5A/N: Well, here it is. Finally the epilogue that I've finally finished. I'm so sorry for the wait. I know, I'm terrible at updating and it gets even worse when I'm busy. Thank you for your patience and I hope you all like it. It will be connected to the companion that I've been (and still am) writing.
Gaara looked over at the hospital door before him, quietly breathing in the scent of pine and running water. His wife was on the other side of that door, her life and another's hanging in the balance once more. It had been a long road but eventually they had both made the commitment to be there for each other for forever. Mai had settled into her role as a more permanent resident of Suna and Gaara couldn't be more pleased with how comfortable she was with it. The engagement announcement had been interesting and Gaara would never forget the day they gathered all their friends from Suna and Konoha alike…
Mai held back a smile as she and Gaara watched the chaotic mess that was their friends dining together. Naruto had Hinata on one side and Sakura on the other. The later continuously hitting him for his classically idiotic remarks. Gaara was starting to wonder if he could still see straight, considering the amount of hits he had taken already. Shikamaru and Temari were sitting together and bickering as always… well Temari was bickering and Shikamaru was rolling his eyes and groaning about how women were troublesome with a tender look in his eyes. They had gotten married a few months before. Despite Temari and Shikamaru's protests it was a large affair. It was important to ensure the constant bonds between the Sand and the Leaf. With Temari and Shikamaru arguing off to the side, Choji was scarfing down food and Ino was trying to ignore his eating habits while preening under the attention of Sai and his strangely emotionless compliments. It was odd seeing someone compliment another with a completely blank look on their face. Gaara knew he was seen as somewhat stoic but he never considered himself emotionless. Even when he was the host of Shikaku he had emotion, if he were honest with himself over emotion is what often got him in the most trouble when he was a jinchuriki.
Lee sat next to Sai, trying to interrupt the pale ninja with speeches of the beauty of youth and Tenten, who sat next to him, would just roll her eyes. Every once in a while she would glance to her other side and grow somber, a look of mourning crossing her face. Out of anyone he'd known Tenten was the one who most openly mourned the Hyuga prodigy. Neji was an ever present hole in team 9. It was almost painful to watch her try to cope without him. Kiba sat on the other side of Tenten, his loud voice (along with Lee's) distracting her from her somber attitude. Akamaru sat just behind his owner, gratefully chowing down on whatever food was placed in front of him. Shino sat quietly, every once in a while interjecting into conversations with a, "why, because…". The odd way he spoke was strangely comforting. It filled in some of the holes that were present . Kankuro and Naoki finished the circle, with Naoki near Hinata and Kankuro next to Shino. The puppeteer couldn't help looking over periodically and suppressing a shiver at the sight of stray insects crawling across the shadowed genius. Naoki was trying to hold a pleasant conversation with Hinata but was constantly interrupted by Naruto who was eating quickly and talking loudly.
All together it was the kind of loud and rambunctious gathering that Gaara had come to appreciate when it came to his friends from the leaf. He looked over toward Mai and she nodded. Despite their appreciation for their friends special brand of meetings, if it went any further they would never be able to quiet down everyone enough to officially announce their engagement. Gaara cleared his throat and looked around the room. It wasn't long after that everyone responded, their attention focusing on the Kazekage.
"I would like to make an announcement… Mai and I are engaged." Most everyone in the room smiled. Gaaras siblings had expected it and most of the Konha group had as well… there was only one person hadn't…
"Who's Mai?" Naurto asked, scratching his head in confusion. Hinata froze as Sakura turned slowly toward the blond.
"You idiot!" Sakura yelled, her face growing red. She got up baring her fist and before anyone could stop her promptly punched Naruto through the floor.
Gaara watched, silently calculating how much it would cost to repair and Mai chuckled, trying not to draw attention to herself. Despite her efforts it wasn't long until she was full out laughing and Gaara joined her. The whole room grew silent as the Leaf ninja stared at the newly engaged couple. None of them had ever seen Mai laugh and it had shocked them. Even though they were surprised it wasn't long before the whole room had started in and the blonde who had been punched through the floor was all but forgotten. That is until he crawled out of the floor and saw everyone laughing. He was dizzy, Sakura was by no means weak and she had no qualms about punching the crap out of him. Hinata walked over quietly, a smile on her face as she shyly held out a hand to Naruto. He smiled happily and took it, letting her help him back into the dining room.
