Hello, dear readers! I know this chapter is a tad late, but hopefully it'll be worth it. The Christmas chapter! I know it's a bit early, but the radio stations are already playing Christmas music, so I say it's close enough.

WARNING: lemon in this chapter. If you don't like it, I suggest you skip the last part of this one, since it gets a bit steamy.

Don't want to give any more away, so I'll just quickly thank you all for reading and reviewing. Now, on with the chapter!

52. Deep and Dark December

Gaara, Lee, Temari, and Kankuro sat around their small, artificial tree in the living room of their house Christmas morning, a modest pile of gifts sitting in their midst. Lee had stopped by for the morning, though he would have to head home for the festivities with his family early in the afternoon. As for the Subakuno siblings, they were all sitting around in their robes, having only just woken up an hour or so before.

For Gaara, it felt very strange having Christmas without their father. He imagined Temari and Kankuro shared this sentiment – as though a piece of their family were missing. Still, the redhead knew that they were together. Their family wasn't broken, but only altered. Change wasn't necessarily a bad thing, either. Gaara could remember their father sitting in his armchair, watching the present opening like a referee. Each child was allowed to open one gift at a time, and only on his word – violating this rule resulted in the loss of said gift. It was typical of Mr. Subakuno's authoritarian style of parenting, and it was the one aspect of Christmas Gaara did not in any way miss.

Then, of course, there was Lee. That was certainly a welcomed change. It had been a rough couple of months in the aftermath of that accident. They had lost a parent, but both Temari and Gaara had gained new loves. As for Kankuro, he had found at least some success with his puppet shows. Sure, he wasn't making Muppet-level fortunes, but he was at least happy and doing what he loved.

It's time to move on, I suppose… we'll make sure next year is only full of happy memories that we can remember fondly years from now…

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Temari pulled the edge of her black robe down and reached for the first gift. "Okay, this first gift is from me to Kankuro. Merry Christmas!"

Grinning, Kankuro rose to his knees, his blue robe flapping open to reveal his t-shirt and green boxers. After taking the box, he tore off the wrapping paper and stared at the box within for a second. He laughed. "How'd you know?"

"Oh! What is it?" Lee asked excitedly, sitting up to take a better look.

Equally intrigued, Gaara leaned forward ever so slightly as his brother lifted the package for all to see. Inside was a package of socks of various colors. Lee looked disappointed. "Socks?"

"They're for my puppet show," Kankuro explained, setting the gift off to the side. "I like to use some variety – marionettes, ventriloquist dolls, and, yes, sock puppets. The little kids really like the sock puppets." Turning to Temari, the brunet smiled softly. "Thanks, sis."

"You're welcome, Kankuro. Now, moving right along," Temari began, picking up another package. "Why, this one's for me! What are the odds? 'To Temari from Shikamaru.'"

"Too bad he couldn't be here in person," Kankuro said in a high-pitched voice as he tested out one of his new sock puppets.

"Yeah, but he said his mom would kill him if he missed Christmas – something tells me she meant it, too," the blonde replied as she ripped off the red wrapping paper. She raised an eyebrow as she pulled out its various contents: several brightly colored scrunchies, a brush, lipstick, perfume, and several tubes of chap stick. "Oh, Shika… practical as always."

"They're all your colors, right?" Gaara asked, scanning the assorted items from across the circle.

"Well, yeah. Still, you'd think he'd try something a bit more romantic than chap stick…" Temari began, only to trail off after noticing a small card at the bottom of the box. She picked it up curiously and unfolded it. "What do we have here?"

Watching his sister silently read the letter, Gaara could only guess at its contents. Of course, it wasn't too hard to guess, based on Temari's reactions. At first she seemed confused. Then touched. Then she blushed profusely. Finally, a single tear rolled down her cheek. She sealed the card shut, only to realize that everyone in the room was staring right at her.

"Umm… it was a poem, if you must know. So, let's see who's next…"

"Oh no… you're not getting out of this that easily," Kankuro said in a different, deeper voice, speaking with the red sock on his hand. "You have to tell us what was inside."

"I figured you'd say that…" Temari sighed and opened the card back up. She cleared her throat.

"To a troublesome girl…

At first I thought you'd drive me crazy

'You can't smoke,' 'Don't be so lazy'

It was like my mother all over again

That's how it felt at first, but then…

I realized none of that mattered to me

I noticed your eyes, green like the sea

Your laugh, always sarcastic and dry

The warmth of your body pressed against mine

You've molded me like a block of clay

And made me the man I am today

I would give nothing in all the world

In exchange for you, my troublesome girl"

"Shikamaru wrote that?" Gaara asked with a skeptical expression. "I didn't think he had it in him. Remind me to harass him about this later."

"Will do," Temari said, closing the card with a blush. "Now, as for our next gift… how about these two? To Lee from Gaara, and to Gaara from Lee."

"You want us to open them together?" the redhead asked, taking the box tentatively.

"Sure… let's see what the two lovebirds got each other," Kankuro chimed in with a chuckle as he sat back on the floor.

Shuffling uncomfortably in his seat, Gaara pulled his red robe tighter around him and glanced at Lee, who was pressing his ear to his gift, trying to determine what was inside. "Hmm… it's not that loud. Is it clothes?"

