Hey folks, I want to apologize for the LOOONNNGG wait. I have not dropped writing this monster...It is just that it is a monster! The writing of this has left the linear mode and so I have a majority of the third story Part the Third completed. What that means is that I have to do small to large additions and rewrites to Weaving Silk and Part the Second. Now I know what the great writers go through with making sure the threads of the story carry through. So, be on the watch for the full rerelease of the entire Weaving Silk Triliogy in the future. There will be new material in all, so it will be worth the wait. I hope. Thanks to Lillithaffect, GlassTier, JapanFreak01, and XDarkXStormXCloudX for making me post at least this for your reading pleasure. Also watch for more art on my DeviantArt account (see my profile for the addy) that is connected with this story. I REALLY would like to see this as a manga. :) AH wishes and fishes. ENJOY! TB

4

Trust Me.

Later the next night, after sleeping for most of the day, Genma, Tomegi, Kakashi and Nane sat having drinks at their favorite bar. Their topic of conversation was their newest member. Genma was most enthusiastic in the retelling of the epic battle.

Tomegi added nothing, but called for more alcohol to anesthetize Kakashi and himself. Tomegi had been certain several times that Nane was going to die during that mission, thus forcing him to break his promise to his friend on their first mission. No one knew how white the black man was under his tiger mask when that nin had her down. Tomegi rubbed his bald head. If he had hair he would have pulled it all out by now. Nane had handled herself as any Konoha Anbu, with great grace and skill. Genma and Tomegi were speechless for various reasons when she reached out with her chakra lance, causing one of the prisoner nin to explode before he had a chance to kill her.

Nane sat quietly holding Kakashi's hand under the table. She felt every flex and shake of his fingers as Genma retold the story. It was the Copy Nin's only visible reaction, and only she recognized it. For the rest of the world, he maintained his cool exterior and non-emotional responses. She hadn't told Kakashi anything about the fighting. She didn't think she had to. He never did.

It started making her angry to think that he didn't trust her to do her job. All she wanted was for him to be proud to stand with her. She knew that Tomegi was watching out for her. It wasn't hard to spot, the big man had been by her side every chance he got. Why did Kakashi feel she needed a babysitter? What right did he have to do that? Nane was good at what she did. Yes, people died, but not on her team. The mission was accomplished. More people were saved by their actions. Nane knew that there would be missions that would not sit well and that she would not want to do. She had seen Kakashi when he returned from those distasteful events, but there were reasons for them. She had to accept that Tsunade was a fair minded leader with the best interests of the village in mind. Nane could not do her job otherwise, jonin or anbu.

Suddenly, unable to stand Kakashi's attitude, she stood bringing her moderately inebriated lover with her.

"Sorry, guys. We will have to finish this later."

"S...Sure, doll face. Bye, Hatake," slurred Genma. Tomegi just waved silently. He knew what was about to happen, Nane was pissed off. That much he could already tell from his new teammate. So he poured another round for himself and Genma.

"Drink, pig." He told his captain. Genma knocked back the shot.

"Gladly."

Nane hauled Kakashi to the river. Away from people who might stumble across them and most of the noise of the village. The dark water of the river slipped quietly by them. Once they were to 'their tree' Nane rounded on Kakashi. Her eyes glowed green. They were the only thing on her face that he could see in the darkness.

"Crap," he said quietly, starting to quickly sober up, she meant business.

"You bet 'crap', Hatake! I want you to come at me. No holds barred." her voice was cold and hard.

"Nane, what?" Kakashi was finding himself suddenly blocking vicious blows from Nane. She twisted and flipped, kicking and punching at any opening he gave her. Several connected. One to his midsection knocked the wind from him and he staggered back several steps. Another to his jaw snapped his head back painfully. By the third hit Kakashi was starting to get angry. True to her word, Nane wasn't holding back. Her strikes hurt and were meant to. Suddenly, she caught him in the chest with a chakra infused palm. The force sent him backwards into the river. Any trace of the alcohol was gone as the icy waters closed over his head. In the space of being under water, no longer being actively attacked, Kakashi thought, when did she get so good?

Nane walked out onto the water as if it were solid ground, a genin level skill. She knew she was tempting the ire of the Copy nin. He lurked somewhere under the water and she didn't care. Bring it on. Hands grabbed her ankles and pulled her under the surface. Nane was not surprised in the least. Now they were in one of her elements. She made the hand signs and a water vortex started swirling. With a flex of her chakra she dumped them both back onto the bank. Hands and knees becoming muddy from the mix of water and earth torn up during their fight.

