A reader request. Reader is from a small isolated village. Ten years ago she found an injured Jiraiya and took him in to nurse him back to health. During that time she fell deeply in love and he felt the same. He promised her he'd come back for her once he settled something back in his village... but he never did. And little did he know he left her with child. And to come back ten years later out of the blue has made reader rather upset.
You shut the door loudly behind you. Emotions are raging through you. Your home no longer feels like a sanctuary. It's only a matter of time before Jiraiya finds it. A light tug on your arm catches your attention. You look down to see your son is looking at you. He looks afraid. Your behaviour as been quite frantic. It's not surprising that it freaked out Kiyo.
"Grab your bag, Ki." You say. "We're leaving."
"Where we going, mama?" He asks.
"... On a trip."
You son doesn't look so convinced. He's a smart boy. He knows something is wrong. Even if he does have many questions, he scampers to his to pack his things. You lock the door before jogging to your room. Through tears, you grab your pack and began to fill it with only the essentials.
In a perfect world, you wouldn't be like this. So god damn emotional. Over what? A man who left you? He shouldn't be worth your tears. Yet here you are, sobbing and upset at what had happened only moments before.
Even if it had been ten years, Jiraiya looked the same. There are some minor differences, but those core features didn't change. His hair. His height. That face, while a little older, was no different.
He had the brass to be happy to see you. He even seemed excited. He strolled into town like he was welcome to. The community wasn't so welcoming to him but he seemed to ignore it. He found you before you could even be told he had dropped in. It was blindsiding.
"Hey! You're a mama now!" Jiraiya stated to you like you didn't know. He was enthusiastic. Too enthusiastic. Almost like it was fake. Fake or not it was draining to even be near him. To have him speak to you like he had done nothing wrong only stung more. It was like you weren't worth his remorse. His next words only seem to drive that point home. "Whose the lucky guy you married?"
"I'm not married..." You managed to say in an even voice. It was hard to. You could feel the build of pressure behind your eyes and squeeze in your throat.
Kiyo was mostly oblivious. He was staring at something else that was more interesting than this conversation. That was until he heard your full reply. He knew that tone well. You've run out of patience and you're upset. He didn't know why you are being so cold towards this man. He scowled at the man, because he could tell you didn't like him. If you didn't like him, then he doesn't like him.
Jiraiya took another look at your boy. His eyes scanned over Kiyo slowly. His enthusiasm dropped. His smile faded. His eyes went wide as he really took your son in. Fear and stress took hold.
Kiyo looks exactly like his father... only younger and cuter. Tinier and softer. With crazy white hair untameable even with a hair tie. Black coloured irises set in upturned almond shaped eyes. They both have the same nose, chin, and lips. He's even got markings. Those differ but are of the same crimson hue as Jiraiya's. His grow and follow his lower lash lines like finely painted liner that starts halfway and paints up towards his outer corners. The only thing your son really inherited from you was maybe your ears and skin tone. Some days you look at him and almost call him by his father's name.
"H... How old is he?"
"I'll be ten in two months." Kiyo answered for you. Children are always excited about their birthdays. He was excited to make the milestone of double digits.
Jiraiya was quick to put two and two together. The colour drained from his face as he braced himself against the nearest structure. The shock had stolen his strength. He looks as if he got struck with a bad case of vertigo. After a moment, he looked at you. His eyes expressed everything. It's something you know very well. Sorrow, with an underlining of anger. Hurt... He's truly hurt.
"I had a right to know." He stated. "Why didn't you contact me?"
"You left me with no means to contact you."
At that point you took note of something. A boy had peered around Jiraiya. He addressed the man with a worried question of what was wrong and a gentle tug on the adult's shirt. He looked to be about Kiyo's age. He is attached to Jiraiya. They look very close. As a parent should be to their child.
