Just Call Me Cinderella

Chapter Seventeen

"What are your plans for Christmas?" Sakura placed the newly laundered blouses on hangers and neatly into the closet while Mikoto flipped through what looked like a cookbook.

"I am planning on staying home with my mother this year. It'll be our first Christmas alone."

Mikoto nodded and smiled at Sakura. "I see dear, that will be very bittersweet I would imagine."

Sakura hummed in agreement and continued with her task. There was silence in the room with the occasional page turn by Mikoto.

"You know, we do a big get together with our closest friends on Christmas Eve. We do dinner early and then everyone can go home and finish the rest of the night with their families. It's usually a small crowd with a few family member and of course Naruto's family."

"That sounds very nice Mrs. Uchiha." Fugaku entered the room and took a seat next to his wife. Sakura bowed respectfully to him before going back to her task. Sakura finished hanging up a dress and turned to make her leave. She still needed to put away Itachi's clothes as well and it was near the end of her Friday night shift.

Mikoto and Fugaku spoke in hushed tones to each other as Sakura picked up the laundry basket at her feet. It was none of her business so she tried her best to leave quietly.

"Sakura, I would like to invite you and your mother to come to our Christmas eve dinner." Fugaku's voice made Sakura jump. He had never really addressed her before and it was intimidating.

Mikoto put her recipe book down to keep her spot and moved to grasp lightly onto Sakura's hand. "We would love to have the two of you join us this year."

Mikoto's smile was sincere and Sakura really wanted to accept but she was still unsure about the dynamics of her being at the Uchiha's for Christmas eve. She had barely survived Thanksgiving after all. "I am not so sure that is a good idea."

"What do you mean?" Fugaku asked as he put his arm around Mikoto who had a weird twinkle in her eye that Sakura did not like.

"Well to be plain, you're my boss and I don't feel like that would be fair to the other workers here. I feel like a lot of the rules have been bent for me and I've already paid a price for that. Which also brings up a good point that the last time I spent a holiday here I had a rather unfortunate accident."

"Oh, nonsense! None of the workers feel like you are being treated differently. They know you are friends with Sasuke and Naruto so they expected a few things would be different." Mikoto waved her hand in the air. "And, I feel awful that you were hurt in my house and I still need to apologize properly to your mother. I don't know how to make it up to you but I know we would love for you and your mother to spend Christmas eve with us."

Sakura chewed on her bottom lip as she considered the proposal. It would be nice to not have to cook or clean up from dinner. And it would help get her mind off spending Christmas without her dad. But, Sasuke would be there. She wasn't really sure what they were but things had definitely changed between them. He had apologized and she had told him she needed time. Sakura knew that it was basically up to her now and she was still a little unsure about what she should do.

"Okay, I'll talk to my mom about it."

"Wonderful! Now, I'll let you get back to your work since you don't have much time left tonight." Mikoto smiled at Sakura and squeezed her hand once before returning to her recipe book and talking happily to Fugaku. Fugaku nodded at Sakura as she bowed and picked up the basket filled with Itachi's clean laundry.

Light streamed through the open window right across his face. Sasuke groaned and rolled over taking his comforter and burying himself deeper in its warmth. It was Christmas break so he knew that he had nowhere to be. He tried to fall back asleep and finish the very pleasant dream he was having about snuggling close to Sakura under his Christmas tree.

His eyes flew open as he realized what he had just been dreaming. He had become a total softy and honestly he wasn't too upset about it. He smiled to himself and rolled back over.

"Well someone's in a good mood."

"GAH!" Sasuke jumped back and fell out of his bed in a mess of covers. He shot up into a seated position and glared at the intruder in his bed. "What are you doing here?"

Naruto laughed as he continued to lounge on his side on Sasuke's bed. He was wearing a bright orange track suit and an elf hat. He looked more ridiculous than usual.

"It's Christmas eve dummy. I'm always here on Christmas eve."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I meant in my bed idiot."

"Oh, that! I got here and your mom said you were still in bed asleep so I thought I would surprise you! The look on your face was priceless! What were you dreaming about?" Naruto wiggled his eyebrows up and down with a smirk on his face.

"Killing you that's what." Sasuke launched a pillow at Naruto's head but he ducked before it met its mark. Naruto burst into loud laughter and hopped out of the bed.

"Breakfast is ready if you feel like getting dressed and showering because you reek." Naruto held his nose theatrically and ran out of the room as Sasuke grabbed another pillow.

Sasuke could hear Naruto's raucous laughter as he ran down the hallway and down the stairs. What an idiot. Why is he my best friend, again?

Sasuke stretched then fought with his covers to stand up. What time was it anyways? He scratched his head making more of a mess of the rats nest and reached for his phone. It was already ten o'clock. He was honestly surprised his mother or Itachi hadn't forced him up earlier. It was Christmas eve after all and like always their house was going to be an absolute zoo. Sasuke had no idea who was coming this year besides Naruto but he was sure it would be chaos. He was already late for family breakfast so he decided to hop in the shower and make himself presentable but comfortable. It was vacation after all.

