Author Note:

Disclaimer | I own this story. The title and backline story is from The Wedding Date with Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney. And as stated earlier I do not own the World of Naruto.

Sixth Date| Shadowy Wanderings

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Sakura jolted. Of course, he was one to cut directly to the center. She swallowed hard and did her best not to squish the cup in her hand. "Oh," She took a deep breath before moving towards one of the stone benches. Sakura took a seat and waited for Garra to do the same thing. "I should start off by going ahead and say 'I told you so'." She stared down at the drink in her hands.

Gaara took a seat next to the pink-haired woman. He edged closer as he set an arm along the back of the bench. Gaara sipped at his coffee as he waited her out. She would speak when she gathered the courage too. Gaara nudged closer, a silent none giving statue of warmth as he waited.

"I . . ." She didn't have the words to describe her family. She never really had. Sakura had always done her best to forget her family and everything they represented. And now she needed to describe them. "They . . . We aren't a normal family." It was all she could force out. There was a chance he would be scared away. "And you can't blame me if you agree to this." Her nose scrunched up in distaste.

Gaara chuckled softly. "Okay, let's start elsewhere." He sat patiently and squeezed her shoulder. "Let's talk about the guy back at the café." He smirked at the eye roll he received. Gaara was interested; her body language had been anything but inviting. Not that the other male seemed to notice.

"Uh," there was a chance she would rather talk about her family. "He started out super sweet." A smile flitted over her lips at the snort. "He was!" Sakura smiled but didn't fight the giggle that fell from her lips. "But . . . Somewhere along the way, things changed." Her brows furrowed. "He got attached and I'm not sure why."

The chuckle he let out was dark and raspy. Gaara didn't have much of a reason to laugh – not when there was work to be done. But it seemed all he could do around her was laugh. She amused him greatly.

"My sister is Hinata." Sakura started with a smile as she relaxed against Gaara's side. "The guy she is going to marry – Itachi Uchiha." She licked her dry lips and took a sip of her drink. Her mouth was dry as her thoughts jumbled. "He is my ex-boyfriend." Sakura bit at her lower lip. "But, that's not the big reason I need you." Her shoulders stiffened. "Though, that could be reason enough."

Gaara nodded but chose to stay quiet as she shifted through her murky thoughts. And she was right, her sister marrying her ex-boyfriend would be reason enough. Shouldn't there have been some sort of code between sisters?

"Itachi has a younger brother," she paused and forced the lump in her throat down. "Sasuke, he's . . ." Her brows furrowed as a tremble took over her hands. "Obsessive?" She questioned more to herself. A hysterical laugh fell from her lips as the memory surfaced. Her eyes blurred as Gaara fazed out of her line of sight as the memories took hold – not letting go.

"A stalker?" Gaara frowned as he stared down at her. His brows furrowed deeply as he looked at Sakura. He twisted, curling around her and invading her space. He placed the drink on the stone bench beside him. His now free hand moved up to cup her right cheek. His thumb rubbed back and forth. "Come back," Gaara whispered.

Sakura's brows furrowed as she blinked. "Huh?" She pushed her cheek against Gaara's warm hand. "What happened?"

"You left?" Gaara whispered as he stared down at the beautiful pink-haired woman. "What happened with Sasuke?" His brows furrowed as he watched her facial expression. His thumb continued to rub back and forth against her flower-petal soft skin.

"It happened seven years ago," Sakura whispered. She didn't want to break the careful atmosphere around them. "I said no," She looked at up with shimmering eyes. It was all she could force out on the matter. It was all she should have had to say to begin with.

Gaara held back a growl. "Did he?"

"He didn't get that far." Sakura swallowed thickly. She cleared her throat and forced her eyes away from his questioning stare. She took in a deep breath and let the cooling breeze calm her. "Naruto stopped it." She bit her lower lip as the tears pushed forward, burning and blurring her vision. "Mother. . . she didn't believe me."

The red-headed male frowned as he felt the pink-haired woman stiffen beside him. He pulled her against his side. "You will be fine." It was visible to him that she was uncomfortable. It was a subject she didn't like to speak about, especially if the ones that were supposed to care the most didn't believe it. Gaara crooned in the back of his throat.

"Thank you," Sakura sniffled and let herself be drawn in closer. She relaxed in the safe warmth that surrounded her. She felt her eyes close as Gaara leaned in and placed his chin on top of her head. Sakura liked this feeling. She'd never done this before. He's not really yours. Her mind shoved at her when her heart started to take over.

Gaara murmured a soft agreement. "I'll take care of you," he rubbed her arm that was covered by his suit jacket. Gaara liked her in his clothing. And no, he was not going to let the thought go any further than that. "You are safe with me."

"Really?" Sakura questioned as she turned to look at him once more. Her eyes searched his own. It wasn't that she doubted his answer. She just had trouble understanding how he could so easily agree.

Gaara smirked and squeezed her shoulder. "Yes," he chuckled humorously. "Naruto threatened me." He shook his head at the memory. "His direct words were 'I will murder you'. So yes, you will be kept safe." His dark green eyes shimmered with amusement.

