Ohayo people! I was watching the last episode of Naruto Shippuden when I realized how little we have on SasuSaku's blank period. So… I just had to get it out of my system.
It's what I think happened. It's not much but may be it can fill in the blanks.

BTW, I suggest you guys read Sasuke Shinden and Sakura hidden before this. And also may be Naruto Gaiden. That way you'll know better about what's happening here.

SO…

Enjoy!

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Summary: He was not about the cute cuddles, public display of affections or any of those normal couple things. She knew. She didn't want those either. She just wanted to be by his side because theirs was no ordinary love. *My version as to how Sasuke and Sakura got together.* The blank period. Picks up when Sasuke comes home in Sasuke Shinden and Sakura Hidden.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Kishimoto-san does.


Chapter 1

"Okaeri, Sasuke-kun!"

"Tadaima, Sakura."

That was it. That was all she had wanted- for him to come home. No cute lovey dovey things the other couples did. Nope. All she wanted was that he was home-where he belonged.

So when she saw him standing at the bench she smiled and her vision blurred. It was the same bench where he had left her back in their genin days. She blinked in frustration. She didn't want to miss even a second of seeing him. She took in his form. Rugged and dirty. His hair had grown, it hid half of his face and his rinnegan.

Not being able to hold herself back she went ahead and hugged him. His form stiffened at the contact and then relaxed. He smelled of ash, earth and hard work. Of course, he had redeemed himself-all these years of his travel he was working hard to repay for his sins.

A loud snicker rose her from her thoughts and she smiled. Detaching herself from him she turned to look at Naruto and Kakashi.

"Hokage-sama, you shouldn't be here." She spoke through her sniffs. He just scratched his head and chuckled. Naruto grinned and walked ahead to put his arms around the two. Sakura smiled and closed her eyes in content. Sasuke smiled too, under his bangs and wondered. 'I am home.'

Kakashi closed his eyes and smiled. His children were together at last. At last team seven had reunited under peace and not in battle.


Sakura made sure everything was perfect. She arranged and rearranged her chairs. Everything had to be perfect. He was coming to her house. He had no place to go after all. Of course, she had guessed Naruto was the first choice but then he was not alone now. Hinata was his wife and they had their own life. So Sakura offered him her place to stay. She smiled as she waited by the door. He was always welcome here. In her home. In her heart.


He walked in slow uncertain steps. He had accepted Konoha as his home. God knows he had missed this place. And now that he was here all his doubts had faded away. All but one. Haruno Sakura.

He inhaled and exhaled slowly as he saw her building. It was a simple one-a lot like where Naruto stayed. With his wife. He would add in his mind. He had sent his congratulations to his wedding. Just a word. But that was all. There was something else too in that word. Another meaning. He denied it mostly but he still knew that it was also there. This hidden meaning. He had hoped she would get it.

That congratulations was not just for Naruto but her too. After all it had been her birthday too around those days. But he never said anything else. He didn't know what to right either. So he wrote one word which would suffice for them both. Maybe. His teammates. Comrades. Friends. Brother and...

He stopped. What was she to him? A teammate, friend? Someone who he could spend his life with? He wasn't sure yet. Did she really need him? A person such as him could never give her enough. And he knew she deserved everything. All the stars and the moons as one would say. After all she was Sakura. Haruno Sakura.

He pondered over the thought of Uchiha Sakura and smiled. She would throw a fit if she heard his thoughts. Probably faint. He sighed in amusement.

Shaking his head he climbed up the stairs.


Her face lit up as she saw him and smiled. It was dazzling, he thought. He let her lead him inside. She turned and looked at him. "Sasuke-kun, you can take the bed. I'll sleep here." She patted on the couch. His lips dropped down. "Sakura, I-" he was startled at her giggles. Sakura waved her hand. "Sasuke-kun. I'll be fine." And she turned to the kitchen, leaving him wondering how much she had grown.


"Tadaima!" He shouted loudly.

"Okaeri, Naruto-kun!" Her sweet voice rang through the house as she peeped from behind the counter. He grinned as he placed his sandals in the shoe rack. How long had he wanted this? For someone to welcome him home. Forever. And now here she was, his wife.

Hinata smiled as she saw him grin. He hugged her from behind and sniffed. "This smells good, Hinata." She giggled and nodded. "Wash up. I'll plate it up." As he walked away, he heard her hum a tune. It was a nursery rhyme. He wondered at the choice of her song and shook his head.

