He was so so so fucking late. He hadn't picked up any of the day care's calls, and he hadn't called them back either. It was already eight pm. He didn't mind paying for the extra services, but fuck if he didn't feel guilty for leaving his little girl there for so long.
Bolt would be pissed.
Not because he was also late picking him up, but he was sure Himawari was having a panic attack at the daycare, asking where he was. Dealing with her tear stricken face and his disapproving one (damn, how did he get such a mature six year old?) was not something he was ready for.
On the dashboard, his phone lit up with a call. He quickly pressed a button on his steering wheel to answer.
"You're late, Daddy," Bolt's voice was clear in a pout. Naruto once again thought he had the cutest children in the world, and that he was sorry.
"I know, honey, I'm sorry. I gotta go pick up Himawari and then I'll be right over to get you," Naruto said quickly.
"Uzumaki-san," Lee's bright, patient, loud voice took over the phone.
"Lee-sensei, I'm sooo sorry," Naruto said, ignoring the fact that Lee was still calling him politely.
"You are quite alright, Uzumaki-san. I know you have a big project on your hands. That is why I picked up Himawari-hime for you!"
Naruto swerved to a stop at a light he had barely been paying attention to, "You picked her up?"
"I am sorry if that goes beyond the boundary of our friendship! When the school called Flash-kun's phone, I assumed you were running late. I did not want you to face a penalty from the daycare, so I-..."
"You're amazing, Lee," Naruto huffed out a laugh, changing directions to head to the man's studio, "So amazing. You have no idea. I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Oh, it is no problem! Himawari-hime has already woken up from her nap and she is about ready for dinner. She will be happy about your arrival. See you soon!"
Naruto felt a relief overtake him as he parked his car outside of the building that housed Lee's studio. To say that he trusted Lee was more than an understatement. He was pretty sure that without Lee, his entire life would just be falling apart.
As Naruto was buzzed up, he thought about how Lee had changed his and his children's lives. Naruto was frantically trying to pull his affairs together even two years after his wife's death. Lee had probably done more for his children's development than he himself had, which should be sad. He was more than grateful.
He only wished he could show his gratitude in some other way than falling in love with the gentle giant.
"Daddy," two voices called at once, and then tried to tell him all about their days.
"Okay okay, one at a time," Naruto laughed, bending down to give each one a kiss. The little children looked at each other, silently communicating who would have the first talk. They had become very mature, probably due to Naruto's inability to take care of them on his own. He frowned thoughtfully.
"I learned how to play three chords today," Bolt boasted, puffing his chest up. Lee came up and ruffled his hair.
"He is very talented," Lee said, smiling at Naruto in a way that made him want to melt, "I am thinking of having a showcase for him in the fall. If Flash-kun can properly practice the song we chose by then."
"I will," Bolt said happily, staring up at Lee with admiring eyes. Naruto wondered if he had the same dopey look on his face.
"An' I made you a pik-chure, Daddy," Himawari says, running back to the table and picking up a thick piece of construction paper. She's still a child, but she's got an attention to detail for color that Naruto's not mad at. It's a picture of her, himself, Bolt, and... Lee. They're standing in what Naruto assumes is the garden of their old house, holding hands. On it, she has written very shakily, but spelled correctly, 'I love my family. 3'
Naruto could cry, "Oh, wow... I love it, Himawari-chan, thank you so much."
"I love you, Daddy," Himawari blinks her pretty eyes up at him.
"I love you too, baby girl," Naruto replied, kissing her forehead. He just held her still for a moment, and after some soft shuffling, Bolt joined them for a group hug. When Naruto was sure his tears would not fall, he glared up at Lee.
"You get in here, before we tackle you," he threatened. Lee laughed, his dimples somehow enhancing the sound. He knelt down and put his arms over them. After a long moment, he let everyone go.
"Alright, kids, we've bothered Lee-sensei enough. Pack up, get ready to go," Naruto commanded. His children moved to pack up their things. Naruto helped the music teacher clean up the miscellaneous mess of snacking and playing.
"Thank you, so, so much, Lee," Naruto turned to face him as the kids tried to argue about what would be going in who's backpack.
"It is really no problem," Lee said softly, "If you ever need help, I will do anything I can, Uzumaki-san."
"Ugh, you're just so," Naruto grabs Lee's face reflexively at the polite speech, intending to mush him like always does with Bolt, "... amazing."
His cheeks are softer and warmer than Naruto had imagined. Before he could stop and think about the consequences, he found his lips pressed to Lee's. It wasn't a hard one; his hands were still cupping Lee's cheeks gently. He wondered at what point he closed his eyes. He wondered why Lee wasn't stopping him.
