CHAPTER 24: The Stupidest Thing He Could've Done

A month had passed. It had been smooth sailing for Gaara and Naruto, and on many nights, sparks had been flying in the bedroom. Gaara adored Naruto, his handsome face, innocent yet impish nature, his altruism and loyalty. Through thick and thin, they had made it.

Even now, he remembered Kankuro's relieved face when he had happily told him how great they were doing.

After work, Gaara was folding the clean laundry and putting it into the closet. Naruto came home, and accidentally dropped his keys on the floor. Cursing, he picked them up and shakily put them into his bag. Color had escaped his face, it seemed, or maybe it was just the lightning?

Shrugging, Gaara folded the last of the clean laundry, and then went to the kitchen to make dinner. It was odd how the promising scent of food wasn't luring the blond in there, given how he always seemed to have a bottomless appetite.

"Dinner's ready," Gaara called, and set the table.

Naruto sat down, and slowly filled his plate with meatballs and potatoes. But he didn't start eating.

It was odd, and Gaara noticed. Maybe the food was awful? Worried, Gaara tasted it, but found nothing wrong in it. What if Naruto had started hating his cooking? What if Naruto had started hating him?

"Hinata's pregnant."

Gaara's eyes widened, and he swallowed. Quickly, he lowered his gaze. What if… no, it couldn't be. They had used protection. The condom hadn't broken. Or had it? Then again, Naruto had no idea of their little secret, right?

Warily, Gaara looked at him. "So?"

"So…" Naruto breathed, looking distressed.

Gaara frowned. "Maybe she's got someone new. It was about time, don't you think? I mean, now that you're not with her anymore, it's natural for her to move on."

"That's true," Naruto only said, and poked the potatoes with his fork, unable to eat.

When he looked at Gaara, the redhead shyly looked away. Of course, Naruto would not be suspecting him, of all people. There was no reason for this shame. Even so, Gaara found his hands trembling. There was no way that he… that the few times they had been intimate… It just couldn't be. When he looked up again, Naruto was staring at him.

A blush was warming up Gaara's cheeks, and he swallowed again.

"W-Why would you care?" Gaara whispered uneasily.

"Because… she…" Naruto trailed off and looked anguished. "She said it was mine."

"Y-Yours?" Gaara repeated, not believing it. "But you know that can't be, right?"

"Right," Naruto said, and ran a hand through his hair. "Only though… There was this one night, that… That I was feeling awful, because of the fight we had had, and she and I…"

"She and you, what?" Gaara repeated hollowly.

Naruto rubbed his face, he looked distressed. "We had sex. A few times that week. I was not being myself, Gaara, you gotta believe me!"

Now, his blue eyes were blazing with desperation. His whole body was trembling, and he looked as frightened and apologetic as a man could.

"You had sex with her?" Gaara once again found himself repeating, as he gripped his fork. "How could you? Didn't you use protection, and why would you even…?"

"Look, I had a moment of weakness, I swear," Naruto almost sobbed. "I thought that… That if you and I couldn't work out for some reason, then I wanted to know... If I could… go back to that life with her. We had wine, Gaara. You know, it's… Ah, I was lonely and emotional. She felt safe. And for once, she didn't look at me with disdain, after my… infidelity."

As he listened, Gaara was shaking. Here he had been worried sick, alone and trying his best to overcome his issues, and in the meanwhile, his beloved blond had been rolling in the hays with his ex-wife.

"How could you be so careless!" Gaara snapped. "And are you really sure it's yours, what if she's just making it up?"

But Naruto only looked at him guiltily. "Look… I'm certain it's mine. We had… uh, it was, not only once, but… almost e-every night. She said she was on pills, so I didn't… I thought it'd be safe. Look, I know how this sounds, I swear I didn't mean—"

"You didn't mean to sleep with her?" Gaara snapped and stood up. "It just happened every night? And you just didn't bother to use a goddamned condom, right?"

