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: I have had an epiphany, my dear readers. It turns out that I am Tsunade’s long, lost, MUCH younger little sister. So, Roely and I had another bet going for chapter four. It involved a section of the story that I thought was brilliant. I told Roely that at least four people would comment on it in their reviews. Only three did and I lost… again. This is like a third time or something. No more betting for me! As a result, you can all expect a one-shot from me within the next month involving Naruto and Kakashi… seriously, Roely has pedophile issues. Sigh.
But, all that aside… Roely got angsty (I know bad things are coming when she says ‘you’re not going to like where I left you’ in her subject line) and I got gooey… it’s what I do.
We both hope you enjoy!

All the Small Things
Chapter 5


The insistent shrill ringing in his ears made Sasuke grunt before turning over on his stomach, grabbing his pillow and putting it over his head. However, the attempt was futile and the sound didn’t go away. He groaned in frustration. It was his damn day off… okay, forced day off, but still, he wanted to sleep in a bit more. Then the smell of something burning reached his nose and he quickly leapt out of the bed. His heart began to pound when he realized that his dobe wasn’t in bed with him.

“Naruto!” he yelled running into the living room area. He heard Naruto’s curses coming from the kitchen and he was relieved. The idiot had probably burned something, which had probably been inedible anyways. He smirked as he walked into the kitchen, all the better for him.

His eyes widened when he saw Naruto struggling with a pan that had caught fire. Sasuke quickly grabbed a towel, pushing the dobe out of the way and turned off the stove, beating the fire into submission with the dish towel.

“My hero.” The blonde deadpanned behind him and the dark haired man turned around. Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief but frowned when he saw Naruto clutching his right hand. “Idiot, let me see!” he grabbed Naruto’s hand. It was just a heat burn really, so he yanked him over to the sink and ran cold water over the injured hand.

“Bastard, stop it! It’s nothing!”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, “Naruto, baby, you have got to stop cooking. You’ll burn the apartment down and then there’s the small issue of you poisoning our children.”

“I resent that!” Naruto pouted but his heart leapt with joy at Sasuke’s words. Sasuke had said ‘our children’. God, he really loved this man.

Sasuke couldn’t resist the cute and pouting Naruto, so he stole a quick kiss ignoring the shrill sound of the fire detector, until that is, someone banged on their door.

“Shit! Keep your hand in the water for at least fifteen minutes!” Sasuke ordered. “I’ll go get the door.” Ignoring Naruto’s sarcastic comment of ‘oh thank god I’m sleeping with a doctor,’ Sasuke walked angrily towards the door, yanking it open to a very angry Yamamoro-san.

Sasuke was not scared of many people. In fact, he prided himself on being everyone’s worst nightmare but seeing the small women holding a baseball bat, giving him a killing look, while wearing Sponge Bob Square Pants PJ’s was just damn scary.

“LISTEN, I HAVE HAD ALL THAT I CAN TAKE FROM YOU TWO! WAKING ME UP EARLY IN THE MORNING WITH YOUR…YOUR…” The woman groaned and Sasuke bit his tongue to keep himself from congratulating her on such a fine imitation of his dobe, “AND THEN THIS! I HAVE GOT TO WORK! DAMN IT!” she raised the bat, her face distorting into a bat out of hell expression and made as if to swing the bat at him.

Sasuke quickly slammed the door shut. He was relieved to notice that the alarm had stopped blaring.

“Who was at the door?” Naruto asked having put some lotion on his hand before carefully bandaging it. Sasuke shuddered and the blonde gave him a curious look.

“Dobe, why don’t we go shower? I’ll take you to breakfast and then we are going to go look for a new apartment.” Sasuke grabbed the surprised Naruto, pulling him toward the bedroom.

“Hey, wait, a new apartment? Sasuke, damn it, wait!” but taller man just ignored the protesting moron. He was thinking about the crazy woman next door. They needed an apartment or house with thick walls, so that his dobe’s screams of ecstasy wouldn’t be heard. Now, the only problem was getting Naruto to stop cooking or getting him some cooking lessons.

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After making sure that Sasuke had on his scarf and his gloves, Naruto snatched his own off the entryway table and then pushed out of the apartment. Naruto saw Yamamoro-san spying out a crack in the door and immediately stuck his tongue out. He kept it out even as Sasuke dragged him out of the building.

“Sasuke?” Naruto said blowing on his orange mitten clad fingers. Sasuke had gotten the mittens for his blonde as a joke for his birthday and Naruto fell in love with them. He wore the damn pieces of fluff his entire birthday day. Sasuke couldn’t help smirking at the memory. They were soft… he knew that for a fact.

“Hn.”

“Why do we need to look for a new place? I think our place is big enough… at least for awhile.”

Sasuke turned and looked at Naruto and felt his breath catch in his throat. He was beautiful. He looked like a walking ad for Fall. Golden hair over tan skin, lithe neck circled by a burnt orange scarf that crossed his rich brown jacket and eyes the color of crisp blue skies finished the picture worthy of immortalization. He was so…

“… fucking beautiful.”

Naruto immediately blushed when he saw Sasuke’s eyes cloud over in a way that ensured he wouldn’t have any problem getting warm the next time they were alone together. “Bastard… can we focus, please?”

Sasuke ran his own gloved hand over Naruto’s spikes and used that ridiculous scarf to pull him in for a quick kiss.

“I don’t want to live next to that woman anymore. I have no intention of curbing our activities because of her damn sensibilities and just what do you think she or the people below us will do when there are two toddlers running around.” Sasuke was quiet for a moment, “In fact, I’m surprised that dumbass from 3B wasn’t at our door yesterday after your failed attempt at ass kicking…”

“I could so kick your ass…”

Sasuke put his hand on Naruto’s lower back and ushered him into the café Naruto had chosen for breakfast, “One day, when you’re all grownup...”

“Don’t finish that sentence, teme.”

Sasuke chuckled and took Naruto’s coat, hanging it up next to their booth.

They sat down and the waitress came and went. Ordering was easy, they had been there so often they didn’t even need to look at menu. Sadly, it was like that for most of the restaurants in a five block radius of their apartment.

Naruto sipped his coffee, enjoying the warmth, caffeine and sugar… not necessarily in that order.

“Where are we going to look then, S’uke? I don’t want to be too far from the hospital and either way, we should probably look into getting a bigger car.” Naruto ripped open four more packages of sugar after the waitress had breezed by topping off his cup, “We have so much to do. I can’t believe this is happening. I keep waiting for it to be a dream or something.” Naruto looked up, sending Sasuke a shy grin. “In just three days I feel like so many things have changed. I told you about, well, my childhood.” Sasuke reached across the littering of empty sugar packets and took Naruto’s hand gently in his own, “And then Aya and her father. And then Kakashi suspended us.” Blue eyes widened comically.

