Honest

by Bossey

Hxjx

9. 9

Chapter 9: Welcome Back

Notes:

Sooo super cool to look back through all my notes and realize that I start almost every one with the word soooo. Lol no but really, here I am with another update, late to my own schedule again BUT I still made it 8k words later...

I thoroughly enjoy reading everyone's comments every time I update, and I know I always say it, but it seriously motivates me to write so thank you all! That being said, I think there was some worry about the boys being more reserved compared to their earlier selves, so I tried to bring some of their banter back. Anywayyyy hope you all enjoy :)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

It took them almost two weeks to completely clean the inside of the building. It was actually not bad once all the debris was cleared and the dirt scrubbed from all the surfaces. There were many rooms, one of which they'd turned into a makeshift kitchen with a fireplace and table they'd found and cleaned.

That was where they were sitting when Karin walked in, her eyes immediately zeroing in on Sasuke, and spoke without preamble.

"I have a surprise for you."

Sasuke looked over at him like he might know what she was talking about, but when she turned on her heel and started walking away, they both scrambled up to follow. They caught up to her right outside one of the rooms she'd claimed as her own not long after it had been emptied.

"I wanted to do this before, but I couldn't subject my equipment to the filth," Karin's eyes closed as if emphasizing her point while she pushed her glasses up. When she nudged the door open, he felt Sasuke tense beside him. He had to look around his shoulder to follow his line of sight, and that couldn't be—

"An ultrasound machine?" Sasuke's voice sounded unsure even though that was definitely what Karin was showing them.

"Yeah. I…thought it might be nice to put an image with you know," she waved her hand around. She suddenly looked awkward, even to Naruto. Probably because Sasuke still wasn't moving.

He put his hand in the small of Sasuke's back and nudged him forward. "That's a great idea."

His words seemed to reassure her enough to move forward and cut the machine on. For a second, Naruto didn't know if Sasuke would move further into the room or not, but then he seemed to shake himself and stepped up to the bed karin had set up.

"You can lay down. I had a lot of equipment stored up in scrolls, obviously. It was time to get some of it out." She was talking much more than she normally would, and Naruto was pretty sure it was because of how awkward Sasuke was being.

Still, Sasuke managed to lay back, though he was being oddly quiet.

Karin just sighed, "lift up your shirt."

Within seconds of searching, she was spinning the screen around and pointing. There was no missing the wavering breath Sasuke sucked in, then, or the way his eyes were glued to what she was showing them.

"It's like a tiny little bean, our tiny little baby bean, Sasuke." Naruto felt excitement bubbling up in his stomach. Tiny or not, just actually seeing their baby was a whole new level of overwhelming for him, thinking about how it really was growing inside of Sasuke.

It was a miracle he was managing not to cry, but then he felt a hand latch onto his, and he realized he wasn't the only one. When he looked down, Sasuke's lips were pressed firmly in a line in an obvious effort to hold back whatever emotions were threatening to spill over, but there was no missing the glisten in his eyelashes. Naruto immediately felt his own emotions well up in the back of his throat because there was no avoiding the way everything Sasuke felt echoed in his own chest too.

It was almost as if seeing their baby, even if it did look like a little bean, had made everything real for Sasuke. It was finally hitting him now, like it had hit Naruto when he'd noticed the change in Sasuke's scent. They were really having a baby. They'd really honestly come together to make a new life.

Karin clearing her throat broke him out of his thoughts. "I uh—I wish I had some paper so I could print one out, but I didn't think—well I just don't have any. I'm sorry."

"That's okay, Karin. Thanks," Naruto said, speaking so Sasuke didn't have to.

"Anytime you want to look again, though, we can. Just let me know." She handed Sasuke some paper towels for his stomach and left the room.

As soon as she was gone, Naruto pulled him into a hug, and it was only then he felt tears drip free.

"I was scared to be happy, I think, but now—"

"Now it's real huh?" He knew exactly what Sasuke meant without him having to put it into words.

"Yeah. We made a baby."

"And it was fun."

That got a laugh out of Sasuke, at least, even if it was a damp one. "Naruto." He could tell Sasuke wanted to be put out, but he just couldn't get his tone to cooperate with the smile he was pretending not to have. "Stupid hormones. Already."

"Mhm…whatever you say, Sasuke."

"Naruto." Ahh that one was closer.

The next night he was dragging Sasuke down the hallway back to Karin's equipment room. He was scared his excitement was going to make the surprise he had obvious, but he wasn't going to bother hiding it.

By the time they got close, Sasuke was laughing at him. He obviously knew where they were going.

"Again? We just did this."

"I know, I know. Just five minutes." Sasuke sighed but never tried to resist, so Naruto continued happily tugging him.

Karin's snappy voice greeted them once they were inside. "Finally. I don't have all night. On the table and lift your shirt."

