AN: Hi everyone! I am SOOOO sorry that it has taken as long as it has. Life has been a pain and I sort of got caught up in life. Life is much better now and the chapters should come easier now that life has been dealt with and is back to at least semi normal. Or at least semi normal for me *Smiles* There is a song that goes with the chapter… "River Lullaby" by Amy Grant, Prince of Egypt Soundtrack.

Warning: Naruto is not mine…

Chapter 75: A day in the life

The warm breeze came through the window and caressed Midoriko's skin. The woman blinked her eyes open and greeted the afternoon like she had been for the last few weeks. She had fallen asleep, yet again, in the rocking chair next to the crib. She stood up and stretched to work the kinks out of her stiff back and looked over Minato one last time before she set out to make dinner for herself and Naruto. The baby in the crib was sleeping soundly and would not wake for at least another hour, maybe an hour and a half, Midoriko could only hope.

Another warm breeze caressed her cheek and she was reminded how glad she was to finally reach the warmer climate of Konoha. There was a feeling of familiarity the moment Midoriko had stepped in the village gates. Unfortunately, that is where the feeling stopped. Four weeks had passed since Midoriko's rescue and it had been three weeks since she was brought to the village. The memories started to flood her mind as she walked the streets. Flashes of people, places, and events came back to her, but because of how disjointed the memories were, she could never put them together. Midoriko's memory was like a large jigsaw puzzle with an unknown number of pieces with a very fuzzy and distorted picture to go by.

The first thing Midoriko had to coupe with upon her return to the village was the heated debate as to where the she, and child, were going to reside. There were several suggestions, none that Midoriko was very enthusiastic about. The first, suggested by the relieved Rai, her father, was for Midoriko and Minato to return to America with him with the hope that being at home would stimulate her memory. Of course Naruto was having none of that. Sasuke then suggested Midoriko move into the main Uchiha house with him and Sakura. Once again, Naruto protested, but he still did not offer a solution of his own.

Midoriko had sat listening to the debate and got tired of the fighting. She felt very glad there were people concerned for her well being, but it was those same people that seemed to forget she was even in the room. No one had bothered to ask her, or even consult Midoriko to what she wanted to do. The assembly of people were too busy arguing about what they thought was best for her and Minato. Midoriko had felt like a small child rather than a woman that had just given birth.

Midoriko slipped out of the Hokage's office and wondered the streets of Konoha for little while before she was found by a very nice boy, his girlfriend and their enormous white dog. Rai seemed to be the most upset by her disappearance than anyone else and scolded her the moment Kiba and Akamaru returned her to the Hokage's office. Tsunade had to explain to Midoriko later that Rai was more upset that he hadn't noticed her leave. Naruto wouldn't, or couldn't look at her. He smiled sadly, took Minato from her gently and told her. "You and I are moving into one of the houses in the Uchiha block down the street from teme and Sakura." Midoriko had nodded silently and left it alone. Finally, that was something she could agree to. Naruto was the only thing that seemed to make sense in her life besides Minato.

The newly refurbished Uchiha section of the village had become a new source of revenue for the head of the Uchiha Clan. The former Hyuuga lord had the abandoned section cleaned and repainted with the anticipation of annexation of the Uchiha clan into the Hyuuga. Sasuke had needed to build a home for himself and his soon to be family. So it seemed logical to open the section to all that wanted to live there. Sasuke wanted to make it a home for his children and at least have the happiness in the area that he once enjoyed as a young child. It became the new hot spot to live in Konoha. Shinobi and civilians alike had come to live in the once barren section of the village. In the few months the section had been open, a grocery store, a book store, and a shinobi supply store had moved in to make life a little easier.

Midoriko had been given the choice of the houses available. There were two Midoriko fell in love with. Both of the houses were huge, four rooms that could be for sleeping, a library, living area and an enormous kitchen. But only one of them had a large outdoor area that could be turned into a garden. It even had an old pond that if cleaned, could support a small range of aquatic life.

In the end, Midoriko triumphantly got the keys to the house with the garden area. Midoriko went to work. She cleaned, well… she watched as Mr. Ravenheart directed a mass of craftsmen and workers to clean and paint. In a matter of days, the empty lifeless house was a warm, inviting, home full of love and life. Midoriko had insisted that the master bedroom be for Naruto. She had taken the one of the smaller rooms with the joining room becoming Minato's nursery. From the moment Mr. Ravenheart handed Midoriko the keys to the house, she took over everything domestic. She cooked, she cleaned, and she took care of Minato. Yet she still felt as there was something missing.

