As the sun slowly rose into the sky that morning, the bright light hit the young newlywed's eyelids. She leisurely began to open them, her head rested right against her husband's chest. As she slowly regained consciousness, she gazed up at a very amusing sight. Naruto's mouth hung wide open as he snored just slightly. Then he started to mumble something about fluffy marshmallows. This made Hinata giggle, which in return started Naruto. He popped up and quickly looked around the room, then looked down at a semi-confused but still giggling Hinata.
" Good morning fluffy marshmallow man," she blushed as a smile formed on her face.
"Fluffy marshmallow man?" He mimicked his young wife's blush while a dazed look crossed his face. She giggled and threw her arms around him. Still a little bewildered, he leaned over and kissed the top of her head. They snuggled underneath the covers a little longer, never wanting to leave that place, or those feelings.
A couple hours passed when they heard a knock on the door.
"Who could that be?" Hinata jump a little from the noise.
"I don't know, I'll go see." Naruto got out of the bed, got dressed and exited the room. He walked through the living room to the front entrance.
"Who's there?" He called though the door.
"Its Lee, Sakura sent me to tell you and Hinata that Ino had her baby last night." He replied. Naruto flung the door open and welcomed him inside.
"I can't stay long, I just came to give you that message. We received word around two this morning, and the baby was born at five fifty three. It's a little boy, which relieved Shikamaru since one Ino was enough for him at the moment. When I left however they still were fighting over a name." Lee explained as he held one finger in the air, eyes closed. Naruto chuckled at this sight.
"Excuse me a moment will you, Lee? I'm gunna go tell Hinata." Naruto said as he step out of the room.
"Actually, I'm going to head back to the hospital. See you there, Naruto." And with that Lee was gone. Naruto turned back to the direction of the bedroom.
Once he arrived he found a sleeping beauty tucked under the covers. The young blonde lifted the covers and snuggled close to her, his lips near her ear he softly whispered, "Time to get up sleeping beauty," She groaned, flipped over and cuddled closer to him. He kissed her lightly and continued, "I'm going to go to the hospital." Those words caused her to rise.
She looked down on him as he lay there and questioned him. "Why are you going to the hospital?"
"Well, I heard that Emi might have a little playmate born today. I thought I'd see if the boy is good enough for our little Emi." Her face brightened after she heard those words. She scurried out of bed and threw some clothes on. "Why didn't you say something sooner?" She yelled from the bathroom. He laughed as he put his shoes on.
"Come on," He grabbed hand as she walked out of the bathroom.
"I need my shoes still," Hinata reminded her eager husband.
"I'll just carry you," He immediately picked her up after stating this and sprinted off in the hospital's general direction.
Once they had arrived at the hospital, they asked the front clerk where the Nara family was currently stationed. Before the clerk could respond, Shikamaru walked over to the couple.
"Hey Shikamaru, Where is Ino's room?" Naruto waved as he continued toward them.
"Room 34, however I haven't been able to see her or the child since we got here. Ino wanted Sakura to be there instead of me. I asked why, since Sakura is the doctor, we both couldn't be there, she didn't respond however. This is so troublesome." Shikamaru complained.
"Well, it's been a couple hours have you tried since then to see them?" Hinata looked puzzled, she couldn't understand what Ino was thinking not letting the father be there.
"The other girls, even Matsuri, who hardly speaks to Ino, is in there. So I'm guessing they'll let you in, Hinata. I'll take you guys over there." They nodded as Shikamaru turned and began to walk down the hall.
He stopped at the door and knocked the girls inside stopped giggling as they heard a voice say, "Hinata is here, can she come in?" the girls looked over to Ino who currently held the baby in her arms.
"Hinata may enter, you know why you can't enter," Ino replied sternly. Hinata cracked the door open and entered. As she closed the door behind her, Ino got a glimpse of Shikamaru's sad expression.
"So, may I ask why he isn't allowed to see the baby?" Hinata shyly asked as she looked at the other girls in the room.
"We had a fight over what to name our boy on the way over here last night. If it were a girl we both agreed we would call her Nyoko. However, he wanted our boy to be named Kisho, while I liked Jiro." Ino stuck her noise in the air.
