Shogi Anyone?

Author's note: four years later

A flurry of red hair, pale skin, and dark swim trunks blurred in a cyclone as the pair of toddlers wrestled in the sand, oblivious to both the rising tide and their watchful parents beneath the shade of the beach umbrella.

“Tarou! Takeo! The tide is coming in! Don’t drown your brother!” Green eyes bore down on the young boys as Sakura glared reproachfully.

The blur of limbs paused slightly as both replied in unison, “Yes, momma.” Then resumed their tussle.

Gaara suppressed a chuckle as Sakura shook her head, “At least they will sleep well tonight.” The kazekage opined, a bit of pride at his young sons’ strength and stamina swelled in his heart. “Darling, this morning you said you had news to discuss, but you did not explain. Tell me, my love, what is on your mind?” He took her smaller hand with his own, the familiar feel of her soft skin refreshing his work weary soul.

Sakura smiled, “I just wanted to make sure we got to the beach for our vacation first.” She replied, her eagle eyes still watching the twins play in the surf.

Gaara raised an eyebrow as he caressed her wrist with his thumb, “And we are here, darling. So… are you going to tell me, or do I have to guess?”

A playful twinkle sparkled in her eyes as she moved his hand to her abdomen. “Guess.”

His eyes widened. The kazekage surged a bit of chakra into his hand, sending his eyes wider and a rare smile to his face. “You are pregnant!” he leaned over, kissing his sweet wife thoroughly despite the audience of three-year-olds.

The wrestling ceased as the young boys stared. “Ew. That’s yucky.” Tarou squinched his face.

Takeo agreed, “Yucky.”

Gaara sat up, calling to his sons, “Boys, come here. Your mother has some important news to share with us.”

The cherubic red-heads shrugged at each other and ran to the shade of the beach umbrella.

Sakura opened her arms as the strong boys tackle hugged their shinobi mom. “what is it, momma?” they chorused.

Sakura sat one boy on each knee, bouncing them as she spoke, “You are going to have a new baby brother or sister for Christmas.”

Two sets of bright blue eyes widened. Takeo spoke, “Momma, you have a baby in your tummy?”

Sakura nodded.

Tarou asked, “Is it a boy or a girl? Are you having twins like us?”

Gaara asked his own question. “How long have you known?”

Sakura smiled, “I’ve known almost two weeks. I wanted to wait until we had time to spend together, but I’m not far along. About five weeks. So, I don’t know yet if it’s a boy or a girl or twins. I will say, it’s much easier than last time. I haven’t even had a twinge of morning sickness. I feel fantastic.”

Gaara smiled and turned to his sons, “Boys, you are going to have a little sister.”

Author's note: and you can stick a fork in this fic, because it's done. Please leave a review; my writing gets better when you help me know what is and isn't effective. Also, I'm considering a sequel with Shikamaru/Temari/Ino. I'm open to suggestions on that. I hope you've enjoyed the story.