Chapter Forty-Five

"Sakura, do I have to wear this?!" Sasuke groaned as he looked in the bathroom mirror. Her choice of swimsuit for him, if he could call it one, was little more than a black pair of swim briefs that left little to the imagination. They had only unpacked in the beach house – a small, single level cinderblock house – when he found the swimwear she had picked out for him. It was also the only bit of swimwear he had for the whole week.

"You told me to pick out what you were to wear for the next week," he could hear her giggling through the door. "If you wanted swim shorts, you should have said so!"

He opened the door, confronting his wife, "Easy for you, but I feel like I'm walking around naked in this thing!"

Sakura bit on her lower lip, "You are… so pale right now!" she struggled between fits of laughter. "Sasuke, you have the body type that accents it perfectly!"

"That doesn't mean I have to like it!" he protested. "Seriously, this hides NOTHING! Naruto and Hinata will be able to see everything!"

"Darling," Sakura strode up to him, "if Hinata is ogling you," she traced a finger down his sternum, past his belly button, and gentling fondling his manhood through the material with her index finger, "then she is a complete perv!"

The advance did little to put him at ease. The thought of wearing something little more than the male equivalent of a bikini bottom left him body-conscious. "Sasuke," her voice broke his introspection, "come on, it will be fine."

"And just why am I the only one wearing my swimsuit?" he asked.

"Who says I'm not," Sakura winked.

"I've shown you mine, now show me yours," he spoke commanding, mockingly so.

Sakura smirked, as if she'd been hoping for his reaction, "Okay," she grinned as she undid the buttons of her shirt, revealing a blood-red, strapless top held at the middle by a round elastic band that exposed her cleavage. As she casually discarded her shirt, Sakura unsnapped the button and pulled down the zipper of her jean shorts, exposing the matching bikini bottom. Her shorts fell, giving him a thorough view of her impressive legs. "Happy?" she crossed her arms and looked at him smug.

"Happy," he said strained, struggling again a potential nosebleed. As he did so, Sasuke cursed the fact that his swimsuit did nothing to hide his now towering erection brought on by her impromptu striptease show. "Very happy!"

Sasuke eyed her tight body, so casually uncovered but for a few stretches of fabric. Most instincts called for him to remove their swimwear and have a quick one, but they were supposed to join Naruto and Hinata down by the beach for a game of volleyball. Another time.

They strolled wordlessly outside into the summer sun, down the hill to the beach where they had landed about an hour earlier. Naruto was now shirtless and wearing the orange beach shorts from earlier. Hinata, meanwhile, still wore the white tank top with the purple button down top over her shoulders. Gone was the white skirt, revealing tone, bare legs and a pale purple bikini bottom that accented Hinata's normally hidden body.

Something about being here, all of them separated from the world, able to shed their outermost façade, lightened his soul. After all the brooding and end of the world crap they'd been dealing with since the Moon Incident, a pall of uncertainty had fallen over the group – even in moments of triumph.

"Sasuke, Sakura," Naruto tossed up a volleyball, practicing his moves, "Come on, join us!" They ran down to the beach to join their friends in a game.

Hinata's heart climbed her throat as she followed Sakura down the to the beach on the eastern ocean side of the island. While the dawn was brightening the sky, the sun had yet to break over the horizon. As they trudged down the sandy dune to the beach the cold sand only accented the chill up Hinata's spine, "Sakura, should we really be doing this?

"Hinata, after all the things we've been involved in the past few years, you're scared of this?"

"What if somebody sees us?!" Hinata shook at the thought.

Sakura gestured out to the brightening expanse of ocean, "Not a boat to be seen anywhere. The only other people on the island have seen the goods before! Relax!"

They reached a point close enough to the surf to hear the roar of waves without the risk of getting wet. Sakura laid out her towel. "Okay, moment of truth!"

Hinata reluctantly unfurled her towel. As she did so, Sakura untied the string holding her bikini top on and set the garment off to the side. Hinata's top remained stubbornly in place. "I-I can't do it!"

"Hinata," Sakura chuckled, "if anyone should be nervous, it's me!" she gestured to her chest, "I don't exactly bring a lot to the table!" She laughed.

"What inspired this?" Hinata's voice shook as her hand reached back for the string holding on her bikini top.

"Haven't you ever had the desire to just cut loose and do something insane?" Sakura shrugged. "Hell, you've been on a stripper pole at least a few times." She would bring that up!

