[AN: Hello and welcome to the sequel of "Good Vibrations"! I ended up casually starting this a month or two ago and rather liked where it went, so I figured I might as well start posting. If you haven't read "Good Vibrations," I do suggest doing so, but it's not exactly required reading (ie, yes, this follow-up can be read as a standalone). Please note that I'm going for light and fluffy with this tale (with some vaguely soap operatic drama thrown in for spice)... the only thing in common with the Charles Dickens novel is the story title. As with the prequel, this content is most definitely rated M for mature themes, mature activities, and language. I do not own the characters, and I greatly appreciate any feedback, favorites, and/or follows you care to share. Also, while I intend for this to be a multi-chapter story, utterly no promises as to when the second chapter will be out. I've got some travelling lined up this fall and am also actively working on another story, so it might be a good few weeks (or less, if inspiration strikes). Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!]

Life was going swimmingly for Haruno Sakura. At the tender age of twenty-five, under the mentorship of the formidable Senju Tsunade, she was Konoha's number 2 medic, one of just a few shinobi in the village entrusted with the medical care of ANBU guardsmen, clan heads and heirs, and even, when her Shishou was indisposed, the Hokage himself, Namikaze Minato. Given her value within the village, she didn't often have the opportunity to display it, but she was also a full-fledged jonin, with chakra control that was arguably better than the Slug Sannin's and fists that could make even a jinchuuriki tremble. Add to that the fact that she was a member of the legendary Team Seven, a seemingly mismatched trio of genin that had through some remarkable odds actually measured up to their infamous sensei's reputation, and she was undeniably one heck of a kunoichi on paper.

Socially speaking, Sakura had always struggled somewhat - thanks no doubt to Ino's larger-than-life shadow - but lately that front had clicked into place for her as well. Well, she'd never really had a problem making friends. The Konoha Twelve was, on the whole, a welcoming bunch - or, at least, she, Naruto, Hinata, Tenten, Kiba, Chouji, and, debatably, Lee and Ino were welcoming - to which she was exceedingly happy to be an integral member. It was really romance that had time and again let her down. That being said, after a girlhood of often embarrassing pining, an adolescence of trying (and probably failing) not to be a lovestruck little idiot, and a young adulthood of walking on eggshells alternated with trying (and once again failing) to shift her affections towards someone a little less unattainable, she was, as of her birthday night five-and-change weeks ago, dating the guy of her dreams. The admittedly broody; darkly, desperately handsome; often emotionally frustrating, but oh so talented; at times, surprisingly sensitive Uchiha Sasuke. And it was going well… so well that it was almost scary.

Although, maybe not when one looked at the full context of the relationship. For their start as a couple had been more or less as rocky as one could get: a one-night stand that had left her emotionally wounded and wishing for more and him running scared from a commitment he didn't believe himself capable of making. That being said, thanks to Ino's conniving ways, a timely assist from Shisui, one hell of a make-up session, and some magic on the part of his impressively resourceful mother - which wasn't all that much of a surprise, for Mikoto-san was a full-blooded Uchiha and jonin in her own right - they'd worked their way through the seemingly insurmountable conundrum that was Sasuke's ANBU obligation to a place of committed bliss.

Or... as steady as a relationship between a couple of jonin shinobi in their mid-twenties could be. Sakura's schedule at Konoha General since they became an item was keeping her busy as ever, and Tsunade was beginning to hint at retirement, a thought that had Sakura alternatively gravitating towards punching a hole through her office wall and curling up under her desk in the fetal position. Meanwhile, Sasuke may have traded his breakneck ANBU missions for a comparatively cushy position as Acting Uchiha Clan Head - "AUCH," for short… a silly little acronym that had made Sakura giggle and Sasuke scowl when she'd first thought of it - but that didn't exactly give him copious quantities of free time. He was home in the village each night, and they tried to take advantage of that little factoid, but his days were jam-packed with enough clan meetings, briefings, consultations, and High Council appointments to make even the most acrobatic shurikenjutsu user's head spin.

Then, of course, there was the inescapable legacy of the Uchiha name itself. For Sasuke came from a somewhat infamous clan with a distinct culture and a proud sense of tradition, not to mention sky-high expectations. All of this was perfectly understandable, with definite advantages, but it was also a bit, well, prohibitive, particularly when it came to certain expectations involving how exactly clan heirs (and, apparently also, AUCHs) were to comport themselves. At all times. Fortunately, Sasuke agreed with Sakura's fervent belief that the rules that barred him from one-on-one dates, relationships with kunoichi lacking the surname "Uchiha," and physical contact beyond handholding until after marriage were positively absurd, and his parents seemed to go along with his decision (or were willing to turn a blind eye). In truth, given his pre-Sakura dalliances and colorful ANBU history - the former of which she preferred not to think about - the clan Elders were about ten years too late to enforce archaic notions such as chastity and purity of the bloodline on Sasuke. That being said, since has appointment as AUCH, a few of the older, most influential ones had expressed a disturbing amount of interest in trying.

But that was a minor inconvenience. Sakura really had little to complain about. If only she could shake the mysterious ailment she'd been suffering from for the past few weeks.

It had come on the same weekend as Hinata's bachelorette bash, around the middle of April. Taken individually, her symptoms - on-and-off achiness, occasional bouts of nausea, an increased interest in midday naps, digestive issues, and a sudden hatred of umeboshi, one of her very favorite foods - weren't particularly remarkable. But the fact that she was experiencing them all at once and saw no sign of improvement or worsening was a bit… peculiar.

