Here you all go! Hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 21, What Should Have Never Happened.

Gaara pulled me so that I was flush against him, his lips still moving hungrily against mine. His hands held me firmly against his body, his fingertips digging into my lower back. I grabbed at his head, trying to keep him from moving away. This shouldn't be happening. But I started it. And I will not let it stop. I can taste his blood on my tongue, a sickly sweet taste. The feeling of his thundering heart against my chest is comforting, welcoming.

What is wrong with me? With us?

The next thing I knew my legs were around his waist and his face was buried in my neck as he held me tightly to him. I hugged his head tightly, taking in deep breaths of his sent, loving every second of it.

It ended far to quickly. Suddenly I was on my feet, behind Gaara, who was behind a wall of sand, with only a small hole to see out of. I gripped Gaara's sides tightly as I peeked around at what was happening. A few men and women stood on the other side of the sand wall with weapons and angry looking faces. I quickly stepped in front of Gaara before he beheaded them all without asking questions.

He grabbed my wrist and was about to say my name but I quickly put my hand over his mouth. "Let me deal with this," I said, staring hard into his eyes. I looked away when he started to scowl. "Who are you? What do you want?" I asked them.

One of the men stepped forward, trying to peek into the darkness of the sand bubble we are in. "My name is Gaetan. Tell me, is that Sabaku no Gaara? The Kazekage?" There was hope in his voice.

I took a step closer to the hole in the bubble, but kept my hand in Gaara's just encase they tried to attack. I looked them over carefully. "Why?"

"Please," he said. "Please, is that our Kazekage? You have no idea how long we have waited. We all thought he was dead! Is it him, lady?" Gaetan took a step closer, trying to peer in at me.

Gaara yanked me back and the sand bubble disappeared, I gasped when I saw his fist clutching the mans shirt and lifting him a few feet in the air. "Do not get close to her. I will make you feel a pain you have never dreamed you could feel if you dare think about hurting her." Gaara growled at the man.

Gaetan's eyes widened in fright. "I never thought it, I swear, Kazekage-sama!" Behind the fear I saw the happiness and the relief in his eyes.

I grabbed Gaara's arm and pulled gently, helping him lower the man back to his feet slowly. "Why are you here?" I asked, pushing Gaara until he took a few steps back.

Gaetan kept glancing back and forth between me and Gaara. I think he finally found out that I am the safer one to talk to right now. Gaara is still a little unstable from what happened. "We have been here since the village fell. We didn't know what happened or where anyone went. We thought Kazekage-sama was dead. For years we have been hiding here trying to keep others from taking over what is left of our home."

I looked back at Gaara, more than astonished. "You've been here all this time?"

A girl stepped forward, her black hair falling slightly into her face. "You look familiar," she said. "What is your name?"

I opened my mouth to give her my answer, but I stopped up short. I cannot say my real name. For all I know they are lying and they are the enemy. "Doe, you can call me Doe. Everyone does." I gave her a smile and glanced back at Gaara. "I hate to ask you, but do you have any food? We are really hungry." I gave them a sorry smile. "We haven't eaten in a few days."

A second girl stepped forward, her eyes wide. "Of course! Anything for the Kazekage and his girlfriend!"

I felt all emotion wipe off my face as they started leading us away. Girlfriend? Gaara's hand touched my lower back and everyone backed off of me. Yes, I can see where they would get that. Gaara is being extremely protective at the moment. We followed the small group towards the Kazekage tower, then down a flight of stairs that looked like they would crumble at any moment. Not to mention they probably saw the small exchange between the two of us.

Gaara had said there was no one around that could have been watching us. Could the moisture in the ground have messed with his accuracy? Could they have seen what I was doing? I hope nothing I did was very visual. If they had seen me they know I can do something fairly powerful to have such an effect on Gaara like that. If they truly know him and have lived under his rule, they will know no one could ever effect him like I had. Will they suspect who I am?

