Chapter 3

Guy meets girl's family.

"Sakura!" Mebuki exclaimed as she looked at her daughter standing on the doorstep with an all too familiar man from her daughter's stories. "Why, hello Sasuke." She smiled politely.

"Mama!" Sakura squealed and jumped onto her mother with a tight hug and Mebuki choked before she chuckled softly.

"Hello ma'am." Sasuke replied to her greeting and Mebuki caught a glimpse of her daughter eyeing the man as if he were crazy.

"Please. Mebuki would do." The blonde woman replied and smiled lending a hand to him for him to shake. He nodded and shook the hand immediately. "Where are my manners?! Please do come in." She led the way into the house and glanced at her daughter and her boyfriend through her peripheral vision.

"Papa!" Sakura practically yelled and squeezed the living daylights out of Kizashi, and soon, was hugged back with and equal force.

"My lovely daughter!" He said and ruffled her hair. "How have you been?!"

"I've been fine! Better than fine actually," She spread open her arms. " I've been great!"

"Hello Sasuke. It's a pleasure to meet you." Kizashi extended his arm and Sasuke shook it after a moment of hesitation. Sakura was one strong woman. Both she and her mother had a death grip. He wondered how hard her father's grip must have been. Turned out, it was rather gentle.

"Hello Kizashi-san." Sasuke said and Mebuki inwardly frowned. She hadn't seen the boy smile. Was he intimidated by them? How could he be? He was an S-ranked criminal at one point in his life.

"Have you been eating?! You've got twice the amount of white hair from when I saw you the last time!" Sakura exclaimed and held her father's head, examining his hair from the top.

"I'm an old man Sakura." Kizashi said pouting and Sakura gasped.

"You're finally accepting the truth aren't you?!" She giggled and placed her hands on her mouth. "It's alright papa, your jokes will always remain… youthful!" Sakura boomed and struck the good guy pose. Sasuke flinched, though he secretly admitted that Sakura could even make the 'good-guy-pose' seem sexy.

"You're right! Want to hear a very young joke?!" Kizashi beamed and Sakura's eyes widened.

"Please Tou-san. It's not nece-" Sakura managed to say before she was interrupted by her father.

"There were two muffins in an oven and one said 'Man, it's getting hot in here!'" Kizashi said with a smirk and Sakura scowled softly. "Guess what the other one said!" He exclaimed and Mebuki's expression turned like her daughter's. When Kizashi saw no answer coming from his audience, he took the liberty to finish the joke "The other muffin said 'Oh look! A talking muffin!"

Sakura glared at her father.

Mebuki glared at her husband.

Then, both Mebuki and Sakura froze. Sasuke's soft chuckles filled the room and Sakura's eyes widened, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach (It was Sasuke laughing). His soft chuckle continued and eventually turned into a beautiful laugh. "Don't tell me you found that funny." Sakura squeaked, mortified.

"I like the boy!" Kizashi exclaimed and Sasuke looked at Sakura as if he was surprised that she didn't find the joke funny. He shrugged.

"It was funny." He said backing away from his girlfriend's scowl. "Why, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?! I'm getting married to man with a terrible sense of humor! That's what's wrong!" Sakura exclaimed and everyone in the room stilled.

"You're getting married?!" Mebuki yelled, but her voice clashed with Kizashi's who yelled out "Why isn't that perfect?!" Mebuki turned to her husband in disbelief and he closed his mouth, which was molded into a wide grin.

"Oh yeah." Sakura said blushing and extended her right arm, showing her parents the ring "Sasuke-kun asked me to marry him." She looked up to see her parents' reactions. Kizashi looked like he was about to explode of happiness and Mebuki looked like she wanted to throw up.

"Sakura. Honey." Her mother managed to say after a moment's silence "Can I talk to you?" Sakura looked at her mother curiously and Mebuki added softly "Alone."

Sasuke watched as Sakura walked out of the room with her mother and when they were out of sight, he felt a hard (and painful) pat on his back.

"Mebuki is just surprised. She'll warm up soon." Kizashi reassured him and Sasuke nodded. "Besides… got any good jokes you could share with this old man?"

"Sakura! You can't marry him!" Mebuki exclaimed and Sakura's eye widened.

"What? Okaa-san, why?" Sakura asked puzzled. Mebuki hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Honey, his parents won't be happy. A-After all, he is an Uchiha. You aren't." Mebuki said softly and Sakura sighed.

