Disclaimer: I don't own any Naruto characters just the plot.

Summary: What would have happened if Gaara had saved her before Sakura had given up hope and joined the Akatsuki? Would Akira and Taku still be born, and what about Kisho? A what if story from the blooming of the cherry blossom.

Chapter 2: Let Me Sleep In Your Arms

Sakura awoke the next morning by someone shaking her very violently. She opened her eyes and saw blurry red, as she focused them more she realized it was Gaara.

"alright I'm up, geesh you could have just woke me up by calling my name or gently shaking my shoulder." Sakura snapped at him. He just ignored her and left the tent. Next thing she knew the whole tent collapsed on top of her. The only thing she could see was green fabric. After finally making her way out of tent, she looked around to find Gaara to again yell at him for undoing the tent while she was still inside.

"Hey Temari, have you seen Gaara?" Sakura asked

"Yeah he went to go get some water, but i wouldn't try to talk to him he seems to be in a rather nasty mood this morning." Temari replied

"Isn't he always in a nasty mood." Sakura said making Temari giggle. " Thanks Temari, but ill take my chances with him." Sakura said over her shoulder while walking towards the river.

"Hey panda boy" Sakura yelled trying her best to irritate Gaara

"What did you just call me." Gaara said in a call me that again and you will die voice.

"Whats with picking on me this morning first you wake me up in a violent way, and then you untie the tent while I'm still in there." Sakura yelled at him

"Well maybe if you would have gotten up when Temari called out your name the first time i wouldn't have had to wake you up or untie the tent with you still in it." Gaara said while jabbing his finger into her shoulder.

"Don't touch me, panda boy." Sakura said while pushing away his hand. Since the bank they were standing on was so slippery, thats all it took for Gaara to loose his balance. He shot his hands out to grab onto something, and ended up grabbing onto Sakura's wrist, but instead of regaining his balance all he did was pull Sakura into the river with him.

Sakura looked down and blushed at the awkward position they were in. She practically laying on top of Gaara. Gaara didn't blush at all, the only thing he did was push her off of him, stand up and walk out of the river.

"You know a normal person, would offer to help a lady out of the water." Sakura yelled at his back

"I see no ladies, and besides why would i help you, even if you were a lady, out of the river when its your fault that we fell in anyway." Gaara said without even turning around.

"What ever you are so frustrating, you know that." Sakura yelled back, but she didn't get a reply back this time. So Sakura got out of the river and caught up with Gaara and walked into their former campsite together.

Upon the two arriving everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the two. They were both soaking wet from head to toe, Kankuro laughed at the site of this, but immediately shut up when Gaara shot him one of his famous glares.

"Hey Temari you wouldn't by any chance have a change of clothes with you would you, I'm freezing in these wet clothes." Sakura asked

"No sorry i don't, but i know Sasuke takes practically his whole closet when he goes on missions. Check with him." Temari replied. Sakura thanked Temari and headed over towards Sasuke.

"Hey Sasuke, i know this may seem a bit awkward, but i was wondering if you had some clothes i could borrow, that baka Gaara pulled me into the lake." Sakura said blushing

"oh um yeah it might be a bit big on you though." Sasuke said

"Thanks Sasuke-kun" Sakura said while jumping and putting her arms around him and then following him to his backpack which had his spare clothes in it. Unknown to them and everyone else, Gaara was watching them and began to feel an unknown feeling.

After coming out from the woods where Sakura was changing everyone couldn't help but laugh when they saw her. Sasuke's clothes were practically eating her alive.

"Yeah i thought they might be a bit big." Sasuke said smirking at her. Sakura just glared at him and asked Temari if she had a kunai that she could borrow. She of course did and handed the kunai to Sakura, Sakura then disappeared back into the woods for about ten more minutes. When she came back out all of the guys jaws dropped. Sakura had fixed all of the clothes that Sasuke had lent her so that they would look more like her size and changed them so they would have a more feminine look to them.

"What did you do to my clothes." Sasuke asked looking at her in disbelief

"Oh well you all laughed at me, so i went and fixed them. I think i did a pretty good job if i do say so myself." Sakura said while laughing at the dumb look on his face.

"Come on lets go we have to get Haruno back to Konoha today." Gaara said in an emotionless tone.

"I do have a first name you know." Sakura yelled in his general direction.

"Ill call you whatever i want." Gaara said. Sakura decided to ignore his comment.

During the whole trip back to Konoha everyone could just feel the tensity growing between Sakura and Gaara. They were arguing and yelling at every little thing. Everyone was surprised to see how bold Sakura was, everyone tended to be a little scared of Gaara, but not her. After Sakura's and Gaara's last argument Kankuro decided to make a joke to shikamaru.

"Haha aren't they acting like an old couple." He whispered in Shikamaru's ear. The next thing Kankuro knew a flying kunai was coming at his head at a very fast speed. He barely managed to dodge it.

