A/N: Okay, I have been getting a lot of comments on the speed of the story and the lack of Sasu/Naru-ness. In my opinion, a slower story is better than a faster-paced story. But no need to worry any more: the Sasu/Naru-ness begins in this chapter.

Recipe for Success

The next morning Naruto had actually been of use in the kitchen. He had cleaned all of the dishes from last nights' customers, mopped the floor, and even put a chicken breast in the oven without starting a single fire! He was full of energy and was quick to complete his tasks.

Sasuke, on the other hand, was tired and grumpy and was pretty much a dead-weight. The full shock of finding out that his wife was pregnant had finally hit him. His eyes drooped as he sloppily mixed dry ingredients for a loaf of Italian bread, thinking about what it would be like to be a dad and how much more he would have to work to support his future family.

'I knew we should've used some kind of protection,' he thought, carelessly letting flour spill onto the counter.

Sasuke felt a small tap on his shoulder and spun around. Shizuka was standing behind him, her face pale and her hand held over her stomach.

"I think I'm starting to feel the effects of getting knocked up," Shizuka grumbled.

Sasuke sighed and wiped his hands off on his apron. "Need to rest?"

She shrugged. "Looks like you need it more than I do."

Sasuke yawned. "I was just thinking a lot last night."

"Me too."

Sasuke turned back to the flour mixture. "If you need to go home, that's okay with me."

Shizuka cleared her throat. "Actually…I was wondering if I could make a quick trip out of the village for a while."

Sasuke slowly turned back to her. "What for?"

Shizuka scratched her head. "I would like to visit my parents for a while. I wanna…you know…" She winked. "Tell them the big news."

Sasuke sighed exasperatedly. "Guess there's no stopping you."

"Oh come on, it'll only be for a few days!"

Sasuke's eyes widened. "You do know that that big-shot actress is coming tomorrow and we need you to make the dessert."

Shizuka bit her lip. "Well, how about…" She looked around the kitchen and pointed at Naruto, who was washing off a cheese knife. "How about you get your little friend to make it? Just teach him how."

Sasuke crossed his arms. "You got to be kidding. If he cooked in your place, we'd get the worst reviews in the whole village."

Shizuka touched his arm lightly and looked him straight in the eyes. "Please, honey…"

Sasuke blinked. Did she just call him honey? She hadn't called him that for ages! He rolled his eyes and leaned back on the counter.

"Okay. You can go."

Shizuka smiled. "Thank you. I'll go home to pack and then be on my way."

"Alright."

Shizuka stared at him and rather hesitantly gave him a small kiss on the cheek. Sasuke felt his face burn and he looked back at her.

"Sh-Shizuka!"

Shizuka turned on her heel and quickly walked out of the kitchen. Sasuke's shoulders dropped and he went back to making the bread.

'What did I expect?' He thought, now being more careful with the flour mixture. 'Our relationship will never go back to being romantic.' Sasuke groaned. 'And now I have to teach that dobe how to make chocolate mousse.'

Sasuke finished with the loaf of bread and, with much pain, called out Naruto's name.

"Yo, Dobe!"

"I'M NOT DOBE!" A shriek voice screamed back. "MY NAME'S NARUTO!"

Sasuke drummed his fingers on the counter. "Yeah, whatever. Just come here, dobe."

Naruto stomped over to Sasuke, grumbling about how much of a jerk his boss was. He crossed his arms and frowned.

"What?"

Sasuke sighed. "Tomorrow some actress is coming to eat."

Naruto grinned. "Really really REALLY? Who?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Like I know." He scratched his head. "Shizuka won't be here to make the dessert tomorrow so…"

Naruto raised his brow. "What does this gotta do with me?"

"Well…" Sasuke groaned and a pained expression formed on his face. "You're gonna hafta fill in for her."

Naruto's jaw dropped and he simply stared at Sasuke, who kept his eyes closed and prepared for a maelstrom of bragging.

"So you want me to cook for an actress? Are you serious?"

Sasuke slowly nodded his head and Naruto cheered loudly.

"HAHAHA! I KNEW I WAS GREAT! YOU COULD NEVER LIVE WITHOUT ME, SASUKE, AND YOU KNOW IT!"

Sasuke clenched his fists. "Yeah, yeah. Be at my house by eight. I have to teach you how to make the dessert."

Naruto saluted, the fox-like grin still on his face. "Heh heh, roger that!"

With that, he ran back to the sink to finish cleaning off the knives. Sasuke rested his hand on the cabinet door and leaned against the counter.

'Stupid dobe. Stupid Shizuka. Stupid restaurant. Stupid…life.'

