A/N: Well here's the next chapter!!! Thanks for the reviews.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, just Ami.

Temari Returns

When we got back to the hotel, I helped Gaara over to the bed and sat down with him. He was slowly regaining his strength, that jutsu had taken a lot out of him. I watched him, feeling really guilty. It was my fault he was like this after all. If I hadn't listened to him about help him train, this wouldn't have happened. "Gaara.....I'm really sorry. This is my fault." I said looking down at my hands that were clapsed together on my lap.

"Its not your fault Ami." Gaara said. "I asked you to use your jutsu on me. Its my fault."

No matter what he said, I could never blame him. Because it wasn't his fault, and it didn't matter how many times he said it was. "No its not. I shouldn't have used it. I should have said no and that we should use a different ju-" I stopped as he placed his hand on top of mine. I looked over at him and saw him smiling slightly.

"Stop blaming yourself." he said, looking me directly in the eyes. And I knew I couldn't argue with him anymore. I still didn't like the fact he thought it was his fault, but I guess I could let it go......for now.

I nodded and placed my other hand on top of his, so his was in between my two hands, and I began tracing designs on the back of his. "So....how are you feeling?" I asked quietly.

"Better." he said after a few seconds.

I thought carefully before I spoke again. "Gaara you know that illusion...from early.....it would never happen. I wouldn't be able to leave you like that."

"How can you be sure?"

I looked up at Gaara, confused by his tone. And his expression confused me even more. He looked like he was in pain, like what he was thinking was hurting him. "What do you mean?"

Gaara sighed, not looking at me. "I'm always afraid, that you're going to get hurt....for hanging out with me." I stared at him silently, not knowing what to say as he continued. "Any of the times my father tried to assassinate me, you could have been hurt...or worse.....if I wasn't careful. I can't stand the thought of that. That's why....sometimes I wish you would just......stop....wanting to be with me." He flinched at that part, apparently not liking the thought any more than I did. "You would be safer."

I couldn't even believe what he was saying. How could he even think that?! It was....insane! I moved my hands away from his and put both on his cheeks, turning him to face me. "Gaara don't ever say anything like that ever again!" I said shakily, trying to control my anger.

"Bu-"

"No! Don't say it! Look I'm not leaving you! If I cared about being hurt just because I hang out with you, or if I cared what being friends with you would make the other people think of me, then I wouldn't. I would have listened to everyone when they told me to stay away from you. But I can't Gaara! You were my best friend for 6 years, and now you're my boyfriend, and I wouldn't want it any other way. I don't give a crap what other people say or do. I'm not going to leave you, so don't EVER say anything like that got it?!"

There was a long silence after my little rant, as Gaara stared at me slightly wide eyed in silence. I wasn't sorry about flipping out like that. What he was saying was......just ridiculous! I had never cared if people tried to hurt me because I was friends with him. The villagers used to tell me to stay away from him, and when I didn't listen, they began shunning me too. Of course it wasn't quite as bad as they did Gaara, but it was bad enough. I didn't have many friends because of it, but it never bothered me. I was content with just hanging out with Gaara.

Gaara slowly reached up, lightly grabbing my wrists and pulling my hands away from his face. "Ami....." I stared at him confused by his expression, when suddenly he pulled me against him in a tight embrace. "Thank you...." he whispered against my hair. "....For everything."

I smiled, and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back tightly.

A few days later I was walking around the village again, trying to find something to do. I had asked Gaara if he wanted to go for a walk with me, but he said no, that he wanted to stay in. So I was stuck walking around by myself. There were still a few days left until final exam was to begin, so almost everyone was busy getting ready for it. Gaara and I had trained a little more after that incident, but I refused to use my Kekei Genkai. He tried to argue at first, but finally he realized I wasn't giving in and he agreed to just work on other stuff.

I was staring in the window of a clothing store when I heard someone yell "Ami!"

I turned at the sound of my name and saw Sakura running up to me. "Hey Sakura!" I smiled.

"Hi!" she said as she caught up to me. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

"Um....not that I know of." I said confused.

"Good. Because I'm having a sleepover tonight and I'm inviting all the girls." she said grinning.

"Cool. I'd love to come." I smiled, liking the thought of hanging out with some girls instead of my two teammates.

"Great!" she said smiling. "Just come by my house at 7."

"Ok." I nodded.

"Well I have to go. You haven't seen TenTen around have you?" she asked and I shook my head no. She sighed. "Well thanks anyway, I'll see you later!" she waved running off.

I smiled, as I turned and continued walking. This would be good for me. I hadn't spent time with any females in a while. And I was getting kind of tired of hanging around with guys.

"Ami!" a voice said from behind me. I sighed at hearing my name being called-yet again- and turned around to see a very familiar face that I hadn't seen in a while.

"Temari!" I screamed happily while running over and hugging her. "Oh my God its so good to see you when did you get here?!"

"I've been here for a couple days." she said letting go of me.

"A couple days?! And you're just now showing up?!" I said angrily.

"Sorry. I sorta met this guy and I've been running into him everywhere." Temari said scratching the back of her head.

"A guy?" I said confused.

"Yeah"

"You are unbelievable." I said smiling and shaking my head. Either way, I was glad Temari was here. I hadn't seen her in forever, and since she was one of my only girl friends in the village, we were pretty close. It was then I got an idea. "Hey Temari. Do you wanna go to a sleepover tonight?"

"Sure. Where at?" she asked.

"My friend Sakura is having one. I'm sure she won't mind if you come." I said smiling.

"Ok." she said. Then she smirked. "So, I heard you and Gaara are finally together."

"What?" I said surprised. How did she know that? A thought hit me at that exact moment. "Ooooh, I'm gonna kill that puppet freak when I see him." I muttered.

Temari laughed. "I'd like to keep my brothers if you don't mind."

I sighed. "Fine. You take the fun out of everything."

She laughed again. There was silence for a few minutes as the two of us walked. "So how did Gaara react when you told him how you felt?" she asked.

"I didn't tell him." I said looking down blushing slightly. "He told me."

"What?" Temari said surprised turning to me.

"Well I was going to tell him. But I chickened out. And he ended up telling me." I shrugged.

"Wow, whoever thought Gaara would be able to confess his feelings?" Temari said wonderingly.

"Yeah I know." I said smiling. "But I'm glad he did."

"Me too." she smiled. "Hey why don't we get back to the hotel?"

"Alright. I need to pack what I'm taking over anyway." I said as we turned around, and made out way back to the hotel.

A/N: Well, review please!!! The sleepover part is pretty funny(especially if you don't like Kankuro lol) You'll see why.