Sailor Moon does not belong to me.  
I wish it was so but keep on dreaming. Sailor Moon belongs to 
Naoki Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation.  I want to say thank 
you to all those people who encourages me to write to continue writing.  
Especially to Jade and Mako-chan.  

Many thanks to my pre-reader who helped edit it for me.
I am grateful for many people's condolences when I came back
from my absense.  Thank you.

Remember to visit my page at 
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/9613/
I usually add my fanfiction there before I submit it.

 The character Annie 
belongs to me and only me.  The rest belongs to 
Naoki Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation.

It is a romance if you are looking for action this is not the 
right place for you.  This is an alternate reality.  If you have 
any questions about this storyline, please email me and I'll try 
to explain it the best I can.
 
Visions of Sugarplums is a copyright of Serena Chiba@1998. 
Now on with the story.  

** means thinking

Vision of Sugarplums
by Serena Chiba  

Chapter Two


	The three of them looked like a family group as they walked around the discount 
supercenter with Annie on Mamoru's arm while he pushed the shopping cart piled high 
with baby things.  It made no difference, of course; still Usagi was disturbed.  
She kept glancing at the man and the baby; she couldn't help herself.  Mamoru seemed 
so natural with little Annie, so at ease.  She wasn't the only one who noticed it.  
The man and the child attracted their share of attention from other customers.  
Usagi saw also, with a certain glacial humor, that the glances of most of the women 
who passed lingered on the man.
	Mamoru was totally oblivious; she had to give him that much.  The major 
portion of his attention was given to Annie as he tried to keep her pacified.  He talked to 
her in a constant running commentary, even directing his comments to Usagi through her.  
It was distracting and a bit disturbing, as if the three really were interconnected.
	She was also troubled by the sight of his long, brown fingers splayed over the 
baby's back to support her while he reached for this or that.  There seemed such tender 
strength, such security, in his grasp.  She wondered, in the briefest of flashes, what 
it would be like to feel his hands on her own skin.  Hard on the thought, she was 
engulfed in a wave of heat that coalesced in the lower part of her body.  
She fought it, amazed.  It had been so long since such awareness had troubled 
her that it felt unnaturally erotic, far too extreme for comfort.
	They had reached the baby formula section.  As they paused in front of 
it, she gave Mamoru a considering look as she said, "You like children, don't you?"
	"Kids, gods, cats, strays of all kinds," he said in humorous agreement.  
"Don't you?"
	"I suppose."  His blue gaze was so warm and intent it was difficult to 
sustain.  "But I don't make a practice of taking them all in."
	"No?  Maybe you should try it more often."
	Maybe she should at that, she thought as she studied the strong planes of 
his face, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, and the firmly molded lines of 
his mouth.
	She was staring.  Realizing it, she hurriedly directed her gaze to the 
different varieties of baby formula.  In offhand tones, she said, "You know, we 
have no idea what kind of formula this child is used to taking.  How are we 
supposed to choose?"
	"Humm."  He reached out and picked up a can in his large, square hand, 
turning the label to show it to Annie.  "What do you think, sweetie?"
	The baby blinked without any particular recognition.
	"Nope."  he put it back, then chose again.  "This one?"
	Usagi found herself watching Annie, measuring her lack of enthusiasm.  
As she recognized what she was doing, she made a soft sound of exasperation.  
"Come on!  This child no more knows what she's been drinking than the princess 
of the moon.  And it could upset her stomach if we choose the wrong one."
	"Going hungry could upset her more," Mamoru said with maddening logic.  
"Not to mention us, if we have to listen to her yell." He replaced the can, took 
another one.  The baby chortled and waved her hand at the bright aqua label.  
"Aha!" he said, and began to dump cans into the shopping cart.
	"Wait a minute!"  Usagi protested, laughing even as she reached out to 
stop him.  "You can't do things that way."
	He cocked an eyebrow at her.  "Got a better idea?"
	She didn't though she refused to admit it.
	At least they knew what type of bottle to get.  One like it had been tucked 
into the back of the baby carrier along with a pacifier and a spare diaper.  
