I sat on one of the swings that the park sported and watched a group of children play with Butterball. Though for the most part he preferred to lay down and allow the children to jump over him and run around him in crazy patterns.

Either way they enjoyed themselves and I couldn't help my smile. I hadn't thought that I would miss Niko or the twins this soon but it seemed like I was wrong. I missed them a lot.

I heard a raised voice and looked to the edge of the park where a woman stood, holding her arm out for a small boy that was running towards her. She lifted the boy into her arms and after letting him wave at his friends turned, and made their way home.

A few minutes later, a few of the older children grabbed their younger siblings hands and began pulling them towards their houses. I suppose that it was getting close to their dinner time.

Soon, all that was left was a brown haired boy of about 7 and a blond girl of 3. It was this same boy that had asked me if he, and the other children could play with Butterball. He was running around Butterball, his sister following on stubby little legs.

Though, she was having trouble on not falling in the sand. Her brother was sure to slow his pace, so that she could catch up to him.

I laughed softly at their antics and suddenly felt a presence behind me.

I was about to turn when a pair of hands wrapped around the swing chains, stopping my slight swinging.

"How did your meeting go?''

He groaned and released the chains, wrapping his arms over my shoulders and pulling me back to lean against his chest.

"Windbags. They didn't have anything to say that couldn't have waited till tomorrow. They even seemed upset to be called away from their homes. It makes me wonder if my secretary was wrongly informed and they didn't really want to see me until our meeting tomorrow morning.''

I shrugged, thinking that with the way Matsuri had reacted to me, she had probably told him of the meeting, hoping to get him away from me. I had seen people in love do worse.

He sighed. "Though I do understand now why Matsuri and her team was sent home.''

I nodded. "Can you tell me why?''

I felt him shrug. "The man that requested help was the owner of a brothel. Apparently he's been receiving threats against some of the girls. He wanted the ninja's to escort the girls around town until they figured out who was behind the threats.''

I frowned. "And you let your ninja's go to those kind of places for missions.''

I turned to look at him and found his expression detached. "Though I would like NOT to associate with that type of place, they are offering an ABUNDANT amount of money for helping them.''

I nodded and turned back around, laying my head back to rest on his shoulder.

"How is it you know what that type of place is anyways? Kankuro.''

Gaara snorted. "No. Before I became Kazekage, Temari, Kankuro, and I were still sent out on missions like a normal ninja team. One of these missions was in the mountain village. They aren't as...children friendly as Suna and the leaf village. They do have a separate district, but it is filled with brothels and prostitutes. They were everywhere. On the street, in the windows, calling down.

They were yelling at Baki, who was our team leader at that point. I finally asked what they wanted. He replied, money for sex. I left it at that, though it wasn't until the 'birds and the bees' talk that I realized what that actually was.

Now that I know what that is, I'm even more hesitant in allowing my younger ninja's to go there. But I still have to send some of the older ones, like Temari and Kankuro.''

I nodded and closed my eyes, absorbing his body heat as the sun set and the desert became cooler. Though Suna was scorching to most people in the day time. It was uncomfortably cool to all at night.

A moment later I felt Gaara stiffen and a loud cry echoed across the park.

I opened my eyes to see the young boy running towards me, a grim look on his face. He skidded to a stop in front of me and pointed frantically to his sister.

"Can you help us? My sister fell and scratched her knee...It's bleeding a lot.''

I nodded and unwrapped Gaara's arms from around me before following the boy to where his sister was crying pitifully, clutching at her knee.

I knelt down beside her and touched her arm. She looked up at me with watery eyes, and sniffled.

"I 'urt.''

I nodded and dug through my bag that I had dropped beside me, finding band-aids and an antiseptic spray.

"Can I see?''

She nodded and moved her hands, revealing a slightly skinned knee with slowly seeping blood. It wasn't bad at all and I was almost sure that it didn't even really hurt anymore.

I smiled and reached towards the antiseptic. "I'm gonna spray this on your knee, okay? It'll only sting for a minute. Can you be brave for me?''

She paused and then bit her lip, nodding slightly.

I kept my smile in place and began a stream of useless chatter as I sprayed her knee, and placed multiple bandages over the cuts.

I looked up at her when I was finished and patted her foot.