"I met his parents and spent time with them." Mebuki gave her a questioning look "Remember, a week ago I told you I wouldn't be able to visit you because of a storm and that I was in a friend's house? I was at Sasuke's." her mother's eyes widened. "They approve of me. Hundred percent." Sakura said with a smile. "Well, ninety nine point nine percent I guess? I don't know, you can't approve hundred percent of anyone right?"

"Still! You never asked for our permission!" Mebuki exclaimed and Sakura frowned.

"Aren't you supposed to be happy for me? I thought you knew about Sasuke and me." Sakura asked.

"Of course I knew about you both being together! It was all you would talk to us about for the past seven months!" Sakura blushed. "But I thought it was just… what do those young people call it these days? A… A fling!" Mebuki exclaimed "I thought you'd both come to realize that whatever was between you was just sexual tension or brotherly love or something! That you were just friends or comrades and nothing more! I never knew you were going to go into it this deep!"

"What?!" Sakura yelled, surprised by her mother's sudden confession. She was sure her fiancé and father from the other side of the wall could hear them, but it was already too late for them to take back the words. "You always knew I loved Sasuke-kun with all my heart! You never objected in the past seven months, why object now?! And what's wrong with me being with Sasuke-kun?!

"Sakura. Marriage is a big leap in your life. I don't want you to regret it!" Sakura scowled "And why you ask?! Look at that boy! An ex-criminal!" Sakura opened her mouth to snap back, but wasn't given the chance to as her mother continued. "And he can't even express his emotions like a normal person! Right now, you may find it all amazing and cool, but someday in the future, you're going to look back and regret it!"

"Don't ever call Sasuke-kun a criminal! He's a village hero and you know it!" Sakura yelled.

"That doesn't mean that he hasn't been under that snake bastard for about two years! Who knows what he's done there?! For all you know, he could be a serial killer." Sakura winced. That stung. Mebuki noticed her daughter's hurt expression and continued "I'm just saying Sakura. You will regret this. Turn back before it's too late. You're my only daughter. I care a lot about you."

"You're worrying about something completely stupid. Sasuke's staying here for lunch and dinner. If he makes a good impression on you, then you accept him." Sakura said calmly, although she was like a pot of boiling oil on the inside.

"If not will you marry someone else? Preferably someone who Kizashi and I approve of?" Mebuki asked scowling.

"We'll see about that." Sakura said. She wasn't going to be stupid like her boyfriend and say 'Of course!'

"Fine."

"Fine."

"The pressure's on you." Sakura grumbled and pointed her index finger at Sasuke, who in return, rose an eyebrow. "You're having lunch and dinner with us." It took all of Sasuke's energy to not spit out the green tea in his mouth.

"What?" He deadpanned. He had heard everything her mother had to say about him. He wasn't like Sakura. He wasn't brought up to impress future-mother-in-laws. Sakura was perfect. She knew how to have someone in her grip. Not him.

"Try to smile more Sasuke-kun." Sakura sighed and sat down next to him. After a minute's silence she continued "I thought we'd just pay a visit and leave. I have Fugaku-san's hair color removal solution and it won't last long. It has to reach him by dusk today."

"What are you trying to say?" Sasuke asked.

"I might have to leave after lunch for a little while and hand these herbs to your father." Sasuke's expression remained the same, but Sakura knew that deep inside, he was panicking. "At least you can spend more time with my parents without me interrupting you!"

"You think I want to spend time with your parents without you around?" he half whined and Sakura pouted and kissed his cheek.

"I'll make it as fast as possible. I promise." She said and Sasuke sighed. "Plus I'll invite someone who can keep company for you."

"I see." Sasuke heard Mebuki say through the receiver. The door bell rang at the same time and Sasuke got up to open the doors. Outside stood a very drenched Ino clinging on to a moderately wet Sai. It was pouring and Sasuke knew that only Ino was dumb enough to walk through the downpour.

"He-he-hello S-S-Sasuke-kun." Ino stuttered as she walked in and shook her head to get rid of the water in her hair.

"Don't do that beautiful." Sai said with his smile on his face. "You look like a dog." Ouch, Sasuke thought. That must have hurt the blonde girl's pride. What were these two anyway? A couple who just paraded into people's houses?

"Go to hell." Ino muttered and squeezed her hair. She was getting Sakura's floor all wet. If it were his house, Sasuke would've considered letting them stay until the storm calmed down, but it wasn't. so he went for-

"I think the both of you should leave. Sakura isn't here."