"It looks like you've moved on anyways." You say with a lack of emotion. It's hard to conjure any. A mix of stubbornness and pettiness kept you from crying in front of him. The bitterness had steeled you. "What do you care for a child you didn't even know you had? You already have a son to take care of."
"What?" Jiraiya asked in confusion. He followed your gaze to the child beside him. "No. Naruto isn't my kid. He's my student."
"..."
It's hard to believe him. He's just saying that to save face or make you feel better. Your gut is telling you that your worst thoughts are most likely correct. Jiraiya broke all his promises to you. He left you. He used you. He never cared about you. All those days you spent with him, cared for him, loved him was all just a farce. He had a family of his own and forgot all about you until now. Did he come back just to gloat? To laugh at you? To relish in your misery as his life is much better without you. It just... hurts. This isn't the closure you wanted. He's living a happy life that doesn't include you. Why did you ever get involved with a ninja? All they do is lie.
"Just leave me alone, Jiraiya." Your voice had fallen to a whisper. The pressure in your head began to build as you teetered closer to the edge of the waterfall. "You made yourself clear long ago when you left me."
You grabbed Kiyo's hand and turned away. Jiraiya called your name as you walked away. He didn't follow you. He most likely can't. His legs still looked wobbly. Yet you know he'll come. He's persistent like that. Once he recovers he'll seek you out. To tell you what you don't know nor do you want to. If he just wants to yell at you for having his baby then... it would be better to never see him again. You have done your best to put that pain behind you. Facing him and that conflict will only break you down more. You don't want to see him. Never. Never ever again.
You can't stand it here anymore! The years of anger and sorrow you put off just came forth on your way home. All the times the villagers showed pity. The other mothers who shunned you for being unmarried with a baby. The men who judged you for picking an outsider over them. The places that always lingered with memories you'd rather forget.
Spending so many nights pregnant and afraid, with no one to tell you it would be okay. The other mothers ushering their children away from you and Kiyo. All the days your sweet little boy came home in tears because the other kids teased him about his family. The blatant disrespect the men speak to you with simply because you are 'impure' has left a rotten taste in your mouth. You only really had a few people who still accepted you. A couple of childhood friends who understood how in love you were. Even then they didn't get why you picked the life you did. As if you could have controlled the outcome. You refused their charity when they offered it. All they ever felt for you was pity.
You don't need them. You need none of their pity and false promises. Did anyone ever care? It felt like you have lived a life of isolation despite being apart of a village your whole life. You were rejected by your community. Did it all really fall apart simply because of one man and his disastrous impact?
You should've left years ago. The fear of such a life changing move no longer held you. This place feels tainted. There's too many bad memories.
Perhaps a small part of you wished for Jiraiya. So you stayed hoping he'd come back like he promised. It did hurt each day you waited. It was so stupid. Seeing him again was terrible. You are a foolish woman for thinking it would go any different. You wipe your eyes and sniffle back the runny nose. Stupid man. Stupid you. Why? Just why?... He's so horrible for returning how he did.
"Mama?" Kiyo's small voice called your attention.
"Hey baby." You greet quietly as you vigorously wiping your face to hide the evidence. You turn towards him and force a smile. "What's up? Are you done packing?"
Your son is standing in the doorframe of your room. He looks worried. His big dark eyes are wide as he watched you. He's a sensitive boy. He never liked seeing you sad. He ran towards you and tackled you in a hug.
"Don't cry, mama. I won't let that man come near you again, okay?"
A tiny laugh managed to leave you. You hug your son tightly. You pet his head. You find yourself rocking from side to side like he's still a baby. He's a wonderful little boy. He'll grow up to be a great man. Sensitivity and kindness is rare among men. It's probably the only good qualities of Jiraiya your son inherited.
Kiyo doesn't know much about his father. It's a subject he's learned not to ask about. Mostly because you can barely speak about it without getting overwhelmed with emotions. Since it always upset you he didn't like to ask you. The most you could tell him is that you love his father.
