A/N: So, after three years I've decided to return to this story and give it a face-lift (so to speak). Some of the chapters, such as this one, will be updates of previous one-shots while others will be entirely new. That said… enjoy!

Homecoming, Redux.

If Jiraiya didn't know any better he'd swear she'd been watching him as he approached.

Discreetly, of course… Though he doubted that word could be applied given the scrutiny behind those bright golden eyes.

With as much indifference as he could muster, he greeted her. "Yo." She didn't say anything in response at first. Rather, just raised her head to meet his gaze directly. He barely even noticed Sarutobi-sensei or Orochimaru in the background. For a few, brief seconds time stopped, and when she lifted her chin and thick lashes raised to give way to startling amber, he was speechless.

In that moment, all he saw – was her.

"You're back." It wasn't a question. Just two simple words; spoken by a voice that sounded like honey to his weary ears. Soft. Soothing. Perfect. And to a ninja who'd been away from home for what seemed like forever… that was enough.

"Yeah, Hime." He smiled. "I'm back."

Orochimaru could see him approaching from miles away. That massive, bumbling oaf severely lacked the stealth that was inherent of any great ninja. However, the snake charmer could not deny the strange feeling that welled in his chest upon sight of his comrade. He almost felt, dare he say it, complete… Now that Jiraiya was back and their little trio made whole again, all was right with the world once more. Silently, as he observed the interaction between his two counterparts, he wondered if perhaps the toad wouldn't prove a worthy confidant in lieu of his most recent… experiments.

Sarutobi Hiruzen lightly crushed the cigarette beneath his heel. They'd been waiting for an hour now, and still no sign of his former student. "I'm getting too old for this…" Already he could feel that familiar dull ache in his bones, his joints irritated and muscles sore. Or maybe he was imagining it. His mind pestered by thoughts of all the other things he needed to accomplish and still had yet to do. It wasn't that he didn't want to be the first to welcome Jiraiya back to the village; just that he'd been swamped lately with paper-work. Far too much of it for an aging man such as himself, if anyone cared to ask him. Tsunade, however, had insisted upon being at the gate bright and early, and the poor girl had been rather anxious since they received word a week ago that Jiraiya was returning. Maybe he imagined a lot of things. Like the obvious underlying feelings between his two former students. Or that his protégée wasn't up to anything at all sinister in that lab of his. Maybe, just maybe… But alas, such was the benefit of being in the twilight years of one's life – no one questioned the reason behind your thoughts. At least not openly. "Orochimaru," he lit another cigarette between his teeth. "Did he say in the letter what time he'd get here?" Biwako would murder him if she knew he was still smoking.

"Baka."

The word caught in her throat, chest heaving as she struggled to breathe. Months of feeling like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty and suddenly it felt as though a giant weight had been lifted. It wasn't like the Senju Princess to get so emotional but the war had taken its toll on her. They'd lost so many. Friends. Family. Loved ones. Moments. She didn't allow herself time to think – she just reacted. And no one was more shocked than Jiraiya when she launched herself at him, small arms wrapping tightly around his large torso. Not Orochimaru, his serpentine eyes wide with disbelief. Or Sarutobi-sensei who grinned to himself with a chuckle. No one. Save for Jiraiya, who despite feeling her body tremble gently and the wet tears damp against his shirt, marveled at the strength and beauty of her. His Hime.

"Stay." She whispered, to which he replied: "I will."