All three items had been extremely useful in helping to return Annie to what was 
apparently her normal sunny disposition on the drive to the supercenter.  They moved 
from the formula to the bottles, and from there to the baby food.
	"What else?" Mamoru asked, scanning the grocery aisles as he wheeled the cart 
along at a fast clip, one that required Usagi to extend her stride to keep up.
	"I don't know."
	"Think," he said, then slowed as if putting on the brakes as he noticed her 
breathless pace.  "You're the female.  You're supposed to know about these things."
	She gave him an acerbic look.  "It doesn't come with the genes."
	"You're doing fine so far."
	She felt as if she had been given a major accolade.  The pleasure that flooded 
her was as disconcerting as it was unwelcome.  Flushing, she avoided his gaze as she 
began to count off items on her fingers.  "Clothes, pajamas, diapers, wipes, baby soap, 
baby food, formula, bottles, dish and spoon, sipping cup.  Oh, yes, and toys."  
She sighed and pulled a wry face.  "I think we've got most of what's needed."
	"Great," he said, then added instantly.  "So have you given any thought 
to what the grown-ups need?  Food, for instance?"
	The stare she swung on him was blank.  "You're hungry?"
	"Just starving is all."
	"I didn't realize I was expected to feed you, too."
	He lifted a thick, dark brow.  "No?  Actually, I thought we'd try it the 
other way around.  I'll feed you, since I don't imagine you've had a chance to 
eat this evening."
	"You don't have to do that."
	"I know, but I want to do it," he said with strained patience.  "It's a bit late 
for a restaurant, especialy with Annie in tow.  But we can pick up something to cook 
while we're here at the store, or fast food on the way to your house.  Your choice."	
	Instant decisions were not only his specialty, but what he expected from other 
people.  She should have known.  She said, "since you're buying, you choose."
	"How do I know what you like?"  He waited.
	She gave him as exasperated glare, then realized that cooking was the last thing 
she felt like doing at that moment.  Through tight lips, she said, "Pizza to go.  Pepperoni."
	"Fine," he said in easy acceptance.  "Why don't you find a phone and place the 
order while I head for the checkout line."
	She stared at him a moment.  She was being maneuvered, though it was for her own 
comfort and convenience.  Or was it?
	Then realizing at least a part of what was going on, she said, "But if you check 
out, you'll windup paying for alll this."  She reached for her shoulder bag.  "Here, let 
me give you-"
	"No."
	She looked up, caught up by the implacable sound of his voice.  A frown darkened 
her eyes.  "But that isn't fair.  I'm the one who found Annie.  She was left in my store."
	"It's not only fair, it's the way it's going to be."
	"Oh, sure.  Man, the great provider."
	"You got it right," he said, and had the nerve to grin.
	Her lips tightened with the instinct for battle.  Then she noticed the amused 
attention they were attracting.  She need a way out.  One came to her almost immediately.
	"Fine," she said abruptly.  "This was your idea, after all."  She turned on her 
heel and headed for the bank of phones near the entrance.
	"Fine," he repeated after her, and she thought she heard him let out his breath 
in relief.
	It was raining when they came out of the supercenter, the kind of endless steady 
drizzle that could last all night, all week, or even longer in Tokyo.  It was turning 
colder, too, with a wet, biting chill that would probably drop below the freezing mark 
before morning to cause icing on bridges and overpasses.  Mamoru insisted that Usagi 
go back inside and wait with Annie while he brought her car around.  She set her jaw,
but didn't argue, mainly because of the baby.
	They had driven over the the supercenter together, so he had to swing back by 
the mall to pick up his car before heading over to the her apartment complex.  She gave 
him the address, then took the baby with her.  He followed as far as the pizza place, 
where he peeled off to pick up their dinner.  Even so, he reached the apartment complex 
just in time to help her unload their purchases.  It was just as well, since Usagi was 
exhausted from lugging Annie and her carrier up the stairs since the elevator was broken.  
As he took the heaviest bags from her, she realized with grim humor that there might be 
advantages to macho maneuvering.
	An hour later, the three of them were still sitting at the polished dining table 
amid a litter of pizza crusts, crumpled napkins, baby food jars, and multicolored splotches 
of goo.
