Desert Flower
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. For those of you who might have missed the addition I added to Chapter 24's Author's Note and slight chapter revision, I decided to give everyone the last name Sabaku-Uchiha in the interest of fairness. Oh and if you have any requests for family bonding scenes/milestones for the twins, feel free to let me know and I'll see if I can fit them into the story. Happy reading.
Chapter 25
It had been two weeks since she had given birth and Hinata was happy to be home. Their family had moved into the Kazekage Mansion for more room and well, the girls seemed to like it well enough. Though that might be all the toys speaking.
"Your fathers are very silly." Hinata smiles as she cuddles her daughters to her chest.
Sasuke smirks as he and Gaara walk into the room. "We're not silly." Naturally, the Kazekage nods his head in agreement. "We just want to make sure that the girls don't feel lonely during the night."
Hinata thought about pointing out the fact that Emiko and Karura were twins, but decides against it. Her husbands looked too adorable standing their with a stuffed animal in each of their hands to bother using logic on them.
"Alright." She smiles as the girls finish nursing. "I guess that's a good point."
Gaara smiles as he sits on the bed and presents Karura with a stuffed panda. "I thought she might like this, it's nice and soft. Children like soft things." He glances at Sasuke. "Well at least that's what Sasuke tells me."
Hinata smiles and shows Karura the bear. "Most children do and I'm sure she'll love it." Which the little red head promptly starts gumming on. "Well um see? She loves him already."
Sasuke snorts at that. "Children will put anything they can into their mouths." He promptly hands Emiko her stuffed lion.
It wasn't really surprising when she copies her sister's action. Mercifully, neither would have any teeth for awhile. So the worst that was going to happen to those stuffed animals was being covered in baby drool.
"They're so sweet." Gaara smiles at them and then looks at Hinata. "How are you feeling? Are you still in any pain?"
They said that there was no such thing as a dumb question, but there really was. Gaara meant well though. So Hinata nods at him.
"I'm still sore, but that's only to be expected after having twins." Besides, how could she focus on anything, but how adorable they were? "I'll be fine. I promise."
Sasuke nods approvingly at that and kisses her forehead. "Good. You know that we worry about you." Yes, Hinata did. It was a miracle the village was still in one piece considering how overprotective the two of them had been during her pregnancy.
The girls were apparently quite content to just snuggle and gum on their stuffed animals. Which meant for now, they were fine. Hinata could only hope that the very obvious fact they had two separate fathers wouldn't put distance between them later on.
So far Gaara and Sasuke had been rather good at treating them both relatively equally. They couldn't completely hide it though. Gaara favored Karura and Sasuke favored Emiko. Oh well, they'd get better at treating them more equally as time wore on and Hinata would just make sure to fill any 'gaps' with her own love.
"I know, but you don't have to." She smiles at them. "I'm sore, but I couldn't be happier. Just look at their sweet faces."
Sweet until they started crying anyway. Karura was the more vocal of the two, but Emiko certainly got her point across as well.
"They probably just need changed." Gaara nods. "I have some diapers in my office. We'll be back in a few minutes." He kisses Hinata's forehead and scoops up Emiko while Sasuke took Karura."
Well at least they were trying not to be too obvious about playing favorites. Sasuke loved Karura and Gaara loved Emiko, but it would take some time for everyone to work out the mechanics of these relationship. No one was going to be left out in the cold, if Hinata had anything to say about it.
"Alright." She smiles at them. "Are you both sure that you can handle it though?" She hadn't seen them change diapers before.
Hinata had always been faster at noticing when their daughters needed changed. That and well, it was just hard to imagine the Kazekage and Sasuke Uchiha changing diapers.
Sasuke smirks at her. "Hinata, Gaara runs a village and I survived three years in the Sound." Right. "I think that we can handle changing our own daughters' diapers." That was a fair point.
"Yes, he's right." Gaara smiles at her. "What kind of fathers would we be, if we couldn't do this much for them?"
Hinata had a sneaking suspicion that they'd find changing diapers a lot harder than they thought, but she nods. There was no point in arguing with them. Besides, it was a good thing they wanted to do such things. It meant they were forming strong bonds with their children.
