Author Note: Hiii everyone!

I'm sorry for the bit of angst last chapter, but I think they needed it to strengthened their growing relationship. Is it a relationship after one date? :O

Hope you like this chapter and thank you Shira_Taka (on AO3) for the email name idea! ^_^

Hinata looked up from her laptop, recognizing the expensive cologne that she'd gotten used to in the past day and a half. Sasuke had been stopping by every 4 hours on the dot, asking if Naruto was back or if she'd heard from him. She would've been more annoyed if the man didn't look so clouded with worry.

She saw him open his mouth and beat him to the question, "No I don't know where he is."

He perked up, the first time she'd seen a hint of light in his dark eyes, "But you've heard from him?"

Hinata floundered and fought back her stutter, "Y – Yes I have."

"Is he okay?" He leaned forward, wringing his wrists.

"He's… safe." She knew he wasn't okay, and she didn't want to lie about it. "Taking time away."

Sasuke flinched, "But he's not answering my calls."

"He's not answering anyone's." She tapped her phone with a manicured finger, "He left his phone here."

"Why?"

She pursed her glossy lips and gave him a look, "Why do you think?"

Sasuke ran his hand through his hair, "Fucking Sakura ruins my life even when we're not together." He tried to hold back his fidgeting but he was filled with nerves and dread.

Hinata's interest grew, and she raised an eyebrow, "So you're not together?"

"No. Hell fucking no. She just doesn't want to accept it."

Hinata sighed, realizing that these two idiots just needed to communicate better. Naruto obviously had some emotional work to go through and Sasuke was still dealing with Sakura, which she couldn't imagine doing. The snobby girl got on her fucking nerves. She'd expected that kind of behavior from a celebrity, not some spoiled bitch.

She bit her lip, pondering her words, "Naruto has had a hard life. I'm sure he's told you some. He's used to giving so much."

Sasuke leaned forward as he took in her words attentively.

Hinata continued, "For example, like in his passion. All this." She waved her hand around. "He makes these designs for all these people, for their special moments. But he himself doesn't think he deserves these wonderful things. So everything that fulfills that belief just shuts him down. Am I making sense?"

Sasuke gazed at a picture of Naruto on the wall, "But how do I reassure him?"

"Just communicate." She shrugged, "It sounds too simple but it's the best way. If you let him in, tell him about what Sakura is doing and how you feel about it. What your plans are to deal with it and so on."

Sasuke hummed, "You sound like you speak from experience."

Hinata lifted her hand and showed off her wedding band and shimmering diamond engagement ring, "I've been married for almost 10 years. Had to learn about communicating with a stubborn brute." She put her face on her fist, "You really like him don't you?"

Sasuke immediately answered, "I do."

Hinata grinned with excitement, "It'll work out." Naruto deserved happiness and a family.

"Thank you." He stood up to leave when Hinata shoved a piece of paper in his hand. He looked at the neat elegant print of Naruto's email. A chuckle erupted from his chest, "This seriously can't be his work email?"

She giggled, "It's not. Can you imagine a royal or politician emailing froggybayo?"

He rolled his eyes, "He'd still charm them."

"That's true. Now go!" Hinata shooed him away with a grin.

Sasuke nodded and got into his SUV. He felt his anxiety spike. He didn't even know what the first thing would be he'd say. But there was something else he needed to do first. He set his car to drive and headed to speak with his cousin, Shisui.

Naruto threw his sweaty shirt to a corner in the bathroom and chugged down two glasses of cold water, fighting the brain freeze. He'd just returned from hiking for the past 5 hours and his muscles felt sore as fuck. He threw himself on one of the lounge chairs, not wanting to cover the supple bedsheets with his sweat and dirt.

He grabbed his laptop, opened his emails, and scrolled through them, answering all the questions the staff had. He opened Hinata's emails next, breath catching when he read the latest one.

Naruto,

Sasuke came by again looking for you. He insisted I tell you that it was all misunderstanding. Poor guy looked a mess babe. I think he genuinely feels bad. I told him that you weren't in Konoha and he looked on the verge of tears! Call him okay?

Besides that, everything is good here so take your time.

