First Posted 12/13/2014

WELL HELLO THERE FRIENDS. First of all, thank you so much for your reviews. Honestly, I don't know how motivated I'd be to continue on with this story if it weren't for the continued interest from YOU guys. It makes me feel so good knowing that people are enjoying my weird headcanons (ones that would otherwise never see the light of day xD). You guys are amazing, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your kind and clever words. If I haven't responded to your review—don't worry, I'll get there Sunday! :D

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! I enjoyed writing this so much it's insane. xD

I want to offer a special thanks to my two buddies FaithfulWhispers and Turmanarmo—both wonderful authors themselves—for helping me edit this chapter up a bit. They both offered rewording, clarification, and characterization tips, as well as ideas. Thanks so much you two!

Naruto had started and completed his latest mission by noon. Focusing all of his attention and energy into such a fun little distraction had been great while it'd lasted. He'd saved the hostage, dumped her unceremoniously into her father's awaiting arms, and bagged the problem nin for the village to deal with—all while keeping his mind off Sakura. Now that he'd reported back in to Kakashi—who blinked with surprise at how quickly it'd been resolved—he was back to square one.

Waiting impatiently for Sakura's next break. Or maybe the one after that. Despite his impatience, he was doing a great job of putting this off.

He'd decided to tell her the night before, but then he'd gotten very busy with polishing his kunai. This morning, he thought about telling her before she went to work—she was up absurdly early for her double shift—but then he realized that it might make him late for reporting to Kakashi-sensei for a mission. Now he adamantly refused to make any more excuses.

He didn't have a problem with the idea of telling Sakura that he wasn't interested in Sasuke like that. It was bound to be awkward—horribly, horribly awkward—but he was more than happy to do it. The problem arose whenever he thought about what to actually say. There were three perfect words that wanted to burst from his mouth at any given moment lately, and the pressure was increasingly unbearable. Now that he had to talk to Sakura about whom he didn't love, it only felt natural to tell her whom he did. Except... it wasn't the right time yet. That aside, he knew it was already far past the right time to clarify that he was not, in fact, in love with that idiot teme. And that was exactly why he had finally set off toward the hospital, his pace quick. Nothing would stop him this ti—

"Naruto-kun! Hello!" Lee's voice rang out in the crisp, winter air. He jogged up to Naruto, glistening with sweat, and clapped a hand onto his shoulder. "Shall we spar on this wonderfully brisk, youthful day?"

"Y'okay." Naruto agreed without the slightest hint of hesitation, and they set off to the nearest training ground.

Yes, when his friends needed him, Naruto would always be there. It had nothing to do with putting off the most uncomfortable conversation of his life. Nothing at all.

—

Sakura set out late that morning. She was glad to have today off after that long, long double shift the day before. It was cold again, though not as biting as it'd been on her last excursion here. The snow was dry and crunched loudly under her feet. A thick blanket of gray clouds blocked out the sun, but it wasn't an unpleasant view. They were soft and cheerful—snow clouds. Maybe Naruto would get his snowfall today after all.

She smiled at the thought, but the warm feeling was quickly replaced by the dread that had become her new, persistent companion. Getting up this morning, she had caught herself musing hopefully over how all of this might just be some kind of misunderstanding. It made her realize that it hadn't truly set in yet. As she headed toward their usual meeting point, she could only see it as the last mile toward the final confirmation: that Naruto did not, would not love her romantically. Ever.

Sakura crested the hill while staring carefully at the ground, her boots crunching to fit into her own, two-day-old footprints.

She looked up. "Sakura-chan!" His cheerful voice would have called. If he'd been there. Instead, an empty white landscape greeted her, still and frozen and silent.

A shuddering breath shook through her, and she almost turned around. Winter rendezvous in the snow, long walks with just each other for company, spending time together just to be together. She'd built herself up to this letdown, hadn't she? She'd placed every brick and sealed the mortar herself. Naruto wasn't guiltless, but Sakura should have known better. Especially since it wasn't the first time she'd done it.

