Author's Notes: Back with another chapter! x3 This is a set up for the later plotline. Please review! I want to know what I can do better on and what you like! .
Disclaimer- 1st Chapter

Chapter 4

"Is it just me or are you actually putting some weight on finally?" Hana laughed candidly. Momichi grumbled in response pulling her jacket tighter around her shoulders. Her already dreary mood sunk lower. A rain cloud had to be floating above her head now. She glanced up but she only saw the stark blue of an early afternoon sky shining back.

"First Shisui and now you?" Momichi whined.

The past week had been terrible. Almost every morning she had had to call in sick with training. Shisui hadn't been happy and had kicked down her door at 8 in the morning today to drag her out to the fields. Hana and her dogs were here making sure she actually showed up. She felt better today, but she wasn't one hundred percent.

Momichi yawned loudly as the group finally reached their destination. Momichi's favorite training grounds stretched out before them. The wide grassy area was ringed with trees and targets along the edges. It was perfect for smashing in the all consuming rage of bitch she tended to swing into sometimes.

Shisui looked up from sharpening a kunai. He didn't look happy, "What took so long?"

"Moo isn't feeling good," Hana growled at the man. Sometimes it took another person to get the message through to the Uchiha.

"Oh," Shisui replied blankly, "Shinobi should be able to work in any conditions given to them."

"Not if it's training and will only make it worse," Momichi shot back. She suddenly didn't feel so bad. Maybe pounding Shisui's face into the ground would help her recover.

"You've missed a week of training because you were "sick." I've seen you in the afternoon perfectly fine," Shisui said rising from the ground, "I'd call that playing hooky."

"HOW DARE YOU!" Momichi felt her anger explode at an unreasonably high magnitude. Why was she getting upset so easily over this? She had been sick in the mornings and felt better as the day went on. She didn't need a teammate claiming she was lazy. She was one of the hardest working ninjas in Konoha.

She launched a fist at the Uchiha. Shisui stepped back in surprise and then disappeared. "Yea, I bet you can't beat me without that Flickering Body Technique," Momichi catcalled across the open field.

Hana sighed behind her, "If you are sick, don't overdo it."

"I won't," Momichi replied slipping on her gloves. In reality, she didn't plan on holding back. Moving to the middle of the field Momichi shouted, "Get out here Shisui!"

"Already here," Shisui spoke up at her back.

Momichi swung her leg around knowing the Uchiha would be gone by the time she turned. She wouldn't play his game. Her foot came down and cracked the ground. Forming quick hand seals Momichi was ready for the attack that was sure to follow his dodge.

In the blink of an eye she was at the other side of the field avoiding a few well thrown kunai. She spotted the Uchiha jumping down from a tree and prepared to move in. She took a step toward the man who was about to flicker back to the grassy area. He wouldn't get away this time.

Momichi flickered toward the spot she assumed he'd stop. The world sped by in an insane amount of speed as she hurtled forward. She would stop right next to Shisui and laugh as she pounded that gloating expression off his face. At least, that was the plan in her mind. Unfortunately, when she planted her feet behind the Uchiha the world decided it would keep going. She stumbled in the vertigo and found the earth rushing toward her.

Strong hands caught her before she hit the ground. "Moo?" Shisui's muffled voice inquired, "Momichi?"

Momichi kept her mouth shut as nausea threatened to overwhelm her and stars danced across her vision. Okay, maybe she shouldn't have done that. The wave passed and she finally let out a breath.

"What was that?" Hana asked. Her voice was filled with concern.

"I don't know…" Momichi answered and really, she didn't know how to justify what had just happened. She had been sick, but dizzy spells were never a part of it.

"That's enough for you today," Shisui said helping Momichi to her feet. He hesitated before adding, "I'm sorry I forced you out here."

"I'm fine," she replied shoving him away.

Her teammates hardly looked convinced. A look passed between them and Shisui hooked his arm around Momichi's elbow, "C'mon Moo, we don't want you dying on us."

