So, ummm... ='D

I'm reaaaaaally sorry for the very long wait people x.x While we never gave up on this story (I promise we won't) many things happened, one of them being that one of us has become a mommy. But no worries, I have two more chapters written and plan to update on a weekly basis now that things have calmed down a little.

I hope you enjoy! x3
...

Mitsuki didn't know it was possible to make the journey back in such a record time. In no time at all he was strolling through the corridors of the hospital, stopping only for a moment to ask the whereabouts of Hinata-san. When he got to the room, he came to a halt.

When Boruto called him in a panic, all sorts of thoughts had gone through his mind, no matter how hard he tried to curb them. What he didn't expect to see was Hinata-san sitting upright on her bed, talking to his sensei with a soft smile, although there were tears in her eyes.

"Mitsu-nii!" he then heard a voice and someone collided to him from his side.

"Himawari…" he mused, giving the young girl a one-armed hug himself. He didn't have to wait long to see his best friend. "Boruto… what's going on here? I came as quickly as I could…"

"I-I don't know… Aunt Sakura didn't say anything yet…" Boruto sounded as shaken as he was on the phone. "All I know is I came home to find mom on the floor, unconscious… The rest is kind of a blur…"

"Where is Lord Seventh?" the blue haired teen asked as he put on his white coat. He couldn't wait to go inside… feeling the burning need to assess the situation himself and to talk to Hinata-san…

"We needed to send papa to the cafeteria," Himawari said, exasperation coating her worried tone. "He was on the verge of it, seriously… He needed a break…"

"I-it's alright, I'm here," a fourth voice then joined them. Naruto had appeared down the corridor, and indeed, he looked disheveled and distraught. Mitsuki could see that he hadn't shaved either. "Did I miss anything, did Sakura say anything?" He startled and looked at the blue haired boy as if seeing him for the first time. "Oh Mitsuki… you're here…"

"Don't worry, Lord Seventh," he replied with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I'm going in now, I'll let you know about the situation as soon as I can."

With that, he walked inside the room.

...

His sensei turned on him upon his entrance. He could have sworn her face lit up with relief.

"Mitsuki, I'm glad you could make it. I need your immediate assistance."

"Of course," the boy said curtly, but his attention was on the occupant of the bed. "Hinata-san…" he whispered as he came beside the bed and took the woman's hand in his own.

"Mitsuki," the woman replied with a soft but slightly shaky smile. "I'm sorry for all this… It shouldn't be something this important…"

"I wouldn't take this so lightly if I were you, Hinata," Sakura scolded her lightly. "It's not only you we should be careful about, and you know that."

"Yes… Yes I know…" Hinata cooed, her hands finding their way to her stomach.

The blue haired boy blinked and it took a moment to sink in. "O-oh… You are-"

"That's right. Seems like I'm five months into it."

"Five…?" Mitsuki's eyes drifted to his sensei. "But, umm…"

Sakura closed her eyes with a sigh. "Mitsuki, let's talk over there for a second."

The boy couldn't take his eyes off his adoptive mother as they walked over to a far corner of the room. That… didn't seem like the belly of a five-months pregnant woman… "Sensei, what's…" he began to say, but wasn't sure how to continue.

The woman's look was pensive. "It's a very rare disease… Just got diagnosed a couple of days ago, really. We thought it primarily affected young children so I suspect Hima carried it from the academy…"

"What are the symptoms?"

"Well, see…" Sakura looked tired - and a little uncomfortable. "That's where our problems begin. The mild symptoms are pretty easy to recognize - although they show likelihood to your common cold. But the severe ones…" She shook her head. "They differ from one age group to the other. That's why the diagnosis was prolonged."

"Oh…" Mitsuki's gaze returned to the bed. "And… at which point does it get severe enough to cause fainting…?"

And the pink haired woman sighed again. "We are still trying to determine that. But…" The look in her eyes turned soft as one of her hands lightly touched her belly. "Both she and the baby seem okay… You should've heard her heartbeat."

Mitsuki smiled, the news lifting at least part of the weight from his heart. "Her?" he wondered, which caused Sakura to chuckle.

"Yes, indeed. She's a little underdeveloped but other than that… she's going to be a healthy little girl."

"Sensei…" Mitsuki began, voice becoming serious. "This is just a theory, but if pregnant women are more prone to infection…"

"Oh I know, I know," Sakura mused, patting her belly. "As much as I don't like not to be here, I'm not going to risk them." She smiled softly at him. "I'm proud to say I have full confidence in leaving you here in my stead. Of course, a team of specialists will also be on duty."

Mitsuki gave her a small bow. "I'm not going to disappoint you."

Sakura put her hand on his shoulder. "I know. Now let's go make the final controls before I have to go."

