Summary: Sasuke Uchiha returns after many years to Konoha. At first Sakura and Naruto are mad but then they learn about Sasuke's real reasons for joining with Orochimaru. Naruto is overjoyed to have his best friend back, but Sakura isn't so sure. Can they return to the way it use to be, or will it be even better? Can Sakura let go of her feelings for Sasuke, and will Sasuke in turn be able to fit back in when everything has changed.

Major pairing: SasuSaku

Minor pairings: NaruHina, TenNeji, ShikaIno

A/N: This is the second last chapter so I hope you enjoy, I really want to finish this so I can get started on Outcasts sequel for those who read that as well. Anyway read, enjoy and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Previously

"Sakura" Sasuke asked hesitantly and Sakura was surprised to see fear flash through his eyes before she smiled and nodded.

"Of course I will marry you" she replied at last as he stood up and kissed her so feverishly she felt like she was melting in his touch. He pulled away and carefully placed the ringer on her finger as Sakura held up her hand to look at it. It was just perfect, he was perfect.

"I love you Sakura" he told her as she smiled and practically threw her arms around his neck as she kissed him passionately on the lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him as he deepened the kiss for her. They were lost in the magic of the moment before their lungs cried out for air and they broke apart. Sasuke rested his forehead against hers and smiled.

"Sakura Uchiha" Sakura stated happily.

"I like the sound of that" Sasuke exclaimed as Sakura looked into his onyx eyes and grinned.

"I do to"

Till death do us part

Sakura sighed as she rubbed her head trying to ease her headache brought on by tiredness and all these wedding preparations. Right now she was stuck in a room with a rather bossy and loud Ino, Tsunde who was being just as loud, Shizune who was attempting to keep the peace but seemed to be failing, Hinata who seemed overjoyed at her friend being engaged and Tenten who was arguing with Ino about having to wear a dress. Sakura looked around at them all and although grateful for their help right now would be more grateful if they left her alone.

Sasuke had been dragged out by Naruto, Kakashi, Lee and Kiba to go search for tuxedos with an unenthusiastic Shikamaru and a rather annoyed Neji following behind them. Sakura was starting to wonder how come so many people seemed to be avoiding doing any work in order to help prepare their wedding. Especially since the Hokage was right now in a heated argument with Ino about the wedding decorations while Ino was attempting to argue with both Tsunde, Tenten and organize a steady plan for how to get this wedding up and running.

"Come on Tenten, you wore a dress for your wedding" Ino pleaded.

"That's because it was MY wedding" Tenten told her.

"And for Hinata's"

"Because I was her maid in honor for one"

"So?"

"So it was a Hyuga wedding and I am now a Hyuga that means I had no choice, I have to make an apearence and like I said before I was her maid of honor"

"But you actually wore a dress, come on that's not a good enough argument"

"Ok fine lets see two I had jeans underneath"

"Yeah but those dresses were a darker color and longer so you could get away with it, it would look tacky with these bridesmaids dreses"

"Three it wasn't pink" Tenten said ignoring Ino's comment.

"But pink is the theme"

"And four I WASN'T PREGNANT AT THE TIME"

"Once again what does that matter?"

"It matters to me"

"It shouldn't, look you can't even tell"

"You will be able to tell in three months when this wedding is being held"

"But Tenten please" Ino begged.

"I said no way"

"Come on its not going to kill you"

"Wearing bright pink will"

"How so" Ino demanded.

"Because every time I see myself I will want to either drown myself, bang my head against something hard or strangle myself that's why"

"We could always change the color of the dresses" Hinata suggested. "I'm not too fond of pink myself"

"Agreed" Tsunade muttered.

"No way, that would mean changing everything" Ino yelled dramatically as Hinata frowned slightly.

"This is why I didn't let her plan my wedding" Tenten muttered as Hinata nodded in agreement.

"See I told you we should have gone for baby blue" Tsunde said.

"I preferred light purple myself" Hinata added as Sakura groaned and lent back in the chair.

"Do I get a say?" she asked out loud but was ignored by most except Tenten who gave her a sympathetic look.

"Hey when are you working at the hospital next?"

"Tomorrow I think, why?"

"Because I apparently need a check up or something" Tenten muttered as Sakura smiled at her. She could tell Tenten was half excited and half nervous at the prospect f having a child. Neji himself she could tell, although gave nothing away, was over the moon at the news.