"I'm ready to go, mama." He said.
"Okay." You reply quietly. You push back his fluffy white locks and place a kiss on his forehead. "Let's go on an adventure."
"Yea!"
"Go get your stuff."
His bright lopsided smile beams at you in a familiar way. He ran away to his room to get his bag. You equip your bag and meet your son at the door. Neither you or him own a lot of things. Still so you wonder if Kiyo packed the right things. You check his bag to double check what he packed. He's got most of his clothes, with the rest of his bag filled with some of his toys and snacks. You ruffle his hair. That'll do. Once back on your feet where ever you end up with your boy, you'll buy him everything else he needs. Any place is better than here.
You open the door and let him run out first. Kiyo always did want to go beyond this little village. He wasn't like the other villagers here. The ones that feared the unknown. You were once one of them. This town is all you know. You have a job here. This is where you have raised your son and it is the only life he knows. Yet the looming shadow of all the bad is too dark. You haven't been happy here in a long time. The loneliness clung to you like a chronic sickness. The type that makes the bones ache and saps all the energy away.
"Mama, where are we going to go?" Kiyo asks a question you have no answer to.
Like any mother, you try to come up with one. A good happy answer. One that'll shield your son from the colder realities of your decision.
"Do you want to see the ocean?"
"That sounds wicked! Have you ever seen the sea?"
"No... but I know a lot about it because of... a friend."
Ten years ago Jiraiya sparked your wanderlust with his stories. During the quiet nights of basking in the cozy afterglow of making love, you listened to him. You listened to him for hours. His deep voice was so calming. They told you about things you never knew existed. His fingers would trace shapes into your back or belly his his gentle words filled the air. His fond smile only grew as he spoke of such beautiful things. The details were so clear you could smell the salts of the ocean and hear the waves. He made it sound so grand. A body of water so vast it melted with the sky in the horizon. As if the land and the heavens had finally touched one another.
Does he remember those nights?
Does he even remember what it felt like to say goodbye? How he caressed your face and kissed you? How he looked you dead in the eyes and promised you that he would come back? How you believed everything he said and begged him to come back quickly? He told you that his village could wait. You were more important to him.
Jiraiya... he doesn't remember all of that, does he?
You clearly aren't worth remembering. If you were, he would have returned sooner. He said he would take you there himself one day. You'd have nothing to fear if you stuck with him. Nothing could hurt you if he was with you...
Liar.
"Let's get going, Ki." You say with as much enthusiasm as you can muster.
"Okay!"
You took the first step, opting to go towards the edge of town rather than through the heart. Jiraiya is still here. You don't want to run into him again. Perhaps that's a bit cowardly but looking that man in the eyes is like being stabbed in the gut with a salted blade.
Kiyo ran ahead of you, but never too far ahead. He didn't like to stray far from you. Nor do you like to see him go too far. Like any child, his imagination is crazy enough to keep him entertained. This first travel experience was being filtered through his world as he imagined something fun to do. Because just walking is no fun.
The further you get away from your hometown the better you feel. Your friends will understand. Especially since they knew that Jiraiya had dropped in on you. They... They'll move on. It's not like you were terribly close to any of them. All you need is Kiyo. Your son is the most precious thing in the world to you.
You don't need anyone else...
"Are you running away from me?"
You freeze. You turn your head to see Jiraiya looming in the shadows of a tree. His expression is grim. It's exhausted. It was like he has been rung through too many emotions to really hide how tired it made him. His voice reflected that as well. It lacks the mirth he usually has. It's serious and quiet.
"Yes." You whisper. You look around. "Where's your son?"
"He's not my son! I already told you. Naruto is my student."
"At least your attention is precious to someone."