"Are you tired of me kicking your ass yet, Hatake?" Nane's short hair was plastered to her head and her clothes were totally soaked. Kakashi was in much of the same state. When he looked up she saw that his hitai-ate had come off revealing the sharingan. It wheeled quickly as he pulled down his wet and probably suffocating mask. His face was cold and expressionless. Normally, Nane could see a little expression, but not now. He was really pissed. Nane felt the electrical build up and she knew just how pissed he was. The lightning blade formed around his hand with deadly efficiency, but before he could move her chakra lance was at his throat glowing. He had never seen this controlled version of the weapon stumbled upon during their first mission. Her range was far longer than his. At that moment, his face dropped, anger suddenly gone, and the realization of what she had pushed him to do hit him. He had lost his famously unflappable cool. Kakashi's weapon dissipated as his shoulders lost their battle tenseness. Nane plunged hers into the ground, effectively siphoning it back to the earth. Both opponents were plunged back into the night darkness and quiet. She crawled up to Kakashi and sat beside him clothes dripping. In the distance both could hear the hum of the village.

"Why don't you trust me to do my job, Kakashi? I'm good at what I do. You of all people should know that." Nane voice was quiet, but he heard the hurt she felt, and that cut into him worse than any physical blow.

"Nane, I do," he said softly giving a wet cough. He had managed to get a little into his lungs. Water dripping from his hair, Nane put her hand under his chin and forced him to look at her.

"Why Tomegi then?"

"Did he tell you?"

"No, you just did. Tomegi is too good of a friend to you, but I know when things are going on. I may act silly and absent minded sometimes, but I am far from stupid, Hatake," she smiled. "I know when I am being babysat. Even by a ninja." Kakashi gave her a half smile. "So, why..." Kakashi sat back onto his rump with a sigh. Nane leaned back from him to listen.

"I can't lose you, Tinane. I just. Cannot. Lose. another precious person. There are too many names on that damn memorial that haunt me," he waved in the general direction of the Memorial Stone, "I wouldn't… I couldn't survive your name being there before mine. Anyone else, I could limp through until my time came, heck the whole village could go down, but not your name. Not you." Nane understood more about this mysterious man every day. Some days that knowledge made her love him more, others, well, murder was always an option, she thought dryly. Today she understood, and with a nod to herself, she smiled as she stood.

"Hatake Kakashi, I am cold and wet! Will you take me home please?" Kakashi looked up at her as if she had grown another head.

"What! Your cold?" He never thought to hear those words leave her lips. EVER.

"I. Am. Freezing. That river is cold this time of year." She took his hands and pulled him up to her. Then burrowed herself into his embrace. "I love you too, Kakashi. I don't want to lose you either." Nane lifted her face up to him. "Now take me home, and no more babysitters please."

"As you wish." He met her lips with his and in a swirl of wet leaves the two were gone.


No Way! The Fall Back plan

Nane just didn't feel up to par over the last handful of months. She felt overly tired and hungry. All of the time she was hungry, it was insane. Perhaps it was because of the extra Anbu training and missions. It could be the extra training with Ino and the overseeing of the ninja fabric project. Nane wasn't sure of the cause, but hell if she would tell Kakashi about it. He had only just relaxed enough to allow her to do her job. Even making him think she could be ill, made Nane all the more careful to filter out any complaints or injuries when talking to him.

Kakashi and she had been sent out, frequently, as Anbu or otherwise. Things were heating up all over since Asuma was killed.

Nane decided to go and get checked out at the hospital. Ino was on duty and happily ran a few blood tests and did a physical. A few hours later the blonde med kunoichi came back with tests in hand, smiling. Nane had been sleeping in the exam room when she returned. The red head just couldn't stay awake when left to her own devices and Ino knew why.

"Well?" Nane asked rubbing her eyes as she sat up. Ino looked at her as if unsure how to proceed.

"Is it that bad?" Nane was getting concerned; perhaps she should have Kakashi, or her mom here.

"Everything is normal," Nane let out a stressed breath and lay back on the exam table. Ino continued, "Normal for a woman about three months pregnant."

"No way!" The words exploded from her mouth. Ino stifled a giggle.

"You have been having sex?"

"Damn Ninja God!" Nane yelled toward the ceiling. Ino was glad that the rooms were somewhat soundproof.

"I will take that as a yes," she pulled several prescriptions from her file and handed them to Nane. "Get these filled and start taking the vitamins. That should help with the fatigue, which by the way, is normal and should pass soon." Nane slid off of exam table still somewhat stunned. One of the slips was for a hiatus on all ninja missions.

"Congratulations, Nane," yelled Ino in Nane's wake as the redhead left the exam room muttering darkly to herself on the pros and cons of castration.