Sasuke went easily enough. Naruto was starting to realize that Karin's disdain for everything was just a projection. She made sure to seem annoyed even when she was looking forward to something herself, and he was sure it was some kind of coping mechanism she'd developed over the years, so he'd just started smiling at her whenever she did it. So far she'd just wrinkled her nose and looked away, but there were greater battles Naruto hadn't walked away from.

"How do you want it?" She asked when she finally had the picture on screen.

Sasuke looked up at him in confusion since she'd obviously directed the question toward him.

"Yeah like that is fine."

It wasn't until the machine was off and Sasuke'd wiped his stomach that she handed him the printed out sonogram. The second she did, his eyes got big and darted up to look at Naruto.

"You—when—how did you?" Sasuke stumbled over his words and looked between the picture and Naruto, like he couldn't decide which one he wanted to look at more.

"I went to get some of the paper, no big deal. I know how important it was for you, so I wanted you to be able to have one."

"Don't let him fool you. He had to go to the village to get that film." As soon as she'd said the words, Karin left them, and Sasuke was back to looking at him with wide eyes, full of questions.

"I sent a clone to get them. I…just wanted you to have the memory."

He was fighting a losing battle with looking at the floor. It was easy for him to send a clone to retrieve the paper, he hadn't wanted that part of it to be a big deal. Leave it to Karin though, to embarrass him.

"Thank you," was all Sasuke said. It was a relief but a surprise also that Sasuke let it go so easily. Still, he was glad.

It was much later when he was walking back to the room they'd been sleeping in. Somehow he'd gotten caught up in a conversation with Suigetsu and Juugo in the main room, long after Sasuke had left to go to bed. He was the last one awake, because he'd stayed up after the other two to make sure the fire they'd been using during the day went out properly.

He was already walking in dim light, but when he opened the door to their room, it was pitch black inside. He just assumed Sasuke was asleep already, so when the door closed behind him he jumped around.

"Sasuke—?" Before he could say anything else, there were hands unbuttoning his pants, working quickly to shove them down his legs. He knew it was Sasuke just by his smell, but that didn't tell him why he was being pushed backward, why there were lips suddenly pressed against his, soft but urgent in their quest to devour his own.

Sasuke was kissing him, erasing his mind of all coherent thought until he felt himself guided onto a—chair? A chair. And then Sasuke settled onto his lap, their skin sliding together, bare because they were both naked from the waist down, now, and—

Even if he could have shaken the surprise off to speak, there wouldn't have been a chance. Their lips were back together again so quickly Naruto felt like he was literally being sucked in, Sasuke's kisses somehow managing to be pliant and thorough while still being impatient enough to light his blood on fire. He felt leveled, like he was in the direct path of a tornado, because he'd walked in their room and the next thing he knew he was half naked and being kissed within an inch of his life. There was barely time for him to respond, let alone think.

Still, there was no missing the arousal coursing through Sasuke's scent, so strong he hadn't stood a chance against his own responding. All Naruto knew was how much his fingers yearned for Sasuke.

"Do you need me to stretch you or—?"

"Already did."

"You already—oh. Oh." Naruto might have been embarrassed at how high pitched his voice had just gone if he wasn't so overtaken by the pleasure of Sasuke sinking down on him. The feeling was so unexpected, so intense because of the darkness heightening all his other senses.

He could feel the warm skin of Sasuke's thighs resting against his hips. How tight his body was where they were pressed together. And then, when candles were suddenly lit all around them, how overwhelming it felt to look up into Sasuke's dark eyes, the edges crinkled with a tiny smile. His heart felt like it had melted straight away. He was simultaneously so turned on and so in love he felt like he couldn't breathe.

It was all he could do to keep his grip on Sasuke's hips from being violent. He knew he was keeping him from moving, keeping them as close together as they could possibly be, for as long as he thought he could. He felt so overcome with affection, for a moment he couldn't bear for them to be separated. His hands, the muscles in his arms were trembling, from the effort of keeping them close, from the effort of not moving.

Eventually, though, the need to really feel Sasuke won out and he relaxed his fingers, only to look up and see understanding shining down at him. Sasuke had always understood him, would always accept him, and Naruto didn't think he'd ever get over how warm that made him feel inside.

Even without breaking eye contact, he could tell Sasuke was smirking when his hips finally started to move, and Naruto wished he knew how just barely rocking managed to echo all the way down to his toes. What Sasuke had done was so unexpected that he felt wound tight already. Nothing was as good as being inside Sasuke, surrounded by his scent, hearing tiny bitten off groans falling from his lips. Naruto tried to hold himself back, but one reflexive thrust of his hips and it was like a switch flipped. Sasuke gripped the high back of the chair they were on and slammed his hips down. His pace was suddenly so fast Naruto couldn't brace against the pleasure, the waves were indiscernible, each one barely peaking before the next one started.

There was no way he was going to last. Not with the wanton growls spilling from behind Sasuke's clenched teeth, or the way his orgasm was brewing white-hot low in his belly.

