That afternoon, it was actually overcast, but still warm enough to enjoy the weather so Deidara took the chance to have lunch outside and let Naoki explore. Deidara lathered Naoki in the lotion and set out a blanket for them to sit on, but Sasori wasn't too keen on joining them as he still had his orders to catch up on.

Ten minutes into the picnic, Sasori had peeked out the window to see Deidara holding Naoki and feeding him with a bottle. It wasn't too bright outside due to the sun being covered, but the clouds themselves were light enough to make both Deidara's and Naoki's hair shine.

So naturally, their hair was the first thing that Sasori noticed. The second thing was that someone was hobbling down the path and towards their house. Sasori's heart nearly stopped.

He ran outside, startling Deidara which in turn made Naoki let out a high-pitched gurgle. "What's up, my man, un?" Sasori wasn't paying attention as he was trying to see if the visitor had seen Deidara yet. She had, and she was hobbling even faster. Sasori blanched. "Who's that?" Deidara asked as he followed Sasori's gaze. He squinted. "Gods, she's older than you."

"Shut up," Sasori hissed as he made Deidara stand by pulling him up by his spare arm. Naoki whined at that and Deidara had to stop feeding him to hold him properly.

"Sasori, you've finally gotten married!" He didn't have to turn around to know that Deidara was glaring daggers at his grandmother. "And you've given me a great-grandson," she cooed as she got close enough to see Naoki and Sasori was sorely tempted to just rush them back inside, but he knew his grandmother would never leave.

"Hello, grandmother," Sasori greeted completely dejected. He seriously hoped she would have died before she came to visit as this woman caused him so much trouble. "This is Deidara–"

"What makes you people think that I'm a fucking tart, un?" Deidara questioned loudly as he went around Sasori to stare down Chiyo who now had wide eyes. "Does it look like I have a rack, or am I just fat enough to have curves, un?" Sasori didn't personally think that Deidara was overweight, but he could understand where Deidara's frustration came from with so many people's assumptions. Chiyo was still shocked at the outburst, but Naoki seemed completely at ease, used to Deidara's shouting. Though he did seem wary of Chiyo and had his face buried in Deidara's neck.

Sasori cleared his throat and stood beside Deidara. "This is Deidara. We are not married, but we are raising this child together."

Chiyo turned her perplexed gaze to Sasori now. "Where did you get this child then?"

This is what Sasori was dreading. "I offered help to a couple and got their first born as a result. Unfortunately for me Deidara had also–" A rough elbow to the ribs got Sasori to rethink his words. "Fortunately, Deidara also helped them and got their first born. So to compromise, we... both have this child."

Chiyo was red in the face now. "This is not what I meant when I said I wanted a great-grandchild, Sasori!"

Deidara looked at Sasori over Naoki's head. "You wanted this kid to appease your grandmother, un?"

Before Sasori could reply, Chiyo butt in and said, "And you're letting this crazed man take care of the child which is rightfully yours?"

"This kid is both of ours, lady, un," Deidara said, showing no respect for the woman.

Once more, Sasori tried to step in before things got out of hand, but was interrupted. "Are you using my grandson for his money?"

"I make plenty myself, and don't need him, un," Deidara growled, and Sasori wasn't going to mention that Deidara was using him for a place to stay. That would have gotten him kicked out of the bed for sure.

"Well, I cannot believe any of this, Sasori, honestly how could you be so–"

A cry from Naoki got everyone to shut up as Deidara began bouncing him lightly to calm him down, but not before he sent another withering glare towards Chiyo.

"Enough arguing," Sasori said evenly. "We will all go inside, and talk about this like adults."

Chiyo didn't seem satisfied at being silenced, but she nodded anyways and marched past the duo and child with her head held high. Deidara didn't seem any happier as Naoki was still crying and rubbing at his eyes, cheeks completely red from the teas. He also went inside as Sasori cleaned up from the failed picnic.

Once he was inside, he saw Chiyo sitting at the kitchen table, looking stiff and probably waiting for someone to serve her tea. Sasori knew it wouldn't be Deidara as he was still taking care of Naoki. As soon as he put everything away, Sasori got some water boiling and prepared some tea leaves.

