Sorry guys, I've been sick. Here's chapter 16, the next one will be posted before Tuesday for sure =)

Thanks for the reviews!

"You fell asleep here." Shunsuke was hunched over so that he was eye to eye with Sasuke. Sasuke's eye narrowed once the light hit and his vision focused on the dark set of eyes set on him. He stared forward for awhile and blinked without saying anything.

"You fell asleep here." Shunsuke repeated several seconds later as Sasuke, who was layed flat along the couch, sat up.

"Yeah…Sorry." Sasuke yawned and scratched his head.

"Mama made us breakfast. 'T's ready now."

"Alright, I'm coming." Sasuke nodded and sat up. Shunsuke remained standing in front of him with the same expression as before. "…Are you…alright?"

"You fell asleep here." Shunsuke repeated again.

Sasuke sighed. "I know Shunsuke. I apologize. I won't do it again."

"I don't care." Shunsuke shrugged and headed into the kitchen. Sasuke's brow furrowed in confusion as he watched the young child walk off and seat himself at the kitchen table drawing on a sheet of paper as he waited for Sasuke to come into the kitchen.

"Good morning," Sasuke nodded as he entered the kitchen.

" 'Morning." Sakura smiled back as Sasuke entered. He placed a hand lightly on Shunsuke's head and walked towards Sasuke, snaking an arm around her waist stealing a kiss when he thought the young child wasn't looking.

"That's gross." Shunsuke called out, still looking at his paper and Sakura laughed.

"Oh hey Sasuke, I have to go in early today, so can you take Shunsuke to school alone for me?" Sakura asked even though she already knew he would.

Shunsuke flashed Sasuke a bright mischievous grin that seemed to cover half his face and Sasuke raised a brow.

"What was that about?" He asked guardedly.

"Nothin.'" Shunsuke replied innocently and he flashed the grin once more just for effect.

"Hurry up and eat Shunsuke. You don't want to be late." Sakura warned as she ate quickly as well.

"Yes ma'am," Shunsuke saluted and began eating his breakfast. "Hurry up an' eat Papa. Don't wanna be late."

Shunsuke lifted his brow twice before shooting Sasuke the same grin as before. Sasuke stared back with a deciphering look. He didn't know why, but he knew one thing for sure: this was sure to be an interesting walk.

"What is it Shunsuke?" Sasuke asked after no longer being able to take the young child silently casting scrutinizing glances at him as they walked hand and hand to the Academy.

Shunsuke didn't speak for a moment, then he opened his mouth but reclosed it after a moment of thought.

"What?" Sasuke repeated, seeking to end the mystery.

"Are you gonna marry Mama?" Shusnuke blurted as he once more stared intently at Sasuke. The steady cadence of the older man's footsteps faltered slightly, but the rhythm beside him remained steady.

"I-I don't know Shunsuke. That's a big commitment."

Shunsuke's calm eyes blinked wide in search of his father's point. Seeing his son's look, Sasuke sighed. "Look Shunsuke, people don't just get married for the sake of it.

"So is that a yes or a no?"

Sasuke contained a sigh. Why couldn't they both learn to just leave well alone?

"Why are you so interested, Shunsuke?" Sasuke prepared himself for Shunsuke's frustrated anger at being answered with a question; however, the young boy just poked his lip out thoughtfully and shrugged.

"I dunno. 'Cause that's what Mommy's and Daddy's are s'posed t' do I guess."

"Not all of them."

"But well, how can we be the Uchiha family if you guys aren't married. Then me an' Mama aren't Uchiha's right?"

Sasuke sighed deeply and chose his words slowly and carefully. "Either way Shunsuke, you're my son. We share the same blood. But more importantly…family's aren't based on name or marriage or even blood for that matter…They're based on bonds." Shunsuke's brow met together in an upwards raise of unconvincing.

"You consider Naruto your uncle don't you? Well he's not related to me-thankfully-or to Sakura. You call his that because of a special bond you share. Just like you didn't begin calling me 'Papa' until we worked up that bond." Sasuke pointed out.

Shunsuke raised his brow briefly and shrugged once more. "So was that a no?"

Sasuke sighed. "I didn't say that."

"Then it's a yes."

"I didn't say that either," Sasuke clarified quickly.

