Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, any of its characters or anything related to Naruto. I just wasn't that lucky.

A/N: This is just another of those quick stories that popped into my head and I'm not sure if it'll be a one shot or if I'll continue it. I'll wait to hear from you guys before I make the final call. Enjoy:) Btw, this is OOC...that's about pretty much all I write...just in case anybody wondered. Sasuke's gone in search of the power to destroy his brother and everything else is pretty much the same.

Expectations

Sakura walked numbly down the street leading from the Hokage's building to her home. She was happy, but then she'd never expected this to happen to her the first time she'd participated. At the behest of her teacher, Tsunade, the pink haired medic-in-training took her final exam to see if she was fully prepared to be an actual medic nin. She passed! With nothing less than flying colors! The pride she felt elated her further skywards as she hugged her results closely to her chest.

"Hey, Sakura!"

Sakura's head turned towards the male voice that called to her. Naruto, Ino and Shikamaru were closing in on her. Lifting her hand in response, she called out, "Naruto, Ino, Shikamaru! I've got something to tell you!"

The four met on the corner of the street leading to Sakura's home. Standing there, everyone eyed Sakura with great interest; wondering what she was about to say.

Ino's long, blond ponytail swayed gently with each movement as she stood close to her protective husband, Shikamaru. They'd been married for about a year now. They both seemed truly happy. As for Naruto, he and Hinata were due to be married in the next three months because of a little Naruto on the way. Neji and Hinata's father had been livid at first because a baby was coming before the marriage, but the two had calmed down and come to see it in another light. They were just relieved that the two would be getting wed at all. With Sasuke gone that just left Sakura in their tight group. Neji, Ten and several others were still footloose and fancy free, but none of the young nin were in a rush to settle down.

Everyone fervently hoped that Sakura would find someone soon. It was always strange when they all gathered and she was the only one who didn't have somebody, but that would be remedied soon. Naruto just knew it in his heart. Sakura had almost been destroyed by Sasuke's abandonment, but thanks to the people present and a former teacher by the name of Hatake, Kakashi, they all helped her to overcome the overwhelming depression that clawed at her; caused her to rapidly spiral downwards. Months later, she was a completely different Sakura. And all that knew and loved her were grateful.

"So, Sakura, are you going to tell us or make us guess?" Ino was impatient as always.

Clenching her letter tightly in her fist, she cried out, "I passed! I really passed!" Hugging first Shikamaru, Ino, then Naruto she joyfully let them in on her great news. "My final medic exam...I passed it, and I'm now a fully fledged medic!"

There was a chorus of congratulations, good job and well wishes that flew around in the conversation. Naruto asked her, "So what next? And do you want to go celebrate with us?"

"Well, next I'll be assigned to a nin team, maybe eventually an ANBU team when my field experience builds. But for now, Tsunade will assign me to a team and let my get my feet wet so to speak." Sakura kept looking around as if trying to spot someone. She felt a pull bringing her towards one certain place. The urge to hurry grew increasingly worse every moment.

"I'll take a rain check on the celebration, for now. There's someone I must find who'll want to know my news." Bidding them goodbye, she walked off from them still in a slight daze. She never saw the smirks that crossed the trio's faces that watched her leave. They knew where she was going and who she was going to.

Pink hair flying around her face as she hurried the rest of the way to her destination, Sakura knew he'd be happy for her. If it hadn't been for him in the first place she might not have passed. Or at least passed with a perfect score. Smiling as she glanced up to see the famous 'singles' apartment complex where many bachelors still lived and made the rounds with the ladies.

Suddenly noticing her palms had gotten sweaty, she wiped them off on the lower half of her shirt. Muttering, "I don't know why I'm nervous! After all it's not like I've never been around him before." In truth she always felt a little nervous in his presence. He was one of those bachelors whose name and looks caused many girls and women alike to have fluttering hearts and fainting spells. "Snap out of it, Sakura! You can do this!" She hoped someone she knew didn't catch her talking to herself or she'd never live it down.

