A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Idle-ing and Krach. Thank you so much for reviewing! :D


Tsunade woke blissfully warm, but also unable to move. She smiled, unwilling to open her eyes... yet. Instead, she savored the pressure of Kakashi's firm chest and abdomen against her back, and his arm wrapped around her stomach. His calloused thumb lazily stroked the bare skin above her navel.

She blinked sleepily. He was already awake?"

As if sensing her thoughts, Kakashi lifted his face from the curve of her neck, leaving behind a chill from the absence of his warmth breath, and murmured in her ear, "Finally awake, hmm?"

Tsunade clamped her eyes shut. No, she wasn't. As long as she was asleep, she could stay in Kakashi's strong arms, warm and safe. And most of all, with him. When she left this dream, she would return to reality. Where she was the hokage. A hokage that must return to Konoha as soon as possible.

Kakashi's chest vibrated against her back with a silent laugh. He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, and her traitorous mouth curved in another smile. But he'd apparently been occupied with his own thoughts, because he added softly, "Maa, I've been thinking about something Jiraiya-san said."

Jiraiya? Tsunade scowled. She cared for her old teammate, but he was the last thing she wanted to be thinking about right now. She rolled onto her back, so Kakashi could better see her displeasure. "What are you talking about?"

Kakashi's pale eyebrows creased in confusion as he gazed at her. "Are you... angry?"

Men. Tsunade barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Gods, how she loved this one, but clearly, the inherent stupidity of his kind hadn't passed him by. "No, please, continue. I was just thinking how much I wanted to hear about Jiraiya."

Kakashi stared down at her, silver locks hanging in his face. He wet his lips nervously, and Tsunade's pulse accelerated. Oh, those beautiful lips. She could be kissing him right now; instead, they were talking about Jiraiya. Honestly, it would be enough to aggravate any woman. Kakashi cleared his throat, dragging her out of her distracted thoughts. "All right. While I was on my mission, Jiraiya-san gave me some advice. He said I should find an anchor, something to cling to, so I wouldn't lose myself. But... I didn't want to drag anyone else down with me. So, I pushed it aside."

Tsunade's irritation vanished. This wasn't about Jiraiya. Kakashi was confessing something important to him. She placed her hand against his heart, feeling his strong pulse through the bandages, letting him know she was here for him.

"But I realized... I already had an anchor. You." Kakashi's hand slid around her back, and he pulled her closer, his breath warming her skin. Tsunade didn't resist; she was melting from his words and the tenderness in his gaze. "You were the only thing that kept me from drowning. While I was on that mission... I thought of you every day." He ducked his head adorably. "I, uh, just wanted you to know that."

"Hmm." Tsunade smiled, and she tipped Kakashi's chin up. Vulnerable, charcoal eyes met hers. "I think that deserves a kiss." She pressed her lips to his, intending it to be short and sweet, but Kakashi groaned, and angled his head down, deepening the kiss, the movement bringing back memories of last night.

Gods, why did he have to be such a good kisser? She had duties that needed her attention, responsibilities that... that... Tsunade's hands found his hair, and she threaded her fingers through the soft, silver strands. All she wanted was to stay here forever, Kakashi in her arms and she in his.

Tsunade sighed against his mouth, then gently pushed Kakashi back and planted one hand firmly on his chest. "How—how are you feeling?"

Kakashi blinked; cheeks slightly flushed. Then he smiled, a cute dimple appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Better than I have ever felt in my life." His gaze dropped to her hand, still separating them. "Why?"

Tsunade warmed. Oh, how she wanted to kiss him again. But, no. One of them needed to be strong and resist temptation, or the hokage would never return to Konoha. "That's good to hear. Because it's time we started back to Konoha."

"But... but... I'm wounded." Kakashi gave her a pitiful look, though he was unable to disguise the hopeful gleam in his eyes.

"If you were well enough for last night, then I think you can manage walking to Konoha." Tsunade smirked at his sheepish blush, then turned and slid to the edge of the bed.

Kakashi was silent behind her. The bed jostled under her, and Tsunade stifled a shriek as she bounced dangerously close to the edge. Two powerful arms wrapped around her, and she was pulled back against a muscular chest. Kakashi's lips brushed her ear, and she shivered as he murmured, "Five more minutes?"

