And you thought I would only give you guys one gift?

I just wanted to thank you guys for 5 amazing years. You guys have literally been with me through thick and thin, since 2012! Your reviews helped me get through the worst time of my life, your patience and support when I got busy really inspired and motivated me, and your constructive criticism, awesome ideas and excellent feedback never cease to make me smile.

Here's to the end of 2017, and to the beginning of a new year!

An Indispensable Assistant (Sequel)

1: The Year's End

Uchiha Conglomerate HQ

Saturday

December 29

10:08 AM

Itachi was, in a word, excited.

He'd never felt like this before. This heart-racing, stupid smile-inducing, restless, happy excitement.

The words on the papers blurred before him, taking the form of his favorite green eyes, his favorite pink hair, his favorite loving smile.

Sakura.

At the thought of her, his lips spread wider and a small breathy laugh escaped him, and he covered his mouth with his hand.

He couldn't concentrate.

Dropping his pen on the desk, he reached for his phone and called her.

"You have to stop doing this," she answered on the second ring, sounding distracted.

"I will. Eventually," he promised, knowing fully well that he probably would call her again by lunch time. He loved the way she sounded when she answered the phone.

"What is it about this time?" Sakura asked. He heard shuffling sounds on the other side of the line. She must be packing. She'd been away for two months, and sure, video-chatting with her was great, but he was dying to see her again.

The knowledge that she would be moving in with him when she returned made him that much more anxious to see her. Her stuff was already in his house. Every morning for the past month he would see her clothes hanging on the other side of the walk-in closet. He'd see her toothbrush in the bathroom and her mugs in the kitchen.

"I'm finding it difficult to focus," he responded, absently rolling his pen back and forth on the surface of the desk with his forefinger. "I want to see you." She chuckled at this.

"And you will. In about…" she paused as she checked the time.

"Six hours and fifty-one minutes," Itachi finished for her. "I miss you. Can't you come sooner?" She laughed, the sound making Itachi's smile come forward again.

"It's already set, Itachi, based on my flights."

"I checked online… I can book you an earlier flight," Itachi offered, bringing back up the page that was still open on his computer. "It comes in thirty minutes earlier, and-"

"Itachi," Sakura giggled. "You miss me that much?" she teased.

"Yes," Itachi replied seriously. "I will buy the ticket for you," he said, clicking on the flight information.

"Don't," Sakura said. "I've already organized everything, and…hold on," she said. He heard her speaking to someone else, but he couldn't make out what either of them were saying. "Itachi? I'm back, sorry about that. That was Gaara. But, by the way," she continued, then stopped there. Itachi released the mouse and frowned.

"By the way, what?"

"By the way… can you come over instead? I really don't want to travel today and-"

"I can get there in four hours," Itachi said, already eyeing a ticket.

He had missed their first Christmas day together. Boxing day. That whole season. He had been stuck with his family for their traditional gathering. He had been stuck with his annoyingly busy social calendar, and he had to do it alone.

Every year he did it alone, but this year had been excruciating.

Everyone asked for Sakura, after her health, after the status of their relationship, about the baby, was her hair really pink… it had just made him miss her more, and he made no attempt to look happy. He missed her and he was miserable and he was desperate to see her.

This worked out better.

If he left right now, he could be with her in four hours instead of six.

He didn't need to pack. He already had the most important thing already on him, and as for clothing… he could purchase them online, have them cleaned and delivered. He didn't even need to stop at home.

"Itachi," she giggled. "Were you already looking at flights?"

She burst out into delighted laughter when he replied.

"I just bought the ticket. I will be leaving the office in ten minutes," he said firmly, saving his ticket information to his online account.

"Oh Kami, I love you," she laughed. "Okay sweetie, I will see you when you get here. A whole two hours earlier than expected."

"I'm looking forward to seeing you." His intentions were made obvious when his vocal pitch dropped.

"Oh… Oh, my," Sakura responded. "When did you say you were leaving the office again?"

The rest of this is going to be in its own story, which I have just posted!