�We�ve tried three times now,� Sakura said to the two men sitting together, closely together, on the sofa across from her place in the cushy, matching chair. �I just think we need to look at alternatives.�
The darker-haired of the two shifted uneasily. He had wanted this to work, had wanted it so badly, yet now it seemed one other thing that would be yanked from his grasp before he could even fully grip it.
�What alternatives?� he asked, his cold voice masking the disappointment he felt so keenly.
�Well, for one you could find someone else to be a surrogate for you.� It was risky giving them this option, but it had to be done to disarm them. It had to seem like she was willing to step down if it was for the best.
�You know I don�t trust anyone else with this,� the same dark-eyed male said repressively.
That, of course, was what she had been banking on. He didn�t trust easily, especially with the future of his clan riding on the line.
�I have been looking into the situation,� she said, flipping a stray lock of pink hair away from her eyes. �With a bloodline like yours, it is possible that it is the lack of your chakra in the process that is causing the artificial methods to fail. If your life force, your aura� you were involved in the process, well,� she paused as if reluctant to finish. �The chances for conception would be greatly increased.�
Dark eyes narrowed at her, as if not sure to believe the implications that were presented to him. �What exactly are you saying, Sakura?�
�She wants you to fuck her,� came the blunt translation from beside him.
�Naruto!� Sakura protested, almost by reflex. She cleared her throat and reminded herself what she was working towards. �I am just trying to make this an easier, more efficient process. I don�t want Sasuke-kun to have to get his hopes up each time, only to find out we had failed again.�
She looked up and had to blink at the paradox before her. Sasuke�s eyes were clearly showing their concern, their contemplation and indecision. Naruto�s beautiful blue eyes, however, were blank, hiding any thoughts that he may have been having on the subject.
Sakura held her breath, waiting for her crush, her obsession, to come to his own verdict. She gripped the edges of her skirt tightly, discreetly as she sat there, trying not to fidget. If she said anything further, it would just look suspicious and would push Sasuke away. He had to realize on his own that her arguments made sense.
Of course what he didn�t need to know is that she had made sure that none of those tubes of white liquid had had a chance to impregnate her. She had asked for them at the appropriate time, after all Sasuke was a genius and figuring out when Sakura�s cycles were wouldn�t take much effort for him. She had also had to inject herself with his sperm since Naruto�s Kyuubi-enhanced senses would be able to smell whether his lover�s essence had ever graced the girl or not.
However, she was a medic-nin and she knew how to prevent the conception from actually occurring even with all the right conditions. It had been a risk, but she viewed the goal worth it.
A chance to have Sasuke completely and possibly make him see that she was a better partner than the blond idiot reclining lazily next to him.
She had nothing against Naruto (except that she wanted his place in Sasuke�s life) and had nothing against their relationship (except that she felt it should be her next to her obsession.) She didn�t want to hurt the blond, but if Sasuke finally figured out that she was the best choice for reviving his clan and that he truly loved her more after all� well, she wouldn�t decline, that was for sure.
Sasuke suddenly shook his head, surprising her and throwing a spark of panic through her system. �No, we�ll give this a few more tries. I�m not willing to have sex with someone else, not even for the sake of heirs.�
Those blue eyes softened as they turned and looked at the back of his lover�s head. Even though the bastard sat there as stiff and still as a statue, Naruto could still feel the tender regard that the other held for him.
He reached a hand out and gently threaded his fingers through the back of Sasuke�s spiky hair, effectively turning his lover�s attention to him. �I want you to go through with it,� he said simply.
Graphite-colored eyes scrutinized him closely, a demand for an explanation clear to see within their depths.
�I want this child in our lives just as much as you do,� he said quietly. If Sasuke wanted something, Naruto would move mountains to try to make it happen. �If this is what it takes to get little Sasuke babies running around, then I am willing to step aside and let you do what you must.�
Naruto saw a muscle in Sasuke�s jaw twitch with the clenching of his teeth. �Step aside?� he asked with a slight curl to his lip.
