Naruto woke up in the middle of the night, his stomach feeling a tad unsettled. He tried not to rouse Hinata as he turned on his side, scolding himself for trying to out-eat her yet again during their weekly date night at Ichiraku. He should have known better by now, honestly, but he couldn't help himself.
Typically Naruto was able to at least keep up with her, but lately, he noticed she was eating a bit more than usual. This of course flew right over his head, and instead fueled his competitive streak.
"Another order of miso pork ramen, old man!" Naruto yelled as he attempted to keep up with his wife.
Hinata, though, completely unbothered, continued eating at her normal pace. Clearly, she was savoring every bite, whereas her husband was simply trying to catch up to the amount she had already eaten.
"You know, Naruto, they say slow and steady wins the race," Teuchi said, nodding towards Hinata.
"Oh, dad. Let him be," Ayame said as she prepared another bowl for Naruto, "If he hasn't learned his lesson by now, I don't think he ever will."
Naruto furrowed his brow, "Can I just please get my food without the lecture?"
Hinata giggled, "Naruto-Kun, can't we just have a nice dinner? It doesn't have to be a competition every time."
He bashfully smiled at her and nodded, "Yeah, I know...you're right."
Nonetheless, four bowls later, Naruto knew he had gone over his limit once again trying to match Hinata.
She simply shook her head as she wrapped an arm around his waist and led the way back to their cozy apartment. He watched her as she got ready for bed, unfazed by what she had eaten, and sighed. Somehow, he loved her even more for her healthy appetite.
He smiled as she kissed him and said her goodnights, but started tossing and turning the moment his stomach began bothering him. He couldn't believe she was sleeping so soundly beside him, almost as if she hadn't eaten her weight in pork miso ramen just hours earlier.
He had spent the better part of a year attempting to figure out where she was putting it all but thought it was better not to ask. Sakura would surely scold him if she ever heard of him asking such a thing.
He knew he was never known for his tact, but since he married Hinata, he'd truly been trying to be more aware of what he said and did. Still, though, it was in moments like this that he wished he still had no filter. He truly wanted to know how his petite wife was able to eat even more than Choji at the drop of a hat.
"Naruto?"
He turned his head slightly to find Hinata, awake, peering at him through heavy-lidded eyes.
"Go back to sleep, Hina. I'm okay."
She shook her head, "You ate too much again, didn't you?"
"I said I'm okay."
Hinata reached over to the nightstand and pulled out a bottle of antacid. At this point, she knew her husband well enough that she kept it at their bedside for these inevitable moments.
Naruto chuckled as she handed him two and rubbed his back as he roughly chewed and swallowed the tablets.
"How could you beat me again?" He managed to mutter.
She stifled a laughed, "It's not a competition"
"I didn't even know you liked ramen that much until we started dating."
"You never asked," Hinata smiled, still gently caressing him.
His eyes fluttered closed, finally sleep appeared to be in reach. Of course, it was only once Hinata took care of him yet again. She was his comfort.
He curled into her touch, "I love the feeling of your hand on my back."
"I know," she murmured, pressing her lips to the back of his neck.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, Naruto praying the antacid would kick in quickly so he could finally go to sleep.
Still, though, the question lingered in his mind. He didn't care if Sakura would yell at him later on for asking it, but he just had to know, "Hinata?"
"Yes?"
He took a breath before asking, "How are you able to eat that many bowls without getting sick? It's just not fair. Look at me, I ate two fewer bowls than you did and I feel like I'm dying."
She looked at him blankly before she smiled serenely and responded, "It's a little easier when you're eating for two."
He turned on his side to meet her gaze and asked, "Y-you're what?"
"I'm...I'm pregnant."
It took him a second, but when he understood what she was telling him his stomach ache disappeared and the sleepiness subsided. He took her into his arms and couldn't help but kiss her all over.
There was a rush of emotions that flooded him, utterly floored him. He lifted her pajama shirt and kissed her still flat stomach, placing a hand protectively over it.
"I can't believe it," He whispered as he felt tears gathering at the corner of his eyes.
"I have a feeling this baby is really going to like ramen, it's all I've really been wanting to eat," She said, brushing her husband's hair back as he laid his cheek on her abdomen.
He wanted to stay like this for as long as he could.
"You two eat all the ramen you want, okay, Hina? Just say the word and I'll take you to Ichiraku any day of the week."
Hinata laughed, "Okay, Naruto-Kun."
"When did you find out?"
"This morning, I just...didn't know how to tell you."
He tightened his grasp around her and nodded, "I'm glad I asked."
"What?"
Naruto smiled to himself and shook his head, "Nothing, Hina. Let's go to sleep, you need your rest."
Hinata let out a sigh, "Are you planning on falling asleep like this?" She asked, clearly referring to the fact that he was laying over her bottom half, embracing her stomach.
"Yes."
"Naruto..." She pleaded.
"Nope, can't move me. Not tonight, at least."
She didn't try to fight him any further, simply traced his back as they were both lulled back to sleep in each other's arms. Undoubtedly having dreams of the future, and the little ramen eating champion that was about to take over their lives.