Dinner tonight was part of a rhythm that Midoriko was trying to establish. The first few weeks were a bit difficult because Minato was still waking up at all hours of the night. But Midoriko had managed to get through it with some silent, yet appreciated help from Naruto. Minato had been cutting his very first teeth. The boy was being extremely cranky as far as Naruto was concerned. Midoriko had fallen asleep in the rocking chair next to the crib and Minato was beginning to stir. Naruto stealthily entered the Nursery and extracted Minato from his crib before the boy could start to cry.

Naruto and son stared at each other for several moments. The boy looked as if the tears were welling up behind the deepening shade of blue. Naruto gazed at Minato, his expression never wavering. "What do you think you are doing son? Can't you see that your mother is exhausted? I know you must hurt or something, but suck it up. Your Uncle put his fist through my shoulder once, and I didn't cry and keep anyone up for days because of it." Naruto's tone was quiet, but harsh at the same time.

Minato's violet blue eyes quivered and looked away from his father. The boy took a deep breath. Naruto didn't think anything of it. The boy had listened and taken to heart what Naruto had to say. Midoriko thought it was a bit strange that Minato wasn't crying about anything after that. After Midoriko woke up to find Minato awake, lying in his crib and silently crying about his soaked to the bone diaper, Midoriko woke Naruto up rather violently and demanded to hear what he had told the infant boy.

Naruto whipped the cold water off his face. "I might have told him a story about getting a fist shoved through my chest and how I didn't whine about it and keep people up for days on end." He finished with a little guilt in his voice.

Midoriko narrowed her eyes at Naruto. "You insensitive git! You told an infant that he shouldn't CRY? What kind of father would tell their own son not to cry? How am I supposed to know when he's hungry, or when he needs to be changed? If he doesn't cry I don't know. I don't have some sort of telepathy that makes me automatically know when Little One needs something."

"Myra would know…" Naruto grumbled under his breath; then as Midoriko's fire was taken away from her, she turned to leave the room. Naruto mentally kicked himself for saying it. He had chased after Midoriko and tried to apologize in vain for saying something like that. He had never gotten to apologize to Midoriko, but she knew he shouldn't have to. After all… he was right. Myra would know exactly what her own child was thinking and feeling. Midoriko felt the deep connection with Minato and with Naruto, but there was a barrier that kept her distant from the two of them.

She was setting the table when she heard the sounds of Minato waking from his nap and the sounds of knocking at the door. Midoriko shook her head. Naruto had keys to the house, but still insisted on knocking on the door when he came home. Midoriko set down the plates on the table to answer the door. She tried to keep her face stoic when she answered the door. But no mater how hard she tried, there was always a curl of a smile at the corner of her lips when she saw he was home safely.

Naruto shed his black trench coat and handed it to Midoriko wordlessly before walking to the nursery to have some father, son time before dinner. The woman sighed and hung up the trench coat before returning to the kitchen. This was the way it had been and this was going to be the way it was unless she could find a way to break through the silence. Diner was relatively silent as it had been. Midoriko spent the rest of her evening cleaning the kitchen and doing the dishes. This was her free time. Naruto was home and took care of Minato. It had been a silent agreement from the moment they moved into the house. She would have diner on the table and it would be Naruto's job to spend time with Minato. So far the plan was perfect.

Midoriko could be content with this arrangement, except for the silence. She had tried to talk to him, but she never knew what to say. Anytime they did talk, there would some argument and she could see him holding back. She could see the pain flash behind his eyes; then Naruto would turn and walk away from her. Midoriko finished cleaning the kitchen and went out into the living room. She let the smile grace her lips. Naruto was asleep on the couch, with Minato sound asleep on his chest, and the TV show host squawking about the latest and greatest in house hold appliances.

Midoriko was moving the infant when Minato stirred and was about to cry in protest of his movement. The mother instinctively started to rub circles in the infants back, humming a haunting lullaby that not only calmed the infant boy, calmed the adult that was currently feigning sleep on the couch.

