In Bloom Chapter 10 part 1, a naruto fanfic

Ch 10: Sasuke calls this Budding, I call it Believe it ~ Part 1

"Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

"Tch"

Naruto should have known that the blond man wouldn't change.

For some reason Naruto saw D, or I guess he could now say Deidara, in a different light after Sasuke spilled his soul all over the abandoned unkempt field near the school's campus. He thought that he owed the man, that he needed to thank the man, that this man-uh I guess I should say Faerie-was someone trustworthy and dependable.

He might be all of those things, but he still is very much obnoxious.

Naruto gave another annoyed click of the tongue before fishing out the long yellow ripe fruit. Giving it an enticing wave in Deidara's direction.

"Here you goass-munch."

"Ahhh booo! I didn't really want it to be a banana." The man said with his own click of the tongue, his lips forming a pout as he crossed his arms. If Deidara was any ordinary man, Naruto would have had massive anxiety seeing the man's feet dang freely from a tree that was over several feet high. A fall that would surely kill a regular man.

"Deal with it. I'm giving you my lunch." Naruto said with a chuckle, tossing the fruit wildly toward's the hanging man's direction. The faerie caught the fruit,of course,causing him to hook his legs on the branches, dangling upside down with a wicked grin.

But this imbecile is not a regular man.

No regular man, in theirright mindwould hang upside down by only the hook of his knees on a branch, while hanging from such a tall tree without any ropes, pulls, or safety procedure.

Naruto watched as Deidara's fingers glided up and down the fruit, with a purr, his eyes looking more purplish in the dim light from the shaded branches.

"Thank you. I was looking for something big and long to put into my mouth." He said with a roguish smirk, peeling the banana back before giving the tip a flick with his tongue. Naruto couldn't stop the guffaw that escaped him at the visual escapade.

Ridiculous.

"Fuck off. Do you ever think about anything else other than sex?"

"Ohhh Puppy" The man cooed, his lips wrapping around the fruit taking a nibble, placing the tips of his free hand on his lips as if to be modest about his eating.

"Haven't you heard? We're all sex fiends here." He said with a cackle once he was done chewing the ripe fruit.

Naruto gave the man a look, before sighing, his body turning around as his feet carried him back the way he came.

Step

He was almost at the end of the tree line, when he felt a gush a wind, the spot that was just empty in front of his path now held a cackling blond faerie who seemed like he was having the time of his life.

He's such a pain in the ass.

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Geez, don't leave or Sasuke will murder me in my sleep. I'll be good, I promise."

Naruto couldn't help the chuckle he released at that statement, it made something deep in his chest vibrate at the thought of Sasuke protecting him. He didn't realize how long he was in la la Sasuke land until he heard Deidara speak once more.

"So what brings you in today? Sasuke isn't in bloom, should I get him-"

Naruto did want to see Sasuke, well the truth is, he always wanted to see Sasuke, but that wasn't what this little hike in the woods was technically for.

"I was looking for you... unfortunately." Naruto muttered the last word with another annoyed click of the tongue. If he was talking to a human, the word would have been carried away with the wind, but with a faerie...

"I had a feeling, but I thought you forgot all about me? You never visit me anymore." The man said with an exaggerated pout, his body casually leaning against a sturdy bark as he took another hearty bite from the banana.

"Yeah, yeah. Sometimes I find it so hard to believe that you and Sasuke are so close. You guys are the complete opposite." The statement was once again met with a chuckle, his tips of his pale fingers wiping along the corners of his eyes.

"Yes. We get that a lot."

Naruto contemplating where to start and how to say what he needed to say. The silence carried between the two blond men, but Deidara didn't rush the human as he finished the banana, and Naruto didn't pay the faerie patiently waiting, any mind.

Naruto was having troubles gathering his thoughts, but through mass tangled up chaos, only one thing, one sentence came to mind.

"I wanted to say thank you."

"Wahhh?" The man looked so taken aback, his mouth hanging open in disbelief like some cartoon character. If Naruto wasn't trying to be serious, he would have found himself cackling to the high heavens. Even though he contained his laughter, he couldn't stop the smile that had graced his lips.

"You were there for Sasuke when I wasn't. I know we hadn't met yet, but I really am appreciative that he had you and Norelle."

"Ah... he told you about me and Norelle, huh?"

