Nanase grew up quickly, her wonderful red curls growing at a fast rate and turquoise eyes becoming wiser and more enlightened with each passing year. It was almost like she grew up too fast. She was intelligent, of slender frame, and held herself in the same self-assured manner that her Father did. She was a bossy little Madam, but her heart was in the right place and she wasn't selfish- though maybe a little spoiled. Though Gaara didn't often express his affection toward her, he let her get away with pretty much anything.

A frequent point of argument was the length of her hair. Gaara insisted that Nanase's hair was pretty and should be left alone. I returned his comments with a quick retort of just how long it was getting, far too long for such a rambunctious and active little girl. It was always getting tangled in something or other; I'd lost count of how many times I'd had to carefully untangle her from the grip of one of the spindly desert shrubs out back.

Before I could even blink, she was four, and heading off to start at the Academy. Gaara had been vehemently against her joining- resulting in another argument between us parents- but eventually gave in to her pleading puppy dog eyes. It made her happy, and so far neither of us regretted the decision.

It wasn't until the year began to draw to an end that I stopped to think back over the few years that had flown by. Gaara and I were married now- Nanase was two at the time and acted as Flower girl, Hiragomi Kiyomizu (who was growing into quite the heartbreaker, rather popular amongst his class) being the ring bearer- and our little family wasn't perfect, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Or at least, I had thought so.

"Mama?" we were decorating the Christmas tree in the living room, hanging baubles of various sizes and tinsel and all sorts of coloured ribbons on it. We didn't really celebrate Christmas in Sunagakure, it was more of a Konoha thing, but Nanase had heard about it from Naruto when he visited and was enthralled by the idea, so we decided to do it. We had even hung twinkling lantern lights in the desert trees outside.

"Yeah?" I replied, waiting patiently. She was something of a straight talker, so it surprised me when she hesitated. I placed a hand on her small face, worried. "What's wrong?"

Her eyes went wide, "No, nothing's wrong!" she exclaimed, then looked away and chewed her lip. "But... I feel... sad.."

"What? Why?" I asked her, wondering why she felt the same as I did. Though, I was sad because my little girl was growing up too fast.

"Mama, do people hate me?" I stopped in urprise, then immediately picked her up and placed her on my lap.

"What? Of course not! Everyone loves you!" I said firmly, and she continued to look down. "Why would you think that?" she remained silent, "Was someone mean to you in class?"

"...some of the other girls... just because I'm friends with the boys." she mumbled, "It makes me hurt."

"Oh, baby." I sympathised, hugging her. I leaned to look her in the eyes, "Nanase, some types of hurt don't go away so easy. But those silly girls don't matter, you have a Mama and a Papa and three Uncles, and an Auntie who all love you to bits." I said, smiling as I thought of our extended family, both on mine and Gaara's side. "And you know what? I know just the thing to cheer you up." I put her down and reached behind the sofa, pulling out a small box. Well, it was big in perspective to Nanase, but small to me. I handed it to her, and her sadness seemed to be forgotten in lieu of amazement. I was relieved. She scrabbled away at the box and managed to get it open, pulling out the silver tree angel.

"It's so pretty!!" she breathed, then held it on top of my head, giggling, "Mama, you're a christmas tree!" she exclaimed, and I laughed along with her.

"Am I a pretty Christmas tree? Do I make all the other Christmas trees jealous?" I asked her, posing. She laughed more.

"You're absolutely beautiful." A new voice joined in. Gaara wrapped his arms around me, kneeling behind me on the floor. I grinned.

"I'm not sure whether to take that as an insult or compliment." I said, laughing, "You just called your wife a Christmas tree."

He just smiled and kissed me. I pulled away, remembering that Nanase was still there. She had covered her eyes with her hands. I grabbed her and pulled her into the hug too. She squealed and giggled.

"Papa, I think we're going to need your help getting that angel on top." I said to Gaara in a mock serious tone. Gaara smiled slightly. Something lit up in his eyes everytime he was called Papa. It had been that way since Nanase was born, and hadn't faded even slightly.

