Bringing Back

by Steinuun

They had a child together and still it seems love is out of the question. Can they find happiness together or should she say goodbye at last? She should have known better than that. A SasuSaku story.

21. Marrying

Hello to everyone!

I'm sorry for the delay. I had some unexpected difficulties in my life that stopped me from finishing the chapter faster and updating it. I had lost my job and so I don't have Internet as before. Chapter 22 is already started and I hope to have it sooner than this one for you all to read. A special thanks to my betareader, Laury_Uchiha for her amazing work!

Thanks to all of you who take your time to read this story, to whom review it or put it in any of your list of favorites. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. If I forgot someone please forgive me, but I don't have a lot of time like before to check up. I guess all of you are following Naruto's manga, it's very interesting! Anyway, let's move on with the reviews of the last chapter:

AVAuchiha:

Don't worry, Internet and PC's sometimes do weird things, ho, ho, it doesn't bother me tht you sent me a PM, I'm glad you consider the chapter as amazing and that I surprised you with their soon marriage, I hope you enjoy this chapter as the last one at least. Hmmm… I cannot tell you still what Sasuke's feeling are! But maybe you're right and about the length of the chapters… my, my I cannot help myself to do them so long! In fact I like long chapters if they have good things to say of course. Thank you for taking your time to read it! I'll keep it up, don't worry, greetings to you and thank you, thank you!

sonia:

You're very right! Sakura is very loyal to Sasuke in spite of everything. Thank you for saying it was a great plot about the marriage! You were right once more about Sasuke and I cannot tell you if he does love Sakura but maybe you're right like AVAuchiha. Hmmm… what intuitive people I have around! Ho, ho, we'll see… This chapter was long too and I thank you for reading it. I suppose that from here the chapters are going to be of the same length or even longer! Ha, ha, I hope you find this chapter interesting, I'll continue it and don't worry and I'll try to not let you wait long. Thanks a lot!

xx-tenshi-xx:

You hate and love my story at the same time! Thank you! Sorry for making it confusing and doing it the other way around! I guess Sakura doesn't think clearly when Sasuke comes around! I guess she had forgotten about protecting herself putting his safety and her daughter's happiness first even if she's doing it in the wrong way. We need to wait to see if she screws up the situation even more I guess… and Sasuke isn't doing it right either as you say. I really want to know your opinion about this chapter and the next one! Well her friends and teachers cannot force her into anything or change her opinion even if they don't agree. I really love to read your reviews. I understand finally why you hate it and I hope to make a good explanation at the end, I'm dreading that moment now! But thank you for reading it and being hooked! Thanks a lot and don't worry it will continue and I hope I won't cause you a stroke or something because of the next chapters!

C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only:

Do you still need your meds? I'm so so sorry! Thank you for following the story in spite of that! I'm really grateful!

jay-alexis:

Sorry for taking a long time! But I'm back and I promise to update sooner. Thank you for considering the story too good for complain about the delays, it will go on till the end, don't worry, thank you for having faith in me and be patient and feeling proud, thank you! I'll try to not disappoint you updating faster and finishing it, I just hope to keep you around.

Babykat570:

Sorry for taking a looong time. I hope you like this chapter! Thanks, thanks a lot!

Massu Chan:

Thank you for saying that it is a great story and for supporting me till the end! I'll keep it up and I hope to be a good work till now, I hope you like this chapter and to see you around! See you too and thanks a lot!

I hope to see you around soon!

Bye, bye!

Chapter 21

Marrying

"What the hell were you thinking when you advised Sakura-chan to decide that?!"

Shikamaru just looked tiredly at the blond and blue-eyed ninja fuming in anger and disbelief. The Hyuuga Heiress was trying to calm him, looking questionably and worriedly at the genius young man. He knew that Ino was staring at him a little shocked and scolding too. Tsunade had to go after Sakura told them this unexpected news just like Sai. Kakashi-sensei was leaning against a wall in deep thought and seemed to be the only one who didn't want to kill him right now. He sighed with his arms crossed over his chest while Naruto was glaring daggers at him.

"I just wanted to help her and Sasuke. I gave her two ways to get him out of this and she picked. Sorry, but you cannot really blame me for her weapon of choice." He shrugged and Ino snorted angrily. "And what the hell are you so angry about? I thought that all of you, especially you Naruto, were going to be happy about it. They're getting married at last."

"I didn't want it to happen like this." Naruto cut in now frowning sadly and less angered towards his friend. He sighed deeply, lowering his look showing how deep in thought he was in fact. Hinata clutched his hand between hers reassuringly. "I wanted it to be for real... not just to pretend something and so... loveless."

"There's love. Just not in both parts."

Ino annoyed and exasperated couldn't help herself, sighed and punched Shikamaru in the arm, making him stumble a little. He rolled his eyes sighing tiredly, knowing that they were right in that part at least.

"Look...I'm sorry that these were the only solutions I could find. But I had to tell Sakura. Give her to choice if she really wanted to help him. I didn't want her to do something on her own without thinking it could worsen the situation."

"You didn't want her to do something worse?"

Ino said ironically, still angry with her old friend and teammate. He rolled his eyes and ignored her.

"But... we still don't know if Sasuke-san will accept it..."

Hinata's concerned words made them see the other important point here. Even if Sakura married him, sacrificing her heart to save and protect him, when Sasuke said "No" to her offer, not even she would be capable of changing his mind. Her will was just one thing, but his...

They were talking about the proud Sasuke Uchiha. The one who didn't love Sakura and who was the kind of person, who would decline the proposal, even if it was the only thing she could do for him. Suddenly they were all silent, thinking about what Sasuke's reaction would be and how Sakura could possibly react to it. Would he say no, would he say yes? And which reasons could he use in his mute state to backup his decision? Naruto turned around all of a sudden, ready to go to the door while Hinata glanced worriedly at him.

The impetuous blonde ninja was paralyzed when Kakashi's hand on his chest stopped him and threw him backwards, making the once nine-tailed beast stumble and almost lose his balance if it hadn't been for Ino and Hinata who caught him before he fell down.

"What the hell was that for?!" Naruto asked still in the pair of hands of the blond and dark haired ones staring confused and angrily at his former sensei. Kakashi just sighed tiredly, looking thoughtful and put himself between Naruto and the door.

"Are you trying to stop me, Kakashi-sensei?!"

"Yes, because Shikamaru has a point." When Naruto and Ino glared at him Kakashi made a gesture begging them to wait for his explanation. "If Sakura has decided something we won't be able to change her mind. We all know her and now that she's determined to do this, we cannot do anything even if we want it and think that she's making a mistake. She would have come out with something worse than the ideas Shikamaru gave her and that's the plain truth. What she feels for Sasuke is beyond comprehension and has blinded her and no matter what we say or do, she's not going to back out."

Naruto lowered his worried and thoughtful look and calmed instantly. Ino sighed desperately knowing that the sensei was right. Hinata was concerned as Shikamaru just stared at the man with a little frown.

"So, the only thing that is up to us is to support her. That's what you're saying."

"That's right." Kakashi answered sincerely and preoccupied to Naruto, who looked sadly at him.

"She's going to do this with or without our support and help. And I guess we all prefer to stick around her till the very end even if this plan of hers backfires someday."

"I understand that. It's just that I'm thinking about Miyu-chan." Naruto said sadly and his baby blue eyes suddenly seemed so frustrated and desperate. The others got serious because they understood where that was coming from.

"She's the innocent one in the middle of this mess. She deserves a loving family with a mom and a dad who love each other truly and totally, not some cold pact. What is going to happen the day Miyu-chan will be able to understand how the thing is between Sakura and Sasuke? Suppose this wedding happens. What if one day Sasuke grows tired of the marriage and decides to leave Sakura? What if one day Sakura grows tired of his coldness and decides to stop sacrificing herself? What then? What about Miyu-chan? What things she would have to see and hear from them? Who's going to protect the girl from that?"

Naruto's heartfelt words left them in silence, pondering about the sincerity in them. Shikamaru couldn't deny that he was right. He sighed tiredly with a little frown of worry. The blond ninja lowered his thoughtful and sad eyes.

"You're right." Kakashi said sadly. "You're very right saying that. But at the end the only ones who will be responsible for that are Sakura and Sasuke. They're her parents in spite of what we think. Let me do what I can to let her see all that she's risking with this decision of hers and let me help Sasuke to realize it too. Both have to know what's the most important thing in the middle of this mess and war. Their daughter. Let me do it, Naruto. If you go you'll just snap and yell and they won't understand it like you really, and all of us, understand. The reason for our worry. I promise I'll talk to them right now. I'll tell them about your honest and worried words." Naruto sighed exasperated at first but gave up nodding with a deep and serious frown. Shikamaru and Ino exchanged glances of agreement with the famous sensei. She still was quite angry with him. Hinata was just attentive to Naruto and still holding his hand. "But let me tell you this. The final decision depends on them and if Sakura gets her way with this mad plan we will have to just give up and support her, support them. Ok?"

The four young ninjas nodded once more firmly and Kakashi smiled calmly giving a thumb up to them.

"I'll do my best."

The young man turned around and left the room leaving the door open with quiet and serene pace. He sighed worriedly not wanting to tell them that he felt it was useless. In fact he felt that he wasn't going to change anything but he was going to try. It was all he could do for the future of his two former students and the peace of mind of the third one. What could he lose anyway just trying to have a talk heart to heart with both?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sakura POV

After I said all that to my friends, our Hokage and my former sensei, I went back calmly to Sasuke-kun's room. I didn't know how I had ended having so much determination and belief in this little scheme of mine, but I really felt all I had said and I wasn't going to let them win this and take away Sasuke-kun from us forever. When I had heard Shikamaru explaining it to me I was speechless, shocked and saddened. I understood then why he had his reservations in telling me about this second choice and why he had said that it was going to be more difficult and hard for me, why it was a sacrifice for me to do. No marriage should be a sacrifice and I knew that if it was like that it was doomed to end in the worst way one day. Marrying Sasuke-kun was never in my childhood and fangirl's dreams a sacrifice to make. It was all the way around. The wedding of my dreams, marrying the boy I had loved since I was a little dreamy girl. But under these circumstances I understood why my wise friend had called it like that and then the others who already knew of my mad plan. I was going to marry him because I loved him and I wanted to protect him and save him when he, if he accepted, was going to marry me just to be free of his enemies and to stay near our little girl. He wasn't exactly rude or mean with me. He had always been honest about his feelings towards me and Miyu and I appreciated that, no mattering how hurt I was knowing the truth. He was courteous enough and had education to at least treat me with respect besides his common coldness and distance. If he said yes to my crazy decision at least I was sure about that and my childish fear that I was trying to conceal due to this mad plan that I wasn't going to change, tried to find solace and refuge in that knowledge. It could have been worse, couldn't it?

But then as I was walking lost in thought and with a serious and sad expression and foggy eyes through the empty white corridors of the hospital I wondered what I was going to do if he said no. How could I convince him? And what was worse: Did I really deeply want, in a little part of me, a scared part, for him to say no? A scared part that feared for the outcome of this, for more tears to come, for more hurt to feel, for more useless hope to appear. I had decided to marry someone who had told me just moments ago straight through a letter how he felt about me and I didn't care enough to go on with this unexpected and plotted wedding. To anyone and to the real me I'm nothing more than a clingy stupid girl trying desperately and without dignity left to stay glued together to the one who will never love her back. I smirked ironically listening to Inner Sakura laughing mockingly at me and I wondered if the other little part of me, the one that is wrapped in a princess dress and is still waiting for her prince to come to rescue her, a prince that has passed by her side for years and never really looked at her, was expecting childishly and in a fairytale's ingenuity to have a chance like this, just an incredible opportunity like this, to hope and dream again and have the love of her life forever.

