Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter. Can't wait to hear what you think. This story is a lot of fun to write. It's just the right balance of plot and chaos that I can really enjoy myself while I'm writing. I hope you guys have as much fun with it as I do.

"What's with the headband?" Yuki blinked at the wrapping around her grandson's head. "Did he get hurt?"

"No," Haruka sighed. "Nothing like that."

"Oh no," Yuki's eyes grew wide and her muscles tensed with apprehension. "They didn't put that seal on my grandbaby, did they?!"

"Shh!" Haruka hissed, her head darting from side to side to check their surroundings. "Keep your voice down."

"Not until you tell me the Hyuga didn't seal Satoru!" Yuki hissed back while she angrily folded her arms.

"It didn't take," Haruka raised the wrap slightly so her mother could see the smooth, unblemished baby skin. "They tried. Hiashi had me put the wrap on Satoru so the rest of the clan thinks he's been sealed"

At Yuki's increasingly sour look and the dark, threatening cloud passing over her eyes, Haruka swatted her. "He's a part of their family and they have traditions, the same as us. I'm not going to offend them after everything they've done for me."

"So does that mean they're going to keep trying?" Yuki dropped her voice low.

Haruka shook her head. "Hiashi says it means Satoru doesn't have the Byakugan."

"No, that's not enough," Yuki shook her head, her jaw set so tight Haruka thought she might pop a tooth. "You need to explain how my baby even ended up in that position."

Haruka heaved a sigh and snuggled her wriggling baby. "Look, mom, it's…it's complicated." She knew that the statement wasn't enough but it bought a few seconds of patience from Yuki so Haruka could articulate her thoughts. "So, the thing is…well, there's a couple of reasons. The first one is it's a long standing tradition in the Hyuga clan. Because of the nature and desirability of the Byakugan they seal all branch members. No exceptions."

It wasn't the most solid reason, Haruka knew. Yuki was definitely one to uphold family traditions but she was also known for throwing them to the wind on a whim. The main reason Haruka agreed to the sealing she could never tell her mother. It was a failsafe. Something that as a mother Haruka hated to admit they needed. Learning that the Hyuga were descendants of Kaguya and knowing her own family's close ties to the Mother of all Chakra, gentle pressure had been put on Neji and Haruka to consent to the sealing. Haruka didn't need much convincing. She remembered that voice in her head and how it had taken every ounce of discipline in her body not to roast her family and friends on the battlefields of the Fourth Shinobi World War. If her son had inherited his mother's weakness to Kaguya's influence and had a Byakugan to boot, she would be much more comfortable knowing he could be forced to stop. The pain and possible death that came from defying the orders of the main family were a gamble Yuki would never agree to. Haruka knew the value of pain, though, that it could be used as a way to snap herself out of the influence of Kaguya and the Maidens. If it had worked for her, maybe it would be enough to save Satoru.

It had been a grim period for Haruka, having to sit with her husband and discuss the possibility of needing to neutralize their son. Something Haruka had become keenly aware that Yuki had to deal with her own child. During the war, Yuki was powerless to stop Haruka. Fortunately, Haruka had chosen to stop herself with the help of some incoming projectiles. Yuki and Haruka were completely different, though, and so Haruka could be confident Satoru would his own person as well. She couldn't count on him to have her resolve. She couldn't rely on her bundle of joy to resist the will of a god. In her mind that justified the extra safety measure.

"Well, if they're not going to try again I guess we don't have anything to worry about," Yuki sighed. "If it's just a formality. Poor little pumpkin is probably just a powerful carrier then, like your dad. If he didn't take after the Hyuga he has to have taken after the Tsukimori."

"And boys can't be Maidens." Thank God, Haruka thought.

"What did Hinata say about it all?" Yuki blinked. "No protest or pressure?"

Haruka shrugged. "She asked me how I felt about it. I'm kind of in a tricky spot and she knows it. I married into their branch family as an under the table ronin runaway. She tries to keep an eye out that I don't feel like I'm being strong armed into anything, but to be fair, I kind of owe them. I kind of owe them everything I have. Neji and I weren't supposed to be together, first of all. Then there was that whole business of basically starting a clan war between the Hyuga and his last fiancé's family-"

"So you're going to be a good little girl and follow their traditions?" Yuki asked.

