A/N: This is looooooooong overdue, sorry for the wait

Thanks for all the reviews

Usual apologies. spelling grammar etc etc

Disclaimer: see previous chapters

One more time.

Lee decided that he'd try to call Gaara one more time. And if he doesn't answer then Lee will just try and go to sleep. He didn't think Gaara would answer though, he expected it to go straight to voicemail again. He expected to go to bed with an aching heart and a head filled with confusion.

Its needless to say that he drew a blank when the ringing stopped and the line was picked up instead of actually going to voicemail.

"Lee."

The raven blinked and immediately sat up on the bed.

"Gaara?! I – I did not…" Lee sputtered for a moment, "Are you-"

"What do you want Lee?"

Gaara's voice was its usual monotone, Lee wanted to scream in frustration since he wished he could tell what the other was thinking. Instead he took a deep breath before he spoke.

"I am sorry about what happened at the party. I did not mean to upset you, I just…" Lee took in another deep breath. Tell the truth, don't lie. It's what Gai has always taught him to do. If you tell the truth then you don't have to live with any regrets.

"Sasuke suddenly kissed me and I did not expect him to do that, it caught me off guard-"

"It's his fault."

"No! No, it is not his fault. Regardless of whatever Sasuke's intentions may have been, it does not matter because he is not the one that… he does not have a boyfriend. But I do. Or at least I still hope I do."

Gaara didn't say anything so Lee pushed on, "I care about Sasuke a lot. We have always been close. When he kissed me, I kissed him back because I – I love him and I always will but… It is not the way that I feel about you. You mean the world to me Gaara and I am so sorry for what I did, it was wrong and if you cannot forgive me then… I understand."

"Would you choose me over him?" Gaara said after a moment of silence and Lee shook his head, despite the fact that the redhead wouldn't be able to see him.

"There was never a choice to make. You are the only one I want to be with Gaara."

He could hear the other let out a huff on the other side of the line, "Where are you?"

"At home."

"You didn't stay at the party?"

"No."

"I'll pick you up in ten minutes."

Lee's eyes went wide, "Yeah, yes. OK."

Gaara hung up the phone and Lee immediately jumped out of bed to get dressed, grabbing a pair of jeans, a shirt and a jacket only to pause and look at the clock beside the bed. It's pretty early. Gai would probably still be awake, but it wasn't quite so early that he'd just let Lee walk out the door. Which means that he'll have to sneak out.

The window wasn't an option, simply because there wasn't anything he could use to climb up and down from outside. And it was too high to jump. He'll have to use the door.

A couple of minutes later he could hear the roar of a motorcycle pulling up in front of the house and a text came through on his phone.

"I'm here"

Lee took in a deep breath and got up to open his bedroom door. The hallway was flooded with light.

That's a bad sign.

Lee walked out the door shut it behind him and quietly made his way through the hall and down the stairs only to blink and pause when he found the living room empty. Same with the kitchen.

That's… odd.

Lee shook his head and moved over to the front door to slip on his shoes and out the door, shutting it as quietly as he could behind him.

He looked up and had to pause when he saw Gaara waiting for him leaning against his bike outside the house. Lee ran over and stopped less than a foot away from the red head. He raked a hand through his hair, staring at his feet.

"Gaara, I-"

Before Lee could finish his sentence, he was suddenly grabbed and yanked forward and a pair of lips crashed into his own.

Lee stumbled forward and braced his hands on Gaara's shoulders to stop himself from crashing into the other but still sighed as the redhead's lips moved against his own. Gaara broke the kiss and Lee gasped.

Gaara pulled him in a little closer, "I don't like sharing you."

Lee blinked before he shook his head and wrapped his arms around Gaara's neck, "You don't have to."

"And Hatake?"

Lee sighed and shook his head, "You are the one I want to be with."

Gaara looked into Lee's eyes, intense teal drilling into pitch black before he leaned in and pressed a kiss on Lee's temple.

"O.K."

"O.K? Does that mean that you-"

"There's nothing to forgive, right?"

