Naruto looked at the laptop screen, taking notes for the classes he was taking, which was the core. He rather get those done earlier compared to waiting. Stopping with his pencil still sitting on the paper, his hand fell to the fully extended womb that contained his unborn son. "It just had to be a muscle spasm."
He wanted to convince himself that it was just it. Shizune already told them about Braxton-Hicks, which was where the uterine wall was getting ready for labor. Looking at the date on his computer, he saw it was the date he was given for the birth of their son.
It was also Kisame's birthday and he still had to call his old mentor to wish him a happy birthday. Even though he was coming over after school for a small party they were hosting for him.
"How's everything coming along?" Itachi purred as he sat on the arm of the couch and pulled the blond close.
"Fine." Naruto lied even though that wave of pain hit him when he was taking his notes.
Pecking his husband's cheek, Itachi got up from where he sat and walked to the backdoor and looked out.
"Itachi, I've offered it I don't know how many times but if you want to go get another cat . . . we can go." Naruto offered as he looked over the back of the couch at his Uchiha husband. He knew that look anywhere.
Itachi was a mess when Ichijo had to be put down because she had cancer. He never really saw him like that except at the funeral but this was a cat that he had when he was growing up.
Itachi looked at the spot where he buried his feline friend that used to torment everyone. He definitely missed that cat a lot. Looking back into the sapphire eyes, he nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."
Naruto smiled and shut his computer down since he can do the rest of his work later on. Grabbing a light jacket since it was windy, he put it on as Itachi grabbed the keys to the car. Following his lover out, Naruto took his hand and squeezed it. "Don't worry."
Itachi nodded slowly. Locking the house up, he walked down and into the car. He wasn't sure if any other animal could replace Ichijo since he had her around for a long time. He was actually surprised she didn't pass on from old age or something else.
Naruto continued to see the sorrow in the ebony eyes that were framed by glasses and sighed. Everyone in the house knew that Itachi was hurting from losing Ichijo in such a painful way but it also meant that a cat at the shelter would get a new home.
Turning up the radio with Strawberry Jam by Ai Otsuka, Itachi tried to keep his mind off the fact that he lost the cat.
When they arrived at the shelter, Itachi paused before opening the door and was greeted by Kiba who also ran the dog pound next door.
"Hey there Naruto – why are you so fat?" Kiba blurted out when he saw his old friend waddle in. He knew that Itachi and Naruto got married but not him getting fat.
"It's a long story. I don't think you'll understand it if I try to explain." Naruto answered.
"Well why are you guys in here today for? Cat? Dog?"
"Cat." Itachi answered and followed the canine lover into a room that was separated further. Looking around he saw a lot of them laying around, doing their business or playing with something. Stopping, he looked at a siamese that was sitting on a cat condo.
"I guess you see Yuki. She's a rescue like a lot of these but she was found on the street. She was hit and had to have a leg amputated." Kiba filled them in, unlocking the door just in case the Uchiha wanted to go in.
He did. Walking over, he locked eyes with the ice blue ones of the feline. Reaching over, he started to stroke her fur, hearing the purr that told him she was enjoying it.
"How old is she?" Naruto asked, smiling at how his husband was getting hooked with the three-legged cat.
"We think she's around three." Kiba answered.
Nodding, Naruto continued to watch his companion as he stroked the fur of the feline.
Picking her up, Itachi smirked a little at how she squirmed. Just like Ichijo; she also didn't like to be picked up at times but loved laps. "Do you want to go home with us?"
The brown faced cat blinked.
"Kiba I think you got an adoption. But first." Naruto said and looked at the kittens. He laughed at two that were wrestling but saw one looking at him. It was an orange tabby that had one little white spot that encircled its nose. "Also this one."
Kiba blinked at the two and nodded. Getting two pet carriers and other things that would be needed, he'll have to also get the paperwork. He didn't have to worry about getting them fixed since his sister took care of that. She was the resident vet for the two rescue agencies and it helped.
Letting Itachi put the siamese, and Naruto put the little tabby kitten in their boxes, he pushed over the paperwork.
"Why are you getting one?" Itachi asked as he stuck a finger through the door at the kitten who swatted at it.
"Just a little companion for her." Naruto replied. "What's its name Kiba?"
"Let me think here . . . it's . . . Kioshi." Kiba paused then answered.
Nodding, Naruto finished up his with Itachi handing his in.
Once they were done, Naruto took the accessories his school friend gave but they had to pay for while Itachi got the carriers. Hopping into the car, he smiled at his lover who was staring at him.
It seemed unnatural for Naruto to pick out a cat. Getting in, he turned and looked at him. That was also when he noticed something was wrong. "Naruto why did you pick out a cat?"
"I just felt like it."
"Okay. That's one question done. Why are you so pale?"
Naruto didn't think he was pale but that changed when he looked in the mirror on the visor. Looking at his lover, he smirked a little and tried to sound optimistic. "How about we drop them off then go see Shizune at the hospital since she's there this month?"
