So I lied! Pixie actually let me type up what I had written in my notebook, that and staying up til 4 in the morning because of how creative I've been feeling the last few days. I've actually written up to 108 pages right now, isn't that exciting?! I think so lol. Now it's just a matter of forcing myself to read over it and make sure I haven't made any mistakes. I have 41 reviews right now. The day I get 50 reviews I will post the next chapter. If not it won't be up til next week. I hope you like this one!

"Are you crazy? They'll hunt you down," Sakura whispered, holding Mitsuki tight to her chest as Itachi held her in his arms. They finally reached their destination, a small cave in the lower mountains miles outside Konoha. Only Kakashi knew about this cave, from their ANBU missions together, and it wasn't likely he'd think about it for at least a couple of hours…

"Tsunade knew I wasn't Kakashi. I couldn't afford a fight," he replied.

"How did you beat Kakashi so easily anyway?" Sakura asked.

"Kakashi used to be my partner in ANBU. I'd say he was the only one who really knew me, the only friend I really had… I'm sure he felt the same way. I just reminded him of that, and he let his guard down enough for me to land an attack. He'll be fine though. You don't have to worry. This is where we used to hide out so it's likely he'll be here in a few hours," Itachi explained.

"What are we going to do now?" she asked. It was warm enough and light enough outside to keep them comfortable for a while, and he'd set up camouflage netting over the entrance to hide them. A small crib and cot were set up for them a little further back in the cave. "I'm so tired," Sakura said with a sigh.

"You should sleep… I just wanted… I wanted to spend a little while with Mitsuki without having to hide myself," he said, laughing at the irony. Maybe he wasn't hiding his appearance here, but they were still hiding in a cave from Konoha. Sakura smiled as Itachi expertly swaddled their daughter.

"You're a natural," she joked. Mitsuki wiggled one hand out to put on his nose. She was able to open her eyes all the way in this dim light.

"Not really. Sasuke gave me a lot of practice," Itachi joked back.

"My plan worked… but I think they're growing suspicious of me. I don't know that I can explain how I was acting in the delivery room," Sakura said.

"Then your eyes still betray you when you lie. You have to make yourself believe what you're saying before you can fool anyone. It's not an easy thing to do. Even the most skilled shinobi let their eyes betray them," Itachi commented, going to hand their daughter to Sakura who shook her head.

"I'll be able to bond with her for a long time. This time is for you," she insisted. He smiled down at Mitsuki who just stared at him.

"You deviated from what you really wanted to tell me," he pointed out looking up at her. Sakura tensed. She wondered if she was this easily read by everyone, or just Itachi's exceptional gaze.

"Sasuke came…" she whispered, looking at her feet.

"I trust you said nothing," Itachi commented, knowing she wouldn't have.

"I only told him what I told everyone else. If he'd been looking a little closer he'd have known it was a lie. His rage was blinding him…" she said regretfully. It still pained her, just as much as the first time Itachi had told her that he had to drive Sasuke away.

"So then I was right," Itachi teased. Sakura let out a small laugh.

"You two, you're more alike then you know," Sakura told him. He looked quizzically at her. "He said he left to protect me from you, that he had to pretend I meant nothing to him."

"Did he say the things you wanted him to say? The things you told Konoha I said as Sasuke?" Itachi questioned with amusement. Sakura's face turned red.

"I told him I loved him and he kissed me. He said he would come back for me and Mitsuki when he had taken his revenge," Sakura revealed. Itachi tensed this time.

"Did he ask about her name?"

"No… He seemed a little confused, but he didn't say anything. Why?" Sakura questioned. Itachi let out a small laugh. Sasuke had probably forgotten all those memories. He put Mitsuki down in her crib where she soon fell asleep.

"Sasuke was the one to name her. He picked the name while we were discussing when I would marry and have children when he was very little. I think a friend at the academy had a sibling move out and he got worried I would leave him as well… It probably sounded familiar to him, but he didn't remember why."