	"We should have bought a high chair," Usagi said wryly as she wiped strained peas 
from her eyelid.
	Mamoru lifted his arm to look at the pea green and carrot orange combination that 
decorated the underside of his shirt sleeve.  "First thing tomorrow morning."
	Usagi's smiled faded.  "Maybe.  If Annie is still here.  And if anything is open 
on Christmas Day."
	He agreed.  In the silence that followed, they watched Annie as she did her best 
to transfer peas and carrots to her mouth with both hands at the same time.
	The baby had shown herself well able to sit up on Usagi's lap, and had given her 
new baby spoon a good try before discarding it in favor of the utensils nature had provided 
at the ends of her arms.  She had also displayed an iron will, refusing to eat unless she 
fed herself.
	Her age, Usagi thought, must be around nine months.  She was not only old enough 
to sit alone, but also to crawl after a fashion when put on the floor, and to wiggle and 
swuirm and reach for what she wanted with bright-eyed determination.  Old enough to be a 
handful and then some.
	After a moment, Mamoru looked away, scanning the apartment, most of which could 
be seen from the tble beause of the great room concept of its construction.  In curious 
tones, he said, "You don't have much in the way of Christmas decorations."
	She shook her had as she searched for a clean napkin to wipe a sliding avalance 
of peas from Annie's chin.
	"I guess you see more than enough of it at the shop?"
	"You could put it that way."
	He leaned back in the his chair, the blue of his eyes clear as he studied her.  
The pose was easy, relaxed and confident.  It also drew his chambray shirt taut across 
the firm muscles of his chest.  Usagi looked away as quickly as she could without being 
obvious about it.
	Voice deep and low, he said, "So how come a woman like you isn't married?"
	"I'm a widow," she said shortly.  To forestall any further questions, she added, 
"What's your excuse?"
	He shrugged.  "All work and not much play.  The wrong woman a couple of times."
	"You're divorced, then."
	"Never got as far as the marrying part."  His smile was a ittle crooked as he held 
her gaze for long, intent moments.
	It was strange having a man in her apartment.  He looked rugged and incredibly male 
against her soothing cream and taupe color scheme with its silk, satin, and brocade textures.  
She had chose the decor, imminently suitable for a single woman, when she moved in six months 
ago.  Before that, there had been a house in a nice subdivision close to a good school.  
She had sold it because too many haunting memories had been collected there.
	Annie chuckled and waved her spoon, a movement that embellished the dining table 
with another wash of mottled green.  It was a welcome distraction.  As Usagi used her napkin 
to wipe up some of the mess, she said, "So what do you do?"
	"Construction.  In partnership with my sister's husband."
	Something clicked in Usagi's mind.  She gave him her full attention as she said 
"Chiba & Hino Construction?  You built the mall.  And didn't you just complete the new 
wing for the hospital?"
	"We had the contracts for the jobs," he agreed witha steady look.
	"But-surely you don't do the actual labor?"
	He lifted a brow as he followed her gaze which brushed over his rough clothes.  
"Sometimes.  When the mood strikes or a man fails to show up.  Why not?"
	"No reason," she answered hastily.  "I guess I was just surprised."
	My brother-in-law, Yuuchirou, and I are both architects, but we learned the 
practical side of building from our dads.  Most of the time, I draft or modify plans, 
figure bids for projects, round up special materials, keep an eye on the jobs, that kind 
of thing.  But I like working with my hands now and then."
	Usagi was quiet for a moment.  Her thinking required some serious readjustment, 
which served her right for judging the man across from her by the clothes he wore.  
Chiba & Hino was one of the largest companies of its kind in Tokyo.  If Chiba Mamoru 
wanted to take in strays and orphans, he could certainly afford it.
	"Anyway, I was just thinking it would have been nice," he said in musing tones as 
he glanced around again, "if there had been a Christmas tree for Annie to wake up to in 
the morning."
	Usagi avoided his direct look by beginning once more to clean up after the baby.  
"I don't suppose she'll miss it, being so little.  We did buy the toys for her."
	"Still......"
	He was pushing for an answer to his earlier question, and she didn't think he would 
give up until he got it.  He had that kind of single-minded concentration.  She compressed 
her lips, uneasily aware that she owed him at least a little consideration after all his 
