Chichi - father

Hahaoya - mother

o.O.o

Chapter 4

When class finished on Friday, Sakura walked out of HPE with Lee, laughing at one of his jokes. The atmosphere between them had been good and they'd managed to prevent any awkwardness by acting like they always did. At Sakura's request, Lee had refrained from coming over to her house in the afternoons, as she wanted time to read the books and come to terms with her pregnancy on her own.

By now it had sunk in. She was pregnant with Lee's baby. The thought made her feel strangely happy and once again she wondered if they had the potential to be a good couple. Unintentionally, she found herself comparing Lee to Sasuke. With Lee, she knew everything about him and was always comfortable with his presence, while with Sasuke she knew very little and was always giggly around him. In terms of boyfriend material, she came to realise that Lee would be a better choice.

It was just a matter of warming to the idea of falling in love with her best friend.

They stopped at Lee's locker first so he could collect his bag, then went to Sakura's. She had two bags – her normal school bag and the bag she'd packed for her two nights away from home. Then they wandered to the front gates and left the school behind, walking to Lee's home. He lived thirty-minutes-walk away and the walk was always bothersome in summer, but in early winter it was nice.

"How are you feeling?" Lee asked once no one was around.

"I'm still vomiting," Sakura told him. "That'll happen for about two more months and then I'll begin my second trimester."

"And the headaches? Are you sleeping well?"

"Headaches, yes. Sleeping well, no. How's the job-hunt going?"

They talked for several minutes while they walked, until they passed a tea shop. Lee touched her arm. "Would you like some tea? Or cake?" He blushed. "I read that tea is good for settling stomachs."

"Now that you mention it, I am pretty hungry." Sakura wandered over to the shop and took a seat at one of the tables outside. Lee sat across from her and they looked at the big menu above the cashier.

"What would you like?" he asked.

Sakura's gaze was riveted on a particular item – almond tea cakes. She wasn't too keen on almonds, but at the moment they sounded delicious. Then there was the green tea… "The almond tea cakes and green tea."

He tilted his head. "I thought you did not like almonds."

"I don't." She remembered something from one of the pregnancy books she'd read. "I think it's a craving. I read that they're common." She smiled as Lee waved over the waiter. "This is my first craving, if that's what it is."

Lee smiled and looked up at the blue-haired waiter. "Can we please have an almond cake, a hedgehog slice and two green teas?"

"You'll receive your food shortly," the man said, retreating.

As Sakura sat there with Lee, waiting for their food to arrive, she couldn't help but watch him. Her mind worked furiously, trying to figure out exactly what it was about Lee that could appeal to her romantically. His hair and eyebrows were awful (she'd told him plenty of times) but he had a very nice body with broad shoulders and a sculpted chest that led down to tapered hips. He had not one ounce of body-fat on him and was freakishly strong, though he always hid his muscles beneath baggy clothes. Lee was insecure about his body, she knew, though he had no reason to be. If anything, he should be insecure about his bowl cut and the caterpillar eyebrows that adorned his face.

Actually, if she changed the hair and eyebrows, she could see him looking vaguely handsome. What she loved most about him was his hands – they enclosed her small ones completely, giving her a sense of safety and security, and were rough to the touch, but surprisingly gentle. He'd been incredibly careful with her last month…

She fought the urge to shake her head, knowing that she was overthinking things. Her hahaoya had said to not force herself to fall in love with Lee and to let it happen naturally.

Their food and tea arrived and Sakura devoured the slice hungrily, barely stopping to gulp down her tea. Lee grinned and matched her pace teasingly, though he made sure she finished first.

"I wasn't aware that we were racing," she said, swallowing her last mouthful.

"I find that friendly competition while eating is an entertaining pastime. Naruto and Sasuke do it all the time."

"Really? I haven't seen them." If Sasuke was mentioned two weeks ago, Sakura would have told whoever it was to shut up. Now, she felt nothing. It was strange.

Lee took a deep breath. "At the end of this year I will leave school with you so I can be with you every step of the way. Chichi's gym has a casual position over the winter break and a job may come at the end of break. I will apply for the job and earn money to support you and our child."

Sakura's throat tightened and her gaze misted over as tears prickled. "Lee, that's… I can't ask you to do that."

"I have already made my decision." He smiled. "After all, if I say I will not get the job I will undoubtedly get it."

"Lee, that's not how it works-"

"I will be there for my blossom! Now let us go and enjoy the benefits or our youth!" He leapt up from his seat and grabbed her hand, dragging her from the tea shop. She just managed to snag the handles on both her bags and dragged them behind her. Lee noticed and used his free hand to hoist them over his shoulder, carrying them without effort. Then one of them started to slip and he let go of Sakura's hand to steady it. When he lowered his arm, he didn't take her hand again.

Was it a good sign that she was missing his touch?

o.O.o

"Ah, my son, it is good to see you and young Sakura!" Gai boomed from the back veranda. Sakura averted her eyes, her cheeks flushing red. Gai wore nothing but a pair of tight pants, leaving nothing to the imagination. Why couldn't Lee have a somewhat normal guardian?

Looking away from Gai, she felt suddenly irritated, though she didn't know where the feeling came from. She frowned and remembered that mood swings were a normal part of pregnancy. Was this a mood swing? Gai had never annoyed her before, let alone made her feel this aggravated by being in his presence.

"Hey Gai," she said shortly before turning to Lee. "I'll drop my stuff off in your room. Do you mind if I use your computer?"

"Not at all," Lee replied. "I must participate in my afternoon workout with my chichi."

"We will crush them all!" Gai shouted enthusiastically, dancing up and down. Sakura tore down the hallway, ignoring the scantily-clad figure completely. Once in Lee's room, she dumped both bags and surveyed her surroundings.

