Be Careful What You Wish For

By: Poison Ivy

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

AN: Heh heh…sorry for the wait

…though considering some other fanfiction authors…the wait isn't really _that_ long.

But the reasons being were a slight writer's block (I knew what was supposed to happen but couldn't write it out) and the many tests and projects due at school.

But thankfully, I think I got most of the writer's block out of my system, by starting a new story, "Optimism" *doesn't care about the obvious self-plug*

Which will be even more difficult, now that I have two stories going on at once.

Gomen anyways, and please enjoy chapter seven, which includes my interpretation of Sakura's parents (notice that in the manga, they aren't pictured, so every fanfic author has portrayed them differently. Even more than Kakashi's past I think) a completely unexpected plot twist, and Sasuke's loss of dignity.

Oh and another note. Someone (I don't have my reviews in front of me right now and I can't remember who it was) mentioned that one of my words was spelled wrong last chapter.

All I can say is that spellcheck should really have warned me of that, and that no matter how many times I check it over, there are bound to be mistakes. Trust me, reading over my own work after it was posted is a proverbial nail in the proverbial coffin.

One last note. I've been getting a few reviews from people wondering whether or not this story will be a NaruSaku. And the answer, people is no. I hope that doesn't disappoint you all too much. But it _did_ say in the summary that the NaruSaku was nonexistent!

And still, no one has guessed where the quote in the last chapter came from.

Notes:

Thoughts
"Speech"
Chapter Seven ~

"You're going to _what_?"

Sakura stared, shocked, at her mother, who smiled apologetically in the midst of packing.

"We're going on a trip dear." She repeated while patiently folding clothes.

"But on Christmas? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"We really didn't think you'd mind. Least of all react…like this."

Sakura was devastated. Not only were going to be gone on Christmas, they hadn't bothered telling her, and now it was too late. Too late to call and stay with a friend, and she didn't fancy spending Christmas alone.

Hinata and Neji would most likely be having a family Christmas, and if she stayed with Naruto, Christmas dinner would consist of turkey-flavored ramen. And Ino…she didn't even want to _go_ there.

She stormed out of the house, and into the snow, not wanting to admit that when she got back, the place would be empty.

She wandered deep into the forest, trying to fight back tears. There wasn't even training to go to. (Kakashi had called it off due to the holidays)

Her Christmas was really going to suck this year. There was Hinata's party on Christmas night, (well, not really Hinata's…it was Naruto's until he realized that his apartment wasn't big enough, and Hinata—along with most other people—couldn't say no to Naruto's patented beg) but other than that, she had no plans.

Even the thought of a white Christmas couldn't cheer her up now.

Fat flakes started to swirl around her quickly, and she was thinking of heading back when she saw a flash of black to her left, and her mouth moved before her brain did.

"Sasuke?"

*

If someone had informed Sasuke that all he did was train, he would have been insulted.

Yet there he was, heading back from his clearing, ignoring all the beauty around him. After all, snow changed the landscape, making it slippery and harder to maneuver in.

He was congratulating himself on how well he had handled the change in conditions when a voice called out to him and he almost tripped.

Crap! It's her! What's she…oh that's right. She lives around here.

He regained his balance, and said conversationally, "Aa."

Sakura walked into view, blinking snow out of her eyelashes, and Sasuke suddenly had a greater appreciation for beauty…you know, in the landscape of course.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying not to shiver, wearing only a light jacket.

"Training."

"Oh."

It looked like she was going to give up and say goodbye to him, when suddenly Sasuke's voice started working again.

"What's wrong?"

Which might not have been the smartest thing to say, considering. But he really did want to know. Kinda.

*

Sakura blinked. _This_ she had not been expecting. To have Sasuke notice that something was wrong by just her facial features was surprising. She had assumed that it would take some major wound. At least.

So for no reason, Sakura found herself telling him everything, whether he really meant the question, or not.

Suddenly, she stopped, embarrassed. After all, Sasuke didn't have parents either.

