HI ALL MY LOVELY READERS!

Please don't hate me for not updating in almost a year! I've had a rough yet wonderful year with work and new experiences, so my apologies to all my faithful followers! I also noticed through my email updates that I have new followers as well. Thank you so much for loving my stories and I hope you enjoy my future updates! :) So the last day I had to reread my own stories because I almost forgot my own story line (go figure lol) and I'm all caught up now so I should be updated a little bit more often.

I was offered a job back in my hometown so I will be moving back in July, so I will try to update at least 2-3 chapters in June that way you guys won't be too bored in July. After that, I'm hoping this story will be completed at least by September! I may or may not have other stories in the future

Enough of me ranting about life! Please read his chapter, thank you!

xoxo, me

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Chapter 6

"How is she today?"

"She's able to breathe on her own now."

"That's good…"

"We still don't know when she'll wake up…"

"Yea, but at least she's getting better."

"Kakashi… it's been…..awhile," Tsunade turned to look at her brother-in-law, who was sitting next to a hospital bed, her sleeping nephew in his arms. Her pale white hand stopped glowing as she pulled away from the unconscious body on the hospital bed. Scribbling a few notes down, Tsunade put the medical chart in the slot, hanging off the end of the bed before looking back at Kakashi. Her eyes watched him carefully as he moved his hands.

"She'll wake up soon," Kakashi gave a small smile as he ran his fingers through long brown hair, resting his hand on her big stomach. He let out a sigh of relief when he felt a small tingle on the tip of his fingers.

There Mita was, unconscious, but finally stable in the hospital bed. She's been unconscious and although she's been getting better, there weren't any signs that she was going to be awake. Kakashi stared at his wife sadly, knowing it was partly his fault. His hand rubbed against her pregnant stomach again, hoping it would make him feel better, but it wasn't. Because not only is his wife at risk, but so was his unborn baby daughter. Kakashi cringed at the possibility of losing them both.

"Mitsuki is okay though, right?" The copy-nin rocked Ryo a bit when he heard him whimper in his sleep.

"Yes, she's fine. We still left the feeding tube in Mita to help replenish her body and I'm always checking on the baby," Tsunade finally sat down in the other chair, sighing. Her eyes glanced over at her nephew as she saw him rub his puffy eyes and lean into Kakashi's chest again.

"How is he…?"

"He still cries at night and looks for Mita… I thought he would be better by now but… Ryo misses her so much," Kakashi looked down at his sleeping son.

"Do you want me to look after him for a while? You look exhausted…" Tsunade started to worry. Kakashi shook his head, giving her a small smile. A part of him wanted her to so he could relax a bit but he knew he should be looking after Ryo now more than ever. She only sighed again at his response.

"I'm going to head out first…. I'll be back later," the copy-nin slightly smiled at Tsunade as he leaned over, kissing the sleeping Mita on her forehead before leaving the hospital room. The minute he stepped out of the hospital doors, he took a deep breath, staring at the clear, blue sky above him. It was rare for him to see broad daylight so he let it soak in before he started walking into town.

It was hard to believe his wife has been in an unconscious state for a month. Her absence has been taking a toll on everyone. The hospital was busier than ever without a head medic-nin, Tsunade couldn't think clearly when it came to her job as the Hokage, Ryo would have tantrums every once in a while….and he, the copy-nin of Konoha, would catch himself feeling extremely lonely when he least expected it. As frustrating and as hard as it was, Kakashi tried not to falter for his own sake and especially Ryo's sake. Taking care of the young boy by himself has been tough and it made him wonder how Mita was able to do it on her own. Sighing, he shook off his thoughts before entering a grocery market.

It was part of his daily life. Even though most of the time he's at home or at the hospital, at some point he will go grocery shopping and occasionally he will go for a walk so Ryo doesn't seem so antisocial. But it was hard for him to be out as the entire village knows of Mita's condition and he can feel the pity from all the villagers.

"How are you?" "Keep your head up." "Everything will be okay." "We're praying for you."

Just a few things he would hear from people around him. Thinking about all this made Kakashi sigh so loud that Ryo started to stir in his sleep, lifting his head up and looking around.

"Where are we?" the toddler mumbled. His half asleep voice made Kakashi smile as he put him down.

"Just getting some things for dinner. Did you want anything?"

The small child just shook his head as he reached his hand up to grasp Kakashi's. A wave of guilt washed over him. He hadn't seen Ryo smile in so long he felt he was failing as his part as a father. Trying to cheer him up, he crouched down and smiled at his son.

"How about we treat ourselves to something nice? Yeah?" Kakashi tried to sound as cheerful as possible even it seemed abnormal.

"You choose…" Ryo kept staring at the ground, kicking the tiny rocks around him with his feet. Kakashi knew what his son wanted. He wanted to be at the hospital near Mita, but he knew it was unhealthy to be constantly around his unconscious mother. Before he could say anything else, Ryo started to walk off on his own and Kakashi only followed him. Surprisingly Ryo walked into the ramen stand that he and Naruto always went to.

"Can we see Mommy?" He abruptly asked his father as he pulled himself up on the high chairs at the ramen bar. Kakashi gave him a small smile and nodded, patting his son's head.

After dinner, the two headed back to the hospital. The sun was slowly setting and Kakashi glanced over at his son, watching him walk carefully on a slender, stone ledge. He could sense Ryo had some of his chakra concentrated on his feet. Even though his wife was unconscious in the hospital, he was amazed at the fact that his son, who wasn't yet two years old, had somewhat control over his chakra. Did he learn from Mita? He paused and stopped walking, still watching his son continue to walk on the ledge.

"hmm?" Ryo stopped and turned around.

"Nothing… just thinking," Kakashi quickly answered his son as they both continued to head to the hospital.

