AN: Hey! Thanks to everyone who left a review; it was really thoughtful of you and I hope you continue with my story. Also, sorry about the wait. I meant to update a lot earlier, but I was on vacation and didn't have access to a computer. Well, here's the first chapter...

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter One

"Why don't you let me talk to him? And if he doesn't renounce his bastardly ways then I'll just knock some sense into him. With my fists of course…" Naruto shoved his chopsticks into the steaming bowl of ramen with a little more force than necessary. Sakura frowned down at the contents of her bowl and then glanced over at her loyal friend. "I swear, that teme shouldn't be treating you like this! Why can't he just see what's right in front of him?!"

"Naruto, don't worry about it, I'm fine," Sakura replied untruthfully. "And stop stabbing your chopsticks like that," she added, stilling Naruto's hand with one of her own, "You're scaring that poor old woman over there."

Naruto glanced to his left and grinned sheepishly at the frightened face of a woman who appeared to be more than 60 years his senior. "Alright alright," he conceded, "I won't interfere." Sakura smiled gratefully and relief was visible all across her face.

The blonde-haired man attempted to eat his ramen again, but surprisingly attacked the noodles with less than half his usual vigor. He glanced over at Sakura and couldn't help but feel saddened by her defeated, weary posture. She loves Sasuke so much and he acts like she's just another one of his fan girls. It isn't right!

Naruto let out a frustrated groan. "I just don't understand it Sakura-chan! You and Sasuke have sex all the time, going at it like rabbits—" Naruto's tirade was cut short when Sakura gave him a forceful kick in the shin and glared pointedly in the direction of the old lady. "Be quiet Naruto! We don't want her to be scarred for life!"

The two friends glanced over at the woman and smiled innocently. Naruto stifled a laugh as the old gal shook her head and walked out of the shop quicker than any granny he'd ever seen. "Now look what you've done…" Sakura said while giving him a disapproving look that wiped the grin off of his face.

"I'm sorry Sakura-chan, it's just that I can't bear to see Sasuke treat you like this. I know you say you're fine with it, but I'm not. You deserve better." Naruto shifted uncomfortably and Sakura was left to marvel at how mature his statement sounded. She gripped his hand and squeezed it affectionately. "We're worried about you Sakura-chan, Hinata and I both are."

Desperate to change the subject, Sakura quickly shifted the focus of the conversation to the woman Naruto had just mentioned. "So how is your bride-to-be Naruto-kun? Still putting up with your antics?" Naruto rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide how his expression visibly brightened. "Hinata likes my behavior I'll have you know! She might even enjoy ramen just as much as I do now!" Sakura let out a pleasant laugh that made Naruto smile."So you've brainwashed Hinata, have you? Well, I suppose there never was any hope for her really—she reached the point of no return the moment she fell in love with you." Sakura chuckled once more and this time Naruto joined her. It made him happy to see Sakura laughing again; she didn't do it enough these days.

"In all seriousness though, I'm so happy for you and Hinata. You two are perfect for each other." Naruto grinned and began gushing about the love of his life; a normal tendency of his. As her friend went on about Hinata's success in her last mission, Sakura's thoughts drifted, as they always did, to her relationship with Uchiha Sasuke.

When Sasuke had left Konoha several years ago, it had taken nearly all her strength not to fall apart completely. She cried her heart out for him almost every night, replaying memories of times spent with the raven-haired boy she loved so much. But life had to go on. Even though she was broken inside, she had to continue her training, continue her path to becoming the best shinobi she could possibly be. Uchiha Sasuke might have stolen her heart, but he hadn't taken away her resolve.

After 4 years of absence, Sasuke showed up again. With the same self-assured gait, he walked right back into her life and acted like nothing had changed; like he hadn't forsaken all of them just four short years ago.

She couldn't talk to him that first month. She couldn't bring herself to look into those emotionless black eyes and pretend like everything was okay. So instead, she avoided him constantly and relied on her gossipy friend Ino to fill her in on everything to do with Sasuke. Sakura learned of Itachi's death at Sasuke's hands, how he had finally accomplished his lifelong goal, and she also learned of how Tsunade was willing to grant him a full pardon. He would have his life back, no questions asked. It seemed too good to be true.

When she finally mustered up the courage to speak to him, he was a Konoha shinobi again and close to becoming an accepted member of the community. He lived only a few blocks away in the same building as a nice boy that worked with her in the hospital. It was strange picturing him living near a boy that was so considerate and polite, while he himself was dark and selfish.

The walk up the stairs to his new apartment was perhaps one of the most frightening moments of her life. Her heart was still fragile, still unused to the idea of Uchiha Sasuke being a part of her life once more. He had hurt her more than anyone else could have possibly done and she didn't want to take the risk of that happening again.