"Go on." He prodded her, noticing her sudden silence.

She blushed. "This is stupid," she told him, "I mean, I shouldn't complain…after all, you…" flustered, she stopped talking.

*

Inwardly, Sasuke rolled his eyes. It was really too late to worry about his family situation after ten minutes of talking. Now the situation was becoming more and more awkward. Then, for the second time that day, Sasuke did something that he regretted.

"If you want, you can stay at my place."

Judging by the startled look on her face, Sasuke was even starting to regret getting up that morning.

"It would be nice to have someone that can cook." He finished lamely.

He didn't even know why he was doing this. Acting like a love-sick fool, stopped in his tracks by the loneliness in her eyes. But still—

He was interrupted from his inner rant by her voice.

"That would be great!"

Sasuke hoped desperately that he would get out of this in one piece.

*

To say that Sakura was surprised by his offer was a rather big understatement. And it was getting bigger as they walked towards her house together, and he hadn't taken it back yet.

Not for the first time, she wondered if he had some ulterior motive.

And also not for the first time, she wondered why she had said yes.

She left him in the front hall while she went to pack. She put all her presents into a duffel bag, not wanting to have to go home before her parents returned. Besides, the emptiness of the house kind of scared her.

She wished hopelessly that Sasuke would make some sort of noise.

*

Sasuke looked around the house. Very little had changed since he had been here last, but after listening to Sakura's rant, he looked more carefully.

There were no family pictures. Anywhere.

She came out from the hall, carrying two duffel bags, and beamed at him.

"I'm ready! Let's go!"

She didn't seem to care that she would be leaving home for at least until after New Year's without so much as a backwards glance.

"Aa."

He reached across the distance between them to take a bag. Their fingers brushed, and he had to try hard not to flinch as warmth traveled up his arm.

They left the house without further conversation, with Sasuke leading the way, through snowed in streets.

They both tried hard not to look at windows lit brightly with Christmas lights, and families celebrating.

*

As they neared the Uchiha estate, Sakura tried hard not to shiver.

She had never really thought about it before, but Sasuke lived alone in a huge mansion, in his own section of the village, because he was the only Uchiha left.

She felt even worse about telling him her petty problems.

He unlocked the door and motioned her in.

The place was sparsely furnished but comfortable looking. (Something that she didn't think Sasuke's place would be capable of) However, there was a fine layer of dust over things, and Sakura suspected that Sasuke hadn't cleaned it in awhile.

She noticed a huge pile of wrapped boxes heaped in a corner, bright paper winking up at her.

"What're those?" she asked, pointing.

Sasuke turned briefly. "Presents girls have given me." His voice held no emotion, not even contempt, and Sakura felt pity for Ino. She could even spot her present, covered in hearts and flowers.

"Are you going to unwrap them?"

His eyes flickered towards her. "Perhaps."

He led her into a nearby guest room, brushing snow off of his shoulders. "You'll be staying here. Okay?"

She smiled. "Sure." The room was small, but at least it was clean.

She knew what the first thing she was going to do was.

*

After showering, Sasuke was toweling his hair dry when he walked into something unexpected.

Sakura was humming a song to herself as she cleaned.

An appetizing aroma filled the air, and tea stood on the table.

"You don't have to be a maid." He informed her.

She looked up and smiled. "This is really too dirty. Besides, you wanted someone that who could cook."

He had to keep from smiling, but even so, his lips twitched.

He stood, watching her for a few more minutes, before asking timidly; "Can I help?"

Sakura looked around. "There isn't a lot left to do." She confessed. "If you want, help me mop."

A few minutes later, he found himself doing exactly that. In retrospect, it wasn't his proudest moment; but still, there was an almost companionable silence between the two of them.

Sakura disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared a few seconds later. Her grin made Sasuke realize that maybe getting up today was worth it after all.

"Dinner!" she announced.

~

AN: Please review and don't yell at me too harshly if this chapter turned out to be horrible!