BTW: I did mean to end chapter 11 with "THE NEXT DAY" I just didn't wanna have to put in a ton of filler for that night and the like morning after so ya sounded weird but I'm a teeny weeny bit extremely lazy. If you feel sorry for Sasuke good for you but that's not what i intended cuz he's a jerkface in the show.

RECAP: Naruto told Sakura about his date and Sasuke kissed him and was upset and he told Kakashi about everything and what not.

Naruto and Gaara were getting ready at his apartment for Sakura's party. Both were uneasy about seeing the guys again but didn't show it to one another. Sasuke got his best outfit on and Kakashi escorted him to make sure he didn't chicken out. Shikamaru was worried about going but got ready anyway. The rest of the rookie 9 got ready as usual, they didn't know anything was wrong [I'm not even gonna give them dialogue just a heads up] Kiba got ready as usual and so did Neji they met up on the way.

They started talking about what they'd gotten for Sakura, and wondered what others had gotten for her.

"I bet her team mates had a hard time looking, she must've been with 'em the whole time."

"Yea, Sasuke must've had it the worst, I don't know about her following Naruto..."

"Hey Kiba, Naruto's gonna be there isn't he?"

"Oh yeah, I think Shika said he invited Gaara..."

"Hey Kiba, this is gonna be really awkward isn't it?"

"Neji my friend, I believe you've hit the nail on the head."

"Well what are we gonna do then?"

"Well we judge the situation, either act like nothing happened at all or, we support him."

"Support him? Why on earth would we do that, being..gay..is just plain WRONG!"

"Neji, Naruto is our friend, and as his friends we are to support every part of him."

"Kiba, come on, you don't feel weird about this at all?"

"Yeah I do, but I'm gonna get over it and you should to mmkay?"

"Uh don't expect much ok."

LATER ON

The group of friends met up at the barbeque place. Kiba, Neji, and Shikamaru were some of the first to arrive, they didn't talk much. Naruto and Gaara walked up not too long after. They came holding hands which made them all blush and they soon let go. Kiba and Neji didn't say much, they felt really awkward after what'd happened two nights ago. Naruto and Gaara were extremely red as were Kiba and Neji. Shikamaru was just watching and waiting.

"Ok are we gonna talk about what happened or not?" [Shika]

"...heh..." [Kiba]

"Alright everyone here's what happened, I kissed Gaara..." [Naruto]

"Well, that clears that up." [Shika] *sarcasm*

After a very awkward pause and a lot of blushing Sakura arrived. Greeted Naruto with a hug and kiss, same with Gaara. He didn't know Sakura very well yet she'd hugged and kissed him. She went around hugging the other three. She was able to break the awkward and make some small talk. After a few minutes of talking the remainder of the rookie 9 [minus Sasuke and Kakashi] arrived. Sakura, being the oh so gracious host, greeted everyone with a hug. She wasn't sure if Kakashi was late or not coming, he organized it after all. She knew the last thing he wanted to do was attempt to eat in front of everyone who was dying to see what he looked like. Due to that fact she wasn't really expecting him to show up.

She escorted everyone inside and found the table Kakashi had reserved for them all. Everyone sat down, Naruto and Gaara were holding hands under the table. This made Kiba, Neji and Shikamaru a tad uncomfortable but Sakura was able to diffuse the situation again. Just as they were starting the conversation up Kakashi walked up to the table said his hello's and as he sat down Sasuke, who'd been hiding behind him sat next to him. Ino immediately started flirting. Sakura and Naruto's faces said it all.

"Kakashi sensei, me and Naruto would like to see you and Sasuke outside please."

Kakashi had a feeling something like this would happen. He'd never heard Sakura's voice sound so mean. Sasuke was looking at everyone else around the table. The others seemed oblivious, his eyes finally met Gaara's. At that point he knew that Gaara knew. He'd never felt so sheepish. Team 7 got up to go talk outside. As they were getting up Naruto whispered to Gaara to make up and excuse. Gaara wasn't sure he was capable of that but he'd do his best.

"Hey where'd they go?"

"Oh well um...they went to...get...more menu's for Kakashi and Sasuke...heh..."

"Whatever"

Gaara felt as though he'd narrowly escaped death, most of the others barely noticed he'd said anything.

MEANWHILE

Naruto and Sakura were glaring at Sasuke and Kakashi. Why had Kakashi brought Sasuke along.

"Ok now, before either of you say anything, Sasuke feels bad about what he did..." [Kakashi]

"BAD ABOUT WHAT HE DID! HE STOLE SAKURA'S...virginity..." [Naruto]

"Naruto you know why I-" [Sasuke]

Sakura interrupted Sasuke.

"Wait Naruto, you know why?" [Sakura]

"Sakura please let me deal with him.." [Naruto]

"Now now no one is going to be dealing with anyone. We're here to make amends ok. Sakura we don't expect you to accept Sasuke's apology. I'd like it if we could all get along tonight alright." [Kakashi]

"Sensei go back inside I think Sasuke should do the talking. [Sakura]

Kakashi realized this was between the three of them. He didn't want to leave Sasuke alone but, they had to deal with this themselves. He walked back inside and awkwardly made conversation.

"Sasuke why did you put me through that?" [Sakura]

"I just I wanted...I needed to prove...I could love...a woman..." [Sasuke]

"I loved you Sasuke, and you did that because you were confused?" [Sakura]

"Sakura there's more to it than that yesterday Sas-" [Naruto]

Sasuke cut him off, he wanted Sakura to hear this from him.

"Naruto, I'll tell her...yesterday morning I went to Naruto's house...I told him what I had seen...and I kissed him...he slapped me...I tried to tell him...he wouldn't let me...I didn't want to admit it...I wanted to love a woman like a normal guy...that's why." [Sasuke]

"Didn't want to admit what?" [Sakura]

"I...love Naruto..." [Sasuke]

Sakura was taken aback at this. Naruto was stoic for Sakura's sake. Sakura walked over to Sasuke and slapped him, not enough to make a mark but enough to make him wince.

"You did that to me...because you love Naruto...and couldn't admit it." [Sakura]

She didn't want a response. She was just confirming everything out loud. She wasn't sure she could forgive Sasuke but, he'd come to her party and was trying to make amends. She walked over hugged Sasuke kissed him on the cheek and went back into the restaurant. Sakura knew deep down that her past feelings for Sasuke were the only reason she would ever be able to forgive him.

Naruto was stunned. He was no where near ready to forgive Sasuke, and he wasn't the victim. Sasuke walked closer to Naruto who was beyond bewildered and into a dazed state.

MEANWHILE

Gaara was wondering why Naruto and Sasuke hadn't returned yet. He walked out to find his lover. He awkwardly excused himself from the table. Again, no one noticed. Sakura was somehow able to come back unfazed. Kakashi had assumed she had only half forgiven him but she wasn't going to let that ruin her party.

MEANWHILE

Sasuke came up to Naruto tooke his face in his hands and kissed him. Before Naruto could react Gaara was standing in the doorway. He knew he'd told Naruto he didn't care that Sasuke had kissed him before but to see it happen in front of him made tears come to his eyes. Naruto was so confused it took him a minute to realized Sasuke's lips were against his. Naruto pushed him off. He turned and saw Gaara.

"Gaara it's not what it seems, he kissed me...again...like before..."

Gaara didn't respond he was crying to hard. Naruto went over and hugged him, apologizing profusely. He was cradling his lover's head and kissing it, before he knew it he was crying too. Gaara was still crying much harder than Naruto. He didn't know if Gaara had accepted his apology or not all he knew was Gaara's tears were soaking into his shirt.