What a year it has been! I hope everyone has kept well and safe during these difficult times, and I hope none of my readers has been affected too badly by this deadly disease! Here is the next chapter of one of the very few stories everyone enjoys! And please remember to R/R.

The late hours of the night were far from quiet; the rain poured relentlessly outside, tapping on the windows like cold bullets. The wind howled with fury, and the jet-black sky was brightened with a flash of purple and white lightning.

But it was peaceful.

And warm.

Hinata snuggled further into her lover's chest, breathing in the scent of their lovemaking hours earlier.

A scent she would never get enough of.

Gaara pulled her in closer as he, too, buried his head in her hair, his eyes were closed, and his mouth was opened slightly; he was asleep. Hinata knew that sleep never came easy to him; he was on his feet most of his life and questioned every dark corner of the room, always looking behind him in case of enemies.

She smiled softly; she was glad he trusted her enough in his most valuable hours while he slept soundly beside her. She thought she must get some sleep, too, but she was far too busy tracing the scars around his body and watching the rise and fall of his chest as he snored lightly.

He was perfect.

Who would have thought that shy little Hinata Hyuga would be in the arms of a dangerous bad boy? Just last year, she was sitting at home, wondering where her life was going, whether or not her father would allow her to take after the family business after he was gone and whether or not she would be able to follow in her passion and dream.

Now she has something even better.

Hinata's head lay snuggly on his chest whilst his head lay comfortably on top of hers, with their hands intertwined. Subconsciously, Gaara pulled her closer, preventing any gap between their warm and enticing bodies of each other. Hinata breathed a sigh of relief and looked up to stare at the tattoo on his forehead, only to meet two emerald eyes staring back at her.

Hinata giggled and shyly pulled away, but Gaara pulled her back and reached down to kiss her full on her lips. His tongue begged entrance, which Hinata soon allowed; thus, their lips were in an open battle against one another. Gaara pushed her lightly on her back and moved on top of her; Hinata wrapped her arms around Gaara as he moved between her legs; she could feel his pubic hairs tickle her inner thigh as she moaned into his mouth.

Gaara reached a hand below and felt her wetness; he then pressed his growing member against hers. She guided his member so he could slip once more into her as she continued to moan in his mouth. Hinata moved her head to the side as she moaned loudly from the sheer size of Gaara; slowly and agonisingly, he moved within her at a steady and slow pace, never taking his eye off the women below him as she moaned loudly and proudly.

"Scream for me." He whispered in her ear.

"Ah... G-Gaara!" she screamed, throwing her head back and forth.

"Louder!" He bellowed, "I want everyone in this neighbourhood to hear how I fuck you!"

"Gaara! Gaara! Gaara!" Hinata howled as Gaara quickened and shortened his thrust inside her.

"Oh, Hinata!" His arms went to either side of her as he moved his hips up and down, drawing her deeper and deeper within her. He breathed into her chest; his release was nearing and quick, but he could not stop until Hinata had her release. Hinata did not complain and continued to moan and thrash in contentment.

Soon, Hinata's toes curled, and Gaara's breathing became heavy as they both neared their release. She gripped tightly onto Gaara's biceps, digging her fingernails into his arms. Gaara did not mind; he only became more excited. He is more animalistic in his thrusts.

"Gaara… I-I'm going, I'm going to" But Hinata couldn't finish her sentence as she releases came, and quickly.

She let out a soft sound as she shuddered with her release. She pulled Gaara closer to her body as she continued to ride the waves of pleasure. Nothing and no one could ever come as close to happiness in this moment. Never, ever has Hinata ever experienced this joy in all the things she has been privileged to have or done with her father's money being thrown around for the convenience of the family.

No.

Nothing will ever come close to how happy she feels with Gaara.

Soon after, Gaara experienced his own release. He shivered as he released in Hinata's warmth, embracing the tight and pulsing sensation. He muffled his moans into her warm neck as he rode the waves of pleasure.