"All done. How do you feel?''

She wiped her nose onto her sleeve and I grimaced at the action.

"My knee still hurts. My mommy normally kisses my boo boo's.''

I nodded. "Oh, I see. Well, I think I was probably taught a different technique then your Mommy, but let's see if it still doesn't so the trick. I'll need your help, okay?''

She nodded and I smiled. "Okay. Just do what I do. First we wrinkle our nose.''

She scrunched her nose up tight, making her eyes squint.

"Then we pat our head.''

She hit the top of her head gently. "And we say triscadecaphobia.''

She mumbled something that sounded like triklobia and I laughed before pressing a light kiss to the bandages that covered her knee.

"Now how do you feel?''

She hesitated a moment before giggling delightedly. "I no 'urt no 'ore.''

I nodded sagely, looking up to finda woman standing not far away, an amused expression on her face. She walked closer and the litter girl grinned.

"Mommy! I falled, and 'urt my knee.''

She pointed at me. "But, 'ady 'elped me 'eel better.''

The woman nodded and bent down to hug the girl. "You better thank her then. She knows the magic of making little ones boo boo's better.''

The little girl nodded and smiled at me. "ank you, 'ady.''

I smiled and nodded. "You are very welcome. Just be more careful when you're running, okay?''

She nodded and the woman stood up, still holding the girl.

Gaara helped me to my feet and the woman's smile became secretive before she lowered her head slightly. "You brought back a lovely young woman Lord Kazekage.''

She then turned to me. "Thank you for helping my children and letting them play with the panda bear.''

I shrugged. "You're welcome. But it wasn't that big of a deal. Butterball needed the exercise.''

She smiled and bowed slightly to Gaara before stepping back. "All the same, thank you. I wish you both a goodnight.''

I nodded and Gaara inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, watching her walk away, the little boy at her side chatting about his day.

I laughed and Gaara picked up Butterball before returning to my side.

"You are very good with children.''

I laughed and picked up my bag. "I should be. I've been babysitting for at least five years.''

He nodded and began walking in the direction of his house.

"That woman is the daughter of one of the council members. All of them will know about you, and how you react to children, by tomorrow.''

I frowned. "Is she that much of a gossip?''

Gaara shrugged. "She will only have to tell her family what you did, and they will spread the gossip.''

My frown deepened for a moment before I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Does it matter though? The entire village saw us tonight. I'm sure they would have found out about me sooner or later.''

Gaara shook his head. "This isn't a bad thing. Though I know that I will have a long discussion about you tomorrow. I'm glad to get it out of the way early.''

I nodded and shivered, moving closer to him. "How close are we to your home?''

He frowned and moved Butterball under one of his arms, so he could wrap the other around me, sharing body heat.

"Close. Another block or so.''

He sighed. "I'm ready to be home.''

I laughed and nodded, thinking of my promise. ''Yeah, I'm sure that you are.''

He smirked at me and tightened his arm briefly. "Not just because of your promise, Love. I'm ready to have you settled in my home and know that you're actually with me and I'm not just imagining you there.''

I smiled and nodded. "Understandable. So what room do you want me to stay in while I'm here?''

His head swiveled to look at me, a frown on his face. "Do you not want to stay in my room with me?''

He sounded so depressed that I had to roll my eyes. "Of course I'm planning on staying with you, Gaara. But I need a place to keep my clothes and to stay when you're at work.''

He sighed deeply and nodded. "But you ARE going to stay in my room with me?''

I nodded. "As much as you want me too.''

He nodded and squeezed my hip lightly. "Good.''

I shivered suddenly and pressed as close to his side as I could without impairing his movement. At least I'll be warm while I sleep.

I smiled and sighed in relief as the large house came into view. As we stepped onto the porch the door swung open and Temari pulled me into a tight hug.

When she released me, I saw her frown at Gaara who was glaring at her for pulling me away from him.

"Shame on you Gaara! Keeping Ria out so long after that long trip. Kankuro and Misa have been back for at least an hour.''

Gaara rolled his eyes and stepped into the house, pulling me from Temari's grip and replacing her arms with Butterball. Who she instantly cooed over.

"I had a meeting before I could come home.''

