Never Let You Go [Zabuza Momochi]

Final Chapter

Lacey stood in front of an old, small cabin. It looked dirty, but seemed to be in good enough condition for someone to live in. "Live your life," was what Kakashi said before leaving her in the forest. She wondered why he had not gone through with the plan to bring her back to the Leaf, and instead let her go. In the week that followed the young woman began to mentally prepare herself for being brought before the courts of Konoha. Not that it mattered anymore.

Sighing heavily, the dancer walked up the steps and into the new living quarters. It was mostly bare, only a rug and chair in what could be seen as a living room, and a small table with three chairs in the adjoining room. Whoever had last lived here must've forgotten them. The place needed work that much was clear as Lacey walked towards the kitchen. Her hands gripped at the edge, glancing up and down the counter until something wet dripped into the sink. The tears had come back. "I can't," she sobbed. Her eyes squeezed shut. "I–" Lacey hiccupped, trying to gain a proper breath.

The floor creaked from behind, but the young woman was too distraught to notice. Suddenly, something pressed up against the dancer from behind. A pair of arms wrapped around her waist before a hot breath of air brushed by her ear. "Lacey," a deep voice whispered before kissing the shell.

Her body stiffened, eyes going wide, quickly glancing over a shoulder. "Z-Zabuza?" Lacey stuttered. His eyes looked pained, but relieved at the same time. "No... No, this isn't real... This isn't fair–!"

The rogue turned the dancer around, hugged her tightly to his chest. "This is real. I promise you."

Her fist came up to punch the young man harshly in the chest. "Why did you do that?" Another punch. "How are you alive?" A slap. "I thought you were dead!" A punch. "Why?! Why did you make me think you were dead?"

He caught her hand, trapping the other between their bodies before her assault could continue. She struggled in his grasp, trying to get another hit on him. But she was weak from her overwhelmed emotions, unable to get free.

"I was just as confused as you are now," he answered. Zabuza pressed their foreheads together. "I woke up here, dazed, confused, weak. Then all of a sudden, I find Kakashi to be the one who dragged me to this place and made sure all of my wounds and injuries were healed."

"K-Kakashi? The Jounin?"

"The very one. It took me a long time to recover yet he refused to give me any information on you. Only that you were the one to save my life with a Chakra Transfer." His eyes grew hard. "How many times have I told you to not act so foolishly?"

"I had to," her voice cracked. "Haku..." She took a shaky breath. "You said my name for the first time," the young woman answered honestly. "And we..." Her cheeks flushed, causing him to chuckle. "How could I let you go after that? I've been waiting years to hear you to say my name."

The young man sighed. "That was still stupid on your part. I thought I was hallucinating when I saw you standing here. That jutsu should have killed you. Where have you been?"

"The hospital. Kakashi took care of me too... he pulled me away before the jutsu killed me... and he brought me here..."

"I'm glad he did," he answered. One of his hands moved to the back of her head, tangling into the hair and pulling their lips together.

She kissed back just as fiercely, gripping at the front of his shirt to be closer. He breathed huskily against her neck, biting at it. "W-Wait," Lacey managed to stammer out as his hands began to remove her shirt.

Zabuza backed off, looking at her questioningly. "Are you still hurt?"

She had almost forgotten and gotten ahead of herself. The dancer's expression was one of relief, a smile coming to her lips. Grasping his hand lightly, the young woman placed it over her lower stomach, looking him in the eyes. "I'm pregnant."

The rogue was in shock by this statement, looking down at their overlaid hands and then back up. "Your...?"

She nodded, biting her lower lip in mild excitement, now knowing that the father was in fact alive. "Yes. Zabuza, I will be having your child." The doctor expressed his shock that the baby managed to survive the assault. Managed to survive the Chakra Transfer. But they were a fighter. Just like their soon to be father and mother.

He kissed her, passionately, unable to find the right words. "Lacey..." he breathed. "I... I..."

She pulled him into another kiss. "I know," she whispered.

"I love you."

And like that night, those three words made her heart flutter.

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Lacey hummed lowly to herself, pulling weeds from the garden and checking on the growing vegetables. There was a light breeze in the air coming off the coast just being able to hear the crashing of the waves hit the cliff side. Overall it was calming, peaceful. Something she had grown to love over the years since finding this home in River Country. The door to the porch opened quickly, the young woman looking up from her work and watching as the small child waddled her way. She gave a heartwarming smile before something else drew his attention across the open field. He took off quickly through the tall grass. "Daddy!"

Standing at full height Lacey raised a hand to block the sun's rays, watching as a figure approached. She wiped the dirt from her palms as the man bent down and scooped the boy off the ground. He laughed, continuing his walk towards the home with the child in his arms. "Did you have a good day with your mother?" his gruff voice asked.

"We took a walk to the ocean!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms wide.

The man chuckled. "Did you now?" Lacey grinned when they met up arms wrapping around his torso.

"Hello, Zabuza," she breathed. The ex-rogue stole a kiss, free arm slipping around her waist. It was nice to no longer seeing the wrappings hiding most of his face. It made kissing him a whole lot easier. "Catch much?"

"There was a big haul of fish along the river. Enough to easily supply the market and allow us to take some." Her eyes landed on the sack just behind them at their feet.

"Take the fish inside, sweetie," Lacey instructed the child. "We'll make your favorite tonight."

He cheered in excitement, wiggling out of the man's grip and taking the item. "And Haku!" Zabuza shouted, stopping the boy's run. "After dinner I have something else for you."

Eyes lighting with excitement he disappeared inside. "You spoil him," Lacey stated.

He cocked a brow, glancing down at the young woman. "And you don't?"

"I'm his mother. It's my job."

Eyes rolling, the ex-rogue kissed her forehead and tugged his wife along. They had left their life in the Mist and Wave Country behind them. Returning to Yupa had been an option, but knew they could not return to the life of rogues again or be tempted to. Not after Kakashi put so much effort into keeping them a secret. Faking Zabuza's death. Neither were willing to give that up, especially with a child on the way.

Haku. They named the baby after the teen that had been the one to hold the three of them together. Without Haku, Lacey would've never improved in her fighting skills. Without Haku, Zabuza wouldn't have agreed to bring along the dancer or kept her around as long as he had. He would have failed to see her potential. Or realized that in fact he did care for the young woman. It had been difficult not having the teen around. Even if the ex-rogue wouldn't admit it he missed Haku as well. It was hard coming to terms that the teen had thrown his life away for him to survive. Why he saw that as the only option, Zabuza would never know, but was grateful. They felt the name was fitting when Lacey gave birth to a baby boy.

With ease Zabuza lifted the young woman off the ground, causing Lacey to yelp in surprise. He smirked at the reaction giving a short chuckle as she weakly slapped his chest. Watching the boy move about the kitchen when he turned to smile at his parents, they could easily see their former teammate's image reflected in the child. This wasn't how either of them had pictured their lives to turn out. And both could only find themselves thanking one person in particular.

Haku.