I do not own Naruto, nor do I make any money off of this.

"talking"

'thinking'

Chapter 17: Dianthus

Sasuke opened his eyes to a light making its way right into his eyes. He groaned before shifting slightly only to freeze when he felt the being next to him whine in displeasure. Sasuke turned his head to see Naruto cuddled against him, his head resting on Sasuke's chest. He felt his face heat up as Naruto buried his face into his chest more, a contented sigh coming out of sleeping lips. Sasuke didn't know what to do. He had woken up with Sakura clinging to him in her sleep and he had felt appalled. But with Naruto it felt right, like Naruto belonged there. An arm moved around Naruto, pulling the blond closer. Sasuke could smell Naruto's Omegan scent and it called to his Alpha. His eyes moved towards Naruto's neck. He frowned at seeing the lack of a bite there. He was about to fix that problem when he remembered that he needed Naruto's permission to claim him. Sasuke held back a growl as he maneuvered Naruto's smaller body to be on top of him fully. He wanted to be closer to him. He felt his cock harden and he cursed as Naruto moaned. It was clear that Sasuke's pheromones had leaked out enough to let the Omega know that his Alpha was raring for another go.

Blue eyes blinked open as he felt the hardness against his ass. His eyes locked onto Sasuke and the raven saw the specs of red inside of blue. Naruto's Heat wasn't over yet and if Sasuke could see his own eyes, he'd see red in them as well. His Rut wasn't over either and without a single word, the two began to move against each other. Round two was much easier, but Sasuke still used the oil to stretch Naruto. It took less than half the time to prep him before entering. The Alpha in Sasuke took over while Naruto's Omega did the same.

What seemed like hours later, the two were sleeping, their bodies exhausted from their mating. One of Mikoto's servants ended up checking on the couple. Sasuke let out a territorial growl when she got too close to him, but he didn't even open his eyes. The servant took that as a sign to leave. She informed Mikoto of what she had seen and the Queen was overjoyed. Sakura on the other hand nearly broke the glass she'd been drinking juice from. Itachi was also happy to find out that things seemed to be going well between his brother and brother-in-law. Fugaku's expression also didn't change.

"If they are really that close, then we may need to start preparations immediately," Mikoto said.

"Preparations for what?" Sakura asked.

"For the baby of course!" Mikoto said. "If Naruto's Heat was triggered, then he could be pregnant!"

"Hn, that means I'll be a grandfather soon," Fugaku said, his lips finally forming a small smile.

"And I'll be an Uncle," Itachi added with a smirk. His eyes were on Sakura, trying to gauge her reaction. It was obvious that she wasn't happy, but she smiled anyway.

"That would be wonderful," Sakura said. "If we both get pregnant around the same time, that means the children can grow up together."

"Have you checked recently?" Fugaku asked.

"N-not yet," Sakura stuttered. "But I'm sure Sasuke and I will have lovely children. I'd love them to grow up just like their father." She turned to Mikoto. "Queen Mikoto, maybe you can give me some advice about that?"

"Oh of course," Mikoto said. "The two of you are going to require some lessons on that subject. It would be best if you shared them."

Once more Sakura's smile faltered. "Right."

Mikoto turned back to her servant. "For now, don't let anyone disturb them. Inform both Naruto's Ladies and Sasuke's Lords of my order."

"Right away my Queen," the servant said. She turned around to relay that order. She found Sasuke's Lords chatting away with each other. They didn't seem to really care, just nodded at what she told them. Naruto's Ladies on the other hand showed more concern. They hadn't expected Naruto's Heat to arrive early. They only hoped that Sasuke had enough mind to know how to take care of Naruto during their mating. Hinata nearly disobeyed the order when she went to drop off some food and water for the pair. She had heard Naruto's cry and thought he needed help. Luckily, Ino stopped her from barging into the room. When she heard another cry, this one highly filled with pleasure, Hinata's face lit up and she handed the tray to Ino. Ino laughed before setting the tray down. She followed after the shy girl, teasing her. Emiri was kept away from the shared room, both Ino and Hinata saying she was too young. Instead, she got to work on preparing for her Lord's return.