But I didn't want to think more in this because even if I could appear firm and determined about this, I had my fears, worries and doubts and I couldn't let them paralyze me and make me back out. I'm gaining more with this than not doing it, I repeated to myself giving me courage and belief in my decision. And I had the more important thing to think about in the middle of this mess I had created. Miyu. My brave little girl. Our daughter who was innocent from all the mistakes and stupidities her mother had done since she was inside my belly. She was the worry that crushed and anguished my heart; she was all that mattered on top of my own insecurity and fear. Above my doubts. Was I doing well in marrying Sasuke-kun, her father, under these circumstances? Was this the best for her? Was I doing the best I could do for her? Was my love for her wrong in this? Was I acting for her and for me or just for me?

I stopped sadly and with unshed tears filling my emerald eyes in front of Sasuke-kun's door. I balled my fists tightly with my glistened glance fixed on the floor and slightly trembling in uncertainty and fear. I didn't want to fail. I didn't want to drag Miyu into something that could hurt her. For a moment all my confidence and security fell to the floor like if dust was blown by the wind and I held back a strangled sob wondering confused, sad, worried and panicked what I was doing.

And then I heard Miyu laughing and talking in her mismatched speech and the natural joy, innocence, hope and clarity in that noise filled me with renewed peace of mind. I relaxed my tense and rigid body and I breathed deeply clearing my foggy mind and calming my throbbing heart and I closed my eyes drying the unshed tears as I smiled serenely with happiness and my fists let go of my fears. I listened to her saying something to her dad about hair and I chuckled calmly and happily, finding myself again firm and decided, hopeful and ready to face the consequences and see the truth with my own eyes and I opened the door entering the room with a steady and normal pace. As I lingered in the doorframe, watching at the bed where the two dark haired beings I loved with all my soul were away from the world that was plotting against their happiness I noticed that Miyu had finished doing Sasuke-kun's hair and now he had little braids and ponytails and I couldn't help to chuckle and giggle at the scene. Sasuke-kun and Miyu turned around to face me and they found me amused by that and the pouting and frowning he wore then in his pale expression just shut me up but I couldn't help to notice that in fact he wasn't glaring or sulking at me for it. It was just like a game. I smiled warmly to Miyu who asked him to put her on the floor and as I watched her come my way in little happy jumps motioning to her father and talking about her well done job I was sure then that Sasuke-kun saw it as a game for her. It's amazing how she could soften him in ways no one in the world could do it and how he couldn't be angry with her innocent games even if he had to lose a little of his stance as the proud, unreachable and never embarrassed Uchiha he had always paroled about.

"Dadas peetty!"

She said reaching out and pulling me from my skirt and motioning me to lean and look at her. I did as my sunshine wanted patting her head softly with the happy face she always puts on my face.

"Yes, sweetie. He is." I said as I took her in my arms and I carried her bouncing her little weight in my hip and looking back at Sasuke-kun who just stared at us with serious but calm and somehow kind face. The one he only puts for her. "Your father is a cute man."

I kissed her cheek adoringly, making her giggle as I tried to not chuckle at the murderous glance Sasuke-kun gave me for that comment and I walked to the bed holding her with one of my hands and with the other picking up the last drawings she did and were sprawled on the mattress. Sasuke-kun helped me immediately and we both took the same drawing from a different part staring at it silently for long seconds immersed in the shapes and colors our little girl put there with her little skilled hands. My green eyes glistened immediately when I realized that she had painted Sasuke-kun, me and herself together inside what it seemed to be a little house. The whole picture was filled with bright and shining colors and the three little people (three sticks with a circle as head) were clearly smiling and happily holding hands. I blinked and gulped, trying to evaporate the damn tears springing in my damn eyes and I couldn't dare to see what Sasuke-kun's reaction was. I kept my eyes on the drawing and somehow a little unexpected smile was plastered on my face with easiness and true serenity.

"Home" Miyu said suddenly pointing at the drawing happily. "Dada, momma, me" She went on in her innocent way as I was sure I saw Sasuke-kun hand slightly trembling as my own had done it already. "Happy!"

She laughed proudly of her work and I took that as the sign to stop spacing out there in silence. I turned to her smiling and she had already her little and beautiful face on me with her big black eyes staring intensely at me. For the first time my own daughter had burned a path through my heart like her father used to do in his own way and I kissed her forehead as Sasuke-kun put the drawing with the others. I had received the sign I wanted to go on with my plan and now more than ever I wasn't going to back out from it. I just needed one more confirmation and I was going to take care of that right now.

"Look Miyu, dad and mom need to talk for a moment." I started lifting myself from the mattress with her in arms and her drawings as she looked at me straight in the eyes with a sweet and understanding face. I went to the table and I set her down on one chair leaving her drawings on top of the flat area. "Wait here for a moment, ok?"

"Yes, momma."

She, satisfied and happy turned her attention immediately to her drawings and I went back to the mattress where Sasuke-kun was already waiting for me. I sat down beside him and for a moment I kept quiet, trying to put in order the ideas hovering inside my mind. All the while my Uchiha was still and patient watching me askance with his common seriousness and freezing calm. I noticed gladly that he was looking in fact better after Shizune and Tsunade-sama had restarted the treatment to stabilize him. I cleared my throat and with a little frown of determination I turned my jade gaze that was lying on the polished floor to him fixing it in his black orbs. I explained to him in low and serene voice all that had happened and I knew that probably the blond Hokage had already told him something when he had been able to understand it and it didn't surprise me the calm he showed when I revived some facts like the trap the Council had set for him meddling with his treatment and medicines. He didn't know the final resolution the damned Council had taken regarding his future for the released Amaterasu but he, being the one he was behaved enough to just stiff and narrow his eyes in anger and old hatred. Still I knew that Sasuke-kun wasn't going to do anything about it because he now had something bigger and more important to think about than his old flame of revenge and hate. It was the same reason I had. Miyu. He didn't care about old rivalries, mistrust and hidden agendas and I was very proud and relieved to see the maturity in the depth of his perfect onyx eyes regarding that. And for what I could catch for his expression and thoughtful glance I knew that he expected something like that. When I paused telling him about it I watched saddened and touched how he turned his gaze to the corner where our little girl was, happily unaware of our chatting and my plotting and his eyes lingering on her small silhouette for a moment with a worried and longing look. He had understood completely what it meant what I had told him. The Council was going to send him away from her, from the only person that was his family and that meant everything in the world to him even if he had wanted to deny it and keep it secret in hurtful and unexplainable ways. I was hopeful then that he could understand why I was going to tell him what I had decided and I took a deep breath giving me courage to go on with the hardest part. Sasuke-kun had somehow already felt my uneasiness and desire to say something else and was staring at me intensely and meditative like trying to read me. I needed to hurry up things because I wanted us to marry as soon as possible before the Council could come out with another trap and lie to put its hands on him again. I felt like I was dealing with a bomb that could explode in my face without predicted time so I tried to be straight and short as I had been when I had told it to my friends and our Hokage and as he had been in that hurtful letter written to me. And the dreamy part of me couldn't help to feel excited for my upcoming wedding even if it wasn't how I had wanted it to be. I was so stupid and childish…

"Look, I have found a way to stop them from imprisoning and sending you away. I know that it's not what you would wish and you don't want it, I can tell it after I read the letter you wrote for me." I paused and he just kept his intense and unreadable gaze on me. I tried not showing my sadness over the issue of the letter and I kept my decisive and serious expression. "But I think is the best way to proceed. Marry me."

I stopped after the last two words left my mouth so easily and I laughed inwardly at how empty and meaningless they sounded in this case in particular. How sad. Sasuke-kun stared at me a little surprised and shocked and he blinked like if he couldn't believe his ears. I nodded firmly and not showing my true feelings over this.

"Marry me. As your wife I can stand by your side and they'll leave you in peace. Our marriage will protect you better than anything and they'll have to fight against Miyu and me if they dare to try to do something to you."

I went on and on saying the same I had said to the others moments ago trying to reason with him logically of how this decision was the best to take. I did it with cold mind and frozen heart and I noticed how his expression turned more and more unreadable and thoughtful as I was talking. I didn't know what he was thinking and I didn't dare to imagine it but I talked sincerely with clear voice and face devoid of any kind of feeling that could make him back out.

"I know what you feel for me. I know you don't love me and you never will. You never did." I said simply honest and with a little smirk and erased sadness and pain from my controlled eyes. "I know and I won't marry you hoping or expecting for that to change. I know why I'm doing this. This is for Miyu and this is for you. It's unfair what they're trying to do to you and to her. I cannot stay without doing anything. So I'm telling you to not worry about me. Believe me; it is clear to me why we will marry and you don't have to worry about that. You and me have something in common that means the world and that's our daughter. I know that for you too her happiness and security, her protection and life is the most important and it is on top of any kind of thing we can want or desire. I know we can do this and I know we can make an agreement to avoid future problems and unwanted situations and be at ease and happy for her. Can you do it for her? Can you bear to marry me and stay with me the rest of our life even if it is a sacrifice for her sake? I can. And I'm ready to do it if you say yes. Maybe you think I'm using her to convince you but I don't want her to lose you. And I don't want you to lose her. Not after all you have gone through."

I don't want to lose you either. I stopped talking because I felt my eyes filling with unshed tears once more and I averted finally my eyes with calm and control trying to stop him from seeing it. What a liar I was. What a stupid woman I was. And I was so desperate and concerned for his uncertain future that was like that till he accepted my offer. What else could I say to convince him? He remained still and staring back at me with narrowed eyes in thoughtfulness and I closed my eyes worried and afflicted.

"There was another solution." I started and I was surprised for my choice of words. I had decided previously to not tell it to him because that option was unbearable to me like the one the Council had taken but I felt the responsibility to tell it to him. At least he would be able to choose at the end if he really considered so disgusting and annoying the idea of sharing his life with me. "We can help you to escape from Konoha but you would have to live undercover and away from here and not return in a very long time or probably ever. At least you could be free." I smiled softly and sincerely. You won't have to live with me if you don't want it. "I'll give you time to think about it, ok? I'll go and take Miyu to home with mother and I'll return later. Please, have an answer, ok?"

I got up from the mattress not wanting to meet his studying eyes and I went to pick up Miyu and her thinks the faster I could with normalcy. I knew he had his eyes locked on me the whole time and I tried to ignore it till I approached him with our little girl for her to say goodbye to him. Sasuke-kun kissed her forehead softly and lovingly without meeting my eyes as Miyu gave him that particular drawing as a present till I was at the door with her in my arms and the bag hanging from my shoulder. We both looked at the other in silence for a second with calm and seriousness as Miyu waved her goodbye happily to him and he waved it back with soft and concerned expression.

"Bay bay Dada! Seee youu!"

And after that I was left in seconds from his silent room.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kakashi POV

I knew I had arrived late when I saw Sakura carrying Miyu, turning at the corner of the empty and white hall. I sighed resigned and I didn't hesitate nor take more time to at least talk with Sasuke about all this mess. I could talk to Sakura later because I was pretty sure that she was going to return. She didn't appear affected by whatever answer Sasuke could have given to her and that only meant one thing: she had given him time to think about it and decide.

Knowing that probably she had given him a short time to take a choice I entered the room quietly and focused and I found him sitting on the mattress with a lost and distant expression. He wasn't wearing the special cloth covering his dangerous eyes and I guessed that whatever treatment Tsunade-sama and Shizune were providing him was doing a great job to help him. He was still pale, weak and restless but a lot more controlled and calm than hours before. I didn't say anything to try to catch his attention and I just went to the corner where the table stood and I took a chair and brought it nearer without doing a single noise near the hospital's bed. That was how he noticed me. I sat down with my folded arms over my chest and my legs crossed one over the other facing him with silence and meditation. I knew he was thinking about whatever Sakura had told him and I wondered if I had heard about such a cold way to propose marriage to someone ever before. Just to imagine the state of mind and heart of my former pink haired student when she had asked him to marry her filled me with deep concern and true admiration. Sasuke was now staring at me with tired, alert and half focused onyx gaze and I took a moment to order my ideas before talking to him. I had made a promise and I needed to do what I could to achieve it even knowing the result anyway.

