[Natsume's Point of View]

It felt unreal to be back in Shimizu. I've changed and gone through so much…and yet it seemed like nothing has changed here. Everything was still the same from the cobblestone roads to the red-tinted roof tops. I stopped and stared at all the familiar sights. Deidara's hand slipped into mine and squeezed it reassuringly. He gently smirked as if he too treasured the memories we'd made here. After all, it was here where we became best friends. Shimizu has always been special to me, but even more so now that Deidara was a part of it.

I smiled back and we continued on. We passed people in the streets, several that I knew, but we spoke to no one. With dusty travel cloaks and hoods raised, we had to blend in. When my Dad's villa was in sight, Deidara caught me by the arm. "Wait Natsume," he whispered in my ear. "Go on without me."

"What? Why?" I asked worriedly as I started to panic. Surely he wasn't going to leave me now!

His gentle smile reassured me. "This moment belongs to you and your Dad; you should take advantage of that."

"And tell him I'm pregnant?"

"And bond with him," he emphasized. "It's been three and a half years since you've seen him so go have your fun. Reality can catch up later." He kissed my cheek in farewell. "Leave your window open tonight."

I smiled and nodded. I turned towards the house and he faded into the bustling crowd. In the shadow of the villa's entrance I risked removing my hood and knocked on the door. The door opened and I was surprised to see Chieko. Normally it was the house-keepers duty to answer the door so I had assumed the new housekeep would have taken over the role. She cried out for joy and hugged me tightly. I laughed along with her and hugged her back.

"It's so good to see you!" Chieko said as she led me inside. "Why haven't you written for so long? Your Dad's been beside himself with worry, me too of course, but it's so good to see you!"

I smiled at her rush of words; I've missed that. "I've missed you too. Where's Dad?"

"He's in town for the day, working at his new pottery shop. He'll be back for lunch."

That surprised me. "What about the old one in Iwagakure?" Dad had been very attached to that dinky little shop.

"He sold it to Tamotsu-san when we moved here. They're now business partners." That didn't surprise me either, they're such great friends. "Would you like to meet your little brother? I'm about to wake Taizo from his nap."

I nodded and followed her. There was an extra bounce to her step, a twinkle in her eye; she practically radiated visible happiness. I smiled secretly. I'm happy for her; she deserves someone like Dad just like he's deserved someone like her. They compliment each other very well. I wonder if the same could be said of Deidara and me.

I could hear Taizo crying softly through the door just before she opened it. The toddler's grumpy face burst into a toothy ear to ear grin when he saw his mother. He grabbed hold of the bars to pull himself up to stand and eagerly reached out for her. He was about the cutest little baby I've ever seen. He looked like Dad with Chieko's hair and slightly tanned skin.

"How's Momma's big boy?" She cooed as she picked him up and kissed him on the nose. He squealed with joy as he swatted at her turquoise curls and called her Mama over and over. It melted my heart to see his adoration and I wonder if my baby will ever feel that way about me. She turned towards me and looked at me curiously for a moment. Then she smiled knowingly. "You're expecting as well." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

I panicked. "Am I showing already?"

She shook her head and pointed down at my stomach. My hand was resting against it again. Where is that habit coming from? I blushed and let my hand fall to my side. "I did the same thing when I was pregnant with Taizo," she said as she approached me. "Congratulations, Kazuhiko-san must be proud."

I flinched; of course they'd assume it was his. I stopped writing after I left with Deidara. I was worried about Akatsuki tracking my letters. "It's not his," I confessed. "I haven't seen him for a year."

"Oh?" She asked curiously, thankfully not accusingly.

"It's Deidara's," I whispered in her ear.

Her eyes widened in shock before her expression crumbled sympathetically. "Did he know before his death?"

"Oh he's not dead," I reassured her. "He faked it so he could defect from Akatsuki. He's here in Shimizu."

It took her a moment to process all of this. "Then why isn't he with you now?"

"He wanted to give us time together before he shows up. I think he's worried that he won't be accepted because of what he's done." She still looked confused and I sighed. "It's a long story…longer than I feel like sharing right now."