"Mmm…" Tsunade leaned back against his solid warmth, thoroughly enjoying herself as she pretended to consider it. Her smile grew. What would it be like to wake up to this every morning? It seemed like a dream too good to be true. Her right hand finally found her pillow, and she swung it up and around, smacking Kakashi's face. He released her with a surprised grunt, and she slipped off the bed. She couldn't resist a laugh at his forlorn expression as she gathered the clothing scattered on the floor. "I am the hokage, you know." She tossed him his pants and shirt. "Now, get dressed."

A few minutes later, Tsunade descended the stairs to the main room, Kakashi behind her. Nūju stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast, and the sizzle of frying eggs called to Tsunade's growling stomach. She'd hardly left the spare room in the past few days while tending to Kakashi, and food had been the last thing on her mind. Now, however, she could hardly think about anything else.

But Jiraiya sat in the living area next to Satomi, watching her scribble on a piece of paper. So, she reluctantly turned to her old teammate, and Kakashi followed her closely, as if unwilling to leave more than a few inches between them.

Jiraiya glanced up, a knowing glint in his black eyes. Tsunade burned as he smirked, dreading the innuendo she knew was coming. But miraculously, Jiraiya only commented pleasantly, "Good morning."

"Good... morning." Tsunade blinked, more than a little taken aback. The Jiraiya she knew never would have missed such an opportunity. Her gaze fell to Satomi. Hmm. Perhaps fatherhood was finally maturing him.

Jiraiya pushed to his feet with a grunt, and she couldn't help but notice how his left leg dragged. "Ah, Kakashi. It's good to see you up and about. But then, I wouldn't expect anything else from someone in Tsuna's care." He winked. "Satomi here was worried about you."

Satomi blushed and scribbled harder, hunching over the drawing as if to hide it from view.

Jiraiya reached Tsunade's side, and lowered his voice. "She's been working on a get-well card for her hero the last couple of days, but I think she's too bashful to show you now. Maybe if you went and asked for it..."

Kakashi's gaze flickered between them, startled. "...me?"

"You saved her, didn't you?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "She's talked of nothing else for days. Believe me, I know."

Tsunade smiled. How cute. But she also recognized the dark turmoil in Kakashi's eyes, so she gently squeezed his arm. "Go. Make her day."

"I'm no hero," Kakashi muttered, but he walked toward Satomi, shuffling steps uncertain.

Tsunade watched the copy ninja crouch next to the tiny, white-crowned girl, and murmur to her. At first, Satomi refused to look at him, but as he continued talking, she lifted her head and beamed at him. The tension lining Kakashi's shoulders relaxed, and he settled in a cross-legged position next to her. Tsunade couldn't swallow past the lump in her throat, and something released inside of her at the sight of him so at ease. Kakashi had needed this. And seeing him with a child... was more painful than she'd thought.

"Well, Hime, it seems we are both taking advantage of our second chances," Jiraiya observed, the corner of his mouth lifting.

Tsunade shot him a sharp glance, unable to disguise the heat in her cheeks. How long had he been watching her stare at Kakashi? But Jiraiya's attention had already returned to Satomi, and she softened at the affection in his gaze. He wasn't a half-bad father. "Hai. Though I wish you would have told me about yours."

Jiraiya winced. "Well, you know... I planned on bringing her to Konoha eventually."

It was Tsunade's turn to raise her eyebrows. "Oh? Are you returning with us, then?" If so, all the better. It would give her more time to plan her revenge for his little secret. How could he not tell her about a daughter?

"Not yet. But soon. I want her to have time to adjust after everything." Jiraiya shifted, almost guiltily. "How is Kakashi doing?"

Tsunade bit her lip. She knew what he was referring to; after all, Kakashi's physical state was obvious to the eye. But the rest... "I'm not entirely sure yet." She lifted her chin. "Regardless, I will stay at his side and give whatever help he needs, no matter what."

"You always did have a true healer's heart, Tsuna. And I can see how much you love him." Jiraiya smiled crookedly. "I'm glad you've found happiness again."

