The second chapter is here as part of your Christmas present from me :) (Maybe I'll even post another chapter... maybe) Here we have a look at Naruto's feelings of the matter with some Sakura feelings. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (Would STILL be an awesome present though :)

Chapter 18 – Recovering

'I wonder how… Sakura-chan is doing?' Naruto questioned, idly scanning his room. 'I haven't seen her for a week now, but she's still in hospital isn't she?' he thought, grimacing. 'She most probably wouldn't want to see me anyway, not after that night we fought. The night she got run over.'

'I'm such an idiot, aren't I? Thinking and believing we were in love. Hah, that's a joke. Love after four months? You've got to be kidding me. We were, as she said, only playing each other,' he grimly chuckled.

'We mistook our feelings for something else, something that was never there. We should have just stayed best friends. We were much better off that way. We could at least be together, now, I don't think we should even be near each other after all that has happened.'

'She can be happy with Sasuke-teme now. She can now life she and baby-chan always wanted. They'll be a family, a happy family. She'll be a lot happier with Sasuke-teme than she ever would be with me. We just weren't meant to be together, as much as I wanted us to be.'

A silent tear rolled down his cheek, landing upon the bed. 'Sometimes you can't have what you always wanted. You can wish, hope and pray but it sometimes just isn't meant to be,' he thought, gaze landing upon a framed picture of himself and the pinkette.

They had been at the park, picnicking. Sakura had taken the photo, saying that it would be nice addition to her photo album. It was a good photo as they were smiling, laughing, and Sakura's was head upon his shoulder. It had been a shaded day of fun, laughter and games.

Later, Neji, Tenten, Shikamaru, Chouji, Hinata and Kiba had joined them. They had boat races, eating competitions, drinking races, sprint and endurance races and they had a game of tag, foolish as it may sound. 'It was a day filled with everything fun and wonderful.'

'I guess we won't be having days like that anytime soon, what with only a month of school after summer. Then we'll all be going to collage and I doubt we'll stay in contact for very long. As much as we want to, we won't be-able to.'

'Besides, Sakura-chan would have gone back to Suna by the time summer ends, meaning that life would go back to the days without her.'

He shuddered, 'I can't believe Sakura-chan isn't going to be in my life anymore. I really don't want her to leave. I really need her, I really want her to stay but I guess she can't.'

"Naruto," Kushina gently called. "We've brought you dinner," she continued. 'I'm really worried about him; he hasn't left his room for some time now.'

"It's not locked," he replied, awaiting their arrival. 'I really don't feel like eating right now but I don't want mom and dad to worry too much.'

"Thanks mom, dad," he stated graciously, taking the tray from Kushina. "I'm sorry I haven't been coming down to eat lately."

Kushina embraced him, "You know we're here for you Naruto," she whispered. "You know that you can tell us anything."

Minato nodded, placing a hand upon Kushina's shoulder. "If something is bothering you then you should tell us, we could be-able to help you."

Naruto sighed. 'I suppose it's only right to tell them.' "Do you know what a broken heart feels like?" he questioned.

Kushina stared, shocked. "Did something happen between you and Hinata-chan? Did that little Hyuuga-gaki do something to break your heart Naruto?" she snarled. 'I've never liked the brat anyway.'

He shook his head, solemnly. "It wasn't Hinata-chan."

Minato frowned, "If not Hinata-chan, then who?"

"Sakura-chan, she's the one that broke my heart."

----

"Sakura-chan," Mizuki called softly, tenderly shaking Sakura's shoulder. "Wake up; there are people here to see you."

"Mm? Who is it mom?" Sakura groaned, 'I still feel groggy after all that damn pain medication.' Slowly, rising she scanned the bland hospital room.

"Tenten," she mumbled, "And Neji?"

"Ah Sakura, you're okay!" Tenten exclaimed, excitedly embracing the pinkette. "I've been so worried about you! I got back yesterday and heard about the accident and then this morning I demanded that Neji drive us over to come see you," she rambled, taking no breath. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"Tenten," Sakura coughed. "Can't breathe, you're kinda strangling me," she stated, voice cracking.

"Oh," Tenten responded, releasing her hold. "Sorry about that," she grinned sheepishly. "I'm just really; really happy you're lying here, alive."

"Thanks Tenten, but just one question," Sakura began. "How did you get Neji here?" 'He would usually never shop up unless it was a life and death matter, him and I haven't even been that close.'

"Well…" Tenten blushed. "We're kinda, sorta… together…?" she offered, face glowing.

"I'm so happy for you, and glad that you finally realized each other's feelings," Sakura replied, relief evident. "How long has it been that you two have been hiding? Maybe a couple of years?" she joked.

"We have but now I'm glad we're together," she confessed. "Aren't you glad Neji?"

The stoic boy nodded, arms crossed. "Hn."

Tenten merely rolled her eyes. "Can I ask you something slightly more personal Sakura?" 'She hasn't mentioned anything about the baby; I really do hope the baby is okay.'

Sakura nodded. "Ask away." 'I wonder what so personal, especially if she's gonna ask with Neji around.'

"What happened to the baby, the baby is alive, right?" she softly queried, gaze soft. 'Please let the baby have survived, I mean Sakura was beginning to look forward to the baby. That stupid car couldn't have taken that away from her.'

"Baby-chan is dead Tenten," Sakura growled. "Never coming back, baby-chan died on impact and Tsunade did an emergency c-section to remove baby-chan."

