Sasuke's P.O.V.

"Good morning Sasuke. Time to wake up, I open at the library today, so we don't have much time this morning." I sat up and he gave me my meds and a glass of water. "Suigetsu has to open the ramen house, so he can't take you to the gym, but Itachi doesn't work until after I get off, so he's gonna spend the day with you. Here, we were out of bagels, so toast is gonna have to be enough." He said kindly, handing me a plate of toast. "Mikoshina bit the hell out of my nipple this morning, for someone that doesn't have any teeth, she sure bites hard. Okay, up and at 'em, I heard you guys are going to the park, sounds like fun right?" I didn't say anything to him, and he left the room. I took my medicine, which was enough for him, so he left. I honestly didn't care. I rummaged through a drawer in my nightstand and pulled out my stash of coke hidden in my glasses case. I'm almost out and it's only Tuesday, Sui doesn't work again until Friday, maybe Karin has some to spare. I did the line anyway. I sniffed hard, put the stash away and walked to the kitchen, toast in hand, eating it as I walked down the hall.

"Hey you're up." Itachi said with a smile as he played with Miko.

"Yes he is and I'm out, see you guys tonight, I'll bring dinner." Naruto said as he walked out the door. I heard Itachi set Miko down in her rocker as I opened the fridge. Hey, we actually have beer in here. Sui must have left it last night when he came over. I pulled it out and popped it open, downing half of it in one swig. I looked up and all I saw was Itachi's fist right before it connected with my face.

"Holy fuck man, what the hell?" I spit blood into my hand.

"What the hell? What the hell Sasuke? It's only ten a.m. and you're already high as a kite and trying to get drunk, that's what the hell!"

"Chill out, I'm out of bed aren't I?" I said walking past him and sitting on the couch, finishing my beer.

"Out of bed? You really think that's enough? When Naruto is busting his ass trying to take care of your kid, pay your medical bills, and keep this place a float even though you two are broken up and he isn't supposed to even be living here! Wake up Sasuke." Blah Blah blah. How many lectures do I have to get before he realizes I really just don't care? I laid back on the couch, just trying to enjoy my high.

"When was the last time you held your child?' I shrugged, twiddling with the hair on my chest. I guess my hormones are going back to normal, I haven't had chest hair in a long time. Not having man boobs anymore is really nice too.

"She's gonna forget who you are, do you really want that?"

"Whatever."

"Alright, get dressed, we're going to the park."

"Later."

"Now Sasuke." I didn't move, Itachi can suck it. He walked into my room and I heard rummaging. He came back with clothes and threw them at me.

"Get dressed."

"I told you later." I got a text back from Karin; she doesn't have any either. Ugh.

"I am not above beating the mess out of you. Get up Sasuke."

"You're an old sick man, what are you gonna do?" I said texting Juugo.

"The enabling stops here. Get up Sasuke." He grabbed my ankle, ripping me off the couch. I landed hard on my back, totally killing my buzz. Ugh fine, whatever. I got off the ground and put my clothes on. He threw shoes at me too and I put them on. He pushed me out the door and made me help him carry Miko and the stroller down the stairs. We walked across the street to the park and pushed Miko around for a few laps. I was bored to death. Then Itachi got a phone call. "Kakashi? No, I haven't had a chance to look at it, I'm at the park with my niece...wait so soon... well that means we're going to have to rethink our strategy... No I know... Yeah its just me with Sasuke today I can't come in... Uh yeah, yeah I can take a look at it... okay I'll call you when I'm done. Okay bye." He hung up the phone and glared at me.

"What?"

"Go take Mikoshina to the duck pond over there, she likes to watch them swim. I'll be right over there on that bench."

"Yeah, yeah." I pushed the stroller in the direction of the duck pond, out of sight of Itachi and I noticed a man in a black trench coat with red clouds on it sun bathing on a picnic table. A trench coat in early July huh? I rolled the stroller closer and realized it was Deidara, Orochimaru's drug dealer.

"Deidara?"

"Sasuke? Whoa! Look at you! I heard you had a baby, but man, back in shape already huh? You look great un."

"Thanks, I still have a few stretch marks, and the six pack is gone, but it's a work in progress."

"You should go back to hooking, lord knows Orochimaru needs you, there's a new club up town I'm supplying for, the Akatsuki, might put him out of business. If he had you back, I bet he'd pay you double." I'm never going back to Orochimaru.

"Eh I'm doing alright right now. Hey that reminds me, do you have a stash on you?"

"Do I have a stash on me? Please Sasuke, I'm always holding, what do you need?"

"Blow, and Molly if you have it."

"You got cash?"

"You can't float me a little bit?"

"And that's why Orochimaru is going under, he just gives away his merchandise to cheep hookers. But I'll make you a deal, heard you had a C-section so your hole is still tight right?"

"Yeah..."

"So I'll trade you, your services for mine." He winked, holding up a baggie with four red pills in it. I really wanted those pills.

"Alright." I said motioning to go behind the bushes. I pushed Mikoshina so she was safe under a tree a few feet away then went behind the greenery with Deidara. I looked around to make sure no one could see us and lowered my pants. Deidara spit on his hand, rubbed it on his dick then pushed into me. Man, it's been a long time since I've done this. I'm tight as fuck.

