AN: I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

NC-17.

Disclaimer: Don't own.

One week later...

As Minoru finished washing the dishes hands turned him around and lifted him into the counter with a little grunt. He wiggled his brows at the older man, and cerulean eyes gave him a knowing look.

"There's something I've been thinking," Naruto started, and the dark head gave him a slight nod.

"Me too," Minoru smiled, "I want to take your surname."

Naruto stared, "I was going to ask if we can have ramen at the reception."

Minoru snorted and nodded, "Yes, we can, only because I love you."

Naruto searched the younger man's face, "Are you sure?"

"Do you want me to reconsider ramen?"

"No - no, I mean...about taking my surname..."

"Of course," Minoru saw the uncertainty in the cerulean eyes, "Because I want to, Naruto."

Naruto hesitated, "But...why?"

"Because I love you," he answered simply, "and I know why you're looking at me like that," he said knowingly, "And frankly I don't care what others think. Because they don't know anything - nothing - about us, about what we've been through. About how much I love you - " he stopped talking when hands gently cupped his jaw and cerulean eyes lovingly looked at him.

"Okay," Naruto said softly, and hands came up to swipe at his eyes, "Okay," he choked on his words and arms wrapped around him in a soothing reassuring embrace.

Six weeks later...

Minoru ground down his hips, circling them and gasping in pleasure as Naruto thrust sharply up into him. Their rhythm was almost desperate, Minoru wanted more - and as if sensing it Naruto rolled them over and hooked his hands under his fiancé's knees and spread him wider, making him writhe and cry out in pleasure, "Oh - fu -" he was cut off by his own moan when a hard thrust met his prostate.

Naruto groaned and circled his hips and watched as Minoru reached down and gripped his erection. He leaned down, bracing himself on a forearm, and locked him in a hot kiss. Minoru gasped against his mouth when he wrapped his hand over his. He groaned when Minoru's hands found purchase on his shoulder blades as he pumped him, thrust into him. The younger man tensed against him and arched his neck as his orgasm claimed him, spilling his hot seed in between them, contracting around him. Naruto pressed his lips on Minoru's thundering pulse as he came inside of him. The arms around him tightened, holding him as close as possible and felt the younger man's breath hitch against his neck.

"You're okay," Naruto whispered against skin and kissed a bruise that had formed on the younger man's left shoulder while Minoru was away, "You're home." He felt Minoru nod against his neck. He pulled away and looked down at the younger man with a bright smile, "Two more weeks." The statement alone earned him a bright smile.

The ceremony was small, that's how they wanted it. Only close friends and family. Simple. Gai cried manly tears regardless. Iruka told himself he wasn't going to, but did anyway. Kakashi officiated the ceremony, and also told himself he wasn't going to cry. Nope. At least not in public. Iruka kept that secret to himself.

The reception was small and simple as well. The food was not. Apart from Naruto's request of ramen - which Minoru was able to get catered from Ichiraku's. Which he was trying to keep a secret from Naruto - which he somehow found out. Which led to things. Apart from that, they tried to vary in selections, because in the end they wanted their guest to enjoy themselves. There was dancing and drinking, and general fun. At some point, Minoru and Naruto snuck away to the rooftop for some privacy.

Naruto chuckled when he saw the faint glow in the younger man's eyes, "You're glowing," he said with a note of a tease in his voice.

Minoru snickered, "I know, I can feel it, I've been trying to suppress it all night but then I had a cup of sake," he smiled and pressed the back of his hand to his cheek when it felt warm, "It's kinda embarrassing."

Naruto cupped a warm cheek and laughed when Minoru chuckled, "I always found it endearing."

"I don't mind if you see " Minoru said softly, then wiggled his brows, "You can see all you want." He suppressed a laugh when Naruto blushed and snorted. "Can I give you your present? Well, part of."

Naruto quirked an eyebrow with amusement, "I don't see why not."

"Okay," Minoru gingerly stood and swayed a bit, "I'll be right back!"

Naruto watched as the younger man hopped off over the edge of the roof and tried not to laugh when he heard someone yelp in surprised followed by an apology followed by a "You get a pass since it's your wedding!" He looked out to the landscaping, as the sky began to darken, he vaguely wondered what time it was, not that he cared. He looked down at his hand and a happy smile tugged on his lips as he thumbed the silver band on his finger. He looked up when he heard Minoru hop back onto the rooftop with a small package wrapped in silver wrapping paper. He caught the younger man when he nearly slipped, "Can you please not kill yourself!?"

