The last few months had been difficult for both Sakura and Syaoran. Sakura was so ill that simply moving was such an effort, and Syaoran was struggling with focusing on the work he needed to do due to worrying so much about Sakura. She was approaching her final weeks of her third trimester and everyone was on edge. The fact that she was so ill only made things worse.

He reread the same line of the report he'd been trying to read for the fourteenth time, and Chii sighed softly.
"You can't work when you're this worried." She said softly, "I'll take care of what needs to be done, alright? Go to Sakura."
He looked at her apologetically and she smiled.
"Thank you, Chii." He said as he stood.
"Do me a favour and try and get her to eat some fruit or something." Chii replied.
"Of course." He nodded, but he highly doubted Sakura would eat. She found it difficult to stomach anything recently, so a lot of her nutrients were given through an IV.
But, he took a plate of sliced apple with him to the bedroom anyway.

She was resting back against her pillows, her face very pale and hair stuck to her face where it was damp with sweat.
Sakura opened her eyes as he sat down, and she smiled tiredly.
"Hey," she whispered.
He returned her smile, "Hey."
She spotted the apple, "Is that for me?" she asked hopefully.
"Chii suggested I bring it to you," he said, holding it out to her, "How are you feeling?"
She picked up a slice of apple, "About the same I guess. How are you doing with all my duties? I'm sorry I can't help."
"I'm fine. Please just focus on yourself, ok?"
She nodded and started nibbling on the apple.
He slid his hand into hers and squeezed gently. "Would you mind if I stayed with you?" he asked softly.
"I'd like that," Sakura smiled.
"Did Chii tell you about the bird that kept stealing pieces of clothing from the clothes line?" He asked.
Sakura smiled with amusement, "No, she didn't."
He laughed a little, "I was a bit confused at first. I glanced out the window as a sheet flew past. Chii was chasing down a bunch of things outside-she wasn't impressed."
"I can't imagine why," she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. She said if she ever found that bird she'd turn it into a pie."
"Of course she did." Sakura giggled with amusement.
He watched as she set the half-eaten piece of apple down on the plate. "Are you ok?" he asked.
She nodded, "Just a little nauseated."
Syaoran moved and sat beside her on the bed, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.
Sakura fell asleep not long after she gave up on the apple. Syaoran sat by her side keeping hold of her hand, only leaving her side to use the bathroom or to answer the door.

He ate little for dinner and was awake for most of the night as he watched over her, falling asleep not long before dawn.

A whimper of pain immediately woke Syaoran from his light sleep. He looked to Sakura who looked to be clenching her teeth against the pain and quickly sat up. Her hands were fisted in the sheets, her knuckles white.
"Sakura-Sakura, what is it?" he asked quickly.
She opened her green eyes and looked at him, pain distorting her features. "Call Jase," she whispered, "Somethings wrong,"
He leapt from the bed and wrenched the door open, surprising the doctor who had come to change the fluid bags.
"Woah-what's wrong?" he asked.
"It's Sakura-she said somethings wrong," his words came out rushed but Jase understood.

He rushed over to Sakura and immediately began asking her questions as he took her blood pressure.
Sakura cried out in pain.
Jase pulled back the bed covers and discovered the sheets were damp where her water had broken and blood on the inside of her thighs.
"Syaoran, I need the medical team-have a guard fetch them." He ordered, "Then I need you here,"
Syaoran nodded and quickly stopped a passing guard, who headed off at top speed when told to get the medical team.

Syaoran returned to the bedroom quickly.
"Hold her hand." Jase said.
He did. He took Sakura's hand and held it tight.
"What's wrong with her?" Syaoran asked fearfully.
"She's gone into labour." Jase replied. He looked up as the medical team came rushing in.
"Come on, Sakura, stay with me." Jase said.
Sakura didn't respond for several minutes, and Syaoran feared the worst. But, she came to several moments later.
Chii and Fai rushed in, followed by Yuui, but they stayed well back.
Jase ordered the medical staff into several different jobs, but Syaoran was too focused on Sakura. Tears of pain streamed down her cheeks.
"She needs blood-quickly now," Jase ordered. "I need towels and hot water."
One if the medical staff hurried off to get the towels and the hot water while another hurried to hook Sakura up to a blood transfusion.
"Jase-she's lost consciousness!"
"Check her blood pressure and heart rate." Jase responded. "We need to locate the source of the bleeding."
"She's back with us."
Syaoran forced back tears as Sakura screamed and he squeezed her hand. He felt totally powerless, unable to protect her from this sort of pain.
She lost consciousness several more times and Syaoran lost track of the time. It felt like it had been hours, and it probably had been.
When she finally came to once again, she cried out in agony. Syaoran felt hot tears streaming down his face, looking up as he heard an infants' cries.
Jase was holding a bloodied squirming bundle in his arms.
Sakura's breathing was shallow. "Is the baby alright...?" she breathed.
Jase handed the small infant to his colleague and walked around to Sakura. "Your daughter is fine," he said softly.
She smiled, "Oh good..." she breathed.
"Sakura," Syaoran croaked.
She turned her tired eyes to Syaoran and a small smile wavered on her lips.