When Ino went to deliver their dinner, she happily noted the lunch tray was gone while the empty breakfast tray was in its place. She removed it, leaving behind the dinner tray. She listened for a few seconds, but it was quiet behind the door. If she had to guess, the two were taking a break from their activities. She brought the empty tray to the kitchen where she was met with a man named Choji. He was a Beta and the man that would one day take over as the head chief of the royal family. He was always kind to everyone. Upon seeing the empty tray, Choji smiled. He was pleased that they ate everything. Ino found him charming if not a little excitable. He also seemed to get a bit nervous around her as his clumsiness seemed to only come out when she was around. Ino found it very appealing, but she herself was too apprehensive about asking him out. Their relationship was stuck at friendship despite both wanting more.

"Do you think I may need to make them breakfast again?" Choji asked.

"I don't know yet," Ino said. "It has gone quiet."

"Seems like the lovebirds are finally taking a break," Choji laughed nervously. Realizing what he said, he pulled back a little. "Sorry. I shouldn't speak like that to a Lady."

Ino brushed it off. "Don't worry about it. I'm just hoping Lord Naruto makes it through this Heat without any issues."

"What about Prince Sasuke?" Choji asked.

"I'm not really worried about him," Ino admitted. "Omegas have a tougher time than Alphas do during this. Both can be painful alone, but Omegas always have to bear the burden of the aftermath."

Choji nodded. "And Prince Sasuke still has Princess Sakura after this."

"Exactly," Ino said. "Now I should be going. It is getting late and who knows when I'll be called upon."

"Have a good evening, Lady Ino," Choji said.

Ino put her hands on her hips. "How many times do I tell you to drop the Lady? We are friends, Choji."

"I know," Choji said. "I can't help but be formal." That was just another part of Choji that Ino found adorable. She smiled before telling him to have a good night as well. She returned to where Hinata and Emiri were waiting for her. Both had already changed into their nightgowns.

"Lord Naruto won't be coming back tonight?" Emiri asked.

Ino shook her head. "No, not tonight. But maybe tomorrow. For now, the three of us should get some sleep. The next few days may get busy again." Hinata and Emiri nodded in agreement, the two of them going to their own rooms. Ino sighed as she changed into her own nightgown before getting in bed. She truly hoped that Naruto would be ok.

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This time, it was Naruto that woke up first. He felt groggy and there was an unpleasant sensation coming from his backside. He blushed as he realized that Sasuke hadn't cleaned him up this time. The raven must have been too tired to do so. Naruto managed to free himself from Sasuke's grasp, but he stayed sitting. His body wasn't working right and he doubted that his legs would be able to keep him standing. He waited for a bit, taking a sip from the glass of water that had been left on the nightstand. Then he got up and searched for his robe. Once he found it, he put it on. There was a knock on the door that surprised him, but Sasuke remained asleep. Naruto made his way to the door and opened it just enough to see Ino placing a tray on the floor. She looked up and smiled at him. "It is good to see you, Lord Naruto."

"Ino," Naruto said, his voice raspy. He glanced over his shoulder at Sasuke's sleeping form before stepping outside the room, carefully closing the door behind him. "I need a bath."

"Right away," Ino said. "Let's get you to your room first. Hinata and Emiri have been worried about you." She paused before adding, "I was also worried about you."

"I'm sorry about that," Naruto said. "I didn't expect my Heat to start like that."

"It's alright," Ino said. "None of us saw that coming, but it is a good thing. Especially as it seems that Prince Sasuke also started his Rut. The King and Queen are really happy about this."

Naruto looked at her in confusion. "Why?"

