Green

I do not own the anime, manga, or any other items affiliated with "Naruto." All credit goes to the respectable owners, this is purely fanfiction. There is YAOI and MPREG so if you don't like it, then turn back.

Chapter 7

"N-Naruto?" Sasuke closed his eyes and swallowed his wobbly voice. Stealing his features in one last act of defiance against the immortal, Sasuke spoke. "Get out alive."

Kyuubi growled, "don't you dare Sasuke!"

Naruto scrambled to his feet only to watch in panic as Sasuke pulled the stake away and clutched it with both hands. "Sasuke! I order you to drop that stake! Right now!"

Sasuke glanced at Kyuubi and then Naruto, his gaze lingering on his mates face.

"One!"

Sasuke's voice cracked, "I love you so much."

Sasuke took a deep breath and found a serene place in the farthest part in his mind. Away from the broken heart, away from his wolf pressing against the second to last barrier in his mind, and away from Naruto's screams of objection. Though, even Sasuke couldn't fully escape Naruto's wails of agony and despair as he watched his mate begin to push the stake towards his sternum.

Naruto couldn't speak, couldn't breath, couldn't function. He knew somewhere in the distance that he was yelling, but it didn't feel like it. As the alpha watched Sasuke ignore his orders and begin to descend the stake into himself, Naruto became a paradox. Here he was, a supernatural being, capable of producing the mass genocide of human life. Some even considered him all-powerful being, yet Naruto couldn't save the one person he'd die for. Naruto was strong enough to prevent death, but not strong enough to save a life. The thought ripped the werewolf apart while he flung himself into action.

Not caring when a bullet bounced off the floor next to his foot, Naruto ran towards Sasuke. But even with immense speed, Naruto would never reach Sasuke in time.

The beta couldn't close his eyes as he watched his own death begin. Many people said dreadful events happened in slow motion because you were afraid. But Sasuke knew it was his punishment for doing something so terrible. Time made sure to continue it's sluggish tempo, making Sasuke unwillingly live every horrible second.

Like a rubber band, Sasuke's arms stretched out the farthest they could, and came back with the weapon twice as fast. The force pulling Sasuke's head back as he anticipated the short and painless end. His elbows folded and the cold wooden tip touched his skin. Seconds lasted like minutes. So it took Sasuke that much longer to realize that the stake wasn't burying itself in his abdomen. A yell crawled up the werewolf's throat as he commanded the stake to go farther, pleading it to. But his pale arms wouldn't budge. They shook as if possessed, making the tip draw a red ragged line, but wouldn't force the weapon any farther.

"I- I." Salty, turbid tears filled Sasukes eyes until they eclipsed his pupils. Sasuke felt the warm tears spill over onto his cheeks when he finally blinked. "I- I" Fully aware of the stake pressing against, but not breaching his skin, Sasuke leaned down until his forehead pressed against the floor.

"I'm- I-" Sasuke broke down and sobbed into the floor. "I'm so- so sorry Naruto! I can't do it!" Wailing with grief, Sasuke hiccuped before trying to speak again. "I can't k-kill our pup! I'm not strong en-enough to save our pup! Naruto, I'm- I'm so sorry!"

Unaware of the intense fight in front of him, Sasuke gasped as his wolf immediately backed off the final crumbling barrier in his mind. Urgently repairing the damage it was causing.

Sasuke tried to fling the repulsive weapon away, but his hand still wouldn't listen. Sitting up enough and blinking to clear his vision, Sasuke pulled the savage device from his sweaty palm with his other hand. Whining in triumph, Sasuke threw the wooden stake as hard as he could. The stake clattered on the other side of the room and Sasuke wrapped his arms around himself, mindlessly rocking and weeping into the corner of his elbow.

His own ears deaf to the snarling, guns shots, hissing and cursing. Sasuke slid into insanity. He was such a bad mate! Not strong enough to save his pup! He loved his mate and pup! Sasuke wailed again. Loved them so much! Such a bad mate!

