A/N: The song used for this chapter is probably my favorite song right now. Considering I like high-energy music that gets me pumped, that's really saying something. But it's serene and calm and I like it. I actually came across the song after watching a beautiful tribute to Obito Uchiha on YouTube. Quite the coincidence.

Anyone wanting to watch that tribute can find it here- watch?v=raKr8epowaU

Anyone catch this week's episode? Tobi reveal! Handled much better in the anime than in the manga. I remember absolutely hating Obito being Tobi back then, now it doesn't bother me so much. As for Obito's new voice- it fits and makes sense but I can't get used to it just yet. Needless to say, the Obito in this story wasn't written with that voice in mind so I'm going to overlook it and keep him with his epic deep voice in Scarred.

Anyway, Christmas chapter- as promised.

Enjoy! :)


There is a house built out of stone,

Wooden floors, walls and window sills,

Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust.

This is a place where I don't feel alone.

This is a place where I feel at home.

- That Home/To Build A Home by The Cinematic Orchestra


I Feel At Home

Naruto wanted to skip Christmas.

It wasn't so much the day- one day was easy to get through- it was the whole build-up and all the excitement surrounding it. People made it such a big deal that there was a whole lot of pressure to enjoy the season to the fullest. It was expected for you to like and look forward to Christmas. And if you didn't then people looked at you like you were a freak or just labelled you a typical grouch.

So what if Naruto didn't like Christmas?

He didn't exactly have much reason to.

Listening to the other sales agents go on about all their wonderful plans with their family and reflect back on those old childhood memories didn't really put him in the best of moods. And when they tried to include him in the conversation, all he could do was force a smile on his face and lie. Imitate them. Make up some 'precious moments' that never happened with a mother and father he never had.

The thing is he didn't hate Christmas. He loved the idea of it. He loved the message and the traditions and everything that went with it. But he never got the chance to experience it. His Christmas consisted of sleeping in and spending the rest of the day watching crappy Christmas movies. He wasn't the kind to get so bitter and jealous of others but who could really blame him?

By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, Naruto was sick to death of the holiday. At least before he worked for Uchiha Enterprises it had been easier to ignore it. For the first time, he actually found himself looking forward to the end of the day when he could finally go home. He'd find himself glancing at his watch every five minutes, groaning whenever he found that hardly any time had passed at all.

"Someone's eager to get outta here." Aoba, not-so-helpfully, observed with a 'knowing' smile. His headset was dangling in his hand, not in use at all. It was Christmas Eve and the sales agents were too busy helping themselves to the snack table Zetsu had set up and chatting amongst themselves. Why Uchiha Enterprises bothered opening on Christmas Eve was a mystery- no one was doing any work!

Still, at least they didn't go overboard. There were no real decorations littering the place and, unlike at Halloween, there was no party to organize. When he asked Zetsu how come, Naruto got told that Christmas was a time to spend with family, not work colleagues. Wasn't that a slap round the face?

Kagami was doing his usual thing, of course, going round and asking everyone about their plans and what gifts they'd bought their family and stuff. Naruto had only really bought two people presents. Obito's gift of the mug and the photograph had gone down a hell of a lot better than he expected- that had been worth enduring the season. He'd also gone ahead and bought Zetsu his favorite take-out and drink as a thank you- just 'cause he felt like he should after all the assistant had done.

But, of course, Naruto couldn't come out and admit all of that to everyone. He had to lie. And he'd never really been good at lying before. He didn't like doing it and he wasn't any good at it either.

"Well, the Uchiha family always throw a little get-together in the evening over at Fugaku's place." Kagami announced to the crowd in Naruto's sector. "So I'll be there tonight. But, as for Christmas, it'll just be me, my parents and my brother. We like to keep it small and simple. Not the presents though- it's like a competition in our house. I tell ya, I'm glad I got my bonus when I did otherwise I wouldn't have any money left!"

Everyone laughed a little at that.

"I'll actually be dressing up as Santa to surprise my cousins tonight." Aoba began his own little story, smiling fondly. "I do it every year. Fat suits aren't the most comfortable things in the world but it's totally worth seeing their little faces light up. Tomorrow's gonna be hectic though. My entire family all get together on Christmas. It's exhausting as hell but, hey, it's part of the holiday." He shrugged, taking a bite of a mince pie as everyone looked round to see who would speak up next.

"Well, my old man gets the keyboard out every Christmas Eve to have a sing-song." Tenten admitted, filling the silence quickly. "He has gotta be the worst singer in the whole world but what can I say? It's tradition. Christmas just isn't Christmas without that god-awful sound scratching at our ears."

Naruto was ready to slam his face on his desk.

