Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (either manga or anime!); the wonderful Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns all rights. However, the plot and Namiko Uzumaki are mine!

Chapter 50: Listen

Sasuke woke with a start as Namiko pushed up from her position on his chest, rushing outside to vomit in a nearby bush. He ran a hand through his hair and followed her, rubbing her back soothingly until she stopped. "You okay?"

She stood slowly as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I will be. I just probably need to eat something small to settle my stomach."

"I'll find something for you," he said before kissing her forehead and leaving. "I'll be back soon." He acknowledged Kiba with a nod as they passed each other.

Namiko flopped down on the log next to the campfire that was still burning from the previous night. "Hey Kiba…" she said weakly.

Kiba wrinkled his nose as he walked up to her. "Well, you look like shit."

"Gee Kiba, how do you not have a girlfriend with poetic words like that?" she rolled her eyes, sarcasm dripping from her words.

Kiba snorted as he got off Akamaru's back, plopping down in the grass beside Namiko, the faint crackle of the fire filling the silence. "Guess I'm just waiting for the right girl to come along who appreciates my honesty," he said with a grin.

Namiko gave him a sidelong glance. "Maybe try not telling her she looks like crap first thing in the morning."

"Noted," Kiba replied, still chuckling. He leaned back on his hands, eyes scanning the early dawn horizon. "So, how're you holding up…you know, with everything?"

Akamaru nuzzled Namiko's arm and stomach gently as Namiko petted his head. "Still trying to get used to the idea, but it's hard to wrap my mind around everything when we aren't even 'home'. I think I'll feel better and be able to process it all once we get back inside Konoha's walls."

"Yeah…that's a lot to take in. But you've got Sasuke, and you've got all of us. You're not alone, you know?" Kiba's face softened as he looked at her. "Look, Namiko, you've been through a lot—more than most people. But you're also more stubborn than anyone I know. And besides, you've got Sasuke wrapped around your finger. He'd burn the world down if it meant keeping you and those babies safe."

A small smile crept onto Namiko's face as she remembered Sasuke saying similar words months ago the very night the babies were conceived. "Sasuke definitely would."

"I would what?" asked Sasuke from behind them as he passed her a pack of crackers and an apple.

"Be a godsend. Thank you so much!" Her face lit up at the food and she happily took it from him. She nibbled on a cracker before turning to Kiba again. "Why are you over this way anyhow?"

"Oh, Tsunade-sama asked me if I'd help deliver messages in the village. I've got one to deliver this way, but I saw you and thought I'd stop and say hi." Kiba stood back up and stretched. "In case you're wondering, Naruto is with Hinata helping scout the area."

"Oh, I didn't even realize he wasn't still in his tent. Did he even come back last night?" she asked Sasuke, popping another cracker in her mouth.

"He did, but you were already asleep. He left again just after sunrise." Sasuke groaned as he sat next to her. "It made me remember why I hated sleeping anywhere near Naruto on missions. At least in the apartment, there are walls between us and his snoring. I don't see how you slept through that, but I'm glad you did."

She laughed. "I guess things must be going well between them if Hinata's father hasn't run him off yet."

Kiba chuckled at Namiko's comment. "I don't think anything could make Naruto give up on Hinata. He's persistent…and stubborn…and loud. Kinda hard to ignore him. "

Namiko smiled, nibbling on the apple as Sasuke sat beside her, stretching his legs toward the fire. He reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. His quiet presence had always been reassuring, especially when she felt overwhelmed.

"Naruto couldn't spell 'subtle' if his life depended on it," Sasuke muttered, his tone light but with a hint of a smirk, earning him a playful smack on his arm from Namiko.

"You know," Kiba continued, "it's kind of funny. Hinata used to barely be able to talk to Naruto without turning into a tomato, and now they're dating. And you two," he paused, grinning, "were in some sort of weird flirtationship as kids and now you two have been together for months and going to have kids of your own. Guess everyone's growing up."

Namiko's eyes softened. "Yeah, I guess we are," she said, glancing down at the small, soft curve of 7her stomach. She rubbed it absently, lost in thought for a moment, before leaning into Sasuke's shoulder. "It feels strange, though. I don't think I ever imagined life would be like this."

