AN: Hello everyone! I'm back, sorry for the long wait but I've been having some trouble trying to finish the chapter but here it is. Have fun!

The doorbell rang throughout the house, the occupants stopping what they were doing to look at the front door.

"Is anyone expecting someone?" Kyuu asked her older sister who had been cuddling her baby.

"That's not Gaara, he never rings the doorbell." Naru replied looking straight at the redhead.

"Then who is it?"

"I don't know, Shika just walks right in and Kiba usually just shouts until someone opens the door for him."

"Lazy asses," the two sisters said simultaneously before laughing. Another doorbell had them stopping.

"I'll get it," Itachi said as he walked down the stairs and straight to the door. "It took you long enough." they heard him say.

"Guess he was waiting for someone." Kyuu said. "Anyway, I'm off to Shu-kun's."

"Be careful on your way there."

"I'm taking Dei-dei with me." she said then shouted. "Dei-chan, let's go!"

"Okay!" cheerful as ever, the smaller blonde ran down the stairs, his backpack slung over his shoulders bouncing.

"Bye nee-chan!" he kissed Naru's cheek, grabbed Kyuu's hand then pulled her to the door. "Bye Ita-nii!" he shouted as the two went out of the house, bypassing the adults in their way.

"Be careful," Itachi reminded them. Kyuu waved a hand in response as they continued to walk away.

"Well aren't you father material now," his guest commented as he was led inside.

"I am a father now," he informed them. Naru sat on the couch waiting for them to appear in her line of vision. She could hear them talking but she didn't stand up to greet them. "My wife's in the living room with our son."

"I thought I heard you say something about that," it was another man's voice she noted idly as Kaze opened his eyes.

"Can I meet her now?" it was a woman's voice.

"Of course," he led them to the living room where Naru was currently nursing their blonde haired baby, a towel slung over his head to hide him. "Naru-chan, this is Kisame," he gestured towards a large man with blue hair, skin that was slightly blue and shark-like teeth. "Sasuke, my brother," he was a dark haired man, his hair short and spiky at the back. His eyes were similar to Itachi's though slightly lighter. "And Ino his fiancee."

"Ino?" she called out to the woman who was busy looking around the house. She hadn't changed much in the years they haven't seen each other. The same platinum blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail, her bangs clipped to the side to reveal baby blue eyes.

"Naru?" she recognized the voice now, she knew the woman sitting on the large sofa with a baby in her arms. "Is it really you?" she dropped her fiance's hand and walked hesitantly towards her fellow blonde.

"How have you been?" Naru ignored the question and asked one of her own.

"I've been busy," she eyed the child in her friend's arms as she sat down beside her. "Though not as busy as you seem to have been." she gave him a pointed look.

"You know each other?" Sasuke asked, confusion evident in his onyx orbs.

"We're friends," Ino answered him. "We went to drama school together when we were younger."

"I guess that makes things easier." Itachi said. "We'll let you two catch up." he said. "Call me if you need anything," he smiled softly at Naru who had then relaxed into her seat. She nodded in reply and the men left the room.

"So how did you land Itachi?" Ino asked as soon as she thought they were out of earshot.

"I want to ask you the same question about his brother."

"What is it with Uchiha's and blondes?" Ino said.

"No idea."

"Alright fine, I'll stop with the small talk and ask you what happened?" Ino stayed quiet as Naru began her tale knowing it wouldn't be all good.

XoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoX

"So tell me again why you needed me here," Kisame said as he, Itachi and Sasuke sat on the porch overlooking the backyard.

"I know you already know about Naru and Kaze. What I haven't told you is who his parents are."

"So tell us," Sasuke intoned.

"His mother is someone you know Sasuke," Itachi began. "You've been making deals with her brother ever since. Sabaku Temari."

"Temari-san? Then that means she's~"

"We held the funeral three days ago."

"Who's his father then?"

"Sai."

"As in Sai, our cousin who was banished, Sai?"

"Yes."

"Bastard!" Sasuke said in frustration.

"You know?"

"Of course," Sasuke said. "Kankuro had often told me of Temari and Gaara. He mentioned it once or twice."

"Why do you need me here?" Kisame asked again.

"We have the documents to prove that Temari has officially asked us to be Kaze-chan's parents but Naru and I want to know if Sai can dispute it."

"Do you have witnesses besides legal proof?"

"The nurses who delivered Kaze-chan."

"Then he has no claim over him." Kisame assured the worried father. "Does he even know?"

"I don't think he does."

"It's better to keep it that way but if you and Naru ever encounter him again just call me and I'll be there."

"Thank you Kisame."

"Alright, no need to get sappy." Kisame replied. "Now is there anything else you needed of me?"

"No, I just needed to confirm that."

"Then I'm afraid I must go," Kisame said. "You're so lucky I was on my way to meet Nagato when Sasuke called."

"You're on your way to Ame?"

"No, he's in Oto right now. He's on a case and he needs my help."

