The last chapter. Hopefully worth the wait...

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters therein. I only own this fanfic and any ocs.

Several weeks later...

"Not again!"

Deidara looked up as a crash came from the kitchen, followed by her voice, What happened this time? Hmm? The blond stood, making his way to the other room, "Amaya?" He stepped inside, "Are you alright?"

She looked up from where she was crouched on the floor, "I..." She sniffed, "I broke something else!" She wailed, "I just keep running into everything!"

Erm... He took another step forward, "It's okay," he said, "it's not like it was anything important." He crouched next to her, resting his hand on her shoulder, "It's nothing to worry about."

The young woman shook her head, "I'll clean it up." She said, "I don't know what's wrong with me." She began picking up the jagged pieces of ceramic from the floor, putting them in a pile.

Deidara grabbed her hand, "Careful." He said, "You don't want to hurt yourself. Hmm." He scooped the pieced into a pile, "There you go."

She stared down at the pile, "If this keeps up, there wont be any dishes left."

The blond sighed, "Come on, Amaya," he said, "it really is fine." He helped her up off the floor, "Everyone does this kinda thing. Hmm." He lead her out of the kitchen, "Is this because your family is visiting?" He asked, leaning down to look in her eyes.

Amaya frowned, "I don't know.." She said, "But that might be it." She tilted her head to the side, "Kakuzu was mad at me."

"Kakuzu is always mad about something." Deidara retorted, "Ignore him."

She managed a wobbly smile, "Okay."

"Right," he took her hand, "you go rest, I'll clean up."

She nodded, strands of light brown hair falling forward into her face, "Alright..." Her bottom lip trembled slightly as she spoke, and he winced, "Look..." He reached out, smoothing her hair back, "After I'm done, we'll go on a walk."

"That sounds nice..." She said, looking up at him, "I'll go then..."

She stood, and trudged out of the kitchen with her head drooping.

Deidara stared after her, She really is worried about something. Is it because her family is visiting? The blond absently cleaned up the broken ceramic, Maybe she's worried that they wont like where she lives... He frowned, scanning the room, Well, that wouldn't make any sense. Hmm... She made this place look much better.

He clambered to his feet, "I better go find her..." He said aloud, walking out of the kitchen.

She wasn't in the living room, and neither was any one else. Hmm... Maybe her room? He turned, making his way down the hall to her room, opening the door, he was met with a familiar barrage of color.

She had brought much of the stuff from her former room with her when they came back, and it was now scattered around this room.

The girl he was looking for though- was not in the room.

Deidara scowled, Where is she? He looked around the room, Maybe she's waiting outside..? He turned, "It didn't take that long, where could she have gotten to? Hmm?"

Deidara turned in a slow circle, scanning the surrounding hills, She isn't out here either. He frowned, trying to see through the deepening gloom, "Where is she?"

"I haven't seen her either."

The blond turned, "Hmm... That is kind of odd."

Itachi glanced back at the front door, "I have not been inside recently."

Deidara sighed, "That's where I came from." He started walking anyway, "I'm checking again. Hmm."

The Uchiha followed him in silence, and the next minute, they were standing in front of the couch that had given them such trouble what seemed like so long ago.

Deidara cocked his head to the side, "Did you hear something?" He asked, glancing around the room. I thought I heard someone move... He took a step closer to the couch, listening. There it was again. He crouched, leaning down and balancing on one knee, and looked under the couch.

"...Amaya?" He pressed one palm to the floor, shaking his hair from his face as it fell forward, "...Are you okay?"

She curled in on herself, "...Go away." She mumbled, burying her face in her arms.

Is she crying? He frowned, his eyes darting up to Itachi. The Uchiha looked as confused as he felt, dropping to one knee and doing the same as he had just done- looking under the couch.

"Whatcha doing?"

Deidara didn't turn to meet the man's eyes as he spoke, "We were looking for Amaya." He said, "And we found her."

Hidan voice sounded like he was frowning, "Under there? What for?"

No idea... "If I knew that," he said, "I wouldn't be having so much trouble. Hmm."

"You found her?" Sasori stepped into the room, walking over to them.

"Yeah..." Deidara turned his attention back to Amaya, reaching his arm out and touching her shoulder, "Amaya?"

She tensed, "What?"

She has been crying. "What is it?" The blond asked, "I told you the jar wasn't important."