No, she wouldn't give up on him. She had caused this mess, and she would not run away from it, even if he did. It had been her taciturn promise—she would not run away from him. Even if it broke her heart.

Her throat was tight with emotion as she sighed bitterly. If he weren't here already, he wouldn't come. She was pretty sure of that.

But even so, she waited.

She waited for him to come, waited for them to talk, waited to ensure that he would know, at least this one time—even if it were the last chance she ever got—that she hadn't meant to change any of their friendship. That it didn't have to change at all. That she shouldn't have asked and she would never judge.

She waited.

—

Naruto blinked blearily and sat up, tasting the dry fuzziness of his mouth and scratching under his arm. He sniffed, stretched, yawned, and smiled goofily at the large, softly falling snowflakes outside his window. He'd told Sakura it would snow.

Sakura!

Shooting out of bed, he collapsed when his thoroughly asleep left leg gave out on him. He still hadn't told her—and today was a walk day! The last time he'd been late, she'd marched up to his apartment and awakened him by nearly giving him a concussion, which had mildly defeated the purpose of coming for him at all. But then she'd healed him... Naruto's goofy smile returned. But he was late again! He stumbled up and was shaking the sleep away from his brain, reaching out to sense the world around him. His village, his people, the tiny prickles of warm lives surrounding him: Sakura wasn't home, Shikamaru was at the Hokage Tower with Gaara's sister, the Hyuugas were in some strange ceremonial formation again, Lee was altogether too chipper this early, and there she was!

At their meeting point.

Alone.

Naruto had never gotten dressed so quickly in his life.

—

He was still blinking the sleep out of his eyes when he came to a skidding, sidelong landing on one foot, leaving a long gouge in the snow-covered ground. The bijuu chakra dissipated from around him in a sweeping rush of yellow heat, leaving his disheveled state open to the air. But he didn't notice himself in the least. His eyes were wide, trained onto Sakura.

She was standing in place hugging herself, her cheeks and nose red and raw. Her shoulders and hair were dusted with a layer of snow that suggested much-too-long. Then she smiled, her whole face lighting up so beautifully that his heart thudded against his ribcage and he almost forgot he'd left her standing in the snow for hours. Almost.

"Sakura-chan," he said, eyebrows knitting with worry. Her smile shrank into something more muted almost immediately, though it was far from belligerent—she looked quite amused, actually.

"Pft, look at you," she said wryly, stepping forward. She reached up as though to smooth down his cowlicked hair, but then she hesitated and brought her hands back down to her sides. "You're a mess," she said, "you must have just gotten out of bed, huh?" For some very strange reason, he thought she sounded relieved. But that wasn't something Sakura would feel about him being late, so he knew he was wrong.

"I'm sorry, dattebayo! I messed up again!" He reached up and matted his hair down the way she almost had. The way she maybe almost had. She shook her head, shrugged a don't-worry-about-it, and then started forward past the wake of now-bald trees he'd left. They walked in silence for a short while, watching the thick, heavy snowflakes fall densely. The two sets of earlier footprints were now smoothed over in a renewed blanket of pristine white.

"Did you seriously fly here in your Six Paths mode?" She finally spoke, asking the question rhetorically, but it came as a surprise to him.

"Oh. I did?" He glanced back. Sakura was making him really edgy lately. And on that topic... He took a deep breath. "Uhhh by the way Sakura-chan," he started, steeling himself. "I'm not, ah... I don't... it's not like that with Sasuke. That's weird." Sakura froze in her tracks, rigid. He'd been expecting it this time and had stopped first, so that this time she had to turn and look back at him. She looked...

Hurt.

"Don't lie to me." She sounded hurt, too. It was definitely his least favorite Sakura-chan emotion. He felt his mouth slide open helplessly.

"But I'm not—"

"Stop." She closed her eyes and jammed her hands into her pockets, head down. "We're friends, Naruto. Best friends. And I don't care—I don't mind. I don't really know why you're so embarrassed, but I don't mind that either. I just want you to know," she gave a little huff and paused, her head still down.

"Sakura-chan, I swear it's not—" His tone was nothing but pleading now, but she was having none of it.

