Chapter 5: It's Your Love

Sakura woke before her alarm. The early morning streams of yellow sun broke their way through her thin curtains and pulled her out of her happy sleep. She blinked a moment before shooting up excitedly, though only to be disappointed by the made-up side of her bed greeting her.

Was it all a dream? She asked herself, pulling herself from the bed and into a brisk waddle into the living room. "Sasuke..." she whispered. She went in and out of all the cold rooms in the house. Her breathing quickened and she looked outside, finding the trees still broken and toppled over.

I hope he's okay...she thought, sinking to the couch. Those quick movements made her swollen ankles ache, along with her big knees and stiff back. She pulled herself up, determined look set on her face as she waddled to her bedroom and changed quickly. She grabbed and apple on her way out while she pulled on her green jacket like Tsunade's. She tied on her head band as she went, becoming an expert at the combing the hair with fingers and putting on headband while walking maneuver.

"Where do you think you're going?" a masculine voice asked, hand gripping her elbow.

"To my mother's office," Sakura said hotly, jerking her elbow free of the ANBU's grip. This was getting ridiculous.

"You, go with her," the ANBU ordered pointing to one leaning against the entrance of the apartment building.

"Yes, sir," the other ANBU said.

"I'm a jounin level nin trained by the Hokage herself. There is no way that I'm being escorted to the Hokage's office, which I might add is just two blocks from here," Sakura snapped. "And I would advise you not to piss me off."

"Was that a threat, Miss?"

"Exactly," Sakura said, fuming.

"Ha! She told you!" Tsunade's drunken laugh crackled through the ANBU's communicator. "Let her pass."

Sakura was sure the ANBU was glaring holes into her spine as she shoved past him, slipping on her sandles as she went. She started at a fast waddle making it to the Hokage's office in no time.

"Well, Sakura, what is it?" Tsunade asked, head resting on her arms and shoulders slumping tiredly. Her voice was a slur and in a whisper.

"I want the gate keys to the Uchiha district," Sakura said. When Tsunade looked up with a raised eyebrow she continued. "I-I wanted to see if I can find anything of Sasuke's for the baby..."

"Oh," Tsunade said. She stared for a moment longer, looking for any sign of a lie. "Very well. Take Naruto-"

"I'd rather do this alone," Sakura cut in quietly, looking at the floor. "It'd be better if I just go alone."

"I see," Tsunade said, digging through her desk. She pulled out a key shaped like the Uchiha clan symbol. "Be back before noon or I'm sending Naruto and Sai in after you."

"Understood," Sakura said, hurriedly taking the keys and hurrying off.

"Well, Shizune, why do you think she'd want to go there now?" Tsunade asked, leaning back in her chair.

"I think she was sincere, milady," Shizune replied. She sighed softly before continuing. "If she was going to find Sasuke she would have been more secretive about it I would think."

"If she does find Sasuke, I trust her to bring him to me with time," she said. "I'll give her two more days before he makes a grand reappearance. I'll have to think of a way to explain to the people the reason for his disappearance without having to have him carted off to the maximum security prison."

Tsunade smirked to herself. "I've got it."

The gate wasn't hard to open. It swung open easily with barely a sound. She took a trembling step in, only having to stop because of the overwhelming feeling of sadness and death. She was jolted from the feeling by a small tap on the inside of her stomach. "You're right," She whispered, hand on the spot. "Let's move."

She pulled a kunai from her pouch, her trusty axe being too big to carry through here in her current condition. Her feeling of sadness deepened with each step as she felt the old chakra of the lost souls and one that was completely black with hate. Her grip tightened on her knife, her knuckles going white from the effort.

By the time she got to the Uchiha main house she had scared herself to the edge. She was trembling and alert to every sound that was made. "Stay calm, Sakura," she told herself. "If Sasuke is here he won't let anything bad happen to you. You'll be just fine."

She slipped off her shoes respectively on the porch before entering. The door gave an eerie creak and swung open under her hand. Her breath came in short gasps. She felt around for a light dumbly though she wouldn't find one that worked. She had to giggle hysterically at herself. "Well, silly me. The power probably hasn't been cut on here in years."

She started along a wall until she found a paper door leading into a darker kitchen. She had to stop when she hit her shin on the low table, scaring her into gasping loudly and clinging to it for a moment before continuing through the house.

