This chapter is dedicated to my freaky reviewer. Like I said make a request and I'll try to work it in. I'm in a bit of a rush so I gotta make this quick. Please review.

Gaara had been traveling back to the village when he felt Sakura's chakra flickering with distress. This had not made him happy, but the chakra that was trying to suppress hers concerned him. He sent Temari ahead of him to the village. Why would Sai want to hide her chakra unless he was up to something. He spiked his chakra so both shinobi would feel his approach. Apparently Sai didn't want to be found with Sakura because he had left rather abruptly. When he arrived Sakura was sitting on a boulder staring out at the water. She was a welcome sight until he got a look at her face. Her eyes were blank and distant the life in them gone. Someone had broken her emotionally, and he was pissed. He wanted to find the others, and get an explanation. But he wouldn't she needed him now. Not as a Kazekage, not as a lover, or even a suitor. She needed her friend, and so he pushed aside everything else giving her what she needed.

"Haruno what are you doing out here?" His voice caused her head to turn looking at him.

"Thinking." Was her reply. I wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the entire truth either.

"And?" He pressed.

"Hiding rather poorly." She attempted at humor, and failed miserably as she shivered.

"Who's ass do I need to kick." He growled As the sand spilled from his gourd lifting her gently from her seat.

"I hate this competition. Not because It's making me feel weak and causing me to act like it." Thats what caused the tears she had been battling to fall. She sobbed curling into the sand which still held the deserts warmth. Gaara removed maroon coat as she was deposited in front of him, and wrapped it around her.

"You are the only person ever recorded to break Naruto's skull with a single blow. I highly doubt that you are considered weak to carry out that task." Gaara smiled pulling her into a hug causing her to flinch raising his hackles. "Sakura did someone touch you?"

"A lot of people touch me Gaara." She had stiffened at his question which he didn't miss. Her hair was covering her face so he couldn't read her expression. She was trying to hide her shame for letting Sai go as far as he had.

"Sakura you know what I mean. If someone hurt you I wont let them get away with it. Your precious to me. More than you know. Even if you don't choose me it will not change the way I feel about you. Nothing can change the way I see you." His hand slid under the blanket of her amaranth hair and cup her chin tipping it. Her emerald eyes met his aquamarine eyes full of concern.

"Can we go home Gaara?" She was fighting back tears. She hated to cry especially in front of Gaara. Gaara's life had been hell he was the one who deserved to cry and he never did. So why couldn't she do the same.

"Anything for you bubble gum." He smiled watching her nose wrinkle at his nickname for her as he lifted them with his sand. She was on a mission to help train the medics of his village and Temari and Kankuro were sitting on the couch late one night. She had been picking out nicknames to embarrass Kankuro when Gaara entered his shared home.

"Coco." She and Temari laughed as he entered.

"Damn it Sakura that's not funny I can think of anymore for you." Kankuro growled.

"Really I could easily think of at least three more." Temari said catching her breath. Kankuro noticed Gaara in the door way and grinned.

"What about Gaara? Bet you can't figure a good one out for him." He gave a barely noticeable nod that only Temari was able to catch. She looked from the corner of her eye and spotted Gaara leaning against the door frame behind a completely oblivious Sakura. He had masked his chakra.

"Tanuki. I know it's cliché but its adorable." She giggled and blew a bubble with the gum she had been chewing.

"I know you can do better than that bubble gum." Gaara had crossed the room leaned over her shoulder and whispered in her ear before Kankuro, and Temari could blink. Sakura turned and looked at him in shock, then her face went from pale to bright red, and finally scarlet.

They made it to the check in post at the front gate with her in his arms asleep. Temari raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. She like the picture before her eyes. The sun was setting behind them causing an orange to blend into black as her brother looked down at the woman he loved so much in his arms. She had a peaceful partial smile on her face as she curled closer to his chest. Temari prayed that her baby brother had found a woman who loved him as much as he loved her. After signing in for her brother and Sakura they split paths. She returned to Shikamaru's place and Gaara brought Sakura home Itachi following behind silently. The two took great care placing her onto her bed and tucking her in. They turned to leave until both felt her fingers circle their wrist.

"Don't go please." She asked sadly.

"Let me take care of a few things and I promise I will be back." Gaara smiled assuring her as she nodded.

"We will be back soon blossom." Itachi didn't like the fact Gaara had been asked as well but if that was what she wanted then he wouldn't argue for now. The two left making their way down the hall.

"Sai was trying something in the forest." Gaara growled.

"Shisui attempted to bed her." Itachi offered his information in return.

"I hope you castrated him." Gaara glared at said man as they entered the sitting room where Kiba sat with Akamaru looking ready to tear Sai apart.

"Thinking about it." Itachi answered looking at Kiba.

"Sai's been touching her as well. By the smell of it she wasn't happy about it either." Kiba growled looking at the men standing in the door way.

"We know and the only reason he is still alive is obvious." Gaara answered looking over both Sai and Shisui as if Shikaku was still present. Somehow Kiba, Itachi, and Gaara had formed a truce in that moment.

"Could you two watch her tonight my clans got a meeting tonight and by the looks of it I wont be back till morning." Kiba asked as he grabbed his coat.

"Leave the puppy tonight." Itachi spoke lifting the animal from Kiba's side receiving a nod from the Inuzuka. As he left Gaara kept the remaining men in place with a glare as Itachi disappeared into the kitchen. Once he returned with an excited puppy following behind him Gaara joined his walk to Sakura's room.

"Tonight she will be ours to love but I will not allow it once her confidence has returned. Nor am i giving up on her." Itachi and Gaara agreed without another word opening the door to her room. Both would fight for her tomorrow but tonight she needed to be loved without jealousy. The puppy dashed inside and jumped into the bed digging through the covers and waking Sakura.

"Eat something before we sleep." Itach sat on her right sitting a tray in her lap as Gaara removed the pup and sat on the opposite edge of the bed. She complied and began eating slowly. Neither knew what to say to the woman they had both fallen for as they took turns in the bathroom changing. Once she had finished both men slid into the bed on either side. Sakura turned to Itachi and rested her head on his chest as she pressed her back to Gaara's chest. Gaara wound an arm around her body as Itachi wrapped her shoulders with his arm. Itachi tipped her chin and kissed her slowly. Gaara's arms pulled her away slowly and turned her to face him as he to kissed her slowly returning her to her previous place in their arms.

"Good night blossom."

"Good night bubble gum."

"Good night Tachio, and Tanuki."