"Sakura, it was for the mission!"

"And this is our mission, to let loose!" Sakura sprawled out on her towel as the sun came over the horizon. "When is the next time we'll ever get to do something so wild, if ever?"

Sakura's question did remind Hinata that the responsibility of adulthood was closing around them fast. Hinata was expected to be pregnant by her first anniversary; her birth control shot was soon to wear off if it hadn't already. And so returns the wonderful world of periods and watching your fertility cycle. Hinata pulled the string, letting her top down, but she still covered her breasts with her hands.

Hinata stood frozen for a moment, soon accepting the situation, she sprawled out as well, her arms reluctantly removing themselves from her chest. "That's it, just relax, and listen to that ocean," Sakura called out as she put on her sunglasses.

Hinata took out her sunglasses and began feeling the warming rays of the morning sun on her body. They laid out for a while, Hinata slowly becoming more comfortable being semi-nude around someone other than Naruto. "Hey, Sakura…"

"Yeah?"

"Umm… have you and Sasuke thought about…"

"About what?" Sakura turned her head to face Hinata.

"About when you're going to try again?" Hinata held her breath, not sure if she was stepping over a boundary.

"To be fair, we haven't really talked much," Sakura explained. "After we got married, we agreed that we would try, but it kind of got stuck there."

"Stuck?"

"I mean, it's not like we've tried preventing pregnancy, but it also hasn't happened yet. Why do you ask?"

"I'm just a bit nervous, myself," Hinata said. "Now that it has been three months, the pressure is on."

"I must admit, Lady Tsunade was a bit tactless brining that up last week."

"Even before," Hinata sighed. "Both my parents have gently reminded me – the clan elders a bit less gently."

"That is the drawback to essentially being royalty – feeling the heat to continue the line of succession." Sakura pursed her lips, "Not that my parents aren't starting to make an issue of it."

"What do you think it will be like, for the children, I mean?"

"Honestly, I'm a bit scared, too," Sakura looked back at the sky. "Knowing all we do about what is to come, I'm a bit scared wondering if bringing a child into this world isn't a curse more than a blessing."

"You mean you're considering not?"

"I didn't say that," Sakura raised a finger and her hand, "I merely said I was nervous… that and my in-laws."

"I thought Makoto and Fugaku were both warm toward you."

"And so is Itachi and Izumi," Sakura sighed, "The rest of the clan looks on me like I'm still an outsider. I worry what raising a child will be like in that environment."

"Understandable," Hinata nodded.

"What about you?" Sakura asked.

"What about me?"

"Have you and Naruto had the baby talk?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"And what?" Hinata's cheeks burned at the implication.

"Hinata, we're both topless laying out in the open, what's there to be embarrassed about?"

"Well, I mean, he and I…" Oh god, why did I broach the subject!

"Ummm…"

"Is one of you having a problem?"

"No, definitely not it!" she said.

"Then what is it?"

"He and I promised we'd start doing it every night until my next period!"

"Oh," Sakura was completely nonchalant.

"Oh?!"

"I mean, isn't that kind of how a baby gets made?"

Hinata laughed, Sakura laughed. "I suppose… there is that!" she said between fits of laughter, "I don't know why this is funny!"

"I mean, how much more absurd can we get?" Sakura giggled. "But seriously, are you ready?"

"Yes," Hinata nodded. "I just worry about what kind of mom I'll be."

"You, worried about that?" Sakura scoffed, "Come on, you'll be an awesome mom! And you'll have two awesome moms to help you out!"

"There is that," Hinata said with some reassurance. She closed her eyes, remembering the photograph hidden in the Hokage's desk. Before leaving on this trip, Hinata had snuck into the Hokage's office and looked at the photo, seeing her oldest boy standing next to the girl with obsidian eyes, raven hair, and red-rimmed glasses. The girl's facial features were more of Sasuke's but her outfit was reminiscent of Sakura. Maybe something happens between the two.

Hinata spotted the boys in the distance. While they weren't trying to sneak a peek, they had spotted Sakura and herself. "By the way, we have company."

"Oh?" Sakura asked.

"The boys have their fishing tackle; I don't think they were intentionally trying to spy given how big of fools they are making of one another." Hinata giggled the two tried blocking one another as they retreated to the opposite side of the hill.

"I almost wish I could see them," Sakura laughed rolling over onto her stomach.

