Sorry-ness for the late-ness, guys! But, here is the second chapter. I hope you guys like it!

Read on!

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Sakura's emerald eyes widened at the home pregnancy test. It was pink. According to the key, that meant she was pregnant.

The pink-haired woman sat down on the toilet with a thud. Her prayers had finally been answered. A baby was exactly what would reaffirm her marriage.

She had suspected. After almost a month of vomiting, Sakura had figured something was wrong.

Her first reaction was to visit her friend Ino. Ino had already had a baby, and so Sakura had been confident that Ino would know. Ino was the one who had urged her to take the pregnancy test.

Sasuke would finally get what he wanted: a baby.

Sakura chuckled. She knew who the father was, though. It was just too great a coincidence, and eventually, Sakura planned to take a fraturnity test, just to make sure. Nevertheless, Sasuke didn't know about Itachi. Nor did Sakura ever plan to let him find out.

The sound of the front door opening awakened Sakura from her musings. Sasuke was home.

The color drained for Sakura's face and her blood ran cold. Sasuke had been at the bar again, which meant that he was most assuredly drunk. When Sasuke Uchiha got drunk, it was wise to stay out of his way until he could vent his anger. Unfortunately, Sasuke normally vented his anger on Sakura.

Sakura's innate motherly instinct was awakened. She would not let Sasuke hurt her baby.

"Sakura!" Sasuke's slightly slurred voice called. "Where are you?"

Sakura shuddered. Maybe if she told him of the baby, he would refrain from hitting her. She fervently hoped so.

Sakura tentatively opened the bathroom door. "Sasuke?" she whispered.

The black-haired man appeared in front of her. "There you are. What have you been doing, Sakura?" His words held an angry bite.

Sakura averted her eyes. She could smell the thick alcohol on his breath.

"Nothing to shame you, Sasuke."

"I certainly hope so." Sasuke grabbed a fistful of her pink hair. "Because then I'd have to punish you…" A lazy grin spread across the man's face.

This time, Sakura would not be intimidated. For the sake of her unborn child, she would not let Sasuke hit her. "Sasuke, you're drunk. Go to bed."

The Uchiha's face hardened. "You won't tell me what to do, bitch." He slapped her hard across the face, leaving Sakura smarting.

"I'm the man." He pushed her down, and kicked her when she tried to get up. By this time, tears were swimming to Sakura's eyes.

"Sasuke, please-," Sakura pleaded, but was just rewarded with another cuff on the head.

"Shut up, woman," Sasuke sneered.

Sakura reached out to stop his next punch in the stomach, but to no avail.

"Sasuke, no!"

He kicked her again. "You'll respect my authority."

Sakura put her hands up in a feeble attempt to protect herself.

"Sasuke, n- stop! I- Sasuke, I'm pregnant!" Sakura blurted.

A tense silence hung over them. Sakura opened her eyes slightly to look at Sasuke, but he wasn't in front of her.

"S... Sasuke?" Sakura called out tentatively. A small noise came from their bedrom, like a stifled sob.

Sakura ran down the hallway, to their room, and slowly peered inside. Sasuke was there, sitting on their bed, with his head in his hands.

"Sasuke!" Sakura walked over to him hesitantly, hoping that he would not hurt her again. When he made no move to strike Sakura, she sat down.

"I can't beleive what a fool I am," Sasuke whispered. Sakura could tell he wasn't drunk anymore. Her forced announcement had sobered him up like no one's business.

"You... Our baby. I'm going to be a father, and I almost ruined it by getting drunk again." Sasuke was speaking softly, so softly that Sakura could barely hear him.

Sakura frowned slightly. What about her? He didn't care if he hurt her?

As if reading her mind, Sasuke looked up at her. "But it doesn't matter. I shouldn't take my anger out you anyway."

Sakura smoothed his hair back. "It's okay, Sasuke-kun, what's done is done. You've learned from your mistakes and won't ever do that again, right?"

He smiled at her slightly, and looked away. She could tell he was changing the subject so that he didn't have to promise not to drink again, but Sakura wouldn't have it.

"Sasuke. Please, I need you to say it... I really don't feel safe knowing you could get drunk and hurt me again..." Sakura gently turned his head with her hands so he would look at her.

"Fine. I won't drink again." Sasuke tried to pull away from her, but Sakura held him arm tightly.

"Promise?"

"Sakura, damn it, what's wrong with you?" Sasuke said, annoyed at her childish pleading.

"Just promise me, promise me you won't drink again?" Sakura looked at him with wet eyes.

"Sakura...," Sasuke growled. "Stop acting like a fool."

The pink-haired woman got up slowly. She let go of Sasuk's arm and turned around, to her dresser.

"Now what are you doing?" Sasuke asked, exasperated.

"Packing."

"What?" Sasuke shook his head.

"I told you, Sasuke. I don't feel safe knowing you might get drunk again and hurt me or the baby." Sakura hefted a small bag with a few changes of clothes and her toiletries in it. "I'm going to stay at a friend's house until you decide to give up your damned alcohol."

And with that, Sakura turned from their bedroom and left.

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"You're bluffing."

Kisame sighed. "Damn straight, I am." He layed out his cards. "Look at that. Worst hand ever."

Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, and Sasori were seated around Itachi's dinner table. It was Friday, and every Friday night, they got together and played cards. Today they had a new edition to their Poker Night. Tobi.

No one particularly liked Tobi, but he had gotten wind of their Poker Night and had shown up anyway.

"Yeah, well, look at that! Hah! Stick that up your-" Tobi said onboxiosly, as he showed his unfairly excellent hand.

Kisame swore colorfully. "You really suck, you know that, newbie? You suck eggs."

Itachi rolled his eyes. "I'm going to get another beer. Anyone else want one?" All four of his friends nodded, and Itachi put down his hand to get the beers.

Padding into his kitchen, Itachi grabbed a six pack, and was about to head back when he heard a knocking sound.

"Who would be here at eleven o'clock at night?" Itachi muttered, but put down the six-pack and went to the door. "This had better be good."

To his surprise, Itachi found not one of those annoying door-to-door preachers, but a sobbing woman with pink hair.

"Sakura!"

Sakura sniffed and looked up. "I... I'm so sorry. But... Can I maybe stay here tonight?"

Itachi's eyes smiled at her. "Come in, Sakura."

The pink-haired woman look up gratefully at Itachi. "I hope I'm not interupting anything?"

Itachi grinned. "Well... Do you like poker?"

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Heh, poker-night!

So how was the second chapter? Any suggestions?

Also, my Microsoft Word has been acting up, so I did the spell-check on my e-mail. If you see anything major, tell me so I can fix it.

Anyway, keep reading and review!