She'd initially written the illness off as the vestige of her bachelorette-induced hangover. For Hanabi had turned out to be way more a Hyuga wildchild than any of them had expected, keeping them dancing, drinking, and feting her increasingly pink-cheeked older sister until the sun was high in the sky and even Ino was suggesting they call it a morning. When Sakura still felt kind of off over a week later - following the wedding weekend itself - she decided she'd come down with a nagging case of food poisoning. (She knew the shrimp cocktail that she and Sasuke had split at the reception had been a bad idea; fortunately, his digestive system was seemingly more impervious to questionable shellfish.) After that, the food poisoning had transformed into what had to be a blessedly mild case of the flu… or maybe just some unusual manifestations of her spring allergies. The cherry trees were in bloom, after all, and they'd made her sneeze ever since she was a child.

But now, three plus weeks into her malady with no improvement in sight, she was feeling less than sanguine about casually ignoring her symptoms. For, over the past few days, her medic-nin mind had begun connecting the dots... wondering if it was something else. Something… chronic.

Thanks to her career, Sakura knew that the possibilities were seemingly endless and potentially life altering, not to mention more than a little scary. A thyroid issue… Crohn's… an anxiety disorder... IBD… cancer… she'd diagnosed them all in others more than once. But diagnosing herself? It wasn't something she found herself eager to do. Which was why she was currently perched somewhat gingerly on the side of the medical examination table in her Shishou's office, clad in one of those hellaciously ugly paper hospital gowns under which lurked a lacy, hot pink thong - for Sasuke showed a surprising enthusiasm for the color on her given his own personal penchant for everything midnight - and feeling distinctly nervous (not to mention a little gassy) as Tsunade began the conversational side of her examination, full lips set in a straight line and style militant as ever as she barked out question after question.

"So, bloatedness, generalized exhaustion, nagging nausea, tender breasts, and mood swings, eh? Very interesting…" The Hospital Director tapped her pen thoughtfully against her notepad before jotting down two or three completely illegible bullets.

"I have not been experiencing mood swings!"

Tsunade chuckled, full lips turning up in an indulgent smile. "The walls around here have ears. I understand that you demolished a chair in the break room yesterday afternoon because Yoshi dared to take the last strawberry daifuku while you were in surgery. Tsk, tsk, Sakura-chan. Temper, temper."

Sakura grimaced. She had gone a bit overboard there. Although Emi's daifuku were the best thing ever - the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon cup of coffee - and she'd had one hell of a sweet tooth lately. Yes, it was really all Yoshi's fault. He knew the treat had basically had her name on it, the greedy bastard! Besides, the staff room furniture was cheap crap… little more than plywood glued together. It could happen to anyone...

Fortunately, Tsunade seemed to feel that there was little to be gained from contesting that point or giving her another lecture about keeping her chakra-enhanced strength in check. Or perhaps she realized how incredibly hypocritical such statements were. Instead, clearing her throat, her tone turned somewhat more clinical. "Now then, tell me about your current habits. What have you been eating lately? Any big changes? You haven't been dieting again, have you?" Honey eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"No, Shishou! Don't be ridiculous!" That had been a sticking point during their earliest days, back when Sakura had still thought that long hair, a tiny waist, and constant fangirling were the three keys to Uchiha Sasuke's seemingly impervious little heart. "I've been eating better than ever, actually. Mikoto-san is a wonderful cook, and she's been insisting that I join Sasuke-kun's family for dinner at least three nights a week now that my parents are living outside of Konoha."

Tsunade's lips twitched downwards into a full-on frown at that. Dammit, how could she have forgotten? Given how busy the hospital had been over the past month with springtime check-ups, they hadn't really discussed her new relationship yet, and, being a Senju, her Shishou was no Uchiha fan. This could get ugly. "Hmph. That's right, you and that dratted Uchiha boy are together, aren't you? I trust he's less of a pompous, emotionally stunted brat when he's not in public. And that he's cleaned up his act a bit now that he's no longer an anonymous ANBU operative. I'm sure you've heard the rumors given how many ANBU kunoichi you handle, but Chidori isn't the only technique he's said to have inherited from that commitment-phobic sensei of yours, you know. When it comes to your love life, I've got no business telling you what to do, but I'd tread carefully with that one."

Ugh, those pesky rumors again. Yes, Sakura knew all about those... Sasuke's reputation on the ANBU circuit as the perfect casual lay, his alleged seduction and subsequent assassination of at least three S-class kunoichi over the past year, his aptitude for "fucking and ducking," as Ino had so elegantly put it over cocktails just last Tuesday. Sakura had even experienced that last technique firsthand… but she wasn't about to give her already disgruntled mentor any more ammo against her boyfriend at the moment. Besides, the ANBU assignments and random hookups were things of the past; Sasuke had made that perfectly clear in a myriad of ways since her birthday night.

And so, Sakura returned the woman's glare with as much fire as she could while clad in a paper gown, seated on the edge of an examination table, and feeling pretty crappy. There was little she could say to really change her Shishou's mind given the Senju blood that ran through her veins, but her mentor had trained her to be a fighter. Besides, legendary Sannin and her boss or not, she wasn't about to let the woman get off unscathed after smearing the man she loved. "Tsunade-sama, that's very unfair. Sasuke's doing a wonderful job of managing the Uchiha clan these days… you yourself know what a difficult bunch they can be. He's an incredibly loyal partner, and he's doting in his own way. Just because he's not outwardly emotive all the time doesn't mean he doesn't care…"

The woman waved her manicured right hand, rolling her eyes in what Sakura recognized with a grin of satisfaction as grudging acquiescence. "Fine, fine. I don't need all the gory details like certain raunchy Yamanaka heiresses. I just hope he realizes what he has. But let's turn our attention back to a potentially related subject... your mysterious ailment. Believe it or not, I think I'm closing in on a diagnosis, but I'm going to need you to answer a few more questions for me. Honestly."