Taking slow, deep breaths as she climbed up the steeps steps to her study partner's place, she discovered she couldn't quite calm her heart or her nerves. Swallowing hard, she lifted a hand to firmly knock on the door. No answer followed, so she entered his apartment closing the door behind her. She wondered where her infamous partner was. He usually didn't leave his door unlocked and her mind wandered as she peered over his familiar belongings. Scant pictures graced the wall, but he didn't have much of a past. At least not one he liked to discuss.

Propping herself up against the back of his futon, Sakura patiently waited thinking he might be in his room. Carefully, she observed that both his bedroom and bathroom doors were shut. Maybe he was sleeping. Then again, maybe not.

The bathroom door swung open suddenly and there he was standing in the doorway toweling off his wet hair. He had pulled on a pair of snug pants that rode low on his hips, and he hadn't taken the time to put on a shirt which openly showed off one of the reasons he was so admired. The man had a wonderful set of sculpted pecs and a tight six pack on his body that would make other males envious, and the females drool.

Her heart picked up speed, her breath hitched in her throat. What was wrong with her? She'd never reacted this way until recently. So what had occurred to set these emotions and feeling into motion? Uncomfortably, she took note that her body was going into overdrive, hormones rushing and she wanted nothing more than to jump him where he stood. Again, that's not like her. Damn hormones!

He had the physique of a Greek god from years of training and honing his skills. Finally he'd stopped rubbing the towel around his head and hung it around his strong shoulders, accenting the tautness of his strong arms. Silver hair easily caught the light in its strands adding to the mystique that made him who he was.

Looking up he saw Sakura standing there, eyes wide as if afraid of something, her chest heaving like she'd been running for her life. Concerned, he took a step towards her. "Sakura, are you alright? What's wrong? Has something happened? Tell me. Are you okay?" Intentionally, he kept his voice soft and compelling as not to scare her further.

Shocked to see him in this new light, the paper held firmly in her grasp fell from her open hand, falling, drifting slowly to land on the floor by his feet. Reaching down, he picked it up and began reading it.

Abruptly freed from her trance, Sakura turned and ran to the door and managed to get it open about an inch or two when it slammed shut. Turning, she saw him right behind her applying pressure to the surface that had just slammed closed. Her voice came out as a shaky whisper. "Kakashi."

A corner of his mouth flipped up into a teasing smirk. "Sakura. Is this what you came for? You wanted to show me this?" Her results he held tightly between his index and middle fingers waiting for her to confess the reason for her visit. Not that he minded her coming. He was just curious. Slowly he turned her thin frame from the door to face him. "Sakura, were you wanting to show me your test results? Is that why you're here?" He repeated the questions because she didn't really appear to have heard him the first time.

Nodding her head, her breathing still out of control, she was afraid. Not of Kakashi. Never of him. She was afraid of herself and what she might do. It was hard for her to even look him in the eye because of what she was feeling. How ridiculous is that and she continued to mentally berate herself. Kakashi had trained with her, helped her study for this test, and basically he'd been there for her when no one else could. No one had known how to comfort her after Sasuke left and few of them even tried. Kakashi had always been there in the only ways he knew how, but it had gotten the job done. He'd brought her back to them in one piece.

Sakura felt hyperventilation would soon make its appearance if she didn't get her breathing under control soon. But it was so difficult with the man standing directly in front of her. For the first time she was seeing him without every mask he wore. The metaphorical, the literal, there were no masks laying between them. There was nothing but Sakura and Kakashi.

She closed her eyes and without warning a pair of full, soft lips touched hers. Jade green eyes shot open in disbelief. Her former teacher was kissing her! Her. And it was sooo good! Her breathing began to ease, her legs weak from his attention and masculinity folded and she'd have fallen had he not caught her.

A low growl broke out from his throat and she moaned in response. Small hands, of their own volition, tentatively reached out caressing the well formed muscles covered by flesh. Another moan stretched out between them and he huskily whispered, "Sakura, is this what you want? i won't continue without your permission."

Biting her lip, she spoke in a low tone, "Yes. This is what I want. You're what I want-what I need. Please Kakashi!" Thinking back to the beginnings of their study partnership, she realized she'd felt this way about him even then. She owed him so much for everything he'd done, but this was about more than that. What was happening between them was so much more.

