Chapter 5

Nearly a week later, three days before Christmas, Sakura was working at the hospital while she waited for her doctor's appointment that day. Tsunade insisted that Sakura make an appointment for every other week, just to make sure all was well with her and the babies. None of them wanted a repeat of the last time. Sakura agreed, and this was her second appointment of many. It wasn't a problem to her. Sasuke had already gotten OK'd to only have missions out of the village for the weeks Sakura did not have an appointment, and the missions were not to take very long.

Sasuke's missions since they found out about Sakura's pregnancy had been simple things, to keep him from getting terribly injured and being unable to help Sakura with anything.

Actually, it made Sakura feel bad for Asuna. Asuna was nearing her due date, which was at the beginning of the New Year, but she was alone right now. When she was nearly six months pregnant, Itachi had been sent off a mission to the Rain Village, and had been on an extended stay ever since.

Asuna claimed she was perfectly fine, smiling the whole time. Sakura, however, knew Asuna was worried Itachi wouldn't make it home in time. That was the reason Asuna had been spending the majority of her time with Mikoto, it made her feel less lonely.

"Sakura-san!"

Sakura nearly jumped when the door to her office slammed open, one of the newer nurses showing up. "What? What's wrong!?"

"Your husband's sister-in-law came in and she's having contractions!"

"…What?!"

"Ugh… Sakura, kill me."

Laughing, Sakura shook her head as she went over to the monitor, checking everything. Asuna had definitely been brought in, that was no mistake. However, every symptom she had brought was pointing more towards Braxton Hicks Contractions than anything else.

"S-Sakura-san, your appointment with Tsunade-sama…"

Sakura shook her head at the other nurse. "No. I'm needed with my friend right now. Tell Tsunade-shishou I'll have to reschedule."

"Yes, ma'am."

Asuna sighed as the nurse left the room, sinking further into the hospital bed. "I am so over this… please tell me this is real labor."

"Well, at first glance, all the tests show that you're just having Braxton Hicks Contractions, but when I look closer, it definitely looks like you're in labor."

"…I'm confused."

Sakura just laughed. "You're in labor, for sure. With any luck, you could have this baby tonight."

"Lovely. And Itachi isn't here for it."

"Asuna…"

"I need a recovery room set up and ready for Asuna Uchiha. She'll be giving birth any moment now and we need to have it ready, all right, Yuki?"

The young nurse, Yuki, nodded before running off to get a room prepared, Sakura sighed as she sat down, leaving Asuna with Shizune, who was more than capable.

"Sakura-san, your husband is here."

"Let him in!" Sakura smiled to herself, leaning back as she waited for Sasuke to get in her office.

"I got Itachi back in time, right?!" Sasuke yelled when he entered his wife's office, looking exhausted. After Sakura found Asuna was in labor, she got Sasuke to head for the Rain Village to try and get Itachi back home in time.

That had been the day before. Asuna's labor progressed slowly, and it was December 23rd. when afternoon came, as it was now early evening, her labor sped up, and she was nearly ready to give birth, making Sakura pray Sasuke and Itachi would get back in time.

"You barely made it! Shizune should be taking Asuna into the delivery room right now. She's going to be so happy that Itachi made it in time."

Sasuke smiled, nodding, before sighing and plopping in the chair across from Sakura. "Thank goodness. We were worried we wouldn't make it. Do you want to stay until the baby's born?"

Sakura shook her head, standing up. "We should get home. I only got four hours of sleep last night and I doubt you or Itachi had any sleep last night."

"Yeah… did you have your appointment today?"

"A little while ago. The babies are fine, I'm fine. Tsunade-shishou decided not to do an ultrasound today since we just had one."

"All right." Sasuke stood up, stretching a bit before looking at Sakura with a smile. "Shall we head home then?"

"But of course."

