Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Hinata wants to have another baby."

Sakura felt numb. She quietly entangled herself from Naruto, adjusted her clothing and soundlessly left the library.

It wasn't as if she thought Naruto would eventually leave Hinata. No, she knew Naruto would never leave her. She just thought she could occupy his heart for a little longer. But hearing those words, the fantasy ended and Sakura realized Naruto belonged to Hinata. Sure they had become intimate but in the end Naruto belonged to Hinata.

"Mom?"

Sakura glanced at her daughter who was sitting at the kitchen table. Her backpack rested against the chair limb with the zipper open. On the table was a book it was unopened.

Sakura filled the pot she had been holding with water and placed it on a hot element on the stove. She then smiled and sat down at the table with her daughter and reached for the book. "I remember reading this…" she mused. She opened the book and looked to the side, noting the names of previous students had used the book. Second from the bottom…was Hinata's name. She abruptly slammed the book shut, "how about we go for a walk before dinner?"

Sarada noted her mother's odd behavior. Usually her mother was calm and could control her emotions quite well. As a prolific healer, understanding and controlling ones emotions was of paramount importance. A part of Sarada wanted to turn down the request…just so she could take the book into her room, and try to figure out what had turned her mother off. But she sensed her mother needed this walk more than her.

"Okay."

Sakura's hand held Saradas' gently. She made sure to turn off the stove and lock the door, pocketing the key in her apron, which she left on.

Sakura had been so preoccupied with Naruto…that she had let her relationship with her daughter falter. Obviously Naruto hadn't.

She wondered if he used clones at any point.

She glanced down at Sarada's head; her hair was ink black and perfectly glossy. It was just like his. Even her eyes were like Sasuke's. The child looked nothing like Sakura. She felt Sarada squeeze her hand, almost reassuringly and Sakura returned it.

"Is he coming home soon?"

Sakura released an audible sigh before stopping. Sarada had continued to walk; not noticing her mother stopped and was yanked slightly back.

Sarada had thought it was about her father…but when she looked up, her eyes widened with recognition.

The Hokage.

Sarada glanced up to her mother and then to the Hokage and his wife. Their two children accompanied them. Sarada looked to Bolt first and then his sister Himwari. While Sakura looked only at Naruto, and then to Hinata…in particular, her stomach which her hands gently rested on.

"Out for a walk?" Naruto asked as they approached Sakura and Sarada. Sakura nodded, "you?" Naruto nodded however Hinata interjected "daily walks are important for prenatal care."

Prenatal.

She was already pregnant? Sakura put on another fake smile, "congratulations." Hinata smiled and hooked arms with Naruto, pulling him close to her. "Thank you," Naruto said, his voice was sincere and he ruffled Bolt's blonde hair, "we hope it'll be a boy." Bolt nodded, "yeah a baby brother would be awesome!" Himwari pulled on her dress, "well I want a baby sister!" Everyone laughed…even Sakura. "Whatever the baby's gender is, we will love him or her the same," Hinata chimed in. Naruto grinned, "of course we will." Sakura felt pain in her chest…seeing them talk freely before her; this was the relationship she longed for. But she had made the decision…to marry the avenger.

"Well we have dinner on the stove…so we should get going," Sakura said, interrupting the Hokage and his wife's playful banter with their young children. Bolt was now positioned on his father's shoulders with Himwari's hands extended up, making a pouty face, as she wanted to be picked up.

Sakura felt absolutely invisible to their family…their bright loving family. And while feeling sad, she also felt sick…sick that she had the desire to destroy that bond.

"Alright Sakura-chan, have a good night."

She nodded and took a step forward, pulling Sarada. "Bye!" Sarada said and waved at Bolt and Himwari, who waved back, "Bye-bye Sara-chan!"

The morning at the hospital had been unusually busy. It was around noon that Sakura finally got a break and decided to take it in the lounge room. She wandered into the room and collapsed unceremoniously onto the couch. The back of her hand rested on her forehead as she turned her face into the couch.

