Well…I'm back!!! Sorry I know it's like 2 months later, but the plot bunnies seem to have taken an unexpected vacation. Fortunately I was listening to my iPod and was struck by a bit of inspiration. Thank the good lord!!! I hope I can keep doing this more regularly now, but I need some help folks. Please review this chapter, I need to know what you all think. What do you guys want to see? Do you like where things are going? Please let me know! Well as usual I don't own Naruto or anything related to it. I don't own Apple or iPod (Wouldn't that be nice!!!) Thank you again for sticking with me this far. I'm almost at 10,000 words. I've never written anything this long and am definitely feeling a small sense of pride!

Chapter 9

Night was slowly falling and the last vestiges of the sun were slowly disappearing over Konoha. The Godaime had tried her best to finish her work after her visit to the memorial, but her efforts were all in vain. A soft knock on her door gave her the excuse she needed to stop pretending she was busy.

"Come in" she called from behind her hoping that this would prove to be a long and worthwhile distraction. Amber eyes brightened and a smile spread over her face when her lover stepped through the door. "Am I catching you at a bad time?" he asked looking rather amused by the amount of paperwork on her desk.

"If I say yes will you do the rest of my work for me?" she inquired while batting her lashes and pouting her lips. He strode over to her desk, leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on her temple and quickly replied "Not a chance in hell!" Tsunade huffed and looked as though she was going to punch him, but thought better of it and decided to laugh instead.

"I figured as much, you lazy good for nothing bum!" she chided. Jiraiya chuckled deeply and replied while waggling his eyebrows "Really, you think so, because that's not what you were screaming last night" This time the busty blonde did smack him and cried "Well you don't have to worry about that seeing as you'll be having some rather quiet nights ahead of you!"

"Aww…come on Hime, don't be like that, I was just messing with you. I only came by to see if the sexiest lady in the village wanted to get dinner with me tonight?" The cross look on the Hokage's face melted as she caught the adoring look in Jiraiya's eyes. Her day had been long and arduous and at this moment nothing seemed better than a warm meal and a good conversation with an old friend turned so much more. "Hime?" the sound of his deep voice roused her from her thoughts. "I'm sorry" she said softly and he sighed anticipating a rejection.

Sensing this she immediately amended her words, "What I meant was sorry for spacing out, it's been a long day, but I'd love some dinner right about now" Instantly his beaming smile returned and he extended his hand out for hers. She gladly took it and was pulled into his embrace where he instantly teleported them to their destination.

"Where are we?" she questioned feeling slightly flustered not anticipating that he meant they would leave right that second. The Godaime hadn't even been able to tell Shizune that she would be stepping out again, 'She's gonna be in a right little state tomorrow!!!' she thought.

Drawn from her thought again when she felt Jiraiya's large calloused hand enclose over hers. "Come on, this way" he said as he pulled her down the dark street toward a little dumpling stand. Tsunade eyed him and his choice of "restaurant" suspiciously. As though reading her thoughts he reassured her that this was "The best grub in town!" as he put it. They received their order quickly and he led them further into the park across the street from the stand.

They reached the very same clearing they had first made love in only days ago. Jiraiya smiled slyly at her and she couldn't help but wonder if he'd always been this romantic. "This is perfect" she whispered as they settled on the ground against the large sakura tree to eat. One bite of the dumplings they'd acquired and the Hokage's doubts about them being edible disappeared. "Oh God, these are fantastic, why the hell didn't I know about this place until now!"

Her lover's soft rumbling laughter at her exclamation left an embarrassed blush on her creamy cheeks. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying this so much" the hint of amusement still audible in his words. They finished the rest of their meal in relative ease and companionable silence. Upon cleaning up there mess the white haired Sannin stretched languidly and reclined further against the tree drawing Tsunade's head softly into his lap.

Obsidian eyes gazed lovingly down on the face he'd loved since was a little boy. The blonde bombshell in his lap melted under his gaze, but she couldn't help but sense something was off at that moment. It was almost as if he was hesitating and after knowing him for most of her life she knew Jiraiya hardly ever hesitates about anything.

"What's wrong?" she inquired fear gripping her somewhat jaded heart. 'This is it, I knew it. He's probably bored with me already and doesn't know how to tell me. I'm so stupid, how could I let this happen? He's spent the last 4 decades trying to get into my pants and now he's done it so he probably doesn't want me anymore…'

"Tsunade!!!" Jiraiya's shout alerted her once again that she'd let her mind wander. "Huh?" she replied stupidly. "Did you hear a word I said?" the aggravation slipping through in his tone of voice. He forced the honey eyes female into a sitting position facing him and started his well rehearsed speech again.

"Hime, we need to talk and I really need you to focus this time because I won't say it a third time" He paused waiting for her to acknowledge she was listening and she nodded slowly in the affirmative that she was so he continued. "You know how I feel about you, but just in case there is any doubt, I love you. From the moment I first laid eyes on you until the moment I draw my last breath. I've been with a lot of women, but no one has ever captivated me the way you do. I could never…I have never loved anyone but you. What I need to know now is if you feel the same way, that these past few days haven't been about you soothing away your loneliness. Can you love me even though I'm not "Him" I want all of you; your mind, your heart, your body, and your soul. Can you give that to me? If you can't them please tell me now because I'm at the point where I can't imagine falling asleep without you by my side. I need to it's me you want, and only me. I can't and won't share you, least of all with a ghost.