A/N: Don't own Naruto.
Chapter 12: Preparation
Sakura was almost five months when Jiraiya called her, his voice grim. "They've decided to hold the trial this Thursday. They've had it in the planning stages for the last few months and I guess the Uhichas realize they can't put it off anymore. I'll come pick you and Gaara up. You can stay with me until the trial is over, that way you don't have to drive back and fourth to your house." Sakura thanked him and called to Gaara. She handed him the phone and Jiraiya gave him the same rundown. When Gaara hung up, he walked slowly to where his large, pregnant wife was.
Sakura had refused an ultrasound since the first one because she said she wanted the surprise. While Gaara hadn't agreed, he had conceded to her wishes. In the last few months, he had put down new carpet in the baby room, painted it a soothing color with stencils of baby animals, and had baby proofed the whole house. Sakura had giggled at his extra caution, but said nothing more.
Gaara kissed her forehead and asked her if she needed help packing. She smiled sweetly and told him that would be wonderful. However, he could tell she was scared. It had been a little over six months since she had lain eyes on her ex. Six months of pure bliss for her. Gaara could understand her fear, but at the same time, he admired her determination. And he told her so. He kissed along the back of her neck, praising her. She blushed and smiled at him. She said a quiet thanks and he smiled, resting his hands on her enlarged belly.
"Everything will be fine, Koi. We will get through this…together." He kissed the back of her neck and nuzzled the side of her face. She giggled and turned in his arms, her large belly between them.
"I know, Gaara-kun. It's just…I don't ever want anything to come between us. You know Sasuke will say horrible things to try and drive us apart. I have always been honest with you…I have told you everything that was between Sasuke and I. You have always told me the truth and I trust you." Gaara smiled and kissed her on the lips. He, too, realized that Sasuke would try and say things that would drive them apart. The one thing that Sasuke didn't know was that Sakura had ALWAYS told him the truth…no matter how embarrassing or how horrible it was.
Gaara kissed her lips lightly and smiled at her. "Let's get our bags packed. Your dad will be here in a bit and we don't want to make him wait, now do we?" Sakura giggled at him and he helped her into their bedroom. They packed enough clothes to last them a few weeks, all their toiletries, and a few miscellaneous items that comforted Sakura. They were sitting in the large, overstuffed leather armchair that was their favorite when a horn blew outside. Gaara gently helped her to get up and then stood himself. He picked up the larger bags and allowed her to grab her favorite comforter.
Jiraiya was waiting, his trunk popped. When Sakura came out carrying Tsunade's hand made comforter, he had froze, then smiled gently. He had helped her into the backseat of his air conditioned town car and then helped Gaara load the luggage into the trunk. When everything was in, Gaara shut the trunk and walked around to the opposite side of the car Sakura was on. He slid into the back seat with her and put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, her head on his shoulder, and fell asleep, the comforter wrapped loosely around her.
Forty-five minutes later, Gaara was gently kissing his wife, trying to wake her up. She opened one tired, emerald eye and smiled up at him. He smiled back and told her they were at her father's house. She stretched delicately and sat up. Gaara was on her side of the car and helping her out before she could blink. She smiled at him…he was so thoughtful and caring. She stood, her comforter in her arms, and stretched slightly. She looked up at her father's house and gaped a bit. It was so BIG. She looked at Gaara, who chuckled at her, and then at her father, who was smiling indulgently.
"I have a pool you can lounge around in. I'm sure the water will go a long way to alleviate the soreness." Sakura smiled and went up to her father, hugging him. He placed a kiss to the top of her head and smiled.
"Thank you Daddy. I know this is hard for you, what with momma being gone, but I want you to know that this means a lot to me." She felt her father stiffen and then relax with a shuddering sigh.
