All of Suna celebrated. Everybody talked about the biggest and most pompous wedding in the whole ninja world. The citizens of Suna wrapped an arm around each other's neck whenever they met on the street and drank for the health and happiness of Kazekage-sama. Vendors fluttered colorful scarves in front of their shops. All those who weren't invited to the wedding celebrated in bars and even organized parties in different local restaurants. The girls stopped Kazekage-sama on the street to give him flowers. They all looked at him with false joy because they all secretly wanted him as a husband. However, Gaara was cold and rather distant. He didn't look at the girls one second more than necessary, after he formally thanked them for the gifts. He always walked away with his back straight and head held high while the girls' necks stretched to stare at him and sob.

Sakura didn't receive the same attention as him. It was necessary for her to move in with the old women of the clan until the wedding day, which was set 1 month later, because of traditions. The old women took her measurements for the perfect wedding dress, white like the milk and they taught her how a woman should treat her husband. They also told her about her future responsibilities towards the Kazekage and the people of Suna, especially children.

"Always wait for him with a warm meal when he comes back tired from work. Kazekage-sama's health is of the utmost importance."

Another woman said:

"If he wants you, say yes in any moment and don't refuse him. Otherwise he will think you have somebody else. You will hurt his ego and pride and he will look at you with suspicious eyes."

"Have a shower after you cook so as not to smell like food. He must always smell perfume when he gets close to you. If you get dirty when cooking or when you clean the house, change into clean clothes right away. Don't scold him when he comes home late from work, but support him instead. If you want something, ask him when he is in a good mood and even if he says no at first, don't get angry because he will think about it again and he will eventually listen to you."

"Wear red lingerie on your wedding night. Red arouses passion."

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward –arranging the hair, wearing gold or putting on fine apparel- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. Strength and dignity are your clothes and you should smile at the future."

"The ideal wife is loyal, merry, capable and strong, the perfect helper for her man. Don't use his weakness as an excuse for not fulfilling your marriage vows."

"Most importantly, submit to your husband. This is specifically for the family unit. A wife is the crown of her husband. The wife is the crown, but not the neck to control the movement and direction of the head."

As for the Sunan kids, Sakura found out that a Kazehime was considered the mother of the realm and children always came to her for help. Sometimes, children tied ribbons in the Kazehime's hair, representing their wishes and appreciation for her help.

Sakura, Gaara and Shinki still met, but not a home, nor in a restaurant, but only on the street or in the Kazekage's office. Sakura's and Gaara's eyes sparked fire whenever they saw each other and they both hardly bore with this separation, necessary for tradition purposes. The bride and groom have to go to church separately, each followed by his own retinue, where they met. After the religious ceremony ends, everyone went to party.

Shinki was instructed by his father to address Sakura formally by using her name followed by the suffix "san" instead of calling her "mother".

"Why?" Shinki asked, his brown eyes looked up at his father.

"Only after marriage she is going to officially be your mother and you her son."

"Does this mean I can tell everyone at school that Sakura is my mother?"

"Of course."

Shinki was very happy. He was already 7, Gaara's pride. The man caressed the boy's head before taking his hand to continue walking. Ever since Sakura had to move to the women's house, Shinki went to Gaara's office after school and did his homework there, where his father could keep an eye on him. Gaara seldom sat Shinki on his thighs as he sat on the chair and let his son read the documents on the desk, helping him whenever a difficult kanji appeared.

Sakura missed them terribly. It was quite boring for her to stay there surrounded by old women with nothing to do but listen to them. She was used to have her 2 boys next to her at all times. She looked out the window and sighed with longing, then she imagined the wedding while looking at her ring and smiled a smile that could melt even the sun.

Ino arrived 2 days before the main event and soothed some of Sakura's suffering. Now that she had a friend to gossip close to her, Sakura didn't feel so lonely. Firstly, Sakura hit Ino in the head with her fist in anger.

"Auch! What was that, forehead?"

"Shut up! Because of you I embarrassed myself in front of all of Suna."

After Sakura confessed what Gaara and she had to go through when he got drunk, Ino couldn't stop laughing. Her face was all red and she held her stomach with one hand, while slapping her forehead with the other one, looking up at the ceiling. Ino's laughter infected Sakura, too. The pink haired girl took Ino by the arm and dragged her to the room where she held the wedding dress.

"Waa! It's gorgeous!"

"It's not finished yet. There are still some accessories that need the stylist's attention, but I think the ladies did an excelled job overall."

Ino walked forward to touch the dress and inspect all of its sides while Sakura continued to speak.

"They made adjustments every day during the past week to make sure it fits me like a glove."

