Part Eleven

SASUKE'S POV

Shoda had managed to turn my living room into a fortress of blankets and pillows at seven in the morning; the boy sprawled out on the floor with a plate of leftover pizza while I had my morning coffee.

Another necessity, groceries.

If I wanted to keep Shoda from starving this weekend, a trip to the store was in order. After, the movie finished Shoda decided that he wanted a bath and I gulped but put on a brave face.

"Do you have bubbles?" Shoda asked as I adjusted the water for him and he stripped down to his little ninja underwear.

"I don't but we could use the shampoo." I smirked, and squeezed the soap into the water. I will be going shopping anyways, might as well let him use the whole bottle.

"Cool!" Shoda threw a fist in the air before stripping completely and getting into the tub.

"Is that warm enough?" I asked, the water was warm but I was not sure how he preferred his baths. I hoped he was not like his mother, who preferred scalding hot showers – hot enough that it was suffocating with all the steam.

He nodded his head and lathered his body in bubbles.

"So, what we going to do today?" The little Uchiha asked as he gathered the bubbles and placed them on his head.

I sat on the toilet seat, "Today we going to meet my big brother."

Shoda's green eyes lit up in excitement, "Really?"

"Aa, he is coming over for lunch today." I nodded my head as I spoke, I was a little anxious for him to meet Itachi, he is so serious all the time. I did not want Shoda to be uneasy around him and most importantly, I wanted my brother to love my son. I did not think I would have to worry about the latter.

"Does he know about me?"

I tensed, "Not exactly but he will."

"I can't wait till I get a brother." Shoda announced as he splashed around.

I nearly fell off the damn toilet! His expression was so hopeful and I did not want to tell him that was not possible, at least not now. Not with me, at least. Not with Sai, either – my ears grew hot thinking about the possibility of Sakura carrying the doctor's child.

Definitely not.

"Can you give me one?" Shoda asked, and my eyes snapped to his, "Like how you gave me to mommy?"

I felt my sweat drop. Just take me, Kami. I wanted a hole to appear and swallow me whole.

"Ahem. Uh, that's not how it works Shoda."

"Why not?" He pouted, and I decided to was time to change the subject.

"I'll explain when you're older. Ok?"

He agreed and saved my sanity.

"Let's get you all cleaned up."

It was 11:50 when Itachi knocked on my door; Shoda was bouncing on his heels in excitement. He had picked out his best clothes and brushed his hair – more than once before he was satisfied and set up Candyland. I did not want to dampen his mood, Itachi was not the type to play board games but maybe Shoda would have more luck than I did when I was a kid.

'Maybe next time, ototo.'

'I'm busy, next time Sasuke.'

My older brother's excuses rang in my head as if it were yesterday that I was pestering him to train me for soccer tryouts, it was always the same.

I took a deep breath and opened the door with Shoda by my side, "Aniki." I greeted. Itachi did not move; his dark eyes went from my face to Shoda and then back to me.

"Holy fuck." Itachi exclaimed.

Shoda snickered softly, before looking up at me and saying. "Uncle Itachi said a bad word, daddy."

I face palmed, maybe I should have told him to save Shoda's ears from the profanity. Sakura isn't going to like this.

Itachi looked as white as a ghost, "Uncle?" His eye twitched.

I sighed, and ushered my brother into my apartment before he suffered a brain bleed. "I'll explain everything."

I did not have a bucket list but seeing my older brother in complete shock was a sight to see, the serious and intimating Itachi Uchiha was dumbfounded. He sat motionless as I explained the life changing events that have occurred within the last month.

"And that's it."

I told him everything – everything leading up to this one moment.

"I can't believe Sakura, I can't believe you either." Itachi managed to find the words after it all sunk in.

"The fact that Shisui didn't tell you, he is smart after all." I drank from my cup, I asked Shoda for some 'adult time' with Itachi and he complied stating that Sakura asks for 'adult time' too when she is on the phone, my mind drifted to the doctor but I filed it away for later.

"He does favor you, Sasuke. I swear I had a flashback to you being his age nagging me to play with you."

I glared at him.

"You've really made a mess, haven't you?" Itachi drank his tea.

"You're telling me, Sakura wants nothing to do with me." I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. "I don't know what to do; it's as if she completely lost every ounce of feelings for me."

"You did cheat on her." He stated.

I growled.

"A mistake –"

"Yes, it was a terrible mistake but that mistake has completely ruined your life. What will you do now?"

I folded my hands and rested them under my chin, "Besides getting to know my son, I don't think there's much I can do."

There is nothing I can do to take back the past, all I can hope for is that Sakura reconsiders – until then I will just have to wait it out.

It's like Itachi already knew what I was thinking.

"Your devotion to Sakura after all these years is something I applauded you for, ototo. Even if Sakura can't see it because she's blinded by her anger towards you, it's there."

