It was Christmas time again,and it seemed that everyone had deserted the normally crowded (sp?) streets of Konoha.Everything was peaceful,just the way Sakura liked it.Although there was one small problem ; Sasuke had left 2 years before,therefore was not able to spend Christmas with his friends (he probably would have sulked around at home anyway.)  and Sakura felt alone once again.
      She felt like she was on the edge of tears while staring out the window into the unusually cold street which she lived on.Almost expecting Sasuke to walk up behind her and tap her shoulder with that emotionless expresion he always had.
But,being the strict person that Tsunade,the fifth Hokage,had formed her into,Sakura kept her feelings inside.
       ' I'm sixteen years old now...' Sakura said to herself for maybe the hundredth time,'And I can't seem like some big cry baby infront of Naruto,Temari and Gaara.'
       Yes,this was the second year that her,Gaara,and Naruto had spent each holiday possible together.Just because Sakura had made an attempt at suicide the year before on Valentine's day.And that's when Gaara came into the picture.
       Even if she had a boyfriend,Sakura was still longing to see Sasuke once again.To hear his calm voice,even if all of his insults were directed toward her.She would die just to hear him say "You're annoying" once again..
        Lost in thought about seeing the dark-haired Uchiha again,Sakura didn't notice when Naruto walked over to her and sat down beside her.But,when her Gaara trotted sadly over to her and tapped Sakura's shoulder,she immediately noticed that he was standing there.
        "Why do you seem so upset?" asked Gaara,now concerned."I-I was.." Sakura didn't finish her sentence,yet trailed off,her eyes wide and almost full of tears.
        "Are you thinking about that Uchiha again?" asked her red-haired boyfriend.Sakura hated it when people did this.They would confront her and try to comfort her.But she didn't need comfort.She needed time to be alone.
        But,thinking that it would get Gaara to leave her alone,she just nodded at his question,and turned away from him so she could hide her sadness and to look out the window.
      But now Gaara's words had gotten to her.Sakura knew that he cared for her,and replied to his question even more upset than before.She didn't care if she seemed like a crybaby now.
      "I just don't know what to do.Should I go out and try to find Sasuke?Or should I ask Tsunade-sama to send out an ANBU group?" She was staring straight into the Sand boy's eyes now,her own tearing.
      At this,Gaara sat down and picked up Sakura and sat her on his lap,holding her close so she could cry into his chest.
      Naruto got up to walk away,but Gaara stopped him."Stay here,dumbass.She needs YOUR support too."
      Hearing this,Naruto sighed.He didn't really feel like being around Gaara and Sakura at the same time,but he sat down again anyway just because it was Christmas.
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      Sakura decided to clear her mind and just enjoy this holiday with her friends.At one point,Rock Lee showed up at Sakura's door,a small box in his hands.
      "Merry Christmas,Sakura-san." he said to Sakura as he presented his gift for her.She smiled,took the gift,and invited her friend inside.
      Gaara and Naruto were suprised that Sakura had let this freak into her home.Especially since she didn't even like Lee!
      At the end of the day, as everybody was heading home,(except for Gaara of course,because he lives with Sakura now),while Gaara was cleaning up,Rock Lee did something as a suprise for Sakura.
      As Sakura stood in her doorway,wishing Naruto,Lee and Temari 'Merry Christmas and happy holidays',Lee bent over and kissed Sakura's cheek.He blushed and she just smiled at him {Inner Sakura: EW EW EW THAT FREAK KISSED ME!},and Lee ran off,afraid that Gaara would murder him by morning.
     Sakura sighed in relief that her friend was finally gone.But her emotions from earlier that day came flowing back to her as she closed the front door.
     As usual,Gaara was waiting for Sakura in the living room,but she had other ideas.She knew that if she joined her boyfriend he'd only want to comfort her by hugging her and kissing her.But tonight,after Gaara had fallen asleep or wasn't paying attention,she would leave in search of Sasuke,her nearly life-long crush.