Last Chance

A/N: Sorry this took so long. I was having trouble getting everything I wanted to happen in this story in before the end. -This is not the end- I think I got it to work now and I hope you enjoy the last couple chapters of this story.

Warning: Slight Het
_______________
Dinner was a pleasant affair but Naruto found out that Sasuke had been right. He was still in love with the pink-haired medical nin. Try as he might he couldn’t figure out how it could be possible to be in love with two people at the same time. But his confusion still didn’t change the truth, he was. At first he thought it was probably the lust induced by his Kyuubi side during this cycle, and some of it probably was. But the warm feeling in his chest would remain as they spoke together, even when his head wasn’t filled with images of her writhing under him.

At some point Ino and Choji had joined them and were now sharing the other side of the booth. Neither one of them had really been surprised to see the married couple at the Korean BBQ. What did surprise Naruto was that Ino wasn’t completely sick of BBQ after being married to Choji for over a year. Choji ate quietly and Naruto followed suit as the women chatted happily. Sakura laughed delicately at something Ino said and Naruto was transfixed by the soft look that transformed her face. She turned to look at him and he felt his heart skip. Sakura entwined her fingers with his and a goofy grin encased his face.

Ino watched the events transpiring across the table with a smug grin. Her friend finally realized what had been in front of her for years. She just hoped she wasn’t stupid enough to let it escape. “So, Naruto, Sakura. When should we be expecting the invitations?”

“Invitations?” Naruto looked at the blonde, dazed and confused.

“You know, for the wedding. You’re both obviously in love and the council made that announcement at your succession ceremony,” she said as she propped her head on her folded hands.

“Wedding! But… but… but we’ve been dating for less than a month!” Naruto voice rose in his panic. Here was someone else trying to force him into marrying!

“And you’ve been in love with her for almost your whole life. What should the timing matter?” Ino drawled exasperated. Apparently, this wasn’t going to go as easy as she would have liked for her poor friend.

“Ino. You’re making him uncomfortable,” Sakura said tightly looking back and forth between the pair of blondes. She’d strangle Ino if she ruined this for her tonight. So far everything had been going great.

“You always have to fall for the commitment challenged ones, don’t you Sakura,” Ino sighed with a shake of her head. “Well, the good thing is the council’s not going to give him much of a choice. He’ll have to marry sooner or later.”

Naruto stood up quickly and slammed his hands on the table as he glared at Ino. “I’m not going to be bullied by the council, and I’m not going to be bullied by blonde bimbos like you!”

“Naruto,” Choji began to warn but was silenced as he watched the contents from their teapot fly at the Hokage’s face.

Naruto’s eyes widened in shock and his mouth gapped open as the, thankfully lukewarm, liquid ran down his face and chest. Choji jumped up hurriedly to stand in front of his wife in a protective gesture. Ino shook with rage behind her husband and the entire restaurant waited in a tense silence for the explosion.

After a moment, the hostess ran up and addressed the wet blond, “Hokage-sama, would you like us to throw her out?”

With an eerie calm they didn’t know the blonde could posses, Naruto held up a hand. “It’s alright. I said something inappropriate.” He turned to Choji, “I’m sorry for insulting your wife. I’m going to go and get into something dry. Sakura,” he acknowledged with a slight bow before turning to leave.

Sakura paused for just a second then ran up catching the crook of his arm. “I’m coming with you.” He only nodded in response as he continued walking.

Most of Naruto anger had dissipated by the time they reached his apartment and he felt kind of silly for letting his temper get the best of him. Stepping into the sitting room, he grinned sheepishly at Sakura, “Sorry about ruining our dinner Sakura-chan, but I can have someone bring food here.”

“That sounds good, Naruto,” she said smiling cheerfully.

Naruto’s grin became relaxed, relieved that she wasn’t angry. “Just let me go clean-up and I’ll be right out,” he indicated down the hall. Sakura smiled with a nod and sat down at the kotatsu.