"Just open it, Lee," Gaara said as he proceeded to peel the paper from his box.

Eagerly, the mop-topped teen tore off the wrapping paper, revealing a shoebox within. He studied it curiously. "Shoes?"

"That's just a box, Lee. Look inside."

"Oh. That makes sense," Lee said before cracking the package open. There, he froze, his eyes widening at what lay inside. "Gaara… is this…?"

As Lee held up the old, ragged teddy bear for all to see, Gaara nodded. "I did some digging around in the attic. Apparently we kept it when we moved from Suna. I'd assumed it was long gone…"

Evidently touched by the gift, Lee gazed at his boyfriend with misty eyes. "A-are you sure? I mean… it's your bear…"

"And you gave me your old bear. It's only fair, right?" Gaara said with a shrug. "Besides, I didn't even know I had him…"

Suddenly, Lee cut off the redhead's sentence with a strong embrace, one that threatened to suffocate Gaara right where he sat. "Thank you, Gaara… thank you so much…"

"Merry Christmas, Lee," Gaara gasped, tapping Lee's shoulder repeatedly for air.

"All right, little brother – that's enough stalling from you," Temari teased, glancing at the other package. "Let's see what your boy toy got you."

Releasing his boyfriend, Lee looked somewhat sheepish. "It probably won't compare to your gift, but… I hope you like it, anyway…"

Gaara rolled his eyes and began to remove the green wrapping paper, saying, "Please, Lee. I'm sure I'll love it… what the… what is this?"

Indeed, he wasn't exactly sure what he was holding at first. He had expected something simple, but this was far more extravagant than anything Gaara would have ever anticipated. It was a long, black case with two silver rings set within. In between was an inscription reading, 'To someone special.' Gaara stared up at Lee in disbelief.

"They're promise rings," Lee explained, lifting the clear, plastic lid from the case. He pulled out one of the rings and slipped it on his finger. "One for you, and one for me. To show our commitment to each other…"

Looking up from the rings to Lee, Gaara could see the distinct glimmer of hope reflected in the other boy's eyes. Clearly, the rings meant more to Lee than whether Gaara liked the gift or not. This was a test – a choice between loyalty to Lee or his lingering feelings for Naruto.

Of course, Lee probably didn't have such manipulative intentions – it just wasn't like him. If anything, the rings were just his way of expressing his devotion to Gaara. At the same time, though, Lee had to realize the significance of his gift. Lee might've been a bit naïve at times, but he was by no means stupid.

If I refuse to wear it, Lee will still love me… but it'll crush him. At the same time, though, he won't want me to wear it unless I'm truly committed to him…

Again, Gaara glanced back and forth between the rings and his boyfriend's bright, shining eyes. Fortunately for Lee, the redhead had made his decision several weeks before. He let a small smile cross his lips as he slipped his matching ring onto his finger.

"I love it."

Lee appeared stunned. "R-really? You mean it?"

"Of course – didn't I say I would?" Gaara asked with a smirk.

Elated, Lee once more pounced upon Gaara, planting an enthusiastic kiss on the other teen's lips. As Gaara returned with pressure of his own, his hands lacing behind Lee's head to pull him closer, his eyes closed. He could hear Kankuro protesting the very open display of affection in the background, but at that moment, Gaara couldn't have cared less. Instead, he simply allowed himself to become lost in the scents and flavors of his boyfriend, feeling the warmth of the other's body as the lay on the floor.

At that moment, if he had been thinking of anything aside from his passionate kiss with Lee, Gaara would have realized that Naruto was the furthest thing from his mind. Considering that he was distracted, though, it never occurred to Gaara that he had given Lee the greatest gift of all: his undivided affection.

XXXXX

"This is it?"

"Yeah, Mom. Can you wait here for just a minute?"

"Well… yeah, sure. But this place is huge, Kiba. Just what kind of girl are we talking about here?"

"She's probably out of my league, I know. But I have to try, right?"

"That's the spirit. Break a leg, kid."

Kiba stepped out of the idling, black sedan and gave his mom a quick wave as he started for the Hyuuga mansion. He was sweating bullets, in spite of the bitter cold that Christmas morning, so much so that he unzipped his gray jacket to let out some of the heat. His heart pounded in his ears, and his tongue felt dry as he trudged up the seemingly endless driveway.

Mrs. Inuzuka had arrived that morning to take him back to Mizu for the holiday. He had asked that she drop him off at the Hyuuga residence for only a few minutes, just so he could deliver a message and take care of some last minute business before leaving town. She hadn't said a word about his black eye or the other cuts and bruises he'd obtained from the fight with Neji, though Kiba had seen the silent concern in her eyes. She knew something was up, and that it likely had something to do with their little detour.

Something told Kiba they'd be having a long, long talk on the drive back home.

Right now, though, he had to focus on the task at hand – the one that was making him as nervous as hell. He stood at the door to the Hyuuga mansion, kicking some of the snow off to the side absentmindedly as he tried to give himself a mental pep talk.

Come on, Kiba! What's the big deal? You had no problem chatting with her when you were butt naked, why should this be any different?

Kiba, of course, knew the answer to his own question: that had been spontaneous. He had been thrown into that situation, and his instincts had taken over. Now, though, he was actively pursuing Hinata – he had come to the Hyuuga mansion that morning specifically to talk to her. The ball was in his court, and he was certain that he'd find a way to screw it up.

