A/N: Edit. Sorry I missed some name transfers! _ I write some parts fanfic others were originally OC that I pulled in & I didn't realise that I whoopsied. ^^; Also, I want to note that this is not a Naruto bash story or a Sakura bash story or an anyone bash story. Really, it's not. I love Naruto to bits as a character, & as the story develops you'll see more & more how complex his character really is.

Chapter Eight:

8 October: Daddy, I'd like the Stake & Shrimp Special

Birds chirped nosily in Naruto's head, they flew around and around, slamming their tiny little bodies into his skull and exploding into even more obnoxiously loud birds. It was Angry Birds gone nightmarish. Naruto groaned and rubbed his eyes, too afraid to open them to the bright morning sunlight. He hated hangovers. Why did he drink so much? How much did he even drink? He couldn't remember anything after getting bombarded with Sakura's hair when he went to talk to Hinata about getting an abortion. Had he even managed to talk to her?

Naruto sighed and gently attempted to open his eyes. Pain immediately shot through his lashes, forcing him to close them again. He rolled to the side, his forehead pressing against smooth coldness, and he found welcomed darkness. Where was he? It felt like porcelain was pressed against his skin. Someone's bathroom? But why would there be birds in a bathroom? Again, Naruto attempted to open his eyes; this time he was able to see the white curve of the tub that cocooned him. Naruto crinkled his brow. Why was he in a tub? Wait, birds?

Naruto jumped to his feet. His world spun. His knees crumbled, and his chest collided with the edge of the tub as his stomach convulsed, forcing acid and booze to burn his throat before colouring the forest floor. Naruto gasped for breath. His body shook uncontrollably, and he slumped back into the tub. Unconsciousness overtook him.

Soft curves pressed against his abdomen, his fingers entangled with another's. Naruto breathed in—earthy spices and shampoo. His body relaxed. He felt such serenity and comfort. Could he stay here forever?

"Good morning, love," the woman in his arms said. Her voice was gentle, kind. Who was she? He wanted to open his eyes and see, but he was afraid—afraid that if he did this would all disappear, that it was nothing more than a covetous delusion, a wistful dream. He felt her roll over in his arms, her silken skin brushing against his hand, until her protruding belly bumped against his. "Are you going to pretend to be asleep all day?"

Naruto smiled; there was such sweet laughter in her voice. He whispered, "Maybe."

"C'mon, wake up you." She gave him a gentle nudge.

"Nu-uh."

He pulled her against him, entangling his limbs with hers, and buried his face in her hair. Couldn't this be real? Could he really have this? Deserve this? This sweet, gentle life that was so much different than the one he grew up in. He didn't want to see someone he loved, someone he was supposed to protect and cherish, completely broken because of him. He didn't want to cause the endless tears and bloodshed, didn't want to be the cause of the lies and the secrets, the cover-ups. He wanted this! This loving woman in his arms, this calmness, this serenity.

A loud bang startled Naruto from his thoughts. He jumped up and opened his eyes. A mass of giggles and smiles crashed into him, knocking him back down into the pillows.

"Daddy!"

Naruto slowly awoke. Sunlight gently trickled through the leafy sky. For a while he just laid there, trying to hold onto the feeling of his dream, but it slowly faded away, leaving him hollow. Alone.

A twig cracked in the distance. Naruto wiped his eyes dry and sat up.

Sasuke walked over and sat on the side of the tub, his hands still in his pockets. "Yo."

"Hey," Naruto replied. Neither of them looked at the other.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You were a pretty shitty drunk last night. I think all the girls there hate you now."

"Whatever," Naruto huffed.

"This isn't like you."

"I'm just dealing with some shit."

Neither boy spoke. The sun slowly moved across the sky, the birds searched for food, and somewhere off in the distance a pair of squirrels bickered with each other. Even though he would never say it aloud, Naruto appreciated that Sasuke worried about him and that Sasuke never pushed him for information. His best friend new all too well what he had been through.

"C'mon, they're gonna start serving dinner soon. I think it's a stake and shrimp special tonight," Sasuke said, pushing himself off of the side of the tub.

"'kay." Naruto got out of the forest tub and the two boys walked side-by-side back to the university.