A.N.- Okay. So I decided to just go ahead and post 31 together with 30. I knew you guys were tired of cliffies. ;) So hopefully this won't end as one to you. I would like to apologize if there are any really awful typos in these two latest chapters. i am unfortunately not feeling too well thanks to my little emergency that came up and i didnt quite feel like editing them very well. i skimmed...but i could have missed things and if i did i'm sorry. i hope you enjoy this chapter anyway! thanks guys!
FanggirlX ;)

Sakura's hazy mind worked to make sense of everything as she sat up and looked around.

Sitting beside her was not the face she was hoping to find.

"Hey." her mom said.

"Mama?"

"I'm sorry I shouted at you like that. I just worry about you."

Sakura sighed and Saiyomi quickly added "I know, I don't have to worry about you with him."

Saiyomi smiled at Sakura "He's been really worried about you."

"He has…?"

She nodded, "At least I think that's what his pensive silence means this time. But I just want to tell you that you're right this time. He isn't a bad person."

Sakura studied her mother carefully, "What happened to change your mind?"

Saiyomi smiled sweetly, "When you fainted he caught both you and Naruto who also fainted. He brought you into his arms with his sand and stroked your cheek. But Sakura what really got me was that when you went unconscious like that the poor boy looked so lost without you. And then while we were setting you up in a bed he never left your side and he held your hand for hours."

"Hours!?"

"Yes dear. You and Naruto were both out for about three hours its late night now."

"Where is everybody?"

"Hinata is sitting by Naruto's bedside and I just asked Gaara to give me a moment alone with you. I don't think he knows you're up yet. I sent him to get me coffee started brewing."

Sakura stared at her mother bumfuggled beyond all comprehension, "So you're okay with him now?"

Saiyomi sighed, "You love him. And he must care for you to treat you the way he does and so I apologize for overreacting. I was unreasonable and blinded by fear and I am sorry. Its just everyone told me not to get involved with my lover. They said it was unwise since we were from different villages. But I didn't listen. I rebelled, and it cost him his life in the end." Saiyomi shook her head and wiped her tears, "It's two totally different stories though. Two different circumstances. But I just didn't want that to happen to you. But if you believe in him, I will trust your judgment. Besides you're very right. He's not a bad person. He's cute when he's trying to explain something he finds difficult." Saiyomi said remembering how two hours ago he'd sat here holding Sakura's hand telling her that he couldn't leave Sakura. That he'd planned to so as to spare her the trouble being with him would cause, but between Naruto talking sense enough in him and him not being able to take a step away from where she was he decided he was never letting her go. He'd sworn to Saiyomi to protect her and provide for her with everything he had in him. And he vowed on his life that if he ever hurt her Saiyomi could do whatever she desired to him. He would deserve it so Gaara saw it as fair.

Sakura smiled, "So you give us your blessings?"

"And I wish you luck."

Sakura shook her head, "I don't need luck I have Gaara. And we have each other's love. That's all we need."

Sakura heard a soft gasp. She glanced behind her mother and saw a happy Gaara. His face hardly showed he was feeling joy but his eyes spoke volumes on their own.

"Gaara!" Sakura exclaimed cheerfully.

He hurried to her bedside glancing only momentarily at her mother as he passed her.

The boy sat on the edge of the bed and took Sakura's hands in his.

"I…I'm glad." he whispered his eyes soft as he studied her.

She smiled, "Are you glad I am ok or glad the fighting is over?"

He smirked, "Both."

Sakura tugged on his hand and he carefully lowered himself over top of her.

"Gaara." she whispered sweetly.

"Your mother is watching." he said sounding uneasy.

"Let her. I want her to see how much I love you." she answered with a wicked grin.

Gaara's eyes lit up and he pressed his lips to hers in a sweet kiss without another thought.

Saiyomi smiled at them and stood to exit.

Sakura brought out that boy's heart.

She wasn't going to tell Sakura that he'd gotten furious at himself for ever even letting her faint and that because of that he'd near about destroyed the back yard-not to mention her beautiful roses, what a loss. He was calm again now and that's all that mattered.

The light pink haired mother left the two love birds alone and headed for her kitchen, stopping momentarily when she saw Hinata tucked in sleeping soundly in the bed that had been Naruto's.

He was no where to be found.

Thinking on where he would be she made her decision and headed outside.

--

Naruto sat on the ground starring up at the leaves of the tree he was leaning against.

