Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When he lost Kushina, he didn’t think he would fall in love again.

Kushina was a loud whirlwind of passion. She was like a raging sea: powerful, beautiful and easy to get lost in. She was fierce and scalding hot, reckless and untamable. She loved freely, fully and with everything she had. She was capable, independent and out of his league.

Minato was interested in her from the very beginning, even when she wouldn’t give him any of her time. It changed when he rescued her from the Kumo shinobi and from that moment it only grew in intensity. Interest melded into a crush, crush evolved into love, love started his devotion to his wife.

Minato loved Kushina Uzumaki with everything he was.

Then Kushina died and he was left with their newborn son.

It wasn’t easy. Grief was a beast, one hard to fight and very persistent. He had someone to fight for, he had Naruto and it helped him a lot but for months he wished Kushina would be there with him. He had his friends, he had his village and so Minato fought every day to win his life back.

With time and dedication came some packets of joy.

With every sincere laugh, Minato recovered a little more. Soon the pain of losing his wife faded into the background, like an old scar that just wouldn’t go away.

He still loved Kushina, he missed her but it was not an all-consuming void anymore.

Then a goddess who helped seal the Kyuubi away came around and Minato needed to adjust.

She was powerful, beautiful and an enigma. He had no idea what her intentions were, he had no idea if there was a way to protect his people against her and he had no idea how to deal with her. Those first few times he had the opportunity to talk to her were awkward, tense and full of barely suppressed terror. And while she never acted like she was a threat she was still unknown.

Minato doesn’t like the unknown.

At first, she only tolerated him. She was all polite and proper, she answered his questions and didn’t scold him for his interest. She came to Konoha often, most of the time hidden somewhere where even his shinobi couldn’t spot her. She stayed out of view and didn’t cause any trouble.

But then the kids happened.

It started with Uchiha Shisui dragging the goddess all around Konoha but it was her effortless kindness and care that solidified her position.

The goddess of death, terrifying as she was had a soft spot for children. Kids of all ages gravitated to her and she allowed them to. Without trying to, she got herself the most important support of all. The next generation.

It was hard to explain to children why they should be wary of the woman. For them, she was this kind lady that allowed them to call her Amy-nee, she was this lovely lady that brought them sweets and she was this funny lady that performed tricks even shinobi could not. Kids saw her as a beloved figure and any attempts of pulling them away ended with resentment.

This once adults needed to admit that they were outplayed.

But they wouldn’t be shinobi if they gave up. Most shinobi parents put on a brave face and joined the woman when she was around the kids. They observed, they judged and they saw.

The goddess wasn’t malicious in her interest, she was lonely. She hung around the kids because they weren’t scared of her and their understanding of her power wasn’t that great. Kids didn’t want anything from her other than her interest, kindness and some amusement. All the things that she had no problem sharing with them, apparently.

Naturally, Minato gravitated to her too.

She was reluctant in talking to him, she was cautious in any interaction and she was constantly on guard. But she was interesting, she was a mystery Minato wanted to solve so he stayed around.

Then some kids from the orphanage confided in her and she started to investigate why kids were going missing. She tried to hide it from Minato and she would have succeeded if the kids stayed away from her. But kids will be kids and Minato found out.

It pained him greatly that children in his village weren’t safe. It was an affront to him as a leader and it was an affront to him as a father.

He offered to help her figure it out.

It spiraled from there.

Most kids returned. Not unchanged, not without scars but they were there and they had so many possibilities still. The culprits were found out and dealt with. It prompted the entirety of Konoha to install new measures of internal security too. Despite the somber mood it brought upon the protectors of the village, they could call it a success.

He had no idea when he started to notice her more and more. She was always beautiful, she was always interesting, after all. But he got to experience her dedication, he got to experience her loyalty and her brilliance. He saw her kindness, he saw her patience, he saw her gentleness, he saw her love and he saw her temper.

If Kushina was a raging sea, Amaririsu was an immortal fire.

Amaririsu was warm, gentle and brought a sense of home around her. She was steady, bright and kind when you weren’t against her. She could be approached and it was possible to learn how to deal with her. When she was angry, she couldn’t be contained and there was not much that would survive her wrath. She was reckless, she was scorching if you came too close too fast and she was vicious when it was needed.

