A.N.- I know a lot of you got mad cuz of my little cliffy. Well I must apologize in advance because this one kind of ends in a bit of one too. Sorry. I hope you all enjoy it anyway! I am finally getting to the big dramatic plot part in my story now that the couples are practically set. Well anyway here is chapter 28! Please enjoy!
FanggirlX

Disclaimer: Naruto not mine…

To HalfBloodPhoenix- (giggles) I'm not a sadist. And I just had to cliff it. …and this chapter too. Sorry. Hope you like it still anyway. Thank you for reviewing…?lol jk thanks for real.

To OoOlady heatherOoO- Thank you! Very much! I hope you continue to like it by enjoying this next chapter! Thanks for reviewing.

To Sadistic Kunoichi-13- lol sorry, but like I told HBP I had to cliff it. I hope this chapter answers some of the cliff for you. Please enjoy and thanks for reviewing.

Naruto and Gaara were greeted by a grim faced Sakura when they arrived at her dorm.

"Hey guys." she muttered.

Gaara asked her "What is it?"

She sighed, "I can't go with you guys."

Neither boy took the news well.

Gaara quietly frowned.

Naruto whined, "But why not? It was your idea."

She shrugged, "Sorry, it can't be helped."

Naruto crossed his arms and huffed, "But why?"

"I have to go to my mother's."

"How come? She okay?" the blond asked.

"Oh yeah she's dandy. I'm the one who's probably in trouble."

"What'd you do?" Naruto asked.

She shrugged again, "Who knows. Could be anything. I do a lot that upsets her actually. As much as I love my mom I'm just nothing like her. She believes in being lady like at all times and behaving properly and…I just can't do that. I'm not a lady all the time."

Naruto nodded, "Yeah, you're right about that."

Sakura glared at him then sighed, what could she do? He was agreeing with her. Plus it really was true.

"N-Naruto?"

The boy in question grinned and spun around to see Hinata. He greeted her and came up to her kissing her swiftly on the lips.

The girl blushed a deep red and suddenly found her shoes very interesting because she stared at them.

They are so cute… Sakura thought watching them together.

Sakura wanted to be with her friends not go to her mother's to get fussed at. Which she knew was the reason why. Her mother didn't just call and invite her to dinner for no good reason. She'd probably found out about that incident where she was sent to the office. What a joy that lecture would be if she were right.

Then an idea popped n her head.

"Hey you guys?"

Naruto and Hinata looked to her. Gaara had yet to look away from her since arriving, besides even if it ever seemed like he wasn't listening he really was.

"You three want a free dinner?" she asked with a wicked grin.

Naruto smiled catching on to what she was leading to.

"Sure," he said, "Sounds good to me. You, Hinata?"

"W-well…"

"Please come with me, Hinata." Sakura asked, "Don't make me go face her alone. Besides with you guys there I may just get out of the lecture all together and avoid a big argument."

Hinata knew all too well how awful a fight with your parent was. So to hopefully help Sakura get out of one she agreed to go.

Sakura thanked her gratefully and then turned hopeful eyes to Gaara.

"Gaara?"

He stared at her a moment then said, "Go see your mother."

She smiled, "Yeah. Besides I really want her to see my great new boyfriend!"

Hinata gasped quietly

Sakura noticed and hurried to her, taking her in a tight hug, "Its true! Gaara's my boyfriend! Now we're both in love! And with awesome guys! Isn't that great, Hinata?"

Hinata nodded, "Y-yes, I'm s-so happy for you, S-Sakura." she whispered softly hugging her friend back.

Hinata wasn't sure Gaara was great boyfriend material since he was so stoic and cold but Sakura was happy so he must have something hidden that only she can see, so Hinata hoped things worked well for them.

Gaara watched the two girls with hidden interest.

Sakura was ecstatic to be his. To have him.

She hadn't hesitated even once today to tell a person they were now together. She even told people she didn't know, if they asked she told them with a glad smile.

A warmth filled his chest. She was proud to be with him.

And it couldn't be because he was Kazekage. He technically wasn't right now, and wouldn't be for about another four years. Sakura was simply proud to be with him as he was because he was himself. No other reason was needed for her.

That made him incredibly happy. It also amazed him, she amazed him.

And because she was so amazing he was willing to go meet her mother for dinner. Even if secretly if inside the thought worried him. Sakura's mother didn't like him very well. He remembered how she'd looked at him with fear at the pizza place. She didn't hate him, Gaara doubted, from what he'd heard and seen, that the woman could hate anything. She was too kindhearted, and was where Sakura had gotten her kind heart from he supposed.

