Itachi followed Homura to the kitchen and was surprised to see they were not alone. Sitting at the table wearing simple black clothing was Kisame and Konan.

"Well, well, well look what the cat dragged in. Glad to finally see you awake." Kisame greeted. "I'll tell you what Itachi, death must be afraid of you, you keep slipping by him."

"Kisame." Konan scolded. "stop it. He's been through a hard time. He doesn't need your teasing. Itachi? Are you hungry?"

Before he could answer, Itachi's stomach growled and Kisame grinned.

"yeah, he's hungry alright. Take a seat itachi I'll get you some stew."

Itachi sat at the table, still feeling like everything was a dream. There was no way he was alive. This had to be a genjutsu or god playing a prank. His whole adult life, his only focus was his death. He prepared for death, even welcomed it. He had been ready to die by his brother's sword. Hoping his death would give Sasuke some sort of peace but now as he had time to think about it, his death wouldn't bring Sasuke peace it would just bring him more heartache. Allowing Sasuke to kill him out of vengeance wouldn't have brought their clan back, it would have only left Sasuke more alone than he already was.

"here you are Itachi, nice and warm Nikujaga."

Itachi nodded gratefully and took his time eating. His eyes closed as he savored the meal. There was a time when he wouldn't have savored it. Knowing he was dying had taken out any pleasure life could give. Food had no taste and he had been on borrowed time but now things were different.

Once his meal was finished, he pushed his bowl aside and looked at Homura for clarification.

"tell me everything. Why am I alive?"

Homura folded his hands in front of him and said "As you know, you used all of your energy in the fight. You are alive because of Koharu. She gave her life for you. She used a rare jutsu only one other person has used. So now that you know tell me Itachi Uchiha, what will you do with the life my lover sacrificed for you?"

Itachi closed his eyes. Nothing but the sound of the tea kettle filling the spacious kitchen.

When he opened his eyes his sharigan was activated.

" I Itachi Uchiha, will redeem the name of the Uchiha clan and restore our honor."

It was then Kisame began to laugh.

" of course, that's what he's going to do! He spent all this time fighting against his village, and now he wants to save it."

"My goal was to always save it kisame. I just thought I'd be saving it through my death.."

"ha! Well, you were wrong! So what's the plan? I mean you can't just show up in the Hokage tower and be like yo here I am. Even I know the Hokage won't stand for that. Besides, now that you're an elder short, people are going to ask questions."

"none of you have to worry about that. While you were unconscious I placed Koharu in her bed and had Hinata call for the nearest jounin in the middle of the night. As far as anyone knows Koharu died in her sleep from old age. We will leave it like that for now. Koharu also left a will. She left everything to Hinata and a few things for me. However, we had a problem with the Hyuga. Now that Lady Koharu is gone, lord hiashi and the council demand Hinata come back home. Luckily I was able to convince the Hyuga elders to give her a few weeks to sort through Koharu's affairs since she left almost everything to her. A funeral for Lady Koharu will be held after the war, we only have one month before we head out to battle so everyone's focus is elsewhere. I-"

"Wait!" Itachi interrupted "You said a few weeks, how long have been asleep?"

"you have been comatose for two weeks," Konan answered.

"yeah and while you were in the bedroom snoring, we've been guarding that wife of yours. You lucked out Itachi, don't know how a guy like you scored a beauty like her. It's insane and not once has she left your side unless she had to."

"and that was to only help out at the hospital," Konan explained.

Itachi was taken aback.

"wait? You guys have been here this whole time? Watching over Hinata?" he asked.

"of course moron! We promised you we would didn't we?" Kisame argued "Oh what you think that just because you are still alive and kicking that we would just break our promise? We've been friends for years itachi, we got your back. Your little wife even gave us our rooms at the Uchiha compound! I don't think we will ever leave."

"nor would we want you to kisame chan…" A soft and yet tired voice said.

All eyes turned to see Hinata her hair cascading around her shoulders, wearing a blue kimono with the Uchiha symbol embroidered on it. The swell of her baby bump made itself known through her kimono.

Itachi swallowed hard when he saw her.

His children were tucked safely away in his wife's womb.

His wife.

His children.

Had he been ready to give it all up so easily? Itachi stood, his chair scraping against the floor.

"Hinata.." he greeted softly.

Her smile created a warmth like no other in his soul.

"Itachi...I missed you."

The couple stared at each other until Kisame coughed and said "Are you two just gonna stare at each other all day are you two going to lock lips"

"Kisame!" Hinata blushed as she gently swatted him in passing. She then threw herself into his arms burying her head in his chest.

"Itachi.." she sobbed.

Itachi held onto her tightly, burying his head into her hair, its sweet lavender and rose scent sending calm through his nerves.

"oh Hinata … my flower…"

…..

"what's our plan?" kisame asked once everyone finally sat down, bowls full of stew.

Elder Homura chewed carefully before he spoke.

" I think it will be wise for Hinata to go back to the Hyuga estate once her weeks are up. Hiding her pregnancy. I think she should visit you all from time to time as much as she can during this month." He said gesturing to Itachi, Kisame, and Konan.

"Once the war begins, she will be with the medics and you three will be fighting alongside us yes?" he asked the former Akatsuki members.

"of course we will." Konan agreed admittedly.

"very well." Homura spoke. " here is our strategy…

…..

That night, Hinata and Itachi made love like never before.

"I love you Itachi." She told him as she lay on his chest.

"And I love you so much more, my flower. So much more."