"You're going to start showing next month,"
"I know, it's weird right?"
"No... more like gross."
"Gaara!"
The redhead shrugged and leaned back on his couch, still looking at his blonde friends stomach. Two months and it only looked like Naruto had put on a couple pounds. "I kinda want to see it already. Waiting for you to get fat is boring."
Naruto scowled from his spot on the carpeted floor of Gaara's home. The redhead, along with his two older siblings, lived in a nice house and were supported by other relatives who lived out of town. The place was big enough for each Sabaku sibling to have their own room and share two bathrooms and a kitchen. Currently, they were in the living room. "I still can't completely wrap my head around it. I mean, like, I'm gonna have to get two more jobs. You have to babysit for me, Gaara!"
Gaara leaned his head to the side, sighing and shutting his eyes. His blue eyed friend was still so naive, thinking just money was the only thing the kid was going to need. Uchiha would provide the cash, he would make sure of that or he would have his sister attack that pink haired robot. Temari was even more worried about Naruto than Gaara himself was, taking on a motherly role—which meant she got to smother everyone.
Reopening his eyes, Gaara spoke. "You don't have to do it all alone, you have all of us. You could even move in here, Kankuro isn't going to be back from Suna Uni 'till next year."
The blonde considered this. Granny Tsunade had told him to stick with people he knew and trusted. Plus he trusted Gaara more than anyone else in the world. But he already borrowed so much money from him, throwing in living expenses for two would be too much. Neither Gaara nor Temari had a baby in their stomachs, they shouldn't have to deal with his. "Thanks, but I can't. I helped make him, so I will be the one to do this."
"Don't be stubborn. Your neighborhood isn't safe, you could get hurt being there by yourself. At least let me stay the night on week days," Gaara rolled his eyes as Naruto moved to sit by him on the couch. "You're a child Naruto."
Said child laughed. "Children can't have children. I'm an adult and now I have to really grow up." Then he swung his arm around the paler males neck, squeezing hard. "Aww, you care so much!"
"You're lucky I can't do that to you." Gaara shook the blonde off and rubbed his abused neck. There was a pause. Then they broke into a small fit of laughter, rare for the redhead. "Naruto, you're actually pregnant. My bestfriend is knocked up!"
"I know, I know!" Naruto threw his head back. Things were too stressful, he couldn't remember the last time he was able to really laugh about anything. Not since everything had gone to shit. But here he was, giggling at the one thing that had been preventing it in the first place. The tan boy rolled over and let his head fall into Gaara's lap until they calmed down. Now, they looked at each other, blue and jade eyes still amused.
It was strange. They hadn't met until freshmen year, geometry class. They had simply been seated next to each other and hit it off. They shared similar backgrounds and hardships from when they were younger, the whole thing about being orphaned and whatnot. That knowledge alone had joined the blonde and redhead at the hip, it was rare to find someone to relate to in that way. Not to mention Gaara could actually stand the energetic-fire-ball that was Naruto. Now they were at current point where one of them had literally fucked up and the other had not abandoned them like everyone else.
Sometimes, Naruto wondered why it couldn't be Gaara, who he was with. They shared the same preference in partners, they had known each other for years. Sometimes, Naruto thought if just one of them, either one, made a move on the other... "You love me right, Gaara?"
"I do." The redhead nodded his head. He stroked his friends sunshine colored hair.
"Hasn't it ever crossed your mind?" Naruto lifted his hand to his own forehead.
Gaara shrugged one shoulder, pursing his lips lightly in thought. "At one point, once." He didn't need to be told what the other male was referring too. It had come time for them to talk about this.
"Why didn't you do anything about it? I wouldn't have stopped you." Naruto moved his hand to look clearly up at Gaara. "We could be in love right now. I met you before Neji."
"You're right. We could be in love right now. Wanna know why we're not?" He watched the blonde nod slightly. "Because we're too emotionally attached to ever see each other as anything more."
The blonde started to sit up, only to receive help from his friend. He adjusted himself on the couch cushion, noting how much more comfortable it was. "Explain what you mean, Gaara." He was feeling rejected. He knew he was taking it the wrong way, that his friend was being honest, but it hurt all the same.
Gaara took a breath, "I was walking through the hall freshmen year when I heard some kids talking about how your parents died. Then I looked at you, how loud and determined you were. I wanted to be like that—or atleast friends with someone like that. You didn't let your past haunt you like I use to. I admire you more than anything," He nudged Naruto's cheek with his fist. "Even though you're stupid. I can't tell you how to feel about me, but that's how I feel about you."
Leaning back on the couch, the tan male looked up at the ceiling. "I'm not in love with you Gaara. I just wish I was, 'cuz maybe then I wouldn't be like this." He sighed. "I would be funny though. Imagine how everyone would be at school—if they saw us walking down the hall holding hands."
The redhead scoffed. "It would be funny." Then he studied his friends face. "I'm sorry I can't replace Uchiha."
"What do you mean replace him? I hate that bastard." Naruto scowled at the mention of the raven.
"Sure, Naruto. Well, then I'm sorry I can't replace his baby." Gaara shrugged for the millionth time. "Though its going to be really cute."
"You think?" The blonde grinned. But he quickly went back to frowning. "I'm sorry too! If circumstances had been different, we could've been having a cute baby. Now, Sasuke-teme gets to have half claim to the awesome child I'm going to bear." Naruto snapped his fingers in defeat, being the over dramatic person he was.