The minute they entered the hospital, Ryo led the way to Mita's room. He instantly ran into her room when they got close and struggled to pull himself on her bed, snuggling himself next to Mita. Ryo's small hands grasped his mom's hands, his onyx eyes starting to water but he rubbed the tears away.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

The copy-nin looked up to see Naruto and Sakura walking in, holding flowers. He tried his best to smile but the two young shinobi before him understood his feelings and just smiled back at him.

"How are you feeling, Sakura?" Tsunade asked, noticing Sakura was slightly limping.

"I'm fine, my body is still adjusting after being unconscious for a few weeks," Sakura said. Naruto helped her sit down in a nearby chair when she noticed Ryo on the bed with Mita.

"Ryo is looking more and more like you, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura smiled as she reached over to pat the boy's back. But Ryo was too distracted by his emotions and will to see his mother awake.

"Ryo, sweetie, I need to check on your sister," Tsunade tried to pick up her nephew but he started to cry almost instantly. Everyone watched as Ryo buried his face into Mita's neck and wrap his little warms around her. Everyone felt sad for the poor child but Kakashi tried his best to keep his act together. Never in his life has he felt this heart-broken and it was mainly his fault. Standing up from the chair, Kakashi scooped up Ryo and took a few steps back. The child started to wail, calling out for Mita and nearly hitting Kakashi to get out of his arms. But the father held his son tightly and tried to calm him down.

"Ryo… Ryo… calm down. Look at Aunty… she's helping mama," Kakashi whispered to his son. At first, Ryo continued to push at Kakashi, hoping he would put him down but the child paused when he saw Tsunade checking Mita with her glowing hands. His face turned into a frown, not knowing what was going on and then slowly realized his aunt wasn't hurting his mother.

"Papa… down," Ryo started to wiggle around as Kakashi realized what he meant and put him back on the bed with Mita. Tsunade stepped back and everyone watched the little boy on the hospital bed. He placed his little hands on Mita's stomach and frowned. He then placed his ear on her stomach as if he was trying to listen to the baby's heartbeat. He then crawled up a bit and placed his hands on Mita's face.

"What are you doing, kiddo?" Kakashi patted his head, slightly smiling at his son's cute act when Ryo stared at him, holding out his hand. The copy-nin took his hand and his eyes widened when Ryo's hand started to glow a pale blue.

"Kakashi?!" Tsunade felt alarmed and Sakura immediately stood up from her chair when Naruto stopped her.

"He's…communicating with Kakashi-sensei…" Naruto explained to the two medic nins.

"But… he's so young. He shouldn't be able to tap into his chakra like that," Sakura slightly frowned. The three continued to stare at the father and son pair when Ryo pulled his hand away and placed it back on Mita's face. His hands started glowing a pale blue again and everyone gasped when her large baby bump started to glow a faded pink.

"The baby…?" Tsunade's eyes widened as Ryo started cooing, placing his head back on Mita's stomach. Kakashi couldn't help but smile at his son. It was the first time seeing him happy ever since he and Mita gotten back and he knew Mita was unconscious. Ryo kept his hands on his mother's stomach as he turned and stared at her peaceful face. It surprised everyone when Mita's body started glowing yellow and slowly turn into orange hue.

"Ryo…what are you doing?" Kakashi wanted to pick up his son, not knowing what was going on. But the child removed his hands from Mita's stomach as her body stopped glowing and crawled back up to her face.

"Mama…? Wake up," Ryo stared at Mita intensely. Everyone stared at her just as intensely.

"Mama…!" Ryo let his hands drop against her chest. His black eyes started to water, as there was no response from Mita other than her chest moving, still trying to breathe.

"Come here…" Kakashi picked him up and held him as he started to cry. The copy-nin could hear Sakura sniffling, Naruto sighing, and Tsunade gripping the bedside frame hard enough for it to crack. Even he, the Copy Ninja, Sharingan Kakashi, wanted to cry. But he stood still as his hand rubbed his son's back.

"Mmm…."

Everyone froze.

Every pair of eyes except Kakashi's shifted towards the woman in the hospital bed. He could feel Ryo shift around in his arms, trying to look over Kakashi's shoulder to see Mita.

"AAHH! MAMA!" Ryo squealed and Kakashi easily let his feet touch the ground as his son ran back to the hospital bed. The toddler couldn't get up on the bed on his own from all the excitement and glanced at Naruto and Sakura hoping for help. What was Ryo sensing?

"Wait…hold on a second," Tsunade stopped Naruto before he picked up Ryo. Kakashi still hadn't turned around but he could hear a few grunts and someone gagging and knew that Tsunade had taken out the feeding tube that was down Mita's throat. He then heard Ryo squeal and a small, raspy voice speak.

"Good…boy..."

"How are you feeling, Mita?" Tsunade still sounded worried. Kakashi could hear Mita laugh a little and then cough.

"Where's…Ka...kashi…?" Mita still couldn't talk clearly from having the tube down her throat and thirsty from dehydration. The copy nin could hear Mita's weak body shift to the side and knew she was staring at his back. One by one, Naruto, Sakura and Tsunade passed Kakashi, glancing at him and smiling at him as a sign that he should turn around to see his wife. He watched as the door closed and only Ryo's giggle was heard within the room.

"Hey…" Her voice sounded less raspy and less weak. Taking a deep breath, Kakashi finally turned around.

"Hi…" He stepped closer to the hospital bed, eventually sitting on the edge of it. She smiled at him, her hand reaching for him, finally touching him.

End of Chapter 6

Thanks for reading! I'm hoping to have Chapter 7 up in the next few days, just because I feel bad that I've deprived you guys for almost a year :)

Look forward to it!

xoxo, me