"So what is it?" Shunsuke sighed, beginning to grow annoyed with his father's verbal ambiguity.

"It's a…'time will tell.'"

"It's a 'not answer' that's what it is." Shunsuke quipped back and let out a mix of a growl and a sigh, acknowledging his own resignation. Or so Sasuke thought.

"Heeey, looka that," Shunsuke pointed to a parked street cart up ahead.

"What about it?" Sasuke asked in confusion, but one look at the familiar, self-assured glint in Shunsuke's eyes answered Sasuke's question. "No."

Shunsuke's smile didn't falter. "Aw c'mon. Five outta five. You don't have to say you'll marry her, you just gotta decide." With his free hand, Shunsuke began fishing kunai out of his pouch.

"Haven't had to deal with this in a while. Sasuke muttered to himself and kept walking, pulling Shunsuke alongside him.

"The closer we get, the easier you'll make it Papa." Shunsuke warned in a melodious voice.

"Either way, I'm not basing a marriage decision of off pure chance."

"Fate." Shunsuke clarified.

"Huh?"

"Doesn't chance mean I might miss one? With fate you know it's gonna happen."

A small, awed laugh escaped Sasuke's throat at the mirrored figure of arrogance standing before him.

"Ten outta ten. Better?" Shunuske asked, seeing Sasuke wasn't wavering. The older man kept walking. "Twenty…Fifty!"

"Oh damn, we're here already. Have a nice day at school Shunsuke." Sasuke released Shunsuke's hand to place it behind the young boy's head and gently but firmly pushed him towards the welcoming sight of the Academy. Shunsuke's eyes narrowed playfully and he turned to Sasuke.

"We'll finish later. Bye Papa!" He waved as he grabbed his bag straps and ran off for the school house.

"Oh an' Papa," Shunsuke called as he ran back. "…I liked you being there this mornin' with me an' Mama."

Sasuke face fell in heartfelt shock and all he could manage was to nod back. Shunsuke nodded and smiled.

"Okay bye!" The young child waved as he once again took off for the school doors. Sasuke held his hand in the air until Shunsuke disappeared with the river of children flowing into the schoolhouse.

"Shit." He swore as his hand dropped heavily from the trying situation and ran slowly though his thick, black hair.

"So where're they goin'?" Aito asked as he and Shunsuke stood in the Ashihara bathroom, brushing their teeth before bed. It was Friday night and Sakura and Sasuke had decided to go out on a date with just the two of them. Despite the previous blow up, the adults knew how important preserving their children's friendship were and Aito and Shunsuke had continued to see each other as normal. Sakura had planned for Shunsuke to go over to Naruto's, but the young child had asked if he go over to Aito's instead. Sakura asked Koemi for permission which turned into both boys asking the adults for a sleepover. To the children's pleasure, they chose to allow it.

Shunsuke shrugged. "Mama said a movie or food or somethin.'"

"Ah," Aito nodded. "Sounds fun."

Shunsuke shrugged again. "Yeah Papa's been takin' her out with all three of us but he hasn't done it with just them in a while so that's good."

"What?"

"Their date."

"Oh."

"I asked Papa if he was gonna marry Mama," Shunsuke admitted after a moment.

"Aito, Shunsuke, time for bed." Koemi appeared in the doorway and ushered the children to Aito's bedroom. After she'd bade them goodnight and left, Aito spoke.

"What'd he say?"

"He kinda didn't answer. He said it was somethin' he had to think about."

"Why?"

"Tchh I dunno."

"But I thought he loved you and your mother."

"Yeah he does. That's why I can't see why he won't marry her."

Aito yawned. "I don't get why people think adults aren't stupid. 'Night."

Shunsuke yawned back and bunched his lips to the side in a look of shared skepticism and sighed. "You're right sometimes…'Night."

"Lady Tsunade gave you tomorrow off? Really?" Sasuke shot Sakura a look of suspicion.

Sakura nodded. "Yeah ever since I had Shunsuke, she's been pretty good about that. Of course I'm on call twenty-four/seven, but I can deal with that."

"So what are the odds you'll get called in tonight or tomorrow?" Sasuke raised a sly brow. A slow smirk spread across Sakura's face.

