Fanning the Flames

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kakashi glared at the mirror even as he caressed the barely noticeable, though to him glaringly obvious, swell of his midsection. “This sucks,” he grumbled. “I'm getting fat.”

“The baby needs room to grow Hatake-san,” Fujiko reminded him with a smile. “Just wait until you're close to delivery and can't even see your feet.”

“I have no desire to experience that,” the copy-nin sulked. “I hope you appreciate this little one,” he murmured softly as he continued to stroke the small bump lovingly. The midwife's wise eyes saw past the frustration and machismo and she smiled to herself at the pride and love the reserved nin so clearly had for the child he was carrying.

“I know it is hard,” Gaara soothed. “Ibiki should arrive tomorrow, hopefully that will cheer you up.”

“I don't want him to see me like this,” the silver-haired nin wailed. “I look like I swallowed a beach ball.”

“You look absolutely edible,” Genma assured him, wrapping his arms around the taller man from behind and kissing his neck. “I know Ru and Ibiki would agree with me.”

“Why should I listen to you?” the jounin hissed. “This is probably all your fault, you and your 'one of you two must bottom some of the time' digs. Why the hell did I ever think getting involved with the two of you would be a good idea?”

“Because I'm totally irresistible?” the senbon-sucker smirked.

“Totally full of yourself, more like it,” the copy-nin declared. “I'm glad your week is up.”

“That's not very nice,” the honey-haired man whined. “You know we'd all be here full time if you'd let us.”

“Which is just one more reason I'm glad to be stuck here in Suna,” Kakashi decided. “Maybe, with luck, Iruka can avoid any scandal tainting him because of this.”

“He isn't his father Hatake,” Genma growled. “Ru would never abandon his child to keep up appearances.”

“I know that,” the jounin spat back. “I would never have slept with either of you if he was anything like Sandaime. Still, it isn't good for the village to have a scandal involving the Hokage. Especially a paternity scandal where the pregnant party is not only married to someone else, but a man to boot. One of these days someone is bound to notice that one of the three of you is gone each week, then they're sure to figure it out.”

“Enough you two.” Gaara's soft voice cut through the tension. “Kakashi, you need to get back in bed and relax. I, for one, do not want to have to explain it to your husband if he finds you two squabbling like this.”

All eyes turned toward the sound when the doors swung open yet again and a loud, bossy voice rang out. “Hatake Kakashi,” Kurenai lectured, “why didn't you tell me what was going on with you?” She smacked the silver-haired man hard on the back of the head before enveloping him in a tight embrace, pulling back to run a wondering hand over his swelling belly. “Boy or girl, 'shi-san?” the kunoichi asked with a smile.

“This one is a girl. 'tachi and I are having a boy, so I'll end up with one of each. Just like you,” the copy-nin pointed out helpfully. He bent over the stroller Kurenai was pushing to plant a kiss on each of his godchildren's heads

“Have you thought about names?” the dark-haired woman cooed.

“I'm going to let her father name her,” the silver-haired nin explained. “Of course, none of the potential rivals for that honor can agree, so I'm afraid we'll just have to wait and see.”

“I don't understand,” Kurenai faltered, “what rivals are you talking about?”

“Didn't you know . . . I'm quite the slut,” Kakashi hissed. “I'm not sure if Ibiki, Iruka or Genma is the baby's father. In case that isn't shocking enough, don't forget, I'm having another child with a different man at almost the same time.”

“Don't talk about yourself that way,” the kunoichi scolded before smacking the hapless senbon-sucker hard.

“What did I do?” Genma whined, sounding very put upon.

“I can't keep hitting 'shi-kun, it's bad for the baby,” the dark haired woman explained. “You, therefore, are hereby nominated as substitute punching bag.”

“This may be worth misbehaving for,” the silver-haired man snickered. “How long can you stay Kurenai?”

“I'll be here as often as I can until you deliver 'shi-san,” his friend assured him. “After everything you did for me when I had the twins I can't let you do this alone.”

“What about your husband?” the copy-nin worried. “Asuma won't be happy about you disappearing for the next four months.”

