Epilogue

"You can see her now."

Sasori had been staring at the flowers in the garden, Hitomi playing with her dolls at his feet when the maid came to get them. When he didn't respond, his daughter grabbed his pant leg and said, "Papa, we can see Mama now." She was almost scowling and Sasori smiled gently at the face.

"Alright, let's go see her then," he said, reaching his hand down for her to take so he could help her up, but she refused to let go even as they began walking.

They walked inside and headed for the master bedroom on the second floor, Hitomi wanting her father to lift her up on every step of the staircase and Sasori complying just to please his daughter. As soon as they reached the top, she dashed ahead much to many of the maids displeasure as they didn't want her to overwork herself.

She reached the bedroom before he did, but Sasori could already hear the girl spouting questions with no fear of being reprimanded.

"Am I a big sister yet?" She cried out and Sasori could hear a small, tried laugh from the room as he was still walking towards it.

"Yes, you are, dear."

Sasori entered through the large door and found Masako showing a small bundle to Hitomi, who was kneeling on the bed next to her mother. The woman looked tired, her hair disheveled and face flushed, but she looked content.

"Why is she pink?"

Masako's smile was patient. "You have a brother, not a sister, Hitomi," she corrected and the girl pouted.

"But I wanted a sister," she grumbled and Masako laughed once more as she gently stroked the top of her daughter's head, right before she saw Sasori.

"I thought you hated to keep people waiting, Sasori," she teased and Sasori smiled softly enough for her to see it. He walked over and sat down in the chair next to the bed, and in no time, Masako handed the bundle over to Sasori.

The baby was sleeping, face scrunched up in obvious discomfort and Sasori knew it was because he had been rudely evicted. But he didn't make a sound, even as he held him closer.

"What do you think?"

Sasori turned his eyes towards Masako and continued to smile. "He's beautiful, but he most likely received that from you."

A blush came over Masako's tired face. "Born on the first day of spring, too." She gave a soft sigh. "I wish you were here. He was screaming like no other and I knew that he would be strong, like you."

Sasori smile turned fond and Hitomi asked, "What's his name gonna be?"

Turning to his wife, Sasori raised a brow and she shook her head. "I named Hitomi."

"And you did so well, I thought you could do it again," Sasori suggested. "I'm not good at naming," he concluded.

Masako looked at her lap, smiling and Sasori was wondering what she was thinking about when she said, "Deidara."

Sasori had to make sure to keep his arms in check, to make sure that they didn't go lax and he let go of his newborn son, but also make sure that they didn't tighten.

Hitmoi seemed confused from hearing the name. "Why that name, Mama?"

Masako never stopped smiling as she stroked Hitomi's cheek. "That was the man who saved you when it was snowing, remember. He was a very kind man and I think that he should continue to live on."

Hitomi seemed even more confused and Sasori knew it was because the girl didn't understand death very well, but she had asked why Deidara had to be carried out that day when he died and Sasori was unable to say anything.

Masako then turned back to Sasori, her gaze not apologetic but hopeful. "You said before that as long as you... cared for him that he would live on. With our son having his name, he won't be forgotten in a very long time." She sighed, seeming tired all of a sudden. "Would that be alright, Sasori?"

The man wasn't entirely sure. Deidara had died three months previously and after his death, Masako told him that she had suspected something between the two of them but assumed that Sasori wasn't doing it because he didn't love her, but because he loved someone else as well. She told him that she was hurt, but that she understood, simply because she knew him well enough to see that the man really did love Deidara. She heard Sasori's last words to man's lover and knew how much he meant to her husband.

Sasori still thought that she was incredibly naive, but maybe he just didn't understand women and they were simply compassionate.

Still, Sasori felt some unease with naming his son after his dead lover. Not over the fact that of Deidara had been his lover, but the fact that every time he would look at him, Sasori would be reminded of him. It seemed like a curse, but also a blessing to never forget him.

But he would live on, even if his child had no idea who he was named after.

Sasori conceded. "The name is perfect, thank you, Masako," he said softly as he passed the child back to his wife who began smiling again.

She cooed down at her son who began to fuss and she moved the blanket enough to kiss the red curls of hair on his head.

"What's his name again?" Hitmoi asked loudly making the baby cry again and for some reason Sasori felt like he would never be able to say his son's name. But really, he was unable to deny his wife anything.

"Deidara," Masako answered as she gently rocked the baby in her arms.

Hitomi hummed and looked towards her father. "I love him already and I wanna hold him, Papa," she demanded and Sasori gave a small sigh.

"You'll have to ask your mother, Hitomi."

Hitomi looked at Masako who just told the girl to hold her arms out so she could place them. "Make sure to keep his head up," she instructed carefully and Hitomi gave a firm nod.

"He's really small, Mama."

"Of course, he's just a baby, so we have to be very careful with him, okay?"

"Okay," Hitomi said as she looked down at her brother, Masako smiling at her children while Sasori simply watched, distant from the whole thing.

He still wished that he had given Deidara more, something else to keep him from doubting him, but Sasori knew that wishing would get him nowhere. He could only listen to Deidara's final request and use the remainder of his love towards his family.

Perhaps then he could move on easier, but with this new constant reminder, he knew it would be hard. He understood Masako's motive and was grateful for it, because she knew that sooner or later Sasori's love for someone dead could run out and she was sentimental enough to prevent that from happening even though she knew that she would receive less love.

Either way, Deidara would live on in his son and it would be a painful, constant reminder to Sasori that he didn't do enough for the man he loved. But it would also be a reminder to never stop loving him, and by now Sasori didn't think he would stop anytime soon.

Deidara would finally be gaining the love he deserved, but didn't receive his whole life, even if he wasn't alive for it.

The End