Someone lit a torch and started passing a few others around. Gaara took one and glanced down at me, staring into my eyes. I looked away and continued to follow the others, barely out of Gaara's reach. Guilt for what I did is starting to set in. I reached out and gently touched the arm of the first girl who had spoken to me. She looked back at me with deep brown eyes.

"Where are we going?" I asked her.

She smiled back, pulling her black hair into a ponytail. "To our small heaven. After the fight we knew that the basement of the Kage Tower would be the only place sturdy and big enough to house all of us."

"How many of you are there?" Gaara asked. He was closer to me now, but he did not touch me.

Gaetan glanced back at us from being the leader. "Our current count is fifty six in all. But a few babies will be born soon, so I do not know if that has changed yet."

Fifty-six people are living in the basement of the Kage Tower? How did they survive? My thoughts were silenced when we came upon the big room. I can tell where there had once been walls, which must have crumbled down and been moved away. I looked around at all of the people, more astonished than ever. This room does not look big enough for almost sixty people to live in for years. It is much to cramped. A few children ran around a small open area, tackling each other. I smiled and looked towards the other side of the room where a woman started screaming in pain.

The girl with black hair called out a name and was sprinting over, jumping over anyone in her way. I glanced back at Gaara, touching his hand before I followed the girl. Sand traveled up my arm and formed a band around my upper arm, keeping me safe. The woman screamed out in pain again as I knelt next to the girl with black hair. She was holding the woman's head and whispering softly into the woman's ear. The woman's face scrunched up again and she screamed out in pain once more.

"Push! Come on, Aya, you can do it. Push!" A different woman kneeling at the woman's spread legs called out. "Come on! A little more. You can do it, Aya! Bring your beautiful baby into this world. Come on Aya, push!" Aya screamed again, her face turning red with her effort. But I can tell her energy is being sapped from her. Something isn't right.

I moved to put my hand over her stomach, but the girl with black hair grabbed my hand before I could. "Don't touch her," she hissed at me.

I pulled my hand from her rough grasp, hoping Gaara saw nothing. "Let me help her. There is something wrong. I know you can see that as well as I can. I can help her. She and the baby will die if you say no." The girls frantic eyes looked back and forth between Aya and me, tears in her eyes. She nodded and hugged the woman's head to her chest.

I moved closer and placed both of my hands onto her swollen stomach, closing my eyes. I viewed the baby within. The baby is healthy, but if he does not come out soon he will suffocate. There, that is the problem. The umbilical cord is wrapped under his armpit and around his opposite leg. That is causing pain for both the mother and child, making it hard for her to push him out. I bit my cheek as I tried to decide what needs to be done. Obviously I need to do something about the umbilical cord. But what? I cannot move it from the position it is in. But what I can do is cut it and hope Aya can get him out before he is killed.

I opened my eyes and glanced around at the women around me. "The baby is in a very dangerous position. Both him and the mother could die. What I can do will ensure the mothers life, but it is up to her to keep her baby alive. She will need to get him out before he dies. Shall I proceed?" I looked to the girl with the black hair when I asked this. I believe she is the family here, it is her choice.

"Do it," she cried. "Save my sister."

I nodded and leaned back over the woman's stomach. I focused on what moisture is within her womb and made it slice the cord. "Alright, push Aya. Push or your baby will die." She screamed loudly as she pushed. I felt Gaara standing behind me rather than heard or saw him. But I ignored him, trying to encourage the mother to keep pushing and to push as hard as she could. Soon her screaming stopped and the baby came out.

The silence was deafening. "What's wrong?" The girl with black hair cried. "Why isn't he crying?"

"Give him to me!" I yelled at the woman holding him. I got the still baby in my hands and felt into his body, feeling his barely beating heart. I gave it an extra small push, helping him along. I moved his blood through his veins, trying to keep him alive. The heart beats got a little stronger, so I stopped helping his heart. And I waited, holding him to my chest as I carefully monitored his vitals. Thankfully he is breathing fine on his own. I don't know how I could move the air in and out of his little lungs without hurting him. He made a small noise, then started full blown crying, his heart now beating strong and his blood is pumping. I let out a small sigh of relief and handed the baby to his mother. "He will be alright."

