(04.22.2021)

4:30am - Sasori's favorite time to ask for favors.

BZZZT. BZZZT.

Groaning, Sakura reached blindly out from under her fluffy blue covers and yanked her phone off the bedside table. Then, without even bothering to check the caller ID, because there was really only one person in the world with the balls to torment her before dawn, she answered. "What is it now, Sasori?"

"I need you to do me a favor."

"The sun isn't even up yet."

"Come to the beach and model for me during the sunrise."

"But it's-" Sakura lifted her head from her pillow to glare at her alarm clock. "-not even 5am!"

"Well, duh. Sunrise is in half an hour."

Holding her phone away from her ear, Sakura buried her face in her pillow and screamed.

"So, are you going to help me with this project or not?" asked the irritable voice on the other end of the line.

Sakura groaned in response.

"Great, wear something athletic but warm. It's freezing out here."

When the call ended, Sakura rolled into her back and glared at the ceiling.

Then, closing her eyes, she was nearly lulled back into a blissful sleep when her phone vibrated.

If you don't show up, I'll ship all of your plant food to Suna.

Sakura glared at the small device. "Asshole."

Forty-five minutes later, wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket, Sakura sat in her boyfriend's lap with a thermos of hot green tea in one hand and a breakfast sandwich in the other.

"So..." Sasori asked with a light, teasing drawl as he tigehened the arms he had wrapped around his girlfriend's stomach and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Am I still an 'asshole'?"

Casting a brief glance down at her hands and the small diamond shining brilliantly in the early morning light from its new home on her left ring finger, the pinkette smiled.

"No... But if you ever wake up at 4:30am again, I will divorce you."

...

Forty years and many 4:30am wake-up calls later and they were still as hopelessly in love as ever.

A/N: Heehee, this one was surprisingly fun to write. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

Stay safe and healthy!

~Smash41KMF