"Good morning Sakura!" Sasori met her downstairs.

"Hello Sasori." Sakura smiled at him.

"I came here to escort you to breakfast on the veranda." He held out his arm.

Sakura took it proudly. "We're having breakfast together?"

"No, you and Ayame are. She's already there."

Sakura felt her insides sink a little. She loved Ayame dearly but now that she was betrothed to Gaara, there was a certain spark between them.

She saw Ayame sitting by the pool watching Gaara swim. He swam over to the edge and said something to her that made her laugh and then he splashed her with water. She heard Ayame threaten to tell his dad and that made him laugh.

There was an ache in her heart to see them like that but she had to have faith that Gaara knew what he was doing.

Just at that moment Gaara looked at her. His smile slowly disappeared and he disappeared under water.

"Morning Sakura!" Ayame stood up and held her arms open.

"Morning Aya!" Sakura forced a smile and gave her a hug.

Ayame released her and sat down pointing to the food. "I'm sorry I didn't wait for you when I started but they have the best food!"

Sakura shrugged. "It's alright. I'm sorry for waking up late."

Ayame squealed and moved around in her seat. "I can't believe we're actually sitting in front of each other like this. We haven't done this in years."

Sakura laughed. "The last time we did this we were in the backyard making mud pies."

"Yeah and then you had to leave because it had started to snow." Ayame lowered her eyes. "And that was the last I had ever seen you."

Sakura sighed.

When Ayame looked back at her, her eyes were filled with water. "Why didn't you call to explain everything to me? I thought you didn't want to be my friend anymore. I just couldn't understand it. I was only four Sakura. Do you know how hard I took that?"

Sakura looked away. "Aya I'm sorry, but it was hard for me too. To see my mom being beaten like that and then waking up to no one. When I found out my parents had abandoned me I didn't want to be close to anyone for a while and then when I came to my senses, it was too late. I knew whatever I had said, you wouldn't want to forgive me."

Ayame slammed her hands on the table making Sakura jump.

"I was your best friend Sakura! Of course I would've understood! You do not know how long I cried over that! I had my heart broken by a girl I was in love with. My mom had to wake me up every night from nightmares."

Sakura kept her eyes away from her. "You weren't the only one who had nightmares."

She felt Ayame's hand grab hers forcing her to look into her eyes.

"Sakura I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been attacking you like that. What's important now is that we're together now."

Sakura sniffed. "Uh-huh."

"So tell me did you ever find your mom and dad?"

Sakura smiled. "As a matter of fact I did find my mom. It would seem that one of my best friends was raised by her in China."

"That's so cool! What about your dad? Did he come back too?"

"No, my dad is dead Aya."

Ayame gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright, but let's change the subject." Sakura's eyes traveled over to Gaara who was getting out of the pool. Her cheeks burned when she caught a glimpse of his amazing body.

"Gaara is perfect." She heard Ayame sigh.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Ayame looked at her. "Hey Sakura, what's the story behind you and Gaara?"

Sakura stiffened. "W-what?"

A cat-like smile spread across her face. "Soooo you and Gaara are like best friends right? Can you give me some pointers? I just want us to be the best couple ever!"

Sakura snapped her jaw such making a loud noise.

Ayame frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing."

Her eyes narrowed. "Is there something going on that I need to know?"

"Don't be silly Aya!" So Gaara didn't her about them yet? She wondered why.

"Sakura!" Gaara called her name.

The both of them looked at him. He waved at her to come over to him and another guy who looked a lot like him and Sasori.

"I'll be back." she told Ayame and walked quickly over to them, grateful that Gaara had called her when he did.

When she approached Gaara he turned to her smiling broadly.

"Sakura! There is someone I want you to meet."

"My name is Yashamaru, it's finally nice to meet you." He bowed at her

Sakura bowed back only because she thought it was a custom there at the island. "No, the pleasure is all mine."

Yashamaru smiled at her. "Wow."

Sakura felt her cheeks burn. Why was he smiling at her like that?

"Yashamaru quit staring at her like that." Gaara jumped in. "She's turning red."

Yashamaru laughed. "I didn't mean to embarrass you Sakura, I was just admiring the fact that a gorgeous young lady like you could win the heart of my dear nephew."

"She didn't win my heart Yashamaru." Gaara said. His eyes met Sakuras. "It was already hers to begin with."

"Oh Gaara, cut it out." Sakura playfully pushed him aside.

Yashamaru laughed again and patted Gaara on the shoulder. "You've matured a lot since the last time I'd seen you Gaara. You're no longer the destructive little boy I once knew. I can officially say you're a young man and I think owe Sakura for that."

Sakura shook her head. "I didn't do anything."

"Liar." She heard Gaara mumble and jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Ow!"

"Well I must go. I have a meeting to attend to." Yashamaru glanced at his watch.

"It was nice meeting you Yashamaru." Sakura bowed her head once more.