Love you babes,

Hinata Hyuuga-Inuzuka

Naruto bit his lip as he thought over the words. Did Sasuke really feel bad? Was this all really a misunderstanding? But Sakura…

He knew she could be… manipulative but she didn't know he and Sasuke had gone on a date, so her ulterior motive couldn't be related to him. Maybe she'd been trying to manipulate Sasuke?

He groaned. The only answer would come from Sasuke and now that he felt slightly more relaxed maybe he could talk to him. He clicked on his laptop's contact information, as it was connected to his phone contacts. He grabbed Sasuke's number and held his breath as he picked up the hotel phone.

"Uchiha." Sasuke curtly answered in the deep baritone voice that usually filled Naruto with excitement.

Naruto's voice wavered, "Hey Sas."

He heard Sasuke's quick intake of breath. "Naruto?"

The blonde cleared his dry throat, "Yeah, it's me."

"Where are you?" Sasuke murmured, tone almost desperate.

He looked at the setting sun behind the ocean waves. "On an island, went to the beach and on a hike."

"That sounds nice."

An awkward silence grew between them.

"Naruto. I – please listen to me. She kept calling me and even though I ignored it, she threatened to show up at my work and cause a scene. I returned her call and her twisted brain convinced her that we were back together. Which is not the case."

"I see," Naruto whispered. His brain kept fighting him, telling him that it was probably a lie. That he was a homewrecker, but the sincerity in Sasuke's voice slowly broke through those thoughts.

"I'm not getting back together with her. I fucking promise."

Naruto sadly countered, "She said she was seeing you later…"

"I didn't see her and I told her I'd get a restraining order if she didn't stop."

Naruto's jaw dropped, "A restraining order?"

"Yes. She can be… insistent. I'm actually leaving the prosecutor's office now."

His eyes widened, "Oh wow, you're serious."

"I am. About this order and about you. I was going to email you after I left."

"All work emails go to the staff first."

"Oh really froggybayo?"

Naruto's face reddened and he gaped, "How did – where – "

Sasuke laughed, "Hinata gave it to me."

"That traitor!"

Sasuke changed the subject with a whisper, "I miss you."

Naruto gazed out into the ocean again. It'd brought him peace but now he really wanted to return home. "I do too."

"Come back safely okay?"

"I will." He already longed to see Sasuke and wished there wasn't this distance between them. He wanted to be wrapped in Sasuke's arms and forget all of this had ever happened.

"If you want – I can pick you up at the airport?"

"Yes!" He was glad Sasuke couldn't see his eager face, even though his voice probably gave it away.

Sasuke chuckled, "I'll see you then."

Naruto carried his small carry-on bag full of the clothes that he'd purchased. He'd gifted the things he couldn't bring to the butler. He'd mentioned how Naruto looked a lot better before he left. The blonde had thanked him profusely with a grin and given him a hug with a large tip.

He jogged down the steps in excitement, wondering if Sasuke was already there. He scanned the crowd and finally met Sasuke's gaze. His eyes lit up as he jogged over and practically threw himself in Sasuke's arms. Sasuke squeezed Naruto, murmuring a hey against his ear. They stayed in each other's arms for a good couple of minutes before Naruto went to step back.

Sasuke didn't let him get far when he grabbed the back of the blonde's head and pressed his lips against his. Naruto melted into the kiss until he couldn't hold back the stupid grin on his face.

"What are you smiling about?" Sasuke teased as if he didn't have a smile on his own damn face.

Naruto laughed, "I'm just happy."

"Me too." Sasuke tried to hide the blush on his face but Naruto still caught it. He grabbed Naruto's hand and they walked to the SUV. During the drive, Naruto told him all about the trip. He loved hearing Naruto speak with enthusiasm about his time at the island. They'd never stopped holding hands.

They pulled up to Naruto's house and Sasuke prepared to say goodbye when Naruto insisted he come in. He wanted to reject the offer, knowing that if he was in the same room as Naruto in private he'd want to ravish him. Yet he couldn't find himself able to fight it. He wanted to spend more time with Naruto. He'd just have to control his urges.

He nodded and strolled behind Naruto as the blonde opened the door.