"Sasuke..." she whispered, hoping to aid her search for her fiance. She heard rummaging through a door beyond the kitchen. Then a sudden silence. She stood fully now, positive that he was in that room. She neared it, reaching out for the handle slowly.

A blood curdling scream erupted from her when a hand gripped her shoulder. That same hand spun her around and covered her mouth from hysteric screaming and crying.

"Sakura, it's me," his soft voice broke through the fear she was feeling to bring her to a calm deep breathing.

"You're safe!" she gasped, throwing his hand from her mouth and pulling him into a hug. "I was so afraid that they had found you."

"They would have if they heard you screaming like that," he replied, wrapping his arms around her. "What are you doing here anyway? How did you get in?"

"I was worried," she said. "So, I told Tsunade I wanted to get some of your baby things and she gave me the key to the gate." She held it up for his examination.

"So, that's where they were hiding it," he murmured, taking it and holding it closer for a better look. He slipped it into her pouch before moving back to dig through a cabinet. He pulled out a candle stick and a small candle that had been used often, she assumed. He lit it carefully and then held it up. "Come with me."

He took her hand, leading her through the dark halls of the Uchiha mansion, though keeping his eyes on the ground, refusing to look at the pictures on the walls. They turned off of the main hallway, going through a door on their left. "Sit there, I've got to see if they took it out."

She sat down on the dusty bed looking around the master bedroom. A picture on the nightstand captured her specific attention. She picked it up, rubbing the dust away with the edge of her jacket. She first found the younger version of her soon to be husband in the bottom left corner. He was smiling happily. A smile she'd never really seen before from him. Next to him was a taller boy with longer hair, though different in the face, they looked very similar. She assumed this was his older brother. Her eyes moved above Itachi to their mother a smiling woman that Sasuke resembled profoundly. Her hands were delicately placed on Sasuke's shoulders and she looked content. Even in this old picture she looked like the perfect mother that she knew she would love if the happy woman was still around. Tearing her eyes away from Mikoto she found Sasuke's father. He was the only one not smiling. A family trait she found as she looked from Sasuke back to the photo. Sasuke's father stuck out in the picture. His hair was lighter and his face wasn't shaped much like the rest of the family. He didn't look much like he was related to the rest.

She had to blink a few times to realize the photo had been taken from her and placed face down on the nightstand. She looked up at Sasuke standing before her. He had a sad look in his eyes and looked away from the picture. He sat down on the bed next to her taking her hand and sliding it on her finger.

She held it out to admire. It glimmered against the candle light. It was a white-gold band with a ruby and diamond pattern set into it. She smiled, kissing his cheek. "Your dad has excellent taste," she said, bringing her hand down and twirling the ring with her thumb.

"He would have liked you," Sasuke said quietly. "You act just like my mom."

"I do?" she asked, excitement bursting into her eyes. He nodded, not looking at her. He stood after that. "C'mon. You have to be convincing."

He helped her off the bed, leading her back into the hallway and into another room. It was considerably smaller and mostly blue. She assumed this had been his old room. He pulled open the closet doors moving out of the way of an old toy avalanche. She had to giggle.

"What?" he asked as he pulled down a box and opened to it.

"I always thought you would be the one to put your toys away neatly," she said.

"I was. I was just busy that day," he murmured.

"Ah, that explains it," she said still giggling.

"What?" he asked again, half smirk sliding up his lips as he closed the box, dissatisfied. He replaced it on the shelf and pulled down another.

"It just reminds me of Naruto's closet," she said. His smirk quickly faded into an annoyed frown.

"I'm not anything like that dobe," he said, opening the second box.

"Sure," Sakura said, sitting herself down on the bed and leaning back on her elbows.

"It was one time," Sasuke tried to redeem himself, but it was in vain.

"Just keep telling yourself that," she teased. Though, she stood again, seeing that his eyes were angry now. A twang of guilt ran through her. She neared him, moving in front of him. "I'm sorry. Are you mad at me? I didn't mean to make you mad."

He held her gaze a moment before breaking it. "I'm not mad." He studied the contents of the box for a moment longer then shut it softly. "Let's go. I need to get out of here."

"Alright," she said. They moved quickly towards the front of the house. He stopped her at the kitchen, handing her the box. He bent down and kissed her hard and full of need. "I'll be back tonight. Stay close to home. I'll get you when it's ready. Be alone."

"I will," she said quietly, pulling him into a one armed hug. "Just be careful."

