Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me. The story on the other hand, does. If you take it claim it as your own work, I will find you and tickle you to death. You've been warned.

Chapter 2, Part Five: The Winter Break

She was lighter then he expected. Gaara scooped her up and held her close as he walked down the hallway. She muttered in her sleep and moved around a little.
"It's ok, go back to sleep." He whispered into her ear. She quieted down at his voice and rested her head on his shoulder. Gaara stepped into his bedroom and laid her down on his bed carefully. Trying not to wake her, he undid her shoes and pulled them off. He pulled the blanket up around her and watched as she made herself comfortable on his bed.

His bed.

Gaara hadn't slept on it since that one night when he had taken the doxepin. He hadn't even sat on it, spending most of his time in the living room or the chair in his room. He didn't have a reason for it. It was almost like a superstition. Afraid that if he got to close to it that his dreams would become a reality.

Sakura nuzzled her head into the pillow and he felt a slight twinge of envy at it. He rubbed his fingers on his cheek. She smiled at his touch while she sleep. Watching her like that, he felt his chest become warm and was suddenly content. Kneeling down by the bed side, he rested his arms and head on the bed, watching her peaceful face.

What as she dreaming? Not the sort of dreams he had, not with a face like that. The moon shone though the window touching her face and hair, giving them a simi-glow. She looked almost heavenly…

He leaned forward to whisper something into her ear, content that what he said wouldn't leave the room.

0o0o0o0o0

The first thing she noticed when she woke up the next morning was the smell of sandalwood and the feeling that someone was watching her. Opening her eyes, she was met with a pair of jade colored eyes. Gaara was watching her, his arms resting on the side of the bed that hid half his face, almost like a child would. It looked so adorable she couldn't but smile.

"Morning."

"Good Morning."

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and realized the room she was in wasn't hers, but his. He had changed it a little since the time she had come to help unpack books. Unlike the rest of the apartment, it was just a solid tan color. There was a worn out rocking chair in one corner of the room with a book in the seat.

She frowned while looking around. How had she gotten here? The last thing she had remembered was sitting was Gaara in his living room and… there was a dim memory of her being moved and voice telling her to go back to sleep as she was being moved. He had picked her up and brought her in here to sleep, rather then the living room.
"Have you been watching me all night?"

"Just for a few hours."

Her eyes widened. "Hours?"

His head tilted to one side slightly. "You're peaceful when you sleep." He said as if he hadn't heard her. One of his hands reached your to brush her bangs away from her face. The contact sent a pleasant shiver down her back and she was temped to take his hand and kiss it. Looking around again, she noticed how much light was coming from outside.
"What time is it?"

"Half pass eight."

"Oh gezz…" She pushed the blankets off her and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "I need to get back down stairs before my parents get home. They wouldn't be happy if they knew I was up here all night…"

Gaara looked puzzled. "We didn't do anything."

"Tell that to my mother. She wouldn't believe me… Where are my shoes?"

"By the door." Gaara stood up and followed her to the front door. He quietly watched her as she knelt down to tie her shoes, looking thoughtful. "Why would she be angry?"

"My parents are a little old fashion. I haven't really told them that… well… we're seeing each other. She thinks you and I have been studying together most of the time." She looked up and saw that he was frowning. "It's nothing about you… I just don't to expose you to them. After my last boyfriend…they're kind of protective."

Gaara's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't pursue the subject. "Is it ok if I walk you to your door?"

She smiled again. "Sure."

They stepped outside and stood outside her door. They paused and looked at each other for a moment.

"Do you know how to get to the ice rink? For when we all go?"

"No, but I have time to look it up."

Sakura nodded and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted.
"Sakura, honey, what are you doing out here? And without and jacket…"

Sakrau and Gaara turned to look at her parents. Both of them looked tired, the father's eyes were halfway shut and he was rubbing his temples, clearly hung over.