Sakura tossed her hair dismissively. For Kami's sake. Tsunade had seen her through her teenage years. The woman had even walked in on her exceedingly sloppy first kiss with Naruto, a decade ago in room 226B after he'd almost snuffed it on that B-class mission to Hidden Grass. What could she possibly have left to lie about?

Her mentor pursed her lips somewhat knowingly. "You're sexually active these days?"

Oh. Well, there was that. Sakura squirmed in her seat, her cheeks turning rosy like a sixteen year old being asked by her mother to explain why exactly there was a used condom on the floor of her bedroom. For, thrilled as she was to be sleeping with Sasuke, Sakura hadn't yet become comfortable with the idea of talking about it with anyone other than him yet, to Ino's great disappointment. Of all the things that Tsunade could have asked...

A practical little voice suddenly spoke up from instead her head, strident tone somewhat reminiscent of Tenten at her most pragmatic. Hang on, Sakura-chan. You are twenty-five years old. You are allowed to have sex with your boyfriend. With anyone you damn well please, really (not that you actually intend to sleep with anyone other than Sasuke for the foreseeable future, of course!). It's not a crime. It's not embarrassing. And certainly not when you're talking to your medic, who has definitely heard it all before (and some, given that her old teammate happens to be Jiraiya). Even if the woman does happen to be your direct supervisor at the hospital, not to mention the most significant mentor in your professional life...

"Yes. I am." Sakura replied shortly, willing the blush to subside from her complexion.

Tsunade nodded shortly. "You use contraceptives?"

"Of course I do. I've been on the pill since I was fourteen." It was her Shishou herself who'd written her prescription, after all.

"And... your partner?"

Sakura swallowed hard, aware that her mentor wasn't going to like her next answer. Tsunade was actually quite liberal in her approach, despite her age and the Senju clan legacy, but she was also a big believer in practicing what one preached, and safe sex was without a doubt the rule around Konoha General. "The pill is ninety-nine percent effective, Shishou," Sakura began, suddenly not so interested in meeting the woman's steady gaze. "I trust Sasuke-kun. We're in a committed relationship. He'd never-"

Tsunade cut her off with one of her more contemplative "hms." Daring to look up, Sakura felt a certain sense of relief come over her at the discovery that her Shishou's expression was surprisingly soft and gentle… almost maternal, actually. Which was pretty shocking given that the blonde was usually quite the battle axe. She wasn't angry, then. That was good. But why was she even asking about her sex habits in the first place? Unless… A wave of shocked disbelief suddenly came over her as Sakura remembered a nineteen-year-old chunin she'd had this very exchange with last week from the other side of the examination table. "Shishou! I am not pregnant!"

"Oh no?" The woman's eyes narrowed far too cannily, voice impressively calm in that legendary bedside manner. "When was your last period?"

Sakura scoffed at the audacity of the question, fully ready to spit back out an answer. Although… come to think of it, it had been awhile, hadn't it now? Roughly two weeks before her birthday, way back in mid-March, and it was late April now. Six weeks, then… quite some time ago, particularly seeing as her cycle was always like clockwork. Now, Sakura was usually superb about remembering to take her pill, but the week leading up to her birthday had been rough. In fact, she'd been such an emotional wreck at the time that she had forgotten… twice. The day after she and Sasuke had first been intimate and her actual birthday, if she was remembering correctly. And, of course, her birthday night had been when she and Sasuke had… but no, she was getting way ahead of herself.

Her pulse quickened, lips dropping open in a protest that was directed as much at her own mind as it was at her companion. "Tsunade-sama, that's impossible! I can't be pregnant. I told you, I'm on the pill! I mean yes, maybe I missed a dose here and there, but it's still so unlikely. I've been under a lot of stress lately. There's so much going on! It's a perfectly reasonable explan-"

"Sakura," Tsunade cut her off gently yet authoritatively, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know it may be more than a little surprising, but, as a medic, you have to agree. Pregnancy is a very reasonable explanation for your particular mixture of symptoms. And, as you yourself told me just a minute ago, the pill is only ninety-nine percent effective when no doses are missed. It seems that your odds when it comes to gambling may be far better than mine." She smiled rather indulgently. "Or perhaps I should say worse given the surname of the potential father. But, of course, we shouldn't jump to conclusions. I'll run a couple of quick chakra scans, which will give us the definitive answer we're looking for."

And so, Sakura lay back onto the examination table, the paper of her smock rustling as she tried to angle herself down without cluing in Tsunade to her whole sexy underwear situation. She could feel the nervous butterflies dancing in her stomach as she gazed up at the white ceiling, awaiting her Shishou's examination. Pregnant. Tsunade thought she could be pregnant! It seemed impossible, but, then again, the blonde was rarely wrong, and all of the symptoms did fit the bill. Oh, Kami, what would she tell Sasuke? He had so much on his plate right now. The last thing he needed was a baby. And how would he feel about it? Would he be happy? Frustrated? Excited? Angry? Never one to wear his heart on his sleeve, his reactions could be somewhat difficult to predict... But he loved her. Surely, given that this would be their baby, they would muddle through, even if he didn't end up being the most enthusiastic father-to-be at first?