Jiraiya exhales a breath. It wasn't exactly a sigh, it was more like he was calming himself with a cleansing breath. He didn't want to argue. It won't do any good. It's not why he showed up. He had his arms folded across his chest. He's clutching at his sleeve. His gaze slowly went over to Kiyo, who was entertained by attempting to climb a tree. A tree Jiraiya knows his student is up. He asked for some help so he could speak to you alone.
A longing becomes clear in Jiraiya's eyes. He's looking your boy over with a want. He wants to know Kiyo. His own flesh and blood that he didn't know he had living on this earth.
"I know there's nothing I can say to you that will make you feel better." Jiraiya said. "I know I hurt you."
You don't say anything. He's correct. He broke his promises to you.
"I don't want to make excuses." He kept talking. He took a step towards you. Your heart skipped a beat at his approach. "I was a coward ten years ago. I was afraid of how I felt about you."
"..." You remain quiet. A lump formed in your throat. You grit your teeth as you try to swallow it down.
"I don't just... fall in love. That doesn't happen to me. I thought I was being foolish." He moved his hand out to touch you, but changed his mind. He gripped the air before moving his fist to clutch at his chest. "If I had known that..."
"That I was pregnant?"
"Yeah. But not just that. If I was just honest with myself." He dropped his head. His shame is clear. "I always figured you had moved on. I waited too long and I was... scared to face you."
"Scared?" You ask. How could you possibly scare him?
"Yes." Jiraiya admits. He looks back over to the child he wish he knew. "I was scared to see you if you had moved on. I was even more scared to see if you hadn't. I see now what a mistake I made."
His sorrow is... similar to yours. The only difference is he suffered it alone. You suffered yours with Kiyo, his son he didn't even know he had. He's staring at your boy with a mix of so many things. It's clear he really wants to meet Kiyo. In a way you do feel bad for depriving Jiraiya the opportunity to know his own child. The angry excuses you always came up with don't seem as valid anymore. Especially when he's looking at your boy with a clear desire.
Then he looks at you with the same longing. The same expression he wore ten years ago the last time he gazed at you. With dark eyes that have a watery sorrowful sheen and a smile that is bearing his most true emotion. It's the type of expression that when you look at it you are captivated. You want to reach out and wipe away the wells in his eyes and assure him everything is okay.
"I'm still in love with you." He states.
You turn away from him. The tears you've tried so hard not to shed are escaping again. You don't want to cry in front of him. It still hurts. You don't want to. You just... don't. A shaky sob leaves you. You try to grit your teeth and get a hold on yourself. But you can't. His words shake your world to the core.
A pair of familiar arms wrap around you. Attached to that was a familiar body pressing against your back. Jiraiya is holding you. It's been so long since you've been held like this. As if the heat of a sunny day was seeping into your cold body. It's a slow welcoming heat.
"I'll never let you go again." Jiraiya promises. His lips graze against your cheek, but don't commit to a full kiss. "I don't want to be a stranger to my son. I... I want a family."
You bury your face in your hands. The tears kept flowing. The walls of defences you thought you had built are falling around you.
This is what you wanted. You missed him so much. To hear him say such wonderful things is melting the ice you thought froze your heart.
Through the years of pain and resentment you thought you had, one thing remains clear. You still love Jiraiya. You want him. You know he'd make a good father. It's just... it's been so hard. So lonely. You've spent ten years pushing people away. It's so draining to live like that. When he's touching you like this all that hurt seems to melt away. Like he never left you.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He kept repeating in a quiet sincere voice.
You turn around so that you're facing him. You put your arms around him. His warmth seeped into you more. The cozy embrace of the man you missed so much felt like the sunniest days after years of darkness. He hugs you tightly, continuing to utter apologies to you. It feels safe when being held like this. You sniffle and gasp. It's hard to get a handle on your weeping but you have quieted down. You nuzzle your cheek against his chest. The beat of his heart is calming.
"Let my mama go!"
Kiyo had taken notice of what was happening. He ran back to your side and banged his fists against Jiraiya's leg. It's actually fairly painful. For a scrawny kid he's quite strong. His face is scrunched up in a scowl as he glowers at the man holding you. He did make a promise.