"If it's something like that? Sure. Neji and I accept that the choices we made together have consequences." Haruka sighed. "And you weren't there. I know this sounds so terrible- sealing a baby- but it was not that freaky. They let Neji hold Satoru while they tried to apply it. When it didn't work, Satoru got a little spooked and started crying. Hiashi took him and rocked him until he calmed down. Then he just stood there and held him while Satoru played with his hair and explained that it happens sometimes and it's nothing to worry about. Then we all went to the park and Hanabi pushed Satoru on the swing."

"Well, I'm going to have to pick up a different scarf for him or something," Yuki reached out and took Satoru from his mother. "I made us matching outfits and that headband doesn't match at all."

"You what?!" Haruka shook her head violently as she waved her hands in the air. "Oh no. I am NOT wearing a matching outfit with you."

Yuki scoffed. "Who said I meant you? I made me, Satoru, and Pakkun matching rompers."

"Wait, what-?" Haruka peeked into her mother's bag. True to her word, there was a blue and white striped romper about her son's size. "You made matching rompers for my son and your dog?"

"Yes," Yuki said as casually as though she weren't talking like a crazy dog mom. "Now don't you have work to get to?"

Haruka was dazed and slightly confused. "You know what? You're right. I'm going to be late. I don't have time for this nonsense."

"Say bye bye momma," Yuki grinned at her grandson.

"Da bu, ma." Satoru waved.

…

Kakashi looked down from his window expectantly. It was going to be a long day; Shikamaru had called him to come in and work on an emergency at 4:30 that morning. Since then, all Kakashi had put in his stomach was a cup of black coffee. Yuki had called him around 8 asking if he wanted her to bring by lunch. Knowing he wouldn't get back home until long after his girlfriend had gone to sleep, Kakashi agreed. It was nearly twelve o'clock and Kakashi's stomach was growling. He hadn't eaten dinner the night before and a hot meal would fix everything that ailed him.

At last he saw Yuki, walking down the street with Satoru strapped to her back and a set of lunches in her hands. She was wearing a cute little one-piece thing. What did she call it? A romper? It reminded Kakashi of the little baby onesies Satoru used to wear but he would never tell her that. A get up like that just meant it was that much easier to strip her if he wanted to. He smiled to himself as he affectionately watched her approach. Then he noticed Pakkun strolling along beside her. On days where Kakashi would be working most of the 24 hours, he sometimes sent one of the hounds along with Yuki to guard her. Pakkun was her favorite and admittedly, the dog loved the way she spoiled him. Kakashi's eyes grew wide as he watched their approach. Pakkun apparently liked Yuki enough that he had allowed her to put him in an identical matching romper. He could only laugh at the ridiculous sight of one of the most ruthless shinobi he had ever known wearing a matching outfit with his ninja hound. In fact, when Yuki came through the door, Kakashi was still laughing. He was laughing so hard he had to sit in his chair and bury his face in his hands.

Yuki cocked an eyebrow. "Lack of sleep making you delirious?" Her words were accompanied by the delicious smell of katsu.

"No," Kakashi raised his head, his eyes smiling. "Just you and your little twin there."

"Which one?" Yuki turned so Kakashi could see Satoru in his romper. The baby cooed and held his arms out towards Kakashi.

The smile slid off Kakashi's face. "Did you make a romper for everybody? I'm the Hokage Yuki. I'm not wearing it."

"Psh, as if I'd make a romper for you." She set his lunch on his desk and pulled up a chair. "I knew that's exactly the crappy attitude you would have about my labor of love."

Kakashi rolled his eyes as he cracked open his lunch. "So the whole family is running around in rompers except me?"

"Wrong again, Hatakage." Yuki broke her chopsticks apart. "Beks refused to wear one, too. I made one for her and didn't tell her. I'm just going to bribe her into sacrificing her dignity and joining us first."

