a/n: eager to put this up because it's been exactly one year since I posted this. And yes, 1 FAN, I'll see if I can squeeze in that suggestion of yours somewhere in the future chapters. Thank you!

I'll be updating un-courtly love next.


Almost

"As usual, thank you for waiting, Sasuke."

Sakura pulled open the door and climbed inside, buckling her seatbelt but not before flashing a pure smile at Sasuke who, despite the unexpected rush of warmth spreading over him, just meekly nodded in return before pulling out of the parking space.

It had been three weeks since they started this routine of having breakfast together. It wasn't an everyday happening, but both of them had grabbed every chance they could get to stick to it. Whether it was a conscious effort coming from both sides or just an almost habitual spur-of-the-moment decision, they had never pondered on their own.

Sleeping together in the same room seemed to be a considerable factor. Neither had initiated any physical contact between them, but staying in the same bed for weeks now had made it easier for them to be attuned to each other's schedule even without quick clarifications. Whoever woke up first wouldn't have to wait for that long for a company.

It was always Sasuke who would get to wake up first, and whenever he did, he would pull the rustled blanket up until it covered Sakura's shoulders, and sometimes, just sometimes, he would brush away some hairs sticking to her lips before taking a shower and heading downstairs.

Sakura never failed to feel guilty every time she saw Sasuke, already up, drinking his usual cup of coffee by the time she got out of bed. On her lucky days, she would be nudged awake by the faint noise of shower coming from the bathroom, and she would immediately go to her room to prepare for the day as well. But on days that she just couldn't wake up until her body had finally registered the missing warmth beside her, she would launch herself out of the bed, slip on her slippers in a flurry before sprinting down the stairs, pausing on the landing just before Sasuke, probably alerted by her footfalls, turned to her.

She would usually thread her fingers through her hair and give a shy smile whenever he glanced at her briefly before setting down his cup, muttering a silent morning greeting as he fixed the cuffs of his office suit.

"Good morning, Sasuke," she would chirp. "Please wait for a moment. I'll just go wash up quick and then I'll cook breakfast."

Sakura was always worried that she would wake up one day and find him already on his way to the office. He had been kind to her for the past weeks. Her nausea had affected her on some nights, and she was thankful that Sasuke was always there to hold back her hair or give her a glass of water after. There was one time though that he even massaged the back of her neck, and she had to keep her face down to hide away her heated cheeks.

She wanted to repay him, to make their arrangement as relaxing and as normal as it would be if they were in a proper relationship. But she had learned to cease thinking so seriously about them. Their present arrangement was more than what she had expected from him when he proposed a new beginning for the sake of their child.

Sasuke wouldn't admit how he couldn't leave the house without Sakura waking up and greeting him. He realized he liked hearing her sleepy, mellifluous voice greeting him. Her presence beside him every night had been enough to soothe him back to sleep whenever he would find himself cruelly roused by his nightmares. He was thankful that Sakura didn't have to see that; she didn't have to know how pitiful he really was. Sakura cooking breakfast just like before their fallout was an added bonus. He wouldn't usually expect her to do so, but he never complained whenever she had her way.

She would usually cook bacon strips and fried eggs because fried things were easier to prepare, he recalled Sakura saying as an excuse. He didn't mind, really. Sometimes though, she would make potato omelette...and prepare tomatoes. She really wasn't supposed to know about that.

Sakura liked how Sasuke would usually pretend not to see the tomatoes until she gently pushed the plate towards him. Sometimes, she would finish her meal in a hurry and wash the dishes just so he would eat, and she would pretend she didn't see anything. She would just face him again the moment he said, "I'm going," and she would smile at him, see him walk through their door and would merrily pick up the now-empty plate.

But her emergency shifts had happened just more than once, and in those times, Sasuke was always there to keep up the routine of driving for her and eating breakfast together after she had settled matters. Just like this time.

"Where do you want to eat?" It was an automatic question.

"Craving salad," she answered without hesitation.

"Again." Sasuke didn't put much energy into making it a question because he had somehow expected her answer right away.

"Yes, again," she chuckled.

