Family
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor its characters. © Masashi Kishimoto
Warning: language, mention of homosexual relationships, lemon, etc.
Chapter 10
Deidara was the first to wake up – or stand up in the case, since he hadn't slept at all. He felt milled, exhausted and drained, making him slightly grumpy. For the first time he didn't find the energy or the will to take care of the children. The blond went to his bathroom to wash his face and saw the reflection of a destroyed version of himself, pale, with dark circles under his dull blue eyes.
Deidara was on his way to the kitchen to drink a big cup of coffee when Sasori called him, startling the blond. "Goddamn it, Sasori! What the hell are you doing awake, un?" he glared at his brother for his sudden appearance.
Sasori arched his eyebrow at his little brother's mood "I should be asking the same thing to you. I thought you were supposed to rest."
"As if I could." he sighed going to the kitchen.
Sasori followed him to the kitchen and made him sit on the chair, telling the blond he would make the coffee. "Did they have the nightmares again, Dei?" the redhead asked as he opened the cabinet.
"Only Sasuke did, Naruto was sound asleep the whole night thank goodness. But even after Sasu fell back asleep, I couldn't sleep so I was awake the whole night, un." Deidara explained, eyelids closing on their own accord.
"Hm. Why is that, brat? What's bothering you?"
The blond man sighed, resting his head on the table in front of him "I don't know. I'm just worried, un. Sasuke said something about an 'evil man' so it got me thinking about it over and over."
"The past is the past, gaki. You can't change it, I'm sure the boys are fine in your hands." His brother reassured him.
"I know Aniki, but it still bothers me that I don't know exactly what happened to them, un. I wouldn't care much but it's affecting them and, and oh God I'm so tired." He whined in the end. "This past month has been hell. Itachi was so busy with the trip and all the trouble and I've been doing appointments for their health and education, and trying to find anything about their biological parents." He growled in frustration.
"Did you find anything?"
"I have their mother's name, un but I didn't have time to go after it. I was busy with paper and the court because of doctors and school. I want Sasuke to go to kindergarten next year, un." Deidara was mumbling already, too tired.
Sasori placed a cup in front of his brother "Drink this and go to bed. What time do your kids usually wake up?"
The blond sighed "Naruto usually wakes up around eight, so we usually wake up Sasuke the same time, we didn't want them sleeping the whole morning but it's hard when they have these nightmares all the time, un." He took a sip of his hot drink and frowned "Damn Sasori, that's not coffee, it's milk, un!"
"I know. So be a good boy and drink it all." He smirked at the childish glare he received from Deidara. "Anyway, it's almost seven so you better get at least some rest before they wake up."
"I don't think I will rest at all, un. I can't sleep and I don't want to lie down on bed anymore, my body is aching, un." He groaned as he rolled his shoulders and neck, feeling it crack with the movement.
"Jeez Deidara, stop acting like a spoiled kid and do as I say already." Sasori ordered with a hand on his hip, glaring at his brother for his stubbornness.
The blond glared back. "You're the one to talk, un. You're awake too Aniki!"
"Yeah, but I wake up this time every day, it's a habit." His voice was calm, as it always is when he lectures his son. "Besides, Gaara wakes up early so I have to, today he's still sleeping because he played too much yesterday." He explained for a matter of fact, arching an eyebrow at Deidara.
"Un. Fine, fine, I'm going back to my bedroom until the boys wake up and then I'll have my coffee." Deidara declared childishly, and ironically walked back to his bedroom sleepily. If he didn't know better, he would think Sasori had put something on that milk, but he knew it was the milk itself that made him sleepy – and the lack of proper sleep itself.
He found his boys still asleep on bed, like little angels and so he ended up lying down beside them, enjoying the calmness. In the end, he fell asleep, and he would wake up one hour later with Sasuke and Naruto calling him.
"Mommy! Mommy! Wake up! I want mommy to wake up!" Naruto called out a little annoyed for the lack of response.
Deidara groaned, covered his head with the sheets and went back to sleep as he didn't recognize the source of the noise.