"So what blackmail are you going to use on me, then?" Kakashi pulled down his mask and took a bite. Yuki had set Satoru down on the carpet. Pakkun was crawling around with him, snuffling at his baby belly and allowing the boy to practice petting him.

"Nothing. I didn't make you one." Yuki took a bite of her chicken. I knew you would outright refuse, and like you said: you're the kage. I can't really make you do anything, can I?"

"You made matching rompers for everyone in the family except me and Neji?" Kakashi asked. "You even made one for my ninja hound!"

"All the hounds," Yuki corrected. "And I only made a matching shirt for Neji. Seeing him in a romper would probably confuse his son into thinking he wasn't his dad anymore but another random Hyuga auntie."

"Literally everyone but me, then," Kakashi felt like an idiot for feeling as hurt as he did. It was just another one of Yuki's stupid antics, yet somehow he felt singled out and excluded from the family. He could just see them all gathered together for a picture and he would be standing off to the side, the only one out of regs. It felt calculated somehow. Yuki's plays were usually up front but Kakashi couldn't quite figure out her angle on this one.

Yuki's eyes flashed. "Are you saying you want one?'

Kakashi knit his brows. This is your game then, Yuki. You're going to blackmail your daughter into joining you but I have to beg. "No, actually. I'm fine."

"Suit yourself," Yuki shrugged.

Kakashi hated feeling like she was in the lead. His whole life, he had been neck and neck with Gai in all their little competitions. For his friend, Kakashi did his best to be just enough of a rival to keep him happy but maintain just enough of a losing streak that the man didn't kick in his door at 3 AM for a wrestling match. Now, Kakashi understood God's purpose for putting that constant series of petty power struggles into his life: it was all training for Yuki. And for some reason, Yuki was the only person who could truly draw out a shred of competition from Kakashi. She was so haughty, so full of herself when she thought she was winning. More so than the satisfaction of seeing her brought down, it was the ridiculously childlike terror and desperation to escape when she knew she'd lost that drew Kakashi in. After the day he'd had, Kakashi needed that scrap of personal satisfaction.

"Shikamaru," Kakashi called out and his assistant stepped in the room.

"Yes, sir?" Shikamaru yawned and scratched his head, trying not to make an obvious show of watching Satoru and Pakkun suspiciously. "Someone stinks."

"Your wife just had Shikadai, right?" Kakashi picked up the diaper bag on his desk, then Satoru, and plopped both in his arms. "I'm going to go take a walk with Yuki. I'll be back in an hour."

"Sir?!" Shikamaru protested and Satoru grabbed onto his bottom lip. He stared the baby down, who only gurgled in reply. "What am I supposed to do with him?"

"Watch him," Kakashi grabbed Yuki's wrist and led her out the door.

Shikamaru gave a small sniff and shrugged. "Well, you're not the one who smells."

Pakkun demurred. "My intestinal tract may be aged, but I'll always be a puppy."

"Go sit outside," Shikamaru leered.

...

"Okay, so what alley are you dragging me down for an illicit encounter today?" Yuki's head bobbed side to side as she looked for a familiar landmark. "I mean, we always could've locked ourselves in the bathroom for a bit-"

"That's not what we're doing, Yuki," Kakashi shook his head. "As risky as we get, it is broad daylight."

Yuki shrugged. "Work fast?"

Kakashi let out a disgusted sigh. "Don't make me regret this."

"What?" Yuki laughed. "You still haven't told me what we're-"

Yuki's smile fell dead. She looked up at the sign and went rigid for a moment. Her surprise gave Kakashi just enough time to whip her around and lock her in a vice like grip before she could bolt.

"NO!" Yuki cried, flailing her arms violently. She began to stomp her feet, desperately trying to catch one of Kakashi's shoes or shins to create an opening. He wasn't elected Hokage for his good looks, however. The man held on tight in perfect form while simultaneously waddling them forward and flinging open the door. "I'M NOT READY!" She cried, gripping the door handle.

"Yuki," Kakashi gave her an exhausted look. "Don't make me break your fingers."

"But I don't want to Kakashi," Yuki pouted. "I don't wanna!"

