[Open] Finally, good news.

[proudofmybaby]

When she'd gotten home the other night it had been to the horrible news that her eldest Itachi had had a complete meltdown and she hadn't been there to help. Unfortunately, she simply didn't have the ability to be home all at once, but it did put it in her mind that her and Kushina needed to have a talk if the woman intended to go around breaking her babies.

She was hardly the only one she needed to speak to though, and she heaved an agitated sigh, trying to sort out what to do.

Comments

[proudofmybaby]

She laughed softly. "ANBU is made of secrets sweetie, you get used to that. You have one now too right?"

[bunsofsteel]

"What do you mean...?" She lifted her head at that with a blink.

[proudofmybaby]

"Sasuke. I know that yours went through a bit of a change recently."

[bunsofsteel]

"Oh... yeah, he did." Her shoulders fell the smallest bit, but she gave the older woman a smile. "He's happier now, and so's Itachi. It's better this way."

[proudofmybaby]

She studied her. "Are you not happier too?"

[bunsofsteel]

"I am! It's... it's better in the house, now that they're more at ease with each other."

[proudofmybaby]

"You don't sound completely sure about that."

[bunsofsteel]

She sighed and ducked her head, staring at the table as her fingers came up to rub restlessly against the center ring of her necklace.

"It's just different. I'll get used to it." Probably.

[proudofmybaby]

"You don't like it do you?" She sighed softly.

[bunsofsteel]

"Well... they just don't need me as much anymore. I'll get used to it."

[proudofmybaby]

She blinked. "Honey what gave you that idea?"

[bunsofsteel]

"They have each other. Before I was between both of them."

She ducked her head and just shrugged, keeping that smile as she looked to the older woman. "It's fine. We can talk about something else, really. Has Itachi talked to you at all about his plans for the village?"

[proudofmybaby]

"Tenten, if you think you don't matter." She leaned over, catching the necklace with her fingertip. "Try to give this back."

[bunsofsteel]

"I didn't say that!" She leaned back almost immediately, fingers rising to touch it protectively, even as she realized what a stupid gesture it was -- after all, this had been her necklace long before Tenten had touched. "It's just... Sasuke loves Itachi a lot, and you'd have to be blind to see how much Itachi cares about him. And I'm just-- the extra."

[proudofmybaby]

"No Tenten. If you were extra, you wouldn't be there. My Sasuke isn't that generous."

[bunsofsteel]

"...Mm." She just nodded, staring down at the table. "It's just different from what I was used to. That's all."

[proudofmybaby]

"You're upset that they don't only love you, right?"

[bunsofsteel]

"When you put it that way, it just sounds selfish."

[proudofmybaby]

"Love is selfish."

[bunsofsteel]

"Maybe..." She finally glanced up with a tiny, self-depreciating smile. "I guess I'm not making all that great of an impression as a daughter-in-law, huh...?"

[proudofmybaby]

"It just proves you love my sons and don't want to share Tenten, that's understandable."

[bunsofsteel]

"...Mm." She rubbed her fingers restlessly against the center ring of the necklace. "I do love them, it's... kind of scary how much. If one of them disappears again, I don't..."

[proudofmybaby]

"That's love." She moved over and hugged her. "It's not bad though, right?"

[bunsofsteel]

"I hope not." She tensed at the sudden hug before relaxing slowly into it, resting her head just gently against her. "They deserve the best they can have, after all."

[proudofmybaby]

She laughed and kissed her on the head. "They have you."