Sorry it's so late. I had a case of writers block. I'll try to get the next one up as soon as possible though it'll probably be late too. exams are coming up...yuck. Anyways I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: see other chapters

Ch. 24: The Wedding

It was the next morning and Gaara groaned as he started to wake up. Needless to say he was not happy with being up at all. His sea foam eyes opened slowly then snapped open quickly when he noticed the weighted next to him. It hadn't been a dream. Kaoru was snuggled next to him. She had on a small smile as she slept and that made hims smile slightly. Gaara knew that the unfamiliar emotion welling up in him was happiness. It happened once in a while during the last few years. Here she was sitting next to him. He still couldn't believe it. How had this happened? What was someone so kind and beautiful doing with him, the monster of Suna? He didn't know the answer and he wasn't sure he would get it if she told him.

Her red eyes opened slowly. They looked up into his eyes and she smile. He bent down and kissed her without a moments hesitation. It felt right. Kaoru smile widened, "Good morning to you too, Gaara-kun."

He rested his forehead against hers and was about to kiss her again when there was a knock on his front door. With a low growl he got up. Kaoru tried not to laugh at him. He acted like a kid that was told he wasn't allowed to play anymore. She almost felt sorry for the poor soul who had knocked on the door. Kaoru got up and walked into the shower.

Gaara was down stairs and debating on whether or not he wanted to kill Kankuro or not. His big brother had dragged him away from his nice warm bed and the nice warm woman for this? Kankuro was telling him that Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno were getting married. They had invited the sand siblings and Kaoru. Gaara really wanted to strangle his brother at that moment. He could be doing...well, doing other more interesting things with Kaoru right now.

"And this couldn't wait a few more hours because..." Gaara drawled out slowly.

Kankuro hesitated. He knew his brother well enough to know he was annoyed with him. What he didn't know was why? It wasn't like Gaara slept unless Kaoru was with him and the kage had been avoiding the medic. There wasn't any reason for him to be annoyed now was there? He was about to ask when someone shouted at the two. The two of them looked over at Temari and Sasori as the two of them reached them.

"Gaara, she's missing," Temari stated.

"Who?" Gaara asked.

"Kaoru-san, she didn't com home last night," Sasori said in his calm voice.

'Oh, her,' Gaara thought. He wasn't aware of the small smirk on his face or the arrogant look in his sea foam eyes. No one said a single word for a moment. Then Temari demanded, "Well, aren't you worried?!"

Gaara shook his head, "I know where she is. There's nothing to worry about." Gaara heard something in his house that told him Kaoru was now out of the shower. He smirked again and said, "I have to go now."

With that he shut the door. Temari and Kankuro stared at it in complete shock. Sasori just shook his head and said, "It's about time."

Temari rounded on him, "What do you mean?"

"Kaoru inside."

The two sand siblings stared at him for a moment then smiled. Sasori was right. It was about damn time. Kankuro headed off towards his own house. Temari and Sasori walked toward the house that they still shared. Technically Sasori wasn't on probation anymore and he could have gotten his own place by now. For some reason he kept putting it off. Sasori knew why he didn't want to move. Unlike Gaara and Sasuke, he was fully aware of what he was feeling. He had fallen in love with Temari. She was strong, stubborn and smart. At first she came across as cold and distance but that hid her soft heart. She was very protective of her friends and heaven help anyone who threatened her family. No, Sasori wasn't foolish like Gaara and Sasuke had been. He knew why he stayed with Temari and why he would continue to stay for as long as she would let him. His red eyes focused on the blonde next to him. She caught his stare and smiled, then slowly reached out and took his hand.

Meanwhile, Kaoru had just finished making breakfast . Gaara told her what Kankuro had wanted. She smiled, "We can go, right, Gaara-kun?"

He nodded and wondered if it was supposed to be harder to tell her no. It probably was. The two of them ate while talking about little things. Gaara suddenly asked, "Kaoru, what happens now?"

She blinked then shrugged, "That's up to you, Gaara-kun. Things can go back to the way they were. They can continue as they are now. You could even take it farther. I won't make that choice for you."

"You have a say too, Kaoru. It's also your life," he pointed out.