Aya clutched him to her chest as she cried, smoothing back the small amount of black hair on his head. I smiled and reached back for Gaara to help me up.

He helped me to my feet and kept me from falling over. "Are you alright?"

I nodded. "What I did isn't easy. I need to rest for a little while." He nodded and lead me away from the new mother towards a different part of the room. We came upon Gaetan and the other men all sitting in a group.

"Is she alright? Is Aya going to be okay?" He asked.

"Yes," I answered. "Her and her baby will live." Gaara had me sit down against the wall and he sat next to me. "But they will both need to be watched over carefully." I rested my head back against the wall and let out a breath, closing my eyes.

"Is she okay?" I heard someone ask.

I felt Gaara's hand brush against my arm. "Yes, she just needs to rest."

I stayed just like that and listened to everything around me, hearing the people interact with each other. But most importantly I concentrated on the smell of cooking food, waiting until I was able to eat something. My stomach is starting to hurt because I am hungry. I sat there for maybe an hour before I was nudged by Gaara. I looked over at him and happily took the bowl of food from his hands.

"Thank you," I mumbled before eating as quickly as I could. When it was gone I looked sadly at my empty bowl. But I knew with everyone who is living here I cannot ask for more. If anyone should get more food it should be the children. My bowl was taken from my hands and another was put in them. I glanced up at Gaara, then down at the full bowl of food he placed in my hands. "Gaara?"

He looked away from me. "Eat, you need your strength. I am not hungry." I stared at him until he looked at me. Not hungry my butt! He leaned closer and whispered quietly into my ear. "Do not forget I can be anywhere in seconds and get anything to eat I would like." Ah, so that is his reasoning.

But I caught him. "You would never leave me here alone. Even if only for a few seconds." He scowled at me. "Eat,"I put the bowl back into his hands. "These people need their Kazekage." I closed my eyes once more and placed my hands flat against the bottom of the basement. I quickly did a check of the walls and ceiling, making sure it is safe for them to be staying here. The walls are fairly sturdy, but the ceiling could use repairs here and there. But nothing that could put anyone's lives in danger.

I took a shaky breath and opened my eyes back up, sliding them over to Gaara. He was just setting the empty bowl down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. See, I knew he was hungry. He was just trying to be nice by offering it to me. Nice. Yes, I remember when he was nice to me all of the time. He only would listen to me. I remember Temari would send me to his office to tell him supper was done. If she went he would say he wasn't hungry and would go without eating. But if I went to get him, he almost always ended up coming home with me.

The Gaara back then isn't all that much different from the Gaara now. He is still as protective and jealous as ever. He is still as caring, though he is trying hard not to show it. What happened to the Gaara that used to give me those privet smiles? Are they saved only for the Twins now? Will I ever get to see one again?

I mentally smacked myself. I cannot think these things. That kiss was never meant to happen. I just used it as a way to get his attention. What happened after that never happened. Our relationship ended the night I died and left him alone. I hate that I have to keep reminding myself of my purpose.

I am here to die.

Not to get back with Gaara.

Not to watch my children grow.

I am here to die. To die for them. To make this world a better place for them to live in.

That is all. Nothing else.

"Doe?" I glanced over at Gaetan, sitting up from leaning against the wall. "How did you do that?" He asked. "It was amazing. How did you save my son's life?" Son? Well, it makes sense now.

I just smiled, cursing at myself in my head. How am I going to explain this? "I am a type of medic, all I did was give his heart the strength it needed to keep beating." That's enough explanation. I don't need to go into details. I could feel Gaara's eyes on me though I refused to look back.

Gaetan nodded, seeming to know I will not give him a full explanation. His son is alive, his sons mother is alive, that is all he needs. He peeked over at Gaara, but then looked back at me. "What now? What are we going to do?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Again, his eyes darted to Gaara but then returned to me. "Are we to stay here to keep what is left of Suna safe? Or do we return with you and Kazekage-sama to wherever you came from?"