"The girls in here aren't taking sides, we know better then that," Sakura explained as she gave Hinata her and-I-wouldn't-if-I-were-you-either face.
"Well, why not just compromise?" Hinata asked as she took another step closer to Ino's bed.
"Compromise, ha. We agreed on the girl but in his stubbornness he refuses my name for his. I wish we DID have a girl. Then this whole silly business would be over."
"Well, I'm not sure who is being more stubborn, you probably are both on the same level, which is pretty high." Hinata continued.
Ino glared at her, "You've gotten really cocky over night Hinata, you should go back to your old self." Ino tried to defend herself.
Hinata shook her head, "No, not over night, over the last year while me and my husband have gotten to know each other on a deeper scale. We know that in order to make our marriage last a lifetime, compromise is one thing you have to have with each other. That and trust, you should trust that there is a good reason why he wants this name so badly he fights you for it. Most of the time he gives up and just ends it with, 'This is troublesome,'" The other girls in the room giggled at Hinata's impression of Shikamaru. Ino on the other hand looked down at their baby boy. 'I guess I should let him name the boy, he did cooperate with me on our girl's name." She leaned over and kissed him while the other girls kept talking.
"Sakura," Ino called to her best friend, " Go get Shikamaru, its time he finally met Kisho." The other girl's mouths dropped all the way to the ground. They had never seen Ino give up a battle so quickly before. Then they stared over at Hinata, the one that had convinced her to withdraw in the first place. Tenten walked over to Hinata and placed her around the older Hyuuga's shoulder.
"You should have come a lot earlier Hinata, then we could seen a real fight between those two." Tenten winked at the blushing young women.
Then Hinata looked toward her younger sister, "Why are you here though?" She asked as the younger Hyuuga rocked her baby back and forth.
"We were going to take off this morning, I know most of the town knows that we are together, but Sasuke doesn't want to be here, and I don't want to face father if he should return soon. While we were headed over to the main house to tell you guys bye, we caught wind Ino's baby had been born. Knowing you'd come see it, and not wanting to ruin your first morning with your husband, we came here." Hanabi looked up at her sister. "I guess since you're here now Naruto has probably shown his face to Sasuke and he'll be wanting to hit the road. But I've convinced him to come back for a quick visit every couple years. I'm glad he has changed, although I wish it could have been for Sakura instead of me." She set her sights toward a certain pink haired girl whose cheeks now matched that color.
Sakura rubbed the side of her face, "Yeah, well things change Hanabi, and I'm just glad that he is better. I hope you two are really happy together. I've got a great guy now, he doesn't even wear that jumpsuit anymore. Now to work on those eyebrows." She winked at the youngest women in the room.
After one last hug from her older sister she told the other girls goodbye and left. Hinata turned to the other girls and said, "I'll be back later, I'm going to go to Hokage Mountain." She smiled at the other girls as she began to leave.
"Hinata," Sakura called after her.
"Yes?" She peeked her head in the doorway.
"Get Shikamaru while you're out there. " Hinata smiled with a nod. She then proceeded down the hall to the waiting room where not two, but three ninjas currently sat.
One saw her come in from the corner of his eye. He jumped up, ran over and hugged her.
"Hello sweetie," Hinata blushed at her obnoxious but charming husband.
"Shikamaru, Kisho is waiting for you." Hinata smiled at him.
He looked up at her, a shocked look plastered on his face. "But, she, really?" He casually got up and walked out of the room. Then stopped at the edge of the door at continued, "I'm not sure what you did, but thank you Hinata." He then continued to his wife and child.
"Naruto, I want to see Hanabi off, you don't have to…" He stopped her with a kiss.
"I'm not letting you go by yourself. I'll be your escort today young miss." He offered her his arm and she accepted it. They exited the hospital and walked to Hokage Mountain. From there they could see everything, included a certain black haired ninja carrying a little bundle of joy in his arms while talking to a bright eyed young women with long brown flowing hair.
