Chapter 1: Like Kakashi and Iruka

Summary: Gaara wishes for a similar relationship as he gets a good look at Kakashi and Iruka on a "family" picnic.

It was a sunny day in Konoha and Gaara and Tsunade had been stuck inside the entire morning. They were cloistered in her office with a few advisors from each involved village, discussing the feasibility of a student exchange program. Suna could benefit from Konoha's medical training and Konoha had a plethora of shinobi with wind chakra affinity and not enough wind specialists to train them.

Just after noon, Tsunade excused the advisors, requesting that they draw up various scenarios for such an exchange, which would be presented later. Gaara relaxed slightly into his chair as he heard the voices of the advisors fade as they continued down the hall. Tsunade was standing by the open windows, looking out of the only link they'd had to the lovely day outside.

She looked tired; beautiful and relaxed, but tired. As Gaara watched a breeze stir her hair, he wondered if he would look that tired someday. He still didn't sleep a lot and still had bags under his eyes, but Tsunade's face showed a different level of tired. It showed the weight of an entire village resting on her shoulders and her mind. Even planning a beneficial program such as a student exchange took its toll. By the time Gaara reached Tsunade's age, if he was lucky enough to do so, he would have even more years as Kage weighing him down. Even with a jutsu like Tsunade's, could he hope to look that young and strong?

Feeling his eyes watching her, she turned and gave him a warm smile. Throughout the years of their alliance, the two Kages had grown close. Outside of official duties, she treated him in a way similar to how she treated Sakura, with warmth, caring, understanding, and pride. He treated her the way he would have treated a beloved aunt, with gratitude, respect, and even affection. He even felt comfortable discussing personal problems with her, something he didn't feel he could do with many others, relying on her experience and wisdom that came with her years. She'd been there, a part of his surprisingly extensive support group, as he'd grown to become a better Kazekage and a better person. Gaara was pulled out of his reverie by her voice, softer than usual.

"Let's take the rest of the afternoon off. We can meet up again tomorrow." Her words surprised him and it must have shown on his face. She chuckled and continued, "You're only twenty, Gaara, and it's a beautiful day. Go out and have some fun before you forget how."

He gave her a small smile, so small that most wouldn't even call it a smile, and stood, straightening his Kage robes and retrieving his (annoying) hat from her desk. As he opened the door and walked into the hall, Tsunade called out one last thing:

"Naruto probably thinks I've hogged you enough today."

:+:

As Gaara stepped outside he was greeted by two things that never failed to warm him to the core: sunshine and Naruto. The people milling about the village center stopped and watched as the Kazekage of Suna was glomped by a blur of black and orange, shouting at the top of its lungs. Some smiled knowingly as they watched their Village's very own ball of human sunshine draw out a reaction that only he could ever evoke from the cold redhead: a true smile.

Naruto smiled back as he began to speak at a more reasonable level, but with just as much exuberance as his shouting. "It's such a nice day out that Iruka is putting together a picnic! He said I could invite you, so you have to come! It'll be real small, I promise! Just family!" A family picnic. Naruto and Iruka's "family picnics" were a sight. None of the participants were blood-related, but Gaara thought that it made their little family even more special. All of the people who attended were there because they wanted to be, not because it was expected of them by the definitions of a "family activity."

Gaara had attended once before, years ago, and had enjoyed the time he spent with Naruto, Iruka, Kakashi and Sakura. He'd gotten to see a side of each of them that wasn't always easy to see. Iruka mothered everyone; Kakashi's laughs and smiles were sincere. Sakura relaxed and joked more, but the biggest change was Naruto. Naruto calmed down, smiled more honestly, and obviously felt more secure than anywhere else in the world. It was one of the few times and places that Naruto could be himself, confident in his acceptance into the strange group they called a family. He truly opened up – and Gaara loved every minute of it.

Gaara continued to smile softly and agreed, beginning to follow Naruto has he made his way through the crowds to "the most perfect picnic spot EVER!"

Walking together Naruto continued his stream of chatter, as content to talk as Gaara was content to listen. They both occasionally greeted those they knew and Gaara enjoyed the sound of his friend's voice and sights that springtime in Konoha offered.

As much as Gaara loved his home, there was no other place he'd rather be in spring than in Konoha. It was so beautiful and full of life. The air was warm, but a cool breeze was ever present. The sun on his face was not harsh like it was in Suna, but soft and inviting. The trees were covered in blossoms and children ran about, taking advantage of the short break before school started again. Gaara took a deep breath of the air that he had never found anywhere else. It was crisp and fresh, smelling of flowers and fruits and forests. It filled his lungs and calmed him as the breeze flowed through his robes and caressed his face.

As Naruto continued to lead him into a wooded area, Gaara turned to look at his companion. Naruto was talking about how Sakura would be absent today, explaining that she was covering for fellow medic who'd fallen ill. Gaara watched him as he spoke, half of his attention on Naruto's words and half on Naruto himself.

:+:

Naruto stopped his one-sided conversation when the men stepped into a clearing that stretched across a field and down a hill that overlooked the streets below - Gaara hadn't even noticed they'd been going uphill. Iruka grinned and waved them over to a large blanket, almost covered with containers of food.

As they neared and Naruto and Iruka started their usual teasing banter, Gaara's heart warmed as he saw dishes from both Konoha and Suna culture. Iruka had truly outdone himself. How did the man even transport this much food? There were even sealed containers of desserts off to the side.

