A.N.- .... -.- This is what happens when a girl gives herself a deadline. Thunderstorms! I finished the next chapter (this one) and was ready to sign on and upload it since I said I'd try and have it out by Saturday. XD Notice today is not Saturday? Thunderstorms didn't knock off my power, but it did shut down my internet connection. . I don't know why though. Cable wouldn't work either... I was sad. And it messed with my cell phone service too. Which made me even more sad! But I got over it around the time my brother's girlfriend said I made cookies. Heehee I'm easy to please. Anyway due to not having internet and then having to do something else the next day and the next the chapter comes out today. Sorry for that but I hope you guys still enjoy it! Wish I could've kept to my deadline... but lol oh well I can't control life...though it'd be fun to give it a try for a day or two...no more than that though it's way too much responsibility. Just ask Bruce. Anyway this chapter is finally out and I'm not going to give an exact day for the next one heehee I'll just say soon. Yes...soon... lol just kidding I really will try to get it out...soon. :p This chapter has a lot of fluff and love but a bit of...hm not really angst but there is a bit of turmoil. Hope that made sense.
I have a question I want to ask you guys, my readers, so look to the bottom of this chapter for it after you are done reading. It'll be the bold letters...beneath the line... :D can't miss it. I hope you guys will give me answers because I don't know which is best to do. But yeah, anyway, that's later. Reading is now. Enjoy everybody!
FanggirlX

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...or his friends...or his enemies...I don't really own anybody...

Hinata opened her eyes with a soft breathy sigh. Her body ached but she knew she was still alive, still able to share a life with Naruto. Her mate. Her…husband. Oh goodness she still needed to tell him. She'd tried last night but her mouth hadn't worked well enough, no words had ever really come out.

She felt a warmth at her side and saw Naruto on his knees at her bedside. His face buried in her tummy while his hands clung to one of hers tightly. Tears welled up in her eyes. He'd been so worried. She wanted to let him know she was ok now. Struggling to voice her thoughts Hinata made a soft wordless sound.

It wasn't 'I'm ok.' but it did wake him up. His startled blue eyes jerked up and locked with hers.

"Hinata!" he exclaimed and dove back onto her in a hug. He tried to be gentle, however his hug attack still hurt her. Hinata wouldn't let him know that though. She was simply too thrilled to be able to still feel his hugs, jarring pain and all.

He stood back and sat on the bed beside her, her small hand still enveloped in his as he scooted closer.

"I'm so happy you're ok. Hinata. I was…really worried." his voice grew softer and softer. He ducked his head. Hinata forced herself to sit up biting her cheek to get through the pain. Once upright she focused on moving her hand not trapped in his grasp up to touch his face.

Sadly, her strength was not enough and so it made it half way to the destination before just dropping limply to his knee.

It got his attention though, which was what she'd wanted.

Smiling sweetly at her blonde lover Hinata shook her head.

She tried to say for him not to be sad, but her throat was too tight. Naruto cocked his head to the side, "No?"

He pondered the gesture a moment and then turned his gaze back on her, still puzzled, "No what?"

She sighed and a slight frown graced her features. The one time she desperately wanted to talk she couldn't.

Tears gathered in her eyes. She wasn't even strong enough to make her own voice work. Was she really a good enough wife for Naruto?

Sakura's words came back to her reminding her that the only way out of mating was death. Naruto was trapped with a worthless wife…

His warm hand on her cheek brought her from her thoughts.

Locking her pale colored eyes with his concerned gaze Hinata felt even more self loathing. He was such a great guy, so strong and caring.

"Hinata?" his thumb gently brushed at one of the slowly falling tears.

Attempting one last time to speak she opened her mouth and worked to make sound.

Nothing.

She nuzzled his hand and rested her cheek in his palm staring at him sorrowfully. It wouldn't work.

"Hinata, baby, what's wrong? Are you still in pain? I'll get mom! Hang on, Hinata!"

He rushed to the door and bellowed for Saiyomi to come there.

Running back to her side he reclaimed her hand and watched her with worry etched in his face.

"Don't worry. She'll get you patched up once and for all."

Gently from behind him Saiyomi replied, "She is already patched up, Naruto. I know I missed the bleeding but now please trust me, once Sakura finished I rechecked and there is no further injury left unhealed. Hinata is just sore from the new tissue and muscle we had to build for her.