"I will," he replied, kissing her one more time before disappearing.

Sakura admired the ring on the way home, she glanced at her watch and slid it off and into her pocket. She'd be meeting up with Naruto soon. He would've noticed for sure. She couldn't take that risk. She couldn't do that to Sasuke.

Sure enough the number one hyperactive ninja was right beside her on the road. "Hey, Sakura! Whatcha got there?"

"Just some old things of Sasuke's," she said, shifting the box to her other hip and out of the blonde's reach.

"Can I see?" Naruto asked, trying to move around Sakura to get a glimpse inside of the box. "Please?"

"You'll get your chance in about a half to two months," Sakura replied. That didn't seem to please him very much. The ninja annoying moved around her trying to peer into the rather plain looking box.

"So...Sakura, have you heard anything about-"

"No, I haven't. You?"

"No..."

"Give him time, Naruto," Sakura said, smiling softly and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Teme better hurry up," Naruto grumbled. "Unless he's scared to face me again! Guess he knows I'll kick his butt!" He said the second part a little louder just in case his lost teammate was around to hear him.

"Naruto..." Sakura sighed. She put down the box a moment, stopping to rub her lower back.

"Oh, did you want me to carry that?" Naruto asked, causing his teammates eyes to point towards the sky in minor annoyance. Naruto took the hint and picked up the rather heavy box. "Wow...gah...this stuff is heavy."

"Not really," Sakura shrugged as they continued on their way. She shoved her hands into her pockets and captured the ring within her pocket and twirling between her thumb and forefinger. She smiled softly and nearly slipped it on her finger.

"Naruto! We've spotted him!" Kiba called from a rooftop above them. "C'mon!"

All the muscles in Sakura's body tensed at once. Her breath caught up in her throat and she was sure she was going to vomit right there from fear. She had to grip the rail on the bridge for support. She was completely sure Naruto was saying something to her. She couldn't hear his words through this foggy haze that was clouding her mind. It was too early. It couldn't happen yet. She had to be the one to convince Tsunade not to have him committed to the prison or worse...She couldn't even think about the worse right now.

"Naruto, take Sakura home then meet us at the south corner," Shikamaru was talking now, giving careful instruction to the other members of the team. They listened intently and disappeared in seconds after receiving the plan.

"C'mon, Sakura," Naruto said, gently taking her elbow. "We have to get you home now. I promise I'll let you see him. He's not getting away this time. Believe it!"

Sakura jerked at Naruto's hand, pulling out of her shock and back to reality. "Let's hurry."

They were close to her home and Naruto left her with that safe distance and daylight to guide her to what would seem like the longest wait of her life. Sakura sank down onto her couch, listening intently for signs of anyone coming to inform her of her fiancée's fate. The silence filled the room and all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart against her ribcage in a painful pattern that felt like it was going to burst through her.

She felt dizzy and nauseous, though she was frozen in place. Her limbs felt like jelly and she couldn't stop her mind from racing a million miles a minute. She could just picture it now. Kiba's thrashing claws, Shikamaru's choking shadow, Naruto's deathly rasengan all going at her beloved at once.

She had to find out what was going on. She hauled herself up and pulled her jacket on again and hurried out the door to the porch. She had to stop them from harming Sasuke.

"C'mon, teme, we don't want to harm you," Naruto said. "Just don't put up a fight."

He held his hands up to show the half-changed ex-nin he meant no harm. "If anything, come for Sakura…"

Sasuke was silent, reaching for his sword. The three men were all upon him at once, throwing the nuke-nin to the ground.

The dust spurred up, curling menacingly around the leaf nin. When the dust and dirt cleared, a faint "pop" was heard and Sasukue disappeared from under them.

"You're going to have to try harder than that, dobe," the menacing voice called, disappearing into the forest. Growling, Naruto raced off after him.

She nearly knocked Sasuke into a tree when he grabbed her elbow softly. Though when she caught a glimpse of him, she pulled him into a bone crushing embrace.

"I was so worried! We have to get you to Tsunade before they find you! C'mon-"

"I bought us some time," He cut in, untangling himself from her. "We have to hurry."

"Where are we going?" she asked. He didn't answer, just turned and leant down for her to climb on his back.

"You'll see," a faint smile formed on his lips as she leant forward and he lifted her awkwardly off the ground. She clung to him and tried to lean forward to ease the strain on him.

