"Thank you very much Kaioh-san!" Sakura shook the plumbers hand with eternal gratitude.

"It was the least I could do for you Haruno-sama," Kaioh said pleased and embarrassed to receive Sakura's praise. "After you cared for my wife and protected our village for so long, it was an honour. Call my company anytime and I'll make sure you get a discount!"

"I'll definitely take you up on that," Sakura said with a smile as they turned towards the camera. She had insisted on the media being at the er's grand reopening. Not that the er had even closed for long after the bandit attack but this way the village was given a confidence boost and Kaioh got free publicity for his business. It was the least she could do after he did such a big job for next to nothing.

"Haruna-sama," a reporter said briskly "is it true that you're dating Yamanka-san the local florist while she's pregnant with twins?"

Sakura was surprised at the question "I don't know what this has to do with the er reopening…" she said slowly.

"Is it true Haruna-sama?" he insisted.

"Yamanka-san and I are not involved in that way," she said tactfully.

"Then why is she staying at your house?" The reporter pressed and the harsh buzzed of the other reporters added audio to his question.

"She's staying with me because she needs some help. We're friends," Sakura said as the wall of reporters pressed in around her. A microphone was pushed under her nose and she slapped it away. Two more replaced it.

"Who's the father?!"

"Isn't Yamanka a prominent member of the gay community?"

"Are you yourself gay Haruna-sama?!"

"Ah…" Sakura backed away spluttering and holding her hands up to defend against the insestant questions. She felt like she had been ambushed. She glanced around desperately for help. Her staff sprung into action and formed a human wall that allowed her to escape the reporters. She saw one insistant reporter punch a male nurse before all hell broke out.

XxXx

"Sakura!" Ino cried coming to support the doctor as she fell in the door "what happened to your eye?!"

Sakura touched the bleeding wound below her eye "I think that was from the tv camera or was it the suspended microphone from the sound guy?"

"What?" Ino just looked confused.

"The media have clicked on that you are pregnant and staying with me," Sakura rubbed her jaw. She couldn't remember anything after throwing a reporter out the door and the bed panns started to fly.

"So?" Ino said frowning then her eye lighted with understanding "I'm sorry Sakura I forgot that you're famous. What did you tell them?"

"That we were friends," Sakura said sinking gratefully onto the couch. Her face was pinched with seriousness "I told them that we're friends but what do I tell them about the twins? Do I pretend to be aunty Sakura? Ino, I want to be their parent not some friend of the family. I want people to know they're my kids."

"We'll say that you're helping me raise them," Ino said slowly "that you are their parent in that way."

Sakura frowned not liking that at all "so I'm just some stranger raising someone else's kids?"

"Well what else can we say?" Ino snapped just as frustrated as Sakura.

Sakura floundered for an answer before realising that there wasn't any. She nodded in defeat "you're right…"

Ino placed her hand on Sakura's shoulder comfortingly "I'm sorry. I know it's not the ideal situation…"

Sakura reached up to cover Ino's hand with her own. She lent into the blonde then frowned "have you been crying?" She said in concern.

"Damn hormones," Ino said turning away and wiping her eyes in shame.

Sakura sensed that there was more to Ino's tears than that "Ino…"

"Sakura it's nothing, just, Mina," Ino said shaking her head and turning away.

Sakura felt her insides bubble with hate at the name but she pushed it down. "What's wrong Ino, tell me."

Ino's gaze was dragged back to Sakura's eyes and the truth was pulled forward against her will "she doesn't want to see me now. We've always had a passionate relationship and now that I'm ugly she doesn't want me," and the blonde broke down sobbing.

Sakura gathered Ino into her arms or what she could fit there. Ino was very big at seven months. The blonde clutched at her jumper and hid her face in embarrassment. Sakura patted her back soothingly until she calmed down. "I'm sorry," Ino hiccupped as she pulled away "I can't seem to get a hold of myself. I think that glamour worked on more levels than one."

"Don't worry about it," Sakura said softly pushing Ino's short hair out of her eyes. She couldn't get used to the short locks.