Hinata's eyes overflowed with tears at this news. She wasn't injured anymore. Her throat was fine… it was all her. No other cause at fault, she was failing to speak because of something in her. Not because of an injury…

Ignoring her pain in her gut she leaned forward, her hand slipping out of Naruto's, burying her face in her hands Hinata sobbed.

Naruto turned angry eyes to Saiyomi, "See? She's crying like this. Something has to be wrong!"

Saiyomi rested a gentle hand on his tense shoulder, "Yes, something may be. But I'm sorry, Naruto, sweetie it isn't an injury. She may just be overwhelmed from the events. I'm sure the accident was a very scary thing, and then nearly dying on top of that. She may just be letting out an overflow of emotion."

Naruto's eyes lost their anger and he suddenly looked like a lost little boy.

"But I don't want her to cry. I don't want her sad." he said miserably.

Saiyomi wrapped him in a hug, "Dear, she may not be sad. You had to have learned from Sakura by now not all tears mean sadness."

He nodded.

Saiyomi rubbed his back tenderly, "Just sit with her and hold her a while. Let her get it out of her system. Staying with her is the most help you can give. Comfort only you can give, you're her love. Some things can only be fixed by spending quiet time with the one you love."

Naruto nodded and pulled out of her hug to turn to Hinata.

"Will that help you, Hinata?"

Desperately needing a hug she nodded. Then mercy of mercies Naruto crawled to her side and pulled her into his strong sturdy arms. Relaxing against his chest Hinata cried more.

Saiyomi pulled the door shut behind her and smiled sadly to herself. It was funny how much of herself she saw in the young Hyuga girl. Soft steps to her right made Saiyomi glance to her side.

Smiling at the beautiful young woman standing at the top of the steps Saiyomi walked to meet her.

"Are they alright, sensei?" the girl asked with genuine concern for the strangers.

Saiyomi nodded and tucked a lock of the long lightly colored brown hair behind the girl's ear.

"I think they will be."

The shy girl before her blushed at the motherly action and nodded, "He has a lot of Mr. Menato in him."

Saiyomi's smile slipped at the sad thought of her Menato. "He does."

Her friend opened her arms to offer a hug. A brave noble gesture from the extremely shy girl who feared being touched by most.

Saiyomi stepped into her hug and, wrapping her arms around the young woman, sighed.

Softly the girl soothed, "Don't think of it right now. We'll talk about it later, sensei. Right now let's just celebrate your children being safe and well."

Saiyomi took a deep breath and worked to calm herself. "Yes, you're right, Sin. Thank you."

The young woman blushed and nodded, tucking the same lock of hair as before back behind her ear, "Anything for you, sensei."

"Sleep is good for the healing process you know." Sasuke's amused tone called from the darkness his bed was enveloped in. Temari huffed and continued her stretches. Her body hurt. She'd been healed but she was sore from the process. She couldn't sleep with her body tense and tight like this; it hurt.

She heard the bed creak softly and suddenly she felt hands on hers, a warm chest at her back. Sasuke brought her hands down to her sides, lacing his fingers with hers.

"You need sleep." he stated again, more firmly this time.

She glared over her shoulder at him, barely seeing anything of his face in the pitch black room.

"I can't sleep, moron. You think I want to be up stretching like some hoity-toity ballerina?"

He chuckled darkly, "You're no ballerina."

"What?" she hissed venomously.

"You don't have the body. You can't really be compared to something as a ballerina."

"Why you fu-" her angry retort was cut off mid-word by Sasuke twirling her around to face him.

He held her body flush against his, his hot mouth claiming hers savagely.

Temari felt her knees give out in the sudden flood of sensation, yet he held her up, supporting her with a strong arm wrapped carefully at her hips.

"Don't get angry. You don't need to be a ballerina. You're much sexier than any ballerina I've seen. Most of them are twiggy lanky things with no curve, all angle."

His hand not being used to hold her up traveled down her body caressing her hip and sliding seductively up her side, softly grazing her breast and continued up to her shoulder where he let it linger.

"There's no one anywhere that can beat this body of yours." he said confidently, a smirk evident in his voice.

Temari sighed and leaned forward, letting her head rest on his shoulder.

"You're telling me crap I already know, Uchiha."

He tensed, "What'd you just call me?"

Smirking herself now, Temari turned her head to face the heat that was his neck and nipped the tender flesh there. "I said, Uchiha."

"Hn, you are asking for it."

She licked the side of his throat running the tip of her tongue up to tease the bottom rim of his ear. "Practically begging."

"You do know it's morning now, yes?" he asked amused.