"Sasuke, Sasuke," his voice may as well have been a whine but he didn't care, "I can't—I'm not gonna—"

"Bite me."

Naruto didn't even hesitate. He leaned forward, unable to keep himself from licking across Sasuke's skin before he bit down on his scent gland. Not hard enough to break the skin but he didn't need to, the second his teeth pressed down Sasuke cried out, his hands moving to grip Naruto's shoulders like they were his only anchor to earth.

His muscles clamped down so hard, Naruto came right then, his own arms crushing Sasuke to him, his knot locking them in place before he even knew it was coming. He was completely blissed out, high on the ecstasy that had just liquefied his insides when Sasuke reached up and dug his finger into Naruto's own scent gland. All his muscles jerked like he was tossed over the edge again, overwhelmed by the pleasure of such a simple action, forcing another groan from his lips.

His whole body felt tingly. Tingly and heavy and sensitive in all the best ways. Every once in a while a shiver would run down Sasuke's spine, so Naruto knew he felt the same way.

It was a long while before his tongue unstuck itself from the roof of his mouth enough to even talk. "Oh my god…are you okay?" His voice was muffled where it was still pressed against Sasuke's skin. "I didn't know I would knot outside your heat."

All he got in answer for a while was a snort, but then, "maybe you just liked it."

"Or maybe you're just special."

"That…and also cause I'm so good."

Now it was Naruto's turn to laugh, "pffft, you? You, Sasuke Uchiha, good? At anything? Yeah right."

Sasuke sucked his teeth, which made Naruto laugh again. "You're lucky I'm tired or I'd get up."

"Yeah except one thing," Naruto twitched his hips forward, "you can't."

"Don't." It was hard for him to take Sasuke's tone serious when he'd just gasped like he did. He must have guessed Naruto would be smiling. "Be nice to me, I'm pregnant."

"Oh we're starting now with the excuses huh? You gonna start blaming all your problems on our baby then?"

"You gave me this problem."

"All right, I'm just joking. Don't get mad." He nuzzled his face against Sasuke's skin for good measure. "You can stop acting like it wasn't a problem enthusiastically received though."

Sasuke actually found the energy to laugh at that one. "Touché."

It took them another couple of months before they'd finished getting the building up and running. Everything moved much faster with Naruto and his clones there, but Sasuke was still almost five months pregnant before they managed to make it to the leaf village. Even as far along as he was, he wasn't showing outside of his clothes, which had been important for both of them. They'd wanted to get the news to Kakashi and Sakura before Sasuke was obviously pregnant, so that they'd still be able to hide the news, and they'd gotten lucky that Sasuke was one of those people who showed late.

When they made it to the village, they wasted no time in going to Kakashi. Just outside his office, they could tell only him and Sakura were inside, so Naruto barely knocked before he walked in.

Both their eyes shot open when they looked over and saw it was him and Sasuke, Sakura somehow managing to overcome the shock and speak first. "Naruto? Sasuke? What are you guys doing here?"

Kakshi's face was quickly back to its normal unbothered appearance, looking between them both but not speaking.

"Uhh we kind of need to have a talk with you actually," Naruto said once he'd closed the door behind them, "it's not an emergency or anything, but it's…kind of important."

Sakura opened her mouth to speak again, but Kakashi's voice overran her, "I have a meeting in ten minutes. Whatever it is will have to wait. I'm free after, though, so why don't you all go to lunch and catch up."

"Uh…lunch?"

"Yes, lunch Naruto. I know you know what that is. I'm sure no one would disagree with Ichiraku even and I'm sure Teuchi would enjoy seeing you."

For a second, no one spoke. He and Sakura looked at each other for a beat as if waiting for the other to find a reason why they couldn't get lunch. Eventually, he looked back to Sasuke who looked just as indifferent as Kakashi. Lunch it was then.

Sitting down on those familiar stools was a comfort Naruto couldn't explain. They were all winding down toward the end of their food when their conversation veered away from the idle talking mostly he and Sakura had been doing.

"You know Sakura," Naruto started after stacking his third bowl on top of the other two empty ones, "I feel like we should kind of talk before we go back to Kakashi sensei."

He didn't really know how exactly he was going to go about mentioning his and Sasuke's relationship, but he felt like he owed her at least a discussion.

"Is it about your mating?" There was something in the tone of her voice that Naruto couldn't quite identify, but that was overshadowed by his own surprise.

"You—?"

"I mean I don't know you two like you know each other, but I still…know you?"

Sakura's laugh was kind of sour, so Naruto jumped to say, "are you upset?"

"What? No! I don't—I got over that crush a while ago. I realized the feelings I have, for both of you, are just of deep friendship. I'm glad for that. I've had time to think while you two were gone anyway, and it became more and more apparent how obsessed with each other you've always been. Like I knew you two were infatuated, but I didn't realize in what way."

