A.N.- Hey guys! Here is chapter 17 for you! I got to do a little more with Naruto and Sakura's relationship with this chapter. I think it turned out kind of sweet. So I hope that everyone enjoys it!

To itachi2011- Thanks! I'm so happy you loved it! You had a craving for waffles? Lol. That's awesome! You haven't had them in years?! Go, go eat some now! Taste the wonder that is waffles! Jk. But seriously years is a long time to go without the wonder of waffles. And that's great with the guy thing how you did it. He's a little weird isn't he? When he was all like she speaks I probably would have smacked him or something. But I do have a temper sometimes…oh well. I hope you enjoy this next chapter and thank you so very much for reviewing!

To BluePanda22311- No Naruto doesn't have mind reading powers, lol. But t'd be cool if he did. I'll explain what was happening a little later on in the story. Okay? And yes Sakura's waffles are like Naruto's ramen. She loves them that much. And wasn't Gaara cute? He was all like who would want to date her? I'm glad t made you laugh. But yes narutema would definitely be a strange couple. I like him with Hinata way too much to even picture it. I tried I ended up with the image of Hinata only with Temari's hair style, it was still purple though. Hee hee. Thank you bunches for reviewing and I hope you like chapter 17!

Enjoy everyone!

FanggirlX

Disclaimer: Naruto and co not mine

It was in the middle of the night, or should she say it was very early morning, since it was close to two when Sakura felt her phone vibrate, waking her from yet another of her many interesting dreams about the red head.

She'd grumbled about people not knowing what time it was before sitting up to answer it.

Staring groggily at the tiny screen to see who it was she smiled brightly when it was a name she recognized.

Quickly answering it she whispered, "Hello."

"Hi."

"What are you calling me for at two in the morning? You're a crazy man." Sakura giggled.

"I am not crazy."

"Okay fine not crazy-how about challenged in the sanity department? That sound better for you?"

"No." he growled.

"Okay, okay, okay. I get it. No more crazy jokes. So what can I do for you 'Mr. wake peaceful dreamers up'?"

"You were dreaming?"

"Yes, most people do when they are asleep don't they."

"I don't know."

A long silence stretched and just as she began to say , "So…" , he asked, "What were you dreaming about?"

Sakura smiled softly to herself, "It's a secret."

"It made you happy." he observed with a smirk in his voice.

"Yes, it did actually."

"I'm sorry I interrupted it then."

"Oh hush with the apologies, it was almost over anyway. Besides I'm already up now so its fine. Just go ahead and tell me the reason you're calling me?"

"I…want to see you."

"What, right now?"

"Yes."

"You want me to get out of my warm comfy bed and change out of my snug jammies tip toe down a creepy night hallway and out into the chilly night air to come see you?" Sakura teased.

He chuckled, "Sakura…"

"Oh don't say my name like that you knew the minute you called that I would come. Where do you want me to meet you?"

"There's a tree on campus with a big swing underneath it."

"You mean the tree with the porch swing near the back wall of the campus? Like in the back of the garden?"

"Yes."

"When did you find that?"

"I have time to explore things a lot usually. I like it."

"Okay. Makes sense. So when?"

"Now?" he asked sounding hopeful.

"Aw, you just sounded so adorable."

"Don't call me that."

Sakura laughed softly, "Don't get so angry. Sheesh, you woke me up and you're the grumpy one? How does that work exactly?"

"It just does right now. Sakura…." his voice trailed off.

Noting the tremor in his voice she sat up straighter.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Please, hurry." he choked out.

"Are you already at the swing?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"I didn't want to draw any attention."

"Why what's going on?"

"Just come here. Now. Please." it sounded almost as if he were crying.

Stunned Sakura assured him that she was coming and hung up.

Forgetting all about changing from her pajama shorts and tank top that she slept in she grabbed her shoes and hopped out her window deciding it was faster.

Her best friend needed her she didn't have time to waste. He would not cry alone anymore!

--

Sakura reached the tree swing shortly after hanging up. She searched for him but couldn't find him.

She shivered and attempted staying warm by wrapping her arms around herself.

Suddenly, out of no where a jacket was handed to her.

"Stupid. You'll get sick coming out here in what you did." he mumbled from behind her.

She spun around and into his arms holding him tightly.

"Naruto, you have to tell me now. What's wrong?"

He trembled but said nothing. Pulling her closer to him he buried his face in her hair.

"I…promise you won't laugh at me?"

"I will try not to. Just tell me I'm about to die of worry!"

"I had a nightmare." he whispered.

Now most people would have laughed if their best friend called them out into the night just because they had a nightmare. But most people's best friend wasn't Naruto and Naruto's nightmares weren't just regular nightmares about something scary he'd seen on TV that day or something.