"Thinking about what we're doing is sometimes the only thing that keeps me sane. No matter how close I am with Naruto and Kakashi I still feel alone. I wish you didn't have to do this…" Sakura commented to change the subject.

"It's because you don't have anything to hide when you're with me. It won't be like that forever. If I thought Sasuke could acquire the Mangekyo Sharingan on his own… maybe things would be different. But where would that leave you at this point?"

"What do you mean?"

"If there was a way for Sasuke to gain the Mangekyo Sharingan that didn't require me sacrificing my life?" Itachi probed. He scolded himself inwardly, because he had no right to ask. They could only be at peace when they were together, because they were bound by his secret. He shouldn't be making her feel any more conflicted then she was, but she made him want things he couldn't have. He should've been responsible and told her he only said it so she'd realize the repercussions of her statement, but he wanted to know…

"Then you mean to ask me, if you were able to live, and somehow Sasuke could accept what we'd done and still wanted me, who I'd pick?" she queried. Itachi laughed.

"I just wanted to know if your feelings for me were strictly out of empathy, and if what we did was simply your devotion to Sasuke's happiness. I would never want to hurt Sasuke by competing with him for your heart and I know it's wrong for me to have asked. It's just that when we're together, you make me feel like things could be different; like I could have things I know I can't," Itachi answered disheartened.

"I do have feelings for you Itachi… I'm attracted to you physically and mentally, but my heart is Sasuke's. It would be a betrayal for both of us to let our feelings turn to love," Sakura said, teary eyed. She felt guilty because she could not give the older Uchiha her heart. He may have found companionship with her, and they may have had Mitsuki to bond them, but Itachi would never know what it felt like to be loved. He almost let it slip that he'd betrayed Sasuke regardless, but there was no reason to make her feel any guiltier than she did…

"Thank you for your honesty. You should get some rest now," he said. He could accept that they would never be able to fall in love, knowing that she did have some kind of feelings for him. It was enough to make things bearable for him. He kissed the girl on the head and insisted she lay down and forget everything else. Sakura lay in the cot and took a nap as Itachi's fingers combed soothingly through her hair. When she woke hours later she found Itachi and Mitsuki staring at each other, Itachi with a sad smile on his face.

"This will probably be the only time we get to spend together Mitsuki. I'm sorry I won't be there to watch you grow up… One day your mom will explain it all to you, and maybe you'll forgive me for leaving you. You'll always have your Uncle Sasuke to look after you. I have to leave him too… Maybe one day you two will sit on your porch as the sun is setting and he'll tell you about the good times we shared.

You know, you're living proof that sometimes the rules can be broken. I thought I'd die and leave only shattered memories in my wake, but now I can die knowing you'll help heal the pain I caused in your uncle's heart. Maybe he can help fill the emptiness that will grow in yours. I love you Mitsuki. All of my suffering was worth this moment, having you in my arms. You be good for your mom, you hear? You're already so calm and quiet, I'm sure she won't have to worry about you. Grow up strong and make everyone proud," Itachi told his baby.

"Nii-san," Sasuke said, tugging on Itachi's shirt.

"Aa?" Itachi replied, breaking from his trance. His brother sat on the deck beside him, letting his feet dangle off the edge of the porch. He bit his lip and looked at his hands in his lap. "What is it Sasuke? You seem distressed."

"Are you going to move away?"

"Why would I do that?" Itachi asked, mussing Sasuke's hair.

"To get married and have babies," he said softly. Itachi laughed at him. He smiled warmly at his brother who scowled back at him.

"You don't have to worry about that. I don't even have a girlfriend. Anyway, don't you think it's a little early for you to become an uncle?" Itachi responded.

"I'm old enough!" Sasuke declared.

"Oh are you? Should I move out then, to find a girl and have babies for you?" he joked.

"No…" Sasuke said exasperatedly. Then he sighed. "Do you think you'll have lots of kids?" he asked.

"I guess that depends on my wife," Itachi said with a laugh.

"Do you want a boy or a girl?" Sasuke asked. "I hope a boy so I can train him." Itachi smiled.

