Konan's and Yahiko's house was impressive. It stood at two stories, a white marble with two large pillars out the front. Naruto was in awe of it. Sure his house had been impressive but he had found it to overdone while the house he had just entered was grand but minimalistic. Naruto would have to ask Konan about the designer of it, noting that there was no way Yahiko had an input in it. The first floor had a small sitting room, a fully equipped chef's kitchen with Remu counter tops and a small breakfast isle in the middle. A games room was situated next to the four car garage and a lounge with a gas fire place and leather furniture was to the left. Upstairs Naruto had counted at least five rooms, perfect for entertaining but small enough not to feel empty.

Orochimaru and Kabuto had gone their own way at the airport which Naruto was thankful for as he had been a few seconds from knocking that smug smile off the younger man's face. It had irritated him, almost as if the white haired rat was suggesting he knew something Naruto didn't. Orochimaru had paid barely any attention to him and Nagato had tried to make small talk, giving up when Naruto shied away from him in fake embarrassment.

Two arm's wrapped around Naruto's neck and a large belly held his friend at a length. Naruto gingerly hugged her back, fearful that if he squeezed her to hard he would hurt the baby. It felt so surreal hugging her. The blue haired woman stood back and gave him a once over, a frown setting in. Naruto sighed, she had amazing perception and it would be tough to get anything past her. Yahiko stood off to the side, greeting Nagato in an awkward embrace before patting him on the back.

"I can't believe there's a baby in there" Naruto whispered out, putting his hand on Konan's stomach in awe. "How far along?"

"Thirty weeks today! Not much longer now!" she beamed back, looking down with a blissful smile "I'm so happy you're here Naruto, I've really missed you"

"Me to Konan" The blonde replied. It was the truth really, even if he had to put up with Nagato for a week it would be worth it just to see her.

"Alright you two enough with the greeting, I bet these two are wanting to unpack and get settled before dinner" Naruto's gut churned, how was he supposed to share a room with Nagato! "Naruto, your room is down the far end of the hall"

"What?" he stared at Yahiko as if he had grown an extra head, his jaw slack. Did they know?

"I told them" Nagato shrugged his shoulders and picked up his suitcase, handing it to him "I figured it would make you uncomfortable sharing a room"

"We really do need to sit down and talk about this Naruto" Konan glared "I'd been expecting you to at least call me to talk but nothing!"

"Sorry…" Naruto mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. Just what had Nagato told them, did they make him out to be the bad guy in this situation? "It's been a rough few months"

"I expect you to tell me everything tomorrow Mr!" Konan jabbed him in the chest causing him to wince.

"I think I'll go have a nap, see you all at dinner" Naruto trudged past the group, his head dropping slightly. He had been so excited to see Konan and now he just wanted to hop back on a plane to his home and crawl into bed. There was no way Nagato had told them the whole story, Konan wouldn't let Nagato step foot in her house if she did.

Growing up Konan had seen a lot of violence. Now she couldn't stand it and any mention of it made her furious. If anyone she loved was hurt she was like a cold ice queen, almost like she switched herself off and it was truly frightening. There was no way Naruto would tell her the truth, not while she was pregnant. He would just have to come up with a dulled down version, one that would stop her from meddling yet was close to the truth. It would be hard getting it past her, there was no way he could full out lie so he would just have to...fudge the truth a little bit until she was happy with his answers.

Naruto opened the door to his room and placed his bags in the wardrobe before flopping down on the bed, a hand over his eyes and feet dangling off the end. He was no longer excited, he was regretful. Seeing Konan pregnant hit him hard and he felt so damn guilty for bringing his disastrous mess to her doorstep. Naruto would have to be on his best behaviour, there was no way in hell that he would stress out her in the condition she was in. For one he wouldn't want to cause the baby stress and two Yahiko would have his head. If he could he would lock himself in this room and never come out but he had 'obligations'. Naruto picked up his phone and flicked through the schedule for the trip, grimacing whenever a public appearance came up. He would need a lot of tolerance.

Quickly, Naruto typed a message to Sasuke, letting his boyfriend know he had landed safely without incident. It was the only contact he would have with him on this trip and he deleted it once it had sent properly, a whooshing sound confirming it. It was strange being away from Sasuke. Naruto hadn't slept in a bed by himself for more than a few days let alone gone hours without talking to the Uchiha. He had become his rock. When Naruto doubted himself, Sasuke was there reassuring him. When Naruto became overwhelmed it was Sasuke who told him to pull his head in and snapped him out of it. When he was nervous it was Sasuke that held his hand and told him he could do it. Now Naruto was in a place which made him feel as if he was trapped with no Sasuke to keep him standing.

Naruto pushed himself off the bed. He couldn't sit in this room any longer and wallow. It just made him feel anxious and he didn't want to overthink anymore. It would just freak him out and he would jump on the first plane home. Naruto Uzumaki was not a coward. The blonde social worker made his way down stairs, stopping at the bottom as he decided what direction to go it. Konan was in the kitchen while Nagato and Yahiko we're in the lounge. He could go help Konan, it would be nice to catch up with her and Naruto was more than happy to lend her a hand.

Naruto caught his name mentioned in the lounge though and he silently made his way towards the room. It was closed off but the walls were surprisingly thin and he could make out most of what they were saying. He leant forward, pressing his ear against the door and tried to make his breathing as quiet as possible. This is why he was here after all.

