"Marry me."

Naruto's high when he says it. After the words leave his lips, he realises that he may have picked the least romantic time for a proposal, seeing as they were squished shoulder to shoulder on his thin single mattress staring at the mould growing on his ceiling for god knows how long.

But then again, he's high. She's high. They're high.

Rational thoughts aren't really their thing at the moment.

For some reason, his heart races though. It thrums in anticipation for her response and he thinks he might actually lose his mind if her answer is anything other than yes.

It's dumb. Actually, it's pretty fucking stupid. Because they're teenagers who still haven't graduated high school. They're too young to be thinking about grown up stuff like getting married. And she's not even his girlfriend.

But all he seems to think about is how she always smells like flowers and the soft breathless way she laughs at his lame jokes and how her face is the first he searches for when he's in a crowded room.

He can't imagine a future without her because a future where she's not by his side seems wrong. So he asks her to marry him on a shitty mattress in his shitty apartment while they look at the shitty mould on his ceiling.

God, he's an idiot.

"Naruto-kun, we're too young for marriage." She says, gently.

"Oh." He doesn't know why he sounds disappointed when he already knew that.

He rolls to his side so that they're face to face, their noses almost close enough to touch. Her glazed bloodshot eyes meet his and heat crawls up his cheeks when she smiles at him with the prettiest smile he's ever seen.

It's funny because not long ago, she couldn't even look him in the eyes without going bright red in the face or talk to him without stuttering over every second word. Instead, he's seems to be the one getting flustered lately.

They stay like that for a few moments with nothing but the soft rhythmic sound of their breathing filling the air. He likes it. He wishes they could stay like this forever.

"Can you ask me again when we're older?"

Naruto blinks and his chest bubbles with a type of happiness he's never felt before. He can hardly suppress the grin that spreads across his lips.

"When we're older." He promises.

.

.

.

.

.

"Please tell me you're kidding." Konohamaru says, following behind Naruto with a pile of paperwork in his hands.

Naruto shrugs as they enter his office. Konohamaru's dramatic gasp almost has him rolling his eyes. Honestly the guy was making a big deal out of nothing.

"Going to Yakiniku Q does not count as a bachelor party!" Konohamaru protests, dumping the papers on the corner of his desk. "I refuse to believe you're this uncool."

Naruto sits down on his chair, sighing. Six months ago when the new cycle of interns came through, he didn't anticipate one of them would stick to him like a bad smell and poke their nose in his personal affairs.

Konohamaru continues on his tangent, flailing his arms around like a lunatic. "I mean bachelor parties are supposed to be fun with strippers and booze and— and BOOBIES!"

Naruto swears he's never heard anyone say the word 'boobies' with such seriousness.

"I'm too old for that shit man." He says, wanting to put an end to the subject as quickly as possible. "I got what I asked for."

Shikamaru, his best man, had been fully prepared to book escorts and hotel rooms but Naruto didn't want that. At the ripe old age of 30, Naruto had been through enough parties and reckless nights out. As long as he saw his friends, he was happy. So yes, his bachelor party was pigging out at the local barbecue joint. That was enough for him.

"Don't say that. Just because you got a couple of kids and a mortgage doesn't mean you're too old." Konohamaru retorts. "Let loose and have some fun!"

For a second, Naruto actually envies Konohamaru's carefree attitude. Naruto's early 20s were a constant battle where he was juggling two kids and living pay check to pay check. It was a stark difference to Konohamaru who partied hard every weekend and goofed around at work.

"You gotta let me throw you a real bachelor party."

Naruto grimaces. "Ugh no."

"Oh cmon! I'll organise and pay for the whole thing. What kind of strippers do you like—"

Naruto rubs his temples, trying to soothe the headache Konohamaru was giving him but of course, the brat kept prattling on about more details to a plan Naruto was in no way agreeing to.

A knock on his door thankfully interrupts them and an assistant pokes her head into the room.

"Mr Uzumaki, you're wanted in the main conference room."

It's 7:30pm when Naruto arrives home. He's in a good mood, bouncing with every step he takes, excited to tell his family the good news he had just received.

