now. Soon, I hope," Usagi answered and then added with a sigh, "I guess I should be at the hospital but Rei found out that the traffic is heavily congested downtown at that time. Haruka was all set to take me to the hospital anyway, but Rei insisted it was too dangerous for me to be out there on the road. She said it would be lot safer if I remain here. Well, there you are."

ChibiUsa chuckled. "Maybe it's good thing you didn't go. You know how Haruka's driving is!"

As Usagi burst into another fit of giggles, the door slid open and Rei entered carrying a glass of juice. "Here you are, Usagi...HEY!"

Startled, ChibiUsa jumped a little with a small squeak. "Erk!"

Bristling, the Shinto priestess strode rapidly toward the nervous pink-haired teen. "Usagi is not supposed to have visitors here and that means you! NOW GET OUT OF HERE!"

"Rei, stop it!" Usagi pled, holding up her hand, "I don't want ChibiUsa to leave just yet!"

"ChibiUsa or not, she has to go!" Rei said sharply. Then she did a double take and stopped dead in her tracks, staring at the young visitor in total disbelief. "Na-ni? CHIBIUSA?! What are you doing here in our time?"

"She came to see me because it's our birthday," Usagi said with a huge grin.

"Yeah, that's right," ChibiUsa said shyly.

"So don't you dare boot her away! She just got here, and I want her to stay and visit with me as long as she likes," Usagi said firmly, her snappish blue eyes daring Rei to defy her wishes.

Rei made a sour face but she conceded, "All right," and got down next to the blond mother-to-be. "Here's your juice. But, Usagi, I still don't think she should be here, considering your condition!"

"Then we'll make her an exception. It's okay, really." Usagi accepted the cup, sipped once, moaned, and put it aside.

"Are you all right?" Rei asked in a concerned tone.

The blond mother-to-be put her hands on her stomach. The contractions were getting stronger than ever, and the discomfort...the pain... was intensifying. "Um... Isn't Ami here yet?"

"Not yet, Usagi," Rei said. The concern in her dark violet eyes deepened. "What, is it time now?"

"I think so," Usagi muttered through her clenched teeth. "I can't hold it any longer...I have to push..."

"My kami," Rei gasped, "I'll go get some towels and a basin! Be right back!" She hurried away.

"Umm..." ChibiUsa fidgeted uneasily, looked at Usagi uncertainly. "What am I supposed to do? What can I do?"

"I don't know, sweetie," Usagi admitted, and reached out to take ChibiUsa's hand again. "All you can do is sit and be there for me. That's all you can do. And that's all I need for you to do. Okay?"

ChibiUsa squeezed Usagi's hand and gave her a reassuring smile. "Well, if that's what you want me to do...sure!" she said bravely. "You need not worry, I'm here with you! Onee-san, you can count on me!"

Usagi nodded. "That's good."

*********************

In the other room...

"Where can Ami be? What's taking her so long to get here?" Luna fussed, walking forth and back with a nervous frown on her face. "I don't like it. I don't like it at all. What if something happens to Usagi? And the baby? Anything can happen to them, one never know... Haruka! Watch where you're going! Don't step on me, okay?"

"Sorry," Haruka muttered, also pacing restlessly from one end of the room to another. "Damn, I keep telling Rei I can take Usagi to the hospital, but she won't listen! I tell you, this is not a suitable place for the princess and the baby. If only that woman would stop being so dammed stubborn..."

"Haruka dear, such language," Michiru chided gently, "Come sit down with me, it won't do you any good stomping around and fretting! If Usagi is going to have baby in this house, so be it. She will be fine. Please do sit down."

"No way I'm going to sit down!" Haruka shook her head and kept on pacing. "I'm sorry, Michiru, but how can I sit here and twiddle my thumbs while our princess is in labor and needs medical attention! We've got to do something for her!"

