kspretear91,Thank you for taking the time to read my story, it means a lot to me and I'm trying to keep a schedule to update at least once a week. So p[lease look forward to more! This story still has a ways to go.

Whatever It Takes

Chapter Forty Six

"Lee, please sit down," Sakura whispered, tiredly.

It was early morning and she couldn't sleep through the night, making her feel even more utterly miserable. On top of that, she couldn't handle her husband's insistent walking, back and forth. It was like marking time, giving the seconds purpose, and it was driving her insane.

"I'm sorry Sakura, I just can't help but think…who our child could have been. A cute little girl, a princess, she could have grown into the most beautiful flower with your eyes; she could have been a dancer, or a doctor, something. We could have had a boy, a prince charming that would woo all the girls he could have been a politician, a land baron…a lord…." Lee sobbed. There were so many things their child could have been and now they were never going to get to know.

"Yeah, you could have been a father; I would have been a mother." Sakura felt tears fall from her eyes as she could picture herself holding that baby. Their baby. Someone they were never going to get to meet now, someone they had lost before they even got to know them.

Lee growled angrily, "What fault did that child have to have to lose its life, It's all because I couldn't protect either of you, I'm sorry so sorry…" He walked over to her, bending over her lap, crying and asking for her forgiveness.

Sakura shakily reached to run her fingers through his dark hair, smiling softly. He had apologized so much and yet she didn't blame him. In fact she was thankful that he still stood here beside her, and for right now that was all she could ever ask for. "It's not your fault Lee, you would have been a great father to that child. It's Neji, that monster that came into our lives and took our baby away. If anyone is at fault it's him!" anger and hatred for the Hyuuga glowed in her emerald eyes. She didn't need Lee blaming himself for something neither of them saw coming. After a moment to compose themselves again, Sakura asked about what was giving her anxiety. "What will the king do with you?"

"For now I am not allowed to leave this room. I will be facing trials and have my punishment given to me then," Lee sighed, finding comfort in her touch. He could be thankful that even though they had lost their child, he got to keep her, she was safe and that was something to really be thankful for.

"Can't the king forgive you, you only did what you felt would be right! This isn't fair,"

"What I did was still wrong," Lee murmured, even if Sakura wanted this to end, and if she wanted to go home, that was another thing he couldn't do for her. He had to keep her safe, and right here right now was the safer for her. "Please, let me handle this for both of us. We will be okay, I promise,"

"Okay," Sakura leaned into him, hugging him. Lee smiled, hugging her in return, doing his best to be that comfort she needed right now. The support she needed.

Consciousness returned to Itachi slowly and painfully.

Itachi groaned, his head hurt and his vision seemed to spin when his eyes tried to focus on the white ceiling. Closing his eyes once more, he sighed and brought his free hand up to his temple, gently massaging it. His mind raced, with everything that had happened and then cursed when he realized he'd let the Hyuuga shoot him with something.

It had only taken seconds as his world had gone dark.

Sasuke!

Fuck, where was Sasuke!

Itachi jolted up, trying his best to get in a sitting position but a weight held him down. Snapping his eyes open once more, they flared into their red color in order to stabilize his vision, and looked down to see what was holding him down. He was more than ready to fight anyone that would dare to keep him from Sasuke!

Sasuke groaned, his eyes blinking as he was startled awake by sudden movement. For a moment he thought someone was trying to take Itachi away from him and instinctively he moved to latch onto him tightly. His grip on Itachi was vice like as he looked up at him, perplexed when two red eyes met him.

Both brothers stared at each other dumbfounded for a moment, before they felt relief as they realized that they were together and neither one of them was in danger.

"Niisan, you're awake,"

"Otouto, you're safe."

Sasuke moved fast, knocking his head hard against Itachi's, pushing his older brother back into the bed. Ignoring Itachi's cry of pain, his hands quickly snatched the pillow, and proceeded to pound on Itachi with it, "How could you let that bastard shoot you like that I was so worried that you would never wake up, HOW COULD YOU LET YOURSELF GET HURT!"