"So, Sakura has already talked to you about it.", I started calmly and he just averted his eyes narrowing them in thoughtfulness. "She has asked you to marry her to save you from this situation and to protect you and keep you near Miyu." I stated calmly, fixing my half stare on him. The Uchiha just turned to face me still distant but alert and closed his eyes folding his arms over his chest like me. I knew he was pondering about Sakura's mad plan. I wished to know what he was really thinking and feeling about it. "I hope you can see how much it took her to reach that point. You know perfectly what she has always felt for you. So I expect that not minding your answer you can appreciate her effort and what lengths she's willing to go for you and the daughter of both. Have you decided yet? Are you going to accept her offer?"

I asked him sincerely preoccupied and wanting for him to notice how honest I was and that I was worthy of his confidence and trust. Knowing him this could backfire on me and he could act the other way around: glaring and throwing me out of his room for meddling in his private life and business. But nothing like that happened and to my surprise and relief he just shook his head slightly once and lowered his face where a soft frown was wrinkling his pale forehead and I realized that he was troubled and probably concerned. The only thing I was quite sure about was that he was immersed in turmoil of thoughts hovering inside his mind. But he had given me his answer.

"I see. Are you sure?" To my major surprise he shook his head slowly once again and I noticed the piece of paper he was grabbing in his hand softly like if it was some sort of treasure. For what I could see of it I knew it was one of Miyu's drawings. I sighed thoughtfully and I kept quiet for a moment gathering my thoughts. "I'm worried as the others like Naruto for this. We're concerned for Miyu's future if you agreed in marrying her mother. I know you're perfectly aware that Miyu would be the principal victim if this decision wasn't the best at the end. I don't know if Sakura is totally aware because right now she's trying to help you. But you're more logical than her. You still don't have a definitive answer, Sasuke. What's making you to hesitate? You were never one to doubt for so long and less concerning important matters as the future of your daughter and your own life."

I stopped still with my eye on him studying his every detail and he landed his dark orbs on the piece of folded paper in his hands. I leaned over thinking deeply in all this and knowing I had to do the best for the three members of this unique family.

"If you accept to marry Sakura you know that you would have to devote your life to her and to Miyu even if you don't love Sakura. You would have to respect her and at least treat her well. While Miyu is young you'll have to pretend to be happy with Sakura and if one day when Miyu could be old enough to understand and nothing had changed between her mother and you and whether you decide to go on with the fake marriage or decide to separate and leave Sakura, you'll have to confront Miyu's suffering and sadness over it. Miyu would suffer in any way if you accept it or not. If you don't accept to marry Sakura now she would suffer without a father to grow up and hearing that her father is a criminal and all the lies that the Council will spread about you. You won't see her often either if you go with its decision or escape from Konoha and the Land of Fire. Miyu would suffer and would be sad too. That's the plain truth at the end even if it's sad and painful. Your little girl would suffer and you won't be able to stop it nor do anything about it."

I made a pause giving time for this to sink deeply in his already confused mind. Sasuke listened to me with distant black eyes and his common freezing serenity and control.

"She was going to suffer anyway later. You know why, don't you?" I asked him still calm and softly and he looked at me with a hint of understanding in his dark orbs. "One day Miyu will know about everything that happened when she was conceived and then when she was born, about her two first years of life. She will know how you reacted towards her existence." Sasuke tensed and his hands clutched the piece of folded paper tightly and his frown deepened and shadowed his expression. I had been right after all. "I know you had already considered it. I noticed it in her last birthday party, in the way how much it hurt you to just look at Miyu. Your little girl would suffer in any way, Sasuke and that's something you're perfectly aware of. You're waiting for it; you're dreading it, don't you? And now there's another obstacle in between and you have to make a decision that will affect not only your life but hers and Sakura's too. What are you going to do? What do you think is the best for your little girl? Think of her. Decide for her. But whatever decision you take you need to have in mind the consequences and how are you going to confront them."

After a moment of silence I saw him unfolding the piece of paper and staring at it thoughtfully with softer expression. Finally I could see what the drawing was about and I sighed sad and moved seeing what the little Uchiha heiress had painted there. And by the way Sasuke had locked his onyx eyes on it so longingly I was sure that Miyu's wish was the same he had in the deep of his troubled and mingled heart. Was he aware of it? Probably. The main problem here was the fact that he had never loved Sakura in that way to make completely true the painting in his hands. I didn't need to ask him to be pretty sure that he wanted to go on with Sakura's decision just to gain some part of that innocent drawing. I didn't know all the reasons behind that wish but I could comprehend some. But in this moment the only thing that mattered was the fact that I knew what answer he wanted to give.

He wanted to stay for Miyu even if he had to marry Sakura to gain that.

Could it be so difficult for him to accept to marry her and spend his life with her? I went back to past days and the exchanges I had seen between both and I remembered how sometimes he watched my former pink haired student. Was it really so difficult to accept to be with her? Did he feel a little guilty for the hurt he had caused her? I couldn't really believe that Sasuke could dislike her so much to not feel guilty for the suffering she had gone through because of him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kakashi POV

When Sasuke returned from the bathroom I caught something different in his dark eyes just like that time when I had left him waiting for me outside the hospital sitting on that bench. He simply sat down at the table where I was still chatting and laughing with Anko and stayed lost in thought seeing Miyu playing with her grandmother and her new toys. I saw that he was very deep in his own world and he was barely putting attention to his little girl. I noticed that he was deeply thinking in that introspective and profound way he has and not being a victim of his strange illness. I was at ease for that. But I felt too worried and curious about his moment of deep meditation and drifting reverie. I heard laughs and voices talking happily and I turned my attention to Sakura and the girls who were leaving the house and returning to the party after the girl's talk Anko had talked me about. I knew that Sakura had been crying. It was plain obvious to me who knew her for so long and I sighed concerned and saddened at how her emerald eyes were crystals menacing to break without warning. She was trying so hard to hide everything. But I knew too my other former students and I looked at him by the corner of my black gaze meditative and wondering. Anko, luckily for me, was now chatting with Kiba's sister who was sitting on a table next to the right. Sasuke had averted his black and cold gaze at just seeing the entrance of the mother of his child and I found myself sighing sadly at their current situation. I did wonder why he had averted his black eyes when she came to the backyard with the girls and why he seemed suddenly deep in thought with his furrowed brow and pale face staring without staring really at the ground.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kakashi POV

Did something happen that day besides that terrible seizure he had?

"Do you want to stay with Miyu?" I asked him leaving behind my reverie and inner confused thoughts. Sasuke looked up to me calmly. "Would you marry Sakura?" Not receiving a signal of a yes or a no I thought then that something was still worrying him or stopping him in giving a straight answer. Unconsciously his black orbs betrayed him when in seconds they landed on the drawing and they locked for a second on Miyu's version of her young mother. A little smile crept on in my half covered face. Even if it had been very short to notice I had noticed it and I was sure about it. Maybe I wasn't totally mistaken in my observations. "You don't want to drag Sakura into this, right?"

He froze his sudden and short expression immediately and faced me brooding and glaring with narrowed serious eyes and I chuckled at it. You don't want to drag her into this mad plan because you don't want to hurt her anymore. Perhaps you really feel guilty somehow and concerned about her.

"It's like I told you. See the consequences in advance and prepare to confront them. I cannot do anything more. The final decision is yours, Sakura's and yours. I only wanted to be sure if any of you were really thinking in Miyu's future concerning it. You're doing it. I'm glad because you're trying to be the best father you could even if you don't know if you're making a mistake or not. Nobody knows. Only time will tell unfortunately."

I smiled warmly at him and I got up stretching my tired body as I caught his gaze still on me pondering about my words. I walked a little around the room because I knew I had to be sure about Sakura then after talking with Sasuke. Probably she had thought already in what I had told Sasuke but I needed to be sure for Miyu's sake. Sasuke stopped my wandering and spacing out when he got up from the bed and walked to me still with the piece of folded paper in his left hand. He put himself in front of me with pale face filled with determination and with a furrowed brow speaking of fierce will and graceful serenity. And I knew he had already taken a decision when I saw all that written all over his face and I just nodded knowing I had ended my job here.

­­­­­­­­­­-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sakura POV

I returned to the hospital after an hour because I couldn't wait any longer. I left Miyu with my mother at home but I didn't dare to tell her about my mad plan and stupid decision and I acted normally till I was walking the empty white hall of the hospital towards Sasuke-kun's room. I had met Shizune when I had arrived at this floor and she had told me that the Council had been stopped waiting if I was bluffing or lying about my marriage with Sasuke Uchiha. I didn't want to imagine them laughing their head off and mocking this lame pink haired girl who had dared to confront them marrying a man who everyone knew didn't love me. I felt pathetic and worthless but I couldn't take back my decision and I wasn't going to do it even if everyone thought I was forcing him to marry me. Before I entered Sasuke-kun's room I found Kakashi-sensei outside with his back against the wall like if he was waiting for me. I had expected him or Tsunade-sama or even Naruto to try to force me to think clearly over this so I breathed deeply touched by their worry and knowing that I couldn't blame them or be angry with them. I would have done the same for them if the situation needed it.

Like I had thought, Kakashi-sensei talked to me about my plan of marrying Sasuke-kun and he focused in Miyu's future in this. I had considered it, after all she was my little girl and I loved her with all my heart, but I had to be honest when I heard some things I hadn't considered fully or not at all. I listened to my first sensei calmly, concerned and thoughtful and thanking his intervention even when I wasn't going to back out. He had opened my eyes more and had said some things I should have to talk to Sasuke-kun about our daughter's sake and happiness. Then he remembered me about my Uchiha's first reaction towards our little girl and I was surprised when I hadn't remembered this. Kakashi-sensei was right, sooner or later Miyu was going to grow up and she was going to know about all that had happened concerning her father and me. I knew that was hurting Sasuke-kun inwardly then even if he hid it skillfully and I knew that was going to hurt Miyu in the future and although I had only loved her and tried to protect her since the beginning I had my own amount of guilt to be punished in the form of hurting her too. So, what was the best for her? Was it the best for her father and mother to be together to explain it to her and ask her forgiveness? Was it best for us to be separated and deal with it like that? How to show Miyu that her father had loved her but he had taken bad decisions that I didn't really know why he had taken them? One thing was sure for me and that was to protect Sasuke-kun and Miyu's relationship. I didn't want them to be separated by the past and I knew that Sasuke-kun would have to explain to her why he had acted the way he had done it. Maybe he didn't want to explain to me but to his little girl he would have to do it and I knew he would do it sooner or later. Even if the things between him and me didn't change or went worse or better, he would have to stand up for her. I didn't want to be an obstacle between the both if I couldn't be part of the equation.

"Are you still going on with this, Sakura?"

Kakashi-sensei asked me seriously concerned and calm and I nodded after thinking it for a brief pause. He had come to be sure that I was thinking in the future of my bright little girl and now he knew I had done it. He knew that this decision was only mine and Sasuke's. Strangely I was feeling more and more at ease about my first inner battle of doubts and fears and I felt confident even knowing that an uncertain future waited for me. Kakashi-sensei had noticed and he smiled to me openly.

"Then there's nothing else to say. I'll support the both of you."

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."

I didn't know if the others, my friends and our Hokage were going to support me too and I felt sad about it. I knew that my growing peace of mind, maybe childish and naïve was coming from the kind words Kakashi-sensei had said to me. His sincere worry and understanding had helped me to gain calm and optimism. I was going to make this work no matter what I had to sacrifice.

"Well, I suppose you have come to talk to Sasuke."

I nodded firmly and calm, smiling to him thankfully before opening the door with my calm strengthening up my body and soul and still with my heart beating fast against my chest and controlling my breathing and I entered the room leaving the door opened. I didn't know if Kakashi-sensei was going to come in too. I found Sasuke-kun sitting in one of the chairs at the table as if he was waiting for me and when he felt my presence he turned to face me. He wasn't wearing the special cloth covering his eyes and I felt utterly happy for it because I knew what it meant. I walked to him and took seat in front of him trying to act normally and be controlled. I noticed he was dressing formally now like if he was ready to leave the hospital but I didn't want to ask or know about it. I needed his answer first. But he was looking so damn handsome and elegant and healthier in spite of his real condition and was calm and collected watching me with intensity that melted me in a flash. His arms were landed on his lap and I had put mine over the table in a gesture of attention and disposition. I didn't know if he wanted me to go first or not and I felt nervous about it. Suddenly I felt the same I had felt in that occasion when Shino had been badly hurt and I stopped my body's reaction in synchrony to it. I didn't need to blush like a damn tomato right now. I had decided to stop acting that way with him if I wanted to go on with this marriage. So I used my willpower to fight his unconscious power over me with his mere presence and stance and I cleared my throat like if we were discussing a matter of business instead of a wedding and lifetime compromise.

