There was a terrible sand storm that night. It was normal for the time of the year, autumn flowing into winter with rapid speed, the elements provoking. November had just begun, and already the desert wind was howling around the buildings.
Gaara paced the empty halls of the hospital restlessly, carrying a little girl who lay soundly asleep in his arms. It was an unusual sight, the great Kazekage with a child, but at the moment Gaara couldn’t care less. Hatsune was his precious niece, his godchild. Ever since she was born he had taken quite a liking towards his sister’s baby. And although he himself was never good at falling asleep, he could at least make the toddler sleep.
It wasn’t easy though, with his sister giving birth in the room next to him.
He paused for a moment to check the clock that was hanging above the counter. The Nara was late. Of course that was logical, there was a sand storm and it wasn’t safe to travel at all, but as a husband he was expected to be present at the birth of his child.
A door opened. Gaara looked over his shoulder, excitement taking him over for just a second, but it was only his brother coming in.
“Kankuro. How’s she doing?” he asked.
The older sibling shrugged. “She manages. Is Nara here yet?”
Gaara shook his head. His brother frowned. “Hm. He’d better hurry!”
The younger man only nodded. He turned his attention to the little girl again, who had stirred in her sleep at the sound of their voices. He whispered to her, meaningless words, and she drifted off again. Her tiny hand was grabbing his Kazekage robes with a force one wouldn’t expect.
“I still don’t get why she likes you so much,” Kankuro commented, observing the scene. Gaara looked at him, his face blank. “She’s a smart girl,” was all he answered.
“Hn.”
At that moment, the door down the hall flew open, and a tall man was practically blown inside. After struggling against the wind to close the door again, he hurried towards the other three persons, brushing the sand off his clothes.
“Such a troublesome storm!” he complained. He quickly leaned towards Gaara to stroke his daughter’s hair. “Where’s Temari?” he asked.
Kankuro pointed to the door. “There. You’re late, Nara.”
He raised his hand. “I know, I’m sorry. Please save your threats for later, I’ve got to see Temari first.”
He quickly entered the room. The two man outside exchanged glances. Gaara shook his head, almost unnoticeable. Kankuro “hn”-ed again. Hatsune started to wake up, tugging at Gaara’s sleeve. The Kazekage carefully freed himself from her grip.
After a few more minutes of waiting, they heard the muffled voices behind the door becoming louder and more cheerful. A nurse came out and smiled at them.
“Kazekage-sama, Kankuro-san, Temari-san wishes to see you.” Gaara hauled Hatsune higher and stepped inside the room, followed by Kankuro.
Temari sat in bed, her figure tired but her eyes beaming. She was cradling a crying bundle. The sound the baby made was competing with the wind outside, it was crying really hard.
“It’s a boy,” she said quietly to her brothers. Shikamaru sat at a chair next to her, his hand resting on her arm, but he stood up when his brothers-in-law entered. He held out his hands towards Gaara, wordlessly asking for the little girl in his arms. Gaara shoved his reluctance aside and handed the man his daughter. Shikamaru carried her towards her mother, whispering:
“Look, Hatsune, it’s your little brother. Isn’t he lovely?”
Hatsune didn’t answer, but reached out towards the bundle. She tugged the blanket aside and watched the crying face of the little boy in concentration.
“He cries like the wind,” she said. Temari laughed. “You’re right! Hey, Shikamaru, wouldn’t that be a pretty name?”
“What, wind?”
“Yes. Fuu. I like it, it’s simple and it suits.”
“Hmmm…” Shikamaru thought for a moment. “I would like Kumo, too, but Fuu is fine.”
Kankuro started to laugh. “You actually want to call your son Cloud?!”
“So? I like clouds. And is Wind for a name any different?”
Kankuro didn’t respond. Gaara looked at his sister, who leaned back against the pillows. Two children already. He had never imagined her to have a family. But then again, he hadn’t thought he would like children, too. He opened his mouth to ask something, but closed it again. Temari noticed.
“Gaara, would you like to hold Hatsune again? I think I’m going to sleep now.”
Shikamaru was about to protest, he could take care of his daughter himself, but when he saw the look on Gaara’s face he swallowed his words.
“Uncle!” Hatsune exclaimed. “His hair has the color of sand! We could call him Suna!”
Gaara allowed himself a small smile. “But the village is already named Suna. It would be a bit confusing, don’t you think?”
The little girl frowned in thought. “Yes, I think you are right.”
Shikamaru and Kankuro discussed something quietly, so as not to disturb Temari and the baby. Eventually Kankuro nodded, and gestured his brother to leave with him. Gaara prepared to give Hatsune back to Shikamaru, but the Nara smiled and shook his head.
“You can keep her a little longer,” he said. “I’ll stay here, with Temari.”
The Kazekage almost smiled again. Then he left the room with Kankuro, carefully holding his niece.
Shikamaru sat down next to his wife again. The baby was finally getting a bit more silent, tired from the crying, and Temari’s eyelids began to droop too. Shikamaru continued to watch them fall asleep, until eventually, even the wind became quiet.