Snakes-n-Heels I can't believe you don't like fluff (well on a regular basis as deduced from your comment)!!

Aww c'mon you must have known it was coming in this story, bound to happen.

And I'm sorry, but this chapter is chock full of it. But you should hang tight because some major angst is making a come back after this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

p.s.

Guilt has eaten its fill of me. I am sooooo sorry I didn't get this up on the 20th

Plus you know with the release of Harry Potter (OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S OVER THE ENDING WAS SO SWEET!!!! KYAAAA) and my birthday and everything I just didn't have much time. But I'm seriously hoping the saying 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' really applies this time :D

Gaara didn't know what had come over him. All it took was one glance at her face framed beautifully behind those chestnut tendrils and he lost it.

Finally giving in to the tension and urges which had built up for weeks between them, he kissed her. Every single emotion felt and shared between them exploded in that breathtaking connection of their longing lips.

Though he was hardly experienced, his movements and actions suggested otherwise, everything came naturally to him as he followed his instincts.

Gaara pulled her closer to him with the hand he had on her back to deepen the kiss, while her palm on his chest snaked its way unknowingly to the back of his neck. The medical kit and clean bandage fell off her lap unnoticed and completely forgotten now.

Despite her initial reluctance, Gaara felt her body relax and open up to his, allowing herself to fall into the passionate kiss.

She tasted sweet like honey and he couldn't get enough of it. Though the pace was slow, smooth and luxuriant he had never felt so alive. They were so close now that her soft locks fell over his face, tickling his cheeks playfully.

Fully absorbed in the kiss, Kumiyo shifted slightly, eliciting a sharp groan in pain from Gaara. Breaking away hurriedly, she realized she had lent right onto his healing gash.

"Oh Kami I'm sorry" she exclaimed, instantly fumbling over the wound which was still perfectly fine.

"Kumiyo I'm fine" Gaara breathed in slight disappointment, slowly lifting his closed lids to look deeply in her trembling amber eyes. She was still reeling from their kiss.

Clasping his hands over her small, delicate fingers in an act to calm her nerves only served to make her blush even harder out of embarrassment, and she averted her eyes, unable to stand his intense gaze.

I can't believe I just did that

Kumiyo found herself in a dazed state, unable to control her frazzled mind. All she could think about was the feel of his strong, commanding lips against hers, and the way the kiss seemed to penetrate every fiber of her being. It filled her with emotions of an incredible intensity and after they broke away it left her aching.

She was only acutely aware of her reddened cheeks and lips, as she tried with all her might to avoid his gaze for fear of losing all control once more.

"I-I think should finish wrapping your wound" she mumbled warily, moving slightly out of his hold to pick up the fallen bandage, blushing harder when remembering how it got there.

Gaara obediently allowed her to proceed without saying a word, filling the air with a familiar tension as he just watched her shaky movements.

Inside she screamed for him to say something. Kumiyo needed to know what he was thinking or at least have an idea of what their kiss meant. At the rate they were going it just looked like nothing happened, like it was nothing out of the ordinary, like he did this with everyone.

"Kumiyo" he murmured under his breath, raising the baby hairs on the back of her neck. Her eyes flickered over to his, instantly reassured upon glimpsing his turquoise orbs. They looked at her with a deep warmness however they were still clouded over with that overpowering desire which made her mouth run dry.

Closing his eyes in an attempt to block it out, he spoke in all seriousness with a husky tone she had not heard before.

"I'm not really used to expressing myself with words" he admitted, now looking at her with total sincerity.

Kumiyo offered him a weak smile, not really needing him to say anymore as she could already see everything in those piercing eyes.

"But I just needed to say that I don't want this to end" he spoke slowly, not once looking away from her.

Understanding what he meant Kumiyo's eyes widened and she felt a tingling sensation run up her spine making her shiver against him. She nodded without a second thought and he gave her that small smile which made her pulse quicken.

Finishing up with the bandage in a dream-like state, she reluctantly moved to stand.

"It's getting late, I should go"

She caught his eyes glancing out the window before they turned to look at her, concern flickering evidently.

"I'll be fine" she reassured, resuming her walk to the front door.

"I'll walk you home then" he countered stubbornly, shrugging his robe back on.

"You should rest" she sighed tiredly. "Don't worry I can take care of myself" opening the door and turning to face him.

Kumiyo could tell he was about to bring up the incident with the two thieves on the night they met, but he decided against it.

Smiling at his forlorn expression she stood up on her tiptoes to plant a chaste kiss on his lips but he was too quick for her and wrapped his arms around her waist to deepen it. She felt something tugging at her heart gently as he let go of her.

