McDonald's, being McDonald's was a happy lightened place. The time was quite late, so there were not that many customers that could be seen during the day, but it was still a little loud. Also, the smell of hamburgers and warmth of the local kept working on senses, and Daichi almost felt embarrassed on the possibility of being heard how hungry they all were. Temari, who decided that she was an adult but she also wanted to be a little kid still and kept on holding Minato's hand which she grabbed like if it was the most natural thing on the world, ran to the counter, watching the colorful advertisements with shiny eyes. Soon, Kankuro and Gaara followed (along with teddy and Naruto, who was a thing to hold by Gaara and it seemed that if one was not dragging another then it was an obligation to return the favor). Daichi cringed at the prices. In such places everything was more expensive than in a normal store.

But he could get a small cup of tea, at least… to not stand out from the rest, of course. He looked from affair, watching as the blond ordered the trays with food. Gods, what would he do to be on his place and be able to pay for those!... It was almost sad he had to rely on other people to feed his kids. Not that he had anything against the blond. He seemed to be a good man who had hands to kids. Almost too bad he was not a lonely mother – maybe if he was he'd consider 'getting to know closer' since it's been almost three years since Karura died. He promised her to re-marry, but somehow, he didn't have luck to good women. He didn't even want to. There was no other woman like Karura. There was just… no woman on the world who could match up.

He ordered his cup of tea and walked behind Gaara, who seemed to have the problem with balancing the tray, securing him. It was hard, so when they finally sat, he sighed like if he went through something difficult. Partially, he had the scare of his life there. He could. Kids looked at trays like wolves on meat, but didn't dare to touch it, glancing at him, obviously waiting for permission.

He almost wanted to scold them for doing that in front of other people, but then the blond took the burger from his tray and handed to him, talking about not wanting him to get a low blood pressure as he had to drive. All right, he felt tired, but not that tired. He declined politely once, twice, but then he saw as kids squirmed on their seats and understood that he was only making them all wait to start eating and he finally took the sandwich.

Which seemed to have a lot of vegetables inside, but also – thankfully – a piece of meat. Badly cooked, overflowing with fat and almost untraceable under all those spices, but still meat. He couldn't remember when was the day he once had meat. Sounded almost like never. He looked at the burger and he almost felt angry at the trick as he now fully understood his kids now and decided to not talk too much today.

'Behave.' he said only, giving of a warning signal and took out the tightly wrapped burger of Gaara. The small hands seemed to have problems with unpacking it, but his attention span was a lot shorter than it looked like when he unpacked this thing. The red head almost in an instance forgot about it and started eating his fries. Even if he told them to not wolf it down, they all tried to cheat on that rule taking a little too much in mouth with one bite. He couldn't blame them. He gave back Gaara his burger and sipped on the tea.

Gods, he felt hungry too, but he just couldn't behave like he felt. Also, who knew, kids probably wouldn't be full by eating just that, so he could give it to them later. He just had to not to eat too much of it. So he took another sip.

'Thank you for all this.' he muttered in-between and looked at the little blond. Almost a carbon copy of a father. Minus those scars on the cheeks. It was probably why the man reacted that quickly to his kid's pain. It was good to know that some people still cared on this world though.

'It's no problem, at all," Minato said, looking at his son, seated on the table next to them with the other three kids. He was explaining to the rest of them they could have his fries because he had actually already had dinner and wasn't that hungry.

'And besides, daddy almost never lets me eat in McDonalds, and if I eat a lot today, next time he won't let me." He chuckled shaking his head lightly.

'I just finished a long book, and have some new ones to do… Money's not a problem right now. And, well, I'm a vegetarian.' He pointed down at his salad with a plastic fork 'And I usually cook at home myself, so we really don't really have much expanses.'

He took a sip of his lemonade.

'It's really late for you to have been at work, though.' he said, staring at the older man. Normally, he would have suspected him to be at some other place, as it really was too late to be still at work, but considering the girl had called to his office, he hardly could suspect of anything else. 'Must have been something important… Will it be all right for you to have left like that?'

Daichi listened to the blond with interest, as he rarely talked to the man and he actually didn't know to whom he left his youngest child. Not that he didn't care, but because he always was either too tired or too busy to listen to him, and since Gaara seemed to just gain on weight and happiness he didn't try to pry much. If kid was happy it was okay. But now, as he had occasion to listen to him…

'Can we really have those fries?' asked Kankuro, staring at the plate Naruto gave him and his sister. The blond agreed and he didn't have to do that twice.

Both him and Temari moved to side the better fries on their own plate (though they made it fair, taking one fry after one). Gaara looked at it, interested, but not much, as he still was fighting with the burger that was too big to fit in his mouth as much as he wanted to. He liked his fries. He did. He did so much they had ended already and he wouldn't mind having a share of those fries that Naruto gave Kankuro and Temari. But he also liked the salty taste of the sandwich and there was no reason to look at something else when he had something so yummy filling his hands, mouth and stomach.

