"Are we there yet?" Sakura panted, resting her body against a tree. She grabbed her bottle of water and drank the last sip of it.

"We're just ten miles away." Sasuke answered handing his untouched bottle to her. Sakura took it and held back a gasp.

Sasuke had been staying home for a while now and had suddenly asked his wife to travel with him to his clan old beach house, which was just quick walk from Konoha - or so Sasuke had said.

They had left Konoha before dawn and had walked non-stop since then. It was noon now. And he had said they were still ten miles away. Even after one year of marriage, Sakura still wasn't used to Uchiha's concept of a "quick walk".

"Oh. Good. Just ten miles." She said, nodding to herself trying to stay strong. "You didn't tell me the beach house was out of the country."

Sasuke smiled and got closer to her, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and said softly: "Come on, just a bit more. I promise it will worth it."

Sakura felt the blood flood her cheeks and legs get weak. God, it just take him a touch to make her feel like a teenager again.

"A-alright." She whispered.

Sasuke chuckled and poked her forehead. "Let's go." He said, already resuming his pace.

Sakura pushed herself off the tree and ran beside him feeling totally recharged.

"Huh, those ten miles just flew by." Sakura said a few minutes later when Sasuke announced 'It's here.'

"I was just teasing you back then. It wasn't that far away." Sasuke said. "You were pretty cute, I couldn't help it."

"Meanie." Sakura complained punching him lightly. "Still, this wasn't what I would call a quick walk…"

"What do you think?" He said making a large gesture to the place they were at.

Sakura looked around. "Wow!" It was all she could think of.

A elegant but simple wooden house was perched on a short hill: it had large windows that faced the blue, calm, shore; a rock stair led to the white sand and, what Sakura liked the most, the vegetation around the house was not composed of palm trees, but small flowering shrubs that filled the place of beautiful colors.

"I knew you would like it." Sasuke spoke. "I haven't come here in years."

She turned her gaze to his face. It was a one of those rare times when Sasuke would smile without restrain. Sakura could live on those smiles. It was a shame to interrupt that moment, but Sakura had to ask:

"How come this place still so preserved then?"

"Oh? It seems that there's some kind of connection to our family: places like this house, our shrine, our supply base will remain as long there's still an Uchiha alive."

"That's very Uchiha-like. Does the person need to have a sharingan to find the door? Because I really need to use the bathroom."

Sasuke laughed a bit. "You can go in first, I will go for a swim. To open the door you will need these seals: bird, boar, hare, hare." He instructed.

"Alright. I'll be right back." She said, walking a few steps towards the house. She looked at him over her shoulder: Sasuke was facing the ocean and had placed his bag on the sand and was now unbuttoning his cloak.

The cloak was also on the ground now. With a swift move, he untucked the light shirt he wore from his pants and started to take it off. Sakura had stopped her walking and now was staring at her husband straightly.

"Sakura." He called without looking back.

"Yes?" She answered shyly.

"Could you look away? You're making me feel like a showgirl."

Sakura was tempted to make a joke but just chuckled and walked faster towards the house.

The inside decor was so amazing as the outside: wicker furniture with cream pillows. There were no paintings: the beautiful view of those large windows were more than enough.

From the living room, she could see Sasuke swimming in the blue sea. Sakura could watch him for a little longer, but her bladder wouldn't allow.

After she went to the bathroom, she went back to the living room to check on him again. Now he was floating on his back, with his arm stretched out and open hand, probably to protect the eyes from the sun. Sakura wondered if he had put on the sunblock. Most likely, not. Sasuke was one of those people who didn't get a tan, his skin would burn and get red as an apple for a while and then get back to its usual marble tone. Therefore, he needed a stronger sunblock that she did, but that did not mean he would use it.

Sasuke thought that sunscreen was a bother. "It's sticky, hard to spread and what's the point of putting on something you will have to touch up in no time?" He used to say. "Besides, the sunlight isn't strong today, is it?"

And that's how Sakura ended up using medical ninjutsu on Sasuke's sunburns every time they did something outside in summertime.

Smiling to herself she walked around the house a bit more. It was a house with two floors and four bedrooms, all of them decorated in pastel colors, just like the living room. She was now sure that her late mother-in-law had the same taste for house decor than she did.

She chose the bedroom with the larger window to place her things. From that window, Sakura still could spot her husband on the beach. He was now standing still, looking closely at something. A fish or a shell, maybe?

I should put my swimsuit on and go back to him. She thought. Nodding to herself, Sakura opened up her bag to pick one up. The first she grabbed was something Ino had placed on her bag.

"It's a present. Be sure to wear it. It's almost a luck charm for your wedding." The blonde had said, blinking one eye.

It was a bikini set: the top part was a strapless cerulean thing, it's neckline was embroidered with pearls; the bottom was the lace up kind and white. Yes, white. Why on earth would someone wear such a see-through color to get in the water?

To sum up, it was a bikini that only Ino would wear.

Sakura knew why her best friend had given that daring bikini to her, though.