"Yeah sure, will Neji Come?"

"Probably, and if he doesn't Lee will. God I think his more excited than the both of us the way his going on about being an uncle and all." Tenten told her as Sakura laughed.

"I'm sure his not as excited as Neji" she said as Tenten smiled.

"Yeah true, his really looking forward to it. So much that his gone into super over protective mode. Literally he refuses to allow me to train and even made Lee promise to watch over me when his away."

"He cares"

"Too much" Tenten admitted as Sakura laughed.

"He will get better"

"I hope so because it's extremely irritating, even if the fact that his being softer now is kind of sweet" Tenten blushed a little as Sakura grinned at her friend's embarrassment.

"Hey are you two paying attention" Ino yelled as Sakura sighed and looked over at the other women, her headache returning in full force. It would be worth staying with Sasuke for the rest of her life just so she never had to go through with this again.

-

-

Sasuke sighed in relief a she pushed open the door to his shared apartment and walked in, collapsing on the couch in exhaustion. Never again was he going shopping for anything with Naruto, Kakashi, Lee or Kiba. They had literally tortured him so that now he had returned home with a pounding head and very little patience for anything else.

"Bad day as well huh" Sakura asked as she sat down next to him. He groaned in response as he leant his head back trying to fall asleep. Sakura watched him with a sad smile. All these wedding preparations were really putting a strain on their relationship.

"Did you at least get the suits?"

"Hn"

"Is that a yes or a no" Sakura demanded as Sasuke nodded slightly.

"Good, where are they?"

"Hn I don't know, I gave up and left Kakashi and Naruto to decide" he replied dully as Sakura frowned.

"That's nice of you, letting the best man get the tuxedo's because the groom has a headache" she said stiffly as Sasuke looked up at her.

"Your letting Ino plan everything"

"No I'm getting her and the other girls help, if you must know I have spent hours today just trying to decide colors with them"

"Hn"

"Sorry if I care about making this day perfect"

"I never said I didn't" he argued.

"You didn't have to"

"Shopping for hours for one tuxedo that your only going to wear once is stupid and a waste of time" he muttered.

"So you think me trying to make this day perfect is a waste of time"

"No but getting paranoids is"

"I am not being paranoid" she declared.

"You're going all out, even spending a whole day arguing over colors, when other things have to be done."

"I'm going all out, what's that suppose to mean" Sakura demanded angrily, she had very little tolerance tonight to and with both their tempers already boiling it was not going to be a pleasant conversation.

"It means you need to relax and not be so up tight" he moaned.

"I am not, I just happen to care that's all. What you don't?"

"I didn't say anything like that, I just don't see the whole point of it" he admitted, he was too tired to argue. Though the minuite he said that he knew it was stupid. he hadnt meant it that way but it was to late to take it back. he had his pride afterall.

"Don't see the point" she repeated.

"Of making yourself exhausted over preparing this wedding when its not suppose to be about flowers and colors but about us" he attempted to say.

"You are not taking this seriously Sasuke" Sakura muttered, not really listening to a word he had said.

"And your taking it too seriously" he told her as she glared at him.

"Fine then" she snapped. "If this wedding is such an inconvenience then maybe we should just cancel it all together" that said she marched to their room and slammed the door leaving Sasuke to look at where she had just sat looking very confused. His headache had just maximized greatly.

-

-

Their bad moods continued for the next week, but increased to subjects beyond the wedding. This was probably the longest argument they had ever had and it was defiantly straining their relationship even more. Sasuke had barely said anything to her while Sakura had tried to avoid him. The times they had met had just lead to further arguments and usually just made them both even angrier. Both knew this was stupid but being as stubborn as they were they were refusing to be the one who backed down.

On top of that there had been no mention about the wedding at all, even if Sakura had still been attempting to plan it, though she wasn't sure why, the fact that Sasuke hadn't said anything about it was starting to worry Sakura. She had finally told Ino that for Tenten's sake, as well as the others and her own, they would make the dresses longer and purple instead. She knew that most of her bridesmaids weren't that into the pink idea as well.

"But pink would look so good, especially matching your hair"

"And purple will look fine to" Sakura had replied which put an end to the conversation. Despite their fighting Sakura was still looking forward to her wedding day especially since it had been a few weeks since she had been intimate with Sasuke. Her mind however was brought back to the present when a nurse approached her office in the hospital during her lunch hour.

