Chapter Twenty Three

Meet The Parents

"Do you want to go out for breakfast?"

Sasuke looked up from his newspaper. "I don't mind. Did you want to?"

Sakura blew on her tea before sipping at the liquid. "If you like. You've been working so hard the last few days, I thought that we should celebrate you finally having a day off."

The man hummed, looking at his watch. "Might be a bit late for breakfast. Looks like we slept in." He enjoyed the blush that appeared on Sakura's cheeks.

"And whose fault is that?"

"Yours. Happens every time you stay over."

Sakura rolled her eyes, pouting slightly. "I'll make sure to go home in future."

Chuckling, Sasuke caught the leg of Sakura's kitchen chair with his foot and pulled her closer to him. "Don't you dare." He returned to his perusal of the daily news, Sakura tucked under his arm, and enjoyed the peace of the late morning. He had just flipped over to the sports updates when the sound of his doorbell reached them.

Metsuki sat up from his previous sleeping position and Sasuke patted the dog's head as he moved to answer the door.

"Morning, yeah."

Sasuke frowned at the blonde stood on his doorstep. "What are you doing here?"

Deidara glared back at him, not impressed by his tone. "Did anyone ever tell you that you're a rude little shit?"

"Deidara?" Sakura had come to investigate, recognising the raised voices. "You okay?"

"Ah finally, someone I actually wanted to see! I had to leave Itachi's for a bit, yeah."

Sasuke shook his head in mild despair. "If Itachi kicked you out then why did you think I'd want you here?"

"He didn't kick me out." Deidara bristled. "Your folks turned up and I thought I'd disappear for a bit. Your dad scares me."

Sasuke blinked, processing his words. "My parents are here?"

"Yep." Deidara made to move past Sasuke. "Got anything to eat?"

Sasuke reacted quickly, his hand pressing into Deidara's face and forcing the blonde backwards and back on to the porch.

"What the hell, yeah!?"

"Go bother someone else."

Before the man could argue further, Sasuke had shut the door in his face.

"Sasuke." Sakura's voice was split between reproachful and amused.

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and shrugged before catching himself. "I'm not taking in any of Itachi's strays. I'll never get rid of them."

Sakura followed him back to the kitchen. "And it's nothing to do with what he said about your parents being here?"

"Don't know what you're talking about." He eyed the pinkette and frowned. "You're calmer than I'd have thought."

"Well," Sakura said slowly. "I'm obviously going to go home and leave you to it."

Sasuke laughed at that. "Wow, thanks. Thought you'd want to meet my parents."

"I do." Sakura nodded. "But not when I'm sat wearing one of your shirts like I've just got out of bed."

"You have just got out of bed." Sasuke noted, wincing when Sakura kicked his shin. "Fine, I'll organise dinner or something and you can meet them fully clothed."

Sakura coughed out a laugh. "You're not funny."

The doorbell cut off Sasuke's reply and he groaned. "Deidara never gives up." Stomping to the front of the house, he wrenched the door open, his prepared insult dying on his tongue as he took stock of who was stood in front of him.

"Sasuke!" He almost stumbled backwards as his mother enveloped him in a hug. "I swear you're taller every time I see you."

"I stopped growing years ago, Mom." Sasuke pulled back slightly, spying his father and brother on the doorstep.

""Maybe I'm shrinking?" Mikoto teased, letting him go. "We thought we'd surprise you with a visit. Itachi said you have a day off today?"

"I'm surprised." Sasuke muttered, noticing that his bother was avoiding his gaze. He stepped back, allowing his family in to his house.

"Oh!" Mikoto gasped. "Who is that?"

Sasuke followed her gaze, spying Metsuki's baleful brown eyes peering their way from the kitchen. "Ah, that's Metsuki."

"Oh is Sakura here?" Mikoto looked positively gleeful. "I've been looking forward to meeting her so much."

Sasuke caught his mother by the elbow as she beelined for the kitchen. "Let me warn her first, yeah Mom?"

The dark-haired woman caught herself and nodded. "Of course."

Sasuke looked at his brother. "Itachi, would you mind?" He gestured towards the living room and the man took the hint, leading their parents out of the hallway.

"So don't freak out." Sasuke implored as he entered the kitchen.

Sakura was already on her feet, biting at her thumbnail. "Too late. I suppose that's your parents that I can hear in the living room?"

"Yeah," Sasuke whispered. "Surprise."

"I can't meet them like this." Sakura tugged at the hem of the shirt she was wearing. "What would they think?"

"That we're adults?"

Sakura groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Not the first impression I'd like to make." She hissed.

"Just stay here, I'll be right back."

Sasuke darted back in to the hallway, upstairs and towards his bedroom. He rifled through one of the drawers on his dresser, picking out some of the clothes that Sakura kept there. Heading back downstairs he caught Itachi's eye as he passed the living room. His brother bit his lip to hide his smile as he spotted the clothes in Sasuke's arms. Thankfully his mother was too busy looking at the photos on the wall, but Sasuke was surprised to note that his father had a small smirk on his face, matching his eldest son's expression.