"I'm so sorry!" Sasuke continued to rock. "I can't do it! I can't, I can't, I can't!" Like a broken record player; Such a bad mate! Not strong enough! Such a bad mate! Not strong enough! Can't! Can't! Can't!

Sasuke barely perceived the room going quiet before he felt arms wrap around him.

"N- no! No! NO! I tried! I tried so hard!" The beta fought the firm arms, afraid the vampire was punishing him. "I swear I tried!" Sasuke feebly kicked the attacker, his mind so shattered and spaced with fear. Being deaf and blind from panic only lead to Sasuke's downfall.

"Shh, I'm here. I'm here." Strong legs pinned his to the floor and a firm chest pressed against his back. "It's okay Sasuke. You and the pup are safe." Naruto pressed his lips against dark hair. "The vampire's dead." Naruto brought Sasuke closer and gently swayed from side to side. Disregarding the pain that flared up on his ribs.

Sasuke rubbed his tears away, "N-Naruto?"

"Right here," Naruto nodded to Kyuubi, who visibly relaxed. "Always right here." Transforming back into a human so quickly would leave Naruto with scars, but he didn't care.

"I'm so sorry! I tried to save-" Sasuke was pressed against a raw pink neck, breathing in nothing but Naruto's scent. With his face so close to his mate, Sasuke could hear the faint comforting vibrations emitting from Naruto's chest. With each breath, Sasuke's mind glued itself back together piece by piece and his senses returned.

"You are crazy! That was the dumbest thing you could ever do!" Even though his tone was harsh and angry, Naruto ran his fingers through Sasuke's hair. The alpha was desperately trying to remind himself that his mate was now safe. Everything just happened so fast. First he was running, Sasuke flung the wooden stake away, and then the fledgling was attacking. Naruto felt like he was looking at a clock who's face was covered, each minute brought a new event, more unpredictable than the last. "I don't know whether to kiss or smack you!" The blonde kissed Sasuke until his lips swelled.

Fear was still too fresh in the blonde's own mind and Naruto had a hard time grasping that the danger was gone. Even with the fledgling completely dead, her body was still crumpled on the floor. A reminder that danger was always around the corner, and with a baby on the way the alpha leader had to be more vigilant than ever before. Naruto couldn't help growling with the instinct to protect.

Sasuke bared his neck and whined, submitting under the alpha's power.

Naruto's growl ceased and he kissed the open neck, "I'm not growling at you. This is too much stress for someone who's pregnant and..." Naruto stilled and his eyes widened. Stress caused miscarriages.

/Our pup needs to be checked on. NOW!/

Naruto stood up so fast, he made Sasuke jump in surprise. "We're going to see Tsunade! Kyuubi." Naruto stern features told Kyuubi all he needed to know.

With Naruto's scent no longer relaxing him, Sasuke was filled with anxiety. "Naruto?"

"I'll take care of the pack until you get back. Focus on the kid." Kyuubi was already jumping out the hole and running back into the woods.

Naruto nodded and picked up Sasuke's languished frame off the floor. "It will only take ten minutes if I speed."

Sasuke was too afraid to reply.

/Take deep breaths and try not to stress yourself out any more. I feel a heartbeat, but its erratic/.

Sasuke took deep breathes and followed his wolf's instructions, closing his eyes as Naruto rushed outside. Sasuke couldn't help taking a silent, small gasp when his bare feet touched the ground outside Naruto's car. The beta forgot he didn't have any shoes on. Naruto opened the passenger door, picked Sasuke up and smoothly put him on the seat with ease. Aware of the small bump, the alpha buckled Sasuke in before jogging to the drivers side.

/Hurry!/

"The only reason you're not sitting in my lap is because it's a driving hazard." Naruto jammed his keys into the ignition and started the car. About to stomp on the gas pedal, Naruto realized he was still naked. Growling at the inconvenience, the werewolf yanked the dashboard open and pulled on a pair of shorts. He was already speeding, getting another ticket for being nude would only waste more time. "We will be there soon."

/Our pup is strong, so relax and keep taking deep breaths/.