"Okay," Minoru said with a smile, "But at least I know that I would die happy," he said as he sat down. He handed the older man the small package and smiled.

Naruto eyed the younger man, and glowing eyes eyed him back. He tore away the wrapping paper to reveal a worn leather bound notebook. He recognized it as the kind that Minoru liked to sketch in. He glanced at the younger man who was giving him a warm smile. He pulled away the the elastic band that kept it closed and opened it to the first page.

To my love,

To my best friend,

I love you, with all that I am. I will forever love you. It's as simple as that.

Forever yours,

Minoru

A warm smile tugged on Naruto's lips and Minoru shifted closer.

"During all those years that I was being confused and living in denial about you, I started to keep a journal slash sketchbook... Regarding you, almost a year before we happened," cerulean eyes looked at him, and his smile widened, "I thought it would help, you know? To figure things out, maybe to help...get over you," he snorted, "That didn't work." Naruto chuckled. "I stopped using it the day I went to your apartment a few days after you kissed me."

Naruto could only stare, "You...Want me to have it?"

Minoru smiled, "Yes...it was really important to me during that time, and I didn't have the heart to get rid of it. And I want you to have it because...," he hesitated, "In a way, it's a part of me." Was the best way he could explain it. But Naruto seemed to have understood the sentiment. His smile turned into a grin, "And just so you know, it's not exactly all innocent."

Naruto quirked an eyebrow, "Oh?" His expression softened and directed his attention to the journal in his hands. He flipped a page and found a rough sketch of himself that took up almost a quarter of a page. There was writing next to it.

This is the man that has had me so confused for the past couple of years. This is the man that has helped so selflessly with my training, the one that has shown me the definition of patience, the one that had always been there for me, the one that sees the good in everything, everyone. And I've been trying, trying so hard to stop thinking of much I want to... Be more. I keep telling myself that it'll pass. It'll pass. It'll pass.

Part of me is wondering who I'm trying to kid.

Goddammit Naruto.

Naruto smiled widely and looked at the younger man that was looking at the landscape stretched in front of them. He flipped to the next page.

"Minoru!"

They exchanged a look.

"Minoru! Where the heck are you?!"

Minoru gave the older man a sheepish look, "Excuse me while I go see what the hell that is about."

Naruto watched Minoru with a smile as he got up and crossed the rooftop before hopping off.

It's ridiculous how much I think about kissing you. It's ridiculous. I spend half of my time thinking about your lips. Your mouth. That mouth that is always smiling, grinning, laughing. I think about how they would feel against my skin. Even when we're training. And your eyes, your expressive eyes that make me smile when you're happy. Makes me wants to kiss you when you're sad.

It's ridiculous how much I think about you. How much I fantasize about you. I wonder how you taste like. How you feel like. I wonder how your skin would feel under my touch. I wonder what kind of sounds you would make.

I've dreamt about you. About kissing you, tasting you. About touching you. Those are the best dreams I've had.

Oh my god - this is ridiculous.

Naruto kept reading. Finding sketches, poems and random thoughts. He lost himself in the journal until it got too dark to read.

I sometimes wonder what would happen if I told you how I feel. Would you put me down gently? Would you still be my friend?

Do you feel the same?

Then with a different pen.

I can't start thinking of that possibility - oh crap. Nonononnonono

Naruto looked up from the sketchbook and closed it. He replaced the elastic band and stood. He dusted off the seat if his tuxedo pants and hopped off the roof. He went back to the reception where people were still dancing and chatting and drinking. He found Minoru talking to Iruka, and made his way towards them.

"Mind if I borrow my husband?"

Minoru blushed at Naruto's grin, and Iruka chuckled with a nod. Naruto led them to the dancefloor and his blush deepened when Naruto cupped his cheek and sealed their lips together in a sweet kiss. Someone whistled as Naruto pulled away and held him as he began to sway them with the slow melody.

"Were you reading?" Minoru asked softly with a smile. Naruto chuckled and nodded. "Anything interesting?"