"You know," Hinata said, "we could have a lot of fun with this," she rolled onto her stomach.

"Hinata, I respect you, but I'm not going full-nude!"

"Wouldn't dream of it," she laughed. "I just wonder what their reaction would be if we decided to walk back up like this like it was no big deal."

"I'm adventurous, not that adventurous."

"I didn't think so," Hinata stretched out.

Sasuke watched the campfire, fresh fish roasting on the hot coals. He and Naruto had gone fishing this morning, both of them having woke to find their wives sunbathing topless on the oceanside beach. After some awkward trying to block one another, they'd settled on fishing on the western beach of the island to avoid any further issues.

He leaned back into his beach chair, sipping rum and soda, watching the fading light in the western sky paint the horizon in shades of purple, teal, and orange. For the first time since he could remember, he almost felt what he equated to peace.

"Hell of an island," Naruto said, "you can see the sunrise on one side and the sunset without having to move from here."

"Yeah," Sasuke took his feet out of his sandals and buried his feet in the cool sand. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon. "Naruto, tell me, why did you invite us out here?"

"Week on the island without company seemed a bit much," Naruto shrugged.

"Thanks all the same," Sakura said as she sipped a glass of red wine. "By the way, I'm pretty sure the fish are ready." They each picked up a skewered fish and began to eat.

"I'm not normally a fan of seafood," Hinata said, "but I have to admit, this is pretty good!"

"I can't remember the last time I cooked fish near a campfire," Sasuke spoke.

"Definitely a few years now," Sakura added. "I think it was before you got taken."

"I remember," Naruto said.

"Oh?" Sasuke asked.

"It was on a d-ranked mission we did to raise funds for Hinata in the event she lost her challenge to Hanabi."

Sasuke snapped his fingers, "After the Land of Waves mission you all did – that potato farming assignment."

"Hard, dirty work," Sakura remembered, "The four of us got all dirty and cleaned off by the nearby stream; you guys went fishing."

"Surprisingly, you guys caught a few decent ones from that creek," Hinata nodded.

"Do you think our children one day will be here?" Sasuke asked out of nowhere. "Not necessarily on this island, but do you think someday they'll sit around a campfire like this, talking about old times?"

"It'd be even better if we were there!" Naruto added, "We have so many stories to tell!"

Sasuke's curiosity got the better of him. "Tell me the story of Hachiōji Manor." The trio that was team seven all became somber. "That sore of a subject, eh?"

"It's not so much a sore subject as it is a frightening one," Hinata added.

"One of the few times I really thought we were going to die," Naruto nodded, "What brought this up?"

"We're around the campfire; I could use a good ghost story before bed."

Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura all exchanged looks. Naruto spoke first, "So you see, we were on the way back from the Land of the Waves. Kakashi had sent us on ahead. About half a day's walk, we get caught in a sudden downpour…"

The unmistakable impact of a raindrop distracted Naruto. Soon came another, and another, and another. "To be continued!" Everyone scrambled to gather their things as the rain came down mercilessly.

What began as a heavy rain was soon joined by thunder and lightning as Sasuke retreated with Sakura into their cabin. They both had been soaked by the time they got everything stored and got themselves inside. "Well, into each life, some rain must fall," Sakura said as she wrung out her shirt.

"This was a bit extreme."

"Bad stuff usually happens when we tell that story," Sakura shrugged.

Sasuke was far from superstitious, but even he had to believe there was a bad energy about the story. "We should probably clean up and go to bed," he sighed, "why don't you take first shower?"

"You sure?"

"Yeah," he replied. The shower in the cabin's restroom was spare, barely large enough for one person. The thought of cramming in two was unappealing. Sakura walked to the bathroom, turning on the light, and began to disrobe, having not closed the door. What are you up to?

Sakura's demeanor did not suggest she was trying to be seductive. Like she needs help? Sasuke took deep breaths as his wet clothing tightened around him. Sakura was quick, only taking about five minutes, "All yours!" she said as she wrapped herself in a towel and walked to the bedroom. Sasuke struggled to walk down the short hallway, wet clothing and his erection made moving his leg difficult.

Nevertheless, he managed to start the water, undress, and shower in the cramped restroom. The relatively hot water was a godsend after the cool rain brought out all the aches of a youth of harsh training. Despite wanting to linger, he didn't know how long the water would hold out. He shut down the water, wrapped a towel around his waist, and stepped out.

