Like clockwork, Sakura awoke just before the light of day. Groggy, sore, and craving a cup of coffee, she forced herself off the couch and toward the kitchen through the maze of stacked boxes. Her trusty coffee pot had been the first item Sakura pulled from the boxes that littered the floors, and currently the only item on her kitchen counter.

But today would fix that.

Grinning at the reminder of what today would bring, Sakura was a jumble of excitement and anxiety. It would definitely be interesting to say the least. She hadn't had anyone over yet, as she was too embarrassed by the state of the barren walls and cluttered floors, but soon enough it would feel more like a home, and less like a storage unit.

Filling her mug and bundling up in her fuzzy bathrobe, Sakura stepped out onto her back porch to enjoy the serenity of the early morning.

Konoha rarely summoned the snow storms of winter, but on chilly mornings when the sun would break over the horizon, the frost could be seen glittering upon the blades of grass and barren trees. Beneath the frozen glisten, the plants lie dormant, patiently awaiting the warmth of spring. Sakura was often marveled by the pause of winter.

Everything was nearly the same, yet coated in a decadent glass-like sheath, protecting it from the harsh cold that lingered in the air. The leaves may have shriveled and fallen long ago, but each branch wore the trappings of winter's icy glaze like a suit of armor, knowing it still held safe the power to breathe new life into future sprouts.

She had been so busy lately, that it was nice to stop and enjoy the little things. This was her favorite time of day, and in that moment, her own little slice of happiness.

There was so much to be happy for today. It was Christmas Eve, Kakashi was coming by to help her settle into her new home, and she would finally have the chance to give him the gift she had been holding onto since Halloween. She was eager to see his face once he realized what he was holding.

While trying to imagine his reaction, she stared down at her reflection in her cup of coffee, noticing the stupidly large grin she was now wearing. Thinking about him just now had made her giddy, her cheeks tinged with the slightest of blushes. Shaking her head, she batted away the curious feeling that tugged at her chest, telling herself it was the bitter cold of the wintry air that had rosied her cheeks.

After finishing her morning coffee, Sakura slipped back inside, sidestepping more boxes as she made her way towards her bedroom. Searching through a pile of clean clothes on the floor, she settled on some comfortable black leggings and an old t-shirt. After all, she was ready to roll up her sleeves and get down to business. With some music playing in the background, she pulled her hair up into a bun on the top of her head and looked over the sea of cardboard that was currently her living room.

It was overwhelming, but help should be arriving soon enough.

Reaching for a box labeled 'Kitchen' she started pulling out dishes and flatware, placing them on the counter until everything was accounted for. Emptying box after box, she began to fill the cabinets and drawers, loving the process of finding homes for all her belongings in this new space of hers. Soon, she could see more of the tiled floor of her kitchen beneath her feet as the boxes were emptied, broken down, and moved into a discard pile. As the pile grew, so did her sense of accomplishment.

She had just begun her process of unpacking, yet she had already made quite a dent. Things were definitely off to a great start.

Before she could decide on what to do next, the chime of the doorbell startled her. It was a sound she had yet to hear, but now that she had, it brought another smile to her face.

Checking the peep hole, she expected to see a certain masked face, but was met with an ominous dark shadow.

Cautiously, she opened the door, raising a brow at what was standing on her front porch.

"A Christmas tree?" she mumbled to herself.

"G'morning Sakura-chan," a familiar voice blurted from behind the large spruce tree.

"Kakashi... what is all this?"

"They say a plant is the most traditional housewarming gift to bring a new homeowner."

"But, this is a giant Christmas tree... and I thought you said you were bringing wine?"

"Oh, I brought that too," he assured, pulling the tree inside as she opened the door for him. "Besides, I thought you could use a little holiday cheer."

"You can set it in the dining room to your right for now. I'm sure we'll find a spot for it once the living room is cleared out."

"Wow, you weren't kidding," Kakashi chuckled, setting the tree down in the corner. Standing with his hands on his hips, he took in the sheer amount of boxes she had to unpack. "Today's gonna be a busy day."

