"Love is that condition in the human spirit so profound that it empowers us to develop courage; to trust that courage and build bridges with it; to trust those bridges and cross over them so we can attempt to reach each other."

-Maya Angelou

Chapter One: Distance

(22 ANT* Hokage Tower)

Kakashi Hatake, the Sixth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, kept his solitary gaze fixed upon the floor of his office, quietly trying to evaluate the situation as well as keep himself level-headed. It wasn't common for the Copy Ninja to lose his natural calm, but the events of the evening had put him on edge.

The sapphire night sky had long faded into black behind the glass windows of the Hokage Tower, and he was sure that time was progressing into the early hours of the morning.

"And there is nothing else?" Shizune asked from her where she hovered over his unoccupied desk. "You're sure?"

"Yes, that's all." Sakura replied. "I'm sure."

The strain in the kunochi's voice made Kakashi snap out of his daze-like state and glance up from his perch on the west wall of the room. While Shizune was occupied over several stacks of paper, Sakura's was looking directly at him, her gaze pleading.

She wanted to go home.

He couldn't blame her, this investigation had gone on for hours now, and what had happened to her that evening was surely starting to take a toll on her. She looked completely exhausted.

The Hokage lifted himself from the wall and took the two strides to stand beside where the rosette was sitting, placing a comforting hand on her bare shoulder.

"Alright," Shizune began, "I have a few photos that I am going to need you to look at..."

"I think that's enough for tonight." Kakashi spoke up, content to see the relief in Sakura's eyes.

Shizune, determined and unaware, continued to dig through the criminal files she had arranged over the desk. "One of those monsters got away, Lord Hokage, we have to..."

"Shizune." Kakashi addressed his assistant with more finality.

The raven-haired woman's head darted up angrily, her brows knitted together tightly, and her mouth open and ready to retaliate. However, her anger was quick to dissolve at the sight of Sakura's weary state and she immediately chastised herself.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying... we can finish this tomorrow, of course."

"Please," Sakura replied gratefully. "Thank you, Shizune."

She felt Kakashi give her shoulder a gentle squeeze, like he had used to do in her genin days. "Let's get you home."

Sakura accepted her old sensei's outstretched hand and let him help her to her feet. As she stood, her head began to spin, undoubtedly from the medications Shizune had given her, but she kept her feet firmly planted to the ground. She was determined to get home, and by the Kages, she was going to walk there herself.

"I don't want you staying there alone, I'll leave some ANBU guards to patrol your..."

Before Kakashi could finish, the doors of the Hokage Office were violently thrust open, slamming against the opposite walls with loud, startling blows. The room fell into a stunned silence as the five ANBU present took aggressive stances, habitually, prepared for an attack.

"Where is she?"

Sasuke Uchiha entered the room as fierce and lethal as ever, his mismatched eyes rigid with hostility. Under his heated glare, the ANBU filtered out of the ex-criminal's way without so much as a word.

Behind them stood his wife.

"Sasuke!" Sakura breathed his name in surprise and relief.

The Uchiha's gaze found hers immediately and softened in relief, the Sharingan and Rinnegan fading back to a familiar onyx color. He was before her in an instant, his rough and bandaged hands taking hold of her face tenderly, oblivious to the prying eyes of the seven around them.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

She nodded slowly in the caress of his hands, giving him a small reassuring smile. "I'm alright."

He then brought his right hand down between them to the slight swell of her stomach, questioning her silently, eyes shaking with worry.

"She's fine." Sakura told him in a hurried whisper, immediately surprised that she had called their three-month, unborn child a "she" without so much as a second thought... it was still far too early to tell. "I mean, the baby is fine, Shizune checked us both over personally."

Sasuke nodded, exhaling a shaky breath as he let his forehead rest against hers.. Sakura brought a hand to rest over his, feeling the slight tremor of his fingers as they cradled the small life growing within her.

He had been terrified.

Sasuke lingered with her like that for a few moments, relishing in the warmth of her touch, the beat of her heart and steadiness of her pulse.

