Chocolate Roses

Chapter 21

"My father? Daddy?"

"No, Avi. " I quickly jumped in and grabbed his arm, but he writhed away from me.

"Yes. I am your daddy. Avi." Sasuke gripped Avi's hand and smiled. Avi giggled.

"Is it true Mommy? Is he?" I looked away from the two of them. How dare he just show up and talk to my son like nothing ever happened between us? It's been four whole years, and now, here he is.

"Mommy doesn't really like me Avi."

"Why?"

"We got in a fight… she's still angry." I fumed.

"Don't you tell him that! Feel free to leave, you're pretty damn good at that!"

"Are you stupid enough to keep him from me? After 4 years?"

"I guess I am pretty stupid, because I did keep him from you and I'm happy! Can you believe that? For once in a very long time, I'm happy, and I'm not going to let you ruin that!"

"So let me guess, these past four years, you've been filling his head with crap about me being the bad guy! Did you even tell him who I was?" Sasuke shouted with an intense glare. I wasn't going to crack. He didn't scare me.

"No I didn't tell him. What was a supposed to say? 'Avi, your father is a cynical, self-centered, asshole who never even considers the thoughts and feelings of others.' Yeah, that sounds about right. Oh wait, and don't forget the fact that you left me pregnant and alone at fucking 16!"

"Don't blame me—"

"Don't blame you? Don't blame you? Are you serious?" I laughed in amazement." You know what? I'm not wasting my time. I've grown up Sasuke. I'm not that vulnerable little girl everyone took advantage of. And everything that's happened has been because of you. All of it! I can't believe I even said I loved you. They're just useless words to you anyway."

"That's what you think?"

"It sure is. If you ever treated Avi like you treated me, I don't know what I would do. I will never leave him with you!"

"That isn't your decision."

"It is when I've been with him all his life. I bought his clothes, his toys, his food. I was the one in pain for months because my body wasn't prepared to have a baby. I was the one who gave him undivided attention. He knows my full name Sasuke. He didn't even know you existed, and I'm completely okay with that."

"Tch. Of course you are. You're such a selfish bitch. You wondered why I couldn't stay in one place with you. You're so hard to be around, I'm surprised Avi made it four years. " I flinched." Tell me something Sakura, where have you been all this time? You didn't have any money."

"She was with us." I turned around. Deidara grabbed my hand and pulled me back. He was going to handle this his way. Sasuke's eyes widened.

"Akatsuki?"

"Listen up Uchiha. You can turn and leave and make this easy for yourself or I can kick your sorry ass and make you." Sasuke's wide eyes drifted to mine.

"You couldn't stand me so bad, you resulted in being a Rogue? And you made my son one?"

"He's human just in case you didn't notice." Deidara spat.

"I hate you." I looked down at my son. I hadn't noticed his crying. He was in between Sasuke and I, and I felt horrible. He'd never said such a thing.

"Avi, come on." I touched his shoulder.

"No!! Leave me alone! I hate both of you!" He ran into Deidara's arms and cried. Deidara picked Avi up and sent one last glare in Sasuke's direction.

"Come on Sakura." I turned to leave and listened to Sasuke's last words.

"I never thought you would stoop so low just for revenge."

"It's not about you. It's about what makes Avi and I happy."

"So that's it? You're just going to leave me out of the picture?" I ignored him and continued my way. The evening was ruined, Avi was extremely upset and I had to find a way to explain this to him.

We walked the rest of the way in silence. I kept my head low, away from any scolding that might come from Deidara.

"I'm not going to say anything Sakura." Deidara muttered. "I'm glad you told the son of a bitch off."

I sighed. " But Avi. I can't believe he heard all of that. It's terrible."

"He's asleep right now. Here." He handed me Avi and I grabbed him. I wiped the dried tears from his face and hoped he wasn't too angry with me.

"Sakura, he's a kid. Once he wakes up, he'll forget the real reason he was mad at you in the first place. But I do know where he's coming from. Calm down. It'll pass."

"I just hate seeing him upset."

"That won't last. I got him something he'll like."

"What is it?"

"I already dropped it off at base but…"

"Well? What is it?" I smiled when Deidara did.

"It's one of those Hummer car things you sit in. I thought it would be okay for a birthday present…"

"Oh it's perfect!" Deidara let out a breath of relief.

"Good. Cuz if this kid came from you and Uchiha, I figured he would be pretty damn picky." Deidara laughed to himself.

"Trust me, if Avi wants it, he won't be picky."

"Yep. He's definitely your kid." I glanced at Deidara and didn't know I was staring until he told me I was.

"Oh ,um, sorry…" When I looked up, I noticed we were about ten minutes from base. Deidara was sure we weren't being followed, so we continued without worry.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked without thinking.

