This chapter doesn't have much too it. There's sasunaru fluff, family fluff, some cute surprising things, and Gaara fluff. It's really just fluffy. But I figured the characters deserved some fluff before I continue onto Suna and the events thereafter. Thanx for reading! Please review!

"Where are Sai and Lee?" Kiba asks ten minutes into their run. Yamato grunts shifting the still sleeping blonde's weight.

"Sai was sent ahead this morning! He'll loop back every now and again, he's watching from the air!...Lee is probably lost." Sasuke nodded, he hadn't cared where the emotionless bastard was and frankly had hoped he' been dropped from the mission but at least later he could make him could search out Lee. Koichi stirs in his arms trying to look for Naruto. Sasuke rocks his arms as he moves cooing softly for the babe to hear. Blue orbs search anyway. Koichi stares wide-eyed up at Sasuke before looking around them again. When he catches the sight of his sleeping Dad Sasuke can see the tears gather. Within moments the babe is reaching out towards Naruto's back.

"Yamato!" Sasuke calls as the first cry leaves Koichi's lips. Sasuke watches as Naruto's head snaps up at the sound. He is disoriented. Yamato tries to keep ahold of him but before Sasuke can yell out to his dobe that it's okay he is falling. Sasuke with Koichi secured in a sash to his chest dives after his dobe. Naruto realizes he's falling and a panic overtakes his features. He had awoken to the cry of his son only not to view Sasuke trying to rouse him in the wee hours of the morning but the back of jounin vest. He hadn't meant to struggle he was groggy. Suddenly his breath is knocked from him as silver hair overtakes his vision.

"Naru?...Naruto tell Sasuke you are okay before he murders Yamato for dropping you." Taking in a gulp of air Naruto grabbed onto his boyfriend's shoulder. Sasuke locks eyes with cerulean orbs.

"S'...uke." Naruto lets out a few coughs. "I'm okay. It was my fault I fell, I forgot where I was." Koichi reached for the blonde again who pulled him onto his hip bouncing him happily. He was taken off guard when Sasuke pulled his face up and kissed him. Naruto couldn't help a small whine of protest when he was released. Sasuke rested his forehead against Naruto's.

"You are NOT allowed to scare me like that."

"I'm sorry S'uke." Neji clearing his throat caused the two to jump and a furious blush to grace both their cheeks.

"Perhaps now that Naruto is awake we should continue on foot at a more leisurely place. We made good headway while he slept." The group nodded and a hawk was sent to retrieve Sai. A nearby path following a river was located and the group resumed formation with the exception of Naruto and Sasuke walking hand in hand and Yamato hanging close to them. Soon Sai could be seen above them and the more leisurely pace was set. An amiable bit of chatter rose up among the nin.

"Kya~!" Yelled Koichi in surprise as once again Kiba had surprised him by coming out from hiding behind his hands. The game was peek-a-boo and both the baby and dog lover found it entirely amusing. Kiba raised his hands up again hiding his face.

"Where'd I go Koichi?" Came the teasing Inuzuka's voice. Sasuke smirked watching his son who was cradled happily in Naruto's arms as Kiba walked backwards facing the babe. After an hour of leisurely walking the group had adapted a more relaxed formation. Quick and with a gasp Kiba removed his hands.

"Here I am!" Koichi burst into full giggles amplified when Naruto blew a raspberry on his neck. All eyes and soft smiles were directed at the child and his game. Suddenly a small laugh came from Shikamaru.

"So Hyuuga when did you pop the question?" Naruto reaches forward and grabs the gloved hand of his best friend, and sure enough under the leather of the glove on his left hand is the outline of a ring. Naruto's jaw drops!

"Congratulations!" He all but tackled him. Sasuke smirked giving the Hyuuga a congratulatory 'Hn'. Kakashi smiled having noticed the ring mere moments after Shikamaru had laughed. Yamato smiled warmly as Lee gushed on about the power of youth hanging off of Neji who now scowled playfully at his teammate having caught up to their slow pace.

"When is the wedding?" Naruto asks admiring the ring Kiba blushingly showed off.

"We haven't set a date yet." Kiba said softly. Naruto cocked his head to the side in confusion.

"Why not?" Neji who had just barely managed to extricate himself from Lee answered.

"We are waiting until things settle down." Sasuke immediately understood. They were waiting for Naruto. Sasuke caught Neji's gaze and mouthed a very small thank you knowing it would kill his dobe to miss his best friend's wedding. Neji's eyes widened imperceptibly at the raven's words but smiled giving Sasuke a nod in understanding.

"Like what?" asked a still lost Naruto.

"Well there is Kakashi-sensei's wedding…and then well we are waiting for you." Kiba said grabbing Neji's offered palm.

"Me?"

"I'm not getting married until my best man can stand next to me happy, healthy, and worry free." Naruto's eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"I…I don't know what to say Kiba."

"Nothing to say Dobe." Sasuke looped an arm around his blonde's waist.

"Naruto." Kakashi grabbed his attention. Naruto locked eyes with his former sensei. Then unexpectedly he started to cry, hiccupping away suppressed sobs. Sasuke squeezed him close shushing him.

"I'm…so…-hic-….sorry!" Naruto attempted to say. Sasuke shushed him rocking the two of them on their feet to make sure Koichi stayed calm in Naruto's arms as he watched the adult exchange curiously and quietly. Suddenly Kiba pulled Naruto into a huge embrace.