He had forgotten that kissing made him feel weak and dizzy. It had felt like that when he first got together with Hinata, but had melted into something more comfortable after their marriage. This was all the desire and hope he'd held inside since falling. A soft sigh against his face jolted him, and he pulled back.
"Wow, um," he said, still cupping Lee's cheeks, "Wow, I did not mean for it to happen like this..."
"But you did mean for it to happen," Lee asked, his voice impossibly low and hopeful. Naruto shivers and licks his lips. There was a dark blush across Lee's cheeks that Naruto absolutely loved.
"Preferably after a date or two," Naruto admits. Lee's eyes went wide, then dipped low as they focused on Naruto's lips. His face was deep red. Naruto licked his lips again, reflexively. Just barely, Naruto could see those eyes dilate. Lee was probably going to say something, or kiss him again.
A loud, whinging cry startled them apart.
"Addy, no fair," Himawari cried, "I s'posed to marry Lee-shenshei! No fair!"
As she cried, Naruto noticed Bolt was pouting, also on the verge of tears.
"Hey, hey, don't cry! You don't want me to kiss Lee-sensei," Naruto panicked. Lee laughed and knelt down, "You can kiss me too, Himawari-hime. Right here."
He pointed to his cheek. Himawari scrambled over and left a kiss, wet with snot and tears, on his cheek. Lee ruffled her hair.
"Bolt, buddy? What's the matter," Naruto tried. Bolt burst into tears, and blubbered, "I wanted to marry Lee-sensei first! Himawari-baka stole my idea!"
"Hey, don't use that language with your sister," Naruto admonished. Bolt cried harder. Naruto swept him up into his arms and gave Lee an exasperated look. The look on his face as their eyes met stole all the breath out of Naruto's chest. Then it rattled his heart around and made him cough.
"How about this," Lee offered, "Do you like me, Flash-kun?"
"I love you lots," Bolt sputtered. Himawari parroted, "Me too, me too!"
Lee picked her up, "Okay then. And I think Daddy likes me lots too, right?"
Naruto blushed, tried to clear his throat, but his voice came out deep anyway, "Oh, yes, Daddy likes Lee-sensei very much."
Lee ducked his head, his ears aflame, "So how about we spend some more time together, and if we all like each other enough, we can make a family?"
Naruto had arrhythmia. That was the only explanation for the way his heart was trying it's best to get out of his chest.
"We can have a family wiz you and Daddy," Himawari asked, like she was asking Naruto if they were going to Disney World for real, or if he was just joking. Maybe Naruto was having a heart attack. Yeah, a heart attack sounded more accurate.
"If it's with you and Daddy, I guess that's okay," Bolt replied, but he wouldn't stop pouting, "But I'm gonna grow up and marry Lee-sensei first!"
Lee laughs, and it's so jovial that Naruto can feel the bubbles floating out of his throat to create his own chuckle, "You have a Youthful Spirit, Flash-kun! Keep up that Burning Passion through life!"
Himawari giggled, "You so we-uud."
"Why thank you very much, Hime-sama," Lee laughs, tickling her tummy and letting her back down. They race to get their belongings, and Lee takes Naruto's hand.
"I... I do like you very much, Uzumaki-san," Lee started. Naruto groaned.
"Please, my first name... Please," he repeated when Lee looked reluctant.
"Naruto...-san. I do like you, but if you want to pursue a ... a relationship with me, I can no longer be Flash-kun's teacher," Lee admits, "It is unethical and-"
"No, no, no! I mean, I totally get it, and I appreciate you being forward about it! I'll definitely find him a new teacher if I have to," Naruto replied, feeling relieved that this was the only obstacle, "Just... I know it's hard to date a man with kids, but if you could just spend some time with them every once and awhile... They love you so much-"
"So much, so much, so much," Himawari parrots, and Bolt joins her, jumping around the room.
"Such Energy," Lee laughs, "but it is very late and we do not want to disturb our neighbors. Shhh!"
"Shh," Bolt repeats, and Himawari follows.
"Come to dinner with us? It's the least I can do for you picking up Himawari and watching Bolt-..."
"Daddy!"
"Flash," Naruto rolled his eyes, "for the whole day. And then maybe we can make plans for a dinner date, just the two of us..?"
Lee smiled, his dimples caving a spot out in Naruto's heart.
"Okay."
"Yaay," Bolt screeched. Himawari giggled until she fell over, and Naruto stole another kiss.
Bolt likes to be called Flash after his late grandfather.
