Orange, Birthday, and a Bath

…

Grasping the rose and brightly wrapped box in his arms, Minato wriggled the key to his house out of his pocket and eased it into the lock. It was late, far later than he had expected to get home for his wife's birthday. He hoped she hadn't stayed up and waited. The lock clicked and the door swung near soundlessly open. A dim light was streaming down from the second floor and Minato winced. The door closed behind him as he took his shoes and coat off. The first step upward creaked as he placed his weight on it, causing him to wince again. He definitely was going to be in trouble this evening.

The sound of the bath tap running caused his hopes to plummet, figuring she had stayed up and waited. A door creaked above before a shriek pierced the silent night. "NARUTO! What have you done!"

A higher pitched squeal accompanied it as the nude culprit darted between the crack of the open door, fleeing down the stairs toward the startled Minato. The small body pelted toward him, and forgetting he was on the stairs, he took a step back and lost his balance. Both of them landed in a heap at the base of the stairs, though the smaller of the two began to pull Minato's shirt over himself in a vain attempt to hide from the wrathful creature stalking down the stairs.

"Hide me Daddy! Mommy's angwy." The child whispered loudly. Minato glanced from the mound under his shirt toward his wife, her eyes blazing.

"Naruto, explain yourself! Why are you and your entire room covered in orange paint." The last part was said slowly, calmly, in a send shivers of fear down your spine and fear for your life sort of way.

Minato looked down curiously, beginning to notice that he was slowly also becoming covered in the wet orange paint. The mound whispered hesitantly again, " 'm not here. Tell her I'm not here." A small smile began to form on his lips.

"Naruto, dear? I don't see him around. Are you sure he's here?" An idea began to make its way into his head; he winked up at his wife, who noticed the devious glint in his eye. He signed with his hands the basic idea. A frighteningly sly grin formed on her face.

"Well, he wasn't in his room and I'm pretty sure someone didn't just go in there and paint randomly. He's not hiding down here is he?"

"Tell her no daddy."

"No, he isn't."

"Oh, well. I guess I'll go upstairs and look again, why don't you help me, love."

"Sure. I'll be right up."

She walked up the stairs, hitching her hips slightly. His eyes followed, reminding him that he still had to celebrate her birthday a bit tonight. He disappeared up the stairs and the water switched off in the bath.

A small blonde and orange head peaked out from under his shirt. "She gone?"

"Yes, but I think you had better hide still. She might come back to check again." The head ducked back under and Minato slowly gathered himself up and sort of waddled up the stairs with his son under his shirt, giggling all the way. "Kushina, I'm going to wash up a bit."

"Sure, I'm going to also in just a sec."

Minato pushed the door to the washroom open with his foot and stepped inside. The tub was filled full of bubbles, steaming slightly with the heat. He closed the door swiftly and proceeded to dump his load into the bath. It shrieked and struggled.

"NO! No wanna baf!" Naruto succeeded in getting half way out before Minato shoved him back in. A moment later Minato slid forward on a puddle and landed with a splash in the bath also. His grip loosened on the struggling child and away he was, shrieking with mirth down the stairs. Kushina popped her head in, noticed her husband sopping wet and began to guffaw.

"It's not funny." He said with a frown.

"Oh yes it is." She retorted back, walking forward to help him out of the bath.

With a grin he reached forward to grasp her hand, and pulled her forward into the water also. She shrieked and slapped him on the head gently. He joined her in laughter.

Naruto, wondering what was so funny, carefully stuck his head in to see. "I wanna take a baf, too!" He shouted as he cannoned into the bath with his parents, splashing them with soapy water.

"Happy birthday, Kushina. I love you." Minato laughed, scrubbing orange paint off his son's body.

"Love you, too." She pecked him on the lips quickly before dumping a bucket of water over Naruto's sudsy hair.

"Mommy's old now!" Naruto giggled.

…

A bit later and slightly more dry, the couple stood in Naruto's doorway, watching their son sleep. He clutched his ratty orange puppy covered blanket to himself and sucked on his small thumb. Kushina sighed in content.

"You know, the orange isn't that bad." Minator whispered in her ear. She smiled in laughter.

"Maybe I'll paint the rest orange this week. He'd get a kick out of that."

"Yes he would. Speaking of getting a kick out of something, I got you a little present." He pulled the small brightly wrapped box from behind him and handed it over gently. Excitement crinkled in her green eyes as she pulled the paper off. She gasped in surprise and joy.

"I love it!" she whispered excitedly, motioning for him to put it on her. He pulled her hair away from her neck and clasped the necklace around it, kissing her sneakily as he did. The moonlight caught the silver glint of the pendant, a small silver cup of ramen, complete with chopsticks and bits of steam hung on a chain.

"I thought you would." He said as he kissed her, slowly moving her back to their bedroom.

"It will always remind me of Naruto and you. It's perfect."

"Just like you."

….

OMG who thought I could write fluff and actually enjoy it! I really wanted to dabble in a family fanfic, especially reading the latest manga chapters. My inspiration for the whole paint and nude child running around comes from stories that my mum would tell of me when I was a wee little child. I think I'll continue with this one for a while, at least till I become bored or school makes me too busy.

Please review, especially if you want to see more.