Why

(AN) Sorry I know it’s been a long while since I updated but I’ve been stuck in a box of blocks and couldn’t think of what to write next. And I must thank a few of my reviewers who pointed out something that both my beta and I missed. “The link between Naruto and Sasuke and why it wasn’t working”. And I hope that by the end of this chapter I’ll have explained it enough to sooth all your confusion at least a little. Thank you all for reading and please review it does help to know what you all think. This one is almost done so I hope you’ve all enjoyed it. now here comes what we've all been waiting for. now I've never been present during delivery before soo eh it's just for drama's sake that I tried. (AN)

Beta: vampchic

Why

Chapter 17


"Naruto, what do you think of these?" Sakura asked, holding up a pattern for crib bedding.


"I love stars. That one's really cute, too," Naruto said smiling at her. "Think Sasuke will like it?" Rubbing his back slightly, he patted the bump in front, wincing slightly at a hard kick.


"Naruto, I think he'd love it as long as you do. You know what he did to your bedroom just to make it special. He can't complain about the color since its blue, and yellow and will go great with some of the other things we've already picked up for the little one."


"Okay, I'm sold," Naruto smiled brightly.


"How are you doing? You're looking a bit uncomfortable," Sakura pointed out as Naruto's hand never stopped its massaging motions.


"Hmm…being as big as I am, I'm bound to be uncomfortable, Sakura. The bump's just being a little more rambunctious today," he sighed.


"How long has your back been hurting?" she asked casually.


"Umm, since this morning? I think I slept wrong and the bump didn't like it," he answered, walking around the shop some more.


"You two really need to come up with some names. The poor kid will think its name is "Bump" otherwise," Sakura said, laughing to cover her unease. Naruto was two weeks away from his due date and she was starting to worry that he wouldn't make it.


"Don't worry, we'll come up with something by the time the kid's three," Naruto joked. "No, really, we've come down to a name each for either girl or boy. No, I'm not sharing them until they're born, so don't ask," he said, wincing at a hard kick.


"When's your next appointment with Hokage-sama?" Sakura asked, knowing it had to be soon.


"Oh, tomorrow. Sasuke thinks I should be resting right now instead of shopping for our kid. I asked him then how we'll have bedding and clothes and diapers and such for the baby if I didn't do the shopping now. He huffed a bit, but finally let me go saying I had to rest a lot or something along those lines," Naruto said nonchalantly as he pulled a few outfits off a rack that could work for either a boy or a girl.


"Well, he's right, you know. You should be resting. You're about to give birth – you need to save up some of that energy for when you'll be rather exhausted," she informed.


Finally they picked the last of what they wanted from the baby store and paid. Sakura, who was holding most of the purchases, frowned as they began their walk back to Naruto and Sasuke's house.


"Ow…." Naruto panted, stopping two blocks from his house. "Sakura…umm, I don't feel so good…" Naruto trailed off, dropping the one bag he was holding.


"Oh, kami. Sasuke - is he home?" she asked quickly.


"Yes, he was working in the garden today…" Naruto said, taking a deep breath. "Home - we need to get me home…" he said picking the bag back up as he began to slowly make his way to his house.


Sakura helped Naruto the best she could the few blocks back to Naruto and Sasuke's house. Once through the front door she began yelling for him.


"Sasuke? Uchiha Sasuke, get your ass here, NOW!!" she called out, hoping he heard her.


"Sakura? What are you shouting about?" Sasuke called out, moving quickly towards her. "Naruto?" he asked, finding Naruto leaning against a wall panting. "What's wrong?"


"Baby!" Naruto panted, holding his stomach.


"What?! Okay, we can do this. Sakura get Hokage-sama," Sasuke ordered while he set about helping Naruto to their bed.


"Suke…" Naruto whimpered. "Don't know if I can go through with this."


"I know you can, saiai, you're strong - our child will be beautiful. You're going to do wonderfully. I know you'll be good at this," Sasuke encouraged, kissing his forehead.


The door slammed against the wall as the Hokage came bursting into the bedroom.


"How are you doing, Naruto?" she asked, taking his vitals and the positioning of the baby.


"Could be better!" he joked weakly.


Tsunade smiled softly at him. "Lets take a look, see which way this baby's coming out, hmm," she said, directing Sasuke to undress his husband for them.


"Wait, where do you think you're looking?" Naruto screeched moving to cover himself.


"Naruto, we talked about this. We don't know for sure if you're able to give
birth naturally or if we have to do a cesarean. Let me have a quick look and
we'll see what we're dealing with, okay.

"If we have to do a cesarean, then we'll be going to the hospital. I don't have the means to do a home birth that way," Tsunade said, pulling a sheet over his lower region.


Nodding softly, Naruto let his legs fall apart so she could look. A small gasp made him jump and want to pull his legs back together.


