All the Small Things

Disclaimer: Not ours. Bummer.
Summary: Life in the ER is hectic. Lives hang in the balance, tempers rise and emotions abound. Dr. Uchiha and Dr. Uzumaki deal with the tensions at work every day. And then they go home and deal with their own relationship. SasuNaru
Written by: Phantomsnow and michelerene (ff)/ lexjamandme (aff)

Author’s Note: Only the epilogue left… and if you know me and have read anything I’ve written, you know exactly what that means. Fluffiness in unhealthy and highly non-recommended amounts. It’s a curse. I can’t help it. Proceed at your own risk.
OH! Wait… one more thing. So, last night I sent the chapter to Roely and she says ‘Hey, I didn’t want to tell you this before, but did you know that Yuri is the girl/girl equivalent to yaoi?’ My mouth dropped to the floor. Why, no… no, I didn’t. I only choose Yuri (from the Japanese name database) because I knew I wanted the boy named Yoshi (and hell, yes I was thinking of the green dinosaur). Suddenly I recalled a review I had gotten when I introduced the twins. It said, ‘Yuri… Really?’ and I had no damn idea what their issue was. Well, guess what, I do now. I asked Roely WHY she didn’t say anything and she said she didn’t want me to have to search for names again… So, there you have it. How embarrassing.

All the Small Things
Chapter 13

Naruto looked down at Sasuke’s sleeping face, taking in the dips and angles of his pale profile. For the first time, in nearly two days, he looked peaceful. The drug had worked…

With his hand still encumbered by the bulkiness of the haz-mat suit, Naruto gently brushed the sweaty black locks from Sasuke’s face and listened with half an ear while Fugaku gave the order for the cure to be administered to the other four patients.

Within moments, machines blared throughout the room, life signs crashing. Naruto’s light lashes fell against his cheeks and he took a deep breath, squeezing Sasuke’s hand to tell him he’d be back, that Naruto loved him… ensuring them both that Sasuke was okay. His eyes snapped open when he felt the slight returned pressure on his fingers.

In a moment frozen in time, dark lashes fluttered open until Naruto was held in Sasuke’s midnight gaze. Black eyes swirling with pain and confusion struggled to focus and finally making out the brilliant blue eyes of his dobe, he sighed, “Naruto.” The sound never left his mouth, but Naruto saw it. “I love you, Sasuke.” And the black eyes closed once more.

Turning away from Sasuke, he met eyes with Fugaku, who nodded solemnly, and together they strode across the room.

Reaching Konohamaru’s bed, Naruto touched one of the doctor’s on the shoulder, “Tell me what I need to know.”

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Three hours later…

Naruto leaned his head back against chipped blue lockers. The only light from the room came from the shower room and cast shadows all around him. He pulled his legs toward his chest to ensure their dark fingers didn’t touch him. Sasuke was going to be okay, but Naruto wasn’t ready to deal with the dark on his own yet.

Taking a long breath of air, Naruto flipped open his phone and after pressing several buttons, held the device to his ear.

After several rings, the line connected…

“Hello.”

“Itachi, its Naruto.”

The line filled with silence before Itachi spoke, “The thirty-six hours are up.”

Naruto nodded in the darkness, “He’s okay. He’s going to be just fine. Stupid bastard scared the shit out of me and I think I might have punched a CDC worker, but he’s okay.”

Naruto heard the gentle release of Itachi’s held breath, “And the others?”

Naruto sighed this time, “You know how they say the cure is worse than the disease… All of them reacted very negatively after receiving the cure. If I had to throw out a half baked theory, I’d say the body just needed to restart before the cure could start working… I don’t know.” A tan hand ran through blonde spikes and then fell limply to the floor, “All of them are alive. The worse for the wear, but alive.”

More silence. “Are you okay, blondie?”

“He hasn’t woken up yet. He died, big brother, and we brought him back. My brain understands that. I’ve studied the machines and felt his pulse, but I need him to wake up, because I don’t know… my heart… it needs to see the bastard awake to accept it…”

“He will.” Itachi’s voice held a surety that made Naruto smile, however briefly, “How is Father?”

“You mean the Great Dr. Uchiha?” Naruto could hear Itachi’s smirk through the phone, “He saved him. He was and will probably continue to be an asshole, but I nearly lost my mind and he didn’t.” Naruto shrugged and shifted his foot further away from the bench’s cast shadow.

“So,” Itachi drawled, “Does this mean we all have to go back to family dinner.”

Naruto snorted, “I’ve been awake for two days, Itachi, I don’t think I should be making these kind of life altering decisions.” Naruto finished the statement with a long yawn.

“You need to go to sleep,” Itachi said seriously.

Naruto shook his head ignoring Itachi’s question in favor of asking his own, “How are the twins?”

“Hinata and I brought them to our apartment. They are scared and asking a lot of questions, but now we will have better news. They miss you. Both of you.”

Naruto’s head dropped to his knees and his free hand fisted his hair tightly, “I know… but I don’t want to leave… I don’t think I can…”

“They are fine, Blondie. Just wake my brother’s ass up and come home when you can.”

Naruto closed his eyes and listened to Itachi breathe for several minutes, “Tell them I love them… that Sasuke loves them. If he hasn’t woken up by morning, I’ll come home.”

“Naru…”

Naruto pushed himself off the floor and purposefully walked through the shadows until he stood bathed in the light, “No, Sasuke said that once the twins were ours, our family came first. I’ll be home tomorrow, one way or another.”

“Okay, Naruto.”

“Will you please call Obito’s family for me and tell them the news?” Naruto ran a tired hand over his eyes.

“Of course. You need to rest. You’re no good to anyone when…”

Naruto cut him off, “Thank you, Itachi… for everything.”

Naruto listened to the silence before Itachi spoke once more, “Thank you for my brother.”

“Hn.” Naruto hung up the phone to the sounds of Itachi’s chuckles in his ear.

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Naruto started when the door to the locker room creaked opened. He moved around the lockers until he got a clear view of the doorway and when he saw the figure in the doorframe his blue eyes widened and a smile split his tired face.

Walking forward, he stepped into the arms spread out to greet him.

“Old man,” Naruto said into his grandfather chest, “What are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you have evacuated with the rest?”

Grandfather Sarutobi chuckled and patted the blonde head, Naruto’s arms still tight around him, “As if I would go and leave my son and two grandsons behind.”

“How did you get down here and passed all the men in suits?” Naruto reluctantly pulled away from the hold, smiling at the older man.

“Well, as I’ve told you many times before, son… I was a ninja in a past life.”

“Ahhh,” Naruto said and didn’t notice that he was being pulled into the direction of the sleeping quarters, “The old ‘ninja moves’…” Sarutobi smiled as Naruto held up his quotation fingers and winked conspiratorially.

With a gentle push, Naruto found himself sitting on one of the sleep beds. Wide, blue eyes filled with surprised and looked up at the gently laughing man who sat next to him.

“You have much to learn, grasshopper.”

Naruto laughed and leaned his back against the wall, letting his eyes close… just for a moment.

“The ER is still a bubble nightmare, Naruto. I couldn’t get in. Tell me about Sasuke, Konohamaru and the others. All I know is that they are expected to make it.”

Without opening his eyes, Naruto told his grandfather about Orochimaru’s ‘research’, the symptoms, Sakura and the rush for the cure. He quietly told about dying bodies and brushes with death that made Naruto’s voice catch and silent tears to finally fall.

“Konohamaru is alive, grandpa, but he is in a coma. I tried everything I could. I really thought that maybe he was going to…” A wrinkled hand went around Naruto’s shoulders and pulled the young doctor against him, “But, we think that once his body starts regenerating that he’ll wake up…”

“Actually, young Sarutobi’s condition just might have saved them all, Uzumaki.”

Blue eyes snapped open and watched as Sasuke’s father sat on the bed across from him, his elbows on his knees while his fingers clasped together. He nodded at the Naruto’s grandfather, “Dr. Sarutobi.”

“Fugaku.” Sarutobi offered a smile and a nod.

Black eyes turned to Naruto, “After you left, we noticed that the others’ vitals, although not weak, were sporadic. They were all still in a great deal of pain and even with the sedatives and painkillers, they were restless.” Fugaku sighed and leaned against the wall, his eyes closed, “Konohamaru’s vitals did nothing but improve. I think struggling with the pain and waking themselves up, whether consciously or unconsciously, was inhibiting the drug. I ordered that all of them be put into a medically induced coma.”

