Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters.

Note: 3 Dot's represent change of POV in this chapter. Anything else I type gets deleted.

Chapter 3

Sasuke emerged from the brush and was met with a sight he never wished to see again. The entrance to the hideout where he spent two years of his time training under the Legendary Sannin, was at the base of a rock formation in front of him. The hideout was completely underground, with 100 different rooms along its dark corridors. He had the place memorized, never liking to be in any place without knowing its inner workings in case he needs a route of escape. He knew Sakura was somewhat familiar with the compound as well, but he loathed to bring her back to such a place as this. After staring at the door for a few moments, he sensed a familiar chakra growing stronger with every passing second, and he calmly waited for the inevitable meeting.

Karin suddenly burst through the entrance in a frenzy. Her trademark red Uzamaki hair was bright as ever, but she had shaved one side in a new style. She was wearing her standard purple zip-up top with a belt strapped around her waist, and her ninja shorts. She hadn't changed much by appearances. Her eyes landed on Sasuke immediately and she let out a shriek of surprise as If she didn't quite believe it was really his chakra she had sensed. "Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke inwardly flinched at the use of the honorific that he secretly felt was reserved for Sakura. "Karin" he stated plainly. He was anxious to hurry and get Sakura inside, but he had to remain cautious and see how Karin was going to react.

Her face transformed into a coy smile as if she knew something he didn't. "Sasuke-kun! Did you finally come for me? You could have sent word ya know, I didn't even dress for the occasion. I'm still mad at you too, ya know after that stunt you pulled before, trying to kill me and all. Honestly, I shouldn't even forgive you. But you know I'll do anything for you Sasuke-kun. I knew you would come to your senses eventually. It was just meant to be!" Karin sauntered up to him, reaching her hand out to hang onto his arm, not unlike her usual forward advances during his travels with Team Taka.

Before her hand made contact, Sasuke swiftly stepped back. "Karin, that's enough. I'm not here for you. I need your help, if you'll give it."

Her expression appeared crestfallen for just a moment, but she recovered quickly saying "Of course I'll help you. I told you I'd do anything!"

'We'll see' Sasuke thought dryly.

"What do you need help with? Do you need healed? You can bite me again, if you want" she suggested seductively, at least in a way she thought was seductive. Sasuke was tiring quickly of her attempts to sway him, growing increasingly anxious as he listened intently for Sakura, making sure she was doing alright. He had just felt her chakra rise suddenly, but after hearing nothing he determined she was experiencing another intense contraction. Time to cut to the chase.

Just as he opened his mouth to tell her the situation, her eyes diverted from him sharply, staring in the direction of the bushes behind him. "Someone else is here. I just felt them. The chakra seems familiar, but loud. What's going on Sasuke? Who is with you, and why are they hiding? They aren't doing a very good job at it."

"It's my wife."

Karin's jaw dropped and she just stared at him, not quite comprehending what he had just said. "Your…what?"

Sasuke sighed, not liking to repeat himself. "It's my wife. She is with me, and we need your help."

"Wife?" Karin's face was twisting in confusion and denial. "You got married? But..."

Sasuke interrupted her train of thought, out of patience and time. Sakura's chakra flared again, much sooner than he expected. The contractions were closer together now. He didn't want to leave her alone any longer. "She needs medical attention right now, and we need to use Orochimaru's hideout. I'm bringing her inside, help or no help."

Karin recovered quickly, scowling. "Help your wife?! I said I would help you Sasuke, but I'm not interested in healing some helpless girl who twisted her ankle in the woods." She crossed her arms, turning her head away in a childish manner. Her jealousy was coming through loud and clear, and Sasuke was resigned to the fact that he would have to deliver his baby, one-handed and inexperienced. At least they had a safe space now.

"Sasuke-kun!" Suddenly Sakura cried out in pain, and he was next to her within seconds of her voice ringing out. What he saw threw him into a state of panic. Sakura was standing hunched over, clutching her belly, and Sasuke could clearly see fluid running down her legs and soaking her shorts. She was gritting her teeth and breathing hard, sweat beading on her forehead. "Sakura!" He grabbed her arm to help support her, and as the contraction passed, she stood up to face him. "My water broke Sasuke-kun, the baby's going to come soon. We need to go inside. Is everything okay? Who were you talking to?" Sasuke didn't respond as he walked her as quick as she could go through the bushes, knowing she would see in a moment.

They stepped through and for the first time in a long time, Sakura and Karin's eyes met.

...

