"Shut it!"
Hushed words. Tapping. A giggle followed by a thump. Muffled noises filter into the bedroom, causing the pinkette's ears to perk up. The perpetrators are trying to keep quiet, but that only lasts a few moments before one of them starts up again.
"Mmm…" Green eyes flutter open as she groans, shifting beneath the sheets. Is it that time already? Can't be... The room's still dark and it feels like she only laid down maybe five minutes ago. Peering towards the nightstand, the red numbers on the clock are blurry. She's still too groggy, just barely able to make anything out.
4:51 A.M.
"They've been at it for a little while now." A deep voice grumbles from behind, sighing deeply into her hair. He sounds tired and a little annoyed. That's not surprising. The man's a light sleeper and both of them stayed up last night, taking care of finishing touches. There's no way a vigilant person like him could rest peacefully with the racket outside their door. Knowing the boys are up, he'd be on alert, keeping an ear out to make sure everything's okay.
"Probably too excited..." She yawns, wanting to curl up and go back to sleep. It's only been a few hours since they laid down together. That doesn't really matter at this point. This isn't about them, but the little ones in the hall, waiting impatiently for their parents to get up.
Christmas is about making special memories together as a family. For children, it's a day of magic and fun. Presents, stocking stuffers, decorations, movies, relatives, food… Even if she's dead tired, Sakura wants to make sure their children look back on these days fondly and cherish them, even when they're all grown up.
'I need to get up.'
"Hn." The arm slung around her waist tightens, reluctant to let go. They're in the same position. Too comfortable and not wanting to get up just yet, but knowing it's inevitable. His warm chest pressed up against her back feels heavenly, making it a struggle to get going. "I can only imagine how it's going to be when there's four of them instead of three ."
"They're… going to be a handful." She smiles, humming softly when a large hand rests on the growing bump beneath her top. His touch is soothing, gently rubbing circles along her swollen abdomen. Not much longer now. "But I'm looking forward to it."
"Stop that, idiot!"
"Well, there goes that ." Giving her a quick peck on the head, Madara throws the covers off himself and sits up on the side of the bed. Taking his heat with him… And she feels the difference immediately. Wasting no time, she moves into his spot and clings to the duvet, trying to soak up the remnants of warmth left behind. It's easy to forget how cold it actually is when there's a living, breathing furnace attached to her.
'Oh…'
Despite the chill in the room, Sakura's face becomes flush, a pretty pink hue spreading across her cheeks from watching the man just a few feet away. He's topless, stretching his arms up in the air and arching his back, groaning as he works the stiffness out of his body. Her eyes rake over the lean muscles flexing beneath his tanned skin and she silently curses the dark mane blocking part of her view.
'I'm such a simp.'
As if he can feel her gaze, Madara glances back and raises a brow. He continues to stretch, his lips curling up into a knowing smirk. So smug . She's almost tempted to push him off the edge of the bed. It's almost not fair. Her husband ages like fine wine, becoming more attractive with every passing year.
"Do you want to stay in bed? You didn't get much sleep last night." He asks quietly, leaning down to pick up the long-sleeved black shirt that was discarded on the floor hours earlier. The question breaks the trance, bringing her back to reality. It's a kind offer, but one she won't take him up on. "You don't have to get up… I can handle it."
"No, no. I don't want to miss out on anything. Can you throw me my robe?" Unlike the rest of the family, she doesn't have fire coursing through her veins. Madara seems perfectly content in his shirt and plaid sweatpants, but she needs the extra layers to stay cozy.
"Hn. Just don't push yourself. Let me and the boys worry about getting everything ready later. They seem to have plenty of energy today. Might as well put that to good use." He mutters, sliding on his slippers and getting up. That's an offer she doesn't mind accepting. Members of his extended family come by every year to celebrate, bringing presents and staying for dinner. No one should arrive until the late afternoon, but it's still a good amount of work.
"Sounds like a plan, dear ." Sakura chuckles, catching the robe when he tosses it on the covers. While getting ready, she keeps an eye on her husband, watching bemusedly as he stalks over to the bedroom door. From the noises in the hall… the boys are still there, knowing very well that no one is allowed downstairs until the two of them are awake. It's a rule that had to be set after Saizo got up early one time and opened all his presents while everyone else was asleep. Part of the fun as a parent is seeing their reactions.