Naruto smiled warmly back at his lover. �Only long enough for you to do the deed, bastard. Don�t think for a minute that I am ever going to let you go.�
His words were teasing, his smile was as sunny as ever, but Sasuke saw the sudden cold steel in those blue eyes and felt himself relax.
He turned back to Sakura, who still had her eyes on Naruto and a strange expression on her face. A part of him really didn�t want to take the next step, foreseeing many complications that could possibly occur. He knew that Sakura still had a bit of a crush on him and that this could make it worse.
But then, he and Naruto had been together for a few years now and even though they didn�t flaunt the physical aspects of their relationship in front of her, she should know that it wasn�t just a passing affair. She should be old enough to handle bearing his child without thinking it would change anything. Of course, they had a signed contract with the Hokage just in case there were any questions about whose child it would be.
The child would be raised by Sasuke and Naruto with Sakura as the Godparent. Sasuke knew that, as a ninja, his life could end at any time. He didn�t want Sakura to just show up and take his child if something ever happened to him. Naruto didn�t need to lose his son or daughter just after he had lost his lover.
Reminding himself that there had to be a child first, Sasuke turned his attention back to Sakura. She seemed more relaxed, calmly awaiting his decision. There was a long silence in which he struggled with his desire to revive his clan and, more importantly, have a child to raise with Naruto against his aversion to bedding someone other than his lover.
He heard a couple quick sniffs next to him, the sound of Naruto scenting the air. The blond stood, unfolding his lean, but solid frame from his spot on the couch. �She�s breedable now,� he said bluntly, the undertone of a rumble that implied he had drawn on his demonic powers. �I�ll make myself scarce for awhile.�
�You don�t need to go anywhere,� Sasuke said quickly.
�Sasuke,� Sakura interrupted smoothly. �This is awkward enough without having an audience.�
Naruto leaned down and captured Sasuke�s lips in a quick, but hard kiss. �I�ll be back in a little bit,� he promised. He forced himself away from his lover, every animalistic instinct that had been imparted by the demon screaming at him to not leave his mate around a bitch in heat. But he trusted Sasuke enough to do this, he trusted their bond enough to walk away and trusted it enough that his lover would still be there waiting for him when he returned.
Sasuke watched Sakura sitting there serenely as he heard the front door close quietly behind him. This was such a bad idea on so many levels. He let out a sigh and stood, reaching for the ties of his loose pants.
Sakura�s eyes widened as she realized he was about to take her on the chair in which she sat. �S-Sasuke, shouldn�t we go to the bedroom?� she asked, trying to steer him in a more romantic frame of mind.
�Why? You just need me to deliver the sperm directly, don�t you? It doesn�t really matter where we do it,� he said in his usual emotionless tone.
Sakura thought quickly. �It�s just better if I am lying down when you do it.�
Sasuke�s hand paused on the waist of his pants. �Very well, follow me.�
He turned and led the pink-haired kunoichi up the stairs of the large house that he shared with his lover. They were still on Uchiha grounds, but it wasn�t the main house. Sasuke had refused to step foot into that house even after he had killed off his brother. Actually the first thing he had done once the eldest Uchiha had died was come back to Konoha and burn it to the ground.
It was only after Naruto had complained that seeing the burnt skeletal remains of the house creeped him out did Sasuke finally clear the area and put in a large meditation garden. Of course, Naruto then had to comment on how creepy it was that Sasuke meditated in the spot where his family had been slain.
It had taken Kyuubi quite a few days to heal him after that idiotic observation was made.
Sasuke stopped at a guest room, one of the few that they still actually used for that purpose instead of the study, weapons� storage and other miscellaneous uses to which they put the other rooms.
The door slid open to reveal an austere, but aesthetically pleasing little room with windows that overlooked that back yard and the various flower beds therein. Naruto had decided to try his hand at gardening and they had both been astonished to see that he was pretty good at it.
