𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲

“Are you sure?” Minato’s smile faltered. Kushina sat up straighter on the couch, red hair still messy from sleep.

You kept going, pretending to solve a problem instead of carving yourself out of it. “I can look after things here. The important stuff is between you two.”

You sounded so casual and so convinced that they didn’t even realize. 

Over the next few days you pulled back further. You stopped curling into Kushina’s side when she complained about morning nausea, you let Minato take every appointment reminder without offering to come along. You started sleeping on the edge of the bed, leaving space between your body and theirs. 

“We need to decide the nursery colors,” Minato said one night, clearly excited about it. He even pulled a huge book with different painting samples. 

“I like green, I think,” Kushina pointed out, nuzzling into Minato’s body. Then they both lifted their heads to look at you, waiting for your opinion.

“Whatever you two like.”

It took them three days to stop being patient.

On the fourth evening Minato closed the door harder than usual after coming home. Kushina was already sitting on the edge of the bed, arms crossed, eyes sharp. You were folding laundry in the corner, deliberately not looking at them.

“Okay,” Minato said. “We’re done pretending this is fine.”

Kushina didn’t wait. “You’ve been acting like a stranger. Pulling away every time we try to include you. What’s going on?”

You kept folding the same shirt, still giving them your back. “Nothing. I’m just giving you space, it’s your baby.”

“Our baby,” Kushina snapped, then softened when she saw your shoulders tighten. “Look at us, for the love of god!”

You put the laundry to the side, taking a deep breath and crossing your legs in the bed. They’re both standing closer now, Minato is worried, Kushina is a little angry because you’ve been disappearing in front of them.

You feel so bad wording it out, it sounds fucking stupid, like you’re victimizing yourself. Kushina is the one pregnant, she’s the one suffering the most, putting her body in such a stressful situation. And you’re making this about you, you feel so guilty and embarrassed. 

“It’s not mine, the baby is half you and half him. I don’t want to force myself into something that already belongs to the two of you.”

Silence. Then Minato crossed the room in two steps and cupped your face with both hands.

“Stop,” he said. “Just stop.”

Kushina was right behind him, sitting down next to you. “You’re being stupid.”

“Kushina–” Minato tried to stop her, but she kept talking.

“You’re not forcing yourself anywhere. The baby’s gonna have three parents, not two plus a guest. We want you at every appointment and we want your opinion on every stupid decision. We want the kid calling you mama or whatever name you choose.” She quickly takes your face between her hands, smushing your cheeks together until you're looking like a duck. “So stop being stupid and talk to us when you feel this way. Minato was so worried. 

“I was very worried, indeed,” Minato pointed out, also sitting down. “We’re sorry we made you doubt this much, love.”

You shook your head, eyes stinging. “No, no. Don’t apologize, please. You’re the ones who are actually having a baby and I’m standing here feeling sorry for myself.”

Kushina’s thumbs brushed under your eyes while Minato kept talking. “You’re allowed to feel scared, you’re going to be a parent too, that’s fucking scaring.”

Kushina turned you fully toward them and kissed you like she was trying to press the truth into your mouth. Minato’s hands slid down your back, making sure to keep you closer and warm. Then he kissed a trail of kisses from your neck to your mouth, they didn’t stop showering you with kisses until the tight knot under your ribs started to loosen.

“You’re staying,” Kushina whispered. “You’re choosing the goddamn colors with us. You’re coming to the doctor. You’re going to be right there when this baby arrives. And if your brain tries to tell you otherwise again, we’re going to remind you as many times as it takes.”

Minato pressed a kiss to the side of your neck. “Us three together is the only way this works.”

You nodded now, quickly wiping your tears away. “When it’s the next doctor appointment?”

“Next week.” Kushina kisses your cheek hard. 

“I’ll– I’ll take the day off, if that’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” Minato’s smile faltered. Kushina sat up straighter on the couch, red hair still messy from sleep.

You kept going, pretending to solve a problem instead of carving yourself out of it. “I can look after things here. The important stuff is between you two.”

You sounded so casual and so convinced that they didn’t even realize. 

Over the next few days you pulled back further. You stopped curling into Kushina’s side when she complained about morning nausea, you let Minato take every appointment reminder without offering to come along. You started sleeping on the edge of the bed, leaving space between your body and theirs. 

“We need to decide the nursery colors,” Minato said one night, clearly excited about it. He even pulled a huge book with different painting samples. 

“I like green, I think,” Kushina pointed out, nuzzling into Minato’s body. Then they both lifted their heads to look at you, waiting for your opinion.

“Whatever you two like.”

It took them three days to stop being patient.

On the fourth evening Minato closed the door harder than usual after coming home. Kushina was already sitting on the edge of the bed, arms crossed, eyes sharp. You were folding laundry in the corner, deliberately not looking at them.

“Okay,” Minato said. “We’re done pretending this is fine.”

Kushina didn’t wait. “You’ve been acting like a stranger. Pulling away every time we try to include you. What’s going on?”

You kept folding the same shirt, still giving them your back. “Nothing. I’m just giving you space, it’s your baby.”

“Our baby,” Kushina snapped, then softened when she saw your shoulders tighten. “Look at us, for the love of god!”

You put the laundry to the side, taking a deep breath and crossing your legs in the bed. They’re both standing closer now, Minato is worried, Kushina is a little angry because you’ve been disappearing in front of them.

You feel so bad wording it out, it sounds fucking stupid, like you’re victimizing yourself. Kushina is the one pregnant, she’s the one suffering the most, putting her body in such a stressful situation. And you’re making this about you, you feel so guilty and embarrassed. 

“It’s not mine, the baby is half you and half him. I don’t want to force myself into something that already belongs to the two of you.”

Silence. Then Minato crossed the room in two steps and cupped your face with both hands.

“Stop,” he said. “Just stop.”

Kushina was right behind him, sitting down next to you. “You’re being stupid.”

“Kushina–” Minato tried to stop her, but she kept talking.

“You’re not forcing yourself anywhere. The baby’s gonna have three parents, not two plus a guest. We want you at every appointment and we want your opinion on every stupid decision. We want the kid calling you mama or whatever name you choose.” She quickly takes your face between her hands, smushing your cheeks together until you're looking like a duck. “So stop being stupid and talk to us when you feel this way. Minato was so worried. 

“I was very worried, indeed,” Minato pointed out, also sitting down. “We’re sorry we made you doubt this much, love.”

You shook your head, eyes stinging. “No, no. Don’t apologize, please. You’re the ones who are actually having a baby and I’m standing here feeling sorry for myself.”

Kushina’s thumbs brushed under your eyes while Minato kept talking. “You’re allowed to feel scared, you’re going to be a parent too, that’s fucking scaring.”

Kushina turned you fully toward them and kissed you like she was trying to press the truth into your mouth. Minato’s hands slid down your back, making sure to keep you closer and warm. Then he kissed a trail of kisses from your neck to your mouth, they didn’t stop showering you with kisses until the tight knot under your ribs started to loosen.

“You’re staying,” Kushina whispered. “You’re choosing the goddamn colors with us. You’re coming to the doctor. You’re going to be right there when this baby arrives. And if your brain tries to tell you otherwise again, we’re going to remind you as many times as it takes.”

Minato pressed a kiss to the side of your neck. “Us three together is the only way this works.”

You nodded now, quickly wiping your tears away. “When it’s the next doctor appointment?”

“Next week.” Kushina kisses your cheek hard. 

“I’ll– I’ll take the day off, if that’s fine.”