"We both have." Gods, she was not going to cry in front of Jiraiya, of all people. Tsunade cleared her throat. "Don't take too long to return to Konoha. I have a feeling we'll be having a wedding near in the future."

Kakashi's head swiveled so fast his neck cracked, and Jiraiya gaped at her. "...what?"

Tsunade stared at them. Why were they acting so... Oh. Her face flamed, and she snapped, "For Naruto and Hinata, you idiots!"

Nūju took that moment to appear in the doorway and announced, "Breakfast is ready!"

Jiraiya immediately rushed past a still-fuming Tsunade, followed closely by Satomi, and Tsunade glared after him. After years of being on the receiving end of her anger, it seemed his survival instinct was still intact. Honestly, men were so—

Kakashi appeared behind her, and before Tsunade could react, he'd wrapped his arms around her, capturing her hands against her chest. The open display of affection wiped every thought from her mind, and she stood in a stunned, weak-kneed, silence. Not that she had any intention of moving, anyway.

"Just so you know, I thought that little misunderstanding was... adorable." Kakashi's voice was low and unperturbed, and a shiver ran down her spine.

Tsunade relaxed back against his chest, and closed her eyes with a blissful sigh. Did he somehow know how much she loved to be held? Of being his? She smiled, savoring the moment and the glowing feeling of—finally—a promise fulfilled. She was no longer alone, as the warm pressure of the arms around her proved.

Kakashi's masked lips brushed her ear, teasingly. "Aren't you going to say something?"

"Mmm..." Tsunade twisted in his arms to face him, and his hands slid down to her waist as her fingertips caught the edge of his mask. She smirked. "I always did prefer action to talking. Any objections?"

"Are you two coming, or not?" Jiraiya bellowed from the other room. "There's only two eggs left, and—Ow!"

Kakashi's eyes crinkled with amusement. "None at all. But... I thought you wanted to return to Konoha with all haste?"

Tsunade scowled, and reluctantly lowered her hands. Why did he choose now of all times to remind her of that? Still, he had a point. They would never get to Konoha if they continued on like this. "Hai. You're right, we should—"

Kakashi swiftly jerked his mask down and crushed his lips to hers. His arms tightened around her and she gave a soft moan at the sudden rush of pleasure. He let his teeth snag her bottom lip as he finally pulled back, and she was left gasping for breath and thoroughly flushed. What... what...

"Maa, how was that for action, Hokage-sama?" Kakashi's mouth curved mischievously. He tugged his mask up, turned, and sauntered into the kitchen.

Tsunade's jaw dropped, though she was still struggling to regain coherent thoughts. Why... that brat. Did he think he could just...? She nearly stormed after him—but stopped herself. What was the rush? A slow smile spread across her face. Once they returned to Konoha, they would have all the time in the world.

Hokage duties aside, of course. And after recent events, she had every intention of bringing about some much-needed changes. It was past time for Konoha to turn over a new leaf.

The memory of waking in Kakashi's arms filled her with warmth from head to toe. Yes, the future looked bright, indeed.

.


.

Kakashi strolled down Konoha's streets, hands in his pockets, pretending to ignore the wide berths and quick glances from the passersby. When he and Tsunade had arrived yesterday, she had publicly announced his pardon. But it would take time for his presence to be accepted, and he'd expected no less.

Besides, he was used to suspicious judgement. Kakashi tipped his head back and closed his eyes, soaking in the afternoon sunlight. He had Tsunade, and he could walk in the open as a free man. That was all that mattered right now.

He paused in the middle of the street to gaze at the hokage tower. Tsunade's meeting with the elders and council had to be almost over by now. He should go find out how it went. He smiled ruefully. He was interested in the outcome—but he could freely admit that it may as well be an excuse to see Tsunade again. It was a strange feeling; this driving desire to be at Tsunade's side at all times, when he was so used to isolation. Perhaps because he was finally free to pursue her without restriction.

Kakashi sighed. But he shouldn't get used to it. Soon enough, Tsunade would be sending him on missions, as she should, and their interactions would become sparse. He would always have her to return to, but he had to admit the thought of returning to active duty didn't appeal to him as it once would have.

And the nightmares. Kakashi's stomach churned. Would they return when he was away from her...?

"KAKASHI-SENSEI!"

