Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Author's note: This fic is the tag-along fic to my other story Now and Then.

First of all, this is not a sequel. This is just a series of little stories all following the course of Naruto and Sakura's lives together. Also, this fic does not follow any particular chronological order so be sure to expect a lot of jumps back and forth between time line.

As usual, flames are not allowed, but constructive criticism is acceptable.

Enjoy!

1 - Taking Care

"Naruto, could you please give me a hand for a sec?" Sakura's voice carried all the way from the upstairs floor to the little office he had on the level below.

Naruto, who had been reading report files after report files for the entirety of the morning, was thoroughly relieved for the interruption. Not that he would not jump at the smallest opportunity to help his wife—he was just that relieved for an excuse to leave paper duty, if only for a little while.

"Yeah, I'm coming," he called back, placing the reports back onto his desk and getting up from his seat.

As he stretched, he felt the knots in his neck and back crack. He grunted with some discomfort. Maybe he'll ask Sakura later for some muscle balm, he thought as he crossed the foyer and trudged slowly up the stairs.

It wasn't until he heard a distinct sound of something heavy breaking, followed by a startled yelp and a couple more consecutive crashes that Naruto instantly forgot all about the stiffness in his limbs and bolted straight up the rest of the steps.

He was in a blind panic when he entered the room. "Sakura?" There was a small cloud of dust that fitted the room. He covered his nose and waved through the air. "Sakura? What happened? Are you okay?"

"It's alright. We're okay, Naruto," said Sakura, who stepped from the corner of where she'd taken cover.

Behind her, clutching at the hem of her long dress was a miniature version of himself. Now at the age of two, Uzumaki Minato was beginning to take after his father: from the bright shock of wild, blonde hair, the wide infectious smile (which was missing several front teeth at the moment) to the unyielding mass of energy that always seemed to go hand in hand with mischief and trouble. People often commented on how much of Naruto he was beginning to resemble. But his eyes were from his mother—a pair of deep, green orbs that were always lit with curiosity.

When he spotted Naruto by the doorway, he automatically came from out of his hiding place, thoroughly excited.

"Dada!" he called, raising his arms up for Naruto to carry him.

As the dust finally settled, Naruto crossed the room to where they were and picked up his son into his arms.

"Hey, little guy," he said, grinning. "What are you and Mommy up to? Looking for dust bunnies?"

Minato just made a series of incoherent words and giggled. "Dada, up! Up!" he said.

Naruto twirled him in the air, making Minato shriek with unbound laughter. The boy clapped his hands together and looked at Sakura eagerly. "Mama, I fly!"

"I know, sweetie, I saw," said Sakura, as she ruffled his hair. At Naruto's questioning stare, she said, "We were trying to clear up the attic—it's absolutely filthy in here."

"I can see that," said Naruto, making a face as he stared at their surroundings.

Half of the room was somewhat organized, thanks to Sakura's quick cleaning skills, while the other remaining half was still at a disarray (the cloud of dust was enough indication that it'd been too long since either of them had cleaned this room)—boxes from shelves had evidently fallen from the place and now the contents were spilled across the floor at their feet.

He gave his wife a pointed look. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't be doing anything strenuous in your condition?"

Sakura placed a hand at her hip. "I wasn't," she said, somewhat defensive now. When Naruto gave her a dubious expression, she said, "I was just trying to clear away some stuff is all."

"By lifting and carrying boxes, Sakura?" said Naruto, his tone both incredulous and reproachful.

Sakura scowled, but it was short-lived. "You're right, sorry," she said with a tired sigh. "It's just… you know how I get. I hate not being able to do anything. My time at the hospital is already limited since you and Tsunade practically banned me from working there—"

"With good reason too," said Naruto as he put their son back down to his feet. "I know you, Sakura. It wouldn't matter if you were two weeks or two days almost in to labor, you'd still go in and work a night shift if you have to."

Sakura rolled her eyes, but did not argue against this. "You won't even let me do anything at home either—"

"I don't want you to strain yourself!"

"And I understand that, I really do," said Sakura as she folded her arms over herself, only it was a little awkward with her protruding stomach in the way. "But Naruto, I'm pregnant, not incapacitated. I still have another month left till Kushina is due—that's plenty of time. I can't just sit back and do nothing. I mean, you're busy as it is at the office and now you've taken most of the daily chores at home. I want to help, even if it's limited to fluffing the pillows or whatever—the point is: I want to do something."

Her face was pinched with a touch of desperation, frustration and irritation. Naruto's eyes softened considerably; he understood her feelings and her thoughts all too well.

Despite this being her second pregnancy, Sakura's mood fluctuations were still on par with the times she was carrying Minato. They already had this particular conversation before (many, many times before in fact) and while he assured her he didn't mind doing extra work around the house, he knew Sakura did. He could tell she felt guilty about it… and maybe a little annoyed with him as well.

She was never one to let someone else do something she can very well do on her own. Her independence was something he'd always admired about her; however, this was one exception Naruto felt he had to put his foot down.

