Unbearable Weight of Leaves

by andildraco

Part 2 of Unbearable Weight of Sand Fem Naruto * Naruto arrives in Suna, but he is hardly in the clear. His heath slowly regains, but he is faced with the hard truth of his situation. Gaara in turn must adjust to his new life, with the addition of Naruto and must deal with the possibility of a new family. Set after Boruto

1. Chapter 1

Author's Note

Took me a little longer than I intended to get this done, but here it is! I haven't finished the cover yet, so might make a generic one while I work at my drawing. (I haven't drawn people in years, turns out I'm a bit rusty, oops) Wasn't completely sure where to pick it back up so just picked a random moment and went with it lol. I know I need to work on my website, redisign it a bit to cover my new objectives for writing. I will be posting my drawings, and tidbits of stuff there when it is ready, so keep an eye out for the 'link' when it is ready. :D

On a more serious note, I had some feedback which said the story had a some spots which dragged on, if you know any sections where this was prevalent, let me know. Since I will be rewriting this eventually to bring it into Inak, I want to know what areas to focus on. (I decided on the serial's title now too- Crystal Wish :D So, after the end of Inheritants, this will be what I will be working on. Will likely do a prelude book just to cover the background differences- or have one as the first chapter in each serial. Which do you guys think would be better?)

Anyway, thank you all again for reading, and as always reviews and comments serve to inspire.

Naruto

I found myself staring at the ceiling. I was bored. Seriously, super freaking bored. Honestly, what did the idiot think I was going to do in here all by myself? Read? He knew better than that. I groaned and half rolled out of the bed. I probably should have brought Hinata with me. Or at least Boruto, then I would have something to entertain myself with.

Oh yeah, please Naruto, stay with me. Don't waste your money on the hotel which has more entrainment than a half empty bookshelf and a marker. A marker. I wonder if he would notice if I drew in those precious damned books of his. I picked it up off of the bedside stand and stalked the bookshelf. Which book shall I deface? I narrowed my eyes as I crouched in front of it, scanning the various titles. I tapped the little thing against my knee. Which one would piss him off more - Etiquette for social standards in Suna or ... I quirked my brow at the next title. Well, a little odd for Gaara, so maybe somebody left it here? That had to be what happened.

Marriage formalities and Circumstance. Like Gaara was into that sort of thing. He wouldn't be, he was too... Gaara. I would have noticed if he had. Unless he had it from when Temari married into Konoha by latching onto one of my best friends. Another connection to Gaara. I sighed. Marriage formalities and Circumstance it was. I picked the tiny book up and tossed it over to the bed with the marker. All this thinking about Gaara made me dang hungry, and of course, Suna didn't freaking have ramen. Weirdos.

I worked my way down seventy five flights of stairs to reach the kitchen. Why did this place have to have so many floors anyway? This is why I got a place that was only two levels. Easy. One flight of stairs, and most everything in arms reach. Convenient. Unlike this hell hole Gaara lived in. I hated this place. But it was Gaara's. And he half smiled at me when he told me to stay. I couldn't say no to that. Yet...

He fucking left me alone with his creepy ass brother. Alone. With the creeper and his annoying creepy puppets. Gee, thanks no brows. I tossed open his refrigerator and groaned at it. Gizzards, tongue, heart, liver... Didn't the guy ever stock real food? Couldn't he have taken a night off and actually talked to me or something? He'd been acting pretty weird ever since I had him over to watch Boruto. I mean, I did kind of get a little angry when I woke up to a house which no longer looked like I lived there, but dang. He didn't have to avoid me for so long. It had been two years already, he should get a freaking grip.

I turned to the cupboard. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I groaned.

"Problem with our pantry, idiot?"

I groaned at the voice and slowly shut the door. "Nope. Just going to go back upstairs and fucking starve."

"Wow, you are just as over dramatic as he is, what is it with you people?"

"How am I supposed to know? I've barely laid eyes on the guy in the past couple of years, you tell me."

Kankuro put his hands up,fingers splayed to either side of his chest. "Not my issue. Backing away." Which he did, and disappeared down the stairs. Jerk.

He could have at least stayed and talked to me. I frowned at the thought. I must really be bored if I wanted to talk to him. Heck, before I married Hinata, he threatened death on me every time I seen him, now he was just... Weird. Why did everyone I know end up a little weird? It was me, probably.