Naruto would periodically peek glances at Sasuke the entire way, growing more worried as his mate placed a hand over his stomach.


Knock! Knock! Knock!

Tsunade took off her rubber dish gloves and turned towards her mate, "whoever it is, better be a small girl scout selling cookies or they're going to face my wrath." Tsunade glanced at the kitchen clock. 11:52 p.m.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Ding dong KNOCK! KNOCK! Ding dong Ding dong

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Tsunade stomped over to the front door "I have a man eating dog. So get the hell off my god damn porch, you delinquent-" she opened the door "...WHAT are you going outside? Get in here!" Tsunade grabbed both boys by the arm and hauled them inside. "Naruto, why do you look like you have been in a fight?! You're hurt! And why does this poor boy have no shoes?! It's the middle of winter!"

/Check the pup!/

"I'll explain everything! But you need to check the baby right now." Naruto knew exactly were to usher Sasuke, leading him inside the medical room, not caring one bit for his state of undress. Tsunade followed right behind Narutos heals. "There was a fledgling, Sasukes stressed and I won't allow a miscarriage!"

Tsunade's mothering attitude turned into full professional medic. "Sasuke, what does your wolf say? Does something not feel right?" The old leading alpha gently reached for Sasuke's shirt to examine the baby bump, making Sasuke tense from old habit. Before she could murmur what she was doing, the doctor fully halted when a powerful and loud growl came from behind her.

"Check if everything's okay!" Naruto glared with yellow eyes. Tsunade would not hurt or make his mate uncomfortable.

Tsunade growled back, shocking Naruto so much that the yellow faded. "Do NOT growl at me young man. I don't care if you're protecting him. Either stay and let me work or leave and let me work!"

Naruto could only nod, but he took a step closer towards Sasuke.

"My wolf said it's a close call, but the baby seems better now..." A clear look of uncertainty flashed across Sasukes face.

Tsunade mumbled under her breath and began pulling out different wires, plugging them into her computer and the ultrasound machine. "You're not in any pain?"

"No."

Plugging in the last cord, Tsunade let her shoulders droop with relief. "From all the symptoms and signs, the baby is fine. But we will check just in case." Tsunade turned around with the ultrasound in hand to find Naruto blocking Sasuke from view. "Naruto get out of the way."

"What is that device?" Naruto couldn't help his canines from peeking over his lips.

Tsunade sighed, "helps me see the baby. Now will you please move?" Tsuandes eyes were laced with gold, "before I make you?"

Naruto swallowed and turned around to help Sasuke lie down, he wouldn't admit he was submitting. Sasuke just mattered more. Naruto tried not to snarl when the cold gel made his mate take a deep breath.

/I hate human contraptions!/

Sasuke interlocked his fingers with Naruto's and gave a small squeeze, it helped a lot.

The senior alpha was quiet for a moment, her tinted eyes centered on the screen. Sasuke started counting again when the doctor's eyebrows bunched together in concentration. The only sound in the room was the sliding of Tsunade's mouse on her desk. Each tick of the wall clock was like a jab in the back of the head for the bonded couple. Naruto couldn't take it any longer, he opened his mouth to snap at the alpha but she beat him to it.

"Your pup is safe, there is no signs of fatigue. You are very lucky."

Sasuke closed his eyes to hide his tears and nodded silently.

"Do you want to see?"

Sasuke nodded again and Naruto only tilted his head in confusion.

/See what?/

Naruto watched Tsunade turn her screen around to face the mated partners. Confusion morphed into awe and glee when blue eyes saw his baby. Naruto brushed his lips against Sasukes knuckles before walking slowly over the black and white image. To begin to distinguish each precious trait about his baby was breathtaking. There! A two arms! And there! Naruto could see the outline of a perfect little mouth! And look! A little button nose!

"So beautiful." Naruto caressed the screen's image before turning back to his mate, his eyes still fixated on the screen.

Tsunade chuckled, "yeah, this one's going to be a heart breaker."

Naruto teeth morphed back and his bright blue eyes were clear again. "That's our baby," he pointed to the screen.

