A/N: Here is an Ita/Saku One-shot for you! Enjoy!

Also, a special thank you to Agrestebug for being my beta throughout this process, for being my soundboard, and helping me with some gaps that I'm struggling with in my writing. The appreciation is real :).

Disclaimer: Naruto does NOT belong to me. All rights of the Naruto Universe belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I am simply playing with the characters for fun, no money is being made from this.

An Accidental Affair

The pain, no it was more than that. The agony gripped her heart in its icy clutches, squeezing tightly until her now frozen organ splintered then shattered into a million red crystallized pieces. There would be nothing left, her heart crushed beyond repair. No amount of glue or tape could fill the cracks that had so freshly formed. Tears, falling in drops that left a trail sparkling like diamonds on her cheeks, landed on the crumpled white paper clutched in her dainty, trembling hand. Her fallen tears smeared the black neatly written letters until the words streaked and blurred into an illegible blob of long since dried ink.

I am not coming home. I don't know when I will be back. Please forgive me… and…I'm sorry Sakura.

Short and sweet, it was so typically him that even his missive lacked any real form of sentimentality. The note wasn't signed but she knew who it was from, the only man who would have a reason to write her such a message. Her former teammate and husband, Sasuke.

They had only just recently married, having come back from a two-week honeymoon in the Land of Hot springs. Not having been settled in their new home within the reconstructed Uchiha compound for more than a few months, Sasuke had come home one evening announcing that he was going on a long-term mission with no definite end date. It had already been approved and signed off before he even stepped a foot into the door.

Sakura had begged, pleaded, and angrily demanded that he either refuse the mission or at least take her with him. Sasuke had rebuked both options, claiming that she was needed inside the Village and would not be much help in the field. This was more than a mission for him, it was a quest for redemption, something he had to do alone. When she attempted to hug him, needing to be wrapped up in his embrace not knowing when she would see her husband again, Sauske had stepped out of her reach, her fingers grazing the soft fabric of his black traveling cloak.

"I have to start preparing, I leave at dawn." he had said, his tone aloof and his face impassive. It knotted her stomach to see it, the face that was far too much like the revenge-driven boy from their youth.

Sakura slept alone that night, choosing to sleep in one of the unused bedrooms, knowing that it would be easier if she got comfortable sleeping in a cold bed from the beginning. Sasuke never came to her that night. She awoke from a fitful sleep to an empty house. It was as if Sasuke had never been there at all. He was already long gone, not bothering to leave a note or say a quick goodbye.

There had been little correspondence since then. At least, not to her. Sasuke had written his brother Itachi often and Naruto, the newly inducted Hokage, on a semi-regular basis. But, the note that she was currently ripping up into unrecognizable shreds was the first letter she had received from her estranged husband in months. A numbness had settled now, momentarily providing a soothing balm to her anguish.

She would go about her business as usual and try to act as if she never received the letter in the first place. The process of creating a children's mental health clinic took up much of her day along with seeing patients in the hospital. There was little time for anything else. With a shaky breath, Sakura tossed the scraps of paper into a nearby wastebasket and continued with her morning routine in preparation for work. A single thought flickered in her occupied mind as she dressed in a pair of pale green scrubs, at least I am not raising a child on my own while he is off galavanting around the world doing Kami knows what.

xXx

The bar was too loud and the sake burned its way down to the pit of her stomach like some sort of liquid fire. But, the warmth spreading out to her previously numb limbs was a welcomed feeling. She'd rather feel anything than the sharp edge of loneliness or the agony in knowing that the man who was supposed to love her chose to partake in an indefinite mission without her knowledge or consent.

Not that Sasuke particularly needed her permission per se. But, something on that large of a scale should have been discussed beforehand with a set date for his return. He could have declined the mission if he really wanted to but Sasuke didn't and Sakura was beginning to think their marriage was only for show to begin with. Naruto wanted them to so badly be happy together, like he and Hinata currently were. And, she had held onto the adolescent crush for so long, it was hard to picture herself with anyone else but Sasuke. Who was to say Sasuke wasn't using his mission as a way out. As a way to stay away from her.

I am not coming home. I don't know when I will be back. Please forgive me… and…I'm sorry Sakura.

