Heart of Ice

Chapter 4: Time of Healing

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!

Pairing: Sasu/Saku

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter! ^_^

~HRD

Sasuke was out on the trail thinking about his conversation with Shikamaru before he left. "Sasuke. Look. I understand - kind of - what you're going through. I understand that you wanted a son, not a daughter, but unfortunately you have a daughter. You can't just keep being hot and cold with Sakura, she deserves so much better from you. I'm telling you this as your friend, and also as Sakura's friend, you can't keep avoiding your wife. She is going to need all the help she can get taking care of a new baby, and running off on a long assignment is not the best choice." Sasuke had started to speak, but Shikamaru held up his hand. "Sasuke, save the excuses. Learn to live in the moment, and embrace what you've been given in life. You've been given a second chance at a family. They'll never replace your parents or Itachi, but they're your family. Don't let them get away from you."

He was resting by a river, enjoying the sun shining and the peace and calm surrounding him. I can't argue with what he's saying. I know she's given me the greatest blessing in the world. He closed his eyes, but the image running through his head were the skattered bodies of first his clan, then his village. The bodies of other fallen ninja throughout the wars, and ones from his own hand. I need to provide a better life for my family. He opened his eyes at that word. Family. I guess we kind of are, aren't we?

He should have stayed home with Sakura and the baby. I'm so ashamed that I don't even know what she named her. Noroi? Is that what I heard her calling the baby? He pictured Sakura, having just given birth to their daughter, the radiant smile on her face as she gazed upon the baby. The warmth that spread through him at that picture - wife and daughter. Both alive and healthy. Then the terror that turned to rage at seeing a girl instead of a boy. I really screwed that whole thing up...

After three months of enjoying the baby all to herself and settling into motherhood, Sakura decided it was way past time to visit her friends. They got together occasionally, but it was always with all of the children. Not this time, tho! They decided to get together over at Sakura's house, leaving the kids in Shikamaru and Naruto's care.

"This is so nice to get out and stretch!" Hinata exclaimed, excited to get out with the girls and have some much over due "me' time.

"I agree!" Temari exclaimed, rubbing her growing bump. "Being 8 months pregnant isn't horrible, and I don't mind being home with my feet up preparing for the baby to be born, but being cooped up all day sucks!"

"I'm going to go insane by myself, and I appreciate your husbands offering to look at the kids while we had some girl time to ourselves!" Sakura said, rising to make tea.

"No problem. Noroi is such a good baby, and she looks exactly like Sasuke!" Temari paused. "Has he even cared to once hold her or to even look at her?"

"Nope. Refuses to even mention her name or have me say it whenever I start to talk about her. He usually glares at me and stalks away. Well, whenever he's home, that is." Sakura said, bringing in some cups.

"Really? I'm sorry, Sakura." Hinata said, wishing things were different for her friend.

"Whenever he's around, it's long enough for him to sleep with me, and when he's done, he leaves. He always says, 'Hopefully you'll have a boy.' then he leaves! I don't know how much more I can take from than man!" Sakura said, tears coming to her eyes. "We had started to develop a close relationship before I was pregnant. He'd actually sleep with me after we'd have sex." Sakura pause, remembering those good days.

They kept talking, but suddenly Shikamaru came in. "Sakura! Sasuke's hurt!"

"What?! Please take me to him." Sakura said, and on the inside, her heart almost stopped. She followed Shikamaru to a clinic where Sasuke was lying, blood oozing out of his stomach and left leg. "Sasuke!" she cried, running to him.

"Sak-Sakura?" he barely whispered.

"Shh…you need to rest. Yes, it's me." Sakura put her hands on his chest, and closed her eyes. She focused on healing him, and when she felt satisfied, she moved down to his leg. She healed his leg, too, and got up. When she got up, she felt very dizzy and had to sit down. "I just used too much chakra. That's all." She looked at her friends, and told them to go home. "If you'll take care of Noroi, I'll stay here with Sasuke."