He walked over to a small wardrobe and began pulling out a futon and a few sheets.
�Is this your room, Sasuke?� Sakura asked with some confusion.
�No,� he answered shortly as he spread the mattress out on the bamboo floor and made it up.
�Let�s use your room instead. A bed would be-�
�No,� he said unequivocally. There was no way in hell that he was going to let her in the same bed that he shared with Naruto.
He began to once again pull at his trousers, prepared to do this and get it over with. He glanced up to see Sakura standing there, watching him. �I think you need to at least get your panties off,� he said, slight impatience tingeing his voice.
Sakura nodded, her cheeks turning the same shade as her hair. She quickly pulled off her clothes and avidly looked over at Sasuke who was kneeling down on the futon. He was as gorgeous as she had always imagined, every line perfect and flawless.
�Sakura,� he suddenly said, looking at her seriously. �Don�t make more out of this than what it is.�
She lowered her eyes and nodded, but inside she was all but screaming in joy. This was finally her moment. The moment when she and her love were going to join together and he would finally see that she was the perfect one for him. She was about to give everything to him; her love, her body and the child that he wanted.
Sasuke watched as the kunoichi gracefully sank down onto the futon and laid herself out before him. She was pretty, he had to admit. She was softly curved, in perfect shape and totally feminine. This should have been easy, except for one small problem.
His body had no interest in her.
Giving a small, indiscernible sigh, he closed his eyes and began to picture his lover in his mind�s eye. Everything that he found arousing, everything that he found annoying, everything that made the dobe unique and, more importantly, his own.
�Sasuke-kun,� the soft voice uttered, shattering his thoughts and killing the slowly-growing arousal.
His eyes snapped open and glared down at her. �What, Sakura?�
�Aren�t you going to�� she trailed off with a blush.
He continued to stare at her with his cold, dark eyes.
�Maybe you just need a little help,� she offered. �I�m nervous, too.�
He resisted the almost overwhelming urge to scoff. It was probably bad form to insult your bed partner. Not that it had ever stopped him with Naruto.
�I�m not nervous, Sakura,� he stated firmly instead.
�Oh.� She glanced down at his limp member awkwardly. �Maybe we could start slower. Maybe kiss-�
�I�m not kissing you, Sakura. You�re not my lover. I�m doing this to impregnate you, not to start a relationship with you,� he reminded her sharply.
She frowned up at him, slightly irritated at the reminder. �Maybe I was just trying to get you to loosen up.�
�I don�t need to loosen up,� he said repressively.
�Well, apparently you need something,� she said with a significant look at his pelvis.
She saw his lips thin at the observation.
Muttering a curse under his breath, he bit his thumb and made the seals for a summoning jutsu. A small, common garden snake appeared amidst the cloud of smoke.
�Sasuke, what-� Sakura began with a slight tone of disgust in her voice.
He ignored the impending question and addressed the small serpent. �Go find Naruto and tell him to come home.�
With a bob of a green head, the creature slithered off.
Sakura closed her eyes as something akin to grief washed through her. She took a deep breath and opened her watery eyes to look up at the man of her dreams. �Why him, Sasuke?� she finally asked. �Why him and not me?�
He sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. �Sakura, you are a good teammate, an excellent medic-nin and a good friend. Don�t ruin it, please.�
�I�m just trying to understand,� she said with her heart in her eyes. �I just want to know why I�m not good enough.�
�It�s not you, okay? It�s me and it�s him and it has nothing to do with you.� He knew that this had been a bad idea. He knew that she couldn�t handle the added level of intimacy.
She continued to look at him with that soulful gaze and he suddenly felt tired. �Sakura, I love him. I can�t tell you exactly why or how or when. Doing this with you isn�t going to change that. It isn�t going to change the fact that I want to be with him and no one else.�
�But, but what if you had never met him,� she persisted almost childishly.