Did they really have to stand so close to his cubicle while they all spouted their wonderful Christmas memories and traditions and plans and shit? He was happy for them- he really was- but that didn't mean he wanted to listen to it. He wanted to go home. He wanted to be left alone.

He wanted to be like them.

"What about you Naruto?" Kagami called, causing everyone to glance his way curiously. Naruto had yet to really join in with any of the conversation and people must have started to get suspicious. He almost- almost- told them the truth. But he couldn't. He wouldn't be able to stand the looks they'd give him or the awkward silence it would cause. So, as he buried down his sudden hatred for Kagami Uchiha, he let out a sigh, sat up and remembered what Obito had taught him when he was struggling with a client:

'It doesn't matter what you say, your confidence is what will make people believe you.'

"It's pretty quiet at Christmas for us." He began steadily, pleased with how calm he managed to keep his voice. "We throw a little party on Christmas Eve for friends of the family and stuff before calling it an early night." So far so good. It would help if they'd stop staring at him though. "We open our gifts in the morning and my mom spends the rest of the day in the kitchen. My dad always tries to give her a hand but he isn't really much help at all."

They all let out soft laughs and murmurs of agreement at that and Naruto felt a solemn smile slide onto his face. He wasn't making it up on the spot- he wasn't that good at improvisation. This was his fantasy. His dream. He'd been imagining it ever since he was a kid, so much so that if he closed his eyes he could actually smell the dinner cooking and hear his 'mom' yelling at his 'dad' for being a nuisance. It would be so funny and oh-so perfect.

"So my dad and I try to occupy ourselves by playing Christmassy games and checking out our new stuff and laying the table together and all that." Naruto let out a little snort of a laugh, biting back the tears that threatened to betray him. "We have a competition to see who can finish the table the quickest. I always win but I have a feeling he lets me."

He was thankful for their laughter the second time around. It hid the little broken intake of breath that would have made it too obvious that he was close to sobbing. He wanted to stop. He wanted to make up some excuse and leave. But he couldn't tear his mind away now. All he could think about was the Christmas he had longed for over so many years. He wanted it so badly. He wanted it more than anything.

"My mom brings out all the food and we stuff our faces like there's no tomorrow- which is dumb 'cause there's always enough food left over to last us a week. Then we snuggle up together on the couch under a blanket and we all watch 'A Christmas Carol' together." Naruto smiled sadly again. He always did watch that movie on Christmas Day but, in reality, he was always alone. "We make jokes about how terrible the movie is but we still can't bring ourselves not to watch it, ya know?"

People muttered their agreement with fond smiles.

Naruto was glad that his dream was so touching to them.

"We usually fall asleep right there, even though it leaves us aching the next day. And then we can't wait to do it all again next year." He finished. He managed to finish it all without letting a single tear escape. It didn't feel like much of an accomplishment though.

"That's so cute, Naruto." Tenten cooed, nudging him teasingly. "I thought everything would be loud and chaotic in the Uzumaki household but that all sounds perfect."

"No wonder you can't wait to get home, huh?" Aoba added, grinning away obliviously.

"Well, you've got me feeling a little jealous here." Kagami admitted, all for the sake of earning a few more laughs. After spending so much time with Obito, Naruto was beginning to pick out all the tactics Kagami used to appear relatable and win their favors. But he didn't care much. Not this time.

"You think that's good? Listen to what we do at Christmas!" Another sales agent spoke up, effectively pulling the focus and attention away from Naruto. It was a relief when people stopped looking at him and it gave him the chance to slip away and rush to the bathroom.

Once he was safely locked away from view, Naruto didn't care that he wasn't a child anymore and that he should be over it.

He let himself cry.

Because, in the end, that was his real Christmas tradition.


6 PM took far too long to roll around.

When it finally came and everyone was allowed to head off on time, Naruto was just as eager to leave as the others- though it was for far different reasons. His shitty apartment was looking pretty inviting right about then. At least there were no annoying co-workers bragging about their wonderful families.

So, Naruto forced a happy smile on his face for just a few more minutes during the journey down to the ground floor. Only when he left the building at last did he let out the breath he'd been holding for most of the day. He was exhausted- on a day when he'd done far less work than usual.

It was snowing at the very least.

Naruto liked the snow.

It was beautiful.

Comforting.

"You okay, blondie?"

'Shit.'

"Hey, Tay." He offered half-heartedly, ignoring the sceptical look she shot him. "You off home?"

"Yup, gotta get an early night to make the most of tomorrow." She sighed, running her fingers through her hair to rid it of the snowflakes. Naruto got the impression that Tayuya wasn't as fond of the snow as he was. She was quick to pull her jacket tighter around her with a scowl.