"Baby girl…you are so much like your mother…it's like seeing her again as a young woman." He put his hand on top of her head and smiled at her. "But you're NOT your mother. You've got the same personality, but you're different from her…softer. She was a tough one, she was. You have a strength that is uniquely you. Just like she did." Sakura smiled up at him, her tears hiding behind her thick lashes. She walked over to Gaara, who simply held her. After a few minutes, Sakura was feeling better and they were walking to their rooms.
Jiraiya made sure that Sakura didn't have to go up and down any steps and that the pool and kitchen were not far from her. He also made sure she had a bathtub to soak in. Gaara had laid on their bed and stared up at the ceiling, listening to his wife rummage through their luggage. She had produced a two piece suit that didn't hide her tummy, but highlighted it. She came out in it and Gaara couldn't help but smile. He went up to her and put his hand on her stomach reverently. She smiled up at him, a blush on her face. He smiled back and crouched in front of her.
He kissed her distended belly gently and caressed it. Finally, he started talking to it. "Little one…it's your daddy speaking. Can you hear me? Do you know how much your mommy and I love you?" he said gently, nuzzling the side of her large belly. Sakura was smiling at him and it made him feel warm inside. He stood and took her hand. They walked to the pool together, Gaara helping her down the slippery steps of the pool. When they were in, he could see the relief on her face. It was like she weighed nothing. He observed her and finally decided that when this was over, he was going to make sure she had a pool.
His brow scrunched as a thought struck him…tuition was going to go up by the time their child was born. How would being married and having a child affect their student loans? He took one look at her face and decided that he didn't care…as long as he had her, nothing else mattered. However, there was one thing he was going to do before time ran out. He climbed out of the water and went to their towels, where his cellphone was. He dialed a number and it was answered on the third ring.
"Hello? Yes, this is Sabaku Gaara. You called me several weeks ago about a job opening. No, I'm still a student, but I have found myself in a situation where I need a job as well as going to school. Yes. Yes. Thank you for understanding. I will call you ass soon as I can. Thank you very much. You too. Goodbye." Gaara closed his phone and took a deep breath. At least that was down. Now he just had to get through school. Gaara looked back at Sakura, who looked infinitely content in the water. He smiled and made his way over to her. He sat on the side of the pool and rubbed her belly from where he sat. She smiled up at him.
"Koi…I think you should take next quarter off." He said gently. He knew she was not going to be happy about it, but he also knew that she wasn't stupid. There was no way she could finish the upcoming quarter before the baby arrived. He saw her eyes start to sparkle.
"I want to finish, Gaara-kun. Two more quarters and I can start my clinics over at the hospital where Michi works!" Gaara held up his hand and she quieted, though he could tell she didn't want to. He began to explain to her why he wanted her to take the quarter off.
"Koi, next quarter, tuition will go up. With us having been married in the middle of this quarter, we aren't sure how that and a baby on the way will affect our student loans. We need to research this before either of us go back to school. I just called Maramour back. They called me with a job offering several weeks ago. I'm going to take them up on it after the trial so we can get a good line of credit established. I want you to be able to take care of our child." he watched the emotions that played across her face and he smiled at her. He slipped into the water and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
"If things pan out and the baby is born before too much of the next quarter is over, I will help you get in. But I really think that right now it's best to think about what's best for our child." He nuzzled the back of her neck, which had little wet strands running down it from where her bun had gotten wet. She made a pouting noise and looked at him petulantly.
"I think we should wait to see what happens after the trial. I'm only five months, that means I have at least four more months before this baby is going to come. This trial may take around six weeks…that's what daddy told me. I want to go ahead and schedule a LIGHT schedule. Maybe two to three classes. I think a few online classes wouldn't be too hard, ne?" Gaara conceded to her point and smiled at her.
"I think a few online classes should be okay. As long as it's nothing too hard and it wont affect you or the baby in a bad way." Sakura smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. She then went back to floating on her back. Gaara sighed…she always seemed to get her way somehow or another. "How is it that I always seem to give in to you?" he groused, not really meaning anything by it. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with love.