A presence loomed over him, and a massive weight crashed onto his shoulders. Kakashi staggered forward—glimpsing the mass of orange and spiky blond hair clinging to his back. What the—? He wheezed, "Naruto... you..."

"Naruto! Get off of Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura, somewhere on his other side. "You're going to break his spine!"

That was a bit drastic. He wasn't that old. But Kakashi couldn't help a groan of relief when Naruto slid off his back with a sheepish grin. "Ah, haha, sorry Kakashi-sensei! I guess I was so excited to see you that I, uh, forgot."

"Baka." Sasuke stepped up, expressionless—except for a twitch of the mouth. "And you think you're getting married?"

"Shut up, Sasuke! At least I had the guts to ask her." Naruto nodded proudly.

Sakura squeaked, but Sasuke merely stared, eyes blank.

Kakashi smiled, ignoring the twinge in his back. "Maa, it's good to see all of you."

"So! So! Are you back for good?" Naruto's grin lit up his face. "I heard Tsunade-baachan gave you your pardon."

"Hai. I completed my mission, so I'm staying."

Sasuke met his gaze, and a sense of understanding passed between them. His former student dipped his head; a silent gesture of gratitude.

Sakura beamed. "We're glad you're back, Sensei. We missed you."

"I—I missed you guys too." Kakashi's throat tightened. Obito, Rin, Minato-sensei… can you see them? Somehow, in spite of all his failures, his team had turned out all right. His team.

Naruto chose that moment to wrap him in a bear hug, but surprisingly didn't say anything. Then he stepped back, a strange sadness that seemed foreign in his normally cheerful blue eyes. "Hai. You gave up a lot for us—for all of Konoha, Kakashi-sensei. You deserve to be happy now."

Unbidden, Kakashi's gaze shifted to the hokage tower, and lingered. "I am."

Naruto's grin returned, though this time with a tinge of smugness. "Well, we won't keep you, Kakashi-sensei. You have somewhere to be, hai?"

Sasuke smirked, but Sakura looked between them in confusion. "What? But, Naruto, I thought we were going to take Sensei to eat ram—"

"Nope!" Naruto interrupted loudly. "They don't have a good special today, so we'll go another time. Come on, Sakura-chan, we should go. Bye, Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi shook his head in amusement as he watched his three former students hurry away; Naruto dragging a complaining Sakura, and Sasuke walking silently after them, cloak flowing behind him. He wouldn't have minded a bite of ramen, but as usual, Naruto had proven unusually perceptive in regards to Tsunade. So, he leaped to the nearest rooftop and headed for the hokage tower.

Kakashi stopped at the entrance. He glanced up, and couldn't help but notice one of the windows were open... almost like an invitation. At least, that's what he was going to take it as. He sprang up the slanted levels and landed in a crouch on the windowsill. Tsunade stood alone at her desk, shuffling through a stack of papers. "Maa, how was the meeting?"

Tsunade spun around, eyes lighting up. "Kakashi?" She lifted a finger, as if intending to scold him, but she only shook her head and sighed. "You aren't supposed to know about it yet, but it went well."

Kakashi rubbed his chin. "Well... it's rather hard not to know about it when the hokage spends half the night talking about her new plans." He smiled innocently. "Not that I minded." Especially when said hokage had snuggled into his arms after claiming she was cold. No, he hadn't minded at all.

Tsunade turned pink. "Kakashi! You—you shouldn't speak about those things so freely in this office."

"Why not?" Kakashi swiveled his head exaggeratedly. "There's no one here."

Tsunade gave a frustrated growl, which he found adorable. "It's the idea of acting in a manner befitting—Oh, never mind." She turned back to her desk. "You came to hear the result of the meeting, didn't you?"

That wasn't the only reason he'd come, but it wasn't time to enact the rest of his plan yet. So, he nodded. "Did you remove Koharu from the council?"

"Hai. After I listed the reasons why she was unfit to remain, she didn't put up much of a fight. Perhaps she's tired of dealing with it all." Tsunade sighed, and mumbled under her breath, "A mutual feeling."

"Maa, you're still the best person for this job, and you know it," Kakashi said. Tsunade only snorted instead of answering, and he added, "If Koharu is gone, you will have to elect a replacement in her stead."

