Sorry about the delay in updates. I found myself sort of sick of this after the last overly sappy chapter. I don't know why, but it seems to be all or nothing with date scenes for me. Ah well. That part's over now. Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

A little side note: It goes very slightly AU here. I mention something in the recent manga, but take it a different direction than the series is going. Nothing huge, but I figured a little warning was in order so no one goes 'WTF?'

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters. This fic is only for entertainment purposes and not monetary gain.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dream A Little Dream

Chapter 7: Somber

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After getting the third degree by their friends and Kakashi infuriating them with his single word answers, the group parted to get some sleep. Ino pulled Sakura aside as she walked her to the door. "Forehead, you will tell me next time we have a get together, right?"

Sakura smirked at her best friend. "Some things."

Ino's cheeks puffed as she pouted but Sakura was immune to such displays. "Night, Pig. And thank you."

She closed the door and headed upstairs where Kakashi was sitting on the bed, grinning at her cheekily. "What's that look for?"

"Are you sure you want to wait until the day after tomorrow?"

With a sigh and an eye roll, Sakura flung a nearby pillow at him. "You are insufferable. Yes, I want to wait until we're done here."

Kakashi - sans mask - gave off an incredibly cute sulky expression and Sakura couldn't stop herself from making a flying tackle at him. "Kakashi, you're adorable but the answer is still 'no'."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once both had showered - separately much to Kakashi's chagrin - Sakura found she was much sleepier than she had previously thought. Kakashi laid down next to her and as soon as she allowed herself to relax, her eyes began to close. She was able to half-heartedly respond to a kiss from Kakashi and then heard a chuckle before a heavy and warm arm settled over her waist.

Sakura woke before Kakashi and dressed quickly before heading downstairs. It was their last full day with the kids and she wanted to get in as much time with them as possible. The idea of adopting them had entered her mind, but she wasn't ready for children. Add the fact that she still loved going on missions and she realized it wouldn't be a good idea.

She crept downstairs just as Keisuke stumbled from his room, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Good morning, Sakura-san."

"Good morning, Keisuke! Any special requests for breakfast?" She smiled brightly at the sleepy boy.

After taking stock of what was in the fridge, he grinned widely. "Do you know how to make donuts?" Sakura didn't actually. But when Keisuke said the head mistress used the pizza dough in the fridge and fried it, Sakura could figure it out from there.

Soon after the little balls of dough started sizzling away, the others woke up to the sound of the sizzles and Keisuke and Sakura giggling. She plopped another handful of balls into the oil and jumped back as it started to spit out at her, causing another bout of giggles from the kid rolling one of the donuts in cinnamon and sugar.

Kakashi poked his head in with Yuki on his hip and grinned widely at the sight. "You two seem to be having way too much fun."

Keisuke looked over at the man and smiled, exchanging morning greetings. Sakura took the opportunity to dip her fingers into the bowl of powdered sugar and then flick them at Keisuke, dusting his head with the white substance. The rest of the children entered quickly, smelling the freshly baked goodies.

Breakfast was another animated experience, everyone talking over each other and starting to giggle from the mass amounts of sugar being consumed. Naruto started a near riot when he mentioned the kids might enjoy watching a sparring match. Half-eaten breakfasts lay forgotten as the youngsters scurried around throwing on clothes, yelling for no reason at all except excitement to see real ninjas in action.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sasuke and Naruto were giving the wide-eyed kids quite a show as they gave each other a workout. With jutsu executed, kunai and shuriken thrown and fists and feet flying, the kids were in awe.

Sanosuke seemed even more interested than the rest, but that was only natural since he wanted to be a ninja. He was also surprisingly mature about it. While the rest of the kids just watched, he was asking Kakashi questions. How do jutsu work? How did Sasuke and Naruto remain standing on the tree sideways? How long does it take to learn how to aim a kunai? Despite being a hard-ass genin instructor, Kakashi was patient with the little one, calmly explaining the answer to each question in terms Sanosuke would understand.