With a shaking hand she had knocked on the faded green door numbered 53 and had tried desperately to quell the frantic beating of her heart. You're over him now, she had told herself, you're through with his self-centeredness.

The faint sound of footsteps signaled his approach and she had braced herself for the encounter she knew was coming. Her legs had quivered with a sudden urge to flee back down the stairs towards the open street and safety. She had wanted desperately to retreat from that tiny hallway, that prison where she felt like her existence was in limbo, her life dwindling on the edge of some massive crevice that gaped open in front of her. Maybe it would be better if she just fell in….

A lock clicked open and the faded green door made way for a tall, muscular man with raven hair.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Sakura…"

And that was all it took. That simple word made her fall hopelessly back in love with Uchiha Sasuke.

Damn.

Their friendship didn't take long to fall back into place and at first she had hoped Sasuke might finally return her feelings. His revenge complete, the teenage Uchiha was now free to do what he wished with no constraints or obligations to stand in the way. Maybe they could finally be together, maybe she could be truly happy for once.

Fate must've had other plans in mind.

Two years passed by and nothing changed. The two 18-yr-olds seemed to have the same relationship that they once had as members of Team 7, nothing more. What had changed however, were Sasuke's attentions toward other females in the Leaf Village. The man who had once betrayed his people was now more popular and more desirable than ever. His fan group had doubled over the years and their intentions were far from innocent. Sasuke quickly gained the reputation of being an excellent lover who was only interested in sex, nothing more. Relationships were completely out of the question. The gorgeous women he spent his nights with didn't seem to mind however; the fact that they had bragging rights to a heated romp spent with the famous Uchiha Sasuke satisfied them plenty.

Sakura was crushed at first when she heard of his sexual intrigues with other women and was even tempted to let Naruto give him the beating he wanted to. But her love for Sasuke kept her from blaming him, from writing him off like he deserved. She just kept convincing herself he'd come around. Once he had his fill of those undeniably sexy women he would see that she had been waiting there all along. He'd recognize that true care and devotion were worth more than meaningless flings, and he'd realize that he loved her.

Well at least that was what was supposed to happen.

On the night of her nineteenth birthday, Sakura's relationship with Sasuke changed forever. The young medic nin had enjoyed a relaxing dinner with her girlfriends Ino, Hinata, and Tenten, chatting, laughing, and reminiscing over their younger days. They hit a dance club and Sakura let loose more than she had in years. By 1 am the four friends were tired out and they all parted to go home to their separate apartments.

Sakura wasn't even thinking of Sasuke when she unlocked the door of her apartment and walked in singing the catchy tune she had loved dancing to in the club. In fact it was one of the first nights in months that she felt content and happy. Uchiha Sasuke was the farthest thing from her mind.

That changed all too quickly when she noticed him standing in her dark living room staring at the old picture of Team 7 she kept on a shelf above the TV.

"Sakura…I've been waiting…"

Sakura flinched so badly that her keys fell to the floor with a loud clank. Standing frozen in the open doorway, Sakura wracked her brain for all the possible reasons Sasuke would be waiting for her.

She forced herself to speak, "Sa-Sasuke, what are you doing here so late? Is something wrong…has something happened?" Her voice cracked on the last word and she mentally cringed at sounding so nervous.

Sasuke finally turned away from the Team 7 picture and met her eyes.

"Sakura, I just need…I need to feel alive tonight." What?! Sakura had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, yet she nodded her head anyway.

The black-haired man took a few steps toward her and then wobbled slightly to one side. Sasuke never falters, what the hell is going on with him? Sakura mentally questioned. She met his slightly glassy eyes and all of sudden his strange behavior finally made sense.

"Sasuke, you…you're drunk aren't you?"

"I'm fineSakura. Don't act like you understand everything about me."

His remark stung, but she didn't show it. Pointing towards the open door Sakura let some of her pain surface as anger. "Just get out of here! This is my apartment and I have the right to tell you to leave!"

Instead of remaining impassive like she expected, Sasuke surprised her with his mocking smirk. "We both know you don't want me to leave Sakura…" The way he said her name sent chills down her spine and she tried to remind herself that he was drunk, that he wasn't himself right now.

Sasuke's eyes roamed over her form hungrily and she felt completely exposed under his gaze. Shaking her head as if to physically clear her thoughts, Sakura tried once again to understand why he was in her apartment.

"Sasuke-kun why are you here?"

He ran a hand through his raven hair and locked his gaze with hers.

"Close the door Sakura…"

She did as she was told without even thinking about it. His commanding tone didn't leave room for questions.