"Naruto, stop." She demanded. His gaze rose skyward imploringly—to whatever deity might help. He hadn't expected her to call him a liar. How the heck was he supposed to convince her? Now he really plead to that deity—because he had the perfect solution, but it wasn't time yet. "Listen," she continued, her voice steeling even more. "I don't like that you're so worried and I definitely don't like that you're trying to worry all alone. That's not my Naruto, and like hell I'm going to let you be such a baby all by yourself." Now she looked up, expression fierce.

Naruto's mouth was slightly agape again, his mind whirling through about ten thousand things he should be saying right now, or perhaps doing. At this point, shaking her seemed like it might be a good option, but only if he was no longer fond of having intact bones.

She continued, her eyes piercing into his. "So just listen. There's honestly only one time that Sasuke ever showed interest in me, and it's pretty much the whole reason I was interested in him for as long as I was—at least after we formed Team 7."

Ten thousand things disappeared from his mind. Naruto listened.

The ferocity of her gaze softened, and she looked a little embarrassed as she continued. "He told me that he liked my big forehead, and—" she blinked rapidly, "it was the one stupid thing I always wanted someone to tell me, especially my special someone. And then do you know what he did?" He asked about me. "He asked me about you." Naruto was hesitant to even breathe; the air sliding through his parted lips was more gentle and quiet than a feather's brush. Sakura's determination was back for a moment as she frowned up at him. "We never even—" She halted mid-sentence and glanced away, and all he could imagine was the moment she hadn't quite kissed 'Sasuke' that day. He swallowed, trying not to imagine her soft lips pressing against his. That was a miserable failure.

Sakura shook her head and huffed, and his full attention was back on her when she resumed speaking. "He's changed since then. A lot. And like I said, it was just that one time he ever said anything, and right after that he came back and called me annoying. You want to know why?" Naruto's eyes had grown wide, "he called me annoying for being insensitive about you." She poked him in the chest, her brows furrowed and eyes filled with earnesty. "He's always cared about your feelings. I can't say he's done the same for me, which is why I finally came to my senses and saw he'd changed too much for me to really love him, not like that at least. But if all you have to worry about is some girl—who he didn't seem all that close with anyway, if you ask me—then..." Sakura's voice was continuing. He knew she was still talking. Her mouth was moving.

But he stopped hearing it.

Snowflakes were floating down in slow, gentle patterns. She looked so beautiful framed in white, with a halo of soft snow dusting her pink hair.

She didn't love Sasuke anymore.

"I love you." His voice came out as a quiet breath, and Sakura continued for a second before she paused.

"What?" She asked, uncertainty coloring her features. "What did you say?"

"I love you." He said it louder this time, gazing into those jade green eyes. A great weight was lifting from him. "I love you." He watched her expression slide into shock, her lips parting in stunned silence. "I love you. I love you." His voice increased in meaning and passion and volume all at once until he thought he might start shouting it, but the heartbeat thudding against his eardrums still seemed louder somehow.

Her mouth opened a little wider once, then a second time, but she didn't say a word. A stray snowflake landed on her eyelashes. She blinked it away.

Naruto's lips curled into a smile, and he gave a quiet laugh—it almost sounded like a sob, it was so guttural and filled with relief. "Sakura-chan," he said, finally moving from his rigid state, but only to clench his fists at his sides. "Sakura-chan, I love you!" He laughed and raised a hand to run it through his hair, almost feeling lightheaded.

Her voice was so quiet it was nearly impossible to hear, but he heard it anyway. "But..." She shook her head fractionally, a ghost of a movement. She looked so very unsure.

He shook his head with a smile, willing that she understand. "I've always loved you, Sakura-chan." The words were so earnest and filled with life that they were almost tangible things that he wanted to snatch from the air and press into her hands for safekeeping. "Always. It was always, always you." He reached forward then, dipping a little to take her small, gloved hand in his bare ones. It felt so soft, warmly nestled in his large hands, and it just seemed to fit there; a missing piece.

Then, with a slow, gentle motion, she pulled her hand free.

