*Chap 1: A drunken night*
*Chap 2: A blurred night*
*Chap 4: A Thousand pieces*
*Chap 7: Sunsets, trees and you*
*Chap 9: Healing the unfixable*
*Chap 10: So, this is it?*
*Chap 12: Kids and kisses*
*Chap 15: Somethings different?*
Chap 18: Pancakes, kids and headaches
Naruto opened his eyes to a bright room, sun beaming in from the windows, birds chirping loudly, echoing into his head and making it spiral continuously. He grunted out of the bed, feeling like the walls were slowly rippling backwards and forwards like the gentle waves of the sea. His skin felt numb and his stomach churned in agony from the accumulated alcohol. Naruto felt a hot burning sensation raise up in his gut, he was about to run to the bathroom before he was locked down in place.
The room seemed to quite everything slowing coming into focus as his breath and body calmed underneath porcelain arms which cradled his shaky body.
Naruto closed his eyes and smiled, he tilted his head down and kissed the hands beneath him, thanking them for stabilizing him.
Naruto felt hot kisses on the back of his neck which melted onto his skin like honey, soothing his muscles, calming his spinning brain.
“Do you also feel like shit?” Naruto asked in a quiet voice.
“Yep, but I think I'll be okay if we just stay like this.”
Naruto chuckled lightly whilst slowly brushing his fingers on Sasuke’s forearm. He felt Sasuke rest his head on Naruto’s bare back, slowly releasing hot breathes onto Naruto’s lower back making his skin shimmer and tingle in joy.
“Stop breathing on my back, it tickles.”
“Tch, do you want me to die? I kind of need to breath to live.”
Naruto laughed loudly, “no baka, if you die so do I. And I have no intention of dying anytime soon, seeming as I just got you.”
“I think it is I, that finally got you.”
Naruto looked down at the floor, smiling widely, wondering how this simple act of endearment from his boyfriend could make it feel so happy, so sober, so awake?
Naruto turned the smile into a fake pout, “no you didn’t.” Naruto turned around and pushed Sasuke down on the bed in protest.
“No! Naruto, I’m too drunk for this, I will literally barf on your face.”
Naruto proceeded to jump on top of a struggling Sasuke, he tickled all his weak spots and watched him wriggle underneath him, laughing at each new spot Naruto attempted to attack.
“Stop! Naruto, I will hurt you.”
Naruto stuck out his tongue at Sasuke in protest, he looked at him with all the love in the world. This man, this perfect man was his everything and he was so lucky to have him, be with him and love him.
Sasuke looked at Naruto, feeling his heartbeat against his chest furiously, attempting to escape into Naruto’s body. He looked up at this gorgeous man who’s golden hair dangled messily over his face and bright blue eyes, his smile so beautiful and loving, his sun kissed skin and tiny freckles making up this man who looked like an angel with the sun shining brightly behind him and illumination him against the rest of the world.
Sasuke’s deep black eyes stared into bright blue eyes, looking nearly hypnotized, “hm?”
Sasuke looked away shyly, his cheeks flushing a soft pink, “I love you more.” He started to smile softly, hot liquid slowly accumulating in the rear edges of his eyes.
Naruto bent down and laid soft kisses on the tears that escaped Sasuke’s eyes.
“You are beautiful Sasuke, you know that?”
Sasuke gulped down on the hot ball of saliva that was accumulating in his thought, his rib cage hurt from containing his heart which no longer was beating but bashing on its edges to let it out, his lungs also felt hot and heavy, filling with something he wasn’t used too.
“Naruto, I will punch you if you continue.”
Naruto chuckled lightly whilst laying several more kisses around Sasuke's neck, “fine, only because I’m super hungry and want to get breakfast.”
Naruto jumped off Sasuke and rolled out of bed whilst nearing falling over due to the fact that he forgot he was still a tad hung over.
