Naruto's POV

I walked away from the doctor. I found the room Sakura was in. The hospital was quiet. The near silence almost frightened me more than how I was feeling right now. I walked into the room with Sakura. Sakura laid there motionless on the bed with the heart monitor beeped at a steady pace. She looked okay, but would she be able to cope with this mentally.

Sasuke did such horrible things to her.

She didn't deserve any of this.

I sat in a chair that was placed next to the bed. Sakura's hand was lying flat while the IV in her arm transferred a clear liquid into her body. I softly picked up her hand holding it ever so gently. I brought her hand up to my face caressing it. Her skin was so soft. After all she's gone through she still smelled sweet from her perfume.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan."

"I didn't mean to get you involved in this mess."

"I should have been stronger… Stronger for you and myself."

My heart felt so heavy. I didn't know if Sakura was able to hear me while she laid there. Hopefully she did. I could apologize over a thousand times, but I don't know if it's going to make up for what I've done, especially what Sasuke has done.

I started to tear up from being overwhelmed with so many emotions at once.

There was a knock at the wall in the room. I turned around quickly to see two officers stand there.

"Can I have a word with you ?"

"Sure…" I placed Sakura's hand down standing up from the hard cold chair.

The two officers had a serious look on their face. I couldn't imagine what they were both thinking at the time.

"You said there were two bodies at the crime scene, yes?"

"Yeah, two bodies. One was Itachi's and the other was Sasuke."

"We only recovered one body on the crime scene, the body of Itachi Uchiha. His gunshot wounds were fairly bad, but he survived them... But Sasuke's body wasn't there."

"Itachi's alive?!" I was amazed Itachi survived those shots. I know Sasuke was shooting to kill. Itachi is a really strong guy to make it through that. "What do you mean it wasn't there? He shot himself in front of me!" I stood in shock and thought to myself. "Where could the body have gone? Did one of his goons move it? There's no way Sasuke is alive. No way at all."

"Calm down, . There's a new investigation open on the residence. We're going to find out what happened to the body. We're going to ask around to see if anyone seen anything."

"Right…"

"Listen, take care of yourself and your girlfriend… I suggest you get out of this city. There's nothing here anymore, but crime and violence."

I nodded my heard in agreeance of what he said.

The officers walked away and I went back in the room with Sakura. I sat back in the chair.

I watched her hoping for some sign of movement. Anything would do. I just wanted her to wake up.

"Sakura-chan, please wake up. I'm begging you, just wake up."

"Sakura, I love you."

Hours went by and there were no changes. She still hadn't move, but the heart monitor was still beeping. The tears started to build up again before they started to roll down my face. I could feel myself drifting asleep. I laid my head down next to her hand while I sobbed myself to sleep.

There was something running through my hair. I could feel something teasing my hair while I was sleep. Maybe it was just a breeze from a window, but it felt different. I forced myself to wake up to see what the source of this motioning of my hair was coming from.

When I opened my eyes, Sakura was sitting upright in the bed with her hand running through my head. She tilted her head at me smiling.

I jumped up in excitement wrapping my arms around her, bringing her into a tight embrace.

"I'm so sorry Sakura-chan. I'm so sorry. Will you ever forgive me? I wasn't able to protect you! I failed you and myself. Please forgive me!"

"Thank you for saving me."

I could feel Sakura's arms slowly inching themselves upward. Her arms hesitantly wrapped around my body as she returned my embrace. I was shocked by the return of her affection. She could have pushed me off of her, smacked me, but she returned the hug.

"You must hate me Sakura."

"I don't hate you Naruto. I don't think I'd ever hate you."

"I didn't mean for this to happen to you."

"I know. It's not your fault. How was I supposed to know Sasuke was that type of person?"

"I know…"

"He told me some things... Sasuke was the one who killed Ino..." Sakura looked down. "I lost her because of him. I lost her because he was jealous of you and I."

"Sakura… I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen…"

I had no idea Sasuke was the cause of Ino's death. I thought it was just senseless street violence and she got caught in the crossfire, but it was Sasuke. Sasuke was the cause of almost everything that fucking happened to us.

"He also told me something else… He told me he was the reason why you got on drugs… Is this true, Naruto?"

"It is." I nodded my head. "So much was happening at that time and I was so vulnerable and open at the moment…"

"I see…"

"When I told Sasuke about you being pregnant, I needed money to support us both. Sasuke introduced me to selling drugs with him. Every time I got out of school I would head to Sasuke's house to help him sell. Then things went downhill."

