Sakura laid by her side. Her back was turned against her husband. Its about two in the morning. She should be sleeping. But she can't.
Her hand traveled to her flat, empty stomach. There used to be someone there. Her child. The child that she lost because she's to immersed in her own struggles that she failed to realize that there is a life forming in her womb.
Her hand gripped her stomach, willing the child she just lost to return to her womb. But no matter how hard she tried, no matter how many tears she shed, she cannot bring back the child she just lost.
Her shoulders shook at the realization that she can never hold that child. She will never see her child grow, because now the baby lay six feet below the ground. She covered her mouth, trying to stifle the cry that she cannot suppress. Her whole body is shaking in her grief.
She felt alone, drowning in the sea of grief.
Itachi woke up from his nightmare-riddled sleep when he felt the bed shake. He turned towards his grieving wife. The cries that she let out tore at his heart. He reached out, his hand gently settling on her shoulder. Trying his best to take away her pain. But he can't.
"Sakura." He pulled her into himself. Hugging her. Trying to be her anchor. But Sakura is drowning in her grief that she cannot find peace in her husband's hold. She cried harder.
Mikoto, on the other hand, heard the anguished cry of her daughter in-law, her heart broke at the sound of her cries. No mother should ever feel this kind of pain.
"It is my fault isn't it, Mikoto." The sleepy voice of Fugaku broke her thoughts. She looked at her husband.
Fugaku's eyes were filled with a mix of concern and confusion. He had been awakened by the heartbreaking cries that echoed through the Uchiha mansion.
Mikoto, torn between her role as a mother and a wife, sighed and turned to him.
"I don't know, Fugaku," she admitted, her voice heavy with sorrow. "But Sakura is hurting, and we need to be there for her. She just lost a child, and no one should have to bear that pain alone."
Fugaku sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. The harsh words he had spoken about Sakura now seemed trivial in the face of such profound grief. The weight of his own regrets settled heavily on his shoulders.
"We should be with them," Fugaku said, pushing aside the blanket and getting up from the bed. Mikoto nodded, and together, they walked towards the source of Sakura's cries.
In the dimly lit room, Itachi continued to hold Sakura close, his arms a comforting blanket around her. But the pain radiating from her was palpable, and Itachi felt a sense of helplessness in the face of such intense grief.
Mikoto and Fugaku entered the room, their presence a silent acknowledgment of the shared sorrow. Sakura, still caught in the throes of her anguish, didn't immediately notice their arrival.
"Sakura," Mikoto spoke softly, her heart breaking for the young woman who had become a part of their family. "We're here for you."
Sakura, startled by the voices, turned her tear-streaked face towards them. Her eyes, red and swollen, bore the weight of her pain. Itachi, releasing his hold on her, allowed Mikoto and Fugaku to approach.
Sakura's eyes though swollen bulged at the sight of the Uchiha patriarch. She hastily kneeled before the man, head hung in shame. Her pink hair in disarray. "Forgive me, Fugaku-sama." Sakura shakily said. "I failed in my only purpose in the family."
Fugaku's expression softened as he looked at the broken figure of Sakura before him. The weight of her words lingered in the air, and he felt a pang of guilt for the pain he inadvertently caused.
"Sakura," he began, his voice surprisingly gentle, "you have nothing to apologize for. The fault is not yours. I... I spoke out of turn, and I see now the consequences of my words."
Mikoto knelt beside Sakura, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Sakura, you are not a failure. Losing a child is a pain no one should endure, and we are here to support you."
Sakura looked up at Fugaku, her eyes searching for sincerity in his words. "I'm so sorry for any disappointment I've caused. I never meant to be a burden or bring shame to the Uchiha name."
Fugaku sighed, realizing the gravity of his misjudgment. "Sakura, you are not a disappointment. You have endured more than anyone should, and you deserve our understanding and support. I... I am sorry for my harsh words."
Itachi, still kneeling beside Sakura, observed the interaction. He could see the conflict in his father's eyes and appreciated the effort Fugaku was making to rectify the situation. Sakura, although still gripped by grief, began to feel a glimmer of acceptance and understanding.
"Thank you, Fugaku-sama," Sakura whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I loved your son, and I wanted to be the best wife and daughter-in-law I could be."
Fugaku nodded solemnly. "You are part of this family, Sakura. We may not have understood your pain, but we are here for you now." he assured her. "And you don't have to continuously call me Fugaku-sama. You're my son's wife. You can call me 'Father' if you want."
Sakura looked at her father in-law, surprise evident in her eyes. Then, her eyes filled with tears again. "Thank you, Father."
Fugaku smiled at her. Mikoto gently squeezed Sakura's shoulder. "Let us share the burden of your grief. You don't have to carry it alone."
As the Uchiha family knelt together in shared sorrow, Itachi felt a sense of relief. The rift that had formed seemed to be slowly healing, and perhaps, in the face of such profound loss, understanding and empathy could bridge the gaps that words had once created.