“What, dobe?” Sasuke asked concerned.

“We need to call a lawyer. For the hospital hearing and in case the asshole entertains the thought of suing us and then of course, this…” Naruto pointed to his fading purple, blue and odd shades of green eye.

“Already done, idiot. You can’t let stuff like that go.” Sasuke said taking a drink of his own coffee.

“Huh, you’re good. Who did you get?”

Naruto choked when Sasuke’s face twisted into an evil Uchiha smirk. “What did you do?”

“Two words. Obito Uchiha.”

“You did NOT!” Naruto screamed and started taking deep breaths, “Are you insane?! Do… you know… what … he’ll do… to us?”

Sasuke sat back as the waitress put their breakfast on the table. He calmly flipped his napkin and placed it on his lap while Naruto still struggled to resume normal breathing.

“Dobe. It will be fine. What is Kakashi going to do to us?” Sasuke said while elegantly attacking his meal.

Naruto had closed his eyes but hearing Sasuke opened them, “You’re right. I don’t know why I am concerned. It’s not about what he’ll do to us,” Naruto picked up his fork stabbing a chunk of melon, “It’s about what he’ll do to you.”

Sasuke choked on his food but smirked none the less, “I can take it.”

Naruto looked at him with doubtful eyes, but shrugged, “Of course you can, bastard. But will you like it? And when you don’t, how much shit am I going to have to listen to?”

“Hn.”

“Okay, enough of that, regardless of your poor and insane choice, thanks for calling the lawyer.” Naruto smiled, “So, about our new home and our new car and our new children.” Sasuke couldn’t help but smile back at the dobe… his excitement was contagious.

“I’d like to stay near the hospital as well.” Sasuke pulled out his cell phone and searched through his contacts. Finding who he was looking for, he brought the phone to his ear. “Juugo please… Hello, Juugo. This is Uchiha Sasuke. How are you?... Naruto and I are looking for a new home… Yes, we’ll be putting our current home on the market. We want something in the same neighborhood, near the hospital.” Sasuke sent a small smile to the blonde across from him, “Something family friendly. Maybe near a park… Yes, around other families.” Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and Naruto knew he was thinking about all the human contact he was going to have to tolerate. “Actually, we are at 213th and Pine having breakfast… Yes, we will still be here. We have an appointment at two, so we will need to be done by then… Thank you, Juugo, see you then.”

Naruto sighed when Sasuke hung up. “When you get motivated about something, bastard, nothing stops you.”

“I could get very motivated about you, dobe.” How could a single raised eyebrow be so predatory and unbelievably sexy?

“Teme! Okay, house… check. Now, what else? Well, we need… everything. That will involve…” Naruto looked up and shivers ran through both men, “… shopping.”

“I know. I also need to ask Obito about adoption laws. Once they are ours, I don’t want anyone taking them from us. He’ll also need to rewrite our wills. We’ll need to set up savings accounts. Fuck, do you know how expensive college will be when they are old enough?”

Naruto laughed, almost hysterically because that feeling was back, the one telling him he was in some shitty hospital room dreaming this wonderful dream…

“Sasuke,” He said once he stopped, his eyes swirling with emotion, “I go to sleep at night thinking that there is no way I could love you more and then you go and do shit like this…” A tan hand ran through ruffled spikes while he composed himself, “Okay. House check. Their financial future… check and rechecked, you anal bastard. We need to get them into the daycare at the hospital. We need to take the damn shopping trip.”

Sasuke just watched his dobe make his own lists and smiled. How could he have ever been scared of this? With Naruto by his side…

“And we need to tell your parents.”

And Sasuke was scared.

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Naruto eyed Sasuke worriedly as he called over the waitress with a slightly trembling hand. The man whose complexion was naturally white and smooth as porcelain had suddenly plunged a shade whiter. Those eyes, that Naruto loved so much and would often get lost in, had suddenly clouded over with an emotion that was rare in his bastard. There was actual, genuine horror swirling in those black orbs and he realized that it was probably his last statement that had done it. He didn’t voice his concern as Juugo joined them. He didn’t say a word while the realtor showed them the apartments but when they were headed home after looking at several condos, he did.

The wind felt fresh on Sasuke’s face and he lifted his chin a bit taking off his scarf, the tingling sensation he got from the cold made him feel less confined…more alive. Sasuke knew that Naruto was worried. He could sense his wide blue eyes on him the whole time they had been looking for their new home. There were several questions in those beautiful emotion filled eyes, but where could he start to explain that telling his parents made him want to vomit or take up drinking, smoking and every other bad habit that there was to relieve his stress. How was he going to tell them? It was bad enough telling them that he was gay! He somewhat suspected that they felt that his ‘preference’ was a passing phase for him and that one day he would grow-up and settle down with some pretty girl with wide hips. All the better to give them those blood heirs that they wanted so badly. Hell, it was important enough that they had even forgiven Itachi after he refused to become a doctor.

“A penny for your thoughts?” Naruto suddenly asked as he grabbed onto Sasuke’s hand ignoring several pointed stares thrown their way as they walked back to their apartment. He entwined their fingers together and waited patiently. With Sasuke, things like this usually took time.

Sasuke shook his head. He didn’t feel like sharing his concerns with Naruto. He wanted the dobe happy and those children, that they were going to raise together, would make him happy. His parents would have to accept that and that was it.

He smiled down at Naruto, “It’s nothing, Naru, nothing at all.” The smile Sasuke had on finally reached his eyes and Naruto relaxed.

“Well, you really should put back on your scarf or you’ll catch a cold,” Naruto said wisely and Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“Naruto, we are doctors and so we both know the only way to catch a cold is to be around infected people.”

Naruto gave him an all knowing look and sighed, “Okay, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He was glad that Sasuke had finally surfaced from whatever bad thoughts he had been having before but the man was going to get sick.

Sasuke sneezed as if on cue and glared at the softly chuckling Naruto. This was his fault. Somehow it was!

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This was madness, Sasuke thought as he pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, ignoring the angry shouts of the rampaging women as they shoved and quarreled over sale prices and who got there first. What had possessed him to let Naruto dragged him here? He had suggested they do all their shopping online but the dobe had insisted it wouldn’t be as fun if they didn’t shop in the real store and have that ‘parental experience’.

“Parental experience, my ass. Naruto just wanted to make my life miserable,” he muttered to himself receiving odd looks from several women who grabbed onto their children and pulled them away. Good, at least he didn’t have to wait impatiently before one of them noticed him and moved out of his way on their own.

Naruto had told him to behave, so instead of telling people straight out how much they annoyed him or how stupid they all were, he gritted his teeth, pushed his way through and muttered in a low voice of course, so that his lover wouldn’t hear him, about the idiotism of sales and the people who go to sales.