Roughly thirty minutes later he stumbled down the staircase with his hair still wet. He was sporting light gray sweat pants and a navy shirt with his family crest on it. His all time favorite outfit to wear around the house. If Naruto could get away with dressing like a comfy traffic cone he could get away with wearing this.

Loud voices sounded from the dining room and the living room down the hall. There were various family members and maids running around putting last minute touches on the decorations or helping someone to their room. Sasuke stuck his hands in his pockets and wished that he had stayed in bed. His dream entered his mind and a small smile made its way up his face.

"Again with that smile, are you sick?" Sasuke punched Naruto in the chest and he fell dramatically onto the closest chair. Sasuke had made it to the dining room to find Shisui, Itachi, Izumi, Hinata, Neji, and Suigetsu? He hadn't seen Suigetsu since his summer internship. This was by far the weirdest crowd he'd ever had before on Christmas Eve.

"Why are you all here?" Sasuke took a seat and pulled forward a random bowl of cherry tomatoes sitting on the table.

"Well I'm your family if you didn't know." Shisui dropped his arm around Sasuke's neck.

"Fine. What about the rest of you losers?"

"I'll handle this. I'm sure he means me anyway. Your mom called me up. She said it was time I stop by."

Sasuke watched Suigetsu smirk as he spoke and take a drink from what had to be the worlds largest water bottle.

"Sasuke, eat actual breakfast food not just tomatoes." Itachi tried to pry the bowl from Sasuke's hands but he childishly fought him off.

"I can do what I want. It's Christmas."

"Fine. Mother would like us to be dressed and presentable for dinner at five. But before that we can do whatever. I would suggest not going into the living room. Mother and Kushina are on a rampage."

Sasuke nodded as he switched his bowl of tomatoes out for a few pieces of toast. There was light conversations all around the table and a little laughter. Suigetsu and Naruto were sort of arguing about something while Hinata giggled. Itachi and Izumi were telling some story to Shisui.

Sasuke honestly felt left out. He wasn't sure why he was feeling so lonely and weird. He just wanted someone to talk to. Or be around that wasn't annoying.

Well, that was never going to happen. Everyone was annoying to him in some way. Especially Sakura. He finished his toast and leaned back. She crossed his mind way too many times these days. He knew it was because he liked her and he had even gone as far as to tell her. But he had never given much thought to any girl before like this. Maybe it was because of their history?

"We were thinking of doing a short Christmas movie marathon since I still gotta wrap some gifts and stuff. You in?" Naruto spoke from the end of the table but he was facing Sasuke fully.

Sasuke nodded and they proceeded to the movie room with some cookies they stole from the kitchen while Mikoto wasn't looking.

Sasuke took his favorite spot and pulled out a fluffy, black blanket. It was the same blanket he had snuggled under with Sakura and Naruto. He wished she could be here with them. He wanted nothing more than to snuggle close to her.

Naruto picked a few funny movies and sat down on the couch next to Hinata. Sasuke pulled out his phone and pulled up his accounts just to see if anything was happening. Karin posted a picture of her in the snow looking pissed. She was apparently still taking their break up hard.

Sasuke knew he was only doing this to see if Sakura had posted anything. There was a picture of her with her three best friends in the snow. They had pink faces and bright smiles. He couldn't help smiling a little at Sakura's happy face.

He tossed his phone down into the side of the couch and tried to focus on the movie. What was he turning into? Some love sick idiot? Sakura was all he could think about. He knew that there was something very different about her but he didn't know what to do about it beyond what he had already done. The ball was now in her court and it was up to her to either return his feelings or reject him. Wasn't that simple? Sasuke ignored his thoughts and sunk deeper into the couch.

If there was one thing that Sasuke hated more than not being able to outdo his brother it was family driven chaos. Why his mother insisted on making Christmas eve a spectacle every year he had no idea. The meal was already delicious and honestly sitting around the fire with the glow of the Christmas tree while reading Christmas stories wasn't too bad. It was all the other stuff. The crazy conversations and the stupid small fights about aprons and napkins. The yelling of Kushina from the kitchen and the laughter from Shisui in the hallway.

But he knew his mom would never change so he just would grin and bear it. Well, not grin. He'd just bear it. He had been hiding in his bedroom while he changed into a hoodie sweater and nicer pants. Now his mother wouldn't be upset that he looked homeless in front of their guests. Sasuke sighed as he decided that he had spent too much time away and headed into the chaos.

Sasuke wandered down in to the dining room to find his place at the dinner table. Several of the chairs were already occupied and there were various people chatting around the room. He scanned the table up and down until his eyes landed on someone he wasn't expecting.