"I know you're upset because it feels like the only thing you can do around here is lift a spoon," he said and chuckled slightly when she huffed—clearly this was the understatement of the century. Nevertheless, he had proved over the years that he could be adamant too, if not more. "But Sakura, you know you aren't supposed to be doing anything too stressful, at least not until the baby is born. I know you're feeling useless, but that's not how I see it. Taking care of me and Minato must be tiring enough already, don't you think?"

Sakura snorted. "Okay. Point taken," she said.

Naruto smiled, heartened that she was finally laughing again. He took her hands and gave them a squeeze.

"You're not useless, okay? You never were. Don't even think that," he said, leaning to kiss her lightly on the lips. "You know how I worry sometimes that's all."

Sakura slipped her arms around his neck as he pressed their foreheads together. "I know," she said quietly, closing her eyes. "You're right. I'm sorry."

He kissed her lips again. "Don't be," he said, his smile growing. "And I guess I am being a little overprotective—"

"A little?" said Sakura, raising a brow.

Naruto made a face at her. "I have the right to be worried. You do too much, Sakura," he said. Looking down at Minato he said, "Don't you agree that Mommy should take it easy?"

Their son stared up at the both of them and grinned—missing teeth and all. "Mama, sleep!"

Sakura laughed and brushed through her son's hair with evident affection. "Alright, alright," she said. To Naruto, she whispered, "No fair. You guys are ganging up on me."

Naruto just grinned. "Only because we love you."

Sakura laughed again, pulling him in for another kiss. When they parted again, she noticed Minato's sleepy state. "Looks like someone's had a bit too much excitement for one day."

Naruto chuckled. "Tell me about it. Alright, kiddo," he said as he picked up Minato again, who yawned widely and then curled into his father's protective embrace. "It's naptime for you."

After Sakura kissed their son on the forehead, Naruto left the room.

It wasn't until Minato was tucked into bed, sound asleep (which took a while to accomplish) that he went back to the attic, where Sakura was sweeping the remaining dust from the floor. When she saw him, she broke into another warm smile—a sight that even to this day still managed to give him butterflies.

He took the broom from her hand—was pleased that she didn't protest for once—and pulled her into his arms. "You don't need to clean up," he said, kissing her on the neck. "I can do it later."

"I was just clearing up the dust bunnies, that's all," she teased, leaning back into him. "Is Minato asleep?"

"Yep," said Naruto, slipping his arms over her stomach. "Out like a light."

Sakura chuckled. "We really need to learn to harness some of that energy one day," she said. "I think we're going to need it for when Kushina is born."

He laughed. "Probably," he agreed. Then, slightly more serious he said, "Are you sure you're alright? That was a pretty big crash." He'd nearly gotten a heart-attack when he heard it. He turned her around so that he could search her face and the rest of her for any sign of injuries. "You're not hurt, are you? How's the baby?" He placed a hand over her round belly and was thoroughly relieved to feel an answering kick to his inquiry.

"We're both okay," she said reassuringly as she put a hand over his own. "Stop worrying, Naruto."

"I know, I know," he said with a small shake of his head. "I can't help it." Staring at their locked hands, he said, with a quiet sigh, "Is it silly of me to want to take care of you all the time?"

"No," was her automatic response.

Of course she didn't mind. It was silly of him to ask, but he thought it was nice being reminded from time to time.

Independent and confident as she was about looking after herself—he knew she was more than capable of doing so, even without his help—it didn't make him want to try any less.

And she was always grateful, always understanding and open to this need of his. She may complain about it during the occasions when she was feeling particularly moody, but he knew she'd never turn him down for wanting to take care of her. She was always appreciative of everything he did for her.

He knew this every time she kissed him goodnight after a long day of both work and chores. It was in the way she made him breakfast, the eggs and toast and coffee much warmer and tastier in his mouth when he chewed. It was in the way his shirts were always pressed clean and smelt like soap. It was in the way she threw her arms around his neck, whether it was to cry about her added weight or to welcome him home—it was always done with more affection and less time letting go.

He knew it in the way she made love to him—there was more heat involved, more need and aggression; her scorching touch and burning lips and skin would stay with him long after the sun went up, where he'd wake to soft kisses, gentle hands and the smell of her hair all wrapped around him.

He knew it in the way she told him she loved him. No matter how many times he heard it, it was always said without weariness or force, but always with simplicity and meaning because it was the truth. It was in the way she looked at him—like he'd personally hung every star overhead.

He knew this whenever Minato woke up crying and he'd volunteer to get up, even if he'd already gone up once or twice before already—she'd smile that sleepy but thankful smile of hers and no matter how strained his muscles felt or how dead-beat he was from the day's events, he knew he never regretted taking on more than he did.

Yes, it was worth it. She was always worth it.

"And," she began, tilting her head up to meet his eyes, "is it silly of me to want to take care of you too?"

It was silly of her to ask and he knew she knew it too, but like his own reasons he knew why she did it.

It was his turn to assure her this time.

Leaning in so that their foreheads touched, he said, while smiling, "Never."

A/N: How's that for the start of this series? It was actually supposed to start off a lot differently, but I changed a few things and I think I like this version better.

Anyways, I hope you guys like this. I'll get started with the other snippets as soon as I can.

In the mean time, please let me know what you guys think! :)