Hinata's meeting with the newly formed Suna-Hyuga council went quite well. She hadn't expected to be in front of the council and feel so respected at the same time. The speaker, an older gentleman, she wasn't sure how closely related they were, was kind and soft-spoken. He seemed to know what he was talking about instead of half-read, half-echoed like the home council usually did to her. He pulled her aside after the meeting.

"I didn't want to bring it up during the meeting in case you were having complications. We will respect you until you are ready, but is there a reason you are not revealing your expectation to the council." She blinked at him.

"Expectancy of what?" Hinata wondered.

"Your child."

"I've just gained weight." A pit in her stomach grew. Was she…? No. "I would have noticed if I were pregnant."

"When have you last used your Byakugan? You only need to be four weeks before it's noticeable with it. You might be five or six now." His eyes activated subtly before turning back off. "Closer to six."

Hinata blanked entirely. She couldn't hear another thing he said. How did she not notice? She hasn't used her Byakugan on the doctor's order since the attack, but it hadn't been that long since the accident… three weeks. Gaara was missing for … a few days, ten tops. She would have had to have conceived right before he was captured.

Hinata grabbed the poor man's arm with a death grip just as she felt her vision close in.

"Fainted?" Gaara got up from his desk. "Was it heat stroke?"

Matsuri put her hands up to try to calm him. "No, the Hyuga said that she collapsed from shock. She mentioned she used to faint a lot when she was embarrassed."

Gaara stopped, frustrated that he was being prevented from going to his wife.

"She's fine. She rested, and she'll be here soon. I'll make sure she comes here first." Matsuri promised before stepping out.

Gaara's temper flared. Sighing, he went back to his chair, feeling tired. His anger was quick and violent, and then when it dissipated, he was drained. He went back to his work. He lost interest in reading the useless document in front of him. He wasn't going to agree to this trade deal anyway.

Gaara rubbed his temples and laid his head back, closing his eyes. Hinata said, 'letting your eye rest would help you clear your mind.'

Hinata sat on the bed, staring at the floor. She thought about this so much, but she wasn't prepared for it at all. Children?

She wasn't worried about him accepting the pregnancy, but she was worried about his health and adding stress to the matter. Did she even tell him until she knew the pregnancy would last? If she miscarried or the pregnancy had to be terminated due to her injuries, wouldn't that add even more stress?

Was it selfish that she wanted his support when he was still so weak?

Hinata jumped when the door was knocked on. "Yes?"

"Hinata?" Gaara opened the door.

"Come in." Hinata beckoned.

"Are you alright?" Gaara didn't hide his concern.

"Yes, fine, just a dizzy spell," Hinata explained. "You've seen me faint before."

"It's been a while." Hinata wouldn't lie if he asked outright, but she wasn't going to volunteer the information either. She probably shouldn't even tell Temari or Matsuri until it was clear the pregnancy could go to full term. "There is something wrong."

Hinata couldn't help the sad smile. He wouldn't demand an answer. "Not wrong, but possibly… bothersome. If it becomes an issue, I promise to tell."

Gaara eyed her again, offering an open arm, and she curled into him and took the hug warmly. He didn't even know what he was supporting, and he was supporting her so well. Hinata smiled into his shoulder, closing her eyes.

If this baby lived, he would be a good father to it. She was sure.

Hinata made the whole of the Hyuga compound, including the training children, promise to keep it a secret that she was expecting until she announced it. The small council understood her insecurities. She warmly and whole heartily thanked them for knowing that her council in Konoha would not have done so for her. That council would have never done so unless to save themselves the embarrassment if the child did not come to term.

Hinata was nearly brought to tears when the council head added that the Hyuga in Konoha were also not to be informed. She hadn't even thought about it, but she was so grateful that he had. The last thing she wanted was for her father to know right now. The issue of children had already been faced, but she wanted to make sure that it was not brought back up before she made sure it was clear in their final treaties.

It was agreed she would be seen by medical Hyuga members in the compound for early pregnancy to make sure there were no complications and that she could keep her secret to as few people as possible. There was one major advantage to having been raised Hyuga. They liked hiding pregnancies. Herbs to get rid of morning sickness, clothes that helped hide the weight gain, simple excuses for change in behavior, all for a good reason. The child was not sealed. Therefore, the mother was at risk for her entire pregnancy from plotting to rip the child from her womb the moment it was old enough.