Jade eyes rolled. "Are you having mood swings? Going from happy, to sad, to lovesick all in 10 minutes." He folded his hands in his lap. "I'm not prepared to handle that just yet."
"Can't help it! I'm afraid. I'm already not loved, I don't want him to be unloved too."
"I could name a handful of people who love you—Uchiha wasn't your first after all."
"Shut up! Well, You have Neji following you around on a leash."
"Yes, he does." Neji came from the kitchen, balancing three bowls of hot ramen within his muscular arms. "Alright, it's done."
"You even have him cooking for us!" Naruto threw himself sideways on the couch, exhaling loudly.
Gaara laughed at the display. "Did you hear us?" Neji nodded, small smile playing on his lips. "You're not mad?"
"Not at all." The brunette pecked Gaara on the forehead before setting the bowls on the coffee table. "You simply dismissed any insecurities I was carrying."
Naruto glared at the two of them, impatiently waiting for them to stop staring at each other with goo-goo eyes. He was jealous alright, and fat. He was getting fat too. He looked up at the ceiling and ran a hand through his pointed hair. Now he could smell the scent of ramen creeping around the room and it calmed him, turning off the strange moods. He didn't like snapping at people, not only that, but he was retardedly honest too. He'd expressed some really true feelings only minutes ago, while Gaara completely understood, not everyone would. The blonde couldn't go around telling the truth and carrying a baby. That had danger written all over it.
He sat up and grabbed an orange bowl of ramen, twisting the noodles around the fork. He focused on blowing on his food before lifting it to his mouth, his mind wandering. He could faintly make out Gaara and Neji whispering to each other, not that he wanted to hear that. He looked over the walls of Gaara's home, realizing how nice it really was. There were pictures of his siblings, his parents before they died, and of an old woman who Naruto assumed was the one supporting them. Chiyo, their apparent grandmother.
What Gaara had said earlier was only half true. Naruto was loud and impulsive, but not because he didn't let his past haunt him. It was because he was afraid of not being noticed, he was afraid of his past and screaming was the only way to get away from it. As long as he had attention, someone would always be there to save him if anything went wrong. People could not forget things that didn't let them forget. He would be remembered...
As that kid who got knocked up
/O\/O\/O\/O\/O\/O\
Sasuke lifted his glass, taking a long sip of the bubbly drink. He set it back down quietly and looked up, at the smiling faces of the Haruno's. He exhaled through his nose silently, "I'm so happy to be having dinner with all of you."
Sakura grinned and raised an eyebrow delicately. "Sure, since you made them wait so long to meet you." Then to her parents she said, "Sasuke is afraid of commitment."
The raven knew exactly what the pinkette was playing at. She wanted her to deny that claim—prove her wrong with words of love and compassion. But not yet, Sasuke wouldn't play into her hands unless it was on his terms this round. "If I remember correctly, I asked you out three times before you agreed to one date." He winked just for kicks. He could practically see the annoyance radiating from the girl.
"Our Sakura has always been like that. She doesn't just go for anyone, you're special Sasuke." Mrs. Haruno smiled and touched the ravens shoulder lightly.
The night had been going on like this. Sakura and Sasuke having a secret battle of wits right under the noses of the pinkettes parents, who were too busy being proud of an Uchiha to notice anything. Sasuke had yet to introduce his girlfriend to his own parents. At least she understood the importance of such a thing—they would definitely have to stay together after that. Then again... Sakura could try to use that against him one day if he didn't do it soon. It had been a year after all.
"Sasuke," Mr. Haruno ended the battle. "Where do you see yourself after high school?"
The raven smiled pleasantly. "Well, after going to community college for two years, my father will have me work for him at Uchiha Corp. our family business. I plan to climb the ladder and defeat my brother for the title as president." The last part he said with a smirk.
"Uchiha Corp? Isn't that the leading manufacturer for computers in the country?"
"The Sharingan Desktop, yes." Sasuke nodded politely trying to look slightly bashful.
The conversation came to a pause when a buzzing sound came the front pocket of the ravens pants. He cleared his throat and slid the sleek black phone from his jeans. On the screen was the name 'Dobe'. Now, should he excuse himself to answer? Afterall, he was having a dinner date with his girlfriend and her parents. But on the other hand, the person in the other line was carrying his child in all senses. He simply hit silence and slid the phone back into his pocket. "Sorry, it was a private call."
"Private as in what?" Sakura rose that delicate eyebrow again.
"Private." Sasuke said. "As in, the person had blocked their number."
Mrs. Haruno placed her hand over her lips, laughing lightly. "Those are never good calls to answer. Someone is always playing a joke on the other line."
"Was that it, Sasuke?" The pinkette cocked her head to the right. "Was someone goofing around with you on the other line?"
Sasuke turned his dark gaze toward her, unbeknownst by her parents. He reached across the table and took a firm hold of her fingers. "Yeah, there was an idiot on the other line. I just might have to call them back if I ever want to smile." The second part of the statement was heard by the Haruno's, who laughed.
Sasuke and Sakura leveled each other with their own secretive glares, before Mr. Haruno spoke. "Anymore cider anyone?" He lifted the bottle.
"Yes, please." Sasuke rose his glass, watching the sparkling drink pour into the cup. He lifted it to his mouth, savoring the taste against his tongue.