Three Months Later

Sakura sighed. Tonight was the festival and everyone was going to be there. Her kids even had dates! She- as always- was alone, riding solo.

"Aiko, could you come here for a moment?" Sakura called from her bedroom.

Aiko came in a few seconds later, already dressed in her kimono. "Yes, mother?"

"Could you help me tie this please?"

"Of course!"

Sakura's kimono was red with white accents and pink cherry blossoms. She looked stunning!

Aiko had on a green kimono with blood red accents that matched her hair.

"You look beautiful, Aiko-chan…"

"You too, Mama!"

Their conversation was cut short when someone knocked on the door. Takeshi had already left to pick up Ichiko.

Aiko met Hideo on the other side of the door. She smiled brightly at him. He had already gone blind but Tsunade hadn't put the seal on them yet. At the moment, he was using his byakugan to see.

"Hey, Hideo-kun!"

"Aiko, you look beautiful."

This got him a quick kiss before he deactivated his Byakugan. Aiko took his hand and led him into the house.

"I'll be back in a second."

He nodded and felt her chakra fade into another room.

Aiko poked her head in the door and said, "I'll see you later, mother!"

"Okay, Aiko-chan! Be careful! I'll see you in a little bit!"

With that, Aiko was gone…

Sakura sighed again and stared in the mirror. There was reason she never went to these festivals and that reason would be there tonight. But still, she promised everyone she would go and enjoy herself…

The smell of perfumes and colognes fill the air and made Sakura slightly nauseous.

The festival was crawling with villagers from a number of villages. Naruto and the others were most likely at Ichiraku's waiting for her to join them so she made a beeline for it.

She spotted Aiko and Hideo, hand in hand, talking to… Sakura squinted her eyes… Gaara? Sakura's heart dropped. Instead of stopping dead in her tracks, Sakura walked faster.

"Hey Sakura-chan!"

"Hey you guys!"

Even her friends had dates! Of course all of them were married… Lee and a civilian she didn't know, Naruto and Hinata, Neji and Tenten, Kiba and another civilian she didn't know, Shino, Choji, Shikamaru had moved to Suna and married Temari and they were somewhere, even Ino was married now! She and Deidara got married a month ago… That only left her and Sasuke… But Sasuke made himself scarce on festivals like she did. Oddly enough though, he was there too.

Sakura made eye contact with him and he smirked.

"How are you, Sasuke?" she asked standing beside him.

"Hn, nauseous."

Sakura nodded in agreement.

"It's sad how much cheap perfume one could put on."

Sasuke didn't reply. His eyes shifted from her to past her. It made Sakura feel a little uneasy.

"Sakura." There it was… That husky voice again…

He was right behind her… So close that it sent shivers up her spine. She felt sand particles run up her arm.

She turned to him, finally getting the courage to do so… His eyes were as empty as hers but they held something for her and only her…

"You're here…" Sakura held back any and all emotion she could. It wasn't working too well.

He was taller, his shoulders were broader and he was more muscle. He had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and the same black rings around them.

"Stop hiding… I've been looking for you…" It sounded almost like an order and yet, his voice was soft, almost begging.

Sakura smiled a little, "I was never hiding…"

Gaara pulled her closer to him and hugged her. "Come back to Suna with me… Please."

She turned her head to Sasuke who smiled at her acceptingly.

Sakura nodded.

"Aiko and Takeshi want to stay here."

"I know. I spoke to them both on the way here." Gaara pushed a stray hair behind her ear and stared into her eyes lovingly for the first time.

Sakura couldn't hold the tears back anymore… She let them go in front of everyone. But everyone knew how heartbroken she was when Gaara didn't come for her too.

Gaara quickly hugged her against his chest. He exchanged glances with Naruto and he gave Gaara a thumbs-up. With that, Gaara whisked Sakura away with his sand.