"Because it means their first grandchild may be growing inside you," Ino said. Naruto's eyes widened and a hand went to his stomach. The vision of his previous or rather future pregnancy popped into his head. This was different, and far too early. His son wasn't supposed to be created for another two and a half years. If Naruto was pregnant, what would that mean for the son in his vision? Was that child now lost? Naruto's head was filled with so many thoughts that when Hinata and Emiri hugged him, he didn't react. They looked at Ino who shrugged, claiming that Naruto must be tired. She then left to prepare the bath. When she returned, she found Hinata and Emiri whispering their concerns to each other. Ino simply told Naruto that the bath was ready and got the boy to his feet. She led them to the bathing chambers where Hinata helped Naruto strip. She blushed at the marks littering Naruto's body. Emiri was forced to wait outside while Ino and Hinata took care of their Lord. Hinata was the first to notice the lack of a mating bite. She silently pointed it out to Ino who just shook her head, forcing Hinata to remain quiet.

Naruto was finally pulled out of his stupor when Ino and Hinata redressed him. The outfit was modest for a concubine and how it felt on his skin pleased him. He chose not to worry about his pregnancy unless there was proof of it. He knew that if he was indeed carrying Sasuke's child, he'd do anything to protect it. He also had Mikoto and Itachi on his side.

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Sasuke wasn't happy to find Naruto missing from the bed. His nightgown was still on the floor, but Naruto's robe was missing. This meant Naruto had put that on before leaving. Sasuke groaned as one of the servants knocked on the door. He called for her to enter. The woman was a Beta, but Sasuke didn't know her name. She bowed before she began to pick up the dirty clothes. A second servant, this one a Beta male, entered the room carrying a clear robe for Sasuke. He explained that Naruto had just finished bathing and that it was now Sasuke's turn. When Sasuke asked for Naruto's whereabouts, the male servant explained that Mikoto had called for him. This meant that Naruto was most likely having tea with Mikoto and Sakura. The thought of Sakura caused Sasuke to frown. Itachi had made it clear that Sakura was jealous of Sasuke's relationship with Naruto, despite Sasuke thinking it was stupid to feel that way. But after experiencing a Rut with Naruto, Sasuke finally understood how he felt about Naruto and Sakura, making it completely reasonable for Sakura to feel the way she did. But Sasuke also knew that it would be Sakura that would be his Queen, not Naruto. Sasuke's feelings didn't matter in that case. As he lowered himself into the warm water, Sasuke acknowledged his hatred for the Uchiha Kingdom's laws for the first time.

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Itachi was glad to hear that Sasuke's Rut and Naruto's Heat had concluded. He wanted to check on Sasuke, but he was once more bedridden after pushing himself at the wedding and participating in breakfast this morning. From what Tsunade said, he didn't have long, a year at most. When his mother brought up the possibility of Naruto being pregnant, Itachi was elated. He prayed that he'd be alive long enough to see his niece or nephew. He noticed how hurt Sakura was at that possibility. Knowing what happened with the carriage, Itachi called for Aoba. He was a Beta that served under him that also worked with Kakashi. "I want you to keep an eye on Princess Sakura and her Ladies. Report to me immediately if you see anything suspicious."

"Yes, your Highness," Aoba said, bowing. One of the best things about Aoba was that he never questioned Itachi. After he left, Itachi grabbed a notebook. Inside were notes on everything he learned about Naruto and his visions. He started writing out a plan for the future, for when he's gone.

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"Sasuke, I'm glad you've decided to join this," Mikoto said. She smiled as Sasuke sat down across from her. Sakura was also happy to see him while Naruto didn't look at him. His face was red and Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at that. Sakura saw the look and there was a sudden flash of anger in her eyes. No one seemed to notice though, since their attention was elsewhere. Sakura decided it was time to gain their attention, the attention she thought she deserved.

"So Sasuke, I've finally decided where I want to go for my birthday," Sakura said. "I heard there was a Hot Spring Resort a bit North-East of here."

"Do you mean Yugakure?" Mikoto asked. Sakura nodded. "That's where Fugaku took me on our first trip together. It was a wonderful time. I highly recommend going to as many springs as you can."