"Leth him shleep, Naru." Sasuke said with the pacifier in his mouth, but Naruto pouted, looking at his sleeping mother.
"I want mommy, onii-chan."
"He'sh slheeping." Sasuke tried to reason, chewing on the plastic.
"But I want a paci too." He frowned crossing his arms over his chest.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and took the pacifier out of his mouth "You can have mine." He told his brother, offering the object to Naruto.
Naruto eyed the slobber on the plastic in disgust, "I do not want yours. I want mommy up!" He said angrily, stomping his feet on the floor. He looked at his mother and spoke loudly. "Mommy, wake up!"
Deidara, who had been awake for a while, sighed in defeat, uncovered his face and opened his eyes. Naruto's eyes shone when he saw his mother awake. "Morning sunshine." Deidara told him as he sat up in bed.
"Good morning mommy. Did you sleep well?" Naruto asked mischievous with an innocent grin on his lips as if he wasn't throwing a small tantrum just a second before.
The certainly wanted something and though Deidara knew exactly what it was, he was curious to know what the little one was going to say first.
"I did, sunshine and you?" he lied easily, yawning as he stretched his back.
"Yes. I didn't have nightmares because Kyuubi, nii-san, mommy and daddy protected me."
"That's good Naru. And you, Sasuke?" he smiled at his sons, looking from blue eyes to dark ones.
"Yesh. The evil ban didn'sht cobe backsh."
The older blond took the pacifier out of his son's mouth. "Don't talk with the pacifier in your mouth Sasu. I can't understand what you say." He said softly.
Sasuke scowled at his mother for having to repeat himself. "The evil man didn't come back." He repeated a bit annoyed, sure the first time had been as clear to understand.
"Oh." Deidara nodded, still a little slow, "OH!" his eyes widened in realization and he smiled at him, relieved. "That's good, son."
"Mommy?" The little blond called, playing with his sleeve between his small fingers.
"Yes Naru?"
"I-I…" he avoided his eyes, unsure if he should continue.
"Do you want something, dear?" he encouraged his son to speak even if he knew what the boy wanted. Naruto nodded quietly, biting his lower lip as he looked at his brother. "And what do you want, un?" Deidara asked softly.
The blond kid was so sure of what he wanted just few minutes before and now he was afraid of asking. What if he couldn't have a pacifier? What if his mommy told him no? The kid took a deep breath. "I want a paci, mommy." He pleaded with his big blue eyes looking at Deidara.
Deidara smiled at him and got the other pacifier on the wardrobe, washing it on the bathroom. He gave the plastic object to Naruto, watching the boy grin. "It is orange, mommy" Naruto said in awe.
"Do you like orange, Naru?" the man's hands ran through the blond locks of his baby boy.
"It is my favorite color! I love it, mommy!" Naruto was fascinated by the orange pacifier; he gaped at it before he put it on his mouth and chewed the plastic.
"I'm glad sunshine, un. Now, can you please dress yourselves for mommy?" He said as he opened the door for the boys to go to their own bedroom.
Naruto looked at his brother and yelled, "I am fashter!" running to his bedroom with Sasuke running after him.
"Don't run!" Deidara said from his door, looking at the trail of clothes they left on their way to see who got dressed faster. He startled when Naruto fell on his hands, but he calmed down when the little one stood up and kept running like nothing had happened.
The phone rang and the blond ran to answer it. "Hello?"
"Good morning Dei." Itachi's soft voice greeted him.
"Hey Tachi, how are you doing? You called early, un." Deidara commented looking at the clock showing 08:15 am.
"Yeah I figured the boys would be up by now." He smiled to hear his husband "I'm fine, you?"
"I'm fine, just tired, I couldn't sleep at all, un." Deidara told him, rubbing his eyes off sleep "Yeah, I've just sent them to their bedroom to get dressed."
"Hn. Nightmares?"
"Just Sasuke. Oh by the way, I gave them the pacifiers. They liked it, so hopefully they'll sleep for a whole night, un." He hoped so. As exhausted as he was, he would still tend to the boys if they woke up at night.
"You really are tired, you're grumpy." Itachi stated, hearing the small irritation in his voice.
