Breakfast With Ino

When Ino woke up, a fresh cup of coffee was sitting on the bedside table. She groaned when she felt pain shoot through her shoulder. The bed was not as comfortable as her own. She had slept in the guest bedroom, having clearly told Naruto the previous night that although she was home, there was no way she getting into bed with him quite yet. He accepted it immediately.

Sitting up, Ino looked around the room. It was probably the barest part of their house, since they rarely got guests and therefore did not do much to make the room look attractive. However, with a baby on the way, Ino knew this room would soon be transformed into a nursery and would be filled with life.

The thought of it, however, reminded her of the grim circumstances. With a sigh, Ino took the coffee and slowly sipped the hot beverage. It tasted delicious and was made just the way she liked it. A small part of her smiled at this, Naruto still remembered how she drank her coffee. That had to mean something, at least.

"Morning," Naruto greeted from the doorway. Ino glanced at him and nodded.

"Morning," she said in reply. An awkward silence fell over them and it was only broken when Ino realised Naruto was still at home. She gawked at him. "You're not going to work?"

"Not until this afternoon, no," he replied. "I thought we could have breakfast and talk."

"T-that is very considerate of you," Ino mumbled. Naruto smiled weakly.

"I've got to start somewhere, right?" he asked. He motioned to her coffee. "Drink up. I'll go prepare the breakfast. Take a shower before you come down, you look like you may need it."

Ino thanked him and watched mesmerised as he disappeared from her sight. She finished her coffee and immediately went to the bathroom to shower, just like Naruto suggested. He had been right, she did need it.

"You still have the yellow couch?" Mikan asked when she stepped into Gaara's circular office. Her green gaze was focused on the couch stashed in the corner, its fabric fraying and the yellow slowly fading. It was the oldest thing in the Kazekage's office and it did not do much for image.

"It holds memories," was Gaara's nonchalant reply. He looked up from his paperwork, happy to have an excuse from work for awhile.

Mikan snorted. "...you keep it because we've had sex on it?"

"What? No!" Gaara protested. "You used to love that couch...and not for the sex."

Mikan stared at her husband as if he had two heads. Then she laughed. "I'm teasing you, silly. I know it was my favourite – best view in the entire office."

"Best view? What view?" Gaara asked. "You can barely see from the windows there."

Mikan smirked. "Not the village, idiot."

Gaara blushed. "Oh."

"Yep," Mikan hummed. "Too bad your desk hides your sexy legs. All well, we both know I love your eyes the most."

"Why are you here, again? To harass me?"

Mikan rolled her eyes and hopped onto the desk, right in front of Gaara. She handed him a box wrapped in a blue towel.

"You forgot your lunch, husband."

"Ah, thank you wife, what would I do without you?" Gaara took the box and placed it on his desk. He then leaned in to kiss Mikan on the cheek.

"You'd starve, of course," Mikan chuckled.

"Yes, I probably would," Gaara agreed, planting another kiss, on Mikan's lips this time.

"Also," Mikan continued, "I'm bored."

Gaara sighed. "Here we go again."

Mikan pouted. "I know, I know. You won't give me a mission because I'm pregnant and therefore invalid. But, I'd like to go to Konoha for a few days. It's safe and I can travel in a carriage to ease your worry. Heck, you can assign bodyguards if you really want to."

"You are not invalid," Gaara stated sternly. "I would never think so. Also, you're only a few weeks pregnant and physical activity will not harm you. You may go to Konoha...on foot."

"Really?" Mikan asked, her face lighting up.

"Yes. I won't even assign bodyguards, you can take care of yourself. Take Kankuro with you, though. He's driving me nuts."

Mikan laughed. "Okay, I'll take the kitty with me."

"I still don't get why you call him that."

"It suits him," Mikan shrugged. She jumped up, knowing Gaara needed to get back to work. She gave his shoulder a tight squeeze and a kiss on the forehead. "I'll leave you with your other wife now. Thank you for allowing me to travel."

"I don't get why you call my work 'my other wife' either," Gaara muttered. "And you're welcome."

Breakfast consisted of miso soup, rice and fish. Ino thanked Naruto for preparing it when she sat down at the kitchen table. He just shrugged and poured her a glass of juice. The two started eating in silence, neither of them sure how to approach a conversation.

Ino looked up from her plate, curious to see if Naruto looked as comfortable as he probably felt. He wasn't looking at her, obviously at a loss for words just as she was. Instead, his gaze was focused on his food and his movements were stiff. Ino sighed and turned her attention back to her food.

She had to tell him. The previous night when she returned, they had barely spoken. She had just told him she was back, for good, but that didn't mean everything had been fixed. She then told him they would talk later and she was going to sleep in the guest bedroom. They each went their separate ways after that. But now it was the next morning and she had to tell him everything. That she was scared out of her wits, that she loved him but also hated him...and she had to tell him he was going to be a father.

She knew he would be ecstatic, he had always wanted kids, so it wasn't that, that worried her. It was his reaction to having to be a father now, when things between them wasn't good.

After several more minutes of silence, Ino finally gathered the courage to speak and she decided the best way to go about it was to be honest...and slightly blunt.

