Notes: THE REVIEWS! Thank you guys so much, I was not expecting that response. Ya'll are amazing. Anyway, I wasn't in that much of a rush when it came to posting this, but I was a lil intoxicated while editing so...I might come back and fix things. I'm so tired, oh my goodness. I probably should've slept before uploading. But here we are.

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It was a terrifying dull ache at the beginning.

She remembered the feverish panic, the ache turning into an uncontrollable burning and the heat seared under her skin, each beat of her heart making it hotter until an eight year old boy was smiling at her innocently.

The pain had faded, tempered to a light drumming on the back of her skull. The Main House's garden glistened wet with perspiration, and two children wiggled their bare toes on the blades beneath them. The boy was holding out a flower…he said it looked like her hair. She knew she was smiling back, because he was kind to her.

The only one that was kind to her.

But the image was becoming hazy, it blurred and she began burn again, harsher, but she wasn't worried for herself—what if she hurt the baby—?

Hinata's eyes whipped open and the breath she took in filled her chest. Her senses weren't yet back, she kept floating back to the boy. Feathery lashes blocked her vision, eyes barely open as she tried to catch her breath. One hand was clenched at the fabric on her abdomen, un-swollen from birth.

In the woods, she thought she would pass out from the pain, she thought her baby would die.

A dainty hand lifted the covers as her legs swung off the bed. Finding her footing at first was difficult, especially after birth, but she persisted, her feet and ankles ached, but they weren't swollen anymore. Her weight felt simultaneously lighter and heavier, it felt like switching bodies with a completely different woman.

Hinata reached the corner and bent over the tiny cot, watching the baby's chest go up and down. He was laying on his back with his hand in fists above his head as if in a victorious pose. Hinata smiled and hummed a satisfied hum at the precious image. It warmed her heart a thousand times over to see his features and his rose dusted cheeks.

She rested her left hand on his tummy, rubbing gently so as not to wake him. Even with his eyes closed she knew he had the milky white eyes of a Hyuuga. Delicate midnight tresses laid atop his head, making Hinata's eyes melancholic because he had the plum undertones her mother had. She knew her mother would've adored him. He was so beautiful it was a shame that she could feel his power, and the ensuing connotations flooded her with dread.

A disabling burst of uneasiness flooded her stomach provoking tears to her eyes, quickly falling down onto the mattress besides him as she blinked.

Hinata sighed heavily, watching her hand rub his belly, or more precisely, her ring-less finger.

"You know Tsukino-chan, you are the second little boy Mama has almost died for." She tilted her head slightly as she almost choked on a half-hearted giggle. "That trend could cause issues, couldn't it?"

The flow of her sorrow remained steadily running down her face. Hinata tried to steady her breathing to regain her composure but she had been strong for so long, willing away her every weakness for her little boy. Her hand stopped its calming motions as she began to slouch, slowly falling to her knees until she was crouched over her legs so that Tsukino wouldn't sense her distress.

"Don't worry," She assured, "you're the last."

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The little room that they'd placed her in was sans bathroom, and so she had to go into the main bathroom. The tap water didn't taste as clean as she would've preferred, and the food they'd given her tasted like ash and water, but then again she was also a spoilt, spoilt Main House member. Hinata smiled humourlessly at that fact.

Oh, what a mess she'd made.

Her clan would surely have a few words with her, or for her if she let them. They wouldn't be open to accepting Tsukino either, not yet. If they couldn't then she wouldn't stay in Konoha for very long.

As Hinata washed her face she couldn't help but wonder how long she would stay Konoha, practically. She brushed her wet finger through her hair in an effort to comb a few knots out, and then set it all up in a loose bun atop her head. The women in the mirror had bangs and a nature of her regal upbringing, but she felt like the timid child she used to be.

Now that she was out of immediate danger, she had no idea what she was doing, or how she would protect her son.

She tried to procure a stance that was straight, but her every fibre still creaked with bruises that it was difficult to walk. She frowned at all the memories of her being scolded for her posture—it was never poor, just imperfect.

Nevertheless, she was bred to be proud, and she had to stay that way for far too many reasons now.

So, even though it hurt she would stride.

Her back was up right and her steps were as wide as she could have them as she made her way out of the bathroom. The first thing she noticed upon exit was that Sasuke was perched on the bed nearest to her door.

His expression was hard and unreadable, so she didn't try to read him. But still, she could barely believe that he hadn't left as of yet.

"Sasuke?" She questioned lightly, sounding much more relieved than she anticipated, and she inwardly scolded herself for that. She did not want him to feel as if he had to babysit her.

Sasuke looked at her with his stony gaze—the same gaze he'd given her when he'd found her, a look that Hinata was beginning to understand was not only calculating but a clear acknowledgement of her presence. She couldn't help but smile at the fact that he wasn't as cold as he seemed.

"Your sister will be here shortly."

The information he'd so readily provided would have slapped the smile off her face if she hadn't practiced composure all her life, though the surprise that shone in her gaze couldn't be controlled.