Naruto and Sasuke glanced at each other and then back at Sakura. Neither of them said anything.

"Seriously you guys? You've loved each other for so long. I just assumed when Naruto left with you, that was why? Was it not?"

After an awkward pause, it was Sasuke who spoke. "No. I knew my feelings, but Naruto wasn't quite there."

"Wait! Don't say it like I didn't love you. I just didn't know that I did."

Naruto knew his voice was defensive, but Sakura looked like she was really genuinely surprised.

"Naruto you idiot. Don't you remember any of the time when Sasuke was gone? You spent half of those years acting like a lovesick idiot. I mean sure I didn't realize it back then either because I was distracted with my own feelings, but just thinking back to it now I can't believe you didn't know. Actually, I thought you knew and didn't tell me because of my crush. This is—I don't even know why I'm surprised honestly."

Sasuke snorted beside him, and Naruto immediately scoffed and threw him a glare.

"Don't even get me started on us being friends," Sasuke said, his eyes still alight with a smirk.

Sakura laughed then, and he suddenly didn't like being the butt of their joke. He very purposely crossed his arms, "yeah well, it's not like you were the most open person with your feelings either Sasuke."

"You're right," Sasuke said, catching him off guard.

"What?"

"I said you're right. I hid my feelings. It's not like I thought you'd reciprocate, best friend."

"Uggghhh I—"

"Hey! You two got there anyway who cares," Sakura said, cutting him off before he could rant. "Kakashi's meeting is probably over anyway. Let's head back to his office."

Sakura was right. Only Kakashi was in his office when they all got back up there. Naruto was impatient by that point, beyond ready to get the news out and over with.

"Your anbu have to leave," he said, just after they'd all gotten inside.

Kakashi just raised an eyebrow at him. "Impossible."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, "I doubt that."

"Either way."

"Then everyone but Yamato."

"Fine." Kakashi gave the orders and Naruto could feel the presence of them all disappear. Only then were they willing to share. Neither of them wanted to take any chances. "Well?" Kakashi spoke again, glancing between him and Sasuke.

"I'm pregnant." To his credit, Kakashi's eyes only grew wide for a second before he controlled his expression again. Sakura though—

"You what?! Why didn't you just tell me that while we were at lunch?"

"This news has to be kept secret," Sasuke spoke again, "we couldn't have told you out in the open like that. It's very important that no one untrustworthy find out."

"Because you'll be a target," Sakura said, almost as if to herself.

"Yes."

For a second they all just looked at each other. It was clear Kakashi and Sakura were trying to process the information.

Kakashi broke the silence. "I assume you have a plan?"

"We have part of one. We're hoping to fly under the radar until the baby is born at least. We were also hoping," Sasuke's eyes flicked up to Sakura, "that we'd have help when I go into labor."

"You want me there?" Sakura's voice was just shy of incredulous. From the very first time they'd talked about it though, Sasuke had been adamant that Sakura be there, if she was willing of course.

Kakashi spoke before she could be answered, "you shouldn't give birth here."

"I was thinking the same thing," Sasuke glanced over to Naruto, "we were thinking that the kazekage might provide us a place, but we haven't been able to ask. We came here first, obviously."

"I think that's a good idea. We'll have to make detailed plans of course. I'm sure we could do without Sakura for a month, and I'm sure Gaara would enjoy having her expertise there for a while too. It would be an easy cover. Actually, I'm sure I've put off requests for her to provide some medical training in Suna anyway, so that's even better."

Sakura finally found her voice again, "I'll do whatever for Gaara, but before that how far along are you?"

The question was directed toward Sasuke, but Naruto answered. "18 weeks."

"But that means—"

"Yeah right after the chunin exams. He's almost five months."

"We have to do an exam! Have you even had a single one? Oh my god, I'm gonna go set up a room. You meet me as soon as you leave here."

Sakura was talking with her hands right up until she turned and sped out the door. Naruto had barely paid attention to her though because Sasuke's head had jerked over to look at him. If the look on his face was any indication, he was pleasantly surprised that Naruto was keeping track of how far along he was. He swore he didn't know what made him do it, something about the look in Sasuke's eyes and the way his feelings were slipping through the cracks of his usually blank face, but when Sasuke's eyes locked with his, Naruto winked.

It was a small one, like he'd changed his mind about doing it too late to stop the message from his brain, but Sasuke visibly reacted anyway. His mouth popped open and his cheeks tinged pink, all within the seconds while Sakura was talking, and by the time she'd run out, they were both looking anywhere but at each other.

Kakashi cleared his throat, "right so, let me send a message to Gaara, coded of course, and we'll meet again when I hear back."

Both of them took that as a signal to leave, so they both turned for the door, only to be stopped by Kakashi's voice again. "Try not to get too lost on the way there boys, but also…congratulations."

Naruto couldn't help the smile that took over his face. Despite the risks that the situation was causing, he couldn't find it within himself not to be happy. It was nice to at least have others joining in on that sentiment.