Loving her was easy. It crept up on him without him noticing but he didn’t mind.

He looked at her among the gaggle of children, all of them wanting her to notice them. He looked at Naruto who attached himself to her like a limpet and was definitely not going to let go any time soon.

And Minato smiled for he couldn’t imagine his life looking different now.

Chapter Text

For all it’s worth, Amaryllis had no idea how she ended up like this.

Well, she knew what happened to start it.

It seemed like such a long time since it all started and some days she still had a problem understanding her life. She still sometimes looked at her family in disbelief because there was no way that a person could be so happy, so content with their life.

Despite all the problems that they needed to deal with it was a good life, one filled with happiness and love. Something she always wanted but at some time started to think was impossible.

Amaryllis was a mother with beautiful, wonderful children. Two of them weren’t hers by blood but they were hers by choice and love. And wasn’t that the most magnificent thing?

Amy was a wife. Her husband loved her despite every complication she brought to his doorstep and she loved him despite all the problems that came with him. They trusted each other, they loved each other. They made each other happy. He was her equal. He treasured her for her. He wanted her just the way she was.

She had more friends than she ever thought possible, all of them loyal and ready to kill and die for her. Once upon a time, she would be horrified by this realization but nowadays she understood how honored she was to have people like them in her life.

Her family was happy and safe. They were an unconventional family, there were so many of them but they were close and content with how things were.

It was one of those days when Amy had a problem comprehending how lucky she was.

She stood before the mirror and looked herself over. It was a date night for her and her husband and everyone agreed to not bother them unless things turned apocalyptic in their absence. They took the kids and told them to enjoy themselves. She was grateful for the occasion for them to spend some time alone.

It was ages since they went out without the kids and just enjoyed themselves.

She was clad in a deep wine-colored dress made of silk. Most of her legs were bare, as the dress ended mid-thigh. Sleeveless, with a rather deep cleavage, it sat just right on her body, not too loose but not too tight.

Once upon a time, she would never dare to wear a dress like this.

And yet, she looked good. Her hairs were still chaotic and untamable but she didn’t mind. She still had her scars but she learned to love them just like her husband loved her with her scars. She was still Amaryllis Potter.

But she was different.

More confident, comfortable with people looking at her, sure of her worth and most of all happy.

How did it happen?

Warm hands sneaked around her sides until they rested on her hips. With a slight smile, she looked at her husband in the mirror.

He looked good, but he always looked good. He didn’t need to even try and yet, whenever they got out people watched him with desire and admiration. He possessed this effortless grace and charisma, it leaked out of him and made people notice him. It bothered her at first but she learned to live with it.

It was just how he was.

Minato smiled at her and kissed the skin behind her ear. It sent a pleasant tingle through her body but it was not the time to think of more carnal pleasures. There would be a time for it later.

Definitely later, she thought as he pulled her closer to his body.

‘Ready?’ he asked softly.

She put her hands on his and squeezed gently.

‘Yeah. Just let me put on my heels.’

Chapter Text

Her friends try to fight her loneliness, try to be there for her but sometimes a distant, treacherous thoughts come to her and whisper. ‘They would never understand the loneliness that comes from being an outsider wherever she goes.’

But she loves them, loves them so much it hurts. And they love her enough to fight for her, even if her greatest enemy is herself.

‘You feel happier.’ George said from his place next to her on the couch in her office, Yūrei on his lap, for once the kitten didn’t mind someone else.

‘Do I?’ she asked with a sigh.

He hummed and teased the kitten with his hand. Yūrei pounced on the hand and started to gnaw at George’s fingers.

‘Strangely, you do. It suits you more than brooding, anyway.’ he looked at her with a weak but sincere grin. ‘Maybe I should flood your home with animals, then you’ll laugh again.’

‘Will you laugh with me then?’ she asked idly and smiled from behind her cup of tea.

He chuckled and deposited the white fluffball on her lap.

‘Don’t let yourself be discouraged from doing what makes you happy, Amy.’ he hugged her with one arm. He was warm against her and he smelled of one of the three true homes she knew in her life. ‘You found peace somewhere. Don’t let us stop you from keeping it for yourself, alright?’ he told her gently.

She smiled at him but inside there was a storm of emotions.

Were her trips to Konoha making such a difference in her? Was she really happier?