A/N: Yay! New chapter! No bombing on shortness, because this is what you get, and if you complain about the length, I'll just quit writing. Oh, and the beginning may be kinda crappy, because I didn't really know how to start off. So, enjoy!

Sasuke felt Sakura making a move to get up from the bed, but she stopped as his hand moved swiftly to grip her wrist. She sighed and lay back down, running a hand through Sasuke's now-flat hair.

"Good morning sunshine!" she said cheerily, seeming to chirp more loudly than a bird, given the hour. Sasuke personally didn't want to move, let alone wake up and go to work. Secretly, he prayed for some reason that he wouldn't have to leave for work. Not only because he wanted to lounge in bed all day for once in his adult life, but also because he didn't want to leave Sakura here alone with Naruto. Sasuke trusted Sakura and everything; she was his wife, he had to trust her, but he didn't, couldn't, and wouldn't trust Naruto. God only knew how that man had changed over the years…

"Let me up so that I can make breakfast, dear," Sakura said. Sasuke grinned, one of those smiles that says: "I know something you don't know."

"What?" she asked, gently prying her wrist loose from Sasuke's firm grip, wondering what would make him smile when she was being completely serious.

"That won't be necessary," Sasuke said, still smiling. He hadn't told Sakura yet, but before he'd come upstairs the previous night, he'd called some cleaning agency and hired a maid-nanny-like figure to come and basically live with them, cooking their meals and cleaning.

"Really? And why is that?" Sakura asked, a curious glint in her eyes. Sasuke just smiled. He didn't really want to tell Sakura in fear of her reaction. Would she think he was trying to replace her? That seemed likely to be her first thought.

"I've already told you that you need a break, so I hired someone to cook and clean. You need to take it easy and that isn't going to happen with all the dust that accumulates in this house," Sasuke stated, now looking directly at Sakura, who was in her favorite emerald green robe, which grandly brought out the color of her eyes.

"Why didn't you discuss this with me?" Sakura asked flatly, staring- more like glaring- at her husband, who was sprawled across the bed, looking up at her with deep, black eyes.

"Because I knew you'd never agree," Sasuke said, his voice full of authority.

"Maybe I like doing those things, considering you won't let me have a job and I have nothing else to do all day!"

"Sakura, please. Everyone needs a break once in a while," Sasuke retorted coolly.

"Then where are all of your breaks, Sasuke? Why don't you ever take breaks from work so that we can spend time together, so that we can do things with each other? I'm sick and tired of waking up every day and not seeing you next to me. Today, I woke up early so that I could make you a special breakfast, and now I find out that you've gone behind my back and hired someone to do it for me?!" Sakura cried in frustration.

"Sakura, wait!" Sasuke said as Sakura made a move to turn and leave. "I'll take today off. How's that? I'll- I don't know- I'll call the office and tell them to find a replacement." In his mind, Sasuke was figuring how much money this risky move would cost his entire company, but it didn't matter. He said he'd do it, so he would- well, if Sakura even wanted him home.

Sakura, on the other hand, was mentally thinking about how this move might bring her and Sasuke back together. She perked up as she answered, "Sure. I'm going to get a shower and you take care of whatever it is you need to do." So saying, Sakura stepped lightly into the master bathroom that was attached to their room and closed the door.

Sasuke waited until he heard the shower running before covering his face in his hand and moaning. Just thinking about the millions of dollars they were losing in order to spend a day together made Sasuke feel sick. But what was decided was decided, and he would have to face it sooner or later.

Dragging himself from the bed, Sasuke pulled on his own red robe, which brought out the color of his own eyes. He ran a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes as he did so. Man, this was turning into a mess. Ever since he'd married Sakura, his life had been flipped upside down. He didn't have any second thoughts about taking Sakura's hand in marriage, but it definitely made every aspect of life more complex. He couldn't stay out with friends late at night, he couldn't come home and drink himself into a coma like he'd used to, and he couldn't have anymore peace and quiet at home. Oh, the joys of matrimony!

While thinking about these things, Sasuke made his way to the phone. Swiftly, he picked up the handle and called the office.

"Hello, you have reached Uchiha Inc., how may I help you?" asked Sasuke's very own secretary.

"Good morning, Hinata, this is Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke said, trying to make his voice sound happy despite his mood.

"Oh, Mr. Uchiha, what a surprise! I was expecting to just see you in person this morning. Anyway, what can I do for you, sir?" Hinata replied in her quiet voice.

"Well, I will not be coming into work today, Hinata," Sasuke replied, "so I was calling to ask if you would arrange a few things for me."

"Certainly, Mr. Uchiha."

"First of all, call me Sasuke. Secondly, I would like to move all my scheduled appointments for today to Monday, if you would please," Sasuke said, knowing Hinata really didn't have a choice in the matter.

"Okay…" Hinata answered, sounding very focused. Sasuke heard the clicking of a keyboard over the phone and knew Hinata was already on it.

"One last thing, Hinata," Sasuke said when he heard the typing stop.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"Would you please remain in charge for today? And keep Kiba away from the coffee- you know how he gets with sugar."

