Chapter Text
By the time Sunday comes around, our little meeting in the park has morphed into a welcoming party, for our little warrior. I still haven't really seen Sakura, but Ino said that she told her about today, so maybe she'll be there. It's been quite a while since any part of team 7 has been together.
"What do you wanna wear for your party today, baby," I ask the little boy looking at his choices spread on his bed. He reaches for a pale green t-shirt with a black Nara symbol stitched across the chest, and then a pair of beige cargo shorts, a strikingly similar outfit to what Shikamaru wore when he was younger. "Good choice, I think you'll look amazing for your big day. Now let's get you in the bath, and then we'll be ready to go," I instruct. He takes off ahead of me to the bathroom and I can't help but laugh as he tries to imitate a bird flying.
Shika intercepts me before I enter the bathroom. "I gotta go take care of something and I'll be waiting at the park," he says before leaving a peck on my lips and slipping out of the front door. I laugh and roll my eyes at his attempt to be sneaky.
Once, I get his little sandals wrapped around his feet and his little backpack with extra clothes and Shika the Deer on him, Hikaku is ready and waiting at the door. I smile and make sure all lights are turned off, before we slip outside, and I lock the door.
"Okay, do you want me to carry you," I ask, already reaching out to pick him up before he can nod. "Who are you excited to see again today," I ask on the way. He makes a show of thinking, putting one finger on his chin and humming. How did I get so lucky to have such an adorable little boy? "Assuma and Iruka-sensei," he decides. "Is that so," A voice calls just behind us, and I turn to see Ino just behind us.
"Auntie Ino," he cries. "Hello, my precious little nephew," she says while reaching out and tapping his nose. He goes cross-eyed for a second, before shaking his head. "What is this about wanting to see our sensei more than your auntie Ino or even your uncle Choji," she asks, hand held to her chest in mock hurt. "I didn't mean it like that, Auntie," he says holding his arms out to her. We stop for a second to let him trade people before we keep moving.
"I love you, Auntie Ino. I just wanna know more about Assuma and Iruka-sensei," he says as he hugs her. "Aw, it's okay, my little angel. I was just playing. Besides, you'll be seeing Uncle Choji and I a lot more than them," she says. "Well, maybe not Iruka-sensei," I interject. "What do you mean," she asks as I see the archway for the park come into view. "Well, enrollment at the Academy ends in two weeks, and Hikaku says that he wants to be a shinobi," I explain as he crawls his way back into my arms.
"AH, my little nephew, you want to be a shinobi, like your Auntie and Uncle," Ino asks. "You're a shinobi too, auntie," he gasps. "Hikaku, everyone that's gonna be at the party today are shinobi," I tell him. "Wow, really, so their all heroes and protectors like you and Papa," he asks, "That's right. We were known as the Konoha 12, because there was 12 us. Three genin students to one Jounin sensei," I say as we walk through the archway and towards the fountain where everybody is suppose to be.
"There is our little guest of the hour," Lee calls, bringing everyone to spot us on our way over. I let Hikaku down to go talk to everyone and watch from a few feet away as he listens to stories about battles and adventures and different pranks that we all pulled on our sensei. But, I do notice that someone is missing. That's when Hikaku comes over and I kneel down to see what's wrong. "What's the matter, little warrior," I ask, cupping his face and rubbing his cute little cheeks.
"Mama, where is Papa," he asks. "He'll be here, in a minute, he had something he had to do really quick," I tell him, before I notice his backpack slipping down his arms. "Do you want me to hold your backpack, sweetheart," I ask. "Only, if I can have Shika," he pouts, and I laugh while getting the stuffed deer out and handing it to him. "Why don't you go show Assuma," I tell him. His eyes light up and he goes running off.
I watch as Assuma is laying with his head in Kurenai's lap, completely unaware of the six-year-old that is hunting him, until he jumps and lands on his stomach. A laugh bubbles up from my chest, before I feel arms circling my waist. "You're late, Papa," I say. "Sorry, took a little longer than I thought it would," he chuckles against my shoulder. Its then that I notice Shikaku, Yoshino, and the rest of the InoShikaCho families trickling in as well.
Shika must have invited them.
"And, I found the last two members of team 7," he adds. I spin round in his arms in shock. "Sakura and Sasuke are here," I ask. He nods over behind me to the right. I turn around to see the two on the outskirts of the main group. I bound over to say hi.
"Sakura, Sasuke, guys, it's been forever since we've all been together," I squeal in happiness. "Well, Shikamaru said it was some kind of party with all the old teams, so I followed. I only just got in last night," Sasuke says. "Yeah, Ino never specifically said what it's for though," Sakura points out. "They didn't tell you," I ask, confused. They both shake their heads and I turn to find Hikaku.
"Hikaku," I call out and see him struggling to get out of Shikaku's arms and comes running over. "Coming, Mama," he calls as he runs towards me. Once he's close enough I scoop him up and turn back to my old teammates who are staring at me like I grew a second head. "Did he just say mama," Sakura asks. "Thats right, meet my son," I exclaim. "Hikaku, why don't you introduce yourself to my old team," I ask. "Um, I'm Nara Hikaku. Nice to meet you," he says shyly.