—

Sakura was numb. It wasn't the numbness of her cold toes and fingertips but a thick canvas dulling her heart and mind.

"I don't understand," she breathed, shaking her head again.

"I love you," he shook his head too, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I just do. I always have. I love you." He paused. She could feel his close scrutiny—knew it was there—but she was too numb to really see or think or do anything right now.

"But at the Land of Iron..." Her own voice reached her ears distant and dazed, and it surprised her that she'd even spoken at all.

"I thought you loved Sasuke!" He said it loudly, like it was a cry of triumph. A grin had grown wide across his face.

"I did." She breathed, blinking up at him. Then she exhaled a sharp, quiet sigh of shock, shaking the haze away from herself more and more. All this time. All this time—because of Sasuke? Because of her? "I'm..." her eyebrows knitted with sadness. "I'm sorry."

His smile fell away. It was like watching a death.

Her heartbeat was already overwhelmingly loud in her ears. It sped up when licks of yellow chakra flashed to life around his form, a warm wind suddenly sweeping around the two. His clothing shifted in the breeze. He tensed, his knees bending. It was all happening so quickly that she knew he'd be gone before she could even think to stop him.

"Don't—" She frowned, anger spiking through her. He was running again. Without so much as a second thought, Sakura's hand darted forward and she clutched at his sleeve, pulling him forward by the wrist so that he stumbled down toward her. Her fist collided with the side of his head in a right hook. "Don't run away!" She shouted angrily. Naruto gaped at her owlishly, rubbing the spot on his head. His yellow chakra evaporated with a ghostlike flare. "Listen... Naruto, I—"

"It's okay." He spoke quickly, voice hushed with pain. His averted gaze looked so hurt, and his mouth was set in a pout. "You don't have to say it. It's okay."

"No. You—no, us. We're idiots. We're both idiots." He looked up, quite puzzled, and she swallowed. "I love you." Her own lips curled into that same relieved smile, and she suddenly knew how he felt.

He stared at her, dumbfounded.

"I don't understand." He said, voice quiet. She knew exactly how he felt.

"I love you. I'm in love with you. I just—I want to be with you. Always. I don't want to say goodbye or—" She swallowed again, feeling her eyes prickle with tears as the roiling emotions caught up with her. "I love you so much it hurts." Her last words muffled into his jacket when he moved forward and wrapped his arms around her so completely that she was altogether enveloped in the warmth and smell and feel of Naruto. She sighed out a sob of a breath, then raised her arms and slid them around him in return.

Sakura closed her eyes and felt the churning, unsure world settle into something finally and blessedly right.

She didn't know how long they stood in silence, holding one another tightly. She didn't know how many deep, amazed breaths she took, and she didn't know how much snow was already beginning to bury their footprints. She didn't know how many times his heart beat, even though her ear was pressed against his chest and she was mesmerized by the sound—one that had become familiar to her only in her most reassuring dreams. She didn't know, and she didn't care.

If it meant being able to stay here, to be like this, she could happily ignore everything else.

But like all moments, it had to pass.

The sensation of feeling his arms shift and then slide away from her was uncomfortable on some deep, inherent level—as though she were shedding a piece of herself that was never meant to go. Her fingertips dragged softly at his jacket as he pulled free, and she felt his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away from him, just like—

But there was nothing accusing or angry in his eyes this time. His entire expression was filled with wonder, and those clear blue eyes were both hoping and worrying in a perfect reflection of her own heart.

They wordlessly asked each other the same question: Is this real?

It felt as though the bubble would burst at any second. With a tiny pop, she would wake up in bed and realize it had started and ended purely in her mind.

This was why she hadn't wanted to let go at all.

"Sakura-chan," he breathed a disbelieving laugh—it almost sounded like a sob—and his mouth had grown into an excited smile. "Marry me."

Sakura froze, her eyes wide with shock. "What?" It was the only word that came to her in that stunned instant.

"I want you to ma—"

Her fist collided with his head for the second time that day, laying him out in the snow.

