Second to last chapter everyone so I'll take time to remind you that I, in no way own any legal rights to Naruto. I don't own the characters- with the exception of the original characters- or the places. I would also like to take the time to apologize for OOC, the further I get into this story the more out of character they become.
Also this is a sort of flashforward, flashback, which will make sense with the last chapter.
Thank you, thank you, thank you- a hundred times over for each and everyone who has the time and courtesy to put in a review even if its only once:
Wolfgirl21 (One more chapter and then yes this story will be over.)
Sirona of Arabia
kattylin
TentenPanda (Thank you.)
HPBabe91 (Fear not, one more chapter after this and then its all over and there'll be no way to resurrect it.)
Conquettish Siren
Kawaii Yashie (The kid's his.)
Paprika012345
Laura-chan (One more chapter after this one.)
runwithskizzers (Actually I was afraid of you reading this story. When I found out you reviewed I was like, oh no, but I can relax now since you said you liked it.)
Merridaine (I think they belong together too, hell I only like Naruto because of them otherwise I probably would have never gotten into the show.)
Pinkis
Uchiha Sasume
c-Chiaki-c (I would tell you but even the most minimal information might give the ending away.)
Kenya
Sakura's Undying Love (No, she did not agree to that.)
yourdarkdesire
koolerthancool
moodiful819 (Here's your chance to find out.)
sleepingbunny (Well, thank you very much.)
Baka Kunoichi
Spread-My-Wingz-And-Soar
Ur2tRoUbLeSoMe90
venus goddess
MyLadyTopaz
KeyHole-Gardian
Sinister Voices (Thank you, that means a lot.)
I want to see you fly (I missed thanking you last chapter.)
I go to leave but you reach for me…
Sasuke walked into the children's sick ward. Sakura stood in the middle of the room surrounded by dozens of yelling sick children and holding the littlest girl in her arms. She glowed, was in her place, surrounded by children who adored her.
He leaned against the doorframe and watched as they tugged on her white coat and followed her as she set the girl in her arms down on a bed. "I give! I give!" she cried as they started to climb atop her and tickle her. One boy got his arms locked around her neck.
"Naoki-kun, I said I give." she unlatched his fingers from around her neck and set him down. "I'll see you brats later." They protested her leaving and she turned around, brushing her hair of her face and behind her ear, her eyes meeting Sasuke's dark gaze.
Her smile brightened and she walked over to him and he pushed away from the wall as she stepped into his arms, earning a couple of oohs and several snickers and giggles. Sakura turned from Sasuke and glared at the children. "Cover your eyes; you're all far too young." She pushed Sasuke out of the room and walked down the hall, Sasuke following her.
"Naruto's coming home today."
"Yes."
"Nervous?"
"Yes." she admitted as she pushed open the door to the stairwell and he followed her. She pushed against the wall and he stood in front of her, taking her hands between his, bringing them up to his face to kiss the tips of her fingers.
"Do you want me to be there with you?" she looked up at him, her green eyes hard. He dropped her hands, caressed her face, and then pressed his cheek against hers.
"No," she whispered as she slipped her arms around him, stroking his back, her hands sliding down, slipping under his shirt, and running up his spine. "I rather have him hate me than you," she whispered against his neck, slowly kissing up to his ear.
"I would rather have him hate me than you, he's not the dobe I thought he was if hates you for this." he turned his face to hers and caught the scent of her perfume, their lips touched, the barest contact enough to spark a fire between them.
She grabbed at him, pressed her body hard against his as if she would devour him from the mouth down. Sasuke grabbed her around the waist and pressed her close so there were hardly any gaps between his body and hers. His tongue filled her mouth and slid along the top and bottom of hers.
Sakura pushed him back onto the opposite wall, he flipped her back around and she struggled, more for the feel of it, his body moving on hers, the weight of him, the contractions of his muscles as they worked to keep her pinned against the wall.
Sakura grabbed his face, pulled away from him, and slid down his body. He pressed his hands hard against the wall as she lifted up his shirt and kissed and licked around his navel. She tugged the button of his pants loose, yanked the zipper down, and then scrambled away.
Sasuke growled as she bound down the steps, the sound of her open-toe boots echoing through the stairwell. He heard a door opening and closing and he turned over, pressing his back against the wall as he redid his pants. He reached into his back pocket and cursed, she stole his pack of cigarettes.