Stepping into the bathroom, Naruto began to remove his sodden clothes. He cringed when he tried to remove his shirt; it stuck to his chest. Pulling firmer, he groaned at the strings of stickiness that clung between this chest and shirt before breaking free.

“Who in the hell put so much sugar in that tea,” he groused, touching his chest and the gooeyness. “Probably Choji,” he mumbled in irritation. Removing the rest of his clothes he moved toward the bath. “I guess I’ll have to shower this stuff off first.” He moved a hand to his hair, only to find the front hard from the now dry liquid. “Yep. Definitely have to shower.”

Sakura sat under the warm blanket of the kotatsu as she observed the sitting room. Though she had been the last Hokage’s student, she had never seen inside her private apartments. And her only other time her and been when she snuck in to follow Chiinu, it had been dark. Everything was richly furnished. She ran her hand over the smooth lacquer of the kotatsu. Looking behind her, she could see a chaise deeper in the room. Not many in fire country had a couch but that must be a perk of the rich. She preferred the pillows of the kotatsu out of familiarity, but her house didn’t have backs on their pillows like these did. It was nice, she thought as she leaned back. If she could remember correctly about the few times they had been allowed in the Uchiha complex, Sasuke had a couch. It was kind of hard to remember that Naruto was now in that same class.

Hmmn. Naruto still hadn’t come back. Sakura stood and walked down the hall Naruto had disappeared down. Walking down the hall she passed many doors, remembering the Hokage’s room was in the deepest part of the mansion.

She knocked on the door but didn’t get a response so she poked her head in the door, “Naruto?” ‘Where could he have gone,’ she thought as she stepped in the room. Once inside she could hear the sound of running water to the left. ‘Oh, he must have decided he needed a shower. She turned her attention back to the room and her eyes grew wide, that was the biggest bed she had ever seen. Walking up, she fingered the delicate engravings on the four-poster bed. A deep red canopy hung beautifully over the top of the bed with curtains tied at each poster. That was, all but one.

Sakura eyed the loose curtain, wondering why it was missing the rope. Then she spied the rope; it was tied to the poster but not the curtain. Why would… Sakura’s face burned red when she realized the reason the rope would be tied to the post alone. ‘Damn Chiinu!’ she though, turning quickly from the bed and kicking something on the floor. But Naruto had been so gentle with her, did that mean he bottomed for the ANBU Captain? She wrestled with the ideas and images in her head. She couldn’t imagine Naruto being the type to tie anyone up but she thought it harder to imagine Naruto giving up control to anyone.

Looking down at what she had kicked, she bent over and picked up a blue cloth. Turning it in her hands, she realized it was a shirt. Naruto didn’t wear blue, the only dark color he ever wore was back when he had a mission. She turned it in her hands again and froze when she found a small fan on the collar.

At a click of the door, she raised her head quickly and was greeted with the sight of a wide-eyed Naruto. With one hand on the door and one on the jam, Sakura could take in his glorious, golden form. A towel was tied low on his hips, barely covering the necessities. Water dripped from his hair, running delicate trials down his hest and being absorbed when they reached the towel.

“Sa… Sakura-chan!” Naruto yelped out as he brought both hands to firmly keep the towel closed. “Wha… I thought you were waiting in the sitting room?”

“You didn’t come out. I didn’t know you had decided to take a shower,” she spoke softly as she approached.

‘No. No. No,’ he mentally ranted at himself as she drew near. He had been trying to reign in his hormones all day. Being this close to Sakura while practical naked was too much! She was still speaking but he ha barely heard a work as he continued his mental battle.

She placed a hand on his arm as she asked, “I didn’t know you started wearing blue?” She indicated to the shirt in her other hand.

Naruto’s arm burned at her touch and he barely registered her words as he squeaked, “Sasuke must have left it,” before jumping away and practically flying to his closet. “I’ll… I’ll just get dressed now, Sakura-chan,” he stuttered as he ripped open the door.