Of course they'd arrive as soon as they heard, why wait to speculate the damage? She would hyperventilate if it wasn't inevitable, if she hadn't been imagining the countless scenarios, some absolutely horrific and some that left her uncomfortable at best. All of them only made her smile falter slightly, because she knew Sasuke had meant well. She couldn't avoid it forever, and she had missed her family as she was sure they'd missed her.

Her father would be furious, though.

She looked into the pitch black eye that wasn't covered by his even darker hair. Sasuke had lost all his family, she must've seemed ungrateful in front him.

Hinata smiled tightly.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun."

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Night had fallen and it seemed something had delayed her sister.

Tsukino had remained undeterred in his crying for a few hours, and Hinata had no idea what possibly could've put him in such a sour mood. She'd changed his clean diaper twice, fed him, and sporadically rocked him in her arms.

Holding him calmed him down a few moments, lowering his scrams to tiny, tired mewls—but he would roar with life once she put him back down.

At first, she refused the nurses offers to help, but she gave in eventually to eat supper, which was two rice balls and steamed fish. During her pregnancy she craved rice almost every day, but fish made her nauseous. Her every need was catered to, and she hadn't seen or smelled fish in months. As the scent gathered at her nostrils, she couldn't help but anticipate her gut turning. Her expectations hung in front of her as she inhaled the ordinary smell of fish. And yet, the memory of how disgusting it was still prompted her to take tiny, tiny bites

Tsukino had eventually tired himself and the nurse put him to rest. It somewhat annoyed Hinata that he fell asleep in another woman's arms, but she was much too tired to analyse her irritation.

Hinata decided to get some fresh air and let the room air out.

Sasuke was settled against the porch's railing, silently looking at the sky.

"Ah, Sasuke-kun, was Tsukino disturbing you?" Hinata gave him an apologetic look as she reach his side, but as Sasuke turned to face her, he was frowning in confusion.

"Oh." She laughed. "Tsukino is my son's name."

"Then yes."

It was never any less surprising to hear Sasuke's straightforwardness, if Hinata weren't amused she might've found it rude.

"I'm sorry. He's so sweet but he has quite a temper…"

Had she been in a better position, in a healthy relationship in which her circumstances wouldn't have been so dire, Hinata would've added 'Just like his father'. She almost had, but she'd caught herself in time. The fact that her child was so much like his father put her between a rock and a hard place—it wasn't something that could be mentioned during jovial small talk.

Suddenly uncomfortable, Hinata stopped talking and instead looked at the sky, but her eyes caught sight of the full moon and she immediately looked at the dirt beneath them.

Silence blossomed between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Hinata had a feeling that Sasuke was not at all opposed to silence anyway, and she could appreciate his company without meaningless banter (or meaningful banter for that matter).

Something about Sasuke reminded her of a Konoha that she was so fond of. The Konoha that existed apart from the Hyuuga clan, or her lessons as an heiress, or the humiliating training she'd endured, or being groomed to be a wife.

Sasuke reminded her of a simpler time in the village, where he and Naruto would fight, albeit, endearingly. A time when every girl in nearest vicinity would pine for him, and that was the requisite for every girl of their age group (and secretly; a little bit older). He was always at the forefront of gossip, whether for his talent or his treachery. Not to mention; the rambunctious Team Seven.

Hinata looked at them and always thought they looked like they were having fun, it made Hinata miss her own team and her dearest friends. She wondered if she could even begin to explain all that had happened in the time she'd been gone, or if they'd been up to much in that time. Perhaps they had girlfriends, or gotten their hair styled differently at all—

Looking at Sasuke, Hinata knew he'd grown, even if she hadn't known him closely she simply knew it, but his calm demeanour remained intact. He had refined his calm, he didn't radiate arrogance anymore. He simply seemed unbothered, it made her envious.

"Sasuke-kun, do you have a significant other?"

Sasuke blanched slightly, turning to give Hinata a startled look. It made her blush but it also amused her that he'd pulled his face like that, all wide eyed and frowning, giving her a look that said 'have you been drinking?'

And then he looked thoughtful, as if mulling the answer around in his brain, until finally:

"No."

He took so long to answer that Hinata almost questioned it, but couldn't because just as he'd answered, he'd asked, "Do you?"

She hadn't expected it, but she supposed he chose the perfect time to become a conversationalist, because irony was the gods' humour. She wrung her hands.

"No."

And it was safe to say that their conversation involving anything personal ended there. But as much as Hinata wanted to keep to herself, she grew more curious by the minute and started asking questions about the village and its' residents, to which Sasuke surprisingly obliged, albeit mostly with short answers like 'yes', 'no', or 'I don't know' (but Hinata knew that in actuality he just didn't care).

In between were pleasant intervals of silence…Hinata wondered if Sasuke was at all curious about her situation.

If he was, he never let her know.

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His company made her forget.

Hinata mused this the next morning after Tsukino had woken her (with cries to the heavens) to be fed. The sun was still lazy behind the horizon, the world was an extraordinary indigo, and she'd let her mind drift.