"Okay, Naruto, you're going to feel some pressure…I'm just checking to see how dilated you are, okay?" she asked, looking up into his worried eyes. Getting a small nod, she proceeded.


Naruto looked up into Sasuke's eyes, trying to ignore the feel of fingers
pressing on his opening.


"How are you doing, Naruto?" she asked, rubbing his stomach slightly as she continued her exam.


"So am I having our baby here?" Naruto asked softly, wanting to get his child out of him before the little being tore his insides out.


"Well, so far, you're dilated to four centimeters. So, yes, it looks like you'll be able to have your child here. We just have to wait until your body is completely ready."


"So, um…how much longer, then?" Naruto asked as she had finished her exam.


"Well, we have to wait until you're fully dilated. How long have you been having contractions?"


"My back's been killing me all day and the baby's been doing super kicks…. I didn't know I was having contractions at the time," he trailed off, blushing with embracement.


"Well, all we have to wait for now is for your water to break and you to be fully dilated. Not so hard right?" she said, smiling at the younger man.


"Right, not so hard," he mumbled back.


"You just lie there and try to stay as comfortable as possible, hmm."


Nodding his head he leaned back on the bed and closed his eyes, sighing; for once that day that he wasn't feeling a constant pain… it came in spurts now.


"Sasuke, I'll be back in a little while to check him again. Sakura will stay with you and try to help out as much as possible. Hopefully by the end of the day, you'll be holding your child."


"Thank you, Hokage-sama."


"Think nothing of it," she said before leaving the house.


Sasuke walked back into the bedroom to find Sakura going through some bags.


"What are you doing, Sakura? Naruto should be resting," he said, partially annoyed.


"He wanted to look at what we bought today for your child. That way I know what I need to wash for your child right now," she said huffily.


"I'm fine, Suke. I'm just having a baby here. I want something cute for our child to wear and sleep in when they're born, so let us sort it all out; it'll help me relax better," Naruto said in his calm voice that always unnerved Sasuke.


"Alright, fine, just tell me what you want me to do to help and I will." Sasuke said, wondering how Naruto was being so calm when he was about to have a baby.


Knowing that Sasuke would need a task to help him stay calm, Naruto nodded his head and smiled softly at him.


"Why don't you go get Kakashi sensei and Iruka? If anything, they can keep you company while we wait for the bump to be born. I'm fine here with Sakura and it shouldn't take you very long to find at least one of them," he offered, knowing Iruka would want to be here regardless of if it would help Naruto's husband.


Smiling at his all knowing husband, Sasuke nodded quickly before pressing a quick kiss to Naruto's forehead and another to his protruding stomach before he ran out the room, calling out, "I'll be right back, love."


Sakura just smiled the whole time, knowing Sasuke and Naruto as she did. "Very well done there, Naruto. I figured he'd wear a hole in the floor soon," she said chuckling.


"Hmm, yes, I figured they could keep him company until it's time to push the kid out," Naruto said, wincing at a very strong contraction. "How long does this normally take?" he suddenly whimpered, hating how his body was tightening with every contraction.


"It depends every case is different. Some will have really quick labors, only taking a few short hours, and others…it could take days.

"But knowing you and Sasuke, your kid will not want to wait too long," she said, smiling at him. "Here, why don't you roll over on your side and I'll
rub your back, that might help with some of the discomfort."

++++++++

Sasuke ran through the village, his smile wide and his feet uncaring. Quickly he made it to Iruka and Kakashi's apartment, knocking on the door in a fast motion.


"Okay, okay," Iruka called out as he walked to the door. Jerkily, he pulled the door open. "Sasuke?" he asked, seeing the panting man.


"Naruto…baby coming…Kakashi home?" Sasuke panted happily.


"Naruto, the baby…." Iruka repeated, his eye's going wide. "KAKASHI!" Iruka called out as he pulled his shoes on.


"What is it? Are you bleeding?" Kakashi asked as he ran out of a room towards his lover.


"Naruto's having the baby!" Iruka announced excitedly.


Pulling his shoes on quickly, Kakashi followed the other two back across the village towards Naruto.


+++++


"Ow," Naruto whimpered again. "I think they're coming on faster now!" he said as Sakura rubbed his back.


"I know, and as soon as Sasuke gets back, I'll go get Hokage_sama to give you another check up, 'kay?"


"Okay," he said softly as he rubbed his stomach, trying to sooth his child.


"Naruto?" Sasuke said, walking back into the bedroom fourty minutes later. "What's wrong? You're not looking to good. Saiai," Sasuke said, looking between his husband and Sakura, who looked nervous.


"I'm going to go get Hokage-sama, Sasuke. Come over here and rub his back, it seems to help a little," she said, getting off the bed and walking quickly towards the bedroom door.


"Suke?" Naruto sighed as he felt his loves hands stroke his back. "I think our child's in a hurry to meet us," he said, pressing back into the strong hands.


