Nothing Else Matters

Chapter 4

Sakura swallowed hard, attempting to resolve herself with her unexpected situation. Thoughts spinning, bile churning in her stomach, she gently caressed her lower abdomen, adjusting to the astounding fact that there was a tiny life growing there. Despite the aggravating, constant pain and burning in her upper abdomen caused by her wounds, she could only ponder her future. Her baby's future. What would the father say? Her rumination broken as the door swung open and Tsunade stormed in, her face thunderous, eyes flashing in anger, followed by an expressionless Itachi.

"Tsunade-sama, what's wrong?"

Her teacher approached her bed, hands on curvy hips. "I'm furious that you didn't take all the proper precautions! You're a medic-nin and know the consequences of such reckless actions, and because of such irresponsibility I can't heal you as is appropriate. As I stated earlier, this must be performed in small stages, as not to cause undue harm to the fetus."

Itachi's eyes widened at her words. "Fetus? As in baby?"

"What else would I be referring to, Itachi," she retorted. "Yes, a baby." She rolled her honey colored eyes and sighed. "You assist in making a baby and your brains go to hell."

A pleasant surprise. His family would be thrilled. A new addition to the Uchiha house. Then again, what about Sakura? How would her healing proceed? How would this affect their unborn child? Would the increments used be timely and safe enough for them both?

Obsidian eyes observed his friend and lover. Honestly, he couldn't be happier with the outcome. Knowing that a tiny Uchiha was coming into the world sent pleasure throughout him, happiness reigned supreme. It never occurred to him that he would actually have the opportunity to become a father. It was a generalized assumption that he would die before marrying or beginning a family. How would Sakura's friends handle this implication? What about Sasuke? How would he react to the dual news? He and Sakura. He and Sakura having a baby. He actually felt somewhat impatient to bear witness to his brother's reaction. It would be rather amusing.

"Sakura?" His deep voice broke her intense expression, her eyes rising from her stomach to meet his penetrating, questioning gaze.

"Where do we go from here, Itachi?"

Her voice shook slightly with emotion, a touch of fear, he surmised. Who wouldn't be? This required a deeper commitment; the couple tied to one another for the rest of their lives. But would she consider stepping into this lifelong role? Itachi knew without hesitation that he would. He'd do anything for her; now, he'd do anything for a tiny being he'd yet to meet.

Sakura studied her lover carefully. Deep in thought, he smiled slightly, an uncharacteristically gentle expression on his handsome face. Nervously, she ran her hands over her arms lightly. "There's so much to say," she choked out. "So much to do," she whispered, the weight of her teacher's words took hold.

It appeared as if they were on the same wavelength. Their concerns, their lives joined irrevocably first through their nights together, and now...through this tiny being slowly maturing within Sakura.

The handsome ANBU captain approached Sakura's bedside, sitting on the edge carefully as not to jar her wound. He cautiously gaged her mood, her face, as if to predict her words, her thoughts. "Sakura," he began, his tone low, barely above a whisper, "how do you feel about marriage?"

Tsunade's eyes bulged.

Shizune gasped.

Sakura's jaw dropped, her eyes widened, wondering the goal of his end-game. She had her suspicions, but she didn't want to think badly of him. Itachi had been her saving grace numerous times over. He'd done something that Sasuke was completely incapable of doing...saving her, loving her.

Sure, she and Itachi had shared a few nights together, and now there was an innocent little one depending on each and every decision they made. The thought frightened her greatly. It was difficult to perceive that such a small life could affect their lives so monumentally.

"Sakura?"

"Yes, Itachi?"

An expectant expression on his face, he prodded her. "What are your thoughts? Marriage? Anything at all. Your silence concerns me."

Tsunade and Shizune watched the entire scene in surprise, yet not. Itachi often did as he pleased, consequences be damned. The Hokage somehow knew the moment that the ANBU captain had taken up with her apprentice that things would happen. She only wondered why it'd taken them so long. Now, they'd jumped straight from the proverbial frying pain into the fire. As for Itachi's question...she could just imagine hearing all the broken-hearted shinobi and civilians alike around their village.

Shizune leaned towards her former teacher. "Do not even consider jumping in the betting pool for this," she ordered quietly. "They are just discovering the beginning of their lives, and we don't need my husband and all his crazy-ass friends interfering. We just have to make sure the proposal is clear and accepted and we can leave."

Tsunade nodded grudgingly. Leave it to her assistant to ruin her fun.

It wasn't wholly unexpected, but the two of them hadn't been completely certain he'd propose marriage. Quite a number of shinobi never married, afraid to leave behind a spouse; a number of them refused to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, any emotional attachment to avoid the same entanglement, unwilling to inflict, or suffer, that type of hurt. The only ones that did indulge in relationships were the shinobi who only dated other shinobi. They knew the job requirements. No explanations needed.

