Raine in the Desert

by Hack Interrupted

Gaara finds the love of his life

9. Chapter 9

9

When the border patrol had been dispatched Kiba led Gaara Kankuro Naruto and Lee closer to the entrance of Sound. "Yo Gaara, this might sound a little crazy," he looked at the sand ninja running beside him. "But can you check for women and children in Sound before you…ya know."

"You detected women and children in the compound?" Orochimaru didn't strike Gaara as real family orientated kind of kage.

Not exactly. "I smelled baby formula on Raine. She must have been helping take care of a kid in there."

Baby what? His heart skipped a beat. Oh shit. "She's been looking after a baby?"

Kiba nodded and tried to remember what he heard through Raine's screaming. "I heard something about twins, but it didn't make sense. I couldn't hear all of what Kabuto said cuz Raine was… Well she wasn't happy."

Has Orochimaru used what he stole from Raine to create children! Gaara's stomach rolled over. "I have to get her out of there."

Kiba agreed. Raine was being tortured with needles and Sasuke was all over her like a cheap suit. "Can you pull her up out of the ground like you did before?"

"That is my intention." Gaara would rescue her as soon as he could. "I'll get Raine out and then we attack. As soon as I make a move to take her Sound we'll know we're here."

"Sasuke's gonna chase her."

"I'll take care of Sasuke." This time Gaara would. The Uchiha would not escape and Gaara would crush Sound and everything in it. Whatever fucked up thing they're doing down there I won't let it go on!

Sasuke returned with a bottle for Saichi and passed it off to Raine. She sat in the rocker feeding Saichi with a distant look in her eye. Still pissed at me ne? He went back into the bedroom and over to his wardrobe. Sasuke opened the door and reached for his bag at the bottom. It's alright; she'll get over it by the time we arrive in tea country. Sasuke sighed and started to pack for his vacation.

He took care of getting his things together and then went to Raine's wardrobe. He packed for her too and went back to the nursery. Raine was burping Saichi. "I'll take you shopping. Buy you a whole new wardrobe for our honeymoon at the beach," Sasuke offered. "You'd like that wouldn't you Raine?"

He leaned against the doorframe smiling at her a little. Just die. "Whatever you say Sasuke," she grumbled.

"Don't be like that. We'll go and have a wonderful time." Sasuke smiled at her.

Raine was certain she wasn't going to have a wonderful anything with Sasuke. Gaara's gonna find me and when he does "The fresh air will be good for Saichi. When are we leaving?"

"Are you in a hurry to run away with me Raine?" Sasuke teased. He straightened and stepped into the nursery. "I have a few arrangements to make but it won't take long." He already had the ANBU party and the medical specialist he was taking with him selected. "My shinobi can be ready within the hour. Is that soon enough for you love?"

"How are we going to travel with Saichi?"

"It's alright Raine you can keep him close. I'll carry you both."

Raine frowned. "Is that safe? Shouldn't Saichi go by carriage?"

Sasuke chuckled. "Miss your throne princess? This isn't a kage's traveling party you know. I must say it's surprising to see how spoiled Hotohori's slave has become."

"I was just concerned about Saichi."

He moved closer to the rocker. "Of course Raine, I understand. You're a devoted mother." He put a hand on the arm of the chair and leaned in closer to his family. Raine had settled Saichi down and most of his bottle was gone. "He was a hungry boy ne?"

She rolled her eyes up to Sasuke still rubbing Saichi's back.

"I think its time to make his bottles bigger. He's probably waking so often because he's still hungry."

"You think so?"

She turned Saichi and gave him the rest of the bottle. "After the first week a baby starts to get used to what they're eating. Saichi must be adjusted to the formula."

Sasuke's eyes moved to her chest. "Too bad you're not pregnant enough to breast feed Saichi. It would make traveling with him easier."

Raine thought of the baby ninja growing inside of her. "I can take care of Saichi just fine. I don't mind giving him a bottle when he needs one. I like to take care of him."

He let go of the rocker and cupped the breast Saichi wasn't held against. "You'll like taking care of me too Raine," Sasuke looked up into her eyes. "I'll take good care of you my princess. Anything you want, name it and it will be yours."

Get your hand off my boob! "I just want to take care of Saichi."

Sasuke squeezed her breast and kissed her neck. "Alright Raine, you settle Saichi. I'll get my men together. We can leave here shortly." He put his face in front of hers. "The weather is beautiful in the south this time of year. We'll take a walk in the moonlight later, under the stars Raine just like you want it."

She was trying to think of a rebuttal when Sasuke kissed her. He wasn't going to settle for a quick peck either, not after the way she had to kiss him to keep Gaara's baby safe. Just deal with it. We're almost out of here and Gaara is coming. He'll take me away from Sasuke and I'll never have to see him again.

Raine under duress was nice. She didn't fight him, couldn't if she wanted to stay pregnant. Sasuke kissed her deep and slow. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. Her cheeks were pink; from anger or embarrassment or passion. He didn't know, he didn't really care. He stopped groping her and took her face in his hand. "I really like it when you kiss me like that. I can't wait to love you Raine. You're so beautiful, so perfect."

It felt like she was going to throw up and Raine swallowed hard. "My friend Ray used to say only a fool is perfect."

"And you're no fool are you? No, not at all. You're very clever Raine. It's another one of those things I love about you." He kissed her forehead and straightened. "I'll get my men." Sasuke turned and went out.

Raine heard the door and let out a quiet sigh. Just stay calm. Panicking now would do neither her nor the children she wanted to protect any good. If Raine could get away from Sasuke she and her unborn would be safe. "Saichi," she rubbed her baby's head and he looked at her. "Mommy wont leave you either."

Far enough away from the entrance to the compound Gaara put his hands in the dirt. Raine where are you. He fed his chakra into the earth and aimed it at Hidden Sound. He concentrated thinking of Raine as he extended his reach. What the hell have they done to her? What Kiba told him filled him with dread. A baby? Did Orochimaru

We're the last of the Uchiha now Raine! Come home with me!

Did he make a child between Sasuke and Raine! The thought was terrifying. What would Raine do if she were presented with something that was half her; half the monster that tormented her. No…Such a thing would leave her beyond terrorized. Kiba said when he first caught a glimpse of Raine Sasuke had been carrying her and she was unconscious. Did she faint when she saw that thing Orochimaru made? His stomach rolled over and Gaara pushed his chakra further into the earth.

There was a wall in his way. "Shit." Not just a wall, "A barrier. There's a godamn barrier around Sound."

"Barrier?" Lee had been watching his friend.

Gaara stood. "Six sided, some pretty advanced shit."

"Orochimaru," Naruto frowned.

"Can you break through it Gaara?" Kankuro hurriedly asked.

Shit. "No. I need ANBU to tear it apart, but I can still shake the ground. Orochimaru knew I would come for Raine, this thing was specifically designed to stop me."

"I'll get ANBU," Kiba turned and broke into a run.

Kankuro stepped closer to his brother. "Mouse?"

He shook his head frowning. "She's behind the barrier. I can't feel her."

"Then we'll just have to go in there after her." Naruto was ready.

"Take it easy Naruto," Gaara sighed. "Just because I cannot penetrate Orochimaru's barrier it doesn't mean I can't move the earth around it."

"An earthquake?" Lee reasoned.

Gaara shook his head negative. He was all done screwing around with the damn Sound. "If I cannot bring my wife back into the light alone then I will raise the whole fucking village. ANBU can dispel the barrier and we'll kill everyone inside. This ends today."

Kankuro watched his brother turn and go back to instruct his ninja. Raise the whole village? This isn't the desert Gaara, the amount of chakra…

Naruto laid a hand on Kankuro's shoulder. "Gaara can do that?"

"Gaara can do anything," Lee answered for the Sand ninja.

He shifted his eyes from Kankuro to Lee. I think so too. "Okay then, let's back him up."

Sasuke gave his orders to his men and passed off his family's luggage on the team. He packed up a smaller bag for Saichi that Raine could carry. He took the sling to carry the baby in and went back to his room. Saichi was asleep in Raine's arms. She walked the baby around the crib. Such a good mother. "It's time to go."

She watched Sasuke come in. He went to the crib and spread the carrier open. She liked the idea of Saichi being tied to her. It would leave her hands free for other things, like clawing Sasuke's eyes out. "Alright."

"Do you have him tightly swaddled?"

Raine lay Saichi on the rap in the crib. "Of course I do."

"Yes of course you do. You're such a wonderful mother." She set Saichi down and Sasuke grabbed Raine around the waist. He turned her and pulled her up against him.

"Sasuke," shit not again!

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged Raine close. "I want you to forgive me Raine. I want us to start over. I want us to be happy together," he breathed in her ear.

"I don't want to fight with you anymore Sasuke." It sounded like a safe answer.

"No; no more fighting. You're going to be good and I'm going to treat you like a queen." He smiled down at her. "I'll give you everything you want. You'll be so happy."

Just leave me alone. That's all I want. "I can't wait to see the ocean."

"You'll love it." he kissed her again and then let her go to take care of Saichi.

Raine turned away the minute Sasuke started to let her go. She thought that if she had to kiss him one more time she was going to scream. Start screaming and never stop she thought as her hands worked busily to tuck her baby into his wrap. Raine strapped Saichi in and lifted him to her.

Sasuke helped secure his son against Raine. He was starting to get excited about their trip. "I can surf you know. I haven't done it in a while but," Sasuke laughed and looked into her eyes. "I could teach you."

"I'm not really a strong swimmer," she lied.

"I'll help you get better at it ne? It will be fun." Raine dripping wet in a bikini sounded like all kinds of fun to Sasuke and he laughed again.

She wondered if she could drown him. "I have to look after Saichi."

"He naps you know." Sasuke pulled her close again hugging her and Saichi at the same time. Sasuke smiled and closed his eyes. For a long moment he just enjoyed the feel of his family so close together and then he kissed Raine's head. "There will be time for us. You'll see that it's alright to love me Raine and then you will."

Raine closed her eyes. I'll never love you Sasuke. Gaara is my heart.

"I love you Raine. I have for so long. I love Saichi too. We're a family." Her eyes were closed, waiting for his kiss. I'm finally part of a real family again. Sasuke softly kissed her waiting lips. "Love you so damn much," he kissed her passionately and Raine kissed him back. For so long Raine. I've wanted this for so long…

Gaara went to the edge of the clearing. ANBU from both villages were spread out along the perimeter focusing in on Orochimaru's barrier. His brother and Kiba were somewhere to his left; Lee and Naruto on the right. I'm coming Raine. Gaara dropped to one knee in the grass. The cork popped out of his gourd and Gaara fed sand and chakra into the ground. Gaara changed the earth around the barrier. Come back to me Raine now!

Sasuke was still mauling her when the first tremor hit. Everything shook once hard and then it stopped. "What was…?" She had no time to finish her question. The room shook harder, more violently and Sasuke had to hold her up. The changing table fell over and Raine heard something bounce off the desk and shatter in the next room. An earthquake? Oh god… is it! "Gaara!"

"Son of a bitch!" Sasuke was furious. He tucked Raine and Saichi under him and concentrated some chakra in his feet to keep them steady.

"Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa," Gaara exhaled as he lifted Hidden Sound out of the earth. The complex was huge. It was sucking away at his chakra to lift such a defended thing. Concentrate. He was trying not to shake it too badly, his love was trapped inside. The ANBU busting down the barrier moved in for the kill.

Orochimaru watched his glass bounce off the table and shatter. "Sabaku no Gaara." Orochimaru stood. Gaara had come for his wife. "You won't be taking her." The sannin left his study to command his shinobi.

The shaking finally stopped and Sasuke steadied Raine. There was shouting from out in the hall. Someone had finally figured out the enemy was here and a counterattack was ordered. The shaking didn't wake Saichi, the sound of the wardrobes falling over did. He cried in his mothers arms. "God DAMNIT!"

