Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, yeah. I do own a Kakashi plushie, you know.
When I was visiting Celtic Oak in Costa Rica, we were brainstorming about doing a NejiSaku collab, since our beloved Ice Prince is a rather hard character to recreate. But then, after many laughs and rawrs and catcalls over our brainstorming session and themes were chosen, I can present you with these. I hope you enjoy them!

Theme 13.- Christmas, snowy thing

Whoever said that winter was a nice season, according to Sakura, was insanely wrong.

Especially when this pro-winter preacher was, in fact, her life partner, not some old naturalist lover. Sakura was everything about spring and summer; actually, she loved going to work in tight shorts and her usual skirted outfit, because it was light enough and very comfortable. Now, in winter, she had to wear a full-size cloak, just like the ANBU had to wear in every moment.

Of course, Sakura didn't like to be overdressed, but she despised being cold, so... the conundrum was there, mocking her and pulling at her frozen face, making her dream about the warmth of her bed and her lover's arms.

If only said lover was in Konoha, but sadly, he was not. He was on a mission, as usual for someone so gifted, taking a scroll to Sunagakure and he wasn't due to come back in four more days.

It was safe to say that Sakura felt lonely and most of all, cold.

The only thing that cheered her up was how nice the village was decorated during this season: little lights everywhere and an uprising of hot chocolate vendors, as well as lovely bells hanged at every door. The children received presents during this time of the year, a custom that was initiated by the Third Hokage and was accepted by every parent in the village. Soon, this present giving thing was spread to the whole Fire Country and eventually not only parents ended up giving gifts to their children.

For the store owners and merchants, it was a very good season. But for people like Sakura, that spent all her productive time healing people with the seasonal bout of flu and some hypothermic ninja, it was a nightmare.

Strolling back to her apartment, with hands stuffed deeply in the insides of her traveling cloak and a scarf that covered her face just like her old sensei and tired green eyes because it had been a long day in the hospital and her chakra was depleted, Sakura thanked all the gods above for her heater and envisioned a night surrounded in warm pillows with a promise to sleep like the dead.

And sleep she did, stumbling on the step in front of their apartment building. With no strength to pick herself up, Sakura just arranged her cloak and said goodbye to consciousness.

She woke up the next day tucked in her bed, feeling rested and relaxed, something she hadn't felt since he left.

Warm covers and a white sweater that she was positive she hasn't worn the day before because she had seen her lover had put it on for his mission.

With a sleepy smile, she breathed and reveled on his scent, reassuring her and exhilarating her brain with a marvelous thought. He was back!

Stretching like a cat, she padded to the kitchen, where she found her scowling onyx-haired partner serving a bowl of soup. Not ramen though, just soup.

"Okaeri, Neji," she smiled ad him, which made him diminish his scowl a bit.

"I found you at our doorstep," he murmured. They always used to speak in whispers when together, enjoying the silence only broken by kisses and chuckles and giggles.

"I'm sorry..." Sakura sighed, lowering her head. "It was a long day at the hospital."

The pearly-eyed ANBU walked to her and embraced her shivering form. "You gave me quite a scare," he whispered to her mussed hair. "Your skin was all blue from the cold."

"I had no chakra to counter it," she explained to his chest. "I thought you were coming back in four days."

"We tied everything up with the Kazekage in record time," he relayed, cutting short his own explanation by tightening his embrace. "You're still cold. Eat your soup."

As the liquid warmed her insides, she felt that, having him at home in these cold winter nights was the best gift she could ask for.

Well, that and a new black dress, of course.

- Tenna' ento lye omenta -