Long time no see everyone! School has been insanely busy but I managed to snag some free time to update this!

See, I really didn't abandon this story!

As always, nothing in Naruto belongs to me because if it did everyone would worship the ground Lee walked on!

Lee had only ever been in Suna mall once prior to Gai's sly plans to get him to agree to a surprise shopping spree.

It had been three years back on Tenten's fifteenth birthday when she had made last minute party plans after her parents had been called oversees to attend a job conference. The brunette had opted to see a movie and grabbing a quick bite to eat, more than satisfactory for a group of teens, so Suna had been the best location to achieve such simple goals. Since it was the largest mall in Konoha, Suna, on top of housing over seventy different stores within the behemoth five floor structure, had it's own top of the line theatre. Back then Lee had never stepped foot in a small store, let alone a giant, overcrowded, hangout, so he had been a bit overwhelmed when his friends casually strolled into the biggest, most luxurious place he had every seen without so much as batting an eye. Everyone learned that night that apparently growing up in a small crowded house did not in fact lend itself well to adjusting someone to being in larger more crowded spaces. They also learned how to talk Lee through a panic attack.

After moving to Konoha proper and not just sitting on it's outskirts, the dark skinned male learned to deal with his anxiety quickly: if he wanted this new endeavour to work (which he really, really did) he had to be self-reliant. So, as the odd duo made their way to the expensive looking elevators, Lee was overjoyed to learn that Gai would not have to deal with a hyperventilating nervous wreck as stepping into Suna a second time did nothing more than awe him at it's sheer enormity. As the pair started walking through the long hallways of the upper floor, the younger puzzled over just where in Suna his admittedly strange boss could be taking them. Even though Lee was unfamiliar with the stores in the mall, he was most certain that there couldn't be a shop that sold the kinds of outfits that Paradise was apparently known for: Especially in such a public place. Gai must have sensed Lee's confusion because a second later he turned abruptly to face the long haired teen.

"Lee, my little lotus, there is no need for doubt. All will make sense once we arrive at Midnight Dream!" the large man assured as he grabbed Lee's hand and pulled him faster in the direction of what the younger assumed must lead to the clothing store. "Kakashi and I have an understanding with the owner, since most of our employees end up making a trip there at some point," Gai's loud voice informed jovially as he smiled down at the shorter male, "so do not worry about how much something cost, if you like it and it looks delectable than you must have it!"

"But, Gai I simply could no—"

"WE ARE HERE!" said male shouted, stopping the other's refusal, as he all but pushed Lee into the oddly isolated store at the end of one of the several corridors.

When Gai had said Midnight Dream in reference to Paradise, Lee had instantly thought the shop would in some strange way resemble the club itself; Something dark and forbidden in the most sensual way possible, with an oddly comfortable atmosphere that made seductive promises of a good time. Or even just the same kind of decorative touches, like a plush rug in a matching red with some leather couches and oddly elegant touches. What he was not expecting, however, was for Midnight Dream to look like every other clothing store Lee had spotted in snapshot glimpses on their trek. His thick eyebrows scrunched up in disbelief as large eyes continued to rove the room, looking for something that could even be considered Paradise-esque. When nothing turned up, he felt oddly disappointed. Do not think like that Lee, he scolded as he gave his head a sharp shake, it is rude to treat Gai's generosity in this manner. He was kind enough to willingly spend time with you so what right do you have to make judgement. The sound of footsteps could be heard emerging from somewhere at the back of the store, halting Lee's personal admonition.

"Welcome to Midnight Dream, how can I —Lee?"

Lee could feel the exact moment his heart stopped beating while simultaneously plummeting into the depths of his now sore stomach. His heart shaped mouth was opened in an unattractive gape when he turned his ashen face to look at the all too familiar figure of the store clerk. Lee let out an involuntary choked noise that sounded oddly as if a scream and a whimper had both got caught attempting to escape his throat, his hands shaking faintly at his sides. This can not be happening, this can not be happening, this can—

"Gaara never mentioned the gang was gonna be here. Oh, hey Gai didn—HOLY SHIT!," the previously calm male exploded as his gaze flicked back and forth between the other occupants of the store, easily putting two and two together. "No way….you have got to be fuckin' with me!"