And he had tried really, really hard to keep his temper under control but then he lost the dobe. The dobe left his side to gush over some beautiful dresses for Yuri and he had immediately felt sorry for his future daughter. The dresses were hideous with a capital ‘hide’! How can anyone like a green lime dress with lace, frills and puff sleeves with more lace on them? He wouldn’t stand for it and he was thinking Yuri might agree with him from his silent observation of the girl the day before.

Sasuke opened his mouth to say so but then a woman, a very pregnant woman, got between him and his dobe. He gave the woman a fake smile as he was jolted around by the many shoppers trying to get their grubby little hands on the 70 to 80 percent off sale rack behind him, on the side of him and damn it, even above him. The woman blocked his view of the dobe and then once she waddled away, he was greeted with no Naruto and almost worse… no ugly lime green dress. He barely suppressed the shudder.

So now he was pushing and shoving his way aisle by aisle trying to find his dobe and get the hell out of here. The worst part of the whole experience was that they hadn’t even been in this hell thirty minutes and he wanted to stomp his foot and then stomp ON other peoples’ feet because it sure felt like an eternity. Baby merchandise warehouses, the Uchiha concluded, sucked.

Sasuke sniffed and made a disgusted face, resisting the urge to pinch his nose. He looked around for the source of that smell and his gaze fell upon the tear streaked face of an infant in his strolled. The little shit’s mother, Sasuke smirked at the pun, was currently engaged in choosing the best color socks for her son apparently. He quickly moved away when he saw the infant open his mouth in an unhappy wail. He really needed to find his dobe and make sure that the twins were potty trained.

Sasuke sat hopelessly on a kid’s bench, seriously considering going to customer services and having them announce ‘one lost dobe’, when a blonde blur jumped on him. Sasuke barely managed to keep them both on the narrow bench. He opened his mouth to yell at Naruto but the dobe was looking at him with huge, tearful eyes.

“S’uke! Woman scary.” Shudder. “Children mean!” Sniff.

Naruto buried his face in his jacket. A smug smile and an evil glint came into Sasuke’s eyes. As far as he was concerned, Naruto words meant that he didn’t have to ‘behave’ anymore.

Screams from fleeing mothers and their children were heard all over “Babies R Us” as Sasuke more than made up for his time in good behavior mode. Needless to say, Sasuke and Naruto were escorted out by security after they had taken their pictures to make sure that the two never stepped into the store again.

Naruto wasn’t talking to him as they drove away. Sasuke didn’t mind, he was whistling happily and even turned on the radio. The song playing on the radio was from an American rapper, some cute blond Naruto knew Sasuke liked. The rapper was just as badass as Sasuke and the words to ‘The Way I Am’ were happily being hummed by the lunatic bastard.

Naruto gave him an evil look as Sasuke stopped at a red light, “I can’t believe you got us banned from the store.”

Sasuke didn’t comment beyond a cocky wink as the light turned green. Being banned from hell was the best thing he’d done all day. Nobody messes with his dobe. Nobody.

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They were dressed to impress, having rushed home and quickly changed into their Sunday best. Sasuke and Naruto headed toward Hyuuga Hinata’s office and even without extensive medical training, Sasuke was sure that Naruto was hyperventilating. “Breath, dobe!”

Naruto turned dark blue eyes towards Sasuke, “What if they say no? What if they won’t even consider us?” The blonde tugged at golden spikes in his nervousness.

Sasuke sighed turning into the Social Services Office where they were to meet Hinata. “Naruto, we are the best. You will be the best mommy and I will be the best fath- daddy.” He smirked as his dobe reacted to his “Mommy” comment.

“Not the mommy!” Worried eyes filled with anger and then mirth, having realized that he sounded like that pink dinosaur from a TV show awhile back. “I love you, Sasuke,” he said squeezing Sasuke’s thigh affectingly. He then took a deep breath and opened his passenger door.

The building loomed big and scary in front of him but with Sasuke by his side, he had nothing to fear. They walked hand in hand into the building.

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They hadn’t expected the office to be so big and professional but a receptionist behind a huge counter greeted them, taking their names and smiling politely. As they found a seat, she eyed Naruto and Sasuke appreciatively, muttering underneath her breath about two fine male specimens going to waste. They both pretended not to hear and sat down. Naruto grabbed one of the magazines on the table. His smile was wide when he noticed it was a parenting magazine and he read an article on healthy food for children, he re-read it twice when he noticed ramen wasn’t on the list. They waited patiently… well, Naruto was waiting patiently while Sasuke glared at the receptionist. Their appointment time having come and gone over five minutes ago.

When the door to the waiting room was opened Naruto and Sasuke both jumped up from their seats. Hinata, a pretty woman with long dark hair wrapped in a bun and light lilac eyes smiled at them.

“I’m sorry for being late but I got stuck in traffic,” she said kindly walking up to them.

“Hyuuga Hinata,” she introduced herself to both of them holding out her hand. “I believe you know my cousin, Neji?”


She observed both Sasuke’s and Naruto’s reaction as a sudden friction came between them, especially on the brunette’s part. She wondered what happened between them regarding Neji?

“Don’t worry. I won’t hold that against you.” The relief in both their eyes made her wonder even more but she pushed it to the back of her mind.

She led them into her office, asking them to sit before offering water but they both refused, shaking their heads quietly. They were anxious, she thought, that was normal but this was only a preliminary meeting. The harder stuff came later. She was confident that they wouldn’t have any problems and both procedures would run smoothly for them. Whether they knew it or not, they already had her in their corner and her mouth quirked into a secret smile. They really do look alike, she thought as she sneaked a peek under the pretense of looking over the application at him.

She cleared her throat as she looked up smiling. “Well, it looks like everything is in order,” Sasuke and Naruto immediately relaxed. They turned to look at each other small smiles on their face when before they had been sitting stiffly looking straight at her as she looked over the papers.

“I don’t believe that you will have any problems becoming foster parents for the children,” she paused, waiting until Naruto to stop hugging Sasuke excitedly. Her lilac eyes glittered as she watched Sasuke tolerate the public affection and she almost laughed out loud. Her lips quivered with the effort to keep herself quiet. She had promised that she wouldn’t tell until he was ready to let his family know.

“There is one thing that is required,” she interrupted the happy moment and worry instantly edged Naruto’s face but Sasuke put protective arms around him. Oh, how kawaii, he was going to get a good laugh about this when she told him. “You have to go to parenting classes.”

The look on Sasuke face was priceless, he blanched. Naruto smiled with relief.

“Hyuuga-san, that’s all and then they will be ours?” He asked his eyes wide with happiness.

Hinata nodded, “Of course it will take at least a few weeks to process your paperwork and the classes will be an ongoing process until both of you graduate.”

