Bang

By: Jaylonni Love

Part Three

27 weeks

…

Her eyes lit up as she looked around the decorated home, "Neji it's beautiful! I love it. And to think, you did this all by yourself with little to no help."

Neji rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "I do have an eye for décor TenTen."

"I know," the pregnant woman said grinning at the brown haired man, "I'm only teasing you."

"Hn," he grunted before taking her hand, "Allow me to show you around."

TenTen nodded, allowing her boyfriend to lead her through the home.

"There are five rooms as well as two and a half bathrooms," Neji said as he gently pulled her along up the stairs to the second floor. "The two full bathrooms on the second, the half on the first."

"How much…?" TenTen asked looking up at him.

"Hyūga Real-estate owns the property TenTen," Neji answered. "The price isn't an issue."

Her mouth formed an "o" as she nodded her head. Having reached the top of the stairs already, he stopped at the first room, pushing the door opened. "This is the nursery. It is directly across from the master bedroom so I figured it would be convenient for the twins and make it easier for us."

"Easier for me you mean," TenTen smirking at him. "I'm the one who will be getting up every night to take care of them."

"I highly doubt that," Neji said before he gestured for her to walk in.

She did, looking around the custard coloured room, a look of pure awe on her face. Two cribs were set up parallel to one another on each wall, the beds made with the blankets that they had picked out of the twins; both unisex colours. On the wall next to the window, a bookshelf made of espresso coloured wood stood filled with books for children. Beside it was a rocking chair made of the same type of wood. Various other things that they had bought for the twins dotted the floor in an organized manner.

"Hinata chose the colour for the walls," Neji said after a moment.

"She has great taste," TenTen said with a smile, the beginning signs of tears pricking the edges of her eyes as she turned to look at the soon-to-be father. "The room is beautiful Neji."

"I am quite glad that you approve of the room," Neji commented as he gently pulled her out of the nursery to their own bedroom across the hall. He pushed the door opened before they stepped in together. "All that needs to be moved is what remains at the apartment; our bed, the remaining clothes we have with us, among various other items. Everything else has already been moved."

"Its way bigger than our room at the apartment," TenTen said as she walked in a circle around the large room, looking that the photos that had been carefully hung on the walls. "It gives us more room to play, wouldn't you agree?"

Neji's brow rose before he spoke, "I believe us "playing" is the reason we're expecting those two children you're carrying now, TenTen."

The pregnant brunette stuck her tongue out at the Hyūga, "Doesn't mean we can't still play."

"In time, TenTen," Neji replied as he held his hand out to her. "Come, we still have things to pack back at the apartment, correct?"

TenTen nodded, placing her hand in his and allowing him to lead her out. Together the two descended the stairs to the main room before walking out the door of their new home.

…

39 weeks

…

Hinata placed the last platter of food on the table in the backyard before turning to look at her elder cousin, "Neji-nii-san, where are TenTen-chan and Hanabi-chan? They should have been here by now."

"Hanabi and TenTen are on their way now," Neji answered. "I just spoke with Hanabi not long ago. I say they will arrive in about ten to fifteen minutes at the most."

Hinata nodded before she walked away to help the blonde that was struggling with the cake she had been charged with retrieving for the baby shower.

…

TenTen was led through her home to the backyard where her very late baby shower was being held.

"We're late," Hanabi said dragging the poor mother-to-be along. "Neji-nii-san said that he and the others are waiting for us."

"Sorry," TenTen said as she waddled as quickly as she could behind her future younger cousin-in-law. "But you know how I get when I go baby shopping."

Hanabi smiled over her shoulder, "I told Neji-nii-san not to let you go baby shopping again today. But," she paused to pull the sliding glass door open and walk out, "He can never try to tell you not to tell you not to do something. You've made him soft."

"That's what happens when you're with someone for almost six years," TenTen said grinning at the younger girl. "And with two little ones on the way."

"He's so whipped," Hanabi said as she let go of the elder woman's hand before speaking at the top of her lungs, "The woman of the hour has arrived!"

