Love's Test of Time (Madara Uchiha x OC)

XVI - Arrival

Songs:
One Day - Ten Towers
Two - Sleeping At Last
Angel - FINNEAS

~~~

Another four and a half weeks passed smoothly. A day after we played in the snow, Kakashi brought us some art supplies like brushes, paints, pencils, and canvases. Madara and I used them to pass the time and stay sane since it gave us something to do instead of worrying. 

At eight and a half months, my belly had expanded so much I could barely move. Everyday tasks were very hard to complete and I laughed at the idea of sleeping comfortably.

About a week ago, I felt a lightening sensation which meant the boys had dropped lower, and, since two days ago, I've been having back pain and cramping sensations intermittently so I expected them to come soon. It made me incredibly nervous and excited all at once.

Right now, I laid under the covers, curled up next to Madara as he drew on a canvas. The sounds of his pencil scrapping the canvas lulled me into a light sleep and it wasn't till several seconds later that I realized he had been talking to me.

"—and it'll be okay, you know?" He glanced at me and my eyes fluttered open, gazing up at him. "Oh, sorry, did I wake you up?" He questioned.

I gave a slight shake of my head. "It's okay, I was getting uncomfortable anyway." I snuggled closer to his side, trying to find a more pleasant position. "And hungry..." I mumbled.

"What do you want to eat?" He asked, setting his pencil on the nightstand and placing the canvas at the end of the bed.

I thought about it then answered him. "I think I'm craving pickles. And maybe crackers with some cheese."

He chuckled slightly. "Okay, I'll be right back." He leaned down to kiss my head then left the room. I sighed deeply, finally snuggling in a super comfortable position. But of course, several minutes later, the need to relieve myself made me get up and use the bathroom.

Afterward, I climbed back under the covers but the picture Madara had been drawing caught my eye and I turned to gaze at it. It was a sketch of me in my kimono from the festival. I was smiling wide, holding the stuffed bear on one hip and three coupons in my other hand.

I reached out and grabbed the picture, holding it up. It was breathtakingly beautiful. I don't even think I looked this good... Is this how he saw me? Tears welled in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. And why would he draw me from the festival? Does that day still haunt him?

The door opening broke my thoughts but I didn't take my focus off the picture. Madara came over to set the tray of food on the bed and noticed my tears. "Is everything okay?" He questioned, looking at me in concern.

"Why did you draw me from the festival?" I voiced my question, trying to hold back my tears.

He grabbed the picture from my hands and placed it on the desk, setting the tray of food in front of me instead. He sat next to me and cleared his throat gently. "A few months after you were taken, I decided to start drawing you so I would never forget what you looked like."

He paused and began chuckling. "At first, you looked like a blocky stick figure, but after several years, I got really good at it, and you almost came to life on the paper. I drew and painted so many different pictures of you that I lost count. And when looking through them, it was as if I were staring at the real you, and I would oftentimes cry."

He reached up then to wipe away several tears that had found their way down my cheeks. "It's okay Lea, you don't have to feel bad about it anymore. You're here now and that's all that matters," He whispered, giving me a small smile.