Raine regained her footing trying to console her frightened baby. "What's happening?"

"Stay here!" Sasuke started for the door and Raine grabbed his arm. He frowned at her. "Not now Raine."

"You can't just leave me and Saichi here Sasuke!" she panicked.

That might be true. Gaara had shaken the place to hell and back. There were cracks in the wall and the ceiling. Sound was protected by a barrier but barriers could be broken. "Alright," Sasuke pulled Raine to him and swept her up into his arms. Perhaps it was best to just get the hell out before Gaara stormed the place.

"Where are we going? You have to get Saichi someplace safe!"

Sasuke leapt over the mess in his bedroom. "I'm getting you and Saichi out of here. I'll get you to safety Raine don't worry. I'm not going to let anything happen to either of you." Sasuke had a family again and he wasn't about to give it up. You can't have her back Gaara; Raine is mine now and Saichi needs her.

It was almost as if the place exploded. All at once two great walls and a huge piece of roof blew outward at the shinobi in the trees. Manda reared his head and looked at the invading army. "You are all my sacrifices!"

"Shit!" Naruto couldn't believe how fast the snake moved. He was swallowing Sand and Leaf shinobi alike. Naruto bit his thumb. "Please boss!"

Choji picked up Ino and ran. She was screaming, "I'm too young to die! I don't wanna be a snake turd!"

"That's our Ino, brave until the end," Shikamaru puffed running like hell to keep up with his fat friend.

There was another explosion and Gamabunta appeared. The snake turned to the frog as the Shinobi poured out of Sound to defend their village. "Boss! It's that guy again!" Naruto hollered down at the frog.

Gamabunta chewed the stem of his pipe. "I'm getting real sick of running into your scaly ass," he directed at his nemesis.

"I'll eat you!" the snake hissed.

There were a lot of secret ways out of Sound. The battle had begun near the front, So Sasuke decided to leave via the back door. He would secure Raine and Saichi somewhere and then come back to kill Gaara. Today he would widow Raine and tonight when he took her to him she would be his wife.

Sasuke found the passage he wanted and turned on his Sharingan to see better in the dark. Raine clung to him nervously. Saichi had stopped crying but he was still fussing. "It's alright. We'll be out in a minute."

A minute later they were. Raine squinted against the sunlight. She heard screaming and fighting behind them. She forced her eyes open to look. There was a giant snake fighting a giant frog. They were squishing people with all their thrashing about. Raine saw the snake roll over a couple of running ninja and she screamed.

Gaara knew that scream. "Raine?" he started running forward, toward the sound of her voice. "Raine where are you?"

Akamaru yipped and started off the way Gaara was going. "We've got her scent!" Kiba informed. "This way to Raine!" Kankuro and Lee hurried to follow.

"Akatsuki hasn't killed you yet ne Naruto?" the sannin teased. Orochimaru spit up his sword. "Fine, then I guess I'll just have to do it myself."

"Oi boss," Naruto was sweating glaring at the sannin. "Can you move this fight back a little? Get that damn snake out in the open?"

Gamabunta could sense a plan in the kid's voice. "You gonna let that thing out?"

Naruto started to convert his chakra. "I have to stop Orochimaru."

"The kuuybi will kill everyone here Naruto, and Orochimaru will still escape."

"I won't let that happen."

"Don't bullshit me kid. You can't control it."

"Just move!" Naruto was nervous enough as it was he didn't need the boss telling him he was gonna kill all his friends.

Gamabunta jumped back. "Use it but don't lose it brat!"

Raine was watching the carnage over Sasuke's shoulder when she saw it; a river of sand chasing after them. "Gaara!"

"Keh," Sasuke hissed through his teeth and took to the trees. He spun around and found Gaara and his little friends pushing their way through Sound shinobi and headed his way. Behind them Naruto faced Orochimaru on the heads of their summons.

"There!" Kiba pointed into the trees.

"Raine!" Gaara's eyes found her in the foliage. Sasuke had her in his arms. "Sasuke!"

Sasuke adjusted Raine in his arms roughly. Just as he hoped she cried out and Saichi fussed more. "That's far enough Gaara!"

"Son of a bitch," Kankuro halted by his brother staring up at Sasuke. "Mouse! You okay?" he shouted up to her.

He heard it and he smelled it. "Baby," Kiba informed. "Raine's got a baby."

Sasuke had excellent hearing. "Yes that's right she does."

Oh god no… "Let her go Sasuke! Fight me you coward!" Gaara challenged.

Sound shinobi were making for her love and her friends from behind. "Gaara behind you!" Sasuke squeezed her and she cried out.

Kiba and Lee turned to deal with the enemy coming at them. Gaara leapt into the trees and Sasuke moved with Raine. Sasuke wasn't going to let her go. Gaara sent his sand after them. Kankuro sped after Gaara. "Catch him!" Kankuro screamed.

"Hold on tight," Sasuke told her as he started to draw upon the power of his cursed seal.

Raine watched as fire crawled over Sasuke's body changing him into a monster. "No! Not with Saichi here Sasuke! If you're going to fight put us down!"

Saichi was tightly tied to his mother. He could throw them around if he had to, but the baby wouldn't like it much and one of them could get hurt. Sasuke stopped suddenly and turned on his pursuers. He set Raine on her feet beside him and she clung to him for balance as his hands flew through the seals. Sasuke pushed her head down and spit fire at the sand ninja. Raine screamed and hugged at his leg.

Gaara used the sand to come between Sasuke's fireball and him and his brother. "Let her go and fight me Sasuke!" Gaara roared infuriated by Raine's frightened scream.

"You can't have her Gaara, Raine belongs to me now." He went through another set of seals. The water in the surrounding rice fields obeyed his command. He shot one water bullet after another at the Sand halting their progress. Gaara and Kankuro ducked behind a wall of sand.

Saichi was screaming his head off. Raine tried to comfort him with one arm. She kept the other around Sasuke's leg afraid she was going to fall from the tree. "Stop it Sasuke!"

Kankuro heard the baby's cry. "What the fuck is mouse doing with a kid Gaara!" He was afraid he already knew. Gaara was pale when he faced him. "No, godamnit no!"

He moved right on to his next jutsu. "Sabaku no Gaara, I will not let you come between me and my family."

Family! Gaara's blood turned cold. "Raine is my wife!"

"Not anymore." Sasuke opened the ground at Gaara's feet dropping the tree the sand nin were in into the hole. "She's your widow."

Snake and frog were having themselves a standoff when Orochimaru saw Sasuke fighting the sand ninja. Fool! Raine and the baby were at his side. "Kabuto!" Orochimaru called down from Manda's head. "Get Raine away from the fighting!"

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the sannin feeling the kuuybi chakra running through him. "Leave her alone you bastard!" Naruto replicated himself and started his clones working on a Rasengan. "Why can't you just leave her alone!"

Orochimaru pointed his sword at the kuuybi brat. "Raine chan is also a very special container to me. She and Sasuke will be together forever."

"You're going to steal Sasuke's body!"

"I know," Orochimaru charged.

Gaara caught himself and Kankuro with his sand and set them in separate trees to break up Sasuke's attack. Kankuro went right to work his fingers busily moving strings of his chakra. Sasori had left behind a very special puppet when he left Sand. He called it Dark Swallow for it was a trapping puppet made of iron sand. This thing might not hold Sasuke but… but Sasuke wasn't his target. Hang on mouse!

Sasuke glared at Gaara. "Persistent aren't you?"

"Gaara!" for a moment she thought she had lost him. The dust settled and she found her husband in a tree not too far ahead.

"Let her go Sasuke," Gaara demanded trying to stay calm.

"No. Saichi needs his father and his mother."

He was about to break. "What the fuck are you talking about you lunatic?"

Lunatic? Sasuke smiled a little. He rested a hand on Raine's head. "Raine is my son's mother. Saichi is our first baby."

Gaara's eyes went to his wife's face. Raine looked frightened and miserable. "Raine…"

"She's all done with you Gaara; Raine wants to be with me. I can tell by the way she kisses who it is she really wants."

Raine cringed and dropped her eyes away from his. Gaara felt like he was burning up from the inside out. He narrowed his eyes at Sasuke. "Sick freak what have you done to my wife!" he hoped Kankuro was ready because Gaara couldn't hold back. He commanded the sand to rise to meet him and sent it after Sasuke.

Naruto and Orochimaru ran down Manda's hide. Below them shinobi were killing each other. "What are you going to do with her you monster?" Naruto railed at the sannin.

Orochimaru smiled a little. "Leave it alone boy, can't you see she and Sasuke are in love?" he swung his sword and took out a clone.

"Raine loves Gaara!" Orochimaru swung his sword at him and Naruto brought up his right hand fast. "Rasengan!"

His sword went flying. Orochimaru leapt up and kicked apart another one of Naruto's clones. He opened his mouth and sent a hoar of snakes after the pest to keep him busy while he reclaimed his sword. Naruto leapt and dodged snakes.

Sasuke grabbed Raine and took them high into the air. He bounded to another tree and the sand perused. "Stop it Sasuke!" Raine pleaded terrified. "Saichi is going to get hurt!"

Putting her down meant that someone could try to come steal her away, but he needed to fight Gaara head on if he wanted to kill him. He took her high into a tree and set her down close to the trunk. "It's alright Raine, I'll end this quickly."

Raine pressed herself against the tree. "Sasuke wait don't leave us here!"

For the moment Sasuke ignored his little woman. He went to level two of the seal as he dove at Gaara. "Now you die!"

"Gaara!" Raine screamed. The snake and the frog slammed into each other again and the earth shook. Raine hugged at the tree with one arm and Saichi with the other. She saw Sasuke collide with Gaara's sand and then Raine lost her balance. She felt them tipping, falling out of the tree. "Sasuke help us!"

It startled him for just a fraction of a second she called out for Sasuke and Sasuke reached through his sand and grabbed Gaara by the face. Behind Sasuke Raine was falling. Sasuke snapped his head around and saw Raine and the baby tumble from the tree. Gaara reached up and grabbed Sasuke by the wrist. "She doesn't need your help!"

Kankuro maneuvered Dark Swallow under his plummeting little mouse. With a twitch of his finger he opened the puppet and Raine fell into it screaming. "Got her!" Kankuro closed the super defensive puppet around his sister in law.

Raine was safe and Gaara wasted no time. The sand from his gourd shot out into Sasuke's face. Gaara hardened it with chakra cutting the shit out of Sasuke's cheek. He twisted Sasuke's wrist in his hand. "Get her out of here Kankuro! Take Raine and retreat!" Raine was secured, it was time to move the shinobi back and let Naruto go wild.

Sasuke used one of his giant hands to cover the hole in the top of the gourd, Gaara's sand gouged at him. "I'm going to kill you Gaara," Sasuke's free hand went to Gaara's throat.

Gaara called more sand from below. "I don't think so." He pulled at the monster's wrist.

Dark Swallow followed Kankuro's chakra strings to the ground. "Hold on mouse I've got you!" he bellowed running for the puppet.

Raine was in darkness, Saichi was crying terrified. From somewhere she guessed was above she heard some sort of an explosion. "Sasuke and Gaara are fighting…"

Kankuro was nearly to her when Dark Swallow fell over on its side. "What the…?" his chakra strings had been cut.

Kabuto freed the device from the puppet ninja as he made his way to it. He slapped it open and reached for the frightened woman inside. "Hurry up and come with me."

"You son of a bitch!" it was that damn Kabuto kid pulling mouse out of Dark Swallow. Kankuro charged forward wiggling the fingers of his left hand. "Get the fuck off of her!"

As quickly as he could Kabuto got Raine to her feet and into his arms. "Kankuro!" she called out to her running brother.

