Why Orange?

Finally I can update!

{Kyuubi}: Finally?

{T.W.}: I had actually typed up almost all of this chapter on the library computer when the school had a power-outage and I couldn't update on tuesday because of that!(growls in frustration) It sucked.

{Kyuubi}:(pats T.W. on the head) Well you're updating now so everything's fine, ne?

{T.W.}: Mostly. BTW Did anyone else who read chapter 354 think Juugo made wearing a curtain look damn good?

{Kyuubi}: Are you becoming a Juugo fangirl?

{T.W.}: Possibly. How come you're the only one who's here? Where are Itachi and Sai?

{Kyuubi}: I exausted them.

{T.W.}: O.O You managed to exaust Itachi with sex?! Impressive.

{Kyuubi}: Thank you.

{T.W.}: Alright I'm gonna start replying to what reviews I can think of a reply for in my author notes so here we go
RSlover I'm so glad you enjoy it so much.

dana I honestly have NO idea how many chapters this is going to be eventually. I originally planned it for a short 13 chapter fic but stuff happened and it grew to it's current proportions. I CAN tell you that I plan to hit the high notes of chlidrearing from the time the kids are born to the time they're 5 years old, more than one year may be covered in a single chapter.

Spiraling Oh I checked it out alright, I appreciate you bringing it to my attention cause I do find a few too many simularities for mere coincidence.

Vague There is NO WAY I'd ever request that you remove the link to my fic from your site. I'm beyond flattered that you think it's good enough to be on the site.

StarAWings(gives you more tissues) I'm keeping the names a secret til they're born cause I want to add some more anticipation.

Okay there, if I didn't reply to review it's cause I couldn't think of anything to say beyond Thanks.

On another note I have a request for anyone who want to use an idea or scene from ANY of my fic, please at least give me credit. You don't have to ask me if you can use it as long as you say where you got the idea from in your author note.

Alright now on to the fic

'thoughts'

Chapter 35
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Naruto eyed his female teammate as she led him over to the maternity bras. She'd already had him put on the baby store's registry and was now about to subject him to the indignity of being measured for a bra.

"Sakura-chan can't we just make a guess about the size?"

"No, stop whining and think of this as practice for when you have to take your daughter shopping for her first bra."

"I so don't want to even think about that much less practice for it."

The clerk looked at him with confusion at first, then recognition dawned and she smiled, "Oh Naruto-san welcome."

He returned her brillant smile with a wan one of his own. The villagers were all taking his pregnancy very well, several had sent him baby blankets and teas to calm his stomache. The clerk took notice of his discomfort and set about soothing his nervousness bvy explaining the measurement process and shooing Sakura out of the fitting room.

Naruto's smile brightened a bit, "Thanks."

"Oh no problem. Now if you'll just take your shirt off we'll get you measured."

He pulled the shirt off and she went about determining the size of the bra he would need, "Hmm you've got about an inch difference so you'll be a A-cup. You can put your shirt back on now."

Once he had his shirt back on, they exited the fitting room to see a pouting Sakura. The clerk ignored her and led them to the proper section and pointed out the size that Naruto needed, "If you need any help, I'll be over behind the counter."

She left them to their own devices and Naruto grabbed a few simple white bras in the right size, "That should be enough, right Sakura-chan?"

He started to scurry away but she caught his arm, "Hold it! Don't you want something more...attractive?"

She looked distainfully at the plain and downright ugly bras that Naruto held.

"No, not really. I just want to get 'em and get out."

Sakura picked up a red lace bra, "But wouldn't you rather have a little color and look this one has frogs on it. Oh! and this one has lace!"

Naruto looked he square in the eye, "Sakura-chan, I'm a guy, I don't do lace and I don't want any colored ones."

"But the white is so plain."

"It's underwear and the omly people who see my underwear are myself and Sasuke and believe me, his only interest in my underwear is how fast he can get it off me. I stopped wearing my boxers because he was ripping them off, literally."

Sakura blushed and nearly drooled at that mental image, put the bras she'd tried to talk Naruto into back on the rack and followed him to the check-out.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When he got home, Naruto went upstairs, dropped the shopping bag on the bed, and went in search of Sasuke. He found the brunette in the library reading a scroll on Uchiha lineage."

"Hey whatcha doing?"

"Looking at traditional Uchiha names."

Naruto tilted his head to the side, "For the babies?"

"Hn."

"And?"

Sasuke rolled the scroll back up, "And there is no way we're naming our children any of those names."

"I take it that none of the traditional Uchiha names have pleasant roots?"

"I'll put it this way, Itachi got the least objectionable of the traditional names."

Naruto grimaced, "Ouch. Well it doesn't matter, we can come up with better names teme."

Sasuke got up and led Naruto over to a love seat, "True. Have any in mind?"

Naruto leaned against the brunette, "Mmm well since one of them is sure to have your skin color there's Yuki."

"Hn. What about Usagi?"

"Why that?"

"Because with you as the mom, one is bound to be hyper as a rabbit."

Naruto eyed Sasuke, "Oi teme, no turning this into an insult competition."

Sasuke chuckled, "Alright. You know we don't have to decide on names yet, we still have plenty of time until they're born."

"Mmm-hmm."

The Uchiha glanced down at Naruto and saw that his eyes were a bit hooded, "Tired Naruto?"

"Nah, I was just wondering..."

"Yes?"

"Where is the nursery going to be?"

Sasuke blinked then, smiled and tugged Naruto off the couch, "I have an idea for that. Come with me usuratonkachi."

Naruto followed him to the room next to their bedroom. Sasuke went around the room opening the black curtains and as sunlight flooded the starkly empty room, Naruto goggled at the size of it.