"I can't blame her for hating me, I hate myself." I sulked, I did not want to be miserable today but it looked like that is where I was going. "Seeing her with another man is going to be death of me."

I had to accept the fact that Sai had a good chance of taking her away, out of reach from me and she would be his.

"Can you imagine how she felt?" Itachi asked, I did not like his question. "Seeing another woman wrapped around you, imagine the pain that she felt in that moment."

"It's unbearable." I whispered and hands became fists on the table.

"You need to be prepared, Sasuke. I loved Sakura like a little sister, she took great care of you when I couldn't and I'm sure that she has lingering feelings for you but there is a strong possibility that she honestly doesn't love you anymore."

No.

That cannot be true, can it?

Does love disappear that easily when she felt it so strongly for me? I guess it would not be easy but it was more than love, wasn't it? We shared a bond.

"I should let her go, then? Is that what you're trying me?" Those words left a sour taste in my mouth.

Itachi sighed, "You're my little brother, and I don't want to see you suffer twice even if you are in the wrong."

My dark eyes bore into his, my brother was a logical man and I understood his view but being the rebellious asshole that I am, I cannot give in – not yet.

Our moment was broken by a five-letter word, "Daddy?" Shoda questioned, "I'm hungry."

He poked his head into the dining room, his stare lingered a little longer on Itachi. To my surprise, Itachi gave Shoda a small smile, "Shall we order Chinese?"

"I want an egg roll please!" Shoda smiled right back at him.

Itachi stayed well into the afternoon, and he is much better at board games than I am – of course. I mentally rolled my eyes when Itachi bragged about being first to win.

"First in everything." He was so smug but I could not help but feel relieved that the two of them got along so well.

"You're good at board games, uncle Tachi, when I played with daddy he lost like eight times." Shoda laughed at my expense.

Itachi laughed along with him. "Not everyone is blessed with my skills."

"It wasn't eight times." I sulked, "It was only five."

"You stink at games, daddy. Maybe you're better at puzzles. Mommy is." That was probably because Sakura let him win, I actually tried and still lost.

"Perhaps, we will try a puzzle next time." Itachi told Shoda as he cleaned up mess.

"Swear?" Shoda watched as Itachi poked his forehead with his two fingers.

"I swear."

Shoda rubbed the spot with a dimpled smile. "Cool!"

Seeing my brother interact with my child, made me wish my parents were alive but I took comfort in the fact that our family grew by one. I knew they'd love him too, he's going to have a ton of people that love him. I was grateful that his life would differ from mine, he would never be lonely - not with Sakura as a mother and me as his father.

It was almost six when Itachi left, we had to be at Naruto's by seven for dinner and if I did not show up and he would definitely kick down my door.

"Good-bye, Uncle Tachi." Ah, he had given my brother a nickname and Itachi did not seem bothered one bit.

"Good-bye Sasuk – I mean Shoda." Itachi teased, Shoda puffed out his cheeks but smiled when Itachi ruffled his hair.

"Don't give your father too much trouble, alright?"

"No promises." Shoda laughed.

"It's going to be much more amusing with you around." Itachi smirked, he was encouraging him. He turned his attention to me, "So, Naruto's?" He gave me this questioning look.

"If I don't let him meet Shoda, he will burn down half the city to find him." I argued.

"Ah, ototo, you've lost your backbone."

"Hn."

"I'll email you everything you need to work from Kirigakure."

"Aa." I watched him turn his back to me, I was getting ready to close the door when he spoke again, "Don't overstay your welcome, Sasuke."

I squeezed the doorknob and closed the door as he started to walk away; I would not stay forever if Sakura never gave me another chance than I would come back – eventually.

How Naruto had a house before any of us is beyond me, but it was quiet and cozy all thanks to Hinata I am sure. I watched as Shoda fidgeted with his green dinosaur, "Are you all right?" I asked as we walked up to their home.

"Yes." He answered, but maybe it was parental instinct in me that finally decided to surface because I knew he was not all right, something was bothering him.

I stopped walking and waited for him to notice, "Want to talk about it?" I asked when he turned around.

"Can I call mommy after?" He frowned, did he think I would tell him no?

"Of course you can, Shoda. You can call her anytime you want." I reassured him. "Is that what was bothering you?"

He nodded, meekly.

"I miss her." He confessed, "I've never been away from her."

I could tell he wanted to cry, another one of Sakura's traits; she would cry at the drop of a hat, sad movies, and love stories even in anger.

I kneeled down and wrapped my arms around his small body, he smelled like my shampoo and I could feel his little hands wrap around my neck. "It's okay to miss her, Shoda." I miss her too. "No more tears, you're a big boy remember." I rubbed his back, "You'll be back with your mother tomorrow afternoon."

I heard him sniff, "But then I'll miss you."