"Yes but I already know what I want. I don't want to influence your choice. I'm not as oblivious as everyone thinks I am. I know that I have influence over you that no one else does even before last night." Kaoru paused to smile as her red eyes lit up with memory. "This isn't something I want to influence. When you make the choice it will be yours and yours alone."

Gaara considered for a moment then sighed, "This would be easier if I had done this before. Kaoru, I..." Gaara didn't know what to say now so he blundered through the best he could, "...I've never...I love you and I've never..."

Kaoru walked over to him and placed a finger over his lips to stop him from saying anything else. She had a small smile on her face and her crimson eyes held a great deal of amusement, "I know, Gaara-kun. It isn't suppose to be easy. If it was then everyone would be happier. Besides, nothing worth having is easy to get."

He let out another sigh, "I suppose."

She started to walk away but Gaara had other ideas. He reached out and grabbed Kaoru's hand and pulled her into a kiss. He didn't know where this would lead but he would see it through.

--

The council decided to take a break for lunch. Kaoru was standing in Gaara's office waiting on him to finish putting his papers away when the door opened. Kohaku rushed in with Kaede trailing behind him. The old woman smiled in amusement as the boy threw his arms around Kaoru's waist.

"I was worried when you didn't come home yesterday," he stated while clinging to his mother.

"I'm sorry, Kohaku. I was really tired after I left the hospital. Gaara-kun found me and took me to his place so I could rest."

Kohaku looked over at Gaara and smiled, "Thanks for taking care of her, dad."

Gaara shook his head at the name Kohaku used for him. He still wasn't use to it. The boy knew that it bothered the kage and that was part of the reason he still called him that. The other reason was he wanted it to be true. Kohaku wanted a family. He had a mother and grandparents. He even had Uncle Kyo. If that was all he had for the rest of his life he would be happy. That didn't change the fact that he wanted a father. He also wanted that father to be Gaara.

Kaoru looked over to Kaede, "Since you're here do you want to join us for lunch, grandma?"

"Yes, I think I will."

Kohaku watched the interaction between his mother and Gaara very carefully. He knew something had changed. He just didn't know what it was. No matter how much he watched he couldn't see what it was. Then there it was. For a brief moment Kaoru had taken Gaara's hand to pull him in one direction. For the first time in Kohaku's memory Gaara held Kaoru's hand while she pulled him.

The little boy looked up at Kaede, "Grandma, does this mean he really is my dad now?"

"Not yet, Kohaku, but soon," she replied with a knowing smile.

--

They arrived at Konoha the next week. The whole village was aflutter of activity. People rushed about doing their own task to prepare for the wedding between their cherry blossom and the Uchiha. Kankuro, Temari, and Sasori left to go find out where they were staying while they were here. Gaara, Kaoru, and Kohaku went in search of Sasuke and Sakura.

They found Sasuke first. He was in his compound staring moodily at the decorations. He nodded his head in greeting. Kaoru and Kohaku said hello but Gaara just nodded his head in return. Sasuke then continued to glare. He was obviously not very happy with something. In a few days, the Uchiha was about to get married to the woman he has loved since they were twelve and he was glaring. Something just didn't add up.

"Are you alright, Sasuke? You look kinda grumpy for someone who's about to get married," Kaoru asked.

"We should have just eloped," he replied in a growl.

Gaara smirked. Kaoru tilted her head, "Why do you say that?"

He looked over at them, "Do you see all the decorations? Did you know that the wedding itself will take hours? I just wanted to get married not make a damn holiday."

Kaoru smiled, "But it's a special day."

"Yes. For me and Sakura. Not the rest of the village."

"You have to let your friends come."

"I am. Naruto, Kakashi, and you guys. The rest of the people are Sakura's friends. Did you know that more than half of the village is her friend?"

Kaoru was now fully amused, "I'm sorry, Sasuke."

Gaara shrugged, "The good news is you'll only have to do this once."

Sasuke nodded, "I know. It's the only think keeping me sane through all of this."

Kohaku tugged on Kaoru's sleeve, "Whats a wedding?"

