Normal POV

After splashing around in the water for an hour Tess decided it was time to prepare dinner and announced to everyone that they were ordering pizza. Preferences were shouted at her and she silenced them all saying that she'd just be ordering cheese and pepperoni pizza's. Everyone seemed content with that and didn't argue. Tess laughed and through a tank top and shorts on over her swimsuit, stepping inside the house to order the pizza.

While she was ordering Tobi skipped down the stairs in his swim trunks, his spiky black hair dripping water onto the lose tank top he had thrown on.

"Oh hey Tobi," Tess greeted hanging up the phone, "what's going on?"

Tobi clapped his hands happily, rocking his feet back and forth. "Tobi was wondering if Tobi could come with you to get the pizza!"

Tess blinked. "Yeah, sure. Are you ready to go now?"

"Un!" He cheered, grabbing hold of her hand. Tess closed her own hand around his, tensing a bit. Something wasn't right.

Tobi, while friendly around everyone, never really had done anything besides give her a quick hug and then disappear somewhere. They had never really talked. Even two years back, when she had spent a few days with Tobi and Zetsu before leaving, most conversation was produced by her and the plant man. Tobi had only sat there occasionally making stupid remarks.

And now he was going to go on a half hour long car ride there and back to get the pizza with her? Alone? Something was definitely up.

Tobi pulled her onto the deck and Itachi, who had been silently enjoying the peaceful lake breeze, looked up at them. Tobi quickly waved at him and continued to pull Tess off to the side. The red heads emerald eyes met his onyx ones and Itachi could see that even while her body was calm her eyes were filled with slight worry. He couldn't blame her though. Chatting with a 200 year old evil mastermind was always stressful.

Itachi nodded at her with a slight smile, giving her some encouragement. Tess smiled back at him, worry seeming to lift from her eyes.

A second later the two were out of sight and Itachi sighed, looking back to the water where a 3 way chicken fight between Lauren and Hidan, Pein and Konan, and Kisame and Taylor had broken out.

He smiled again, enjoying the break that he was receiving at the moment. It was a nice change.

…

Tess's eye twitched. After driving for 10 minutes Tobi still had not spoken a word. It was making her insane.

"Hey, do you have something against me?"

Tobi turned towards her. "No, of course not Tess-chan!"

"Not Tobi, idiot. I'm addressing Madara."

His red eye shone through his mask as he stared at her. "No, I don't. Is there a reason that makes you believe that I do?"

Tess shrugged. "Well, I already knew that Lauren had told you that I knew who you were, so I guess I was just surprised that you hadn't tried killing me yet."

Madara chuckled and looked out the window as they rode past the shimmering blue lake. "I only kill things that aren't assets in my plan."

Tess raised her eyebrow. "Then why did you try to kill Lauren back then?"

"Because she was an Uchiha," he said simply. "Itachi was a crucial knight on my playing board and I didn't want her ruining it. Itachi wouldn't allow my killing her however, so that's why she's still alive."

"Sooo…," Tess glanced over at him, "not that this is a problem, but…why am I not dead yet?"

Madara closed his eyes. "You seem like the type of person that has power but would only choose to reveal it if something went wrong. So, I figured that if something ever did go wrong then you would take it upon yourself to handle."

Tess sighed. "So basically, you're saying that if I ever choose to make a move towards revealing your identity then you would kill me?"

"You're a smart girl you know that?"

Tess grinned sarcastically. "Thanks."

"I was being serious," Madara replied, looking ahead as the pizza place neared them. "That's why I have to ask… why are you with that foul mouthed Jashinist?"

Tess pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of the car smirking evilly.

"He's sexy as fuck, why else?"

Madara face palmed mumbling something along the lines of "I shouldn't have asked…" and Tess giggled as they walked into the shop. In the end she knew it was more than that, but oh well. It was fun messing with people.

…

20 minutes later Tess and Tobi pulled back into the drive way and Tess carried the pizzas inside while Tobi ran outback.

"DINNER!" He cried, running into the house quickly after.

Hidan, Kisame, Taylor and Deidara exited the lake quickly sprinting up the hill into the house while Pein and Konan calmly followed after them. Once everyone was inside Itachi stood and entered into the cottage as well.

Sasori, who had been quietly resting in the shade of a tree next to the beach stood and was about to head inside when he noticed that Lauren was still floating on a tubing raft in the water.

He walked to the edge of the water and stared out at her.

Lauren laid there with a smile, her arms behind her head and her thighs dangling into the water loosely.

Sasori raised an eyebrow curiously and made sure no one was around before applying a small amount of chakra to the bottom his feet and stepping onto the water. He silently walked over to the raft and she looked back at him.

"It's so peaceful isn't it Danna?"

He smirked and took a seat on the edge of the raft, letting his own legs sink into the refreshing water.

"Yes, it's quite a nice change."

Lauren sighed and looked over at Sasori, staring at him for a few seconds.

"Hey Danna…?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

Lauren sighed again and looked back up at the darkening blue sky as another puffy white cloud flew overhead.

"Do you every just sit and think about everything…everything that has happen and will happen?"

Sasori stayed silent.

Lauren glanced off to the side, curling her legs onto the raft.

