A/N: Sorry about the delay. I know where I want to go in the long run just got stuck on how to get there. (This is version 2- for some reason the original got posted in a weird format)
Disclaimer: Shall I compare thee to Masashi Kishimoto? No, there can be no comparison, for he owns the rights to Naruto and its characters. We must simply worship him from afar, and enjoy what little time we can play with those characters on our own.
Sakura arrived at the Hokage's workroom. Tsunade raised an eyebrow and with just a hint of a smirk said, "Late again."
Sakura looked at the baby she had strapped into a carrier across her front, "You wouldn't know it to look at him now, but Ishi had a very fussy morning."
"You'd think he'd be used to our schedule by now." Tsunade made a face, "I'd always heard babies thrived on routine. His parents certainly do."
Sakura had started to unhitch the carrier and settled her son into a crib they'd specifically put there for when she did her studies. When she had him all settled in she turned to her teacher, "Ready when you are."
"Very well, let's pick up where we left off yesterday."
Almost three hours later, Ishi reminded them of his presence. Fortunately, they had finished the project they were working on.
"I can't believe how fast the time is going." Tsunade commented as she watched Sakura feed her son, "Tomorrow is your first anniversary. Any special plans?"
"My mother is going to take Ishi for the whole day. Other than that I think Lee and I will just improvise." Her smile showed a hint of the brief daydream she was having about her husband. A moment later, she snapped out of it and regarded the Hokage, "Although we're both in agreement that it's too soon to think about giving Ishi a little sister or brother." Her gaze returned to the baby in her arms.
"I'll see what I can do to guarantee you a quiet day." Tsunade was always surprised how much she enjoyed watching Sakura interact with her son. There was just something about this domestic image that reassured her that everything was going well in Konoha.
"Thank you again for Lee's promotion to Jonin." Sakura smiled up at her sensei, "He's been so happy and so has Gai. When we went out to dinner to celebrate, it was funny watching the two of them try to break their old talking patterns and address each other as peers." She looked like she was trying very hard to suppress her laughter. The corners of her mouth curled in very strange way. She moved her son to her shoulder and started to gently rub his back. "It's amazing how much my life has changed in little more than a year. I'm glad that it's been as peaceful as it has been lately.'
'She probably didn't want to startle the baby badly by laughing out loud.' Tsunade smirked. 'At least I can picture the scenario clearly.' "I'm glad you're content. I've been doing my best trying not to be bored while waiting for it all to turn around again." Tsunade watched as Sakura burped the black haired baby then wiped his mouth.
The Hokage continued to speak, "So how long do you think it's going to be before Naruto and Hinata decide it's serious and become the next in your little circle to get married?"
"I don't know. Every time I talk to him he sounds more and more in love with her, but then he goes off on his next Sasuke hunt…" Sakura avoided meeting Tsunade's eyes for a moment. She hadn't confided the truth of this matter to the Hokage, and she really wasn't sure she should, "He gets so focused on that and gets all confused inside. It isn't an easy thing for him all the searching he does."
"Everyone develops an obsession at some point. We all cope with them differently. I hope for his sake he finds Sasuke soon. Hinata's a very patient girl but I don't think she'll wait for him forever."
Sakura had smirked in agreement to the thought of 'differently'. Naruto's situation was certainly was one of the most unique she'd ever run across. "Personally, I think Hinata figures that since she's gotten this close, she'll give him all the time he needs to come around. Maybe you should start working on Neji and Tenten. If you're hoping for someone to marry off, they've been an item for a while." She held her son up in front of her for a moment. Then finally she settled him back down into her arms.
Tsunade watched her protégé. It was nice being around her like this. Sometimes she found herself dwelling on the fact that Sakura's crowd had been by the strongest shinobi of their generation. If you go a year or two to either side there was pretty much no one in their league. 'Eventually I might have to encourage them to create a strong future for Konoha…if they don't get around to it themselves in five years of so.'
Sakura and Lee had taken that step a little sooner than she would have liked. At least she could work around it with her student. Sakura could be put in charge of training medically talented youngsters at the academy. In fact she'd probably thrive on it…it might get her past the fact that her son was almost definitely too much like his father. It'll probably be a bit of disappointment for her when she realizes it. 'Oh well, I'm sure there'll be a next time for those two…just not right away, which would be good.'
"So is there anything else you need me for today, Tsunade-sama?" Sakura finally looked up from Ishi.
"Yes, I think I've finally reached a finally an important decision regarding the medical training of our youngsters."
"That's wonderful." Sakura's excitement shown on her face, "What do you require of me?"
"You're going to create the curriculum. I'm going to see if I can get you promoted to a tokubetsu jonin to be in charge of the project. You'll be working at the academy once the new school year starts. That should give you just enough time." The Hokage smiled at her pink haired student warmly. "Just give me three days to clear it with the elders and we'll make a formal announcement."
"I've already got so many ideas." Sakura grinned.
When Lee got home that night Sakura told him her news. He picked her up and spun her around excitedly. "That is wonderful, my treasure. Now you can share your specialty with so many. It will be a golden age for Konoha shinobi." He gently brought her back down and kissed her while spinning one last time.
