He often wakes up in the middle of the night.

Nightmares, he tells himself, particularly vivid nightmares that jerk him from slumber straight into awareness. So vivid, in fact, that when he wakes up (heart pounding, breath coming in gasping pants) he can still taste Sasuke on his tongue.

Some nights, he wakes up retching into a toilet with no knowledge of how he got from bed to the bathroom.

Gaara occasionally asks him what he dreams about. When this happens, Naruto laughs and laughs, completely devoid of joy. It's never quite enough to drown out the half remembered, hissed endearments.

'Slut.'

Sometimes, he glances over and sees Gaara watching him. As good as he's gotten at figuring out Gaara's typically blank expressions, he still doesn't understand this particular look and what he can't understand about the red-haired sand-nin, frightens him.

It has, in fact, gotten to the point where Naruto's entire relationship with Gaara terrifies the blond. He goes out and Gaara is watching over him. He cooks dinner and Gaara cleans the dishes. He goes to sleep and Gaara climbs into bed with him, fully clothed.

It's the fully clothed part that completely boggles Naruto's mind.

'Pretty little slut.'

From the apologies in the morning when he wakes up to find he's drooled a wet puddle onto Gaara's shirt, to the unabashed walking into the bathroom while the other is bathing, to even the arguing over quality versus cost when they shop for food, almost everything about Gaara's behavior reminds Naruto of the time he and Sasuke lived together.

The only difference is that Gaara hasn't tried to bend Naruto over the kitchen table, against the dining room wall, or into the family room couch.

'So good.'

Indeed, Gaara has given very little sign that he's at all interested in sleeping with Naruto in a non-platonic way. It's left Naruto a little on edge, hence the nightmares. Gaara hasn't said anything about kicking the blond out, but he also hasn't laid any claim to keeping him.

'This is what you're good for.'

One kiss, at least he thinks it might have been a kiss. But he had almost been asleep and he'd just been coming down from the Heat poison delusions, so he might have been mistaken. Perhaps Gaara had only rubbed his head, like one would a pet?

"No, no don't move. Right there. Be quiet and stay just like that.'

Every so often, Naruto wonders if being a pet would be better than being a lover. Would he miss the sex? It hurt sometimes, but when Sasuke wasn't tired it felt pretty good and Sasuke was always more willing to hold him after sex.

Naruto likes the promise of security that being held implies.

'Oh, fuck yes. Just like that.'

Besides, Naruto's good at sex. Some of Sasuke's kindest words had come afterward. Naruto purposely overlooks the fact that some of Sasuke's cruelest words were usually his kindest. That is, after all, Sasuke's way. He is forever driving Naruto to better himself in all aspects of his life. After the hurt fades a little, Naruto can respect the lessons.

If Gaara would only say something, do something, Naruto would know what to do. This hovering on the knife edge of what's comfortable and what's familiar is just tearing on his nerves. He isn't sure how much longer he can continue waking up in the middle of the night with stinging eyes, tasting Sasuke on his lips, huddled in a tiny corner of the bed, wondering how long that tiny little corner will be called his.

'Squeeze down, I know you can be tighter. Yes!'

So why? Why won't Gaara just fuck him or kick him out already? Why does Gaara keep Naruto around if he isn't wanted?

"Is that what you're worried about?"

Naruto wonders vaguely if Gaara is reading his mind; it doesn't occur to him that he might be talking aloud.

"Naruto," A quiet voice, with just a hint of chiding, blows warmly against Naruto's neck. "Don't doubt I want you." Thin, strong arms wrap around his waist, holding him close to an equally whipcord thin body.

"But Sasuke wante-"

"Naruto." Gaara's voice resonates into Naruto's bones. Naruto, startled and tense, tilts his head to indicate that he's listening. "When it's time, I want to be the only one in bed with you."

Naruto hesitates, then slowly nods. Gaara… deserves his full attention. If Naruto is going to ask to for as much as he has been, then Gaara deserves to have all of Naruto, not just Sasuke's leftovers.

"I can wait. I promised."

