Okay so this is the final chapter to Friends, thanks to everyone that read this story.

Chapter 20 Friends

Once the death of Matsumoto was ruled an accident, Sasuke and Sakura are able to reach her final month of pregnancy. However before she could be discharged from the hospital, Sakura had one final appointment with Tsunade.

"Ok Sakura well I have great news things are going beautifully now, you should be going into labor any day. Are you sure you don't want to know the gender of the baby?" Tsunade asked as she had a hard time keeping it a secret.

Sakura sitting up from the bed, with a big smile shook her head. "No I want it to be a surprise." She happily said. Once Tsunade left the room, Sasuke helped Sakura up from the bed as they got ready to leave.

SASUKE'S FLASHBACK

"Ok what do you want?" The judge nervously said after she saw the paper in Sasuke's hand.

"Matsumoto's dead...I've killed him, you're going to rule his death as an accident. Also no one else is to be released or have a chance at being released or else...I come straight for you." Sasuke hissed. The judge taking a massive gulp nodded her head understanding his demands.

END FLASHBACK

"So Sakura now Matsumoto is gone and baby is almost here... what about setting a wedding date?" Sasuke asked as he noticed her not wearing the ring. "Sasuke I'll happily marry you...but I don't want you to marry me like this… I'm huge and honestly I can't even fit the ring on my finger now." Sakura said a little depressed at being so big.

Sasuke glancing at her, couldn't help but sigh at the comment, since he thought she looked absolutely beautiful carrying his child. Once the pair left the hospital they headed straight for Sasuke's house. Even though Sakura had lived with her mother. Since she was nearing her due date, she decided to stay with him until the baby was born.

After the two ate a late dinner, they headed for bed; once Sakura was fast asleep she found herself in a deep dream.

Sakura slowly finding herself waking up on a park bench, looks around as she wasn't quite use to this kind of environment. Hearing the sound of laughing, Sakura walks over to the jungle gym as two small boys play around. "Hey wait." Sakura says as she finds herself running after them. Once she got closer Sakura stops as she noticed the boys both held onto each others hand. "Who are you?" she asked, as she went to touch the taller ones shoulder.

Once she did Sakura was shocked over, seeing the boy looked exactly like Sho. "Sho... is that you," she asked as she fell to her knees. "Sakura" he shouted as he ran up to hug her. "Sho how are you, i worry about you all the time." Sakura said as tears fell down her cheek.

"Sakura don't worry about me I'm fine i have fun all the time, with my friend he has the same name as me to." Sho said while grabbing the other little boy.

After Sakura got a good look at the boy she felt her body freeze over looking at the boys features. The boy looked just like Sasuke same dark eyes with slightly different hair. "Sho?" she said as the little boy ran up and hugged her as well. "mommy." he called out.

Sakura in utter shock wrapped her arms tightly around him as she wept over holding him. "I'm so sorry i couldn't protect you, i love you so much." Sakura said while running her hands in his hair and kissing his head.

"it's okay, Sho and I have fun" her son answered as he wiped away Sakura's tears. "You ready to go now," Sho asked looking at the younger boy. "wait no stay with me." Sakura said after grabbing her son's hand.

"I can't mama, besides." he paused while touching her stomach. "He needs you now, " he smiled as he turned to run off. Watching him go Sakura looked over at Sho whom was about to leave as well. "Sakura I'm so glad your happy now, we both will be watching" he said while placing a hand on her stomach as well.

Feeling something wet, wake him up, Sasuke sat up to see the bed was soaked, "Sakura you OK?" he asked as he shook her awake. Sakura still out of it, moved the covers as she looked at the puddle she was sitting in. "I think...my water broke," she said mainly stunned by the development.

Hearing this Sasuke jumps out of bed in a panic trying his best to get Sakura's things and her up to the hospital.

"Do I have everything," Sasuke said frantically as he was nervously stumbling over things trying to leave.

"It's Okay Sasuke we have a little time i…think that's everything" Sakura said before she started to feel some cramping.

Based on what Tsunade had told her about, Sakura knew she was having her first contraction, so she paid attention to the timing so she could know where she was in terms of labor. "OK let's go" Sasuke finally said after he grabbed her bag and he helped her carefully out of the door.

Once they made it to the hospital, the nurses pulled up a wheel chair for Sakura to sit in as they got her ready. "Wait…Sasuke" Sakura said as she grabbed his arm, "Contact my mother, Ino, and Naruto" she said in-between taking some breaths. "OK I'll be right up soon," Sasuke finished while kissing her hard on the lips.

While Sakura was being rolled up to her room; Sasuke got to work on contacting everyone Sakura's mother being first using the local pay phone, he tried to contact Naruto next but he wasn't answering his call.

"Naruto come on baka," he called out annoyed at his timing. After 5 minutes of not getting a response, Sasuke looking at the time and knowing Sakura wanted him there; decided to go and find Naruto as fast as he could.