"You didn't think you'd end up pregnant with twins while a shinobi terrorist organization is trying to kill you and Naruto?" Kiba teased.

Namiko laughed, her mood lifting slightly. "No, that wasn't exactly on my to-do list."

Sasuke, still holding her hand, added quietly, "None of us planned for any of this. But it's happening, and we'll face it together. You, me, Naruto… all of us."

Kiba stood up, giving Akamaru a pat on the head. "Well, I'm gonna deliver this and then check on Kurenai-sensei. Catch you two later."

As Kiba walked away, Sasuke shifted to face Namiko more fully. "You sure you're all right?"

She sighed, leaning her head against his chest. "Yeah. I just—there are days when it feels like everything's moving too fast. Between the babies and the Akatsuki, sometimes it feels like I can barely keep up."

Sasuke's arms wrapped around her protectively. "You don't have to keep up with anything, Namiko. You set the pace. I'm here to help you through whatever comes next. We all are."

Namiko closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his embrace. "Thank you, Sasuke. I couldn't do this without you."

"You won't have to." He kissed the top of her head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be with you, always."

Naruto landed on a wide branch and stopped to gain nature energy for a moment before activating Sage jutsu and scanning the area. "I don't sense anyone out of the ordinary," he said over his shoulder, already smiling when Hinata landed gracefully beside him. He let Sage jutsu fade and grabbed her hand without thinking, his thumb brushing against hers.

Hinata smiled at him, her eyes warm. "I don't see anything out of the ordinary either." She activated her Byakugan just to be sure, and after a quick sweep of the area, deactivated it. "All clear."

"Good," Naruto said, tugging her a little closer as he sat down on the branch. "We've been at this since sunrise. Think it's okay to take a break?"

"I think we've earned a few minutes," she agreed softly before sitting beside him.

Naruto pulled her sideways into his lap, earning a small squeak of surprise as he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled the side of her neck. "Man, am I glad that baa-chan sent me with you." He paused, placing a soft kiss on her jaw. "I really don't want to let you out of my sight again; yesterday scared me in ways I can't even begin to explain."

Hinata fought to keep her blush at bay. "I know. I was so worried about you. I know you're strong, Naruto-kun, but not everything is your responsibility to fix."

"It will be when I'm Hokage," he replied, still pressing his head against her neck.

Hinata gently pushed his shoulders back so she could look into the blue eyes that she loved so much. "But you're not Hokage yet." Her smile was supportive, but a lingering anxiety was hidden beneath. "And even Tsunade-sama has to depend on other people. She's not all-powerful just because she's Hokage."

"I know, but to be fair, I did have some help from Sasuke on defeating Pain's puppets."

Hinata sighed. Naruto was headstrong and she knew that there was no way she'd talk him out of anything. The Uzumaki siblings were both stubborn to a fault. Years of watching Naruto from a distance and being Namiko's teammate taught her that sometimes the two had more similarities than they'd like to admit.

Naruto leaned his forehead on her collarbone, his eyes closed and voice quiet, "I thought I lost you…" His grip on her waist tightened, startling Hinata. "I can't lose you."

Hinata felt something wet on her jacket and realized that Naruto was crying. "Naruto-kun, I'm okay. I'm right here." She tilted his face, gently brushing away his tears with her fingertips. "I'm right here with you and I'm safe because of you," she repeated softly, her heart aching at the sight of his vulnerability.

Naruto gave her a watery smile. "It's just...I've already lost so many people. Losing you would destroy me." His voice cracked, and he buried his face in her chest again, his arms wrapping around her pulling her flush against his chest. "When Pain attacked, and I thought you died, I thought I'd never get the chance to tell you how much you mean to me. How much I love you."

Hinata's heart skipped a beat. She had longed to hear words like this from him for years, but hearing them now, multiple times in only two days, knowing the depth of his feelings made her dizzy with joy. She gently stroked his unruly blond hair as she rested her head atop his. "I love you too."

She pulled back to look into his eyes again. "But Naruto-kun, please don't carry everything by yourself. You have me. You'll always have me. I'll be by your side no matter what."

Naruto took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he focused on the deep lavender in front of him. "But what if something happens? What if I'm not strong enough to protect everyone?" His voice cracked with the weight of the burden he carried, the responsibility of becoming the future Hokage looming large in his mind.

