Chapter 9 – One
"So, what do you want to know tonight?" TenTen asked, stroking Tera's hair.
"How about the time I was born?" Nathan asked from his bed.
TenTen and Neji looked at each other.
"Umm…" TenTen looked anxious.
"Sure, why not?" Neji decided for both of them.
XXXXXX
It was a year later that TenTen started having morning sickness and a sudden craving for meat. At first she thought it was just something bad she ate, but after a week, she became worried.
TenTen, Sakura, Ino and Hinata were returning to Konoha after a successful mission.
"Hey Sakura?" TenTen asked while they were resting.
"Yeah?"
"Umm… I've been having these weird morning sickness and I was wondering if you could check it out."
"Morning sickness?" Sakura asked, her eyes suddenly shining, "How long?"
"About a week or so."
"Let me check," Sakura said, reaching for TenTen's pulse and examining her, "I'm not really sure, but looks like you're pregnant."
"ohh… I see… I'm just.. WHAT?" TenTen suddenly yelled. This captured Ino's and Hinata's attention.
"What's going on?" Ino asked, looking suspicious.
"It's nothing," TenTen replied, still shocked.
"It's something. You got that weird big eyes," Hinata said.
Sakura, still smiling, said "I think TenTen might be carrying a child.
"OH MY GOD!" Ino yelled and hugged TenTen, "Congratulations!"
"Oh, wow… I'm going to be an aunt!" Hinata said, a big grin on her face.
"Hey, we're not really sure," TenTen replied, trying to get off Ino's bear hug.
TenTen couldn't tell how she feels. She was shocked, of course, but still very excited.
"Let's hurry back and let Tsunade-sama checked," Sakura told her bestfriends.
They all nodded in agreement.
XXXX
"Well, TenTen. You are pregnant," Tsunade said, "Congratulations!"
"OH MY GODDDDDDDD," Ino squealed, "Congratulations!"
"YES! I'm going to be an aunt!" Hinata yelled and blushed when she realized what she just did.
"Congrats, Ten! You just have to tell the guys now!" Sakura said, hugging TenTen.
TenTen was beyond surprised. Without knowing, she was rubbing her stomach. She just couldn't believe that she and Neji were having a baby.
"Well?" Neji asked as soon as his wife came out.
He couldn't read her expression, making him more nervous. He looked around from one girl to another, but all of them refused to meet his eyes.
"TenTen? Is something wrong?" Neji asked, suddenly very worried.
"Neji…" TenTen began as her eyes finally came up to his, "We're having a child."
Neji was silent as he absorbed the news. He felt the way he did at his first date with TenTen.
"Neji?" TenTen asked.
"YEAH! I'm having a child!" Neji suddenly exclaimed.
He lifted TenTen off the ground and spun her around. Just then all his friends arrived.
"Sorry we're late," Shino said, "We were-
"Never mind that! You guys are always late," Ino cut him off and Shino glared at her, "Guess what? TenTen's carrying Neji's child!"
"WHAT?" Naruto yelled, "That's great!"
"Congratulations, TenTen!"
They were making so much noise that Tsunade kicked them out from the hospital. The ninja 11 went out to celebrate that night.
XXX
"I cannot believe we're having a baby in 3 months time!" Neji said, opening the door for TenTen.
"Yeah… I wonder what it will be," TenTen said, lying down on the couch.
Neji knelt down and gently put his head on TenTen's bulging belly. He closed his eyes while trying to listen to the baby moving. The past four months have been somewhat difficult. TenTen would wake up 1 in the morning suddenly crying without any reasons. The mood swings are very annoying, but a man can't complain. It's nature.
"Neji, love, you can you please stop doing that? You're putting pressure on the baby, who is pushing my bladder," TenTen said, pushing Neji's head away.
Neji watched TenTen heaved herself up; uncertain whether to help her or not. TenTen is very unpredictable nowadays. She could be very sweet and romantic one minute and the next; she could be yelling her head off.
"Could you please help me?" TenTen said, sounding very annoyed, "I'm carrying your baby after all!"
Neji quickly went to his wife's aid. He helped TenTen over to the bathroom and sighed with relief when he didn't get yell at. Almost on cue…
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" a scream came from bathroom.
Neji run over to TenTen at lightning speed.
"TenTen!" Neji exclaimed, knocking down the bathroom door.
"Yeah?" TenTen turned around, "What's the matter?"
Neji was shocked with the calm situation, "I thought I heard a scream."
"Oh," TenTen said, checking herself out in the mirror, "I was just practicing my screaming. You know, when the time comes."
