Disclaimer: Sis didn't own Naruto, only her story plots and her OCs.

19—Undisclosed Fears

Sakura smiled gently as she looked down at the ring on her finger. She'd woken up three days ago in the school infirmary with a beautiful diamond ring on her finger and the love of her life sitting in a chair by her bedside, studying. He'd smiled, told her surprise, and then kissed her. She'd been so stunned she'd been unable to speak, aside from a few frantic sobs of 'I love you' and kisses. He'd closed his eyes as she'd kissed him and slid his hands up her sides. He seemed intrigued with the way her body changed throughout her pregnancy.

She was now, officially, five whole months pregnant. She rubbed her stomach and smiled. Gaara had asked her what she wanted to do as far as a wedding and she'd told him she didn't care, as long as it was small and private. She didn't want a big spectacle made, which meant Ino wouldn't know until the very last minute.

Hinata, of course, was asked to be her Maid of Honor. Ino, Tenten and Temari would be bridesmaids. Naruto was the best man, naturally, while Kankuro, Neji and Shikamaru were groomsmen. Kiba had growled at Kankuro to keep his hands to himself where Ino was concerned. Kankuro had laughingly agreed, only after Temari had threatened to remove that which made him a man if he didn't behave. Kankuro's current girlfriend had eyed the blonde warily.

Xavier had demanded the right to give the bride away, after staring down one Hyuuga Hiashi for close to three hours. Meyumi-sama had finally come between the two and demanded that they cease the foolishness, as it was upsetting Sakura. Both men had stiffened before turning and catching the glaring jade eyes of Sakura's fiancé, who had a sniffling Sakura in his arms. They'd capitulated, agreeing that since Xavier was Sakura's biological brother, he would give her away. Hiashi had settled as being deemed 'Father of the Bride'.

It was now two days before their wedding. As the only people there would be their friends and Xavier's family, the wedding had taken only two days to plan. Food was arranged, the small church Gaara attended with his 'family' had agreed to perform the ceremony, and the reception would be held at the Hyuuga Manor. Sakura's dress had been a simple white chiffon number that was strapless. It was tight around her chest and flowed down over her pregnant form from there. She would be wearing slippers, as her feet were constantly swelling.

Her flowers were going to be supplied by Ino's parents, as they were aware of the wedding, but Ino herself was being kept out of the loop up to the very last second. It was hard for Kiba to keep the secret from his girlfriend, but he managed. The bridesmaid dresses were going to match the flowers, which were varying shades of purple. Hinata would wear a dark bluish purple knee length dress while the other girls wore a lavender color. Ino's mom ensured she had the right style and color dress for the occasion.

Sakura sighed and looked down at her stomach. She was very happy but at the same time she was very scared. She didn't know what having a baby would be like. She worried if she would make a good mother. She was concerned if she would be ready to be a parent or if she would turn out like her parents: cold and unfeeling.

A hand on her shoulder had her looking up into the concerned eyes of her teacher. She smiled up at the teacher and handed the woman her assignment. She'd finished early and had allowed her mind to wander. The teacher looked at the paper and nodded, a ghost of a smile on the woman's tan face. She told Sakura that since she was done with her assignment, she could leave. Sakura seemed somewhat surprised but then realized that there were only ten minutes left in class and her teacher knew it was hard for her to get around in the throng of students when the bell sounded.

Sakura picked up her things, smiling gently, and headed out of the classroom. She could feel her classmates staring at her but unlike before, she didn't let it bother her. She'd made her decision and she'd stand by it…and by Gaara. She walked down the hall, her maternity dress falling to her ankles. Her feet were in sandals, which were about the only thing she could comfortably wear right now. She put her books into her locker and picked up what she'd need for her next class. When she closed her locker, it was to come face to face with a scowling Uchiha Sasuke.

Sakura kept her face neutral. "What are you doing here? From what I heard, you got expelled." She noticed his eyes linger on hers before dropping to her swollen stomach. She shifted slightly, protecting her stomach with her books.

"You should have chosen me. I wouldn't have done this to you." His voice was tense, thick with repressed anger. Sakura's eyes narrowed, her hormones getting the better of her.

"Done what exactly, Uchiha? Loved me? Cherished me? Protected me from my abusive parents?" She noticed his eyes go wide. She sighed and leveled him with angry emerald eyes.