Tsunade smirked. "I know. Jiraiya will be returning to Konoha soon, and it's about time he gets to experience some of the pain he inflicted on me. Now that he's unable to perform jutsu, it's the perfect use for his... skills. Besides, though he may act the fool, he has great insight when he wants to contribute. It's time he accepted more responsibility, especially now that he has a daughter."

Jiraiya on the council? Kakashi grinned. He would complain about it, but Tsunade was right. He would be a great asset. "Maa, once again, you have shown great wisdom in your position as hokage. Konoha is lucky to have you."

"Oh, shut up." Tsunade turned her back to him as she dug through a pile of paperwork. "You're just relieved that time as a missing-nin has exempt you from consideration. I could have retired by now, you know."

Though she'd spoken in jest, Kakashi caught the weariness in her voice. She had led Konoha through the darkest times they had ever faced, and yet was still here, because there were no other shoulders able to bear this burden. He slipped down from the window. "Perhaps. But I will always be here when you need me."

Tsunade's shoulders relaxed marginally. "I kno—K-Kakashi!"

Kakashi caught Tsunade around the waist and swung her up to sit on the small cleared space on the front of the desk. He planted both hands on the desk on either side of her, leaving no room for escape, and stood so close his thighs dug into the edge of the desk and his face inches from hers. Tsunade gaped at him and made a squeaking sound in her throat. He smiled. "Maa, I may have had... ulterior motives for coming here."

He leaned in to press his masked lips to her smooth neck, but the firm pressure of Tsunade's hands on his chest stopped him. "W-wait." He pulled back, and frowned at Tsunade's pinched expression. She bit her lip. "I—I know this isn't the best time, but there something I need to ask you."

Kakashi straightened, struggling to hide his confusion. His gut churned. Had he done something wrong? After finally, finally, having what he had longed for, he desperately didn't want to mess it up. "What is it?"

"I... ah..." Tsunade lowered her head, gaze fixed on her hands folded tightly in her lap. "When I saw you with Satomi, it reminded me—that is, I was wondering if—if you ever wanted children of your own."

Kakashi stared at her blonde hair blankly. Why would she bring that up right now? Sure, Satomi was a cute kid, but they had been having a moment—or so he thought. And he had Tsunade; why would he want anything else? But he supposed he should answer honestly. "Maa, I hadn't thought about it much. There were more important things on my mind." Like you, he nearly added.

Tsunade lifted her eyes to his, and he stiffened at the glistening sheen. This was... important to her. She cleared her throat. "Because—because if you want a family, I can't give that to you. And I remember on that mission to Yamagawa, when I said you would be a good father. The look on your face—"

"No." Kakashi took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, and gently squeezed. How could she even think that? "On that mission, your words did mean a lot to me. But it wasn't the thought of become a father. It was because... someone saw past the things I've done. You saw the person I was underneath; who I could be. You saw what I was capable of." He sighed. "I've never thought about children one way or the other. It wasn't something I wanted or didn't want." He gazed into the depths of her honey irises, and brushed his thumb along the back of her hand. "But I do want you. More than anything. You're all I need."

Tsunade's lips trembled, her eyes large and wet. "I..."

He'd waited long enough. Kakashi dragged his mask down and captured her soft lips with his own. His arms wound around her, and he held her close as she returned the kiss tenderly. Her pulse thumped against his, and he grunted at the unwanted barrier of the desk. It brought her closer to his height, but—

Tsunade pulled back abruptly, and gave him reproachful—though slightly breathless—look. "Ka-Kakashi, we still have our duties." She waved vaguely at the paperwork surrounding them. "We have to put that first."

Kakashi let the corner of his mouth lift. "Hai, I know. But..." He leaned in, blood quickening when her breath caught. "No one is here. And right now, it's my duty to make my hokage smile."

"Kakashi..." Tsunade blushed furiously, but her smile set her beautiful features aglow.

"There it is," Kakashi murmured, tracing his fingertips along her jaw. Warmth swelled in his chest, and he could have stared at her forever. Only that smile... This time, she gave no objection when he kissed her. Tsunade's fingers ran through his hair, and she tugged him down closer.