"I'll take her home with us." Temari said, but Hinata disagreed. "You're 8 months pregnant, Mari. Let us take her home. After all, our little one is not that much older than Noroi." Temari agreed, and Hinata and Naruto took her little Noroi home with them so she could focus on Sasuke and taking care of him.

She lay down on the bed next to Sasuke. She was surprised to feel his arms come around her, holding her close to his chest. She sighed. If only he'd start to do this every night again. She thought that maybe this might mean that he had a soft spot for her after all, and maybe things were going to change back to how they were. Maybe even more than before. Maybe, just maybe, he realized that he loves me.

As Hinata and Naruto were leaving, she looked back one final time to see Sasuke had wrapped his arms around her.

"He loves her, you know." Naruto said, smiling at his wife.

"I thought so, but she doesn't know that." Hinata said, frowning slightly.

"She should. He shows it in his own way." Naruto said, going to take Noroi from her so she could carry their son. He had a way of demanding his mother's attention, especially when he was hungry.

"I'm glad that Sakura is always prepared and had some bottles pre-made. Now you can help with feeding times." Hinata winked at him, noticing he'd gotten pale just thinking about it. When Hinata laughed, Naruto's face softened.

"Thank you." At her puzzled expression, he continued. "Thank you for your love, for the family you've given me. For the opportunity to be the best husband and father I can be." He looked at their son, just a few months old, looking indignant at not being fed yet. "I can't express often enough how thankful I am. Or how much I love you."

They walked home, Hinata blushing furiously, and Naruto grinning like an idiot.

She woke up before him and checked his temperature and double check the areas she healed, just to be safe. She started to turn away, but noticed that he'd woke up. He tried to sit up, but he became a little dizzy. "You need to rest and eat to regain the rest of your strength. Especially after all that blood that you lost."

"Why did you come? You could have let me die and end all of your troubles."

"I couldn't do that to the father of my unborn child. He deserves to know his daddy." she said, knowing he'd be surprised and happy.

"Are you saying you're pregnant again?" he asked.

"Yes, I am."

"That's good news." he said, then lay back down and closed his eyes, a smile on his lips.

Sasuke lay there, smiling. He knew she could see it, but he didn't care. Maybe, just maybe, she'd forgive him and they could begin again. He thought about the news that she just gave him. She's pregnant! When she'd said it, she didn't sound angry, just happy that they were expecting again. Despite how horrible he had been to her.

He thought back to his mission, about the wrong turn it'd taken, and how fortunate he was to still be alive and have a second chance. I'm not going to ruin this third opportunity to have a family. He thought to Sakura once more, and the unborn baby she carried, and the baby girl that she'd already blessed him with. This time, things will be different, and I'll start to help Sakura out more, and be there for our baby girl and the new baby on the way.

A week later, Sasuke had been released from the hospital and Sakura left to go get Noroi. When she arrived at their house, she heard frantic shouts from Shikamaru, and Temari trying to calm him down. What in the world is going on?

She knocked on the door, and a very disheveled Shikamaru answered it. "Sakura! Please help me!"

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, instantly worried.

"Temari's gone into labor and is having my baby!" He pulled her inside the house, then dragged her to their bedroom where Temari was moving around calmly. He left, closing the door behind him.

"Aren't you supposed to be in labor?" Sakura asked.

"I am. The pains aren't as bad until the baby is actually coming. And you really know the difference after you've had a baby!" She stopped as another pain came along. "That one was stronger and more quick than the others. I think it's time." She went over to the bed and laid down. She had her legs spread and screamed as a pain tore across her abdomen. Shikamaru burst through the door, unable to hear his wife screaming and him not being there with her. When he saw her, legs splayed, pain written across her face, he slumped against the wall.

Temari, looking up at her husband's pale face, shouted, "Shikamaru, if you're going to be in here while I'm giving birth to our son, you had best not faint on me! It's your fault that I'm even in this predicament! Get your lazy butt over here and mop my brow or do something useful!"