"Here." He handed the clothes to Sakura as he reentered the kitchen. Sasuke loitered by the door while Sakura changed, making sure no one wandered in to the kitchen.

"Do I look okay?" Sakura whispered when she was done, balling up Sasuke's shirt and throwing it towards the laundry room.

"You look great." Sasuke moved closer so that he could take her hand. "You sure you're okay with this?"

A beat passed before Sakura fixed a bright smile to her face. "Sure. No problem."

Sasuke could see right though her, but he let it be, instead leading her through to the living room as Metsuki trailed behind.

"Mom, Dad? This is Sakura."

"Ah!" Mikoto was on her feet in an instant. I'm so happy to meet you."

Sakura squeaked in surprise as she was pulled in to a hug by the woman. "I'm pleased to meet you too Uchiha-san."

"None of that." Mikoto chided. "Call me Mikoto. And this is my husband, Fugaku."

Sasuke watched as his father stood and approached the two women. Fugaku hesitated a moment, apparently unsure of what to do, but Sakura held a hand out, waiting for him to take it.

"Pleased to meet you, Fugaku-san."

The man blinked, apparently taken aback by how forthcoming the young woman was, before taking her hand. "The pleasure is mine."

"So," Mikoto let the way back to the sofa, directing Sakura to sit next to her. "Tell me all about yourself dear." She glanced up at her youngest son. "I would love a cup of tea, Sasuke sweetie."

Sasuke hesitated a moment, not wanting to just leave Sakura alone, but the pointed look from his mother got him moving. He trusted that Itachi would monitor things.

Practically flying around his kitchen, Sasuke hurried to make enough tea for everyone and returned back to the living room carrying a laden tray. He was pleased to see that Sakura looked happily at ease as she allowed his mother to talk her ear off. He was rather surprised to see that Metsuki had chosen to sit near Fugaku, his furry form leaning against the man's legs. The eldest Uchiha was gently stoking the labrador's ears, causing a happy tail to thump across the floor.

"I hope my son has been treating you well, Sakura." Mikoto shot Sasuke a teasing look. "I know how he can be."

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke brushed his fingers against the back of Sakura's hand to get her attention before passing her a mug of tea.

"I can handle him." Sakura fought down a grin before continuing, sincerely. "You raised a wonderful son." She paused a beat before adding, "Itachi's alright too I suppose."

Itachi let out a dramatic sigh and Mikoto giggled.

"How long are you in Konoha for?" Sasuke asked, settling down the other side of Sakura.

"We were going to head back tomorrow afternoon." Mikoto sipped at her drink. "It was just a flying visit really. "You'll have to come visit us when you get a bit off time off work. Both of you."

Subtlety was not his mother's strong point. "I don't think I can handle Suna's heat."

"It mellows out some in the winter, and that would give you a few months to book some time off. Have you been to Suna, Sakura?"

Sakura nodded. "I lived there for a little while why my father was stationed there. I also don't do too well with the heat I'm afraid."

"Winter it is then." Mikoto nodded. "I've been wanting a reason to redecorate the guest room."

Sasuke saw Sakura open her mouth to argue and he laughed lowly, patting her knee. "You'll never talk her out of it."

Sakura listened to him for once, instead lacing her fingers with his and settling back in to her conversation with Mikoto.

The day was filled with pleasant conversation and some embarrassing childhood stories courtesy of Mikoto. Sasuke cut her off when she began to regale Sakura with the time he had wandered in to a business dinner his father had been hosting with not a stitch of clothing on him (though in his defence he had been two years old at the time).

"Talking of food," Sasuke interrupted, glaring at his mother who gave him an innocent look in return. "You must be hungry. How about an early dinner?"

"Let me help." Mikoto nudged her son away from the sink, taking over rinsing the dishes.

"Mother," Sasuke sighed. "I can do that, you're a guest."
"You're never a guest in your child's home, Sasuke. I'm still your mother so you should know I'll get my own way."

"Stubborn." Sasuke muttered, pretending not to see the narrowed look his mother shot him. He dried the clean dishes as Mikoto washed them, enjoying comfortable silence that enveloped them. He could hear the laughter drifting from the other room and felt pleased, though not surprised, that Sakura had got on so well with his parents.

"Have you had a chance to speak to you father?" Mikoto asked as she rinsed off the last plate.

"No?" Sasuke eyed her warily. "Should I have?"

His mother dried her hands on a tea towel before turning to face him. "You call me stubborn but the men of this family truly put me to shame." She glanced at the door to the kitchen, apparently satisfied that they weren't about to be interrupted. "Did you know Orochimaru's arrest was reported in the newspapers in Suna?"

"Makes sense." Sasuke nodded. "It was a big story."

