Setting: After the Rescue Gaara arc

Glossary: oka-san means mother.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Dreamscape

Gaara looked around - he was standing in the middle of a warm, brightly lit room. Off to the side, he could hear his siblings arguing about something of no importance.

Someone was tugging on his clothes. He looked down and saw a pair of pale, smooth hands fixing his outfit. Instinctively he pulled away but the person held him fast.

"Stay still, Gaara – kun!" a high, feminine voice admonished him.

He looked up, trying to see the person's face but strangely it seemed to be veiled in shadow.

"Gomen,' he answered as he ceased struggling and relaxed in her grasp.

"It's alright," she said, her voice soothing now as she patted his cheek. "Come and look in the mirror." She began pulling him to the full length mirror on the far left wall.

He could see clearer now and he looked around the room. It had a quaint, homey feel and he was surprised at how familiar everything seemed to him.

They reached the mirror and Gaara looked in. His eyes widened comically as he took in his appearance – he was a raccoon. Well, not exactly - he was dressed in a furry, grey raccoon costume.

He opened his mouth to ask the woman what exactly was going on when he was roughly pushed, "Get a move on, brat! You're keeping us back," Kankurou said as he looked into the mirror. Kankurou was dressed as usual in all black – black pants, a black hoodie and black sneakers. The only colour on him was his purple face paint.

"Kankurou," the woman said, her voice hard and menacing, "apologize to your brother." After a moment's pause, she added, "And mean it."

Kankurou frowned as he turned to Gaara, "Sorry about that. You're not really keeping us back,' then he leaned down to Gaara's level and grinned before whispering, 'Temari is."

"I heard that," came the eldest sibling's voice as she stalked over to the mirror. "Move Kankurou,' she commanded and Kankurou complied, rolling his eyes all the while.

Temari was wearing a matching blue and white sweater and skirt – it looked like a uniform of some sort, "Why are you dressed like that?" Gaara asked her.

She didn't even spare him a glance as she fixed her outfit, "I'm going as a cheerleader."

"Going? Going where?"

Finally Temari looked at him, an incredulous look on her face, "Gaara, don't be stupid. You're the reason we're even doing this! I certainly didn't want to go trick – or – treating."

"Speak for yourself," Kankurou said, "I'd never give up the chance to get free candy."

Suddenly a tinkling, delicate bell was heard. "That must be your friends. Go on," the woman said, ushering the three of them out of the room.

Costumes? Trick – or – treating? Free candy? Gaara didn't have a clue what was going on but everyone else seemed to think that this was normal so he didn't question it. He simply followed his siblings down the stairs and out to the front hall.

"Alright, here you go," the woman said as she picked up three plastic Halloween - themed bags and handed them to each sibling.

Then she turned to Temari, "Alright Temari, now you're in charge. I want you to watch over your brothers, ok? Make sure that they don't wander off anywhere and get lost."

Temari nodded, "I always do."

"Kankurou,' he looked up, 'Just...behave. And don't give your sister any trouble."

Kankurou nodded, his face a mask of innocence but Gaara saw when he crossed his fingers behind his back, "I'll try."

"Alright, go on you two. I want to talk to Gaara alone."

Kankurou and Temari nodded and slipped out of the door, saying as they did, "Ja ne, oka – san!"

Gaara froze at his siblings' words. Then he turned slowly to his face his mother. She smiled and stooped to his level and he realized with a jolt that her face was now fully visible.

"Do you recognize me now, Gaara – chan? Or should I say Gaara - sama?" she asked, a wry smile on her lips.

"How did you...?"

She smiled even wider, touching his face gently, "I've been watching you, Gaara – kun. Didn't you know?"

He shook his head and she nodded, ghosts of tears suddenly appearing in her eyes, "I'm sorry, little one. All that pain you felt...because of me..."

Gaara shook his head fiercely, "It's not your fault! I don't blame you - I never have."

She studied his face as though trying to determine whether or not he was speaking the truth, "I hope that that's true,' She paused for a second before continuing, "I'm proud of you, you know. You seem to be doing well."

"I - I try…and Kankurou and Temari, they help a lot."

She smiled and looked at the door wistfully, "I'm glad that you three have found a way to be a family,' the longing was manifest on her face, 'You don't know how much I wished that I didn't have to leave you three."

Fear gripped Gaara, "What do you mean?"

She sighed and Gaara was almost physically pained to see her kind and gentle face so solemn, "I have to go now. I shouldn't even be here."

"Will you come visit me again?" he asked, fearing the answer.

She shrugged, the sadness on her face becoming more profound, "I honestly don't know."

He looked down as anger and frustration rose up within him. To be deprived of her once and now when he finally got to see her, she had to go. He was about to clench his fists in frustration when he was envelopped in a warm, gentle embrace.

Karura hugged her youngest son tightly, "I wish I didn't have to let go. I never wanted to leave you,' Then she pulled back slightly and kissed him on his forehead before whispering, "Don't believe what he told you - I love you."

Gaara's eyes flew open. He could still feel the warmth of his mother's embrace and there in the darkness of his room, he smiled. 'My first dream...'

A/N: I don't believe that Gaara's mother never loved him. This is the result of that.

My friend asked me to write a Halloween fic and this is what came out. I know it's kind of random. I'm considering making this a series - adding parts when I get inspired. They'd all be dreams, of course. Anyway PLEASE REVIEW!!! I'd love to know what you think of my randomness.