Bored. I sighed at the lack of edible food and headed back up to my room. Bored, bored, bored. Maybe I really would draw in that stupid book of Gaara's. He probably wouldn't even notice. I could draw something disgusting and horrifying. Maybe it would get a rise out of the guy. Or a frown. Anything. I was really getting sick of his stupid 'nothing phases me I'm made of porcelain and my expression never changes' face. Bastard. I opened the door and flopped down on the bed and opened the tiny little book. Suna customs, blah blah blah, Necklace blah blah. Wow, this thing was boring. Knowing how boring Gaara was most of the time, he probably read it for leisure. I didn't get him at times. I drew a little frog on the top of a picture of a wedding cake. I snickered at it. A frog wedding cake topper. I wonder if he would ever look at it, and follow through with someone. He always took things far too seriously sometimes. Most of the time. All of the time.

I closed up the book and groaned. Even doodling in one of Gaara's books wasn't helping. Maybe I should sleep. I looked down at the marker. Or... I smiled to myself. I could do something else. I gave a small laugh, stood and brought my hands to my chest. Clones, the best distraction to eternal boredom. I heard a few pop into existence and we all shared a knowing look. Yes, this was totally going to happen. The clone closest to my left I directed onto his hands and knees. The one who stood next to him climbed onto his back, also in similar fashion. The clone to the other side of me climbed him and held out his hands. I grabbed hold of them and was hoisted up. This place was far too tall for it's own good, the ceilings in every floor were vaulted, which made more stairs in the long run. But, a four man tower made it so I could reach the ceiling with ease. An unsteady ease which caused the three other mes to groan under the weight. However, I was able to do my deed and popped open the marker. I started the small swirl and was about to continue on to make the rest of the shape for the Konoha leaf.

"Might I ask what you are up to?"

The gravelly voice which sounded from below me startled my clones and with a quick panic I dispelled them. I fell hard onto the floor and grabbed my head as the rush of memory flooded my senses for a moment. I groaned and looked up at him. Gaara stood over me, his arms crossed. He wore only his black undergarments and a frown. A frown. A swallowed, suddenly nervous. "Hey Gaara, what brings you here?" Wow, let's be obvious.

He stared at me, his frown deepened, causing my stomach to twist uncomfortably. "I live here." Serious, confused.

I pocketed the marker in hopes he hadn't noticed in spite of me being blatant in my previous display. I maneuvered so I was sitting cross legged on the floor. "So... Want to talk, play a game, train a little, go do something?" Seriously Gaara, I'm bored.

His arms unfolded as his eyes scanned the room and landed on the bed. He walked past me and grabbed the little book I defaced. I felt my heart speed up. "Um, about that-"

"You enjoy reading about traditional Suna marriage practices?" His eyes shifted back to me, his expression carefully left blank. It came back. That damned look, the one I barely was able to wipe off of his damned face since he rearranged my house.

I frowned at him. "Maybe, what's it to ya?" My voice was a bit harsher than I intended it to be. At least he was talking to me, I should be freaking grateful.

He pocketed the book and walked past me again, then stilled. "Interested in marrying someone from Suna? There would be no other reason to have an interest." He turned his head slightly, and his expression moved away from his porcelain blank. Instead, there was a small glint to his eye, a slight twist to the corner of his mouth.

I stared, just a little too long at his mouth, and cleared my throat. "No, why would... Why would I want to-" I couldn't finish the sentence. I was married already, even he had to know it was an odd question. Hinata was pregnant with our second child. Why would I want to- I felt my cheeks heat up. Why was the question getting to me so damned much.

"I see." His lips finished their upwards twitch and landed into a full blown smile. Well, as much as a smile as Gaara ever got without looking like he was about to kill something. It felt as though my heart would stop, and my breath left in an instant. My face felt even hotter. He turned without another word and headed towards the door.

"I swear, it's nothing like that!" I yelled it at him as he continued to retreat from me.

He softly closed the door behind him. What the hell was that? I sighed, moved out my legs and fell back on the floor. I stared at the small spiral on the ceiling. If he had noticed, he hadn't said anything.

But honestly, what was with him?

Or better yet, me?

