A/N: Just a heads up; there's some talk about maps and stuff at the beginning, so I suggest you pull up a map of the five nations. I had no internet when I wrote this chapter, but I had it in one of the manga, thank god! Also, a heads up. I'll be on vacation for a week so I won't be able to write the chapter and I probably won't have internet access. Also, sorry it's a tad short and unbeta'd. I didn't want to leave you without a chapter for another week. One more, plus epilogue!

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine people!

Chapter Sixteen: Home

I frowned. "What?" I sighed angrily.

Deidara just smiled softly. "I might just have a solution to that, Sakura. That temper of yours is adorable." He added.

I arched an eyebrow. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"

He grinned. "No."

I sighed in frustration.

"But it's true." He said innocently.

"Do I look stupid to you, Deidara?"

"I'm not lying. Could someone with this face lie?"

I looked up at his face and instantly regretted it. He had on an expression of pure innocence. That was so not fair.

"Fine. Enlighten me."

He smirked, knowing he'd won. I wasn't sure what he won though… "It's nothing amazing," he warned me. "It's just a little cottage between Fire and Wind in rogue country. Should be safe enough," he shrugged.

I knew what he meant quite well. When traveling from Leaf to Suna, the area was generally a nuisance. But now that Naruto was out to get me, I was sure it would be perfect. It seemed comforting to be so close to home and between two major countries that I was comfortable with. I didn't like having Rain above us, though. They were usually pretty nosey, and I'm sure they would be bothersome if they found out that we were there.

It was good enough. "Thanks, Deidara." I smiled up at him. He grinned back down.

"I think maybe we should go back now." He suggested.

"Yup."

He started to turn back around on his bird.

"Oh, wait!" I realized I'd forgotten something.

Deidara turned his head towards me again and I went ahead and kissed him. "Thanks," I murmured for the second time.

He winked at me. "Enough distractions for tonight, huh?" he laughed.

"It is getting kind of dark out." I added.

"Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark." He chuckled.

"I guess I am…" I sighed.

"You're stupid." He teased me.

I glared at him. "It's not so much a fear of the dark as it is of what's hiding in the dark." I shrugged. Maybe I had acute paranoia or something. I'd have to get that checked out.

To my surprise, Deidara nodded. "I can agree with you on that."

I shivered. "Now, seriously, let's go back."

I thought I heard a small chuckle from Deidara, but I couldn't be sure. I glared at him anyway. I tightened my arms around his waist when we started to descend. "Have you ever thrown up from flying?" I asked him once we touched back down to the ground.

He scoffed. "No."

"Really?" I pressed.

"Never."

"Almost?"

"No. Now are you going to get off or not?"

I pouted. "Maybe." I sighed and swung a leg over and slid down the bird.

Deidara hopped down after me. He hugged me gently. "I love you."

I smiled. "Love you, too. Thanks for taking me up tonight."

"Just let me know if you want to go again. I'll take you anytime you want."

I kissed his cheek. "I'll try to remember that." I freed myself from his embrace—but took his hand—and led him back inside. It was still way too early to go to bed, although I'll admit I was tired, so I sat down on the couch in the little living room. "There's nothing to do here." I complained as Deidara sat down next to me.

He shrugged in agreement.

"Where's Tobi when you need him?" I muttered.

"Tobi is here!"

I really, really need to learn to keep my mouth shut.

"Do you wanna play cards, Sakura-Chan?"

"Uh, sure Tobi, I would but I just realized how hungry I am." Well that wasn't completely a lie.

"Oh, okay." He sounded sad. I felt a little bad, but I brushed it off.

"Sorry Tobs." I sighed as I stood up and fled to the kitchen.

I was already moving about, about to attempt making a grilled cheese sandwich when Deidara came in. "Maybe I should make that before you burn the house down." He smirked.

I glowered at him. "Thanks." I stuck my tongue out.

"I wouldn't stick that out unless you intend to be using it." He winked.

"Oh yeah?" I challenged. I stuck it out again.

Before I realized what was happening, Deidara had me pinned to the wall. His mouth was less than an inch away from mine. "I told you." He chastised before kissing me.

A loud throat clearing interrupted our snogging.

I pulled away from Deidara. "What do you want Kisame?" I growled.

He raised his hands up innocently. "I want to be able to get a piece of bread without throwing up."

I scowled at him. "You're going to wish that was all that's wrong with you." I threatened.

Kisame back up slowly, and retreated from the kitchen. Even an idiot like him could see the depth behind my threat.

"I didn't know you could be so scary, Pinkie."

"You too, Deidara." I sighed,

"But if you hurt me, who else are you going to make out with?"

"Oh, I'm sure I could find someone." I batted my eyelashes innocently.

"You would… cheat?" Deidara gasped in mock hurt.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, but how could I cheat on my lovely, lovely husband?" It still seemed odd to me to apply the word 'husband' to Deidara.