"Certainly, Sasuke," Hinata said, a laugh in her voice. "Is that all?"

"Sure is. Thank you so very much," Sasuke said, realizing he needed to get off the phone. He could hear footsteps coming down the stairs.

"One question, Sasuke?" Hinata said quickly, noticing how urgent Sasuke sounded.

"Yes?"

"Is there a reason for your sudden absence?"

"My wife," Sasuke said plainly.

"Is the baby coming?!" Hinata asked, surprisingly loud with excitement for her soft voice. Sasuke smiled brilliantly, imagining the heads of everyone in the same room as Hinata snapping to attention at the word 'baby.'

"No, not yet. She thinks I need a break," Sasuke replied, feeling his mood lifting. Talking to Hinata always made him feel better.

"Oh." Hinata's voice was fully of understanding and… was it sympathy? "Well, I'll see you Monday, then, Sasuke?"

"Yes, Hinata. Thank you again."

Sasuke had just hung up the phone when he realized that Hinata had said she'd see him Monday. It was only Friday! That meant he had a whole weekend off. Silently he fretted about this and thanked Hinata at the same time. Finally, he came to the conclusion that time off would do him good. God bless you, Hinata, Sasuke thought, turning to find Sakura looking at him impatiently. Sasuke remained silent, not knowing what she wanted him to say.

"Well?" she finally asked. It was apparent to Sasuke at that instant that Sakura hadn't entirely believed him about taking the day off. She had doubted he'd actually follow through on his promise to her. This made Sasuke slightly angry, but he ignored it, thinking about what Sakura's reaction would be.

"I have until Monday off," he said, shrugging his shoulders. He was, once again, taken by Surprise as Sakura leapt into his arms, embracing the living daylights out of him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

Naruto, who had cleared his throat, however, startled both of them out of their moment, yet again. Neither had noticed him coming down the stairs. Sasuke immediately put Sakura back onto her feet, and she grabbed his hand in both of hers.

"Good morning, Naruto," both of them said in sync.

Naruto nodded and smiled in Sakura's direction, saying, "Good morning," to her, rather than them both. Sasuke ignored this, and they were all quiet. Sakura could feel the tension in the air, just as thick as it had been at dinner the previous night. Now, though, she could feel the hate emanating from Sasuke and Naruto. Both were after one thing- the same thing, but only one could have it. Sakura knew that Naruto hadn't come back just to see his friends, he had come back for her, but Sakura was married now. Naruto had been too late. This war he fought with her husband was a long-lost battle against time itself, and Naruto couldn't win, not if Sakura was loyal. The question was, however: how long could Sakura be loyal if Naruto kept wearing his shirt off? Yes, it was the truth: Naruto had come down the stairs without a shirt on, and had nearly stolen Sakura's breath away.

She had grasped Sasuke's hand for two reasons. One- to remind her that she loved Sasuke very, very much, and he loved her back. And two- to help support her because she thought her knees might give out upon seeing the tanned god descending her stairs. Naruto, in all his beautiful glory, had come down the stairs, his muscles taunt under darkened skin with blonde hair tousled about in great disorder. His teeth flashed perfectly white as his watery blue eyes drew her into their depths. Oh, how she loved those eyes.

Standing next to her though, was the man that made her stomach tie itself in knots every time she saw him, who made her smile every time they kissed, who made her cry in pleasure every time they made love. Beside her was the very opposite of Naruto: dark hair, dark eyes, and pale skin.

The vast difference in the appearance of the two visibly mirrored the differences in their personalities: Sasuke the darker, more serious kind, versus Naruto, the bubbly, energetic kid-like adult.

"Breakfast is- oh, is this a bad time?" came a voice from behind Sasuke and Sakura. Sakura jumped, but Sasuke just turned slowly around. Sakura turned around as well, and her blood boiled at the sight. In front of her- and her husband, whose mouth was fighting to stay closed, she knew- was the maid, wearing tight, short, short, short jean shorts and a plaid shirt tied below her breasts, with long, golden hair falling gently over one shoulder. There, the spitting image of Jessica Simpson in The Dukes of Hazard, stood Ino.

"Hello, Ino," Naruto said, smiling politely at the woman standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the hall in which they all stood. Naruto seemed to blush a little, which made Sasuke smirk, making his sharp features even sharper. Ino smiled back- more to Sasuke than anyone. "Good morning all: Naruto, Sakura,… Sasuke," Ino said in her beautiful, flowing voice. Sakura cringed. Sasuke noticed this and squeezed her hand gently.

In truth, Sasuke wanted to drool at the sight of Ino, but he knew that would not be very appropriate, considering the fact that he was married and his wife was standing right next to him. Well, he thought, if Sakura can ogle over Naruto without a shirt on, then I can ogle over Ino fully dressed…

A/N: Dun, dun, dun! Sorry, but I figured this was as good a place as any to stop, so live with it. :P Actually, you're all lucky I was able to write this next chapter this quickly with as limited as my time has been. And yes, it is quite a bit shorter than the first chapter. None of my chapters will probably ever be as long as that first one.

And thank you to all my reviews. Now GO REVIEW!!!!! ALL OF YOU!