"Would you like anything to eat?" Sasori asked before he sat down.

"No, thank you," Chiyo said slowly, and Sasori could tell she was trying to be calm, but her words sounded extremely pent up. As the tea was ready, Sasori poured three cups, knowing that Deidara would be joining them soon. When he set the tray down, he placed a cup in each spot and quickly put two spoonfuls of sugar in Deidara's cup. Chiyo noticed and he lip curled in disdain. "Why is he with you again?"

"Because I am the one who takes care of Naoki, un," Deidara said as he entered the room with the now calm baby. Sasori had already rewarmed Naoki's bottle of milk and handed it to Deidara. Naoki saw the bottle and began babbling again while trying to reach for it.

"Simply put, yes, Deidara is the one who takes care the baby because I am not cut out for it." They both sat down and Deidara continued to feed Naoki as he had been interrupted before. "And I'm sure you have many questions, but I have to ask you to keep it civil. Both of you," Sasori said slowly, looking at Deidara who just scoffed.

Chiyo nodded her head and picked up her teacup and platter. "Alright then. How did you two meet?"

"We were both present at the night of the child's birth," Sasori said, now confused as to why she was starting out with that question.

"And your relationship is...?" Chiyo left off to take a sip of her tea and Sasori heard Deidara give a short laugh.

"We aren't in a relationship, lady, we're just taking care of this kid together, un."

Chiyo almost seemed disappointed, like she wanted Sasori to at least be with someone intimately if he had a child. "Fine. What do you do for a living, Deidara? I'm sure it must be extravagant to make 'plenty yourself'?"

Deidara's face was pinched, but his hold on Naoki was still as gentle as ever. Naoki wasn't even aware of the tension and continued to eat. "I am a performer; fireworks are my specialty, un."

Chiyo appeared sorely unimpressed as she said, "Oh, that's nice." Before turning to Sasori and give him a disappointed look.

Sasori frowned over at her. "He makes as much as me, grandmother, I'm not sure why you're so upset."

"Well," Chiyo began. "I do not see the benefit of this arrangement. You are living with someone who you don't care for, raising a child that isn't even yours."

"It is ours," Deidara added.

"But not by blood," Chiyo pointed out, depleted and disappointed. "I at least wanted you to get married before I died."

Sasori had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. All of the shit Chiyo was spouting was so sentimental it was giving him a headache. "Well, I'm not married. I don't ever plan on getting married, and this child is the closest thing you'll get to having a great-grandchild."

Deidara muttered, "Not if I have any say in it, un."

Sasori sent him a look to not make it any worse as Chiyo was beginning to look vengeful again. "All I'm saying is that this is the way it's going to be. If you don't like it, you have no obligation to visit." Sasori sincerely hoped that would dissuade the old woman and she would leave them alone.

But by the look on Chiyo's face she seemed more like she was ready to give in. That was not apart of Sasori's plan.

"Fine, even though it's staying this way, I still want to be apart of your life, as well as the child's." They all noticed the absence of Deidara's name, but to prevent another fight, they left it at that.

Chiyo stayed for another hour, wanting to get to know more about Naoki and Deidara, but mostly the former. Deidara had some reluctancy with letting Chiyo hold his child, but nothing went wrong and after a few minutes Deidara set Naoki down on a blanket to let him roll around and attempt to crawl.

As they moved to the sitting room, Chiyo spotted the crib. "Where will Naoki sleep when he gets older, Sasori?"

"Yeah, where is he going to sleep, my man?" Deidara said, tacking on the title to annoy Sasori.

Sasori gave a large sigh. "Well, I was planning on adding a room to the house–"

"Why not just buy another one?"

"Yeah, why not another one, un?" Deidara inquired, now holding Naoki in his lap, the baby trying to eat Deidara's hair.

Sasori's temple was throbbing. "This one was expensive enough, and I already have my garden plotted. Besides, where will I find a house this close to town again?"