Her feet took her to the Hokage tower. Nane was deep in thought the entire way there. Pregnant, that was ok and exciting, especially since it was Kakashi's baby. So was the leave of absence from Anbu. She had proven her worth time and again. They would take her back after the baby was born. Her family would gladly care for the child while she and Kakashi were away on missions afterwards. Her mother would be beyond happy. The real problem was in telling Kakashi. This could blow their whole 'secret relationship' out of the water. She wondered how the Fourth Hokage and his wife did it. Very few even knew they were together let alone that Naruto was their son. A secret kept well over sixteen years and counting.

She handed her LOA slip in to the Anbu liaison officer and turned back to the door. He looked at it and called her back.

"You have a mission in two days."

She shrugged, "That's ok, but then I am done for a bit." He nodded and filed the paper.


Last Mission

Nane could hardly contain herself. The idea of being pregnant grew on her quickly. She wanted to tell Kakashi the night he came back, the night before her last mission, but she also knew he would do everything he could to prevent her from going. Even though she had been just fine doing her job for the last three months. Another few weeks would not matter one way or the other.

When she found herself at an apartment door she realized that it was not hers but Kurenai's. She was about to turn to leave when the door opened and Shikamaru came up short to avoid knocking her down.

"Yuu?"

"Hi, Shikamaru," Nane said to the shadow user. He looked a little embarrassed at being caught leaving Kurenai's home.

"Shika, who is it?" Yelled the owner's voice from the interior. Shikamaru turned his head so he wouldn't roar in Nane's face.

"Yuu Tinane."

"Oh! Send her in and thanks for coming with me to the appointment, Shika," The genjutsu master sounded happy to hear that her friend was at her door.

Shikamaru jerked a thumb over his shoulder and smiled.

"You heard the lady." Then turning his head in Kurenai's general direction, "Bye!" The Nara man did not once complain about anything being a drag or troublesome. Nane knew that he took his promise of watching over Kurenai and the baby seriously. He passed by her and proceeded to vanish among the shadows down the hall. Nane stepped into the apartment and closed the door.

"Nane?"

"I am coming, don't get up, or Shikamaru will have me hunted down."

It had been a while since she had seen Kurenai, between the Anbu testing, training and missions. So, she was surprised to see a very pregnant woman sitting on her balcony in a chair. Kurenai was beautiful, framed by her flower boxes. Nane had a twinge of sadness at the site, then panic as she thought of Asuma not being here now, which led to the thought of Kakashi not being with her when she gave birth.

Kurenai looked up as her friend approached then saw Nane's face. Her elegant brow furrowed in concern for her friend.

"What's wrong?" she asked as Nane bent over to hug her. Nane turned and sat in the chair that was recently vacated by Shikamaru.

"I am pregnant."

"Kakashi's?" Nane nodded and Kurenai smiled. "Congratulations. Does he know yet?" Nane shook her head and looked at her own weapon calloused hands.

"I just found out, and then I was at your door."

"Do you want it?" Nane's head jerked up to look at Kurenai in surprise. The red eyed woman was looking out over the village, her eyes distant. "I didn't at first, but he was beyond proud and excited. He convinced me that it was a good thing." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Looking back I am glad he did that." When she looked back at Nane, her eyes were filled with tears. "This is what protecting our village is all about. Life, and protecting those that are precious and dear to us. His father did that. He did that. Now we have to make sure the village goes on." She smiled at Nane who nodded in agreement.

Together the two kunoichi gazed into the distance where dark storm clouds had started to gather on the horizon.


Nane was buzzing when she got home. The heavy thick air of the oncoming storm did not help her mental state. So far only Ino, the office clerk, and Kurenai knew she was pregnant. She wanted to tell Kakashi, badly, but the war in her mind kept being waged. For every point she thought of to tell him an equally valid one for not popped into her mind. All of them had to do with her upcoming mission the next morning. She just knew he would pull any favor owed to get her off this one last mission. Not that she really cared, but the point was that she could still do her job. She would have been doing her job any way had she not gone to see Ino. The difference was only that she knew now and not later. Her talk with Kurenai also played loudly in her brain. Cringing at the thought that she had, for a moment, considered not going thru with the pregnancy, of actually getting rid of the baby before Kakashi or anyone else even knew of it.

Intense guilt set in by the time she reached the door and had the key in the lock Nane had decided on telling Kakashi. Nane's face was flushed and hot with guilt ridden shame.

The door swung open on its own revealing Kakashi. Smells erupted from behind him that reminded her she had not eaten yet today. Her stomach gave a loud complaint. The silver haired man laughed and grabbed her hand.