She nodded in an understanding way. "How far along are you?" She asked kindly.

I blushed again. "I don't really know. I've only known for a month."

"Follow me," she instructed as she walked out of the room and handed Taizo off to a nursemaid with instructions to give him lunch. She then led me to my old room and I was happy to see that nothing had changed here either. "I'll call for my midwife, she'll be able to determine the progress as well as answer any questions you may have. And you don't have to worry about her telling anyone, she is discretion itself."

I nodded. "Thank you Chieko."

She smiled and leaned forward to kiss my forehead. "I'm happy for you. I know how much you liked him." I blushed and her smile grew wider. "Get some sleep and I'll come back in two hours with the midwife."

I was about to protest, insisting that I didn't need sleep, but a yawn escaped. Ok, maybe I'm a little tired. So I nodded and lay back. She closed the door quietly behind her and I enjoyed the warm breeze that came through the open window. I smiled as I savored its rich salty scent. I've forgotten how much I missed it. Shimizu had always been a retreat, an escape from the grimy city of Iwagakure. My hand rested against my stomach as I wondered if this place would still be safe once Dad learns what happened.

Despite my worry I still fell into a deep sleep. Chieko wakened me with a gentle shake of the shoulder. I blinked in confusion at first but then remembered and sat up. The mid-wife was a petite woman with navy hair that was piled on top of her head. Her smile was soothing, her words reassuring, and her hands moved expertly across my flat abdomen. Chieko remained by my side the entire time and squeezed my hand reassuringly. When the mid-wife finished her examination she explained that I was two months along and assured me that it was developing normally. I just nodded at the appropriate times, still not trusting myself to speak. I'm still really nervous, this is still so new to me. She gave me her card. "Please feel free to call me day or night if you have any further questions. And congratulations again, my dear."

Chieko thanked her and saw her to the door before turning back towards me. "You don't seem very happy," she observed.

"What's Dad going to say when I tell him that I'm carrying Deidara's child? How will he see past the wanted poster?"

"I see what you mean," she said sympathetically as she sat down beside me. "I don't know what he'll say either." She rested a hand on mine and smiled. "But you're an adult now Natsume. If you're truly happy with your life, then you don't need his approval or disapproval."

I nodded. "I know."

"And are you happy with your life?" She asked hopefully. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Her question caught me off guard though it was perfectly natural for her to ask. When I left…I had been a very different person then; insecure, hurt, lonely, and looking for a fresh start. I looked out the window at the gently rolling waves as I allowed the memories of that hard time to wash over me. "When I left, I only meant to escape the memories of Deidara that haunted me. Anywhere seemed preferable to Iwagakure." She listened intently and silently. "I had a lot of time to think about what I wanted and who I wanted to be. It wasn't easy, but I finally found the courage to be who I should have been all along."

She smiled proudly. "I'm very happy for you."

"Now where's that sexy wife of mine?" Dad called out playfully from down the hall.

She looked pleased but blushed modestly because I was there. "Come and say hello," she said as she helped me up. "Don't worry about telling him about the baby yet. Just get reacquainted first."

I nodded and followed her out into the hallway. Dad smiled warmly at Chieko, his eyes twinkled affectionately. He's much happier now that I've seen him in a long time. Then he saw me and just stared. I wasn't sure what to make of that; I had been expecting a different reaction. Then he charged towards me, picked me up, and swung me around like a child. He laughed. "You're back! FINALLY!" Then he gave me a big bear hug that took my breath away. "Welcome home Natsume."

"Thanks Dad," I grinned as I hugged him back.

"Through with adventures then huh?" He winked as he set me down.

I shrugged. "That remains to be seen. So Chieko told me that you have a new shop in Shimizu."

He nodded. "Would you like to see it?"

"Maybe later," I said. I didn't want to have to explain why I couldn't be seen in town just yet. "I could really use some lunch."

"Of course," he said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and steered me towards the dining room. "So did you come alone or did you bring Kazuhiko-san? I've been waiting to see my future son-in-law."

"They're not together anymore," Chieko whispered by his side.

