Ah, the sequel has arrived! I've got the story planned out for the most part, but I'm up for any suggestions. I won't guarantee that they'll be used, but any input from the readers is appreciated. I don't know how often I'll be updating this story since I've got another one going on at the moment as well as plans for future fanfics. I've got the layout of an Itachi/Hana high school fanfic swimming around in my brain along with others. Anyway, hope you enjoy this story just as much if not more than the prequel.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters.

Claimer: I do own Hideo, Hayato, Sorami, Akari, and other OCs.


Meeting You

Someone once said that a baby is born with a need to be loved-and never grows out of it. (1) There're always people to give that love too. Babies change the lives of those around them drastically which is about to happen at Konoha Hospital.

At the moment, a dark haired man waits outside a delivery room for his best friend and his wife to have their first child. Beside the man sits his own wife whose belly is swollen with their second child which they expect to be born in a couple months. Due to her condition, the couple's son sits on his father's lap. The two year old is clueless as to what is going on as yells come from within the delivery room.

"Sorami is proving to be more of a hassle than I thought possible," Uchiha Hana murmurs.

"Hn," comes the reply from her husband. "I recall you being much worse though."

The comment earns him a glare which Itachi calmly ignores as he focuses on their baby, Hideo. Hideo is looking around the hospital with watchful eyes as he takes in everything. He tilts his head at the medics that pass by in curiosity. Itachi ruffles the baby's black hair causing Hideo to squirm in his lap slightly so he can look up at his father.

"I can't believe Genma and Shizune aren't here yet. Genma is Hayato's cousin for heaven's sake," Hana says when Sorami suddenly stops yelling. "The baby's finally been born," the vet announces unnecessarily.

"Papa, Mama," Hideo utters quietly causing the adults to look down at him. "Why we here?" The two year old is learning quickly and is already able to form sentences at his age.

"You'll see Hideo-chan," Hana says with a smile. Her son pouts slightly before quickly making his face as impassive as his father's.

The door to Sorami's room opens and a medic sticks their head out. He says it's all right to see the baby now and the three Uchiha enter just as Hayato carefully places a pink bundle in Sorami's arms. The ANBU grins at his daughter with adoration in his eyes.

Hideo tilts his head in wonder upon seeing the pink thing in Sorami's arms. As Itachi walks closer, the little Uchiha gets a better look at the new baby. He giggles and claps cheerfully now that he sees her clearly.

The baby yawns and opens her eyes which are blue like her mother's while she gets her brown hair from her father. She blinks up at everyone standing around the bed. Itachi places Hideo on the bed and watches his son slowly crawl over to the baby to get a better look.

"So, does she have a name yet?" Hana asks with a smile.

Hayato grins and nods feverishly. "Everyone, this is Akari-chan."

Hideo looks up at Hayato when he hears the name. He repeats it quietly under his breath then turns back to Akari when she starts making noise. The toddler leans closer slightly only for Akari to accidentally hit him in the face when she waves her arms. The hit causes Hideo to fall back on his butt and his response is to blink in surprise.

"Damn Itachi. Your kid's only 2 and he's already learning not to show emotion!" Hayato exclaims causing Sorami to swat his arm for his choice of language.

"Bad word Hayato-san," Hideo scolds as he crosses his arms.

Hayato bends down to look the baby in the eyes. "Oi, what are you, my mother?"

Hideo gives him a glare that he's often seen his father use on the brunette. It isn't nearly as effective, but it does catch the ANBU off guard.

Itachi chuckles quietly to himself before speaking. "The baby's beautiful."

Hana scoffs and crosses her arms. "Jeez Itachi, you sound like you care more about Hayato and Sorami's baby than you do ours."

The prodigy glances over at his pregnant wife before rolling his eyes and addressing Hayato teasingly. "What're you going to do when she grows up and starts having boyfriends?"

A frown appears on the brunette's face for a moment before he grins widely. "I'll castrate them."

At this, Sorami covers her face with a free hand and shakes her head while Hana smacks the ANBU in the back of the head. Hayato rubs his head then picks up Hideo who appeared extremely confused by the threat the brunette made.

"Or I could just have Hideo take care of it for me," he states.

Hideo looks down at Akari then back up to Hayato. "But I don't know her."

"You will," Hayato replies bluntly.

The small Uchiha peers at the pink bundle once more. She's staring back at him with an almost awed expression.

"What're you doing Hideo-chan?" the vet asks noticing her son's gaze.

"I like her eyes," he mutters as his cheeks become a bit red in embarrassment.

Itachi smiles slightly to himself before taking Hideo from Hayato's arms. As he does this, Hana comes around to Sorami and whispers in her ear. Both husbands quirk an eyebrow at their wives' antics.

"What?" Hayato asks.

They merely shake their heads in response. Itachi notices a strange expression on Hideo's features as his son looks between Hana and Akari.

"Hideo?" the prodigy says causing the child's attention to snap up to him. Itachi raises an eyebrow and Hideo understands that his father is questioning his behavior.

"Sorami-san had big tummy like Mama," Hideo says in confusion. From the corner of his eye, Itachi can see Hana twitch slightly at the words 'big tummy.' "Then Akari came and tummy went away. Akari was in her tummy?"

Itachi nods and Hideo bites his lip in worry. "Then how Hoshi get in Mama's tummy? Did Mama eat her?"

Hayato chokes on his spit at the question as Hana's face grows incredibly red. Itachi is stunned by his son's inquiry. The boy is merely two and he's already starting to breach the subject of where babies come from. Itachi stares at the boy whose expression shows concern for his unborn sister.

Clearing his throat, the sharingan user answers the question. "You don't need to worry about that Hideo. Mama didn't eat Hoshi."

