Caged: Chapter 5

Life Happens

A/N: Thanks to all of you that have reviewed and keep on wanting more. May the rest of this story satisfy you as the beginning has.

Disclaimer: This is redundant. Read my print.. I don't Naruto & company, wish I did tho:) Now on with the story...

Sharing several passionate encounters that night, Kakashi and Sakura, they collapsed, worn out from their late night activities. Wrapping their arms tightly around each other, falling into a peaceful slumber and smiles to accompany the late night afterglow. There would be no regrets, for once, and neither of them would be plagued by the horrible dreams that usually came in the night. Seperate they could hold their own, if forced, but united nothing could seperate and ever harm them.

Soft sighs and whispers echoed in the darkened room which earlier vibrated with the throes of passion. Before they could finally succumb to sleep's hold, they had one more thing to say.

"Kakashi... I love you."

"As I love you, Sakura."

"Good night, Kakashi." She snuggled closer to him and his warmth. Sakura fell asleep instanly.

"Good night, Sakura." Kakashi stared at the ceiling for a few moments before drifting off into his peaceful slumber.

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Sakura rolled over to snuggle closer with Kakashi. Instead of a very nice, warm and leanly muscled body, she found empty space. Panicking, she sat up quickly, glancing around but seeing no Kakashi. Jumping out of bed she ran to the bathroom first... nope, not there. She continued on til she reached the kitchen. There he was sitting at the table and downing a large cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Kakashi." Sakura gave him the biggest smile he'd ever seen from her. Considering he'd seen alot of her since last night. Walking over to him, taking his face in her hands, she kissed him so lightly.

"Morning, Sakura. Sleep well?", asked Kakashi knowing full well he'd kept her up really late. He felt a smile break across his face and he couldn't really explain it. As long as he had Sakura, he had everything and that's what mattered most. That's why it was going to make it hard to leave her since they just found each other and worked things out.

He noticed the scared look on her face when she entered the kitchen and he was pretty sure what she had thought. Wanting to alleviate her fears, he pulled her into his lap and holding her close. "Sakura, what's wrong?"

"When I woke up this morning, I thought you'd gone. That you'd left me without saying goodbye." Reaching up with her hand, she caressed his face. Emotions clouded her eyes and choked her voice. " I thought I wouldn't get to say goodbye. That I wouldn't get to hold you and kiss you just one more time." Sakura looked away not wanting to let him see the pain currently etched on her pale features. Tears slowly sliddown her cheeks like gentle rain against a pane of glass during a storm.

Taking his hand, gently raising her face to meet his own and saying,"Sakura, I wouldn't do that to you. Not after what we shared. It's going to hurt like hell for us both but you know i'll be back."

Deep inside he was worried about her...that and their seperation. This mission would take about 3 months. He hadn't left yet but he was already wondering if when he's gone that she'll find someone else. This tore at his mind yet even worse clawed at his heart. The very idea of someone else holding her, kissing her and comforting her ,all these thoughts, sent a black rage through him like he'd never felt before.

"Kakashi.." her soft voice bringing him back, "I know what you're thinking. No, there won't be anyone else for me but you. There never will be." Sakura hugged him close to her, kissing him softly but with all of her emotion infused into it.

"Sakura." Unfortunately, their time together was up. Seven am was rapidly approaching and he was so terribly reluctant to leave her, but it had to be done. The longer it took, the worse it'd be... for both of them.

"Hmm?"

Hesitatingly, he somehow found the nerve, saying what needed to be said. "Sakura, I've enjoyed our time together. But now is the time I have to leave... God knows I wish I didn't have to, but you more than anyone should understand the life of a shinobi. Three months will seem like forever but just think about this one thing-"

She pressed herself harder into him, questioning,"What do I need to think about?"

Biting back a groan he calmly said, " You're not making this any easier you know that?"

Kakashi tried to put a stern mask on his face, but with Sakura, it wouldn't work. Especially with her giggling like a schoolgirl on the verge of a laughing fit.

"Just think of all the making up we'll get to do. There's nothing like making love after a long seperation." Saying this, he winked at her, almost laughing himself at her shocked expression.

Standing up, he pulled her into a tight embrace.. so tight because he was afraid she'd disappear." It's time.. if I don't hurry up, the guys will have a search party coming for me.. that or a hunting party."

"Now, Kakashi, don't tell me that they're not used to your errant tardiness!",Sakura teased him.

"That they are but with this being a direct order from the Hokage... I don't want to piss her off! Also, the sooner I leave, the sooner I can return."

Damn that man! He was smirking at her! Payback was already sounding funny as hell.

"One more kiss before you don that mask. It's weird how a scrap of cloth can change a person's looks.. namely, yours, Kakashi. I'm going to miss you dreadfully!" Sakura felt her tears coming again. "I hope you're proud of yourself, Hatake, Kakashi! You've made me into a sentimental idiot!" Damn this was hurting badly tearing her up...but I don't want him to leave just yet. I'm so selfish!

"Don't cry, Sakura, I'll be back again before you know it." Trying to cheer her up, apparently, wasn't going to work. This was killing him to leave her in tears, knowing how much harder it would be for her. Several of her closest friends were going along with him to Suna. Which meant less people to talk to should she feel lonely. And that would come before he exited the gates of Konoha.

"I have a request to make of you, Sakura, before I leave?" He prayed that this would work, if not, he's just have to turn into a cold hearted bastard and just leave.

"What can I do?" Anything, she thought to make this easier. Tentively, reaching up with her hand, tracing every curve of his face, as if committing it to memory. This was almost to much to bare!

"Smile for me. That's all...I need to see your beautiful smile once more before I go."