Hinata cupped his face, her lavender eyes filled with a gentle resolve. "You are strong enough, Naruto-kun. You've already proven that over and over. But strength isn't just about how hard you can fight. It's about trusting others too." She paused, her fingers tracing his whisker marks lightly. "You don't have to do everything by yourself. You've got me, Namiko, Sasuke, Sakura, and all our friends. We're with you every step of the way."

Naruto's grip loosened, his heart steadying as he listened to her words. She had always believed in him, even when he didn't believe in himself. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice steadier now. "I guess…I just don't want to mess things up. I want to make sure you, Namiko, and everyone else are safe."

Hinata smiled, brushing a lock of his blonde hair out of his eyes. "You're not going to mess things up. We'll face whatever comes together."

Naruto stared at her for a moment, his heart swelling with gratitude and affection. Hinata had always been his anchor, even when he didn't realize it. Slowly, he leaned in and kissed her, soft and tender, letting the warmth of her presence wash over him like a calming wave. When he pulled back, his usual grin had returned, though softer, more genuine.

"You know," he said, resting his forehead against hers, "I think you're the best thing that ever happened to me."

Hinata blushed deeply, her heart fluttering at his words. "Naruto-kun…"

Naruto's words lingered in the air, and Hinata felt her heart swell in her chest. The tenderness of his gaze, the warmth of his arms around her, and the soft touch of his lips still on hers made her feel like she was floating. Her breath hitched slightly, and she could hardly believe that after all this time, the boy she had admired and loved from afar was now hers.

Naruto's fingers traced gentle patterns on her waist as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her lips. Hinata's pulse quickened, her lavender eyes wide and filled with affection as she gazed at him. Without hesitation, Naruto closed the distance between them again, his lips meeting hers with more intensity this time.

Hinata melted into the kiss, her hands resting on his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her fingers. Naruto's lips moved against hers softly, but with a growing urgency, as if he was pouring all of the emotions he had kept bottled up into this one moment. Hinata responded in kind, her fingers curling into the fabric of his jacket, pulling him closer. The warmth of their shared moment, the closeness, felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of them.

As they broke apart for air, Naruto's forehead rested against hers once more, their breaths mingling. His eyes, usually so full of energy and determination, were soft and filled with affection as he stared into hers. "You have no idea how much I love you, Hinata," he whispered, his voice low but full of meaning.

Hinata's blush deepened, but she smiled shyly at him. "I think I do, Naruto-kun," she whispered back, her hand moving to his cheek, brushing lightly over his whisker marks. "Because I love you just as much."

Naruto grinned, his heart light as he felt a surge of happiness that he hadn't experienced in a long time. He leaned in, pressing another quick kiss to her lips before wrapping her in his arms again. "We should probably get back to patrol soon, but...a few more minutes won't hurt, right?"

Hinata chuckled softly, her head resting on his shoulder. "Just a few more minutes," she agreed, her eyes closing as she savored the warmth of his embrace, feeling more connected to Naruto than ever.

Naruto sighed contentedly, his arms wrapped securely around Hinata as they sat in peaceful silence. The rustling of the leaves and the distant calls of birds were the only sounds that filled the air, but for them, it was as if the world had gone quiet, giving them a brief respite from the chaos of their lives.

Naruto kissed her, more firmly this time, his arms tightening around her as if afraid to let go. The kiss deepened, filled with a need for reassurance and comfort. Hinata responded eagerly, her hands threading through his hair, feeling the warmth of him against her as the kiss grew more intense. There was a hunger behind it now, a desire not just for closeness but for the security of knowing they had each other, no matter what.

They broke apart only when they were both breathless, their foreheads resting together again as they panted softly. Naruto's eyes were half-lidded, his cheeks flushed, and his usual mischievous grin began to return. "I guess maybe we could take a little longer than a few minutes..." he teased lightly, his thumb tracing circles on her hip.

Hinata giggled softly, her face still warm from the kiss. She nodded shyly, leaning in for another soft kiss.

But just as their lips met again, there was a sudden rustling in the bushes beneath them. Both Naruto and Hinata froze, their senses immediately on high alert. Naruto's expression shifted from playful to serious in an instant, his instincts as a ninja kicking in. "Did you hear that?"