"Sasuke, wait, stop," Itachi moved his hand to try and block his little brother frantic pillow whip. It didn't work much as he gave up, exhausted and breathing hard. Was it just him, or was the world spinning again…

Sasuke threw the pillow away once he noticed that Itachi had gone completely limp, before slamming his body against Itachi's once more, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you in return." He sobbed, tears falling from his eyes without restraint. He was mad at Itachi, but he was also mad at himself. He knew his anger really was stupid, but that is how he felt right now.

"I'm sorry Sasuke," Itachi panted, trying his best to catch his breath seeing as Sasuke had completely knocked it out of him. "I let my guard down at that last second. I guess I didn't think that he would actually still try once I had already pierced him. My mind was racing with so much worry for you. I thought he had hurt you…"

Sasuke scoffed, "that damned Hyuuga couldn't fucking aim, besides I think his goal was to take me away alive." Sasuke shuddered in disgust at the very idea. He reached his hand up to whipe his tears away, breathing deeply and reminding himself that they were safe. That nothing had happened and Neji had not won.

Itachi wrapped his arms tightly around Sasuke, "I let him get too close I'm sorry Sasuke."

"Itachi, I can take care of myself. He would have never succeeded," Sasuke said with confidence, "I want you to trust me like I trust you, and you can't do everything yourself. Suigetsu told me about how the attack happened. There was no way that you could have been in two places at once, but you busted through all that and still made it with time to come to my side," Sasuke snuggled into Itachi, "You're something else completely."

Itachi sighed to himself, opting to stay silent. There was probably never going to be an end if this became an argument but the truth of the matter was that Itachi would do anything for Sasuke. He'd go to hell and back for his little brother, he'd die for him. Although, at that moment and time, even now Itachi didn't want to die. Right now, he wanted to selfishly grow old with Sasuke, and watch their kids grow.

Noticing that Itachi wasn't going to argue with him on the matter, Sasuke moved to look him over. Itachi looked like he was deep in thought, but other than that, he seemed to be just fine. "Are you okay?" he softly asked, his fingers moving to caress Itachi's cheek.

Itachi finally looked at Sasuke, and thought about saying that he felt fine. He decided against it, "I feel a little nauseous and like the world is spinning. Although that could be just you and your pillow knocking me on the head…" Itachi chuckled causing Sasuke to pout at the remark.

"I'll get you some water and then call Tsunade to look you over," Sasuke said. He reluctantly got off the bed, and went to do as he said. Sasuke returned a few minutes later with a cup of water, followed behind by Tsunade who proceeded to ask him questions, check his eyes, and vitals. She seemed satisfied with whatever it was that she found, and handed him a few pills she claimed would help with the nausea.

"Take those, and just rest. By tomorrow you should be just fine. I will still run a blood test though, just to be sure there is nothing lingering about." The woman then proceeded to smirk at him, "I guess you aren't all talk kid, but you could have died, idiot!" she flipped her hair, walking away. She didn't want to be around the mushy reunion between these two.

Sasuke glared at her retreating back as Itachi took his medicine, deciding that it wasn't even worth telling her anything. At the end of the day, both he and Sasuke were safe and that was all that mattered.

"Do you need anything else, niisan?" Sasuke asked him.

"Just for my precious otouto to snuggle me while I rest," Itachi smiled at him, making Sasuke blush but smile in return. Sasuke proceeded to get into bed next to Itachi. Once Sasuke was settled against him, Itachi moved his hand to his stomach, briefly checking on their child, before pulling Sasuke flushed against him.

He could rest properly now, knowing that everything was fine.

Later that afternoon found Sasuke calmly sitting in the hospital bed, running his fingers through his sleeping Itachi's hair. He was so glad that Itachi was really alright, but for right now watching him sleep and breathe, was his biggest comfort. He couldn't wait until they were allowed to go back to their room. This bed wasn't that comfortable, and Sasuke needed his privacy with Itachi.

On the chair next to the bed was a bored Suigetsu, looking pensive as he gazed up at the white roof of the room. The white haired male was running through all his thoughts, settling personal wars inside his head.

That is how Naruto found them when he came in with a cooing Nakoru.