After a few minutes of being fully settled in her room, Sakura can feel her contractions getting stronger and closer together. as she breaths trying to work her way through the pain, she watches Ino come into her room, "Ino…"she said surprised by her being there instead of Sasuke.

"Hey how are you feeling," Ino asked as she got to Sakura's side as fast as she could. "Wher...e is…Sasuke" she asked as she felt herself feel another surge of pain from a strong contraction. Ino seeing her in pain quickly grabbed her hand. "He'll be right back I ran into him on the way up here he went to go find Naruto." She said as she watched her hand turn white over Sakura's grip.

"Ahh" Sakura screamed as she tossed her head back, "Sakura should I go get a nurse or something?" Ino asked nervously over the amount of pain she seemed to be in. "No it's okay... I can't have the baby without Sasuke here" she panted.

After running through town trying to locate Naruto, Sasuke grows angrier and more anxious the longer he's away from Sakura. Just as he thought that Sasuke catches Naruto from the corner of his eye. "Naruto." he screamed out.

After Sakura gets through another contraction, a nurse comes in to check on her progress. "Alright Sakura looks like you are progressing faster than anticipated we need to get you ready to deliver this baby," she said with a happy tone.

"No not now Sasuke isn't here yet" Sakura protested as she tossed her head in disbelief. "Looks like this baby isn't going to wait for him, I'll be back with Tsunade" the nurse said as she left the room.

Sakura feeling warm liquid fall down her cheeks, placed a hand over her head; as she could feel it soaked with sweat.

"Sakura? Are you OK" Ino asked seeing the distress on her face. "What if I can't do this?" she asked while looking at Ino. "What if I cant' have this baby?" she said while crying, Ino grabbing a towel started to wipe the dampness from her forehead while she found herself chuckling, "Sakura it's a little to late for what ifs now", Ino joked trying to ease her concern. "You're strong and you're doing great you can do this, you're almost there." She said while holding her hand tightly.

Once Tsunade arrived, and seeing Sakura in pain she quickly got to work in examining her. "looks like your dilated enough, it's almost time to start pushing," she said as she started to get her ready to deliver.

Sakura panicked sat up a little while the nurses adjusted the bed for her to start pushing, "OK Sakura you're going to start pushing, when you feel your next contraction," Tsunade coached, while she put on her gloves and made sure she had everything she needed.

Sakura feeling anxious took some deep breaths, as she felt the familiar feeling in her stomach; feeling the contraction Sakura started to push down. "AAAAAAAAAHHHH" she started to scream.

Just as Naruto and Sasuke ran up to the hospital, they noticed everyone waiting once again in the waiting room. "Everyone?" Sasuke said as he tried to catch his breath, it was so reminiscent of the time when Sakura was taken to the hospital after she was attacked that Sasuke almost felt sick to his stomach.

"Sasuke she's already in delivery you should get up there" Sakura's mother said after she hugged him, Sasuke hearing this made his way frantically upstairs as he tried to get there on time.

"SHAANNAAROOO" Sakura screamed out as her face started to change colors, and the beads of sweat turned into streams as they soaked the ends of her hair. "Sakura hang on stop pushing" Tsunade suddenly stopped her as she examined her once again.

Feeling light-headed Sakura noticed a nurse give her an oxygen mask. "What is it?" another nurse asked after Tsunade was turning anxious.

"This isn't good looks like the baby is turned the wrong way" Tsunade said out loud. "What my baby is it OK?" Sakura asked In the middle of taking in air. Just when she asked Sakura looked up to see Sasuke, dressed up in scrubs as he finally made it to the room, "Sasuke-kun" she said. Ino seeing him motioned for him to take her place while she got on the other side.

Sasuke nervously walking up to Sakura grabs her hand, as he placed a kiss on her sweaty forehead, "OK Sakura I'm going to have to turn the baby around, before you can push again so bare with me," Tsunade said as she mentally got her ready. "You ready?" she asked.

"Yes just make sure my baby is safe." Sakura said as she braced herself. "OK here goes." After Tsunade carefully turned the baby around, Sakura held on tightly to Sasuke's hand. Even though he was trying to support her Sasuke felt himself grow little light-headed at the process of child-birth.

"OK Sakura one more push and it will be done." Tsunade finally said while she smiled back to her. "Sakura taking a couple of deep breaths looked at Tsunade, Ino , the nurses and lastly Sasuke before feeling the contraction take hold of her body once more. "PUSH" Tsunade screamed as Sakura did what she was told.

Almost braking Sasuke's hand in the process, Sakura lets out the loudest scream yet as Tsunade gradually pulls out a head first, shortly followed by some feet. "Ok stop its done." Tsunade said while she handed the baby to the nurse. After a nurse assisted Tsunade, she hurriedly turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke you want to cut the umbilical cord?" the nurse asked, Sasuke in shock, looking at Sakura catching her breath nodded as he cut the cord allowing The nurse to take the baby.