Nonetheless, she didn't like him and she didn't have to to not hate him. And she sure as hell didn't have to trust him. Which she didn't. At all. So he highly doubted the woman would be happy that Sakura was dating him.

He hoped he was wrong, hoped that she accepted their new relationship. He hoped it all went well with her mother because he was just starting to get used to the idea of being hers. And to having her as his. Regardless of his worries he would do what would please his Sakura.

"Sakura." he said in his usual low voice.

She released her hug on Hinata and turned to him, looking to him with sweet loving eyes. He would never tire of seeing her look at him like that.

"I will go." he informed her.

She smiled gratefully at him. "Thank you, Gaara."

Naruto cheered and wrapped an arm around Hinata's shoulders.

Sakura came over to Gaara and kissed his cheek. "Really," she whispered, "Thank you. And don't be so worried about it all, okay?" she hugged her arms around his neck.

Gaara made no move to hold her too. But she didn't seem to mind, in fact now that they were in public Sakura didn't expect him to, he wasn't comfortable doing things like that where others could see and she didn't push him to. She felt lucky to simply be allowed to hold his hand while they walked places. She knew from now on when they were alone he'd make up for it. He'd more than make up for the cold aloofness he treated her with now because even though he was acting like that she knew with all her heart that he was focusing on her touch and words, remembering them, storing them inside and she knew he enjoyed her love and attention and once they were alone he'd hold her and kiss her with the warmth she made him feel.

"Gaara," she whispered against his skin, "She'll love you as much as I do. I just know it."

No one else would've seen it but because she was pressed against him she felt it. Gaara trembled at her words.

And it was sweet little signs like that that told her he cared. That he loved her. That he wanted her to hug him and that he enjoyed her attention on him. But sometimes a girl couldn't resist asking. Sometimes she wanted him to at least confirm her heart's knowledge if just a little.

Sakura kissed his cheek again and whispered sweetly to him, "I never get tired of saying it, Gaara. I haven't said it too much today have I? I haven't embarrassed you have I, Gaara?"

He met her eyes and nodded.

"Good. No. Yes. But, the reason behind my embarrassment makes it worth enduring." he answered her in an honest whisper.

She smiled and kissed his cheek softly before taking his hand and heading for the car.

"Come one guys. We have to be there soon. She said it would be ready at 5:30."

"But Sakura," Naruto called after her checking his watch to make sure he was right, "It's only 4:45. And its not too far to the teacher houses on campus…so why the rush?"

"All true. But my mom believes in being early. So if we arrive at 5:00 we're on time."

"Oh." was all the boy could reply as he tried to understand while he and the others followed Sakura out the door.

--

While in the car Sakura called her mom.

"Hello?" her mother answered her phone.

"Hey mom."

"Oh, Sakura. Hello. You are coming to dinner this evening right? It's almost ready."

"Yes, ma'm. I'm coming but…here's the thing. I already had plans for dinner with my boyfriend and some friends before I checked my messages."

"Oh honey that's fine. They can come with you." her mother replied sounding a bit distracted and sakura could hear her moving about the kitchen over the phone, checking contents in pots and opening the stove to check on what was in there.

"Cool, because they kind of already are. I told them you would be okay with it. Hinata's one of them."

"Is she? I'll look forward to seeing her and your friends. But dear, there aren't too many are there? If it's a crowd as big as the one you ate pizza with I'm going to need to cook some more. A lot more."

Sakura laughed, "Nah, Counting me there's only four of us. It was kind of going to be a double date thing."

"Oh wonderful! Hinata has a boyfriend?"

"Yep she sure does." Sakura said grinning from ear to ear about the fact herself.

"I can't wait to hug her my congratulations! Also I can't wait to meet this young boy."

"Yeah I can't wait for you to meet him either."

"A close friend of yours?"

"None closer."

"Good. All the better. Well see you in a few dear."

"Bye mom."

They hung up and Sakura laughed. Her mom hadn't made the connection that she had a boyfriend too, since it was a double date plan. And being distracted the first time she must not have noticed it then either.

The pink haired girl reached beside her and took Gaara's hand.

It was tense and a little clammy.

Aw, he was nervous. That was cute to her for some reason.

"Its going to be fine you know."

Unfortunately Gaara couldn't bring himself to share her optimism.

But he gripped her hand back gently anyway.

Sakura figured her mom had caught on to her having a boyfriend as well by now. In fact, she could have sworn she'd just heard her mom squeal all the way across campus.

It was most likely just her imagination though…

--

They pulled into the short driveway of one of the few professor cottages. Saiyomi was not only the newest English professor she was also the on campus doctor. Which was why they kept her on campus so that she'd be on hand incase of emergencies.

It was a small house the school had given her, but based on the ones near by it must have been standard issue size.

