AN: Alright! The moment you've all been waiting for! I hope it lives up to everyone's expectations.

Sakura stretched as the door of the hospital closed behind her, "mmmmm, I'm finally off!" she put her hands behind her head and looked up at the sky, "Tsunade-sama would have me working on a day this beautiful, even though it's my birthday."

She smiled and shrugged, "Well, I guess that being the best young medic requires some sacrifice."

Sakura put her hands behind her back as she began to walk down the front steps, "Hmmmm," she looked around at the people passing in the street and scanned the roof tops, "I wonder where Naruto is, he's the one who asked me to meet him here."

She sighed and her shoulders drooped a bit, "He's late."

She walked across the lawn, feeling the grass, cool against her exposed toes, "I'll wait for him, but if he's much later he's going to get an ear-full!"

Sakura walked to the entrance of the hospital grounds and leaned against a pillar, I didn't notice it while I was busy at work, but being alone on my birthday- she corrected herself, being without Naruto on my birthday. It's sort of gloomy.

She sighed and closed her eyes, "Hurry up Naruto."

Her eyes snapped open again when she felt familiar chakra moving in her direction at high speeds; she turned to see Naruto sprinting in her direction. He was grinning from ear to ear, but she raised an eyebrow when she realized that he was running with his hands behind his back.

That's weird.

"Sakura-chan!" he planted his feet, sliding to a stop on the packed dirt of the street, "Hi Sakura-chan!"

She straightened up, her mood already brightening, "Hello Naruto." she frowned at him, "You're late."

Naruto grinned at her, "Sorry Sakura-chan, but I had some things to pick up."

He brought one hand forward, the bouquet of daffodils in his fist; he smiled and held them out to her, "Happy Birthday Sakura-chan."

She reached out with both hands and took the flowers from him; he felt a shiver run down his spine as her soft hands brushed against his, "Daffodils! They're my favorite!" she smiled at him, and he felt his heart skip a beat as she inhaled the light scent of the blossoms, "Thank you Naruto!"

Naruto smiled and rubbed the back of his head, "I'm glad you're happy Sakura-chan. I remembered that you said you liked them, so I was hoping they would make you smile."

Sakura laughed, "Naruto, it's not just the flowers that made me smile."

Naruto stared at her, confusion creeping across his features, "Huh? They aren't...?"

She stepped closer to him and put her hand on his arm, "No stupid," she looked up into his sapphire eyes, "You did."

Naruto's cheeks flushed pink, "Me? But, I-"

She smiled affectionately at her childhood friend, "It's so sweet that you remembered what my favorite flower is." she gave him a quick hug around his shoulders, "Thank you Naruto, it's a wonderful birthday present."

Naruto shot her a foxy grin, "Well, now that I gave you something romantic, and you're all happy I can give you your real gift."

Sakura tilted her head slightly, "What are you talking about?"

He held out his other hand with a flourish and offered her the canvas bag, "I couldn't really wrap it, but I think you'll like it."

Sakura tilted her head at him, "You didn't have to do that Naruto."

He smiled and shook his head enthusiastically, "I wanted to do something nice for your birthday Sakura-chan. Go ahead, open it."

She held the flowers out to him, "Can you hold these for me?"

He smiled and took the bouquet from her, "Sure."

She took the bag and untied the strings holding it closed, Hmmm, I wonder what he got me?

She pried the bag open and held it up so she could look inside; Naruto watched her; eagerly awaiting her reaction.

He saw her eyes light up and he felt a smile spread across his face; a true smile, the kind that can only be achieved with the warmth you feel when you make someone you love happy.

She threw her arms around his neck, "Naruto you're the best!"

"Ack! Sakura-chan..." he held the flowers away from his body to keep them from being crushed between the overjoyed kunoichi and himself.

"I can't believe you got these for me! Naruto you're amazing!" she hugged him tighter and he blushed as her soft, warm body pressed close against his own.

He was surprised when she didn't release him right away, but continued to hug him, muttering excitedly about the antlers, which were still clutched in her hand and now poking uncomfortably into his back.

After a moment he brought his free hand to her hip, relishing the feel of her curved form in his hand. He paused, unsure of where to go from there; he looked at the sky, and a memory of a couple he had seen embracing in the street on the way to the hospital came to mind.

He felt almost giddy at the thought that Sakura was hugging him the way he had seen other girls hug their boyfriends.

Following the example of the image in his mind, he slid his hand across the small of her back; gently pulling her closer against his chest. He placed the flowers, all but forgotten in the tenderness of the moment, on a nearby bench and his other arm circled around her shoulders.

His strong arm encircled her waist and she sighed in contentment as she melted into his arms; her head falling forward to rest on his shoulder.

Naruto.... I'm so happy that you're here with me....

Naruto was excited, stunned, happy, comfortable and nervous all at once; his emotions swirled in his heart; along with a flood of unaccustomed feelings that he struggled to identify.

He looked down at the beautiful kunoichi nestled in his arms; it felt so natural to hold her, as though everything else in his life faded in comparison to this one moment.

In all the years he had known her, he had held her before, but only in the heat of battle when she had needed rescuing and only for the briefest of moments.

Naruto looked lovingly at the pink-haired woman as he held her, It's so much different from hugging Iruka-sensei or Ero-sennin or Baa-chan....

What struck him most of all; the thing that caused his eyes feel moist as he looked at the woman who knew him better than any one else; was the feeling that he was wanted.

