In the cold of space you find the heat of suns

Thank you for the reviews. They inspire me to continue this story.

This was betaed by Small Fox. Thank you.

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

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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.


90. Parents

Sasuke had thought long and hard about how their children should be born. He consulted with Rin, with Kiba and, finally, with Naruto.

To his surprise Naruto had given no thought to it, or would not admit to doing so. After much consideration, Sasuke decided that this meant that it worried him.

The Plan had Rin and all the equipment for an emergency intervention in Kiba's room. Kiba had agreed. He was as keen as Sasuke to keep it from Naruto's gaze.

Kiba would be just inside his room, door open and ready to give advice if necessary. He would give Sasuke each gestator in turn. Sasuke would decant the baby or kit and then take him or her to Naruto, who would be in a nest, ready with their first feed.

Kazuki would be first, because he was still the weakest; if his birth went badly they could leave the others in their gestators until they had dealt with the crisis.

Haru, Hoshi and Hikaru would be last, so that Sasuke would be available to help feed them.

Sasuke had studied, he had trained, he was determined to decant the kits and then the babies without Kiba having to help him.


When Sasuke woke Naruto was still asleep beside him. Sasuke studied him for a few minutes, drinking in his image, before he slid out of bed and went to use the head.

Naruto was waking up when he returned. Sasuke watched him stretch and blink the sleep from his eyes. Then their eyes locked.

This was it; the day their lives changed forever.


They showered together, dried themselves with the blowers and then went to find breakfast.

It was early, in keeping with The Plan. Iruka was in the kitchen. To their amazement Kakashi was with him, nursing a cup of coffee.

Naruto kissed Iruka, as he did every morning. Iruka hugged him a little longer than usual.

“Thank you for the bathroom,” Naruto said to Kakashi.

Kakashi managed a smile. “You are welcome,” he mumbled.


Sasuke sipped tea and nibbled toast. Naruto put away his customary sizeable breakfast. Iruka told them that he had seen Kiba.


They went into the nursery. Sasuke knocked on the door between it and Kiba's room. Kiba slid open the door.

The three of them went through everything: the trolley on which the gestators would be placed and moved between rooms, the equipment for clipping and cutting the umbilical cords, the monitor patches that Sasuke would stick to each infant's chest, the wipes for cleaning and the baskets for carrying.

Kiba set the milk synthesiser for colostrum and started filling the bags. Naruto went to change into pyjama pants and the feeding vest. Sasuke went through a mediation sequence to keep himself calm.

Putting the feeding bags into the vest was a welcome interlude of amusement. Naruto had not expected the warm bags to feel so odd against his skin. His face was a picture. Sasuke laughed. Even Kiba smiled. There was an exchange of 'temes' and 'dobes'. At the end of it, Sasuke kissed him.

“Decant Kazuki with me,” he suggested.

Naruto was astonished that Sasuke was willing to contemplate a deviation from The Plan. He nodded, checked the nest, and then came back to stand at Sasuke's side. Kiba wished them all the best and went through the doorway into his room.

There were the familiar sounds of a gestator being taken from its shell. Then the trolley with Kazuki's gestator appeared in the doorway. Sasuke pulled it into the room.

Sky blue and space dark eyes met.

Sasuke undid the clasps and lifted off the lid, exposing the elasticated bag that substituted for a womb. Inside they could see Kazuki, curled up in his usual position, asleep.

He picked up the cutter. Kiba had set it so that the incision would be exactly the correct depth. Sasuke took a deep breath, chose a place as far away from the placenta as possible and cut.

Amniotic fluid gushed from the opening. Sasuke ignored it and replaced the cutter on the tray. Then he slid his hands through the opening.

He was touching his son.

He lifted Kazuki clear and placed him in the waiting basket.

The faint ping of the scale recording his mass was almost lost in the beginning of an indignant wail. Sasuke smiled, it would appear that Kazuki did not appreciate being woken.

He looked to Naruto. His eyes were wide, fixed on the tiny form of their son.

Sasuke checked Kazuki's airways, which he was already confident were clear given the amount of noise he was making. He wiped away the worse of the mess and then turned his attention to finding the equipment for clipping and cutting the cord.

When he turned back Naruto was stroking Kazuki's cheek with his fingertip. Kazuki turned toward the finger, already seeking food.

“In a minute, little one,” Naruto whispered.

Sasuke saw to the cord and then stuck the monitoring patch to Kazuki's chest. Naruto was moving away and settling into the nest. Sasuke carried the basket over and placed it on the bed. Then he carefully lifted out the kit and placed him beside Naruto.

