Sakura stared with wide eyes at the three pregnancy tests that lay on the vanity top. The sticks were all from different brands, with results that varied in appearance but that ultimately meant the same thing.

Positive.

Her heart pounded frantically in her chest as she tried to recall any signs that might have clued her in earlier. Yes, she had been feeling unusually tired lately, but when hadn't she been? Her work as a medical-nin was demanding.

She would have kept living in denial if it hadn't been for Ino and her big mouth. Sakura had been nauseous, struggling to keep food down, and feeling off for days. At first, she'd brushed it off as a stomach bug, but when the symptoms persisted and began affecting her work, Ino—always the troublemaker—had jokingly stated that perhaps what she needed was to pee on a stick.

Sakura had rolled her eyes at Ino, annoyed by the implication. But the next day, feeling both resigned and miserable, she'd called in sick and did exactly as Ino had suggested. And, of course, that pig had been right.

She was pregnant.

Suddenly feeling light-headed, Sakura stepped out of the bathroom and collapsed onto her bed. For a while, she just lay there, motionless, unsure of what to do or how to feel. But it didn't take long for the weight of the situation to crash down on her.

She was pregnant. With Uchiha Itachi's baby.

Curling into a ball, she finally let out a strangled sob.

She wasn't sure how long she cried, but when the tears finally stopped, all she felt was a cold, empty numbness.

Sakura called off work again the next day, spending the time dissociating and indulging in an unhealthy amount of ice cream.

She called off work the day after that too, but this time, she managed to pull herself together just enough to seriously start considering her options and sorting out her feelings.

That morning, she slowly stirred awake, the first rays of sunlight creeping through her bedroom window. But as if on cue, the familiar wave of nausea hit her. She threw the blankets off and stumbled into the bathroom, where she collapsed in front of the toilet, vomiting the contents of her stomach.

Heart pounding, Sakura stayed on the bathroom floor for a few minutes, taking slow, steady breaths to calm herself. Eventually, she freshened up and headed to the kitchen, where she prepared herself a cup of jasmine tea.

Leaning against the kitchen counter, she sipped the warm tea as she watched the sun rise over the horizon.

What was she supposed to do?

She had always known she wanted children, but not like this. Her relationship with Itachi—if she could even call it that—was complicated, to say the least.

When they first started seeing each other, she told herself it would be temporary. A one-time thing. But it quickly became a no-strings-attached arrangement, and somehow, things had spiraled out of control. She'd thought she could handle it, but, like the fool she was, she'd fallen for him. Now, a year later, she was in a secret, unrequited relationship—and pregnant. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

What if he didn't want this baby? Her hand instinctively went to her abdomen, almost protectively. She didn't need him, she reminded herself. As one of the top medical-nin in the Land of Fire, she had the resources and strength to raise a child on her own. Her friends would support her, and she knew for a fact that her parents would be delighted at the prospect of a grandchild they could spoil rotten.

The Uchiha, though... That was another story. The Uchiha clan was steeped in old traditions, many of which were outdated and stubbornly upheld. They wouldn't take kindly to an outsider being privy of their secrets. She also doubted that Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha would turn a blind eye to a child that was their own flesh and blood.

The heir of the Uchiha clan.

"Fuck," she whispered, eyes prickling with tears. She walked back to her room, feeling the weight of it all settle in again. The thought of everything was making her stomach churn, and the nausea returned, stronger this time.

As unpredictable as life as a shinobi could be, Sakura had always had clear—if a bit naive, she now admits—goals she wanted to achieve: build a successful career, travel the world for a while, and then marry the love of her life and start a family—in that order. Becoming a single mother at twenty-five? That was never part of the plan.

She was suddenly pulled from her thoughts by the sound of the doorbell.

Sakura propped up on one elbow, heart hammering against her ribcage. She wasn't expecting company. In fact, no one besides her hospital staff knew that she had taken the day off. Ino was far too occupied tending the flower shop, along with her training under Morino Ibiki and her relationship with Sai, to notice her absence just yet."

Eyebrows furrowed, she remained still, hoping that whoever was at her door would simply get tired of waiting and leave.

The doorbell rang again.

Sighing, she got up from the bed and exited the bedroom, crossing the small hallway that led to the living room.

"Sakura?" She heard Sasuke's deep voice say from the other side of the door.

She froze for a moment, taken aback by his unexpected visit. For a moment she considered the possibility of sending him away, but she knew that avoiding him would only raise more red flags in Sasuke's head.