The little house was white with forest green shutters a little cobble stone walkway leading up to the same stone steps that led to a cute porch with a swing at the end.

They all got out of the car and headed for the big wooden front door with a fancy square window at the top.

Sakura knocked once and it instantly swung open.

"You have a boyfriend." her mother exclaimed happily as way of greeting.

Sakura nodded, "Yep, the greatest."

"Oh my baby!" her mom enveloped her in a warm motherly embrace.

"Mom." Sakura sighed as she patted her mom's back.

Saiyomi apologized and stepped back to greet the rest of the group.

Her eyes first landed on Naruto.

The mother's ivy green eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open..

Naruto noticed her shocked stare- who wouldn't?- and suddenly feeling nervous at meeting Sakura's mother he waved and grinned at her, "Hi there Ms….Haruno?"

"Oh my." was all the woman could say before she fainted.

--

Saiyomi came to about ten minutes later.

Sakura's worried face was the first thing she saw clearly.

"Mom?"

"Oh baby, I'm sorry about that," she slowly sat up a hand on her head, "I just thought I saw a…ghost?"

Her eyes had fallen on Naruto who was just coming through the doorway into the living room from the kitchen.

"Oh good. She's up. How's she doin'?" he asked.

Sakura shrugged, "Mama?"

Saiyomi's eyes were wide and her skin pale as she whispered, "N-Nato?"

She rose to her feet and slowly approached Naruto.

Naruto watched her with concern, "No ma'm. I'm Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki." he grinned at Sakura and then added, "Believe it."

He smiled wider when he heard Sakura giggle.

But his smile slowly left when her mother's eyes grew even more, "U-Uzu…maki?"

He nodded hesitantly, all the while feeling a lead weight forming in his chest.

She knew of the fox incident.

She was going to dislike him because of it just like everyone else.

She was going to forbid him from being around Sakura.

He just knew it.

Cautiously Saiyomi reached out her hand and touched his face.

Tears formed in her soft green eyes.

"You are, aren't you?" she asked softly rubbing her thumb across his cheek.

Naruto slowly nodded his head. This…was a new reaction.

She placed her other hand on him cupping his face gently.

"You look…just like him don't you baby?" she whispered gently staring at him with an odd look on her face.

Feeling more than a little disturbed, Naruto he inched back a little, "What are you going on about lady?"

Saiyomi shook her head, "It doesn't matter right now." she glanced over he shoulder, "Sakura."

"Yes ma'm?"

"This is your old friend? Naruto? The one you begged to bring with us right?"

Sakura nodded, "That's right. I found him again or rather he actually found me."

Saiyomi smiled at him, "Did he?"

Naruto nodded answering her question though he wasn't entirely sure he was supposed to, "Yes ma'm found her."

"How?" she asked studying him with warm eyes.

The boy shrugged, "I dunno. I just did. Went where it felt right. Sniffed her out I guess."

Saiyomi blinked, "You…sniffed her out?"

He chuckled nervously. Naruto didn't want to tell her about the fox he didn't really like talking about it much.

Sakura came up beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder to help offer support.

She smiled, "Mama, Naruto is the nine tailed demon fox container. He's very strong and very kind and has saved my life as well as the entire village of Konoha several times. He's my best friend."

Tears slid down Saiyomi's face.

Naruto's eyes stared warmly at the girl beside him though, Sakura…

"That's wonderful." Saiyomi whispered. Naruto turned his attention to the softly crying mother of the greatest friend he'd ever had.

"Ma'm?" he asked not sure he'd heard her right.

"You're quite a special boy aren't you?"

Naruto blushed, "Yeah. Thank you."

"Come here, baby. I just have to hug you." Saiyomi said opening her arms to him.

Slowly, cautiously he stepped into her embrace.

Saiyomi held him closely crying silent tears.

"Hello Naruto…Uzumaki, it…its wonderful to meet you." she said as she ran her hands over his hair and back.

Feeling safer than he thought possible in the arms of basically a stranger, Naruto hugged her back, "You too Ms. Haruno."

Sakura watched on with a beaming smile and misty eyes.

--

Saiyomi excused herself from the two and headed for the bathroom saying she wanted to freshen up.

Once she was safely behind the closed and locked door of the bathroom she turned on the water to cover the sounds and let her sobs free, burying her face in her hands as she cried.

What was she going to do?

They cared about each other so much. It was so obvious. She was very important to her. And Sakura had always spoken about her Naruto.

But…now they were dating? Dating? How could this be any worse?

Oh, how could she tell them? Then again, how could she not?

Sakura…and…. Naruto…Naruto Uzumaki.

Really, what were the chances? She thought laughing humorlessly.