Kabuto broke into a run and the puppet master followed. Raine started to struggle against him. "Be still Raine chan or I'll have to paralyze you," he threatened.

Sand can be used defensively and offensively at the same time. Sasuke and Gaara went at it all out in the trees. Gaara used the sand to cushion the blows the monster Uchiha landed, he used the sand to block his elemental jutsu, and he used the sand to attack. Tendrils of sand reached for Sasuke's limbs. He stayed in motion moving fast to escape the sand. Below then Kankuro chased after Kabuto and Raine.

I have to end this quickly. I'm running out of chakra. Gaara tried to focus as he dodged the positioning for a lion combo. Damnit why the hell does he have to be so fast!

Killing Gaara was proving more difficult then he had anticipated. But he has to be tired after lifting Sound up out of the ground. Just a little more. "I won't let you take Raine away from me Gaara."

"You're sick Sasuke. Raine is my wife, leave her alone. If you've got a problem with me I'm right here but I won't ever let you hurt Raine again."

"I could never hurt the mother of my children." The hands on his back clashed with huge hands of sand and Sasuke reached for Gaara. They locked their hands together each trying to overpower the other.

Sasuke's right middle finger started to break through his armor of sand. He said children not child. "You made more then one of those things?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Gaara. "That thing is my son!" he squeezed harder. Something beneath his pressing fingers was about to give. "His name is Saichi!"

Kiba finished off a Sound ninja detecting Kankuro's scent move further away. He turned and saw his friend running after the medical specialist and sweet little sister. "Akamaru!" He jumped onto his dogs back and they sped after Kankuro. "Move it Akamaru, we're going to try and grab her!"

Naruto dove after Orochimaru releasing more of the dangerous red chakra he held within. "Orochimaru!"

The sannin turned before reaching his sword. Naruto launched an all out taijutsu assault on him. It became progressively harder to deflect the boy's attacks and soon he saw why. "You're tail is showing boy," Orochimaru counterattacked pummeling the kid. He had to take him out before he got all foxy again.

Akamaru dashed past Kankuro and bounded ahead to the fleeing pair ahead. "Be careful with her!" Kankuro hollered a reminder. Mouse couldn't handle the rough stuff and there was a you gotta be fucking kidding me! baby tied to her chest.

Kabuto heard them coming and turned at the last second. He dropped Raine on her ass and slid under the big dog. A few well placed strikes and Akamaru fell over on his side with the tendons in his legs severed. Raine screamed and tried to crab crawl away from the violence. Akamaru barked as he hit the ground.

"What did you do to my dog you son of a bitch!" Kiba leapt off Akamaru and charged at the bastard that fell his best friend.

The armor of sand wasn't going to last and Gaara had to choose. Defend myself or kill this fuck? He heard Akamaru yowl in pain. His brother screamed Watch it Kiba! Gaara heard Raine and the baby against her crying out terrified and close to the fighting. "Keh!"

Sasuke felt Gaara's real flesh under his fingers. "You're finished Gaara. You die here."

Gaara changed the flow of his chakra and the sand armor around his hands retreated. Sasuke crushed his hands, Gaara felt his fingers breaking. "You son of a bitch!"

"After I kill you Raine will be free to marry me. I'll make her a true Uchiha."

"Raine is of the Sand!" it wasn't very often Gaara experienced physical pain. There was blood seeping between their fingers. Endure it godamnit!

Sasuke glared at Gaara's pain twisted face. "Does it hurt Sabaku no Gaara? Can a monster like you really feel pain?"

"You're the fucking monster!"

"Die knowing that I will have all that you live for Gaara. I have Raine and Saichi and," he leaned his face in closer to the kazekage. "Raine is carrying our second child."

Carrying… His heart dropped into his stomach. "You….you raped her?"

Sasuke frowned. "I don't have to rape her. Raine told me she wants me to make love to her under the stars."

I'll have to it quick, all at once! He wasn't sure which hurt him more; the pain in his hands or the pain in his heart. "Raine would never give herself to you!"

"Raine will do whatever I want her to do to protect the other child she's carrying, yours. I wanted to kill the filthy little thing but Orochimaru insisted on making it twins. He wants one of each of us in his army."

Oh god… she's pregnant? "What the hell have you done to my unborn!"

"Nothing. I let her keep your baby Gaara. She's going to bless us with twins." Sasuke laughed. "I wonder if they'll come out fighting ne Gaara?"

He was sick to his stomach. My child and Sasuke's child…Raine…it was time to end it. Gaara didn't even particularly care if he did die right at this moment. It's too much. Dear god it's too much.

Kiba pounced at Kabuto and the medical ninja grabbed the fools arm severing muscle and tendon. Kiba grunted and tried a kick; Kabuto disabled his leg with a sweep of his hand. Kiba hobbled back. "Don't interfere," Kabuto warned.

Kankuro reclaimed Dark Swallow as his friend confronted the Sound ninja. He swung the puppet at Kabuto trying to drive him away from Raine. "Kiba you guys okay?"

Kabuto dodged the puppet and cut the strings again. He frowned at Kankuro. "Foolish tricks like that wont work on me."

"It's his hands!" Kiba shouted the warning.

He said fuck the puppet for now and charged straight after Kabuto. "Mouse! Run! Get off your ass girl and run!"

Run! Raine rolled over to her hands and knees and scrambled to her feet hugging her crying baby. Run! Get Saichi away! She grabbed a handful of her skirt with her free hand and hiked it up. Kiba and Akamaru are…! Raine started to run. Kankuro…Gaara!

Kabuto made a move toward Raine; Akamaru wasn't going to allow it. He grabbed Kabuto's calf in his jaws and chomped down hard. Kabuto cried out in startled pain. A second later he was mercilessly kicking the dog in the face. "Let go of me filthy beast!"

His kicks were infused with chakra and every blow tore at his dog turning his white fur red. "Akamaru!" Kiba compensated for his fucked up leg and jumped behind Kabuto. He wrapped an arm around the bastard's throat. "Stop it! Stop it you're killing him!"

Kabuto slapped Kiba's arm disabling it. He ceased kicking the dog and pivoted to face the Leaf ninja. "You'll die too." He snatched Kiba by the throat.

The battle was half over. Many were dead, but Sound was losing. From the looks of things Naruto was about to lose it. Kakashi counted two tails. "Retreat!" Kakashi called out Gaara's orders. "Fall back to your secondary positions now!"

"Kakashi sensei!" Sakura pointed. The summons disappeared and Naruto was fighting the sannin on the ground.

"Shit." If summons ran off, shit was about to get real bad. He turned to his right looking for the kazekage. He was fighting Sasuke in the trees not far from them. "Sakura this way!" Kakashi darted for the clashing enemies.

"Kiba!" Kankuro bellowed. He ran straight for them. He'll cut his fuckin jugular vain!

Kabuto was about to do just that when behind him he heard, "Sixty four palm strike!"

Neji landed a series of strikes before Kabuto dropped Kiba and freed himself from the jaws of the half dead dog. He immediately started healing his body as he leapt back away from the Hyuuga. Kabuto then heard someone else behind him.

"I will not let you escape," Lee kicked the surprised traitor in the face and Kabuto staggered backwards. Lee didn't let up; he pummeled the ninja from behind watching out for his dangerous hands. Training with Neji, Lee had learned to avoid being touched by his opponent.

"Kill him Lee!" Kankuro finally made it to his fallen friends. "Kiba!" he pulled his friend up by a handful of his shirt. His eyes were closed and Kiba wasn't breathing. "Godamnit Kiba!" Akamaru groaned and Kankuro turned to the dog. His left eyeball lay on his snout. "Oh god…Akamaru…"

Neji saw Sakura and Kakashi coming. "Sakura, hurry! Kiba and Akamaru!"

Kankuro eased his friend back down into the grass. He looked up at Lee fighting Kabuto. "Yo Neji go get my sister in law would ya." Kankuro stood and put his arms out to his side calling his puppets to him. "I'm gonna help Lee kill that motherfucker!" he tore off after the fighting ninja.

This compound is finished. Orochimaru wasn't troubled by it, he had more. What did worry him was not his strong opponent; Naruto was really losing himself, it was that Raine, Saichi and his twins were running away. Kabuto was fighting Rock Lee of Konoha and Kankuro of the Sand. You couldn't just take her and run you incompetent fuck? Naruto dropped to all fours and another tail appeared. The boy growled savagely.

Sasuke was going head to head with Gaara, he too was too busy to fetch Orochimaru's special container. "I have to do everything myself." He turned her way biting at his thumb. His hands flew through the seals. He summoned his fastest snake and sent him to reacquire his property.

Sakura dropped to her knees beside Kiba. She had seen Kabuto's hand on his throat and her hands went there first. "Shit," she grumbled feeding chakra into her friend fast.

Kakashi dropped to one knee beside Akamaru. "Easy boy. I'll get Hana. She'll fix you up in no time." He peeked at Sakura tending to Kiba. "Sakura?"

"Not now. I must concentrate!" Shit he's bleeding out!

Kakashi quickly summoned Pakkun again. "Hurry! Get Hana!" Pakkun took one look at Akamaru and took off running.

Lee had him and he knew it. Kankuro was coming up from behind. He had brought out two devious looking puppets. Lee had a moment to think It's over and then he was knocked into the sky.

Kabuto grabbed hold of the snake that saved him as it sped toward the running woman. "Don't eat her!" he harshly reminded.

Kankuro sent the puppets flying after Kabuto and the giant snake making a bee line for his mouse. No damnit no! "Run mouse!"

She heard scary noises behind her and Raine chanced a glance over her shoulder. The sicko medical ninja and a big snake were after her. Behind him Neji Lee and Kankuro were rushing to her rescue. Above them Gaara and Sasuke were fighting. Saichi had started crying again. "Oh god Gaara help me!"

It was time to end the nightmare that was Uchiha Sasuke. Gaara had manipulated the minerals in the sand hardening it beyond the strength of steel. He looked his wife's tormenter in the eye. "Desert morning sun," he called forth his jutsu.

Gaara's sand began to ensnare him and Sasuke tried to pull away. Gaara held him with his sand and broken hands. "Let go!"

The special sand sucked Sasuke in. "This will kill you."

Sasuke thrashed violently as the sand closed around him. "Godamn you Gaara!"

Breathe Kiba breathe! A second later he did. He sucked in a breath and coughed. "Yes!" Sakura exclaimed finishing her work on her friend. Akamaru groaned. "He's alright Akamaru."

Every part of Sasuke save the hands he held was inside of Gaara's killing sand. Die you twisted fuck! "A thousand rays of light!"

Neji grabbed the snake by the tail. Kabuto leapt off and made a break for Raine. Kankuro's puppets chased him. The snake turned on Neji and Lee hurried to assist his friend. Saichi was frightened; picking up on his mothers stressed emotions. "Gaara!" Raine called out to her husband.

Naruto ran after Orochimaru leaving a trail of orange fire in his wake. It was getting too dangerous to stay much longer. Let's go out with a bang ne? The sannin's hands flew through the seals.

Gaara was splattered with Sasuke's blood. The hands squeezing his twitched and then fell slack. He's dead. Somewhere behind there was a huge explosion. Gaara heard Raine scream for him. He let go of Sasuke hissing at the pain in this fingers. The sand entombed body fell to the ground. His eyes went to the sound of Raine's voice. She was running away from the devious Yakushi Kabuto. "Shit." He had almost no chakra left at all. Moving Sound and killing Sasuke drained him. Still Gaara moved to help his wife. He sent his sand after her.

She could hear the ninja right behind her. "Gaara!"

Kabuto reached for Raine and grabbed her arm. A puppet came at him and he dodged dragging her with him. He sliced the chakra strings and the puppets fell, but the puppeteer kept coming. Raine struggled to get away from him screaming to be released.

His sand reached her as Gaara dropped down beside Kankuro. "Raine!"