Grabbing the handle, he yanks the door and startled gasps fill the air. They've been caught by the warden. Madara stands tall at the threshold, arms crossed over his chest. A brooding, statuesque figure towering over them as he looks down with a scowl, narrowing his dark eyes on the alarmed trio.
"You woke your mother up."
Even from the edge of the bed, Sakura can see their shocked little faces. Did the boys really think they couldn't hear them out there? Maybe… From their expressions, there's no doubt they think they're in big trouble.
'He'll just give them a small talking to, then act as if nothing happened. Ah… Why does he have to look so serious? It's like he wants to put the fear of God into them. At least he doesn't reprimand our sons the way he does others... No wonder people say he's scary.'
"S–Sorry, Dad…" Izuna stammers under his father's reproachful gaze. A guilty expression passes over his youthful face as he sucks in his bottom lip. As the eldest son, he cares about Madara's approval the most and usually follows his rules to a T. "We couldn't sleep, and Saizo wanted to see if you and mom were awake yet."
"You jerk!" The boy beside him shoots back, seething with anger. His demeanor reminds her of a pissed chihuahua. A tiny little thing, barking loudly with his teeth bared, ready to nip at the heels of those much bigger than himself. He's a rambunctious kid that likes to romp around and get into stuff.
'A lot like his uncle…'
"Mom!" A head with messy black hair pokes out from between Madara's legs, looking straight at her. Before he can grab him, the toddler crawls past his feet and scurries along the carpet.
It's too late to stop him.
Ignoring those at the door, Kou rushes to the side of the bed, hopping up to his feet and throwing himself at her. A real mama's boy. If he could stay by her side all day, he would. Small hands grab at the soft fabric of her robe, gripping it tightly as he drops his head against her stomach.
"Careful!" Madara barks at the boy, shifting his gaze from the pinkette's face down to the large bump beneath her clothes.
"I'm fine. Don't worry…" This isn't her first time being pregnant. She already has a good idea of her body's limits throughout those nine long months, even if it's not the same each time. Still, he's always a bit too cautious. It's understandable. Unlike the boys, he's much more mindful and knows what he can and can't do. They're still young and have a lot to learn.
"Can we have presents now?" Looking down at the little face gazing up at her, Sakura can't help but smile and run her fingers through his unruly dark hair. He takes so much after his father, but she can see parts of herself mixed in there too. The shape of his eyes and that nose are definitely from her.
"Come on, you lot. Downstairs… No presents until you all eat something first. Get a bowl of cereal and don't make a mess."
Sakura watches the boys file out into the hall on their father's orders and can hear the thunderous footsteps going down the stairs… like a stampede of baby elephants. They're so excited. Even if it's like this every year, it always makes her happy to see them this way.
'They all look so cute in the little onesies I got them.'
"I hope they don't get milk everywhere this time…" Pinching the bridge of his nose, Madara sighs deeply. The only one they really need to worry about is Saizo, the ultimate mess-maker. Izuna has taken on more of an active role in watching over his brothers, now that he's getting older. He'll likely try to clean up any mishaps before they see it.
"Are you ready?" Now that it's just the two of them, his voice takes on a warm, velvety tone. One reserved for her alone. It's enough to make Sakura's heart flutter. Seeing his outstretched hand, she cheerfully slides on her own slippers and grasps it.
"N–No way… I can't believe it! Shinobi Wars VII: The Chakra Awakens!" With eyes as wide as saucers, Izuna gawks at the object on his lap in disbelief. He's ecstatic . Tossing the wrapping paper to the side, he picks up the case and brings it to his nose, examining the title and design across the cover. "This just came out. I can't wait to play this with Ichiro! He's going to be so jealous…" A slight tremble runs through his hands as he grips the game, holding onto it like it's a lost treasure.
