In the cold of space you find the heat of suns

Particular thanks to the readers who have taken the time to write a review. It is very much appreciated.

Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.

Spacer crews travel the Far Borders and the Fringe of occupied space, trading. Spacing is an ancient and honourable profession carved out by millenniums. Most spacers start out as fourteen-year-old boys seeking a future. Few survive a decade spacing.

53. Babies

Sasuke felt amazing. Fucking Naruto after they had agreed to have babies had been incredible.

The bath had been his favourite place to fuck Naruto since they had first tried it in Tarrasade. Being in the warm water kept Naruto relaxed and receptive; Sasuke did not have to worry about hurting him or triggering his foxy response. And Naruto loved it. Sasuke remembered the wonderful little noises he made; even the thought of them made Sasuke’s toes curl.

They were back in their room. Naruto was curled up beside him on their bed. Sasuke relished seeing Naruto like this; so warm and content and satisfied. He glowed. Then there were his eyes; those glorious pools of blueness radiating love.

Naruto reached for him, wanting to be held. Sasuke moved so that he was sitting with his back against the wall. Naruto flowed into his lap with his arms around Sasuke’s neck. Sasuke stroked him, revelling in the soft fur of his hair and the silken velvet of his skin. Naruto made small sounds of pleasure and pushed back against Sasuke’s hand. His whiskers tickled.

“Want babies now,” Naruto whispered.

Sasuke was surprised. Naruto had never spoken when he was like this. Usually he fell asleep. Occasionally Sasuke would risk seducing him. Although it was thrilling to see fluffy-soft-Naruto transform into growling-possessive-Naruto, the sudden change left Naruto at his most wild. It was safer to leave him to sleep.

Sasuke kissed his shoulder. “Babies take time, sweetheart.”

Naruto snuggled close. “Start babies today,” he conceded. “Three babies, two boys and a girl.”

Sasuke imagined his eldest as a boy, then a girl followed by a younger boy. Or the girl could be the eldest; that would work. “Which should we have first? A boy or a girl?” he asked.

Naruto drew away, looked him in the face and frowned at him. “No eldest. A litter. We agreed. A litter.”

Sasuke blinked. That was what Naruto had said in the bathroom; a small litter of three or four. Sasuke had thought he was joking.

Naruto suddenly looked incredibly sad. “A kit needs to be part of a litter,” he whispered.

And Sasuke knew, without doubt, that Naruto had been a lonely little kit without littermates. How hard could it be to raise triplets? “A litter,” he agreed. “Two boys and a girl.”

Naruto’s blue eyes were boring into him. “You promise?”

Sasuke did not hesitate. “I promise.”


Naruto slid off Sasuke’s lap and began to move about the bed. When he stopped he was out of touching range. He was trembling slightly. Sasuke wanted to comfort him but when he tried moving closer, Naruto moved away.

“Babies need somewhere warm,” Naruto told him.

Sasuke’s heart sank. Did Naruto have so little confidence in him?

“They mustn’t have to find their own food,” he continued. “Babies aren’t good at finding food. They get hungry.”

Sasuke’s gut clenched as he realised that this was about Naruto’s childhood. He imagined a baby Naruto scavenging for food. It hurt.

“They need people who care,” Naruto informed him. “Lots of cuddles. Soft blankets and toys.” He frowned at Sasuke. “No hitting. No one hits them.”

Sasuke blinked back tears. “No one will hit them, Naruto, I promise.”

“Or locks them in dark boxes,” Naruto added.

Sasuke could not stop some tears escaping. “Never, Naruto. Never, I promise.”

“Good,” Naruto stated. “I trust you. You will look after them properly and love them.”


He was rewarded by Naruto returning to him and cuddling close. There was silence. Sasuke petted Naruto’s hair.

“Shi-chan,” Naruto said suddenly.

Sasuke was not sure if he had heard properly. “Naruto?” he queried.

“Shi-chan. Just one. One baby must be yours and Shi-chan’s.”

Sasuke’s mind filled with the possible consequences. Not that it would easy to get that far. He would need Shikamaru’s permission to conceive the child. He was not sure that Shikamaru would give it. Sasuke could not imagine Neji being comfortable with the idea.

“Just one,” Naruto pleaded.

Sasuke would arrange it somehow. His mind was already reviewing the possibilities. “One baby will be mine and Shikamaru’s,” he agreed.

“Promise?” Naruto checked.

“I promise,” Sasuke said, sealing the commitment.


Naruto finally showed signs of being sleepy. He started building a nest and Sasuke helped him. It was good to be back in familiar fluffy-soft-Naruto territory. Once Naruto had settled in, Sasuke petted him and sang to him until he fell asleep.

