Naruto was happy. So incredibly happy. He was safe, loved, fulfilled. He was building a family of his own, giving a child to the man he loved.
He had decided to go to the market. If he couldn't work as shinobi for now, he could at least take good care of himself, Neji and their baby. His hand moved down his belly, which was starting to swell as his baby grew.
We'll make your dad something nice for dinner, something to keep us healthy too.
Everything was wonderful, everything was perfect, until he heard the whispers. He was walking along the street, minding his own business, when he heard them talking. 'There she is. That girl. Isn't she the one?' It took him a minute to realise he was the subject of people's interest, then he saw they were staring at him, and all in an instant he was plunged right back to the time before Iruka sensei had befriended him. He was a freak who didn't belong. No! I hate this feeling. It made his throat swell and he felt like he couldn't breathe. I have to get out of here now!
He turned around and headed straight home as quickly as he could, only letting the tears fall when he'd slammed the door shut behind him.
x
Something was different when Neji arrived home. He could feel it the instant he stepped through the door, Naruto's chakra was all over the place. He's extremely emotional. Has something happened to the baby?
He rushed into the bedroom to find Naruto hugging a pillow, tear tracks on his ruddy cheeks.
"What is it? What happened?" Neji activated his byakugan as he spoke, honing in on the baby. He wasn't a medical ninja, but as far as he could see, all was well on that account. For a moment he was immensely relieved, and then immediately felt guilty. Whatever it was, Naruto was clearly in pain.
"Neji!" he sobbed, reaching out. He looked so much more fragile in this feminine body.
Neji blinked the byakugan away, and went to Naruto, pulling him into an embrace.
"What is it?" he asked, gentler this time. "Tell me."
"I… I just… People were staring. Whispering. They think I'm a freak. I can't be the freak again!" he wailed.
"Shh, shh. It's alright. You're not a freak. And I'll obliterate anyone who even thinks it."
"Neji! It can't be like it was before!"
"It's not going to be," Neji promised. He knew that Naruto had spent the first twelve years of his life ostracised from village life and labelled a monster. Obviously whatever had happened today had triggered memories of that. But he also knew that Naruto was strong and brave, and that it wasn't like him react so badly. Usually he stuck up for himself and gave as good as he got. Today however, it was hitting him hard. It was something Neji had discussed with Sakura, the mood swings that pregnancy hormones might induce. Of course Naruto had every right to be upset, but an overreaction like this wasn't good for him or the baby.
Neji didn't ask, he just laid his hand on Naruto's chest and sent a stream of chakra into him, frightened that Naruto might lose control and break the jutsu. If he did that, their baby wouldn't survive. "Just think of our baby, and of me. I love you so much, darling. You know that. You're never going to be alone again."
Naruto clutched him tighter.
"You promise?"
"Yes. You know that. You know how much I admire you, how I love you more than anything else in this world."
"Neji…" Naruto sobbed, clinging to him.
He didn't bother with any more spoken assurances, all Naruto needed right now was to not be alone. So he held on too, willing to provide whatever support Naruto needed, as determined as he'd ever been to keep every promise he'd made. He's been so strong for all of us, now it's my turn to be strong for him.