Of course, one guaranteed way to blow it would be to stand on their porch for an hour until they called the cops. He had to do something – stalling wasn't going to solve anything. Taking a deep breath, the dog boy stared down at the single rose in his hand and nodded.

"No time like the present, I guess…"

His hand shaking in trepidation, Kiba reached forward and rang the doorbell. The tone seemed to echo throughout the massive house, and the low sound shook Kiba to the core.

For whom does the bell toll? It tolls for… me…

It was less than a minute before Kiba heard the door unlock. Moments later, it swung open to reveal a grumpy looking man who closely resembled Neji, if only twenty-five years older. He glared down at the Inuzuka with his pale eyes, already silently passing judgment on the teen.

"May I help you?" the man, who Kiba assumed to be Hinata's father, asked curtly.

"Umm… is Hinata here?" Kiba asked, trying his best not to cower under the man's imposing gaze.

Mr. Hyuuga paused, staring directly at Kiba's black eye. "Who wants to know?"

"My name's Kiba Inuzuka. We go to school together."

The man paused a moment before shaking his head. He began to close the door, "Sorry, you'll have to come back later. We're just sitting down to open presents…"

Before he could shut the door, Kiba stuck his foot inside, just barely wedging it open. Though it hurt to essentially have the door slam on his foot, the Inuzuka endured the pain and gritted his teeth, saying, "Please, it'll only take a second."

Mr. Hyuuga's expression softened, if only for a moment, at the sight of Kiba's determination. He sighed. "Very well. Wait right here – I'll send her over."

"Thank you, sir," Kiba responded with a relieved smile.

Shifting his feet uncomfortably in the snow, the dog-boy waited for Mr. Hyuuga to follow through with his promise. Though flakes fell about him, Kiba still felt unusually warm, his cheeks already burning with embarrassment at the thought of what was to come.

Of course, Kiba's reddening cheeks couldn't hold a candle to Hinata's bright blush when she finally opened the door. Seeing the Inuzuka waiting, with her clad in her bathrobe, she flushed immediately, though she didn't turn away, instead choosing to stare at her guest.

"K-Kiba! W-what are you doing here?" she stammered, pulling her robe tightly around her breasts. "It's Christmas morning…"

"I know, and I'm sure you have things to do, but I had to stop by, just for a second," Kiba explained, holding out the lonely rose in his hand. "I'm sure you could probably do much better than me, Hinata… I don't know why you'd ever want to settle for someone like me. But still… what I mean is… will you go out with me?"

Staring at the extended flower, Hinata was silent, her mouth agape. "A-are you serious?"

Kiba bit his lip, his heart sinking. "I understand if you don't want to… I just thought I'd ask…"

Turning dejectedly to the side, Kiba began to slink away, the rose held loosely at his side. He only moved a step or two, however, before he was stopped by the soft, pure tone of Hinata's voice. "W-wait, Kiba!" Glancing back over his shoulder, Kiba found Hinata standing barefoot in the snow, her lip quivering as she struggled to speak. "I… I'd love to go out with you…"

Almost immediately, Kiba's entire body seemed to light up. "You mean it?"

Hinata nodded. "I-I like you, Kiba. You're funny you have a good heart, and a nice… umm…"

"Ass?" Kiba offered with a cheeky grin.

The Hyuuga blushed. "Physique."

Kiba chuckled. "Well, how about the Friday after we get back from break?"

"It's a date," Hinata replied before looking down to her frigid toes. "I-I guess I should get back inside…"

"Sure thing. Merry Christmas, Hinata," Kiba said with a casual wave as he started back down the driveway.

"Merry Christmas, Kiba."

With a spring in his step, the Inuzuka strutted back to his mom's sedan, where he hopped into the passenger seat. Grinning broadly, he buckled his safety belt and looked to his mom for approval. Instead, he met a familiar, stern look. He suddenly remembered his premonition of a long, painful talk.

Throwing the car into drive, Mrs. Inuzuka cleared her throat. "All right, Kiba. Let me tell you about the birds and the bees…"

XXXXX

Iruka Umino rolled around groggily in bed, half-awake. It had been an exhausting night with Kakashi, and the brunet was not quite ready to face the day. He was sore and physically drained – the thought of preparing for Christmas festivities only exhausted him further.

Rolling over toe face his lover, Iruka found Kakashi was long gone, with only a few discarded, scarlet sheets lying on his side of the bed. Frowning, the teacher squinted at the red numbers of Kakashi's digital clock on the bed stand, murmuring, "What time is it, anyway?"

As the blurry numbers became clear, Iruka could clearly see that it was 11:30 AM. Wide-eyed, he sat up and threw off the sheets. He was late – late on Christmas. They had so many preparations to make, stockings to open, dinner to prepare…

Sniffing the air curiously, Iruka's panic worsened. He still reeked of sweat and… 'love.' He had to take a shower, and fast.

Hopping out of bed, the naked brunet streaked towards the master bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him. Stepping inside the shower, he turned the water on and let out a yelp as the first bitter cold drops hit his bare skin. Moments later, the water warmed up, and Iruka took in a deep breath as the steam filled the room.