Both Deidara and Chiyo were disappointed in Sasori's excuse. "Well, then an expansion will have to do, now won't it?"

"Yes, but it will take some saving up to do," he added.

"Whatever must be done," Chiyo agreed.

Other topics were covered but as soon as Naoki was rubbing his eyes and whining, Deidara confirmed that it was his nap time. "It was... nice meeting you, un," Deidara said to Chiyo who just replied with, "Likewise." Sasori predicted their relationship would go no further.

As soon as Chiyo left, Deidara swaddled Naoki and went to the rocking chair to get him to sleep, which only caused a greater fuss. But a few minutes later, it was quiet, and soon enough Deidara came into Sasori's workroom.

"Don't open the curtains in the sitting room, un," Deidara ordered, and even though Sasori had heard it many times before he just nodded. "Just a heads up, I plan on leaving for a while," Deidara said nonchalantly and Sasori hummed, still slowing stirring his potion. "Probably about two months, un."

"What?" That got Sasori to look up from his work and he stared at Deidara, rattled. "You can't leave for that long."

Deidara gave a small sigh and leaned against the small end table by Sasori's door. "I need supplies, some that are far away and even some time to see what else is out there. Plus, I want a break, un."

"We had a deal, Deidara," Sasori said, going around his workstation to stand in front of Deidara, hoping the close proximity would intimidate Deidara into backing down. The warlock looked unlikely to do so.

"If you really don't want to take care of the kid then you can just give him back to his parents, un."

This startled Sasori. He wasn't used to giving up, or giving something away that had so much effort put into it. And he was sure that Deidara was bluffing. Between the two of them, Deidara was the most attached to Naoki and Sasori had no idea Deidara would even suggest leaving for so long.

"I will come back, that's a promise, un," Deidara said, getting ready to leave the room. "But if Naoki isn't here anymore, then there would be no reason for me to be here." After that he left, and his words confused Sasori further. Why he would mention that he wouldn't be coming back if Naoki wasn't there? That was obvious. But it sounded almost sounded like a threat. Sasori better take care of Naoki, or else Deidara wasn't coming back. Why did that scare him? No answer came to him so Sasori continued to work.

–

That night, before Naoki's bedtime, Deidara was on the porch with the child in his lap. Sasori watched them from the window as Deidara had sparks flying from his fingers causing Naoki to giggle and reach for it, but Deidara would just wiggle his fingers away. Sasori knew the magic was harmless, as Deidara had shown him himself, but it was still a game to Naoki. Next, Deidara sent multicolored sparks flying into the air and exploding, sending a soft pop through the night, and once more, Naoki squealed in excitement.

Sasori soon joined them and just sat next to Deidara as he continued to work his magic of sending Naoki into fits of giggles. Deidara then left the tip of his pinky sparkling and let Naoki suck on it. The baby was exploring the digit in his mouth as Deidara said, "I'm leaving tomorrow morning, un."

Watching Naoki, Sasori asked, "Would you like to eat anything specific while you're away? In the beginning?"

Deidara's lip twitched up in a semblance of a smile. "Just dried things. Meat and fruit if that's possible, un."

Nodding, Sasori said he could pack that.

No more than ten minutes later, they headed off to bed, Naoki in his crib and the duo to the only bedroom. Neither of them said anything before they fell asleep, but Sasori enjoyed the close proximity of their backs.

–

Deidara had left before the sun had even risen while Naoki was still asleep. Sasori made him breakfast before he went and packed him some snacks for his trip to wherever. Deidara never specified where he was going exactly, but his lack of mentioning must have meant that the destination wasn't too important.

"You shouldn't have any problem taking care of him, un," Deidara said as he tied his dark blue cloak on and slung his travel bag over his shoulder.

"Of course," Sasori said as he handed Deidara another bag, this one full of some spare money they usually split. "My only problem will really be managing him on my runs."

"You'll do fine, my man, un," Deidara reassured as he opened the door. Sasori thought the air smelled like Summer, but knew it was just a flower that bloomed during this time of year. It was incredibly potent, but strangely only when it was dark.

