A/N: Bear with me this is my first time doing dialog for Naruto himself. He strikes me as the type who loses it when talking while excited.

Disclaimer: Once again I state that Kishimoto-sama has the rights to Naruto. Once again I state that I have no rights, I fear the lawyers, and I am a lowly worm...Come to think of it I don't own the rights to Lowly Worm either. I am missing out on soooo much.

Chapter 6: We Are Not Alone

As Sakura had expected, her mother was trying to be all ideas and planning the next morning. Sakura let her know that she was the Hokage's protégé, and the Hokage had already told her that she would be making the arrangements for the wedding herself. Tsunade-sama would let Sakura know the available dates and any limitations this afternoon. Since it was the Hokage's will, her mother gave up… for now.

In spite of her best efforts, Sakura couldn't make her escape from the house until almost 11:30. She had hoped to get a little more time to herself before she had to meet Lee. She also realized that she would have to make arrangements to get together with Ino to go dress shopping. It was going to be busy enough as is, let alone if she got sent out on a mission. She did a little window shopping as she headed off, maybe she'd at least get some ideas.

"Hey Sakura!" she turned to find Naruto rushing up to her. "I've been hearing some crazy rumors."

'Oh, not now,' she thought, 'it's probably something really dumb.' She took a deep breath, and put on a smile for him. "I'm really busy right now, but if you want to walk where I'm going, I can talk." She turned back the way she was heading.

"So is it true?" He asked.

"Is what true?" she looked at him as they moved down the street.

"Are you and Bushy Brows getting married?"

She almost replied to the affirmative but then thought it might be more fun to string him along. "Where did you hear a thing like that?"

"I ran into to Tenten this morning," he said, "she was all, 'have you heard the news?' as she came up to me. Then she giggled like it was some kind of joke, dattebayo."

"So do you believe her?" Sakura asked.

"Well it seems sort of far fetched;" he looked at her, "you go off on a mission with another crew, and come back engaged. I mean, you aren't even dating, are you?"

"Why do you think I don't go on dates?" she was kind of embarrassed now, this was the second time someone made a comment about that. 'Then again, I went from just talking with Lee privately to going all the way in the course of 5 days. I guess it is kind of weird.'

Her inner voice chimed in, 'Yeah, but I'd do it all again…the sooner the better, mmm mmm mmm.'

"Sakura, you okay?" Naruto was staring at her. He'd never seen her blush so brightly.

"Thinking of me?" Lee walked up and put his arm around her waist.

"No way," Naruto stared, jaw dropping, "it's true?"

"Very much so," Sakura smiled and turned to him, "wanna see my ring?"

"Nah, those things don't excite me," He tried to act cool.

"But everyone else has seen it." Sakura tried to sound disappointed.

"Everyone, you mean, Kakashi knows already! Auuuugh, Konohamaru too!" he started to make a spectacle of himself. "You probably even told Akamaru before me, why am I always the last to know-ttebayo?"

Her intent missed its mark, but what did she expect from Naruto?

"Yo! Did I hear my name?" Kakashi appeared along side Naruto. "Sakura, Lee, Gai told me something interesting happened on your mission with Neji. He didn't say what, but judging from his grin, I have a guess. Is that a ring you're wearing, Sakura?"

She held out her hand and Naruto instantly pushed in. "Lemme see, lemme see, dattebayo!"

"I thought you weren't excited by these things," She laughed.

Suddenly it dawned on him, "I thought you said everybody knew already."

"What I meant was everyone who found out wanted to see the ring." She pulled her hand back and gave it over to Lee. "No, the whole village didn't find out before you."

"Well anyways, I wish the two of you much happiness," you could see the smile in Kakashi's eye, "Come along Naruto, I think they'd like a little alone time."

They started to walk away, but you could still hear Naruto say, "How can you be alone in the middle of the street-ttebayo?"

Sakura and Lee looked at each other and laughed. "Where to, my love?" she leaned her head against his shoulder.

About half an hour later, they went off to see Tsunade. Shizune took them back to the Hokage's office, "So, how are you handling the extra attention you're getting today?" She asked.

"It's kind of strange, every time we turn around, someone comes up to congratulate us." Sakura looked at her, "I never realized how fast news of our kind travels in this place."

"It's not everyday that someone so closely tied to the Hokage decides to get married. I think everyone likes good news." Shizune smiled. She opened the door and led them in.

"Sakura, Lee," the Hokage greeted them, "please be seated, we have a lot to discuss."

Almost two hours later they several lists: Who they wanted as guests, who they thought should be invited and just enough space for Sakura's mother to have her say. They also had a date: August 20th, a month and 9 days away.

"I was thinking," Sakura began, "do you think it would be nice if we used some of our little stickers on the invitations for our closest friends? It is kind of our engagement photo."

"Forgive me, my treasure, but I am at a complete loss when it comes to any of this." He looked slightly glazed after the time in the Hokage's office. "Please share your ideas, I can tell you what I absolutely do not like, but I fear fine details are beyond me."

She wrapped her arms around him. "Didn't you know that proposing to the Hokage's apprentice would be the most dangerous thing you've ever done?" She tilted her head up so she could meet his kiss. They lingered that way for a while.

Lee pressed against her, "I want you so much." he whispered, "Do you want to go back to my place?"

