I think I need to announce my going on hiatus all the time. Whenever I do, I end up wanting to write again. I'm super busy with classes and work so we'll see how often I actually update this time. Thanks for sticking around!

title: speak now
characters: SasuSaku, ensemble
rating: K+
category: drama/romance
notes: AU, non-massacre

Side Note: yes, this is inspired by the song Speak Now by Taylor Swift. Love the song, love her. Sadly, I don't own any of it.

I know nothing of Japanese weddings and I didn't really feel like putting up the effort to research them. I tried to keep things vague enough so it didn't really matter.

I am not the kind of girl who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion.

I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm twenty-three year old for goodness' sake yet here I am, about to break into the biggest mansion I've ever seen so I can break up the biggest wedding of the year.

"Get a move on, Forehead!" my best friend (Ino-Pig) snaps at me from behind the wheel. I jump and turn towards her for one last look of assurance. Her face softens and she winks at me, before pushing me out of the passenger seat of her car.

I stumble out, my heels clicking against the pavement of the street. At first I'd objected to dressing up for this—it felt so wrong—but Ino insisted I did so I would better blend in with the crowd of wedding-goers when I snuck in.

As I approach the manor, I start to feel smaller and smaller. The mansion looms over me. "Okay Sakura, you can do this," I assure myself, fixing my cropped pink hair one last time before walking through the gates, "This is Sasuke we're talking about."

But you are not the kind of boy who should be marrying the wrong girl.

Getting in is easy enough, despite the fact that I'm sure I look a nervous wreck. I make sure to avoid anyone I might know. Having gone to school with Sasuke-kun since we were children doesn't make that an easy task.

We grew up together; I know his entire family and friend group—most of his are my friends as well anyway. Out of all of us I was the only one not invited (obviously the bride-to-be didn't want to feel threatened by my presence). Ino-chan, the amazing best friend she is, purposely declined the invite. Nothing like a little female solidarity to give you courage.

You're probably thinking that I'm the bitter ex-girlfriend who just can't let go or some other cliché. Well it's actually nowhere near that.

Sasuke and I were never together. At most we were close friends but lately I wouldn't even call us acquaintances. It's been months since I last saw him. I'm pretty sure the last time we spoke was the day he told us all he was getting married.

I'd always known he was attractive—more than that even, the only word to describe Uchiha Sasuke is beautiful. But I had never seen him as more than that. I was always too busy with med-school or volunteering at the hospital or studying to pay attention to the male sex. Sasuke was always just there for me.

It wasn't until I heard the news and felt my heart shattering into a million pieces that I realized I was in love with him. That the longing in my soul when he wasn't around and the feeling of joy only he could bring me weren't normal for anyone else.

I've never known how he felt about me—tolerates me maybe, but Naruto insists he actually cares for me. However he feels, it wasn't enough to make me the woman dressed in white today.

Despite that thought, I can't feel bitter towards her. He didn't choose her. She was chosen for him.

As the next heir to the Uchiha legacy, it was decided that Sasuke should settle down and start a family. When he never stepped forward with a girl himself, Mikoto-san and Fugaku-san decided for him.

Don't say yes, run away now. I'll meet you when you're out of the church at the back door.

I'm not Karin's biggest fan, but she isn't that bad either. In fact, if she wasn't such a psychotic fangirl over Sasuke I think I could have been friends with her.

But today she's the enemy.

I see a flash of golden spikes and quickly duck behind an old tapestry. Naruto walks past me unnoticing and makes his way towards Sasuke's bedroom. The guests start making their way out towards the back where the ceremony is being held in Mikoto-san's beautiful gardens.

Following a group of maids carrying guests' coats and bags, I slip outside and hide between some large shrubs. Hopefully no one will be able to see me from here.

Music begins and everyone turns towards the aisle.

Don't wait or say a single vow. You need to hear me out when they said, "Speak now."

Karin makes her way towards Sasuke in a beautiful snow white kimono that practically sparkles. Her thick red hair is pulled up by several combs that I recognize to be Mikoto-san's. They've been passed on through the generations for years. My heart pangs at the sight. I can remember trying them on when I was a little girl and imagining I was a bride in the Uchiha household. Sasuke simply laughed at me but I'd never felt more beautiful in my life.

The couple turns to face each other and the ceremony begins. My palms feel clammy and I can't catch my breath. I don't really know when the best time is for me to step in. I was so excited I never really got that far, now that I'm here I don't know what to do.