"Because you love me…and besides, you like giving me what I want. As long as its not bad for me or the baby." he watched her dive delicately under the water and then come back up. Her face showed pure bliss. Her overheated body was being soothed and the ache of the baby weight was being eased. He smiled at her again and shook his head. He followed after her, watching her intently. He had just caught up with her when Jiraiya came through the door, his face that of a D.A. There were several people trailing after him and they paused when they saw Sakura in the pool. Her large, distended belly was visible and she blushed self consciously. She moved behind Gaara, who glared at the men.
"Jiraiya…why are those men here? You know Sakura's terrified of men." he growled. He had seen the looks they all gave his young wife and none of them had mirrored innocence. Jiraiya seemed to come out of a daze and looked behind him. Hes face became red and his eyes dark.
"I did NOT invite you into my home. GET OUT! All of you!" the men looked shocked, but one was dumb enough to speak up.
"But sir, the trial is only days away. We have to be present in order to adequately comprehend the situation." the other men backed away from the man that had spoken. NO ONE talked back to the D.A. Not if they wanted to keep their jobs. Jiraiya's eyes flashed.
"This situation as you have so aptly named it happens to be MY DAUGHTER. If she wants you to know the circumstances of her situation she can tell you on your free time. You are all still on the clock and this is MY HOME. Now GET OUT or I will have you forcibly removed!" all the men heard the cracking of knuckles and looked down to see Gaara holding his fist. There was no doubt where the menacing sound had come from.
"Y-yes s-sir." all the men said in unison. They bowed low and quickly made their way out. Jiraiya glared until he was sure they were all gone. He then sighed and dropped down on the lounge chair in front of the young married couple. Sakura slid out from behind Gaara and approached her father.
"What's wrong Daddy?" she asked quietly. Jiraiya looked up at them, his eyes tired.
"They're trying to hold off the trial until we agree for a blood test to see if Sasuke is the father or not. Itachi says that Sasuke is adamant the baby's not his. However, I also pointed out that they held off the trial for almost three months because of 'personal issues'. The judge is supposed to call me with his decision sometime later-" he was cut off by his cell phone going off. He opened it and answered.
"Hai?" he kept his eyes on his daughter until a smile broke out on his face. "Thank you sir. Yes, I know it's an underhanded tactic, but it's also a fail proof one. You and I both know that the Uchiha brothers are far more arrogant than they should be. Having one confess on the assumption he's a father would be adequate reparations for myself. However, I want to seek reparations for the damage done to my daughter's home and the hospital bills. No, she doesn't seem the worse for wear, but she missed a lot of school and she's still wearing the casts. No sir I don't think so. You can speak with her if you like. Yes sir, here she is." Jiraiya handed her the phone. She gingerly took it and instantly recognized the gruff yet kind voice on the other end.
"Sakura-san…how are you feeling?" Sakura giggled and looked at Gaara.
"Bloated, but I'm infinitely happy. And you, sir? How are your son and grandson doing?" There was a pause on the other side and then a deep chuckle. She smiled up at her father, who had a lop sided grin on his face.
"They are doing well, thank you for asking. Now tell me…do you seek reparations for the emotional trauma caused by the attack?" Sakura cocked her head and looked at Gaara, who had his arms folded across his chest. He was her emotional reparations.
She smiled and answered him. "No sir. I've got everything I need in that area. I just don't want to be stuck with the doctor bills and the contracting bills I'm sure have accumulated from the attack. My foster brother had to bring in some contractors to fix my old house before it could be lived in again. Not to mention the repainting from the blood splatters and the intense cleaning in order to be able to put it up on the market. And then there is the hospital bill…I can't pay that. I won't ask my father to either. Sasuke needs to take responsibility for his actions…and the consequences that follow. I ask nothing more than the outstanding bills be paid and his debt to society be paid." she looked at her father then, who looked pained.
