Ritsuko was restless throughout the night. She felt terribly uncomfortable in her airy hospital gown and the stiff sheets and scratchy blankets that made her itch. Kisame wasn't anymore comfortable in the hospital chair that could be pulled out into a mini bed. He wasn't a mini kind of guy. His limbs were cramped and sore, not to mention all of Ritsuko's tossing and turning was keeping him up. Eventually he gave up and crawled carefully into her bed. It was big enough for the two. He pulled her in close to his chest and before long she settled down. He soon fell asleep too, with a soft smirk on his lips as he breathed in her cinnamon scent.

Naturally this caused a scene the next morning with that up-tight nurse who lectured him about public decency and what-not. Ritsuko was embarrassed again but he kissed her all the same. "Good morning," he whispered against her lips.

She giggled softly and kissed him back.

After breakfast the doctor came back to give a follow-up check. Everything looked good but again he reminded her about bed-rest. "Your condition is stable but anything strenuous, including a lot of walking around, could further damage the placenta. You have to be very careful."

She nodded silently and eagerly, but didn't listen too much. The thought of freedom was too distracting. Kisame noticed the blank look in her eyes and bristled slightly. Still he kept silent. There was no sense in stressing about it because she would be taken care of. He had seen to that. Even after given clearance to leave, they were still stuck filling out paperwork for awhile. It was after noon by the time they went home.

Kisame wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked to their apartment. He caught her looking at him shrewdly. "What?"

"You're up to something," she said suspiciously.

"Like what?"

"You haven't said a word about me having to be on bed rest. It's not like you to spare me a lecture."

He stiffened at that. "You make it sound like ALL I do is scold you," he grumbled.

"No, but you worry unnecessarily. Like a LOT. And that drives you into 'Protector' mode."

"Protector Mode?" He scoffed. "You make me sound like an action figure setting."

"Why not, you've got the build," she teased as she gently pinched his bicep. "Now quit stalling, you haven't answered my question."

He should have known that she'd suspect something but he didn't want to ruin the surprise. He gently shrugged her off. "You're imagining things," he mumbled. He didn't trust himself to say anything else. He quickly unlocked the apartment and felt her critical gaze at his back.

Then she suddenly sighed. "Maybe you're right. I didn't sleep real well last night…"

Kisame turned towards her in obvious surprise. She really must be exhausted to give up so easily. Just then a blur raced past him and glomped Ritsuko. She shrieked and tried to peel it off of her…until she realized who "it" was. "Shiza! Is it really…I can't believe it!" The rest of her words were unintelligible in her joy. Both girls hugged each other while they laughed excitedly. Kisame winced at the high-pitched squeals and went inside the apartment, leaving the door cracked open behind him.

"I'm so glad that you're alright!" Shizako gushed. "Now lemme see my little niece." She pulled back to see her friend's stomach. Her eyes widened. "Wow, you're HUGE!"

Ritsuko rolled her eyes. "Gee thanks," she grumbled but she got over it. "But what are you doing here? Is Itachi here too?"

She shook her head. "I'm here to help you out and to make sure that you stay in bed like you're supposed to," she lifted her chin stubbornly.

Ritsuko blinked in surprise and then scowled in the direction of the door. "I should've known," she growled.

"Hey he means well," Shizako defended him. "He really does love you, you know."

"And he's paranoid too," she huffed. She went inside to challenge him and found him changing in their room. His back was to her as he pulled on a clean shirt. She opened her mouth to protest but he was anticipating it.

"You need looking after because we both know you're not going to want to stay in bed," he said firmly. "And who better to help than your very best friend?"

That part was a little hard to argue but she was determined to. "Well yeah but-"

He turned to face her. "I just want what's best for you and the baby. You have to take it easy, whether you like it or not."

Fire ignited in her eyes as she narrowed them angrily. Now he'd struck a nerve. She hated being told what to do. He squared his shoulders, hands flexed instinctively as he waited for her to throw the first punch. The air was thick with tension until she rested a hand over her eyes and let out a soft sigh. "Yeah, I know," she conceded.

Again he was worried about how quickly she surrendered. Perhaps the girly greeting had spent her last bit of energy. She sat down on the edge of the bed and looked down at her hands.

"Why don't you rest a little before lunch?" He offered cautiously.

"I'm not tired," she mumbled softly.

"Nobody buys that, not even you," he chuckled softly.

She smirked gently but he couldn't get over how tired she looked. She shrugged. "Fine, might as well if I'm gonna be stuck here," she grumbled as she climbed into bed. She managed one good punch into her pillow before laying still. He bent down to kiss her cheek. She growled softly which turned to a giggle when he gently nibbled her ear.

He closed the door behind him and found Shizako waiting expectantly in the living room. "She's just resting now," he explained as he turned towards the kitchen. He was starving. He didn't bother to eat at the hospital again, stupid stuff tasted like cardboard. "You want something too?" He offered as he looked over his shoulder. She didn't answer as she looked at him sympathetically. That confused him. "Is something wrong?