Eight o' clock came and went, and Naruto still hadn't shown up for dessert training. Sasuke sat at the kitchen table, his hand holding up his head and his mind wandering. He usually dealt with stress pretty well, but with the girl who probably had minimal feelings for him getting pregnant with his child, a huge celebrity coming to the restaurant tomorrow, and with the success of that restaurant riding on the village screw-up, anyone could feel the heat.

Sasuke leaned back in his chair and rested his hands behind his head. Truth be told, he was actually a bit glad that there would be company tonight. Yeah, his wife was an okay partner, but his former teammate would be coming, and he had shared a lot more with him.

Sasuke looked at the clock (8:13). "But I still hate Naruto. He's just so…"

Right at that moment, there was a loud knock on the door that caused Sasuke to jump out of his seat.

"Hey!" Yelled a loud, high-pitched voice. "I am here!"

Sasuke stormed to the door and pulled it open. "Godammit, dobe! Why are you so goddamn late!"

Naruto scratched his head. "I'm late? But I could've sworn-"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Look, just get in here. We have a lot of work to do."

Naruto quickly walked through the door and Sasuke slammed it shut. Naruto looked at his surroundings for a moment, speechless.

"WOAH! Sasuke, you have a nice house!"

Sasuke growled. "Idiot! We have to get cooking!"

Naruto stared at him. "Damn, what got up your butt?"

'The fact that you have to substitute in for my bitchy wife,' Sasuke thought as he led Naruto to the kitchen.

He stopped at the counter and turned to Naruto, who was still in awe that his rival had such a fancy place to live. Sasuke cleared his throat and Naruto finally turned his attention to him.

"I will teach you to make…chocolate mousse."

Naruto cocked his head. "Huh? What the hell is that?"

Now it was Sasuke's turn to be surprised. "You don't know…what chocolate mousse is?"

Naruto shrugged and Sasuke slapped his forehead.

'Oh god, I knew this would be bad.'

He pointed to the refrigerator. "Just get out the carton of cream and then get the cocoa powder out of the cabinet. I'll get the whisk and bowl."

Naruto nodded and walked to the fridge as Sasuke reached under the sink and pulled out his large sliver mixing bowl. The two were silent as they gathered the ingredients and tools. Sasuke glanced over at the other man as he got out the whisk.

'I never thought…I'd ever see him again. And yet here we are, cooking together.'

They met back at the counter and set their things down. Naruto blinked a few times.

"Is this mousse thing any good?"

Sasuke looked at him with a look of smug self-satisfaction on his face. "Of course it's good. It is my recipe."

Naruto snorted. "Yeah right! It'll probably taste like crap!"

Sasuke frowned and handed the carton of cream to Naruto. "Shut up and just pour two cups of this into the bowl."

Naruto stared at the carton. "But where are the measuring-"

"Just eye it! Stupid…"

Naruto glared at him before opening up the carton and slowly pouring out the cream while Sasuke overlooked the operation. They were once again silent.

"Hey…Sasuke." Naruto said quietly, putting down the cream.

"Hm?"

Naruto blushed slightly. "If you don't mind me asking…where did you learn to cook?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto and didn't answer. Woah, someone actually wanted to hear about his past! Someone actually cared! Shizuka never wanted to talk about anything but cooking and sex. She never asked about her husband.

"My mother," Sasuke finally answered. "I learned to cook from my mother."

"Oh…"

Sasuke continued to stare at Naruto. He cared…he wanted to know more about him. Naruto glanced at Sasuke.

"Uh…what's next?"

Sasuke remained silent as he stared into Naruto's eyes. They were so blue…so…

Beautiful.

Naruto shifted uncomfortably. "Sasuke-"

Sasuke, despite what his mind was saying about how wrong this was, grabbed Naruto by the shoulders and pinned his down on the granite counter. Naruto gasped.

"Sasuke, what are you-"

Sasuke bit down on his lip and leaned closer to him. This person…he gave a rat's ass about him! He was just so…

Sasuke leaned so close to Naruto that their noses brushed. "Naruto…"

Without thinking, Sasuke pressed his mouth against the one of the other man. Naruto gasped loudly and struggled to free himself, but without success. Even he knew that at that moment that he was about to melt in Sasuke's arms.

Sasuke opened his mouth and let his tongue slid against Naruto's lips. Naruto shyly opened his own mouth and allowed Sasuke to explore. As their tongues touched, Sasuke's eyes opened wide and his mind screamed.

'No! This is just…wrong!'

Sasuke quickly pulled away and Naruto fell to the floor, out of breath and flushed.

"S-Sasuke-"

Sasuke turned away from Naruto, ashamed. He just did the unthinkable! He kissed another person! Another boy, at that. This was wrong.

So wrong.

Sasuke ran his hand through his hair. "Naruto…get out of my house."

"But Sasuke-"

"And don't bother coming back to the restaurant tomorrow. You're fired."