"I'm so happy for you," swoons Ino as she combs through Sakura's hair.

"We all are," says Hinata softly from her position in front of Sakura, her eyes closed as the pinkette weaves her hair into a small braid.

"Thank you guys," Sakura smiles.

It was nice to hangout with the two women. They were all so busy and it got difficult to find time to see one another between everyone's packed schedules. Though the order was mixed, she couldn't help but feel slightly reminiscent of the time they were all doing one another's hair and discussing whether she and Itachi should give it a try. That was years ago, it warmed her heart to see where they all were now.

"Sorry I took so long guys, you wouldn't believe how packed the place was," Ten Ten settles down in the middle of the living room floor after she sets the pizza boxes on Sakura's coffee table. "It was nuts!"

"Well, it is the best pizza place in Konoha," Ino rolls her eyes slightly. "I told you guys we should have called in ahead!"

"Oh Ino hush it and eat something" Ten Ten says as she flicks open the box. All of the other women laugh in response before digging in.

They went around laughing, sharing stories, and catching up. Sakura enjoyed spending time with them so much that she hadn't noticed Itachi slipping into their room later that night until his arms were wound tight around her waist.

"Did you have fun today?" He asks in between the kisses he places along the underside of her jaw and neck. She could feel him toying with the hem of her tanktop.

"I did," she muses when she feels a finger slip beneath the fabric. Pulling away for a moment, she turns around to face him. Placing her arms around his neck she pulls him in for a kiss. "They're all excited for the wedding."

"Not as excited as our mothers, I'm sure."

"You would be surprised," laughs out Sakura. "But no, not that excited."

Planning a wedding was stressful.

Sakura was so thankful that she had the amazing support team that she had. She didn't know what she would do without them. She would have already pulled her hair out by now, she was almost certain of that.

"Alright, everything is all set. Now all that is left is last minute decorations and, of course, waiting for the day to come." Mikoto and her mother were saints if there ever were such a thing.

"Thank you guys so much," Sakura hugs both of the women tightly. Them and her bridal party were the bane of her existence currently.

"Anything for my darling girl," her mother chirps and Mikoto is agreeing.

For the first time in awhile since the whole planning process started, she finally felt more prepared.

She was a planner by nature. Sakura planned everything down to the very last minute detail - it was who she was. It was what helped her stay so focused with schooling and her wedding day was no different.

Especially since they didn't want to wait a full year and Itachi wanted to get married during the middle of Spring.

Still, it was manageable.

Being with Sakura brought a joy to his life that he never realized he was missing. She was the epitome of happiness and fulfillment for him - his muse, soul, and sense of being.

He would give the world for her to be content and happy.

Inhaling a long drag of his cigarette that ended with a slight cough, he knew what he would have to do next. If he wanted to be able to give her the world, he has to live long enough to do it.

Taking one final drag, he puts the cigarette out and mushed it into nothing.

If Sakura noticed the slight tension that was more noticeable in his shoulders or the way he touches her hands a little more often or the way his hands are shaky sometimes when playing the guitar, she doesn't say anything and for that he was thankful.

The wedding was coming up soon and so far he has gone a month without a cigarette. He quit cold-turkey and he probably shouldn't have, but he knew it was now or never.

Seeing her smile and holding her made it all worth it.

"I love you," Sakura whispers as she leans down to press a kiss to his lips. "And I'm so proud of you."

Hearing those words caused his body to go lax and he lost himself in the sea that was her eyes.

Itachi would do anything for her, even if she never asked.

Her bachelorette party was tame and it shocked her more than it should have.

Knowing who her maid of honor is and who the other bridesmaids are, she expected there to be something wild. It was odd, but it was also pleasant. It made her heart feel warm knowing that they chose to plan a dinner and just watch movies together instead of their usual choice of clubbing (except Hinata).

Then again, watching her friends passed out on her couches at approximately nine p.m., it could just be that they are older.

Shaking her head, she turns the t.v. off and grabs extra blankets. Snuggling into the corner by Temari, she closes her eyes.

