He rose early in the morning and found Chizu warming up bottles on the stove. Tsuki was on the floor with the twins. His tail whipped against Akiza who shrieked happily while Lauri stared intently at his nose, blinking slowly.
"Good morning," Itachi greeted with a yawn. "Did you sleep well?"
"My accommodations were quite satisfactory," she assured him as she tested the formula on her wrist. "Your dog has been a remarkable babysitter. His help has been quite valuable."
"I love kids," Tsuki said with a doggy grin.
"Probably because they're more on your level," Itachi teased playfully with a wink.
Tsuki stuck his tongue out at him. "But you know what I don't get? If these are really Miko's kids then why don't they have fox ears and tails?"
"I suppose that specific trait has not been passed on," Chizu surmised as she pulled the bottles from the hot water and dried them on a nearby towel.
"Allow me to help," he offered as he took one bottle and picked Lauri up. Cradling him against his chest he took a seat at the table. Chizu sat nearby to feed Akiza and handed him a folder. "What's this?" He asked curiously.
"Lady Hokage's report on Miko's condition."
His eyes quickly read through it, feeling a sense of hope surge through him. Miko was awake and considered healthy enough to return home. She was still very quiet and unsure of herself. It was hard to believe when she was usually so out-going. I hope this is just a phase, he thought wearily as he set the folder aside. He turned his attention back to Lauri and studied his features. He was a handsome baby but seemed strangely indifferent, almost aloof. Then Itachi remembered something and looked back at Chizu. "Not that it matters now; but what was your plan to break the seal? You never did tell me."
"I did not have to," she said with a sly side smile. "You preformed your part to perfection."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
"It was just like a fairytale," she said satisfactorily. "True love's kiss broke the spell." She reached into her belt and pulled out a tiny vial of yellow liquid. "Thanks to the assistance of a fairy godmother…of sorts." She giggled softly, a foreign sound even to her.
Itachi's jaw dropped. "What….is….that…?"
"A little concoction of my own creation, perfectly harmless," she assured him. "Part of the plan was to traumatize Sasuke-san when he witnessed the kiss, thus weakening the seal's strength through his paranoia. At that point the potion served to finish it off, as it passed from you to her through oral contact."
The look on his face was thunderous. "How did you slip this to me?"
"The coffee you drank before your encounter with Sasuke-san."
"I prepared that myself!" He protested. "You were nowhere near it! I would have noticed if you had slipped something in!"
"That would have been too obvious," she said simply. "I have my own methods that are far more effective and less suspecting." Itachi's glare didn't lose any of its fierceness and she bowed her head respectfully. "My apologies Itachi-san but it was imperative that things run their natural course."
"If it was meant for Miko then why not make her drink it?" Tsuki said at her feet, cocking his head to the side curiously.
"Her will is bound to Sasuke-san's. He would have noticed the change." She explained.
"What if I hadn't kissed her? What then?" Itachi frowned, very flustered that he was unwittingly drugged. That didn't sit well with him at all.
"That would have been irrelevant." Chizu gave him a dry look. "Because I knew that the moment she saw you…she would want to."
He settled down, letting the main issue slide for the moment. "What do you mean? I thought you said that she didn't want to see me."
"That is not to say that she does not love you," Chizu countered gently as she burped Akiza. "You mean everything to her. The only thing she fears is losing you. She worried that if you knew everything, you would abandon her."
His brow furrowed. "That would never happen. How could she think that?"
She placed Akiza on the floor to play with Tsuki and turned back towards Itachi. "Are you telling me that it does not bother you in the slightest that she has had 'hot and heavy' sex with your brother and had two children with him?"
He winced, turning a little green. "Of course it does. But she wasn't to blame for that."
She nodded. "Agreed, but the fact remains that it still happened. Whether she consciously consented or not is irrelevant."
"Of course it's relevant!" He snapped. "And it doesn't change the fact that I love her more than anything!"
"And the children? What will you have done with them?" She asked bluntly.
"I'll raise them as my own. It's not their fault that their father happens to be a psycho."
She regarded him silently, sizing him up or something like that. He found her gaze a little unnerving; unsure what to make of her blank stare. She reached into one of the pouches on her belt and handed him a slip of paper. "What's this?" He asked as he reached for it.
"Consider it child support," she said as she rose to get something to drink.
His eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he read the amount on the check. He didn't know so many zeroes could exist in any one figure. "What? How? When?"
"Your brother may be a criminal but he is also a financial genius. This was his fortune plus what I made by selling all the companies back to their original owners. His money will do him no good now that he is in prison. Please use it to care for Miko and the children."
He was still speechless and incredibly impressed with both Sasuke's ability to be successful in something as well as Chizu's initiative to plan this far ahead. He nodded as he carefully pocketed it. "Thank you Chizu-san, we will use it wisely."
"I know you will," she said with a hint of a smile on her lips. "I assume you will be going to see her after the morning meal?" He nodded as he rocked Lauri to sleep. He had forgotten incredible it felt to have a baby sleep against your shoulder. "Where did you plan to have the children sleep permanently?"
"I haven't really thought about it," he said honestly. "Probably the guest room that you're using."
"Then with your permission I will ready the room and obtain more supplies for the children, giving you and Miko the entire day to get reacquainted. I will have everything ready by 5pm."
He blinked in surprise. "You are very efficient Chizu-san."
"Thank you," she said with a bow.
Tsuki used his human form to better help Chizu with the twins as they left to go shopping and Itachi hurried with preparations of his own. He took a quick bath, dried his hair, shaved, applied his best after-shave, and chose his clothes meticulously. This is absurd, he thought wryly to himself. All this work just to bring her back from the hospital? I'm acting like a boy on his first date. Still it had been so long since he had seen her and he wanted to make a great impression. He even purchased a bouquet of red roses at Yamanaka's Flower Shop. "Going all out for her eh? Good man," Inoichi said with a wink. "Tell her I said hi."
