Chapter Text
On their second day of life, she had taken her children outside to bathe in the weak early morning sun. Naruto decided they should have a small breakfast picnic on the inner garden rather than taking the babies away from their sun bathing, and though the space was somewhat limited, neither she nor Sakura complained.
“So! I have news for you.” Naruto told her with a grin, some time in the middle of their meal. “Tenten just told me she got a call from bushy brows. He got your letter, and he's returning to visit you rather than writing a reply!”
Sakura choked on her miso soup and showered the grass with it as she sneezed it out. Gaara and Naruto both turned to her, startled. “It went down the wrong way.” she coughed.
“Anyways...” Naruto continued slowly. “He might arrive in time for your birthday! We need to throw you a party!” he finished with an excited grin. “Too bad the twins couldn't wait just five more days, you would be all born on the same day!”
“...Yes, it would have been wonderful to be in labor on my birthday.” she remarked sarcastically, watching Sakura from the corner of her eyes. She was trying too hard not to look flustered. But Naruto didn't seem suspicious, so she brushed it away.
“I guess not.” Naruto laughed. “So, do you want a party, or would you rather rest?” he asked this time.
She pondered on his proposal. “You can throw a party after they're ten days old.” she said quietly. She didn't intend to take them anywhere, but at least she would be more used to motherhood by then. He grinned.
“Great!” Naruto was delighted with her approval. “Is Kankurou going to the chuunin exams?”
“Probably.” she nodded once.
“We should do it before he leaves, then. The first test will be held on the 28th this year.” Naruto paused to take a bite of his food, then. “When is he coming to visit the twins, by the way?”
Gaara smiled faintly. “When he gets the courage to face off against his worst fears.” Naruto looked uncomprehendingly at her. She didn't elaborate.
- - - - -
“Happy birthday, Gaara! It's truly wonderful that I find you in good health! I was worried about you.” he studied her closely.
Gaara was probably quite a sight, still dressed in a maternity dress. She had lost a lot of weight, enough that her old clothes fit snuggly by now, but the dresses were far more practical when it came to nursing Yukio and Yuraku. She had felt strange in them at first, but Naruto's reactions to them – or lack of any reaction – really helped curb her insecurities.
“Rock Lee.” she greeted with a small smile. “I'm happy to see you look well. I was worried about you, too.”
Lee flushed and scratched his head. “So, you know about that? Love has its ups and downs, but it's still a noble feeling we should all strive to nurture in our lives!” he beamed at her, changing the subject in a way that was so... Lee. “I've heard you've found love with my youthful Hokage! That's truly splendid news!” he finished cheerfully.
“Indeed.” she agreed peaceably, but his words weren't necessarily true.
She had loved Naruto for a long time, but she doubted Naruto felt the same. She was his good friend, and the mother of his children, and that was the extent of their relationship for now, on his side. She wasn't sure if the way he treated her would change once there was no longer any risk to her life, but part of her was afraid it would. She didn't want it to change – she really enjoyed his affections, now that she had gotten used to it.
She was distracted off her thoughts by Naruto himself. “Hey, Bushy brows. Meet your future pupil, Yuraku.” he walked up to them with an amused expression to his face, holding Yuraku towards Lee. The five-day-old baby was awake and alert, and seemed extremely fascinated with the wall of green that was Rock Lee.
“Oh, ho! What a cute little fellow! He looks just like you, Naruto!” Lee beamed, tickling the baby's cheek. Gaara quickly caught his hand and pulled it back before the baby caught Lee's finger into his mouth.
“Careful, he'll eat you!” Naruto chuckled.
“Your bandages are too dirty for him to put into his mouth.” she told him in an apologetic tone. “You're the first one not to say he looks like me.”
“Hm... The shape of his eyes, it's all Naruto's. His nose, too. Only his coloring kind of reminds me of you.” Lee explained. “What do you mean, he'll be my pupil?”
“He has the makings of a taijutsu master. He kicked his mother so much I could see it just looking at her stomach.” Naruto told him with a grin. “He can even walk already, look.”
Naruto held the baby over the table, and Yuraku started stepping, as if he was walking. Naruto had been beyond fascinated with the baby the first time he saw, but Sakura had told them that was only a newborn reflex, and it would go away in a month. Yukio could do it too, but his steps didn't look as sure.
But Lee didn't know it, and he looked ecstatic like Naruto had. “Look at that! As expected of a son of two Kages! I would be more than honored to teach such a genius!” Lee proclaimed.
“Then get ready, because I'm going to make you his sensei.” Naruto teased.
“Here is Yukio.” she took the baby from Naruto's clone and showed to her friend.
“Aw... Now, he does look exactly like you. So adorable.” Lee only caressed the baby's clothed stomach, this time. “Is he cold?”
Yuraku was only in his diapers, but they had clothed Yukio with long sleeves, to keep him from covering himself with sand.
“He inherited Gaara's kekkei genkai, and keeps covering himself if we don't.” Naruto explained. “Now that you've met them, I'll take them to get a nap. Have fun catching up.” he carefully picked Yukio off her arms and carried each baby off on one arm.