Taking a sip of warm ginger tea, Sakura quietly glances at the man sitting beside her on the sofa. He seems pleased with himself at their son's reaction, the corners of his lips lifting in a slight smirk. Izuna and his friends are crazy about the Shinobi Wars series. Playing games, watching the movies, collecting action figures… The seventh video game came out recently and sold out within minutes. She has no clue how Madara got his hands on one and isn't about to ask, either.
"How sad for Hashirama... So disappointed he couldn't find a copy for his son." The wicked grin on his face while wrapping the gift was unnerving, yet normal for anything involving the Senju. Like Izuna and Ichiro, Madara and Hashirama were childhood friends and rivals. It gave him immense pleasure to succeed where his longtime friend could not.
'He's too much…'
Christmas is her favorite. It makes all the work that goes into preparing everything feel worth it. There's something magical about getting up before the sun rises on this particular day. The twinkling lights of the tree offset the morning darkness, casting a warm glow across the living room. Decorations, tinsel, and candy canes dangle from its branches... Presents wrapped with care sit beneath on a wide skirt, with pretty bows and nametags all signed 'from Santa'. Red and white stockings hang from the wall by a hook, weighed down with sweets and tiny gifts. Tall ivory taper candles in their gold-plated holders line the mantle above their fireplace, adorned with garland. Madara always takes care of any last touches while the boys eat breakfast, including turning on festive music to set the mood.
Seeing the boys' faces when they step into the living room is the best part. Of course, they're most excited about presents but when they're adults… They'll look back on these moments and have a different kind of appreciation for the holidays.
"Looks like they're quite happy. Everything worked out well." Madara leans close, whispering in her ear. There's no doubt about it. Among the sea of shredded wrapping paper and bows, the boys sit on the hardwood floor, going through their presents enthusiastically. Shrieks of joy and laughter ring throughout the home, adding to the light-hearted atmosphere.
"Yep. And it's all because of you ." Sakura says low enough so the kids don't hear. She smiles brightly at him, grateful for all the extra effort he put in this year. Running around, picking up gifts, helping wrap them, decorating outside, placing ornaments higher up on the tree, including the star… In her current condition, attempting some of those would've been a bad idea.
"You… too." The words come out slowly as he stares at the pinkette's face, transfixed by her radiance. Adoration and something close to rapture light up his dark eyes. A shrill scream from Kou when Saizo snags one of the toddler's toys snaps them both out of it. Madara blinks, tearing his gaze from her towards the tussle happening on the floor to reprimand their sons, but even from the side, she can just barely see the warmth in his cheeks.
The doorbell rings.
"Visitors!" Saizo drops the toy and hops to his feet, ready to rush to the door.
"No." A large hand quickly grabs the back of his onesie, pulling the child backward. Madara scowls, glaring down the hall towards the entrance of the home. "I'll get the door. You three stay here with your mother." With a hardened expression, he lets go of Saizo and marches out of the living room.
'Strange. No one usually comes this early…'
"Idiot. We're not supposed to answer the door. Remember?" Izuna frowns, berating his younger sibling.
That must be why Madara seemed on edge. Family usually stops by on the holidays, but much later in the afternoon. From the look on his face, he's both apprehensive and irritated that someone would be at their door at this hour. It could be a case of mistaken address… That only happened once before, and he was not tactful about it. More like a Rottweiler ready to snap its jaws at any strangers that get too close to its territory. Or perhaps it's something else. It's the latter that has her worried.
"Sorry, Nii-san…"
Sakura perks up at the familiar voice coming from the entrance. Within seconds, her husband trudges back into the living room with someone in tow. Unlike moments ago, there's no sign of annoyance or caution on his face.
"… Sorry to barge in on you guys so early, Sakura." The man says apologetically, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. Izuna… Madara's younger brother and their firstborn's namesake. Something seems a bit off though, besides showing up like this. He looks exhausted, like he hasn't slept well in a few days.
'What's up with him?'
"No, no. It's fine. Do you want some tea or anything to drink?" The pinkette smiles at her brother-in-law. It's still nice to see him, even in these circumstances.
"Here." Madara takes the mug he left on the coffee table and pushes it into Izuna's hands. The ginger tea he hadn't taken a sip of yet. It's still hot, with steam rising from the surface. "Don't make my wife get up. If you want something else, you know where it is."
