A ray of light caused by the light bulb in the hallway entered Gaara's dark room through the crack of the slightly open door. Gaara lifted his bed off the pillow with difficulty. His face was swollen from sleep. He looked towards the door and saw his twins, each carrying a stuffed toy. One of them rubbed his eyes with the back of his little hand.

"Dad..."

"What is it, Sana?"

"I miss mom."

"Me too." Itadori said.

Gaara sighed. He stood on his bed and waved his hand at the kids to encourage them to get closer. He lifted each boy by the armpits and placed them on either side of him on the bed before he lay down too and hugged them. The boys' tears wet Gaara's white cotton blouse he was sleeping in.

"We'll go see her tomorrow morning, ok?"

Gaara kissed their foreheads and waited for them to fall asleep. The man couldn't close an eye after that. One of his babies fell asleep hiccupping. Gaara stared at the dark ceiling as he counted how many days have passed since Sakura was in a coma: 7 days. How am I going to do this for 7 more weeks? Sakura, you are so cruel. Don't you dare leave us alone, do you hear me? I can't do this without you.

The next day after Sakura went into a coma, Gaara asked his sister to come to Suna and help him. Regardless of how much he tried, he couldn't serve as mother, father and Kazekage altogether. Just like he predicted, Temari didn't have it in her to refuse her little brother. Shikamaru was also happy to get rid of her nagging. Temari was happy she no longer stayed home alone with her son gone to missions for weeks and her husband getting home way after she went to bed. Shikadai was on a mission when Temari came to Suna. She told her son he could come visit his uncles after the mission was fulfilled, but the boy dodged. Typical Nara.

"Gaara, do you really think bringing them here was a good idea?"

"They keep asking me about her all the time. Don't know what to tell them anymore. The other day Hikaru started crying because he thought Sakura died and I don't want to tell him."

Temari sighed. Gaara opened the door to the salon and the kids burst inside unorderly.

Every day, the nurses moved Sakura on her left side or on her right side, like a roll. The baby grew inside her and pressed on her internal organs. To relieve the tension, the nurses had to place Sakura on her right side for 6 hours, and then move her on her left side for the next 6 hours. Every day the nurses massaged Sakura's muscles and moved her arms, legs, head so she wouldn't stiffen after she woke up. When a man doesn't use a part of his body for more than 3 weeks, the tendons shorten, muscle mass decreases and eventually, the body stops sending blood to those body parts thinking he doesn't need them anymore. The girls massaged Sakura's face, too. They washed her pink hair, massaged mint oil into her hands and washed her body with wet cloths every morning and evening. Gaara bet the first thing Sakura would want to do when she wakes up will be a proper bath.

First thing after he finished work for the day, Gaara came to check on his wife and then he went home. He helped the nurses take care of her body. He talked to her whenever they were alone. He told her everything that happened to work and then he told her about their children. He asked the doctors about the evolution of that cursed disease and he never left his wife without security. In the end, he kissed her pale cheek, sighed and went home.

Temari had an iron grip with the kids. She took great care of them, but she treated them like soldiers and she made them obey her commands. They didn't dare talk back to her. She looked scary, unlike their mother. They always made Sakura angry because she was too soft with them.

"I am home."

"Welcome." Temari said.

"Dad! Dad!"

The kids ran to their father and climbed onto him. Gaara tickled them and sometimes carried them like sacks of potatoes under his armpits, laughing. Temari stared at them from the kitchen entry with a wooden spoon in her hand and laughed. She had never seen Gaara so carefree.

"Family life suits you." She was a little arrogant when she said it.

"Temari, what do we have for dinner? Tell me quick otherwise I'll have to eat a boy!" He looked at his son who walked next to him, holding his trousers in his small hand. The boy saw the look in his father's eyes and started running and screaming around the couch, all the while looking behind to check if his father is still chasing him. Gaara pretended to walk faster to catch him. The other kids screamed:

"Run faster or dad will catch you!"

"Dad is going to eat Raijin!"

Their screams of joy were everything that could be heard in the house. Temari looked at them and laughed before going back to the kitchen to set the table.

"Kazekage-sama, it is time." The doctor said.

Gaara took a deep breath before he replied with determination:

"Let's do this!"

Sakura was feeling the contractions of child birth through her coma. Gaara stood by her head and didn't let her face out of his eyes. When the doctor injected something in her arm to make her conscious again, Sakura's face showed grimaces, her brows furrowed and she woke up directly into the labor pain. She screamed at the top of her lungs that it hurts. Her voice broke Gaara's heart. He held Sakura's face between his palms and talked to her non-stop, trying to remind her of the reason why she was there. Her legs were already parted and secured. The doctor was there, between her legs, waiting to see how the birth evolved.

"You can do this, Sakura. It's the last time. Do it for me, for us, for our child." He sweetly whispered in her ear while caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers.

Streams of tears flowed endlessly, one after the other.

"It hurts."

"I know."

"Kazekage-sama, the lady is not dilated enough. I am afraid we have to wait."

"What? For how long? She's in big pain." He said through gritted teeth.

