A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I flipped the final pages of my medical report. Once again each line that asked to document my procedures for the day was filled out, and the boxes that showed the hours of my shift told me that I hardly stopped, even for a meal; and it was very reminiscent of yesterday and the day before. If it wasn't days where I could have easily waltzed out of the hospital for lack of anything to do, it was days like these, where I could proudly brag about my skill to nap at an ungodly hour and in the most compromising positions, like say, with one hand on a teaspoon stirring a cup of coffee. Having said that I couldn't help the smile on my lips as I glanced at the clock and out the window, where the last light of day faded into the darkness and I caught a glimpse of a shadow of the moon.

I got up to brush the creases on my clothes before heading out of my office with the report in hand. The jounin medic who would replace me waved from behind the nurse's station, but not before I overheard her and the nurse whispering about the very person who, by the looks of the front lobby, wasn't there to pick me up.

Of course I couldn't overhear! Who else out there was a whiskered blond, tall and manly, Shinobi world-famous - and I couldn't help my eyes roll - gorgeously sexy jounin but Uzumaki Naruto? I wish I could turn off my hearing function having to witness my boyfriend undergo the scrutiny of my gossiping co-workers, harmless as they were. Better them than some of the fangirls he seemed to have gained over the past years. I put on a poker face while I handed my report and gave them instructions. I then turned to the exit; their whispers of "isn't he supposed to pick her up?" quickly reaching my ear. I pushed the double doors, feeling a bit smug with the words he's just outside replying inside of my head.

Only he wasn't, and I had to do a double take at the empty space stretched out before me. I had changed shifts a couple of weeks ago and he had been here every night to pick me up. If he had gone on a longer mission I would have been first to know…

I walked away from the entrance and hoped that no one would notice that I was checking my watch every minute. I couldn't stop myself from looking around me even as some people and patients I knew walked past, and soon enough my heart started racing inside my chest. What if it was just a simple mission that was unexpectedly prolonged because something went wrong? I knew he was being trained to be the Hokage but it's not like there aren't able shinobi out there, not that it's a bad thing either that he's probably earning more than half the jounin squad combined. I mean, isn't that unfair distribution of labor? His missions these days were no less than A-rank, and he was always given the most dangerous, if not most difficult ones. He might be strong but he's not immortal I mean I would know I held the guy's heart in the palm of my hand seriously Naruto where the heck are you how am I even supposed to know wh-

"Hi!"

I swiftly turned to the sound of his voice, and there he was, all smiles and waving a hand in the air as he walked towards me. I checked my watch again and was beside myself after having to experience an agonizing ten minutes. Surely there was a good reason for being less than punctual and no he was not allowed to strut like some happy camper looking way too handsome and glad to see me no that is NOT the way it works around here and boy, he better spill before his lips touched my forehead.

Too late.

Before I knew it my insides were doing their own version of rhythmic gymnastics. He was warm, as usual, and he lingered there as he gently rubbed my arms.

"You look like you had a long day. How about we relax and have dinner? You deserve it for working so hard."

Too smooth.

I couldn't say no. Not when he spoke like that and smelled so nice and looked so… dashing. I would never know why he was late and I would forget to ask, because he let me choose where to go and I spent dinner enjoying my meal and talking to him. Late or not, I really did miss the guy.

We skipped the shortcut to my place and took the normal route, not really talking that much but still comfortable in silence. He held my hand and would squeeze it every now and then to force me to look at him. I would stubbornly do the opposite, but I don't really stop myself from leaning onto him slightly. Only a little bit.

We took a left and my eyes immediately watered at the sight of my house at the end of the street. It wasn't so late, but I was more mentally tired than physical. He knew this too, and it was apparent when he shifted from the usual lazy walk with me, to a slightly faster, more focused pace.

The thought of my warm bed and fluffy pillows was all too comforting as I stifled a yawn, fingers automatically reached for my hair. A second later, I thought better.

"Naruto, will you take out my pin for me? I could do it myself but… "

"Let me, Sakura-chan."

He stopped walking and stood before me, and I wasn't even pretending not to look at him anymore. His hand reached behind my head and slowly pulled out the pin, and with his eyes locked on mine I suddenly felt silly for simultaneously releasing a deep, slow breath as my hair fell on my shoulders.

"Thank you…" I whispered as my hand jerked up to the back of my neck and fingers combed my scalp. I definitely liked what he did more than I cared to admit.

He surprised me by leaning in and rubbing his nose on mine.

"I'd love to do it for you all the time since you're being lazy," he grinned, well aware that his lips were inching dangerously close to kissing territory. His confidence was so unnerving that I fought the impulse to grab my hairpin and shove it up his nose.

Two can play that game, though. I stepped closer and quickly wrapped my arms around his neck, brow raised and voice menacing. "So what if I am?"

He backed up, to no avail, thanks to my trusted arms of steel. "N-Nothing, Sakura-chan! You can be lazy, you… you totally deserve it."

It really is true what they say about Uzumaki Naruto. Blonde hair stuck up in all the right places, whiskers on his cheek that sets his face apart, taller than me by about five inches, manly - because he never went back on his word. Yes, there wasn't anyone these days who didn't know his name and dare I say, gorgeously sexy was an understatement. I often ask myself what I've done in my life, and when I look at him in my arms, all shaken and unsure, I guess I didn't do so bad.

The poor boy.

"Thought so," I declared in satisfaction, pulling him down to receive a kiss both he and I deserved.