Shit! Gaara's sand started to close in on his target one of them. There was no way Kabuto was going to stick around and fight, no way he was going back to Orochimaru empty handed. He whistled for the snake using his chakra to cut the straps securing baby Saichi to his mother. Kabuto leapt back with the baby in his arms.

"Saichi!" Raine reached through the sand for her baby. "Gaara! Save the baby!"

Gaara's sand was fast but the snake was faster. You're too late. Kabuto smiled at Raine asthe summon wrapped itself around him and his screaming bundle. They disappeared in a puff of smoke.

They were gone. "No!" Raine screamed. "Saichi!"

"Raine!" Gaara raced for her with Kankuro at his heels.

She turned and saw Gaara running toward her. He was covered with blood, particularly his hands. A closer look and she saw how mangled they were. Oh god… "Gaara…" It was too much. Raine swooned and fainted.

It took all he had left but Gaara dove forward and caught his fainting wife in his arms. "Raine!" he hugged her against him and fell to his knees holding her. "Raine?" Gaara studied her pale face.

Kankuro was watching everything all at once. Kiba had his eyes open, Hana had made it to Akamaru and was treating the wounded dog. The area Naruto and Orochimaru had been fighting in was in flames. ANBU was moving in to put a barrier around the fox demon. Gaara's hands were crushed and bleeding. Kabuto the snake and the baby were gone. "Gaara are you alright?"

He hugged his wife closer resting his cheek against hers. It was an unbelievable relief to hold her again. "It's just my hands Kankuro."

Kankuro looked back to where Gaara fought Sasuke. Lee and Neji were closing in on the hands sticking up out of the bloody sand. Fuck you Sasuke. "I'll get you a med nin."

He could barely even feel the pain in his hands anymore. An exhausted wave swept over him and Gaara wavered. I've got you Raine I "Love you."

"Oi!" Kankuro saw little brothers eyes roll back in his head. Gaara collapsed in the grass with mouse in his arms. He hurried to them shouting, "I need a medic!"

"Are you sure?" Lee broke out in gooseflesh.

Neji stepped forward looking at what should be Sasuke's corpse carefully with his white eyes. "Yes, he's still alive, but barely."

Lee looked at the stained sand pile on awe. After all of that Sasuke is still alive? "I'll get Kakashi."

Ally and enemy alike retreated from the scared and burning battle ground; the place was finished. Some Sound ninja escaped, Orochimaru and Kabuto did but the clearing was littered with many bodies. ANBU contained Naruto until the boy collapsed and then he too was carted off by a medical team. The allies made camp and set to treating the wounded. Shizune went to Gaara first. The kazekage was a top priority.

Gaara felt something warm against his chest and he stirred. He opened his eyes and saw Kankuro looking down at him. Both he and Tsunade's second had their hands on his chest feeding chakra into him. "Kankuro," Gaara's voice cracked.

He smiled at his little brother. "Welcome back Gaara."

"Raine?"

"She's right here," Sakura spoke up from Gaara's right. "She's alright Gaara."

He turned his head a little and saw his wife asleep beside him. "Raine…" He reached for her noticing his hands had been repaired. Gaara softly touched her cheek.

I let her keep your baby Gaara. She's going to bless us with twins.

Gaara swallowed hard. "Sakura, I need you to check Raine for me."

"She's okay Gaara," Sakura assured the worried husband.

Orochimaru insisted on making it twins. He wants one of each of us in his army.

"Can you tell me if she's pregnant," Gaara asked.

She startled a little. "Uh…" Sakura put a hand on Raine's belly.

Shit! "What the hell is going on Gaara?" Kankuro tried not to frown at his brother.

"Sasuke said Raine was pregnant when he abducted her."

It was relieving to hear mouse had been knocked up before she spent any time in Sound. "You and Raine, another baby?"

For the moment Gaara couldn't face Kankuro. "Well Sakura?"

There was tiny life inside of Raine. "Its twins," she breathed feeling into the womb.

Kankuro chuckled. "Congratulations Gaara."

Sakura had confirmed his dark fear. Uchiha Sasuke's child grew inside of his wife right beside their own baby; the baby they had been wanting since Gabe took his first steps. "No…" it was barely a whisper.

"Gaara?" he thought his brother would be ecstatic, but Gaara looked sad.

"They're not twins. One of the babies is mine the other is Uchiha Sasuke's."

Shocked silence closed in. Finally Kankuro snapped. "No, that can't be! How?"

Shizune answered. "Sasuke's child was implanted into her? It wouldn't be a difficult procedure for a talented medical specialist."

"Yakushi Kabuto," Sakura frowned moving her hands away from Raine.

"What the hell are you crazy broads talking about?" Kankuro growled.

Quietly she sighed as Shizune turned to Kankuro. "If he created an embryo using Raine's genetic material her body would not reject it. Putting it into an already pregnant womb assured the baby's survival."

Gaara still wasn't done sharing his bad news. "The baby Raine had. It was made up of her and Sasuke. It was their…"

His brother wasn't going to die without him and Kankuro got to his feet. "No!" Shizune stood quick and grabbed Kankuro's arm. "Let go of me!"

"Calm down Kankuro," Shizune was firm. Sakura hurried to her feet to help.

Kankuro tried to reclaim his arm without hurting the woman. "Let me go godamnit! I'm gonna kill the fuck!"

"Kankuro please," Sakura hopped over her patients and took the Sand ninja's other arm.

A cold chill swept over Gaara and he forced himself to sit up. It made is peripheral vision darken but he didn't care. "Kill who?" no…no fucking way!

He quit struggling and looked down at his brother. Kankuro had bad news too. "Uchiha Sasuke is still alive."

"What?" it rushed out on a breath. "No! I killed him!"

"Almost," Shizune explained. "You crushed almost every bone in his body and damaged most of his vital organs too, but somehow he survived."

Gaara clenched a freshly healed hand into a fist. "Where is the son of a bitch?"

Kankuro told Gaara, "They've taken him to Tsunade."

"Sasuke will be tried for his crimes against both of our villages," Sakura tried to ease.

"If he wakes up," Shizune added. "Sasuke is in a coma. His condition is critical."

Alive… that fucker! Gaara turned away from Kankuro and looked at his wife. The shouting was beginning to rouse her out of sleep. Oh Raine…"You can't let that monster live. If Sasuke was tried in Sand the punishment for his crimes would be death," Gaara hissed. Konoha was too forgiving thus the prison from hell.

"That's what I tried to tell them," Kankuro was near seething. "His crimes against Sand are far worse then just running away from home. The criminal should belong to us!"

Raine heard Kankuro shouting and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked and saw Gaara hovering over her. Gaara… "Gaara!" She sat up and flung herself into his arms. Gaara pulled her tight against him. "Gaara," Raine hugged him hard.

"Raine," holding her again was like a bit of heaven in this dark hell that had swallowed him. Gaara kissed her cheek. "I've got you."

"Are you alright?" she pulled back just a bit to look into his eyes. Her heart pounded hard in her chest. "Your hands…"

"I'm alright Raine." He couldn't wait a second longer and Gaara pressed his lips to hers. The kage kissed his wife.

Kankuro sighed. It quieted his fury to see Gaara and mouse together again. "You okay mouse?" he asked quietly.

Raine clung to Gaara and she frowned. "No…Gaara…" she searched for a way to tell him such monstrously horrible things. "I'm pregnant. Our baby and," she started to cry. "Kabuto… he put Sasuke's baby in me with ours."

Bloody hell. It felt like something inside of him was shredding his heart. "Raine," he took her cheek in his hand and tried to get her to look him in the eye.

There was more. "Kabuto took Saichi. He…he took… my baby." That did it. Raine burst into miserable tears.

Kankuro's stomach rolled over. Gaara hugged his sobbing woman trying to sooth her. "Sick mother fuckers," Kankuro growled.

"Why don't we leave these two alone for a little bit," Sakura suggested. Looking at them was crushing her heart. Damn you Orochimaru. Damn you too Sasuke.

Shizune agreed and tugged on Kankuro. "Let's go check on Naruto."

Temari was in hokage's office with Tsunade when the falcon arrived with news of the battle. The women read the report while Gabe and Tonton ran circles around the desk. The Sound compound was destroyed. Casualties were high on both sides, but there were many fatalities on the Sound side of the war. The kazekage's wife had been rescued but Orochimaru and the traitor Yakushi Kabuto escaped. Uchiha Sasuke was barely clinging to life. ANBU had the comatose criminal under their arrest on his way to Konoha right now.

Temari blinked at the message. Mouse is okay, Gaara and Kankuro but "They captured the Uchiha alive?"

Tsunade frowned. Shit. If Sasuke was alive Orochimaru would eventually come for his container. I'll kill you Orochimaru. "I guess we'll see how alive he is when he gets here."

Temari didn't care how alive he was when he got here I'm gonna fuckin kill you Sasuke.

Gaara let Raine cry against him for a while. He was still mostly exhausted, Shizune had transferred some of Kankuro's chakra into him but Gaara had little to work with. He waited until she was more settled and he was calm. Endure it. "Can you tell me everything that you can remember Raine? From the beginning?"

She could she just didn't want to. "Is Temari alright?"

"Yes. She's with Tsunade. Gabe is with her."

"Gabe." Raine let out a pained sigh. "I want to see him."

"Me too." Gaara kissed the top of her head.

Raine looked up into Gaara's soft sad eyes. "You shook that place right out of the ground didn't you?"

Gaara couldn't help but smile a little. "I'd move mountains to get to you Raine."

She reached up and brushed the hair away from Gaara's eyes. "I love you Gaara."

"I love you." They had a bit more privacy now and Gaara kissed his wife.

I missed you so much. Raine melted into the man she loved. He comforted her with his kisses. "I'm so glad you're alright."

He took a deep breath and let it out steeling himself. "Are you alright Raine?"

She looked at Gaara's worried face and shook her head no. "Those people are fucked up Gaara. They made Saichi and this…one," Raine dropped her eyes from his. She couldn't look at her husband. She was too ashamed.

"It's alright Raine. Tsunade is going to look at you when we get back." He hated to see the wretched guilt in her expression.

Raine felt her stomach roll over. "Orochimaru took Saichi." She clenched her teeth. "What happened to Sasuke?"

Shit. "He's been taken into custody. ANBU has him; he's near death."

Not dead and not protecting Saichi…. Panic welled up inside. "Is he going to die?" she looked up at Gaara with wide eyes.

"If it were up to me he'd already be dead," Gaara couldn't help it.

Saichi was in grave danger in the hands of the evil sannin. "He's the only one who might know where Orochimaru took Saichi."

It felt like his stomach was turning itself inside out. She's worried about…that thing… "Raine, it's alright. You don't have to worry about anything anymore. The shinobi will handle things from here on."

"I don't understand."

"Orochimaru will be found," Gaara left off eventually. "If Sasuke lives he will be tried for what he has done. Konoha will put him in prison for the rest of his days or Sand will execute him. Either way he won't ever bother you again Raine. You're safe from Uchiha Sasuke. He can't hurt you anymore."

Safe… She remembered Sasuke grabbing her, mauling her kissing her like only Gaara had ever done "He…" touching her in a way no one but Gaara had. She remembered his warm hand on her womb and his death threat against Gaara's baby. "He was going to kill our baby. I had to make him stop."

The tears were back in his love's eyes and it tore at his heart. Ninken assured him that Sasuke hadn't been intimate with his wife. Sasuke had said Raine kissed him now Gaara understood why. She surrendered to Sasuke to save our baby. "Raine," Gaara took her face in his hands and the miserable tears fell from her eyes. "You saved our baby. Do you know what an amazingly brave thing you did? You gave yourself for our child. What you did isn't nearly as important as why you did it."

"Oh Gaara," she clung to him staring up into his eyes as the bitter tears flowed. "Our baby. We have a baby."