"Have you decided yet?"

I asked calmly with my jade eyes fixed on his entire being and trying to not be hypnotized by his black eyes. He just stared at me silently for a moment putting me in the edge of craziness before pulling out something from an inner pocket of his upper clothing. I watched confused while he put slowly and with grace a beautiful, red and little velvet box in front of my entangled hands over the table and then he pulled away his right hand. It took me just a second to know what it was and I was dumbstruck and shocked, deeply surprised by it. I tried to hide my reaction the faster I could, this is a business, and I reminded myself staring at the little box stunned still. I didn't want to act like a normal girl in this kind of situation because this wasn't a normal situation and I used all my willpower to take control over my heart racing inside my chest and drumming in my ears and my lungs breathing quickly. But I couldn't move a damn finger and less a hand to take it and open it. I was afraid that Sasuke-kun could take my weird behavior as something to regret his acceptance to my mad plan but he surprised me again when his hands again approached the little box and opened it and a beautiful, elegant and perfect engagement ring stared at me in all its glory. I looked at it amazed by the big diamond crowning it, it was huge in fact, sparkling marvelously and the ring seemed to be of white gold. It had to be gold. Uchiha meant gold in this kind of things, I stupidly thought. I loved that it was white instead of golden. It gave it a more elegant feature. Still I couldn't dare to take it and Sasuke-kun once more surprised me taking it from the little box with one hand and with the other he took my left one that wasn't shaking just for willpower and he place it in the right finger easily and then it was there encircling my pale finger perfectly. It matched perfectly.

I hadn't dared to look at his face, at his eyes since he had laid the little box in front of me. I didn't want to betray my inner feelings and commotion with one stupid look. But the contact of his hands, his fingers placing the engagement ring in my pale finger had sent chills through my spine and had caused electricity in every damn pore of my skin. Even knowing this was an arrangement and a business I couldn't help to be filled by the common and expected happiness, joy and hope a situation like this cause in a normal woman, I guessed. For a moment the inner little princess waiting for her prince exploded inside me in bliss imaging this moment a little different but it didn't last long because I was reminded of why it was happening. Either way I like it, it gave me a bittersweet happiness and I was glad for it. At least he had thought about it and had accepted it. He had had to pick it for me. That was something. I didn't smile openly but my face couldn't help to soften at the sight of it and I supposed that Sasuke-kun thought it was for the ring itself and not what it meant to me. Men could think that way about women and jewelry. I looked at the impressive ring closely noticing the intricated design of it. I wondered how much he had paid for it and I felt suddenly embarrassed.

"You… didn't have to buy it for me and less one so expensive and beautiful."

I said with shy voice and for the first time I dared to look at him straight. Sasuke-kun was staring at me calmly and unreadable as always but seemed comfortable by my reaction, even amused and somehow glad. Good, he hadn't noticed. I lowered my green still shocked gaze to the ring once more.

"He didn't buy it." Kakashi-sensei said coming over with a happy voice. I turned to him confused. "He asked me, by a letter of course, to take it from the Uchiha's heritage, like Miyu's necklace. It belonged to his mother too. It seems to be an engagement ring that was passed generation by generation when an important wedding was going to happen. His mother disposed it for either Itachi or him if the time came. I only had to fix it for you."

Oh my God. I felt worse and ashamed of wearing it now that I knew the truth. It had to be priceless for him and a memory close to his heart. Why had he given it to me? To prove to everyone that this marriage was more real than they could guess?

"I can't take it! You don't need to give it to me, Sasuke-kun."

I started sadly and worried in even moving my finger and breaking it. My Uchiha surprised me again taking my hand in his and clutching it softly affecting me once more with the electricity and love he unleashed with his touch on me. I was stunned and shut up by that gesture of him, so unusual and wanted for me always in spite of everything.

"He wants you to have it. Please accept it." Kakashi-sensei said still happily and I wondered when he had become Sasuke-kun's translator. "It's his way to thank you for what you're doing for him and to shut up others."

I had guessed the last reason but I hadn't considered the other one. I thought it for a brief moment fixing my surprised eyes on our entangled hands and then in his pale face. Sasuke-kun nodded at Kakashi-sensei's explanation and I had to nod at it too. It was pathetic how I couldn't say no to him not even in this. A selfish and stupid part of me wanted that meaningful ring in my finger anyway and not but his true beauty. It meant that I was his and he was mine even if it wasn't completely true. He let go of my hands then having my acceptance and I tried to not linger in the feeling he had left with his simple touch on my skin.

"I'll handle the cost of the wedding with Sasuke's approval and money. Sasuke wants it to be great and amazing like an Uchiha deserves, of course. I hope you can understand it." I just nodded quiet and still feeling stunned and shocked like in a dream. I had thought that probably the wedding was going to be something small and private and as I was listening to my former sensei I understood that it was going to be the other way around. "The bigger this is the Council would accept it as true." He was right, after all. I nodded conscious of it. I wanted to teach them to leave Sasuke-kun in peace and if a big and expensive wedding was needed they could count with me. I couldn't help the excitement of seeing their faces shocked by my mad plan. Little by little I was reaching the point of leaving my shock behind and prepare for the realizing of this. I needed to be ready and alert. "They won't ruin the magnificence of an Uchiha's wedding, right? So Sakura feel free to plan it however you like and it doesn't matter how much it costs. This is a big thing. Do it for that, don't feel embarrassed about it, your daughter has Uchiha's blood in her veins, and you deserve this too."

I wasn't totally comfortable with that but I knew that the final goal was imperative. He was right. We needed to show to the world our union. So I shouldn't feel bad about it if this had been my decision since the beginning and it was going to help the cause in spite of my own embarrassment and disagreement. I nodded smirking with mocking anticipation and I caught by the corner of my eyes the same smirk in Sasuke-kun's face.

"Well, I have to go and spread the news. The wedding needs to be in one month Sakura. Start to work in it with the help you want and need, ok? I know it is soon but the sooner the best. Sasuke-kun will be out of here by the end of the week and I would have an eye on him by the Council's orders. You need to start preparing everything."

I nodded once more, feeling excited in spite of my own truth screaming inside of me. I knew I had a long way and a lot to prepare and do and just imagining freaked me out. Kakashi-sensei laughed watching my face realizing it and then waving goodbye he was gone. Knowing I had a lot to prepare I turned to Sasuke-kun knowing I had something else to discuss and clarify to him before going. I didn't want to go but I remembered this was a business. A business that it had to appear real to everyone even if some knew the truth.

"Sasuke-kun, I just want to discuss something." I started not beating around the bushes and he fixed his black eyes and attention on me. "Promise me that no matter what happens to us in the future, as a husband and wife, we won't ever fight in front of Miyu about our differences and past experiences. Promise me that we will keep it to ourselves and we'll try to handle the truth the best we can till we can explain it to her."

He nodded immediately with a serious and firm frown and I smiled gladly and relieved. I got up taking the little box with me. My marvelous ring needed it for occasions when I couldn't use it. Sasuke-kun got up too and I nodded at him once more not wanting to go but forcing me to go on with all my might.

"I'll see you tomorrow, ok? I need to prepare a wedding."

I said playfully and smiling and then I turned around and went straight to the door not glancing back but with normal pace. And a stupid and dreamy smile was plastered in my lips in spite of my real knowledge of why this was happening now. I supposed sometimes the dream is fulfilled in a way you have never expected to be but that doesn't mean that it isn't exactly what you wished for.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I can't believe you, Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto fumed in anger as the silver haired man laughed nervously. Tsunade just sighed resigned. Iruka, Shizune, Kurenai, Gai and Anko were clearly dismayed by the notice. Shikamaru, Hinata, Sai and Ino knew already and just Shikamaru wasn't surprised that the famous ninja hadn't gained what he had promised. Sakura could be very stubborn. The other friends of the bride and the groom were shocked and speechless: Chouji, Shino, Kiba, Lee, Neji and Tenten.

"Weren't you the one who promised yesterday to change her mind about it? And now you're helping to prepare their wedding!"

Ino snarled worried for her pink haired friend side by side of Naruto.

"Wait a minute. I told you that I was going to talk to the both about it, especially concerning Miyu and I did it. But the final decision is theirs. And they have taken it."

Kakashi gestured defending himself nervously.

"He's right." Tsunade interrupted. "I'm surprised that Sasuke agreed in doing it."

"That idiot! He cannot do this! Why did he accept it?!"

Naruto trembled angered but Iruka laid his hands on his shoulders trying to calm him as the blond leader of Konoha looked at the boy.

"I understand your worry for them and Miyu. But Kakashi is right. At the end they're her parents and they decided. And knowing both and how they have grown since Miyu was born, I have to say that I trust in Kakashi's effort. If he really talked to them about it and they had considered it, there's nothing to do for us than support them."

Naruto sighed heavily and nodded seriously and worried at her words.

"Who knows." Anko cut in suddenly with a little smirk. "A lot can happen in the future."

"Well, at least the Council has stopped their decision about Sasuke and our good treatment and report about his behavior helped it. They reacted happily for the notice of his wedding with the mother of his child." Tsunade said with an ironic smirk. "And it didn't help that I argued about the discoveries I did about the messing of his previous medicines and treatments."

"Then I guess this is the best way even if we don't like it."

Iruka said preoccupied. They were quiet for a moment pondering about the happy and unexpected news. They had gathered in Tsunade's office and suddenly someone knocked on the door before opening it. To their surprise it was in fact Sakura. She looked… really calm and normal and they hadn't really expected it. The medic nin noticed the stares of everyone reunited there on her and the apologizing smile of Kakashi to her and she chuckled amused.

"I guessed you all were going to be here." She came in closing the door behind her. "I know all of you are worried about me and Miyu and even Sasuke-kun probably. I want to thank you." Sakura smiled thankfully and touched at all of them. "But I guess Kakashi-sensei had told you already that Sasuke-kun and I are going to get married in a month approximately and I want you all to know that we're fine. We had talked about it and we know what we're doing. I hope to have you there in this special day and to have your help in this. You know, it's very hard to prepare my own wedding in a month!" She laughed casually. "There's a lot to do especially if you're marrying someone who wants to spend half of his money on it."

"You know all of us would support the both of you in this." Tsunade started after sighing with a soft smile. "You can always count on us."

The pink haired girl smiled touched and happily watching all of her friends nodding with sincere smiles and concerned looks. Even all the others were doing it too. Her blond best friend was the last one who nodded and smiled joyful to her resigned at her pleading green eyes.

"You both fools need someone to take care of you anyway."

"Thank you to all of you. This means a lot to me."

She covered her trembling chin with her hands as she tried to not cry like always. Their support definitely was going to help her a lot since now; she could felt it even if the majority thought she was doing a mistake.

"Oh my God!" Ino said suddenly with wide clear blue eyes staring at the ring in her finger. Sakura immediately noticed her stare and she lowered her hand a little shy, embarrassed and awkward. She couldn't help it when she was reminded of the impressive ring around her finger. She run away from the sad feeling it caused in her too. "Show me that freaking ring right now!"

Hinata, Tenten, Shizune, Anko and Kurenai gathered immediately around the emerald eyed medic nin and even Tsunade who was sat down behind her desk approached the women as some of them were squealing in joy and she watched it with interest and admiration.

"It's beautiful!"

Hinata said first with sparkling eyes.

"It had to cost a fortune!"

The Hokage said then analyzing it.

"It's amazing!"

Tenten cut in brimming in cheer.

