18. A Fight and a Reassurance

For the first time in… ever, really, Sasuke skipped going into work. Instead, after sending a message to his secretary to cancel everything he had for the day, he set course for his parents' house. He arrived just in time for breakfast apparently, since he could smell toast and coffee as soon as he entered the house. He went straight to the kitchen where he found Naruto fiddling with the coffee machine, trying to figure it out. A little startled, Sasuke felt how fondness filled his heart and spilled over into his chest as his eyes landed on Naruto's bowed head and back, warmth trailing all the way out to his fingertips, erasing the stress and fear he had felt the last twenty-four hours. The sound of a joyful breakfast made its way through the open door to the dining room at the other end of the room, but Sasuke decided that he could go to them as soon as he had at the very least kissed Naruto.

Without wasting a moment he strode over to him and wrapped him in his arms from the side, pressing his forehead to his temple. Naruto jumped, his breath catching in his throat, and pulled back a little to turn wide eyes on Sasuke. When he saw who it was, he relaxed into him and laughed softly.

"God, you scared me," he huffed through a smile. "Next time, at least announ–"

He didn't get farther as Sasuke grabbed his jaw and pulled him into a searing kiss. It took Naruto a moment to react but soon he turned in his embrace and wrapped his arms around Sasuke's middle, kissing him back eagerly.

"Missed me?" Naruto breathed between kisses.

"Yes," Sasuke pulled back to growl before he claimed his lips again.

Naruto laughed into the kiss, but pulled Sasuke impossibly closer, hands moving up his back to clutch his shoulders as Sasuke's own fell to his hips. The air between them filled with longing and they probably wouldn't have been able to stop kissing if someone hadn't cleared their throat from the doorway. Someone who sounded very much like Itachi. Sasuke had half a mind to ignore him, but thought better of it and reluctantly pulled out of Naruto's embrace to glare at his brother. Itachi leveled him with an unimpressed look.

"I was just checking if you needed help, Naruto," Itachi said, turning his eyes to him. "But my brother seems to have a handle on things."

He looked pointedly at Sasuke's hands, which were still clutching Naruto's hips.

"S-sorry," Naruto stammered, face flushed, his hands falling to Sasuke's arms in an attempt to push him away. Sasuke wouldn't let him. "I'm so sorry. That was extremely inappropriate. I didn't think–"

"Clearly," Itachi cut him off, though he looked perfectly amused. "Just please don't desecrate the kitchen. We prepare food in here."

He turned and went back to the dining room, laughing to himself. Sasuke glared at his back until he was out of sight and Naruto smacked his arm.

"What the hell Sasuke?" he hissed.

Sasuke raised his eyebrows at him.

"You weren't complaining a few seconds ago."

Naruto's blush deepened and Sasuke couldn't resist brushing his knuckles against one of his warm cheeks.

"Sorry," he said.

Naruto wrinkled his nose, but smiled softly. Then he gave him a quick kiss and grabbed his hand.

"I give up on the coffee machine," he muttered and led the way to the dining room.

"I thought you didn't drink coffee, anyway," Sasuke said.

Naruto shrugged.

"Your mom said the machine made really tasty coffee and I just couldn't refuse her," he sighed. "It's a good thing I couldn't figure out how it worked."

Sasuke snorted as they entered the dining room.

"Daddy!" came Emi's happy greeting once she spotted them and she slid off her chair to barrel right into him, jumping to cling to his middle and knocking the breath out of him for a second. "You're here!"

"Hello, princess," he said and picked her up. Her small arms wound around his neck in a tight hug and he kissed her cheek.

"Sasuke," his mother and father said in unison, both sounding astonished. His father continued: "Why aren't you at work?"

Sasuke sat down in the chair Emi had vacated, adjusting her so she sat properly in his lap, and Naruto sat down beside him. He sighed, pulling Emi's hair back so it wouldn't get in her mouth as she picked up her half eaten toast and took a bite.

"I decided to take the day off," he told them and his family exchanged a look. "A lot happened yesterday and I need some time away from it."

