The sun broke through the dark rain clouds that clung to the sky like a crying child clings to its mother. Hinata paced the front room of her house, waiting, watching for any sign of his return. Naruto was late, twelve hours late. After what seemed an eternity of waiting a soft knock fell upon the door. Her hands trembled as she reached for the handle. Afraid of what to find she slowly opened the door to her disheveled husband, who stood wet haired and drooping, his friend, Gaara, stood patiently at his shoulder.

"Naruto! What happened?" a look of shocked relief crossed her face as she ushered the pair in.

He was silent for a moment as if his voice was gone, then shakily he answered. "They're dead."

"Who?"

"Sakura, Kakashi… and Sasuke," his voice broke as tears weld up in his eyes, gently she pulled him close. "Its my fault! I didn't save them. He didn't want to…"

"Hush now, its alright," she comforted looking up at Gaara for some sort of explanation; he just shrugged in reply.

After a few moments of silence Gaara spoke up. "Naruto, you should have a shower, you look and smell horrible," he said plainly.

He bit his lips. "I guess I do don't I?" a little of his usual sparkle lit up in his voice. He kissed his wife on the forehead and gently rubbed her tummy. "I love you."

He turned the sparkle fading from his eyes as he trudged off to the bathroom. Leaving Hinata and Gaara standing alone in the room. "So what brings you here?"

"My friend needs me," his face remained placid. "When are you due?"

"With in the next couple of days if not today," she glanced worriedly out the window as she rubbed her swollen belly trying to find some comfort.

"Nervous?"

She laughed. "Yeah, a little."

"You'll be fine."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

A loud banging on the bathroom door brought Naruto spiraling back reality. He was tired, he was cranky, and he had just lost his three best friends. Agitatedly he turned off the water.

"What?" he said a little more angrily that he had intended.

"Hinata just wanted me to make sure you were still alive," Gaara's voice came from behind the door.

"I'm alive," he grabbed a towel and began to rub his hair vigorously.

"You doing okay?" silence answered his question. "Its not your fault you know."

"Yeah," he dropped the towel on the floor to stare up at the mirror facing his own worst enemy, himself.

Deciding it was time to change the subject Gaara spoke up again. "Your wife is very pregnant you know."

"Yeah, I know. Isn't she beautiful?" he said distractedly.

"Hn," he just smiled at his friend's response. Wrapping the towel around his waste he opened the door to find his friend leaning leisurely against the wall.

"I'm gonna go grab something to wear, okay?" Naruto walked by him into his room where he dawned a pair of boxers. Plunking down upon the soft mattress he turned his head to him, taking a deep breath he mustered his voice. "I was to late, Gaara. By the time I arrived on the scene his work was already done. He didn't want to kill them," he whispered as the pain rose again in his heart. "Why! Why do I have to be so stupid? Why do I have to be so slow?"

"You're not stupid or slow. You can't blame yourself, you don't know what would have happened if you would have been there a few minutes earlier."

"But what if I had arrived a few minutes earlier? What if…"

"Don't go 'what if 'ing' yourself to death. It didn't happen so you will have to face the facts as they are, not as what they could've or should've been. If you continue to 'what if' yourself, you are only creating a world of pain and you don't want that, trust me," he watched his friend closely.

"I know, its just I… I can't believe… I can't believe that they're gone, they left me behind again!…they left me behind," he spoke softly as tears threatened roll down his face again.

"Naruto," Neji walked swiftly into the room. "I'm taking Hinata to the hospital."

"Why?" panic entered his voice as he sat up from the bed.

"She's in labour, relax."

A look of distress took over him as he fell back down upon the mattress. "I'm not ready for this today!"

"You don't have much of a choice," Neji said coolly, turning he walked briskly out of the room.

"You have lots of time Naruto. The baby won't be due for at least another twelve hours or so. I would get some rest if I were you," Gaara closed his eyes in thought.

"Since when did you become and expert on pregnant women?" he retorted.

"Temara has had many children, and I have unfortunately have been present for all of their births," he shuddered at the thought.

"Oh," he looked sheepishly at the roof. "I guess I should take your advice then."

He nodded as he turned to leave. A small soft voice came from the bed. "Thank you."

"The good news is you won't be delivering in the next eight hours. The bad news is you won't be delivering in the next eight hours. So just relax and try to get as much rest as you can alright?" Tsunade stifled a yawn as Hinata looked worriedly at the window. "I'm sure he'll be here in a little while, no need to worry."

"But he looked so sad…"

"Don't worry about it, he promised to be here correct?" she nodded. "Then he will be here, no matter what."

Tsunade patted her on the knee reassuringly then turned and headed out to the hallway where Neji had been seated in worried silence. "So?" his white eyes narrowed watching her closely.