"Yes. So... thank you." Naruto bows deeply showing great respect, he was sure that if he raised his head, Deidara's face and body language would be even more comical than it was just a minute ago.

Raising from his bow, Naruto was stopped in his tracks. Instead of seeing an outrageously ridiculous face, he was seeing something he had never seen on Deidara.

The faeries face was soft, and open, with his eyes squinting toward another direction of the forest. His eyes were shining with warmth, and his lips were forming a soft smile that looked proud, genuine, and filled with affection.

"Wow. He must really trust you to share that."

And you must really love him.

The words were on the tip of his tongue. Naruto felt something inside him tug, the feeling was making him uncomfortable.

"This maybe a wild concept, but I decided long ago that I would help Sasuke in any endeavor and that I would follow him and take his side in any situation. No matter what the situation maybe. When we met- I can't explain it properly, but I felt a kindred ship towards him- a connection."

Naruto could understand that.

Meeting Sasuke, getting to experience the real Sasuke was like an experience unlike any other. Naruto was sure that Sasuke probably didn't even know that he had that effect himself, but it was real and it was very affective.

Naruto gave a nod, his body slumping down and plopping down on a nice shaded piece of grass.

"It's funny saying it out loud, because me and Sasuke are nothing alike. But when I saw him for the first time, I knew he was someone important. I wanted to be there for him."

Naruto found himself relaxing as he heard the faerie speak, his head tilting back allowing his face to catch bits and pieces of sun rays. Nodding his head in agreement, Naruto continued to speak on his own experiences with Sasuke as well.

"I think- yes, I understand that. When I first saw Sasuke, he really stood out to me. No matter what he did or said, I found myself listening and watching without being able to stop. At first, I thought I was jealous."

"Pftt." The man at some point had joined Naruto in the tall grass, his legs laying out and his fingers gliding gently along a blooming petal.

"I know right, I'm hot as fuck— so I didn't fully grasp why I felt so drawn. Then I found myself feeling competitive with him, like I needed to knock him down a peg. But in the mist of my petty feelings I found myself wanting to grab on and not let go. It took me too long to realize that I actually- uh."

Naruto felt himself verbally braking at his words, just like he has done several times behind the wheel. The braking of his monologuing was abrupt, reckless, and a bit useless now given where he had stopped in mid sentence.

Should I be telling someone else that I like Sasuke?

"It took you too long to realize... what?"

I already told Itachi.

"Hello? Earth to big ass, dumb ass puppy?"

And now I'm about to admit this to someone else.

"Are you seriously ignoring me right now!? Why does everyone ignore me!"

Someone else who's not Sasuke.

"Holy fuck." Naruto felt like he was having an outer-body experience.

"What."

"Fuck."

"Fuck what? I'm not understanding what's happening here. Are you having some sort of weird human reaction that I haven't gotten information on or something?"

The two blonds found themselves staring at each other, their eyes speaking for them without any words to flow between them.

"Hah" The words left Deidara's lips dry with a wide shit eating grin.

"What."

"Oh, I get it now!"

"Get what?"

"Well, it's obvious that you're practically in love with Sasuke-" Deidara gave a smirk, his hands landing on his lips teasingly, giving a giggle.

"What?!" Naruto found himself standing in shock, but in reality Naruto knew that he couldn't be too shocked.

"-What you haven't told him that you like him-" Deidara taunted, Naruto found himself chasing the man with a vengeance.

"Like- ugh"

"-that you want to fuck him silly-"

"D please!" Naruto was thankful that the man didn't take to the trees, dodging Naruto's tackles and shoves with ease.

"That you want to lick and suck on his-"

Naruto finally found an opening. He couldn't tell if it was intentional by the faerie or not, but Naruto found his body lounging towards the annoyance with vigor. His hands landing on that motor mouth to stop the words from continuing. Naruto gave the man a glare, but the Deidara didn't look phased at all as he continued to laugh behind Naruto's large hand before giving it a big lick.

"Eek." Naruto shrieked looking at his now saliva covered hand, before rubbing the hand onto Deidara's face.

"Prick."

The two end up back on the forest floor, Naruto grumbling in annoyance while avoiding the man's eyes, while Deidara continued to cackle, kicking his feet like a toddler.

Why am I still here?

"You guys are perfect for each other."

"And you are gross as fuck." Naruto shot back with a glare. Deidara found himself pausing in his amusement taking the human in.