Not wanting to crush Hinata under his weight unnecessarily, he moved to rest comfortably beside her and gathered her in his arms, his head resting on top of hers.

"I am really e-enjoying this… W-With you, Gaara," Hinata spoke, breaking the silence after their lovemaking, "I-I am so glad t-to be here. With you, n-now." She snuggled closer to him, breathing in the musty smell of him.

Gaara kissed the top of her head, smirking as he brought a hand up to her face to look at him, "I am closest to happiness than I have ever been in years. And that is the god answered honest truth."

She smiled brightly as they looked each other in the eyes.

Hinata was the first to lean up and give him a quick peck on the lips, surprising Gaara slightly. She has been surprising him all night, especially with how bold she has been with him, allowing him to take her virginity and being the first to give him kisses.

Not that he'd be complaining.

Naruto, for sure, would be having a field day if he was in this room tonight. He'd certainly never let Gaara forget this moment, ever. Of course, Gaara would never want to forget this night, or any night, in which he'd spend time with the dark blue-haired girl, whether it involved sex or not.

She was worth all of Naruto's teasing.

Their embracing and the silence were cut short as the piercing sound of a phone started to ring.

Hinata sighed; she began to look for the familiar sound of her phone, "H-Hello?" she asked, making sure to sound tired, as a quick glance at the time read quite late in the night.

"Hinata." The rough sound of her father's voice echoed from the other side of the call.

She swallowed, "Y-Yes, f-father?"

"Where are you?" he asked in annoyance.

"I-" Hinata glanced at Gaara's frown, "I-I am a-at an f-friend's h-house, f-father."

"Hm," She heard a sigh, "Again?"

"Y-Yes, f-father."

"I expect you to do better. I have received word that you have been out more often with friends. And now you are staying out late without a word to either myself or the servants. This is unacceptable. You need to do better." He ranted, and another disappointed sigh escaped his lips.

"O-Of course, f-father," Hinata said, fighting back the tears that threatened to escape her eyes, "I-I will d-do m-my b-best. T-To p-please y-you a-and b-be f-far m-more r-respectful t-to the s-servants." She breathed, "F-Father."

"Naturally," He said dryly, "I expect you to be back early morning, no later."

"Y-Yes, f-father." Tears spilled out, and she had to stop crying sobs while waiting for her father to hang up.

"Hm." He breathed, "Hanabi is a far more obedient and less troubling child." He hung up before Hinata could say anything else.

Hinata buried her face in her hands as she sobbed into them. Her father's words and coldness towards her terrified and unsettled her. Just when she thought she was happy and content, her father's hold brought her back to reality.

"Hinata…" Gaara whispered to her softly; he heard everything.

It sickened him; it made him angry. It made his blood boil, a father, Hinata's father no less. Treated her as if she were cattle strayed too far from home.

But he couldn't be angry, at least not in front of Hinata.

He didn't want Rasa to come out.

Not yet.

"G-Gaara," She breathed out between sobs, she didn't want to cry in front of him, nor did she want him to see her being weak.

"Don't worry," Gaara said, pressing her tightly to her chest. He expertly sat them up as he cradled Hinata in his lap. "I've got you; just let it go," he said gently.

"I-I-I d-don't want t-to to leave… I-I want to stay." She sobbed.

Gaara simply nodded his head; he started to draw little circles on her back to comfort her. He knew if he said anything to her verbally, it would just be about how much he wanted to rip her father to shreds and watch him become a weak and pathetic fool.

As much as Hinata would like some aspect of that happening, he knew her loyalty to her father would still upset her if anything happened to him. Therefore, saying how much he wanted to hurt her father would make her feel even more distorted than she is now.

However, his heart softened when she said she wanted to stay with him. There was no way he'd deny her, ever. How she clung to his arms and buried her head in his chest filled him with pride and joy.

As Hinata's sobbing quietened, she looked up at the redhead staring intently, waiting for her to calm down.