Temari raised her eyes from the panda to her brother. "You could have brought her here before you went to your meeting. She would have been more comfortable and able to get settled while you were gone.''

She ignored Gaara's darkening glare, and turned towards me.

"Are you hungry Ria?''

I chocked back a grimace, remembering her awful cooking skills and instead smiled. "A little bit. But I'm sure you've had more of a trying day then I have and I'll gladly make us something, if you show me where the food is.''

Temari's eyes widened a bit before she turned to Gaara. "I LIKE her. You are not allowed to break up with her...ever.''

I giggled and Gaara grumbled lightly. Butterball also made a strange noise, catching Temari's attention and she cooed down at the panda while walking to the kitchen.

Gaara sighed and grabbed my hand. "Come along Love. Temari will be busy with the fluffball.''

I laughed and let him lead me to the kitchen, finding that he was right. Temari was feeding Butterball some sort of green thing that I could smell from across the room.

I wrinkled my nose as the panda ate the green concoction and turned to find Gaara rummaging through the fridge and pulling out the stuff for sandwiches.

Before I could move to ask if he wanted my help, he had already made two sandwiches and was taking a bite out of one, while holding the other out to me.

I took it gladly, finding that I was hungrier then I had originally thought. I took a hesitant bite finding that it was good before scarfing the rest of the sandwich. I guess Gaara WOULD have had to learn to cook some things or have to eat Temari's cooking.

I finished the last bite of sandwich, managing to give myself the hiccups.

I was glad that Gaara was concentrating on eating his second sandwich, because I was sure that he would have been teasing me about them.

Temari began speaking again and I saw Gaara frown before he turned his attention to his sister.

"You need to find a room for Ria. She can't stay in your room all of the time. It's depressing in there.''

I giggled softly and received a glare from Gaara, causing me to bring a hand up to hide my smile.

He sighed softly and rubbed his eyes.

"Fine. I'll do that now. Are you going to keep Butterball?''

Temari nodded and lifted the panda into the air.

"Of course I am. He's so adorable. And since you and Kankuro haven't given me any HUMAN nephews to cuddle, he'll have to due.''

My laughing stopped immediately and I shot a glare towards Gaara. I was NOT ready for kids. No way.

Gaara smirked and walked over to me, grabbing my bag in one hand and wrapped his free arm around my waist, leading us up the stairs. He stopped at the door closest to his and pushed it open, flicking on the light.

He dropped my bag on the floor and I walked past him, surveying my surroundings.

Like the rest of the house it had wood floors, but unlike Gaara's it was a light brown color. The walls were painted a light tan, which went well with the tan covers on the large bed.

All things considered, this room gave off a warm feeling.

I looked at the other doors in the room. One was open and led to a large walk in closet, while the other I guessed led to a bathroom. I took a step towards it, only to be stopped as a pair of arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a chest.

Gaara began to lay kisses across my neck and I tilted my head to the side, giving him more access. As I did this I felt a grittiness in the crease of my neck and wrinkled my nose.

Gaara pulled back and turned me around to look at him. "Is something wrong, Love?''

I smiled and rested my hands against his chest. "I just realized how covered in sand I really am. I seriously need a shower.''

He pouted for a moment before sighing. "Alright. I probably need one too.''

He jerked my body close to his and lowered his head slightly, capturing my gaze. "But as soon as your finished, I want you to come to my room. Okay?''

I nodded and raised myself to kiss him softly. "As soon as I'm finished.''

He nodded and released me a moment later, walking out of the room.

I closed the door behind him, grabbing my shower stuff and running into the bathroom.

I gasped and almost dropped my things. The bathroom was HUGE. There wasn't a bathtub, but the shower made up for it. It was big enough that six people could sit on the floor comfortably, without touching.

All of the glass had stained roses and vines. I opened the colored door, finding three shower heads.

I quickly turned on the water, finding the right temperature, before undressing and jumping under the scalding water.

I sighed and wondered how long the hot water would last. Though I wasn't entirely convinced that he wouldn't come looking for me if I stayed away too long.

I giggled. I was sure that walking in on me in the shower would embarrass him more then me.

I shrugged and quickly began to wash off the sand that coated my skin. I had just begun washing my hair when I remembered Gaara had done something with my ponytail holder. I hoped that he didn't throw it on the ground. I was always loosing them, and I had only brought five with me.

