Closing the door behind him I prepared for bed, wearing my new pajamas. But before I could crawl into bed there was a knock on my door. Confused I opened it and found Naruto and Sasuke in their pajamas at my door.
My jaw sagged and Naruto said, "We figure we should have an early pre-sleepover."
I blinked, not believing my ears, or eyes. Naruto was wearing orange pajamas with light yellow foxes and Sasuke was wearing midnight blue pajamas. Sasuke smiled slightly, "Are you going to let us in or are we going to sleep outside?"
I grinned whickidly, moving to let them in, "Wanted to spend the night with Auntie?"
at their faces I cracked up laughing and they laughed back, realizing I was teasing. Sasuke teased back, "Can we have some cookies Auntie?"
Naruto chimed as I closed the door, "And some warm milk?"
I laughed, shaking my head, "Fresh out, sorry."
Sasuke snorted, went to the kitchen and dug out the oreo's I had bought and the milk out of the fridge. I clutched my heart comically, "Ah you caught me!"
Naruto cheered, "COOKIES!"
Sasuke put the cookies on a plate and I poured some mugs of milk and we settled on the couch. I sat in between the boys, pleased that they had decided to spend the night with me. But I had a feeling they were here for something more. Munching on my cookies I glanced left, then right.
Sasuke slowly set down his mug and looked at me, solemn and iron rod straight. "I want to thank you Ariana. For saving Itachi. I am in your debt."
I swallowed my bite and set down my mug. Reaching over I grabbed both his cheeks and pulled. He growled, glaring, "What are you doing?"
I let go and said sternly, "Your lucky I didn't whack you. What is this talk of debt huh?"
Naruto put in, "But, you saved Itachi... Sasuke just wants to show you his thanks by doing something in return."
I spun and grabbed his cheeks and pulled. He yelped and I let him go, "I ought to whack you too!"
standing up I spun and faced them, giving my best glare, "I didn't save Itachi so you could owe me or anything like that! I saved him because he is my friend! As are you two! I'd do the same for you, or Naruko or any of my friends."
I turned my glare on Sasuke, who shifted nervously, "You should know me better."
Looking at Naruto I said cooly, "the both of you."
they looked down, blushes clear on their faces. Taking a deep breath I softened my look and voice, "I can understand your thinking, but seriously. This is me your talking about. Do you really think I'm one to save someone for any reason but it's the right thing to do? Let alone the fact I'd do just about anything for the ones I care about."
Before either of them could even look up i grabbed them both in a hug, murmuring, "Don't you trust me?"
I let them go and pulled away, only to be grabbed by Sasuke and hugged tightly. He buried his face into my shoulder and murmured, "Of course."
Naruto smiled softly and nodded, "Absolutely."
I hugged Sasuke back tightly. He must have been just as afraid as I was about almost losing Itachi. Reaching over I grabbed Naruto and brought him into the hug too. I held them for a while, knowing they needed this as much as I did. The watched Itachi and I disappear in the flames when the car exploded, and it had looked like Itachi and I had died before the smoke clear enough for them to see us.
That must have been terrible to watch.
Pulling away finally I smiled softly at them, "Now, I am tired and I know you two are too. So bed time."
Standing I held out my hands and pulled them up. Naruto asked curiously, "Where are we sleeping?"
I went to my bedroom door and bowed to them, "Gentlemen, my humble bedroom."
Naruto's lips twitched as he tried not to grin and Sasuke raised an eyebrow. I straightened with a snort, "Well until I can dig out extra blankets and such to make a cozy bed in the living room this is all I got. Unless you want to sleep on the couch..."
Naruto strode past me into the bedroom, "No thank you!"
Naruto going in had decided for Sasuke and he followed him. I left the bedroom open and turned with a chuckle. My bed could hold four comfortably, so there would be no problem with three of us sleeping on it without getting too close to each other.
