Authors note: Back to Sakura's point of view.

I held my hand to my injured side where Itachi had kicked me. I wiped away the blood off of my lip and controlled my breathing. I looked at Sasuke who was a good ways away from me as I crawled to my feet. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach that just sent me back to the ground. I clutched my stomach and screamed.

Sasuke was right next to me in a flash, holding my head in one of his hands as he rubbed my stomach with the other hand. I looked up at his eyes. He still had his sharingan in them and he looked angry. He was probably frustrated that Itachi had gotten away again. I couldn't blame him. I was so disappointed myself. Great...that means hes just going to keep coming. I thought.

I looked at Sasuke and saw his jaw tighten in anger. He was probably clenching his teeth, trying to keep his cool so he wouldn't scare me. I placed my hand over Sasukes that was on my stomach. He looked at me this time, his crimson disappearing.

"Sasuke?" I asked. He didn't say anything back as he slowly pulled me to where I was sitting on my bottom. The pain in my stomach had ceased, but I felt hurt when Sasuke looked away from me. I took a deep breath. "Sasuke...I'm sorry."

"You wouldn't have been hurt if you would have stayed out of it." Sasuke snapped.

I lowered my eyebrows in anger as I watched him stand up. "Oh? Well im sorry that I saved your life!" I yelled standing to my own feet. "You would have been finished if I hadn't intervened with that genjutsu!"

"I had it under control."

"I can see that. That's why you were on the ground screaming for mercy, right?" I snapped folding my arms. Sasuke growled and turned to me with his sharingan activated again.

"Sakura! I'm warning you, don't screw with me!" he yelled in a fierce, harsh voice. I gasped as I felt myself back away from him. His fists were clenched in tight balls beside his waist. He stood there watching me for a brief moment, when he closed his eyes and turned around. "I'm sorry." he apologized in a still cold voice. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just..."

"I know your angry that Itachi got away." I said forcing myself to creep up to him. I put my hand on his shoulder calmly. Surprised, he didn't shake off. "Sasuke, you'll get him."

"That's not the point." Sasuke said this time shaking me off. "He wont stop until he has the baby."

"And next time, we'll be ready." I said stepping in front of him. I took his face into my hands as he slowly opened his onyx eyes to my emerald ones. "We'll be okay."

"I just can't stand the fact hes after you." Sasuke mumbled as I moved my face closer to his. "If he hurts you again"-

"Don't worry, Sasuke. I may be pregnant but im still a ninja." I said smiling. "I'm not totally helpless..."

"When I saw you do substitution earlier...I thought he had actually...." Sasuke trailed off. I felt myself fight a smile as I actually heard concern in Sasuke's voice. I had never had Sasuke act so caring...it just reminded me all the more that I loved him with all my heart. He sighed and stepped away from me, bringing our faces apart.

I sighed as well. "Sasuke..." I began to say but I didn't know how to finish the sentence. I sighed again and looked down at my stomach. Eight months...you'll be here in no time...I thought as I rubbed my stomach calmly. My stomach was so big now, I couldn't believe it was really almost time for my daughter to come into the world. I had to admit I was...scared. With Itachi running around planning to steal her away from me, how could I truly protect her? I mean I had Sasuke...but...

"He won't hurt her." Sasuke said as if he had read my thoughts. I looked up at him and his eyes were looking at my stomach. "I wont let him. No matter what it takes."

"Sasuke, Itachi is strong..." I said.

"So that's it? Sasuke asked looking up at me now. "Your giving up hope on me?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Then don't worry. You have my word, Sakura, I won't let him near her."

"Sasuke"-

"Trust me." Sasuke said in a strained tone. "Please." I sighed as I looked at him with sad eyes. He looked bac at me and calmly stuffed his hands in his pockets. "He said he had at least a month before the baby is born. So that means we've got a little bit of time on our hands. Now if I'm mistaken, Itachi is going to come for her right after she's born. Itachi is smart, so that would be the smartest move for him to make. And when she is born and he comes for her, we'll be ready." Sasuke explained. "It gives me time to tie up some loose ends on some of my jutsu's."

"But when she is born she will be vulnerable. She could really get hurt or sick from not being born in a hospital environment. Not only that, with a fight going on over her, it wouldn't be very good." I said shuttering at the fact of something bad happening to my daughter.

"We'll take care of it, Sakura." Sasuke reassured me. "If it kills me, I will make sure she is safe."

"Sasuke..." I mumbled holding back tears. "Oh Sasuke....why?"

"Why?" Sasuke asked confused. "Why what?"

"Why do you care so much about my daughter? She is Itachi's daughter. The man you hate more than anyone else in this world...I don't understand how you could possibly care for her. I don't understand." I said letting a tear escape. I quickly wiped it away and looked at the ground. I heard Sasuke sigh.

"I told you. It doesn't matter if its my brothers or not, its not her fault. She is my niece anyway, its not like I can completely hate her." Sasuke pointed out. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes slowly. "Even if her father is a no good scumbag."

"I hate thinking about the fact she will grow up without a father." I said looking at my stomach and thinking about her growing up without a father figure. "But with Itachi as her father...there's not really a choice."

"Naruto can be her father." Sasuke said. I looked up at him with an eyebrow raised. I could tell he was fighting a smile. I felt a smile curl at the ends of my own lips.

"Naruto can't even take care of himself, let alone a child." I said rolling my eyes. "He already wants to be the godfather..."

"Sakura." Sasuke said looking at me with serious eyes. "If you make Naruto the godfather of that child, I don't even know you anymore." he said with a bit of humor and sarcasm in his voice. I felt myself giggle.

"Well how about you then, Sasuke? You want to be Godfather?" I asked trying to be serious yet jokingly at the same time. He didn't smile, he just looked at me very seriously.

"I won't be around to take care of her." Sasuke said in a stern tone. "Sakura I told you, after this is all over, I wont guarantee you will see me again."

I felt myself frown and my eyes sadden. "Oh...right." I mumbled, disappointed. "I forgot."

"She will have plenty of male figures in her life. There are plenty of boys in the village who will help take care of her." Sasuke said as if he were trying to reassure me.

"I guess." I mumbled trying to hold back the tears that so desperately wanted to escape my eyes. "Its not the same as you, though, Sasuke."

Sasuke sighed as he walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. He tilted my chin up to look at him and he brushed my cheek softly with his thumb. "You've been through a lot today." Sasuke mumbled. "We should go get some rest."

I sighed as I glanced over at the tiny hut then back at him. I nodded slowly and tried to smile a bit, although it was fake.

"Your right. I'm kind of tired. Lets go." I said. I slowly shook out of Sasukes grip and began walking back to the hut with him not far behind me. If I never see Sasuke again...these will be the last memories I have with him. I thought. Better stop moping, and make them count.