A.N. Ok, so here are some funny and one angsty moment. Do not worry! I've finished the story, so I can now swear the epilogue is just sooooooo fluffy and I tried to be funny too... So, I'll upload the few remaining chapters regularly and in the same time, I'll start another story you'll be able to go to as soon as this one ends ;)

Chapter Thirty Five – The Hatakes

Getting used to another little human being in their life, one that was completely dependent on them, proved to be … not that hard for the Hatakes. Sure, having gone through shinobi training probably helped (a lot), but Iruka started thinking that maybe they had been destined to be blessed with Rikka… and be good for her, since it all came easily to them both. No, not good – the best parents.

Iruka was a bit uneasy about how would people react to them not only being men and married, but also adopting a child, a girl, mind you – that went pretty much against all social standards.

Another shock – every time they went out together, the three of them, a whole traffic jam was being caused, with streets becoming impassable and women all over them, squeaking with joy.

"Aaaaaaw, she's adorable!"

"Iruka san, she even looks like you!"

"Ah, Iruka san, where did you get this dress from!"

"Kakashi san looks sooooo sweet with the baby in his strong arms…!"

"Yeah, he's also taken, you…", Iruka murmured lowly and menacingly.

It was enough for Kakashi to hear him though – the Copy Nin grinned lewdly and Iruka knew then that he was up for some seeeeeerious teasing that night!

Speaking of that, quiet sex was now the latest novelty in the Hatake compound. Rikka's room was ready now and the baby slept there… but the room was of course next to their own. Aaaand their daughter was a light sleeper. So, in order to not wake her, her parents had to make some sacrifices. Pillows were being thrown away every other day, chewed over recognition, sheets were being torn in desperate efforts to hold onto something, not the other body, as not to cause the other body to scream. Kakashi was not happy – he liked those screams! And unhappy Kakashi was inventive Kakashi…

"We're moving for a couple of days in my jounin apartment.", he announced one morning.

As a jounin Kakashi owned an apartment in the jounin district of Konoha. No matter that he had another home he lived in now – that place was always reserved for him.

However the place was small, made for a single guy, and Iruka frowned, feeding Rikka.

"Why?", he asked.

"The workers will be soundproofing the house for a few days.", a simple answer, that made Iruka blush nonetheless.

"W-Why the w-whole house? Why not only the bedroom?"

Kakashi leered. "My innocent Ru… Do you really think I'm gonna take you there only?"

"Oh, Kami…."

After that of course a baby monitor was placed in the two bedrooms – theirs and Rikka's, and Kakashi played a little to tune the gadget until he and Iruka could hear Rikka's cry, but Rikka couldn't hear them…. Well, hear them.

Once again, Kakashi left the white ANBU mask aside and was only on call for very serious cases. He continued taking up to A-ranks, with backup. He didn't really need the money from A and S-ranks – he had saved a lot from his first years in ANBU till now, plus a small Hatake family fortune. But money was being spent in enormous quantities around Rikka, and he needed some action, and as he pointed out to Iruka: "Hopefully, we'll have a daughter to marry one day!" He thought of training another genin team, but couldn't bring himself to do that, after all the "Team 7 mess". He needed more time.

So, with both of them making some sacrifices – Iruka taking lesser Mission room shifts and teaching part-time in the Academy and Kakashi giving up the S-ranks – they still needed a nanny for a few hours a day, sometimes (when Kakashi was in the village, they didn't need that extra help). The nanny however couldn't be just anyone – they had to trust that person. And, strange as it is, and though Kakashi would never have guessed things would turn out like that, that person turned out to be Sakura. Thinking about it, it made sense – she knew them both, they being her ex-teachers, was close to them, being their (self-proclaimed, but still…) bridesmaid, and most importantly – being a woman with medical education. What more could they want? So, they had somehow managed to make their schedule between Iruka's teaching, Kakashi's missions and Sakura's hospital duties.

But still, when he was in town, one thing Kakashi loved the most was picking up Iruka after school. With Rikka in his arms.