Before Hinata could activate her Byakugan to check their surroundings, a familiar voice called out from below, "Nii-chan! Stop slacking off and making out with my best friend and get down here!"

Naruto groaned, leaning his head back in mock defeat. "Man, Namiko has the worst timing," he muttered, though a small smile played on his lips.

Hinata blushed, quickly composing herself as she stood up, smoothing out her clothes. "We should go," she said softly, though there was a lingering warmth in her voice from their shared moment.

Naruto stood up with a sigh, stretching his arms. "Yeah, I guess we should." He glanced at Hinata, his eyes twinkling with mischief again as he dropped his voice to a whisper, "But we'll continue this later, right?"

Hinata's blush deepened, but she nodded, a shy smile tugging at her lips. Naruto grinned, reaching out to grab her hand as they leaped off the branch, landing in front of Namiko and Sasuke.

Namiko was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, her eyes narrowing in playful annoyance at Naruto. "I thought you were supposed to be patrolling," she teased, though her lips quirked into a smirk as she glanced at Hinata, who was still visibly flustered.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Naruto replied, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "But c'mon, imouto! We've been at this since sunrise. A guy needs a break!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Patrol still means paying attention to your surroundings, idiot. Not making out in trees."

Naruto shot him a mock glare. "Oh, like you wouldn't do the same if you were with Namiko." Suddenly his expression turned to one of disgust. "Wait a second, that's not how you got pregnant, is it?" He shuddered. "Never mind, I do not want to know."

Namiko snorted, rolling her eyes as her gaze flicked to Sasuke, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. "No, nii-chan, that's not how I got pregnant."

Naruto shuddered again, though his grin returned as he glanced at Hinata, who smiled softly at him, still standing close to his side. "Anyway, what's up? Why are you two out here?"

"Tsunade-ba-chan said she wanted to see you, so I volunteered to come get you," said Namiko with a shrug.

Naruto raised an eyebrow as he looked pointedly at Sasuke. "So you followed her?" Naruto laughed and shook his head. "You're like a lovesick puppy dog."

Sasuke fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Would you rather me let your sister come out here by herself while pregnant after we just had a major attack on Konoha?" Naruto immediately stopped laughing and Sasuke smirked. "Thought so. Next time, think before you speak, though I know that's almost impossible for you."

Namiko, however, did roll her eyes and sigh. "Really you two? Can you both grow up already? I'm heading back with or without you." With that, she turned and began walking back to the camps. Sasuke followed her without missing a beat.

Naruto exchanged looks with Hinata before shrugging slightly. "Guess I need to see baa-chan. Wanna walk with me there?" Hinata nodded and the two followed after their friends.

Moments later, Naruto arrived at Tsunade's makeshift office. "Knock, knock," he said before entering the green tent.

Tsunade sat behind a low table, papers strewn in front of her. "So you knock here when there's no door, but you can't knock on the door to my actual office? Maybe I should rethink you going on this mission…"

Naruto instantly perked up. "Mission? What kind of mission?"

She took a paper from Shizune and glanced at it briefly before setting it in front of her. "The Raikage has requested a Five Kage Summit. Each Kage is allowed to bring two guards with them. Shizune is always with me, so she's a given, but I wanted to see if you would be interested in joining."

Naruto crinkled his nose. "Why would I want to go and sit in a boring meeting with a bunch of old farts?"

"Because this meeting is to discuss the Akatsuki and considering you fought against Pain, who was assumed to be the leader, even though we know it's the one in a mask, you can help answer questions." Tsunade folded her hands neatly across the papers in front of her. "I also assumed that since you want to become Hokage one day, you should see what exactly that entails."

She cleared her throat, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him. "Even if that means you have to sit in a boring meeting with old farts."

Naruto grinned at her sheepishly. "I take it back, sign me up!" He straightened his posture. "Where do we go and when do we leave?"

"We'll leave for the Land of Iron tomorrow morning at dawn. It'll take three days to get there and hopefully, we should be back here within a week."

Naruto nodded before pausing. "Wait, who's going to take care of the village while you're gone?"