"I don't want another girl to go through what I have…it's painful to see the people who love me pained because of this…especially daddy…" she said quietly, a tear slipping down her face. She felt Gaara hug her from behind and she leaned against him thankfully.
There was silence before someone cleared their throat. It was then that Sakura realized that Sarutobi was not the only one in the room. She gasped and looked at her father, who nodded. She kept quiet, her smile still in place. "Very well…we will see you at the trial young one. In the meantime, take care of yourself and make sure your father stays out of trouble." Sakura giggled and looked up at her father.
"Yes sir. I will. Tell Konohamaru that I will stop by and let him see the baby before I leave town after the trial. Daddy says he wants to see 'Uncle' Jiraiya's grand baby." Jiraiya blushed and looked away, making Sakura giggle again. Sarutobi chuckled and several other chuckles were heard. Sarutobi agreed and then said goodbye. When Sakura hung up, she arched a brow at her father.
"Before I gave you the phone, Sarutobi-san said that there were people that thought perhaps you were after money. Those present were those people. He must have called them in when I was handing you the phone." he noticed the arched brow of his daughter and held up his hands. "It was Sarutobi-san's plan, don't get mad at me!" Sakura giggled and turned in the arms of her husband. She smiled up at him and laid her head against his chest.
"Do you know who Sasuke's lawyer is going to call to the witness stand?" Sakura asked quietly. Gaara just held her, his chin resting on the top of her head. Jiraiya sighed and took out a folder. He knew this was coming. He opened it and rifled through it.
"His lawyer was going to be Itachi, until Sarutobi said it would be a conflict of interest. That's why I wont be prosecuting this case either. Normally I wouldn't even think about it…but…" he shrugged and picked up a paper with a picture attached. It was of a man with whitish blond hair and unusual green eyes.
"His name is Phelps. He's been a lawyer for six years and has lost three cases. He normally never takes a case like this, but he owes Itachi." Jiraiya smirked as the two looked at him. "He also hates the Uchihas. Itachi dated his younger sister until she committed suicide. No one knows why she did it, but he blames Itachi. However, Itachi bailed him out financially when his small firm was sued for malpractice. The case fell through, but it also cost them a lot of clientèle. Some say Itachi was the source of that as well." Sakura nodded and handed it back to her father. She laid her head on Gaara's shoulder once more.
"He has seven people on the stand in Sasuke's defense. One, is his housekeeper." Sakura laughed when he said this and he arched a questioning brow. Sakura stopped laughing, but her shoulders bounced in amusement.
"Sasuke doesn't have a housekeeper. I usually cleaned his place when I visited him. If Sasuke says he's got a housekeeper, he's lying." Jiraiya scribbled a few things beside the housekeeper's name and then went down the list.
"Next is a girl that you guys went to high school with. A young woman named Karin? Says here that she can attest to your promiscuous tendencies." Jiraiya arched another brow at the laugh, only this time it was from Gaara.
"It will be easy to pick that whore apart on the stand. Even I could do it. She's the one that Sasuke cheated on Sakura with. She also slept with two teachers…it's why she was sent back to her old school." Gaara stroked Sakura's hair and kissed her forehead. Jiraiya scribbled more things on the paper and continued down the list. The more people he went over, the more it seemed as if the defense would fall through. He wondered if Phelps was making it easy on them.
"The last person on the list is said to be able to attest to your unfaithfulness in the relationship." He saw Sakura stiffen and looked at him. He laughed when he saw the name. It was actually two names. "Uzumaki Naruto, foster brother, and Sabaku Gaara, supposed accomplice in the unfaithfulness." Sakura stared, wide eyed, at her father.
"Are you serious? They are trying to use my brother and husband against me?" Gaara soothed her and rolled this around in his head. When he was done, he narrowed his eyes and looked up at his father-in-law.
