Chapter 2

"It's alright, Neji! Keep going!"

"You're doing well, love."

"I'm going to kill you for this, Gaara!"

"I'm sure you will, love, but you gotta focus on this first."

Neji screamed as he sat up, rocking his hips forward to try and alleviate the pain. His grip on Gaara's hand tightened into a shaking fist. Dark hairs stuck to his forehead and cheeks from the sweat that ran down his face. Reaching around his cousin, Iruka brushed them away and pulled them back into the tight ponytail he held at the back of Neji's head.

"Lay back and rest for a moment," Dr. Tsuka said from where he sat between Neji's knees.

Groaning, Neji did as the doctor said and laid down on the bed, panting. Gaara glanced at Iruka, clearly worried. The teacher gave him a soft smile in an effort to try and reassure the Kazekage. Neji's labor had gone on for hours, having started practically in the middle of the night. Now, it was past noon and Neji was only now close.

A sudden contraction forced Neji upwards again, howling. Dark claws sprung from his fingers, burying themselves in the flesh of Gaara's hand. The Kazekage winced, but didn't make a sound, his entire being focused entirely on Neji.

"That's it Neji! Keep going! Keep going! Almost there-"

With one final push, Neji screamed and collapsed back onto the bed. A shrill shriek filled the room and relief rushed through the former Hyuuga's body. He felt drained of all energy and, in the haze, he started to laugh slightly. Concerned, Gaara leaned over his lover, throwing Iruka a worried look. The former teacher just shrugged with confused.

"Neji love?" Gaara murmured as his boyfriend laughed.

Turning his head to look at Gaara, Neji laughed, "I'm just so happy."

Gaara frowned, but was quickly cut off by a tap on the shoulder. He turned to see a nurse holding a bundle of blankets out to him.

"Your daughter, Kazekage-sama."

Slowly reaching out, Gaara took the pile of blankets in his arms. He stared down at the tiny baby at the center of it, who'd fallen strangely silent. She struggled a little bit in her constraints, but quickly settled into her father's grasp. Gaara ran a finger along her tan cheek and the eyes opened to reveal the white expanses that the Kazekage knew well: the Byakugan.

"How is she?" Neji asked, still panting slightly.

Moving to sit on the bed beside his lover, Gaara held their daughter up slightly. Neji groaned slightly as he sat up, leaning on Gaara. They stared at their child, Neji almost crying with joy. It almost seemed impossible to the couple that this day had come.

"Fuyu-sensei," Dr. Tsuka whispered in Iruka's ear. "I'm going to go help the nurse get the bloody blankets and everything downstairs. Would you mind staying and keeping an eye on them until I get back?"

"Of course," Iruka replied, nodding.

Collecting as many blankets as he could carry, Dr. Tsuka quickly left the room, the nurse following close behind. Iruka sat back in his chair and watched the new parents as they soaked themselves in love for their newborn daughter. A slight pain settled in his chest, remembering the birth of his own son. His hand unconsciously drifted down to the expanse of flesh just inside his right hip, where the curved scar would forever remain.

"Sayuri (1)," Neji murmured as he laid his hand on top of his daughter's small chest.

The baby gazed at Neji with eyes almost too wise for a baby as all those born the Byakugan did. Reaching out, Sayuri grabbed onto Neji's finger tightly, causing her fathers to both melt with happiness. Dr. Tsuka reentered the room, smiling at the couple.

"I'm sorry, but we have to take her from you for a little while. Weighing and all that," he said.

Gaara nearly snarled when he handed his daughter over to the doctor, his protective attitude suddenly extending beyond Neji. Dr. Tsuka gave him a reassuring smile before he left the room again with the small baby in his arms. Settling back against the bed, Neji moaned softly, his entire body aching.

"Go to sleep, love," Gaara murmured, stroking his lover's hair.

Neji silently nodded and his eyes fluttered closed. He reached up and grabbed Gaara's hand lightly, intertwining their fingers. Moving to lie down, Gaara curved his body to fit perfectly against Neji's side, his free hand lightly massaging Neji's scalp.

Quickly and quietly, Iruka stood up and left the room so the lovers could have a moment alone. Stealing away into his room, Iruka pulled a few sheets of paper from the bag he'd brought with him and sat down at the small desk to write. One was for Tsunade and featured some of the more gory details that Iruka knew she would want to know. The second letter was for Kakashi, alerting the Jounin that he would soon be coming home. Sighing his name at the bottom of the letters, Iruka sat back in his chair and sighed.

Spending the month with Neji had only increased Iruka's want for a second child. Although the Hyuuga had been moody enough to make him seem insane, Iruka grew somewhat jealous whenever Gaara would calm his lover down with some back rubbing and a kiss. By the time Neji had gone into labor, Iruka was missing Kakashi more than he even thought he would have and he was anxious to return home to Konoha.

Pushing the thoughts into the back of his mind, Iruka created two clones and sent them to Konoha with the message. Hopefully, with his Ookami powers and the season being winter, the clones would reach his home village sooner than usual.

Sayuri is so adorable! I know that I haven't specified her hair color or any of that, but a lot of babies' hair changes. I was born with black hair, but it grew back in blond so I'm waiting on that. A lot are also born without hair to begin with

(1) means small lily.