Naruto glared at his newly potted snake palms as if they were the source of all his troubles. In a sense, they were. Snake palms were exotic and considered weird by many, much like Orochimaru, and it was said lover that had the man in a foul mood. If Orochimaru hadn't decided to invite the stupid, new neighbor over, Naruto wouldn't have a reason to take his frustrations out on his beautiful flowers. Now, due to his bad mood, the newest members of his greenhouse would have a poor impression of him. He only hoped his older plants would let the others know he wasn't usually so cranky.

Naruto let out a string of obscenities that would make a sailor proud as he had yet another kitchen mishap. This time he had nearly liberated a toe from his foot with a rebellious knife that had decided to give flight a try. Naruto had always been proud that despite his natural clumsiness he never once made mistakes when it came to a kitchen or garden (his best friend growing up had been right when she said he would one day make a perfect housewife). It was for this reason he became more irritable with every mistake he made.

Naruto clenched his jaw in what he hoped was a presentable smile when he heard the door open, followed closely by two voices. Orochimaru and their neighbor walked through the door. Naruto stood by the table as any good housewife would when her husband came home from work. He prayed the burning smell was no longer detectable; he would not have his obnoxious new neighbor have any reason to think he was a lousy cook.

"Naruto, this is our new neighbor Sasuke," Orochimaru said as he gestured to the man next to him. "Sasuke, may I introduce you to my beautiful lover Naruto."

When Naruto saw Sasuke's perfectly sculptured face, perfectly emotionless eyes, and perfectly muscled body, he knew immediately this was someone he would dislike. Sasuke was too pale and well groomed to be one who would enjoy the outdoors. Sasuke's face was too trained not have an ego the size of Eurasia. Sasuke was far too much like a young Orochimaru for Naruto to be able to trust him.

Throughout the course of dinner, Naruto refused to participate in the conversations, even when coaxed by Orochimaru. He knew his grunts would get him in trouble later, but he didn't care. Talking to Sasuke would only get him in more trouble than not talking at all.

Naruto hummed a soft tune as he tended his orchids. His mood had greatly improved. It had been several terrible days since the dinner with Sasuke, but now Orochimaru was gone for the next three weeks. Naruto loved when his partner went away on business trips- it gave him much needed peace and quiet. However, it didn't seem that fate was going to allow him any peace and quiet.

"Excuse me…"

Naruto turned around and was barely able to restrain the feral growl crawling up his throat. In the doorway of his greenhouse stood the pompous Uchiha bastard.

"What do you want?" Naruto spat.

"I was just wondering what time Orochimaru would be home tonight," Sasuke asked.

Naruto replied curtly, "He won't be."

When Sasuke gave him a blank look, Naruto growled in irritation.

"He's away on a business trip; he'll be gone for three weeks," the blonde clarified.

"Oh…" was Sasuke's only response.

Naruto stood, staring expectantly at Sasuke and waiting for him to leave.

Instead of leaving, Sasuke looked around at all of the beautiful plants.

"Do you take care of all of these by yourself?" he asked in awe.

"Yes," was Naruto's clipped response. He was getting impatient.

"It can't be easy," Sasuke wondered aloud.

"The ease is irrelevant," Naruto snapped.

Instead of taking the hint and leaving, Sasuke took a few more steps into the greenhouse and inspected the plants.

"They're all so healthy. You must take very good care of them," Sasuke complimented.

"They are like my children," Naruto replied curtly.

Sasuke's dark eyes traveled to the flowers behind Naruto and widened a fraction.

"Orchids?" the dark-haired man asked.

"Yes, orchids," the blonde replied in exasperation.

Sasuke's eyes softened as he continued to stare at the pale flowers.

"They look happy," said Sasuke.

Naruto blinked in confusion before saying. "Thank you…"

The odd moment was broken by the ring of Sasuke's cell phone.

The Uchiha pulled out his cell phone and stared at the name before placing the phone back in his pocket, a petulant look on his face.

"You're not going to answer it?" Naruto asked seriously and curiously.

"No," Sasuke replied shortly.

An awkward silence followed.

"So…" Naruto began in an attempt to end the awkwardness. "How do you know orchids so well?"

"Oh, I really don't know them that well," Sasuke responded.

"Of course you do! You were able to gauge their emotions," Naruto said with a bright smile. "So how is it a guy like you is so sensitive to flowers' feelings?"

"A guy like me?" Sasuke repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. Come on, you have to admit you don't look at all like the type who has a green thumb," Naruto explained with a fox-like grin.

"I suppose I understand what you're saying," Sasuke said hesitantly.

"Yep!" the blonde chirped triumphantly. "So are you going to answer my question?"

Sasuke looked at the orchids, eyes softening again.

"My mother used to have a garden, and orchids were her favorite. We had so many every year… until she got sick. No one else in my family had the green thumb she did, so the garden fell into ruin. When she died so did the garden…" Sasuke looked so lonely, and it made Naruto's stomach clench.

Another silence. Naruto made his way to hid orchids and inspected them. Sasuke watched in curiosity. Carefully, delicately, Naruto took the stems of two particularly beautiful flowers and cut them away/ He made his way back to Sasuke and wrapped the other man's hands around the stems.

"Don't let them get lonely," the blonde commanded sternly.

A warm smile lit up Sasuke's face. "Thank you." Sasuke left the greenhouse, the orchids held lovingly.

Naruto stood with a smile a little longer before he returned to his work.