"Hey... I'm sorry if I went too far. I tend to tease a lot."

"Its not that... it just... Sasuke... doesn't know."

"Wait, you guys aren't fucking?" Deidara couldn't believe it, he was watching Naruto with disbelief. The faerie even lifted both of his hands, mimicking the gesture with one hand making a circle while the other hand was pushing a two fingers inside it.

WHACK!

Naruto slapped the crude gesture away before his hands landed on his red hot tomato colored face in embarrassment, a bit too hard to be innocent or subtle.

"What, no?!"

"Really? Oh is it- damn it- what's that human term... rating...tata- ugh, I swear I learned this- da-da- dating yes! You guys aren't "dating" or something like that."

"No... We haven't gotten that far yet." Naruto went from feeling like he needed to stay to show respect and thank Deidara to now wanting to hide under a rock for a few hundred years. Maybe if I get frozen in some glacier, they could unthaw me a hundred years later like the avatar.

"How come?" The question was light, there was no teasing, no underlaying bullshit, at least none that Naruto could detect. The question showed genuine, and real curiosity.

"I've tried to tell Sasuke, I mean I have said 'I haven't felt this way before- but I haven't saidthe words,you know. Sasuke keeps avoiding being alone with me. I mean he's told me about his past, and some stuff that's happened and-"

"Has he told you about the Bloom of Passage?"

"Bloom of Passage? No- I mean he's told me that faeries have one, but he's never gone into detail."

"I see." Deidara said with all seriousness, his eyes taking in Naruto as if he was contemplating something.

"You're an idiot."

"What!"

You're an-"

"I heard you the first time asshole. Why am I the idiot here?" Naruto was no longer embarrassed, now he was yelling and pissed off.

One thing Deidara was good at was causing Naruto's emotions to sway and stir. The long haired blond man, literally made Naruto feel a little crazy.

"Because you're just letting opportunities after opportunities pass right by you, that's why."

"I haven't. I've just been trying to be patient and-"

"There is a difference between respecting someone's boundaries by being patient and being honest about how you feel. One is usually done before the other."

The faerie released a sigh, his head tilted back with his eyes closed. Deidara looked utterly relaxed, while Naruto looked like he was going rip out all of Deidara's long strands and then proceed to rip out his own.

"How did you get Sasuke to be your friend?" The question was so sudden that Naruto found himself reminiscing instead of fuming at the asshole. He recalled the time though, and just thinking about those days, just months ago, had the creases of his lips moving up to a fond smile.

He got me all over the place.

"Well... I chased him down a lot. At first he refused to be my friend, didn't believe we could be friends. But I kept showing up for him, and acknowledging him as my friend."

"Exactly. You were persistent, showing him your intentions of friendship but you still gave him space when needed and respected his boundaries. How can you expect Sasuke to understand if you haven't informed him that your intentions have changed?"

The question wasn't said rudely, just plainly. The tone, the words, it all made Naruto think. This wasn't exactly what he came here for, but he was glad that he did.

"Sasuke is a bit complex for a faerie, but I love that about him. He's like a breath of fresh air. Most of us are pretty easy going, we say what we mean, and do what we want, but Sasuke is different.

He needs love, reassurance. He likes knowing that he is cared for and valued. He won't say it but I do believe that at one point, he believed that he didn't deserve to or was not allowed to experience love and affection."

Naruto thinking about Sasuke and what he has told him about the past, about missy, about being jumped by his entire class. The thought of it all made his blood boil, but he could see where the flaw in his logic started to shift. Why it had shifted.

"I can see that."

"See, Sasuke is also proud, he won't say these things. Instead, Sasuke had become the master of bottling up how he feels, his hurts, his insecurities. He needs someone who can fight for him, when fighting feels tough. You get me?"

For the first time since the conversation had moved to such a serious tone, Naruto could see Deidara's eyes. They were sharper than he had every seen them, and looked like pools of blood. The change in color made Naruto feel unnerving.

Naruto gave a nod, his blue eyes meeting glowing predatory maroon. Just as fast as they were placed on him, they were gone.Poof,in a blink of an eye.

"Talk to him, and be honest about what you want and how you feel. Put it all out on the table for him, so he knows what you want from him. From there, he can then decide and make a decision. He won't know unless you tell him. And knowing Sasuke he probably thinks you only see him as a friend and nothing more."