Gaara allowed another true smile to cross his face as Naruto did a perfunctory search for a container of ramen and, upon finding none, exclaimed his outrage. Gaara sat and pulled Naruto down next to him as the blond claimed that he'd been tricked and that ramen had been promised

"Naruto, I said no such thing! A healthy diet consists of more than just ramen!" Naruto had resigned to pouting, his nose stuck in the air. Gaara almost chuckled as Iruka released a long-suffering sigh. How on earth had the man dealt with attempting to guide Naruto for so long? He must be a saint. Just as he looked like he was about to start a lecture on proper nutrition, a playful voice spoke up from behind Gaara.

"Maa, Iruka. Let the kid refuse to eat. That means more of your delicious cooking for the rest of us." Gaara turned and watched Kakashi lope closer to their little scene of domesticity. It was Naruto's turn to let out a long-suffering sigh as Kakashi gracefully sat down next to Iruka who simply rolled his eyes as Naruto grumbled about Kakashi's regular tardiness.

The conversation varied and the company was pleasant as they ate. For a short time, Gaara and Iruka discussed the student exchange program, Gaara eager to hear a teacher's opinion as it was the teachers that this venture relied on; as Naruto and Kakashi joked and teased, occasionally taking shots at Sakura who was absent and therefore delightfully unable to defend herself.

After a time, Gaara was content to fall silent and watch the other three interact, especially the two men who had been so instrumental to Naruto's development into the person he had become. Gaara couldn't imagine two people more comfortable with each other. He was certain that they didn't notice the little mannerisms that they shared, the routine actions they took after years of being together. How Kakashi knew just how much wasabi Iruka wanted when asked to pass it, and how Iruka knew that Kakashi liked extra soy sauce on just about everything. Kakashi's playful theft of Iruka's plums, because Iruka included them in a recipe for the flavor, but didn't like to actually eat them. Iruka's removal of the chunks of tomato from Kakashi's serving because he knew that Kakashi would only eat around them.

They probably didn't even realize how obviously in love they were. The way they unconsciously leaned toward each other, the glances that were sent each other's way, the small smiles. The fake glare on Iruka's face as Kakashi tried to feed him the salted tongue dish Iruka had agreed to cook but refused to eat. The glint in Kakashi's eye as he was playfully shoved away, the offending food falling conveniently from his chopsticks onto Iruka's lap. The blush that darkened Iruka's cheeks when Kakashi decided that the food shouldn't go to waste and bent to eat it where it lay.

Naruto had been the first to realize how the two felt about each other and had stepped in when he'd realized that Kakashi didn't have the guts to tell Iruka and that Iruka was too insecure to ever think the infamous Copy Nin would ever want a lowly chuunin schoolteacher. Gaara had known that Naruto was far more observant and intuitive than people gave him credit for, but he'd been surprised to hear that the then-fifteen year old had played matchmaker after returning with Jiraiya and watching the two friends skirt around each other for a few weeks.

Gaara turned to look at Naruto, who was laughing at his foster parents' antics. They were the same height now, both finally taller than others their age. Naruto had become broader than Gaara, though, having a wider frame than the more willowy redhead. His close-range fighting style had given him bulky muscles as well, and Gaara couldn't help but admire the man his childhood friend had become. He often found his eyes gazing over the tanned skin, the blond hair that glinted gold in the sun, eyes that made the sky jealous. The twenty year old was gorgeous, made even more attractive by the fact that he had no idea how good-looking he was. Gaara was aware of the appraising looks his friend received whenever they were together. It made him feel jealous and possessive, but, when in Konoha, Gaara was flattered that Naruto demanded all of the time he could spare during his visits. When they were together, Gaara never wanted to leave.

He wondered if someone would ever play matchmaker for them. He knew that he'd never have the courage to talk to Naruto about his feelings. He was too unsure of how Naruto would react. He'd gotten better at reading people, but he still couldn't read Naruto. Naruto was nice to him, but he was nice to everyone. He hugged him every time he saw him, but Naruto hugged everyone. Would they ever be like Kakashi and Iruka? Would Naruto ever wrap his arm around Gaara's waist like it was the most natural action in the world, like it was where the arm actually belonged? Would Gaara ever sneak kisses the way that Iruka did with Kakashi when he thought no one was looking? Would Naruto ever whisper something in his ear, just to see him blush?

As the afternoon slowly passed and the picnickers changed from meal to dessert, Gaara realized just how much he wanted what Kakashi and Iruka had. Iruka and Kakashi hadn't just found each other – they'd found a family. The ease with which they interacted, the protective care that they both showed for each other, as well as Naruto and Sakura, is what made them a family. It's what made these picnics such a joy.

:+:

Naruto had once told him that he was jealous of the family that Gaara had. Gaara had siblings who loved him, protected him, and assisted him. Gaara himself knew how lucky he was that Temari and Kankuro had been willing to forgive his past and help him with his future. But someday, like every family, the siblings would go their separate ways and start their own families. They'd always be close, connected by more than just blood, but they'd have their own lives to lead.

Gaara knew what life he wanted to lead. And he wanted it with the blond smiling next to him. He had the perfect examples right in front of him: a silver-haired jounin sharing a skewer of homemade dango with a brunet schoolteacher.

A/N: Beta'd as always by my good friend, the-yaoi-squirrel