Before any of them could ask, Emi interrupted.

"Daddy, grandpapa and nana said they'd take me to the planetarium," she informed, leaning her head back to look up at him, some crumbs caught in the corner of her mouth.

Sasuke smiled down at her and used his thumb to brush away the crumbs.

"That sounds fun," he said and looked back up at his parents.

His father shrugged.

"We rented it for today," he said offhandedly. "So they wouldn't be bored since we thought it better for both Emi and Naruto to stay away from school today."

"Though Naruto said he'd rather go home and study," Itachi said. "So he'll be bored anyway."

"We're leaving after breakfast," his mother informed. "You're welcome to join us Sasuke. Itachi said he'd drive Naruto home."

Sasuke looked to Naruto who smiled at him softly. Then he looked down at the top of Emi's head. There was no way he could choose between them.

"Emi, do you want me to go with you?" he asked. If Emi wanted him to be around today, he would stay. After all she had always been his priority, he'd follow her decision.

Emi tilted her head back to look up at him again, contemplative. Sometimes Sasuke wondered how his daughter could seem so much older than her years.

"It's okay," she said. "Nana and grandpapa will be there. Daddy can rest."

"Then I guess you can take Naruto back home and I can go to the planetarium instead," Itachi said with a smirk, moving his eyebrows up and down. "Give you two some privacy."

Sasuke's parents chuckled but Naruto wrinkled his nose.

"Please, don't ever do that again," he muttered into his glass of juice. "I could have gone my entire life without seeing that and been perfectly happy."

Itachi rolled his eyes, but there was an amused glint in them.

Breakfast passed fairly quickly, rowdier than it usually was due to the combination of Emi, Naruto and Itachi, but it felt nice and warm, like all the puzzle pieces to their family had come together. Sasuke's mother and father smiled widely throughout most of the morning as they watched whatever antics Itachi, Emi and Naruto came up with and Sasuke wasn't sure he had ever seen them laugh so much.

"Okay," Sasuke's father said as he looked at the clock. "Shall we get ready to leave?"

Sasuke's mother nodded and stood to pick Emi up from Sasuke's lap.

"Let's get dressed," she said and kissed Emi's cheek before she put her down and looked at Itachi. "You too." She turned to Sasuke and Naruto. "You boys take your time. You have the keys to lock the house Sasuke?"

He nodded and his mother pulled her hand through his hair before she turned to follow his father, who had grabbed Emi's hand and led her out of the dining room. once they were out of earshot, Itachi sighed.

"It's like I'm still a kid to her sometimes," he grumbled and Sasuke snorted.

"Maybe if you'd act like an adult every now and then she wouldn't have to treat you like a kid," he said. In the corner of his eye Sasuke saw Naruto take a sip of his juice to hide a smile.

Itachi narrowed his eyes at them and stood.

"Why do I even bother with you, Sasuke," he said in mock exasperation. "No respect for the elders at all."

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke grabbed what was left of Emi's toast and took a bite. Itachi shook his head and left with a sniff. Naruto let out a small laugh.

"Dramatic as ever," he murmured.

Sasuke sighed and reached over to lace their fingers together. Naruto looked up at him, eyes warm and fond.

"Hi," he said and leaned in to give him a soft kiss.

Sasuke hummed and grabbed the back of Naruto's neck to keep him in place. He felt Naruto's lips pull up in a smile.

"Is everything all right?" Naruto asked when Sasuke let go of him.

"Not really," Sasuke said with a heavy sigh.

Naruto chewed on his lip as he frowned at him. Sasuke reached up to press his thumb to his lips and gave his cheek a gentle caress with his knuckles when he stopped.

"I'm really worried," he murmured, his eyes trained on the hand that was moving over Naruto's cheek. He met Naruto's eyes. "And now Emi's mother has decided to show up again on top of it all. I can't figure out what she wants."

Naruto frowned.

"Doesn't she just want to get to know Emi?"

Sasuke pursed his lips.