Naruto drew the kit closer and guided him towards one of the teats.

Kazuki fastened on immediately and began to suckle.

Sasuke watched, transfixed. Kazuki's ears were small, blunt triangles. His tail was about the length of Naruto's index finger and pointed. Both ears and tail were covered with a faint, silvery fuzz that matched the fur on his scalp. He had five whiskers on each cheek rather than Naruto's three.

He was beautiful.

Naruto was holding him to the teat, although Sasuke suspected Kazuki had no intention of letting go. Sasuke dared stroke the small head and back with his fingertips.

“Invite Kiba in to see him,” Naruto suggested. “He's only here because Kiba fought so hard to save him.”


Sasuke went to the doorway. Kiba was there, ready to receive the trolley. Sasuke grabbed his hand and pulled him into the nursery before pushing the trolley towards Dan and Rin.

“We want to show you Kazuki,” Sasuke told him. “He's amazing.”

Naruto insisted Kiba should sit on the bed. Kiba sat and studied the tiny kit.

“He's strong,” he observed. “Listen to that suck.” He put out a hand, stroked the kit's head and touched the very tip of one of his ears. He smiled. “It would be very easy to spend the rest of the day watching him.”

They took the hint.


The next kit was larger, heavier and the sheen of the fur on his scalp was reddish rather than blond. He had three whiskers on each cheek like Naruto. He did not wail but rather gave a few hearty cries to reassure his parents that all was well.

Sasuke carried the basket over to Naruto. This time Naruto lifted the kit out and placed him where he could find a teat. Like Kazuki, he fastened on and suckled strongly.


The third kit had no whiskers and his fur was sunshine yellow. He was smaller than the second but still considerably larger than Kazuki.


By the time Sasuke brought the fourth Kazuki had finished suckling and had fallen asleep. Naruto guided the new arrival, who had two rows of three whiskers on each side and fur that was blond but neither silvery nor yellow, to a teat. Like his brothers, he was keen to suckle.


Then they paused as Sasuke tackled the task of getting a diaper and a sleepsuit onto a tiny kit with a tail. Kazuki woke up and started to voice his displeasure. Sasuke found himself close to panic, even though he knew that it was ridiculous to be feeling that way.

Naruto's touch calmed him. “Slow down, teme. He's fine.”

Sasuke smiled his thanks and decided that what he had done would do. He placed Kazuki in the large basket that nestled in a hollow in the mattress where Naruto could reach it easily.


The fifth kit was slender like Kazuki and not much larger. He had yellow fur and three whiskers on each side of his face.

He did not cry or wail and Sasuke, still jumpy from his encounter with Kazuki's tail, decided to get Kiba to check on him.

Kiba assured him that the kit was fine, just quiet, and Sasuke carried the basket to Naruto, who frowned at him, querying the delay.

“He's quiet but breathing strongly,” Sasuke assured him as the kit fastened onto a teat, confirming that all was well.


The sixth kit had the same coloured fur as the fourth, was heavy set like the second and had five whiskers each side like Kazuki. He gave a few reassuring cries and settled down to suckle.


Sasuke diapered and dressed the second, third and fourth before placing them in the basket with Kazuki. He found himself wishing they had names.

Naruto repositioned himself and the two kits who were still feeding in preparation for the babies.


Haru was first. Sasuke knew it was him because he was longer but slimmer than Hikaru. He had a few wisps of Uchiha-dark hair. Sasuke cleared his airways but needed to give him a pat on his back to start him breathing. Once he started he managed a convincing wail that ceased as soon as Sasuke handed him to Naruto.

The kits had finished feeding. Sasuke dressed them and put them in the basket while Naruto sat up and held Haru close to the teat near his left nipple.

“Come on, Ha-chan,” he whispered, stroking his right cheek with the tip of his finger. He looked at Sasuke. “Kurenai-san said this might take some time. Why don't you decant Hikaru or Hoshi?”


Hikaru was next. He was yelling before Sasuke put him into the basket and, when Naruto held him to the teat Haru had rejected, he latched on and sucked strongly.

They decided to decant Hoshi and then concentrate on getting her and Haru to feed.


Naruto held Haru and Hoshi while Sasuke dressed Hikaru and added him to the basket. He looked odd next to the kits; too large and too plump and too still.

Sasuke went to find one of the holders for the teated bags. By the time he returned Hoshi had fastened onto the teat over Naruto's right nipple. He and Naruto managed to remove the ninth bag from the vest. Sasuke put the bag in the holder and then held it and Haru the way Kurenai had taught him.