Sasuke looked at his boyfriend struggling to recover from his near fall onto the ground and realised he was in trouble. He never expected to feel like this, so hopefully in love that he couldn’t even hide his feelings anymore. He was Sasuke Uchiha for God’s sake, he doesn’t do the sappy kind of love, then why? Why was this man so infectious, why couldn’t he hide the way he felt like he did everything else? Why is it that the mere thought of him leaving, dyeing or breaking up with him makes him feel so queasy? Why is it that he no longer cared about his own life, but only his? He would die, kill and suffer for years if it meant making him smile like that every day, making him happy, letting him be the joyous sunshine that he is.
Naruto finished piling on the last pancake onto the plate, he sliced some strawberries and bananas to go with them and finished it off with some maple syrup. He piled the plates on the table and started to make the coffee, he whistles to himself whilst he waited for the kettle to boil.
He looked around at the prepared table and smiled to himself, he loved making breakfast for Sasuke on the weekends, it’s what got him through the week of work, knowing they get to spend the weekend together. Something about being with Sasuke in their new house, watching him enjoy a meal Naruto cooked in their pj’s made Naruto so overly happy. He didn’t know what the feeling was called. Happy? No, it was more than that. Warm?
Naruto’s pondering was interrupted when the Kettle clinked to signify it was ready, he grabbed the kettle and poured them into the two mugs already set up on the table, which were filled with grinded coffee and sugar.
He made sure everything was ready before happily skipping back into the room to tell Sasuke breakfast was ready.
He peeked his head into the room, seeing Sasuke still collapsed onto the bed, looking mildly like death. Naruto laughed a little inside, Sasuke usually doesn’t get this drunk, so seeing him so hungover was also a new first for Naruto and it was quite funny to watch.
“Sunshine it’s time to get up and have breakfast.”
Sasuke looked at Naruto with half lid eyes, “Naruto it’s okay, I'll just stay in bed, plus I don’t think I can stomach anything right now.”
Naruto crossed his arms and pouted, “that’s not what I want to hear mister, plus food will make you feel better I promise.”
Sasuke grunted at Naruto. He found the edges of the bed covers with his left hand and threw them over himself in rebellion, “never, I’m not moving.”
Naruto smirked at the white lump on the bed, “fine if you’re not moving, I'll move you.”
Naruto walked over and grabbed the edge of the blanket and pulled it quickly off Sasuke so that he was fully visible.
“No! Naruto, I don’t have enough energy to fight back, please stop” Sasuke said in a high pitched whiny voice.
Naruto just shook his head in disappointment whilst smiling. “Sorry but you are coming with me.” Naruto picked up Sasuke with his two hands, bridal style.
Sasuke squirmed weakly in Naruto strong hands, “I hate you, I hope you know that.”
Naruto smiled widely at him, “I know, but you need food.”
Sasuke stopped squirming and started to flop in Naruto’s arms, a sad attempt to pretend to be dead.
Naruto looked down at his pitiful boyfriend and just raised an eyebrow, he lifted Sasuke into the air quickly and caught him as he landed. Sasuke was soon awaken from his two second death.
“Love you more sweetie pie” Naruto said with a huge guilty smile on his face. He placed his still grunting boyfriend on the chair which had in front of it a huge stack of fluffy pancakes on them which were still steaming and accompanied with the fresh fruit and maple syrup which Naruto had placed alongside them.
Sasuke’s eyes lit up in excitement and his stomach grumbled in anticipation.
“See, you were hungry.” Naruto said boastfully as he circled back to his side of the table.
Sasuke started to stuff his face with the pancakes whilst evilly looking at Naruto, “tch.”
Naruto looked at his boyfriend happily eating his pancakes with great joy. He loved this, he loved him, he loved all of it.
“Hey Sasuke…” Naruto said cautiously.
“Don’t you think we should go talk to Sarada? I mean, I talked to my kids about us, should you?”
Sasuke looked at him with a plan expression stamped on his face, “hm I guess so.”