"I reached this one entry where you wrote... What did it say? That you sometimes wonder what would happen if you told me," Naruto smiled at the look that crossed the younger man's face, "You wondered if I felt the same."

"We were so blind."

Naruto nodded, "We really were," he chuckled, "There was also one where you wondered how I taste like."

Minoru felt himself blush but grinned anyway, "And you taste so good."

Naruto blushed at the sultry voice. The midnight blue eyes flickered at him before leaning in a giving him a soft kiss before resting his head on his shoulder. His eyes wandered over to the other dancing pairs and he spotted Iruka and Kakashi off to the side snickering about something one of them said. Kakashi looked at him, and raised the glass he had in his hand to them. Naruto smiled, he had been smiling so much that his face was starting to hurt.

"Have I mentioned to you that you look really good in a tux?"

"Likewise."

When their guest started to depart and the reception started to wind down to an end, Naruto looked down at his husband that was currently using his shoulder as a pillow. Minoru stirred and dark eyes looked at him before leaning away.

"Oh, crap," Minoru said while stifling a yawn, "Did I fall asleep?"

"Of course not, you were awake with your eyes closed," Naruto responded matter-in-factly. Minoru winked at him.

Soon after, once Iruka assured them that everything is taken care of, including their presents, and Minoru being denied helping to clean up, Naruto teleported them back to their apartment. In their bedroom, Minoru pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around him and burying his face into his neck. Naruto smiled and pressed his cheek against the dark head, planting a kiss just below an earlobe. Hands smoothed down his back, over the dark navy blue vest he was wearing.

"Naruto," Minoru said softly, and nosed the older man's jaw as his hand came up to cup a whiskered cheek.

A shiver ran down Naruto's spine at the tender caress, the way he said his name. He turned his head and slipped his lips over the younger man's in a languid kiss. Their lips lingered and their hands undressed each other, their clothes dropping to the floor almost soundlessly. Naruto pressed his lips onto the pale neck, making the younger man shiver against him, the slender hips pulled flush onto his. He grinned against skin when eager hands undid his pants and the younger man made a frustrated noise at the extra closures. But he managed, and ridded the hindering clothing, and pushed him onto the bed. He pulled him down with him, crashing their lips together as Minoru settled in between his thighs and ground down against him. He gasped and lips found purchase on his neck, his clavicle, his nipples, down to his stomach, traced his navel, made a wet line down to his erection. He groaned, his hips bucking when the hot tongue licked up his shaft and circled the head. "Minoru," he moaned out when lips wrapped around him, and strong hands gripped his hips as he rocked them. He pushed himself onto an elbow and tangled his fingers into the dark locks, following the bobbing motion.

Glowing eyes looked at him and sucked harder. "Minoru," he groaned and tugged on the dark hair, making Minoru grin at him as he pulled away. Lips locked over his, and he groaned when he tasted himself on the younger man's tongue. He dropped back onto the bed as Minoru reached over to the nightstand, he latched on to that spot below his ear, earning him a deep moan.

Naruto lost himself under Minoru's touches, as fingers pushed inside of him, teased him, making him writhe and moan uncontrollably. He cried out in pleasure when Minoru entered him, filling him in a way that always felt so perfect, so tender. He couldn't last long, not when Minoru was thrusting against his prostate, not when he was looking at him like that - with so much love and endearment. Not when a hand entwined with his and he felt the silver band in between his fingers. His legs tightened around his husband's waist as his orgasm claimed him, spilling his seed on his stomach with a loud moan. He beared down around the rigid length inside of him and Minoru's hips faltered. He swallowed the younger man's moan as he came inside of him, delving his tongue into his mouth.

Naruto cupped a flushed cheek and brushed his thumb under a glowing eye, "I love you." Minoru gave him a breathless smile.

"I love you too."

Naruto rolled them over and took the younger man's sensitive member into his hand, feeling it swell in his touch, making the slender hips rock towards him. A drop of precum dripped out of the hot flesh and onto the taut stomach, "So eager."

Minoru flushed as the hand around him continued stroking him with familiarity, knowing exactly how he liked to be touched. Then again, the way he liked to be touched was any way Naruto's hands touched him. Slick fingers traced his entrance teasingly before pushing in, two at a time and sought out the sensitive bundle of nerves. "Naruto - ," his hips bucked indecisively and Naruto grinned at him down at him.