Sasuke gathered his clothing and walked into the bedroom to find it dark and lacking Sakura. He deposited his wet cloths in the laundry bag they'd packed, and stepped back out into the hallway. As he walked down to the dark, quiet living room, he spotted her. Sakura wore her light green sleep shirt and well-fitted set of panties trimmed in lace. She stood hunched over, leaning on the windowsill of the picture window looking out toward the oceanside part of the island.

Lightning danced in the sky outside the window, temporarily illuminating Sakura's milky skin. He silently walked across the room, each flash of lightning teasing him with a momentary clear view of Sakura's toned ass. Sasuke came quietly behind her. At the next flash of lightning, his fingers brushed her right buttock, following the edge of the material. Sakura let out a scream partially muffled by thunder, "SASUKE!"

Sakura didn't bother with anything fancy as she handed the shower off to Sasuke. She hung up her towel on the edge of the door, went to their suitcase, and grabbed a fresh sent of panties and her oversized sleep shirt. Being that they'd go to sleep soon, there was no need to put on a bra. She slid on the garments, stepped out into the hall, and saw that Sasuke was still in the shower.

A brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the living room at the end of the hall. Sakura hurried down the hall to the window facing out into the churning ocean. She leaned hunched forward toward the window, transfixed by the light display of electricity dancing across the sky. It's so pretty! Her breath fogged the glass as she came nose to the glass.

At the next brilliant flash, Sakura felt fingers brush against her butt unexpectedly, and she screamed, turning to see a tall, dark figure tracing pale fingers along her panty line. The next flash gave away the pervert's identity, "SASUKE!" He chuckled, not removing fingers or hand from her posterior. "YOU ASSHOLE! You scared me half-to death!"

"There are only two other people on this island, Sakura," he said, "if either of them was touching you like this," his fingers caressed, pushing the material up high on her ass, "I'd be a bit upset!"

"You would!" she skulked, turning back into the sea. She didn't want to let on that his touch was turning her on.

There was the sound of material falling. Sakura stole a glance backwards to see Sasuke's towel pooled around his legs and his perfect, naked body standing beside her. You naughty cockhound! Her heart began running away in her chest. "This is quite the show," he said, fingers caressing as his thumb pressed in firm but gentle. "Of course, the lightning storm really adds to the ambience!" he laughed, carefree as the night he'd charmed his way into her sleeping bag the first time – the night she'd surrendered her virginity to him.

"Sasuke!" she huffed breathless as his naughty paws worked salacious magic. She was wet, heating up, and not wanting to resist.

"If you're up for something a bit crazy," the material of her panties began sliding down off her butt, "you might just find that this little fireworks show could easily be one you'll remember for the rest of your life!"

Sakura's head dipped forward, her insides tensing. She moved her legs to let her panties fall to her knees, then her ankles, and she danced with her feet until they were discarded the side, "All right, sex fiend! I give!" she giggled.

He leaned over her body, taking her left ear in between his teeth. "I never get sick of you saying that!" His hand up from her ass, up her stomach, and approaching her breasts, "But if we're going to do this, I need you to give all this to me!" His right hand cupped her left breast, fingers teasing her pert nipple.

"You little perv!" She stood up, spun, and planted her lips on his mouth. Sasuke and she invaded one another, teasing what he had planned next. His hands slide up her body dragging her sleep shirt up and off her in a fluid motion. Lips sucked and teeth nipped at her neck as the cold glass of the window pressed against her backside. "AHHH!"

Sasuke took her momentary surprise to reach down with his left hand and play with her clitoris as his mouth feasted at her breasts. All the while, the lightning continued to crash outside as she approached orgasm. "All right," his words crawled up her chest, "now it is time for the real fun to begin!" He turned her in his arms, planting her hands on the windowsill again, "Hold on," he commanded as he positioned the rest of her, pulling her hips back.

Sakura stared ahead, waiting in horny anticipation. The next lightning crash happened, and she felt the pressure between her legs. Sasuke was deep inside her, bare and gliding within her hot soaked channel, "Oh god, oh god… OH GOD!" she moaned as he thrust in time with the lightning and the thunder. The mating was raw, primitive, and she loved it.

