Chapter 7

Naruto

"When was this done?" Sasuke asked. Naruto knew the questions were coming. There was no way to avoid them now that the proverbial can of worms had been opened, but he had promised that he was going to do this properly, and that meant that he was going to have to talk. Much as he hated it. He was going to have to do a lot of things now that he didn't want to, and fuck if he didn't want a cigarette. He debated if just one of his little coffin nails would hurt him. He wasn't sure, but he'd never heard good things, so he huffed and tried to ignore the pack of smokes he had been toying with in his pocket.

"Yesterday." Was the only response Sasuke would get.

"So...you're really still..."

"Tch. I said not to say anything dumb, bastard. Of course I am. I didn't do all this as some sort of joke." His patience with the black haired jerk was already very thin.

"I'm sorry. I just...it's a surprise." Sasuke's tone was low, and non-confrontational, as though he really wasn't trying to be difficult. That was a surprise for Naruto. Guess they were even. "Can I watch it again?" Sasuke asked.

"It's your copy. You can watch it as many times as you want."

"Thank you." He watched Sasuke hit the replay button. Naruto lost his attention as the video played. For all that work Sasuke had put into getting his attention, Naruto couldn't help but feel he wasn't exactly a priority at the moment. He would hold it against the man if he didn't understand the feeling of awe the video gave him as well. "I wish I had been there." He heard him whisper, and Naruto wasn't sure if Sasuke had meant to say it out loud. He responded anyway.

"You can go to the next appointment. I have one next week. They want to see me a bit more often than usual since I didn't really get a lot of medical care these first few months, or any in fact. There won't be another scan, but you can still go if you want." Sasuke's head jerked up, a look of shock on his face.

"You're really going to let me go?" Naruto thought for a moment. He had thought this all out as carefully as possible before Sasuke had gotten there, but it was still a bit hard to stomach.

"Yeah. You can do all of it. Go to the appointments, have copies of the scans, pick as many names out as you like. If I'm going to do this, then you're going to help."

"Just name it, and I'll find a way to do it for you." Sasuke immediately offered.

"Hold your horses there bucko. I have some ground rules."

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever you want." This all seemed just a bit too easy for Naruto's taste, but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"First off, this is not about us. This is about our child. What's best for them. So unless you plan on giving me a hundred percent you can walk right back out that door. That means every appointment, every financial investment, and every major event after it's born right down to it's vaccinations and diaper changes. I'm serious. All of it." Naruto in no way thought that one had to be said, but it was better to cover all his ground.

"Done. Easily. Happily."

"Two. We are not together. I don't want you blowing up my phone, or texting me all hours of the fucking night again. I want my space. I will let you know when my appointments are, if I need you, and whatever other things I feel you need to be aware of, but you will not hound me the way you were. Think of it as a business transaction. Be fair to me, and I'll be fair to you." He promised.

"Okay...I can do that." But Naruto could tell that he didn't like it. Uchiha's didn't like fair unless it got them their way, or maybe it wasn't that. Maybe it was the reminder that Sasuke still wasn't going to be in his life in a larger capacity. Naruto knew on some level, ok every level, that Sasuke wanted him back, and not just because of the baby, but simply because he loved him, and wanted to be with him for himself. But that wasn't going to fucking happen. That time had come and gone when he had stopped putting Naruto first, and had hurt him so badly for no good reason. He still didn't have a reason either, and that made him angry. The closest thing to a reason that Naruto had for such awful betrayal was, "I just couldn't help myself.", and while normally that was a fairly strait forward, and readily accepted answer for an Uchiha when they got their way at the cost of someone else's feelings, it just wasn't going to fucking cut it this time. Maybe when he got the real answer out of Sasuke he would feel less bitter, or maybe he wouldn't, but until he did Naruto wasn't planning on giving anything more to this man than he had to.

"Lastly, if I so much as catch a single whiff of one of your lawyers near our kid there will be hell to pay Sasuke Uchiha, and you will live to regret it. We're adults, and I'm going to start acting like one, so you had better too." That look of shock was back on Sasuke's face, and Naruto thought there may have been a bit of hurt.

"What do my lawyers have to do with anything?" He asked.

"Nothing, and I plan to keep it that way." Sasuke cocked his head to the side thoughtfully, and realization came over his glazed eyes.

"Naruto...I wouldn't do that to you. I promise. I can't even believe you would seriously think that I would do that to you. I've made mistakes, absolutely I have, but they were never meant to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you, and I would never do that."

"I honestly don't know what you're doing anymore, Sasuke, and I'm not taking chances."

"I know you're still angry..."

"God damn right I am."

"I know. I know, and you have every right to be. I can even slightly understand why you would think I would fight you for custody given the...circumstances of how...but I would never take it from you. I swear. It had never ever occurred to me, even when I thought that you had gotten...it was supposed to be for both of us. Not just me. It still is. That hasn't changed." Naruto had never seen Sasuke struggle for words, and he couldn't help but believe that Sasuke was telling the truth by the way his speech was so broken, and sad. His next statement left Naruto without much to say. "When were you going to tell me?"

