Sorry for the long wait, it's been a busy holiday for me.

thank you to all those that have commented, and i hope that you enjoy this chapter and this story as we get closer to the end.

Chapter 35: Promises to Keep

Sasuke stared blankly at her as if he was having trouble processing what she had said. She only met his stare hoping for some sort of response. What would he do now? Would he come with them and escape, or would he stay to fight his brother? The soft cries of her son averted her attention as she tried to comfort his distress, rocking her arms lightly. His dark eyes softened and then slowly shut closed. He truly was beautiful.

"Are you sure of this?" his voice stern and cold.

She looked back up at him, "Yes, he was here when I first went into labor. Sasuke, he is alive."

His grip tightened on the bed cloth as he looked down, his body slightly trembling. He stood motionless, she dared not take him from his trance but Hinata did. She had finished gathering what she thought was needed and then approached his and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We have to go. This place can collapse at any moment." She said to him.

He loosened his grip, but his body remained stiff as he moved to lift her, "Let's go."

She held onto her son and moved the covering to shield his face. She knew how dangerous it was to move him like this so soon after being born, but they had no choice, they needed to leave this place. His arms hooked her body under her knees and around her back before she was lifted off the bed. She said nothing as they moved through the corridors, the walls still crumbling down around them.

"Sasuke, this way." Hinata said as she led them down into a room with a large hole in the wall. They were out, the sun and wind on her face felt refreshing and cool upon her skin. The last time that she had felt a breeze like this was the night she had been taken from the compound. Seeing the sun for the first time in weeks was bliss.

"We must find Naruto." His voice bringing her back to the events around her.

"Sasuke, we have to get out of this area. Naruto and Kakashi can take care of themselves." Hinata argued but he ignored her as he moved away from the blasts into a far clearing. He listened we were leaving, she thought as she took hold of him and their son. A sense of relief filled her, but it would not last long.

Sasuke stopped suddenly, "Can you stand."

Sakura looked up at him and shook her head. He sighed and walked over to a large boulder and sat her upon it, the sound of battle only slightly faded. He knelt beside her and cupped her face to meet his. She stared into his eyes, her heart sinking. She knew what was to come. Her body trembled slightly at his touch as he tucked a stray strand of her blossom locks behind her ear, his is eyes held one emotion. "I'll come back to you. I promise you. I need you to be strong," he looked down at the bundle in her arms and removed the cover of his face, "for his sake." He looked back up at her and let his lips briefly touch hers, a taste of paradise before he placed another kiss to their son's forehead.

"Please, don't go. The others can handle it." Her hand clasping onto the sleeve of his shirt, for fear of losing herself if she let go, "I need you right now." Her voice on the verge of breaking.

He took hold of the hand that grasped his shirt and held it to his heart, "You have all of me, always." He placed one last kiss to her trembling lips before he let her go and turned away from them. "Hinata?" he called back.

"Yes, Sasuke?" her voice surprised.

"Stay here and wait."

"Wait for what?"

Without looking back, "You will know." And he was gone, racing back into the battle they had just escaped from.

She clutched her son closer and looked upon his face. His eyes were shut his small breaths in rhythm. Sakura shut her own eyes tight and hoped that she had fallen asleep as he held her, that she would wake and they would still be rushing back to Konoha.

"Lady Sakura?" Her eyes shot open as little Cho looked at her with pity and concern in her eyes. "Are you alright? Would you like something to eat?"

It was all real; she thought as she shook her head and lightly rocked her son in her arms.

She did this until several minutes past and the sound of someone's approach reached her ears. Her chakra had not yet returned, she could not tell who it was. Hinata did not look concerned as she stood and waited for the person to arrive. That's when she saw him, the blonde haired shinobi she had missed so much. Naruto. His body covered in hundred of cuts and scraps, clothing torn slightly.

"What's going on?" Hinata asked immediately.

He walked over to Sakura, "We are getting her to safety, taking her back to the village."

"What about Sasuke?" Hinata responded as if reading her mind.

He was about to speak when he stopped and thought as he knelt beside her, "He will stay and fight with the other. He entrusted me with taking you home." He looked her in the eyes and then down at the bundle in her arms. He stroked the little Uchiha's hair and said, "He looks just like him."

She ignored him, "He's going to fight Itachi, isn't he?"

He sighed, "Let's get going." He picked her up, the same way Sasuke had held her earlier and walked in the direction of home. She already knew the answer, she didn't need him to confirm it.

She stayed silent the several hours they traveled. Hinata giving her thing to eat as they walked so they would not have to stop. The baby drinking from her. They could not break, not until they reached the safely of the village. They were only to towns away when four masked anbu appeared before them. Leaf village anbu.

"Sakura!" one cried as the masked were removed. Ino was at her side in an instant. Her arms wrapped around her, "I'm so happy to see that you're safe." Tears forming in her eyes. "The messenger birds we have sent out saw you guys coming and we came to help you back home." She could see Ino's curiosity about the bundle in her arms and was glad when she asked nothing and controlled her excitement for another time.

She recognized Neji as one of the other shinobis but could not place the other two. Must be from Neji's squad. He was emotionless as he spoke, "Let's get moving. Tsunade want you back as soon as possible."

The other two men went to help Hinata with her pack and help the young Cho, who had gone to her knees in exhaustion. Cho was now riding on the back of one of the men while Ino Carried the supplies. They all said nothing as all followed Neji back to the village.

"Wait!" She cried out. They all stopped and turned to look at her.

"What is it, Sakura?" Naruto asked her.

She looked up at him, "I need you to go back, Naruto."

"Go back?" he looked confused.

"Go back, and make sure he comes home. Make sure they all come home." Her voice trembling. She hung her head down and shut her eyes, water coming to them. He had to go back. He had to bring back her husband, her sensei, her friends.

"Okay then." He chuckled. She looked back up at him as he smiled at her with his famous fox grin, "I'll be sure to bring them all home."

She smiled at him, "Thank you."

Naruto handed her over to Neji and gave her one last smile before he turned and headed back into the battle. They stood and watched him till he was no longer in site. She could only hope and pray that they returned to her. They had to return, they just had too.

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