"I know..." She said, "But..." One of her hands moved, rubbing her eyes, "Someone ate all the cookies... And then I broke the jar and you had to clean it up and-"

"Whoa!" Deidara said, "I didn't have to clean it up, I wanted to help you." He put his arm on the seat of the couch, holding himself up, "And you don't have to do everything by yourself."

She was silent, remaining curled in a ball; then large brown eyes peered out at him, "I'm sorry," she said, "I know that..."

She really freaked out for some reason. He held his hand out to her, "Come on," he said, "come out from under there."

Amaya hesitated, then her hand slipped into his, and she allowed him to pull her out. She crawled out without any difficulty, sitting on the floor, her head drooping, "Sorry." She said, still clutching his hand.

Deidara sighed, "Amaya..." He reached a hand out, tipping her chin up, "What's wrong?"

She frowned, looking down at his hand, "It's stupid," she muttered, "but all of my family are neat freaks... and I didn't want to disappoint them..." Her body slumped, "I want them to like it here."

That's what all this is about..? Deidara glanced around the room, "I think you've done more than enough." He said, "This place looks better then it ever has."

Amaya followed his gaze, "...Really?"

"That's what I said. Hmm." He stood, pulling her to her feet, "And if you need something done, just ask one of us." He gestured around the room, "You know we'll help."

She stared around the room. Her eyes widening farther as they stopped on each face.

Hidan was standing right behind the blond, his scythe still on his back after whatever he had been doing. Sasori stood off to the side, his arms crossed; Kisame was leaning against a wall, scowling, and Kakuzu stood in the doorway.

Tobi leaned over the back of the couch, and waved at her when she noticed him. Pain was sitting in the armchair, and one eyebrow quirked when he saw her stand.

Itachi stood, and she looked up at him, then back around the room, "You..." She blushed, clasping her hands together tightly, "Thank you..." She said, "I'm okay now."

Deidara grinned, "Good." He said, "And now you're coming with me."

The night was cool, and Amaya walked closer to the blond as they turned to head home; he looked down, his smile just visible, "If you aren't careful, I'll trip over you." Despite what he was saying, he tightened his arm around her shoulders.

Amaya looked up at the sky, watching the stars as more and more of them appeared. "This is really nice..." She said, turning and wrapping both arms around the blond's waist, "Thank you."

She buried her face against him as he returned the embrace. I feel really ridiculous for acting that way now... She thought, but I do feel better.

"At last, the opportunity I have been searching for."

Amaya jerked her head to the side in the same moment that Deidara shifted so that she was behind him, "Nubao?" She said, incredulity keeping her from silence.

The ninja took a side-long step, moving closer, "You will be coming with me." He said, "Right after I kill him."

Deidara laughed, "Yeah, right!" He scoffed, "Neither of those will ever happen! Hmm."

Amaya looked up at the blond, only able to see his back, "Dei-chan..." He's protecting me...

He froze, "Huh?"

She squeaked, burying her face in his back, "Nothing!" Oops. I didn't mean to say that out loud...

The blond coughed, "Anyway," he said, turning his attention back to the other man, "get lost. She's staying right here. Hmm."

Nubao laughed, pulling a handful of shuriken from his pouch, "I'm afraid that is not how this is going to work." He fanned the shuriken out in his hand, readying his arm to throw, "She is coming with me."

Why wont he just leave me alone? Amaya thought, It's been several weeks since I told him to stop bothering me... I thought maybe he had actually listened. The young woman frowned, "Nubao, just forget it. I'm never going with you."

The ninja managed a nonchalant shrug, "So you say."

Deidara turned with the man as he tried to circle around, "You heard her. Hmm."

The man chuckled again, something that was beginning to grate on her nerves, "I heard her very well," he said, "but it makes no difference."

"Why are you following her around anyway?" Deidara asked, "I thought you worked for her family."

Nubao shrugged, "I do." He said, "But I also work for myself."

"What the heck does that mean?"

The other ninja stopped in place, "I met her when her family first hired me." He said, "She was much younger when we first met. And at first, she seemed more like a little sister."

"Yeah, until you became an obsessive jerk." Amaya shot back.

The man sighed, "I would hardly call me obsessive." He said, "I was merely trying to get to know you better."

"You followed me." The young woman said, "And you wouldn't leave me alone."

