Thanks for all the lovely reviews and for adding it your alert and favourite list. I am so happy for all the love you guys have given to this story.

Jenny- It's ok dear. I am always up for hearing what everyone thinks.

Guest-I understand your point of view. We can't put the blame on one though. Both Sasuke and Sakura are equally at fault here. Things will be more cleared as the story progresses.

/

Sakura's POV

It was a nightmare right? It has to be. There was no way that Sasuke Uchiha was standing right in front of me. Fate couldn't be that cruel.

"Mama!"

Sarada tugged at the hem of my gown as I broke my staring contest with her Daddy who was still too stunned to move and looked down at my daughter who was obvious to all the brewing tension around her. She grinned widely before hugging my waist tightly. I was too frozen to move an inch of muscle in my body as she broke from me.

"Mama I was searching for you but then I got lost and I was scared but that Mister helped me. Mama are you listening?"

She was shaking my hand to get my attention as I looked up again towards Sasuke. His eyes had gotten a tad bit darker from before as he looked at us. His eyes flickered from me to Sarada as though he was trying to put the pieces together. Oh no. He can't find out. Not like this. Someone up there definitely hated me. I mean what were the chances that he would be the one to stumble upon Sarada when she got lost.

I had to react. Fast. Before Sasuke could corner me with his twenty questions routine, I took Sarada's hand in mine and darted from there at full speed. I ignored her cry of protest as I walked down the stairs and towards the exit door. Reception was on the brink of completion. I would text Naruto later and apologize for leaving but now I had to get out of here. I thought I was ready to face him after all these times. But I am not. I heard faint sounds of footstep behind me as I increased my pace.

"Mama, where are we going?"

Sarada whined as she tried to loosen my tight grip but I didn't listen. I can't face him. Not today. Not yet. I sighed victoriously as I spotted my car in the parking lot.

"SAKURA!"

My heart drummed wildly as I heard his loud voice from a distance before I picked up Sarada and ran towards my car. I managed to unlock the vehicle with my trembling hands and shoved her unceremoniously on the passenger seat before rushing into the driver's seat.

"SAKURA STOP!"

The engine roared loudly as I drove from there at a high speed. I only wished that he won't have a car to chase me down.

"Mama..don't cry."

Sarada told me in a tiny voice as she too was shaken up by all this commotion and looked terrified. I wiped the tears with my right hand and bit my lips to muffle my cry. I didn't even realize I was crying until she pointed out. Oh god. I looked in the mirror and was glad to find that I wasn't being followed. I noticed then that I was already on the highway and slowed down a little.

I almost jumped when my phone rang and peeked to find Ino's name displaying on the screen. I immediately put it in the silent mode as I had no energy left to deal with anyone. I just wanted to lock myself into my apartment now. It took me twenty five minutes before I finally pulled in front of my apartment. Sarada didn't speak another word to me throughout the whole ride again and I was secretly glad.

She was visibly upset as I opened the door and got her out of the vehicle. I parked my car as I walked to my apartment silently. I didn't let go of her hands as though I was afraid she would disappear somewhere. I hurriedly unlocked the door to my flat and got in before slamming it shut with sheer force.

I threw my phone on the table as I slumped down on the couch in defeat. My tears welled up again as I didn't stop them this time and let them fall. I wondered what Sasuke was doing right now. Was he confronting Naruto about this whole situation. Did he figure out that he was Sarada's father? So many questions raced across my mind as I closed my eyes.

"Mama Do you want some water?"

I opened my eyes and found Sarada with a glass of water in her hand. I was touched by her concern as I took the glass from her hand and gulped down the liquid quickly before placing the glass on table. I motioned her to come towards me as she hesitatingly tip toed towards me and I enveloped her in my arms. I hugged her as though my life depended on it and cried. I cried and cried until there were no more tears left in my eyes.