"I wasn't. No! Wait. That sounded wrong." Naruto was the one stuttering now. He tried again. "I wasn't going to tell you because I hadn't planned on keeping it. I only just decided yesterday, and I told you today...so don't you dare be mad."

"I'm not. I just wanted to know."

"Well now you do."

"This is a mess." Sasuke said, and the comment was so in tune to what Naruto had been thinking all week, and out of the blue, but he couldn't disagree. He finally sat down on the sofa beside the raven, putting them on somewhat level footing.

"Yes. It is. We've both made a giant mess, but we need to get serious now. No more games, or fighting, or lying. We're having a baby together, and no matter how differently we may feel about each other at the moment, that isn't going to change. Eventually you will have to get over me, and move on, and I'm going to have to stop hating you enough to be able to civil, and work together with you for the next significant chunk of my life. We need to get there, and we need to do it quickly. I'm not going to let my child be around two parents who can't handle each other. If we can't meet somewhere in the middle we won't be able to give it what it needs."

"We'll figure it out." Naruto didn't believe for a second that Sasuke was going too give in that easily, but they weren't fighting, and that was a start. "Where does that leave us?"

"I'm not sure, but for now I need to think about what's right in front of me. I still have to focus on school. I have enough time to graduate. You?"

"I don't know. I haven't had much time to digest all of this. I'm moving in a few weeks. I'm not sure if that effects anything, but you should probably know."

"Where are you moving to?"'

"Closer to campus."

"Why?"

"My dad...kind of...sorta of...cut me off."

"He what!" Naruto hadn't seen that coming.

"He was really angry when the press got wind of what happened. This is kind of his version of tough love."

"He disowned you because of the press?"

"No. He cut me off because of what happened with you. He doesn't know the whole story, but he knows enough to be really angry. He didn't really disown me. We fought it out, and we're okay now, but I still have to move out, and he took my allowance away. I have to pay all my own bills and stuff, but I'm working through some stuff. I'm still figuring it out, but I think it'll be okay. I have enough money to coast me until my internship goes through. Then I'll be working, and it won't be so bad."

"Well, shit."

"It kind of sucks, and he took my car, but I'll have that back soon. I don't want you to worry about money. Once I start working I'll be making plenty of it again, so if you need something don't think I can't get it for you."

"We can figure that part out later." Naruto was a bit surprised at how easily this part of the conversation was going now that the hard part was out of the way. It helped that Sasuke wasn't trying to push his luck, change his mind, or fight with him. It was like he said. It felt very businesslike. He was okay with that. But he was also very ready to get Sasuke out of his apartment. Though the interaction had been relatively non-confrontational, he wasn't ready for extended visits, and he didn't like being around Sasuke in any capacity yet. Still, if Sasuke was playing nice, he could try to as well. "Not to be rude, but I'm kind of beat. I'll text you when I know the exact day of my next doctor's appointment." It was the nice way of letting Sasuke know that he had no choice but to leave. He popped the disk out of his lap top, and put it back into it's jewel case. He handed it to the raven, and noticed that Sasuke was careful to not touch him as he took it.

"Okay. I'll let you get some sleep. I guess I'll see you in a few weeks."

"Next week, but yeah. There's a sticker on the front of the disk with the clinic's address." Sasuke seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking again.

"Can I ask a favor?" Naruto inwardly fumed. The nerve of him! Asking a favor.

"You can ask." He said nonchalantly

"I won't bug you or anything. I promise, but could you just...ya know...keep me posted? On how your feeling, and stuff."

"Feeling?"

"I don't mean like...if you slept bad, or stuff like that, but like... if you get sick, or if you need me to get something for you, and don't want to go out. If you aren't feeling well, and no one is around to help. That sort of thing." Naruto thought about that for a moment. He didn't really like the idea of Sasuke being involved in his business, but he had said he wouldn't bug him. He had only asked that Naruto talk to him, not be talked to. He gave him the power to decide. Naruto thought that perhaps he could live with that. It wouldn't hurt to have extra support, and he himself had demanded it. He could see how it might be awkward for Sasuke to go to appointments and hear about all the little things he wasn't aware of that went on during the week. Certainly it was only fair for Naruto to tell him if he was sick, and he wasn't beyond exploiting him when those weird little cravings he knew were coming set in.

"I think that's fair." He eventually answered.

"Thank you."

"Yeah."

"I'm gonna go now."

"Okay."

"Thank you for this, Naruto. Really. It means more to me than you can imagine." And he could tell Sasuke wasn't just talking about his agreement to texting him.

"You're welcome." It was the first time he had said it in response to any of Sasuke's thank yous.