Her fingers clutched the sill and there was the sensation of her feet coming off the floor. "Sasuke!" His firm hands around her hips held her up and he moved back and forth within her. Not to be outdone, Sakura brought her legs around squeezing him between her as he fucked her in ways she didn't know possible. "Ahh!" she moaned as her vagina squeezed him. She was about the cum again.

"You're, so fucking amazing!" he shouted. There was another flash, a loud boom, and the sensation of them both screaming as their bodies overloaded. Their legs must have given out; when Sakura regained her sense of self, she was laying on the floor with Sasuke spooned into her. She tingled head to toe. "So, hope you liked the show?" he whispered to her ear.

"One I'll remember the rest of my life!" A predatory grin spread on her face. "Now then," she stood, threw him over her shoulder, and began to carry him toward the bedroom.

"Sakura!" now it was his turn to act shocked.

"Time for me to teach you the meaning of the phrase, "Most of the time!" She giggled in delight as she flopped him down on the bed and straddled him, "For that matter, 'All night long,' also comes to mind!" She ground their hips until he was erect again, and she impaled herself on his dick. Now it was his turn to scream.

The drive of rain and booming thunder shook Naruto as he exited the kitchen, having stored the last of tonight's dinner. The intensity of the sound assaulted his acute hearing. Every fiber of him knew the fear of the storm was irrational, but the knowledge did little for his thundering heart. Naruto retreated to the bedroom. He didn't bother turning on the lights initially, but he flipped the light switch to find it unresponsive.

"Storm knocked out the power; the owner told us that could happen," Hinata said.

Naruto activated his Byakugan, turning night into day. Hinata wore purple cotton pajamas and was under the thin blanket on top of the bed. A crash of thunder nearly made him hit the ground, but he soon realized the sound had just been the storm. "Heck of a week we choose to go to an island."

"I don't know," she pulled the blanket aside, offering admittance to the bed, "Stormy night aside, it's been fun thus far." You got to ride a train for the first time. You got to go fishing and get some sun. His lips curled into a smirk. You got to see your wife sunbathing topless on the beach.

"Okay, it has been fun," thunder again boomed, sending Naruto under he covers. "S-sorry, Hinata," he clutched her close, "the storm still makes me a bit scared."

"It's okay, the sound affects my hearing as well," she wrapped him in her arms, burying his face in her chest. Okay, now she is being shameless! "It reminds me," she loosened her grip slightly, "of a storm we both got caught in when we were real young."

Naruto tilted his head in curiosity, "Which one?"

"We were both five, and Mom was still very sick. Your mom had been looking after both of us after school. We were coming back from the market when a major downpour hit. We all got soaked on the way home."

"I remember," Naruto stared at his beautiful wife, "I remember how scared we both were, especially when the power went out." He shifted until he was nose to nose with Hinata, "I remember, mom took us into the living room and she helped us build a fort out of sheets." Naruto pulled the blanket over their heads, "Kind of like this."

"We played games, and she read us stories until your dad came home," Hinata's lips stretched into a smile at the happy memory, "The rain had long stopped by then!"

"Maybe we should do the same," Naruto smirked.

"I know the perfect game to pass the storm," Hinata's smile morphed into a sly, mischievous smirk.

"Oh?" Naruto leaned over her, "What's that?"

"It's called," she pulled him in for a gentle, teasing kiss before letting him loose, "Kiss Me Until We're Naked!"

Naruto planted his mouth over hers, careful to keep them under the covers, as he climbed over her, "Mmmmm… I like this game!"

"So do I!" Hinata said breathless as he sucked kisses from her bottom lip, to her chin, and to her neck. A brush of fingers along her pajamas confirmed: she wasn't wearing a bra. What are the chances she's not wearing underwear, either! His hand gripped the collar of her pajama top, material silky under his fingers. His lips moved down her neck, across her collarbone, and onto the tops of her breasts.

"Yes, oh yes!" Hinata sighed loudly. As he teased the tops of her breasts, his hand snuck down to the top button of her top, releasing it. Material released like a spring under tension, and Naruto gleefully released the next one, and then the next one. Her breasts jiggled, no longer secured by material. Naruto's right hand began dragging the material off her left breast, and his mouth creeped down until he was over her nipple.

He stroked his tongue over the tender peak, her body shuddered, and Naruto's left hand began undoing the remaining buttons until the garment flopped open. Not to be outdone, Hinata snake her legs around his body, pulling their hips together, grinding with him as he continued to suckle her breast. "Ah, ah, ah!" she gripped his shirt, and there was the sound of material ripping. Naruto's shirt disappeared.