Naruto slicked himself and pushed into the welcoming entrance, smoothing his hands over the younger man's inner thighs, spreading his hips wider. His hands followed the curve of the slender hips and up his husband's flanks, teasing a dark nipple as he became fully seated. He steadily thrust into the younger man, his eyes fixed on the handsome face as it contoured with pleasure, as glowing eyes opened to look back at him. He circled his hips, making the body under him arch, ,"Mine," he whispered without realizing and Minoru smiled up at him, pulling him into a hot kiss making his hips thrust harder, deeper. He wrapped an arm Minoru's waist, changing their angle, knowing exactly how to make him cry out name, "Minoru."

"Yours," Minoru gasped out, a pulse coursing through him, "Naruto - " he pulled the older man flush as his orgasm claimed him, coming in between them, eliciting a growl from Naruto as he pressed his hips flush and continued to thrust sharply into him. He rolled his hips against him, panting for air, groaning when a warm hand took hold of his sensitive member and milked the last of his orgasm, "Oh, god," he moaned out, his body flushing, "Come for me," he cupped the whiskered cheeks, "Let me see you come inside of me."

"Mi-noru," Naruto moaned, his rhythm faltered as he pressed his hips flush against the younger man's as he spilled his seed inside of him, making him gasp, "Gods." A thumb traced his bottom lip as he panted for air. He smiled when glowing eyes looked up at him and fingers threaded into his hair to direct him into a soft kiss.

"More."

Naruto grinned against lips at the whispered request, "Of course, my love."

The next morning, Naruto wasn't surprised when Minoru didn't stir when he got up to get a glass of water and the journal the younger man had given him the night before. He slipped back into bed and smiled when Minoru shifted closer. He glanced at the clock and figured he could let Minoru continue sleeping for another couple of hours before they had to get ready to go to their honeymoon location. He couldn't help the silly smile that spread on his lips at the thought. He flipped open the journal and continued from where he left off.

We were at a gathering that Sakura invited us to. And I don't know if this is me being hopeful or... I don't know, but I think you were looking at me? I was across the room from you, talking to a team member that I hadn't spoken to in what felt like ages, and I swear I felt your eyes on me. And when I looked over at you, I swear I caught you looking at me. More than once.

Okay, but the thing is that this wasn't a normal look. You were half paying attention to what Lee was talking to you about. And the look in your eyes, I don't think I've seen that look in your eyes before. I don't even know what to name it. And every time I caught you, you looked away. It was so distracting I don't even know what was said in the conversation I was having.

I don't want to get hopeful. But the way you were looking at me. Maybe I was imagining things. Yeah that's it. Right.

Wait. Why did you walk me home.

Naruto blushed despite himself. He remembered that night. He remembered feeling some sort of jealousy towards the person Minoru was talking to. He didn't mean to, he really didn't, but he remembered how he couldn't stop his eyes from wandering over to him. And then he impulsively walked him home. That was one if the nights he really really wanted to kiss him.

We were training today. And you pinned me down. It was brief but you did. You pushed me down with your body and - goddamnit I had to fight off a hard on until I got home.

Naruto tried not to laugh.

So there's this thing I do. I go to Naruto's apartment every once in a while when he's away. He gave me a copy of his key a really long time ago, so why not? Yesterday, he came home while I was there, I was just drawing, but I got this silly feeling. It felt like he was coming home to me. And it gave me a bittersweet feeling. But I'm trying not to think of it. I ended up staying, we watched a movie which I ended up falling asleep at some point. I woke up on the middle of night when I heard something. It was Naruto, so I checked on him and realized he was having a nightmare.

I'm not going to lie, what I wanted to do was get into bed with him and hold and kiss him and tell him that everything is okay. But I couldn't. I did the next best thing. I gently woke him up and he looked right at me, and he looked...relieved to see me. It was as if seeing me calmed him down. I told him that he was home, that he was safe and he went back to sleep. I couldn't help it, I kissed his forehead. I had to try really hard not to kiss him anywhere else. I watched him for the rest of the night, I wanted to make sure he didn't have anymore nightmares. I watched him sleep, fought the urge to crawl into bed with him.