Momichi felt a smile crack her lips as he dragged her away from the training grounds. She found something humorous in that comment. Was it the fact she had won the argument over being sick? The walk back home was a quiet one. People glanced their way as Momichi walked along side her teammate. Why were they staring? It wasn't like her and Shisui were dating or anything. Were people really that shallow to assume that out of something so small? It was times like this that anger burned in Momichi's stomach about keeping hers and Itachi's relationship a secret. Hana and Shisui had found out after a long game of cat and mouse.

Momichi turned her attention back to Shisui as they neared her apartment building, "Where was Itachi today?"

"He had a bunch of paperwork to catch up on," Shisui replied with a sigh, "I don't see how in the world the greatest shinobi in Konoha can't handle a pile of reports."

"He hates office work," Momichi giggled. Itachi had been very blunt about his hatred for paperwork on more than one occasion. Slipping her keys out of the pouch strapped to her leg, Momichi started up the stairs, "See you later and thanks for walking me home." She added a dramatic eye roll, "Itachi would've killed you if you hadn't."

Shisui's face broke into the happy-go-lucky grin everyone loved, "I know." He turned on his heels saying good bye and disappeared in a flash. Momichi shook her head. He would be back to the training grounds within minutes if he used his famous Body Flicker.

Momichi continued up the stairs and found her apartment number. After quickly dumping her gear in her room she made some tea. She sat at the kitchen table and let her eyes wander the room. Tea usually calmed her stomach when it was sour. She drank from the cup and set it aside. Her eyes fell on the kitten calendar on the wall.

Big red letters had been scribbled over the 24th. Momichi groaned. Ino had written 'Christmas Party!' across three boxes. As if over dramatizing it wasn't enough, the spunky blonde would probably hunt her down soon to go dress shopping, and Momichi really didn't have much money on her to splurge on what she found tasteless fashion.

She glared at the calendar on the wall. Then something struck her as odd. She got up and peered closely at the writing scrawled in the tiny boxes and the large numbers. She had missed her time of the month by four days. Or was it five? She flipped back to the last month to check. She scanned the bright yellow dates with a frown. She couldn't have missed marking it.

Her eyes landed on the neat words written in Itachi's elegant writing 'New training.' Momichi felt horror flood her stomach as she remembered why the date wasn't marked. She had missed the last month because of some new strenuous training method Tsunade had come up with. That was the reason right?

The more she flipped between the two months the more her heart pounded. It couldn't be… but the more she stared at the unmarked calendar dates the more she realized. It was like connecting the dots to an agonizing riddle. The foods she loved tasting bad, the bouts of nausea, the mood swings, the dizzy spell from earlier… Momichi screamed and ripped the calendar off the wall. She threw it down and grabbed her bag. She was out the door in seconds running for Tsunade's office at the hospital. She was pregnant.

Momichi let out a huge sigh as she walked out of the hospital doors. Tsunade, of course, had been busy. Being her favorite student Momichi hadn't had to wait long though. When Tsunade walked stepped into the room, Momichi saw the worried look on her face. The Hokage had apparently been told she was dying or something.

After the initial appointment, Tsunade had dragged her to her office for a lecture on life and prenatal care. Then she had drunk herself silly and laughed about the whole thing. Momichi glanced down at the bottle of vitamins and papers in her hands. She slipped the bottle in her bag and scanned the papers. It was a form for temporary resignation from ANBU. Of course she had to, but it bothered her to no end. What would people think if she suddenly stopped going on missions?

Momichi started walking. She planned on finding her father first and telling him before trying to pry Itachi away from his work. It wouldn't be good if he fell behind even more. The street was deserted as she made her way to Ichiraku Ramen. If she remembered right, Team 7 would be coming back from a mission today and they usually switched turns buying ramen for the whole group. If she was lucky, they'd be there.

The streets were quiet. Momichi looked around wondering why no one was around. It was the busiest time of the time. People should have been crowding the streets. At least she could have blended in. Out in the open she suddenly felt exposed. Momichi looked back the way she had come. She felt like someone was watching her. But why would anyone do that?