All these years of hurt and betrayal came crashing down on me at once. It was only when I broke free from Sarada I noticed that she was crying along with me. She didn't know the reason but on seeing me upset, she got sad too. Her nose had turned red as she rubbed her eyes. I wiped her tears as I placed her on my lap and cradled her close to my chest. Just like I used to do when she was an infant. I hummed the tune of lullaby she loved to listen and wasn't surprised to find her sleeping few minutes later. The tiresome day has taken its toll on her. I picked her up and instead of taking her to her room, I brought her to mine and I clutched her closer to myself as I slept or at least tried to sleep. I needed rest. I had to be prepared especially for the events which would unfold tomorrow.

Naruto's POV

I wiped the remnant of blood from my lips with a tissue paper and tried not to groan at the pain that swirled through my body. Didn't I look lovely with the swollen eye and bruised jaw? A perfect getup for a man about to leave on his honeymoon. Sarcasm. No pun intended. I looked up to find him leaning by the wall. He was no better than me as his face was also bruised up pretty badly. The blood was beginning to clot over his forehead as I felt a smug satisfaction. Oh yeah I did a pretty good number on him.

To say that I was surprised when I found Sasuke walking towards me with pure unadultered rage was an understatement. He grabbed my collar and asked more like commanded me to come with him for a while as I excused myself from my guests and assured a worried Hinata I would be fine. We got into a secluded room and I locked it for privacy. Before I could turn and face him, his fist had collided with my face as I almost fell down before regaining my balance and glaring at him.

"THE FUCK TEME!"

"Sakura have a daughter?"

He was shaking with anger as the realization dawned upon me. Oh. So he did found out. But wait a moment. He didn't address Sarada as his but Sakura's. Did he actually find out? Only one way to know the answer.

"Yes. And she is happy with her and her husband. So you better stay out Teme."

His eyes grew wide momentarily and I inwardly snickered. Serves him right for being such an asshole. But then as though he had read my mind he clenched his jaw before aiming another punch at my face. I was quick this time as I dodged his attack before landing my own palm over his cheek. And soon we both were engaged in a brawl of fist. We exchanged blows after blows until we both had taken out our frustrations and couldn't move a muscle. I took out my handkerchief as I began to clean the blood while he kneeled by the wall.

"How old?"

I raised my eyebrow as he whispered all the while staring into space.

"She turned five this March."

I answered shortly as I didn't want to reveal him much about her. Sakura was the one who has the right to do so. He grew silent as he sat there numbly. For the first time I could actually read the emotions in his eyes. He seemed so lost. So defeated. A part of me felt sorry for him but another part still couldn't forget that it was him who pushed her away. He had no right to mourn now.

"What is her name?"

I snorted as I didn't feel like telling that to him. Actually screw that, I won't. He didn't deserve it. After what he did to Sakura, he didn't deserve anyone's sympathy. But he was my best friend. And I couldn't see him hurting even after all the shit he pulled.

"That's not for me to tell. "

His eyes snapped towards me in a blink of second as they were filled with blind rage once again. Fuck. Don't tell me he was going to hit me again. I barely had any stamina left now.

"She. Was. Pregnant."

He hissed darkly as I looked away. I wondered where was Sakura? Did she escape from here? I was pretty sure he won't be beating the shit out of me if Sakura was present.

"Where is Sakura?"

I voiced my thoughts as his face turned murderous at the mention of her name and I gulped. Now I was really afraid for her. Sure he was a bastard, but he wasn't that messed up to kill her.

"She ran away."

He whispered more to himself then to me as I nodded slowly. That made sense all right. There was a light knock on the door as my eyes darted towards it. I looked at Sasuke who still sat gloomily and showed no sign of opening as I got up.

"Sasuke. You should just talk to Sakura. "

He looked up at me as he chuckled darkly. He looked menacing as he got on his feet and gave me a cold look.

"You call me your best friend. You piece of shit. I am done with people like you."

He gave me the infamous Uchiha glare as he walked towards the door and slammed it open before walking out from there. I could barely register a worried Hinata rushing to my side, followed by Neji, Shikamaru and the rest of our friends as they asked what in the world happened.

"He found out."

I told them flatly as an eerie silence settled upon the room. What a great ending to this wonderful day!

