She was woken up by the sound of the door closed shut loudly. She hadn't moved, she hadn't given any sign away that she was awake and she just hoped he would quietly go to bed as well.

Sasuke entered the room and headed for the closet. He took off his office attire, and got into his usual, comfortable black pyjama boxers, and only that. He slid into bed after shutting the lights off. What Sakura thought was going to be a peaceful night of sleep changed when Sasuke slowly dragged his hand up to her hips. First he simply massaged the area, then he raised his body and closed any space left between them.

"Happy Birthday." He put his head in the gap between her almost naked shoulder and the side of her face. He pressed his lips against the edge of her jaw and stayed in the position.

"Thank you" she replied. Giving up on sleep for the time being, she turned to face him. It had been ages since she had last slept with this gorgeous being and she wondered why he was doing all this all of a sudden. First the lingerie and now this.

"Did you like my gift?" he said against her lips.

She lied to him, "I didn't get a chance to see it."

"That's a shame. I was hoping I'd get to see you in it tonight."

Hearing the emphasis he put onto those words made her realize that he had indeed bought that thing, but she didn't give in either. You don't get to toy with people like that.

Sasuke pulled her in closer and took her lips in a deep kiss. After a few seconds she broke it off, pushing him down a little.

"Go to sleep, you had a long day." She was in no mood for sexual intercourse. "And think about the kids, they might walk in."

He took her hand again, pulling her up slowly. He pulled her in for another kiss, but lingered near her lips after.

"They won't wake up this late." He brought his head down, and softly licked between the collarbones of her neck and traced in up to the tip of her chin. He grabbed her sides and forced her onto the bed, on her stomach. She never minded it, how forceful he was sometimes. If anything, Sakura had secret fantasies of him on days when she wasn't surrounded by his warmth, his touch. When he'd leave them for work that lasted even months. Ino had found that funny. Usually couples lost interest in one another after marriage but it was one of the beauty of arranged marriages, surprises always came.

This time, instead of ogling her with his hands, he simply held her. She turned onto her side and looked up at him. And once again, just like when he was twenty-one and she was three years younger, they looked onto one another,

but things had changed.

He was a man. He had over-whelming responsibilities with work and a family to look after. He was not the boy who had been with many women (or so she still hoped). He had matured and so had she. She had grown from the girl she was yesterday into the strong-hearted woman today.

He brushed aside her hair and looked onto those eyes and blew air softly near her cheeks. His breath tickled and made her smile. That night, she didn't know what had come over Sasuke. If he had missed her, or if he simply wanted the comfort of another being. But, whatever it was, she was glad he had held her in his arms and let her sleep on his chest and let her hear the beating of his heart. She never felt more at peace.

Tomorrow her birthday dinner would be taking place. Well, "dinners" at the Uchiha residence meant a full blow out party out in the so called "living room". The house was enormous and shared among the small extended family. That fact has scared Sakura the most in the beginning. As if simply living with a stranger wasn't enough, she had to constantly be judged as the new woman in the house who had no sense of the Uchiha traditions. Her mother had tried her best but there's only so much you can remember under the piercing gaze of the Uchiha Grandma. That woman could've played the next Dracula and be the right choice. For a Uchiha woman, she was chubby and short. The rest of them were lean with the perfect height. She had long gray hair always tied up in a formal bun with the uchiha fan pin and Sakura had never seen her wear anything other than a simple, traditional kimono. Her face always looked stern and her gaze always judgemental which seemed odd to Sakura at first because Grandma had wrinkles of laughter all around her face. Uchiha Grandma had been the most terrifying woman when Sakura had entered Uchiha Manor. It was only a couple years back when she started realising Grandma's true personality. Although very old traditional, she was a ball of laughter, wit, and pranks once she trusted you enough.


"Do you know how to cook?" The old one asked. She sat on the opposite side of the table. The room was spacious but she had never felt so claustrophobic. Sakura was never suppose to meet the family before the formal dinner two weeks from then. Lady Uchiha had insisted her to come by as a show of respect. Sakura was sure that rather than out of respect, this meeting was to test her as the traditional woman in the Elder's eyes. It was the middle of june so the weather had started to rise and so did the sweat inside the kimono her mother had forced her to wear. She finally understood why it was so important now that she saw every lady of the family , except the old one, show up in a beautifully embroidered expensive clothes.

