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 59: Preparations

Namiko had hoped that Sasuke would follow Tsunade's instructions, but by the morning of day two, Sasuke was beyond over the experience and bored out of his mind. Later that evening, he finally decided to keep his hands and mind busy by grabbing some wood and carving it with a kunai while Namiko read aloud.

"I've been reading this book for a while now and it's been a huge help in understanding what's going on with the twins." She shifted on the couch, letting out a small sigh once settled. "Okay, here's something interesting," she began, her voice light but laced with fascination. She tapped the page with her finger. "At twenty-three weeks, the baby is about the size of a large mango—nearly twenty-nine centimeters long and close to six hundred grams."

Sasuke quirked an eyebrow as he set down the wood and kunai. "A mango? That's the best comparison they could come up with?"

Namiko laughed. "I don't know who decided on fruits and vegetables for these size comparisons, but it's kind of cute, isn't it? Anyway…" She skimmed further down the page. "Their lungs are developing blood vessels, they're practicing breathing, and they can hear sounds clearly now. Oh, and this part is my favorite: they're also starting to recognize voices."

"Voices?"

"Yep—oof—our daughter is kicking me in the ribs right now." She set the book down and grabbed his hand, guiding it to rest on the curve of her stomach over their little girl. "Which means if you talk to them, they might start to recognize you."

Sasuke hesitated, his fingers stiff against her belly. "What am I supposed to say?"

Namiko smiled patiently, leaning her head against the couch. "Anything. Just… talk to them. Say what's on your mind."

After a moment, he relented, his voice low and quiet as he whispered against her belly. "Alright you two, listen up. No more taijutsu training tonight so you can give your okaa-san a rest."

Namiko burst into laughter, doubling over slightly as she clutched his arm. "Really, Sasuke? That's what you're going with? You could've said something sweet like, 'We can't wait to meet you,' but no—you had to lecture them!"

He smirked, his hand remaining steady on her stomach. "Just practicing for when they're older."

As if responding to him, a sudden hard kick thumped beneath his palm and Sasuke froze. Namiko's laughter softened into a radiant smile. "There you go," she said. "They already know their papa."

Sasuke's hand didn't move. Instead, he pressed his palm more firmly against her belly, as though trying to feel every small movement. When another kick followed, his body language relaxed, the usual stoicism melting away.

He tugged her toward him, moving her to straddle his lap as he wrapped his arms around her. He leaned forward until his forehead hit her chest, earning a puzzled squeak from Namiko, blushing even though he couldn't see. "Uh…I don't think this is going to work very well with my belly in the way."

"I just want to hold you." He tilted his head toward her and captured her lips. "…and maybe kiss you."

Namiko couldn't help the giggle that bubbled up. "How can I say 'no' to that?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands threading into his hair.

She eagerly returned his kiss, fully enjoying their exploration of each other when a voice called out, "Hey, Namiko, do you have any—oh, gross!"

They broke apart instantly, turning to see Naruto standing in the doorway, his face contorted in exaggerated horror. He held a bag of snacks in one hand, clearly having let himself in and gone straight to the kitchen.

"Do you two ever not make out?" Naruto groaned, shielding his eyes dramatically.

Namiko sighed, her cheeks flushed, while Sasuke let out an irritated growl. "Speak for yourself. Do you ever knock?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Forgot. My bad. Anyway, I ran out of ramen, and I figured you might have some."

"Why not go to Ichiraku or the convenience store?" snapped Sasuke.

"Ichiraku is closed for the night and I didn't want to walk to the convenience store."

"So, you walked right past the one between your apartment and our house. Just admit you missed us." Namiko exhaled a laugh, shaking her head. "You're hopeless, Naruto." She pushed herself off the couch, her hand going to support her back. "Come on, I'll find you some. But next time, knock—especially at night!"

Naruto held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, geez. Didn't mean to ruin your little moment."

As Namiko led Naruto to the kitchen, Sasuke leaned back on the couch, rubbing his temples. "That idiot…" he muttered under his breath.

Namiko returned moments later, shaking her head as she rejoined Sasuke. "I swear, sometimes I wonder if he just gets lonely and makes up excuses to visit. I know he'd rather be spending time with Hinata, but she's been busy lately."

"He's lucky you're patient with him." Sasuke smirked faintly. "If it were up to me, I'd have killed him by now."