“A few weeks?” Sasuke was a little apprehensive. Hinata nodded again. “At least four to five weeks, background investigation, fingerprints need to be checked out but there shouldn’t be any problems.”

It was Naruto turn to pale… background checks. How deep? Would they find out about his past… about Haku ? God, what if they didn’t give them the twins because of his horrid past?

“Sasuke…” Naruto’s quiet cry was full of despair and pain so deep it momentarily stunned both of the room’s other occupants. Naruto felt faint. Surprisingly enough, it was Hinata, rather than Sasuke, who comforted him. She stood up quickly, bending down to hug the younger man.

“I know and it won’t make any difference, Naruto. The twins will be yours soon,” she whispered into Naruto’s ear.

Sasuke didn’t know whether to be jealous or relieved. His own hands were shaking with fear for his dobe. If he could track down and kill everyone one of those people who had ever hurt Naruto, he would. He had the heart of an avenger. He clenched his fists and silently vowed to do something for his dobe.

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Sasuke entered the apartment first and it felt like they had been gone forever. He didn’t make it past the entryway before he was pulled back slowly by the tail of his scarf. Naruto looked like the cat with the canary and Sasuke smirked down on him.

“So, dobe. Now that you have me, what do you plan to do to… I mean, with… me?”

“Hmmm… so many possibilities, each one just as pleasurable,” the word was purred, “as the last.” Naruto slipped his hands around Sasuke’s waist and leaned up to take pale lips in a kiss. “I have wanted to taste and touch you all damn day, teme.”

Before he knew it, Naruto found himself pressed against the wall, the action knocking the breath out of him. He only had a moment to blink before Sasuke’s mouth attached to his, the pink tongue demanding entrance which Naruto readily granted. Without breaking contract, Sasuke lifted Naruto up so his legs wrapped around his waist.

“Dobe…” Sasuke panted against Naruto’s tan neck, “Let’s leave Yamamoro-san with something to remember us by.”

“Bastard.” Naruto said and mewled when Sasuke tenderly bit up his neck to his earlobe before sucking.

“Damn, Naru…” Naruto smiled and pulled off Sasuke’s scarf before reaching to take his own off.

“Leave the mittens.” Sasuke growled and Naruto laughed as he was carried to the bedroom.

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“If we are going to go, we need to leave soon or you need to call and cancel.” Naruto said as he ran a hand over Sasuke’s pale chest feeling the man’s heart beating under his palm. He leaned up and pressed a kiss against the gentle thumping and looked into Sasuke’s face.

“We don’t need to tell them tonight. It will be a few weeks before we get the twins.”

Sasuke didn’t open his eyes and instead nodded. Inside the stoic man was in turmoil. His inner beast couldn’t decide if it wanted to roar against seeing his parents or purr like a kitten because Naruto was touching him. He might have been concerned at the feeling if he hadn’t learned that no matter how he was feeling, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, his inner beast wanted to purr at the mere thought of the little blonde idiot beside him.

“I think I’ll just can…” The phone rang interrupting Sasuke’s decision. Kissing Naruto on the head, he rolled over and lifted the phone to his ear, “Hello.”

“Do not even think about it!” The deep voice told him and Sasuke could hear his own door man in the background offering his welcome.

“Why are you in my building, Itachi?”

“Well, I was on my way to weekly dinner with our loving parents when suddenly, I got a feeling that my little brother might back out of his weekly commitment. Of course, I couldn’t stand for that and so I turned my car around and came to gather you, like the wayward son you are.”

“Itachi, Naruto and I have had a long day and…” Sasuke began, sitting up and running a hand through disheveled black locks. He wasn’t stupid. The argument was already won. Damn older brothers.

“Tell Blondie to get dressed and open the damn door.” Naruto who had laid his head against Sasuke’s shoulder laughed and shifted out of bed before pulling on jeans and a t-shirt. “Only because you asked so nicely, asshole,” Naruto yelled and coming around the bed placed a wet and noisy kiss against Sasuke’s cheek, yelping when Sasuke smack his ass on the way out.

Itachi was still talking into the phone, but Sasuke disconnected, tossing the phone aside before dressing himself. He had just pulled his shirt over his head when he heard Naruto welcoming his brother.

“Hey, Itachi!” Naruto said happily taking the man into a quick hug.

“I hear congratulations are in order… mommy.” Itachi said with a smirk as he nodded toward Sasuke who had entered the room.

Naruto stomped his foot, “I am not the fucking mommy!”

“Not with a mouth like that… are you planning to kiss your babies with that mouth?” Itachi said and fell back into the couch.

Naruto’s face turned red and then suddenly he smiled. Sasuke stopped walking and mentally assessed his possible escape routes.

“You know at crime scenes when the police use those special lights to see body fluids?” Naruto turned and started walking toward the bedroom, “Can you imagine what our couch looks like, big brother?”

“God, dobe!” Sasuke said but smirked when Itachi nearly flew off the couch banging his knee harshly against the glass coffee table.

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“So, are we telling them tonight or no?” Naruto said from the backseat as Itachi drove them to the Uchiha Mansion.

Sasuke leaned his dark head against the head rest before turning to look at Naruto, “Yes. The twins are going to be our family. They will be their family.” Sasuke face had remained totally devoid of emotion but Naruto knew that Sasuke was proud to add the twins to their lives… the same could not be said with any amount of security about the Uchiha’s reaction to the twins.

“Okay, teme. I got your back,” Naruto said and flashed a small smile before looking out the window, “Hey Itachi? Where are we going?”

“To pick up Celeste,” was the bland response.

“Celeste this time,” Naruto nodded, “Was she the one who thinks vegetables have feelings and cried when Sasuke cut into his broccoli?”

Sasuke shook his head, “No, dobe. That was Celesta Moonbeam Starfire… She was a real winner.”

“If you are going to bring a different girl every week, why even bring anyone at all?” Naruto mused, sticking his head between the seats.

“Do you really not understand, mommy?” Itachi said craning his neck to parallel park his car.

“I understand you’re an asshole… is that the reason?” Naruto said and wiggled when he felt Sasuke’s adventurous hand slip under the back of his shirt, sliding across his waistband.

Having parked the car the older man turned and looked at Naruto, “I am expected to bring a companion to all of our dinners because I am expected to produce heirs since you have effectively taken my little brother off of that particular market. I bring a different girl each time for two reasons. One because quite honestly, fuck them. Two because I wouldn’t subject the woman I love to them unless I absolutely had too.”

Naruto’s eyes, which had been clouding over due to Sasuke’s nimble fingers, widened, “The woman you love? Does that mean you have someone already? Someone serious? Why didn’t you tell us?!”

Itachi opened the door and moved out of the car, “Naruto, it was just a phrase.” Turning his head to Sasuke he said, “I’ll be right back. Keep your hands to yourself… this is my car, not your damn couch.”