"Ah… well…" Her mind started racing for some answer to come to mind. "Gaara… wanted to know if I could to go out today. It's a nice day out and everything. I was going to wait for you two to come back before going…"

"Ah. Well, don't forget your jacket. It's freezing outside. Do be home at a reasonable time." The mother said. Sakura reached over to open the door for them, cringing at the realized that she had left the apartment unlocked all night. She leaned in to grab her jacket off the arm chair before closing the door.

"Smooth." Gaara said sarcastically. "So, where are we going?"

0o0o0o0o0

"This isn't really what I had in mind…" Gaara said while looking at the empty ice rink.

"Well, you didn't have any better ideas." Sakura said while tying the laces to her skates.

"Besides… you might like it."

Gaara snorted before sitting down and putting on his own skates. Both of them didn't really know where to go… neither wanted to go to the movies, Sakura didn't think Gaara was one for shopping and most other places they could have gone to didn't open till later in the day. Not to mention that the ice park was free…

"It's pretty easy, just like rollerblading." Sakura said while standing up. She walked over to the ice and stepped carefully on the ice.

"What if I haven't roller bladed before?" Gaara was now on the edge of the ice rink, giving it a dirty look.

"Then be happy no one will be here to watch you fall down. Come on… I'll teach you." She held out her hand to him and waited.

Gaara put one foot on the ice and pushed off with the other. He wobbled a little before putting his other foot on the ice. Gritting his teeth, he fought the urge to hunch over. He tried to move his feet the same way she had, but wasn't able to move as fast or as far as she had.

"You're doing great." Sakura said as she took one of his hands and then the other. She started to skate backwards, leading him and helping to keep him steady at the same time. It took him a moment before he figured out how to move his feet, but he was slowly feeling more comfortable now with it. Sakura let go of his hands and skating in front of him backwards.

Just as he thought he was doing really well, his foot slipped and he fell forward. Cursing, he reached out for anything to keep him from falling and ended up latching onto Sakura. She wobbled for a moment, trying to hold both them up, but failed and they both tumbled onto the ice. Gaara moved to push himself up, but stopped.

Sakura shifted under him slightly, her legs were on either side of waist and her hands on his chest. One of her hands moved to rub the back of her head, which had hit the ice. She looked up at him and it wasn't till her face flushed that he realized he was still lying on top of her.

"Sorry." He muttered while pushing himself off her. He scooted a little bit away before making the attempt to stand. He had just managed to get back to his feet when she spook.

"Are you really?"

He turned to look at her, and regretted it as he lost his balance and fell again. This time landing soundly on his ass. He thought about trying to get up again, and ended up lying down on the ice, looking up at the clouds floating by. Sakura's head popped into his line of vision.

"You ok?"

"I think I bruised my tailbone… and my ego…" He looked up at her and saw that she was still waiting for an answer to her previous question. He looked away and sat up, winching as he put weight back on his damaged area. Gaara was rather grateful that they were doing this now instead of later on when more people would be around to watch this embarrassing show.

"No…" He said after a moment before trying to stand again. This time he was successful and was able to keep his balance. "I don't think I am too sorry about it."

"Spoken like a true man." He felt Sakura give the small of his back a push, causing him to slide forward, but he didn't fall over. He was able to do one and then two laps around the edge of the rink and was very confident during his third. He paused to step off the ice and sit down on one of the benches, watching Sakura as she did a few more loops before she joined him.

"It's good to see that you still have a few normal male habits." She said after while. Sakura was watching as a mother and her little toddler was skating on the ice, the mother holding the toddler's hands to keep her from falling. He turned to look at her, but she was still watching the two, looking thoughtful. When she looked up at him, he was still staring at her.

"I won't tell anyone." She said at last. "Not unless you want me to."

He frowned at her, not understanding.

"About last night… I won't tell."

"Ah…" he nodded, looking away. "Thank you." Her gloved hand moved over to his and he took it in his own. They both stared back at the mother and child, now being joined by the father. Gaara felt her give his hand a little squeeze.

