A/N: Something I randomly thought of a while back and recently found. I tried to polish it up and complete it. I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but I didn't know how to improve it. I would really appreciate any and all feedback. Please read and review! Comments and constructive criticism welcome. Flames are not.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, I wouldn't be sitting in front of my computer writing fanfiction.

Maybe

If only you hadn't grown up under the weight of the Uchiha name - and the expectations that came with it.

If only you had a normal childhood.

If only you hadn't been forced to take the path of the shinobi while you were still too young to properly hold a kunai in your hand.

If only you had your father's attention.

If only you hadn't pushed yourself to surpass your brother.

If only you hadn't been forced to grow up so quickly.

If only you hadn't suffered the loss of your parents, your clan, at such a young age.

If only your brother hadn't been a psychotic, demented killer.

If only you hadn't sought revenge.

If only you had listened to Kakashi.

If only you had taken another path.

If only you hadn't dismissed your emotions as useless hindrances to your goal.

If only you hadn't pushed us away.

If only you had let us help you.

If only you hadn't caught his attention.

If only you hadn't received the curse seal.

If only you hadn't seen Itachi again.

If only you had stayed a while longer- you could've gotten strong here too.

If only I had been less sheltered.

If only I had understood.

If only I had been less concerned with physical appearances.

If only I had trained more.

If only I had been strong enough for you.

If only I had protected you.

If only I had been less helpless.

If only I had known.

If only you hadn't challenged Naruto.

If only I had intervened.

If only I hadn't gone alone to the gates that night.

If only I had brought someone who could've stopped you- Naruto maybe.

If only you hadn't knocked me out.

If only I had woken up sooner.

If only my love was enough.

If only you hadn't gone to him.

If only I had stopped you.

If only you had let me.

Then maybe we'd still be a team, a family, instead of this broken, fractured mess.

Maybe we'd be spared this suffering.

Maybe we wouldn't have to be alone anymore.

Maybe we'd still be together.

Maybe we'd even be like the smiling couples I see in the village.

Maybe we could've been happy.

Maybe we'd have others' admiration, instead of their pity.

Maybe there would be an "us".

Maybe if we lived in another time, we'd have our fairy tale ending.

But we didn't, and we don't.

I'll take this heartache and pain over any happily ever after, as long as I'm with you.