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

What the hell? I opened my eyes and tried to gauge my surroundings. The room was bare except for me and the random machines I seemed to be attached to. I tried to move, but found I was fully bound. My arms, my legs, my hands. I couldn't move beyond my head. I jerked at my restraints, but after only a couple tries I felt completely drained. Drained, and aching, every move sent a quick wave of pain from whatever place I moved. Weird. What was wrong with me? I never took long to recoup from anything, and I've been through hell. And... I felt...

I felt weird. Seriously, what the hell? Where was I even at? I scanned the room again and found myself staring at something odd on the ceiling. A small, tiny spiral ending in a shaky line. I knew the spiral well, I was the one to put it there. Last night I think. So... I was at Gaara's then? But where was everything? And why did I feel so dang sore? I froze as an odd ticklish sensation passed through my abdomen, then it did it again. "The hell?" What was that? I gasped as the movement in my abdomen became more prominent. It felt as though something just rolled around inside of my body, and honestly, the feeling freaked me out a little.

Was this why I was tied up in a bed in Gaara's house? I pulled at my restraints again, annoyed to the fact even my fingers were wrapped so I couldn't make a clone to better observe the situation. I heard movement behind the door and I stilled and forced my eyes to close. If they came in and thought I was awake, they wouldn't talk. If they thought I was still unconscious however, maybe I could find out what was going on. Sure enough, I heard the door squeak open.

"Only stay long enough for vitals and the bath. He doesn't like anyone in here longer than necessary, you got it?" Kankuro? I wanted to open my eyes to see if I was right, but I didn't want to blow my cover, not yet.

"Yes sir." A girl's voice, she sounded young. Wait. Did he say bath? Why would they let some random girl bathe me?

What did Hinata have to say about this? Did she know I was here? Was she ok, Boruto? The heart monitor sped up slightly and I breathed through my nose. Calm down, Naruto, you idiot, you will blow your cover.

"Did she wake up just now?" She?

Footsteps, a cold hand at my neck. It took everything I had not to flinch at the intrusion to my skin. "No. I will check her vitals to make sure it was some sort of fluke. Perhaps she had a nightmare?"

Kankuro, or at least I was still assuming it was Kankuro, scoffed. "She has plenty to have nightmares about, I would believe it." There was a sigh. "She wakes up though, let me know. He likes to be here when she does."

"Yes sir." With the soft words the door clicked shut.

Great. I was alone in a room with some young girl who not only seemed to think I was a damn girl, but who was going to bathe me. Damn, she would freak when she noticed I wasn't some girl. What sort of illusion did they cast in order for her to not even notice right away, it's not like I was some kind of feminine guy. Like Gaara, now he I could see get passed off as a damned girl. But me? Hardly. I heard the monitor speed up again as I pictured Gaara as a girl in my mind. Well, that was brilliant. Sure, just picture the guy as a pretty girl. Married Naruto, you are freaking married. Even if he were a girl, it wouldn't have changed anything, he was Gaara. Gaara and love, love like that, didn't belong in the same sentence.

"You are awake, aren't you?" The words were breathed in my ear, barely a whisper.

I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at her. She seemed plain, light brown hair, brown eyes, a bit petite. "You knew, didn't you?"

She smiled and nodded. "I did."

"So why didn't you rat me out?"

I felt something lift off of my chest, my hips and legs, then finally my arms. "I will let you sit up if you promise not to look at yourself or ask any questions."

I frowned at her. "Why?"

"Not allowed to say, but I was hired as your long term nurse, and how am I supposed to serve you if I know absolutely nothing about you? My employer says nothing beyond- 'Make sure Naruto is in good health'" She blanked out her face and held up a single finger as she spoke the last bit, trying to lower her voice to mimic Gaara. Who else would have a deep voice and be so expressionless?

"Partners in crime then, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I will be fired, possibly maimed if he found out I was keeping this to myself."

I scoffed. Yes, she was talking about Gaara. So, he must be keeping me holed up in his house for safekeeping then. Not that it would be weird, I would probably do the same to him if he got injured while near Konoha. Though, it would be nice to have some idea of why I was holed up in his house and feeling as though I fell out of a ten story building. Not to mention, an explanation of the constant rumbling in my abdomen. It almost felt as though something was inside me, moving around. My eyes widened, my concern over it growing. Maybe it was why I was here after all. "I think there is something living inside me."

Her eyes widened. "I..." She laughed. Not a simple, quiet laugh, but a whole hearted, deep guffaw.

"What is so damned funny? There is something wrong with me, and there is something moving around inside me!"