Naruto gulped down on the steadily increasing burning sensation accumulating in his throat, afraid that the next words that would leave his mouth would not be well received, “Sasuke don’t bite me okay?”
Sasuke raised a curious eyebrow.
“Do you even love your kid?”
The room silenced out, heavy breathing from both counterparts could be heard but no one broke that intangible silence, that mild build of electricity slowly filling the room.
“Dobe, I am not the same with my kids as you are yours, that’s just it, okay?”
Naruto started to get frustrated, feeling himself lose patience with Sasuke, “Teme, no. You didn’t even start seeing her until I literally pressured you for weeks. How can you say you love her? And the fact that you don’t ever want to go over there willingly is shit Sasuke.” Naruto prepared himself for the first proper fight they would have as a couple.
“Naruto its none of your fucking business how much I see her, plus you know I have never been one of the emotional, lovey dove kinds.”
Naruto’s fist clenched in, trying to calm the boiling liquid filling inside of him. “Sasuke, she is your daughter, end of fucking story. You cannot blame her, for your mistakes of trying to act the straight dude. She was not the cause of your marriage or divorce. But you have to face the fucking facts, that yes you were once married to Sakura and yes you did convince a daughter with her in some poor attempt to try and see if being straight was even mildly possible for you. For fuck sake Sasuke, for once in your life will you care about anyone who isn’t you?”
Sasuke was starting to get mad, his eyebrows were sharply pointed down and his eyes seemed to glow a strange red and black mix.
“I do care, about you. Isn’t that fucking enough?”
Naruto started tearing up, “No.” He looked at his boyfriend and somehow composed a fake smile. “Sasuke I love you, I do. But you need to be a better father and if you loved me, you would start trying harder.” Naruto turned around and headed for the door. His hands were inches away from turning the door handle, but his body had cemented into place.
Naruto turned around to see Sasuke looking out the window with a solemn expression on his face, tears slowly dripping down his white skin. “Hey Sasuke, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so angry at you, I know your trying, I just worry that you don’t care about her you know? She is your family and that means she’s mine. I just want you to be able to have something as special as I have with my kids. If you just try.”
Naruto turned back to head out the door, not knowing where he was going to go, but he just wanted to calm down. “I'll be back later, I do love you, I really do. I’m sorry Sasuke.”
Sasuke didn’t waver, his head was still firmly placed forwards towards the crystal-clear window. “Hm.” He refused to say anything more, because he wasn’t too sure what he was feeling right now. Guilt? Anger? Sorrow?
Naruto walked forwards, not knowing what direction he was going or really to what location. He just walked. Listened to the leaves which danced around in the wind, which were accompanied by birds singing to the skies, like some strange yet calming relaxing sonata.
He walked slowly forwards on the dirt track, watching his feet tussle the sand underneath. He looked up to the sun, which pulsated through the leaves and dangled towards to the ground like golden streamers hanging from the trees.
Naruto felt his heavy breathing calming, almost mimicking the peaceful scenario. His body went from an angered harsh walk to a peaceful stroll, which tried to dance in rhythm with the leaves whilst softly skimming the dirt underneath it.
Naruto smiled, feeling better already and then he felt it, the bright idea. He knew what he would do today.
With a smile on his face, he started to jump forwards, excited for the day to come.
Naruto knocks on the door with a smile as big as his face.
He waits patiently by the door, twiddling his thumbs until the door was opened. Naruto was greeted by a long-time friend, who looks like they haven’t had an ounce of sleep, messy pink hair dangling all over their face, accompanied by deep green eyes and darkened circles to accentuate them.
“Hey you, looking fabulous as always.”
Sakura punched Naruto on the shoulder, which for a normal person would have sent them flying across the street, but luckily Naruto could hold his own with Sakura.
“What do you want. I’m too hung over to deal with your bubbly energy, not all of us have some magic beast that helps us recover really quick.”
Naruto chuckled lightly at Sakura’s remarks whilst entering and attempting to take off a shoe.
