** Bonus Chapter: For those who are reading this for the first time, just know that this story was originally finished in 2020 **
Hinata laid her hand over Kouki's back, comfortably warped in the fabric that made a sling over her chest. Her other hand was busy watering plants. The main greenhouse was humid, and it felt a bit like being back in Konoha. She never thought about what it would be like to raise a child in another culture than the one she grew up in, but the oddest part was actually not being able to give him experiences she remembered vividly associated with being young. She didn't have many happy memories, but spring festivals and the first snows were things she held dear to her heart.
What memories would Kouki make?
Hinata's heart welled up with the thought of Shukaku manipulating Kouki's first words or cheating on his first steps. It was like having two children. Speaking of which, two tanuki paws flattened against her leg. Hinata bent over to see him with his tail wrapped around her, growing until it engulfed her. "Is he getting too warm? Should we go?"
Shukaku padded toward the door and waited as Hinata put down her water can and brushed off her hand. Shukaku patted his tail on the ground impatiently.
"I'm coming," Hinata told him as she collected the container they were using for Kouki's sand and put it over her shoulder.
Gaara found himself awake with Kouki in the middle of the night again. Kouki was rapidly getting bigger and heavier. It was amazing how quickly they grew. How was he so tiny just weeks ago?
Hinata hummed as he rolled over and curled herself up into a ball in bed. Gaara enjoyed letting her sleep through the night if he could manage, but sometimes Kouki was hungry, not just fussy. Hinata could tell the difference between the cries. Gaara was still learning.
Gaara brushed back the infant's coarse black hair. Had anyone held him like this when he was a baby? He couldn't remember ever being picked up as a child. People always kept their distance, but was that the case even when he was an infant? How many more hours had Gaara spent in this chair with Kouki than he had was held as a child?
Hinata's hand, brushing past his face, brought him out of his thoughts as she settled a hand on his cheek and leaned down to kiss him. "Stop thinking so hard." She gave him a sleepy smile. "You're glaring at him."
Gaara straightened the face he didn't know he was making. "Did I wake you?"
"No." Hinata kneeled down next to the chair, lowering her head to his lap and Kouki's face. "He'll need to eat soon." Gaara moved to give her their son. "Let him sleep. He's comfortable." Hinata set her chin on his knee. "You're bonding with him."
Hinata's smile made his chest warm. "He's asleep."
"Babies, remember your scent. They remember your warmth. They remember, so they know they can trust you." Hinata tilted her smile down to their son. "He may not know to remember this moment, but he will remember that you are comfortable."
Was she right? Was this all he needed to do to show his son he cared?
Hinata's eyes slipped closed. "And one day, he will grow up, and you will look back and remember this moment." She giggled. "You'll remember when he would be small and cute when he's being a brat."
Gaara blinked. "You think he will be bad?"
"All children misbehave." Hinata hummed. "And he's got a little voice in his head that isn't always well-behaved." Shukaku formed to nudge her with his head. "I hope you're not teaching him swears." Hinata put her hand down on the sand beast.
"Shukaku was not kind if my memory serves correctly." Gaara earned a sneer from the Shukaku.
"He promised to be nice," Hinata whispered as she drifted off. This wasn't a good place for her to sleep. "I think he will keep his promise." Shukaku curled up under her hand as it stilled.
Gaara only left Hinata there because he knew she wouldn't be there long if she were right about Kouki needing to eat. That and her face laid to the side on his knee was cute.
Temari was determined to get Kankuro to hold Kouki but, so far, had failed every attempt. Hinata hoped she would eventually give up, but that wasn't like Temari. Hinata was fine with Kankuro taking his role as an uncle from a distance. Though it may become more difficult for him to be hands-off when Temari moved to Konoha.
Temari clapped and scrunched her nose as Kouki reacted by kicking his little feet. "Oh, he looks like Gaara did at this age."
Gaara perked up. "Does he?"
"Yeah, you had chubby cheeks and little fists." Temari shook Kouki's hands. "You would have been a cute baby if you weren't always screaming."
"Oh…" Hinata pouted at Gaara.
"I think we know who we can blame for that," Temari mumbled.
"No." Hinata snapped at the sand tanuki lifted his head and debated snapping at her.
"Was I held as a child?" Gaara wondered.
"Of course?" Temari gave him a look. "I think there is a picture somewhere of me holding you when you were really young, but dad didn't let us much."