Akane looked at Sakura in concern. "Aren't they hurting each other?"

Sakura laughed lightly. "A little bit. But this is how ninja learn and train to be stronger. They don't hurt each other enough to cause serious damage, just a few bruises or minor cuts. And with me being a medic, any injuries they receive I can fix right away." She paused for a second. "Truth be told, Naruto and Sasuke train a little more roughly than most ninja. They consider each other rivals and to be honest, I think they enjoy beating the living daylights out of each other."

Akane sighed. "Are all men that stupid?"

Sakura's glance flickered to a listening Kakashi and she immediately thought of Gai. Giving her new love a little smirk, she gazed back down at Akane and sighed dramatically. "Yes."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The boys stayed and taught the older kids some taijutsu while Kakashi and Sakura headed back to the orphanage with the twins, Ayao and Yuki. "Do you think they'll be alright with Naruto and Sasuke?"

Kakashi's eye creased happily at her. "They'll be fine. The boys will behave with the kids there. And it won't hurt the kids to learn some self-defense. Even if Keisuke and Akane don't want to be ninja, there's no reason they can't learn to protect themselves."

Sakura nodded and then grinned widely at Kakashi. It was wholly adorable and a little humorous to see the feared Copy Ninja carrying two sleeping toddlers. Kakashi felt the stare and looked back at Sakura carrying the twins and felt a knot in his stomach. He was a little startled to realize he wouldn't mind putting a few of his babies in her arms. He knew he loved Sakura. He knew he wanted to spend his life with her. But children and a few had him off-kilter.

Finally reaching the orphanage and settling the kids in for their naps, Kakashi and Sakura cuddled up on the couch. "Sakura, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you know when you'll want kids?"

Sakura rose a pink eyebrow at her boyfriend. "Well, I'm only 21. I'm not in any sort of rush. Maybe 5 or 6 years? That gives me plenty of time to become more stable in my medical career and save up some money. I also can take those years and satisfy my more adventurous side with some missions."

Kakashi thought about her statement. In five years, he would be 40. Certainly not old, but old enough to slow down on the missions or take less dangerous ones. He didn't have any specialties to fall back on like Sakura so there wouldn't be any pressure to take up a new position. He could be at home with the kids while Sakura worked at the hospital. And if she wanted time off, he had plenty saved from his inheritance from his father, his retirement pay from ANBU and once he retired from active status he would get regular retirement pay as well. The time line was a great one and he smiled happily at her, tightening his embrace as he envisioned little Hatakes running around with pink hair or green eyes.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dinner that night was quiet. The kids and the ninja who were watching them were all saddened that this was their last night together. Keisuke pushed his chicken around on his plate. "I don't want you all to leave."

Sakura smiled softly at him. "Sweetie, we can still come to visit. There's no reason we couldn't make time to see you guys. There may be some times when we won't see each other for a while because of our ninja duties, but we'll always come back eventually."

Akane pouted. "It's just not the same."

Naruto frowned. "I know."

Yuki was too young to realize what was happening, but Sakura noticed Kakashi was helping the little girl more than usual with her food and making all sorts of excuses to talk to her. She grinned while shaking her head slightly. That toddler had him wrapped around her little finger, and all she had to do was wobble up to him on day one and try to remove his mask.

Bath time was much simpler than in the beginning. Naruto and Sasuke got the twins bathed and in bed in record time, quick enough that they could help Sakura and Kakashi with the remaining kids. After baths, the kids were up in the playroom, gathering whatever little animals they wanted to take to bed while the three men were getting the beds in order. Sakura sat down at the piano in the corner and started to tap a little tune on it while the kids searched.

Sanosuke sat on the bench next to her. "You play?"

"I really only know one song. My mom used to play a lullaby for me when I was little."

Ayao crawled up on her other side. "You play for us?"