The first time Sasuke invited her for breakfast, it was at a small diner which had salad as their main menu and was just a few miles from the hospital. The invitation actually stunned her so much that Sasuke had to repeatedly ask her the same question of where she wanted to eat until she saw the sign "The Salad Spot" and gave him a mumbled answer. The second time they ate breakfast, Sakura let Sasuke choose, and he brought her to a fine dining restaurant. She realized by then that eating breakfast together was one of Sasuke's ways to establish a better relationship with her. The third time, as they were deciding where to eat, Sakura got a call from Shizune again, begging her to come back so they had no choice but to just grab some burger and fries from a fast food drive-through before Sasuke sped down the road back to the hospital. Now for the fourth time, she was really craving salad again. But a part of her mocked that her craving was induced by something else.

They went to the same place. "The Salad Spot" was an open area with an array of tables and chairs painted in white. Each table had a pole on the center supporting a sunshade, which had a fancy tilt option. Sakura briefly scanned the menu resting on the table before looking at Sasuke with a playful smile on her lips, pressing on the tilt button to cast a shadow over Sasuke's face. Sasuke was holding the menu as if considering everything on it, but she knew better.

"Let me guess, you're ordering Caramelized Tomato Salad?"

Sasuke looked up from the menu and saw her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Shut up, Sakura," he grumbled.

A scowl was now painted on his face as he looked back at the menu, but Sakura knew it was nothing more than an appearance. She had always wanted to do this to him, to tease him about something, to be comfortable and normal, to be just friends. When she fell for him and she agreed to move in with him, she thought it would be easier for her to be close to him. But their fallout proved that it wasn't. Sasuke had always been too distant for her no matter how much she tried to shorten it with whatever measure (both physical and emotional) she knew, and she just grew tired of trying. But she was glad that they were starting over despite her firm hesitation almost a month ago, and sharing this unusual moment with him, seeing him scowl made her feel that after everything that had happened, she really didn't regret anything.

Now as she observed Sasuke practically failing at keeping a concentrated face on the menu, just to avoid her mischievous gaze and confirm her assumption, she recalled how their first breakfast together went.

She ordered her favorite Caesar salad. She didn't usually like salads before, but ever since her cravings started, she found that salad was one of her favorites along with any sweet delicacies. Sasuke, on the other hand, ordered a salad with lots of tomatoes in it – diced and sliced in rings – and she had noticed how he would pick the tomatoes off the chopped pork and the usual greens, setting them aside to the edge of the plate.

"Sasuke, you don't eat tomatoes?"

"Hn."

"Okay, can I have them?" Driven by her desire for tomatoes, she started eating them off his plate until Sasuke put the fork down with force and looked away.

"Sakura."

She froze midbite. "Sasuke?"

"The tomatoes..."

"Uhm, yes?" She proceeded to pop another one into her mouth, and Sasuke almost glared at her.

"Don't."

Sakura's mouth formed a small O, and she immediately understood. She unconsciously bit the tip of her fork in embarrassment for the way she had behaved.

"I'm really sorry, Sasuke. The tomatoes looked delicious and I just . . . didn't know."

Sasuke just sighed, picked up his fork again, and resumed eating.

"Let's just eat, Sakura."

Sakura saw how he wouldn't look at her and interpreted it as him being totally mad at her. She didn't know why but she suddenly became emotional, and she felt her eyes prickling with hot tears.

"But, but I'm really -"

Her emotional state must have been made evident in her shaky voice that Sasuke alarmingly looked at her.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because I ate your tomatoes and you're now mad at me," she said in between sobs, "But I didn't mean to, Sasuke. I'm really really -"

She let out a little gasp when she felt Sasuke's hand rest over hers.

"I'm not mad."

Sasuke held her gaze, and she finally smiled through her tears.

"Okay."

They then continued to finish off their meals, and Sasuke let her ate all the remaining tomatoes. Just before they went to bed that night, Sakura bravely apologized for her unneeded emotional outburst, trying to reason out that emotional instability was common for pregnant women. Sasuke just cut her off with a tap on her shoulder as he glided past her towards their bed.

Sasuke could feel the intensity of Sakura's eyes on him, and he wondered for a moment if it was another instance of her emotional instability. He was really distressed when he found her suddenly crying during their first breakfast together because he was scared to know that he was the reason behind those tears again. It relieved him greatly though when she explained that her reaction wasn't something grave, that it wasn't deeply his fault, and that it was just part of her pregnancy – the exact reason why they had been trying to start anew.