After so long of telling myself lies, I knew. I knew that I was falling deeper. Deeper and deeper in love with him.

I love him.

Now I'm in too deep. Now what?

Now...? I think... Actually. I don't know.

Naruto looked down at the younger man that was still sound asleep next to him. We were such idiots. He smiled and and kept reading, he found more drawings, scribbles, entries, short ones and long ones. Some explicit ones that even made him blush.

Last night. Naruto was here, he had fallen asleep on our couch. When he woke up, which was maybe around 11:30pm, he said there was something he wanted to show me. So despite how tired I felt I went along with it. It's really hard not to say no to him when he smiles like that. He led me to a field - the stars there. It was so beautiful. He said that he goes there to clear his mind, and that he's been meaning to take me but either he wasn't there or it was bad timing.

He kissed me. He kissed me. And it felt so amazing, better than anything I could imagine. I felt like I was dreaming. And when he pulled away I pulled him back without thinking.

Then of course I freaked out. I could have just stayed, stayed and kissed him more. But I couldn't. I told him that I couldn't. And the look on his face - I knew I hurt him, and yet he still had an understanding look.

Why couldn't I just stay? Why couldn't I just make out with him? Why did I leave?

Because I'm scared. Despite all of these feelings, and desires... I'm scared. Scared that I'll do something stupid, scared that I'll lose him. I'm scared that I'll lose my best friend. And I can't lose him. If I lose him... I lose everything. I'm scared... Because I don't think I'm worth it. Is it worth it? Do I deserve him? Doesn't he deserve someone better?

But he wants me? He kissed me. And it was the most amazing thing. I want to kiss him again.

I don't know what to do.

Naruto looked down at Minoru again and gingerly brushed away the dark bangs that obscured the pale forehead and smiled when the he shifted closer, before flipping to the next page.

I haven't seen Naruto in a few days. I don't know who is avoiding who. I keep thinking about him, about that kiss, about... Us? I keep wondering if it's worth the risk. I keep wondering what would happen. I keep wondering what he's doing. I keep wondering what could be...

In the end, I love him. And I'll always love him despite what happens. I know that now.

Hm. It looks like I have my answer, doesn't it?

That was the last entry.

Naruto closed the journal and smiled as he replaced the elastic band and put it on his nightstand. He gently rolled to his side and slipped a finger under his sleeping husband's chin and gently tipped his head back to slip his lips over the slightly parted pair. It took a moment but the sleepy mouth against his reciprocated. Minoru hummed in approval and wrapped lazy arms around his shoulders.

"I read your journal," he murmured against lips and felt them curve into a smile before kissing him again. "We should get ready to go soon..."

"Soon," Minoru said softly and gave the older man a languid kiss, "Soon." He traced the older man's brow, "I still have the second half to your present."

Naruto chuckled, "I have yours too." He slid off the bed and moved to the closet.

Minoru laughed, "The closet?"

Naruto gave the younger man an offended look, "I couldn't for the life of me find a better hiding spot."

Minoru grinned and watched as the older man shuffled things around. He produced a box wrapped in a brown paper. Naruto crawled back into bed and handed it to him with a grin on his lips, "Your wrapping has gotten better," he said with a tease.

Naruto felt himself blush and narrowed his eyes slightly, "It took me so long to wrap this...I don't even know how it took me so long."

Minoru laughed and leaned over to give a whiskered cheek a kiss, "You're so cute," he chuckled when Naruto seemed to have flushed hotter. He eyed the box and then the older man before carefully unwrapping it.

Naruto snorted, "You can rip it open."

"Not when you work oh so hard on it," he carefully removed the paper and folded it before lifting the lid open.

Naruto watched with anticipation as the midnight blue eyes widened. "I really hope you like it," he scratched at the back of his neck. Minoru looked at him wide eyed and then back down.

"You...Got me a camera!"

Naruto smiled at the sound of the excited voice, "I know that ever since we move in together you haven't had access to a camera, and I know how much you like to take photographs like for references too. Thought it would be nice if you had your own," his smile widened, "All the more reason now."

Minoru stared at the camera before moving his gaze to his husband, "Naruto..."

"And I didn't know much about cameras so I had to get some help from Gai and Iru - " he was effectively cut off when Minoru pulled him into a sweet tender kiss.