After that, they were both out the door quickly, heading through the halls of the hokage residence, not that they made it far before Sasuke was tugging him sideways, catching him completely off guard. They stumbled into an empty room, only lit by the window in the door, and then he was pressed to the wall, their lips fuzed, tongues sliding together.

When they finally broke apart, Naruto was breathing like he'd run a mile, not sure what he'd done to deserve such a thing.

"You winked at me," Sasuke said, like he was asking for verification.

"Uh yeah I—I know that was kind of—"

"Hot."

"What?" Naruto had been looking around, trying to pull an explanation out of thin air, but his eyes flew back to Sasuke's at those words.

"I said it was hot."

Naruto had to clear his throat, "you…like it when I wink at you?" He was feeling determinedly warm around the collar, and what a bad time for that.

"Yeah. Apparently I do."

They stood there, looking into each others eyes, both obviously thinking about just what that meant, before Naruto shook himself. They were supposed to be meeting Sakura. They couldn't get caught up in each other, hiding in some dark classroom down the hall from Kakashi's office.

"How about we revisit this after we go see Sakura?" Naruto hoped he was conveying how very much he didn't want to wait, at the same time that he hoped Sasuke understood how excited he was for the check up. It had been a while since they'd gotten Karin to do an ultrasound. He was hoping Sakura might want to do one.

"That could be arranged," Sasuke said, before smiling and stepping away.

And then they were moving down the hall again, quicker than they might have been if they'd not taken the little excursion. By the time they got to the hospital and were directed to Sakura's office, she was sitting at her desk looking determinedly impatient.

"I didn't think sensei would keep you much longer."

"Well uh—" Naruto said, refusing to let his cheeks heat up. It was a conscious decision not to glance over at Sasuke because like Sakura had said before, she did know him.

"Either way, you're here now. We can just go straight to the room. I have some questions of course, but I also want to do an ultrasound and an exam." Her tone was all business. It was clear she was in medic mode, surely going over some mental list she had to make sure Sasuke and the baby were healthy. The walk down the hall to the room was quick, and Sakura wasted no time directing Sasuke to climb onto the bed.

While she typed away on the computer, Naruto looked around, his eyes landing on the ultrasound machine and then on Sasuke. It was impossible for him not to grin when their eyes met.

"Okay," Sakura said, turning toward them, "I'm gonna do an exam with my chakra first and then the ultrasound. I assume if you were having problems, you would have made your way to me sooner?"

Sasuke nodded his head, but then, "only morning sickness."

"Right and are you still having problems with that?"

"No, thank god," Naruto said, answering before Sasuke could.

"Oh it was hard for you was it?" Sasuke's voice had gone decidedly venomous, but Naruto just smirked, so Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You're a thorn in my side."

"Every rose has its thorn." Naruto's grin was tipping toward smug.

"Cute. Now stop before I puke." Sakura was smiling too, but Sasuke scoffed at her.

"You call that cute?"

"Well if he's the thorn then you're the rose." Sasuke's mouth opened like he wanted to respond, but his cheeks got pink and then he snapped it back shut.

"Aren't we doing an exam?"

"Sure Sasuke, but don't go getting your panties in a bunch at me. It's not my fault Naruto never compliments you," Sakura's eyes were gleaming in triumph over that comment, and of course he rose to the bait.

"I do too compliment him!" As indignant as his voice was, Naruto was frantically trying to recall the last time he had in fact voiced one of his compliments out loud.

"Yeah, that's why he just blushed like he was twelve."

"The exam." Sasuke seemed to be the only one not interested in the bickering.

Though Sakura was merciful enough to drop with just a roll of her eyes, "I'll need you to lift your shirt then."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at her and let his response die, but Sakura was already placing her hands against Sasuke's abdomen, her chakra glowing around them in no time. She was obviously concentrating, her eyes closed as her chakra continued to glow. He didn't know if it was leftover irritation or what but the longer Sakura was quiet, the more nervous he started to get.

He felt words building up in his throat. There was only so long he could hold them back. "What are you doing? Is something wrong?"

There was a pause before Sakura responded, "nothing's wrong. I'm checking all your baby's organs to make sure they're growing properly. You should have had multiple checks before now, so I'm just being extra thorough."

Naruto managed to hold off asking more questions until she was finished at least. "If you can tell all that, then why the ultrasound?"

"The ultrasound is for you," Sakura smiled, "I can double check things also, but mainly…for you." She busied herself wheeling over the machine then, squirting the gel on Sasuke's stomach, and searching around with the doppler. The second their baby came into view both of them gasped.

Gone was the tiny bean and instead…an actual baby. He could see its nose and lips and—

"Oh," he knew his voice was thick with emotion, but he didn't bother holding it back, "it's moving its tiny hands."

Sasuke looked just as stricken as he felt, though Naruto didn't want to look away from the screen to watch him much. "Wait. If it's moving, can you feel it Sasuke?"

