Paper Blades and Crimson Roses

Part 10

Hinata woke with a gasp. Her throat was raw and parched from all the screaming she'd done and her body felt weak.

She tried to sit up, but her body wouldn't budge. She looked at her left side, which felt too heavy to move. Her husband's dark hair was sprawled on her arm as he slept with her hand in his hold.

Hinata felt tears rush to her eyes at the sight of Sasuke. He looked so worn as he slept, so tired. She smiled affectionately and ran a hand through his hair with her other hand.

He shifted in his sleep, mumbling something. "Hinata."

She touched his face affectionately. "Sasuke."

He immediately sat up abruptly. "Hinata?!" he said, touching her face. She smiled.

"Hi." She told him. He stared at her for a whole minute before he said her name again. "Is this a dream?" he asked.

"No." she assured him "It's not a dream."

He stared again before pouring her a glass of water. "Drink it." He said, as if reading her mind about her parched throat.

She drank the whole glass and felt immensely better. Just as she put the glass down, she felt Sasuke tackle her to the bed.

"I was so worried." He murmured as he hugged her tightly to him. Hinata sighed out in relief as she returned his embrace.

"I know. I heard you." She told him.

"You heard me?" he asked with a mixture of mortification and happiness. She nodded.

She kissed him lightly. Sasuke seemed to relish it as he smiled at her after the kiss. And Hinata realized he'd never looked so happy.

"I can't believe I almost lost you." He told her.

"Mhm." She said as he lay down next to her, arms around her waist and looked at her face lovingly.

"We are never having another child." He told her gruffly. Hinata let out a laugh. Sasuke buried his nose in her hair and breathed in her scent.

"I should have been there. You were calling me and I wasn't here. I'll never forget the terror I felt when Naruto called me."

He shivered at the memory.

"Sasuke...it's alright. It wasn't your choice." She assured him.

"No. What if you didn't wake up? What if you never got to hold our son? What if I never heard your voice or got to kiss you again?"

"Sasuke..."

"I love you Hinata. I love you so much, it hurts to even think of how much pain you were in." he told her, looking into her eyes.

She smiled softly. "Sasuke...I'm okay. And I love you too. I can't wait to hold our son."

"First thing in the morning." He told her as he closed his eyes to sleep. Hinata followed suit and soon they both drifted off to sleep, holding each other tightly.

"Shh..."

"But-we"

"You are not going to disturb them."

"You're already talking so loudly."

"Can both of you shut up? I'm making a video here!"

Sasuke finally opened his eyes at that abruptly. Only one person could be making a video of this moment-

"Izumi and Hanabi. I should've known." Sasuke growled out.

"I think they're awake now." Naruto said awkwardly from behind. Ino slapped his shoulder. "No shit."