A funny tickling sensation below her navel clued Sakura in to the immensely anxiety-provoking fact that the examination had begun. Shutting her eyes, she coached herself through a series of deep, meditative breaths and slowly began reciting the Shinobi Rules to herself, trying to ignore the feeling of her Shishou's chakra probing her own, seeking out another energy… that of her potential child. Of Sasuke's potential child. Deep breaths, Sakura-chan...

It was midway through Rule #36 (Kaka-sensei's old favorite… "A shinobi must see the hidden meanings within the hidden meanings") that Sakura finally felt the tingling warmth of her Shishou's chakra withdrawal. All of a sudden overwhelmingly eager to know the results, her lashes flitted open, eyes immediately finding her mentor's face.

For a moment, Tsunade's expression was impassive, and she looked every bit her age despite the henge in place. Then, with a shake of her blonde head, her lips quirked upwards, the tension on her brow disappearing. "Well, Sakura, I do believe you're about to give the Uchiha Elders the shock of their lives. In my professional opinion, you are one-hundred percent, without a doubt pregnant. And, just in case they decide to get surly and start throwing around wild accusations, you can tell them that Senju Tsunade inspected you and confirmed that the fetus is unquestionably Uchiha spawn. I'd recognize that dark, heavy chakra anywhere."

Well, fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck FUCK. Even with Tsunade having somewhat prepared her by voicing her suspicions pre-exam, Sakura was in full-on shock. "Shishou, what do I do?" she asked, voice suddenly hushed and low, as if the entirety of the Uchiha clan was waiting outside the exam room. "What is Sasuke-kun going to think? He's got all his AUCH obligations, and I have my job here… we're too busy for a baby right now! Not to mention that Hokage-sama asked me to help proctor the chunin exams again this August, and I have Ino's wedding in September and Tenten's in November. And there are so many people we'll have to tell! My parents, all our friends, Naruto and Kakashi, Sasuke's parents, the clan Elders. Oh Shishou… I can't... Some of the older Uchiha were already wary enough about me just dating Sasuke… this… a baby... Not to mention all the rich foods I've been eating lately…. All the alcohol I've -"

A surprisingly authoritative hand found its way to her right shoulder, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Sakura. Sakura. Like I always tell you, one thing at a time."

Tsunade coaxed Sakura up into a seated position, bare legs dangling off of the examination table and fists tightly clenched together in her lap. "You're certainly not the first kunoichi to find yourself pregnant, you know. For starters, you've got absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to job security. You're one of the best medic-nins we've got, the hospital grants maternity leave, and I even hear that you have an in with the Director." The blonde chuckled at her own joke, only to realize moments later that she was laughing alone. "Oh, don't be like that, Sakura! It's going to be fine. Continuing down your list… I'm estimating your due date as the first week in January, so you'll only be five months along in August. Barring some unexpected complication, there's no real reason you couldn't be a chunin exam proctor... let's be honest, it's not exactly like they do much. Ino's wedding is mid-September -"

"Who's ever heard of a pregnant maid of honor?"

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Trust me, it happens. You'll be fine. Adorable, actually. Anyway, moving on… Kakashi's and Naruto's opinions don't matter, you little worrywart. Team 7 hasn't gone on a mission together in over eight years. As for your parents… Mebuki will be thrilled, and your tou-san will be delighted as well once he gets over the undeniable fact that his darling little girl is sexually mature."

Sakura grimaced at that - talk about awkward conversations - but Tsunade was already moving on with a dismissive wave of you hand. "He's long overdue for that epiphany. Anyway, as you probably surmised, I already took care of doing a full check of your baby's vitals. I wouldn't repeat that wild Hyuuga bachelorette party I heard Ino yammering about last Wednesday anytime soon, but it didn't cause any harm. Baby's growing like a weed with chakra that's a true testament to his or her lineage. Which brings us to the Uchiha."

Here, the woman paused for breath, a fact for which Sakura was exceedingly grateful. Between the surprise pregnancy and her Shishou's rapid-fire rundown of every current headache in her life, she considered herself lucky to still be conscious. But the ugliest was yet to come. "If I'm going to be brutally honest with you, Sakura, the Uchiha aren't going to be happy. Well, that's not entirely fair. Mikoto-san's as baby crazy as any prospective grandmother, Itachi will play the part of doting uncle-to-be as long as Sasuke's AUCH responsibilities aren't thrown into jeopardy, Shisui will be eternally grateful for the additional fodder with which to tease his baby cousin, and Sasuke himself should be happy if he knows what's good for him. But Fugaku and the clan Elders?" Tsunade sighed heavily, her distaste for all things traditional dripping out of every pore. "They're a tough crowd. You're certainly not the first kunoichi to be having a baby out of wedlock - just look at Asuma and Kurenai - but, as you already know, they've got very strong opinions about how their head family is and is not supposed to behave, and this development is definitely going to fall in the latter category. Much as I hate to say it, your best bet is probably keeping the pregnancy a secret from them for as long as you can."

"And when they do find out?" Sakura asked breathily. She was usually a competent, capable kunoichi with a solid-enough head on her shoulders, but this whole baby business had her feeling just as lost as if she were a first-year medic-nin again.

