Dramatically Waiting

Part Three

Part Three

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Sasuke set the tray of hot chocolate on the coffee table and checked on the fire crackling, throwing a couple more logs for good measure. He closed his eyes briefly, grounding himself with the sound of the crackling and the smell of burning wood. He next headed to the linen closet and grabbed a couple of blankets, throwing them on the couch. The temperature was dropping every hour and he needed to make sure the house stayed nice and warm for his family.

His family.

He couldn't quite believe he has a family again after all the excruciating pain from his past. The loss, the agony, the torture, the grief. After all that journey, here he was. Blessed with this second chance.

He heard excited chatter coming from the hall and tiny footsteps approaching the living room. The kids trailed into the room, freshly bathed and in their pajamas. Menma took a seat with Hiroki and Asami, both snuggled on either side of him. They were obviously sleepy, but they were determined to stay awake a little longer, just to be with everyone else. Sasuke couldn't fault them for it, he always made sure to be the last one to go to sleep. Though that also included triple checking that their home was secure and everyone inside were all safe and sound.

Naruto was already tucked in bed with their newborn in the bassinet right next to it, exhausted from the day. Despite how much Sasuke argued not to push himself, Naruto still did it. Brushing off Sasuke's comments with a sincere smile. As if Naruto ever listened to him anyway though Sasuke still held out hope that one day he'd start. At least when it came to his safety, as their kids did.

Akio and Akemi took a seat on the cushions near the coffee table, already digging in on the hot chocolate. He'd made especially sweet for Akio, who Sasuke always swore was the reincarnation of Itachi only with Naruto's hair and eyes.

"Dad, you don't want any?" Akio gently asked Sasuke with worried cerulean eyes.

He shook his head, "I'm okay, relax." Akio contemplated Sasuke before he nodded and continued sipping on his cup.

"I can make you tea if you want dad?" Akemi was already about to get up when Sasuke gently padded her head, "Don't worry about me, enjoy the chocolate." Akemi pouted but didn't argue.

Sasuke bit back a smile, Akemi always wanted to take care of them while Akio always seemed to take special attention to making sure Sasuke was okay. Definitely like Itachi.

"Daddy sit!" Hiroki patted the spot next to him and Sasuke couldn't refuse when the baby boy gave him those wide pleading eyes. He had on adorable green footie pajamas with frog prints all over that just made him extra endearing. Fuck he was such a sucker for his kids. He'd let Asami give him a makeover the day before, insisting that he'd look just as nice as Naruto with orange eyeshadow. He didn't think he did but both girls had swooned over it. His kids could practically pull him to do anything at this point.

"Hey dad, can you tell us how you and mom got together?"

Sasuke halted the gentle rubbing of Hiroki's back when he heard Menma's question, "Again?"

Menma puffed his cheeks, "Yes. I want to hear more of it!"

"All the details." Akemi grinned.

Sasuke sighed and pointedly reminded them, "You know it's a long story."

"It's still early." Akio's gentle voice made Sasuke's apprehension dissolve. Maybe he would need that tea in the end, after all the talking he was about to do.

He nodded in defeat, "Okay okay – "

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"We should leave the village and travel together." Naruto's comment was sudden and so nonchalant that Sasuke for a second thought he'd misheard. Naruto wanted to leave? He wanted them to leave? Naruto Uzumaki wanted to leave Konoha and not for a mission? The sentence was unfathomable to him.

He'd been thinking about it for the past few weeks, trying to figure out how to bring up the topic, how to explain to Naruto that he couldn't be here. Not yet. The wounds and horror in this village were still too fresh. He was an outsider and would have never returned if it wasn't for the man across from him patiently waiting for his response.

"You can't. You have to study and – " The excuses flowed through Sasuke's lips, a list of reasons as to why Naruto wanted to leave was unimaginable. Why he couldn't –

Naruto shrugged, "So? I'm not a reader, I can't learn that way. Being hands-on is what helps me learn. I feel like I have to see the world first before settling down and becoming Hokage. I wouldn't be able to just up and leave then." Naruto fidgeted with his napkin, ripping it into small pieces.

He made a good point. It was true. Naruto excelled in learning hands-on. That's how he'd gained all of his skills but he'd also never left the village to travel – wait he did with his godfather. But that was different. He'd done it to train and get stronger. Leaving with Sasuke to travel was a completely different thing. It wasn't to learn any particular jutsus or to visit anyone specific. They would be taking it day by day, seeing where the world took them.

Sasuke looked down at the plate of his now cold food with a frown, "Do you think Kakashi would let you go just like that?" There was no way Kakashi would allow that.

"I've already asked him." Sasuke met his gaze in surprise. "It took a bit of convincing, but he agreed. I told him he could give us missions if needed out there."

"Oh." He couldn't form another reply. His brain was still reeling that it was Naruto who had suggested it.

Naruto whispered, "Unless you want to go alone?" He looked like he was preparing himself for rejection.

Sasuke answered quickly. "Yes, let's go. Together." As if he would miss the opportunity to have Naruto all to himself away from this cursed village.

Naruto beamed, "Great! We can leave tomorrow."

"What?!" That soon? "Don't you want to say goodbye to everyone?" The blonde had tons of friends in the village. People who cherished him and constantly sought him out. Sasuke was sure the blonde would want to tell everyone he'd be gone for an unknown amount of time. They'd probably want to give him parting gifts and –

"Nah." Naruto reached out and played with Sasuke's fingers. "I just want to go."

Sasuke sent Naruto a soft open smile that made Naruto's heart hammer, reinforcing within him the reason why he wanted to do this in the first place.

And with that their journey began.