�If I had never met him, I would have died inside a long time ago,� he said quietly.
As Sakura processed that, the front door opened and then closed. Footsteps made their way to the stairs and lightly jogged up them. She watched as Sasuke�s eyes riveted on the door, watched as his breath deepened and sped up slightly and watched as that part of him that she had coveted began to respond at just the sound of the blond�s presence.
She pulled a sheet across her lap just as the door was lightly tapped before being slid open. Naruto entered the room, not seeming to be embarrassed or surprised at the state of things. However, she did see his nostrils flare subtly as if testing the air.
He walked directly over to Sasuke and dropped one of those quick, possessive kisses on the upturned and waiting lips. �You needed me?� he asked innocently enough, his hands however couldn�t stop from reaching out and touching the pale skin. He let them rest on Sasuke�s shoulders and then fought to keep them there.
Sasuke didn�t answer, but turned to Sakura instead. �If you are truly here to help us and are still willing, then we will do this my way. If you aren�t here to help or do not wish to at this point in time, then say so now and go home,� he said in a clear, concise voice. He wanted to make sure that she understood completely, that there was no room for schemes or interpretations.
Sakura sat there for a long moment, contemplating her options. It was a low blow to her self-esteem when she couldn�t even arouse the man that she had been fantasizing over for years. However, she really did care about him and Naruto as well (at least when she wasn�t envious of him.)
Could she really carry Sasuke�s child for nine months and not develop some kind of possessiveness for either him or the child?
If she did so, she would have the benefit of having a bond with Sasuke. She would have a reason to be in his life on a daily basis. Also, if she ever decided (here she couldn�t help but admit some form of defeat for entertaining the idea) to marry into some other clan, the ties with the Uchiha clan would work in her favor.
And really, could she ever say �No� to Sasuke no matter what he wanted?
She lifted her head and nodded resolutely. Her dreams may be tarnished, but she was willing to do what she could for her dark-haired prince.
Sakura watched as Sasuke returned her nod almost solemnly before looking up at Naruto. Their eyes met and locked for a long moment and an understanding seemed to pass between them before Naruto smiled gently down at him.
�Are you sure this is what you want?� the blond said out loud, needlessly perhaps except for the fact that he wanted Sakura to hear it as well. �Women gossip. Especially about things like this.�
�Let them gossip,� Sasuke answered with a trace of a sneer. �Like I care what they say about us.�
As Naruto unabashedly shed his clothes, he couldn�t help but let his eyes trace over his lover. Ragged locks fell around his face and neck in a style that had more to do with a kunai and his own hand than any deliberate intent of a barber, cold eyes watched him but he could see the heat slowly building behind the fa�ade that he loved to break in the midst of their passion, pale skin was sporadically littered with the glimmering sheen of even paler scars accumulated from numerous battles and spars that depicted with perfect clarity the dangers of his life as a shinobi.
Sasuke was far from perfect, but that was one of the reasons why Naruto loved him so dearly. Despite what many assumed, Sasuke was human. He was flawed, he was rough around the emotional edges and he could be uptight and bitchy, but he was also passionate, caring and when he gave his heart to something, whether it be an idea or a person, he gave it all.
He knelt down in front of his lover and gave a soft, gentle kiss that asked if the other was going to submit without a challenge. It was something that seemed to have evolved between them since they were both dominant males who enjoyed asserting said dominance over each other, but sometimes one of them just wanted something slow, tender and loving. The question would be answered with either a soft kiss in turn or something rougher, needier that said the challenge was on.
Even though they both knew that Sasuke wasn�t going to win today since he would need to be inside of Sakura for the finale, he apparently had some frustration that he needed to burn off as he returned the kiss fervently.
Sakura watched, curious despite herself. She had a vague idea of what men did together, but had obviously never seen it in action. So sure was she that Sasuke would take the lead in what they were about to do, especially after the kiss that she had just witnessed, that she almost gasped out loud in surprise as Naruto snaked a hand into the back of Sasuke�s hair and gripped it harshly enough that the muscles tensed in his arm.
