Two months had passed and the only people that knew about Shanan and Sasuke's relationship was Naruto and Hinata. Both of whom cried happy tears as Naruto squeezed the two of them tight in a group hug.

They were very careful to not show their affection in front of the twins just yet, but when they weren't home, Shanan and Sasuke couldn't get enough of one another. Everything felt new, but it also felt warm and familiar and their friendship felt as though it had magnified a hundred times. They'd hugged each other so many times over the years as friends, but now every hug felt like a soul bonding experience. Kissing was new to them, but each one made Shanan feel as though she were both sinking and floating at the same time. And nearly everything they did ended up in the bedroom.

They spent a lot of time in Sasuke's bed together since he felt like he had so much love and time to make up for. He could finally tell her that he loved her as much as he needed to and kiss her lips anytime the desire struck, which it often did. And holding her close was no longer one sided with longing and affection. His lingering looks were now acknowledged and returned with just as much anticipation and yearning. He could hold her hand and bring it to his lips and she would smile about it and caress his cheek affectionately. And when they slept together, it was no longer just to keep her company and protect her. In fact, they seemed to take turns sleeping in one another's arms now, each one having the chance to feel safe and cherished as they slept comfortably.

Sasuke had always been most like himself when he was with Shanan, but he never could be the way he was before he'd left, since so much of that was just loving her openly and making sure she knew that he was hers forever. But now? Now he could be that affectionate and devoted man that he always thought he'd be when he was younger. And the whole village could see it. He'd already received several comments on his lighter demeanor over the last couple of months and he no longer had that usual air of aloofness about him in everything he did.

And every morning he was finally able to wake her up the way he'd always wanted to. By brushing her hair out of her face and kissing her softly on her forehead. And every morning she'd open her eyes and smile at him and kiss him back softly.

"Good morning," he whispered.

"How long have you been watching me?" she whispered back playfully.

"No longer than usual."

"Have you always watched me sleep like this?"

Sasuke chuckled and rolled his eyes, unsure of how to answer without sounding completely ridiculous.

"Are you sure you really love me?" she teased.

That one he did know how to answer. "I've always really loved you, Shanan, always," he replied affectionately as his thumb brushed over her cheek. "I've never loved anyone else and I'd still love you even if you didn't love me too. It's always been you and only you…" He never got tired of telling her. "Do you really love me?" He asked with a smirk, because he could see that she did, she was always the easiest person to read, even without Sharingan.

"Yes. I really do." She thought about the day he'd pulled her from the darkness a lot. About how he moved in to protect her while she was pregnant. About how he'd helped her to deliver the twins, even though he had no idea what he was doing. He was there with her every day for over six years, during her pregnancy and until the kids were five.

She'd always known that he wasn't the person he pretended to be to the world, even before he'd come home. She had dreamed of him as he was entering the village and he'd been upset with her in the dream, only to forgive her as soon as he saw her.

He'd always been there for her. And when she fell almost completely into darkness and despair, he was the one that showed her the light again and he never left her side anytime she needed him.

"You saved me first," he whispered as he pulled her close.

"Still reading my thoughts, huh?" she said softly before turning and kissing the palm of his hand.

Sasuke smiled and leaned closer, still smirking. "Only when I need to…" he assured her before kissing her deeply.

She still didn't know how he could read her thoughts or feel her feelings. She still didn't know why their chakras reacted the way they did or why they had so much of the other's. She had so many unanswered questions when it came to the two of them.

He'd always been so adamant about not letting her perform Omoidasu on him and it never made sense to her as there weren't any clues that made the answer obvious. Nothing anyone had ever said to her about him. What was he hiding about their past? She no longer thought that it was a falling out, but she also knew that she had been with Shikamaru before the Kaitei, so she couldn't figure out why he wouldn't let her see. She hadn't asked him in so long, now that they were together, maybe he'd finally show her. She decided to ask him after breakfast one day.

"Hey, Sasuke? I was hoping we could talk about something," she said tentatively.

He looked up at her slowly. "Alright... should I be nervous?" he asked with a slight, apprehensive chuckle.

She tried to brace herself for the same rejection she'd had to endure over the last eighteen years. "Is it alright if… I do Omoidasu on you now?"

Sasuke frowned at her. "Shanan... this again?" he asked quietly. She hadn't asked in so long, but he still didn't think she should see their past. Especially after all this time. He still felt so much shame in the fact that he'd abandoned her and he didn't want her to equate her entire life, as she currently knew it, to that one moment as both of their lives would most likely be completely different if he'd never left.

She was so over being told no, she couldn't help but be upset with him, and she was never upset with Sasuke. "I deserve to see... They're my memories too, Sasuke. You're keeping me from a missing part of myself." As happy as she had been for the past nineteen years, she'd always felt as though there was an empty hole inside of her and that Sasuke was holding back the piece that filled it. But she didn't ever want to scare him away, so she never pressured him into letting her see their memories.

"I just…" His shoulders slumped as he sighed. He was used to her dropping it by now and it was always hard to tell her no, especially about this particular subject. "You've been fine without it for almost twenty years, Shanan. If I show you, you'll... you'll just hate me," he said as his eyes started welling up.

Shanan shook her head. "I love you very much, Sasuke. I could never hate you," she said as her face started shaking. How could he ever think that she would?

Sasuke looked away as a few tears fell and he stood up to walk away. He never wanted to hurt her again, but he at least needed to think about it first.

