Chapter Five

If last night hadn't been awkward enough, the next morning was worst. Naruto had hoped Sasuke would be willing to talk about it, but instead the raven haired man avoided his eyes and stayed a good distance away from him as they got ready. The rejection was like a paper cut. He didn't really notice the pain until Sasuke was leaving with the children and suddenly, it hurt like hell. Naruto sighed, slumping down onto the couch. He draped his arm over his eyes, a quiet laugh, lifeless and dull, stuttered pass his mouth. If he knew this was the outcome, he would have tried harder not to pull a move on Sasuke. He would have been happy just being friends. If only...but words were words and wishing for another outcome didn't do him any good except make him feel worst. Groaning, he sat up and stared at the spot where he had straddled Sasuke, lips locked, and body flushed. It was empty and clean as if it never happened. It was also probably what Sasuke wanted—to forget it ever happened at all. But Naruto didn't want to forget. He already resolved to follow his heart. He would have to try again. And if he couldn't tonight, then he would try tomorrow.

Tomorrow, however, turned to the day after and then the next day after that. Every time Naruto thought he got the two of them alone, Sasuke always found a way to excuse himself. The cooking lessons were also put on a hold. A week turned to two, and then a month. Frustrated, Naruto thumped his head against the window in his bedroom. Another weekend with just the children since Sasuke had taken to working over time. He groaned inwardly, wondering how he was going to talk to Sasuke when the other man was intent on avoiding him. With things like it was, he wondered if maybe he should just give up because all he wanted to do now was see Sasuke's face. And if not pursuing the matter between them meant Sasuke would finally look at him, he was fine with it. Suddenly, the door burst open, surprising him. He jolted, whipping his head to the door. Boruto stood between the door frame, arms crossed and brows furrowed.

"What did you do to Uncle Sasuke?" Boruto asked angrily.

"I didn't do anything!" Naruto lied, but then sighed. He walked over to his son, placing a hand on his blond hair and ruffled it, ruining all time and effort Boruto put into styling it. As usual, Boruto scowled and swatted his hand away.

"Then why is Uncle Sasuke avoiding you? Himawari thinks the two of you got into an argument because of her from that one night when she woke up from a nightmare," Boruto said, eyes glaring at him.

Naruto smiled at the look. Boruto was always protective of Himawari. He'd make sure anyone who made her cry, cried ten folds and that included him. He sighed again. "It isn't Himawari's fault. No, it's just...an adult problem."

"Then hurry up and make up already!"

"I'm trying to, but it looks like Sasuke doesn't want to talk to me." He sounded whiny which made him cringe.

"Then let me help," Sarada appeared behind Boruto. "Ever since the two of you got into an argument, dad has been a lot sadder. It's almost like when..." Sarada fell silent, looking away as she fidgeted her fingers.

Understanding dawned on Naruto. He sighed quietly, smiling sadly as he knelt down and pulled her into a hug. She tensed for a moment, but then relaxed into his arms. Her small arms wrapped around his neck. "Your dad is stubborn," Naruto whispered.

"I know he is," Sarada whispered. She leaned back to look him in the eyes, smiling shyly. "But I think you'll be able to convince him otherwise."

Grinning, Naruto nodded. "I'll do my best."

After they had planned to ambush Sasuke, they set their plan in motion. Near evening, Sarada texted Sasuke, telling him she was sick. She felt guilty for lying to her dad, but she told Naruto that it was for a greater cause. He wondered what she meant, but didn't bother to ask her to explain. Once it was confirmed that Sasuke was leaving work, they hurried over to Sasuke's apartment. Naruto stopped briefly at the front door when Sarada had opened it. His heart pounded loudly against his chest. In all the time they've spent together, he had never once stepped foot inside Sasuke's apartment. It always seemed forbidden. He gulped and then took a step forward.

"Come on, dad!" Boruto's voice broke his trance.

Shaking his head, Naruto pushed away his thoughts and went inside. The apartment room was meticulous and clean, toned in gray or black; it was exactly as he pictured it. There were a few pictures on the walls, mostly of Sarada as she was growing up. Walking farther in, his eyes landed on the one single frame on the end table beside the gray sofa. A beautiful woman with pink hair and green eyes stared directly back at him. Even without being told, Naruto knew who the woman was.

"My mother..." Sarada whispered, breaking the silence. "Sakura."

"She's beautiful. You look just like her," Naruto said.

Sarada blushed. "People say I look more like my dad because of the black hair and black eyes."

"Well they're wrong. You look very much like her." Naruto grinned down at her.

"I know you two are sharing a moment, but can we hurry up? We don't want Uncle Sasuke to come in while we're still here," Boruto said, interrupting them.

They resumed their plan. Naruto was to wait in Sarada's room and once Sasuke was inside the room with him, Sarada and Boruto were going to close the door behind him and block it with a chair against the doorknob. Naruto told them to leave them alone and when they were ready, he would text them to open the door.

