((A/N: This one is going to be a little angsty, just warning you know. It'll be fluffy, too. A perfect balance. Also, I'm going to be experimenting with my writing style a little bit here, so bear with me. Message me if you have any questions or concerns…or even requests! Thank you all for supporting me and liking this story! *Bows* Enjoy!))

There was a cold silence that fell over him at that moment. He had been left, defenseless, yet again. What was he to do? He was going to have this child in a year's time. The baby would be here, in the world, and Sasuke would be nowhere to be found. He wouldn't be the father figure that Naruto so desperately needed him to be. His child would grow up without knowing Sasuke. His home would be broken…the one thing Naruto had silently promised the small life form would never happen. He had lied. He had been hopeful, and that proved to be the worst thing he could've done. He was on his own now.

Again.

Just like he always would. Just like he always would be…No! He shook his head, clearing those nasty thoughts away. He wouldn't think like that! He wouldn't let his baby down…he wouldn't let Sasuke down! The raven needed to know that there were people in Konoha that loved him…that supported him! He didn't need to go to that mad man for power…he had it at home! He already had a family! That was the highest priority on his list. He was letting his hate for Itachi cloud his judgement. He couldn't see that the one thing he wanted most was right in front of his eyes!

"Sasuke!" His shout was carried on the back of the wind.

Sasuke leaned against the tree, panting heavily. He covered his mouth with a shaking hand…he fell to his knees in the dirt…and he sobbed. He sobbed for all the times he never go to break down and cry. He sobbed for his parents…he clan…He sobbed for Naruto, for his…his child.

His child.

Naruto was pregnant with his child. He most important person would give birth to his heir…but he had to become powerful! He had to defeat Itachi. He couldn't give up on this now, not when he was so close. His plans for clan revival had to wait! This was more important. What go would making a family prove to be if Itachi came in the dead of night and killed them all?

This flashed in front of his eyes now. Naruto and a faceless infant lying dead on the floor, in pools of their own blood. Itachi standing over them, eyes glinting with sickening joy. NO! He had to kill that psychopath before he found out about the baby. He had to do it for Naruto…for his family.

Itachi and Hinata relaxed into the hot water of her private onsen. When he had first laid eyes on the bathhouse that was inside her cottage, he had cocked an eyebrow and smirked.

"It was the least they could do." She had said smugly.

They were both wearing bathing towels, but Hinata couldn't help but blush when her eyes raked over the Uchiha's chiseled chest. He was beautiful, she noted. His body was just as regal as her face. Her insecurities set in, and she felt instantly unworthy.

Itachi allowed himself to close his eyes, and he dunked his matted hair underwater. Hinata remembered why they were there in the first place. She reached over onto the shelf and grabbed her shampoo, and her hair oil. If there was one thing her and her cousin Neji had in common, it was the fact that they took very good care of their hair. She approached the Uchiha. She smiled, and squeezed some shampoo into her hands. He nodded in agreement, and she began her work.

She worked it into a thick lather, making sure to get down into his roots. She was tangling it more than it already was, but the hot oil would take care of that. She worked the shampoo all over.

"Dunk your head so I can rinse it." She said delicately. He did as she said, and she rinsed it all out, and then grabbed the oil flask. "This stuff works really well. I make it myself." She said, smiling proudly. He grinned and took it from her. He lifted it to his nose and smelt it.

"So this is what makes you smell so wonderful." He whispered. She ignored the was his eyes were half-lidded and smoldering. It was probably just the steam. She grabbed the vial back.

"Sakura blossoms and honey and wild oats…and an odd herb that only grows here on the compound. We use it for everything." She ticked off the ingredients as she poured it over his head. It quickly soaked in, and soon, she could run her fingers through his locks.

"Dunk again, please." She asked. He complied, but when he came back up, his lips were on hers again, and her towel was gone.

"Forgive me, Hinata-sama. But I cannot wait anymore." He whispered. His hands were everywhere, and she felt as though she might explode.

"I-Itachi-san! Please…" She murmured against his lips. He smiled softly, as her massaged her thigh underneath the warm water of the onsen.

"I am sorry if this seems sudden. You will find out why in time. But please…would you have me, Hyuuga Hinata?" He sounded so sweet, so uncharacteristically sentimental.

She returned his smile, and dragged him down for a kiss that would seal her fate. She gave herself to him that night. And it was beautiful.

It was luck that he found the Uchiha again. It was three days after their last encounter. Naruto was bolder now. He was going to convince the raven that it was best for him to come home…for him to care for his family. He approached the makeshift campsite.

"I've been thinking of names. I really like Kouhei. It means peaceful." He said softly as he came into earshot of the missing nin. Sasuke froze and turned around.

"Naruto…please go back to the village. I'll be back. Just…you need to let me do this. I have to kill him I have to make my family safe. I can't love you or raise a child if I know he's out there. He'll kill you. He'll destroy my family all over again." He rushed to were Naruto stood, and wrapped him up in a gentle hug. "I wish it wasn't like this! I wish I could be there for you, and have this be a normal occurrence, but it isn't going to be until he's dead. I'm sorry."

He dropped to his knees and kissed Naruto's belly. "I'm sorry, Kouhei. Daddy's sorry." He voice was muffled by the cotton of Naruto's jumpsuit.

It isn't surprising that Naruto started to sob.