“It's brilliant that everything turned out ok. You, of all people, deserve to be happy, Gaara.” Lee said sincerely, smiling at her, once Naruto had left.
“So do you. I hope you find your happiness.” she said quietly.
“Oh, I will. My significant half just asked for a little time out, maybe she is ready to talk to me now. Let's be hopeful!” he crossed his fingers.
Gaara was somewhat suspicious. “Can you tell me who this woman is?” she asked quietly.
“Oh, no! I'm a gentleman! I'm not going to defile her honor by bragging about her, even if you are a close friend, Gaara!” Gaara watched him speculatively.
“So, you did sleep with her.” Lee blushed, but the expression on his face was all the answer she needed. “...I have a feeling you're in for quite a surprise when you talk to her.” she told him slowly. Lee's eyes widened.
“You know who my dear significant half is?” he asked, shocked.
“I have my guesses.” she waved her hand.
“But she wanted it to be a secret! Please don't tell anyone!” Gaara was a little bothered by that. But she didn't know anything about their relationship, and she couldn't know Sakura's motives. She definitely couldn't judge her yet. But if it did turn out Sakura was ashamed of Rock Lee, she would have a very long talk with the kunoichi.
“I won't. But I doubt you'll be able to keep your secret for long.” Specially if their baby girl was born with his eyebrows. They were quite distinctive.
“Why is that?” Lee asked with a frown.
“Not my secret to tell.” she avoided answering. “Tell me, how did your training trip go? You never told me you were going on it.”
She successfully distracted him as he started to talk about taijutsu with her.
- - - - -
One Year Later
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!!!” Gaara's body seized from the fright of being awoken by the chorus of screams.
She sat up to see Yukio giggling, while Yuraku shouted “Mommy!” on repeat, the only word he had helped the two Narutos holding them shout just seconds ago.
Still half-asleep, her mind provided her a few choice words to respond to her husband with, but she didn't want Yuraku cursing random strangers on the streets, and the toddler would repeat everything he was able to pronounce.
Kankurou had learned that the hard way a week ago, when, after a couple of hours babysitting the twins, Yuraku started shouting at the top of his lungs “Condom!” every time he crossed paths with his uncle. He still hadn't stopped it because Naruto would burst out in laugher every time he did, and Yuraku loved to please his father.
Naruto had deaged twenty years when their sons became old enough to react to his childish behavior. She hadn't minded it, until he had first decided using Yuraku as an alarm clock was a good idea, three months ago.
“I'm going to end up killing you on accident.” she mouthed out, annoyed – her children still couldn't read anyone's lips. Naruto's reply was a grin, before he put Yuraku on her lap so he could give her his sloppy 'good morning kiss'.
“You're too full of yourself, Kazekage. As if you could kill me so easily.” Naruto mouthed back, then dodged the pillow she threw on his face by dispersing. The other Naruto sat on the bed by her side, still holding their quieter son. “Didn't take you for someone who would pillow fight.” he teased aloud.
“Do you have any purpose for waking me up at...” she narrowed her eyes as she looked at the clock. “Four and a half in the morning?”
“Yuraku had a nightmare, and he was upset. I thought this would cheer him up, and it did.” some of her anger dissipated as she looked down at her babbling son.
He had just reached a year of age, but he talked for hours and hours. Most of it was unrecognizable gibberish, but Naruto pretended to understand it, so Yuraku went on and on. She also liked to encourage him sometimes, but it drove her brother absolutely insane when Yuraku wanted to “hold a conversation” with Uncle Kan. That was very likely the reason behind the condom incident.
“Did you have an upsetting dream, Yura-chan?” she asked softly. Yuraku stopped his babbling and frowned.
“Mama.” he mumbled, then reached out and gripped her clothes. She knew what he wanted, so she opened her nightgown and bared her breast. Yuraku quickly cuddled up to her and buried his face against her breast, wanting comfort more than milk. When he was hungry, he tended just to ask Naruto for fruits, instead of seeking her – unlike his brother. He ate twice as much as Yukio, and her milk didn't seem to satiate him anymore.
“Couldn't you have comforted him in another way?” she wondered. Naruto's smirk was all the answer she needed. Of course he could have. She glared at him, but when he leaned in and kissed her lips, she kissed him back.
“Happy birthday, mommy.” Naruto repeated again.
Yukio had crawled away from his arms and was cuddling against her by his brother's side, silently requesting milk, too, as well as comfort.
“I hope this doesn't become an habit, Naruto Uzumaki.” but deep inside, she knew it would.
- - - - - -
Which was exactly why, eight months later, she decided to take it upon her own hands to perpetuate it.
Now, Gaara didn't usually raise her voice. She wasn't a good screamer, even if she could get her voice to carry far if she wanted to. But she didn't like raising her voice. Besides, her deep voice was just too soothing a way to wake Naruto up. It wasn't good enough.
That's why she requested a very dear friend's help on the next October tenth.
Always eager to be helpful, her friend had come into her home at three in the morning, carrying his daughter in his lap.
