So I tried this chapter to base everything on facts, but I can be off of course. Doesn't matter, I still think it's an awesome chapter ^^ Some sadness and some happyness. Enjoy this and the next will be the epilogue!

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So Minato had fixed this, huh? Well, Itachi definitely didn't agree when he got home and found his father waiting for him in the hallway. And after that the fight had begun. Things had been shouted back and forth and Itachi had done his best to convince his father, to make him change his mind.

But it didn't work at all. Minato had not solved anything. Instead he had made it worse and now Itachi was packing his stuff. All of his stuff. It was over. They were moving and then he would never be able to see Deidara again. His father would make sure they couldn't get in contact anymore. This really was the worst thing that could've happened. He should've just sucked it up and do whatever his father wanted him to. He would take over the company and earn great money and make Deidara the happiest he could be.

Too bad it was all a dream now. Itachi's mind was blank as he got everything into boxes. It was pretty amazing how his father had arranged everything on such a short notice. He had even made sure to get his bodyguard here and make sure that Itachi was actually packing instead of sneaking out or whatever. There really was no choice. Itachi was sure his life in this new town would be filled with even more rules and eventually he would become his father's puppet and do everything he was told to do.

There wasn't much that held any significance in his room. He hadn't lived here for very long. Hadn't even made it through the first year. How long had he and Deidara even been together? Only a few months. They did pass the six months though since they had celebrated it at Sasori's house. His very first love and he had hoped his very last. Maybe it even still would be his last, because he was pretty sure he would not love the woman his father would pick out for him. And he would never be trusted to pick out his own partner again, not after this failure, as his father called it.

The last few things were thrown in a bag, the things he would need first. His phone was most important. Now he still had the opportunity to text Deidara as much as possible. At least his father had no knowledge about the extra phone he had gotten before, so it wasn't taken away yet. He knew Deidara was hurting and every sweet text he was receiving now went straight through his heart. Maybe they should just stop talking, but it was like a drug. He needed Deidara.

We'll make it through this. Don't worry, we do have a future.

I love you no matter what and your dad won't stop me. I will be close to you again.

Only you can make me happy, so I will wait on you for as long as necessary.

And then the surprising text came. Something that didn't fit what he had received before and Itachi read it as he had brought the last box of stuff down to the van his father had rented. Reading it again it still didn't make sense, but he could feel the spark of hope forming in his chest.

Dad figured out something! We'll be right over. Don't go anywhere!

What could Minato possibly have figured out? And not going anywhere? They were ready to go and father definitely didn't like waiting. How could he delay this? Frantically he whipped his head around, trying to find something and then he noticed his little brother still struggling with his game console, taking it out with care. His father's eyebrow was already twitching in annoyance and Itachi was only going to make it worse.

Smoothly he walked over to his brother and took the console from him. 'You should pack this with more care, Sasuke. You don't want it to break during the car ride, do you?' His black eyes went wide and he frantically shook his head.

'Do something, Itachi! I need this!' Quite sad, but that was really how Sasuke thought about it. Well, what can you do about a thirteen year old boy? A lot, but his parents weren't doing anything and Itachi was definitely not going to raise him. His little brother could probably use a friend like Naruto, although the blonde was quite of a brat. Quite the opposite they were from one another. But they wouldn't have a chance to become friends now. None of them would be friends anymore, unless Minato really came with a plan.

Walking inside with the game console, Itachi could hear his father groaning in displeasure, but he ignored it. He would delay their leave as long as possible and he would start with securing this damn thing. 'Don't worry, Sasuke. We will just put it in some paper towels and then wrap a blanket around it.' Sasuke looked pleased, running ahead towards the kitchen and coming back with the roll of paper towels. Slowly I started rolling it around, layering the console in paper towels and then went in search for a blanket. Slowly of course. He took as much time as he needed and hopefully it would be enough. The Uzumaki family lived not that far away, but it still was about a twenty minute drive.

As the brothers slowly walked out again, Itachi could just see a car parking right next to the gate. They were here! His heart was pounding in his chest as he now a little quicker walked towards the end of their driveway and then saw that Minato had already gotten out of the car and was facing his father. Silence stretched on and Itachi shoved the console back into Sasuke's arms, ignoring the glare he received after that. His eyes moved over to the car noticing Deidara was bouncing in the car excitedly, blue staring at his father's back. Well, he would soon see what this plan really was.

