Chapter 5

Love me forever

There was a sudden knock at my door, snapping me right out of my thoughts.

"Um, yeah?" I called.

A blonde, middle-aged woman walked through the door quite cautiously. I'm not a pervert, but I couldn't believe the size of her breasts. They were huge! The fact that she was wearing a very revealing top didn't help.

"Hello Gaara, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Who are you?"

"I'm Lady Tsunade. Your father asked me to talk to you about your pregnancy."
I nodded. So she was the Hokage of Konoha.

"It's awful what happened to Lee isn't it? He was such a good person. You must've loved him very much."

"I still do."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Don't be sorry. You weren't driving that other car, were you?"

She shook her head sadly. "How are you coping with the death?"

I felt tears well up in my eyes. I still couldn't believe that he was gone. "Please... I don't want to talk about this."

"Alright. I understand."

I bit the inside of my lip to stop myself from crying.

"Are you going to be okay to talk? I can always come back another day."
"No, it's okay. I need to hear this."

"Right, how did you find out you were pregnant?"

"My father told me."

"Did you take a test?"

"No."

"Well, when you were in a coma, your father told me about the pregnancy. He was concerned for the baby and asked me to examine you. I can double-confirm that you are definitely pregnant.

I smiled a little, feeling happy that I still had my daughter.

"Have you had any stomach pain?"

"Nope. Just my ribs."

"Right. So are you getting any pregnancy symptoms?"

"I keep throwing up and stuff like that."

"Can you take off your shirt?"
"Why?"
"Because I need to examine you."

I sighed and did what she said.

"I'm going to check how the baby is doing with my chakra... it may feel a little strange."

"O-okay." I squirmed a little as the green energy made contact with my skin. It felt warm and tingly.

"Just try to relax."

A few more seconds passed and the hand moved away.

"Everything is fine, though the pregnancy will hurt a little as the baby grows because you're a little shorter and thinner than an average male of your age and it will take some time for your body to adjust to it."

I nodded. "How far along am I now?"

"About three weeks."

Seriously? It was that long ago since Lee and I had sex?

"Well how long was I out for after the crash?"

"A week and a half I think."

"That long?" Then a thought occurred. "When is Lee's funeral?" It hurt to put 'Lee' in the same sentence as 'funeral' This didn't seem real. I kept hoping that I'd wake up in the comfort of Lee's arms to realize this was all a horrible nightmare.

But it wasn't.

"It hasn't been decided."

I nodded slowly.

"Are you going to attend?"

"Well, of course."

"I'll let you know when the date is."

"Thank you."

"I'll leave you to rest now. Bye"

"Yeah, bye." I watched as she left the room. I was alone again.

After a week, I was finally discharged. I lay on the sofa, feeling exhausted for no apparent reason. When I found out that Lee died, I thought I'd be too heartbroken to do anything. But I felt nothing. I was numb with grief. No more tears had been shed ever since that fateful day. I wonder what my little girl would think. It hurt me to think that she will never know who her daddy was, or what he was like. Lee would have been a brilliant dad.

I sighed as my stomach began to hurt, indicating I as going to throw up. I didn't know how much longer I could take this morning sickness; It drove me insane. But at the end of the day I knew it would all be worth it, this would all be worth it when I see that first smile on her pretty face.

"Gaara?"

I looked up.

"How are you feeling?" Asked my father.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired."

He sat down beside me. "So, have you decided what to call the baby?"

"I have a name in mind."
"What is it?"
"Kaeda."

"I like it. It's a nice name."

"Isn't it?"

"Hey, I'm here for you, Gaara. Don't be afraid to ask me anything."

"Well, you weren't like that before."

"I was just a little shocked that you'd had sex. I never knew that Lee meant so much to you and I guess it scared me a little to know you were growing up. I know I can't blame you for having sex and I should've told you that you could get pregnant because of Shukaku, but I guess I was a little too late."

"You was."

"I'm sorry. This is my fault."

"If you told me that I could get pregnant, I would've used protection."

"Well at least you are sensible."

I said nothing and lay against him. I hadn't ever shown him any affection, but now, I really needed somebody.

"Hey, what's the matter?" He asked, wrapping his arms round me.

"I'm scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Having the baby. I mean, does it really hurt as much as they say?"

"You'll be fine, Gaara. When you get near your due date, I will make sure that somebody stays with you all the time in case you go into labour. The contractions will hurt, but since you can't give birth normally, you will have a caesarian."

"What's that?"

"You don't know what that is?"

"No."

"A caesarian is surgery to get the baby out. You will be awake, but you won't feel anything."

"That doesn't sound too nice."

"It won't hurt, I promise."

My stomach suddenly churned. I ran into the bathroom and threw up into the toilet. Seriously, it was really starting piss me off. Every single day, I had to endure it.

"Believe me, morning sickness is only the beginning. You'll find out all the other symptoms soon." Said my father, who stood at the door.

"God." I whispered under my breath. "Now I feel sorry for girls."

"Remember you have school next week. If you're not up to it, then I can let you have another week or two off."
"No, it's fine. I've missed too much school. It's bad."

"Alright. If you need to come home because you're not feeling well, then just phone me and I will come fetch you."

"Sure."

By next Monday, I was getting ready for school when there was a knock at the door. I looked at the clock. 7:30? Jeez. Probably the mail man. I went over and opened it, surprised to find Naruto standing there. Instead of grinning as usual, he looked sympathetic and sad. "Gaara. How are you holding up? I'm so sorry about Lee."

Why did everybody have to remind me of my misery? Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"I would be if you didn't speak about what happened."
"I'm sorry."