"Does this Phelps man know about our plot? He's setting it to where we can easily dispute all his witnesses and then he brings me in. He knows I won't testify against Sakura…the only way to get out of it without being in contempt of court is to invoke my right to deny as her spouse." Jiraiya cocked his head and looked through a few more papers. He smiled.
"Or as her legal guardian. You signed all her paperwork at the hospital. As her legal guardian, you can opt to not testify against her." Gaara rolled this around in his mind a few times and then looked at them.
"No…he's up to something. I want to know what it is. Can you set up a meeting with this man? I want it to be just him and the three of us." Sakura was shocked, but she also knew that there had to be a reason. Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, but nodded. He got on the phone.
"Silvie….it's me. I need you to call a meeting with Phelps. No, it's just a social call. No. Just ask him to call my cell phone. Thanks Silvie. Oh, I'll tell her. Okay, thanks. Bye." Jiraiya smiled and gave them the thumbs up. He then held up a finger. "Oh, and Sakura. Silvie says she hopes you come into the office soon. She wants to see the most important thing in my world in the flesh. Those are her words, not mine." he winked at her and she smiled, a slight blush on her face.
Gaara smiled at his wife and kissed her on the head. "We'd best get out, Koi. There's no telling when this Phelps man will call and I want to meet him as soon as possible. There's something going on and I intend to find out what this man is playing at." Sakura could hear the underlying menace in her husbands voice. She smiled at him, complete faith and trust in her eyes.
"Alright, Gaara-kun. I trust you know what you're doing." She kissed him lightly and then pulled herself up the steps, one at a time. Gaara followed her, making sure she didn't slip. He wrapped her up in a towel and walked with her to their bedroom. He helped her change into a comfortable white sun dress with cherry blossoms all over it. She had on comfy flip flops and Gaara braided her hair for her. She had gotten the casts off right before they had come to live with her father for the trial, but the braces were stiff and hard to maneuver. Gaara did a lot of things for her, including helping her bathe, dressing her, and cooking for them. He also drove her everywhere, carried things for her, and braided her hair when she asked him to.
They were having a light lunch when Jiraiya came in with the platinum blond in tow. His unusual green eyes averted when they saw Sakura. He took a step back and it looked like pain flashed across his face. Sakura looked at her father, who arched a brow at the man.
"Something wrong, Phelps-san?" The man shook his head, but he refused to look at Sakura. Sakura stood and offered her hand to the man. He looked at her hand, and for the first time since he'd looked away, he looked at her.
"Gillian…" he whispered, before taking her hand. Sakura gasped and looked at her father, who was scowling now.
"Do you have something wrong with my daughter, Phelps?" he asked in a menacing tone. Sakura put her hand on her father's arm and calmed him.
"Daddy…be nice. Can't you see Phelps-san is in pain?" she said gently. She smiled at the blond and motioned him to sit where she had previously been. She moved to sit by her husband and her father. Phelps took a seat, but he didn't look up.
"Phelps-san…I understand that you wish to call me to the witness stand in Uchiha Sasuke's defense…why?" Phelps cleared his throat and looked up. His gaze at once rested on Sakura. He cleared his throat again and looked down at his briefcase.
"If it is not too much to ask, could Sakura-san please be excused? It is…hard…for me to talk in her presence." Gaara was about to refuse when Sakura put her hand on his shoulder.
"It is not too much to ask. I am sorry that my presence disturbs you so, but I understand your pain. I will wait for you in the living room." Sakura exchanged a look with her husband, who quieted. She then made her way into the hall and back into the living room.
"I am sorry to have asked that, but…" pain flashed through his eyes as he looked up at both men. Both could tell that something was on his mind. "Sakura-san looks too much like Gillian…" he said quietly. Jiraiya looked at him, not quite putting two and two together. Gaara, however, understood.
"Your sister. Sakura reminds you of your sister. I understand now…I am sorry to bring up bad memories for you Phelps-san." Gaara, for all his youth, was extremely diplomatic and very intelligent. Jiraiya smiled at the youth and reaffirmed it in his mind that Gaara would be a good husband to his daughter.