"Whoa, this room is huge!"

"I thought it would be a good size for three babies and all the necessary paraphinalia."

Naruto nodded and sent Sasuke a brilliant smile, "It's perfect teme."

The brunette walked back to Naruto and gestured at the barren walls and floor, "It needs a little work, paint, carpet, and other things."

"Yeah but that's easy to do. Especially if we can rope everyone into helping out."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "You are not painting or installing carpet usuratonkachi."

"Well duh. Why do you think I said if we can get everyone to help?"

Sasuke eyed Naruto and grunted sceptically. Naruto's stomache voiced a loud protest over not being fed yet and Sasuke smiled, "Sounds like you haven't had lunch."

"I wanted to get away from Sakura-chan as soon as possible. She's scary when she's in a shopping mood."

The brunette laughed and tugged Naruto downstairs to the kitchen for lunch.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
{a few weeks later}

Sasuke eyed Naruto as the blond tapped his foot impatiently. Their friends were babyproofing the house and putting the finishing touches on the nursery; after they were done all that would be left to do would be to move in furniture and baby toys. Naruto was itchy to see the finished product.

"Naruto."

"Hm?"

"Aren't you hungry," Sasuke nodded at the plate of shougayaki in front of Naruto.

"Not really. I didn't even want to go out for dinner in the first place."

"I am aware."

Sasuke had taken Naruto out so that he wouldn't be able to rush upstairs, trying to help fix up the nursery. Of course Sasuke wasn't about to tell Naruto that. The blond got up, "I'm heading back home," and he walked out of the restaurant, leaving Sasuke to curse and throw money down for the meal down on the table before following his pregnant husband.

As they approached the mansion, Sakura came out and waved at them, "There you are! Come on, everything's finished."

Naruto hurried to the room Sasuke close at his heels making sure that he didn't trip. They paused at the door, which some industrious soul had painted blue then, Naruto stepped into the room.

"Whoa."

Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow at the change that had been wrought in the room.

The top half of the walls had been painted a golden yellow, the bottom half was padded with red rubber, and between the two colors was a blue chair rail that had black kunai and shuriken painted on it. The floor was covered with fluffy blue carpet and curtains that matched the chair rail graced the windows. Naruto walked to the middle of the room grinning hugely, "This is incredible. Just perfect. Where is everyone Sakura-chan? I want to thank them."

She smiled at his delight, "They all went home. They wanted you to have time to absorb all of it."

"I'll camm everyone later on then."

Sasuke walked over to Naruto as Sakura took her leave and wrapped his arms around the blond from behind.

"They did a good job."

Naruto leaned back against him, "Yeah, it's really gre-Oh!"

Naruto jumped a bit and Sasuke tensed and turned Naruto to face him, "What is it? Is something wrong? Should I call Tsunade?"

Naruto shook his head, "No, one of our kids just kicked id all."

He brought Sasuke's hand to his belly just in time for the Uchiha to feel a series of kicks. His black eyes softened and he smiled, "It appears they're offering an opinion on their nursery."

"Yeah, I think they like it."

Sasuke leaned down and gave Naruto a gentle kiss. The blond broke the kiss with a huge yawn, making Sasuke chuckle, "Come on usuratonkachi let's go to bed."

They were settling underneath the covers when Naruto thought of something.

"Sasuke, I was wondering, what was that room originally used for?"

Sasuke ran his fingers through Naruto's hair, "It was my parents room. After the massacre I didn't want to stay in it so I moved my things to the room next to it."

"And this room?"

"It was our playroom, mine and Itachi's. When I got old enough he turned it into a dojo and taught me taijutsu here."

Naruto looked at Sasuke's face and saw a wistful smile. Sasuke caught Naruto's gaze, saw concern, and smiled, "Usuratonkachi what's with the worried look?"

"I didn't mean to bring up any sad memories."

"You didn't. This room is really the only one in which I never had any bad memories. Here I remember that Itachi was once a good person, a good big brother."

Sasuke looked out the window at the night, "I think the reason he killed the clan is because he reached the supposed shinobi ideal. He lost all emotion and all that was left was the desire to become stronger. I feel pity for him now. Being emotionless is an empty existance," Sasuke looked back to Naruto and nuzzled the blond's cheek, "I have so much more than I ever hoped for and he has nothing, not even emotions. I may not be as strong a fighter as he is but I'm a much stronger person because I do feel and because I have you."

Naruto felt a single tear fall from his eye and Sasuke caught it on his tongue.

"Don't cry usuratonkachi," the former avenger kissed his blond briefly then, he tucked Naruto against him, laid a hand over the swell of their growing children, and whispered, "I love you Naruto."

Naruto buried his face against Sasuke's neck, "Love you too."

Then they fell into sleep, warm in each other's embrace.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Was that a little too sweet?

{Itachi}: He pities me?

{T.W.}:(jumps) Where did you come from?! I thought you were exausted?

{Itachi}: I recover quickly. Pities me?

{T.W.}:(flinches) Take it easy Itachi, you'll be kinda redeemed in a couple chapters. Really.

{Itachi}:(raises an eyebrow) You'd better not be lying.

{T.W.}: I'm not! Kyuubi distract him before he kills me PLEASE!

{Kyuubi}:(holds up nurse uniform, labcoat, and hospital gown, and waves bottle of flavored lube in front of Itachi) Itachi what do you think about rousing Sai and playing 'Naughty Nurse, Helpless Patient, and Stern Doctor'?

{Itachi}:(blinks, smirks, and drags Kyuubi off to find Sai)

{T.W.}: Phew! That was a close one. Well what'd you think? The next chapter will be the baby shower. Please review and feel free to ask me anything. Ja ne!