"Having fun with this game?" his words teased as he kissed, sucked, and licked along her breasts and cleavage.

"Oh yeah!" she moaned, grabbing the waist band of his shorts and boxers, "But this is taking too goddamn long!" There was the glow of tailed-beast chakra, and his shorts and boxers disintegrated into confetti – he was now bare-ass naked.

"You naughty girl!" he laughed. "I liked that pair of shorts!"

"Punish me, boy," Hinata grasped her pajama bottoms, skillfully removing them with reckless abandon. Naruto reached with his left hand, tracing over her mound. "Not so slow!" she whined, "Really get in there!" Hinata, to his surprise, reached, down, spread her folds, and began raking her finger within her own folds, tiny screams escaping her mouth as she touched herself in front of him.

Had he already not been turned on, his dick would have turned to steel in an instant from watching Hinata touch herself. Taking the cue, Naruto joined in with his fingers. Hinata's arms went up, gripping the pillow. She writhed and her head rapidly turned side to side, "Yeah, yes, oh yes!" escaped her mouth in excited, breathless gasps. "Oh god, Naruto-kun…"

Been a long time since she called me that! "Yes," he teased as he looked up from her chest.

Hinata was panting, her hands began tracing down his body, and he felt her iron grip encasing his cock, "Penis… vagina… NOW!"

Naruto accepted the command without hesitation, feeling the warm of her encasing him along his length. Naruto bit down on his lips, the pleasure sending him to a world with no Ōtsutsuki, no wars, just the bliss of making love with Hinata. Their names spilled from each other's lips, both panting. Naruto gripped her ankles, bringing her legs over his shoulders. "Oh god, you're so fucking amazing!" Naruto shouted.

Hinata pulled him down to her, taking his ear between her lips, chewing gently before swirling her tongue in his ear. "You're the amazing one," she breathed fire into his ear, "You could have how many women in this bed with you right now at the snap of your fingers; and yet, you still chose me!"

"I'd be an idiot…" Naruto heaved, his manhood twitching as he spoke – he was close. "… to risk this! I'm like my grandpa!"

"Perverted?" she giggled with sharky grin.

"That, too!" he laughed, "I only had to find the right woman. Thankfully, it didn't take me a lifetime to figure it out!"

"Thankfully!" He walls squeezed him as her hands ran up and own his back and arms, "Naruto!" she screeched, "I LOVE YOU!" She clamped around him.

Naruto felt himself lurch within her, "Love you too… Babe!" Try as he might, he could hold no longer, "AAAHHHH!" Naruto orgasmed, dizzy and satisfied beyond comprehension.

Hinata's ankles came off his shoulders, her cute feet tracing along his body as they snuck lower. Naruto's upper body sank until he was on top of her, his lips near her right ear. "That was…" he huffed, out of breath.

"Amazing!" Hinata finished for him, giddy laughter escaping her lips as she spoke. She traced a hand down his spine back and forth for several moments. "You know what this reminds me of?" she asked.

"No, what?" Naruto grinned as he stared at her in her supernatural beauty.

"The first night we did it without protection – do you remember?"

The corners of Naruto's mouth cracked a huge smile, "How could I forget?" He grabbed her right hand, admiring the pale lavender pearl set in silver still encasing her right ring fingers. "We took our vows the first time that night," he grinned like a shark.

"Naruto…" she said with a shy whisper.

"Yes?"

"Sit up," she said.

"What's up?" he asked, hoping he wasn't crushing her. He leaned off her.

"I want," she took his manhood in her left hand, reinvigorating his erection, "to take my vows with you again!"

Naruto's jaw fell in shock at first, but soon his face morphed into his mischievous fox grin, "Anything for my wife!" I'm going to be so achy when this is done!

Shikamaru rolled over in bed, cradling his wife and gently rubbing her now expanding belly. At a little over halfway through her pregnancy, she was only just starting to show. The casual observer would miss it unless she was wearing something skin tight, something she rarely did in public. Of course, you would notice. She still sleeps completely nude.

As he lay beside his wife, he wondered about the future, about his baby boy that was on his way. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel his stomach churn in an endless swarm of butterflies. He'd lost his first before he'd ever known anything about it. If he lost this one, he wasn't sure if he could survive that level of pain again. If he lost Temari in childbirth, he didn't know if he had it in him to go on, either.

