Tenten always enjoyed her Sunday mornings, where she would wake up a little before dawn, make two cups of tea, and sit out on the porch, the rocking bench creaking a slow rhythm. This morning the air was crisp, and she wrapped herself in a blanket before sitting on the swinging bench, sighing contently.
The grass was still splashed with dew and the sky was just turning orange when she would take her first sip of tea. Sometimes, before she could even raise the cup to her lips, her husband would surprise her by waking up earlier than usual and planting a kiss on her forehead before sitting down. This morning, he lay sound asleep in the bed that they shared. Her fingers curled around the cup subconsciously.
The mattress that they shared was old, and Tenten had had it since she was a young teenager. The memories…
"Good morning…" She looked up. "Is he awake?"
"No." She smiled. She enjoyed these mornings the best; when he would come to visit. Neji nodded, hesitated, then stepped up onto her porch. He sat down next to her, taking the other cup of tea. "Did you sleep well?" She inquired.
"No. Sakura kicks in her sleep, didn't I tell you?" He said her name gruffly. "What about you?"
"Lee snores." He glanced at her, "Very loudly." They shared a chuckle, sipped at their tea. Silence settled in, and Tenten pulled her blanket closer.
"Sakura wants children." Neji blurted out. Her eyebrows shot up, but she sighed and leaned back into the bench.
"So does Lee." She replied quietly, tapping her fingers on her cup. Neji examined her closely before holding her hand in his. She looked at him.
"Birth control." He said with a small smile. "I've been slipping them into her tea." He squeezed her hand tighter, "Thankfully she has a morning routine."
"She'll find out eventually…She's a medical-nin, anyhow."
"Eventually, yes." Tenten arched her eyebrow before frowning.
"You want her to find out?" He didn't answer. She looked away, finished the last of her tea. "Lee should be waking up soon."
"You're angry."
"Really, you should get back to your wife." Tenten stood, took Neji's cup.
"She's only my wife--"
"Yes, I know, on paper." Tenten finished for him. He stood up as well, tried to lean towards her, but she put her hand on his chest. "I don't think…We were meant to--" He grabbed her by the shoulders, and she dropped the china. It shattered.
"Don't say that. After all we've been through to even get this close…"
"Close? You call this close? We're married, Neji; to different people. We're as far away as it gets."
"We can run away. Elope." Tenten smiled wryly.
"Neji, when did you become such a dreamer?" He smashed his lips onto hers. When he pulled away, both were left a little dazed, but Tenten's head cleared quickly. "I can't let you destroy Sakura's future…And I can't hurt Lee."
"Tenten--"
"We're being selfish, Neji! Your family arranged your marriage, as did mine. You have to think about them." She paused, shrugged out of his grip, "Anyway…I…" She rested her hands on her stomach and looked away as Neji stared. His lungs became dysfunctional, and a rock was lodged into his throat as he stared at Tenten's stomach.
"How…How long?"
"6 weeks." He looked at her, "It's Lee's." Tenten entwined her fingers, "We just weren't meant to be happy together. You, of all people, should understand how fate works…"
"…I don't understand it. Not in the slightest bit…" She was crying now.
"I do love you Neji…"
He was already off the porch, down the street, and out of her line of vision.
We just weren't meant…