Shikamaru got up off of the wall, swallowed and walked over to Temari. He grabbed a dish towel, and tenderly wiped her brow. He held her hand and winced as she squeezed the life from it.

Sakura kept on encouraging her to push, much the same as when Temari and Hinata had helped her, and was relieved when a short time later Temari gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Sakura left and as she left she heard Temari whisper, "His name's going to be Tsuyoshi."

"That's a beautiful name." Sakura said. "Well, I'm here to get Noroi, so I will get her and let you two be alone with your new little blessing." She went out to where Noroi was sleeping. My precious baby! I can't believe that you're 6 months old! If only your daddy would accept you! She picked up Noroi, and left the house, thankful for the many blessings this new baby would be.

When Sakura got back, she was thrilled to know that Sasuke was feeling better.

"I'm going to go change some of my bandages." Sasuke said, not sure of what to do or say.

"Do you need any help?" Sakura asked.

"No, I think I can do it." he said, pausing to look at her, then darting a quick glance at their daughter. Not sure of what to say, he left the room.

Sakura started making dinner, and found that she was out of spices. "Sasuke? I'm going to the store." Feeling like testing her luck, she said, "Noroi is sleeping, can you please just keep an eye on her?"

Silence, then, "I guess."

Oh my gosh! Really?! "I'll be back in time to make dinner!" Well, finish dinner.

"Fine."

That's all he could say?! "Unresponsive bump on a log!" she muttered under her breath as she left the house.

Sakura was in a really good mood, despite his short answers with her. As she was walking, a hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Sakura?" She turned to see Neji there.

"Neji! How are you?" Sakura asked politely when what she really wanted to do was run in the opposite direction.

"You know what? I'm doing really well. I realized how horrible I was to you, and I just wanted to say that I'm really happy that you and Uchiha are married. I honestly hope that it will work out the way that you want it to." He paused, then said, "Congratulations on the baby. I didn't know how you'd take it, but I got you a gift." He baused, then blushed. "Well, Tenten helped me pick it out."

"Neji, you and Tenten?! That's wonderful news!" Sakura said, giving him a quick hug. "Tell her congratulations from me! When are you two gonna get married?!"

"We're thinking about getting married soon. She will always love Lee, and their children will grow up knowing their true father, but I'm excited to have two little girls to spoil, plus the little boy that she just had a few months ago. I wouldn't have minded twins, which she thought she was having, but it didn't work out that way." He smiled and added, "Not to mention whatever other children we'll be fortunate to have."

"Neji, I'm so thrilled for you!" Sakura said, honestly meaning it.

"We'd like for you two to come to the wedding. And the baby, of course." Neji paused, then took her hands in his. "I mean it, I'm honestly happy for you and Sasuke."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you! I think things might be working out a little bit better for us."

With that, they said they're good byes, and both walked onward to their destinations. Sakura was extremely happy for Neji, and glad that he'd found someone to love and have their love in return. We just weren't meant to be. It never would have worked out. At all. But he and Tenten will get along really well. After all, they were high school sweethearts after all!

Sasuke sat in their room, not sure of what to do. Noroi had been crying for a minute now, and he didn't know the first thing about babies. How do I make her stop?! Maybe, if I leave her alone, she'll stop? He paused, starting to walk to the nursery. Sakura should be back soon, right? He decided that his curiosity to look at his daughter was more intense than he thought. Besides, maybe if he picked her up, she'd stop.

He walked down the hall to her room, and cautiously opened the door. He crept slowly to her craddle, and peered over the edge of it. Huh. Not too bad so far. And it seems like the crying has stopped at least. He peered over the edge, and his heart stopped. There, laying in that craddle, was the female version of himself, except she had the shape of her mothers face - her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Even her forehead was like Sakura's. He noticed that Noroi was looking up at him, head tilted, eyes curious.

Tears came to his eyes. "Hello Noroi, I'm sorry it's taken so long for you and I to meet. I'm your Daddy."

TO BE CONTINUED...

~HelplessRomanticDreamer