Daichi tore his eyes from Gaara, who seemed to have problem with ketchup and watched in horror as it dropped, just barely, on plate, missing the shirt by millimeters. Ketchup was not hard to wash but he'd rather not have problems because the restaurant decided to use more chemicals than was in his laundry detergent. He sipped on his tea for sixth or seventh time, calming himself and still holding only half unwrapped burger in his hand as he looked at the blond. A writer, then? He thought he heard 'translator' somewhere before… maybe he was both… He didn't know that writers could feed so many people, especially so hungry ones. And pay for the hospital. Maybe he was famous?

If he was, he didn't want to know. Famous people meant famous problems. And tongue usually didn't like stay put behind teeth as it would want to. He almost took the eighth sip and… It was good he didn't, because he'd probably choke on it. Instead, he froze, looking at the blond with wide eyes. Work. Dear gods, the presentation!... He looked at the clock. Maybe it was still on roll, maybe if he hurried up, maybe…

He glanced at the table. But what about them? He couldn't suddenly throw them at Minato like if they were packages. Not after such day. He sighed and relaxed, unconsciously taking a bite of the sandwich and seeing in the middle of it what he did. Slowly, he took a little smaller bite and closed his eyes. He could've swear his mind got lost somewhere on the way there. He looked at Minato.

'I was having unexpected delay.' he said around the pepper, cucumber and yellow cheese 'Actually, it was good you called me out there, I would probably sit there till morning and bore myself to death…'

He laughed, which maybe was a little too much of pushing luck as he didn't feel like laughing at all, but he couldn't let him, kids – especially kids – or anyone know that the bad state could get worse or even worst. He knew they felt it and it was hard to miss, but if he was to hear from everyday 'Dad, were you fired yet?' he'd simply go crazy.

'Just a very long meeting, nothing special. So… why are you a vegetarian? I thought that eating grass was overrated.'

'Are you sure you won't have a problem because of it?' What would the redhead do if he was to lose his job actually? 'You should take Gaara's prescription with you, just in case they did start while you were gone.'

Legally, one couldn't be held responsible if one's kid had an accident. Parents were kind of expected to go to the hospital and actually care for them

'And, well.' The blond toyed a bit with a cucumber slice. 'I have nothing against meat. I actually liked it a lot, but I once saw how it was made and I could never get myself to eat it again…'

He stared at the ways kids ate, looking a bit troubled as he continued eating the salad at a slower pace. When he accidentally caught the girl's eye, he smiled at her.

'If you guys want more, just let me know when you are done, okay?'

Temari almost nodded back to him, but she glanced back at her father and his gaze stopped her from doing that. She only shrank in her seat and ate her fries in much slower pace. Daichi steered his gaze back at the blond. The idea of taking the prescription with him was his last hope actually. If anything, it should protect him against the firing for who knows what, though he knew very well that nothing protected against the last straw breaking. Then the cause could be just… added somewhere on the way. And somehow, he had feeling that from now on he will be watched much more closely than before.

'Oh? Unexpected view on the journey to the abattoir changed your mind? And there I thought that if something tastes like murder then it tastes too good to not chomp on it.' He smiled a little, looking at the little blond. But then he noticed his scars on his face again and his smile dimmed. Maybe this time he didn't use the right words. He couldn't know what actually happened to the kid… seemed like accident that could happen just at abattoir. He coughed, sipping on the rest of his tea.

'It just seemed like a little too much pain for some beef.' the blond said, smiling in that same embarrassed way of before.'I liked meat, but I can live without eating it.'

He took another sip of his lemonade, still toying with his salad.

'You have really good kids.' he commented after a few moments.

Daichi looked at him, a little stunned. He was not expecting that comment, so he felt shot by it. Good kids? Yeah, sure, good kids, his…

'Oh, you wouldn't believe what they can do.' he said, smiling and ruffling the red head's hair, though only lightly, to not aflame the pain it the wound 'They just look angelic. Took after mother.'

'Not just that. They behave really good, especially for their age.'

Daichi smiled, flashing his teeth, embarrassed. He wasn't used to hearing such things, more like 'Mr. Sabaku, your kids again caused a hurricane.'

'They just know how to behave, intelligence runs in the family.'

'It runs alone.' said Kankuro under his nose, drinking from his cola cup. Daichi looked at him like if he didn't know if to laugh or scold him for interrupting.

Naruto apparently decided for them, because he choked on his soda as the comment caused him to laugh out loud while he tried to drink it. Minato looked panicked for a second, but Naruto got over the fit on his own, with only mild coughing as result that quickly dissolved into giggles. For a moment, the older male looked as if he wasn't sure what he should do, but then sat back down on his seat taking another sip of his own drink.

'Um… Will you be working tomorrow as well?'

Daichi observed the panic fit with highly raised eyebrows. If he saw well, that kid just coughed on flavored soda, nothing that would kill him until he was drowning in it. Was he an overprotective parent? He didn't observe anything like that before, but it was mainly due the fact he was not around the house of his. He glanced at Gaara who watched the scene highly alarmed, the panic of Minato obviously getting to him too. He hoped that the kid was not under much of spoiling, much less such panic fits – he wanted to toughen them up, life wouldn't be good for them all the time.