Sakura herself was already halfway home. When she got to the front door of her house, she pulled off her white coat and she grabbed her keys and was about to open her door when two arms wrapped around her waist, lifted her off the ground and spun her around.
She felt queasy, but it passed as he hooked her left foot and she fell backward with him toppling over her. Sakura looked up at him, his face handsome in the fading light of the sun, his lips drawn back in a snarl, and she smiled up at him, knowing exactly why he had that look on his face.
"Where are they?"
"I threw them away, I don't like you smoking." his mouth came down hard on hers. She wrapped her arms around him as she hooked one leg over his narrow hip. She pulled away dragging his shirt up over his taut muscular back. "Oh- whatever, I know you'll just smoke behind my back anyway. You're all show."
"Careful-" he warned as he ducked his head under the jet-black shirt and pulled the shirt off his head. His mouth went back to hers, tongue slipping between her teeth, exploring deeper. "Let's go inside," he mumbled against her lips when his tongue withdrew from her mouth.
"No, let's do it out here," she said, pulling her head back to look into his eyes and then up at the sky. "New moon." she said as if that would explain everything.
"What about the neighbors?" he asked mockingly, biting into her neck softly. She moaned for him, a pretty moan that made his eyes roll in the back of his head and his eyelids fall shut.
"Fuck the neighbors," she whispered as she tossed him on his back. She slid over his body and unbuttoned his pants for the second time. "Make love to me," she whispered into his ear, licking around the appendage, nipping at the lobe.
Sasuke grabbed her wrists and squeeze hard. "You're not going to run away again are you?" unable to use her arms she came down to his neck and grazed his throat with her teeth, kissing softly where the ear met the jaw.
She used her bizarre strength, hauled him up, and led him further back into the yard, where the trees were thicker. She pulled on the zipper of her vest, pulled it down, and slipped it off her shoulders and he sighed, watching the vest fall so that the Haruno symbol showed.
One day Sasuke was going to propose to her again, one day he was going to make her wear outfits that had the Uchiha emblem printed into them. He wet his lips as she began to unravel the chest bindings. She pushed her skirt and shorts off, leaving her only in a pink low-rise v-string.
In all the time he had known her intimately, never had she once worn anything too provocative. She reached for him and pulled him closer. "I'm not going anywhere." Sasuke hooked his fingers into the straps and smirked.
"Are these for me?" she smiled back at him as his hand came around to cup the back of her hips, pressing her against him.
"I have some other lingerie, too." she whispered, her breath hot against the skin of his neck. Sakura raised her face to meet his lips. He was like silk, pleasantly cool against her mouth and skin. He drew his lips from hers and lowered his face to her bare breasts, taking first one then the other into his mouth, rolling each nipple slowly with his tongue.
"You have to meet Naruto soon…" he breathed the words voicelessly as his hands cupped her breasts, fingers tightening, until she cried out.
"Then make it fast."
Sasuke shook his head, his hands slid down her back to her hip, fingers catching the edge of the undergarments. "I could never go fast with you; I want to take my time." he rubbed his nose against the junction of her neck and shoulder and then lifted her up and lowered her to the soft ground, the grass soft against her skin.
Lifting her legs, he pulled the rest of the last piece of clothing off her body faint with scarce scars. She lay naked before him, the soft wind spilling over their bodies. Sasuke pulled off both his pants and boxers and propped himself up on one arm, the long naked line of his body so close to hers.
Sakura ran her hand down his chest, down his stomach, his waist and finally touched the warmth of him. She cupped him in her hands, holding him firmly and he shuddered, his eyes closing. When he opened them, his obsidian eyes filled with heated lust, almost tangible. It stopped her breath and made things low in her body tighten.
She squeezed gently, caressed him and his spine bowed with it, his head was thrown back so she could not tell if his eyes were open or closed. Sakura moved down while his face was skyward, as her hand stroked him with the right amount of pressure.
She rolled him into her mouth in an abrupt complete movement that brought a deep guttural sound from deep inside him. She rolled her eyes so that she could see his face when looked down at her, his lips half-parted and his face almost wild.