Sakura had to admit, for some reason the thought of Sasuke's former teammate Karin being out here alone in Orichimaru's hideout had not crossed her mind. Suigetsu maybe, or Jugo perhaps, but Karin? Sakura just hadn't considered it. But now that she was standing here looking her in the face, Sakura couldn't help the rush of relief she felt to see another woman right now, a familiar face at that. She broke out into a smile. "Karin! I'm so happy to see you again!" She realized she probably looked quite a sight. After nearly 3 hours of trekking through the woods while in labor, Sakura was sweaty, out of breath, pale, somewhat hunched over, and soaking wet from the waist down. But she was smiling and pleased to see Karin again. Their last meeting was a severely unpleasant memory given the circumstances, yet Sakura felt they had shared a moment of bonding at the time she had saved Karin's life. It was a testament to how much had changed to be in this moment with both girls facing each other again, tables turned as Sakura was the one needing help, and Sasuke standing between the two in a much different position than before. No longer consumed by rage and uniting the girls in their heartache and pain, he was now supporting his new wife with his face twisted in concern for her safety, eyes only for her.

Karin stood there with her eyebrows raised, speechless at the scene before her. Shock was an understatement to what she was feeling, and it was written all over her face. "Happy? To see me?" She questioned, clearly not grasping the reason why anyone would be happy to see her. Especially her rival for Sasukes heart.

"Of course!" Sakura stated happily, trying not to be distracted by the mounting pressure in her stomach and back once again. "Our last meeting wasn't exactly ideal, and I thought I wouldn't get to see you again. I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing these days. You look so nice! That new hair style really suits you." Sakura's words were sincere, and though Karin tried to hide it her eyes softened just a little at Sakura's kind words.

The pressure became too much for Sakura to ignore and her face scrunched up as she clenched her jaw, breathing through this next contraction. Now that her water had broken it was like her contractions jumped to a whole new level of pain, and it nearly made her dizzy with it. 'I finally know why mothers would scream so loud during labor' she thought grimly to herself. She has felt plenty of pain during her life as a shinobi, so she had thought those women just had a low pain tolerance and were dramatic in their suffering. But applying her medical knowledge to herself, she knew she was probably only dilated about 6 centimeters at this point, yet she was struggling to keep her voice from crying out. She had at least another 4 centimeters to go, and the pain would only increase. She mentally steeled her resolve right then, reminding herself the reason for it all. Within a few hours at most she would finally be holding her baby. The little miracle she had prayed for. Her heart raced with excitement and anxiety at what was to come in the time between. She needed to get inside, clean herself up and get hooked up to some equipment to monitor her vitals. Had Sasuke gotten Karin to agree to help, she wondered? Considering Karin's shocked face, she assumed not.

"Karin" she panted, "I know this all may be shocking to you, but we weren't expecting to be stuck out here alone when our baby comes. We've been traveling back to Konoha and the baby is two weeks early. I know how to deliver a baby, but doing it to myself is not an option, and poor Sasuke-kun doesn't know a thing about it. I am prepared to coach him through it as best I can, but we could truly use your help. I've heard from Sasuke how smart you are, and I would forever be indebted to you if you help keep me and our baby alive."

Sakura waited for Karins response, and she noted that Sasuke seemed to be holding his breath, awaiting her answer as well.

Karin was quiet for some time. Her eyes flitted back and forth between the pair of them, lingering on Sasuke for a few moments longer, an almost pained look in her eyes. Sakura knew the feelings she harbored for Sasuke all too well, and while she didn't feel threatened by Karin, she understood the pain she must be feeling as she watched the object of her love appear in front of her with the object of his own love and their unborn child. Sakura understood that pain of un-requited love, yet her own patience had paid out in the end. Sasuke had finally come to her, and their bond was stronger now than it had ever been. That would never be the case for Karin, at least not with Sasuke, and Sakura patiently waited for her to come to terms with that. She prayed that Karin would be strong enough to look past it, but if she refused Sakura's request? Well, she couldn't really blame her. She could only hope against hope.

Finally, after two solid minutes of silence and indecision, Karin's face took up an expression of resolve. With both sets of eyes on her now, awaiting her decision, she nodded her head firmly one time, and spun on her heals to stalk back into the hideout. Pausing at the doorway she turned her head back with an arched eyebrow. "Are you coming or not? I didn't have plans to deliver a baby today, so don't waste any more of my time by standing there gaping. Let's go." She let the door slam behind her, leaving a stunned couple behind. Sakura's heart was overwhelmed with gratitude, and she looked over at Sasuke with hope in her eyes. His were trained on the door for a moment, as if expecting Karin to waltz back out saying "Just kidding" in some sort of cruel joke. He did know his former teammate better than Sakura, but she knew it wasn't a joke. Karin had decided. She had decided to set aside her feelings and her pain and chose to help them in their time of desperate need. Smiling again she grasped Sasuke's hanging hand saying, "Shall we?" He looked at her finally, with nothing but love and a little relief in his mis-matched eyes. "Ah" he said, with a short nod. "Let's have a baby!" Sakura said with joy, and they entered the lair without a backwards glance.

Author's note: Thank you again to my reviewers, followers, and favoriters! Continue to let me know how you like the story! I appreciate you all. I will update again within the week!