"I know, and I seriously appreciate your help. Honestly, it was a bit intimidating at first, but with you here, it might not be such a pain."

"Glad I can help. I told you before, if you ever need anything, just ask."

As their eyes met, something unspoken passed between them. It was brief, but strong enough to suck a little of the air from her lungs. It was a strange feeling, but one she wasn't completely opposed to. But until she figured out what exactly it was, it was best not to think about it. It only frazzled her.

"Thank you," she added coyly, turning to shut the door behind them.

Just before the door shut, she felt his hand reach for the door knob, his hand brushing against hers as he caught the door just in time.

With her mouth falling open in surprise by the graze of his fingers, she looked at him wordlessly. Astonished by what the simple touch had seemed to accomplish, a flurry of thoughts blew through her mind, and luckily, before she could speak, his voice filled the gap.

"You're going to want to see what else I brought."

"Do you need some help?" she offered, hearing the rustling of bags once Kakashi slipped outside.

"Nope, I think I got everything," he boasted, reappearing in the doorway carrying multiple bags on each arm. "Oops, I think there may be one box left. Think you can grab it for me?"

"I think I can handle it," she giggled, walking out onto the porch.

Spotting the large box, she walked over and picked it up with ease. She had assumed it would be heavy, as he asked for her help, but there was no chakra needed to pick up this parcel. The box was covered in shiny green wrapping paper, and finished off nicely with a woven red ribbon. Looking closely at the script on the ribbon, she saw her name.

"Is this... for me?" she questioned, stepping back into the warmth of the house.

"Of course. It is Christmas, after all. It's traditionally what is done during this time of year."

"Technically, it's Christmas Eve, but you didn't have to get me anything."

"It's always semantics with you, isn't it?" he teased, taking the box from her and placing it beneath the tree propped in the corner. "Besides, giving gifts to people you care about is pretty standard Christmas etiquette, don't you think?"

"People you care about?" she mused, looking at him pointedly.

"Yes," he nodded, "You're very important to me, Sakura. I need you. You're my advisor, my assistant, my colleague, my friend, my doer of things... and I very much need to stay on your good side so you don't make my life a living hell."

With her amused grin falling into a flat line, Kakashi chuckled as he removed his jacket. Her reaction to certain key words he had chosen to use was reassuring. Even the glancing touch of his hand had gotten a reaction from her. If he were a gambling man, he'd say there was definitely something different about her, and he'd put all his money on the fact that it had something to do with him. This brought a smile to his face, as she already held a special place in his heart. Perhaps one day, he too, would hold such a place in hers.

"So, you're giving me a gift so I keep up the good work and continue making you look good?"

"Do I need that much help to look good?"

"No.. I... that's not what I meant. I just-"

"I'm kidding, Sakura," he assured, his eye crinkling with a smile. "I'm not your boss today, I'm your friend who's here to help."

"O-okay," she stammered, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Internally, she was kicking herself. Kakashi had only been here a few minutes, and she had already made herself seem so idiotic. But when had she become so self conscious around him? There were so many thoughts swirling around in her head, she couldn't seem to focus on a single one. Hoping she wouldn't spiral out of control, Sakura inhaled a calming breath.

But when she opened her eyes, they were drawn to the man standing in front of her. The light from the window behind Kakashi bathed him in sunlight, causing his silhouette to glow. He seemed so different today, that she was quite literally seeing him in a different light.

There were no Hokage robes, flak jacket, vest, or headband. Kakashi was so simply dressed, he almost seemed like someone else entirely. As he removed his shinobi-issue sandals, he appeared to be like any other civilian. Donning only a pair of black pants and a black long sleeved shirt, the only familiar aspect about this man now was his ever present mask.

"So..." she scrambled, trying to disrupt her blatant staring, "What is all this?"

"This..." Kakashi began as he rummaged through the bags, "Is for today."

"There's so much... and you already brought me a Christmas tree."

"Yes, and as you know, every good tree needs decorations. I figured that once the house is in order, we can decorate the tree. If you're going to be spending the holiday here, it should look festive."

"Thank you, Kakashi. This is amazing."

