Well, maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

Gaara was silent. Sakura wondered if he was angry. After all, she had dragged him out to the bar practically against his will. She had just wanted to have some fun; she figured if there was one thing missing in Gaara's life it was fun.

Maybe he had forgotten how to have fun.

Sakura turned and looked at Gaara. He was staring at the line of bottles on the opposite wall, seemingly entranced by all the different shapes and colours. She wondered if he hated her, if he found her company that insufferable.

A man sat down beside her and ordered two drinks. She was surprised when he turned and offered her the second one.

"Oh... no thanks." She said. She wasn't in the mood for flirting, not after having her good mood so wonderfully crushed by Gaara's stoniness. "I'm actually here with my boyfriend." She explained, using Gaara as her excuse. It could be handy having a boyfriend, she thought, even a fake one.

The man peered at Gaara behind her and laughed. "Looks like a barrel of fun." He said sarcastically, and once again pushed the drink on her. He stood up and stepped closer to her, until he was standing close enough she could feel his breath on the back of her neck. "Why don't you dump your 'boyfriend' and come have some real fun with me."

In her drunken state she could hardly even muster up a polite smile. "No thanks."

"Ah playing hard to get." He said, and somehow managed to step even closer. "I like it."

"I'm not-" Sakura started to defend herself, but suddenly found herself standing above the man, lying on his back. Gaara stood behind her, glaring at him. She looked down and noticed his hand was holding hers again. How did he do that so naturally?

"She told you already to leave her alone." Gaara said to the man. "Where I come from, when a woman tells you to leave her alone, you leave her alone."

The man got to his feet laughing and holding up his hands, as if to admit defeat. "Shit man... I didn't mean to offend. Have the drinks, enjoy yourselves." He gestured at the drinks, and then looked Sakura over with a look that made her feel very uncomfortable. "She's not worth it anyway."

Gaara started forward, but Sakura beat him to it, punching the man's nose in. He swore and clutched at his face, nearly crying, but Sakura felt no pity.

"You should watch your mouth." She told him. "It's not good for your health to have it wagging that like. You might want to get that looked at." She said, and then added. "But not by me."

The man started forward as if to punch her back, but Gaara grabbed his arm and stilled him. "Let it drop." He said, his eyes taking on their usual intensity, his face suddenly looking much more like his own again. "Trust me, this is not a woman you want to mess with."

He pulled on Sakura's hand, which he had never let go of, and led her out of the bar. When they got out into the streets Sakura was ranting about the man, about the asshole, why did all men have to act like that?

Gaara sighed. "You probably broke his nose." He said quietly.

Sakura grinned. "Yeah I did didn't I? Well, he deserved it."

Gaara shook his head at her. "I'm just glad I got you out of there before you started a full on brawl."

Sakura peered at him through slightly fogged eyes. "Are you drunk?" She asked.

"Maybe a little." He answered.

She looked at his hand, still holding hers. It felt unreal, like some drink induced illusion, but at the same time she was quite sure that was his hand and hers inside of it. "So weird..."

Gaara glanced down at their joined hands and suddenly dropped hers. He went on walking as if it had never happened.

Sakura started to laugh. When Gaara looked back to see what she thought was so funny she smirked and pointed at him. "Oh no! You're not going to pretend that never happened!" She told him. "I'm not that drunk!"

With those words she stumbled over and nearly cracked her head open on a wall. If Gaara hadn't been quick enough to catch her she would surely have woken up with a headache the next day. She was loose and floppy in his arms – and heavy. She laughed and pushed him away, but couldn't stand on her own. Sighing, Gaara lifted her onto his shoulder and carried her back to the apartment.

"You're my hero! My knight in shining armour!" She gushed drunkenly. "You're like Superman! So totally... awesome..."

By the time he got her home and into bed she was snoring loudly.