He glanced back at the blond. Every time he looked at him from that cup it seemed his eyes were so impossibly blue, like if he was wearing a highly overused, cheap contacts. Maybe he were, he saw them wearing glasses at home. But then he also had this blue color in them. The kid didn't seem to be void of it also. It seemed almost unnatural to have such eyes. He blinked, getting back to reality yet again. Gods, he had to be really tired.

'Tomorrow?... Tomorrow – yes, I will be working… trying to work.' Saturdays were the worst, kids were alone at home and he couldn't do much about it, the work was dull and he had much time to think about everything. Not what he wanted from that place. And now, when this happened… leaving them at home alone again… He shivered at the thought. But it seemed he had no other choice. It was weekend after all. He only hoped Gaara won't want to repeat… He blinked.

What actually had happened there? Somehow, it got past him. Hopefully, this wouldn't include destruction of furniture, he really had no money for anything new.

The blond nodded, and ate a few more pieces of salad, staring at the kids every now and then- Naruto was now explaining to teddy the differences between the toy he had gotten in his happy meal with the one Kankuro had. Which in his opinion was that Naruto's was orange and the older boy's purple, but who knew anything about power rangers… Besides the fact they existed since the dawn of time.

'Daichi-san… ' he stopped, seeming at loss of what to say, but looked at the redhead after a few seconds, his gaze somewhat stern. 'Do you smoke?'

Of course, that wasn't what he really meant. What he meant was that he wanted to talk to him away from the kids.

The other man caught his gaze, sensing something deeper going on and glanced at kids. They seemed to have a good time at the table and there were some people there – no one who seemed to be a kidnapper or rapist (but you never knew). If anything, the place was monitored by cameras. …or maybe he was just getting a little too paranoid after what's happened today. The kids seemed to have fun with Power Rangers and that was it.

'…I stopped, but I wouldn't mind one smoke.' he said, nodding back to him and getting up from the table 'Temari, me and Mr. Uzumaki are going out for a few minutes, take care of brothers, okay?' he said, before he caught himself. He always did that so it happened automatically, without consideration she didn't do well today. But as she nodded at him, she seemed too serious to not trust her, at least for one more time.

'Kankuro, you too.' He tossed carefully at the younger kid, but he seemed to be in heated conversation with Naruto over some strange tiger and dinosaur's powers so he probably didn't hear him. Either way, he got up and let the blond lead the way. Even if he didn't like where it was going. None a bit. Butting inside his life always caused bad things to happen.

'Don't worry. The only exit is on the front.' The younger man said, looking a bit more relaxed. 'Naru, I'll be just outside. Stay here and listen to Temari-chan.' he said softly, the little blond only giving him a quick agreement before going back to the heated discussion with the older boy. Once outside, taller male felt around his pockets, taking out a cigarette and litting it, before passing the package and cheap standard lighter to the redhead, waiting, giving a look inside. The kids table was visible from the spot, which was perfect, as far as he was concerned.

'…About what happened today…'

The other man scooped himself a cigarette and held it in his mouth but didn't take the lighter. Cigarettes were a luxury he couldn't allow himself to get back to, so he couldn't now get a 'need' for a piece of tobacco in wrapping. So he decided to only nibble at the stick. And then he cringed, feeling that he made a good choice, because the topic seemed to be the one that could stress one to smoke half of the pack.

'I'm sorry I had to include you in this mess.' he muttered around the orange part of the cancer stick and looked away from the restaurant to the dark streets. At this point of day (or night) endless sea of lights could be counted on ever street. 'Those kids just really aren't as good as you think.'

'That's not it at all!' the blond said, perhaps a little more vehemently than the situation required. He seemed to notice that himself, because he busied himself with the cigarette for a moment before continuing. '…Gaara is a really sweet kid.' The blond said, drawing the cigarette out of his mouth and blowing out of his mouth, his hand trembling faintly. 'And Temari and Kankuro… I don't know what I would have done at their age... But they are still really young. Too young to be left alone without someone to take care of them.'

Daichi's gaze sharpened as he glanced at the blond with deepening frown.

'Do you want to discuss with me my methods of childrearing?'

The blond flinched at the gaze, looking at the side for a moment, but somehow brought himself to look again at the redhead.

'I don't think that's necessary.' He took another nervous drag on the cigarette, visibly disliking the position he was in, yet forcing himself to go through it. 'Daichi-san… I know you are having problems-'

'We're doing fine.' The other man didn't change his pose nor the tone or his voice, though now his eyes resembled chips of ice. 'Perfectly fine.'

'Daichi-san, Please listen to me. Please?' the younger man asked. Begged, nearly.

The man looked at him in silence. Then he looked in front of him, loosening a bit, but not much.

'I am listening to you.' he stated in a tone that was less than friendly 'I still don't know what is that topic you wanted to talk with me about.'

Minato looked back inside for a moment, then at the dirty asphalt of the parking lot.

'…you. And your kids. You are having problems. And I know because I had them, too.' he finished the cigarette and tossed it to the floor, absently putting it out with his shoes. 'But that doesn't mean… I don't think…' he hesitated again, seeming at loss of what he wanted to say, and for a moment it really looked like if he would get stuck there. Then he gave the wall he was leaning on a small, absent hit with the side of his fist. 'I don't think you are a bad person. I think you are a good father.'