"I am so sorry, my Lord. I can't take the baby out unless the lady is at least 10 cm dilated."

Sakura's sharp scream of pain interrupted the discussion. The features of Gaara's face softened when he turned his face to his wife again. He continued to caress her face and talk to her. She spent so much time in a coma, that she wasn't used to the regular discomfort the body gives every day, so she naturally felt a greater pain than normal at birth. Gaara took her hand in his and kissed all of its sides.

"Talk to me. I need a distraction."

"Ok. I taught Sana and Itadori how to drink from a cup. They came to me at night and we slept together. Temari came her and she helped me. You should see how she put them in their place." He was trying to laugh so as to ease the tension, but Sakura's body filled with beads of sweat and her body became hot. Gaara was certain she developed a fever. Seeing how it wasn't working, he asked her to talk.

"Tell me what you want to do after we get out of here. First thing"

"I am hungry."

"Noted. After you give birth, we'll go straight to the restaurant."

The corners of her mouth turned upwards and it gave Gaara confidence.

"What else?"

"I want a hot bath, my clothes and a foot massage."

"Deal. I can give you the massage right now. Why wait?"

Sakura smiled before a new wave of pain stung her in the stomach and her scream hit all the walls. Her slim hand desperately clung to his arm.

"Doctor! Doctor!" He yelled.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Is she ready now?"

"I am afraid not yet."

"How long are you planning on keeping her this way?"

"It's hard to tell. I am sorry, but I can't give you an exact answer."

Gaara felt the urge to break something, possibly the doctor's head. He gritted his teeth and continued to soother his wife. He was there for every birth, but his wife had never reacted like this before.

"I think it will end sooner if I move. Help me stand up."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" She yelled.

Gaara got scared and obeyed the order without further questions. Sakura slipped a hand around his neck while Gaara held her by the waist and by her loose arm around his neck. He walked hunchback because she was shorter than him. She was moving slowly because she had forgotten how to do it. They moved in circles around the room. Sakura stopped every 2-3 steps to gather her breath. Gaara didn't make any comments. In exchange, he called the doctor every time they completed a cycle around the room, to ask whether Sakura was ready now. The doctor and Gaara helped put Sakura on the bed again. The doctor spread her legs and looked. To Gaara's annoyance, she kept giving them the same answer

"Not yet, I am sorry."

Sakura cried in desperation and asked Gaara to help her stand up once more to walk around the room. 10 hours passed like that. Sakura was close to passing out. Gaara yelled for the doctors one last time as he was holding the cup of water mixed with sugar to help his wife drink and regain strength.

"She will give birth now!" Gaara's tone was threatening.

"Yes, sir." The doctor said and she pulled out a syringe with a long needle.

Sakura freaked out and tried to pull herself away.

"Don't be scared. It will help you dilate faster so we can begin."

Sakura held onto her husband as tight as she could in her state, bracing herself for the pain. However, she didn't even feel the needle because the labor pain was so great. Gaara's lips kissed Sakura's forehead and he felt her burning fever. Gaara felt like puking if he looked elsewhere, so he resumed to only looking at Sakura's face. The team of medics gathered around the bed once again.

"Now, push!"

Sakura listened to their command and yelled so loud, Gaara was afraid he will leave that room deaf. He whispered all of the prayers he could think of. He prayed to God to save his wife and baby. He asked his mother to help him with this. He glanced at the window from the corner of his eye. It was already morning. When they woke Sakura it was night outside. We've been here for more than 10 hours. Poor Sakura...

"Activate your Byakugou."

Sakura focused and activated her seal with trembling hands. Her whole body was striped with black rides. Gaara relaxed. There was no way she could die now. Only Sakura couldn't hold the seal for more than 5 minutes because it required perfect chakra control, which Sakura wasn't capable of in her current state.

After 14 hours of labor, Sakura finally gave birth to a little girl. The doctors quickly wrapped her in a blanket and the nurse ran to another room to wash her. Sakura became lifeless in Gaara's arms. The doctor yelled:

"Don't let her fall asleep!"

Gaara panicked and tried his best to keep Sakura awake by talking to her and gently slapping her face. Somebody brought a water bottle t wash Sakura's face and cool her off a bit. Her eyes couldn't focus, her vision was blurred, she was close to black out.

"The lady has to stay awake for the next 2 hours otherwise she is going to have migraines for the rest of her life."

Gaara was very stressed and tired, but he didn't give up. He pinched Sakura's hand and bit her fingers while the doctors cleaned her lower body. He did everything he could. The doctor injected Sakura with a cocktail of medicine that would fight her disease along with antibiotics. She had lost a lot of blood. A nurse wiped Sakura's face with a towel soaked in chamomile tea. Sakura felt powerless. The doctor brought the baby back and only then Sakura came back to life a little. Gaara took his daughter in his arms and showed her to her mom. Sakura made the effort of bringing a finger to her daughter's face and gently touch her.

"We finally have a girl." Her voice was so low, he almost didn't hear it.

"You have a wonderful little princess. Congratulations!"

"Congratulations!"

All the doctors happily cheered them and bowed respectfully.