Naruto's hand finds Gaara's and holds on, tight enough to turn all of their fingers white. "Thank you."

End notes: o.o Holy crap, I haven't updated in forever. And the wonky part is, this chapter was just... there. On my hard drive. Chillin'. I think it's because I couldn't get the dialoge right. Believe me, this version is actually much better than the first, wherein Naruto was a neurotic bitch. I kept turning him into a girl and Gaara into Mr. In Touch With My Inner Child. It was frightening. So yes, this is the severely butchered version. I think Naruto's still wearing a frilly pink g-string, but at least now it's underneath his tacky orange jumpsuit and can only be seen when Gaara's stripping him.

... Whoa. Mental image.

Anyway, Gaara has obviously been getting relationship lectures from Temari. That and, well, Gaara's kinda jealous. I mean, if Naruto's thinking about his relationship with Sasuke, he's not thinking about the relationship with Gaara. His waiting to sleep with Naruto is a head decision (all pounded in by Temari) and a heart decision (pokes Gaara's greedy, grasping little heart). In the end though, I kinda think relationships are based on the give-grab mentality. Or else everyone would be into polygamy.

Gaara with a harem... twitch No, Gaara's far too one-person-obsession. At least he's kind with his obsessions.

Sasuke, on the other hand, has gone from being emotionally unavailable and a cheatinglying buttmunch, to being a mental abuser. I kinda figured it this way: If Naruto had been uncomfortable with Sasuke's "dirty talk", he had a few people to talk to, like Kakashi and the Old Pre-vert, but those two would probably make a joke out of it or maybe tell Naruto it's not that big a deal, it's just kinda kinky. (IF Naruto could get himself to ask.) So if Naruto was uncomfortable but thought it was normal, and Sasuke just kept cloaking put-downs in "kinky sex", I thought that might screw up Naruto's head a bit, even if he didn't realize something was wrong.

That's it. Everyone one of my version of the Naruto crew needs therapy. NOW.

Reviewers:

shi-chan: Mmm, kudos. Yummy. Thanks.

Kaiyo No Hime: Eh, Sasuke makes himself suffer. Actually, I was thinking about... doing something. -evil grin- Wherein Naruto and Gaara won't have to do a thing to see Sasuke squirm. -wrigglewriggle- Squirmy Sasuke, yo.

WaterBookLover: o.o Oh no, I didn't mean to make anyone cry. Have a hanky. -gives tissue- Sorry.

animelvr4evr: Sasuke has always been evil, some people just haven't noticed it yet.

Luna: 'Kay.

Fallen Dragon: I kinda like the whole family. Actually, I'm craving Naruto now. I think I'll go watch the anime.

Melrose Stormhaven: Thankie. ) The more people ready to kill Sasuke the better.

JadeTiger: Sorry about the not-soon part.

Hieisbestbuddy: Gaara's been reading Temari's Cosmo when no one's looking. ;)

xjuu: Uh... This chapter has bad language all around. Sorry. Sasuke was kinda wanting to butt in with the "good times".

VGJekyll: Eh, I was just hoping to make the crew seem a little older. Turns out I was just turning Naruto into a girl. -kicks Naruto a little- He's being a brat because he apparently likes getting in touch with his feminine side. That dork.

Katie: I'm glad you had fun!

Ria Sakazaki: Er, define soon?

KageKitsune16: I hope I still have more to come back for.

TFI-Muse: You have much to learn, grasshopper. Itachi had the right idea. Let Sasuke suffer. Death is too easy.

Rui Yazawa: wow, a worshipper? . Should I be frightened or flattered? I updated, so is that okay for the withdrawls and all? o.O Are you feeling better? Can I have a sand statue? I could dye it electric blue. You know that'd make Gaara twitch. Hee. He twitches so cute.

esther: WOO! Someone that doesn't want to kill Sasuke! Not that what's jellifying in my head is any better, but, woo! But Sakura... Hm. Her chapter's written, but I need to beta it a bit. She's not pathetic so much as desperate and angry. Clingy alert!