"Sasuke, you're not even in the spirit!" Ino pouted as she ran her eyes over the Uchiha's lack of Christmas attire. He was wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans. Nothing special, "I told you dress code would be enforced!" She spoke over the blasting music. She herself was wearing a very short Santa dress, her cheeks painted a bright red.

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Sasuke was tired of standing in the doorway, it was cold, he started to step around the blonde haired girl. But he stopped when she trailed a red painted nail down his chest.

She look up at him through her eyelashes, "I could kick you out of my party..." She bit her lip softly, her nail running down Sasuke's stomach and to the start of his jeans. "Or I could undress you," Ino gave him a teasing smile, raising one of her eyebrows in suggestion. For a moment, Sasuke quirked his lips in consideration. Then he thought about what Sakura had said about having sex with anyone else—not that he was afraid of her—however, he just winked and pushed his way into Ino's house.

The two story house was decorated with Christmas lights and ornaments, too much for Sasuke's liking. From the banners hung streamers, a couple christmas trees were decked out with were people making out under the numerous mistletoes, plenty on girls lining up to sit on Santa's lap. Sasuke rolled his eyes, this wasn't a Christmas party—it was a role play orgy. He walked up to a tray on a counter and grabbed a red plastic cup. He drank the light colored liquid, it went down hot. He made a face.

After his second cup, from the corner of his eye, he could see three girls whispering on the other side of the counter. He turned toward them. They squealed in surprise and braved a tiny wave to him. Maybe it was the alcohol in his system kicking in quickly, but he shot them a smirk. They looked at each other for courage before circling the counter and standing before him. "Hey," One girl bit her lip, looking up at Sasuke from under long lashes. All girls had the same moves.

He sipped his drink. "Hey, yourself." Another drink.

"You wanna dance?" She rose an eyebrow, looking toward the massive crowd of people in the living room, grinding in time with the beat. It looked sweaty and uncomfortable, Sasuke nodded and downed the rest of his cup. Whatever was in that drink was really good. He grabbed another as each girl took hold of either his shirt or arm and pulled in to the makeshift dance floor.

He swayed as all three of them found someplace on his body to bump against. Sasuke was not the dancing type but was okay with indulging girls once in a while. The music was addicting like it always was, combined with the alcohol, it was dizzying. He put his hands on the hips of the girl who had spoken, feeling her jump at the contact. She soon relaxed into his body and turned to face him, even brave enough to steal the cup from his hand and take a swig. She giggled and looked up at him, "You're not even into this!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes at her. She really shouldn't be talking, it was privilege enough to be dancing with him. "I'm never into anything."

"That's not what I heard!" She laughed again, drinking from the plastic cup. He frowned. He studied her face, trying to guess her game. She had weird red hair, frizzy one side and straight the other. But then again that just might be because of the party. Her eyes were pale red, glasses hung from the front of her revealing shirt. But something else bothered him. "I bet you would know better if I had blue eyes," Sasuke gritted his teeth against her words. Now it made sense. She and that dobe had the exact same shape of eyes, if hers were the same shade of blue it would be uncanny.

"You're his cousin." Sasuke started to the edge of the room, remembering that he'd met this girl once in elementary. Her family had once been in custody of the blonde idiot, but relinquished him. Leaving him to live in poverty.

"Hey, hey!" She tugged on his arm and regained his attention. She was still giddy, "I wanna talk to you and that's it. It doesn't even have to be about Naru—"

"But it will be." The Uchiha frowned and made his way outside, feeling her touch as she followed. They were hit by cold air, they sighed with relief. "What is it?" Sasuke asked, leaning against the sliding door, making it impossible for anyone to interrupt them.

"My name is Karin," She put back on her glasses, adjusting them on her nose.

"What?"

"I knew you didn't remember my name, and I knew you weren't going to ask." Karin smirked then stared down at the red cup in her hands. "Naruto is my cousin by blood, but there was no family bond between his mother and mine. Aunt Kushina was beautiful and my mom was jealous... Maybe that's why I can't stand to look at Naruto, he got her looks after all. He's beautiful huh, Sasuke?" Her voice trailed off in thought.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Where was she going with this? "Then why are you bothering to question me? I can't make you two friends." He hadn't spoken to Naruto in awhile anyway. He looked back inside the house, people were still dancing and he could see Ino leaning against a couch talking to some guy. Her dress was letting her ample bosom spill into a nice view. Sakura wasn't even at this party.

"I don't know. I think it's because I'm trying to make up for it." Karin sighed. "My mom heard about him being pregnant and you know what she said? She said it was because Kushina raised him to be a bitch—don't look so offended, you're helping at making it true." She pointed at him with the cup.