"What nonsense. We know Sakura isn't here. She asked us to keep you company." Ino chirped in that persistently annoying voice of her's. Sasuke grimaced. Sai and Ino were Sakura's definition of company? Sometimes Sasuke wondered how that little brain she had functioned.

"Ino! Sai!" Mebuki called out with a smile and bowed down welcoming them. "Sakura said you'll be here."

"Hello Mebuki-san! I would give you your usual hug, but I'm drenched and Sasuke-kun here." Ino pointed at said man "Is trying to kick us out." Mebuki spared a quick glare at Sasuke and somehow, Sasuke understood the meaning behind that. Who are you to stop my guests from entering my house?

"No one's going to kick you out Ino. In fact all of you are staying here tonight." Sasuke's eyes widened. "The storm's way to dangerous to go out in it, and unfortunately, Sakura won't make it back here tonight. She's staying over at Sasuke's." Sasuke felt his whole world tumble and fall.

"What?" He squeaked out and Ino giggled. Sakura had explained the whole situation to her, it was just hilarious the way Sasuke ended up behaving in front of Mebuki.

"You heard me." Mebuki said sighing and walked away. Ino almost immediately held Sasuke ears and his eye grew wide.

"What the- Ino, let go off me!" He yelled and Ino shook her head.

"Not until you tell me why you're wearing those… Those rags while trying to impress Sakura's parents. Plus this is for asking forehead to marry you without my permission." Ino said and Sasuke looked down to check his clothes ignoring the blond woman's last sentence. Ninja shirt, ninja pants. What more did he need? "You need a makeover."

"Uh-huh." Sasuke mumbled sarcastically. "For someone who's dressed like this." He pointed at her. "Of course I do."

"Who said I'm going to give you a makeover?" Sasuke looked at surprised. "Sai is." She pulled her boyfriend and Sasuke shook his head violently.

"I'm not getting dressed by a guy who wears crop tops!" Sasuke exclaimed and looked at Sai, who was still smiling, least bothered about the insult.

"He can at least dress better than you." Ino growled and dragged both the men into Sakura's room and closed the door from outside before yelling "Sai! You bought the spares I asked you to right?! Get him into one of those!" after she heard Sasuke's whimper, she walked down the stairs smiling.

Sakura ran towards the telephone softly yelling a 'I'll get it!' and picked up the receiver. "Uchiha residence. May I know who is speaking?"

"I'd prefer it if you said 'Sakura Uchiha speaking'." Sasuke muttered on the other end and Sakura laughed.

"Very soon Sasuke-kun. Very soon. And to what do I owe the honour of having your highness call me?" Sakura chimed.

"Your mother hates me." Sasuke deadpanned and Sakura frowned. "She just hates me. I dressed up in Sai's fancy clothes and your mother still hates me."

"You dressed up in Sai's clothes?" Sakura giggled.

"Shut up. I didn't wear a crop top if that's what you're trying to hint here." He heard Sakura's grunt of disapproval. "Sakura I don't think I can do this. Your mother thinks I'm an inhumane emotionless bastard."

"Well, you can't blame her for perceiving that." Sakura added chuckling.

"I'll get emotionless in bed and you'll never say that again." He threatened, the threat hardly going through her.

"Aw. I love you too Sasuke-kun."

"Sakura. What am I going to do?" Sasuke asked, and that very moment, Fugaku entered the room in front of Sakura. He looked at her and nodded seriously, his way of greeting her. Sakura eyes scanned him. He was in his informal yukata and a… pink floral cap on his head. Sakura remembered massaging his scalp with the herbs and forcing him to wear the shower cap. She nodded back and sighed.

"Sasuke-kun. Everything will be fine. Trust me. I believe in you."

Mebuki cursed as she walked through the halls. It was three AM. A normal person would be sleeping at three AM. And there she was, walking through the corridors in need of water. She heard a whimper. Soft and almost unnoticeable. A whimper from the guest room. Mebuki contemplated walking in with a lamp in case there was a possibility of a theft.

She walked towards the noise, and realized it was coming from Sasuke. She remembered the events of the previous day and sighed. That's right. Sasuke was staying over. Sai and Ino called dibs on Sakura's much more comfortable room, leaving Sasuke behind with the guest room.

As she looked down at the sleeping figure, the blankets quivered, but not as much as the boy wrapped in them. And on his cheek, a single tear tracked down his face, and Mebuki smiled faintly as she gently wiped the tear away.

