Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
A/N:: This chapter is dedicated to Darth-Taisha who motivated me to get moving. Thank you! You all should check her out.
Maybe, it was the mud sticking to his shoes or the sleet freezing on his soggy hair, but this day had been ridiculous. Uchiha Sasuke was on his way home from desk duty at the academy for the third day in a row. It was as if the whole ninja community had a vendetta to make his life miserable.
The only thing that made this day seem less bleak was his wife. He knew dinner would be ready for him once he arrived home. Uchiha Hinata would have every meal prepared just in time for when her husband came home. It was like clock work. However, somewhere in the back of his mind, Sasuke felt he should be offended that his meal time was in sync with the Hyuuga Clan. Except their previous heiress' cooking was so delicious he forgot to be angry.
Kicking his shoes off at the door in front of his home, he didn't want to track this filth onto his wife's clean floors. Sasuke proceeded desperately into the warm, welcoming peace that was his home. Sliding the door open he felt the warmth of their fire place caress his cheeks. '"Hinata, I am home." Sasuke's voice was strong and deep as it carried through the silent halls and doorways.
Shutting the door behind him he realized something was missing, the smell of his dinner. "Hinata?" he called curiously. Various circumstances flitted through his mind before he felt ridiculous. His wife was an elite ninja and, and asleep on the couch...
Hinata was curled up, a soft hand being cascaded with each peaceful breath. Sasuke shook his head as he walked to get her a blanket. He would make dinner tonight. Sleeping in the middle of the day was not like her. His sunny place thrived in the day time, it was her moment, for her to be sleeping it away she must be ill.
As he covered his wife up a bitter smell assaulted his nose, the scent of someone who'd thrown up and hadn't freshened their breath. Placing his hand beneath her bangs he felt her forehead. It was normal. 'So it's not a virus.' With a small shrug he stood, letting his eyes linger on Hinata. There wasn't a name for what he felt when he looked at her. He could only describe it to himself. It was like watching snow pile up outside while you sat inside by a fire.
Moving with silently, Sasuke stripped his jacket off and pushed up his sleeves. Dinner would be a simple rice porridge and hot tea. It was an easy meal, something he could recall his mom making when he was sick.
Since their conversation a couple months ago things seemed to be better between them. It was acknowledging what he was that helped free his mind. Realizing he was the embodiment of desire made him reflect deeply on his brother. Trying to pinpoint what Itachi was proved to be difficult. Then one say it hit him. Itachi was like Naruto, he was 'Chuugi'. They were loyal to what they loved until death.
Placing dinner on the low table in their living room Sasuke stared at Hinata. Inside he hoped when Itachi had died some of his goodness found its way into his own bitter body. " Hinata, wake up." His hand was firm on her shoulder, forcing her to sit up as she slowly woke. "Sasuke?" Her wide moonstone eyes stared at him. Without breaking eye contact he put a bowl of steaming porridge in her hands.
Midnight eyes watched in amusement as red slowly took over his wife's face. He wasn't sure which was her source of embarrassment. Him making her dinner or being caught sleeping in the middle of the day. "Thank you, Sasuke."
A few seconds of scooting and rearranging later Hinata was eating, her cheeks only faintly pink. "How was work?" Sasuke shrugged indifferently and scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth. The silence was comfortable, but he could see the gears in Hinata's mind turning. "Hinata?" It was all he had to say before she looked at him and began to speak.
"I am pregnant." The world froze and Hinata watched her husbands eyes go from black to red. She's wanted to approach it more tactfully and had been trying for weeks, but the moment hadn't presented itself. So she finally fired point blank.
Thousands of emotions exploded inside Sasuke's cool exterior, none of them showing on his face. It was like every other time what he wanted was in front of him, he froze. "What?" His mouth moved without his consent. He wanted to tell her how happy he was, how their dawn was approaching. Sasuke wanted nothing more than to scoop his wife in his arms and kiss her.
"We're going to have a baby." He could feel moonstone eyes searching for a reaction, but he felt numb. This was all too much, he suddenly felt sick. There was so much to do, they'd been trying for an heir so why hadn't he started a nursery yet? "How far?" His voice was somber and stiff.
"Twelve weeks." Three months? She had been keeping this from him for this long? He felt annoyed, this was what he needed, a fresh start and she decided to keep it from him! Anger stirred in his veins and before he knew it he was standing, glowering at her. Hinata's eyes stared up at him nervously and his anger seeped away and was replaced with understanding.
Their gazes met and his was unreadable, " Sasuke?" He could hear all the questions in his name, but his mouth refused to answer any. It was as if his body was short circuiting. Looking into his wife's searching eyes he reached and squeezed her shoulder, " Okay. " It was the only word he could think of. Everything was going to be okay now, they were going to have a new life, a fresh start in the world. It was all going to be okay. This was great, so why couldn't he just say so.
Silence over took him as a million images flashed through his mind. A toddling child with big moonstone eyes and soft, warm cheeks. It felt like his very being was cracking open and all he could do was stand the blankly, mutely. Squaring his shoulders Sasuke stepped away from his wife, " I'll be back later." Without a second thought he walked away.