Warning/Disclaimer: No...I don't own Naruto. Slight language

And exactly a month late- an update! ENJOY!

Come What May

[Good Man]

Oh baby if the sun comes up

And you're not home, I'll be strong

If you're not beside me I'll do my best to carry on
I'll tell the kids about you when they're old enough to understand

I'll tell them that their daddy was a good man

~Good Man by India Arie

Sakura had gone through her day in a haze- going to work at the school, having lunch with Scarlett, Ino, and Hinata; then going to work at the hospital. When she returned home she called her parents- her mother wanted Sakura to begin making funeral arrangements, her father on the other hand wanted Sakura to do what she thought was best.

"I refuse to make funeral arrangements until I have a body to burry," Sakura had told her mother bluntly- her filter long gone. "I'll be damn if I make myself even more upset by planning a funeral then find out he's alive and well. That's one emotional roller coaster I don't need to be on."

"But Sakura, at least give it some thought," Her mother replied. Sakura could tell by her tone that Mrs. Haruno was frowning worriedly. "What has his Uncle and Aunt said?"

"Scarlett said that they agree that we should wait until it is confirmed that he's dead until we begin arranging a funeral."

Sakura eventually gave up reason with her mother after a while and hung up on her. She knew her mother meant well, but she just couldn't think about planning a funeral for her husband. I'll have to mention the pregnancy later…She thought, realizing she forgot to tell her parents the news.

With a heavy sigh she leaned back on the couch- glancing around her lonely apartment. Her eyes soon landed to a white envelope on the coffee table- vaguely remembering that Scarlett had set it there the night before. Upon opening it and skimming its contents Sakura dropped the documents as if they were on fire. It was Naruto's will- what he wanted Sakura and his family to do after he passed away. Why had the military sent her this? He hadn't been confirmed dead yet! She shoved the will back into the envelope before throwing it across the room. I'm not changing my mind. She thought, He's alive somewhere and he'll find a way home.

But, Sakura was afraid. Afraid that no matter how much she hoped and prayed that Naruto would come back, she would still get a phone call telling her they found his body and that he was dead. It petrified her that she would have to show her future son or daughter pictures of a father that would never be able to raise them.

Akane skipped down the halls of the school humming a tune she heard the radio that morning. She was on her way to the nurse's office to take her medication (which in her opinion she felt she didn't need).

"Miss. Sakura!" She called, peeking into the room.

Sakura looked up from her paper work to smile at the child. "Hi sweetie. I have your medicine right here."

Akane moved towards the pink haired nurse, taking the cup of water and pill she was given. After taking the medicine she watched curiously as Sakura put the bottle of pills away.

"Did you need something else?" Sakura asked.

The young Uchiha bit her lip, glancing around the office nervously before bringing her gaze back to the woman in front of her. "Miss. Sakura…am I allowed to ask you questions?"

Sakura blinked in surprise. "Of course you are! What would you like to ask me?"

"Well…in a few days my class is putting on a play and we're allowed to bring in our parents," She began, fiddling with the lace on her dress. "I asked Daddy if he could come and he said he was busy that day so…I was wondering if you would be able to come."

Sakura felt her heart ache for the girl- it must be hard for her to have a busy father and no mother to support her. She smile gently at the young Uchiha and patted her head lovingly. "I'd love to come Akane."

A smile spread across Akane's whole face. "Thank you Ms. Sakura!"

Sakura watched as the girl skipped happily out of her office- probably to brag to her friends how the school nurse was coming to their class play specifically to watch her.

"That was kind of you Sakura," Hinata commented, coming into the office. She had been standing at the doorway casually listening (eavesdropping really) to the conversation.

"I couldn't just tell her no," Sakura replied, shuffling papers around. "And talking to her eases my mind a bit. She doesn't come to me with drama and complaints like so many others do. All she wants is mother-like attention."

Hinata nodded in understanding. "She is a cute kid. It's hard to believe she's Sasuke's daughter."

"It really is. I forget sometimes."

Hinata glanced away from her friend, wondering if she should ask the question on her mind. She checked on Sakura almost every other day and she knew her friend hated when people worried over her. "Sakura…how are you today? I have you seen a doctor yet?"

