Authors note: GaaraXSakura. No bashing, just a straight up cannon what if. It's a story that has been in the back of my mind for ages that suddenly decided to develop itself in my head as they are in the habit of doing. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters.

Gaara sat on the rooftop silently scouting. He should not be here. He knew that. It was wrong. He could even hear the shrill exclamation he knew would come if Naruto ever found out about this little habit of his. Thankfully the energetic blond had no idea he was here otherwise the words "That's stalking, you baka!" would have been ringing in his ears while he dodged Rasengan charged fists.

He supposed it was technically stalking... It certainly was voyeuristic to an extent but he preferred to think of it as reconnaissance. That label made him feel better about it. It sounded more like work and less perverse somehow.

Whatever he chose to call it in his mind, it was wrong and he was willing to admit that. She had no idea he was here watching her hotel room from the roof across the street. He was not sure when this habit had formed; certainly after his run in with the Akatsuki but before the end of the war. When ever they were in the same city he found himself inexplicably drawn to her. He could not seem to help it, this need to be near her.

The impulse was severely unhealthy. She had a man and a family on top of that. There was a daughter that looked a great deal like her father and naught at all like her mother, and since the girl was none of his concern he promptly ignored her.

He was not worried about being caught, not even when in Konoha and her family home was lit with activity. The Uchiha was never there and the daughter was often in her own world, oblivious to the outside world as her mother went about caring for her only child. But neither of the dark haired Uchihas were here now.

She was in Suna alone. Pink hair settled on her pillow as emerald eyes fluttered to a close. It was not long before she was deeply asleep and in the throws of what appeared to be a nightmare if her twitching and contorted visage was anything to go by. They all had them. Nightmares came with the territory for shinobi. It was the curse of those who and seen too much and yet were not allowed to discuss any of it freely.

Silently he launched off the rooftop and carefully landed on the sill of her open window, which had been left slightly ajar to let the chill of the night air waft through. He let himself in, careful not to make any sounds or to alarm her in any way. With the grace his profession had afforded him he settled next to her, another habit he had taken to when he was sure she was alone and would not be intruded upon. He never laid down because for some reason he felt like that might be too much, as if he had not already crossed the line between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour long ago.

He sat there caressing her soft pink tresses in an attempt to soothe her, relishing in her touch when she rolled closer to take comfort in the warmth he exuded. Slowly her features stilled and she began to rest calmly.

He knew he should go. He had a stack of paperwork a mile high that required his attention and now that she was peaceful he was no longer needed.

But he could not leave. Or would not. Whichever it was, the papers could wait until he got called away, she roused, or the dawn creeped up on them. It was not everyday that his love was in Suna unaccompanied. He would make the most of it. He would watch over her for as long as he could, until the sun beckoned him back to real life and their realities, she to her family and he to his work. Jade eyes closed as a small smile crept onto his features. For now he was happy to pretend.

Sakura woke a little later than she was used to. She always did when she was in Suna. It might have been the crisp desert air invading her senses, but for some reason she had the most peaceful sleeps when she stayed in the desert city. Peaceful nights, nightmare free, were hard to come by these days and she relished in them when she could.

She stretched her hands over her head before bringing them back down to rest on the plush sheets. She leaned her head back against the wall as she ran her hands over the silky satin with a bemused grin.

It had perturbed her at first but she had gotten used to it now. She was not sure if it was in her hair or on her skin when she went to sleep but no matter the measures she took to keep herself free of the granules somehow she always managed to get sand in the bed. She shook her head with her smile still firmly in place. A little sand in her bed was well worth a visit from the Sandman, so long as he drove away her nightmares as he watched over her dreams.

End note: I enjoyed this a great deal. And yes, I realise that Gaara is being super creepy here but it was stuck in my head and I had to write it down. I hope you enjoyed it. As ever, I have no beta reader so if there are any mistakes please forgive me. Reviews are welcome and appreciated, but no flames please. Until next time!