Temari went home with Aki, Aki having the unfortunate job of taking care of her drunken boss. Sakura sent them off with sympathy for the girl; she too knew how it felt having to look after a boss who drank too much.
She went home by herself, feeling a little jealous of Setsuna and Misa. She felt so old, so alone, when she should have had someone. She wanted to hold hands with Gaara in public. Why did it have to be Gaara? Why did he have to be Kazekage?
She missed him.
When she dropped into bed she was startled to hear a grunt, a grunt not from her own body, but from another body in her bed. She jumped on the figure, half in hopes of who it might be, but mostly as a survival instinct – with her fist poised to crush the throat.
When her hopes were answered she laughed and hugged her captive. "Gaara! What are you doing sleeping in my bed?"
Gaara blinked at her, still not quite awake. Having not slept for some nights, he had fallen into a deep sleep before being so rudely awakened. "I was sleeping actually." He said, and turned on his side. "And very much enjoying myself. Go away."
Sakura laughed and did the opposite; she snuggled into his back, waking him up even more. Gaara laughed and turned around. "Where have you been out this late?" He asked, playing the nagging housewife. "I've been waiting for you for hours!"
"Didn't you hear?" She asked. "I fixed Setsuna. We all went out partying. You should have come; Temari was there."
"Oh. I thought she was just bringing Aki out for a drink after the rough day we'd had." He shrugged. "Oh well; I appreciated the sleep I got more than any drinking. When we go out I always end up having to keep you out of fights."
"Oh yes, very funny. Go ahead, laugh it up at my expense."
"I always do."