"I'm home!" He calls out, shutting the door behind him. Naruto barely has time to brace before his cute little daughter jumps into his arms, embracing him with the strength of someone ten times her size. "H-Hima! I can't breathe!"

"Oops sorry." Himawari says, loosening her grip on him.

Naruto takes a deep breath and looks back at his daughter. "Unfortunately, sorry isn't good enough." He grins at Himawari's face of confusion. "Time for your punishment."

Naruto didn't waste another second, attacking her with his inescapable tickling skills. Himawari gasps before erupting into a fit of soft breathless giggles that were like music to his ears.

"P-Papa! Hhahah st—stop!" She laughs, trying to push him away.

"Sorry Hima, Papa can't hear ya!" He said, continuing to tickle her without remorse.

"St—haha—op!" She repeats and finally, Naruto relents.

As Himawari begins to catch her breath, he lovingly nuzzles the top of her indigo haired head to his cheek and she welcomes his embrace, squeezing him tightly with one last giggle. Naruto curses the day she would be too old for cuddles and hopes it would never come.

"You two sure are a noisy pair." An amused voice says, walking out from the kitchen.

Naruto smiles at the sight of his beautiful fiancé. Her long brunette hair was tied in a high ponytail and her green irises gleamed against the light. Even though they'd been together for four years, she never failed to take his breath away.

"Papa, I helped Kaiyo with dinner tonight!"

"Really? Good job, Hima." He ruffles her hair, smiling.

"It tastes bad so we should probably get takeout though." Himawari adds.

Kaiyo pouts as she walks to Naruto. "I swear I followed the recipe exactly but somehow I still failed."

Naruto chuckles before pulling her into his arms and placing a quick kiss on her lips. "You'll get it next time, babe. Believe it."

"Can we have pizza tonight?" Himawari asks, tugging at his sleeve.

"Pizza?" Naruto echoes before he looks at Kaiyo expectantly.

She lets out a sigh of defeat. "Pizza sounds amazing, Himawari-chan."

"Okay! I'll go order it!" Himawari scurries away to the living room.

With the two of them alone, Naruto pulls Kaiyo closer, giving her a much more fulfilling kiss than before. He wants to kiss away her sulking which works because she returns his tenacity, smiling against his lips. Her hands come up, linking behind his neck and his hands slide from her waist down to her—

"Whoa there." She grabs his wrists and slide his hands back to her hips. "Let's save that kind of touching for the bedroom, Mr Uzumaki."

It's Naruto's turn to sulk now. Kaiyo laughs and places a chaste kiss on his pouting lips.

"What's got you in such a good mood huh?" She asks, arching her brow at him.

Naruto rubs the back of his neck, smiling like an idiot. "Well…" He drawls. He looks away, purposely avoiding her curious gaze. Usually, he wasn't one to keep her waiting but he couldn't help but tease her a little bit. Right before he feels like she's going to chastise him for leaving her in suspense, he tells her. "I got the promotion."

Kaiyo gapes at him for a moment before she lets out a high pitched squeal. "Oh my gosh!"

For the second time that night, Naruto gets the wind knocked out of him when she squeezes him into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you." He laughs. "It's a pretty big pay rise and a shit tonne more benefits but unfortunately it means I'll have to work a few more hours than usual—"

"That's fine." Kaiyo says, eyes shining with pure happiness. "You don't have to worry about the kids. I'll take care of them and handle everything at home. Just keep working hard okay?"

Unable to contain her joy, she hugs him again, unaware of the way her words had rendered him motionless. He remembers hitting rock bottom and wondering if he could ever get back up but now he was standing tall. He could see all he worked so hard for finally falling into place.

He had all he could ever ask for. Two kickass kids that he loved more than anything. A good house in the suburbs. A great paying job. And a beautiful fiancé who supported and loved him.

It was the type of stability he had only dreamed of having during his childhood.

Naruto rests his head in the crook of her shoulder, pulling Kaiyo closer by the waist. He inhales her addictive citrus scent and relaxes in the warmth of her arms.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." He whispers. "I… I really love you."