"Look—"

Gaara threw his plate on the wall, and it broke.

"Jesus Christ!" Naruto breathed and stood up as well.

Gaara stared at him, livid. "Would you have told me, if she hadn't ended up…?"

Now the guilt was back on Naruto's face again. "I don't know. I was scared how you'd take it."

"Oh, you were?" Gaara growled, his breathing quickening. Pain was tearing through his heart already. Oh, how he had believed they could live peacefully after all they'd been through, and now it all lay shattered before them. His head was in chaos, and he tried telling everyone to step back, and calm down, because he didn't want to lose himself again.

"Naruto…" he began bitterly. "You're not the only one, I'm afraid."

"W-What?" Naruto stuttered, color vanishing from his face. "Are you telling me that you…?"

"Yes."

"With your brother?"

Gaara frowned, looking hurt. "No. With her. Hinata!"

"H-Hinata?" the blond repeated, shocked. "You?"

"Yeah," Gaara muttered, feeling hurt. Was it so hard to believe?

"She allowed you to…?" Naruto trailed off, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Allowed?" Gaara growled, offended. "She made the first move!"

"And you didn't tell me!" Naruto got angry now, losing all sympathy. "When?"

"A while back," Gaara only said. "She came on to me. I didn't know how to say no. And a part of me had a crush on her in high school, so…"

"A crush on her?" Naruto shouted defensively. "You still do?"

"That part might, but not all of me," Gaara told.

"What if you're the father?" Naruto yelled and gripped his front. For a moment, Gaara felt thoroughly frightened, as he had never seen Naruto angry like this. Feverishly, he told everyone to step back, because he could manage this by himself.

"I'm not the father," Gaara told calmly. "I'm not. That's for sure."

"Because you never slept with her! You're just making it all up to get to me," Naruto accused, and didn't let go.

"If it makes you feel better," Gaara sighed, trying to hold his anger at bay. "I was not honorable back then, but it doesn't change the fact that you were with her, as well."

Naruto murderous stare pierced whatever armor he tried to keep up.

"You lied to me. You attacked me. And while shying away from me and showing an innocent face at home, you kept on courting my wife."

"Ex-wife," Gaara reminded, and Naruto narrowed his eyes in anger.

"Just for your information, it'll take a couple more months until the divorce is final," Naruto hissed, and his grip on Gaara's front tightened. "If I was a hothead like you or your brother, I'd punch you through the wall."

Gaara's eyes widened in shock. He had never seen Naruto this furious.

"She did it out of anger," Naruto decided bitterly. "Wanted to make me feel as awful and betrayed as I made her feel. She used you, and you fell for it. She doesn't like or care about you one bit."

"That's h-harsh," Gaara whispered. It hurt. But maybe he deserved it, and maybe it wasn't a lie, after all. "I'm sorry. I was an idiot, and I messed up. Do you still want me, or is it over? And… you know, you can punch me if you want, if it makes you feel better. I've been horrible to you as well, and I regret it with all my heart."

Something softened in Naruto's gaze, and his grip loosened. Gaara was handsome in his own, anguished way. He could cook and humor him. In the bedroom, he took him to the cloud nine. Sure, the violence, emotional manipulation and his wavering loyalty were concerning, but it felt like in the end, they could always find common ground and settle their disagreements. He wanted to believe that deep within, there was a sensible part in Gaara that would never disappear.

"Gaara… There's no one like you, and it's lovely and horrible at the same time. You have my heart. You've had it since the beginning. Now I know what they meant when they were talking about addiction. When I see you, feel you against me, I get a sense of fulfillment that nothing else in this world gives me."

There were tears in Naruto's eyes.

"I'd never let anyone else tie me down but you. I love it with you, Gaara," Naruto whispered softly, and the redhead blushed. "So no, this isn't over. But…"

Naruto let go of him and buried his face in his hands. "I still can't believe it. You and her? In what universe would she even look at you?"