Sakura sat in silence listening while her arms were still firmly around me.

"The day you called and told me that you lost the baby I felt so broken. I felt like it was my fault because I was never there for you. It was burning a hole in me." I sighed. "That was the day I started using. Sasuke told me it would make me feel better. I felt like I needed it to stabilize myself. So I took it… And I fucked myself up. I fucked everyone I loved and cared about over for my selfish needs."

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before. It was so hard to believe you. You weren't giving me much proof to run off of. Every time I seen you, you would be high or out of it. But I understand now. Thank you for telling me the truth over again. It was always in my face and chose not to see it."

"You would have never known unless I said something. Everything that happened to us was because of Sasuke. He was so jealous and he was trying to keep me to himself. I didn't know Sasuke was truly in love with me."

"Part of your stress was my fault. I put so much on your plate. All I could do was receive from you, but I couldn't give. I was supposed to be your support when you were going through those hard times, but I pushed you away in fear you'd turn out like my mother."

"Sakura, I'm truly sorry…"

"You shouldn't be the one apologizing. I should. I should have believed you. I should have believed in you, but I was too stupid to see you were in distressed too."

"There's no need to apologize to me. All that matters is that we're together now. By the way, I would never cheat on you. That was Sasuke trying to set me up once again. I love you too much to give you up for some random chick. Do you believe me?"

"Of course I do." Sakura nodded her head.

I placed a few kisses on her neck before I moved in for the real thing. I pressed my lips against hers. It's been so long since I've kissed her lips. I knew things could only get better from here. We're together again.

I'm happy.

5 years later.

Sakura and I moved out of the Konoha into a small town far away from there. Ever since then Sakura and I repaired our relationship. Everything was going lovely. We bought a nice house and started our family. We have a son named Shinachiku, but Sakura calls him "Shina-chan". Sakura is currently pregnant with our second child. We haven't thought of a name for her yet.

Shinachiku looks just like me, but has the personality and the eyes of his mother. He has my stamina too. They're so bold and assertive. Shinachiku is only 3 years old. Hopefully our next child will take on some more personality aspect of me.

We've made many new friends in the town we live in now. Everyone is so supportive.

I smiled watching Sakura and Shinachiku playing catch in the park. Their laughter could be heard in the distance. I closed my eyes for a brief moment and tilted my head back taking in the fresh spring air. The sweet scent of cherry blossoms filled the air while petals fluttered everywhere.

The laughter faded away as I heard the faint footsteps rustling in the grass getting closer to me.

"Daddy, daddy… Mommy taught me a new trick with the ball." I tilted my head forward, opening my eyes to see my son standing before me.

"Oh did she now?"

"Yeah! Can I show you?"

"Of course you can!" I smirked at him.

Sakura came walking up behind him holding her hands on her stomach.

"Did you tell your father about the new trick?"

"Yes! Daddy wants me to show him!" Shinachiku paused and looked up Sakura. "Mommy, why are you holding your stomach like that?"

"Your little sister is moving again."

"Can I touch?" Shinachiku's eyes widened with curiosity. I smiled at them both watching them interact lovingly.

"Of course darling." He reached up to her stomach placing his hand on it. "Can you feel her moving?"

"It feels like she wiggling around!"

"I know, I know. It's amazing right. You used to move around like that."

"Really mommy?"

"Yup." Sakura nodded and smiled at him.

"I'm going to be a big brother!"

With the blink of an eye Shinachiku ran away from us. He ran back into the area where he and Sakura were playing at. He called over to me. "Come on dad! Let me show you the trick! Hurry, hurry!"

"Do you want to touch too, Naruto?" She caught me off guard with her question, but I nodded instantly. Reaching my hand out to her stomach, I rubbed it gently. I could feel the baby moving around. It was something magical. It was the same feeling I felt when I felt Shinachiku moving around for the first time.

"Amazing…"

"It is, isn't?"

I smiled at Sakura placing a kiss on her forehead.

"We shouldn't keep Shina-chan waiting Naruto." She continued to smile at me extending her hand out.

My heart was filled with joy. I reached out to grab her hand, holding it tightly. I never wanted to let go.

Together we walked over to him while the breeze caressed our skin.

We've come so far from where we were. Nothing could go wrong, could it…?