"You're welcome, Sakura. And it will be amazing... but first, we must get you unpacked. Where should we start?"

"I figured it would be easier to clear out some boxes with the larger stuff in them, then put together all the furniture, and then finish the boxes with the smaller items."

"Sounds good to me."

"Then," she continued with a twinkle in her eye, "We'll take a break and have some dinner before decorating this tree of yours."

"Sounds even better," he grinned beneath his mask, "Let's get started, shall we?"

The hours seemed to fly by, as the pile of flattened boxes grew. With Kakashi pitching in, Sakura found that it didn't really feel like such backbreaking work anymore. It was rather... fun.

Once all the furniture as assembled, Sakura was amazed that her house started to look more like a livable space. There was a bed for her to sleep on, bookshelves for the boxes of books she refused to part ways with, tables and chairs for the dining room, and even a coffee table for the living room.

All that remained was a small pile of boxes in the living room against the main wall. Most were her beloved books, and the rest consisted of shelves which still needed to be hung, and random knick-knacks she collected over the years.

It was miraculous what two people and a dedicated couple of hours could accomplish together. They really did work well together. In her mind, they were truly an excellent team, and she found herself wondering if this was the only reason they had grown close. Every time she looked at him, she felt a sense of adoration for this man well up inside her.

While placing picture frames up on the table in the entryway, Sakura became engrossed in her thoughts, trying to make sense of it all. Kakashi had always been kind and helpful to her, but as of late, it felt different. The last few months, as a whole, had felt very different for her. She assumed it was his new role as Hokage, but today was far removed from anything she had felt while at the office. He was no longer just her boss... but something more.

"Ah ha!" Kakashi exclaimed victoriously, pulling Sakura out of her current headspace. "We have found the elusive fireplace."

"See, I knew it was around here somewhere," she gloated, coming to see it for herself.

"Now we can use the firewood I brought."

"Firewood?" Sakura gasped, "You, sir, astound me."

"Do I?" he lilted, raising an inquisitive brow.

"Always have," she practically whispered, her voice shrinking under his gaze.

Offering him a tender smile, she averted her eyes and settled her attention on the boxes that still remained. With a helpful burst of chakra, she carried the ones labeled "Books" over to the large bookshelf they had set up on the wall adjacent to the fireplace, missing the curious pair of eyes that followed her every move.

"What did you mean by that?" Kakashi inquired, grabbing a hand full of books and handing them to her.

Shooting the man beside her a nervous glance, she bit her lip in thought as she felt her body go tense. She didn't think her statement would require a follow up question, or that she would ever have to explain herself. But now that she had to, she wasn't quite sure what to say.

"You just are," she blurted, reaching for the books he held out to her. "I mean, you're Copy Nin Kakashi."

"Oh," he reflected with a touch of disappointment to his deflated tone.

"But what's astounding is that even though you're the Hokage now, you are still here helping me with something as trivial as unpacking books. You even brought me a tree and decorations. What's astounding is that instead of enjoying your much earned time off, you'd rather be helping people. You're just an astounding person, Kakashi. No mask could ever hide that fact."

He didn't know what to say. He was honestly speechless, frozen in place as her words washed over him. It was the gentle swipe of her delicate fingers over his when she grabbed the stack of books from his grasp that snapped him back into reality. He watched her closely as she rearranged the books already on the shelf, adoring her quirky fastidiousness. He wanted to reach out and touch her, telling her how much her words had meant to him, but he froze. Once again, he was hesitant to expose himself or his feelings in such a way... even if it was all he could think about lately.

"Thank you," he spoke softly, handing her the last few books.

Watching as she smiled warmly in return, he felt a tinge of guilt. She was being so honest and forthcoming, yet, he was sitting on a hidden truth that weighed heavily on his heart.

But, Kakashi was overly cautious for a reason. At one point in his life, he had lost everyone he had ever loved. And over the years, he became used to the quiet loneliness, but now... so much had changed.

Recently, a very special person had made his life vibrant and warm once again, and today was just his way of returning the favor. He was hoping the day would give him the courage to come clean about what transpired between them months ago, but he didn't want to risk ruining the great day they both seemed to be enjoying.