"You knew this was going to happen." Kakashi turned her forcefully around so she faced the inside of the store. "It's time to pick a ring, sweetheart."

"I don't like commitment, Hokashi!" Yuki hissed. "I'm not ready to be tied down again!"

"You live with me, you've met the elders, you call my ninja hounds your fur babies," Kakashi gave her another shove. "You always knew we were going to make it official. Don't fight it now."

Yuki about faced and clutched his vest, oblivious to the confused stares the shopkeepers were giving them. "But this is it, Kakashi! If we pick a ring and I start wearing it, that means this is for real! It's for serious! It's not 'teehee someday we're gonna get married' its 'we're getting married soon'!"

Kakashi gently cupped his beautiful girlfriend's face in his hands. "Asou Yukihana, you are my heart walking around outside my body. You are the brightest stars in the blackest night and the first sight of land for sea weary sailors." He squeezed her cheeks between his fingers so her lips puckered forward comically. "Now you are going to turn around, go up to the counter, and pick out an engagement ring."

"You haven't even proposed yet," Yuki furrowed her brows. "This is cheating."

"Proposing means you have a chance to say no," Kakashi released her face and gave her cheek a clap. "I've learned better than to leave you an open escape route."

"Kakashi," Yuki sobered, her exaggerated panic settling into confusion. "What if...what if I don't want to get married again? What if I'm comfortable with things just the way they are? I mean, what difference does a party and a piece of paper make between us? We love each other. We're happy, we're healthy, and we have our whole lives ahead of us. Why do we have to go through all this pomp and ceremony just to-"

"The dogs can be in the wedding." Kakashi stared her down. "And you can make your grandson wear a tux."

Yuki's eyes went wide. Slowly, she raised her hands to her mouth in a feeble attempt to conceal her inner conflict. The storm raging across her face could not be hidden. Kakashi watched suppressing a smirk as Yuki weighed the options in her head: be stubborn and win a petty argument with Kakashi or baby-tux-puppy wedding. Not a second of worry crossed the Hokage's face. It was always obvious to Kakashi when his opponent was cornered and victory was assured.

"Damn you, Hatake Kakashi," Yuki hissed as she stormed over to the case.

"Ma'am?" The young man behind the counter approached her cautiously. "Are...are you alright?"

"Yes," Yuki sighed dejectedly. "Let me see this one here, please."

...

Haruka was sought out by a genin that evening to pass on the message that Yuki had some big news to share in person. Neji had offered to watch Satoru the following morning so she could visit her mother unhampered. It was with slight confusion and mild worry that Haruka set out. What news could Yuki possibly have? If it were truly important, nothing had ever stopped the woman from pounding on their door at 3 AM before. The pair saw each other once a week. If the news wasn't pressing at all, Yuki could save it for their next meal at the diner.

Haruka wracked her brain for what it could be. Was it something too private to share in person? An embarrassing medical condition would fit the bill, like a surprise pregnancy. Haruka shuddered at the idea of her mother being pregnant with a child young enough to be Haruka's baby. As she approached the Hatake residence, however, nothing seemed to be out of place. No stretchers or medical nin were in sight. Or the police, which with Yuki was always a concern. After a brief moment of consideration, Haruka determined that if Yuki had been incarcerated, she would have had the genin share she needed to be bailed out.

Yuki opened the door as Haruka approached. She had been clearly waiting for her daughter's arrival. "What took you so long?!"

Haruka blinked. "You didn't specify a time. That's your own fault."

Yuki let out a frustrated sigh as she slammed the door behind Haruka. "I suppose I should have called and gotten you up earlier."

"If you had, I would have brought over a grouchy screaming Satoru for you to deal with," Haruka said pointedly. Sometimes her mother crossed the line from bossy to disrespectful. Usually it was with other people. Today it seemed to be directed at her and Haruka was not one to take that sort of treatment sitting down.

Yuki shook her head. "Enough bickering. I've got a crisis on my hands."

Haruka blinked. "If it was really so bad you could have come to me sooner-"

Yuki shoved her left hand in her daughter's face.

"Oh." Haruka laughed. "It's literally on your hand."