"I'd do anything for you... you know that right?" Wiping away her tears, straightening her body, she gave him her biggest, brightest smile that she's ever smiled. All the time, feeling like someone had taken her putting her through a wringer.

Kakashi smiled back and quickly laid seige to her mouth, telling her, not in words, but in this primal gesture, how much he loved her. Suddenly, the warmth of his mouth was gone. Opening her eyes, she saw that he'd placed that infernal mask back on. Even though he wore it in public, it thrilled her to know that she's the only one alive to see Kakashi maskless.

"Remember what I said, Sakura. We'll have plenty to talk about when I get back. Just try to stay out of trouble ok?"

Glancing at her, she suddenly seemed nervous, he wondered what she was thinking about.

"Kakashi... while you're gone, could I stay here? If I have to be alone.. I'd rather be here where I can at least feel your presence."

It looked like thousands of lights went on in his eyes. Rather he looked overjoyed that she'd even have thought to ask. He assumed she'd want to stay in her apartment, so she wouldn't be reminded of his absence.

"Your welcome to stay as long as you want. When I return, there's something I wanted to discuss with you anyway. It's not bad, I promise."

"Well, the train's leaving, I better jump on it. Be careful while I'm gone.. if something were to happen to you..I don't know what would happen and what I'd do. Leaning over he kissed her lips then her forehead and was out the door like a quiet whirlwind.

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2 months later:

Sakura was at the hospital, helping Tsunade with a difficult healing jutsus. The patient, Ebisu, had gotten drunk and insulted a team of fellow ninja's. Fortunately, outside the blows from fists and feet, and kunai wounds, he would make it, at least she hoped! One hour later, it was done and Ebisu, resting comfortably was mumbling in his sleep.

"Sakura?"

"Yes, Tsunade?" Wondering what the gorgeous, blonde Hokage wanted, she asked her, "Do you need anything sensei?" Sakura looked over Tsunade to make sure she hadn't overused her chakra. That's the last thing they needed now!

"Are you alright? You look pale and I've noticed you're not eating. I'd almost swear you're not resting well either, the circles under your eyes my indication for that statement."

Sakura started to speak when she was slapped by a wave of dizziness. Last thing she remembered was a pair of male arms stretching out to catch her falling form. Then all was dark.

"Sakura... Sakura. Wake up. You need to wake up. We really need to have a talk." Guessing the voice belonged to her sensei, she opened her eyes, she was right. "I ran some tests and we need to talk. Are you up for it?"

She slowly nodded her head. The way Tsunade was talking had her scared. Problem being, when she got scared, she longed for Kakashi, so he could make it all go away and just hold her til she felt better.

"Ok. Sakura, you're going to have to take better care of yourself from now on. That means no working your ass off here, in the hospital, or at the training grounds. Is that clear?" Sakura had never heard her teacher sound that stern to her ever.

"Tsunade-sensei... what's wrong? Please just get it out. This waiting is killing me." Sakura in the meantime had been gripping the sheets on the hospital bed in which she lay. Now, though, she had them in a death grip.

"Your pregnant, Sakura. A little over two months. So who's the lucky man?" Tsunade couldn't help but tease her apprentice. "Twenty bucks says it's a silver -haired jounin who's punctually challenged... hmm? You can trust me. I won't say a word on the name of the father."

Sakura, dazed looking said,"The father is Hatake, Kakashi."

"It figures... the one time I have a sure bet.. noone wants to take me up on it! That's screwed up. Oh well.. that's the way life happens. Oh and just to let you know.. Kakashi's team is slated to come in this week. Thought you'd want to be around to welcome him back. I never realized that you two were that close! Anyway, go home and rest. I can't have one of my best medic-nins wearing herself out." Tsunade left closing the door behind her.

What am I going to do? What will Kakashi say? The questions came faster and faster as she became more confused and disoriented about all of this. Getting up and leaving the hospital, she fervently wished that noone would find out about her pregnancy yet. She was still trying to work out how to tell him. Would he be disappointed? It's too confusing... I just need to lay down and rest.

Shortly after, Sakura walked through the door to his apartment, glad that he was returning in the next few days. Walking down the hall to his bed they'd so lovingly, passionately shared and now the result, besides their love awakened in each other, was a baby on the way.

Laying down, Sakura stared up at the ceiling, a nightly ritual, that Kakashi had fallen into years ago when he was preoccupied and couldn't sleep. Kakashi .. I miss you so much, she spoke outloud to the darkness. Tears rolled down her face, which made the situation that much worse. She hated being weak and emotional. ' Guess I better get used to this... I'll be like this for the next six to seven months!'

Wiping away her tears she snuggled closer into Kakashi's pillow, which smelt so wonderfully like him. Her last thoughts of the night were of her, Kakashi and the baby. Could it possibly work for them to be a family? Honestly, she was just too tired to think anymore.

Closing her eyes, she opted to let fantasy run rampant, giving her what she wanted, but it was only Kakashi who could give her what she needed.

A/N: whoo.. another chapter done for my faithful reviewers. You guys rock!

Apherion, my muse, keep on inspiring..you're the best, lil sis! luv ya!

SweetAssassin: I'm glad you were pleased. This being my first fic, I didn't want to fall flat on my face!

Infinite'sgirl: Yeah... could you expect some trouble.. it'll hit the fan when Kakashi's team returns to Konoha.

Silent Kunoichi:I'll add more as soon as I can... I think I'm doing fairly well... five chapters in five days. Hell, I'm not sure how long this lil baby's gonna be:)

Madness Incarnate: I feel priviledged that you took the time to review more than once. It's greatly appreciated and helps keep me motivated.

Note to all: This fic WILL have a happy ending. Just bear with me. Next chap.. Return of Kakashi...