Naruto grudgingly pulled his eyes away then to see Sasuke's brows furrow. "I don't think so?"

"With your first pregnancy, it can take a while for you to recognize movement. You should be able to any time now though. You'll be able to feel it before Naruto can from the outside."

How had he not thought of that before? Naruto could feel his own excitement growing, first at being able to see their baby and now at the thought of being able to feel it move. He'd definitely thought Sasuke would at least have a belly well before he'd get to feel kicks.

"I didn't realize the baby was so big. Your stomach is still so flat."

"Everyone's body is different," Sakura said then, "I wouldn't be surprised if you start showing in the next week or so though."

"Let's not rush it." Sasuke didn't sound amused, but Sakura was talking again before Naruto could comment.

"Do you want to know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"You can tell that already?" Sasuke beat him to asking, excitement breaking through in his voice.

"Yeah hang on. Let me—" Only a few clicks later, he realized Sakura was printing out pictures of the screen. He really hoped she printed out more than one because he wanted as many as he could get. Before he could mention that though, she was rolling the doppler around, searching onscreen until— "there." She clicked again, printing more pictures.

Naruto didn't even care how impatient he sounded. "Well?"

Sakura just snorted, which made it worse, "if you can't tell for yourself, it's a boy."

He immediately reached out for Sasuke's hand. He'd not particularly cared one way or the other, but there was just something about knowing that was their baby boy.

Their eyes eventually found each other, and the warm affection Naruto felt was mirrored right back at him.

Back in Sakura's office, Naruto could still feel excitement thrumming through him. There was no doubt he was eager before, but now he felt connected to their baby in a whole new way. It was different than just knowing Sasuke was pregnant. Now they'd seen him move, knew that he was definitely growing inside Sasuke's belly. It just made everything feel more real somehow.

"So you're due near the middle of August. Gaara has been requesting I do a workshop for some medical ninjutsu for a while now, so its really the perfect cover. I'll get there around the end of July, hopefully right at the 30th, so I'll have around two weeks before you're due and I can stay two weeks after. Of course, we'll need to work out a failsafe way to communicate in case anything comes up suddenly." Both Naruto and Sasuke were paying careful attention, following along and committing to memory all the things she was saying. "I'd feel more comfortable if I was able to evaluate you again before you give birth. I mean really I'd like you to have regular checkups, but I'll take what I can get. It wouldn't be a bad idea if you planned to get to the sand village before you're due."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Sasuke said, "and I'm sure we can meet up again before August. If you happen to leave the village between now and then, you should let us know. If you can get a hawk to Taka, then they can get in touch with me."

"I—okay." Sakura looked like she wanted to do anything but agree, but she dropped it. At least now they had a plan in place.

Later when they were on their way back to what used to be Naruto's apartment, they were walking just close enough that their knuckles brushed every couple of steps. For the first time since realizing what it really meant for him and Sasuke to be having a baby, he felt that his worries were far away.

"You know we should probably have dinner with Iruka. At least…let him know about us if not—ya know." As much as Naruto knew they had to keep the news quiet, he also yearned to salvage as much normalcy as he could. Iruka was pretty much the only dad he'd ever known, the closest thing to family he had. Any normal couple would want to share news of a baby with their parents, and…Iruka was it for him.

Sasuke didn't answer right away. Naruto didn't have to look at him to know that he was thinking about his response. "I mean you think he can keep a secret don't you?"

Naruto's head whipped over so fast, "really, Sasuke? I mean I know the list just keeps growing—"

"Everyone we've told is trustworthy. I'm sure Iruka is as well."

He was just reaching for Sasuke's hand to tug him close when a voice interrupted them.

"Oh so you're here to honor your promise right?" Both of them stilled and looked up into Sai's fake smile. He was so obviously intruding, interrupting their conversation in the most awkward way, but Naruto might not have believed it were Sai otherwise.

"Sai—"

Before Naruto could even ask, Sasuke was talking over him. "The shirtless drawing right? That's what you're after?"

"I think it would be better as a painting actually. I was beginning to doubt that nindo of yours Naruto since you promised and all." There is was again. The exaggerated crinkle in the corner of his eyes, the awkward stretch of his mouth.

"I never said when Sai, don't be accusing me of—"

"You're in luck. We'll be in the village for a short time yet. You should have plenty of time." If Naruto didn't know any better, he'd swear Sasuke was looking forward to Sai's painting. He wasn't showing any visible signs, of course, but Naruto had long since needed those to read the Uchiha. Something was…up.

"Good. I have free time in the mornings. Just come by my apartment and we can get started. Both of you are welcome of course."

Sasuke snorted as Sai turned and left. Naruto just looked at him like he'd grown a third head.

"What was that, huh?"

"What was what?"

"Sasuke!…"

They'd been in the hidden leaf almost a month by now, tying up loose ends, and giving Naruto a chance to visit the people he wanted to.