...

"Hinata is… pregnant…?"

Naruto's face showed nothing but absolute shock as he tried his hardest to absorb the news. Boruto and Himawari were not too different, although the girl looked more composed.

"I understand why this comes as a shock to you, but at this moment, there seems to be no immediate cause for concern," Sakura tried to calm her friend. "Hinata and the baby both seem fine, although the little one is a bit underdeveloped… But with proper care and medicine, I'm positive we can overcome that."

"So they… they will be fine?" Naruto's voice had become tiny. Sakura smiled a little as she patted his shoulder.

"Yes, I'm certain about that. We are already working on the cure and in the last stages of developing it."

The Hokage nodded, almost absent-mindedly. "Okay… okay…"

Mitsuki's eyes took on a softer look as he looked up at his father figure. "Lord Seventh… it's going to be alright, I promise."

Naruto gave him a vague smile. "I know son… I know I can trust you and Sakura both."

"Well, ugh…" Sakura sighed as she brought a hand to her face. "I'm actually going to head home, since this sickness seems to affect pregnant women more… but Mitsuki will be here, along with Ino and Inojin."

"Yes, of course… You stay safe too." Naruto slowly got to his feet. "Okay. I'm going to talk with Hinata first and if you can arrange a room for us to stay-"

"I know what you feel, but there really is no need for that." Sakura cut in, gentle but firm. "Hinata is in good hands. Please go and get your rest. And you two." she added to the kids, with a knowing look at Boruto.

"You don't expect us to-" Boruto began.

"I do. Your dad needs your support as much as your mom now."

"Who said I was just going to leave meekly?" Naruto grumbled, causing Sakura to roll her eyes. Seeing her brother was about to open his mouth again, Himawari cut in.

"Is it okay if only one of us stay? I can take papa home."

Sakura's gaze softened at that. "Just for tonight then, I can accept that. But only for tonight."

"Thank you aunt Sakura!" Boruto nearly shouted in relief before flinging his arms around his sister. "And thank you for doing this Hima."

"Just take care of your mother for us." Naruto said, pulling his son in a crushing hug himself.

"You got it, 'ttebasa."

...

Finishing his check-up on his mother figure, Mitsuki's eyes wandered to the sleeping form of his brother. It had been already past midnight, nearing 1 am. All things seemed calm for now, the illness, thankfully, seemed to be slow progressing.

He reached to dim the lights when a small cough caught his attention and looking down, he met the eyes of Hinata-san. "Mitsuki…"

"Hinata-san…" He reached out to grab the hand she had extended towards him. "How do you feel, do you need anything?"

"No, no… I'm good…" Hinata mused, but her gaze turned serious and worried as she put one of her hands on her abdomen. "I'm worried about her really… What if she doesn't develop at all after this point? What if… What if…" she gulped, and large tears started to drop one by one from her eyes. "We lose her…?"

Mitsuki smiled a little as he gently sat to the very edge of the bed, careful not to disturb her. Boruto, sitting on Hinata's other side, mumbled a bit in his sleep but didn't wake up. "Mom…" Hinata looked up when she heard his address style. "I know words won't help much but… Test results show that she is indeed very healthy. Once we figure out a cure for this disease, we will get you enough supplements so she can grow in no time." He squeezed her hand gently. "I will do everything to make sure you two will both come through this in full health."

The woman gave a soft chuckle as she raised her free hand to wipe at her eyes. "I know you will, you are so clever - and resourceful. And I know I'm being silly…"

"You are not. You are just being a mother."

They sat in silence for a while. The night was soft and silent around them.

"Oh. I've decided on a name by the way."

"You did?" the boy asked in surprise and curiosity.

"I've seen a couple out beside the window. It's still early for fireflies to come out in the year, so I decided to take it as a sign." With a fond smile, Hinata rubbed her stomach. "Your youngest sister will be named Hotaru."

Mitsuki smiled himself, and put a hand on top of hers. "She will be wonderful."

...

He didn't break his step as he walked into the lab. The lead researcher, someone he came to regard as an esteemed colleague now, turned his head. "Mitsuki-kun…"

"Kazuki-san." he returned the acknowledgement, his gaze on the big screens showing many different medicine and their components. "Any development yet?"

"Yes, actually. We were just looking into it." The man took a clipboard in his hands and Mitsuki leaned towards it. As he went through the checklist, his eyes widened. "This…"

"I know." And now the older man was smiling. "It sounds too good to be true, but there it is."

Mitsuki let out a laugh of relief. "Amazing. You guys are genius." He took the clipboard, already moving towards the door. "I will let Sakura-san know myself."

...

Eagerly waiting for reviews =)