She grumbled blaming her unbalanced hormones. It was just one of those weird feelings you went through during—

Momichi whirled around. She swore she heard soft footsteps behind her. Okay, now it had to be paranoia. She started to turn away when a shadow caught her eye down a nearby alley. Momichi snapped back around and briskly started walking again. The footsteps followed but seemed more hesitant this time, like someone couldn't decide if she'd seen them or not. Why the hell was someone following her?

She ducked around the next corner finding more people walking along the road. Having people around in public was the safest thing she could think of for the moment. Or had she imagined it?

"YEAAAA!" a shout rang down the street, "RAMEN RAMEN RAMEN!"

Momichi raised an eyebrow. She'd recognize that noisy voice anywhere. The small shop came into view and Momichi took a deep breath to calm herself. This was going to be an unforgettable awkward moment.

"NARUTO!" her good friend Sakura screamed. It was followed by a crash as the blonde toppled out of his chair.

He laid there sprawled on the ground and whined. His blue eyes caught Momichi's approach as he rubbed at the reddening mark across his cheek, "MOMO-CHAN! HEY!"

"What'd you do now?" Momichi asked stopping above him. She leaned over with a sly grin. The blonde stared at her, his eyes roaming away from her face. Of all the habits he had to pick up from Jiraiya, it had to be being perverted! Momichi shook her head stepping past him and swiping his seat at the little shop.

"HEY!" he shouted, "I was sitting there!"

"Too bad," Momichi replied. She smiled at her father who happened to be sitting on the end to her right.

Sakura grinned at her left with Itachi's younger brother on the other side, "Just sit by Sasuke and shut up." Naruto grumbled but followed orders. He sat by Sasuke muttering under his breath something close to 'Stupid girls.' "What was that?" Sakura inquired rolling her eyes as the blonde quickly said it was nothing.

"Good afternoon Momichi-san," Ayame greeted her happily, "Would you like to try my special today?"

"Sure," Momichi answered. She looked at Kakashi who in turn sighed and handed over the money. He was paying for the team today.

Sakura took a sip of her tea and ignored Naruto's attempts to get her attention. She turned to Momichi with less amusement in her eyes, "I thought you were sick."

"I was," Momichi shrugged. It wasn't the topic she wanted to start out with but maybe it was better to get into right away.

"Ino said you were in the hospital," Sakura said with more concern, "Is that true?"

So Ino had been working when she walked in. Momichi's thoughts wondered bitterly if she knew anything about the appointment with Tsunade now. She wouldn't put it past the gossip obsessed girl to eavesdrop. If she had, then what would happen? Momichi didn't want to think about the problems that could arise once her baby secret was out in the open. She wanted to keep it under wraps for now, but Ino's loose mouth could jeopardize that secrecy. She might have to have a talk with her.

"Momichi?" Kakashi spoke lowly poking her in the side. Momichi jumped. She didn't realize she had spaced out. "What's this?" her father asked eyeing the papers she had absentmindedly set on the counter.

Before she could answer Naruto swiped the papers from her elbow. "Naruto!" Momichi exclaimed reaching from them, "Give that back!"

The blonde eluded her grip and danced out of the building, "Whose got the papers… now?" He stopped his antics and Momichi could just imagine the shock on his face through the screen, "Wh-why does this say 'ANBU Resignation?!'"

He peeked through the break in the screen as three pairs of eyes fell on her. Even Ayame glanced her way in curiosity. Momichi smiled sheepishly not really knowing what to say. "What the hell?" Sasuke finally vocalized.

"Yeah, about that…" Momichi trailed off.

Sakura slapped a hand to her forehead, "Are you SURE you're not sick?"

Momichi fought off her friend's hand, "I'm fine Sakura!"

"But you can't quit ANBU!" Naruto exclaimed.

Momichi felt her nerves starting to run thin. "Keep your voice down!" she said snatching the papers from the blonde. She took a deep breath calming herself before edging into the reason, "It's temporary."

