Note: Not my characters, NaruGaa, AU, yaoi, lemons, I fucked with the ages big time, prostitution, a grown up Naruto who is kinda cool (which I love more than anything), some OOC-ness and a tiny bit of a love triangle.

For the record, the ages are as follows: Naruto: 20, Gaara: 17, Sakura: 21, Konohamaru: 3, Kiba: 22.

Chapter Three

-Naruto-

I pushed the Swifer back in the closet and shut the door, mind still miles away, face still frozen in an emotionless state. I glanced at the clock above the stove... They'd only been gone an hour and I had already cleaned the house top to bottom. Fuck. I stretched numbly and walked to my bedroom to peek in on the redhead, trying to fit a smile on my face in case he was awake. I'd finally gotten it to look somewhat normal when a knock on the door forced me to turn right back around. Fuck and half, what now?

I peered through the peep hole and a stream of colorful words started through my head. "Just what I need." I mumbled as I pulled the door open. "Sakura. What can I do for you today?"

She put her hands on her hips and barged right in. "You can start by telling me that hooker is gone."

My smile cracked and my eyes narrowed. "He's actually sleeping and I'd appreciate it if you didn't call anyone in my house that ever again." Her eyes narrowed as I shut the door and pushed past her, heading for the living room. She followed me, her anger obvious by the way she stomped her feet and began muttering under her breath. I ignored her and flopped onto the couch, flipping on the tv and yawning.

"Naruto!" I looked over at her, pink hair pulled back in a ponytail, light blue jeans and a long sleeved dark pink shirt. All of it screamed she meant business. I sighed and leaned forward, elbows on my knees. "I can't believe you'd do something this stupid! I know you think you've got to take care of everybody and everything. You don't!" I rolled my eyes. "Do you even realize the danger you've put Konohamaru in?!" I bristled. "You don't take people in off the streets! You just don't!"

"Then somebody should start!" I shouted back, raising to my feet, my emotions getting the better of me. "That is a kid in there! A kid in a situation that probably can't go home even when he's so sick he passes out in an alley!"

"You leave them out there! If that's where they are that's where they're meant to be Naruto! I love you but you obviously have no sense of responsibility if you're bringing sick prostitutes into the same house with a three year old!"

The confession she threw in was lost as her other words slapped me in the face. "I am thinking about him." I muttered, eyes lowering to the floor.

She seemed to shrink then, hesitating. "Naruto you know that isn't what I meant..."

"Isn't it though? We walk past children selling themselves everyday. Everyday. I walk past them knowing there isn't anything I can do. That I can't help them though they need it the most. You've even said yourself you wish you could help them. And now I'm doing something. Even if it's just a little thing... I want to show Konohamaru you help the ones who need it, teach him that if you have the means then help... and you make it sound as if that makes me a bad father!"

"Naruto I didn't-"

"Leave." She froze as my eyes met hers again, narrowing instantly. "Get out."

"I-" She took a step forward, hand raising.

"Get out!" She jumped and whirled around, walking towards the door. I followed closely. "Don't bother showing up Monday. You're fired. I don't want to see you again." Her mouth fell open in protest, but I slammed the door. I stood there long after she'd gone, doubting myself... hating myself. A sick kid lay in my bed and I had just lost the cheapest nanny I'd ever find and one of my closest friends. What the fuck had I done? I rubbed my temples with my knuckles trying to get rid of the harsh pressure I felt building.

"You're... not a bad father..." A breathless voice whispered. My head shot up as a panting and sweaty redhead stumbled his way down the hall. "If... if my father... were like you... I wouldn't... I wouldn't even be in this... mess..." He panted out as I rose to my feet.

I slapped on my fake smile and walked over to him. "Hey kid, you should be laying down." I place a hand over his forehead and winced. "Woo. I think your fever's gone down, but it's still burning my fingers." I smiled weekly and pulled his weight off the wall and onto my chest. He stumbled and tried to protest with words I couldn't hear. "Where'd you think you were goin?" I asked as the progress only seemed to slow down and his feet unwilling to lift his body. "Mind if I pick you up?" He shook his head and kept his face lowered as I lifted him easily. "Now where were you goin?"

"I was leaving." He mumbled. "I didn't mean to start a fight between you and your girlfriend. I don't want to cause problems."