He would just have to wait for the right moment... a moment in which he would no longer be able to hide behind this mask of his.

They had finished unpacking just in time. Both of them were starving, and their bellies began to gurgle in offense to being forgotten as the last box was broken down. All that was left was to hang some shelves up on the barren walls, an easy job for Kakashi. While he measured and leveled each shelf, Sakura prepared dinner, and soon the house was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of roasted chicken and vegetables.

"How about we open gifts before we eat?" he called from the living room.

"That works, the chicken needs to cool for a bit anyway," she agreed, turning off the oven.

Joining Kakashi in the living room with the gift bag she had been holding onto for months, she held it out for him to take with the largest smile plastered on her face.

"Mine first," she beamed.

"If you insist," he huffed playfully, taking the bag off her hands.

Sitting on the couch beside him, Sakura became antsy, impatiently awaiting his reaction. She had waited so long for this moment, and now that it was happening, she could hardly contain her excitement. His nimble fingers untied the bow securing the handles together and rummaged through the layers of tissue paper in search of the buried item.

Halting as he saw it, Kakashi glanced at her with wide eyes before gently pulling the leather-bound notebook from the confines of the gift bag with care. His hand smoothed over the familiar front cover, peeling it back slowly to read the inscription on the inside.

'To anyone lucky enough to find this in their possession, let it be known that love is what drives us. Love can move mountains and glacial hearts, alike. Like the warmth of a fire or a delicious meal, love sustains us. I pray you know this truth to be certain, either in this life, or the next. – Jiraiya'

"This is..." he stammered, in disbelief, "How did you get this? This was his personal writing journal, he carried it everywhere."

"I have my ways," she shrugged with an air of mystery, watching as he flipped to the first page.

"The Traveling Warrior and Other Short Stories," he read aloud, thumbing through the handwritten pages.

"Do you... like it?" she eased, concerned as he had grown quiet.

"It's perfect," he added warmly, locking eyes with her. "Thank you, Sakura. This means a lot to me."

"I'm glad," she blushed. "I thought only his number one fan deserved his personal collection of stories."

"You know me so well," he teased, holding the book to his chest lovingly.

"Let's see what you got me, shall we?" she reckoned, pulling at the bow and tearing through the wrapping paper.

It was just a simple cardboard box, so she eyed the man beside her and tore at the tape keeping the flaps shut. Folded inside the box, was a fluffy white blanket.

"I have one just like it on my couch at home. Figured you might need it if you intend to continue sleeping on yours. Wouldn't want you catching a cold."

"It's so floofy," she giggled, removing the blanket from the box.

Placing it on her lap, she kept smoothing her hands over the comforting material. It was the softest fabric she had ever touched, and could not wait to feel it around her. Unfolding it and throwing it around her shoulders, she was surprised to find another box that was wrapped inside it.

"Another present?" she beamed, "How exciting."

Lifting the lid from the box, she unveiled a crimson scarf. It, too, was soft and warm. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the ends were ornate, expertly detailed with tiny pink and white cherry blossoms.

"It's beautiful," she gasped, holding it up to her cheek and sighing into the plush fabric.

"For your early morning walks into work," he added with a hidden grin.

"Thank you, Kakashi. It's perfect."

"Keep going," he hinted, looking down into the box.

"More?"

In the bottom of the box, was another box. This one was thin and flat, and she eyed him curiously as she picked it up and inspected it. Opening the end, she pulled out a picture frame, her expression warming as she stared at it fondly.

"I love it," she whispered, holding it up to her chest.

"It's one of my favorites," he confessed, noticing how her eyes began to water as she continued to stare at the photo.

It was the picture they had taken after his inauguration as Rokudaime. That day had sent them both down an interesting new path in their lives, and he was glad to have a keepsake from that moment. He, dressed in his Hokage robes and hat, had both arms over Naruto and Sakura. Both he and Naruto were smiling so hard, their eyes were nearly shut, but Sakura, dressed in her new lab coat, was looking up at Kakashi with such a proud smile.