Lee was a neat person by nature. His room was orderly: bed made, desk uncluttered, computer kept in good-condition, wardrobe organised by colour and season. No wonder everyone at school thought he was gay. But the room felt entirely of Lee – his personal touches, his scent, his warmth. A photo of him, Sakura, Ino, Hinata and Tenten sat proudly on his bedside table, taken last Christmas when Gai demanded they take a photo while in their holiday garb. Sakura grinned. She, Ino and Hinata were dressed as elves and Lee and Tenten were reindeers. Gai had been Santa.

Things had changed since then. Sakura pulled a small notebook and pen from her second bag and sat in front of the computer, switching it on. The password was 'Youth!' and yes, the exclamation mark was part of the password. She opened up an internet page and searched 'neutral nursery designs'. For the next hour she surfed the internet for possible layouts, as she fully intended to turn the guest room at her house into a nursery. She wrote down web addresses for designs she liked, sucking on the pen lid absent-mindedly the whole time.

Eventually Lee trooped in, smiling, and his bare chest was glistening with sweat. Again, Sakura averted her eyes from a scantily-clad body and closed the internet page, deciding to log into her school email to check for messages. Lee didn't speak and gathered some clothes before heading to his adjoining bathroom. She heard the shower start and got out of the chair, moving over to Lee's bed. As expected, the mattress was still underneath and she pulled it out. Lee had spare sheets in his wardrobe and she retrieved them, making the bed with an air of practice.

"I should do that!" Lee said from the bathroom doorway, his voice disappointed. "You are a guest and more importantly, you are pregnant."

"Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm an invalid," she said irritably, pulling her pillow from her bag. Lee, wisely, didn't reply. He'd done his own research and knew not to antagonise a pregnant female. It was downright dangerous. So he left his room, closing the door behind him. Sakura sighed. She hadn't intended to be irritable. It just sort of… happened. "Damn hormones," she muttered.

After a brief shower, Sakura pulled on her pyjamas and wound her hair in a towel, poking her head into the hallway suspiciously. Both Gai and Lee had a habit of walking around with barely any clothes on and while she knew Lee was dressed, there was no telling what Gai would be wearing.

Thankfully he had both shirt and pants on. He looked up from the stove with a toothy grin on his face. "Hello young Sakura! I trust you're able to eat a seafood curry!"

"Seafood," she murmured longingly, salivating slightly. She became aware of a beautiful aroma that filled the kitchen and joined Lee at the bench to watch Gai cook. He might be an idiot everywhere else, but in the kitchen he was a genius.

"Has Lee told you of his decision?"

"Yep."

"I'm so proud of you both! You're growing up into such mature young people and I cannot be happier!"

She tilted her head. "Are you really okay with your son leaving school to care for a child that he doesn't have to?" She grimaced. "The chichi can always choose not to become involved, but it's always harder for the hahaoya."

"Nonsense! I taught Lee to be a gentleman and he is not leaving you to carry the burden by yourself." Gai stared off into the distance, mixing the curry slowly. "You are such great friends and Lee doesn't turn his back on his friends when they need him most. You grew up with each other, remember? Such bonds cannot be ruined by a simple pregnancy. As for the child, I can't wait to be a grandpa!" He snapped back into the present and stirred more vigorously. "I'm sure your parents feel the same way."

Sakura smiled wryly. "My chichi isn't too happy about it, but he's willing to help just as long as Lee doesn't back out. If Lee did back out, chichi couldn't help me anymore because he'd be in jail for murder."

"That is harsh…" Lee muttered, hanging his head.

"But my hahaoya is excited for us. She's finally warming to the idea of being a grandma." She shook her head. "I can't imagine what our friends will think of this."

"Are you telling young Ino, Hinata and Tenten?" Gai asked, tilting his head.

"Yeah. They'd notice anyway and I'd rather tell them now then have them find out later and feel betrayed. You know how all those movies end: the person keeps a secret, the others find out and hate them forever."

"You are wise beyond your years." Gai took the pot off the heat and set it in the metal sink, fetching bowls for the three of them. Sakura gratefully accepted a bowl of seafood curry and sat on the couch with Lee and Gai, waiting for them to choose a movie to watch while eating. It was a cross between Mortal Kombat and Transformers. Mortal Kombat won, which sucked because Sakura had seen that movie far too many times.

As she ate, she imagined a small crib beside the couch with a baby inside. The thought came so naturally that it surprised her.

Maybe this wasn't as terrifying as she'd first thought. She had Gai, Lee and her parents sticking with her and that had to count for something.

o.O.o

It was ten at night and Sakura was lying on her mattress, staring at the dark ceiling aimlessly. While trying to get to sleep, a huge headache had formed and her breasts had started to throb. Those were normal symptoms, she knew, but it didn't make them any more pleasant.

"Sakura?"

"Yes Lee?"

"Will our friends support us?"

She thought about it for a second. "I don't know. We can't expect them to be okay with it straight away. They'll need time. If Ino told me she was pregnant, I wouldn't believe her." A frown crossed her face as she heard rustling. "What're you doing?"

"I am guessing you have a headache."

"Yeah…"

"I put some painkillers in my drawer just in case and I have some water."

She sat up and felt around the darkness, her hand touching something warm. "Is this you?"

"That is my thigh."

Sakura was glad that it was dark so she could hide her blush. "Okay. Hand it over." She accepted the pills and water and gulped it down, pulling a face at the bland taste. "Thanks. Don't mind me if I get up in twenty minutes to go pee."

Lee chuckled and his hand touched hers in the gloom. "If you feel sick in the morning, wake me and I will assist you."

Her heart thumped. "Thanks Lee."

"You are welcome, blossom."