Sakura closed her eyes to the rushing of the trees by them and focused more on keeping herself from jostling, though she was barely moving at all. Sasuke's movements were all smooth and graceful, it was like they were standing still and everything around them was moving.

When her nauseated feeling passed, she realized Sasuke had slowed to a walk and was about to stop.

"Are you alright?" he asked, squeezing her legs slightly to gain her attention. She opened her eyes carefully and smiled, "We're fine."

He glanced back a moment, confused. She kept on smiling when the light bulb seemed to click on and he half-smiled.

He let her down as they approached a clearing. A person was already standing in the middle of it and it was Sakura's turn to be confused. She smiled and gave a girlish squeal of delight when she found out what it was.

Their wedding was small and sweet. It was the kind of romantic Sakura had always fantasized about. It was the type only found in her books. Sure, it wasn't the wedding she had planned all of these years, it was better. Her only regret was that no-one was there to see it.

Their kiss at the end of the ceremony was the best of all. It took her from being Haruno Sakura to Uchiha Sakura, a name she'd only dreamed of having until that day.

"Sasuke, I love you ," she whispered in his ear, holding him as tightly as her bulging form would allow.

"I love you, too," he whispered back, returning her embrace.

Right now, she didn't want to think of what would happen tonight or tomorrow. She didn't want to think of going to her mother and telling her that she had been harboring a Bingo Book fugitive and that she wanted him replaced from all charges. All she wanted to think about was that she was now Mrs. Sakura Uchiha and that she was now carrying the heir to the Uchiha clan. All she wanted was the feeling of complete happiness she was having right now.

She dreaded the moment Sasuke stopped kissing her and told her they had to go back, but she knew she was right and the fact she was hungry didn't help either.

He let her walk from the edge of the woods to her home, reluctantly saying farewell till it was dark and they could be together.

Naruto showed up a few minutes later, and he was angry. He stormed in into her apartment, slammed the door behind him, and slumped down on the couch. Sai followed in soon after, fake smile plastered on his face, or maybe it was genuine, she couldn't tell.

"Oh, come on in, Naruto," she said sarcastically as she sliced her tomatoes. "Don't slam the door behind you and please make sure you don't get dirt all over my couch."

"Sorry, " Naruto muttered. "I'm just angry."

She looked to Sai for a strait report without a flood of emotions getting in the way.

"The Sasukes that were spotted were all shadow clones. The real one is possibly still in the area, but there is no trace of him. Kiba and Shikamaru went to look further, but I don't think they'll find anything," Sai said. "I just want to know why the Uchiha would need a distraction such as this. Was he here, Sakura?"

"No," Sakura said quietly. She hid her smile with a look of study as she pondered over what to eat with the tomatoes. "Food, boys?"

"Yeah," Naruto grumbled and Sai nodded. She set some microvable ramen in for Naruto and started a sandwich for Sai.

Once those were given out, she sat down between them and munched lightly on her tomatoes.

"Sakura?" Sai asked quietly, breaking their apparent code of silence.

"Yes, Sai," Sakura replied as she used both Naruto and Sai's shoulders to help herself up. She took their empty plated to the sink to wash.

"Do you love the Uchiha?" he asked. She stopped in her movements to stare at him. Where had that come from?

"Yes, Sai," she replied. "Very much."

"Do you think that will ever change?"

"No, I don't," she said, glancing down at her finger where the two rings rest, a plain white gold and her glimmering engagement ring. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," he replied. "I just wished to know. Thank you for the food. I must be going ."

"Goodbye," Sakura said, smiling. Sai took his leave and Naruto Perked up. "What's with him?"

"I don't know," Sakura replied. "I'll go by later and find out."

Naruto's face grew angry again and he stood. Fine, don't ask me what's wrong. "I'm going too."

"See you later, Naruto," she waved slightly and turned back to her dishes.

She mumbled to herself when he closed the door. "Those two are acting so weird today. Don't you think?" When she received movement from inside her stomach, she continued. "Well, Naruto's always crazy over these things, but today seemed…different. Guess it's because your dad come back and Naruto didn't catch him. But, Sai, when has he ever really cared about my feelings for your dad? Guess I'll find out later…"

Author's Note:

If there are any of you out there that are inspired to draw or make a AMV out of anything in this, please do. I would be eternally grateful if you do and send me the link. The next chapter should be up soon. Please review. I love reviews.

Lost Ranger.