Naruto was too flustered to realize what he had just let slip but Sakura’s face darkened as her suspicions were confirmed. Images of Chiinu flashed through her mind. Chiinu’s arrogant stance. Chiinu’s black hair framing his red mask. Chiinu’s pale arms wrapped around Naruto’s neck. Sasuke, with the same arrogant stance, black hair, and pale skin, telling her to give Naruto a chance! He had pushed her to him and now he was trying to steal him away! Well, she wasn’t going to let that happen.

As Naruto ruffled haphazardly through his closet, Sakura brought a chakara infused hand to her abdomen and closed her eyes. A small smile framed her face as she thought, ‘Perfect. It’s just the right time.’ She quietly walked up to Naruto and laid a hand on his bare back. “Naruto?” she inquired huskily.

Naruto yelped and jumped to face her, holding a shirt in front of his towel. “Y… Yes, Sakura-chan?” He had really hoped she would have left the room when he said he was going to get dressed.

She stepped closer and placed both hands on his naked chest. “I was wondering if you had thought about what the council said?”

“Huh?” he breathed out, trying to keep the blood in his brain for thinking.

“About getting married,” she supplied.

‘This is my chance,’ Naruto thought. ‘ I can let her know I’m not ready to get married!’ Grasping both of her wrists, he moved her hands from his hest. “Sakura-chan, I don’t think…”

Sakura’s eyes grew wide and she grabbed his forearms as she blurted out franticly, “Naruto I’m pregnant!”

“Wha…” he mumbled as he stumbled backwards.

Sakura looked down shyly as she continued in a soft tone, “I’m pregnant. That time at the creek.” She looked up in to his eyes hopefully, “I’m going to have your baby, Naruto. Are you happy?”

Naruto felt his heart clench. ‘A baby? Oh gods, Sasuke.’

Sakura threw her arms around his middle, squeezing tightly, and mumbled into his chest, “Please say you’re happy. I’m happy to have your baby, Naruto.”

“Sakura,” he managed to mumble out. Sakura began placing small kisses on his bare chest and he shivered as his mind raced. A baby. He never thought he would have one, he never thought he would find a woman who was willing to have his child. Sakura said she was happy to have his baby.

Naruto’s arms tightened around Sakura as her kisses turned into licks. He had wanted Sakura forever, and now he had her and she was willing to give him a child. He loved Sakura, but he loved Sasuke too! He knew he would have to leave Sasuke after this; he couldn’t leave Sakura alone with their child.

“Naruto,” Sakura called. She had been watching the emotions flit across his face and her heart felt heavy at making him feel distressed. She had to make sure. “Naruto, do you love me?”

Naruto looked down at her worried face and pushed his other emotions aside. “Yes, Sakura-chan,” he said cupping her face. “I love you. And I’m happy about the baby.” He leaned over and caught her lips in a soft kiss. “Thank you, Sakura-chan,” he breathed against her lips. “I’m happy.” And he knew it was true when warmth grew in his chest at the thought. A baby, his baby, a family.

Sakura sighed and raised her arms around his neck, “Make love to me, Naruto.”

Naruto nodded and lowered the zipper of her top as he backed her up to the bed. Tsunade’s voice rang in his head, warning him about his current condition. But she was already pregnant, he reasoned with himself, it wouldn’t do any harm. His biggest concern was how he was going to handle Sasuke when he returned from his mission. He had two weeks to worry about that, so he pushed it from his mind and turned his attention back to undressing Sakura.
________________

Please don't kill me! The story is not over, keep reading and hoping for the outcome you would like. Remember Sasuke is coming back from Suna in the next chapter.
"Aaaaahhhh!" *Tereshi runs from rabid fangirls and scary Sakura-haters* "Sasuke is coming back, you don't think he'd give up that easily do you?"