Since both of the men suddenly looked like the question would set off a bomb Kaoru answered. "It's when two people promise that they'll love each other and no one else for the rest of their lives."

Kohaku stood there in thought for a moment then smiled, "That's a good thing right?"

"As long as they really love each other then yes."

"Kaoru!! You're here!!"

They turned at the familiar voice. Sakura walked into the compound and the two girls hugged. Sakura kissed Gaara's cheek and hugged Kohaku. Sasuke began to grumble something about not getting a hello. Sakura smiled and kissed his cheek too. The group walked inside so that they could talk while the girls made some lunch for them.

--

The day of the wedding came and everyone was excited. The wedding itself would take place on the Uchiha compound. Everything was done in red and white since the Uchiha symbol was in those colors and Sakura loved them. People rushed about trying to finish the last minute preparations. Sasuke and Sakura were in their changing rooms with a few friends.

Sasuke was nervous. He'd be damned if he'd admit it out loud but he was. For once he wasn't annoyed by Naruto's constant chatter since it kept his mind off of what he was about to do. He was getting married. Never in his life had he ever thought that would happen. Sasuke Uchiha was a cold person who only cared about one thing...avenging his clan. At least that was how it was suppose to be. Then Sakura came along and blindsided him. Now here he was getting married of all things. How had that happened?

Gaara looked out the window and went deep into his own thoughts as an idea occurred to him. Maybe he knew what he wanted.

There was a knock on the door and Asuma was there. It was time for Sasuke to get out there. The Uchiha let out a sigh and walked out of the room. Gaara and Naruto followed him.

Sakura was just as nervous as Sasuke but she didn't bother to hide it. She paced and babbled away. She would keep asking if she was doing the right thing and her friends would assure her that she was. Kaoru eventually asked, "Sakura, do you love him?"

"Yes."

"Then there's no problem."

That ended Sakura's worrying about doing the right thing. Tsunade came and that was the signal that it was time to go. The girls filed out.

It was beautiful. Everyone was so happy to see it finally happen. Sasuke's and Sakura's story had been filled with tragedy. He had acted like he hated her from the beginning. She had been a fangirl. Then they got placed on the same team. She fell in love. He continued to hate everything. Then he almost left and lost precious trust. She gave him a chance and he had taken it. Now here they were.

Sasuke stood at the alter waiting on her to get there. He still hadn't gotten his revenge and he wondered if maybe he should have before he asked her to marry him. Then she came through the doors and it didn't matter anymore. Nothing really did but this moment. He had finally been allowed a chance to be happy. Itachi could wait. Actually, the rest of the world and it's problems could wait. Today Sasuke Uchiha was unavailable.

When it was over they had the after party. People danced, laughed, and gave advice to the knew couple. Kaoru eventually danced with Sasuke and gave him advice that he found the most helpful.

"You'll get angry and fight. That's okay just remember to admit it when your wrong and that that's okay too. Also you're a very reserved person Sasuke. Don't forget to remind her that you love her."

He grinned, "I'll remind her. Frequently."

Kaoru chuckled, "I thought you might but that's not what I meant. Say the words, Sasuke. She'll need to hear them especially after a fight."

Sasuke nodded, "I will." He then asked, "What about you? I've noticed the change in your relationship with Gaara."

She smiled, "Things are great."

"Has he asked you to marry him yet?"

"No. I don't think the idea has even occurred to him. He's even more in the dark about this kind of thing than you are, Sasuke."

He tilted his head, "How so?"

"You were loved once upon a time by your family. Then you gained friendship with Team 7. Now you have Sakura. Gaara lacked the love of a family or any other love growing up. He never took an interest in what love was or what people did when they found it. I don't know what he'll do now that he's admitted to loving me but I'll wait for it."

"You're a very patient person, Kaoru. You've waited...what?...fourteen years now.?

She smiled, "I know." The song ended, "Now you go find your wife and get out of here. It's about time you started your life again, Sasuke."

He smirked as a couple of ideas came into his head. "No problem."

Kaoru rolled her eyes and everyone rushed out to watch the couple leave for the honeymoon. Gaara stood next to Kaoru. After the couple had left they returned to their rooms to sleep. Gaara continued toying with the idea in his head.

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