Will be Beta'd by Mad Mardigan

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. Do you?

Chapter 5: Love was inevitable

Naruto could see the entrance from where he stood. Scared, he gazed at the flags of red and black flapping in the breeze over the crimson painted archway that stood as the gateway to the park's eastern side. Paralysis stiffened his limbs as that familiar terror once more iced his lungs. The sole person Naruto had loved more than himself, or even the air he breathed, was not more than a few yards away. Yet, the poor blond could not see that well-loved and well-known face. The eastern entrance was congested with foot traffic from others enjoying the brilliantly beautiful day. He couldn't distinguish one person from another. Not to mention he was still fifteen yards away and had twenty minutes to spare. He felt stupid for letting his fear get the best of him. He couldn't help it though. The last time he had seen the other man, Sasuke had so much rage and pain in his eyes.

Even now, the image of his face knocked the wind right out of Naruto. Those hate-filled words he spoke still cut into him. He had been so foolish. He had lost everything. And all for a night that had meant nothing. Simply because he believed the lies of another. He sighed as the memory of Itachi came back. That conniving fucker! And he was stupid enough to believe him. Disappointment for himself still filled him when he dwelled too much on the incident. He had known better, but, it was pointless. Losing Sasuke was the worst price he could pay for his betrayal and he had paid in full. But, he had been given the chance, a second chance to fix his mistake. He took a deep breath as he crossed the street closing the gap between him and his destination. Watching the flags fly, he let himself drift on a memory. This was their meeting place, every Saturday. Together, they would pick a direction and just walk. He would talk for hours and Sasuke would just listen quietly, nodding or laughing when he would say something funny or just plain wrong. He fell in love with him here at this entrance.

---------------------------------------------------Love at First Sight-----------------------------------------------------

A class field trip had brought Sasuke reluctantly to Konoha Park. Ditching school and needing a place to hide was Naruto's reason. It was love at first sight, surprising the Hell out of the blond. Two simpering females were latched, limpet-like, to the raven, but he only had eyes for a bright-blue eyed blond. A dark glare was enough to send the cowering females scattering away from him like roaches after a light had been switched on. He let himself fall to the back of the large group of students. Soon enough, he found himself walking beside the curious blond, watching as his eyes darted back and forth in confusion, as if not finding someone he was looking for. "You don't go to my school, so why are you hanging around?" Naruto was startled to find the very reason he started to follow the group at his side. Soon, he could not help but grin. "Well, I was looking for you actually. I just thought that you were perfect and I wanted to know your name." Sasuke could feel a blush creeping up his neck. But he was an Uchiha so he wouldn't let it make it to his face. "You are a moron. My name Sasuke. And you are?" Naruto bit his lip.

"I-I am N-Naruto. So, why is your school here anyway?" Sasuke smirked devilishly. The beautiful blond was desperately trying to make this last. "We are learning about the history of the park and how it came to be. I came because I didn't want to be indoors all day. Why are you here, Naruto?" Naruto almost fainted when he spoke his name. It was like velvet rolling off the raven's tongue. He could have sworn he let a moan slip from his lips, but the raven's expression didn't change so he figured he was safe.

"I really hate school and I love to be outdoors. This park is my favorite place to do my sketching. My friend Sai got me into sketching landscapes; you know the beauty of nature." Sasuke nodded. "Where were you headed, before you started stalking me?" Naruto blushed redder as the raven chuckled softly. "I was headed closer to the southern entrance, where the waterfall lies. It is so pretty this time a day and I was sure I could get some good sketches in before I lost the light." Sasuke looked at him with those perfectly black orbs. "Okay. Let's go, before it gets too late in the day."