Gaara sighed, feeling the offense in his heart. "Naruto… what are you going to do?"

"Do about what?" Naruto asked, with wide eyes.

"Well, the new kid, obviously. Or who knows, maybe it'll be twins again," Gaara muttered darkly.

"Don't," Naruto shuddered, as the image of a new set of twins emerged. "Look, maybe things will work out."

"Maybe? You must make it work," Gaara spat. "This is your problem. You go around spilling your seed, now reap what you sow."

"H-Hey, I was not the only one!" Naruto exclaimed, his face red.

"Are you going to move in with her again?" Gaara whispered defeatedly.

"Look, I don't know. I mean, we've been meaning to sell the house, but we haven't gotten to it yet. And the house is big enough for all the kids, and… us. I mean, I know she'll need help with everything once the baby is born, so I feel like I'll have to be there. It's my child as well," Naruto sighed.

"So, you'll be attending to that project for the next few years, if not longer?" Gaara sounded disappointed.

Naruto looked sorrowful and guilty. "Nothing is certain yet."

"Look, maybe it's better if we break up," Gaara whispered.

"Don't say that," Naruto responded wistfully and took his hand. He held it for a long time. "Things will work out."

But Gaara didn't look convinced. "How can I know you won't be sleeping with her again when you have the baby. Then there will be even more mini-yous running around."

"That won't happen, I promise," Naruto said tenderly. "I love you, and you can trust me."

Gaara narrowed his eyes threateningly. "In the light of recent events, you don't seem like a very trustworthy man, Naruto."

"Hey," the blond murmured, and gripped his chin gently. "I could say the same about you. Were you with her in high school, as well?"

"Why do you want to know?" Gaara looked away, and broke free from Naruto's touch.

"Is that a yes?" Naruto demanded and closed in on him again. "Gaara, I need to know everything."

"You definitely don't," Gaara sighed, and stared at the blond with a loaded look.

Sorrow filled Naruto's eyes, and he pulled him into a hug.

"G-Gaara, as long as you love me the most," Naruto breathed, trembling.

"Sure thing," the redhead murmured, as pain gripped his chest.

"No, no, no no no…" Kankuro muttered in denial, as Gaara was bringing him the latest news. "No, you are making that up."

"I'm not. I wish I was," Gaara told sheepishly.

"Oh god," Kankuro trembled, and covered his face. For the past month, everything had been so peaceful and calm. He hadn't heard much of his brother, and things had been going well again with Kiba. But now, that redhead was sitting on that chair again, with a new set of problems Kankuro could've never even imagined possible.

"Stop moping. It's not like it's happening to you," Gaara sighed.

"I'm not meddling into this. Listen to me. I don't want to know. I don't want to be involved. You two dragged yourselves into that mess, so good luck," Kankuro wailed.

"But we love each other," Gaara said. "He's the one, Kankuro."

"Oh god. He's the one reason why I can never have a peaceful life again," the brunet wept, as memories from the previous crisis flooded into his mind. "Why don't you leave him, and move back here? We could do alright. Life would be good, peaceful."

"It wouldn't be peaceful," Gaara knew.

"At least it wouldn't be like this," Kankuro groaned. "Please… break up with him. I beg you."

"No," Gaara refused. "He loves me. He's sweet to me."

Kankuro stared at him, speechless. "Bro, he's getting more kids with his ex-wife, while you two are living together. Is that okay?"

"It's not. It was an accident, okay?" Gaara understood.

"An accident? It sounds purposeful to me," Kankuro sighed.

"I told him I slept with her, too. He got scared I might be the father," Gaara confessed.

Kankuro covered his face again. "Oh god… Please don't let that be the case."

"It won't. I know for sure. Besides, Naruto was so sure he's the father, so there's nothing to worry," Gaara told with bright eyes.

"That's not okay," Kankuro groaned, close to tears. "I thought he was a good kid. B-But… all this. How…"

"He loves me. He adores me," Gaara whispered affectionately. "I know he made a mistake, and he's sorry. I've made mistakes as well, and he's forgiven me."