"Let's go for a walk." He said after a long silence. "I don't think I am really meant to be on ice."

Sakura nodded and they both got up to turn their skates in. Sakura paid a little extra for two cups of hot chocolate. They held hands and walked around the park before dusting off a bench to sit on.

"Who is it that you're afraid will use that against you?"

"Sasuske Uchiha."

Sakura was silent for a moment. "Be careful with him. He… he doesn't stop till he gets what he wants."

Gaara turned to look at her, and saw her looking down into her empty cup. Her eyes looked hurt and a little bitter at the same time. "What did he do to you?"

Sakura moved to tuck a bit of hair behind her ears. "I used to be the Valvictorian for my year… I'm not anymore. I'm not even second running now. My parents were very disappointed with me." She turned to give him a brave smile. "But it doesn't matter though, right? I'll still be able to go to college, and it really counts there… not here." She looked back down at her hands. "It's just… it's a lot of time and effort… gone."

Gaara moved one of his arms to pull her closer.

"He wasn't always like this though. He use to be different. A few years ago… something happened and he changed. No one knows what it was, but he started to become power hungry. He had to be the best at everything… and now he is." She leaned into him, tucking her head under his chin. He kissed the top of her head and gave her shoulder a small squeeze.

"Let's not think about it."

0o0o0o0o0

"Hey! You made it!" Naruto said when he opened to door to his apartment. "We missed you at the ice park."

"Ice skating isn't really my thing." Gaara said as he walked inside. Taking a look around, he saw that he was the first to arrive.

"I wasn't expecting anyone for another hour, but that's ok. We changed the time when we are at the ice rink." Naruto took Gaara's coat and stuffed it into the small closet by the door.

Gaara followed Naruto has he lead him into the living room. It was a stander bachelor pad, cloths littered on the ground, a mountain of paper plates and puts on the coffee stable, or in Naruto's case, a large tower of ramen noodle cups on one end of the sofa. There was a large trash bag on one end of the coffee table, something Naruto had been using to clear some space off for his soon to arrive company. Naruto went back to scooping things into the trash bag and kicking the cloths into one corner of the room while Gaara looked around.

He noted a few framed pictures on wall. "Is this your dad?" Gaara asked while looking at a professional picture of Naruto and Iruka, both of them kneeling. He looked at the two faces, noted the huge difference between the two. One with dark skin, black hair and eyes. The other pale, blond hair and blue eyes. "You look more like you mom then?"

"I guess. I don't really know." Naruto said while tying the opening of the trash bag together and pulled out another one. "My parents left me on the front door of an orphanage. Iruka adopted me…" He paused to count on his fingers. "…almost seven years ago. He's a pretty cool dad though." He spoke as if he was reading something from a newspaper and not talking about his life. "I used to live in a foster home before that. It was ok…"

Dr. Hatake words suddenly popped back into his head.

There are some traits in people that we look for without knowing it.

"I didn't like my foster home." Gaara said, looking back at the photo. "The woman had too many cats."

"Mine just had too many kids." Naruto joked. "There. That's better." Naruto put his hands on his hips while looking around at the now, mostly, clean living room. He walked into the kitchen and pulled an empty laundry basket out and started pile the clothes in it before hiding it in his room. He came back in, holding up something.

"Wanna play a game?" Naruto grinned. He tossed the case over to him and he caught it easily. Gaara blinked at the cover and looked back at Naruto.

"What's Tekken 3?"

"A manly game! Come on, I'll teach you how to play."

0o0o0o0o0

"We are not watching that." Nartuo said.

"Why not?" Sakura looked offended.

"Because it's the biggest girly movie of all time! Why would we," He waved his hand to his fellow male friends sitting on one side of the sectional sofa. "Want to watch it?"

"Oh, come on… It's has action in it."

"No, this has action." Naruto held up another DVD case. The other girls looked at it before a disgusted look spread on their faces.

