I have no excuses for you all, I could have had this chapter up ages ago, I don't know why I couldn't sit down to type it. I've been so out of touch with fanfiction and Naruto and I don't know why, I really used to enjoy this so much. I was addicted to it and for some reason I've fallen away from it. So I'm going to have to try and start reading again and hopefully I'll get some inspirational reviews that help me write more because this fanfic is my favourite to write for all I need is a push. I love reading your reviews also because you people are who I write for and that's why your opinion is so important to me so, tell me what you want to see happen and I'll try and incorporate it into the story :).


Doubt?

Silence. It had become a familiar sound in Sakuras apartment. It seemed that she had been forgotten or rather that she had been left behind. TenTen and Hinata were away on a mission and Ino was currently studying for her medical exam. Sakura was therefore, left on her own, she was taken off missions as were all Kunochi once pregnant and she was given her regular shifts at the hospital. The silence in her home wouldn't usually bother her but it was the silence from one particular person that did bother her.

Sasuke hadn't spoken to Sakura in nearly three weeks now and she was slowly cracking up, the first week she could handle because she was annoyed with him, she felt like she was the one ignoring him even though he was away. The second week Sakura went searching for him, she knew he was home and could no longer stand his silence. It seemed like he had disappeared, he was going out of his way to make himself invisible. It was now nearly three weeks and since everyone was currently away or busy, Sakura was beginning to fall apart. She needed support now more than ever, and the fact that Sasuke was ignoring her and she had no idea why, was really beginning to upset her.

Curled up on the sofa with her hot cup of herbal tea she sighed and tried to push the depressing thoughts from her head. She unsuccessfully ended up thinking more about Sasuke, it was frustrating and to take her mind off him Sakura went to fill herself a bath. Stripping off she stood in front of her tall mirror looking at her stomach. There it was, a small perfectly formed little bump, finally she had her bump. All those days she watched imagining there was one and then suddenly it was there. Two little babies were growing inside of her and Sakura was momentarily filled with a great feeling of love and hope.


The wind cut through him in the sharp November air, it seemed winter came faster every year. It was much colder tonight than every other, perhaps because he was heading to see Sakura tonight. Something which was long overdue and something which, although not very manly to admit, he was scared to do. He wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to say to her, some how sorry, seemed an understatement.

His feet hit each rooftop with a silent thud, and he soon saw her apartment. A tiny flutter of nerves hit him and he wavered but kept moving towards the building. Jumping down on to the street below, the streetlamps lighting his path towards her door, he moved forward, his feet still silent on the ground. He listened for a moment before knocking on the door, leaving a resounding echo in the seemingly deserted end of town. He wasn't ignorant to notice that she lived in the lower quality part of Konoha. The door swung open and his heart stopped for a second as he watched Sakuras face turn from shock, to happiness and then sudden anger. She slammed the door in his face. The image of her left him speechless as he stood trying to comprehend what happened. Clearly she was mad, and had every right to be but that flicker of joy at seeing him let Sasuke know she needed him.

For a second time Sasuke knocked on the door, he waited but received no reply. He wasn't sure whether to try and force his way in but that would probably make things worse. He knocked again and this time he heard the door creak and open slowly. He walked in cautiously as Sakura had her head bowed and closed the door behind him. He moved to the centre of the room and looked at her back facing him. Sakuras shoulders were shaking, she was crying. A great sense of guilt washed over Sasuke, he had been so selfish and not realised what it had been doing to her. He walked over and reached out to comfort her but she slapped his hand away and turned round to glare at him.

"Don't touch me." she snarled, Sasuke felt like he had been burned at her sharp words. "So what brought you here then? A sense of duty? Guilt?" said Sakura walking past him into the kitchen, filling a glass of water.

"I –" he began but couldn't finish, it had taken him off guard, how bitter and angry she was.

"I was wondering when the old Sasuke would come back." She said looking him in the eyes, her wet hair moving as the open window let in a cold wind.

"Old Sasuke?" inquired Sasuke, finally regaining his voice intrigued at her statement.

"Yea, you know the one who ignores everyone else, disappears all the time and doesn't tell anyone."

"Sakura." He ground out in annoyance.

"Oooh, you're even sounding more like him." she said mocking him.

"I came to apologise." He said taking all the restraint he had to remain calm, he could feel his Sharingan activating.

"Apologise for what?" said Sakura, she seemed mildly amused arguing with Sasuke, knowing that she was completely right. Sasuke stared into her irreverent eyes and knew there was no point arguing with her in this state.

"I'm not apologising when you're mad and it's not going to mean anything to you." He said still trying to hold back his anger.

"Oh typical, you really do have an excuse for everything, well guess what, I'm having twins, I thought you'd want to know." Said Sakura, her face portraying her anger towards him.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" said Sasuke irritated.

"Well it didn't seem like you wanted anything to do with me seeing as you've been avoiding me for the last few weeks." She said turning and marching towards the door but a hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back. His grip tightened as he swung her round to face him.

Sakura looked up at Sasuke his red eyes staring down at her in pain. She had hurt him but after leaving her feeling so upset for the last few weeks, didn't he deserve it? Though looking up into his eyes the tomoes spinning slowly she couldn't help but feel bad.

"I'm sorry." He said letting go of her hand and dropping his head. All the anger she had towards him bubbled up and exploded in tears. She had hated him and resented the fact that she missed him so terribly

"I'm sorry too." She said leaning her head against his chest. They were so idiotic it was laughable both were in the wrong and neither would admit it.

"I can't believe you're- we're- having twins." Said Sasuke, running his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the tears, his eyes changed back to their usual dark, unreadable, state.