"That's what she says," he muttered. "But why now? From the conversation I had with her yesterday she hasn't changed all that much, which means she might still not have much interest in being with Emi. And she only contacted me because she has read the magazines and seen the talk shows."

Naruto searched his face for a silent moment, head tilted. Then he sighed.

"Why don't you just give her the benefit of doubt?" he asked. "I haven't met her, so maybe I have no right to say this, but… just for Emi? I'm not saying she needs a mother or two parents. I just think she should have the opportunity to get to know who her mother is if she should want to."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows.

"You think we should ask Emi if she wants to meet her?" he asked.

"Yeah," Naruto said. "Children understand more than adults give them credit for. And this has everything to do with Emi and her wellbeing, so if she doesn't have a say in it, who does?"

Sasuke stared at him for a long moment.

"I love you," he said then and a grin spread on Naruto's face.

"I love you too," he chuckled.

Sasuke cracked a small smile.

"Well aren't you two sweeter than sugar," Itachi said as he entered the room and made his way back to his seat. He sat down and picked up his half drunk cup of coffee to take a sip. "My teeth will rot."

Sasuke closed his eyes with a small groan.

"Will we ever be rid of you?" he growled.

Itachi grinned.

"Never," he said. Then he turned serious. "By the way, Sasuke, has the unknown caller contacted you again? My friend needs a look at your phone to track it."

Sasuke snapped his eyes open and stared at an expectant Itachi. He had completely forgotten his brother's friend was supposed to look into who was calling him.

"Oh, well…" he paused and Itachi raised his eyebrows. "I answered it. Yesterday. I already know who it is."

Itachi's eyes grew dangerously hard and he crossed his arms.

"Come again?" he said in a voice so calm it was terrifying.

Naruto's hand found Sasuke's again and squeezed gently. Sasuke glanced at him, but his eyes were trained on Itachi.

"I know who the caller is," Sasuke repeated. "I forgot your friend was supposed to look into it."

Itachi's mouth set in a thin line and he pulled a hand through his hair.

"Well, if you were going to go off putting yourself in danger by answering that unknown phone call, the least you could have done was tell me as soon as you did!" Itachi growled. "I cannot believe your stupidity Sasuke! How can I prevent something happening to you if you don't tell me?!"

"I was having a really stressful day and the calling stressed me out even more!" Sasuke shot back, voice growing louder. "I just wanted it to end! What would you have had me do?"

"Not answer the fucking call for one!" Itachi raised his voice as well. "That is the stupidest thing you've ever done! Sasuke, you absolute blithering idiot!"

"Fuck you! It's not–"

"Boys!" Sasuke's mother entered the dining room. His father followed with a wide-eyed Emi in his arms. "What is going on in here?"

Sasuke took a deep breath to calm down so he wouldn't scare his daughter further. She reached her arms out for Naruto who immediately stood and took her from his father, hugging her close to him.

"Why are they fighting?" Emi asked him, voice small, and Sasuke's heart hurt.

He made it a point to never raise his voice in front of Emi and he usually solved arguments with calm discussion. But Itachi's angry worry had him on edge and he couldn't help the reaction to fight back.

"Uncle Tachi is just worried," Naruto murmured to her. "Let's go to the living room, yeah? You can show me how to play piano while they talk."

Emi looked over Naruto's shoulder at Sasuke and nodded reluctantly.

"Is it because of the mean people?" he heard her ask as they left. He couldn't distinguish Naruto's answer, but he trusted he would give her an appropriate one.

"Sasuke and Itachi," his mother said in a tone more dangerously calm than Itachi's had been. "Why are you not talking out your differences like the adults you are? Do I really need to mediate between you as if you were ten?"

"Sorry mother," both of them mumbled.

She rubbed her forehead and Sasuke's father grabbed her arm to make her stop. She leaned into him with a sigh.

"I know we're in a stressful situation," his father said. "But we need to keep calm."

Sasuke and Itachi nodded.

"Now, both of you, tell us what this is about," he continued. "We need to solve this before we leave."