"No I'm not, un." The blond replied stubbornly.
"Hn." But Itachi wasn't fooled. He could hear it in the undertone of his husband, how he just wanted to sleep for the whole day, he was sure.
"Whatever, un." The blond yawned tiredly. "So, what happened yesterday?"
Itachi took a deep breath reminding of the past events "Long story short, the plane was delayed by an hour, Shisui freaked out and I swear I'm killing him if he pisses me off again." The hatred came clear in his voice, what surprised the blond. Shisui and Itachi always got along so well. "And I'm babysitting his son, not that I mind but if I were to take care of children, I'd rather stay with my own."
"How come you're babysitting him, un?"
He sighed "It's a long story, Dei. It doesn't matter now. But anyway, what are you doing today? You should rest."
"I don't know. Oh wait," Deidara's voice then sounded farther "Hey boys, do you want to talk to daddy, un?"
Itachi heard the blond talking to their kids and waited for some of them to pick up expectedly.
"Daddy?" Naruto asked but it sounded far.
"Naru, the phone is upside down, un… Here you can talk now and give me the paci." Deidara said chuckling a bit at the boy. He was too cute.
"Daddy!" the boy's cheerful voice brought a smile to his father's lips.
"Hey Naru."
"Daddy, are you coming back?" he asked expectantly, happy to hear his daddy on the phone.
"Not yet, son, sorry" He sighed in frustration.
"But I miss you daddy. Uncle Sasori is nice but I want my daddy!" the little blond said sincerely.
Itachi smiled sadly, feeling guilty for his departure, "I miss you too. Daddy promises to come back soon, and brings you a nice present, alright?"
The raven could practically hear Naruto grinning "Alright daddy!" He heard the boy talking to Deidara, asking him what to do, "Daddy, onii-chan wants to talk. Bye!"
Then more noise started until another little voice found Itachi's ear. "Dad?" Sasuke's voice was more timid as if he was unsure he would get an answer.
"Hi Sasu. How is my big boy?"
"Good. I had another bad dream." The little raven confessed, sounding upset. "I woke up mom, sorry."
This surprised Itachi as much as Deidara. "Don't worry about it, son. We just worry you had a bad dream." He reassured the boy he hadn't done anything bad. "Do you want to tell me about your dream?"
"I told mom." Sasuke explained, relieved for his father not getting mad at him.
"Oh, okay. What matters is that you are fine, Sasu."
"I am fine, dad. But I want you back." The boy said with his free hand on his head.
"I want to go back too. I miss you." Hearing their voices only made it clearer.
"I miss you too." Sasuke answered honestly, pursing his lips into a small pout.
Itachi smiled at the words, a sigh leaving his lips, "Can I talk to your mom now?" he requested softly.
"Mom, dad wants to talk to you." He then handed the phone to Deidara, who smiled kindly at his son, thanking him.
"Are you feeling better now, Ita?" Deidara asked, knowing how their boys had an effect on them.
"Hn." Yes and no "About Sasuke?" he asked, referring to the boy's nightmare.
"Nothing to talk over the phone, un." He bored a long sigh, "If it doesn't stop I'll take them to a psychologist, it might be good, un."
"True. Talking about it, I met a young psychologist on the flight; he gave me his card." Itachi commented, rubbing his eyes with his free hand.
Deidara frowned. "Should you worry, un?" he threatened slightly out of jealously, knowing the chances of Itachi having a civil conversation with a stranger were next to zero.
Itachi smirked at his husband, amused. "I wouldn't tell you otherwise. Do I hear jealously, Dei?" he teased.
"Un." Deidara answered childishly, wrinkling his forehead.
Itachi chuckled rather loudly, amused by his husband and then he sighed contently, "You know I love you."
"Yeah, yeah un."
"And the guy is engaged. He is moving to Konoha, that's the only reason we talked." He explained knowing his husband was just pretending to be mad.
"Oh my God, you talked to someone. Tachi I should really worry about it, un." Deidara teased in exaggerated drama, gasping loudly to irritate Itachi.