She fisted her fingers in the loose white tank top he was wearing. "You do know I could care less, yes?"

"Very well, if you don't care…" he murmured lowering his mouth to hers once more.

Sasuke picked her up and it moved her previously injured body in a way it was not yet ready for, causing her to hiss suddenly with the sharp stab of pain.

Sasuke froze, "What? What's wrong?"

Images of her bloody and bruised flashed in his mind followed by images of his family dead and frozen in agony forever. She could have joined them…she'd been hurt, it could've been worse. Alot worse.

He gripped her tighter unconsciously, once again finding himself petrified at the thought of her dying.

"Nothing. I'm just so damn stiff it hurts." her grumpy grumble cut through his horrific thoughts.

Hazy onyx eyes focused on the dark silhouette that was Temari in his arms. "What?" he mumbled not quite sure what question he'd asked to get this answer.

"You didn't hurt me moving me. It's these injuries. They're healed but are still sore because they were healed."

Covering his fears he smirked and let out a short chuckle, "Sounds counterproductive if you ask me."

She giggled, snuggling into his chest, "Kind of is."

Her laughter. Her touch. Her love. Sasuke had almost been in a world without any of that after so shortly discovering it.

He kissed her again, biting her lip before plunging his tongue to meet hers, desperate to feel anything besides the fear that gripped his heart at the moment.

Temari's legs gave out again and he caught her, but around the torso where she'd recently had broken ribs healed; the newly fixed bones still tender. She groaned with pain and nearly dropped like a rock in his arms.

Sasuke scooped her up and laid her on the bed. "What happened?" he asked, unable to keep all sign of worry from his voice.

Her hand brushed his cheek, "Don't sound so scared. It's really just a part of healing. We just covered this."

Healing. Right. She'd been saved. She wasn't going to die. Not now anyway…but what about the next time? He couldn't bear it.

"I have to go." he almost shouted as he darted back away from her touch.

He couldn't get close. What had he been thinking? She could die! Just like everyone else but they were just friends it'd hurt but he'd heal and move on with her… he was dating her, loving her. If she died…it'd hurt more than he could handle. Earlier before, when he'd heard they'd wrecked he'd nearly collapsed in a broken pile of emotional sobs. Pride had prevented that, no way would he do that in front of other people, but the pain had been almost crushing.

Temari's lightening fast reflexes caught his wrist and held him in place.

"Why?" she asked.

"I just remembered somewhere I need to be." he lied lamely. It was a horrible excuse to leave but he had nothing else currently.

"You don't need to be anywhere but beside me. Now sit your ass down before I break your fucking pinky." she snapped.

Numbly, Sasuke sat.

Temari shifted, biting the sides of her tongue to keep from letting out any sound of pain.

"What's with you?" she asked softly.

He shrugged, knowing she'd be unable to see it in the darkness.

"What, are you supposed to tell me through your newly developed telepathic powers?" she muttered poking his thigh, "Tell me. Now."

Sasuke closed his eyes, willing the flashing images and echoing screams to leave.

He felt a weight in his lap. She was straddling him. How she'd moved so quickly and silently as sore as she was held testament to her superior training.

Temari's arms looped around his neck, "Sasuke."

His name…she said his name.

The single sound of his name crossing her lips sent a shiver down his spine.

Temari leaned into him, tucking her face into the crook of his neck.

Whispering she said, while placing light kisses along his neck, "Sasuke. I'm still here. Still ok. Stay with me, Sasuke. Don't run this time."

His hands shot up and gripped her forearms, as if about to push her away but he froze.

"Sasuke. I didn't die. Don't run from what hasn't happened."

How she knew what was going on in his mind baffled even him. She just knew. Temari knew why he tried to leave, why he was acting oddly.

"I am very hard to get rid of, Uchiha. If you think a simple car crash can get you out of being my boyfriend you have another thing coming."

His grip on her arms loosened and his limp hands slid down to her elbows, resting on them as he stared off into the darkness.

"You could have died." he argued softly.

He felt her shrug, "Anybody can die, stupid. It comes with being human."

She pulled back, and took his face in her hands.

He felt her nose touch his. "The trick to being human, and being able to die suddenly at any moment is to live every moment as if it's your last. Do things you enjoy, say everything you want, be with people you enjoy. That way no matter when you die, you die knowing you lived to the fullest."

