Hinata woke with a start. The sun peeking through the blinds warmed her face. Throwing an arm over her eyes, she turned away from the light, reaching out with her other arm to grab her husband and bring him closer to her.

When her fingers met the cold sheets on Naruto's side, her heart began to pound. Hinata practically threw herself out of the bed. She noticed their clothes and towels from the night before sitting just next to the laundry hamper as opposed to in it. She ran down the stairs, seeing four pairs of dusty boots heaped in the entryway. She ran back upstairs to the bedrooms.

She checked her daughter's room first, breathing a small sigh as she saw Himawari cocooned in her blankets. Hinata crossed the hall to Boruto's room and slowly opened the door with baited breath. She let the breath go as she took in the sight before her.

Naruto's long body was sprawled across Boruto's bed, barely fitting on the small mattress. He was snoring lightly, a small line of drool making its way down his cheek. His arm was wrapped firmly around their son, who was draped across his father's chest, snoring as well, drool pooling on Naruto's shirt.

Hinata strode over to her boys and placed a gentle kiss to both foreheads. Retreating from her son's room, she made her way back to her bedroom. Opting for comfort, she dressed for the day in a soft sweater, leggings, and a skirt over the top. One last peek at her children, and Naruto, she went down to the kitchen to begin breakfast.

Naruto stirred. There was a heavy weight on his chest and a persistent tapping on his arm. He opened his eyes to see blonde blocking his vision. Stretching his head up and around his son, he saw his daughter poking at his arm. "Good morning, sunflower princess, what is it?" his voice was hoarse, from shouting and talking all yesterday.

"Good morning, daddy! Mama's making breakfast. Can you smell it?" Her bright blue eyes sparkled. Sure enough, wafting through the air was the thick, heavy scent of baking bread and the spicy undertones of heated cinnamon. "Cinnamon rolls, daddy! Mama only makes those for special 'ccasions!"

Naruto watched Himawari skip out of the room and down the hall. He gently rolled Boruto off of his chest and slid down the bed, to stand and stretch. His joints popped and he was still sore beyond belief. Kneeling on the floor, Naruto began to coax Boruto awake. The boy was just like him when he was younger, never a morning person.

"Hey buddy, let's wake up now." Naruto fluffed his son's hair. Boruto grumbled. "C'mon, we don't want you to sleep the whole day away." Boruto took a swipe at his hand.

"Well fine then, I guess Hima, mom, and I will eat all the cinnamon rolls." Naruto moved to push himself off the floor when a small hand shot out to grab his wrist.

"I'll get up. I'll get up. Please, don't eat them all." Boruto muttered, eyes still closed, clinging to sleep.

"Alright, lighting bolt, we won't eat them all." Naruto stood and scooped Boruto out of bed. He's gotten so big… Naruto thought as he carried his son downstairs. It's good thing I'm practically a giant or I wouldn't be able to hold him like this. I should've done this more… Naruto gave Boruto a squeeze.

"There are my girls," Naruto said as he entered the family room. Himawari was curled into her mother's side as Hinata sat on the sofa, the gentle rasp of her knitting needles filling the air. "Good morning, Hime."

Naruto bent to press a kiss to Hinata's forehead.

"Good morning to you too, dear." Hinata raised her head in time to catch his kiss on the tip of her nose. "It should be just a few more minutes in the oven and then a little cooling time; enough time for our little bolt to wake up."

"I was just in the office talking to Shikamaru," Naruto sat down, still holding his son, in the armchair opposite Hinata. "He's able to hold down the fort today and Kakashi-sensei is there as well, helping out. They'll text if they really need me and I'll send a clone. But I've got to head in tomorrow morning bright and early."

"Daddy, you're staying home all day?" Himawari mumbled. Hinata set down her knitting and smoothed a hand over the girl's hair.

"You betcha, little sunflower." Naruto grinned, watching his little girl's face light up, her smile practically blinding. She tumbled off the sofa, running over to jump into his lap. Himawari jostled Boruto in the process. "Woah there, sweetie, you have to be extra careful these next few days, Boruto's still hurt. We can do quiet indoor activities or go out to check on the garden. But no roughhousing."

"Sorry, Bolt." Himawari reached over to pat Boruto's back. "I'll be extra careful."

"Hima," Naruto loosed one arm from his hold on Boruto to brush a hand over her whiskered cheek. "I know I've apologized already, but I am sorry that I hurt you on your birthday. I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"It's okay, daddy, I understand." She curled into Naruto, wrapping his arm around her. "You were busy at work and forgot. But daddy, please don't forget again… Promise you won't forget and that you'll be there unless something bad like yesterday happens."