"Then I won't keep you here." Itachi rose as his blue-skinned friend also got up from his seat. "Thank you so much for coming over to help."

"It was no problem at all," he assured his dark haired friend. "Call me if you need me and don't, please don't go falling into a depression again."

"I won't Kisame." he led his friend out of the door before coming back inside to the living room to find Ino cradling Kaze while Naru laid her head on her fellow blonde as she sobbed quietly in her sleep.

"Itachi-san," Ino called out to him as soon as she noticed the man staring silently at the scene.

"There's no need to be formal Ino-chan," Itachi replied as he walked towards them.

"Well then, Itachi-kun I hope you take care of them," she turned her gaze on the sleeping baby in her arms. "They've both been through a lot."

"Ino-chan," Sasuke's voice interrupted them. "Kisame already left but it's a little too late for us to, do you know any place where we can stay?" he entered the living room to find his brother picking up the woman he supposed was Naru, Itachi's wife.

"There's a hotel a couple of blocks from here." Ino said.

"Let me just take Naru to our bedroom then I'll send you two on your way so you could get some rest." the pair nodded and it took him only a few minutes to come back. "Will you be staying in Konoha?" he asked as Ino gave him his son.

"We asked for a week's leave so we could get to know your new family," Sasuke said as Itachi led them to the door. "Although in this case, it seems I'm the only one who needs to get to know them." he smiled softly at his fiancee.

"Naru's parents will be home in a few days so I guess you'll get the chance to meet them then."

"We'll see you later Itachi-kun," Ino said while Sasuke merely nodded at his brother. He closed the door quietly as soon as the couple had left his sights.

Itachi sighed as he took his son upstairs to the bedroom he shared with his wife. Wife, it sounded so... homely. He stared at the sleeping form of his blonde woman and could only smile. He knew they had a lot to talk about though, there were still some aspects of the other's life that they didn't know yet.

XoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoX

"'Tachi-kun what time is it?"

"A little past six," his voice was deep and rasping with drowsiness.

"It's already evening?" she tried to bolt up but he held her waist to keep her down. "'Tachi, I need to go."

"Why?"

"Kyuu and Dei will be home soon and they will be hungry."

"Actually Gaara called to say the two had decided to sleep over."

"Really?"

"Yes," Itachi pulled her closer to his body inhaling her scent as he did so. "So you don't need to get up just yet."

"What about Kaze-chan?"

"I'd just gotten him to sleep," he relayed. "He woke up about half an hour ago and he was hungry."

"You should've woken me up," she pouted as onyx met cerulean. "I could've nursed him."

"You were tired," he said. "You haven't slept properly since we got Kaze-chan. You even fell asleep on Ino-chan."

"That reminds me, where are they?"

"They left almost as soon as they got here."

"I must have been really tired."

"You were." Itachi agreed. "Why don't you go back to sleep?"

"I'm not sleepy anymore."

"Then what do you want to do?"

"I just want to lay here." they were quiet for a few moments before Itachi spoke.

"Tell me about Shikamaru, Gaara and Kiba," his tone was pleading and yet there was an undertone of possessiveness.

"What do you want to know about them?"

"How about everything?"

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It's quite a long story."

"We're not going anywhere."

"Okay," she sighed. "I first met Shika when I was nine and he introduced me to Kiba."

Cerulean eyes welled up with tears as she was once again cornered by the terrible two. Blonde hair up in twin ponytails, her fox backpack slung on her back as she stumbled in front of the row of lockers that lines their school's walls.

"Look Karin-chan, Fox freak is crying!" with bright pink hair and haughty emerald eyes the tallest among the three girls said.

"I know Sakura-chan, she's such a baby!" long red hair and bright ruby eyes, there was no doubt the two were sisters.

"And did you know she doesn't have a date to the summer party!" Sakura squealed as tears continued to flow down the blonde's cheeks.

"Who would want to go with that foxy-freak," as the two conversed, they didn't notice a brown haired boy about their age looing at them with such anger.

Shikamaru watched the scene his anger seeming to radiate off of him in waves as he stalked over to the three girls. He forced himself to calm down and let a lazy smirk bloom on his face as he approached.

"Why are you crying Naru-chan?" he asked the downed girl, the sisters' faces lighting up in recognition as they watched him walk toward them. He paid them no heed and instead kept his attention towards the blue eyed girl staring at him with shock and mild interest. "Now you'll have puffy eyes later tonight," he sighed deeply as recognition finally lit up her cerulean orbs and smiled softly at the whiskered blonde.

"It wasn't my fault Shika-kun," she sniffled lightly, her eyes glancing briefly at the shocked look on the two bullies' faces. They didn't really know each other but they've seen the other around. What with Shikamaru being one of the popular boys and Naru as the most obvious target for bullying, they knew each other's reputation at the least.

"Shika-kun, will you go with me to the summer party?" finally getting over her shock the fan girl in Sakura made her speak up.

"Can you ask Kiba-kun if he will go with me?" Karin also asked but they were both ignored.