"Naruto you have nothing to be sorry for. I don't mind waiting! I couldn't have a happy wedding day without you there!" Naruto nodded into his friend's shoulder before shakily wiping away tear tracks on his cheeks.

"Thank you." He whispers quietly.

"Gah!" Koichi suddenly yells pulling on Naruto's clothes before attempting to grab at Naruto's mouth. Naruto laughs, everyone smiling at the sound. Naruto rubs noses with his son giggling.

"Did all your dad's drama making you hungry?" He asked bouncing the boy who giggled and reached for Naruto's jaw again.

"I guess now is as good a time as any to stop for lunch then?" Shikamaru asks. The group nods and heads off the path a bit to sit at the bank of the river. Kakashi sends out a hawk to call in Sai while everyone pulls out food. As Sai lands Naruto is sitting leaning back gently on Sasuke's chest. In one hand he holds a bottle up for a ravenous Koichi. In the other he tries to feed Sasuke a bite of ramen. His laughter echoes out as Sasuke tries to evade him and put his tomato to Naruto's mouth. A small chuckle escapes him now and again. Everyone freezes watching the happy little family. Neji walks up to his fiancé resting his chin on Kiba's shoulder and circling his waist loosely with his arms.

"Neji?" Kiba says softly.

"Hmm?"

"Naruto will be at our wedding, nothing will happen to them right?"

"Not while we can help it Koibito." He answers kissing the corner of Kiba's frown, which quickly evolves into a smile. Soon enough everyone has settled and is eating and chatting amiably. Sasuke hums under his breath recognizing it as both Koichi and Naruto's naptime. A glare is sent his way from his blonde boyfriend.

"Don't fight it Dobe we need you to stay healthy, which means its nap time." Naruto huffs before snuggling into Sasuke's chest even more. Koichi is already asleep on Shikamaru's stomach. Shikamaru and Koichi snored in tandem causing the rest of the group to 'aww' and laugh. Sasuke watched as Naruto's eyes drifted closed.

"I love you S'uke." He whispers before Sasuke catches the sound of heavy breathing with small snores.

"I love you too Naru." He leans down kissing the golden locks.

"How long until he's deep enough asleep to get moving?" asks Shikamaru.

"Naruto? If he's snoring he's out for a good two hours. Koichi? Ten minutes and he hasn't woken and we can begin. He'll wake before Naru but as long as someone holds him should be entertained." They all nod and begin to hide the evidence of the fire Lee had made to roast fish and everyone took an emergency bottle if Koichi needed to be fed. Sasuke was going to carry Naruto this time. As they all stood Kakashi helped get Naruto settled on Sasuke's back. Sasuke kissed his baby's small cheeks as Kakashi tied on the baby hammock to his chest.

"Sasuke."

"Hmm?"

"You are great father." Sasuke stared for a moment before turning away.

"Hn." Kakashi chuckled and gave the signal for them to move. Sai flew off and the dogs were summoned and everyone was back in formation with lee carrying Naruto's emergency kit and helping guard the middle where Sasuke ran with Naruto.

"Gaara!" said Kazekage flinched slightly at his desk. He had received word days ago about housing Naruto and his family in order to promote health and for protection. He was eager to accept and begin planning on preparing the hospital staff, getting the family a townhouse near his own residence to stay and preparing said residence for his best friend and new nephew, he prepared ninja for an attack if Madara should locate them in Suna, he had even prepared himself mentally to be around the Uchiha without committing homicide. So what the hell could his damn sister need now!

Sighing the redhead stood, shook his hair from his eyes and calmly walked to open the door for Temari. She stood hands on her hips with a slight frown marring her otherwise rather pretty face.

"Gaara." She practically growled. Gaara blinked.

"What is it Temari?" He asked slowly in his low gravelly tone.

"Why did you assign Kankuro to help with Koichi-chan's room?" Koichi-chan had become the sand siblings nickname for Naruto's son. Gaara would be lying if he said the whole of Suna, let alone his family, was excited to see who the young war hero had adopted so suddenly.

"With his experience I thought he would have the most ease in assembling the crib and changing table among other necessities." He replied smoothly. He watched disinterestedly as a small tick mark became noticeable on Temari's forehead.

"Gaara we discussed this we each want to give Naru and Koichi something to take back with them. Kankuro has already created a creepy little puppet that I'm sure will scare the wits out of Naruto, I made him a teething toy to resemble my fan, and what have you done?" Gaara cocked his head confused. He distinctly remembered having already spent hours in the market having a young jounin pull him to store after store to help him find something for his nephew yesterday.

"I bought him a bear." He answered finally.

"Gaara it needs to be personal! Not just a silly bear!" Temari produced the soft brown bear with little button eyes and handed it to her little brother. "Think of how to make it more…you." Gaara looked skeptical, well as skeptical as he could. "Naruto would love it if you did." Gaara frowned she had to pull THAT card. He dismissed her and turned to his desk, setting the bear down. What was wrong with a bear? He had had one when he was young; it still sat on his bed at home. He thought silently for a good while but couldn't figure out how to personalize the bear. He sighed looking over at his reflection in the windows of his office. He noticed his 'Ai' tattoo on his forehead and an idea popped into his head. He called for a small piece of thread fabric, scissors, and thread; sat at his desk and began to work.