Adoration

Itachi stilled at the door.

There was an ominous feeling in the air. Dark and heavy. It made it hard to breathe. It was similar to the rush that ran through him on an S-Class mission two years ago when he'd stepped into a cave only to realize that it was painted in the blood of dozens of his comrades. And without warning, his sharingan activated. Ready to kill. Ready to maim and slowly torture whoever had—

"Itachi!" his wife ran, crying into his arms.

Her hair was a mess, her loose kimono top falling from one shoulder, as she gripped him hard enough to make him wince. But he was Uchiha Itachi, and his face remained as stoic as ever. Only his eyes betrayed him, flashing with concern at her frazzled state.

Barely six hours gone, and she was literally breaking down in front of him.

He held her gently, making sure to pivot himself in such a way that he wasn't pressing against her large, seven month pregnant belly that held their precious son.

"What's wrong, Hinata?" he prompted, grasping her chin to make her look up at him.

"Where were you?" she half-sobbed, half-screamed. Clearly not sure whether to be upset with him or sad at... well, he didn't know really. "You didn't come back for dinner!"

"I told you I had a mission remember?" he said, closing the door behind him, so the neighbors wouldn't hear.

She cried harder.

God, help him. He hated making her cry, but how in the world was he supposed to fix this? He wiped her tears away with his thumbs, trying and failing to get her to stop.

"I'm here now," he offered. "What did you need?"

To his surprise, she gently pushed his hands away. Her tears were beginning to clear up, but her nose hadn't. And when she spoke, her voice came out nasally.

"You smell," she declared pressing the pads of her small fingers to her wrinkled nose and rubbing it. The fact that she could smell him, despite all that snot was a testament to just how true that statement was.

That didn't stop him from thinking how adorable her sniffling was. Itachi wanted to tell her so. But the last time he called her cute, she'd gotten angry at him for reasons he still didn't understand. Then she'd, in no uncertain terms, stated that she wanted sweet bread from a bakery all the way across town. He didn't mind going to get it for her or using his inhuman speed and high-level jutsus to fuel him, but he never thought he'd ever use the body flicker technique to run errands.

The moment he appeared before that tiny shop was still fresh in his mind. The owner had screamed and almost bloodied his ears with the sound. Then proceeded to bad mouth all Uchiha's after that, despite the generous tip he had given her. It went on for two whole weeks, until Shisui had flashed the old woman a heart-stopping smile, and she completely changed her tune. Not even an hour later, and everyone in the clan had begun teasing him about his new cougar.

Way to take one for the clan, cousin.

"Are you listening to me?" Hinata suddenly asked.

Itachi stilled.

He didn't even know she was talking.

"Of course," he lied, quickly pressing a kiss on her lips to appease her—and to silence any doubts.

She smiled happily at him. And he was at least glad that his kisses still worked.

"I'm going to take a shower," Itachi said, already slipping off his shirt. But he stopped once she caught his elbow. Itachi turned, blood draining from his face when she stared crying again. "W... What's wrong?"

"Don't undress in front of me!" she yelled, arms going around her stomach self-consciously. "I'm fat right now and y—you're—"

Itachi pinched the bridge of his nose, refraining from making a comment about how much of a cinnamon bun eating monster she was. He could usually get away with light teasing, but recently, she'd get irrationally angry, cry, then either fall asleep or talk happily and hug him, as if she hadn't just been upset two minutes prior.

It was, for lack of a better word, hell.

He'd always been prone to headaches, and her contradictions these past few months did nothing to ease the problem. Itachi distinctly recalled barely being able to keep up with her and her ridiculous libido not even four months ago. She hated when he put on clothes then. Itachi needed that Hinata back.

"Hina—"

"You're angry!" she shouted, burying her face in her hands. "I—I'm sorry! I know I'm being difficult. The hormones are acting up, but it's just so hard to look at you when you're like that and I'm like..." she trailed off, bowing her head dejectedly.

Itachi sighed and spread his arms wide.

"Would it help if you touched me?"

She peeked through her fingers, crimson blush already staining her cheeks. "B—But..." she looked down at her stomach again, then at him, before vehemently shaking her head. "You need to take a bath first!"

He raised an eyebrow.

So, he was the problem?