Knowing she looked terrible, she took a moment to breathe and collect herself. She carefully ran her fingers through her pink locks and then opened the door, allowing the cool autumn breeze to caress her face.

"Hey," she greeted him, forcing herself to smile.

"I went by the hospital, and they said you haven't been around." He said, his expression serious.

"Oh! Uh, I... I took some vacation days. You know, all those days I've been accumulating? I figured I'd use them." She said with a nervous smile.

Sasuke frowned. "You never take time off."

"Yeah, well, I thought I'd finally listen to everyone and take a break. It's nothing really, just... time to recharge, you know?"

His gaze sharpened as he looked her over. "You don't look like you've been resting. You're not sick, are you?" His voice was edged with irritation, but the concern behind it was unmistakable.

"I'm fine, Sasuke. Really. Just... been a bit overwhelmed lately, that's all."

"You know, if something's wrong, you don't have to keep it to yourself," Sasuke said, his voice firm but underlined with an unusual softness. "You don't have to handle everything alone."

Sakura blinked, her emotions swirling in ways she couldn't quite understand. Was it the pregnancy hormones that made Sasuke's rare moment of openness so overwhelming, or was she simply touched? She couldn't tell. His words, though gruff and demanding, held a care and concern she didn't often hear from him, and it stirred something deep inside her.

Her mind wandered back to the early days of Team 7, when she had felt like little more than a burden, leaving the toughest tasks to Sasuke and Naruto. While they charged into battle, she had often stood on the sidelines, helpless and frustrated. She hadn't done enough, relying too heavily on her intelligence and book smarts, without matching their strength or resolve.

That was before Tsunade had taken her under her wing, though. The Fifth Hokage had seen something in her when no one else had. She believed in Sakura's potential, training her rigorously, molding her into the strong kunoichi she had become. Through hard work and determination, Sakura had earned her place among Konoha's finest, a medical-nin with unparalleled strength and skill.

Sasuke's words were more than just an offer of help—they felt like an acknowledgment of how much she had improved, a reminder that even though she had become strong, she didn't have to carry everything alone.

Before she realized what she was doing, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. The action startled him—she felt his body stiffen against hers, unsure how to respond. For a moment, he stood frozen, arms at his sides as if trying to process what was happening.

But then, hesitantly, almost awkwardly, his arms circled her back. His touch was unsure at first, like he wasn't used to the gesture. Then, slowly, he relaxed, letting his hands rest against her back as he hugged her, the warmth of his quiet support radiating through her.

Sakura held on a little tighter, her emotions threatening to spill over. It wasn't like her to be so openly vulnerable, especially not with Sasuke, but in that moment, she didn't care. Whether it was the hormones or just the relief of knowing she didn't have to carry everything alone, she felt like crying.

They stood there for a moment, Sakura clinging to him as if he was her anchor, and Sasuke—awkward as ever—offering the only kind of comfort he knew how to give. Finally, she pulled back, wiping her eyes quickly, feeling both embarrassed and touched by how much his words had affected her.

"Thank you, Sasuke. Really, I appreciate it," she said softly. "But I'm fine. I can handle things."

She pulled her cardigan tightly across her chest, biting her lower lip. It was hard to keep things from her teammates, but she really didn't want to talk about it—not yet, at least, not without speaking to Itachi first. Knowing Sasuke, he would probably take the news terribly and go on some kind of manhunt, dragging Naruto along with him. The last thing she wanted was for Itachi to find out that way.

Sasuke sighed, his gaze still fixed on her, though his eyes held a mixture of suspicion and concern. He studied her carefully, as if debating whether to push further. Finally, after a beat, he muttered, "Fine."

But the way he continued watching her made it clear he wasn't entirely convinced.

Sakura noticed his lingering stare and, sensing his reluctance, decided to shift the mood. She smiled playfully, tilting her head. "Is that all you came here for? To check up on me?"

Sasuke cleared his throat and took a small step back. "Actually," he started, "my mother wanted me to invite you to something this weekend. It's on Saturday—a small gathering, just family and a few close friends."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Your mom? What's the occasion?"

Sasuke sighed, crossing his arms as he shot a glare toward Sakura, clearly irritated. "It's Shisui's birthday. She's been planning it for weeks." His voice was flat, as if the whole thing was more trouble than it was worth. "She's been obsessing over it, making sure every little detail is perfect." He rolled his eyes, annoyance bubbling under the surface. "And, of course, she's been asking about you non-stop."

Sakura blinked, surprised. "Really?"