"T-Thank, Gaara," She kissed him, then rested against his forehead, "I want to stay h-here with you, f-forever."

Gaara smirked, "I would like that, too."

Hinata sighed again; she shifted her body to sit more comfortably between his legs. She rested her head on his chest as she grabbed both hands to hold in her own, "But u-unfortunately I-I will have to r-return, and s-soon."

Gaara nodded but did not fail to notice how her shoulders slumped when she said it.

"When we have all the time in the world, we can be back here," Gaara smirked as he pulled her head up to look at him, "and be back in this bed again."

Hinata blushed and quickly turned away. She could already see the lust in his eyes. But she did not feel like going again, especially when she knew she would have to leave his warmth and arms to go home, where there would be no warm, welcoming arms of her lover.

She then realised Gaara would most likely not be able to ever set foot in the house; at least he wouldn't be able to walk through the front door; the most likely scenario would be to sneak him upstairs from her bedroom window. Her father would never allow Gaara, or any boy, to come into the house and into her room.

Hansuke, or any other maid, or servants as her father liked to remind her, would even allow Gaara, more significantly, to enter the house unsupervised.

Gaara had a history.

She knew that.

And so did Hansuke and even all the other staff. This is most likely the case in which her father would have been told about Gaara, for the worst-case scenario.

"Look at me," Gaara asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

"I-I'm sorry," She looked up at him.

Gaara shook his head, "You don't need to apologise. And you need to stop stuttering. It's not the end of the world… It's not the end of us." Gaara's voice lowered.

Hinata shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck, "No, of course not."

She kissed him softly but pulled back to tell him she was not in the mood for a make-out session or sex.

Gaara groaned in disapproval but respected her decision. If she didn't want to have sex or do anything sexual, he wouldn't force her. He wasn't going to forget his moral code and force her into a situation she didn't want or like.

Simple as that.

"When exactly do you need to be home?" Gaara asked, trying to forget his growing hunger with her between his legs.

"7-7:00AM." Hinata glanced at her phone to see it read 5:00AM.

"Hm." Gaara nodded and then moved Hinata from his legs to find their clothes, "I'll look for our clothes, and then we'll head off."

"Yes, thank you."

Hinata went to quickly say something, but Gaara cut her off, "I'll walk you down to your street and watch you walk safely in, but I won't be near or close to you when we're closer to the house."

Hinata nodded, "Y-Yes, that would be wiser. " She swallowed, "I-I just know Hansuke will be fretting about Hanabi and me, too."

Gaara scoffed.

Hinata smiled, "She does like you; y-you know."

"I'm sure she does." He rolled his eyes.

Hinata giggled and started to put on the clothes Gaara tossed her away.

Sakura was slowly waking up with the morning sun, with the annoying birds singing their songs and the bright light casting over her eyes from the improperly placed shade.

She groaned as she turned over and pulled the pillow over her head to try and block the light and noise.

Her escape from the noise was cut short when her phone started to ring from the nightstand next to the bed.

Picking up from where it was charging, she groggily answered the phone," H…Hello?"

"Forehead girl?" the voice called from the other side.

"Ah," She rubbed a hand down her face, "Ino-pig."

Ino clicked her tongue at the nickname, "You know my nickname doesn't involve calling you an animal!"

"At least mine doesn't involve calling you out for something you feel subconsciously about!" She shot back.

There was a long pause before both girls started to laugh on the phone.

"Oh, pig!"

"Oh, forehead girl!"

"It's been way too long!" Sakura looked at her phone briefly to find out what time it was, "And so early! It's 6:30AM! It's my only day off from Tsunade, working me hard at the hospital!"

"Yes, I am sorry about that forehead, girl. And I was kind of hoping it was your day off because I got some tea to spill with you! And I also heard about the blonde idiot you were with a few weeks ago." Sakura heard a shuffle of papers from Ino's end.