Lee had every intention of treating this situation like the young adult he was. He was prepared to take a relaxing breath and then calmly explain the circumstances in a way that would prove to Gai that he could handle difficult situations maturely. His mouth apparently had other ideas because instead an achingly loud, embarrassingly strangled "PLEASE DO NOT TELL GAARA!" ripped from his loose lips.

"You mean he doesn't know!?," None other than Gaara's older brother screeched as his own face took a turn at lightening three shades. "OH GOD, this is like a secret thing isn't it!? He's going to kill me when he finds out!"

"Kankuro, you must understand….I mean, this. They do not….they will! PLEASE DO NOT SAY ANYTHING KANKURO!" Lee shouted in response, arms flailing uselessly as he began to panic. Fleetingly, the stricken youth recalled Gaara mentioning something about his brother working at an odd store in Suna, but he never would have thought it would be the only one affiliated with Paradise. Of course something like this would happen to him.

Lee and Kankuro had a solid enough relationship, having become friends because of the sheer amount of time the former spent with the latter's younger brother. It also helped that the strong jawed brunette had always been a relatively social person to begin with, so when Gaara had begun dragging Lee to his house he had just rolled with it. They eventually found common ground through their surprisingly mutual love for cute things (which Kankuro sharply informed Lee that if ever told anyone he would most definitely deny) which led to the blossoming of their own friendship. Although Lee knew that Kankuro had genuine affection for him, he also accepted the fact that Kankuro was an overly protective brother that was more likely to appease his sibling by telling the truth than trying to hide possibly the worst kept secret Lee had ever had. He only hoped that he would try and soften the blow when it came time to deliver the news to Gaara.

"ENOUGH!" Gai, whom Lee had almost forgot was there, boomed. "Let us all take a moment to calm ourselves and start again from the beginning."

While Lee listened to Gai and started to breath evenly, he found he could not physically stomach the idea of looking either male in the eye. Dread settled thick and heavy on his weary shoulders, bowing them further under it's weight.

"Lee, can you tell me what is going on?" the elders voice gently coaxed, a striking contrast from the steely tone he had used mere moments before.

"I…," his voice trailed off weakly. He desperately wanted to tell Gai exactly what had been gnawing at his conscience since he first accepted the position at the club, but he was absolutely terrified that Gai would be insulted by his petty fears; or worse, disappointed. Working up his courage, Lee risked a glance at his boss. When he saw nothing but patience and gentle encouragement, the young teen hardened his resolve. "I….have not been exactly….honest with my friends. I—they do not know that I work at Paradise."

"IT IS NOT BECAUSE I AM ASHAMED!" Lee frantically continued, not waiting for the inevitable falling out that he knew was going to occur. "I love working at Paradise, everyone is kind and helpful! ESPECIALLY SAI, I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE MET HIM! And even if Itachi can be scary at times and Kakashi pokes fun, they are still good people and I know given the chance we could all be great friends! AND YOU HAVE BEEN SO KIND TO ME, ALWAYS MAKING SURE I AM COMFORTABLE AND HAPYY! I HAVE NEVER FELT SO USEFUL AND CARED FOR! So please do not think I do not want them to know I am just….I am just….I am afraid that they will not…they will not understand how much Paradise means to me. I am so sorry for being so cowardly!" The youth was breathing heavily by the end of his rant, coffee coloured skin flushed from exertion as he dropped his head once again.

There was so many things he still wanted to say, like how much Paradise felt like home to him and how much he had come to look up to Gai as an almost father figure— foolish his brain reminded— but he was far too emotionally drained to put any more of his feelings into words.