Jase's colleague carried the baby around to them and offered her to Syaoran. He took the small bundle and handed her to Sakura, who continued to smile, "She's so small..."
The child wriggled in her blankets and Sakura felt pure warmth and love watching her.
"Sakura, we're going to move you to the medical wing so I can keep a close eye on you and your daughter. How are you feeling right now?" Jase asked.
Sakura groaned. "Bloody shocking. Wait-why do you need to keep an eye on Hazuki? Is something wrong?"
"She was born premature, so she needs to go into the incubator, but please try not to worry. We'll keep her right beside you, alright?"
Sakura nodded. "Thank you, Jase." She whispered weakly. The doctor gave her a smile before turning to the other team members and giving them instructions.

Sakura turned her head to Syaoran and she smiled again. "I'm sorry I scared you…" she whispered.
He shook his head, "I'm sure you were terrified. I'll stay with you tonight, ok?"
She nodded and looked over as one of the hospital beds was rolled in.
"Syaoran, do you think you could help us get her onto the bed?" Jase asked.
Syaoran nodded.

Chii and Fai watched as everyone helped Sakura onto the hospital bed, and they sighed with relief.

…

Syaoran sat beside Sakura who was sleeping peacefully, utterly exhausted from giving birth and still weak from being so ill. Jase had her connected to a heart rate monitor and a blood pressure machine set to go every half hour.
The doctor had meant it when he said he'd be keeping a close eye on the pair. Syaoran wasn't even sure Jase had any time for sleep. For now, however, it looked like things were going to be ok.

He looked up as Chii, Fai and Yuui entered. Syaoran smiled tiredly at the three.
"How is she?" Chii asked. "Can I see Hazuki? Is that ok?"
Syaoran nodded, "She's right there. We're not sure how long she'll have to stay in there for, though. And Sakura's sleeping fine. The medical team helped her have a quick shower to wash the blood away before helping her settle."
"Do you think she'll be in here long?" Fai asked.
Syaoran shrugged. "It's probably a miracle Sakura survived…"
"You should allow yourself to rest, Syaoran." Yuui added. "We all had a fright tonight, especially you and Sakura."
Syaoran nodded, "Ok…"

After a while, the three left and Syaoran rested his head on his arms at Sakura's bed side, closed his eyes and allowed sleep to take him in its warm embrace.

…

He woke to a gentle humming and shifted, looking up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Sakura…?"
"Morning…well, afternoon." Sakura answered softly.
He found her sitting on the edge of the bed, watching Hazuki with soft eyes. He stood and walked around to her, wrapping his arms around her frame and burying his face in her hair.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
She leant into his embrace and rested her head on his chest. "Quite sore and weak…I'm hoping I'll start feeling a lot better soon."
He nodded, "Me too."

There was a brief silence until he felt her body shudder against his and a sob escaped her mouth. He held her gently.
"Oh god, Syaoran, I was so scared." She sobbed, "I was so scared I would die."
"Shh, it's ok. You're going to be fine." He whispered.
She hugged him tightly as she cried. She had been so terrified that she wouldn't make it through, that she wouldn't be able to be a mother, and she was so grateful that she had somehow managed to make it through. She was there, able to sing and hum to her daughter. She was alive.
Syaoran held her, similar thoughts running through his own mind. It had been a scary morning, and thankfully everything seemed well on the road of recovery.

…

Sakura was glad to finally be out of bed. The last four weeks had been frustrating and stressful, but she was back to good health and looking after her daughter.

She had just finished feeding Hazuki when Chii walked in with Syaoran behind her. She smiled as she arranged her dress and Chii bounced excitedly. "So, are you two ready?" she asked.
Sakura laughed, "As ready as I'll ever be."
Syaoran took Hazuki from Sakura's arms and held her. She was still small, but Jase said she would be fine with the right care and treatment should anything arise. Sakura often felt quite anxious, worrying over her little girl that she had risked her life to bring into the world.
Sakura stood and Syaoran smiled. "Shall we head out, now?"
She nodded, "Everyone is waiting. Let's go."

They were to make an appearance with little Hazuki in front of a large crowd of civilians, and when they stepped out, loud cheers erupted.
Sakura waved to them and smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with warmth, and she turned to take Hazuki into her arms.
Syaoran smiled at Sakura as he handed her over and Sakura returned it.

Finally, they were starting a new part of their lives. Anna was gone and although it was difficult, Sakura had endured a hard pregnancy with the help and support of those closest to her, and not to mention the medical aid of Jase and his team.

Now, they could focus on raising their daughter, Hazuki.

Well, this is the final chapter! I will be writing an epilogue for this story, but it might take me some time.
Fun fact! This chapter was never actually the original ending for this story. I chose to make this the ending I published because it's much happier, but for me it also feels pretty predictable. In the original story, Sakura actually dies from childbirth, leaving Syaoran to raise their daughter alone, and I explored different ideas that a single father may struggle with while he's trying to raise his kids. So originally, this story ended with Syaoran realising that he didn't need to remarry, as Hazuki already had a number of adults to help her and guide her through her childhood. If I ever feel compelled to, I might upload the original ending as a little extra story.

Thank you to everyone who stayed with me through this story. I'm sure that even though this story didn't get many views, there will always be someone interested at the very least, and if at least one person shows interest in a story I write, I keep updating until it's finished. That's just the way I am hahaha.

See you next time!