Naruto still loved her. He couldn't help but love her. Whether she called herself Midoriko, or Myra, he still loved her. But the one he wanted was Myra. Midoriko was a shadow of Myra, a personality that was a figment of Myra's imagination. Midoriko was the "what if" of Myra's life. What if Myra had never known about being a ninja? What if Myra had never know she had a brother? What if she had never seen her brother murdered before her very eyes? What if Myra had gotten to live a happy, normal, adjusted life? That is what Midoriko was, she was the answer to the "what if" questions.

He would protect the mother of his son, but Naruto could not bring himself to love Midoriko the way he loved Myra. And until he could find a way to get Myra back, Naruto had resigned himself to maintaining his distance form Midoriko. It was slowly killing him. She was right there. He wanted to take full advantage of her, but to cross that line would make him no better than those people that still believed he and the Fox were the same creature.

Naruto slowly sat up on the couch, watching the woman walk the boy into the nursery. The haunting melody that Midoriko sang drew him to her. He couldn't help the urge to watch her do what ever it was that she was doing.

Midoriko walked ever so slowly with the baby tucked in her arms, Minato's head on her chest, just over her heart. She kept it slow a deliberate as she walked and rocked to the tempo of the song.

Hush now my baby, be still now don't cry
Sleep like you're rocked by the steam
Sleep and remember my lullaby
So I'll be with you when you dream.

Drift on a river that flows through my arms
Drift as I'm singing to you
I see you smiling so peaceful and calm
Holding you I'm smiling too.

Midoriko turned the corner to the nursery and stepped in the room. Minato made a few sleepy cries to complain about being moved.

Here in my arms
Safe from all harm
Holding you I'm smiling too.

Naruto had followed mother and son to the nursery. He had been watching from the shadows each time this ritual had occurred. It was amazing to him. She could calm any storm the child could start. This was no storm at the moment, but Naruto could see his son's eyes opening and closing trying to defy sleep.

Hush now my baby, be still now don't cry
Sleep like you're rocked by the steam
Sleep and remember this river lullaby
So I'll be with you when you dream.

A few last whines and short grunts told Midoriko that Minato was out completely not to return from slumber until the morning.

Here in my arms
Safe from all harm
Holding you I'm smiling too.

Midoriko pulled the boy close to her breast and kissed the top of his head. She laid Minato in the crib on his back, pulling the blanket up to his chest, and setting the plushy fox, Mr. Fluffles, in the crib, but off to the side. Midoriko put her hand on his head and finished her lullaby.

Sleep and remember this river lullaby
So I'll be with you when you dream.

The tears were falling before she knew she was crying. Midoriko sniffled and whipped away the tears. She took a deep breath. Sleep sounded like a good idea to her. She moved to her room, never noticing that she was being watched. Naruto would always watch over her. It was a promise he had made the day he had found her. And he never went back on his promise.

0 – 0 – 0

Midoriko stood next to the exam table Minato was lying on. "Is he going to be ok?" She asked worriedly.

Tsunade smiled and shook her head. "He's going to be fine. He just fell off the bed, nothing serious."

"But..."

"No buts... Minato has a head as thick as his father's." Tsunade laughed. "I see no damage besides a minor bump on his head."

The boy in question laughed and continued to chew on Mr. Fluffles's tails. Midoriko let out a sigh of relief. "I was so worried."

"Now on to you." Tsunade padded the exam table.

Midoriko blinked. "I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me girl, I can tell you are a little run down and a little blue." Tsunade gave Midoriko a very sideways smirk.

Midoriko let out another sigh and slouched her shoulders in defeat. "I feel like a caged animal." She smiled wistfully and rubbed Minato's head. The little boy stopped chewing on the tail of his favorite toy and pulled on his mother's hand.

Little violet blue eyes connected with Tsunade as if to say do something. Tsunade blinked. The boy had an intelligence behind his eyes that his body betrayed. "I think its time you started training." Tsunade suggested.

Midoriko snapped her eyes up at the blonde Hokage in confusion. "Train, but I don't have any abilities."

"I'm going to speak with your father, Gai, and Rock Lee. I think among them we can start something that will help with the feelings of being run down. And although the knowledge of how to use your chakra abilities and the chakra itself is blocked, it doesn't mean you can not train." Tsunade smiled in a motherly way. "We will work something out. Have you asked Naruto if he would teach you?"

