Disclaimer: Don't own.

A/N: I'm hoping to update everything (or almost everything) at least once in the next week. I've been in China for a month, with practically no laptop and no Word, so…yeah. Sorry.

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Third Try

"Gaara." The name was muffled, but Gaara still distinguished it from the background noise. The two of them were dancing (well, more like swaying to a slow song) at Sasuke and Naruto's wedding reception, Gaara's back against Neji's chest and the brunette's arms around the other's waist. It was nice…relaxing.

"I'm listening, Neji." Gaara replied, looking up to glance into Neji's eyes. His own hands were resting on top of Neji's, and he could feel the other's heart beat behind him.

"Will you m-"

"Don't say it," Gaara interrupted, sending up a half-glare. "Don't ruin the moment."

The song ended and they broke away, walking back to their table and drinks. Only once they had sat down did Neji start talking. "Is that a no?"

Gaara refused to look into his piercing gaze, instead taking in the sight of other wedding guests enjoying the elaborate reception, along with Naruto and Sasuke. The Uchiha bastard was actually laughing for once, his shirt collar undone and as social as he had ever been. "It's not a no." Gaara replied. "It's me asking why you're pressing me so much. We've been dating for 9 months, Neji. It's not nearly enough time. Even Naruto and Sasuke waited a year to get engaged!"

"Yes…but look at how happy they are." The both of them fell silent, staring at the newly wedded couple, each thinking their thoughts.

Gaara was thinking of a day about a month ago, when Naruto had bounded in their apartment with even more energy than usual, exclaiming happily that he was engaged! Gaara had been struck dumb for a few seconds, before he came back to himself and congratulated Naruto wholeheartedly, happy for the blonde. How could anyone not be happy when Naruto was like this? And then, later, Gaara had asked Naruto why he had said yes.

"Because I'm not complete without teme, and he needs me too" he had answered with the utmost confidence. Gaara wondered how he was so sure of his decision, when the night before he had thought that it was inevitable to be dumped by the Uchiha. He wanted to know what had changed Naruto's mind, and see if he had experienced it yet, if he himself could say yes yet.

Neji was thinking of the wedding they had witnessed today, reliving in his mind the sight of Naruto and Sasuke up before the minister, gazing at each other as they exchanged vows with pure love in their eyes. Gaara had been up there too, being Best Man to Naruto, and looking stunning in a black tuxedo. Neji wondered if it would ever be the two of them up there getting married, and what it would be like. It'd be a small wedding, he decided. Gaara wouldn't like all this pomp and attention like Naruto did. Instead of a church they'd get married on the beach, or at least outside. It'd be someplace warm too, because Gaara couldn't stand the cold. And only some select family and friends would be there, to insure that it would be a happy day for the both of them…was this only a foolish dream?

Neji hadn't expected Gaara to accept his proposal the first time, or the second time really. He knew they hadn't dated for a long time, but to him it was more than just mere dating. In their nine months together he had confided his hopes and fears in Gaara, and the redhead had done the same. Did it mean nothing? Neji truly thought they would be happy if they got married (not even married, engaged really), but Gaara seemed to be very against it. Why?

He snuck a look at the redhead beside him as he sipped his drink, trying to decipher just what was going on behind those emerald eyes. Neji usually didn't have to do this – he probably knew Gaara better than anyone except for his siblings and could make a good guess of Gaara's thoughts and feelings were on any subject, but on marriage he had just about no idea. When their relationship had just started a few months before, Temari had warned him that Gaara was skittish about intimacy and relationships, and to take it slow.

That meant he shouldn't have proposed marriage this early, didn't it? Neji sighed, swirling the remaining ice left in his glass. Just because he was ready for the thought of marriage didn't necessarily mean Gaara was. But the thought of letting him get away! Neji couldn't bear that possibility, especially when he had realized that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Gaara. And so the first proposal had come…

Neji had been content with Gaara's answer. It was certainly truthful, and now his redheaded boyfriend was actually thinking about marriage. The second time…to be truthful to himself, Neji had just wanted to know what Gaara thought about his family. His possibly-future-in-laws. It was nice to know Gaara liked Hinata, since Neji wouldn't have abandoned her, and it made him even happier to know Gaara couldn't stand the rest of his relatives. All the more reason to not go near them anymore. But now…he was being too pushy, wasn't he?

