I've had a few comments about the slowness of my updates. I know for a lot of you it's a pain waiting longer but I really appreciate you sticking by the story! I work full time and I'm studying part-time so it's a nightmare for me to find the free time to write chapters. But I completely understand those who are a bit annoyed. I would love to get the chapters out faster but I just don't have the time. I'm trying my best to get the chapters out as quickly as possible.

From the bottom of my heart I'm really grateful to those of you still supporting me and reading my work! Its your reviews and support which keeps me going!

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Keizo couldn't really sleep last night, all he could think about was his mummy screaming like a crazy person. It frightened him; daddy never lost control of himself, not even if he was really naughty. No. Daddy had never shouted or hit him once. He wasn't used to people showing extreme displays of emotion - was it normal for people to act like that? Maybe his mother was a bad person after all, maybe the person who he imagined in his mind never existed at all. His mummy wouldn't have hit daddy or hit the food on the floor like this person had. The sadness in the pit of his stomach wouldn't fade away. Did mummy and daddy not love each other any more?

Like his father Keizo had a natural schedule for things, he did everything precisely at the best time and in the most efficient way. His mornings were usually the same Daddy would wake him up, he would eat breakfast then he would check on mummy and after he would get ready for school and leave. Daddy had taught him the importance of keeping a strict schedule and Keizo had learnt his lesson well.

Without discipline and order I never would have gotten my Sharingan! Daddy is a super powerful ninja! I'll just be strong like him!

But the natural order of the house was disrupted today; daddy hadn't come to wake him up. Strange... It was 7am, right? He even activated his Sharingan to check the clock. It definitely was 7am. Daddy was never late for anything. What was going on?

Daddy wasn't downstairs making breakfast for him. Daddy wasn't sleeping in his bedroom either. Keizo had looked everywhere. Inwardly he smiled; maybe he could get out of going to school today. Daddy probably had to go to work really early today, sometimes it happened, daddy was the head of ANBU after all. If his dad had left for work then Keizo would just stay at home rather than going to school. Rubbing his little hands with glee Keizo went to check on his mummy, she had run off crying last night and even if she did bad things to daddy Keizo didn't like to see her upset.

Huh? Why is daddy in mummy's bed?

He could hear the sound of two people breathing. Most people he spoke to didn't realise the way they breathed was very distinctive. Keizo knew who those breathing patterns belonged to, his parents. It was a deep breathing, so clearly they were both sleeping.

He crept closer and closer to get a better view... He was sure daddy wouldn't mind if he used his Sharingan this once...

Thud!

Oops. I stepped too loud...

Sasuke's eyes suddenly snapped open and he instinctively jolted upright to see where the noise was coming from. His onyx sharp eyes softened when he saw Keizo, he brought a finger up to his lips as a be quiet sign to Keizo. Unlike Sakura, Sasuke knew Keizo would be able to hear the sound of his finger being raised to his lips. Gently and quietly he moved out of the bed and pulled Keizo softly by the arm leading him out of the room and gently closing the door behind them.

After walking into the living room he squatted down so he was face to face level with Keizo. 'Your mother had bad news, you need to be nice to her. Understand?'

Keizo nodded.

'Good.' He could hear his dad groan when he realised what the time was.

'I'll make some breakfast for you and your mother. You take it to her room and keep her company today.'

Keizo face broke into a massive smile. 'I don't have to go to school?' He felt as if he had struck gold.

'No. But only for today.'

Maybe mummy and daddy should have fights more often...

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'Good morning mummy!' Sakura slowly opened her eyes after hearing a voice to see Keizo standing by the side of a bed holding a tray with breakfast on it. 'I have breakfast for us!' She looked at the tray to see toast, cereal, pancakes and orange juice. It looked like a deluxe luxury breakfast rather than the ordinary coffee she would make for herself.

He looks happy this morning. I'm surprised, he was upset with me yesterday...

Her thoughts soon turned to last night.

Sasuke... He was here with me... In my bed...Oh God…

'Umm… mummy?' Sakura was snapped out of her thoughts by Keizo's calling.

'It looks delicious. The breakfast…' She flashed her biggest smile at him wanting to keep the happy mood up. 'Did you do this?'

'No. Daddy did. But he's gone to work now.'