So the prodigy didn't really answer the little Uchiha's question, but Hideo understands that he won't get an actual response anyway so he drops it. The four adults in the room breathe a sigh of relief. The child is exceptionally bright and his intuitiveness is something that keeps the grown ups on their toes.

Itachi lifts Hideo so the boy is sitting on his shoulders. His tiny hands grasp the prodigy's hair to prevent himself from falling despite Itachi's secure hold.

"We'll leave the three of you in peace now," Itachi states. "Give you some time alone with Akari before Genma and Shizune get here."

The Tsuki both nod in response and Itachi exits with Hideo riding on his shoulders and Hana behind him. They walk out of the hospital side by side and go through the village towards the Uchiha compound. About halfway home, the grip on Itachi's hair loosens slightly and Hideo slumps against his father's head.

Hana looks over at the two to discover Hideo has fallen asleep. His mouth is hanging open a bit and some drool can be seen at the corner. His dark hair moves due to a breeze and he shifts, closing his mouth which Itachi is incredibly grateful for. He would really prefer not to have baby drool in his hair.

Making their way through the compound, they spot Sasuke outside with Ryuu. The clan leader is holding up his heir so his feet dangle as the baby tries to walk over to his uncle, aunt, and cousin. Deciding to make a quick stop, the trio goes over to them.

"Having some trouble little brother?" Itachi questions as they near the Uchiha.

Sasuke responds with a glare. "Tsk, I'm not having trouble. Sakura is working at the hospital again. She left me with Ryuu and somehow he keeps getting into my weapons pouch."

Hana and Itachi take notice of the cuts in Sasuke's clothing and slightly disheveled appearance. From what the Uchiha has said, they were most likely created by stray kunai or shuiken that the infant had found.

"That sounds like trouble to me," Itachi mentions.

The family exchanges a few more words before parting ways. Entering their house, the Haimaru Triplets greet them with wagging tails. On Itachi's head, Hideo shifts and his eyes flutter open.

Hana smiles at her still drowsy son and reaches up to take him off Itachi's shoulders. The vet rubs Hideo's back as he snuggles into her. Walking down the hall to Hideo's room, Hana places him in his bed and tucks him in. She strokes his head before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.

Turning around she discovers Itachi leaning against the doorframe. Her husband's face is impassive and one of his hands is stuffed in the pocket of his pants. The woman passes him only for him to grab her wrist and lead her to the living room. He takes a seat on the couch and pulls her down to sit beside him.

The couple is quiet and merely enjoys one another's company. Hana is leaning against Itachi's shoulder as one of his arms wraps around her waist, pulling her as close as possible.

"A few more months," Hana murmurs as she places a hand on her large stomach.

"Aa."

A comfortable silence falls upon the two again before Itachi addresses something. "What were you whispering to Sorami about earlier?"

Hana grins widely at this, showing of her sharp canines. "You'll see."

Itachi raises an eyebrow at this. "This wouldn't have to do with another matchmaking attempt would it?"

The smile on the vet's face falters for a moment. "So what if it is?"

Itachi inwardly sighs. "Let Hideo and Akari be. Their relationship must develop on its own into what is best for them. If that means they become best friends or grow up to despise each other than that's the way things go. Whatever happens happens."

"Fine," his wife mutters unwillingly. "But they'd be so cute together."

"You can't possibly know that."

"Like hell I can't," Hana states causing Itachi to look at her oddly. "It's a little something called mother's intuition, you weasel," she growls slightly as she crosses her arms.

"Well, your so called mother's intuition means nothing if Hayato follows through with his threat to castrate any boy that dates his daughter in the future," the prodigy reasons smugly. "No male is dumb enough to attempt dating Akari when the possibility of losing an important part of their anatomy is at such a great risk."

Hana smirks at her husband as she comes up with a response. "Are you saying that the son of Uchiha Itachi would fall victim to an idiot like Hayato?"

"That's not what I said," he replies in a bored tone. "If anything, Hideo will end up using his superior intelligence, which he acquired from me, to get on Hayato's good side then make a move when the time is right." Itachi pauses for a moment then continues. "I honestly don't understand why we're discussing this. Akari was born just a few hours ago and her life is already being planned out for her."

Hana is about to argue when Itachi shoots her a look.

"Although Hideo may have said he liked her eyes, it means nothing. He is still very young and he can't possibly develop those sorts of feelings," he states. "Besides, Uchiha have been known for seeming completely emotionless. He may never actually allow anyone to become close to him at all."

Hana hugs Itachi tightly at this. "He won't have the same childhood as you, Itachi. We aren't going to force him to excel as your father had done to you. Hideo-chan has received an Uchiha's brains, but that doesn't mean he'll be emotionally stunted. After all, Hideo-chan has Inuzuka blood as well."

Itachi smirks and glances down at the vet. "Hn…hopefully, he hasn't inherited your temper."

Deciding to ignore the comment, Hana sighs and gets comfortable once more. Whistling, Itachi calls the dogs that appear in an instant. Motioning with his head, he tells them to watch Hideo and the dogs leave the room to guard the little Uchiha sleeping soundly in his room.

Because of his desire to assure the safety of his wife and child, the prodigy has the Haimaru Triplets guard the house. The people of the village are aware of Itachi's power and would be foolish to attempt to attack any member of the Uchiha clan. Still, Itachi doesn't wish to take a chance and end up losing the family he cherishes so much.


(1) This is an actual quote by Frank A. Clark. I just wanted to give credit to the right people and let you know that I didn't come up with it.

As a side note, Akari means light/brightness while Hoshi means star. Remember, reviews are always appreciated. Think of the 3 Cs. Compliments, Complaints, and Comments.