Sakura suddenly found herself hoisted in the air and swept up into Kakashi's arms. Strolling to the bedroom, he twisted the door knob and pushed the door open with his foot. Laying her on the bed, he closed the door behind them. Its semblance wasn't lost on her. Their whole relationship was going to change and for the better. She'd never be able to go back and be the naïve girl she was and she didn't want to.

Wrapping her in a tight hug, his voice silkily sounded lowly in her ear. "By the way, Sakura, congratulations on your test. I knew you could do it."

"I had my doubts and it wasn't because of you. You were the best partner, friend and teacher I could've asked for! I'll always be incredibly grateful for the help and hope you've given me." Tears filled her eyes and emotion overwhelmed her.

Understanding the difficult last few days she'd had with her test, he said, "Why don't we take it easy and slow for tonight. I know you're exhausted and I can wait."

"Are you sure?" Biting her lip, she glanced anxiously at him hoping he really wouldn't mind. She'd been up for seventy-two hours for this final test and she was worn to the bone.

"I can always tell when you're nervous." Smiling at her, he loved to tease her. Then again, the woman in his arms had had enough teasing when she was younger. She'd always been teased to death about her forehead which she'd grown into rather nicely.

Confused, she asked,"How can you tell"

"You always bite on your lower lip like you've been doing ever since I've known you. It can't be helped. I think it's cute though. It almost makes you look like you're pouting." He placed a light kiss on her lower lip and then on her nose.

"Others used to pick on me about that too, but I just can't seem to make myself stop." Raising her arms into a languid stretch she yawned and quickly covered her mouth, apologizing.

Kakashi replied, "Nothing to be sorry for." Pushing her gently down on the bed, he reverently covered her with the dark blanket on top and cuddled up next to her.

Sleepily, she spoke to him and had a favor to request. "Kakashi? If you have to leave me will you wake me and let me know? Or if you don't have time...will you leave a note? I can't stand when people leave me suddenly in the middle of the night. Promise me?" She was taking a chance in revealing her fear to him, but she was already taking a chance by putting her heart in his hands. He was the one person who wouldn't laugh at her fears or laugh at her when she was afraid. And that was yet another reason she loved him.

He'd promise her anything if she'd be quiet and go to sleep. Soon she'd start talking completely off her head due to lack of sleep. But he asked the question few wold dare. "Is it because of Sasuke? This promise I mean."

"Mmhmm." She nodded, her eyeslids drifting heavily closed. "He left me alone in the dark. He hit me on the head and left me on a bench. But nothing hurt more than knowing he left and there was no reason for him to stay. I had hoped to give him a reason, to be his reason. Only I couldn't. He didn't want a reason and he didn't want me." Her words broke off and she didn't say another word.

Holding her tighter in his arms, Kakashi did one of the things he'd sworn never to do. He was going to make a promise he didn't know if he was capable of keeping. "I promise, Sakura. I promise never to leave without somehow letting you know first."

Satisfied, she fell into sleep dreaming, snuggled firmly against Kakashi's rock hard chest. Off and on she listened to the steady thump-thump of his heart. The sound comforted her almost as well as his voice could. Its steady rhythm lulled her to sleep and its constant beat reminded her she wasn't alone.

Kakashi stared out his window, holding the precious medic nin close to his heart. The moon's soft beams cascaded softly into his room bathing it in an ethereal light. He'd always loved to watch the moon. It had always captivated his interest since he was a young boy. And now, he had another to capture his interest.

He hoped there'd be no opposition to their becoming a couple. They were both of age after all. And Sakura, herself, always had such high expectations of herself that she needed him to catch her whenever she stumbled and fell. He'd teach her someday that certain expectations could be lowered at times. They could be lowered where they were at least attainable. Everything would be all right. He'd see to it. The kunoichi he held was worth every amount of protection and love he had to give. She held his heart and life in her hands and wasn't even aware of it. To be honest, he anticipated the first night when they'd make love. His body sang with the oncoming thrill. He'd be able to give her so much and take so little. Sakura was his only first and foremost concern. She was his greatest need and he'd helped her pass her greatest expectations.

A/N: That's it for now...I'm not sure for now whether I'll continue or not so just r/r and lemme know... thanx for reading! ;) Have a great weekend!!!