Author's Note: This is prompt from tumblr whether one person's face is scrunched up and the other kisses their forhead, nose, cheeks, etc. This one comes with a Trigger Warning for miscarriage/stillbirth and angst.
"Where is she?" Kakashi slid to a halt beside the nurses station, heart pounding against his ribs. Barely controlled panic filled his voice as two young girls that he didn't recognize looked up from their paperwork. Their eyes widened at the sight of the Hokage, fingers splayed against the counter as he struggled to maintain control.
A familiar voice called Kakashi's name, pulling him around without waiting on a response. Shizune looked to have aged years since he'd seen her a week ago. Dark, shadowed eyes met his, pity swimming in their depths. His gaze snapped to the door behind her, then his feet were moving. Shizune caught his sleeve. "You need to-"
"How is she? Is she-" Nervous questions bubbling from Kakashi's throat despite his desire to hold them back, and his fear at the answers.
"Sakura is weak and exhausted." Sensing Kakashi's worry Shizune rushed on. "But, physically she'll be fine in a few days."
Kakashi sagged forward with relief, catching himself with one hand on the wall. The update had come while he'd been in Suna for a Kage summit. Shikamaru's pale face had interrupted the tense meeting with the message that Sakura was in the hospital. Kakashi wasn't certain that he'd drawn a full breath since. He'd left within the hour, nearly outpacing the Anbu in his rush to get back to Konoha. Despite burning chakra and using soldier pills to continue, it had taken two, long days.
"-you understand?" Shizune's question pulled Kakashi back to the present. His vision narrowed to the door behind her where the image of a single, black leaf caught in mid-fall had been paperclipped to the chart.
Shaking himself mentally, Kakashi nodded. He had no idea what the conversation had been, but he didn't care. Only one thing mattered in the world. "Can I see her?"
"Of course," Shizune answered, reaching for the handle. "I'll give you two some privacy. But, please let me know if you need anything, anything at all."
Kakashi stepped into the hospital room, blinking at the dimness. The curtains had been drawn across the windows. Sakura sat on the bed, crisp white sheet drawn over her lap, and a ridiculously pale, green gown covering her body. She looked nothing like the woman that Kakashi loved, the woman he'd married two years earlier. Red rimmed her eyes while dark circles pooled beneath them. The color stood out against her unnaturally pale skin. She stared at the wall; Kakashi wasn't sure that she'd heard the door open.
Hesitating to touch Sakura before she realized he was there, Kakashi said her name. She startled and turned toward the sound. Then, she burst into tears. Shock stopped Kakashi from reacting immediately. He had known Sakura for more than ten years and had never seen her so broken and vulnerable. The keening sound that tore from her throat made his chest ache. Not knowing what else to do, Kakashi wrapped his arms around her. Deep, raspy sobs shook Sakura's body as he held her. After several moments, he pulled back to reassure her that he was really there but her face was scrunched up too tightly to see him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here," Kakashi breathed, pressing a gentle kiss to Sakura's forehead. The furrows smoothed beneath his touch before he moved to her cheek. He tasted the saltiness of her tears, then pressed their lips together. Sakura exhaled and tightened her hands against his back. Kakashi wished he'd thought to remove his armor before coming to the hospital.
Sakura sucked in a desperate, broken breath. "He was so beautiful."
Bile rose in Kakashi's throat. He had known that it was a possibility, even prepared himself for it, but the words shattered his world into a million fragments anyway. He couldn't speak, couldn't remember how to form words. He hummed faintly, then buried his face against Sakura's neck. Tears dampened the pink strands of her hair as she clung to him just as tightly.
The pair remained still for a long time, sorrow crashing over them in waves, When his hip started to go numb from the awkward position, Kakashi pulled back and brushed his fingers over Sakura's cheek. "We're going to get through this."
Bitterness tainted Sakura's laugh. "How?"
Kakakshi exhaled, staring around the pastel pinks and blues on the walls as if they might offer an answer. It felt like his future had been ripped away; there were so many questions and unknowns. But, there was one thing that he was sure of. He kissed Sakura again, lingering and tender. "Together."