My Sunshine

Happy Endings - Sai

Sai had barely left his wife's side since she was poisoned.  The last two months had been touch and go with his beloved, but he was determined to pull Ino through this with as little trauma as possible.  The Nara's had rallied around their family, helping them with anything that was needed.  Tonight, Sai was happy that his little family was spending the evening together at home.

He handed her a cup of milk tea as she sat on the couch with a blanket covering her lap. After two months, Ino was finally getting her strength back. While she wasn't as weak as Shikamaru had been, her coordination had been sloppy and she had lost the ability to walk for a brief time. She now walked much like a newborn fawn, trying to get her muscle strength and muscle memory back, but it was getting better every day.  It was progress.  Soon, she would be walking like before and all of this would be in the past.

But, for now, he had her comfortable on the couch, warm in front of the hearth. Inojin was asleep next to her, his head resting on her thigh as he clung onto his bedtime book for the evening, the one that Sai had read to him three times tonight as Ino listened.  He looked like a little blue fox in his footie pajamas with the eared hood and little tail.

Placing a few more logs onto the hearth, he turned and took in the peaceful scene: his wife and their son, resting comfortably.

Ino smiled at him as her slightly shaking hands held her mug. He smiled back at her.

"Why don't you let me put Inojin in bed and we can spend some time together."

"Okay."

He picked up their sleeping son and placed him in the nursery down the hallway, giving him a goodnight kiss and tucking him in before returning to his bride. Sitting next to her, he kissed her tenderly. She handed him the mug to put on the side table so she could raise a shaky hand and touch the side of his face tenderly. He reached up and put his hand over hers, holding it against his cheek.

"I love you, Ino-chan. You're getting so much stronger."

She wrinkled her nose adorably.

"I'm getting there. You've been a great help to me. And Inojin. You honor our clan, Sai."

He placed his forehead against hers.

"I don;t know how honorable I am. I'm still having nightmares about your attack."

"I'm okay, Sai. You saved me."

"But... your body curled so unnaturally...and the sounds you made were unlike anything I've ever heard..."

He felt himself shudder involuntarily as the awful memory played out again in his mind.  She put her still weak arms around his shoulders.

"You sweet boy. I'm safe because you got there just in time. I'm so lucky to have you. And, Haru caught the man who was pedaling the poison. And you neutralized his right hand man. Now, let's not dwell in the bad stuff. I'm getting better. We're safe. And I have the most amazing husband on the planet."

A grin spread across his face.

"Sorry, sometimes the emotions are overwhelming."

"Everyone feels that way sometimes, Sai-kun."

He kissed her slowly and lovingly, leaning in and tasting the newly healed skin above her right breast.  It still tasted raw.  He kissed her new scar lovingly. 

"I do wish I could've taken you to the Winter Festival."

From the couch, there was the faint sounds of the festival going on down the street without them.

"Nah, this is perfect. Besides, I would've ended up hanging out with Haru, and she doesn't need me around tonight."

"Huh? Why not?"

Ino giggled.

"Haru is going to ask Iruka to marry her tonight."

"That's great!"

"She knows he won't ask her. He's afraid that he's going to trap her, and she knows it. So she went and bought a wedding band for him and she's planning on asking him tonight."

"They are well suited for each other."

"I think so, too.  I hope they both get their happy ending."

He grinned at her.

"Maybe you could give me a happy ending tonight as well..."

She laughed before kissing him passionately.

"You're going to have to be on top still."

"I've got you, Beautiful.  Deep and gentle."

She giggled.  Sai picked up his precious bride, carrying her to their bedroom, ready to satisfy her and pamper her, ready to make her well again.