She was still with him. She was safe. She was alive.

The thought that he almost lost her, lost their child, made the storm inside him escalate dangerously as he remembered the reason they all were standing in the Hokage Tower. Straightening, he turned to face Kakashi, all tenderness and concern gone as his hostility resurfaced ten-fold. His dark glare asked the Hokage two very simple questions:

Who? and Where?

Kakashi knew he would have to tread carefully with explaining everything to Sasuke. The Uchiha heir was a stick a dynamite waiting to go off. He calmly dismissed Shizune and his ANBU guards, so he could be alone with young Uchiha couple.

"It was rogue ninja." he began to tell Sasuke. "From the Leaf with a vendetta against the Uchiha clan, undoubtedly."

"How many?" Sasuke asked lowly.

"Four, we managed to capture three of them." Kakashi replied.

"One escaped?" Sasuke stated in disbelief.

"Hence why the others are still alive." the Hokage told him with a sort of edge to his voice. Had the circumstances been different, he'd have killed anyone who dared threaten Sakura without a second thought, however answers were needed. He understood Sasuke's rage, he just simply couldn't comply to it. "They'll be interrogated, by tomorrow we should know more."

"Where are they being kept?" there was no mistaking Sasuke's dark intentions.

"Sasuke..." Kakashi began to try to reason.

"Where are they?" Sasuke seethed, in no mood to be lectured, wanting the situation to be dealt with immediately. He wanted to see the men who broke into his home and attacked his wife when she was vulnerable, who dared to attack his family. He wanted to find them and make them suffer in the way they feared most.

"There is nothing more to be done tonight, Sasuke." Kakashi told him evenly, a slight warning in his voice.

"Like hell there isn't!" Sasuke countered angrily, not heeding his former sensei's warning, nor content with his decision.

"Sasuke." Sakura spoke softly, breaking the growing tension between her husband and the Sixth Hokage. Sasuke felt her come to stand beside him, perfectly placed to stand between them if necessary. Her small hand sliding up his shoulder made him reluctantly look down to meet her jade green eyes, that were silently pleading for him to stop.

He was upsetting her.

That was enough to sway his bitter resolve, at least for a moment if nothing else.

"I want to go home." she told him softly, reaching for his hand.

Sasuke exhaled heavily, letting her capture his hand in her own, before nodding in submission. His first priority was her, her and the baby. The rogues could wait. He turned back to Kakashi though, unapologetically.

"Tomorrow." he promised bitterly.

Kakashi nodded in agreement, always awed by how Sakura seemed to managed to tame Sasuke's inner beast. "This will be dealt with, I promise both of you, I don't take this lightly."

"Thank you, Sensei." replied Sakura gratefully.

"SAKURA!" a familiar, raspy voice cried from down the halls, followed by the rapid clatter of feet stampeding toward them.

Before Sakura knew what was happening, she was wrapped in the orange clade arms of her friend and former teamate, Naruto Uzumaki.

"We came as soon as we heard Kakashi-sensei's transmission, are you okay!?" he asked rapidly, giving her an affectionate squeeze.

"I'm alright, Naruto." she mumbled from where her face was trapped in the folds of his jacket.

"Careful, dobe." Sasuke bit out lowly. "The baby."

He had a point, but Naruto was hugging her safely around the shoulders. His own wife, Hinata Hyuuga, was seven-months pregnant and he had enough scoldings from both Sakura and Tsunade to know how to be careful.

"Oh, sorry!" Naruto pulled away, holding her at arms length, his eyes watering with nervous tears. "Your baby is okay, right? Everything is okay?"

"Yes, the baby is fine, I'm fine, I promise." she reassured the blonde, giving his forearms a grateful pat.

"Oh, good." Naruto let out a breath of relief, letting his arms fall to his sides. "I was so worried, teme left before I even heard the news..."

"I'm taking her home." Sasuke interrupted, taking Sakura's hand back in his own.