I shrugged, turning off the water and stepping out into the cool air. I shivered and quickly dried off, pulling my clothes on a second later.

I finished my bedtime routine before leaving the room and making my way to his. I paused in front of his door, not sure if I should knock or just walk in. I had just raised my hand to knock when the door opened and Gaara grabbed my wrist, pulling me into his chest.

I heard the door slam behind me and gasped when my back was pressed against it. I looked up into aqua eyes and smiled softly. Gaara returned the smile, and ran his fingers through my wet hair.

"I was beginning to think that I was going to have to come get you.''

I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Nope. I have a promise to keep.''

He smirked and quickly pressed his lips to mine.

He pulled away just as quickly. "Good. Because I've been looking forward to kissing you like this.''

I smiled and he let his lips crash back onto mine. I began to respond when he pulled away again. I looked at him in confusion before noticing his smirk. He was teasing me.

I shook my head and smiled.

"You know that your wasting your time of kissing me, right?''

He growled and pressed me harder into the wood of the door, before he again covered my mouth with his.

After a moment I felt us moving and suddenly found myself laid out on the bed.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. His arm wrapped around my waist, holding me to him, and tangled his other hand in my hair.

I let him kiss me like that until I had ran out of breath and had to pull back. He shot me a glare as I wrenched my lips from his, and I gasped. "Air!''

He smirked and moved his lips to my neck as I inhaled.

Once I had my breath back, I grabbed onto his hair and pulled his lips back to mine.

I decided that I was sick of being pinned and flipped him so I could straddle him. He looked up at me in surprise a moment before I bent down to kiss him.

He cupped the back of my head and pressed a hand to my lower back, pressing my body closer. I had my hands tangled in his hair, scratching lightly at the scalp.

I felt his hands begin to wander a moment before a harsh knock sounded on his door, followed by a frantic voice. I squeaked and jerked away from him, successfully managing to fall of the bed, landing harshly on the floor.

Gaara leaned over the side of the bed and smirked down at me. "If you wanted to stop kissing me, Love all you had to do was say so. You didn't have to fall off of the bed.''

I glared up at him, gasping. "Go answer your door, Gaara.''

He frowned. "There's someone at my door?''

I nodded and as if on cue, the knocking on the door started again. This time more frantically. I sat up slowly, barely able to see over the rumpled comforter and watched as Gaara calmly opened the door.

Even with Gaara halfway blocking the view, I could see Matsuri fidgeting timidly. Her hair was windblown and she was breathing hard.

Gaara's body tensed at seeing her and his voice was again cold as he spoke. "What are you dong here Matsuri?''

I saw her eyes drift from Gaara's face down to his bare chest, her face heating slightly before she caught herself and forced her eyes back to his.

I felt a pang of possessiveness shoot through me before I could smother it. I shook my head. There was no need for those kinds of feelings.

"The council has requested your presence. They have discovered something that requires your immediate attention. They sent me to get you.''

Her eyes were straying again, but as Gaara spoke they shot back to his. "What do they want?''

She shook her head. "They would not tell me. They just said that it was important.''

Gaara nodded before striding pest her and out the door. Matsuri bit her lip, her cheeks heating even more and cleared her throat.

"Kazekage-sensei...Don't you think that you need a...a shirt?''

I heard his footsteps move back towards the room. He walked through the door, before slamming the wood in the poor girls face.

He went straight to his closet, and I pulled myself from the floor, walking to him and wrapping my arms around his waist, while resting my cheek against his back.

He sighed and laid his arms on top of mine. "Why is it that when we're in Suna that we almost always get interrupted.''

I shrugged and tightened my arms. "Because you have a demanding life.''

I reached past him and pulled a black shirt off of the hanger, handing it to him. He unwrapped my arms and swung me around, holding me to his chest. He nuzzled his face into my neck.

"I hate being Kazekage sometimes. I love being able to help my people and protecting them, but there are things that I hate about it. Like being pulled away from you in the middle of the night.''

He pulled his face from my neck to look at me. "Ask me to stay. If you asked that of me, I wouldn't go. I would stay here in this room, with you.''