The raven rolled his dark eyes "My point is that he could help the boys. We talked about it, he sounded good." He explained.
The blond smiled, "Yeah, yeah. I'll think about it if the nightmares don't stop." His mouth opened widely as he yawned, "But now, I have two, no, three boys to take care of, un."
"And I need to babysit the kid here too." He said a little annoyed at it, not that it was the kid's fault, he understood. "Bye."
"No." he whined, urging to be spoiled, but he soon changed his mind when he thought about the boys talking to each other on the mattress. "Yeah, you're right, we should go. Don't forget to call me at night, un."
"Hn." Itachi agreed, smiling when the boy he was taking care of opened the door and glared at him.
" Love you." Deidara reminded him, always.
"Me too." The smile widened at the words.
"You are mine, hear?" the blond said just as matter of fact.
Itachi laughed at the blond's jealously. "And you, mine. Bye Dei, talk to you later." He hung up the phone and walked to the child, asking if he needed something. It would be a long day.
…
The day went by normally, the kids played on the room almost peacefully except for a few episodes of child's egoism. After lunch, they decided to take the children out considering the day was beautiful.
"Gaki, if you put more sunscreen on the boy, he'll become a ghost." Sasori said, crossing his arms over his chest in annoyance.
Deidara didn't listen and continued applying the sunscreen on Sasuke's pale face, making the raven snort every now and then due to the act.
"Enough, Deidara." The oldest said in his last warning, taking the tube out of his little brother's hand.
"Hey! Give me back, I wasn't finished, un." The blond argued unsuccessfully trying to get the tube back.
"Yes, you were. I'm taking them to a park, not a tanning clinic, Dei." Sasori said as he rolled his eyes. The kid was already white with sunscreen.
"But it's hot outside and the sun looks, you know, burnable, un." He reasoned, afraid Sasuke would get sunburned. He was so pale, he could easily get sunburned and then cancer, and then… no, Deidara wouldn't let that happen.
However, Sasori glared at him, making him give up on painting his children in sunscreen. Honestly, he was doing more damage than good considering all the chemicals he had applied on Sasuke and Naruto's skin, but that was not the point.
They had decided Sasori would take them while Deidara would stay at home resting, whether he wanted it or not. The problem was the blond was being paranoid about everything, what pissed his brother off extremely. Sasori knew he had to bring food, water, sunscreen, not take his eyes off them, blah, blah, blah, he was a father too and it wasn't the first time he would take Gaara to the park, he knew how to do it. But Deidara seemed to have forgotten about it all.
"I don't know, Aniki. Maybe I should go. What if they fall? What if they are bullied? What if something happens and you can't talk to me and they'll think I left them and they'll hate me forever and I won't forgive myself and-" Deidara stopped, shocked. It didn't hurt, but he wasn't prepared for being slightly slapped by Sasori.
"For the hundredth time, they will be fine. I have everything on me. Water, food, sunscreen, clothes. I won't take my eyes off them. I know the place and it's pretty calm. I have your phone if something happens, what I doubt it will." He said calmly through gritted teeth. "Now…" he lowered his voice so only the blond could hear. "…Shut the fuck up and go to your damn bed, you little brat."
Deidara gulped and nodded, unable to argue against it. He crouched in front of his babies "Are you sure you don't need mommy to go with you, un?"
"Deidara," Sasori warned.
"Mom, Uncle Sasori said you wanted to nap and he will take us to the park." Sasuke explained. "I am a big boy, I take care of myself and Naru." He stated proudly, grinning at his mother in reassurance.
The blond ruffled his hair. "Yes, you are my big boy, un. Come here and give mommy a hug. You too, Naru, you are my baby boy. Listen to your brother and listen to Uncle Sasori, un."
Naruto grinned at his mother when he hugged and kissed him, saying goodbye and running to the door, excited to go to the park. It was a new place with toys and fun, according to Gaara. "Bye mommy." Naruto said as he waved at Deidara.
"Bye Uncle Dei." Gaara as well.
"Bye mom." And so did Sasuke.