Sasuke wasn't sure what he was expecting when he walked into Naruto's house. Colorful décor or maybe even the elegance that his store was? But definitely not this. He froze as he looked around, taking in the citrusy scent of the home. The decor was Victorian Gothic. Dark rich tones of purple, gold Baroque wall candelabras and chandelier, a grand ornate wood mirror tucked against the wall, antique art in golden frames, and velvet curtains. It was magnificent.

Naruto noticed he'd stopped following and looked back at him puzzled. "What?"

"Your home… it's not what I was expecting."

The blonde sheepishly laughed, "Yeah it takes people by surprise." He set his carry-on on the black and gold Baroque couch filled with pillows and a plum throw blanket. "What did you expect?"

Sasuke walked forward and stood in the middle of the living room, "A lot of bright colors."

Naruto hummed, "I find this cozy."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "It is actually." He was itching to see Naruto's bedroom, knowing deep-down it would be utterly elegant.

"I'll give you a tour, let me just change." He started walking towards the stairs and looked back, making sure Sasuke was following him. It seemed his wish was coming true. Well – one of them. He held his breath as they crossed the threshold to Naruto's bedroom and he held back a gasp. The purple décor continued into his bedroom with a brown wooden bed with engravings on it that matched the brown wood on the walls, more gold candelabras, antique purple chairs, and a priceless painting on the back of the headboard.

Sasuke let out a breath, "Holy fuck."

Naruto's melodious laugh vibrated through the room, "Take a seat. I'll be right back."

He tried to fight back the thoughts of a naked Naruto not even 10 feet away. He wondered how the caramel skin would look like after his trip. If it was as supple as he always imagined it'd be. Fuck he did it to scale it back. He continued to look around the bedroom instead, looking at the random knickknacks and pictures. These weren't related to his designs, they were personal. People in his life and places he'd been to.

Eventually, Naruto came out wearing a simple pair of orange and black joggers and a tight black shirt. He tried not to stare at Naruto's firm chest. At least it wasn't see-through.

"Are you hungry?" The blonde asked.

Sasuke shook his head, "No but if you have water I'll take it."

Naruto grinned, "Let's go to the living room."

They headed back downstairs and sat down on the couch after Naruto grabbed them both glasses of water. They sat on opposite sides of the couch, observing at each other a bit.

"I'm sorry for leaving and not talking to you." Naruto looked down at his lap, "It's just hearing Sakura say that the wedding was on no matter what and that you guys would work it out just… hurt."

Sasuke felt a sting in his chest, understanding where Naruto was coming from. "I should've told you that she'd been harassing me."

Naruto looked up at him, "Why didn't you?"

"I was just too happy with you."

The straightforwardness of Sasuke's answer filled Naruto with warmth. He'd figured Sasuke liked him enough to want to take him out on a date but hearing that he was 'too happy' with him just stirred something in him. Something he'd never felt in his life and couldn't quite name.

"I'm really happy with you too." The blonde scooted forward and took Sasuke's hand in his. "I promise next time I'll communicate better."

Sasuke hastily nodded, "Same here. I'll tell you what is going on with Sakura too."

Naruto beamed, "Okay deal." He started playing with the ring on Sasuke's middle finger, "Has she bothered you?"

"Yeah but I spoke to my cousin Shisui, he's a prosecutor and I asked him for a restraining order."

Naruto wanted to feel bad for Sakura, he really did. But her actions made it hard for him to even worry about her feelings over all of this. Not when he was seeing how she really was.

Naruto worried his lip. "Do you think we should keep down low?"

Sasuke rejected the idea quickly, "No, I don't want to hide what I feel for you."

The blonde playfully wiggled his eyebrows, "Oh really? And how do you feel for me?"

Sasuke leaned forward and held Naruto's chin, gazing at Naruto seriously, "I like you so fucking much." He didn't get a chance to slowly kiss Naruto because the blonde suddenly crashed their lips together.

After a good couple of minutes of intense kisses, Naruto pressed their foreheads together, "I like you so damn much Sas."

Naruto firmly believed they'd be okay, no matter what the future held.

Author Note: All they needed was ~communication~ ^_^

I hope you guys didn't hurt for too long :(

PS: I have the link for the bedroom look on my AO3 account if you want to see it. Apparently I can't add the link here like I can over there. It's Venom33 there! ^_^