Sasuke's words replayed like a broken record inside her head and Sakura let more tears fall, a couple of drops hitting the rim of her glass. She could taste the salt as she chased the tears down with another gulp of her drink.

"What are you doing here Sakura?" The blunt question ripped Sakura from the downward spiral of her thoughts, her glazed green eyes squinting at the figure standing before her.

He wasn't overly tall but carried an air of aristocratic elegance and poise that only a shinobi of noble birth could manage. The minute waves of chakra held a dark tint that promised death to those who dared to oppose him. Long black hair was tied neatly at the base of his skull with middle-parted bangs resting just past his jaw. Intense obsidian eyes bore into her own as he waited patiently for an answer.

Sakura knew this man. It was none other than Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother. Therefore, her brother-in-law. "Drinking." she replied, taking another sip. Her alcohol clouded her mind, missing the hiccups and slurred words.

"Care to join me, Itachi?" She asked while clumsily gesturing towards the empty barstool beside her. She heard a sigh before a gentle hand gripped her arm, pulling her up off her chair.

"What the hell-" she cursed, stumbling slightly at the sudden unexpected change in equilibrium. The same pale hands steadied her wrapping their way around her waist in an almost intimate embrace. A soft pleasing purr left her lips, it had been over a year since a man touched her in such a way, even if it was platonic. She was only twenty, dammit. And, the lack of a good lay grated on her young hyperactive libido. Another reason Sasuke's absence stung, she was deprived of not only emotional intimacy but physical too. Seeing her friends, especially Ino and Sai, starting their married lives in wedded bliss did nothing to lessen the ache.

The sound of coins hitting the table with a solid clink caused her head to whirl to the counter. Itachi had slapped enough money to cover her tab and leave a generous tip.

"You don't need to do that." Sakura groaned out, closing her eyes as the room began to spin. He said nothing but placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her out of the crowded bar. She ignored the concerned stares watching her leave the building. A burst of cool air hit her face, sobering her up to a degree.

"Burn the rest of the alcohol out of your system." Sakura complied with the polite command in an instant, knowing that if she didn't she would pay for it with a head-pounding hangover tomorrow. The last thing she wanted was to start her rotation off on such a sour note. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the lingering foreign substance in her bloodstream and called on her chakra to litigate its effects.

In no time at all, the warm fuzzy feeling evaporated and her mind became crystal clear. She blinked, taking the sharper focused surroundings and shot Itachi an embarrassed smile, a dusting of pink staining her cheeks.

"Um, thank you for coming to collect me, Itachi." She began awkwardly while shifting from one foot to the other, ashamed that he not only saw her in a moment of weakness but also took care of the bill too. "but, how did you know I was there?" she wondered aloud. Their schedules rarely crossed one another on a normal day. The odds of him knowing her whereabouts were slim, and the trip to the bar wasn't planned to begin with.

Itachi gave a small smile, seemingly pleased that she was back to her normal self. "I saw you through the window on my way home." That was when Sakura noticed he was decked out in the standard Konoha nin attire. After suffering the long term effects of an untreated illness for years, that led to a near-death experience and lengthy recovery, Itachi had retired from black-ops. The damage from the battle with Sasuke had been minimal at best.

It was only by a stroke of pure luck that she had been near the battlefront when it happened, thus saving his life. Being under the tutelage of Lady Tsunade had given her certain privileges to records, and therefore she found Sasuke's brother to be innocent of the crimes he was accused of. At the time, she was not about to let an honorable man die. Kakashi, the Hokage before Naruto, granted Itachi a complete pardon and relinquished the title of Uchiha clan head back to him as was his birthright, estate and all.

Now, the young man was a simple Jonin. Since he didn't have a huge clan to manage right now and probably wouldn't in his lifetime, he decided to become a Jonin-Sensi with the occasional domestic mission. Not that the Uchiha's needed the money.

"Well, thank you for your help. I'll be sure to pay you back for taking care of my bill for me." She replied as they walked back towards the compound. Itachi waved her off and they maintained a peaceful silence until they stopped at her front door. Itachi lived in his rebuilt childhood home in the center of the complex a few houses down from hers. Sakura bit her lip. She really didn't want to be alone right now.