Now, Iruka on the other hand wasn't that big of a fan of that. It caused… chaos!

Not only the women on the streets, squeaking and fainting from the view of Kakashi with a baby (Iruka finally did bought him a T-shirt, saying "TAKEN!"), but the mess that that very same view caused when it appeared in the door to his classroom – a Copy Nin, baby sling, with Rikka inside and a changing bag over one shoulder….

"OOoooooIIiiiii, Kakashi san and Rikkaaaaa!"

Yeah… no way that lesson could be finished, what with the class all over his husband and daughter, Iruka thought, irritated. … But a part of him, a quite big part of him, was grinning like a fool…

Their friends seemed to like the new addition in their friends' life too. Well… most of them.

"I don't really understand it.", Genma stated once he as watched Kakashi calming down a wailing Rikka back to sleep. He sat on the couch, staring at a striding Kakashi at the Hatake compound's living room.

"Shhhh… Understand what?"

"It.", Genma motioned in Rikka's direction.

"That's my daughter, fu… stupid, I'd like you to refer to my baby as "she" and "her!", Kakashi growled. "No cursing around our baby!", Iruka's words rang in his head.

"Yeah, yeah… How do you know when i-she cries from hunger or just being grumpy?", Genma asked.

"Well…", Kakashi thought about it for a while, then shrugged. "I just know."

"Huh…"

"Oh, she's asleep. I'm going to leave her in her crib."

"Fine, I'm gonna go then…"

"Yeah, I'll call you … one of these days…"

"Yeah, yeah… I'll show myself out…"

"Thanks, Gen…."

SLAM!

The front door was loudly shut by an oblivious Genma. Kakashi froze. Oh, no, please don't….

"WHAAaAAaaAAaA!.!.!.!"

"I HATE YOU, SHIRANUI GENMA!.!.!"

Well, that was Genma after all. Kotetsu and Izumo always volunteered babysitting when they had no duties at the Gates or the Hokage Tower – in fact Iruka even tried to make another bet with Kakashi about when their friends were going to make the same choice. There was something almost eerie in how fast Kakashi agreed on the bet… And then Iruka remembered certain red lacy panties. And grinned. More like leered, actually. Yeah, he could see Kakashi's point – the pervert won either way, even if he lost…

Anyway, Kotetsu and Izumo loved Rikka, Yamato was completely smitten by her – he had made a tree house for her before Iruka mentioned she hadn't even started crawling yet - and there was something … just something in Asuma's eyes every time he watched them with the baby… a thoughtful look that would almost always end up on Kurenai. Raido looked proud with Kakashi finally being the man he was supposed to be and Gai found that Rikka was the "ultimate example of youthfulness and love".

Anyway not completely everyone was content with the Hatakes' decision.

Kakashi had said he had some work in the TI with Ibiki, so Iruka decided to go pick him up after work. He was on his way to the building when he overheard the conversation.

"Hatake, this cannot continue like this!"

Iruka sneaked closer and looked over the corner. Kakashi was leaning against a wall, looking displeased, glaring at a small old woman. Not just any old woman… Utatane Koharu.

Iruka's heart skipped a beat. Why were the Elders after Kakashi? He gulped. Oh, but he knew why…

"Hatake, you must produce a male child with your blood to continue the name and the bloodline!"

"I have a family, Koharu sama. And I have a child…", Kakashi started.

"Do you not listen!.? A boy with your blood is required in the next five years while your fertility is at its peak! Find a suitable woman and do your duty!", the woman said bluntly.

"I am faithful to my husband,… Koharu sama", Kakashi gritted out.

"I do not care if you invite him to watch or participate! The council requires a male child with your blood in five years! Do not make me forcibly get that!"

A couple of hand seals and the woman was gone.

Iruka quietly went back home, the conversation ringing in his head and causing tears in his eyes. Tears he had to swallow and smile for his uncharacteristically gloomy husband when he returned home…

A.N. Hm... I see these sad faces! Oh, come on, cheer up! I promise a lemon in next chapter! ;D