"Are you an idiot?" She shrieked, pointing a gloved finger at him accusingly. "You can't—it's been like ten minutes! We've never even kissed!" Naruto leapt up so quickly she nearly missed the movement—but suddenly she was in his arms again, and this time their eyes were locked, wide, and so very close. Then he squeezed his eyelids shut and quickly pressed his warm lips against hers.

It was like something electric buzzed through her, melting away her strength. Her eyes slid shut, and all that was left of the world disappeared. Everything was the warm touch of her lips to his. Sakura felt her blood pressure dropping and her knees weakening.

Their lips parted and her eyes fluttered open to meet his. Blue more clear and vivid than any crystal, any ocean. He straightened to his full height, and her head tilted back to follow his gaze, mesmerized. If his arms weren't embracing her, she might have slid to the snowy ground.

"How about now?" He asked, his expression serious and earnest and incredibly inviting. Yes, she thought. Whatever it is, yes. Wait—NO. But yes.

If she spoke now, she was certain she'd say something stupid, so she raised on her toes to kiss him again. This time, she parted her lips and tasted him. The tight grip of his arms slackened.

"Is that a yes?" he breathed when they parted once again, his voice somewhat dazed.

"No," she said softly.

"No?" His eyes widened, voice choked. Sakura's eyebrows quirked downward.

"No, I mean—augh. You can't just—You're insane." She shook her head, frowning.

"I am not! I love you. I always loved you, and I'm gonna love you forever, so why not?" She couldn't imagine how red her face had already been, but somehow her cheeks felt even warmer at his words.

"I really shouldn't have to explain something like this to you." She said. He gave a little snort through his nose, and the way it rustled her bangs made her extremely conscious of how close they were. They were still pressed warmly against one another, but it wasn't too close to be comfortable. It was almost too far now that his face was way up there again. He was frowning down at her, but there was too much joy in his eyes to make the frown meaningful.

"But it's not a no." He stated it with a firm nod, and his smile eased back into place. She rolled her eyes, but her mouth was quirking into a wry smile as well.

"It's not a no," she agreed, leaning her head against his chest. He dipped his chin so that it rested on her hair.

"Good," he murmured.

Aaaahhhhhh this chapter made me so giddy to write. Sorry it took so long—but I'm REALLY hoping that you guys noticed it's significantly longer than the others. In fact, it even beats out the final part to "It'll Be Okay" which was formerly my longest. Despite the fact that I made it a longer chapter, my buddy Turmanarmo STILL called it when he stated that I'd probably end up with another chapter. Yup. I'm continuing this plot just a bit longer—I have too much to wrap up to end it here! xD Please let me know what you think! Thanks again for your continued interest and love! :)

Chronological Arc/Chapter List:
Confession: Chapters 33-37 (NaruSaku ages 18-19) * You Are Here
Let's Wait: Chapters 5-6 (NaruSaku ages 20-21)
Stealing First: Chapter 1 (NaruSaku ages 21-22)
The Uzusagis: Chapters 3-4 (Narusaku ages 21-40)
It'll Be Okay: Chapters 18-24 (NaruSaku ages 21-22)
The Godfathers: Chapters 13-14 (NaruSaku ages 22-23)
Momma's Boy: Chapter 27 (NaruSaku ages 24-25)
The Day Kakashi Tried: Chapter 2 (NaruSaku ages 25-26)
Kakashi Tries Again: Chapter 16 (NaruSaku ages 29-42)
A Tiny Crush: Chapter 25 (NaruSaku ages 33-35)
That Jutsu, Part 1: Chapter 8 (NaruSaku ages 37-38)
Bedtime Routine: Chapter 7 (NaruSaku ages 37-38)
That Jutsu, Part 2: Chapter 9 (NaruSaku ages 37-38)
Every Family Has One: Chapters 10-12 & 17 (NaruSaku ages 38-39)
A Terrible Dream: Chapter 32 (NaruSaku ages 38-39)
A Not-So-Tiny Crush: Chapters 26, 28, 30-31 (NaruSaku ages 42-44)
Teenage Girls: Chapter 15 (NaruSaku ages 44-45)