"I know." She whispered not realising how tired she was.

"I think it's best if we just forget everything that's happened within the last few weeks." Said Sasuke hoping she would agree with him.

"I just want you to be there for me Sasuke." Sakura lifted her head back to look up at him, her emerald eyes glistening in the low lighting of the room. There was a maturity and formalness from her statement that told him she needed him to keep up his end of their deal.

"I will, I promise." He said in all sincerity leading her to the sofa so she could sit down. He could see her eyes becoming bleary and tired. Sakura snuggled down on the sofa and Sasuke sat beside her though not cuddling or touching just like two friends. This was how it was supposed to stay and both seemed content to do so.

"When did you find out?" asked Sasuke, his voice seemed too loud in the quiet house.

"Before I went away, I went to tell you but that's kind of when we fell out." She said but Sasuke cringed at how harsh he had been with her that day and now knowing she was coming to tell him something so important made him feel even worse.

"I'm sorry for that." He said looking down to gauge her reaction, but her eyes were closing.

"S'ok. Well actually it wasn't ok but let's just forget about all that." Sasuke was nearly certain that she was agreeing to all this because she was so tired.

They sat in silence for the next hour, Sakura had fallen asleep ages ago and Sasuke was just happy to be on her good side again. He knew now that he could never let her down like that again, it was unfair and self-centred. Soon his body started cramping up, telling him it was time to go so he lifted her up, taking her down to her room and tucking her into bed, placing a kiss on her forehead before leaving. Something she would never know, no one would know that Sasuke Uchiha had a soft side.


Stretching and yawning Sakura sat up in bed and her hazy thoughts all quickly joined up and she smiled. She felt, relief? As much as she had despised him she missed him so much, it was a relief that finally he was back and had promised to be there for her. Getting out of bed she walked down to the kitchen and made some herbal tea but as soon as the liquid touch her lips she ran to the bathroom, throwing up her food from yesterday. Morning sickness was something she could not get used to, thankfully however it only lasted a few hours and the rest of the day she was fine.

Walking into work that morning she couldn't help but smile at everyone. The nurses behind the desk were unsure whether to smile back or not, they were used to Sakura being so elusive recently. She cheerily made her way down the hall towards her office and as she opened the door she was surprised to see an orchid sitting on her desk. Walking over she lifted it up admiring its beauty for a moment before checking the tag on it. It read one word 'Promise'. She assumed therefore that it was from Sasuke and his promise to be there for her. She smiled reading it and set the flower on the window sill. Sakura turned and reached for her white coat and noticed that she seemed to be rather tight in her skirt. Most women with twins put on more weight than a single birth and Sakura had yet to buy any larger fitting clothes. This was one part of pregnancy she didn't want to face, putting on weight. She was reminded of Ino's tears when she began putting on weight in her thighs and arms although Sakura wasn't as self-conscious as Ino she still didn't like the idea of gaining weight.

Sakuras day went slow and it seemed like people were getting more rude and ungrateful each day. Thankfully it was nearly time for the night staff to take over and she couldn't wait. The thought of going home and snuggling into bed was so inviting. Just as the thoughts of going to sleep came into her head she saw Naruto walking up the hall towards her. She sighed but knew it was wrong to do so. She then smiled at her long time friend.

"Sakura." He said pulling her into a hug, making sure not to hold her too tight.

"Naruto." She greeted, "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to check in with you, I know Ino's been a bit worried that you're 'being out of sorts' these days." He said as they walked down the hall, towards the canteen.

"Ah," said Sakura, she had been wondering when this topic would be brought up. "I'm ok now, sometimes you just need your space."

"Suppose, but it's a bit worrying when a pregnant woman goes all depressed." Said Naruto genuinely concerned for her.

"I'm ok, trust me." she smiled but he seemed unconvinced so she decided to tell him their 'secret' hoping it would help distract him.

"I'm having twins." Naruto stopped in the hall and stared at her.

"Shut-up." He said, in shock she assumed. "I mean wow." She wasn't offended by Narutos honest reaction; she knew he couldn't tell whether she was happy or sad about it.

"It's ok Naruto, I'm happy." She laughed then seeing the smile on his face.

"Well congratulations then." He said as they entered the canteen.

She spent the next hour talking to Naruto; she thought she'd never get out of the hospital that night. He was just in one of those moods to speak and when he started it was hard to stop him. She eventually managed to hint about his own children, at home, alone, with Hinata and at that he left.

It was seven thirty in the evening and by this time Sakura had hoped that she would have been in the bath, ready to go to sleep. Her tired feet scuffed the ground as she walked towards her tiny home. Upon reaching said home she soon realised that there was little chance of getting an early night, as the lights were on and someone was clearly making themselves at home, in her home. She opened the door and saw Sasuke lying on the sofa.

"What a nice surprise." Said Sakura mustering all the sarcasm she could whilst walking towards the kitchen.

"I thought so." Mumbled Sasuke from the living room as Sakura switched on the hot water.

She came back into the living room and plopped down on the sofa beside Sasuke. He seemed quite content watching the t.v. and Sakura felt oddly at peace with him there.

"So why are you really at mine?" asked Sakura curious, at this Sasuke turned to look at her.

"I want you to move in with me."


So how was that? I know its not that long but I really wanted to put something up for you guys anyways review and tell me what you think.

Love eskeflowne xx


Preview Chapter 8

" Sasuke, why is your hand on my breast?" said Sakura puzzled.

" I dont know Sakura." he said turning a deep shade of red.

" Can you please remove it."