She missed sleepovers, but she is so glad that she still has opportunities with the people she loves. It isn't uncommon for high school friendships to fizzle out.

Not hers, though.

The wedding came fast and she was feeling jittery.

"Stop moving!" Gripes Ino as she adjusts her hand to continue working on Sakura's makeup.

"Sorry, I'm just nervous," she says sheepishly and Ino's eyes soften.

"You have nothing to worry about. He waited this long for you, I'm sure hell would freeze before he leaves you." Ino continues working on her makeup and Sakura tries not to move.

"I know, but what if I'm not good enough as a wife? Or what if I can't give him all he wants and needs?"

"Sakura, you guys are practically already married. The only thing changing today is that it is going to be legal in the government's eyes." Ino finishes up her makeup and Sakura has to stop herself from biting her lip and smudging the soft pink lipstick she was wearing. "Look at me," Ino says softly and Sakura does.

"You are one of the most stubborn, beautiful, smart, and kind woman I know. You are going to make a damn good wife and you're going to kick ass doing it. You treat sick people for a living, I've seen you walk down bleaker paths before."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, now come on!"

It was an odd and blunt way to hype Sakura up, but it worked. Ino was her best friend after all. She was very lucky to have her by her side and pulling her along.

The time drew nearer and Sakura was clinging onto her fathers arm anxiously. She knew he had already started crying as soon as he saw her.

"You'll always be my little girl and I'm so proud of the woman you've become. I hope nothing but happiness befalls you two," her father says quietly before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Her heart softened and her resolve that Ino built earlier had found itself again.

"Are you ready?"

"I am," she says and the curtains hiding them from the rest of the ceremony is parted as the music plays.

The wedding itself was beautiful. There were petals everywhere and it was bright, cheerful - it was everything she wanted it to be. The white benches that the guests sat on were adorned with drapes of thin pink and red fabric as well as flowers. The aisle was lined up with candles, flowers, and leaves of varying reds and pinks. The way the lights from the fake arches hung down and above her head as she walked down the aisle was straight out of a fairytale. The arch itself wasn't an arch at all, but instead a beautiful cherry blossom tree with faerie lights and curtains adorning it.

It was all breathtaking, but not as breathtaking as the look on Itachi's face as he takes her in.

She could feel his eyes taking in the way her dress accented her curves, the way the lights lit up her eyes, and the happiness stretched across her face. When he takes her hand from her fathers, she couldn't help the small tear that slipped from her eyes.

Itachi was barely holding it together but the promise of later on tonight caused him to hold strong. He could let her know of every thought he had about the way she looked.

She was breathtaking and it took every ounce of his willpower not to just pick her up and take off with her. Sakura was ethereal and a goddess - he would make sure she felt like one, too.

The vows were over before they knew it and they stared in one anothers eyes knowingly.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Cheers erupted as he cupped her face and brought her in. The kiss wasn't long as they weren't privy to showing off to anyone, but it felt like a lifetime to one another. Years of longing and pining, pain and tears, led up to this moment.

The very moment that he would call the happiest day of his life. The moment that she truly was his everything.

The moment that they fully belonged to one another.

The reception went by so fast and before they knew it, they were on their way to their honeymoon. They drove all night and even early in the morning, but eventually they pulled into a secluded little area up in the forested area about ten hours from Konoha.

"It's beautiful," Sakura breathes out as she steps out of their car. She could smell the ocean and could hear the waves crashing nearby. The trees were tall and there was plenty of shade but she didn't mind. The constant of hearing the ocean was just enough amount of home to make the change of scenery comfortable.

"Not as beautiful as you," Itachi comments as he clears his throat. She appreciated the way the small slivers of sunlight leaking through the trees brought some color to his pale skin. Taking in a deep breath he picks her up bridal style. She laughs in response and tucks her head under his chin.

"I love you," he says into her skin when they have settled down later on.

"I love you,too" she responds as she rubs circles into his back.