"Want to have dinner with me?" Itachi inquired politely, holding up the take out bags so she could see them. She laughed softly. He always thought of everything.

"Sure. Come in and i'll make some tea." They walked in, slipping off their shoes at the door. Itachi went to grab plates and two pairs of chopsticks as Sakura put the water-filled kettle on the stove and waited for it to come to a boil. Suddenly, Itachi appeared behind her, a respectable space between them. A worried glint sparkling in his eyes.

"Now that we are alone, I want to ask you a question. Why were you drinking alone in a bar Sakura?" he asked. Sakura felt her breath hitch. Despite the resurfacing emotions she didn't want to feel again, a new one joined the mix. One she'd felt multiple times over the course of the past year but suppressed. Her mouth suddenly went dry. She cleared her throat and looked around the spacious kitchen determined to look anywhere but him. A low whistle saved her from having to answer right away.

"Tea?" she asked a little too brightly, turning away from her brother-in-law and pouring their steaming hot drinks into two matching mugs.

"This isn't over with," he told her sternly. Sakura avoided looking directly at him as they sat down at the low kitchen table. In silence, they prepared their tea to their liking and muttered a quick 'itadakimasu' they tucked into their meal. Dinner was a quiet affair, neither saying much to lighten the tense mood. The sound of wooden chopsticks scraping against ceramic plates was the only thing that filled the gap between them.

Sakura knew Itachi expected an answer from her in regards to her rather uncharacteristic behavior. Going to a bar was a spontaneous decision. She had taken a walk, needing to clear her head knowing the cold outside would be warmer than the chilled loneliness of abandonment. The Legendary Sucker was open, and at the time not crowded. It seemed like a good idea to have one drink to toast to her newly found singlehood. One drink turned to many when the boozy liquid slid its way down her throat, spreading its comfort to every frozen part of her body. Apparently, she had gotten pretty sloshed until Itachi managed to find her that is.

A morsel of shrimp tempura lingered on her tongue as she chewed thoughtfully in an attempt to think as logically as she could about this, needing to push all emotions aside no matter how her chest ached like a freshly broken bone or how her eyes still stung from long bouts of crying. I can do this, it's only Itachi. Through her eye lashes Sakura caught a glimpse of the man every woman wanted and every man secretly envied. He sure was handsome, like Sasuke. All Uchiha, even Madara and Obito, were strikingly good looking, like it was automatically coded into their DNA to have pleasing features

Itachi's skills were legendary, even as a child up until his time as a missing nin, he was a man to be reckoned with. No one dared to take on the Uchiha prodigy unless they had a death wish.

Sasuke was similar to his brother in that way, naturally talented. Unlike his younger brother, however, there were subtle differences that set the two apart. It sometimes amazed her how Itachi remained single. The gentleness in his quiet personality would make any woman swoon, and feel so taken care of. Fierceness in the passion with the way he fought for those he loved would render her breathless. Loyalty to his brother and a village that disgraced him was paramount, she would never need to worry about their relationship.

Swallowing, a gush of air swept past parted lips as she ran the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip, licking up the sauce that remained there. Itachi was looking at her in such a way that she honestly could not remember Sasuke ever doing, not even in their more private moments. There was a burning heat simmering behind his already dark eyes making them even darker, a hint of longing buried within their bottomless depths. No one ever looked at her like that, not with such want, such need, such...love. It nearly stole her breath away. Flashes of memories when she caught Itachi's meaningful glances but pointedly ignored bubbled up to the surface. Had he always looked at me like that? Sakura had to distract herself and fast before she did something she'd later regret.

"That is twice today you took care of me, thank you," Sakura said before downing the last of her tea in one large gulp, wincing as the hot liquid nipped painfully down her throat.

"Hn"

Sakura could not help but roll her eyes, then her expression turned somber. She owed it to him, to tell him the truth. Especially after what he just did for her, and it did involve his own brother after all. He deserved to know that the younger Uchiha wasn't to be expected home anytime soon.

"Come on let's go into the living room. It is more comfortable there. I'll clean up in here later." She stood from her chair and walked away knowing Itachi would follow. She was right, the moment she sat down on the couch he took the seat opposite.