Hanabi looked back at her village one last time to spot the two atop the mountain, she waved them goodbye as she disappeared into the thick of the forest. Hinata returned the wave just in time to see a slight smile on her sister's face. Holding Emi in the other arm as her husband's arm was wrapped around her shoulder. This is a moment she will never forget. Her gaze drew up to certain blond still clueless as to the fact that they were no longer in sight do to his eyes being closed and a goofy grin on his face. A light pink blush was another thing added to this perfect goodbye moment. He opened his brilliant blue eyes so he could look into his wife's.
"They are gone, I guess telling Granny Tsunade that I want a search and rescue team to stalk them wouldn't make them any happier would it?"
"No, but at least we know he is in good hands, right?" She returned the gesture he gave to her.
"Yeah I guess so, if your sister is anything like you then I KNOW he is in good hands," he leaned over and with a passionate kiss told Hinata he was in the best hands any man could ever be in.
"Come on, lets go home," He pushed his forehead against hers as he whispered these words.
"Yeah… lets…." She managed to slip out from her breathless lips. Still shoeless from this morning, Naruto picked her up, when he saw her feet took a beating on the way up here; he wouldn't allow them any more torment. Knowing full well what was going to happen when they actually arrived home made Naruto's sprint a little faster then normal today for some reason.
Back at the hospital, Shikamaru had finally gotten his chance with Kisho. He had a new admiration for his wife since she agreed to back off a bit, but only for him. Even though he had been "uncool" when he were younger and she never gave him a second glance, that all changed and now they had their first little boy. Glad he had thought through ever scenario and eventually picked his wife over that other girl, he smiled down at their blue eyed brown haired bouncing baby boy who smiled back at him, or so he thought. He sat down next to his beautiful wife and pushed her bangs to the side of her face. She smiled back but began to fix her hair to its prior position.
"Troublesome women," He lightly joked and leaned over to give her a light kiss. She returned it with a grin. She looked down at their child as he had done. She lightly kissed Kisho's forehead and took him into her arms.
"So, how do I look as a mom?" She put on her best mom pose.
He chuckled and replied, "You'll look great after you lose all that baby weight," He startled tickling her belly which made her giving this really strange look of annoyance and joy. Just then Sakura and Lee entered the room along with Tenten and Neji.
"So, I see you to are getting along," They both looked up with straight faces. Neither liked to show their emotions for each other while the other couples were around. Even if everyone knew the truth.
"Its ok," Sakura encouraged her best friend, " We all seem to have found someone, who can make us truly happy. Speaking of happy couples where are Naruto and Hinata?"
"I'm not sure, Hinata went to Hokage Mountain for some reason." Ino replied.
"No duh, I was here when she said that. Didn't she come back though?"
"I saw Naruto carry her into the main house a couple minutes ago. Her feet were bare and pretty badly cut up." Neji pointed out to the rest of the group.
"Well, that silly girl did come here without shoes on this morning, was I this brain dead when Shika and I were first married?"
The rest of the group just started to whistle till the original subject was reinstated.
"Yeah, he probably just went to clean up her wounds." Tenten suggested.
"But, then why didn't he just come here so I could make sure she was really okay." Ino was puzzled. "Sakura, Tenten please go investigate for me, I want details, I'd do it myself except you know I just had a baby today." The girls nodded and headed off, naive to what they would find.
They sprinted into the main house and searched it but it was empty. So they went to Hinata's bedroom thinking maybe they had gone into her bathroom to fix her feet.
They peeked their heads up to the window where they saw a sight that would scar them for life. They turned beat red and quickly ducked down. Neither could speak coherently till they returned to the hospital.
"So, report you're findings, apparently they didn't come with you, so gossip time." Ino knew what they were up to, but she just wanted the other girls to feel uncomfortable, she had to do one evil thing today after all.
"Ino, you have that look in your eye, you shouldn't make them suffer like this." Her husband told her.
"Really now, Shikamaru I'm sure I don't know what you mean." She innocently stated.
"We all know what's going on so don't make them say it."
"Say what? I want to know." Naruto blurted out as he walked up behind them, Hinata in his arms.
"I would also like to know, if we are allowed." Hinata for some odd reason had returned to her old self. The rest of the group all turned red as the couple entered the small room.