Sasuke's breath came in quick bursts that started from his stomach, spilled to his chest and came out his lips in a word. He panted her name like a prayer and she pulled away from his body and pressed him down onto his back, she moved her body over his, taking him slowly inside her a tight inch at a time, until he was sheathed inside her.
He whispered her name as she bent over him until they kissed. She kissed Sasuke with the feel of him inside her, her body pressed to his in the most intimate of embraces. They became part of that ageless, timeless, ancient dance.
Their bodies locked together, her hips moving back and forth, his hips lifting up then back down so that they formed a double rhythm. She felt him swell tight and firm and she squeezed him tight inside her body, holding him with hands and mouth, every part of her as if he would vanish if she didn't hold on tight, Sasuke felt the same way, his hands squeezed her hips, moved up and stroked her shoulder blades.
Not wanting her to dominate him for too long, he flipped them over. The grass bowed under the weight of him atop her. Sasuke growled and lowered his face to the side of her neck, nipping along that sensitive spot. She shuddered and gasped as he thrust long and hard into her, she wiggled against him.
He watched her breasts, the way they moved when he thrust into her "Sakura… look at me." He ordered quietly. He pressed his hands to her face and kissed her tenderly, her eyes flickered opened, the emerald green irises clouded over with desire. He rubbed his nose against hers and smiled at her, she smiled back and he kissed her again. "I love you, koishii."
Her arms came around his neck and she held him tight to her, but her grip loosened, slipping along the sweat on his back and her grip growing weak as her orgasm rushed over her like the breaking of a damn. He could always bring her on the first time.
"I love you, Sasuke-kun," she said through heavy pants and then she rolled her head to the side and tried to catch her breath. "I don't want to go." she whined as she pressed her fingers to his back, tracing designs in the sweat between his scapulas as he chewed the hollow between her neck and shoulder.
"Then stay, breakup with him tomorrow, I can wait." He had been doing nothing but waiting, waiting for her to be with him freely, his part nearly done. Sasuke stroked her hair slowly, enjoying the soft silky tresses against his fingers.
She pressed her face to his chest and inhaled. "You smell so good." He chuckled, brought his lips down to hers, and kissed her deeply. She laughed against his mouth, her hands slipping up to his shoulders. "Hmm, I have to go…" she pushed on his shoulders and pushed him off, searching for her clothes.
She gathered them and pulled on the underwear and then her shorts. Sasuke pulled on his boxers and pants and then hugged her around the waist. "I don't want you to go either. I'm scared Sakura."
"You…? Never." it was hard to imagine that anything could scare him, moving one hand to caress along the third finger of his left hand and for the first time since he got married he removed the ring, it brought a sense of ease to her heart; he was almost hers.
"I am. I'm afraid of losing you." he gave a quiet sigh. "What if you see the dobe and you can't leave him?"
"I guess this is where you have faith in me then." She turned around in his arms and looked up at him. He stared at her for a moment, then smiled and hugged her tight. "I have to go, I love you." they kissed and then again and then his arms tighten around her as she locked her arms around his neck. "I really…" she mumbled, between kisses, "…have to go."
Reluctantly, he let her go; she felt his eyes on her as she walked back to the front of the house, running her fingers through her hair, making sure there were no leaves or twigs in her hair. She bent to pick up his shirt and toss it back so no one would see him shirtless in front of her house now that the streetlights were on.
It was not too far of a walk from her house to Naruto's apartment. Naruto had been gone on a three-day mission since Sasuke walked back into her life and she agreed to leave Naruto for him.
Things were so much simpler when she was younger; her love for Sasuke was steadfast and unquestionable but she let him go and just when she was beginning to actually love Naruto as a woman loves a man… Sasuke came back, actually wanting her.
If she could go back, she would do so many things differently, too. "…Haruno-san?" Sakura stopped just in front of the pub and looked up to see a woman, no ordinary woman.
She was a little taller than Sakura, maybe an inch give or take. She was probably somewhere in her early to mid twenties with long lustrous black hair, exquisite features and eyes as black as night.
What a pretty girl, Sakura thought as she looked at her, there was this kind of sad smile on her face. She looks like a doll.
"I thought it was you, Shoichi-kun talks about your hair and eyes, constantly." Sakura suddenly felt very sick, all the color drained from her face as she stared at the beautiful woman before her, Sasuke's wife or at least the wife Sasuke was leaving.