TenTen grinned sheepishly as she waved at everyone, "Sorry I'm late."

"Don't worry about it," the pinkette said as she walked over, leaning a bit to hug the pregnant woman as best she could. "You're positively glowing TenTen! You look beautiful. I love your dress."

"Thank you Sakura," TenTen said wrapping her arms around the other woman the best she could. She then glanced over at the blonde who had made her way towards them, "Hello Ino. Long time no see."

"I'll say," Ino chimed as she leaned down to place a hand on TenTen's belly. "The last time I saw you, you were all fit. Now you're full of baby. Two of them."

TenTen laughed, nodding her head, "Looks like I'll be joining you and Hinata in the joys of motherhood." She stopped for a moment, placing her finger to her chin, "How is my niece anyway?"

"Shikamari is alright," the blonde said glancing over her shoulder at her husband and young daughter. "She caught Shikamaru's lazy gene unfortunately."

"Ah, the lazy genius gene, eh," TenTen asked irking a brow.

Ino sighed, placing her hand on her hip, "Yep."

"Well there's one positive to that," Sakura said laughing a bit. "She'll be a genius even if she is going to be a bit lazy."

"A bit," Ino asked irking a brow. "Try extremely. Shikamaru is the laziest man on the face of the planet. And my daughter has picked up on that unfortunate gene from her father."

"Yeah… I think you might be right," TenTen said laughing as she looked at her niece and longtime friend sitting under the shade of a tree, half asleep. "They're like a mirror image of one another."

"I'll say," Sakura said before she grabbed TenTen's hand to pull her along, "But enough about that. Let's get you comfortable. I'm sure your feet are hurting."

"Yes, after walking around Babies 'R Us for three hours, I'm pretty sure my feet could use a rest," TenTen said as she allowed herself to be led toward a chair that was placed in the centre of the backyard.

Taking the seat gratefully, TenTen sighed, shifting slightly to make herself more comfortable. "It feels so good to be off my feet."

"I'll bet," Sakura said before scurrying away.

…

TenTen had thoroughly enjoyed the baby shower that her friends and soon to be family had thrown for her, even if she did have to stand up for about fifteen minutes as Hinata, Ino, and Sakura fumbled to measure her stomach. It wasn't until Neji and Hanabi snatched the measuring tape away that they were actually able to get her measurements.

TenTen, to say the least, felt like crying when she realized how fat she really was until someone reminded her that she would lose the baby weight in time with plenty of exercise.

As everyone was packing everything up to clear the backyard and head home, TenTen began to experience very sharp pains in her abdomen. Her face scrunched up in pain as she leaned over on the table she had been standing beside.

"Is there something wrong TenTen," Neji asked; his voice laced with concern.

"No I'm fine, just a sudden pa–" she was cut off by another jab of pain before she felt something wet drip down her leg.

"I think her water just broke," Hanabi said, staring wide eyed. "Neji-nii-san, you gotta get her to the hospital now. The babies are coming."

Neji, who had been stunned at first, shook out of his shock; nodding as he gently grabbed TenTen's arm to lead her to their car.

This is going to hurt like hell, TenTen thought to herself as she was settled in the passenger's seat before the car started moving; headed for the hospital.

…

That Night; 7 Hours Later

…

"Get these babies out of me!"

Neji winced at the loudness of his girlfriend's voice. She was in pain, he knew that. He understood that. But her yelling was giving him a headache. He was sure that if she didn't deliver soon, he would be deaf by the time he was able to meet his children.

"Calm down Ten," he said gently running a hand through her disheveled hair, trying his best to sooth her as much as possible. "And remember to breathe."

"But it hurts Neji," TenTen whined, her hand groping across the bed for his. "I can deal with a lot of things but I can't deal with this. I want it to be over already."

A small smile crossed his features as his hand reached to grab hers, the other still gently running through her hair. "I know. However you can't rush these things TenTen, you know that."

TenTen whimpered in pain, her bottom lip poking out. Neji, feeling bad for his poor girlfriend, leaned over to bury his nose in the crook of her neck, murmuring softly in her ear. Neither noticed the doctor and nurse that had walked in until the woman spoke to gain their attention.