He had also found her slowly becoming comfortable with him again. She was no longer that detached and indifferent about his efforts of starting over. In fact, she had become accepting of them, and she herself was now willingly doing her part. She was speaking to him more often now and showing her emotions more openly. (He had been forcing himself to do the same.) He would daresay she had become friendly towards him. But whatever they had right now, with or without a label, was, he thought, enough for him.

It was infinitely better than what they had even before she broke. Back then, they were just strangers in a nothing more, nothing less physical relationship. Now, there was no physical intimacy even when they had been sharing a bed for weeks, but at least they had become more than just strangers to each other. He had been suppressing his thoughts of touching her because he didn't want to make a move that would throw them into an even bigger mess. Besides, he would only touch her if needed like that one time when he wanted to relieve her of her pain as she was having a nausea attack.

He didn't know yet what to make of their current relationship, but he felt positive that it was the kind of atmosphere that he wanted his child to grow up in. The past might forever haunt him, but he was still hoping for a future untainted by it.

Sakura then called over a waiter.

"Two Caramelized Tomato Salad, please."

"Sakura," Sasuke warned.

She grinned sheepishly and continued, "Oh. Make that three. Thank you."

Sasuke was almost sure he saw the waiter blush when Sakura beamed.

"Is th-there anything else, Ma'am?"

"No more. Thank you."

With a final smile from Sakura, the waiter finally turned on his heels, furiously scribbling down on his pad. Sasuke just crossed his arms and raised his brow at his retreating figure.

"Anything wrong, Sasuke?"

He shook his head dismissively, focusing back on her. "Nothing."

Sakura took a deep breath before starting. "So...I told Shizune I'll be taking the rest of the day off..."

Sasuke staggered forward on his seat. "Anything wrong? Are you sick?"

He knew that Sakura wasn't really the type to take whole breaks from her shifts so this statement of hers instantly got him concerned.

To be honest, she really was feeling unusually tired for the past few days, but she had anticipated it because after all, she was now on her way to her fourth month of pregnancy and would have a checkup with her doctor in two weeks. But she wasn't about to confess anything to Sasuke. She didn't want to worry him needlessly and after all, she wouldn't do anything that would harm her child.

"No. Uhm...there's something else I want to do for the day," she bit her lip and looked away, not sure how to phrase her idea.

"That is?"

"Can I, can I see your office, Sasuke?" she paused, waiting for his initial reaction. Then she added quickly, "But, of course, it's okay if I can't. Really. You can just drop me home after we eat and I'll just -"

"Okay. I'll take you there, Sakura."

Her eyes went wide, totally not expecting that he would take her on that request. She was about to say something when a lowered tray came into view.

"Your Caramelized Tomato Salads, Ma'am, Sir," the waiter began placing their plates on the table.

"Please enjoy and have a great day," he bowed.

Sakura forgot all about what she was to say when her eyes landed on the salad she had been craving for days. She squealed in delight, and she jovially turned to the waiter.

"Is it okay if I ask you to bring your other salad dressings here? Or just tell me if we have to pay an additional fee for –"

Sasuke observed how the waiter was looking at Sakura with such a big-toothed smile that his face almost couldn't contain it.

"If it's for you, Ma'am, then it's okay and it's for free!" he hurriedly scuttled away.

Sasuke cleared his throat to get back her attention.

"As planned, I'll take you there after this."

"Thank you, Sasuke."

It was the second time she thanked him for that day, and she also smiled at him, but he wouldn't forget how she had smiled (warmly and too sweetly) a while ago at the waiter, and he suddenly felt irritated.

He tried not to pay attention when the waiter came back with a tray full of dressings as per Sakura's request and when the waiter lingered just a table behind Sakura as they proceeded to finish their breakfast.

When they were done, the waiter was already at their table even without his or Sakura's signal for him to come over to bring their bill.

"Here is your bill, Ma'am," he offered the check to Sakura in what Sasuke considered the most sickeningly polite way. Sakura was just about to take it, and Sasuke was so sure she would accidentally touch the waiter's hand.

"No, give it to me," he spoke up rather sternly. The waiter just nervously nodded and slowly shifted the direction of his outstretched hand. Sasuke roughly pulled the bill out of his grasp.