-----------------------------------------------------Love was inevitable-----------------------------------------------

He smiled at the memory of their first day together. Sasuke was perfection. And he loved Naruto, even with all his imperfections, the way he never thought before acting. He chuckled as the pain settled back into his chest. "I cannot believe you still wear orange. But, I like the hair. Shorter really does suit your face." Sasuke's voice seemed to be the only sound he could hear. Everything else was now a dull roar. The other people seemed to have disappeared. All that was left was those two. He turned around to face the raven. He was dressed in a pair of dark jeans paired with a black printed tee and a black leather-riding jacket. He was so handsome with his bangs hanging in his face and his hair spiked. All his perfections still as evident as the first day Naruto saw him and fell in love.

"Y-yeah w-well, it is still my favorite color." Sasuke nodded as he came closer. Slender fingers rose to eye-level and pushed a blond lock out of his face, causing Naruto to blush. "Shall we?" Naruto just nodded as he fell in stride next to the raven. Naruto thought, 'God, he smells so good.' Oceanic blue eyes kept darting to the side, watching the raven in fear that he would disappear if Naruto blinked. "I never thought I would see you again. I-I mean there was so much I wanted to say." The raven just nodded. "Do we have to start with the bad? Can we start with something else?" Sasuke looked at the blond with a small smirk. "What is it that you propose we start with?" Naruto blushed. "Can we start with my poem? I mean if you still remember it?" Sasuke remembered it. That poem was their signature greeting after spending the day apart. "I dreamt of you last night." Naruto blushed again.

"Yeah?" The raven just nodded. "I dreamt of you last night, we were everywhere and nowhere at all." Naruto tilted his head. "Yeah?" The raven just nodded again. "I dreamt of you last night and the sky matched your eyes. And well it was heaven." Naruto smiled. "Yeah?" Sasuke just nodded again. "I dreamt of you last night, we collided and we were made into one, because well…we are one." Naruto started to grin. "Yeah?" Sasuke looked over at him.

The raven had promised himself he would not let himself get swept up in him. "I dreamt of you last night and you touched my lips with yours, then we collided into each other, once again." But here he was, falling prey to a love that had blinded him before. "Yeah?" The raven just scolded himself in his head. "I dreamt of you last night and when you called my name I could have sworn it came from the heavens, but you were there with your hands extended." Naruto lifted his eyebrow. "Yeah?" Sasuke nodded. "Yeah and when I woke up, you were right here by my side, you kissed me, and we collided." The raven had laid his hand gently on the blonds' cheek. "I remember a lot of good things, Naruto. I apologize, even though it is late. I should not have left you like that, but I did not know what to do. And, I was not ready to hear your explanation. I know time has passed, but I am ready for you to explain now."

Naruto took note of the hard metal band on the raven's finger. 'He is married? Fuck me sideways!' Naruto pulled the hand from his face and sure enough. When he looked down, there was a silver band on his wedding finger. It was a simple band, with a Celtic knot imprinted on the ring. 'I guess this will be only closure.' Naruto heaved a sigh. "You got married Sasuke?" The raven sighed. "Yes." Naruto almost screamed at the retort; anything to make it go away. "I should have known you would be married. Do you have any children?" The raven nodded his head and Naruto's heart plummeted into his stomach. "I have one. A son, his name is Taku Uchiha and he is not a proper Uchiha. But, neither was I. He is six, quite a handful. I am always shaking my head at something he has managed to pull off." Naruto managed to push his feelings down into the pit of his stomach.

He forced a smile on his face as he released Sasuke's hand. "Congratulations. So what kind of woman is your wife?" Sasuke scratch his head. "She was kind, gentle, and very sweet." He shrugged. "To tell you truth I didn't know her very long, but the time I spent with her is time I will always cherish. She passed away during childbirth and I never really got the chance to know her. She was pretty too, that is why Taku was conceived. It was just one night, neither of us used our heads, and she got pregnant. Our parents said it was only right that we get married." Sad, but Naruto saw a glimmer of hope. It was so small, but it was enough for the blond to hold onto.