Gaara tilted his head to the side. Hinata held her hand out to him, and he took it though he wasn't sure why she was trying to comfort him. He worried her sometimes. His childhood made hers feel like she was spoiled.
Kankuro crossed his arms. "I think he bit me."
Temari laughed. "Oh, I remember that." Kankuro glared at her for thinking it was funny. "You put your hand in his face. Any toddler will bite you."
Hinata rubbed her thumb on Gaara's hand as he dazed off to think about the implications. It was moments like this that she was glad they found each other so she could give him the love he deserved.
"This is ridiculous!" Someone burst into Hinata's office at the top of their voice before she could even look up.
Hinata felt the sand before she could see it. "Hold on." She picked up Kouki and his sand to pass the irate man. When he opened his mouth to shout again, she put a finger up sternly. "I'm protecting you here." She knocked on her husband's door and opened it to pass him Kouki.
Gaara looked up at her curiously.
"I don't think Shukaku can handle watching me have an argument." Hinata pointed to the sand container. "Stay." She closed the door behind her on her way out. "Now we can talk."
The rage was taken down a notch by confusion. "What…"
"The one tails doesn't particularly like it when people come in to scream at me. The last thing I need is my son throwing you through the wall because you can't keep a respectful tone." Hinata sat at her desk and waited as the man processed what she had just saved him from. "Now, what did you want to talk about?"
The man slowly sat down in the seat across from her.
Gaara blinked at his son. How did Hinata work with a baby? She had a small cradle for him, but she held him, too, right? He tucked Kouki in his non-dominant hand and looked back at his paperwork. The sand glittering irritated around the room felt familiar but foreign because he couldn't feel the rage in it like he did before.
Kouki was.
"You'll upset him," Gaara commented on the sand. "She won't be happy if she comes back to him crying."
The sand showed its irritation for a moment more before collecting itself. Kouki's face smoothed out as he grabbed onto his robes. Maybe he should have used that on Shukaku while he was still a vessel.
Hinata returned with a sigh, but her face lit up when she saw them. "Oh, you look very cute working with him."
"This is difficult," Gaara told her. "Are you sure you can work like this?"
"I've gotten used to it." Hinata picked up her baby and kissed him. "Were they good?"
"Shukaku calmed down." Gaara's eyes slid to the sand.
"Good." Hinata scrunched her face at Kouki. "Good boys, hmm?" Kouki put his hands on her face, and it only made her smile wider. She really did love with all her heart.
"Oh, I can't wait to have kids," Naruto said, fully crouched down to look at Kouki on her hip. "He's so cute. He's so big."
Hinata giggled at Naruto gushing over her baby. They both knew that it was probably not the best idea to let Naruto hold him. "He's getting very big." Hinata agreed. He was almost ready to start walking and talking. "We don't like to sit still anymore, hmm?"
Naruto got a big goofy smile on his face. "Ugh, it's not fair. I want a little guy too." Kouki turned his face from him and started to whimper. "Aw, come on, I'm not that scary." Naruto frowned.
Hinata rubbed Kouki's back. "He doesn't like the weather, and Hanabi-chan already wore him out. I hope he doesn't act like this at the wedding."
"How's Temari feeling?" Naruto wondered.
Hinata pressed her lips together. "Temari-chan has been… frightening?"
"That bad?" Naruto made a face.
Hinata didn't want to be rude, but Temari did not do wedding jitters well. She was tightly wound and a moment from either crying or going on a rage spiral at any moment. Hinata took a moment. "Oh…"
"Hm?" Naruto titled his head.
"Nothing." Hinata pushed the thought to the side.
Gaara rejoined them to lower his head to her. "Temari is asking for you. She's crying."
Or she might have to think about it now. Hinata handed him Kouki and headed down the hall to the other hotel room where she could hear the sobbing, for she saw it. She knocked. "Temari-chan?" Hinata let herself in without an answer to find the room tossed, and Temari curled around her knees on the floor. Hinata knelt down to her on the floor.
"I can't do this!" Temari squeaked.
Hinata put her hand on her shoulder. "When was your last cycle?"
Temari's head popped up, and her tear-streaked face paused. "You think this is because of my period?"
"I think you're pregnant." Hinata corrected. Temari clamped both hands over her mouth. "Do you want me to check?" Temari nodded with wide eyes.
Hinata activated her eyes and pressed her lips together. She was right.
Temari screamed.
Gaara blinked at the noise from down the hall.
"Are they okay?" Naruto wondered.
Gaara wasn't sure if he had an answer.
** Hey there, shameless self-plug: **
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