Sasuke

JESUS CHRIST ON A SALTED HEROINE SPOON! WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED? That, and a litany of other ridiculously crass exclamations drifted through Sasuke's head as he sat in his brother's car outside of Naruto's apartment. Was it just him, or did he seem to be going more and more looney each time he got into one? It seemed as if all the time he spent behind a wheel these days involved a mental breakdown of some sort. At least this time he was breaking down over something that didn't break his heart in half. No. Not at all. This had taken the pieces of his shattered heart and began putting tape back over them. It was by no means fixed, not without Naruto by his side again, but this...this was pretty damn close.

There was some shock there as well. Sasuke was certainly torn up about Naruto's abortion, but he had come to terms with it in a way. He had set it in his mind as part of the driving motivation to be a more mature version of himself. This is what happened because of what I was doing. He would have never thought to have seen this twist coming. It caught him completely off guard. Part of him felt like his jaw was still on the floor, or at least should be. There was a slight roll to his stomach that even threatened to make him sick, he was so overwhelmed, but it didn't bother him. Not really. He just didn't know what to make of this now that it was in front of him. He was just so nauseous, and just too overwhelmingly happy. What next? This was huge. Massive in it's impact. It changed everything. Just everything, and nothing less. Sasuke was going in so many directions at the moment that he wasn't sure what to deal with first. He did know one thing for certain however.

He had to, had to, had to tell his mother.

()

Sasuke practically hopped through the house upon his return. If anyone saw him do something so ridiculous he honestly didn't care. His Uchiha calm be damned, he was happy, and he didn't care who knew. So long as his mother knew first.

"Mom?" He called out into the house. He didn't see anyone around, but it was a big house, so he simply kept going. "Mom?!" He shouted into each room he encountered. Eventually he bumped into one of the maids.

"Mister Sasuke, is everything alright?" She asked. Her face had a trace of confusion and worry on it, probably from seeing him run around the house so frantically.

"Absolutely, Shi Shi. Have you seen my mother?"

"Missus Mikoto is up in her closet, Mister Sasuke. I believe she said something about donating a portion of her older collection." It figured. His mother, ever the philanthropist. It made her feel good. Well. This would make her feel even better. He wasted no time in jogging up the stairs to find her.

"Thanks, Shi Shi."

"Would you like lunch, Mister Sasuke?" She called after him.

"Upstairs please. For two." He shouted down.

Her closet was exactly where he found his mother. It was a large bedroom converted for her use, with hundreds of shelves for shoes, racks for clothing, and a separate bathroom for dressing. He saw her standing in from of a large selection of businesslike attire. She had two attendants with her. One seemed to be making a list of some sort on a clipboard, and the other was conversing with the women quietly. He ignored them as he strode to her with wide steps, spinning her small form around. She gasped in shock at his abrupt entrance, but smiled upon seeing him. He hugged her close, picking her tiny body up into his and spinning her around in endless circles. She giggled happily, not at all upset by the strange occurrence, but welcoming it. When he set her back down he didn't let her go. He let his feelings of directionlessness and overwealmth seep from him into the moment of clarity her arms provided.

"Hey, baby." She laughed. "I'm happy to see you too." He said nothing, but just continued to hold her. She pulled away just slightly to look up at her much taller son. "Not that I'm not enjoying this, but what's the occasion?"

"I have a surprise for you." She smiled even wider.

"For me? What is it?" Sasuke turned to the attendants.

"Could you guys give us a minute? This is kind of a big deal." They nodded silently, and left the room. He turned back to his mother. She was still smiling, but was obviously curious. "Sit down." He said. "And close your eyes." She did, taking a seat by her makeup vanity. Sasuke knelt down in front of her, rifling through his messenger bag for what she could only assume was a present. Her surprise. She shut her eyes tight, not wanting to ruin whatever had him so excited. A few moments passed and she was instructed to open her eyes. She eagerly did so, but was confused when met with the sight of him holding up a small blank sheet of white paper. Before she could question it he began to speak. "You're going to be a grandmother again." He flipped the sheet over in his fingers, revealing a still of the sonogram he had caught and printed out at the photo center before returning home. She gasped, and blinked at him in happy shock. "Naruto is twelve weeks pregnant." He confirmed. All she could do was breathe heavily, and her hands flew to her mouth. She couldn't help the tears that she felt coming to her eyes.

"You mean...he didn't...he didn't?" She couldn't finish the question, she was so overwhelmed.

"No. He didn't. He changed his mind."

"Oh, thank god!" She cried. She leaned down to wrap her arms around his neck, easily in reach of her for once since he was still kneeling. He pulled her close once more, until she had no choice but to join him on the floor, not caring in the least bit that her sundress was getting wrinkled. She laughed and cried happily, while the smile never left Sasuke's face. The sound of the door opening once more grabbed the attention of both of them. Fugaku stood there, taking in the odd situation of his wife crying on the floor in the arms of his youngest son.

"Is everything alright in here?" Mikoto let go of Sasuke's neck, wiping her eyes, and getting up. She walked quickly to her husband to give him a hug of his own.

"Fugaku. Sasuke has the most wonderful news. Oh my god. Tell him, Sasuke, or I will."