She stifled her laugh and pressed a hand to my mouth. "Shh!" She took a deep breath, "We will get in trouble."

I glared at her and went to push her hand away from my mouth, but found I could barely move my arms, even without the restraints. So I bit her.

"Ow!" She pulled her hand back and shook it. "Hey."

"Your fault for covering my mouth." I snickered, then sighed. "Something happened to me, I know you probably can't say what, but... Will I be alright? Am I getting better, I don't remember anything past the time I put that on the ceiling. I looked back up at it, knowing I didn't have enough energy to point. In fact, it felt as though I were getting tired, really, really tired.

"The little spiral?"

I hummed, then yawned. "Hey, you know, I don't think I need to sit up, alright? I think... I think I'm just..." Tired. The feeling was overwhelming, my body slowly began to feel numb. "Going to go back to..." I didn't finish the sentence, allowing my eyes to drift shut, giving into the numb.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

I woke to what sounded like a heart monitor. Was I in some sort of hospital? What happened to me? The last thing I remembered... Was... What was the last thing I remembered anyway? I concentrated on it, did everything I could to try and jog some sort of memory. Hokage, I was Hokage, but... I... I groaned. Why couldn't I remember? I think I missed Himawari's birthday again. How old was she now? Ten? No... That wasn't right.

I opened my eyes to the view of a ceiling. Not the hospital's ceiling though, I was intimately familiar with it, and this was not it. I looked around and spied a tiny spiral on the ceiling, one which ended in a weird wiggly line. I smiled at the memory. I had done that, it was from the night Gaara first taken a liking to teasing me. Some weird line about marriage. The guy was seriously weird, but he wouldn't be Gaara if he wasn't. So... I was in Gaara's house. Why would I be here? I moved my head to find a girl dipping some cloth into what looked like a bowl of water. She seemed a bit plain. Light brown hair, petite, and when she looked over with wide eyes, her eyes were also brown. Who was she? "Hey, do you know what's going on?"

"You're awake." She sounded surprised.

"Yeah, last I checked." Kinda obvious, if you asked me.

Her hand hit a button on the wall. "I was caught last time, while I was redoing your constraints. Sorry, no more partners in crime." She gave a small smile.

I frowned at her. Partners in crime? For what? "How do you know me?"

Her smile faltered. "Right, I keep forgetting, heh."

Wait, did she say constraints? I went to move my arms and found they were tied down, a small wave of pain ebbed from where I tried to move. "Hey, why am I tied down?"

She held up her hands, opened the door and backed out of the room. "Not saying a word." The door clicked shut.

What the hell? Didn't I at least deserve some kind of explanation? I pulled at the constraints again. Why was I tied down anyway? More importantly, why did I ache so badly? There was an odd fluttering in my stomach and I whimpered from the feeling. It almost hurt, as though something was stretching around in me. Another movement and it felt as though something poked my ribcage. What the hell? "Hey!" I yelled out. I wanted someone to acknowledge me, tell me what was going on with me. I tried moving my arms again. They separated all of my fingers too. No clones for a quick assessment on my predicament. "Anyone there?"

"Keep your mouth shut." A familiar voice and I looked to see who it was. Kankuro? He was standing at the door, his face was in a light grimace.

"Why should I?" I bit out the words. Seriously, did they think I would just lay here without some sort of explanation of what was going on?

He groaned. "Of course you have to wake up during a preparatory meeting Gaara can't get out of easily. Sure Gaara, I'll go keep Naruto company while you figure out a way to excuse yourself. Sure, it won't be a damn problem."

I stared at him. "I think he's lost it."

"Big words coming from you." He emphasized the last word then finished coming into the room and shut the door behind him. He walked up beside me and sighed. "And you don't even know. Not even allowed to tell you, so ask away, my lips are sealed."

"Why? Why can't you tell me what's wrong with me? Why I'm here, why I'm tied down? Can you at least tell me how Hinata and the kids are doing?"

His eyes widened. "Kids?" He leaned over the bed, one hand rested near my head. "Tell me, how old are they?" His words were rushed, almost desperate sounding.

Well, that is a weird question and weirder reaction. I frowned at him. "Why are you being weird? Don't you hate me or something?"

"Just answer the damn question fox boy." There was the puppet idiot I knew and loved.

