Sakura's heart hadn't stopped racing since she'd found the Barbie doll on her doorstep. She was privately amazed that Asuma could sleep so soundly against her chest, with that incessant pounding in his delicate little ear. As a medical student, she knew the rough improbability of a fit, active 21-year-old woman to succumb to a heart attack, but she figured that with the events of the past few months, she might prove an exception to the rule.

He knew.

The bastard knew where she was living…the new apartment she'd gotten for herself and the baby. He knew where to find her, and Asuma as well. He even knew about the tattoo on her torso.

Who knows when he picked up following me? she thought in despair. He probably never even stopped.

She had cared deeply for Shi once upon a time. She'd trusted him. Their relationship had gone downhill, culminating in an awful fight where he had actually put his hands on her, but even then, she wouldn't have thought him capable of all this.

She clutched Asuma even tighter against her and fought back tears.

Sasuke was in the kitchen, talking very low and fast into his cell phone, presumably to the other policemen down at the precinct where he worked. Having him here made her feel moderately better, but she doubted she would feel any real, true peace at all until Shi Fukuda was locked up in jail once and for all, where he belonged.

She gave up trying to hear what he was saying, and resumed her post at the window, peering out from behind the curtains. Was he out there, watching her even now?

The fear was suffocating. Fear for herself, and above all, fear for Asuma. She had to protect him, she had to keep him safe, and everything she had done to do that was clearly all for nothing.

"Hey."

She gave a start and whirled around to find Sasuke stepping out of the kitchen into the living room, looking uncharacteristically angry.

"That was the precinct," he said. "There's an arrest warrant out for him now. In the meantime, you'll come stay with me."

"With you?"

"It's not safe here." Sasuke placed a gentle hand on sleeping Asuma's head. "Till we find that piece of shit, you guys can't stay here. You'll be safe with me, at my place."

"Sasuke I can't ask you to do that. You've been more than helpful, really, but…"

"But nothing. C'mon. Pack some things, I'll wait." He even held his arms out for Asuma.

"No. That's ridiculous. We've…we've only been…seeing each other, or whatever…no. I have plenty of friends, don't worry. I'm not gonna put you out, and…"

Sasuke scoffed, finally losing his temper.

"It's not a goddamn hassle," he snapped. "I want to do this. Why are you being so difficult?"

"He's after me!" Sakura yelled at last. "Don't you get it? He's coming after me and I don't know when or where it'll happen, and now he knows where I live…I moved here so he wouldn't be able to find me but he already knows! And my baby…if he knows about my fucking tattoo then he's sure as hell got to know about Asuma and…and you didn't ask for any of this! You didn't ask for this…dumpster fire…seriously Sasuke, what's WRONG with you?!"

"With me…?"

"YEAH! With YOU!

The anger on his face disappeared for a moment, replaced by confusion and alarm, his arms dropping back to his sides. Sakura was aware that she probably looked demented at the moment. She couldn't think straight and she was so angry and scared that it was hard to even see. Asuma slept on, oblivious to his godmother's trembling.

"Why are you trying to help me?" she finally asked weakly, afraid that if she continued to raise her voice, she would rouse her baby. Tears sprang to her eyes again and she hated that she cried so frequently in front of Sasuke, but as he made it a point to always be around, she figured much of the blame was on him.

He didn't answer right away, watching her warily, but when it became apparent that she had no intention of speaking further until he responded, he let out a heavy sigh and folded his arms, leaning against the sofa.

"I already told you," murmured Sasuke. "I'm interested in you."

"You barely know me," she almost moaned. "You and me…this…it's too much for you, Sasuke. I know it is. You don't know what you're getting into."

"I know what I want," he said boldly, with such force that she immediately shut up. He met her gaze, and his tone was firm, but not harsh. He spoke with confidence, like he'd given this some thought already.

"I didn't expect to meet someone like you in circumstances like these, I'll admit it. It's not convenient, at all, but I made my decision. I'm gonna help you, Sakura. And I'm gonna help your kid. I'm gonna find your ex and throw him in prison, but not before I beat the ever living shit out of him for scaring you like this. For hurting you like he has. Understand?"

Sakura could only nod, finding herself oddly breathless. The fear that clenched her heart was still present, but there was something beautifully reassuring about Sasuke's words. He looked irritated as he again thrust his hands out in invitation.

"I'll watch him while you pack some things. We can talk more at my place. All right?"

"O-Okay."

By no means was this conversation over, but Sakura had to admit she did feel a little better. There was someone here who wanted to help her, someone who could help shoulder the immense burden she found herself under. She dropped a distracted kiss to Asuma's thick black hair and passed him over; Sasuke accepted the baby with strong, practiced arms, looking perfectly at ease. The sight of them together made fresh tears rise to her eyes for an entirely new reason, and she quickly turned away before he could see how she was reacting.