Water running down his hair, Iruka turned and stared out through the glass at the bathroom. It was a nicely sized bathroom, with white tile, a separate, circular bath, and an enormous mirror before the twin sinks. The shower itself sat in the back corner, a large rectangular section surrounded by glass. Iruka felt somewhat exposed as he washed off, knowing that anyone could walk in and see him, unobscured, but the warm water caressing his back eased away his concerns. Turning around, he faced the showerhead and grabbed a bar of soap, which he began to rub against his chest, working up a modest lather.

Lost in the roar of the rushing water, Iruka never even heard the bathroom door open behind him. In fact, he wasn't even aware that there was anyone else in the room until he felt a tap on his shoulder, at which point the soap slipped out of his hand and flew into the air.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you," a soft voice said, sliding a hand down Iruka's shoulder to his chest.

"Geez, Kakashi… don't do that to me," Iruka replied without even looking at the other man, his heart racing.

"Here… I think you dropped this," Kakashi said, picking up the soap from the floor. "I was wondering when you'd wake up."

"Thanks." Iruka grabbed the soap and continued lathering up, working around Kakashi's hand. "You wore me right out last night."

"You certainly seemed to enjoy it."

Iruka took a sharp breath as he felt Kakashi's other hand slide down towards his butt. "Kakashi! Not now – what if the boys come looking for us?"

"They're not here," Kakashi answered with a naughty smile, his fingers slipping down lower. "They left before I was even up."

"Aren't you concerned? Where did they go?"

"I think we both know the answer to that, Iruka," the silver-haired man whispered, his other hand massaging his lover's chest. "They'll be occupied for a little while. I say we do the same…"

"But…" Iruka began, only to gasp as he felt Kakashi's fingers go to work. "K-Kakashi! Wait!"

"What is it?" the other man asked, resting his hand on Iruka's shoulder. "Still sore?"

"Well, yes… I just need a minute or two, how about that?" Iruka asked, the soap once again slipping from his hands.

"That works for me," Kakashi concluded, removing his hand from his lover's backside and instead pulling him into an embrace. "I wanted a chance to ask you something, anyway."

"What do you mean?"

Kakashi frowned, thinking for a moment as the hot water fell on the couple. "Let me see… how should I put this? We've been together for a few months now, right?"

"Right…"

"And your lease is up on your apartment at the end of the month…"

"Yes… where are you going with this, Kakashi?" Iruka asked, turning his head to stare the other man in the eye.

"Well, I was wondering how you'd feel about moving in with us," the silver-haired man asked with a slight blush. "I mean… you're already here a few nights a week. Sasuke's adjusted to you. I asked him how he'd feel, and he said he'd be okay with it. He wants us to be happy. So, if you want to…"

Iruka hesitated. "I don't know… won't it be a bit weird? That means we'd all be living together in the summer, once Naruto's lease on his apartment ends. It just seems… odd."

"Oh, I know. Do we really want to be a normal family, though? Normal's boring – we can be the strange family down the street, two couples living under one roof. Yeah, it'll probably be a bit awkward, but we'll be together, right?"

Again, Iruka was silent. He knew what Kakashi was saying was true, but he was afraid of what might happen. In his head, he tallied up all the things that could go wrong. What if Naruto and Sasuke broke up? Then they'd be forced to live under the same roof as exes… that wouldn't be pretty. And what if he broke up with Kakashi – they'd have to move and split Naruto and Sasuke apart, which wouldn't be fair either. If they all stayed together, though…

"We'd be happy…" Iruka whispered, causing Kakashi to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"So… is that a yes?"

Glancing back over his shoulder, Iruka laughed. "Well, as long as I don't have to deal with that crazy landlady again…"

"That's the spirit," Kakashi replied, planting a kiss on his lover's cheek. "Now, what do you say we get down to business, eh? Are you up for round two?"

Shutting off the water, Iruka nodded. "I'd like that."

XXXXX

"It's fucking freezing out here."

No sooner had the words left Sasuke's lips than Naruto decided to end his complaints immediately with a warm, generous kiss. It caught the Uchiha off guarding, leaving him momentarily speechless when Naruto pulled back. The blond smirked. "Better?"

Sasuke nodded dumbly before apparently recalling his earlier indignation. "I still don't understand why you brought us out here," he said sourly, rubbing his gloved hands together for warmth.

Naruto considered this for a moment as he gazed out at the scene around them. They were standing on their bridge in Konoha Park, surrounded by a blanket of snow and barren trees. It amazed Naruto what a difference a month could make – in only a few weeks the park had gone from a carnival of colored leaves, brimming with life, to a seemingly desolate white landscape. The only sign of life in the entire area were his and Sasuke's foggy breaths, with their footprints being the only flaws in the ocean of snow.

Of course, that was exactly why Naruto had chosen to come to the park in the first place, so they could have peace and privacy to exchange their gifts. Even he had to admit that it was not his most well thought-out plan, however – before his kiss with Sasuke, he, too, felt as if his toes would break off at any moment.

Amazing what a little intimacy can do to warm you up…

"I thought this would be special," Naruto finally answered, holding out his purple gift bag. "Here. Merry Christmas, Sasuke."

