Chapter 13
Madara couldn’t help but smile at his beautiful wife. She was radiant.
“Sages sake, what are you looking at,” she snapped, glaring at him.
And very grumpy. She was 2 days past her due date and everyone was feeling her irritation at that fact, especially him.
“I was just admiring you, you look beautiful today.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m fat and sweaty.” It was the hottest part of the summer, and it had been rough for all of them but especially Tobirama who was at the end of her pregnancy.
“And I think you look beautiful still.”
“You’re just trying to butter me up because you ruined my favorite kimono this morning.”
“I really am sorry about that, I didn’t mean to spill the ink pot on you.”
“Mhm. Sure.”
Madara walked up to her and held her face in his hands. “You really are beautiful. Also you’re not fat, you’re pregnant. Not to mention you look good pregnant, not everyone can pull it off but you do.” He gave her a cheesy grin as he said this.
Tobirama just rolled her eyes at him. She knew what she looked like right now, Her braid was coming apart, leaving strands of it sticking to her face because of the sweat. Her yukata is in disarray because she had pulled it apart a bit in an attempt to cool down a little. All in all she was a mess and she knew it.
Madara brushed some of her hair out of her face and she cringed sure he must feel just how sweaty she really was.
“I love you, nothing could make me find you anything other than beautiful,” Madara smiled softly at her.
He really did make it hard to be mad at him. That kimono had been her favorite though, it had been a gift from Izuna after a mission to the land of waves. It had been the softest silk she had ever felt and was detailed with a beautiful wave pattern, and more importantly it was the only kimono she had that fit her pregnant body.
“You’re lucky I’m about to not be pregnant any more, if I had to go through pregnancy without it I would be really mad. You’ll have to get me a new one when I get pregnant with your baby.”
“What are you talking about? This is my baby,” he kissed her forehead as he said it.
Yeah she really couldn’t be mad at him when he was sweet like this and he 100 percent knew it and used it to his advantage.
“You know what I mean, I was talking about when we make a little brother or sister for this little one.” Tobirama said while pointing at her belly.
“As long as you don't forget he is mine too.” Madara was certain she was having a boy, it had become a bit of a competition between Izuna and him. They had bet cooking dinner for a month on being right.
Madara was looking forward to becoming a father. He loved this baby already and he was so thankful Tobirama had decided to keep the baby. He would have supported her no matter what of course but he was really happy he would get to have both of them.
“I won't. You’re a good man, Uchiha Madara. I’m proud to call you my husband.”
“The feeling is entirely mutual.”
Tobirama leaned up and kissed him on the lips. It didn’t take long before things got more intense. Madara let his hands drop to her lower back to press her fully against him. Tobirama let out a quiet moan.
Just as Madara was about to suggest they take things to the bedroom Tobirama pulled back and gripped her stomach.
“Oh.”
“Oh? Oh what? Is the baby okay?” Madara’s hands started to run down her body as if he would somehow be able to discern what the problem was by touch alone.
“Yes, yes it’s all fine, I think, that one just hurt a lot more than the others..”
“You think? What hurt more?”
“I’m pretty sure the baby is coming.”
“What do you mean the baby is coming? Isn’t that supposed to take a long time?”
“I’ve been having contractions since last night, over the last hour they have been getting closer together. These last two were less than 5 minutes apart and considerably more painful.”
“Are you serious? Why didn’t you tell anyone? I was with you all night last night and this morning! Why wouldn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you until I was sure it was turning into active labor.”
“Tobirama! This is the kind of thing you tell people so we can be there for you and help you through it.”
“I’m telling you now. It wasn’t relevant before.”
Madara cursed his wife's stubbornness. Truly no one could match her for it. Of course she would find the fact that she was in pain and having contractions as irrelevant.
“Do you want me to summon Hashirama? Or your grandmother or Touka? How long do you think you have?”
“It usually takes anywhere from 4 to 12 hours, if you summon them now they may make it, but I didn’t ask for them sooner because I don’t need them until she is here. The only one I want by my side right now is you.” Tobirama turned bright red with these words. He loved the way she still sometimes got shy when she talked about her feelings.
“Then I will be there the whole time. Come lay down, I’ll summon Mai.”
“It's actually better that I stay standing, walking can help make labor faster.” Madara just nodded, he remembered reading that in the pregnancy book they had.
“Can I get you anything before I leave?”
“No thank you, I’m fine. If I do need something I can ask Izuna, I can feel him approaching the house.” Tobirama smiled, before grimacing with another contraction.
He really was impressed with her. If she hadn’t told him she was having contractions he wouldn’t have guessed it, she was far better at hiding her pain than he had realized. But then he hadn’t seen her in physical pain like this before, so what did he really know about her ability to handle pain?
