"I love this song," said Sango, plucking the strings of her shamisen. "Ozatsuma... the name has a nice ring to it..." She smiled. "May twentieth... three days left. I'm so excited!" She shifted her weight from one knee to the other as she sat by the pool in her back yard, nearly dying with anticipation. She continued to play the shamisen, glad for the chance to keep at least one skill sharp. The paper door of the house slid open quietly.

Lee said nothing, just putting his arms around Sango's shoulders and letting her finish the song. She smiled as she finished, tilting her head up and kissing his cheek. He grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet.

"You play beautifully," he crooned.

"Hmm-hmm. Do I?"

"You should be recognized as the best in Konoha."

"You're such a good liar! But you're sweet." She leaned forward to hug him. "I love you!"

"I love you to-Aaaah!" Lee gasped, falling back into the pool. He resurfaced, gasping and spitting water as he climbed up. "Er - ahem," he said, embarrassed. He spat more water onto the ground and wrung out his hair. Sango giggled.

"Hee hee. Me and this stupid stomach! Heh heh." Lee laughed with her.

"It is worth it for you."

"Ah!" Sango gasped as she suddenly felt an unfamiliar sensation. She placed a hand on her stomach.

"What is it?"

"I - I think... I think my water just broke!"

"What?" said Lee, instantly serious. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Definitely."

"I will call Tsunade, then. Go and get your hospital bag. Have you had any pains?"

"Yes. About every fifteen minutes. But not too bad." Lee nodded.

"Give me five minutes, and we will go."

"Unh! Ah..." Sango groaned as she felt another spasm of pain.

"Are you alright?" Lee asked with concern. Sango nodded.

"Now it's... about every ten minutes and... a little painful." They continued slowly toward Konoha Hospital, Lee supporting Sango so she would not fall. After another eight minutes, Sango stopped and gasped.

"Ugh! Ah... this..." She panted and leaned on Lee for support, grasping his hand.

"Are you really -"

"I'll be... fine..." said Sango. "It's just... painful..." Lee's face grew determined. "Lee... what are you doing?" she asked as he lifted her into his arms.

"Carrying you to the hospital, of course." Sango blushed.

"This really isn't necessary. I can walk." Lee ignored her and broke into a run, passing three others he ordinarily would have recognized.

"You don't think -" said Tatsumi.

"It's about time. She might be -" said Disura.

"Having the..." Ruku said. Their faces paled.

"Hey! Wait for us!"

"Uhn! Ah... ah... ah..." Sango panted as the pain got stronger. Her hand gripped Lee's in a deathgrip.

"It is alright," Lee said comfortingly.

"Shh," said Sango. "I know... And this may sound strange, but the best thing... you can do... is just support me... quietly..." Lee instantly stopped talking. The door to the room slid open, and Tsunade entered with a strange female medic. She glanced up at Lee as she checked Sango's pulse, nodding to him. Lee looked away sheepishly.

"Mm-hmm. Alright," said Tsunade. "You have about a centimeter and a half left. When you have pains two minutes apart, let me know immediately. But you're progressing fast. This should all be over within the hour."

"How is she? Tell me!" Guy cried as Lee came downstairs.

"She is fine. Well, as fine as can be expected. But I am needed upstairs. I just wanted to let you all know that we will be parents within just a few minutes! Now, I must go!" He dashed away, climbing the stairs three at a time. Tears filled Guy's eyes.

"They're parents, I'm a granddad... I'm so proud!" He began to pace around the waiting room, which was full to bursting with Sango's friends.

Neji and Tenten were there with their twins, a boy and a girl named Katai and Tejina. Tatsumi and Kiba, Disura and Kakashi, Ruku, and Jakku, who had taken the day off as soon as he heard the news, were there. Yumi and Shikamaru had also come with Gaara's family.

"That may be us someday," Disura whispered to Kakashi. He grinned.

"You sure you want that?"

"I don't want this part, I know that!" said Tatsumi.

"She'll be fine," said Neji.

"Sango's really strong," said Tenten.

"God, I'm glad I'm a guy!" said Ruku.

"Me, too," said Jakku. "But she doesn't have too much longer..."

"AAAAAGH! Unh... Unh..." Sango flopped her head back onto the pillow in exhaustion. Her hair was wet and plastered to her face, which was beaded with sweat. The pain was terrible. Her hands were shaking with tension, and she gripped Lee's hand so hard that her knuckles were white.

"You're doing fine! Just a little more!" said Tsunade. "Come on! One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten!"

"Ah!" Sango gasped as she released her breath. Her chest rose and fell rapidly with her heaving breaths. She was almost to her limit.

"Come on! Come on!" Tsunade coached. "Give me one more good push! Okay, one... two... three... four... five... six..."

"AAAAAGH!" Sango screamed.

"Don't stop! Seven... eight... nine... ten!" SAngo dropped back onto the bed, utterly exhausted. Lee kissed her and stroked her hair. A small, raspy cry filled the room.

"We did it!" he whispered. "You did beautifully!" Sango smiled tiredly up at him.

"I love you, Lee..."

"Congratulations!" said Tsunade. "It's a boy!"

"A boy!" said Sango. "I have a beautiful baby boy!"

"A boy..." said Lee. "I... I have a son..." He kissed Sango again as Tsunade placed the small baby in her arms, wrapped in a soft white blanket.

"What will you name him?"

"I think... Jitchi. Jitchi Maito Lee." Lee smiled.

"'Practice...' That sounds wonderful! Jitchi Maito Lee!" Tsunade smiled.

"Do you want me to invite the others in?"

"Yes. Definitely," said Sango.

"Okay. Just give me a few minutes."

Over the next half hour, it seemed as if everyone in Konoha had come to see Jitchi. The small room was packed, and everyone held him at least once. He only cried once, and stopped the instant Sango touched a bottle to his lips.

"How cute!" said Kikyo.

"That's awesome!" said Ruku.

"Now I have two angels..." said Lee. Guy-sensei wasn't allowed to hug Sango; she was too tired and sore. So he settled for breaking Lee's back instead.

"And, uh," said Sango, "sorry I broke your hand, Honey." Lee grimaced at the cast around his right hand.

"It will heal. Do not worry!" At that moment Tsunade entered.

"SAngo. Lee," she said. "We do need to discuss where you will stay. Traditionally you should stay with your mother for one month, but since she lives in Amegakure..."

"We'll stay at Guy-sensei's." Tsunade froze.

"Are you sure that's really -"

"We didn't call him Jitchi Maito Lee because we were out of middle names." Tsunade smiled.

"Very well."

"That's great, you guys!" said Guy. "Sango, you won't have to lift a - Sango? Saaango?" But she couldn't hear him. Her head dropped back onto the pillow, and she was already asleep.