"I love you too." Kaiyo says, softly. "And I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

In one week, they'd be married. Naruto and Kaiyo Uzumaki. He'd be lying if he said he didn't like the sound of it.

"I'm gonna tell the kids after dinner." He tells her, pulling away. "I'm not sure how they'll take me being home less so maybe with full stomachs they'll be a little more forgiving." He runs a hand through his hair, nervously. The last thing he wanted was to disappoint his kids.

Kaiyo's eyes flash in realisation. "Oh it totally slipped my mind because of the news but Boruto was a little upset today after school." She says, frowning. "He's been in his room ever since, you should talk to him."

Naruto nods. "I'll go see him right now."

"And I'll go see what fun little extras Hima's added on our pizzas." Kaiyo says with a weak chuckle.

Naruto makes his way up the stairs to his eldest' bedroom. He would never admit it out loud but the journey was a little daunting. When he was a toddler, there was only one person who could calm down Boruto's tantrums and that wasn't Naruto. He had never been the best at deciphering his son's emotions. It was a grievous battle of trial and error before he made progress. Even with progress, the outcome was still unpredictable. Naruto could only hope that tonight he didn't say the wrong thing or else he'd be hearing his son's lovely rendition of 'you're the worst father ever!'

Naruto takes a deep breath before knocking on the door. He waits a few seconds before entering. He finds Boruto laying on his bed with his handheld gaming console mere inches from his face as he clicks furiously at the buttons on the sides.

His son doesn't look up when the light from the hall illuminates his previously pitch black room. He doesn't look up when Naruto walks in and he doesn't look up when Naruto sits at the end of the bed.

Instead, he stares at his game. There's no emotion in his face which is unusual for Boruto who's just about as animated about his game as Naruto is around ramen. So Kaiyo was right, Boruto was definitely upset about something.

"We're having pizza tonight." Naruto says, breaking the silence. "Hima ordered so we'll probably get something crazy like pineapple and anchovies."

Boruto hums but says nothing. It's a short sound but nonetheless, a good sign. At least he was responding.

"Also I've got some news I want to share with the both of you after dinner so I'd like you to be down there okay?"

Boruto hums once again and continues to play his game. They're silent and Naruto racks his brain for the next logical thing to say but ultimately he decides to cut to the chase.

"Kaiyo told me you were upset after school. Did something happen?"

Boruto shrugs.

"Cmon Boruto you gotta give me more than that or I'm gonna sit at the end of your bed all night."

Boruto doesn't budge. Naruto takes it as his cue to lay next to his son, shoulder to shoulder. In the corner of his eye, he can spot how Boruto grimaces as he's pushed closer to the wall.

"I'm already kinda comfortable. I wouldn't mind sleeping here to be honest." For dramatic effect, he adds in a superficial yawn.

Finally, Boruto cracks and his clicking stops. "Just some idiots at school saying stupid stuff." He says, angrily. He throws his game to the side and sits up, crossing his arms over his chest.

Naruto sits up too, sensing the conversation was taking a serious turn. Sure Boruto had a temper but he'd never get so worked up over some playground talk.

"What were they saying?" He asks, his voice even.

Boruto huffs, glaring at the wall. "They were saying that since you're marrying Kaiyo, that she's gonna be my new mom." He hugs his knees close to his chest and his voice gets weaker. "I don't want a new mom. I already have a mom."

There's an all too familiar ache in Naruto's heart when he hears Boruto's revelation. It's the same ache he feels when he smells cinnamon rolls or when he passes the flower shop and there's a bouquet of lilies at the front. When he sees Kaiyo's diamond ring sparkle against the light.

Every time he looks at their kids and he's sees the little pieces of her intwined within them, it hurts like hell.

"I know, Boruto." He begins softly. He places a hand on his son's hair, gently stroking at his blonde locks. "Like I told you when Kaiyo and I first started dating, she's not here to replace your mom. No one can replace your mom, okay?"

The anger melts away from Boruto's face but the sadness lingers. "Okay."