"What a fantastic taste!"

Kurenai interrupted quite amazed.

"Look how it sparks!"

Shizune let out in awe hypnotized.

"That's definitely an engagement ring!"

Anko said smirking mischievously.

"I can't wait for the wedding!"

Ino finished with Sakura's hand in hers showing off the magnificent piece of jewelry to the medic nin's embarrassment.

"What the hell?!"

Naruto said confused seeing all the women in the office gathered and watching the ring impressed and giggling like little girls with a new toy.

"They're women after all." Shikamaru shrugged simply in low voice. "They get excited by nature with jewels and weddings."

"It's good they didn't hear you or you would be punched to death right now."

Kakashi said in low voice too amused and laughing. After the impression for the infamous ring ended at the silent and shocked observation of the young male ones and the joy and respect of the old male ones counting Shikamaru, Sakura looked at everyone really serene and even happy in her own way. She had decided to take this in the best way if she wanted it to be believable and easy for everyone. Ino remembered something and asked her confused with raised eyebrows.

"You said you were all by yourself preparing the wedding. Have you told your mother?"

"I did it." Sakura said with a sheepish smile. "She reacted at first like all of you but then was very happy and excited. She's busy with my wedding dress so I don't want to put more work on her shoulders. That was why I was thinking in"

She stopped shocking her head ashamed but Ino laughed happily.

"You want us to help you out with something, right? That is why the friends are forehead girl! We'll gladly help you, right guys?"

She turned to her friends, male and female and they all nodded immediately at her demanding voice and menacing stare.

"Thank you. I was wondering if you, Hinata, Tenten and Temari wanted to be my maids. Of course, I wanted you Ino to be the maid of honor if you want. I bugged you before being the godmother of Miyu already."

"Oh my God I accept it!"

Ino clapped her hands excited and laughing and Sakura just smiled.

"Of course I'll do it!"

"It would be a pleasure."

"I'll tell Temari."

Tenten, Hinata and Shikamaru said immediately, the first one very enthusiastic, the second very happy and the third one with an easy smile. The pink haired medic nin turned then to Naruto.

"Of course you're going to be the Best Man, Naruto! Sasuke wouldn't want it in other way. And me either."

"You can count on me!"

The blue eyed Hokage wannabe grinned happily with his thumb up and Sakura just grinned back thankful.

"I hope the Kazekage and Kankuro can come too. We're sending an invitation anyway."

"I'll tell Temari anyway to prepare them."

Sakura nodded thanking at Shikamaru.

"Do you have ideas of what you and Sasuke want?"

Tenten asked in wedding planner mode and Sakura laughed first before nodding. She had to hide the sadness her question brought up to her when she answered with a little common smile of hers. What a dream…

"Yeah, I have almost everything in mind… but I need help to make it true."

She said shrugging a little tense at the perspective but Ino wrapped an arm around her shoulders grinning enthusiastically.

"Don't worry! Look, what if the girls and I go to your house at the evening and we start to discuss it? I can later tell the others what role they'll play."

The young males except Sai of course exchanged worried and nervous glances among them as Tsunade and Kakashi chuckled amused. Having Ino Yamanaka as a boss wasn't very appealing…

"Ok! That would be very nice. I'll wait for you then."

"So I guess you would need free time from your duties here at the hospital, Sakura." Tsunade started smiling. "Just work half time and take the rest to prepare everything. Don't worry."

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama, but is not necessary…"

"Of course it is. Just accept it, alright?"

Sakura had to accept and she nodded gratefully and ashamed for it. She hadn't even thought about stopping working while she prepared the wedding but she couldn't deny it was better for her. After chatting a moment about some of her ideas for the wedding she said goodbye knowing she had to pick up Miyu from Sasuke's room.

"Does Miyu-chan know?"

Naruto asked her as she was leaving the big office and Sakura nodded smiling happily. She knew that just watching that moment replaying inside her mind had made everything worth. She couldn't help to want to see how her little girl was brimming in happiness right now in her father's company. Naruto grinned back joyfully and then he waved a goodbye to his best friend and former teammate while she closed the door and made her way to her source of eternal happiness.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sakura POV

"Sakura, are you really sure about this?"

My mother asked after she had had time to adjust to the news I had given to her hours ago. At first, I had been straight to her and I had told her exactly why I was taking this decision and Sasuke-kun had accepted it finally. She had told me the same my friends and sensei had thought and or said to me and I had seen the deep worry and intense affliction reflected in her eyes concerning this mad plan of me and even when I didn't like to cause that suffering to her I knew I couldn't change my mind and I didn't want to. I wanted and I needed her support. She had just listened to me like she had always done before giving her own point of view about it and I was glad and thankful for her sincerity and concern. She didn't give me a straight answer then and asked me time to think about it and I accepted. I knew it wasn't easy for her to know that her only daughter was going to marry someone without real love in between but I couldn't change the circumstances. This was my life now even if it saddened me profoundly in the deepest part of my soul.

Now she had come to give me her answer and after she had just nodded calmer and thoughtful and had given me support just with that nod, we were sitting at the table of my little department in front of the other and she had asked me once more. And I gave her the same answer I gave to everyone who asked it.

"Yes. I want to do this. It's the best in a lot of ways. Don't worry mom, I know what I'm doing. Everything is alright; I'm not suffering watching it wrongly. I know why I'm going to marry him. And he knows it too. Everything will be fine. Thank you for your support, I feared that you weren't going to accept it."

"Oh Sakura! How can I abandon you in this? I promised I wouldn't do it ever again." She said guiltily remembering past memories and clutching my hands in hers over the table with a warm smile. "I'm afraid of what could happen but I think you're right. Everything will be fine."

I was somehow surprised at how she really believed in those words, more than I did and I had used them just to calm her worried and anguished heart. I saw hope in the deep of her sweet eyes and I didn't want to go there. Not hope. Hope meant always pain for me when it is related to Sasuke-kun. But I didn't want to take it back from my mother's expression so I just let her have it instead of me. I don't know if that helped her or it was just a part of everything inside her mind but suddenly she was pretty and honestly excited for the wedding like if it was completely normal. She was a common mother happy and enthusiastic about her soon daughter's wedding and I couldn't help to wonder if she had taken it from me. I was doing the same, at the mere end. I was a normal bride planning happily her marriage with the man she loved. We were laughing and talking easily and normally, probably the both knew what we were really doing inwardly in spite of our big effort and weak hope and we were like that when Miyu came in curious about our good mood and mother immediately got up and clapped staring lovingly at my little girl.

"Honey, your mother and your father are going to marry soon!"

I was pretty sure that Miyu understood a little at least of the meaning of those words and I smiled widely and warmly when I saw her beautiful little face lightening up in joy and bliss and she clapped too smiling and soon my mother had her in her arms and they shared a happy hug. I laughed and smiled watching the both sharing that happiness that it was bittersweet to me. Then mom gave her to me and I hugged her for a moment kissing her cheeks and forehead as Miyu was clapping and babbling about Sasuke-kun and me together. I sat her down in my lap and then the rest of the chat directed to the impressive and infamous engagement ring I was wearing and my mother and my daughter squealed in joy and amazement as they appreciated the magnificent piece of jewelry shining around my finger in all its glory.

"Dada here?"

Miyu asked to me with her pretty and big eyes locked on my face shining in happiness and hope. I nodded stroking her black hair.

"Yes. Father is going to live with us. Well, probably not here exactly, but we're going to be together. The three of us."

Miyu smiled nodding understanding and she placed a little hand over my cheek and for a moment as she was staring at my jade eyes intensely with her kind expression I was sure she knew of my inner and hidden sadness. Her black orbs softened and she kissed my other cheek hugging me and I shook my head inwardly. She was too little to know. But I as held my daughter tightly I couldn't help to erase that sorrow inside my heart because she didn't need to know. Just like Sasuke-kun had promised to me I was going to keep my word.

Everything was going to be fine.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sakura POV

I entered Sasuke-kun's room and I smiled when I found them at the table. Miyu was painting like always very happy as usual and Sasuke-kun was just there staring at her and trying to paint something too. I approached them calm and the both turned to me when I arrived. Miyu immediately babbled about Sasuke-kun coming to live with us in her own still incomplete speech and was very happy indeed. Sasuke-kun was calm and had that soft expression he always wore when Miyu was around. He stared at us with an intensity that burned me immediately and inwardly. I tried to control myself and I was aware I was going to be forced to do it often and perfect now more than ever when I was going to be near him a lot of time. We were going to get married; we were going to live together under the same roof. Anyway, I had practiced enough and I can tell that everyone was surprised at how good I was taking this marriage and how normal and serene I was. Nobody needed to know that I felt utterly bittersweet due to the happiness and sadness entangling inside my heart. I could do it and I was going to do it. I can find happiness in one way or another. This sorrow was going to be dismissed little by little and I was going to find peace of mind with my life even if it wasn't entirely as I had planned it.

"It's time to go, Miyu. Say goodbye to dad." I said as I left her in Sasuke-kun's arms and I gathered her things in her common bag. The one where I had found the letter that had ripped off my heart. I was pretty sure that if this situation of the Council and Sasuke-kun hadn't appeared and I had found it and read it, I would have been so damn destroyed that I would have done everything in my power to rip off this love from my heart. But destiny had decided and now I was engaged to the man that had written it. I sighed resigned and a little lost in thought and I watched by the corner of my eyes how Sasuke-kun kissed her forehead and Miyu giggled sweetly. I smiled unconsciously and I took her in my arms prepared to go. "See you later then, Sasuke-kun. Take care."

I said sincerely with a common smile and he got up surprising me and kissing my cheek. I remained paralyzed on my spot with Miyu silent and observant in my arms and feeling his warm lips touching my cheek with a delicate caress. I knew he had done it because supposedly we were a real couple ready to marry and because he was acting with courtesy and like an educated gentleman. I couldn't deny that he was somehow grateful to me for what I was doing and I knew that even in spite of everything he couldn't be so cold or indifferent as he wanted to appear. That was going to be the way to act with Miyu around and outside our little family and home but that didn't mean that he was going to do it often either. He was Sasuke Uchiha after all. Probably between us we were going to be our common selves and even when I felt sad I knew I had gotten myself into this and he knew it too. Between us, in the solitude of our company, there was going to be silence and agreement but just that.

Even in spite of all that I caressed his cheek after he had kissed mine and I landed a soft courteous kiss in his smiling calmly. When our looks crossed, black against green in our common behavior, I understood that he knew all that had crossed my mind with his gesture. He knew it too. This was a business.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He nodded and I left his room with normal pace and as I was getting my way out of the hospital without really paying attention to anything with my little girl quiet and serene in my arms, I wondered what was going to happen to me. Was I going to feel this eternal sadness inside my soul even having him with me? Would this plan of mine backfire, causing more misery to me? I shook my head trying to get rid of the pessimism and feeling the kiss of Sasuke-kun lingering in my cheek. What he was thinking really? What he was feeling really? Why he had done that even if he didn't feel the need? Or at least he felt physically attracted towards me? After all, I had been the only one with whom he had sex. He had showed that he wanted to do it with me. Could I at least feel better with that? Just having the physical part?

I pondered all this on my way back home. When I arrived I did the chores I had to do and prepared the lunch and took care of Miyu as always. I wanted to be ready for the afternoon when Ino, Tenten and Hinata came and dedicate my time and attention to their company. I hadn't been in girls' company since a long time ago and I was looking forward to it even if it was for my wedding. I had finished cleaning the kitchen after Miyu and I had lunch when someone knocked at the door. Who could it be? No one else told me that they were going to come over.

"Wait a minute!"

I yelled still curious about the sudden visit and I ran to the door hearing Miyu talking in her room. She was playing with her dolls telling them that dad was going to live with us. I smiled touched by her innocence and I opened the door.

"Yes?"

And I was petrified and shocked when I looked up and I watched the man standing at my door watching me back intensely with severity and anger. I had never thought that he would come to my house one fine day. Our relationship had ended that fateful night and I hadn't exchanged a word with him since then. My heart ached, noticing his absence inside it and my emerald eyes watered but I cleared my throat and I stared at him controlling the unshed tears with firm and serious expression. My voice was low and it had shaken.