Sakura put a hand to her face and wriggled her nose, "You heard about that, huh," She sighed, "well, I guess we have a lot to talk about. Where are you anyway? Are you at the office this early in the morning?"

She heard the blonde sigh, "Yes, unfortunately. If I don't organise this paperwork, Sasuke will be shitty and bratty all day. Then his going to annoy me and try his advances again." She scoffed at her friend, "He knows I'm dating Sai, although he often forgets his name. I also do this early in the morning, so I can leave earlier; Sasuke might have a huge family trust fund, but it doesn't mean he pays me overtime!"

Sakura nodded her hand in agreement. She knew her friend worked for Sasuke, both of their old high school crushes; it was only pure luck Ino got to work as Sasuke's secretary. Sakura shuddered; the Uchiha family business was a complete mystery but also well-known to the city of Konoha.

Meaning they did some legitimate business in, say, shares in the medical and technology industry, owning well know establishments like the hospital Sakura worked at, a few schools, cafes, stores and apartments. However, it was well known there was some personal business the Uchiha were involved in.

As Ino is very well involved within his circle, Sasuke is involved in some questionable money laundering business, receiving shares of illegal fight clubs, some drugs and possibly gun transfers.

That were just ideas Ino could see; however, even Sasuke wasn't stupid to allow his loud secretary to review and organise everything, especially when it involved the rest of the family.

The only reason the blonde could work for Sasuke was that he knew Ino from high school, and she was a reasonably organised and hard-working girl. And he happened to be looking for someone to help care for his business. As loud as she is, she knows when to keep her mouth shut.

Sasuke's little circle at high school was a testament to that. He always caused some trouble at school, but being as rich and famous as his family is, he always got away with it. Ino was part of his circle, of course, and several others.

Sakura, however, was not. She hung around Hinata and Tenten. They were a lot quieter and less aggressive.

Ino was the complete opposite.

How they both actually become friends is a little mystery. After 6 years of high school, hanging with two different groups, fighting when the other looked at each other wrong, the girls clicked after finishing high school.

Sakura couldn't exactly say why but she was grateful, nonetheless.

Having Ino as a friend to bitch and whine about was great for Sakura's sanity. It also helped me talk to someone who knows about certain situations. She will and is forever grateful for Hinata and Tenten. Still, those girls were clueless about what happened in the world of men, sex and everything in between.

Sakura yawned and stretched as she listened to her friend babble on the phone about what she had planned and what she still had to do.

"So, I was thinking of meeting you at that little café Tenten works at, having some drinks and fatten desserts and telling each other the tea?" Ino suggested.

"Hm," Sakura groaned again and stretched out of bed, a yawn escaping her again, "And what time do I owe this pleasure?"

"Sasuke won't be in till late afternoon," Sakura could practically see Ino roll her eyes, "So I have 10 to 12 free?"

"Sounds like a date!" Sakura laughed.

"Oh, you know it, forehead girl!" Ino laughed.

"Alright, alright. You've woken me this early; I am up and about; I will just have some coffee and maybe a nice warm bath." Sakura glanced outside her window, it was nearing dawn, but the black clouds surrounding the light and chilled window told her how wet and cold the day would be.

"I can bring an extra umbrella if you need it?" Sakura asked.

"I got one in my car. You don't forget your scarf again, forehead girl!" Ino reprimanded.

"I won't, pig." Sakura sighed, "Stay safe, Ino-pig."

"You too, forehead girl!" Ino blew kisses and promptly hung up.

Stretching again, Sakura walked out of her bedroom to the kitchen to prepare her morning coffee. She looked at the clock correctly set on the microwave; it read 7:06AM.

I really spoke to Ino that long? Sakura shook her head; nothing was ever short or boring with Ino; she could talk the morning and night away if she had her way, which sometimes she did.

Hence, their hanging out was occasional now; she couldn't afford to be tired or drunk the next day at the hospital from the fun with Ino. Tsunade would have her liver and brain on a platter before she could explain why she wasn't performing perfectly.