"Jesus Sasuke, the rumors are true, your ass does feel like heaven." He said thrusting into me. His dick wasn't bad, long, I would have liked more girth to really get off, but he was alright. We banged it out for a good ten minutes before he finally came inside me. I jerked myself for a few more seconds before I came too. Not the worst fuck ever.

"Damn it Sasuke, now I see why you get paid the big bucks." I zipped up my pants and turned back to him.

"Pills?"

"Yeah, yeah, my finest Molly and Blow un." He said reaching in his trench coat and handing me two baggies.

"You wouldn't by chance have a morning after pill on you would ya?"

"Don't want another one of those running around huh un? Well if the new one was mine I bet Naruto would never know. We do look a lot alike you know." He said with a wink.

"Do you have one or not?"

"Yeah, yeah, Tobi stole a whole box off a shipment not too long ago, I usually give them as freebies with the Molly, comes in handy more than you think. Here." He said handing me another pill.

"Thanks." I said walking to get Miko.

"We should make this a regular thing, I'm here every weekday around this time, selling to bored moms walking their babies and junkies that didn't make it home last night."

"Yeah, sounds good." I pushed the stroller back down the path and towards Itachi. If I push Miko around every morning, I can get lit up and make it seem like I'm making an effort, Naruto and Itachi will get off my case and I can better hide what I'm doing. Humm... that's not a bad idea.

Naruto's P.O.V.

"Beep, beep, beep, beep." Time to get up. I rolled over and stretched. Man this cot is uncomfortable. Damn. I looked to Sasuke's bed and he wasn't in it. I instantly jolted up. Where is he? Oh god! Mikoshina! She's not in her crib! Panic set in, mindless, overwhelming panic. Where's my baby?! I sprinted to the kitchen only to see a sight I thoroughly wasn't expecting. Sasuke was... making breakfast...while baby talking Miko in her rocker...Umm... what's going on?

"Morning." He said to me, then turning back to the stove.

"You're... awake and making breakfast? Umm..."

"Umm?" He raised an eyebrow.

"That's really...nice Sasuke."

"Hey I'm a nice guy." It's seven thirty; Sasuke hasn't woke up before ten for the past month and a half, even less been up and about and relatively pleasant. Is he having a break through? Or a psychotic episode? Not sure I can tell the difference at this point.

"I smell French toast. Good morning everyone." Itachi said coming in and picking up Mikoshina and giving her a big kiss. "Sasuke? You're up? And... cooking?"

"Why is that so shocking? I used to cook for you all the time." Itachi walked around me and sat at his kitchen stool, giving me a weird look as he opened his newspaper.

"I'm gonna change Mikoshina diaper and get her fed." I said picking her up.

"I already did, I used the milk you pumped last night, hope that's okay." Sasuke said not looking at me, flipping the toast.

"Uh... yeah... I don't mind." I gave Itachi an 'I don't know what's going on' look and he shook his head. This is creeping me out a bit. Actually, a lot.

"Will you two stop giving each other odd looks? I just finally realized that I need to step up, pull my weight again. Isn't that what you wanted?" Yes, but this is scary.

"Yes, Sasuke, we are proud of you, thank you for this." Itachi said as Sasuke handed him a plate of French toast.

"You're welcome. After this I'd like to go to the gym is that's okay with you all. Suigetsu can't keep up with me these days and I really want to work on getting my six pack back, so I'll be gone for about two hours like old times." He said handing me a plate too.

"Yeah, yeah that's fine, have a good workout Sasuke." I said.

"I'll wash the dishes when I get back. See you in a bit." He said grabbing his keys, kissing Mikoshina, and walking out the door.

"He's up to something." I said taking a bite. Wow that's good. Who knew Sasuke could cook!

"You think?" Itachi said sarcastically.

"Maybe his meds are finally kicking in, he has seemed better in general lately."

"Maybe."

"You think something else?"

"I don't know what I think at the moment, but I'll let you know."

"Right." We finished our breakfast then I started my chores while Itachi took a shower and got ready for work. Sasuke came back from the gym as Itachi and I were sorting the bills before he left.

"That can wait, and that one. This one says final notice, we have to pay that."

"The interest on that one is crazy, I'd really rather not miss the payment if we can." I said handing him the unsubsidized loan bill.

"I don't want to miss it either, but as it stands, we're still short a hundred dollars for rent, and I haven't even touched electricity or the credit card yet." Man diapers and baby stuff is expensive. It would be really be nice if we had Sasuke as a third source of income like we planned, but well… that's not happening any time soon.

"That can't be right."

"Checked it four times." Sasuke went into his room then came back with a white envelope and handed it to Itachi.

"What's this?" Itachi said opening the envelope. It was cash.

"Finally got paid for that web design thing I did a few months ago." He said taking his shirt off and heading to the bathroom for a shower.

"I thought that job was fake." So did I.

"Nope, real as can be, I'm gonna shower before I take Miko for a walk." He said, closing the bathroom door and turning the shower on.