Namiko chuckled, settling back onto the couch beside him. "You would never. He's family."

Sasuke huffed but didn't argue, shifting to drape an arm around her shoulders. "Still, he has the worst timing."

She leaned into his side, resting her head against him. "Well, he's gone now, so where were we?"

Sasuke's lips quirked up in a rare, playful half-smile. "You were saying something about not being able to resist me."

She giggled and kissed his cheek. "Never."

The next day, Sasuke and Namiko sat in an exam room waiting for Tsunade. Sasuke wanted to hurry up and get his bandages off, but with how Namiko was acting, he could tell she was even more anxious to get this over with. He reached over and put his hand on her knee, stopping her leg from shaking. "Calm down, Tsunade said everything went perfectly, right?"

"How'd you know I was nervous?"

"I could hear the fabric of your shorts rustling rapidly; you always fidget when you're nervous."

"My nervous energy has to go somewhere." Namiko sighed, leaning back in the chair next to the exam table. "On the bright side, it seems your stint with blindness increased your other senses at least a little bit," she teased.

He gave a slight shrug just as Tsunade walked through the door. "Are you ready to get this done and over with?" At his nod, she began unraveling the bandages. "Now, once these are off, I want you to keep your eyes closed while I examine you. I'll tell you when you can open them."

"Understood." Her chakra flowed into his eyes, examining them in detail. Her chakra felt foreign but not uncomfortable.

"Alright, go ahead and open them."

Sasuke blinked a few times at the sudden shift in light as everything came into focus. He locked eyes with Namiko, taking in every freckle across her cheeks and nose as she smiled.

"You can see me?" Namiko's voice was soft but brimming with hope, her smile brightening.

Sasuke nodded, his lips tugging up at the corners as his gaze roamed over her features. "Every detail." His voice was quiet, almost reverent. "You look…beautiful."

Namiko's cheeks flushed, and she let out a soft laugh, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You're just saying that because you're not blind anymore."

"No." His tone was firm, his eyes unwavering as they stayed locked on hers. "I mean it."

Tsunade cleared her throat loudly, breaking the moment. "Alright, lovebirds, don't forget this is a medical office, not a date. Sasuke, can you activate your Sharingan?" He did as asked, finally taking his eyes off Namiko. "Any pain or strain in your eyes?"

"Nothing."

"Okay, switch to your Mangekyo Sharingan please."

He did as asked and Namiko's eyes widened as she watched it shift. "The pattern has changed…it's like Itachi's Mangekyo merged with yours…"

Tsunade dug through a drawer and handed him a small mirror to examine his eyes. "What about now? Any pain or strain in your eyes?"

It was strange for Sasuke to see the three-pronged design in the midst of his own. He set down the mirror as he answered her question before turning back to stare at Namiko, "No…in fact, it feels comfortable to activate it for the first time in months."

"Your eyes are healing perfectly. But I want you to still be careful, so only use your standard Sharingan abilities for at least a week. No Mangekyo, just as a precaution. Got it?"

Sasuke reluctantly tore his gaze from Namiko to nod at Tsunade. "Understood."

"Good." Tsunade's sharp gaze softened as she glanced at Namiko. "And you—make sure he actually listens to my instructions."

Namiko grinned, patting Sasuke's knee. "He did well this last time, but don't worry, I'll keep him in line."

"I'm right here, you know," Sasuke muttered, though his lips twitched in amusement.

Tsunade smirked. "Now, both of you—out. I've got more patients to see."

As they left the office, Sasuke slipped his hand into Namiko's, his grip firm but gentle. They walked in silence for a while, Namiko occasionally stealing glances at him, unable to stop smiling.

"What?" Sasuke asked finally, catching her in the act.

She shook her head, her smile turning teasing. "Nothing. I'm just thinking how much I missed seeing you look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I'm the only person in the world." Her voice softened as her gaze met his. "I guess it just feels good to have your vision back. I missed staring into your eyes and seeing the tiny silver flecks in them."

Sasuke paused, pulling her to a stop. He studied her face for a moment before leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "And I missed seeing all of you."

Namiko's heart skipped at his rare show of public affection, and she squeezed his hand. "Let's go home," she said softly. "We have a lot to celebrate."

Sasuke nodded, his expression softening as they continued walking. Things seemed to be going smoothly for the first time in what felt like forever.

