Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!!!!

Winter Nights

Chapter 4- Body Guard

In the middle of the dead night, Sakura suddenly jerked awake lightly. Sakura felt something funny in her feet and legs. Reaching down to touch them, she realized that they were ice-cold. She climbed out of bed slowly, testing her feet on the floor, slipped into her slippers, and walked out the room quietly, careful not to wake the murmuring Ino.

As she walked out, she suddenly realized it was beyond freezing. Creeping out, she felt her way down the stairs, grasping the railing tightly, careful not to fall again.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard teeth chattering.

Curious and concerned, Sakura wandered over to the sofa, where the sound was coming from as she rubbed her hands over her arms.

Through the unveiled curtain, she saw a familiar silhouette. The flaming red hair in a shade of dark blue because of the light. She noticed he was shivering...a lot.

Walking closer, she whispered, "Gaara-kun?"

The figure slowly raised his head, and looked into Sakura's jade eyes.

"S-S-Sakura-chan?" Gaara stuttered.

Sakura walked quickly over to the sofa, sat down, and put a caring arm around him.

"Why are you here in the middle of the night? Shouldn't you be in your room?"

"I...I don't sleep, remember?...s-so...I came out here...to...to look at the moon, and w-watch the stars..." his teeth chattered.

"What happened to the heat?" Sakura asked.

"I-...I don't know...I c-came down...and zone out...the n-next thing I knew...I-it was f-freezing...c-cold......"

"It's ok...let's get you upstairs..."

Sakura slowly stood up, but Gaara reached out for her hand and pulled her back down.

"S-Sakura...I...I feel so coolld......" Sakura looked deep into his eyes, which was partly hidden underneath his drooping eyelids. Sakura could tell he was slowing down as the cold got to him.

"Don't...Don't fall asleep!" Sakura urged.

She pulled the blanket over the both of them, and wrapped her arms around him, trying to maintain his body heat. She felt his ice-cold skin hit hers, sending shivers down her back.

They chattered together, as they desperately fought for warmth. Pulling closer, they rested their foreheads on each other's. After a few minutes, they started to feel their arms get warmer. Rubbing even harder now, their spirits brightened. Before long, they were snugly warm, and was speechless as they looked into each other's eyes deeply.

Sakura felt her eyelids droop, and her head started to bob. Trying to keep herself awake for Gaara's sake, she fought the urge. But before long, Sakura drifted off to sleep, and Gaara guided her head onto his shoulder gently, before leaning back onto the sofa.

Gaara looked out the sliding door and sighed. Who would have thought...Sakura...on the couch with me...the guy who used to like killing people for the fun of it... Gaara smiled lightly, and kissed Sakura on the forehead before closing his eyes for the night.

-OoOoOoOoOoOoO-

Sakura woke to the sound of sizzling sausages and eggs. Lifting her head to peek into the opening of the kitchen, she realized she was sleeping with Gaara. Looking up, she found him staring at her, smiling sweetly.

Sakura giggled lightly and asked, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Because you're beautiful..." he kissed the top of her head caringly as she blushed.

"Stop it...you're making me embarrassed...it's too early in the morning..."

Gaara laughed lightly, feeling as if all the hatred and anger had been lifted out of him through these few days.

A loud whistle was heard from the right as a pack of boys came thundering down the stairs.

"Ooh...so...Gaara and SAKURA-chan, eh?" Naruto asked mischievously.

"N-no..." Sakura blushed a deep red, most likely a deeper red than her usual dress.

Everyone started to ask them what they were doing, as Sasuke sulked in the corner.

"Shikamaru!! GET OFF ME!!" Ino's piercing voice was heard in the kitchen.

Everyone's attention was diverted to said spot as they saw Shikamaru trying to kiss Ino's neck while she was cooking. Everyone rushed over to interrogate THEM.

Gaara and Sakura remained seated, looked into each other's eyes, and laughed.

Sasuke eyed them angrily, and stomped out the door, slamming it behind him.

-OoOoOoOoOoOoO-

The teachers were called over to see what was wrong with the furnace. When it was fixed, everyone got ready to go out for another day out on the hills.

"Gaara-kun...you should go with them...You don't have to stay here with me you know..."

"I know...but...what if some ninja comes and secretly kills you?" Gaara asked with a worried look on his face.