The door shut and Naruto turned wide eyes to the dark haired man beside him, “He called me Naruto.”

Sasuke smirked and leaned in to lick a love bite he had left earlier on Naruto’s neck. He pushed Naruto backwards and crawled into the backseat, laying Naruto flat against the seat. “Hn. Dobe.”

“Ummm,” Naruto whimpered, “S’uke… your brother has a girlfriend.”

Sasuke smiled and deepened the pinkish bruise to the musical sounds coming from his dobe until Itachi started yelling.

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“Masters Itachi and Sasuke have arrived with their guests.” The butler droned as they entered the dining hall.

“Thank you, Hayoto.” Mikoto Uchiha said walking gracefully towards her sons. “How are you doing?”

“Fine, Mother.” Itachi said leading Celeste to the table.

“Very well, Mother.” Sasuke said and escorted his mother to the table, pulling out her chair before sitting next to the waiting Naruto.

Fugaku, who was just sitting as well, turned to Naruto, “I heard about your suspension.” Naruto immediately felt Sasuke tense next to him.

“Yes,” Naruto began turning the face the patriarch head-on, “Good doctors, at times, have to push the envelope in order to ensure the safety of their patients. At the same time, good administrators have to follow protocol to protect not only the hospital, but their doctors as well. Kakashi made the right decision and so did we.” Naruto shrugged and leaned back as one of the maids sat a steaming bowl of soup in front of him, “I’m sure a doctor such as yourself understands this well.”

Fugaku nodded but his eyes were cold, “Yes, of course I do, but my decisions never once resulted in a suspension.”

“Perhaps,” Naruto said smiling, “But, Sasuke’s patient is safe and well. Three days is hardly a burden to bear.” With that, Naruto turned back to his soup, dipping his spoon, effectively ending the conversation.

Sasuke and Itachi watched the interaction and knew that their father wasn’t done, but Naruto seemed to be the only person in the world the older man would let have the final word in a conversation and not force to see things his way. Both brothers didn’t know if it was because their father respected Naruto or if he thought so little of him that he wouldn’t waste his time discussing it. Both options made the brothers angry, but Naruto didn’t seem to care and so neither Sasuke nor Itachi ever attempted to interfere.

The table ate in relative silence after that and no one was surprised. They always did. When dessert and coffee were served, Naruto shifted uncomfortably in his seat. When was Sasuke going to say something? How could they all just sit here staring? Was Celeste even awake?

“So, Sasuke and I are having twins.”

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Fugaku sat quietly at the head of the table looking at his family. Itachi… such a disappointment. The boy was a genius and was wasting it on driving a big, red truck. His only purpose now, besides making Mikoto happy, was to produce heirs because Sasuke…

Such a disappointment.

He turned his eyes toward Naruto Uzumaki. The young man was an amazing doctor by all accounts. He was always pleasant and well mannered… for the most part. Sasuke seemed happy. His only flaw… well, besides speaking without thinking, caring without thinking and being the anti-thesis to all things Uchiha, was his obviously missing womb.

Fugaku brought the coffee cup to his mouth to drown the sigh of disappointment from escaping.

“So, Sasuke and I are having twins.”

All three Uchiha males choked, coughing harshly.

“Are you alright? Was it something I said?” Naruto said wiping his mouth delicately and placing his napkin back on his lap.

Fugaku glared at the blonde, “What did you say?”

“Sasuke and I are adopting twins. They are barely three years old. A boy and a girl. You wouldn’t believe how much they look like Sasuke.” Naruto said beaming. “You’ll be grandparents!”

Fugaku frowned and turned to Sasuke, “Is this true?”

Sasuke nodded, “Yes, Father. We completed the paper work today to begin the process.”

“Sasuke,” His mother said, “Why would you do this?”

“What are you thinking?!” Fugaku said throwing his napkin on his plate. “You are an Uchiha! We do not take in riffraff off the street declaring them Uchihas!”

“Yoshi and Yuri are not riffraff… their parents died in a car accident and they will be your grandchildren. Surely, that must be exciting.” Naruto said totally taken back at their response and yet angry at himself for expecting more. Sasuke had yet to say a word and he and Itachi held the same look on their faces. No expression at all, emotion entirely removed from their pale faces. It made Naruto want to scream.

“You are both doctors. What more could you need?” Mikoto began, “Having children is such a chore. They require constant attention and they never go away…”

“And these children won’t even be Uchihas… they will be nothing.” Fugaku growled.

Sasuke and Itachi pushed their chairs out, standing, anger flashing across their faces, while Naruto just gaped at Sasuke’s parents. Itachi yanked Celeste’s chair out and the girl almost fell to the floor. Sasuke squeezed Naruto’s shoulder painfully, “Naruto, we are leaving.” Turning he faced his parents, “They will be Uchihas because they will be MINE. No one will ever call my children nothing… not even you.” Sasuke turned and stalked out of the room.

Naruto pushed his chair out slowly and looked at the two silent parents. “I don’t understand why you refuse to allow them to be who they are. They are both strong, proud and independent. People rely on them, turn to them, respect them. Strangers, everyday, put their lives in your sons’ hands and needn’t worry about another thing. But instead of being proud, you force your expectations on them until they can’t breathe. I don’t understand why you can’t be happy when they are happy.”

Fugaku opened his mouth but Naruto held up his hand. He stood, throwing his own napkin on the table, his blue eyes flashing with unconcealed anger, “And I don’t care. If you don’t want them… if you can’t see them for the men and Uchiha’s they are, then you don’t deserve them. You deserve… nothing.”

“I won’t be talked to like that in my own house! Especially by the likes of YOU! Do you think I don’t know your past? Do you think I don’t know the dirt that stains you and now my son?”

Naruto sneered, “With the life I have had, do you think I care, even for a moment, what you think, sir?” Naruto walked away, “And don’t worry… out of ‘respect’,” Naruto nearly choked on the word, “for you, I have no intention of ever speaking to you again.”

Naruto’s footsteps echoed down the hall and Fugaku and Mikoto sat in silence.

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Naruto met Itachi, Sauske and Celeste in the car. They drove in silence until Itachi escorted Celeste to the door. Once back in the car, the silence continued until they arrived at Sasuke’s and Naruto’s apartment. Entering the doors, Sasuke threw the keys on the counter before heading directly to the liquor cabinet. Itachi tossed his keys as well and headed toward the living room.

“Is the goddamn recliner safe?” He snapped before sitting down. Sasuke didn’t comment and just slammed three glasses on the counter before filling them with amber liquid. His face was stony and although he showed no outward signs, on the inside he was shaking… in his anger, in his disappointment, in his disgust.