"Please, let me wake up," Kankuro stuttered in denial, hoping bitterly that this was just a bad dream caused by the greasy pizza he had had last night.

But of course it was not just a bad dream, and Kankuro wailed as Gaara had barged in a week after that and was now clinging to his shirt with tears in his eyes, screaming how he hated the blond, begged him to do horrendous things to him just to overwrite the mental pain he was in, and the goddamned blond kept on calling Gaara's phone, but he refused to answer, and now he was calling Kankuro's phone, and Gaara was screaming at him to not answer, and Kiba was texting him and asking if they could hang out this weekend, and Kankuro wanted to just disappear altogether from the storm his little brother had once again brought along.

"I swear to a freaking god I will lock you up in a cage," Kankuro wailed, as Gaara was now crying how he missed the blond.

However, the next two weeks went on peacefully again, and given the texts Gaara had been sending to his brother, their home had turned into a love-nest again, and Naruto was the most wonderful man on earth.

But then, on one Wednesday evening, Gaara was at Kankuro's door again. Just by the look in Gaara's eyes, Kankuro knew they'd have a long night ahead.

As he listened to the redhead unraveling his heart for a good while, he caressed his cheek, and sighed. "Have you thought about bunking at Baki's place for a while? He could be a good influence."

"Baki? B-But I don't want him to know that we messed up. He likes Naruto. Besides, he won't hurt me," Gaara explained.

Kankuro sighed bitterly. "So, you come here and make me hurt you."

"Please," Gaara begged. "Just this one time. That's all I ask. I promise I will never, ever ask you again."

"Oh, no. We are not going down that road again," Kankuro said sternly.

"But you always did agree, before," Gaara reminded him slyly.

"Not always. And old times are in the past. Don't you think both of us have changed since then? For better, I might say?" Kankuro wondered.

Gaara sighed sorrowfully, and pain shone in his eyes. But then something changed, and anger was filling him up. He gritted his teeth and stared cruelly at his brother.

"You're lame. A total sissy!"

"Hey," Kankuro growled, and grabbed Gaara's chin. "You don't use that tone with me, wormboy, is that clear?"

It got Gaara to quiet down, and the anger in his eyes dimmed into submissive anticipation. Pleased, Kankuro kept on staring at him in the eyes.

"Listen up carefully, you brat," Kankuro hissed, and the submission shining in Gaara's eyes got stronger. "I've been following your rollercoaster of a life for months now. Naruto is using you. You're nothing but a naïve fool to him. He doesn't love you."

"B-But he does l-love me," Gaara stuttered, his eyes getting shiny from unshed tears.

Kankuro glared at him darkly. "Then why are you telling me that he's not getting divorced, after all?"

"W-Well, they had the divorce pending, but it wasn't final yet, as they'd have to live separately for a year first. It hasn't been that long yet, so they're calling it off," Gaara said.

"Why would they not finalize their divorce?" Kankuro frowned, with endless worry in his eyes.

"B-Because it's easier for them to stay married, when the baby is coming. It's purely a legal reason. If they're married, Naruto will be automatically registered as the father, but if they weren't, he'd have to do the acknowledgement of paternity manually," Gaara explained. "It'd be a lot of paperwork."

Kankuro gritted his teeth, with unshed tears. "And you're okay with that?"

"Naruto is still mine," Gaara breathed, a tear running down his face.

"You told me he's moving in with his wife again," Kankuro reminded him. "He's throwing you out of your home, Gaara."

"She'll need his daily help once the baby is born," Gaara defended weakly. "He said he can't keep both the apartment and their house now that the baby is coming. So…"

"So, he's kicking you out," Kankuro concluded. "You can't keep that place by yourself, it's just too expensive for you."

"I know," Gaara sighed.

"What are you gonna do? Come back here?" Kankuro hissed.