"Like THAT'S going to happen. Seriously...I'm a ninja myself...I'm not as bad as I was when I was twelve you know...I AM a jounin..."

"I...I guess so...Well...I'll go..."

Sakura smiled brightly, and ushered him up into his room to get changed.

After everyone headed out the door, Sakura settled herself down on the sofa with a romance novel, along with a bag of chips and a bottle of water. She sighed, and sat down to enjoy a day's reading of her sappy novels.

By lunch time, Sakura had started to make herself some chicken noodle soup from a can, along with a bagel. After enjoying her simple meal, she decided to check on her ankle.

A slow day passed for Sakura as she tried to find interesting things to do. In the end, she sat back down with her novel.

She was so entranced by the words on the page, she didn't hear that creak of the door opening.

Slowly, a figure walked inside, slipping his shoes off silently.

Nearing the pink-haired girl, he tried not to attract attention to himself. As he sat down next to her, he smirked familiarly.

Sakura felt an odd presence in the room that wasn't there a minute ago, and felt weight shift on the left of the sofa. She slowly glanced up from her novel, and turned to her left to see who it was. Sasuke?

Suddenly, he leaned in, and tried to kiss her. Of course, Sakura resisted, and screamed for help. She tried to push him away, but his weight pressed her down on the sofa. She felt his hand go up her shirt, and tried to do a hand seal to transport out of the situation. No go, he had her hands in a firm grip with his left.

"SASUKE!! NO!!!NO!!!" she yelled.

"You're...mine..." he hissed.

All of a sudden, the door opened, and someone stepped in, slipping his shoes off, and noticed the extra pair in front of him. That's odd...maybe someone came back... He shrugged it off, but heard commotion in the living room. Hehheh...someone getting it ON...it's probably Ino and Shikamaru...hehe... he thought to himself, smirking.

"SASUKE!! NOO!!!!" a piercing scream was heard.

Gaara's eyes widened as he recognized her voice. Sakura!

He rushed into the room, seeing Sasuke on top of her, trying to take her shirt off.

Gaara quickly ran over to pull him off, throwing him into the wall near the sliding door. He then pulled Sakura close to him, protecting her from any more harm.

He could see the tears fall from her chin, her face screwed up with fear.

Sasuke stumbled up, using the wall as support. He wiped some blood off the corner of his mouth, an glared menacingly at the two.

"Sasuke...You stay AWAY from Sakura!" Gaara commanded.

He smirked and hissed almost in a snake-like way, "No...she's mine!"

As if on cue, the rest of the group barged in the front door, speaking loudly about what tricks and which hills they went on.

As Shikamaru walked into the living room, he saw Sasuke on the opposite wall of Sakura and Gaara, who were still hugging. He noticed Sasuke had smeared blood at the corner of his mouth.

"What happened?" Shikamaru asked calmly.

"Shika-kun! Wanna go out to eat dinner with me tonight?"

Shikamaru ignored Ino and waited for an answer.

"N-nothing...Shika...nothing happened..." Sakura answered, hoping he would drop the question.

"Alright...If you really don't want to explain..." Shikamaru walked away with Ino latched onto him like a leech.

"Hey you guys! Want some RAMEN?!" Naruto yelled as he jumped into the room from the kitchen.

"Uhmm...no Naruto...I don't want any...Gaara-kun...do you want any?"

"No"

Naruto looked at Sasuke with a big silly grin on his face.

Sasuke snorted and walked up to his room.

"What's his problem...ahh well..." Naruto skipped back to the kitchen and watched Hinata make some of his favourite flavoured ramen.

"Sakura...Are you ok?" Gaara asked, his face full of concern.

"Yes...I'm ok...I...I just...Why would he do s-something...like that?" Sakura bawled, and buried her head into Gaara's chest. He stroked her silky hair as she cried a little.

"Why? Why would he do that? W...We were good friends back then...To think...I said I loved him..."

"It's ok Sakura......I'm here to protect you..." Gaara promised, his eyes glistening.

"Arigatou..."

He smiled, and said, "Now, let's get you upstairs to change...we should go out for dinner tonight...since it's the last day here..." He stood up, and bent down a little in front of Sakura. Gesturing for her to get on his back, he caught her legs as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thanks Gaara-kun...for everything..."