"Naruto decided to keep the baby, Dad. I just told Mom. I didn't mean to upset her, but you know how sonograms make her cry." It was the truth. Mikoto had cried when she had seen the pictures of his brother's children as well. Fugaku's eyes widened the smallest amount in surprise before he composed himself.

"Well, that certainly is good news. Congratulations, son. I'm not sure what you said to Naruto, but it obviously made a difference." Sasuke wished he could take credit. It was hard not to with such praise falling from his father's lips, but he was no longer in the habit of lying. If nothing else he was a man who learned from his mistakes.

"Honestly, Sir, I said nothing. I haven't talked to Naruto in weeks. He refused to speak to me. He made this decision on his own, but yes, I was very happy to hear it."

"We have to celebrate!" Mikoto insisted. "We'll invite Itachi and the girls over for dinner, and maybe we could even invite Naruto." The smile disappeared from Sasuke's face.

"As much as I love that idea, Mom, Naruto is kind of edgy right now, and he's still pretty angry at me. I think maybe we should give him some time before forcing everyone on him." This didn't seem to make Mikoto happy, but it certainly didn't deter her smile.

"Well. Just the family then." Sasuke nodded, and Mikoto flitted off about the room, mumbling dinner plans to herself, clothing completely forgotten on the bed as she fell onto it carelessly, hugging the sonogram to her heart in a completely ridiculous fashion. The men said nothing, unwilling to spoil the moment for her.

"Sasuke, come with me. We'll talk in my office. I think your mother will not be feeling quite right for a bit." Sasuke merely nodded and followed his father from the room.

()

Sasuke stood silently in his father's office for what seemed like the millionth time that month, and he waited to be either told to sit, or for him to start simply being yelled at. Not that he was expecting a lecture this time, but really why else would he be in here? This was where business was discussed. Sasuke didn't have any business with his dad today, and didn't think his dad had any with him. He had been given his instructions weeks ago, and been since left to his own devices. He caught the wave his father sent him, an obvious gesture for him to have a seat in front of his big desk. Sasuke took it.

He had been expecting his father to say something. He had said they would talk, but Sasuke sat silently, and so did his father. He watched the larger man lean over to open a cabinet under his desk, and then quickly right himself once more. In his hands he had produced two crystal tumbler glasses and a large decanter of what looked to be whiskey, or possibly a dark bourbon. Silence still reigned as he watched his father pour a larger finger of alcohol into each of the glasses. One was slid in front of him, and Sasuke watched as his father lifted his own. He reached for the offered glass hesitantly. He wasn't much of a drinker. He had wine with dinner, and occasionally champagne at business functions, but rarely ever hard liquor like this. While he was pondering the color and possible taste, swirling the liquid carefully in the crystal glass, his father began to speak.

"Son, I would like to formally extend my congratulations on the upcoming birth of your first child. May it be healthy, happy, and with any luck a boy. We have far too many girls among us already." This last bit was said with a genuine, if small, smile. Fugaku raised his glass in a toast, and Sasuke mirrored his actions. He followed his father's lead and drank down the glass of dark amber fluid. It burned going down, and didn't taste incredibly good, but he didn't flinch at the roughness of it, and his father seemed happy with that.

"Thanks, dad. That means a lot to me." Sasuke looked down at his glass thoughtfully, watching the dregs, of what he now knew was whiskey, swirl in the bottom. After a moment he spoke again. "Did you do this with Itachi too?" He asked. He hadn't meant to ask it quite that way, but that was how it came out. Sasuke knew he must appear obsessed, but he couldn't help but compare every new experience he was having with his brother. After all, it was his brother's own reaction just a few short years ago that had spurned his curiosity in the first place. He wouldn't go so far as to say he was trying to imitate the man, no, but he genuinely wanted to feel all these things for himself. If he could just have that one anchor to compare it to, then maybe he could be as happy as his brother was. If he thought his family wouldn't pick up on this fact though, then Sasuke was either stupid or underestimated just how well his family knew him.

"You seem very concerned with your brother these days, Sasuke. I imagine it's easy to look up to him with everything that is going on for you right now, but I can't quite sort out why you have this sudden... interest in him." Sasuke merely shrugged, not knowing how to answer that question himself completely, and carefully handed the empty glass back to his father who didn't seem too interested in pushing the issue. Fugaku simply answered the question. "Yes, I did. With both of the girls, and I will do the same for you should you decide to have more children in the future. Women fawn and giggle when they wish to show their happiness. Men drink together. Either way, new life should always be celebrated. My own father did this with me before your brother was born. His father did it with him before I was. Unfortunately, you never had the chance to meet your grandfather, and I remember feeling bittersweet when your mom told me she was pregnant with you, but he was no longer around to share a drink with me before your birth. It is a tradition, you see, son. One I hope you get to share with your own children in time, and Itachi of course, if the little bugger ever manages to produce a boy."