When they stopped Sakura couldn't help but smile. Over the year they'd been together she had really started to enjoy his level of enthusiasm. Well, at least on occasions Gai wasn't around, somehow those times were still too over the top for her.
"So you'll get to start hearing all the school children call me, 'Sakura-sensei' soon."
"I thought you were only going to be working with the medical trainees?" Lee was slightly puzzled.
"That was the original plan, but I might have an additional idea to try out on Tsunade-sama. I'm thinking that there might be some additional exercises to try. If I can help them improve their chakra focusing abilities at a younger age, who knows where it could take things." She regarded her husband with a melancholy half smile, "Those who are capable of such things at any rate." At times like this she would try to be cautious about what she said to Lee, knowing his limitations and the extraordinary efforts he had gone through to get promoted in spite of them. Some part of her was already bracing for the possibility that Ishi was truly and completely his father's son in this as well.
Sakura walked through to the next room to check up on dinner, 'All my talent for controlling chakra, and I might not be able to train my own child.' She went back to where Lee was watching her from the doorway and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his shoulder. 'Does it really matter when I love them both so very much?'
The next morning their son was their alarm clock…6:30. "You have to admit he's getting better about sleeping." Sakura said softly as she slid out of Lee's arms, "Now if he was only as patient as you." She gave him a quick kiss and went to see to the baby.
Lee stretched out across the bed for a moment looking up at creamy colored ceiling. 'One year already, who would have ever imagined this?' He smiled at the thought. 'My life came together in a miraculous string of events. She is just too perfect; I still ask myself every morning, "What did I do to deserve this happiness?"'
He rolled onto his side to face the door waiting for her return. It wasn't every morning that they could have a leisurely start to the day. Typically, one of them would have some sort of training or another on their schedule, not to mention missions. It would be nice to savor the moment.
When Sakura returned a little while later, she brought Ishi with her, "I was thinking, since we're all awake now and my mother doesn't expect us over there for a little while yet, how about going out for breakfast?"
Although he had been hoping for a slightly different start to their day, there was certainly nothing wrong with her suggestion. "Whatever would make you happy, my treasure."
Just before they got to drop off Ishi with Sakura's mother Gai appeared. He came running up to Lee when they were about a block from their destination.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important." He gave Sakura a pleading look, "I'll only need about a half hour of Lee's time."
Sakura felt like she wanted to scream. She counted to ten in her head and carefully controlled her breathing as she did so. "Fine," she said as she took Ishi from Lee, "I'll wait for you at my mother's, but remember this, Gai, if it goes more than forty minutes I will hunt you down."
He gave her the "thumbs up", "No more than half an hour, I promise." The famous smile gleamed.
"That was perfectly done Gai-sen…san." Lee was still getting used to the fact that Gai had told him now that they were both jonin he no longer had to call him Gai-sensei, "Thank you for waiting for us to arrive."
"I'd do anything for you, Lee."
"I shall see you in a few days." Lee gave him a grin.
"Enjoy your special day." The green clad man went on his way
Lee hurried down the street to the Yamanaka flower shop. Ino had been watching for his arrival, "So, how much time do I have?"
"I will try to give you as much time as I can, but I would guarantee you about two hours."
"I think I can manage with that." The blond kunoichi smiled then gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Happy Anniversary. Thank you for the smile you've put on Sakura's face."
"You are most welcome, Ino-san." He gave her a smile and was on his way again.
When Lee got Sakura, he asked her what she wished to do next. Fortunately, she did not choose to go straight home. Because it was such a beautiful day, she decided she wanted to take a long walk. They strolled around the pond that was out beyond the training grounds. They decided to behave themselves while they were out and about, for some reason they just wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet for a while.
They arrived home about two hours later. Lee stopped Sakura at the door, "Please allow me." He scooped her up and carried her inside, sweeping the door shut with his foot as he had the first time they'd entered this house. He carried her upstairs to their room.
"Oh my." Sakura gasped as she looked at their bedroom. While they were out their bedding had been changed from their everyday one to white satin. On Sakura's nightstand was a large bouquet of roses in red, white and pink. More petals were strewn across the bed.
"The roses represent you." Lee began, "White for your beautiful skin," he kissed her neck, "pink for your soft hair," he kissed her hair, "and the red…" he kissed her mouth she wrapped herself around him and met his tongue with her own.
They fell on their bed, and began to work at each others clothing while brushing their lips across each other's faces and throats. They played and teased each other in ways that only two people intimately familiar with each other's bodies could.
When they finally stopped Lee looked over and saw what was on his nightstand. It was a bouquet as well. There were daisies with one lonely daffodil in there with them. He looked at Sakura with a smile.
"Just as symbolic as yours," she kissed him again, "the daffodil for the first flower I ever gave you and, the daisies, the bouquet I gave you when you were struggling with your recovery."
"I know," He brushed her lips again with him own. "I could never forget that."
A/N: The flower thing is very much in my mind.