"I promise, sunflower princess." Her soft, innocent words pierced his heart. "I never go back on my word."

Naruto swallowed heavily. It had been so long, so incredibly long, since he'd sat with either of his children like this. And now, to be sitting with both… it was almost too much. He pressed a kiss to Himawari's soft blue hair before tilting his head back, trying his best to keep the tears from falling. Hinata's gentle face filled his vision as she stood over the three of them.

"Don't cry, Naruto-kun." Hinata's lips brushed his forehead as she whispered.

"I've just missed this. It hurts, Hime." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I don't want to miss anymore. It hurts so much."

"I know, I know." Hinata smoothed her thumbs over his whiskers, up his temples, relaxing the tight muscles around his eyes. "But you're here and starting now, you won't be missing anything anymore." She pressed her lips to his.

"You know, you're going to have to get a bigger lap, so this little one will be able to fit." Naruto watched as she smoothed a hand over her abdomen. The gesture accentuated the slight rounding there, unnoticeable at a first glance until further inspection. She wandered over to the kitchen. "Wake those two up, I'll have the rolls ready in a minute."

"You two hear that? Mom says the cinnamon rolls are done." Boruto and Himawari grumbled. Naruto smiled. "Oh, come on now, if you don't wake up them mom and I will eat them all. And you all know how much mom loves to eat cinnamon rolls."

Not even that got a rise out of his children. Naruto carefully stood and set them down on the sofa, pulling one of the afghans on the back over them, watching as they curled into the warmth. He strode into the kitchen, watching Hinata spread the thick, creamy icing over the hot rolls. "Well then, I guess that means you'll have to eat something else for breakfast… Mom's already eaten half the pan!"

"My poor babies, so tired…" Hinata started. "Can't even get up to enj- Naruto!" She squawked as Naruto bent his head close and licked a bit of frosting off her cheek.

"Mmm, sweet as ever, Hime." He chuckled, watching a soft blush work its way up her neck. She let out a flustered sigh as he dipped his head and kissed a line up her neck, her jaw, to the spot just below her ear, the spot that made her knees weak.

Giving in, Hinata wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled at his hair, raising his lips to hers. He happily obliged, his hands settling on her waist, thumbs dipping under her shirt to trace along the blossoming baby bump.

"I just want to eat breakfast."

Naruto and Hinata jumped apart, their faces turning a stunning shade of red. They looked over to see their children standing at the counter.

"Daddy and mama sure have a good relationship don't they, brother?"

"Oh! Look at that, you two are awake! And just in time, I stopped mom from eating all the cinnamon rolls!" Naruto awkwardly laughed, scratching at the back of his neck.

"Yeah, by eating her face."

"Boruto!" Hinata and Naruto exclaimed. Upon seeing the boy's face, however, the couple quickly dissolved into laughter. Eyes half closed and mouth turned upside down, Boruto looked more like a grumpy old man than a hungry, eleven year old.

Naruto shuffled the kids over to the table and Hinata followed with the pan and plates, the warm, gooey buns filling the house with their delicious aroma.

"Thank you for the food!" Four voices rang out. The rolls were served and everyone dug in.

"Boruto, slow down, you'll choke!" "Hima, how do you have icing in your hair already?" Naruto and Hinata laughed.

"Hey dad, do you think you could tell me more of your story today?" Boruto said around a mouthful of food.

"Can I listen too, daddy?" Naruto smiled as he watched his little princess bounce in her seat.

"Of course! After we help mom clean up, we can all listen. Mom might even like to add some bits to the story. She's knows it well." Naruto reached to grab Hinata's hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Mama, what are you knitting?" The ever curious girl changed the subject.

"I'm making a baby blanket." Hinata smiled softly. She looked over at Naruto and he nodded.

"Oh! Who's having the baby? Is it Uncle Kiba? 'Cause one time when I went to play with the puppies, I heard him and Tamaki talking about babies!" Himawari prattled. "I think they'd be cute! Was I really cute?"

"Yes, you were very cute! And you still are," Hinata took a deep breath and stood up; Naruto followed suit. "Uncle Kiba and Tamaki aren't having the baby… I am!"

"You mean, I'm gonna be a big sister?!" Himawari's eyes grew impossibly wide. "Really?! When?!"

"Yes, in a few months!" Naruto wrapped his arm around his wife. Boruto and Himawari shot up from their chairs, giggling, winding themselves around Hinata's waist. Naruto wrapped his other arm around Hinata, trapping his wife and two, no three, his three children in a warm embrace.

"Mama?"

"Yes, little sunflower princess?"

"Where do babies come from?"

"…it's a bit complicated, sweetie. You'll understand better when you're older."

"Much older." Naruto mumbled, squeezing his family closer.