Sasuke gave a small smile before turning his head to look at Tsunade. "Can you turn the sound up?"

"Of course."

At first Naruto thought the speakers were broken. But when he watched Sasuke smile and loosen his grip on his pants, Naruto deciphered the sound. It was the quickened, steady pounding of his pups heart and Naruto found himself crying from happiness for the second time. Returning to Sasukes side, Naruto gently placed both hands on the small bump.

"See?" Tsunade pointed at the speaker. "The little one was probably unhappy with all the stress. But because of the eminence energy given from Sasuke's wolf, it blocked any escalated hormones caused by strain. A miscarriage-" Tsuande ignored the warning rumble in Naruto's chest. "Has been avoided and there are no complications."

Naruto rubbed away his tear tracks and sat beside Sasuke. "Thank you so much."

Tsunade hated how that cheeky grin could melt her heart, "you are not in the clear yet."

The grin slid off Narutos face.

"I want an explanation." Tsunade went to one of her many different cabinets and poured medicine into a small cup. "An elaborate, detailed, explanation." She gave the purple medicine to Sasuke and he knew better than to complain while drinking all of it. Sasuke could barely hand back the small cup before his eyelids drooped.

Naruto jumped to his feet. "What did you do?!"

Rolling her eyes, Tsunade rinsed the cup and threw it into the nearest waste basket. "I helped Sasuke sleep. Just because the baby is healthy now, doesn't mean the lack of sleep will help it. It's past midnight and he should have been in bed hours ago." Tsunade pulled a thick blanket over the sleeping beta and dimmed the lights. "He will sleep while you tell me exactly what happened."

Naruto opened his mouth to argue, but was escorted out of the room before he could even say a firm 'no'.


Sakura smiled at Kiba's pained expression.

"I can see," Kiba pointed at the pinked haired girl with his good arm. "You are enjoying this."

"Well," Sakura examined Kiba's dislocated shoulder without touching it. "That's what you get for running ahead. Here," Sakura helped push his back against the tree. "Why would you do that in the first place?" Without a warning, she bent Kibas elbow at a 90 degree angle.

"HOLY SHI-" Kiba bit his lip. "B-Because I thought it was going to be easy and-" Sakura rotated his arm upwards. "HOLY FUCKING DAMN-" Kiba clamped his mouth shut and yelled. "I-I was being stupid."

"Mm-Hmm." Sakura smiled and raised Kibas arm above his head, the shoulder joint sliding back into place.

"OW! WILL YOU PLEASE-" With a pop, his should slid back into place. Kiba closed his eyes and swallowed. The shoulder was already healing and alleviating the pain "...That feels so much better."

Sakura patted Kiba's good arm and grinned, "you're welcome. Maybe this will teach you a lesson in patience."

Hinata took a deep breath and unclasped her hands. "Thank you Sakura." It was hard to hold back her instincts to hurt whoever was causing her partner pain. Hinata knew Sakura was helping, but her wolf screamed otherwise. The pale eyed girl really appreciated how fast the medic worked.

"Nobody shoot!" Kyuubi appeared in between two tall cedars with his hands in the air. "It's just my handsome self..." Sakura knew something was wrong. "and Sasuke's fine." He added when Sakura opened her mouth to speak.

Sakura scowled, "you're lying." She strode over to where Kyuubi stood and stared straight into his downward gaze.

"No 'em not." Kyuubi's foot bounced.

Sakura grabbed Kyuubi's clenched hand, "you make a fist when you lie."

Kyuubi glanced at the rest of the group, "...Sasuke...Sasuke decided to protect his pup."

Sakura was not appeased, "what does that mean? Sasuke can't, all his strength and his wolf's energy are a direct line to the baby. Unless..." Sakura snarled. "He didn't!"

Kiba glimpsed at Hinatas face before turning back in confusion, "Sasuke did what?" The way Sakura yelled, Kiba thought she would wake the forest. Kyuubi's pale face didn't look too great either.

Sakura spun around and balled her fists, "Sasuke was going to kill himself! To save the baby from vampire venom!"