/

Sasuke's POV

Seventeen hours. It has been seventeen hours since the moment I lost my insanity. I threw another punch to the bag as it shook wildly. My knuckles were bleeding. I was past the point of exhaustion now as I could barely stand. I was bathed in sweat I took out my frustration on the punching bag. I had destroyed the previous three but I couldn't care less. Shisui won't be pleased if he found out that I messed up his training room but fuck what he thinks. My body screamed at me to rest but I was too filled with rage to care. She betrayed me. My best friend betrayed me. Everyone betrayed me.

How? How could she? Did she really hate me that much to hide this from me? Was this her way of punishing me for leaving her all those years ago?

"Fucking hell Sasuke!"

I didn't turn as I kept punching the crap out of bag and didn't slow down for once. Shisui muttered some profanities as he studied the area before he walked towards me. He had probably figured out by now that I was too gone beyond the point of listening to his bullshit.

"So I found out everything that was on her record."

I stopped as I looked at his outstretched hand which a folder and immediately snatched it from him. Being an Uchiha had its perks alright. I opened it and found the papers in Sakura's name as I read through it. I was surprised to find that she was a physiotherapist now. Didn't she want to be a cardiologist before? I didn't ponder much on that thought as I noticed that she worked in a clinic named three points. There were few other things mentioned related to her work but I only read it briefly as that was not in my field of interest right now.

I rummaged through the sheets before I caught sight of the paper I was looking for. I felt an unsettling pain in my heart as I looked at her name. Sarada huh. Wonder why she kept that name if she hated me that much.

She was born on March 31. Three days after Sakura's birthday. I chuckled bitterly when I found out my name under the father's name. So she was considerate enough to put it on the paper. I clutched the birth certificate closer to my chest as though it would bring me closer to my daughter. My daughter. It was such a surreal feeling. I never would have thought that I would associate myself with this word in my life.

"I can't believe you are a father."

I almost forgot that Shisui was also in the room as he gave me an amused smile. I narrowed my eyes in a warning. Don't even think about starting with me now. He didn't as he understood the sensitivity of my situation.

"So. What now Sasuke?"

I didn't respond verbally as I smirked darkly and my fingers traced the address of her apartment slowly. I was going to take back what was mine. And no one could stop me.

/

Sakura's POV

I was tired as I returned back home after a tiresome day at work. I had invested myself completely in work to get over my frustration. I still hadn't taken any calls as there were hundreds of missed calls in my phone. I only texted Ino this morning to tell her that I was fine and I would talk to her once I was back from work. I also texted both Naruto and Hinata an apology as well as my best wishes for the honeymoon. Thankfully Kushina offered to take care of Sarada for me today as she didn't have school. We never told her that Sasuke was the father because she was friends with Sasuke's mother and then the words would have travelled to Uchiha matriarch quickly. I was alone today as Sarada would be staying the night at her place as she loved Kushina a lot. I figured it was for the better as her own Mom was too messed up right now. I thought of calling Ino over to my place as got out of the elevator. I would ask her to bring some nice beer as it had been a long time since I drank. I was about to take out the key from my purse when I noticed the light inside my flat. My hands froze as I wondered who could have broken in. I relaxed when I figured it might be Ino. Besides me only she was the one who had the key to my apartment. It was odd that she didn't call me. But then again, I hadn't taken any calls since yesterday night.

I knocked on the door but was surprised to find it opened as I took the handle and pushed it open. I closed it behind me as I got into my hall through the narrow corridor.

"Ino whe…."

My face lost all its colour when instead of finding my blonde haired friend, I found the raven haired man sitting on my couch as though he owned the place. He looked livid as he sat in my drawing room with his legs crossed in an imposing manner and his hands tapping the arm top of my sofa. His face twisted in a sadistic smile as he looked up at me.

"Welcome home Sakura."

/

Another cliffhanger aye! Please don't kill me though. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter.

Next up is the grand confrontation you all have been waiting for. I couldn't fit it in this as I didn't want to rush things. How is Sakura going to survive wrath of Sasuke? Or will it be the other way around?

I hope I did justice to this chapter.

Stay tuned until next time.

Read and review as always.

~Sora