"It makes your head spin," she admitted quietly. "To think about all the mistakes you've made that if you were wiser you could have prevented. To think about all the errors that could have been so easily corrected that dragged on for the longest time. To think about all the things that you told yourself were your fault when they really weren't that just ate you up on the inside. You just think about all the things you could've done and then just tell yourself that in the future you'll change."

She paused and looked back over Sasori. A smile spread across her face.

"And then you block all those things out and just think about all the things that went right. Like how you finally got over your shyness and met some amazing lifelong friends. And how you got pressured into trying things that you learned to love. How you got sucked into an alternate universe and had the time of your life. And then how you got to meet the most badass group of criminals ever who were more kindhearted than you would have thought."

She closed her eyes as her smile softened gracefully. "And now here I am, sitting on a raft talking to a man that turned himself into a puppet because he didn't want to hear crap like this. A man who, if not revived, I would have never gotten to know so closely and be able to love with all my heart."

Sasori felt a smile grace his lips as she continued.

"I can think about how I met my real, insanely awesome brothers and an energetic orange faced idiot. About how I was able to connect with vulgar Jashinist and huggable giant blue shark man. About how I met and blue haired origami loving women and her commanding, surprisingly soft-hearted best friend and leader. How I got to meet an enjoyable schizophrenic plant man and a grumpy old money obsessed miser with a soft spot in one of his 5 hearts. And then I can think about the blonde artist that somehow managed to give his heart to this emotional wreck of a girl that was able to easily give her heart right back."

Lauren continued to smile and closed her eyes as a tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

"That's when I know deep down that there are going to be bad moments, but there are also going to many good ones. Ones that you'll never be able to forget. And it makes me happy… incredibly happy."

More happy tears slipped down her smiling face and she suddenly found herself wrapped in Sasori warm embrace. Lauren rested her head into his chest and the puppet master rested his head on top of hers.

Sasori smiled and closed his eyes. This silly brat. This silly little…beautiful piece of art. She was…she was…

"You're weird…," he said thoughtfully, "You're incredibly confusing and annoying at times, but you're always there to make us- me smile. You have your bad moments just like everyone else does but that's what makes you human. Speaking of humans you're one of the reasons I still am one," he admitted. "Because you made me promise I wouldn't and for some reason I felt obliged to keep it."

He sighed. "And the situation with you and me the other day after I had been drinking…I did remember and I apologize. It was the alcohol making me think of the way I 'love' you in a different way, and I'd like to put that behind us."

Lauren giggled into his chest slightly and he found himself smiling again. "But brat, know that I and the other brat…we really do love you. I love you. Everyone here does. So whenever you need to talk like this and just vent a little, any of us will be willing to listen."

Lauren took her head from his chest and looked up at him, whipping the already dry tears from her face

"Thank you," she said hugging him. "Thank you for listening and thank you for the much need reassurance. You're the best Danna I've ever had."

He pulled back and gave her a blank look. "I'm the only Danna you've ever had."

She laughed and beamed a smile at him. "That's why you're the best!"

His mouth twitched slightly. "Shut up," he said pushing her off the raft into the water. Lauren appeared a second later mouth open in shock. Sasori chuckled at her but stop when she suddenly grabbed his feet and dragged him down into the water with her. The brunette laughed as Sasori's head reappeared above the surface frozen in surprise. He was about to attack her when a loud "Hey!" interrupted him.

The two's attention turned to Tess who stood on the deck, shouting down the hill at them.

"Didn't you hear Tobi say we had dinner? If you don't get up here soon than Hidan and Kisame are going to eat it all!"

Lauren took this chance to get away from Sasori and started bolting for the shore. Too bad he caught up quick and threw her back into the lake, running onto the shore in front of her. He smirked and wrapped himself in a towel, throwing one at Lauren as she trudged onto the beach. She laughed and punched his shoulder as they both dried off.

After getting dry they both climbed up to the porch and stepped inside the house, walking over to the pizza. They each grabbed a plate and got situated on one of the couches in the family room.

"Hey," Tess said looking over at Lauren, "you okay?"

"Better," Lauren nodded, smiling happily.

…

Later that night, as the sun finally disappeared behind the horizon, the 13 all sat gather around a fire next to the beach.

Lauren was comfortably resting in between Deidara and Sasori while Tess sat across from her snuggled into Hidan. Taylor was next to them her head resting on Kisame's shoulder and everyone sat there in silence.

After a few minutes Lauren stood and walked over to a nearby tree grabbing a packet of lanterns that had been placed there. She took one from the pack and pulled out a lighter, setting fire to the metal plate on the inside.

Lauren walked back over to the group and stood where everyone would be able to see her. Once the lantern was filled with enough warm air she gently pushed it towards the sky.

"May tomorrow bring everyone more joy and happiness than today," she said quietly as it floated up into the air, quickly getting pick up by an air current.

Lauren sat back down in her spot and Deidara wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his side.

As the lantern disappeared out of sight the group all found themselves smiling. Today had been perfect. And they hoped it would remain like that for as long as possible.

Herro! :D

Happy Independence Day to those of you who actually care! XD

But if today is the 4th then that means that in 3 days I turn 15… :O

Lol the only thing I want is to go out to Olive Garden :P

Well, it's like 11 in the morning and I need to go eat breakfast…

So.

REVIEW!

(I only got 2 the last chapter :'/)

SO PWEASE REVIEW!

And btw

I LOVE YOU XD