Hello dear readers!

I'm so happy that so many people like this story, I never thought it would be such a hit.

I promise to have the next chapter up in about a week or so.

Please review!

Onwards my dears!

Konoha had never been a more welcome sight.

She had been traveling for five days, longer than normal due to the life growing inside of her. Upon Gaara's insistence she had no choice but to take it easy for the sake of the baby. She had spent much of the trip being carried by sand much to her dismay; but her husband wouldn't hear of it. He was only trying to do what was best for her.

Her cousin was no help either, he'd hover over her 24/7 tending to her like a mother bird and her chicks. Hinata could understand that they only wanted what was best, but she could handle herself. She was a skilled jounin for Kami's sake! Even she knew that.

"We have arrived".

The familiar sights, sounds and colors of the place she once called home, made her feel so relieved. But this was more than a simple visit, she had important matters to take care of.

'This means I'll be seeing Naruto-kun again'.

While she had moved on, no one ever forgets their first love. Hinata still loved Naruto but it was different from how it once was long ago. Her heart and soul belonged to Gaara but Naruto would always have a special place in her heart. Neji had informed her that the Hokage did not know of the situation and would preferred that he didn't. This was a family issue, there was no need for the village to get involved yet.

Gaara held his wife close as he walked through the gates and down the busy streets of Konoha. He had a soft spot for the village, as it was the place where he had met Naruto. Sure, it was very different from Suna but nonetheless beautiful.

"Naruto will need to be informed of my presence, it would be unwise to inform the Hokage that he has guests". He smiled when Hinata kissed his cheek softly.

Neji seemed to be at war with himself, while he was happy that his cousin was going to try and do something to stop this mess. He couldn't help but feel as though he had placed this unnecessary burden on her. Hinata had her own life to deal with and she was pregnant, she should be thinking about the future of the baby rather than tend to her old clan's family troubles.

"Neji-niisan, I think we really should let Naruto know we're here".

Her gentle voice brought him back to the present and he gave a short nod. Leading them to the Hokage's office was simple, the only thing he was nervous about was that Naruto would somehow find out about this. The last thing he wanted was for the Hokage to be involved he had no business with the Hyuga.

Naruto had been sleeping on his desk with a trail of drool coming down the side of his mouth. He couldn't sit still for less than a minute and it was bad enough that he almost never focused long enough to file out his documents. A knock on his door woke him up.

"C-come in!"

He quickly wiped away the drool and straighten himself up before the door opened and a huge grin came across his face.

"Gaara! Hinata-chan so nice of you to visit!".

The couple was taken into a hug before they knew what hit them. Hinata giggled quietly while her husband looked a little uncomfortable. "Um...Naruto you're kinda squeezing too hard". The blonde only hugged harder "Oh come now Gaara can't an old friend give a little squeeze".

"N-Naruto-kun I can't b-breathe".

"Oops! My bad".

He quickly realized them and the color started to come back to Hinata face. "Are you alright?" Gaara asked a little concerned as his arms wrapped protectively around her. She smiled at him "Yes I'm fine". He gave a smile of his own as his hand traveled to her stomach "That's good".

Naruto noticed the gesture and his grin grew wider.

"Well what do we have here. Hinata-chan you're pregnant!"

A blush crept onto her pale face "Y-yes I'm carrying Gaara's child within me".

A squeak left her as her friend hoisted her up and spun her around. "Oh happy day, you're going to be a mom! I'm so happy for you both!".

"Naruto put my wife down".

The blonde chuckled a bit as he set the rather dizzy Hinata down.

"Gaara you didn't have to come all this way to tell me. But I'm glad that you did".

The red-head gave a small smile "I suppose it would have been better to tell you in person". "Well congratulations, I wish you and the baby well". "Thank you".

Once the world was stable again, Hinata remembered that they still needed to meet Neji at the Hyuga compound. Socializing would have to wait. "Gaara-dana we really should be leaving now". "Yes you are right". "Go? Where are you going?" "We are paying a visit to my clan". "Oh I see". "We'll I'll have Shikamaru make arrangements for your stay here so-" "That will not be necessary". "Hmm?" Gaara crossed his arms "I'm sure that the Hyuga will be more than willing to let us stay with them until we depart".

The blonde merely shrugged "If you change your mind, I'll be happy to have you over. Sakura would enjoy your company".

Gaara nodded "Very well".

Hinata held his hand as she lead him through the village. It was nice to see her old home, perhaps she could show her husband the village one day.

"You still care for him".

She looked at him in surprise. "Pardon?" "You still have feelings for Naruto don't you?" Gaara wasn't ignorant, he had figured out long ago that his wife once loved the blonde. Hinata couldn't lie to him so she gave a silent sigh "Yes I do still care for him. But only as a friend and nothing more". She gave his hand a gentle squeeze "I love you Gaara. And I'm happy that I get to spend the rest of my life with you. I assure you I feel nothing for any other man but you".