Neji was broken out of his stupor by Gaara's voice. "Neji…" The Hyuuga stared into Gaara's eyes and saw concern there. No, concern was not supposed to be there. This was bad.

"Yeah Gaara?" Neji tried to keep his voice light, but inside he was expecting the worst.

Gaara grasped Neji's hand and looked up into his eyes. "Listen, I think we should spend some time apart." Neji's mouth went dry. "I mean, I know you're so sure about marriage, but I'm not, and I need some time apart to think."

"Does that mean we're still exclusive?" Neji whispered, looking down. He felt weird, having just realized that he might've been too clingy and pushy with this marriage thing, but still not wanting to let Gaara go.

"Yeah, of course." Gaara answered. "I'm not breaking up with you, Neji, not anything remotely close. I just…need some time to breathe before I dive back down into the ocean. Or something like that."

"So I'm that much of a burden, huh?" Neji knew those words would hurt Gaara, but he didn't seem to be able to stop them.

"No! That's not I was saying! I just…need some more time. Away from you, to miss you and know all the things I liked about you. I mean, Neji, I've been around you so much that all your good qualities start to seem…mundane. And I don't want that. So I'll use this time to relearn everything I love about you, and then I'll come back and say yes, ok?"

"You don't have to say yes, you know." Neji said. "You don't have to promise me that. I realize I've been…pushy about this marriage thing, so if you spend some time apart and realize you don't want to marry me or even date me, I'm fine with that." He tried to shrug but failed miserably. Then he sighed. "But I'll miss you horribly while we're apart, so make your decision quick, ok love?" Neji gave Gaara a quick kiss and then moved back, pulling his hand away. They stared at each other for a moment, before Neji stood up.

"I'll see you later, ok? Now I need to say goodbye to the married couple." Neji started to walk away.

"But you haven't even eaten any cake yet!" Gaara protested. "You can't go!"

"Yeah, but you know I was only invited because of you. I shouldn't intrude now, should I? And I'd feel guilty if I asked you to dance again." At Gaara's guilty expression, Neji smiled. "It's fine, Gaara. I love you and I understand why you're doing this, so it's fine."

With that Neji made his way over to Naruto and Sasuke, who had stopped dancing and were sitting down at a table. Gaara watched as they talked for a while, during which Naruto threw him a look, and then Neji left. The day suddenly felt emptier to Gaara then, even if his best friend was getting married. He sighed. So first he didn't want Neji here and now he did. Really weird.

Gaara went through his motions as the best man for the rest of the wedding, smiling when he was supposed to, congratulating Naruto and Sasuke as best as he could.

And then came the bouquet toss. Well, Naruto and Sasuke didn't think a bouquet would be enough incentive for the majority of guys that had come to their wedding, so it was a bouquet with a 500$ debit card tucked inside it. It still symbolized who was going to get married next, of course, it was just that the grooms didn't want to make the men (straight or gay) at the wedding uncomfortable by making them chase after flowers.

It worked. When it was time for the bouquet toss, almost everybody was on the floor, waiting for Naruto to throw it. Everybody was clambering for it, both men and women, straight and homosexual.

So it was ridiculous that Gaara had to have been the one to catch it. Utterly ridiculous and impossible, because he was probably the only one not trying to catch it. And yet, it had landed in his arms, the flowers a little worn but still pretty, with the debit card nestled inside the bouquet. Everyone had cheered and clapped him on the back, and Gaara had tried to smile, but inside he was in an uproar. What did this mean? Did this mean anything? Of course not, it was just a stupid superstition and he had just asked Neji for some time apart…

Gaara unthinkingly handed the debit card and bouquet over to his sister, because Temari was probably going to need it with her shopping obsession and all that, and Gaara himself had no use for it. He instead opted to sit down again with a glass of strong alcohol and think. About Neji, about Sasuke and Naruto, about himself.

Unfortunately, his thinking was cut short by a stranger sitting down beside him. To be more specific, a strange woman with pink hair who seemed to be intent on hitting on him (1).

