A.N.- Really sorry for the wait everyone. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Something everyone has probably been wondering when would happen has finally happened. :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Saiyomi stepped out of the room and came face to face with bright blue eyes.

"Is she ok!? Can I go in now!?" Naruto asked eagerly bouncing in front of the pastel pink haired woman.

She chuckled softly and patted his head, "Yes, dear, she is just fine. I'm so sorry I didn't catch the bleeding last night. Sakura saved her though and Hinata is now awake and asking for you so I believe that now would be a good time for you to go in."

"Yes! Woo! Alright!" he cheered as he dashed passed Saiyomi and into the room.

She watched him charge up to the bed and stop at the very edge and simply drop to his knees, burying his face in Hinata's embrace.

Smiling at how deeply in love their son was she closed the door and went to check on the poor boy in the next room that her daughter happened to be deeply in love with.

She wanted to mate him.

Sakura felt ready to be mated. That was marriage.

A grin came on Saiyomi's lips. She should be upset. A nervous wreck at the very least. But really, she was just looking forward to adorable grandchildren.

Oh how Minato would have loved having grandchildren she bet.

Thinking on that a moment she laughed to herself and shook her head.

No…what was she thinking? Minato wouldn't have known what to do with grandchildren.

She knocked on the door and a deep grunt was her only signal that it was safe to enter.

Opening the door she saw Gaara still sitting on the bed holding a sleeping Sakura.

"She pushes herself too hard doesn't she?" Saiyomi asked quietly, crossing the room and sitting beside him on the bed.

"Gaara? I wonder if perhaps I can have a moment of your time please? Not long. I know you don't want to be too far apart from her."

He glanced down at Sakura and then nodded, standing and laying her in the bed and covering her with a light blanket.

"Where?" he asked quietly.

"Just out in the hall if you want to stay close."

Gaara nodded and walked to the door, waiting by it, holding it open for her.

Saiyomi thanked him as she exited and turned to watch him study Sakura once more through a small opening in the door before closing it completely.

"I have said this before but I felt I should say it again now." Saiyomi started, bringing his striking eyes to her face.

Gaara watched her, almost warily, waiting for her next words.

"You make my daughter happy, Gaara. You two are very much in love."

Gaara snorted derisively.

"What is it?" Saiyomi asked.

He shook his head once, "Nothing. Continue. Please."

"Alright…" she studied him and then she too shook her head, "No, no. I can't I really think we need to address what just happened. I said you two were very much in love and you sounded doubtful."

He glared at her, "That is none of your concern."

"It is my concern."

"I will not hurt your daughter. In anyway, physically or emotionally. She is safe. Her safety is your only concern with my doubt. So-"

"You're wrong, dear." Saiyomi cut in. "Sorry to interrupt you like that but you, Gaara, are wrong. It is true I am very concerned with my daughter's safety and well being. But your's is also an issue to me as well. And that doubt you have is hurting you not my daughter. I no longer question if you will hurt my daughter. I very seriously doubt you could even if you wanted to. Not to say you aren't strong enough in power or will to do so. But I think your love for her is stronger."

Gaara cut a glance her way and then returned to glaring at the wall behind them.

"You have no proof to ground such belief." he said after a while.

"I have all the proof I need. Sakura's trust in you, the looks you give her, and also how you completely change when she enters a room. You go from being a cold angry boy to being a calmer content boy."

He didn't reply.

"Gaara, the offer I made was real you know. I care about you, dear. I will treat you like family. Because in all actuality, you will most likely become an official part of my family some day very soon, well if the phone call Sakura made to me meant anything anyway."

Gaara's gaze snapped up to lock with hers.

"What?"

"I said you are like family to-"

"No. The other."

"Sakura's call?"

"Yes. What call? When?" he asked stepping closer.

Saiyomi smiled and laid a gentle hand on his tense shoulders.

"It was yesterday, dear. While she was shopping with her friends."

"And she said that…that-"

"What she told me and this word for word, dear, I have a great memory you know, she said 'I'm mating him tonight. I am so in love with him, mama I'm not worried about any of it any more.' She called me just to let me know that I would be a mother in law soon. She sounded so giddy and in love I just knew it would work out. You are perfect for my daughter, Gaara. I must be honest though, baby. I still don't see how. But I do see that deep down you are a kind, though a little awkward, soul. And you care very much for Sakura and you will take care of her the way she deserves."

"She called you. And informed you that we would be-"

"Mating, yes. She told me, dear. But then that dreadful accident put everything postponed. But there's still plenty of time."

Gaara stared at the smiling woman in front of him. She…was alright with this? It…actually seemed like she was encouraging it.

"And you want this?"

"I want my children happy. You are who makes Sakura happy. So yes, I want you to continue being with her making her happy. She is a smart girl who only makes decisions this big after much thought over them. She wouldn't mate with you unless she was absolutely certain she was in love with you and would be for the remainder of her life."

"Absolutely certain…" Gaara muttered to himself as he focused on the floor.

"Dear, are you absolutely certain yourself? Just because my Sakura moves fast once she's made her mind doesn't mean you have to."

"No."

"No?"

"No. I am certain I want it."

"Then why did you react the way you did when I said you were very much in love? Clearly you love her, so what is wrong?"

"How do you know such a thing?"