"We never were," I corrected further. "He was just my friend and manager. That's all it ever was."

He groaned as he snapped his fingers. "So close and yet so far."

"Close to what?" I asked in confusion.

"To seeing you married and settled down already. I want to see my grandchildren before I die, you know."

Chieko hid a secret smile behind her hand and I smirked. "It'll happen before you know it Dad. And besides it's not like you're elderly yet anyway."

We had a great lunch with some of Shimizu's prized fruits and sweet juicy meat. We caught up on old news (everything that didn't involve Deidara of course). Dad told me about his business with the store and his involvement in the vineyard now. I told him about my art and shared some stories from my travels. Chieko listened and served…or rather tried to. Dad caught her hand and pulled her onto his lap. "You're not the housekeeper anymore remember? Let her do her job and you stay here with me." He kissed her gently and I smiled at the sight. It's sweet to see their love. Taizo soon joined us and walked around the room on his wobbly little legs.

"How old is he now?" I asked as he tugged on my sleeve.

"Fifteen months," he said. "So what do you think of your little brother?"

"He's pretty cute," I said as I ruffled his hair playfully.

He giggled and held his hands up. "Up! Up!" He cooed. I picked him up and sat him on my lap. To my surprise he hugged me and rested his head against my chest. "Sissy," he said softly.

I looked up in surprise. "He knows I'm his sister?"

Dad grinned. "Of course he does. We've got pictures remember? He knows all about you."

I looked down at this little boy and stroked his soft curls. He was such a little sweetie. I smiled with pride. Growing up I had wished for a little brother or sister to play with. Obviously it wouldn't be the same with such an age gap but it'd still be fun. Suddenly my lap felt warm and wet. I quickly picked him up and yelped. "Gaw! He just peed on me!"

"My apologies miss!" The nursemaid said quickly as she took him from me. "I'll change him right away." I stood up and quickly wiped my lap with several napkins.

Dad laughed at my expression. "Oh come now Natsume, don't be so dramatic. A little urine is no big deal."

I stuck my tongue out at him and thankfully Chieko came to my defense. "Why don't you change and meet us in the courtyard for dessert?"

I nodded and left to get changed. We spent the rest of the day out in the courtyard playing some games with Taizo and talked some more. It was like we were one big happy family and it felt really nice. Just before going to bed I opened the window. "Dei-Dei?" I whispered as I looked around. "You there?" All was silent and I enjoyed the warm breeze that blew my hair back. The moon was round and full, shedding its soft blue light on the ocean below. The sound of the waves crashed lightly against the shore. It was a beautiful sight.

I gasped when a pair of arms slipped around me from behind. "You scared me!" I said as I looked at Deidara over my shoulder. "How did you get in without me seeing?"

"Because I'm sexily sneaky that way," he smirked as he kissed the back of my neck. "It's a shame you're already dressed for bed. I was hoping to help you with that."

"You can be such a pervert sometimes, you know that?" I giggled as I turned around to kiss him.

"Hey I can't help it if you're so gorgeous that I can't keep my hands off of you," he teased as he leaned into me, his hand pressed against my lower back.

"Its part of being a Nadeshiko," I teased back. "To have beauty that is both a blessing and a curse."

"Then by all means put me under your spell," he murmured as he kissed me again. We enjoyed a delicious kiss and gentle caress. Before long we continued that in the warmth of my bed. He was gentler than ever before since he worried about hurting the baby. My sensitive body responded eagerly to this. It was like nothing I've ever experienced before. "Admit it, you wished for this when we were in Shimizu last time," he grinned wickedly afterward.

"No I didn't!" I laughed at him. "But I bet you did."

"Of course I did," he whispered along my skin. "You were all I ever wanted." I smiled and snuggled close. "Did you tell your Dad about us? About the baby?"

I shook my head. "No, but Chieko knows."

"And what did she say, hm?" He asked curiously.

"She was a little worried but seems happy about it."

"Then we'll tell them together," he said resolutely as he kissed my fingertips. Oh how I love those shining sapphire eyes that are for me alone. I nodded and gave him one last kiss before falling asleep in his arms.