Naruto leaned forward to whisper something into Sasuke�s ear, causing a quiver to go through the pale-skinned body. Whatever he had said had obviously been the wrong thing when Sasuke grabbed the tanned wrist and twisted slightly as his other hand pushed Naruto roughly to the ground.
Sakura blinked in confusion as Naruto just smiled up at his lover.
�Hn,� Sasuke said, clearly unimpressed.
Naruto knocked the hand that was holding his chest down and rolled as Sasuke collapsed on top of him, putting the darker male underneath. He quickly lined their hardened bodies together and gave a firm grind downwards.
Sasuke gave a hitching moan as his hand reached down and gripped a firm, tanned buttock. They writhed together for a few moments like that, their breaths erratic as the pleasure of their undulations flowed over their bodies.
Naruto growled possessively and leaned down to claim Sasuke�s lips in a deep, drugging kiss. He moved slowly but thoroughly, lips dragging against Sasuke�s, his tongue sliding along and around his lover�s. Sharp teeth nibbled at first the upper lip and then the lower before flicking his tongue over both in short, little laps. Sasuke moaned beneath him before nipping Naruto�s tongue in retaliation before succumbing once more.
The dobe knew how much he liked kissing and used it against him ruthlessly.
Sasuke tangled their legs together and flipped them over, elbows and knees banging against the wooden floor unnoticed. He managed to get Naruto�s other wrist in his hand as well and pinned them both above his beloved idiot�s head. He captured the parting lips in a deep, thorough kiss as his thighs maneuvered between Naruto�s knees.
He had almost succeeded when Naruto tore his lips away and immediately went for Sasuke�s neck.
Sakura heard the soft whimper come from Sasuke�s throat as Naruto continued to thoroughly, but tenderly abuse it. Both men were hard and damp from their arousal, enabling their bodies to slide that much easier against each other. She could see the look of lust and desire plainly on Sasuke�s face and didn�t know whether to cry or touch herself from it. Or perhaps both.
Naruto entangled his fingers in blue-black hair and pulled the head back to where he could clearly see Sasuke�s enraptured expression. He felt the familiar welling of desire come up through him and it was all he could do not to throw the other man to the ground and take him without preparation.
�Sasuke,� he said rather hoarsely.
He watched as awareness came slowly back to those beautiful dark eyes. He could see the swift calculation in them as Sasuke tried to decide if he wanted to continue to fight or if he would concede just to fill the need burning within his loins. He felt the body over his relax minutely and knew that Sasuke had forfeited the game.
�Did you bring any lube in with you?� he asked huskily. He knew by the sudden look of irritation that crossed Sasuke�s arousal-flushed face that he hadn�t thought he would need it.
Naruto gave a small chuckle. ��Sokay, we won�t need it. Turn around.�
Sasuke immediately guessed what Naruto had in mind and his eyes darkened even more in anticipation.
He gracefully moved his body around until he was presented with Naruto�s thick cock and presented his ass to his lover as well. Not even hesitating, he gripped the organ at the base and tried to stuff as much of it in his mouth as he could. He ignored the soft, shocked gasp to the side and reveled in the deep moan underneath him.
�Cheating bastard,� he heard mumbled from the region of his backside.
He smirked around the rock solid but velvety flesh in his mouth, enjoying the torment he was putting the dobe through. His eyes widened in surprise as the broad side of Naruto�s tongue swiped over his sensitive entrance. He felt fingers dig into his hips as he moaned around the throbbing erection that he was now bound and determined would fill his throat.
The nerve of the moron to say that he was cheating!
Over to the side, Sakura was beginning to wonder if they even remembered that she was in the room.