"Hey guys," he cheerily greeted, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. He cradled Nakoru in his arms and gently hummed at him, making the small baby giggle and reach for him. Naruto sighed as his son continued to wiggle about, his hands pawing at the air in front of him. "Why won't you go to sleep? I need a nap," Naruto groaned softly as his son's wide eyes just sparkled back at him.

"Did you try feeding him?" Sasuke asked his cousin. He had seen enough of Naruto and Kyuubi fussing over the child to know that they did certain things to get the little one to fall asleep.

"Yeah, fed him, burped him, played with him, I even tried leaving him with his daddy and he started to bawl his eyes out. It's like he just wants to be around me right now," Naruto sighed, looking exhausted but at the same time like there was nothing else he would rather be doing than taking care of his son.

"Hm, maybe he just has too much energy," Sasuke muttered, unsure of what advice to give his cousin. Sometimes having a child seemed very daunting.

"Probably but if he falls asleep any later, then he won't sleep the night," Naruto sighed, he already knew a sleepless night was going to meet him. Sasuke gave his cousin a sympathetic smile.

Suigetsu on the other hand sat up, reaching to poke the baby's soft cheek. This caused Nakoru to giggle and reach for his finger. "He is a cutie," he smiled. "I can't imagine that you and Kyuubi made this little bundle,"

"Well believe it!" Naruto grinned, "It was a struggle with this one, Tsunade said the first time is always the strangest and the hardest. I guess because your body goes through certain changes for the first time ever," Naruto nuzzled his child, making him giggle. "Yes, changes that you caused on my body, yes you did!" he cooed at the small child who looked at his father happily, blue eyes shining as he enjoyed the baby talk his father spewed.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at that, curiosity entering his eyes. Suigetsu knew Sasuke would be just as inquisitive about what Naruto meant. Suigetsu also knew that of course, Sasuke would never personally ask anything about what a male pregnancy entailed. "What do you mean by strange…what was it like?" Suigetsu asked, scared as several thoughts about what a man facing pregnancy would actually be like.

Naruto of course was eager to talk about this, "Well the thing is that while my mom told me what to expect, mom had never seen a man get pregnant, after all she was the one that carried me not dad. So things are a bit different, especially regarding your body and the child is actually much smaller at first than if it was a female giving birth." Naruto explained, "Also weirdly enough I didn't even know I was pregnant with Nakoru until I was about six months along,"

"What? That long?" Suigetsu looked shocked, "But you looked huge! How could you not know?"

"That's because that's when my body started to really blow up, it happened so suddenly I thought I was having an allergic reaction to some of the food in Nine Tails…don't get me wrong I did think I had gained some weight and even felt a little sore, bloated, and easily tired but suddenly it was like I was just huge," Naruto explained.

"Wait but if you were gaining weight and you knew you and Kyuubi had done it why not take a pregnancy test just to be sure?" Suigetsu asked, startled by what he was hearing.

"We did, they all came out negative. Male pregnancy is different in that aspect though, the only way we would know that I was pregnant was an ultra sound," Naruto smiled when Nakoru reached to try and grab his bottom lip. He gave him his finger instead. Suigetsu chanced a look towards Sasuke who looked unsettled by this as well. "And I guess once I blew up, there was no doubt at that point…well I guess its thanks to Kyuubi panicking and taking me to see the doctor that confirmed it for us. The ultrasound clearly showed our baby and I decided I wanted to come back to have Nakoru here…."

"How…how was it actually being pregnant though?" Suigetsu asked, gulping as he asked the question. "As a man I can only think that it's terrifying…"

"It was normal for the most part?" Naruto thought about it, tilting his head. "Maybe a bit tiring, I felt sleepier, picky with my food but other than that nothing really that made it a big deal… it's just the ending that sucks though. I felt like I was so big, and just done with the extra weight. The birth hurt like nothing I had ever felt before, but once he was out it was like the pain was never there." Naruto smiled.

"I can't believe you and Kyuubi didn't even know you guys were pregnant for six months!" Sasuke finally said trying to keep himself from going on full panic mode. His mind was currently racing with possibility, with hope that maybe he was pregnant after all!