"You face that obstacle when you come to it. A lot can change in four, more like five, months given how tiny you are. And, hey, worse comes to worse and those assholes decide they want nothing to do with your bundle of joy? The Haruno clan should count itself lucky: Most shinobi families would kill to welcome the Sharingan into their gene pool."

Setting down Sakura's medical file with a harumph, Tsunade turned to the cabinet where they stocked patient leaflets. "Now, I know you know all of this already, but I'd like to go over some prenatal care take-home points. Kami knows I intend to ensure that my apprentice's baby has the best possible start in life."

Sakura left Konoha General roughly half-an-hour later, several pregnancy flyers, an anti-nausea medication prescription ("just in case!"), and a bottle of prenatal vitamins rattling around in her medic-nin bag. After Tsunade's pep talk and some time to begin getting used to the idea that she was with child, she was feeling somewhat better about the future. And, of course, the fact that she was off to meet her boyfriend for a one-on-one spar on Training Ground 3 wasn't exactly a bad pick-me-up, either. Particularly when one combined her rampant horniness - blame it on the pregnancy hormones - with the fact that such training dates were the shinobi equivalent of foreplay and tended to result in the two of them shunshinning back to her apartment as fast as their hands could weave the required jutsu. Yes, the afternoon was looking very good indeed. Perhaps, if Sasuke was a particularly well-behaved boy, she'd even make him something with tomatoes for dinner.

As she wound her way through the village and towards the training grounds, she began to plot her plan of attack for breaking her news to Sasuke. While she intended to keep her pregnancy a secret from as many people as possible for as long as possible given their Uchiha conundrum, she obviously had to tell him. Sakura might be the one carrying it, but the baby was really just as much his as hers. That being said, she was rather strongly inclined to keep the information to herself for a little bit. Just a week or two… until she was fully comfortable and accustomed to the idea. Then, in the security and comfort of her apartment, over a cozy dinner and a glass or three of wine for him, she'd spill. It wasn't going to be pretty, but she was reasonably confident that such an approach would allow her to address the immediate fallout calmly, efficiently, and discreetly, before Sasuke got too crazed and/or broody.

She was just passing by Training Ground 1 when the sound of someone calling her name pulled Sakura out of her reverie. Looking up, she spotted a pretty, brown-haired kunoichi dressed in a clingy plum crop-top and black leggings whom she vaguely recognized as one of Uchiha Shisui's ANBU reports, Nakamura Akira. Of course, she wasn't really supposed to know that sort of classified information, but Akira had a bit of a reputation for her seduction skills, both in and outside of Konoha. When one was best friends with Yamanaka Ino, juicy gossip of that sort definitely got around.

Up close, she could totally see why Akira's ANBU specialty was what it was. She stood a good head taller than Sakura herself, with a long, lean body, legs for days, a heart-shaped face, and sapphire eyes that sparkled in the afternoon sunlight, rivaling even Ino's own prized baby blues in hue. After a childhood in which she'd too often been petty about her looks, Sakura tried not to be the jealous type - while she'd never love her forehead, was definitely on the short side, and wouldn't mind going up a cup size, she was no ugly duckling - but it was hard not to envy her new companion's dazzling smile and generous bustline.

The woman peered down at her somewhat curiously, and Sakura was struck by the sudden impression that she was being analyzed for weaknesses. It wasn't exactly a comfortable feeling, and the pink-haired kunoichi found her arms reflexively folding across her body, as if attempting to cut herself off from view. Then, Akira spoke, tone positively dripping with sweetness. "Ah, Haruno-san! I'd been hoping to run into you one of these days!"

She had? Sakura was aware that she had her own reputation in Konoha, thanks largely to her Team 7 days and her Shishou, but what interest an ANBU seduction specialist had in her she couldn't even begin to guess. "Well, you found me!" Sakura replied "brightly," doing her best to mimic the woman's insincere smile. "Nakamura Akira, right? I understand you work with Shisui-san. He's a… friend of mine." Shisui was a friend, right? Even if she almost slept with him roughly six weeks ago in a ridiculous attempt to get back at Sasuke and hadn't quite gotten up the nerve to speak with him since? "What can I do for you?"

Akira shrugged, smile growing somewhat cat-like. "Not much. Kunoichi like me don't often have much of a need for medical treatment. If we're good that is… and I don't mean to brag, but I'm one of the best at what I do."

Sakura's confusion was growing, but she refused to let this woman see it. She had no clue as to why Akira wanted to intimidate her, but after a lifetime of dealing with Ino, she knew this ploy almost as well as the layout of her kunai pouch. "Oh? And what is it that you do, Akira-san?" she asked mock innocently, mind beginning to wander to Training Ground 3. Sasuke-kun was usually early for appointments… he was probably already there. Given the nature of his hectic schedule and how little he liked to be kept waiting, she really ought to try and wrap things up swiftly...

Akira's eyes glittered in the sunlight. "My body is my weapon, if you get my drift," she replied so softly that Sakura could barely hear her, full lips moving as minimally as possible. "As for what I wanted…" She broke off, right hand twirling the senbon she'd presumably been training with before meeting Sakura's gaze with a renewed intensity. "I was just idly curious whom Uchiha Sasuke was fucking these days. I don't mean to kiss and tell, but I always like to keep tabs on my more… talented conquests. For future reference."