Daichi budged. What did he just say? He couldn't possibly mean that. He looked at him with frown of confusion, then slowly took the cigarette out of his mouth.

'You've either lost your mind or are completely blind. I don't know what's worse.'

The younger man smiled a little sadly.

'No… I really do think you are a good father. Your kids…They love you. I thought it was just Gaara because he is so young, but the other two…' he took out the cigarette pack to fish another cancer stick, but seemed to think better of it and just played with the box nervously.

'I know what's it like to want to not have anything go the way it should and… And to feel like nothing… like if everything's against you. And it's hard to do it alone.'

The man slowly played with the white stick he had in his hand, looking at it thoughtfully. Why this almost stranger, this almost unknown and almost alien to him man talked about such things? Why did he say something so… familiar? He closed his eyes. No, it was all… strange. Nobody praised a man out of nowhere just like that. Especially after such accident like this.

'My kids… respect me.' he said searching for the right words, as he was not good in saying what he felt. It felt strange to do such thing as Karura was always there to help him and now… she wasn't. 'I do not wish for anything more here.'

He glanced at the man with a little bitter, a little sour expression, slowly rolling the stick between his thumb and middle finger and then, bending it in half. A completely other man than from what he saw around the kids. Why was this surprising when he knew that people had many faces? Why did it seem so… pleasing when the man was in nerves? It felt almost wrong to stand in there alone, almost like if he was breaching a taboo.

'What do you want then?' he asked finally, breaking the soft white paper and making the brown crumples fall out on the ground 'We don't need your pity. And I even if I'm alone I'm managing to hold it together and I will even if I will have to fall down on my face and howl from pain. I'm not going to give them away or beg anyone for help.'

The younger man shook his head quickly.

'No… they love you. They respect you too, but… ' whatever he meant to say died as a car left the parking lot with a screech, an old Volkswagen speeding off to the right. 'I really needed help; more than once. And if it hadn't been because I had it I… I would have lost everything I had.'

Minato turned to stare at him, smiling uncertainly.

'Gaara needs to drink antibiotics at specific times. You really can't let a little girl take charge of that. And after what happened today, it would be unneeded stress to have them do that kind of thing again.'

If he felt on edge just from thinking about it, he didn't know what the whole of them would feel like just the following day.

'Why don't you leave the kids with me? I can take care of them. I have a couple weeks before I need to start translating the new book. Drop them off before going to work, and you can come pick them up whenever you are ready.'

Daichi looked at him quietly. Unmoving, because he didn't dare to breath to not mishear. To be sure, he just heard what was said. He slowly let the breath out.

'Are you kidding me?' he asked in a hushed tone then glanced quickly inside the restaurant. The kids were still there 'What are you saying, you-?'

It felt almost too good to be real. How could a complete stranger just from a few weeks ago act so nicely toward him? What was he, a messenger? A damned angel? He even was blond with those eyes like from a cheap movie!

He looked at him, nervously, then he covered his mouth with a palm, leaning over the wall, trembling a little. He looked at the other hand. Damn. Now he really felt he needed a smoke. Like, really. Damn it...

'My kids respect me.' He repeated, deafening to what was said, not wanting to hear that. He did too many bad things, did them wrong, not like he should've. He didn't want to think he was loved despite making all of those mistakes 'And they… they are all that I have. You hear me? All.'

His hand trembled even against his mouth. Just what… who… who the hell he thought he was! A Marie Therese? A Saint Michael! His own kids!... To take care of all three!... And feed them… And play with them… and looked for the hours of giving the meds…

He closed his eyes, breathing loudly, stopping the trembling finally.

'My kids are all that I have.' he repeated, looking at the blond with pained gaze, as he finally moved from the wall. Such help? So suddenly? Just when he needed it?... It was a joke. 'All, you hear me? I don't have anything else. So… so…'

He breathed, searching for the right words, until he found the ones that were not nice or pretty. They just fitted.

'…so if anything will happen to them under your care, I'll kill you.' Yes, a very twisted, sardonic joke.

Minato smiled again- and oddly sad smile as he nodded, the cellophane encasing the cigarettes creaking softly in his hands.

'Don't worry about that. I'll take care of them.'

Daichi stood there, for a moment, breathing in the air that was a little crispy but not yet freezing as the winter was not in full bloom yet, and he finally turned to the wall, leaning on it again tiredly. Sometimes people had those traits of looking oddly serene in those worse emotions they felt. He was lucky for meeting them nonstop.

'Good.' he muttered, calming down and looking at the street between the buildings, further away from them. Now he really felt like he needed a smoke. Old habits died hard 'I'll trust you on that…'

Because my son is happy, because I can't do better, because I have no other choice. Karura always believed in angels, he abstained from them, knowing, that all creations of heaven had flaws that could turn them around in the way he wouldn't want to see them. But maybe this time the messenger wouldn't fall from heights.

'…thank you.'

The taller male shock his head, still looking down at the street.

'Please, don't. I would really worry too much otherwise.' The mere idea of leaving such young kids alone, where anything would happen to them… And besides, he could take care of them. He had the time. Four kids would more than likely be a handful, but he wanted to keep them close so he could observe them better. And it was always better when there were more people in the house.

'No, really – thank you.' The street lights were still the same – they blinked every time the car passed with a low swoosh. They looked almost peaceful. Such an ordinary thing on ordinary day. Like if nothing has happened. He felt the breeze moving his hair a little. Yes, the blond had longer hair, they moved definitely. It was getting colder at evenings when it was windy. It was good it was such a peaceful, peaceful day. Almost like if nothing's happened.

Finally, he glanced at the blond again.

'We should go for a beer sometime – my treat.' he said with a faint smile, knowing that if anything it was not possible this month. Or probably next. He had taxes to pay. 'This is at least something I can do in revenge…'

Minato turned to look at the other man, for a moment looking almost comically surprised. After some seconds, though, he smiled somewhat shyly.

'…That would be nice. I don't think I've spoken with another adult since my editor came to torture me last.'

Daichi smiled wider, then he got back to looking at the street, feeling a little embarrassed. What was that man saying? And with looking like that!... Was he not popular on PTA meetings or something? He thought he saw him there once he managed to be on time…

'So, you're not as famous as you seem to be or is this just a hiding from fans?' he asked with a little chuckle. The blond was so strange.

'W-what…?' he asked, eyes wide. At the moment, he appeared much more his son's age than nearly thirty. The cigarette pack fell on the floor, and the taller male stared at Daichi for a second, before muttering an apology and leaning down to pick them up.

The saffron haired man looked at him, his smile dimming a little. That was surely a strange reaction. Was he afraid of being discovered? He knew some authors were paranoid when it came to their privacy, but he wasn't some crazy fan boy who would rip him to shreds. He was a grown up man, for gods' sake. He frowned apologetically even if he was not good at apologies and crouched down along with the man, meeting him on the eye as he reached the ground level.

'Hey, calm down. I'm not going to tell anyone. You're my life saver, I would have to be stupid to do that.' He tried to make a reassuring smile but it seemed his smiling muscles got stiff from unused so he probably must've been looking stupid. Either way, he tried.

'Tell… that's not… I don`t-' he blinked in that same wide-eyed way as before as the older man crouched down next to him, pulling slightly away in a flinch, before apparently calming down. He smiled again. 'I don't write. I just…translate books for my editor.'

Now it's Daichi's time to blink. He looked at the blond with surprised stare, unmoving. What? Only translate? Did he misunderstand something? Misheard, probably…

'Really? I thought that you're famous because you have such a nice house- um, I mean…' he said, getting up quickly, embarrassed. He didn't want to sound like a beggar who never saw a nice house. 'That you seem to be someone who could- should be fam- I… uh.'

He closed his eyes. Hiding his face behind a palm. Great. Now it came out how closely he listened to whatever the blond said to him before. Such a responsible parent leaving kids to someone whom he didn't even try to known closer because of flying high in the clouds with his mind.

'… I'm sorry.' he uttered finally, trying to fight the flush of embarrassment from his face before he'd have to uncover it. 'I'm stupid- so many things has happened today… sorry.'

The younger man seemed to finally relax and he laughed a little, features distending into a more natural smile.

'Don't worry for that, I don't talk much about myself anyway.' he said, finally pulling himself back up. 'As for the department… It's not mine. It belongs to my uncle. He is overseas, so we are looking after it for him.'

'It's not yours? But then…' The saffron haired man uncovered his face, his flush paling quickly. Looking for a flat of the uncle? That seemed natural, but he thought they lived in it like if they owned the place. Wasn't it more refundable if you rented the place while you were not in it? Or maybe they rented it? That made sense if only that as in family it really didn't. Unless the uncle was a really bad relative. But would he leave it to them then?... He silently slid his hands into his pockets. 'Where is your original home? Shouldn't you be living in it? You don't have a job that requires moving away.'

'Ah, well…' The blond went back to fiddling with the cigarette box, apparently unaware of what he was doing. '…we used to live in Fire country, but we had some problems with the house… ' he trailed off for a moment, even the incessant squeezing of the cellophane wrapper stopping. '…And I haven't had a regular work in a while, so I wanted to try, and this place seemed … better. My uncle had this place, so we moved here. He travels a lot, so he almost never uses it.'

'Fire country? But that's…' Another side of the world. They were foreigners? He hadn't noticed. The blond spoke the language fluently, like if he was born here. His looks could be a sign, the impossibly blue eyes and light blond hair were not easy to trace here. But that didn't mean they were completely absent.

He moved away from the wall, feeling like if he needed to pace around, but that would seem too strange – especially for the topic. There was no reason to get so riled up, right? But the more blond said the more strange it became. One of those people who got a rich lifestyle, yes?...

'But what's so good in Wind you decided to search for a job here? Doesn't your country have places for that? Moving abroad for such reason seems unnecessary, almost like if you wanted to start over a new life…' he said with a light chuckle. 'You can't visit your friends when you are abroad.'

'I… we did want to start a new life. After Kushina died, it's like if… everything went wrong. Everything….' The older man trailed off, staring again at the parking lot blankly, the words dying off. 'And… I didn't really have friends to leave behind.'

Friends? He didn't even remember what those were for. Since Kushina died, all he had ever done was obsess over his son and; of him being healthy and safe and happy. '….I thought if I moved things would be easier.'

The other man didn't smile. The things that were said were far too serious, far too… private. He didn't expect the man to have problems of bigger range. He seemed to be a divorced but happy wealthy male with a kid… And now… 'By 'Kushina' you mean Naruto's mother, right…' he said, staring off into the space. Yes, he understood what it mean – to have a wife who died. He remembered Karura – she was far too young to die but far too delicate to live. Almost like a Chinese roses – died at the first breeze of winter. And they lived through a strong freeze back then.

But what was the worst, that when she finally closed her eyes and died, leaving him with three kids which barely understood what was happening there was no one – literally no one to tell him that the world hasn't ended. By her grave was only he, their kids and old pair of his own grandparents, which didn't say a word as they came to support him, not acknowledge him and the marriage to a poor woman with unknown past, much less their kids. That has been the worst. And the blonde, who seemingly tired to move on and lived through some hardships he didn't dare to ask about, still seemed to be in the same place, stuck. How miserable.

'Life is a cruel thing, isn't it.' He said, sighing, breathing out the evening air and giving the blonde a strong pat on the shoulder 'Maybe I don't know anything, but you have already started this life, didn't you? Hang on, it will be all right.' He smiled, though didn't look at him, giving him one more pat and getting up from the wall, slowly circling toward the restaurant. 'Maybe that's not much of a consolation, but I'm standing right next to you.' He said, looking through the window at the kids. They seemed to be fine, talking and laughing about something unknown to them both 'Isn't it a sign of good beginning, Mr. Uzumaki?' He glanced at him, still not losing his smile, then opened the door of a restaurant.

'Don't worry. One day I will make things easier for you as you made them easier for me. Have faith.' And he came inside. Gee, now look at this… it was good that it was such a late hour, but the kids still attracted attention. What was with them being so loud all the time?...

It took a few moments before the younger man returned to the McDonalds, one hand twirling a silver cylinder from the strange necklace he wore as he glanced at the group somewhat thoughtfully.

'Naru…?' The blond turned around, looking at his father confusedly for a moment before smiling and telling Gaara to wait there, jumping off the table and running towards his father. The pair stayed a certain distance away, with Minato leaning down to talk to his son, the little kid staring at him with a surprised expression. After a few seconds he turned to the group and pointed, asking something that made his father nod in return.

Grinning widely, the blond ran back to the table he had been sharing with the other kids.

'Do you want to come home tomorrow and play?' he asked, closing his eyes in a foxy smile as he stared at the older siblings. 'Daddy will take care of Gaara and says you can come too if you want to.'

The others stared at him in silence. Kankuro sprung up, wanting to say something, but Temari held him in place immediately, not letting him say a word. So he sat down and glared at her, but she only shook her head quickly. They couldn't come! Daddy told her then, in the car, that they couldn't… Even when they wanted… like Gaara… to eat noodles, and everything… She glanced at father shyly. But maybe… maybe this time… Kankuro joined the pleading gaze, while the redhead, oblivious to that, smiled at them.

'I will take teddy.' He added to give them more courage. Why were they hesitating so much? He told them many times about that, right? And they already liked things he brought… Maybe they forgot about them? 'There will be cookies there.'

Somehow, pleading in already watered eyes grew twice as strong. Any more and they'd be whimpering at him. Daichi sighed, seeing the pleading stares. Normally, he would deny it, but now the situation was completely different. He looked back at them.

'What are you waiting for? Don't you want to go?' he asked. 'I will be taking Gaara there tomorrow anyway so if you want…'

'Can we?...' said Temari, looking at him with far too serious gaze. Daichi blinked. Kids and their inability to feel the suggestions.

'Yes, you ca-' He said finally – or rather, tried, because the rest of the sentence has been drowned in loud cheer thrown by all three kids as they immediately started nodding to Naruto and asking about what would they do and how long and how far and how much… He felt something akin to guilty somewhere around his chest. Finally. Finally all three was happy again. It felt reassuringly sad he couldn't just take out his soul and buy that in parts and doze everyday in bits. But it was good that it really was all they needed. He smiled.

Minato smiled at the group, considering if not to offer them ice cream, but then remembering it was too close to their bedtimes and they all had had enough sugar as it was- It was already almost two hours past Naruto's bedtime. Time really flied fast… At least tomorrow was Saturday. He sat back in the table, giving curious glances to the red-haired male every few moments, still taken aback by the other's words…

Because Sabaku Daichi hardly looked the type to say something as nice as what he had heard a few moments ago. Not that he would take the offer- not that he could afford to do it, or that he had before- but for a moment something as stupid and simple as those words had put him dangerously close to tears, and that's something that he wanted to avoid at any cost. He just prayed he wasn't making another mistake. It probably would have been safer for everybody to just keep away, keep to themselves but… he couldn't do that to Naruto anymore. He was a growing kid and he needed friend and interacting with other kids his age- he couldn't keep him locked up like an expensive vase that no one could touch in case that it would break on contact.

And yes, he was scared to have to come here alone to a place he has never been in, to have to leave his son in the hands of people he didn't know and trust them not to let anything happen to him, to have to get a job at a public place where anyone, anyone that looked just a bit would find him – and why would moving now be any different than before? All those things, everything terrified of him, but he couldn't just stay inside his house, because he didn't feel safe even there. He had given her enough, and that's what he kept telling himself over and over- this time it had to be enough. And either way, they had moved, she wouldn't be able to find them in another country. He had paid to have his phone and address removed from the yellow pages, and only Jiraiya-sensei-

'…daddy?' He blinked down, feeling the soft warmth of Naruto's hands on his leg, even though the material of his jeans. The little blond was looking at him with unusually serious eyes, his expression concerned?

'Mhh?'

'You look sad… Do you need-?'

'No, no Naru.' he said quickly, pulling the boy to his lap and hugging him for a moment, nuzzling against the soft blond hair. 'I'm okay, just thinking.'

The little boy didn't look convinced, but he just leaned back on his chest a little more comfortably, which probably hinted that he too had noticed hot late it had gotten as well. He smiled absently, rubbing his fingers lightly against the back of the blond's neck.

He finally dared to turn to the older man, expressions till slightly timid.

'Is… there anything they don't eat or they are allergic to? Or… something I should know?'

Daichi looked at him distractedly. His kids, unlike Naruto, were full of energy. Well, at least two older ones. Gaara seemed to be partly occupied with teddy to which he talked from time to time that it didn't hurt that much and that he shouldn't complain, which was an obvious sign of anesthetic not stopping it's working. It was probably the best time to take them all home.

'No, not anything I can think of.' he muttered, trying to repair the broken Ranger that Kankuro accidentally dropped on the floor. That stuff was so cheap it broke on the lightest push. And possibly it needed a glue because it didn't want to hold as good as before when he saw it. 'Kankuro doesn't like pumpkin, though…'

'I do like pumpkin.'

He looked at the kid.

'No, you don't. You complained very loud at the pie you've got at the valentine's party in school, I remember very well.'

'That was in last year, dad.'

Daichi froze, frowning at the child. Last year? He could've swear it was like yesterday.

'Then what is that you do not like?' he asked, challenging the kid. Kankuro didn't seem to be bothered though.

'Tomatoes. They're icky.'

'But you just ate the sandwich with tomatoes.'

'That's because I was hu-' he stopped, looking at him. Then looked away 'Those were different. I don't like tomatoes you buy.'

'But you always liked the tomato soup gran brought when you were younger…'

'That was long time ago, dad.'

Daichi frowned, but he couldn't argue with that. Chiyo came to them with help maybe three times after the burial, bringing some food. Then she stopped, making some excuses. And when the excuses ended, he stopped calling. He had enough of hearing that he moved out because of 'her' and that they were 'her' kids and that he wouldn't get a piece of bread for that. He stood up from the chair. 'It's time to go.' he said, picking up the feral Ranger and helping Gaara to get out from the chair. He nodded to Minato at the agreement and then they exchanged goodbyes. Gaara wanted to say goodbye to the little blond, but he seemed to be dead asleep from quite some time, so finally, after deciding they would meet tomorrow, they went home.

Once they got to the department, Gaara was sound asleep, and Kankuro was almost lunatic. And all would be well and tucked into beds soon if it wasn't for what he saw. He opened the door to his home and he froze.

Blood on the floor. He knew there would be a mess, but… he trailed after the drops of blood, seeing it ended in his room and he stood in the hallway, unsure of what he would see there. For some reason, he had a very bad feeling about that. He looked at the kids. Gaara was still sleeping, unaware, but Kankuro woke up immediately and he stood near Temari, both of them looking at him like if he was about to claw at their throats. And for some reason he felt he was ready to do that, because if anything – ANYTHING – happened to those documents he held in the drawers…

'Go to your rooms.' he commanded in dry, sultry voice, piercing them with his gaze 'In fifteen minutes I want to see you sound sleep or… I don't know what I'll do.'

He didn't have to say twice. The kids vanished from his sight almost like if they had never existed. He looked back at the entrance of his own room. Then he entered it.

And he choked on his breath. Holly freaking damn. The blood was everywhere. Almost like if he was killing a living pig in there. And what was the worst – almost all documents were mixed, scattered and all laying on that floor – in that blood. He gasped, trying the hardest to breathe, but not managing. His erratic breathing woke up the kid he still held onto.

'…ady?...' it muttered in sluggish voice, looking at him sleepily, then looking around and freezing on his hands like a block of ice. He didn't know – scream, cry or kill them all. It was not their fault, none at all. But why the hell did they have to go through all his shelves and throw them on that floor? He told them that documents of theirs were held in the third drawer in a row! He told them, he had to! He couldn't forget to do such an important-!
'Daddy!...' said the redhead and curled up to him, still looking at the room with widely opened eyes, shaking uncontrollably. Soon, the tears followed 'Dadday!...'

Oh great. He scared the kid. He covered his eyes with a hand quickly and moved away. Nothing could save them anymore – not papers, not the carpet.