"No, I'm not!" Sasuke pushed himself off the sliding door and snatched the cup from her hand. "He can be what he wants." He finished the contents of the cup and threw it to the ground.

Karin laughed and put her hands on her hips. "Really? All the bitches you could've had, but you chose him. You're telling me it was random? Fuck that... Actually, I think I know exactly why you slept with him—"

Sasuke had had enough. He didn't want to talk about Naruto, he didn't want to have a child, he didn't want to deal with any of this. The raven turned toward the door but Karin slid in between his body and the exit. "Karin." Sasuke growled—there was no other way to put it. His voice was seeping with uncontrolled anger, his fists balled tight. He didn't want to hear what it was that drew him to the dobe. Anything but that. "Don't say it—!"

"You love him." There was a rush of heat and Karin found herself falling to the side, her cheek burning. She cupped it, looking up at the raven. She wasn't afraid, she didn't even care that she'd been struck by a man. Her buzz stopped all that. But what it didn't block was the fact that above her, Sasuke Uchiha cried. "I just want my cousin to be okay, you can help him do that because you love him, Sasuke. Ha, I can think back to when we were kids... He never smiled much. But I bet you can make him smile."

He fisted his hair, grimaced and cried silently. Slowly, he sank to the ground, letting Karin wrap her arms around his shoulders.

/O\/O\/O\/O\/O\/O\

Naruto yelped and dropped the bowl of popcorn he was carrying. Again. He sighed and started to bend over to clean it up.

"Got it," Kiba swooped in and began to clean the popcorn. Naruto frowned at him. Kiba shrugged, "I don't know if its safe for you to bend when you're three months. Plus I'm a gentleman." He winked. The blonde rolled his eyes and moved on to sit on the couch, next to Gaara.

"If you're so scared you shouldn't have agreed to watch any scary movies." The redhead pointed out, laughing at his friend.

"I'm not scared!" Somehow he'd been roped into a scary movie marathon with the Sabaku sibs, Neji, and Mr. Suspicious. The Sabaku's weren't big on Christmas which Naruto was okay with, he didn't want to receive baby clothes. Halloween in December as Gaara put it. Naruto settled deeper into the couch, watching Kiba as he brought him a fresh bowl of popcorn, "Thanks so much." Kiba gave him a smirk and settled on the floor, leaning against the blondes legs. As the millionth movie continued, Naruto slowly became aware that Kiba had actually fallen asleep on him, his head leaning at an odd angle against his knees. Psh, can't even stay awake. Naruto on the other hand was sure he would be up for the next 48 hours straight, which couldn't be good for the baby, he was sure. When the moment came that the girl had tripped in the woods and a killer had her by the hair, knife at her neck—Naruto squealed and pulled his legs up to the couch, effectively kneeing the brunette in the head.

The dog lover jumped up to his feet and snatched Naruto from the couch, arms securing themselves around the blondes shoulders. "What'sit?" He asked, voice heavy with slumber. He looked around for a threat, finding none he look at what he had in his arms, a blonde struggling to break free. "God!" He released the smaller male, then placed his hand on the small bulge of a stomach. "Is it okay?"

"My baby is fine!" Naruto smacked his hand away, replacing it with his own. He pouted at Kiba's reckless antics. Noting that Kiba continued to be the only person to touch his tummy.

Gaara decided to break the tense and awkward silence, "Well, that's that." He stood to take the movie from the DVD player. "Everyone, get the hell out of my place. Except you, Neji, you get your ass in my room. Merry Christmas to you all."

Kiba stopped outside Naruto's door, hands deep inside the pockets of his coat. He waited patiently for the blonde to pull out his keys. When the door opened he puffed out his cheeks. "Well... I'll just be going..." Kiba sighed, swinging his foot nonchalantly. He looked into Naruto's annoyed yet torn eyes and knew exactly what the problem was. Even at this age, he was afraid to stay alone after watching a scary movie. Paranoia was a definite companion for the tan male, plus it would be safer if he stayed. "You want me to stay over? Just like I use to?" He smiled at the blonde.

"Yeah," Naruto led the way into the apartment. Kiba said nothing about the small and slightly poor condition, he simply entered. "But this time you're on the couch. Sorry, I don't have a blanket for you either." Kiba said nothing about that comment but laid down on the couch, feet hanging off the armrest. How many time was he going to have some guy on that couch? Naruto scratched his head.

"Goodnight Naruto." The brunette called after the blonde had gone to his room. "Let's go somewhere tomorrow. My treat." He added as an after thought.

Naruto sat on his bed, carefully pulling off his shabby winter coat. Now what made Kiba think he would say—"Yeah." He licked his lips and pushed back the guilty feeling that was climbing up his throat. "Just nowhere too expensive." He would get some answers out of Kiba tomorrow then.

A/N: Things are going to start picking up soon. Review.