Two weeks later, Sasuke was surprised to find Konohamaru and his teammate Moegi at their door. "Konohamaru, what are you doing here?"

Moegi blushed and hid behind Konohamaru as he tried to look over Sasuke's shoulder. "Is Namiko-nee home?"

Sasuke motioned the two inside. "She's in the living room." The two genin removed their shoes in the entryway and followed Sasuke further inside.

"Oh! Moegi, Konohamaru…this is a welcome surprise." Namiko pushed herself up off the couch, one hand on her back and the other on her growing stomach.

"I think the real surprise is your stomach!" Konohamaru stood with his mouth agape. "You're as big as Kurenai-ba-chan!"

Both Sasuke and Moegi smacked him on the back of the head and Moegi shot him a stern look. "You can't just say something like that!"

Namiko chuckled. "It's okay, Moegi, I am carrying an extra baby, so it's normal for me to be bigger. How is sensei? I haven't talked to her this week."

"That's why we came here." Konohamaru rubbed the back of his head. "Ba-chan's water broke and she's in labor. She asked us to come get you. Sakura and Hinata should be there by now; we stopped and told them first."

"Lead the way then." Namiko walked toward the entrance when Sasuke stopped her.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I'll be okay. Hinata and I promised sensei we'd be there for herwhen the time came. There's nothing you can do but sit and wait outside. Why don't you spend some time with Naruto? Spar or something now that you're in the all-clear." She stood on tiptoe to place a kiss on his cheek. "I'll give you updates as to when I'll be back. Love you!"

And with that, she walked out the door with Konohamaru and Moegi before Sasuke could say a word.

Sasuke watched her walk away before sighing. 'Well, it's not like I have anything better to do. Guess I should go find Naruto…'

"Shikamaru! How is she?" Namiko asked as she walked up to Kurenai's hospital room and saw the shadow user pacing in the hall.

Shikamaru sighed heavily, his head tilting back to rest against the wall. "She's handling it well, though from what Sakura told me, she has hours to go. Such a drag…"

Namiko nodded, her hand instinctively resting on her own belly. "She's strong. She'll get through it."

Hinata appeared from the room with a soft, reassuring smile. "Namiko! You made it. Kurenai-sensei was asking for you."

Namiko gave her best friend a grateful look as they exchanged a brief hug. "How's the baby doing?"

"So far, everything looks good," Hinata said. "The contractions are steady, but as Shikamaru said, it still might take a while."

Namiko exhaled, her nerves calming as she glanced at the closed door. "Alright, I'm heading in. Hinata, are you coming?"

Hinata shook the empty cup in her hand. "I'll be there in a moment, I'm going to grab sensei some ice chips."

Namiko entered the room quietly. Kurenai was propped up on the hospital bed, grunting softly as she adjusted her position. Despite her clear uncomfortableness, she smiled brightly when she saw Namiko. "I'm so glad to see you," she said, her voice weak but happy.

"I wouldn't miss it," Namiko replied, walking to her sensei's side. She reached out, gently squeezing Kurenai's hand. "How are you holding up?"

"Could be better," Kurenai said with a small laugh, though her eyes glimmered with determination. "But I've been through tougher battles. This one's just…different."

Hinata walked in and stood on the other side of the bed, setting the cup on the side table. "You're doing so well, sensei. We're here for whatever you need."

Kurenai closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply as another contraction hit. Namiko and Hinata exchanged a quick glance, Namiko gripping her teacher's hand more firmly. When the contraction passed, Kurenai let out a shaky breath. "Thank you both for being here. It means a lot."

"We're family," Namiko said softly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Of course we'd be here for you."

Kurenai's smile softened, her gaze lingering on Namiko. "You've grown so much, Namiko. It's moments like this that I really see Kushina in you. Her strength…her heart."

Namiko's throat tightened with tears at the mention of her mother. She nodded, squeezing Kurenai's hand gently. "Thank you," she replied, her voice soft.
Namiko adjusted the chair by Kurenai's bedside and sat down, her hand still wrapped around her sensei's. She glanced briefly at Hinata, who gave her an encouraging nod before turning her attention back to Kurenai. "Do you want me to tell you a story or distract you a little? I've been told I can be entertaining, though not nearly as much as Naruto," Namiko teased gently, trying to lighten the mood.