I smiled sadly and kissed his jaw. "I can't ask that of you. Your people need you Gaara. Badly. I've told you this multiple times. You being the Kazekage comes first. I accept and understand that.''

I grinned. "But I DO expect for you to come back as soon as your meeting is finished. And you come back as GAARA, not Suna's KAZEKAGE. I like it when you're as relaxed as you have been recently.''

He nodded and bent to kiss me roughly. He pulled away after a moment and pulled on his shirt before shooting me an apologetic glance, walking out the door.

I sighed when it closed and hugged myself against the cold that suddenly seemed to enter the room.

I walked over to the bed and crawled under the rumpled covers, huddling into a tight ball. I needed to get used to the fact that Gaara could get called away at any time.

I remembered that he had told me on my first visit to Suna that I was more important to him then being Kazekage, and he had backed that up a moment ago by telling me to ask him to stay. No matter that this might be something important.

I sighed and shook my head. I would never ask that of him. What if the one time that I asked the village was being attacked, or the council had something SERIOUS to tell him? It would be my fault that he hadn't gone and saved his people. And he would grow to hate me for it.

I didn't think that I could handle that.

I buried my face into his pillow, inhaling his scent that lingured there and began to wonder how Gaara had met Mitsuri.

Maybe if I knew their past together I could figure out how much she loved him. If it was just admiration for the young Kazekage, or if it went deeper then that.

I sighed and rolled onto my back. Maybe coming here was a bad idea. It would cause difficulties between the two of them. I hoped that she wouldn't become difficult and vengeful. Gaara didn't need one of his ninja's going rogue.

I sat up, trying to escape my thoughts and turned to see Gaara's stuffed bear still sitting on his desk. I crawled out of the bed and moved to sit in the desk chair, folding my arms on top of the desk, setting my chin on my folded arms.

The bear looked at me with kind brown eyes and I smiled sadly.

"Alright, Mr. Bear. I know that you aren't going to give me advice, or at least I hope you wont talk back to me, but I've heard that you were a good listener and I REALLY need to talk to someone...or something.''

I frowned, wondering if I was crazy, and then shrugged it off. Of course I was. But I was going to tell this bear what I was thinking and hope that it made me feel better.

"I seem to have a dilema. I don't want to make Gaara stay away from being Kazekage, it makes him happy being able to help his people. But I want to spend time with him. And I know that's selfish, but I can't seem to help myself. Though I won't tell him about that. It would just make him feel bad, that he's not able to spend more time with me.''

I bit my lip. "Or make him want to give up being Kazekage. I don't want either of those things. I would never make him give up something that he loves, and he DOES love being Kazekage. Even if he does complain about it.''

I sighed. "And then this afternoon I find out that he has another girl in love with him. She's a ninja and gets to spend time with him because of that. She's kinda pretty too. I have to admit that I'm a bit jealous of her. That she probably gets to spend more time with Gaara then I ever have hope to.

I don't think that he realizes that she's in love with him.''

I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat.
"If he did I wonder if it would change things? I mean...what if he's actually in love with her and he doesn't realize it. What if he didn't realize what the feelings he felt for her were, but now that I've helped him learn what those feeling are, he realizes that he loves her too. He may feel love for her, more then he ever could for me.''

I let out a mirthless laugh. "I wouldn't keep them apart, of course. I want him to be happy. No matter who he's with. If he wants her instead of me, then I'll walk my way back to Aubry's and wish them all the happiness in the world.

I know that I won't find anyone that makes me feel the way that Gaara makes me feel, but I also know that I can be strong on my own and live my life. Though a part of my heart will forever be missing. I've given it away without any thought of what could happen.

If it does turn out that he loves her, I hope that I can tell and leave gracefully. No tears or hurt eyes. I know that he would never be able to tell me he loved her and so I would need to take matters into my own hands and leave. Though my heart will stay with him.''

I rubbed at the rebelious tears that had fallen from my eyes and shook my head. "If it makes him happy, then I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.''

I heard a snort behind me, my eyes widening as a voice began speaking. "That's good, because I feel the same way towards you.''

I stood from the chair quickly, succeeding in knocking it over and turned towards him. I felt sand move past me and pick up the overturned chair. I rubbed away my tears and wished that my heated cheeks would cool.

