Author's Note: Yay for drama soap opera stuff! Just when you think things couldn't get any worse...they always hit and sometimes even sink below rock bottom. Gaara's life always seems to be like this. Sorry Gaara! We love you! See everyone next time!
Gaara woke to a slumbering Lee. He was sprawled in the chair beside the bed, dark rings circling under his eyes. Gaara felt a surprising feeling of relief. Lee had stayed with him all night. Lee instantly awoke to the movement Gaara made. His eyes popped open as he shot up. "Gaara! You're awake! Are you okay? Oh, wait! Don't move! You need to rest!"
Gaara kept still except for turning his head. He looked blankly at Lee while moving a hand to his stomach. It didn't feel any different then before. But it wasn't the same. He just couldn't wrap his mind around it. He just couldn't believe one of them was gone; just completely gone. He'd spent almost five months of his life growing, changing. Within himself new life grew; a new experience that was slowly transforming him. But now, now one of those lives within him had completely vanished. He forced out one word from his mouth, "Lee." Gaara scooted over on the bed and waited. Lee gave a sad smile and climbed in next to him. Lee wrapped his arms around his lover, giving him much needed comfort.
Gaara didn't understand. He was confused. The feelings running through his head made no sense to him. Feelings of loss, grief, these were things he couldn't quite grasp. All he knew was that he felt horrible. He grasped onto Lee and held on, completely at a loss for words…or for thought. Lee spoke up. "You know Gaara, this isn't the end. You have two more little ones in there that want you to stay strong and youthful! The one you lost would not want you to grieve for something you couldn't help. I bet my life on that!"
Gaara nodded while remaining still. Lee was right. Whatever feelings these were, even if he felt like just lying there wallowing in his misery, he knew that he had to get up. He knew that life wasn't always fair. He'd learned that one the hard way. He knew that life would continue on. He knew he'd continue on. Even if life was different now, he knew that everything would be alright in the end. Everything would make sense in time.
Kankuro and Temari burst through the door. "Gaara, you're awake!" Temari yelled as she ran to the bed. "Are you alright? Do you hurt anywhere?"
Kankuro said, "We were worried about you."
Gaara buried himself deeper into Lee's body. "I'm fine. Go get me food."
Kankuro sighed. 'Here we go again.' "Alright, what do you want?"
"Tofu and vegetables, three peaches, a bowl of miso ramen, and green tea."
Temari smiled. "Okay then. We'll be back."
Lee grinned. "Your appetite is the same as ever!"
Gaara growled. "Shut up."
Lee laughed as the door opened again. Tsunade walked in, a bottle of sake in hand. "I'm glad to see you're awake. And Lee…"
"Yes Hokage?"
"Get out of there. I need to check him."
Lee blushed furiously as he remembered where he was. He leaped out of bed, leaving a glaring Gaara. With a quick boost of speed, Tsunade examined Gaara. "You're healing quite well. You should be able to leave within a few days." Gaara gave a curt nod. "Now Gaara, I've already spoken to your siblings about this. Because of your condition, I will not be allowing you to return to Suna until you've given birth." Tsunade gave a knowing smile. "I have already sent a letter requesting that you three stay here a bit longer. I do still need your guy's help." She gave him a look. "Unless of course you want to return home…"
Gaara gave her a slightly irritated stare. "I'll stay here."
"Alright then, I'll come back later to check up on you. Oh, and one last thing. No strenuous activities for a bit okay?" With a smirk, Tsunade left, leaving behind a completely red Lee and a grumbling Gaara.
The siblings and Lee ate dinner that night in Gaara's room. They sat around talking (except Gaara of course) late into the evening. Tsunade eventually came in and broke them up. She needed to give Gaara a last check-up and he needed to sleep.
The group dispersed leaving Gaara alone for the night. Sighing, he turned over on his side, ready to drift off into dream land. The long evening with his siblings and Lee had left him worn out. The room was black as was Gaara's slowly disappearing sight.
A resounding creak tore through Gaara's darkening conscious, instantly awaking him. A slight rustle of clothing indicated someone had entered the room. Gaara stilled as the person walked over to his bed. Slowly, the curtains around his bed were pulled back. Maybe the sucker thought that it wouldn't wake him up. As soon as the curtain opened, the sand that continuously protected him smashed into the body, sending them flying. Gaara sat up and threw his legs over the bed, intending to stand. The figure let out an annoyed grumble.
There was a flash, a scream, and a thud as Gaara fell to the ground unconscious….
Break-
Gaara faded in and out of consciousness. He couldn't move his body. He could barely get the energy to lift his head. With his swimming vision, Gaara was able to make out one thing before he fell to sleep again…grey hair.
Break-
Lee, Temari, and Kankuro entered Gaara's room. The sheets of his bed were pulled to the floor and the bed itself was shockingly empty. Temari screamed, Kankuro yelled, and Lee fainted dead away…