Naruto balked at the man, but he could also see how Sasuke might have thought that. It made Naruto feel even more like fool.

"One more thing, I know I said that faeries don't believe indating,but we do have such a thing calledcourtingbut that is only done when you have deep feelings and want to cement that person as yourmatefor life. Faeries hardly ever do this, most are satisfied with just having different partners here and there, all of their lives. But Sasuke has never been like the rest. He's never liked things that were casual or quick and meaningless."

Deidara was no longer lounging along the tall blades of grass like a cat. Now he was upright and his eyes were slanted and even more predator than they had ever been, glowing a deep vibrant red. He look like some feline about to pounce, and the recognization made Naruto gulp.

"So I say all of that to say... one thing... Naruto if you ever hurt Sasuke Uchiha ever... I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth.. capisce?"

"I would never."

"Good boy. " Deidara said with a smirk before standing, dusting himself off with a casually graceful stride. Just like Itachi, the blonde started to make his way to the shadows, going even further into the tree lines, but stopped right before he was out of view.

"Also, I know I called you an idiot, but don't be too hard on yourself. Feelings are complicated, but when they are real and genuine, they are never wrong. I want to see Sasuke happy."

The man turned, his back to Naruto, his eyes facing toward his new direction.

"I'm off. I have to go see a man about a bet." The man said with a dismissive wave of the hand, but not before his skin seemed to change, his hair growing more red like flames. The man turned back with a smirk before he was completely gone from view.

Part of Naruto wanted to follow to get a better view, wanting to ask probing questions regarding the change of appearance, but he relented. Because the other part of him had something else on his mind, something that was so much more dire and important.

I can do this.

Naruto couldn't make heads or tails about the interaction, but he knew one thing. He only had one thing on his mind.

I'm coming for you Sasuke.

~ . ~

The sun was like a beacon, sitting brightly in the middle of endless blue. But the wind was especially wild today, and everyone knows that even if the sun is out, if there is a strong wind, it can bring a bit of a chill.

Sasuke didn't mind at all, but most humans were either huddled in their cars with blankets or inside the cafe style, cafeteria. The lack of people around, always seemed to relax him, even after years of him working through his traumas, he still felt anxious in large crowds.

It didn't even matter if it was faeries or humans for him. A crowd was a crowd, and it didn't change his tension one bit.

He had packed a light lunch, but he couldn't bring himself to eat any of it. The sigh that released from him was heavier than the gust of wind that whipped along his hair, causing his dark strands to billow.

He could sense him before he saw him. He could even smell his tantalizing scent before his large frame was in his eye line.

"Sasuke." And his voice, the sound, the timber, every single vibration ofthat tonefromthat mouthwiththat voicemade Sasuke want to hug something tight.

The young faerie didn't know if he wanted to hug the large frame that was now in front of him or the tree he was lounging against. So instead, Sasuke found himself circling his arms around his own waist.

Self hugs can be just as good as real hugs...Right?

He heard a sigh, one that sounded frustrated, one that sounded hurt. Sasuke found himself bitting his bottom lip at the sound, his fingers growing shaky around the edges of his self embrace.

Naruto.

He wanted to say his name, wanted to give the man the reassurance that he could hear him, but he found himself hesitating once more. He could feel eyes on him, blue eyes sweeping along his frame before plopping down beside him.

Eyes on him, usually made Sasuke feel a bit manic and nervous, but it was something about these eyes. Specifically, Naruto's gaze, the blue the color of an ocean and just as deep when their eyes made contact.

But this time, no contact was made.

Instinctively, Sasuke wanted to reach for Naruto's hand. Instinctively, Sasuke wanted to greet Naruto with his eyes, with a smile. Instinctively, Sasuke wanted to fall deep into those pools of blue and sink, and the craziest thing was, he didn't want to be saved.

I feel so...

"Sasuke, I've missed you."

Guilty.

"I've missed you to." Sasuke found himself saying softly, his eyes cutting toward Naruto to see his reaction before swiftly turning away. He saw blue eyes sparkle, the tops of his ears grow red, and Sasuke found himself trying to analyze what that reaction could mean.

Guilty.

Large hands stopped his head turn, in its tracks, calloused fingers gliding along the frame of Sasuke's face. Even though the pads of his large fingers were rough, the touch was smooth, Sasuke found himself swallowing down a quiver that seemed to want to raise from his throat.