Her affection for him seemed to radiate through her touch; warming him to the very core of his being and causing every nerve in his body to tingle with pleasure.

She wants me here with her.

All too soon she pulled away from him; he released her reluctantly, every fiber in his being crying out for her warmth.

She smiled as she looked up into his expressive cerulean eyes, "Thank you Naruto. No one takes care of me like you do. Your really are my best friend."

Naruto blushed and his hand shot up to rub the back of his head, "Ah... thanks Sakura-chan." he smiled softly at her, "You're my best friend too." his blush deepened, "Thanks for...for making me feel wanted."

Sakura stared at him, but he looked away, his gaze suddenly fixed on a building on the other side of the street, Making him feel wanted....... I'll make sure you always feel that way Naruto.

She put her hand on his arm and he turned to meet her gaze once more, "Naruto I'm hungry." she grinned, "I'd like to get some dinner."

Naruto stared at her for a moment; she watched confusion crawl across his features as he tried to decide if the comment was an invitation or if she was excusing herself from the conversation.

He took a deep breath to gather his thoughts, Well, it's worth a try...

He smiled down at her, "Uh...Sakura-chan, since it's your birthday and everything, how about you let me take you on a date? I'll take you to dinner, then maybe we can go see a movie or something."

She grinned and scooped up her flowers before sliding her free arm around one of his, "I was hoping you would say that Naruto." she laughed, "Who better to spend my birthday with than my precious person?"

Naruto's mind reeled, I'm.....her precious person....?

He looked away, hastily masking his surprise, after a moment he turned back to her, "Well, where would you like to go Sakura-chan."

She released her hold on his arm, "Hmmmmm, I'm not sure." she smiled up at him, "What do you think?"

He chewed his lower lip as he thought and Sakura found herself wondering what his lips would feel like against her skin, They look soft, I bet they're warm too.... she jumped, What am I talking about! This is Naruto! I shouldn't think about him that way! she paused and looked at her beloved teammate, He thinks of me this way though.....

She sighed then looked down at the gifts in her arms, No one has ever been there for me the way he has..... because of him I'm not alone. Because of Naruto......maybe I should think of him that way. Maybe....Maybe I do... she held the canvas bag a bit tighter, Did I give him my heart without noticing...?

She closed her eyes, I wonder if he even knows.

She jumped, startled out of her thoughts by Naruto snapping his fingers, "I've got it!" he grinned down at her, "Let's go to that restaurant at the hot spring! We could have a nice dinner, then stay over at the hotel." he laughed, pleased with his idea, "They even have a movie theater there!"

Sakura tilted her head at him, "What? Just take off, without any supplies and without telling anyone where we're going?"

Naruto grinned, "Yeah! That's half the fun Sakura-chan!" he put his hand on his hip, "We're full fledged ninja, we can do whatever we want."

Sakura didn't need any more prompting from her enthusiastic teammate, "Alright Naruto! You've convinced me! Let's go!"

Naruto took the antlers from her, "Here, I'll carry those for you."

She smiled, "Thanks" she laughed, ecstatic over the spontaneous nature of their plans, "You sure are an exciting date Naruto."

The blond blushed, "Sakura-chan....I...Thanks!"

They turned and began to walk side-by-side towards the main gate; after a moment of hesitation Naruto reached behind the girl of his dreams and put his arm around her shoulders.

There was a moment of panic, where he wondered if she would be offended by the gesture. He bit his lip, trying to decide if she would just yell at him or punch him before storming off in a rage.

He nearly shouted in triumph when she not only allowed the possessive embrace, but she moved closer to him; pressing her body flush against his own and matching her stride to his.

Instead he let out the breath he had been holding and smiled softly at the pink-haired head that was resting softly against his shoulder.

Sakura-chan....

Tsunade and Jiraiya stood side by side looking down on the pair from the Hokage's medical office on the 4th floor of the hospital.

Jiraiya punched the air excitedly; looking suspiciously like his current blond student, "Yeah! That's my boy! Just like his teacher! I knew you had it in you Naruto!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes and flicked him in the back of his head; careful to hold back the super-human strength that she was known for, "Shut up you pervert. Naruto's nothing like you."

The white-haired Sannin pouted at her as he rubbed the back of his head, "What are you talking about Tsunade? The boy learned from the best!"

The vein in the Godaime's forehead throbbed menacingly and Jiraiya took an involuntary step back out of range of her fists.

She sighed and looked down at the retreating forms of her student and the young man she treasured above all others, "He's more like Minato."

Jiraiya sighed and sat down on the windowsill, "Yeah? How do you figure?"

Tsunade growled in annoyance, "You moron. He's certainly not a pervert like you! When she hugged him he kept his hands on her back. If he had taken after you he would have been pummeled into the street because he tried to grab her ass!"

Jiraiya nodded as though he was considering her reasoning, "I suppose you've got a point, but you have to admit, he knows more about women now than he did when we left."

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah, he probably learned what not to do from watching you!"

He pouted at her again, "That's not fair Tsunade. Just because I never got into your pants......."

The Hokage blushed furiously, "You damn pervert!"

He cringed as her fist flew towards his chin; it connected and he crashed though a nearby wall causing a nurse to scream and drop her clipboard on the unconscious Hermit's head.

Tsunade took a deep breath to calm herself, "Well, I suppose I can spare them both for a couple of days. That'll be my birthday present to you Sakura." she smiled at the thought of her favorite loud mouthed ninja, "Naruto...you just deserve it."