Even today he'd spent the better part of his morning helping Iruka at the academy, showing his students some of the chakra nature types so they could learn to recognize them.

Now though, he was walking back to the apartment where he'd left Sasuke sleeping that morning. He still couldn't get over the fact that the Uchiha slept in now, sometimes much later than even Naruto used to. He would never fault him for it, of course, but it still amused him.

It'd been hours since he'd left that morning, but he still tried to be quiet when he walked into the apartment, in case Sasuke was still sleeping. When Naruto found him, though, he was standing in front of the mirror in their room. The second Sasuke heard him, he actually startled and jerked around to look at Naruto standing incredulously by the door.

"Did I scare you?" Surprise was obvious in his tone because it was Sasuke, no one ever snuck up on Sauske.

"No."

"What were you doing then?" He stood and watched at least five emotions flash across Sasuke's face in rapid succession. He was standing uncomfortably, clutching at the bathrobe he had taken to wearing after all of his showers.

Naruto watched his mouth start to form words a couple times before he eventually just sighed and jerked the bathrobe open. His—oh.

Where his stomach had been completely flat just a month ago, now it was fuller and rounded, almost as if he'd been growing a little bit every day.

"Oh no, ohhhh no. No. Why—?" He was standing in front of Sasuke now, like he'd been drawn to him from across the room. He immediately reached his hands out, first just to graze his fingertips across the swell, but then to smooth fully across Sasuke's bare skin.

"Sakura jinxed me." When he looked up, Sasuke was looking away, a distressed look on his face.

"Jinxed is…not the word I would use." Naruto was transfixed. Surprised by the sudden appearance of the added curve to Sasuke's stomach and also, by the heat pooling low in his own. It was disconcerting at first, until he realized that he was just attracted to another facet of Sasuke, because they'd come together to make the baby and his belly was just evidence of that.

When Naruto's hands trailed down to Sasuke's hips, his gaze swept back, surprise in his eyes. "What're you—?"

"It's nice," Naruto said, using the grip to back Sasuke up.

"Nice? Naruto!" Sasuke looked at him like he was crazy when he tumbled him back onto their bed.

"Yeah like, I like it."

"The belly?"

"We made that together."

"I mean technically I made it, but—oh my god!" Naruto jerked Sasuke's freshly put on boxers right back down his legs. "You're joking?"

He used his hands to shove Sasuke's knees back and nuzzled the inside of his thigh. Sure, he kinda wished he was joking, but alas…no.

"Naruto!" He thought he'd done well to at least make an attempt at explaining his feelings before wrapping his lips around the tip of Sasuke's dick. There was just something about seeing Sasuke actually looking pregnant for once, combined with the shift in his scent, in a room that was now covered in the way they smelled together. "Okay. Definitely not joking."

They were the last intelligible words Sasuke managed to choke out, making Naruto attempt to smirk up at him with his mouth completely occupied.

It wasn't the first time he'd had his mouth on Sasuke like this, but it was the first time he felt like he wanted to devour him, like he couldn't get enough, like he wanted to taste him so intimately forever and ever…and ever.

His lips were slick with his own spit now, his grip on Sasuke's thighs strong to keep them still where they were trembling. He'd long since managed to work his way down until the head of Sasuke's dick was bumping the back of his throat, which if the tense fingers in his hair were any indication, was much appreciated. Each time Naruto pulled away, he made sure to pass his tongue along the underside, paying extra attention when he got to the tip, and each time it earned him a whimper and a jerk of Sasuke's thighs.

It didn't take long for the room to be filled with scent of arousal, both of theirs together. It was like a siren call, so hard to resist that it wasn't long before Naruto's fingers were trailing along Sasuke's skin, seeking and finding that wet place to sink his finger into. That earned him a wail and hips canting forward. Trying to seek just…more.

"Naru—unnnngh." Neither his fingers or his mouth were ever idle. One finger became two in no time and gentle seeking became purposeful rubbing. As soon as he found Sasuke's prostate, he worked his fingers against it relentlessly, and the bobbing of his head sped up to match. He wanted to drive Sasuke wild, to make him feel as out of control as he made Naruto.

The combined stimulation had Sasuke's muscles quivering, his hands fisted in blond hair, his throat scratchy from constantly crying out. Naruto felt high on it, like every reaction he got out of the Uchiha was just that much more motivation.

"I'm—Naru—I—" Sasuke's words were lost to a sob as his body bowed up, all his muscles tense, clenched around Naruto's fingers, while he filled his mouth in spurts. All he could do was moan along with him, at having achieved his goal, at the taste of Sasuke he was swallowing down. It made him feel powerful, that he was able to show his feelings in such a way, that he could make Sasuke feel good.

He reluctantly pulled away but then couldn't resist lingering over kisses on his way up to lay beside him. All Naruto wanted was to wrap him up in his arms and bury his nose in the crook of his neck, but Sasuke jerked away as soon as he tried.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" He was genuinely confused, a little spear of irritation shooting through him at being snubbed.