"Hey there, kiddo, how are you doing," Iruka asked, crouching down on the other side of Naruto's bed.


"Iruka, how're you doing?" Naruto asked, smiling at his father figure.


"I'm good, but I hear you've got a baby on the way, here," he said, resting a hand on top Naruto's.


"Yeah, the bump seems to want to greet all its family," he said, just as a
hard kick greeted both their hands.


They both smiled at that as silence covered the small group while they
waited for Tsunade to return.

++++++

"How are you doing, Naruto?" Tsunade asked as she walked into the room.


"Oh, I could be a lot better," Naruto said softly


Tsunade nodded and quickly examined him to determine how far along he was now.


"Naruto, when I said you'd be having a child today I didn't mean this soon," she chucked. "You're now at seven centimeters. Your water hasn't broken yet, so I'll repeat, 'just lay there and relax, in no time at all, you'll be having a screaming baby here," she said, patting his shoulder lightly.


"Okay..." Naruto sighed.


"How are you feeling?" she asked after listening to him sigh.


"Horrible. I'm hot and I feel kinda shaky, too. Though, that's probably just
nerves."


Nodding her head, she took his temperature, frowning at the slightly elevated reading. "You're running a slight fever, but all I can give you for that is cold rags and ice chips," she said, looking at him.


"How much longer until I can crap this kid out?" he said, quite vulgar in his feelings at the moment.


"Not long, I'm sure," she said ignoring his comment.


"I need to pee," he suddenly announced.

+++++++

A few hours passed before Naruto made a sudden squeak.


Everyone in the room turned to look at him.


"What's wrong?" Tsunade asked.


"Umm, I think that maybe my water just broke," he said, trying to move the blanket currently covering him.


Lifting the blanket from him, Tsunade nodded her head.


"Suke, were going to need a new bed - you know this, right?" Naruto asked
meekly.


"Don't worry about the bed love. You'll have a new one tomorrow."


"Thank you," he blushed.


"Okay, Naruto, it looks to be just about time. You're fully dilated now and the baby feels to be in the right position. So, next contraction, feel free to push," she said, getting everything into place.


On his next contraction, Naruto pushed.

+++++++

An hour and a half later, Naruto laid panting, his body trembling and sweat pouring off him.


"Suke, I can't do it anymore," he cried.


"Yes, you can! You're too stubborn to give up now - you're almost finished. Come on, just one more push, baby," Sasuke encouraged his tired husband.


Nodding, Naruto dug deep and on the next contraction, pushed as hard as he
could. And he felt it, his child completely coming free of his body.


"You did it!" Sasuke exclaimed, kissing his forehead, cheek, lips…anything he could reach.


"Congratulations, Naruto, you have a healthy son," Tsunade said, placing the new born on Naruto's chest while the after birth was cleaned up. "Sakura will clean him up now, Naruto’s" she said, handing the child to Sakura.


"What shall you name him?"


"He hasn't cried yet!" Naruto pointed out.


"He's whimpering very softly, Naruto," Sakura assured him.


"Thank you," he said softly. "Kiyoshi," he murmured, peering at his half sleeping child.


"What was that, Naruto?" Sakura asked, still standing by his bed.


"His name, Sakura, its Kiyoshi," he said, meeting her eyes as he smiled.


~Our son!~ Sasuke thought, smiling down at Naruto and Kiyoshi.


~He's beautiful, isn't he?"~ Naruto said back.


"You can hear me again? Oh gods, I thought it would be gone forever." Sasuke exclaimed.


"I think it was because of Kiyoshi," Naruto said, happy he could hear his love again.


"You have your link back?" Tsunade said when she had finished doing her bit of clean up.


"It appears so, Hokage-sama," Sasuke said


"Naruto, how does it feel?" she asked.


"Oh, I feel much better. Though I'm starting to get quite tired," he answered, looking towards his husband. ~Can you take him? I don't want to hurt him if I pass out,"~ he said, holding back a yawn.


Nodding his head, Sasuke gently picked his son up, cuddling him close.


Holding his child for the first time, Sasuke faded everything around him out. He never noticed when Naruto had fallen into some much needed sleep or when Kakashi and Iruka came in; he was in aw.

++++

As the next day dawned, Sasuke was in the process of struggling a new mattress up to their bedroom.


In the bedroom, Naruto sat, feeding their son as he talked with Iruka.


"He's beautiful, Naruto," Iruka said as he peered at the child suckling the nipple of the bottle he was being fed from. "Any clues on eye color yet?"


"Hmm, I think they're going to be dark. Sasuke thinks blue. I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Naruto said, smiling tiredly down at his son.


Once everything was settled, Naruto had a new clean bed to sleep on and they were content with how their lives were.

(tbc)

Only a chapter maybe 2 more left of this story I hope you’ve all enjoyed it thus far and happy Christmas… merry holiday’s….

As always
~lost in a thought~