She stood by the door to their bedroom in Konoha, with her arms crossed, and watched as Rock Lee sneaked up on his Hokage with three toddlers hanging on to his hands, and then cried out very obnoxiously. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!!!”
This time Yuraku chorused with him on both the words 'happy' and 'daddy', though he just said gibberish in place of birthday. Lee's daughter Satori just shrieked like a banshee in the background – the sound was very similar to the shriek that came from Naruto's throat as he jumped awake.
Her more composed, silent son covered his eyes and ran towards her, giggling – she couldn't tell if he was having fun of if he was feeling embarrassment on his father's behalf.
“Lee, what the heck are you doing in my house?!” Naruto's voice was still high pitched as he demanded.
“I came to wish you long years of greatness, my most youthful Hokage!” Lee's voice boomed, then he began to sing the birthday song at the top of his lungs, with both Yuraku and Satori pipping in with shrieks and laugher, and sometimes words. Soon enough, Yukio ran towards Naruto and jumped him, prompting the other toddlers to follow suit.
It took quite a long time for Naruto's eyes to wander towards the place were she stood, casually leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. His eyes narrowed, then they widened in realization and shock. She only smirked in response.
His eyes narrowed again. “You're on.” he mouthed, then ignored her to give attention to the toddlers attacking him and attempting to topple him over.
- - - - -
Years Later
The first time the twins went on Summer Vacations in school, Naruto wanted them both to go on vacations too. She was recovering from a bad bout of flu she had caught off her children, so she didn't oppose his idea too much.
So Kakashi took over for Naruto, Kankurou took over for Gaara, and they took off to an island in the middle of nowhere – courtesy of Mei Terumi.
She was currently lying on the sand of a private beach, enjoying the early morning sun and listening to the sweet sound of laughing children as Naruto chased them over the shallow water.
She was so unconcerned about life that she almost missed Naruto approaching her, and he wasn't even trying to be sneaky.
“People usually extend a towel before lying down, you know?” she responded to him with a hum. Naruto flopped down by her side, completely ignoring his idea of a towel, himself. “Hm, the sun feels nice.” he sighed, pleased. “This breeze smells so nice. We should have come to the beach before.”
Gaara said nothing. Naruto was undeterred by her lack of response. “Do you...?” he began, but she interrupted him.
“I'm trying to relax and empty my mind for once. You're not helping.” she told him with a sigh.
“Can't you empty your mind later? You do remember today's our anniversary, right?”
They were in May. It wasn't their marriage's anniversary – their formal marriage had happened in December, and the ceremony had happened in September. She couldn't think of anything else, but Naruto could pull dates out of nowhere and say it was their anniversary. “Anniversary of what, exactly?”
She flinched when he poked her ribs. “Our first time together. The night we conceived Yukio and Yuraku. You don't remember?” he poked her again.
“How could I forget?” she hummed, though the date had definitely not crossed her mind. Naruto caught her half lie.
“That's fine. I'm here to remind you. So, let's celebrate?” a smile curved her lips, and she cuddled against Naruto when he pulled her into his arms. He whispered against her ear, “I've always wanted to try it under sea water, to see if it feels different from the river.”
“It will be kind of hard to have alone time on the beach.” she pointed out.
“Tonight. How about? We leave clones sleeping with the children.” he poked he again and this time she squirmed, as it tickled her.
“I'll think about it.” she hummed, but it was teasing more than anything else.
“Can I seduce you?” he whispered against her ear.
“You can try. I doubt you will succeed.”
“Oh, I'll take that as a challenge! You'll regret it.”
She doubted she would.
“You'll be begging me in the end.” he continued. She snorted at his words. “I'm the master of seduction.”
“Shush. Enjoy the sun, and the sound of our babies' laughers.” she placed a finger on his lips, and quickly took it back when he tried to wrap his lips around it.
He leaned in and kissed her neck. “Did I tell you today that I love you?”
“This may be the eighth time.” she said a random number.
“I love you.” he lightly bit her neck. She chuckled, tickled by his breath. “I love you. Here, now you have the perfect number ten.”
“I have no idea why, but I love you too.” she teased him with a smile. She could think of several reasons why she loved Naruto. It had been such a huge stroke of luck on her part that they had gotten together.
She could thank her brother for that, in part.
“I know why you love me. What's there not to love about me?” he teased her back.
“I might need a little alcohol to remember exactly why I love you.” she said after he tried to tickle her, when she didn't respond at first.
“Yes, please. I love the way you look when you're plastered.” Naruto whispered against her ear. She frowned.
“The way I look? Do I look any different?” she wondered. She had gotten drunk maybe three times in her life. The first time she had slept with Naruto, then twice more, while celebrating their marriage, which had also ended up with them in bed.
“Drink with me, if you would like to find out.” she was really curious now.
Naruto knew how to play her like a flute. He was probably lying just to entice her. So, that was how he intended to seduce her. “Nice try. But you won't get me that way.”
Naruto only grinned, and this time he went silent and allowed her to relax inside his arms.