"Why do you have plans?"

Sasuke smirk back, but slowly the smirk fell. "No, but I'm pretty sure you do."

"Huh?" Sakura asked back in confusion. Sasuke simply nodded behind her where a young man in a white medical uniform was running through the street towards Sakura.

"Oh no," she groaned under her breath as the man approached.

"Lady Hokage wants to see you in her office immediately," the messenger curtly informed Sakura. She suppressed a sigh.

"Alright, I'm on my way now." The man nodded in response and took off. Sakura turned to Sasuke with an apologetic wince. "I'm sorry Sasuke."

Sasuke did nothing to hide his disappointment but nodded in understanding. "Don't worry about it."

"Hopefully I'll be done soon we can meet up later!" Sakura waved as she headed off to the tower.

"Yeah," Sasuke nodded back and held up his hand halfway, waving her goodbye.

Sasuke sat in his room, solemn faced and with a throbbing erection. He looked at the clock. Two fifteen in the morning. He sighed. Sasuke had been going back and forth between his place and Sakura's in roughly half minute intervals for about four hours now and the woman had still not left the tower. With it being so late, he thought about waiting outside of the entrance to walk her home, but he was informed by wary guards that Shikamaru-who was also present-could escort the young lady home. Before the situation escalated, Lady Tsunade firmly advised Sasuke to head home-ensuring Sakura's safety with an escort from the Nara and a reminder of the young lady's fighting capabilities. Sasuke sensed the urgency surrounding the mysterious situation and knew the problems his present state of parole could cause; therefore, he decided to head to Sakura's house and wait outside for a while. After about an hour of waiting, his mind began wondering if Sakura had planned to go back to his place. Consequently, he headed over there where he waited but didn't find her. Once again, his mind began wondering if-since Shikamaru would be walking with her-Sakura was headed back to her house first, so the Uchiha went back over there. And so the cycle continued for the majority of the night.

Sasuke decided to relax on his bed for a while in hopes of killing time- and his erection. After a while the throbbing seemed to dull and the bulge slowly but finally began to soften. He looked at the clock. It was almost two thirty. Sasuke sighed once more and sat up.

Taking to the village streets, yet again that night, Sasuke headed for Sakura's place. He knocked on the door and waited for nearly a minute. He knocked again, listening carefully inside.

"Dammit Sakura, what the hell's going on?" He muttered to himself in concern.

With a scowl, he turned from the door and decided to talk a walk through the village. Everything was still and quiet: the wind wasn't blowing and it seemed even the typically nocturnal creatures had turned in. Sasuke kept walking aimlessly through the streets, subconsciously hoping to run into Sakura at any turn. He'd realized he'd walked nearly the entire village when he found himself near the village gates. He stopped and sighed heavily. It had to be after or near three now and Sakura still wasn't back. Sasuke stared vaguely at the large, green gates and his mind began a listless series of incoherent thoughts.

"Who the hell is that?" Shikamaru drawled as he and Sakura walked tiredly from the Hokage's office. He nodded a distance ahead toward a building near the village gates, where a dark figure sat idly on the rooftop. Sakura narrowed her eyes towards the general direction until her eyes found the figure.

"I don't know," she replied in concern, pulling out a kunai as a precaution. Shikamaru's face hardened.

"Come on." The two stealthily made their way closer until at last, more than a silhouette could be made out of the figure.

"It's Sasuke." Sakura breathed in a mix of shock and relief. Although relieved, she began biting her lip in unexplained anxiousness and an odd queasiness danced in her stomach as they watched Sasuke reclining on the rooftop with a wistful gaze directed towards the stars in the horizon beyond the gate. As the two walked closer, Sasuke sensed their presence and lazily dropped his head to see who they were.

"Sakura." He spoke in a voice of obvious relief.

"Hey," Sakura gave a tired half smile. "…What are you doing out here so late?"

"Waiting for you. I decided to go for a walk and ended up stopping here for a moment."

Sakura nodded and gave a small smile. "Thanks."

"What the hell took so long anyway?"

Sakura sighed. "It was a false alarm. I can't go into detail, but just know everything's okay. Shikamaru and I have one more street to patrol then we have to return to the tower to give Lady Tsunade our report and then I'm headed home."