'I do not understand why you bothered to come over. We have discussed enough, Minato and we will be out of your hair soon enough. Go home and take care of your boys and leave mine out of this,' and with that Fugaku turned around and walked over to the car. 'Come on Sasuke, Itachi. We are leaving.' Slowly Sasuke walked over to the car, keeping his head hung low, but curiously glancing up at Minato as he passed the blond male. Of course the brat hadn't paid attention and had no idea what was really going on or why they were moving this time. It was just Itachi's fault again as far as he was concerned.

But Minato wouldn't be stopped by just those empty words. His eyes for a moment went to Sasuke, thinking a little longer about what he was supposed to say. And then he slowly unfolded a paper he had been holding in his hand. Itachi tried seeing what was on there, but with the warning glare he received he moved away from Minato and walked over to the car. 'I don't think we have discussed enough, Fugaku,' he started sternly and walked over to the man. 'The way you have been treating Itachi can be seen as neglect and therefore as abuse. I have not used my job as a support before, but this time I do not see another way. If you leave with Itachi now, then I will make sure to send child services to your house and I'm sure you will have be facing a lawsuit. You might even leave both your children and of course your good name.'

Silence settled in then and Fugaku was only staring at Minato. Anger was radiating off his body, but he had a problem now. Child abuse was serious and the Uchiha name would definitely be disgraced when something like that came out. The papers would eat it up and soon the company would suffer losses. 'So what do you offer then?' Fugaku almost growled out, his eyes narrowed.

Minato smiled politely and walked over to Fugaku, offering the paper up he had been holding. Black eyes scanned the paper and his brow furrowed more and more as he got to the end of the page. 'As you can see I am offering two things here. You can stay and let your son be whoever he wants to be, including seeing my son openly and getting a job in a department he likes. Or me and Kushina will take custody of Itachi and take care of him as if he were our own son.' He stepped a little closer then, getting in Fugaku's personal space as he whispered in the man's ear. 'Of course I realise Itachi is already seventeen and adopting someone at that age is not necessary, but then you should not forget that he can also just run away and really screw up his life. This is probably the best solution for you.' Stepping back and polite smile back on his lips Minato stepped back, waiting on Fugaku's reply.

Itachi still couldn't believe it. Adopt him? That was the craziest thing he had ever heard, but also amazing. He would be close to Deidara every day and he would actually have a family that loved him. Would his father actually do that? Give him up and all the dreams that his father had for him as well. Not that the man really cared about him in the first place. It was his mother's wish to get children in the first place, so it wouldn't matter. And mother wasn't saying anything right now either. But that was probably because she wasn't doing so well. But it wasn't Itachi's responsibility and he couldn't help but pray that this would actually happen.

Fugaku stayed silent for a little longer, only staring back at the blue eyed male. And then he fished a pen out of his pocket. 'Where do a sign?' he asked plainly and as Minato pointed it out, Fugaku now used his back and smoothly placed his signature on the form. Handing the form back to Minato he started turning around to walk away. 'Well, good luck with your new son and I expect some other paperwork to come my way. You already got the address I saw.' And that was how his father said goodbye.

This time Sasuke had been paying attention, but didn't understand any of it. Being pushed towards the car he kept turning around. 'Isn't Itachi coming?' he asked, but was only answered with silence and then he got desperate. 'Itachi has to come too! You can't stay here!'

It was awful to see how Sasuke struggled against their father's hold, but it needed to happen. Itachi felt guilty, but he needed to stay. Fugaku wasn't as hard on Sasuke as he had been on Itachi. He didn't know the reason, but he knew Sasuke would be fine there.

He watched his family drive off in the van, his heart still pounding in his chest. Somewhere he still didn't believe this was really happening, but as he felt the hand came down on his shoulder and he looked up at the smiling face of his new father, he knew he would soon be very happy.

At home they celebrated and everyone seemed so happy. Itachi couldn't even remember the last time he had smiled this much, but he knew his days would be filled with just as many. As long as he could see his beautiful boyfriend and built an amazing life with the blonde.

And that night they celebrated in another way as well, taking the very last step in their relationship and neither boy regretted a thing. Because this was forever.

Characters © Masashi Kishimoto

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