Hey. So I know that most people don't read these. I know I usually don't. But I think I need a beta. Just to be sure. Because I use word, and it works pretty good for me. But I would like another person to read over these and tell me how horrible my grammar is. Also, I like my fragment sentences. They are people's thoughts, and people thing fragmenty things. So no changing of those.

ps. I do not own Naruto. I forgot to write that in my last chapter. But it's here now. I didn't own Naruto last chapter either.

And The Nights Are Cold.

"Stop being silly Naruto!" Sakura giggled as the previously mentioned boy danced around in front of her.

"I can't help it! My happiness has to find an outlet! Or I might burst." Naruto said, trying to be very serious, but the mischievous gleam and the impossible to hide smile gave him away.

"Well, come here and stop prancing. Everyone is staring."

"So? Let them."

"Well, it's embarrassing me."

"Sakura, who cares what a bunch of old ladies think?"

"Naruto, I know that ramen makes you inexplicably happy, but please try to control it. At least until we get to the ramen stand."

"Fineeeeeeeee."

"…"

"…"

"Stop fidgeting."

"I can't help it. I have a lot of energy. Can we walk arm and arm?"

"Why would we do that!" Exclaimed Sakura. A very evident blush was spreading to her every sector of her face.

"So that we could skip, of course. Everyone links arms and skips."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. I would know of these things."

"And how would you know of these things?"

"…Don't question it. It's just how thing are."

"I see."

"…"

"…"

"Well? Can we?" Naruto stared at her. His eyes shiny and hopeful.

"All, all right. Who could say no to that face, anyways?"

"WOOHOO! Sakura chan, I knew you loved me."

"…I would go that far…"

"I would!" He yelled as he wrapped his arm around hers and started skipping.

"Wait for me, I have to get into the rhythm."

And they skipped merrily along for the next few blocks to the ramen stand.

And it just so happened that at this particular time, Gaara decided to travel in this direction. Gaara had left the apartment that they shared over an four hours ago. He had been walking along, or rather, jumping from rooftop to rooftop for a few minutes before he took a rest in the park. To think about the things that were bothering him. Mostly he just thought about Sakura. The way she smiled at him in the morning. The way she cried the night before he was going to leave on a mission. The way she tried to smile bravely at him and told him if he got himself hurt, then she would beat him down. The way that after they had been intimate, she would close her eyes and use his arm as a pillow. And how it made his arm fall asleep, but he would never move it.

He had been thinking for quite awhile before he noticed how dark it had become. He wondered if Sakura had forgiven him and come yet. 'What if she came home while I was gone and left again?' At this thought his eyes snapped open and he quickly got up and started running the rooftops home.

He was close to the main street of the village. He slowed down, as he neared. It was getting darker and he didn't want to miss a roof and fall. That had the potential to be extremely embarrassing. And probably painful.

As he walked along he kept eyes in front of him. Well, a little bit to the right, because that was the direction of home, and he wanted to keep it in view. He suddenly took a sharp right, which took him over one of the darker side streets. That was when he heard it. The annoyingly loud laugh of Naruto Uzumaki. He stopped and peered down into the alley. He watched as Naruto linked his arms with a pink haired girl and he wasted as the two of them started to skip away from him. Pink haired. There was only one girl with pink hair. One girl with pink hair that knew Naruto. One girl with pink hair that would touch Naruto. Only one girl with pink hair that would touch him, Gaara. His pink haired kunoichi. His.

Of all the places he had imagined he to be. Waiting on the doorstep to their apartment, laying on their couch waiting for him, crying at Ino's, at Tsunade's. Anywhere, really. And there she was. With Naruto. Touching him. Gaara was pissed. Extremely so.

How dare his woman leave him to go spend time with the Uzumaki? How dare that fox demon touch her? Didn't he know that she was his? Of course he knew. Everyone knew. Everyone that was important.

Then Gaara did exactly the same thing that every jealous boyfriend does. He followed them.

Sakura and Naruto entered the ramen stand in completely different energy levels. Sakura was slightly panting as she collapsed heavily onto her chair. Naruto on the other hand jumped around the place, trying to procure a menu for Sakura, he already knew what he wanted, and at the same time look at everyone to find out if he knew one of someone.

Having finally found a menu and ceremoniously placing it before Sakura, he sat down on the stool next to her.

