The Lemon Tree

Title: Swing Life Away
Author: balafeo
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Sasuke x Hinata
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: het, sex during pregnancy
Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto, or the song for which this fic is titled.
Summary: Sasuke remembers the first years of his marriage to Hinata, and how they came to love one another.
Song: "Swing Life Away" – Rise Against

***

"Swing Life Away"

He would watch her sometimes. Watch her walking with her head down, never looking those who passed her in the eye. Never having the confidence to notice that she was beautiful. It made him smile, or least what she considered his smile.

She held the small boy to her chest, smoothing down his spiked raven locks. Their son; their miracle. Or at least that's what she called him. Sasuke just silently agreed as he clutched her to his side; revelling in her warmth, her love.

His Hinata.

It hadn't started out as love. But then again, at the time he'd believed no one could love him... in the time following the darkest period of his life, he was faced with a decision that could have ruined two lives. He had nothing left to live for... or so he thought at the time. She had everything, even if she didn't know it.

As the sole survivor of the Uchiha bloodline, by duty he was expected to restore his clan.

He was eighteen.

He had completed his first goal. He was now only living because of the leniency of Konoha. They however, had plans for their sole surviving Sharingan user. Breeding fodder. His lineage was, in the Hokage's words, 'too great to simply loose due to his picky tendencies towards women'.

He had debated, for a split second, maiming her.

It wasn't long before he was informed of whom his bride to be was. In fact, it was so soon, he was left wondering if it had been planned beforehand. But in a village of Ninja, speed was crucial. In only 24 hours his fate, and hers, were sealed.

She could have refused. He'd expected her to refuse. He had wanted her to refuse. But she did not. She accepted the fate her own bloodline had dealt her. Together they were expected to produce ninja beyond the genius of both the Sharingan and the Byakugan.

They barely even knew each other.

Barely a week later they wed. Their wedding was small, unobtrusive, only a few friends and members of the Hyuuga clan attended. It suited Sasuke perfectly, and he wondered if Hinata had arranged it like that on purpose. He never asked. He still hadn't. He doubted he ever would; it would hurt too much now, to know that she had given up so much for him, even before he cared that she had.

He could still remember when he had finally realised he cared. Caring wasn't the same as loving, but it was the first step. Although love came later, he couldn't remember exactly when he'd realised it. Not like caring for her. Not like his need to protect her.

They had not slept together straight after the wedding ceremony, even though that's what was expected of them. Looking back, he realised how cold he was to her. And how even though he could see she was trying, and that it pained her to keep trying and failing as the weeks passed on, he just didn't care. He viewed it as her fault she was in the situation. She should have refused in the first place; she should have expected this of him.

But something changed. Perhaps it was many things. Or perhaps it was just the two he could remember.

The first being the day he came home earlier than expected from a mission. She had been crying. He had heard her. He had watched her sitting with her legs pulled to her chest, arms wrapped around her knees, face masked by her hair, strands of indigo sticking to her face. At that moment he had wanted to comfort her; he'd felt the need in his chest. Felt a twinge of guilt he'd roughly pushed aside as he left her in her depression. He didn't need to ask what had made her so unhappy. He only needed to look in the mirror to see the unloving icy face of the husband she was now bound to.

But that alone had not been what changed his mind. That had just been the first push. The second had been Naruto. Who else could it have been?

Naruto had always been there to point out when he was being a bastard. This was no exception. Only this time Naruto had the backing of all their friends, and probably half the Ninja population. Sasuke had been momentarily caught off guard by the punch. But for Sasuke he took it rather well. He didn't retaliate straight away, knowing Naruto would have a good reason for his actions. He hadn't needed to wait long.

Naruto, in a none-too-polite manner had threatened Sasuke with death, regardless of whether he was the last Uchiha or not. The blonde ninja's eyes burned with a protective fury Sasuke had only been on the receiving end of once before. Naruto wanted to protect Hinata. Protect her from Sasuke. Her own husband.

Sasuke had left Naruto's company soon after that. His male pride feeling slightly bruised, and not because of the fight. At that moment he had vowed to himself he would protect Hinata. Punishing her for his mistakes was unforgivable. He would no longer allow himself to act like a child. He would take responsibility. She was his responsibly. He was responsible for ensuring her happiness.

She was his new goal.

They had made love for the first time that night. She had been so surprised she barely had time to be embarrassed as his eyes roamed over her naked flesh, admiring her form for the first time.

He called it love making because that was how he viewed it. That night he had fallen in love with her slightly, even if it was only on a superficial level. It had been tender, filled with soft caresses, of hands still unfamiliar with the contours of their partner's bodies. Lips touching in both embarrassment and hesitation, still so unsure of what the other liked, but still so willing to learn.

She had slept in his arms that night, her warm breath ghosting over the crook of his neck. At that moment he loved her. Unconditionally. But doubt was never far from his mind. Love in the past had caused him pain; he was unwilling to give into it so easily, but in time... perhaps.