"Right!" Naruto nodded. "I'll take care of the mission reports, so no worries there, and I'll have Kiba come with me to take your place on the squad."

"Hn." Sasuke replied. He hadn't given his uncompleted mission a second thought.

"Thank you, Naruto." Sakura supplied for Sasuke's lack of gratitude. She had gotten used to offering more appropriate responses for her husband.

"Come on, let's go." Sasuke said, leading her toward the door.

She cast a grateful glance toward Kakashi over her shoulder, once again he had leapt in and saved her life. "Thank you again, Sensei."

Kakashi nodded. "Get some rest, Sakura."

As soon as they were alone in the halls, Sasuke's arm found its way around her waist, pulling her snug against him, allowing his dark cloak to fall over her bare shoulders. They remained silent as they ventured into the cold streets, and Sakura was instantly grateful for him sharing his cloak and the warmth of his body to shield her from the cold, night air.

She glanced up to see her husband staring straight ahead into the darkness, his inner conflict clear. He was furious and frightened, and though a passerby could never tell, Sakura could see he was losing grip on his outward calm.

"I'm alright, Sasuke." she tried to reassure him, to drag him away from the tragic memories his dark past, where his troubled mind had undoubtedly strayed.

He didn't reply

"Sasuke." she tried again, giving his forearm a gentle shake.

He glared into the night, unwilling to meet her gaze. "I shouldn't have left."

...

(17 ANT, Hidden Leaf Village)

He opened his eyes to a white ceiling, tinted blue by the night that seeped through the square windows near his hospital bed. Someone must have opened the drapes, for they had not been open when he had awakened briefly before. Outside the moon was full, its white glow casting an almost surreal atmosphere in the ordinary hospital room. Beyond the moon he could see the stars from where he lay, billions of them transparent in the crystal clear sky.

He continued to gaze into the heavens, alone with his thoughts and his sins, and the heavy weight of shame and guilt hovering over his chest... as opposed to the unfamiliar lightness of the left side of his body where his left arm had been severed off. He unconsciously lifted his right hand across himself to feel the vacant space and the stubbed edge of his elbow, still not quite used to it's foreign feel.

Unlike the heroic Naruto, the loss of his arm was a more than just punishment for what he had done. It wasn't enough to atone for all his sins, but it was at least a start.

Speaking of the dobe, he could hear his soft snores from where he lay asleep in his own cot at the other end of the room, just as he had been the first few times Sasuke drifted in and out of consciousness. He envied the knucklehead's ability to sleep so soundly. Being back in the Leaf had only heightened his awareness of how out of place he truly was, how much he had wronged his home land and the all people in it.

He was a traitor.

He was restless, whether he slept or not, slowly unraveling the more he was left alone with his inner demons. He wanted to try to stand, or at the very least sit up... he hated hospitals, he hated being in them... there was always the smell of death and the showcase of human vulnerability.

The sudden clanking of heels in the halls interrupted his thoughts, making Sasuke turn his head toward the open door, where a few medics were darting past, pushing a stretcher that carried a suffering and wailing ninja who had several shurikans embedded inside of him. There had been post-war hospital ruckus reoccurring since he and Naruto were brought in, however, his interest was kept this time around by a certain kunochi breezing past the door, coming to the other medics' aid.

Sasuke felt his throat restrict at the array of ivory, jade and rose-quartz standing only a few yards away from him. He hadn't seen Sakura since the end of the battle, and any time he had briefly awakened, she hadn't been present. Though the fresh daffodils placed on his and Naruto's bedside tables indicated that she had been visiting regularly.

Her hair was pulled back and she was wearing a white medical kimono... even from a distance, Sasuke could see the shadows under her eyes and the slight stagger in her step, yet she still took hold of the stretcher and control of the situation with vigor and authority.

"We don't have time, I'll start working on him now, let's get him upstairs and stabilized." he heard her order, and soon the group of medics disappeared out of his sight, further down the hall.

Every couple of hours he saw Sakura run in one direction or the other, like a wild woman on a mission to save every soul wounded from the battlefield.