To their relief he finally deigned to feed.


The two of them sat on the bed with the basket between them. Their nine children were safely born and asleep. Sasuke took Naruto's hand and squeezed it.


After a while Sasuke went to fetch Kiba. He took some holos of the kits and babies in the basket and then led the new parents to the other end of the nursery. He handed each of them one of the six wristcoms that Shino had made. On each was a three by three array of small, circular lights. Each light shone blue.

“Remember, they only work within fifty paces of the monitor patches,” he warned them. I have now assigned a light to each infant, in order of decanting, so Kazuki is top left and Hoshi is bottom right. If the light goes orange you need to check. If it goes red you need to get to the kit or baby quickly.” Kiba handed each of them an earpiece. “If you switch this on you can hear what is happening in the nursery. There is also a speaker in your bedroom, in your bathroom, my room and in the kitchen that can be switched on if required.”

“You had any thoughts about names yet, Naruto?” Kiba added. “I am calling them kit two through to kit six in order of decanting but it feels odd given that the other four have names.”

Sasuke could have hugged him.

“I named the babies,” Naruto answered. “I am going to leave it to Sasuke to name the kits. He picked Kazuki and that's a good name. I think he will pick good names for the others.”

“You could have told me before, dobe,” Sasuke complained. “I thought we were waiting for you to name them.”


Naruto barely left the nursery for the first three days. There was always a kit, and occasionally a baby, who needed feeding or cleaning or changing. There were many visitors.

But one person stayed away.

On the afternoon of the fourth day he turned to Sasuke.

“I have things to do,” Naruto told him. “You will be in charge of the kits and the babies.” He observed Sasuke's surprise. “I could ask Kiba,” he suggested.

Sasuke pulled himself together. “No, I would love to do it. What are you going to do? Train?”

“Training would be good,” Naruto answered. Training would be good; he might train, but it was not why he was leaving the babies and the kits with Sasuke.


He found Shikamaru hiding in an alcove off the laboratory, submerged in the data streams. Naruto sat down and waited.


Finally, with obvious reluctance, Shikamaru took off his goggles and removed his earpieces. He looked guilty.

“I have come to say sorry, Shi-chan,” Naruto told him.

Shikamaru looked at him in surprise.

“I did not know it would risk our friendship. If I had realised that, I would have told Sasuke that I had changed my mind.”

Shikamaru's gaze slipped away. “I was never honest with you about how I felt about it,” he confessed. “I hoped it would go away, Not the baby, the feeling,” he clarified.

Naruto realised that the situation was even worse than he had thought. “You would never have agreed if Sasuke had not tricked you,” he said, sadly. “It is nothing to do with Neji. You would never have agreed even without Neji.”

Shikamaru still would not look at him. “I can never acknowledge him, Naruto. I will see him every day but I will always have to pretend.”

It cut Naruto deeply that Shikamaru could no longer call him Na-chan. Naruto stood up. “I will put it right,” he promised. He did not know how yet, but he would find a way.

“Naruto?” Shikamaru queried, but Naruto had gone.


Neji smelt so distinctive, it was easy to track him. He was in the closet with Haku, folding clothes.

“May I speak with Neji alone please, Haku-san?” Naruto asked.

Haku placed the shirt he was holding back on the pile, bowed and left.

Naruto took a deep breath. It was a risk. Shi-chan might be cross. Even so, it was important that he took responsibility.

He bowed deeply. “Neji-san. I have done something that was wrong and will be difficult to forgive. I have wronged Shikamaru and, by doing so, I have wronged you. I am here to beg your forgiveness and ask for mercy.”

Neji blinked at him. He put down the underclothes he had been folding and took up a stance that reflected the gravity of the situation. “I am listening, Naruto-san,” he stated.

“One of the babies has Shikamaru as his full genetic parent,” Naruto said. It was done, the truth was out. Now they would have to live with the consequences. “This is my fault,” Naruto continued. “I said I wanted it, so Sasuke arranged it and I did not stop him. It was selfish. We never discussed it with Shikamaru. He accepted it once Sasuke had tricked him into it but it is making him unhappy. We need to make it so that Shi-chan is less unhappy.”

Neji smiled very slightly. “I already knew, Naruto. I had worked it out. I think Kakashi has as well. I was rather hoping that Shikamaru would tell me.”

“That is also my fault,” Naruto insisted. “If he told you he would be claiming the child. When he ratified the agreement he promised not to do that.”

Neji was silent. Naruto waited.

“Does Sasuke know you are telling me?” Neji asked.