"Why?" Sakura pressed, "You're not that sick are you?"

"I'm not sick, I…" Momichi faltered on the next sentence. Would Naruto go screaming into the streets if she told them? Naruto surprised her by taking his seat. He met her gaze waiting. The intensity in his eyes seemed to coax the words from her mouth, "I'm pregnant."

Sasuke choked on his food, otherwise nothing happened. The group just stared at her like she had said the strangest thing in the world. Momichi looked at Kakashi over her shoulder. His expression was unreadable.

"Really?" Naruto's gentleness startled her. Sasuke didn't seem to know what to think.

Momichi nodded and Sakura threw her arms around her in a tight hug. She pulled back shyly asking, "When? Who…?"

Kakashi cupped his chin in his hand and leaned against the counter, "I go from risking my life today, to feeding everyone on my hard earned money, to a grandfather now. This day is just full of surprises." Momichi searched for any sarcasm on his face and was surprised to find not shock, but amusement in his eye.

"Yea, just don't go around telling anyone yet," Momichi giggled.

The screen fluttered as someone stepped in to the little shop. Momichi turned back to Sakura but the small smile faded from her lips. She froze upon seeing the newcomer. Itachi was standing behind his younger brother and staring at her. Momichi silently prayed he hadn't just heard the conversation. His face was the usual stoic mask he always wore but the tension in his shoulders told her he had heard. This had definitely turned into the greatest awkward moment ever.

Momichi turned back to the counter as Ayame set a bowl in front of her. She suddenly didn't feel like eating. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at her silence.

"Brother?" Sasuke looked up. The younger Uchiha's voice captured Itachi's immediate attention. Momichi ate her food as they exchanged a quick conversation about something Mikoto wanted Sasuke to do before coming home. Guilt gnawed at her conscience. Momichi knew she should have gone to Itachi first with the news. She didn't know he was finished. Naruto and Sakura were oblivious to her mood as they said good bye to Sasuke. Momichi hardly noticed when they too got up and went their separate ways. Kakashi took her hand and squeezed it. He departed shortly after.

Momichi got up and thanked Ayame for the food. This day was too long. All she wanted to do was curl up in her sheets and sleep away her worries. She gathered her things and turned around nearly running into Itachi behind her.

"Itachi?" she said in surprise. She had assumed he had left with his brother.

The Uchiha placed a hand on her back and led her out to the street. They remained silent for most of the walk to her apartment. Momichi ignored the looks that followed them. Oh look, another Uchiha was walking her home; what are the odds? Unlike Shisui Itachi followed her up the stairs and into her apartment. Momichi set her keys and bag on the table.

"You're upset," Itachi commented. That might have been putting it mildly; he couldn't decide if she was going to punch something or cry.

"I'm sorry," she responded softly.

Itachi took a step toward her and engulfed her in a warm hug, "Why do you say that?"

"Because I didn't tell you first," Momichi replied.

Itachi held her gently, "You did what you thought was best at the time, I'm sure." Momichi laid her head against his chest. He stroked her hair lovingly. She looked so worn out. "We've talked about this before, don't worry," he whispered. And indeed, they had talked about this situation. They had spent many nights chatting and laughing over every detail of what they'd do if they ever had a child. Even that had been long before they had actually done anything to get said child.

Momichi murmured in response. Itachi swept the tired kunoichi into his arms. He carried her to her room. She was out before her head even hit the pillow. Itachi brushed strands of hair from her face and smiled. He turned to leave but her hand caught his. He stopped.

"Don't go," Momichi mumbled sleepily.

Itachi knelt next to her and met her half-lidded eyes, "Only if you want me to stay."

"Idiot," she replied swinging a pillow at him, "Of course I want you to."

Itachi caught the pillow easily. He gracefully circled her bed, kicked off his shoes, and crawled under the covers. Momichi snuggled against him and was instantly gone. Itachi listened to her light, steady breathing. His hand fluttered down to her stomach. It was a strange feeling knowing he would be a father. A feeling that, as seconds drifted by, he liked more and more.