"Big plans, huh?"

"I guess." She shrugged. "I always get together with Sakon, Jirobo and Kidomaru on Christmas for most of the day; will head up to my folks later on to check in on them. We don't really do the family Christmas crap."

"That makes you the only one." Naruto muttered under his breath. Something about Tayuya's presence made him feel fine with just letting it all out. Maybe because she was the kind to cut the crap and that rubbed off on the people around her.

"They been driving you nuts too?" Tayuya scoffed. "Same here. Bastards haven't shut up. They don't seem to realize that we don't all have the perfect little families they do. I only visit my folks on Christmas 'cause it feels wrong not to."

"Yeah." The blonde sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets as he watched the snow fall. Tayuya had parents so she didn't understand completely but she understood a whole lot more than everyone else did. He felt a little thankful for her if he was honest.

"Fancy joining me tomorrow?" She offered suddenly, clapping him on the shoulder. "I can introduce you to the gang. They're annoying as fuck but not bad guys. We can gang up on them."

Naruto smiled a little, looking over at her to express his appreciation. It was nice.

But he didn't fancy spending Christmas with a group of people he didn't know, or being left halfway through the day when they went to visit their parents. That would only make things worse.

"No thanks, Tay." He eventually said softly. "You go have fun with them; I've got my own thing to do."

"Suit yourself." Tayuya shrugged, glancing up at the clouds looming over them. She shuddered. "I'm gonna head off. Take care, blondie."

"Merry Christmas." He offered glumly.

"Back at ya." And, with that, she rushed off down the street to get a cab- pulling the collar of her jacket up around her neck in an attempt to warm herself. Naruto's little smile stayed as he watched her go, thinking back to how they'd met and all the trouble she'd caused. Tayuya wasn't actually all that bad. Boisterous, a little aggressive and always looking out for her own interests but not completely bad.

Naruto sighed again, watching it pass his lips into the cold air, as he shook the snow out of his hair and off his shoulders.

He missed Obito.

He hadn't seen him all day. Zetsu had said he'd been off doing something important but he never really specified. Naruto was pretty pissed off about it. He wanted to, at the very least, wish the Uchiha a Happy Christmas before heading home for the holiday. He just wanted to see Obito before Christmas, ask him what he was doing and give him all the best wishes he had in him.

It didn't work out like that.

Still, Obito had gotten his gifts and he (not-so-secretly)appreciated them so that could be enough if it had to be.

Time to get Christmas over with.


Christmas Day


Obito groaned, burying his face deeper into his pillow in a way that he'd usually roll his eyes at. He was an early-riser. Had no trouble getting up in the morning. But Christmas was another matter. His alarm, which wasn't even turned off for the weekends, was silenced. The plan was to sleep for as long as his body would let him, attempt to cook some kind of meal despite his lack of culinary skills and catch up with any work he had lying around.

Unfortunately, Itachi had dragged him to the Uchiha Christmas Eve party the night before. It was logical. Soon enough the Senior Managers would be voting so avoiding them was a stupid idea. He'd gone, put on the closest thing he could to a smile, and involved himself.

It hadn't gone well.

And he didn't fancy facing the world again just yet.

But the crash from another room crushed any hope of sleeping in that he'd had.

"This has gotta be the most unorganized kitchen in the world!" Someone yelped as another crash echoed throughout the apartment.

Obito growled into his pillow- a mixture of aggravation and disbelief- as he sunk further into the sheets. He was praying, begging, that he was just imagining it all. It couldn't be true. He'd given Zetsu permission to head down to Amegakure to spend Christmas with his family, like he did every single year.

So why the hell could he hear his assistant clambering around in his kitchen?

It had to be some awful dream.

"You have no food." And, just like that, the voice was in the same room as him. "Do you just survive on overpriced takeout and expensive restaurant food?"

"What are you doing in my apartment?" Obito muttered, voice muffled by the pillow as he hid his face in it, desperately hoping Zetsu would just disappear completely.

"Trying to cook." Zetsu replied, like it was the dumbest question he had ever heard in his life. "But it looks like I'm gonna have to head back to my place to get the food."

Obito wasn't really listening, too busy wallowing in pure denial and self-pity.

To his utter displeasure, Zetsu didn't disappear. Instead, he walked over and plopped down on the edge of the bed, jabbing a finger into Obito's bare shoulder several times. "I need you to get up."

"Leave." He groaned in answer, wishing for the first time that his assistant responded to him like all his other employees did. Why did he ever think giving Zetsu so much rope was a good thing? It was too late to reel him back in now.