"Haruka, please. Wouldn't you at least sit down with me?" Michiru implored, "I'm getting pretty lonesome." The sandy-haired woman exhaled sharply, but she obligingly sat down next to Michiru and crossed her arms, scowling. The aqua-haired woman wrapped her arms around her in a consoling hug. "It's going to be all right, Haurka dear. We will just have to wait and see."

"Humph," was all Haruka said.

Setsuna, who was busy knitting, shook her head and sighed. She turned to look at the tall young woman with brown hair done up in a ponytail, sitting next to her and perusing a big, thick book. "Makoto, I can't help but notice that you have brought the cookbook with you. Let me guess.... You're planning a special meal for Usagi, aren't you?"

"Hai, that's what I plan to do, Setsuna." Makoto looked up with a smile. "I'm looking up recipes on nutritious meals for new mothers to cook for Usagi."

"Ah. Good idea," Setsuna nodded approvingly. She stopped knitting to hold up a nearly completed baby pink sweater she was making. "Makoto, what do you think of it?"

"Very kawaii, Setsuna," Makoto said, admiring her tall friend's handiwork. Then she sighed, "I'm somewhat worried about Mamoru. Considering the long drive from his meeting down to here, will Mamoru be able to make it in time for his daughter's birth?"

"Well, he may make it in time, Makoto," Setsuna murmured as she resumed knitting, "Or he may not make it. That depends. But he'll be here soon enough. That you can be assured of."

In one corner Hotaru and Artemis had teamed up and were playing cards over the low table with Minako to pass time. "Well, it's your turn, Mina," the white cat said, nodding toward the young blond woman with the red ribbon in her hair.

"Okay, let me see," Minako said genially. She picked up one card, glanced at it and flashed an evil grin. "Ta daaa! Behold and weep!" She slapped her handful of cards on the table. "Full house!"

Hotaru and Artemis leaned over for a closer look. "Are you sure?" the dark-haired girl said, eyeing the cards dubiously. "It doesn't even come close!"

"Huh! Don't tell me, Mina - you're cheating, aren't you?" Artemis scolded, looking at his protégé with mild exasperation.

"I did not!" Minako protested indignantly.

Just then the door down the main entrance hall opened and as everyone stopped what they were doing to turn and look, the flustered Ami toting a medical bag dashed into the room.

"Hey, look! The doctor is heeeeeeere!" Minako announced happily.

"So there you are. Finally!" Makoto said.

"About time! We've been waiting for you!" Luna said in a still fretful voice. "Where have you been?"

The indigo-haired doctor stopped to bow apologetically. "Konnichi wa, everyone. Sorry, I tried to find several shortcuts, but the traffic was a mess. I hope I'm not too late!" Ami said breathlessly. "Uh, would one of you please tell me where Usagi's room is?"

Suddenly an ear-splitting scream tore down the hall. Setsuna stopped knitting and raised one eyebrow; Makoto dropped the cookbook; Haruka let loose another oath and Luna raised her head in alarm.

"Usagi," the black cat gasped.

Ami put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, no," she said, and ran like mad down the hall toward the source of Usagi's voice.

"That does it!" Haruka yelled, "I don't care what Rei said, I'm going in to see Usagi!" She jumped to her feet but Michiru's hand shot out and seized the sandy-haired woman's arm.

"Now, Haruka!" Michiru said in gentle but firm tone, "It's all right. Now that Ami is here, Usagi is in good hands. Everything will be fine. Now please sit down, dear. "

Haruka grumbled, but then she sighed and sat down next to her aqua-haired lover again.

They could hear Usagi hollering a few times, and then there was a silence. Several long, nerve-wrecking minutes later there came what sounded like a soft mewling wail. Hotaru's face took on a look of wonder and delight. "It's a baby, everyone. My friend ChibiUsa...she's here!"

"Indeed she is," Setsuna said placidly with a warm smile. She looked down at her handiwork. "Hmm... I've finished Small Lady's sweater. And right on schedule too!"

