War?
Hinata held up one of the open messages on his desk. She picked up another that seemed to be a response he was making back to Konoha. She only meant to straighten his desk and wait for him to return from his council meeting. She was fully aware there was rising tension and a looming Akatsuki threat, but he never mentioned they were preparing for war.
Hinata checked the clearance on the letter to Konoha. It was her level, dated back a few days. It should have passed through her hands by now.
She felt sick to her stomach. Was he hiding it to protect her from the stress?
Hinata put her hand on her chest and sat down in his chair as she let the arising dizziness pass. It was reasonable. She tried to tell herself. He had no reason to tell her. She took a couple of deep breaths to force away from the panic.
The door opened. Gaara came through. After a few seconds, he recognized something was abnormal. "I'm sorry. I was just straightening your desk." Hinata got up. Even if he had no issue with her going about his desk, it was still an intrusion if she saw something he didn't want her to.
Nothing seemed to come to mind why she was acting odd until he sat down and noticed what was on top. Then his face twisted to something akin to shame.
Hinata waved her hands to tell him to stop. "I don't need to know about it." Maybe it was for the best. "I understand. I wasn't looking for it. I was just cleaning, and it was there. I'm just shocked."
"I have to send Naruto my response to his request to begin preparing for a battle with the Akatsuki," Gaara admitted. "I asked the council what they thought should be included in the response. They seemed to think it is a non-threat to us, but I need to remind them that I no longer have the power of the one tails, and the enemy does. Not only that, but we are allies with the villages concerned, and if they are attacked, we must rise to help anyway."
"That is a rather convincing point." Hinata wrung her hands. "Do they have any idea when they might strike?"
"Anywhere from a few months to a year, but the problem lies in that we don't know what to expect, and they have been preparing for far longer than we have." Worry was written on his face. "I did not want to worry you until I was more sure of what was happening. You do not need the stress of war."
"I know." Hinata laid a hand on her pregnant bump. "It seems the world is against me having an easy pregnancy."
"Birth planning?" Gaara wondered. "Do you not know already how it will come out?"
Hinata giggled. "Yes, but this is practicing breathing for birth, knowing where the baby should be born, and having clothes packed for a stay at the hospital."
"Today, we are starting to learn the breathing and how you can help her." The medic explained.
"I help her breathe?" Gaara was more confused.
"Just do as she says. It will make sense." Hinata sat against Gaara, how the medic asked when he started asking questions.
"These classes are going to teach Hinata how she should breathe during birth and what to expect. It will teach you what you should be doing during the birth to support her." The medic explained as she went through the class. "Who is the second of kin if you are unavailable?"
"I will be available," Gaara answered promptly.
"Temari-chan and Matsuri-chan," Hinata corrected him. "You can't guarantee you will be able to be there if there is a battle." She kept the word war to herself as it was top secret.
"You're not supposed to be thinking about that." Gaara scolded.
"She's right to plan for something like that. You are the Kage. There are higher responsibilities for you than being present for the birth. We recommend secondary kin for any partner, especially nin. Emergencies happen, and babies stop for no one." The medic corrected. Gaara nodded, accepting the answer, only not to argue. "Alright, and we planned to have it in the medical center in case of emergency." Hinata nodded. "Have you packed a bag?"
"Isn't it early for that?" Hinata wondered.
"With your blood pressure and your husband's medical history, it is better to be safe in case of early contractions." The medic explained. "Our best hope is that you make it to full term or at least thirty-five weeks. The longer the term, the more likely the child will be strong enough to survive birth."
This was all just preparing for the worst because they couldn't even hope for normal.
Hinata kneeled before her vision tunneled. She tried to breathe evenly, but it was hard when she felt like she was about to be sick, and the world spun.
"Hinata-sama." Matsuri grabbed her, holding her from falling completely forward.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Hinata assured her. "Just dizzy."
Matsuri's grip helped ground her spinning head, and it passed nearly as it came. "Is that normal?"
"Not quite, but it's becoming common." Hinata should expect dizziness upon standing, but these sudden spells were worrying.
"Should I get Gaara?" Matsuri asked as she helped her up.
"No, don't bother him. I'm fine," Hinata assured her. Matsuri didn't look as sure.
"You need to be taking on less stress, your blood pressure is too high, and your chakra is thinning." The medic told her flatly after checking her levels.
Gaara eyed her disapprovingly, and it hurt. Hinata handed most of her work to Matsuri and Temari, but there were some things they couldn't handle, not without alerting the council to her missing signatures. She was down to working half the day, and she was not even six months pregnant. She should have expected this with her rising dizzy spells.
"Hinata-sama, you need to lower your stress, or you WILL lose this baby." The medic pushed.
Gaara took a few seconds. "Very well."
Hinata cringed. He didn't need any more stress, either.
"No," Gaara stated flatly in irritation. "Hinata is not available. You will have to deal with who is." He hadn't realized how many people preferred his wife until he forced her out of her office. Matsuri said people would seek her out. It was adding to her workload unintentionally.
"That's unacceptable. These matters cannot be tossed about. We sent the word we were coming last week! This shows a clear lack of Suna's care for trade."
