A/N: Only a short warning - fluffyness in Christmas-suit xD

Inpatient crying and murmuring filled the main hall of the hospital where lots of kids were waiting for something. The doctors and nurses had said they got a special guest on Christmas and being children mostly all of the kids believed them. And then, finally, a big, dark silhouette entered the hall.

"IT'S SANTAAAA!" one of the kids screamed and some children ran to the sledge which was hauled by two walking reindeers. The older kids knew the animals were false, as well as the elf, because the man was Doctor Uchiha, but they were still shocked seeing Santa Claus waving on the big, wooden sledge.

"Ho ho ho." Kakashi said with a dark voice and smiled under his beard. "Have you been good children?" he asked, sounding serious. Some of the kids yelled a confident 'Yes' while other started glancing the ground with a bad conscience. But the grey-haired was nice that afternoon, so he just said, "Well, I can't see anyone who is on my 'Bad children' list here... Sooo I think I can give you your presents."

A choros screamed a joyfull, "YAAAAAAY!!!" and Itachi pulled out the first bags, giving it to the youngest kids. Naruto watched at the scene, sighing relaxed. All the children were smiling and lauching, enjoing themselves and checking the bags. It reminded him of a Christmas, many years ago. He had been happy that time, too, but then some older kids took his present and he became sad. He had run away that day, yes, outside into the cold night.

"M-mommy!" a high, girly voice cried and Naruto dropped his eyes, seeing a small girl running away from him and to her mother. The woman knelt down and the child went on her toes, whispering something into her ear. The girl was maybe five or six years old. The mother started giggling and said something to her, but she shook her head. With a smile the woman stood up and walked towards the blond.

She bowed her head and breathed, "She would like to stroke the reindeer, but she is too shy for asking." The Uzumaki widened his eyes with a 'Oh!' and fell on his knees, smiling all over his face at the small girl.

"Hello!" he grinned and the girl widened her eyes. She jumped behind her mother's leg, hiding herself. "You don't have to be afraid! I'm the nicest reindeer of Santa!" he smiled and the small person looked at him, somehow interested.

"You... can talk?" she whispered and the blond nodded. He was up to answer but another male voice was quicker.

"His name is Rudolf – of course he can talk." Sasuke answered, bowing his upper body so he was nearer to the child. "My name is Thunder. Nice to meet you." the raven said, sounding much softer than usual. And – more weird – the little girl came closer with a smile and shook his hand before she stepped closer and started stroking the fur of Naruto's costume. Soon, very soon, more and more children came to touch the reindeers and some of them even rided on the two students.

But after a while the two animals had to leave, because there were still some children who had to stay in their beds, they have to go to them for giving them their presents.

The Uzumaki wondered when he went upstairs, a big brown bag on his back. He didn't notice the hospital was especially for children and pregnant women. Anywhere he looked he saw ill children and became sad. They were on a station where the kids were, who had heavier diseases like cancer. He felt sorry for them, so young and still they... …

Suddenly the Uchiha-reindeer, who was just walking beside the youth, stopped in front of an open room. The blond stopped as well, watching the dark-haired walking into the room like he was been leaded. A young boy was sitting in one of the beds, starring at a book in his hands. Sasuke kept walking and sat down next to the boy.

"Hey there." he said.

"Hi." the boy replied.

"I'm Santa's reindeer and he send me to ask you why you weren't there getting your present."

"There is no Santa. That is only a guy in a stupid costume. And you aren't a reindeer either." The kids voice was cold and rational, even if he wasn't older than seven. It almost scared the blond lad.

But the Uchiha just answered, "Well, the presents are real. I wrapped them by myself." He pulled a bag out of the brown one and gave it to the boy, but he refused taking it. The raven laid the present down on the blanket and sighed, "Everyone outside is happy and having fun. Wanna join them?"

"No."

"Why?" The vampire stayed obstinate and got a hiss.

"Because Christmas is childish! And boring!" The little boy was pretty rude and the bright-haired would have bellowed back, but the raven was still calm.