"Father…"

"I'm not planning to stay or come in. Don't worry. I just came because I wanted to tell you how childish, immature and stupid you're acting, Sakura. I heard that you're going to marry that scum. You have disappointed me once more."

His deep voice and heartfelt words pained me but I stood up watching him with sadness and affliction. I guessed what he was going to tell me anyway. I had imagined in a second after seeing him there why he had come. Just something really powerful could have forced him to come to visit me. I half smiled sadly without losing my temper. I knew I wouldn't have done it before when I was still that 16 year old girl but right now I wasn't.

"I'm sorry for doing that, dad. I appreciate your visit and honest opinion. Thank you for worrying."

He just glared at me in silence narrowing his steely eyes. I had never seen him so cold towards anyone. I could have burst in tears then but I noticed the hint of suffering in the deep of his eyes and that touched me and gave me hope. He wasn't entirely angry with me. He was concerned too. I had asked mom always about how he was doing although he didn't want to know anything from me.

"You're stubborn as always. I know I cannot change your mind but I wanted you to know that I'm not going to attend that damn wedding. So don't waste time in inviting me and find someone else who can surrender you to that scum. I won't do it. I know I cannot forbid your mother anything, anyway. You're making a big mistake, Sakura. I hope one day you can see it and realize I was right all along. You should have trusted in me to fix your life. You're just doing stupidities." He made a brief pause and I nodded still calm and with a frown of sorrow wrinkling my forehead and my eyes near to cry. "That was all."

He turned around and left without glancing back or saying anything else. He didn't even ask me for his granddaughter. After I watched him disappearing I closed the door and rested my head against it crying silently in profound sadness and pain. I didn't want Miyu to see me crying. I cried for a moment for the loss of my father and how it hurt me that I had hurt him and that I didn't count with his support. Miyu was two years old and it had been more than one year since I had left my parents' house and I hadn't talked to him. I knew he worried for me at least but that fact only made everything worse and pained me more. That meant he still loved me and cared for me. I knew he had done his own to protect me from Sasuke-kun and that he had sought him when he had taken Miyu away. But the truth was that he couldn't forgive me and was disappointed of me to a point of no return.

Trying to control my aching saddened heart knowing that he wasn't going to attend my wedding I dried my tears and washed my face preparing myself to go on with my life and plan. I had lost a part of my family and I wasn't going to let that happen to Miyu ever.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sakura POV

The days went by faster that I had guessed. Thanks to the help of my friends everything about the wedding was ready on time and I was released from a breakdown due to the intense preparation a ceremony like this one demanded. Sasuke-kun was released from the hospital and the Council's grasp days later as Kakashi-sensei had told me and unsurprisingly I used to see him often than before. After all we were going to marry. Because he was still recovering and under the hawk's eye of our Hokage I didn't let him help in anything. Anyway, everything was almost ready for the dateline. Sometimes I took Miyu to his room to spend some time and others he came to my home to see her and know how the wedding was doing. He still wasn't working in fact; he was doing some paperwork for Kakashi-sensei and I worked half time at the hospital like Tsunade-sama had told me. A few times he invited Miyu and me to have lunch (well in his own way) outside or to have dinner and I never said no. I was going to be his wife, right? It was a common thing and I couldn't help to want his company even in this arrangement between us. My friends and dear people didn't let it go easily and were clearly surprised by it. When Neji and Tenten had met us in the same restaurant the first time Sasuke-kun had taken Miyu and me they had been utterly amazed at our good act. It wasn't in fact an act. We were courteous and respectful with the other and there was this calm around us and understanding of circumstances but that was all. We didn't share as friends and less than lovers but at least we were in peace with the other and we didn't bring back from our past debts and discussions or hurtful memories. There was a blank between us and just the agreement linked us together and that wasn't going to change. Probably only the people close to us could guess or notice it but I tried to not show it and I tried to act according our situation. At least I had him with me, near me, near Miyu and we were a quite unique little family. He till now wasn't cold or bad towards me and I appreciated that as I was sure he appreciated my distance and normalcy. I wasn't the damn fangirl that had fancied him or the girl madly in love right now. Did he know that I still love him? I wasn't sure and by the effect of this, it didn't matter. This marriage was a business and that was all.

Our friends and dear people didn't ask me if they noticed the nature of our understanding and relationship. Not even when Sasuke-kun and I greeted the other and said goodbye with a simple soft kiss in the cheek or when he half hugged the other or our hands were entangled together with normalcy. All those gestures had a reason to exist between us and we both knew it well. I knew they didn't want to trouble me and probably they really believed that I was totally fine with it and I was glad for that. It was my purpose anyway and I was fulfilling it perfectly till now if nobody had said something about it. If some of them knew the truth and looked at me preoccupied or touched, I didn't know it.

So the days went by like that and I just had to discuss one thing with Kakashi-sensei. I asked him if he could take my father's role now that he had told me straight to the face that he didn't want any part of my wedding and my former sensei accepted immediately. I had cried a little telling him what had happened and he had comforted me and listened to me worried and understanding. My mother wasn't entirely understanding and she had menaced to talk with my father about it when I told her about his visit but I had stopped her. I didn't want to be the cause of a conflict between my parents. She reluctantly controlled herself and was really disappointed and sad over the issue. Her relationship with Sasuke-kun by the way had been respectful and calm since the news about our marriage. I remembered she had shared some moments with him due to Miyu and I was glad for it. She was kind enough like before towards him and he was educated towards her. I knew she was sure of his love for her granddaughter and that had helped a lot for her to be in this point about their relationship. Sometimes I wondered why she had agreed so easily to my wedding and why she was so excited and genuinely happy. Could it be that she had the same hope I had harbored since years ago?

We invited a lot of people to the wedding and thank God some of them were still freaked out by the incident with Sasuke-kun and the Amaterasu and declined the offer. Still it was going to be big and even the Kazekage and his two siblings were coming. When the date was near I realized that it was bigger and more important that I had guessed or imagined and I was nervous and tense like any other bride. I never pictured myself marrying in such a great preparation and with someone so important in spite of all odds.

So that was my state of mind the afternoon of the fateful day when after I had taken my shower that had lasted much more than common I was staring at my reflection in the mirror. Today was the day. Finally I was going to become Sakura Uchiha. I smiled sadly lowering my gaze to the little white and old book on top of my dresser and I sighed in my now natural bittersweet state as I took the brush. There in my reflection I could see the happiness flowing through those jade brilliant eyes and I could see the small hint of sadness hanging from the corners of my lips. I shook my head trying to erase that feeling now. Nobody needed, and less me, to see it there. Today was the day. Luckily for me, my maids arrived to help me to get ready. The wedding was going to start with the ceremony at five o'clock and the reception was going to be at seven o'clock and it was going to last till tomorrow morning.

"Hello bride!"

Ino said joyfully and I greeted her and my other two friends with a wide and happy smile. It wasn't totally untrue. Their chatter and good mood helped me soon to ignore my inner thoughts and feelings and I laughed and joked around with them. They told me that Kurenai-sensei and Anko-san were dealing with the last details of the wedding and that Tsunade-sama and Shizune were arranging everything to attend the wedding. Kakashi-sensei and Gai-sensei were helping out too. All my male friends were ready. Everything was set.

"What about your dress, forehead girl?"

"That's right! Your mother hadn't let anyone see it."

I chuckled at Tenten knowing she was right. She was doing my hair and Ino my makeup as Hinata took care of Miyu who was very happy sitting on her lap.

"I haven't seen it finished either. She told me she would bring it in an hour."

Ino and Tenten squealed in delight and I chuckled again amused. We went on talking about our male friends and how nervous Naruto was, even more than the groom and I couldn't help to remember the thing about the dress. I had showed my mother how I wanted it but I wasn't completely sure how it really was. Seeing it in reality was different than seeing it in paper. I trusted my mother and I was dying to see it. Just like she had promised my mother appeared after an hour and when I had my hair done and my makeup ready and the sight of it had blown my mind away and had impressed my friends and little girl. They all squealed excited and cheerful and I was left with my mother to put it on. She was ready looking beautiful. My friends had gone to put on her own maids' dresses and prepare Miyu too and I was there in my room in silence as mother helped me to dress. Awkwardly Ino had forced me to wear something Temari had sent for me as a wedding gift: underwear (something very suggestive, elegant and beautiful) and I blushed when my mother saw me wearing it. Of course, she had laughed amused and mocking me and then in silence she helped me till I was staring at my own image in front of the mirror. My hair had grown quite a bit and I hadn't taken time to cut it but that helped to the marvelous hairdressing Tenten had done. My makeup was soft but amazing and it made my jade eyes look greener if that was possible. They had even done my nails and I felt like a porcelain doll right now.

So, I'm really that little princess waiting for his prince to notice her and love her, I thought with a bittersweet smile. The dress was in a very soft white with traces of soft pink and it was magnificent in fact. Its design had some traces of a ninja style that it didn't ruin it and made it better and I was stunned and speechless staring at me on the mirror still as a statue. This was the day.

"You look beautiful, Sakura. You're a princess."

My mother kissed my cheek wrapping her hands from behind around my shaking body and I couldn't help the tears that fell down my face. This was the day. My day. My dream. Mother watched me touched and smiling softly and she dried my silent tears with a handkerchief carefully as I smiled to my reflection. I had never thought in seeing me like this.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. You'll ruin your makeup and Ino will rip off your head."

I laughed knowing she was right and sighing and stopping the emotional shaking. I took a deep breath and I closed my eyes with a big smile.

"I'm happy, mom."

"I know it, baby."

I'm so happy and I shouldn't be it. I had my dream. Soon I'll be his wife and we will be together. I'm happy. That's all. And the sadness cannot win over it now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sakura POV

What happened after that intimate moment between my mother and me I couldn't really remember it well. It was like if when I put on the dress I was inside an eternal state of daydream and I was living between two worlds or I was doped. It was so strange and blissful at the same time. I couldn't help to smile almost all the time and feel that I was lacking oxygen to breathe and my heart was running a race against time. When the time arrived I arrived at the place of the ceremony and everything was like some sort of fairytale that I was telling myself to sleep tight. Miyu was dressed like a little princess in soft pink and my friends dressed the same as my maids were stunning and freaking beautiful in the same color. My male friends were quite handsome and dashing and my other dear ones seemed to have been brought back to life from the fairytale. The place was beautiful decorated with a lot of flowers, especially white roses, and it was magnificent, elegant and very according to our world and the elegance and grace of the groom. Everything that I had dreamed of and had tried to use in the preparation was perfect and exact and I was marveled and lost in the details and hypnotized by the view. I didn't care the other people reunited there, just my dear people and friends, and when I entered the place with the sound of the music high and magical surrounding me and I walked by the large hall with Kakashi-sensei by my side and he was taking my arm gently and I held those pretty white and pink roses in my hands, I just focused on the silhouette of my Uchiha waiting for me. I don't know why but I felt like floating and the time slowed down and suddenly I was with him and Kakashi-sensei gave my hand to him and the ceremony of the Land of Fire for the marriage began. I couldn't help to stare at Sasuke-kun intensely and hypnotized catching every detail of his magnificent being. He was definitely a prince right now, wearing a suit that combined ninja elements like my own dress in black and white and he looked the best I had ever seen him since I knew him. I couldn't believe I was going to marry this perfect mannequin, this handsome and talented young man. What surprised me the most was his soft and calm expression that didn't show a hint of coldness or indifference, just his common seriousness and control. Side by side to him as I tried to put attention to the man in front of us doing the traditions of Konoha and the Land of Fire marrying us, I couldn't help to be overwhelmed by what I had done. I had married him finally and I was his even if he didn't want me. He was mine even if he didn't know it. I belonged to him and he to me even if we hadn't married before. I wished with all my heart to hope to be turned real. I wanted to believe in a brighter future. I wanted happiness and not only sadness. I wanted the best for my little girl and for my now husband. I really did.