Mikoto hummed, busying herself with starting a pot of coffee. "And did you know that the story included a picture of Orochimaru being led from his office, escorted by a rather handsome young police officer?"

Sasuke blinked. "Me?"

"Yes you," Mikoto laughed. "I must say you made a striking figure."

"Mom…" Sasuke groaned, rolling his eyes.

His mother's gaze was affectionate as she continued. "Your father clipped out that picture and stuck it on the fridge. Pride of place."

That was something he wasn't expecting. "Father wouldn't-"

"He did." Mikoto nodded, cutting him off. "I know you haven't always seen eye to eye, but he is really very proud of you, Sasuke. He's just awful at actually expressing himself."

Sasuke didn't say anything else as he helped his mother finish making the coffee. Mikoto patted his arm before she lifted the tray from the counter.

"Stubborn indeed."

"Dad?"

Fugaku turned in his seat slightly, acknowledging his son. Sasuke had found the older man sat on the back patio, gazing at the stars visible through the glow of the city lights. "Sasuke. Are the others still chatting?"

"They've taken Metsuki out for a walk." Sasuke took a seat next to his dad. "He seemed to like you."

"The dog?" Fugaku nodded. "I was always more of a cat person, as you know. But he is a nice dog."

"Yeah." Sasuke lapsed in to silence. "Mom said that we should talk."

"I'm not surprised." Fugaku gazed at him. "Do you know the most annoying thing about your mother?"

Sasuke was smart enough not to answer that and he waited for his dad to continue.

"She's always right. Drives me mad." Fugaku shook his head fondly. "We do need to talk." He focused back on the sky and Sasuke listened attentively. "Unlike your mother I am not always right, Sasuke. Sometimes I get it very wrong.

"I was hard on you growing up, in a way that didn't help anyone." Offering his son a small smile he continued. "One of the hardest things I found hardest about being a parent was accepting that eventually your children become adults, and they're going to want to live their own lives. You did well, Sasuke."

"Hmm?"

"You stuck to your guns and did what you felt was best for you. That takes real strength."

Sasuke eyed his father, unsure of how to deal with such candour from the man. In fact he was pretty sure that this was the most words they had exchanged in years.

"And I can admit," Fugaku continued. "That you made the right decision. You're obviously an accomplished detective, and building your life here in Konoha has worked out well for you." He nodded. "Sakura is wonderful."

"She is." Sasuke joined his father in staring at the stars then, the silence around them feeling comfortable for a change.

Eventually they heard the sounds of the others returning; the front door opening and their muffled conversation drifting through the house to the back garden. Fugaku stood, stretching out the stiffness that had settled in his lower back.

"I'm sorry that it took me years to say this to you."

"Mom said that we're stubborn." Sasuke noted wryly. " Must be genetic."

"Well that was exhausting." Sakura flopped on to Sasuke's bed. "But nice."

Sasuke's parents had headed back to Itachi's for the night with a promise that they'd pop in again the following day.

"I'm glad you liked them." Sasuke sat on the bed next to her, admiring the way her hair fanned out against the blankets.

"Your parents are lovely." She smiled. "And I think they liked me?"

"They loved you. They'd probably get rid of me and Itachi and adopt you instead."

"Hmm." Sakura looked thoughtful. "Well girls are less trouble than boys I suppose."

Sasuke scoffed. "Says who?"

"Says me." Sakura laughed. "I'm a total delight."

"Hn, you're more trouble than anyone I've ever met."

Sakura grasped him by the elbow, tugging him to lie next to her. "Oh, trouble am I?" Sasuke could only class her grin as 'wicked'.

"Definitely." His lips met hers before separating briefly. "Not complaining though."

Sakura wound her arms and pulled him closer. "Good."

Their embrace was eventually interrupted by the buzz of Sasuke's phone on the dresser.

Pulling back from Sasuke's lips, Sakura frowned. "Do you need to get that?"

"No." He kissed her deeply. "I'm off duty."

The phone stopped ringing before buzzing again mere seconds later.

"That's probably not a good sign." Sakura sighed, moving to sit up. "You should see who it is."

Growling, Sasuke climbed off the bed and snatched his phone from the top of the dresser. He glanced at the caller name and sighed.

"What do you want, Naruto?"

"Would it kill you answer the phone as if you aren't a complete prick?"

"Hanging up now."

"Wait!" Naruto snapped and it gave Sasuke pause - it was rare to hear the blonde sound this annoyed. "I'm calling for a reason. It's about Orochimaru."

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. Of course. "Did they push the trial date back?"

"He's gone."

"What do you 'gone'?" Sasuke frowned. "Gone where?"

"No one knows. Or I guess I should say that no one is talking." Naruto grumbled. "He and Kabuto managed to slip house arrest and they've dropped off the face of the planet."

Sasuke swore. "You had better be joking."

"I wish I was." Naruto was as despondent as Sasuke had ever heard. "We've lost him."