Sakura's POV

Gaara, my sweetheart, gave me my own room. Now I can read and pray whenever I want, but most importantly, I can wait for him by the window without having to hear Temari mocking me. She's nice, but I didn't use to have enough silence to think about Gaara's warm hands, his tall nose or his full lips. I wish he would kiss me already!

He gave me a free pass to any store that I go, which means I can take whatever I want in his name and he will pay the bills afterwards. I told him I am not going to exaggerate, but he said he already considers me his wife, so I should feel free to take anything I want. I started with some clothes. The places I've been with Sasuke were…filthy. I don't want to remember anything from that time, so I threw away everything I had in my bag, including the bag itself. I looked at the clothes I had and they gave me a filthy feeling that I couldn't wash with any quantity of soap. Now I have new dresses, new shoes, a new hairbrush, a new bag…

I was with Gaara when I asked him to buy me new weapons. He was confused.

"Why would you need those? You have me."

I smiled, looking down and to the right.

"I know, but what if you aren't with me? I need something to protect myself."

"You have my sand."

"Yes, but I want a kunai to attack. Sand is for my protection."

He laughed and gave in.

"As you say. Give us a new pack of Damascus steel kunai, please." He said to the vendor.

I giggled. After Gaara handed me the pouch, I kissed him on the cheek. I bet he thought those are wasted money because I am never going to use weapons. My beloved told me to call his name through the bond that we share and he will teleport himself anywhere in Suna as it is not a big village. However, I want to train, so I don't get out of shape. I am not a lazy girl. I haven't told him, but I want to train so I can help him one day. I know he would feel offended if I told him this, so I kept it to myself.

Aa! There he is! I jumped off the windowsill, crossed the room in 2 steps, put on my shoes and ran into the arms of my companion in this life and the next. His feet hadn't even touched the threshold when I wrapped my arms around his neck and my hair around his heart. He held me tight around the waist and lifted me into the air. I screamed my happiness out loud before he put me down. I was ashamed to look into his eyes, so I stared at his hands. I know he will try to kiss me. Of course I want that too, but I don't want to see it coming, as weird as it sounds.

"Are you ready to go?" Gaara asked, holding my hand.

"Yes, of course." I grinned from ear to ear.

Our fingers intertwined. I have butterflies in my stomach. He pulled me along and then he stopped abruptly.

"Aren't you going to be cold?"

"No." I realised I was only wearing a thin dress and he told me beforehand to dress warm because the place he is planning to show me is cold, but I played brave and kept pushing that I dress like this in Konoha on cold nights and my skin has gotten used to it.

"We are right outside the house. We can go inside and take your cape."

"No, no, no need. Let's go, please. I won't need it. It's a waste of time."

"If you say so."

He still wasn't convinced that my dress will suffice, so I changed the topic.

"Today I asked God to make heart-shaped clouds for me."

"Oh, really?" he asked smiling.

"Yes. I was a little sad, thinking about my mistakes and God made me happy. Whenever a heart disappeared on the sky, another one appeared next to it. I truly feel happy."

Gaara squeezed my hand.

"I always want to see you happy."

I giggled.

"I thanked God for you, you know."

"You did?"

"Yes. I was afraid I might never see you again. But He brought you here and I promised to never let you go." Gaara explained.

"Go where?"

Gaara stuttered because he didn't expect this question.

"I meant with somebody else. You'll stay with me, right?"

"Of course I will. I never want to go back to Konoha. This place is so nice! Oh, look! A scorpion!" I bent forward and stretched my right hand to touch the small black creature.

"No! Don't touch it!" Gaara hurriedly grabbed my wrist before my skin made contact with the animal.

"Why not? It's cute."

Right then, the scorpion started walking towards us with its tail up, threatening to sting me. Gaara held me around the waist and pulled me back. He used his sand to shoo away the little creature.

"Sakura, desert animals are not cute. They're deadly and poisonous! Don't ever touch them! Do you want to die?"

"N-no. I am sorry. I didn't know."

He took a deep breath and exhaled.

"What am I going to do with you?"

I laughed and pinched his cheeks.

"Who cares so much about me?"