He took another step towards her and she didn't care that he was drunk, that he wasn't thinking clearly about what he was doing. Hell, she was drunk too. Drunk on him.

His lips came crashing down on hers without preamble and every thought was driven from her mind. Their tongues clashed and she tasted the strong flavor of alcohol in his mouth. His hands roamed down her sides and soon her shirt was off, discarded carelessly on the floor beside them.

As he lavished her exposed neck with kisses and nips, she realized that what they were doing was wrong and it was up to her, the sober one, to stop things before they went too far. Yes, I have to stop this, Sakura told herself, I'll just tell him that I—ooooohhhh! The feel of his tongue on her breast through the fabric of her bra drew a gasp from her throat.

Sasuke lifted his head up from her chest and their mouths met again in a passionate kiss that bruised her lips. Sakura tried desperately to maintain any small measure of sanity as he tangled his hands in her silky pink hair and continued kissing her like she was his.

He shifted his weight even closer and soon their hips were grinding against each other in a fervent, almost desperate rhythm.

Yes, I really should stop this, Sakura reminded herself again.

But he was Sasuke and she loved him too fucking much to care.

That was the way it started a year ago. They made love for the first time that night and in the morning he was gone. Still reveling in the feelings and emotions Sasuke had created in her the night before, Sakura made excuses for him. He must've had a mission, she told herself, he had to leave early and didn't want to wake me.

Then she found the note in the drawer of her bedside table:

I'm sorry things went so far last night. Alcohol makes people do stupid things and I just wasn't thinking clearly. I want you to know that I do value your friendship, but last night was a mistake. I don't love you Sakura.

Sakura was devastated. She felt used and alone in a way that surpassed any feelings of loneliness she had ever experienced before. It was her fault that this had happened and she hated herself for the weakness she harbored when it came to Uchiha Sasuke.

Two weeks passed without making contact with him and Sakura tried in vain to forget the closeness she'd experienced with Sasuke that fateful night. It was impossible.

One evening after a long shift at the hospital Sakura came home to find Sasuke in her living room again. There was no doubt that he was drunk and his intent was unmistakable. But Sakura just couldn't stop herself. She loved him so much that she would do anything to be connected to him, even if it meant sacrificing her heart in the process.

Soon his nightly visits became more frequent and he was sober more often than not. Sasuke discovered that they were good together, that they were great sexual partners. Sakura gave him immense pleasure and he gave her closeness to him in return. It wasn't a relationship of course, just a 'friends with benefits' type of arrangement and that's the way Sasuke knew he and Sakura wanted it. They shared a night together, a night full of passion and intimacy, but in the morning the dream ended. He was Konoha's most desirable bachelor, she, the Leaf Village's prized medic nin. Only Naruto knew about their relationship and they knew he wouldn't tell anyone despite his disapproval. That was just the way things were.

"Sakura! Hello, earth to Sakura!" The pink-haired woman was startled out of her reminiscence by the loud calling of the man seated next to her.

"Wh-What? Sorry I was just lost in thought for a second. What was it you were saying again?"

Naruto smiled at his friend and shook his head. "It was nothing Sakura-chan, forget it."

"Oh okay well I better be going now Naruto. My lunch break has been over for 5 minutes and the hospital will be on my ass if I'm back late again."

Sakura put some money on the counter for her bill and waved bye to her friend as she quickly walked out of Ichiraku's ramen stand. Naruto watched her walk away and shook his head sadly.

You don't deserve this Sakura.

His fist clenched involuntarily under the counter and his mind rang with the words he wished he could really tell Sakura. Sasuke is so stupid and Sakura, you're being stupid too. Just tell him the fucking truth already so that you can move on with your lives. You guys can love each other, get married, and then have tons of little pink and black haired kids one day. And if Sasuke continues to be a bastard, just give it up and find someone who will actually appreciate you.

Naruto sighed tiredly and tried in vain to understand the twisted relationship between his two friends. Sakura was one of the most beautiful, caring women in Konoha, besides Hinata-chan of course, and yet she saved herself for a man who didn't seem to realize how amazing she was.

Naruto looked down at the money on the counter and realized that not only had Sakura paid for her own meal, but his as well. "Sasuke, you idiot," he grumbled, "You just don't understand how lucky you are."

AN: Not much of a cliffhanger huh? Hopefully I'll get better at those :) This chapter might have been a bit boring for some of you, but I think that background info is necessary to understand what's going on between Sasuke and Sakura. Don't worry though, there's going to be a lot of interaction between our favorite couple in the next chapter! Please keep reading and as always, I'd love any type of review. Constructive criticism is great!

Coming Soon...SasuSaku heat!