Sasuke tried not to whimper as Naruto�s talented tongue started to swirl around his rim, teasing it and dampening it with his saliva. He tried not to moan as a thumb came up and started to massage his perineum, stimulating his prostate from the outside. He tried to keep his body from quivering when teeth nipped firmly at the skin along his crack. Mostly, he tried to keep from thrusting back as that tongue began dipping into the heat that yearned to be penetrated and filled.
Of course, he failed at all of these things.
The sounds that Sasuke was making were driving Naruto slowly insane. A part of him wanted to continue to torture his lover, give him as much pleasure as he could stand while another part, a wilder part, just wanted to bury himself in him repeatedly until they both were screaming.
He felt the bud of muscles quiver against his tongue, trying to grasp onto something. He pushed his tongue in further and those muscles fluttered around him, trying to pull him in deeper.
He could feel the slick sensation of Sasuke�s pre-cum dripping and smearing onto his chest. He pulled his lover closer until their bodies were flush together, the hardness of Sasuke�s cock pressed tightly between them. He continued to lick and nip against the tight ring of muscle as his lover began to thrust his hips, sliding smoothly through the liquid he had previously dripped.
He felt his lover slowly push his mouth further down onto Naruto�s length and he groaned into the quivering cheeks against his lips. Sasuke didn�t often take all of him, but when he did he left Naruto breathlessly moaning in ecstasy as white spots danced across his vision.
Naruto felt the body above him tense and knew he had to pull back. There was nothing more he wanted than to let Sasuke cum all over his chest, to feel his lover�s hot seed soak his skin and run down his belly. However, he knew that they needed that seed somewhere else and for a better purpose than indulging in his own erotic fantasies.
He used his hands which were currently on Sasuke�s hips to start to lift the young man off of him. Sasuke resisted a moment, confused and lost in a haze of lust and pleasure. He only knew that his lover was pushing him away before he could bring either of them to climax.
Not satisfied with the state of things, Sasuke turned around and straddled Naruto�s hips. Not giving the blond a chance to protest, he reached down and guided the thick manhood to his entrance and started to sink down.
Sakura watched wide-eyed as Sasuke took in every inch that Naruto had to offer until he was sitting in the cradle of his lover�s pelvis. The look on his face was amazing; the slight tightening around the eyes as if in pain, his teeth biting into his lip in pleasure and the look of pure love that he gave the man below him.
�Sasuke,� Naruto moaned, unable to stop from thrusting upwards into that welcoming heat. He reopened his eyes and met the open and vulnerable look directed at him. �You can�t cum,� he reminded Sasuke breathlessly.
Sasuke shivered, logically knowing that Naruto was correct but perversely wanting it more because it had been denied. �But you can,� he husked as he started to slowly slide up and down the hardness impaling him.
Naruto gripped Sasuke�s thighs, both wanting him to go faster and wanting him to stop so there wouldn�t be an accident. He wanted this business with Sakura over and done with so that Sasuke could get off of the emotional rollercoaster that it had thrown him on.
Reminded suddenly of his pink-haired friend, he glanced over to see the look that a starving man must have when standing outside the window of a fancy restaurant and looking in. Only her look of avarice was tinged with sadness as if she were finally realizing that she would never be invited in.
He almost started as a hand reached down and turned his face back to the man atop him. Sasuke�s eyes flared coldly for a moment, insulted that his attention had wandered and especially since it involved the nuisance in the room that he was trying to forget existed. He resented the fact that Sakura had forced them into an intimate situation that should be shared exclusively between the two of them and put it on display.
He pushed himself down harder, rolling his hips as he did so. Naruto moaned, his eyes closing of their own volition.
�Look at me,� Sasuke demanded. He should be the only thing that the dobe looked at when they were like this. He should be the only thing that the dobe looked at even when they weren�t. He wanted to be the only thing in Naruto�s world just as Naruto was the only thing in his.
Tanned hands reached up to his waist and gripped tightly as the two began moving in sync. Soft moans sounded in the room and as usual, Naruto�s unoccupied mouth loosened as he began to get closer.