I snorted and pushed the door open with my foot. "You heard that." He nodded. "Sakura is not my girlfriend. She's Konohamaru's nanny. Er, was his nanny. Don't worry about a thing she said. You're not a problem." His face finally rose to look at my face, mouth slack and eyes wide as if I'd just said the most unbelievable thing he'd ever heard. "I mean, you're free to leave" I set him back on the bed. "but I think you should stay until you're able to walk on your own." I smiled again, pulling the thick blanket over his shivering form. He seemed to be lost for words and continued to stare up at me. "Is there anything I can get you?" He shook his head and looked down. A sudden thought hit me and I walked to the bathroom, returning with a bottle of grape cough and fever medicine, measuring it out and handing it to him. He tossed it back and haded the empty plastic cap, grimacing.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." I stretched again and turned to leave, but his tentative voice stopped me.

"Why?" His eyes connected with mine, confusion turning his beautiful eyes more blue than green. "Why do this... for someone like me?"

I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window. "Someone like you? I'm not sure what that means really." I felt he wanted to say something but I continued on. "You're human. You're a human being just like I am. We're the same. Circumstances gave us different backgrounds and different ideas, but you are still a person. Someone who needs help and I just happened to be there when you needed that help the most." I turned and gave him another weak smile. He didn't seem to know what to do. Big teal eyes looking at me intensely, an emotion I could not name rolling through them as he searched my face for something. I quirked an eyebrow and he turned away.

-Gaara-

I turned away, embarrassed, and fought to keep the blush I felt creeping onto my face. That was the first time in my life I had ever heard that. Not the part about being the same, not that we're both human. Those things too of course, but he had said I was not a problem. I felt tears begin to well and my heart speed up. "Do you think you can keep down some food or juice? You've got to eat." I shook my head and just gazed at him.

Though his words were kind and there was a smile on his face, something was off. Something was missing. I couldn't quite say what. There was a deep hurt in those beautiful sapphires he calls eyes, a hollow twinge. His smiles didn't light up his face like they had earlier. Maybe I had imagined the brilliant smiles? No. Those were real. So where had they gone?

I sat up determined. My head was still spinning but my stomach had settled down. I climbed off the bed and knelt on the floor in front of him. His blue eyes questioned me but I lowered my gaze and let out a low moan, hands resting lightly on his knees. I knew how to do this. The right moan could turn on any man or woman. My hands moved on their own accord, lightly trailing up his thighs as I kissed his hand. He sat completely still but I didn't dare look into his face. I never looked at the faces. I quickly unbuttoned his pants, my body rising, so close to his I could feel his body heat, and my hands slid into the loose jeans. Before they could get to their destination, they were pulled out hastily.

"What are you doing?" His words were low.

I didn't look up. I was suddenly so nervous I couldn't have if I wanted to. "Repaying you for your kindness..."

Silence spread through the room making my heart beat faster. What had I done? Was this wrong? I swallowed. That's when he began laughing. I glanced up as his body began shaking at the force of the deep chuckle. The feelings of shame and hurt washed through me. "You don't have to repay me kid." His hands let go of my wrists and they fell onto my lap. "Like I said, you needed help and I could give it." Those strong hands lifted me easily and put me back into the soft bed.

"Why are you laughing?"

The deep sound only grew louder. "Oh man. I haven't been seduced in so long I had no idea what the heck was going on!" I could only stare at him. His hand came down and ruffled my hair gently as he stood up. "Jeez kid, nearly gave me a heart attack." He gave me that hollow smile and pulled the blanket up to my chin. "You just lay here and get better. Alright?" I stared at him, shock wiping away my bruised ego.

"Gaara."

"Huh?"

I cleared my throat. "My name is Gaara."

He smiled down at me gently and nodded. "Gaara... Would you like me to get you anything to eat?" I shuddered as he stared down at me. I wanted to say no. I didn't want to take anything more from this man if he wasn't going to take anything from me, if he wasn't going to let me give the only thing I knew how to give... But my stomach gave a gentle protest. A blush set my face on fire when he smiled, showing he had heard it.

"I'll be fin-"

"PAPA!" A child's voice shouted from somewhere in the apartment, cutting me off, and I watched in amazement as the hollow look in his eyes vanished and his smile grew impossibly bright. "IS YOU?!" He looked toward the door, arms opening slightly as the tiny brunette flew through the door and jumped straight into his open arms. The small child fit right into them and nestled his face into the white shirt while the blond buried his face into the wild brown locks. I tore my eyes away from them as I realized I was intruding on a family moment.