I've ran from you. Hid from you.

Fingertips gliding down cheek, traveling along a jaw line, stopping at his slightly pointed chin. It was like he was being comforted, molded, but Sasuke could not fathom why he was the one getting comfort in such a scenario. He couldn't swallow down the guilt that seemed to be blocking his throat even if he tried.

Shouldn't it be the other way around?

"Don't hide from me Sasuke, please."

The way his eyes took him in, made the raven haired man gulp. His own dark eyes sweeping along tanned skin and scarred cheeks as if Sasuke was a man on the brink of death by dehydration and just discovered an oasis. But he was still afraid to meet his eyes.

"I- have I done something to upset you or-"

"No- Naruto, no you've done nothing wrong. I-"

"I like you Sasuke."

Sasuke found himself inhaling sharply, his eyes snapping to Naruto's for the first time in their conversation. Sweeping onyx eyes taking Naruto all in as if he was trying to catch the man in a lie, but all Sasuke could see was certainty.

"You- you like me?"

Of course, he probably mean as a friend.

"I do. I like you a lot Sasuke."

"What do you mean- I mean friends like each other-"

"No, I like you as more than a friend. I like the way you smile, it makes me want to make you happy so I can see you smile more often. I like the way, you're so smart, and a bit of a know it all. I used to hate that shit, but now I see it as endearing. I like how much you respect nature, with just the little things you do; picking up trash and putting it in the recycle bin, how you always greet the flowers in the flower bed in the morning. You think no one notices but I notice everything about you."

"Naruto.." Sasuke felt breathless, he was speechless.

"Sasuke, there's more. I like your hair, how soft it is. I like your laugh and all the soft expressions you make when you let your guard down. I like how strong you are, and how you are yourself and how you never try to be like anyone else. You're you, and I find every single thing about you attractive." As Naruto spoke, his fingers continued to glide along Sasuke, starting at dark strands, fingers looping along the ends.

Is he... flirting with me?

"So you like me... in a romantic way?" Sasuke's shaking hands are held, cradled between two large tanned palms, before Sasuke's pale hand is placed right on Naruto's chest. Right over the man's heart.

His heart sounds like mine right now.

"Yes. I like you so much that my heart beats wildly when you're near. Can you feel that Sasuke?" The words left Naruto hoarse and filled with something close to unfiltered raw desire for something that has been longed for, for quite some time. Sasuke could hear it all, the heart beat, the way his words seemed to lower in tone and grow more heavy and thick like honey.

"Yes."

He could hear it all, and yet his mind had gone completely blank. Sasuke had so much he wanted to say, about the kiss in the closet, about his own heart pounding wildly, about what this could mean if they actually decided to take a chance.

He grabbed Naruto's opposite hand, placing it to his own chest, hoping that Naruto could hear his heart that was pounding away in his ears.

"So Sakura's closet- that kiss?..."

"Mmm, that kiss. Yes, I want to do it again." Sasuke found his breath hitching, as he saw Naruto's face start to lean even closer to him. Sasuke's mind was firing off on all cylinders, he wasn't sure what type of face he was making, but he was sure it was one of shock and warmth.

"That wasn't even my dare-"

"So. I want to do it...again and again." The words felt headier, closer.

"Until we're breathless." Everything about Naruto was starting to cloud his senses.

Sasuke felt himself shiver at the tone, and this time he couldn't swallow it down even if he tried. The atmosphere had grown even deeper, even more intimate, and Sasuke was starting to forget that he was out in the open and that the two of them was nestled against a thick tree.

"Would you like that Sasuke?" The words were gliding along Sasuke's face, like a caress from a lover, like something that tasted like forever.

But forever scares me.

"Do you like-"

"Oh, here he is! Naruto! Yo! Yo! We've been looking all over for you man. It's too fucking windy for you to be outside!" Kiba's loud voice caused the two men to separate just before Kiba and Shikamaru came into their vicinity.

Sasuke could no longer feel the combined warmth that the two of them created. He could now feel the wind as it whipped roughly between the two, wrapping around the trees, causing the branches to shake.

Sasuke was sure that he was bright as a tomato, and he had to check over himself to make sure he didn't transform to his natural state by mistake. That would definitely be a conversation starter.

"What the fuck do you want asshole?" Naruto shouted back once the two men came into view. Sasuke could hear how edgy Naruto sounded, like he was just denied something that he desperately wanted.