When everything had quieted down once more and most everyone had gone to bed, only two people stood on the balcony. Naruto looked at his red haired friend and smiled. He was glad Gaara had found someone to share his life with. The burden of a Kage was a heavy one and was made easier through the sharing of it. "Congratulations." Naruto said, being oddly quiet. Gaara looked over at his friend and gave him a rare smile. "How are things with you and Hinata?" Naruto stiffened and his eyes widened in shock. He laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. "Ehhh, I don't really know…" Naruto trailed off. Gaara just smiled again and nodded, looking back over his village. "I can never thank you enough." He said, his tone somber. This time Naruto just smiled and laughed, "You already have!" He slapped his friend on his shoulder and went inside, turning in for the night. Gaara stood and closed his eyes, appreciating the ever present breeze…
After the wedding, which was such a large affair that Gaara didn't care to run through his memory of it, Mai had moved into the tower permanently and they had settled into their life. At least they thought they had, until Mai started getting sick…
Mai threw up into the toilet once more, her body shuddering as it tried to get rid of the last contents of her stomach. She had insisted Gaara go to his meetings and finish work, but now she was starting to wish she hadn't. If nothing else she wanted him there to comfort her. She had been sick on and off for the past week. An ever present exhaustion was the first symptom but not soon after she had started throwing up. The nausea usually hit her in the mornings but as time went on it started being initiated by the most innocent of items. The smell of toothpaste was the most disgusting thing now, she could barely stand to brush her teeth. Mai grit her jaw as another wave of nausea came over her and she tried to prevent the heaves she knew were coming. Mid vomit Mai heard the door to their suite open, and she prayed it was Gaara. She soon realized it wasn't her husband but Naoki and she had come with supplies. "Hey," the green haired medic said as she knelt down to her sister-in-law. "Sick again." Mai simply nodded, otherwise occupied. Naoki sighed and rubbed the younger woman's back, trying to sooth her. After she was finished Mai felt exhausted and disgustingly hungry. Deciding to forgo the thought of food she took the mouth wash Naoki handed her and rinsed, the refreshing taste of herbs cleaning her mouth of bile. Naoki helped her up and let her settle her into bed. "I'm just going to take a bit of blood and run a few tests Mai. Is that okay?" Mai nodded and started dozing peacefully, her nausea gone. Naoki nodded and took her sample, letting a nurse take up watch for Mai while she went to check a few things.
It was night when Naoki had returned and Mai was moving about the suite without any problems. Her nausea hadn't returned and she was able to finish up a few reports that she needed to give to Baki as intel. She looked up as Naoki came in, the medic looked serious. "Hey Mai is Gaara back yet?" Mai nodded and motioned to the kitchenette. Hearing his name, Gaara walked out and leaned against the door frame. "Naoki," He nodded, "it's always a pleasure." Naoki nodded and swallowed. She looked at the nurse who had stayed with Mai, "Step outside." The nurse got up quickly and left the room, not arguing with her superior's authority. "Something wrong?" Gaara asked uneasily. "She got the results back." Mai said, having already told her husband that Naoki had taken some blood. Gaara looked to Naoki for confirmation. "You should both probably take a seat." She said, motioning to the chairs and table they kept in the suite for business. Mai closed her eyes and kept herself calm as she got up and joined her sister-in-law and husband at the small table. "Just say it." Gaara said once they were all seated and he had taken Mai's hand. Naoki nodded, knowing Gaara's need for a straight forward conversation. She took a breath and started, "Due to the levels of certain hormones found in your blood, I suspect that you're pregnant." Mai froze, shocked. After the war there was so much scar tissue in and around her uterus that she was told she'd never get pregnant. It would be impossible to carry a baby to full term. "How long?" Gaara asked, his attention on the medic. "We won't know for sure until we run a few more tests but if I had to guess I would say a few months at least. The symptoms your showing, Mai, are characteristic of second trimester. Mai swallowed, "It's not possible. Something like this has already happened and…" She trailed off, her miscarriage earlier on in their marriage coming back to her. She still felt the ache of loss deep within herself. Gaara's jaw tightened, "Will this one miscarry as well?" Naoki sighed, "Honestly I don't know. With Mai's condition I didn't think it would be possible for a fetus to get this far, not to mention compete development. There are also a few other points to consider. If the fetus does survive and make it all three trimesters, delivering the baby could kill you. The strain on your body, with the injuries you sustained would be serious and you might not survive." This time Gaara stiffened, his mother's death shadowing his thoughts. Naoki continued, "There's another option I want to bring up, the fetus could be... eliminated, to prevent a painful miscarriage or deadly birth." Mai looked up, determination pooling in her eyes. "No." She said calmly, "That is not an option." Naoki nodded, looking sick for having brought up the idea, "It's not something I bring up carelessly, I just wanted to inform you that the option is available." Gaara nodded, looking serious. "Thank you for letting us know." Naoki nodded and got up. "Mai I'll expect you come in tomorrow and allow me to give you a full work up so we know what we're dealing with. I'll let you two sort this out." Naoki left her footsteps echoing in the quiet space.
