9 months

Asami grimaced when she felt the blood rushing to her feet. She couldn't even sit for a longer period of time without it becoming uncomfortable. Leaning back into the couch, she started to move her legs back and forth, but that just didn't seem to solve the problem. Letting the back of her head fall on top of the back rest, she simply stared at the ceiling as her hands traveled to her round stomach. 

She had been having labor contractions for quite a while now. She had immediately alerted Kaede and Madara when she felt the first one, and now, three hours later, she had pleaded Madara to go away from the house for a bit with Kouta. She needed to rest, and Kouta wasn't really letting her have that. He was an incredibly sweet boy which Asami loved with whole her heart, but he needed attention at the wrong time.

Asami sighed heavily. She just wanted to hold her baby in her arms already, instead of carrying it around in her belly. Her patience was running out, even though she knew it wouldn't be long anymore until her dream would become a reality. She was just getting tired of the discomforts of pregnancy, and labor was going to be even worse.

''Asami-san, are you alright?'' A soft and concerned voice asked. ''Do you want me to get Madara-san?''

Asami pursed her lips, thinking about it for a few seconds before lifting her head. Her eyes locked with the dark yet warm eyes from Kaede. ''It's fine.'' Asami replied, smiling weakly. ''I'm just exhausted.'' And she also didn't want to bother Madara with another one of her complaints. Even though 'it's time', she had gone through this before, and the time when she'd really need him wasn't there yet. She also thought that he also deserved some time for himself, yet Asami didn't always give that to the Uchiha, especially the last few weeks, and the upcoming weeks would be the same.

''I can imagine that.'' Kaede chuckled as she sat down next to her. ''Of course, having a baby is a great, a joyous experience, but after nine months...''

"Indeed. At least I'm in labor now." Asami sighed and placed both her hands on the surface of the couch and tried to get up, but she didn't get far. The couch was too soft, and she had sunken into the cushions, which, along with her increased weight, made it only harder to stand up. "Ah Kaede-san, could you please help me for a bit?"

Kaede noticed what the Uzumaki was struggling with and quickly stood up. "Sure." She held out her hands, which Asami gratefully took, and she pulled her up from the couch. "There you go."

Asami smiled faintly. "Thank yo-" Her face scrunched up with pain when a contraction hit her and she breathed shakily, just standing there until the pain went away.

"Are you alright?" Kaede asked worriedly.

Asami nodded her head and released the Uchiha's hands. Her green orbs locked with Kaede's black ones.

"I'm going to try to get some sleep." She mumbled. ''I'm going to need it.'' 

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Madara looked around the room, but the Uzumaki was nowhere to be found. He moved his gaze back to Kaede, who had crouched down in front of Kouta to talk to him. ''Where is she now?'' He asked.

Kaede put her hands under Kouta's armpits and lifted him into the air. ''She's resting upstairs.'' She replied as she stood up, Kouta still in her arms. ''We still have time before it's really going to start.''

''And Keiji?''

Kaede smiled. ''I've contacted him. He'll be here soon to look after Kou.''

It was very convenient that Kaede could stay at the house for the last few days when Asami's due date was coming closer. She used the spare bedroom, which would soon be the room of Kouta's new sibling. Apparently, she also did so last time. While there were some questions about her 'disappearance' last time, Keiji convinced Mito to cover up her absence. Asami didn't like lying to her older sister, but she had finally agreed to tell Mito that Asami was very sick and needed taking care of, which was why Kaede was staying here.

''Keep an eye on Kouta while I'm upstairs.''

Kaede merely hummed, grinning as she started to tickle Kouta, who started to shriek with laughter in response. Madara watched them fool around for a few more seconds before he exited the living room.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.  

Asami's eyes scanned over the first word of the new chapter of the book she had chosen to read. She had hoped that this form of entertainment would distract her from the more painful growing contractions, but over the last ninety minutes, she hadn't gotten very far. Sleeping wasn't an option. She just couldn't get comfortable and the contractions woke her every time she managed to drift away, so she gave up on that.

Just when she also gave up on the book, the door opened and a certain Uchiha revealed himself. Asami's lips curled up into a smile and she put the book on her nightstand. ''How was it?''

Madara sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. ''I'm getting really tired of those walks, to be honest.''

Asami couldn't suppress a laugh, but the amusement already quickly disappeared from her eyes when another contraction hit and she stifled a cry. Gasping for breath, she doubled over in pain and squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

She felt a firm hand take her arm securely and she turned her head, looking at Madara with partially closed eyes. Nothing was said during the few more seconds the contractions lasted and Asami was grateful for that, since she wasn't sure she could even talk with this immense pain. Breathing was already becoming a more difficult task.

Asami took a deep breath and leaned back into her pillow, placing both hands on her stomach. ''The time between the contractions is shortening pretty quickly.'' She murmured softly. ''Unfortunately, they're also growing more intense.'' And she chuckled weakly. ''I just hope it won't take very long anymore.''