"Nanase, I think we should put Mama on top of the tree instead, she's prettier than any angel." he said. I snorted.

"Ha! I'd break the tree, baka!" I laughed, then squealed as he finally bared that grin of his and scooped me up.

"Are you going to help me, Nanase?" he asked. Nanase giggled and ran to help. Then she stopped.

"Wait! No! We need Mama off the tree! She promised to make cupcakes!" she exclaimed, palms flat over her mouth in a gasp.

"Oh yes, you're right." Gaara put me down, mock sighed, then hoisted our daughter onto his shoulder, "Come on then you, better get that angel on top then."

A little while later, we were wrapping the few Christmas presents I'd already bought- those for my brother (and brother in law- Sasuke and Naruto weren't married, but were soon to be so I cut to the chase) and then of course Gaara's two siblings. I'd gotten a few small gifts for my students- I was a Sensei to an amazing squad of Suna Genin, including Hiragomi-kun- but had not yet begun shopping for the important presents.

Once Gaara and I finished- me scowling over how much better his present wrapping was than mine- we flopped down on the sofa, content to watch Nanase play her pretend games with her toy bear. She had the most fantastic imagination.

"No Haku," a bizarre name for a bear, but it was the name she'd given, "it's just you and me- oh, and Maruko. But Maruko doesn't really count because she doesn't have hands." both Gaara and I found great amusement in the girl's ramblings, "We could have someone else to play with, but- no, Haku! Stop, that's my Sake!" I blinked, wondering where she'd heard about Sake. Gaara sent me an accusing look, and I backed up guiltily. "What do I want for Christmas?" she turned her head as though conversing with a new person, and seemed to think about it, "It's a secret." there was a pause- I could almost hear the other side of the conversation. "Okay, I'll tell you. But you can't tell anyone except for Santa." she cupped her hand to her mouth as though to block Gaara and I from her words- though it did no good because she had not yet grasped the concept of whispering, "I want a new brother or sister. I hope Santa has one for me."

Gaara and I exchanged looks. There was a question in his eys as he thought more about it, and I shrugged. Did I want another child? I had thought my family was perfect the way it was...

"It would be someone for Nanase to play with." Gaara reasoned as we got changed for bed, "And make the house seem a bit more full."

"You don't have to go through the labour part, though. It's totally painless on your side." I grumbled, pulling the quilt over my head.

"I wouldn't say totally painless..." he murmured, climbing in next to me, "I seem to recall Naruto needing to get his hand put in a brace after all the squeezing you did of it."

I sighed, "Imagine squeezing an apple out of your-"

"Kaien, we really don't need to have this conversation again." He cut me off, cringing.

"Well, that's what it felt like." I paused, "I don't know. It was worth it." I thought over how much Nanase had changed our lives, "Maybe the idea is growing on me." I rolled onto my side and Gaara pulled me close, "We can talk about it in the morning while Nanase's at the Academy, I suppose."

It was only a few months until Nanase's wish was granted. I was pregnant again, and Gaara couldn't be happier- although he was slightly wary due to excessive scaremongering from Naruto (who loved to spout tales about 'Pregnant Kaien's wrath'), he was extremely happy to be able to be there with me this time. And I was glad he was with me too. Even if the pergnancy hormones made him annoy me with pretty much everything he did. It was only really Nanase that I could stand being around me while I was pregnant. 

Nanase was five by the time baby Yura was born. He was a worryingly sleepy baby- didn't cry and didn't really seem to care about feeding- but that turned out to actually be something of a blessing. There was nothing wrong with him, he was just lazy. I certainly hadn't missed the sleepless nights from when Nanase was a baby.

- - -

"You've been rather enjoying yourself, haven't you..?" somewhere, out in the darkness, a figure, shrouded in ill will and formed of hatred waited. He was patient, but not the good kind. The resourceful, beguiling, cruel kind. He awaited his opportunity to strike. "..Kaien Uzumaki."

- - -

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH.

Tension!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY WATTY ACCOUNT, GUISE!

Well, vote and comment to tell me what you think! :D