How old were... It was something I had been thinking about before I noticed the girl. Their ages had slipped my mind, but... I looked back over to the spiral on the ceiling. Think. I could remember. Right! How did I forget so easily? "Twelve and fourteen, why are you asking me anyway?"

"Twelve and... Shit. Of all the damn days to get stuck in a meeting." He turned and started pressing the button on the wall the girl before him had done. Except he kept pressing it, over and over again. "Get your damned ass in here you moron." Push, push, push.

I watched him, completely confused, my brows furrowed and I tugged at my confines again. "What is so important about my kids being twelve and fourteen?" I gasped as another weird movement happened in my stomach. "And I think something is in me."

His finger stayed on the button this time and he slowly looked over my way. "Huh?"

"Something moved, in my stomach, it keeps moving." Another move, another gasp. "There! It did it again."

He didn't even look shocked in the slightest, instead he kept his finger pressed firmly on the button while he stared at me.

It was what was wrong with me, wasn't it? Something burrowed into my body and they were trying to figure out a way to get it out. What a way to go. A parasite. I groaned. "How did it happen anyway?"

His eyes widened and he looked away from me, and I swear I seen a slight redness to his cheeks. "Don't get me wrong, man, but this something I would prefer not to think about, let alone answer." Push, push, push, push. "Come on."

It must have been something horrible, if he didn't even want to think about it. What had it been? Some worm or leech type thing which- Nope, I wasn't even going to try thinking about it. I shuddered involuntarily from the notion of something crawling into my body and nesting there.

The door slammed open and I looked over to the cause of it. Gaara stood, his Kazekage robes on, his lips thin set into a firm frown. "What is so important, Kankuro, you interrupted my meeting with the Mizukage's advisor? I cannot afford to look suspicious."

"Naruto's kids are twelve and fourteen, and there is something moving in him." Why were my kid's ages so damn important to them exactly?

"Twelve and..." His face softened and his cool gaze shifted towards me. "Is this true, Naruto?"

I frowned at him. "What is so damned special about their ages? Will somebody just tell me what the hells going on already?" I jerked at my constraints.

Gaara's face blanked and he turned to his brother. "Tell the advisor the meeting has been moved until tomorrow. Tell him my wi - my guest is in need of my presence. Give him my regards and ask if there is anything I can do to make it up to him."

Kankuro nodded and left quickly. Gaara took a deep breath once the door was closed and the room enveloped in silence. His eyes never left me, his steady gaze forcing me to shift as much as I was able until I finally looked up to the ceiling. "I drew on your ceiling, I'm sorry."

There was an odd sounding snort and I looked over to see a grimace on his face. He covered it with his hand then walked over to where I was. His hand left his mouth, his eyes drifted shut and a long breath left through his nose. When he was done, his face resumed its usual blank. "I know."

I frowned at him. "Why did you leave it then?"

He averted his eyes. "Because you drew on my ceiling." Though his face showed nothing, there was a weight in the statement which was not lost on me.

I swallowed, my throat feeling dry. I pushed down the slight flutter my heart made and I decided not to respond. This time, I averted my eyes. I didn't want to go near the implications the statement made, no matter my personal issues with him. Issues. Issues which were entirely one sided and impossible. I sighed. I heard a soft hissing sound, then I felt pressure on my abdomen. I gasped, a shock of relief spread out from the pressure, my hands twitched and I felt myself relax from it. I turned my head to see Gaara half glaring at my stomach. "What-"

"You feel movement?" He interrupted, his eyes unmoving from his target.

"Yeah, at least I think I did. There some kind of parasite in there or something?"

He blinked and he looked up to me, eyes wide. "Parasite?" He looked back to where he had been. "Could be called that, yes. It is not a bad one though, you shouldn't worry."

"How can I not worry about a parasite?"

He frowned. "Parasite could be a bad word for it."

"You think?" Almost to make itself known, said parasite decided to move again. I gasped. "There, it did it again."

His hand pressed harder on me, another movement. This time it was him who gasped. "It moved. I could feel it, Naruto, I could feel it." He gave a quick breathy sigh followed by a soft smile. His eyes seemed to glow as he looked back at me.

I'm not sure why, but my eyes suddenly started to water with the look he gave me, as though there was some amazing secret I wasn't privy to. I looked away from him, not knowing why I felt this way, why I wasn't allowed to know what was going on, or why Gaara seemed so damned happy about being able to feel some damned parasite living inside my body.