"Sakura-" Kyuubi was silenced by the fiery pillar of Sakura's rage.

"Then tell me I'm wrong!" Sakura was so mad she didn't know what do with herself. Instead of leaving to punch some sense into Sasuke, she paced in a wide circle. "What was he thinking?! I know with absolute certainty that his wolf would never allow it! That boy is so dead when I find him! He better pray to whatever he believes in to save him before I see-"

"I think...I would have done it too." Hinata mumbled.

Kiba jerked back in shock, barking in pain when his sore shoulder burned with pain. "What?!"

"I think I understand Sasuke..." Hinata waved her hands to ward off a furious incoming Sakura. "It is never the right choice," she dug her bare foot into the ground. "But what would you have done?"

Sakura stopped and thought about Hinata's question. Family was everything; a pack, a safe place, and a home. Wolves wanted nothing more than to have a family. But on the other side, death was everywhere. In the wild, pups rarely survived the dangers of the unforgiving forest. That was what the pack was for; to help protect them, keep them alive, keep them happy. Sakura rubbed her strained face, the pack wasn't there for Sasuke. They were supposed to protect him, not hide him away.

Though it wasn't the pack's complete fault. It was Sasuke's decision in the end, and he made the best one he could think of at the time.

A lycanthrope life was not easy; living among humans, with their temptations and threats, the shift demanded at least once a month, the pain of the transformation, finding a mate and keeping each other safe, the threat of Hunters, remaining undiscovered. The list went on and on.

Sakura knew that without any supernatural dangers, all the pups could die, not a single one surviving. Leaving the 'mother' on the brink of insanity, and the 'father' torn and self-loathing. Every pup was precious and loved no matter what. But wolves could not mourn and lose themselves over the death of their pup once it was done, they could not sit still and agonize, like humans could. Because that was human and the forest was out to kill adult wolves too. Sasuke had complete human feelings with his wolf fully subdued with helping the baby. Sakura sighed, until she was put into the exact situation of Sasuke's disaster. The pinked haired girl would never know what she would do, and she prayed that she didn't ever know.

In all honesty, Hinata was right and so was Sasuke. Though Sakura would never, ever, not in a million years admit that out loud. But for Sasuke, who was practically in control of every action he made, to be pushed so far...

The medic dropped to her knees with her hand over her mouth, life was so unfair!

Kyuubi waited until Sakura was done yelling to walk up beside her, "if it makes you feel better, Sasuke couldn't kill his pup or himself."

Sakura rubbed her eyes with her palms and choked back a small laugh, "yeah, that makes everything better. Thanks for telling me sooner Bastard."

Kyuubi smiled and lightly rubbed her neck in a soothing manner, "I tried, but you kept yelling. We should really work on that. I can't hear out of my left ear."

Sakura laughed, "I'm glad everyone's okay."

"Yeah." Kyuubi looked at the millions of stars above him and clenched his fist. The second in command hadn't heard from Naruto yet. Kyuubi didn't want to cause anymore tension among the injured pack members, so he would let Naruto tell them the news himself. Kyuubi pleaded to the stars that it was good news. "Let's get y'all inside. Or is it just me who hates being naked in the forest when it's freezing outside."

Kiba rolled his eyes. "Thanks Bro, now you made it awkward."


Tsunade clicked her pen again, "and what happened to the last fledgling?"

Naruto rearranged the ripped pieces of lottery ticket he had been playing with while he explained his story. "When Sasuke broke down," Naruto swallowed, "the fledgling became distracted by his emotions." A dark shadow started below his chin and crept across Narutos face as he leaned back. "I started with her fingers and didn't stop."

Tsunade nodded and set the pen down, offering Naruto an undefiled ticket to start ripping again. It was a winner, but not worth very much, and Naruto needed the ticket more than she did. "And then?"

"I calmed Sasuke down." Naruto started with the corners and tore them off. Setting the little white pieces of paper into a neat pile, not noticing the value. "He was so distraught that he didn't recognize me at first..." Naruto slammed the next pieces down. "Thought I was the fledgling out to get him."