Sakura fiddled with the sleeve of her shirt, the soft blue civilian-made sweater suddenly very interesting. She heaved a sad sigh and willed away the tears that wanted to form whenever she thought about her husband. This would be difficult for her to get out. Itachi placed his hand on hers, interlacing their fingers in a show of support. She touched her cheek to wipe away the wetness that wasn't their moments ago.

She sucked in a deep breath, not able to hold his concerned gaze. "I got a message from Sasuke this morning via massager hawk. He isn't coming home. He doesn't know when he will be back and asked for my forgiveness."

Her lips trembled and she finally found the will to look up, seeing complete understanding in his eyes. "Oh, Sakura," Itachi said, compassion radiating from him in strong powerful waves. His fingers were gentle as they gripped her shoulders, pulling her in for a comforting hug. He wasn't used to dealing with distraught women but this seemed like an appropriate thing to do.

His brother's wife was hurting and he momentarily condemned his baby brother for not readily accepting what she was willing to give him, her heart, her soul, and her body for as long as they lived. He was kicking himself now for not making his feelings known to the pink-haired medic. He had stepped aside when he realized Sasuke was going to court her. He had hurt his brother so much in their youth that he couldn't bear standing in the way of his brother's happiness, especially if it meant that she was happy too.

So, he did what any good brother/Shinobi would do, deadened his feelings, and busied himself with work. When Sasuke and Sakura got engaged he congratulated them. On their wedding day, he held his peace. He paid for their honeymoon, a place he'd wanted to take Sakura on their honeymoon. But, gave Sasuke the honor instead.

Sasuke admitted a week before his wedding that he wouldn't be happy residing in the village long term. He liked the nomad life that he had been forced to live as a nuke-nin. Though Sasuke would never admit such a thing to his wife as he felt like he had failed her. He wanted her but not the type of life she wanted and deserved.

He had warned the younger Uchiha not to marry the medic, mostly for Sakura's sake even if a small part of him wanted to stop the wedding. But, Itachi knew his brother, nearly as well as himself.

Sasuke did love Sakura in his own way, Itachi knew this, but he also knew that at some point her love for him wouldn't be enough. Sasuke had grown accustomed to the life of a missing-nin, of roaming and being constantly on the move. Settling in one place, living a domestic life being trapped inside the village while taking the occasional A or B ranked mission wouldn't be enough to satisfy him. It was only a matter of time before he found a way to take longer missions, he'd just taken the initiative by leaving the village from the start.

It wasn't fair to Sakura to have a part-time husband, he'd made sure to let Sasuke know of his disapproval in that respect. Of course, Sasuke had taken immense offense to such advice, accusing him of wanting his fianceé for himself. So, Sasuke had married her anyway, no doubt in part because in his own way, he had wanted to make Sakura happy. Sasuke had admitted that after everything he had put her through, he had naively hoped that formally marrying her would be enough. It was something she always wanted.

Now, Sakura was suffering the effects of that choice. Having been conditioned to Sasuke's aloof and frosty demeanour since childhood, the way he had handled relating his mission to her would not have been a surprise if she was thinking rationally. But, emotions were a fickle thing and Sakura was easily led by her emotions. Sasuke was not so easily led by such sentiments, and that was a fault Itachi was ready to take upon himself for what HE had done to Sasuke, for forcing him down that path by his own choices.

The room grew silent, Itachi really had no words to offer in terms of comfort. It was his own fault that Sasuke turned out the way he did, taking counsel to only himself and not relying on the bonds he had formed with others. He felt partially to blame, however, knowing there was no way to undo the past, all he could offer was his companionship, if anything so she wouldn't feel so alone.

"You are never alone, Sakura." He heard the words spill from his mouth before he could fully process them. He meant every word, but when small hands suddenly grasped the front of his jacket any coherent thought visibly erased itself from his mind. The shock from the boldness of her actions made him go still.

Her heart beat in tune with her pulse, the thump-thump sounding like a drum in her ears. This was wrong she knew. To think about even kissing a man who was most definitely not her husband. But, the smoldering glances at dinner and the concern he had shown her moments before had struck a cord from somewhere deep inside her heart that was trying to claw its way out.