The blond sighed.

His brain was overwhelmed. He had no thoughts because he had too many thoughts trying to go on at once.

This morning he'd woken up beside Hinata knowing he would forever be an orphan but now he wouldn't have to be alone.

Tonight he will go to sleep not an orphan, not alone.

He should have been ecstatic. Bouncing all over the place with how happy he was. Because Naruto was happy. He knew he was. But…something was eating at him and he couldn't place it.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

He looked up to see Ms. Har-his mom standing in front of him.

His mom.

He had a mom.

Naruto sighed heavily.

Saiyomi sat down beside him.

"I wanted to tell you gently. I'm sorry you found out this way." she whispered.

Naruto nodded, "I understand. Sakura can be…forceful."

She chuckled, "That she can."

Naruto let out a big breath of air, "Wow, Sakura…she's my sister now." he mumbled.

"She always was. Now you just know for certain."

"Yeah, I guess that's true…I just…dunno what to say."

"Just say what you feel."

He shook his head, "I don't want to do that."

"Because you're angry and you don't understand why." she said gently.

Sighing Naruto jammed his hands in his hair. "Yeah."

Saiyomi nodded.

"I mean. I shouldn't be." Naruto struggled to speak his feelings, "I finally have a real family. I've always wanted that. So now that I have it why am I so pissed off? I finally have the family I always wanted! It doesn't make sense."

Saiyomi gently placed her hand on his stiff shoulder. "You're angry because you've always wanted it."

He turned his head to stare into her shimmering light green eyes.

"What?"

"You've had to be alone for so long, and you didn't really have to be." Saiyomi softly explained while tears slid silently down her face.

Naruto's eyes widened. That kind of made sense. It was kind of what he was thinking.

"Yeah. I mean where were you? Huh? Why weren't you with me? Us? We needed you. I needed you!" he said growling as tears pooled in his eyes, his emotions finally breaking free.

Saiyomi turned to him and opened her arms, "Come here baby. I'm sorry. I hate that you were so alone. It pains me more than you'll ever know. But you don't have to be alone now. And I don't have to go with out holding my baby boy anymore."

Naruto collapsed into her arms and held her tightly.

He sobbed onto her thin shoulder as he clung to her.

She cried with him and rubbed his back soothingly, "Its alright baby. Its alright. I'm with you now. I'm several years late, and that is unforgivable. But I'm here and I will work my hardest to make up for it. I will show you what its like to be loved as my son, Naruto, I promise you that."

He whispered, "But why weren't you there before?"

She trembled in his arms, "I…I…was lost."

She could feel his confusion and saw it clearly on his face when he pulled away.

"It's a long story. And quite painful for me. Would you allow me to only have to tell it once? To both you and Sakura in the morning? I will give you all the answers you need and deserve then."

He wanted them now but staring into the soft green eyes of this woman…he couldn't not give her what she asked.

He nodded.

Her smile was soft and gentle. "Thank you."

"Sure." he sighed.

She wrapped an arm around him and snuggled closely.

Naruto stared at her strangely. "What are you doing?"

"Cuddling."

"Yes, I can see that….but…why?"

"I missed you." the woman said.

"But…I…" he sighed, "I don't understand."

Saiyomi nodded, "I imagine you wouldn't. It will make since when I tell you my story. But…I will tell you, Naruto, that like I did with Sakura for a time I thought you were dead. So…when I came and managed to find Sakura I had no idea you were my baby boy. I never saw you. If I had…oh I would have known instantly. You look exactly like your father. But with more mischief in your eyes, I believe. You were a troublemaker growing up weren't you?"

Naruto chuckled. "You have no idea." then he grew serious, "You thought I was dead? But why?"

"To make a long explanation short and simple…I heard that Menato was killed in the fox attack and he'd had you at the time so I simply assumed you'd died as well. I had no idea that you, my baby, were the boy who had the fox sealed inside him. I'm sorry I didn't look harder. I…thought you were both dead. But then I saw Sakura and was so thrilled one of my children had lived. And Sakura never said Uzumaki…just Naruto or Naru. If she had said Uzumaki I would have known for sure."

Naruto cocked his head to one side, "How come?"

She smiled at him through her tears, "Because that was my name. Not your father's. For some reason he felt it necessary to name you after me. He must have given you your last name after…we were separated. He was always romantic like that. So giving you my name was his way of showing you were mine. What a dear man."