"Alright." Hinata smiles. "I'll see you in a few minutes then." Maybe, an hour would be more realistic though.
They both nod at her and proceed to carry the twins off. Oh well. If worse came to worst, Hinata was quite confident that Gaara's sand would kick in.
"I still can't get over it." Naruto laughs as Team Seven sits down for some Ramen.
Well Team Seven, minus Sasuke. He was still in the Sand Village. Where he belonged. After all, the man had a daughter to look after now. (Actually two, since Hinata had given birth to twins).
Sai chuckles at that and nods. "Well I guess that's why you're Dickless and Sasuke is just Bastard." That comment makes Naruto twitch.
He really didn't get what was up with Sai and his stupid jokes. Why was the man so focused on genitalia? It was just creepy.
"Sai, I told you to stop calling him that." Sakura shakes his head in disbelief. "Anyway, I know what you mean Naruto. It's hard to picture Sasuke and Gaara handling newborn babies."
Yeah. It was very hard to imagine. Granted, Sasuke had always wanted to restore his Clan, but talking about it and doing it were two totally different things. Actually, seeing his best friend hold his daughter was something else.
"You're right." He grins. "Karura and Emiko are both pretty cute." Adorable really. "Don't you think?"
Kakashi chuckles as he finishes taking a sip from his drink and nods. "Oh yes, they are." A mischievous look flashes across his eyes. "It's also nice that no paternity test was needed. You can clearly tell who fathered which child."
Yeah. It was kinda hard to miss. Naruto doubted there were very many red heads in the Hyuga and Uchiha Family Trees. So that could mean only one thing, Gaara had fathered Karura and it only took one look at Emiko to realize that Sasuke was her daddy.
"I wouldn't go saying that in front of them." Yamato glances at Kakashi with concern. "That might be a sore spot for them and you know what happens when you activate Sasuke's and Gaara's sore spots."
The CopyCat Ninja sighs and nods his head in agreement. "Yes, you're right. Chidoris and Sand Coffins."
Yeah. That sounded like his two friends right there. That's exactly what Gaara and Sasuke would do in a situation lik that.
"I just hope that they don't you know, like traumatize the local boys when they get older." Naruto shakes his head. "Gods and Goddesses help whatever poor kid decides to ask the Bastard's daughter out and I doubt Gaara will be much better."
"That's a good point." The pink haired woman sighs. "Well we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. After all, that's not going to be until they're at least Academy Age." Good point. Maybe, Naruto really was putting the cart before the horse here.
Gaara shakes his head. "You know that's cheating." He couldn't believe that Sasuke would actually resort to such a thing just to change Karura's diaper.
"It is not cheating." Sasuke smiles smugly as he finishes changing Karura a few minutes later. "My Sharingan is a part of me. I merely watched Hinata change the twins a few times and after that, I was easily able to copy her technique."
Hmm. Well perhaps, there was some merit to his argument. "Well, if you can use your Sharingan then I should be able to use my sand." It was only fair. "After all, my sand reacts to my will and thus it is also a part of me."
Sasuke shrugs at that as Emiko squirms on the table, waiting to be changed. "Alright. I won't tell, if you won't." Yes. That would be good.
The last thing Gaara wanted was for Hinata to know he had to 'cheat' just to pull this off. It wasn't his fault though. He could swear that Emiko was playing some strange version of Hide and Seek with him.
She was adorable, truly. He just wished that she would stop squirming so much when he was changing her. Maybe, she was practicing her evasion skills.
"Alright." Normally, Gaara knew that such musings about a child who wasn't even a month old would be ludicrous, but this was Sasuke's daughter. Really, anything was possible.
Thank goodness for his sand. It certainly made this process a lot easier. Emiko was now openly giggling at him and her sister was joining in on the fun.
"I think they think your sand is some kind of toy." Sasuke laughs.
Maybe. Who really knew what went on in the minds of babies? Gaara certainly didn't. All he knew was that he loved these Bubble Eyed Princesses unconditionally.
"Perhaps." Gaara smiles. "Shall we take them back to Hinata? I think they're about due for a nap."
"Yeah. That sounds like a good idea." Sasuke nods as he scoops up Karura and the red head takes Emiko. "Remember, Hinata is watching everything we do like a hawk."