"I wasn't trying to be funny!" Yuki stomped her foot. "Get it together, Haruka, and help me figure a way out of this!"

"Out of what?" Haruka threw up her hands. "You got proposed to. Congratulations, when's the wedding?"

"He didn't propose," Yuki hissed, kicking the umbrella stand by the door with her slippered foot. Haruka bit her tongue to keep from laughing at the expression of instant regret that crossed her mother's face. After a moment, she sobered as the meaning behind the words set in.

"What do you mean he didn't propose? You have a ring on your finger!" Haruka scoffed.

Yuki folded her arms and leaned against the wall of the entryway. "I meant exactly what I said. He dragged me to a jewelry shop and said we weren't leaving till I picked a ring."

Haruka opened her mouth to speak but stopped and clapped her jaw shut. She shook her head and started again. "I, uh, wow. I guess when you're a kage you don't have to take no for an answer."

"I bet Gaara wishes someone would have told him that ten years ago," Yuki said half under her breath. Haruka glowered and socked her mother's shoulder.

After a moment of silent glaring, the tension broke when Haruka let out a sigh. "Okay, what exactly do you need help with, anyway? Are you being forced into this? Do you not want to marry Kakashi?"

"He isn't forcing me. Well, I mean, he kind of is," Yuki shuffled uncomfortably. "It's not that I don't love him. I like what we have now. It's just he's a kage. He's got a target on his back a mile high and I don't want to be a widow again. I'm not the same cocksure kid I was when I married your father. We were invincible then; nothing bad could happen to us."

The playful air was completely sucked out of the room by the gravity of the subject, Haruka folded her hands patiently and nodded from time to time to encourage Yuki to continue. "I didn't worry back then. I didn't know I should worry, you know? But now every time the bastard gets up in the middle of the night to go deal with something, I'm shaking in my boots. What if he is assassinated or sacrifices himself in the line of duty? I...I don't think I could live through that, Beks."

A moment of silence passed between them. Haruka didn't know what to say. It was a rare occasion that Yuki admitted fear or weakness. Somehow it seemed anything she could say would only cheapen the intimacy of the confession.

"I didn't tell you this," Yuki shook her head and sighed. "During the Pain attack, before the war, Kakashi died. I found him before he was resurrected. I had a flipping breakdown. I got him back but the fear never left. Sometimes I have nightmares I'm holding his dead body again. His eyelids pop open and he looks up at me with the same black eyes your dad had when he fought us in the war."

Haruka adjusted so she could stand more comfortably. "I don't see what this has to do with marrying the man, Mom."

"It means if he dies, I can run away," Yuki bit her lip. "I won't have to stick around and plan the funeral, and the wake, and have all our friends come by and pity me. I won't have a grave to visit or have to walk by all the places we went together, drowning in the bitter sea of my memories. Waking up from dreams of things that will never be in a bed so cold and empty it seems to stretch on forever. I got a taste of it before when I lost your father. This, though...this would be so much worse."

Haruka shook her head. "It doesn't sound like you're afraid of getting married. It sounds like you're afraid of how much you love him."

Yuki's brow furrowed and she opened her mouth angrily to protest. After a moment, she blinked and the look subsided. "What?"

"I'm really happy for you, that you love him that much. And based on how he acts, I think it's safe to say Kakashi loves you, too," Haruka shrugged. "I think you should marry him. Spend less time resisting something you already know is right and just focus on living the best life together you possibly can."

Yuki blinked. "Where the hell is this maturity coming from? Cuz it certainly doesn't come from me."

Haruka shrugged. "Neji's rubbing off on me. I just close my eyes and say something I think he would say."

"Well, thank Neji for me then," Yuki sighed. "Because that made an insane amount of sense."

Footsteps on the stairs drew both of their attention. Kakashi was descending towards them dressed in sweats, toweling off his hair. "Oh," He blinked in surprise. "Hello, Haruka. I didn't know you were coming over."

Haruka gave a small wave. "I didn't know I was either till late yesterday."

Yuki was staring at Kakashi's hair. "Did you...did you just condition your hair?"