Kurenai chuckled, though it was cut short by another contraction. Her grip on Namiko's hand tightened, and a low groan escaped her lips. Namiko winced, but not from the pressure—seeing her mentor in pain was harder than she expected.

Hinata placed a cool cloth on Kurenai's forehead, her hands steady and soothing. "Breathe, sensei. Just like we practiced. Deep breaths."

Kurenai nodded weakly, following Hinata's calm instructions as the contraction subsided. Once it passed, she slumped back against the pillows, her face glistening with sweat. "I wish Asuma was here," she whispered, tears choking her voice slightly.

"I know you do," Namiko's voice was tender as she leaned closer, stroking Kurenai's hair. "But he is here, Kurenai-sensei. In you, in your strength, and most importantly, in that little one you're bringing into the world."

Kurenai's eyes glistened, her lips trembling into a weak smile. "You're too wise for your age, Namiko."

Namiko smiled softly but didn't reply. Hinata picked up the cup she brought earlier, scooping a small spoonful of ice chips and offering them to Kurenai. "Here, this will help. Just small bites, okay?"

Kurenai nodded, accepting the ice chips gratefully. After a moment, she closed her eyes, her breath evening out slightly. Namiko leaned back in her chair, still holding her sensei's hand, while Hinata stood watchfully on the other side of the bed, occasionally using her Byakugan to check on the baby.

Kurenai gritted her teeth and let out a deep groan, gripping Namiko's hand with a strength that made her student wince. Namiko knelt at her sensei's side, torn between awe and terror as the raw reality of childbirth unfolded before her eyes. Her other hand rested protectively on her belly, where her twins stirred, almost as if in response to her racing thoughts.

"You're doing amazing, sensei," Namiko said, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound steady.

Kurenai turned her head, her sweat-dampened hair sticking to her face. Her eyes, though tired, held a sharpness that cut through the haze of pain. "Namiko," she said, her voice concerned despite its strain, "you're looking pale. What's wrong?"

Namiko hesitated, her fingers brushing over her belly. "Nothing, I…I'm just thinking about…" She trailed off, swallowing hard.

"About your own labor," Kurenai finished for her, her lips quirking in a faint, knowing smile despite the contraction rolling through her body. She squeezed Namiko's hand—not out of pain this time, but out of reassurance. "You'll be fine."

Namiko's brow furrowed. "But you're—"

"I'm in pain," Kurenai interrupted, her voice soft but unwavering, "but this is part of it. It's hard, yes, but it's worth it. And you'll have Sasuke, Naruto, and everyone who loves you by your side. Just like I have you and Hinata here with me."

Namiko's throat tightened and her free hand instinctively pressed against her belly as her daughter kicked particularly hard. "But it's not just one baby, sensei. It's two. How am I supposed to handle that?"

Kurenai's eyes softened and squeezed Namiko's hand again, grounding both of them. "You'll handle it because you're strong, Namiko. You're a fighter. As a shinobi, you've faced situations that would have broken most people, and you came out stronger every time. This is just another challenge—and when it's over, you'll hold your children in your arms, and none of the pain will matter."

Namiko nodded, taking Kurenai's words to heart. 'I can do this, especially if Sasuke's with me.'

Kurenai's voice broke through her thoughts. "Namiko…you're going to be a wonderful mother."

Namiko looked at her beloved teacher, who was watching her with a soft, knowing expression despite her exhaustion. "You think so?"

"I know so," Kurenai replied. "You have a kind heart, a strong will, and an unshakable sense of loyalty. Your children are going to grow up surrounded by so much love."

Namiko's cheeks flushed slightly, and she glanced down at their joined hands. "I hope so," she murmured. "I just want to give them the kind of family I didn't have for so long."

Hinata reached over and gently placed her hand on Namiko's. "You already are, Namiko. They're lucky to have you—and Sasuke, too."

At the mention of Sasuke, Namiko's lips curved into a faint smile. "He's going to be an amazing father. He's so loving and protective of them, even already."

Kurenai chuckled softly, though the sound was strained. "You'll both be the best parents for your twins. You may not have known what it's like to have parents but you know what love is, and that's what matters."

Before Namiko could respond, an intense contraction hit. Kurenai's grip tightened on Namiko's hand, and her breathing grew ragged. Hinata was on her feet instantly, her calm voice guiding Kurenai through the wave of pain as she watched carefully using her Byakugan.