Her mother didn't announce her pregnancy for 8 months. Of course, that was easy, as no one ever saw her. The moment she started to show was the moment she was no longer allowed out of the compound. With Hanabi, she was too sick to leave the compound, so it hadn't mattered if she was allowed.

Hinata wasn't going to be quite that secretive. Once she was more sure that the pregnancy was healthy, and she started to show, she would announce it.

The Hyuga medics were quite nice. They explained the process and how she would be feeling, and what she should be mindful of in the coming weeks that might be red flags. They explained what could happen since her injuries did affect her abdomen. Her being so early could either be completely harmless or cause horrible issues. All of which she was aware of, but she was thankful they didn't just try to tell her all would be fine until it wasn't.

She would hope for the best but understood in the worst way possible that there was nothing that could be done if it went wrong.

Temari was surprised at her now light exercise.

"After my meeting with the Hyuga, I checked up with a Hyuga medic. My injuries were not yet ready for that level of exercise. I should continue slowly with my muscle gain, so I don't hurt myself again." Hinata partly lied.

"Oh, alright." Temari shrugged it off. "Do you think Gaara would go to a Hyuga medic?"

"I don't see why he wouldn't. Is there something you think that they will find that the Suna medics haven't?" Hinata wondered. Temari's face scrunched.

"Not really. I just have never really seen him so skinny. He constantly eats now, but he still hasn't gained weight. He's showing it in his face, and I don't want him to get so sickly that he has to be on bed rest because you know that will drive him up a wall." Temari explained.

"He has been getting thinner." Hinata requested high-carb, high-calorie, and high-protein foods, but he still didn't ever take in enough of anything. Were all those years of barely eating catching up to him? It didn't make any sense. Your body wouldn't need more for previously used energy.

"Even if you just give him a check over every once in a while to make sure there isn't, like, chakra leaking out of him or something."

That was exactly what was happening. Hinata stared at the wildly off chakra patterns. Shukaku must have put up a fight when he was being removed. It was a wonder he was alive with the shape his chakra channels were in. All his energy was literally leaking out of him. It explained his eating and sleeping habits and the fact he was still losing weight. His body was eating itself, trying to replenish what was being lost.

"We need to take you to the Hyuga." Hinata stammered. "Your chakra channels are torn to shreds. I can't believe you can walk, let alone have been working and using your sand all this time. How is that even possible?" Hinata squeaked. She opened her mouth again, but she had no explanation of how he had gone so long without it having worse effects.

This was her fault. Just like it was her fault, she didn't know she was pregnant. She hadn't used her Byakugan due to her injuries, and it had affected both of them.

Gaara examined her worried face and nodded. "I'll go."

Hinata was terrified, far more than he was expecting. She was usually calm and collected in an emergency, and then when the emergency had passed, that is when she would leave her self-breakdown. This time was different. She looked bad enough that one of the nurses took her aside. He wasn't sure what she talked about, but she was given some tea shortly after and held her hand close to the stomach. Maybe she had worried herself sick.

"He'll need extensive chakra therapy. We should start in heavy installments, getting rid of the worst damage first, then we can go to smaller sessions once the damage is less extensive." The medic explained.

"Will I be able to return to my work?" Gaara asked.

"Not for the week, though after if you are responding to the therapy, then you can start back in installments. I believe making arrangements now so that we can start tomorrow would be best." The medic cleaned up her supplies.

Gaara frowned. Would it be best for the work to fall to her? She looked worse than he felt. If he put her back in the place of Kazekage, she wouldn't be able to come with him, and he was sure she would want to. He would be weak and sick. He didn't want to lie alone in a dark room all day.

Hinata's hands fisted together at the end of her scarf were shaking, or was he just imagining her stress because he wanted to be selfish?

"Kankuro or Temari?" Gaara asked.

Hinata shook her head, turning her attention to him. "What?"

"Who should we have to stand in while I have treatment." Gaara clarified.

Hinata's lips pressed together for a moment. "You don't want me to do it?"

Gaara could tell the truth without revealing it all. "I want you with me."

Hinata nodded. "Alright, uhm, Kankuro-san, Temari-chan has some trades work on her hands right now."

"I will send word." Gaara reached out, and she took his hand. He was right. She was shaking.