Itachi almost have no time for his wife. There is always a mission that he should attend to. In the past five months, he only saw Sakura a handful of times. And everytime he saw her, she looks more tired than before.

One day, he learned from his mother that every time that he is away, Sakura would pick more hours in the hospital. Almost living there. And then Sakura would only be home early if he was there.

"Sakura seems to avoid your father, Itachi." Mikoto said. "I'm worried about her. She might get sick if she continues to do this."

Itachi sighed at what he heard. "I didn't realize it had come to this," Itachi said, a tinge of regret in his voice. "I need to talk to her."

Mikoto nodded. "You should, Itachi. She needs to know that you're aware of her struggles and that you're there for her. She loves you, even a blind man can see that. But there's only so much that a heart can bear, even the strongest love can waver under constant loneliness."

Later that evening, when Itachi returned home, he found Sakura in the kitchen, preparing a meal. The atmosphere felt strained, and he could sense her exhaustion.

"Sakura," he began, his voice gentle, "we need to talk."

She looked up, and the weariness in her eyes was evident. "Itachi, I... I don't want to burden you with my problems. You have enough to deal with."

He took a step closer, reaching for her hand. "Your problems are my problems, Sakura. We're a team, remember? I've noticed that you're avoiding my father, and you've been overworking at the hospital. I'm worried about you."

Sakura sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's just... every time I see your father, I feel judged, and I know he disapproves of me. And with you away so often, I throw myself into work to distract myself from the loneliness."

Itachi's heart sank at her words. He hadn't realized the toll his absence was taking on her. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't mean for this to happen. I'll talk to my father , and we'll find a solution together. You shouldn't have to face this alone."

She looked up at him, weariness and exhaustion in her eyes. "Itachi, I love you, you know that. You don't have to burden your father with my insecurities. He wouuld only hate me more."

"But Sakura - "

"Please, Itachi."

Looking at his wife's tired face, he relented. He cannot bombard her with this. It would only make the situation worst. He made a step to touch Sakura's face but before he can even touch her, she wobbled and fainted.

He caught Sakura before she crumpled to the floor. "Sakura?" he shaked her shoulders to wake her up, but she stayed unconscious. "Sakura!"

Due to the commotion in the kitchen, Mikoto and Sasuke rushed to the room. A gasp escaped Mikoto's throat when she saw the unconscious body of the pink-haired Kunoichi in Itachi arms.

"Nii-san," Sasuke started, eyes wide while staring at the floor. "there's blood."

Itachi's eyes immediately shifted his eyes to where Sasuke's eyes were focused. Itachi's heart raced as he noticed the line of blood in her legs. Panic surged through him, and without wasting a moment, he carefully laid her on the floor and examined her. But he cannot find the possible source for her bleeding.

Mikoto, now at Itachi's side, gasped at the sight of Sakura's injury. "We need to get her to the hospital immediately."

Itachi nodded, a mixture of concern and guilt evident in his eyes. He carefully lifted Sakura into his arms and, with Sasuke assisting, rushed her to the hospital.

In the medical room, Sakura was swiftly attended to by the hospital staff. Itachi, pacing anxiously in the waiting area, couldn't shake off the guilt that overwhelmed him. He knew that Sakura's tireless dedication to the hospital and her increasing workload had taken a toll on her health.

Mikoto, sensing her son's distress, approached him with a reassuring touch on his shoulder. "Itachi, Sakura is strong. She'll pull through. But you need to talk to her, son. She can't continue like this. You both need each other."

Itachi nodded, a determined expression on his face. He knew that he couldn't let this continue. It was time to find a balance between his duties as an ANBU captain and his responsibilities as a husband.

Itachi suddenly stopped pacing when the door opened. He searched the doctors eyes for any indication about Sakura's health. But he found none.

"How is she?" Mikoto asked.

The doctor looked at Itachi's eyes. "Sakura is going to be fine. She's unconscious but she'll be fine." Itachi should have felt relieved at the doctor's words. But there is something in his face that makes him anxious. "But I'm sorry, Uchiha-san. The baby didn't make it."

A heavy silence settled in the room as the doctor's words hung in the air. Itachi's eyes widened, and his heart sank at the news. Mikoto gasped, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

"No..." Itachi whispered, the weight of the revelation hitting him like a tidal wave. His mind raced, processing the words and the implications. Sakura had been pregnant, and he hadn't even known.

Mikoto, tears welling up in her eyes, reached out to Itachi. "I'm so sorry, Itachi. We didn't know..."

Itachi's usually composed demeanor wavered, and he felt a lump forming in his throat. The guilt, the regret, and the pain of loss all converged within him. He couldn't comprehend the fact that he had lost a child without even knowing about its existence.

The doctor continued to explain Sakura's condition and assured them that she would physically recover, but the emotional wounds would take time to heal. Itachi nodded, absorbing the information, but his thoughts were consumed by the realization that he had unintentionally added to Sakura's burden.

As Sakura gradually regained consciousness, she found Itachi by her side, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and regret. Her eyes, still hazy from the anesthesia, searched his face for answers.

"Itachi?" she whispers, her voice weak.

He took her hand gently, his grip tender yet filled with remorse. "Sakura, I'm so sorry. I didn't know..."

"Didn't know what?" Sakura asked.

"You didn't know?" Itachi's heart break once more as he looks at his wife's confused face. Sakura didn't know. Of course, she didn't. She wouldn't overexert herself if she had known.

"Itachi?"

Sakura's confused voice broke through his own grief. He held her hand tight. His eyes swam with unshed tears.

"Sakura you were pregnant. We lost it."

Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes as she absorbed the heartbreaking revelation. She clutched Itachi's hand tightly, her emotions in turmoil. She hadn't even been aware of her pregnancy, and now she was faced with the loss of a child she never had the chance to know.

"I... I didn't know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't even have a chance to... to be a mother."

Itachi's heart ached as he watched his wife's tears fall. He wished he could take away her pain, but he knew that this was a wound that time alone could heal.

"Sakura, I'm so sorry," he repeated, his voice filled with guilt. "I should have been there for you, should have noticed the signs, should have known. It's my fault."

Sakura shook her head weakly, her grip on his hand not wavering. "Itachi, it's not your fault. I didn't know either. We both didn't... I just... I wish I had known."

Mikoto, who had been standing in the background, approached the couple with a heavy heart. She could see the pain in both of their eyes and felt a deep sense of sorrow for her son and daughter-in-law.

"Itachi, Sakura, please don't blame yourselves," she said softly. "Sometimes, these things happen beyond our control. What's important now is that you both support each other through this difficult time."

Sakura nodded, tears still streaming down her face. "I just... I need some time to process this, to grieve."

Itachi kissed her forehead gently. "Take all the time you need, Sakura. We'll be here for you, always."