"Goodnight" she mumbled against his lips distractedly behind her half-lidded amber eyes as she summoned up the strength to walk away into the clear night.

The following few days barely allowed them to interact with each other, so it mostly consisted of faraway glances held for seconds too long and unsaid words passing through their purposeful gazes.

Work was hiking Kumiyo's stress levels up quite a few notches as she toiled until late at night to finish the rounds at the temporary hospital in the village square.

Hunched over Takamura's health report in the dimly lit room, she finally gave up trying to read it and tossed it on her desk. Suppressing a yawn, she stood up to stretch out her tired, half healed muscles. Heading towards the door whilst mussing up her hair and tiredly closing her eyes, she made her way to the makeshift kitchen to brew up some tea.

"…making me do all this… not even asking about my own health… job is going to be the death of me" she vented, adding a wary sigh for effect.

Kumiyo bent over the small cabinet to rest her head on the wall. Picking up a small rustling behind her, she assumed it was her boss, the head nurse.

"Hai, Hai Hanami-senpai, I was just taking a small break, I'll get you those patient reports soon" she spoke, not bothering to move from her questionable position.

She awaited her response only to be met with silence.

"You are working far too hard" came a husky whisper into her ear, tickling her neck.

Before she could jerk in surprise, a pair of strong arms made their way around her waist as if in conformation of who it was. She smiled to herself.

"Gaara" she addressed, wanting to turn around to face him properly but his dominating grasp kept her in place.

Kumiyo huffed stubbornly as he grinned against her neck. Giving into him she leant her head back onto his shoulder with closed lids.

"What are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you" he replied gruffly, planting a small kiss on her cheek in greeting.

She turned her head to meet his lips in a painfully slow kiss.

"Sorry I didn't come earlier" he whispered against her swollen lips, lifting his heavy lids to show earnestness in those dark turquoise pools.

Kumiyo was far too distracted from the effects of his kiss to open her own eyes, content just to bask in the moment, an action Gaara found wholly tempting.

I could get used to this she thought wholeheartedly, not stopping to think of what that truly meant.

When she finally did find the sense to look up at him, she found him staring intently at her, seemingly deep in thought.

But just as he was about to speak, they both heard a shuffling of sheets behind them. With the reflexes of a true shinobi Gaara whipped around silently, poised for action.

"Kaori, darling is that you there?" an old, weathered voice croaked through the darkness.

"Takamura-san you scared me" Kumiyo breathed a sigh of relief, feeling Gaara's stance relax, still not letting his protective grasp around her waver. She instinctively moved towards the hospital bed the weakened woman lay in.

"Is something the matter?" she questioned, checking up on her patient.

"Oh Kazekage-sama I didn't know that was you. What a surprise" Takamura exclaimed genuinely, with an excitement which belied her years as he moved in closer. Instantly, her elder eyes darted suspiciously between the both of them and only a moment later did realization dawn upon her.

Kumiyo spared a worried look at Gaara, who seemed to be returning the woman's curious gaze steadily; unafraid and calm.

Not waiting for a reply, Takamura marched right on.

"You aren't dressed in the Kazekage uniform, that's why I didn't recognize you at first. What are you doing here so late at night?" she asked coyly, glancing briefly at Kumiyo who shied away from her inquiring gaze to look at her pillar of stability.

Indeed he wasn't wearing his usual outfit, instead he was clad in a simple, casual black robe, he could have been mistaken for a normal person on the street.

Tonight he's just plain Gaara

Kumiyo was also careful to note that his crimson locks were especially tousled giving him a more laid-back, carefree look. She liked him this way she thought, smiling inwardly, almost forgetting they were in the presence of another person.

Once again Gaara chose not to reply verbally, however his hand had subtly found its way to the small of her back with ease, which Takamura took as her answer.

An animated grin fell over her face as she beamed up at the two of them in a motherly fashion.

"So you two really were… and this means… Oh Kami-sama this is wonderful news."

Kumiyo buried her beet-root cheeks in the warmth of his shoulder, and although she couldn't see his face, she knew his lips would be curved up ever so slightly in that small smile of his.

"How much did you see?" came her voice, muffled by his shoulder.

"I saw enough" Takamura replied, winking suggestively, resulting in an even darker shade of red flushing her face.

"When did this start and why wasn't I told?" the lively woman directed teasingly at Kumiyo.

"Well, only recently… and you're the only one who knows. Except for maybe Temari-san" she replied, drawing the strength from Gaara to turn back around and face her.

"And we would like to keep it that way" Gaara added as Kumiyo gave an approving nod.

"I understand completely, your secret is safe with me" she reassured before carrying on with her excited blabber.