That was true. Gaara didn't want Hinata to think he was a sorry excuse for a father and Sasuke if anything, well he was even more paranoid about it. Something that shouldn't have been possible, but apparently it very much was.
"Got it." He nods as the two of them head upstairs with their daughter in their arms straight towards their room.
Knowing Hinata, the woman would likely want to read the twins a bed time story first. It was quite the endearing sight to watch her with their little rosebuds. If Hinata was their Desert Flower, their daughters were rosebuds.
"So how is he doing?" Temari looks at Kankuro expectantly.
She was visiting the Sand and naturally, the first thing she wanted to do was check on her brothers. In particular, she was worried about Gaara.
"As far as I can tell, he's doing great." Kankuro nods.
Shikamaru yawns and smiles at Temari. "I told you that you were worried for nothing." The blonde woman would love to believe that, but Temari was smart enough to know that she should get some proof first.
Gaara had only just really begun to understand the concept of friendships when Hinata walked into his life. As far as the former Sand Ninja could tell, her youngest brother had fallen head over heels and quickly. So much so in fact, that it had barely taken him and Sasuke any time at all to propose to her.
Not that Temari had a problem with Hinata being her Sister-In-Law. The bluenette was likely the best match out there for Gaara. It was mostly that she hadn't been altogether sure how her little brother would cope with fatherhood.
"I hope that I was worried over nothing." Temari sighs and stretches. "We really should go and check on them though. Just to be on the safe side."
She was still Gaara's big sister. It was her job to look out for him and her nieces. So that's exactly what she was going to do.
Shikamaru shakes his head as he looks at her. "What a drag." He stands up next to her. "Alright. Alright. We'll go and check on them, if it makes you feel better." Yes, it most assuredly would.
"Good." She smiles as the three of them leave the café they were eating at. "Besides, I can't wait to meet my nieces." She was going to be the best Aunt ever.
A few minutes later, Sasuke smiles as he sits on the bed with his family. Hinata was reading the twins some sort of fairy tale. Sasuke wasn't paying much attention the story. He like Gaara was more interested in cuddling up to his wife and watching their child look up at her with those adorable little bubble eyes.
Those eyes were going to be the death of him. They were exactly like Hinata's, save for Gaara's feral markings and the fact that one of Emiko's eyes could turn ruby red.
"The kingdom was once again safe and they lived happily ever after." Hinata smiles as she finishes the story.
How Emiko could already use her Sharingan was something of a mystery to Sasuke. He could only assume it had something to do with the Byakugan and Sharingan genes mixing. The Byakugan could be used by Hyuga Children far earlier than the Sharingan could be used by most Uchihas. Hell, they might even be able to use it from birth onwards for all he knew.
Gaara smiles as he watches their children coo happily. "That was a lovely story, Hinata." Sasuke supposed so. It was just another generic fairy tale to him.
A couple years ago, he would have scoffed at such a story. Not anymore though. Not when he had Hinata, the twins, and Gaara in his life. Granted, the red headed man occupied a very different niche than his girls did, but still the Kazekage was important to him.
"Thank you." Hinata nods. "We should probably get them settled down for their nap." She smiles sweetly. "It's important to have a schedule when it comes to children. We don't want to break it and confuse them."
Right. Of course. Sasuke doubted the twins could tell time at this point, but he'd humor Hinata. There were very few things that he wouldn't do for her and he knew that Gaara felt the same way.
"Sure." With that being said, he scoops up Emiko as Gaara grabs Karura. "They've had a long day." He chuckles at the thought.
The most exhausting thing that their daughters did was squirm away from him and Gaara. They were babies though. For them, that probably qualified as hard work.
"Mhm." Hinata smiles as they walk to the nursery and she watches them set the twins down. "They're just like their fathers in so many ways. Perfectly content as long as they get to cuddle up to my breasts."
That sounded like an offer. "You really shouldn't taunt us like that." Sasuke kisses her forehead. "You still need time to recover and having a cold shower just isn't the same."
Gaara nods and frowns at that. He was likely thinking the same thing that Sasuke was. It was going to prove to be quite the challenge to behave while they waited for their wife to fully recover, but they would manage somehow.