"I'm really sorry Sasuke. Had I know, I would have never asked" Sasuke smirked. "Yes Dobe, you would have." Naruto blushed; he still couldn't lie to him. "I am not here to tell you about me or my life. We will get to that. Can we talk about the real reason we are both here?" Naruto nodded as the pain from the last time they saw each other came back.

"What made you sleep with him?" That was it. That was the question Naruto always wanted to answer. "You and I had gotten into that big fight about you hanging out with that guy Juugo." Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets. "You had said it was because you and he had so much in common and you were right. He was smart like you, raised like you, had a normal mom and dad like you. He was someone your parents would approve of. Not like me. I was raised differently and my family is anything but normal. I was so afraid when you walked away from me and you didn't say anything! I thought you chose him." He looked up in those onyx eyes.

"Then your brother came over. He said that you had always loved Juugo and that I was just in the way. Itachi said that you were finished with me, but he could love me. God help me! I believed him, because I thought an imitation was better than nothing." Naruto shook his head. "It wasn't. I mean it really wasn't! His touch, his smell, his mouth, and the way he moved over me. It was forceful; and wrong. He didn't caress me lovingly, and he didn't tell he loved me. I knew before he was done that I had made a horrible mistake and that I was just another thing he used to get to you." Naruto put his head down. Even after all these years, he was still ashamed and felt disgusted. Sasuke placed his hand gently on the blonds' face.

"I loved you so much, back then. I thought nothing could come between us and I walked away because we were yelling. That meant neither of us was listening. Then the fucker came to my room and told me you had lain with him." Sasuke gritted his teeth. "I could have killed him for lying, and then you confirmed it. I couldn't stand it. I had to get away because I didn't want to hurt you and I knew I would have. I had given you everything I had and you had given yourself to him." Naruto felt the hot tears escaping his eyes over his scarred cheeks. "I let down all my guards and let you in and you had given yourself to Itachi. I left because, for the first time in a long time… Itachi took the one thing I wanted most in this world and I couldn't deal." Naruto let more tears escape and they were proving too hard to stop. When he spoke, his voice cracked. "I was foolish and so naïve then. All I can say is that I am so sorry for not believing in us…in you." He looked up in now cloudy black orbs.

"I still love you Sasuke Uchiha and I know it might not mean much, but I do. I will always love you because that is how it was supposed be." Sasuke wrapped his arms around the blond tightly, taking the opportunity. Naruto took in the scent of the raven and the feel of his arms around him. It felt like home. For the first time in years, everything was right. "I'm sorry too, Dobe." The raven kissed the nape of Naruto's neck with soft lips before pulling away.

"I guess there was a lot of miscommunication. I just knew that we weren't getting anywhere with the Juugo thing. But, I damn sure wish I would have stayed and at least tried to work it out." Naruto placed his head on the Teme's chest. "We were young then and both of us were dealing the best we could. I just wish I had listened to my heart and not my head. I just was so confused and I let Itachi control me and talk me into doing the stupidest thing." Sasuke kissed the top of his head. "You are not the only one to blame. I am sorry that you got caught in the middle of me and Itachi's bullshit. We have always been bitter rivals and now we run our family's company together." Sasuke chuckled.

"Our father thought it would be best for the company. And he was right. It forced Itachi and me to come to an understanding. We both thought father would only pick one of us to take his place, when in fact he had planned for the two of us to be the new acting CEOs. Always thinking father preferred one of us over the other, when in fact he never once cared." Naruto was again too scared to move, this time however, he just didn't want this to end. "I go back home in a couple days, but I am glad I saw you Naruto." The blond frowned slightly. He had almost forgotten the raven had responsibilities and a multi-million dollar corporation to run. Naruto pulled away from Sasuke with a smile. "I want to hear more about your little one, Taku." Sasuke just nodded as he took Naruto's hand. 'At least I can enjoy the Teme while I still have time.' Naruto snuggled into the taller male. 'Even if he is not mine anymore, I can have him for now.'