The kunoichi's lips curved upwards into an immensely self-satisfied smile, fully confident that her blow had struck true. And it had. Despite her best efforts to retain her composure, Sakura felt the color creeping up into her cheeks, a combination of rage and humiliation flooding her senses. As she and Tsunade had discussed just a couple of hours ago at the hospital, she was already well aware that Sasuke had a complicated sexual history. That being said, having it laid out in front of her like this by a former flame was vile. Particularly Akira's insinuation that she'd be up for another tumble in the sheets if the Uchiha so deigned. Sakura trusted her boyfriend, but the knowledge that women like this harpy were out there, just waiting for their relationship to fail…

Breathe in… breathe out… in… out…. Regaining some control over herself, Sakura released the fists her hands had inadvertently formed. This kunoichi was probably just jealous of what she and Sasuke had. There was nothing for her to be concerned about. After all, Sakura was the one whom Sasuke loved, the one he'd chosen to commit to, the one he invited over for dinners with his parents and opted to spend pretty much all of his precious free time with these days, the one who was pregnant with his surprise baby, for fuck's sake! Besides, tempting as it was to give Akira a little taste of her chakra-enhanced strength, Sakura was well aware that full-contact taijutsu was firmly off-limits during pregnancy.

And so, gritting her teeth into a grin that was really more of a grimace, Sakura returned her antagonist's gaze square-on, steely, emerald eyes meeting cold, calculating blue. "I'll be sure to let Sasuke-kun know about your offer, Akira-san. Now, is there anything else I can do for you? I don't mean to be rude, but he and I actually have a date over on Training Ground 3 that was supposed to start seven minutes ago..."

The kunoichi smirked, her bemusement at Sakura's game retort clear. "How cute. The two of you are just as adorable as the rumors say, aren't you? Hm... I wonder how long it'll be until he tires of such domestic bliss. But, please, don't let me keep you."

"Good. I won't, then." With that, Sakura spun on her heel, darting away from Akira without even a backwards glance. As she moved past Training Ground 2, she willed herself to empty her mind of what had just transpired, sternly reminding herself that she would be a fool to let a catty, toxic woman ruin an afternoon that she and Sasuke had been planning for well over a week. ANBU was his past, and she'd never be able to erase that - even if she'd wanted to - but the life they'd been building together in Konoha over the past couple of month was his present, and, if things worked out the way she hoped they would, their future.

The bright green grass of Training Ground 3 was soft and springy under Sakura's shinobi sandals as she finally arrived at her destination. Scanning the field, her eyes quickly landed on Sasuke's familiar form, cheeks warming slightly at the sight. He was leaning against the trunk of a large oak tree about fifty feet from her, his presently dark eyes watching her approach impassively, his lips slightly upturned in a small yet genuine smile that pushed all of her buttons in just the right way, and his left hand casually fiddling with a kunai.

Despite the attractiveness of his tall, dark, and handsome looks, it was actually this last point that most fully caught Sakura's attention. For having been his teammate since they were preteens, she was long familiar with all of his nervous tics and twitches. What did Sasuke-kun have to be worried about on their afternoon off? It appeared that she wasn't going to find out the easy way. As she stepped into the shade to join him, he deposited his weapon into his kunai pouch, crossing his strong forearms across his chest. "Hn, Sakura. You're late," he murmured, voice soft and velvety, like liquid midnight. "That's unlike you."

Hm… perhaps they should skip the training and just head straight to the bedroom. But no, after the morning she'd had at the hospital and her recent run-in with Akira, she could probably do with getting out some of her aggression the old-fashioned way. Sakura gave Sasuke what she hoped was a sheepish smile, aware that he was eyeing her expectantly. "I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. I… lost track of time." Ugh, one would think she'd be able to do a bit better than that after years of serving under Kaka-sensei.

Sasuke's left eyebrow rose up towards his hairline in an expression of silent skepticism. "I see. How was your appointment?"

"My… appointment?" she repeated, somewhat thrown off by his query. Of course, detail oriented as ever, Sasuke just had to remember that she'd babbled to him last Tuesday about how she should probably get her nagging cold checked out by Tsunade. "Oh right. That." Smooth. "It was… fine! Great! I'm feeling much better," she replied far too perkily. She was such a bad liar when it came to Sasuke-kun. "Anyway, should we get this training session going? I was thinking we could start with some shurikenju-"

"Did Tsunade say what was wrong with you? You were quite unwell last week, Sakura."

Dammit. Ordinarily, Sakura would have found Sasuke's concern for her well-being heart-poundingly sweet. After all, it was undeniable proof of how much he cared, not to mention absolutely everything her teenage self had craved. But at the moment, given what the root of her mysterious illness actually happened to be and her desire not to loop Sasuke in about her pregnancy quite yet, it was pretty, well, annoying. "It was just a nagging cold, exactly as I suspected," she replied lightly with a "casual" shrug, hoping that his utter lack of knowledge about medicine would get her out of this increasingly unpleasant conversation. "Shishou did advise against any hand-to-hand combat, however."

Sasuke looked distinctly put out at that. "Why? Are you… infectious? Because, well, I was thinking later, we could… you know..."

Despite the stress she was under, Sakura almost laughed at the slight shade of pink that dusted itself over his cheeks. And he insisted that Naruto-kun was the perviest member of their old genin trio. Instead, astutely aware that making him cranky was not the way to an enjoyable afternoon for either of them, she gave him a sunny smile, sensing that victory was within her grasp. "No, Sasuke-kun, it's nothing like that. Just a precaution until I'm all better. Now, like I was saying, how about a shurikenjutsu session? It's been awhile, so I was hoping you could help me dust the rust off my kunai kit, particularly seeing as you're pretty much the best in Konoha these days…"

With the Uchiha's rampant curiosity finally lulled through that somewhat blatant appeal to his ego, they set to it, Sasuke leading her in some light stretching, reviewing the basics of grip and positioning, and then guiding her through what he declared an "easy" series of exercise. Such lies. As was usually the case when working with a master, it was a decidedly eye-opening experience, although all the hands-on assistance with her form gradually turned her rather fuzzy headed, making the chances that she would actually retain much of what he was saying less than likely. Which was really too bad from a shinobi perspective, but totally fine to her more licentious side.