"You go on ahead Sakura," Shikamaru objected. "I'll be fine, there's nothing wrong here anyway."

"Are you sure?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah yeah I'm sure. Now I don't have to worry about walking you home so we both win."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Thanks. Goodnight Shikamaru."

"Goodnight Sakura. Goodnight Sasuke." He nodded before clearing the final street and returning to the tower.

"You're exhausted." Sasuke noted as he looked at Sakura. She laughed unenergetically.

"You look tired too."

He ran a hand along his face and cupped her neck. "Let's go to bed." She nodded and was surprised and secretly happy when Sasuke lifted her bridal style and carried her the rest of the way home. She looked up towards the sky as they traveled in silence- the stars above dimmer and fewer with the village lights.

Although Tsunade had given her the whole weekend off because of her late shift Friday night to Saturday morning, Sakura still felt completely drained after her normal Monday shift. She watched the clock eagerly. At three o'clock exactly, she closed her files and stood up with a stretch.

"Finally over," she smiled to herself as she headed out of the building and towards the Academy to get Shunsuke who would be done soon. As she walked outside, she noticed Sasuke standing near the building. Sasuke stared towards the Academy, to the spot where Shunsuke had returned to tell him how much he enjoyed Sasuke being there.

"Hey," Sakura smiled as she walked towards him and pressed their lips lightly together.

"Sakura…can we talk?" Sasuke leaned tensely against the harsh wood of the fence and narrowed his dark eyes upward to the cloudless sky.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Sakura could sense the uneasiness radiating from Sasuke. With a heavy exhale, Sasuke pushed off the fence and lightly jerked his head for her to follow. Sakura's lips pressed together in worry, but she nodded.

"Oh hey, is this gonna take long?" Sakura asked apologetically. "I have to pick Shunsuke up today."

"It shouldn't; I wanted to talk about him though."

"…Alright, sure. What's wrong?"

"I'd rather wait until we're in private."

Sakura nodded warily. "I'm going to see if Ino's in the shop and if she'll mind getting Shunsuke." Sakura placed her hand gently on Sasuke's forearm to indicate she was stopping. Walking cautiously into the aromatic shop, Sakura paused for a moment before looking around for her friend.

"Hey Forehead, what are you doing here?" Ino teased as she appeared from the backroom.

"Oh good you're here." Sakura breathed and ignored the taunt.

"What's up with you?" Ino furrowed her blonde brow.

"Are you working alone? I need to ask you for a favor."

"No, my mother's back there too. What's up?" Ino asked in growing concerned.

"Do you mind getting Shunsuke from and watching him for a moment…Sasuke and I have to talk about something."

Ino quirked a brow and a slow, perverted smirk spread over her face. "Yeah, I'm sure you do ."

"Really Ino," Sakura rolled her eyes exasperatedly. Ino noted the distracted, troubled look in her friend's eyes and cocked her head down in concern.

"Everything okay?"

Sakura shrugged and shook her head with the quick tempo at which she was blinking her eyes. "Not sure…he sounded pretty ser-"

"Sakura." Sasuke's voice- soft but impatient- entered the shop. Sakura head turned snapped reflexively to his voice and she nodded as he wordlessly stared at her for a second before his head disappeared from the door opening.

"Don't worry, I'll get him." Ino reassured, staring towards where Sasuke had just vanished from. "You go on ahead."

Sakura breathed a smile of relief and heavy anxiety and headed for the door. "Thanks Ino."

"Oh and Sakura…" Ino called as Sakura's thin, strong hand rested lightly on the door frame. "I don't know what's up so…just be careful ok." Sakura rolled her eyes in hopes of dismissing the matter lightly.

"Sakura." Ino repeated sternly as her friend took another step to leave. Sakura froze in the doorway fro a moment, chewing her lower lip disconcertedly.

"Ok." She finally replied before quickly exiting the shop. She breathed deeply as a gust of the cool, outside air hit her burning face in a wave of sweet assuagement.

Like I said I've been sick guys, sorry it took so long. In compensation and because I know next week I'll be busy with finals, look for the next chapter to be posted between Sunday and Tuesday-probably late Sunday night but it'll definitely be up by Tuesday.

See ya soon! xoxoxoxoxo