Naruto realized they must've looked quite strange, standing on the bridge with their presents, clad in their winter garb. All wrapped up in their black jackets, hats, and scarves, the couple could barely see each other's faces – just a small circle of bare flesh around their eyes, noses, and mouths. Still, Naruto could see Sasuke's frosty attitude melt away as he graciously accepted the gift. The blond grinned.

"Well, go on – open it!"

Nodding, Sasuke dug inside the tissue paper until his hand came into contact with several figurines, which he pulled forth one by one, setting them up in a row on the bridge's railing. A scarecrow, a dolphin, a fox, and a ninja wielding a katana – Sasuke studied them all for a moment with a frown before reaching a conclusion.

"I don't get it."

"They're us," Naruto explained, pointing to each figurine as he elaborated. "Kakashi's the scarecrow, Iruka's the dolphin – because of their names, of course. I'm the fox, for obvious reasons, and you're the ninja because of your sword."

Sasuke scratched his head, a slight smile crossing his frigid lips. "Where'd you find them all?"

"Oh, from one of those quarter vending machines at the grocery store. Cost me, like, $10 to get them all," Naruto said, brushing his thumb against his note with a hint of pride. "So… do you like it?"

Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes…

"They're great," Sasuke said before shaking his head amusedly. "Though I just have to wonder what happened to the other 36 figurines you bought…"

"Oh, they're all in a bag in my room," Naruto responded somewhat embarrassedly.

Along with a few other supplies… lube… condoms…

It was a secret Naruto had been keeping for several weeks now. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, or maybe it was due to hormonal lust, but somehow Naruto had gotten the idea in his head that he and Sasuke were ready to give their sex life another go. Of course, he wasn't about to tell Sasuke that he had replaced the supplies he had give (quite awkwardly) to Gaara after their first disastrous attempt. He was prepared – all he had to do now was wait for Sasuke to give the word. He didn't want to do anything unless Sasuke was ready as well, though he hoped that time was sooner rather than later.

"Now for your present," Sasuke announced, jarring Naruto out of his thoughts. He held out a glossy, black gift bag with tissue paper bursting from the top and dropped it into the blond's outstretched hands.

Eagerly, Naruto seized the tissue paper and began to sift through the bag, searching for the gift within. It was only a matter of seconds before he struck gold and pulled out…

"A leaf?" Naruto asked, examining the brown, crunchy piece of foliage.

"There's more to it than that. Keep digging," Sasuke chided, clearly having noticed Naruto's perplexed expression.

Following his boyfriend's orders, Naruto shoved his hand back into the bag and continued to pull out one bizarre item after another. A smooth stone, a luffa, a pair of tiny, orange briefs, a Best of Simon and Garfunkel CD, and a sealed envelope – Naruto felt more confused than ever, staring at the collection before him. He turned to the Uchiha for an explanation.

"They're symbolic of all the places we've been and the encounters we've had in the past few months," the raven-haired teen said, holding up the rounded stone. "I picked this up from the shore beneath the bridge here. I went on a special trip to Lake Konoha to get that leaf from the forest."

"Oh, you mean where we went streaking."

"Involuntarily, yes," Sasuke responded with a laugh. "The CD is from the fist time I showed you my room… and we listened to the music, lying next to each other on my bed…"

"The luffa?"

"From our little encounter in the shower at that party. It was either that or a shower cap – I made a decision, and I'm sticking to it."

"Okay… but what about these?" Naruto asked, stretching the waistband of the skimpy, orange briefs.

"They're supposed to be like the undies I borrowed from you… when I ran off with O," Sasuke explained, his cheeks reddening noticeably. "You'd be surprised how hard it is to find orange underwear."

"Tell me about it," Naruto muttered. He paused as it dawned on him just why his boyfriend was blushing. A mischievous smile crossed his lips.

Hmm… I wonder…

"I take it you'd like to see me in these sometime… is that right?" Naruto asked, leaning towards the other teen seductively. "I didn't realize you had an underwear fetish, Sasuke…"

"J-just open the card!" Sasuke stammered, flushing with humiliation as he took a few steps back.

Naruto ignored the Uchiha's request and instead inched closer, his eyes fixed upon him in an enticing stare. "You want me to model them for you later? Do a little striptease? Because I'd be more than happy to oblige… especially if it gets you all hot and bothered…"

At a loss for words, Sasuke only watched as Naruto ran a finger slowly down his chest. Unless Naruto was mistaken, this resulted in a noticeable bulge in the other teen's pants. He grinned.

Mission accomplished…

"But first, maybe I'll take your advice and look at your card," Naruto said, stepping back from his boyfriend with a look of satisfaction as he unsealed the envelope. As soon as he saw what was written, however, the blond froze entirely. Inside were two words, hand-written, on a plain piece of paper: 'I'm ready.'

For what felt like an eternity, Naruto couldn't seem to form words. It was as if the sight of that simple message had fried his brain – the neurons were struggling to fire off signals, his entire brain practically screaming 'yes,' but focusing too much on that surge of elation to perform the basic function of speech.

"Sa-sasuke… are you sure?" Naruto asked, finally looking up from the card. He found the Uchiha smiling softly, a small cloud of breath leaking from his mouth.

"Yeah… I'm sure this time."

"But… when?"