"Not happening." Zetsu cooed, poking his ribs next. "I decided not to go to Ame after all. All of my 'family' are just distant cousins and random people. I don't know any of them. They all look the same and getting drunk is the only way I can ever get through it. Therefore," he poked the small of the Uchiha's back, a little harder than necessary, "we're spending Christmas together."

"If your finger goes any lower, I'll break it off." Obito warned grouchily as he felt the covers pulled off him. He still hadn't looked up from the pillow. And he had no intention to either. "How'd you even get in here anyway?"

"I've had a key for years."

"I changed the locks a few months ago." Obito retorted, tilting his head slightly to risk a glance Zetsu's way. That damn goofy grin gave him such a headache. It was true though. Kakashi and a few other friends had keys to his place so he'd changed the locks after Rin's death for security reasons.

"I helped myself to your spare." Zetsu shrugged and Obito knew he really shouldn't be surprised. "But that's besides the point. You need to get your lazy ass out of bed."

"No." The scarred man hissed back defiantly, not caring how childish he sounded.

"Oh, grow up." His assistant rolled his eyes, ignoring his previous threat and poking his butt cheek just to see that hateful look. "If I've gotta rush back to mine to pick up our feast, run it back here and cook it so it's ready by a reasonable time then you can go ahead and do the other thing on the list."

"It's your damn list. You do it." Obito sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable. Zetsu wasn't leaving and, whether he liked it or not, this was happening. So he dragged himself up into a sitting position, turning to scowl at his assistant with all the anger he had the energy to muster.

Zetsu burst into laughter, pointing at his head in glee.

Damn bed hair.

"No can do." Zetsu sang. "Besides, I'm sure he'd like it better if you showed up."

"What do you mean 'he'?" Obito asked hesitantly, now fully awake. Zetsu showing up in his apartment was one thing- and not entirely unheard of- but inviting other people was taking it way too far. But all he got was a look- like he'd said something stupid.

"A bit slow today, huh?" Zetsu frowned. "I need you to go pick up Naruto."

"Hm?"

Naruto?

"You two are the most useless people I have ever met in my life- and please bear in mind that I know Tenten."

"Who?"

"Exactly!" Zetsu grinned. "I wasn't about to let you and Naruto spend Christmas alone when you could be spending it together. It's not the most difficult thing to wrap your head around."

"Alone…?" Obito's brow furrowed in confusion.

He'd been so busy the last week that he hadn't really considered for one moment what Naruto had planned and the kid hadn't mentioned anything either. But, come to think of it, he didn't have any family and not much in the friend department either. So the conclusion that Naruto was alone was a reasonable one to reach.

Something close to guilt stabbed him in the chest.

Then again, Obito had been more than happy to spend his Christmas alone. He didn't appreciate Zetsu crashing his plans. Who's to say that Naruto wasn't the same? Maybe Naruto wanted to be alone for the holiday too. Maybe he'd be just as annoyed to have his Christmas interrupted.

Who was he kidding?

Naruto wasn't like him and it should have been obvious.

But he hadn't given it a second thought.

"So, time to get ready." Zetsu decided, probably seeing the realization sink onto his boss's face. Still, the words didn't resolve anything.

"Do I have to?" Obito groaned, glancing at his inviting pillow once again.

All he wanted was a day to lie in bed and do absolutely nothing but pretend the world outside didn't exist. No gym, no work and no headaches to get on his nerves. He should have known that would be too much to ask. What was so wrong with spending Christmas alone?

"Well, unless you're gonna turn up on Naruto's doorstep in your underwear." Zetsu countered, looking his boss up and down briefly. "Though he'd probably like that, huh?" And there was the wink.

"You're the worst assistant ever." Obito muttered. "I'm sick of you making me do things I don't want to."

"I never make you do things you don't want to." Zetsu flicked his nose teasingly. At work, not even he could get away with this kind of behavior. But behind closed doors, in the safety of Obito's apartment, with the man too tired and grouchy to do anything about it, Zetsu was free to wreak havoc. "I simply make you do things that you do want to but are too stubborn to admit."

"Just like a manipulative creep?"

"More like some kind of omnipotent deity, guiding people along the paths that are best for them."

"Fine," Obito sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair, "I'll shower, you go and make me a coffee."

"You don't drink caffeine."

"This is what you drive me to." He snapped accusingly.

So much for a quiet, lonely Christmas.


When Naruto heard someone knocking on his door, he didn't bother even opening his eyes. He was snuggled up in bed and more than comfortable where he was, curled up in a ball under the covers where the bitter cold couldn't reach him. He wouldn't put it past his landlord to show up on Christmas but that didn't mean he had to answer the door. It being Christmas Day was a pretty good excuse as far as he was concerned. He'd get the asshole his money some other day. Now that he actually had the money.