The physical attraction only made it that much harder to resist the pull on her heated blood. It was like a siren's song, calling on her need to feel some form of affection even if it wasn't hers take. Just one kiss, one stolen moment and that would be enough, it would have to be. You know that this is wrong! But, at the moment that didn't matter as Sakura leaned forward, placing her lips on Itachi's in an impromptu desperate kiss.

His lips were soft and warm against hers, the embers of desire coiling tightly from the very core of her being. The heat seared through her veins, setting her on fire. When he didn't return the gesture she pulled away, her hands still tightly gripping the front of his flak jacket.

"I'm so sorry," she mumbled guiltily, remorse leaking from every pore. As if his jacket burned her, Sakura immediately let go even if doing so caused her heart to settle like lead in the pit of her stomach. He wasn't hers to have and it was wrong to take something that wasn't hers without asking. Turning her head away so she could retain some shred of dignity, she tried to hide the way her lips trembled. Her hands shook as she clenched them against her knees, both from the whirlwind of her emotions and the physical stress of having to keep her hands to herself.

"We can't." Itachi answered in a desperate whisper, the two simple words strained as he forced them out. His eyes were trained on hers, and hers on his. It was a show of trust that she stared so deeply into the depths of his Sharingan, one that no one before her had ever done willingly. His hands ached at his sides, filled with the desire to take her face between them. His hands balled into fists in a last effort to control himself.

"I should go." He added softly, stepping back towards the doorway, putting more distance between them. It was too difficult to be near her and not touch her. He was nearly out the door when a quivering voice called him back. "Please don't leave me." The plea was nothing more than a mere whisper, but it was enough to give him pause.

Itachi wasn't sure if it was her broken plea, his own selfish needs, or a mixture of both, but something snapped deep inside of him. He turned slowly back to her, the mere thought of doing the right thing sending a sharp stab of pain through him, and immediately catching her piercing green gaze.

There was nothing but raw emotion guiding his actions as he closed the gap between them, the burn of desire forcing his hands to act on their own as he pulled her up. His voice was a husky whisper as he held her flush up against his chest, his heart pounding wildly against hers, "Never."

The move was instant, his lips crashing into hers with the hunger he'd been forcing down for far too long. Her response was just as desperate, her hands snaking around his neck and pulling him closer as a soft moan of pleasure escaped into the silence. Every ounce of loneliness, every moment of heartbreak and anger was being poured into this one moment, into this one forbidden kiss.

Needing air, they broke apart, their chests heaving as their hot breath mingled together. Itachi leaned his forehead against hers, the effort to control himself evaporating with each passing second. "Tell me to stop" he whispered, his voice hoarse with lust and longing, "tell me to stop, Sakura." It sounded almost like he was pleading, begging for one of them to be strong enough to break the spell between them before things could go any further, and they did something they couldn't take back.

She latched onto him, her body trembling, her hands tightening at the nape of his neck as she whispered it breathlessly, "Never."

Her back slammed up against the wall, her body firmly pressed between Itachi and the hard surface as his mouth found the smooth surface of her neck. Her eyes rolled back as he made his way up to her waiting lips, his hands exploring her body in frenzied caresses. It set every nerve ending on fire, leaving a burning trail behind with every touch.

A soft moan sounded from somewhere in the back of her throat when he scraped her bottom lip with his teeth. This time, a flurry of hands tugged at clothing. Her red dress was unzipped, the feel of his fingers skimming against her bare back sent a painful shockwave of needing more through her as it fell to the floor. His ninja uniform followed, her small hands touching every new exposed part of him until their clothes were a messy heap on the floor in a pool of fabric at their feet.

His scorching gaze scoured her beautiful naked body with such heat she felt like she was being burned alive. He kissed her again and she moaned feeling his hands tangle into her hair, tugging firmly at the ends to keep her in place. Her head lulled to the side exposing the creamy flesh of her neck and Itachi attacked it with a mixture of teeth and lips leaving angry red marks wherever they landed.

She let out a mewl of pleasure at the sensation of pleasure and pain. Followed by a sharp intake of breath when he hit a particularly sweet spot at the juncture of her neck and collarbone. She was sure he could feel the rapid pacing of her pulse, she could feel his.

