Kakashi stood beside Sakura.

She had been looking down at the small stone head he decided to place in their garden. A small reminder for the baby they lost.

"Sakura…"

"She's not even there." Sakura murmured. "She was just blood."

Kakashi glanced at Sakura, understanding the pain in her words. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, offering silent support.

"I know," he said softly, "but it's a way for us to remember, to honor her. Even if she's not physically there, she'll always be a part of us." He explained. "And I want a physical reminder of her, Sakura. She's my kid too."

Ever since Sakura told them about her dreams, in his mind, the baby they just lost was a girl. And he can feel the failure that welled up inside him when the reality of him not being able to be there with the two females that he cared about. For all of the power he managed to amass throughout the years, he is still failure in terms of being a partner and father.

Sakura nodded, her eyes fixed on the small memorial. The weight of loss and grief lingered, but there was also a sense of acceptance and connection between them.

"I've put you through so much," Sakura whispered, her voice filled with both sorrow and shame.

Kakashi tightened his grip on her shoulder, turning her to face him. "Sakura, we've been through a lot together, and I wouldn't change a thing. We faced our pain, and we're still standing. That's what matters. We're here for each other, and we'll continue to be."

Sakura looked up at Kakashi, her eyes searching for reassurance. "But I feel like I've burdened you with my pain. I don't want to drag you down with me."

Kakashi gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Sakura, you're not a burden. Your pain is my pain, and your healing is my healing. We're a team, and we support each other. You don't have to face this alone."

"I should have listened to you before." She added, as if not hearing what he just said. "If I run back to Sasuke's arms, like you wanted me to do, he would be the one to be burdened. I would have had my revenge. You wouldn't be in my mess. At least if it happened to him, he would have stopped hounding us a long time ago."

Kakashi sighed, his gaze steady and filled with understanding. "Sakura, I've never wanted you to go back to Sasuke out of a sense of duty or revenge. I wanted you to choose what would bring you true happiness and peace." Kakashi explained. "But even if you were with Sasuke, and this happened to you, I wouldn't be able to stay away. My kid or not, if you're in danger, I will run after you headfirst."

Sakura looked into Kakashi's eyes, seeing the sincerity and unwavering support. The weight of guilt and self-blame still lingered, but Kakashi's presence provided an anchor of comfort.

"Kakashi, I... I don't know how to thank you for being here, for staying with me through all of this," Sakura said, her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and vulnerability. "Even after I lied to you and kept this a secret for months. After I shut you out, you're still here."

Kakashi gently lifted Sakura's chin, ensuring that her gaze met his. "Sakura, you don't need to thank me. Being with you, supporting you, makes me feel invaluable. Because I need to make sure that you're going to be okay. I want, need to be there with you always."

Sakura looked up at Kakashi, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "But I pushed you away. I shut you out."

Kakashi nodded, acknowledging the pain in her words. "You were hurting, Sakura. I understood that, I just hoped you trusted me enough to tell me about what happened when you returned to me." He admitted. Lies doesn't have a place in their home. "When you started to distance yourself, I thought… I thought you were about to leave me. Uproot the life we made for ourselves."

Sakura's eyes welled up with tears as she listened to Kakashi's words. The pain of miscommunication and the weight of assumptions lingered between them. Kakashi gently wiped away her tears with his thumb, his touch filled with tenderness.

"Sakura, I should have been more open about my feelings too. I should have stayed and faced it with you instead of running away. I was scared of losing you, and in trying to protect myself, I hurt you. I'm sorry," Kakashi admitted, his voice sincere.

Sakura nodded, a mixture of emotions crossing her face. "I was scared too, Kakashi. Scared of losing you, scared of losing someone I love again. A voice inside me said that you were just looking for a reason to leave me. And I just gave you a perfect one."

Kakashi sighed, his expression filled with regret. "Sakura, I understand your fears, and I should have been more transparent with my own. I never wanted to leave you, and I certainly wasn't looking for a reason. I love you, and I'm here for the long haul, no matter what challenges we face."

Sakura looked into Kakashi's eyes, searching for the truth in his words. The pain and misunderstandings between them seemed to hang in the air, but there was also a shared commitment to healing and moving forward.

"Kakashi," Sakura whispered, "can we... can we try to rebuild what we had? I don't want to lose you, and I don't want us to be haunted by the mistakes of the past." She asked him. "But if… if you can't… it's okay. I'll pack up and leave."

Kakashi gazed into Sakura's eyes, his own reflecting a mix of emotions—regret, love, and determination. He took a moment before responding, his voice steady and sincere.

"Sakura, I never stopped loving you. Despite the pain and mistakes, my feelings for you are unwavering. I want to rebuild, not just for our sake but for the family we could still have." He paused, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. "But I understand if you need time, if you're uncertain. I'll respect whatever decision you make, and I'll be here for you, no matter what."

Sakura nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude and a hint of hope. "I want to try, Kakashi. I want to stay here. To be with you." Her voice filled with insecurity that he had not heard from her since she was made a chuunin.

Kakashi cupped Sakura's face in his hands, his gaze unwavering. "Sakura, I love you. I'm not going anywhere. I promised you that I'll always be with you, right?" He asked her, checking if she remembers. When she nodded, and he smiled at her. "I intend to keep it."

As Kakashi spoke those words, a sense of reassurance enveloped Sakura. The weight of the past, the guilt, and the pain started to dissipate, replaced by a newfound understanding and a shared commitment to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.

Sakura leaned into Kakashi's touch, closing her eyes for a moment. "I love you too, Kakashi. And I don't want to lose you either."

Kakashi gently wiped away the remaining tears on her cheeks. "You won't. We'll navigate through this together, one step at a time."

As they stood in their garden, with the small memorial stone engraved with the words 'Baby Hatake' serving as a poignant reminder of the child they lost, they also recognized the importance of cherishing the love and connection they still shared.

"Do you want me to change the name on the stone?" Kakashi asked her, after a moment. "You said you dreamed about our baby being a baby girl. Do you want to name her?"

Sakura looked at the small stone, her gaze softening. "Yes," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "Let's name her Hikari. It means light, and in a way, she brought light into our lives, even if it was just for a short while."

Kakashi nodded, a gentle warmth in his eyes. "Hikari it is," he agreed. He formed hand signs and slammed his hand on the ground. The stone crumbled and a new memorial stone replaced it, its engraved with the name, 'Baby Hatake Hikari.'

After that, he stood up and encircled his arm on her waist. "Hikari won't be forgotten, Sakura." He murmured. "She's an important part of our life, even just for a swift moment."

Sakura nodded, a small smile formed in her lips. "Thank you, Kakashi. For doing this."

Kakashi just pulled her closer and pressed his masked lips on the top of her head. "She's important to us, Sakura. And this is the least that I can do."