Naruto walked into his apartment with a smile, he had spent the entire afternoon with the raven. They of course had to say their goodbyes in the end, but Sasuke promised to meet him for dinner tomorrow. He grinned, because for the first time in a long time. Naruto didn't feel like he was drowning, he had said what he had always wanted to say. Sasuke was his love, but he also lived on the other side of the country. Naruto frowned at the realization that they would never work out and Sasuke loved his son too much to just uproot him. That boy Taku was the raven's life; he was a handsome little boy. He looked just like Sasuke, except his eyes resembled frosted glass. The boy was also here with Sasuke because he wanted to see where his daddy grew up.

"I just got out of a two year relationship; I just cannot go jumping into another." Naruto scowled himself, he knew better to be thinking so far ahead. He hadn't even meet Taku, yet! "Not like the Teme offered to introduce me or anything." Naruto grumbled. "But he did kiss me and it was soft." Naruto touched his lips feeling like a schoolgirl. He looked at his watch it was midnight. They had only parted thirty minutes ago, but, to Naruto it felt like only moments ago. The blond yawned as he walked into his bathroom to turn his shower on and then he thought. 'A quick shower and then I am going to bed.'

He nodded as he peeled off his clothes and stepped into the shower. He hummed a tune that he couldn't quite place, working a lather of suds into his locks. As he rinsed the shampoo from his hair, Naruto was sure he had heard knocking. He placed his head out of the shower, and sure enough, there was another knock. He turned off the water quickly drying off and wrapping the towel securely around his waist. "Hold on! Just give me a sec!" Naruto grabbed another towel drying his hair as he strode to the door. Before he had time to open it, the door flung open and lips pressed against his in an almost desperate way. For a moment, he let himself be carried away, until he forced his eyes open and pushed the other away.

"No! Oh Hell no! Are you crazy? You are trying to get me killed!" Naruto ran around to the other side of the couch, making sure the piece of furniture stayed in between them. Those white eyes stared at him in curiosity. "Naruto, what on earth has gotten into you?" Naruto shook his head furiously. "Other than you, nothing...nothing at all! I hope you had your fun. But, the fun is over and you have to go, now! Before he kills me, and I die. Dude you have to go somewhere!" Neji moved towards him and the blond moved away. "I don't understand this at all, Naruto-chan." Naruto shifted again to make sure, the furniture remained in between them.

"Gaara Sabaku, I mean really! Are you crazy, because I know he is?!" Neji crossed his arms. "Did he confront you in some way? He is harmless, I swear. He's just a little territorial, but we broke up a month ago. He was not ready to make a serious commitment and I was tired of it." Naruto's eyes bugged out. "I have known Gaara since we were children. Harmless is not a word that I would list if asked for five adjectives that describe him. Harmless would not even be in my top six hundred. Did he confront me? Do you see that I am still in one piece, fuck no and he won't because dude you have to go! You are hot and great in bed, but Gaara will hurt me!" Neji sighed. "Naruto-chan, let's just sit down and talk about this." The blond shook his head furiously. "You ain't got to go home, but you have got to get the hell out of here! Do you love the crazy redhead?" Neji nodded his head; he did love the impossible redhead.

"Well, then you need to go over there and tell him! Just tell him how you feel, because with Gaara you really have to say it. Otherwise, he will just ignore it, because that is how he works. Tell him straight out that you want to spend your life loving him and I promise he will come around. But, you have to go and I mean like now!" Neji had never told the redhead straight out, maybe it was his fault. "Naruto, thank you. You give pretty good advice." The blond just nodded. "Are you going to leave, now?" Neji chuckled. "Yes, Naruto-chan." The brunet closed the door behind him and Naruto sunk on the floor. 'I will never again sleep with someone I just met ever again! Six degrees of gay separation sucks ass!'

The Poem is a little game me and my husband play, it is a poem he made up. When we are apart for more than a day, it is just a way of saying hello again. Of course, it was changed a little for the raven and the blond.

Everyone is encouraged to review