Chapter Three: Right in front of me

Dr. Sakura Haruno walked into the hallway writing on the patient's chart when her eardrums were battered.

"HEY BEAUTIFUL!"

She looked up and coming towards her with a bounce in his step and a bouquet of delphiniums in his arms was Naruto Namikaze - sportsman, philanthropist and the sole heir to the Namikaze and Uzumaki fortunes and media darling.

He was her best male friend in the world. He had stayed by her side after the event that shall not be named. Forcing her to get out of bed. Literally shoving her in the shower and turning on the water.

Then he made her go out in public. And walk with her head held high because she "didn't have a damn thing to be ashamed of!"

Naruto had her go on business and casual trips with him. They went to Japan to visit their martial arts teacher, Kakashi, who was there for a year to teach and to learn. He fretted when she flung herself into Kakashi's arms and burst into tears. He smiled and watched as Sakura effortlessly charmed crusty old men who usually drove him nuts. He grinned when they went to Hawaii and she dealt with his godfather, Jiraiya with great flair.

They even went to Bora Bora but not the same resort that she was going to go to with the lousy bastard. And she had a glorious time.

There wasn't a week that went by where they weren't going out somewhere together. From surfing in the morning to movie premiers at night. They were considered one of the hottest couples around and speculation about their relationship filled minutes and pages of gossip shows and magazines.

She tried to frown at him but she couldn't. "Naruto! You're in a hospital. Don't shout!"

Naruto made a valiant effort to look ashamed as he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close for a hug.

Sakura took a deep breath of that scent that was so uniquely Naruto and relished the gentle strength in the arm that held her close to a chest that she knew was quite magnificent.

He kissed her cheek and let her go. "Sorry, forgot to use my indoor voice." He held out the bouquet to her. "These are for you."

She took the bouquet and dipped her nose delicately into it and sniffed. She had hung around with Ino long enough to recognize her friend's handiwork and wonder if Naruto knew what the delphiniums stood for.

She turned to one of the junior nurses and asked her to put it in a vase with water and to place it on the nurses' desk so that everyone could enjoy them. Then she turned back to Naruto and looked him up and down. He wasn't wearing his preferred daytime attire of obnoxious Hawaiian shirts and board shorts. "What's with the suit?"

"Board meeting."

"No tie?"

"They should be happy with the coat and pants!"

Sakura knew that while he pretended to be an idiot with crappy fashion taste, he was one of the smartest people she knew. But he liked to be underestimated so when he had to lower the boom on someone, they usually didn't know what hit them. Besides his mother would rip his ears off if he went to meetings wearing his favorites.

Naruto brushed a strand of her pink hair back behind her ear. "I wanted to let you be the first to know. We're increasing the yearly donation to the hospital by 10% and increasing the donation to the Cancer Research Fun by 10% as well.

Sakura felt tears well up in her eyes. She knew why his family was doing that. Kushina Namikaze had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in the year. Fortunately it had been caught very early and she was responding well to treatment.

When she learned of her diagnosis and what the treatment would be, Kushina wasted no time. She shaved her head and donated the hair to Locks of Love. And she walked around being boldly bald and beautiful. While she wore a hat when she was in the sun, she sneered at quiet suggestions that she wear a hat even indoors and would retort, "If a six-year-old or a thirteen-year-old can deal with being bald, so can I!"

"What time is the meeting?"

Naruto glanced at the clock on the walk and swore under his breath. "Gotta go!" He gave her another hug and a kiss and began to stride off.

"Naruto! I'll see you at my place tonight, okay?" Sakura called to his back.

He turned and walked backwards. "I'll be there!" He waved then back around and jogged to the elevator.

888888

Sakura fought to keep herself from tweaking the silverware one last time. "For the love of God, woman, it's straight already."

A familiar knock was on the door. She wasn't surprised that Naruto wasn't announced by the doorman even thought she'd forgotten to tell him that she was expecting him. Of course, when the doorman did call up, she'd never denied Naruto.

She walked over and opened the door. Naruto stood there in jeans and a short-sleeved woven shirt. He held another bouquet. This time it was daisies. "Naruto, you shouldn't have."

"Hey, if I can't spend my money on my best friend, who can I spend it on?"

Sakura stepped back and let him into the apartment. He waited until she shut the door then followed behind her as she walked into the kitchen. He knew where she kept her vases and helped himself to one as she checked on the food.

She refused to let him help finish dinner but made him sit at the table with a glass of wine and they chatted about various things from her patients and hospital doings to politics and recent news events.

As he talked she watched his every move and she wondered when exactly it was that she had fallen in love with him. And she wondered what drugs she'd been on to fall in love with an emotionally stunted person like the scumbag.

"You're staring."

Sakura blinked, startled out of her reverie. She stood up and held a hand out to him. "Dance with me!"

It was Naruto's turn to blink. "There's no music."

"So? Dance with me!"

Naruto laughed, took her hand and stood up. He pulled her into his arms and they began to sway. After a few minutes with her head resting on his chest, she looked up, stood on her toes and kissed Naruto on the mouth.

His eyes widened as her tongue invaded his mouth. He pulled back. " …"

"Naruto Namikaze, will you marry me?" Sakura smiled sweetly up at him. She was sort of surprised that she said what she said but it also felt completely right.

" ?"

She spoke slower this time. "Will you marry me?"

'But…we haven't slept together since…"

She tilted her head at him, green eyes curious. "You equate love with sex?"

"No but…"

"I love you, Naruto. I always have and I curse the fact that I didn't realize that a long, long time ago. And if I hurt you by not realizing that, I'm so very sorry."

Naruto ran a shaking hand through his hair. His eyes were still wide with shock. "I love you too, Sakura. You're my best friend but that doesn't mean we're compatible…"

Sakura smiled at him in a way that caused his testicles to shrink slightly then the smile changed into something that made his body go the opposite direction. "Compatible? In Bed? Well then, Naruto darling, I guess I'll have to take you for a test drive!" And with that, she ruthlessly pulled him into her bedroom.

A few hours later as the sweat dried on their bodies, Sakura rested her head on his chest with one hand on his taunt, tanned stomach.

"Yes." Came the rumble in her ear.

"Yes?" she looked at him, puzzled.

"Yes, I'll marry you."

"Good. I want to be married tomorrow."

Author's Note: Flower Meanings: Delphiniums – Levity, fun, big-hearted, ardent attachment; Daisy – Innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer.