Warning: Mature content in the beginning. Nothing too explicit or steamy, it is just the beginning of it.

The movie had long since rolled to the credits, but Sakura couldn't find it in herself to remove herself from where she was wrapped up in both the blanket and Itachi's arms. She was comfortable and at ease. Closing her eyes, she leaned further into his chest and rested against him. She knew he was asleep and had been since the middle of the second "Home Alone" movie. He found Christmas movies cliche and boring. The fact that he has already sat through two movies before this one just for her had warmed her heart.

Looking over the living room, she was glad that they had cleaned up everything from Christmas before they were getting ready for bed that night. That was one less thing for them to handle tomorrow and the next few days.

They were going to be busy. New Years Eve was coming up and Itachi had a gig that night that she couldn't wait to go to. She hadn't been able to attend many of his gigs since they started dating, but she had been to plenty of his concerts when she was a young teen. She couldn't wait to, publicly, attend as his girlfriend. It was something she was sure many girls and women had hoped to be able to do.

Sakura couldn't help but feel slightly smug that it was her who was wrapped up in a blanket in his house. That it was her that he cherished and thought about. That it was her he would fight for and that it was her he would dive off of a cliff for.

At the last two thoughts, she sobered up a little.

She didn't know what they were going to do with Sasuke. Technically, Itachi threw the first punch and yes, this was his property, she didn't know how well that would do if reported. After Sasuke was cleaned up, his father had taken him back to the rehab center. She just didn't know about it all and it was daunting. Sakura couldn't wrap her head around any of it.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes, sorry.." She says quietly and tilts her head up to look at him. "I was just thinking." She didn't mean to wake him, though she shouldn't be surprised that she did. He was attuned with her body language and her breathing patterns - he knew every inch of her, both mind and body.

"Everything will be okay," he murmurs and presses a kiss to the top of her head. He knew exactly what she was thinking about. "For now, let's just focus on each other." His hands were warm as they slid down her sides, guiding her to where she was facing him and straddling his lap. "Eyes on me," Itachi breathes out when Sakura's eyes dart out to the side where the popcorn bowl was sitting next to them. Without a word, he slowly scoots it away from them, and brings his hands back to rest against her. Slowly, almost agonizingly so, he leans forwards and captures her lips in a kiss.

Closing her eyes, she leans into the kiss. Her arms wrap around his neck and she allows herself to be drawn in closer to him as her fingers thread through his hair. She would have to speak to him about growing his hair out again, she missed it. Those thoughts were soon replaced by the feeling of his hands sliding down her sides, her back, and resting on her bottom instead. She was waiting, waiting to see what he would do. Was he going to just rest it there? She didn't know, but she almost forgot as he deepened the kiss and nipped lightly at her bottom lip for entrance.

Allowing him inside, she let out a quiet moan as he explored her mouth not for the first time. Their tongues danced in a languid motion that they knew suited one another. Sakura was reminded of his hand as the other one reached up to cradle the back of her head and hold onto her, pulling her even further into the kiss, as the other one gave a light squeeze that made her eyes fly open. He lightly fondled her and she took in a deep breath, pulling away, and allowing him to press more heavy and warm kisses down her throat. She always knew he would be an ass man, but it didn't make the revelation any less pleasant.

Moving her head to the side, she allowed him to continue his ministrations and assault on her neck. As he got lower and closer to her collarbones, she let out a soft noise of disapproval when he pulled away.

"Don't look at me like that," he says softly and leans in for a kiss. He moves both hands to the bottom of her shirt and she slowly lifts it up. Breaking away to wiggle out of the shirt, she is left on his lap in nothing but a pair of shorts. His hands were back on her immediately and she couldn't tell where he wasn't touching apart from where he was. Her body was on fire and she needed him everywhere.

His touch was light as he caressed her sides and he kissed along her shoulders. When he grazes her breast with his finger, she sucks in a breath of anticipation but is disappointed when he pulls away to look up at her. Sakura knew she had a pout on her face, but she also knew it morphed into something else entirely more sinful when he leaned forwards and pressed a kiss to her breast, following the curve of it and up until he was met with the bud of her nipple. His teeth lightly grazed it, making it perk and her toes curl slightly, before he allowed his tongue to come out and play. He rolls it over in his mouth, sucking all of the "oohs" and "ahhs" from her lips. Her hands were back into his hair and his were back on her ass as he held her still. Once he was finished with that one, perked and sensitive to just the feeling of air, he moved onto the other one and this one was almost more sinfully torturous.

Pulling away from her chest, Sakura didn't have enough time to shoot him a look before she was on her back in their fort. She could feel all the pillows pressed up to her back and she thought at least it was better than the floor (she knew for certain it felt better than the couch). Itachi splays kisses across her face, her jaw, her neck, and down her chest. He gives her breasts more attention: licking, fondling, and touching, before he carries down her stomach. His kisses were hot and wet, but she didn't mind, not with the way his lips and fingers felt against her skin as he covered her everywhere.

When his fingers hooked along her shorts, she knew it was all over.

Sipping her tea, Sakura took a moment to appreciate the way the sun lit up against the ocean's waves. She hadn't been to this little cafe` in a while and she knew it would be the perfect spot to meet up for lunch with Mikoto.

"How are you feeling?" She asks the dark haired woman, settling her green eyes on her. Sakura was worried about the older woman. She knew she had regrets when it came to her youngest son and she knew that it was hard on her heart for all of this to happen.

"I'm alright, it's a little much to think about," Mikoto breathes out. "Though it is nothing compared to some of the things that he put you through and for that, I am terribly sorry," she says softly and Sakura's face softens. "I don't know how he ended up like he did."

"I don't think it has anything to do with you, any of you. He was bound to make his own decisions and choices," Sakura says softly and Mikoto doesn't say anything to that. As his mother, Sakura knew that Mikoto would shoulder much of the blame and would carry it with her until she passed. She couldn't imagine how awful it would feel to know that her son tried to attempt something so terrible or any of the vile things he had said. It was a lot for a mother to bear.

Putting on mascara, Sakura lets out a hum. She and Itachi had driven back to the city because that was where the gig was. She already missed the waves, but it was replaced with the sound of Ino's screeching as she messed up eyeliner again.

"That's it, I'm not going," Ino whines out and Sakura shakes her head.

"Don't be so dramatic. Just take it slow and try again," Sakura clicks her tongue and she dodges the shoe that was hurled her way by the frustrated blonde. "You always look beautiful no matter what you do, anyway."

"Here, let me help," Temari says as she enters the bathroom. All three women were dressed to impress and Sakura was filled with excitement. She just knew tonight was going to be fun. It was even more exciting to think about because 1. Itachi will be singing and 2. Somehow, some way, she got Ten Ten to agree to show up and she hasn't seen her in forever. Sakura and her friends all really needed to host a get together.

Soon enough, Sakura found herself kissing Itachi for good luck.

"I have to go," he breathes against her lips and she really wished he didn't. Pulling away from him hesitantly, she looks up at him through hooded eyelashes and bites her lip slightly.

"I'll see you later, go get your makeup on before your makeup artist loses her shit." His makeup artist, Konan, could be scary and almost as weird as his manager, Pain. They, at least everyone thinks, are dating so they suit each other just fine.

He walks away from her reluctantly and Sakura watches with a smile. She was so happy that he has been able to get back into performing. He looks so much happier up there on stage versus how he looks when he comes home from the family business. The light in his eyes were the brightest in those moments when he belts out his heart and strums other people's feelings with his guitar.

Sakura heads away from the backstage area and finds her friends by the bar. She smiles brightly as she gets waved down and she quickly slings an arm around the brunette. "It has been awhile, Ten Ten. I missed you!" They hugged and Ino joined in.

"I know! I missed you both so much," Ten Ten says and they all smile. Temari walks over nursing a drink and she nods at Ten Ten in greeting. "You, too."

They chatted together, trying to catch up, while drinking. Well, they were drinking. Sakura sipped on her water while they drank. She was the designated driver and she wanted to be sober enough for after the concert with Itachi. Whenever she drank, she wasn't ever in the right state of mind. She always felt out of control of herself and she hated that feeling.

In the midst of her thoughts, the lights dimmed and pointed on stage. Turning her attention to the center of the stage, Sakura chewed lightly on her lips and watched with bated breath as someone took the stage. The crowd cheered and it only grew louder as his fingers lightly strummed across the chords of the guitar. Her heart was in her throat when she locked eyes with him and nothing else in the room mattered but each other. She could hear his voice over everyone and everything. Above all else, she recognized the song immediately. It was the same song he played whenever they were alone together on the beach.

"Wow, he's good," breathed out Temari from Sakura's side. Despite her cousin being in the band, she hadn't ever really listened to them perform before.

"Yeah, Sakura and I have been listening to his band since we were young teens!" Hollers Ino, perhaps a bit too loudly because Ten Ten is holding her ear with her free hand. "You should have seen the way she used to drool over his posters."

"Like you can talk Ino," snarks Sakura and Ten Ten nods in agreement.

"I know for a fact that you still have posters of the puppeteer in your closet in your old room," hums out Ten Ten and Ino gawks.

"Stay out of my closet, weirdo!"

Sakura laughs, shaking her head. She loved her friends.

Midnight was approaching fast and so was the new year.

Sakura couldn't believe all that had happened in this one year alone, though she wouldn't change it for anything.

"Alright, is everybody ready for the count down?!" Hollers Kankuro and everyone else cheers along. From the corner of her eyes, she can spot Gaara sitting in the corner and drinking straight out of a whiskey bottle. She knew he would be feeling that in the morning. Turning to look at Itachi, who was next to her, she gives him a warm smile.

"10!"

"9!"

"8"

They shifted closer together.

"7!"

"6!"

"5!"

The room around them was blurring.

"4!"

"3!"

"2!"

Nothing else but each other mattered in this moment as they drew in.

"1!"

Their lips collided with one another like fireworks.

A couple of weeks have gone by since new years and Sakura was feeling antsy. The start of a new term had her at the edge of her seat and she didn't understand it. Med school was difficult, she expected no less, but it was challenging to stay ahead like she had been able to do so before. It felt like all she ever did was work on school work anymore.

"I need a break," she groans out and closes her laptop.

Looking over towards her coffee table, she spots a picture that she and Itachi had taken together. The sight of his smile in the picture made her heart do weird palpitations. She was happy with him, happiest she has been in awhile, and she just hoped he felt the same.

He hadn't been texting her as much lately, but she wasn't worried about it. Itachi wasn't Sasuke, she knew that she didn't have to worry about him sleeping around on her. No, her worries with him were completely different. Instead, she found herself worrying about him working himself into an early grave or smoking his lungs out. Chewing on her lip, she hovers her fingers over his contact in her phone.

Sakura wanted to call him, to hear him, but she knew now was not the time.

Today, he was dealing with Sasuke related business.

Sakura could really care less at this point what happens to him. He had ruined any chances of him ever getting back onto a good foot in life. She no longer felt any, unnecessary, guilt or shame towards him - only indifference. He would never learn.

Setting her phone down, she sighs.

Maybe a shower would help her calm down so that she could finish the stupid paper she had due. Heading towards her shower, she hummed to herself lightly. Undressing, she turns on the water and waits for it to warm. Slowly stepping underneath the warm stream of water, she lets out a sigh.

She loved showering.

Though being in the shower caused her mind to wander. Phantom feelings of fingers in her hair and kisses to the back of her neck causes her mind to drift towards warm and kind dark eyes that make her insides heat up.

She missed him.

"You haven't heard anything about him?" Asks Sakura from where she was brushing her teeth. Confusion rippled within her and also worried her. "How did he even get out?"

"I don't know," groans Itachi. "I need to go smoke. I'll be back."