It was not long after that when Hinata became pregnant, with what was to become their son. Their miracle. Even then she called him that, while he was still just a secret hushed between a few of their closest friends.

She had run into his arms when she had found out the news. Her normal shyness forgotten in the moment, his arms found their way around her waist, his lips to hers. The pure joy visible in both her smile and her eyes; mirrored by his own.

It had been during her pregnancy that he'd realised it. When at night he spooned her from behind as his hands rested on her stomach. It had snuck into his conscious at times like these that this was his family. Hinata had given him back the family he had lost. With her he was making a new reason to live. He was living his life for a reason, and not one that involved death, but life.

Gradually, as steadily as the child in her womb grew, he fell in love with her. As the days passed he realised how empty it would now feel in her absence; the protective emotions that left him thinking of her, and his desire to be at home, by her side, when he was on missions.

Love. Love that he felt was returned to him each time she smiled, glad to see him home. Each night when he would hear her whisper it to him when she thought he was asleep. The words he was still too scared to say to her; the words he would whisper only when he was certain she was asleep. The words he whispered to her and their baby. Because it was to them both that he felt it for.

"I love you."

***

Lying down next to her, he began to idly stroke the slight bump of her abdomen; his child, their child. It was too soon to know if it was to be a girl or a boy yet, but he hoped it would be a girl. A little girl who would grow up to be as beautiful as her
mother.

"Sasuke-kun..." His coal black eyes drifted up to her face, loosing none of the uncharacteristic softness they'd held when he'd been staring at her stomach. She still looked half asleep, her eyes only partially open and her breathing still slightly more shallow than it would be if she were fully awake. It caused him to half smile in amusement.

"I apologise for waking you," he whispered, not stilling the hand that ran over her side, gently massaging the areas he knew she liked him to touch best. The benefit that time had on partners was the knowledge that you knew where to touch each other, better than anybody else.

"It's okay, it's nearly morning anyway. I'm sure this one will have woken me up soon enough." Her smile grew serene as her eyes rested on the bump, placing her hand over her husband's and meeting his eyes. "You have a mission today, correct? I was hoping we would have more time since your last one, but that's the life of a shinobi."

Sasuke nodded slowly. "Perhaps we should make the most of the time we have left then." His eyes took on a slightly wicked glint as he bridged the gap between them. He knew Hinata would not protest; there was something satisfying in knowing she craved his touch just as much as he craved hers.

He gently began to drape his body over hers, careful not to lie with his weight on the baby. But they were well practiced at this now, knowing how to position themselves to accommodate her condition.

It amazed him, that even now, with child, Hinata's beauty could still rival the other kunoichi in the village. Then again, he was probably biased.

He searched her violet white eyes for any signs of hesitation or resistance before continuing, not wanting to cause her any
discomfort. But her smile and slightly hooded eyes were enough of an indication to know the advances he had initiated were wanted. He always liked to leave his love with something to remember him by.

He dipped his head down and captured her soft lips with his own.

At first he was gentle, the kisses feather soft and leaving her craving more, even if she didn't say so out loud. But gradually she began to respond, her hand lacing up and cupping the back of his head, gently weaving into his raven locks and keeping him firmly in place. Pleased with the response he'd elicited from his sweet wife, he gave a small smirk against her lips and
deepened the kiss.

He darted his tongue out, wanting nothing more than to be able to taste her, savour her essence before he had to leave her side. He was granted access almost immediately, pleased with the feeling of her tongue moving gently against his own.

Hearing her moan caused a flush of pleasure to run through his body, straight to his groin. His masculine pride practically purred with each noise of contentment she made. He was giving her this pleasure. He was, and him alone. It was an empowering thought, knowing that no other had touched her. That her body was his, just as his was hers.

He broke the kiss and began to ravish her neck in an almost savage manner, giving a possessive growl as he did so. He bit down gently on the base of her neck, just above the collar bone, and her head tilted over more, giving him better access, just as her body bucked upwards slightly.

She didn't beg, she didn't need to; her body did the begging for her, as it writhed beneath him.

He loved her body's responses when she was pregnant. He had learnt this with their son; she became so much more dependant on his touch. Craving it. Needing it. In these brief moments he was the centre of her world. Only his touch existed, and he loved it. "Where do you want me to touch you, Hinata?" He asked her huskily, running his tongue along the shell of her ear as his breath caressed her. Her only response was a barely audible whimper. It was all the response he needed.

Due to her condition, she had chosen against wearing anything with an elastic waist and this suited Sasuke's purposes perfectly. Very slowly he raised her body and began to pull the nightshirt from her, still so slender despite the pregnancy. It was not long before she lay naked beneath him, the moistness between her legs proof of how much she wanted him.