"Oh, well, then I should go." He stood up and started walking, complaining, "And I thought you could be the one I was looking for, but if you're not interested..."

And with that the child turned his head towards him. "What do you mean? Why are you looking for somebody?" Naruto bet the other was smirking.

"It's pretty troublesome taking the present-bags while I'm wearing this ridiculous fur. I need someone to carry on my back and he has to take the bags and give it to the kids." A heavy sigh escaped his lips. "But I understand you, I wouldn't want to help me either. I couldn't stand all that children coming to me and admire me because I 'rided a guy in a costume'." He kept walking but suddenly something grabbed his hand. The reindeer-man looked down his arm, seeing the boy starring up to him with a slight blush.

The Uchiha's plan was successful: He was carrying the boy on his back while the kid grabbed into the bag and gave the presents to the children, who widened their eyes seeing him on top of 'Thunder'. Naruto felt a bit insecure, so he followed the older and knelt down often, because some of the kids were too small to reach their hands. But he didn't miss taking lots of photos, especially of the raven. The blond had never seen him so... free. He was even calmer than on the balcony that night, more gentle and somehow... happier as well. And he was focused on finding out why the dark-haired behaved like he did.

It got later and later, but the enthusiastic kid on the raven's back insisted to accompany them through the whole hospital. And finally he fell asleep, snoring into Sasuke's neck. So the two students went, carefully, back to the room where they found him, the Uzumaki helped the Uchiha getting free from the grap on his costume without waking up the small boy. They tucked the child into the blanket and looked at his content, relaxed expression and left, closing the door lowly.

Outside the younger yawned and rubbed his eyes, sighing. It had been more exhausting he had thought and he was really tired.

"It's been a long day." Sasuke whispered. The youth nodded and lifted his camera, taking a photo of the older. "You like taking photos, hu, dobe?"

"Yes I do, teme." Naruto grinned and stretched his arms. The other shook his head with a smirk and looked out of the window. White snow was coming from the sky.

"What about going out and take some fresh air? Even I start sweating in this thing." he said, already walking so all the lad could do was following him.

"Wow! They have a nice park here!" the blond smiled, looking at the area. Lots of trees were in a wide meadow as well as many park benches. Everything was white because of the snow and here and there were even some snowmen and snowwalls for some snowball fights.

"Yes. Itachi said the headmasters used an amount of money for building the park so that the children like going outside." Sasuke explained while they walked down a cleaned path. The Uzumaki took off his mask as well as the Uchiha did, so that their faces were free. The raven could clearly see the other's happiness and how much he liked that place. "Last year we came earlier and I was forced to pull the sledge around the park. The kids loved riding me..." Naruto giggled, imagining the oh so stuck-up bastard how he was treated like a random animal.

Suddenly he got an idea and put his arm around the vampire's neck, pulling him closer. The pale man was so surprised he couldn't resist in time and found himself much too near to the human. Their cheeks met and Sasuke swallowed, trying to focus.

"What are you doing, moron?!" he hissed, sounding angry. But the bright-haired just grinned all over his face.

"I'm making good memories! And now smile, Thunder!" he giggled and grinned into the camera and finally the other understood what was going on. He sighed before he opened his eyes and smiled slightly. Being honest he didn't dislike the closeness to the shorter man that much. So he even lifted his arm and put it around the blond's shoulder, pulling him even closer – without noticing. "Cheese, bastard!" the Uzumaki said.

"Cheese." the Uchiha answered and heard a low 'klick'.

"Naruto, we arrived. It's time to get into your bed." a male voice called, lowly.

"Uhm uhm... naa, lemme sleep here... … uhm..." the blond answered and rolled more into his seat.

The Uchiha had noticed how tired the human was and drove back to his apartment with him, but the Uzumaki fell asleep right when he had sat down.

"You can't sleep in my car, dobe." the raven said and rolled his eyes. "If you don't get up by yourself, I would have to carry you." He didn't get an answer so with a sigh the vampire grabbed gently the lad and lifted him up, carrying him mostly with his torso. With one arm he held the youth tightly and with the other he opened and closer various doors. Soon he reached his apartment and walked down the corridor, heading the blond's bedroom. He laid him down carefully on his side and pulled down the zipper of the costume so he could take off the cloth easily. When he was done the lad was only wearing his shirt and boxers, but with the blanket he wouldn't get cold during the night.