"What do you know?" She murmured pulling the shaking boy into her arms and gently rocking him. "You're human after all." Sasuke's eye shot open and he jerked immediately to look at the older woman, surprise written on his face.

"Me-Mebuki-san! Did I wake you up? I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to." Sasuke stuttered, frightened. Mebuki's heart melted at the sight of Sasuke in front of her. 'Shhh' She whispered and rest his head on her lap.

"Go to sleep. I'll be here. I'm here." Mebuki said and stroked his hair, humming a soft tune. Sleep slowly started creeping back to Sasuke. Saying he was surprised would be an understatement. Mebuki was the first person to ever comfort him during the aftermath of a nightmare. When he was with Sakura, he never had nightmares. And when he did have them during lonely nights in his house, his father would brush away anyone who wished to help him with a 'He should learn to overcome them by himself.'

Sasuke wanted to scream out of pure joy and warmth the affection radiating from the woman created. Instead, he smiled softly and whispered a small "Thank you" before sleep won the battle.

"Kaa-san! I'm home!" Sakura called out as she pulled out her footwear and rushed into the house. "I hope Sasuke-kun is alright." She mumbled to herself.

"We're in the dining room!" Ino yelled back and sakura smiled before making her way to the room. Distant chattering and laughs could be heard, but what sakura saw, was nothing she had expected to be there when she walked in. Ino and her father sitting shocked on the dining table next to an oblivious Sai staring at her mother... Who was serving everyone with Sasuke by her side. They seemed to have a very light expression on their faces.

"As a Genin, the only thing she ever spoke about was you, Sasuke." Mebuki said and chuckled. Sasuke smiled and nodded.

"She was quite annoying as a kid." Sasuke reasoned and sakura expected an outburst from her mother for the insult.

"You weren't there the time she wet her be-" WHOA. Too far! Too far!

"Kaa-san!" Sakura squealed and everyone's attention diverted to her. Sasuke let a small smirk and she just knew that Sasuke was mocking her. "You just thought something really rude about me, didn't ya?" She pointed at him accusingly and he shrugged.

"Oh, come on Sakura." Her mother said waving her hand and sakura took her seat next to Sai.

"I'd like to hear about the time ugly wet her bed." Sai said with a smile and sakura glared at him, as an awkward silence hung with the room. Ino thwacked Sai on the back of his head and smiled.

"You don't say such things during breakfast, darling." Ino chimed and Sai nodded bewildered.

"Sakura! You must try Sasuke's sunny side-ups! They're marvellous!" Her mother said grinning and Sasuke leaned next to her and placed the omelette on her plate, his lips lingering very close to her ear.

"Do I want to know?" Sakura whispered and he chuckled.

"Maybe on another occasion." He whispered back and she smiled. She understood that everything had somehow worked out between her mother and Sasuke. "Bon Appetite."

"I still can't believe you and Sasuke are getting married, Sakura-chan." Naruto said while wiping the ring with his shirt and examining it. Sakura sat beside him, watching a weaker Kakashi sparring with her fiancé. His shirtless body was distracting her way too much.

"Hmmhmm." She hummed softly. "Are you upset?" Naruto shook his head.

"Nah. Just surprised. Lucky Sasuke. Your parents must have been really nice to him." Sakura scoffed in her mind. "Hiashi is a handful."

"I heard you asked Hinata out! That was fast." Sakura smirked.

"Yeah. She totally needs someone pampering her if she's got a father like him! It's alright. I'm pretty sure she'll warm up to me. Everybody does." Naruto said and Sakura rolled her eyes. Could Naruto get any more idiotic was a question left to god.

"Why?" Sakura asked.

"What do you mean 'why?'?" Naruto asked turning to her.

"Why do you say Hiashi is a handful?" Sakura asked giggling.

"Have you seen his eyes?! Half the times, I can barely say what he's looking at!" Naruto exclaimed gripping his hair. "Like dude, are you looking at me? Or that cobweb in the corner?!"

"Baka. All Hyuugas have eyes like that! What about Hinata? How do you know where she's looking?" Sakura questioned.

"I like to think she's looking at me." Naruto mumbled under his breath and Sakura shook her head.

"Just make sure no one listens to you saying stuff like this, or every Hyuuga would be against you being with Hinata." She heard Naruto's gulp, and then continued gazing at her beautiful man as he sparred, sparing quick glances and smirks at her.

A/N: I know, I know... too long. No excuses... But does floods count as one? R & R! More drama coming up!