She had been resting for about ten minutes when the door swung open. She didn't bother to get up, thinking it was another nurse or doctor.

But it wasn't.

She immediately recognized the footsteps…and then felt her legs lift off the couch and then placed onto legs. Or she thought she recognized the owner of those footsteps.

"Naruto…what are you doing…" she whispered…and no reply came.

"Naruto?" her intruder's voice asked…in a much different tone than Naruto's.

Her eyes widened and her hand fell from her forehead as she automatically sat up.

"Sasuke." She mouthed and he grinned his fingers touching her legs thoughtfully, "you lost weight."

"Hnn," Sakura said, using his favorite speech phrase.

"You're still careless," he mused as his fingers stopped and now rested on her legs.

Sakura sighed and didn't bother giving a reason, there was no reasoning with him.

"Hn."

Sasuke frowned, she was mocking him and he didn't like it. "Stop that."

"Stop what?" she said with a small smile, she knew exactly what he wanted her to stop.

"You're annoying."

"Hn."

Sasuke groaned and tossed his head back so that it rested on the couches' headrest.

"Don't be mad," Sakura cooed gently and went to straddle him, her kneecaps pushing against the couch's cushions. His hands naturally rested on her thighs as her hands trailed up his chest, her fingers framing his jaw as her lips hovered over his. He didn't move his head and from this position, he couldn't see much…just her green eyes, pale skin, plump lips that were enshrined with her pink glossy hair. She lowered her lips to his, but continued to hover…and he could feel her breath and he growled. She giggled and he brought his head up, but she pulled away. "Sakura…" he hissed lowly. Sakura didn't fold but she knew this battle was over when she felt a hand leave her thigh and position it at the back of her head. Before she could resist, his lips were against hers', his fingers entangling themselves in her hair…holding her tight.

They were so into each other that they hadn't heard the door open…nor felt the presence of another. It wasn't until an 'AHEM' came…that Sakura and Sasuke parted, to look to the intruder.

It was Naruto.

"Get out dobe," Sasuke hissed and lined Sakura's neck with kisses.

Naruto rolled his eyes, "that's Hokage dobe to you, teme."

Sakura sighed and climbed off of Sasuke; she reached for her hair elastic and gathered her hair into a ponytail.

"What can we do for you Hokage-sama?"

Naruto looked to her, his eyes darkened but then softened. "Yeah, Hinata is here for her prenatal checkup."

"Oh," Sakura mouthed it was barely audible.

"You're back early," Naruto mused as he sat down on the couch where Sakura had been resting. "Hnn," Sasuke replied, "Hinata's pregnant again?" Naruto nodded, "yeah." Sasuke stood up, "congratulations dobe." Naruto stared at his back…he knew full well what was going on through Sasuke's mind.

"I am sure its just stress related."

Sasuke didn't turn around…"or it could be you're shooting blanks," Naruto laughed. Sasuke tsked an as if and left the lounge room.

Sakura entered the room where Hinata was. She was already in her gown and lying on the examiner's table. "I am not pregnant," Hinata said quietly. Sakura was now seated beside her, glancing over her chart. "What?" Sakura asked quietly. "Well I was, but I miscarried…don't tell Naruto, please." Sakura placed her chart down and looked at Hinata. She gave her a sympathy smile…as someone who regularly miscarried; even if she was married to her secret lover…she could sympathize with her. She knew the pain of losing a pregnancy… Sakura nodded after a moment, "don't worry I wouldn't say anything, this is between you and Naruto." Hinata's visible expression of anxiety lifted and she shifted her legs off the bed so she was sitting. "Thanks Sakura-chan, you're a true friend." Sakura gave a sheepish shrug, "friend…or my ethics as a doctor, whatever you want to choose." Hinata shook her head, her deep blue hair swayed, "nooo you are a great friend to myself and Naruto." Sakura looked to her hands, which were surrounded by Hinata's, "thanks…you too."