My heart pounded against my ribs, I squeezed him a little tighter. "You can call me anytime you want, as long as it's okay with your mother." I released him.

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"You'll see me again, I'm not going anywhere."

"Swear." He demanded, and I chuckled.

"I swear." I raised my right hand, "Now let's get inside before Naruto comes barreling out."

I did not expect him to hold my hand, but it was a comforting surprise.

I did not even get a chance to knock before Naruto had swung his door open and yelled, "It's about time, teme! I thought I was going to have to drag you in."

The headache was back.

Hinata was in the kitchen while we stayed in the living room, Shoda stayed glued to my leg and I did not mind.

"Shoda, this is Naruto." I coached me out from behind me, he eyed Naruto for a moment I could not blame the kid for being shy, Naruto is a lot to handle.

"Uncle Naruto." He corrected me, and I glared at him.

Shoda looked a little puzzled, "How are you my uncle? You have yellow hair." His little voice sounded so confused.

I snorted.

"Oi, that doesn't matter." Naruto argued.

"It doesn't?" Shoda questioned.

"Nope, your father is basically my older brother." Naruto grinned, "Which makes you my nephew." Naruto swung an arm over my shoulder, catching me off guard.

"Dobe." I exclaimed, pushing his arm off my shoulder.

Naruto pouted, but replaced it with a goofy grin, "I've known your dad since we were little and your mom too."

"Naruto?" Shoda said in a whisper, he tapped his chin in thought. "Mommy talked about you."

"Of course she did, I'm her best friend." Naruto gloated.

"You're the one that drank rotten milk and had the number two all day." Shoda snickered. I even had to stifle my laughter, I forgot about that day in middle school when Naruto took Shino up on that dare to drink the chunky milk for a bowl of ramen. Naruto may have won but his stomach suffered the consequences among other body parts.

"Oi, it was for the good of ramen!" He exclaimed.

"I like ramen too!" Shoda jumped, "But mommy says it's not healthy."

"Your mother is right, it isn't healthy." I told him.

"Aaaw man." Shoda frowned.

"Don't listen to your parents, I'll feed you ramen every chance we get!" Naruto and Shoda high-fived, while I watched - at least he was getting comfortable now.

"Sasuke, how have you been?" Hinata greeted us next, she wiped her hands on her apron.

"Fine." I gave her a brief hug before she spotted Shoda.

"He's adorable." She cooed. "He is your twin, oh but the eyes are all Sakura." She smiled back at me.

"Hn."

"Ugh, I hate that word." Naruto rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, "Don't use that word in front of the kid; hopefully he'll have a better vocabulary."

Hinata kneeled down in front of Shoda, "You must be Shoda, I've heard so much about you. You're so handsome."

My son's face tinted red and he shied away from her, that's a trait of mine. I remember girls calling me cute all through school, it was very overwhelming at times, the attention. I hoped he wouldn't suffer the same fate, but a little part of me took pride in the fact that my son was handsome.

"Aw, I didn't mean to embarrass you." Hinata giggled. "So cute."

"Don't be getting no ideas." Naruto told her as she stood back up. I tried to imagine a child that belonged to Naruto and I had to say a silent prayer for Hinata, she was going to need it.

"Of course not, dear. I have my hands full with you." She patted his cheek before pinching it.

"Ow." Naruto chuckled and rubbed his abused cheek, "I need you all to myself a little bit longer." He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and she blushed.

Watching the couple was bittersweet. I was happy that my friend had found someone that understood him so well, but I was a little jealous that he had something I lost.

"D-Dinner is ready." Hinata said and we followed her into the dining room.

Once dinner was finished, Hinata made us a cup of tea while Shoda had dozed off on their couch right after he was done.

"He's such a good kid." Hinata said, "Sakura has done well raising him."

"Aa." I agreed and it was true, Shoda was a well-behaved child. I would not expect less from Sakura, after all, she pretty much raised Naruto and I. Always encouraging us and scolding us for our bad behaviors in school.

She always had that motherly instinct.

"So, how are you going to fix this teme?" Naruto asked, "There's a lot more at risk now."

I sighed, "I'm moving to be closer to Shoda, and Ms. Senju has offered me a place at her hospital for the time being. I'll have Shoda every other weekend, and we'll split the holidays."

"I mean about Sakura, teme. What are you going to do about Sakura?" Naruto stared back at me with concern, "I don't want you to get hurt."

"Either of you." Hinata added, "It's not our place to interfere but as your friends we want the two of you to be happy."

"Together." Naruto chimed in, and I narrowed my eyes to his.

"Naruto." Hinata whispered harshly.

"What? Sure, she's seeing someone else but that could change. You have till my birthday to figure things out because I invited her to the party."

"Really?" I questioned, "I don't think she'll come."

