a/n: I wasn't going to post this, since, uh it's a big spoiler and takes place AFTER Berlin, but it's not like I know if I'll ever write Berlin, and I've said several times in places that, one day, they would likely get married in their own time & have children. But, I will probably write moments that come before this one, so keep an eye out as this group of sidefics gets updated because I'll be putting them in order as they happen.

Shout out to Celina for the Starbucks card. Thank you.

Posted: 6/8/18

Sasuke & Ino

They were sitting together on the patio of a café in Joliet. The wind was softly blowing Ino's hair in front of her face, so she tucked it behind an ear. Ino pulled her chair closer to Sasuke's.

"What do you think? Am I as big as a house?"

"You're definitely showing more than last time we saw you," Sasuke answered politely, smiling slightly when Ino let out a sharp peal of laughter.

"Well, yeah." She smacked his arm. "We'd only just found out. I know," Ino pressed her teeth into her bottom lip, "You had all that stuff going on at the time, but I'm glad we got to see you in December, and tell you in person."

"Yes, well." Sasuke ran his hand over the his thigh, wiping the sweat on his jeans. "As difficult as it was at the time, I suppose—as Naruto would say—everything happens for a reason."

"May I?" Ino gestured toward his hand; Sasuke gave it to her, and she played with the ring on his finger. "It definitely looks like something Naruto would pick out for you, doesn't it?"

"It does." He watched her fiddle with it, a smile of joy splitting her pretty features.

"God, I never would've thought this day would come. I mean, I was always hoping for it, and excited about it, I just thought—"

"I wouldn't want to?"

"Kind of, yeah." She let go of his hand and rubbed her arms.

"Are you cold?" He was ready to take off his light jacket, but she waved a hand.

"I'm fine. No, I just. I guess I would've thought… I'd be the one to say yes to getting married, and you two… I don't know what I thought."

"I've been meaning to ask you," he said. "Why is it you said no? To a wedding, I mean."

"I've gone over it in my head so many times, Sasuke. But, I just thought… it seemed like it was only happening because of this," Ino gestured to her plump stomach. "And I want it to be when we both feel it's right. Does that make sense, or do I sound selfish?"

"I don't think there's any point in getting engaged or married if one partner isn't interested."

"You make it sound so easy. There was a time you thought Naruto would say no."

"Yes." Sasuke grimaced. "Because he flew halfway across the world to get away from me."

"He didn't, really." She forced a smile, but they had both been there, and knew the truth. "Every relationship comes to some make-or-break point, and you two passed."

"It seems like forever ago," he murmured. "Though it was only December."

"Four months ago, yeah." Ino rested her arms on her tummy. "Does that mean you two will fly back in a few months when she's born? You've been traveling a lot lately."

"She?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "You know the sex?"

"Well, whatever's coming out of me appears to have a vagina, yes."

He chuckled. "Naruto would approve of that response."

"He really has become quite the advocate for everybody."

"Indeed." Sasuke smirked, gaze traveling upward. He squinted into the sun, slipping his sunglasses to the top of his head, and abruptly leaned forward. "May I?"

Ino laughed in delight. "I thought you'd never ask! Yes, please!"

Hesitantly, Sasuke reached out, his hand hovering over Ino's swollen belly.

"It's okay," Ino urged. "She won't bite. Then again, she does have her daddy's genes, so maybe we ought to be careful, hm?"

"Hn." Gathering his courage, Sasuke settled his hand on her stomach and waited, not exactly sure what to expect since he had no experience with this. "Oh."

"Did you feel that?" Ino pressed her hand on top of his. "She was so quiet today, and now she's starting to wake up. Maybe you have the magic touch."

"Does it… does it hurt?" He asked.

"Only when it feels like she's karate chopping my insides. There are other things going on with my body I never would've imagined, but I'll spare you the details."

"Living with Naruto, I hear worse." Sasuke tilted his head, as if he could listen to the baby's movements instead of hear them. "Have you decided on a name?"

"We have a couple of options," Ino answered. "I think we both feel we'll know when we see her."

"It'll be interesting. The two of you with a baby. I hope it doesn't put ideas in Naruto's head."

"Oh." She squeezed his hand. "Has he mentioned anything? Maybe after the wedding?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, but after a moment, his brow smoothed out again. "He makes comments here and there. I think you being pregnant has given him baby fever, yes."

"I should say so. The amount of stuff he sends me on Pinterest and Etsy, oh my!" Ino lifted her hand off of his and batted her hair behind her shoulder. "He's more excited than my mom even."

"I'm sure not as excited as Kiba," Sasuke remarked.