Was his heart not so heavy, he might have smiled. He was proud of her, proud of how far she had come... her potential fully realized. He had seen it when they were kids... when her white skinny legs dangled from the top of a tree during their chakra control exercise, when her nose was buried in a scroll when they were on the road for a mission, when she jumped in front of him to save him from Gaara...he saw what she could become.

Her strength, intelligence and compassion had only grown. She had blossomed into one of the most powerful ninjas he had ever seen, with no clan legacy, no powerful bloodline, no demons sealed away inside her... only through her hard work and raw talent.The admiration he had for her advances however, only made him even more shameful... She had reached so high, while he had fallen so low. Everything she had done was to try to save him, while all he had ever done was bring her pain.

Her tears the night he left, the pain in her eyes when they had tried to retrieve him from Orochimaru, their attempts to kill each other after his battle with Danzo, the way she looked at him in fear and despair afterward...

He didn't deserve her forgiveness, though she had given it to him anyway.

Feeling a dull ache in his head, he closed his eyes, willing himself to rest... to find refuge from the pain and his troubling thoughts.

Hours later into the night, he sensed Sakura entering the room, as silent and graceful as a ghost. He glanced over to see her standing over Naruto, checking his monitors and vitals, a clipboard tucked snugly in her elbow. Her shift must have been over, for she was wearing a red coat and had a handbag hanging over her shoulder, looking ready to leave.

He watched through lidded eyes as she smiled at her blonde team mate's snoring and peaceful form, running her fingers through his golden tresses affectionately.

"Baka..." he heard her murmur softly.

That sight was enough to make him turn his head back toward the ceiling and let his eyes drift close, the tug of a long forgotten emotion pulling away at him. He knew in his heart that Sakura's feelings for Naruto were not what she felt for him, yet seeing them with each other... knowing how far they had come together, how close they were... made him feel like he was standing miles away, distant and forgotten. It was a feeling greatly warranted, but he could not help but feel regretful.

Finished with Naruto, he heard her approach his side. He laid still as she hovered over him. She was probably checking his monitors as well. As she worked silently, he could feel her hesitance, the tension in her shoulders, the unsteadiness of her breath. His hair did not receive a careless ruffling from her, nor did she give him an easy smile, but she did linger. He could feel her eyes travel over him, quietly and contemplatively, searching for answers.

A minute passed and he felt the gentle touch of her cool fingers ghost over his right hand, the feather-like touch sparking a fire beneath his skin. Far too quickly, however, she pulled away, making to leave with a quiet sigh.

Something snapped in him, something awakened his senses and made him panic. The thought of spending another moment in darkness without her, the thought of her walking away, the thought of remaining distant when she was an arm's length away made him act. Tightly and suddenly, he snatched her hand in his, making her start and let out a short gasp.

His eyes snapped open to see her jade eyes as wide as saucers, staring at him stunned and confused.

"Sakura..." He pulled himself up to sit, unsure how to convey the foreign feelings within him. All he knew is that he didn't want her to go.

Recovering from her shock, her brows began to furrow in concern. "Sasuke, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I...I'm fine." he lied.

Despite his pathetic reassurance, she began to scan him over for open wounds or torn stitches. "What is it then? You need to rest."

All he could do was gaze at her, trying to find some solace in her eyes as everything inside him began to overflow...

The guilt, the shame, the pain, the loneliness. The things he'd done... he'd spent so long in the dark, so far from home, manipulated by wicked men. There was no comfort, no peace... only anger and pain. He was a traitor, a criminal, a fallen man... he'd failed everyone.

His family...

His brother...

Kakashi...

Naruto...

Her...

"Sasuke." she murmured quietly, sitting down at the edge of his bed, the pain in his eyes making her heart ache for him. "What is it?"

"I..." he tried again, ashamed that his voice was shaking, ashamed that his words were caught in his throat. "I'm sorry... I..."

"I know." she told him consolingly, gripping his hand tightly. "It's okay."