When the knocking stopped, Naruto sighed in contentment, nuzzling into his pillow happily as he prepared to drift back into sleep. He had a whole lot of hours before 'A Christmas Carol' was on and nothing else to wake up for. Sleep was looking pretty good.

When there was a bang and a crash somewhere near the front door, Naruto wasn't too interested. He was halfway into a nice dream about a giant nine-tailed fox strolling around Konoha. He wasn't fussed about anything that was going on outside of his dream ad that was that.

Unfortunately, he never did get to find out what the fox was doing or why it had nine tails, before something hit him right on the head and snapped him out of it. If his landlord had kicked the door down, why couldn't he just go and help himself to the money? If people were robbing him why couldn't they just get on with it? Why did he have to suffer the pain of wakefulness?

"Get up."

'I know that voice.' Naruto thought to himself as his eyes wearily blinked open, struggling to adjust to the cursed light of the morning. But he was able to recognize the looming figure by his bed long before the blurriness had faded from his vision.

"Whatyoudoinghere?" He mumbled clumsily, words tripping over each other as he craned his neck to see the man clearly. It was a big possibility that he was still dreaming but the slight ache in his head from where he'd been hit by something was pretty unusual for just a dream.

"Morning to you too." Obito retorted, cocking an eyebrow down at him mockingly. "This any way to welcome your boss into your home?"

"Don't remember letting you in." Naruto hissed moodily, burying his face in the pillow in hopes that Obito would go away. The Uchiha couldn't help but roll his eyes, conveniently ignoring the fact that he'd acted the exact same way not much earlier.

"Zetsu got me a key. Don't even bother asking, by the way. I don't know how he does it either."

"He'd make a good criminal." The blonde mused into his pillow. "Or maybe a spy. Or a criminal-spy."

"Thanks for the genius insight." Obito sighed in that long-suffering way of his. "Now get up and get dressed."

"No." Naruto huffed. "M'sleeping."

"Not anymore you're not. You're coming with me."

"No I'm not."

"I'm telling you that you are."

"It's my day off, you can't boss me around."

"I'm not kidding. Up."

"Leave me alone!" Naruto whined childishly, pulling the covers over his head in a futile attempt to hide. Any other day and he would have been happy to see Obito- overjoyed at a stretch- but he wasn't interested in work or some problem that had come up with a client or a hurdle they'd reached in the court case. Those were the only reasons Obito ever showed up at his place, never to just spend time with him, so he couldn't bring himself to be enthusiastic.

Especially not when he'd been so rudely awakened.

"Stop being such a stubborn brat and get out before I drag you out." Obito muttered darkly.

"Why should I?" Was the brattish reply.

"Because Zetsu's cooking our dinner and I don't trust him alone in my kitchen for long."

That comment made Naruto peek out from beneath the covers, peering up curiously with a slightly unsure gleam in his eyes. Maybe he'd misjudged Obito after all.

"Our dinner?"

"Turkey, potatoes, carrots, sprouts- all that garbage." The Uchiha explained, shrugging indifferently. "Some kind of 'Christmas tradition'."

"Christmas…?" Naruto asked, pulling the covers off his head as he shuffled to sit up a little. If he didn't know any better, it almost sounded like Obito was…

"Mm-hm. 'Why, it's Christmas Day.'" Obito quoted stone-faced, causing Naruto to smile a little. After just over twenty years of watching the movie every single year, he knew 'A Christmas Carol' off by heart by now- so he recognized it instantly. Still, the thought that Obito was quoting the small boy, in spite of his deep voice was pretty funny. Worth waking up for at least.

"So, hold on a sec," Naruto said, a smile spreading on his face, "you actually want me to spend Christmas with you?"

"No, I just have a habit of letting myself into people's apartments on major holidays for the sake of it." Obito retorted sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Pervert." The kid sniped back, sitting up in the bed.

Obito just stared at him.

Naruto Uzumaki- shimmering blue eyes still adjusting to the light, a dopey grin on his face and his hair ridiculously mussed up, even worse than Obito's had been earlier that morning. It still baffled the Uchiha how a person could seem so innocent, oblivious and pure. The kid had been about to endure Christmas alone, no family to speak of, and yet he still had that look.

"You coming or not?" Obito offered, holding out a hand.

Naruto took it without any hesitation.

Of course, Obito just couldn't help but let his eyes roam the half-clothed body and Naruto couldn't help but blush but they didn't say anything about it. This moment wasn't about 'getting down and dirty' as the idiot insisted on phrasing it. Besides, he didn't want to imagine what Zetsu would come out with if they turned up late. It simply wasn't worth the risk.