"I already told you. From the things I see-""See. Yes. But have you heard it? Have you heard me tell her I love her?" Gaara snapped. "She says it all the time. I don't. I haven't said it. I haven't told her once."

Saiyomi now understood what was troubling the boy.

"Dear, Sakura understands. She sees the love you feel."

"I know that. She herself has told me that."

"Then-"

"But she deserves to hear it! I should be able to tell her at least in reply to when she says such words to me. But I don't. I can't I haven't. How can I mate her when I can't meet the one requirement she asked of me?" he asked miserably.

He sunk to the floor and ran his fingers through his unruly hair.

Saiyomi sat down beside him.

"Gaara, she has already explained to you that no longer matters. She took back that demand."

"But she was not in the wrong in making it. A woman desires love. Yes? She wants to be wanted. Correct? How can she know that she is if I do not tell her? Through my actions? My indirect words? My expression? Is that truly enough? And for how long if so? How long before she realizes she is not getting what every other woman is? And wants it?"

Shocked at the amount of words he'd just spoken to her Saiyomi blinked and hurried to recollect her thoughts.

"Sakura is not like other women, Gaara."

"Don't you think I know that? I know how special she is. How rare and different she is. And I know she is to be treasured. But-"

"Gaara. Child you are being ridiculous. Sakura-"

"Ridiculous?" he snarled. "Is it ridiculous to want to cherish her? To wish that I could express to her the wonder she makes me feel? Is it truly ridiculous to want to make her feel what she has made me?"

Saiyomi's eyes trembled with tears and she hurriedly blinked them away and her stare hardened.

"Gaara. I need answers and I need straight answers right now."

"I do not have to answer to you." he snapped.

"Nevertheless. Gaara, look me in the eye and tell me one simple thing. Do you love my daughter?"

He glared harder. "Did I not just admit that I cannot-"

Saiyomi shook her head fiercely, "Answer the question dammit! Do you or do you not love my daughter?! Will you or will you not go to the ends of the earth for her?! Will you or will you not protect her in every way you can with every breath you have?! Will you or will you not make her happy everyday?! Will you or will you not stand by her side regardless of what you face and will you never walk away leaving her alone?! Tell me!! Will you!? What will you do?!"

"Yes! Yes to it all! Dammit it all to hell you are loud! Shut up for one second will you!?" he bellowed.

Saiyomi smiled and it threw Gaara for a loop.

He yells in her face and she smiles…truly she was Sakura's mother. Equally strange…

"You just said you loved her." she said with a bright smile.

"What?"

"My first question was do you or do you not love my daughter. You said yes. To all my questions. So you just said you love her." Saiyomi explained.

Gaara stared at her with his mouth agape and his eyes wide.

"I said I love her…?"

"Mhm. You did, I heard you. You said you love her and will go to the ends of the earth for her, and will protect her in everyway you can with every breath you have, and will make her happy everyday, and will stand by her side no matter what you face and will never leave her. That Gaara is the perfect mate for my daughter. And I am honored to allow you to do just as you just said you would. Because you love her and you have now said it. The world knows it now."

"I said I love her."

Saiyomi nodded, "Mhm, and do you?"

His stunned eyes rose slowly and locked with hers. "Yes. I do."

A small smile came to his face.

"I said I love her."

"You did."

Tears formed in edges of his eyes and he touched them shocked to discover their presence.

"Congratulations, Gaara. You can now tell my daughter how much you love her with everything you have. Actions, expressions, and words."

"Thank you, Saiyomi." he whispered.

Saiyomi wrapped an arm around his shoulders comfortingly, "Glad to help, honey. Now go to my daughter and tell her."

Gaara nodded and rose to his feet.

He started to move away but then a thought occurred to him and he offered his hand to Saiyomi.

"Why thank you, dear. How gentlemanly."

"Welcome."

He nodded to her and turned to go to Sakura and was shocked to find her in her doorway with tears streaming down her face.

Gaara feared it was for him yelling at her mother.

"Sakura I-"

"You said you loved me." she whispered.

Relief flooded through him.

"I did."

"Say it again." she pleaded stepping towards him.

Gaara glanced at Saiyomi and then back to Sakura.

"I…" his voice faltered and a frown began to work its way onto his face.

Sakura smiled and asked, "Do you love me?"

"Yes." Gaara smiled, "More than everything."

Sakura stepped towards him, "Gaara…"

The look on her face was the most beautiful he'd seen yet.

"Yes."

"One more time?"

"Yes." he nodded.

She reached him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Sakura tilted her head back and their eyes met.

She was waiting. Waiting to hear him say it without the prompt.

She deserved to hear it. He now knew he could say it fine.

He just had to do it.

"Sakura…"

"Yes?" she asked smiling from ear to ear.

"I…I love you." Gaara whispered leaning his forehead on hers and then he kissed her.

A.N- Yay! I finally got Gaara to say he loves her! This is a momentous occasion! A celebration is in order! I had to have a little bit more love and fluff. Because things are going to heat up a teeny bit more and then all the crazy action and drama everyone sees on the horizon is gonna be here! I'm so excited! :)

Sorry again to you guys for the really really long update wait. I've been busy and then writer's blocked and all kinds of other horrible things that keep a nice girl like me from writing. XD I'll try to do better but no promises will be made at this current time lol