Gai's large, warm hand grasped his shoulder gently, but Lee still could not bring himself to look at his wonderful, kind manager. Gai had been the first adult outside of the orphanage to have any genuine affection for him, and he didn't want to see the moment all of that died.

"My little lotus, thank you for telling me this. You have done nothing wrong, do not fret. Not everyone is understanding when it comes to what it means to work at Paradise, even friends who love us very much can find displeasure in what we choose to do for a living. It does not make you a coward to worry about what they will think, it just means that you care deeply for them and do not wish to make them upset. You will tell them when the time is right, I just know it, and you will see that even in hard times friends never stop caring for one another!" Gai smiled widely before pulling the shorter male into a warm, comforting hug.

Lee could not stop the sob that escaped his trembling lips. That was swiftly followed by increasingly louder sobs as he pushed his face into Gai's strong chest, wrapping his own arms tightly around the elder's middle.

"WOAH, LEE! I won't tell I promise, OKAY!? Please stop crying, Gaara'll have my head if he finds out you've been upset!" Lee distantly heard Kankuro desperately try and console him, but he was far too focused on continually thanking Gai in awkward, half gasped 'thank you's' as he soaked the green spandex shirt with his tears.

"He is fine my friend! Lee is just making sure his heart is lighter so that he can continue today with a brighter smile" Gai laughed cheerfully as he tenderly ran his hand up and down Lee's back.

"Oh thank god," the other male exhaled as he ran a hand through his brown hair, "i've only ever seen you this upset once and that was when one of those asshole kids at the orphanage cut off your braid."

"Orphanage?" Gai questioned as he looked down at the now rigid body in his arms.

"SHIT!," Kankuro exclaimed as he clasped a hand over his mouth. "Why do I keep fuckin' shit up!?"

"I—"

"Lee, you do not have to tell me if you are not ready. I will listen whenever you wish to talk about this but do not think tha—"

"No, it is…I want to tell you," Lee smoothly reassured as he sniffed lightly, wiping his still leaking eyes with the back of his hand.

"Well, the least I can do after bringing up that whole shit storm is bring you back to the other side so you can have some privacy," the brunette offered as he rubbed his neck.

"Thank you Kankuro, please do not feel bad. I needed a bit of a push anyways, so thank you for providing it!," the teen smiled softly at his friend, eyes happy despite being red and puffy.

Kankuro brought them to a door near the back of the store which, instead of opening into a backroom, lead into a entirely different shop. Bigger than the front of the store, the large room looked exactly like Lee had first assumed Midnight Dream would look; black walls, rich mahogany carpet, and decorative loungers. Kankuro left them with a nod of his head, while the remaining two made themselves comfortable on one of the plush leather couches further into the space. Lee begin to fidget as nerves got the better of him, playing with his fingers in a manner oddly reminiscent of Hinata.

"I…I find that I do not know where to start…"

"Be calm, my little lotus, and start wherever is best for you," Gai instructed as he placed a hand over Lee's.

"My…my parents died when I was very young…." Lee softly began.

After that simple statement, the words wouldn't stop flowing from the young male's mouth. He found himself telling Gai everything; What he had felt when he first came to Saint Kage's, the vile parents and how they eventually influenced everyone to start treating him like an outsider, the Sisters and their love for him despite what other's believed, feeling alone until he met Tenten and then Naruto, being desperate to be independent and finally leaving. The more he spoke, the more he felt invisible weights being lifted off of him. By the end of the afternoon, Lee felt like he could fly if he tried hard enough. Gai had listened to everything, actively participating when needed and allowing Lee to just continuously talk when the situation called for it. It was absolutely earth shattering to have an adult treat Lee like he was someone worth listening to and genuinely caring about what he had to say. He concluded that Gai was the most amazing man on earth: He was sure of it. There had also been more tears (on both their parts) and a lot of hugging but Lee had never felt so at ease in his own skin.