"Lighten up Gaara i was old joking." Kankuro said trying to calm his little brother down, but Gaara just ignored him.

When they finally reached Konoha they were attacked by a blond loud mouth ninja. A.K.A, Naruto.

"Sakura-Chan your back, i was so worried." Naruto said while hugging her and letting his hand fall a little to low for Sakura's liking. Naruto started to become more and more perverted considering the fact that he only hung out with Kakashi Sensei and Jiraiya. Sakura just balled up her fist and punched him across the head. They headed for the Hokage tower to discuss the mission. After the long boring discussion with the fifth they were about to leave when she asked Gaara and Sakura to stay for a few minutes longer.

"There have recently been a lot of sitings of Akatsuki members around Konoha especially around Sakura's house, we believe that they are planning to take Sakura back. I think it would be in everyone's best interest if Gaara stayed here with you Sakura and protected you." Tsunade said. Sakura sighed at this and began to complain.

"Tsunade Sensei, with all do respect isn't there anyone else who can be my body guard. Gaara and i don't exactly get along. What about Naruto or Sasuke?" Sakura pleaded

"They are both leaving tomorrow for a mission in wave." Tsunade replied

"But-" Sakura began

"Don't argue with the Hokage Haruno." Gaara said before pushing her towards the door. "I will protect her for you Tsunade." Gaara said over his shoulder still pushing Sakura towards the door.

When they reached Sakura's house, Sakura went straight to the room where she would be sleeping and slammed the door. Gaara then went towards the door and opened it and saw that Sakura had started undressing and was now only in shorts and a bra. Sakura screamed and then covered herself as much as she could.

"Get out, I'm trying to get changed." Sakura yelled

"I have to protect you, which means i have to be near you at all times." Gaara said while turning around so that she could finish getting changed. After she was done changing Gaara handed her a bracelet made out of sand.

"Put it on." Gaara demanded

"Why what is it." Sakura said while taking it from his hands and wrapping it around her small wrist.

" If for some reason you get out of my sight. I will be able to find you, also if you are in any sort of danger and you are wearing it i will know." Gaara said.

"Wow you sure are taking this mission very seriously, and its not like i cant fend for myself out there." Sakura said

"Yeah I'm sure you will fend off the Akatsuki, just like you did last time." Gaara said making Sakura feel really dumb.

"Hey they just caught me off guard." Sakura yelled at him, before stomping out the room. Gaara just followed Sakura as she walked out of the house and into the market. Sakura was trying her best to get rid of Gaara, but she knew with the damned bracelet on she would never lose him. She then turned the corner and ran into Sasuke.

"Gomen Sasuke-kun." Sakura said "would you walk with me so Gaara will leave me alone hes supposed to be my body guard." Sasuke just nodded

"Yo, Gaara why don't you go take a break i can watch Sakura for a while." Sasuke said. Right after he said that sand came around him and he was gasping for breath while the sand squeezed him.

"Gaara what are you doing, put Sasuke down your going to kill him." Sakura yelled

"I would if this was Sasuke, Come on Sakura cant you tell that its someone disguised as Sasuke." Gaara said making Sakura feel dumb for the second time today. As if right on cue there was a poof of smoke and Sasuke turned into a man with short purplish hair.

"Who sent you, and why are you disguised as Sasuke?" Gaara yelled

"The Akatsuki, I'm supposed to lead Sakura to there hideaway." The scared man said.

"Where is the Akatsuki hideout." Gaara said while tightening the sand.

"Its just past-" The man began but not before a kunai came out of no where and stabbed him in the throat before he could say where the hideout was. The man died instantly after wards.

"You see Sakura this is why i am your body guard, you would have followed him all the way to the hideaway and where would we be then." He yelled at Sakura while she just looked at the floor. He didn't know why but he felt sad when he saw her looking down and he felt even worse when she began to cry. Gaara just once again dismissed these feelings.

"Come on lets go back to your house." Gaara said while walking back towards her home

"I'm sorry Gaara i know your just trying to protect me and I'm making everything ten times harder for you." Sakura squeaked out. Gaara could barely hear her say it but he did hear her. Once they were back in the house and away from the public eye Gaara turned to her and and was about to say he was sorry for yelling at her when she put her arms around him.

"Thank you, Gaara-kun." Sakura said as she leaned against his shoulder. Gaara was so surprised by her actions he wasn't sure what to do. It wasn't everyday that people gave him hugs. He just did what he saw everyone else do when they received hugs. He gently wrapped his arms around her. They seemed to fit so perfect together. She didn't want to let go and unknown to her neither did he. They sat down on the couch and Sakura began to cuddle against him. Eventually she fell asleep and Gaara still not quite sure what to do in a situation like this just stayed perfectly still as if not to wake her.

A/N: Yay for chapter two! Also yay for the reviewers who read the blooming of the cherry blossom and are now reading sandy blossom and reviewing. Thanks a bunch. Feed back please

-Fuzzie