"Y–Yeah… Thanks, Nii-san." Izuna replies, trying to straighten out his crooked grin as a bead of sweat runs down his temple.
"Uncle! Look what Santa brought me." A little hand tugs on his pant leg, trying to get the man's attention. In the other is a toy truck being waved around furiously.
"Hey, squirt… Whatcha got there? Oh, that's a nice truck! You must've been really good this year." Crouching down to the boy's height, a genuine smile forms on his lips as Saizo nods excitedly. "What else did Santa bring you, huh? How about you, Mini-Me? Get anything good?"
It only takes a few minutes before Izuna's sitting in the middle of the floor with the boys. Each one insists on showing their beloved uncle the gifts they received, trying to get him to play with them. He's patient and thoughtful, able to get them to calm down enough to take turns by making a game out of it.
'He's great with kids…'
"Well, that should keep all four of them busy for a while." Madara smirks, taking his seat next to her on the couch. "I wonder who will get tuckered out first."
"Uncle! Uncle! Let's go play in the snow."
"It's up to your parents." Picking the elastic band off the floor, Izuna gathers the wild dark hair around the base of his neck in hopes of getting it back under control. It only took Kou two seconds to pull it out.
"Go ahead. You three know the drill… Layer up first. Scarves, gloves, hats. Make sure you don't forget anything or I'll send you right back upstairs." As soon as their father finishes, the boys rush up the steps to their rooms.
"I swear, those kids never run out of energy." Flopping down on the cushions next to his brother, Izuna leans back and closes his eyes. He looks even more tired after romping around with the little ones.
"You were the same way when we were younger."
From the stories her husband told in the past, their kids seem like perfect angels compared to Izuna. A feral child that wouldn't listen to rhyme or reason, nor any adult. The only authoritative figure was Madara himself. Their father had passed early on, leaving everything on his shoulders. He had to grow up fast while looking after his younger brother, the only one left in their immediate family.
"So, how are things going?" It's a simple question, yet they all understand the true meaning behind it. There's no need to dance around the subject with the kids gone. She thought it was off that he came by so early, and alone at that. He always brings his girlfriend with him for Christmas. It's been like that since they started dating four years ago.
'Did they break up?'
"Well, not… great ." For once, Izuna struggles to find the right words, stumbling and pausing with each one. He's the person who normally knows exactly what he wants to say and how to go about it. "Rei and I… We got into a bit of a fight a few days ago."
"A bit of a fight? Over what?"
"Y'know, same thing as last time. Commitment talk . We've been together a little over four years now… I don't know. Not sure what to do. Sometimes I think of what Father would say. Boy, he'd be pissed finding out I'm in my thirties and still haven't settled down or had any kids yet…"
"It doesn't matter what Father would say. He's not here. Hasn't been for a long time. There's no set age to do these things. It's also fine if you don't want to them at all." When the subject of their father comes up, it's rarely positive. Their childhoods revolved around a lot of pressure and high expectations, which isn't unusual with families like the Uchiha.
"But Rei should get an answer at some point." Sakura chimes in. She doesn't want to pressure him one way or the other on this matter. That's not her decision to make. "If the paths you want to take don't align, perhaps it's better to get that difficult conversation over with. The longer you two wait, the harder it'll be."
'It wouldn't be fair to either of them.'
Communication is important for a lasting relationship. Maybe not in the beginning, but eventually a couple needs to talk about what they're looking for, especially when things get serious. If one wants marriage and children and the other absolutely doesn't, that will cause issues in the long run. Even if there's love involved, eventually it might sour as the years go on when one side is unsatisfied or desires more.
Madara may not be the best at expressing his emotions verbally, but they make it work. He has an entire toolbox at his disposal to get a point across when words just aren't enough. It's been a decade since they first started going out. Thankfully, both realized they wanted the same thing after being together for some time. It's not always easy but still needs to be done.