Sakura was having a hard time not feeling little self-conscious in the presence of this younger woman with china doll features, what did Sasuke want with her when he had a woman like that?
It was strange in all the time Sakura had been with Sasuke and treated Shoichi she had not once come in direct contact with Sasuke's wife and now here they were, the wife and the other woman. "I hope it's all right, but I was hoping we could talk?"
"I-I actually have to meet with someone." So I can breakup with him, so I can be with your husband forever…
"I promise I won't take too much of your time, please can we just talk?" Sakura was wary, but she slowly nodded and they walked inside the pub and took the first empty booth they saw. She left Sakura alone for a moment to order shochu and scotch for Sakura, who requested the drink absently with no real intention to drink it.
Sakura sat in the booth with a nervous feeling creeping along her skin. She had to know, had to know that Sakura was sleeping with Sasuke, again. Damn it, why did she let Sasuke back in, being together was too much trouble, but this was something that needed dealing with before they were out of the woods.
She smiled faintly at the idea of finally being with Sasuke without all the lies, but she was also scared Naruto would hate her forever. Sakura looked up, as the glass of scotch was set in front of her. "Thank you."
She sat down across from Sakura and the two women looked at each other. Sakura's first instincts were to be polite, maybe this woman did not know Sasuke and she had been sleeping together. Her other instincts of shutting her mouth were stronger. "Look, I know, you must think I'm a total bitch and wish I never met Sasuke."
"I never-"
"But I love Sasuke; I really, really love him. I have been waiting this whole time… for him too love me back. We have a child together and there were times when Shoichi-kun was a baby, Sasuke would look at me, and I was wonderful…"
"I don't know what to say…"
"I'm not above begging… so, please, don't take that away from me… please, give Sasuke back to me. Give him back…" Sakura looked around nervously, she felt like this woman was pushing her back into a corner and suffocating her.
Sakura was surprisingly shocked when she saw tears rolling down this woman's face, they slid down her cheeks and she did nothing to stop the tears, just looked at Sakura with those deep black eyes. Sakura wished she would not look at her the way she was with tears clinging to those long, thick eyelashes.
Sakura did not know what to say, apologizing would do nothing, it would not take back all the things Sasuke and Sakura had done together, all the words, all the kisses and of course, it would not make up for the final decision of the two of them finally being together like a real couple.
"I… I have to go." Sakura moved to get up but Sasuke's wife grasped her hand tightly. Sakura looked down at her.
"Please, I'll never bother you again… just don't take my family from me." Sakura tried to get her hand free; she needed to get out of the pub, Sakura's guilt piled heavily upon her.
"I won't, please, let go." she could use her strength to get away, but she did not want to accidentally hurt her in her own panic.
"You promise?"
"Yes, please, let go." she did and Sakura ran out of the pub as quickly as she could. She was going to cry when she reached Naruto's house. She stood there in the dark with only the distant light of the lampposts. Tears slid down her face… take a family away… what a horrible concept.
The door opened and she looked up to see the sleepy face of Naruto. He came to full awareness when he saw the tears in her eyes and running down her cheeks. "Sakura-chan, what's the matter?" he touched her arm and then the other and pulled her to him and she began to really cry, with loud sobs and everything.
Naruto pulled her inside and closed the door.
…
Sasuke pushed the door open and closed it behind him. He was too anxious. Butterflies were tumbling along inside his stomach; he could feel the rush of excitement just as he had on his very first mission only without the danger. She was over there right now breaking it off with Naruto.
Sasuke had everything arranged, he would spend one more night here and then until she and Shoichi had their own place Sasuke would stay with Sakura at her place. Sasuke did not pack anything; he did not really need anything, just a pack of cigarettes and Sakura… that was all he needed.
He set his boots aside, side by side and pulled off his shirt and folded it over his arm and set it on the coffee table and looked up to see his wife. She was wearing a short negligee and her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. "What are you doing up?" he asked.
She stepped out of the lit hallway and stepped into the dark living room, walking closer to him. Sasuke lay down on the sofa and she came around the sofa and sat down next to him, her fingers stroking slow circles on his knee. "I was waiting for you, come to bed."
She came down for a kiss, he turned his head and her lips met his cheek. "We talked about this," he said moving up until he was sitting.