Lee smiled, "Right."

Gaara let out a soft snort before he pulled back, "C'mon."

"What-"

Gaara handed him a helmet, "I'll bring you back later."

Lee paused, glancing back at the house. We'll he's already snuck out already. If he gets caught now he'd be in trouble anyway. It was a little concerning that Gai hadn't caught him yet, but Lee wasn't too worried. Maybe he managed to sneak out while his father was in the bathroom or something.

He put the helmet on and got on the back of the bike, wrapping his arms around Gaara's waist before the motorcycle roared to life and took off.

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This has to be a dream, it couldn't possibly be anything but an insane dream. In a few seconds he'll wake up in bed, alone.

Late at night and everything was a mess.

The party went off about as well as it could have considering the episode between Gaara and Lee.

Gai doesn't know the exact details of what happened between those two but he knows that after whatever happened, happened Gaara left the house and Lee was too upset to stay for the rest of the festivities so they went home. Gai apologized to his best friend and ushered Lee and Ten Ten into the car to take them both home.

Oh and Genma left with them since Gai was essentially his ride to the party in the first place and therefore his only way back home.

After Lee ran upstairs and locked himself in his room and Ten Ten settled into her own since she wasn't in much of a talkative mood either, Genma stayed behind and Gai offered him a drink. Despite how awkward his youthful neighbor has been making him feel over the past few days, Gai couldn't find it in him to feel uncomfortable around him since his mind was more occupied with other things.

When Gai found out that Lee was gay, at first he wasn't sure what to think about it at all, but eventually he came to terms with his son's sexual orientation and learned to accept it. After some time Gai started looking forward to when Lee finally brought home a boy he liked for his father to meet, honestly he was.

But now…

Sabaku Gaara is not the kind of boy that he imagined his son falling for.

At all.

Somehow, Gai just imagined that Lee would choose someone that was the same way that he was.

Bright and optimistic, dedicated and responsible with as much personality as possible. Gai imagined someone like Naruto or maybe someone like the Inuzuka boy that Ten Ten brought home that one time. But Lee surprised him, then again, when hasn't Lee surprised him?

Sabaku Gaara was… was not the kind of boy he imagined for his son.

He just seemed so distant and unapproachable, defiant and reckless.

Honestly Gai couldn't even imagine where on earth Lee would have even met the teen for them to start a relationship in the first place. Of course, Gai remembers Gaara from the bookstore when he and Lee went looking for Kakashi's birthday gift, but it all still seemed so bizarre that Gai still just couldn't understand it.

When they arrived at the home of his most youthful rival and they found Gaara sitting on his bike on the curb in front of the house waiting for them, Gai was confused. Then Lee ran up to the redhead with a bright smile on his face before he actually kissed the redhead on the cheek, Gai's confusion reached an all-time high with a healthy dose of shock to really force his brain into a standstill.

Then Lee introduced them and Gai just froze for a full moment when Lee referred to the red head as his boyfriend, until Genma nudged his arm and brought him back to reality. Gai forced a smile on his face and tried to be as polite as possible if only for Lee's sake.

It was horrifying, inconceivable.

But Lee looked happy.

So very happy… but-but…

HOW?!

"That was interesting." Genma said as he leaned back to settle on the couch after setting his empty tea cup on the coffee table and Gai just sighed as he rubbed his temples in frustration.

Lee looked happy so Gai decided to just grin and bear it until the party ended and he could retire to his home to think through everything that happened that night. But then something happened between Gaara and Lee, something that upset them both so badly that Gaara just left and Lee wanted nothing more than to go home.

Now-

Now Gai has a headache.

"I'll talk to Lee in the morning, hopefully he'll be calm enough by then to tell me what happened. Although I can't imagine what could have made him so upset." The raven-haired man sighed while Genma gave a snort as he looked at the other.

"Isn't it obvious? He had his first fight with his boyfriend."

Gai rolled his eyes, "I already know that, the question is what they were fighting about."

"Does it matter?"

