Tenten hissed in pain.
"Ow…"
"Sorry," Guy apologised, trying to dab at the wound on her arm more gently. They were on a mission and had been involved in a skirmish in which she'd been nicked on her upper arm by a shuriken. She should have been able to deflect it, it was embarrassing really.
I'm glad Neji wasn't here to see that…
She knew the reason it had happened was because she'd hesitated. It had only been for a spilt second, but extending her arm meant exposing her belly, and she realised now that in that moment she had been trying to protect her baby.
Neji said my baby has chakra already, there's no way I could extinguish it. I don't want to.
Now that she knew she was going to keep the child, she knew she wouldn't be able to hide the fact for much longer, she was going to start showing and then Guy would know.
What do I do? Should I tell him? Should I lie? Do I want him to be a part of this? There were so many questions she didn't have answers for.
"Tenten," he said, voice softer than usual. "It's not like you to freeze up like that." He wasn't scolding her as a sensei or team captain, he was saying it because he was worried.
He thinks it's because of him.
She hated that he was still feeling down and second guessing himself because of her. She knew she'd been giving mixed signals, and when he gave her that wounded look, something snapped.
"I'm pregnant!" she blurted out.
"What?"
"I'm having a baby, your baby."
Well, I guess that answers that question…
She stared at him wide-eyed, waiting.
"Tenten… Tenten! This is fantastic news!" he exclaimed, acting much more like the man she knew. He grinned and scooped her up, hugging her and laughing with joy. She couldn't help getting caught up in his excitement and hugged him back. In his arms, I feel safe.
"We can do this," she said, as much to assure herself as anything. "Together, we can make it work."
He leaned back and looked into her eyes.
"Tenten, don't choose me because you think you have to. I'll still support you, even if we're just friends."
Really though, he was everything a girl could ask for, and she understood then that she didn't want to hold back anymore, didn't want to wait for something better, because she already had the best life she could ask for right here in front of her.
"I want to do this, with you. If you'll have me."
"If I'll have you? Tenten," he said, touching her cheek. "I'm so in love with you it hurts. To have you with me, to create a family with you, means everything."
"Then marry me," she said.
"What?"
She looked into his eyes.
"Let's get married. If we're going to do this, we might as well go all the way. I'd be proud to be your wife."
"Yes, of course! Let's do it. Let's get married. Oh Tenten," he laughed, kissing her. "You've made me the happiest man in the world!"
She smiled back, happy too. It feels good to finally have a clear path.
"It's the only thing I want for us, Guy. To be happy. Our baby too."
"Our baby…" he echoed in wonder, and she knew he was going to be an amazing and committed father. He'd said it before, if he cared about something he gave it everything he had. My baby being safe and cared for is something I'll never have to worry about. And I know he'll love me that way too.