Naruto shrugged, "It's all good. What really matters is that we found out and nothing bad happened to our child."

"Didn't you need vitamins though?" Suigetsu asked.

"Of course, you need to make sure you and the baby stay healthy. Kyuubi and I managed it somehow though…" Naruto frowned, suddenly feeling defensive. "Stop it I already have Tsunade telling me to be more careful if another pregnancy happens, although she said that next time I would probably show even earlier…" Naruto shrugged again, "Not that I plan on that happening any time soon, Kyuubi can forget it. Nakoru is all we need for right now."

Kyuubi came in just then, raising an eyebrow at what his husband was saying. "If I remember correctly it was you who begged me to impregnate you," Naruto blushed and then stuck out his tongue at him. Kyuubi smirked at him.

"You took advantage of me while I was at my weakest," Naruto pouted at his husband.

"Did I now,"

"Yes,"

"Really now!"

"YES!"

"Can the two of you go away, Itachi is trying to sleep," Sasuke glared at them for being so loud. The last thing he wanted to do is wake Itachi up, especially when his mind was racing. Suigetsu beside him looked like he wanted to scream.

"Oh sorry," both apologized, but that was when Nakoru went from being bubbly to full blow crying. The sight of his parents fighting had startled him enough to have him bawling out his eyes.

"Oh no, why are you crying," Naruto panicked.

"I think all your screaming startled him," Suigetsu commented.

"Come on, let's see if we can settle him into bed and get you a nap Naruto," Kyuubi offered, reaching for his son. The little one immediately settled into his father's arms, sniffling as Kyuubi started to lead them out of the room.

Naruto whined a little, turning to Sasuke, "I'll see you later cousin," he said, waving as he followed his husband out the door. Kyuubi knew his husband and child were tired despite all the energy they seemed to have. It was up to him to comfort them and settle them in for sleep.

Once they were out of the room Sasuke and Suigetsu turned to each other.

"How do you think I can get an ultra sound without Tsunade finding out?" Sasuke quickly asked.

"You really think you might be pregnant?" Suigetsu asked in return, panicking at the serious look on the prince's face.

The two started to talk over each other, trying to come up with a plan as to how they could figure things out on their own without having to involve Tsunade. Yet no matter how much they tried to rationalize things, letting Tsunade know seemed to be the end result. Sasuke couldn't allow that, not before he was married to Itachi, who knew what other crazy ploy his uncle and Tsunade would come up with if they found out. What if they decided Itachi couldn't marry him? What if they made them wait longer…what if…

No they could never find out that there was a possibility. EVER!

"Oh damn! Tsunade is going to kill you if she finds out you and Itachi are already having a kid! No, she's gonna kill Itachi!"

"Shut up, we don't know that yet!"

"Didn't you hear Naruto?! Pregnancy tests don't work! And you definitely have symptoms; there is no way that you aren't!" Suigetsu snapped, "I know you're not telling me everything but I have no doubts you and Itachi have been in the cookie jar!"

Sasuke scowled, "Shut up, I don't want to get my hopes up again," Sasuke turned to look at Itachi and was startled to find that his brother was looking at him. "Itachi!" he gasped, flinching back and making to scramble out of the bed.

No, now Itachi was aware of what had been bothering him!

Sasuke, of course, didn't get to run away, Itachi's arms around his waist prevented him from doing so. Sasuke trembled. After all, Itachi was so incredibly strong that it actually aroused him and cofused him as he was also feeling scared. He looked towards Suigetsu for help, but his friend was conveniently looking away and pretending not to notice anything.

"I should go…you know gotta use the good old toilet." Suigetsu commented, rushing out the door. He figured both Itachi and Sasuke were going to need this moment with each other, alone.

Damn Suigetsu, Sasuke was going to get him back for that! Definitely he will show him how to properly use that good old toilet when he is crapping out his fucking guts!

"Sasuke," Itachi called his name, drawing his little brother's attention to him.

"Niisan…" Sasuke shrunk into himself avoiding eye contact. Itachi simply pulled Sasuke to his chest, and held him there, not saying anything more. Sasuke didn't know what to do, so he cracked. He ended up telling Itachi everything. Everything that he had thought, everything that he had felt, and how he didn't think that they would be having a child.