"Right now," Sasuke responded, seizing Naruto's wrist. "Kiba's gone for the holiday. We'll have your apartment to ourselves…"

"You're really sure, though? Positive?" Naruto asked he and the raven-haired teen began trudging through the snow towards the park entrance.

"If I have to tell you again, I'll strip you right now. Now let's go."

As much fun as that sounded, Naruto wanted to avoid getting frostbite on his family jewels, and instead decided to trust in Sasuke. If he said he was ready, then Naruto had no choice but to believe him. There was no pressure this time – Naruto hadn't initiated it like he had before. It just happened that this time, they both desperately wanted the same thing.

Yeah… definitely raging teenage hormones…

Considering it was Christmas morning, there was little traffic for Naruto and Sasuke to avoid on the way back to the blond's apartment. Everyone was either at church, in bed, or opening gifts by their trees. Most shops were closed, save for a grocery store they passed where customers were desperately searching for a turkey they had neglected to purchase for their Christmas dinners.

Thus, all in all, it only took the duo between five and ten minutes to reach the apartment, their speed increasing as they drew nearer to their destination. By the time they were rushing up the metal stairway of the apartment complex, they both were hurriedly stripping off their outer layer of clothing and carrying them in a bundle under their arms, along with their respective gift bags. Outside his door, Naruto fumbled briefly with his keys, his hands shaking with anticipation as he turned the lock.

"Well, here we a–" Naruto said, turning as he stepped inside, only to be cut off as Sasuke tackled him to the floor. Grateful that he had the soft pile of jackets and other winter clothing to land on, the blond had no time to register what exactly was going on. He heard the door slam shut, he felt the pressure of Sasuke's body atop his own, and he could taste that wonderful, familiar flavor of his boyfriend's lips as they went to work.

"Naruto… do you have any idea how long I've wanted to do this?" Sasuke asked between kisses, his breaths as short as possible.

"I'm getting an idea," Naruto replied, kicking off his shoes as he squirmed on the floor. He wasn't used to this aggressive side of Sasuke – the desperation, the hunger, the passion. Usually it felt as though the Uchiha was reluctant in their intimacy. He clearly enjoyed it, but he seemed to enjoy it despite his wishes. Now, as the Uchiha straddled him, Naruto realized that he had just been holding back. It was a continuation of Sasuke's fear – that if he became too involved, he'd only risk losing someone he cared about. That thought seemed to have been erased entirely, replaced only by a burning desire.

And Naruto found it as sexy as hell.

Wrapping his arms around Sasuke's back, Naruto pulled his boyfriend's head in closer to the kiss with one hand while slipping the other up his shirt. Taking in similarly short breaths, Naruto took in the scent of the other teen – it was a mild odor, but to him, it was unmistakable. That hint of sweat, the kind that Naruto could smell on the other when they were in the locker room after gym class – it was intoxicating.

Moaning, Naruto let his tongue slip into the other's mouth, meeting Sasuke's somewhere in the middle. Meanwhile, his hand gently pulled Sasuke shirt north, exposing more of the Uchiha's bare back, which Naruto caressed gently, feeling every inch as if he were reading Braille. Lost in these sensations, the blond barely realized what Sasuke's own hands were up to until he felt one snake down the front of his shorts and grab him down below.

"Sasuke!" Naruto sputtered suddenly, pulling out of the kiss abruptly.

"What?" Sasuke asked, looking quite frustrated.

"Not here… head to the bedroom. I'll be there in a second."

Clearly disappointed, the Uchiha rose to his feet and nodded. "All right… don't keep me waiting too long."

Pressing a hand to his chest, Naruto stared directly into the other's eyes. "I promise."

Slinking off around the corner to the hallway, Sasuke disappeared from view as Naruto picked himself off the floor. He dug around in the pile of clothes for a moment until he found the black gift bag he'd received only a few minutes before. Once he heard the bedroom door close shut, Naruto slipped his hand inside and pulled out the orange briefs with a grin.

Oh, he's gonna love this…

Hurriedly, Naruto stripped off his festive, green and red sweatshirt, yanking it over his head, and unceremoniously dropped his blue jeans. Standing in his candy cane patterned boxers, the blond readied his new underwear, testing the waistband once more with a quick stretch.

It's awfully small… am I even gonna fit into these?

With a shrug of his shoulders, Naruto slipped off his boxers and kicked them off to the side before stepping into the bikini briefs. To his surprise, they fit far better than he thought, stretching to contour perfectly with his shape. Glancing down at himself, he wondered just how he looked in them – he hoped as sexy as Sasuke undoubtedly imagined. There was no real way to tell from his vantage point, though he certainly felt good in them.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto turned the corner. There was only one way to tell if the look worked for him, and that was to show it off. Strutting down the hallway, Naruto paused outside his bedroom and pressed his ear to the door. He could hear the springs on his mattress squeaking inside – a clear sign that Sasuke was waiting quite impatiently for the blond's return.

"Ready, Sasuke?"

"Yes! What's taking so…"

Sasuke trailed off as Naruto pushed open the door, revealing him in his new attire. Though he couldn't be sure, the vulpine boy was relatively sure he saw a drop of drool leak from the corner of Sasuke's mouth. Placing his hands on his hips, Naruto gyrated slowly and smirked.

"Well? What do you think?"