Being the little deviant she is, Ino told the couple, "Neji saw Hinata's wounded feet and reported it to us. So instead of going to your door, she peeked through the window of Hinata's bedroom." The couple started to turn the darkest shade of red. Neither could speak, and poor Hinata had passes out in her lover's arms.
He placed Hinata in a chair in the corner of the room until she woke up. However he didn't wish to turn around. Instead he talked while his back faced the group, "Um… well… since you all already know anyway, during… Hinata's feet were bugging her too much so I decided Sakura should check them out."
She smiled slightly and agreed, "Sorry, I shouldn't have listened to Ino, but she is right, we should have knocked. I'll look after Hinata if you like to leave."
"No, its okay, I don't want to leave her." Sakura bent down and examined the fainted one's feet.
"She's got a couple rocks in here, and lots of cuts and bruises, you two didn't even clean them before…" Sakura started to turn at this memory she had interrupted.
"No, I'm sorry, I guess I'm not a very good husband." Sakura giggled and shook her head.
"No, you're wrong there, just a little to eager is all." He blushed even harder as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Anyway, congratulations on the child you two, he looks like Shikamaru alright." Naruto tried to change the subject.
"W-what happened, oh, my head." Hinata said as she woke up.
"Wow, Hinata, that was fast, you normally don't wake up for several minutes." Tenten smiled at her.
Neji replied, "As for what happened, lets just leave that to your imagination."
"Why, is it bad?" She looked around the room at everyone's bright red faces, except for Ino and Shikamaru's who honestly weren't interested in the subject.
Ino looked over to Hinata and started to open her mouth, "Sakura and tenmm…" A hand covered her mouth.
"Ino, don't. You've caused enough havoc for one day." Her husband removed his hand from her mouth.
"I can never cause enough havoc, but I'll call it a day, I'm kinda tired anyway. Sakura, may I have your permission to leave tonight, I know I'm not supposed to but you can trust me right." Sakura gave her yeah right look.
"Okay, but I'm staying over at your place tonight, and Lee is too. We'll take the spare bedroom. That way I can watch over you and the baby incase there is a problem and you can relax at home." Ino agreed as they packed up and left the hospital.
"Well, since there really isn't any real reason to be here anymore want to get out of her Tenten? Maybe we could go down by the river or something?"
"Sure, Neji. Lets go, see you two, bye."
"Well, I guess that means my feet are cleaned up." She tried to stand but couldn't. Naruto caught her mid fall and both sat on their knees in the hospital room. Naruto looked down to make sure Emi was still all right. She lay fast asleep in her aunt's arms.
"Don't push yourself to hard, I'm here now and forever, I'll be happy to carry you where ever you need to go." he smiled at her blush.
She threw her arms around his neck as he lifted her into his arms. "Even though we came together under the worst of circumstances I'm glad I finally had enough courage to tell you my true feelings all those months ago. And even if we only have today, I'm happy I got to spend it with you." He smiled.
"Yeah, I'm glad I finally saw you for your true self. That you were always there, and I regret every moment I longed for someone who would never long for me. I should have opened my eyes sooner. But now that they are open, I can see the beauty and truth in this world. Even though my past has been horrible and misery seems to follow me wherever I go, I know that I still have a guardian angel watching over me." Her face brightened as he smiled down at her.
Just then Tsunade entered the room. "I'm sorry to break up any moment you two are sharing but I have a special mission for the both of you."
"What is it Granny? I'm so excited I haven't had a mission in a over a year."
"Your four man team will consist of the both of you along with Sakura and Lee. This will be an S rank mission…" as she babbled on about the mission, Naruto knew that from now on whatever mission he was assigned she would be there with him, unless she was pregnant. Just thinking about that made Naruto's eyebrow go up.
"Meet tomorrow at the front gate dismissed." Naruto rushed home with joy. He'd never been so happy in his whole life. A new mission, a new baby and a new wife. Tsunade agreed to take care of Emi while they were away considering she knew he was itching for a new assignment and wouldn't go without his wife. Plus byakugan would be very useful in this upcoming mission.
'At least for now, I'm the happiest man alive, best friends, good wife and future hokage who could ask for more?" He thought as he raced toward his present and his future.
The End