He considered locking the door on his way out but then he imagined a baby Naruto in a locked box and merely slid it closed.


One of Sasuke’s ideas was developing into a feasible plan. He found an official Uchiha tablet and prepared it. He then went to find Iruka and was lucky to find him alone in his office. Iruka was quick to realise it was something important, offered him a seat and sat opposite him.

“Naruto and I have been talking,” Sasuke began. “We want to have children now. Otherwise Naruto may not see them grow up.” He watched Iruka tense and saw tears well in his eyes. Sasuke was glad he had decided to speak with him separately.

“I am proud of you, Sasuke-kun,” Iruka told him.

Sasuke felt guilty. He doubted that Iruka-sensei would be as proud if he realised that Sasuke had promised to have triplets without consulting him or that he was planning to trick Shikamaru into giving up control of his chromosomes.

“Iruka-sensei, do you know that Naruto’s chromosomes cannot be combined with human chromosomes to make a healthy baby?” Sasuke asked.

Iruka gasped slightly. “No. Thinking about it, I can see that would be so. Oh Sasuke, I am so sorry.”

“I have come to terms with it.” Sasuke admitted, “and Naruto never expected to be able to have children of his own. He is happy to parent little Uchihas.” Sasuke smiled. “You have taught me that being a parent is nothing to do with genetics. Your example has helped me understand what being a parent means. I will always be in your debt, Iruka-sensei.”

Iruka coloured. “It is good of you to say so, Sasuke-sama.”

Sasuke took a deep breath. “Naruto is asleep in our room. He will not be at the evening meal. I want to take this opportunity to tell our family about the children and why we are having them so soon. That will be easier without Naruto present.” He paused to check that Iruka had accepted what he was saying before continuing. “Please could you ask Choza to set the table with a place at the head for me? I would appreciate it if Kakashi-sensei could sit on my right and you on my left.”

Iruka bowed slightly. “I will see to it, Sasuke-sama.”


Next on Sasuke’s list was Kakashi. Again, he was lucky. It was close enough to the evening meal for Kakashi to be sitting in the shared area of their crew room. Sasuke sat beside him and then went directly to the point.

“Kakashi-san, I need you to support me this evening, even if your instincts are to query what I am doing. I have reasons for what I am going to do but I am unable to share them with you at this time.”

Kakashi stiffened. “I am sworn to Uchiha and to you, Sasuke-sama,” he confirmed.

“Thank you, Kakashi-sensei,” he whispered.


Sasuke took his place at the head of the table with Kakashi on his right and Iruka on his left. The others looked for Naruto as they took their seats. Sasuke waited until there was silence.

“Naruto will not be joining us this evening,” he began. “He is asleep in our room. I wish to share some truths with you and that would be difficult in his presence.

“Naruto’s lifespan is unlikely to be as long as a purebred human’s. He may not be with us as long as we would wish.”

Sasuke paused. They had all known, even Sumaru. He was relieved. It was much easier this way.

“So Naruto and I have decided to have our children soon, so he can see them grow to maturity. The first Uchihas of the next generation will be born in less than one standard’s time. We both hope that you will help us raise them.

“This is good news, happy news, but it means that we have had to face up to another difficult truth.

“Naruto and I cannot make children together. His chromosomes will not work with Uchiha chromosomes to make little Uchihas.” He paused. “We would like you, our family, to gift us your chromosomes to stand in the place of Naruto’s.”

Sasuke produced the official Uchiha tablet he had prepared. He placed his thumb in the depression, looked directly into the screen and said, “This is Sasuke Uchiha.” He then handed the tablet to Kakashi.

This was the moment. He needed Kakashi to comply without query or hesitation. Only then would the others do likewise.

Kakashi held the tablet so the ball of his thumb was in the hollow. He looked into it so that the inbuilt scanner would scan the iris of his eye. Then he read the words that appeared on the screen.

“I, Kakashi, gift my chromosomes to the genetic bank so that they can be considered for and perhaps used in the conception of one or more Uchiha children who will be the legal offspring of Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto.”

He then handed the tablet to Gai, who was sitting on his right, who followed without hesitation. Fu followed, then Terai and Hamaki.

Shino was the first who was not Old Uchiha. He had removed his lenses even before the tablet reached him. Sasuke could tell that he was happy to do it, pleased to support Naruto in any way that he could.

Then, five later, the tablet reached Neji. Sasuke saw him hesitate and their eyes met. He was not convinced as to Sasuke’s motive. Sasuke’s chin tilted up in defiance; he could not help it. Then, to his surprise, Neji nodded slightly and complied.

