Part IV: Thirty-three Weeks
"These damn contractions," Tenten said breathlessly, rolling her eyes.
Miserable. That was Tenten's permanent state of being. Sakura had said at her check-up that until the baby was born it would be hard to be comfortable.
Tenten almost snorted. Comfortable was a foreign concept to her now. She frequently had contractions (completely normal, per Sakura) and headaches and she was hot all the damn time. Tenten was sick of it all.
Lee poked his head out of Guy-sensei's kitchen where he was fixing her breakfast, concerned.
That was another problem.
As Tenten counted down to giving birth, she had allowed herself to be persuaded by her sensei and teammate that she could no longer stay in her apartment.
"It's only until the baby is born," they had claimed. "We will be able to help you whenever you need it, dearest flower!"
It was taking the remnant of Tenten's strength not to snap at them when they were "helping" her. More like doting.
Neji never would have bothered me like this, she thought flippantly. Her eyes widened, and she looked down at her huge stomach, suddenly overwhelmingly sad.
Lee exited the kitchen and handed her the plate, peering closely at her face. Tenten took it, ignoring his searching gaze.
He sat down next to her, silent for once.
"Have you thought of a name yet, Tenten?"
Tenten sighed. She had.
"I thought I would name him Hizashi, to honor Neji's father." He would have wanted it that way.
Lee nodded slowly, his dark eyes finding hers. Uncharacteristically, he forced a smile.
"Tenten, you're handling all of this so well," he complimented.
Tenten stared at him. "Well, I don't really have a choice. Besides," she sighed, "you and Guy-sensei have been helping. I appreciate it."
Lee paused. "Have you thought about how you're going to raise him? It will be a hard thing to do by yourself."
Tenten narrowed her eyes at him, wondering what he was implying. Lee glanced away, a rare mocking smile appearing on his mouth. He stood to return to the kitchen.
"I'll have you and Guy-sensei, right, Lee?" Tenten asked, bemused.
"Of course, Tenten. Of course."
Tenten was at the point of her pregnancy where she was having trouble sitting and getting up on her own, so she stood at Neji's grave, stretching her aching back muscles.
"If only I could go train," she said wistfully, looking in the direction of their old training grounds.
She looked at Neji's headstone. She struggled to lace her fingers around her belly.
"Hey," she said, tapping his stone with her foot. "I named your kid."
She could just see him giving her his trademark glare, exaggerating his patience.
"Hizashi. You're happy about that, right?"
Silence. As usual.
A gust of wind ruffled her bangs, and Tenten turned her face towards the breeze.
"I think Lee wants to marry me," she said softly. Tenten's finger runs along the edge of the stone. "But I know that you would never forgive me for that, so don't worry about it."
Tenten shook her head at herself. What was she doing? Talking to a dead man who couldn't talk back, who never would. Why was she even wasting her time here?
Tenten turned to go, calling over her shoulder, "See you, Neji."
Ever since the village had discovered Tenten's pregnancy, Kurenai Yuhi had reached out to her. Tenten had appreciated the gesture.
"Hello, Kurenai-san."
The genjutsu user smiled from her spot on the loveseat, her daughter Mirai on her knees. "How are you feeling, Tenten-san?"
Tenten groaned, sinking down in an armchair.
"Terrible," she answered. "Did you feel this awful when you were pregnant?"
Kurenai smiled. "It's not easy being pregnant," the woman agreed. She studied Tenten kindly. "But you have a question, don't you?"
Tenten tapped her fingers on the armchair, itching for one of her weapons (which Lee and Guy-sensei had all but forbidden her from touching til the baby was born).
"How did you do it? Without As—without Mirai-chan's father?"
Kurenai cocked her head, brushing back Mirai's hair. "Well, it hasn't been without its difficulties. But Asuma's family has been a great help. Konohamaru comes around to babysit. And my friends have been there for me.
"They say that it takes a village to raise a child. . . There's truth to that statement. If you try and do it on your own, Tenten-san, you'll only grow more resentful."
Tenten considered this.
"It's just hard," she confessed to Kurenai. "The Hyuga doubt that the baby's even Neji's. If I don't have their support, then it really is just me and Lee. Guy-sensei can only do so much now since his injury in the war."
Kurenai smiled. "Tenten-san, you've overlooked others. I know that Hinata cares deeply for you and believes you. And what about the other kunoichi? What about me? You are not as alone as you think."
Tenten nodded slowly and Kurenai stood, walking over to hand her Mirai. Tenten cradled the baby, looking at her red eyes, a mirror of her mother's. Mirai stared up at her critically, probably deciding on whether to cry or not. Instead, the child closed her eyes and fell asleep. Tenten followed suit not long after.
"You'll do just fine," Kurenai whispered to the sleeping kunoichi.