Stay With Me

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. )):

~O~O~O~O~O~O~

They weren't coming.

Sakura Uzumaki-Uchiha dropped her gaze to the rumpled napkin in her lap and swallowed against the lump in her throat. Tears were welling in her eye and she blinked rapidly to dispel the threat of it all bubbling over.

Beside her the waiter hovered, asking for the sixth time in the last hour and a half if he could get her something, anything. Not unless he could hand deliver her husbands, she thought bitterly.

She waved the waiter away and brushed at a lone tear, slowly sliding down her cheek. The look in her eyes hardened, but her trembling lips told a different story.

They had forgotten their anniversary. Again.

She glanced at her watch and winced. They were two hours late for their anniversary dinner. Not late, but absent. Just like every other date she had planned for the last several months.

Time and time again, they had promised that each time was the last time, that they'd make it up to her, and each time she had ended up alone, waiting for them.

She had forgiven those past mistakes, she understood because their business had just started to take off and they needed to work to keep it from falling flat. But tonight, tonight was special. Tonight was their six year anniversary and she had had a very special gift for them. Something they had all waited a long time for.

But here she was, alone with no one to share the news with. A sad smile flitted across her face. Even though she was in a relationship with two men, she had never felt more alone. She couldn't breathe through the ever growing knot of despair in her throat. Her heart ached with such sorrow over how bad their relationship had become. When had she lost hope? Looking back, she realized it had been a long time since she ever had such hope.

She motioned impatiently for the check. The only item on the receipt was a lone glass of champagne that she hadn't even drunk. She fumbled in her purse for a few notes and dropped them on the on table. She stalked to the door and smiled briefly at the doorman.

"Shall I call you a cab?" asked the doorman.

Sakura smiled sadly. "Yes, please."

He smiled sympathetically, before turning to street. She hated those looks and how they made her feel. So forgotten.

A moment later, the doorman helped her into the cab and shut the door softly behind her. In a shaky voice, she supplied her address and leaned back as the cab drove off.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Cursing wildly, Uzumaki Naruto threw his phone across the room, smirking in satisfaction when it smashed into little pieces, then wincing, realizing the stupidity of the action.

Uchiha Sasuke scoffed. "Smart one, idiot. I know you're frustrated, but was that the best way to solve things?"

They had been called earlier that day to solve something that had gone wrong in one of their business propositions. Yet here they were, after hours of conference calls and countless piles of paperwork, nothing had been solved.

"A better question is, what are we going to do about it?" Naruto growled. He turned to glare at the shimmering Konoha River and rubbed a hand through his messy blonde hair.

"I'll tell you what we're going to do. We are going to get on a plane and fix the goddamn problem."

Naruto nodded. "You taking Danzou or Orochimaru?"

Naruto sighed. Sakura was not going to like this. At all. But she'd understand, she always understood.

"I'll fly down to Otogakure. You go to Amegakure and pin down Danzou. Make him sign those papers. Once he sees the proposal, there's no way he can say no. I'll do the same with Orochimaru. We've got too much money riding on this to just let it slip away."

Sasuke punched the buzzer for his personal assistant, tapping the table impatiently. He absently made a mental note to increase her pay, from the hours she worked, she certainly deserved it.

"Yes sir?" she said, primly.

"Ah, can you call the pilot and have him ready the plane for us? I'll be flying to Otogakure tonight. Can you also book the first flight to Amegakure for Naruto?"

She looked surprised. "Have you forgotten?"

"Forgotten what?"He snarled. He was anxious to go, running about the office collecting bits and pieces for the trip.

Her lips drew into a disapproving line, and her eyes narrowed. "You and Uzumaki-san are supposed to be flying out to the Caribbean for your anniversary with Sakura-san tonight."

Sasuke's chest tightened and an expression of dread settled on his face. He locked eyes with Naruto, trying figure out what the hell they were supposed to do.

"Postpone the trip. Something came up."

"Doesn't it always," Karin muttered.

Sasuke stared, he'd have to rethink that pay rise now. He wasn't sure he heard right, but decided to ignore it. He had more pressing matters at hand.

"Get the flights arranged and report back once it is all organized."

Karin turned on her heel and stalked out of the office.

"Sakura-chan's going to be so disappointed," Naruto murmured softly.