As for Shikamaru, the target, he merely spoke the words and handed the tablet to Haku.

Once Iruka had taken his turn, Sasuke stood and bowed. “We thank you,” he said simply.


Sasuke had been pleased. He felt it had gone well. The conversation over the meal had been dominated by questions about the process, which Rin had been more than willing to answer. She had admitted that she could mix and match any combination of human chromosomes, provided they ended up with one pair of each of the twenty-three types. The look on Fu’s face when he realised that he could parent a baby with Hamaki and Terai had been priceless.

So it was sobering that Shikamaru should be lying in wait for him. He had the shogi board and pieces set out on the small table at the quieter end of the shared area. Neji did not play shogi. Only Sasuke played shogi, albeit poorly. Sasuke’s attempt to decline died on his lips as he took in Shikamaru’s expression. He sat down. After a few minutes Shikamaru asked his question.

“Why wasn’t Naruto there?” he asked. “There is no way he would not have wanted to be there for something so important.”

“He is asleep,” Sasuke insisted.

“I know he’s asleep. You fucked him, so that was inevitable. Why didn’t you wait until he could be there?” He took in Sasuke’s reaction. “You did something you know he wouldn’t approve.”

Sasuke steeled himself, glad that he had been successful. Shikamaru would forgive him, eventually.

Shikamaru’s eyes narrowed. “Why were you so keen to get us all to commit then and there? Without any opportunity for discussion?”

Sasuke could not see any advantage in delaying the inevitable. He looked Shikamaru directly in the eyes. “Today Naruto told me that he wanted one of the children to be mine and yours.”

Shikamaru’s eyes flashed. “You ba…” He managed to chop off the insult. He took a deep breath. “You tricked me.”

Sasuke flinched. “I didn’t. You are Naruto’s choice to stand in his place. I asked you to gift your chromosomes for that purpose.”

“It’s more than the odd chromosome. I will be genetic parent to a child I can never claim. Your child. You should have asked me.”

“You would have said no because of Neji.”

Shikamaru did not deny it.

“Will you help me optimise the babies?” Sasuke asked.

Shikamaru stared at him before shaking his head in disbelief. Then he sighed. “Yes. You know I will. Temari is right; you have me wound around your little finger. I can’t even stay cross with you. This is what Na-chan wants?”

“Yes,” Sasuke assured him. “But he doesn’t want to know which child is ours.”

Shikamaru’s gaze bore into him. “So I am tricked, trapped and silenced. Maybe I will manage to stay angry after all. With you. Not with Naruto.”


Sasuke would have responded if he had not heard Naruto calling his name. He barely had time to look up before his lap was full of fluffy, affectionate and naked Naruto.

“You weren’t there,” Naruto accused. Then he turned to Shikamaru and smiled. “Shi-chan!”

Shikamaru smiled in return. “Greetings Na-chan. Are you here to take Sasuke to bed?” The smile took on a wolfish quality. He leaned forward. “Sasuke is feeling unloved.”

Naruto was immediately more alert. “Unloved?”

“He fucked you but you didn’t fuck him back,” Shikamaru reminded him.

There was a growl in Naruto’s throat. Sasuke’s eyes widened.

“Sasuke really, really wants you to fuck him, Naruto,” Shikamaru told him. “Hard. Like he fucked you.”

“Shik…” Sasuke complaint was cut off as he was slung across Naruto’s shoulder. He did not fight it. It would be even more embarrassing to be seen fighting it. He shut his eyes. At least Naruto moved quickly.

But he did not close the door to their room. He was too intent on ripping the clothes from Sasuke’s body.

Sasuke could see Shikamaru standing there, in the doorway, looking at him with a satisfied smirk. Shikamaru was going exact his revenge by watching him being fucked and, judging from Naruto’s growling, it was going to be quite the show.

Knowing that Shikamaru had been in the room hundreds of times when he was being fucked did not help; the drapes made all the difference. This was humiliating.

Then, as Sasuke watched, Shikamaru’s smirk transformed into a small, sad smile.

He slid the door closed.

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Author's note

OK, that was the hardest chapter yet. Three complete rewrites. I am still not 100% sure about it.

I think there will be a considerable delay before the next update. I have to work out how to weave together all the different threads of the plot. I need to map out about six chapters rather than relying on instinct: it would be too easy to end up in a dead end with no way out.

For those of you who have been waiting for it, yes, Gaara will make an appearance in the next chapter or the one after that. It may have to be a relatively brief one for now, because it is so tempting to allow Gaara to change too quickly and become too cuddly.

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