"Excuse me, but it's time for us to check and see how far dilated she is," the nurse said gaining their attention. Neji pulled back before looking at the nurse who smiled, "If you could step back a bit."

Neji nodded, taking a step back as he watched them check on his poor girlfriend that was still in so much pain. He hoped that she was ready to give birth already.

"Ten centimeters," he heard the nurse say making him look over at her. "It's time to start pushing."

"Thank Kami," TenTen said throwing her head back. "Just hurry up and get these babies out of me before I die from the pain."

"Mr. Hyūga, will you hold her hand," the nurse asked as she looked over at the lone male in the room.

Neji nodded, taking his seat beside TenTen as they prepped her for delivery. Once she was situated, she took a deep breath before she was instructed to push. Neji, who was not expecting for his hand to be crushed under TenTen's vice grip, stared in shock as the long battle to give birth to their twins began. He could only hope that it would end quickly for the sake of his children, his girlfriend, and his hand he was beginning to lose all feeling in.

…

Early the next morning; 7 hours later

…

Exhausted, sweaty, and completely free of the pains of birth; TenTen let out a shaky laugh as she flopped back on her pillow, trying to regain her breath as she watched the doctor and nurse check over her babies. She had successfully given birth to a beautiful baby girl and a handsome baby boy.

Moments later, both children were handed to the new mother who looked down at them adoringly, "They're so perfect. Absolutely perfect."

Neji sighed, glad that the entire ordeal was successful and finally over. He let his chin rest on the crown of the brunette's head as he gazed at the two children who were resting in his lover's arms, "That they are."

"Seven hours," TenTen whispered. "You put Mommy through seven hours of pain… but you're both definitely worth it in the end."

She watched as the tiny little bundles yawned, stretching their bodies in sync before snuggling up against her again.

"Pardon me," the nurse that had been present throughout the entire delivery said gaining the couple's attention. "We have to take the children the infants unit and you need your rest."

The new mother nodded, grudgingly handing the two over to the woman who placed them in their bassinets before leaving the room.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she snuggled into her pillow, "This was the most painful, long, and beautiful experience of my life. Now I see why Mom was so animate about not having any more children after having me. It hurts like hell."

"But it was all worth it, correct," Neji asked as he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, placing a soft kiss on her temple.

Another sigh escaped her as she smiled; her eyes fluttering shut as she gave a slight nod of her head as her hand groped around to find his, "Yeah. It was definitely worth it."

"TenTen, may I ask you a question," Neji asked noting that the woman in his arms was drifting off to sleep.

"Hm," TenTen hummed, snuggling up to him again.

He pulled his hand away from hers a moment later to reach into the pocket of his pants before he produced a beautiful silver band ring with a large diamond in the centre of it outlined by rubies. "TenTen, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"

TenTen's eyes opened, amber clashing with lavender. "I just went through seven hours of labour, my hair's a mess, I'm tired as hell, and you're asking me to marry you?"

Neji blinked. That was definitely not the reaction he was expecting. Just as he was about to open his mouth to reply, TenTen started speaking to him again.

"But because I know you're not asking because you feel obligated because really who brings a ring to the delivery room right, I'll accept," TenTen said with a grin. "But once I'm out of the hospital and I'm all healed up, we have to find a babysitter for Rika and Hizashi then we'll go out to dinner and you'll propose to me properly. Of course my answer will still be yes but for now I will not wear the ring no matter how beautiful it is."

Neji smiled, she certainly had a way with words. "Very well then. In two months, I'll propose again. And you will wear the ring."

"It's a deal," TenTen said before she craned her neck forward to kiss him.

Finished! LOL this last bit was actually inspired by my best friend and her now fiancée. The fool literally proposed to her twenty minutes after she delivered their daughter. I was still in the delivery room (since I'm the godmother) and saw the whole ordeal. So Neji and TenTen's final lines, yeah they came from those two. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this little piece of madness that my brain conjured up because I know I definitely had fun writing it. Feedback is love. Ciao.