The two of them shared a very small chuckle at the joke. The little girls of the family were well and truly loved, but that didn't change the fact that Itachi had produced two of the only girls born into the family in over five generations. He would never live it down. His father began to speak again. "I have a gift for you." He said. Sasuke said nothing, but couldn't help the small trill of happiness that went through him as he watched his father unlock his desk drawer and slip a small set of keys onto the desk in front of him. He almost didn't dare touch them. "Go ahead, son. You may have them. The rest of our terms still apply, but you have earned these. You are doing well, and I am proud of you. Keep making me proud, Sasuke."

"Yes, Sir." Was all he was able to manage. He picked the keys up off of the table delicately, and held them. He had missed the very weight they left in his hand. He would never take his family's money for granted again. That was for sure.

"Now, go. I'm sure your simply itching to drive her." Sasuke could only nod enthusiastically and hop up from the chair. He headed for the door, throwing another, "Thanks, Dad.", behind him as he went. There was no reply other than a small chuckle and a teasing comment.

"Tell your brother I said "Hi"." Sasuke had the decency to blush.

()

"Sometimes it's unfair just how unbelievable lucky you are, little brother. God knows you don't deserve it." Itachi commented from the sofa as Sasuke played on the floor with Chiyo. Despite his scoffing Sasuke saw the small smile coming from the corners of his brother's mouth.

"Deserved or not, lucky or not...it's awesome right?" Sasuke playfully tossed little Chiyo into the air, and caught her easily, blowing raspberries on her stomach on the way down. She giggled happily.

"Yeah. It's pretty cool. Always wanted to be an uncle."

"It's fun. All the good stuff, none of the work." Sasuke pointed out.

"Looks like our roles are about to reverse, little brother." Itachi of course meant it to tease, but Sasuke did nothing but continue to grin until his cheeks hurt.

"Yeah. It'll be fun."

"Yeah. Fun. I know you're on kind of a high right now, Sasuke, but diapers are not fun. Two hours of sleep at a time is not fun. No sex until the baby learns to sleep through the night is not fun." Sasuke's smile wilted a bit at the last comment, but he easily shrugged the barb of pain off. Nothing could get him down today.

"Well...I'm not having much sex these days anyway, so I guess I'm not losing much now am I?"

"Well, congrats all the same. Maybe now you'll stop walking around with that mope on your face. How's Naruto doing?" Sasuke thought on the question for a moment.

"I'm not really sure to be honest. We didn't talk too much beyond him telling me the situation, but he looked well enough. The last time I saw him he was pretty sick, but he looked much less pale this time. He's about twelve weeks along at this point, and all the books say that this is around the time that the morning sickness starts to wear off, but I know some people have it the whole pregnancy. He didn't look sick anyway, and despite the fact that he is still majorly pissed at me I think he would have told me if he was sick. So I can only assume he isn't at this point. I think he's trying to quit smoking too. He didn't smell like menthol the way he usually does."

"He's still mad, huh?"

"Well yeah. I didn't exactly expect him not to be, but I have to admit that before he told me what was going on I did get my hopes up a bit when he texted me. But yeah, he's pissed. I can tell he's trying to be mature about the whole thing, but you know Naruto. No matter what he says...that temper of his kind of...radiates off of him."

"So what's the game plan then?" Itachi asked.

"I'm not sure to be honest. I mean...he obviously doesn't want me around, but he said I could do all this stuff with him. Like he invited me to his appointment next week. I'm not really sure yet. I'm kind of all over the place right now. Part of me just wants to be like, asking all these questions, but I told him I'd back off. I'm no idiot. If I push him, he'll push back, and then I'll really be in a mess. I have a lot more to lose this time." Itachi gave him a mocking look of astonishment.

"Why, Sasuke! Are you learning from your mistakes? Or, dare I even say it, growing up?" Sasuke shoved hard at his brother's leg, knocking him off balance.

"Shut up, asshole." He retorted.

"I take it back. You've learned nothing. Give me my kid if you're gonna curse in front of her." Itachi picked Chiyo up off of the floor.

"Sorry. Not used to being delicate with the girls. I'm used to being around the boys in the family." Sasuke jabbed back. Itachi just glared.

"Just you wait, little brother. I know I'm the family joke, and I'm sure you'll have lots of little boys running around just like the rest of them. I wish nothing but brats on you!" Sasuke just laughed. Sasuke stood from the floor, ready to leave as Itachi took Chiyo from the room. He paused at the door before turning around.

"Hey, Tach?" He asked. His brother turned to face him.

"Yeah?"

"I'm spinning right now man. I can't even think strait. You don't think I'm gonna eff all of this up too, do you? Because I can't tell up from down right now, and I'm honestly sick of messing up." Itachi smiled reassuringly.

"You're gonna be fine, Sasuke. Just take a deep breath, do as your told for once, and try to enjoy the ride. You only have your first kid once, and I can tell you from experience that the spinning never really stops."

"That sounds...overwhelming." Sasuke said. Itachi laughed loudly at that, but Sasuke didn't seem to get what was so funny. "What?" He asked in clarification.

