{open} It was a beautiful morning.

[youngesthokage]

He was in a wonderful mood. He'd gotten in later than intended due to the rather long talk with his mother, which had been oddly easier with this one than the one from home ever was anymore, and by the time he'd made it home is good mood had returned and he'd settled right to bed.

Morning, on the other hand, had brought the flowers and he found himself looking out the window in curious fascination at them, mussed from sleep and somewhat bewildered.

Since when did snow bring flowers?

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[itachi_san]

Minoru hugged his father, snuggling up against him.

"Yeah. We're just answering his question!"

"And really, would I do that to you?" Itachi smirked, crossing his arms.

[youngesthokage]

"Yes of course, because I would do it to you and we have the same sense of humor." He smirked right back as he cuddled his son.

[itachi_san]

Itachi slid down to the floor as well, scooping up Isamu into a hug on the way. Seeing everybody together like that really was a sight.

"Well, you've got me there." he laughed, and he turned to Isamu. "I don't really look that much older than he does, do I?"

[youngesthokage]

"It's cause you're sick all the time mommy. If you ate more you'd look younger maybe! You're old anyway so..." Isamu nestled into the hug readily though.

Itachi just shook his head. "He has a point. If your health was a little better you wouldn't look so aged."

[itachi_san]

"I think I'm just going to stop asking questions..." Itachi mumbled to himself before Isamu could think of another brilliant response. Those kids were geniuses, after all.

He put his head on his partner's chest, coming nose to nose with his youngest son.

"My health is..." he started to counter, but it fell flat. The fact that his eyes took so long to heal was proof that it wasn't exactly improving. "Well, it isn't getting worse."

[youngesthokage]

"We all love you you know." Itachi smiled and shifted a bit, petting his partner's hair.

[itachi_san]

"And I love each and every one of you." he smiled, rubbing noses with Minoru. The boy proceeded to giggle.

[youngesthokage]

Isamu squirmed up so he was closer. "Me!!"

[itachi_san]

He looked down, and kissed Isamu on the forehead. They weren't quite at the right angle for rubbing noses.

[youngesthokage]

He decided that would work and half elbowed Minoru over so he could squish between them. "HA!"

[itachi_san]

"Hey!" Minoru flailed as he rolled off the Hokage's stomach. Of course, retaliation is always necessary in Minoru's world. So he immediately flopped right back down, trying to squeeze Isamu out of the space he was making for himself.

[youngesthokage]

Isamu clearly didn't care if he was squished, if anything looking satisfied by the arrangement.

[itachi_san]

"... You know, next time Sasuke walks through, he's going to think we've lost our minds." Itachi laughed, coughing a little. They were laying across the floor, after all.

[youngesthokage]

"Oh I don't know, I think he's realized by now we're a little odd by his standards."

"I'm not! I'm perfect!"

[itachi_san]

"That means I'm better than perfect! 'Cause I'm better than you!" Minoru grinned.

"Okay, no starting that again." Itachi interrupted sternly. "No more fighting for the rest of the day. I want you two to decide - together - how we're going to celebrate this occasion."

[youngesthokage]

"But I'm not talking to Minoru cause what he said earlier." Isamu buried his face against his mother after he said this.

[itachi_san]

"Yeah, well, I'm not talki..."

"Oh yes, you are." Itachi was stern. "You're going to work this out... and stop fighting with each other. It's the last thing I want to see over and over again..."

[youngesthokage]

Isamu shook his head and burrowed closer to his mother, clamming up entirely.

Itachi just sighed. "Apparently the round of insults before we got here hasn't been forgiven yet."

[itachi_san]

"Well, I believe that can only be settled by one person." he added, glancing at Minoru.

"Uh uh." the boy defiantly shook his head. "He always says mean things about me and calls me dumb and stupid. And he's never sorry at all!!"

[youngesthokage]

"Well, do you think he means it Minoru?"

[itachi_san]

"Of course he does." he slumped over his father. "He's smart and per... perceptive and yeah."

[youngesthokage]

He turned his youngest around with a sigh. "But you don't agree, do you?"

[itachi_san]

"I'm not dumb." Minoru repeated, actually questioning it this time. "I'm not! ...right?"

[youngesthokage]

"See? You don't agree with him." He ran his hand over his son's hair. "Have you ever considered that -he- might agree with -you-?"

[itachi_san]

"What's that got to do with anything? It doesn't stop him from saying it all the time."