"That's nothing but gun fights and boobs."

"So?"

The debate had been going on for a while, and Gaara was wondering if they were ever going to actually watch a movie. It didn't help that the personalities in the room were so different. Everyone had brought a few of their own movies to watch, with the exception of him. The only movies they had in their house belong his siblings and he didn't really think bring the Muppet show or his sister's drama shows would go far here.

"If I knew it was going to be this troublesome, I wouldn't have come…" Shikimaru said. His head was lolled back on the sofa and staring up at the ceiling.

Gaara reached forward and started to read the movie descriptions on the back and started to try and sort them by what he thought who would want to watch what.

"What about these ones? We can vote on it…" He said, pushing four movies in the middle of the coffee table. Everyone leaned in to see them better. A few moments later, a movie was finally selected and they were all settling in.

'This isn't so bad…' Gaara thought as he leaned back into the sofa.

0o0o0o0o0

The start of the school year was met with the universal groan from the students as they all dragged their feet up the stairs after the winter break. The teachers looked just as pleased as the students as the doors opened and everyone filed into the school

"Hi Sakura…"

Sakura cringed inwardly as she recognized the voice. She turned to see Karin and the rest of her little group with her. They were all smiling sweetly at her. Sakura's looked at all of them, this wasn't good.

"Hi guys." Sakura put on her sweetest smile. "How was your winter break?"
(What the fuck do you want?)

"Oh, it was wonderful. You're such a dear for asking." Karin said.
(Don't talk to me like that, cow.)

"That's good to hear."
(Piss off.)

"Anyway, Sakura. We wanted to talk to you. Seeing how you use to be part of our little group, we wanted to let you know something." Karin said, using one finger to fiddle with her hair. "It's about that guy you are seeing."
(I have some dirt on you're boyfriend and I'm going to tell everyone.)

At this point, Sakura realized how loud Karin had been talking. She also noticed how those around here were starting to listen in. Sakura pretended that one of her books slipped while trying to get a few more seconds to think of a reply.

I think that someone is going to use that information against me and I didn't want you to be blind sided by it.

"If it's about that locker incident, that's old news. Besides," she looked Karin straight in the eye. "I don't think that there is anything you know that I don't already."

"Sakura, don't be like that. We're here because we care about you."

If Sakura had been a cat, her fur would have puffed out and her back would have arched. "That's funny." Her voice didn't have that sugar coated sweetness to it anymore. "You didn't really seem to care too much for me last year, or the year before, or even the year before that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get to class." Sakura moved to leave, but was stopped by a hand gripping her upper arm.

"Don't you walk away when I am talking to you." Karin's voice had turned into a deep snarl. Neither of them playing the silly game of friendliness now. Sakura turned to return the girls glare. Reaching over, Sakura used her free hand and wrapped it around Karin's wrist and started to squeeze. For a moment, nothing happened, but then Karin's face twisted into pain. She hissed and let go of Sakura who brushed off her arm.

Looking at the group of girls that were standing in her way, she gave them a good glare.

"Move."

And they did.

"You'll be sorry." Karin said after her. Sakura turned to look back at the other girl.
"No, I won't. Now, why don't you go and follow Sasuke around like the good dog you are." Sakura watched as the other girls face went red with rage before turning and walking to her next class. Gaara was looking at her when she walked into class and took a seat next to her. He blinked as she put her text book on the desk with more force then she meant to.

"Why are you angry?"

"Politics." She said around gritted teeth. She took a breath to try and calm herself down. "Don't worry about it."

He frowned. "You sure?"

She managed to give him a small smile. "Positive."

Author Note:

Since the last chapter had been so emotional charged, I had wanted to tone it down a little in this one. I also wanted to work on the Naruto/Gaara relationship a little more. It needs a little more work, but it's a good start. The move choosing bit was a little gay, I admit, but I also wanted to show Gaara's ability to be able to step in and take care of problems, since he does that on a daily basis in the actual Naruto world.