Love Never Dies
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Notation: This chapter takes place several months after the previous one. This is not the last chapter.
Chapter 36
Sasuke had been so sweet to her throughout her pregnancy and he would make a great father. It would be wrong to kill him, Hinata thinks to herself as she grits her teeth through yet another contraction.
"You're doing amazingly." Tsunade smiles at her. "It's going to be alright."
Of course, Hinata wasn't a complete idiot. She had always known that childbirth was a dreadful process. She just hadn't realized how dreadful until her contractions started hitting her without mercy.
It was all she could do not to Gentle Fist everyone within reach. "Lady Tsunade, please don't patronize me." That's what her Sensei was doing. Surely, that had to be it.
"I'm not." Tsunade sighs as she checks her vitals. "You really are. No one gets through childbirth without screaming Hinata. It's just impossible."
Her pride was the last thing she was worried about at the moment. It was the most peculiar sensation to want Sasuke by her side and to want to kill him at the same time.
Well at least, he had indulged her strange food cravings and pampered her during her pregnancy. That was something. So she wouldn't kill him. Maybe.
"It's a wonder there are any cinnamon rolls left in this village." Itachi chuckled as Sasuke walked inside their home.
Sasuke just shrugged as Hinata watched him from the living room. "I guess Arashi has a sweet tooth and it's not like I'm going to say no to her, even if she wasn't pregnant." He hadn't seen her, which just made it all the more sweet.
They'd gotten back from their Honeymoon only a few days before. Hinata's feet scarcely ever touched the floor anymore. Sasuke would probably cart her back to their room once he saw her, but Hinata didn't mind that at all.
Mostly, she was thrilled with the attention. For far too long, they had been kept apart by everything. So if her husband wanted to lavish her with attention, Hinata certainly didn't mind indulging him.
"Mmm. Are all Uchiha men this overprotective?" Konan laughed as she walked over to Itachi and wrapped her arms around his neck. "If so, I think I might enjoy a child or two of our own."
Hinata blinked at that. For some reason, it had never crossed her mind the former Akatsuki member might be maternal, but apparently she was.
Itachi looked just as shocked as she felt. "That might be negotiable." he smiled and kissed her forehead. "We're just not going to let Kisame anywhere near them until they've graduated the Academy at the very least. The same applies to Suigetsu."
That was a good point. Kisame and Suigetsu would probably put a sword in the kid's hand as soon as he or she could walk. They meant well, but yeah. There were limits. Even for the children of ninjas.
"Hey!" Suigetsu's whine echoed throughout the house. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Karin rolled her eyes as she smacked him upside the head. "Quiet. You'll wake Hinata." For whatever reason the female member of Taka had decided to play the part of Hinata's unofficial nurse.
Which was fine with the bluenette. It eased Sasuke's worries and frankly, she was just relieved that Karin had gotten over her crush on Hinata's husband.
"Speaking of quiet, it's a little too quiet here." Itachi's eyes scanned the living room and kitchen with practiced ease. "Where are Kakashi and Obito?"
"They're out training in the Forest of Death with Gai." Jugo smiled. "Those three have a tendency of overdoing it, so Kakashi thought it would be safest to train there."
Hinata shook her head at that as she made her way over to the others, giggling. That was putting it mildly. Those three could easily level the village by themselves.
"That's one way to put it." She smiled at Sasuke. "Thank you for getting the cinnamon rolls."
He raised an eyebrow. "Hinata, you're eight months pregnant. What are you doing out of bed." Oh right. That.
It was time she reminded him of something very important. She was pregnant. Not crippled.
"Sasuke, it's perfectly safe for me to walk down the stairs." Massive belly aside, Hinata thought to herself.
"Uh huh." Sasuke rolled his eyes as he scooped her up. "Then it'll be perfectly safe for me to carry you up them."
Hinata giggled again at this as the others watched in amusement. Oh well. It didn't matter. She could indulge him this one time. If Sasuke wanted to play the part of an overprotective father, who was she to argue?
"Ahhh!" Another scream rips through her lips.
How had her grandmother ever managed to have twins, she wonders to herself. This was nearly impossible. She'd rather be fighting another war.
Meanwhile Itachi watches with more than a little amusement as Sasuke paces in the waiting room. It was as amusing as it was concerning really.
"Sasuke, she's going to be alright." He pokes the other man's forehead affectionately. "Tsunade is the best at what she does. There is no cause for concern."
Kakashi shakes his head as he flips another page in his book. "I'd be more worried, if he wasn't concerned. It just means he cares." He smirks at Sasuke. "God only knows how long he's been waiting for this day. They were such adorable little Genin. I knew it would happen eventually."
Obito rolls his eyes at that and smacks Kakashi upside the head. "It's a wonder that Sasuke and Hinata ever learned anything from you." The action causes Itachi to chuckle. "Did you even stop reading those lecherous books for two seconds to train them?"
That was a good question. Sometimes Itachi did wonder that himself. Still, they had more important things to worry about than a trip down memory lane. His Sister-In-Law was in the process of giving birth.
"It's a good thing that Neji, Hanabi, and Hiashi are with her." Itachi shakes his head at all the commotion. "They're far calmer about this sort of thing than everyone in this room is."