No, they were always about his deepest fear. Something that scared him more than anything. It almost paralyzed him with fear sometimes.

Sakura wrapped her arms up around his neck and kissed his wet cheeks.

He had been crying!

"Want to talk about it?" she whispered.

Naruto shook his head, "Not yet. I just wanted your hug."

Tears formed in her eyes. He could be so sweet at times.

"Alright, lets sit on that swing."

"Its prettier up in the tree. You can see the stars real clear, like back in Konoha." Naruto said.

Sakura nodded and she was scooped up and Naruto hopped high into the tree.

She gazed up out of the few branches left on top of them and nearly gasped.

It was beautiful, just as he said!

"Oh Naruto. Its…gorgeous!"

"Yeah, I know." he answered with a slight smile. Now that she was here with him he felt a lot better.

He couldn't explain it but anytime Sakura was near him he felt much better. No matter how he'd felt before she was there when she arrived it just made things better.

"Still just want a hug?" she asked gently while her fingers brushed down his whiskered cheeks.

Those damn whiskers that showed everyone exactly who he was. What he was. The very markings he'd despised for over most of his life. She loved them. Told him they were cute.

She kissed his cheek and curled up in his lap.

Naruto had situated himself straddling the branch with his back against the trunk and Sakura was now cuddled up in his warmth.

Naruto didn't know what he would do without this girl.

He constantly found it amazing that after how she'd been when she was younger that that young girl had evolved into the amazing woman in his arms.

He hugged her tightly and ran his fingers through her soft pink hair.

With a sigh he licked her cheek and lay his head on her shoulder.

She rubbed soothing circles in his back, calming him, practically erasing his nightmare from his mind.

Suddenly the scream that had ripped him from his sleep echoed through his head.

He clenched his eyes and held her tighter.

"Naruto, I know you already know this but it is only a dream. That fox isn't going to hurt anybody. You're strong. You can keep kyuubi locked away."

He nodded, head still against her.

"I know." but the way his voice trembled as he answered said that didn't matter. He was still spooked.

"Who did he kill in your dream?"

He didn't answer right away. She didn't force him. Sakura sat rubbing his back waiting for him to feel ready to talk. After what seemed like forever he whispered, "Hinata."

Gasping quietly, she pulled his face up so she could meet his sad blue eyes.

"You would never, never hurt her. You know that."

"It wasn't me Saka. It was him. And I couldn't…" his voice cracked, "I couldn't do anything to stop him. He killed her. Slashed her to pieces. And her soft scream…oh god, Sakura, it was the worst thing I'd ever heard!" he sobbed.

Sakura held him comfortingly while she ran her fingers through his hair, down his back, and on his shoulders.

"Naruto."

"I love her." he whispered.

Sakura gasped.

He gripped her tightly as he struggled to calm himself down.

"I do. I wanted to try and say that I didn't. Just pretend it wasn't really love. But…but then yesterday. I fell asleep right beside her. And I didn't have a nightmare! I didn't. Sakura. She kept them away. She's that special. You know?"

She nodded and smiled encouragingly for him to continue.

"And when I woke up…she was there running her fingers through my hair like you are now. And it felt perfect. I thought for a moment, and I don't know why- and I swear to god if you laugh at me I will push you out of this tree." he warned with a glare even as laughter began to light his eyes.

Sakura smiled and said, "Just tell me."

"When I woke up I felt like I…I dunno, like I was waking up next to my wife or something. It was like she had always been there for me to wake up beside. Like she had always been there to be the first thing I saw. It felt that right. Does…does that make sense?"

Overwhelmed with joy Sakura nodded. "Yes, that makes perfect sense." tears pooled in her eyes again and this time they fell.

He wiped them away and silently asked her why she was crying.

Smiling she hugged him and whispered, "Naruto, that was beautiful. You have to tell her that."

He went rigid.

"I can't."

"But why?"

"Think about it Sakura. She's…"

"No! I don't even wanna hear it! Forget I asked why! I don't care what lame excuses you've made! If you love her she has the right to know! Whatever 'logical' reasons you have for not telling her, for not letting yourself love her isn't good enough. When faced with love, Naruto, you can't choose. You have no choice! You will love her. The only question is whether or not you will get the balls to tell her and maybe get loved in return or just sit there like an idiot and certainly never have a chance."

Naruto snapped at her, "I don't want a chance!"

"Obviously you do or you wouldn't even think that you love her!"

"Fine! I love her but I don't want to!"

Tears formed in his eyes.

Sakura bit her tongue to stop her next words from coming out.

She took a short breath and asked quietly, "Why?"