"Let's go Naru," he held his hand out toward the blonde previously sobbing on the floor, smile still in place as he tried to tune the other two out. She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet her eyes twinkling with mischievousness at what they had just pulled off.

"Why are you holding her hand?" the pair screeched but they were duly ignored. "Shika-kunnnnnn~" Naru and Shikamaru left the two whining, the audience gaping with their hands clasped together.

"That's how we met," Naru said.

"That can happen in the third grade?" he couldn't quite hide the surprise in his voice.

"You have no idea."

"What about Kiba?"

"He was one of the 'cool guys'," Naru explained. "Kiba, Shikamaru, Neji and Lee, those two you haven't met yet, they were all friends although Neji and Lee were a year older than Kiba and Shikamaru."

"What about Gaara?"

"He came to Konoha when I was twelve."

"So what happened?"

"Did you see him?"

"He was so handsome!"

"And so mysterious." Naru plugged her ears as she listened to the other girls squeal about something.

"Sakura and the other bitches are squealing about something again." Kiba's gruff voice was right beside her as she walked to her next class.

"When have they done something other than squeal?" Naru retorted as another presence made itself known to them.

"There's a new boy in school." the usual lazy drawl had her looking at the pineapple haired boy.

"I guess that does make sense." the blonde agreed.

"Hey at least they have someone else to ogle now." Kiba said.

"That should get them off our backs for quite some time."

"Our backs?" the two boys turned to look at her just as they reached the classroom and took their seats with their group.

"They ogle you guys and then glare at me because I'm friends with all of you." She explained as she sat in between the two.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered as their scarred teacher entered the room followed by a redhead.

"Class meet Sabaku no Gaara, a transferee from Suna," Iruka announced. Piercing jade eyes met cerulean and the world seemed to stop for the redhead. There was something in the blonde's eyes that just drew him to her. There was a slight upturning of his lips that made the other girls' sigh dreamily at him. "You can sit on the last row."

Naru turned her attention back on the Shikamaru who had alredy dozed off and then Kiba who was plugging his ears due to the constant squealing. She tried to tune in to Iruka's lecture but she couldn't due to the pair of eyes boring holes into the back of her head. She turned back to the redhead who was sitting on the row right behind her and raised an eyebrow at the redhead who was staring at her.

"He spent the next few weeks stalking me~"

"He stalked you?" she could feel his arms tighten around her and could only smile.

"Well he followed the gang around, rather he followed me, the school, to the park and sometimes even to my house."

"Did he ~?"

"No he didn't," she cut him off before he could continue. "He never even spoke to me until we were both fourteen."

"Two years?"

"Well he was just that odd."

"So he stalked you for two years and then what?"

"The first time he ever talked to me he asked me out on a date."

"And what did you say?"

"I told him I wasn't interested," she replied. "He persisted for three months before he finally gave up after Shika and Kiba spoke to him and told him I wasn't interested in any boys. By the time we left when I was fifteen, the three of us were so close it broke all of our hearts that I had to leave. Luckily I could come home every year but it's been tough."

"What exactly is your relationship with them?" she looked him in the eyes and saw the doubt swimming in those dark orbs.

"You heard them didn't you?" she asked, her eyes never leaving his. "That night when I marked you, before you found me I was with them and Shika and Gaara were both telling me how much they love me because they knew you were listening."

"Do you love them?"

"I do," she never flinched. "But not in the same way I love you. They're my brothers in the most complicated way possible, something like what I have with Obito. You're gonna have to stop comparing yourself with every other guy that comes into my life." he closed his eyes to avoid the piercing stare. He felt her move his arms and did nothing as she moved away from his embrace, he knew he had hurt her and she probably hated him for asking such things. There was a shift in the weight of the bed and his forehead scrunched up as he tried to figure out what she had done.

"'Tachi-kun open your eyes," her voice was soft and sultry and he could feel her breath on his ear. Onyx eyes flew open in shock and he stared blankly at the blonde woman now straddling him. "You know if I didn't promise my dad that I would save myself for marriage I would do something to prove to you that you're the only one I will ever love the way I do."

"You mean you've never~?"

"No."

"Then what about the other night?"

"I'm a doctor's daughter who's aspiring to become one myself," she said smiling cheekily at him. "I think I'll learn what I want to learn if I need to."

"And why did you want to learn about these kinds of things?" his smile was teasing as he put both hands on her hips.

"Maybe I was getting ready for my future husband," she returned the teasing smile and leant down to capture his lips but was interrupted when Kaze's wail echoed through the room.

"I guess he's still hungry," Itachi smiled and pulled her down for quick peck.

"Why don't you go make some dinner and I'll take care of him." she suggested.

"What are you hungry for?"

"Surprise me," she smiled as she got off of him to pick up the still crying baby. She could only shake her head as he flashed her a sultry smile before sauntering out of the room. Now more than ever they felt the bond grow stronger between them. She smirked, next time they talked she would have to ask him about his life.

AN: So, so please tell me what you think okay? R&R

Love lots,

Aly