"You're doing great, sensei. Just keep breathing. Focus on my voice," Hinata said soothingly, her hands steady as she helped Kurenai through the contraction.

Namiko tightened her hold as well, murmuring quiet encouragement until the pain began to ease. Kurenai collapsed back against the pillows, her chest rising and falling heavily.

The door opened, and Sakura stepped in, fully in medic mode. "How's she doing?"

"Strong as ever," Namiko replied, glancing at Kurenai with a small smile.

Sakura nodded, moving to check Kurenai. "You're progressing well, Kurenai-sensei. It won't be too much longer now."

Kurenai let out a weak laugh. "That's easy for you to say. You're not the one in labor."

Namiko and Hinata exchanged a brief smile. As Kurenai settled back into the bed, Namiko leaned closer, her voice soft and reassuring. "You've got this. We know you can. When this is over, you'll be holding the most precious gift in your arms. Asuma would be so proud of you, sensei."

Kurenai's eyes filled with tears, but this time, they were tears of gratitude and determination. She nodded, gripping Namiko and Hinata's hands tightly. "Thank you. Both of you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"We're here," Hinata said firm yet gentle. "All the way to the end."

Sakura smiled at Kurenai. "Okay, well it looks like that end is practically here. Let's bring this little girl into the world."

Kurenai followed Sakura's instructions as she pushed, and a few moments later, the baby arrived and a piercing cry filled the room. Namiko couldn't help the happy tears that streamed freely down her face.

"It's a girl," Sakura announced, carefully wrapping the baby in a blanket before placing her on Kurenai's chest.

Kurenai let out a shaky laugh, her pain and exhaustion giving way to pure joy as she gazed at her newborn daughter. "Hello my sweet Mirai." She glanced at Namiko, her expression soft despite her weariness. "See? We're stronger than we think."

Namiko nodded, her hands resting on her belly as her twins shifted within her. The fear still lingered, but Kurenai's words settled like a steadying weight in her chest. As she watched Kurenai cradle her daughter, the room seemed to quiet, the fear in her heart eased a little. If her sensei could face this with such strength, then maybe—just maybe—she could too.

Sakura took the baby to clean her, then returned her to Kurenai. "Would you like me to go tell Shikamaru the good news? He's still in the hall."

Kurenai nodded slowly, her eyes fully focused on her baby girl. "He is welcome to come in and meet her." Sakura smiled before swiftly making her exit, as Kurenai glanced up at Namiko. "Would you like to hold her?"

Namiko traded looks with Hinata who motioned for her to take the baby. She pressed her lips together nervously before timidly nodding. Kurenai passed the infant to Namiko who sat down in the chair next to Kurenai's hospital bed.

She watched Mirai's face in awe; she looked so much like Kurenai already, her thick brown hair curling up and her crimson eyes fluttering open ever so slightly. "Welcome to the world, Mirai," Namiko whispered, her voice barely audible.

The door opened and Namiko was surprised to see Sasuke trailing in after Shikamaru. Namiko's heart skipped at the sight of Sasuke, his expression a mix of curiosity and softness she rarely saw in public. His dark eyes locked on hers for a moment before they flickered to the tiny bundle cradled in her arms. "I came to check on you," he said, answering her unasked question.

Namiko shifted slightly, careful not to disturb Mirai, who was now fast asleep in her arms. As Sasuke approached, she tilted the baby toward him, her smile widening. "I didn't expect to see you. Say hello to Mirai. She's beautiful, isn't she?"

Sasuke's gaze softened as he looked down at the tiny, sleeping bundle. He didn't respond immediately, his eyes glazing over the baby's face before tracing every detail of Namiko's.

Watching her with a baby nestled in her arms stirred emotions in him, reminding him that in a little over three months, this would be their baby. Two of them.

Namiko looked even more beautiful to him in that moment and he was completely captivated by her. "Yes, you are," he said just loud enough for her to hear.

Namiko was so focused on the baby in her arms, that she didn't realize at first that he was referring to her, not Mirai. Once his words clicked together in her mind, her cheeks flushed.

Shikamaru cleared his throat, breaking the moment as he stepped closer to Kurenai's bedside. "How are you holding up?"

Kurenai let out a soft laugh, her exhaustion was evident but her smile was unwavering. "Better now that she's here. You should hold her."

Shikamaru blinked, his hands half-raised in surprise. "Me?"