"That is all the greeting I need." He said pulling his favorite redhead into their apartment. His strong arms wrapped around her in an embrace that was chasing most of her fears away. She looked up at him and found his one visible eye crinkled in a smile. He released her long enough to pull his half mask down to reveal his perfectly handsome face that was hers alone to admire. Kakashi then pressed his lips to hers in a kiss as passionate as any they ever shared. When they broke apart both were breathless and Nane's fears had flown from her.

"Well, I am glad to see you as well, my love," his smile was wide as startled as she with the kiss, "Had I known how much, I would have postponed dinner a little." Her stomach gave another loud protest. "but I think you would be too distracted."

"You know me too well, Kashi. Take me to the food."

He led her further into the apartment. The table was set and her favorite rice and seafood dishes were ready on the stove.

"Sit, Nane," he said as he rounded the corner into the kitchen. "What do you want to drink?"

"Water, please."

"Water it is."

Soon she was eating and their conversation drifted, but never settled on what she really wanted to say. Nane fiddled with the amber pendant. She could feel the contained power whenever she touched it. Otherwise it was cloaked and appeared like any other gemstone. She and her cousin had successfully gotten the special tags into all of the uniforms of Chunin, jonin and Anbu with the help of the Hokage, the seamstresses and cleaners of Konoha. Tsunade was very pleased with their secret trump card. It still left out the civilians, which worried Nane, but Tsunade reassured her that for now, what she had done was exceptional.

"This village was extremely blessed when your family came to us. The land of snow has always been in the forefront of chakra experimentation. We were lucky enough to get a family full of genius." Nane had blushed under the compliment then and now that she was retelling the encounter to Kakashi.

"Well you are, Nane. I have never seen anyone manipulate it like you and your family. The new armor is brilliant. Beyond what that fool Snow lord had made. His was easily broken. Destroy the power source and you destroy the protection and the wearer. With yours, the power source is the wearer, but not totally dependent on the wearer, and it is not a hard shell." Kakashi grew quiet for a moment.

"Kakashi?"

"Sorry thinking of that mission and the one before. I said, then, that I would never go back to Snow. It was one of the last missions with Sasuke we had, and before that I had to rescue that poor princess from her deranged uncle." He looked at his plate for a moment, "so many messed up children." Nane knew he was talking of his childhood, hers and many of the other ninja though out the different ninja countries. "I am glad that we don't have any yet."

Nane's heart hit the floor.

"What?" she whispered.

"These times with the Akatsuki, and all the other unrest that has gone with it. I don't want to bring any more children into it. What if they lost us or worse yet were pulled into it. I don't want to end up like Kurenai and Asuma or our child like Naruto." He sighed and continued, "I know sensei Minato did what he did to save the village from the nine tails and it killed him in many ways to do that to his own infant son, but what that young man had to go through growing up." She also heard the echo of what Kakashi's own father had put him through with his suicide.

Her eyes filled with tears and her heart with sadness. Kakashi did not want children. She was going to have his child and he did not want it here. A tear escaped down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away before he saw it.

"Nane, are you ok?" Kakashi had seen her eyes and knew something was wrong. Nane was never happier to go on a mission than at this very moment. She had a lot to think and not think about.

She told a half truth to her love.

"Sorry, I'm just tired lately. Not use to all of the extra Anbu stuff yet."

Kakashi reached across the table to her hand and covered it with his own.

"Are you sure?" His eye bored into her searching for truth.

She nodded and gave him a smile.

"Yeah, saw Ino today to be sure and she said I was totally fine." For being pregnant, she thought sullenly.

He gave a small smile back.

They finished their meal and relaxed for a while on the bed listening to music and reading. Nane pushed the thoughts of the baby from her mind.

Outside, a storm built in fury. The sound of thunder echoed back and forth over the village. Nane lay with her head on his chest. The rest of their bodies were tangled together under the sheets. Rain pelted the roof.

"When I die this is how I want to be."

His words were sudden and made a chill run straight down Nane's spine. It was the same tone of certainty that a child would tell someone that they were going to die. A cold, hard, and unavoidable fact.

"WHAT?" She moved her head to look up at him.

"When I die, I want to be here with you at my side and in my arms."

"Don't say that." It was the first panicked thing that came from her. She barely held back the 'I' m having your baby'. Nane sat up and put her hand on either side of his face.

"You are the great Copy Nin Kakashi of the Sharingan."

He smiled, "So I am not allowed to die?"

Nane shook her head and kissed him with everything she had. She whispered into the small space between them, "Not till I say you can."

"Yes, ma'am," he whispered back.