Walking out of the bathroom, she worries her lip between her teeth. She hated how often he keeps smoking. There were sometimes she would go outside and see several cigarette buds scattered in the ashtray next to him or even moments where he would come back to bed in the morning and he would smell so strongly of smoke she had to bury her nose in the blanket to keep it from entering her nose so much. She hated it and she hated how she was indirectly the cause.

Sakura had been staying with Itachi for two days now. It was currently spring break and she thought seeing her boyfriend for the week long break would be nice. Instead, she was stressed.

Stressed about Itachi's smoking habit and the way he wasn't taking care of himself, but also stressed because Sasuke got out and was missing. The anger and rage that was in his eyes the last time she saw him morphed with the twisted look in his eyes when he was above her at the cliff. She was terrified; she didn't know what to expect when it came to him. Sakura just hoped he was smart and didn't come after her or anyone else. That maybe he would just disappear for good. She was positive that it would solve several of her problems.

Sitting on their bed, Sakura sits hunched over and waits for him to come back inside. Minutes tick by and soon an hour passes. Her eyes grew heavy and she figured she might as well get ready for bed for real. Settling into the blanket, she closes her eyes.

Hours later, she wakes up momentarily to the feel of a kiss to her forehead and an arm wrapping around her waist. Just as quickly as she woke up, she fell back asleep.

Itachi wasn't sure what to do.

He was worried and stressed out about the possibilities and "what ifs" running rampant in his head. With a cigarette permanently pressed between his lips and a lighter forever in his reach, he still couldn't find comfort from his anxiety. The only thing that could bring him momentary relief was Sakura, but he didn't want to trouble her with his mind. He didn't want to scare her in the event that nothing happened at all.

After all, his brother was foolish: he just didn't know how foolish.

It was this thought that comforts him but also terrifies him. It is the thought running through his head as he watches Sakura sleep next to him and he holds onto her, scared to let her go. He didn't know what he would do if his brother got to her or worse, if he were to lose her. Itachi would go mad, that he was sure of.

He wished, more so in moments like this, that Sasuke would have been found sooner - that they would have pressed charges against him when he first attacked her rather than foolishly giving him a chance to "get better." Never before had Itachi felt so ignorant of the downsides. He had not only put Sakura in jeopardy but his niece and other family members. All for a brother who was long gone.

Pulling Sakura tighter to him, he buried his face into his hair.

He needed to stop, but he didn't know how.

Sasuke was nowhere to be found and no one even knows how he got out of the rehab center in the first place. There weren't any records of him checking out or anything of the sort. Sasuke was just gone and that was what worried him.

He could be anywhere.

"I'm so tired," groans out Naruto as he adjusts Boruto in his arms. Hinata looks worryingly at her husband.

"I can.. I can take him, Naruto," she says softly and Sakura shakes her head in dismay. They were at the beach to have a good time and Naruto was just looking for an excuse to pawn the baby off on Hinata so that he could go surfing with Kiba.

"No, Hinata, he just wants to go surfing. You always have the baby, just relax a little bit," Sakura says and gives Naruto a glare. The blond looks sheepish for a moment, but he doesn't complain any further. Sakura knew his tricks and she knew who took main responsibility for the baby in the Uzumaki household. Hinata had even put her schooling on hold for the baby while Naruto focused on his career to bring money in. It baffled Sakura how some people were just so comfortable not working, but they seemed happy for the most part.

Hinata looked like she was going to try to take the baby again, but Naruto just shook his head. "I'm fine, babe, go have fun. We can switch out in a moment."

"Okay.." Hinata says quietly and Sakura pulls the woman away from the umbrella that her family was perched in.

Together they go up to the shoreline. Sakura didn't dare to go any further than her toes in the water, she wasn't that comfortable with the water just yet - she didn't know when she would be, she just knew it to be one day.

"How is life treating you?" Sakura asks after a moment. She talked to them all the time, but she knew that talking over the phone was different than in person. Sakura would always prefer face-to-face interactions, it felt more personal that way.