"She's fine, she's just afraid of delivering this child alone."

"Would you like me to bring him here?"

"No I want you to stay here with her, I don't think she could bear it if you left her too."

Gaara groaned the persistent knocking at the front door that interrupted his meditations. What did he ever to do deserve this? Couldn't they call back when he at another time? With a sigh he heaved himself to his feet and dragged his body over to the door, opening it to none other than Tsuande herself.

"I wondered when you'd show up," he yawned allowing her in.

"Where is Naruto?"

"He's in his room, you should leave him, he's having trouble coming to grips with what happened."

"I want to make sure he is alright."

"He's fine, he just needs rest. You saw him last night you should have a pretty good idea of how he's doing now," she turned towards his room. "Let him sleep. He wont have any time to sleep or collect himself when the baby is born."

Tsunade smiled sourly at him and pushed past to find Naruto, Gaara shook his head as he sat back down. "You never listen do you?" he said to her back as she disappeared down the hallway.

Quietly she opened the door as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. A dark figure lay sprawled on the covers haphazard-like. The figure did not move when she sat on the bed beside him. Gently she rubbed his back causing him to tighten his eyes at her touch. After a few moments of persuasion his eyelids reluctantly parted revealing a disturbing sight. The usual sparkle that filled his eyes was gone; instead it had been replaced by the clam, sad, placidness of grief.

"What does the Lady Hokage want?" his pillow muffled his voice.

She remained silent for a moment. "I wanted to make sure you were alright. You can go back to sleep now," then leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. "Rest my dear."

The blonde boy nodded in reply as she got up from the bed. "Lady Hokage, do you blame me for what happened?"

She paused for a moment. "No, I do not blame you," she sighed. "It is my own folly that is to blame."

She left the room closing the door behind her leaving the boy to his own devices. Slowly she made her way back through the hall and to the front door.

"How long until I wake him?" Gaara watched the medic nin as she crossed the room.

"Seven hours."

"Relax Hinata your almost there, one more push and it'll be all over," Tsuanade wiped the sweat from her brow.

"One push, oh god, I'm gonna die. How am I suppose to relax when my lower body is being ripped apart?" she panted while biting back tears.

"I need you to relax," she said in an irritated manner.

"I can't!!" she cried.

"Yes you can! Now push damn it!"

"I can't," tears rolled down her face.

"Neji could you pass me those clamps please," Tsuande held out her hand demandingly as Neji turned yet another shade of pale green.

"What are you going to do with those?" Neji's voice betrayed his discomfort.

"You don't want to know."

"Okay," he squeaked.

"Hinata, I need you to relax."

"Where are you sticking those clamps?"

"If you won't deliver the baby then I will!"

"You are not sticking those there! I refuse!"

"THEN RELAX!"

"I told you woman I can't!" Tsuande let out a huff of frustration as tears streamed down Hinata's sweaty face.

"Yes you can, just take a deep breath," Naruto whispered in her ear as he appeared beside her. "Its alright, I'm right here."

"Naruto?" her eyes widened as he slid behind her allowing her to lean on him.

"Yes?" his chin rested lazily on the nape of her neck.

"Thank you."

He smiled. "Come on now, let's get this done so we can go back home."

"Alright," she nodded as Neji decided that it was the opportune moment to leave the room.

"Feeling a bit ill?" Gaara greeted him.

"You could put it that way. What took you so long?" he crossed his arms.

"It was more difficult to wake him than I planned."

"I see," the pair snapped their heads towards the room when they heard a muffled scream and a baby's cry.

"See it's all over, take a deep breath. I got you, its alright," Naruto crooned in her ear stroking her hair gently.

"Its handsome baby boy," Tsuande cradled the squirm squalling bundle of life, wrapping it up in a blanket she gave it to Hinata.

"Isn't he adorable?" she stroked the blonde curls lovingly.

"He's… blue," she glared at him. "But he's adorable."

"Don't worry he'll turn a normal pink color in a few minutes, so what are you gonna call him?" Tsuande stripped herself of her blood soaked apron and gloves.

"I think we'll call him Kakashi," she stroked the sleeping child's cheek gently.

"Kakashi?" Naruto gave her a quizzical look.

"Yeah, Kakashi."

If you have never seen a baby right (I mean like with in 2 minutes) after they're born, they are a bluish color and that is only due to the pressure that they are under when traveling through the birth canal, its perfectly natural… so long as it doesn't stay blue. I just thought I'd let you know incase your all like 'wha? Blue? Doesn't she mean pink?'

Thanks so much for your comments I have appreciated them so much. I have one more chapter to go, just so I can completely wrap things up. So if there are any loose ends please let me know. Thanks all! Luv ya!

Usagi Sora