When he arrived at the hospital, he was shown to her room and softly knocked on the door. He heard a timid voice give permission to enter and he cracked open the door, trying not to seem too eager. She sat on the bed with her back to him, head bowed as she ran a hand through her hair nervously.
"Miko?" He ventured cautiously as he approached.
She whirled around when she recognized his voice. Her crimson eyes were wide, her complexion terrible pale. "What are you doing here?"
He stopped and smiled gently. "I've come to see you."
She frowned uncertainly. "But why?"
"Why not?" He countered as he set the roses and vase on a nearby table. He sat on the bed and reached for her hand. She cautiously gave it and he squeezed it reassuringly before bringing it to his lips. "I love you Miko. That will never change."
Her expression fell and tears filled her eyes. "You only say that because you don't know everything."
"I know about Akiza and Lauri, they're both beautiful children," he said as he scooted a little closer.
She hung her head and blushed with shame. "I'm sorry. They should have been yours."
"They will be. We'll raise them together." He carefully wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "You mean everything to me Miko. I love you so very much."
She cried as she turned to hug him. Her grip was tight as she cried into his shoulder. He held her close and gently rubbed her back. "I don't deserve you Itachi," she mumbled against his shirt.
"You deserve better," he whispered. "You're the most incredible girl I've ever met. I'm not complete with you." Indeed with her in his arms again, it felt like two halves of the same heart fitted together once again.
She suddenly started to sneeze and pulled away as she wriggled her nose in disgust. "Ugh, what is that stench?"
He reddened slightly. "My…aftershave?"
She laughed and his heart leaped into his throat as he realized how much he had missed the sound of it. She covered her nose with a hand. "And ruin your perfectly wonderful natural scent? Promise me you won't ever do that again."
"Anything for you," he said with a smile. "So, are you ready to leave?"
Her smile slipped away and her gaze lowered as she slipped her hand in his once again. "Itachi…I don't want you to pretend."
"What do you mean?" He asked curiously.
"Promise me!" She said firmly as she looked him in the eye. "I couldn't bear it if you pretended like nothing was wrong! Nothing will ever be the same again so don't act like it is."
He nodded. "I promise. But you have to understand my dear," he said as he drew closer and his gaze smoldered. "In so many ways, things haven't changed at all."
She blushed and lowered her gaze. She knew Itachi meant well, but it reminded her so much of Sasuke's face. Will it always be that way? She thought miserably. Will every time Itachi look at me like that remind me of Sasuke-kun?
He recognized how uncomfortable he was making her so he stood up to give her some space. "Why don't we get a bite to eat for lunch?"
She looked up at him hesitantly. "Where at?"
"Anywhere you want," he said as he held his hand out to her. "Tsuki and Chizu-san are caring for the twins today, so it will be just you and me."
She wore a sad smile. "I've missed those days."
"That's good," he said as he helped her up. "Because from now on, that's all you'll be having."
She giggled as she followed him out of the room. Once she was checked out of the hospital they spent the day hanging out. At first it was a little awkward for her to get used to being back, everything felt so different. It was also embarrassing to be asked by others where she had disappeared for so long. Itachi was able to comfortably divert these questions without divulging anything. "When you're ready," he whispered softly. "We'll make up some sort of story. But another time, right now it's all about the two of us." He pulled her into his arms without thinking and she stiffened for a moment. "I'm sorry," he said as he started to let go.
She held on tighter. "No, don't let go. I just need to get used to you again."
He flinched but understood what she meant. It was just as Tsunade had warned him and he had to be patient and considerate. That night they returned home to find the babies fast asleep in their cribs. Itachi couldn't believe it. The room was completely redone; two large cribs with dressers, toys littered the floor, a changing table stocked with wipes and diapers, even the walls had been re-painted.
"Not bad huh?" Tsuki yipped at his feet.
"She certainly is thorough." He admitted. "Where is she now?"
"She insisted I return her to the ANBU Prison Quarters," Tsuki shrugged his shoulders at Itachi's surprised face. "She said her work was done and there was no point in hanging around. Oh and you're supposed to take the credit too, apparently she doesn't want Miko to know she had anything to do with it."
She had literally sacrificed all for Miko's sake and now resigned herself to whatever fate had left in store. Itachi wasn't ignorant of her terrible past; she had two whole pages in the Criminal Bingo Book listing every crime in detail. And yet it would appear that her friendship with Miko was a genuine one. Then his thoughts returned to the present when Miko threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "You did all this for me? I mean…" She blushed prettily as he kissed her cheek.
"I would do anything for you," he murmured as he kissed her mouth. To have her in his arms again and her lips pressed against his was like a dream come true. Starting slowly he began to kiss her harder, enjoying the way she leaned into him. He craved that deep connection with her, the one that bound them together as husband and wife. As he deepened the kiss and slid his hand up her backside he heard her gasp, felt her tense and tremble. He realized he was scaring her and forced himself to step back.
"I'm sorry," she whispered sadly. "I just-"
"It'll be alright," he assured her with a sad smile. "We'll take things slow and move at a pace you're more comfortable with."
He had meant to reassure her but instead she started to cry. "It shouldn't have to be that way! I want things to go back to normal but…but I can't get him out of my head."
Sasuke was no where nearby, but she still looked about nervously as she wrung her hands. He had indeed cast a long shadow, his effect still deeply felt. Itachi gently held her hands to keep them still. "Miko, there's no need to rush things." He planted a light kiss on her cheek. "Things will return to normal eventually and I'll always be here for you."