Naruto's face crumpled, "I'll hurt her. These dreams…they're getting more real. And every time I go fox…Sakura, I love it. I love having that power. And sometimes its really hard to take control and go back to being just me. After such power, all that strength…being just Naruto isn't that great you know?"

Sakura cradled his face in her hands, wiping the tears that spilt over away with her thumbs, "Naru, just you is fine. There's nothing wrong with you. Regular Naruto is better than any dumb fox. And you've always wanted to be the strongest, liking the power isn't a crime. And you never let the promise of power lead you astray. Because even if it is hard to do, you still always choose to come back. And that is now, when you don't even have much to come back for. A lonely home and a few friends. Just think if you had a warm home with a woman you know you love who also loves you. Just think about how much easier it would be to fight off the fox and come back if that was what you had to come back to. If you knew you were coming back to Hinata."

His eyes shimmered as they stared into hers.

Sakura smiled softly at him, "Naruto, you used to be so confident. You always said believe it because you actually did believe it. I'm not sure you believe in yourself at all anymore. And I am so, so sorry I left you to face so many awful things alone. But whatever those people said to you…it wasn't true. You know it wasn't. You'd never hurt anyone intentionally. You have almost given your own life several times just to protect other people. You are not an animal, you are not a monster, and I know that for a fact. You were an awesome little boy, you have become an awesome young man, and someday I will get to see you become an awesome adult. And I am sure Hinata would love to share that with you."

Naruto smiled at her, "Thank you Sakura. You're right. I was pretty awesome wasn't I?"

She rolled her eyes and grinned at him, "Yeah, when you weren't causing trouble for me."

"I was strong then and I'm even stronger now." Naruto continued.

She simply nodded, he may have an ego the size of the galaxy when this was all over but at least she would have her old Naruto back.

"And if I am stronger now that means I can keep the fox in even better than I could back then!" he smirked starting to get excited.

"So if I can do that, then it doesn't matter that she's a Hyuga and I'm an orphan. I can be the best she ever wanted! I love her!" he said with his voice rising with each word. "I'm gonna win Hinata's heart and make her love me, Sakura! Cuz you're right! She's perfect and if I know I love her why in hell would I deny myself that? Hinata will be mine by the end of the week, believe it!"

Sakura gigged.

Maybe, just maybe he was finally himself again.

"That's the spirit, Naruto. I can just imagine the blush on her face when you ask her out."

Naruto grinned at her, "Yeah, it'll be cute won't it?"

As she watched him she could see it, his love for the Hyuga heiress. It shone in the very way he spoke of her.

"Good luck, Naruto." Sakura smiled.

"Thanks." he clapped his hands, "Well. We better get to bed or we'll never get up in the morning!" he exclaimed as he scooped her up and hopped down to the ground.

Sakura looked at him confused.

"Naru, why would I need to get up in the morning?"

He laughed, "Because we're going somewhere! Duh, Saka. And you're supposed to be the smart one."

"Don't duh me. And what do you mean we're going somewhere?"

"Tomorrow is the last day of freedom before orientation and classes starting. We are doing something fun to celebrate that! And I can ask Hinata out after a great day of fun! That'll make her say yes even more for sure!"

Sakura patted his shoulder and started to walk back to her dorm room when Naruto hugged her from behind.

"Thank you, Sakura. I feel…so much better." he whispered.

She nodded and leaned against him. "I'm just glad to actually have the real Naruto back. Before now you were just…I dunno different. Sadder maybe."

"I was sad." he answered as he pulled away and turned her around. "But I'm not anymore."

Sakura nodded, "You're you again."

"Yeah I know! It'n'it great?" he chuckled.

She began to head for her dorm again when Naruto called after her, "And Sakura,"

She turned back around to face him.

"Its nice to know you missed me. It shows just how much you really do care!" he said laughing and making a goo-goo face at her as he spoke. "It really means a lot to me! I had the Sakura Haruno pining after me. Missing my awesomeness!"

Grinning wickedly Sakura laughed. "You are so in trouble!" she shouted as she charged for him.

Naruto stopped laughing, "What?"

He saw an angry Sakura running at him with her fists ready.

"AAHHHHHHH!" he shrieked and ran away. She chased after him.

"You can't run forever, Naruto Uzumaki!" she called after him.

He laughed and turned around running backwards so he could stick his tongue out at her. "I can try, Sakura Haruno!"

Laughing even more he spun around and ran harder with a grinning Sakura close at his heels.

Eventually the chase turned into a game of tag which became hide and seek. Their laughter could be heard almost all over campus as the sun began to rise into the sky signaling that their last day of freedom of class had begun.