"I'll just be a few minutes," she murmured shakily, before hurrying into her bedroom and shutting the door behind her.

Her heart continued to race as she threw some clothes and shoes into her suitcase, barely paying attention to what she was grabbing. Seeing Sasuke holding her little black-haired baby, so comfortable and natural-looking, had brought to mind images she had not once let herself entertain in the several weeks that she and Sasuke had been hanging out.

She had to be careful here, or she would find herself growing increasingly reliant on Sasuke Uchiha. And as wonderful as he had been to her and to Asuma thus far, she had to keep in mind that he might not really understand what he was getting himself into.

He's interested in me, she thought, shoving an armful of panties and bras into her suitcase and blushing at the very thought. But this…me and Asuma…

If she wasn't cautious, she knew she could get very, very used to the idea of a small, young family, a partner for her, and a father figure for her baby. And if Sasuke got cold feet…

She shivered and banished the thought. One crisis at a time!

Sasuke's apartment was a little larger than hers, and surprisingly neat for a 22-year-old single man who lived alone and had a demanding career. There was a comfortable-looking sofa with a chaise lounge tucked snugly in the corner, and the carpeting was plush and well-maintained. A large TV was mounted on the wall with an array of video game systems that would have made Naruto weak with jealousy. There was a kitchen and a dining area just off the living room, and down the hallway, two bathrooms and two bedrooms that Sakura had not yet seen.

"I like your place," she said with a shy smile; Asuma, wide awake and interested in the new surroundings, made nonsense sounds and pulled her hair. "I think Asuma does, too."

Sasuke smirked as he stepped in after them, carrying Sakura's suitcase and Asuma's baby bag.

"You can thank my mom, she decorated the place. The only thing I contributed is the PS4."

She giggled, and Sasuke noted how uncomfortable she looked. He set down her things and gestured to the sofa; she obediently took a seat, setting Asuma on the floor in front of her.

"I'll set up his crib in the spare bedroom," he said, letting his knuckles drag lightly across her cheek. Something in his stomach warmed when she reflexively leaned her face closer to his hand, her eyes full of trust.

"Let me know if you need help," she said quietly.

"I'm fine, you just relax, all right?"

"Okay."

It was quiet in his apartment as he worked, the only sounds coming from the living room were Asuma's babbles and squeals, and Sakura's gentle words as she spoke to him. He decided he liked the white noise, decided he could get very used to it, and the gravity of that revelation was not lost on him.

He had the crib assembled in no time, right next to the guest bed, which no one had slept in since the last time he'd babysat his nephew for a weekend – over four months ago now. The sheets smelled a little musty, but they were clean and he knew Sakura would prefer a separate bed from him, at least at this juncture of their relationship.

Could it be called that? He liked to think so. The circumstances were far from ideal, but Sasuke knew what he wanted.

Part of him had known it the moment he spoke with Sakura on the courthouse steps the day of her custody hearing.

The guest bathroom was rarely used, and aside from the masculine-scented shampoo and soap, he figured that Sakura wouldn't mind as long as it was private. The kitchen wasn't very well-stocked, but they could make a quick trip to the grocery store in the morning for all the necessities. To his knowledge, Sakura had already packed formula for the baby and he doubted she would object to getting some takeout delivered tonight, and…

"Oh, you've finished already?"

Sasuke turned, his thoughts interrupted, and found Sakura in the doorway of the guest bedroom, a sleeping Asuma in her arms.

"Not a minute too soon, apparently," he said, grinning, as Sakura set the baby down gently in the crib. He didn't stir.

"Thank you," she whispered, and she looked up at him with such sincerity that he almost felt his knees buckle beneath him.

"It's nothing. C'mon, you hungry?"

"Starving, actually."

He placed his hand gently at the small of her back and guided her back out of the bedroom, into the living room. She sat down at the dining room table at his invitation and he grabbed the Chinese takeout menu he kept on the fridge, setting it on the table in front of her.

"I've got almost no groceries," he admitted. "I can get stuff tomorrow. In the meantime, pick whatever you want."

She looked tired, and stressed. Purple bags were becoming more and more pronounced under her eyes, and her skin was paler than usual. Her hair was coming loose from its messy ponytail, her bangs falling haphazard on her forehead. Her nails had been bitten almost to the skin, the polish chipped and uneven.

She was gorgeous.

"Just whatever you're having," she said with a weak smile, closing the menu without having really perused it. "Thanks, Sasuke. I'll…um…I'll get the groceries tomorrow."

"You don't have to…"

"Pretty sure it's the least I can do," she cut across before he could reject the very notion. "I want to pay you for this, also."