"I've heard you say that before is all. Welcome to the flip side bro." Itachi simply waved, and left the room. Sasuke tried to remember when he had ever said that, but it didn't come to him, so he merely continued on his path out of the house. He was ready for home again, and some definite sleep.

It didn't come. He could do little more than stare at the black ceiling of his room in the dark. His brain just wouldn't just up. At moments it repeated his conversation with Naruto over and over, trying to memorize every second of it. Memorize the exact moments his life became something entirely different. Other times he fought the urge to pop the cd into his laptop again and watch it just one more time, even though he knew it would still be there in the morning. The rest of the time was spent trying to figure out just exactly what he was going to do now. He had no idea, but he thought if he could just grab onto one thought at a time he might be able to think clearly. Unfortunately that never happened, and before he knew it the sun was up, and he was in the kitchen making himself coffee. His laptop open and playing on the counter beside him.

()

Four days later, and Sasuke had to conclude that he was going out of his mind. For how spastic and overwhelmed he had been the day he had met with Naruto, the rest of the week was very anti-climactic. He had spent the entire next day walking around in a sleep deprived haze, chugging coffee, watching his video, and staring expectantly at his phone, thinking that Naruto would suddenly, magically, need him. The rational part of his brain knew he was insane, but he honestly couldn't help it. He had always been so confident, self assured, and prided himself on his immaculate situation assessment skills, but now he was just friggin nuts, and he knew it. He tried to remember what his brother had said to him. About the spinning never really stopping, and just enjoying the ride, but it was hard.

Never the less, after two days of off character paranoia, Sasuke managed to get enough of a grip of himself to focus and get back to his packing, knowing that his mental state did not effect his dead line. He had two and a half weeks to find a new place and move in. With a new surge of motivation he also found a bit of clarity. In under a day he had managed to sort everything out with his school work, and find a location to live. He had to pay a bit more to get an earlier lease date, and because of the rush he had to forgo certain things such as the walls getting new paint and the carpets being properly steamed, but the rent was less than he had originally suspected the area would cost, and so he would break even with having to do the extra work "himself". He packed some more. The rest of the things in his closet besides the clothing he had set to the side the week before. He found several things in his room that belonged to his brother and returned some of it, while keeping others. He was taking a day to himself to try and calm his nerves as the new week approached when he got ta text from Naruto. He would never admit actually lunging for his phone when the familiar tone went off. The text was agonizingly brief.

My appointment was confirmed for tomorrow at 3. The address is on the cd case I gave you. Don't be late or they won't let you in.

In a way he was relieved that Naruto had given him less than a day's notice. Now he didn't have to drive himself crazy with wonder and worry for too long. Sasuke debated for a bit on how to reply, or if he should at all. He had never had to filter himself, or guard his words with Naruto, but he knew that he had to be very careful with the eggshells he was on at the moment. Now wasn't the time to push boundaries. In the end he replied with a simple...

I won't be. Thanks for letting me know.

He didn't expect a response, nor did he get one. He was half tempted too ask how Naruto was feeling, but he had made a promise not to bug the boy, and he wasn't about to break it. He had to trust that if something was wrong Naruto would tell him. Instead he tried to keep himself busy by reading and packing some more, as well as setting up a time for a moving company to get his things. He didn't have much furniture, but it was enough that it required a larger vehicle to move it. He went to bed early in an attempt to pass the time, and get some much needed rest, but it was slow in coming. He did, however, eventually fall asleep.

()

While doubt and confusion were not things Sasuke had ever experienced in large quantities of in his life, and most certainly never at the same time, he was quickly becoming familiar with the intense and slightly negative affect the emotions had on him. Now was no different. He was currently sitting in his car having yet another mini-meltdown. He had promised not to be late, and true to his word he had been an hour early. His current predicament lie in the choice he had to make twenty minutes before Naruto's doctor's appointment started. Should he wait for Naruto inside, or outside? Did it matter either way? It would probably be awkward for both of them, despite him being really excited to see the blonde, and experience something like this with him. Would it be better to get it out of the way in the parking lot, or should he just go inside and pretend he was completely unaffected so as not to make Naruto angry about him enjoying the situation he had gotten them both into? He supposed the latter was better if only because he wanted to keep Naruto as comfortable with his presence as possible. The decision was taken from him, however, when he heard a knock on his window. He turned his head and found the object of his affection looking at him without much of any expression on his face. He inwardly sighed. He'd been so worried about how this should go, and there was Naruto, looking perfectly calm and composed. Not to be outdone, Sasuke made a gesture for him to back up so he wouldn't get hit with the car door as he opened it.

"Did you find the place okay?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah. It wasn't too bad." He answered.

"Good. C'mon. If we get in early they might let me go in sooner. I really just want to head home." Sasuke arched an eyebrow. The part of him that was surprised by the ease of conversation after so much fighting was pushed to the side as worry entered his brain.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah. Just feeling a little sick. Last week they gave me some new pills, and they're tearing up my stomach more than the last ones I was on. I thought the morning sickness was getting better, but these new ones are killing me."

