I am so sorry it took me so long to post this. I humbly apologize but I got sick, lost my muse, and then I couldn't get it to load. I know crappy excuse but I full plan to make up for it. I would like to apologize for the author's note on the last chapter.. My brothers about as humble as I would willing eat my own foot. Not going to happen. lol I would like to send out shout outs to my new reviewers Nee-han93, XxLuciixX, and to the mysterious guest reviewer. lol I love when I get the occasional guest reviewer it makes my imagination act stupid. lol Mad props to Ladyridger, Minniemousemom, XxNina-himexX, an Trunksmybaby. You are the most loyal reviers I could have ever wanted. I want to thank all of my reviewers, favorites, and followers. You guys make it worth it. If you have a minute PLEASE take a look at Your Girlfriend, My Girlfriend, Our Girlfriend by the brilliant Nadine25 its a Itachi Sakura fic. And the story First Love Isn't Always True Love by occasional its an x-men fic. These two were able to put my muse in a choke hold and slam it back into it's cage. Thank you both so much. I need to go lay down now so I can try to feel better. As always reviews are not necessary but they are inspirational.
"Where are we?" Sakura asked laughing as Gaara's hands covered her eyes.
"It's a surprise why would I give that away bubble gum?" Gaara smirked as the sand swirled beneath them carrying them to their destination. If he had allowed her to walk she would more than likely knew where they were headed. She seemed to have a nach for tracking where she was in any location she mapped out in her mind through the steps she took. It was a pesky talent, impressive but problematic for anyone who couldn't prevent her from walking around, and wished to surprise her. The wind was working with him making it seem as if they were traveling faster than they were. Gaara had to watch the heavily falling snow. If too much melted then his sand would have to retract and dry out before becoming mud.
"The wind feels nice but it's going to chap my lips. Can I fix that first?" Sakura asked sweetly.
"I'm not putting you down, or stopping I know what you're trying to do and you're not fooling me." Gaara chuckled watching her pout in defeat. Right as she was about to say something he turned her around and pressed his lips into hers. Silencing her in the most effective and satisfying was he had access to. They landed a few moments later, and her released her. Sakura released a small moan of frustration as his lips left hers causing Gaara to chuckle and touch her face admiring her beauty. Her eyes opened slowly as his rough yet gentle fingers traced her jaw. His aqua eyes were to distracted drinking her features in to notice her emerald eyes searching his. Her frame shifted a little and brought him back to reality. "Were here bubble gum."
She turned to see a beautiful garden behind her filled with desert flora. She wondered where they had gone. Surely they hadn't traveled that far or that fast. So she eyed the surrounding area noticing she was in a greenhouse. But which green house? To her knowledge she had not built one like this so this was a surprise. "Where are we?"
"Do you like it? I had it made for you so if you choose me you would have a bit of Suna with you when I wasn't around. I wouldn't want you to forget me." Garra smiled wrapping his arms around her middle as he moved her silken strands and rested his chin on her shoulder placing a small kiss on her neck. Sakura's body shifted to lean against his taking the safety he offered her. Her head turned to look at his face as he looked out over her new addition.
"I love it Gaara. It was very thoughtful of you." She smiled as she laced her fingers with his. Gaara's eyes closed almost afraid to speak.
"But?" He asked almost too quietly.
"No buts." Her eyes closed as she shifted against his hold that only faltered a second.
"You are like a desert rose Sakura. Your beautifully deceptive." He smirked and moved with her to said flower.
"Your giving me to much credit Gaara." She answered turning to face him and reaching out to place a palm on his face. She gasped as her hand touched the man in front of her. His sand shell was gone! He was trusting her completely and giving her something that even his siblings hadn't ever experienced. Her eyes softened and a loving warm smile crossed her lips. His fingers traced her skin letting him feel her skin without the buffer of sand. For the first time in his life he wanted to let someone close to him and even if she rejected him he would not regret it. It would be worth all his heart ache just to see her looking at him the way she was now.
"Never stop looking at me like that Sakura." He whispered leaning into her kissing her softly. Her arms encircled his neck as his right hand placed itself upon her back pulling gently bringing her closer. After a few moments he released her and looked directly into her eyes. The next moment her eyes widened as he spoke before he could even think. "Kami bubble gum I love you."
Before she could answer he swept her into his arms and kissed her again feeling her lips against her own. Still he was afraid to end the kiss. He was afraid to give her time to speak. To tell him that she didn't love him, and at the same time he knew he couldn't run away from it either. Still the way she responded to his kiss had he really knew what he was doing would have told him different. As their lips separated and her eyes opened slowly his heart skipped a beat.