As he settled down, Boruto walked over and stood beside him. Naruto glanced down at his son, quirking a brow at him. "Something wrong?" he asked.

"You know, I think Uncle Sasuke is cool," Boruto said.

His face was blank which reminded Naruto a little too much of Sasuke. "Yeah? I think he's cool too."

Boruto nodded. "You better apologize a lot."

"Yes, yes. By the way, since when did you start calling him uncle?"

"When he said I could."

"Okay...and what about me? Am I cool?" Naruto hopefully looked at his son.

Boruto stared. "Boys my age aren't suppose to think their dad is cool." He turned and started heading for the door.

Naruto sighed dramatically. He shouldn't have expected much, but it would have been nice for a little compliment. He was about to sit down when he heard Boruto clearing his throat loudly. Curious, he turned sideways, pointing his attention to his son who was waiting at the door. Even with his back facing him, Naruto could see the red flush on his son's ears.

"Don't tell my friends at school...but I think you're cool too." Boruto took off in a run and disappeared around the corner, most likely to hide with Sarada.

Naruto was left a bit dumbfounded, but his heart swelled in pride. He nervously ran his fingers through his short blond hair and took a few deep breaths. He wasn't sure how the confrontation was going to go, but he couldn't give up either. If he was cool like Boruto had said, then a person who was cool didn't surrender easily. Taking another breath, his eyes slid close and he waited, counting the seconds that ticked by. Half an hour passed when he heard the front door open and Sasuke's voice calling out Sarada's name. Footsteps rushed hurriedly through the apartment, coming closer with each step. It stopped in front of the door. Slowly, the door creaked opened and Sasuke stepped inside quietly. He had his head turn, but when he looked to the bed, Naruto saw surprise register in his eyes. Sasuke whirled, but the door slammed shut followed by a click and then a thunk. Naruto watched patiently while Sasuke tried to open the door.

"Sarada? Open the door. This isn't funny," Sasuke said firmly.

"There's no point in trying to tell her. She was the one who came up with the plan," Naruto said.

"What did you tell her?" Sasuke asked, turning back to him with a glare.

"I didn't tell her anything. They just noticed you were avoiding me." Naruto stood. He eyed the other man. He took a step forward, waited a beat, then took another step. Sasuke pressed his back against the door, a hand behind himself as he jiggled the door knob. "Would you stop that?"

He was irritated. While he understood Sasuke may have been shocked by the kiss, this was going too far. Before anything had happened between them, they got along. They understood each other's pain without words, saw it in their eyes, knew they dreamed the same dreams. Falling in love shouldn't have made a difference. When he was within distance of Sasuke, Naruto slammed his hands on the door, locking Sasuke inside them. The raven haired man stopped jiggling the door knob and stared at him. "Why are you running from me?" he asked.

"I'm not running away," Sasuke replied.

"Really? You haven't been teaching me to cook for this past month and every time I get you alone, you always find an excuse to leave. If this was about the kiss...I'd apologize, but I'm not going to. Sasuke...I feel something more for you. I really like you and I think you do too. You returned that kiss. If we could just stop this running around and talk about it, it wouldn't have come to this."

"You don't understand."

"Then make me understand!"

Sasuke pushed him. Naruto was taken a back by the action. He stumbled backward, thinking he was going to fall, but Sasuke grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, steadying him briefly before he swung them around. Naruto yelped as he was slammed into the door. His breath caught for a moment. His eyes blurred. He took a moment to catch his breath, then groaned inwardly at the steady pain growing on his back.

"You shouldn't fall in love with me," Sasuke growled. His tone was of anger, but his eyes shone in pain.

"Why?" Naruto asked softly.

"Because I don't deserve it. Even if I...even if I..."

"Even if you like me? Even if I like you?" Naruto untangled Sasuke's fingers from the collar of his shirt and held them. He looked into his eyes and asked, "You'd deny yourself that happiness?"

"Yes." Sasuke hissed the word.

"Why?"

"I told you. I wasn't a great boyfriend...and I wasn't a good husband..."

Sasuke was trembling now. It worried him. The other man never showed much emotion and while seeing this side of him made him ecstatic that Sasuke was opening up, it also pained him that Sasuke was hurting. He pulled him into his arms and held him, rocking him from side to side. "Tell me why you think so."

"Our marriage was falling apart," Sasuke whispered, "as I said before...I wasn't always there. I was constantly working. I think she got fed up with it. On the night she died, it was our anniversary. I came home late and had missed the dinner she prepared for us. She got angry at me and we argued. We only stopped when Sarada woke up to our voices and started crying. When we got her back to sleep, Sakura told me she needed some time alone. She walked out the front door and I let her. I thought she would come back...until I got the news. The police called...they told me that when Sakura was crossing the street, an exhausted truck driver missed the red light and hit her. I...I didn't know what to say. I just woke up Sarada and got her ready. When we got to the hospital...she was already de-gone. The nurse gave me a plastic bag, something Sakura had been holding onto when she got hit. It was just a bunch of food, mashed and everything, but they were the food I liked. She was coming back home with the food I liked eating..."

