I put on some pajamas and I headed down to the kitchen to gorge myself on leftover crapes, I'm one of those hungry drunks. I was partially avoiding Gaara, hoping he wouldn't be the type to snack. Of course I was unsucessful. He walked into the kitchen only moments after I did. He wore a pair of soft gray pants and a burgundy t-shirt that didn't leave much to the imagination. It hugged his muscles in all the right ways.

"Come with me." He commanded, casually draping his arm around my shoulder

I stuffed a crepe in my mouth and followed him like a helpless puppy.

He brought me back up to his room where, surprisingly, he didn't try anything with me. Not even a little. I couldn't tell if I was relieved or offended. I kind of wished he'd at least tried something...but we just talked until Temari called us down for dinner. Afterwards, our drunkenness had pretty much worn off, along with the sandstorm. We parted ways for the evening. He went to get some work done in his room and prepare for the resuming of his duties in the morning, and I retired to my room to watch TV.

As I layed on my bed, staring carelessly into the screen, I felt this aching sensation in my chest.

Gaara, Gaara, Gaara... why couldn't I get his fucking face to leave my mind?

The next day was rather uneventful for me. Gaara had spoken to me in the morning briefly before spending the rest of the day working. I didn't see him that much at all, but I that noticed for the fleeting moments we saw eachother, he was always concerned about me. Asking how I'm feeling, if I've eaten, etc. I had pushed everyone away for so long, and now here I am with this incredible young man who wants to help me, and I still can't accept it? What the hell is my problem? He's spent the last 3 days with a girl who had been dropped into his life out of nowhere, and he's a fucking Kage. He has way more important things to do than babysit me... and he still wants to help me. I know I can't change overnight, but I at least... I think I should try—try to be more like him. It took him time, but... he did change. If he did it, then so can I.

It was late. Really late. In fact, I was already in bed, but not at all tired. I was really hoping Gaara was awake as well. I ran from my room and into the hall, nearly knocking Kankuro over as I did so.

"S-sorry!" I studdered as I rushed past him

I burst through the doors of Gaara's bedroom and slammed them behind me. He wasn't stirred at all, he simply looked up at me from behind his desk.

"You knocked?" He asked

"Sorry... its just... I wanted to...arigatou gozaimasu..."

(Thank you so much)

I bowed

"I...I don't want to hurt... or hurt others. I just don't know how else to be... but I want to be different. I want to try for you, to thank you. I-I'm sor—"

My words were halted by his warm embrace.

"I know that was difficult for you," He chuckled "But thank you... and you'll change on your own over time. You'll meet new people and have new experiences... maybe even stay in one place for longer than a few days, hm?"

"Heh, maybe..."

He began to gaze at me. My heart was pumping hard against my ribs..

"I promised myself that I'd become someone who is needed and not feared," He said "I want to show you feelings that I've had the pleasure of having because I started to let people in... its just... you..."

He averted his eyes downward

"I... what?"

"You make me feel different...different than I feel about other friends..." He revealed

Friends. He said friends. Gaara considers us friends?

"Different?"

Gaara was having a hard time describing this new emotion. He could only think of one way to express it that seemed correct. He had seen expressions of it before. Husbands and wives that lived in the village, and of course he would see couples on dates, but he himself didn't start to get it until now, even if only slightly.

In that moment... it happened. He pressed his lips against mine. The kiss was wonderfully soft and full of quiet desperation. I was almost too stunned to do anything but stand there... almost. I took the liberty of deepening the kiss. It was soul-wrenching, full of passion and sweet spontaneity.

Gaara. The Kazekage, the former Jinchuuriki, the demon who loved only himself, the young man who turned his whole life around... Why me?

He pulled back. It felt like time had stopped. I wasn't sure what to do with my body, brain or hands. No one had ever honestly shared something so intimate with me before.

Gaara was feeling the same. He was beginning to tremble a bit.

"Uh... W-will you keep me company while I finish up? It'll only be a few minutes..."

All I could manage was a nod.

I sat on the couch while he worked in silence for about 5 minutes before he said anything.

"Tsunade sent a letter asking about you,"

"What? Really?" I asked, trying to be casual about the fact that we'd just kissed

He nodded

"She asked if you were settled in, and asked how you were feeling,"

"Oh... Well, what did you tell her?" I asked

"Nothing yet," He said, putting his pen down "I wanted to ask you. How are you feeling, Mei?"

I shrugged

"I don't know... better than I did,"

"Well, thats something." He replied with a smirk

Gaara stood from his desk and turned the brightness of his lamp down to the point where it was barely on.

"I think thats enough work for tonight. Its getting pretty late,"

He glanced at me

"Are you staying in here tonight?"

"Um... I mean I—"

"You're staying." He stated

"What? I don't get a choice in this?"

"No, not really,"

Gaara slipped his burgundy t-shirt over his head. I blushed at the site of his bare skin. His body was incredible. Washboard abs, and a sexy V shape leading downwards...

He walked over to his bed

"Are you gonna get in, or do you want to sleep on the couch? I can get an extra blanket if y—"

I walked over to the opposite side

"No, I'll sleep in the bed..." I interrupted

Gaara's cheeks flushed, but he quickly slipped under the covers. I followed suit. I was nervous as hell. What was I supposed to do with my hands? I tapered them to my sides, laying there solid like stone.

"Come here," He said as he wrestled his arms around me. He pulled me close to him.

His body was rock hard, not that I expected anything less. But his skin was so soft and smooth, and his heart beat, that exhilarating rhythm played loudly in my ears as I cuddled closer to him. It felt so nice... and so fucking right. He was silent as we lay there, simply enjoying each others presence. There were a million questions I wanted to ask him... things I wanted to know, things I knew he wouldn't tell me.

"You know... It wasn't all Naruto who saved me," He said suddenly

"What do you mean?

"I'd also never be where I am today without my brother and sister... they've helped me alot,"

"Temari and Kankuro... yeah. They seem like good people,"

"They are..."

"Kinda makes me miss my brother..." I admitted "I guess I'm a little jealous,"

Gaara was shocked. Mei had been so closed off about talking about her brother before... but now she was opening up.

"Were you and your brother close?" He asked

"Very..." I said quietly "Minoru was always saying 'Ni-chan will always protect little Mei'. And he was an excellent ninja. He was always training... He had just become a Chunin when..."

Gaara pulled me closer.

"I'm sorry for your loss... he sounded like an amazing person,"

"...To be honest with you...I don't think my brother is dead."

He pulled back and looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face

"What?"

"...I've just never felt that way. I've never felt his energy die. My mother's is gone, my father's is gone, his... his I can still feel... I don't know. Maybe I'm just a crazy bitch who can't accept that her brother is dead,"

Gaara could see the pain in her eyes... he felt it in her words. She tried to laugh it off, but it was obvious how she was really feeling.

"You're not crazy. If you think he's alive then I have no reason to doubt you. Maybe you'll find him someday..."

That was the last thing he said to me. He stroked my hair until I fell asleep in his arms.