Sakura trying to breathe felt her heart stop as the room was still quite, Sasuke and Sakura watch carefully as a nurse sucked the liquid from the baby's nose and mouth after which they heard a soft noise of the baby crying.

Hearing the baby cry made Sakura fall back as she was in a daze over what she had just done. "Oh my god Sakura" Ino cried as she put a shaky hand on her chest. Sasuke still in total shock watched the nurse wrap the baby up and handed it to Sakura. "It's a healthy baby boy" the nurse said next while propping Sakura's hands so she could support the baby.

Sasuke, watching the little baby move as he slowly tried to open his eyes. Found his hand reach for the fragile baby as he felt the softness of his skin between the palms of his hand. Sakura in tears looked at Sasuke as she rocked the baby back and forth while kissing his head. "Sasuke thank you, thank you" she said happily as she stroked the baby's cheek.

Sasuke unable to form words placed a gentle kiss on Sakura's head as he knew he was the one that should be thanking her. "Want to hold him now?" Sakura asked seeing him stare hard at him. Sasuke pulled back a bit to her question as he was nervous.

The nurse seeing this reached for the baby in order to hand him to Sasuke "What if I drop him?" Sasuke asked as he started to hold out his hands. "Trust me you won't" the nurse said happily as she helped Sasuke hold the baby.

Sasuke holding the baby looked into his green eyes as he stretched out in his fathers arms.

Not long after Sakura and the baby are checked out and moved into another room; everyone goes to visit the new family.

"Ino stop hogging him" scolded Tenten who was trying to hold the baby next, "Already spoiling the kid not more than two hours after he's been alive geez Ino" Shikamaru stated while sighing over her being overbearing.

Sakura exhausted just laid back in bed, as she watched everyone circle the baby. "Sakura you did good I'll go and grab some things for you "Sakura's mother said after kissing her cheek and placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

Naruto finally getting to hold the baby, after prying him away from Tenten. Started to speak to him, "Hey there I'm your uncle Naruto, when your old enough lets eat ramen together" he said while he smiled at the baby, which instead of making him happy caused him to start crying.

"Naruto what did you do?" Sasuke asked quickly at hearing his son cry. "What nothing," he said nervously as he tried to comfort the baby, Naruto unable to do it. Watched as Kakashi stepped in, and grabbed the baby from Naruto while smiling back to him under his mask.

Seeing Kakashi's kind face made the baby stop crying to the dismay of Naruto, who could only put his head down in defeat over this. "Oh I guess that means you like me better than uncle Naruto," Kakashi joked to rub it in further.

"Yeah well grandpa Kakashi, just got lucky" Naruto joked back causing Kakashi to lower his head at being called grandpa.

Sakura smiling at everyone talking and holding the baby felt her eye lids grow heavy, as she was beyond exhausted. Seeing her fight the sleep, Sasuke quickly stood up to grab the baby from Kakashi. "OK everyone time to go now, Sakura needs her rest "he said while they all reluctantly left.

After the room turned quite, Sakura watched as Sasuke and the baby sat in a chair next to her. "Thank you" Sakura said as she closed her eyes. She wanted to say something but didn't want to be rude about it.

"Sakura thank you for our son you did a wonderful job… what do you want to name him?" Sasuke asked next while watching him yawn.

Seeing Sasuke so in aw of the baby gave her an idea as she started to grin, "Why don't you name him, since I named the first one." Sakura said while placing a free hand onto Sasuke's arm. Sasuke surprised by her allowing him to pick the name, stared at the baby before a name came to mind

"How about Itachi? ...After my brother" he said while looking down. Sakura watching Sasuke's face smiled. "Itachi? I like it" she said with a grin.

"Itachi what do you think do you like that name?" Sasuke asked the baby whom started to fall asleep in his arms, seeing this Sasuke turns to tell Sakura only to find her fast asleep as well.

Watching the two sleep peacefully, Sasuke placed the baby in his little hospital bed next to Sakura. Before he walked over to the hospital window, Sasuke looking out found the nearby playground he had took Sho to with Sakura.

Lowering his head, Sasuke's locks covered his eyes."Sho looks like I'll finally be able to keep my promise...finally." He said somberly before Sasuke felt a presence whisper to him while holding his hand. "Sasuke, thank you" he undoubtedly heard.

Turning back sharply, Sasuke looked around the room, because of the familiar voice. "Sho?" He said only to not find anyone else there except his family. Sasuke taking a second to look at them both, smiles as he starts to self reflect.

Looking at Sakura, Sasuke thinks about how they've both have been through so many hardships and looking at his newborn son; the positive product of those hard times. Sasuke couldn't help but think he wouldn't take it back.