The ceremony went on in peace and good timing and perfection and still I was like doped and living inside a beautiful dream. Sasuke-kun couldn't talk and we had talked about that part of the common vows to be said. We concluded that we didn't need it to say it out loud and they were only read once as he and I were in front of the other and he just took my hand and kissed it gently and I nodded once with a sincere smile. Even in my gone state I knew I had to control my wavering hopeful heart and I couldn't just act like a damn fangirl even in this situation. That was our way to do our vows and the ceremony went on till it finished. The place was filled with applause, smiling faces and expressions of appreciation and joy when we were presented to the Konoha's society as the Uchihas and Sasuke-kun took my face in his hands and kissed me as the tradition was. I answered his soft and burning kiss with normal eagerness (I couldn't forget my act not even in this situation even when I wanted to kiss him much more) and my closed eyes filled with unshed tears as I was paralyzed on my spot without daring to touch his perfection, fearing everything was a lie, a dream. He caressed softly my cheeks with his thumbs after kissing me and for a moment his black serene eyes fixed on my jade emotive ones and I couldn't know what he saw in them and what he had showed me in his. After the ceremony ended the congratulations from Miyu, my mother, friends and people and the cheer and chatter and photographs came and it was a joy filling the air and the assistants and we parted to the place of the reception. Sasuke-kun and I went first to have the little legal ceremony and put in legal order our marriage in company of our closest friends and sensei and my mother and our daughter and then we both went to have our special photographs taken. Again the strange calm surrounded us in our silence and not personal sharing but I was so happy that I didn't care. Just being there beside him was enough for me now. He was never rude with me and we returned on time to the reception and I was still inside the daydreaming and the excitement of everything. We were received by applause and then we were presented again as the Uchihas and then we had our first dance together. I controlled my nerves when he took me by the hand and we went to the center of the place and I tried hard to not trip over and dance as elegant and graceful as he was doing it. Damn, did he have to do everything perfect? We started to dance and his left hand was on my waist and the right one held my right one and my left one was on his left shoulder and we were close. We danced an entire very long song that Hinata had chosen personally and it was beautiful and heartbreaking and I had to look straight to his face all the while remembering myself why this had happened. We were like partners in crime, like accomplices pretending and lying to others and frankly I couldn't care less. Right then, dancing in his arms at the rhythm of that compassing and pretty song I just focused in the moment and enjoyed it. I was looking up and facing him and he was staring at me too in total control and calm and we both knew why we were there and why we were like that. He smelled so nice and his hold was tight and perfect and I felt myself flying away from everything dreaming inwardly and smiling like a fool just to me. I wanted this dance to last forever but soon it ended and then I had to dance with Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-kun had to dance with my mother. Then every one of our friends wanted to dance with either of us and we didn't dance again together. I danced with Naruto, Shikamaru, Chouji, Sai, Neji, Lee, Kiba, Shino, Gai-sensei, Iruka-sensei, Kankuro and the Kazekage. The worse was Naruto and Gai-sensei, of course. They had almost tripped over my fancy dress. Sasuke-kun danced with my mother, Ino, Tenten, Hinata, Temari, Tsunade-sama, Shizune, Kurenai-sensei and Anko. He danced less than me and I couldn't help to peep on him waiting for me on the table to finish with my list and I watched him dancing with our little girl who was brimming in joy and giggling totally enchanted by everything. I wondered if she was going to remember this. The time for the dinner came and we retrieved to our table with Miyu and my mother and the party went on perfectly. The place was decorated in the same majesty as the first one and it was like a dream came true. It was like my dream, almost. The people seemed to be having fun and enjoying it.

"Can I dance with the happy wife?"

The man that had come representing the Council (to testify, in Tsunade-sama's opinion) asked to me. I smiled courteous as Sasuke-kun placed a hand on top of mine a little uneasy. I clutched it softly showing him that it was ok.

"Of course."

I got up from my seat and I glanced back to Sasuke-kun with a smile noticing his disgruntled expression. He didn't like that man and this situation. I went with the man and we started dancing accompanied by many other couples there, one of them was Sai and Ino who immediately put their attention on us. The man was dressed elegant and was middle aged. He had a sly look that I didn't trust. At first he congratulated me and he talked about how everything was stunning, beautiful and amazing and I just smiled and nodded as my only responses.

"We're glad that he has finally married the girl that loved him for ages." He started and I noticed the edge of irony and mockery in his words. I smiled just out of courtesy. "We're surprised by how quick you organized this magnificent wedding. It was very amazing to know that Sasuke Uchiha and you were going to marry so soon when you had such a complicated relationship. I hope I'm not bothering you with our humble opinion."

"Of course not." I said still with a fake smile. "We had a daughter together so I guess it was matter of time for us to marry."

"Yes, of course. But it was a curious timing that you decided it when your husband was in such a problem due to his complicated health."

"Well, that doesn't change the fact that we were going to marry some day. I had planned this day since a long time ago."

I knew perfectly that with our fake education and courtesy we were really attacking and proving the other. I had to be careful if I didn't want to make a mistake that could put our plan at risk.

"It was an unfortunate thing that it had to be this way when my husband was framed by mistake."

The man narrowed his attentive and cold eyes and smirked as we spun around with the rhythm of the song. I laughed still smiling with faked innocence.

"I can show you if you want, Sir."

"Really?"

I nodded calmly and stopped dancing forcing the man to stop too. I sought inside the inside pocket I had asked my mother to sew hidden in the dress and I pulled out the small white book that it had accompanied me the last days with my mad plan. In the cover the legend "Diary" was written in golden letters and I opened it showing it to the interested and false man of the Council.

"See? I had this diary since I was very little. Well, you know, girls love to have these." I said laughing without emotion and shrugging. "Anyway, I had always wanted to marry Sasuke Uchiha. I cannot believe I had done it, you know. It's like a dream come true. I remembered I put here all my ideas for our wedding and I had a lot of changes through the years. I grew up of course and the likes and opinions over stuff changed thank heavens."

I chuckled passing it to him and staring at him studying his reaction. He smiled coldly watching the old pages about my childish babbling about the wedding of my dreams with the boy of my dreams changing to my teenager's love. I was quite embarrassed for showing it and I had showed it to my friends and mother when they had said they wanted to help me with a lot of shame of course. I had brought it with me now as a lucky charm and good memory and now I was grateful I had done it. The man chuckled visibly angered but covering it well.

"It's exactly as the last wishes you wrote. Congratulations for making it true, Mrs. Uchiha."

"Thank you." I said as he gave it back to me and I hid it again in the hidden pocket of my great skirt. "It's really surprising, isn't it?"

To my good luck my mother approached me and I thanked her inwardly. She wrapped an arm around my waist protectively and I knew she was acting alert as me with the man.

"Everything was perfect." She started happily. "Don't you think?"

"Yes, of course. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. I'm impressed. We're so happy for Sakura. At last Sasuke Uchiha noticed that she was the best option he could choose."

His words stung my heart and I felt my mother feeling it too when she held me tighter. When someone stopped to greet the man he excused to us but didn't leave his spot. So he wanted to talk more. I glanced back to my table and watched Sasuke-kun staring at us while he was helping Miyu to eat cake. He was brooding and thoughtful and I just nodded to him trying to tell him everything was fine. I couldn't help to be overwhelmed by everything that diary reminded me and the lie this was, the bittersweet feeling I always felt intensified and for a second the sorrow covered my lost in thought face and shadowed my jade gaze. It was like if the dream came true. Almost.

"Sakura" My mother said smiling softly and understanding in low voice. "You're sad honey. You have your dreamed wedding as you assured that man but you're sad because it wasn't as everything you wanted, isn't it?"

I was stunned by her instinct and I shook my head with an easy and little smile kissing her cheek. I couldn't talk because my throat felt tight and it hurt and my eyes burned watering. She sighed kissing my cheek.

"You're doing a great effort for that boy. I didn't know you really loved him so much. I'm sorry, Sakura."

"Don't be. And don't worry. I'll be fine. I'm just nostalgic and everything was so perfect and magical that I'm still processing it. I'll be fine, you'll see. We'll be fine."

"Excuse me for leaving you ladies." The man said after he dismissed the other person and turned to us. Luckily for me I had gathered my composure and I was smiling as before. "I hope you won't mind dancing with me once more, Mrs. Uchiha."

My mother wasn't very happy for it and exchanged a secret worried glance with me and I nodded attentive at the man's antics. The man had extended his hand to take mine when someone interrupted us like if he was heavenly sent.

"Excuse me but I think it would be better if she dances with me. I have to leave sooner. You know, I have business to attend."

The serious and monotone voice said and the man narrowed his eyes disgusted but smirked shrugging. My mother and I smirked too inwardly and she left saying a courteous goodbye relieved.

"Of course, Kazekage-sama! I can dance later with Mrs. Uchiha."

"Thank you."

"It will be a pleasure." I said watching as Gaara the man going away very angered by his interruption. I let out a deep breath and I looked at the red haired leader grateful. He was dressed very well and looked imposing and handsome, maybe not as my husband but he looked impressive. "Thank you, Gaara-sama."

He nodded and then we proceeded to dance knowing that the man was staring at us and following our steps one by one in a very secretive and annoying way. I knew that with Gaara I didn't need to talk because he wasn't a talkative person and I felt at ease in his company. It had been a good act from him to save me from that damn witness from the Council who had even bugged us in this important day. Even with that I asked him about his life as the main leader of Sunagakure and his personal life and he answered me in his own way remembering how the things had been at first when all of us had met him years ago. He still had that black rings around his eyes, softened, but he had them and that piercing emerald eyes. His dancing was a little stiff but it was better than Naruto and Gai-sensei's anyway.

"I'm glad I didn't kill you that time." He said sincerely surprising me. "I'm glad for Miyu-chan and Sasuke."

"Thank you, Gaara-sama." I smiled to him moved knowing what he really meant with his words and he just nodded. "I wonder when you're going to marry. I guess my wedding would be nothing comparing to yours."

I laughed joyfully and he just snorted rolling his eyes in a way I hadn't ever seen in him but it was funny to see.

"I think Temari is going to be the first to marry from us." He made a brief pause. "And anyway, I don't think there are many girls who would want to marry me."

"Oh come on. Look, you have your own club of fangirls." I motioned to a corner where some girls were squealing excited watching us dancing. But Gaara just shook his head thoughtful. "I think I didn't say it right. I don't think there are many girls who would want to really marry the real me. Back in Sunagakure I had… fangirls too but they simply don't know all the truth about me or don't really see me as I am."

I nodded realizing what he was saying. The song ended and we stopped and I was glad that at least the major part of the selection of the music was to dance it with couple. I knew Sasuke-kun wouldn't ever dance other kind of stuff like probably Gaara, Neji, Sai, Shikamaru or Shino and it was funny to see Naruto and Gai-sensei dancing it.

"Is he staring at us still?"

My red haired friend asked and I nodded catching the man's stare askance.

"Do you want to dance other to keep him away?"

"No, in fact I'm a little thirsty and tired and I need to go back to calm Sasuke-kun. He wasn't very pleased with that man's presence."

"It's understandable. I was hoping to dance just to keep away those fangirls too."

I laughed amused by his intent of joke with that seriousness of him and I was going to say something when someone unexpected, again, interrupted us.

"I want to dance with you, Kazekage-sama."

We both turned around to see Hanabi Hyuuga standing there and watching us with decision. She was as beautiful as Hinata but her hair was longer even than hers and straight and dark brown. She had the same big pearl eyes that looked intensely and piercing and unlike the sweetness and softness you could find in Hinata's glance. She was like thirteen years old by now but she had a delicate figure of a soon teenager and some shapes from her body were already molding into a girly frame just like her sister. She was very different from her older sister but they had united since years ago when their father had treated better and equally the both recognizing the talent and defects of every girl.

"Hello Hanabi-san."

She nodded to me briefly as I watched how she didn't lose detail in his observation of Gaara. This is a fierce and straightforward person, I thought amused and amazed. I laughed inwardly noticing the weird nervousness and confusion written all over the Suna's famous ninja.