And it is why it was fun when they hung out and had fun.

Sakura laughed at the memory of night clubbing with Ino and Ino flirting with all the guys to get free drinks but ditching them as soon as they got too clingy or aggressive with the girls.

She has so many memorable stories with her blonde friend; they always put a smile on her face.

Sipping her coffee, she sighed in content and then remembered the bath she was previously thinking back.

Nothing but a nice warm bath to start! Sakura thought as she made her way to the bathroom to prepare the bath.

Gaara and Hinata walked hand in hand down the back streets towards Hinata's home. They wanted to avoid getting caught along the main road, just in case Hinata's father or Hansuke sent anyone to look for Hinata.

They also wanted to be together for as much as possible, regardless of how long they had spent with each other the previous day. If anything, they didn't think they had spent nearly enough time with each other; it was almost torture to be apart now.

Gaara held Hinata's hands tightly, enjoying the sensation as they neared her home. Dreading the thought of going back to his own, alone and empty.

Besides the flea-ridden dog, Shukaku.

They abruptly stopped when they neared the start of Hinata's street. Hinata sighed sadly as she looked at Gaara, smiling sadly at him.

He squeezed her hand tightly, "I'll be watching from here." He nodded and gave him a quick peck on the lips, she didn't wish to draw this out any longer, or else she will start to cry in front of him again.

Racing down the street, the sun slowly peaked from the clouds, illuminating the road and pathway of her house. Once she had gotten to the door, she looked behind to where she knew Gaara was and gave a short wave from a distance.

She saw him nod in agreement and return to his place.

She turned towards the door and prepared herself as she put a hand on the doorknob; breathing shakily, she walked through the door.

"No, I won't agree to it… Neither will he agree to it!" A blonde yelled through his phone, pinching the bridge of his nose at the annoyance of the other end of the phone call.

"It has already been decided, and it's the only job I have for you both, dope." The man said confidently.

"I don't care, teme! I would rather skip out on this money for all the world, just as long as we don't do this job!" He yelled.

"Naruto," He heard the other say, "there is no way you or he will be able to get out of this one; this is the Uchiha cooperation's plan; not just me, but the entire family want this done. Now, you and Gaara are my best. It can only be you two, well…." He chuckled, "Now three."

"Sasuke," Naruto's voice broke, "You can't ask this of them. She isn't even ready yet! Nor is Gaara! She only just escaped because I was there! I can't do a job and look out for them both!"

"I'm afraid there is no time nor concern of mine." Sasuke coughs, "I have the plan and details of the mission right here with me; I am heading into the office soon; I don't expect Ino to be there. I need you and Gaara to meet me there so we can discuss this further, and I don't have to repeat this twice." He sighed.

"And what exactly do you want me to say to Gaara, Huh?" He questioned, "Oh hey Gaara, I hope you're up this early in the morning, but I was just wondering if you could come to Sasuke's office with me so we can discuss a mission that involves your girlfriend!"

"Sounds like a plan to me, dope."

"Oh, you selfish jerk! Why do Gaara and I put up with you, teme!" He growled.

"Because you both have no other choice." Sasuke laughed, and Naruto could him gulping a drink.

"Why don't you bring that bottle with you and not that cheap shit you try to pawn us with. It's going to be needed when we get there!" he said, throwing on a clean t-shirt and pants. He couldn't forget his wallet or keys either, again.

"Whatever. Just get here as soon as you can, dope." As quickly as he called, the raven-haired man hung up.

"Ah, Gaara isn't going to like this." Naruto sighed.

He walked out of his apartment, remembering the keys or wallet, and dialled Gaara's phone number.

It rang only a couple times before the red-haired man answered.

"What?" He questioned.

"Ahhh…." The blonde started, "We need to meet at Sasuke's office… now."

"He has a mission for us?"

"Yeah," He said, "Us and Hinata."

Well, this took a while. And it certainly has been a while. But I hope you enjoy this as well as my previous. Please R/R.