Black eyes opened and Naruto nodded. Fugaku continued, “When I left, they were all resting soundly, their vitals strong.”

“Thank god,” Sarutobi whispered and Naruto and Fugaku returned with an equally quiet, “Hn.”

“Well, boys,” Sarutobi said breaking the stillness that had descended, “The day is saved. Your jobs are done. Naptime.”

Naruto and Fugaku began to argue when Sarutobi cleared his throat threateningly, “I believe I said it was time to sleep. Do not make me repeat myself.” Turning to Fugaku he smiled, “Doctor’s orders.”

Fugaku held the older man’s eyes for a moment before nodding stiffly and, after removing his shoes, threw the blanket back and slipped into bed.

“I am not a child…” Naruto began but his mouth clicked shut when narrowed, brown eyes caught and held him in their sights.

“Grandfather’s orders, most stubborn grandson.”

“Yes, sir.” Naruto’s eyes widened when he heard what he thought was a muffled snort from across the room, “Oh, you did not…” he began.

“Lie down!”

Naruto kicked off his shoes and within seconds felt his grandfather press a kiss on his forehead, “You did well, Naruto.”

The old man walked across the room and placed a hand on Fugaku’s shoulder, “You both did.”

Walking out the door, he slowly closed it behind him aware that both doctors were already sound asleep.

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Kisame’s hands were clasped behind his back as he walked with a happy little bounce to his step. He whistled a lovely American tune by Mrs. Patsy Cline, making several people walking in the parking lot give him a strange look.

The tall, dark man with a strange hue to his skin smiled as he walked towards the automatic doors of the kids’ store. He was aware of the strange and uncomfortable looks he was getting but ignored them. In fact, he smiled at them, which only made them even more afraid.

Kisame wasn’t a handsome man, per say. He was different from Itachi, which went without saying. Where his partner and best friend was the classic definition of handsome… pale, sharp angles… ass… Kisame was a special brand of man. Unique, different… exotic and if asked, Kisame would say sexy as hell. Kisame didn’t care however, if people choice to judge him for his piercings and tattoos. He only had to please and like himself and people who were truly his friends didn’t care that he had piercings on his lower and upper lips, nose ring, tongue ring and plugs in his earlobes. Of course, all those came off when he was working. Best not to worry the people he was trying to save.

At the entrance, the poor idiot dressed as a Giraffe was stunned when Kisame came up to him grinning like an idiot.

“Hey, dude! High Five!” Kisame yelled out almost as giddy as a school girl on her first date.

The giraffe clad employee slowly backed away but was stopped by Kisame’s sudden hug.

“Relax, buddy, just messing with ya!”

The trembling giraffe swallowed his fear as sweat poured down his face and dripped to the bottom of the giraffe suit. He tried to relax, really he did, but when the crazy looking overly pierced and tattooed man grinned, showing of his unnaturally polish teeth, panic set in.

So he did what any normal person would do under the consequence. He fainted. Kisame shrugged and stepped over him. Some guys didn’t know how to take a joke, he thought as he strolled into the store. His eyes grew huge, darting here and there, taking in the large displays of toys and video games. It was… simply put… a brightly colored, adrenaline inducing cornucopia of childhood fun and Kisame was an eight year old in a six foot body.

Itachi didn’t tell him when to bring the boa back, he thought, as he hurried after a bunch of kids towards the video games aisle. A game or two… or three… wouldn’t hurt anyone would it? And so he snatched the game controller out of the hands of a twelve year old kid, dark fingers already moving chaotically over the buttons.

“Age before youth, my friend,” Kisame grinned down at the hostile kid. The kid shrugged and sat down next to him. It was the latest game system and the game was HALO 3. Kisame resisted the urge to squeal and giggle like a girl.

“Do you even know how to play, old man,” the kid taunted having found his own controller.

Kisame eyes narrowed and he showed the kid his shark like grin. “Old man? You will eat those words when I’m finish with you.”

Deidara was bored out of his mind. This job was the best he could get while he was going to the University and he really despised every minute of it. The manager was an asshole and the guy who wore the giraffe suit thought he was “the man”. Deidara rolled his eyes, what a fuck turd! Then there was the issue of him hating children with a passion. He loathed those snot nosed, booger eating, sticky fingered kids. But the worst thing about it, besides the crappy co-workers and kids, was the fact that no decent piece of ass ever walked through the doors. Nope, always middle age men who were dealing with the wife and the kids while wishing that he was somewhere else.

Deidara sighed and leaned his head against a display case. Today was just another shitty ass day. Somehow all the interesting shit happened when he was off. He heard that a couple of weeks ago a man went crazy on the customers at the store, dragging a blonde hotty behind him, and he was consequently banned along with his companion. Later, said blonde hotty tried infiltrating the store, knocking over displays before making his dramatic exit. Then just a few days ago, a couple came into the store and were caught having sex in one of the janitorial closets. See, why can’t anything exciting happen to him?

He almost fell over when the radio on his belt suddenly started screeching with static. The manager’s voice came on screaming.

“CODE RED!”

Deidara rolled his eyes. The blonde wasn’t too fond of the over paranoid manager and what the hell is code red anyways? Should he know this crap?

“Deidara!” the manager hissed through the walkie talkie. Deidara pressed the button to answer, “Yes?”

“Go to the video game center! It’s a code red!”

“What’s a code red again?”

“A possible pedophile. Go. Now!”

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Itachi leaned against the door frame and watched Hinata as she played with the twins before walking up to them.

His fiancé smiled up at him from where she sat on the carpet. He sat down next to her and took a breath. The twins were suddenly quite. He smiled.

“That was Naruto on the phone,” he began dark eyes watching the toddlers’ reaction. Yuri and Yoshi looked at each other as if trying to reassure themselves. Yuri wore a serious expression and Yoshi looked anxious.

“Your daddy is fine and Naruto will be coming to pick you guys up soon,” he said. Hinata drew a sharp breath and her eyes sparkled through tears. The kids lunged themselves into Itachi’s arms who looked surprised at their show of affection but hugged them back.

Hinata muttered a thanks to heaven while trying to dash her tears away. Sasuke and the others were saved. Itachi would have his brother back and they were getting married. So as far as she was concerned, all was right with the world.

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Blue eyes blinked open to find that the bed across from him was now empty. Naruto let a huff of air escape before he twisted onto his back and, arms behind his head, stared at the ceiling. He let his eyes closed once more while he thought of all the situations, emotions and all around shit he had had to deal with the last 48 hours.

“I am sooo taking a vacation…”

“I am quite certain that can be arranged, Uzumaki.”

Sitting up, Naruto watched while Fugaku Uchiha walked back into the room holding two cups of steaming coffee. Stopping before the blonde, he shrugged, “One’s black, one’s sugar and cream. I didn’t know how you liked it.”

Naruto held out his hand to the cup that had been motioned to containing sugar and cream and nodded his head in thanks, taking a sip.

Fugaku sat on the opposite bed, staring down into his own cup. Naruto supposed if he was a good person he’d start the conversation that the older doctor obviously wanted to have, but Naruto wasn’t a good person, at least, not today… not where this person was concerned. He wouldn’t let Sasuke get out of it that easily and he certainly wasn’t letting the bastard’s father.

After a deep exhale of air, Fugaku met Naruto’s eyes, “I should know how you take your coffee.”

Naruto blinked and then blinked again before shrugging. “Why? We’ve never had breakfast together. You don’t work with me.”

“You’ve been seeing my son for six years. Living with him for four but the fact of the matter is, while I was standing at the coffee dispenser, I couldn’t recall how Sasuke takes his coffee. I have no idea.”

Naruto nodded and rolled his stiff neck. Pushing the blankets off his legs, he swung his feet to the floor and after taking another drink of coffee looked at the dark haired man before him.

“Black. He likes it black. For future reference, I enjoy my cream and sugar with a touch of coffee.” Naruto grinned and chuckled when Fugaku lips tipped up slightly. “Doctor, as enjoyable as this discussion is, there are things I would like to… need to… say. I get the feeling that you feel the same?” The dark head nodded slightly and Naruto continued, “In the room, when Sasuke crashed…” Naruto swallowed but pressed on, “I lost it. I couldn’t see passed the fact that the man that I love more than anything… anything in this world or the next… was dying. If you hadn’t stepped up, if you hadn’t tried…”

“Are you stupid?” The question was cold with just a touch of condescension.

Blue eyes narrowed, “Excuse me?”