"No." Ino grinned. "No one could ever be as excited as Kiba. You'd think he's carrying this thing around! The first couple months, he had that, whatever it's called, where the father shares the symptoms. It was like I was carrying two babies! So ridiculous."

"But once the baby is born, I think he'll come around."

"Definitely, yeah. I can't say I'm too excited about shooting a watermelon-sized object out my vagina, but I suppose that's a woman's lot in life if she wants kids."

"I feel there are other methods, but, yes, however you want to do it."

She leaned forward, patting him on the leg. "I'll spare you the details with that, too."

"The least I can hear about vaginas, the better."

Ino giggled. "Do you think we should send them a text and find out what's taking so long?"

"I'm enjoying the quiet, personally."

"I know, right?" She picked up her glass of water and sipped, skin glowing from the sun.

"I'm sure they're picking out every onesie in the store."

"Naruto has picked out some pretty cute things."

"He does have good taste, doesn't he?" Sasuke dusted a piece of fluff off his shirt and watched the wind carry it away. "I'd like to think that's my influence."

"He did choose you, so it must be true." Ino nodded succinctly. "And, also. He did pick me as a best friend."

"Where do you think he went wrong with Kiba then?" Sasuke smirked.

Ino laughed so hard, she pitched forward and clutched her stomach. "Be careful! Make me laugh too hard and my water will break!"

He frowned. "That's not funny. It's way too early."

"Yeah, you're telling me. So, shall we enjoy the quiet a little longer?"

"We can." Sasuke, smiling, played with his ring, spinning it around his finger.

"No date yet?" Ino asked.

He stopped to run a hand through his hair, ruffling it up in the back. "I believe he's scheduling it around your birth. We absolutely can't have it until the two of you are able to be in it."

"I still think it would be fine if you had it in Europe."

"It's okay. We know it would be difficult for you and the baby. We'll come to you. Although, who knows? Maybe by then we'll be returning to the States."

Surprised, Ino let her glass slip and some water spilled down her chin. "Seriously?!"

He shrugged. "I know he's anxious to return. Maybe by this fall."

"But, where would you move? Not here, I hope?"

"I think he'd love to be in the same town as you."

"Yeah, but… we don't want to stay here. We're hoping to move, too."

"We've talked about other places. Seattle maybe. Naruto's main concern is Minato."

"Yeah, but Minato is—"

"Even so." Sasuke smiled. "Naruto worries."

Ino pressed her hand to her cheek, a smile on her lips. "Naruto always worries. You're supposed to take some of that away from him, you know. That's what husbands do."

"I try, but Naruto is... " He looked off as if expecting him to show up that second. "Difficult to keep up with at times."

"I think you've kept up with him just fine," Ino replied. "You're definitely his match, Sasuke. In every way possible." She took his hand in hers, squeezing it. "Don't ever doubt it."

"I just… I wish he could have his mom here for it." Sasuke clutched her hand, knowing it was shaking. "And my—"

"I know." Ino, moving closer, rested her head on his shoulder. "I wish your parents could be there, too. But, we're your family, too. Me, Kiba, Minato… and baby."

"I've acquired such a large family somehow, and without even trying," joked Sasuke, not meaning to bring up such a heavy topic. "If only actual adoption was this easy. And cheap."

"Maybe after I shoot out another one, you guys can use me as a surrogate."

Thinking she was joking, he chuckled. Until he looked her in the eye.

"Ino."

"What?" She raised her head to look at him. "Just keep it in the back of your head. I know Naruto wants kids, and… just something to think about."

"Okay." He was shocked by the offer at first, but calmed when she lay her head on his shoulder again. "...Thank you."

Ino hummed softly while rubbing her belly. "I think she likes you. She's squirming again."

"I imagine she's going to be a very hyperactive child."

"Only, imagine if Naruto and Kiba could combine their genes."

"I think their combined DNA could give jet fuel a run for its money. They could send a rocket to the moon on whatever those two are smoking on a daily basis."

Ino giggled. "Probably. They do have a lot of energy, but it's fun, right?"

"It is," he agreed. "But, this is nice, too."

She looped her arm with his and squeezed. "I'm glad you're here, Sasuke. I'm glad we met those years ago. Expect an invitation to be this little one's godfather."

"Me?" After reflecting, he rested his head against the top of hers. "I'm flattered."

"Nothing wrong with having two godfathers," she said.

"You'll have a tough time convincing Naruto he's not the second father, but I think he'll be pleased with this title in the end."

"I hope so. I'm looking forward to it."

"...Me, too."

"Yeah?"

"Definitely," he answered, shifting his chin and giving her a light nudge. "Very much so. It'll be good… to have a family again. And for Naruto and I… to have our own family. Some day."