"I…I…" Tenten stated, wordless. "I'm sorry?" she offered, knowing it would not console the girl. 'I can't believe the baby was killed. She must have been hit pretty hard, well not to mention that her arm is in a cast and her leg is strapped up. Oh and her chest is bandaged as well.'

"You don't have to be," Sakura gently replied. "I've had a week to get over this; I should be over this by now." 'But I'm not. I was finally beginning to grow my maternal instinct; I was finally beginning to really want baby-chan.'

"Sakura, don't say that," Tenten scolded. "It can't take a week for you to get over something this big!" she argued. "You lost a part of yourself; you honestly can't expect to get over that in just one simple week."

"I can't dwell on what would have happened Tenten," Sakura retorted. "If I do then I'll never move on, I'll never know how to experience true happiness again if I can't move on." 'I don't want to even think about baby-chan anymore, I don't want to dig open the wounds I've tried so hard to seal.'

Tenten sighed, "Do you even know how brave you are? Any normal girl would be mourning over it by now but you've tried your best to move on."

"I've always been like that I guess," Sakura stated. "So now all I've got left to do is recover."

'Both mentally and physically.'

----

"What do you mean Sakura-chan broke your heart," Minato questioned, eyes widened. "How could she break your heart when you were never in love Naruto?"

"That's the thing dad, we were in love," she scoffed. "Well I was in love at least. She said that she loved me before telling me that she was only playing with me. She said that it was her hormones that loved me, not her."

Kushina sighed, "Do you believe her?"

"I believe that she really did love me, but I don't know what to believe when it comes to what she said. I want to believe that she was lying but the way she said it makes me think otherwise."

"What exactly did she say? Did she give any reason," Minato queried. 'That seems way too fishy; you can't just love someone off 'hormones'.'

"She said that we were just hurting everyone and that we were playing each other, that is absolutely impossible to fall in love in just two months," he replied. 'I don't want to bring up these painful memories but maybe I'll never get rid of them if I don't face them.'

"Naruto," Kushina smiled. "What exactly happened that night because to me it sounded as if she was only lying to you, if she really believed that what you two were doing was only hurting everyone."

"Well Sakura-chan and I just got back from eating some ramen when we were confronted by Sasuke-teme and then he brought up the subject of cheating before Hinata and Kiba stepped out. Kiba said that he had caught Sakura and I kissing and he then told Hinata, who wanted to find out if that was really true."

"So then it ended up in a huge argument with Sasuke-teme eventually telling Sakura that we were just hurting everyone by continuing our relationship. She then ran out and when I followed and tried to stop her she went all strange and told me that she didn't love me back."

Minato sighed, "So typical."

"What do you mean?"

"She wanted to stop hurting others, even if it meant she was hurting herself and you. It's a small price to pay for the happiness of others, so she did the ultimate sacrifice, she tried to stop hurting others by pretending that she didn't love you," Minato concluded. "I don't think Sakura-chan is the type to pretend to love someone, I think she really does love you."

"I agree with your father," Kushina added. "It's the only logical explanation I can think of. You can't play with love."

"Really?" Naruto queried, hoping. "Did Sakura-chan really only reject me to stop hurting all those around her?"

"Positive," Minato and Kushina responded in unison.

'So then I guess all that's left for me to recover; both mentally and physically.'

----

"How are you feeling Hinata-chan?" Kiba asked, gently caressing her hand. "You are feeling better, aren't you?" 'It's been a week since that whole ordeal with Naruto and Sakura and she hasn't said much. I'm worried about her, what if she's going into some sort of depression?'

"I'm fine Kiba-kun," she softly replied. "But thank you for worrying. It makes me feel cared for," she admitted, blushing. 'Kiba-kun has always been here for me and he will always be here for me, won't he?' she questioned, gaze downward. 'He's stuck with me through all of this and more.'

"I'll always care for you, you know that right?" he whispered. "I'm just glad that you are okay. I know that Naruto hurt you but we'll get through the pain together, just like always."

She nodded. 'Naruto-kun might have hurt me but I've realized that Kiba-kun will always be there to pick up the pieces.' "Don't you think we should visit Sakura at the hospital, I've heard that her condition has stabilized."

"I don't want you to put too much strain on yourself," Kiba noted, concerned. "Besides, Naruto is bound to be there. Can you face him in this state?"

"Naruto-kun did hurt me but I know that there is always someone behind me, willing to help me along," she replied, blush deepening. 'I have to tell Kiba-kun how much he means to me.'

"Who… is that?" Kiba croaked, fearing that there was someone else.

"You Kiba-kun," she confessed. "You mean a lot to me Kiba-kun; I don't think I would've gotten far in life without you Kiba-kun. You really have helped me through everything."

"Hinata-chan," Kiba softly stated, gently kissing her forehead. "You mean a lot to me too."

She blushed deeply, "Kiba-kun."

"Maybe after this is all over, when everything has settled when can go to something more than friends," he offered. "But only if you want to, I promise I won't rush anything."

Hinata smiled, truly smiled. "I'd like that, Kiba-kun."

Yay, everyone is finally Recovering, hence the chapter name :) I hope you all enjoyed this and I might just post another chapter if I can and then we'll see how it goes okay? Well I said that I might diverge into my new idea, but I'll do that on the next chapter okay?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lorelock :)