"It is well.." Hinata trails off as she moves to look around in the sand for shells. Sakura knew that she was getting into crafts, she had seen some of the necklaces and bracelets the dark haired girl had made from rocks and shells. "Just busy and filled," she laughs out. "What about you? I imagine you're kept well entertained." Hinata speaks softly and Sakura smiles, nodding.

"Med school tends to do the job, but Itachi is a good substitute," Sakura jokes. The dark haired woman sputters at the insinuation, clearly embarrassed by such humor. Sakura couldn't help but laugh at her red complexion. Hinata had always been the innocent one of her group. "I'm kidding," Sakura laughs out and Hinata shakes her head, playfully.

Later on, Sakura finds herself playing with toys to entertain Boruto. He was still so young and tiny, but he looked so much like Naruto it was painful. She just hoped he was smarter than his father, for Hinata's sake.

"Naruto, it's getting late," Sakura overhears Hinata call towards Naruto who was getting ready to go back into the water with Kiba. The two, no different than in high school, were about to challenge one another to yet another surfing competition. "It's almost time to start settling Boruto down." Sakura didn't have to look up to imagine the pout that Naruto was sporting or the exasperated look on Hinata's face as he begs her for just one more competition.

"I can help you get him ready for bed, Hina, I don't mind. Itachi won't be home until later anyway, so I have time to kill," Sakura calls out and Hinata allows her shoulders to droop slightly as Naruto whoops. Sakura felt a little bad for offering, but she didn't want to tear her friend away from the water nor did she want her other friend fighting a fussy baby.

Once they were in the Uzumaki house, Sakura admired the place. It was different from Kushina's, it had mixes of Hinata's taste, but it still felt right to the young couple. Sakura loved it and she adored the nursery even more than the first time she had seen it. There were toys that weren't there before and new decorations. Sakura could spot some handcrafted items that were no doubt Hinata's doing.

"Thank you, Sakura," Hinata says softly as she comes out to sit beside Sakura on the couch after the two women had gotten Boruto to sleep. "I appreciate it, he isn't normally that hard to put down, but I suppose it is due to Naruto not being here.."

"I don't mind at all," Sakura smiles.

After catching up with Hinata a little more and Naruto coming home, Sakura found herself wrapped up in a blanket on the couch of Itachi's living room. He wasn't home yet, but she figured it was okay. She didn't think that she had too much to worry about.

About halfway through her movie, the sound of something banging around outside alerts her. She quickly gets up, grabbing the closest thing to her (a lamp) as she nears the front door. Peeking through the peephole she doesn't see anything out of the ordinary, the wind just seemed a tad strong. Relaxing, her shoulders sagged, and she walks back to the couch.

Not long after sitting back down, the door slams open and she is on her feet in an instant, chunking her phone and remote at the intruder.

"Ow, what was that for?" Grunts Itachi and Sakura immediately feels bad as she rushes over to him. She presses kisses to his face as an apology.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you were an intruder-"

"What, why," he asks her seriously and it catches her off guard. She takes in his serious expression and her heart quickens in pace. She didn't think she had an actual reason to be scared.. Did she?

"I.. I don't know, I was just worked up because of the wind outside. I thought I heard something earlier," she admits quietly and he pulls her in close. He doesn't say anything and neither does she. They're both pretty worked up, both in their own ways, and perhaps for the same thing.

He held her even closer that night, but Sakura couldn't find in herself to complain.

The rest of her spring break goes by without any incidents and as Sakura sinks into her bed after driving all day, she is grateful. There has been no sign of Sasuke, but that was good and bad. He either was staying very far away or he was in the shadows and either or could be a blessing or a curse.

A part of her knew he was far away. Sasuke was a coward, much like her, he always ran when things got difficult. That was evident when he pushed Karin away when she fell pregnant.

Turning over onto her side, she drowsily stares out her window. She was so extremely exhausted and she knew that she would have to get back into the grind of school the following day. Sakura couldn't wait for it all to be over and done with. Closing her eyes slowly, she starts to drift with the comfort of the moon peering into her bedroom window.

She is long asleep by the time the moon is covered by a shadow.