A/N: To all SasuSaku fans, in celebration of SasuSaku finally becoming canon. :3 How I picture Sasuke's return.

'I'll see you when I'm back,' he said. '… And thank you.'

She had thought she was used to waiting for him. She had already waited 4 years for him to return the first time, so a little longer wasn't going to be too hard, right.

Wrong. This time, it had been different. This time, it had been worse. Because this time, she knew he'd be back.

Weeks became months and months became years. Sakura helped rebuild Konoha and she waited. She worked shift after shift at the hospital and she waited. She took missions, just for the heck of it at times, and she waited. She accompanied Naruto and Sai to Ichiraku's, joined Ino, Hinata and Tenten at their occasional sleepovers, helped Kakashi with his paperwork, even sat down with Tsunade for sake once in a while and she waited.

Sometimes, at night, she'd walk towards the gates leading into Konoha, sit at that ever so familiar bench for a minute or two and then back, just as quietly, but more quickly. Once, as she was making her way there, she had run into Naruto. She hadn't asked why he was there and he hadn't been surprised at the sight of her or loud or intruding, much unlike himself. Instead, he had just smiled, a knowing smile it was, and he had joined her in the nocturnal routine ever since, not every time she went but more often than not. And it felt nice. They always had been companions in this particular facet; awaiting Sasuke's return.

When he was there, she'd sit at the bench for longer and he would join her and they would chat about their genin days or about how their day had been. Naruto would use every opportunity to tease her about the now famous 'forehead poke', 'But Sakura-chan! What if he actually thinks that's how you-' and she would scream at him before he could go any further. And then he'd break out laughing and add a, 'Well, you can always adopt.' She would never forgive Kakashi for telling him, or him for telling practically everyone else. Naruto would then continue cracking those jokes until she'd pull the Hinata card and turn him into an awkward, blushing mess.

Sakura had always expected Sasuke to return in the night, as silent and swift as the breeze. It just seemed more fitting to her, for some reason. But again, she had been wrong.

He came around noon. And she hadn't been the first to find out. She was on her way to the hospital when she saw a flash of orange, felt a whoosh of wind and a strong force pulling her by the hand, coercing her to turn and move forward, all at once.

'NARUTO!' she had yelled in response.

'SASUKE'S HOME!' he had grinned back.

And while she allowed her body to move just as fast as Naruto pulled her, her heart had stopped. Eyes wide, mouth agape. He was back. He. Was. Back. Her mind went numb and she couldn't think, couldn't feel, couldn't breathe. Anticipation enveloped her completely.

But as he came into sight, her feet scraped against the ground to a stop, causing Naruto to lag too. He looked back, eye-brows furrowed. 'Sakura-chan!' he whined. 'What's the deal?' Upon receiving no response, he unlocked his hand from her wrist and moved ahead on his own shrieking, 'TEME! HOW DARE YOU WALK BACK IN HERE WITHOUT A WARNING, YOU BASTARD?!'

'Shut up, dobe,' the familiar, deep voice echoed through her ears and she felt her heart miss a beat and then go into overdrive.

'Deep breaths, Sakura. Deep breaths,' she told herself. 'In. Out. In. Out. Okay. Okay.'

After collecting herself, she looked up and towards him, still a good 30 feet from him. He was taller than she remembered and he was back. His hair was flatter and longer than it had ever been and his large, fawn poncho was certainly striking and he was back. There was something entirely different about him yet at the same time, he was still the Sasuke she had once known and he was back. Naruto had reached him. And Kakashi was also standing there with him, unsurprisingly, lone visible eye crinkled. And he was back. She hadn't heard a word of what went on after hearing Sasuke's voice for the first time, but they were all looking at her at this point. She gulped and moved towards them with unsteady steps. What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to say? How was it possible for her to have pictured this so many times in her head and still be so paralyzed? She knew what she wanted to do. But she would not. She would absolutely not. She was a grown woman now and-

'SAKURA-CHAN! HURRY UP ALREADY!' called out Naruto.

Sakura snapped out of her trance and hurried up to them, stopping just two steps short of where Sasuke stood. She opened her mouth but he was the first one to speak.

'Sakura,' he said, just as he always did, but with a ghost of a smile playing at his lips.

'Sasuke-kun,' she finally breathed out, fighting back tears.

He smirked. 'Did you miss me?'

And she could no longer hold back. Could no longer hold back her tears and could no longer hold back her arms from wrapping themselves around his back as she buried her face in his chest. And then, the unimaginable happened. For the first time, Sasuke actually returned her hug. He lifted his sole hand to rest at the back of her head.

After a few seconds, he spoke up and she could feel his smile in his voice, 'I have something for you.'

She pulled her head back and looked up in surprise. But before she could say anything, Naruto interrupted.

'What?! HEY! You better have brought something for me too!'

Sasuke let out an annoyed 'Tch' but then shook his head and replied, 'I did, dobe. Don't you have any patience?'

Naruto's face instantly lit up and he tackled Sasuke to the ground, pulling him away from Sakura in the process, who was now glaring at him dangerously.

'Wha'cha get me, huh?' he asked eagerly.

'Get off me. Now,' warned Sasuke and Naruto hurriedly complied.

'Hn,' grunted Sasuke as he straightened himself up and opened his bag.

Naruto jumped excitedly. Sasuke smirked.

'Here,' he said, handing him 3 curious looking packets. 'The different kinds of ramen I found around the world.'