Her own hands pulled his hair free of its confines, tugging on it harshly and pressing him closer into her wantonly. Itachi smirked, grinding his hard member into her core and she hissed from the contact. His hand released her hair and skimmed her shoulders leaving goosebumps until they reached the swell of her breasts. He pinched a nipple and cupped the other one giving it a generous squeeze. She threw her head back pressing her chest closer to his body, wanting more than his hands to touch her. Itachi took the hint, bending down to take a rosy peak into his mouth, sucking the pebbled nipple like a newborn babe. He turned his attention to the neglected breast lavishing it with the same attention. "Kami Itachi, I need you now." Sakura whined, her voice husky.

"What do you want, Sakura?" Itachi asked teasingly, slowly dragging his fingers from her breast across her flat tummy and to her most intimate place. He traced his finger at her entrance while watching the display of emotions flicker across her face. "You are so wet for me." He growled, possessively snaking her creamy thighs around his slender hips as he slowly caressed and warmed the outside of her toned legs.

"What do you want, Sakura?" He repeated, the power he had over her was exhilarating. Itachi wanted to see how far she would go. Slender fingers touched everywhere but where she wanted it most, and it was driving her crazy.

And, he wouldn't give her what she wanted if she didn't answer. The pressure was building, pooling in her center. "I want you to fuck me, Itachi." She groaned out grinding her hips against his fingers as they moved to the sensitive area just barely inside, urging him to close that last little bit of distance.

"Was that so hard?" he asked, feigning curiosity and slipped a digit inside her hot channel. She growled out a breathy moan when he added a second then the third finger until he was pumping them vigorously, urging her towards her release. Sakura didn't last long and her tight walls clenched around his fingers in a vice-like grip. She rested her head against his shoulder only able to stay upright with his support.

"I'm not done yet, ouka." Itachi murmured, kissing her lips again in a featherlight touch that tormented her before moving to situate himself at her slick core. He hissed, sinking himself deep into her welcoming body which hugged his member like a glove. It had been far too long since he enjoyed the warmth of a woman and this woman, in particular, had been the sole participant in every wet dream. "Kami" he groaned out, stilling his movements once he was buried to the hilt and giving her a second to adjust. Gently, he started to rock his hips, pulling out then sliding back in. Her moans were the sweetest sound he ever heard as she panted, wantonly meeting him thrust for thrust. "faster, harder" she cried out and he was happy to comply.

Their lovemaking was growing frantic, the slap of skin following the snap of his hips against her. Her moans echoed loudly off the walls, and Itachi was sure the entire village could hear her. "I'm close" she growled digging her nails into his back leaving thin red lines behind. He reached between them, stimulating her clit at the same time as he thrust into her supple body with animalistic vigor.

"Come with me" he commanded while playing her body like an instrument. He devoured her lips swallowing her scream as she came, her channel milking him for all he was worth. As they slowly came down from their high, Itachi let her thighs go and her legs dropped limply to the floor. They dressed in silence, not able to even look in the others direction. The air between them was thick with sex and newly realized remorse. Neither could find the words to say to the other, knowing that what they had just done hurt the one person that they both cared about. Satisfied guilt filled the gap between them, smothering them with its reprimanding silence. What had they done?

"This can't happen again," she spoke first, her voice hoarse from their activities and some hidden emotion. She still couldn't look him in the eye but Itachi understood. One nightstand. That was all it was. It would be the best for both of them if it remained that way. He couldn't keep what was never his to begin with, and Sakura's heart truly lies with his brother.

Itachi nodded, choking back his own feelings. He approached Sakura fully dressed and she gave him a loving, guilty smile. He could read the longing in her eyes, the longing he was sure was reflected in his own. He could see in the slight downturn of her mouth the things she wished for, but that he would never be able to make come true. Sakura was unable to give him what he wanted, her heart and in turn he could not be the Sasuke she wanted him to be. He wasn't his brother and until she realized that, there could be no more than this one night between them.

He kissed her on the forehead, both of her eyes, her pert nose, and her detectable tasting mouth and whispered a "goodbye Sakura" although he wasn't sure if he was talking about her as a person or the feelings she evoked in him.