'I see.' Moving into a sitting position she took the tray off Keizo and placed the tray on her lap. Keizo jumped onto the bed sitting next to her getting in the covers, he had a concerned expression on his face.

'Daddy told you me you found out about grandpa and grandma. I'm sorry. But mummy don't be upset. We are your family now.'

After the argument which happened last night, Sakura didn't want to make him anymore upset. Her heart was aching after finding out about her parents death but she understood what it meant to be a parent. She wouldn't let Keizo see her upset, she was his mother and she was the one who was meant to protect him.

Playing with his silky black hair with one hand she kept up her fake smile.

'Of course. You're my precious family.'

Keizo moved on to his second important topic of the day. 'So why was daddy in your bed this morning?'

Sakura almost spat out the cereal she was chewing out. Quickly she gulped it down to avoid choking. How was she supposed to answer a question like that? Why did kids ask the most difficult questions?

'Shouldn't you be at school today?'

That did the trick. Keizo mental attention immediately shifted. 'No! Daddy said I could have the day off.' He pulled the most adorable pout. 'Please don't make me go!'

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Needing some time to herself, she sent Keizo out to buy some food. Of course none of the food was really needed but she wanted alone some time to process things in her mind. Her parents were gone. And she…

I asked Sasuke to stay with me…

Naturally her mind focused on the events of last night. Sasuke told Sakura about the tragic death of her parents and she had clung onto him as if he was the last person in the world. Unlike ordinary people, he didn't stroke her hair or whisper kind words in her ear like most would have done in the situation. But Sakura didn't expect that, she understood Sasuke much more than most. He wasn't being cold, if he meant to be cold then he would have just left her alone. No. His presence alone was a huge sign, he did care about her and in his own way he was trying to comfort her. When she felt his arms come around her in an embrace she was truly shocked.

A person like Sasuke doesn't do hugs…

How long did he gently hold her? Sakura was too busy crying to keep track of time. But one thing which stood out more than any of the others, she wasn't shaking around him anymore. Now she thought about it, she wasn't afraid of Sasuke anymore. It was more of an uncomfortable feeling rather than a frightened one.

This whole time… He hasn't done anything to me…

Everything was a mess. Her whole life was a complete screw up. Her parents were dead and she didn't need get to say goodbye to them. It was so painful. Was this how Sasuke felt? No. His parents were murdered by his brother; his pain must have been so much more heartbreaking. A small part of her could relate to him and why he eventually chose the path he did. If she was face to face with the person who killed her parents then there could be no doubt she would want revenge too.

Sakura could feel the warmth pulling away from her… She blinked to see Sasuke move away. Naturally she clung back to the warmth of his chest. It felt so cold and lonely without him by her side.

'Sasuke…' She whispered in his chest.

'Hn.'

'Don't leave me alone.'

I'm so pathetic…

If she was waiting for a reaction, Sasuke didn't give one but just gave another simple 'Hn.'

She remembered him carrying her bridal style and laying her gently in the bed. The faint look of concern in his eyes which made him look like a completely different person. His raven bangs sprayed around her face as if he was going to kiss her. Her surprise when he moved away without touching her. Memories of being trapped at Sound had flooded her mind at the time when she felt his weight press down onto the bed as he lay down. Her mind thinking it probably wasn't the best idea to ask him to stay…

Smash!

Sakura blinked to see a shattered jar of sauce on the floor; bits of glass and the sauce had spread all cross the kitchen. She had gotten so lost in the memories of last night that she had forgotten completely about the jar she had been holding onto. Letting out a big groan realising how much mess needing cleaning up, she looked through various cupboards to find cleaning products. Then she stumbled across a bunch of gin bottles.

Sasuke drinks? No wait, Sasuke drinks gin?

It seemed odd. Sasuke wasn't the type of person to drink but yet here the evidence was. Well, she ought to give it a try too. Gin was well a strong type of drink and wouldn't normally appeal to her more delicate tastes but there was no reason to not give it a try. So she quickly sipped some, her face creasing when the strong scent hit her nose. The drink set her throat and chest on fire, the burning felt so good. It felt like her bitter feelings were finally being recognised. The burning pain in her chest felt like the burning pain in her heart. So she drank some more and again more of the burning sensation filled her chest.

I… I love this feeling…

'Mummy!'

Quickly she put the bottle back in the cupboard shutting the door as soon as she heard Keizo calling her.