She felt Yashamaru's hand underneath her chin as he guided it upwards to so that her lips met with his.

Her heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened just as Gaara's did.

Yashamaru pulled away and gave her a wink. "A thank you for all that you've done for this boy."

Sakura was speechless. She had just kissed Gaara's uncle right in front of him. How was he going to react?

"Not cool Yashamaru." Gaara growled. "You don't kiss my girlfriend."

Yashamaru ignored him and turned on his heel walking the opposite way.

"Later." He threw up his hand and disappeared around the corner.

"I like him." Sakura said.

Gaara flinched. "You what?"

"Is that a problem?"

"He just kissed you!"

"And?"

"And? What the hell do you mean by 'and'?"

"Jealousy isn't a nice thing to have Gaara." She sung.

Gaara snorted and arched an eyebrow. "Me jealous of my uncle? Don't make me laugh."

"Oh? And why wouldn't you be jealous?"

"One." He took a step close to her. "I'm the only one who can make you feel the way you do and two." He took another step close to her. "You're mine not his."

Sakura smiled at him. "I like those reasons."

"So do I." He smiled back at her and just when she thought he was going to kiss her, he didn't. Instead he backed away. "I'll see you later okay? You know where to meet me right?"

Even though she was disappointed she agreed to see him later on that night. She was excited that they would finally have some alone time together. That was all she wanted.

Sakura couldn't believe she was wearing the white dress Gaara had picked out for her. It was way to short and clung tightly to her body. She felt like she was Angelina Jolie in an action movie. He was turning into a pervert.

When she arrived at the garden she found him standing by a tree looking up at the stars. He however, was in a white button down shirt and jeans. That pissed her off.

"No fair." She slapped his arm. "Why do I get to wear this tight thing?"

Gaara smiled at her. "Because you love me that's why."

"I may not after this night."

"You say that now." He chuckled and kissed her lightly on her brow. He said nothing more and escorted her to a small gazebo beside the pond deep into the garden. If it was just her out there, there was no way she would survive in this maze.

There in the gazebo was a small table lit with tow candles and a couple of pieces of bread, peanut butter, and jelly.

She looked over at him and saw him blushing.

"I…uh…didn't have time to pick out something fancy. There were too many people around and I knew they would ask." He explained. His face turning a new shade of red.

"It's perfect." She whispered. She didn't care as long as she was with him.

"Well lets began shall we?" He said and held out her chair.

"Thank you."

They sat and talked in the moonlight for hours. Talking about the future for them, for his family and any other thing they could possibly think of. She was truly happy with him and she knew he felt the same way. But there was something in the back of her mind that was pushing its way to the front while they lay in each others arm on a blanket underneath the bed of stars. Sakura knew she shouldn't worry about it, but it was alright to ask wasn't it?

"Hey Gaara."

Gaara opened his heavy eyelids and looked down at her. "What is it?" He asked sleepily.

That made her feel guilty. He was so busy today and was tired yet he made time to spend with her.

"Oh…never mind." She snuggled closer to him.

"Tell me Sakura."

"It's nothing Gaara."

"Sakura."

Sakura sighed and looked back up at his troubled face.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Well, why didn't you tell Aya that you were dating me?"

Even though it was dark she could still see his alarmed reaction. He wasn't expecting that tonight.

"I will tell her, soon."

"Why not now?"

"Because I have to figure out a way to say it nicely. I can't just say 'I'm dating Sakura, and I have no intention of marrying you so get the hell out of my life.'"

"Yeah you could." Sakura mumbled.

Gaara laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist. His heart beating steadily with hers in a perfect beat.

"Don't worry Sakura. I only have eyes for you. I won't marry her. I would be damned if I did that first."

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "You know, you've been acting strangely different since we got here, you know like, nice."

Gaara smiled showing his straight line of perfect white teeth. "This is me. The real Gaara. I don't show it often as you can tell. Only to Coco."

Sakura shot up. "COCO! WHERE IS COCO?"

Gaara laughed again. "Don't worry about it Sakura. I left him with Obasan. I knew if I brought him here, I wouldn't be able to care for him like I normally do so the night before we left, I had asked Obasan to take watch over him."

"True."

Gaara poked out his bottom lip. "Does Coco mean more to you then I do?"

"Never." She whispered and leaned down to kiss him. It was a long and hard passionate kiss. They kissed like they hadn't kissed one another before. Both of their bodies wanting to be with one another and all of the urges they had been holding back were finally being released.

Sakura had managed to begin to unbutton his shirt and to her surprise he helped her. Still kissing one another he flipped her over underneath him and worked his wet lips down the side of her neck and eventually to her collar bone sending little electrical currents through her body.

Her fingers ran through his damped hair and he smelled freshly like the water from the shower he had probably just gotten out of.

His eyes met hers and were filled with passion and want. He wanted her badly. She knew that and she wanted him. So what was stopping them?

"Sakura…I—"

"What the hell is going on here?" A powerful voice boomed making them both jump.