Without another word, he left her house and went to his own dark and empty home. Maybe it was high time he moved on himself. As much as it pained him to say it, she wasn't his and never would be. She belonged to his brother, and unless she did something about it, she would remain his brother's wife. It was a huge blow to love your brother's spouse and not be able to do anything about it but watch from the sidelines, even if she was unhappy.

xXx

A few months later Sakura lay hunched over a toilet, once again bringing up the little remnants of her breakfast. What am I doing to do?

She had to tell him, it was the right thing to do. A muffled groan spilled from parched lips as she stood shakily on unsteady feet before heading to the sink to brush her teeth. Staring at herself in the mirror, she knew she looked like hell. Her skin was pale, nearly translucent, and dark circles under her tired green eyes made her look like a raccoon. She let out a shaky breath, finished cleaning herself up and pulled on some clothes before running a brush through her hair in an attempt to make herself look presentable.

Sakura knew Itachi would be home today, so she made her way to the large main house and knocked on the door. A minute later he answered in nothing but a pair of shinobi pants, his hair still free from its normal hair tie. His greeting was polite but tense, her mere presence wholly unwelcome. They hadn't spared each other a single glance since that night. Not that she hadn't thought of that night often, or felt the weight of the impact that night had brought. It wasn't just the guilt that had torn at her, it was also at the wedge that had formed between her and Itachi. Their once easy-going relationship had turned to stone, making her feel more alone than ever. The papers folded neatly in her medic's apron suddenly weighed a ton. She had thought of what she could do, of anything that would lessen the ache. It was easier to be single and be alone, than be trapped in a state of futile hope that her marriage would find a way to work itself out. Plus, Itachi would not have to feel guilty anymore. They could put their one nightstand behind them and move on. At least, to a certain extent. There were things they needed to discuss, which is why she was standing outside his door, but it was also the reason for her hesitation.

"May I come in?" she asked a bit timidly. He nodded and stepped aside to let her pass, ushering her to the kitchen. An awakened silence hanging between them. He offered her tea to which she declined not knowing if her nauseated stomach would tolerate anything right now, even something light as tea.

"How can I help you, Sakura?" she inwardly winced at his curt tone..never had he been so short with her.

"About that one night..where we uh..you know." She started lamely twiddling her thumbs nervously like Hinata used to do when they were kids.

Itachi remained impassive, there wasn't even a tremor of emotion that flickered across his face. The only giveaway that he even remotely heard what she said was the tightening around the corners of his eyes.

"Yes, what of it – it was a one-time thing, remember?" This time she did wince and instead decided to try another tactic as words failed her. Actively avoiding the terse set of his face, Sakura dug into the pockets of her medic's apron and pulled out the stack of papers before plopping them down onto the table. She let the paper do the talking for her.

Application for Divorce

Filee: Sakura Hanuro-Uchiha

Spouse: Sasuke Uchiha

Itachi's eyes widened as he read the legally binding document.

Sakura was divorcing his brother.

"Why?" he heard himself asking. His throat suddenly dry. His mind raced, trying to piece together a logical explanation for how she would have ended up with this result. The scenario's played out relentlessly in the span of mere seconds, but as his eyes focused on the document itself, a small part of him hoped.

But, he wasn't prepared to jump to conclusions. However, the likely chance that she simply fell out of love with his brother in a matter of a few short months was highly improbable. Hanging onto a love since childhood would take time to fade, he would know. Killing Izumi had been the hardest thing he'd ever done, outside of turning his sword against his own parents.

At thirteen his love for Izumi was true, despite the fleeting romances playing out around him, he knew that in her, he'd found something they would all spend the rest of their lives searching for. There were times he would think about her, about the way his life would have gone, but there was no use laminating about what could have been.

Instead, he was attempting to forget a woman he loved in the present, who was very much alive but was a constant reminder of the love he lost. And so, he waited for her answer, deciding to not speculate when there wasn't enough information to go off of. His heart would remain intact in the process. He was not foolish enough to think that she had miraculously fallen in love with him, no matter how much he wanted it to be so.