“I gave up. I was ready to call it, would have called it… the end of my son’s life…” Fugaku glared at the young man across from him, “So what if you stalled in the beginning… in the end you saved his life. You saved my son after I had all but washed my hands of him.”

They sat in pained silence for several minutes before Naruto sighed loudly and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “Isn’t it funny,” he began, his voice light and airy, if not forced, “how two people can share the same experience and come away with such different accounts?

“In my own version, I can honestly say that I never considered what happened after I choked. I know that I stopped you from calling his time of death, I know that I yelled and I fought… but, when it was over… I only saw my failure. The mistake that you corrected.”

Fugaku nodded slowly, understanding what the young doctor was saying, realizing that he felt the same… unable to see passed his own weakness to what he may have done correctly.

Naruto stood and approached the sitting doctor, holding out his hand to help him to his feet. “When we were in med school and even today… Sasuke knows my weaknesses, just like I know his. We anticipate and account for those weaknesses with our own strengths.” Fugaku clasped his own pale hand in Naruto’s and when he was standing, the blonde smiled up at him, stepping back. “Sasuke and four other people wouldn’t be alive if the two of us hadn’t worked together. When I stumbled, you took up the torch. It was only fair that I returned the favor.”

Fugaku nodded and this time he extended his hand to Naruto, who after a moment’s hesitation shook it. “Thank you for saving my son.”

Naruto chuckled and walking passed the older man, patted him on the shoulder before slipping on his shoes, “Right back at you, Uchiha. Right back at you.”

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Naruto officially hated orange and if there wasn’t a name for ‘the fear of bulky, air-tight, biohazard, life saving monstrosities’ then there sure as hell should be.

Naruto shifted from Iruka’s side after jotting several notes on his chart and made his way to Sasuke’s bed. Taking Sasuke’s hand in his own gloved one, Naruto sat on the chair and released a long sigh.

Forcing the five men into a comatose state had, amazingly, done wonders. Konohamaru’s recent MRI scan had come back with unheard of results. His body had almost completely healed from the damage that the virus has inflicted on his system. Based on his results and the preliminary results of the others, Naruto knew they would be waking them up within twenty-four hours.

Naruto squeezed Sasuke’s hand and watched through the large glass windows while Fugaku talked to the representatives from the CDC. The last batch of blood work came back clear on all five men. The virus was dead and now it was just a matter of letting their bodies recuperate. Fugaku and the CDC were deciding if it was safe to dismantle the quarantine and move the men to their own rooms. And, hopefully, re-open Konoha County General Hospital.

Tsunade was chomping at the bit and currently arguing with the CDC as well. Time was money and bubble cities were bad for business.

Looking down at Sasuke, Naruto smiled, “Hey, bastard. Looks like I’m going to be on the computer again. After this, we’re going to need those financial backers even more.” Naruto once more cursed the suit, wanting to touch Sasuke so bad it was like an unreachable itch. “Of course, that is after we go home and I shove you against the wall and rape…”

“Brat!” Came the static voice, “Let off the damn transmit button before we all vomit and I fire your ass.”

Reluctantly raising his eyes from Sasuke’s tranquil face, Naruto looked up to see Tsunade, Fugaku and every other worker in the ER looking straight at him.

“Right… sorry. My bad.”

And even though he knew it wasn’t possible, Naruto could have sworn he heard,

“Hn. Dobe.”

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Naruto stood outside of Itachi and Hinata’s apartment for several minutes before finally pressing the doorbell. Fugaku and the CDC finally determined that the threat had passed and the workers began disbanding the bubble city and moving their five sleeping occupants up several floors and into their own rooms. After seeing that Sasuke was settled, Fugaku and Naruto agreed to go home until the time came to wake them all up. After getting several assurances from the lead doctor that he would be called immediately if anything should happen, Naruto left the building.

He was surprised to see Sai leaning against a black sedan and grimaced when the fake smile bloomed across his face.

“You know, you don’t have to be that happy to see me.”

“Oh but I am. You are a wonder…”

Naruto blushed, “Well, I had help with…”

“You know with you being a dickless man and all.”

“Get in the damn car, Sai!”

So after a car ride where Naruto let off a little steam yelling and Sai smiled painfully while interjecting random and dickless… POINTLESS… comments, Naruto found himself at Itachi’s.

The door opened after only a moment and Naruto smiled at Hinata who immediately wrapped him into a hug while calling for Itachi over her shoulder.

Naruto looked up to see Itachi come around the corner with Yoshi in his arms and Yuri holding tightly to one of his hands. Naruto gently pushed Hinata away and fell onto his knees. Yuri’s face split into a breathtaking smile, one Naruto wasn’t sure he’d ever seen on his normally controlled daughter, and she ran into his arms. Naruto wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled the black curls on her head. Above him, he heard Yoshi demanding to be let down and then the boy pounced on Naruto and his sister, wiggling under Naruto’s arm until he was included in the hug.

“I missed you both so much.” Naruto whispered while kissing their foreheads and rubbing their small noses with his own.

“Mama! Mama!” Yoshi kept saying again and again while pulling himself tighter into Naruto like he was trying to meld himself into his precious Naruto.

Yuri pulled away just long enough to look over Naruto’s shoulder before letting her head rest against Naruto’s chest once more. “No Daddy?” She questioned softly and Naruto felt his chest constrict painfully.

Sighing, he stood, lifting the clinging toddlers as he went. Once they were on the couch and Itachi and Hinata had joined them, Naruto turned to look at their little faces.

“Daddy is sleeping. He should wake up tomorrow.”

Yoshi clapped, “We see him then?”

Naruto rubbed his midnight spikes, “I don’t know, baby. He has been very, very sick. We will have to see how he feels, but I know that as soon as he can, he is going to want to see both of you. I know he’s missing you.” Naruto hugged the twins tightly to his chest and closed his eyes, relishing in the feeling of his… their… children in his arms.

“Naruto,” Itachi said and blue eyes met his own, “Stay here tonight.”

“I don’t know. I can’t thank you both enough for staying with the twins but you probably…” Naruto stopped midsentence and stared at Hinata.

“Blondie?” Itachi questioned sitting forward in his concern.

“Oh my god! You’re engaged!!” Naruto laughed, “I never thought I’d see the day. Congratulations!” Holding the twins tighter, Naruto leaned forward and lifted Hinata’s hand, whistling over the delicate diamond on her ring finger.

Hinata blushed and thanked Naruto quietly. Itachi just smirked and kissed Hinata’s temple.

“Whatever excuse you were making before you were so pathetically distracted by something shiny,” Naruto growled, Itachi pushed on, “Means nothing. You’re staying.”

“It is late, Naruto. The twins were just getting ready for bed.” Hinata said before she stood heading into the guest room to prepare the bed.

Looking down, Naruto noticed that the twins were clean and in their pajamas. Smiling down at their innocent expressions, Naruto nodded without looking at Itachi or Hinata.

“You’re right. Of course, we’ll stay. Thank you.”

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The next morning, Naruto had just exited the bathroom, toweling his hair dry, when the doorbell to Itachi’s apartment rang. For a moment, Naruto stood frozen in his tracks. What if it was someone coming to hurt them… like the last time the doorbell rang?

He must not have been the only one remembering that night because the twins come from out of their room to attach themselves to Naruto’s arms and legs. “Mama…” Yuri whispered and both of the dark haired toddlers tugged Naruto into their room.

Naruto wrapped them in his arms, forcing his fear down, knowing there was nothing to be worried about while he listened to the sound of voices coming from the entryway. Squeezing them once more, Naruto kissed their dark crowns and told them he would be right back.

Opening the door, he found Hinata standing there with her hand raised to knock.

“Oh, Naruto. I was just coming to get you. Mr. and Mrs. Uchiha are here.”

Naruto’s eyebrow rose with a grace normally reserved to the Uchihas, “Huh, that’s… good.”

Hinata giggled, “She was very good with the children while we were still in their home.”

Naruto sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets before heading down the hallway at Hinata’s side. “I’m… happy… to hear that, Hinata. Three days ago, if you had told me that I would be on speaking terms with Sasuke’s parents I would have immediately contacted Psych and had you committed.”

Hinata nodded, “And now?”

Naruto grinned causing Hinata to softly smile up at him, “Now, we see what happens. They aren’t my parents.” He paused so that they were still out of hearing range, “I don’t know if I can ever totally forgive them. The look on Sasuke’s face when his father called the twins riffraff,” Naruto shook his head, “But, things have changed. Maybe for the better. In the end, it’s up to Sasuke and Itachi.”