As she brought his hand to rest over her steadily beating heart, he felt the tears begin to fall. Her compassion, her love before him, opposing his sins, opposing the darkness like a brilliant beacon of light...it was too much.

"I know." she repeated as her free hand found its way to the curve of his neck, her touch cooling his hot skin.

He collapsed into her then, his head falling into her shoulder as she encased him in her arms protectively, lovingly.

And he wept, openly and vulnerable. He wept for the family and the life he had lost. He wept for the family and life he had left behind. He wept for the brother he had killed. He wept for the years he had spent in waste. He wept because now he could fully see the evil he had done, and there was nothing he could do to change it.

"Its alright, I promise." she whispered. "I'm here."

He stayed like that in her arms, listening to her beating heart and soft breathing until the pink hues of dawn began to envelope the night sky.

She was here. She was still here. She had not left him like he had left her.

Thank you. He wanted to say, and to keep saying for the rest of his life, because it would never be enough.

Thank You.

...

(22 ANT, Uchiha Compound)

They had come after dark, several hours after Ino and Sai had gone home. Sakura had been reading on the sofa, quietly listening to the rain outside as it splattered in a comfortingly mantra against the round windows. Sasuke had been gone on his mission with Naruto and his squad for the previous three days and his absence this time had been different than it had ever been before.

This was the first time he had left her since she had found out she was pregnant.

"I'm not going." he said stubbornly, walking past her, his decision final.

"They could really use you." she replied softly, following after him, reaching for his arm. She didn't want him to go, but Naruto had asked him personally, and there was no reason he shouldn't, she was only three months along.

"Yeah, they can also live without me too." he replied with a shrug as they entered their bedroom.

"I'd be fine, you know, I could even have Ino or Ten-Ten stay over with me."

He rolled his eyes as he removed his shirt and pulled back the sheets. "Why so adamant to get rid of me?"

Sakura shook her head at such an idea. She dreaded every moment they were separated, but she still wasn't going to keep him if he wanted to go. She was not helpless.

"I'm not," she began, making her way to her side of the bed. "But, you must be restless, you haven't been on a mission for nearly a month... I don't want... I don't want to ground you."

"Tch." He muttered, reaching across the bed and pulling her against him, letting his lips linger over hers. "You're so annoying."

"Sasuke." she countered seriously, pulling back, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach that would take flight whenever he would do that.

"I'm here because I want to be, Sakura." he replied just as seriously.

"I don't want you to think you can't go on missions."

"And, I don't want to leave you unprotected." he replied.

She almost wished that Tsunade hadn't explained the risks of being a pregnant kunochi to both of them. It had put the Uchiha heir even more on edge, then when she told him of her condition. It was true, being pregnant made her vulnerable. She was unable to use too much chakra or perform any jutsus, as it would put too much stress on the baby. Over exerting herself, or chakra depletion could very well be fatal for herself and the child.

But, the young kunochi had also shed her weak and helpless skin a long time ago and didn't want him to think she couldn't take care of herself.

"But, I'd be fine." she repeated.

He sighed letting his forehead rest against hers, shaking his head at her stubbornness. "Look, I'll think about it, alright... let's just get some sleep."

Perhaps she had tested fate too much, trying to make sure she wasn't a burden to him, because the moment she sensed an ambush of rogue ninja surrounding her home, she had never felt so helpless.

Unable to use her full strength to defend herself, the only best option she had was to hide. Luckily, she did have her radio to the Hokage Tower, though she could only hope backup would come in time. Stealthily, she had jumped into the storage bunker of the kitchen and locked herself in, cursing herself for her own stupidity.

"Sakura?" Kakashi had asked on the other side of the radio to her endless relief.

"Sensei, I need help..."

He had been on his way before she could even finish. However, he had almost come too late. A moment later, she had been discovered. A masked ninja had ripped open the bunker, grabbed her by her hair and yanked her out. Chakra or no chakra, she was not going to be rendered helpless, she sent a right hook into the masked ninja's face, thoroughly shattering his nose.