It was quite a while before a stern-faced, Rei came into the room with her sleeves rolled all the way up. Every eye flashed expectantly toward her. Before Rei could open her mouth, however, Haruka jumped to her feet and shouted, "Rei! How is the princess? And the baby? Tell us!"

Rei held up her hands to forestall any further questions. "Usagi is doing just fine," she said calmly, "And the baby," she paused and looked around the room at each face of here friend before continuing with a small smile, "Needless to say, the baby ChibiUsa has arrived without mishap and is doing very well."

At this the room reverberated with joyous shouts and cheers as the friends leaped to their feet, hugging each other and exchanging high fives.

"We must call Usagi's parents!" Luna called out excitedly. "They'll want to hear this!"

"Hurrah!" Minako was the last to spring to her feet, scattering the cards all over the floor in excitement. "Say, it just occurred to me - we're officially aunts, aren't we?"

"Well, why not?" Makoto laughed.

"Does that make me an uncle, too?" Artemis said with a good-natured grin.

"Yeah! We're aunts! Woo! Woo!" Minako cried exuberantly and then fainted clean away in Hotaru's arms.

"Good grief," Aremtis muttered, slapping his face with his paw. A huge sweat drop slid down the back of his head.

*************

"There you are, your own birthday present!" Ami said pleasantly as she finished wrapping the swaddling blanket around the now clean wailing baby and held her up for Usagi and ChibiUsa to see. "She's perfectly healthy in every way. As normal as can be!"

"Good. I'm glad to hear that." The exhausted Usagi managed to smile. She released ChibiUsa's hand she had been holding on tightly during the ordeal and mustered all the strength to gather the baby into her arms. The baby promptly quieted down. "Domo arigato, Doctor, for all your help."

"You're very welcome. Usagi-chan," Ami smiled back. "But you should thank Rei. I arrived late, but it was a good thing she is there to help delivered the baby!"

"Wow. Cool," looking somewhat dazed, ChibiUsa said softly, peering down at her younger self with a wide-eyed awed expression on her face. She looked at Usagi and said with a lopsided smile, "I guess I won't be calling you Onee-san any more. You're officially my mother now!"

Just then the door slid open with a soft hissing noise and Rei stepped in. "I'm back!" Sounds of eager footsteps were heard approaching rapidly behind her from down the hallway. Rei looked quickly over her shoulder and scowled, "Oh, no, you don't! I said not now!" and slammed the door shut.

"Damn it, Rei!" Haruka's voice yelled through the door. "We have to see Usagi and her baby! Let us in!"

"Not until the doctor says so! Now go away!" Rei yelled back. Several voices from behind the door vented their frustration and disappointment, but Rei shook her head in exasperation and went over to kneel next to the new mother. "How are you feeling, Usagi?"

"Happy, even relieved," Usagi murmured, "But terribly tired. Oh, Ami said I should thank you. Rei-chan, domo arigato!"

"It's no problem, Usagi," Rei smiled.

"Umm.... Isn't Mamo-chan here yet?" Usagi asked worriedly.

"Not yet. But Setsuna said he'd be here soon...real soon!" Rei reassured her, brushing Usagi's damp bangs from her forehead. "Just so you would know, we called your parents. Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino, as you can imagine, are very excited about their new granddaughter!"

Usagi giggled softly. "I can imagine."

"Excuse me, Rei," Ami interrupted suddenly, "We have to clean Usagi up and change bedding. Will you help me with that?"

Rei nodded. "Hai, Doctor!"

Ami turned to ChibiUsa and smiled warmly. "ChibiUsa-chan, would you like to hold the baby?"

ChibiUsa was taken aback. "Me?" She glanced questioningly at Usagi who smiled and nodded then back at Ami. A slow grin spread over her young face. "Sure!"

