Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 4

A pregnant witch on the run from war, it couldn't be easy, could it? Keeping his body relaxed and unthreatening he slipped into the room and shut the window to keep them from being overheard. She tensed at his movement so he leant against the wall. "Just keeping the curious away witch-san."

"Granger."

"Granger-san then. I wasn't aware your people were at war?"

"I suppose civil war would be more accurate." She sighed and then motioned him towards one of the chairs before rising from the bed. Kakashi watched as she grabbed a robe to put on over her interesting sleepwear even as he took the offered seat. Baggy pants and an oversized t-shirt wasn't the normal for a civilian woman but then she wasn't a local. He noticed the leather on her arm before the robe covered it and assumed it was a holster for her wand even as the slender stick vanished from his sight. She walked over and sat in the other chair, tucking her feet under herself. "When were you in the wizarding world?"

"Six years ago."

"So before my first year at Hogwarts. That explains it; things didn't start building up till then after ten years of peace. The first war ended when I was just over a year old and the second is only just 'officially' starting now. For several reasons I would have been a rather tempting target so I left with only three friends knowing and none of them know exactly where I was going. The odds of someone tracking be done are very remote, almost non-existent. The goblins probably could, especially with Harry making me his heir but that's it."

"You plan to remain here?" He asked in surprise, there were very large differences between her world and theirs.

"Yes. Going back would endanger my child and I will not let his or her father ever get near my baby. I know I can't stay in Konoha forever but I should be able to find somewhere to live eventually."

"There are some civilian villages within Fire Country where you should be safe."

"So what are you going to do?"

Kakashi stared at her. He didn't even know if the Sandaime was aware of her people, it had been Minato-sensei that had sent him on that mission after all. She was running to keep her baby safe and he could understand that, if he told then could it place her in danger? There were those even in the village who would see her for her powers alone and to get their hands on her baby…it all came down to were she and her baby a threat to the village? "I don't know yet." She just nodded and he stood. "You should sleep. Good evening Granger-san." He left via the window, careful not to be detected by any patrols, that was the last thing either of them needed.

"Granger-san." A voice called, distracting her from her browsing in the market. She turned and smiled at the approaching woman. It had been a week since they had met and she had honestly thought she wouldn't see her again before her time in the village was up. Hermione smiled at her and took the fruit and her change from the stall owner.

"Good morning Nara-san." She returned the older woman's greeting.

"Enjoying the market?"

"Very much, I seem to be craving fresh fruits lately."

That made Yoshino laugh. "Better get used to cravings, they will only get stranger."

"So I've heard." They wandered the market just casually chatting about things. Yoshino eventually walked her back to the hotel and they said their farewells after arranging for Hermione to visit the Nara compound in a few days.

Hermione lay on the bed with her top up and her skirt lowered to give easy access for the exam. She kept her eyes closed as gentle hands probed her womb with green chakra. Finally the hand was removed and she moved her clothes back into place. "The baby is growing well and all of your injuries have healed, better than I expected actually." Magical people always healed that bit faster than non-magicals thankfully. She sat up and stretched slightly. "Any trouble with morning sickness?"

"Just certain smells. And I am really craving fresh fruit and sweets."

That got a laugh. "Perfectly normal dear. Now I want you to remain as active as possible as long as it is comfortable. The last thing you need is to let all that wonderful fruit go to your waistline. We want to keep this pregnancy as uncomplicated as possible to help you have an easy birth, especially with your age and size." Hermione nodded, she may not be short but she had always been slender and she knew that may make carrying the child hard the bigger it got. "I will see you next week unless you feel anything to be wrong. If that happens you are to come back immediately, understand?"

"Of course. Thank you." She slipped out of the room and down the hall towards the entrance only to spot a familiar lanky form waiting nearby. "Good morning Hatake-san."

"Granger-san, I had hoped to find you here. This is for you." He handed her some paper and she glanced at it. "A list of nearby villages that are considered a safe place to live."

She smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you very much, this will be a big help."

"You're welcome." He hesitated, outside of his team and the Hokage he didn't really talk to anyone and even with them he never knew what to saw other than giving orders or reporting. "You are well?" he asked and she smiled sadly.

"Physically healed with a healthy baby." She answered and he nodded awkwardly, not sure what else to say. Hermione sense this, Harry could be the same thanks to his so-called family, so she did what she would do with him though far more carefully as Hatake was a trained killer. Kakashi stared in shock as she walked away before his hand touched his masked cheek, had she….?

Yoshino smiled as she watched Hermione with Shikamaru, the girl was going to be a good mother soon. She had been surprised by the list of villages, more so when Hermione had told her who had given it to her. How had she met the last Hatake? While the names of ANBU members were not publicly known it was assumed that was where he spent most of his time these days. Going over the list she marked the villages that she knew would be good for Hermione and her baby to live in. the ones closest to Konoha and the Capital were the best as they were more protected and tended have good trade and education. Plus it meant they could visit rather easily. She had made a decision that when it came time for Hermione to leave she would help her hire a genin team to act as an escort until she reached whichever village she chose. That way she would know Hermione would be safe on the road.

Kakashi lay on his bed in his apartment with his arms crossed beneath his head as he stared up at his ceiling. He should be sleeping, he had a mission in the morning and yet he couldn't fall asleep. His mind was locked on a certain brown haired witch sleeping in a hotel half way across the village. Why had he sought her out after that night? Did he feel bad over what she had gone through? Rape happened every day, it was a fact of shinobi life even if Konoha-nin were strongly discouraged from doing so. He'd seen the aftermath in his fellows several times. It was often used to try and break captured ninja and while many recovered some never did. Hermione was a strong woman to be putting her life back together without the training shinobi received. He sighed and rolled over, closing his eyes. He had to sleep and forget her, soon she would be gone from Konoha and that would be it.

TBC…..