Kakashi nodded, his brows slightly knit in confusion. "Yes, Yuki. I used that new cream you picked up." He flipped his hair in demonstration. "See? Super fluffy."

Haruka didn't see it but Yuki's hands twitched in longing. All at once her mother was on her, shuffling her towards the door. "Bye honey, it was nice to see you, say 'hi' to Satoru for me, love you!"

"Hey, what the hell?!" Haruka dug her heels in only to be unceremoniously thrown outside. The door slammed shut behind her as the terrible realization crossed her mind: her mother had thrown her out to go have sex with her boyfriend. Haruka gagged and it took everything in her power not to run away as fast as she could.

Haruka actively blocked out the last few minutes' events from her mind. She watched one foot at a time as they made their way back to her home. Out of habit, she opened the door as silently as possible. She paused in the entryway and listened carefully. The silence permeating the house could only mean one thing: the baby was down for a nap. Haruka tiptoed further into the house to see the baby passed out on a couch cushion he'd pulled to the floor. Neji must have come by with a blanket; moving him would have woken Satoru up. He was a notorious sourpuss when awakened too early.

Her first target located, Haruka went further into the house in pursuit of her husband. When she stepped into the bedroom, Haruka found herself staring at Neji's back. He had the clean laundry hamper beside him and was dutifully folding some of Satoru's clothes. He was so incredibly handsome. It struck Haruka not when she was out with him in public. Neji's attractiveness shined brightest in the quiet moments like this. She'd heard it said before that people were at their prettiest when they were happy and watching Neji that was when he was with his wife and son. There was a warmth he radiated when taking care of his family that escaped words. It was a pure, simple joy, and it was absolutely intoxicating. It drew Haruka in like he had his own gravitational pull. She approached him quietly and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into his back.

"Hi honey," Neji squeezed her hand affectionately.

"Have I ever mentioned how damned handsome you are?" Haruka beamed, half to herself. "I'm such a lucky girl."

Neji chuckled. "I didn't realize how many points doing laundry could score me. I'll have to make a point of running a load more often."

"Dummy," Haruka pulled away and listened. For a split second, she thought she heard the baby stirring. "Hey," She whispered conspiratorially. "Kiss me."

Neji cocked an eyebrow. "You get frisky fast. The baby's been down five minutes."

"Kiss me, dammit!" Haruka softly stomped her foot. "I like you and I want kisses!"

Neji let out a small chuckle, a smirk curling his lips as he kissed her. Early on, Neji's kisses had set Haruka's heart racing so fast and throbbing so hard it scared her. It was new and exciting, letting herself love him when she had denied herself that joy so long. After all this time, the thrill was gone. In its place was a peace, a comfort the likes of which Haruka had never known. When they kissed, she melted into him and their bodies became one. The smell of him, the taste of his lips, and the feeling of his linen shirt in her hands was as certain for her as the sun setting in the west. Haruka needed Neji like she needed air; spending too much time away made her feel like she was suffocating.

Very carefully (and as silently as possible), Neji pulled his wife down onto the bed with him. They smiled as they kissed. Clothes became an unnecessary burden as they worked their way under the covers. Neji pulled Haruka close as the kissing grew more intense. She held his face in her hands, slowly running her fingers back into his silky brown-black hair. It was unbelievably perfect in how it felt, flowing like water and smelling subtly of cedar. Arguably Neji's hair was one of his best features; over the years Haruka had eyed it with a jealousy that eventually turned into longing. Haruka had become lost in it, almost moreso than the kissing. Suddenly, she pulled away from Neji with a start. He went completely still, his ears almost visibly perking up. "What is it, the baby?"

"No," Haruka groaned. "I just realized I got my hair fetish from my mom."

Neji's face fell and he grimaced. "Haruka...can you not make me think about your mom when we're doing this?"

Haruka let out a small chuckle as she readjusted in his arms. "Bad memories?"

"Oh, so many," Neji cringed and shook his head. "You're lucky I'm so in love with you or she would be enough to drive me away."

"Then I'll just have to keep reminding you why you stick around," Haruka smirked.