Gaara was leaning against the door, his hands crossed over his chest and his face hidden in the shadows.

I swallowed. "How long have you been there?''

He shook his head, and I felt his sand swirling around my feet. "Long enough to hear you're statement of how you wanted to spend time with me.''

I flinched and felt my blush heating instead of cooling, like I was ordering it too. He had heard almost everything then.

He sighed and lowered his arms. ''Ria, come here.''

His voice was authoritative and I automatically began to move towards him. His sand swirled around me, waiting to pull me if I stopped moving.

I came to a halt within arms distance of him, but refused to lift my head, instead looking at the grains in the wood floor. I felt the sand push me forward, almost causing me to fall. Gaara wrapped his hands around my hips, steadying me and holding me in place.

"Why didn't you tell me about these things?''

I laughed a sob and felt more tears come to my eyes. "Because, apparently, I am a coward when it comes to expressing doubts.''

His sand lifted my face to look at him and though I couldn't see his eyes in the shadows, I kept my eyes on his face.

"I didn't want you to think that you had to give up being Kazekage to be with me. It scares me to think that I could be the cause of you abandoning these people.''

I paused. "And if you loved someone else, I just didn't want to know yet.''

I swallowed hard and saw his mouth turn down in a frown.

"And you're referring to Matsuri when you say someone else?''

I nodded, preparing myself for the realization to light his face. That he suddenly acknowledged that he DID love her. Instead he pulled me closer and tightened his hands. He took a step towards me, bringing his face into the light.

"I have never felt anything for Matsuri, besides a very VERY slight hint of protectiveness. I saved her a few years ago, and then trained her briefly. I wanted her to become a ninja to protect herself. Not to spend more time with her.

I've known that she's felt more for me then friendship for a while. And I did try to force myself at one point to feel SOMETHING like love towards her, since no one else seemed interested in me, but I couldn't. I understand now why. You can't force those feelings.

I've been acting cold to her for months and dropping hints that she should move on with her life, but she seems to ignore them.

What made you think that I would fall in love with someone else? I would do anything for you. Do you think that I would give up being Kazekage for MATSURI?''

He shook me gently, as if trying to get his words into my head. "No. I wouldn't. I love YOU. Not Matsuri, or hardly anyone else for that matter. I will ALWAYS love you. Even if you are turning out to be seriously over analetical.''

I laughed, tears falling lightly and threw myself at him my arms wrapping around his neck, and my legs wrapping around his waist.

He smiled against my neck and his arms tightened around me. "Did my speech calm those unnecessary fears of yours?''

I nodded and moved my head to kiss him repeatedly. He grinned and began to walk us towards his bed, laying me down gently, before pulling his shirt off and climbing in after me.

He pulled the covers over us and playfully tugged me towards him. I laughed and wiggled closer, so I could mold my body to his, sighing softly.

"So are you done kissing me for tonight?''

He nodded and yawned. "I suppose. I have to be up early tomorrow and I would like to MAYBE get some sleep. Though that probably wont happen.''

I smiled rubbing a hand across his back soothingly. "But you can rest at least.''

He nodded and tightened his arms briefly. "So what made you decide to talk to my bear?''

I shrugged. "Because I needed to talk to SOMETHING and he seemed like a good listener.''

Gaara smiled and kissed my forehead.

"I always thought that he was. I'm glad that hasn't changed.''

I smiled softly and relaxed against the pillows.

"Will you tell me about some of the things you talked about? It doesn't have to be anything important. Just random stuff.''

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. But not tonight. Maybe tomorrow...Maybe not...Sometime though...''

I laughed. He was falling asleep and didn't realize that he was rambling. I returned to rubbing his back and laid a kiss to his chest.

"Go to sleep Gaara. You can talk to me some more when you wake up.''

He hummed lightly, and rested his cheek against the crown of my head, his breathing becoming slow. I smiled and kissed his neck lightly before closing my own eyes and falling asleep.

Thanks for reading. I don't own Naruto, or the characters. Review if you feel like it. And sorry that I haven't uploaded in a while. The good news is, I have all of this written and saved on my computer, I just have to find the time to upload all of the chapters.

Anyways. Thanks again for reading. I hope that you enjoyed it. Sorry for any mistakes.