Ino gazed at her wetly "Sakura…" her voice was filled with a thousand deep thoughts. Their eyes locked intensely and Ino seemed to be considering something before she sagged tiredly against the arm of the chair with a disgusted sigh. "I'm tired," Ino muttered hosting herself up laboriously. Sakura felt like she had been denied some opportunity. She perched on the edge of her seat unsure if she should let Ino waddle out of the room. Her unbalance struck her with paralysis and the chance slipped through her fingers. She didn't even know what it was she was grasping at.

XxXx

She was stupid Sakura thought as she stepped out of the way of determined shoppers. The theatre hall was lit up grandly its doors firmly shut against late comers. Interruptions to the performance would not be tolerated the frowned double doors seemed to state. She should just leave it. This way Mina was out of the picture and she could have Ino.

She frowned at the thought. Ino wasn't something to 'have.' Btu she wanted her. She wanted Ino desperately. She wanted to wake up beside her every morning and listen to her grouch about the irritating inconsiderate sun. She wanted to fuss over her and spoil her. She wanted to listen to her laugh and bitch. Her fists clenched tightly and her feet were urging her to run. She could have all that. She could love Ino and be a real family.

The idea of tucking her kids in after a bed time story while Ino waited for her in their bedroom appealed to all her desires. She glanced down the street to where her apartment lay. She could just…

"What are you doing here?!"

The suspicious voice cut into her thoughts and she turned to see Temari glaring at her. The blonde sat her shoulder bag down on the ground and squared off against the doctor. Trailing behind her was Shika who was fiddling intently with a puzzle box. The boy didn't seem to notice Sakura.

"I was just…" Sakura shrugged but her eyes tracked unwillingly towards the theatre.

Temari followed her gaze and her frown deepened. "Oh, I know what you were 'just' doing. Leave it alone Sakura. Ino is finally rid of that slut. You should be celebrating."

"You said a bad word," Shika accused pulling his attention away from his puzzle box. He then caught sight of Sakura and a wide smile split his face in two "Sakura!" He charged her legs and wrapped his chubby arms around her knees.

Sakura laughed and ruffled his hair affectionately. She enjoyed the hero worship in the young childs gaze.

"We're going to see uncle Gaara, want to come along?" Shika said hopefully.

"Sorry champ but I have to look after your aunt Ino," Sakura laughed.

Shika pouted cutely. He glanced slyly back at his mother then whispered conspiratorially to Sakura "uncle Gaara is creepy. The Sand village is also dead boring. You're way cooler."

Sakura chuckled at the flattery. Privately she agreed that Gaara was creepy. "But what about tall the sand castles you can build? That'll be great fun!"

Shika looked at her plainly "I am not a child," he said deathly serious.

"Sakura…" Temari growled drawing the attention back to her agitatedly.

"Ino is upset," Sakura said plainly like that explained it all. For her it did. "I want to make her happy. If Mina does that then…" she choked on that thought but swallowed hard and continued "then, then I'll do what it takes to make her happy."

"Mina is Ino's stupid infatuation! You're much better for her," Temari glared and made it seem like an insult "no one likes a martyr Sakura. They always end up dead or alone."

"You have to go out with aunty Ino!" Shika cried sounding betrayed. He tore himself away from Sakura's legs. "Why won't you go out with her? I thought you wanted her to be your girlfriend!"

"I do," She reeled under the assault "but Ino wants Mina as her girl-"

"That's because your not trying hard enough!" little Shika accused his cheeks flushing red in exertion. He squeezed his eyes shut "your just a big fat lair! You don't want to be part of our family that's why you're bring Mina back! You're not cool at all!"

"That's not true!" Sakura defended still in shock at the child's accusations.

"Yes it is!" Shika balled up his chubby little fists before her yelled "lair!" and ran off.

"Shika!" Temari called alarmed. She glared at Sakura before she picked up her bag and hurried after her son.

"She never did like me," a voice in the darkness said.

Sakura turned to see Mina still in costume coming out of the shadows. Mina was looking in the direction that Temari had run. Her eyes then flicked back to Sakura "I don't know what sick relationship you and Ino have but I don't want any part of it. I like Ino well enough but she's not good enough in the sack that I'm going to wrap myself up in this sordid triangle."