"I know. That's part of the reason I came over here. It kinda helps me clear my mind… Puts things into perspective. Seeing you all together makes me think about what I really want in life. I don't want to lose Rei… I just don't know if I'm able to give her everything she wants." It hurts to see the usually cheerful man so conflicted and down in the dumps. Part of her would like to give him an answer, maybe even closure… But that's something he needs to figure out for himself. Neither she nor Madara can tell him what choice is the right one, only listen and offer some guidance.
"Give it a little more time, then. Just make sure you're both open with each other. You don't want to be pressured into making such a huge decision. That only leads to resentment later on down the road."
"Mmm…" He nods solemnly, staring down at his folded hands. They sit on the sofa in silence as each one ponders the current situation, barely listening to the rumbling coming from up the stairs. A moment passes before Izuna drags a hand across his face, trying to shake off the negative feelings. "Speaking of family, how much longer do you have left?"
'He wants to change the subject, probably to lighten the mood again.'
"Seven weeks," Madara answers tersely, placing a hand on his wife's stomach. They've made it to the final stretch. Less than two months to go until the baby is here. "Give or take."
"You're not too far from popping. It'll be different having a niece instead of just nephews." His dark eyes widen in interest observing the bump beneath her robe. Their large family is made up almost entirely of boys, so there's excitement for this next addition. "Hopefully, she looks more like her mother and less like you, Nii-san. That'll scare all the boys away."
"Good."
"We're ready!" Kou yells out, holding onto the railing as the boys make their way down the stairs. The little boots are loud against the hardwood floor, letting the adults know exactly where they were in the house with every step. Madara pushes himself up off the couch to begin his inspection. No child of his is going out in the snow without the proper amount of clothing.
"I guess I should call her after I'm done with them outside. Y'know… Try to talk things out. It feels weird not being with her on Christmas." He keeps his voice low, not wanting the kids to hear and start asking questions. They're too young to understand, anyway.
It's clear that Izuna genuinely cares about Rei, even if the couple are having some issues at the moment. All Sakura can hope for is that the two are able to work it out amicably. The last four years have been relatively peaceful for the younger Uchiha. Finding a partner that could help straighten him out seemed like a fever dream, but she's done just that so far.
"That's a good idea. She's more than welcome to come by for dinner with everyone else."
"Uncle, you need to bundle up." Saizo narrows his eyes on the man, tapping a foot against the smooth surface of the floor impatiently. It's hard to see the rest of his expression with the thick scarf covering half of his face, but she would bet money there's a pout behind there.
"Of course! All my stuff is hanging by the door. I'll throw it on while you guys get your coats on. Lead the way, Mini-Me." Their eldest son frowns at the nickname, turning away from his uncle and heading down the hall with Saizo and Kou on his heels.
Despite the fatigue, Izuna still has it in him to play in the snow with the boys. Just watching them in the living room made her feel drained… Somehow, Uchiha members seem to always find more energy whenever they need it. Like they have enormous reserves that are ready to be dipped into at any time.
'That was nice of him to do this for us. The kids are really enjoying themselves. Well, at least Obito and Itachi will be here later and can take over if it gets to be too much.'
"I'm already tired…" She groans, dropping her head down against Madara's shoulder. It's exhausting being pregnant as it is, let alone during the holiday season. Thankfully, her husband is more than willing to take care of the more strenuous tasks. She can do the little ones, like cutting up food or setting the table. With Izuna here, she has a feeling he'll be put to work alongside the boys.
"Do you want to go to the bedroom? I'll help you up."
"No, that's okay. I'd rather stay here with you ." Now that the kids are outside, they can sit back and relax. Their uncle will keep an eye on them, making sure nothing too bad happens.
"Perfect. I can finally have you all to myself." Wrapping his arms around her, he carefully slides Sakura onto his lap, wanting to keep her close. If there's a chance to snatch her up, he'll take it. Of course, it's nice having family around for the holidays, but he also enjoys being alone with his wife.
There's a long day ahead with more festivities, a large dinner, and plenty of relatives. After everyone leaves and the boys are in bed, their own Christmas begins. The dead of night is the most opportune time. The home is silent and no one's around to interrupt them. That's when they bring out their presents for each other. It's more personal, private… Where they can just focus on themselves and show their appreciation openly.
'I'm looking forward to it.'