"I see I have no choice." The ninja again readied himself to fight, "Since you insist on seeing things in that manner."

"Ugh." The blond cupped his hands together; Amaya glanced around him, I know Deidara could never lose to him... But still... She paused as a thought struck her, I wonder if he hasn't killed him because of me..? A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth, After all, he's had plenty of opportunities...

Nubao froze, his eyes glazing over. The shuriken dropped from his hand, clattering against each other as they fell to the ground; then his body crumpled in a boneless heap to the dirt.

"Huh?" Amaya stared, stepping around Deidara, "What happened?"

The blond was already turning, peering through the night, "Itachi happened."

She followed his gaze, "Itachi?"

The Uchiha stepped out of the darkness, walking up to them, "He wont bother you anymore."

"Did... you-?"

"No."

"Oh..." They've all had the opportunity. And yet none of them have killed him. Amaya breathed a sigh of relief, "What did you do?"

Itachi turned, walking back in the direction he had come, "He wont remember you."

Wont remember me? She frowned, looking up at Deidara, "Did he use Sharingan on him?"

His blue eyes dropped to meet hers, "Yeah. He did."

She walked over to the ninja, crouching down by him, "And he wont remember?"

Deidara shook his head, "Nope." The blond walked over to stand beside her, "He wont remember a thing. He wont be bothering you anymore."

Never...? Amaya stood, I wont have to worry about him anymore...? She turned, grabbing Deidara's hand, "Come on." She said, "Let's go inside."

He nodded, a smile crossing his face, "Alright."

"I'll put him somewhere." Sasori materialized in front of them.

Are they trying to kill me? Amaya clutched Deidara's sleeve, "They're going to kill me..." She muttered, "I'll just drop dead."

The blond chuckled, steering her toward the front door, "You'll be fine." He said, "I'll look out for you." He paused, "Though, against death by fright, I'm not sure what I can do. Hmm."

She giggled, "That might happen to both of us."

"What do you mean?"

Amaya hugged his arm, "Sori-chan and Tachi-chan told me that they're always doing that to you."

He blinked, "Sori... and Tachi?"

She blushed, "I can't help it. I like shortening people's names..."

He looked bemused, "Right.."

The next morning...

Amaya stepped out of her bedroom and headed down the hallway, her feet scuffing over the wooden floor as she shuffled along, rubbing sleep from her eyes. I think I slept too long... She thought, "Probably 'cause I went to bed late..."

She sighed, brushing her hair from her face. Last night... She frowned, slumped, I freaked out over nothing and then Nubao showed up again... She turned the corner, her shoulder brushing it, But... now he'll never bother me again. Amaya grinned, fully awake, "I almost forgot..."

"Hey, Amaya."

She looked up, finding herself standing in the kitchen. "Oh." I must have walked in here through habit.

Deidara looked up from the table, "Are you alright? Hmm?"

Amaya smiled, "Yep. I'm completely fine now." She walked over to stand beside him, "What are you doing?"

"Err..." He looked away, his face reddening, "Making breakfast...?"

He's making breakfast? She blinked in surprise, sitting in one of the chairs, "You didn't have to do that." She leaned forward, "It wouldn't have taken me that long to cook eggs."

Deidara tilted his head back to look at her, "I wanted to." He said, "Didn't I explain this yesterday?"

"Oh, right." She smiled, "Is there anything I can help with?"

Itachi stepped into the kitchen, "No."

She stared, "Eh?" He's doing it too? Amaya watched as the two men went back to their tasks, This is very odd... I wonder why they're suddenly doing this... She rested her chin on her hand, It's very sweet though...

"So..." Deidara was grinning, the corner of his visible eye crinkling, "Did you know that she thinks of you as 'Tachi-chan'?"

Urk! She blushed, Why did he do that?

The Uchiha didn't turn to face them, continuing on with what he was doing as if he hadn't heard. The blond chuckled, "The best way to deal with it is to ignore it, hmm?"

Itachi managed to communicate a death-glare without ever looking at Deidara.

"Thank you." Amaya smiled at them, "Both of you."

Deidara grinned, shrugging. Itachi acknowledged her with a silent tilt of his head. The blond leaned over the table, kissed her, and stepped back.

"Just sit back," he said, "and let us do something to help you."

"Amaya?"

She looked up as her door creaked open, "Tachi?" Whoops. "Sorry. What is it, Itachi?"