"He did not!" Sakura giggled. That would be interesting. A 5'4" tall Naruto fighting against a 6'3" tall Gaara. Most entertaining. And most likely impossible on Naruto's end. Sakura knew how much of a couch sitter the other was - unless he was rushing to work.

Gaara smiled softly as he listened to her tinkling laughter. Bells. She sounds like chiming bells. Soft and melodious. A wind chime on a fall afternoon. Most enjoyable.

"That would be funny." She giggled softly once more. Sakura shook her head, the smile stayed in place. "Thank you," she whispered. Sakura knew that Gaara would understand. And if the arm squeeze was anything to go by . . . He did. "Tell me about you?"

Gaara's lips pursed for a moment. "I have an older sister - Temari - and an older brother - Kankuro." He breathed out in the nippy air as he took on a relaxed stance, leaning back against the bench. "They drive me absolutely crazy." Gaara shook his head but didn't fight the smile on his lips. "Mari is a klutz. A big one." He chuckled at the memory that surfaced. "She has dropped my phone in water at least seven times. I go through more phones because of her than anything."

"Seriously?" She giggled. Sakura let her eyes fall shut as the wind curled around her once more.

He watched her. She was beautiful. And for the life of him, he didn't understand why she wasn't seeing someone. She seemed down to earth. And she was absolutely beautiful. "What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a writer." Sakura looked down at the drink in her hands. She grimaced at the shame that colored her voice.

His brows furrowed. He knew that voice. It was the sound of someone who had been laughed at. Underappreciated for the talent they had possessed. "Are you good?"

"I have won a couple of awards." Sakura beamed proudly. "I've published two series. Seven books total." She took a sip of her cool drink and groaned. She loved it when chocolate and coffee were mixed together. Two addictions in one. "Lydia Rae - she is my agent and a good friend."

Gaara nodded. "I have heard of her. She edited a piece about my company in the Suna Sands." He smiled widely. He was proud of that piece. It usually took seven to eight years before Suna Sands would interview with a company. The company needed to have covered many milestones and rose above its competitors. All of which Gaara had done, in the span of five years. He had his sister and brother to thank for that. And the natural talent he had gotten from his father.

"Really?" She clapped a couple times. "I know that takes a lot of hard work to do."

He nodded and tucked a couple of wayward strands of pink hair behind her ear. "So does winning awards."

"I am so sorry to interrupt." Her voice was soft and fragile, weathered from age and laughter. She smiled widely. "I know I'm intruding," her eyes sparkled. "But at this age," she made a waving off motion. "I had too."

Gaara grinned at the elderly couple. His lips pulled back into a wider smile as he caught the elderly man rolling his eyes.

"You two are simply adorable together." She gave the younger couple another wrinkled smile. Her hands were clasped tightly with her husband's. "It is rare to see other young couples that look so good together." Her eyes twinkled brightly. "A match made for each other."

Gaara gave the elderly lady a smile and a nod of thanks. His smile grew as he felt Sakura turn into his arms. Gaara could feel the heat of embarrassment on her cheeks as she pushed against the junction of his neck and shoulder. "Thank you."

"No problem," She winked and giggled softly as her husband tugged on their laced hands. She waved at Gaara and Sakura before letting her husband tug her away from the young couple.

Sakura smiled as she glanced at the elderly couple walking away. They were truly in love. Sakura cooed softly and melted against Gaara. "They are the adorable ones." She smiled sweetly.

"Why did you and Itachi not make it?" Gaara questioned softly.

Sakura shrugged and picked at the label on her drink. "I don't know the reason." Her voice was soft and shy. "I have a few ideas. But none of them ever held any light." Sakura chewed on her lower lip. Her shoulders sagged. "Mother never let me forget it either." Her voice carried over the wind. "I wasn't good enough for him."

"What do you mean?" Gaara frowned. How could it be possible? She wasn't good enough.

She nodded and tucked a couple strands of pink hair behind her ear. "That's what mother used to say when Itachi and I were together." Sakura grimaced and turned away from Gaara, she didn't want to see his face. His reaction. Sakura swallowed hard. "I can't go back there alone." She whispered fear drenching her voice as she looked at the birds flying in the air.

"You won't," Gaara had made up his mind the moment he had seen her. He squeezed her against his side. "I'll be with you." He stood slowly and pulled her with him. "I have to get back to work."

Sakura nodded. "You work a lot." She murmured.

"I do." Gaara grinned and cupped her cheek. "But I will always make time for my Saku."

A blush covered her cheeks. "Thank you, Gaara."

"No problem. Get back home safely and text me." Gaara tucked a couple strands of pink hair behind her ear and smiled. He leaned forward and pulled her into an intimate hug. He leaned down, his deep voice hummed against Sakura's ear as he breathed in her scent. "Remember, we are supposed to be a couple in love," Gaara smirked.

Sakura bit her lower lip and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'll remember." She smiled as she rested her head against Gaara's shoulder. She breathed in the heady scent of rain and fresh sand. It reminded her of a beach with white sand, a storm on the blue waters.

She waved goodbye and parted ways with the red-headed male. She smiled as the wind played with her hair, the sun giving solace from the nipping wind. Sakura bit at her lower lip as she followed the familiar way home. She pulled her phone from her pocket.

Naruto
-It went great. Going home! Thanx.