They both looked up and were blinded by a flash light Temari was holding and with her was Kazuo and Kankuro and Kazuo looked non too happy.

"Gaara, what do you think you're doing?"

"What are you doing here?" Gaara returned not moving from his position. He wasn't ashamed but Sakura was. She couldn't believe she was caught like this. She was about to have sex with Gaara and his family was watching them. How embarrassing was that?

"This is my property. I think I can roam around wherever I want to, but Temari informed me of seeing the two of you making your way over here."

Sakura looked at Temari who blew a kiss at her. She just wanted to strangle her right now.

"I knew you two wouldn't be up to any good, but this!" Kazuo's face began to redden with anger or was it shame? "Gaara, were you going to give up your virginity to this girl?"

"I don't have my virginity anymore." Gaara growled. "Father, Sakura isn't just 'this' girl. She's my girlfriend."

"Not anymore." Kazuo spat back at him.

"You can't run my life! I can make my own decisions."

"Not in this house you cant"

Gaara stood up. "Then you don't have to worry about me staying around here anymore." He pulled Sakura up to her feet. "Come on Sakura, we're leaving."

"Gaara!" Kazuo yelled frightening Sakura.

"G-Gaara, maybe you really explain it to your father instead of yelling at him."

"Shut your mouth bitch." Temari hissed.

"Temari!" Gaara roared. "Take back what you said."

Now Sakura was truly afraid. She had never seen Gaara this angry before. It was like he was a completely different person. He had truly snapped.

"I don't think I want to." Temari returned matching his anger.

Gaara suddenly took her by the arm harshly. "I said take it back."

Sakura could see Temari wince and tried to step in between them. "Gaara you're hurting her. Please stop."

"I'm not going to take shit from her anymore. Get out of my way Sakura." He said not even looking at her.

"You're…hurting me Gaara." Temari whimpered.

Gaara smiled devilishly. "Oh really? Now you know how it feels to get hurt. Do you like it?"

"Gaara stop!" Sakura cried.

"Why should I? She's been hurting me my whole life. I'm not taking her crap anymore! I'm feeling like there's a dagger constantly piercing my heart! I just want it to stop."

"Then I will help you make it stop!" Sakura reached for his arm. "I will be there for you Gaara, you don't have to go through it all alone."

"Don't touch me!" He screamed.

"That's enough Gaara." Kankuro's voice echoed in the sudden silence. "Let her go Gaara."

Gaara looked at him and she saw fear flash through his eyes. She then looked at Kankuro who was glaring at Gaara.

"Gaara, you've done enough. You might be our brother but we can still press charges so let Temari go."

Gaara looked at Temari then back at Kankuro.

"Now." Kankuro narrowed his eyes.

Gaara released Temari and lowered his eyes.

"You monster!" Temari screamed and slapped him with such force it made him stumble back. "I hate you! I wish mother would have never given birth to you! I wish she was here instead of you!"

She took one look at Sakura and ran away sobbing.

"Gaara, what you're being is unreasonable." Kankuro continued. "Do you think mother would be happy if she had seen you like this?"

"No." Gaara mumbled.

"Gaara." Kankuro let out a heavy sigh. "Gaara, mother chose you to marry Aya into the family because she saw something darkness in Temari, Sasori and me. She knew that when you were born that you would bring happiness to our family." His eyes softened. "I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I saw all of the pain you were going through and ignored you. I remember being there when Temari would sneak into your room and I wouldn't stop her because I didn't care and I'm sorry. If there's anyone you should be mad at it's me! I wasn't there for you Gaara and I'm sorry."

In the corner of her eye, Sakura could see Gaara drop to his knees.

"Gaara, please. Mother would want you to do this. It's not just father who does. It's all of us but mostly mother." Kankuro turned to leave. "Oh, and before she died she told me to tell you that she loved you and was happy to give up her life to give you one."

Gaara dug his nails into the dirt. "Yes, I remember her voice saying that. She told me to live a normal life. She wanted me to…be happy." He tried to stifle back a sob but Sakura could see the tears that dropped on his hand.

"I know I had never said this to you before but…" Kankuro smiled at him. "I'm glad to have you as my brother Gaara." He then took his leave.

"Gaara, stop by my room when you're done here. We still need to talk about all of this." Kazuo said before leaving himself.

Sakura had forgotten that he was even there as quiet as he had been. He said nothing while Gaara was going through all of this. What type of father was he?

"Gaara, are you okay?" She bent down beside him.

"Just go." He whispered.

Sakura was taken aback. "What?"

"Please Sakura, I want to be alone."

"But…"

"GO!" He screamed punching the ground.

Sakura flinched. Her heart ached for him but he didn't want to be bothered. There was nothoing more she could do but leave him to cry alone and that was just what she did.

A/N: hi! Apologize for taking so long to write this. I'm such a horrible writer *tear* anyway I hope it was worth the wait….