"Yes, I've heard that some have different components to them," Sakura said, her gaze shifting towards Sasuke. "One of them is said to be good for procreation."

"Oh yes, that is indeed true," Mikoto said, a slight blush appearing on her face. "I ended up pregnant with Itachi when we got back from that trip."

"Mother!" Sasuke yelled. He really didn't need to know that about his brother.

"Oh please," Mikoto said. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about." Sasuke groaned. Mikoto turned back to Sakura. "If you want help planning the trip, let me know. It is only a few weeks away."

"It's alright Mother," Sakura said. "I've already collected the information needed. My Ladies and I came up with a schedule already. Once Sasuke and Father approves of it, we can start the final preparations."

"I'm sure he will," Mikoto said. "Fugaku said he had time tomorrow after his meeting with the council, if you'd like to speak to him then."

"What is the meeting about, if you don't mind me asking?" Sakura asked.

"The meeting is about Shikamaru and Princess Temari's marriage," Sasuke said.

That piqued Naruto's interest. "Do you think they will be able to get married?"

"It is difficult to say," Sasuke admitted. "Shikamaru is my most trusted aide and I can't afford to lose him. If they really wish to get married, I would prefer that Princess Temari move to the Uchiha Kingdom."

"Since Gaara is the future King, I don't think that will be a problem," Naruto said, taking a sip of his tea. He suddenly froze when he noticed that there were three pairs of eyes on him. He lowered his cup. "What?"

"You do realize that Prince Gaara is an Omega don't you?" Sakura said. "Omegas can't become King!"

"Suna has different laws than the Uchiha Kingdom," Naruto said. "Prince Kankuro doesn't want the throne. He will abdicate it to Gaara, making him a Regnant."

"Are you certain of this, Naruto?" Mikoto asked. She had a concerned look on her face.

Seeing the look, Naruto decided to backpedal a bit. "W-well, that's what I heard anyway. Prince Kankuro would have to change a couple things to make that work. But from what I understand, Ga… Prince Gaara would make a great king. Most of the people of Suna already support him."

"Princess Temari said something similar when she told us she wanted both of her siblings to attend the meeting," Sasuke said.

"And King Fugaku gave them permission?" Sakura asked in surprise.

"He didn't want to turn down a foreign royal's request," Sasuke said. "Besides, if the two get married, their union will only benefit the Uchiha Kingdom."

"I… I see," Sakura said.

"Princess Temari will make a great wife for Lord Shikamaru," Naruto said, with a bit of admiration in his eyes. He took one last sip of his tea before turning to Mikoto. "Queen Mikoto, if you don't mind, I'd like to return to my room."

"Of course," Mikoto said. "You must be tired. And please, drop the titles. We are family now."

"I'll try," Naruto said, a bit uncomfortable. Sasuke stood up when Naruto did.

"Allow me to escort you to your room," Sasuke said.

"There's no need for that," Naruto said. He motioned to Emiri. "The two of us will be fine on our own. Please enjoy the rest of the afternoon with Lady Sakura and Que… Mikoto." He bowed. Emiri followed after him, giving a bow of her own to the three they left behind.

Sasuke stared after them for a few seconds before sitting back down. He wasn't happy that Naruto was avoiding him again. He had also noticed how Naruto had dropped the formalities involving Gaara. He really hoped it was just an Omega thing since there was no way that the two of them were already that close.

Mikoto saw the flash of sadness and jealousy in her youngest son's eyes. She didn't know what was going on between Naruto and Sasuke, but she didn't like it. She wanted them to be happy together. She looked over at Sakura who already resumed talking about her birthday trip. If the three of them could get along, the Uchiha Kingdom would prosper even more than it already was.

Dianthus symbolizes admiration, passion, capriciousness, affection, sadness and death, as well as love and gratitude. Dianthus can also symbolize pride, harmony and family unity.