Stepping into the living room, Naruto saw Fugaku and Mikoto sitting on the couch while Itachi stood to the side, arms crossed, face devoid of any discernable emotion. At hearing Naruto enter the room, they all turned and Naruto offered a small smile, patting Itachi’s arm before taking a seat.

“Long time, no see, Doctor,” Naruto said nodded to the older man. “Dr. Uchiha,” another nod in Mikoto’s direction.

Something flashed in the woman’s eyes before she smiled slightly, “I would like it very much if you would call me Mikoto.”

Naruto closed his eyes. Part of him wanted to scream ‘no’ and shove them out of Itachi’s home and subsequently their lives. But, Naruto recognized that was the part of him that would kill to protect Sasuke, to keep him happy, to make him feel treasured, special… his. He couldn’t carry this grudge. It wasn’t his own. Opening his eyes, he nodded slightly but turned his eyes focused on Fugaku.

“So, are we doing this now? I called into the hospital twenty minutes ago. All of their vitals are strong and the damage is now at manageable levels.”

“Yes, Mikoto and I thought we would offer to drive you.”

“I’ll drive him.” Itachi interrupted his eyes still narrowed and his voice eerily calm.

The elder Uchihas turned to their eldest son and Naruto’s eyes widened when he saw Mikoto’s fingers intertwine with her husband’s. Things were changing.

“Itachi, we would like…” Itachi’s stance stiffened to a point where even Hinata stepped back slightly.

Naruto pushed himself off the couch and stood between Itachi and his parents, “Now is really not the time to do this. It hasn’t been a priority for thirty years and it will need more than the five minutes it will take me to say goodbye to the twins for you to resolve it. I have a ride, apparently, but thank you for the offer.”

Fugaku and Mikoto stood and with a glance at their son, nodded. As Fugaku passed, Naruto stilled him with a hand to his arm, “Are we still on for dinner on Friday?”

Midnight eyes widened and Naruto smirked when he heard Itachi’s sharp intact of breath behind him. “Come on, gentlemen. Time to wake up the bastard. Can’t have a family dinner without his special brand of moodiness, can we?”

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Grandfather Sarutobi sat next to Konohamaru’s bed while the boy struggled to shake off the drug induced sleep. When brown eyes blinked opened, Sarutobi smiled down at his grandson and ran a wrinkled hand over his forehead, moving the dark locks to the side.

“Grandpa?” Konohamaru whispered his eyes darting around the room before once more landing on his smiling grandfather.

“Most treasured grandson, I am so happy you are awake.”

Konohamaru smiled, remembering a time when he wouldn’t respond to anyone unless he was addressed by that same ‘honorable’ title.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” Konohamaru sighed.

“Me too, son.” And with his wrinkled hand covering his grandson’s, Sarutobi told Konohamaru everything that had happened and how very happy he was that he still had his grandson.

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Asuma sat in his wheel chair next to Iruka’s bed and thought about how stupid he was. Lifting his hand, he trailed one finger over the faint scar on Iruka’s nose. How had Iruka gotten it? Why hadn’t he ever asked? If Iruka had died, he would never know. Well, he was going to do something about it. Naruto had told him before they administered the drugs to wake up all the ‘sleeping beauties’… yeah, those were the brat’s words… that Iruka was single and his Uncle had better get on that while the getting was good. Asuma made to hit the blonde upside the head, but then his own father winked at him and so, here he was.

“I thought I’d lost you.”

Asuma started and blinked owlishly at the sleep filled brown eyes before he shook his head, a huge smile splitting his face, “I’m a Sarutobi and we don’t die easy or give up. Just look at Konohamaru and Naruto.”

Iruka turn his head slightly, wincing as he tried to shift his body. “Thank God for that…” he whispered.

“Iruka?” Asuma asked concerned, “How are you feeling. You just wok…”

Iruka’s brown eyes widened and Asuma watched frantic determination fill Iruka’s eyes, “No, listen to me! I don’t care if your line of work is dangerous! Naruto almost lost Sasuke and I almost lost you! Life is too short to make ourselves miserable intentionally!”

“Iruka, I hardly think you are one to talk to me about dangerous jobs…” Asuma looked around for the call button. The man was obviously delusional.

Iruka shook his head, brown eyes still blinking away the sleepy fog surrounding his mind. In a move that caused Iruka to hiss, he grabbed onto both of Asuma’s hand. “No, I won’t hear your excuses, let’s just start all over!”

“Iruka?” Start over? With what? Was Iruka asking for them to try again?

“Damn it, Sarutobi!” Iruka yelled. “I won’t let you push me away this time! I’m going to take a leaf out of Naruto’s page… everyone else has!”

Asuma laughed leaning forward and tenderly taking the ranting man’s face in his hands. “Iruka, you talk too much,” he said before kissing the surprised doctor. “And I totally agree.”

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Gray eyes blinked open slowly. The noises in the room were muffled and try as he might, Kakashi couldn’t make out the blurry images before his eyes except that they were dark, foreboding and there were five of them.

Another series of blinks and a swift shake of his head elicited a pained moan and the blobs finally became crystal clear. The Fearsome Five stood at the end of the bed on all their sadistic, maniacal glory.

This time the pained groan had nothing to do with his aching body. “Oh dear god. I’ve died. And this is hell.”

“And people insist that I’m the drama queen in the relationship…” Kakashi turned his head toward the weak voice to his left to see Obito lying, not two feet from him, in his own bed, white sheets up to his chest and a small smile on his face.

Kakashi sighed and the gray of his eyes softened to molten silver as he looked at the dark haired man beside him, taking in every detail. He smiled and pushed his hand outwards until his fingers touched and held Obito’s. “Not hell then.”

Shifting his eyes again, Kakashi saw Obito’s parents standing next to their son’s bed and cleared his throat, “Oh, hello there.” Squeezing the fingers in his hand, Kakashi looked at Obito once more, “The last thing I remember is telling you I love you,” the silver haired man shrugged, “not a bad memory, but is there anything else I should know?”

Daisuke cleared his throat and stepped closer to Kakashi’s bed, “Well, Naruto and Fugaku saved your lives.”

Obito turned dark eyes to his brothers, “And the other problem, gentlemen?”

Eeichi turned to look at their parents before nodding, “Taken care of.”

Obito raised a dark eyebrow, his words cold, “Taken care of? I think I might require a more detailed description.”

The five brothers looked at one another but it was their father who answered, “Your Uncle Madara has taken care of the problem… will that suffice, counselor?” The older man stepped forward and patted his youngest son on the shoulder, “He also mentioned that we should all get together for a family reunion. You all must have left a good impression…” The quizzical look on the older Uchiha’s brow seemed to say he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Obito’s face tipped up into the first real smile his family had seen since he woke up. “Ah, man! You guys got to see Uncle Maddie and I was stuck in bubble hell! That’s just not fair. I love that guy. Uchiha handsomeness… cracker jack wit…” His entire family took several steps back, pale in the face. Kakashi added, “Crazy as a fucking loon”.

Obito shrugged before gingerly pushing back the sheets and swinging his legs to the floor. “You know what they say… birds of a feather… which now that I think about it makes no sense… what bird has only one feather and it’s not like cross breeding is really smart and…”

Kakashi once more ran through the pros and cons of dating an Uchiha… pros: great sex with super hot men who loved with a passion that could burn your soul. Cons: psychotic family, egotistical personalities, possessive natures, obsessive tendencies and in Obito’s cause, inability to close his mouth… “Please… please, shut up.”

Obito stopped his external thought process and turned to his family, “You know that I love you. Thank you for being here,” His mother came forward and kissed his forehead causing Obito to close his eyes and lean into her with a sigh, “but, I think I speak for us both when I say we are exhausted. Even if my little love kitten just woke up, he seems cranky to me.”

The Fearsome Five smiled at their little brother and cast a dark glare at Kakashi before leaving the room. Obito’s parents nodded and, saying goodbye, left as Obito pushed himself off his bed and carefully walked the two feet to Kakashi’s.


With a sigh Kakashi shifted with a pained groan to allow Obito into his bed. Wrapping his arms around the smiling man, he closed his eyes and felt Obito trail tender kisses up the side of his neck before his dark head stilled on his shoulder.

“Thank god you’re okay… I love you, Kakashi.” Obito whispered his breath warming and tickling Kakashi’s collarbone.