Sakura sighed. "I see a doctor today…and I'm fine. I mean, it still hurts every time I go home and realize I have no clue when he'll come back. It was easier to deal with when I knew there was a set day to expect him- now I don't know any more."

Hinata sent her friend a gentle smile. "Naruto has never been one to give up easily has he? I'm sure he won't go down without a fight. You never know, he could free himself soon." She reached over and patted Sakura's shoulder, saying: "You also need to take care of yourself and the baby."

Sakura sighed, wishing she could put more faith in her husband's abilities. She was just so worried about him. "Yeah…I know."

Naruto clutched to the picture of his wife as if it was his life line- essentially it was. Without the small picture of Sakura he would have given up by now. He was malnourished and suffering from sleep deprivation- not because the enemy forced him to stay awake, but because he was afraid to sleep. He was afraid they would harm him in his sleep, but after hours upon hours of fighting sleep he would finally give in, only to wake up about three hours later to repeat the cycle.

"I love you, I'll be waiting." He could hear Sakura say. He wanted to be with her, not in this dusty cell. His eyes strayed to the spot where Sai had been shot- blood stained on the floor. He didn't bother wondering what happened to his friend's body- he figured it was better not to know.

Footsteps pattered down the hallway until Kabuto appeared in front of his cell, swiftly unlocking the door saying: "Come on Uzumaki, you're moving cells and getting a shower- you stink."

"That's what happens when you get stuck in a cell for days on end and forced to use the bathroom in a corner," Naruto muttered, struggling to stand up. He pushed himself to stand on his two feet- refusing to give Kabuto the satisfaction of seeing just how undernourished and weak he was.

Kabuto zip tied his hands and pushed him down the hallways, leading him through the base until he was found himself in a bathroom. The small room held a toilet and a shower- Naruto never knew he could be so happy seeing these two objects.

"You have ten minutes," Kabuto said, shoving Naruto inside. He placed a t-shirt and sweatpants on the counter before locking Naruto in the room.

First, Naruto scanned for any way out- an air vent could even pose as an escape route. Unfortunately, there was none. With a heavy sigh, he stripped and got in the shower, not even complaining that the water was freezing cold. Dirt and blood slid off his body- wounds and sours stinging as the water hit them. After the first time in Kabuto's lab, Naruto had been back five other times. Each time was a new test; whether it is being inject with something that made him dizzy, or being put to a physical test even though he didn't have the energy. Each time he went Kabuto became increasingly irritated from Naruto's lack of response.

"What? No wince of pain or questions of if you can eat more than bread and water?" Kabuto had taunted him once. Naruto simply gave him a blank stare back, not really even registering what the silver haired man had said. "You'll be interesting to break. It might take time, but everyone cracks eventually."

Challenge accepted, Naruto had thought. You think I'll crack? Never.

After Naruto was done showering, using the toilet, and changing, he felt a little better. He was still sore, but at least he was clean. Kabuto soon came; zip tied his hands again, and took him to his new cell. To Naruto's surprise, the cell was actually more like a log cabin. There were about five rows of five in the large fenced field full of prisoners walking aimlessly around or talking amongst each other. As Kabuto pushed Naruto down the rows the grounds soon became quiet, everyone wondering where Kabuto was taking Naruto and who he was going to take back to the main base.

"Here's your new home," Kabuto said with fake warmth. "I'll see you soon." He undid Naruto's zip ties and left him at the door of his cabin. "Oh and curfew is at six, try not to be found outside after the designated time."

Naruto watched Kabuto walk twenty feet away from him, snatch up another prisoner and dragged the poor man back to the main building.

"Poor guy probably isn't coming back," A voice said from beside him.

Naruto jerked back a bit and looked at the entrance of the cabin. In the door way was the brightest, yet laziest person he knew. "N-Nara?"

Shikamaru gave the blond a pained smile, a fresh cut running down his right cheek. "Welcome to Camp 16, Uzumaki."

[Author's Corner]

~Thanks for reading! Leave all thoughts/comments/critiques in a review!

~Also I have a new Naruto fic out so if you have nothing to do you should go take a peak! (shamelessly advertising) It's OC-centric with Cannon Character, but I can promise there aren't mary-sues (and if there are for some reason...then you can flame me all you want)

~Anywho, have a great day!