Pouncing on the bed, I hid a grimace when my knees protested and pulled back the covers. Sasuke got in on the right and Naruto on the left. I got up and turned off the light and crawled back in bed. Lying on my back I stared at the ceiling, trying to get my body to relax so I could get some sleep. But I was too worked up over the explosion, and what almost happened.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when Naruto whispered, "Ariana, you awake?"
I whispered back, "Yes."
He paused and then whispered, "You sure your alright?"
not expecting this question I turned my head in his direction and Sasuke said quietly next to me, "That must have been..."
I looked back up at the ceiling and said quietly, "Scary?"
I felt him nod next to me and I whispered, barely letting my true fear color my voice, "Yes. I was terrified."
I could almost feel them freeze. I had never confessed my fears before, except about bugs but they found that comical. This was anything but.
I whispered softly, but strongly, "But I wasn't scared of the fire, or explosion. I was scared of losing Itachi. And then afterward I felt scared about how close I came to kicking the bucket too. But I have no regrets."
Naruto whispered, voice sounding almost awed, "How did you do that? How did you find the courage to jump in there like that? You've gotta be the bravest person I've ever known."
I chuckled softly, "I'll tell you something I heard a long time ago. Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all." (I totally jacked this from Princess Diary's. please no flames!)
Smiling I said, "you understand?"
both boys were quiet and Naruto nodded. Sasuke whispered, "Yeah, that makes sense."
I felt myself growing drowsy and said softly, "Good night you two."
I heard their good nights and then was surprised when almost instantly they fell asleep. Carefully turning my head to look at both of them I smiled softly and closed my eyes.
0o0o
the next morning I found myself in a strange predicament. Sometime during the night the boys had moved. Sasuke was almost sideways, using my stomach for a pillow. Naruto was spread over my legs, hand entwined with Sasuke's. I bit my lip to stop the peals of laughter from escaping and looked as Naruko came in. I quickly put a finger to my lips when she saw me and she had to bite her lip.
She hurried out and came back with her camera. Sneaking in I pretended I was asleep as she took a few pictures, then decided it was time for them to wake up. I grinned at Naruko and she nodded. Taking a deep breath I screamed, "SPIDER!"
Naruko took multiple pictures as Sasuke leapt out of bed like a frightened cat. Naruto rolled, me moving my legs and somehow he got tangled int eh blankets and crashed off the side. I collapsed in laughter and Naruko plopped next to me, laughing as hard as I was.
Sasuke took deep breaths and Naruto yelled angrily from the floor, "Not funny!"
Sasuke helped him get out of the tangle he had gotten himself into and Itachi walked in to find Naruko and I collapsed on the bed laughing, Sasuke and Naruto glaring death at us and beet red. Itachi asked from the bedroom door smoothly, "Should I ask?"
I gasped for breath, shaking my head. Finally I gasped out, "no, but you can see."
taking the digital camera from Naruko I showed him the pics and he actually grinned. He eyed Naruto and Sasuke and said, "Well boys, Ariana may be a comfy pillow but I believe it's time to go out for breakfast."
I cheered and the boys stalked out. Naruko got a hold of her chuckles, took the camera from me and headed out. Itachi looked at me and I smirked, " I'll win that bet Meathead."
He snorted and I waved him out, "Go, I have to shower before we go. I still smell like burnt rubber."
Grabbing clothes as he left, I jumped into the shower and after I had washed my hair twice to get the smell out I got out and dressed. I wore loose blue jeans so they didn't press on my knees and a blue spaghetti shirt. Whipping my hair into a ponytail I walked out with a grin, Itachi calling a taxi as he waited for the others.
I stood next to him and grinned as he hung up the phone, "Good morning Meathead."
His lips twitched, "Good morning Baka."
I elbowed him as the others came up and we headed down to the taxi, nobody looked at the burned spot at the parking lot. We wordlessly decided that the past was past and we'd stop worrying about something we couldn't change.