Kissing the dark crown, Kakashi held his Uchiha even closer, “I love you too.”

Pros win.

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After adjusting the medications to Sasuke’s IV, Naruto stepped back and stood away from the bed. Fugaku and Mikoto stood to their son’s right and Itachi at the foot of the bed. When Naruto had backed away to the side wall all three of them looked at him with curiosity.

Itachi opened his mouth to comment but a shifting on the bed drew the Uchihas attention to Sasuke who released a quiet groan before black eyes slowly blinked open. Mikoto gently lifted Sasuke’s pale hand, holding it in her own before she whispered, “Sasuke, welcome back, sweetie.”

Black eyes widened comically while Sasuke stared in disbelief at his mother. His eyes drifted to his father and the elder Uchiha nodded before patting his knee. Sasuke shook his head trying to clear the foggy feeling. Why were his parents standing around the bed? Was that concern in their eyes?

“Am I dying?” Sasuke asked calmly, eyes now narrowed in suspicion.

“No, little brother, but not for lack of trying.” Itachi said and smirked down at Sasuke.

“Itachi… what the fuck is going on?” Confusion was making him panic. The last thing he remembered was fear filled blue eyes, soft blonde spikes and Naruto’s voice rising in alarm, cutting through to his soul, “Where’s Naruto?”

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Naruto wanted Sasuke to be awake and be back to his bastard-y ways so badly he hands shook while he adjusted the medications in his IV. So far the others had woken up with no complications whatsoever beyond painful muscle aches. Soon, so soon, midnight eyes would be looking into his own and then…

Naruto ran his hand, now free of the stupid suit, through Sasuke’s soft, black hair, pushing it away from his face. The need to touch Sasuke… everywhere… now that he could, was so great he had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from yelling at Sasuke’s family to get out. They didn’t belong here… not even Itachi. Sasuke was his. His to hold, his to love, his to comfort… not theirs.

The feeling became so overwhelming that he forced himself away from the bed. If he stayed there one second longer he knew he’d do it. Push them all out, slam the door and lock himself in with Sasuke. He saw Itachi give him a concerned look but he pressed himself against the wall. They were Sasuke’s family. A family that seemed like it wanted to be a family deserving of Sasuke and Itachi. Blonde lashes fell over sharp blue eyes, what if Sasuke didn’t need him anymore when he had the love of his real family?

His eyes opened when he heard the shifting coming from the bed and a gentle exhale of air as Sasuke worked to wake himself up. Naruto held his breath and black lashes blinked several times before staying open and focusing on his mother.

Naruto heard voices, Sasuke’s mother and then Sasuke’s voice, that sounded brittle to his ears. He didn’t hear a word they said, but when Sasuke’s black eyes began to shift throughout the room and panic began to build behind them, Naruto couldn’t… wouldn’t… let him suffer.

“Sasuke.” And he stepped away from the wall, but didn’t make his way to the bed.

Relief filled Sasuke’s eyes and made his voice soft with something Naruto couldn’t place, “Dobe. Why are you over there?” When Naruto made no attempt to move closer, Sasuke’s eyes narrowed once more and he removed his hand from Mikoto’s and glared up at Fugaku, “What have you done?”

Naruto sighed, “Bastard, no one did anything. Your family is here because they love you.”

Black eyes pinned Naruto in his place and he felt like Sasuke was searching for something. Are you here because you love me, Naruto?

Fugaku broke the silence, “I think we should go. Sasuke… son,” Sasuke turned once more to look at his father, glancing in confusion between the older man, his mother and his brother, “There are things I would like to discuss with you…”

Sasuke blinked but before he could open his mouth, Itachi interrupted, “But not today. We have a lifetime full of Friday night dinners to catch-up. Right, Blondie?”

Naruto nodded, still across the room. “Yes, of course, you do.”

Several sets of black eyes narrowed at Naruto’s choice of words.

“Please leave.” Sasuke said, once more keeping his eyes on Naruto like the blonde was a flight risk.

“I will talk with you soon, little brother.” Itachi said and ushered his parents out of the room.

When the door clicked closed Sasuke growled, “What the hell, dobe?”

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Naruto swallowed and took several steps forward until he was in the middle of the room.

“How are you feeling? Any pain in your muscles? Can you move your fingers and your…”

“I don’t need a doctor, dumbass.” Sasuke bit out darkly. Naruto nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets while his blue eyes looked anywhere but at Sasuke.

“I know… but they are important questions that I will need the answers too…” Naruto mumbled.

“You are starting to piss me off.” The voice was clipped and cool. Pale fingers fisted under white sheets. Had something changed? Why was Naruto so distant? Panic flooded Sasuke’s senses… what had happened?

Naruto sighed and Sasuke watched while his shoulders slumped and his head bent forward, “I’ve been scared in my life, Sasuke. I’ve seen things, lived through things…”

“Dobe, please,” Sasuke didn’t understand why Naruto was so far away. Naruto always knew when Sasuke needed him. And, god… he needed him now.

“But, twenty four hours ago your heart stopped for five minutes and thirteen seconds and I lost my mind, bastard. I remembered every moment I had with you. In five minutes and thirteen seconds I remembered our first kiss…”

“In the library.”

“The first time you told me you loved me…”

“Crowded student square, during lunch… Neji,” the name came out as a growl, “Was touching you.”

“The first time you made love to me…”

“God, dobe, my apartment… on the floor in the living room, on my bed, against the tiled wall of my shower… you were so fucking hot, responsive, insatiable…”

“The first time you made me cry…”

“Please, Naruto…” Sasuke didn’t want to talk about his mistakes… there were so many.

“When you asked me to live with you… when you told your parents about me… I remembered every lazy afternoon and every moment leading up to me screaming, moaning, panting… your name.”

Naruto finally started to walk toward Sasuke until he stopped at the side of his bed, “I remembered you holding me when I told you everything that makes me scared, broken, and how you still loved me. I remembered you giving me two of the most beautiful children I have ever seen. Even though it scared you… you did it for me. I remembered you lying in bed, their beautiful faces peaceful in their sleep while you held them close, gave them your love…” A sob escaped and Sasuke reached up and yanked Naruto into the bed until he lay pressed against his side, pale hands clasping tear stained cheeks while he kissed Naruto’s face, “I remembered your love, S’uke, and I thought… oh god… they were pulling me off of you. Yelling at me to stop.”

“Shhh… baby… ”

Naruto jerked his head free, “I’ll never stop… loving you. Wanting you. Needing you.”

“I know,” Sasuke whispered, “I love you. I’m here. You saved me.”

“I was scared. For days…” Naruto whispered rubbing his hands up and down Sasuke’s arms.

“I was too, Naruto. I couldn’t imagine leaving you and the twins. I’d never do it willingly. I fought so hard… it hurt… so much.” Sasuke gently pressed Naruto’s head against his chest and closing his eyes, nuzzled the golden crown. “I’m here now. Don’t be scared anymore.”

They lay there in silence, neither making any noise, listening intently for the other person’s soft breaths and steady heartbeats.

In time, Sasuke shifted and Naruto heard him hold his breath.

“Muscle pain?”

Sasuke smirked into Naruto’s soft spikes, “Yes, doctor. However, I have total control over my extremities and all neurological functions and responses seem normal.”

Naruto chuckled, “Doctors make the worst patients.”

“Tell me about the twins.”

“They are fine and staying with Hinata and Itachi. I stayed with them last night while you were sleeping. They miss you and are scared. I… they might need to talk with Shikamaru. They are scared of the doorbell ringing… because of that night.”

Sasuke growled low in his throat, “We will all go. The others? Obito, Iruka…”

“Fine. The ‘cure’ killed each of you, but all of you came back…” Naruto continued to explain in a low voice all the hurdles he and Fugaku had overcome and what Sasuke’s body had gone through, as well as the others.

When Naruto fell quiet again, Sasuke felt the blonde pick up his hand lacing their fingers together before he kissed each of his knuckles.

“Orochimaru?” Naruto’s body tensed but immediately relaxed when he felt Sasuke pressed tender kisses at his temple.

“Well, Itachi, Sai and the Fearsome Five tracked him to a hotel. They got no new information from him but before they could decide what to do with him, your uncle Madara stopped by.”

Naruto shifted until he was able to pull away and look into Sasuke’s face, “He sent me a picture.” Sasuke saw the shiver race through Naruto’s body. “Quite honestly, bastard, I don’t know if I should burn it because no one should see that or frame it and hang it in our living room.”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed, “My, what a blood thirsty little dobe I have.”