"Isn't he adorable," I ask before I peck his cheek and let him run back to his party. "A child? But, how," Sakura asks. "The last time we talked, you and Shikamaru were still dating and never said anything about a kid," she says. "We adopted him about a week ago," I explain. "We," Sasuke asks. "Me and Shikamaru, of course. I know usually that children come after the wedding, but since the wedding isn't scheduled till Spring," I leave it there.
"Wedding," he seems to be getting upset about something.
"Yeah, wedding. Oh, I guess you didn't know about that yet. Shika proposed a few months ago and I said yes," I explain. "Are you telling me that you're marrying that lazy sack of shit," with each word he seems to only get louder and louder. "Hey, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, Sasuke, but do not insult Shikamaru, okay," I defend. "Oh, now you're standing up for him," he yells.
The entire party has gone dead silent at this point, and I can feel everyone's eyes on us. "Are you telling me that after everything that happened when we were teenagers and all those times that you came after me, that you decided to run to him! Of all people! That after everything we went through together and survived, that he's the one who gets to have you! I've been out there, trying to make myself a better man, so that I could come back and finally have a future with you," he yells.
"Sasuke, what you even are talking about?! After everything we went through?! You're the one who left the village! You're the one who hurt me, over and over! You're the one who almost killed me three different times! Did you think I was doing that because I loved you," I ask.
"If you didn't love me then why did you do it?! Why did you never stop?! Why didn't you give up," he shouts back.
"Because, I promised Sakura that I would bring you back even if it killed me! Because, I do love you, but as a brother. As a best friend," I trail off, feeling the tears sliding down my cheeks. "And, this whole thing about 'getting to have me', I'm not some object or prize to be won. I've known since we were in the Academy that Shikamaru was different from all the other boys. That he was kinder, gentler, more understanding, than those who picked on me and belittled me. That he was compassionate, where others were self-absorbed and didn't care. The difference between you and him....... is that while you sat back and watched the whole village tear me down, Shikamaru was there every single damn time to make me smile and to show me that there is more in this world than the darkness that you embraced," I turn away and march away from him.
"Mama," a little voice cuts through the silence and I move over to Hikaku. "Come here, baby. Can Mama get a hug," I ask through the tears. He comes running over with Ino and Hinata in tow and I wrap my arms around him. I hold him as close as I can, trying to gather myself together, as I feel Ino and Hinata hug me as well. "It's okay to cry when you're hurt, Mama. I love you," he says and I feel more tears flow. "I love you, too, baby. Mama loves you, too. Thank you for the hug, little warrior. That's just what Mama needed to feel better," I sniffle and pull back to wipe away the tears, but he places his hands on my cheeks.
"It'll be okay, Mama. I'll protect you," he says as he starts to wipe my tears off my cheeks. Gods above, how is this angel, my child? Whatever I did right in my past life, I hope to repeat.
"Get the fuck out of here! Leave! You come here, pick a fight with my fiancée, make her cry, and ruin my son's party, and expect me to just let it go?! You better fucking leave before I end the Uchiha clan for good," I hear Shikamaru yelling behind me. I stand and hoist Hikaku into my arms, before the four of us move towards his voice. I get past Kiba and Kakashi, to see Shikaku and Assuma holding a struggling Shikamaru by his arms, as if trying to keep him away from Sasuke.
And, then I notice Sakura trying to pull Sasuke away, but he won't seem to move an inch. "Enough," I yell, causing Shikamaru stop struggling and Sakura to drop her hold on Sasuke. I make my way over to Shikamaru and hand him Hikaku, before pressing a kiss to Hikaku's cheek and Shikamaru's lips. Then, I turn to Sasuke.
"Leave, now. I don't want to see you anywhere near me, my son, or any of my family ever again. Is that understood," I state as I walk closer to him. "Naruko, I," he starts. "I don't want to hear your excuses. I don't care, Sasuke. I did what I had to save you, but that's it. I didn't do it for me. I didn't do it because I saw a future where we were together. Because, it never mattered if you were even part of my future. You weren't that important, and you still aren't. Even if I had loved you and done all those things for romantic love, do you honestly think I could still love you after leaving the village again. Did you think that I would wait on you," I ask, genuinely curious.
"I wouldn't have. But, it doesn't matter, because I love Shikamaru. I am going to marry him and once we're married, we'll have more kids. I don't know how many, but it doesn't matter because those children will be living breathing proof of how much we love each other. I am going to grow old and grey right beside him, because I chose him. Because, he is and always has been the better man," I cry, but this time tears of happiness. "So Sasuke Uchiha, goodbye," I state, before putting one hand on his chest and pushing.
He stumbles back one step, and I look over at Sakura who is also crying. "I'll take him away," she says, before tugging at his arm again and this time he follows. "Well, that was unexpected," Kakashi comments and just like that I can feel my anger dissipate and I let a laugh fall from my lips.
Gradually, everyone laughs and we turn back to the party. Shika and Hikaku come over I immediately pull my little boy back into my arms. "I love you, Mama," he says before pressing a kiss to my cheek. "And, I love you, little warrior," I reply. "Hey, I love you, too," Shika cries from beside us. I laugh and lean over to give him a kiss. "We love you, too, Papa," I tease.