Early this spring what is now the first chapter of this story suddenly came to me, then rapidly expanded into a few other, much later pieces. I wrestled with whether it would be a one-shot in a series of connected stories or the first chapter of a work to introduce the beginning of their larger story. Obviously I settled on the latter - so welcome to the beginning of their family's story, built on the foundation of their romance.

First story in the series Raising Metal.

Lee hummed and stretched, feeling pleasantly well-rested and ready to attack the day with proper youthful vigour!

It had been some time since he felt he had slept so well, in fact. He frowned a bit as he opened his eyes and startled at the amount of sunlight slanting through the curtained window. It was not a lot, but it was definitely after dawn.

. . .and the apartment was silent.

Lee leapt out of bed, tangled in the blankets enough that he stumbled and it took him a moment to free himself, though he managed to do it without crashing about. It was only after he was loose he realised he had been alone in bed, when the last time he remembered he had been sharing it with his lover.

Lee headed out of his bedroom on light feet, finding Metal's crib empty but before he could become worried. . .

He stilled, biting his lip to try and keep his emotions quietly inside. Gaara was slumped in the armchair, feet tucked up, with tiny Metal lying against his chest. Lee blinked rapidly as tears welled up in his eyes. Metal stirred, with a very soft, sleepy, baby sound, and Gaara crooned, stroking his back lightly as he went still again with a contented murmur.

"You did not have to get up with him." Lee said quietly, moving closer. "You should not have, I can-"

Gaara looked up at him, hair mussed and eyes almost soft, a gentle smile curving his lips, and Lee felt as though he had taken a kunai to the heart, though it somehow didn't hurt.

"I barely sleep as it is, Lee, you know that." Gaara said, shaking his head, smile tinting with amusement. "I do not mind." He patted Metal's back again, shifting Lee's son up a little closer and crooning again to keep him quiet. "It is . . . nice to be needed, to be able to help, when I am awake already and cannot sleep in any case."

Lee closed the rest of the distance between them, unable to hold himself back, and bent, cupping Gaara's face and kissing him. It wasn't a hard kiss, but it was firm and solid as Lee poured what he was feeling into it as best he could.

Gaara looked a little stunned when Lee began to pull away.

"I love you." Lee said fiercely, still cupping Gaara's face, and rested their brows together, faintly feeling the scar of the kanji against his own brow. "I love you so much."

Gaara's tongue peeked out, not quite licking his lips but close. "Lee. . . I love you too." he said softly, and his eyes softened again. "Both of you." he added, and Lee's heart could have exploded in his chest as he hurriedly straightened, stifling himself from making a noise, and Gaara rocked Metal in his arms soothingly.

Even Metal's mother hadn't-

Lee pushed that thought away. Metal's mother had only stayed for a couple of days after bringing Metal to him, and had certainly seemed to want as little to do with either Lee or their - his - son as possible. He supposed he couldn't really blame her, as she had already intended to leave him behind when she came and probably hadn't wanted to form any attachment, but Lee's heart couldn't help but hold a small bit of hurt and betrayal for that abandonment. More of it on Metal's behalf than for himself.

And how could one not get attached to-

Gaara reached up with one hand and tugged at Lee's shoulder, bringing him back down and pulling him from his thoughts. Gaara kissed him gently, then uncurled from the chair and rose, still holding Metal close, almost moving straight into Lee's arms. Lee half-tentatively wrapped them around Gaara and Metal both, and tensed when Gaara shifted. Rather than pull away, however, he only moved so that Metal was cradled snugly between them, then leaned his head on Lee's shoulder.

Gaara was so small in Lee's arms, short and slight, but he was tough - slim, yes, but his frame was compact and solidly built. He felt stronger than steel even as he leaned almost docilely into Lee's embrace, pliant and warm. Lee squeezed them both tight, careful not to do so hard enough to hurt either, particularly Metal.

The snug pressure was still enough to make Metal stir, fussing quietly and opening his dark eyes. Lee shifted, opening his mouth, but Gaara moved as well, bouncing the baby gently and then bringing him up higher.

"There there." Gaara murmured in a gentle tone, kissing Metal's brow and nuzzling his lips against Metal's soft skin. "Shh. . . I'm here." He continued whispering soothing nonsense, and Lee had rarely seen Metal wake so peacefully.

He sank down into the armchair, enthralled by the way Gaara and Metal interacted.

"Here, go to your Daddy." Gaara said, and Lee startled even as he automatically reached up to accept his son, bringing Metal to his chest to support him, grinning at his son in a probably rather silly expression. Gaara smiled at Lee, brushing his fingers over Metal's thick and slightly unruly hair.