The Uchiha's eyes drifted past hers, "I don't care." He said, then took another step into the room, "Deidara mentioned something and asked if I would do it."

He doesn't mind being called 'Tachi'? Amaya blinked, "What did he mention?"

Itachi frowned, brushing loose strands of black hair from his face, "Your fingernails." He said, then stood there, waiting.

"My... fingernails?" She lifted her hand, examining them, "What about them?"

"He said you wanted them painted."

"Ohh..." He remembered. She smiled down at the mattress, "Yeah..."

He was silent.

Amaya quirked her mouth in puzzlement, "What is it?"

His eyes flattened, "Did you listen to anything I said?" He pulled a small bottle of nail-polish from somewhere and looked at her.

"Hmm?" She leaned forward, "Is that...? Oh!" She blushed, "I'm sorry... I don't know why I didn't catch that..." She glanced down at her bed, "Should I sit on the floor?" She smoothed the blanket out, "That way nothing gets on my bed?"

"That's fine."

She slid off the bed, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Itachi sat down across from her, unscrewed the cap, and lifted one eyebrow at her. Umm... She frowned, then put one of her hands out.

He took it, bending his head over her hand as he applied the polish.

"What's Dei-chan doing?"

"...Watching."

Watching? "...He's still in the kitchen?"

"Hm."

I don't think he's paying much attention to what I'm saying. Amaya thought. I thought that they were just making breakfast... but they kicked me out after breakfast and told me that they still had stuff to do.

"...You know, my family is coming over today."

He nodded, but his eyes remained on what he was doing.

Amaya sighed, trying to watch as Itachi applied the nail-polish. I wonder when they'll be here...

"Hey, Itachi. You done?" Hidan poked his head into the room, "'Cause her family's here."

"...Just a minute." The Uchiha muttered.

I guess that answers that question. She thought, blowing on the fingernails of one hand as he finished with the other.

A moment later, he sat back, "Done." He said, and screwed the cap on, climbing to his feet; he walked to the doorway.

"I'll be along in a minute." She blew on the nails of her other hand, "Thank you, Tachi." She smiled up at him.

"...You're welcome."

"Hi!" Amaya threw her arms around both of her parents, almost knocking them over backwards. Toshi was right behind them, and he received the same treatment. He was almost squeezed to death by his sister.

She led them all to the dining room, gesturing to the table, "You can sit anywhere you want," she said, "and they should be in here soon."

On cue, the room was suddenly filled with all of the Akatsuki members, except Itachi and Deidara.

Amaya tugged on Sasori's sleeve, "Where-"

"Kitchen." The redhead replied, "They'll be here in a minute."

"Oh. Okay." Amaya wondered over to the table, straightening the chairs out as everyone sat, Sometimes I would swear that they are psychic. She pulled out a chair, I can't even get in the kitchen right now... They barred me from entering...

"Amaya?"

Oops. She looked up, "What is it?"

Her mother frowned, "I asked if you've been working too hard."

"No." She gave a little smile, looking down at her nails, "In fact... They did practically everything today..."

"Really?" Her father glanced around the room, "All of them?"

"Yep." Amaya walked over to the door, "Dei... Deidara and Itachi are in the kitchen right now."

"What do you think you're doing? Hmm?" Deidara stepped through the door, carrying a pot, "Shoo. Go sit down."

She took a step back, "Hmph. Fine." She peered at the pot, not moving, "Is that...?"

He grinned, "Haha... I figured you'd recognize it."

Itachi appeared behind the blond and managed to walk around them both, "Put it down before you drop it."

The blond grumbled, then did exactly as the Uchiha said, moving over to place the food on the table.

The table that night was noisy. And cheerful; Amaya had to laugh as she ate the food that so long ago she had made from the little that the Akatsuki had had in their cupboard.

And when she met Deidara's eyes over the table, and smiled at him, she realized that having her family- her whole family- under one roof, was the best thing that could have ever happened to her.

The End.

A/N: Well... I finally got it out. Finally. Please, please, don't kill me... After all, this was the last chapter, and I should be allowed a little bit of leeway, right?

Anyway, that's that. I hope everyone enjoyed this.

And thanks once again to Kakashi forever, (You are awesome.)

Until the next time.

(Whenever that may be...)

And a belated Happy New Years!

~UndeadScribe~