It made him smile to hear her say it. This entire nightmare aside, he had finally got her pregnant again. Raine was pregnant when she was abducted in Cardiff. "Yes." He kissed her lips. "Finally."

Gaara was happy about their baby too and she felt some of her sorrow melting away. She smiled a little at her husband. "I was surprised."

Her sweet countence, her innocence, Raine's gentle heart made him laugh. "So was I."

She stopped crying when she heard him laugh. Its okay Gaara's laughing everything is going to be alright. "Tsunade will be able to tell…"

"She'll make sure you're alright. You and them." Gaara dropped his eyes for a minute. "You've been through quite a bit Raine. I want to make sure that you're alright first."

He said them. "Gaara, what am I supposed to do with…."

He didn't want her to finish and Gaara looked up into her eyes. "Let Tsunade look at you. She's the best there is."

"Can she…take it out? What will happen to it?"

He wasn't quite sure what to think of what she said. It sort of made him want to throw up. He swallowed before he could gag. "I don't know."

"If she takes it out and it dies is it an abortion?" God would hate me. I'd hate myself.

"Let Tsunade look at you," Gaara repeated slowly. It was that word abortion. It came out of her mouth sounding dirty and heavy. As if Sasuke hadn't put enough sin on Raine, here was one more torment for her to endure. Gaara wished the Uchiha dead.

She was damned if she let Sasuke's baby live, damned it she killed it before it could grow any further. It was too hard to look into Gaara's sad eyes. "What am I supposed to do with it Gaara? You're my husband. Tell me."

I don't…I don't know. "We'll understand more after Tsunade looks at you."

"You decide."

"No we will decide." Gaara wrapped her into his arms and hugged her. "It's going to be alright Raine. No matter what I am here for you; with you, always."

Raine snuggled against him. "I never want to be away from you again Gaara."

"You won't be. Not ever again."

Naruto appeared asleep when Kankuro and Sakura first came to check on him. Lee was sitting between him and Kiba. Akamaru was asleep by his master. His eye had been repaired and covered to heal. It would be sensitive for a while and he had lost 20 percent of his vision in that eye, but Akamaru was okay.

Lee looked up at them. "How are Gaara and Raine?"

"They're okay. They need some time alone," Sakura moved to check on Naruto again.

Kankuro frowned. He didn't think mouse was okay not with that thing inside of her. He went and sat down in front of Lee. "How's Kiba?"

His eyes were closed but he was no longer asleep. "Kiba's fine," Kiba said peeling his eyes open. "I guess I owe Neji my life ne?"

"That fuckin Kabuto got away," Kankuro felt himself getting angry again.

"Sasuke didn't," Kiba hadn't been too fucked up to know what was going on. "Gaara got him good. He'll probably die."

"He fuckin needs to die," the sand ninja answered his friend.

Kiba sat up and looked at Kankuro. "What did he do to her?"

"The baby was something those sick fucks made using Raine and Sasuke's junk." Kankuro frowned down at his knees.

The kid was… "What happened to it?"

"Kabuto fled with the baby," Lee answered through cold lips. Poor Raine…

"Kabuto took the baby to Orochimaru." Naruto had been listening. He still couldn't open his eyes but he could speak. "He took it because it's an Uchiha."

"Not just an Uchiha," Sakura had studied Gabriel's interesting medical records. "A super Uchiha. Raine's half."

He rarely turned on a woman but Kankuro snapped at Sakura. "Mouse aint got half of nothing with that guy! She's got nothing to do with Sasuke or Orochimaru or those fucking rape babies those sick fucks made!"

Lee rested a hand on Kankuro's arm. "Kankuro?"

"Take it easy yo," Kiba advised as Naruto forced an eye open to look at Gaara's brother.

Naruto spoke to Kankuro. "They made more then one?"

"Keh," it felt like something was stabbing Kankuro through the chest. "They put one of those fucking things inside of her right next to my brother's baby."

"The fuck…" Kiba's mouth fell open.

"Raine is pregnant," Sakura explained. "She carries a baby that is Gaara's and a baby that is Sasuke's."

He felt himself break out into a cold sweat as he remembered the words of the villainous sannin. "Orochimaru said Raine was a special container to him too. That explains why."

"Orochimaru is never getting near mouse again. Neither is that fuckin Uchiha." Kankuro clenched a fist.

"Gaara will protect Raine," Lee was sure.

Naruto rolled his eye up to Sakura. "Is Sasuke going to die?"

"I don't know," she answered quietly.

He closed his eyes and sighed. Naruto ached everywhere and he was so tired. He thought of his kage friend and his pretty little genie wife. Take care of her Gaara. She needs you now.

The ANBU reached Konoha with the Uchiha and were directed to a special room Tsunade had prepared for him. Before she even attempted to begin treating his massive injuries Tsunade put a seal on Orochimaru's power. She healed his wrists first so he could be strapped down why she and a team worked to repair his broken body and crushed innards. He shouldn't even be alive.

She spent three hours seeing to Sasuke before Tsunade stepped out for a break. To her surprise Jiraiya was waiting for her outside. "Jiraiya, you're late."

"If Sasuke lives Orochimaru will come for him. He won't give up the Uchiha's body."

"I know."

"What are you going to do with him Tsunade?"

She cracked her aching knuckles. "He's going to prison."

"Orochimaru will come for him."

"Let him. I'll kick his ass." Tsunade started down the hall. "Coffee?"

She's still scary. "How about sake instead?" Jiraiya started to follow his old friend.

Tsunade smiled. "Even better."

A messenger arrived ahead of the returning Shinobi and Temari took Gabe to the gate where they stood with many other families waiting for their loved ones to return. In the flow of returning ninja she saw the familiar crop of red hair. Temari raised a hand hurrying toward Gaara mouse and Kankuro. "Gaara!"

Raine heard Temari and turned toward the sound of her voice. A second later she saw "Gabe!" she ran to him.

"Mama!" Gabe got excited.

Temari passed the excited mother her child and Raine hugged him. "Gabe! Oh Gabe!"

Gaara came up from behind watching Raine smother Gabe with kisses. He put an arm around them and acknowledged his son, "Hey big guy. Were you good for aunt Temari?"

Raine looked up at Temari. "Are you…okay?"

Temari couldn't bear the sad look on mouse's face and she hugged her. "I'm okay mouse, I'm just glad you're back safe."

Kankuro rubbed at his chin anxiously. He wanted mouse to see Tsunade right away. "Tsunade needs to check mouse out. Where is she?"

"At the hospital," Temari looked at Kankuro and then down at her sister in law cuddling her baby. "Are you okay mouse?"

"Let's take this elsewhere," Gaara suggested. He was pretty sure Temari was going to have a similar reaction to Raine's condition that big brother did. She was going to scream her damn head off. "Can you take us to Tsunade?"

Temari frowned some. "Yeah sure." She wanted to talk to Gaara about Sasuke, but she wasn't sure about mentioning the bastard in front of mouse. She turned and started away from the gate. "Sound was destroyed?" She was ready to hear about the battle.

"Gaara tore the place right out of the ground," Kankuro boasted.

"I would have liked to seen that," Temari said and she meant it.

Raine peeked over at her husband as Gabe excitedly rubbed her cheeks. He was walking with his arm around her and he looked a little tired, but Gaara was smiling a little. "You're truly amazing," she whispered to him.

Gaara looked at Raine, Gabe was as happy to see her as she was to see him. It warmed his tired heart to see them together again. "I love you."

Gaara broke it to Temari and Tsunade at the same time. They had all ducked into an empty room at the hospital. Just as Gaara suspected, Temari went off and started screaming. She threw a chair before Tsunade stopped her.

"You let me go kill that Uchiha bastard right now you old bitch!" Temari screamed up at the hokage that had restrained her.

Raine cringed beside him. "Temari please," Gaara pleaded.

Tsunade let the sand ninja go and looked at Gaara's wife. "Come here mouse," she called her by the family's pet name to try and relax the half panicked woman. "Lie down and let me examine you. The rest of you," Tsunade jabbed a thumb at the door.

"Can Gaara stay?" Raine was afraid to be alone.

Tsunade looked at Temari. "Can you calm down and look after your nephew?"

Temari wiped the angry tears from her eyes and went to take Gabe from mouse. Mouse looked traumatized and Temari felt her heart break. "Mouse," she hugged her sister. "I'm so sorry."

"Temari," Raine hugged her back with the arm not holding Gabe.

"It's my fault. I couldn't keep Sasuke from taking you," the guilt was unbearable.

Gaara rested a hand on his sister's shoulder. "This isn't your fault. Sasuke and Orochimaru are monsters, both of them. Sasuke should be dead. I crushed him."

"Oi," Tsunade broke it up. Her patient was beginning to look sickly. Temari took Gabe and went out. Kankuro followed. "Alright Raine."

Raine went and lay down on the bed for Tsunade. Gaara retrieved the thrown chair and dragged it to Raine's bedside. He took her hand and she squeezed it as the hokage looked her over. He watched Tsunade's blue hands on his wife.

Incredible. This is definitely Kabuto's work. She had to look hard to determine which embryo was which. He manipulated the womb at the time of implantation. They're… "They're about as close to twins as you can get. The design is flawless. It looks completely natural." She frowned a little at the staring couple. "They're both attached to you Raine and your body is already accommodating both babies."

Gaara was confused. "I thought twins were when one splits apart?"

"That's the case for identical twins. Fraternal twins however occur when two separate fertilized eggs implant. Biovular twins. Kabuto caught you at just the right time in your pregnancy to do this to you. Any later and you would have rejected the baby."

She didn't feel so good. "Can you tell which is which?"

She stared the young mother down. "Yes, if you really want me to."

The look the hokage was giving her made her want to squirm. "Can you…take it out?"

"I can kill it," Tsunade was blunt. "I am not Kabuto. I don't have some sick little lab to grow children in jars. I can't take it out of you and just put it somewhere. If you want it out of you I'll kill it. Your body will reabsorb the cells. It will be gone."

Gaara thought his wife looked pale. He was a little sweaty himself. Kill it…"Tsunade, could we have a moment?"

She stepped back and Raine sat up. Gaara put an arm around her. Sorry kids. Life's a bitch aint it. "I have some patients to check on. Why don't you think it over and find me in my office later." Tsunade stepped out into the hall.

"Gaara…" Raine was mortified. Tsunade had scared her shitless.

He hugged her. "It's alright Raine."

Saichi had been made by Kabuto just like the thing she carried now. He had been normal and healthy and beautiful. She thought of the fate of the baby Kabuto stole from her twice. "Oh Gaara, tell me what to do."

I wish I knew. "Calm down, it's alright. At least we know all three of you are alright. That's more then we knew yesterday."

"She said kill it." The idea of killing the thing they put inside of her was just as horrifying as letting it grow next to Gaara's baby.

His wife looked up at him with wide frightened eyes. Gaara certainly didn't want his woman carrying the child of his most bitter enemy but just look at her. Raine was devastated and afraid. How can I possible tell her to…? He took her face in his hands. "It's alright Raine. Tsunade just gave us an option. We don't have to," he tried not to choke on the words.

Raine frowned up at Gaara. "She said," Raine felt her heart shredding to pieces. "She said they were like twins."

From a medical standpoint they were fraternal twins. But only one of them is mine. "Raine," Gaara kissed her forehead.

She had to get it out, had to say it before she got sick holding it in anymore. "I hate him Gaara." She tightened her grip on Gaara's jacket. "But it's mine too. I didn't ask for it I didn't want it but…"

Gaara's wife was starting to cry. It hurt him to hear her finally say it, but it was the truth. Even if only one is mine both of the babies are hers. She's mother to both. He was beginning to doubt that he could tell her to just be rid of it and forget about it. My baby, Sasuke's baby but they're Raine's twins. "Don't cry baby."