"Of course it does, how else-"

"They're teenagers Gai, you know what it's like being that young and in love. They probably just had a fight over some stupid little thing and in the morning, that Gaara kid will probably be calling Lee up begging for forgiveness. Or Lee might call him." Genma shrugged, "Either way this'll all blow over soon so don't worry about it and don't try to force Lee to talk. If he wants your help, he'll ask for it."

Gai let out a sigh, "You know, you sound just like Ten Ten."

Genma smirked, "She's a smart kid."

Gai chuckled, laying his head back against the couch and he looked up at the ceiling.

"I worry about them."

"You worry too much."

"Lee and Ten Ten… they're my whole world. It tears me apart seeing either of them in pain." Gai sighed, "I just feel like I want to wrap them up and keep them locked away from the world."

"You can't keep them locked away forever."

"I can try."

Genma laughed, "They'll be fine. They have a great father after all."

Gai felt his cheeks flush just a bit and couldn't help but smile a little, "You're too kind Genma."

"It's true."

Gai sighed before he looked over to his neighbor, "I'm sure you'd be a great father as well."

Genma paused and let out a low chuckle, "You think so?"

"Of course!" Gai insisted, "You're so kind and thoughtful, supportive honestly I'm surprised you're still single my friend."

"It's not by choice." The younger man said cryptically and Gai's head gave a tilt.

"Oh?"

"Yeah… yeah there's someone I'm interested in. I care about him a lot but I'm not really sure how he feels about me."

Gai blinked, "He?"

Not that he's opposed to his friend harboring affections for another man. No no, of course not. But the knowledge still made something in his chest stir unpleasantly. So unpleasantly that he was surprised how much it hurt to ask the next question.

"Have you told him about your feelings?"

Genma looked at him, "I don't want to scare him off."

"Well, you'll never know until you try." Gai said trying to sound as upbeat and normal as possible. Not that he's upset. He has no reason to be upset. None at all. "If you don't do something you might go your whole life wondering and really that's worse than any rejection you could ever get. Especially if you have strong feelings for them."

"You think I should tell him?"

"Yes and if you can't tell them with words then show them with your actions. Do a grand romantic gesture, show them how much they mean to you."

"What if he rejects me?"

"Well then, maybe it wasn't meant to be. As they say there's plenty of fish in the sea. You'll find someone new in no time at all, I'm sure of it."

"And I'll still have you right?" There was something odd in Genma's tone, something that made Gai frown, but he dismissed the thought and simply gave his neighbor a smile. "Of course, I'll always be there for you my friend."

Genma sighed and looked away, "A grand romantic gesture huh? Do you think a kiss will do the trick?"

Gai paused, "Well, I suppose but I was thinking more along the lines of-

Genma suddenly moved forward and pressed a kiss right there on his lips. Gai's eyes went wide and he froze in shock. He lifted his hands to quickly push the other away.

"Genma! What're you-"

"You said a kiss would do the trick right?"

The raven-haired man let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, "I meant for the person that you're interested in not-"

"You're the one I want Gai." Genma said clearly less than an inch away from the other man's lips, "You're the only one I've wanted for a long time."

Gai was speechless, "I – what?"

"You're so fucking oblivious I wanted to just tell you how I felt months ago, but I was terrified of scaring you off by doing anything that might spook you."

"Genma, I – you can't. I've never, I mean you've never." Gai was cut off when Genma suddenly kissed him again this time pushing him back on the couch and climbing right over him as he worked the raven-haired man's mouth open to slip his tongue inside. A deep moan escaped Gai's throat and his face flushed even more than it already had when the younger man suddenly broke it and he gasped.

"Genma-"

"I love you Gai. I want you." Genma whispered hoarsely, his skin flushed and his eyes the darkest that Gai had ever seen them. "Let me show you how much."

Gai swallowed hard, unsure of what to say or even what to say.

"Al-alright." The word tumbled from his mouth before he could stop it and he flushed even more. Genma smiled, he leaned in to press a lingering kiss against the other man's temple before he pulled back and took Gai's hand.