“Okay I’ll be right back.” Madara said before kissing her once again on the forehead.
Tobirama nodded at him and started walking in circles.
It didn’t take long to get to Mai’s house but he made a quick detour to send a letter, via his personal hawk, to Hashirama.
Once he got to Mai’s he filled her in on the situation and they both, along with Kagami, who said he needed to be there for Tobi-sensei, headed back to his house.
When they got there they saw Tobirama doing her katas. Madara was seriously alarmed.
“Are you training right now?” He asked incredulously.
“Of course not, stretching is good for labor, it can help manage pain and make things move faster.”
“They don’t usually mean katas Tobirama. Usually women practice yoga,” Mai interrupted.
“It’s close enough for me.”
Kagami came up to Tobirama’s side, causing her to finally stop her movements, to Madara’s relief, and pulled on her hand. “Are you really going to have your baby now?”
Tobirama smiled kindly at him, “I am, are you excited to meet her?”
“I can't wait! I’m going to teach her all the best places to hide, and all the grannies that give away free treats!” The adults laughed at this.
“She will be very lucky to have you.”
For the next few hours the five of them, because Izuna had come home and hung out with them too, kept Tobirama company as she paced around the room and did adjusted katas to move her labor along.
Eventually though it was almost time to push so zuna took Kagami out to wait in the living room until the baby was born.
**********
“What do you think the baby will look like?” Kagami asked, with childlike wonder in his eyes.
“Like all babies, squishy and red.”
“No! I mean what will the baby look like? Do you think it will look like Tobi-sensei or Madara?”
Izuna froze, of course Kagami wouldn’t know Madara wasn’t the father of the baby. As long as he had been aware she was pregnant, she and Madara had been in a relationship.
“Oh, buddy. The baby wont look like Madara.”
Kagami tilted his head in confusion. “Why not?”
“Madara isn’t actually the baby’s dad.”
“He isn’t? Then who is? Why does Madara say he is the dad?”
Well this was complicated. He wasn’t about to talk about rape with a 9 year old. But he had to say something. And what if he asked where the dad was? He was so not prepared for this.
“The baby’s dad is dead. Madara is going to be the baby’s dad in every other way though.”
“Oh, okay. So what does the dad look like?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never met the dad. But he doesn’t matter, what matters is who is there for Tobirama and the baby.”
Kagami tilted his head like he was considering this. “Alright then. I guess we are going to have to wait until she is born to see what she looks like.”
Izuna ruffled his hair and laughed, “yeah I guess we will.”
Damn he had dodged a bullet. Thank goodness that kid didn’t have any more questions. He really didn’t know how he would have responded if the kid wanted to know more.
“Let's go make dinner, I’m sure everyone will be hungry soon.”
After another hour, Izuna was notified by the gate guards that Hashirama and Akari were approaching. So Izuna took Kagami with him to greet them both.
“Izuna! Where is my sister, has she already had the baby?”
“She’s at home and no she hasn’t, but don't go barging in there, she doesn’t want anyone else in the room with her.”
“But I’m her brother I should be there with her.” Akari put a hand on Hashirama’s shoulder and shushed him.
“We understand,” she said with a nod.
“Come with me, I’ll get you settled where you will be staying the night. We’ve prepared a guest house for you.”
“I appreciate the hospitality but I’d like to just get to your house so we can be there when she gives birth.”
Nodding at Akari, Izuna said, “of course. I’ll lead you there.”
When they entered the house it was to the sounds of shouted profanities.
At this Akari laughed, “well doesn’t sound like we will be waiting long to find out if I was right and it is a little boy.”
It took only another 15 minutes more before Madara invited them in.
Tobirama was laying in bed holding the cutest little baby with a head full of silver hair.
Madara nudged him with his elbow. “You were right.”
“I was? It’s a girl?” Izuna broke out in a huge grin. “I knew it!” Then he turned to Hashirama and punched him in the shoulder saying, “I told you so!”
Tobirama laughed, “do you want to hold her?”
“Really? Before Hashirama or your grandmother?”
“I think since they were both wrong about her being a boy you get first dibs.”
“Yes then, I would love to hold her.” Izuna stepped closer to Tobirama’s side and held out his arms for her to gently place the baby in them, wrapped in a light blanket, to him.
She was perfect, her big dark eyes looking up at him. He fell in love at that moment, and he promised himself his niece would want for nothing. He would do anything for this little girl. He softly brushed his fingers into her fluffy silver hair. “What’s her name?”
“Her name is Kumiko. Uchiha Kumiko.” Madara answered.