Sasuke began to remove his own clothes, but he was stopped by soft hands wrapping around his wrists; he stilled immediately. She crouched on her knees in front of him, pushing his body to lie down on the bed. He had only been wearing black cargo trousers and boxers, both of which were easily removed. Lying there naked beneath her, he felt no shame, in fact he felt beautiful. The way her eyes roamed over his porcelain skin, never shying away, he felt loved.

Slowly he reached up and gently coaxed her down to lie on top of him. His other hand he used to cup her left breast, running his thumb over her nipple until it hardened beneath his touch, enjoying the shudder it evoked from her.

He gasped, taken by surprise, and his hips bucked upward to her touch, as her hands wrapped around his hard shaft. He had been concentrating so much on what he was doing he'd paid no attention to her wandering hand. He hissed and felt himself throb as she gripped him tighter and began a painfully slow rhythm. He thrust upward, begging her silently to go faster, and she complied without question.

Realising she was going without, he ran his hand down her front until he reached the dense indigo curls. Slowly he ran his hand lower until he reached the small bundle of nerves and began to rub it gently. The response was immediate, the grip around him became tighter and the pace her hand had set became more erratic. Sasuke smirked as he let his finger delve lower, until they found her moist folds and slowly penetrated her. It was all she needed. He couldn't wait much longer anyway.

"Sasuke-kun please..." She whimpered, her inner walls clamping around the two fingers buried inside her willing body. Smiling softly, a smile he reserved only for her and their son, he removed his fingers, feeling the loss of warmth instantly.

Slowly he moved his body upward, aligning her warmth with his throbbing member and began to penetrate her. He gave an appreciative hiss as her inner walls squeezed his length lightly, and meeting no resistance he sheathed himself within her moist cavern.

Both panting delicately, he allowed her time to make the first move. Not wanting to rush her in her current condition, but once again being surprised by his wife's flexibility as she pulled her body upwards slightly, and then down again in one fluid motion. Sasuke growled appreciatively, and so as not to be taken by surprise again, he began to thrust shallowly into her heat.

He tenderly wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered her to the bed, effectively flipping their positions. He gauged her reaction, waiting for the moment her body adjusted to the rhythm, before speeding up. He watched as her bottom lip trembled and she let out a silent moan. He lent forward slightly, his bangs fanning across her flushed cheeks, and when his lips were level with her ear, he nipped the lobe lightly and whispered, "You are so beautiful Hinata."

Her violet-white eyes opened briefly and locked with his black. A smile adorned her face as he lent over and captured her lips in a tender kiss. But the tenderness was soon overpowered by their passion as Sasuke yet again sped up his pace.

He felt Hinata moan lightly into the kiss, tongues caressing all the secret caverns of their partner's mouths. Knowing at the pace he was going, he would soon find his end and wanting her to come first, he deftly manoeuvred his hand down to her small bud. He began to stroke it, gently at first but then harder and faster, eventually matching the pace of his thrusts.

Now so consumed in his own pleasure, he felt more than heard her pleasure at his ministrations. Feeling her walls becoming ever tighter, increasing the heavenly friction he wanted to savour, he knew she, like him, was nearing her end.

He forced his eyes open so he could view her completion for himself, wanting to imprint the image of her ecstasy in his mind, knowing for a while this would be last time he would see it.

Her pants and moans became more intense, coherent words were now lost to her and her husband's name, which until that point she had been chanting obediently was now lost to her as well. Instead her pants turned to gasps and her moans became cries; all met and equalled by her similarly noisy partner, who though usually silent, seemed to find his voice during the throes of passion.

"Look at me." Sasuke demanded hurriedly, desperately; knowing his release was close. As Hinata's eyes opened to meet his own, he felt the rhythm he'd been desperately clinging to waver and become erratic, his body no longer able to cling to the semblance of his usual composure.

Sasuke watched as Hinata's eyes finally lost the intense hold with his own and rolled backwards, her body arching off the mattress and shuddering around him. Her eyes forcing shut as she screamed his name with her release.

Watching his wife reach her limit and plummet over it was the last push Sasuke needed. His body stiffened as his vision when white and he emptied himself inside his already sated wife. He gave a few more shallow thrusts, draining himself completely, before pulling out of her. Mindful of the life growing inside her he managed to manoeuvre his body enough to ensure he collapsed at her side.

He sighed contentedly and, lacing an arm beneath her body, he drew her closer to him. She opened her eyes sleepily, smiling shyly at him. He lent forward and kissed her temple tenderly, resuming his earlier activity of massaging the small rise of her stomach.

Her smile grew more tender as her eyes dropped, helped along by the lull of their surroundings. Sasuke knew he ought to sleep. Tomorrow would bring a new mission, another stint of time where he would be absent, leaving his wife at home.

But right at this moment he had everything he wanted.

He had his wife, his child; his family.

Tomorrow he would leave... but his thoughts of Hinata would bring him back.

Owari.