"Mai," Gaara started. "No." She replied her gaze turning toward her husband. "It's not an option Gaara." Gaara clenched his jaw. "If this is going to kill you, I'd rather go with the abortion." "NO. I cannot loose another one Gaara… I can't. I can live with being the last of my clan but I cannot deny something so innocent the chance to exist." "But if I loose you-" "Even if you loose both of us at least we tried." Gaara bowed his head unsure of what he wanted but knowing Mai wouldn't back down." He nodded, and she gently pulled him closer. "It will be alright. I promise."…
It was a few weeks later that the couple got the news that they were having twins. Although it was a stressful time Gaara couldn't deny that he was happy to be given the chance to be a father, even though his was a blight on his past.
It wasn't long until the day came that Mai went into labor. Both Diachi and Naoki were present for the birth of the twins. Gaara was forced to wait in the hallway, due to the complicated procedure. It seemed like days until Gaara was called into the room where his wife and children were. Mai was pale but breathing. She looked tired and her half open eyes shone with exhaustion. However a satisfied smile lingered. Gaara looked over to his sister-in-law and Diachi. Each held a baby boy and both were crying loudly. Gaara knees were weak and he went to sit on the edge of Mai's bed. "Here," Naoki said as she put one of his sons in his arms. Gaara took him gently and stared cautiously at the black haired child in his arms. Once settled he looked over at his wife as she fed their other son. She smiled happily and Gaara knew they had made the right decision…
They had grown into a happy family and the twins were now three. Yashamaru had inherited his father's red hair but his mother's black eyes and tattoo technique. He was the younger of the two twins and was a little pushier than Aiko, his older brother. Aiko had the black hair of his mother and the green eyes of his father. His technique was still unknown but Gaara had a feeling it would be a form of magnet release. Both children were one of the central parts of Gaara and Mai's lives, neither could think of a life without them now. Which is why, when Mai found out she was pregnant once more, they decided to keep the third child.
Gaara looked up, pulled from his memories as the door to the birthing room opened and the nurse called for him. He stood, looking over to his brother who was entertaining his sons. Gaara knelt down and looked at his boys. "Aiko, Yashamaru, I'm going to check on your mommy and little sister." "Let's come with." The boys said together, both reaching for their father's arms. "You can come with me in a minute, I'll be right back." Aiko immediately started pouting and turned to his uncle while Yashamaru yelled and stomped his foot; attempting to follow his father until his uncle caught him up and set him on his lap. It wasn't long before Gaara came back out and got his boys so they could see their mother and new baby sister. Gaara smiled as a drew closer to his wife and his boys leaned out of his arms to get a closer look at their little sister. "She's wrinkly." Yashamaru said as he looked down at her. Aiko stayed quiet as he observed his little sister, "I love her." He whispered, cautiously reaching out his hand toward her. "Me too." Mai said tiredly, smiling at both her sons.
They all stayed and watched their newest member until the boys started to doze and Naoki came to collect them. Kankuro and Naoki were going to have the boys stay with them until Gaara and Mai were settled with baby Karura. Her blonde hair and violet eyes giving her an uncanny likeness of her paternal grandmother. When everything was settled and the boys had come back to live with their parents and newborn little sister Mai started to think about how different her past and present were. How fortunate was she to have such a wonder family? It wasn't long before Gaara spotted her and they walked out to the balcony to enjoy the night air. All three of their children were sleeping and they enjoyed the short amount of time they had alone. "It's so different." Mai finally said, breaking the silence. Gaara nodded and smiled, "But better." He pulled his wife closer as they looked out onto their village… So much better…