Kurenai chuckled, nodding. "Asuma did pick you to watch over her and train her when she's older."

Namiko carefully rose from her chair, cradling Mirai as she turned toward Shikamaru. He stepped forward, his usual air of apathy replaced by anxiousness as Namiko guided Mirai into his arms. The baby stirred slightly but remained calm, her small hands curling against his chest.

Shikamaru stared down at her in wonder. "Hey there," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You've got some big shoes to fill, you know that? You're the future of Konoha."

Kurenai's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she watched Shikamaru hold her daughter. "She'll have a lot of people to help her along the way," she said softly.

Hinata smiled warmly, her gaze moving between everyone in the room. "She's already surrounded by so much love."

A quiet warmth settled over the room as Namiko reached for Sasuke's hand, her fingers linking with his. He didn't pull away, his hand tightening around hers slightly. When she glanced up at him, his expression had softened even further.

"You're going to be amazing at this," he whispered in her ear.

Her cheeks warmed again, and her hand instinctively drifted to her belly. "I was just holding her. That doesn't mean I'm ready for them—"

Sasuke cut her off with a faint smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes but still carried a trace of affection. "You'll be fine," he said simply, his tone more confident than her own thoughts. "I'll be right there with you."

She smiled back at him but was quickly cut off by an escaping yawn that she tried to hide. Sasuke gently nudged her shoulder with his arm. "Let's get you home. Kurenai isn't the only one who had a long day."

Namiko was physically exhausted after spending the day in the hospital with Kurenai, but she felt a bit refreshed after taking a bath and curled up with Sasuke in their bed. She had just finished braiding her hair and snuggled into his side.

"Seeing Mirai and how she favors Kurenai-sensei makes me wonder what these two will look like," she said as she affectionately rubbed her stomach.

"The Uchiha genes tend to run strong, almost everyone in the clan had black or dark brown hair and dark eyes, even half-Uchiha."

She tilted her head up to look at him. "How often did people marry outside the clan?"

"Not often, but it seemed to happen in our clan far more than the Hyuuga. Itachi's friend," he emphasized, "was half-Uchiha. Izumi's father was from a different clan. They lived outside the compound until her father died, and she and her mother moved back with the rest of the clan." With the way Sasuke said it, Namiko knew Izumi's father must've died the night of the kyuubi attack and he didn't want to make her feel guilty even though it wasn't her fault.

After a while, Namiko spoke again, her tone lighter. "You know, I've been thinking about names."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, though his expression didn't shift much. "Already?"

"Well, we have to start somewhere. Names are important and have a lot of meaning, like Mirai's name meaning 'future'." She rested her head against his chest, her voice softening. "Do you have any ideas?"

He hesitated, his fingers absently brushing against her arm. "I haven't thought about it much. My only request is to not name them anything to do with food like Naruto."

"While I do love mochi, I'm not crazy enough to suggest that," she assured him with a laugh. "I'm thinking something more sentimental." She paused thoughtfully. "Maybe something to honor your family?"

Sasuke tensed slightly, his jaw tightening, but didn't pull away. Namiko simply waited, giving him the space to process the suggestion. After a moment, he sighed. "Maybe."

Namiko smiled against his chest. "We don't have to decide now, we have a while before we have to worry about that. Just something to be thinking about...and we should probably start thinking of a nursery too."

"Aa." Sasuke hummed in response, his hand returning to her belly. The faintest flutter met his palm again, and his lips twitched into a small, almost imperceptible smile. For the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to relax completely, the memories and weight of the past giving way to the promise of the future.

A/N: I'm back! Thank you all for bearing with me on this unexpected hiatus. Both my parents are aging and ended up in the hospital over the holidays which meant this story ended up on the back burner. But the good news is they're both doing fine and home now.

This is the last chapter of major fluff before everything changes as war begins. Things will be changing from the canon war. This is not a two-day war and things will be spread out. This allows moments of fluff, but we're still entering the war and things will be dramatic. I'll be putting dates in the following chapters so you can keep track of how long things go on.

I'm also debating taking a little bit of time to myself and recovering from the chaos of the last two weeks to refresh and recharge before continuing to the next chapter. Keep a watch on my Twitter or BlueSky accounts for updates on that if I decide to do it!

Thank you all for your support again and I'll see you soon!

Love, Eriisu

PS: Comments are my tip jar!