Sasori was so caught up in thinking of the flower that he didn't even notice Deidara already walking down the path. He thought of making some remark on not getting maimed or Naoki would be pissed, but didn't. There was no farewell and Sasori closed the door to go to his workshop before Naoki woke up.

–

That morning, it didn't take long for Naoki to get used to Sasori, which meant he didn't cry, but the baby didn't seem to be completely comfortable in his presence. Most of the time he tried to crawl away while whimpering, probably searching for Deidara, but once he gave up, Sasori would pick him up and comfort him for the sake of silence.

And it was this silence that Sasori started to abhor.

Two days later Sasori had to make a run into town, both for selling potions and buying food. He had never gone with just Naoki, because usually Deidara would have been back from his week long trips to watch after their child. The title got Sasori thinking as he carried Naoki in his arms, a basket looped through his elbow. He had never considered Naoki his son, just a child that he co-owned with Deidara, someone he had met six months ago.

The reason for having Naoki seemed completely useless to Sasori now, but he wasn't going to drop him off at an orphanage or leave. But Sasori wouldn't lie and say the thought never crossed his mind. He was sure that Deidara had done the same thing.

Once in town, Naoki was getting impatient in his arms and Sasori bet that he wouldn't even have the tolerance to get groceries. He came to the first shop where Naoki began to cry, and Sasori tried wrapping his blanket around him better as a comfort.

"Hello, sorry for the noise," Sasori said, no sincerity in his voice.

The female shop owner was already frowning at Naoki. "Is he tired?" She reached her arms out to hold him and Sasori offered Naoki over, something that Deidara wasn't entirely keen to do.

"He didn't have a good nights rest," Sasori lied, "but I had errands to run and couldn't leave him at home." He placed his basket on the counter and took out the potions for the shop.

"Oh?" The husband had his eyebrows raised. "Deidara feeling under the weather?"

Sasori shook his head as he continued his task. "No, he went on a trip and won't be back for a couple months. This was everything, correct?"

Both shop keepers looked shocked. "Oh, so it's just you taking care of Naoki."

"Yes, but it's not too hard," Sasori said before mentioning the order again. He then got paid and got ready to leave again, but not before Naoki whined and leaned towards him. At least the baby chose him over strangers.

When Sasori finished visiting the rest of the shops, Naoki was crying with no intentions of stopping. Sasori didn't know exactly what Deidara did to soothe him so quickly, but whatever Sasori was doing wasn't working. No cuddles or snacks were calming the baby. So Sasori decided to bail on shopping and headed home early, to try and get Naoki to sleep.

In the past two days since Sasori had Naoki though, he hadn't reacted this badly. He squirmed out of the swaddle Sasori made more times than once and the warlock had no idea how Deidara was able to do it so tight, but not so much as to constrict blood flow. Naoki's crying seemed to be sated briefly with some formula and rocking, but it took him about an hour to fall asleep, far longer than usual.

Sasori would have wondered if he was sick, but he knew that was impossible. The potion he had made for the child was potent enough to last for at least six more months. While Naoki slept, Sasori decided it was time to clean the house, or more specifically clean up after Deidara.

The warlock had been gone for two days and his clothes seemed to reappear every day. When Sasori picked up a shirt, Deidara's smell wafted off of it, a combination of sweat and his own personal musk, but it nearly smelled like those Summer flowers.

He didn't get to contemplate it any further as Naoki cried from the sitting room, not even ten minutes later. Groaning, Sasori went to him, still holding Deidara's shirt. He found Naoki had once more gotten out of his swaddle and was sitting up, crying in his spot. Sasori put his hands in the crib to take him out when he realized he was still holding Deidara's shirt. He would have dropped it if Naoki hadn't reached for him, so he picked the baby up. He was just going to drop the shirt in the hamper when Naoki clutched at it and Sasori finally figure it out.

"You do not miss him that much," Sasori said as he laid Naoki back into the crib, the baby completely calm and sucking on Deidara's shirt. "Disgusting," he muttered, but as he saw the child's eyes flutter closed, he considered it an easy way out of a difficult situation.

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