Flashback

"Haine! Let me get that before you hurt yourself." One of the other maids takes a heavy box from the young woman, carrying it the rest of the way from the back room into the kitchen. "Geez Haine, you really need to be more careful you're weak enough as it is."

"I know I know," Haine says, resting a hand against her five-months-pregnant belly before unpacking the glass jars from the box. "But I can't just sit around and do nothing either. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm useless."

"Haine!" The owner sticks her head into the kitchen and makes a face. "Are you trying to carry heavy things again? The doctor told you to take it easy. You have a visitor, why don't you take a break and get off your feet."

"Alright, alright." Haine rolls her eyes and heads out into the lobby. Not that she'd ever admit it, but having this baby is taking more of a toll on her than she thought it would. When she found out she was pregnant the doctor had advised her against going through with the pregnancy due to her health, but when she'd been adamant about keeping the baby he'd put her on a strict diet and numerous physical restrictions that make her feel so useless. Haine heads out into the lobby area and is happily surprised to see Jiraiya sitting in his favorite table in the back. As Haine crosses the room, Jiraiya's eyes move from her face down to her stomach and they widen along with his grin as she comes up to his table. "I see congratulations are in order!"

Haine smiles and sits in the chair across from him. "Yeah, I'm pretty excited. They say I'll be due in April."

"That's so wonderful," he says with a grin. "Do you have any idea on a name or gender yet?"

"I've been trying to keep the gender a secret until birth, but I think when I see the doctor next I'll let her tell me the gender." Haine puts a hand on her stomach and smiles down at it. "I haven't thought of any names yet though, any ideas?"

"Well what about the baby's father? Doesn't he have any names? Who is he anyway? Can I meet him? I wanna make sure this guy realizes how lucky he is to have you be the mother to his child."

"I'm afraid that's kind of impossible," Haine says, chuckling. "I don't know who the father is."

"What?!" Jiraiya nearly spits out his drink.

"It's not what you think. He's a Leaf ninja who was just passing through. It was a one night thing, I don't even remember his name." The lie slides so easily off her tongue now, the first few times it came out sort of forced, but now it's as easy as giving someone her name. "Really Jiraiya, I can handle this."

"Haine, I know what your medical condition is." He leans forward and takes her hand in his. "Trying to take care of a baby on your own is not gonna be easy. Plus a baby needs their father."

"He or she will be just fine, and so will I." Haine smiles at him. "Really Jiraiya, it's not a big deal."

"Haine, just try and remember his name, I'll go find him and let him know he's got a beautiful baby on the way. He deserves to know."

"I want this baby for me Jiraiya," Haine says standing up. She's heard enough. "If he wanted to be with me or the baby he knows where I am and he could have come back at any time to check on me."

"Well then let me help." Jiraiya grins at her. "Don't look at me like that. I've helped raise more kids than years you've been alive. Come on, I'd make a great dad and you'd benefit from the support."

"I don't know about this Jiraiya."

"Either tell me his name and let me find him or let me step in and help."

"How're you feeling?" Jiraiya asks, setting down his current novel and smiling at the bedridden woman before him. She looks like a ghost: gaunt and white, barely able to move or do anything. "Did you have a nice nap?"

"Mhmm," Haine replies, placing a hand over her stomach and rubbing lightly. She's having a baby girl in less than two weeks now, she can hardly wait. "Do you mind helping me? I'd like to sit up."

Jiraiya stands and wraps his arms around the incredibly thin girl, god how much weight has she lost? He's worried about her condition, but Haine is only concerned with the baby's health – thankfully the baby is perfectly healthy as far as they know. Jiraiya knows Haine's chances of living through childbirth are slim, and no one can figure out what's wrong with her. "Haine, do you need anything else?"

"No, actually I wanted to ask you something." Haine reaches forward and squeezes his hands. "Remember when you took me to the Leaf last month? There was that shop in the main square that made the best ramen I'd ever tasted remember?"

"Ichiraku is what it's called." Jiraiya ruffles her bangs gently.

"Yeah, Ichiraku." Haine rubs her stomach feeling the baby kick inside. "The little one really liked that."

"You still haven't picked out a name?"

"No, I'm trying to decide. Nothing sounds right yet." Haine furrows her brow then looks up at him. "Anyway, that shop next door to Ichiraku had this amazing tea that I bought and it really helped my nausea but I just used the last of it last night. Do you think you could go get it for me?"