"There are other ways to…relieve that sort of tension besides fully making love." Hmm. That was true. "But I guess that was cruel of me to tease you two in such a way." She smiles and kisses them both. "Can you forgive me?"
Of course, he could forgive her. Sasuke was about to say as much when he senses it. Three chakra signatures were approaching and quickly. Familiar ones at that.
"Temari, Kankuro, and Shikamaru." Gaara sighs. "It looks like that relief will have to wait until later. We should probably go and see what they want." He heads towards the door.
"Probably." Sasuke shakes his head as they make their descent down the stairs.
If those three had shown up even ten minutes later, they likely would have gotten an eyeful. In-Laws could be annoying sometimes. Like now, for instance.
"Sorry about this." Shikamaru yawns. "Temari really wanted to see the twins though. You know how women can be."
Gaara and Sasuke both roll their eyes at that. True, Temari was definitely higher maintenance than Hinata, but still. Was this guy trying to get himself banished to the couch? That's certainly what it felt like to Sasuke.
The blonde woman smacks her lover upside the head for that comment. "What are you trying to say about women?" Oh boy, Sasuke thinks to himself. This was going to be a very long visit.
Hiashi chuckles as Hanabi flits around the Hyuga Dinning Hall. His youngest daughter was eagerly showing pictures to anyone who would look. Which was most of their Clan.
If for no other reason, it was a curiosity. A Hyuga having a child with an Uchiha and a Kazekage. Most would want to at least look.
"They're so adorable!" Hanabi beams with pride. "Hinata was glowing too and the her husbands were being so sweet. Which I was kinda surprised by. Though maybe, I should have been. They followed her like lovesick puppies during the wedding."
The Hyuga Patriarch tries his best not to laugh at her descriptions. Mostly because they were rather apt. He never thought that he'd live to see the day a Hyuga and an Uchiha married, but he supposed stranger things had happened. Not to mention, a Hyuga living in the Sand Village normally would have seemed like a recipe for disaster. (Skin like theirs tended to burn easily, after all).
"They're beautiful." A Branch Member smiles. "Lady Hinata must be so proud. They're both girls then?"
Hanabi nods excitedly. "Yep. Two princesses." She pauses for a moment and adds as an afterthought. "I mean, I'm sure that I'll have a nephew eventually. Sasuke and Gaara can't seem to keep their hands off of her."
That causes Hiashi to twitch. Honestly, what kind of talk was that? Certainly, not the ladylike kind. Hanabi was becoming far too bold in some ways. It might be time to have a discussion about etiquette with her.
Hinata was now a Sand Villager. She could never lead the Hyuga Clan at this point. That meant that Hanabi was the new Heiress and thus, a certain standard of behavior absolutely must be followed.
"Hanabi." He gives her a warning look. "Do conduct yourself with dignity and kindly attempt not to embarrass your sister while she is not here to defend herself."
The young woman blushes and at least has the decency to feign embarrassment. "Sorry, Father." As she should be. What had gotten into the girl? "It's just well everyone already knows that. I mean she got pregnant so fast."
Hiashi Hyuga groans. Perhaps, it was time to head to the market. He needed to make a new investment in earplugs.
Most fathers wanted to see their daughters happily married to suitable gentleman. Most fathers also wanted to be grandfathers, but no father wanted to hear how he became a grandfather.
"I see. Well I think I shall go for a short trip to the market." He needed to get out of here and get those damn earplugs as quickly as possible. "Do try to keep everything in order while I stretch my legs."
Hanabi smiles at him and nods. "Yes, Father." The child has the audacity to grin at him. "I'll make sure everything is in order when you come home."
It was impossible for him to stay mad at her. The woman was using her Bubble Eyes Jutsu. It was a Jutsu that both of his girls had inherited from her mother and he was still as much of a sucker for it today as he had been all those years ago when he first fell in love with Emiko.
"Very well." He nods as he heads off in search of earplugs.
Yes, those were magical devices. This way Hanabi could babble happily and he wouldn't have to hear any of her scandalous speculations about Hinata's love life. A rather agreeable compromise, if he did so say himself.