Well, how could she refuse a request like that? The girl was too cute. Sakura had no doubt that shy little Ayao was going to have boys falling all over themselves for her when she was older. She also had no doubt that Sanosuke would be running off the riff-raff. "Sure."

Plunking at the keys to find the right one after so long, Sakura started in.

Goodnight, sleep tight

No more tears

In the morning I'll be here

And when we say goodnight,

Dry your eyes

Because we said goodnight

And not goodbye

We said goodnight

And not goodbye

The song wasn't very long, but Sakura found her audience had grown by three when she looked over towards the doorway. Naruto and Sasuke gave her smiles as they rounded up the kids and Kakashi embraced her. "I didn't know you had such a beautiful voice."

Sakura scoffed. "I don't like to sing in front of people, but the kids were just too damn adorable." She huffed again and Kakashi chuckled at her.

They passed Naruto and Sasuke as the two boys came out of the kids' rooms and Kakashi pulled Sakura close. "You know after seeing that, I'll have to insist you have my children someday."

Naruto stuck his finger in his mouth and made a gagging noise as they passed. "Get a room."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After getting the kids to bed that night, the original Team 7 sat at the dining table with tea, a little heartbroken about leaving the kids they'd grown close to in the last week. Naruto leaned his chin on a palm, pouting. "Hey, Sakura-chan. You and Kakashi have been great with the kids and are a couple now. Couldn't you adopt them?"

Sakura gaped at her friend while Kakashi choked on his recent sip of tea. Sure, she had briefly entertained the idea, but that wasn't something she was willing to disclose to the others. "Are you crazy?! First of all, Kakashi and I just became a couple last night. I know I would like some time with it being just the two of us. Second, I'm not ready to give up missions and my hectic position at the hospital. Third, I'm not ready to be a mom. And last but not least, SEVEN kids at one time?! I pose the question again, are you insane?!"

Naruto recoiled slightly. "Geez, sorry I asked."

Sasuke sighed. "Dobe's right, though. It's a shame to leave the kids without parents."

Sakura softened. "I understand. And truthfully, it's going to be hard to leave. But it wouldn't be fair to us or the kids to put ourselves in that situation."

Kakashi was rubbing a chin in thought, having kept quiet most of the evening. With a bright eye crinkle, he leaned forward on the table. "Sakura and I may not be ready to be parents, but I know some people who are."

Sasuke raised a hand. "I am."

The other three looked at him in shock. A chorus of "What?" came from the trio and Sasuke sighed. "Look, I worry about having biological children after what the elders did to the clan the last time. If I adopt, the Uchiha can be proud once again without having to watch our backs. The powers of the Sharingan was the problem and I'll gladly let the Sharingan die out with me. I know Sanosuke wants to be a ninja so I was thinking about adopting him. And I don't think I could adopt him without little Ayao, so I know they won't be split up."

Sakura was deep in thought about someone dear to her. "I know Ino and Chouji have been trying to have children for almost six months now. Ino was saying she's worried they won't be able to have kids on their own. I know her mother was adopted, so maybe she'd be open to adopting the twins."

Naruto looked at Kakashi. "Who were you thinking about, Kaka-sensei?"

The elite jounin smiled. "I believe you know the answer to that."

Naruto squinted his eyes in thought. After a few moments of chin rubbing and searching the ceiling for answers, he snapped his fingers and grinned. "Iruka-sensei and Ayame!"

Kakashi nodded. "Ayame wants to adopt children. She says it breaks her heart that there are children out there with no one to raise them. And being orphaned himself, Iruka feels the same way."

Sakura bit her lip. "But would they take all three that are left? Akane, Keisuke and Yuki?"

Kakashi's shoulders shifted in a shrug. "Only one way to find out."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: Song is 'Goodnight' from Evanescence. I seriously wasn't going to have a song, especially since last chapter had not only a song, but a sappy song at that. However, I recently found this song amongst my old CDs and fell in love again. So, suck it up. Last chapter will be out soon. I promise! Reviews always loved and adored. Hugs & Kisses!