"Your going to break my table." Tsunade pointed to five indents in her table the size of Narutos pointer finger.

"Sorry." Naruto immediately put his hands in his lap, but still continued to rip the defenseless gambling ticking into fractions. "I'll pay for it."

"I don't care about the table," Tsunade pulled a place mat over the marks. "What did you do then?"

"Like I said, I calmed him down." Naruto quickly ran out of big chunks, and set to work on making little ones. "While I was holding him, I thought of the baby and what could possibly happen." Naruto took a deep breath and meshed his hands together when each paper fraction was the size of his pinky fingernail. "I bolted to the car and drove over here as fast as I could, and the rest you know."

"How is that side doing now?" Tsunade checked Naruto's wounds while he told his story. Thanks to his superb healing abilities, even for a normal werewolf, most of his cuts were already gone. But Naruto's side is what concerned Tsunade the most, two of his ribs were damaged and she didn't want Naruto in any pain.

Naruto patted his side and grinned, "all healed up and good as new."

"Your healing rate still amazes me brat." Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose, "so much can happen in such a short amount of time."

Naruto chuckled. "Isn't that the understatement of the century?"

"So," Tsunade smiled and her mood lightened a bit. "Tell me, how did Mr. 'Sasuke tells me everything' find out about his son or daughter?"

Naruto gaped at the old women. "You knew?!"

"Of course I knew!" Tsunade huffed in annoyance. "I know, Jiraiya knows, my gambling ladies all know. Who else?" Tsunade tapped her chin, "oh! The nice young policeman knows."

/To many people know already!/

Naruto groaned, "the worst part is, I think Sasuke wanted to wait even longer to tell me about the baby."

"Most definitely would have waited longer. Its a part of his instincts, he couldn't help it."

"Still doesn't make it any easier..." Naruto pouted.

"Suck it up."

"But-"

"Be happy he told you, instead of you figuring it out!"

/We almost did!/

Tsunade looked upwards for what seemed, the billionth time that night. Really, back in her day, werewolves who carried pups wouldn't even tell their mates until the pup was even born. "New decade of impatience" is what she called the next generation of werewolves. But then again, betas and omegas weren't allowed and rarely left the house back then...

"So..." Tsunade tapped the table top with her fingers. "Did you cry?"

"Grandma!" Naruto got up so fast to deny it, that all the paper in his lap fell to the ground. "I did not! I yelled at Sasuke because he waited too long to tell me. I listened to his lengthy apology, and when I thought he learned his lesson, I told him how happy I was. I handed it like a dominant alpha that I am and did not cry."

Tsunade smirked. "You did none of that, said something sappy, and bawled like a baby."

At first, Naruto only opened his mouth and closed it. But then the blonde smiled, "you caught me."

"Please," the medic picked up her pen and twirled it with her fingers. "I practically raised you, I even remember the exact time you get up in the middle of the night to eat ramen."

Before Naruto could sputter at his (not so well hidden) secret, a door somewhere in the house opened slowly and closed. The sound of sleepy, shuffling feet could be heard before they stopped right before entering the kitchen.

A soft smile overcame Narutos face and Tsunade mused to herself, "looks like we have company."

Even though he slept for a good two hours, Sasuke still felt exhausted. No matter how long he waited to fall back asleep, he just couldn't. Sleeping without Naruto next to him was only possible with medicine, and the moment it wore off Sasuke's eyes opened. Opening the door and following the sound of voices was the next decision. But when he heard Naruto's familiar voice, Sasuke paused before walking into Tsunade's kitchen.

Now that the fledgling was gone, Sasuke had time to think and berate himself. How could he do something so horrible to Naruto? Guilt crept into his bloodstream and flowed all the way to his fingertips. Sasuke wasn't ashamed of what he thought was the best decision. Saving his baby was the most important thing, not matter how it was done. But events unpredictably unfolded the way they did, once again spiraling Sasuke's world out of his control. He didn't want to face Naruto right now. Not before the beta figured how to talk with his mate again.

"Sasuke? Are you coming?" The chance to turn around and flee into the medical room flew out the window.