"Aw, he's a cutie…"

Asuna giggled, hugging her day old son to herself. She was still worn out from the night before, but she didn't care. The tiny baby she and Itachi had been waiting for had finally arrived, with perfect timing too, as Itachi was supposed to be home just a couple days later, but he made it early.

"So, his name is Keisuke?"

"Mm-hm. Itachi picked it out right before he left on his mission."

Sakura smiled, nodding. "He's adorable… mind if I hold him?"

"Sure, here."

Sakura took a gentle hold on the newborn, keeping him close in order to keep from dropping him. She had never dropped a baby before, and did not want her nephew to the be the first. No one wanted to hear how the renowned Sakura Uchiha dropped her newborn nephew. It would make people less trustworthy of her.

"Oh, wow."

"Amazing, huh? I still don't believe this tiny boy was just inside of me yesterday."

"I can't believe I have two growing inside of me, and they're going to be just as beautiful as Keisuke is."

"Definitely! I mean, girl, you married the Sasuke Uchiha. All the girls had a crush on him!"

"Please tell me that you weren't one of them."

The two women looked over at the door, just in time to see Itachi.

"Itachi! I didn't mean I had a crush on him!"

The smirk on his face made Asuna's face go red as she pouted and took Keisuke back from Sakura. When Itachi attempted to take their son from her, Asuna kept him away and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Nope! You were mean!"

"What? How was I mean?"

"You just were!"

"Asuna."

Sakura smiled and rolled her eyes as she left the room, quietly closing the door behind her and sighing. Everyone said Asuna and Itachi were an odd couple, mainly because of their age difference. Age differences were common back when their parents got married, but they hadn't been as common in recent years. Usually, people would marry someone around their own age, maybe a year older or younger, but never five years. The announcement of their engagement was met with cold results from villagers, but warm acceptance from their families and friends, even if Asuna was only eighteen when they were married.

Seeing them with a baby after almost four years of marriage made Sakura smile as she headed home, thinking about how exciting it would be when she and Sasuke had their babies.

I can't wait to meet you two… I hope you'll love me and your daddy as much as we already love you.

"S-Sakura… calm down!"

"I can't Sasuke! Tomorrow is Christmas, Asuna and Keisuke are leaving the hospital in the afternoon, and I have yet to decide what we're going to be eating with your parents!"

Sasuke just smiled as he watched Sakura. She loved Christmas, it was likely her favorite time of the year. She had yet to hold a Christmas dinner at their house, Asuna and Mikoto taking care that the past three years, and Sakura was finally getting her turn.

"Sakura, please. Whatever you make will be fine, my parents won't care what you mean. Itachi won't care either. Asuna might, but I don't know."

Sakura looked at Sasuke, before shaking her head. "I just want it perfect, ok? I finally got my turn to do this, and I want it to be good."

"Whatever you do will be perfect, all right? Now, take a deep breath and calm down. I'll help you figure it out, ok?"

"Ok… I love you."

"I love you too. Now, let me see the menu you've got so far."

END CHAPTER 5

Author's Note: This sets up a bit for the companion fanfic I have planned to go with this.
Don't worry. Next week we will have two chapters: A special bonus chapter, and then Chapter 6, focusing a bit on Christmas. (not sure at the moment what I'm doing with Itachi, Asuna and the baby)
I'm trying to keep the chapters around the same length, which is two and a half pages in Word, or around 1,300 words. I'm not good at writing really long chapters, so, I just do what can.

Anyway, tomorrow I have a few finals to do, and then I shall be done for the year. :D
HOWEVER.
I got approved for work study on my campus. I have to meet with someone to tomorrow to talk about it, but, if all goes well, I will have my very first job ever. (don't judge me. i've tried to find work before)
I'm also enrolling for next semester.

I will be doing a lot of writing this summer because, with the way my schedule looks, I will have little time to write next semester. Hopefully, though, I will still be able to write during the school year. (if i can't, i'll be writing a lot during Christmas break)

See you next week~