"Well, I also invited the boyfriend..." Naruto adverted his gaze from mine, saving his life because if looks could kill - he'd be dead already.

"YOU FUCKING DID WHAT!" I seethed.

"Sasuke, Shoda." Hinata scolded with her finger to her lips.

"Ahem, you did what." I repeated in a lower voice as I glared at my best friend, he's lucky there are witnesses present.

"Well, I knew she'd use it as an excuse and I miss her too, Sasuke."

He sighed, "It's not fair that she won't come around because of you, this is why you need to fix this because I'm tired of my best friends acting this way. This isn't how we are supposed to be, we've been inseparable for years and now it's all gone to shi-"

Hinata's gaze flashed to Naruto's and he flinched under her stare, "I mean it's all gone to poop now."

"Hell would have to freeze over before Sakura gives in; you know how stubborn she can be." I drank from my cup.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "You're right, but, I mean you and Sakura are like soulmates or whatever, she's been in your corner even before you realized it. Remember in school how protective she was over you, and she barely knew you."

I did remember, she stuck up for me all the time especially when the students started the rumor that I murdered my parents because I was the emo-gothic kid with ties to the Devil.

Completely untrue, but children will believe anything.

"Remember that time she kicked Choji in the balls for calling you a freak. Oh man, that was hilarious." Naruto wiped a fake tear from his eye.

Hinata even giggled.

"You should have seen it, Hinata. Sakura went straight badass on Choji; I had never seen him so scared and WHAM! He was on the floor, groaning."

I smirked. Sakura was known for her strength, it was not to be taken lightly – she had a hell of a right hook.

"Mommy hurt somebody?" Shoda appeared, rubbing his eyes from the nap he took.

The three of us froze at the table, and I cleared my throat. "Did you have a nice nap?" Maybe he'd think it was a dream.

He nodded, he looked a little tired still and I figured I had better get him home to call Sakura and to bed, tomorrow is our last day together.

"Are you ready to go home?" I asked as I got up from the table and walked over to him.

"Mhm."

I looked back at Naruto and Hinata, "We'll walk you to the door." Naruto said.

"Daddy?" I felt Shoda tug on my hand.

"Hm?"

"Can you carry me?" He whispered, just loud enough for me to hear him.

I looked down at him, he is big enough to walk and that is what I should tell him – no one babied me as a child, Shoda had to learn that being coddled all the time was not okay, at least that is how I was raised.

But those green puppy eyes are really working on my heart, he does look tired and it is my fault that I have him out so late.

"Aa."

He wins.

I lifted him up and he wrapped around me tight, his face rested in the crook of my neck as I carried him out of the house, telling the couple good-bye and then having Naruto demand that I call him as soon as we land tomorrow.

"I want one." Naruto told Hinata as he watched his best friend drive away. He did not give Hinata a chance to escape before he scooped her up and rushed them into their bedroom.

Shoda slept the whole car ride home, it was after ten and I was curious to see if Shoda still wanted to call Sakura.

I carried him into the apartment, he briefly woke up when I asked him about calling his mother, and he quickly agreed. I dialed the number and handed him the phone, I decided to give him some privacy so I walked into the kitchen – a note was left on the counter.

You need to feed my nephew.

I checked the fridge and sure enough, it was stocked with food for breakfast and snacks for the plane ride since I did not live here throughout the week I did not need much.

I knew he was good for something.

A gift bag sat with the note, and it was for Shoda; I did not open it but I wondered what Itachi brought him.

I wandered into my bedroom to get ready for bed, and when I was finished, Shoda had already hung up with Sakura.

"Better?" I asked.

"Yup." He smiled, he looked happier and I released a breath.

"Good, uncle Itachi got you a present." I held out the gift for him and his eyes widened with anticipation.

"For me?" He questioned, he took the bag from my hands and sat it in front of him.

"Hn."

Shoda threw out the tissue paper and pulled out a red and black soccer ball, I felt my heart skip a beat; it was my old soccer ball that I thought I lost.

"Wow!" Shoda was all too pleased with his new toy. "This is so cool!" He flipped the ball around, examining it. It looked brand new, probably because I thought I lost it the day after Sakura gave it to me. I was devastated but I hid it well, quickly purchasing a new one and telling Sakura that I did not like hers, another lie.

"Will you teach me how to play?" He asked excitingly.

Itachi that slick bastard, he must have taken it with him when he left for college.

His question shook me from my thoughts; it was like looking in a mirror – his dark shaggy hair, chubby cheeks and the shape of his face even his voice, it was me asking Itachi to train me all over again.

"Aa." I smirked, "You are in luck because I was pretty great in high school."

I did not think his smile could get any wider but it did, "I want to be just like you when I grow up."

I faltered, "I think you'll be great at being yourself." I ruffled his hair, "Now, let's get ready for bed."

Sakura's POV next! Sorry, that took so long.