Sasuke opened his mouth but Itachi beat him to it.

"You know those unknown calls I told you Sasuke has been receiving lately?" he asked and his parents nodded, glancing at Sasuke worriedly. Sasuke pressed his lips together. "Well he apparently answered yesterday."

Both his mother and father turned to him, expressions disbelieving.

"Sasuke!" his mother admonished.

Sasuke heaved a sigh.

"Well, it turned out it was Miyo," he said. All three of them stared at him. "Apparently she wants to meet Emi and get to know her. Because she needs a mother according to the media, which she clearly believes."

"It seems a bit abrupt," his father said. "Does Naruto know?"

"I told him yesterday night," Sasuke answered.

"Well at least you told someone," Itachi scoffed. "We couldn't reach you all day! You irresponsible –"

"Itachi," his mother warned. "Still, Sasuke. You should have let us know or at least sent a message. We were worried."

Sasuke swallowed.

"I know," he mumbled. "I'm sorry. I was just… I wanted to be alone for a few hours."

"So are you going to let Emi meet her?" Itachi asked.

Sasuke shrugged.

"I'm not sure yet," he said honestly. "Naruto suggested we ask Emi what she wants to do and give Miyo the benefit of doubt."

His parents and Itachi looked as if they weren't sure if they should protest it or encourage him.

"Will you at least let me look into what she's been doing these past few years?" Itachi said. "Before you contact her again."

Sasuke looked at him for a moment, then nodded. It couldn't hurt to know exactly what she had been up to since he last saw her. It could only help him protect Emi and Naruto from harm.

Naruto leaned his head in his hand, elbow propped up against the passenger side door, as he watched Sasuke drive. There was a frown on his forehead that Naruto wasn't entirely sure was there because he was concentrating on driving, and his shoulders seemed tense. He wanted to reach over and make him relax but he didn't want to disturb him.

He must have felt him looking because Sasuke glanced over at him after a few minutes.

"What?" he murmured.

Naruto blinked.

"Nothing," he answered. "Just… are you okay? Do you want to talk?"

Sighing, Sasuke pressed his lips together.

"Honestly, I'm a little scared," he said. "Of what might happen to you or Emi because I'm Uchiha Sasuke, supposedly perfect in the eyes of the media. And being scared stresses me out and when I'm stressed out I make stupid decisions. There are so many people with so many opinions and I want to be a good example of the Uchiha family but it's hard when my good example doesn't correspond to the majority. If I'm not good enough, you both will be hurt."

A lump settled in Naruto's throat and he swallowed around it.

"I think you're the best," he whispered. "Your family loves you. Emi thinks you're the world, no doubt. To us you are the perfect example of what a father, son, brother and lover is. Who cares what everyone else thinks?"

"You don't understand! It's not that easy!" Sasuke exclaimed, frustration clear in his voice. "You haven't grown up with the all the eyes in the country on you!"

Looking away, Naruto bit his lip and tense silence fell over them. He knew how it was growing up being judged badly but he had no idea how the life of a famous person was. He still thought that at the end of the day, what mattered most was the opinion of the people who loved you, not of the people who claimed they knew everything about you and what was good for you because you were a public figure or already had decided what to think of you because you were a poor orphan with no prospects in the eyes of society. But maybe he was just being naïve about the entire thing.

A warm hand landed on his thigh.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke murmured. "Stop biting your lip. Please."

Naruto released his lip with a soft breath and laced his fingers with Sasuke's on his thigh. He thought of what Mikoto had told him what seemed like years ago at the family barbeque. He has never once been on the bad side of the media, which means he has never once truly made a decision for himself.

"Sasuke, being yourself is not a bad thing," he said softly. "Even if people think they're entitled to tell you so."

Sasuke heaved a sigh but didn't argue and they were silent the rest of the way, fingers still interlocked. Naruto squeezed them every now and then and Sasuke would squeeze back reassuringly.

