Just when you least expect it...
Life turns around, for the better.

Sakura had fallen unconscious, but only to be caught by the same person that put her in that state.

Sasuke had known someone was watching him, but he was not aware that it was Sakura - until after he had already put her to sleep. He hadn't seen any of her features from where he was sitting. Otherwise he wouldn't have knocked her out.

A few things could not stop crossing his mind.

How am I going to tell her? And what am I going to do?

He couldn't very well leave her out in the cold, to die of hypothermia. He wasn't that cruel. He was returning, but he just couldn't come out of hiding yet. He needed to figure out what he would say; what his defense would be. He knew that the council would not go easy on him. And he knew of his goals for his future.. now that all enemies in his path had been assassinated.

So he did what was most rational. He carried her into the house that he had never thought he would enter again. It was the only one that hadn't been vandalized. No one dared to enter it since that day.

Sakura had woken up, feeling a slight pain in her head. She couldn't see anything at all, it was completely dark.

Where am I?

Oh, great. Now she remembers. She had chased Sasuke's chakra. And been knocked out by him.

"Sas..uke?" She said, unsure if he was still around – she couldn't feel his chakra now.

"Sakura." He replied.

She faltered. "What are you doing here?" She said, sounding skeptical.

It took him a while to reply, as if he were thinking about what to say.

"I'm back.. But I need you to help me with something."

Sakura heard the faint sound of a match, and then she could finally see. Sasuke had lit a candle. He was sitting indian style in front of her, looking into her eyes - now that he could see as well.

She did the same, somewhat afraid he would knock her out again. But he didn't. His sharingan wasn't even activated. Her eyes scanned him over, as his did as well. He had only been able to grow more handsome, of course.

He had changed so much throughout the years. But so did she.

She hesitated to speak.

"What exactly do you need help with?" She said, looking into his eyes, her gaze lingering a bit longer than she should have.

Sasuke moved, and sat beside her.

Sasuke kept opening his mouth, and closed it, as if he were trying to say something – but did not know how to say it. Until eventually, he spoke.

"Do you remember when we first met with Kakashi?"

Sakura nodded.

"Do you remember what I said, when he asked me of my goals?"

Sakura nodded again - slowly, but then her eyes widened, and she gasped.

"Do you mean.. that's what you want me to help you with... Sasuke?"

Sasuke smirked, closed his eyes and nodded.

"Then I accept, Sasuke." She smiled.

That moment in time seemed to stop, as Sasuke leaned close to her and crashed his lips onto hers. Her arms were around his torso, caressing his silky, slightly wet hair thanks to the snow. And his hands roamed the small of her back, pulling her closer to him than humanly possible. Both of their hearts were beating in rhythm with eachother. And even as the desolate, abandoned house which Sasuke grew up in had been so very cold – they had shared body heat, and all became warm in the world.

Their need for air forced them both to pull apart, panting for breath. They remained in eachother's arms, heads on eachother's shoulders.

"I love you, Sasuke."

His lips ran over her neck, trailing light kisses until his mouth reached her earlobe.

"I love you too, Sakura."He whispered, voice as deep as the ocean blue.

And time stood still.