Saiyomi started crying harder. Naruto hesitantly encircled her with his arms and drew her in for a hug.

Saiyomi hugged him, arms around his neck.

Naruto was shocked to hear his name was hers. It felt nice to know though….it was kind of like she'd always been with him. Or at least he'd always been her son.

After a few minutes her sobbing slowed to soft silent tears once more and she sat up in his hug and took his face in her soft hands.

"I want you to know. I am proud of you. I have heard so many stories about you and the things you've done. And I am so happy I get to tell you that I am proud of you, my son. You are a strong kind young man and it is my honor to be your mother. If…you will allow me to take on that role after leaving you alone for so long. Willingly or not it is not right that you had to face being strange and misunderstood alone." her tears came faster, "You were so brave. So…great to manage that on your own. It turned you into the amazing young man you are but… I will forever regret not being there. To hold you when you cried because of a cruel word or a scraped knee. To welcome you home after a hard day's play or training when you got older. To fix you proper meals and listen to how your day went. To tell you bed time stories and wish you good night while I tucked you in. To kiss away your nightmares and check under you bed and in your closet for monsters. To encourage your dreams. To scold you for rolling around in mud and laugh when you have it all over your face. To tease you about your first crush until you were beet red. To make you kiss my cheek when you left to go somewhere even though it embarrassed you. To bake cookies with you. And throw surprise birthday parties and make you the biggest cake I possibly could. To celebrate holidays with you. To help you do homework. To praise you when you did good on a test. To make you take baths. To see you make friends. To watch you grow up. I…missed everything. I thought about you. I would always see a little boy and wonder is that how my baby would have been? But I missed everything. So…I'll never know if you were a sweet shy little boy or a rambunctious rowdy boy. And I am so, so sorry I missed your childhood."

Naruto sat staring at her in wonder. She…wanted to have done all those things with him? Wow. She would have been a great mom. And she missed it all as much as he did.

Of course she couldn't do it all now…but maybe they could play catch up?

He coughed nervously, "You know…mom," Saiyomi gasped and jerked her wide happily surprised eyes up to meet his, "You don't really have to make me take baths anymore because I kind of already do that…regularly. And I don't really need bed time stories or to be tucked in…and I don't really cry when I scrape my knee anymore…and I kicked the ass of the monster under my bed years ago…but maybe you still could…you know…do all that other stuff? We both missed it and it could be fun."

Saiyomi laughed happily, "You didn't say anything about baking cookies with me. Does that mean…?"

He nodded laughing as well, "You are never too old to bake cookies…with your mom."

Saiyomi tackled him in a tight hug. "Oh thank you! You are a real sweetheart!"

Naruto patted her back and then decided aw screw it. She was his mom. Eventually she would see he wasn't calm and gentle like that all the time.

He trapped her in a bear hug. And then stood swinging her up in the air happily. She swatted his arm, "Put me down."

The blond chuckled and did as he was told, "Yes ma'm."

Naruto grinned at her, "I think I might like having you as a mom."

She kissed his forehead, "I know I will like having you as my son. I love you, baby. Its many years overdue. But its just as heartfelt as the first time I said it when I held your tiny screaming body as a newborn baby and kissed your wrinkled face. I always have and always will love you, Naruto."

Naruto laughed, "You know what this means don't you?"

Saiyomi shook her head, "No what, dear?"

"You get to spin again for that! It was so beautiful you earned it!"

She gasped, "What? No!" she squealed when he picked her up and swung her around again.

"Naruto Uzumaki you put me down right this instant."

He stopped and put her down, "You know you sound a lot like my mother." the boy said with a wide smile and mischievous eyes.

Saiyomi laughed and crossed her arms, "Good. I hope so."

Naruto wrapped an arm around her shoulders and they started back for the house.

He teased her saying, "Come on its past your bedtime. You're an old lady now and you need your rest if you want to play a rousing game of bingo in the morning."

"Oh you." she said smiling at him, "You are a mess."

"Yeah you just wait old lady, till I find a mud puddle then I'll really show you messy."

"I wondered why you left that one out as well."

"Because I will never get too old for mud either! Its way too fun!"

Saiyomi laughed and entered her small house excited to see her and Naruto's relationship begin growing like that. It was very late…but in this case even she, the Queen of On-time-ness as Sakura had dubbed her, could agree that it was better late than never.