Sakura held up the hem of her rose night-gown as she climbed down the abandoned staircase at the back of the town house. It had used to be the servants staircase but, with the Haruno's family position and wealth, even the workers had had their quarters upgraded and expanded. Now, it made the perfect secret route for Sakura to take to the coach house.

When she reached the barn, the pinkette slowly pushed the doors open with her pearl-smooth hand and slipped inside.

"Naruto?" She called out softly.

A shuffling noice came from the other side of the barn, where the blonde normally slept.

"Sakura. You finally came."

The voice was quiet but Sakura could still hear the desperation it held. Ino had taken up so much of her time that the pinkette had not managed to see Naruto for three days.

As she moved closer to she shadows, a broad hand reached out to her. Sakura grasped it, letting her fingers brush the familiar texture of his rough skin.

Without any warning, the hand pulled Sakura into the darkest of shadows. She flew through the air, unable to stop herself, and just as she thought she might never find ground again, Sakura landed against a warm chest. Strong arms embraced her, holding her tightly but not in a way to suffocate her, as a gust of warm breath fluttered over her neck.

It had always been this way. Naruto was a strong man but he always treated the pinkette like a rare china doll.

After a moment, Sakura realised just how heavily her companion was breathing.

"Naruto," she murmured, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing." He replied. "Nothing now that you're here."

The mix of relief and anxiety in his voice reminded the young lady of the face she had hallucinated peering around her door on the night of the party.

…

The melting candles that lined the small sleeping space at the back of the barn were now casting their warm glow over the room. Sakura lay back on the worn down mattress and pulled Naruto's coarse blanket over her shoulders. It was not the comfiest thing in the world but as Sakura watched the blond rummage through his draws, she decided that she could live with it.

"Found it!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sakura felt a grin spread over her face as he held up a small bottle of gin. She knew that it couldn't be anything special but Naruto seemed so pleased with himself that it didn't matter. It was almost as if his youthful happiness had diffused through the room and engulfed her.

"To Lady Ino and Lord Shikamaru!" he cheered as he poured the brown liquid into two cups and held one high.

The Pinkette's smile fell from her face.

"I hope they'll be happy." She muttered.

Ino had always been there for Sakura. She'd been there when Sakura felt lonely or sad and had always found a way to bring joy back into life. Sakura wanted to be excited for her friend, she wanted to watch her friend smile grow more each day but she couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. Perhaps it was the lack of love she saw in the engaged couple. Not family love, she saw that in them each day, but romantic love. The love she and Naruto shared. Or at least, seemed to share.

Sakura took a sip of the gin. A fiery sensation ran down her throat, causing her to grimace.

"Hey, S-Sakura," Naruto stuttered, "what do you think of being married?"

Shocked by the sudden change of atmosphere, the young lady look up to meet the blonde's eyes before letting her gaze fall to the blanket.

"Well um…"

"Sakura." Came a small whisper.

"I've never really thought so seriously…"

"Sakura."

"I think that the couple should be completely…"

"Sakura."

"It's just that-"

"Sakura, stop." The whisper finally commanded. "You don't need to say anything. It's ok."

Sakura looked up to Naruto again.

"I love you." He said.

…

Sakura didn't know what had made her feel so queazy. Naruto had confessed to her before but this time she'd felt more distant than the last.

Quickly, the Pinkette stood up and started pacing around her four-poster bed. She didn't know what to feel or how to act. The knowledge that she felt strongly for Naruto was imprinted into her mind and she'd often imagined herself becoming his wife, but there was something else nothing her. Something that stopped her from being able to fully understand her feelings. Something with raven hair…

How do you know when you are in love?

The thought made Sakura stop still in her tracks.

Love. Could it be that she already felt this?

Sakura had left the barn shortly after the blonde's unannounced confession. He'd held her tight and kissed her lips. It had felt right but at the same time, it hadn't.

"Do I love him?" She wondered to herself.

Resuming her fast pace, Sakura begin to further think out loud.

"I could love him. He makes me feel happy. That's what love is, isn't it? Feeling at ease and comfortable. Wanting to hold him. Wanting to be held by him. That must be love, right?"

Folding her left arm over her chest and pinching her lower lip with her other, she stood still and thought hard, trying to process every thought.

"That's it!" She finally exclaimed, slapping the side of her fist into the other palm, "I love him!"

"Love who?" came an amused voice from beside her open window.

Shrieking, Sakura span around. Before she could identify the owner of the voice, the dark figure had moved across the room to her in one step and closed his hand over her mouth.

"Hush." He whispered.

With her heart thumping faster than the weeks of a steam train, the pinkette looked up. She did not recognise him at first, for the dark night already concealed most of his dark form. However, after staring a few more moments, Sakura managed to pick out the loose locks of midnight blue hair and the perfectly sculpted cheekbones that belonged to Mister Uchiha. No, to Sasuke.

"What are you doing here?" she asked when the man finally moved his hand.

"The night of the ball," Sasuke said, taking a long look over Sakura. "I forgot something."

At this moment, the young lady became painfully aware that she was wearing nothing more than her thin night-gown. And it was a cold night.

Before Sakura could question Sasuke or even move her arms to cover herself, he swooped downward and grasped Sakura. The kiss was long and electric, but ended all too soon. After one last look from Sasuke, he turned and climbed back out of the window, leaving Sakura alone and confused.

I love him?

A/N: First, I'd like to apologise. The person I would have asked to beta read this is on holiday so there might be some typos or continuity errors.
This chapter was interesting for me to write, as I wanted to show the growing relationships of both pairings. Sakura will choose one man in the end but it might not be the one you think ;) I hope you enjoyed it!
Also, I might not upload for a few weeks as I have exams next month but I will try my best.

Ah so some people now think that Sakura will end up with Sasuke because of my comment above but I would just like to clarify that that may or may not be the case. I actually have two alternative endings planned and do not know which one I will use yet. I am leaning towards one of them but I won't say which one. Anyhow, you can route for Sasuke or Naruto, either man has an equal (well, more or less equal) chance of being chosen at this point. The ending could be surprising for you, you will have to read to find out :D