He kissed her lips and Raine tried to stop. She was beyond miserable. Her mind was full of thoughts of baby Gabe and baby Saichi. Saichi had reminded her of Gabe in many ways. They had the same eyes, the same quiet gentle disposition; their mothers nature. "Gaara, Sasuke put his hand on me and threatened to kill our baby. If I kill the one Kabuto put in me it makes me no better then those monsters, doesn't it?"

"You're nothing like either one of them Raine." He wished the Uchiha dead again. Raine must have been terrified when he did that to her.

"It's not fair Gaara. We wanted Gabe. We wanted this one too, so badly."

Gaara kissed her again. "And I'm so very happy that you've given them to me Raine."

"The Uchiha babies weren't made because their parents wanted to share their love. They were made to please and to serve evil men. Orochimaru wants an army of monsters and Sasuke…" She shook her head. "It's so wrong and it's so unfair to the children."

He wrapped Raine into his arms and hugged her. She was right. It was sad to think that the children she was mother to were created so differently. Our love made us parents, sick science created the Uchiha babies. She's sympathetic to the children they forced on her.

It shouldn't come as a surprise. She had wanted a baby for months and Sasuke put a newborn in her arms, her baby. Raine had a soft spot for children and orphans. She and Gabe trotted off to the orphanage at least twice a week to play with the kids. It must have been a lot like being in hell when Sasuke presented her with their child. But one wasn't enough for Orochimaru and he took advantage of her condition to further his ambitions. Sasuke said Orochimaru wanted one of each of us in his army.

"You're right, it isn't fair. It's wrong what they did. They have no right to play god."

She sighed tiredly. "We're god now Gaara. We have to decide what to do with this child." Her hand went to the place Kabuto had stabbed her with the needle as if it was some sort of identifying spot.

Shit. Gaara started to sweat again. "We should think it over Raine. Sleep on it. It's been an exhausting past few days. Why don't we take Gabe and go back to our room and just try and relax for a while."

Raine nodded. Time with Gabe was just what she wanted right now. There was just one more thing she wanted her husband to mull over. "If I had both babies, who would protect the one Orochimaru made from him?"

Another sobering thought and Gaara swallowed hard. Had both…protect…? "Let's take some time to think." He kissed her again. Gaara could take no more of this conversation. "Let's get our boy."

The first family of Sand returned to Gaara's suite and he explained the situation to his siblings while Raine gave Gabe a bath. Kankuro and Temari both took the news without any screaming, they didn't want to upset mouse anymore then she already was. They sulked quietly for a while listening to Raine laugh and Gabe splash two rooms away.

Finally Kankuro said, "I yelled at Sakura, I didn't mean to and I felt bad later so I went to apologize to her." His siblings looked at him, Kankuro stared at his knees. "She said, 'is Raine a good mother?' and I said 'yeah the best'. She said…'then believe in her.'"

Gaara thought Kankuro was shaking just a little. "I do."

"I was afraid for her when Gabe first started using the sand. I was afraid Gabe was gonna be like you Gaara, but mouse; she took care of everything. Gabe is good and it's all because of her."

"We all raised Gabriel," Gaara reminded.

Kankuro smiled a little. "You mean we all spoiled him while we left her to do the hard stuff. She's done a great job with Gabe."

"She really has," Temari agreed.

"Gabe was a lot," Kankuro got serious again, "but two of em at once? Who knows what the Uchiha baby will do."

Temari couldn't help it and she frowned. "Babies aren't born evil Kankuro."

"No, just dangerous." He returned his sisters frown and then looked back at Gaara. "Think about what you know about the Uchiha Gaara. Itachi, Sasuke. How fucked up is Sasuke? Orochimaru did shit to that guy. He's a monster."

"They're both monsters." That sinking feeling was back in Gaara's heart.

"Sasuke and mouse have both had shit done to them by Orochimaru. Is it smart is it safe to let something made from those two live? One of those things already got away."

Gaara felt cold. One of those things…"Kankuro."

"I love mouse but in her own way she's just as dangerous as Sasuke. Gabe isn't the way he is because of you Gaara. It's her. What Orochimaru did to her."

"Raine is fine." It felt like someone had performed an ice jutsu down his back.

"She is but her kids aint. I can guarantee you those things Kabuto made have the same chromosomal anomaly as Gabe. That thing in there with your baby is a super Uchiha."

Stop it. "I understand that's likely the case."

"Then do something about it godamn it Gaara!" Kankuro exploded.

"Kankuro!" Temari interceded. "That's enough. Gaara understands the situation perfectly well."

His eye squint shut. "Orochimaru will eventually come looking to recruit Raine's children Gaara. Just how many of them are you going to protect?"

Raine's… my wife, my love. Gaara frowned at his brother. "As many as she wants me to. She is my wife Kankuro!" Gaara got to his feet. He couldn't listen to his brother anymore. He turned and headed for the bedroom. "What you just said Kankuro, you sounded like one of them. Call my wife an experiment, her children monsters; like me. I love her and I love Gabe and I will stand by Raine no matter what. Nothing, not Sasuke or Orochimaru not you will ever come between us again." Gaara stomped into his bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Temari sat with her mouth hanging open. She jumped when the door slammed. She looked at Kankuro. Big brother looked crushed. "Kankuro?"

Gaara's rebuking hurt. He looked at his sister. "I'm just worried about mouse, Gaara too. I don't want any more hell to happen to them!"

She dropped her eyes from her brothers pained face. Orochimaru, Uchiha Sasuke. This is your fault. "I know."

"He's pissed at me. Gaara's fucking pissed at me!"

"Baka, Gaara's pissed at the whole world right now." She looked at him again. He was waiting for her to go on. His eyes pleaded with her for understanding. "Put yourself in his place for a minute Kankuro. What was Gaara like without Raine?"

A sorry thing to look at. "He was lost without her."

"He's finally got her back. That's what really matters to him. She's finally pregnant again. They've been at it forever."

"But it's not just Gaara."

No it's not but Temari could see things from a woman's point of view. "They are both hers though Kankuro."

"She didn't want no damn Uchiha baby," Kankuro growled.

"No shit," she grit her teeth. "But its there. Its twins, her twins."

In the old days women had no say. Now Kankuro understood why. "This is fucking ridiculous." He got to his feet. "As the kazekage he shouldn't let something like that live. Its very existence is treason."

"Raine is not a traitor. She didn't betray Gaara or the Sand."

"The kage's wife is pregnant with another mans child. Whether Sasuke fucked her or not its adultery against the kage. That's treason. That thing should be killed and Sasuke should be dragged back to Sand and executed."

Temari stood to face her brother on shaky legs. The murderous intent coming from him was intense. "Kankuro."

"The murder of six ANBU. Assaulting you, and Raine. Stalking kidnapping attempted rape." He pointed at her. "Sasuke did that to you guys. My sisters! He should die and no part of him should be allowed to exist in this world!" Kankuro couldn't be in the room with her anymore. He stormed out and didn't look back.

Kankuro. She felt bad for her brothers, she felt bad for mouse. It all want back to that damn sannin. Reaching back to when Orochimaru and Sasori were together in Akatsuki. Orochimaru. There's got to be a way to kill that guy. Temari thought there was; she went to find Tsunade.

Jiraiya was outside of Sasuke's room waiting for her when Tsunade arrived. His old friend looked pissed. "What is it Tsunade?"

She frowned and went to the door. "This little bastard is a problem." Tsunade went in and Jiraiya followed. He hung back by the door while she went to check her special patient. Sasuke's body was covered with sacred seals that kept him immobile and unable to use his bloodline limit. Coma or not, every precaution was taken.

Jiraiya looked over the assortment of monitors Naruto's old friend was hooked to. There was a tube sticking out of Sasuke's mouth and an oxygen line plugged in his nose. "How is the little bastard?"

"Terrible. It's a good thing he's in a coma or he might die from the pain. I don't know how the hell he survived."

"And how is a half dead kid like him a problem for your kageship?"

"Sand has filed a list of charges against Sasuke. If he's tried in Sand which is what both Temari and Kankuro expressed to me they want, he'll be executed."

Jiraiya shifted. "Orochimaru won't let that happen."

"Orochimaru made another Uchiha using Sasuke and Raine as the parents. Orochimaru has the baby, Saichi." She turned and looked at Jiraiya. He had raised a brow. "That's not all. I recently met with the kazakage and his terrorized wife. She was pregnant when Sasuke abducted her. Kabuto implanted another Uchiha he made from them in Raine. That poor little girl is carrying Gaara and Sasuke's babies; twins."

He frowned. "Two for the price of one ne? Orochimaru." Jiraiya straightened. "He goes too far Tsunade."

"Yes he does."

"The way he uses people is cruel." His eyes went to Sasuke again. Jiraiya had done quite a bit of investigating regarding him over the years, mostly for Naruto's sake. "What are you going to do about Sasuke?"

Tsunade took in a deep breath and held it for a minute. "Well," she breathed. "I'll contain him, I'll treat him and if he ever wakes up he'll be charged with a whole bunch of shit and go to jail. If Orochimaru ever comes for Sasuke, I'll kill him. I won't let him torture these kids anymore."

He had the sudden urge to see Naruto. "I think I'll stay in town for a while if you wouldn't mind having a house guest." Jiraiya flashed her his best grin.

She rolled her eyes at her old friend. "Your feet make my room stink. Even Shizune thinks so."

Jiraiya chuckled. "I'll bring home the sake." He stepped out to leave Tsunade with her troublesome patient and went to find his young friend. Naruto fought with Orochimaru. Maybe he said something to him?

Raine came out of the bathroom carrying Gabe in a towel. "Da da!"

Gaara turned away from his damning thoughts and smiled at his boy. His crazy red hair was sticking up all over the place. "Did you have a fun bath buddy?"

"Boat."

It was his favorite toy in the water. "I see." Raine was smiling it was a real smile, she was happy to be with her family again. "I was thinking we could order room service," He moved closer to hug his family. "We'll lie around and watch cartoons all night. Just take some time to be together for a little while. I've missed you, Gabe's missed you. Let's leave the wolf at the door and be together tonight."

Time with her family was just what she wanted. "That sounds great." She smiled and kissed her husband.

A little normalcy was going to go a long way. "I'll get the menu."

Kankuro went to cool his heels in the bar. Sake, strong sake sounded like just what he needed. He went to Flow Joes because it was a rowdy shit hole and proceeded to drink himself into a real pisser. While Temari picked Tsunade's brain about Orochimaru and Gaara cuddled with his reunited family; Kankuro got drunk.

It was late when Kiba and Shikamaru found him and Kankuro was bleary eyed. "Oi ya drunk," Kiba greeted. "We've been everywhere looking for you."

"Temari has been worrying about you." Shikamaru sighed and looked at Kankuro. "She told us what's going on with Gaara and Raine. She's carrying around a lot of guilt. Temari feels responsible; Raine was with her when she was taken."

"It wasn't her fault it was that godamn Uchiha that Tsunade's got locked up." Kankuro finished his beer and waved at the bartender.

"Wasn't Temari's fault, wasn't Raine or Gaara's fault either." Kiba was frowning. "You said some pretty rough shit to your brother Kankuro."

"I spoke the truth."

Kiba flat eyed his friend. "You think Raine's children are monsters because of her."

"That isn't what I meant."

Shikamaru tried to clean it up before Kiba got as agitated as the sand ninja. "Raine and Sasuke have both been changed by Orochimaru. We've already seen with Gabriel what is possible with her children. The twins will likely be the same. Superior ninja from birth."

"Mouse aint having twins. It aint like that."

Kiba had grown up around dogs. Sometimes there was more then one father to a litter of puppies but all of the pups were the mama's babies. "You can't say that Kankuro. She's the mother of both of them. Whether she wanted it that way or not, that's how it is."