"Ki! Calm down. I'm okay." You assure. You escape Jiraiya's warm grasp to force your son to stop attacking him. "This man is someone I like."
"If you like him then he shouldn't be making you cry!"
"They're happy tears."
Kiyo only scowled more. His mistrustful dark eyes look back at the very tall man who was holding you. You grab his cheeks and force him to look at you instead.
"Kiyo, I want you to meet..." You hesitate for a moment. Do you say it? In a way it's difficult. To drop a bomb this big on your child seems cruel.
"Jiraiya. That's my name." Jiraiya swiftly introduced himself. He crouched down to meet your son at the same eye level. "I'm a good friend of your mama. I... I would like to get to know you, Kiyo."
The way he said your son's name for the first time was... meaningful. His lips pulled into a smile when he did. It felt good to say it. It's a good name.
"I dunno about that. You're that man that made mama cry earlier today, aren't you?" Your son asks.
"Yeah I guess I did. I said I was sorry. I don't make a habit of making girls cry and I won't do it again."
Kiyo narrowed his eyes and looked Jiraiya over as if to size him up. Jiraiya remained quiet and still, allowing the child to judge him. He accepts that he's at Kiyo's mercy. He shouldn't expect the kid to accept him right away. It'll take some time for that.
"Are you going to travel with us?" Kiyo asks.
"If that's what your mama wants, then yes."
"What about that kid you were with?"
"That's my student. We're traveling around as part of his training."
"Training?" Kiyo repeated. Then his eyes went wide and he gasped. "That means you're both ninja! Right?"
"Yeah we are!"
You silently watch their exchange. It's different. A good different. Kiyo never really liked it when men tried to talk to you. You usually rejected them anyways. This is so odd to see him be so excited to speak to a man. Maybe on some subconscious level your son knows he's related to Jiraiya. They get along. The relief on Jiraiya's face is very evident. This first real interaction with Kiyo is going well.
As they talk, Jiraiya reached his hand out and grasped yours. It feels good to be together. You lean towards him and rest your head on his shoulder. A ten long year void that both you and him felt was filled...
...
The two years that passed were bliss. You have things you never thought you would. Jiraiya was a good partner. You and him had picked up the relationship as if it was never dropped. It was like he never left. The pain, that void healed for both of you.
Kiyo learned the truth after half a year. At that point he had grown very close to Jiraiya. As the saying goes, like father like son. They're both adventurous daydreamers who want to make a better world. Kiyo has even shown some good promise as a ninja, having some natural talent in close combat.
He was choked up when he found out that mama's boyfriend is more than just that. He understood why it was such a secret. He was grateful he got to know his father without the knowledge of who he was talking to. There was no pressure on either of them for those unfamiliar roles. He tackled Jiraiya in a hug and uttered something that almost had the man in tears. They've only grown closer since.
As for Naruto, well... he was hesitant at first. He was a little jealous that Jiraiya's attention got divided. Between you, Kiyo, and him there was a lot for Jiraiya to do. But you treated him like another son and he latched onto you as a motherly figure in his life. He's a good boy. He does feel like another son to you. Kiyo grew on him too.
While not as strong willed or experienced, your son tried to keep up with the training and often asked Naruto for advice. Of course as boys do, they often goofed off. Most times you found their one on one 'training' mostly being childish wrestling and play fighting. Or the older boy would entertain some of Kiyo's wild imagination as they had mini adventures together. It's quite sweet. Naruto has clearly grown into a roll as a big brother to your boy. The type that gets their sibling into trouble, but is there to get them out again.
Once in the frame of the famous gates of Konoha you heard so much about, Naruto ran off excitedly back to the streets he knows. Kiyo made a couple of steps in to follow before stopping mid stride. He turned around. With his biggest pleading eyes he looks up at his parents.
