Since they opted for a small ceremony, it left them with plenty of money to use towards starting adoption paperwork. Unfortunately, it took them a long time to get approved due to Sasuke’s felony. But after all the paperwork and waiting, they were finally approved.

And with that approval, they adopted one child. A 3-year-old sweet boy who’d had a rough start to life with neglectful parents, more focused on drugs than taking care of the adorable child. It took Kazumi a bit to get settled into the new home, but the blonde’s doting qualities and Sasuke’s patience helped tremendously.

Then 5-year-old lively Kaiya joined, she’d been dropped off at the orphanage months after being born and knew nothing about being loved. Between actually having her own room, having a sibling to play with, and her doting adoptive parents, Kaiya thrived. The little girl looked like a replica of Sasuke, and Naruto adored their bonding time in the morning when she brushed her long dark hair.

The little girl had a love for animals and managed to convince Sasuke to get a dog and a cat. Sasuke was convinced Naruto schemed with her.

And the last to be adopted was a 7-year-old. Naoki took adjusting the hardest, as he was old enough to remember the tragic overdosing of his parents. It was suggested by the caseworker that the transition would be easier if they all went to therapy, and it helped. So damn much. He still went to therapy, but the sessions were less frequent as he got used to being in the family.

Then the children started suggesting that they wanted their parents to have babies. The couple worried that the kids would have problems adjusting to the biological babies. They didn’t want them to feel any less loved, but the kids were adamant that it wouldn’t happen. And it didn’t. The kids were over the moon when Mina then Miko were born.

That’s how they ended up with five kids.

Five.

And they wouldn’t change it for the world.

Some days were tough, earning the kids' trust took time, and sometimes they had little hiccups, but they made it work.

Onyx eyes took in the memorial in front of him. He enjoyed sitting there during sunset, telling his family about his day and his plans. He caught them up on the new restaurant opening and the finished addition to their land. Kakashi and Itachi had decided to build their own cozy home, giving them the larger home to run to the ground. Many of Naruto’s duties were taken over by Kakashi, leaving Naruto more time to spend with the rambunctious kids.

He was finishing up when he felt small arms wrap around his neck and a giggle near his neck, “Daddy!”

Sasuke smiled and twisted his head, “Mina.”

The little girl played with Sasuke’s hair and tucked flowers into it. He picked her up and placed her on his lap. She settled between his arms and turned her big onyx eyes towards him, “We go eat!”

“Is the food ready?”

Mina nodded excitedly. He picked her up and carried her back to the house on his hip.

They climbed up the stairs and the patio door swung open, with a grinning Naruto rocking a giggling Miko.

Their house was fucking loud and filled with scattered toys, art supplies, and children's books. Mina wiggled out of his grasp and ran to the room she shared with Kaiya.

Miko’s blue eyes found Sasuke’s and started waving his hands, wanting the brunette to carry him. He chuckled and grabbed Miko, kissing his silky golden hair. “Need help?”

Naruto shook his head, “The boys helped.” Mina and Kaiya ran out of the room, power walking when they saw Naruto give them the look. They all sat at the dining room table as the boy’s finished scooping the dinner onto their plates.

Sasuke took a moment to watch the scene in front of him. He suddenly felt misty-eyed, as he saw the kids chatter amongst themselves with big grins and Naruto scooping food into Miko’s mouth.

This was his life. After his years in prison, the only thing he hoped for was to just have peace. He was content with spending the rest of his days on the ranch with Itachi, knowing he didn’t deserve anything else. He was too tainted. Yet Naruto wouldn’t let him. He smacked him and pulled him. He showed Sasuke that he was more than enough. That he deserved happiness and to be loved. And now he was.

Not only by Naruto but by his five kids. He spent time with each child and they all showed their love in different ways.

Naoki admired him and the way he changed his life. He was eager to learn everything Sasuke knew and constantly followed him around the ranch. He had a talent for building things with his hands.  

Kazumi was musically inclined and wanted Sasuke to be at every single practice. The boy’s eyes would shimmer with happiness when Sasuke told him how proud he was of him.

Kaiya and Mina were extremely girly, and he’d learned how to have tea parties, braid hair, and helped them during ballet practice.

Miko just giggled and wanted to be held, though he did wonder what type of child he would end up becoming.

“Hey papa.” Naoki had a shit-eating grin that reminded him of Naruto, “Can we get a horse?”

The girls (and Naruto) gasped and yelled please!

Of course, they would get a damn horse.

Sasuke was so fucking whipped.

A couple of weeks later, Sasuke felt a tug on his nightshirt and looked down seeing Kaiya shyly glancing at him, “Papa, can you read me this book?”

Sasuke put on his reading glasses and looked at the thick dusty leather-bound book, “Where did you get this?”

“In the library!” She ran her fingertips over the cover, “It has daddy’s name.”

Sasuke softly chuckled, “It does. Come on.” He grabbed the little girl’s hand and led her to her room. She wiggled under her flowery covers and tucked the comforter under her chin. He glanced at the other bed and saw Mina completely passed out, breathing gently.

Sasuke took a seat at Kaiya’s side and opened the book.

He read for a good twenty minutes, engrossed in it before he realized that she was deep in sleep. He smiled and pressed a kiss on her forehead, setting the book down on her nightstand.

He checked the other room, seeing the two boys already asleep. They were exhausted after helping build the horse pen. He’d negotiated with them that if they built the pen, he’d let them get the horse they all desperately wanted. The boys had ecstatically been working hard for two weeks.

He crept into the bedroom, watching Naruto peek at a sleeping Miko swaddled in his dark green blanket with yellow frogs. Sasuke stood next to him and admired the sleeping baby boy.

Naruto quietly cooed as he fought the urge to not grab the babe and smother him with kisses, “He’s so beautiful Sas.”

“He really is.” He kissed the crown of Naruto’s head and gazed at the slow rise and fall of Miko’s chest. “He looks just like you.”

Naruto grinned, “So I’m beautiful.”

He hummed in agreement, “The most. But he behaves way better than you.”

“That’s so true.” Naruto couldn’t even fight it. They’d gotten immensely lucky that Miko was so well-behaved. He rarely cried and wasn’t fuzzy. He slept through the night and was full of smiles during the day. The other kids were obsessed with him and constantly were wanting to hold him and play with him. 

Their lives now consisted of their kids, the kids after school activities, and staying sane with so much chaos.

Every single day he gave Naruto thanks for every single thing he had gifted him with. Society might have set him free, but Naruto gave him something to look forward to every day.

As Miko slept, Sasuke tucked Naruto’s head under his chin and held him close.

He didn’t fall in love with him one day to another. It bloomed through many moons with each letter, picture, and visit. It blossomed and became like an everlasting garden. The love was nurtured, and that’s how it always will be.

Every time he gazes into those star-filled eyes, it makes him feel re-born and it makes him want to fall on his knees. Naruto looks at him like he created every star in the damn galaxy. Which was ridiculous became Naruto was the damn universe.

Despite the nerves thrumming through his body, his fears have died because he knows Naruto’s heart and Naruto knows his.

The End