They eventually got around to actually finding new clothes for Lee as well. Midnight Dream contained a plethora of club attire, ranging from leather pants to shimmery crop tops and everything in-between that someone would need to work at a place like Paradise. Part of the store was dedicated to an insanely large amount of accessories and cosmetics that perfectly complimented any outfit that could be put together which, Lee noted, was impressive considering just how many different combinations could be achieved. Kankuro was once again recruited to help in their pursuit since Lee was more than a bit intimidated by all the options and Gai was rather unhelpfully suggesting he just try everything on. Although he was reluctant to see one of his brother's friends in some rather risqué outfits, he turned out to be surprisingly knowledgeable when it came to the store's inventory and what would compliment Lee best. After two hours of trying on outfit after outfit, the trio settled on a total of seven regular outfits and five specialty one's that Gai assured Lee he would be needing (just why Lee would need a corset and lingerie was not something he felt he could think on without dying of embarrassment). Several tubes of lipstick in various shades of pink and red were added to the already alarmingly large pile of items as well as two eyeshadow palettes (Lee had never seen so much glitter in his life), a stick of eyeliner, and mascara along with all the tools he would need to apply said cosmetics. Gai had to forcibly remove Lee from the store when it came time to pay, especially when the sight of so many zeroes nearly had him fainting on the spot.

With one last promise on Kankuro's part to keep what transpired that day between the three of them and a tight, grateful embrace on the dark skinned youth's part, Gai and Lee headed back to the now mostly empty parking lot. Shoving the overflowing bags into the back of the compact vehicle had been a challenge, seeing as Gai had decided to keep a large majority of his exercise equipment with him at all times ("you never know when the need to keep youthful will strike Lee! Better to be prepared I always say!"). With a sad huff, the heavily muscled man finally conceded that moving his weights to the floor so that their purchase could sit precariously on the worn seats was their best bet. Hopping into the front, the two men made their way through the city in companionable silence, each taking solace in the other's presence. When Gai finally pulled the small car into the lot behind Paradise, Lee immediately grabbed as many of the bags that he could carry and started heading for the front of the club.

"Lee, my friend, please slow down!," the elder of the two chuckled as he grabbed the numerous bags out of Lee's hands. "I have brought you here so that we can share a delicious dinner together, do not worry about these I will take care of them later!"

Instead of refusing the offer like he usually would in an attempt at modesty, Lee eagerly accepted, relief washing over him. He found himself unwilling to part ways with Gai so soon after sharing such emotionally sensitive information. The young male still felt a little raw after his confession and, despite it being selfish, wished to bask a little longer in the acceptance that radiated off the club's owner. It is not a burden to take comfort when it is given, Lee repeated the words Gai had sagely told him earlier as he had cried into his shirt for the second time.

Gai, after throwing the bags back into the car, led them to large building the younger had never noticed before just behind the club. The outside marked it as some sort of apartment complex, much like the one Lee lived in, but instead of being run down it looked well kept and inviting. The inside of the apartment solidified that notion with it's warm cream walls and communal shoe rack to the right of the entrance. Already it felt like a home rather than a living space for strangers.

"Ah, wonderful it looks like everyone is home!," Gai exclaimed happily as he removed his own shoes and slipped on a pair of green slippers. "That means we can eat together! Come Lee, you can use the pink slippers here."

Gently placing his ratty sneakers beside Gai's shoes he put the offered slippers on and made his way into the complex. As they made their way further into the building, Lee realized that the layout of the apartment was drastically different than what he was used to seeing in communal housing. The main floor, for example, was like it's own house with an open floor plan that allowed for a luxurious kitchen and living room to coexist in the large area beyond the entrance hall.

"We were very fortunate when we purchased Paradise," Gai explained as Lee continued to look around the pleasantly decorated room, "it also came with the apartment which, before Kakashi and I fixed it up, was originally a large artists loft. We turned it into the complex so that we could house our employees if they did not have anywhere to go."

"That is very admirable Gai," Lee awed as his esteem for Gai grew even more. "You truly are an amazing person!"