Madara pressed his lips into a thin line. To see her staying so calm, even managing a chortle when she's in pain, it was admirable. It showed that she was strong in a different way, in a way that some strong shinobi he knew were weak. Maybe it was simply because Asami had experienced it before and thus knew what was going to happen, but that didn't change his opinion of her.

And while Asami knew exactly what the stages of labor were and what's going to happen, Madara did not. She had explained it to him once, so he a general idea of what's supposed to happen when, but his knowledge about this was nothing compared to Asami's.

Asami put her hand on top of his. ''It's still hard to believe that after such a long time, we'll be able to hold him or her soon now. Probably just a few hours.''

Madara let her move his hand to her lap, where she started to fidget with his fingers. ''Just a few hours, huh?'' He murmured to himself.

  .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. 

Madara couldn't get his eyes off those big dark blue orbs which were partly covered by long lashes and stared right back into his. The baby seemed curious about the mysterious man who had barely spoken any words ever since the wailing stopped.

By the gurgles the baby made,  Asami noticed the undivided attention the child on her chest was giving the man who had sat next to her bed for the last few hours and a smile formed on her face once she perceived how mesmerized Madara seemed by it. She pressed one last and gentle kiss against the baby's head before she glanced at Kaede, who already understood what Asami wanted. 

Kaede stood by her side carefully took the child out of Asami's arms and turned around to face her former leader. ''Make sure you support the head.'' She spoke softly as she slowly handed him the baby. Madara simply nodded and held the baby so the crook of his arm supported the newborn's head and neck and his hand was under the bum. A soft towel was loosely wrapped around the small body so the baby could still move both hands.

Madara carefully ran the back of his fingers down one of the infant's soft cheeks, who gurgled in response. The toothless smile made the corners of Madara's lips tugged up, and he repeated the action.

Kaede sat down on the edge of the bed and gave Asami's leg a gentle squeeze. ''You did well.''

Asami smiled and brought her hand to her face, wiping the remaining tears. ''Thank you.'' And she looked back at Madara, her smile only growing bigger. To see him with their newborn child in his arms was something she had always wanted to see. It was unfortunate that he wasn't there when Kouta was born, but he was back, and he was here now, and that was what mattered.

Kaede reached out and softly caressed the head of the baby. ''She's beautiful.'' She whispered. ''What's her name?''

Madara looked at Asami, which made Kaede also look at the Uzumaki. Asami simply laughed and shook her head. ''We haven't decided yet.''

Kaede furrowed her eyebrows at her response. ''Not decided yet?'' She repeated her, both surprised and confused. ''But she's already here, Asami-san.''

Asami's soft laughter ceased into chuckles, and she placed both her hands on her lap, fidgeting with the sheets. ''I actually purposely postponed that matter.'' She confessed, smiling sheepishly.

Madara frowned, only looking back at his daughter once when she started to burble. He already thought it was weird that whenever they talked about possible names, Asami kind of avoided choosing one. He never questioned her, simply thinking that she needed more time to make a definite decision, but it seemed that he was wrong.

''Why?'' Kaede asked, still puzzled by her reply. She glanced at Madara, but he also didn't seem to understand it.

''Well,'' Asami started, raising and turning her head to meet Madara's eyes. ''It's because I wanted Madara to see her first.'' She said, the smile from before reappearing on her face. And even though Asami smiled a lot, but Madara hadn't seen a smile so sincere and so heartfelt very often. ''So he could then decide which name fits her best.''

Madara exchanged looks between the baby and Asami for a few seconds, before he settled his gaze on Asami. ''You want me to give her a name?" He asked, slightly bewildered by the sudden responsibility. ''Why?''

''It's only fair.'' Asami replied genuinely, rubbing the fabric of the sheets between her fingers. ''I was the one who named Kouta.''

''But that was be-''

''This may be selfish of me, and I'm sorry for that.'' Asami interrupted Madara, her honest smile turning into a sad one, but the happiness didn't leave her eyes. ''But I really would like you to do it. Nothing would make me happier than I already am but that.''

Madara swallowed and looked back down at his daughter, a few strands of his long hair falling over his shoulder during the quick movement. Her vibrant blue eyes shone and she gurgled cheerfully as her father's hair tickled her face. 

''I also gave Kouta his name after having him, and I'm glad to have made that decision.'' Asami continued. ''You don't have to decide now, but we have already talked about quite a few names. I'm sorry for pushing this onto you so suddenly, but-''

''Don't be sorry, Asami.'' Madara cut her off this time, taking the baby girl's small hand in his. He gave her a quick glance, letting her know that he meant it, before he looked back into his daughter's eyes.

It was a heavier responsibility than he previously thought; naming a person. Other's would call her by whatever name he was going to give her, and she'd be stuck with it for the rest of her life. It seemed so simple before, when she wasn't here yet. Then, he'd just say any name that came to mind and then listen to what Asami had to say, but now..

Even though Asami made this decision on her own, it didn't annoy or anger him. He would have liked some kind of warning, since this really came out of nowhere, but he was nowhere near resenting her for this.

If anything, it was some kind of privilege which he was glad to have.

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Only one chapter left, along with another surprise!

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And like usual, please tell me if there are any errors :)