"I just want you to be happy...I think...you're the only one that can make me talk like this...make me want to open up and tell what's REALLY in my heart...I should be thanking you..."

Sakura smiled as he set her down on her bed.

"I'll wait outside...and umm...carry...you back downstairs when you're done changing...ok?"

"Ok..." she smiled sweetly to herself as he walked out the door. I think I'm in love with him...what do I do? Does he like me too?!

-OoOoOoOoOoOoO-

After a wonderful dinner, Sakura took a shower, and decided it was time for bed.

As she opened the door of the bathroom, letting the steam out, Gaara stood outside, waiting for her.

"Are you my personal body guard now?" Sakura joked.

"Yes...just in case..." Gaara eyed the entrance of the living room, where Sakura assumed was where Sasuke was.

She smiled and said, "You know...you're really sweet and caring when you want to be...not like that cold...person that likes to kill people I first met 5 years ago...I like this new Gaara..."

"I'm glad you like it...I...I'd do anything...for you......" he blushed, and looked down at his feet.

Sakura caressed his face with her hands. "I would too..."

"Come on...Uhmm...let's get you to bed..." Gaara tried to change the subject.

"Hehe...okay...if you say so..." Sakura was picked up by Gaara's strong arms, and as he carried her up the stairs, she kissed him on the cheek, resulting a beet red Gaara that matched his hair.

Placing her in her bed gently, he pulled the blanket over her and said goodnight.

"Gaara-kun...would...would you like to sleep with me tonight?" she asked shyly.

"WhAt?! S-sleep with y-you?!" His voice cracked in shock.

"No...not like THAT...but...just share the bed tonight...for my safety..." she did her puppy eyes that she knows no one can resist.

"But...what about Ino?"

"Oh, she's been sleeping with Shikamaru...This was sort of a storage room for her luggage..."

"Oh alright..." He gave in.

He climbed in, and placed his arm around her small body. He could smell the sweet fruitacious scent of Sakura's shampoo.

"Thanks...I feel much safer now..." and they fell asleep together.

-OoOoOoOoOoOoO-

The next morning, Ino came in to gather clothes for the day, when she saw not one, but two lumps on Sakura's bed. Slowly creeping over, she peered over the blankets to see who it was. Her eyes widened, then a snicker came to her lips. Hehhehheh...wait till I tell EVERYONE about this....hahaha

"Ino...Didn't you know I don't sleep?" Gaara said, his eyes still closed.

"Uhmm...Uhmm...ah..hehheh...I'll...be leaving now..." Ino backed out of the room, then closed the door. As soon as it was closed, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "SAKURA SLEPT WITH GAARA LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!" It rang through the line of houses on the street.

-OoOoOoOoOoOoO-

Everyone was seated at the large, extended dining table, all snickering at the new couple.

Gaara eyed them menacingly as Sakura smiled weakly, trying to forget about it. It was quite hard, when 9 pairs of eyes were on them.

"Soo...how's the ham?" Sakura asked, trying to break the snickering silence.

"Hehe...good...hehe..." Naruto sneered.

"Naruto-kun...hehe...you shouldn't do that...Sakura-chan's embarrassed..." Hinata couldn't contain herself either.

The only person who WASN'T smiling was Sasuke, as he eyed Gaara angrily, and wolfed down his breakfast quickly. As soon as he was done, he stood up abruptly and walked up the stairs to pack.

By noon, everyone was packed and ready to leave.

The sensei's came to their condo to pick them up to the bus, and Kakashi-sensei asked "Did you guys have fun?"

"Oh we had fun alright...but I would have to say Gaara had the most fun of all..." Kankurou sneered.

All of them piled onto the bus for the ride home, as Sakura rested her head on Gaara's shoulder.

"I love you..." Sakura said in a soft voice.

"...I love you too..." Gaara admitted, and kissed her on the top of her head.

-OoOoOoOoOoOoO-

THE END

I hoped you guys like it...lolz...this is the first story I've finished...sooo...YAY!!!

Anyways...I'm going to be finishing up the seventh chapter of medicine, not to mention a new story coming out, called "Laws of Love"... Read my profile at the bottom to see a basic outline of it...so...ta!

By the way...my new favourite couple in Naruto is Sakura and Gaara...they're sooo made for each other...AWWWWWW

-- Love, Babi Kakashi