Sasuke's face remains impassive as he reaches for the cup of sake. I know his feelings for Karin are neutral at best. She's the daughter of a prestigious politician with no skeletons in her closet. She earned good marks in school and volunteers within the community regularly. The perfect future Uchiha matriarch.

Yet she's not the one for Sasuke. She chatters incessantly but she doesn't really say anything to him. When he does speak, she doesn't really listen to him. She appreciates his good looks, but she doesn't appreciate his loyalty, his strength, his intelligence. While he has a cold exterior, she's never made it past his walls to see his good heart.

He hesitates for a moment before lifting the glass, cradling it in his palms. This is it, I can't wait any longer.

I climb out of the bushes, praying to anyone listening up there that my hair didn't get messed up from my stupid hiding spot.

"Wait!" I cry, heart in my throat, hands shaking at my sides. Gasps echo through the crowd and Karin turns toward me with fury in her eyes. Sasuke looks at me, obviously surprised. I can't tell if he's relieved or annoyed to see me, but I'm not backing out now.

"I—" Oh Kami, what did I get myself into? "Don't do this. Don't marry her Sasuke-kun."

Horrified looks from everyone in the room, but I'm only looking at you.

Jaws drop and I hear Naruto let out a loud cheer in the background. He's been pushing for Sasuke and me to get together since we were in high school.

I keep my gaze steady on Sasuke's dark eyes, trying to read them. Unable to stay still, my hands smooth over my red satin dress. I walk forward despite feeling my face heating up.

"You belong with me," I continue, since he still isn't responding. "We belong together."

"You haven't even seen each other in months," Karin snaps. Her fists tighten at her sides.

And whose fault is that? "Doesn't matter," I insist. "We've known each other for nearly twenty years. We know each other better than anyone does."

Sasuke looks back at his family. Mikoto-san looks surprised, Fugaku-san looks thoughtful. Itachi just looks amused.

When he doesn't say anything, my heart feels like it sinks into my stomach. Obviously I've made a mistake. And I've made a fool out of myself.

Blinking back the tears rushing into my eyes, I turn and run. My heels make it difficult for me but I manage to hobble my way through the manor and back into the street. Ino was supposed to park somewhere a few blocks away but close enough so she could watch for me if this exact scenario happened. I can't believe it did.

I'm standing in the middle of the road, just waiting for her and allowing the tears to slide down my cheeks. Small gasps and sobs bubble up from my chest. My hands are shaking, my knees can barely support me.

I hear a strange sound behind me but I can't quite make out what it is. Before I can fully turn around I realize it's the sound of hurried footsteps. Coming right towards me.

I spin around and gape at the sight before me. Coming out of the manor is none other than Sasuke.

You say let's run away now. I'll meet you when I'm out of my tux at the back door.

Naruto and Hinata-chan and Tenten and the rest of our friend group are following closely behind. Off to the side, his family watches. He's changed out of his yukata into his usual pair of black pants and a dark blue dress shirt.

"Sasuke-kun?" He stops before me, hands in his pockets as I look up at him. My eyes dart back and forth between his.

"Did you mean it?"

"What?"

"What you said," he pushes. "Did you mean it?"

"I…absolutely."

Something in his dark eyes changes. He looks back at his family once and I notice his father nods at him. Before I can wonder what that means, Sasuke pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to mine. He swallows my gasp and supports me when my knees buckle under me. Eventually I regain control of myself, bringing my arms around his shoulders as I return the kiss. Our mouths move together for a few brief, wonderful moments. He pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.

"So what happens next?" he asks softly.

"Hm?" is all I can get out with my head in the clouds and my heart doing somersaults.

"This grand scheme of yours. What happens next?"

The sound of tires burning pavement in the distance causes a wide grin to spread on my face. I hear Ino get out of her car and we turn towards her. She tosses the keys to Sasuke and winks at me.

We separate to get into the car but before we get in, I turn to him. "I was thinking we ride off into that sunset," I say with a wide grin. He just smirks at me and nods.

Sasuke starts up the car and we take off, heading towards our future.

Baby, I didn't say my vows, so glad you were around when they said, "Speak now."

Random question: if I started a story based on the last one-shot I posted (leave out all the rest), would anyone be interested in it? I don't have anything for sure yet, I was just curious if it would get any readers.