Sasuke winced. "It can't be helped; our future is riding on this deal. She'll understand, she always does. We can always reschedule."

"I'll call her," Naruto said reaching for the office phone.

"We'll call from the car. We need to leave now."

They needed to leave now. If Sasuke was honest, he would admit he didn't want to face Sakura, even over the phone. If he talked to her now he'd say screw the deal and whisk her away to the Caribbean. But they needed this secure a better future for her and their children. She'd understand, wouldn't she?

"Call the driver and tell him to meet us out front. We can ride together to the airport."

Naruto nodded and picked up the phone, Sasuke turned around to see Karin walking back in.

"Your plane is being fueled as we speak. It will be fueled and ready to leave as soon as you get there. Uzumaki-san's flight leaves at ten. You'll need to leave now to catch the flights at the same time."

Sasuke nodded and stood up. Karin turned to go, but he called her back.

"Is there something else you need Uchiha-san?"

He cleared his throat. "Please call Sakura and see if she needs anything."

Irritation flashed in her eyes, but she bowed her head. "Of course, Uchiha-san."

~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Sakura let herself into the sprawling penthouse and stumbled over to the couch. She collapsed heavily down onto the couch and swept her gaze across the room. The blinking of the answering machine caught her eye. Her breathing sped up and she cursed herself for being so willing to forgive them if they left a message. She resisted the urge to check the messages; they could have called her cell, instead of being cowards and leaving a message for when she got home. She turned an absent stare out to the glittering night sky. She was scared out of her mind when the phone started to ring. She nibbled nervously on her bottom lip, arms crossed protectively across her chest.

After five rings, the answering machine picked up and her voice broke the silence of the penthouse. She held her breath as Naruto spoke.

"Sakura? Baby pick up the phone, you've let your phone die again and we've been trying to reach you."

That set her running for the phone. She snatched up the phone and panted a breathless hello.

"Naruto?"

"Sakura. Finally."

"Naruto, where are you?"

"I'm in the car." She breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed, they were on their way home. She was relieved they hadn't forgotten. Until his next few words.

"We're on the way to the airport. Something came up."

A long, pregnant silence descended. She tensed up and she held her breath. Oh no, not again. They wouldn't.

"I'm sorry baby, but we're going to have to postpone the trip. Sasuke and I have to fly out tonight. Can you reschedule it? We'll go as soon as we get back. We promise. And money is not an issue, spend as much as you like on it."

Numb all over, she gripped the phone tightly. She choked back a sob and crumpled to the floor.

"Sakura, you still there baby?"

"Y-yes, I'm still here."

She heard him sigh in relief. "I love you, baby. And I'm so sorry, I promise to make it up to you. Hold on, Sasuke wants to talk to you."

Sakura brought a trembling hand to her lips and Sasuke's deep voice floated over the phone.

"Sakura?"

"I'm here."

"I'm sorry, honey. This deal has us by the balls."

She didn't know what to say so she just kept quiet. She didn't want to hear false promises. He murmured and I love you and said they had to go. She murmured it back and said goodbye. Her thumb clicked the phone off and dropped it to the floor. This wasn't the first time and it certainly wouldn't be the last. They hadn't even mentioned the anniversary dinner they had forgotten only the vacation. She had been so happy that they had gotten time off and had planned everything to the last detail.

She had to face facts. Her marriage was a mess. She hadn't been with both of them in ages and she missed them. But this wouldn't be the last time they would do this. She had to make a decision.

This trip was their last chance to put their marriage back together. One last effort to make things right. If she thought about it, if she got them away for a few days, then they'd realize how much they missed and everything would go back to normal. Right?

Who was she kidding? But she had planned the trip, why not just go? She wouldn't tell them and just slip away and see how they felt when she was gone. She got up and walked into their bedroom. She opened the walk-in and grabbed her packed suitcase. Sakura then when to the dresser, and picked up her passport and ticket. As she lifted her hand, her wedding ring glinted, catching the light. She glanced at it, a sad look in her eyes and pulled it off. She placed it on the dresser above the other two tickets and walked out of the room. She switched off all lights in the penthouse, gave it one last glance and walked out, closing the door behind her.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~

I know I should be working on my other story and it's been ages since I last updated but I couldn't resist. This story has been sitting in the front of my mind for the last few weeks. Enjoy~!

Please review. ((: