Author's note: Hello my wonderful readers! I hope you're enjoying the story up to this point, it's about to heat up for sure! Just a gentle reminder, review, review, REVIEW! Let me know how I'm doing, do you love it? Do you hate it? Have any questions? I welcome it all! Reviews help me gauge how you're feeling, make me push harder for a better story and keep my muse alive. So please, let me know your thoughts! I'd love to hear them. With love, RxS
Naruto's P.O.V.
"In other news, is Konoha Senator Naruto Hyuga having an affair? Is his new baby the love child with his ex con Sasuke Uchiha? Earlier this week, the inquirer captured this photo. Take a look. Very suspicious."
"That's right Moegi, let's break this picture down. Here we have Sasuke leaving the senator's alleged condo. Not only is he dressed inconspicuously, wearing a black hoodie and sunglasses, but he's with the two's eleven year old daughter and he's carrying a baby carrier. Suspicious indeed."
"Now, no one has seen the baby, or Naruto and Neji together since the birth and the incident at the old Uchiha district, but isn't it weird that we haven't seen any pictures of the new baby? Or that we are seeing Sasuke with a baby in general?"
"Very weird. Could Speech writer Hyuga and Senator Hyuga have gotten a secret divorce?"
"Naruto, turn that off, you know it only makes you crazy." Sasuke said sitting next to me, giving Minatachi a bottle.
"A love child with his ex convicted felon Sasuke Uchiha."
"Well… they're not exactly wrong. Even still, it's not okay for your old friend Konaharmaru to be dragging your name through the mud like that."
"That's his job, it's not his fault. At least he's not calling me and asking me himself."
"Yeah… I suppose that's better? I don't know Naruto, maybe we should just come out and tell the world we're back together."
"But are we? I mean we've been doing your cat experiment for like two months now, not sure that truly means we're back together."
"But we've been doing so much better because of it, you're less stressed out, happier, more trusting of me, it's working." It is working. Friday nights are just me nights. I work out, I've lost most of the baby weight, I've been trying different ramen places throughout the city, seen some movies I've missed out on in the past, and every now and then my friend's wives will let them have a single night too. Last Friday Shikamaru and I got drunk and watched ninja movies like we used to in college. I'm getting back in touch with who I really am and I feel so much better. And when Sasuke and I are together we're better than ever. We're happy, or at least certainly on the track to be.
"You're right, we'll talk to Dr. Iruka about it next week, see what he thinks we should do about the media."
"That's all I ask." He said with a smile then kissing me on the cheek. Mikoshina came in and sprawled across my lap, giving me doe eyes.
"What is it?"
"Chocho is having a sleep over tomorrow night, Shikadai is going to be there, I haven't seen him all summer…" I looked at Sasuke; he was less than thrilled.
"I'm not sure I want you going to a sleep over with a boy there."
"He's not a boy, he's just Shikadai." He looked at me.
"The three of them have been friends for as long as we all can remember. It should be okay."
"Yeah, but in the past they weren't eleven."
"Technically I'm the only one that's eleven. Chocho is a little younger than me and Shikadai is like two and a half years younger than me, we're just all in the same grade."
"Doesn't he have a crush on her?" Sasuke asked me.
"Ewww Daddy! Dad help." I scratched my head and whispered to him.
"It will be okay, innocent."
"Sigh, alright…" He said reluctantly. Mikoshina's jaw dropped.
"OMG! You guys are the best parents ever! Thank you so much! I'm gonna go clean my room!" She kissed both of us on the cheeks, messed up Mina's hair and ran off.
"Best parents ever huh?" I chuckled.
"Well at least we get a clean room out of it, didn't even have to ask her." Sasuke said swigging his legs across me, getting comfortable across my lap and burping Minatachi.
"How was work today?"
"Good, Kakashi got approval for more towers, so we spent the day mapping where they would go, doing some updates."
"Tachi was super fussy today, I can't believe he's being to calm for you right now."
"My babies love me. You know that." He said with a wink.
"You know who else loves you?"
"Who?"
"Me." I said leaning over and kissing him.
"I hate Dr. Iruka." He said after I broke the kiss.
I laughed, "why this time?"
"The stupid no sex until we know we're serious rule. Two months of kissing you without being able to do anything about it."
"Yeah it sucks, I hate it too. But, there is a benefit, I mean your heart is recovering, I'm getting back in shape."
"My heart is fine."
"You take a lot of medications still teme."
"Yeah well Karin's blood is like an half strength when she ships it, can only handle a few of my problems at a time dobe."
"Can we revisit-"
"Nope. You're still recovering from Kurama getting yanked from your body, you don't need to be losing a pint of blood every few days too."
"When I'm recovered can we revisit it?"
"Maybe… maybe." He said giving me a kiss.
"So tomorrow's Friday…"
"It sure is."
"Any plans?"
"Well now I have to take Mikoshina to Choji's. Your mom texted me too, I guess your dad is out of town and she's a bit lonely. I'll probably go over there, maybe cook for her, that might be a nice change."
"That sounds nice, can I come?"
"No."
"Teme!"
"You know the rules dobe."
"I know I know, be single, spread your wings."
"Love you."
"Love you too." That's okay, Jiraiya invited me to a sake bar, should be a good time.
"When will your divorce become public record?"
"Soon."
"Maybe we should just tell Konahamaru, give him an exclusive?"
"You think so?"
"I mean the rumors are already out there, may as well confirm it with him, get the truth out there before we run out of time and are chasing our tails trying to get ahead of it."
"You might be right there. Dr. Iruka is Tuesday, think we can hold out till then?"
"I sure hope so."
Sasuke's P.O.V.
"Hey Sasuke, I'm glad you came."
"I am too, thank you for inviting me." I said handing her Minatachi in his carrier.
"No Mikoshina?"
"Just dropped her off at Choji's house, she's having a coed sleepover tonight."
"Naruto told me, are you handling it okay?"
"He reassured me it will be fine and I trust him."
"Good, very good. Come on, let's go to the kitchen." She said leading me to the kitchen and setting Minatachi's carrier on one of the bar stools. I put the grocery bag on the counter and got out my ingredients.
"What are you making me Mr. Uchiha?" She giggled playing with Mina.
"I am going to prepare for you homemade sushi rolls and tempura vegetables." Her jaw dropped.
"No one ever cooks for me, especially not something like this."
"Sit back and relax Mrs. Uzumaki, let me take care of you."
"Now that's a sentence I could get used to." She giggled again. I smiled and began preparing the meal.
"How have you been Sasuke?"
"I've been doing well, paternity leave is pretty nice, I get to spend some quality time with my kids, Naruto and I are better than ever, I have no complaints. How are you?"
"Well you know, it's pretty lonely around here while Minato is making peace negotiations, but it has let me catch up on things I've needed to do around my house."
"Well that's nice to hear."
"Yeah. If only I could see this little one more." I smiled, but she gets him literally every time I go to work and goes over to Naruto's like everyday. She sees him enough. "Sasuke?"
"Yes ma'am?" I asked, not looking up at her but chopping the vegetables.
"Are you feeling alright, haven't seen you wear your glasses in a long time." I adjusted them and looked up at her.
"I'm feeling okay, just trying to recover from my cardiac episode and as you know I lose vision to compensate. "
"And your treatments, what are you doing for that?"
"I'm on a lot of heart medications and I give myself transfusions every four days or so and that helps a lot." I said as I started cutting up the fish then checking on the rice.
"You're giving yourself transfusions? With what blood? No hospital?"
"My friend Karin, she's a medical ombu, when I got out of prison we did some experimental treatments and found that the best treatments for me were blood transfusions."
"Her blood?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Interesting." I dipped the veggies in batter and started frying them. "So what does this procedure entail?"
"It's actually rather simple, I lay down, she puts in a needle, hooks it up to a machine that pumps blood out of her body and into mine."
"How much blood?"
"About a pint sometimes a quart, same as you would give during a blood donation."
"I see and how often?"
"Well that's the hang up. In a perfect world, three days, but that's a lot of blood even for her, especially for her to send it. So she'll collect as much as she can and send it to me in bulk every two weeks or so."
"Wait she's sending it to you? Sasuke that's so hard."
"We make it work." I said as I took the veggies out of the oil and set them in front of her. He took one and dipped it in soy sauce, a smile on her face as she chewed.
"Sasuke this is fantastic."
"Thank you. Back in the Sound I took up cooking every now and then, trying new things to mix it up. Do you think the kids will like it?"
"This may actually get Mikoshina to eat her vegetables! Brilliant." I smiled again as I watched her eat another, then another and another. I'm glad I did something right. I quickly finished up the meal and Kushina and I sat at the table. Kushina loved my sushi, I am so glad I impressed her.
