Love In A Mug

Chapter 11

Itachi opened the passenger's door for Naruto who was holding a plastic carrier of homemade cupcakes. It was his parents' 30th anniversary and they were celebrating at a quaint Victorian venue about an hour away from home.  Itachi then opened the trunk to his SUV and retrieved the presents that they had bought together.  One present in a gift bag and the other wrapped in silver iridescent paper with a huge matching bow.

Itachi was a little nervous. He wanted to ask Naruto's parents permission to marry the blonde before he proposed. "You okay?" Naruto asked walking beside the raven down the path where a rose decorated gazebo sat in front of a serene peaceful lake. "You seem off all morning."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Itachi nodded but truthfully he had a case of the gitters.  His heart was ready to claim the Uzumaki as his and give him his name if he would have it.  He couldn't remember the last time he was this nervous.  Even when he proposed to Cassandra he never felt a "want" or "need" as he does with Naruto.  It's as if his soul found its mate.

"Well try to convince yourself but I do know you a little bit." The blonde's giggles made Itachi smile. It was surprising within the time they have been dating Naruto did know him.  It was weird how he felt.  It was as if Naruto was someone who's always known him. Strange indeed. Was the Universe colliding them together?  It surely felt like that.

"Parties make me nervous." Itachi said. 

When people find out that he's a professor they tend to bombard him with questions on philosophy.  And because of his surname, it made it more difficult to maintain a low profile. 

"If it gets to be to much we can always leave," Naruto offers with a smile. "I don't want you to be in a place where you're not comfortable." 

Itachi shook his head. "It's your parents special day. I can deal. Besides, I'll put up with anything for you." Grinning sincerely.

Naruto grinned wide and then leaned up to kiss the raven on the lips. "All right you two." They pulled back in surprise both blushing when they saw that Kushina was standing by the door. "Are you going to come inside or are you going to be kissie kiss kiss by the entrance." Smirking at their reaction.  Funny how their relentless fighting had turned into mushy expressions of love.

"Mom!" Naruto exclaimed his face heated red from embarrassment.  Ignoring her son's whining, Kushina walked over to the couple greeting Itachi first. "Itachi lovely to see you."  She hugged him. 

She and Minato fell in love with the Uchiha and his family.  In their opinion he was the best thing that had happened to their son even though he had a child it didn't matter to them. They saw how genuine he is as a person and the way he cares for Naruto.  And as far as they were concerned Kiyoshi was an added precious wonder. They love children and wished they could've had more of their own.

Speaking of the littlest Uchiha. She noticed he wasn't there. "Where is my little bunny?" she looked around Itachi as though he was going to jump out behind him. "Kiyoshi is with my cousin." said Itachi. "Since it's mostly going to be adults. I asked my cousin to babysit."

Kushina pouted in disappointment. "I was hoping to see him but I understand it's way more fun with other little people your own age then hanging out with stuffy adults." She laughs.

Itachi laughs along with her.  Kiyoshi jumped at every opportunity to hang with his cousins on Cassandra's side of the family. He was grateful that her siblings also thought her to be crazy and kept closely in touch with him and Kiyoshi.  Cassandra's parents were ashamed of their daughter's behavior and weren't shy expressing it.  Itachi never worried when he would leave Kiyoshi with them knowing that he was in good hands.