"Bye-bye my boys, un. Have fun, behave yourselves over there and obey uncle Sasori." He said from the front door, watching them getting in the car with Sasori's help.
"Bye brat. You rest and don't worry."
Deidara nodded and smiled, waving goodbye as if he wouldn't see the kids ever again. Yet, he felt relieved he didn't have to take care of them for a while, he really needed that nap.
…
The ringing of the phone startled Deidara awake, making him clumsily get the phone on his nightstand, "Yes?!" He answered quickly, still sleepy, but aware.
"Deida-" it was Sasori.
"Oh my God, what happened, un?!" he freaked out, thinking about all possibilities that could happen. He should have gone with them, he knew, he knew it. "They better not be hurt, Aniki, oh my goodness, what happened?"
The redhead sighed "Nothing happened, calm down Deidara."
"How can I be calm? You called me, un! What would you call me for if nothing had happened? So tell what the hell happened Aniki, un." Of course something had happened.
Sasori sighed on the other side of the line. "Listen to me. Nothing happened, alright. Just, can you come over?"
"Why, un?" Deidara asked suspicious.
"Just do it, gaki." Sasori ordered and hung up on him.
Less than fifteen minutes later, the blond was at the park. Panting, he approached his brother. "Sasori, again, what happened, un?" his voice was demanding, almost dangerous.
Sasori looked at him with a lifted eyebrow, and pointed at the swinging, where Naruto was by himself.
"What?" Deidara asked, seeing nothing really wrong with that.
"He's been there for a while, won't listen to me, and he keeps asking of you. Go there and talk to him." The redhead ordered, so Deidara nodded and went to the boy.
Naruto's blue eyes widened when he saw his mother approaching him and he felt afraid, clutching on the strings the hardest he could.
"Naru?" Deidara called softly, but the boy didn't reply, he just closed his eyes and shook his head. Deidara crouched in front of him. "Hey, what's wrong, un? It's me, your mommy, sunshine." Again the boy didn't talk, and Deidara felt a clench on his heart. "You don't want me to be your mommy anymore, dear?" he asked, frowning, fear for the answer of the toddler.
Naruto opened his eyes and shook his head slowly, causing relief to rush over the older. The boy still wanted his mommy to be his mommy, but…
"So what's wrong, un? Why aren't you playing with the other kids, with Sasuke and Gaara?" Deidara asked him softly, touching his cheeks.
Naruto hesitated to speak. "Mommy?" he sounded so afraid it worried his mother even further.
"Yes, sunshine?"
"Are we going back to the orphanage?" his voice cracked as his blue eyes glistened with tears.
"No, of course not. We will go back home, un." Deidara reassured him, a bit surprised to the question.
"Promise?"
"I promise, son. Why would you go back to the orphanage?" He thought he and Itachi had assured the boys they weren't going back there.
"Because mommy and daddy do not want us anymore. They leave us here and the bad men come to go back to there." He explained sadly, biting his lower lip as he swung his small legs.
Deidara ran his finger over the boy's scarred cheek "Mommy and daddy will always want you. We won't leave you, sunshine, un."
Silence fell on them as Deidara continue to caress his baby boy's face, willing to reassure him about all the love he felt for the little one.
The moment was interrupted when a young woman approached them. "Naruto?" she asked to confirm it was the boy.
Both blonds looked at her. Deidara frowned, but Naruto grinned at the girl. "Ayame-neechan!" he yelled happily running to the girl and leaving a confused Deidara behind.
"Oh Naruto. I was so worried about you! You disappeared." She said, picking the boy and hugging him tightly.
Deidara looked at them in confusion. The girl was around 14, maybe 15 years old, but she seemed to know Naruto for a while, so he wondered. The older cleaned his throat to catch their attention and smiled at them. "So, who's your friend, Naruto?" Deidara asked with more authority than he intended.
The girl blushed, ashamed for not introducing herself earlier "Ah, sorry. I'm Ayame Ichiraku." She said offering her hand;
"Deidara Uchiha." He said shaking the girl's hand, a bit coldly. A part of him felt jealous and suspicious of the girl's interaction with Naruto.