This time I did look at Gaara. And, sure enough, his eyes were still on me. "That is for the Kazekage to decide, Gaetan." I looked away from Gaara, meeting Gaetan's eyes. "Though I am sure you all will be more than welcome within Konoha's walls."

"Konoha?" came a girls voice. I glanced at the girl with black hair. "That is where you have been all of this time, Kazekage-sama?"

Gaara's shoulders lifted and sank slightly with his small sigh. "Yes, Kaori, that is where I have been along with the rest of the villagers."

Her jaw locked. "And Matsuri? Is Matsuri with you, Kazekage-sama?" Her voice was hard. Bitter.

I stood, my body going numb. "How do you know Matsuri?" I asked in a hushed whisper.

Gaara stood, too. "You know well she is not."

I repeated myself a little louder. "How do you know Matsuri?"

Kaori's eyes flashed between Gaara and I. "Matsuri is my sister." I felt like someone just splashed ice cold water down my back. "And he is the father of my nephew."

Pure rage was shown on Gaara's face. "There is no way to prove that!" He yelled at her. "Your sister was nothing more than a tramp! Any man in this room could have been the father."

A sudden calmness washed over me. I place a light hand on Gaara's arm, restraining him. "Let me see the boy." I whispered. Gaara glared at me, his muscles under his arm jumping. "Show me the boy," I said again, looking right into Kaori's brown eyes. The same ones Matsuri had. A imaged on her cold dead eyes staring at the sky flashed before me. I quickly banished it and repeated myself. "Show me the boy, now. I can settle this once and for all."

"Don't," Gaara warned as I moved to follow her. "Leave it be." I can still hear the anger in his voice. When did he become so bad at hiding his emotions?

I looked at him hard. The only reason he would be saying this is if there was a possibility that the child could, in fact, be his. Did he really sleep with her? I thought Kankuro said he would never dream of it. That she reminded him to much of me. Could that have been why he did it? Because he wanted to keep me close after my death? I brushed past him and followed Kaori across the room, stepping over people here and there.

We came to the woman who I had just helped, her son sleeping quietly against her chest. Aya was sound asleep. A boy sat next to her side, peering at the baby while not trying to wake the mother or son. When Kaori got closer the boy quickly moved away, a scowl on his face.

"Ryuu, come here," Kaori whispered. She held out her hand to the boy, but he just sat there, scowling. "Ryuu, come here now." With a glare in place he stood and slowly walked over, but didn't take her hand. "Ryuu, this is Doe. She is here with the Kazekage. They have come to take us from this place."

I looked down at the boy. Unlike both of his aunts he has brown orange hair, like his mother. And his eyes are the same brown color. I stared at him. His skin is pale, though so was Matsuri's ten years ago. It isn't uncommon to have pale skin. With the way his hair is cut, he looks a little like Gaara. And the set of the chin. I have seen it in Jessica. I smiled at him and bent down to his level, reaching out my hand.

"Hello, Ryuu, I am Doe." I made my smile bigger, hoping he would shake my hand. But he didn't. He just glared at me, his arms crossed over my chest.

"Well?" Kaori sighed.

I ignored her. I frowned at him and stood back up, looking down at him. He tilted his chin up so he could continue glaring at me. I sighed slightly. Well, I guess I am going to have to do this my way then. I reached out and placed my hand on the top of his head, shocking him slightly. I pushed a little bit of chakra into him, to numb him. It was more of a stunner so that he wouldn't attack me or pull away yet. I felt into his body, into his blood, into the genes that created him, trying to find similarities.

I lifted my hand and smiled at him. "It was nice to meet you, Ryuu." I ruffled his hair and smiled at Kaori. I then turned and walked back over to Gaara, trying not to step on anyone. His eyes were guarded, his face carefully blank. I looked up at him for a few long seconds. "Looks like you have two sons, Kazekage-sama," I whispered to him. His eyes closed and his hand came to rest over his face. "Congratulations."

The only thought going through my head was one that had me turning bitter.

I killed that boys mother.

And Gaara had let me.

As things start to move along, how do you think things will turn out?