Sakura's teeth grinded together and she decided that for the actresses health she would ignore the comment about Ino. "I don't know why but Ino seems to care about you. You should give her another chance."

Mina raised her eyebrow mockingly "you really have no idea about what type of person Ino is if your asking that. She's a slut. She has always been like that. Hell there isn't a girl in the city that she hasn't tasted. We got on great because I'm just like her. The fact that she went and got herself knocked up just shows how slutty she is. Though I'm surprised she slept with a guy since she's always prided herself in being a gold star."

"If you call her a slut again I won't be held responsible for my actions," Sakura growled flexing her hands.

Mina threw her arms up in a gesture of peace. "I didn't mean to offended you but me and Ino won't happen because we've only had a physical relationship. I never pretended it was anything else. I'm not going to start now. If you don't mind I have to go back inside. The male lead sprained his ankle so I have to carry the show due to his under studies ineptness."

"Ino cares for you," Sakura grated.

Mina frowned like the blondes feelings were an unwanted nuisance "that's not my fault. She sees something that isn't there. She did it the last time too."

"You don't deserve her," Sakura glared.

"I don't want her," Mina said simply.

"Then you're a bigger fool than I thought," Sakura said with a finality and left Mina standing alone in the dark.

XxXx

"You should see Shikamaru!" Ino called as Sakura set the table "he's so lost without Temari and little Shika around! It's down right cute!"

Sakura felt the grin tugging at her mouth as she imagined Shikamaru wondering aimlessly around not knowing what to do. "Is that why you had me set another place for dinner?" She called back.

"Yeah, I'll take it to him later. I offered to let him come and stay but he said he wanted the peace and quite. He's trying to be all hard and manly," Ino laughed affectionately.

"I thought that would take too much effor-holy crap!" Sakura had been turning away from the table to get the salt shakers but Ino entered the kitchen half dressed. "What are you doing?!" Sakura yelled out raged.

Ino looked at her as if she was the crazy one "my breasts hurt," she explained patiently continuing to rub her assets.

"You don't do that in front of people!" Sakura spluttered holding the tea towel up to block the sight from her mind.

"People? It's only you," Ino scoffed paying no attention to Sakura's plight. She took her seat "aren't you going to serve?"

"Not with you topless!" And Sakura feared that her face was as pink as her hair.

"Oh please it's not like you haven't see them before," Ino rolled her eyes.

"That was different!" Sakura kept her eyes averted as she picked the ramen bowel up and sat it in the middle of the table.

Ino sighed in disgust and resignedly fetched her pyjama top. She sat down at the kitchen and glared at Sakura who still couldn't meet her eye. The meal continued in silence only the slight embarrassed slurping creating any noise.

"Did you notice they've gotten bigger?" Ino said nonchalantly after a time.

"Shit!" Sakura cursed as the hot ramen spilled into her lap. She stood and grabbed a towel to wipe herself down with. She had noticed Ino's breasts had grown.

"They've also got rounder, more full," and to Sakura's torment Ino pulled her top tight against her breasts and pushed them together. "But they're a lot harder now, my nipples could cut glass. Here, feel them."

"No!" Sakura jerked away from the offered gift.

"Don't be so prudish Sakura," Ino chastised "come and feel."

"No," Sakura said backing away like Ino was brandishing a lethal weapon.

"Sakura just feel my boobs!" Ino demanded frowning darkly at the doctor. "Hurry up before you make them leak!"

Sakura was disgusted. She turned away but held her hands out to stop Ino's pursuit "please don't make me touch your weeping breasts."

There was deadly silence before a muffled sniff came. Sakura turned back in horror as Ino turned away from her and covered her face. Sakura reached out but Ino shrugged her hand off her shoulder. "You think I'm ugly," she began to shudder with repressed sobs.

"No I don't," Sakura said gently trying to hug Ino from behind.

"Yes you do that why you won't touch my breasts," Ino sobbed and her skin took on a red flush. "You used to slobber all over them when you were a guy. I even made you come prematurely just because they were bouncing and now you think they're ugly!"