"Mama? Papa? Can I go exploring?" He asks. He always does before leaving your's or Jiraiya's side. It's a lesson Jiraiya really hammered in. He didn't like it when either boy ran off. He frets a lot.
But this is somewhere safe. No one here wishes to bring harm to either of them. Jiraiya spoke of this town as a peaceful stronghold.
"Go ahead, Ki." You say.
He beamed a big smile before darting off into the crowd. Jiraiya released your hand to place his by his mouth to amplify it. He shouted a time and place for Kiyo to find him and you. Kiyo shouted back something mostly unintelligible among the noises of the street. You saw a little hand peek above the sea of heads, confirming that your son heard. You look over at Jiraiya, who is waving back. When he looks over at you, he matches your raised brow.
"What?"
"And how do you expect him to find this place?"
"He's a smart kid. If Naruto doesn't take him then he can ask some of the locals. They're friendly, I promise!"
You roll your eyes. In turn your partner scoffs before leaning down to give you a kiss. He is a good father, if a little too trusting in a young teens abilities not to get totally off track. But if Kiyo takes too long he'll have a worried father prowling the streets. Jiraiya will keep prowling until he finds his son and herd the young boy back to his family. He's done so in the past, upset at his child for ignoring curfews. He's trying not to be overbearing. Other times he'll turn a blind eye to some rule breaking he finds acceptable. He's become protective, but tries to balance the freedoms a child craves.
Jiraiya does hesitate for a moment. His eyes looking over the crowd as if to make sure Kiyo isn't already in trouble, a talent his son inherited from him. He's doing very well as a father, but still has some anxieties. Sometimes he worries that he's made the wrong move. Or that he's jeopardized his relationship with Kiyo by being firm.
It's still very new to him in a lot of ways. He hated the fact that he wasn't there for the first ten years. He didn't ever want to make Kiyo feel like an afterthought or unwanted. The first few months Jiraiya was a little too soft. When he did grow the courage to criticize his son on something, Kiyo already respected him as a parental figure. They also find time to be goofballs together. They're more friends first, parent and child second. Even so he still feels like something was missing in his family.
Fortunately, something very good happened that is helping him feel like less of a failure as a parent. While you assured him plenty of times that he's a great parent, it's clear he didn't think the same. He missed out on the baby years. He hated the fact that you did it all alone. He just... wanted to do that kind of stuff. He still feels awful that you had no choice but to do it alone because he selfishly ran away all those years ago. A part of him felt incomplete.
To be fair he is quite good at it. Jiraiya held back a wince when Sumire pulled on his hair. He turned his attention to the troublemaking nine month old in his other arm. She was very much like him too. White hair that was sticking out in every which way. Sparkly mischievous black eyes. A big grin that'll be convincing enough to get out of trouble no matter how guilty she is. But no matter how much you see him, Jiraiya insists she looks just like you.
He gently seized his lock back from her by grabbing her chubby fist and placing it back at her side. She held onto his finger instead of letting it go. He chuckles before kissing her cheek, doing so in a way that is a little over the top with smooching noises and finding a spot by her ear that's ticklish. She curls her head to her shoulder to hide it from him, shrieking in joy as her father drowns her in attention. He's been a wonderful parent to her. He loves her to bits and hardly ever lets her go.
It was very different having Jiraiya around for that pregnancy. In a good way. He took care of you to the best of his ability. He's become a master at balancing his attention between so many people. The best example that comes to mind being him your seat as he rubbed your back. At the same time he was giving advice to Kiyo about memorizing seals and keeping an eye on Naruto who was still learning the delicate dance of collaboration with a summon. The chaotic ways of having so many distractions around was oddly suited to him. When he didn't dwell on it, Jiraiya was incredible at multitasking so many people.
Then when you gave birth to Sumire, Jiraiya has been absolutely obsessed with her. These last few months haven't been so training heavy as he spent so much of his attention on bonding with his daughter. Yet he still found a way to make sure the boys, as well as you, weren't alienated.
