Chapter 18

Snow? Naruto thought questionably as he walked through the streets of his village after taking his regular ramen shop stop, Oh yeah it is winter, snow would be normal now wouldn't it? He coughed and glanced at his watch. 7:30, Taro should be getting ready for bed soon. A tap on his shoulder brought him out of his musings. He turned to see Gaara looking a little off shivering under his Kage jacket and cape.

"I'm cold." Gaara stated bringing his jacket and cape tighter to his body, "Your country still amazes me on how low the temperature can get it.

"Its called winter Gaara, You don't get it that often in the middle of the dessert."

"Humph."

"Where were you headed?"

"Nowhere really, both of my siblings and that man are at the Hospital and I hate hospitals."

"Come home with me for now then. I'm sure Hinata wouldn't mind."

Gaara looked like he needed a little more persuading.

"Besides," Naruto smiled draping an arm over Gaara's shoulder, "It would Freak out Iruka if he didn't know where you were."

"That man will kill you one day."

"Don't jinx yourself Gaara, you would then be a eligible legal guardian for Taro." Gaara paled, and the Hokage snickered and coughed, "I'm just Kidding Hinata would still be around." They trudged on in a solemn silence.

"Lets not talk about that anymore…it's depressing."

"Agreed Gaara stated, not wanting to think about losing the first best friend he'd ever had, "Now would you like to explain why there are rows of saluting snow-nins lining the way to your door?"

"That boy cough," Naruto bowed his head and sighed, "He knows I hate it when he does this. My own son is set upon me being a dictator."

… Its cold in Austin today…

Hinata woke up, yawned and instinctively glanced at the time, 7:00 pm…OH NO! I SLEPT THE ENTIRE AFTERNOON WITH...Oh Taro please be awake and doing something damaging to the house. She peeked and was horrified to discover Taro still sleeping. (Authors Note: For those who don't understand, when Children take long naps they tend to be harder to put to bed at night…much harder.) Maybe… he can just stay sleeping. She thought slowly, I have to sneak-

"Mom you just nudged my pillow!"

ARG! "Taro go back to sleep."

"Cant Mommy m'not sleepy anymore." With that Taro sat up stretching.

NOOO! "But Taro its almost bedtime anyways."

"But I need to eat dinner and destroy things." His tummy grumbled to emphasize his point, "Please?!" Hinata sighed, defeated.

"Fine. Go get your coat and boots on and go play outside while I fix dinner. 'K?"

"SOUP! SOUP! SOUP!"

"Soup does sound good. Thank Ta-"

"YIPEE!" and with that Taro was simply gone from the room. Hinata sighed stretching her aching back, "Some things in life just aren't fair." She got up, straightened her appearance in a mirror and went downstairs into the Kitchen, "Tomato soup sound real good, oh and lets make some hot coco and mint chocolate chip cookies! If I bake them now they should be ready by the end of supper." So Hinata went to work making a huge pot of soup and a batch of cookies, all while munching on a pickle.

Taro came in about 20 or so minutes later with seemingly blue lips and icy cold hands but warmed up quickly after drinking his steamy soup from a mug. Hinata raced to see who would finish first with her son.

"Beat you Mommy!" he smiled as he banged his mug down and wiped off his mouth, "I WO-ON! I WO-ON!"

"Good Job! Now go hop in the tub for me."

"Why?"

"Taro don't start this with me." She warned finishing of her own soup.

"Ugh! Fine." And with that he went upstairs. Hinata stood and had just finished wiping the table off when the front door opened and a loud, "IM HOOME!" rang through the house.

"Hinata cough?" her husband asked from the doorway.

"In the kitchen!" she yelled.

"C'mon Gaara, believe it or not its actually warmer inside the house." She frowned as her husband coughed again then smiled.

"Hello Gaara!" Naruto popped his head around the kitchen corner.

"How'd you cough cough know he was here?"

"I am a ninja remember. Come on into the kitchen you two, soups still warm." She dealt out two mugs to the half frozen Kages then went to the bottom of the stairs.

……….Like really cold down in Austin…

Upstairs, Taro had gotten into the empty tub and just sat there smiling, still wearing all of his clothes, "I obey the letter of the law, if not the spirit."

…But I bet it's been colder…

Hinata listened for a moment before, "LETS HEAR SOME WATER RUNNING!"

Followed by a loud, "NUTS!"

"When I or most likely your father come up there later you'd better be clean or still getting clean!" She yelled as she walked back into the kitchen. "Sorry about that. Naruto," she sat down next to him at the table, "Taro slept from 3:30 till 7 today."

"And?"

"He's not tired."

Naruto coughed again then froze, "Your kidding right?"

"Nope, So would you two mind staying up with him and/or tiring him out for a while. I'm sure two mighty kages could manage a 5 year old."

"And where will you be going?"

"To visit Sakura and Temari of course."

"Oh okay…I guess…as long as Gaara doesn't mind."

"Hmm?" Gaara having heard his named snapped back to attention.

"Say yes!" Naruto stated quickly.

"Yes to wha-"

"Okay! See you both later! There are cookies in the oven, take them out when the timer goes off, oh and help yourselves to some hot cocoa" Hinata kissed Naruto's head as he covered another cough, waved to Gaara and went to the door. Her small scream startled them and had both men standing beside her in a split second, inquiring as to what was wrong.

"The snowmen…" was all she said before shaking her head and quickly skirting through the snowman to the street. Naruto watched her go, chuckled, coughed then shook his head as he shut the front door. He turned to see Gaara fiddling with some sand.

"Where'd you cough cough get the-"

"Sand? Your son's shoes are amply supplied with it."

"Oh."

"Speaking of your son, shouldn't you go and check on him?" he motioned for the stairs.

"He'll be fine-"

"TSUNAMIIIIIIIII!" Naruto rushed quickly up the stairs, but not before a chuckling Gaara caught a

"-Or not."