"Tsunde needs to see you immediately" she said and Sakura could tell there was a look of urgency in her voice.

"What's going on?"

"An invasion I think, the hospital has been put on alert" the nurse explained as Sakura nodded and left for the Hokage's tower immediately. She spotted Neji and Tenten on her way, who seemed to be arguing about something. Neji spotted her and motioned her towards them.

"Sakura can you please tell Tenten that it is not safe for her to participate in this fight" he asked as Tenten glared at him.

"Um" Sakura began.

"I am only eight weeks in Neji I will be fine, besides I have others around me and they need me"

"They don't"

"Neji I am a ninja of Konoha and I swore to protect my village which is what I'm going to do" Tenten told him firmly.

"But you are carrying the life of another"

"Yes and I will protect that life as well"

"But Tenten be reasonable"

"I am Neji, I care about our child just as much as you are and I am not planning on letting anything happen. If i stay away from the actuall fighting and only concerntrate on long range attacks than I shall be fine and still be able to help"

"But"

"No buts I am going and thats final Neji"

"We better go" Sakura said, trying to stop the fighting since she had had enough of fighting for now. She continued on her way with Tenten following close behind and Neji yelling after her. He didn't like the idea of her putting herself and his unborn child in danger but he knew there was no way to change her mind so he would just have to watch out for her. He sighed as he ran to her and took her hand in his. She knew he wasnt happy about her choice but he had accepted it at least. Not like she had given him a choice though.

The Hokage's office was full with the rookie nine and Gai's team, Shizune, Kakashi, Gai, Jiraiya, some other ninja's Sakura didn't know as well as Tsunde herself.

Tsunde explained the details quickly, how enemy ninja's were seen heading here and they were to meet them in the forest. Sakura could tell it was big and stole a quick glance at Sasuke who was standing by Naruto. She knew the two had been training and part of her wished that they weren't fighting. She would hate if something happened to him. Then again it was Sasuke so the chances ere slim. Yet they was always the possibility, he wasn't invincible after all.

"Alright head out" Tsunde called as Sakura swallowed and nervously followed the others to the forest. She could see Shikamaru and Choji keeping close to Ino who they had put in between them while Neji was talking with Lee as well glancing at Tenten, no doubt making sure that one of them was near her at all times. Naruto was telling Kiba and Shino to watch out for Hinata as he and Sasuke headed for the lead.

Once their Sakura had no time to look for the others as she pulled out her kunai and struck down one before looking for another. Her role was to fight as well as look out for injured shinobi so to heal anyone that needed it.

"Careful there is exploding tags in their" a shinobi shouted, pointing to the clearing up ahead. Sakura looked carefully and saw that there was someone in their, someone who was hurt…badly.

"Choji" Sakura called and without a second thought she raced over to him, knelt down and began trying to heal the wound in his head.

"Hey leave him and get out of their now" a shinobi called but Sakura refused to pay any attention as she continued to heal the unconscious Choji. She knew right now she was putting herself in danger but he couldn't leave him. She finished closing the wound and struggled to get Choji up so she could carry him out of danger. She could hear faintly a voice barking orders in the background.

"What the hell is she doing out their, you allowed her to go out their" Sakura instantly recognized the cold harsh voice but tried her best to ignore it. She struggled to get through the field and finally when she was close by two shinobi's grabbed Choji and took him from her no doubt to the hospital. Sakura sighed and wiped her forehead before an icy grip grabbed her arm and she turned around to face a very angry looking Sasuke.

"What?"

"What" he repeated. "That's what I should be asking you"

"Huh"

"What the hell were you doing out their, have you lost your mind or at least your common sense" he demanded as she frowned.

"I was helping a comrade, that's what medics do. What I do"

"Well stop doing it or your stupidity will get you killed"

"Stupidity?" she asked.

"Hn"

"You know what I'm really sick of your Hn, and your icy attitude, your whole not showing feelings thing and most of all I'm sick of you" she yelled and instantly regretted it. Yet her anger had reached boiling point and she didn't know what to do but stand firm.

"Your sick of me, when all I'm trying to do is protect you from killing yourself" he replied.

"Your being overprotective that's what and it's become really annoying" she told him as he clenched his fist. He wasn't angry with her and he knew that, he was angry with the situation but mostly himself. He was angry that he was worried about her and couldn't function properly with that worry. She as in his mind constantly and he had to know she was ok. But yet he couldn't help the words that just came from his mouth.