Sakura sat next to her mother who was busy chatting to Hinata's mother. She was wearing a sparkling red sweater and her hair was held back with a ribbon. She looked absolutely radiant as she laughed with Naruto who sat in front of her. Sasuke was absolutely dumbfounded. What were they doing here? Why had no one decided to tell him that the girl he liked would be attending dinner? Did Naruto know?

It didn't matter. None of it really matter. What mattered was that she was here and he could spend some time with her. Sasuke just hoped that his seat was near hers so he could talk to her. Man he was turning into such an idiot. Why did he want what Itachi and Izumi had again?

He slowly made his way towards the seat next to Sakura so he could read the name on the plate. He breathed a sigh of relief to see it was his own before pulling out the chair and slipping beside her. Sakura was startled for half a second before she smiled widely at him.

"Hey Sasuke. How are you?"

"I'm good. And you?"

"The same."

Sakura smiled again and turned to face Naruto. Sasuke didn't want his chance to talk with her to end so soon.

"I didn't realize you were coming to dinner tonight."

Sakura turned back to face him. "Yeah, it was a last minute invitation but I'm glad we accepted. This morning was pretty hard." Her face fell and Sasuke instantly reached out to place his hand on top of hers. She didn't pull away but turned her hand to squeeze his fingers.

"I can't even imagine what that feels like but I know he'd be proud of you."

"Thanks." Sakura squeezed his hand again but turned her attention back to Naruto who immediately launched into a story about some giant frogs he came across with his dad.

Sasuke leaned forward to reclaim Sakura's attention when he realized she hadn't taken her hand back. He smiled to himself and slowly stroked her hand. It didn't matter that they weren't talking. He felt calm and content and he could tell she felt the same. For now, this was good.

Dinner was a raucous affair and Sakura had never been more grateful to be at the Uchiha's house than she was now. Her mother was laughing ad talking with friends and Sakura could feel the warmth of their concern. This morning had been a battlefield. Mrs. Haruno had scored the next two days off so she woke up early to clean and make breakfast.

When Sakura made it into the kitchen to the smell of bacon her mother was sobbing into a dishtowel. Her father always made breakfast on Christmas eve and Christmas. It was one of his favorite traditions. After calming Mrs. Haruno down Sakura distracted her by doing random shopping and then carefully picking out their outfits for tonight.

Sasuke squeezed Saura's hand under the table as he finished off his dessert. She was surprised that he had eaten it at all until she realized he had been given a savory dessert and not a sweet one.

Sakura looked down at their intertwined hands. She had to admit that his hand felt nice wrapped around her own. But she wasn't so sure that she was ready for something to start between them. The burn from his rejection had lessened with his apology but her life was very different than his. School was something she needed to focus on so she could get a scholarship. She needed to work to help her mom with living costs.

And most importantly she needed to be there for her mom. The both of them were still healing and adding a boyfriend into the mix not be the right thing. Especially if it was Sasuke. The one person that was know to take all her emotions and run them through a blender.

Fugaku stood at the end of the table and the conversations slowly died out. "Friends, we are so grateful you are here to celebrate with us. We understand that some of you may need to head out but the rest we would love for you to join us in the living room where we will be reading some of our favorite Christmas stories."

He helped Mikoto stand up and then the two of them proceeded to the living room. Various others made their way in the same direction. There were a few of Sasuke's cousins that said their goodbyes and headed for the door. But for the most part everyone stayed. Sakura's mom smiled at her as she followed Kushina and Minato into the other room. Naruto pulled out Hinata's chair and reached for her hand.

"Let's go! My mom said that I get to read one this year!" He jumped up and down as Sasuke helped Sakura to her feet. He immediately searched out her hand and intertwined their fingers again. Sakura's pulse quickened.

Sasuke moved to take a few steps but Sakura didn't budge.

"What's wrong?"

Sakura looked down at their hands and her face burned with the embarrassment at she was about to say.

"Sakura?"

"I don't. . . I don't think that I can date you right now. I need some time to sort myself out. I know I said that when you apologized but I think that I need more time. And maybe a little space." She couldn't look up at him as she tried to put a little distance between them. He still held tightly to her hand. Why had she sounded so pathetic? She was sure that she liked him but she just couldn't go for it yet. Would he understand that? He wasn't the most patient of men. Would he willingly wait for her to give definite answer?

Sasuke let go of her hand and Sakura fought the urge to grab it back. He had felt so warm against her cool hands. Sasuke placed a finger under her chin and forced her eyes to meet his.

"Fine. I'll keep waiting. I love you Sakura Haruno and I will wait as long as you need until you can fully be mine. For now, let's go enjoy the rest of our night. After that, I'll give you some space."

Sakura was surprised at his statement but a small smile graced her lips as he held out his arm for her to take. They could enjoy Christmas together and then she would figure things out.