"Thank you." Lee said, swallowing thickly. "For looking after Metal, and for. . ."

Gaara tipped his head to one side. "I meant it. I love you, and I love Metal." He smiled slightly. "I enjoy looking after him. I wish. . ." He trailed off, the smile not quite souring but now a tinge . . . bittersweet.

"What?" Lee asked, rocking Metal absently as he rubbed his face against Lee's shoulder, his unintelligible mumbles stifled there. He would be needing fed soon, Lee thought absently. "What is it? If there is anything I can do or give for you, Gaara, you must know I would-" he stopped as Gaara held up a hand, quelling him.

"I wish I could always help you with him." Gaara said with a soft sigh. "That I could be here to help you raise him and," his cheeks tinted slightly pink, "just be here with you. Unfortunately," the rosy tinge began to fade and the warm look in his eyes cooled as they shifted, seeming more distant again, "I cannot. I cannot even be here at all."

"Of course not!" Lee said quickly. He understood exactly why, and it honestly made his heart soar even to hear that Gaara would do such things if he were able. "You are-" he broke off as Gaara flinched.

Oh.

Lee opened his mouth, then closed it, wondering if he was. . .

Oh.

Lee licked his lips, then braced himself - he'd never been afraid enough to back down from any kind of challenge and he hardly intended to start now. "We could." he said, his voice a little rough and unsteady.

"What?" Gaara asked, not fully focused on him any more, looking towards the small kitchenette as Metal stirred and began to whine.

"We could . . . come to you. Come with you. When you leave to return to your duties." Lee said awkwardly. Gaara's eyes snapped back to him. "If you truly want us, I mean. . . I am only another ninja," he ducked his head, "and with Metal to look after all on my own I am less useful to our esteemed Hokage already. I could. . . I could come to Suna?"

"You-" Gaara said, then fell silent. "I- Konoha. You would- You would want that?"

"I love you." Lee said simply. "And," he glanced down at his son, growing fussier but still more content than he had been most mornings of his young life, "I think it would be good for Metal. I have been doing my best Gaara, but I do not think I. . ." He looked away, eyes wet again, this time with not-so-happy tears.

A soft brush to his cheek made him look up again. "You are a very good Daddy to Metal." Gaara said reassuringly. "He seems like a happy baby and everyone knows how much you love him. Raising a child by yourself is not how it is supposed to be and you never planned for this. It is no wonder it has been hard for you on your own."

Lee's throat felt tight and he nodded stiffly.

"I really do wish I could keep him. You. Both of you." Gaara said, stroking Lee's cheek. "Do you mean it? Would you really be happy coming back to Suna with me?" he asked, his eyes showing that he maybe didn't believe it at all.

That really only set Lee's mind further. "I would be happy to be with you." he said, and looked down at Metal. "If you truly want us, then. . ." he trailed off. Leaving Konoha would be hard, but it would be easier thinking that it would be better for Metal. And - Lee glanced up at Gaara - it may not have been long, but he really did love Gaara and being with him would be. . .

Gaara made an abortive move towards Metal before lowering his hands, nodding, a yearning sort of expression on his face. Lee looked down at his son, then offered him back to Gaara.

The expression melted into a warm smile and Lee left him rocking Metal to go warm some formula for Metal's breakfast. He watched Metal fuss quietly in Gaara's arms, and Gaara patiently soothe him. It looked, Lee thought, like . . . family.

No, leaving Konoha might be hard, but for that?

Lee swallowed thickly. After settling the bottle for Metal, who grabbed on tightly and started suckling, making little contented gurgling sounds, Lee couldn't resist hugging Gaara tightly again. He settled into the embrace easily, leaning against Lee's side as he supported Metal a little more upright so he could swallow easily.

"I have never really had a family," Lee said quietly, his throat tight, "before Metal." Gaara looked up at him, and he continued. "Leaving Konoha will be hard; it is my home. But. . ." He swallowed. "For my family. . ." he said tentatively.

Gaara's eyes were sharp. Lee bit his lip. Gaara shifted enough to free one arm, then reached up to Lee's face. He leaned into the touch without meaning to, and Gaara's fingers slid into his hair as Gaara stretched up to kiss him, Metal cradled between them.

"I would be honoured to be part of your family." Gaara said softly, his voice warm.

Hope you enjoyed this beginning! Chapter two is in progress and nearly complete, and I hope to put it up sometime amidst the slew of my December deadlines.