"Kakashi will be acting Hokage in my absence. He's not thrilled with it, but he'll have to deal with it. Yamato is handling most of the rebuilding, so he should be just fine." She waved her hand dismissively. "Now get out of here and we'll see you in the morning, right here, understand?"

Naruto beamed back at her. "You got it!" He gave a thumbs-up. "You can count on me, baa-chan!"

As he turned to leave, she shouted, "You need to remember to use -sama at the meeting, or I'll kill you myself."

Copying her earlier behavior, he waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I got it, baa-chan," he teased with a grin before rushing out the opening of the tent.

"So, you'll be traveling all the way to the Land of Iron?" Namiko said as she sat with Naruto and Sasuke around the fire later that evening.

"Yup!" said Naruto as he stretched out his legs. "Three whole days of travel, and then who knows how long of a boring meeting after that," Naruto continued, rolling his eyes. "But I guess it'll be good for me to see how the Kages work and stuff."

Namiko nodded thoughtfully, her hand resting on her stomach, which had been a subtle habit she'd developed lately. Sasuke, sitting beside her, noticed but said nothing, his usual calm demeanor betraying none of his concern.

"It may be a little boring, but it's a great opportunity," Namiko said, glancing at Naruto. "You'll get to see the world from a different perspective—how decisions are made, how other nations view us. It's important for a future Hokage." She smiled, nudging him with her elbow.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, don't start with the lectures. I get enough of that from Baa-chan."

Namiko sat up a little straighter. "Hey, plus you'll get to see Gaara! You'll have to tell him I said hello."

Naruto nodded. "I can do that. It'll be good to see him."

Sasuke leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees as his dark eyes focused on the flickering flames. "This isn't going to be a social visit, Naruto. You'll need to be careful too," he said, voice low. "The Akatsuki might not care about a Kage Summit, but they're always watching. And then there's that Tobi or Madara or whoever the hell he is…"

Naruto's expression darkened. "Yeah, I haven't forgotten him. After what Pain did to the village, I'm ready for anything the Akatsuki can dish out." He clenched his fists, firelight reflecting in his blue eyes.

Namiko placed a comforting hand on Naruto's shoulder, her voice gentle. "You're strong, Naruto. Stronger than ever. Just don't forget you're not invincible."

Naruto's smile returned, softer this time. "I know. And I'll make sure me and baa-chan come back in one piece. You've got enough to worry about without me adding to it." He glanced briefly at Namiko's hand resting protectively over her stomach.

Sasuke's gaze flickered to Naruto for a moment, and then back to the fire. "Just be sure you don't get distracted. The world's getting more dangerous every day."

Namiko shifted in her seat, picking up on Sasuke's protective edge, but she said nothing. The conversation trailed off into a comfortable silence, the crackling fire providing a soothing backdrop.

Namiko stretched, attempting to hide a yawn. "Okay, I think I'm going to call it a night. Sakura asked for my help at the medical tent with organizing and helping heal small cuts and things on civilians, starting tomorrow."

Namiko stood up, sharing a brief glance with Sasuke before turning back to Naruto. "Be safe, nii-chan." She leaned over him and gave him a quick hug.

Naruto hugged her back and slowly let go. "You too. Don't let Sasuke get into any trouble while I'm gone."

"Not a chance," Namiko replied with a smirk as she entered their shared tent. "Goodnight."

The two friends and rivals sat silent, the crackle of the fire the only sound filling the tense quiet. They had yet to discuss everything that happened over the last couple of days.

Unsurprisingly, Naruto broke first. "So…how long were you gonna keep it a secret?" he asked, his voice low but carrying the weight of concern. His blue eyes, usually filled with their usual playful spark, were serious now as they glanced up at Sasuke.

Sasuke's gaze remained fixed on the flames for a moment longer before he spoke. "We weren't trying to hide it forever. We're both still trying to wrap our heads around it." His voice was calm, yet there was an undercurrent of strain. "It's not exactly something you just announce out of nowhere to everyone."

Naruto let out a small huff, tossed the stick into the fire, and watched it smolder. "Yeah, I guess not. But she's my sister, ya know? I had to find out during one of the most stressful times in my life from her, not you."

Sasuke's eyes flicked over to Naruto, his expression hard to read. "Would it have made a difference if I told you first?"

