This is it. The last chapter. I'm kind of sad. I liked Kana and Haru a lot. Oh well. This will leave me time to work on my other fanfics. One of them I'm thinking of starting fresh with.

Disclaimer: For the last time (really since this is the last chapter) I don't own Naruto.

Sasuke walked over and placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Itachi."

Itachi said nothing. What was there to say? This was his fault. He should have stayed with the Akatsuki. He should have killed Madara years ago. He should have noticed her fear and panic sooner. He should have done a thousand things differently. If he had then Kana would still be alive.

"We need to go tell Haru," Kisame told the two Uchiha brothers.

Sakura sniffled a little. "We didn't even see her body."

Itachi paused. She was right. But Madara was a tormenter. He'd never pass up the opportunity to let Itachi see Kana's body as punishment for leaving the Akatsuki. He looked around quickly, searching for any sign that someone had ran by there recently. His eyes zeroed in on a broken branch with a piece of cloth caught on it. Kana.

He ran without telling the others anything. In fact, he'd moved so fast that none of them could follow him. The hope in him was strong and he had to know if she was okay. He had to know if she was alive. He saw a footprint in the dirt and his heart skipped a beat.

When he burst into the clearing, his heart stopped for a few long seconds. She was sitting on the other end watching the forest with dread. Her eyes landed on him and he saw the relief on her face. He was afraid to believe she was really there. For all he knew, he could be dreaming. She could be a figment of his imagination.

Kana stood and stumbled towards him a few feet. When she started to fall, he rushed forward and caught her in his arms. He caught a trace of her scent and could feel the warmth coming from her body. She was real. This wasn't a dream. Itachi pulled her closer and simply held her.

"I thought you were dead," he whispered. "He had the necklace and there was blood."

Kana snuggled into him. "He ripped it off my neck. It was the only way I could escape alive. I'm sorry."

It felt like an eternity passed before he managed to make himself let her go. "Sasuke will be worried."

Kana frowned as a thought occurred to her. "I thought you two were going to have that final battle."

"We did and he chose not to kill me."

"Well, that's good." Kana reached up and touched his face. "So is it over."

"There are other Akatsuki members left but they'll probably all go their separate ways now that Madara is gone. Those that don't, we can handle."

She nodded in agreement. "I'm just relieved to see you alive. I'll be thanking Sasuke for the rest of my life."

"I think I will too."

The world began to spin a little bit and Kana grabbed her head with a groan. "I'm so dizzy."

His heart stopped again. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Just very tired. And I think I injured my leg." Her eyes closed and her body began to go limp.

"Kana, don't you dare pass out," he snapped. His mind began to panic again. What if she were seriously injured? She could still die. He couldn't lose her now.

"I'm okay." Her eyes opened again then slid shut once again.

"Kana." This time, he didn't get a response. Sakura. She would be able to help. He lifted Kana up and raced off.

-Later-

She woke up to see her bedroom roof above her. How had she gotten here? Kana sat up and grabbed her head. Maybe sitting up wasn't such a good idea. Now her head hurt...a lot. She looked around. Her heart gave a bit thump when she saw him sitting in the chair next to her bed.

He was sleeping and looked surprisingly rumpled. Kana shifted and winced as pain shot through her leg. "Ow."

Itachi sat up abruptly and rushed over to her side. "Kana, you're awake. Are you alright?"

The fear in his voice had her reaching up to comfort him. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. My leg just hurts."

"Sakura said that you sprained your ankle. Probably tripping over something while running." He sat back now that he was sure she was alright. "Haru was very worried about you."

She smiled. "I'm sure he was."

He was silent for a moment then added in a near mumble, "I was worried too."

"I know." She sat up a little straighter and reached out to take his hand. "You care, Itachi. That's always been your problem. You care too much about everyone else and not enough about yourself."

"Well, things will be different now. Lady Tsunade has taking into consideration everything and told me I could stay in Konoha. I'll even be given my jonin status again after a year of probation." He met her eyes. "I'm staying, Kana."

She was so excited that she forgot about her ankle and lunged up to hug him. "Ow. Ow. Ow," she groaned repeatedly as her ankle reminded her of the injury.

"Don't do that," he ordered her. "You'll never heal if you don't rest."

"I'm fine," Kana said again with just a little impatience. "You meant that right?"