"Damn. Sorry Naruto. I wanted to give you some down time, but the little bugger started crying and wanted to go home." A gruff voice explained as a shaggy man walked through the door. He was tall. That was the first thing I noticed about him. Not taller than the blond, but damn close. The next detail that caught my eye was the two red upside down on his cheeks. A small brown and white puppy jumped onto the foot of the bed and began sniffing me intensely. I froze.

"What happened?" The blond looked down at his son, pushing the hair from his eyes.

The boy shook his head. "Misseded you smell." He chirped and inhaled deeply, a large smile on his face. A warm laugh made me shudder again as the dog finally got to my head and began licking me. I sealed my eyes and lips shut as the slightly rough muscle covered my face with drool. Three sets of laughter exploded throughout the room and the dog was pulled from me. I reached up wiped at the lingering wetness. The laughter didn't die down as I finally opened my eyes.

The shaggy man stood beside me, holding the animal and smiling at me. "I don't care what Sakura says, Akamaru likes the kid and that's enough for me." He held out a hand down to me. "My name's Kiba." My eyes widened at that. To accept a person just because a puppy licked his face? My surprise must have shone because his smile just widened. "I trust Akamaru's sense over anything. He doesn't like many people." He coughed into his hand and slipped in the name Sakura again.

My rescuer smiled and hitched his child up onto his hip. "Speaking of Sakura..."

"Down?" The little boy scrambled out of his fathers arms and ran out of the room. The two men watched him go before walking to the door to keep an eye on him.

"What'd she do now?" My eyes started to close as the room began to spin again. I groaned internally and rolled over onto my side. At least I didn't feel like puking anymore... too bad I already made an ass out of myself. I mentally groaned again. He didn't want me to do anything like that? What did he want from me then? Nobody in this world does anything for free. Anyone who had ever helped me out before had wanted 'favors' from me. When the man pulled away from me, it threw me for a loop. What did he want?

"Konohamaru!" My eyes flew open as something cold was pressed to my forehead. The child was holding a juice box to my head. "Get over here!"

"But he no dink he wa'er! Juice is goo too!" The room instantly filled with gentle laughter and I was surprised to find I was chuckling lightly as well. The toddler beamed at me. "I's open you too. Dink! Is goo." I reached up and grabbed it from him, earning another beaming smile from the kid. I marveled at the similarities between his smile and his fathers. It was almost the exact same. I took a small sip and swallowed before downing the whole thing. It was good. Not the usual over sweetened juice that kids usually liked. No this was amazing. I turned the box and read the name. 'Mott's Strawberry Banana. Specially formulated for Toddlers.' I smirked. Apparently I like juice made for toddlers... "He dink it! All done!" Little hands clapped excitedly. I smiled down at the little one and he giggled before running past the older men again.

"Akamaru's always right." The man named Kiba laughed as the boy nearly toppled him over carrying another one. He climbed onto the bed and sat beside me, offering the juice once more. I took a tiny sip as he began chatting with me. I listened to him, trying to understand the words as best as I could as my eyes slid shut. I heard him say something about a woman S'kura before darkness wrapped around me.

My last conscious thought of the blond, Naruto, and wondering why he saved his smiles only for his son.

-Naruto-

I picked up Konohamaru carefully. Sometime during my chat with Kiba about why I didn't think a puppy was a good thing for us at the moment both he and the redhead had fallen asleep. The brunette had noticed them first, stopping my flow of words with a smile. I turned to see a sight that made me smile softly. They were both laying on their sides facing each other, heads tilted together, Konohamaru's hand resting gently on Gaara's. I almost didn't move him at all, but I remembered why I had brought the teen home in the first place.

"That was pretty adorable." Kiba laughed as I left the little boys room after tucking him into his own bed. I smiled and nodded, leading us to the kitchen. I poured a two cups of coffee before sitting at the table across. He took a big gulp and turned to me. "Now, what were you saying about Sakura earlier?"

I sighed and leaned back in my seat. "Fuck. We got into the argument... A shouting match really, over the kid." He nodded. "I fired her..." His eyes widened. "So now I've got to find a new nanny. Fuck. Do you realize how expensive that's gonna be? At least two hundred a week if I'm lucky!" My head dropped to the table with a loud bang, making the cups jump.