"What-"

Genma dragged him closer and Gai had to be careful not to stumble over his own feet just as the younger man spoke.

"I want you on a bed for this."

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Last night was a mess, but somehow Ten Ten still managed to pass out the second her head hit the pillow when they got home.

She woke the next morning to a barrage of texts from Naruto and she could guess why. She decided that she'd deal with him later.

She got up the next morning and brushed her teeth. She then slowly made her way downstairs to pour herself a bowl of cereal and slumped over the kitchen table as she waited for her brother and father to wake up.

Its Saturday. Usually it would take a whole lot to get her out of bed before ten on a Saturday, but Lee always got up early and she was hoping to catch him in the morning so they could talk about what happened the night before. She can't say she's totally happy about Sasuke suddenly ambushing her brother like that, but she was also kind of relieved that he did.

One way or another it would be good for them, it would be good for Lee.

Then of course there's the situation with Gai and Genma. Really, all that silent pining was getting on her nerves. She figured she could talk to Gai over breakfast as well, maybe nudge her father in the right direction so she wouldn't be subjected to anymore silent pining.

Ten Ten had just shoveled another spoon of cereal into her mouth when the kitchen door suddenly opened and she looked up.

The girl frowned.

It was Lee.

Lee was dressed, although his clothes looked a little disheveled and his hair was a mess and he had hickeys on his-

Ten Ten's eyes went wide. Lee's eyes went wide when he saw his sister sitting there at the table and they just stared at each other for a moment.

"So, you and Gaara made up?"

Lee flushed, but before he could speak someone else walked into the kitchen. The man paused, Ten Ten looked back. Lee looked up as well. They both stared when they saw Genma come to a sudden halt in the doorway when he saw the kids.

"Uhm…"

His clothes were disheveled, hair was a mess and he had hickeys on his-

Ten Ten gaped and Lee's eyes went wide.

Genma cleared his throat, dragging a hand through his hair, "Morning, I was just uh… yeah. So, I'll see you later."

He quickly crossed the kitchen and slipped out the door.

Ten Ten and Lee stared after him in shock. And then the girl shut her mouth, let out a sigh and picked up her bowl of cereal.

"Well, my work here is done."

With that the girl left the room and walked up the stairs to her room.

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Kabuto walked into the dimly lit room, arching a brow at the man that sat behind the desk on the other side. Orochimaru sat with a cup of sake in one hand and a scroll in the other sipping slowly as he read through the text. The silver-haired man walked over and sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"You have something to ask?" the raven-haired man said and Kabuto huffed out a sigh.

"Are you really offering the Rock's peace for a trinket you haven't seen in over ten years?"

Orochimaru shrugged, "It's a dear treasure of mine. An heirloom that I'd hate to lose."

"It's completely useless."

"Well they don't know that do they?" the raven-haired man said with a smirk and Kabuto arched a brow at him.

"You don't care about the seal, do you? You're just looking for an excuse to pull Rock back in."

"Well, he isn't exactly making it hard."

"This could get messy now that his father is involved."

"I'm willing to take that chance. The Rocks have a significant amount of pull and it would be a shame to lose all of that power simply because Seto-kun decided to fall in love and become difficult."

"What do you plan on doing about the boy?"

"Nothing yet." Orochimaru answered simply, "Kimimaro's keeping an eye on him and that's enough for now."

Kabuto sighed, "Kimimaro is a liability. I don't understand why you insist on keeping him around."

"He's loyal."

"He's too attached to that boy, his obsession could end up putting this entire operation at risk."

"I'm not concerned about him at this point. Kimimaro will be fine. For now we should focus on the Rock's, they're a higher priority."

Kabuto shook his head, "You're playing a dangerous game."

"Nothing that's worth getting comes easily. I'm willing to take the risk."

A/N: Yeah

Again sorry for the wait.

I skipped the lemon scene here cause it's going in the next chapter so you guys can look out for that next

Anywho…

Please review