Happy birthday to Gaara! Ah the joys of using a school computer to upload crap. Am simultaneously typing chapter ten of Fangirl no Jutsu too. Sory it's so short.

"Kankuro, Gaara, breakfast's ready!" the female voice belonging to his older sister, Temari ricocheted up the stairs. Gaara opened one eye and swiftly located his clock, the display telling him that it was seven in the morning and indeed breakfast time.

He opened his other eye and lifted his legs in one fluid motion off the bed he had spent the previous night, not unlike any othernights, meditating. The jinchuuriki lifted his arms in front of him, flexing his stiff muscles that had long since gotten used to his nightly routine, and cracking his knuckles before opening his door and heading towards the kitchen.

"Kankuro, get your fat arse down here now!" Temari yelled as Gaara walked past her. Inwardly, he winced at the volume which must surely be inhuman? A step or so away from his usual spot at the table, he felt his older sister grab his wrists - gently - and pull him into a warm hug. All of a sudden, he felt six years old again, vunerable on the inside, the only place on his body he could hurt, and ready to cling to any emotional support. And cling he did, returning his sisters hug, praying that this time, she - or Kankuro, for that matter - wouldn't betray him.

This was his newmorning routine - After his fight with Uzumaki Naruto, he had started to change, to battle his way into his remaining family's hearts. His precious people's heats. However, everything was constant until one day when his heart and feelings were laid out for them to see - bloody and raw with splashes of salty tears. From then on, his siblings had accepted him more and more, little by little. Temari would take it upon herself each morning to administer what she called 'hug therapy' to him, whether he liked it or not.

But he did like it. All his life, he had yearned for physical contact, being denied at every turn, yet now, someone was willing to be in his space, to hold him like a child - like they cared. Since his outburst not even three months ago, Gaara became happier - he had a true family, people to live his life for, and to protect. And the hugs...

Whenever Temari would embrace Gaara, a wave of pure emotion washed over him, a comforting, giddy feeling. When she would tuck his head under her chin, he held on tightly to her, not letting go for fear she would leave. When she would rock their bodies from side to side, he had to fight back tears. No, he mustn't cry.

He blinked back threatening tears as his sister's hold on him relaxed, as the enveloping warmth left his proximity. Just then, Kankuro, his older brother, loped into the kitchen and ruffled his hair chuckling, as he would often do. A watery smile graced Gaara's features as he looked at his family. His family.