"Itadakimas!" He shouted while clapping his hands together. Hinata giggled and shook her head. They ate in silence, while Hinata kept shooting uncertain glances at him. Finally she spoke up. Her hands fiddling with each other. "Um, Naruto-kun!" He looked up, noodles dangling from his mouth, making her laugh. He raised his eyebrows and slurped. "What is it?"

Hinata sighed and clutched her skirt. "Um, I was wondering that..." Naruto bent towards her as her voice trailed off. It was something about house or big. He couldn't make out. So he spoke. "Ne, Hinata I couldn't make out anything!"

She looked at him and blushed. Inhaling loudly and puffing her cheeks she spoke. "I was thinking may be we should get a bigger house."

Naruto dropped his chopsticks and gaped. "Nani?" He shook his head at her. "Nande?"

Hinata blushed and looked away, placing a gentle hand on her stomach. Naruto blinked as his vision trailed to her stomach. And as he realised what she was talking about his scream echoed throughout the neighbourhood. "Eeeeehhhh?!"


He looked dazed as she let him in. Her face dropped in concern as his feet clashed with the floor board. Clutching his feet he hopped around. "Ete te te te...!" Sakura sighed and shook her head. "You're gonna be a Hokage soon, Naruto. Show some..." She lost track as she saw Sasuke come. "Naruto?" Naruto looked at him and straightened up-a bit too fast. Sakura caught him before he could fall.

"Ne, Naruto are you okay?" Sakura asked with concern. "What's wrong?" She added as his face resumed its dazed look. "Ahhh. Sakura-Chan, do you know anything about babies?"

Sasuke raised his eyebrows at this and looked at Sakura. Her expression turned from that of surprised to that of a knowing smile. "So, she told you, huh?"

Naruto looked at her in disbelief and pointed a finger. "Eeeeeh! You knew?!" He shouted with a look of horror. Sakura hit him on his head and fumed. "Uresai baka! You'll wake up the neighbours!"

Sasuke looked at him in shock. The idiot was going to be a dad. He tried imagining the blonde with a baby. He failed. And as he saw his teammates fuzz about he wondered what his future held for him.


"Are you sure about it?" Sakura asked in concern. Naruto nodded. "Yep! I'm gonna buy that house, dattebayo!"

Sakura sighed "But it's gonna cost you a lot!"

"Yeah. But..." He trailed off with a blush. Sakura smiled and patted his hand. "Then it's fine I guess,ne." Naruto nodded.

Sasuke silently observed the two. Surely he and Naruto possessed a brotherly bond, but he had never expected to see Sakura and Naruto like this. The understanding. The bond. They were each other's confidante. He had heard her call him her best friend. Friend. He looked at her and wondered about what could have been if he had not left.

Sakura peeped at Sasuke and smiled. "Ne, Sasuke-kun. If you want you can sleep. We won't mind!"

Her smile was genuine and although she had loads to ask she chose to let him leave. So when he nodded and got up she assumed that it was what he had wanted. And what she did not know was that Sasuke was feeling out of place. He doubted whether he was supposed to be here.

"Umm... Naruto." Sakura asked in an uncertain tone. "Hinata is alone, isn't she?"

Naruto gasped and stood up, making Sakura jump. "Ahh! What's wrong with me? My wife is alone! Kuso!"

He ran towards door, jumping as he wore the sandals and shouted. "Choto matte kudosai, Hinata. I'm coming!" And as he jumped from roof to roof. Sakura could only shout after him. "Baka! You'll wake everyone!"

She blushed as she heard an elderly shout back. "So will you!"


"Baka, baka. Baka. Baka. Baka! Ugh!" She fumed as she paced near her couch. At last she plopped down on the couch and groaned when she saw him. "Sasuke-kun?" He looked at her in acknowledgement. "Why're you up?" He blinked and shook his head. "I was thirsty." She blinked and nodded. When she came back she noticed his hand. The one which wasn't there. It was as if he was used to it. And as he gulped down the water she noticed his stare and blushed.

Sasuke smirked as he returned the glass to her. She was still fidgety around him.


Is it too rushed? One might wonder. But actually Sakura and Sasuke were already in a kind of relationship—long distance one…So… yeah…that's that… R&R!