“He's on a mission right now,” the kunoichi explained. “When he finishes he'll pick me up on his way home. Then I'll come back when he gets sent out again. After all, there's no point in my hanging around an empty house when my best friend needs me. Besides, I think the twins are missing their favorite godfather. I hope you don't mind 'shi-san, but I've been helping Ibiki fix up the nursery and get supplies together, with two babies on the way there won't be time once you deliver. ”

The silver-haired man had already pulled both babies out of the stroller and settled himself on the bed with them. “They're growing so fast,” he complained. “Before we know it they'll be running missions of their own. Thanks for helping 'biki, Kurenai. I know this is harder on him than he lets on.”

“And who are these little sweeties?” Fujiko asked as she bent to examine Ko and Kiyoshi.

“These are my godchildren Fujiko-san,” Kakashi declared proudly. “I watch them during the day while their parents are at work.”

“He helped me through my labor,” Kurenai added with a smile. “Now I'm here to return the favor.”

“I'm sorry, I'm being horribly rude. This is Fujiko-san, my midwife. She's delivered all the babies here in the palace,” the copy-nin explained.

“She even delivered me,” Gaara added with a quirk of his lips. “Hatake-san is in excellent hands, you do not need to worry.”

“No one is worrying Gaara,” Ibiki chimed in as he strode into the room. “Genma, Iruka's waiting for you. Why don't you head home and I'll see you next week?”

“Fine,” the senbon-sucker sniffed. “I know when I'm not wanted.” The tokubetsu leaned over and planted a kiss on the copy-nin's cheek. “You take good care of yourself Hatake.”

“Of course,” the silver-haired man replied wearily. “That's all I can do with everyone hovering around me twenty four hours a day.”

“I love hovering over you though,” the interrogator admitted with a smile. “How are you doing sweetheart?”

“I'm getting fat,” Kakashi pouted. “I know I'm supposed to, but that doesn't make it any easier.”

“Hello little one,” the scarred man murmured, leaning down to plant a tender kiss on the small bump. “I've missed you. I hope you're being nice to your mother, he doesn't need any more stress.”

“Everything seems to be going well Hatake-san,” Fujiko assured the tall man. “Your husband has been very good about doing whatever he's told. Of course, having one of you here for moral support has probably been the biggest factor in that.”

“Ru sends his love 'kashi,” Ibiki hastened to add. “He wishes he could be here more often. You know, I think he's more excited than the rest of us put together.”

“Iruka loves children,” the copy-nin reluctantly admitted. “He'd make an excellent father. Still, I hope this baby is yours.”

“So do I,” the scarred man agreed. “Still, I'll love it and take care of it no matter which one of us ends up being the father. After all, it's yours and I could never turn my back on a part of you.”

“I'm a lucky man,” Kakashi declared. “You are the best husband imaginable. I'm so glad you're willing to accept this. I don't know what I would have done if you turned your back on me.”

“Don't even think such things,” Ibiki scolded as he slid into the bed and pulled his husband into his lap, kissing him passionately. “You're mine. I'm never letting you go.”

”I need to go get settled in 'shi-kun,” Kurenai interjected. “Should I take the twins or do you want me to leave them here.”

“I'll keep an eye on them for you,” the copy-nin decided. “I've missed you two,” he purred happily as he settled himself more comfortably with a baby in each arm.

“Here,” the interrogator offered as he held out a sheaf of photos. “I thought you might like to see how the nursery is progressing. I heard from Jiraiya . . . Itachi is doing well. Kisame has been conspicuously absent the last few weeks. Your surrogate is doing well . . . you'll be a father soon.”

“I'm going to miss the birth,” Kakashi fretted. “I promised 'tachi I'd be there for him.”

“He understands,” the scarred man assured him. “The last thing he wants is for you to endanger your health. I volunteered to stand in for you . . . if that's alright, of course.”

“Thank you 'biki,” the silver-haired man replied sincerely. “You are the best husband in the world.”

“As long as you're happy sweetheart,” Ibiki declared. “Your well-being, and the health of our child, are my only concerns. Soon all this will be behind us and we'll be home with our two beautiful children.”