"I'll just deliver this on the counter. You may go."

"Ye—yes..." he bowed again.

"Thank you so much for your services," Sakura spoke as if to brighten him up which in turn really consoled the waiter. "We'll make sure to eat here again."

When Sasuke and Sakura made it to the counter to hand in their bill, the waiter, busy wiping another table waved at their direction (although Sasuke knew it was directed only to Sakura who actually waved back). He sent the waiter a glare before thinking loudly to himself: "I'll make sure she'll never go back here."

"What was that, Sasuke?"

He looked at her tentatively.

"Nothing."

...

The drive to Uchiha Inc. was anything but silent. Sakura couldn't help gushing about how satisfyingly delicious the salad was. She finished her plate and the extra one by herself (and had no single complaint about that) because Sasuke insisted one plate was enough for him. But she would like to think he really just didn't want to show her his great appetite for tomatoes. She also prattled on about how she would make it a point to go there as often as she could and try all their salads. Sasuke then made a mental note of checking out other salad places that would offer new and special salad bowls and which wouldn't have waiters as annoying as the one that just attended to them. But as a precautionary step, he told Sakura to call him whenever she would decide to eat there. Sakura just happily agreed, oblivious of his reasons.

When Sakura stepped out of the car, she didn't quite expect the lofty building that met her eyes. They were now in the high-end part of the city, and although she had once accompanied Ino to the grandiose malls that boasted of assorted branded products and designer labels, they had never visited this area.

She had only seen this building once months ago on TV when the media reported about the tragic incident that befell Sasuke's family. She felt guilty for suddenly remembering it at this moment so she warded off the thoughts and focused back on wondering just how massive (in quantity) this piece of architecture was.

"Thirty floors." She heard his voice from beside her.

She slowly nodded. "And where is your office?" The top floor, of course, she mentally slapped her forehead.

"You'll find out soon," he said, shoving his hands inside his pockets.

She then noticed that his car was nowhere to be found, and she gracelessly turned her head from left to right, looking for it.

"Where –"

"I had someone park it for me."

"Oh."

"Let's go."

They walked side by side although Sakura wasn't sure if she should actually lag a step behind. Two men were stationed at each side of the automatic sliding door. They both had a brawny built, and they were clad in white starched polo and had black goggles over their eyes. They already looked terrifying to Sakura, and the fact that they also had long guns slung over their shoulders made her want to ask Sasuke if there was no alternative entrance.

Sasuke noticed her discomfort because she was purposely delaying her steps so he inched towards her. Sakura then felt his hand come up which rested lightly on the curve of her back as they took the small elevated steps towards the entrance. She muttered a soft thank you.

"Sir," the men greeted in unison.

Sasuke just gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Sakura made up for such gesture of his by smiling at them as earnestly as she could manage as they passed them.

Once they entered the building, Sasuke dropped his hand, and Sakura tried to pay her full attention on her surroundings. The lobby didn't disappoint. The walls and floor were made of white marble with occasional streaks of black tiles for a minimalist aesthetic. The Uchiha Crest ( which was shaped like a fan with its upper part colored red and the lower, white) was etched into the center of the floor that seemed to function as a rotunda and was directly below the grand crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. Both decorative and functional lights illuminated the place. The reception had a slab of glazed granite pushed up from the main wall and on it rested the metallic carved letters of Uchiha Inc. Sakura could see the five receptionists entertaining clients clad in business suits.

Sakura followed Sasuke until they stopped outside an elevator door. Sakura counted six of them, and she wondered why there were no other people choosing this elevator. Sasuke then slid up a cover from the wall and pressed his thumb on it.

"What's that for?"

"My elevator."

True enough, the elevator opened with no one inside. Sakura could say that it was relatively cleaner than other public elevators. It was sterile clean. There were no scratches or smudges on the wall and the handrails looked as if they were untouched. The floor also seemed to have no significant amount of dirt, and Sakura just laughed.

"Sasuke, you really are anti-social, aren't you?"

He didn't answer as he just pressed a numbered button on the panel.

"29? 29th floor?" She also wanted to ask what was on the top floor then, but Sasuke didn't seem too eager to give her a response.