Naruto clenched his fists, the orange glow of the fire illuminating his knuckles. "I don't know, man. Now I'm trying to wrap my head around all this. I mean, you and Namiko have only been dating for a few months, and we're all still kids ourselves…we can't even drink yet! Now suddenly, she's having your kids?" He shook his head. "It's kinda crazy."

Sasuke didn't reply right away, his brow furrowing as if weighing his words. "It's not like we planned it."

"Well, obviously. Like did you guys forget every lecture on sex we had to sit through from Iruka-sensei in the Academy?" asked Naruto incredulously.

"It's like he said in those lectures: it's easy to get caught up in the moment and we just…forgot," Sasuke explained before his lips curled into the tiniest smirk. "I'm pretty sure you're starting to see how easy it is for lines to blur and forget things in the moment, especially with how we found you and Hinata this afternoon."

Naruto turned away, pouting slightly. "I…got nothing." He blew out a breath slowly.

"She's carrying my children…our children. I don't even know what kind of father I'll be…my father wasn't exactly the best example and I barely know how to be around people, let alone kids." Sasuke's voice softened. "But…I'm not running away from this. Not from them. Certainly not from her."

Naruto's gaze softened at that. He had known Sasuke long enough to understand the weight behind those words. For years, Sasuke had been driven by revenge, consumed by his own darkness, pushing everyone away. But now, there was something different—something that made Naruto believe in his friend again.

"You really care about her, huh?" Naruto asked, more of a statement than a question.

Sasuke closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, the firelight casting shadows on his face. "I love her." The words came out low, almost like a confession. "I always have."

Surprise flickered across Naruto's face like the flames from the campfire. He didn't expect Sasuke to be so open with his confession. "I'm happy for you, Sasuke. For both of you," Naruto said after a beat. "Really, I am…it's just… Namiko's been through so much, and now this."

"Don't you think I know that?" Sasuke growled out as his jaw tightened slightly. "She deserves better than what I've given her so far...being trapped with Orochimaru, nearly dying, all the running around as she tried to help me complete my vengeance." His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "And now, this...I've put her through so much. Too much. I don't deserve her."

"Listen, you're not the only one who's made mistakes, Sasuke. I wasn't there for her either. We both left her alone and vulnerable." Naruto sighed, feeling the weight of guilt crashing down on him before quickly setting his mind determinedly. "And now we'll make it up to her. You and I are practically family now for real, and family protects each other. She and the twins couldn't be in better hands between the two of us."

The mention of the twins brought a brief flicker of something in Sasuke's eyes—pride, maybe, or a quiet determination. "I know," Sasuke said quietly.

Naruto chuckled, though the weight of the conversation still hung in the air. He tossed another stick into the fire, watching the sparks rise into the night sky. "You're gonna be a dad, Sasuke. That's huge."

For a moment, Sasuke's usual stoic mask faltered. His expression softened, just slightly, as he glanced at the fire. "Yeah…I know."

There was silence between them again, but this time, it was a little lighter, less burdened by unspoken fears. The fire crackled and popped, casting a warm glow on their faces as they sat together, bound not just by their past, but by the future they were both stepping into.

Naruto grinned suddenly. "You're gonna be covered in puke and changing diapers, man."

Sasuke shot him a glare, but Naruto just laughed, the sound breaking through the tension of the night. "Shut up, idiot."

A/N: It's officially been one full year that I've been working on this story! I honestly want to thank each and every reader, especially those who comment, for sticking with me and giving me the motivation to keep going. This is the most I have ever written…even more than all my *cough*cough* five and a half years in college. I thought I would've given up and this story would've been unfinished, but you all have given me the motivation to keep going.

I want to give a special shoutout to my friend, who I'll refer to as Fire, for being amazing and helping me so many times over the last few months. You've kept me on pace, helping me work through ideas and stuck places, giving me advice on what makes sense, and basically being my unofficial beta. (Plus becoming an awesome friend.) You are the BEST!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter; we'll be more into character development and fluff for a while, though the war is still coming. I originally planned for around 65 chapters, though it may be closer to 70 or 75 by the time I'm done, we'll have to see. See you soon!

Love, Eriisu

PS: Comments are my tip jar!