“Stupid, fucking snake… he deserved it.” Naruto said and rested once more into Sasuke’s arms.

“Tell me about my father and mother.”

Naruto sighed, “They were… good.” Sasuke smirked, Naruto almost sounded disappointed. “I really think they learned something or realized something. Being scared… the thought of losing someone you love… does that.”

“Hn.” Sasuke grunted when Naruto elbowed him.

“Long story short… they both miraculously realized they had made mistakes with you and Itachi.”

Sarcasm…

“I’m sure you had nothing to do with that, dobe.”

Hurts.

“Hey, I was just trying to save your ass and keep your children safe. I had my hands full with other things, teme.”

“Hn… so, we are expected at Friday night dinners again?”

“Yep,” Naruto said quietly, “Oh the joy.”

Sasuke hummed in agreement and Naruto let his eyes closed, only to snap open when Sasuke’s fingers pushed up and under his shirt, teasing the dark nubs on Naruto’s chest.

“Sasuke…” Naruto warned but it came out as a low purr.

“Well, doctor,” Sasuke huskily whispered in his ear, “It would be remiss of you not to ensure that my sexual responses are still in order. Can’t have you risk a malpractice suit.”

“Ahhh…” Naruto moaned when pale lips found his neck and latched over his increasing pulse.

“Doctor Uzumaki,” Sasuke nibbled on his ear, “Ask me where it hurts.”

Naruto moved in Sasuke’s arms until he was straddling the dark hair man, “I’d rather conduct my own tests, Dr. Uchiha,” Naruto’s nimble fingers ran over Sasuke’s chest, causing Sasuke to hiss while the other hand dipped lower cupping the man’s rock hard erection through his hospital gown.

“Don’t worry,” Naruto whispered lovingly into Sasuke’s ear as the fabric of his gown rode up, “I’m a professional.”

Biting his cheek to stop a moan, Sasuke nodded and as Naruto’s lips worked their way down his chest, Sasuke leaned over and switched off the heart rate monitor before fisting blonde locks and directing Naruto’s mouth to the location of his ‘complaint’.

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There was excitement in the air in Uchiha-Uzumaki apartment. The twins were overjoyed to be home again. They had missed the familiar smell and feel of their beds. But now they were hiding on their Aunt Nata’s orders. Naruto was bringing Sasuke home today and they would all be together again soon.

A stifled giggle echoed throughout the apartment. They were all hiding behind the couch in the living room and Yoshi found his Uncle Tachi’s antics very amusing. Itachi was trying to kiss Hinata and she kept hushing him and pushing him away. The lights were off and even though Itachi and Hinata were next to them, Yoshi held onto Yuri’s hand, not because he was scared but because Yuri was scared.

The knob turned on the front door and the new replaced door opened. Yoshi and Yuri giggled when they heard there daddy complaining to mommy. Daddy was always such a grouch. Good thing Mommy always made him smile… even if he didn’t want too.

“Naruto, why are the lights off?” Sasuke asked pretending that he didn’t know that his children were trying to surprise them. He was in a wheelchair, much to his chagrin and wounded pride and Naruto pushed him further into the room.

He hadn’t wanted his children to see him so weak but Naruto had insisted and finished the ‘suggestion’ with a well placed threat of no sex. So he had given in, not wanting to go without feeling Naruto’s delicious heat around his… hold that thought. Sasuke squirmed in his wheelchair. It wouldn’t do to have a hard on when he couldn’t do anything about it.

Naruto grinned at Itachi and Hinata’s effort to make the twins happy. Yoshi and Yuri had wanted to throw a welcome home surprise party and had particularly ordered them to do it. Itachi had grumbled about their Uzumaki traits rearing their ugly heads, but it made Naruto happy. The rest of the gang with be joining them later but for now it was just the six of them.

“I don’t know… Where could our wayward children be?” Naruto said in a overly concerned tone as he turned on the lights.

“SURPRISE!” Three voices shouted gleefully while the last one grumbled in a low tone.

The twins ran toward Sasuke, climbing onto his lap before hugging and raining kisses all over his face. Naruto grinned. He was so happy he thought his heart would burst from it. Life was slowly returning back to normal and he felt safe now that Sasuke was out of danger and back to his old bastardly ways.

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Twenty minutes later their doorbell rang and Naruto got up from the couch to see who it was. Sasuke send him a questioning look over the twins’ squirming head and Naruto gave him a reassuring smile. His grandpa and Konohamaru had said they would drop in and the rest of the family would be coming by later, as well.

He opened the door and blinked when a beautiful pink box with an extra large bow was thrust into his chest by Kisame. The tall, dark man had a wide grin and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Kisame?” Naruto asked taking hold of the gift and stepping aside. Kisame walked inside and spying Itachi, headed towards him.

The twins slid off Sasuke’s lap suddenly fascinated with the man with the shark like smile. They each took a large hand in one of their own, lifting their heads up to look at the tall, muscular man.

Sasuke and Naruto watched amazed as the twins seemed to instantly warm up to a man who regularly made adults, as well as children, cry.

“Hey, mis’ter” Yuri asked tugging at Kisame’s jersey.

Kisame looked down and his smile grew. “Ah, so you’re the little Uchihas,” he said kneeling down beside them and pulling both of them in a big hug.

“You’re really big!” Yoshi exclaimed as he and his twin were released.

Kisame laughed and then glanced up at Naruto who was holding the box with his fingertips, his eyes looking at the present suspiciously. Naruto must still remember his last gift. Really, a black dildo seemed like an appropriate gift at the time. It’s not every day you celebrate the adoption of twins…

“Is it safe to open?” Naruto asked, “You know… in mixed company.”

Sasuke growled deep in his throat. “You better not have brought anything stup…” Two sets of questioning blue eyes stopped his words, “I mean silly.” he said eyeing the kids that seemed to be so comfortable with Kisame.

Kisame ignored them and instead focused his attention on the kids who started open eyed at his piercings. Yoshi pulled on his ears and Yuri poked at the one in his chin.

“Does it hurt?” Yoshi asked his big blue eyes looking up at him. Kisame shook his head before standing up and holding his hands out to Naruto.

“Itachi asked me to go get this for your kid,” he said taking the gift from Naruto. He handed the box to Yuri who looked delighted to be getting a gift.

Itachi looked amazed. He’d totally forgotten about the stupid boa that broke his ‘precious’ and humiliated him at the store.

Yuri and Yoshi eagerly opened the gift and pulled out the long pink boa. Yuri laughed delighted. “You found it! Daddy and Mama lost it when they were playing big kid games.” Naruto blushed violently and Sasuke found the hem of his shirt fascinating.

Itachi and Hinata looked at the dreaded boa and back at Kisame.

“How?” they asked amazed. Naruto and Sasuke, having composed themselves nodded, equally amazed.

Kisame looked puzzled. “You guys make it sound like it was brain surgery or something?” he remarked sitting down on the armchair. “Although, I did see some very interesting video footage at the store,” His eyes filled with mirth and he directed his gaze at Itachi and Hinata. “Some really very interesting pictures of you two,” he winked at the petite burnet who was blushing furiously.

Naruto’s mouth dropped opened and stared at Itachi dumbfounded. Did the man have no sense of self preservation??

Sasuke glanced at his brother, seeing a slight pink hue to his skin and suddenly he wanted to know more. “Interesting? In what way?” he asked.

Kisame opened his mouth but a low growl and the sudden feeling that he was being marked for death stop him. He gulped.

“Never mind that. How the hell did you manage to get it?” Naruto asked. Yuri and Yoshi sat on the floor by Kisame looking at him with hero worship in their eyes.

“My animal magnetism,” Kisame laughed at the doubtful looks. “Come on, how do you think I got it?”

“Considering our joint efforts to get the thing, we really want to know why you didn’t go insane and blow up the place.” Sasuke said.

Kisame grinned remembering the rather pleasant day he had at the store.

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Deidara approached the game section slowly, mentally cursing his manager. Please… like a pedophile would really come into a place like this. It was too scary. The mothers that shopped here were certifiable. He had seen them during seventy percent off sales… The blonde shuddered and continued his trek to aisle five.

When he got closer, he heard laughter and shouts. He turned the corner and saw a huge black man laughing and giving high fives to a bunch of little kids. Hmm, his not bad looking, Deidara thought.

