Thanks for reading! I don't own Naruto! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every other Saturday!

—

When the twins were two months old, Sakura and Itachi hosted a party at their home to celebrate their childrens' birth.

Sakura's parents, Naruto, Hinata, Ino, Sai, Shikamaru, Temari…..the Uchiha house was filled with friends and family, all of whom came to meet little Itsuki and little Yuuto.

Sakura was very careful with her babies.

In the most polite way possible, the pinkette reminded all of her guests to wash their hands before they held the twins and everyone was kind enough to comply.

Itachi's and Sakura's friends congratulated them and admired the twins, but Sakura's parents stayed more in the background, smiling silently.

Over the past few weeks, Sakura's mother and father had been coming by almost every day to help, so they were already quite close to their grandsons.

Naruto, Hinata, and most of the other couples already had children of their own, so they were well aware of what to say and what to do.

But Sasuke….

Sasuke had never even held a baby before.

When the evening grew late, the party was still going, but Sasuke excused himself and went to sit on Sakura's and Itachi's porch for a minute, listening to the chirping of the night crickets.

A moment later, Sasuke sensed that someone was standing behind him.

"You haven't officially met them, brother." A voice calmly observed.

Sasuke turned his head and blinked while Itachi gently sat down beside of him, clutching Itsuki and Yuuto in his arms while they slept.

Sasuke looked a little uncomfortable, glancing at the babies as he replied, "They're…...very nice, Itachi. I'm sure mom and dad would be proud."

Itachi looked at his brother scrupulously. "Are you angry?"

"No." Sasuke replied honestly.

"Are you jealous?" Itachi asked very matter-of-factly.

"I thought I would be….." Sasuke said slowly, taking a good look at the twins. "But I'm glad that they're your sons and not mine. I don't think I want the responsibility…..at least, not now."

"Why have you come tonight?" Itachi asked.

Itachi wasn't trying to come across as rude or pushy, he just wanted to talk to Sasuke.

Anyone but Sasuke would have thought the opposite, though, that was the proof of the silent bond between the Uchiha brothers.

"Because I wanted to…..be here for you, I guess." Sasuke shrugged. "And to get a look at my nephews."

Itachi moved suddenly and Sasuke's eyes widened as Itachi slipped Itsuki and Yuuto into Sasuke's arms.

"Itachi! No! What are you doing?! I don't know how to do this!" Sasuke hissed, awkwardly fumbling around with the babies, trying not to drop them or wake them up.

"Careful…...just relax, keep still." Itachi instructed, steadying Sasuke by placing his hands on his brother's arms.

Sasuke still looked terrified, but with Itachi's help, he managed to cradle Itsuki and Yuuto securely.

Itachi watched while Sasuke blinked down at the twins in wonder.

"Make me a promise, brother." Itachi commanded.

"What kind of promise?" Sasuke asked, looking up at Itachi.

"If anything happens to me, look after them, Sasuke. Look after my sons and look after Sakura. They are our family now." Itachi said solemnly.

Sasuke started to shake his head. "Itachi, I —-"

"-Take care of our clan, Sasuke." Itachi interrupted, speaking firmly.

Sasuke grit his teeth together for a moment.

Sasuke and Itachi stared at each other until eventually Sasuke nodded and spoke very seriously, "—-Alright, I'll look after our clan, brother. You have my word."

As Sasuke spoke, Itsuki woke a little and yawned cutely, pursing his tiny lips together as he settled down to go back to sleep.

Itachi smiled proudly but Sasuke blinked.

Sasuke thought that his nephews were very small, almost too small to exist.

Had he been that small?

Had Itachi been that little?

Maybe, but….

These were going to be the new heirs to the Uchiha line?

Surely they weren't always going to be this…..fragile?

—-

An hour later, Sakura put the twins to bed while Itachi bid the party guests goodnight, thanking everyone for coming.

Itachi stood at the doorway, waving to everyone while they left.

Pride swelled in Itachi's heart and he couldn't help but wonder…..

Was this how his father felt?

Would his father be proud if he could see him now?

Maybe….

Itachi hoped so.

A cry from the back of the house startled Itachi out of his thoughts and he closed the door once the guests were out of sight.

Once the door was closed, Itachi turned and hurried to the nursery.

Yuuto was sleeping peacefully in his crib, but Sakura was rocking Itsuki gently in her arms when Itachi walked in.

"Is he alright?" Itachi asked, very seriously, looking at Sakura and Itsuki.

"He's fine." Sakura smiled.

Itsuki whimpered but Sakura clutched him closer to comfort him.

Itsuki squished his little face against his mother's breast and closed his eyes.

Once tiny Itsuki was sleeping again, Itachi walked over and gently stroked his son's smushed, chubby cheek.

With her free hand, Sakura held a finger to her lips, signaling Itachi to be quiet and very cautiously, she laid Itsuki down in his crib.

Sakura and Itachi watched the boys sleep for a minute before they silently snuck out of the nursery and walked to their own bedroom.

"I think it was a good evening." Sakura said to Itachi while they both undressed.

"The boys did well." Itachi nodded, walking with Sakura to the shower.

Itachi was right.

The twins had been very sweet and patient.

No matter how many times they were handed off to someone new, neither Itsuki or Yuuto cried or fussed.

Itachi gave Sakura credit for that, the boys must have inherited her sweet personality.

Meanwhile, Sakura thought her sons had probably been fortunate enough to get her husband's patience.

Itachi turned on the water and as he and Sakura showered, he said quietly, "It still doesn't feel real sometimes."

Sakura laughed. "No, sometimes it doesn't, but I'm glad that it is."

Itachi purred and helped Sakura wash her back, massaging her skin with his gentle hands before they rinsed off and stepped out, drying themselves off with two bath towels.

Before Sakura could protest, Itachi gathered her into his arms and walked to bed with her, laying her down gently and tucking her in before he crawled in beside of her.

Itachi laid on his back and lifted one of his arms, stretching it across a pillow.

Sakura moved to cuddle up on his chest and Itachi took his arm down, pulling her close to him as he kissed her forehead and whispered into the dark, "I love you, Sakura."

Sakura closed her eyes and smiled, placing her hand on her husband's chest as she sighed happily, "I love you too, Itachi."

Sakura was exhausted from the evening and she fell asleep quickly, but Itachi remained awake, staring up at the ceiling.

Mindful not to wake her, Itachi grasped Sakura's delicate hand that rested on his chest and gave it a firm but gentle squeeze.

It didn't matter what it seemed like.

This was real.

Itachi was married, Itachi was a father, Itachi was the new man of the Uchiha house.

The clan would continue.

And it was up to Itachi to lead….