"Hold up," Naruto huffed, pouting slightly as he glanced at the door, "is that what the noise was? Did you put a hole through my wall?"

"…" Obito glanced at it. Getting into the apartment hadn't been easy- it was a mess- and he'd tripped over some poorly placed shoes upon entry. It had gone downhill from there. "I don't think it's relevant right now."

"Seriously, man, you better pay for that!"

"Call me 'man' like that again and you're fired." The Uchiha scowled. "And just use the bonus I gave you- it's technically my money."

"That doesn't count!"

"I'm leaving without you."

"Hey, no fair!"


"You've gotta let me do something, Zetsu!" Naruto protested, sick of being sent away to sit on the couch alone while Obito and his assistant got on with the cooking in the kitchen. He was over the moon to be spending Christmas with them- happier than he could ever remember being- but watching TV alone wasn't what he had in mind.

"Don't even think about it." Zetsu hissed, glaring at him. "It's bad enough that Tobi here is completely useless at anything food-related! I don't need you in the way too!"

"You asked me to peel the potatoes." Obito countered.

"Yeah, peel, not butcher!"

"Sorry if I can't read your mind and do things exactly in your obsessive way."

"Expecting the potatoes to be kept in one piece isn't obsessive. Just get out."

"What?"

"You and Naruto go set the table or something." Zetsu sighed, waving him off casually. "Leave me be to prepare this dinner in peace or it'll never get done at all. I don't know about you, but I'd actually like to eat before Christmas ends."

"Fine." Obito huffed, slamming the potato peeler down and storming over to the door before another argument could flare. Astonishingly, in that one moment, Naruto saw an almost child-like side of his boss he never imagined possible.

He'd seen many sides of him, but not that one. It brought a smile to his face. "Come on, Naruto." Obito ordered, grasping his shoulder to guide him out of the kitchen. "Leave Zetsu to stew here while we go get comfortable."

"Set the table!" Zetsu shouted after him impatiently.

Naruto felt warm.

More than warm.

He felt…at home…

He remembered the previous day, when he'd told his fellow sales agents about his dream Christmas, the way his mom and dad would argue over the dinner because his dad was just so useless at helping, the way his mom would make him leave the kitchen to lay the table so she could get on with it.

Zetsu wasn't his mom and Obito wasn't his dad. But the feeling that came from watching their exchange was almost like a little part of his childhood dream had finally come true. The whole thing didn't seem real- like he was still back in his shitty apartment, sleeping soundly while imagining it all.

But Obito's hand on his shoulder reassured him. And the smell of the food. And Zetsu's little hum as he got on with the cooking. It was real and nothing could take that away. Naruto wasn't alone.

"Some Christmas, huh?" Obito muttered sarcastically.

There weren't any decorations around the apartment. Obito lived alone and, from what Naruto had figured out, had been planning to spend Christmas by himself, so it made sense. Naruto hadn't decorated his apartment either. There weren't any gifts to speak of either. And yet, it still felt right. There was snow out the window, covering the balcony completely, and the cold air was being fought off by the heaters.

Best of all, the photograph of Naruto and Obito was still on the mantelpiece.

"Bet you I can lay the table faster than you." Naruto challenged slyly, earning a cocked eyebrow.

"You are such a child."

"Go!"

And, even though Obito claimed to find the whole thing ridiculous and immature, he was still putting down plates and flicking out cutlery faster than could be considered normal and he still glanced over at the kid's progress every now and then as he moved.

Naruto noticed and was smiling again.

His smile only grew when he won.

"Only you would be proud of winning a game no one else was playing." Obito rolled his eyes as the blonde did his little victory dance, realizing that his remark was falling upon deaf ears. Naruto hadn't stopped smiling since they'd left his apartment and it didn't look like he was going to stop any time soon either.

It was stupid.

But heart-warming.

When they sat down for dinner, Obito and Zetsu still hadn't settled their differences over their varying culinary skills or put the argument to rest. Naruto was blissfully grinning away as he stared at the food longingly- it looked so fucking delicious- but the two men across from him caught his eye.

"I'm merely pointing out that it's my goddamn kitchen."

"If I buy a gun, it doesn't mean I know how to use it." Zetsu retorted, serving up the food with a cocky smirk on his face. He'd done well with the food and he knew it too.

"Like you don't know how to use a gun."

"Besides the point." Zetsu winked, handing the Uchiha his plate full of food. "You haven't cooked anything edible in your life and you know it."

"I made you a cake for your birthday that one time."