Itachi didn't even like the sound of Naruto's voice. It sounded forced almost like Naruto just wanted to scream out from something. He nodded and turned the car on so they can drop off the new family members.
Once they did that, Naruto jumped at the surge of pain that came from the location of his unusual womb. It had to be Braxton-Hicks again. It just had to be. That changed his thought when another wave of pain hit him and he screamed out.
"Itachi!" Naruto screamed, forcing the long-haired man to run down the steps after locking the house up again.
Leaning down quickly, he heard the pants coming from the tanned man.
"It's time. Sadao wants to come out." Naruto said as he tried to blink away the tears that were caused by the pain.
Itachi nodded and started to car up when he got in. Buckling up, he grabbed his phone and handed it to Naruto. Feeling the dumbfounded gaze, he instructed, "call Shizune and tell her. Then I want you to call or text your parents, Sasuke, and Kisame. Tell them that Sadao's coming and that we want them at the hospital. If you can, get your grandparents."
Naruto tried to nod – forced himself to – as he started to work on getting everything down. Growling, another wave of a contraction came.
Itachi looked behind him quickly and backed out, hearing Naruto tell Shizune what was going on and that they were on their way to the hospital. He hated hospitals but it brought new life into the world compared to what used to be done in the old days before hospitals were around. Taking a breath, he tried to calm down as he heard his racing heart.
He was going to be a father, along with Naruto who was being the mother in this. It meant a lot since it was their first child as a married couple.
It seemed like everything dwindled down to when the minutes felt like seconds to Naruto as the pain made him grab a hold of his pants tightly. Before long, he heard the car stop and the doors open. Feeling himself being unbuckled, he was helped out of the vehicle by Itachi and Shizune and was forced into a wheelchair.
"Why do I have to be in a wheelchair?" He asked, looking at the two and growled with another wave of contractions. He couldn't have the child vaginal so why was this happening? Do women try to do that first before going to a cesarean section?
"It's just standard procedure Naruto. Don't worry. We'll get little Sadao out. First we need to get you prepped for sugary. Also Itachi if he wants to be there to witness."
"Of course." Itachi answered and followed after them. He pitied Naruto for going through the pain but it was going to make them a family. If he wanted to do it again, then they'll try for another child. If it wasn't possible, they'll adopt.
Naruto was pushed into a room where he had to strip and get a paper dress on. Screaming, the pain felt worse then being kicked in the balls. Now he knew how women felt when they were in labor.
Itachi worked quickly on getting the scrubs on and getting into the operation room where Shizune was checking over the tools with a nurse.
"Okay Naruto. We're gonna give you an epidural." Shizune said.
Naruto wanted to nod but resisted as he rolled onto his side. Feeling the spot be cleaned and a sharp point, he jerked as it went into his spinal column and him being rolled back over.
"What's it supposed to do?" He asked, staring up at the ceiling.
"It's gonna numb you from the waist down. It'll make it easier on us to get Sadao out." She replied, walking around and smiling at Itachi under the mask.
He noticed the crinkle at the eyes and smiled back at the woman. Grabbing a hold of his husband's hand, he squeezed it to comfort him.
Naruto swore in the amount of time it took, he didn't feel anything below his waist. Trying to look, he let his head fall when he saw the paper curtain that was put up for him.
Itachi looked over and watched as Shizune started the incision that cut into Naruto's numb skin then the muscle where his uterus was. Taking a breath, he watched the nurses take some of the excess blood away before the woman continued.
He continued to stare at she made another cut into the large muscle then went around. How was she supposed to get their child out with that small cut? His question was answered when their bloody son came out with help from Shizune and a nurse.
No noise came from the child as they started to work on clearing the air ways for mucus.
"What does he look like?" Naruto asked.
"Beautiful." Itachi answered as the birth cry came into the room. Feeling the welling of tears, he couldn't help but let them out at the birth of his son.
"Itachi would you like to cut the cord?" Shizune asked, holding a pair of scissors to the Uchiha.
Nodding, he cut the location she wanted him to. His son was taken away to get cleaned up and everything else taken care of. Walking over, he bent down and kissed his blond. "He's beautiful."
Naruto smiled.
As Shizune worked on getting Naruto closed up, he was given his son and walked out of the room. He noticed his brother and in-laws, and friends there waiting. Kushina was the first to rush up and stare at her grandson.
"Sadao." She muttered and hugged Minato to let her tears on his shirt.
He sighed and rolled his eyes before looking at his infant grandchild. The child had Naruto's nose which made him smile.
Sasuke looked at his nephew and shook its little hand. "How much does he weight?"
"Twenty-one inches long. Seven pounds and eleven ounces." Itachi called off as he smiled at his son.
Kisame patted his old student on the shoulder and smiled at him. "Took him long enough to come out."
Itachi nodded and went back into the room and showed his husband their child.
Naruto started to tear up and stroked the dirty blond hair that had black in it. "Sadao don't cause me that pain. That hurt. You're grounded."