The moment was shattered by a small, but unmistakable, flittering under his fingers – the baby was kicking! His normally passive expression gave way to silent tears. "Hello baby, it's daddy," he whispered.

"I see both of you are awake, after all," Temari half-groaned, half-giggled. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to this." Her face turned red at the cheeks, "Shika…"

"Yeah love?" he held her closer.

"Be honest… are my boobs bigger?"

Shikamaru eyed her exposed mounds, and grinned, "I can definitely say yes!"

"You think I'll get big as Hinata?" she asked.

"I do not compare sizes!" he protested, "I have one set of eyes, and I have no desire to have them plucked out because they went wandering!"

"Good boy!" she squeezed his thigh. "I trained you well."

"Woof," he sighed, "What a pain."

"You're not the one carrying this around another four months!" She sassed, "And lest we forget, I have to push out your child's big-ass head through my who-ha!"

Having done at least one labor and delivery class with Hanabi and Akemi, Shikamaru was less than excited. Labor and delivery were damn dangerous, even with advances made since he was born. Hemorrhaging, stillbirth, and eclampsia were all boogeymen stalking his nightmares every night the due date came closer. "I'll be glad when it's all over and done with."

His tone must have betrayed his worries because Temari rolled over to face him, "Look, crybaby, this is going to go fine! And when you're done, you get to experience all the fun and adventure of cleaning up crap, piss, and vomit for the next several years!"

"Ugh, what a pain!" he groaned, "And you want to possibly do this again after all this?"

"I mean," she smirked, "I wouldn't mind it," her hands rubbed up and down his chest and stomach, "I certainly don't plan on giving up my favorite toy," she playfully taunted his morning wood through his boxers with a finger. "You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"Hell no!" he protested, his throat tightening. Is she seriously trying to do it now?!

"Good!" her hand grasped the material of his boxers and yanked it down, his erection towering in the morning light.

"TEMARI!"

"Oh, relax, crybaby!" she climbed over him, straddling his hips. "I checked with Akemi. As long as I don't bleed, we're good!" She lowered herself onto his shaft, swallowing his length. "Oh god, I've missed this!"

"So have I!" his head jerked back into his pillow. Her warm, wet channel drove him wild, and his head thrashed side to side as she rode his cock up and down. "I didn't know pregnant women got horny!"

She brought a finger to her lips in a mock shushing motion, "It will be our little secret," she moved up and down on him, "Well, not so little," she giggled.

"Do you have any more secrets I should know about?" he asked, his hands beginning to massage her thighs.

"Just one," she winked.

"And what's that?" he asked, beads of sweat running down his body. Oh god, can't hold on!

Her channel squeezed and sucked, egging him on, "Ever since the morning sickness passed a few days ago, I've had the hornies for you," she grinned. "Last night, I almost mounted you while you were asleep!"

Shikamaru's mouth dropped at the revelation, further exacerbated by the onset of climax, "Oh god!"

"Nope! Just me!" she threw her head back, tightening around him as he came inside her. Impossibly, her phone dinged on her nightstand, "Ah goddammit, can you grab it, I'm a bit stuck in place right now!" She didn't release him from in between her legs.

He awkwardly leaned himself toward her side, snatching the phone from her nightstand. His eyebrows furrowed as he read the message:

On my way from Suna, meet me at the west gate in about an hour.

"It's from Gaara," he handed her the phone.

"What?" her formerly carnal gaze turned serious as she looked at the message. "Why would he be coming out now of all times?"

"You don't think it's a coincidence that Naruto is coming back today?"

"You're the one who doesn't believe in coincidence," she reminded him.

"Shit!" he huffed, "for him to come out, with or without his wife and baby; it must be serious!"

"I suppose this means we should probably clean up and get dressed," she groaned. "Dammit, and I was having so much fun!"

"We'll make time for it later," Shikamaru said, "I promise!" She climbed off top of him and they began getting ready to receive company.

Author's notes: Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I thank you for reading. Next chapter will start the Iron Shinobi competition, and possibly the Chunin Exams. However, I need a bit of a favor if possible. I have posted a poll to my FFN profile regarding what happens with Gaara. Given recent events in Boruto spoilers, I want to avoid trashing any of the characters of the old gen or new gen. I'd greatly appreciate your input as always.

See you all next chapter. Stay healthy, stay safe.