"But-"

"And something learned by people who have survived horrible things, things that not everyone would survive; like a car crash or a genocide, what they learn is that not only do you live each moment like it could be your last but you cherish each memory you have for the same reason. Life is precious but it's fleeting. Don't spend your life running from connections and fearing loss."

Her lips brushed his tenderly. "So I say again. Sasuke. Stay with me. Don't run this time. Celebrate being alive with me. Sasuke."

Her hand slid down his body and cupped him gently, teasing his body.

"From now on anytime you start thinking about those things or fearing something like that I want you to grab me and fuck me. Like there is no tomorrow. In case there isn't. Sex is a way to make life and is one of the strongest emotion inducers anybody can ever experience. It is the greatest way to celebrate life."

His breathing was becoming labored, his erection in her experienced hand growing. Sasuke gripped her arms tighter and focused on the sound of her voice.

"I love you, Sasuke. I'm alive. You're alive. So fuck me, with everything you have, so you can celebrate those things with me."

She kissed him again, deeper this time, running her tongue along his lips before sliding inside and tickling the cavern of his mouth.

He pushed her back and whispered with a strained voice, lingering fear choking his voice, "We better be able to fucking celebrate those for a long time. A very long time."

She chuckled, "I'll take that as an 'I love you too'."

"No. It's what it sounded like." he muttered. Sasuke crushed her mouth to his hungry for her taste again.

Once his desire to kiss her had been sated he stopped and pulled back from her lips far enough to say breathlessly, nearly silent, "I love you too."

Temari smiled and was still smiling when she kissed him again.

"That's great, Uchiha, now help me stretch and get loose and limber so I can finally sleep."

Thanking her in his mind, Sasuke smirked and nipped her bottom lip, "It's Sasuke."

"Riiiight. I think…I need reminding of that." she said grinning.

Ok, now for the second A.N. where I ask you guys my question.

It's hard to stop a mind that loves to write from coming up with new ideas. I still love SCA it's a blast to write. But I've been hit with a few bouts of inspiration. I wrote down these ideas and I even wrote a chapter to start some of them off so I could keep an idea of how I wanted that story to go.

Most of them are Naruto stories, though one of them is an Inuyasha fic but is meant for Christmas and even though that one is just a long one shot and almost done I'll probably hold it until Christmas just because it's a Christmas fic. The others though aren't holiday based. I want to write them now. One in particular, it has alot of great potential...though it'd be a little like this one is where things are a bit different, like as far as the couples (which though I may add more characters I'll still probably use the same pairings as in this story...i really like them. And it's mostly about Sakura again so it will be a GaaSaku- psh like I'd write anything else without request lol) and even some of the characters...though I might change them a bit so they may seem OOC(with good reason of course). It's an AU this time unlike this one which seems AU but really isn't supposed to be. They're still their ninja selves in this one, in the one I want to write they're just teenagers.

My question is, should I start writing it now and begin posting it? It would slow down my updates for this story a little more than they already are but the bonus is another new story. Since you guys are the ones reading this story and waiting for updates I think it is only right to ask for what you want first. Do you want me to post it and work on both or do you want me to finish SCA first?

Here I'll give a summary and excerpt so you can decide. Remember I haven't written much so my choices from which to take my excert is...minimal...

At the moment its name is House of Second Chances and this is a summary of how I want the basic plot to go.

Sakura goes to a private academy for talented art students. She is well known for her voice. She is also well known for her temper. She is set off at the slightest thing. She has anger issues. But now Sakura has snapped one too many times. After a huge fight several very expensive pieces of equipment are destroyed. Her academy director has had enough. He is sending her to work off her dues at a second chance house for young teenage boys. She will have to be their maid basically. Cooking, cleaning and all else the head lady Tsunade can come up with, and she can come up with a lot. While working at this house Sakura befriends all fifteen of the boys in her own way. She sees that they aren't bad or dagerous just because of who they are and where they came from. One of them even sparks feelings that could be more than friendship. Her old academy friends are worried. She spends more time than is necessary with the 'freaks'. They pressure her to stop. But Sakura knows just how much those boys need her as their friend. Even the ones that insist they don't. She must choose between her old friends and her new ones. Or maybe not…what if they could get along? Just when her time is almost up on her service and their whole group is as close as it could be Tsunade is informed by the big time CEO, Orochimaru, that since she doesn't have enough money to support her second chance home she must sell it and relinquish all of the boys to foster care or orphanages. Sakura won't stand for this! They finally have a home. A home they like. They're a family. Maybe a couple concerts by her and some of the more talented boys and girls can save their home in time?