/Its rude to leave now that they know you're here/. Manners, apparently, were his wolf's forte.

"Yes." Sasuke shuffled from the hallway and into one of the kitchen chairs.

"What were you doing?" Naruto couldn't help noticing Sasuke looked at everything except him. "Are you and the baby okay?"

"We are fine." Sasuke traced the tables patterns, an action that made him shiver when he remembered he did the same thing with the wooden stake. "I was just thinking."

Tsunade huffed and grabbed Sasukes hand, taking the chance that Naruto might go into overprotective mode. Fortunately, Naruto didn't. "Young man, will you look at me?"

Sasuke clenched his teeth and looked at Tsunade.

"What you did, would have not only brought yourself to insanity if you survived and the baby didn't. It would also make Naruto go mad as well." Sasuke lowered his eyes again, he hated this feeling. "I raised Naruto, and I would be extremely angry if I did all that work just to watch him become insane..." Tsunade cast Naruto a thoughtful look Sasuke didn't see. "...More than he already is anyway."

"Hey! I'm not-" Naruto objected and Tsunade simply ignored him.

"But you are a part of this pack," the senior alpha gave a comforting squeeze to the pale hand. "And I would be very mad at you, for making me miss you so much."

Sasuke didn't understand so he remained silent.

"Just know..." Tsunade stopped when her voice wavered. "That I'm just happy you didn't do it, even if you wanted to or thought it was the best thing."

Truthfully, the beta expected the old alpha to be furious to the point of refusing to help him anymore. Naruto had a strong sense of family value, which no doubt came from Tsunade. But here she was, not yelling, not hitting, and not scaring the hell out of him. Sauke was speechless.

Tsunade smiled and the grip around his hand became a little uncomfortable. "But if you ever do that again, I will make you wish you had never been born. Understand?" Tsuande let go of Sasuke.

Sasuke nodded and massaged his hand, careful to remember that the doctor didn't bluff.

"Well if that is all," Naruto stood up and stretched, "I think it's about time we headed home and got Sasuke to bed. Goodnight old wom-."

"Sit down," Tsunade pulled out a packet and Sasuke mentally groaned.

That packet was basically the 'how to be a werewolf and be a parent at the same time' handbook. Tsunade made Sasuke memorize the whole thing until just looking at the stapled papers made him sick. The beta could rewrite the packet from memory, and that was not bragging.

"Sasuke knows about caring for the baby," Tsunade opened the seventy-six page packet to the exceedingly small font of the first page. "But you don't Naruto."

Sadly, Sasuke knew reading wasn't, and never would be one of Naruto's hobbies. The beta would have laughed at Naruto's expression if a wave of fatigue didn't wash over him that exact moment.

/You need to go back to sleep/.

Sasuke couldn't agree more, but sleeping without Naruto was futile.

/I'll help you then/.

Sasuke felt pressure on his back until it pushed his head onto the table. Too tired to notice the look of alarm the two alphas exchanged.

"Sasuke?"

"Hn?"

Naruto pushed his chair back and guided Sasuke to the couch, "I can read this while you sleep."

"'em...just a little nap." Sasuke's breathing evened when he sat on the couch. Barely lifting his head up to make room for Naruto. Who snaked his arm around Sasukes waist, holding tightly to the packet with his other tan hand.

"So, lets start with eating and diets and go on from there." Tsunade flipped page two over to advertise the food pyramid.

"We should at least whisper." Naruto responded while finding the correct page.

"There is no need," the doctor pointed to Sasuke, "he's out cold."

Surprised, Naruto looked down to find Sasuke already sleeping. His cheek, though Sasuke would never allow the alpha to say it out loud, cutely pressed against his shoulder. And with a small smile, Naruto began to read while Sasuke remained peacefully asleep.

To be Continued

Thank you for all those who reviewed! It helps me with determining whether characters are clear and what reactions I want to convey. I think I'm going to start posting every other weekend instead of very week. So thank you for being patient with me. :) Reviews are still welcomed. ~Little Letters