Ino lifted the sleeve of the dress and Sakura read the silent question in her friend's eyes.

"They used yellow gold bracelets to secure the sleeve around my elbow. Bellow the elbow, the fabric flows in a river of lace that reaches the floor."

"Waa! They match the gold belt around the waist. It was made to emphasize your hips. The lace has a cherry tree flower pattern. Gaara wasn't stingy at all."

Sakura blushed a little, but continued:

" Yes. I chose a 5 cm tall collar with a slit in the front, where I will attach an emerald as big as an egg."

"That must have been very expensive."

"I received it as a gift from the old women. It seems like it belonged to Gaara's mother. I haven't told him because I didn't want to sadden him. I feared he will feel bad that she can't be here with us."

"Yes. It's a shame that he doesn't have living parents. He is lucky to have his brother, sister and Naruto. When Naruto arrives, trust me Gaara won't miss his parents."

"Anyway, let me show you the shoes and the jewels."

Ino screamed in a high-pitched voice, making Sakura do the same. The girls hugged each other happily before Sakura showed Ino what she promised. Sakura wanted suede on the sole of the shoe to prevent falling and embarrass herself in front of everyone.

As the girls continued to talk cheerfully, the boys tried on their suits. Gaara wore a spruce navy-blue 3 piece suit with vest, coat and trousers. He wore a white shirt underneath. The tailor tied a silk tie with laurel pattern in the same color as the suit around his neck. The only jewels Gaara wore were 2 tie pins made of yellow gold because he wasn't allowed to wear anything else. Sunan traditions required that only women wear jewelry, especially those made of gold. Only Sakura was allowed to wear a wedding ring.

The tailor spun around his master, checking carefully each detail of the suit because everything had to look perfect. Kazekage-sama was going to appear in public wearing the tailor's creation. All eyes were going to be on Gaara. It was an honor for the tailor to be the father of this perfect outfit.

Gaara looked to his left and saw his son. He was very proud of the suit he was wearing. The little boy wore a black suit made of 2 pieces. 3 pieces would have been too much for a boy. The tailor offered Shinki many options for the tie and the kid chose boringly a red tie because it was the one that stood up most.

"Father, when can I go play?"

Gaara was exasperated. It was the tenth time Shinki asked the same question. Gaara closed his eyes to calm down, then he answered:

"Go change and then you can leave."

"Yes!" Shinki said happily and ran to the changing room as he unbuttoned his suit on the way there.

Gaara looked at Shinki and smiled resignedly. Kids. They can't think of anything else but play. Gaara thought.

Just like the women taught Sakura, so did the village elders and Baki teach Gaara about a husband's duties to his wife.

"Love your wife unconditionally. Your unconditional acceptance of your wife is not based upon her performance, but on her net worth as God's gift to you."

"Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of a new life."

"Love your wife as you love your own body. Husbands hold the key to a flourishing marriage. Men are to be initiators. The wife comes into full fruition and submission in response to the husband loving her as he should."

"The primary way to treat your wife with utmost respect is to show her that she means the world to you. Love her in the way that she prefers to be loved. Always learn to listen to her even though you don't have anything to contribute."

"Treat your wife with great honor. You should be able to testify as a married couple that throughout the duration of your marriage, you have not yelled at each other in sinful anger."

"Do not be harsh with your wife. Wives should not have to fear verbal, emotional or physical abuse. Rather, every wife should be confident that her husband will step up and protect her from conflict or danger."

I have been doing all these without even realizing it, so marriage can't be that hard. Gaara thought to himself while politely listening to the elders. He memorized the wisdom that the elders knew from the holy books.

Ever since they stopped living together, Gaara only thought of his flower, his Sakura. He forgot the way her pink hair washed in the moonlight felt between his fingers, the weight of her breast on his palm, the silk smooth skin of her slim leg. He wished to bite her neck and impregnate her as soon as possible. He set himself a goal: to get her pregnant on the wedding night. He was prepared to work hard for this purpose. His pride as a man was at stake, but she didn't know any of this because Gaara didn't want to endure the shame that would have come as a result of failing this task. Overall, Gaara woke up and went to bed every day with this purpose in his mind.

Note: Cupcake is right about the child who will inherit Sakura's disease.

I couldn't post the whole wedding in a single chapter as it is very long. Sorry for the delay. I tried my best to finish as soon as possible. What do you think? I will include some very interesting wedding traditions in the next chapter, which will come sooner than this one, as it is my current priority.

Thank you all for leaving reviews:D

I am very glad to know my previous chapter made you happy with Gaara's little adventure with alcohol.