Naruto refused to be guilty about that. “No.”

“Then don't tell anyone else,” Neji told him. “Not yet. I agree it is a mess. We do not want to make it a worse mess.”


At that moment Shikamaru appeared in the doorway, breathing heavily. Naruto guessed he had been running between all the places Neji normally frequented. Neji stepped forward and hugged him.

“I had already guessed, Shika,” he whispered. “I am fine with it. In my home culture such arrangements are common, unlike yours.”

Naruto found that interesting. He and Shi-chan had never talked about such things. Shi-chan was too kind; Naruto did not like thinking about his life when he was young.

Neji turned to Naruto. “We need to speak with Sasuke,” he stated.

Naruto nodded. “I will ask Kiba to take over in the nursery,” he told them.


He could not resist spying on Sasuke for a few minutes. He was struggling. He was changing Kazuki and the kit would not stop wailing. Sasuke was too tense. Some of the others were starting to grizzle.

Naruto took pity on him. He walked up behind him, wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed the side of his neck. Sasuke relaxed into him. Kazuki stopped wailing.

“Why did he stop?” Sasuke asked, looking at the tiny kit who was laying naked, mid-change.

“Who knows?” Naruto replied. “Maybe he does not like clothes, maybe you were too tense. Do you want me to do it?”

Sasuke reluctantly nodded. Naruto put Kazuki on his front rather than his back, which made dealing with his tail easier. He had him clean, diapered and dressed within seconds.

“I need more practice,” Sasuke admitted. “The others are easier but he's so small and there's his tail.”

Naruto put Kazuki with his brothers and sister. “I went to see Shi-chan,” he told Sasuke. “He has not come to see the babies because of Haru.”

Sasuke stiffened. “How do you know it is Haru and not Hikaru?” he asked.

“I can smell it,” Naruto replied. “It was wrong, teme. I should have known that. I should have stopped you once I could think. Now Shi-chan does not call me Na-chan. Now he dreads seeing Haru and Hikaru because one of them is his but not his.” He shook himself. “I told Neji but the problem is not Neji, it is Shi-chan.”

“You told Neji?” Sasuke queried. He was horrified. “Naruto, how could you?”

“I was trying to put it right,” Naruto explained. “Neji already knew. He had worked it out. He says the four of us must talk. I will get Kiba to mind the babies and the kits.”


Kiba was in the kitchen with Choza. He nodded at Naruto's request and switched on the speaker linked to the microphone in the nursery. Naruto looked askance at him.

“You will do it from here?” he asked.

“For ten minutes or so,” Kiba confirmed. “Then I will check them. It will be fine, Naruto-san.”

Naruto's whiskers twitched. He did not like it but Shi-chan needed him. “Ten minutes,” he agreed.


They went to Sasuke's office. As soon as they had sat down Neji began.

“The situation must be resolved,” he insisted, “or it will fester. Either Shikamaru comes to accept the situation or you change it.”

Sasuke was studying Shikamaru. “Acknowledge that Shikamaru is his genetic parent,” he stated.

“That would be one way of changing the situation,” Neji confirmed, “but, you must think it through. The child would know. You would have to think of how to explain to him why he has three parents when the others have two. However, given the complexity of the discussions you are going to have to have with the kits, this is a relatively minor challenge.”

“The kits?” Naruto queried.

“Lying to children about their origins is rarely wise, Naruto-san,” Neji warned. “What did you plan to tell them? Nothing and then have them discover later that they were conceived on the whim of an enemy? Nothing and then have them look up hybrid engineering and start wondering why you put your desire for children before those children's welfare?”

Naruto had not thought about it. Neji was right to raise it.

“Do you see any other consequences of being open about it?” Sasuke asked.

Neji considered. “No. No one within Uchiha will be surprised.”

“You should think about what you will tell the other babies about their genetic origins,” Shikamaru warned.

The more Naruto thought about it, the more certain he was that they should tell the kits and the babies the truth. “We should tell them everything,” he said. “We have standards to work out when and how.” He looked to Sasuke.

Sasuke nodded.


Naruto drew Shikamaru into the nursery and pushed him gently into the rocking chair. Neji sat on the floor. Sasuke picked Haru out of the basket and handed him to Naruto.

“I know nothing about babies,” Shikamaru warned them. “I have never even touched one.”

Naruto demonstrated how to hold a baby. “This is Haru,” he told him, handing Haru to him and then adjusting his grasp. “He is beautiful and we thank you for him.”

Shikamaru studied the tiny human who was his and Na-chan's and Sasuke's son.

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