It had only been two days and Sakura was having the time of her life. She enjoyed being among the trees but still able to hear the sea. Even more though, she loved the quiet moments she had with Itachi where the whole world stilled around them and there was nothing else but each other.

Every time he left her side a little too long, he kissed her a thousand times more and made it seem a dream.

With the gentle wind and quietness of the trees, Sakura almost didn't want to go back. She knew that eventually they would, but that was future Sakura's problem.

This Sakura was running around the kitchen from an Itachi that was covered in flour.

"You'll never catch me," she teases as she swerves just out of reach. She misses the slight smile on his face as he feigns defeat. Dropping her guard just slightly and he has them rolling on the ground.

They were both covered in flour and so was the floor but they didn't care as they laughed and laughed. Their moment of joy was interrupted when Itachi is pulling away to cough into his arm.

Worried, Sakura sits up and runs his back soothingly.

"Are you okay?" She asks softly once his coughing died down. From the sound of it, he needed some medicine to clear up his lungs but it could also be a cold. Either way, she would be looking after him.

"I'm alright," he gives her a small smile and her shoulders relax. "I think I just inhaled some flour, that's all."

"I'll clean up, you go get the movie ready, okay?" Sakura gives him a kiss on the cheek and he rolls his eyes.

"I'm okay to help-"

"Please?"

He knew he wasn't going to win without even looking at her. It was with that knowledge that he set everything up in the living room and got comfortable waiting for her to join him.

They had nearly finished the movie when their food was finally done. After eating, they started another movie. He had her leaning into his side with his arm around her and he was content. She fit against him like a puzzle piece.

After a moment, Sakura bites her lip and chances a look up at him. He could see the worried look on her face from a mile away.

"What is it?" He asks her softly, pausing the movie. He hated seeing her worried or upset.

"I just…" she pauses, "You would tell me if you thought something was wrong, right?"

Itachi hated the thought of causing her to worry but he also could imagine how angry and hurt she would be should he ever withhold something like that from her. He swore years ago that he wouldn't make her cry or hurt her and he would abide by that, no matter what.

"Of course," he answers and perhaps the firmness and honesty in his voice eased her just so because soon she is relaxing into him once again.

"Good, I'd hate to have to beat my husband up."

All too soon they are back at home as husband and wife.

There was something about the fact that she was his wife that made her feel giddy when she thought about it. She had never thought that being someone's wife would bring her so much happiness.

It was way better than anything her dream journal could have ever hoped for.

Work was easy to slide back into but his embrace at the end of the night was even easier. With both of them still on a high, most nights were late nights but it was fine by them.

"So, are you pregnant yet- ow!" Gaara groaned as he rubbed where Temari just smacked him on his arm. "I was just asking, jesus."

"Thank you," Sakura hums as she sips on her strawberry smoothie. Her friends from the city were visiting and she was happy to seem them. She didn't, however, miss how nosey they could be.

"Are you guys planning on trying, though?" Temari asks after a moment and Sakura weighs actually answering. She could pretend to not have heard her but the blonde could be awfully loud. Still, it felt weird to talk about with Gaara around. Looking up she catches his eyes and looks away. He wanted to know, too, and for a moment Sakura feels bad and thinks back to when she and Gaara were together and she couldn't even imagine kids.

With Itachi, it was almost impossible not to think about sometimes.

"Not yet," she answers simply and they let it be. Instead of chasing the topic, they talk of other things.

As time went on, Ino was right. Not much had actually changed in their life but that was just fine by them. They were both creatures of habit, after all. It was a comfort for the both of them - a safety blanket.

"Did you see that picture Karin took of Hana and Genki asleep in the car on the way to the amusement park? They were practically mirroring one another, it was so cute," Sakura says as she brings her phone out to show him just in case.

"They are quite adorable."

"Very," swoons Sakura as she looks at the other pictures Karin had taken. For a moment, just a moment, she imagines what her and Itachi's kids would look like. A touch on her thigh interrupts her thoughts though.

They weren't ready just yet, but by the look on his face, she knew they would be sometime soon and that was enough for her.