The bartender dropped off another beer and cleared out quick. "What you expect her to be all attached to some fucking thing that they stabbed into her?" Kankuro swigged his beer. "It's bullshit. It never should have happened and it should be erased."

"Kill it and be done with it," Kiba grumbled.

Kankuro downed half his beer staring into Kiba's eyes. Clearly his friend did not approve of his opinion. Konoha is too forgiving. "That thing would be a constant reminder of Uchiha Sasuke to my brother and his wife. Sasuke put mouse through enough already. It needs to die and so does Sasuke." He shifted his angry eyes to Shikamaru. "How can you not want him dead after what he did to Temari? I thought you loved her."

Shikamaru straightened. "I do. And I never underestimate Temari. She's a strong ninja and a smart woman. She told us we'd find you getting shitty somewhere. She was right."

Kankuro lifted a brow. Little shit. "You mouthing off to me?"

It was troublesome, but he was. "If that what it takes to get you to pull your head out of your ass then yeah I guess. Who do you think Temari turns to ne? She tells me everything. Your sister loves me back."

He was contemplating having a go at the chunin. "You're really lucky she does."

"Oi," Kiba didn't want them fighting. "Temari asked us to bring you back with us. Slam that beer and let's go."

"I don't wanna here her woman's lib shit right now I wanna drink." He didn't want to hear his sister or anyone call that Uchiha thing mouse carried her baby.

"You can't drown your problems in sake. You should go be with the family that needs you," Shikamaru knew he was taking a chance provoking the big guy, but Temari wanted big brother back at the suite with her.

Kankuro frowned at Shikamaru. "Why don't you go in my place? I'm sure Temari would be happier to see you then me anyway."

Kiba was becoming just as edgy as his troubled friend. "Cut the shit yo. Your sister needs you. She's upset."

"Ya think?" Kankuro turned on Kiba again. "Well ya know what? So am I!"

He lost his cool and Kiba snatched Kankuro right off the stool his ass was planted on by the front of his shirt. "Be a godamn man and deal with it! Stop wallowing in your hatred and your anger and think for a minute about the women in your life. Temari is consumed with guilt. Raine has been terrorized…"

Kankuro grabbed Kiba's shirt in return. "And the Uchiha should die for it! Sand is not as forgiving as…"

Shikamaru trapped his friends in his shadow. "That's enough both of you."

The bartender slunk back over. "Yo pencil neck; you get these two rowdy dicks outta my place. Eighty six is your lucky number."

"Sorry to be so troublesome," Shikamaru stayed calm. He released the ninja and they let go of each other. "You heard the man, let's go."

Kiba stepped out into the cool night air first with his best friend behind him. He took a deep breath and let it out. For a long moment he just stared up at the half moon thinking about Kankuro's little sisters. "I think he should die too," Kiba said finally.

Kankuro started to calm down standing in the chilly air. Sure his friends felt the same way he did, at least about the Uchiha. "Maybe he will."

"It's still a possibility," Shikamaru was up to date. "He's still in a coma. His body, his skull was crushed. Sasuke may never wake up."

Too bad Gaara didn't kill him. "Alright. Let's go see Temari."

Gaara's suite was across from his and Temari's so Kankuro dropped by to at least say goodnight. He didn't want to fight with his brother. Kankuro poked his head in and saw Gaara and his family snuggled together in a stack of pillows. Gabe was asleep in his daddy's arms. Mouse rested against him with her eyes closed. Gaara had his arm around her. Little brother looked over at the door.

"I just wanted," look at them. "I just wanted to say goodnight."

He didn't want to fight with his brother either. "Goodnight Kankuro."

He smiled a little at baby brother holding his sleepy loved ones. "Get them to bed." He ducked out and closed the door.

Gaara looked down at his wife. She looked peaceful. He didn't want to wake her and chance stirring up her sad dark thoughts but it was time to tuck Gabe in. He woke her with soft kisses on her face. She opened eyes and looked up at him. Gaara smiled. "Let's put Gabe to bed."

They tucked their son into his crib and as Raine started to undress for bed Gaara realized how much he had missed her in more intimate ways. He went to his half naked wife and wrapped her into his arms. He kissed her and Raine dug her hands into his hair. "I've missed you so much."

Gaara… She found heaven in his arms again. Raine let go of everything else and gave herself over to her husband. "I missed you too my love."

He couldn't wait anymore and Gaara backed them up to the bed kissing her. "I love you Raine." His hands slid over her curves. "Come to bed." Raine did and Gaara made love to his wife.

One of Sasuke's lungs collapsed at 4:18 in the morning. The medical team supervising him hurried to inflate the organ and Sasuke was put on a re breather. Machines breathed filtered air into him. The alarm sounded in his room again less then two hours later. Hemorrhaging in the cerebral cortex and Tsunade was called in.

Jiraiya was asleep on Tsunade's floor when a ninja came to fetch the hokage. Half asleep and still feeling a little tipsy he went to the hospital with Tsunade. He waited for her outside of the Uchiha's room mulling over what Naruto had told him.

Naruto hadn't been able to remember much. Orochimaru had referred to Raine as a container like Sasuke, but what could he possibly want with her body? Is it just the children or…? The snake tamer had also promised Naruto that Sasuke and Raine would be together forever meaning he has plans for her after he takes over Sasuke's body.

Jiraiya was beginning to wonder if Orochimaru was going to get the chance to take over the Uchiha. He was no medical expert but Jiraiya thought Sasuke was dieing. He should be dead after what Gaara did to him. He couldn't help but wonder why the kid so desperately clung to life. He had his revenge against Itachi, what was left?

Is it those baby Uchiha Orochimaru made? Does Sasuke have paternal feelings and instincts? If he did, then Orochimaru had failed to dye the boy his color after all. It was fitting that the bastard's ambitions would be his undoing if Sasuke lives that is.

The sannin leaned back against the wall to wait. A long tired sigh escaped him. He thought that when this was over he was going to go back to wind country, back to Lafayette. Maybe there was more to uncover there about Orochimaru's plans for the kazekage's wife. Orochimaru this isn't our generation. You need to leave these kids alone. Tsunade and I will make you.

It seemed like such a normal family breakfast it was surreal. Raine helped Gabe with the messy stuff smiling at laughing at her boy. The reunited couple both wore silly morning after grins. Temari and Kankuro argued over the days agenda. It was as if they had never been apart, until Shikamaru came in.

"Sasuke took a turn for the worse last night. He's on life support." Shikamaru hated being the messenger.

Gaara nodded at the chunin. He kissed Raine, got up and kissed Gabe. "I'd like to talk to Tsunade. Can you take me to her?"

"Sure." Shikamaru nodded to the family. "I'll see you all later." He went out and Gaara followed him.

They were nearly to the hospital before Gaara asked, "Is he dieing?"

"He has been since he fought you." Sakura had informed him it was doubtful that Sasuke was in any pain, but he was fighting for life since the battle at Sound.

Gaara fell silent again. A slow death at my hands is that how it is? Naruto stood between Jiraiya and Kakashi. He looked miserable. "Tsunade?"

"Inside," Kakashi nodded. "Go ahead."

"Is Sasuke…?"

"In there with Tsunade," the jonin answered.

Gaara nodded and went to the door. He braced himself to listen to Tsunade and he stepped in. The door swung shut behind him and got his first look at Sasuke since their fight at Hidden Sound. For a moment he was too stunned but do anything but stare.

Sasuke's body was covered with writing and he was strapped into bed. There were tubes going down Sasuke's throat and up his nose. A clear plastic mask fit over his mouth and nose. There were cotton balls over his eyes and they were taped shut. Three different i.v.'s dripped into the Uchiha and he was attached to several machines. He didn't look like a monster he looked like a man; a broken and dieing man. I did this to him.

Tsunade let Gaara get a good long look at Sasuke before she turned to him. "This war between you and Sasuke is over Gaara."

"He's going to die?"

"Isn't he dead enough for you? He can't move, he can't think. Sasuke can't even breathe on his own. I don't know if he ever will again." She sighed heavily. "Even if he does pull through this and wakes up there's no guarantee that he's alright. His brain bled quite a bit last night, brain damage is highly likely."

Gaara finally tore his eyes off the Uchiha and looked at Tsunade. "So, if he lives; what? He'll be a vegetable?"

"I don't know. The bleeding occurred in several areas of the brain. He could lose everything from motor function to memory." Tsunade stepped around Sasuke to Gaara. "He's no threat to you anymore Gaara. The both of you have truly done your worst to each other. You've been at each other since you hit puberty. Enough is enough. It's gone on far too long."

Far too long. His eyes swept the machines keeping Sasuke alive. "I cannot forgive what he did to my wife and my sister."

"Just like Sasuke couldn't forgive you for attacking Sakura and nearly killing them both?" Tsunade shook her head. "It's been bad blood between you for years. Let it go Gaara. It's over."

"Can it ever end so long as we both still live?"

She tried another approach. "What are you going to do about Raine? Are you going to tell that little girl to kill one of her babies?"

He thought of the way his love had cried after Tsunade left them yesterday. "I… it isn't like that?"

"Does your hatred run so deep, is your rivalry with Sasuke so important that you will make the woman you love suffer even more then she already has? Both of Raine's babies are doing just fine Gaara. Shall I kill one of her children to satisfy your anger with this man?" She looked at her patient. "Shall I carry over your hatred to your wife and onto the next generation?"

Raine…Gaara swallowed hard. "Sasuke has done enough to her."

"Then don't put her through anymore."

He frowned at Tsunade. "What the hell do you want me to do Tsunade!"

"I want you to love your wife Gaara, as much as she loves you. She accepted you, all of you. Your past, your family and title, even your enemies. Maybe Orochimaru would have gone looking for her eventually, but Sasuke wouldn't have. She might never have known him if it weren't for you and damnit Gaara she accepts that too."

My fault. I dragged her into the shit between me and Sasuke. Gaara closed his eyes for a moment listening to the rhythmic sounds of the machines. And this is what it comes down to? I've finally crushed Sasuke and look at what it cost. He looked at the Uchiha again.

She thought she was reaching him and Tsunade kept going. "Let it be over Gaara. Break the cycle of hate and revenge. Step away from Sasuke and take care of your wife."

She means…

"The two of you made Gabe because you had a lot of love to share. It's why you wanted another baby isn't it?"

Gaara could still remember the day he threw away Raine's birth control pills. "Yes."

She felt bad for the young couple and Tsunade cursed Orochimaru. "Is there enough love between you for you to accept her twins? Is your love for Raine stronger then your hatred for Sasuke? I think it is Gaara."

Raine's twins. Our baby and… "I love her more then anything."

"Gaara listen to me. Right now Raine is afraid. She's afraid to want to keep both of her babies. Sasuke has done a magnificent job terrorizing her and she knows full well how much you hate him, but it's her baby too. It's growing inside of her just like Gabe did. Just like your child is. Its part of her and it scares the hell out of her."

"I don't really know if Raine wants the baby."

"She's not going to let herself get attached if she thinks you could never love the baby. If you tell her to give it up; she will, but if you tell her you want both of her children I think you'll get an honest reaction out of her. She's your wife Gaara but Raine is also a good mother."

Raine wasn't just a good mother, she was the best. He looked at Sasuke again, at the bruised looking skin around his taped eyes and Gaara could hear him saying I let her keep your baby Gaara. She's going to bless us with twins. Tsunade was right, Gaara's wife was afraid of and for the Uchiha she carried. She had asked who would protect it if she went through with having both babies. "You think she should keep Sasuke's baby?"

"I think in Raine's heart she wants both of her children Gaara. I can't even begin to explaine to you how psychologically damaging the shit they put her through with Saichi was. She was mothering him when you rescued her, bonding with her infant. And now he's gone. Lost to Orochimaru with no one to protect him from that snake."