There was Lady Uchiha, the now lady of the house, sitting with her niece from some cousin's side, Hyuga Hera, and her daughter, Hyuga Hinata. Then on the right side, the Lady's sister in-law, Uchiha Miyaki, who was only a couple years older and her first child Uchiha Mia who was a child of age 3. Then the daughter in-law, Uchiha Kikyo. Lastly, the Uchiha Grandma sitting at the opposite with her nurse only a few spaces behind. They were sitting traditionally on the cusions, their weight on the bottom half of their legs. Sitting among them with their stares, Sakura was glad for her mother, calm and poised beside her, although she hadn't said much the past half an hour.

"I was taught a few dishes at home." Her hands were sweaty and the pressure was choking her but the answer came out firm.

Her mother looked uncomfortable. "I will teach her more than she needs to know within these three months." She slightly bowed her head. "Her incompetence is my fault and I apologise. We meant for Sakura's first priority to be education."

Grandma pressed her lips together. Lady Mikoto spoke up with a kind smile on her lips, "Do not apologize, we don't live in the olden days and understand the importance of education for women. Grandma just isn't used to the idea."

Grandma ignored the comment and went on with her list of questions.

"It is traditional for the High end Japanese women to learn the tea ceremony and other traditions even though we no longer live in our home country. Especially in the royal house of Uchiha. Can you perform that?"

She was dreading that question. Sakura had grown up in Japan but near the age of 8, they had moved for her father. She was always taught respect, manners and traditions but she wasn't the most graceful person on the planet. If Granma asked her to perform the ceremony at that moment, she would for sure spill and ruin the day and put her father's company in jeopardy. The pressure is too high these days.

Again, her mother had spoke up. "Yes, she has performed it a few times quite gracefully." Thanks for upgrading their expectations, mom.

Again, Grandma pressed her lips. She mumbled, "Girl can't even talk for herself."

Before another word, she took a sip of cold tea from her cup and the rest followed. The air was silent and filled with the fascination of the other woman looking at Sakura like a new animal in town.

Finally, Grandma seemed to have finished her list since she spoke no more words. Sakura looked towards the Hyuga Lady, then to her her young daughter who seemed to be her age. She was beautiful, absolutely gorgeous with her sweet smile and blushed cheeks and the girl was staring back… at her hair. Sakura knew the question was about to come up soon, she just didn't know by whom. She then looked at the child to her right and wondered if she'd be expected to have a baby at the age of 18 as well.

Uchiha Mikoto cleared her throat. "Haruno-san, if you don't mind me asking… if your hair.. Natural?"

Sakura's mother twitched slightly. She sat up and straight and ready to answer the question. Sakura's hair was beautiful but an odd colour which had attracted some negative attention in some closed-minded rich folk. It was not her fault because of some colour mutation she had. It used to be a touchy subject since as a child, she was often bullied for it but lately, it was simply what made Sakura who she was. After her mother had explained the situation, everyone went silent. After the long hour, the meeting (interview) finally seemed to be coming to an end. Lady mikoto stood up first and walked out with Lady Haruno, leaving Sakura behind to the sharks. Fortunately, Grandma didn't get up so she simply bowed and said a few words of respect before leaving with the rest of the ladies.

The place was beautiful. It was a small open room located inside one of the big flower gardens in the Uchiha residence. The garden was built and planted to have the traditional Japanese feel to it. There was colors and ponds with tiny bridges and birds and so everywhere. Sakura walked along the bricked path behind the House Ladies. Lady Mikoto hadn't said much to her but she seemed to be a kind woman with soft spoken words. Her mother was usually louder, and sassy but she knew how to bring out the fake in her. As they chatted and walked along, Sakura saw a few men up ahead. One was an old, short man in a grey suit fumbling and sweating on the forehead in the heat, and next to him were two men with their backs to the ladies. They were tailored in dark suits that fitted perfectly. She assumed they were of the Uchiha house or so as well. Lady Mikoto called out to them. They turned and Sakura realised that beauty ran in every part of their genes. This was the first time she met the family and although nervous, she wasn't completely displeased.

Lady Mikoto and Lady Haruno spoke a few words to them but by the time the girls had caught up, the men were about to leave. The taller one, Sakura noticed, seemed older, more mature and he looked back to wave at Sakura and a nodded towards Kikyo. The other looked only a few years older than her. He was more boyish than manly and seemed to have an attitude in the way he was. He was mouth-dropping gorgeous but she could tell he was very cocky.

That was the first time she saw him. He hadn't once looked towards her.