"Hi. I saw you catching the bouquet just then. And you're the best man, aren't you?" When Gaara didn't answer, the girl went on. "Well hi, I'm Haruno Sakura. I'm a friend of Naruto's-"

"You're one of Sasuke's fangirls, aren't you?" Gaara interrupted, wishing he could go back to nursing his drink in peace.

The Sakura girl seemed surprised at being interrupted like this. "Well, um, yes. I think Sasuke-kun is very handsome." And then her voice became softer, silkier. "But we're not talking about Sasuke-kun right now, Gaara, is it? You're very handsome too, Gaara-kun."

"And, like Sasuke, I am also taken."

"Really? I don't see any ring on your finger, nor any girl on your arm. You sure you're taken?"

Gaara sighed. "My boyfriend has gone home, Haruno-san. However, that does not mean I will deign to cheat on him with the first girl who flirts with me."

"Aww. How cute. But I saw your little spat back then, you know. And if you want something to cheer you up, hey, I'm available." Sakura winked before getting up and walking away.

Gaara sighed and sipped his alcohol, wanting just to go home and sleep. Flirting was not something he wanted to deal with right now. But he amusedly compared Sakura and Neji in his mind, just to have something to do.

Neji would never stoop to flirting, for one. He probably didn't need to, but just hypothetically, if he did need to flirt, his pride wouldn't let him do it. Well, unless he liked the person enough to overcome his pride. That would be a scene to see, Gaara thought. Neji trying to flirt with someone. He'd probably catch their attention first with a glance, those white eyes burning with desire, and then turn away with a half-hidden smirk on his face, letting you know that even though he wanted you, you were going to have to do some work before he'd admit it.

Nobody would be able to resist those eyes, Gaara thought. Not when they actually showed something, not when you could see how much Neji wanted you in those eyes. God, Neji could have himself a harem or something if he wanted to. And Gaara thought about Neji's fangirls and fanboys, how Neji could have the pick of them anytime he wanted, and what had he chosen? Gaara.

Gaara took another sip of his drink and sighed. One thing he sighed about was the fact that the drink wasn't working. He wasn't forgetting anything like he wanted to. So he sulked, drank more, and thought about marrying Neji. It seemed like a fantastic idea now. With marriage, or at least an engagement, they'd exchange rings. It would show the world that they were taken, and girls like Haruno Sakura wouldn't try to flirt with them anymore.

That was a nice idea. Neji would be marked as taken, taken by him. It was a visible mark too, and it wouldn't fade like a hickey. It would be a ring on Neji's finger, and Gaara would make sure that Neji would never want to take it off. Gaara was feeling a bit more buzzed now, a bit happier as he considered engagement, not marriage. Engagement could last a long time, he thought. Neji wouldn't press him into marriage if they weren't ready, and besides, a wedding took a long time to plan. Even with a whole team of wedding planners like Sasuke had hired, planning this wedding had taken a month. And Gaara was sure Neji would want a very nice wedding. Elaborate, maybe. Gaara didn't really care, as long as he could put his ring on Neji's slim finger and call Neji his.

Hmm…Neji. His Neji. Neji didn't understand why Gaara didn't give him any pet nicknames, especially when Gaara got so many himself from Neji. Pet names like Panda-chan, which made him feel cute and a little humiliated, but then Neji smiled and he didn't feel so bad at it anymore. But the reason Gaara didn't give Neji any nicknames was because Gaara liked saying Neji's name. Neji's name itself was sexy, and Gaara knew no substitute would be good enough. So no nicknames.

Gaara stared at his empty glass for a few seconds before calling a waiter over and asking for a glass of the strongest alcohol the bar had. The waiter brought it over quickly, and Gaara sipped at the alcohol casually while thinking some more.

Maybe he should stop this. This was Naruto's wedding after all, and the last thing they wanted was probably a drunken best man (Gaara didn't drink that often and couldn't hold his liquor that well). But then, Temari always said that he didn't do anything when he got drunk, just slept. So it wouldn't really matter if he drank some more, and besides, he felt good like this. Gaara gave a little hiccup and smiled. Neji hadn't ever seen him get drunk. He wondered what the brunette would say.