"I had this made after that incident. I can't take the pity looks people give me," he shrugged, not really wanting to be vulnerable in front of her. There were things he just had to explain especially now that he decided to let her know about this side of his life.

Sakura felt a pang of guilt again and tried to divert the topic by asking about Uchiha Inc. Just before they stepped out of the elevator, she had come to the conclusion that Uchiha Inc. was indeed the largest business group in the country which could even manipulate its whole economy if they only wished to.

She didn't know if it was because of the time of the day (almost ten in the morning) or her bad timing at coming here, but there were no people in sight on the floor. She could see rooms, but all doors were shut. They finally stopped at a lacquered door, and she heard Sasuke let out a sigh before turning its knob and pushing it open.

"Teme!"

Sakura soon saw the source of the voice. The man who had a shock of golden hair was grinning and sitting on a swivel chair, his lower limbs sprawled on the glass-topped table which she assumed was actually Sasuke's working space.

"Yo!" A silver-haired man with a mask covering almost everything of his face except his eyes had his one hand up in what appeared to be a casual greeting. He was seated just across the table, his other arm resting on a messy heap of documents.

She was just about to greet back when the blond man slid back the swivel chair and stood up in haste, his hands slamming down on the table, his neck craning towards Sasuke and Sakura's direction.

"Oh, wow, Sasuke you've brought a girl."

Sakura angled her head towards the man and just bowed her head in acknowledgment, an awkward smile plastered on her face.

"Who is she?"

The silver haired was eyeing her intently that she had to drag her eyes towards Sasuke who seemed to be having a hard time answering so she decided to intervene.

"I'm Sakura. Haruno Sakura. I work at Konoha Hospital," she plainly stated.

"Nice meeting you, then, Haruno-san. I'm Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto, the blond-haired guy, proffered his hand which she gently shook.

"Kakashi," said the silver-haired, standing up as well and extending his hand.

"Nice meeting you." Sakura did the same gesture.

Suddenly, a phone started to vibrate, and Kakashi picked it up from the table.

"Yes. I'll be there. Wait for some more," he drawled. "Ok. I get it woman, tone down." He then pressed the end button and sluggishly shoved it inside his pocket.

Naruto turned to him in question. "Was that Mei-san?"

"Asking me to pick her up again from work. When she has a car herself," he said, shaking his head in frustration.

Sakura unconsciously looked at Sasuke, and she really wanted to laugh at the irony of the situation except that Sasuke didn't seem to get the same feeling. He had his eyes fixed on the ground, and she silently begged access to his thoughts.

"Oh, give her a break, Sensei. She's pregnant," Naruto grinned, clapping Kakashi on the back.

Sakura instinctively rested her hand on her bump. She was glad that she still hadn't taken off her medical coat. It gave her comfort, and she tugged it on further, an attempt to cover something she knew Sasuke wouldn't want his friends or colleagues to see...yet.

Kakashi gave a little snort before he started gathering all his belongings into a briefcase, including the magazine that Sakura only had a glimpse of -"Paradise..." something.

"I'm going then. Nice meeting you, Haruno-san." Sakura nodded in return.

"Have you finished reviewing the documents?" Sasuke asked brusquely, making his way to his table with lots of papers strewn about on it.

"It's been waiting for you since yesterday. They're in your drawer, Sasuke. I'll see you."

Sasuke gave a curt nod, and Kakashi finally opened the door and left.

Naruto then went over to Sakura to begin a chitchat. "Eh, so Haruno-san, you're working in the hospital right? You're a doctor?

"I've been a pediatrician for years but I've also finished my practicum on surgery so I've been a surgeon for two years now." She was about to add that she also had to take a break from her second profession because of her recent condition but realized that he really didn't need to know about that.

"Awesome! So could you be the doctor of my kids in the future?" he excitedly grabbed her hands.

Sakura gave a soft chuckle before Sasuke interrupted.

"Shut up, Dobe. You don't even have a wife yet."

Naruto just gave him a light glare before facing Sakura again with those eyes full of mirth. "Don't listen to him, Haruno-san. I've got a girlfriend of two years and we're getting married next month. Teme is just jealous that he doesn't have one," he made a face at Sasuke.

Sakura wanted to flinch but instead shook Naruto's hands. "Congratulations, Uzumaki—"

"It's okay. Your Teme's friend. You can call me Naruto. Please call me, Naruto."