"Well, I have a husband to attend. Thank you, Gaara-sama."

He nodded to me with a weird pleading look and I waved a goodbye smiling amused. I walked away just enough to leave them alone and I stopped and glanced back. I watched how Hanabi was the one who forced the posture on him to dance who was very intrigued by her behavior and then started dancing gracefully. Her head barely reached the middle of his chest but she looked up always and didn't leave his face looking at him directly and unreadable. She was even more enigmatic than Sasuke-kun. I chuckled as I returned quickly to my table and sat down beside my Uchiha. My mother had taken Miyu with her just as I had approached and I had kissed my little girl's cheeks before they went away. Miyu had giggled and was utterly happy and having fun. I took Sasuke-kun's hand on mine surprising him. Then I hugged him just to reach his ear.

"That man from the Council is watching us like a hawk. We need to be careful."

He nodded searching for the man askance and embracing me. I knew why we were acting like that but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy it and love it and that I didn't feel like melting. We remained like that for a moment and from time to time he kissed my hand or I kissed his cheek and we held hands and we hugged. All that just took me to that place where I was thinking what he really felt about me and about all this. Did he feel something, even little, when we acted this way? The sorrow wanted to kill me right then and there and I decided to drink a little to relax myself. They said alcohol relaxed you. Sasuke-kun couldn't drink anything with alcohol due to his medicines. Trying to relax myself I started to drink faster and nervously knowing we were watched until I realized that I was doing wrong and I was acting stupidly. Sasuke-kun hadn't stopped me and kept an eye on the man but he held me tight against his body and I was like a broken doll lying there in his embrace. Feeling my head a little light from the drinking and knowing I had to fix it I got up telling him that I was going to the bathroom. I went and I did a jutsu to free myself from the alcohol feeling a little divided. It had relaxed me and had clouded that bittersweet feeling plaguing my being from inside to outside and I had just focused in watching the others having fun and appreciating the proximity of Sasuke-kun. It had made me forget the hard reality a little. But I knew it was stupid so I left the bathroom that thank heavens was empty and I prepared myself to return to the wedding. I found Gaara near a balcony spacing out and all by himself and I wondered curious and concerned why he was there. Just when I was going to approach him, the damn man from the Council appeared and took me by the arm gently and smirking.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Uchiha. You promised to dance once more with me."

I smiled inwardly annoyed and sick and tired of him but I nodded and I returned with him to the party. We danced another song and he went on with the same kind of words as before. He wanted to catch me on a slip. But I was sharp now and not drunk thank God and I defended myself.

"Where are you going to spend your honeymoon?"

That question caught me off guard. We hadn't talked about it because it wasn't necessary. I had never considered that part even when it was present in my old diary because I knew this was a business. Was I really a masochistic to want to be all by myself with Sasuke-kun in some romantic and far away place? The sorrow fell upon me like a heavy curtain of rain and I had to do a big effort to hide it from the analyzing man. Why would I want a honeymoon with a man that didn't in fact want me in any way? Probably he even didn't want to make love to me once more… what a pathetic excuse of woman I was.

"We decided to not have it. Sasuke-kun isn't totally fine and we have work to do. Maybe later."

I smiled the best I could with serenity and calm. The man's eyes sparkled.

"But sweetheart, the honeymoon is as important as the wedding! It doesn't matter that you have a daughter already or that his condition isn't in its best. Believe me, you're making a mistake. Later you would have a lot of more things to stop the both of you to have your honeymoon."

"Maybe you're right. But it's too late to do it, anyway."

I faked a smile and I was thankful when the damn song ended. The man still held me like if he didn't want to let me go and I felt really annoyed and angered by his behavior. The Council hadn't come but they had sent my worst nightmare to destroy my perfect wedding. I was going to excuse me and end with his damn interrogation and imposition even if I had to turn harsh and rude, with courtesy of course, when someone appeared behind me and removed the man's grasp from me. I had turned around to see who it was when the voice of the man echoed with the new song in the background.

"Sasuke Uchiha" The man said smirking with false pretense of appreciation as Sasuke-kun held me by the waist tightly. "It's a pleasure to dance with your new wife. She's lovely and talented as you are. I hope you don't mind if I keep her for another couple of songs."

The man laughed with his lie shining through his eyes and I glanced at Sasuke-kun warning him that it was fine and I could do it. I kissed his cheek lovingly whispering it to his ear but he didn't lessen his grip on me. Instead he held me tighter to his perfect body and I felt inwardly worried and tensed. He was narrowing his eyes in utter disgust and negation to the man that was smirking and watching us with inferiority, like if he knew the truth.

"Ok, you're right. This is your night. You have all the right to want her to yourself. I'm sorry, I can wait if you calm later. You don't need to feel jealous."

Jealous? I was inwardly surprised as the man laughed once more and excused himself and turned around glancing back at us just once with his eyes studying us and his smirk mocking us. Jealous? I asked to myself turning to see Sasuke-kun's expression. He was deathly serious and disgruntled and had a dangerous and cold glint in his eyes. But watching him closely and good I knew that it wasn't exactly jealousy. Of course, he couldn't feel it because he didn't feel that way about me. Probably he just wanted to help me and protect me from that man (was he flirting with me? yuck!) and that was the truth at the end. Anyway when I analyzed his posture and how he was holding me I realized that he wasn't jealous defending his love. He was defending his possession. He was acting possessive like a wild cat and I couldn't help to giggle and feel amused and good for it. I knew I shouldn't, women weren't possession of men but for me it was priceless coming from him. He in his twisted way saw me as his and didn't want anyone trying to take me away from him. He saw me as his and I felt strangely touched to tears. He turned to me when he heard my giggle and I got serious and placed shyly my hands on his chest in a calm demeanor.

"It's ok. Don't listen to him. He's just trying to mess with us. Everything is fine. Thank you for coming to my aid."

Sasuke-kun's body relaxed a little and his expression softened. Without really asking me or giving me time to prepare he decided he wanted to dance with me once more (we had only danced the first song together all by themselves) and I gladly obeyed his desires. Whatever my prince wants, I thought smiling like feeling drunk without really being it and we danced a couple of songs in silence. In the last one I laid my head on his chest and he didn't reject me or react badly. I knew he had his attention locked on the man but I didn't care. Just to be there in his warm arms and dancing closely. Some other men invited to our wedding wanted to dance with me but Sasuke-kun just glared daggers at them when they approached us to ask his permission and my acceptance and I giggled inwardly amused almost hearing him growling. The poor boys run for their life at his fierce stance and just when the music changed we retrieved to our table and watched Gai-sensei, Lee, Kankuro, Anko, Naruto, Ino, Tenten, Temari and Kiba dancing wildly with the new music. Again, some poor boys dared to approach our table to invite me to dance but Sasuke-kun's act drove them away immediately as he held me tight against him and I knew I had been right. My, my, he's really into the possessive mode right now… So I sat down Miyu on my lap to avoid other poor boys to suffer the same fate and we remained sitting on our spots. Anyway I was very tired. The girls came to talk to me from time to time as the boys and Naruto spent an hour drunk talking to Sasuke-kun about old times and how much he loved him and us and he had ended crying on his shoulder making Sasuke-kun look cutely embarrassed. At least I had done well following Sasuke-kun's desire to stop someone from saying emotional speeches and making toasts. Sasuke-kun didn't want corny and sentimental moments, just as he always was. Kakashi-sensei had been the only one along with Tsunade-sama who made a toast and talked briefly and good about our marriage just congratulating us sincerely and wishing us the best in our new path together. When it was almost the morning of the next day and we were getting ready to leave (we were going to live for a while in my department) the man from the Council appeared once more speaking on a microphone and I tensed and felt nervous but Sasuke-kun clutched my hand tightly trying to soothe me. Miyu watched the man with interest.

"I asked previously to Mrs. Uchiha where they were going to spend their honeymoon." The man started with a glass on one of his hands when everyone's attention was on him. I gulped trying to control myself. "She told me that they hadn't planned it because of circumstances as health and work but I told her sincerely that they needed it as much as this beautiful and elegant wedding." He made a brief pause and I fixed my stare on him calmly as Sasuke-kun's was doing it. "So I felt really saddened and concerned for this young and beautiful couple and I wondered what I, as the person sent by the Council itself, could do in my name and its name for them. I'm sure all of you are agreeing with me in this. Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha deserve their honeymoon as any other couple that marries here in our beloved Konoha."

Oh, oh. I didn't like where this was heading and I felt Sasuke-kun stiffening angered towards the man. Was he angered for the possibility of spending some time alone with me? Or it was because he felt some hidden purpose behind the false man's words? What it mattered to me when I had known that things like this waited for me when I had decided to marry him? I didn't want either the honeymoon because I knew what it meant: be all by myself with Sasuke-kun and without work and chores and Miyu. Just the two of us. Without sharing it as the married couple we were now. I knew I couldn't blame Sasuke-kun, we were very clear in this marriage and I knew I couldn't force him into anything and I didn't want it that way. But I couldn't get rid of the bittersweet feeling of the reality even when I knew I had brought this to me on my own terms.

"So I talked with the Council." The man said cheerfully and slyly. "And we discovered that we hadn't given anything to the newlyweds as a sign of congratulating them for their marriage and I proposed to them to pay them their honeymoon."

Lighting fell from sky and struck me at his words. I slightly trembled and Sasuke-kun's expression darkened but he remained still and calm. Miyu innocently clapped on my lap. I caught my friends' stare on us and I knew they were worried for me. I smiled softly showing them that I was fine and everything was fine even when I was shaking inwardly in uncertainty. Naruto's drunken state even disappeared listening to the man. It was very funny to see.

"You'll have a complete week to spend in a near place from Konoha that we are positive you're going to enjoy and like. We cannot give you more time because you're right, Mrs. Uchiha, you have things to take care of but I know you'll really have a nice honeymoon in a week. I'm sure your husband will appreciate it too."

The man raised his glass to Sasuke-kun and he just nodded as a robot. The man laughed and after drinking from it he started clapping bringing everyone to applause to us. Some minutes passed and then Tsunade-sama came to our table where Sasuke-kun was freezing serene and thoughtful and I was gone and quiet. Well, we couldn't get out of it and the Council probably was waiting for us to decline their generous gift. I frowned with a little smirk knowing that we were still playing when my last sensei approached me serious and concerned. My mother was the same by my side and Miyu was simply smiling calmly ignorant of my predicament.

"They really surprised you, right?" Tsunade-sama asked sighing exasperated. "Here it is their gift." She handed to me a white and heavy envelop and I took it. I noticed my friends talking among them in hushing tone with worried faces. "I guess you both are going to take it."

Sasuke-kun turned to us. He had been listening all the while but his stare was to the front and he nodded at the same time. I cleared my worry and sadness and I smirked wider with mischievous glance.

"Yes, we cannot decline their kind offer. Don't worry."

"I can't believe they're still trying to catch you." Mother said concerned but I smiled to her trying to calm her. "You have already married him."

"They won't let us go easy, won't they? But it's ok. We can handle it."

As a support and agreement Sasuke-kun took my hand with a little smirk plastered on his face. At least we were together against something. Tsunade-sama nodded calmer and smirking too and left us wishing us good luck. Soon we had to go and have our nice honeymoon that started that same morning and we quickly gave our goodbye to our friends and dear people before going first for our things to pack. I hugged and thanked all the ones I held dear to my heart before saying goodbye to my little girl with a big hug and kisses on her cheeks and forehead and I asked her to be a nice girl and I left her to my mother's and Ino's care. Sasuke-kun in his way (with nods and half hugs) gave his goodbyes and kissed Miyu's forehead as always. She waved goodbye to us smiling happily and soon Sasuke-kun and I were accompanied by Kakashi-sensei to pick up our things from our homes. First we were going to go for Sasuke-kun's and then for mine and the honeymoon that I hadn't planned was going to begin just for the Council's desire. I wondered what waited for me resigned and a little sad but I couldn't help to thank that I was going to spent some days with Sasuke-kun all by ourselves, even if it was in distance and silence.