"There's no reason you couldn't train a girl. And actually I'd prefer a little girl. I already helped raise you," Itachi replied.

"What will you name her?"

"Heh… I don't know; what do you think?" Itachi asked.

"Hmm…" Sasuke pondered. They both looked up to the horizon as the sun began to set, turning the sky orange. "I love the way the sky looks when the sun sets. It makes it feel like summer," Sasuke said. "How about you nii-san?"

"I think the sky is most beautiful when the moon is full. The night sky is entrancing, promising salvation. You're too young to understand it now, but you will," Itachi answered wistfully.

"Mitsuki then. That's what you'll have to name my niece," Sasuke declared.

"A perfect name Sasuke; thank you. Dinner's probably ready; let's go in and wash up," Itachi said. Sasuke glowed with happiness at his brother's approval as he followed his brother inside.

Sasuke shot up out of bed. Now he knew why that name bothered him so much… He picked it for Itachi. It seemed unlikely that Sakura would pick the same name… but what did that mean? It was just one more thing he had to add to the pile of mysteries Itachi left him with.

Kakashi raced through the forest, suddenly realizing where he'd probably find Sakura and Mitsuki, and if he wasn't too late, Itachi. Tsunade had wanted to question him, but when he heard Itachi had already taken them, he demanded that he be allowed to join the search. What could she say? How was he going to explain what happened anyway? The discussion they'd had this morning was still bothering him…

Kakashi had been held up when he saw some travelers being attacked on his way home. He knew he should've sent word to Konoha for Sakura's sake, but he also knew she would understand. 4 

days was more than he'd imagined he'd spend helping, but it just meant he had to move his ass to get back to Konoha. He was making excellent time once he got going, until he was half a day's journey to the city. He sensed someone following him and before he could decide what to do he was on the ground. As he stood up he found Itachi standing there.

"I'm not here to fight Kakashi," Itachi said.

"Why have you been following me?" Kakashi asked.

"Did you ever think it would end up like this?" he asked.

"You're trying to get my guard down," Kakashi accused.

"We used to go on those ANBU missions together… Even when everyone else despised me for outranking them, you didn't. I think on some level you even understood me. It's why I have to thank you, and also ask your forgiveness…"

"For what?" Kakashi asked.

"Thank you for taking care of Sakura and Mitsuki," he began, drawing closer to the silver haired man. Kakashi slipped a kunai into his hand and waited for the right moment to strike. "And forgive me, because I can't just walk into Konoha. Sakura needs me… something bad is about to happen…" Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

"What are you going to do to them?" he asked.

"I think you'll understand all of this when you find out. You were the only real friend I had," Itachi answered. It was the first time Kakashi had seen the Uchiha look vulnerable. His confession was so truthful it stunned Kakashi. It was like… like he had never changed. He rushed forward with the kunai, slashing upward diagonally across Itachi's chest. The clone exploded into a puff of smoke and his vision started to blur as he was stabbed from behind. He stumbled forward and collapsed on his knees. "If I'm ever going to see my daughter, I need to borrow your form. Forgive me…"

Gai had found him hours later, joking with him about the wound being a scratch. The wound was strategic. It was in deep enough to cause him to pass out, but in a spot that wasn't vital. Then he'd made a joke that the guy who stabbed him must have been in a hurry to have left the kunai in. All three things puzzled him. Someone as skilled as Itachi could've killed him in such a state… But he stabbed him where it would do the least damage, and left the kunai in so that he wouldn't die from loss of blood? Gai had bandaged him up as best he could, because when he removed the kunai Kakashi gushed blood everywhere. He'd been stitched up quickly before he left Konoha, but as he ran he knew the stitches were opening up. Just a few more minutes…

"Kakashi's coming, Sakura. I'm going to knock you out so you don't have to explain anything ok?" Itachi said, putting the baby in the crib. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize. I'm glad you came," Sakura said. Itachi cupped her cheek and she found herself leaning up toward him. He closed the gap between them and kissed her. She smiled when their lips parted and her eyes fluttered closed. He kissed Mitsuki on the forehead and once again he was gone.