Sasuke's voice cracked. He broke into a sob, his body shaking. Naruto slid them to the floor. With his knees up, Sasuke lay between his legs, head nestled into the crook of his neck as he continued to cry. Naruto held onto him, his chin resting on the top of Sasuke's head. He remained silent, letting Sasuke cry to his hearts content because he was sure the man never got the chance to. No family member alive to help out and with only him as Sarada's guardian, Sasuke had to stay strong for the both of them Naruto closed his eyes, tightening his grip. At least he had his parents to help out, but Sasuke had no one.

"I didn't get to tell her I was sorry or how much I loved her. I left her alone...like I always do. And I didn't even..." Sasuke broke into another sob.

Naruto held him closer. For a long time, they remained in that position until Sasuke's sobs had quieted, leaving them in the quiet silence of the room, darkening as the sun set. Naruto opened his eyes, ran his fingers through Sasuke's soft, black hair, and then turned slightly to place a kiss on his head. "I like you," Naruto said. Sasuke stilled in his arms. "Just...listen to me. It wasn't your fault that Sakura died. And I'm sure she never doubted that you loved her. If she did, then why would she have gone through the trouble of buying your favorite food?" He moved himself away until the two of them were looking at each other. "It. Wasn't. Your. Fault."

His emphasized each word because he wanted Sasuke to know that no one would ever blame him. It was time for him to stop punishing himself. He lifted his arms, cupped Sasuke's face, and leaned in. He kissed him, lips brushing tenderly. He pulled back and held onto Sasuke's gaze intensely, putting every emotion he had in them.

"Naruto..." Sasuke whispered.

Sasuke's body slumped into his, finally accepting him. His eyes slid shut and his mouth parted. Naruto moved in for another kiss, more heated, more fierce, passionate, and desperate. Mouths moved leisurely till gasps and moans echoed the room. Sasuke gripped his shirt again, clenched tightly in his fists. Naruto pulled away first, dipped his head and sucked on Sasuke's neck. He nibbled and licked, reveling in the soft mewls of the other man. And then he bit, hard. He smiled at hearing Sasuke grunt. Untangling himself from Sasuke, his eyes fell to the mark he made. He dropped a hand to the bite, rubbing it soothingly. "Mine," he whispered.

"Yours..." Sasuke answered hoarsely.

They kissed again, and again, and again until they were out of breath. Their foreheads touched gently, nose tips brushing, and hots breaths on skin. They held onto each other as sleep lulled them into slumber.

Naruto woke up at the sudden pounding on the door. Blinking groggily, he rubbed his eyes until he was awake. Sunlight lit the room brightly and the warmth of a body against him told him that Sasuke was still there. Glancing down, Naruto smiled. Sasuke hadn't run away again.

"Daddy?" Himawari's concerned voice passed through, "are you guys okay?"

"Dad!" Boruto and Sarada yelled in unison.

Their terrified and concerned voices woke up Sasuke. Naruto found himself staring down into his emotionless eyes. He held his breath, worried Sasuke was going to have second thoughts. Instead, Sasuke's lips lifted to the side and he pushed up, connecting their mouths. When Sasuke broke away, Naruto was left flabbergasted.

"Good morning," Sasuke greeted.

"Morning," Naruto returned the greeting.

"Dad!" All three children yelled, trying to get them to open the door.

Naruto chuckled. "I guess we should let them in now."

Sasuke nodded in agreement. They both got up and opened the door. Sarada and Boruto fell to the ground from leaning against it, but Sarada, being quick on her feet, scrambled back up. She hugged Sasuke tightly, her eyes shut with evident tears on the corners of her eyes. Himawari lunged toward him, wrapping her tiny arms around him while Boruto clung to the hem of his shirt.

"I'm sorry, dad," Sarada said, "we shouldn't have forced the two of you to make up!"

"Yeah!" Himawari agreed. "If you and Mr. Sasuke don't want to be friends anymore...we...we'll..."

She hiccuped a cry, making Naruto feel guilty. He scratched his chin sheepishly, feeling the short stubble of a beard growing. "Uh...actually, I think we're good now," Naruto said as he patted Himawari's head. He took a quick glance at Sasuke who flicked a gaze at him too. They shared a knowing smile.

"Yeah...we're good now," Sasuke said.

The three children were confused, but Naruto merely grinned and waved it off. He ushered them out the bedroom door, telling them they had to get ready. With the kids' backs toward them, Naruto raised his arm slightly to the side and touched Sasuke's pinky with his own. The raven haired man smiled briefly, his finger twitching and returning the touch.

"Thank you," Sasuke whispered.

Smiling, Naruto said, "Let's go." And they went to begin a new day.

A/N: Ugh, I think this was a bit of a crappy chapter. Sorry! DX But yeah...it's not over yet. The two of them has some more drama coming along.