Midoriko looked away. "Naruto and I don't talk much."

The blonde Hokage nodded. "I see."

"He's adjusting, as am I. It's going to take time." Midoriko continued to stare at nothing in general.

Tsunade put her hand on the woman's shoulder and offered a understanding smile. Naruto was being very moody as of late, taking any mission he could get that kept him with in the village or, at the most, with in a days travel. The sanin smirked inwardly. This was a very awkward time when she could be concerned about Naruto being angsty and complain about Sasuke not shutting up. Tsunade sighed. "I have never known Naruto to be patient about anything, but I am sure he will learn. In the meantime, I believe that the training may spark a memory or two."

Midoriko shrugged. "Maybe." She answered skeptically. "Can I hire Konohamaru-kun and his little friends to do the babysitting while I'm training?"

Tsunade blinked. "I don't see why not. There might be some opportunities where Minato would be able to go with you. It would do him some good to get out of the house as well."

Midoriko took a deep breath and started to feel better about life in general. She picked up Minato and nuzzled him before putting the boy in his stroller. "I will drop by the Mission office later this week. I would think I need to discuss this with Naruto first."

0 – 0 – 0

"No." Naruto grunted.

"I don't need your approval. I was just asking out of courtesy." Midoriko was picking up the dishes from diner. "I'm going to do this with or with out your approval. I thought you would at least like to know what I was planning." She spun around to take the dishes in the kitchen.

He sat at the head of the table and glared at her back. Naruto was angry. He was angry with Tsunade for suggesting Midoriko be training in the first place. He was angry that he hadn't thought of the idea to begin with. Naruto continued to stare at her back. He wanted to be the one that caused her face to light up with a memory, not that green clad freak. "You can't train with a baby in your arms." He groused thinking that would put a stop to this for now.

There was silence from the woman for a moment until she walked back into the dining room and stood in front of Minato with a bottle. "And I don't plan to unless it is something like a good walk through the village." She handed Minato the bottle and her voice became very baby-ish. "Isn't that right Little One? Tell Daddy he's being a meany."

Situated in his special chair, Minato laughed and kicked his legs in the air. Midoriko smiled, despite Naruto's frown. "I am going to take full advantage of the Mission office. Konohamaru-kun and his friends have expressed that they would love the opportunity to spend time with Minato. I figured they should get paid for doing something they want to do."

Naruto crossed his arms and put his hand on his chin in thought. It was a good idea actually. He could trust Team Konohamaru to protect Minato and Midoriko if needed. He had to accept that Midoriko was going to need time to let the memories surface naturally. This was something he had discussed in detail with everyone concerned. Until there was a way to remove Madara's Kill seal, the memories had to come back to her on their own. People, places, thing, smells, and anything they could think of, was a way to trigger a memory. However the main key was Midoriko. She had to WANT to be Myra. Midoriko seemed excited about training. "All right. But there are conditions." Naruto let his arms drop to his sides.

"Conditions?" Midoriko blinked.

"No more than two hours a day, nothing should interfere with any important missions, and I get to drop by and offer assistance when I can." He nodded.

Midoriko's face light up with a smile. The whole room seemed to flicker with the brilliance of her smile. Naruto dared gaze into chocolate pools and for that split second he could see Myra staring back at him. Midoriko blinked and Myra was gone. The woman darted forward catching Naruto off guard in a crushing hug. Naruto sighed closing his eyes and returned the embrace. He was about to say something important when warm lips pressed up against his cheek. "Thank you Naruto-kun." Midoriko squealed in excitement. She turned to the little boy that was done with his bottle. "Come on Little One, bath time." She picked him up and danced with the little boy to the bathroom.

Midoriko had walked out of the dining room before Naruto let out the breath that had gotten stuck in his throat. His hand came up to capture the warm spot on his cheek. It was too brief. He wanted more. He NEEDED more. Naruto wanted to feel her lips pressed firmly against his. He needed to explore the moist cavern of her mouth with his tongue and his… He needed a cold shower and some extra training time with Sasuke.

"You need to get over it." The Kyuubi snickered.

Naruto sighed and gingerly walked to his room. "I need to get Myra back; then I will get over it."