"I mean what are you doing?"

"What do you want me to do?"

Sasuke was looking at him like he was being dense on purpose. "You don't want to cum too?"

"I don't have to just because you did."

Sasuke deliberately looked away from him. "So you think I can't take it?"

For a second Naruto hesitated, thinking Sasuke was serious, but then he sighed. "Why do you always have to goad me into it." He was smiling as he shoved his pants down and got between Sasuke's legs, only to see him smirking too.

His shoulders shrugged. "It works," but the end of his word tailed into a groan as Naruto thrusted forward. The second he was fully inside, he dropped his head down to rest against Sasuke's collar bone, staying still to savor the feeling.

"How do you always feel so good." The low timbre of his voice was totally betraying how affected he was.

"You're expecting me not to then? Great."

Naruto was still buried deep, focusing on the pressure and the heat of Sasuke's body cradling his own. "Stop being mean to me." He emphasized his words with a swat to Sasuke's leg where it was pressed against him.

"Right, I'm the mean one. Not my fault you're being boring." For all the exaggeration in his tone, Sasuke may as well have crossed his arms.

"Boring?!" Naruto always enjoyed joking around with Sasuke, but he'd be making him eat those words. Before Sasuke could even respond, Naruto was shoving his knees back, canting his hips forward so from the very first thrust he was hammering against his prostate.

The next gasp he heard from those lips was genuine, just like the half choked noise that followed it. He'd not been in any kind of hurry before because they so rarely took their time, but he'd once again fallen for Sasuke's bait. Now he was driving their hips together harshly, so quick that he could hear his own breath wheezing out brokenly from between his lips. His hands were squeezing into the soft part of Sasuke's thighs, just above the back of his knees, keeping him so he was folded up and taking the full brunt of his thrusts. He fully expected to cum first, since Sasuke had orgasmed just ten minutes ago. But that was before Sasuke's hands fisted in the blankets, before Naruto felt the telltale trembling of his muscles, the way he wasn't bothering to hold any of his noises in anymore.

Some part of it set him off. "Not so boring now huh? You're gonna cum twice now before I even do once. I know you are, Sasuke, there's no holding it back. I can feel it. Let me have it, come on." His gazed zeroed in on Naruto's then, the eye contact only lasting a second before his body clamped down and his eyes screwed shut.

It forced a groan from him too. He barely managed to bottom out again before the pleasure overtook him, wringing out of what felt like every muscle he had. At the last second he managed to roll them over so Sasuke was sprawled out on top of him, his eyes still closed, his breathing ragged.

Both of them just laid there, for who knew how long, until both of their bodies calmed down.

"Unnnngh."

Naruto grinned. "Well articulated, 10/10."

"Annoying."

"Oh we're changing it up now. I thought I was boring."

"I changed my mind." If his body didn't feel so heavy, he might've moved to see Sasuke's face. He was willing to bet he was smiling.

"I bet you did. Jerk."

Sasuke snorted against his chest. "It got me what I wanted."

"I probably should have been more careful. I mean—"

Sasuke's head jerked up almost immediately, "if you think you're gonna treat me any different now than the last five months just cause I've got a belly, think again. Not that I'd let you hurt me anyway."

"Alright alright, it's just…" Naruto could feel even now the difference in the way their bodies fit together, or really the way they didn't anymore.

"If you want me to ask Sakura if it's okay for you to fuck me, I will."

"No! Will you stop screwing with me for five seconds! I mean—"

"Technically we are still attached. I don't know how exactly you interpret screwing but…"

"I can't believe my own body is betraying me like this. Keeping me attached to someone so cruel." Sasuke snorted then, surely feeling much too lazy to laugh outright.

"I love you. Even if you are boring sometimes."

"Did I say cruel? Yeah cruel. I mean it too."

"Naruto."

He didn't respond, even closed his eyes for good measure.

"Naruto." He felt Sasuke shift, almost certainly to pick his head up and narrow his eyes at him. He didn't really know what he expected, but hands cradling his face and warm lips pressed against his own wasn't it. He didn't think there'd ever be a time in his life when he could resist responding to a kiss from Sasuke.

"Witchcraft," he mumbled against that persistent mouth.

Sasuke had the nerve to smile against his lips before pulling away and looking at him expectantly. Naruto just rolled his eyes.

"I love you too…brat."

Sasuke found the energy to laugh that time.

Notes:

Yayyyyy it be a boy!!! lol I know there was mention of twins but i 100% whole heartedly would not be able to come up with two baby names that I wouldn't cringe at myself for choosing sooooo...I'm still gonna struggle coming up with just one (ahhhhh help). I hope this chapter, complete with a completely unplanned second smut scene, makes your day a little better :D Also idk about the wink thing...I just...felt the need ahahah.

Always open for feedback as usual!