He frowned some. They had talked about Saichi a little more last night after they made love. She said Saichi was a good baby, that he reminded her of Gabe in many ways. Saichi has his mother's eyes. "I know she's worried about him."

"Raine has realized that her children need more then just love, they need to be protected from Orochimaru. She's lost one to him already. How she must hate him. Orochimaru has toyed with her family for three generations."

It struck a nerve and got Gaara's mind racing. "Then this all really began when Sasori introduced Orochimaru to Rhiannon. Raine's mother and Orochimaru had an affair going on for years; until Sasori killed her." His mouth felt dry.

Tsunade had a million questions she wanted answered about what went on between Orochimaru, Sasori and Rhiannon. "It's likely that Raine may have never been safe from Orochimaru. He has something in mind for her. He thinks of your wife as his container, just like Sasuke. They're both the same to him. Things to be used up and then discarded."

"I won't let Orochimaru near my wife ever again." Gaara meant it.

"And I have no intention of letting him have Sasuke, if he lives. If irreparable damage has been done to Sasuke," Tsunade looked at her patient feeling guilty for wishing such a thing. "If he cannot live as a ninja anymore then perhaps Orochimaru will leave him alone. If he can't fix Sasuke's body, he won't want it."

"Do you think…?" he was hesitant to ask her anymore about the Uchiha.

She cut her eyes back up to the kazekage. "You fucked him up Gaara, you won. If he dies then you will have killed him slowly. If he lives Sasuke will spend the rest of his life in a cell unless he's never able to leave the hospital, which is also a possibility. He's all done."

The taped eyes were disturbing. The clear plastic mask over Sasuke's face misted every now and then as the machine made him exhale. He's finished. Gaara remembered meeting Sasuke the first time. He had come to aid Sakura and Naruto. He stopped Kankuro from hurting those people.

The chunin exam seemed like a hundred years ago. They took the test and then Lee. What I did to Lee. I was going to kill him…Gaara took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Sasuke was in far worse condition then Lee had been. And then I told Sasuke I wanted a fight to the death. I went after him at a time he was already struggling against Orochimaru's power and to complete his mission of revenge against his brother. I made him my prey and told him his hate was weak…

Gaara remembered the Uchiha fight in the streets of Konoha. Sasuke had lost it when he killed his brother. There had been tears in his eyes when he wailed to Gaara's wife. He cried for his brother. He cried because he was empty. Gaara could understand feeling hollow inside; he was sort of feeling that way now.

After all these years Sasuke…"You're right Tsunade. This is enough. I'm finished with Sasuke. I'll leave him to you."

"What are you going to do about your little mouse?"

Raine. "I love her. I won't let anything happen to her again. Orochimaru's not getting his hands on her or anymore of her children." His love for his wife was stronger then his hate for Sasuke. Seeing his enemy in such a state of defeat doused the angry fire in Gaara's heart. Many years ago he had set out to kill Uchiha Sasuke instead Gaara had destroyed him. Sasuke was indeed all done.

Tsunade nodded. "And what about Raine's twins Gaara?"

There was a lump in his throat that was hard to swallow. "If they both come into this world I will protect them. They will never know Orochimaru; I won't let him have his way. He has stolen enough away from Raine. I won't tell her to end one of her own children just because we didn't put it there. I won't play god with life like Orochimaru does, like he has."

"It's cruel what he has done; to Raine and to Sasuke both."

He thought back to his fight with Sasuke, to the things he said. Gaara thought about the sad things his wife whispered to him last night as he held her close to him in bed. "For whatever twisted reasons he had, Sasuke didn't kill my baby. I really don't think Raine could have stopped him if he had really wanted to do it. Now I find myself in his position. Do I kill my enemy's child?" Gaara sighed. "No, I do not. I am a better man then that and I love my wife."

Tsunade smiled a little. She knew this was hard for Gaara. "A wise decision kazekage sama," Tsunade nodded approvingly.

"I won't make her keep it if she doesn't want to. If Raine really wants to give the Uchiha baby up for adoption I will only allow it to go to someone who could protect the child from Orochimaru." Tsunade was watching him, waiting for him to go on. "Should Raine decide to keep it, then I will love it as our own. I don't see how I could not love something that was part of her. This thing isn't growing in a lab, its growing in my wife with my baby. It's mine too."

The hokage's heart softened some. "It's good you love her so much."

His heart was aching but Gaara thought of Raine and smiled a little. "I did say I wanted ten children. Twins would get our numbers up there faster."

"Congratulations on becoming a father again Gaara; for as many times over as it may be. I'll give you time to talk to Raine. If you need me, you know where to find me."

Gaara was ready for this palver between the kage's to be over. He wanted to see Raine and Gabe. He wanted to get away from Sasuke's taped eyes and the sound of the machines. "Thank you Tsunade." Gaara hurried out.

Naruto straightened when Gaara emerged. "Gaara?"

I just want to go home. "What is it Naruto?"

Jiraiya answered for the boy. "You're ANBU investigated Raine's mother right?"

He sighed. Gaara so did not want to hear this right now. "Yes, you've read the reports haven't you?"

The sannin had. It was pretty basic stuff more about Raine then Rhiannon. "Yes, but was there anything else?"

"A box of pictures and trinkets."

"Rhiannon's things?"

"Yes. You're welcome to come to Sand and have a look if you'd like."

"I'm going with you," Naruto immediately piped up.

Kakashi looked up at Jiraiya. "So am I."

Gaara frowned. "May I ask why the sudden interest in Raine's mother?"

Naruto thought it best that he be the one to lay it on Gaara. "Orochimaru called Raine a container, like Sasuke is for him. He also said Sasuke and Raine would be together even after he took Sasuke's body."

He sighed aggravated. "Orochimaru wants Raine to create an army for him I know."

"Orochimaru can bring the dead back to life using human sacrifice," Kakashi thought about the fight between Sandiame and Orochimaru, the evil sannin's offer to their current hokage. "He may want more from your wife then just offspring Gaara."

"The dead?" Gaara was startled, sickened and sort of confused.

Jiraiya looked down at the frowning kage. "Rhiannon."

"Raine's got nothing to do with it! If Orochimaru is going to use his sick little jutsus he can do it without involving her. I don't give a fuck if he revives her entire fucking clan! Orochimaru is not getting my wife!" He had enough and Gaara started away.

"Gaara," Naruto called after him.

"You can come to Sand and look at the box if you'd like but leave Raine out of it. The last thing she needs to be worrying about right now is that sick fuck playing games with her dead mother." Gaara turned and stomped away. He was tired of Konoha. I just want to go home!

Naruto watched his friend go. Gaara we just want to protect Raine too. He sighed and rolled his eyes to the door to Sasuke's room. He had seen what had become of his old friend. Sasuke are you…

Kakashi laid a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "There's nothing more you can do here Naruto. Why don't you go find Sakura ne?"

"Sakura," Naruto had much to tell her and she could explaine the complicated stuff to him better then sensei. "Yeah, I'll go find her."

Jiraiya waited until Naruto was out of earshot. "You don't have to stay Kakashi."

"I know I don't have to but," he sighed. "I failed Sasuke. He was my student and my responsibility. I knew how full of hate he was but being a part of team seven was saving him from that dark place. I should have done more to protect him from Orochimaru."

"You remind me of my sensei Kakashi."

Kakashi bowed. "I tried my best to model myself after Sandiame hokage. I guess it went a little too exactly."

"It went that way because of Orochimaru. Because he wanted the Sharingan. Because he and Sasuke both wanted to kill Itachi. Things beyond your control Kakashi."

He hung his head. Sasuke had fallen apart after the chunin exams tormented by the power he saw Naruto and Gaara had. "I wish I could have saved him."

Jiraiya thought of his sensei, his old team. Sarutobi wanted to save Orochimaru too. Jiraiya thought of his own students he had so long ago; the little blonde that became hokage. His sensei and his student both died for Konoha. "Tsunade will try."

His family was sitting together in the sitting room, Gabe trying to play with everyone all at once. The adults giggled at the little guy running to please everyone. Gaara came in and Gabe ran to him. "Dada!"

Gaara picked up his boy and smiled at him. "How you doing Gabe?"

Kankuro hated to kill the happy mood but, "Did that guy… expire?"

"He's done for." Gaara set Gabe down and he ran to aunt Temari. "Even if he lives it will be in misery. I've left him to Tsunade. It's over."

Shikamaru had doubled back while Gaara met with Tsunade. He filled his girlfriend in. Kankuro knew the Uchiha was at his end. "I see."

"I thought it would be good to head home," Gaara smiled at Raine a little. "There's no reason to stay in Konoha anymore, is there?"

Kankuro and Raine both blinked at Gaara but Temari caught his meaning at once. He's keeping both babies. "What did Tsunade say to you?"

Gaara went to Raine and extended his hand to her. She took it and Gaara pulled her to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. "I love you Raine. I want to take you home."

Raine wanted to go home too but if she was not going to keep the twin she had to see Tsunade again before they could leave. She tried not to cringe asking, "After…?"

"No, now." He watched the understanding come into her eyes. "I'm not telling you that you must keep the Uchiha Raine but I will not let that which is part of you die."

Kankuro's mouth fell open. "Gaara!"

Raine flinched and Gaara hugged her closer. "You are my wife and as your husband and your kage the twins you carry belong to me. They are mine too."

No! Kankuro lost his breath. "How could you!" he wheezed.

He ignored his brother and kept his eyes on his flustered wife. Poor Raine was practically squirming. "The children you now carry Raine, I have love enough for both if that is what you wish because I love you so very much." Raine started to cry and Gaara kissed her.

"Ka?" Gabe trotted over to Kankuro and patted his uncle's lap.

Kankuro looked at the baby looking at him with eyes like mouse and he thought he could understand what little brother was feeling. "Come here buddy." Kankuro scooped Gabe up and hugged him.

Raine couldn't remember a time when she ever felt such relief. Gaara wasn't going to make her go through anything alone. He would love and protect both of the babies she carried. Our babies, both of them. "I love you Gaara."

Temari stood rubbing her eye to keep from crying herself. "I'll check our shinobi. We can leave Konoha this afternoon if you'd like Gaara."

"Yes, I'd like that," Gaara smiled down at Raine. "I want to go home."

Their friends saw them off a few hours later. Naruto stood between Kiba and Shikamaru watching the Sand ninja disappear into the forest. "Will they be alright?"

"I doubt Orochimaru will bother them again for a while. He'll be more concerned with Sasuke right about now," Shikamaru supposed.

"Do you think Sasuke will live?" He had asked Sakura, but she didn't know.

"I hope he dies," Kiba agreed with Kankuro on that much.

Naruto rolled his eyes over to Kiba's scowl. He hated Sasuke but Kiba was sweet on their genie friend. Kiba had defended Raine's twins from his best friend. Gaara kept both babies. He seemed to have a lot of what the evil sannin wanted.

Lee was standing quietly behind Naruto. He picked up on his friend's feelings. "Gaara will take good care of Raine and their family."

Shikamaru knew first hand, "Gaara and Raine are great parents and they love being mom and dad. They love each other. They'll do just fine."

Naruto took one last look into the forest. Gaara was gone. "Yeah." He turned away from his friends to go find Ero sannin.

"Troublesome thing, true love." Shikamaru already missed Temari.

Kiba chuckled and looked at Shikamaru. "So will you be moving to Sand or will Temari be coming here, ne Shikamaru?"

The recent drama certainly had him thinking about it. I could stretch a shadow for miles in the desert. Shikamaru sighed. "Are you rushing me Kiba?"

"Rushing is troublesome right?"

"Indeed it is." Shikamaru headed off himself. He had things to do.

"Let's get in some training Kiba," Lee suggested. "The day's not over yet."

Kiba grinned at his friend. "Alright, let's go."