Before there could be any retaliation, Kakashi's kunai had hit the attacker in the center of his stomach a moment later.

The click of their door opening brought her back to the present as Sasuke led her into their home, their hands still intertwined. Sakura breathed the familiar smell of her drying herbs from the kitchen and the old books that covered the entire north wall of the living room.

It felt good to be home.

However, she was apprehensive as Sasuke flicked on the light switch, knowing their usual orderly home was not as he had seen it last. The window in the living room was smashed open, glass everywhere, one of the bookshelves knocked over and the table and chairs of kitchen sprawled on the ground in disarray.

Sasuke swallowed thickly at the sight, his hand tightening around hers. He led her to the couch in the center of the living room, encouraging her to sit. She complied as he wrapped the thick green blanket she had been snuggling in before the attack around her shoulders. She was still in her bed wear with only a red sleeveless top and sweat pants, and the night air was blowing through the broken window, giving her goosebumps.

"Thank you." she mumbled softly. She took in a shaky breath trying to get a hold of herself, this wasn't the first time her life had been threatened... however it had been the first time her baby had been. Something told her it would not be the last.

"Relax." Sasuke told her softly, kneeling down before her, keeping hold of her shoulders. "It's alright now."

She nodded, scolding herself ruefully. Just moments ago she was trying to convince him of the exact same thing.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked. "If it's too soon, you don't have to."

"It all happened fast, Kakashi came before they could do any harm." she told him with a shrug.

"Did you recognize any of them?" he asked.

"No, they were all wearing masks." she replied with a shake of her head.

Sasuke nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry." she mumbled a moment later.

His brows furrowed. "For what?"

"...I made you go. I encouraged you to. I told you I could take care of myself and the minute you're gone I let this happen... and..."

"Don't start." he said adruptly, standing up to ignore her ridiculous apology. He moved to shut the drapes over the broken window to block out the cold air. Leave it to Sakura to blame herself for being attacked when she was vulnerable and pregnant. He rolled his eyes. God forbid she'd ever make a mistake without beating herself up about for the next few years. He hated when she would punish herself for no reason.

"But..."

"It's not your fault," he turned to face her, frustrated he even he had to reassure her of that. "Not surprisingly, this happened because of me, it's because of my family name that they attacked you, it's because of me you can't be safe in your own home. So don't you dare turn this around on yourself by apologizing to me!"

Her gaze fell to the floor then, and he knew instantly he had spoken too harshly. With a frustrated sigh he ran a hand through his disheveled hair, and took the seat beside her.

He gently turned her chin up to look at him. He sighed heavily as he gazed into her sea-foam colored eyes he loved so much. "You know I suck at this."

Sakura nodded again, giving him a small, rueful smile as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I know."

He presses a gently kiss to the top of her head.

I'm sorry.

I'm angry.

I want to kill those men for what they tried to do.

I was afraid that I lost you.

I was afraid we lost our child.

I was afraid I would lose my family a second time.

... He wished he could say, but didn't know how to. Voicing his feelings was still a struggle to him in so many ways. He communicated best in silence, in lingering stares and gentle caresses. He was better at showing how he felt.

So, they sat together in a peaceful silence, simply taking comfort in each other's warmth. As time ticked by, he felt his wife begin to relax against him, and a while later, even start to drift off to sleep against his shoulder.

"It's not your fault either." she whispered against his neck, when he thought she had been sleeping for a while. "Nor your family's."

He shushed her softly, just wanting to hold her and forget about everything.

Till the morning at least.

I am still not over the fact they're canon! I am just overjoyed!

*ANT stands for After Nine Tails. The Naruto Timeline consists of BNT (Before Nine Tails), YNT (Year of the Nine Tails), and the ANT (After Nine Tails) in case anyone wasn't aware. I'll be using it to help with chronicling the flashbacks.

Songs that I listened to while writing: Fall For You: Second Hand Serenade, For You Only: Trading Yesterday, Demons: Imagine Dragons.