I know I promised this not long after the last chapter but I've been busy with Uni and I haven't been well, so here it is better late than never! lol

Chapter 24. It's Christmas! Sasu Pov

I'm just heading off to sleep when my door bursts open. Sitting up I rub my eyes trying to focus but everything's blurry. I reach for my glasses, though I don't need them to know who is standing in my doorway. I'm guessing she's just finished work. Naruko's spending the next week with us for Christmas and New Years because she's got the week off work or something.

"Where's the fire?" She switches my light on and I squint. I just wanna sleep...

"No fire. Just fun." She makes her way into my room and I notice Itachi's behind her, carrying some bags, and he closes the door after them. They make themselves comfortable on my floor, unpacking their bags. "Come." She waves me over but I stay where I am. Where it's nice and warm.

"What are you doing?" They pull out a few bottles of alcohol and some takeaway Chinese food, even some chopsticks.

"Can't you tell? We're having a party. Come sit with us." She beckons me again though I still don't move.

"Can't. I'm naked." Itachi gives 'the look'; he always knows when I'm lying.

"You never sleep naked. Get your butt the floor." I groan, knowing that I'm not going to win.

"Can you at least pass me a shirt?" He chucks it at my face as they dig in to their food. Pulling the t-shirt on, I move to the floor and Naruko passes me a glass and a bottle of non-alcoholic wine. She smiles at me before tucking back into her food and I can't help but feel happy that she's trying to include me. Itachi also passes me my own box of chow mein. "So why are we having a party?" Naruko slurps up her noodles before looking back up at me grinning.

"Because it's Christmas!" Itachi shh's her as she var nearly shouted it. She gives him a quick sorry before taking a drink from her beer.

"It's not Christmas yet." She points towards my beside clock; 00:30.

"Technically it's Christmas." Huh, I guess it is. I eat my noodles while listening to them bicker about everything and nothing. Naruko reaches over to pour out some of my 'wine' before forcing me to take it. I take a sip as she watches me and have to hold back my grimace. It's disgusting. She smiles again before continuing her conversation with Itachi. I zone out for a while before I see a blush make its way onto her face.

"You seem happy." I blurt out without thinking. Whenever I've seen her this past week, I noticed that she seems a bit chirpier than usual. She gives me a slight smile and I feel butterflies flutter.

"That's because I am." The smile disappears for a second as she looks at me, but it's back so quickly that I wonder if I just imagined it. "I get to spend Christmas with two of my favourite people." She looks up at Itachi and he smiles down at her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. I wonder if he wasn't gay whether they would have ended up together. And deep down I can't help but feel glad that he is; because then I wouldn't have to watch them all lovey dovey. I take another drink of the 'wine'; if only I wasn't still in high school... would I have a chance then? I sigh; what a depressing start to Christmas...

Naru POV

Mikoto told us to go to sleep about four in the morning as we were being noisy; or rather I was being loud but I was just hyper. I've spent the last few Christmas' alone though Itachi did pop over for an hour or so on each; so I was rather excited to be spending Christmas with someone other than the four walls of my home. We all ended up sleeping in Sasuke's bed, much to his annoyance, with Itachi in the middle. Though I didn't do much sleeping. As soon as it turned eight o'clock, Mikoto told me I couldn't get up until then, I straddled both Uchiha's who were lying on their sides and started bouncing on them. They tried to ignore me for a while but I won eventually.

After successfully waking them up I ran out the room, feeling very much like a kid again, to knock on Fugaku and Mikoto's door. I did have enough sense to not barge in; I didn't want to walk in on them naked or anything else... I shiver at the thought, creepy. Fugaku answers telling me to get washed etc and they'll meet us downstairs. I stick my head round Sasuke's door to tell them before grabbing the shower before either of them could.

Sliding down the banister, now dressed in three-quarter length jeans and a t-shirt saying 'Bomb Technician – If you see me running, try to keep up!', Mikoto gives me a disapproving look as she walks past but it doesn't last long as she gives me a hug.

"Merry Christmas, dear." She lets me go before reading my t-shirt. "Whoever gave you that?"

"Kiba." She laughs as she walks away and I'm sure I hear her say 'sounds about right'. I follow her into the living area and sit on the floor in front of the fire. Itachi and Sasuke were fighting over the bathroom before I came down so they'll probably be a while yet. Fugaku gave the maids the day off to spend with their families, mainly because Mikoto wanted to do everything because I'll be with them. I smile at how motherly and caring she is for someone who isn't her child but then frown as I think of my parents. Christmas' without them are always the worst days; most of the time I can forget but its days like this when I miss them the most.

"Here." Itachi passes me a glass of orange juice and some toast. "Mom says make sure you don't drop any." He smirks at me as I take them off him, before heading back into the kitchen, probably to help Mikoto. I look to the side and see Fugaku through the window shovelling snow off the drive. It must have come down pretty hard again last night. I finish off my breakfast and take my dishes into the kitchen. Itachi takes them off me to wash them as Mikoto makes a start on the dinner.