Naruto hadn’t moved from the doorway. These two men were his family, yes, he had the Sarutobis, but these two men were the family that he chose, that chose him. He loved them and now… because of their ‘real’ family, they were hurting. He had wanted to kill them. That was an odd feeling for Naruto who valued life over everything else, barring his raven haired teme. Naruto had learned early… to damn early… that life was fragile and gone in a moment. But still, with all of that, Naruto had wanted them to hurt the way they had hurt their own sons. Naruto felt his fingernails cut into his palms and was shocked when he felt the warm, wetness of his own blood between his fingers.

“Dobe!” Suddenly Sasuke was at his side, firmly but gently examining his palms, “What the hell are you doing?”

Naruto pulled them back and smiled up at the concerned face, “Just got lost in a thought. Let me go clean up and we’ll talk this out.” Leaning up he kissed Sasuke on the cheek before closing the bedroom door behind him.

“He said something to him.” Itachi said as Sasuke handed him his drink.

Sasuke nodded, “Yes, he did. Naruto has a strong sense of family. Ironic really… Father preaches the importance of family, but honestly, he only means the importance of our fucking name and our ambitions.” Sasuke scolded before tipping his glass back.

Naruto exited the bedroom and shuffled toward the couch, orange slippers on his feet. He smiled when Sasuke offered him his drink and sat, legs curled under him as Sasuke threw him a blanket.

“Thanks, teme.” Naruto took a big gulp of the liquid and looked between the two dark haired brothers, “Okay, first… I won’t be going to anymore weekly dinners. I am no longer welcome.” Much like he had to another Uchiha recently, Naruto held up his hand to stop the incoming opinions, “And even if I was…” Naruto shook his head, “Second, he was wrong. Our children will be Uchihas… brilliant, beautiful and sarcastic beyond measure, just like their daddy and uncle.”

Naruto sighed rubbing his temples where a headache threatened to form, “And finally, I think both of you should make this right with them. They will come around. They are your parents. They will be the twin’s grandparents. Family is important.”

“That’s not going to happen, Naruto.” Itachi said, “I refuse to belong to a family that would call those two babies riffraff. Fuck them. Fuck the name Uchiha.”

Sasuke smirked, “We could all become Uzumakis.”

Naruto laughed, “No, you are both Uchihas through and through… And did you see Yuri? If that little girl isn’t an Uchiha, then I don’t know who is.”

Both men nodded and Naruto yawned, “Are you staying here tonight, big brother?”

“If you both don’t mind.” Itachi said toeing off his shoes and unbuttoning several buttons on his shirt.

Sasuke stood offering his hand to the blonde beside him, “Not at all, as long as you don’t mind the noise.”

Naruto laughed and moved toward the bedroom, Sasuke on his heels. Itachi’s chuckle brought them up short, “You do realize, little brother, that when the twins come you’re going to have to stop this or explain why mommy is screaming out your name.”

Itachi’s chuckle turned into a full blown laugh when Naruto screamed, “I am not the MOMMY!” and Sasuke’s face paled to the hue of freshly fallen snow, “Oh fuck.”

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Kakashi sat to the right of Tsunade, looking at the rest of the board members that included the pig Orochimaru and of course, Jiraiya plus six other gentlemen. They were all busy looking over Naruto’s and Sasuke’s personal files. He was slightly nervous, knowing that those two had caused a lot of problems for the hospital, problems it didn’t need according to the new budgets they had just received for the next three months. They couldn’t afford to lose two of their best doctors and he was hoping the board members saw it his way and voted to keep them on staff. He glanced up looking at the clock behind Tsunade. Those idiots had five more minutes to get here.

“Don’t worry, Dr. Hatake, they will be here,” Tsunade reassured him, smiling. Kakashi gave her a half-hearted smile and nodded. He hoped so. He hoped that buffoon, Obito, had done his job, but remembering the clown he had been in college, that was doubtful. He grimaced, Obito during his four years of undergraduate school had been a party animal but when it came time for school, he always managed to get through and with excellent grades no less. And he was an Uchiha, they never did anything half assed…

Damn, why was he even thinking about that buffoon. Obito had been out of his life for five years now and in those five years, Kakashi hadn’t been a saint and he was sure Obito had other lovers. The thought about who those other lovers might be and how they had touched what had once been his made his heart ache. No, he had to stop thinking about the fool. They had broken up because they were too different, like night and day.

The door was suddenly thrust open and Kakashi’s eyes widen, speaking of the buffoon, there he was looking…Kakashi swallowed the saliva that threatened to become drool…looking damn good and not at all like a buffoon. He couldn’t stop himself from running his gaze from the Italian leather shoes, up the long trouser clad legs, that had once wrapped around his hips in passion, up to the slightly broad chest and onto the Uchiha smirk on his lips. Kakashi shook his head to snap out of whatever trance the blue clad demon had always managed to ensnared him in.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am Obito Uchiha, Doctor Uchiha’s and Doctor Uzumaki’s lawyer,” he said as he went around introducing himself and shaking the hands of each and every one of the board members. He winked flirtatiously at Tsunade while he bowed respectably to all the board members except Kakashi, whom he ignored. Kakashi bristled. How dare the idiot ignore him, pretending not to see him as he sat at the other end of the table? Fine, if that was the way they were going to play, then he can play Obito’s childish game too!

“Where are your clients, Mr. Uchiha? Did you lose them or have they decided to run away rather than take a chance of having you represent them?”

There was a stunned silence after his words and Kakashi wished he hadn’t let the buffoon get to him but Obito, blinking his dark eyes, graciously laughed in response.

“No, but thank you for the vote of confidence, Hatake-san,” Obito placed his suitcase on the table and took out several important looking documents while they waited for Sasuke and Naruto. Two minutes later there was a knock on the board room door and the last two guests at the review quietly let themselves in.

“Good morning, old-I mean, Dr. Tsunade,” Naruto nervously said, deciding to shut the hell up much to the amusement of the taller male Uchiha standing next to him. Sasuke didn’t bother to say anything. He knew Obito would do the talking for them. He knew his cousin very well, the man, considered a hyperactive clown by many, was never suspected of having a sharp mind but like his dobe, Obito was every bit the genius.

They sat down and Tsunade began, “You do realize that your actions three days ago concerning your patient were inappropriate. As doctors you must know where to draw the line, getting personally involved with your patients may seemed like the humane thing to do but we must, at all times, remember that our jobs have to focus on saving as many lives as we possibly can.”

Obito waited for Tsunade to finish before addressing the room, “Thank you, Dr. Tsunade, for those inspiring words and may I say that you are looking very young and pretty in that shirt?” Tsunade blushed like a school girl much to Kakashi’s disgust. Jiraiya snorted loudly but a quelling glare from Tsunade had him shrinking in his chair.

Sasuke hid a smirk but he could tell Naruto was trying his best not to laugh out loud and his face was turning blue from the effort. Sasuke poked him in the ribs, discreetly trying to calm the blonde man, “Breath, dobe,” he whispered.