"They're… umm… hot," Sasuke responded, tantalized by the sight. "Could you… turn around?"

"Of course," Naruto replied as he spun around, revealing his barely clad butt to the teen. He pretended to pick something off the ground, sticking his rump up in the air. "How's that?"

Drooling more noticeably now, Sasuke wiped his mouth with his sleeve and beckoned Naruto with his finger. "Enough teasing me… get over here."

Without a word, Naruto rushed across the room and leaped onto the bed, causing it to squeak loudly as he landed beside his boyfriend. There, Naruto straddled the Uchiha and leaned forward for a kiss. Again, the couple explored each other aggressively, using their mouths and hands to feel and taste the other thoroughly. Though the snow fell outside, they felt only heat inside Naruto's bedroom, with the blond's mostly bare body coated in a thin sheen of sweat.

"Naruto, my shirt," Sasuke said, pulling ever so briefly out of the kiss.

Dividing his focus between his active lips and his hands, Naruto gradually slid Sasuke's shirt further north, until it was rubbing against their chins. He then backed out of the kiss and yanked it off entirely, dropping it to the side of the bed. Sitting for a moment on the Uchiha's lap, Naruto gazed down at his boyfriend's bare torso, studying his flat stomach, lithe form, and fair skin.

"Have I ever told you you're beautiful?" Naruto asked, lying down for another kiss.

"I'll be sure to add it to the list next to 'hot, sexy, and an ass,'" Sasuke replied wryly before meeting the other's lips.

While the boyfriends explored each other's mouths extensively, Naruto's hands went to work on Sasuke's black pants, gradually undoing the top button and, eventually, lowering the zipper. As he shimmied the pants free from Sasuke and added them to the growing pile on the floor, he felt Sasuke's own hands slide down the back of his briefs, clamping firmly around the blond's butt.

"You really like my ass, don't you?" Naruto asked with a chuckle, to which Sasuke replied with another squeeze. "Well… I have to wonder what I'm missing. Turn over real quick."

Naruto stepped off the bed and watched as a blushing Sasuke rolled onto his stomach, watching his blue boxers intently. Once the Uchiha was settled, Naruto leaned forward and seized the legs of the teen's boxers before yanking them off in one fluid motion.

"Hey!"

"Sorry. Guess I should've warned you," Naruto said, resting his knees on the ground. He stared at the Uchiha's bare butt before him and licked his lips, leaning closer to the smooth mounds. "Now, stay still…"

"Naruto? What are you, ooohh?"

Struggling not to laugh at his boyfriend's surprised cry, Naruto pressed his face against Sasuke's posterior and began to tickle it gently with his tongue. It was a spur of the moment decision, based on something he had seen in a porno earlier that year, and he could not believe he was actually going through with it. He was more nervous about messing it up and making a fool of himself than anything else, but the intense moans of satisfaction told him that wasn't the case.

"Oh… Naruto… right there…" Sasuke said, his entire body shuddering with another wave of pleasure.

Naruto could only keep it going for a minute or two, but apparently that was enough. When he stood back up and asked Sasuke to roll back over, the Uchiha was hard and ready, though his cheeks had turned a deep shade of ready.

"Where'd you learn to do that?"

"Umm… I'd rather not say," Naruto responded, scratching his head sheepishly. He then realized that his briefs felt unusually tight. A quick glance down revealed why – Sasuke wasn't the only one who was visibly excited.

"Want me to do something about that?" Sasuke asked, staring at the tenting briefs.

"L-like what?"

Sasuke slid over and patted next to him on the bed. Silently, Naruto plopped down beside him, his legs hanging over the edge, and stared at his boyfriend in confusion. Pressing a finger to the blond's lips, Sasuke slowly slid the front of Naruto's underwear down, until his erection sprang into view. Lowering his head, the Uchiha placed a hand on the blond's member and began to stroke up and down slowly and deeply.

Naruto bit his lip and moaned, throwing his head back as he felt Sasuke's magic fingers go to work. It was almost overwhelming, the pleasure, and little did he know that it was just getting started. Gradually, Sasuke's hand sped up, giving swifter and swifter strokes, causing Naruto to breathe quickly and slowly slide back and forth against the bedspread.

Then he felt Sasuke's tongue.

Oh my… is he…?

Cracking an eye open, Naruto glanced down and confirmed his suspicions. Sasuke had removed his hand from the blond's shaft, replacing it with his mouth. He imagined this was the Uchiha's way of paying him back for his own tongue exploration – and, needless to say, Naruto accepted it gladly.

His eyes closed, Naruto moaned quietly as he felt Sasuke's mouth slide up and down, his tongue tickling the sensitive skin. It was a wonderful, albeit strange, sensation, and it only grew more pleasurable as Sasuke's free fingers began to fondle his balls. At that point, it simply became too much, and Naruto had to tap on the Uchiha's shoulder hurriedly as he let out another ecstatic groan.

Releasing the blond, Sasuke sat up and gave his boyfriend a concerned look. "What is it?"

"I… I was about to…" Naruto said, glancing down at his twitching member.

"Ah," Sasuke said with a look of understanding. "Then… shall we…?"

Naruto nodded. "Just give me a second here."