�Fuck, Sasuke! You feel so damned good,� he groaned as he fought to keep his eyes open. There was a flash of red in the blue; a color that Sasuke had been waiting for. He began to move harder and faster, consciously trying to avoid hitting his prostate as much as possible.
�Yeah! That�s it! Ride me!� he growled out between breaths. �Ride my cock!�
Sasuke shuddered at the words that hammered at his libido. He only thanked whatever gods were out there that Naruto had no clue how much his words turned him on. He heard a soft, feminine whimper to the side but ignored it.
The blue flickered back to red.
�Sasuke!� he practically howled. �I�m gonna cum! I�m gonna cum in your ass!�
Sasuke�s cock pulsed dangerously at the admission. �Yes,� he hissed out. �Do it!�
He had to reach down and grip his cock painfully to stop his orgasm as sharp nails dug into his skin. Naruto started to jerk him up and down frantically, piercing him, thickening inside of him until at last he threw his head back with a yell.
Another violent shudder wracked Sasuke�s body as he felt Naruto pumping his essence deeply inside of him. �Sakura,� he called out urgently.
A few thumps on the wooden floor and she was there. He lifted himself off of Naruto quickly and practically shoved her down before slamming into her. He didn�t stop to concern himself if she was ready or not.
After having seen such a show, she was more than ready.
Fingers speared his loosened entrance which was lubricated from Naruto�s climax and began to thrust rapidly into him, rubbing his prostate on each stroke.
Sakura was breathless from the initial penetration. To feel Sasuke finally within her was almost more than she could bear. She looked up to see the contortions of pleasure on Sasuke�s face and smiled at being able to bring him such delight. But why wasn�t he moving in her?
�Naruto,� Sasuke said in a strained voice as his body tightened up once again. He was so damn close, so ready to let himself fly apart. The fingers somehow became faster and harder, making his body shake with the sensations. He felt his eyes roll up into his head and then the orgasm was ripped from his body.
Sakura watched as Naruto�s name was yelled out against her breast. Sasuke�s beautiful body shuddered and trembled against hers as he pumped his seed deep into her womb. It was what she had wanted, yet so far from how she had imagined it happening. He practically collapsed against her, trying to regain control of his breathing.
She could sense his warm aura spilling out from the barriers that he usually enclosed it behind and couldn�t help but wish she could somehow have been a true part of it. While Sasuke would never invite her, surely Naruto would have at some point in time had she not been so eager to dismiss his attentions. However, if he ever found out that she had deliberately sabotaged the earlier attempts, he would never forgive her.
And ultimately, it hadn�t been worth it.
She knew she had intruded somewhere that was private and should have remained so. She knew that the looks of love that were even now being shared by the two men above her were not meant for her.
She had never felt so alone in her life.
And it was a feeling brought about by her own machinations.
�Thank you, Sakura-chan,� Naruto said quietly. �I hope things work this time.�
Sakura moved a hand to her lower abdomen and a green glow encased it. She urged the strongest to her ready egg and felt the merging. She moved her hand away and the glow faded.
�I�m sure they will,� she said quietly.
Sasuke removed himself from her and leaned down to gently kiss her forehead. �Thank you, Sakura.�
He moved away from her and allowed the arms of his lover to enfold him.
She pulled the sheet around herself as they both stood and began to pick up their clothes.
�There�s a shower next door,� Naruto told her with a relaxed smile.
�Take your time,� Sasuke said with his usual expressionless mask in place. However, his eyes still held a softness and a small ember of gratitude that made the bitter taste of guilt well up in her throat.
It was as she sat in that room that she made a conscious decision that she wasn�t going to be alone any longer. She was going to give them this gift and she would love them both as the dear friends that they had silently offered themselves to be.
Sasuke had been right. She was not his lover and from the looks and passion and connection that the two obviously shared, she never would be.