Itachi tightened his hold on Sasuke, soothingly rubbing his back as he listened to everything that his little brother had been going through. He was patient, murmuring comforting words into Sasuke's ear waiting for him to settle down. Sasuke felt a weigh lifted from his chest, and couldn't help but burry his face completely in Itachi's chest, breathing him in.

Finding nothing but pure comfort in his older brother.

"Sasuke, did you know in our family, it is common for us to inbreed? We marry within the family to pass down a specific gene only unique to the Uchiha bloodline. Actually, for our father to have chosen to sleep with your mom he must have felt something unique about her. This gene we have only demands for the best and if you think of it, having males that can reproduce is even more of an advantage to our family." Sasuke stared at Itachi in awe.

"A special gene…what is it?" he asked, intrigued. There were things that he didn't know about himself because he didn't really know his father's side of the family. Except Itachi, he knew Itachi.

"Our eyes," Itachi said, "They give us abilities to see more than what anyone else can, as well as provide us with strength that is unusual. I don't know why the inbreeding is necessary for that strength but we seem to thrive for it."

"The red eyes," Sasuke whispered, remembering that when he was a child he used to scare others when he was angry and his eyes would flash. Other children and even grownups yelled that he was a monster, or a devil or something. All this time it was just an ability, a gene, that was passed down from his father's side.

"Yes the red eyes, they are special. They give us several abilities, all of them meant for us to survive. Specially in conditions that would not be ideal for others…" Itachi murmured, "It's what makes many people believe that we are out of control and look scary, for other people it seems they can sense that there is something not normal about us and thus find themselves just doing as we ask…"

"The guards letting us walk out," Sasuke whispered. Itachi shrugged.

"Every case is different, but like I said it's gets passed down from incest," Itachi ran his fingers through Sasuke's short hair. "In my case, I fought that side of myself to not be with a family member. I have female cousins I could have chosen to marry and stay with in Sharingan. I could have continued my life by the tradition, but I wanted something different. I wanted my own titles and to break away from the inbreeding. From all the darkness and blood shed that leads to greed of wanting these abilities, the way they are so coveted…" Itachi closed his eyes, not really wanting to talk about the past. That was not the point.

"But you didn't escape because you met me." Sasuke whispered, wondering If Itachi actually didn't want to be with him. Suddenly, he wondered if being brothers wasn't that good of an idea, even though deep inside it was just a means to being closer to Itachi.

"Yes, I met you. I fell for you so hard, the fact that you turned out to be my half-brother only seems to drive me insane with the need to claim you as mine that much more. I Love you so much Sasuke." Itachi confessed, finding the words to come easily because they were true. They were what he felt deep in his heart and soul.

He had to look deep inside of himself just to make sure that what he was feeling was not an effect of his eyes and the curse that his father claimed that they faced. The curse his mom blamed for her loving her cheating and unfaithful older brother.

He didn't want that for himself or for Sasuke. He wanted something better, something warm and gentle. The more he thought and thought, as he tried to get to know Sasuke again, and still trying to get to know him, he felt that it was different. He wanted to be here, with Sasuke more than anything else in the world.

He was not going to fight that.

Sasuke watched Itachi for a moment, taking in his peaceful expression. He couldn't help but feel so glad that he was Itachi's brother, because he had to admit that fact drove him insane for Itachi as well, "I love you so much too, Itachi."

"Don't worry Sasuke, our child is growing within you and with our abilities, I can easily monitor him. We don't have to let Tsunade or King Minato know anything." Itachi nuzzled into Sasuke's neck, gently kissing him. Sasuke moaned softly, lost under Itachi's touch, tilting his head back to allow Itachi more access to his neck. "Are you happy?" Itachi asked, pulling away from his lover.

Sasuke blinked, looking up at Itachi, slightly confused by the sudden question, "About what?"

Itachi smiled. He was amused that Sasuke had not been paying full attention to his words. "That we're going to be having a child together," Itachi finally said, making Sasuke jolt up.

"WHAT!"

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