"Do you really think that is fair Nagato?" he heard Yahiko ask his ex-husband. The man sounded concerned and a little disappointed "This doesn't sound like you at all my friend"

"Nothing is fair in this world, to get to where I need to be, Naruto is needed" Nagato brushed off his friend's concern "Besides. He'll get his money back. Madara has promised me more than enough to cover the amount Naruto invested in that shit hole"

"You and I both know Naruto could care less about the money Nagato. You're going to hurt him if you haven't already" Hope niggled in Naruto's mind. He hoped that Yahiko could talk some sense into his friend "You use to be invested in it to, considering our back grounds. Isn't that the reason you two got together in the first place?"

"I was blind back then. Sacrifices have to be made. I see that now" As quickly as it came Naruto's hope dissipated "Once downtown is clear out of all the dirt then Madara can start developing the area. It will bring Konoha a lot of money"

"I regret introducing you to Madara, I didn't think he would sink his clutches into you this much" Naruto heard footstep's and the clinking of glasses. "Drink?"

"Yes please" There was silence for a minute before the sound of someone returning to their seat. "I can do more at the top then I can working in the trenches Yahiko. Naruto think's fixing one kid at a time is the way to go but he doesn't see that we we're the lucky ones…the rest, they are just scum, criminals"

"And you think wiping out their homes will fix that? Where will they go?" Yes Yahiko! Get him to think! Naruto screamed in his mind, holding himself back from bursting into the room and giving the man a hug.

"To the outskirt's I guess. Who cares as long as it's not in my city" Naruto pushed himself away from the door. He had heard enough.

The disappointed blonde wandered into the kitchen, his face sullen and his spirit down trodden. How had he let his ex-husband get this way? Surely it didn't happen overnight. God he felt guilty for not seeing Nagato's descent into that cold, narrow minded place he was in. Naruto had been his husband! He was supposed to notice when things were wrong! Tears welled up in his eyes, the responsibility hitting him. Nagato wasn't the only person to fault for the failure of their marriage. At some point the both had stopped trying to make it work, that was obvious to him now.

"Naruto?" Konan looked down at him. Her eyes filled with worry as she peeled a potato at the sink "What's wrong?"

"Nothing Konan, its just jet lag" he hated lying to her but he would never burden her in her condition.

"Been a rough few months?" Konan pressed, throwing the potato at him. Naruto caught it, laughing as she placed a knife in his other hand. "Help me out will ya"

"Course" He stood up and moved next to her. Konan peeled the potatoes while Naruto cut them and put them in the pot.

"I'm not angry…just so you know" His shoulders tensed "I saw it a while back. You and Nagato…you just didn't seem to fit any more"

"How did you see it and I didn't?" Naruto sighed. "He's just changed so much"

"I guess money does that to a person… Politics is a nasty business, it changes even the best of men" Konan washed her hands under the tap and Naruto filled the pot with water before putting it on the stove. "Sometimes Naruto, two people start off with the same vision but as they grow and experience new things, so do their plans. Nagato went one way and you went the other. There is nothing to be ashamed about"

"I'm not ashamed, just…guilty I guess. Don't get me wrong, as you said were two very different people now but…I always work so hard at everything I do and yet I let my marriage slip, I didn't fight for it" Konan gave him a small knowing smile.

"If you knew what you know now, would you fight? It's never too late" Naruto pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. If he had a choice right now what would he choose? Sasuke popped into his head and a small blush rose on his cheeks. He would fight for Sasuke, he would always fight for Sasuke.

"I would fight for the right person" he replied. Konan chuckled.

"I'm assuming Nagato isn't the right person" Naruto froze. No one could know about Sasuke here. As much as he loved Konan, she was too close to Nagato. "Are you seeing someone?"

"No. I just…I meant…when I see a future it isn't with Nagato. I don't know who I see myself with, I'm staying single, especially while the campaign is on but I'm open to meeting someone new" Lies, lies and more lies! He had meet someone! Someone who made his world brighter and made Naruto feel like he was on fire from a mere peck on the lips. Sasuke made his stomach flutter with anticipation and his heart thump as if it was trying to keep in sync with the raven haired mans. His whole world revolved around Sasuke.

"As long as you're happy Naruto. Speaking from a mother's point of view…that's all your parent's would want for you" Naruto almost pulled Konan into a hug, still wary of how fragile she was. None of his friend's had been pregnant before so he really had no clue if he could hurt her or not.

"You know Konan, for someone who hasn't even given birth yet you have this mothering thing down already" The woman beamed up at him and she wrung her hands.

"You think? I'm really scared I'm going to be a terrible mother" Naruto put a hand on her shoulder, his mouth wide in a bright smile and he saw her visibly relax.

"Out of everybody I know Konan that would be a fantastic mother, it would be you" He was taken aback when she pulled him into a hug and he carefully placed his arms around her.

"Naruto, you're not going to break me. It's okay to hug me just don't squeeze to tight!" she chuckled into his chest. Naruto mumbled a sorry under his breath and hugged her back properly. "Right, we have work to do!"

"What?" Konan winked at him.

"If you're going to get a new boyfriend I need to teach you how to make a good old Sunday roast!" Naruto sighed. What had he gotten himself into?