So Ami took the protesting baby from Usagi's arms and placed her into ChibiUsa's arms. The teen looked into the screwed-up face of the smaller version of herself and gingerly stroked the soft pink fuzz on the top of the baby's head. "Well, hi there, kid. Don't you cry now." While cooing to the baby, ChibiUsa turned around to give Usagi some privacy.

Together, with great tenderness, Rei and Ami sponged the golden-haired woman down and changed beddings. Pretty soon Usagi found herself in a clean gown and between fresh sheets.

"All right, you can turn around, ChibiUsa-chan," Ami said.

The pink-haired teen turned and scooted over to Usagi. Again the new mother took the baby into her arms and cradled her against her breast.

"The baby is awfully tiny," ChibiUsa commented softly with a still awed look on her face, "I wonder if that is partly why they called me Small Lady."

"Could be," Usagi chuckled. "ChibiUsa-chan, I was just thinking. Perhaps later, when the baby is a few months old, would you like to come over and baby-sit her whenever Mamo-chan and I go out on our weekly date?"

ChibiUsa's eyes grew huge. "Would I? Cool! I'd be glad to! Even if it means sneaking over here while Puu is not looking!"

"Great. Just drop by on Friday evenings when you have time."

"Doctor, do you think Usagi is ready to receive visitors now?" Rei asked Ami.

Ami nodded. "They may visit her for a few minutes, but after that Usagi will need some rest and quiet."

"Wait! Not yet!" ChibiUsa exclaimed as Rei got to her feet and headed for the door. The Shinto priestess stopped and looked back curiously at her. "Just hold on for a few seconds, please. I don't want Puu to know I'm here. I'm not even supposed to be here in the 20th Century right now. I just came only to see Usagi and to give her a birthday present!"

"Well. So that explained why you are here with her and not with the others in another room," Ami said. "No wonder I was surprised to see you!"

"A present? For me?" Usagi said, looking at the teen with some surprise.

"Yeah...I was going to hand it to you earlier," ChibiUsa blushed, "But with the baby coming and all, I sort of forgot about it until now. Hold on!" The young teen scurried over to her school backpack and reached into it. She returned holding a small package. "Here you are. Once again, Happy birthday!"

"Oh, arigato, ChibiUsa-chan," Usagi took the proffered present but fretted, "I'm sorry I don't have anything for you. If I have known you'd be here, I would have gotten you a birthday present or something..."

"I think you already have," The pink-haired teen answered, "I mean, watching my own birth - it was awesome. That would be good enough as a birthday present for me!"

"Oh...Okay," Usagi blinked, then smiled warmly. "That's good. I'm glad." She glanced at the small package. "Should I open it now?"

"Yeah, you can if you like. But..." The teen glanced around and saw the battery-ran clock on the wall. "I'm afraid I can't stay any longer. I better go back home, or my mommy will notice I'm missing and summon Puu to come and get me!" She laughed softly and kissed Usagi on the cheek. "Good-bye, Mommy. And good bye, Baby."

"Do you have to go?" Usagi looked distressed, "But I'll miss you terribly!"

"Don't worry, I'll come visit you soon," ChibiUsa stood up, shouldered her backpack, and bowed toward the Shinto priestess and the doctor. "Sayonara, Rei and Ami!"

"Sayonara, ChibiUsa-chan," Ami answered, returning the bow.

"Hey, you come back and see us again, you hear?" Rei said in a gruff voice, but with a glimmer of smile.

Usagi watched sadly as the teen ChibiUsa headed to the other door and slid it open. "ChibiUsa-chan... You better be good, okay?"

ChibiUsa looked over her shoulder. A familiar mischievous twinkle appeared in her reddish-brown eyes and she stuck her tongue out, impertinently but in a good-natured way. "Maybe I will...Odango Atama!"

And then she stepped out and closed the door behind her.

"Good bye..." Usagi whispered quietly.

Rei took deep breath and said, "Well...Usagi, should I let the visitors in to see you now, or should I tell them to go away and come back another time?"

