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As Tsukiko's fingers danced distractingly along the length of the wooden crib, her eyes focused on the two sleeping babies inside. It appeared that Gaara had placed them into their crib to sleep after she had fallen asleep. Tsukiko knew that she had slept in Gaara's embrace because it was the one place where sleep was the most peaceful. And when she had woken up, he was still asleep, and she let him sleep his exhaustion off while she slipped out of his arms.

Tsukiko saw them properly now – her two babies, as they dozed off, and she wondered how she was blessed enough to bring the pair of them into the world. Her hand reached for her stomach, feeling the strain that she had felt during that process – how much had she had given of herself to bring them into the same world that she had felt so bittersweet about.

It was a worrying thought for Tsukiko. She had always been worried about the lives of those who she loved. She had always been worried about Gaara, who was the leader of a country and her husband. Every night, she had growing worries. And now... there were her own children in this cruel world.

Hakuren and Shirayuri – Tsukiko had been looking forward to their arrival so much but now she wondered if she did well by subjecting to the sorrows of the world. The pain of their wide world outweighed the pleasures within it. Tsukiko let out a deep sigh.

"... kiko?" came the sleepy voice of her husband, swallowing half her name in his yawn, and before Tsukiko could turn around, she felt his arms reach to hug her from behind. "You woke up before I did?"

"You looked so comfortable that I couldn't have woken you up even if I wanted to," Tsukiko replied, giving him a smile over her shoulder and allowing herself to drown in his embrace.

"I was only comfortable because you were there," Gaara admitted against the skin of her shoulder. "... I heard you sigh... and it was heavy... are you feeling sickly, my love? Do you want me to call someone to have a look? I can accompany you,"

"Oh, no, I feel absolutely fine," Tsukiko assured him quickly. "My body has recovered its strength, and I feel good after having that lunch – mostly because you were the one who fed it to me,"

Even when Tsukiko had spoken lightly and with a smile, Gaara had not responded it similarly. He gently turned her around so that she faced him completely. He pulled her against himself so much that she had to look right up at him, burying his eyes into hers in the meagre light of the moon. Tsukiko continued to stare back into his pale green eyes that had darkened in the night.

"Tsukiko, my love, I have known you in every season of this world," Gaara spoke. "In the laughter of youth, in the sorrow of adolescence, in the pain of the past and the worry of future. You're always so optimistic in every phase of your life. I... can see the fear in you tonight,"

There was nothing that Tsukiko could say to that. She had always known that Gaara knew her well – he knew her better than she knew herself at times. But to know that her emotions were so openly displayed to him that she didn't even have to use her words... it was a strange feeling.

"... Gaara," breathed Tsukiko, her eyes stinging with tears. "I was... we have brought our children into this world, and now I wonder... if I would be a good mother? Would I let them be or would I be suffocating? I have never raised anyone, much less two... I feel too... I feel so worried..."

"Tsukiko," said Gaara, taking her face in his hands. "I know... I know what you feel... and those feelings are valid. I feel fearful, too, when I think about your safety, and the safety of our children. If I could, I would hide you three away in my heart. But I know I must trust in my ability to keep you safe and happy in front of my eyes instead.

"You are feeling something similar to me so I truly understand it. And we feel the same about our children. But you feel like you are alone in this... but my love," He stroked her cheeks with his warm fingers. "You are not alone. I am your husband, and you are my wife, and these two babies are our children. Let us work together to make sure that they are healthy, happy and humans as loving as you are,"

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⏰ Last updated: Nov 26, 2022 ⏰

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