Maybe Neji would frown and drag him home to bed. Or maybe he'd smile, sit down, and drink the night away with Gaara. It would be nice if he did, the redhead admitted as his head sunk down onto his arms and he slept.

Naruto made his way over to Gaara's table, with Sasuke trailing behind him.

"Is something wrong?" Sasuke asked as he watched Naruto poke Gaara. "He's just sleeping."

"Yeah, but Gaara doesn't sleep." At Sasuke's incredulous look, he elaborated. "Well, I've never seen him sleep. I always go to bed earlier than him and wake up later, and I know Gaara can pull an all-nighter without coffee, which scares me. So…this is new."

"Yeah, Gaara sleeps when he's drunk." Temari said, popping up beside Naruto. "It surprised me too. Want me to drive him home?"

"Uh…will he wake up?" Naruto asked hesitantly, somewhat knowing the answer. He had been poking Gaara for a while now.

"Probably not. Gaara's a light sleeper, but he doesn't wake up when he's like this." Temari answered.

"Ah. Then…I guess you should take him home, but wait a moment, ok?" Naruto asked. "I need to get his present."

Temari stared after him. "It's his wedding…and he gives other people presents?"

Sasuke shrugged. "It's Naruto. He likes to give presents, and Gaara is his best friend after all. They've been through a lot together, facing their personal demons and all."

"Yeah, I suppose that's right…" Temari admitted as they watched Naruto come back. He was holding a small velvet box in his hand, and Temari wondered if he had gotten jewelry for Gaara.

Naruto handed the box to Temari and saw her eyes linger on it curiously. "Oh, you can look in it." he said, and Temari opened the box. It held a single key, and Temari looked up with a question in her eyes.

"It's the key to Gaara's new motorcycle." Naruto replied with a grin. "Gaara's always wanted one, I know. And I thought I'd buy one for him before Neji beat me to it."

"Where is Neji, by the way?" Temari asked with a frown. "He was here earlier, I know. He better not have abandoned Gaara once he got drunk."

"No, no." Naruto soothed. "Neji went home earlier, before Gaara started drinking. They've taken a break in their relationship, apparently, and Neji didn't want to make things even more uncomfortable by sticking around, so he took off."

Temari was getting more furious with every word that came out of Naruto's mouth. "Neji broke off their relationship? That bastard! I'm gonna hunt him down and-"

"Gaara broke it off." Sasuke interrupted, if only to have Temari and Gaara gone so that he could have Naruto to himself again. "I don't know why, and I don't care, but I think it had something to do with Neji proposing to Gaara."

"He…proposed?" Temari looked shocked. "But they've only been dating for nine months!"

"Yeah, yeah. That's why Gaara refused him." Sasuke added.

Temari 'hmph'-ed. "Well then," she started, closing the lid of the velvet box with a snap, "I'll take Gaara back home, and then we'll have a talk."

Naruto grinned again. He knew that tone of voice Temari had used. Like Iruka, Temari could be a strict mother hen sometimes. "Bye Tem-chan." He called as she walked toward the parking lot with Gaara held in her arms (he, as expected, was still in his drunken stupor). "Tell Gaara he can visit me and Sasuke any time he wants!"

When Temari had gone, Sasuke put his arms around Naruto again. "Not any time, dobe." he muttered. "You want him to catch us having sex?"

"Hmm, he's done that a lotta times already, hasn't he? He's probably immune to it by now." Naruto grinned and gave Sasuke a peck on the lips.

"Probably…" Sasuke agreed, before giving Naruto a real kiss.

Itachi watched them from a few tables away and drew Kisame closer. The other man glanced at Itachi, wondering what was up. Itachi sighed. "I can't believe my otouto got married before I did."

Kisame rolled his eyes. "Your hints have gotten less and less subtle, you know. Don't be jealous of Sasuke. And I don't want us to get married just because your brother has, so you'll have to wait." He smirked his deadly sexy smirk and kissed Itachi hard.

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(1) I'm not saying Sakura is a slut, btw. If I were in her shoes, I'd want to flirt with Gaara too. -grin-

Ok, so I need to stop here, or this will turn into something really long and somewhat monstrous.