"Why thank you Lee! Now let us prepare dinner, is there anything specific that you wish to eat?," The shiny haired male questioned as he moved into the spacious kitchen.

"I am not a picky eater so it does not matter to me!," Lee chirped, more than content with whatever the other had been planning to make.

"Surely there must be something!," The larger male insisted.

"Well….I do like curry a great deal?," his pleasant voice raised turning the remark into a question.

"YOSH, THEN CURRY WE SHALL HAVE!" Gai excitedly agreed, throwing Lee a wink and a thumbs up.

As the two men prepared dinner the other occupants of the apartment slowly made their way down to the communal living space. Lee had been pleasantly surprised to see Sai descending the staircase at the far end of the living room, which was apparently a mutual feeling if the widening of the other's generally cold eyes was anything to go by. The pale teen made an immediate b-line for the kitchen after he spotted his companion and spent the rest of the time the duo was cooking seated on the granite counter chatting with the shorter male. Kakashi and Shikamaru joined a little later as the three were setting the table, both choosing to seat themselves at rather than expend any energy in helping them.

Just as everyone was preparing to eat the delicious smelling curry, footsteps could be heard leisurely coming down the stairs. Turning to great whoever it was, the words died in Lee's mouth as he locked eyes with Itachi. Dream Itachi's voice hissed in Lee's mind as he recalled the harsh words his subconscious had conjured up the night before:You know nothing of hardship. Closing his eyes tightly to dispel any lingering images, obsidian orbs opened once more to refocus on the older male. Remember, you can not judge him because of your own fears. With that in mind Lee opened his mouth once more in an attempt to offer a welcoming greeting, aiming to show the other that despite their rocky start he still desired to be friends. As if suspecting such an occurrence, Itachi raised his hand to halt the raven's remark.

"I seriously can't stand this any longer," the deep, cold voice cut through the hush of the room. Itachi's piercing eyes shuttered closed for a brief moment before reopening in narrowed slits. A drawn out sigh filled the silence as the tall male seemed to brace himself for what he was about to do.

"I must clarify something," The uncharacteristically tense male started. "While I did not make the best first impression, I just wanted to let you know that I am not holding a grudge against you. If what Sai says about you is true," at this Sai shot the other a harsh glare, already impassive face eerily cold, as if challenging him to doubt his words, "which I am extremely inclined to trust, then I know now that you had no ill intentions when you asked me about my brother." Everyone seemed to be sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting for the other to continue as he paused to relax his stiff shoulders.

"Let's start again, hmm? I'm Itachi and it's a pleasure to meet you," he finished as he extended a long, thin hand.

Lee couldn't control the face splitting smile that formed at the elder's words, the despair that had overwhelmed him at the earlier denial rapidly being replaced with extreme optimism. Pushing back his chair at a startling pace, Lee ran around the table ignoring the outstretched arm in favour of wrapping the unprepared male in a bone crushing hug.

"Hello Itachi, my name is Rock Lee and I hope that we can be great friends!"

Sai's unexpected chuckle after taking in Itachi's shocked face trigged an all out laughing fit which quickly dissolved into loud, uncontrollable guffaws on Gai's part and an inconsolable Sai on the floor. What pleased Lee most of all was that despite Itachi's initial discomfort, he eventually relaxed into the youth's hold, gently laughing along with everyone else seemingly at ease with what had transpired. It was in that moment Lee knew, indisputably, that everything was going to be alright and that, with these people, it could only get better. I was right, Lee hummed to himself as he took his seat at the full dining table, today was most definitely an adventure.

Here's a longer chapter as a sort of apology for how long it has taken me to update this poor thing.

I bet you thought it was going to be a fun light hearted chapter with Lee trying on ridiculous outfits and having a grand old time.

Well surprise! Have some sad Lee instead!

I'd like to thank everyone that has continued to follow this story despite the long break in-between chapters. I really love and appreciate all of your dedication and enjoy seeing all the lovely comments this little story gets!