"I do." He replied resignedly before taking my hands into his and started scolding me.

I lowered my eyes to the ground.

"Please be careful. I don't want you to get hurt in any way." His right hand settled on the back of my head. His breath was on my cheek before his lips touched mine. I could feel my face burning. I was afraid to even breathe so as not to ruin the moment. I have been waiting for this kiss for a month! It's true I was sick in bed the first 2 weeks, but I spent the rest of the time with my friend, my man, my Gaara. I got so nervous, that my hands clasped each other tight, nails grazing my skin. I wish this moment never ends!

His lips moved back. Gaara rested his forehead against mine.

"I love you. I want to protect you. I want you all to myself. Will you marry me?"

I hadn't even realised when he took out a ring that he was holding between his fingers. My mouth was clenched. I was too nervous to form words. Gaara looked into my eyes and the rest of the world froze. Time froze. Poor Gaara! I think he must have waited forever for my "yes". I couldn't tell at that moment how much time had passed. My beloved smiled and tried to put on the ring on my finger, but he struggled with that because my hands were clasped too tight. He gently tried to release my ring finger and only managed to push the jewel halfway. I didn't expect to freeze like a deer. How could I not say a single word? I couldn't look him in the eye. He kissed me again before hugging me to his chest, my hands trapped between our bodies. It took a while until my tongue untangled and I pushed the ring all the way to the base of my finger.

"I love you, too."

Gaara smiled and kissed my hair before putting some distance between us. He took my hand again and we continued our journey to the oasis that Gaara wanted to show me.

Little by little, our conversation went back to normal. The surface of the water reflected the enormous plate of stars that shone above us. I felt so little and unimportant! But my dear's hands wrapped around my waist and held me tight with my back to his chest.

"Sakura, your mother sent me a letter."

"About what?" I saddened.

"She was scared something happened to you, so she asked me to bring you back to her."

I turned around in his arms as quick as I could.

"Please don't send me back. I don't want to go back there."

"I am not forcing you to do anything."

I exhaled.

"What should I tell her? Don't you want to write back to her and tell her you're alright?"

"Do I have to?"

"No. But if I write that you're well, she might not believe me. I think she would feel better if she saw your handwriting."

"Gaara…can I tell her that you don't allow me to go back?"

"Why don't you tell her the truth?"

"Please, Gaara. She'll insist on me going back to her and I don't have the courage to say no."

"So you want to blame me."

"Please. I'll make it up to you."

"She'll think I am a monster who doesn't allow you to do things. I am not like that."

"Who cares what she thinks?"

"Then why not tell her the truth?"

I gave up.

"I'll help you. You can tell her that we are getting married and you invite her here if she wants to see you."

"Ok."

"Come on, don't be upset." He smiled at me, trying to cheer me up.

"I am not upset. I am getting married!" I said, showing him my hand with the shining ring.

He took my hand to his lips and his brows furrowed. Oh oh!

"You hand is ice-cold. You're shivering!"

"Uh?"

"I knew you would be cold since we left home. Why don't you ever listen to me?"

"I am sorry. I am sorry."

He scolds me all the time with his calm voice. He is right. I am very careless and clumsy. He is going to have a tough life next to me.

"I am sorry, Gaara-kun. I just didn't want to get out of your sight."

He swallowed air and forgot why he was upset. He used his sand to teleport us back home and I rushed inside my room to get warm before joining him for dinner a little later that night.

...

Notes: Dear Guest, I hope to make you happy with this chapter. Sorry I can't post more often.

Dear Cupcake, I like how you always see the bright side of things. How was this first kiss between our heroes?

Dear Duckmafia, you are right about Sasuke. He knew that Pain was going to attack Konoha and he chose to remain silent for his own interest. He never had any real intention of helping Sakura in any way. He was only thinking about himself and now he is completely alone. As for Sakura's list of names, I remember I made my own list when I was her age:))

Dear evaunicorn1125, thank you very much for your appreciation. Please share your thoughts on this chapter too.

I thank everyone for reading such a long book, and for writing comments. You keep my writing alive. Thank you for your continued support. Hope you had a great time with this chapter too. What is your opinion?