"Of course I did. You know you won't get better if you don't be nice to that leg."

"That's not what I meant," she snapped out. "Are you really staying?"

He nodded. "Yes. Kisame and I are going to help Konoha and the other hidden villages capture or kill the other Akatsuki members."

Kana smiled. "That's perfect."

"Kana..." Before he could say more someone came barrelling into the room and launched itself at Kana.

"Momma!"

"Haru," she replied right back. Her laughter turned to a groan as pain shot through her ankle again. Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Kakashi, and Kisame came in right behind her son. She spent the rest of the day soothing her son and getting caught up on everything that had happened since Itachi had come to say good bye to her.

For the rest of the week, she was put on bed rest until her ankle quit complaining everything she so much as twitched. She began walking again and spent all her time with Haru and Itachi.

It seemed everything was finally going right, but she was still very nervous, mostly because of Itachi. He'd been acting strange ever since she woke up. It was almost as if he was afraid of something. She couldn't even begin to guess what that 'something' could be. All she knew was that it was making Itachi very edgy, especially around her.

Early one morning, she came outside and heard Itachi's voice around the corner. She started to call out to him when she heard her name.

"I don't know about this, Sasuke," Itachi was saying. "Kana deserves better."

"Come on, Itachi. How long are you going to be stubborn about this," Sasuke snapped out, obviously impatient about something.

"Itachi, she's been waiting for years," Kisame added. "How much longer are you going to hold back. Get it over with already."

Itachi let out a sigh. Now Kana was very confused. What had she been waiting on? What was Itachi so nervous about? She froze when she heard his next words.

"Maybe it would be best if I just disappeared," Itachi suggested in a calm voice.

Kana stiffened. No way. She wouldn't let him do that.

"You're just being a coward," Sasuke said in a growl. "Get a backbone, Itachi, and get on with your life. We both know that's what you and Kana deserve and want."

She didn't know what Sasuke was talking about, but nodded in agreement. Whatever it was, it would keep Itachi here where he belong. That was something she could always support.

"In the morning," he said.

She still had no idea what he was talking about, but if he was planning on leaving he'd have to fight her to do it. Kana made her way into town. She still had the shopping to do. Tomorrow morning, she'd be sure to keep an eye on Itachi.

When she woke up the next morning, the first thing she noticed was that Itachi wasn't in bed anymore. She was up and dressed within seconds. Kana pulled open the door and nearly stumbled into Sakura, who was waiting just outside. The pink haired medic was smiling broadly and shooed Kana back into the room.

"We need to hurry," Sakura informed Kana as she began digging through the closet.

"For what? Where's Itachi?" Kana demanded.

"He's outside, waiting." Sakura pulled out a simple white dress. "This will be perfect."

"Perfect for what?"

"You'll see." Sakura's eyes were twinkling with mirth. "Just trust me."

Kana changed into the dress and let Sakura brush out her hair. When the medic was finished, Kana's hair was piled on top of her head in some intricate style and had wreath of white flowers woven into it.

"What is this, Sakura?" Kana asked when she saw herself in the mirror. "I look like I'm going into a party."

Sakura's smile widened. "You are. Trust me." She took Kana's hand. "Now come with me."

"I really should go find Itachi."

"We're going to him right now." Sakura dragged Kana along. "Will you quit being so stubborn and just trust me already."

"I would if you'd tell me what's going on."

Sakura shot a smile over her shoulder. "It's a surprise from Itachi. You'll love it."

Kana was beginning to get very suspicious. Then again, she'd been suspicious since she woke up that morning. Her suspicion turned to shock when she saw all the people gathered outside. All of the friends she'd made in Konoha along with her family stood dressed in their best clothes and seemed prepared for a celebration.

"What's going on?" she asked, this time refusing to move so much as an inch until someone answered the question.

Itachi came forward and he seemed even more nervous than he had during the last few days, which was saying something. He couldn't seem to meet her eyes as he stood in front of her. Even his voice shook slightly when he spoke.

"Kana, things have changed. I'm not a wanted man anymore and the Akatsuki don't have a hold on me now."

She nodded in agreement. "Yes. So are we celebrating that now?"

"In a way, yes." He hesitated.

"Ask her already, Dad," Haru ordered, obviously feeling impatient. He'd been fidgeting since she'd stepped outside with Sakura. "I want to try that cake."