"Yeah well you're becoming a really annoying responsibility"

"Responsibility is that what I am" she said, her voice dripping with anger and hurt. "Well fine then, from now on I wont be your responsibility any longer. Happy now Uchiha"

"Hn" was all Sasuke could say as Sakura glared at him. How he wanted to apologize, to make it right. He was sick of this fighting he didn't care anymore. He loved her for god's sake.

"Uchiha we need you" a voice called.

"Haruno we have a man who seems to have been repeatedly stabbed" another cried as Sasuke took one long hard look at Sakura than turned and left. Fighting away her tears Sakura turned away from Sasuke's retreating back and took a deep breathe. It was over now, she had won. Then why did she feel so miserable?

-

-

Sakura tried to calm her rage as she set to work healing the already massive number of shinobi's yet the whole tie she get thinking about Sasuke. Many were being injured, three were already dead and she couldn't help but worry whether he was ok or not. A massive explosion alerted her to where ninja's were running from.

"Evacuate that area" the closest shinobi to her called.

"What about the ones who are injured" Sakura asked as he turned to her.

"The medic's are needed here and we can't risk them going into unknown territory. The enemy could still be there" he replied.

"Then I will go" she told him and before he could argue she had gone.

'That's wear most of the rookie nine are' she thought to herself. 'That's where Sasuke is'

She ran as fats as she could, trying to asses the damage done and search for any wounded in need of medical attention. She heard a cry and ran, not realizing that it was a trap. By the time she had it was too late.

"Well well looks like we caught a pretty one" teased an unknown voice as a man steeped out of the shadows. He was with the enemy she could tell and he appeared to have trapped her with some jutsu because she was unable to move at all.

"Pity" he was saying. "I would have loved to had my fun with you but alas we are in war" he sighed as he looked at her with lust filled eyes. Never before had Sakura felt so vulnerable and she wished on everything that she hadn't fought with Sasuke. That he was by her side right now.

"And that means" he continued with a laugh. "That you my pretty have to die"

Sakura swallowed as he looked at her and raised his arms.

"Don't worry this will be over soon" he assured her with a grin before he sent a ball of chakra her way. It hit her in the stomach and unable to move all Sakura could do was cry out in pain as she felt a burring sensation course through her body like a massive shock wave.

"That was fun" he laughed as he sent another, than another, than a forth and fifth. Each more painful than the last and each making Sakura feel as if she was on fire, that someone had just tore a whole through he stomach.

"Help" she yelled desperately as he just continued to laugh.

"This one will be my biggest yet and will surly finish you off once and for all" he told her as he raised his hands once more. Sakura knew it was over, she could never get the chance to apologize to Sasuke, to tell him she loved him. Never get the chance to marry him, bear his children and grow old together. Never!

He was howling now in triumph as he made the hands signs and Sakura felt her body be released from his control. But it was too late to move she knew and all she could do was shut her eyes and await the final blow that would end her life. But it never came.

Instead a raven haired male jumped out from no where, his eyes glowing red and he landed in front of Sakura shielding her for harm as he took the killing blow meant for her to his chest.

"Sasuke" Sakura cried as he fell to the ground in front of her, his face screwed up in pain. Sakura looked up to the man who was laughing madly and grabbed the kunai in Sasuke's hand.

"You will pay" she yelled as she leapt for him, making quick hand signs so she appeared behind him and stabbed him in the neck. He gasped loudly before he fell to the ground but Sakura didn't look back as she rushed to Sasuke's side.

"Sasuke no please no" she whispered as she ran her hands over where the chakra ball had struck. Sasuke was panting on the ground, his face becoming pale as he struggled to breathe.

"Sakura" he said in a hoarse voice that made tears come to Sakura's eyes.

"I'm sorry Sasuke, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have gotten mad at you it was stupid, so stupid. I'm sorry I really am" she cried loudly as she pumped chakra into his body. He lifted his hand and gently caressed her face.

"No I'm the one who should be sorry Sakura, forgive me"

"You have nothing to be sorry for Sasuke" she said as she started breathing hard, using all her energy to try and heal him.

"Don't waste chakra on me Sakura" he told her. "It's too late. Save yourself"

"No" she yelled as tears flowed freely. He ran his finger down the side of her face once more, his eyes connecting with hers.