The blond mother sighed and turned her head to look at her raven-haired friend. "Hai...let them come. It'll be all right."

Rei turned and in a few steps she reached the door, and opened it. "All right, everyone, you can come in right now."

There was a terrific cheer, a wild stampede, which nearly bowled Rei over and before Usagi knew it she was surrounded by her admiring friends, ohhing and ahhing and cooing over her baby.

"Welcome back, ChibiUsa-chan! It's so good to see you again!" said Hotaru happily.

"She's so kawaii, Usagi-chan!" Michiru cooed.

"Hi, Odango. I'm very glad you and the baby are okay," Haruka said to Usagi with a relieved grin.

"Ohayo, ChibiUsa-chan!" Makoto said, touching the baby's hand. "Hey, Usagi-chan, wait until you try the special meal I planned for you tonight!"

"Move over!" Minako shouldered Makoto away; "I got a kawaii little stuffed bunny just for you, ChibiUsa-chan! It's in the color orange...I hope you don't mind!"

"My princess, I've made a sweater that should keep Small Lady warm on cold nights," Setsuna said.

"Arigato, Setsuna," Usagi said with a smile.

"Eh... She's awfully wrinkled and scrawny, isn't she?" Artemis commented, craning his head to take a better look of the baby.

*Thwack!*

"Ow! Luna, why'd you have to hit me upside my head, for?!" the white cat grumbled, rubbing his head gingerly.

"Usako?"

Usagi's eyes widened, and everyone turned their heads to see who it was. It was Mamoru, standing in the doorway with the anxious expression on his handsome face.

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi cried happily.

"Make way for Mamoru!" Rei yelled, and everyone promptly parted for the young husband to stride over to his lovely wife and the baby.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Usako. I tried to get here as fast as I could!" Mamoru apologized, running his hand through his disheveled dark hair.

"It's all right, Mamo-chan. I'm just happy you're here now," Usagi reached out her slender hand toward her beloved. "And look who's here!"

"Well, well. This must be my daughter ChibiUsa," Mamoru chuckled, took Usagi's hand and kissed it, then got down to touch the baby gently. "So you're back, kiddo, and this time it's to stay for good!" He glanced at his wife. "So is everything okay around here, Usako? Was there any complications or...?"

"No, everything is fine, dear," Usagi assured him. "Rei and Ami did a wonderful job of taking care of my baby and me. And everyone else for their support too!"

"That's good to hear that," Mamoru said, sounding vastly relieved.

Usagi smiled and reached up to stroke Mamoru's jaw lovingly. "Mamo-chan. We are now Mommy and Daddy...for the rest of our lives!" She glanced down at her baby, "And know what? Now that we have our own daughter ChibiUsa, we are together at last. We are truly a family...forever!"

For his answer Mamoru put his arm around the new blond mother and bent his head to kiss her soft lips, deeply and tenderly.

Immediately the baby started wailing at the top of her lungs in protest, eliciting a round of chuckles from the onlookers.

"That's ChibiUsa all right," Makoto said, grinning.

*****************

It was late night when Usagi, finding herself unable to sleep, rose from her bed, careful not to disturb her husband who was snoring softly nearby.

It has been a few weeks since the birth event, and the Chiba family had already gone home to their cozy apartment fragrant with small potted roses. ChibiUsa's crib was placed close to their bed and Usagi decided to go over to check on her. She found her baby daughter still asleep but beginning to show signs of becoming fussy. Soon ChibiUsa would wake up and demand to be fed.

The blond mother smiled tenderly and carefully scooped the baby up. Then she went from the bedroom into the living room where her favorite rocking chair was located at the window. There she took her seat and began to rock forth and back gently, cradling the still slumbering baby against her shoulder and looking out the window into the Tokyo City below.