"I'm going to go change," Naruto said as they entered the house and closed the door behind them. It was strangely quiet without Emi around and it felt wrong somehow. "I've been wearing these clothes since yesterday morning."

Sasuke nodded and Naruto gave him a soft smile, pulled his fingers through his black strands and went upstairs as Sasuke went to deposit the pastries his mother had sent with them in the kitchen. He opened the closet in the guest bedroom and stood looking into it for a while, contemplating on whether to take a shower as well.

A small creak in the floorboards was all the warning Naruto got before Sasuke's arms were around his waist, pulling him back into his chest.

"Why haven't you moved your clothes to our room yet?" he asked softly and pressed his forehead to Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto let his arms fall over Sasuke's around his middle and leaned his head back a little.

"I haven't really had the time," he murmured.

They stood silently for a moment, listening to each other breathe.

"I'm sorry for earlier," Sasuke whispered. "I didn't mean to get angry."

Naruto smiled a little to himself and reached a hand up to Sasuke's head, gently massaging his scalp.

"It's okay," he said quietly. "You're stressed. I understand."

Sasuke made a noise.

"That doesn't mean I should yell at you when you're trying to help."

Pushing Sasuke's arms off a little, Naruto moved out of his embrace and turned to look at him. Then he cupped Sasuke's face and pulled him into a brief kiss before he grabbed one of Sasuke's hands and led him out of the guest room to their room, where he pushed Sasuke down onto the bed. Sasuke blinked up at him, looking confused, as he climbed up over him. Naruto smiled as he settled against Sasuke's side, supporting himself on an elbow as he leaned down to pepper kisses over his face before he buried his own face in Sasuke's neck and hugged him close. Sasuke's arms came up to hold him tightly and they laid in silence for what could have been eons, for all they knew. Naruto didn't care.

"Sasuke," Naruto whispered after a while and pulled back to look at him again.

Sasuke's eyes were heavy lidded but he seemed awake enough to be able to concentrate on what Naruto said.

"Listen to me," he traced a finger down Sasuke's cheek. "You're not perfect and that's exactly what makes you perfect. You make mistakes, you forget things, you get angry and lose your temper, you're a single father in a relationship with a man, and that's all okay if, at the end of the day, you're happy with who you are. And if you're happy with who you are, then the opinions of others who aren't happy with you won't matter anymore because the ones whose opinions truly matter will be happy with who you are as well."

Not looking so sleepy anymore, Sasuke stared at him, fingertips rubbing up and down his back.

"Why are you telling me this?" he whispered.

Naruto smiled weakly.

"Because I do know how it is to grow up with every action being judged," he whispered back. "Only, they always expected the absolute worst of me while I believe everyone expected the absolute best of you."

Sasuke swallowed thickly and nodded.

"I used to think that what people thought of me was true, because everyone seemed to have the same opinion," he continued. "I used to believe I would get the bare minimum education and then find a low paying job, knock up a girl and live the rest of my days in poverty, because that was what people told me I would become just because I was a penniless orphan."

Anger flickered in Sasuke's eyes.

"Well, they're morons," he growled.

Naruto chuckled.

"No, they're judgmental and uninformed," he said. "But look at me now. I'm in university, I haven't knocked up a girl, and even before I moved in here I wasn't really living in poverty, though I had low income due to being a student."

Sasuke smiled softly at him.

"I wouldn't have been here if I kept thinking all those people back home were right," he said. "So instead of choosing the easy option of conforming to their already perceived notion of who I was, I decided I wanted to be whatever made me happy because at the end of the day, I was all I had and if I weren't happy with me, who would be?"

Pulling Naruto down to his chest again, Sasuke took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I'm happy with who I am when I'm with you and Emi," Sasuke murmured.

Naruto smiled into his shirt.

"Then that's where you start building who you are," he said. "Because we're happy with who you are, too."

A/N: So, I have no idea what this chapter is... and to those of you still there I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write it, but life man. Anyway, this was just kind of... sad... Sasuke is struggling :(

Hope you liked it though!

See you in the next chapter!