Sakura left the room to allow Hinata to get changed into her regular attire. Sasuke and Naruto, who were discussing something, but went silent when they saw Sakura.

"So?" Naruto asked, "How are they?" Sakura smiled, "everything is OK." Naruto's grin deepened and he happily cried out "great!" Sakura nodded and looked to Sasuke who was staring deeply at her. She immediately looked away and back to Naruto. "Thanks Sakura-chan you're the best!"

A few moments later Hinata emerged and Naruto hugged her, "we are going to have another baby Hinata!" Sakura just smiled and Sasuke stayed silent and emotionless.

"Do you think I could see someone? I have something I want checked out," Sasuke said as he turned to Sakura. "I can look-" she offered but he immediately cut her off, "no, no I'd like to see someone else." Sakura frowned, she should have been used to it…it wasn't uncommon for patients to become attached to certain doctors…but not Sasuke. "Okay," she said with a smile, "I'll get someone to see you this afternoon." With that said she bowed curtly, once more offered her congratulations and returned to work.

Sasuke sat on the edge of an examination bed; he was dressed in a hospital smock. He looked up when the door opened and the nurse entered. "Everything's fine from what I can see," she said quietly, "I'd actually say you have quite a high count." Sasuke frowned…and the nurse pressed, "not happy with that?" Usually that was the reaction when a low count came back. "No. It just doesn't make sense," he said…more to himself than the nurse. "What doesn't?" she pressed. "Why Sakura hasn't conceived again." The nurse suddenly fell silent and started fiddling with papers. "Taby," he said suddenly…she stopped her movements and quivered, "yes?" Sasuke sensed she knew something…and was determined to find out what it was. "Erm I can't say Mr. Uchiha…" she whimpered when her yes was met with silence. "She would kill me," she added, her voice sounding desperate. Sasuke remained silent, his dark eyes staring deeply into hers'.

"Tell me."

Sasuke left the hospital…his mind in complete disarray. He couldn't believe Sakura never mentioned this to him…never mentioned the miscarriages, nothing. He was angry. He opened the door to the Uchiha manor and was met by Sarada who clung onto his lower legs. "Chichi-ue!" she called out, he watched as she turned her head towards the kitchen, "mom chichi-ue is back!" Sakura emerged and smiled, "welcome home Sasuke-kun."

"Hn."

Sasuke knelt down to pick up Sarada and carry her into the kitchen. She was babbling about how happy she was he was back, how she wanted to show him new techniques…and so forth. His mind, however, was elsewhere.

Sakura continued to cook, moving around the kitchen with ease…happy about the commotion, the house was always quiet.

That night they ate as a family would. Chatted and laughed…it almost seemed dreamlike. Sasuke himself had opened up his speech repertoire of 'hnns' and was actually contributing. Sakura smiled as she watched their daughter explain what she learned in class today…and complained about some classmates who goofed off, one in particular Bolt. Of course...even Sasuke noted, "like father like son."

As night was approaching, Sarada yawned and Sakura reminded her it was bedtime. She protested briefly…but it was clear she was tired. She sleepily rubbed an eye, Sasuke kissed her on the cheek whispering "good night." She smiled and was led away by Sakura to her room.

Once alone Sasuke sat at the table. There was something different. Usually when he returned Sakura was cold to him…and would ignore him for several days.

After tucking in Sarada, Sakura returned to the kitchen…only to find all the lights off. As she entered a pair of blood red eyes greeted her.

"Sasuke-kun you scared me," she said, "and why are the lights off?"

She felt up the wall and upon finding the switch, she flicked it on.

"Sakura,"

"Yes Sasuke-kun?" she answered with her back turned towards him, humming quietly.

"Why did you say Naruto's name?"

Her humming stopped.

Hello! So I am beginning to come to the climax of my story...stay tuned! :D