A/N: This is a reposting and reworking of the collected works from Tumblr and other short stories ideas that don't quite work out to a story on their own. I hope you enjoy them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I certainly do fun things with the characters though.

A Tumble In Konoha

Chapter One: NaruSaku - Don't Say You Love Me

Naruto sighed contently as he and Sakura walked hand in hand through the village.

This was perfect. Just perfect. Walking around, holding hands on their way back to her place like any normal couple. It was one of the best parts of being with Sakura.

The intimate little them moments had always been his favourite. Which he had to admit shocked him. He'd always thought it would be sexy parts he'd love most. The seeing her naked and her wanting him and all that sort of stuff, hell he'd been fantasising about it long enough.

Not to say his fantasies come to life wasn't definitely amazing, the sex blew his mind on a regular basis, something he'd told her about pretty much every time and it made her blush and tell him to shut up. It normally earned him a very long kiss too. And more amazing sex.

But no, the best moments of their relationship were like this. Holding hands, cuddling on the sofa, sleeping next to each other at night. The lazy Sunday mornings when they didn't have to get out of bed until they wanted to.

Those were the moments when he realised he was in love with her. He'd thought he always had been and in truth it was very very close. But being in love outside of a couple was decidedly different from being in love in a couple.

It was deeper, more solid and grew with each passing day. He'd wanted to tell her from six months into their relationship. But it had seemed too tenuous and the secrecy of their relationship had seemed likely to shatter if 'I love you's were exchanged.

And there was nothing he wanted less than for their relationship to end.

So he hadn't said it. He wouldn't say it. At least not first. A selfish part of him wanted her to say it first. But also, a deeply scared part of him, the part of him that remembered all the rejection of his childhood needed her to say it first.

Unfortunately it was getting harder and harder to not say it, Sakura was so wonderful and he wanted to cry from the rooftops how much he loved her.

He knew he'd crack soon and hell, he'd probably crack tonight when she next kissed him.

To be honest, he wasn't sure why he wasn't saying it. Why he was worried about making it such a big ordeal, wouldn't a true sign of love be if it just happened naturally rather than holding it in and denying it until the moment was right?

Screw it.

'Sakura-chan …'

'Don't say it,' Sakura said, her warm fingers squeezing his. Like she'd been reading his mind. Hell, at this point he wouldn't be surprised. 'Don't say you love me.'

His stomach dropped and he turned to face her. He came to a stop and frowned at her. 'Why not?'

Fear bubbled up in him, did she want him not to say it because she couldn't say it back? Did she not love him? Oh Kami, was their whole relationship just a thing to pass the time? A way to scratch an itch and nothing more?

Sakura lifted his fingers to her lips and kissed them gently. 'Because, I want to say it first. You deserve me saying it first.'

Her voice was soft, barely a whisper to be honest. If they hadn't been standing so close he didn't think he'd have heard it.

He stared at her, heart beating furiously in his chest. He wanted to ask if that meant what he thought it meant. That she loved him too but he couldn't seem to find his voice.

'So don't say it Naruto,' Sakura said looking up at him, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. 'I've been building up the courage to tell you for months so don't you dare say it. I've known you've loved me for years. You deserve to have it said to you first and not just as a response to you saying it. Okay?'

Naruto nodded as they began walking, they weren't far from Sakura and Ino's place. He made it maybe ten steps before he finally found his voice.

'So … does that mean …'

Sakura paused, cutting him off immediately. 'I was going to wait until we got back home you idiot. I had a whole speech where I was going to lay it all out and apologise for that horrible confession just before the war. I'm still sorry about that and it doesn't matter that you've forgiven me. And I didn't want it to come after we'd had sex because then you might not hear me or you might just think it's because of how amazing the sex is …'

Naruto watched her tirade, becoming more and more aimed at herself as she got louder and louder in the middle of the street.

He felt the smile stretch his face, the relief spreading through his entire being as Sakura continued to list all the reasons why she hadn't told him she loved him yet and why she was so mad at herself for it.

'… I've been biting down on my tongue so I didn't just blurt it out for weeks! I nearly said it when you passed me a dishcloth to help you do the dishes for Kami's sake! I put together a whole romantic evening and everythin-mmpf!'

The interrupting kiss was returned after a moment of shock and Sakura's hand went up to cradle his cheek. The long, soft kiss continuing as they wrapped around each other. Their bodies melding like two pieces of a jigsaw.

It broke shortly after, Sakura looking up at him with a mix of irritation and vulnerability. And he knew. Knew that she loved him as much he loved her and he'd never felt so relieved.

'Naruto -,' she started but he put a finger to her lip.

'Say it Sakura-chan,' he whispered, before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and lingering. 'Please.'

She wrapped her arms around his middle and sighed deeply. 'Look at me first.'

He did, the same vulnerability was there as the bravest woman he'd ever known prepared herself to utter the three little words they'd both been so afraid of.

'I love you,' she said, her face breaking into a watery smile, hugging him tightly as she said again. 'Kami, I love you so damn much Naruto.'

Naruto felt like he was going to ascend to a higher plane of existence. She loved him. She. Loved. Him.

'Thank Kami,' Naruto murmured against her lips. Another soft kiss and a sweet smile. 'Now let's go home, I'm starving.'

He went to pull away, mischief dazzling in his brain but he'd forgotten that Sakura still had her very strong arms around him.

'Say it back asshole,' she growled playfully.

'But your place is literally round the corner Sakura-chan. Wouldn't you rather I say it there?'

'Say it back or I will kick your ass right here right now.' Sakura glowered up at him, the flicker of playfulness telling him she had his number. 'And I will have a romantic meal for one.'

'Romantic?' Naruto asked with a sheepish grin. 'You really did go all out huh?'

'Candles and everything,' Sakura confirmed. 'Now say it back. Asshole.'

Naruto laughed and took her lips in a long, slow kiss. Sakura's grip on him never wavering even when the kiss broke.

'I love you Sakura-chan,' he said against her mouth as they kissed again and again. 'With all that I am.'

'Love you too,' Sakura said, a brilliant smile lighting up her face as she rested her head on his chest and sighed. 'It's so nice to be able to say it out loud finally. I love you, I love you, I love you.'

Naruto's chest felt like it was going to explode with joy as he buried his face in Sakura's hair and breathed deeply, the scent of her shampoo filling his nose. 'I love you too Sakura.'

Sakura squeezed him in a gentle hug and they broke apart, her hand catching his as she led them forward. 'Now come on, the takeout I ordered should be coming soon and I don't want to miss it.'

'I thought it was a romantic meal you prepared yourself?' Naruto asked teasingly as Sakura pulled on his hand to lead them round the corner to her place.

'If it helps with the romance, imagine I placed the order over the phone wearing just my negligee.' Sakura's tone was teasing and she nudged him in the side before as they reached her building. 'And at least I got the candles for you.'

'You did,' Naruto chuckled as he squeezed her fingers. 'And it does.'

'Pervert,' Sakura said warmly, turning on the steps up to her apartment to kiss him quickly. 'Now hurry up, I can see the Ichiraku guy standing at my door.'

Kami, he loved her.