Blood has dried up and he could only stand and wallow in hopelessness. He could as well go to sleep and worry about it when he would have time for that. Slowly, he sat on the sofa, stroking the red hair and waiting for the kid to calm down. He couldn't promise much, those were only nerves. Normally he'd just leave him to calm himself down as it usually worked for his exaggerated hysterics, but Gaara went through too much today and he didn't want to bring him more stress. It was unmanly to do so, but for once in awhile he could let the kid be still the kid.

'You will sleep with me today, okay?' he muttered, as the kid finally stopped clinging on him that much. He could've sworn that Gaara specially elongated the sobbing to only stick to him longer 'With teddy.'

The kid nodded, sniffing. Good. They washed up, changed their clothes and got back to the sofa, bringing the cover from another room. He left him for a moment to check on the other kids – they seemed to be sleeping, which was, obviously a lie. As tired as they were, the stress and additional adrenaline couldn't let them get to sleep as soon as they got out of the bathroom. He looked at Temari. Her cheeks were stained in tears. Gods, he was such a stupid parent…

But how could he not do that, his nerves were torn and he went through many things today. The only problem was that he, as an adult, should have known how to contain nerves. Especially when it was not kid's fault.

'I'm sorry.' he muttered, stroking the blonde hair. The girl flinched, obviously not sleeping, but trying her hardest to look like that. 'You were very brave today…'

She still hadn't answered, so he didn't push her any longer, but stroked for a little more. Then he moved to Kankuro. Usually Temari had other room than boys as she was a girl, but it seemed that either they didn't manage to separate or were too scared to. It didn't matter, though. Gaara didn't need that bed tonight.

'I'm sorry.' he said again to the mass of brown hair that was visible from under the quilt 'You were very brave too.'

The body stilled, like if Kankuro was afraid to breathe and then it started trembling, like if he had a high fever. He was probably crying. So much for not stressing the stressed kids. He moved closer, to hug him through the cover for a moment, kiss him like Karura always did – on the forehead, and if she couldn't, then on the top of the head and stroked the shaking body like if he was a hidden big cat – through the cover. The sobbing didn't cease, but he couldn't stay with him for long, so he left him after a moment, looking at them both. Temari had covered herself totally.

He hadn't got strength to deal with it anymore. And he couldn't if he didn't want to blow their covers. Rules in this house were rules. Karura was for breaking them, now she was gone. And he couldn't change. He got back to Gaara who lied in bed, talking to the plush. He lied down.

'How is it going?' he asked, tiredly, feeling relieved that at least this one kid didn't cry at his sight.

'I was talking with mommy.' he grimaced, looking at the plush. Finally he understood what was this all 'talking with mommy' through the toy about. But he was too tired to deal with it now.

'And what were you talking about?' he asked, propping the pillow. Sleeping on the sofa was not very nice, especially with a kid, but he couldn't get back to bloodied room. Gaara smiled, laying the toy on the pillow, along with his own head.

'Mommy wondered if I drink enough of milk. So I was wondering with teddy when I will drink it as I didn't drink it from… ' he started counting on fingers '…that long.' He looked at six fingers. Yes, six weeks seemed to be pretty accurate number. Maybe a little too short.

'What, you're no longer calling it paint?' he asked and clicked off the light. Gaara stared at him with big eyes through the darkness. 'You will drink it tomorrow. Go to sleep, Gaara.'

'Milk is milk.' stated the kid and lied his head on the pillow along with him.

'You said it's paint.'

'Mommy says it's milk.' He looked at the plush. It was tightly hugged to little chest. Fine, if that worked for him… he had no doubts that Karura called milk 'milk', but those talks…

'Daddy…'

'What is it?' he asked. No response.

'Go to sleep, Gaara.'

'My head hurts.' It was whispered, almost like if it was an embarrassing secret. He looked at the kid and moved his hand to stroke the red hair, touching the bandage lightly. How could he respond to that? He had no painkillers left.

'When you will go to sleep, it will stop.' he muttered. Gaara nodded, closing his eyes. He sighed. What a long day…

'Daddy…' …and it hasn't ended yet.

'What.' he asked tiredly. Gaara didn't respond again.

'Gaara, go to sleep.'

The kid looked at him, then at teddy, not moving. He looked at him, waiting. He obviously had something on his mind. So he waited. And waited. And waited until his eyes closed and his head fell on the pillow and…

'Daddy…'

…he woke up, annoyed.

'Whut…' he muttered, showing with the tone of his voice, opening his eyes again. The redhead stared at him warily, like if he was afraid. Then, after a moment of hesitance, it slowly reached hands for him. He wanted to be hugged. Whatever worked for him. He just wanted to sleep.

He moved closer, circling his hands around the small body (and teddy in between them both) and hugged it lightly. Gaara immediately stuck to him like if he was made of modeling clay.

'Love you, daddy.'

He stilled for a moment, then grimaced, feeling how his throat became suddenly a little too tight and burning. Really – after all that he did and didn't do, after all that happened because he wasn't there and all the pain that was lived through at the knees of a foreigner from another country because he was not quick enough – Gaara still could say those words to him?... That was too much.

'Go to sleep, Gaara.' He muttered again, holding onto him a little tighter and stroking the little head in caring gesture. After a few minutes, Gaara was on the nicer side of La la land. He really loved his kids.