"Not a chance," he countered, finalizing the order details on his phone and pressing 'Send.'

"I'm serious! I have money. I make good money at my job and I don't know how long we'll have to be here. I want to make sure you're compensated."

"Fine. Your rent is buying me a coffee every morning you're here. You're a huge pain in my ass, you understand?"

"I know," she said, smiling, but it was miserable.

Sasuke sighed and reached across the table, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Look, I know you must think I'm crazy," he began.

"I do. I think you're fucking insane, actually. Not that I'm not grateful," she added hastily, "but…I mean…"

She trailed off, looking uncertain; her gaze dropped to her hands, now folded together, clenched so tightly that her knuckles bleached. He said nothing, studying her face, wondering what could possibly be going on in that massive brain of hers.

When she gathered her thoughts at last, she looked over at him with a wistful smile he hadn't expected.

"If you had met me a year ago," she said, "what would have happened?"

Sasuke was understandably caught off-guard. He had been expecting to be subjected to the third-degree, about his intentions, for her and for her baby. She wanted explanations, he knew, about why he was insinuating himself in their lives, why he was taking on so much responsibility, why he was moving them both into his apartment for an as-yet undetermined amount of time…

But Sakura never said what he expected her to.

"Seriously," she pressed. "Let's say you met me last year. Before Asuma, before anything happened with…with Ino and Shikamaru. Before graduation, before everything. How would it have gone, between us?"

Sasuke weighed his words carefully as he watched her, and then he smirked.

"I'd've asked you out the same minute I met you," he informed her lightly, and honestly.

Her eyes widened, and so did her smile. He was charmed by the blush that stole across her cheeks, restoring some much-needed color to the unnatural pallor.

"Oh really?" she teased.

"Aa. You would have said yes, obviously."

"Obviously?!"

"Obviously. I can be very persuasive."

Sakura was laughing now, and he let himself bask in the sound of it before she asked, "Where would you have taken me, if I had said yes?"

"I would've let you pick the first time, so you tell me."

Sakura paused, thinking, before she laughed again and shook her head.

"No way, it's embarrassing."

"Tell me," he demanded, enjoying this game. "Where would you have wanted me to take you on a first date?"

Giggling, she shot back, "Guess."

"Movies," he suggested immediately, but she shook her head. "Dinner?" Another no. "C'mon, I give up."

"I would've wanted you to take me to a club," she admitted.

Sasuke was surprised, but not greatly; that was hardly something out of the realm of possibility.

"Just doesn't seem like your scene," she explained. "I love to dance, and I love to drink. I would have…"

She broke off, blushing. He watched her, imploring her silently to continue.

"I would have wanted to dance with you," she whispered, like she was confessing some illicit secret. "It was my favorite thing to do on the weekends. I used to go with Ino and the girls, sometimes we'd bring Naruto and Kiba and the others, but…"

She trailed off again, and the mirth that had lit her up throughout the conversation disappeared, replaced by that same, profound melancholy that had claimed her most of the evening.

"A year ago," Sakura said quietly, "I was still getting over everything that happened with Shi, but I had Ino to help me through it. If you'd asked me out then, I would have told her about it right away. And she…she would have…"

Sasuke thought she was going to burst into tears, and half-stood out of his chair to reach out and comfort her, but to his surprise, she was laughing again.

"She would've practically thrown me at you. She'd've been so happy and excited that I met someone like you."

Sasuke smiled; he couldn't help it.

"Sasuke, I need you to understand something."

Her tone was serious again, and he nodded, expectant. She reached across the table and grabbed his hands in her own; her grip was strong, even if her fingers were cold and a little clammy.

"Asuma and I," she said firmly, "are a package deal. Okay? I believe that…that you like me, and I like you. Very much so. So much that I'm…even trying to have this awkward conversation. So this is me giving you an out…before either one of us gets too far in."

"An out," he echoed. She squeezed his hands.

"You're young, Sasuke."

"You're younger."

"Yes, and I took this responsibility on, and it didn't even feel like a choice. It was something that had to happen, me adopting Asuma, there was no other option. No way I could say no. I don't have a choice here, but you do."

She bit her lip, looking anxious but determined, and whispered, "You can't have me without Asuma. Do you understand?"

Sasuke didn't let go of her hands or her gaze. He understood what she was saying; that if he had any reservations about getting involved with a woman who had a child, now was the time to cut and run. It made sense, he knew. Sakura had to put Asuma first, and she couldn't risk entering a relationship with a man who might not be ready for fatherhood.

He smirked.

"I told you already," he said softly, running his thumb across her knuckles, "that I made my decision."