They laughed as Itachi handed their child off again to be excoriated. Itachi couldn't remember what it felt like because he had it done to him when he was a newborn but from the way his mother used to talk. She could hear both Sasuke and him wail in the next room from the pain but it was worth it she said.
When they heard it, Naruto flinched, knowing what caused it.
"Okay Naruto. Don't try to do anything strenuous for a while. I want to see you again when you heal up so I can take the staples out." Shizune instructed.
Naruto nodded and was wheeled off to the room he was going to be using. He smiled at his family, friends, and in-law as he passed, seeing his grandmother and mother crying. "Those two."
The next day after Naruto was rested up, he was sitting in bed, feeding Sadao who had a different type of eye they thought he would have. The left was sapphire and the right was black. It was weird but he was still going to be loved no matter what.
"Hey Dobe, how are you feeling?" Sasuke asked as he walked in with a stuffed bear that was blue with nephew written on it in cursive.
"Sore." Naruto answered and smiled at Maiko and Mikoto.
Setting the bear down, he saw his brother sitting in the chair, dozing off with his head tilted back. Taking Mikoto, he put her in her uncle's lap, causing the man to jump and make everyone laugh.
"Very funny otouto-san." Itachi growled as he rubbed his eyes and looked at his niece, who was looking back at him with a curious gaze. Picking her up, he held her up in the air and blew a raspberry on her stomach.
"She is very troublesome at times." Maiko laughed.
"How? How can someone so adorable be troublesome?" Naruto asked as he watched his husband carry the infant girl around.
"She's been keeping us up." Sasuke groaned and flopped down in a chair. Feeling Maiko sit on his lap, he smiled at her and grabbed a hold of her hand.
"That's to be expecting from a baby." Naruto said as he put the bottle down and patted his son on the back for a burp.
Handing back the dark-haired girl, Itachi walked out of the room for something to drink but stopped. Raising an eyebrow, he noticed someone walking up to him but he couldn't make out their face because of a mask was on it. It reminded him of his uncle's orange spiraled mask that he used to keep as a decoration.
When the man was close enough, he had a spark of recognize. It was the mask that his relative had as decoration. Backing away and wanting to start for a run, but his feet froze. Looking at the single hole that the man could see, he knew he had delight.
"Well Itachi, how are you?" He asked, trying to sound casual but wasn't wanting that.
He didn't answer but glare at him.
A smile of sick delight spread across his face and he pulled out what he needed. Thrusting it at the ebony haired man in front of him, he enjoyed the growl of pain that came from him. Pulling the blade from the rib, right where the lung should be, he started to walk away.
"You fucking bastard!" Sasuke yelled when he noticed what was wrong with his brother. Looking back in the room, he called Maiko over to the door. "Get someone to help nii-san. I'm gonna kill a rat."
Running down the hall, he found his uncle and slammed into him. Noticing the blade fall from his grasp, he kicked it away and threw a punch at the mask. Hearing it break just made him smile as he threw another fist at the man's face. "Damn you!"
Madara glared through slits for eyes, pushing him off. Running down the hall, he went up the stairs, hearing his young nephew follow after him. Rubbing his cheek, he went up another flight of stairs.
This continued until they wound up on the roof where Sasuke could hear the distant sound of sirens.
"Give it up you bastard." Sasuke said, watching his estranged uncle back away from him as he walked toward him. "You've lost. You'll go away for good this time. You won't be able to get out for good behavior or probation this time."
"What makes you think I'm gonna go back?" Madara asked, turning around and climbing up the fence that was put up. Standing on the lip of it, he smiled down at his relative. "It was fun while it lasted Sasuke."
With that, he turned around and fell with the rush of air hitting his back. He wasn't going back to prison. He rather die then go back. It seemed like when he fell, he hit the ground and everything went black at that moment.
Sasuke growled and rushed down to Naruto's room to see him looking around for Itachi.
"Where's Ita?" Naruto asked, looking for any answer from his friend. He didn't like that grim look on his face. He didn't like it one bit. "Where is Itachi Sasuke?"
He tried to avoid his gaze but looked at him anyway. "Madara . . . he stabbed him again."
Naruto swore he was numb all over again, almost like he was experiencing deja vu again. It was like a sick joke that was trying to get back in his life again. Shaking his head, he tried to get out of bed but was held there by his ex and brother-in-law.
"He's in surgery right now." Maiko tried to reassure as she bounced Mikoto who was crying. She noticed the tears that were falling from the azure eyes of the blond and wanted to help him out but didn't know how.
"This shouldn't . . . this should be a joke. You guys have to be kidding." Naruto rambled as he looked at their faces for any sign of it being a joke. He didn't find any. "Damn it!"
The sound of Sadao crying made him look down and try to calm his son even though he wanted to bawl for his lover.
"Itachi."
I think this is a cliffy. I'm not sure. The little info on Yuki, the siamese, is I did have a stray that was Siamese come to the house and I kept her – much to my dad's dismay. She was an awesome cat with attitude but she didn't have three legs. Please review.