CHAPTER NINETEEN:
Seven Years Later
Misaki walked on the balcony with her son, Minoru. He was like his father in the way that he wanted to protect her. He held her hand as they walked slowly. She was pregnant with a girl, making Gaara, the twins, and the entire family more than happy. "Mama, be careful."
She rolled her dark blue eyes at her seven-year old son. "Minoru. I'm not an invalid. Goodness. You sound like your father."
"Mama, Father said you had headaches when you were pregnant with us. Besides, i'm the man of the family." He replied as he crossed his arms.
Misaki laughed softly as she tightened her hand around his palm, "Yes, you and your father are."
The two turned back as they heard Gaara and Mizuki walk up to them. "Well I see you two are busy." Gaara commented.
"Hardly. Minoru is escorting me around. He thinks I need a man to walk on the balcony."
"You do Mama."
"You're not a man yet Minoru." Mizuki teased her brother.
"Oh hush Mizuki." He told his sister.
Gaara shook his head at his children, "Don't tease each other. Minoru, take care of your mother while i'm busy."
"Yes Father." Minoru replied.
The four turned as they saw Kankuro approach them. "Uncle Kankuro!" Mizuki shouted as she ran to him and jumped in his arms.
Kankuro wore his favorite shirt, which was a white faded shirt with 'World's Greatest Uncle' on it. "Hey! There's my favorite niece!"
"Uncle Kankuro," Mizuki replied, "I'm your only niece."
"And that means you can't be my favorite?" She giggled as he let her down and they walked up to Misaki, Gaara, and Minoru. "So, how are you feeling? Any headaches?"
Misaki rolled her eyes again, "What is it with you three? I get pregnant again and you think I need to be treated specially?"
"What's wrong with being treated specially?" Kankuro asked her then kissed her cheek.
"Nothing. I just don't need to be followed by every man that I know. I'm not going to fall over because i'm pregnant."
"No one thinks that Misaki." Gaara intervened.
"I would hope not."
"Well how about I take my niece and nephew out for lunch?" Kankuro questioned the twins.
"Yay!" Mizuki shouted.
"But I can't leave Mama." Minoru told his uncle.
"Have a good time with your uncle. I'll stay with your mother." Gaara urged his son.
Minoru let go of his mother's hand reluctantly then slowly walked off with his uncle and sister. The two parents waved goodbye to the three, knowing they were in safe hands. Gaara wrapped his left arm around Misaki's back then patted her stomach with his right. She definitely wasn't as big as last time. "He's becoming more like you every day."
"Is that a problem?" The red-haired kazekage asked his wife.
"No, but i'm getting tired of telling him that I don't need to be ushered about."
Gaara laughed as he rubbed her stomach, "We know you aren't an invalid Misaki, nor do you need to be guided." He kissed her cheek softly then added, "Minoru loves his mother. He doesn't want anything to happen to her."
"I know Gaara, but i'm eight months pregnant and you three are making me feel like I can't even put my own sandals on." He laughed again. "Gaara, i'm serious!"
"I'm joking with you sweetheart. We all know that you can take care of yourself."
Misaki smiled as she felt her husband continue to rub her stomach. "Goodness, I feel like you three are too worried about me."
Gaara smiled and kissed her again, "That's our jobs."
xxxx
One Month Later
Kankuro sat with the twins outside of the kazekage suite. Minoru looked worriedly at his uncle then said, "Why can't we go in?"
"You're mother is in labor. Only women and the husband can be with the pregnant woman." Kankuro explained. "Your father changed it after you two were born."
"You mean Daddy wasn't allowed in when we were born?" Mizuki asked.
"No and he was pretty upset."
"Knowing Father, he would be angry." Minoru commented.
"Just be patient you two. It may take a while, but your mother will be fine."
In the master bedroom of the suite, Misaki was panting heavily. Her head was covered in a thin layer of sweat as Gaara held her hand. The medic nin pressed her hands on the black-haired woman's thighs and said, "The baby will be ready soon. Breathe slowly."
"How can I when it hurts like hell?!" Misaki asked.
Gaara wanted to laugh at his wife's reference to her pain, but kept it in. "Shh...it's going to be over soon Misaki."
She felt drops of sweat fall down the sides of her face as she replied, "It better be!" She panted while feeling the medic nin reach between her legs.
"The baby is almost ready to come out."
"Oh Kami!"
"It's time, push!" The medic nin shouted, her hands were beneath Misaki's abdomen.
Misaki pushed hard, feeling a bundle slide down and out of her body. She screamed as pain radiated through her body. Her hand grasping Gaara's made a deep red mark in his. He didn't make a noise, but thought that the pain must be very intense. The medic nin caught the baby and held her up towards her parents after cleaning her off and wrapping her in a towel. "She has your hair Misaki." Gaara commented.
She panted slightly, "And your eyes."
"Alright," the medic nin said, "lets get the lady and everything cleaned up then Lord Kankuro and the twins can come in."
An hour later, after the medic nin left and everything and everyone had been cleaned up, Kankuro and the twins finally came into the master suite to see Misaki and the new baby. Minoru walked over to the bed to see his mother sleeping quietly. "Is Mama alright?"
"Yes. She's tired." Gaara replied.
Kankuro looked at the new baby girl and smiled, "She has a little of you both. What are you going to name her?"
"We're naming her Aiko."
"Love child. What a beautiful name."
"Well Misaki thought of it. I liked the name as well."
Mizuki and Minoru looked at their new sister and Mizuki asked, "Can we hold her?"
"No sweetheart. Not yet. She's sleeping. Your mother is sleeping too. We will see about holding her tomorrow." Gaara replied.
"Okay Daddy."
"How about I take you two to eat? Mama and Daddy need some time alone." Kankuro asked the twins.
"Okay. We'll see you later Father." Minoru told his father then left with his sister and uncle.
After watching the door close, Gaara checked on Aiko, making sure that the infant was still asleep. Once making sure she was asleep, he pulled off his robes and tunic then kicked off his sandals. He pulled the sheets and comforter up and climbed into the bed with his wife. Gaara wrapped his arm around her stomach and whispered in her ear, "I love you."
She pushed against him, whispering, "I love you too."
Author's Notes: I'm so sorry I am late everyone. June has been another hard month for me. Last week I got the summer flu and let's just say that it was a horrible week. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I have had many thoughts about the chapter and the next one. So I hope you enjoy it. Please review if you like.