"Then, call me Sakura, Naruto. Congratulations on your wedding!"

"Thanks! I don't have an invitation with me but I gave Sasuke one. Sasukee!" he hollered over his shoulder, "Be sure to bring Sakura-chan there, okay?" He then turned back to her, "Please I hope you can come."

"I'd love to! Thank you so much!"

After all, she once dreamt of having her own wedding, too.

Naruto then glanced at his watch and jumped up. "Teme, I need to get going. We're still gonna have to look for a wedding florist and I'm already late." Naruto then grabbed his jacket lying among the clutter on the table.

"My best friend owns a flower shop and is a florist, too," Sakura offered. "If you've got time, I can accompany you there."

"Really? Oh, wow, thanks, Sakura-chan! Okay. Okay. I'll just have to meet up with Hinata then we'll go back here and we can all go together. Would that be okay?"

"Sure."

Naruto then scrambled to get to the door, pulling it open, as he dialed on his phone.

Sakura finally turned to Sasuke, only to find him already settled in his place, browsing over the piles of documents on his table. She suddenly felt alone.

She fidgeted. "If...if you need to be alone, then I guess I'll just wait outside..."

She had already made a step towards the door when Sasuke spoke.

"You can stay," he said without looking up.

She didn't know why the atmosphere between them suddenly became tense when they were just having fun together hours ago.

She let out a sigh and walked over to the upholstered sofa across Sasuke's desk. She then took off her coat and folded it in half across her lap. She began surveying the room. Aside from it being spacious and carpeted, there wasn't much stylistic design that appealed to her feminine liking. It was like being inside a monochrome with luminaires, and there was only the presence of his working table, the sofa (with three toss pillows) that she was sitting on, and another small round table with two chairs around it. There were magazines on the coffee table placed across the sofa but judging from the covers, Sakura knew they were the business type of magazines. But she definitely liked how she could see the vast expanse of sky through the floor-to-ceiling strip window.

She then carefully shifted her gaze, sneaking glances at him. He had his one elbow on the table, his cheek leaning against his hand as he held a bundle of documents in the other. His brows were pinched in concentration as he perused through them. She could say that he was visibly tired, and she felt an unusual jolt of desire course through her: She wanted to massage his temple. She caught herself, however, and dropped her gaze. She was rubbing off invisible dirt from her palm, forming an idea in her head, when her phone rang. She fumbled for it inside her bag and hastily placed it to her ear

"Hello? Oh, Gaara-kun."

Sasuke shot her a look. He sure heard her ringtone, but he never expected to hear that name. She was comfortably leaning against the back of the sofa, her other arm supporting the one holding the phone to her ear. He noticed she was no longer wearing her coat, and she was wearing a floral loose dress. It was the first time he saw her in sleeveless attire, and he made sure to remember to tell her to put her coat on before exiting the room.

"No, I've taken the rest of the day off. I'll be back tomorrow morning."

Sasuke noted how her voice wavered between sounding professional and sounding friendly, too friendly.

"Yes. We can talk about that over lunch, perhaps," she smiled. It was that same warm smile the waiter had had the luck to see. Sasuke willed his gaze away from her to focus back on the documents instead, drowning out Sakura's chatter with another guy.

He heard her chuckle before she finally hung up. Sakura redirected her gaze back at Sasuke and this time, Sasuke caught it. Sakura awkwardly broke off their eye contact and started to grapple with words.

"Oh, uhm..." her eyes wandering around the room, "I'm just wondering if you'll be back early tonight? I...I plan to cook dinner."

She was afraid to meet his probably questioning stare so she quickly added with a smile, "As thank you for driving me so early to the hospital again and for the breakfast."

She didn't want him to think that it was anything romantic because she couldn't tread that line again. She just wanted to thank him.

Sasuke wanted to go home early, but there was just so much to do in the office and despite the tempting need to just abandon all this work that he never asked for, he thought it wouldn't really be fitting if he would be this irresponsible. He knew very well that his colleagues (or friends) also had their own lives, and in all actuality, he was supposed to be the least busy of them given that he wasn't a husband nor a father legally.

"I might come home late. Don't wait up," he replied as gently as possible, not wanting to give her the wrong idea that he was refusing her because he wanted to.