“I’m here to take the kids off your hands, you still have our children?”
Sakura lightly laughed, loud enough for Naruto to hear behind her, “I’m pretty sure I still have them.”
Naruto walked around a corner to find a puddle of mess, a room topped with drawings, broken crayons, plastic shuriken and nerf guns. He saw Boruto and Sarada fighting over a game of tekken, yelling at the screen to win the game for them and Himawari in the corner drawing another unicorn painting.
Naruto smiled at this sight, he wanted nothing more than to be the best dad for his kid and it hurt him to think Sasuke was missing this with Sarada.
“Well hello you guys.” Naruto said mischievously. The three kids turned around with spooked expressions on their face.
“Dad?” Boruto exclaimed in a curious and questioning voice.
Naruto smiled as he braced for a running Himawari that was ready for a bear tackle hug, “hey, I know your mother was meant to pick you guys up, but I called and asked if it was okay if I stole you guys for the day.”
Himawari’s face lit up as if she just saw a flying unicorn in the sky, “yay daddy, I missed you soooooooo much.”
Naruto’s face glowed in joy, he was nothing without his children, they were the centre to his existence.
“So, what do you say, adventure with the old timer?”
Boruto smiled and stood up to give his dad an epic high five, “you know it!”
Naruto was outside Sakura’s door, thanking her for taking care of the kids, he offered to cook her dinner anytime and gave her an invite to visit him at his new place. Sarada stood behind Sakura, a near copy of her and Sasuke, she waved at Boruto with a wide smile on her face and pink cheeks which highlighted her beautiful deep black eyes.
Before Naruto could say his last good bye, he slowly whispered into Sakura’s ear. “Sakura, is it okay if I also take Sarada today?”
Sakura looked at him with a confused and almost defensive motherly look, “hmm”.
Sakura looked over at Sarada and pursed her lips in a questioning way. “Hey sweetie would you like to join Naruto and his family for today? I know you had plans to go practice with Boruto later on, so if you wish to go, I will allow you to go.”
Sarada’s face lit up, she smiled widely and ran over to give her mother a giant hug, “thank you so much ma. Ille just get changed Mr. Uzumaki and be right over.”
“Take your time sweetie.”
Naruto looked at Sakura with deep gratitude, “thank you.”
Sakura gave Naruto a look that was more scary and threatening than anything he had ever seen, “take care of her, you hear me?”
Naruto gulped down in fear of being killed by Sakura If anything would happen to her baby girl, “yes mam.”
“Hm.” Sakura folded her arms in a cross manner, but soon relaxed her fist, “but thank you for thinking about her.”
“Anything for you and Sarada, you guys are my family and as much as Sasuke doesn’t want to admit it, he loves you guys just as much, he just struggles to show it.”
Sakura looked at Naruto with loving eyes, emerald gems that glowed in response to Naruto’s kind words.
“I hope that’s true, because I worry about her. I’m fine, I’m strong, I can survive with or without him, not that I want anything to happen to him, because you guys are now...”
“Sakura, it's fine I understand what you mean.”
“Hmm, it’s just her I worry about sometimes, you know? She basically grew up without a dad and I don’t want that to define her in a bad way, if you get what I mean?”
Naruto nodded his head, “I certainly do, it’s easy to start worrying so much about them, isn’t it? But all you can do is try your best and hope that what you teach them and how you guide them is the right way.”
Sakura placed her head on Naruto’s shoulder, letting out an agreeing sigh.
Naruto laughed to himself, seeing Sarada in a full ninja outfit. “Well you do seem ready to take on a whole battle.”
Naruto beckoned her forward and placed a loving hand on her head as he messed around with her hair.
“Alright ninjas, off we go.”
*In a quick blink, all 4 ninjas were off to the trees, skimming the branches quickly and being alert of any dangers which they might face, like a stray evil cat*
*Chap 19: Will you stay or will you go?*
