Night Terrors
By: Silverwolf
Naruto screams and cries out as the room goes dark. Mikoto sighs and enters the room once again. The toddler clings to Mikoto still in tears. As the Uchiha tries to comfort her son she can't help but feel frustrated. Fugaku had brought home the child from the trenches of war. The tiny blonde had been left for dead with his throat cut during another night attack. Her husband had now returned to the fight leaving Mikoto to push on with not only her two young children, but the deeply scarred toddler.
She sighs and lifts Naruto from the bed. There had many long nights because of the toddler's fear of the dark. Mikoto sighs and decides upon any possiblly of her finding sleep without Naruto along her bed. The Uchiha steps across the floor holding Naruto. The toddler hides using a stuffed lion. Mikoto passes her older son's room.
Itachi was currently asleep upside down along the bed. Mikoto never figured out how her son managed to not only leave his covers, but to turn around in his bed. Mikoto sighs while entering Itachi's room. She places Naruto along the floor. The toddler clings to her whimpering while Mikoto moves Itachi back to sleeping under his blankets. The seven year old has his arm around a stuffed bulldog dressed in a uniform. Mikoto sighs as she kisses her son on the forehead.
She lifts Naruto from the floor. The blonde whimpers softly. "There's nothing here to be afraid of. Baby, you'd feel better if you went to eyes stare back at Mikoto. The tot whines a bit as Mikoto starts back towards his room. She places Naruto along his bed and goes to leave the room. The toddler once again begins to scream.
Mikoto returns to the room and takes Naruto from the bed. She sighs as she softly rocks the toddler in her arms. Naruto still holds the stuffed toy. Mikoto makes a face and then steps from Naruto's room. The toddler whines as Mikoto wanders into Sasuke's room. The toddler is stretched completely across his bed with his fingers in his mouth. Mikoto shakes her head and takes her son's fingers from between his lips. She places Naruto along the floor. The blonde tot whimpers. Mikoto moves Sasuke back to one side of the bed. Mikoto then places Naruto on the bed next to Sasuke. The Uchiha whispers low. "Please let this work. I'd like sleep."
Naruto whimpers and whines. Sasuke reaches out with the hand his mother had taken from his mouth placing saliva coated fingers along the other tot. Mikoto shakes her head lightly. Naruto quiets to the touch of the other child. Mikoto kisses both of the toddlers lightly. "Good night my boys."
Mikoto goes to step out of the room slowly expecting Naruto to scream for the third time that night. Instead the blonde toddler is silently curled up against the other toddler. Mikoto watches the blonde chew on the ear of the stuffed lion. She smiles a bit as Sasuke seems to accept the tiny stranger sleeping next to him. Mikoto realizes she just might be able to sleep a full night without Naruto in the bed near her.
Though she understood his fears completely. Especially after being brought to the hospital by her husband during his brief return home. She'd first seen the toddler asleep after surgery. Fugaku told her they'd found Naruto with his throat and chest sliced open. No one could answer as to how long he'd lie among the dead. After that the tiny child had joined the four walls of the Uchiha household. Naruto had only been with the family for a few months. During those months the biggest battle was getting Naruto to sleep. He still had a long way to go. Mikoto had first thought of changing the todder's name, but her husband had objected to it after learning he was the son of a soldier. Truth was they'd only discovered the tot's name after they discovered his parents among the bodies.