"Where's little Uchiha?" I grab a bit of soap suds and flick it at Itachi's face. Before he can retaliate his mom gives him 'the look', all Uchiha's have it, and he stops.

"Probably still in front of his vanity mirror." I grin before running to the back door and pulling my trainers on. "Naruko whatever you're thinking, don't do it." He shouts after me but I ignore him as I run outside to make some snowballs. My hands are freezing, I should have grabbed some gloves, but it'll be worth it to see the look on Sasuke's face. Looking up I see Fugaku shaking his head at me but he's smiling; I pick up my two snowballs and head back inside. Kicking my trainers back off, I run up the stairs and peek through Sasuke's open door to see him spiking his hair up at the back. I hold back my laughter, duck-butt. He doesn't notice as I creep into the room armed with the two snowballs in one hand. He's wearing elasticated trousers and a grin makes its way onto my face. Moving in front of him, I quickly wrap my arms around him so he doesn't see the snow.

"Urmm, Naruko? What are you doing?" I look up at his face, blush covering his cheeks, and I give him my sweetest smile. I hook the fingers of my free hand under the top of his trousers and boxers. His face gets even redder and he shivers as my cold fingers brush against his skin. "Naru..."

"Merry Christmas, Sasuke." I quickly pull my other arm round and dump the snow down his pants, his clothing snaps back against his skin as I let go of his trousers and run out the room quickly. There's a few moments of silence as I run down the stairs, scared for my safety while he gets over the shock, before the house practically shakes with his voice.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU NARUKO!" I laugh as I skid into the kitchen, grabbing hold of Itachi and using him as a shield. A few minutes later, Sasuke appears at the doorway with a smirk on his face and nods at his brother. Before I can do anything Itachi reverses our positions, holding me in front of him. He grabs my hands keeping them behind me as I struggle, though I can't stop laughing; especially when I look at the wet patch at the front of Sasuke's trousers making it look like he's wet himself. I kick my legs out at him as he comes closer with his own snowball. I try to tell him not to but I can't get any words out because I'm laughing too hard. He comes close, whispering in my ear, "Merry Christmas to you too, Naru." I squeal as he pulls my jeans away from me as far as they'll go before dropping the snowball down. I jerk in Itachi's hold and end up head butting Sasuke. He staggers back and even though my jeans are soaked I continue laughing. This is going to be a fun week.

Sasu POV

"The house is always so much livelier with you around, Naruko." I flinch as mom touches the small lump on my head thanks to Naruko. Although she laughed at us, mom ended up throwing us all out of the kitchen for causing a disturbance. I had to change my trousers, and boxers, thanks to Naruko though I can't help smirking at getting her back. Once mom had everything prepared for dinner she let us open our presents. Naruko had all her presents under our tree as well; her friends had stopped by earlier in the week to drop them off for her. There's not a lot but there's at least one from each of them. I opened one of mine, which happened to be from Sai, and had to quickly try to hide it before anyone saw it. I'm going to kill him when I see him; who would give somebody a porn magazine as a present? For all I know it's second hand and he's already benefited from him. I shiver just thinking about it.

Naruko got some clothes from her friends, girls I'm guessing, some new running trainers, some video games for when her friends let her borrow their consoles and also a silver bracelet. She seemed extremely happy with that one though she didn't say who it was from. Naruko has been talking about wanting to learn to drive so my parents have paid for her first two lessons as her present. I couldn't help but smile as she hugged them both, though I'm sure I saw a tear in her eye. Itachi got clothes, some new CD's for his car because we're all sick of hearing the same one played over and over, and plain silver ring from Deidara. He explained to mom and dad that he'd mentioned to Dei once that he wanted a ring but me and Naruko shared a knowing look and I'm sure she also noticed the engraving on the inside. I think mom did too but she didn't say anything, drawing dad's attention to something else as Itachi slipped the ring on. Naruko gave Itachi some t-shirts with funny phrases one, no doubt with the help of Kiba, and gave my parents a new vase as they like to collect that kind of thing. I have her 'A Dummy's Guide to Driving' to go alongside mom and dad's present. She whispered in my ear that she would give me my presents later, and steered the conversation so that no one noticed she didn't give me anything. Sneaky woman.

"That's because the boys are too boring." She sticks her tongue out at me as she snuggles up to our mom. Itachi and dad offered to do the dishes after we had dinner and I ended up on the couch with mom and Naruko. The TV is on, some Christmas film, but none of us are watching it.

"This is beautiful." I watch as mom fiddles with the bracelet around Naruko's wrist. She smiles, a slight blush on her face. "Who's it from?" Before she can speak Bruno Mars' 'Lazy Song' starts playing from her phone and her smile widens. Pulling it out of her pocket, she gets up to answer it in the hallway.

