As I walked out from the Hyuga compound, I heard a familiar voice along with children approaching. I turned to my left to find Kiba with his two children, Hani and Hisoka.

I could feel my heart pounding through my chest and my breathing was getting a bit short. My anxiety was starting to act up again.

During the time of war, I developed anxiety but it wasn't bad, I only had anxiety attacks when under immense pressure working on a patient on occasion, until my husband's death. Watching him helplessly pass in front of my eyes really messed with my psyche. That attack also caused me to have PTSD but that's a whole other story...

I wasn't ready to face more than one person from my past. I wanted to take it one step at a time. What if I say the wrong things? What if they have a disdain for me for suddenly abandoning our friendship like trash?

What if-

"Sakura-San, is...is that you?"

That low voice ripped me from my thoughts. I caught herself staring him there direction and quickly looked downward.

Danmit

"Sakura-San, that is you," Kiba said catching up to me. "Kids go ahead on inside with Akamaru, I'll be there in a second."

"Ok, papa." The one I presumed to Hani said and both went inside the compound.

"K-Kiba-san, Hi," I say in a low shaky voice. I could feel my palms sweating profusely.

"It's been a long time! What are you doing out here-but you don't have to answer that hehe." He smiled showing his sharpened canine teeth.

"O-Oh, earlier, I went to the marketplace and grabbed a few groceries," I explained. My eyes weren't looking directly at his but I made sure to make him feel like I was. I didn't want to be rude in our first conversation in years...

"Oh? I see you were coming from our house, did you speak to Hinata-chan?"

"Y-Yes we just concluded our conversation. Which reminds me, I have to go and cook dinner!" I nervously half smiled while wiping my sweaty palms on my pants. "M-My kids should be home soon so I-I have to go..."

I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. One person to face was enough. I didn't prepare myself for this!

"W-Wait a moment! Don't just bail like that! It's been years since we last spoke and you're just going to bail...again?" Kiba asked. His tone was filled with disappointment. He was right but...

I took a deep breath trying to relax my breathing and turned back to him.

"I'm...sorry Kiba-san. I'm not trying to leave you again but... It's just..."

"It's just what?" He questioned.

I finally looked into his eyes, tears were staining mine. "It's hard. It was hard enough to face your wife but facing my problems all at the same time is really a lot."

He took a step closer to me. "What do you mean? Are...we your problem? Are we part of the reason you-"

"No! No...never. My problem is facing you all. Just three weeks ago, I just got back on track with my children. Of course, we're still navigating though because it doesn't take a day but... we're on the same page. After, I made a plan for myself to...face you all. One by one. I didn't want to get bombarded because I knew with my anxiety, I couldn't and... And..."

"That's ok." He put his hand on my shoulder as a sign of reassurance. "You forget, I've seen first hand how those attacks are and I don't want you to go through that because of me. I can see your hands clamming up, you're not looking directly at me. If you want to talk again, my number hasn't changed. Whenever you're ready Sakura-San. "

That's right. He was there for my first anxiety attack after the funeral. There were so many people there. I was so deep in my grief, I thought I saw the guy... Kiba was one of the few people who helped calm me down.

"I... Thank you Kiba-san," I bowed and turned to leave. "Oh, and Kiba-san, thank you for being there that day... Without you..."

"No problem. Don't be a stranger now." He said before going inside.

"I won't."

About time I came home, it was close for the kids to becoming he so I prepared a quick dinner of beef ramen for everyone. When everything was finished, they started to pour into the door one after the other.

"Good evening everyone!" They greater me back in unison. "Your dinner is just about ready. Go wash up."

While they prepared themselves, I put out each person's bowl and drinks at their seats. After, everyone, myself included, say and began eating away at the delicious food.

"Mmm! Mom, this is so good! " Arashi exclaimed.

"Yeah, really tasty. I've really missed your cooking." Hanami with a mouth full said.

"Hanami, no talking with your mouth full. And thank you. But I'm sure that your brother did a good job in my place him?"

Both Arashi and Hanami looked away as if they were avoiding the question.

"That food was nothing to be proud of." Hanami Snickers.

"Hey!" Shinachiku calls out from across the table. "You were the main one always praising my cooking skills!"

"I lied." She said very bluntly. "It was only to make you feel better."

"Of course you did," Shinachiku said with a grimace look on his face.

"Oh cut it out you two." I intervened. " Shina-chan, I'm sure your food wasn't that bad."

"Thanks, Mom " he smiled sweetly at me.

These are the moments that I missed out during those years in isolation. I thank God every day for this chance of a do-over. To experience this.

"I missed this..."

"Missed what?" Hanami asked.

I hadn't realized I said my thoughts out loud and was immediately embarrassed. "Oh uh just... thinking out loud hehe. "

"Oh well... we missed this too." She said back, everyone else nodded in agreement.

My mouth grew into a big smile. I picked up a glob of noodles and stuffed them into my mouth. "So, how was school?"

"Mom, no talking with a full mouth!" She mocked. I could only laugh at her.

I love them so much.