"Doing what?"

"You know what. Helping me. With everything." Deidara sighed.

"Well. Honestly, I don't know. Probably because Itachi wouldn't want you to live alone, and because I owe you."

"You owe me? How so?" Deidara let out a laugh.

"Think back seven years ago kid." I counted then in realization, I jumped.

"Oh yeah…when I was first attacked…you."

"That's right. I was your first." I suddenly remembered the attack at my home. Deidara was the blonde vampire. And the first one that ever bit me. "Ever since Itachi told me he was falling in love with you, I wondered, 'What is going on with the Uchiha's?' I thought you were some kind of witch that kept casting charm spells on them. But he talked to me about it, and in his final thoughts, he told Sasori and I to watch over you.
"From the first day I saw you, I knew you were different, and after the attack, I felt horrible if you know what I mean. Therefore, I owe you."

"Oh…if Itachi never told you to watch me, would you still be doing it?"

Deidara was silent. "Yeah. I would."

"Thank you. It means a lot." In my arms, Avi stirred.

"Mommy, are we home?"

"Almost." Avi sighed.

"I'm hungry. Can we have McDonald's? Deidara said it was good, I wanted to try." Avi hopped out of my arms and stared at me with gleaming, green eyes.

I looked at Deidara who shrugged in defeat. "Sorry, he weaseled it out of me." I sighed. It wouldn't hurt.

"Okay, we're not too far from home so do you wanna rest up first or go straight there? I know you're tired." I smiled at Avi. He straightened and stuck his chest out.

"No, I'm like you. I never, ever get tired!"

"Alright then lets race. First last one to the restaurant has to pay the other five dollars." Deidara challenged.

Avi nodded as Deidara took off. "Wait, I don't have any money!" Avi called after him. Deidara wasn't moving half as fast as he usually did, and he allowed Avi to catch up. Avi, being the cheater he was, jumped on Deidara's back. Deidara in return grabbed Avi and put him on his back.

I stood back, watching and laughing at the two. They'd become the most important people in my life.

"Mommy, mommy look at me!!" Avi called. I ran to catch up with them just as they reached the parking lot.

"I'll go in and order." Deidara smiled at me and put Avi down.

"Mommy, Deidara said he enjoy being around us. Is that good?"

"It sure is. Now come on, we'll find a seat." I grabbed Avi's hand and pulled him until he suddenly stopped. "What is it?" I looked down at him and gasped. His eyes were wide and tears streamed down his face.

"Avi, baby what is it?" I knelt down. His eyes seemed distant, as if he didn't even see me. "Avi?"

Avi began breathing hard and making harsh, pained noises. "Avi, this isn't funny, snap out of it!" I tapped his cheeks to get him out of his stupor, but he suddenly fell backwards.

"Avi! D-Deidara, help!!" I positioned the unconscious toddler in my lap and screamed at someone to call and ambulance.

"Give him to me." Deidara ordered. I gave him Avi and he checked his pulse and his cheeks. "He's breathing okay, but it looks like he has some kind of fever… wait a second." Deidara's brow furrowed as he placed his hand over Avi's head. "He's under a genjutsu."

"What? Who did it?" I demanded, glancing angrily around the crowd that gathered. "Move! Get out the way!" I stood and elbowed through all of them until I reached the clearest opening. I was standing in front of a car that was headed into the drive-thru, but I didn't care. I was staring face-to-face to Sasuke. I could feel his chakra and it hit me that he did this. To his own son.

I charged him. He didn't move an inch. I slapped him in the face and kicked and punched him as tears streamed down my face. "Turn it of!! Cancel the jutsu! Do it now or I swear to god I'll kill you." I screamed at Sasuke.

"Do it." He whispered. His eyes were red with the Sharingan and his lip curled in a snarl. I whipped out the stake I kept hidden in the back of my jeans. I held it up to his throat.

"Cancel the genjutsu. You think I won't kill you? I'm a Rogue remember?" I pressed the stake harder and drew blood. "Cancel it!!"

Sasuke didn't show any emotion, and it was freaking me out.

Sasuke only stared until he grasped the stake in my hand. He threw it away, and I stared in defeat.

"You're hurting him! He's your son for God's sake!" tears were still flowing from my eyes and I could here the distant siren of the ambulance. "Please."

Deidara's chakra was building tremendously and the tension in the air made my stomach churn.

"Sakura, take Avi home."

"B-But—"

"The genjutsu is off, but he has some kind of fever still. Take him home and give him to Konan. She'll help."

"What are you going to do?" I asked, holding my son gently.

Deidara stepped towards Sasuke with killer intentions."I'm going to end this. Once and for all."

Whew… done…longest one in a while, huh? Nothing much to say except for that I heart u all!

-Jazz Out