Her gaze turned down the hallway towards the hallway. "She almost died…didn't she?" She murmured.

He stiffened instinctively. He didn't like how that sounded, even if it was true. "What? No. It'd take more than that to…" but even he couldn't causally say 'kill.' He sighed as he shut the fridge door. "She was very lucky," he conceded.

Shizako looked back at him with a soft sad smile. "Since she's met you…she has been," she confessed. He blinked in surprise. Shizako had never really liked him since the beginning, though he didn't blame her. She giggled at his surprise. "Alright so you're not such a beast after all."

He smirked gently. "Not normally no." He set some sandwich making stuff on the table and she approached him.

"I actually ordered a pepperoni pizza like ten minutes ago. Why don't you have some of that?" She offered.

He nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."

As they ate it, he shared the doctor's notes for Ritsuko's recommended treatment. Shizako listened intently and took a few notes. "Oh don't bother, I'll just leave this with you," he said as he paused the folder to her. He wore a grateful smile. "Look, I really appreciate this. I know that it was asking a huge favor."

"Oh don't worry about it, I was about to ask when I could visit." She smiled back. "I hope to visit more often," she challenged.

He chuckled. "We can probably work something out."

The next day he went to school and Shizako set about enforcing the doctor's orders. Ritsuko grumbled a little but obeyed. Not just because she was her very best friend, but because she didn't have the energy to fight back. That she blamed on the stupid pain-killers. But it wasn't all so bad; sometimes they'd sit on the couch and watch movies on the big screen TV.

"Just like old times," Shizako mused once.

"Yeah back before I was a blimp." Ritsuko smirked as she patted her belly.

"Oh you are so not!" Shizako protested, which only made her friend laugh. She looked down at her swelled stomach. She didn't mean to stare but she felt jealous as she watched the baby shift in the womb.

Ritsuko's laughter faded as noticed her friend's strange look. It wasn't one she got often from her. After all, what was there to envy about Ritsuko? She wasn't sure what to say, but settled for honesty, however blunt it was. "You want to have a baby too."

Shizako reddened and mumbled. "It's not practical right now anyway."

Ritsuko frowned. "But you still want one," she pressed. Shizako's stubbornness started to crack as she reluctantly nodded. With a groan she buried her face into a pillow. Ritsuko frowned and wrenched the pillow away. "C'mon don't be like that. You're married now so what's the problem?"

"Itachi said that he's not ready!" She snapped as she snatched the pillow back. Her furious tone was undermined by the tears that gathered in the corner of her eyes. Ritsuko blinked in surprise and was truly speechless for once. Shizako fiddled with the fringe of the pillow as she mumbled. "He thinks it's too soon, that we should concentrate on our education first, that…" the rest of her words were unintelligible as her voice grew thick with emotion. It was just as well. It was obvious that she didn't share her husband's rationale.

"But you don't agree," she summed up as she wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder. Shizako sniffled as she snuggled close and nodded silently. "Does Itachi know how you feel?" Ritsuko asked reluctantly. She had a hard time seeing the Uchiha deny her something she really wanted.

Shizako quickly shook her head. "I just couldn't!"

Ritsuko groaned. "And why not? Your opinion is just as valid as his own. Both of you should come to agreement on it, try to compromise, you know."

"Is that how you and Kisame did it?" Shizako asked as she straightened up and wiped her tears on her sleeve.

Ritsuko reddened. "Uh…not exactly."

Shizako frowned in confusion for a moment before she face-palmed. "After all that you still didn't bother to get protection the 2nd time round," she groaned.

The blush burned fiercely on her cheeks. "You know that I'm terrible with planning things out!"

Shizako laughed. "Yeah but it looks like things turned out for the best."

Ritsuko smiled shyly at that as she nodded. "Yeah…it did." Her gaze drifted over to one of the wedding pictures they had framed. In it Kisame held her bridal style in his arms as he walked into the ocean. She remembered how scared she was that he'd drop her in for fun. She clung to his neck with a shriek. "Don't drop me! I'll kill you if you do!" Then to her surprise he gently nuzzled her neck. "Trust me Suko. I will never let you go." She then looked into his tender gaze, which was so full of love and adoration. No guy had ever looked at her like that, not even Kankuro. In that moment she truly felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She then leaned in to kiss him and the photograph had captured the moment so perfectly. In retrospect the events that had led to the kiss were far more important than just the kiss alone had been. All the same it was one of her favorite pictures from that day.

"Anyway you should tell Itachi how you feel," she said as she turned back to her friend. Shizako shifted uncomfortably and Ritsuko pinched her nose. "Promise me." She grinned. Shizako tried in vain to pull free and swatted at her. But it did no good; Ritsuko just laughed at her. "I'm not lettin' go till you promise."

"Alright, fine! I promise!" She said nasally.

Only then did Ritsuko release her. "Good," she said smugly.

Shizako scowled as she rubbed her red nose. But soon the two girls burst out laughing. It was like old times once again and it felt good to relive that.