Gaara felt his rage boil.
The door slammed open. "I can take you in my office now, thank you." Hinata's face was flat with her silent irritation.
"Hinata," Gaara growled.
Hinata ignored him. "I'm sorry my earlier arrangement ran long. I didn't mean any insult." She told them as she let the group pass her.
"Hinata." Gaara demanded again.
"I'll be with you in a moment." Hinata closed the door behind them. "I'm sorry, but this group likes to be difficult."
"You shouldn't be working with traders. You are only meant to be doing paperwork that requires your signature." Gaara demanded.
"I will have to make an exception." Hinata rubbed her temples. Gaara swallowed his reply.
Hinata entered her office. Matsuri sat at Hinata's desk as she was doing most of her work confused, but moved to the side to let her sit down in her chair. "Matsuri-san, I need you to take notes. We will review our trade agreement before going any farther, and I will have you handing them from now on."
"This is ridiculous. Why are we being passed to this little girl." The man whined.
Hinata's eyes narrowed. "She is next in line to Kazekage. I would hope you could respect her, as you seem to not respect our current Kage."
The man turned white. She was too nice to this group and took their whining in the past because it benefited the village. But now, they angered her husband and insulted the village, and she was running into a hormonal rage. "We meant you no disrespect. You have been quite hospitable to us. It's what we have come to expect. We thought all Suna would have such a high standard."
"Suna is not usually as forgiving as I am," Hinata stated, colder than she meant to. "Due to issues that have arisen and my current health, my time is needed elsewhere. For the sake of everything getting its due attention, I have to delegate work. I apologize if this is an inconvenience, but you are not the only one affected, nor are you the only one disappointed. Now, I hope you will show due respect to Matsuri-san until I can go back to my normal duties."
"Right." The man was ashamed of his outrage. More at the fact he was flat-out called out for it rather than he was ashamed he had the fit.
"Now, we will have an overview of our agreements so far, and I will leave." Hinata was feeling incredibly dizzy now that her blood pressure spiked with her temper.
Hinata only took a few steps out of her office, and her head started to spin again. She clenched to the wall, willing herself to stay upright until she could at least close herself in a room. She made it to Gaara's door and twisted the nob just as she fell. She forced her weight to her side to avoid falling on her stomach.
Gaara was at her side, maybe even before she hit the ground. He picked her up and laid her on the couch. "I'm calling your medic."
She closed her eyes and willed the dizziness to stop.
"Your blood pressure spiking and bottoming out is becoming common?" The medic asked.
Gaara was interested in her answer. "Last couple of weeks, yes. I had it earlier today. I napped and got something to eat, hoping my sugar might just be low, and then I handled a situation that upset me." Hinata admitted. "I know dizziness and lightheadedness were things I should expect."
"Not this dizzy." The medic corrected, and she sighed. "Hinata-sama, I'll put you on light bed rest until this passes. You do not have to stay in bed all day, but no more work, no paperwork, nothing. I want you to write down every time your blood pressure feels off, and I will give you some food to eat and some to avoid." The medic frowned.
"I will see to it that she obeys," Gaara stated firmly. He never made her do anything she didn't want to, but he was not losing her to work.
Hinata did as she was told, staying in the bedroom, the kitchen, or Gaara's office most of the day. She was bored. She was miserably upset and guilty that all her work was being shoved to others. Honestly, it felt like she was more stressed without anything too busy her.
They were running out of excuses. It was a matter of time before the council demanded answers. Gaara was distant, both worried about her and trying not to add to it, and stressed himself with what he was sure he wasn't telling her.
A knock on the door broke her thoughts. She wasn't expecting Gaara for another few hours. "Hinata?"
Hinata got up slowly to avoid illness and opened the door. "Baki-san?"
"May I speak with you for a moment?" Baki's frown told her what he had to talk about was not pleasant. She mirrored the uncomfortable look and nodded, letting him in.
"I'm going to start taking Temari-chan to my birthing classes from now on." Hinata pressed her lips together, trying not to show the pain she felt on her face. She felt like she denied him the rights he should have as an active father.
Gaara was both confused and worried. "Why?"
Hinata wouldn't lie. "Baki-san needs you here."
Gaara's expression darkened. "What did he tell you?"
"What you wouldn't," Hinata admitted. "Don't blame him. He didn't know that you were keeping quiet. He thought you were just stubborn."
"You are supposed to…" Gaara started.
"I know!" Hinata snapped, sitting in the chair across his desk. "But I am far more worried when I know nothing. I'm sitting in my tower, feeling the need to pull my hair out. The information I got from him was a relief." Hinata hoped to pull the blame more to herself, making it seem like she sought Baki out rather than the other way around.
Gaara sat back, staring at her, annoyed with her, she was sure.
"I agree with him." His frown deepened. "As much as I want you there, it is more important you are there for the village than you are there for me. Matsuri-chan and Temari-chan can handle my appointments and preparation."
Gaara stayed silent, rubbing his head. She wished she hadn't caused him so much stress.
Hinata pressed her lips together. "Let me worry about the baby. I'll let you worry about the war but don't shut me out. It only makes me worry more."
Gaara sighed. "Alright."