"But think what you'd be giving up, Sasuke!" she moaned. "I can't…I don't want to take anything else away from you. You've already done so much for us, and…"

"I let you speak," he interjected coolly.

Sakura looked surprised, but stopped talking, waiting for him to finish.

"You're a pain in the ass," he reiterated. "You keep trying to throw me out of your life because you're afraid I'll hurt you. You're afraid I'll hurt your baby."

She didn't answer; he took her silence for confirmation.

"If I met you a year ago," he continued, "I would have asked you out, bought you flowers, taken you home and fucked you so hard you couldn't move." When she gasped and flushed scarlet at his unexpected remark, he allowed himself a full three seconds to enjoy it before adding, "As it is, we didn't meet under the best circumstances, but we still met. That still means something. I can't get you out of my head, Sakura. And I don't want to."

"…but Asuma…"

"Asuma's a part of you," he said firmly. "I want to be a part of you, too."

"…are you sure? Are you really sure? Because we can still be…you know, just friends. We don't have to go this route. I wouldn't hold it against you."

Sasuke opened his mouth to argue further, but the doorbell rang.

"Fuck, the delivery guy," he muttered. "Hang on, let me get it."

Terrible timing. He'd been so close to a breakthrough, so close to convincing Sakura that, as crazy as this whole situation was, he didn't have any reservations about moving forward with her. Irritated, he grabbed two twenties out of his wallet and stalked to the door, leaving her at the table with her hands folded.

"'Evening, sir," said the delivery guy, his face partially obscured by a mop of messy brown hair under a baseball cap. "That'll be $23.55 – dinner for you and the Mrs.?"

Distracted, Sasuke didn't answer, just paid the kid and shut the door in his face.

When he returned with a bag of food in his hands, he was surprised to find that she had grabbed utensils from a drawer in the kitchen and set the table for the both of them already. The scene was domestic, and he liked very much how she looked at his dining room table, waiting for him with a smile on her face.

They ate in companionable silence, and cleaned up the table when they were finished. Sasuke collected the trash and tossed it out in the kitchen trashcan, but before he could turn back to the dining room again, Sakura surprised him, appearing behind him and wrapping her thin arms around his waist.

"I haven't made anything easy for you," she whispered against his back. "I'm just…I really like you, Sasuke. I'm scared right now for me and for Asuma, and I'm worried about him every minute of every day, and…I don't know. You just seem way too good to be true, you know?"

He opened his mouth to promise her that that was the furthest thing from the truth, that he was a selfish, insecure asshole, but Sakura's grip around him tightened. There was strength in her deceptively fragile grasp.

"But I think what we have…what we could have…I think it's worth a shot."

Sasuke smiled, pleased that she was finally seeing sense, and turned in her arms so he was facing her fully. She gasped at the sudden change in position, at how close he was to her face, and he backed her up against the kitchen counter. He didn't miss the sudden darkening of her eyes, or the way her gaze dropped to his mouth and back again.

"You'll be safe here," he promised, kissing the corner of her mouth with a gentleness he never would have thought himself capable of. "I'll look out for you both. And we'll take this as slow as you want."

"Oh will we?" she replied coyly, wrapping her arms around his neck, forcing herself closer to him. "Whatever happened to wanting to fuck me so hard I can't move?"

Sasuke's jaw actually dropped a little at her comment. "That was a joke."

She laughed, and kissed him fully, and murmured against his lips, "No it wasn't."

"No it wasn't," he agreed, breathing a little heavier; the forbidden topic had been broached, and Sakura's position in his arms was designed to tempt. "But I can wait…I think we should."

He couldn't believe the words coming out his mouth, but he knew they were the right ones when Sakura nodded.

"I think we should, too."

Sasuke smirked and kissed her again before taking her hand. "C'mon, I'll show you your bathroom, and you can set your things up however you want. If you need me, I'll be in my room. You'll be safe here, Sakura. You both will."

"I know, Sasuke," she whispered; her smile was dazzling.

The delivery guy hopped into his car, not as pleased with his enormous tip as he probably should have been. He snapped a few photos of the apartment building with his phone, making sure to catalogue the street address; it was difficult to see inside the window from his position on the street, but he could vaguely make out the shapes of the man he'd just delivered to, and his female companion, tucking into dinner.

How sweet, he thought with a sneer, lifting a hand to his head and removing the hat and brown wig.

Unexpected development, thought Shi Fukuda, as he turned his key in the ignition, having obtained the information he came for. Loverboy moved you right in, didn't he, Sakura? So fucking head over heels for you that he doesn't even mind that you've got a kid. While I can vouch that that body of yours is worth a little extra effort…it looks like this guy's gonna be a problem.

He would have to do something about Sasuke Uchiha.