"It doesn't have to cost that much Naruto." I looked up at him.

"How ya figure?"

He laughed. "Dude. If you'd get a freakin storage unit and clear out that room. You could get one who'll take room and board and, like, I dunno, cheaper."

"Your linguistic skills amaze me."

He just stared at me. "Uh...?"

"A storage unit." I scratched at the scars on my cheek. "That's actually a good idea. Ugh. But I don't want to have to deal with some obnoxious woman twenty four seven... But then I could afford a nanny for Konohamaru and that bed is in there already... I wish I could afford some fucking daycare." My hand dropped and I sighed. "How much is a storage unit?"

He grinned at me from across the table and pulled out his phone, dialing a number without looking. "Hey ma... Yeah, listen. Did that guy come today? Really? Good. Naruto needs a space." He listened to the womans voice I could barely hear. "Coolies. I'll tell him." His grin grew and he shut the phone, laying it on the table. "Yer in luck my friend. One of the stalls in ma's old barn just opened up and we aren't doing anything tomorrow."

I couldn't help but smile at my best friend. He was always there during a jam. "How much?"

"Twenty bucks a month? Ma wanted to let you use it for free," I stiffened. "but I knew that wouldn't fly with you. So how 'bout half?" I didn't know what to say. I didn't have to. He just waved it off with a smile. "There isn't much stuff in there so I'm sure we could get it all out before noon and then you can start looking for that nanny before you have to work Monday."

"You're a life saver."

"It's the least we could do after all you've done for us." I smiled, knowing I hadn't done much. He sighed dramatically. "I guess this means you can't take the car."

"I heard Tenten was looking for a car last week." I stated, getting to my feet and walking to the room on the other side of the kitchen. Laughing slightly as he perked up instantly and jogging to join me. "If it's a reasonable fucking steal, she'll swoop it up in a heart beat. She's been saving for a while." I flipped the switch and gazed at the boxes. There weren't many. They mostly held my parents belongings that weren't displayed all over the house. Clothes, shoes, books and odds and ends I didn't dare sell. The bed and frame that had once been mine leaned against the wall, covering the window on the opposite side of the room. Konohamaru and I took the queen our parents once shared. "Guess we should start clearing this out."

He nodded and we each took a box.

Twenty minutes later the boxes were all stacked against the wall and my old furniture was set up. The desk, the dresser and the bed. I pulled the window open and the musky smell began to dissipate. I leaned out and turned my head. I could see my bedroom window and the fire escape clearly, but the brick wall stood right in front of it, ruining the view. I chuckled lowly as Kiba joined me, pulling out a cigarette. I reached over and took one as well. He grinned and lit the one dangling from my lips before lighting his own.

I sucked the harsh smoke down my lungs before letting it out with a sigh. We stared at the brick wall in silence for a few moments. "So. That kid..."

I stole a glance at him out of the corner of my eye. "What about him?"

"Where's he gonna go after he gets better?" I took another drag and blew it out.

"I was thinking of that too. He seems like a good kid. We were talking a bit before you and Konohamaru got back..." Goosebumps raised over my body as I remembered the feel of those soft pale hands on my body, the low moan he let out, the feel of those hands reaching down my pants... I shook the memory from my head. "Maybe I could convince him to call his family... or at least go to a shelter or something."

Kiba smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Dude, you haven't changed at all."

"Huh?"

He laughed. "Trying to save everyone from themselves."

I smiled. "Sometimes people need help."

He frowned a little. "You should listen to your own words." I raised an eyebrow, but he just shook his head and flicked his butt out the window. I dropped mine as well and watched it hit the ground. It glowed orange faintly before dimming into nothing. "So how are you gonna find a nan-"

"PAPA!" Konohamaru's frightened screech made us both freeze, faces horrified before flying out of the room, not stopping as boxes were knocked over. I could hear his sobbing before we even reached the hallway. I flung his bedroom door open to find an empty bed.

O.O This is what we call a cliffy, yes? The way Konohamaru talks is kind of weird. I don't know how three year olds talk really, so I modeled his speech after my three year old brothers. Sometimes the words he says are easy to understand, but most of the time I have to work on it... Heh heh.