Orochimaru gave Obito an undisguised dirty look, “Well, Uchiha-san, if we are done with the polite and unbelievable flattery can we continue?”

Jiraiya almost choked, the snake must have forgotten who runs things around here and the fact that despite her age, she could still beat the living daylights out of him, like she had often done in college to both of them.

“Why yes, Doctor.” Obito flashed a charming smile at him and Orochimaru sat up straighter with a pleased smile on his face.

“Not to contradict you, Doctor, but I believe that Naruto and Sasuke took an oath, the Hippocratic Oath. An oath that all of the doctors in this room took as well,” Obito reached for some papers on the desk. He pulled out glasses from his suitcase and Kakashi felt the heat run through his body. He squirmed in his chair, Obito’s glasses reminded him of a time or two when he had played Superman to the Uchiha’s Clark Kent.

“I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.” He read, lowering the volume of his voice, making it soft and brimming with passion. He raised his head and looked at each and every one of the board members, his gaze lingering on Kakashi.

He smiled and continued reading, “I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.” He stopped reading and sat down.

Sasuke was smirking now, not bothering to hide his belief that whatever punishment that the board was going to give them was not going to happen from the look of shame in most of their faces. Naruto was strangely silent next to him but he thought the dobe was probably still nervous.

“I believe, and I say this with the outmost respect, that my clients were doing their best to ensure that Aya Satou was healthy in body and soul.” He paused for dramatic effect and Kakashi almost rolled his eyes, the cheesy buffoon.

“Yes, that’s all good but the fact remains that Dr. Uchiha and Dr. Uzumaki disobeyed orders, placed the hospital’s reputation in jeopardy and stepped over the overall guidelines of the hospital!” Orochimaru glared at Sasuke and Naruto.

Obito didn’t even flinch, instead he picked up other documents before standing as he began passing the folders out.

“What I have just handed out is a copy of Danzo Satou’s confession, he will be charged with child abuse and rape, plus the Satou family is so grateful for my clients part in bringing them justice that they have ensured us, in a sworn and documented statement, that no charges will be filed against my clients and Konoha Hospital.”

“But what about Danzo Satou? Will he not file charges?” Orochimaru protested vehemently. It seemed that he wanted Sasuke and Naruto punished.

Obito shook his head, “He has decided that it would not be… wise… considering his own numerous legal charges,” a small smirk of triumph played on Obito’s face.

“They cannot be allowed to get away with these blatant disregards to rules and authority!” Orochimaru slammed his fist on the desk, his eerie yellow eyes glittering with anger.

Sasuke stiffened and Naruto eyes narrowed dangerously. The snake was making his blood boil. Memories flitted at the back of his mind and he gripped the arms of his chair harshly.

It was a different Obito who directed his sudden cold, hard gaze at Orochimaru. Gone was the charming, handsome man who had walked into the room. A harsh, blank faced man stared down into Orochimaru’s burning eyes.

“If I recall, Doctor,” he spoke with disdain, “Wasn’t it you who was expelled from Sound University for unjust and inhumane experiments and later, after finally graduating from Konoha Medical School and being employed by one of Konoha’s private hospital, suddenly and mysteriously ‘let go’ after an incident with their labs?”

Orochimaru sat down his face pale, “I see. You’ve done your research, Uchiha-san, well done!” he clapped slowly. Orochimaru made a mental note to find out anything and everything he could about one Obito Uchiha.

Tsunade stood up, “Thank both for coming, you as well Uchiha-san. Now if you would step out into the waiting room, we will call you in when we have reached a decision.”

The three men nodded, standing up and walking out the door. Kakashi’s eyes followed Obito and Orochimaru didn’t fail to notice.

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“Thanks, Obito,” Sasuke and Naruto both said to the smiling man that might have saved their asses.
“You’re welcome! No problem!” He grinned, “Well, I’m going to go wait for Kakashi in his office. The stubborn, stuck up, asshole and I have a few things to discuss.” He waved happily but Naruto could see the underlying sadness in the man’s eyes.

Naruto looked at his retreating back with fondness. Sasuke took both his hands in his. “Are you alright?” He asked a bit concerned.

“What?” Naruto shook free of his thoughts. Sasuke looked at him impatiently. “I asked if you were alright.”

“I’m fine, teme,” he gave him a confident grin. “I don’t think that we be getting dismissed anytime soon, not after a speech like that, but the snake-bastard sure didn’t make it easy, did he?” Anger crept in Naruto’s eyes and a small hint of dark memories concerning ‘the snake bastard’ appeared in his eyes.

“Naruto, please, don’t think about it, please.” It was rare when Sasuke begged but he was begging right now, he didn’t want Naruto to remember… he didn’t want to remember.

Naruto’s blue eyes were awash with tears that didn’t fall, “How can I forget?” he whispered and released a painful breath. Images of his bastard kneeling in front of “the snake”, who was naked from the waist down, as Sasuke’s long pale fingers wrapped around his… his… Naruto swallowed pulling away from Sasuke.

Naruto had walked into the office but the two men hadn’t noticed him and he had been torn apart by the scene in front of him. He didn’t know how he had managed not to kill both of them but he clapped a hand over his mouth to stifle the cry of anguish or the scream of brutal betrayal. He silently watched as his lover brought lips that had touched him, kissed him, close to Orochimaru’s cock.

Just as Naruto decided he had seen enough, Sasuke stopped and scrambled away from the man, vomiting onto the carpet. They still hadn’t noticed him but he stood still listening as Sasuke told the snake that it was never happening, that nothing was worth betraying his dobe and a relived sob escaped Naruto. Two sets of eyes pinned him in the corner.

“Naruto! Naruto!” Sasuke shook him, snapping him out of his thoughts. Naruto leaned his forehead onto Sasuke’s looking into dark, frightened eyes.

“Shhh, it’s okay, now. We’re okay, now,” Sasuke whispered and Naruto nodded, knowing it was true.

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Kakashi caught his boys outside of the conference room. Naruto looked like he’d been run over by life and Sasuke looked like a deer in the headlights. The silver haired man stiffened when he felt someone step up behind him. Not touching but definitely in his personal bubble.

“So, Kakashi,” Orochimaru whispered and Kakashi thought he had heard snakes that sounded cuddlier, “Tell me about this other Uchiha. Obito, was it? How one family can be so…” Kakashi’s fists clinched and then the black haired man finished, “… delicious… is beyond me.”

Kakashi stepped forward and he noticed that Sasuke and Naruto realized they weren’t alone. They drew together when they saw the man behind him and Sasuke leaned forward whispering something into the blonde’s ears.

“Kakashi,” Sasuke said looking up, “Might we have a word.”

“Privately,” Naruto spat.