Kisame looked up and he locked eyes with an attractive blonde employee. Hmm… the day just gets better and better.

“Well, kids, I think I better go.” Kisame said, never breaking eye contact with the blonde.

The kids groaned and pleaded with him to stay. Deidara walked up to them. “My manager things you are molesting these kids,” he said with a smile.

Kisame laughed and winked at the kids. “Me? Molesting the little brats? More like me kicking their little as… butts.”

Deidara nodded. “Can I help you with anything?” There was a saucy look in the blond’s eyes.

Kisame smile suddenly took a seductive curve on his face. “You can help me any time.”

And then, of course, they found themselves in the manager’s office going at it like monkeys until the manager walked in on them and raised bloody hell. Kisame thought for sure that Deidara would get fired and he wouldn’t get the boa. But, it was his lucky day and it turned out that Deidara was actually the son of the store’s owner and was only working because his parents wanted him to learn some value. In the end, he got the boa for free, the manager was fired and he had a new part-time job as assistant manager. Oh, and he had a date next Friday with the owner’s son.

Not bad, not bad at all.

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The grin on Kisame’s face grew and he opened his mouth to relay the tale when…

“Never mind we don’t want to know,” Naruto muttered and the rest of the adults nodded, seeing the dreamy, faraway look in Kisame’s eyes.

Kisame laughed. “Well, let’s just say that thanks to me, you guys are no longer banned from the store.”

Sasuke groaned in pain.


“Are you alright?” Naruto asked anxiously eyeing the black haired man up and down.

Sasuke nodded and glared at Kisame. “What did you do? Can’t you see he will drag me back to that god forsaken place?” Yuri and Yoshi laughed at their father’s sour expression.

“Daddy is funny!” Yoshi giggled.

“Don’t pay attention to him, Kisame. Tell us how you managed that?” Naruto asked while he absently took Sasuke’s hand in his own, weaving their fingers together. Itachi had sat down next to Naruto and pulled Hinata onto his lap, waiting for the heroic tale.


“It’s a long story one that involves S-E-X,” he spelled the last word. The four of them shuddered. Who in their right mind would want to have sex with Kisame?

Yuri who had been listening attentively to the conversation frowned. “Mama, what is SEZ?” she asked.

Sasuke paled. He wasn’t ready to explain to his three year old daughter about sex. Naruto’s mouth dropped open, staring at his daughter while his mouth and brain tried to connect. Itachi smirked while Hinata blushed furiously.

It was Kisame who answered her, two pairs of eyes turned eagerly to him. “Well, you see…” he began but he never got to finish as four cushions were thrown at him, hitting him straight in the face.

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Konoha County General Hospital was once more up and running and two weeks after having nearly died, Doctors Uchiha, Hatake, Umino and Sarutobi reported for duty.

Sasuke was amazed at how much it hadn’t changed. Not that it showed on his face. After entering the ER to the obnoxious roars and congratulations of his fellow workers, Sasuke locked away his belongings and headed toward the nurses’ station. He immediately looked for the pink hair of KCGH’s most competent nurse and stopped in his tracks. Not everything was the same.

The new nurse smiled coyly at him and he glared coolly. Best to teach her quickly. “My name is Doctor Uchiha. You can call me Doctor Uchiha.” Her smiled slipped some but the hope remained in her eyes. Sasuke narrowed his eyes and his voice dropped several degrees, “I will not have an incompetent nurse around my patients and looking at me like a heart-eyed fangirl makes you incompetent by my estimation.” The smile was gone but the hope hung by a pathetic thread, “I have a boyfriend who I routinely molest in empty exam rooms, elevators and stairwells. Watch out for that.” And the hope died silently. Sasuke smirked, “Charts, please.”

The young nurse sighed and handed the metal clipboards over, turning to write the sexy and totally unattainable doctor’s name on the patient board.

Sasuke walked toward exam room three and a case of ‘severe abdominal pain’ and thought about the talk he and Naruto had with Tsunade about the financial standing of the hospital. The busty blonde leaned back in her chair and smiled while Naruto ran on about backers and medical equipment and… well, Sasuke stopped listening after Naruto stood and presented a spectacular view of his jean clad ass.

“Brat,” Tsunade finally interrupted, “Shut up and sit down.”

Sasuke didn’t know whether to thank his boss or curse her.

“Two days after the quarantine lifted, the hospital received three large donations.” Naruto sat and Sasuke told himself he’d get some of that ass soon and nodded for Tsunade to continue. “One from Obito’s family, one from your parents, Uchiha, and one from an anonymous party.” At Naruto’s raised brow she smiled, “I can tell you that the delivery boy said, and I quote, ‘tell dickless hello.’”

Sasuke and Naruto sat quietly for a moment before…

“I have a fucking penis! That stupid prick!”

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The day had been long, spilling over into the night. Sasuke signed his last chart note and tossed his pen onto the desk. Naruto was somewhere, their shift having ended forty-five minutes ago. Yoshi and Yuri were staying with Grandfather Sarutobi for the next several days because Sasuke and Naruto were finally taking a trip to the coast. They would leave early the next morning, so the twins went to Grandpa’s house before their shift started.

Looking at the clock, Sasuke growled and remembered that he needed to remind Tsunade about making sure that one of them was scheduled to leave at a decent hour each day. Daycare closed at seven normally and it was eleven fifteen now. If Grandpa wasn’t watching them…

“Cousin!” Sasuke’s internal ramblings skidded to a halt when Obito’s arm was thrown over his shoulder. “I hear you and your husband are taking a little vacation.”

Sasuke shrugged the arm off, “Hn.”

Obito watched his cousin carefully. Did he tense at the mention of ‘husband’? “For a man who walked hand in hand with death and then spent two weeks convalescing with his family, you sure are cranky.”

“Have you seen Naruto?”

“He stuck his head in Kakashi’s office about twenty minutes ago. It wasn’t the… oh, how should I say this… best time. I was extraordinarily busy at the moment but I do think I heard some stuttering. What was it again?”

A deep voice behind them had both Sasuke and Obito turning, “It consisted of ‘oh god’, ‘why’, ‘my eyes’, ‘fucking locks’ and ‘going to the roof’.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes at the broad grin on Kakashi’s face and watched while Obito walked up to the silver haired doctor, eyes narrowed to dangerous, Uchiha proportions. “You seemed to be in complete control for someone who had their cock in my mou…”

Sasuke turned on his heel, “Oh god… going to the roof.”

“Yes!” Kakashi hollered after him, “Sparky sounded just like that!”

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Sasuke made his way slowly up the stairwell. It’s not that he didn’t want to see Naruto. In fact, he wanted nothing more than to find the blonde doctor, throw him over his shoulder and start their vacation early. Since waking up, Sasuke had spent every moment he could with Naruto and the twins. Naruto had been given time off to see to Sasuke’s recovery and, Sasuke stilled on the step while a devious smirk spread across his face, he had never seen a better nursemaid. Sponge baths… little pieces of heaven. Forced bed rest… little pieces of hell, in the most pleasurable ways.

He started walking again and paused when he reached the door leading out to the roof. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and listened to the silence around him. In the last two weeks Sasuke realized that he was the stupidest bastard alive. Naruto, who knew him better than anyone else, who challenged him, who loved him unconditionally and didn’t let him get away with anything just because of his name or attitude, deserved more from him.

But, the thing that really, really proved his monumental stupidity was that everyone else… EVERYONE else… already saw it. How many times had Konohamaru asked when he was going to marry Naruto? How many times had Obito and his brothers referred to Naruto as his husband? Even Itachi and Kisame had pointed it out more than once. Naruto was his partner in every way that mattered and although a slip of paper shouldn’t matter, it did and Sasuke had refused to give that to Naruto.

Sasuke’s left hand twisted the door handle while the right one slipped into his lab coat pocket and worried the small box within. That would all change during their vacation. He had the entire proposal planned down to the music, lighting and location of the lube.

Pushing open the door, he stepped onto the roof and his eyes immediately located Naruto.

Change of plans.

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Naruto leaned with his elbows against the low wall of the roof. The gentle night breeze blew the blonde spikes around his head, teasing his nose and getting in his eyes. While Sasuke watched, unnoticed by the blonde doctor, Naruto impatiently brushed the honey colored strands aside and dropped his elbow once more onto the wall. His white lab coat, caught by the wind, waved around him giving Sasuke brief glimpses of Naruto’s blue scrub clad legs, hips and ass.

