Standard Disclaimer

After work she had washed up, stolen one of Shikamaru's muscle shirts and slipped on some overalls (old clothes she had forgotten were so comfortable) she stared at her feet, her white sandals stood out on Sasuke and Ino's porch.

Taking a deep breath Sakura knocked on the dark wooden door, it was a mansion she could tell, it looked like Ino was living well. It was odd how once Sakura had imagined herself living here in this house, raising her and Sasuke's children, growing old here…

Looking back down at her feet she waited.

…Her white nail polish was almost all gone.

She heard the door open and a small gasp, emerald met blue and all she could do was smile.

"Hi." Was all she could manage to say to the small boy, who looked exactly like a mini-Sasuke, but held Ino's bright blue eyes, lowering herself on to her knees, she smiled and held out her hand to the small child.

"I'm Sakura, is your father or mother home?" The child, nodded and grabbed a hold of her hand, his small fingers tightened and then he pulled her closer to him.

"Sakura? You were mommy's best friend right?" He whispered, his blue eyes searching her green ones. She looked different to him, her blonde hair didn't fit her, she looked thinner than in the photo's, but he would recognize her anywhere. She was the girl in the stories his mother had told him, those stories being his favorite. But she was suppose to be dead, hadn't his mother said this? She would always get quiet whenever he would ask her about Sakura, then she'd smile big and retell him his favorite stories.

"Oh, so you've heard about me? I had hoped Ino didn't tell you our rivalry stories." She giggled and then gasped as he pulled her into a tight hug. She hadn't caught onto the sadness in the small boy's voice; she simply hugged him back awkwardly.

"Milo, I told you to let the servants answer the door." Sakura looked over the boy's small shoulder and spotted Sasuke glaring at her a few feet away.

"I know father, it's Sakura, mommy would have been happy to see her…" Milo let go of her, stepping back, then lifted his right hand and slowly touched her face, his small hands memorizing ever detail.

"Would have?" Sakura questioned Milo then looked up at Sasuke, waiting for an answer.

"Milo, go finish your snack, then you and your brother need to go take a bath. I'll speak with Sakura, go on now." Milo turned away swiftly and ran back into the house, leaving Sakura in the presence of his not so welcoming father.

"Come in. I've been wondering when you'd stop by." Sasuke sighed and led her into his house, she noticed how mismatched a few things where, but it seemed Sasuke had only allowed Ino to a small amount of mismatching.

She smiled a bit and decided she would have to try and convince Shikamaru to redecorate.

Yes redecorate.

Finally after a few turns down long hallways, she was lead into what looked like Sasuke's office, she settled herself into his bright red couch located by his desk, completely ignoring the chairs.

"I'll get right to the point, Ino died." Sasuke said as soon as he closed the door, he sat behind his desk; he had lit a cigarette and then turned to offer her one.

Sakura was speechless; he had said it so emotionless, was he kidding? And when had Sasuke picked up smoking.

"No, that's okay, I stopped smoking recently—"He cut her off with a grunt and then spoke.

"Oh yeah I remember, the Hokage orders you back, cleans you up and suddenly you're a saint." His voice was so emotionless, it didn't hint at any type of emotion, she watched as he smoked his cigarette, wondering why he was acting so mean. It shocked her really, up until now Sasuke had been polite, had watched her back while she worked on her music videos, had her hair done…maybe it had all been an act.

"What happened?" She whispered as she sunk deepened into his couch, hugging herself she waited for the worse.

"She just died, nothing was wrong with her; no one knows what happened really." He said, he tapped his pen, began reading a few papers, signed a few things, he was working, not bothering to look at her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"Why? Because she died thinking you were dead? Don't be, I think it's best that she did die thinking you were dead. I mean look at you." He snapped at her suddenly, his dark eyes found her green ones and held them.

"I don't know what to say." Was all she could manage, taking a deep breath she tried to keep her emotions hidden.

"Don't say anything. She held you high up there on a pedestal, told our children stories about you, made them love a dead girl. Then you just end up being alive, drunk, drugged, and you make a living by singing and dancing on bar tables in music videos. No, I think it's best that she died thinking you were dead." He looked away from her; she angered him just by breathing.

"Shut up." She whispered fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. He stopped writing and just glared at the document in front of him, he was waiting for the rest of her defense, already planning on making her feel worse than she already felt.

"Just shut up. And who are you to look down on me? It was you who cheated on me, both of you betrayed me. You know what the worse part is?"

Taking a deep breath, she jumped onto her feet daring him to look up at her.

"The worst part is that you two didn't even say sorry. You acted as if nothing had happened; I was just Sakura the girl who was your backup. I just, I was so stupid. Who cares if she held me up on a pedestal, she may have just done it because she felt guilty. The Ino I last remember glared at me whenever I passed her on the street, she knew about us. You do know that right? Oh yes, she knew… she was not an innocent bystander. I have to go…bye Sasuke." She turned and left his office, left the man that once held her heart, and forced herself to not cry, she could hold out…at least till she got home.

Home, funny how she now felt more comfortable in Shikamaru's apartment than she ever felt in her house, but she knew it wouldn't last forever. Quickly making her way out she hoped she wouldn't run into anyone.

She didn't hear him walking behind her as she hurried out of the house, she only felt his small hand grab her wrist, willing her to stop and turn around. And she did turn around, and looked down at the small child; Milo seemed a bit too serious at the moment. When she met him a few minutes ago he was gentle, emotional, and the totally opposite of what he seemed now.

She angled her head and tried to pull her wrist from his surprisingly strong grip.

"Milo, I really have to go." She whispered, hoping her voice wouldn't hint that she was on the verge of tears.

"I'm not Milo." Was the child's only response, she didn't need to ask any questions because automatically she knew he wasn't lying, this child was the exact opposite of Milo.

"Then who are you?" She asked him, lowering herself to his level, his blue eyes watching her every move. He must have heard what she had said, yet he wasn't saying anything.

"I'm Maddox; I'll escort you to the door. Come…" And with that he walked around her and began leading her towards the door.

-Lulu