You see, even though Sakura felt like her relationship with Sasuke was never stronger, their... huh... adult nightlife wasn't exactly doing well.

The timing is bad. That's all. Don't overanalyze it. She tried to say to herself.

And that was true: first there was the period when they were gathering their strength to overcome the miscarriage; then her parents paid them a long visit and then... Then they found out that Hinata was pregnant, followed closely by pretty much every married friend they had, and the feeling of "my baby was supposed the be older than yours" wasn't exactly a turn on.

It was possible that Sasuke had brought her there precisely because of that: maybe he also was feeling that something was missing on their wedding and came up with the trip to spice things up - besides, weren't men supposed to care more about it?

If that was the case, it would be alright to wear that daring bikini. She would just be showing him she had the same intentions.

Or maybe he just wanted to show me this place and I'm just a big perv. Sakura thought feeling her cheeks burn.

She wanted to call Ino and ask for her opinion, but it seemed quite obvious what she would say considering that Ino was the one who gave her the bikini.

Too much trouble for a swimsuit. It was better to use her simple one-piece.

Then again... Hadn't thing always things with Sasuke always move forward when she took a shot and acted aggressively? It was the emotionally retarded Sasuke Uchiha she was talking about.

The medical nin nodded to herself and grabbed the daring bikini.

Sasuke could feel her gaze upon him.

Sakura peeped on him from the living room window twice, then later from the main bedroom window. Long gazes to check on him, probably to make sure he was alright, to make sure he was even there.

He couldn't get mad, though. How could him when he was the one who disappointed Sakura so much to make her feel the need to check every minute if he had not left her again yet.

After everything he had done, it was natural she was a little distrustful. Sasuke knew that. He knew that, but… But it still hurt.

It hurt him that, now, everytime he would touch her, she would always be somewhat hesitant, as if she was expecting to take a hit. He didn't like the fact that she, who was once so honest about his feelings for him and eager to demonstrate it, seemed now to overthink everything she did or said around him.

The whole situation was giving him the annoying feeling of don't knowing what to do, what made him even more unsettled and that made him act even more awkwardly… Their marriage was just like a snowball rolling down a snowy montain.

He thought he should say something, but he got nothing.

It was so frustrating: why was so much easier to convey his feelings to everyone else than to the woman he shared his life with?

Sasuke sighed and turned to the shore, walking back to his things on the dry sand. He put his pants back on then lied on his back, shutting his eyes away from the sun.

It hot. Sakura will make me use sunscreen. He thought drowsily. Maybe I should… go inside.

He woke up with light touched on his chest, recognizing it, he grabbed Sakura's hand without opening his eyes and brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. He felt something sticky, creamy and with an astringent long-lasting taste. Sunscreen. [A/N: I actually tasted sunscreen to write that. DON'T DO IT, it's really bad :(].

"Ew." He said, opening up his eyes just to see Sakura's most heartwarming smile.

"I'm sorry." She laughed. "I was just worried with your skin since the sunlight is so strong…" She tried to pull away her hand but Sasuke held it tighter and pulled her down to his chest. Sakura fell on top of him with a surprised "oh!".

"I see…" Sasuke said to himself. Sakura frowned.

"What do you 'see'?"

"I know now how I'll fix our relationship issue." He answered.

Sakura's cheeks burned. "A-are you aware of it?"

"Of course I am. To be honest, it has been pretty rough on me, even though I know it's my fault."

Sakura got up to face him. "That's so not true! I'm to blame too! If I only was more… you know… appealing, maybe you…"

It was Sasuke's turn to frown. "'Appealing?' What are you talking about?"

"Well, y'know, we haven't really... doing it these days."

Sasuke blushed and looked away. "That's not really the root of the problem, right? I was talking about the way you are suspicious and always checking on me, like you're expecting the next time I will hurt you! Is that all you ever think about?" He answered, flicking her belly then he sighed and smiled. "But, as I said, I found the solution."

Sakura blinked. "But, Sas…"

"I will make you feel my love for you so much you won't have no choice but trust me completely when I say I don't intend to break your heart again." He proclaimed.

Sakura widened her eyes, hoping they wouldn't tear up.

"B-but… I was saying, I'm no suspicious or anything. I completely trust you. If I always look at you, it's not because I'm worried… I just love to be able to stare at you openly all the time now that you're finally mine." She said, caressing his face. Then she smirked. "But, you know, since you're willing to be so passionate about me if I act distrustful, maybe I should do it."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and got up from the sand, he wasn't looking at her, but Sakura could feel his embarrassment.

"There's an island in that direction." Sasuke said, pointing to the north. "It has a pretty cool waterfall there. We have a canoe here we can use. Wanna go there ?"

Sakura got up as well. "Sure. We will row?"

"Yeah. It's just a quick row from here."

Sakura almost asked him if it was Uchiha definition of "quick", but since Sasuke snuggled her against his chest once they sat on the boat, she didn't think a long trip would be so bad.