"What did I do wrong?"
"This isn't about you." She gave him a look, one of curiosity. She pressed her lips together as if she were thinking, careful of her wording, whatever she would say.
"How is this not about me?" He got up and she stood. "She isn't going to be with you, she told me." he whirled around, his brows furrowed; it was his turn to be confused.
"You went to see her? What did you say to her…?" he asked and she shifted, bowing her head, her ponytail falling over her shoulder. "What did you say?" the words came out darker than he intended; making his voice almost threatening.
"I said… don't take my family; you're my family. I love you."
"Love me? I don't even touch you."
"You're still my son's father. What about Shoichi-kun, did you not think of him when you started fucking another woman behind my back? I'm your wife, I'm wearing your ring, and I'm an Uchiha." she retaliated, lifting her hand, making the wedding ring visible.
"By accident… I love Shoichi, there's no doubt there and I'll do whatever you want when it comes to him, if you want me in his life I'll be there, if you don't I'll understand and respect that. I'll help in anyway I can."
"I don't want your charity. I want my husband."
"I don't love you. I don't. It was all a lie, my whole responsibility is to make sure my son does not grow up without knowing his father. I'm out of here."
"She promised… Sasuke…!" he pulled on his shirt, grabbed his shoes and left the house. The last thing he heard was her crying. He was a bastard, always had been, he was always making girls cry. He also had to be the stupidest man ever; it took him a couple of years to realize how deeply he actually felt for Sakura.
He needed her, like he needed air to live, food to live… everything was survival, Sakura was his sole his reason for everything, if he did not have her…
He felt so erratic, out of control, illogical. He walked towards Sakura's house; she should be there now. It had been long enough. She would not go back on her word… she would not. The lights would be on and she would be waiting for him as she had always been waiting for him.
Sasuke ran the rest of the way as the rain started to fall. His heart sank when he found the lights off. He ran up to the door and knocked, more than once. He turned around, slammed his back against the door, and slid down, fisting his hair in his hands. "Please… no."
…
Sakura pulled her keys out of her pouch and stopped. She sighed, moved her hair out of her face, and walked over to him. He was sleeping; he was beautiful, semi-dry from last night's rain. She crouched in front of him, pressing her palm to her mouth, just watching him.
Slowly his eyes opened and he jumped awake, he leaned forward reaching for her, she fell back to avoid him. "Sakura…?" She pushed herself up and opened her door. She stepped inside and he followed her. "What happened? Sakura, talk to me."
Sakura walked into the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator door. "I can't talk to you."
"You can't or won't?"
"Whatever you want to believe." she closed the door, took the milk and poured it into a glass from her cabinet.
"Don't patronize me, Sakura." she set the glass aside and licked her lips. "Did you end it?"
"I did not." she turned around and started to wash the glass, slowly as if she had all the time in the world for it. She pressed her lips together and shut her eyes, willing the tears not to fall.
"Why, you said yes… you said we'd be together. I know she talked to you." she whipped her head around, her hair slapping against her cheek as she faced him.
"You know?"
"She told me." she turned her head to the side, looking down at the running water, watching it circle the drain. "It doesn't matter Sakura. All that matters is-"
"It does matter. What she said… made perfect sense and broke my heart." she whispered softly over the sound of running water. "…Just don't take my family…" she repeated. "If I were her I would have done and said the same thing." she started silently cry when he hugged her from behind, pressing her close to him. Tears streaked down her face as he tightened his hold on her waist.
His smell was intoxicating, not only did he smell of the aftershave he wore, but he also smelled like the rain, he rubbed his cheek against hers and she sniffled. "I'm moving in with Naruto and then we're going to start talking about getting married." He pulled back; she refused to look at him.
"Married? What happened last night? You'll marry him, but you refuse to marry me? You don't even love him."
"Yes I do, maybe not the same… passionate, reckless love I have for you. It may never become that kind of love. We just might have a comfortable relationship, but I do care about Naruto, he is very dear to me, he always will be. Maybe next time around, in some distance life you and I can be together. I'll be waiting for that day."
He kissed her, one last time, on the cheek and then… slowly, hesitantly, reluctantly he let her go. Sakura looked to see his back facing her; he was almost out of the kitchen when she called out. "Wait…"
-Fin-