“If you’ll excuse me, Orochimaru,” Kakashi said and stepped closer to the two other doctors. They all watched silently as the dark haired man nodded with a smirk and disappeared down the hall.

“What the fuck is he still doing here, Kakashi!” Sasuke snapped. He knew the reason but he hated it. He had been an intern under Orochimaru when he first came to Konoha County, young with wild dreams of being a surgeon and taking the medical world by storm. He had parents to please and a name to uphold, but the price, at least in this hospital, was too much to bear. After Naruto had discovered Orochimaru’s ‘teaching’ methods he had nearly withdrawn completely from Sasuke. Even though he knew Sasuke wouldn’t go through with it, Sasuke couldn’t blame him for not being able to let it go. Had the situations been reversed, Sasuke wasn’t sure he would have even listened to Naruto’s side.

But his dobe had listened and allowed Sasuke to show him that there would never be another. That day, after Naruto took Sasuke to the bathroom while he washed his mouth out and begged for forgiveness, Sasuke left surgery and asked to be transferred to the ER. He had never regretted the decision or telling Kakashi the real reason for his request.

Kakashi wanted the man out as much as everyone else but the snake had connections and he was good. He was a damn good surgeon. He was needed. Kakashi took Sasuke and soon Naruto under his wing and they all watched each other’s backs… and asses. In every sense of the words.

“You know why,” Kakashi said, his gray eyes sharp with anger at what the asshole had implied about his Uchiha… his… oh god, kill me now, Kakashi thought. “Apparently, he has as many friends as you do in this hospital. Welcome back, boys.”

Naruto shook off the dark aura left by Orochimaru first, “Really?! They voted in our favor?”

“Of course they did, dobe. Obito is the best,” Sasuke smirked, “Wouldn’t you say, boss?”

“Ah… Uchiha, that reminds me. Both of you should report into work tomorrow an hour early.” Kakashi started walking toward his office and the two younger doctors followed.

“Why?” Sasuke asked and he knew Naruto was watching him with an incredulous look on his face. A look that said, ‘WHY? I’ll tell you why, because you just had to get Obito and now we are both screwed!’

Wait, Naruto was actually saying it out loud and now Kakashi was laughing. “And to think they say you are the smart one, Sasuke.”

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Kakashi entered his office after assuring Sasuke and Naruto that he would fill them in tomorrow. He almost chased after them when he saw the Italian leather shoes on top of his desk that were attached to tailored slacks that connected to a jacketless chest with the top buttons undone on the dress shirt, a red tie hanging loosely from a pale, lithe neck that unfortunately was attached to Obito Uchiha’s handsome face.

Shit.

“You are an asshole of the highest fucking order.” Obito said and brought his feet to the floor, “I’m all for teasing and making fun, hell, I live for that shit, but how dare you! How dare you question my ability in such a public forum?! God, ‘Kashi, how the hell would you like it if I entered your exam room in front of a patient and asked if you thought you could keep this one alive.”

Obito stood and ripped the tie off, throwing it on the desk. “I know that maybe we aren’t on the best of terms, but I thought… I wanted us to still be friends.” Obito ran a hand through his hair and Kakashi felt his heart stutter. He didn’t want to be friends with Obito. Friends would never be enough and being more had only caused heartache for both of them.

But now, Obito stood before him, his midnight eyes weary and Kakashi could see that he had worked hard to help his cousin and Naruto.

“Obito,” Kakashi approached the lawyer slowly until he stood directly in front of the man. They were nearly the same height and Kakashi had always thought they were perfectly matched, “I never should have said that. I am truly sorry.”

“Bastard,” Obito breathed and then Kakashi’s lips were on his own. It felt like the first raindrop after ten years of drought and neither man could get enough. Lips parted at some unspoken sign and pink tongues dived into foreign mouths that had once been a second home. Obito released the smallest of moans and Kakashi nearly purred.

Obito wrapped his arms around Kakashi’s neck and nearly screamed when Kakashi’s lips left his own only to seemingly devour the sensitive skin over his pulse point. Obito felt his vision clouding, but wouldn’t allow Kakashi to have the upper hand. Silently thanking god for doctors’ scrubs, Obito ran his hand from Kakashi’s neck, down his broad chest and with the stealth of a panther, into his elastic waistband.

Kakashi jumped backwards. “What? What was that?!”

Obito smirked, “Just checking… we were kissing, so I wondered how far we were taking our friendship this time.” Obito sounded almost normal but for the slight breathlessness. Kakashi’s eyes had become hard and suspicious and Obito knew playtime was over.

“Okay, we’re done.” He began to straighten his suit, threading the tie around his neck, wincing when it rubbed against the newly formed bruise, “Bastard!”

Kakashi shrugged and sat down, putting his elbows on his desk as his hands ran through his hair, “So, ‘are’ we done then? Should I say it was nice seeing you. Perhaps I’ll see you in a few years when those idiots fuck up again?”

Obito retrieved his suitcase, “Hardly, bastard. Sasuke and Naruto have retained me for the adoption procedures. That reminds me, we are having the baby shower at your house. Ja!”

Obito left his office and Kakashi felt as though he had missed something huge.

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By the time Sasuke and Naruto got home, it was mid-afternoon. The message machine informed them that Juugo had called to congratulate them. Their bid for a four bedroom condo, three blocks from the hospital and attached to its own private fenced in park had been accepted. Naruto smiled and leaned up to kiss Sasuke when the message ended.

“Hey, teme.” Naruto said, wrapping his arms around Sasuke’s middle and resting his head against the man’s chest.

“Hn. Dobe.” Sasuke sighed rubbing his cheek against the soft crown of Naruto’s head.

“Remember when the most exciting thing that happened to us was multiple car pileups?”

Sasuke smirked and gently pulled away, “Naruto, you are the most exciting thing. No matter what else is happening, you are always my most exciting thing.”

“Damn, bastard,” Naruto pouted, “What can I possibly say to that?” Naruto reached up and held Sasuke’s pale cheeks in his hands before tenderly kissing the pale pink lips, “You are mine.”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the possessive comment, “Hn.”

“Damn right.” Naruto pulled away and strolled into the living room, “I can’t wait to go back to work tomorrow. A little down time will be nice.”

Sasuke followed the blonde and saw him toe the power button on the computer. “Would it kill you to bend down and use your finger, dobe?”

“I don’t know… but with death on the line, should I really risk it?”

“Idiot. What are you doing?”

Naruto sat down and twirled the chair around, “Shopping for our children… from the comfort and safety of our own home. Safety being the keyword. Care to join me?”

Sasuke smirked and dragged a chair from the table next to the blonde, “Okay, dobe.”

Naruto smiled and laced his fingers with Sasuke’s.

“No green dress with gobs of disgusting lace, dobe. She’s a damn Uchiha.”

“Teme!”

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