"No, let me touch your breasts," Sakura asked.

"No," Ino reflected turning away.

"Please?"

"You don't want too," Ino sniffed. Sakura groaned as she realised what the remaining weeks would be like.

XxXx

That was what started Ino's really bad mood swings. Sakura had fled to her office once again trying to avoid Ino without the blonde knowing. She didn't have long to go now. Her due date was a month away but twins were almost never carried to full term. Being in her eighth month Sakura was starting the countdown for when Ino would finally give birth.

She looked up from the shield of papers and blinked at her secretary "Kei are you wearing makeup?"

"What?" Her secretary started as she placed even more forms on her desk. She could see a faint blush begin to spread over the younger woman's cheeks. "I'm, well, it's just…" The poor woman looked so awkward that Sakura felt sorry for her.

"You're on the market again," she eventually figured out. Her secretary nodded and was trying her best to walk out of the room.

"How long does it take lesbians to get back on the market?" Sakura asked suddenly "what's the appropriate waiting time?"

Kei stopped and looked at her in suspicious confusion "it depends on the person, chief."

"Oh," Sakura nodded thoughtfully. How long would it take Ino to get over Mina?

Kei looked like she wanted to say something but merely ducked her head and turned away. Sakura paid no attention and went back to her work. Later she packed up regretfully and prepared to go home. She didn't want to face Ino and her rapid mood swings. Maybe she could convince Shikamaru to replace the glamour jutsu. Ino seemed a lot less hormonal with it on. She spotted sharply as a squad of ANBU ninja's ran past in a hurry. She frowned after them but didn't take any notice until she heard a donkey give a petrified cry. Her neck jerked towards the sound.

A crowd had gathered to watch the hurrying officers. They seemed just as surprised as her when a mad woman crashed down the street on a fruit cart. The cart teetered on its axis dangerously the two donkeys pulling the cart braying in panic. When the cart smacked down again the mad driver wasted no time in harrying the poor mules with a bit of frayed rope. Apples scattered everywhere as a fat flustered man chassed after the cart shouting profanities. Sakura recognised him as the fruit carts owner. She watched as he zigzagged furiously trying to chase the cart and pick up his spilled fruits.

She felt a smile tug at her lips but unlike most of the crowd had the decency not to laugh at the poor merchants plight. Her smile lasted right up until the cart and its mad driver passed her. "Ino!?" She cried in stunned disbelief. She watched frozen as the cart hurtled passed her. It took her a moment to shake herself awake and give chase. What the hell was Ino doing?! She shouldn't be cart jacking in her state! Sakura's dumbfounded mind couldn't fully process the information.

She caught up with Ino at the headquarters of the village. The blonde was heaving herself heavily down to the ground. She lent against the cart for a second before pushing away and waddling to the doors with a fierce set to her jaw. "Ino!" Sakura called as she finally caught the blonde up "what the hell?!"

"No time to talk Sakura!" Ino said pushing past her and walking on.

Sakura didn't appreciate being ignored after Ino had done something so stupid. "Ino, you stole a cart and joyrided it down the main street, you better have time to talk!" She would have all the time she needed in prison.

"The ANBU assholes wouldn't wait for me and I sure as hell wasn't staying behind!" Ino grunted. Sweat trickled down her forehead with the effort of walking with her bulk.

"Ino," Sakura growled vexed but knowing that she wouldn't be able to make sense of anything the crazy blonde said. She resignedly put took Ino's arm to help her walk.

They came to a door and without knocking Ino shoved it open. ANBU members looked up and their animal masks seemed to display annoyance at the interruption. At the head of the table Shikamaru sat glaring pensively at a map. He looked up and his cold face nodded at Ino. Ino seemed to regain all her composure and nodded just as coldly back. "Did you find them?"

"We received a note from the kidnappers," Shikamaru said gravely.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked cautiously becoming aware of the seriousness of the situation.

Shikamaru looked at her stonily "Temari and Shika never made it to the sand. They've been abducted." flutter. Ino ruffled her hair comfortingly. It was like she knew what Sakura had been thinking.