Sakura blinked rapidly, her heart beating a rapid, staccato rhythm. The moment he touched her hand, his caress soft and gentle, she knew she'd give him whatever he asked; not because it was the right path to follow, but because she loved him. Discovering that he'd loved her secretly from afar had shaken the foundation of her feelings for Sasuke. Even though she was incredibly hurt by his vengeful actions, she'd felt the ties of a childish love loosen, and a new love had slowly inched its way into her heart.

She'd never realized until now just how well the stoic man truly knew her. He'd known her since they were children, and he'd always been there to catch each stumble, each fall. Only he, Kakashi and Naruto had truly understood the depth of her despair with Sasuke's betrayal and abandonment. They alone helped her through it all, and only Itachi had stepped into the role of an ever-present confidant, protector and best friend.

In retrospect, the first night they'd spent together began to open her eyes. She'd been shocked, yes, to discover one of the most elite shinobi in the entire village loved her, no strings attached. Sakura finally felt it was time to show him, prove to him, that he was her future and Sasuke...her past.

Pondering his words, she nibbled gently on her lower lip- a habit that manifested in childhood. Quickly measuring her pro's and con's, she finally arrived at the conclusion that suited them best.

Tugging slightly on his hand, she pulled him closer, one hand reaching up to lightly touch his cheek. Eye to eye, she smiled sweetly.

"My thoughts on marriage, hmm...is that your strange way of proposing?"

"Maybe it is. I'm just asking what are your feelings toward the institution, itself."

Her small frame shook with laughter, a giggle spilled from her lips. "Wow. You Uchiha's really know how to skewer a good moment, don't you?"

"That's not an answer, Sakura."

Eyes afire with a teasing glint, she replied nonchalantly, "Well, maybe you should've asked the right question, Itachi."

Tsunade nodded at her patient. 'Way to give him hell', she thought. 'He sure deserves it!' She observed the two in silent glee. Watching the entire situation unfold flipped her from angry to amused in no time flat. The Uchiha heir's expressionless visage coupled with the questions and statements made certainly were providing adequate entertainment.

Itachi wasn't a man given to flowery, lengthy, speeches. Nor was he keen to resorting to prose that leaned heavily on false notions or misrepresented promises. However, for once, he'd attempt to meet Sakura in the middle, if only to assuage her pride without deserting his.

Lifting a small, pale hand to his lips and kissing it gently, he stroked the back of her tiny hand. "Sakura, would you be willing to join with me as my partner, and aid me in adding to the Uchiha clan?" His eyes twinkled, his smirk grew, as he lightly caressed her flat abdomen.

Sakura rolled her eyes and whispered, "Kami, help me." She reached out to smack his head. "What kind of proposal is that? I'm not asking for anything ornate or something you aren't prepared to give. I'm asking for sincerity. Is that too much to ask?"

He glanced at the other two women in the room who now seemed to be silently gloating at his embarrassment, his pain.

"Maybe you're wishing you'd kept it in your pants now, aren't you, Itachi?"

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune shouldn't say she was shocked, but the woman always said the most inappropriate things, and she did it just for her assistant. The greater the shock value, the better.

Tsunade laughed until her subordinate flashed her a harsh glance, Itachi gazed at her with irritation, and Sakura, well, she was immune to it after all the time spent with the older woman.

"Allow me to try again?"

She smiled and nodded, giving her assent.

"Sakura, would you be willing to join your hand with mine in marriage? I promise you'll be loved, supported, and will never want for anything. There are many promises I could make, but I only want to make the ones that I can and will keep. They're promises I've never made to anyone before, just you."

As he spoke, his words touched her deeply. Tears welled in her eyes, her body overwhelmed with emotion. All brimming forth from the unusually sweet manner in which he spoke. She was certain that whatever was to come, he'd be by her side, if she allowed him. She'd never have to worry about abandonment, bids for greater power or never being good enough, pretty enough, talented enough for him.

She observed his tense posture. He was always like this when swamped with uncertainty, when in uncharted or unfamiliar territory. This was one of his infamous defense mechanisms.

Withdrawing her hands from his and placing them on his face, absorbing every detail on his face. She exhaled softly. "Itachi, I know you could promise many things- even ones you didn't mean, but I know you wouldn't, especially if you didn't mean them. That's not who you are. If I've learned anything about you in the time we've been together it's that you are true to yourself, and you always speak your mind."

"Sak-" A small index finger had placed itself over his lips, halting further word formation. An eyebrow quirked. Questioning.

"Sh. I'm not done talking yet."

Itachi kissed her gently, sweetly before whispering against her lips, "You are for now."

His lips pressed against hers once more and Sakura found herself carried away, unspoken words forgotten.

A/N: That's it for this chapter. I will try not to take a couple of years or so to update next time. Feel free to drop me a line and prod me. This is the weekend for trying to get caught up on a bunch of my older stories that haven't been updated in way too long. Have a great weekend all! :) Oh, and Happy New Years!