She shrugged, "Sasuke and I both deserve someone who makes us happy and apparently neither of us is a source of happiness for the other. Besides, I was living as if I was single anyway, why not make that official? Sasuke can travel much as he wants without the guilt of leaving me here and…he wouldn't have to be raising his brother's child." She said, watching his reaction carefully.

His eyes grew even wider and immediately went to her still flat stomach.

"You're pregnant," he said, feeling uncharacteristically flabbergasted. Counting back time in his head, Itachi realized that around this time symptoms would make themselves known: morning sickness, missed periods. Anything out of the ordinary would set the young medic off. And, they did not use a contraception jutsu.

A new life was growing inside the woman who he never imagined he'd be in this position with. It was always Sasuke he thought would come to him, announcing that he was to be a father. But, it wasn't Sasuke. It was him, Itachi Uchiha. While the situation was less than ideal, the child conceived not out of marriage but one night of passion between himself and his former sister-in-law, he couldn't find it in himself to feel any negative emotion many men would typically associate with this type of situation. Shocked, yes. Scared, yes. Angry or upset, no. It was his fault as much as hers and besides, this was his second chance to have the family that was cruelly ripped away from him.

A small smile broke out onto his face as his eyes met Sakura's worried green ones. She was no doubt scared of how he would take the news.

He watched Sakura squirm, shifting in her chair to get more comfortable. It was a clear physical manifestation of internal discomfort. He wasn't sure what she was expecting of him, but he let an entire Village villainize him for years, this paled in comparison. In his opinion anyway, he wasn't one to openly rant and rave to begin with. Had she expected him to deny paternity? Or to demand she get rid of it? Sakura should know him well enough by now, neither of those options were appealing.

Itachi was ripped from his musings when a timid voice reached his ears, "What are we going to do? We aren't married, and this would be frowned upon by the village elders, wouldn't it? And, I'm still legally married to Sasuke until he signs the papers, aren't I?"

Sakura put her head in her hands covering her face from Itachi's view. This was such a mess!

Eyes still hidden behind fingers and a curtain of pink hair, Sakura heard rather than saw Itachi's lithe figure move around the table coming to a stop at her screech of a chair indicating that he had taken a seat beside her. Like he had done months prior, he took her hands in his, giving them a light squeeze in comfort. His low tenor was reassuring when he spoke.

"Don't worry about Sasuke, I will have the Hokage call him back. He needs to be made aware of his new uncle status and that isn't something we should put in a letter. As for the village elders, I never much cared for their outdated opinions to begin with, they aren't the ones who are going to be raising this child and you have good friends who will support your decision, yes?"

Sakura nodded.

"As for us..." he paused, not knowing how she would take this offer. It was rather sudden but to him made the most sense. "After your divorce is finalized, I would like you to move in with me."

Sakura went to open her mouth, but Itachi held up his hand. He knew she would have some reservations about such a hasty action.

"I'm not asking anything from you, there are multiple rooms for you to choose from. But, it would make the situation easier to deal with and you won't have to go through your pregnancy alone."

"I don't want to be a burden, especially when you find someone else, we don't have to pretend to be a happy couple." She tucked her head down, feeling overwhelmed from a mixture of hormones and Itachi's overall reaction.

A long slender finger tilted her chin up so she was looking him in the eyes. "Haven't you realized it yet? There never has been or ever will be anyone else, Sakura. This is not how I imagined the direction our relationship would go, nor expecting one at all, but I can't say I'm sorry for it."

His words rendered her speechless, she pulled away wrapping her arms around herself in a protective gesture.

"I..I..I don't know what to say….."

A sad smile tugged onto Itachi's thin lips. He knew he had probably said too much, but at least she knew where he stood. When or if she was ever ready, he would be there, waiting.

But, for now, he laid his palm against the soft fabric covering her taut stomach, his child was in there. Sasuke had forfeited the love of a good woman to go wandering around aimlessly on a mission. Knowing that Sakura held no romantic feelings for him, Itachi could not help but think that as the months wore on and they raised this child together, she could potentially learn to love him as Itachi and not as a friend or Sasuke's older brother. But as something more, something that Sasuke neglected to fully appreciate while it was his. Foolish little brother.