"Rin did all the work so don't even attempt to bring that up." He poked his tongue out, passing Naruto his plate next. "I remember that time you almost destroyed Rin's kitchen whilst trying to make a pizza." Zetsu giggled, plopping down in his chair.

"I've had a lot of experience with cooking…" Obito murmured darkly, "…growing up with no parents."

Everyone stopped.

Until Zetsu burst out into laughter.

"Did you seriously just try to use your status as an orphan for sympathy?" The assistant sneered, screwing his nose up at the thought. Obito only managed to keep up the façade for a few more seconds before a smile crept across his lips and he shook his head at his own failure.

Naruto was mesmerized.

Obito was a terrible cook. He was childishly defensive despite knowing how bad he was. He made jokes in such a relaxed way and made light of the fact he had no parents. This was the same man going to court for blackmailing people. This was the same man who had once looked Naruto in the eye and told him he would never care about him. The same man who had been scarred in more ways than one over the death of the woman he loved.

Naruto realized that he was seeing the Obito Uchiha that no one else (other than Zetsu of course) could ever hope to see. He felt humbled and happy and…home…

A carefree laugh burst through his lips before he could give it a single thought and the other two men both looked over at him questioningly.

"What?" Obito asked.

"It's nothing, I just…" Naruto shook his head. "I'm happy."

Obito surveyed him for a moment, studying him like he was something odd and outside of understanding. But, eventually, he nodded.

"Good."

And, with that, they dug into their food without another word, each one with a smile on his face.

Naruto didn't want the day to end. He didn't want to have to go back to his small apartment and lose the feeling he had in his chest. He didn't want to ever experience another day alone.

He never wanted to know what it was like not to have a family again.

Because, if he was honest, when he looked at Obito and Zetsu and the last minute Christmas they'd thrown together for him, he felt like he finally knew what family meant.

He couldn't assign them family positions no matter how hard he tried but it didn't matter. Obito himself had taught him that they didn't need labels. They were unique and individual in all aspects of their lives. They couldn't be categorized. And that was just fine. More than fine.

Because it meant having moments like this.

Pulling crackers over a Christmas dinner with your boss and his assistant. Laughing at the childish pout on your boss's face when he fails to obtain the bigger half every time. Competing to see who can clean up the mess the quickest. Complaining when everyone starts cheating in their race to the kitchen.

Family.

Home.


"A Christmas Carol is on." Naruto murmured to himself as he glanced over at the clock briefly. Obito shot him a quizzical look, eyes lingering.

They were sat on the couch watching TV together, too tired to keep up any form of conversation or activity but too wired to let the night end just yet. Zetsu had headed home not long before after getting a call that one of his 'cousins' was standing outside his place. Turns out you can try and hide from family but they won't make it easy.

So, Obito and Naruto were left, stomachs full and satisfied.

"You want to watch it?" The Uchiha asked softly.

"Well, I do every year but that's just 'cause I haven't got anything else to do. It's like a little tradition I have all by myself, sorta makes it a little easier to spend Christmas alone. But this year I'm not alone 'cause you were kind enough to invite me and I really appreciate it and I've had an awesome time so I don't really care. It was more of an observation if anything and you really don't have to-"

As Naruto ranted on nervously, Obito grabbed the remote and searched through the channels until he found it. Before the kid could get any further into his musings, the opening credits were on the screen and the familiar images were flashing across the dark living room.

"Rin loved this movie." The Uchiha muttered under his breath, staring at the screen thoughtfully. He rested the scarred side of his face in his palm and caressed the damaged nerves there as the children began singing their carols on TV. Naruto watched him, not sure what to say.

Obito had never spoken openly about Rin before.

He always shut down when she was brought up but he was being different all of a sudden. "She'd make me watch it with her every year. I hate this damn movie."

"So why did you watch it with her?" Naruto mumbled quietly.

"Because I loved her."

"So…w-why are you watching it with me?"

It was a dumb question.

And Naruto didn't really expect any answer other than the confused look that was shot his way.

"She had this silly little dream," Obito pressed on, dragging his eyes away from Naruto to stare at the screen again, "that when we had children, we'd all watch it together. I remember asking her 'what if the kids don't like the movie?' She insisted that she'd make them like it if she had to. It was quite threatening."

What was Naruto supposed to say to that?

It just reminded him how important Rin had been to Obito. And now she was gone. And Obito was stuck with him instead. If Obito had to choose to keep him or have Rin back, what would he do? Was Naruto just a replacement to fill the void for the time being? Or something more?

Naruto chewed his lip nervously, glancing over at his boss. One of the Uchiha's arms was thrown over the back of the couch, leaving him open. So, hesitant at first, Naruto shuffled across until he was pressed against Obito's body, slotting into the space by his side.