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That fateful day started the beginning of Sakura's drinking problem. It had been around a month since the first drop of gin had touched her lips. Her mind had found ways to justify it but deep down the truth of it all was undeniable. She was addicted.

It was always the same kind of thoughts she would use as an excuse.

If I have just one before they get back from home. No one will know. It's only one after all.

I need this drink. Just one... It calms my nerves.

But it never was just one drink, more like one bottle or sometimes more than one bottle. With each passing day Sakura had become increasingly sneaky about hiding what she was doing. Only on the weekdays when Keizo was at school was when she drunk, never ever on weekends and the evenings. The weekday daytimes were the perfect time, Keizo was at school and Sasuke was so busy with ANBU work he barely was in the house. The weekends were the worse for her, how she wanted to feel the burn of gin and escape into a drunken haze but was denied the pleasure.

There was just no way she could be an alcoholic. Not her. Weren't alcoholics people who drunk all the time? She didn't drink constantly. No, she could control it. So all those people who talked about drink dependency were clearly wrong, she didn't depend on the drink. No, no, she just liked to drink.

Anyway did a little drink hurt anybody? Her and Keizo were forming a strong mother and son bond together and well, as for Sasuke, their relationship had been at its best since she was kidnapped from Sound. No the drink wasn't hurting anybody. All it had to be was her little secret.

When Kakashi had suddenly appeared at her house one day all her well thought out excuses had seemed to have deserted her entirely.

'Didn't anyone tell you to knock before coming into someone's house!' She screamed at her former sensei. Sakura was absolutely furious at him.

Fortunately for her, Kakashi was much to wise to bring up what he was witnessing with his own eyes. His saw the empty bottles randomly scattered around the living room floor and the drunk flush on her face. Obviously she had been drinking for the whole day and by the looks of it, this wasn't the first time either. Directly confronting an addict when they were aggressive was a pointless thing to do. Genma was once a drug addict and alcoholic, those were traumatic days Kakashi would never forget but it had taught him valuable lessons about the psychology behind a substance abuser. He wouldn't drop the subject completely; no this was far from over. He was her sensei even if team seven had been long disbanded; it would always be his responsibility to watch over all of his former students, even if they were adults. But for now he completely avoided the subject.

'Sorry. I did knock. You must not have heard.'

'Whatever. Just don't do it again.' She snapped at him. Sakura walked out of the living room waiting for Kakashi to follow her, she felt ashamed being in the room with those bottles. Kakashi's knowing gaze felt as if it was slowly tearing her apart.

She stopped walking when they had reached a corridor down the opposite end of the house. 'Those bottles you saw... I needed something to help me relax. It's not like I do it every day or anything like that.'

Sakura you've always been an appalling bad liar…

'It's none of my business what you do in your free time.' Kakashi non-chantey shrugged his shoulders at her. 'I came to bring you this. It's your and Sasuke's official invitation to Naruto's wedding.' Taking out a silver coloured envelope out of his green Jonin jacket he handed the letter over to Sakura.

'Right. Thanks. Well I have it now. If you excuse me I was in the middle of doing something important.' Kakashi had to leave right this moment. She wouldn't let him spent a minute longer here.

'I haven't had the chance to speak to you properly ever since your coma.' He watched her frightened face. 'But since you're busy it can wait for another time. You don't have to walk me out, I already know the way.' Walking away he stretched out one of his arms and hand in a lazy goodbye wave.

Only at the last minute did he turn around and face her from the other side on the corridor 'Oh and Sakura.' He smiled the typical goofy smirk he always wore but his voice had a serious tone underlying it. 'I'll be watching you.'

How ominous those words sounded to her ears…

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It had been two days since Kakashi's surprise entrance. Since then she hadn't drunk a touch of alcohol, too scared of finding Kakashi there as soon as she touched a bottle. It wasn't just an over the top thought in Sakuras mind either; Kakashi was one of the best ninjas in the world known for spying. Without being to use chakra Sakura was only a sitting duck for someone with his talents. Living in fear of your former teacher definitely wasn't much fun.

Having just finished brushing her teeth and getting ready to get into bed, she walked into her bedroom.

Was that a spider?

Sakura froze in horror as she watched something which very much resembled a spider walk up from the floor to the wall of her bedroom.