"Thank you," Minoru beamed, "I love it."

Naruto chuckled, "I'm glad." He watched as Minoru moved to get up and winced, "Are you okay?"

Minoru blushed and laughed, "Of course," his laugh turned embarrassed, "I might have wanted a bit too much last night. No regrets though."

Naruto laughed and shook his head, "Now we can't have that, you need to be able to walk during our honeymoon," he slipped his hand under the sheets and between the younger man's thighs and winked.

Minoru blushed and squirmed and swatted away the hand when it started to get too friendly. The older man laughed and he caught the retreating hand and kissed it's knuckles before slipping off the bed and throwing a look over his shoulder, and wasn't surprised when Naruto tilted his head as he looked at him. He chuckled and moved to the bottom drawer of the dresser.

"The dresser!?"

Minoru laughed, "You literally never look down here." Naruto feigned an offended look. "I bet you don't even know what we keep in this drawer."

There was a long pause that was filled with Minoru shuffling things around, "Blankets?"

Minoru snorted, "Lucky guess." He moved back to the bed and handed the older man his gift, "I really hope you like it."

Naruto gave the younger man a curious look and directed that look to the small box. He unwrapped it and lifted the lid and his breath hitched. It was a gunmetal silver pocket watch with the Konoha emblem subtly engraved on the cover of the face. He took it out of the box, and the chain followed. With a little click the watch snapped open to reveal the off white face with Roman numerals with a smaller dial to tell the date. On the inside of the cover was engraved the date of their wedding. He was speechless.

"There's one more thing about it," Minoru said softly and cerulean eyes looked at him, "Channel a little bit of chakra into it..."

Naruto did. The number ten illuminated softly on the face of the watch.

"It'll always show you your way home..."

And then Naruto realized that the ten was pointing to Minoru, "Minoru," he didn't know what say. He swallowed through the lump of emotion that was forming in his throat, "Thank you."

Minoru smiled as cerulean eyes turned to look at him and leaned over to kiss him. He cupped a whiskered a cheek and brushed his thumb under an eye, "I love you."

Naruto smiled widely at him, "I love you too."

Weeks later when Naruto was arranging some things, the journal Minoru gave him on their wedding night slipped off his nightstand where he kept. He cursed and reached down to pick it up and froze when it had opened to an entry that he hasn't read. As he picked it up he realized that there was at least ten blank pages in between the one that he assumed was the last one.

I never would have thought that being in love with your best friend would be so...Amazing. It sounds cheesy but that's the only way I can put it. It feels so comfortable, and right and just - amazing. Everything about what we have now gives me a type of happiness I've never felt before. It's true that I was weary scared. But it's like Naruto said, it's only a risk when you have something to lose. It's strange, I didn't think it was possible to feel closer to him, but somehow do. Maybe it's the fact that I don't have to refrain from kissing him, or wanting to be close to him, or touching him and seeing a side of him that only I get to see. And vise versa. I never would have thought that being with him in such a way would feel like this. This is beyond what I could even imagine. And the way he looks at me, and kisses me, and touches me, and knows me - I can feel it. I can feel his love in everything he does. And I hope he can feel the same from me. I hope that one day, I can express to him just how much I love him. Just how much he means to me.

My new favorite thing is waking up next to him. It's up there with kissing him. And touching him. They're tied.

I'm so happy that I/we took this chance. After being idiots for so long. I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else.

Naruto closed the worn journal and sat down on the bed. He looked up when Minoru walked in with a basket of laundry and midnight blue eyes gave him a curious look.

Minoru set the basket down and took some clothes to the dresser. Hands at his waist turned him around and lips sealed over his in a sensual kiss. He sighed when a hand cupped the back of his neck, fingers threading into his hair. A hand at the small of his back pulled him closer as his hands came up to cup the older man's jaw. A shiver ran down his spine at the emotion he felt behind the kiss, the tenderness and passion. When Naruto pulled away, and smoothed a whiskered cheek over his, a smile tugged on his lips as arms wrapped around him in a warm embrace and he returned it with no hesitation.

"I love you."

Minoru smiled as the words ghosted over his ear, "I love you too."

Naruto and hugged his husband tighter earning him a laugh.

"You're my best friend...And I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else."