"Thank you, Sabaku-san, Sannin-san. I apologize for my lack of control, but, the pain is still very fresh." both men nodded and pulled out the file at hand. Gaara presented the list of witnesses.
"Your first five witnesses will fall apart on the stand. But you already know this. You wrote down whoever Sasuke told you to write down…yet you put Naruto and myself without his consent, didn't you?" Phelps looked at him and then at the list.
"Yes. Sasuke was convinced that his family had enough sway that if he presented reasonable doubt, he would be let off." Phelps looked at Jiraiya from the corner of his eye. "However…he is not aware that you are her father, Jiraiya-san. Itachi has not told him…and neither have I. For him to have assaulted the daughter of a D.A….it will take more than his family's influence to get him off. I added the two of you as a sort of trap…for him. I am tired of the Uchihas getting off because of their family's prestige." there was a hard glint in the man's green-blue eyes. The man then took an envelope from his briefcase.
"Itachi has been covertly trying to prove that the baby Sakura-san carries is not Sasukes. I intercepted these photographs before they were delivered. I also tracked down the one responsible and made sure that there will be no other copies." Phelps handed the envelope to Jiraiya, who removed the photos and looked at them. He scowled.
"These photos can be taken many different ways." he said, until he came to one towards the back. It was of Gaara on his knees in front of a very pregnant Sakura. He was kissing her stomach and a
ppeared to be talking to her stomach. Gaara stiffened.
"That happened this afternoon…when we were heading out to the pool." he said, his eyes alight with anger. Jiraiya was incensed that someone would come into HIS home and spy on HIS daughter. Phelps nodded and handed them something else.
"This is a letter from the man who took the photos to Itachi. You wont be hearing from the spy. He's currently in jail for invasion of private property, stalking, invasion of privacy, and the indecent photography of pregnant women." Phelps smiled at them, a lop sided grin that reminded both men of the Cheshire cat. Gaara blinked and then smirked. He opened the letter and read it.
'There is no doubt in my mind that these two are more heavily involved than the public knows. I've followed them for several weeks now and, though I've never seen any actual displays to prove otherwise, their lack of affection hints they are hiding something. I hit jackpot when I followed the D.A. we discussed to her house. She snuggled up to him as if they were married. When they arrived, there was a lot of affection between the father and daughter, but not much between the red head and the girl. However, I stumbled through the garden and accidentally found her room. I found the red head in there, kissing her stomach. I believe this will prove that it's not your brother's kid. I expect my payment in the usual way, in the usual spot. I will send the goods to your office. And remember…if you don't pay me…those photos I have of you and the foreign girl will find their way into the newspapers.'
Gaara was disgusted. He handed the letter to Jiraiya, who growled. The older man's hand was clenching around the letter and he crumbled it up before punching the table. "What kind of SICK PERVERT stalks a pregnant woman!?" he hissed. Phelps stayed quiet, but Gaara stood and put his hand on the older man's shoulder.
"Why don't you go keep Sakura company? I wish to ask Phelps-san some questions." Jiraiya looked between the two, back at the photos, and then out where his daughter had gone. He looked straight at Phelps.
"Those are to be burned. I will not have the fantasy of some sick maniac floating around to be used against my daughter later in life." Gaara nodded and gathered the photos up. He stuck them in the envelope and handed them to Jiraiya. Before Jiraiya stormed out, however, Gaara stopped him.
"Jiraiya-san…the photo of Sakura and myself…where I am kissing her stomach…" there was a request in Gaara's eyes and Jiraiya read it. He smiled and nodded in understanding. Gaara sat down and turned his attention back to the man before him. The man had his eyes narrowed on the young red head before him.
"You are quite intelligent for your age, young man. You were able to discern things that even the infamous Jiraiya missed. Tell me…why is it so important to know my motives for putting you on the witness stand." Gaara regarded the man before he picked something up.