Everyone including himself, Konan, Kisame, Taka, Sasuke, Obito, and Team Seven. It was quite the impressive gathering really and Itachi privately marvels at the fact that they all fit in one waiting room.
"Yes." Sasuke sighs as he shakes his head. "I wish she hadn't told me to leave the room, but she's pretty scary when her Gentle Fist goes flying."
Itachi nods sympathetically at his brother. Gods and Goddesses help him, when Konan went into labor. His angel could be far from angelic when she got angry enough.
"It'll be fine." He smiles at Sasuke reassuringly. "Her pregnancy has been perfectly normal. There's no reason to suspect that her delivery will be any different."
Suigetsu smirks at that. "You mean besides the whole fighting to the death while pregnant thing?" Goodness, Suigetsu was an idiot sometimes Itachi observes.
"I'd probably stop talking now, Suigetsu." Jugo rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "Uchihas can get pretty violent when annoyed."
Ah finally. It was good to see that occasionally, at least some of Taka displayed some form of survival instincts.
The sound of footsteps interrupts the Jugo's warning, a few seconds after a loud cry is heard. "Yes, I've noticed that too." Hanabi laugh softly. "Sasuke, you might wish to visit your wife and son before this zoo gets in there."
Of course, Itachi had always known that his foolish little brother was fast. He just hadn't realized how fast the other man was until that moment. Damn. Sasuke might actually have moved faster than the Fourth Hokage on this day.
It only took a few seconds or even less for Sasuke to reach that delivery room, but they were the longest ones of his life. Mercifully, when he got there Sasuke was treated to the sounds of his newborn son's cries and the sight of Hinata looking exhausted, but otherwise no worse for ware.
"It's alright." Tsunade laughs and shakes her head. "They're both fine. Hinata is obviously exhausted and I don't think she's feeling up to other visitors just yet, but you have a healthy baby boy."
Hinata nods at that as Sasuke darts to her side. "You're amazing." He kisses her forehead. "Don't worry. I'll keep the zoo away."
Hiashi and Neji chuckle at that as Hanabi darts into the room after Sasuke. Though he barely takes note of them. All that mattered really was ensuring that his wife was indeed alright and catching his first glimpse of his newborn son.
Who was currently squirming underneath a white blanket and apparently none too pleased about getting his vaccinations. Sadly, Sasuke couldn't prevent that. A few moments of discomfort could prevent untold suffering.
"Here." Tsunade smiles as she places the newborn in Hinata's arms. "Your son is all ready for you now."
Hiashi snorts in amusement. "Well, you've caused us no end of trouble, but I have to admit that you do help sire beautiful children." His Father-In-Law looks at him.
Sasuke would have issued a witty retort at that, but the moment he saw Arashi's face, well everything else didn't matter. He truly was adorable with his chubby cheeks, creamy colored skin, Hinata's ears, Sasuke's raven black hair, and Hinata's lavender eyes. His facial features leaned more towards the Uchiha side of the family tree, but he could see Hyuga in him here and there.
"That was more Hinata's doing than mine." He smiles as he looks down at the bundle in Hinata's arms in wonder.
Hinata frowns and nods at that. "Yes, I was." Clearly, his wife hadn't entirely forgotten about the pain she had just endured. "I had better be pampered after this. Ridiculously so."
Sasuke laughs and shakes his head. As if he was going to do anything else. Though he notes with more than a little mirth that Arashi was already trying to nurse.
Not that he could blame him. The newborn was hungry and obviously, hew as going to be ridiculously spoiled.
"I think we can manage that." He sighs. "Though we'll be needing a lot of earplugs to deal with everyone visiting him, once you're more rested. Gods and Goddesses only knows that Naruto is going to be loud enough to shatter everyone's eardrums alone and he's only the beginning."
There was the Hyuga Clan, Team Seven, Konan, Itachi, Kisame, Taka, and even more people who would undoubtedly be eager to catch a glimpse of the newborn. Oh and did Sasuke mention his Summons?
Aoda and Garuda would want to see little Arashi too. That was fine though. Sasuke was more than in the mood to show his beautiful son off to the whole world. Though Hinata would need her rest first of course.
Hinata laughs and nods. "Yes, we'll be needing many earplugs." She smiles at him. "Though I'm glad that it looks like things have finally settled down."
"It's going to take awhile for everyone to truly process what happened that night." Neji crosses his arms. "Though I think it's safe to say that the Uchiha Clan should be safe this time. Only a complete fool would go up against the likes of Sasuke, Itachi, and Obito, and that's not even factoring in their association with our Clan now."
That was true. Sasuke smirks at that thought. There would be no more Itachis. No more children forced to wipe out their families because the Leaf's power players couldn't be bothered to do their own dirty work.
"You're right." Hinata nods. "Well, he's just as cute as Sasuke. I just hope he doesn't inherit his father's temper."
Sasuke didn't even bother to argue with that. He did have a temper, but it was only because there were a lot of idiots and cruel people in the world. None of which would be allowed to get within a thousand feet of his son, if he had anything to say about it.