"That's the best suggestion I've heard all day." She squeezed his hand, "Let's do it."

If they moved fast on their missions, they seemed to move doubly fast now. Hand in hand, they wove through the streets of Konoha. "Do you think we should start looking for a real apartment of our own?" he asked, "And if we do so, should we look into immediate occupancy?"

"I thought you weren't into the fine details." She smiled.

"Here we are." They had arrived at the place where Lee lived.

Sakura looked at the drab exterior, 'At least our first night together was perfect.' She thought. Then she reminded herself it was only late afternoon, and that she wasn't here on an architectural tour.

Just as they were about to move to the door the voice Sakura most dreaded as an intrusion of their lives rang out. "There you are, Lee!" and Gai-sensei appeared before them as if by magic. Talk about something hitting you like a cold shower.

Lee looked from Gai to Sakura and back again. "Yes, Gai-sensei, what do you require of me?"

Suddenly, it appeared that Gai had finally noticed Sakura standing there. "Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?" He looked them over.

"Its okay," Sakura put on a smile, "we were just taking a walk after our visit with the Hokage. I really should be getting home, 'til tomorrow, Lee." They kept their kiss brief and she turned to head for home.

"He can't do this to us," her inner voice wailed, "Gai has to have a weakness we can exploit."

That was the beginning of their personal hell. It seemed any time they even thought about trying to spend some more intimate time together, someone would just pop up. Gai, Tenten, Kakashi, Naruto, Shizune, it didn't seem to matter. Somehow, it seemed the fates had conspired against them. Lee even tried to visit Sakura via her window and somehow her mother 'couldn't sleep' and tapped on her door to see if she was awake for a mother-daughter heart-to-heart.

Then of course there were the missions: it seemed like Gai was dragging Lee off every time she blinked. Sakura only went out once during the first two weeks, but of course it was during a time when Lee was back in Konoha. The two of them were learning the depths frustration could reach. The only time they ever seemed to get together was fully and completely in public. After August 10th, they had resigned themselves to waiting for their wedding night to be together again.

Since the Hokage had been nice enough to allow Sakura to stay in Konoha to do all the rest of the wedding arrangements, she had to make up for it by training hard. Some days she was positively exhausted when she was done, she hadn't felt this drained since she had first started her training under Tsunade's tutelage.

Five days before the wedding, she was getting ready to head out to work with her master, when her mother called out to her; "Did you have breakfast?"

"No Mother, I'll catch something later at Tsunade-sama's" Sakura realized that the last thing she wanted at that moment was something to eat. The thought…well, let's just say the thought of it wasn't pleasant.

"Are you having a bout of nerves, dear?" her mother looked at her, "It's perfectly normal this close to your big day. Just take a deep breath and remind yourself this will all be over soon and you can start your new life." Suddenly her mother got a weepy looking expression in her eyes. Sakura gave her mother a big hug and went on her way before she'd hear the full-blown 'I'm losing my little girl' crying jag.

Her session at the Hokage's was just as exhausting as the last few times, even worse for the lack of a meal. Soon she was on her knees with a half-vacant expression.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" Tsunade asked her.

"I'll be all right, I just sort of skipped out on breakfast." she replied.

"Shizune, get something for Sakura." Tsunade called out, then turning back to Sakura, "I didn't think you'd be one of those foolish girls who tries to starve herself into a smaller dress just before the wedding."

"Really, I'm not." Sakura shook her head, "My mother thinks its nerves."

"Just relax, it's only a few days away, all the arrangements are done." Tsunade smiled reassuringly, "What could possibly go wrong? Then again," she tapped a finger to her chin, "Lee's not due back from his latest mission until later tonight…"

"Don't even talk like that." Sakura looked pale.

"Its okay, Shizune's back and it looks like she's got a message." Tsunade smirked.

Sure enough it was word that Gai's Team made it back already.

"We can go as soon as you've had something to eat."

Sakura almost picked at what was offered, then she tried to get as much of it down as would satisfy her mentor. So, soon they were on their way to greet Gai's team. After the payout and debriefing, Tsunade released her protégé to go with her intended.

As they all turned to leave, Tsunade said, "Tenten, if I could have a moment of your time." As soon as the others were gone, the Hokage said to Shizune and Tenten, "It appears that the second part of the bet is on."

Finally, the night before the wedding had arrived. The wedding party had gone out for dinner together; both Lee and Sakura had blatantly told everyone they did not want bachelor-type parties.

"Shall I walk you home, my treasure?" Lee asked.

"No, I'm sure you have some last minute things you need to go over with your Best Man." Sakura looked up at Gai.

He promptly slapped Lee on the back and grinned, "That's right, I am sure you will need to ask for my advice in these final hours."

"Besides Ino and I have to go over some last minute details." Sakura smiled at Ino who simply raised an eyebrow at her. She stepped toward Lee and they embraced, once again they had to do their briefer public kiss. "Goodnight, my love." She smiled longingly.

"After tomorrow night, those will no longer be parting words for us." he returned her smile with one equally contemplative.

They went their separate ways. Ino could barely wait until they were out of earshot. "Okay, now what do you need me to do for you?"

A/N: I do like using Sakura's inner voice, I hope I'm doing it okay. What's really weird is I know where I'm going with all this it's just that I'm trying to find the most interesting way to get there.