The beginning is probably inconsistent, but it's what I came up with.

Disclaimer: M.K. owns all characters/places.


Babies.

Kissing her was like waking up from a really good dream. It was all bliss, all haze and springtime.

She had this funny little quirk of running her tongue across the top of my teeth that made me shiver. She was infamous for discovering my weak spots. Before her, I had had none.

I watched her toes curl as she stretched. Her hair was messy in the buns she had forgotten to undo the night before. Her yawn was lazy, her eyes squeezed shut.

All I wanted to do was crawl back in bed with her.

I turned away from her to resist temptation.

"I should be back by the weekend."

TenTen hummed, seeming like she was summoning her thoughts.

I glanced over my shoulder at her, and felt my knees weaken.

TenTen was not aware she had very convincing bedroom eyes, and I was planning on keeping it that way. She didn't need to know she had more power in her arsenal.

"Come here," she said.

I obeyed her, going over to sit by her side.

TenTen slipped her arms around my neck and pressed her lips to mine, drawing me close.

"What do you think about babies?" she whispered in-between kissing.

I immediately stilled, the haze of my mind dispersing slightly.

I pulled back, because the more distance we had between us, the more I could think clearly.

"Are you pregnant?" I asked.

TenTen scoffed, "No. Kami, Neji, no."

I relaxed some, exhaling a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

I bent to feel her lips again.

"Seriously, though. What do you think of them?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

TenTen shrugged, tracing the underside of my jaw.

"I just want to know what you think of them."

I stated, thinking of other things, "They cry."

TenTen rolled her eyes.

"You don't want children?"

I pulled away from her, slightly disappointed she wanted to have this conversation now.

"I won't bring any child of mine into a world where they must be branded," I said seriously.

TenTen considered this, looking up at me.

"How long do you think it will be before your family abolishes that law?"

"Hinata will probably be made the leader of the clan after Hiashi steps down. We've had discussions about it. . ."

TenTen pursed her lips.

"I need to go," I muttered, glancing at the clock on the dresser.

"Fine," TenTen released amiably, leaning forward to press a series of kisses on my lips.

I forced down the temptation again, and wrenched myself away from her when I could.

As I was leaving, I had a slight premonition.

TenTen was holding the hand of a toddler as she walked down the main street in Konoha. I could see from his face that he was mature for his age, but curious and wide-eyed as they strolled along the shops in the downtown district.

He looked just like me, when I had been that age. This was our child—mine and TenTen's. He was perfect.

I blinked and the vision dispersed. My chest burned with an ache I couldn't describe.

I made a fleeting promise to myself as I walked towards the village gates—that I would make this world better, not for myself, but for my children and grandchildren and all who would follow after.


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