"Please." She hurried from her seat and grabbed his hand as he turned away. "I know there's something I have to know about us. Please," she cried.

Sasuke looked back at her, still frowning. He looked down at the hand that was holding onto him and then back up as he nodded gently at her. She was right. He was keeping part of her from herself, and part of him, and there was no reason for it anymore. He wasn't proud of his past, but Shanan had always, always been the most understanding and forgiving person he'd ever known.

She brightened immediately, but was still a bit nervous as she went to stand in front of him. She'd spent so long being told no, she had no idea what all she was about to see, but she knew that even if it was bad, she would never hate Sasuke. Ever. She closed her eyes and activated her Sharingan and then opened them and looked into Sasuke's eyes.

Everything went black.

She saw him at seven years old, crying after his clan was murdered. She brought him food with a flower and a note and told him that he didn't have to be alone and that she didn't want him to be.

She saw him smiling for the first time a few days after he'd come to live next door to her. She made him his favorite food and read to him as he ate. After a few weeks there were no longer any signs of darkness. Not with her and Naruto. He loved her hugs and the way her hair smelled. He thought she was pretty and the nicest person he'd ever met. He'd never smiled or laughed as much as he did with her.

And she could finally read him. He did love her. He really always had.

She saw them holding hands as they slept every night. For years. He always looked so happy and peaceful when he was asleep.

She saw herself fall so in love with him, because he was always amazing to her and had always given her the best version of himself.

She saw them holding hands and blushing on their way to eat ramen. Shikamaru and Naruto walking in front of them. And then Sasuke stopping and telling her that he wanted to marry her someday, which made her incredibly happy.

She saw him ask her to be his girlfriend before they fell asleep and spent the entire next day alone together. Happy and reading to each other.

She saw them fighting against Itachi and trying so hard to protect one another, two kids willing to die for eachother.

She saw him in the hospital, staring off into space, upset that he'd lost against Itachi and only coming to life when she'd hugged him and told him how brave and loved he was.

She saw him trying to protect her against four ninjas and failing and feeling horrible about it as she passed out from the electricity coursing through her body and having to watch her be saved by Kakashi.

She saw him bringing her flowers and a present and a note after he'd set his bag outside of the door to her hospital room.

She saw him crying and saying goodbye to her, but she didn't know that it was goodbye.

She saw her real first kiss and how much he truly loved her and was devoted to her, even at just thirteen years old.

She watched him sobbing outside of her hospital room. Trying so hard to fight his curse mark and change his mind so that he could just stay with her.

And with his memories, came her memories. All of them. Even all of the times she'd been alone. He really had been the missing piece.

She watched herself replacing one of the pictures in her locket with one of just Naruto.

She watched herself reading his note constantly and crying everytime she thought of him or saw his picture.

She watched her heart shatter into a million pieces as Naruto and Kakashi left her too.

She watched her trying to piece her life back together all alone and Shikamaru coming to help lighten the load.

She watched herself falling for Shikamaru, but still wishing so desperately for Sasuke to come home. Because if she'd had a choice then, Sasuke would've been it.

She watched herself losing faith in him and questioning his love for her…

She watched herself give up on him and give her love to Shikamaru.

She watched herself letting go of his note…

She felt so ashamed. But every moment and feeling they'd ever shared came rushing back to her instantly. He was her first real love.

Sasuke watched her as she stared through him. Tears were welling up more and more in her eyes. He knew what she was seeing. And what if, after all of this, all this time, she changed her mind about loving him?

Shanan's eyes suddenly shifted as she looked at Sasuke again. Completely in disbelief as tears started pouring down her face. She let out a loud gasp as she fell to the ground and covered her face. "Sasuke... How? How could I have forgotten that I was so in love with you? I'm so sorry." She looked up at him humbly and he stared at her as he swallowed thickly and let her speak, still worried about what all she was going to say. "You still loved me this whole time and I didn't deserve it. I didn't deserve for you to love me after I gave up on you..." she said as she sobbed. She hadn't cried this much in so long, but she could barely breathe anymore. "I'm so… sorry… Sasuke. You deserve better than me… How can you forgive me after that? You deserve better… I should love you, but…" she couldn't keep her face from shaking, "you shouldn't love me," she said, barely audible as she looked down at the ground, ashamed. She didn't want him to not love her, but she no longer felt worthy of his love.

Sasuke knelt slowly and coolly in front of her and gently grabbed her chin. He shook his head as he smirked at her, because she finally knew. She finally remembered how much he had always loved and adored her and that he was her first true love. And then the tears started falling, seeing how much it tore her apart feeling as though she'd hurt him. "Don't cry," he whispered as he brushed her cheek with his fingers and wiped her tears. "I still got to spend my life with you and be your closest friend. I got to see you and know you better than almost anyone. It's my fault that you forgot me, Shanan, not yours." He put his hand on the side of her face as he looked deep into her eyes.

"Sasuke…" she whispered helplessly.

"I will always be in love with you and you will always deserve my complete devotion..." he pulled her in and kissed her gently, "and my affection..." he smiled as he kissed her again, "and my passion," he whispered softly and then kissed her passionately as she wrapped her arms around his neck, matching his intensity and his affection.

This is exactly how he'd always planned to kiss her. This was the only kind of kiss that she would ever deserve. He wanted to make sure that she never, ever forgot how much he loved and adored her and how much he always would. And he wanted to remind her, every single day for the rest of their lives…