"Ooh I still can't believe it. The Kazekage and my beautiful Kaori! Perfect. Why didn't I think of it before? I hope we'll get to see little ones running around soon" she hinted, wiggling her brows.

As if her body couldn't fathom the energy to intensify the redness in her cheeks, it chose to break a sweat instead.

"Oh I think it's too early to be thinking about things like that" she explained, letting loose a nervous laugh

But as her eyes locked with his familiar, piercing gaze, it all seemed possible. In that miniscule moment shared between them, she felt the tiniest hope at that chance, she felt ready to consider embarking on whatever path it was that would lead her to that promising future. And at this point the fear and surprise that she was even thinking such thoughts were paramount.

Her breath caught and she clung onto his arm in giddiness.

"Nonsense child, you aren't getting any younger you know" she shot her an incredulous look.

Gaara sensed her immediate unease and shifted his eyes towards the stubborn woman, he too was taken aback by her forwardness.

"It's late. I think you should be resting"

Kumiyo took this opportunity to use her authority, but not before shooting him a grateful look.

"Exactly. You still haven't fully recovered, so I think that's enough excitement for one night" she ordered firmly, pulling the covers up comfortably around her.

It took a while to get her settled but they eventually made their escape, Kumiyo breathed a weary sigh.

Hobbling tiredly over to an empty hospital bed in a secluded room reserved for special patients, she sat down to rest her aching muscles.

I can't believe I was actually thinking about having his children. I don't even know how I feel about him. Things just don't make sense anymore

But looking up at his concerned gaze, his fingers gently pushing back loose strands of chestnut hair, her heart leapt into her throat and she pushed all those issues to the back of her mind.

"I'm sorry you had to be there. Takamura-san doesn't usually behave that way" she apologized shakily.

Still standing in front of her, Gaara bent down to give her a comforting peck on her forehead.

"Don't let what she said trouble you" he murmured, peering into her amber eyes for any sign of understanding, obviously referring to the babies comment.

Kumiyo closed her eyes upon feeling that familiar tug on her heart

In that instant, time seemed to stand still. The clouds cleared away, and stream of moonlight shone down upon her face through a tear in the tent, illuminating it in almost an angelic glow. Gaara soaked it up and engrained it in his memory, because it was in that vital moment that he knew.

And as she opened her eyes once the moment passed, to reveal those innocent, child-like amber gems he knew he was helpless to stop it.

Gaara couldn't bring himself to tell her now, it would have to wait until they were both ready and unafraid. But he wouldn't worry.

After all I have all the time in the world.

No more than a day later, he will come to realize, that was a naïve thought.

(a/n: I thought this would make a good cliffie. But it wasn't what I planned. :D no, I planned something worse. So if you didn't hate me for taking so long to post this, you will.)

Kumiyo could feel it the moment she woke up. A bugging, nagging feeling.

From the looks of the dim light coming through the tear in the tent, she deduced it was dawn. Then a small, silly grin crept up on her face as she remembered how they stargazed through that tear, late into the night.

Instinctively she reached for him but was only met with a lingering warmth on the sheet of the hospital bed. Disappointedly, she sat up and looked around for him, her eyes falling to the floor where he had written a message in sand.

'I'll come find you after my meeting. I need to tell you something'

She smiled slightly, hugging her knees to her body for heat in the cold morning air.

I can't believe we slept in the hospital bed she laughed to herself recalling what a sight they must have been. Her head nudged in the crook of his neck and his arms wrapped around her waist amidst a flurry of gauze, IV's and antiseptic swabs.

Snapping out her daydream, Kumiyo clambered out of the bed and moved to stand but her toes retracted reflexively as if bitten, when they came into contact with the icy, hard stone floor.

(a/n: I'm imagining the weather to resemble Dubai deserts, hot in the afternoon, freezing at night and in the morning)

As if the coldness were a physical sign, the slow nagging returned to the back of her conscience.

It followed her home, distracting her, numbing her, until she closed that door to be met with an ominous beeping.

And she knew, as soon as her fingers unsteadily grazed the metal and as she tensely brought it up to meet her ear.

"Did you really think we wouldn't find out??" roared an impatient voice over the receiver angrily.

Gosh I hope that wasn't too abrupt.

I just wanted to say I truly am sorry for taking ages, this chapter was harder to write than any other.

I hope you guys haven't forgotten about meee.

Anyways, the next one will definitely not take as long, but I don't think it will be any easier to write since I still haven't exactly figured it out. Wish me luck by reviewing ;)

p.s.

I thought it might be hinted a bit in the hospital scene, but no they didn't 'do it'. Just the conventional 'innocent sleeping' scene.