"Naruto?" she called her husband's name. He looked up, but did not speak. He was patiently waiting for her to say something. Ino inhaled deeply. "I...I came back because we really need to make this work. I'm pregnant, Naruto, and I refuse to expose our child to our problems."

Naruto blinked. "You're...pregnant?"

Ino nodded. Naruto frowned and looked back down at his plate, which made Ino worry. What was going through his head? What was he thinking?

Finally he sighed and put down his chopsticks. He rested his elbows on the table. "I...wow. I'm not sure what to say, Ino."

Ino grimaced. "Same here."

"Don't get me wrong, though!" Naruto immediately exclaimed. "I'm happy! Excited even, just...now? Really?"

"Tell that to our gametes," Ino muttered. She snorted when Naruto frowned. "Gametes are sex cells, Naruto."

"You know I'm crap at science-related stuff," Naruto replied, a blush now on his cheeks. Ino smiled, remembering clearly that she always had to break down medical terms when she spoke with him, he was rubbish at the complicated terms. But it made him special, and it most certainly did not mean he was unintelligent. He was skilled in other fields, particularly negotiation, which she was terrible at. And negotiation was a talent he needed, since he was the Hokage.

Naruto tapped his chin, suddenly in deep thought. Ino stared at him, amazed that he was actually sitting with her at the table. It had been months since they had been together like this.

"Did we not use protection?" Naruto asked as he tilted his head to the side. "We weren't planning anything..."

"There's always that small chance that protection fails. We were probably just unlucky," Ino replied.

"Or it happened the night we came home drunk after arguing in front of Sakura and Lee," Naruto pointed out. Ino opened her mouth to say no, but then it hit her. The night had been a bit of a blur, the four of them had gone out for dinner, Naruto actually joining for a change, and things spiralled out of control when Naruto wanted to leave early to work again. They had argued in front of Sakura and Lee, although the four of them were all so drunk, they probably weren't even aware of what they were doing. Naruto and Ino ended arguing all the way back home...and somehow they ended up falling on the floor and kissing and it all went crazy from there.

"Maybe you're right," Ino admitted, if they would ever slip up, that night would have been the night to do so.

"I'm sorry," Naruto apologised. "I was an idiot that night."

"So was I," Ino retorted. "We're equally guilty."

They stared at each other in silence again.

"We'll sort it out," Naruto broke the silence. "If not for our sakes, for the child's sake."

Ino nodded slowly, happy that Naruto was on the same page as she was.

"Look, Ino," Naruto trailed off, his gaze now shifting around the room. Ino remained quiet, allowing Naruto to gather his wits. He appeared nervous and she didn't want to make things more anxious between them. Finally Naruto sighed.

"Ino, I am working overtime for a reason," Naruto explained. "It's top secret and I can't talk about it with you until things are sorted."

"Why didn't you tell me in the first place?" Ino asked, slightly annoyed. "I get it, Naruto. Your job involves you protecting and running a whole village. There is bound to be things you can't tell me."

"I don't know," Naruto admitted. "I guess I just assumed you would know."

"Well, yes," Ino sighed. "I should know better. But you came home really late and often you were out drinking and your shirts smelled like perfume. My mind went to the worst case scenario."

"The perfume belongs to a kunoichi," Naruto stated. Ino's eyes widened. Naruto noticed and shook his head. "Not like that, Ino. She's working for me – undercover. I can't meet her in my office."

"Oh. That's why you go out drinking. To make it appear like friends meeting up?"

"Something like that."

"Okay. You've already revealed too much," Ino said softly. "Thank you for telling me."

"I'll tell you the rest, eventually."

"You don't have to break the rules for me."

"I won't have a choice. Sakura will want to know too and if she ever finds out I am keeping this secret now, she'll have my head."

"Sakura will have to deal with it."

Naruto laughed. "She's never really cared about the rules if it involves her."

"Aren't we all like that?" Ino asked, tilting her head to the side.

"In some ways, yes, I suppose we all break the rules to get what we want...or to protect those who we love."

Ino smiled. "Thanks for opening up, Naruto. You haven't done so in months."

"I know."

Ino returned to her breakfast and while she chewed she thought of what else she should discuss with Naruto. However, they were interrupted when there was a knock on the door. Naruto glanced at Ino, not wanting to waste this opportunity to talk, but she smiled and motioned for him to go open the door.

It was a messenger ninja, who greeted Naruto, handed him a scroll that had arrived earlier by messenger bird and then excused himself. Naruto returned to the table, Ino watching him curiously.

"What is it?" Ino asked, knowing that he might not be able to tell her.

"It's from Suna," Naruto stated, frowning. "And it's addressed to you."

Ino blinked, surprised. Naruto handed her the scroll and she unrolled it, not sure what to expect. The letter was simple, with only one sentence and a signed name.

I'm coming to visit.

-Mikan

Ino rolled her eyes. Mikan was still eloquent with words it seemed. Not. Why couldn't the woman write like a normal person and request if she could come visit? Or even perhaps start the letter with a 'how are you?'.

"Mikan is coming to visit," Ino stated as she put down the scroll.

"Really?" Naruto asked, surprised, but his surprise quickly melted into confusion. Ino wasn't sure why he was confused, nor was she sure why he suddenly seemed to be tense, but she decided not to mention it. They returned to eating their breakfast, neither of them saying another word. They would discuss the ground rules later.