Sasuke sighed again, his irritation growing. "Yeah. You've already missed a few gatherings because of work, so she insists you must attend this time. She's not taking no for an answer. It's starting to get annoying."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "What, Sasuke-kun? You don't want me there?" she teased, her tone light and mischievous.

Sasuke shot her a look, his frown deepening. "Don't be stupid. It's Shisui." He let out a frustrated breath. "He's been teasing me about you, as usual. He knows it gets under my skin. And he's doing it just to mess with me and Naruto."

Sakura laughed softly. "You really need to relax, Sasuke. It's harmless. He's just being... well, Shisui."

Sasuke grumbled something under his breath, but he didn't argue further. "Just... don't skip out this time," he muttered.

"I'll be there, Sasuke. I wouldn't miss it." She finally said, her tone gentle.

"Good." He said. "If Itachi makes it back on time like he promised, it might even be somewhat bearable."

XXX

Sasuke noticed it immediately—the way Sakura's body language shifted the moment he mentioned Itachi. It was almost imperceptible, but enough for him to catch. Her fingers, which had been idly playing with a loose thread on her cardigan, suddenly paused. She seemed to freeze for a split second, as though something had caught her off guard. Then, she blinked, her eyes flickering back to meet his, her expression still casual. But something in the air had changed, even if she was trying to hide it.

Her voice, when she spoke, carried a slight hesitation. "Oh? Itachi-san will be back in time?" she asked, sounding curious, though the tone felt a little too carefully neutral.

There was a pause as Sasuke glanced at her again. One eyebrow quirked, he said, "Yeah, he told mother he'd be back. She's been on him about it for weeks."

Sakura suddenly seemed distant; her gaze unfocused as she sank into her thoughts.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the words faltered. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on. His thoughts drifted back to his brother, wondering if that had been the trigger for her puzzling reaction.

Frowning, he thought about the last time he'd seen her and Itachi together outside of their home. It hadn't seemed significant at the time, but now, something about the memory felt… out of place.

He had seen them at the hospital a few months ago. He had gone in for a routine check-up. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then he noticed his brother exiting Sakura's office. It had been a fleeting moment, but something about it caught his attention. It had been brief, just a glance between them, but the look in his brother's eyes had been… different. Subtle, almost imperceptible, but there had been a strange focus in his gaze. It wasn't the usual detached politeness—it was something more. Sasuke hadn't known what to make of it at the time, but now, the memory resurfaced, taking on a new meaning in light of Sakura's question.

He watched her closely, his suspicion growing. Were they hiding something, or was it just a weird coincidence? Sasuke couldn't put his finger on it, but he had a feeling he'd need to pay closer attention to them from now on.

Finally breaking the silence, Sasuke asked, his voice gentler than before, "Sakura... are you sure you're alright?"

Her gaze snapped back to him. The distant look in her eyes faded, but there was still a subtle tension in her posture.

Sakura forced a smile. "I'm fine, Sasuke," she replied, her tone trying to sound casual but betraying a hint of weariness. "Just... tired, I guess."

Sasuke studied her for a moment longer, eyes narrowing slightly. He knew her well enough to recognize when something wasn't quite right. There was a tension in her voice, a heaviness she couldn't quite hide. Whatever was going on, she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

For a moment, he considered pressing her further, but something held him back. Maybe it was the weariness in her eyes, or the fact that he'd already pushed enough for today.

Fine, he thought, I'll let it slide. For now.

He didn't like the feeling of not knowing, though. Something was happening. He just wasn't sure what. But he'd figure it out eventually. He always did.

"If you say so," he muttered. "Just make sure you take care of yourself, alright?"

Sakura gave a small smile, her voice soft but sincere. "I will, thank you, and see you Saturday."

Sasuke gave a brief nod, offering a small wave before turning and walking away, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer as he left.

XXX

Sakura mentally berated herself. She couldn't believe how foolish she had been for reacting the way she did. Panic twisting in her chest, she cursed herself for being so careless. Had he suspected something? The thought gnawed at her, but she quickly shoved it aside, too exhausted to dissect the whole interaction.

She hadn't expected to see Itachi so soon. She thought she had at least one more week to prepare. Deflecting Sasuke's occasional prodding was manageable, but under Itachi's dark, piercing gaze, she knew she would be utterly helpless. There was no way she could hide it from him—not when he had a way of seeing straight through her.

With that unsettling thought lingering, she watched Sasuke as he walked away, her eyes fixed on the uchiwa symbol on his back.

Her hand instinctively rested on her abdomen. Would she one day see that same symbol on her child's back?