Meanwhile, outside, Gaara was bristling. 'Why was he sitting so close to her? Wasn't she starting to feel uncomfortable having a male, other than him, being so close? Did she really want to be there? Was this a date? Were they dating? Was this the blonde boy with the beautiful smile that had asked her out earlier today? Had she accepted? Did she accept before or after their fight? Did Sakura still love him? And most of all, could he salvage this situation? Could he get her back?' All of these thoughts flashed in his head so fast, he could barely register one question before another one came hurtling at him.

And a question that topped all was, 'Was Uzumaki still in love with Sakura? He remembered that when they had been younger, before Gaara and Sakura, Naruto had asked Sakura out many times. He was constantly exclaiming his love for her. And Sakura had always declined. But she had obviously stopped declining. This wasn't some forced encounter. They were smiling at each other as that old man took their orders. They were making small talk. And joking, from the looks of their bright, smiling faces. This is making me sick.' If Gaara was Naruto, or anyone of actual facial expressions, he would have screwed his face up in complete revulsion. But he was not, so while thinking this his face kept a perfectly blank expression.

This was the most fun and laughing that Sakura had had in quite a long time. It felt so good to close her eyes and raise her head towards the heavens and laugh so hard that afterwards she had to gasp for air. This was what life was all about. The good times are what are important. Unhappiness is said to stay with a person longer, the feelings are kept, but I'm going to be the exception. I'm going to easily forget the bad from now on and only truly remember the times that I laughed or the times that felt like everything was fine and the world was infinite.

"Geez Sakura, can't you at least act like you're paying attention to me? You don't have to have the faraway look in your eye. You're making me feel boring." Naruto said, pouting.

"I can honestly say that they is never a dull moment with you Naruto. And I was only thinking about how happy I am right now. With you. I can't believe we were n ever better friends. We should have hung out more. I feel like I missed out on so much." She was smiling appreciatively at him.

Naruto grinned; he couldn't believe his good fortune. He was seriously starting to despair of Sakura ever returning his feelings. She had been going with Gaara of the Sand for over two years now. Hell, they were even dating. He had almost truly given up hope. Which is why it hadn't worked out between him and Hinata. It still brought a pained looked to his face when he thought about her. They had dated for a few months, but she had eventually broke it off because he was still in love with Sakura and Hinata couldn't take it. He had been hurting her. It was unintentional, of course. But he was still doing it and he felt horrible. Her parting words had been, 'If you ever find yourself out of love with Sakura, please call me. I will be waiting.' And in that instance of their relationship, Naruto had realized that he was hurting Hinata just as much as Sakura hurt him every time his advances had been rejected.

Sakura looked thoughtfully at Naruto, 'I wonder what he could be thinking about that would make him so sad looking. Well, it's definatley putting a downer on things. Time to lighten the mood.'

"Now whose doing the spacing out, huh?"

"Pay back."

"Hmm. I might have to beat you down now."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Please. You're no challenge for me."

"Oh. Is that so?"

"Of course it is."

"Well. We race back to my place. Winner gets… um… something good. When I think of it."

"You're on," she said as she stood up from her stool and took out some bills to cover the ramen and the tip. A very big tip, for having to deal with Naruto's antics on a probably regular basis.

"Good. When I say—" But Sakura had already taken off in the direction of his apartment.

"CHEATER! I WILL NOT LET YOU WIN!" was screeched loudly into the night air, waking up the sleeping and perking up the tired for miles to come.

"Haha! Just coming up with the race made you lose!" She taunted from ahead, never once turning back.

Nothing was heard from behind, but she didn't dare glance behind. The slightest mishap and she could lose. And they never had exactly decided on the stakes. So it was up in the air what humiliation the loser would be forced to do. No way would that humiliation be hers.

Gaara silently fumed and he watched the loving antics of the pair. He watched as Naruto slowly overtook his Sakura. He watched as he picked her up like she was his bride. He watched as she slipped her strong arms around his neck and laughed. As Naruto finished running up the stairs to his apartment, opened the door, and dashed inside, kicking it closed. Never once putting her down.

He could not remember the last time that he had seen Sakura laugh so much. He could not remember the last time that he himself had laughed so much. Had he ever laughed so much? Was that why Sakura was seeing other men? Did they make her laugh?

It was a very thoughtful and fairly pissed off Gaara that jumped from the building and slowly walked him self home.

Author's Notes: So this is posted next day. But most of them will not be. In the future. But I wrote the first chapter. And then decided to get a account. And then I had to wait the customary three days. And I had activated the account at like… 11:30 at night. And then I fell asleep and didn't post it on here until about five or so days after I wrote it. So I hadn't actually written anything for quite awhile. So don't expect way fast updates in the future. Also, as stated at the top, I need a beta.