Itachi shot a glare over his shoulder, silencing Haru instantly. Despite the glare, Haru gave his father a wide grin. Itachi turned back to Kana, who was watching him with a raised eyebrow.

"Ask me what?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "Well, now that things are different, other things can change."

"What things? Itachi, you're not making any sense." She was really starting to get frustrated with him. "Will you spit it out already?"

He met her eyes with a slight smile. "You haven't changed much. Still as impatient as ever. Kana, do you remember the one time you told me what you wanted most in life?"

She nodded. "A family. To get married and have children. To grow old with you and see our grandchildren."

"I want to give that to you."

Her breath stopped. "What are you saying?"

"He wants you to marry him," Haru supplied, tired of waiting on his father to get around to it. "He's just to afraid to say so especially in front of everyone."

Kana's eyes moved from Haru to Itachi, who was glaring at his son again. She swallowed and tried to calm her now rapidly beating heart. "Is that true, Itachi?"

He turned back to her and shifted uncomfortably again. All the Uchiha men seemed uncomfortably with open displays of emotion, and he was no exception. But Kana deserved it. She'd stayed with him for more than six years knowing that their relationship could never be what she wanted it to be. Now that it could, she deserved everything he could give her.

"Yes," he managed.

Itachi knew he'd never say the words. He couldn't get them to come out of his throat. But the simple answer seemed to be enough for her. Kana threw herself into his arms as she began to cry. He hated it when she did that.

"Don't cry, especially when you're happy," he ordered her in a near panic. "It confuses me. I feel a need to do something, but there's nothing I can do."

"I'm sorry. I can't help it." She sniffled and held him a little tighter. "I'm just so happy that I can't hold it in anymore."

"I take that to be a yes?" he asked rather mildly considering he was terrified she'd say no.

"Of course it's a yes. What did you think I was going to say? I didn't stay with you all these years just to say no now." She stepped back. "Is that why everyone is here?"

"Yeah. Kisame thought it was best not to give me a chance to change my mind."

"Actually what I said was it was best not to give him time to chicken out," the shark man corrected. "The idea of marriage seems to terrify him for some reason."

"Just wait until it's your turn," Sasuke pointed out. "Then you'll understand."

Sakura glared at him and poked him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Ow," he snapped as he rubbed at his side. "What?"

"I'm not deaf," she retorted. "Marriage is not that scary."

"Sure it is."

"Why?"

"I don't know, but that doesn't change the facts." Sasuke stepped out of range as Sakura glared at him again.

Kana watched them and decided that Kisame may have a point. She took Itachi's hand and dragged him along. "Let's hurry."

-Two Years Later-

The two brothers walked into their clan's compound with relief. They'd both been gone for the last two months hunting down the last of the Akatsuki that was still giving them trouble, Zetsu. The plant man had finally been tracked down and destroyed just two weeks ago. Now they were home and everything was safe for their family again.

Haru was the first to rush out of the house. He slammed into his father, knocking Itachi back several steps. He was very excited to have his father back home, especially since his Aunt Sakura was very moody when pregnant. He'd never been happier to see his father and Uncle Sasuke.

"You're here!" he cheered. He pointed at his uncle. "Now you go talk to Aunt Sakura."

"What about your mother?" Itachi asked a bit anxiously.

There was a new generation coming into the Uchiha clan. Haru was not only about to be a cousin, but also an older brother. The now seven year old boy was more than happy with the new developments in his family. His uncle's wedding last year had been a big deal for the entire village because everyone had been so sure he'd chicken out. Then Sakura had announced that she was pregnant, once again surprising everyone. In just a month, Sasuke would be a father. Just weeks later, Haru knew he would be a brother.

"She's in the kitchen with Aunt Sakura."

"Let's go inside then and face our wives," Sasuke said as he braced himself. Sakura already had a temper, being pregnant didn't help cool that any.

Itachi nodded and looked up at the door. Kana was standing there watching him with a smile. "Welcome home, Itachi."

Home. That word meant so much to him. Haru rushed inside with Sasuke right behind him. Itachi walked up to Kana and rested his forehead against her forehead. He was finally home.

That's the end. I'll continue working on 'Visions of the Future'. I do have options for a new story on my profile if anyone wants to input an opinion. Hope you guys enjoyed 'Child of Uchiha'.