"I'm sorry sir, but what were you planning to do with this child?" She asked keeping Naruto to herself.
Deidara snorted at the implication, but before he could say anything, Naruto explained. "He is my new mommy Ayame-neechan. He is nice."
"Oh." The girl blushed harder, clearly embarrassed by her mistake. "Oh I'm so sorry. I didn't know. It's just that… sorry to be meddling, but Naruto and his brother had suffered enough already in adults' hands, so..."
"Yes, I know, un. I don't know the details but I'm aware their past caused them suffering." The blond explained calmly. "But may I ask you how you know my children?"
"Ayame-neechan is my friend, mommy." Naruto interfered once again, grinning at them.
"Yes, I'm Naruto's friend." She smiled at the boy still hugging her. "We met at this park a year ago. I was on my way home at night when I saw this park and decided to rest a bit, Naruto and Sasuke were playing alone and no adult was around. And that's how we met, Deidara-san." She explained with a mix of sadness and happiness at the memory, bittersweet.
"I see, un." Deidara processed the information and then asked. "Ayame-chan, can I ask you what happened to them? I mean, this past year you've known them, un."
The girl's face turned sad. "A lot happened, Deidara-san. If you could, I would like to talk to you about it. I heard from the orphanage they were in a good home, so I didn't bother to look for them really hard, but as you seem to be really concerned, I think it's a good idea we talk." She said formally, a bit uncomfortable in front of the man.
"I agree with you, un… Do you have time now?" he asked, feeling anxious to know more. She nodded her head. "Good, would you mind coming to my house? I want to know about it as soon as possible." He explained hopeful, maybe if he knew, he could help the boys overcome their fear.
"Hm, sure. I don't see a problem. I'll talk to my dad." She smiled politely taking her phone and calling her father.
After she explained the situation and Teuchi, her father, talked to Deidara to make sure he wasn't a park's pedophile, they went to talk to the others.
"Ayame-neesan." Sasuke greeted the girl from the sand's box, where he was playing with Gaara.
"Oh hey Sasuke! How are you doing?"
"I'm fine and you?" He asked politely.
"I'm fine too, thank you. So, do you like your new house?" Ayame asked with a smile.
"Yes, I love it!" he answered contently. "And I love mom and dad too."
The girl felt relieved and happy for the kids "Oh that's great to hear. I see you have a new friend. Hi what's your name?" She asked, not getting an answer from the redhead.
"He's my cousin and his name is Gaara. He doesn't talk much." Sasuke explained.
Ayame was talking to the boys while Sasori talked to Deidara.
"So, what's with the girl?" Sasori asked making Deidara sigh.
"Apparently, she knows about the boy's past, un. We need to talk so I invited her over."
The older nodded, watching her playing with the kids, "I see."
…
On the way home, Deidara made the possible to make the girl feel comfortable, making small talk here and there, talking to the boys about their day on the park and driving a bit too fast to arrive home fast. He expected to know what had happened to his children. In fact, he had no idea how close he was to that. The young girl was the key to their past and she was willing to help.
AN: Before I forget, people have been asking me about some things and I think it's good to clarify them.
First: the boys being potty trained (lol I find this term so funny, in my country we use terms like 'quit the diapers', and potty training sounds like a dog thing, lol). Anyway, stupid jokes aside, yes the boys know how to use the bathroom on their own, but it's common for young children to have more problems at nighttime so it's very common to put diapers on children for them to sleep so they don't accidentally wet the bed. And I really find that diapered butts are so cute *-*.
Second: Hoshi124 asked me about the bottles (I answered her (?) already but it was a good question). Yes they're baby bottles that they use and well, I had my bottle until I was six and not because I couldn't hold a cup, but it's really nice to drink milk from a bottle so I'm basing it on my own experience and what I see from my younger relatives. I think it's more of a memory of mine that I saw my younger sister until she was around eight drinking milk from a bottle before she slept and it's a very nice memory.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience of these mistakes of mine that really confused people and thanks for those who asked about it. Please do so, because I often forget to explain some things that are important for the story. So thanks.