"Exactly my lovely, lovely wife."

Hearing him address me as his wife, however, gave me the butterflies.

I grinned. "I'm still hungry, you know."

"I thought that was just an excuse to get away from Tobi." He laughed.

"It was. Sort of. It made me realized how hungry I actually was."

"You just ate a few hours ago." Deidara pointed out.

I chuckled. "You really don't know anything about pregnancy, do you? I think I'm a few weeks in, so it could be affecting me already."

"Are you going to explain to me what you're talking about?" He laughed.

I sighed. "Really, Deidara? Morning sickness, strange appetite, crankiness, etcetera. It's a pretty hefty list."

"Peachy. When you're 'cranky' you are completely impossible, you know." He groaned.

"I do know, actually, thank you very much." I stuck my tongue out at him again.

"Remember what I said about sticking tongues out?" he winked.

"Oh, of course." I smiled innocently.

"Well then you had better not be sticking that out at me."

"Why? Don't you want to kiss me?" I sulked.

"I do, but you make it too easy. If I had it my way, I don't think we'd be leaving our room for much more than food."

"Oh really? Why ever could that be?" I was being a tease tonight and I knew it.

"Oh, gee, I wonder."

"Can you two take your perverted talk somewhere else?" Kisame interjected with a toothy smirk.

"Oh, no. I can't leave. I guess I'll just talk about tampons instead."

Kisame covered his ears. "Not listening."

I laughed. "Kisame has become a little pussy." I whispered to Deidara.

"I noticed." He said with a smirk.

I chuckled softly. "I'm still hungry, you know."

Deidara rolled his eyes. "And I'm guessing you expect me to cook?"

"You know it." I grinned.

He sighed. "You're lazy."

"Yup." I grinned. "Now… chop, chop. I haven't got all night."

Deidara chuckled softly. "Yes, your majesty. It is my duty to serve you."

His voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Cut it out." I laughed.

"Hey, you started it." He defended himself.

"Well maybe I did and I'll be the one to end it."

"Women." He muttered under his breath.

"Men." I retorted. I sat down in one of the kitchen chairs while I watched Deidara go around getting ready to cook. It was kind of cute, I had to admit. I kicked my feet up on the table and relaxed. It was nice and warm in the kitchen, which was small and cozy to begin with. I yawned widely and stretched my arms out behind me. I allowed myself to close my eyes—just while Deidara was cooking, I promised myself.

I guess I drifted off to sleep without realizing it. I groaned and started to roll over before I realized that should have thrown me onto the floor. But that didn't happen… and now that I was more awake, I realized that I was not sitting up and I was definitely in bed. I cracked open an eye. Deidara was looking back at me.

"What time is it?" I grumbled tiredly. I rubbed my eyes with the backs of my hands and yawned.

Deidara glanced over at the clock. "Just about midnight."

"And what time did I fall asleep?" I asked. My stomach grumbled. "And I'm still hungry."

I heard him snickering. I glared.

"Ah, about eight-forty, I think." He paused and stroked my back lightly.

I hadn't noticed that he had his arms draped around me. I shrugged mentally. "Have you been awake this whole time?" I asked him.

He shrugged awkwardly. "I guess."

He didn't want to admit to it. I grinned. "Right." I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. "When do you think we'll be, um… moving?"

"I was thinking tomorrow, if that's okay with you."

I beamed. "Of course! You're lucky I woke up. I have to make sure everything is packed and—" I started to sit up.

"I already took care of that."

That stopped me short. I blinked. "You…did?"

Deidara nodded. "And I arranged to have Kakashi come back to escort us. I mean, not that we need an escort, but with you being pregnant and all…" he trailed off with a blush. "I thought it would be a good idea to have an extra set of eyes. And I figured you'd want to see him one last time."

I smiled softly. "I don't know how you can even consider yourself the bad guy. I don't even see how you got tangled up in this in the first place; you're too sweet."

He sighed. "It's a pretty long story. I don't like to talk about it much either. Maybe later, okay? Just remind me." He forced a small smile onto his face.

"I'm sorry." I murmured. "I didn't mean to upset you." I frowned at myself.

"It's okay, Sakura." He said with another sigh. "Really. It's just… hard for me to talk about."

I nodded. "I know what you mean."

"Most ninja do." He agreed.

"So when do we leave?" I asked. I was excited to be going somewhere new.

"In the morning."

"It's almost morning." I pointed out. I glanced at the clock. Yup. Just a few minutes until midnight.

Deidara sighed. "Go to sleep, Sakura. When you wake up, I'm sure it will be time to leave. We have to wait for Kakashi remember?"

I pouted. "Fine." I curled up against Deidara with a contented sigh. I closed my eyes and willed sleep to over come me. I wiggled around for several minutes before I finally lost consciousness.