The full moon was already high over the buildings aglow with city lights, a very pretty viewing. Usagi always liked sitting there and gazing out the window whenever she couldn't sleep or the baby ChibiUsa fussed. And after Usagi had more or less stopped being sore from giving birth, she found herself sitting at the window quite frequently anyway. Indeed, that was a favorite place to be with her baby as well as to being alone with her thoughts. And she has a lot to think about.

Mostly about ChibiUsa and what the future holds for both the mother and the little daughter. And also the young girl from the future.

Usagi had never told her friends, not even Mamoru, about the teen ChibiUsa who came to see her on her birthday and was with her during the birth. Rei and Ami, true to their form, left it to Usagi to decide whenever to divulge the young girl's surprise visit or not. Since the visit was so short, Usagi didn't think it was necessary to tell the others about it. It was just as well, because Puu might not be too pleased if she knew what ChibiUsa had been up to. After all, the girl had come only to see her and no one else, and to give her the birthday present.

Speaking of a birthday present....

Usagi's hand reached up and clasped a small locket hanging on the fine chain from around her neck. Inside was a small picture of a young blond odango-haired teenager with and a little pink-haired girl with their arms over each other's shoulders, taken a few days after the defeat of Nehelenia and just a week before ChibiUsa went home to the 30th Century. That locket was the birthday present, and this one Usagi treasured above all other things.

"You know what, my little girl?" Usagi said to her daughter. "I can't wait to see ChibiUsa when she comes over later on to baby-sit you. It would be very nice to have her here, and I know you two will have lots of fun together!" She giggled at the thought of Mamoru's face. "Wouldn't Mamo-chan be surprised when he sees her?"

Baby ChibiUsa gurgled sleepily, and Usagi lowered her to cradle her in the crook of her arm. The baby opened her reddish-brown eyes, looked up and made some more little cute noises.

"Yeah, I know you will like her," Usagi said, smiling. A somewhat worrisome thought struck her; what if Neo-Queen Serenity and Puu found out what had happened and grounded ChibiUsa indefinitely? Usagi hoped it wouldn't be this case, and that the girl could still make it to see the Chiba family after all. Well, time will tell.

As Usagi gazed at her baby, it struck her that ChibiUsa of the present was going to be somewhat different from ChibiUsa of the future.

For one thing, the younger ChibiUsa would not sass her as much as her future self used to do. After all, Usagi was now her mother. But that's not all. The younger girl growing up would never know how she had helped Sailor Moon defeat Rubius and other villains. Or that she had become for the brief time being the Wicked Lady of the Black Moon Clan. Or as ChibiMoon she had fought all sorts of monsters to save Earth and even befriended Pegasus. Or that she was the princess of the Crystal Tokyo. The Baby ChibiUsa was born totally innocent with a clean slate.

But that would change in near future. Probably the future might even be subtly altered, depending on the choices ChibiUsa would make, so it may not be exactly what was envisioned ahead of time and what had transpired in the past. Hopefully in due course it would all end happily anyhow.

Usagi stroked her baby's head. "You know, little girl, your name is Usagi but because it is also my name, we call you ChibiUsa. And there's something else. I'm going to tell you a story how I met your future self. Would you like to hear it?"

The baby ChibiUsa gurgled again. Then she began to fuss, wanting to be fed. Usagi kissed the top of her daughter's head tenderly before bringing her to her breast to start nursing her and continued in a soft voice.

"When I was young I went on a date one beautiful afternoon at the park with Mamo-chan, your daddy. After a lovely ride in a rowboat we decided to take a walk, just the two of us together. While we were talking and enjoying each other's company, we stopped to share a very loving kiss.

"And then the little pink-haired girl fell out of the sky and landed on my head..."

----------------------------

Author's Notes:

Hmm. Hmm. Well. What do you of this? Send comments, praises or hisses to jellicatso@yahoo.com

I'll try to improve my writing skills and write better stories next time! ^^;;

Written: May 31, 2000
Revised: June 3, 2000