"Is that normal?"

"Sometimes, I think. Not sure. It's different for everyone I guess." Sasuke simply nodded. That's what it said in all the books he had read at least. Thinking about the books reminded him of something else he had done.

"That reminds me. I got you something." He reached back into his car to pull out a small bag. Naruto looked at him warily. Sasuke could tell by the look on his face that the boy was worried that whatever was in the bag might be an attempt at bribery. Not that Sasuke could blame him. He was an Uchiha after all. It was known to happen.

"Sasuke..." He started, but was quickly cut off.

"It's nothing like that. I promise." He handed the bag to him. Naruto waited a minute before opening it, and his face showed a hint of surprise at the contents. "See. It's just gum. I could tell from being at your apartment last week that you were trying to quit, and this is kind of my way of thanking you, and trying to be helpful at the same time. Not that the smoking ever bothered me before or anything." Naruto simply looked at him for a moment before speaking.

"Thanks. This is kind of great actually. It's been hell. I tend to smoke more when I'm...well you know." And Sasuke did know. No matter the situation it didn't change the fact that he knew every little fact about this man, and he knew that Naruto mostly smoked when he was stressed, and sick. He was probably both at the moment.

"Yeah. Wanna go in? You probably wanna just get home and rest." Naruto nodded, and together they headed for the office doors.

The wait wasn't very long. Only ten minutes or so, but they were spent in silence. While Sasuke texted his mom about what was going on, he watched Naruto pop a piece of gum into his mouth. He just hoped the flavor he got didn't make the poor boy sick. If it did, Naruto gave no indication. They were called into a room to wait for a doctor, and this took considerably longer. They were in silence once more, but Sasuke filled the time by looking around the room. He read the maternity posters, and gave awkward looks at the pregnancy models while Naruto sat on the table swinging his legs while reading an Alternative Press magazine of all things. If the silence bothered him he didn't say. Matter of fact Sasuke could get no read on the boy what so ever, and he would be lying if he said it didn't hurt him. Inside he himself was feeling all these things. Elation, relief, gratitude, regret. On one side of the scale he was so happy Naruto was giving him so many liberties despite everything that had happened, but on the other he wished had got to talk to him, hold his hand. It was not the experience he had always pictured and wanted, but he would take what he could get. He was knocked from his thoughts when the doctor came in. Naruto put down the magazine. The doctor was looking over what Sasuke could only assume was Naruto's chart.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Uzumaki. How are you feeling today?" The first smile Sasuke had seen from the blonde in months now appeared on Naruto's face, and it was a wondrous thing. He stuck his tongue out at the doctor.

"Blah." He said. "Those pills you gave me are gross, Doc, but I supposed it could be worse. Not nearly as bad as what I was doing last month."

"Good. Good. I'll see if we can do something about that. Who's your friend?" The man nodded in Sasuke's direction.

"That's Sasuke. Baby's father. He wanted to come with this week." Was Naruto's answer. Sasuke shook the hand that was offered to him. He didn't honestly think anything was expected of him, so he was content to sit back and watch.

"Glad you could make it. Well, good news Naruto. We got your blood results back from your last visit, and everything looks good. Your iron count is a bit low, but not dramatically, and that's completely normal. We can give you a different set of prenatal vitamins that should take care of that, and hopefully help with your morning sickness while we're at it." Sasuke saw Naruto close his eyes and give a big sigh of relief. He had obviously been worried, but had not told Sasuke anything like that last week. He put it down to the comment Naruto had made about not receiving any prenatal care for the first three months of his pregnancy. This thought was confirmed when the doctor began speaking again. "Everything looks good all things considered. I'd like to see you back in two weeks this time, but as long as it continues to go well I don't think we'll be needing to see you so frequently anymore. Now, let's get some information, shall we." Sasuke watched, still quietly, as the doctor took Naruto's blood pressure, another vial of blood, and checked his heart rate before asking him to step on a scale.

"Ugh." Naruto complained. "I have a feeling I'm not going to like what I see. I feel like a balloon that someone is slowly blowing up." He muttered as he took his shoes off and stepped up onto the machine. The doctor laughed.

"Ya know. That's a really good way of putting it actually." He moved the slider back and forth before finding the correct number and jotting it down on the file in front of him. "See. Twelve pounds start to finish so far. That's not so bad is it?" He asked.

"Not unless you remind me that five of them have been in the last week alone. How is that possible? I've barely been keeping anything down."

"Growth spurt, perhaps. Lay down, and lift your shirt for me. We'll find out."

Now, Sasuke had read in pretty much all of the books that a pregnancy, especially a parent's first, usually didn't begin to show until around eighteen weeks along. Naruto was only thirteen at this point, and looking at him fully clothed, Sasuke had determined that the books must have been accurate. What the books should have said, however, was that what was showing couldn't be seen with a shirt on, not that there wasn't anything to show. He had read that some people as small and well muscled as Naruto showed later because the abs were better muscled. Likewise he had read that skinnier people showed sooner because the baby had nowhere to hide. He had concluded that, once again, no one really knew anything, and everyone was different. Even with that knowledge, Sasuke was not prepared for what he saw when Naruto laid back and lifted his shirt up. He had to take several deep breaths.