A squeak, not unlike that of a mouse, came from the door. Kakashi's eyes flew open and met Tsunade's startled own. Kakashi had his mask back up in an instant, and he turned away from Tsunade. Shizune stood in the doorway, a mortified, yet almost pleased, expression on her red-streaked face. He lifted a hand to ease the tension. "Hai, Shizune."

Shizune blinked rapidly. "I—I can come back later."

"No, please come in." Tsunade shot Kakashi a slight smirk, apparently unbothered at being discovered. "We were just finishing up."

Kakashi returned her smirk with his own, and offered a hand to help her down from the desk. If she didn't care, then he certainly wouldn't either. They could finally be open with their feelings, and the very thought lifted a weight from his shoulders and brought a foolish grin to his face. If they wanted to walk hand-in-hand through Konoha... there was nothing to stop them. "Hai. For now."

Tsunade rolled her eyes, but she accepted his hand and slid down from the desk. "What do you have to report, Shizune?"

Shizune cleared her throat, her gaze shifted from the desk, to the floor, to the ceiling. "The meeting is schedule for this afternoon. The council will be present, as you requested."

Kakashi slid his hands into his pockets and raised an eyebrow at Tsunade. "Another meeting?"

"I was gone for a week, you know," Tsunade said pointedly. "And as Shizune constantly reminds me, I have a lot to catch up on. I intend to appoint a new Jōnin Commander and advisor since Shikaku Nara is no longer with us."

Kakashi nodded. "Maa, who are you considering?" Shikamaru Nara was young, but he would be a good candidate to take the place of his father.

Tsunade's smile was too innocent for his liking. "I would like to appoint you, Kakashi. If you are willing, of course."

Kakashi stared at her. Him, the Jōnin Commander? "But... I thought you were going to put me back on active duty for missions." Though he couldn't deny the idea was more than tempting. Working at Tsunade's side every day didn't sound so bad, administrative work, or not.

Something shifted in Tsunade's expression, and it hit him. She was worried about him. "I can't send you back. Not yet. After everything you went through, you deserve a break. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if—if something happened to you because of me. Not again." She lifted her chin. "Besides, you are the best candidate for the position. I need someone I can trust."

Kakashi searched her gaze. He would do anything for her, and he had to admit that they did make a good team... but he needed to know that she was doing this for Konoha, not just for him. "Maa, all right. I'll accept the position. But you have to promise me that you will put me on active duty for missions if needed."

Tsunade smiled, and his stomach fluttered. Did he really think he could handle working with this woman every day? She rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I promise. But only when I deem you ready."

Kakashi bowed slightly, more to hide his embarrassing blush than anything. "As you wish, Hokage-sama."

"Good! That's settled, then." Tsunade walked briskly around her desk. "If you'll excuse us, Kakashi, Shizune and I have a wedding to plan." She sent him a knowing look. "Unless you want to help?"

"Ah, no," Kakashi said hastily. It was time for him to make his exit. He lifted his hand. "I will see you at the meeting."

Tsunade's honey eyes glinted. "Don't be late, or you're sleeping on the couch tonight."

Shizune gasped, and pressed her hands to her flushed cheeks. "Tsunade-sama! You shouldn't say such things!"

"Oh? And who's going to stop me?"

Kakashi made it to the door, but he couldn't help looking back. As if sensing his gaze, Tsunade glanced up. Her lips curved with a smile, soft and affectionate, and his heart beat faster. If this was what he had to look forward to for the next few years... he might just be the luckiest man alive.

Kakashi smirked at his sappy thoughts, and ducked out of the hokage's office. Perhaps he'd see if his team still wanted ramen.


Idle-ing: Thank youuuu! Your review made my week, truly. :D I felt like I was neglecting his poor ninken, so I'm glad they fit in that chapter. Tsunade and Jiraiya's interaction was one of my favorite parts to write. XD I'm thrilled you enjoyed Tsunade's new jutsu! It was fun to come up with. XD I'm so relieved that last scene hit the feels and managed to show what I was trying to go for, because it was honestly killer to write.

Krach: Ahhh, thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words. :) I do have a couple more stories in the works, so hopefully it won't be too long before I have more for you. :D