Temari looked up at the ceiling as she thought. Usually, the 'baby' had the easiest job. "Well, why don't you just lie here and I'll take care of you. Just pretend you're a little kid. I have to make lunch anyways so…" She grinned. "What would my little prince like?" Her voice was covered in honey. Gaara rolled his eyes and laid back down.

"Mmm…I dunno. I'm thirsty so…how about a glass of milk?" He shrugged and looked at her from the corner of his eyes. Before leaving him, Temari grabbed a blanket from the back of a chair and spread it over Gaara, giving him a little kiss on the head before skipping off. Gaara rubbed the moist spot where he had been kissed. It felt funny. "Whatever," he said to know one in particular. With that, he picked up the abandoned geology book and he resumed his reading.

Meanwhile, four pigtails poked out from behind the refrigerator door. The oldest of the Sand Siblings looked around at the contents. She could make sandwiches but there were still some left over from yesterday. Temari sighed, closing the doors and began to open cabinets. They could have soup but that didn't sound appetizing.

She looked back towards the living room where her little brother was awaiting to be tended to. She looked in the cabinet for a glass and found something more interesting. It was an old bottle from years ago shoved back in a corner. A grin spread over her face as she grabbed it. After giving it a good wash, she filled it with milk, screwed on the top and took it to Gaara. She held it out for him, giving it a little shake.

"Here you go, tiger." Gaara looked at the foreign container and glared at her. She strained to keep her smile and half expected him to bite her but instead he took it with a sigh. "Can I get you anything else?" she asked, relieved.

Gaara looked at the latex top and poked it. "…I changed my mind about before." He looked up at her then back at the bottle. "I really wanted chocolate milk but-"

Temari nodded and took it. "Anything else?" She looked down into his soft green eyes and tilted her head. He nodded and looked away. "Well?"

"…I want cookies." He glanced back at her. "Chocolate chip."

"Good," came her reply. She was already halfway to the kitchen by this time. "I'll make 'em fresh. And what does my little angel want for lunch?"

Gaara sat up on the couch and looked back towards the kitchen. "I don't know. Um…" He thought about it. She was willing to get him anything he desired. She was after all making him fresh cookies. "U..Udon? How about tempura udon, Temari?" He kept waiting for her to say no. But instead he got her grinning face and a nod.

"Coming right up, tiger!" Gaara sank back into the couch. Is this what mother's really do? No wonder some kids come out super spoiled. He sighed again and snuggled into the covers as he stared at nothing. Again his hand went up to where she kissed him. It was right on his love kanji. Did Temari really love him or was it part of the game? He wiggled his toys and remembered her touch on those too. It was all very random and he could not yet discern what her purpose for doing it all was.

Suddenly, a bottle full of chocolate milk was dangling above him. He reached up and took it from Temari's hand. "Ah, thank you."

"Thank you…" she motioned for him to continue the sentence.

Gaara blinked and ran his hand through his hair. "Thank you…Mother?" The world felt weird coming out of his mouth and wierded still being directed at Temari. She looked at him contemplatively.

"Mmm, I think Mommy sounds better in this case." She grinned. "Or Momma or maybe just Mom if you feel too macho." She touched his nose with her finger. "You know, since you're the baby things are supposed sound gentler. 'Mother' just sounds too formal and cold."

Gently, Gaara moved her finger with his. "Fine. Thank you, mommy." He shoved the bottle in his mouth and began to drink. He glared at her a little but she just ruffled his hair and walked away. He took the bottle out and looked at it again. The chocolate milk was surprisingly good. If Temari could do nothing right with food, she could definitely make a perfect glass of chocolate milk. He put the bottle back in his mouth and curled up. He let his mind wander.

Kankurou waved good-bye to some of his friends walked towards his home. From the kitchen there was a good smell coming. Chocolate chip cookies, he thought, the idea making his mouth water. He quickly unlocked the door and almost forgot to take off his sandals as he rushed in. "I'm home! Temari, what's cooking!" he called fidgeting with his sandals.

"We're having udon for lunch," came her voice from the kitchen. Kankurou shrugged. That's not what he meant but he could certainly go for some spicy udon. He was starving. He walked into the living room and hopped over the back of the couch, nearly landing on Gaara as he sat down. His younger brother gave him an annoyed look from over his bottle.

Kankurou screamed and hopped up on the arm of the chair, giving Gaara an intense look of "what the fuck is going on"? Gaara continued to drink from his bottle, pausing only for a second to place a still warm gooey cookie in his mouth.

"Te-Temari!! What's wrong with Gaara?" the middle child called out. Temari appeared at the door way, wiping her hands.

"We're playing 'House'. Gaara's the baby and I'm the mommy. He wanted a milk and cookies. What's the big deal?" She was irritated that he came home so late. "You're food is getting cold. Gaara and I have already eaten. Isn't that right, my little teddy bear?" She cooed. Gaara gave Kankurou a cold look and smirked. His brother flinched in response.

"Mommy, can Kankurou play too?" Gaara said with no emotion as he hung over the back of the couch, bottle in hand. Temari nodded. "Good. Kankurou, you are the daddy. Play the little piggies game with me." Gaara lied back down and pulled the covers off of his toes. He gave them an expectant wiggle.

Kankurou glared back at Gaara. "Hell. No."

Gaara intensified his gaze. "Do it," he warned.

"I said 'Hell no' and I meant it, shrimp!" He balled his fist threateningly but he wasn't prepared for Gaara's response. He put his arm over his face and made strange noises. Kankurou was caught off guard.

"You're just like him. Just like our father." The sounds he was making were those of crying. "I always wanted him to love me like other fathers did but he just ignored me. He never smiled at me…never once…" Gaara rubbed his face with his arm. "I just wanted to know what it was like… to be wanted…"

Kankurou sighed. His heart ached. It was an embarrassing thing to do but Gaara was after all hurting inside. No one would see him. It was the least he could do. "These little piggies went to the market. These little piggies went home. And this little piggy went wee…wee…wee," Kankurou was less than enthused. "All the way home."

Unexpectedly, when Gaara looked up his face was dry and his expression unchanged. "I like it when Temari does it better. You suck." He proceed to hit Kankurou with his bottle on the skull. "I don't feel loved at all."

Kankurou growled. "YOU LITTLE-!"

"KANKUROU! Don't you lay a hand on our son!" Gaara was already in a defensive position when Temari came with a bowl and set it on the table. She gave her brother a condescending look. "Gaara is trying to relive precious moments of his life that he lost and you're trying to pummel him! You're a terrible father!"

Gaara looked at Kankurou and smiled slightly. "I told you that you were just like him." Kankurou gritted his teethed. "Mommy, I want Daddy to take me to the park."

"HELL NO!"

"Take him to the park Kankurou!"

"H. E. L. L. N. O. What does that spell? HEEEEELL NOOOOOO!"

"TAKE HIM TO THE PARK!"

Gaara stood up, grabbing his blanket. "It's okay. He's just like him. He could never rise above his hatred of me to try and love me. I was born his tool and I guess just because I have this curse I'm not worth loving to some people…" Gaara put his head on Temari's shoulder. "That's why you're my favorite…Temari."

Kankurou growled and got up from the couch. "Put on your damn sandals! We're going to the park. But I swear if you embarrass me-" He gave Gaara a warning look. "I'll kill you, sand or no sand." The youngest sand child followed his brother obediently, handing the blanket and empty bottle to Temari. In silence they put on their sandals and left the house. Temari dropped the blanket in the chair and sat in a chair, laughing as she regarded the bottle.