Sasuke looked at the clock. 3am. His eyes dropped back on the human and he sat down, next to him, watching him sleep. He couldn't hold it, so he lifted his hand and gently touched the scars on the warm, tan skin with his fingertips. The vampire could feel the blood circulating in the body, moved through a strong, calm heartbeat. Naruto looked serene lying on his mattress, no one could expect the blond boy was a loud, hyperactive baka. The Uchiha kept touching his face, down the cheeks under the chin, going back upwards, over the forehead. After a while he stopped his hand on the tan cheek and brushed with his thump over the flesh. But suddenly the human rocked his head into the touch, causing the older to jerk his hand back.

The human had too much effect on him. If it continued that way, he would fall... …

He had to stop it.

It was so cold.

The whole, little body was shivering.

It was so cold.

The snow melted under his butt and on his body.

It was so cold.

He wore almost nothing, only his shirt, his pants and his socks.

It was so cold... And he was so angry. Burning tears flowed down his cheeks and he sobbed furiously.

He was so angry.

He didn't even feel the pain of his blue eye and his bleeding nose.

He was so angry with the other's, that stupid guys, calling him bastard and taking his Christmas-present. He was so angry with them. They said no one would take him home and that everyone would be happier if he wasn't there. He had run away, ignoring the cold, wet weather.

And now there he was, sitting in the middle of bushes, angry and sad, crying like a baby. No one would come or looking for him and that made him even sadder. He had always been alone and being a small, 4-year-old boy he already escaped from the orphanage, knowing anybody would follow him in order to take him back. More hot tears flowed out of his eyes and he cried louder, pressing his head on his knees, trembling.

He was so alone... …

"Here you are."

He jerked his head towards the voice, rubbing his big, red eyes. In front of the bushes was a big shadow, cowered so he could look inside the green and white wall. "Why didn't you answer when I called?" a dark, male but soft voice asked and the man bowed his head, seeing the little boy sitting in the small leaf-cavern.

The boy turned his back to the man and hissed, "Go away!" He heard noises, but instead of leaving the man laid down in the snow and crawled a bit inside, he was nearer to the crying child.

"Naruto, right?" he asked and the boy vellicated. "Everyone is out looking for you. Sarutobi-san is loony for worry."

"Don't lie! Go away!!!" the boy screamed, furious. Why was anyone honest to him? They all lied to him, always. He started shivering again, worse than before.

After a while the man considered, "It's really cold. Wouldn't you feel better in front of the fireplace at the orphanage?"

"No!!! I'll never go back there! They don't want me there!!!" the kid cried, weeping even louder.

"Hmmm..." the man murmured. "Would you prefer coming to my home? It's nearer, too."

"I don't go with bad people! I don't know you! Go away!!!" A giggle reached his ears.

"Naruto, don't tell me you don't know me?" he asked and the little boy turned around, looking at the man. He had black hair and pale skin, along with dark blue eyes. "I help Sarutobi-san out in the kitchen."

"Cookie-man? Is that you?" the kid asked and turned around completely when he heard a laugh.

"Yes, I'm the cookie-man." the raven smiled and lifted his hand. "Let's make a deal: You come with me to my place and I'll make as many cookies as you want."

"... With hot-chocolate and marshmallows?" The big eyes blinked interested into darker ones.

"With hot-chocolate and marshmallows." the adult answered and the little boy shook the pale hand. "Very well. And now come out of there before you turn completely into an icicle." the dark-haired said and the boy crawled out off his hidehood. When he was outside a big dark cloth flew over him, wrapping him into it. "You're so cold! Good I found you in time." the raven whispered and rubbed his jacket against the little body, warming him up. The adult lifted the boy up, holding him on his chest.

Naruto grabbed at the man's neck and pressed himself closer to him, trembling but feeling safe like rarely before in his young life.