A/N: The chapter before the last... It's very fluffy and stuff but whatever.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the other characters.

Summary: Sakura is sent to Sunagakure on a mission to train the medic ninja there. Yet, there is one little problem…She'll be living with the Kazekage and his family. Will she survive long enough to complete her task?

Chapter 11

Gaara pulled away from her and took a deep breath, trying to sort through his emotions. The room was silent as they both wondered about what had happened. Their eyes met and they blushed.

"Er, lovely weather, eh?" Said Sakura.

"Wrong side of the room," Replied Gaara, trying to hide his smirk.

She looked and her blush increased in intensity. She had been gesturing towards where the door was while the window was on her other side. "Uh, I knew that."

Silence fell again as they both looked around the room avoiding each other's gaze.

He chanced a glance at her and met her eyes. She had also been looking at him. Gaara hesitated before leaning toward her. Then, very gently, he rested his cheek against the hollow at the base of her throat. Sakura was unable to move. She listened to the sound of his even breathing, watching the rays of light streaming in through the window.

With deliberate slowness, his hands slid down her arms. She shivered, and she heard him catch his breath. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to him. His face drifted to the side, his nose skimming across her collarbone. He came to rest with the side of his face pressed softly against her chest.

Listening to her heart.

Sakura didn't know how long they sat like that, with his face against her chest, her running her hands through his hair. All she knew was that she enjoyed every minute of it.

He released her and captured her lips in a kiss.

"Oh, Kami!"

Temari and Kankuro stood in the door.

The two jumped apart, leaving a good three feet distance between each other.

A grin slid onto Temari's face. "Aren't you two supposed to be injured?" She said, approaching the bed.

Gaara fixed her with a glare. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checking up on you," Replied Kankuro.

"Spying is more like it." Hissed Gaara.

"No, really, we were worried about you both." Said Temari, her expression serious.

"Um, thanks for the concern." Said Sakura.

"No problem."

Temari slid an arm around Sakura and playfully ruffled her hair, like one might do to a younger sister.

"I wonder what would've happened if we hadn't come in then, huh, Kankuro?"

"I expect Gaara would've taken her right here in the hospital."

Sakura's blush was an entirely different shade of red.

"Perverts!" He exclaimed, whacking Kankuro across the head with sand.

The two siblings looked at each other and nodded.

"Yeah, I think he would've."

&&&&&&&&&&&&

3 weeks later—52 days left…

The temperature was high in Sunagakure, the sky a perfect, cloudless blue. Haruno Sakura sat on the roof of the place that had been her home for the past three months and a half. Her arms were wrapped around her legs, holding them to herself. She was gazing out beyond the boundaries of the village at the sea of sand, wondering how everyone was doing back at Konoha.

Her thoughts strayed to the Kazekage and her cheeks turned red.

He had her in constant confusion. One day he was as nice as he could be, the other he didn't even acknowledge her. They had had more than one fight over it. She sighed.

"You took my spot."

Her heart quickened.

"Gaara!" She breathed, feeling his hand on her back. He sat down and pulled her into his lap, his arms wrapping around her. "What are you doing?"

"Just holding you," He answered.

Sakura smiled and leaned back into him. He was slowly opening up to her and his icy exterior was melting. It was nice being with him…

Suddenly, she remembered the letter that had arrived from Konoha. Her smile disappeared and her brow furrowed. She bit her lip, trying to find out a way to tell him.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sensing the abrupt change in her mood.

"Well…Tsunade-sama sent me a letter and…" She trailed off.

He waited for her to continue.

"She's says my time here is done and that I need to go back home."

There was silence. Gaara didn't say anything but Sakura felt his arms tighten unconsciously around her. He finally spoke after a few minutes and she could tell he was not happy. "Don't you have a month or so left?"

"She got the weekly report and has decided that I've taught the medics all I can."

"But, you—"

Sakura cut him off by placing a finger on his lips. "I need to go home. I cannot disobey the Hokage. And you can't keep me here unless you want a war."

Gaara scoffed. "Who said I planned on keeping you here?"

She rolled her eyes. "Gaara…I could see you getting agitated."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

He set her down beside him and stood up. "Go back then, Haruno." He said coldly.

And with those words he went to leave. Sakura felt tears well up in her eyes. "Is that it then? You'll let me leave?" She asked.

He didn't bother turning back. "They are orders from your Hokage. I cannot do anything." He opened the door but never went through.

He closed his eyes when he felt her wrap her arms around him. He didn't dare speak or move for fear that she let him go and take away the warmth. "Please, I want to stay." She murmured into the fabric of his shirt. "You might not want me but I like it here."

They stayed like that for several minutes. Gaara sighed and turned, his arms wrapping around her, hesitantly, almost as if he was afraid of crushing her.

"You know," He said. "I'm still learning how to be human."

"I know," Sakura whispered.

"I'm sure to lack something in some areas."

Her laugh was short and weak. "So?"

"Don't make me say it." Gaara said.

"I understand." Sakura detached herself from him and wiped away her tears. "I'm being silly. After all, you're the Kazekage. My home is in Konoha. It would never really work."

"Really?" He pressed his lips against hers, not giving her time to respond. Breathless, they pulled away.

"Though I think we could make it work." Said Sakura. She smiled.

"I guess…" He sighed.

"I'll take that as a 'Yes, me too.'"

Together, they went back into the house, unaware of the high fives his siblings exchanged as they watched them.

"How cute!" Exclaimed Temari.

"Finally, he has someone." Said Kankuro.

They looked at each other. "We are awesome." They stated, smug smiles on their faces.

Ah, siblings are good for some things…

Yeah...well, I need all of your opinions on something. I want to write another story after this and cannot decide on what to write about. Okay, so here are the choices:

Neji/Tenten

Plot: Has to do with them finding out some things about the future and everything gets messed and they have to try to fix it. Mostly humor/romance.

Naruto/Hinata

Plot: Slightly darker fic that delves more into everything they go through to finally get together.

Well, pick and review!