"The night you tried to break into my house, my parents were out of the country. They didn't even care enough about my safety to fly back after your little stunt." She noticed him staring at her, his disbelief palpable. Her temper burned even as her eyes froze over. "You're just like them, you know. Only caring about what you want, despite how it may hurt others." She then walked around him, her eyes closing. "If you know what is good for you, Uchiha, you will walk away right now. My brother is very influential with the staff here and he will not take kindly to learning you are back in town." She then disappeared around the corner, not even sparing a glance back at the black haired male who'd once scared her so badly.

She was almost to her art class when voices caught her attention. She looked over her shoulder, out into the school yard, and found several guys surrounding Gaara. They were taunting him from what she could see and hear. She stopped and watched what was going on, small tears forming as she heard the insults these boys were throwing at her fiancé.

"Whatcha say, Sabaku? How's about you telling that pretty little girlfriend of yours to meet us after school on the lacrosse field. We can't do her till she pops yer kid out, but I'm sure we can find ways to amuse ourselves with her." Sakura put her hands to her mouth, tears falling down her cheeks. She stifled her gasp when she noticed Gaara look up at her, their eyes meeting. She heard him growl and knew he'd seen her tears.

"I have a better idea." He stated and glared at the five guys surrounding him. She heard the guys chuckle, until Gaara rushed the one who'd spoke, leveling him with a devastating punch. "How about you all just die." He hissed and threw up his leg when one guy rushed him. It caught the guy in the jaw.

Another came at Gaara's back, but was knocked away by someone who jumped into the fray. Sakura's eyes widened when she saw Sasuke there. He was glaring at the guys, who suddenly backed away. "W-what are you doing here, Uchiha?" One of the guys who'd yet to engage Gaara spoke. The Uchiha's black eyes narrowed on the guy.

"Sabaku and I may have our differences, but speaking of Sakura in the manner which you have done is unacceptable. You don't know what she has been through. How dare you insult her in such a debasing manner." Per usual, his diction was immaculate. Sakura was so shocked that she didn't even notice Kakashi walk up behind her.

"W-we didn't mean anything by it. W-we were only…" The guy yelped and ran away from Sasuke, who feinted towards him. Another guy picked up where his buddy left off.

"We only said what everyone's thinking. There isn't a guy in the school that doesn't think she's a whore. Even the girls are saying stuff." Sakura muffled her sob, only to nearly jump out of her skin when she felt Kakashi's hand on her. She turned and cried against his shoulder. She bit her lip, trying to be quiet.

However, it seems that everyone in the courtyard could hear her heartbroken sobs, because they all looked up at her. Sasuke was the one that pointed at the sobbing girl. "So being lonely and abused makes her a whore?" He hissed at the guys, some of which were just now regaining their senses. Sasuke glared at the guys in front of him.

"Sakura has hidden her pain so well for so long that even I didn't realize how badly she was suffering; and I was around her every day at school. Only Sabaku managed to see past her fake smiles and laughter. As pissed as I am she chose him, I'd rather her feel loved and safe with him than lonely and abused with all of her classmates clueless to her pain." Sakura gasped and looked down at Sasuke, who was glaring at the boys who'd been so crude about her.

Even Gaara seemed a little shocked at Sasuke's behavior. Kakashi didn't though. He just sighed. "Sasuke." The young Uchiha looked up and noticed Kakashi standing there, Sakura in his arms. Sasuke turned a little red before looking away.

"Truth is, I know what that pain feels like. Like your parents see through you instead of seeing you. I was trapped in my brother's shadow…forever compared to my prodigy of a brother." Sakura noticed him blink his pain away. She looked at Gaara, who reached out and put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. The Uchiha looked over at the red head before looking away. Gaara shocked him by speaking.

"You've never been anyone but Sasuke to Naruto and I. Stop holding on to the past. Your parents have been dead for seven years. It's time to let go. Itachi can never be Sasuke…and Sasuke is who Naruto considers one of the most important people to ever live." Sakura smiled and watched as tears dripped to the ground as Sasuke hung his head.

"Dobe never could stay mad for long." His voice was strained but it held amusement. Gaara shrugged. Sakura loved her red head even more right then, adoring him for reaching out to someone in their greatest time of need.

Despite her unvoiced fears about whether or not she was ready to be a mother, she felt that with Gaara at her side, it didn't matter. They'd face whatever came their way together…and as long as they had each other, they would make it.