Neji sighed, swallowing back his anger. He turned to leave only to be stopped by hands encircling his waist.
"I'm glad you are here with me and worried enough to knock down the door without second thought," TenTen whispered into his back.
Suddenly all his anger melted and he turned around to embrace his wife. In one swift movement, he lifted TenTen in bridal style and carried her into the bedroom.
TenTen was already fast asleep by the time he laid her on the bed. He smiled, suddenly feeling very proud. He kissed TenTen and her belly and tucked her in.
I will protect you two till the very end. No matter what. - Neji
XXX
"Neji, Neji, NEJI!" TenTen violently shook the sleeping Hyuuga, "Wake upppppp!"
"Huh? Hmm?" Neji said groggily, rubbing his eyes, "Wassa mattah?"
"I'm due in like a week and we still haven't thought of a name!"
"Ten, it's two a.m. Let's discuss about it later," Neji said, turning over to the other side.
"Neeeeee-geeeee," TenTen whined and turned on the lights, "I'm worried sick."
"Ten, please. I promise it will be the first thing we talk about in the morning," Neji soothed, turning off the lights.
"Oh God," TenTen hold her belly, "Neji, I think I just had my first contraction."
"EH?" Neji shot up as if he was electrocuted, "Are you serious?"
"I think so," TenTen said, still clutching her stomach, "Another one."
TenTen bit her lip and squeezed Neji's hands.
"I'll call Sakura," Neji assured her as he quickly changed into his clothes and jumped out of the window.
A contraction later, Sakura and the others were beside TenTen, comforting her. Neji was just as nervous as TenTen. He kept fiddling, making TenTen even more miserable.
"Don't worry too much, Neji. It'll be quite a while before she actually goes on labor," Sakura tried to calm him down, "In the meantime, let's get her over to the hospital."
XXXX
"Okay. You're dilated 10 centimeters now. The others please leave except Neji," Sakura instructed.
"Okay. TenTen, you can do it!" Ino cheered before leaving the room.
"Bring me a healthy niece or nephew!" Hinata joked.
"TenTen, we'll be waiting outside," Chouji told her.
"Yeah and-" Naruto began.
"!" Neji cut him off, with a murderous glare.
Everyone gulped and quickly walked away.
"Okay, TenTen. You ready?" Sakura asked.
"I have to be, don't I?"
Sakura smiled encouragingly, "Alright, start pushing."
TenTen took a deep breath and pushed as hard as she can.
"That's it, TenTen. Keep pushing," Sakura instructed.
"I'm sorry, I can't… It's too hard!" TenTen panted.
"Come on, TenTen. You can do it!" Neji encouraged, squeezing her hand.
"Okay, one more big push, Ten," Sakura said.
TenTen pushed with all her might, while squeezing Neji's hand. Neji bit his lips, trying very hard to not scream.
Oh god, I think I broke my hand. –Neji
"That's it. I can see the head now," Sakura smiled, supporting the newborn head.
"Oh wow…" Neji breathed, "Just one more, Ten. It's almost out! One…"
"TWO THREE!" TenTen yelled and gave a final push.
Then, a wail filled TenTen's ear. She laid back on the bed, panting and sweating, "What is it?"
"It's a boy, TenTen. Congratulations!" Sakura said, cleaning and wrapping the baby upin a blue blanket.
"GIVE ME MY BABY! GIVE ME BACK MY DAMN BABY!" TenTen suddenly yelled.
Sakura and the other doctors, freaked out, quickly handed Neji the baby, who walked over to TenTen. Neji stared at his child. He suddenly felt a rush of love. He couldn't stop looking at the baby.
"Oh wow… He's just handsome," TenTen whispered as if nothing happened.
"He sure is. Thank you," Neji answered and the couple shared a passionate kiss.
XXXXX
"TenTen, what do you plan on naming him?" Ino asked as she cradled the baby.
"Umm…" TenTen glanced at Neji, "We're not really sure. I want a name that has both mine and Neji."
"Hey, Nei-" Shikamaru greeted as he entered the room
"Ten," Shino also greeted at the same time.
"NeiTen?" Neji whispered to himself.
Then Neji's face lightened, "How about Nathan?"
"Nathan?" TenTen considered, "Yeah. I like it!"
Neji gently took Nathan from Hinata and sat on the bed beside his wife.
"He is a Nathan," TenTen whispered, looking lovingly at her child.
The couple was so absorbed in their own thoughts that they didn't notice their friends leaving the room.
XXXXXXXXXX
A/N: Sorry if this chapter isn't as good as the others. The next chapter will be the ending of the story. Please feel free to review! Thank you!