You got lots of down time with your partner as he stole any moment of quiet he could to be with you. As for the boys, they didn't mind having a bit of a break. With a baby sister to entertain they both were glad to have some more free time. They're still in a competition over who is the cooler big brother. Sumire was indifferent. She loves them both almost as much as she loves her papa.
"Let's go get snacks. Yeah baby?" Jiraiya asks, nodding in an exaggerated way.
Sumire impersonated his gesture, nodding along with him. He's been having a real ball with her learning and mimicking. He beamed a smile at her and she returned it. He turned to you with the same over the top exaggerations.
"Yeah mama?"
"I suppose something to eat would be nice." You agree.
"Yay!"
You huff a laugh. Jiraiya is rather funny. He's been behaving so childishly since Sumire began to mimic him. It's adorable. He grabbed your hand and led you into the busy village. Out of all the places he has taken you and the kids, this was the nicest. While the sea was grand and the mountains breathtaking, there's something truly beautiful about a village that flourishes in it's peace. It's even more beautiful with the man you love to share it with.
Even a small thing like sitting on a bench was somehow a wonderful memory in the making. Jiraiya is sitting across from you, Sumire in his lap. He's delightfully distracted by her, helping her eat the dango he she's squeezing in her little fists and shoving into her mouth. You sit and watch them as you sip your tea, adoring the sight.
Soon your son drops in, yelping in a mix of joy and thrill as he leaps over a fence. By the outraged scoldings from an elderly voice, Kiyo had gotten into trouble again.
"Hey mama! Hey papa!" He greeted happily. He skidded to a halt, taking a moment to ruffle Sumire's fluffy soft hair before plunking down beside Jiraiya.
Your eyes raise from Kiyo to Jiraiya, who was wearing the same expression as you. What the hell did that silly boy do now? You eventually just tut your tongue and roll your eyes. Teenage boys are a mystery in their ways in getting in trouble so quickly.
Moments later Naruto came trotting up and took a seat beside you. He looked a little miffed, giving Kiyo a small frown. The two boys share a look of knowing. Naruto was slightly more critical. It seems he may have taken the fall for Kiyo yet again. They began to bicker. It's lighthearted for the most part. It's mostly just teasing.
Fairly soon other children came out of the woodwork. You call them children, but they are almost adults. Teenagers. All of them from Naruto's class. They are quite close to the blond. He was happy to see them and even more happy to introduce them all to his family.
Naruto had come close to calling you mom a few times. He stopped and corrected himself, flushing as he asks if his friends can hang out.
"I don't see why not. Honey?" You turn and ask your other half.
"Sure! I can cover them." Jiraiya replied.
There is a mix of reactions. From thankful to insistence that they get their own tab. Soon the bench is filled and a second one was set down to extend the first in order to accommodate all the people. The table portion is filled with more orders of food and tea.
Kiyo is having a field day, his eyes full of stars as he asks the older kids all kinds of questions about being a shinobi. There's a flurry of conversation as they all want to give their own philosophy. The chaos of it all is only elevated as Sumire bangs her messy hands on the table and squeals in joy.
You try to keep them all calm. Alas that is a task easier said than done. The chaos of it all was strangely welcome. You look over to your partner. He more or less shrugs and smiles. He reached his hand halfway across the table and offers it out for you to take. You do and hold it tightly.
"I love you." Jiraiya's words just managed to carry through the antics of the teenagers.
"I love you too."
He squeezes your hand. A gesture you return gleefully. You look over your family. From youngest to oldest. To all the children that had suddenly been added to your world. All of them smiling and happy. As you sit in all this warmth and joy, something becomes clear. You've never been happier.
This. The joy of having a family. The unique chaos it brings. The fulfillment of making your loved ones happy.
This is what you've always wanted.