After about a half-hour of surreptitious touching, increasingly creative drills she was fairly certain she could blame on Itachi (who else would come up with a routine that involved somersaulting through the air upside-down with one's eyes closed while attempting to simultaneously nail eight targets with one volley?), and sparse yet precise instruction, Sakura found herself drenched in sweat, more than a little horny, and kind of nauseous. As Sasuke collected the remnants of her most recent round, scaling a large maple to collect a knife that hadn't quite managed to hit its target - five out of eight wasn't bad for a medic-nin - the kunoichi settled herself under the shade of its canopy, slipping down the trunk to a seated position, her knees out in front of her. "I think I could use a little break, Sasuke-kun," she called up to him, staring at her sandal-clad feet in a valiant effort to stop the world from spinning. Yes, all that twisting through the air had not been ideal. Perhaps, a genjutsu session would have been a safer bet.

Sasuke landed on the ground next to her with that cat-like grace that never failed to impress. "Ah." For several heartbeats, his ebony eyes silently ran over her features, as if seeking to memorize them. Then, just when she was starting to wonder if she had something on her face, he turned away with a surprisingly gentle little smile, beginning to head back towards the oak under which he'd left his gear. "You look tired. I'll get you some water." His voice was low and husky, sending pleasant shivers up her spine.

"Thanks, Sasuke-kun. That would be really nice." Shutting her eyes, Sakura leaned her head against the tree trunk, savoring the feeling of the light, spring breeze against her flushed face as her breathing slowed to its natural state. Contrary to Sasuke's promise that they wouldn't do anything too intense, the session had not been easy. Probably because of the pregnancy, although Tsunade-sama had been telling her that she needed to get out and train more. She had a point, too. Working at the hospital was definitely fulfilling, but this was truly her happy place… exactly where she wanted to be.

Light footsteps drawing close alerted Sakura to the fact that Sasuke had returned, presumably with his water bottle. Contentedly opening her eyes, she tilted her face upwards to meet his gaze. To her surprise, she found his Sharingan staring back at her, the three prongs of his tomoe spinning rather mesmerizingly. Ungh. He really was unfairly pretty. And kind of scary, given what those eyes could do. But mostly pretty… particularly when he was looking at her like that, like she was important and special and loved.

Cheeks growing warm under his gaze, she smiled up at him, eyes running over his well-sculpted torso and sinewy arms in frank admiration of the toned muscles of his forearms. Short sleeves were definitely a good look. "What's up, Sasuke? Is everything all-"

With a little gasp, she broke off, heart leaping into her throat. For, as her eyes ran down his forearms, from his wrists to his hands, she came to the monumental discovery that he was not, in fact, offering her his water bottle. Instead, resting in his left palm, supported by those long, slender fingers she so adored, was a little, black, velvet box, the twin of the one she'd eyed somewhat jealously on Ino's dresser a couple of weeks ago. And inside that box… was a ring.

The part of her mind that wasn't totally freaking out was somewhat aware that Sasuke was speaking, his voice low, somewhat hesitant, and full of raw, ardent emotion, somehow managing to match the blazing intensity of his gaze as he asked her the question she up until recently had never expected to hear him utter. It was the stuff of dreams... the training ground of their genin days bathed in late afternoon sunshine, the earnest look on Sasuke's face as he nervously anticipated her response, the ring itself, a ruby flanked by two diamonds, set on a white-gold band.

Admittedly, his request was on the simple side - little more than a "Sakura… will you share your life with me?" - but brevity had always been Sasuke's modus operandi, so that was only to be expected. Factoring in her hormones and the way the day had gone up until that moment, it was also way, way too much for her to handle. Almost immediately, she found herself sobbing, tears falling so fast and thick that there was no way she would be getting a word in edgewise anytime soon. Which was positively terrible timing, because how in Kami's name was she supposed to say yes when she was blubbering like an idiot?

Aware that she really owed Sasuke an answer, Sakura nodded vigorously, allowing him to take her trembling left hand and place the ring on her finger. Then, joining her on the grass, his arms wound themselves around her smaller form, pulling her in close to his chest as his right hand gently attempted to wipe the steadily flowing tears from her cheeks. "Tch, no matter what I do, I always seem to make you cry," he murmured, the hint of playfulness in his tone causing her to let out a choked guffaw that was definitely unattractive. But Sasuke either didn't notice or didn't care, for his soft lips eagerly found hers, languishing kiss after kiss upon her, before gradually meandering his way to her nose and cheeks. Tracing his way across her left cheek, Sasuke kissed his way to her left ear lobe, giving it a nibble that sent a shudder of need down her spine, the tears finally beginning to slow. "Hn… Sakura… should we move things to your apartment?" he murmured gently, breath soft and warm as the fingertips of his left hand traced light circles upon the small of her back, having slipped their way beneath her red top several heartbeats prior.

