So I felt pretty terrible leaving you with that last chapter, so I cranked out another quickly so you didn't get angry with me. You'll probably be angry about this one too... But hey, I love you guys.

"But if I kiss you/Will your mouth read this truth?/Darling, how I miss you/Strawberries taste how lips do"

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

AU

Restoration

Chapter 10: Hope and Despair

Sasuke waited outside Tenten's hospital room nervously, holding Nanami on his lap, his legs bounced up and down anxiously and he was perspiring more than he cared to admit. He felt his heart palpitating, and his head was spinning with a dizziness that could be compared to drunkenness.

Nanami was frantically looking around for her mother, but contented when Sasuke continually bounced her on his nervous knee. She was far too little to comprehend what was happening, she simply thought it were some type of game they played when they rushed to the hospital.

There had been no word on Tenten or her condition just yet, and Sasuke grew more and more anxious by the minute. He blamed Itachi mainly for his sick and twisted mind games. Sasuke hadn't once snapped at Tenten until today, and he didn't like the way it came out of his mouth, despite the fact that it felt almost natural. It was in her best interest really, he just wanted to keep her from it. The blow up between he and Itachi that was bound to happen sooner or later over her. That pretty brunette girl that had apparently stolen both of their hearts, but you could never be sure with Itachi. Was he lying, joking, serious? It was unclear.

Suddenly, Sasuke saw Tsunade emerging from Tenten's room and closing the door behind her. "She's okay.." The blonde doctor looked at Nanami with a sorrowful expression, heartbroken. "But there was nothing we could do to stop the miscarriage."

Sasuke's lips parted and he desperately wanted to say something but the words failed to come out. His darkened heart had stopped beating in his chest and he clutched his child close to it. Tenten had in fact miscarried. What more pain could Tenten possibly endure? What was the cause? What if she couldn't ever have another child?

"She's going to be okay, but it'll take some time for her to get over it. I'm so sorry for your loss."

"What caused it?" He finally asked, his temporary paralysis dissipating.

Tsunade furrowed her brows and sighed. "I'm assuming it was stress. Nanami was conceived and born healthily, I don't fear anything wrong with her body."

Sasuke gave a brief nod. "May I see her?"

"Go on in."

Tenten lay on her bed staring up at the ceiling, fighting like a warrior to keep the tears from flooding down her cheeks. Unfair, the whole thing had been so unfair. Why did her unborn child have to pay the ultimate price of her poor emotional management? She glanced over at the IV in her hand and choked out a sorrowful cry, her heart turning hard in her chest and pain growing in her throat from keeping the tears down.

Her free hand gently grazed her empty stomach and she let out a second cry. "I'm so sorry." She whispered through broken lips with a trembling voice. It was then that she heard the door to her room swing open and she saw Sasuke holding Nanami in his arms.

The twisted, sorrowful look on his face told her what she had been wondering. He knew. She hadn't seen him like that, she recalled something similar the night she had that terrible dream about Neji. But this was far beyond sorrow, concern, hatred, fear, regret or remorse. No, it was brokenness.

The Uchiha forced his legs to move and he walked to her bedside with their child in his arms. He looked down at Tenten laying there in the bed and it only caused more pain to well up inside of him. He'd recalled the day they were both at the hospital when Nanami was born, that day had been so joyful. Now here they were, experiencing the complete opposite. It made him sick.

Nanami whined when she saw her mother laying there, she reached both of her tiny arms out to Tenten in a needy manor.

Weakly, Tenten pushed herself up into a sitting position and took her daughter in her arms, immediately sobbing when she did so. She cupped the back of Nanami's head with her palm and cradled her close, cherishing her life but her heart breaking violently for the lost life.

Sasuke couldn't handle it, seeing Tenten like that. He let out a gasp when he felt something wet hit his cheeks. His palm slowly reached up and touched his face that was now wet with tears. How long had it been since he had cried?

"I'm so sorry." Tenten's hoarse voice shattered Sasuke from his thoughts and he looked down at her. He shook his head and lowered his brows, softening his expression.

"Oh Tenten, this is not your fault." He whispered, heart feeling as though it was being ripped out of his chest cavity.

"I los-"

"I know, but it wasn't your fault. It was mine."

"Neither of you should be placing the blame upon yourselves." Tsunade's voice came from the doorway. "I'm sorry for your loss, but there was nothing to be done. You cannot blame yourselves for this or you will only spiral downward. Chin up, and don't give up hope."

Nanami was two, now. Tenten had been quite reluctant to try for another child yet, and Sasuke didn't blame her a bit. It had taken all of those six months for her to finally smile again. Her heart was growing more whole by the day, slowly, but surely.

Itachi had been much less of a threat these days, Sasuke was quite grateful. It felt like his family was getting back to normal. He'd taken less missions, and sent Itachi in his stead a lot of the time, in order to spend more time with Tenten and Nanami. At first it had been out of fear Tenten may try to harm herself, because he knew without a doubt that she still carried all that guilt from what happened to their unborn child.

Naruto and Hinata had had their first child very recently, and Ino and Neji announced their pregnancy two months after their wedding. Babies were popping up everywhere it seemed like. Even Sakura and Sai announced they were expecting. Still, Sasuke hoped desperately for restoration. He wanted Tenten to be happy, and not to blame herself.

She was in the kitchen, sweeping up some cereal Nanami had thrown about carelessly from this morning, when Sasuke wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. "I love you." He assured softly.

"I love you too, Sasuke." She gave a faint smile, and leaned her bosh against his, relaxing a bit. She felt so comfortable there, taking in his sweet and savory scent. His hair tickled her cheek and neck as he nuzzled her further.

"I know you're afraid.." He started. "But I can't help but feel like maybe we should try again, Tenten." He cooed.

Tenten bit her lower lip anxiously, and Sasuke was holding her so closely he felt her heart rate accelerate. "I-I." she choked. "Actually, Sasuke.."

He pulled back and turned her to face him, knowing that desperation in her voice. "You?"

Tenten looked at him with wide and terrified brown eyes that shook with fear and anxiety. "I just.." She gulped hard. "I just found out that I'm pregnant, and I'm so terrified that we're going to lose this one just like we lost the other and Sasuke I just don't know what we're going to do! I don't think I can take much more heartache and pain, Sasuke what are we going to do?!" She rambled on, mouth refusing to stop as her fears poured out into the form of words.

Sasuke smiled wide and took her hands in his own before kissing each of them delicately. "I promise that is never going to happen, Tenten. We take it one step at a time." He assured. "You have nothing to be afraid of."