The red-head knew that his wife was being totally honest with her feelings. And he responded with a gentle kiss uncaring that they were in public. He was delighted when she happily returned it.

Upon reaching the Hyuga compound Hinata had a sense of nervousness. It had been months since she had stepped inside her old home.

Nothing had changed about it, but she knew that her younger sister was somewhere inside suffering to no end. She had to get her out of their no matter what. There was also the issue of seeing her father again, after all that's happened she wondered if she should still even call him her father. He never treated her like a daughter to begin with. What would he think of her now? And when he eventually discovered the baby, what would his reaction be?

Gaara walked ahead of her still holding her hand, Hinata had no doubts that her husband would protect her and the baby. But that still didn't stop the uneasy feeling in her stomach as she stepped past the entrance.

Her cousin was waiting for them and his face told that he was scared. Normally it was nearly impossible to tell what Neji was thinking because he almost never displayed any kind of emotion on his face. But if you knew him well enough you'd be easily able to tell what he was thinking.

Hinata, having spent her whole life with him knew at once that he was scared when she saw the fear in his eyes. He was almost like Gaara in a way. His eyes would swim with emotions while his face remained neutral, but the key difference between the two was that Neji was a bit more open with facial expression while Gaara preferred to keep his stoic.

"Follow me".

Nobody said anything as her cousin lead them through the compound. There were occasional greetings from other clan members as the Kazekage and his lady were present but other than that it was quiet for the most part.

Neji had a pretty good idea to where Hanabi was. But he was a bit nervous about seeing her. It had been a few days since he left and he had absolutely no idea about her condition. Was she worse than before? Was she even still alive?

He tried to settle his thoughts but they refused to leave him alone, even as he stood in front of Hanabi's room. With a shaky hand he quietly knocked before he heard her voice on the other said telling him he was allowed to enter. To his great relief Hanabi looked pretty much the same. He could find no fresh bruises or burns giving him some reassurance that Hiashi had done nothing to her in his absence.

"Yes Neji what is it?" Hanabi was in no mood for talking all she wanted was to be left alone and tend to her beaten body. She had been grateful that her father had been busy with other matters which distracted him enough to give her at least a little time to heal.

"Hanabi you have a visitor".

She scowled "Tell them to get lost".

Neji stood aside to allow Hinata to enter the room "Hanabi-chan it's me".

At first Hanabi wasn't able to believe that her older sister was here. She was standing right in front of her with a concerned look on her face. She was here! At long last her beloved sister was here! Tears ran down her face without even realizing it and before Hinata knew what had happened, her younger sister had all but latched herself onto her and was sobbing like crazy.

She briefly turned her head, her eyes telling that it was they be alone for a minute. Her husband sensed her desire and nodded and he followed Neji out of the room giving the two sisters some privacy.

"Hanabi what has happened?"

Her sister didn't say anything, she couldn't even if she wanted too. Her emotions were all clogged at the moment and she felt a mix of anger, happiness and sorrow for her older sister.

Hinata didn't try asking her again until she was sure that Hanabi's crying had stopped. "Hanabi what's happened?" Her lavender eyes were filled with concern and fear as she stared into her sister's pearl orbs.

Hanabi wanted to tell Hinata everything, but she had trouble finding where to start.

"I hate father Hinata, I hate him more than anything".

Hinata kept quiet not knowing what an appropriate response to that was. "Look at what he's done to me Nee-chan it's not a pretty sight".

Hanabi slipped off part of her yukata to reveal her shoulder. A large burn was present and it looked like it was just done days ago. Hinata gasped in terror when she saw the horrible burn.

"He used a hot iron, and that's only the beginning Nee-chan I can't tell you all that he's done".

Hinata was not spared any details as her sister explained everything. She felt like vomiting on several occasions when Hanabi described the horror that they're father placed on her.

"He still doesn't approve of you. He often says that you never could do anything and he uses me to take out his anger. Of course it's not like I can uphold his expectations either so I have nothing to give him and for that he's furious".

Hinata tenderly traced the outline of Hanabi's face with her index finger. She honestly didn't know what to do, but Hanabi was still her sister and she needed help.

"Hanabi I have news".

"What's that?"

Hinata looked a bit troubled "My dear sister I come bearing a life inside of me, you are going to be an aunt".

Hanabi face didn't show any sign of emotion but her eyes slowly drifted downwards to stare at her stomach. She didn't know what to feel. It was all so unexpected, but knowing that her sister was pregnant made her very happy. At least she had a chance to live a free life.

Slowly she extended her hand and patted her older sister's stomach "I'm happy for you Nee-chan". The tone in her voice meant it, she was happy.

Hinata took her sister into a hug and for a long time they stayed like that until Hinata's gentle voice broke the silence.

"Hanabi come to Suna".

Here's a good place to stop.

Next chapter will be a good one.

Please review!

Goodbye!