When Shanan woke up, it was to kisses on her forehead.

"Good morning, my love," Kakashi said.

Shanan looked up at him as she blinked slowly. "Good morning. Do you need me to make some coffee for you while you shower?"

"No. I'm taking the day off. It's Saturday and I need to spend the day with you and the kids," he told her.

Shanan lifted her head and looked at him excitedly. "You can take a day off?"

"Well, no. But I'm going to anyway. Shikamaru can handle things today, I trust him to do a good job."

"Yeah?" She smiled at him. "I agree... Ok. I'm glad you'll be home with us," Shanan said as she hugged him tight. She looked over at the clock and then back at Kakashi. "Just so you know, we only have about forty-five minutes before the twins barge in here."

Kakashi smirked at her. "Well, there's a lot we can do in forty-five minutes."

Shanan laughed a little. "Well, let's do whatever we're gonna do in the shower," she said as she kissed him.

When they left the bedroom, they were both ready for coffee. Sasuke was sitting at the table having already made a pot and having a cup himself.

"I didn't think I'd heard you leave this morning, Sensei," he said as Kakashi sat down.

Shanan poured a cup for both her and Kakashi and sat down to join them.

"Thank you, my love," he said, as Shanan set his cup in front of him. "No, I'm taking the day off. It's long overdue."

Sasuke nodded thoughtfully. "That'll make the twins really happy. I'll let you guys enjoy your day."

"Oh, you don't have to leave, Sasuke. I didn't take the day off so that I could derail your routine or your plans."

"Yeah, Sasuke, don't go. We were gonna continue with taijutsu today, right? The twins were really looking forward to it," Shanan reminded him. "Don't go."

"I'd be happy to help teach the twins taijutsu, if that's alright? I'm excited to see what they've learned so far," Kakashi said to Sasuke.

Sasuke looked at Kakashi a bit concerned. "Sensei, you don't have to ask... I should be asking you."

"Right." Kakashi suddenly felt a little out of place. He really didn't get very much time at home and certainly not this early in the day. It almost felt as though he were imposing on Shanan and Sasuke as if he were a third wheel.

Shanan could sense that he was feeling bad and grabbed his hand. "Hey," she smiled softly at him. "You know, I'm surprised these kids aren't up yet. Let's go wake 'em up, my love."

Kakashi looked at her appreciatively and nodded.

They walked down the hall together holding hands and Shanan stopped him before they opened the door and put her arms around his neck. "Hey, you don't have to feel so awkward," she whispered. "Whatever you wanna do today is what we'll do. And you won't make Sasuke feel bad by stepping up. He respects you so much and he may be really close to the twins, but he knows you're their dad, ok? Don't feel bad," she said as she smiled at him.

"I know, you're right," he said as he pulled her in for a hug. "I just didn't mean to throw your plans off."

Shanan pulled away and put her hand on his face. "You didn't." She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. "It sounds like they're awake, you should go in first."

Kakashi nodded again and Shanan stood back so that he could go in and surprise the kids. It sounded like they were playing, so he opened the door slowly and quietly. When he saw that their backs were turned, he leaned against the side of the doorway and watched them for a minute, beaming with pride as they talked and played together.

Kakashi was watching the kids, but Shanan was watching Kakashi and smiling at him and how contented he looked.

After a few minutes he finally went in. "Hey, guys..." he said softly as he knelt down.

"Daddy!" They both yelled at the same time as they ran over to him and tackled him with hugs and kisses.

He wrapped an arm around each of them and squeezed them tight. And then they both took turns showing him their toys and trying to talk to him in their three year old language as he absorbed every last bit of it. Shanan couldn't help but tear up as she watched him sit there and play with them for a while.

She decided to give them some privacy and went back to sit at the table, still a bit teary eyed.

"Shanan, should I go and let you guys be alone today?" Sasuke asked her.

She shook her head and stared down at her coffee cup. "No. He was just feeling a little insecure because he works so much. He wants to spend the day with us, though. With all of us." She looked up at him, still with the same tears in her eyes. "You have no idea how much he appreciates you being here with me and the kids, Sasuke. He doesn't want you to go just because he's here."

Sasuke nodded. "Do you want me to help you make breakfast?"

"Yeah, let's give them as much time as they need," she said as she got up.

Sasuke stood up and started helping her gather ingredients and anything else they needed as they talked.

"You know, before the Kaitei, I never would've pictured Kakashi Sensei as a dad. At least, not the kind of dad that he is. I guess I kinda thought he'd be more like my father."

Shanan smiled at Sasuke. "Really? Like Fugaku?"

"I always forget that you knew him..."

"Sasuke, no disrespect to your father. But you know, I don't think you really ever knew Kakashi very well."

Sasuke looked at her a bit confused, he thought he knew Kakashi better than most. And he did, but not as well as Shanan did. She'd always had a knack for reading people, even before she absorbed his Sharingan.

"Kakashi closed himself off, yes, but he's always been kind... and soft. That's why he closed himself off." Shanan laughed a little. "It was just an annoying defense mechanism of his. He's always been really sensitive. More than most other people I've ever known. Is he also strong and imposing? Of course. He's good at what he does. But what he does isn't who he is."

Sasuke smirked at her a bit. "Are you sure you didn't have any feelings for him before?" he asked both teasingly and curiously.

Shanan looked at him and laughed. "You know, I wish that I had. The thought of him having feelings for me for a few months and me being oblivious to it makes me really sad. Especially because, like I said, he's more sensitive than he lets on. Kinda like you. So I'm sure you can imagine how hard that would be for someone like you guys."

Sasuke gave her that very specific look that he only ever gave to her. The one that she could never read. He, clearly, knew exactly how Kakashi had felt for those few months. Kakashi wouldn't have ever shared his feelings for different reasons, but the longing was probably just as strong as Sasuke's was, even if it was a few months compared to several years.

Kakashi came walking into the kitchen with one of the twins over his shoulder and the other one under his arm as they giggled. "Do you guys need help? I'm not doing anything, both of my hands are free," he jokingly announced to more giggles. "By the way, have either of you seen where the twins went?" More giggles.

"Daddy!" Hiroshi yelled. "We wight here!"

"We wight here, Daddy," Yukiho said as she covered her mouth and giggled.

Kakashi spun around in a circle as if to search for them. "I'll check outside," he said as he slid the door open with his foot. As soon as they were outside he put the kids down and they ran away as he chased them.

Shanan watched them and teared up again. She wished he could be here all the time. She really missed him being home.

"Hey." Sasuke said to get Shanan's attention. She turned around and he poked her gently on the forehead while giving her that look again. "Go out there. I'll finish making this and bring it out when it's done and we'll all spend the rest of the day together."

"Sasuke..."

"Seriously, go. This won't take me long to make anyway."

Shanan smiled appreciatively at him. "Tell me when it's done. I'll help you bring it out, ok?"

He gave a quick nod and she ran outside and chased the kids around with Kakashi.

Sasuke audibly sighed. "Yes... I can imagine," he finally said in reply to Shanan's earlier statement.