Tsunade was very concerned with Hinata and the little Hizashi. The young girl had many heart injured before, and the labor was too long for her. The Hokage's worries were soon confirmed by careful examination. Hinata was not capable of working as a ninja anymore, meaning she could not take part in any mission despite her joanin rank. Because of the child she was on leave anyway, but Tsunade warned her that she will be needed in the hospital as soon as possible. Not going on missions was one thing, but working in the hospital was another. Her health would not be threatened by this duty, and Tsuande didn't want her pupil to stay home all the time with her despotic father and her baby.
Young Hizashi was a demanding child, he cried rarely but he demanded constant attention instead. He was a bright boy, always smiling and loved to be carried around. He was spoiled by everyone, especially but Sakura and his grandfather. To everyone's surprise the elder Hyuga was very fond of his grandson and willing took care of him. Hinata thought that he probably was trying to make up all what he did not have time to discover when she and Hanabi were little. With his grandson Lord Hyuga was not a Lord, but just a loving grandfather, although he tried to hide it anyway he could. Hinata first realized it when one morning she went to the babies room to check on her son, and did not find him there. She finally found him in her father's office sleeping in his grandfather's arms. It was a sweet sight for her, she was really happy that her father had become kinder to her in the last weeks, and she was even more content to discover that he accepted and cherished his grandson and future heir. She hoped that although she was a disappointment to him, that maybe this little boy will make it up in all the fields she failed so badly.
The child made her happy as never before. She had someone to live for, someone to take care of, and she a reason to live. Soon she was blossoming, she gained confidence under the loving smile of her son. For him she was not a failure, for him she was his beloved mother and nothing could change that. She began to change, she took on her duties as a medical ninja willingly, and she sacrificed all her time to her son. Soon people began to notice that she smiled more and stuttered less. That she was nice as always but more sure of herself and out going to people. Her little patients at the hospital loved her as a mother, demanding her attention and kindness. Attracted by her smile and sensitive heart. She helped them in any way she could and in return she got something she always lacked in her life, love and acceptance. While she was working Hizashi was taken care of by Sakura, Lord Hyuga or one of the nurses and everyone was happy with this arrangement.
Each day she woke up with the feeling that something was missing in her life, but that gap was slowly filling in and her life was no longer empty. She wished he could have seen their child's smile, and she wondered if he would have spoiled him as all the people around did, but he was not there. And he would never be there. Her father tried to persuade her to marry for the good of the child, so that her son would have a father, but she could never agree to something like that. There was only one man in her life and despite the fact that he was dead no one could take his place in her heart and bed.
Lord Hyuga felt surprised with the new emotions he came across when taking care of his grandson. He was proud of him, and in a way he was proud that his daughter finally did something right. This child was a perfect Hyuga and nothing could change that, even the fact that his mother was a failure. He promised himself that this time he would raise this child right, spend time on training yes, but at the same time show this child that he loved him, and not make the same mistakes he made raising his daughters. She did not agree to marry anyone, and when he asked the second time he still refused to name the father. But for him it was even better, this child was a Hyuga and no other family could take him or fight for him. This child was going to be the heir and he will be raised as the Heir. He kept promising himself that this time he will not make the mistakes he did before.
One day when Hinata and Sakura were returning from the hospital Sakura asked her friend to step in for a cup of tea before heading home.
Ever since she heard Hianta was pregnant she had one question to ask and she never found the courage to ask it.
"Hinata I need to know. Just say yes or no, I won't be mad at you." She told her.
"No, Naruto is not the father of my child. And no, he did not cheat on you." Hinata said without hearing the question.
"How did you know I was going to ask about that?" Sakura asked.
"I noticed the way you look at me and Hizashi as if trying to guess if it was Naruto. And it was not him." Replied Hinata.
"Then who was it Hinata?" Sakura whispered.
"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. I promised myself not to tell anyone, so I'm very sorry but this is something I prefer to keep to myself. He is dead, so lets leave it at that."
"He is the reason why you go to the rock everyday?" Sakura asked.
"Yes" came a short response. She closed her eyes trying to fight away the tears. She did not want to cry, no in front of someone. Not in front of Sakura, but then she realized Sakura had tears in her eyes as well.
"You know every time I look at you and Hizashi I get the feeling deep in my heart that I should have a child of my own. Naruto wanted to have sex, but I kept refusing saying that we need to get married first. I was so stupid. Now I have nothing…" she began to weep. "He is gone, and I will never have his children and I will be alone. I knew you loved him, and I was hoping it was his child, you know why? Because that would mean I would have a part of him to love."
They feel into each others arms, crying out their souls. Both were weeping for the men they lost, and for the future that was barred along with them. Their bond tightened, and from that day they were more like sister then friends.
Lee was trying to come to terms with his new life. After the war he was badly injured and his treatment was extremely long. Soon after it turned out his health was still in bad condition, he was not capable of working full time as a ninja, but then came a proposition he never considered. Tsunade gave him a new job, and now he had his own team and train. The kids he was taking care of were demanding, and this duty consumed most of his time. He had no time to come back to those nightmares which used to haunt him. The battle filed, his beloved TenTen and her death, the death of his best friend Neji, and the despair when he heard he could not go on missions anymore. Soon he regained his enthusiasm and his pupils made his life bright. And recently he had been observing someone very special, someone he used to admire, someone who was equally lonely as him. Maybe this time around he would get more lucky he thought. He tried to bum into her as often as possible, and today she even smiled at him.
When she saw Lee again Sakura noticed that he smiled at her more, and that she generally saw him more recently. When she finished worked at the hospital he would wait to walk her home and try to chat a bit. It made her freak out a bit. She knew Lee used to have a crush on her, and she knew he was engaged with TenTen, but at the same time she knew he must have been as lonely as she was. They both lost their teams, and most of their friends. Maybe it was time to go on she thought.