"I wish... I wish I could share this with you, but..." I shifted my eyes back to him, his smile fading as quickly as it came. His eyes hooded and a shadow passed over his features. Whatever had made him happy was gone. The weight of his hand left my stomach.

My heart twisted. Even if he seemed to enjoy my suffering, his touch, his smile, it was comforting. I wanted it back. I wanted...

I wanted...

"Will you lay here with me? Just for a while." I bit at my bottom lip. What was I asking? Why was I asking? Had I not resolved to never allow myself such closeness with him, to ever let on to-

To what? No. It was better not to think of it. He was one of my best friends, it was normal to want to have someone near when unwell. He wouldn't look into it, he wouldn't question me. My thoughts. My-

"Alright."

Huh? I couldn't bring myself to look at him, but felt my restraints being removed. "Really?"

"If you would like me to, I acquiesce. Just don't move."

My breath caught in my throat. Gaara agreed, Gaara would be touching me. Willingly touching me. There must be something seriously wrong with me if he was willing to do such a thing. I felt arms snake beneath my body and then I was shifted, feeling as though I was dead weight for him. I wouldn't be able to move if I wanted to. I did, but I also wanted to please him for some reason. He picked me up with ease, my arms dragged on the bed as he moved me over, then gently was put back onto the bed. I decided to watch him. Watch as he removed his formal robes, his hat until the dark underclothes were revealed. He stiffened a moment as he looked down to the bed. "You... You are sure you would like me to lay by your side, Naruto?"

My eyes widened. Was he having second thoughts? I was pushing him, wasn't I? "I..." I trailed off, not wanting to lie about wanting him near me. "You don't have to, if you don't want." Better. My eyes wandered back to the spiral on the ceiling. Being moved, the way my heart wanted to twist inside my chest, it was all so tiring. I wasn't sure I could really be great company anyway. Maybe it would be better if he left.

I felt myself shift slightly as a weight fell the bed. My breath hitched. I couldn't look, though I knew what was happening. Gaara. In bed. With me. Even if it was only because I was ill with some unknown disease or ailment, he was still here. With me.

aA deep heat erupted inside my hand, soft, extremely soft skin touched mine. I looked then, my eyes meeting teal directly, inches from my own. "You're holding my-"

"Rest, Naruto." His voice was deep, gravelly. This close, so very close I could almost feel the vibration of it, the heat of his breath.

I turned back away from him, feeling my face heat up and hoping he hadn't noticed. I wanted to feel him here, next to me. I wanted to stay awake and try to talk to him, just relish the feel of his hand in mine. I had felt his skin once, many years ago. In a handshake. A handshake which plagued my memory. The heat of his hand, the softness of his skin, the slack, yet firm grip. It had sent a shockwave up my arm, one which travelled through my arm, down my spine and settled firmly in my heart. My hand twitched in his. It was happening again. The shockwave, the one which firmly placed his hand around my heart like a vice grip.

My eyes grew heavy and I sighed. I would fall asleep soon. I would lose his touch, his presence. The vice which connected his hand to my heart would fade. Yet... This time, I wasn't so sure I wanted it to.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

I woke to what sounded like a heart monitor. Was I in some sort of hospital? What happened to me? The last thing I remembered... Was... What was the last thing I remembered anyway? I concentrated on it, did everything I could to try and jog some sort of memory. I felt a twitch in my hand and I became acutely aware the twitch was from fingers. Heat. Soft. The heat travelled up my side, solid, breathing. I turned my head and found myself staring into familiar, pupilless and beautiful teal eyes. Gaara? I wanted to ask him what he was doing, but my voice wouldn't cooperate. He was laying next to me, he was touching me, he was holding me hand.

I felt a quick squeeze. "Go back to sleep, everything is alright."

I was tired. Gaara was here, holding my hand. Laying next to me. It confused me. I wanted to ask why. I wanted to know why I could hear a heart monitor. I wanted to ask why I felt so heavy, as though I had been run over by something. I wanted to ask-

"Shh, just relax. Don't think."

Don't think? I inhaled quickly through my nose as I felt his thumb rub softly against the back of my hand, causing a small delightful shiver. Alright, thinking was overrated anyway. I wasn't about to question him. All that matters is he was there, willingly, and holding me. Gaara was holding me. What sort of strange heaven was this? I closed my eyes and allowed the sensation to be everything.

Don't be a dream, please, don't be a dream.