Home Sweet Home

Ino returned to the Nara Estate in a daze, her hands resting on her stomach that was still flat. Sakura's words echoed through her head and the sinking feeling Ino had had since the announcement just grew stronger. She was pregnant. After her initial shock, it occurred to her that before the marriage went sour, she had actually discussed kids with Naruto and they both had agreed to try. So the pregnancy should not have been that unexpected. But with all the issues, it just slipped her mind.

Ino sighed as she reached the Nara Estate and unlocked the door. Temari had given her a key, but she with what way things were going, she was going to have to give it back. She hadn't forgiven Naruto, she was far from doing that, but she was pregnant with his baby and she was not cruel. She was not going to keep him away from this child, even if they aren't really on speaking terms. And she wasn't going to allow him to miss a single moment of her pregnancy – he did not deserve that isolation, for the baby was not part of the marriage problems. No, the baby was innocent and deserved the love of his father.

Ino froze just as she stepped inside. She was going to be a mother. The knowledge was daunting, but deep down she felt excitement. The baby was a good thing. It was light in the endless tunnel of darkness. Maybe this was a sign, a sign that things were bound to improve.

"Welcome back," Temari greeted when Ino finally snapped from her stupor and entered the kitchen. Temari was sitting at the dining table, slicing an apple and passing pieces to Asuma who ate it peacefully.

"Hey," Ino returned the greeting.

"So? What did Sakura say?" Temari asked.

"I'm pregnant."

Temari's eyes widened and she stopped slicing. She looked up, a worried expression on her face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Ino hummed, but it was only half true, "I'm fine."

Temari was not convinced. "If you need to talk, I'm here. I've been through pregnancy and labour, so I know what its like."

Ino smiled weakly. "It's not the physical part I'm worried about. With my medical training, I know what to expect. But…I'm just worried about my mental state. I'm not in a very good place right now and I…and Naruto don't really have a stable home for this baby right now."

"Are you thinking of putting it up for adoption?" Temari asked.

Ino gaped. "No, of course not! I'm keeping…him."

"Him?"

"Er, I don't know the gender yet. I'll just say him for now. Better than it."

Temari smiled. "Shikamaru was convinced Asuma was a girl when I was pregnant."

"Really?"

"Yes, it was quite comical when he was born and we found out he was male. We decided to wait until he was born to find out the gender."

"Wow. I don't think I could wait that long."

Temari chuckled and started slicing the apple again. Asuma had been silent the whole time, his eyes darting from his mother to his godmother. He was very young and couldn't fully comprehend what they were saying, but he had a basic idea. He had, after all, inherited his father's intelligence – to an extent at least. But he did not say a word, because the apple kept distracting him. Apples were yummy.

"So, what are you going to do?" Temari asked as she handed Asuma a slice.

"I'm going home."

"A wise choice," Temari replied, "I would have done the same."

"It's the right thing to do."

Temari nodded. "Oh, they will be about the same age!" Temari exclaimed out of the blue, her eyes sparkling.

"Uh…what?" Ino asked, confused.

Temari turned her gaze to Ino and grinned. "Mikan also just found out she is pregnant. The babies will be about the same age."

Ino felt excitement for her friend. "Really? That's fantastic! Although a bit weird…I've never pictured Gaara as a father."

Temari snorted. "Not many people do. But he is good with kids, believe it or not."

Ino nodded. She knew he was. She had seen him with Asuma before as well as young students from the Suna Academy. Gaara, despite being busy as Kazekage, always made time to visit the young children of his village. When Ino asked Mikan about this, she shrugged and merely stated that Gaara saw the children as the most important citizens. Which made sense, because they were the future of the village. Like her teacher, Asuma used to say, the children is the 'king'.

"That's great," Ino hummed, "I will write to her. Say congratulations." With that, Ino turned and excused herself, but Temari stopped her.

"They nearly divorced too, you know?"

"What?" Ino asked, shocked as she whirled around.

Temari smiled weakly. "Mikan and Gaara. They also struggled like you and Naruto. Mikan moved out and lived with Nozomi for several months, that's how bad it was."

"They…they almost divorced? Why didn't she tell me?" Ino asked. "Why didn't they tell us?"

"Because they are ashamed of it," Temari stated, "Mikan is ashamed of what she did. She didn't just move out silently in the night like you did. They were arguing and she grabbed her bags and spit in Gaara's face before slamming the door."

Ino did not want to believe it, but then again, Mikan had quite the temper, so it made sense. "And what did Gaara think?"

"Oh, he was angry, but you know he broods when he is angry. Mikan likes to show her anger. I believe she punched a hole into the wall of Nozomi's house. Nozomi was not impressed."

Ino couldn't help but chuckle. "Nozomi has always been rather mellow, at least when compared to her sisters."

Temari nodded in agreement. "Guess it comes with the territory. Nozomi is the eldest and she doesn't carry a lot of responsibility like her sisters do. Chie has quite the demanding job and Mikan…well, she's their protector."

"Although during that time Nozomi was probably doing more protecting," Ino pointed out.

"Oh yes."

Silence fell for several seconds, allowing the news to sink in. Ino could still not comprehend the fact that Mikan and Gaara had also drifted apart.

"Wow," Ino finally breathed, "…wow. Mikan and Gaara. That's just…I've always pictured them as the perfect couple."

"Really?" Temari asked with a frown. She had seen the problems in her brother's relationship quite soon. It wasn't that hard to decipher, Mikan was loud, short-tempered and outspoken, the opposite of Gaara.

"Yeah," Ino continued. "I mean, the way they move around each other. When Gaara moves, so does Mikan. And they have these silent conversations by just looking at each other. Naruto and I can't really do that."

"Hmm," Temari hummed. Ino had a point. She had witnessed the 'silent conversations' herself. In fact, they had been doing it even before they were together romantically when Mikan liked to hang out in his office because she had nothing better to do. "That is true. They are quite in sync with each other, but it's not perfect."

Ino nodded slowly. "Thanks for telling me Temari."

"No problem. You deserve to know that you are not alone. I'm sure Mikan would love to talk to you about it more."

"Yeah," Ino said, "I might take her up on that. Well, I better go pack and get ready. It's time I go home."

Naruto was slipping through the notebook. He was at home, much earlier than he has been for months, but of course, the house was empty and cold. With a heavy sigh he had locked himself in his study, doing work but he kept getting distracted by the notebook. As he kept on reading it, he couldn't help but feel that something was…off. He couldn't really pinpoint what, but something about the notebook just seemed strange.

Naruto was just about to close the notebook and return to work when he heard the front door open. Worried, but also slightly anxious because he had an idea of who it was, he stepped outside his study and quickly walked down the hallway to the front door. And the sight that met him knocked the air out of his lungs.

Ino was standing very stiffly at the door, her bag slung over her shoulders. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a messy bun on her head and she was dressed in one of her old dresses that she only kept for memory's sake. Naruto could still remember the day he brought it for her several years before. Naruto froze several steps away from her, his heart hammering dangerously in his chest. Their eyes met.

"Ino," Naruto gasped.

Ino smiled weakly. "I'm home."