Vaguely aware that their current position - her seated astride him, legs wrapped around his waist, chest pressed so close to his that she could feel the steady beating of his heart reverberating through her own torso - was a bit on the intimate side for public viewing, Sakura nodded mutely, mind still floating in whatever stratosphere Sasuke's proposal had rocketed her to. With a hum, Sasuke carefully shifted her from his lap to the patch of grass to his left before rising to his feet. "Go on ahead… I'll get your bag and meet you there."

Sakura's hands mechanically wove the signs for the Body Flicker Technique, eyes never leaving the uchiwa emblazoned on the back of Sasuke's clan shirt as he ambled back over towards the oak tree. Upon arriving in the center of her living room, she let out a deep, trembling sigh before collapsing onto her sofa and hugging a decorative pillow to her chest, her excitement growing with each passing second. Uchiha Sakura… it had such a lovely ring to it.

Sasuke arrived a few minutes later with a small poof! Looking up in giddy excitement, the goofy grin that had spread its way across Sakura's face quickly faded at the sight of the Uchiha's clenched brow and dark, anxious eyes. "Sasuke-kun, what's…?"

"Sakura. When were you going to tell me?" he asked, tone dangerously quiet. "You were going to tell me, weren't you?"

Tell him? Oh, Kami, no. He couldn't have! Green eyes widened in alarm as Sakura realized what exactly Sasuke was clutching in his hands. Her medic-nin bag. The pregnancy pamphlets. The prenatal vitamins. The anti-nausea prescription with her name on it. Shit! Why oh why had she let him be the one to grab her bag? "I... I just found out this morning!" she gasped, pillow falling out of her grasp to the carpeted floor. "I was going to tell you. Soon. I swear it!" Then, a rather irritating thought crossed her mind. "Why were you going through my bag in the first place? That's private!"

At that, Sasuke's frown deepened, expression growing even darker, not to mention somewhat foreboding. "Tch. I didn't. The bottle fell out when I picked it up. I couldn't not notice, Sakura." He set the offending object down on the coffee table with a ominous rattle. Then, joining her on the sofa with a heavy sigh, he took her cool, clammy hands in his much warmer ones. This was so not how she'd envisioned them spending this moment. They'd just gotten engaged… they were supposed to be happy! But, of course, nothing in their relationship could ever be simple.

"You're probably furious with me," Sakura observed to his right thumb as it rhythmically stroked the back of her left hand, unable to bring herself to meet his gaze. She was in the wrong… she should have told him right away. But, of course, she'd been scared - terrified, really - of what he'd think, what he'd say, how he'd react, and, most of all, what they were going to do. She'd known for just a few hours, and the pressure she was feeling was totally overwhelming. The idea that Sasuke would now have to share that burden along with all the other Uchiha clan crap he already put up with… ugh. "I just didn't want you to worry…"

Sasuke's right hand rose to her chin, index and middle fingers raising her gaze to his. "Tch. I'm… not upset," he replied softly, the tension on his brow fading at her admission. "I mean, I'm surprised, but I'd never be angry about something like this."

With that, he closed the gap between them, soft lips slowly meeting hers as his fingertips traced the sensitive skin of her collarbone. She was eager to know what exactly was running through his mind. He seemed to be taking the news far better than she'd expected, but one never really knew when it came to Uchiha Sasuke. That being said, his touch was pretty much impossible to ignore, dulling the panic that had gripped her and sending a hungry tingle straight to her core. He wasn't angry. They were going to be okay. Mmm... was he sexy when he smirked like that.

As Sasuke deepened the kiss, tongue gently teasing her lower lip before sliding in to play with hers, she let out a breathy little moan that set his dark eyes aglow. Authoritative hands trailed down to her hips, and Sakura soon found herself being pulled astride Sasuke as he angled his body back onto her sofa, dark hair stark against the bright red of her accent pillow. She could feel his arousal pressing up against her, hard, hot, and full of desire. It was a gasp-inducing sensation that soon had her rocking her pelvis up against him, craving every bit of friction he had to offer.

He'd discarded her shirt, and she his when she finally managed to come to her senses. They shouldn't be doing this. They needed to talk… to dig into their feelings... to come up with a game plan for keeping the pregnancy a secret for as long as humanly possible. Detaching her lips from Sasuke's with some reluctance, Sakura rose up above him, hands resting against the heated skin of his bare chest, willing herself to resist the hazy, burning lust in those deep, dark eyes. "Sasuke-kun… don't you think we should talk about our baby..."

His calloused hands rose to her stomach, resting on her flat belly as he eyed her flushed face eagerly. "Ah. We should," he agreed shortly. "Later. Right now… I want to claim what's mine."

It definitely wasn't the most progressive statement in the world... Tsunade-sama would have rolled her eyes hard. Moreover, Sakura was well aware from Ino that using sex to get out of conversing about feelings was textbook emotionally withdrawn male shinobi behavior that she really shouldn't be condoning. That being said, the comment was also pretty hot when said in that slow, midnight voice, particularly when Sasuke followed it up by snaking his hands up her lower back, relinquishing her of the bindings keeping her chest from view with a quick flick of his kunai (the barest whisper of the blade across her skin was icing on the cake), and teasing her almost painfully sensitive nipples to peaks with his dexterous fingers. "Ungh, all right. Later," she agreed against her better judgment, rising up onto her knees so that Sasuke could slide his pants and briefs down his hips and relieve her of her panties.

As she sank down onto him, lashes fluttering as her body reacquainted itself with his length and girth, Sakura savored the hiss of satisfaction that escaped his lips. "Fuck, Sakura… you always feel so good…"

The feeling was most definitely mutual.