Now for the excerpt. This is from the first chapter.

Lee went to leave so she could change; he said over his shoulder to her, "Change and meet me in the laundry room okay? That way we can start drying your clothes and get you out of those soon."

Sakura saluted, "Sir, yes, sir!"

The boy laughed lightly and shook his head, "Just hurry, Sakura."

"Got it. And thanks, Lee. Really. For stopping me and for the clothes. You're the greatest."

A blush came on his cheeks, "Thank you. You are the greatest as well."

She giggled, "No way. It's you dude. You help me a lot and I just, you know, want to thank you for it. I love it here. It was my dream to make it in this place. And my temper keeps making it hard for me to stay."

He nodded, "Yes, I know. I want your dream to come true for you. So I will help you. But if you really wanted to thank me you could…"he trailed off.

There in the doorway stood an angry Molly.

"You bitch!"

Sakura looked confused, "What'd I do?"

"You sabotaged my locker!"

"I…did?"

She didn't remember doing that…

Lee saw her genuine confusion and jumped to Sakura's defense, "Why Sakura would never do such a thing. Surely you are mistaken."

Molly frowned angrily, "I'm not Shirley stupid, its Molly; and I know its was her! She's the only one dumb enough to mess with me!"

Molly crossed her arms over her million dollar silicone breasts, "My father could have your father-"

Sakura's eyes hardened, "Could have my father what?"

Molly's eyes widened, "Oops. I forgot you were an orphan on top of being the charity case. No wonder the board let you in. You are just bunches of good PR opportunities, aren't you?"

Lee slapped a hand to his forehead, "Oh no…"

Molly never stood a chance. Sakura dove on her with wild eyes.

Kiba was walking by a recording room on his way to one of the private dance studios when he heard the huge crash followed by an ear shattering scream.

Boy was he glad Akamaru was at home or that would have made his puppy's poor little doggy ears bleed.

He hurried over to see something he'd have paid to see about a month ago. Sakura kicking Molly Valentine's ass!

But a month ago Sakura hadn't been told by the dean and director of the school that if she was in one more fight she would be expelled and loose all rights to her scholarship.

He burst through the door to see a frazzled Lee attempting to pull the raging pink haired girl off of the Barbie blond who was currently gasping for air.

Lee was muttering over and over, "Didn't train enough. Need to train more."

Kiba came to his aid and between the two of them managed to pull their friend off, kicking and screaming the whole way.

Her flailing fist clobbered Kiba's head, "Hey!" he barked, "Watch it! I ain't the rich bitch queen so lay off with the hitting me!"

Sakura's red haze slowly cleared and she realized she was being held back by Lee and also Kiba- when did he show up?

"Kiba?"

He nodded a grim line at his mouth.

Then she realized why with horror.

She'd snapped. She'd gone and done exactly what she'd tried not to. She'd gotten in a fight.

Her horrified green eyes surveyed the damage done to the room and in such a short amount of time too...

Not to mention she'd destroyed thousands and thousands of dollars in equipment.

She almost reluctantly cast a glance at Molly who was pressed against the wall crying crocodile tears- or maybe they were real since the broken nose and black eye looked real enough.

Oh no.

Sakura felt tears prick her eyes.

She quickly blinked them away. She couldn't waste time crying now. She needed a plan. An explanation.

She turned her huge worried eyes to Lee's sad face.

"I'm so, so sorry, Lee."

"Sorry will not save you this time, Sakura Haruno." Guy's voice said sternly from the doorway where he stood eyeing the scene with an angry tick in his face.

Lee smiled reassuringly to her.

Sakura stood and slowly made her way to stand before him.

Unable to meet his eyes she studied her shoes.

"My office. Now."

"Yes sir."

She met Lee and Kiba's eyes once more before exiting and as she walked down the hall she heard Molly wailing, "My nose! She broke my nose! This nose cost me more money than you're house is worth! I demand she pays for it to be fixed!"

Sakura sighed. Yeah it was definitely a bad awful day.

So what do you guys think? Yeah I know from the excerpt it seems like it may want to be a LeeSaku but I promise Gaara is in it and he's meant for Sakura. Anyway yeah that's my question and I'd really really really appreciate knowing what you guys think. Should I wait or should I write? Thank you so much for taking time to hear me out and I hope to hear from you! Oh yeah and if you would review my newest chapter too! :3 Heehee can't hurt to ask but if you don't want to just please answer my question.