Broken

Chapter 53: Beauty from Pain

Naruto looked at the laptop screen, taking notes for the classes he was taking, which was the core. He rather get those done earlier compared to waiting. Stopping with his pencil still sitting on the paper, his hand fell to the fully extended womb that contained his unborn son. "It just had to be a muscle spasm."

He wanted to convince himself that it was just it. Shizune already told them about Braxton-Hicks, which was where the uterine wall was getting ready for labor. Looking at the date on his computer, he saw it was the date he was given for the birth of their son.

It was also Kisame's birthday and he still had to call his old mentor to wish him a happy birthday. Even though he was coming over after school for a small party they were hosting for him.

"How's everything coming along?" Itachi purred as he sat on the arm of the couch and pulled the blond close.

"Fine." Naruto lied even though that wave of pain hit him when he was taking his notes.

Pecking his husband's cheek, Itachi got up from where he sat and walked to the backdoor and looked out.

"Itachi, I've offered it I don't know how many times but if you want to go get another cat . . . we can go." Naruto offered as he looked over the back of the couch at his Uchiha husband. He knew that look anywhere.

Itachi was a mess when Ichijo had to be put down because she had cancer. He never really saw him like that except at the funeral but this was a cat that he had when he was growing up.

Itachi looked at the spot where he buried his feline friend that used to torment everyone. He definitely missed that cat a lot. Looking back into the sapphire eyes, he nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

Naruto smiled and shut his computer down since he can do the rest of his work later on. Grabbing a light jacket since it was windy, he put it on as Itachi grabbed the keys to the car. Following his lover out, Naruto took his hand and squeezed it. "Don't worry."

Itachi nodded slowly. Locking the house up, he walked down and into the car. He wasn't sure if any other animal could replace Ichijo since he had her around for a long time. He was actually surprised she didn't pass on from old age or something else.

Naruto continued to see the sorrow in the ebony eyes that were framed by glasses and sighed. Everyone in the house knew that Itachi was hurting from losing Ichijo in such a painful way but it also meant that a cat at the shelter would get a new home.

Turning up the radio with Strawberry Jam by Ai Otsuka, Itachi tried to keep his mind off the fact that he lost the cat.

When they arrived at the shelter, Itachi paused before opening the door and was greeted by Kiba who also ran the dog pound next door.

"Hey there Naruto – why are you so fat?" Kiba blurted out when he saw his old friend waddle in. He knew that Itachi and Naruto got married but not him getting fat.

"It's a long story. I don't think you'll understand it if I try to explain." Naruto answered.

"Well why are you guys in here today for? Cat? Dog?"

"Cat." Itachi answered and followed the canine lover into a room that was separated further. Looking around he saw a lot of them laying around, doing their business or playing with something. Stopping, he looked at a siamese that was sitting on a cat condo.

"I guess you see Yuki. She's a rescue like a lot of these but she was found on the street. She was hit and had to have a leg amputated." Kiba filled them in, unlocking the door just in case the Uchiha wanted to go in.

He did. Walking over, he locked eyes with the ice blue ones of the feline. Reaching over, he started to stroke her fur, hearing the purr that told him she was enjoying it.