"I love you" he whispered faintly before his hand fell from her face and his heart stopped beating.

"No" she shouted furiously. She would not loose him. It had taken her years to finally win the heart of the emotionless Uchiha and now that she had she would not let him die. She dug as deep as she could find, digging into her reserved chakra and than using it all in one final thrust she placed all of into Sasuke's body.

When she was done she felt completely and utterly drained. She could barely lift an eyelid but she did to glance onto Sasuke's face. He was still much paler than usual but she knew she had brought him back from the brink of death. She didn't know if it would work but she had nothing left. She had given it her all and now he could only wait and see.

"It will be ok" she told herself as she felt the last of her strength leave her.

"I love you to Sasuke" she whispered as she collapsed onto his wounded body and joined him in the land of unconsciousness.

-

-

Naruto ran as fast as he could, searching desperately for his two teammates. Sasuke had gone ballistic when he heard that Sakura had headed for the area that they had been told to evacuate from and had immediately ran after her. Naruto had stopped to check on Hinata before following. He had a bad feeling and he could barely make out their chakra signatures.

"Come on Sakura, teme you better be ok' he pleaded as he ran even faster.

He burst into the clearing and stopped when he saw Sakura on the ground, blood covering half her body as she looked as white as a ghost. He stepped closer and noticed that she was on top of something. He could see raven hair poking up from the top of Sakura's head and sighed as he recognized his other team mate. Yet were they ok?

"Sakura" he yelled "Sasuke" he ran to them and knelt in front of them, puling Sakura off Sasuke as he did so. He checked for a pulse on his pink haired friend and was relieved to find one. She was exhausted and had no chakra left but apart from that she was fine. He moved to Sasuke's side and let out the breathe he didn't know he was holding as he felt a very faint pulse. They were alive.

He stood up and with all the strength he could find he hoisted Sasuke on to his back than lifted Sakura up in his arms. They were heavy and he felt ready to drop at any moment but he would, these were his team mates, his friends and they needed him. They would always be a team no matter what and right now it was his job to get them to safety.

He soon arrived at the hospital where nurses immediately grabbed Sasuke and Sakura from him and took them to rooms to be treated. Naruto smiled as he collapsed on a chair from exhaustion.

"Come on sir, lets get you healed" a kind nurse said to him but Naruto shook his head.

"That won't be necessary" he told her. He healed fast after all and right now he just wanted to go home and be with his wife.

He arrived home to find Hinata sitting in bed waiting for him, a worried expression on her face.

"Its ok" he said as he kissed her before moving to remove his clothes and slip into his night things.

"Sasuke and Sakura are they…?" she asked as he grinned.

"Yep their fine" he replied as he sat next to her and pulled her close to him as they laid down.

"That's good" she murmured as he kissed her forehead. He looked down at his new wife as a smile graced her features. She could relax now. The battle was over, they had won. Everyone was going to be ok and here she was in the arms of the one she loved the most.

"It's a good thing: she said. "What you did for Sasuke and Sakura"

"Yeah well there my friends" he replied. "And I will always be there for them" he grinned as he though about how much they had all grown over the years. Sakura who once was a squealing and over excited fan girl was now a strong and mature woman who had earned the love of Sasuke. Then there was Sasuke who was once the silent, emotionless and heartless team mate had learned to love again and had become Naruto's' brother. Than there was he, the hyperactive loud moth who no one liked. He had gone from having no one to a whole group of friends, a team, a family and most importantly he had grown to love and cherish three people he cared about the most.

"What are you thinking about?" Hinata asked sleepily.

"Just about how I used to not a give a damm for anyone, I use to have no one and now" he stopped with a smile. "Now I have to people who have become like a brother and sister to me and a wife who means everything to me" Hinata looked up and smiled as she kissed him again.

"Who knows, maybe one day there will be even more for you to love and who will love you to" she told him as he frowned than grinned as he caught her meaning. He placed a hand over her stomach as he settled down to sleep.

"I hope so" he replied at last. "I hope so"

A/N: Some how I can see Ino taking control and Tsunde acting like the mother figure. Sorry it seemed short and a little rushed but I am exhausted, to many shifts at work I think, and it's like two in the morning and I want to go to bed. Anyways next chapter will be the last and yes it will be the wedding. So click the review button and ill update extra fast.