Obito didn't move away.

He adjusted himself, wrapping his arm around Naruto possessively as he kept his eyes on the screen.

"You'd make a good dad." The blonde murmured absentmindedly, resting his head on the older man's shoulder.

He meant it too.

There were many things Obito had done for him that you would expect from a father figure. Pushing him to succeed, having high expectations and expecting him to live up to them, setting him on the right path if he ever started to sway, getting him to stand on his own two feet, putting him right, giving him opportunities. They were all things Naruto had imagined his dad would do if he was alive.

So, if Obito had done all those things for him, it stood to reason that he could do them for a child if he had one. He'd slip up and make a few mistakes along the way, like everyone, but he would get it right in the end. People might not agree- what with the blackmail and court struggle- but Naruto didn't care. He knew Obito in a way they didn't.

"You actually think that?" Obito scoffed after a while, still focused on the TV.

"I do." Naruto said definitively. "I think you'd be awesome at it. Just like how you're an awesome boss…and a good friend…"

"I suppose." Obito let the conversation die, content with holding Naruto to his side for a while.

"I always thought Rin and I would start a family." He whispered out quite a while later, stunning a half-asleep Naruto. "We talked about it and I was looking forward to it."

Naruto frowned at that.

Obito wouldn't just make a good dad; he wanted to be a good dad.

He wanted a family.

"You can still have a family." The blonde said softly, watching as the first ghost confronted Scrooge in the cold night. "You can always find another nice woman and settle down and be a dad." It was a suggestion for Obito's sake but one which filled him with emptiness. He now felt like he had a family. And, more than anything, he'd like it if Obito could feel that way too.

Another silence fell upon them.

By the time Obito answered him, the second ghost had already made his entrance to haul Scrooge off to learn his lesson. Naruto could tell that his boss had been thinking the whole time rather than paying attention to the movie. Despite not being able to see his face from where he was resting on Obito's shoulder, there was a tension.

"Why would I?" Was the quietly murmured response.

"Huh?" Naruto lifted his head, staring at his boss in slight confusion and bewilderment. He didn't understand. "Why would you what?" Obito looked at him, brow furrowed and jaw tight.

"Why would I need another family when I already have this?"

And there it was- the warmth spreading throughout him again as Obito's message got through loud and clear. He felt the same way. When he thought of family, he saw Zetsu- in all his annoyingly mischievous glory- and Naruto.

That realization hit Naruto like a freight train.

And the day was complete.

He let himself grin, unashamed and unhesitant, under Obito's curious and unsure gaze. Leaning forward, he pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of the man's lips, smiling against his skin in all his happiness. Obito still looked uncertain and he stared for a moment, but he soon connected them again and licked his way into Naruto's mouth with a fierce possessiveness that he was no longer holding back.

In the background, Scrooge learned the true meaning of Christmas.

Meanwhile, Naruto learned to understand how to read Obito Uchiha's true feelings.

It was in the subtle touches and the meaning hiding between the lines.

It was in the way he let Naruto sleep on his chest as the ending credits rolled.

The way he ran his fingers absentmindedly through his hair.

The way he was still there in the morning.

The way he greeted Naruto with a pure smile and a soft kiss.

But, most of all, it was in the way he allowed himself to be happy again with Naruto around.

The way he felt at home.


Next Week-

"As Uchiha Enterprises' Senior Managers, the decision lies with you. Either Obito Uchiha will retain his position as Senior Manager of Floor 37 or his employment at Uchiha Enterprises will be terminated, effective immediately."

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ BELOW!


A/N: Christmas is a pretty cool time of year. However, for those who don't have a family, it can be a very cold reminder of what they're missing out on. Spending Christmas alone is an awful feeling. Listening to people talking about it is numbing. Trying to get as excited as everyone else is exhausting. Naruto, after so many years, finally got lucky enough to find 'family' in an unconventional way.

It doesn't always happen like that in the real world.

I want to wish all of you a very Happy Christmas and it's my hope that everyone enjoys it to the very fullest! A special shout-out to reader 'Kinkylittlewolf' whose birthday is on Christmas day itself. But, at the same time, I also want to ask that you remember that the simplest aspects of having a family are things that you are so lucky to have.

A lot of people, including children, will be spending Christmas alone- wishing they had someone to share it with. I don't want the thought to pester and gnaw at you; I'd just consider it a personal favor if everyone kept it in the back of their mind. Don't take anything for granted this Christmas.

Thank you all for reading and I hope this chapter promoted the Christmas spirit for you all.

I'll be back next week with another chapter.

Until then!

Merry Christmas! XD