"Why so grumpy dick, is it because you haven't gotten your dick wet in a long t-"

"Kiba! I swear- I'm going to smother your dumb ass in your sleep."

"Sorry if we interrupted... something." Shikamaru said as his eyes took in the two men, before giving a smirk. That smirk caused Sasuke's face to grow even redder, his mind throwing out words that he couldn't bring himself to say.

You did.

"We just wanted to make sure we're still on for tonight? We usually hang at yours, get crossfaded and play video games, but you've been MIA. But last time you bailed on us, you promised that you would do it this time. So you can't back out man!"

"Fine, I'll be there. I swear- what would you assholes do without me." Naruto said with a glare at the two men, his body inching closer and closer to Sasuke as if he was a lighthouse in the mist of a dark storm.

"I would definitely be smoking less weed."

"Probably more happy and have a stable girlfriend, to be honest." Kiba said with a shrug, before checking his vibrating phone.

"Fuck you and fuck you. Shika, we both know your smoky-the-bear ass has been a pot head, for fucking ever. So even if you didn't meet me, you would still be smoking like a chimney. And Kiba, the reason you don't have a steady girlfriend is because you're a dumb ass who doesn't know how to commit to one thing. Ignore these idiots Sasuke, they can fuck off, honestly."

The last word was mumbled but Sasuke was able to catch it. The fact that he was trying to get his friends to leave again, to be alone with Sasuke caused his heart to beat wildly once again, he found himself tugging on the bottom of his knit cardigan.

"Hey! I do commit... It's just sometimes I see something else that I like even more, and I have to get a taste of that."

"You're a fucking dog. Your dog, Akamaru, isn't as bad as you."

"Woof woof mother fucker." Kiba said with a roguish grin while giving Naruto the middle finger salute.

Kiba definitely would get along with the faeries at my haven.

"Sasuke you should come too." Shikamaru said with a grin, throwing the flabbergasted man a subtle wink.

"What?"

"Yeah! You should definitely come! I bet I can finally kick someones ass in Mario Kart." Kiba said with a shout as if he made a new discovery.

"Kiba is our weakest link."

"Kiba's playing is shit."

Naruto and Shikamaru spoke at the the same time causing both the men to point to each other while chuckling. Kiba groaned in annoyance, pulling his hat down further over his red ears, before stomping off.

"Fuck you, guys."

The sound of the school clock chiming informed them all that their evening classes were starting up soon and that they needed to start making their way inside the building.

Shikamaru complained about not getting to smoke on his lunch break, while Kiba quickly started texting people on his phone while telling Shikamaru that he was talking to himself, and that he should "kindly fuck off".

Naruto ignored the two as they started to playfully bicker at each other, instead taking in Sasuke who was walking along side him with his head down. Sasuke was deep in thought but feeling eyes on him, he found himself lifting his head to come face to face with Naruto who had his head cocked in perplex.

He really does remind me of a golden retriever.

"Can I really come over?"

"Of course, Sasuke. I've been inviting you places for a while now. Just know, anywhere I go, there is always an open invitation. That is if you want to go."

"Do you... want me to come over."

"Yes. I would love to beat your ass in Mario Kart. Plus, you'll get to see my apartment." Naruto said with a smile, his shoulder bumping Sasuke's playfully causing Sasuke to sway creating some distance between the two.

"I also want to see you in my bed, but I don't think you're ready to hear that." Naruto mumbled thinking Sasuke wouldn't be able to hear it. But one thing about Faeries, is that their hearing is way better than any human or animal.

Sasuke found himself blushing once again, but his lips couldn't stop the grin that seemed to be permanently etched along his lips. His feet carrying him closer, closing the distance between the two men.

Beat.

His heart was pounding louder than it ever have before.

This is all so scary... and exhilarating.

A/N:

I'm back!

This chapter was a little short because the whole chapter was originally extremely longggg :) So I split this baby into two parts. I still hope you enjoyed it though.

I hope everyone is doing well! Just wanted to say that, that hiatus was very much needed for the rollercoaster that has become my life. Thank you to everyone who has sent me positive feedback and well wishes.

My goal is to post every two weeks, but if that goal fails, just know that I will always come back.

Thank you all for continuing to ride with me!

Sending y'all love wherever you may be!

xoxo

Ci Mai.