"He's definitely up to something."

"You don't think he's..."

"When would he have the time? We have someone with him 24/7."

"I don't know... he worked out at the gym by himself today, maybe that's it?"

"Not possible, he had to walk into the room to get the envelope, no way he had enough time to find an envelope, uncrumple the money and put it all nice in there like that, he just went in and got it. These bills are crisp and clean."

"How much is it?"

"Two hundred dollars."

"Maybe the web design is real."

"Or he cleverly only put two hundred worth of clean bills in the envelope and stashed the rest somewhere. Anticipating this." Well… I wouldn't put it past him.

"I'll search his room when I get back from work."

"Who is watching him today?"

"Karin."

"Oh, great."

"Better than Suigetsu, who brings beer to watch a baby?" Itachi ran his hand through his hair as he tried to think. "I'm not sure if this is better or worse than him staying in bed all day."

"He seems to be trying."

"Which is what he wants us to believe so he can do...whatever it is he's doing. You're gonna be late."

"Yeah, I know, I'm going. Maybe he's just finally turning the corner, the old Sasuke did everything he did out of love, no matter how grey the actual act." I said heading for the door.

"Even still, I'd rather him just tell us."

"He will, eventually, he always does. See you tonight."

"Bye." I walked out to my car and drove to the library. Work went by quickly, but I was overwhelmed by thoughts of why Sasuke was suddenly acting different. Itachi is naturally suspicious of him, but I don't want to go on a witch-hunt for nothing and ruin his progress. Ugh, yet another problem, I can't win.

After work I dropped by my parents house, I guess they bought diapers and clothes for Mikoshina that they wanted me to pick up. Sasuke would be pissed if I knew he I was taking handouts from my parents, but honestly he doesn't really have a say in the matter. Not in his current state at least.

"Hey mom, dad." I said walking in the door.

"Hey baby, long time no see." Mom said giving me a warm hug.

"I know, things have been so crazy lately, but it's summer so I'm trying to work as much as I can before school starts and I'm really pressed for cash."

"The Uchiha are pressed for cash, you have no obligation to support them." Dad said coming into the walkway.

"I have to provide for my daughter, and Sasuke's still pretty sick, I don't think he'll be going back to work anytime soon, assuming he still has a job when he decides he's ready, not like he got paternity leave or anything."

"How is he feeling these days?" My dad asked as we walked to the living room.

"Well he was up before me today, even made Itachi and I breakfast."

"That's good to hear, you said mornings were hardest on him."

"They are."

"And Mikoshina? How is he with her?"

"There's still the disassociation, which can be really scary. Some days he thinks she hates him, other days he acts like she's barely there. I am so scared to leave her alone with him. Man, I feel so bad even saying that."

"Well honey it's okay, you can say that to us, if anything you should tell us, you know we're here for you."

"I just... isn't that horrible? I can't trust my baby's father with his own daughter?"

"He's not in his right mind Naruto. But I can't stand you feeling so distraught like this. I think it's time to move back home, you and Mikoshina, if Sasuke wants to see her, he has to make an effort." My mother said kindly, putting her hand to my knee.

"Sasuke still needs me to take care of him too much... he's not ready."

"He's also not your boyfriend anymore, Naruto can't you see that this is not normal? That you are going way above and beyond what you should?"

"I still love him Dad."

"I've seen how he treats you, it's unkind, hurtful, I know his mental health is not ideal at the moment, but what about your mental health? You are so unhappy."

"I can't be happy when my family is going under." My parents sighed. I know deep down in my heart my parents are right, but now is just not the time. I'm not ready to move away from the Uchihas and maybe part of me still wants Sasuke to wake up and forgive me, have the life we planned to have... together. It's a pipe dream, but I'm still hopeful. I stayed and talked to my parents for a while longer, then I took the diapers and baby clothes from them gratefully and went home. I unloaded the supplies and went upstairs to the apartment. I walked in and it smelled like food. It never smells like food in here, I was literally gonna make 25 cent ramen for dinner tonight. That and Karin was watching Sasuke today, she can't cook.

"Sasuke?" I called my back to the door as I drug in the supplies.

"Wow that's a lot of diapers. Need help?" He offered, putting Miko on his hip and taking a few bags from me.

"What are you cooking?" I asked.

"Halibut, Miko and I went to the fish market today, met Itachi's old friend Kisame, he gave daddy some fresh fish and veggies, didn't he baby girl?" He said, voice turning to baby talk mid sentence as he put the diapers down and pinched Miko's cheek. She let out a happy squeal and Sasuke kissed her on the cheek. That's the most affection he's ever showed her. I was shocked by him for the second time today. He is most certainly up to something.

"Where's Karin?"

"Never showed up." He said putting Mikoshina in her rocker and going back to the oven to check on the food.

"What?!" I swear my heart stopped beating.

"Sent me a text, had an interview at the hospital for scribe position or something. It was fine, gave Miko and I some time to bond."

"All by yourself? All day?" Oh my god.

"We're both still here aren't we? You stress to much." I have no idea what's going on, but I'm totally freaked out.