Okay. So it wasn't a bump, per se, but Naruto's stomach was definitely no longer washboard firm. Nor did it have that chubby, water retained look that Sasuke had seen in some of the pictures on the internet. If he had to put a word to it, Sasuke would have to call it a swell. It was not very large by any means, but it was the shape of it that got him. What there was of it was perfectly round and formed, lying low on Naruto's abdomen, cutting up out of his pelvis right between his hip bones. It was honestly the most beautiful thing Sasuke had ever seen. He watched with wide eyes as the doctor took a tape measure and spread it evenly from the bottom of Naruto's pelvis, to the top of the bump until his torso was flat once more. He wrote some more in the file.

"A bit of a growth spurt." The doctor confirmed. "Not much though. You seem to be right on track. How does it feel to be average?" Naruto stuck his tongue out. He sat up, pulled his shirt down, and Sasuke felt a rush of adrenaline stab him in the heart as he watched Naruto stroke his belly affectionately a few times.

"Chubby." Naruto seemed to remember that Sasuke was in the room, and looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "If you think it looks weird don't say anything, okay. It feels even weirder." Sasuke looked at the floor nervously.

"Weird wasn't exactly the word I was thinking." He admitted, and got a glare for his trouble. No doubt Naruto knew exactly how he felt about it. The look was short lived however, and to his surprise, Sasuke got a genuine smile from Naruto.

"Yeah. It's kind of cool too." He turned his attention back to the doctor once more. "Okay, Doc. Let's talk meds. Whatcha got for me, cus I feel like I'm going to hurl this kid up if I get any sicker." The doctor laughed, and began writing again. He ripped a piece of paper from his clipboard, and handed it to Naruto.

"Try these, and let me know how they work for you. The only thing I wanted to ask you before you go is if you had a birth plan in mind yet?" Naruto hesitated.

"Um. I had some ideas, but I need to talk with Sasuke a bit more about it before I commit to anything. It's all been kind of a rush the past few weeks." Naruto seemed slightly embarrassed by this for some reason, and scratched the back of his head.

"Okay, well. Try to have an idea for next time. Can't put it off forever ya know?"

"Ha ha. Yeah. Guess not. Am I good to go now, Doc, because while this has been fun I really just want to lay down." The doctor looked over his sheet for a moment or two before nodding his head.

"Yeah. I think we're all set. Try to get some rest. The pills should help. I'll have the secretary call to confirm your next appointment." Naruto simply nodded. He turned to Sasuke.

"Then I'll text you, okay?" He asked.

"Yeah. That's fine." Sasuke answered.

"Have a good day, boys."

"Thanks, Doc. You too."

The doctor left the room, and Naruto turned back to Sasuke.

"Hey look, I did want to sit down with you and go over some of the stuff I had in mind for this whole...birth plan thingy, but I really do feel like shit. Mind if I call you later in the week or something?" He asked.

"Go home, Naruto. You should rest. We can talk when your feeling better." He replied as they headed out the door and made their way to the parking lot."

"Don't tell me what to do, jerk face." Naruto immediately scowled.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." Sasuke was instantly cursing at himself in his head. Dammit. He'd been doing so well not getting Naruto angry with him. Luckily the scolding, and subsequent apology seemed to calm the blonde.

"Yeah. It's fine. I guess I'll...aw crap!" Naruto suddenly hissed, immediately angry, but this time Sasuke didn't know why. So he asked.

"What?"

"Shutter bug, two o'clock. God dammit. Do I ever get a fucking break?" Sasuke immediately recognized their shared word for a camera...someone. He turned his head in the signaled direction and felt his own anger rise.

"Mother fuck!" He cursed. "What the hell do I have to say to those assholes to get them to leave you alone?" Naruto ran his fingers through his hair aggravatingly, and sighed heavily. He headed for Sasuke's car instead of his own. Sasuke immediately followed after.

"Uh. You got a game plan or something, Ru?" Naruto glared for half a second at the pet name, but quickly let his face go blank.

"Just get in the car and drive somewhere. I'll be damned if I give them anything to write about this time. The last thing we need is them to get pictures of me scowling and leaving in a separate vehicle."

"Fair enough. Who knows what they have so far. Destination?" Sasuke asked as they both got into the mustang, and he started the engine. Naruto huffed for a minute before shaking his head.

"Just drive for a while. Hopefully the ride won't make me sick, and we'll lose them before too long. Just...just go." He commanded, crossing his arms across his chest and huffing some more. Sasuke wasn't sure if he was more upset about the paparazzi, or being stuck in a car with him. If he was just that sick, or a combination of all of the above. Either way Sasuke was going to do as he was told, and he looked out of his back window before quickly backing up, and heading towards the highway.