She moved a tiny step closer to look at the black mass. There was no doubt it was a spider, a huge hairy spider. It was so big you could see the individual hairs on its legs. This spider was truly a monstrosity. It suddenly started to move…

'Kyaa!' Funnily enough Sakura didn't even realise she had screamed until five seconds later when she heard the loud bang of her bedroom door being swung open.

It was Sasuke. A wet, half naked Sasuke.

He's only wearing a towel to cover his behind and front…

Gulp.

For some reason she couldn't take her eyes away from his muscular frame.

He's so hot… I had completely forgotten how visually appealing Sasuke is…

Why was she acting this way? She didn't think that way about Sasuke anymore did she?

'What is it!' Sasuke looked ready to attack.

This is so humiliating…

All Sakura could do was simply point at the direction of the spider. She noticed the annoyed expression which grew on his face as soon as realised the scream was for nothing more than a spider.

Didn't she realise I thought she could be hurt? Screaming over something stupid like a spider…

'Tch. Sakura.' It was a lame kind of telling off.

Sakura on the other hand just kept staring at Sasuke grab the spider and throw it out into her mini garden. She couldn't help but notice the nice smell which had come into her room with him and the thought that shower gel he uses must be really good. Only then did it click that she was acting very much like the 12 year old Sakura who completely fawned over Sasuke's every move. Those old feelings, even after everything, had never really disappeared completely.

When she loved him, it was an extreme kind of love. When she hated him, it was an extreme kind of hate. Never any neutrality. Everything Sasuke ever did affected her emotionally.

Eventually turning around to look at her, Sakura was solidly frozen on the spot. Her eyes didn't know where to look, looking at his body made her look like a pervert but there was no way she could look him in the eyes either, his gaze was just so intense. So she stared at the floor instead refusing to look at Sasuke completely.

He can probably see the redness in my cheeks… He probably knows… Why is this happening to me?

'Sakura…' He stopped talking when he noticed her staring at the floor. Her left foot was moving, rubbing the floor, in a nervous motion.

Why is she acting like that? Does she… Does she think of me in that way?

He knew her. He knew her inside and out. Her every little behaviour and even every word she said, he always knew what she really meant. A mischievous grin grew on Sasukes face, he was going to enjoy this moment. He had been waiting a very long time for this.

'Sakura.' It was a dangerously low, deep and sensual voice he was using.

The sexual tension in the air was becoming unbearable for Sakura.

He was stepping closer and closer to her quivering body. 'It is considered rude not to look at someone when they are talking to you.'

'Umm… Yes.' Sakura felt as if she had turned into Hinata right now.

'Your red.' A mock look of concern appeared on his face. He raised his left hand to cup her face tilting it towards his face. Sakura was trapped staring into his beautiful onyx eyes. 'Do you feel unwell?'

Everything single word he said sounded so lustful. Sasuke really was the devil incarnate.

Is he – is he playing with me?

'No.' She barely panted.

'Ah. I wonder why your cheeks are so red then.' He slowly rubbed his thumb in circle motions around her cheek.

She could feel her cheeks getting redder and redder in response. Her whole body was betraying her. His touches, her body loved them and it wanted more. So much more than a simple touch of the cheek.

Those beautiful onyx eyes, she could get lost in them forever. But no, it was too much for her. Why was he such a powerfully magnetic person? Compared to his beauty and power she felt so small and worthless. She was only here because of Keizo, if she hadn't given birth to his son, he wouldn't have even given her a second glance.

Slowly she pulled her head away from his hand. 'So...' The silence was unbearable. 'The spider is gone now.'

Looking at the flicker in his eyes, she thought she briefly glimpsed the feeling of disappointment. All the emotion seemed to drain out of his face and his usual cold and stoic expression had returned.

'Important things are happening at ANBU. I won't be home for the next couple of days. Three at most.'

'Okay. Thank you for telling me. Good night Sasuke.' Why did her heart ache all of a sudden as she saw him leaving? Why did she want to grab him and make him stay?

But it was no good, those words would never leave her mouth.

'Goodnight Sakura.'

How was she meant to sleep with the loud thuds of her heartbeat?

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Cute SasxSak moment right?

Seems like the only way Sakura is dealing with her problem is by drinking! This spells trouble, I wonder what Sasuke will do when he finds out?

Please, please leave me some reviews! It really does keep the motivation going.

If you have any ideas and opinions I would love to hear them!

Thanks for reading!