"This goes no further than where we are sitting. Should I catch wind of it that you have betrayed my trust, you will regret it." Gaara held up a piece of paper that had some personal information about Phelps on it. The other man's eyes widened and he looked at Gaara, stunned.
"Where did you get that?" he asked, almost frightened. Gaara kept his eyes blank.
"I have my ways. Now, do you swear to keep what I am about to say a secret between the two of us?" the man looked at him, then at the sheet the young man had, and then back into the young man's eyes.
"You have my word." he said quietly. Perhaps this intelligent young man could help him in his revenge against Itachi,
"Almost six months ago, Sakura and I were married." Phelps' eyes became wide. He opened his file and looked through it.
"There is no record, no paperwork, no news clippings…" He looked up into the cold and calculating eyes of the young man who claimed to be Jiraiya's son-in-law.
"There is no paper trail. Sarutobi-san ensured that. We were married by Sarutobi in the courthouse six months ago. Sakura will not assume my surname until after the trial. It was done to protect her." Phelps sat back in his chair and regarded the young man. He was certainly a thinker, this one.
"And you have managed to keep this quiet for this long? I am impressed. What of the child Sakura-san carries? She looks much larger than only, what…five months?" Gaara narrowed his eyes on the man, who shrugged. Gaara sat back in his own chair.
"Sakura is a little over five months…the child she carries is mine." he let that sink in and then leaned forward. "We have allowed the assumption that it is Sasuke's child because I intend to make that bastard pay for what he did to my wife. I am going to use his arrogance against him. He has always flaunted his relationship with Sakura in front of me. He has always known that I loved her." Phelps listened carefully as Gaara outlined his plan, even accounting for any slip ups. The young man was impressive.
"So you are saying that…even though you are married…you wish to keep up the ruse that you are not and be forced into testifying against her?" Gaara sat back in his chair, his fingers meeting at the very tips.
"I will not testify against my wife…I will not need to. Sasuke's ego is bigger than his brain. If he thinks that I am competing with him, he will blurt out the truth just to prove himself the 'winner'." Phelps was impressed with this young man. His ability to think ahead was impressive. Phelps nodded and stood. He handed his card to the young man.
"If you want a job, I will pay for your education to become a lawyer. My firm is family oriented, so you never have to fear your family taking a back seat to your job. You work the cases you want and we only take cases that reach a certain criteria. Give me a call sometime. I could use a mind like yours." with that, the man left. Gaara smirked and walked out to where his wife and father-in-law were. He saw Phelps bowing to them politely. When Sakura noticed him, she sent him a smile. Phelps noticed and looked back at him. "I'm serious, Sabaku-san. Give me a call. I'm sure we could work something out." Gaara smirked and nodded as Phelps left. Jiraiya and Sakura looked at him, confused.
Gaara smiled at his wife and sat down beside her, kissing her lightly on the nose. She giggled and leaned against him. Jiraiya arched a brow. "What was that all about?" Gaara smirked as he rubbed his wife's stomach.
"That, my friend, was the culmination of our plans being cemented into place. Phelps is going to help us with our plans." Jiraiya looked stunned, but Sakura giggled.
"Did he offer you a job, Gaara-kun? I've heard his firm is one of the few that are very strict about what cases they take. They are also said to be very family friendly." she said, putting her hand on top of his over her bulging belly. Gaara smiled and kissed her on the side of the head.
"Yes, koi, he offered me a job. Offered to pay for everything I would need as far as schooling and training goes as well." Jiraiya was stunned…this was new. Gaara laughed at his stunned father-in-law's face. He pulled his wife up with him and looked at the clock. "I think it's time to get ready for bed, love. The next few days are going to fly by and before we know it, we will be facing Sasuke once more." Sakura nodded and followed her husband into their room. Jiraiya smiled at the two…they were so in love…