"Gaara did you mean it?" Her eyes searched his face trying to find any evidence that said he wasn't lieing. He looked away from her and sighed trying to find the words to tell her how he felt without repeating himself.
"Sakura... I wouldn't lie to you." Gaara closed his eyes and waited.
"How long?" She wanted so bad for this to be real, and not just because of high social status.
"For longer than I care to admit." He wasn't lieing. She had stirred something within him when he first met her. That's why Shukaku hadn't killed her immediately at the chunin exams. He had disregarded it as nothing at the time. If he had analyzed that encounter he would have realized that something subconscious inside of him had restrained him from killing the young kunoichi To be honest he was glad it had because she had given back his mother, saved his brother, made his sister happy, and made him love her. He'd fight all the tailed beasts just to have this woman by his side not that she needed to know that.
"Gaara... Why didn't you say something?" Sakura was starting to raise her voice.
"I guess it took another man touching you to make me realize." He was struggling to find the right words as his face began to turn color. "I'm sorry I'm bad at this."
Sakura was trying so hard not to hit this idiot. This sweet, handsome, wonderfully warm, sexy, and vulnerable man. She wanted to scream at him that he was a moron. That he wasn't suppose to make her heart jump in such a way with only a few words. It was times like these she missed her inner persona. The one that would give her the confidence and push into action even if it was wrong most of the time. So she did what she knew her inner self would scream at her for. She kissed him, and once he kissed her back she let her mind slip away. His arms drawing her closer his teeth nipping her bottom lip. She didn't even register that her mouth had opened until his tongue swept her own springing hers to life. His fingers moved through her hair finding purchase within her silken locks as she moaned into his mouth. Her lips drew his bottom lip between her own as she nipped at it and gave it a soft suck causing him to pull away and place his forehead on hers. There breath was heavy and eyes were closed. Their lips passing gentle feather like kisses to each other unable to completely move away from each other.
"You are going to be the death of me bubble gum." Gaara chuckled running a finger over jaw still unable to open his eyes. It was her turn to laugh breathlessly as her lips sought out his again as a tear slid down her face her hands locked into his blood-red locks. She was happy even if it was only for the moment. She would sort out the rest later but for now he was all that mattered.
"I'm glad you decided to compete." She smiled and kissed him again as he drew her closer if that was even possible at this point.
"I would have been stupid not to." He smirked burying his face into her hair kissing her anywhere he could reach. "Do you remember our promise?"
"I swore to you that I would never fall apart. That I would be strong like you. I always thought that you were joking about my strength." She laughed the tears of happiness causing her to sniffle a bit. He had made her promise after Neji pulled his you're not good enough crap.
"You always thought that I was stronger, but I wasn't I was vulnerable where you were strong. You just didn't see it. I promised you I would be strong for you as well but I failed. I failed because I loved you from the start and I was too weak to tell you. A girl like you is impossible to find again and I would be stupid to let you go. I will fight for you if that's what it takes." Gaara couldn't stop the words but he knew that he meant them and he wouldn't take them back. He opened his eyes finally and kissed her tears away as best he could. "We should go home now bubble gum. It's getting late."
"No, stay with me here in our private desert for a little longer." Sakura pleaded not willing to go back just yet. She wanted to stay away from the confusion for a little longer and stay in Gaara's arms for just a bit longer.
"We can stay as long as you like my love." He whispered into her ear holding her protectively as he sat with her on the warm sand. She curled into his chest holding onto him tightly. She wouldn't ever have dared to think that such a man would ever love her. She wished she had seen it before now. In many ways she supposed she had. The way he would clear part of his schedule to spend time with her. Or the way he would only laugh openly for her. She loved that laugh. She loved his kiss, his warmth, his attention, but did that mean that she loved him? She wasn't sure but she would sure as hell find a way to find out. His breath hitched as she opened his shirt without knowing it. When he looked down to her face he could tell she was deep in thought and far from trying to coax him onto anything. She had alway been one to over analyze things and convince herself of the negative, but he would not allow her to think like this about his feelings for her.
"Sakura stop thinking." He commanded as he caught her lips laying her on the warm sand. He would banish those thoughts if it killed him. He caught her wrists within his hands and lowered himself beside her as he rubbed soft circles on her wrists. When he finally pulled away she was breathless and her eyes held a lust clouded haze. He would love nothing more than to take her right there but it wouldn't do to have her sore tomorrow. After the festival he would take her, and if she would have him he would marry her soon after. He wasn't willing to play fair with Itachi, and Kiba anymore. She was his now even if she hadn't said so he knew that she loved him. He would make her admit it tomorrow somehow.