The moon was high in the sky and Sasuke forced his eyes away from Naruto to notice it was full and impossibly huge. Sasuke was well aware that in the moonlight he resembled an extra from ‘Night of the Living Dead’… his pale skin turning ghostly white, the angles and shadows of his face appearing almost harsh. Naruto, however, looked ethereal with the moonlight shining off his hair and kissing his golden skin.

Sasuke strode across the empty roof until he was standing behind him, surprised that Naruto hadn’t heard him coming. He wrapped his arms around the man from behind and after a brief moment of surprise, Naruto relaxed into his arms.

“Hey, teme,” He whispered and then reached up, cupping the back of Sasuke’s head to pull him into a tender kiss that neither attempted to deepen. “I’ve been waiting.”

“Why don’t you ever ask why I won’t marry you?” Sasuke asked tightening his hold around the blonde.

Sasuke was prepared for Naruto to turn and start yelling or at least pull away, he was not prepared for the soft chuckle or Naruto to lean his golden head against his shoulder while turning his head to trail kisses up his jaw.

“Nice to see you too, bastard.”

“Answer the question, dobe.” Sasuke said while running his hands up and down Naruto’s arms. The moron should be wearing a coat. The weather man said… oh god… he was turning into Naruto.

“I guess I figured you wouldn’t be very receptive of the notion.” Naruto shrugged and turned in his arms until he was molded against Sasuke’s chest, their arms wrapped around each other. “But, mostly, I’m so happy just being with you, I didn’t want to ruin it by asking more than you were willing to give.”

“What about the twins? You asked for them.”

“I knew that if you allowed them too, the twins would make you very happy. I want you to be happy even if I have to fight to get you to except that happiness.”

Sasuke nuzzled the side of Naruto’s face, nipping teasingly at the tan lobe, “And you don’t think being married to you would make me happy?”

“Hmmm…” Naruto purred at the attention to the sensitive piece of skin and chuckled when he felt Sasuke’s hands slide down his lower back until they grabbed his ass. “I didn’t think that having a piece of paper that said we loved each other was worth the risk…”

“The risk?”

Naruto nodded and pulled away from Sasuke’s warmth, “Let’s face it, S’uke. Your role models for a loving relationship were… lacking. Ten years ago you had no intention of letting anyone get close to you. You were cynical, jaded and… quite honestly, unlovable. By choice.”

Sasuke felt something inside of him bristle but he forced it down. Naruto wasn’t lying. Ten years ago that’s exactly who he was… before Naruto told him he was lovable, precious.

“But, the moment I met you,” Naruto sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets and leaning back against the low wall, “I knew… or rather I really hoped, that I could make you happy. Four years, Sasuke. That’s how long it took you to kiss me. Four years of me being in your space, whispering in your ear and yelling in your face for you to realize that being with me would make you happy. It took another two years for you to cotton on to the idea that life would be simpler and sex more frequent if we didn’t have to commute between apartments. I knew… know… that I can make you happy, Sasuke.”

Sasuke moved forward, nodding, but Naruto held up his hand. Sasuke looked up and felt his breath catch in his throat at the beautiful smile on Naruto’s face, “But, making you happy has nothing to do with a piece of paper, the sharing of names or a commitment that your parents made look like Chinese water torture. I have you. Marriage isn’t a necessity. I don’t know what else to say.”

“But, marriage would make you happy…” Sasuke asked his fingers once more brushing the box in his pocket.

“You being happy makes me happy, teme.” Another gentle shrug and soft smile.

In a flash, Sasuke’s hands with fisted in his lab coat, yanking him forward. “Damn it, Naruto… I want to know if marriage would make you happy!” Sasuke was all but yelling, his voice harsh and cutting. Fucking dobe… Never did a thing, in his life, for himself…

Blue eyes narrowed and Naruto knocked Sasuke’s hands away, “Ten years ago I fell in love with the man I wanted to marry over Candace the Cadaver in Anatomy 211. Had the bastard handed me her fucking liver and said ‘Marry me?’ I would have died happy in that moment. Does that answer your question?”

Sasuke took two steps back and watched while Naruto panted slightly, trying to reign in his emotions. Moonlight washed over the blonde and Sasuke couldn’t believe how… beautiful, mesmerizing and… perfect… Naruto looked at that moment with anger and love swirling through blue eyes, tan fists clinched at his side.

“Sasuke,” Naruto said breaking Sasuke’s staring, “Can we just go home?” He moved to walk passed Sasuke but stopped when pale fingers clasped around his wrist. They stood like that for several moments, each facing in opposite directions, joined together at Naruto’s wrist.

“Tomorrow night, at eight o’clock, I’m going to suggest that we go for a walk on the beach,” Sasuke whispered, the wind nearly blowing his words away before they reached Naruto’s ears. Naruto felt himself turned until he was caught in midnight black orbs alight with emotions normally reserved for the privacy of their bedroom. “The stars will be at their brightest and the moon will reflect off the water while we walk hand in hand down the beach. You’ll have pestered me into taking off my shoes and I’ll have grumbled but given in because truthfully, it’s impossible for me to say no to you.”

“S’uke…” A pale finger against his pink lips stopped his words.

“Five minutes into our walk, I’ll stop you and ask if you hear something. You’ll tilt your head to the side and your beautiful eyes will widen because you’ll finally hear the orchestra music. You’ll laugh and asked where it’s coming from before joking how some silly sap is trying to woo their love.” Sasuke took a breath, “Suddenly, you’ll realize I’m not laughing and you’ll fuss with the hair on the back of your head and ask me if I’m okay.”

Sasuke ran his own hand through his hair and looked at Naruto, blue eyes impossibly huge. “For a moment, Naruto, I won’t be able to answer because I’ll be petrified… what if you realize in that moment that you could do so much better than me? That you deserve SO much better than me?”

“Sasuke…” Naruto started again but pale lips pressed chastely against his own, once more stilling his words.

“I’ll drop to me knee in front of you,” Sasuke fell to one knee, still holding tightly onto Naruto’s hand, almost painfully so, “You’ll start to stutter, trying to pull me up,” Naruto stopped tugging on Sasuke’s hand, “But I won’t budge because I’m sure that I love you. I’m positive that I need you and I finally… finally… realized that when you are happy, so am I.”

“Tomorrow night, at eight twenty, with violins in the background and the moon as our witness, I’ll look up into your eyes and beg you to marry me.”

Naruto gasped when a tear slid down Sasuke’s pale cheek, sparkling in the moonlight. Falling to his knees in front of Sasuke, Naruto cupped Sasuke’s cheeks in his hands and kissed away the single tear before capturing his lips with his own, a soft pressing of lips that silently screamed of devotion, desperation and love.

“Will you marry me, Naruto?” Naruto felt the words against his lips and smiled, nodding into the kiss before he licked the seam of Sasuke’s lips and eagerly invaded the sweet warmth when pale lips parted.

Naruto put everything he was into the kiss, mapping out teeth and gums he had known for six years but that tonight were one hundred times sweeter. Naruto moaned into Sasuke’s mouth and his hands scrambled to pull the dark hair man closer, until their bodies were pressed together, the heat of their skin blending like their breaths.

Sasuke broke away, panting slightly before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the small, black box. Naruto’s breath audible caught and Sasuke smiled, “I need to hear the words, dobe.”

Naruto smiled and nodded once more, “Yes… hell yes, fuck yes, yes, yes, yes.”

“So, that was a yes then?”

“Bastard…” And then Naruto watched while Sasuke slipped the simple gold band onto his finger.

“This is actually your wedding band, dobe. The symbol of my love for you that I’ll put on your finger when I promise before god, and all of our friends, to love you forever. But, I wanted you to know I was serious… and so…”

“I get it, teme. Thank you.”

Sasuke pulled Naruto to his feet and grabbed his hand in his own before walking toward the door. “Let’s go home, Naruto.”

“I think I said that.” Naruto chuckled at Sasuke’s growl and then smiled silently when he felt Sasuke’s fingers absently twist the ring on his finger. “So… now what are we going to do tomorrow night, at eight o’clock?”

Sasuke yanked Naruto against his chest and stole his breath with a fiery kiss that weakened both their knees. Pulling away slowly with a last lick along Naruto’s lips, Sasuke smirked, “Tomorrow night, at eight o’clock, I’m going to show you where I hid the lube.”

Naruto’s laugh was lost in the sound of the medicopter as it approached the landing pad and Sasuke pulled Naruto through the door, intent on getting his soon to be husband home.

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