Naru POV

"Merry Christmas, Naruko." I sit down on the bottom of the stairs. "Did you get my present?"

"Merry Christmas. And yeah I did; but I didn't get you anything." Kiba had only told me yesterday when he dropped it off that Shikamaru had gotten me something and it was too late to go out and get him something before I started work. Over the last week we managed to meet up nearly every day and although we're getting closer I didn't think we were at the point of getting each other presents. It's not like he's my boyfriend... yet... I shake my head to get rid of the stupid smile that's probably on my face.

"It's okay, I didn't think you would."

"You do realise that makes me feel bad, don't you?" He laughs on the other end.

"Then make it up to me."

"Hey Naruko, is that you're boyfriend?" I throw the nearest thing at Itachi, which happened to be my soggy trainer from when I went outside earlier. He dodges the trainer, retreating back to the safety of the living room. I glare at where he was standing as laughing comes through the phone.

"Boyfriend eh?" My cheeks heat up as I ignore him.

"What were you saying?" He laughs again, no doubt at my attempt to dodge that conversation but he leaves it at that.

"It would be troublesome if you felt bad about the present thing. So why don't you make it up to me?" I wonder if I should like where this is going or not?

"And how should I do that?" I reposition myself, leaning at the wall with the other trainer close by just in case I need to throw it. He's quiet for a while; and for a moment I think the connection's gone until he speaks again.

"Go out with me." There's a pause. "On a date, I mean." I can't help but smile and wonder if he's blushing or not; I've seen him blush quite a few times this past week. He's cute when he blushes...

"Okay." Listening carefully I think I hear a sigh of relief over the phone.

"Great. I've got family stuff and work all this week but we could go out New Year's Day?" I go to pick the trainer up that I threw earlier, putting it back with its partner, and head back into the living room. I watch from the doorway as Itachi and Sasuke play some new fighting game.

"Sounds good." We finish off the conversation not long after and say our goodbyes; Mikoto gives me a knowing smile and winks at me as I squeeze my way between the two Uchiha boys. "Move over, losers." Sasuke had just beaten Itachi so I steal the controller from the eldest brother. "Watch how a true master plays."

After kicking Sasuke's arse, more than once, on his new game I declared myself champion; much to the annoyance of the little Uchiha. Not long after Mikoto and Fugaku went out to visit some friends, leaving me and Sasuke in the house; Itachi went to see Deidara after his parents left.

"Wait here." I run upstairs to my temporary room while Sasuke turns the games console off. "Put a film on!" I shout down while rummaging through my stuff. I didn't know what to get Sasuke for Christmas until I sat staring at the drawing he did for me one day. I know nothing about art or anything like that so I asked Sai when I saw him at the school where would be the best place to buy art supplies. He offered to come with me; I tried to say no, but after much persuasion he ended up tagging along. Though I was actually grateful he did because he helped me pick out some things. For the second time that day, I slide down the banister holding the large gift bag. "Ta-da!" I drop down onto the couch facing him and holding the bag out. Hesitantly he takes it from me as I pull my legs up and under me. I watch as he looks through the contents; the film starting in the background. I hope he's picked a good one.

I didn't get him much, just bits and bobs to keep him going. Sai told me to get some pencils, drawing and coloured, a drawing pad and some paints. Sasuke's never really spoke much about his drawing so I wasn't really sure what to get; but Sai said he mentioned once that he liked acrylic paints so I got him a small pack. There was a really good sale on at the shop and the owner seems to like Sai so I got the stuff quite cheap. Probably a good thing he tagged along with me after all.

"Thank you." He looks up at me, giving me a small smile that I can't help but return with a grin of my own. He puts the bag on the floor carefully before moving closer to me. I look at him slightly confused before he wraps his arms around me tightly. "Thank you so much, Naruko." I return the hug, pulling him closer before ruffling his hair slightly.

"You're welcome, squid." We sit like that for a while before parting to watch the rest of the film, though we missed the beginning. Although we weren't holding each other anymore, Sasuke remained pressed up against my side throughout the film. Through half way through the film he fell asleep against me. I repositioned us slightly so that his head was resting on my lap because he was too heavy to be dead weight against my side. I played with his hair while I watched the remainder of the film, surprised at how soft it was even with the huge amount of gel he put on earlier. Towards the end of the film I could feel my own eyes starting to droop as I yawned. It didn't take long to feel myself starting to fall asleep as well. In the distance I heard a door open and close but didn't pay much attention to it as my head leant against the back of the couch. A smile makes its way onto my face as I drift off. This has definitely been the best Christmas in a long time.

I don't know if there's a dummy's guide to driving, but I wanted a little jokey present for Sasu to give Naru for Christmas. I wrote this chapter in July, I think, so posting it now is actually convenient seeing as it's nearly Christmas. Let me know what you think :)