Chapter Text
'She’s so tiny.’ Nagato thinks the same words he’s thought and said over and over again since Arata was born. Holding her, even now as big as she's gotten, he can’t help but marvel at her size compared to himself.
When the three of them found each other again in this life and agreed to start over, he never imagined they end up here. Part of him still felt like it wasn’t real, or like maybe he just didn’t belong here. The haunting memories of the things he did made him question if he could really be trusted-
“You’re doing it again,” Yahiko complained, dropping down on the bed across from the armchair Nagato sat in. The redhead blinked, pulling himself from his thoughts.
“That thing you do when you about the dark and gloomy past and start doubting yourself,” Yahiko said, motioning vaguely at Nagato, who smiled softly, glancing back down at the baby in his arms.
“Sorry….I just…” He trailed off, and Yahiko nodded, glancing away, letting himself get lost in his own own thoughts, then sighed.
“We can’t help what happened back….then. But, we promised to do differently--to do better, this time; Together.” Yahiko added the last part forcefully, making Nagato look up at him, staring carefully into those brown eyes that burned with determination and so much love.
“Together.” Another voice agreed, and they both turned to see Konan enter, a tray of coffee cups in her hands.
“Together,” Nagato said, softly, but it made both of them smile at him with affection and approval. As Yahiko took the tray from Konan, Arata became fussy, reaching out blindly towards the sound of her mother’s voice. The purple haired woman laughed, taking the baby from Nagato.
“Aw, she loves her momma!” Yahiko cooed, leaning over to look at Arata over Konan’s shoulder, and Nagato had to reach up and stop the tray from tipping their drinks all over the floor.
“Om.” Arata squealed, and Nagato smiled patiently at her babble like always as Yahiko quickly set the drinks on the bedside table.
“Omma!” Arata tried again, more insistently. Konan paused, tilting her head slightly at her child.
“Momma?” She asked, pointing at herself.
“Omma!”
Yahiko and Nagato stare, slowly processing the event. Yahiko was the first to react, trying to leap up, only to tangle himself in the blankets be sent sprawling on the floor, dragging Nagato down with him when the redhead tried to catch him. Konan watched them, only mildly alarmed by her husbands' usual clumsy behavior.
“HER FIRST WORD!!” Yahiko cheered from under Nagato, who sighed and then offered Konan a sheepish smile as she shook her head at the two of them.
They weren’t perfect, and the future still held surprises in store. But they were together. And for now?
That was enough.