Sasuke didn't pry, he didn't fill the room with a disrespectful droll of small talk, and because he respected her space his company made her feel less lonely. She didn't feel the burdens that would soon enrapture her in Konoha, and yet she was not swallowed too deep in her escapism.

Although a part of that could be attributed to the fact that he was the first recognizable human she'd been in contact with on Earth, a lot had to do with the fact that he complimented her reserved nature.

Right at the edge of his complexities, Hinata thought, Sasuke was a genuinely kind person.

He was…intriguing.

Tsukino shifted slightly, pulling away, his meal dribbling down his chin as he made unintelligible baby noises.

"Yes, Tsuki-chan, I know," Hinata agreed to his babble, using the designated cloth on her nightstand to clean his mouth and her chest.

She belatedly felt disappointed with the fact that perhaps the comfort of Sasuke's company would disintegrate once in Konoha. There have been worse tragedies, but the slightest bit of contentedness would've been enough to salvage her sanity. She dreaded facing her father.

But she couldn't postpone it.

There were exactly two knocks on the door before the old nurse let herself in—Hinata enjoyed this woman, she had oomph.

"Apologies for disturbing you Hinata-san, but your sister is here." She announced in that proper tone that reminded Hinata of the older women in the Hyuuga council, though she was infinitely kinder.

Hinata gave her a sincere smile, "Thank you, Sukimi-chan."

Anxiety began to bubble in her chest as she watched the nurse bow and back away.

"Wa—wait, Sukimi-chan." The earnest with which she'd spoken made her pause. Sukimi turned to her. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused, thank you very much for everything."

"It's been a pleasure, Hinata-san." Sukimi regarded Hinata's quickly regained composure sceptically before nodding and leaving.

Hinata took a deep breath, as if inhaling her regality.

She was much too nervous, that stutter was completely unacceptable.

Her opalescent orbs were glued to the door as she tried to remain calm

Tsukino was restless in her arms, and she tried to soothe him by lightly rocking her arms up and down, her hand nestled under his small head, the warmth of his midnight locks soft against her palm. She hoped to temper his energy, but how could she when she exuded nervous tension?

Her heart was pounding against her rib cage, but her poker face remained. Even so, when the door clicked open she had to take in a shaky breath, nearly breaking her gaze.

Instead, she directed a loving grin towards her sister, who stood adorned in a fine silk kimono and an imperial presence.

"Hanabi, hello."

Hanabi faltered.

The perfected majesty with which she'd presented herself with had glitched, if only for a moment. It was slight but Hinata caught it. Then her gaze flickered to the bundle in Hinata's arms and as if a switch had been flipped in her genetic makeup; her eyes flooded with tears that immediately gushed down her cheeks.

She ran towards Hinata's side at such an incredibly pace Hinata's eyes barely caught her until she knelt beside her, head buried in the mattress space beside her thigh and bawling.

Hinata's smiled shifted, nostalgia and grief softening her features. Nostalgia because she'd missed her sister dearly. Grief for the time lost between them. Hinata repositioned Tsukino in her arms so that she could pat Hanabi's head, fondly remembered that Hanabi, although the heir to the Hyuuga clan and in the middle of being groomed for the position, was still her little sister. And she loved her dearly.

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"It's a shame I had to meet him under these conditions. I never knew you were pregnant."

Hanabi was rocking Tsukino in her arms as she paced the room. Hinata watched them, humming in agreement.

"Father's distraught." She cooed, her eyes gleaming at Tsukino as he giggled and gurgled. "The council was quick to discourage our involvement with you, but father wants to protect you."

"I'm glad, but I don't have plans to stay long."

"Neji doesn't even know yet, ANBU keeps him exceptionally busy I bet he'd drop everything though."

Hinata's eyes dropped at the mention of her cousin. She hummed in acknowledgement, turning her attention outside.

It was a cool autumn day. The ground was so pretty this season, the ground was alight with warm colours—pity, Hinata thought, looking out the window. The air did not reflect the heat on the leaves.

"Nee-chan. How can you be so tranquil?" Hanabi's scolding drew Hinata's full attention. "Where is you sense of urgency?"

"Panicking gets nothing done." Hinata attempted to smile to calm down, but Hanabi continued to fume.

"Yes but where are you going to go if not the Hyuuga Compound…" She trailed off, biting her bottom lip. "Why is the Uchiha here?"

"Sasuke-kun?"

"Yes. Him. Why is he here?"

Hinata giggled.

"Is Sasuke-kun still here?"

"I don't think so. Why would he need to be? Is he the actual father?"

Hinata made quick to ignore the sinking of her heart.

"There's no conspiracy or scandal, Tsukino was born of my husband."

"Then what's actually going on?" Hanabi stopped walking to point her beseeching eyes at her sister. "I'm worried, nee-chan."

Hinata kissed her teeth, running her hand along her belly.

She supposed she had to tell Hanabi everything. But not from the beginning.

"I killed him…my husband." She swallowed thickly. "I killed Toneri, Hanabi-chan."