Gaara grinned from the bottom of his heart.

"What should we name her?" Sakura asked.

"I want to call her Karura, like my mother. I prayed to my mother to help you survive this birth."

"It's a beautiful name."

Sakura was sound asleep. The doctors continued to heal her. It was already mid-afternoon. Gaara took the task of wiping his wife's face with the towel soaked in tea. He cleaned all traces of tears and pain. He took a glance at the golden ring she was wearing and he felt proud to be there. He gave the order to his subordinates to give away silver coins to all the people who passed on the street of the hospital so everyone knows today is a happy day, the day his daughter was born. He felt exhausted himself. Sakura probably wants to sleep for a week.

He called his sister around 4 pm.

"Gaara, it's been so long since you left. I am worried. I couldn't sleep all night."

"I am sorry."

"Oh, you're happy. It means good news. Spit it out!" she said with a smile while squeezing an orange in her hand.

"Sakura gave birth to a girl."

"It was about time. Your house is full of boys. You needed someone to give orders around here."

Silence. Gaara was happy, but he didn't know what to say. Talking to his sister has always been difficult to him.

"And Sakura?"

"She's fine. She's sleeping now."

"I am not surprised. I think she was in labor for at least 12 hours."

"Mhm. Can you bring the kids here in the evening? I think it would do good to Sakura to see them."

"Ok. I'll o get them ready."

Gaara was about to hang up when he heard his name from the other end and placed the receptor back at his ear.

"Yes?"

"How do you feel? Do you need me to bring you anything?"

Gaara laughed.

"I am not the one who gave birth."

"I know that."

"I am fine. I don't need anything. I will call Shinki at the office. Call Kankurou for me. You're the first one I told."

"Ok." Temari said before taking a bite from the orange.

He kids burst in the salon laughing and tearing, with their arms stretched to hug their mother. However, Gaara guarded her like a lion. His sister stood in the doorway with her hands crossed on her chest, laughing. Sakura's face was glowing of happiness. Her back rested against some pillows so she was in a sitting position on the bed. He tried not to move too much as it hurt. The tiredness was obvious on her face. She was still wearing an IV. The doctors gave her a blood transfusion and tied hot towels around her stomach to ease the pain she was feeling.

"Each of you will give mom a kiss. One at a time. Wait for your turn."

Before the kids had time to process what was happening, Gaara grabbed Sana by his chest and tummy and presented him to Sakura as he was on a platter. The little boy pursed his lips and kissed his mom's cheek. Sakura caressed her son's face and kissed his forehead before Gaara put him down.

"Now me!"

"No, me!" They all screamed with their hands up.

Temari's face was red with laughter. Shortly after, Kankurou appeared in the salon. He went past Temari without even seeing her and directly patted his little brother on the shoulder with a wide grin.

"Congratulations for the big family! You've been busy, little brother! Haha! How do you feel, Sakura?"

Gaara was pissed, but he didn't say anything. He only looked at Kankurou through narrowed eyes. Temari hit Kankurou with the fist in the head. He crouched with his hands rubbing the aching spot. Temari was furious.

"Where are your manners? You first greet your older sister and then your little brother."

Gaara smiled while Kankurou mumbled some apologies. Shinki entered the room a little shy and formally greeted everyone. Gaara told him to come closer. Shinki gave Sakura a bouquet of flowers. He was very ashamed that everyone was paying attention to him. Sakura took the flowers with both of her hands and thanked her son. Temari changed the topic to make Shinki more comfortable.

"Where is the little girl?"

"Yes, I want to meet my niece. I hope she looks like Sakura." Kankurou said.

Temari was about to hit him in the head again, but Kankurou used Gaara's body as a human shield. He knew Temari would never hit Gaara.

"She's with the wet nurse, but don't worry. She will be brought to us shortly." Sakura told everyone. She seemed a little distracted as if something was off. She kept staring at the flowers in her lap.

The nurse came into the salon with a girl wrapped in a white blanket with a pink hat on her little head. She was wearing small thin gloves on her hands to prevent her from scratching her eyes with her nails.

Temari hurried to take her niece into her arms. She lowered her body for the nephews to see their sibling.

"Everyone, let me introduce you to Karura-chan, the newest member of our family." Gaara said proudly.

Temari's eyes instantly became wet and she blinked rapidly.

"You picked a gorgeous name."

Kankurou hugged his sister after she handed Karura-chan to Gaara, who gave her to Sakura because she was the one who spent the least time with her daughter.

"Dad, let's take mom and Karura-chan home with us." Hikaru said while pulling his dad by the trousers.

Shinki hurried to reply:

"Not now, Hikaru-chan. Mom is tired."

"Sakura, tell us if you need anything." Kankurou said seriously.

"I want to eat."

Kankurou immediately gave an order to the guards to fetch some food. Temari also gave the doctors an order to prepare a sweet labor drink for the freshly mom.

Note:Temari solved the problem of the naughty kids. She trained them well for when Sakura will go back home:)

I think the next chapter will be the last one. What do you think? I wanted to give you a Christmas present with this happy chapter. Merry Christmas, everyone!