Now Gaara looked shaken and vulnerable. "I don't know. We haven't really decided that yet."

"What? You can't be serious," Kankuro growled, angry. "Listen up, you pitiful, foolish wormboy. You're just trash to him. You're naïve. Tonight, we'll get your things from that place, and you will tell him it's over."

"No," Gaara disagreed.

"Yes," Kankuro denied his disagreement. "Yes, you will break up with him tonight, and then I will take you back here. You will live under my rule, and you will leave all that mindless drama behind, is that clear?"

"I don't want to," Gaara whined. "I want to be with him. He said we could still be together even if he lives there."

"But he'll be with his wife and kids. There's no room for you in that," Kankuro sighed, exasperated. "For the love of god, Gaara…"

At the door of the apartment, Gaara warily let them in.

"Gaara? You're back! I—I'm so sorry for the fight we had. It was all my fault," came Naruto's surprised, desperate voice. But then it changed. "Kankuro?"

"Look, kid, we're just getting his things," Kankuro told sternly, holding Gaara by the shoulder protectively. "He'll be living back at home from now on."

"B-But… I thought you'd be having your own place in the city," Naruto wondered, looking at Gaara with wide eyes. "What about your job at the main library?"

"He'll be back to his old job in the town library," Kankuro told curtly, and Gaara's eyes widened. He was about to say something, but the brunet cut him off. "Gaara, go fetch your things while I talk with the blondie."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the nickname and crossed his arms defensively.

"Listen up, kid," Kankuro told sternly. "I always liked you, Naruto. I thought you'd bring stability in Gaara's life. But all this…" he sighed sorrowfully, and now there was guilt shining in the blue eyes.

"Look, Naruto, Gaara won't be with you anymore. Don't call him, please. You have a baby coming," Kankuro said bitterly, trying to hold back his resentment. "And you need all your time and energy for that. Please, don't contact my brother ever again. You have no idea what you're doing to him. And I have a full-time job just to keep him alive after every time you do something like this."

There were unshed tears in Naruto's eyes. "I—I love Gaara, he's the one. And I promise I'll have all the time for him, even with the baby coming, I swear—"

"No," Kankuro cut him off, and gripped his front, his expression losing all conciliatoriness. "Listen, you don't have a say in this."

"You can't order Gaara around like that. He makes his own decisions," Naruto reminded, and pushed him away, trembling.

"And Gaara decided he's had enough of you toying with him. He deserves someone who has no other engagements," Kankuro growled back, and stared daggers at him. "You know I've got nothing to lose, except my brother. And I'll do anything for him."

Right then Gaara came to them, holding two duffel bags and one plastic bag. His head was hung, and he looked defeated and ashamed.

"I'm sorry," Gaara told Naruto.

Kankuro gritted his teeth. "You're sorry? He's the one who's forcing you away from your own home. He's the one who made this all happen. And you're sorry? You little wormboy, I swear when we get home…"

Naruto felt bad for witnessing it. The redhead looked humiliated and scared. With tears in his eyes, Naruto hugged Gaara, and breathed shakily.

"Gaara, I'm so sorry. For everything. I love you, and only you," Naruto sobbed. "You know I don't want anyone else but you. I know you feel the same. I don't want to lose you. Please don't go."

Gaara hugged him back and closed his eyes to prevent tears from falling. "I love you, Naruto. I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing, you spineless twit," Kankuro growled impatiently. "Now say goodbye, we're leaving."

Slowly, Gaara pulled off from the hug, and gazed at Naruto with eyes full of love and sadness. Then, he hung his head defeatedly.

Naruto let out a sob and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. The redhead he adored looked so crestfallen, that it broke his heart. He wanted to embrace him, and never let go.

"G-Gaara, I promise you that we'll—" Naruto breathed, but then he noticed the murderous look on Kankuro's face, and quickly, he stuttered. "Er, w-we'll see around, I mean."

And then, he watched Kankuro take Gaara away.