Home had never been so welcome before. Sometimes it was lonely, and sometimes it was just comforting. Now as they sat watching the fire crackle in the hearth and watching the embers fly up the chimney like golden angels on their way to God, it was all they needed. Soon enough Sakura fell asleep on Sasuke's shoulder, and he made the good feeling last as long as possible before picking her up gently and tucking her in their bed. Then he hopped in himself, being sure not to awaken the sleeping girl beside him. He lay under the covers embroidered with the Uchiha crest, feeling just content. Then he slipped into a sleep with a wonderful dream about how he was going to train his child.

The next morning he woke up only to find that Sakura had already left the bed. He got up and walked into the bathroom for his morning shower that woke him up thoroughly. As he stepped into the shower with the cold water pouring over him, he smelled a sweet scent of lavender. That meant Sakura had already taken a shower. As he stepped out, drying himself, he could smell the warm smells of coffee and bacon. Sakura was a good cook, enough to rival Hinata and Ino. He walked downstairs, his bangs still dripping, and sat down at the round table Sakura had brought from home. It was covered with a tablecloth with the Uchiha crest and sakura blossoms sewn on. Sakura stood with her back towards Sasuke, standing over the frying pan. There was already a cup of coffee set at both their places. Sasuke usually had over sweetened coffee, and Sakura usually had a mild blend. Her pink hair was wrapped in a navy blue towel and her skin looked warm and moist. She usually took warm showers, so the water bill was evenly balanced.

She finally turned around with two plates in her hands. She placed the right one in front of Sasuke and the left one in front of her place. They both ate methodically, like every other morning. Sasuke put his dishes in the sink and went upstairs to change his clothes. He could hear the sound of running water and the clinking of plates and forks as Sakura put the dishes away. He heard the screen door opening as she went to water the sakura tree. Then he heard a loud scream from outside. He hurried outside, his arm warmers half falling off. Then he saw it: the sakura tree had been cut down. There was nothing left but a stump. The tree was a few yards away, its petals drifting off, but it was dead. Dead as a doorknob.

Sasuke walked up behind Sakura. He could see her shoulders were trembling and drops of water were hitting the ground. He put his strong arms around her shoulders, and she immediately turned and started to cry into his black shirt. Not that it mattered. It would get dirty anyway. He could hear muffled words between sobs and bent down a bit to listen.

"I...it t...to...took s...so l..lon...long t...to g...grow t...that t...tr...tree, and...and n...now, i...it's g...gone, a...all g...gone!"

Sasuke bent down and looked directly into Sakura's teary eyes.

"Sakura...it's ok...we can always get another one."

"I...it w...won't b..be t..the s..sa...same."

"Sakura...please don't cry. I don't like it when you cry. Besides, it probably won't be good for the baby to hear you cry so soon."

Sakura wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to breath normally again. After a few minutes, she looked up and said, "You're right...I shouldn't be crying over such a small thing as a tree."

"Come on...Kakashi-sensei wants me to go to training and since I can't leave you home alone, you might as well come. Besides, Kakashi said that mild physical activity will help for a successful delivery."

The pink-haired kunoichi nodded, and they both hopped off to the designated training place.

Kakashi and Naruto were already there, which was a major surprise. The Jounin was once again reading more of that infamous orange book which was well known throughout Konoha, and Naruto was laying on the grass, staring up at the clouds and undoubtedly thinking about ramen. The minute the Jounin looked up from his book he saw them. He also saw the tearstains on Sakura's cheeks, and undoubtedly noticed how Sasuke's arm was circling around her waist protectively. Something tragic must have happened. But what?

Naruto jumped up on upon hearing their footfalls on the soft grass. He pointed at Sasuke and immediately yelled out a demand to spar with him today, and that undoubtedly he would beat him. Sasuke just smirked. Upon reaching the arena, he let go of Sakura and an intense battle between the fox demon and the Uchiha heir began. Sakura just stood facing the opposite way, away from her team, away from everything, and stood looking at the waves that battered the shore of the faroff Land of Waves. She gazed absentmindedly at the tiny dots that were people moving on the Great Naruto Bridge. That place held a lot of memories.

Like that time when Sasuke risked his life for Naruto...That was when I cried for something I had thought was already dead...Then he was alive again and I was so happy and yet so scared...

Kakashi stood a little distance away, holding the book up to his eye, but not really reading it. Instead...he was looking at the girl who was looking at the water that surrounded the small island. He knew she was thinking about something. But what? Could it really be that hard to guess? He knew it was something tragic...but what could be so tragic to make Sakura cry the day after her 1st anniversary?

Hmm...what could be so precious to Sakura? So dear, that if she lost it, she would cry like this?

Memories? No...thats not it.

Feelings? No...that's not possible.

OMFG...HOW COME I DIDN'T THINK OF THIS BEFORE? WHAT IF...WHAT IF...THE DOCTOR SAID THAT...THE BABY WAS...DEAD! After all...the umbilical cord could have wrapped around its neck and choked it to death...

Even though Naruto was fighting with Sasuke, his mind wasn't really into it. His mind was on Sakura and why she had looked so sad.

What could she have lost? She hasn't cried in 9 years, why would she cry now? The last time she cried was when Sasuke "died"...but wait...Sasuke's right here fighting me he couldn't have died, that's an idiotic idea! Hmm...she's usually upset when she loses something precious to her...but she never cries. This must have been something that she REALLY cared about...LIKE HER BABY! Holy ramen what if she went to the doctor and found that it died!

Kakashi slowly walked up to the girl, well, technically a woman, but in his eyes, she was still a girl. Her eyes looked distant, faraway from the Training Arena, and she was startled when Kakashi whispered in her ear, "Something you need to talk about, hm?"

She gasped, then slowly recovered her composure. She nodded slightly, then shook her head. "What is it? Scared to talk to your own sensei?"

"It's just that...well...its not exactly personal...but it meant a lot to me and I'd feel stupid talking about it..."

"Just tell me. You can tell me anything."

"Fine if you insist. It died."

Holy does she mean her baby!

"What died?"

"The sakura tree...It died. It got chopped down, and I spent so much care on it too."

Thank Buddha, I would've been scared if Sakura had a DEAD baby inside her...

Naruto and Sasuke finished their sparring, and Sasuke was surprised that it had come to a draw. He walked up to Sakura and whispered, "Ready to go home, hn?" She only nodded. Her head was leaning on his shoulder as they walked off, Sasuke throwing back a "Ja". Then out of the blue Sakura said, "Hey Sasuke-kun?"

"Hn."

"Do we have any ramen in the house?"

"Why?"

"I'm really craving some right now."