When his two colleagues asked him about her, he couldn't come up with a response, and it hit him that he really didn't know how to introduce her. Would it really be safe to assume that they were friends now? But what about her condition? If they were only friends, then what would he say if they asked him about her pregnancy? He was just glad that Sakura was there to answer although he wasn't sure if she took his reaction lightly. Besides, with all the blabbering that Naruto gave a while ago, he knew it was impossible that it didn't affect Sakura the least bit especially when the topic of marriage had been brought up. He was well aware that he had taken that possibility away from her, and despite them being on a rather friendly terms now, he wouldn't put it past her to still feel any lingering hatred towards him.

"Oh," she let out a small smile, "I understand." She gave a nod before looking down at her fingers.

But she didn't want to pursue the silence that had settled once again so she tried striking a sustainable conversation.

"So...what do you actually do as the CEO?" she bit her lip, internally berating herself for offering such a stupid question.

He looked at her, amused, although not visible.

"Sign the documents."

"That's all?"

"In my case, yes. Other heads of the companies do more but I never wanted this position anyway so I have Kakashi and the Dobe do the nitty-gritty of my work."

She still had a puzzled expression on her face so he continued, "Kakashi has been the legal adviser of the company ever since and the Dobe, I've known him since I was young, and his family is the company's biggest shareholder. It may not look like it but he knows this stuff better than I do."

Sakura just nodded. She contemplated whether she would continue asking but thought better of it. After his family's tragedy, of course there was no one else expected to assume the CEO's position except him since he was the only Uchiha left. She wasn't aware of his family situation, but if she remembered correctly, he had an older brother. Before she could follow this train of thought though, he spoke again.

"If you're wondering about my brother, stop bothering. Maybe he's dead or maybe not. But it's none of my concern." He then went back to reading and signing.

It was only then that she remembered that during that night that he and his parents were rushed to the hospital, there was no sign of his brother. The reports following that incident just speculated about his brother's disappearance. Some said that the murderers still held him hostage, but some went so far as to say that he was behind the murder himself. The investigation of the police, and the media coverage of the incident went on for about a couple of weeks until it died down and got buried under the incessant, more pressing general issues of the country. It also helped that Sasuke held a conference while still in the hospital, telling the public that he would assume the position and that they could just give the issue a rest, reasoning that it was unnecessary to dwell on it.

She never really knew what happened to the investigation or if Sasuke was still thinking about who did that to his family because he never really talked to her about it. She would admit that she used to not understand why he wouldn't open up about it, but it was only recently that she realized how hard it must have been for him that the last thing he needed was for someone to make him retell the events that night.

The phone on Sasuke's desk started ringing, and he lazily picked it up.

"Dobe. Fine. I'll tell her." And he hung up.

"They're waiting at the lobby. He said he's sorry that he can't come up here."

She tittered. "No, of course, it's fine. I'm going then."

She reached for the door, and as her hand turned its knob, she turned to him. "Oh, by the way, I'll just have Ino drive me home. You don't have to worry. Thank you so much for earlier, Sasuke. And thank you for bringing me here." She made a final nod before opening the door.

"Sakura."

She looked at him.

"Please put your coat on. It's cold outside."

Sakura was baffled by his out-of-the-blue statement but nonetheless complied. That wasn't what Sasuke wanted to say first, but he was glad that she did put it on. He continued.

"I'll pick you up at lunch tomorrow."

She blinked and was about to agree when a prior arrangement resurfaced on her mind. "Oh, but I have –"

"I'll drive you back if you want. You can just spend your lunch break with me."

"Yes, but..." she then considered the offer. She knew that this was Sasuke doing his part, but she would feel bad for canceling his lunch meeting with her doctor colleague.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke. But I've made plans..."

Sasuke knew with whom, and his grip on the documents tightened which he didn't notice.

"Maybe next time," she gave a final smile before closing the door.

Sasuke almost wanted to run after her and tell her he would be back home early tonight, but he stopped himself and started pondering on the possible logic behind his disturbed feelings. He knew that he and Sakura were on better terms now than they ever did before and it was exactly what he wanted. They were starting anew, indeed. But he felt like, he felt like it still wasn't enough.

...

Tbc.