help.  Finally, she said, "I don't have a tree or a wreath because I don't care for 
Christmas.  Okay?"
	A startled look flashed into his eyes.  "But you own a Christmas shop!"
	"My mother started it before my dad retired.  She turned it over to me when the 
two of them decided to take off in their travel trailer for a year.  They enjoy life on 
the road so much they still haven't come home, and-well, I had to have something to do 
after....." She trailed off, unwilling, even unable, to explain further.
	"After your husband died."
	"Yes."  As the baby in her lap gave a prodigious yawn, Usagi snatched at the 
excuse to change the subject.  "Annie has had it, I think.  I'll give her a quick bath, 
then a bottle.  It must be long past her bedtime."
	His face was impassive for long seconds before he accepted the evasion.  
Inclining his head, he said, "I expect I'd better be going then.  It must be your 
bedtime, too."
	"Going?" She looked up startled.  "But you can't."
	His dark brows drew together as he got to his feet.  "You certainly don't want me 
to stay?"
	"You have to!"  Panic threaded her voice as she watched him reach for his jacket 
which hung over the back of his chair.  "You promised to help"
	Little Annie, staring from one to the other of them, became ominously quiet, though
they hardly noticed.
	"I did and I have," Mamoru answered, his gaze on Usagi's taut features.  "But you 
look like you've got everything under control."
	"Well, I don't, not by a long shot," she answered shortly.  "You cannot leave me 
here alone with this baby."
	Mamoru looked form one to the other with incredulity in his eyes.  "Are you inviting 
me to bed down here?"
	"I don't know that I'd put it like that, exactly," Usagi said.  "But it's just like 
a man to try to run out on a woman after it's too late."	
	"I have never," he said with rough emphasis, "run out on anybody or anything 
in my life."
	"Well, good, because I don't intend for you to start now!"
	A muscle stood out in his jaw.  "What I was trying to do is show a little 
consideration.  I didn't figure you for the kind of wamn who would let a man sleep over."
	"I most certainly am not," she declared stoutly.  Then ruined it by adding, 
"But this is different."
	"I'm a man, in case you haven't noticed."  The words were grim.
	"Of course I noticed!"
	"Good."  His stance lost a litle of its rigidity.  "Look, I'll be back.  
Really.  Bright and early in the morning."
	"No, you won't, damn it, because you aren't going anywhere!  And that's final!"
	He shook his head in slow bemusement.  "But what will the neighbors think?"
	"I don't care what they think," she said above Annie's rising cries.  
"You started this, and by all that's damned, you're going to finish it."
	Humor appeared, unexpectedly, to brighten the dark blue of his eyes.  
"Careful with the language there, or yu just might cuss me out."
	"Don't think I can't," she told him, her own eyes narrowing.
	"I'd love to see it."
	She thought he meant exactly what he said, which was disconcertint to say 
the least.  "Try sneaking out of here again and you certainly will."
	There was measuring speculation and a species of strain in his face as he 
met her defiant gaze.  Annie's screams were piercing loud in the sudden silence 
between them.  Then his lashes came down, shuttering his expression.
	"Fine," he said, throwing his jacket back across the chair.  "I'll clear up 
here while you give Annie her bath and put her to bed.  Will that suit you?"
	Her relief was instant, but not without reservations.  "It'll be fine-for a start."
	He paused as he picked up the oil-stained pizza box.  "What does that mean?  
Once she's asleep, you shouldn't need me anymore."
	"Maybe.  We'll see."  Standing up with the crying baby, Usagi headed for the bathroom.  
	Mamoru watched her retreating back for long seconds.  Then he gave a slow, 
disbelieving shake of his head while a slow grin tilted his mouth.

Author's Note
	I know that some of you are confused about Usagi being married and widowed.  
I'll explain it in the next chapter, maybe.  You might have guessed by now, 
who is Mamoru's sister.  That fictionous part is something I made up.  
It did not happen in the anime and manga.  Hino is not Chad's/Yuuchirou's last name.  
I do not know his last name.  I used his wife's last name in the anime and manga 
for him.  I wanted her to keep her actual full name.
	So how do you like this??  Is it good, bad, or I could have done better??  
Please send your comments, flames, and critisism to me at 
serena_chiba@hotmail.com
Ja ne.

Character List

Tsukino Usagi			Serena Moon
Chiba Mamoru			Darien Shields
Yuuchirou			Chad