Sliding off the bed, Naruto pulled out the bag from underneath and, along with it, the necessary supplies. This time, he only had a single box of condoms, making his choice much easier. Taking out a single packet, he opened it with his teeth and slid the rubber on with only some difficulty.

Practice makes perfect, I guess…

As for the bottle of Astroglide, Naruto poured an excessive amount into his hand, applying some of it to himself while using the remainder on Sasuke, making sure that both his groin and his back were sufficiently coated. Of course, it was still far more than was needed, but Naruto figured it was better to use too much than too little. He could always wash the sheets, as he undoubtedly would have to the next day.

"How's that?" Naruto asked as he hovered over his boyfriend, rubbing the lubricant in thoroughly around his butt.

"Good enough, I think," Sasuke responded with a slight blush. "Feels good, at least."

"Okay… I'm going to slip one in, then. Ready?"

"Ready."

On Sasuke's word, Naruto pushed one of his fingers inside – slowly enough for the Uchiha to adjust. He then began to slide it back and forth, gradually loosening up his boyfriend, all while suckling on his nipple. Bucking his hips slightly, Sasuke licked his lips and let out a euphoric sigh. After a minute or so, Naruto added a second finger, causing Sasuke to grunt in a mixture of pain and pleasure.

"Too much?" the blond asked, looking up from the Uchiha's chest.

"No… you're fine…"

Satisfied, Naruto returned to work, sticking out his tongue in concentration as he continued to rub his fingers inside his boyfriend. Once he was sure Sasuke was ready, he withdrew them and positioned himself between the other teen's legs.

"You're sure about this?" Naruto asked, feeling the warmth of Sasuke's legs entwined with his own.

"What did I tell you about that?" Sasuke responded with a smirk. "I'm ready, Naruto."

"All right, then…"

Gently, Naruto slid inside his boyfriend, a wave of pleasure rippling through him as he felt the tight pressure on his member. Closing his eyes and taking deep breaths, Naruto thrust back and forth in long, fluid motions, listening intently to the Uchiha's grunts. Resting his arms on either side of Sasuke, Naruto continued at a cautious pace, trying his best to sense any discomfort or unease in his partner.

"Naruto!" Sasuke said sharply, causing the blond to open his eyes in surprise.

I'm not hurting him, am I? He'd tell me if I was… at least I think he would…

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine – just hurry up and fuck me already," the Uchiha commanded before letting out a moan.

Naruto didn't need to be told twice. Immediately he picked up the pace, thrusting faster until both he and Sasuke were dripping with sweat. Their grunts filled the room along with the squeaking of the mattress, neither one able to say anything else as they focused one the task at hand.

This is what Sasuke wants. He's not afraid this time… he wants this… so we can show our love for each other…

He felt all the sensations as he knelt there on the bed, straddling the Uchiha. He could feel Sasuke's legs tighten around his own, the squeeze as his free hand clamped down on Naruto's butt, the warming sensation of being inside the Uchiha – it was all wonderful, hot, and dirty. He could feel all of Sasuke's movements, the slight adjustments as he tried to get comfortable, the tightening and loosening of his insides as he fought the urge to clamp up with every surge of pleasure.

His face red, Naruto cracked open an eye to get a look at his boyfriend. There, he found Sasuke with his head resting back on the sheets, his eyes closed, his face showing that strange combination of pain and ecstasy. A glance further down showed that he was enjoying it far more than his face let on – he was sporting quite an impressive erection, his hand stroking it rapidly.

"Sasuke… are you–"

"YES!" Sasuke ejaculated in a voice far louder than either he or Naruto expected.

At that point, Sasuke's entire body seemed to tighten at once, closing in around Naruto as he shuddered. Watching from above, the blond watched his boyfriend twitch and throb as love squirted onto his bare stomach and melded with the sweat. The sight was all Naruto needed for his own release, causing him to let out a burst of short, loudening moans as he gave a final thrust.

They paused in that position for some time, staring at each other as they struggled to catch their breath. Neither one said a word. Their actions spoke for themselves. They were both exhausted, drained of other fluids than just sweat – Naruto had forgotten what a workout sex could be.

After that extended period of quiet awe, the teens lunged at each other with their lips, meeting a foot or so off the bed with an intense kiss. They pressed against each other, hungry and yearning, their hands wrapped around their bodies in a powerful embrace.

They remained like that for some time – Naruto lost track, his brain clouded by the afterglow. When they finally pulled out of the kiss, though, they smiled at each other, their faces mere inches from each other. As Naruto noticed, there was no sarcasm behind Sasuke's grin, no insincerity – it was the happiest the blond had ever seen him, and it made his heart swell with joy.

"I love you, Naruto," Sasuke finally said, his voice resolute.

Naruto's smile widened, a feat he thought impossible at that moment. "I love you, Sasuke."

They lay in bed for a while afterwards, draped in the sheets as their sweat dried and their bodies cooled, and not once did Naruto worry about Sasuke leaving. Somehow, he was sure Sasuke felt the same way – at that moment, they were one, bound to each other for eternity, and that was all that mattered.

And there you have it! Everyone has an enjoyable Christmas, and Naruto and Sasuke give their sex life another go. Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. We're nearing the end now - only a few chapters left to go. Next time, expect to learn more about Kiba's date with Hinata, along with an unexpected twist... Until then, thank you all for reading, and remember to review!