I sighed. "I just need to get my schoolbag and then I'll be ready. Come inside. It's raining out there."

"Okay. Thanks. We don't have to leave just yet. It's pretty early. We have to be at school by nine."

I suddenly felt morning sickness come on. Of course, I hadn't told Naruto about my pregnancy... He would freak out!

"What's wrong? You feeling sick?"

"I j-just need to-" I was cut off when my stomach started to heave. I barely made it in the bathroom on time before vomiting. Naruto came in behind me and rubbed my back. "You okay? Should I fetch somebody?"

"N-No... I'll be fine." I said, flushing the toilet and standing up.
"You're too sick to come to school, Gaara."

"I'm going no matter what."

My father then came downstairs. "I'll drop you off at school. I don't want you walking all that way." He then saw Naruto. "Oh, hello."

My blonde friend grinned. "Hey there Non-Believer!"

I rolled my eyes at Naruto's nickname for my father.

"Gaara!"

"Yes, father?"

"What is this?" he held up my sport gear.

"I have cricket today."

"You are not doing any sport."

"Why not?"

"Let me think. You were in a serious car accident, in a coma for just over a week, crushed the right side of your ribcage and have been in hospital for three weeks."

"I need to get back to a normal life, father! I will not be stuck inside all day! You can't protect me forever!"

"I don't want you over-exerting yourself!"

"Oh, shut up will you? You're giving me a headache!" I growled, walking out the door. Naruto followed.

"Wow, you owned him there."

"You can shut up too!"

"Alright, jeez!"

Later on that afternoon, I regretted doing gym. Running back and forth to the post was tiring me out. Usually, I could run five laps around a nine hundred meter pitch and feel fine; but not now. Feeling dizzy and out of breath, I stopped.

"What the hell, Gaara! We're gonna lose!" Yelled one of my peers. Then, the whole team were yelling at me. "Get up, idiot!"

I growled, ignoring them.

"What do you think you're doing?" My teacher came up to me.

"I don't feel well." I replied.
"I don't care! Your team are going to lose!"
"Who cares?"

"Your peers care! Now carry on, you whiny little girl!"

"No."

"Don't refuse young man!"

"Too bad. I already refused."

"Gaara!"

"What? Will you just fucking leave me alone?"

"Don't speak to me like that."

"Shut the fuck up." I walked away and joined my team who were glaring daggers at me. My vision suddenly went fuzzy and darkened at the corners.

Sasuke turned. "You're such a brat, Gaara! Learn to grow up."
"Yeah!" Sakura agreed and turned to the raven. "You are so right, Sasuke-kun!"

"Shut up. You're just like that dobe Naruto."

The pink-haired girl shut up and stared at the floor.

I felt myself beginning to pass out. Next thing I knew, I was falling and hit the ground just as I lost consciousness.

I felt myself moving and opened my eyes cautiously. My teacher was carrying me off of the field where my classmates stood, staring.

Then, everything went black again.

I woke up in my own bed. I looked and next to me was a note from my father saying:

Gone to work. Don't bother to go to school. Temari will look after you.

I sighed and leant forward, wincing as my vision fuzzed out again. My head was still a bit funny from passing out. Not really thinking, I looked up and in the corner of my room was Lee. Wait... Lee? What the? I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming, but my lover was standing there as clear as day.

"Hello Gaara." Came his voice.

"Lee? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see how you two are doing."

"But Lee... You're dead." I was cut off by a sweet kiss he planted on my lips. This was ecstasy... He was here, with me... He was real and he still loved me. I kissed him back, feeling that warm embrace I'd missed so much...

Suddenly the alarm clock went off I jerked awake. Feeling hopeful, I looked around, hoping to see my dark-haired love, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Damn it!" I cursed. How could I be so stupid to believe that Lee was still alive? It was a dream! A stupid dream! But yet it felt so real. Why did I have to wake up? Why? I broke down sobbing, unable to hold the tears back. I loved him so much! Why did he have to leave? I needed him! Suddenly, I remebered I had to stop because our baby could hear me. The tears stopped, but I was still shaking like a leaf from the shock. Temari then walked in.

"Hey, Gaara I was just coming to wake you. How are you feeling?" She asked, sitting on my bed.

I said nothing.

"What's wrong? You've been crying, haven't you?" She asked, hugging me.

"I had a dream about Lee... I miss him so much."

"I know you do. He'll always love you, Gaara. Just remember that."

"Thanks."

"So how are you feeling? You really gave us a scare yesterday."

"I'm fine now. My head just feels a little funny.

"Yeah it will do. Just take it easy for a while and don't do anything strenuous."

I nodded.

"It's freezing in here. Aren't you cold?"
"A little."

"Come downstairs. You need to be kept warm."

"I'm fine."

"Gaara! That isn't a request, it's an order!"

I sighed and got out of bed, wincing as the morning sickness hit me like a ton of bricks. It was really starting to tick me off. I hated vomiting. It was the most awful thing ever. Once I was done, I obeyed my sister and went down. It was a comfortable heat. Not too hot. The phone suddenly rang. Temari picked it up.

"Hello?" She answered.

I listened curiously.

"Yes, he's here." She turned to me and mimed 'it's for you' then handed the phone to me.

"Yeah?"
"Gaara, it's Tsunade."

"Hi."

"I don't know whether this is the right time to tell you this, but Lee's funeral is on Friday."

I let out I sigh. I'd seen him this morning! This was too real.

"Gaara?"

"Okay. Thanks for letting me know. I'll be there."

"Good. See you then."