"What are you and Naruto going to do about the media?"
"We're going to talk to Dr. Iruka on Tuesday, see what he thinks, but I think it might be better to just tell everyone rather than hide it, but at the same time, I understand why Naruto is hesitant. If I was in his position I'd probably feel the same way."
"I'm so glad Naruto finally has someone in his life that tries to see things from his perspective."
"It took me a really long time to get here ma'am."
"Even still, Neji was… good in some aspects, stable, polished, regal, but I never really got that Naruto was truly happy with him. When my baby is happy, he just has this sparkle about him."
"That he does."
"Neji could never give him that. You do. You always have."
"I have?"
"The first day I met you, Naruto had this sparkle every time he was near you, he was so smitten with you. I've always known you were the one for him."
"Thank you Kushina, that means a lot, you have no idea."
"Just be good to him okay? His heart can't handle much more pain."
"I'm not going to hurt him again, you have my word."
"I trust you. Sasuke, may we talk about something else?" Her tone became serious.
"Of course."
"I want to donate blood to you." What? No, she can't be serious. Oh but she is.
"Kushina, I can't ask that of you."
"I'm a bit upset you haven't asked it of me sooner than this. We're family, the father of my grandkids, dating my son, we all want you around for a long time, please, let me do this."
"I appreciate it, I do, really, but it's asking too much." I said as we finished eating, taking her plate and washing it. She got up and grabbed my arm firmly.
"I assure you, it's not." At that moment the doorbell rang. She maintained eye contact as she walked out and answered it. It was a woman's voice… Lady Tsunade's to be exact. Great. I finished up the dishes, picked up Minatachi and met them in the living room. They were setting up transfusion equipment.
"What's all this?" I asked.
"I'm sure you know, transfusion equipment of course." Dr. Tsunade barked.
"Kushina."
"I texted her to come over after you told me Karin has to send you blood in the mail. This is happening Sasuke, stop being stubborn." Angry Kushina is seconds away from coming out. Reluctantly I sat on the couch with her and gave Tsunade my arm. She started the transfusion and instantly I started feeling better. I could take my glasses off, I felt like my heart was beating more efficiently, hell I felt like I could go run ten miles right now. How is Kushina's blood so much more potent than Karin's?
"Looks like someone's feeling better." She giggled.
"So much better, thank you so much Mrs. Uzumaki, really."
"Any time, and I mean that Sasuke." I can't believe how good I feel right now. Tsunade stayed for a little while longer, eating some of my sushi, sharing a glass of wine with Naruto's mom. After she left, Kushina and I watched a movie together. I messaged her feet as she snuggled with Minatachi. You have to treat the grandmother of your children right. About half way through the movie, I got a text from Naruto.
What are you doing?
Uh…why is he asking me this? It's supposed to be his single night. Hanging out with your mother. I replied.
You should cum over ;) Oh dear.
You're supposed to be single tonight.
And so are you, single people can hang out at odd hours of the night, can't they?
Are you drunk?
Only a little.
Naruto… He sent me a dick pic. Oh my god, I'm really getting booty called right now?
Like what you see? Uh yes, hell yes!
Dr. Iruka said we're not supposed to have sex until we're positive about each other.
Oh I'm positive teme.
Tell me that when you're sober dobe.
I'll tell you in the morning ;) Oh this is such a bad idea.
"Everything okay Sasuke?" Kushina asked.
"Your son is drunk texting me." He sent me a pic of his ass. Man his butt is perfect as ever.
"What does he want?" My dick apparently.
"I think he's a little lonely tonight."
"Maybe you should go cheer him up." She said with a wink. She was totally serious. Pretty much giving me permission to go bone her son.
"Maybe I should go check on him."
"Go right ahead, Minatachi and I are fine here, I can even go get Miko in the morning if you'd like." Oh this is so weird. Yup, total permission to go fuck her offspring.
"Ummm… yeah I think I'll just go take drive over there, make sure he's okay." She saw right through that lie.
"Have fun." She giggled as I got up from the couch. Oh I will.
"Have a good night Kushina, call me if Mina needs anything."
"Mmmhmm." She said ignoring me and snuggling into Minatachi more. Oh brother. I got my keys and went outside to the car.
OMW
Good, I'll be waiting ;)