'AHHH!' exclaimed Naruto, realizing what he had just gotten. 'TEME! I LOVE YOU!'

Sakura smiled at the scene while Kakashi muttered a bemused, 'Well, well, this is nice.'

'I have something for you too, old man,' mumbled Sasuke, to which Kakashi just blinked.

'Oh, really?' he said.

Sasuke scrunched up his face as he dug in his bag for a second present. And out came an all too familiar small book with a red sign on its back.

'I have never been embarrassed as much...,' began Sasuke, glaring as he threw it to the 'Icha Icha' fan, who was now evidently thrilled. '... as I was while getting that piece of p-'

'Don't call it that!' interjected Kakashi. 'It's a literary masterpiece,' he defended. 'Though honestly, Sasuke, you shouldn't have,' he added, clearly not meaning it.

'Hn, I think so too,' replied Sasuke. 'Sakura…,' he continued.

'Oh, uh-um?' she stuttered as she looked up at him, blushing, wondering what he had gotten her.

This was so unlike Sasuke. He was the last person she'd ever expect to get a present from.

He put his hand in his bag a little more nervously this time, or so it seemed to her and out came… flowers?

Sakura's mouth opened again in shock as her face turned a deep shade of red.

'These are for you,' he said, the corners of his mouth titling up just a tad, gaze never leaving her eyes.

'Th-thank you, Sasuke-kun,' she beamed, hand trembling as she accepted them. 'They're beautiful,' she said.

'Glad you like them,' he replied. 'They haven't wilted as yet because they've been drizzled with a special potion but you should probably get them in some water soon, or they won't last much longer.'

Sakura nodded, still flushed. 'I'll do that right away.'

'Okay, okay, enough with the googly eyes,' interrupted Naruto, once again. 'I say it's time to celebrate! And what better way than with some gold ol' ramennnn!' he giggled.

Sasuke sighed in defeat. 'Fine. As long as it shuts you up, dobe.'

'My treat,' offered Kakashi as the three men began walking towards Ichiraku's but they stopped, noticing the lack of a fourth presence with them. They looked back.

'Sakura-chan?' questioned Naruto.

'Sorry, guys, I was just on my way to the hospital when you grabbed me earlier, Naruto,' she said with an apologetic smile. 'I'm already late for my appointments. I'll see you guys in the evening.'

All three looked disappointed but Kakashi nodded in understanding. And Naruto gave her the usual cheery 'See ya later, Sakura-chan!' while Sasuke just remained silent.

Sakura gave them a small wave, turned back and started towards the hospital, beaming immensely. Sasuke was back, they were all together again! Everything was perfect. And… and he had gotten her flowers! She smiled fondly as she looked down at them. It was an unusual arrangement to be honest. Nothing like she had ever seen before. Four of them and each different from the other. Besides the obvious white rose, Sakura couldn't even tell what kind the other three were. She was sure she had seen one of them in the Yamanakas' flower shop but two of them looked completely new. Seemed like Sasuke had given attention to the color combination though, she giggled to herself; two white and two pink. They looked so pretty together.

'Yo, forehead!' Sakura snapped out of her thoughts as she heard Ino's voice.

She turned around to find said girl pacing up to her.

'Wait up, let's go together,' said Ino, taking up the space to Sakura's right.

'Alright,' smiled Sakura.

'Oh, those are some pretty rare flowers!' Ino noted at once with a gasp. 'Where did you find them?'

'Actually,' started Sakura, smiling shyly. 'Sasuke-kun got them for me.'

Ino gaped. 'He-he's back?!'

Sakura nodded. 'Just went to get ramen with Naruto and Kakashi-sensei.'

'Oh,' replied Ino. 'B-but you know what those flowers mean?!' she almost screamed as it dawned on her, stopping Sakura right in her tracks.

'W-what?' she asked nervously.

'Tsk tsk,' Ino shook her head. 'Same old Sakura. Missing what's right in front of you again.'

Sakura glared at her.

'That, for starters,' began Ino, picking up the lighter pink flower. 'Is an 'Ambrosia'! You must've seen it in our shop too, right?'

Sakura nodded.

Ino laughed. 'Well, that, my friend, is the flower that symbolizes requited love!'

'What?' said Sakura in disbelief. 'R-requited l-love?'

'Yes, yes, you idiot! He's finally replying to your feelings.'

Sakura was in shock. To have Sasuke back home was a dream come true on its own but this… this was beyond her wildest expectations at the moment. Sure, she knew she had some place in Sasuke's heart after how he'd been before leaving last time but the idea of him loving her was… was too big to even fathom right now.

'Hey, forehead! There's more!' continued Ino, bringing Sakura back to the real world. 'This one,' she said, picking the small white one from Sakura's hand. 'Is a 'lemon blossom'. It signifies a promise of being true and faithful.'

Sakura's eyes widened.

'And this one,' said Ino, picking the other pink one. 'Is a 'Eucalyptus'. It represents protection. And this last one here, I'm sure you know what this is. This white rose right here, even though it can mean purity, I think here it's serving its purpose as portraying 'a new beginning',' she winked.

And suddenly, Sakura felt very, very dizzy. In fact, Ino had to support her to keep her from falling.

'Ino-pig,' said Sakura weakly, looking up at her. 'Did… did Sasuke-kun just confess to me?'

A/N: This is the first time I've posted something to this site, guys, so leave a review and let me know what you think. There will probably be 2 more chapters and I'll put them up as soon as I can. Thanks for reading!