It was endearing in a way. That look she held for him, spoke volumes to him now. And based on her reaction to seeing the photo, perhaps he wasn't the only one who felt the same way.

"I know just where to put this," she sniffled, walking towards the table at the entryway. Making room between the picture of Team 7, and the picture of her between Kakashi and Tsunade the day she became a Jonin, Sakura placed the new frame. Sitting it down gently, she marveled at her little collection of memories.

"There," she nodded to herself, "Now it'll be the last thing I see when I leave, and the first thing I see when coming home."

"You forgot one," Kakashi called from the couch.

"Another gift?" she exasperated, making her way back over to him. "There's no way anything else could be in that box, Kakashi."

"Check again."

As she turned the box upside down, a small piece of paper fell out and onto the floor. Picking it up, she realized it was a business card. Flipping it over, she noticed it was her own business card... with one minor addition.

"A gold star?" she questioned, unsure of what this meant.

"Yes."

"I don't get it..."

"Gold stars are only given to the best, and you have earned yours."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. You should feel lucky, you know... I only give these to my favorite people."

"Who else have you deemed with such an honor?" she teased, nudging him playfully.

"Just you. You're the only one."

With her smile falling, she blinked at him, trying to comprehend his words. It was such a simple and understated gesture, that she failed to realize what a big deal this kind of thing was to Kakashi. What she initially thought to be a gag gift of sorts, was now a badge of honor.

Without thinking, she reached out and hugged him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she eyed the card still in her hand, a thumb rubbing over the golden reminder he placed upon it. As she held him tight, she breathed him in, noting the subtle hint of cologne.

She had never known Kakashi to wear cologne, as being a shinobi requires one to be invisible and leave no trace, or scent, to track. However, he had chosen to wear some today. She couldn't be certain as to why, but it had smelled so familiar. Try as she might, she could not figure out where she had smelled this scent before, and kept trying to place it, much to her dismay.

"Are you sniffing me?" his voice pried, startling her from her haze.

"Uh, yeah... sorry," she admitted shyly, settling back onto the couch. "You smell good, by the way."

"Thank you, it's probably the aftershave."

"You shaving? Now there's something I've never thought about," she added with a giggle.

"Yes. Stubble under the mask is not comfortable. It gets too itchy."

"Don't worry, you're secret is safe with me."

"Good to know," he added affectionately, holding her gaze as a moment of deeper meaning passed between them.

"C'mon," she motioned with her head, "Let's eat, shall we?"

Clinking their wine glasses together, the two sat down at the dining table to enjoy a well deserved warm meal.

Grabbing her knife and fork, Sakura began slicing up her chicken into bite-sized pieces, all too eager to taste her cooking. She hoped it was good, as she mentally kicked herself for not trying it beforehand. Hopefully Kakashi would like it. She'd never live down his incessant teasing if it was revoltingly inedible.

With that thought giving her anxiety, she reached for the glass of wine. Chugging her entire glass, she reached for the bottle and poured herself another helping.

"Would you like some... more... wine?" she trailed off, almost dropping the bottle when she looked across the table at him.

"What?" he questioned, chewing his food with such nonchalance.

"You're mask..." she breathed, "It's down."

"Well, it's kind of hard to eat with it on," he grinned, wiping his mouth with his napkin as he stared back at her.

Sakura couldn't believe her eyes. She had seen his face, his entire face in all its youthful glory. Her mouth still hung open as her eyes roved over every feature. It was so unexpected, and better yet, he had allowed her to see it.

Lifting a piece of chicken to his mouth, he froze, looking across at her as he felt her stare intensify.

"I can't eat with you watching me."

"I'm sorry," she confessed, feeling her face flush.

"Maybe I should just put the mask back on..."

"No!" she exclaimed, "Please, eat. You'll have to excuse me. I've just... never seen your face before."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I think I would remember if I had."

"Would you?" he emphasized, taking the piece of chicken from his fork with his teeth.

It wasn't until she saw his teeth that everything began to click. His cuspids were unusually long, and she had only seen that exact dental anomaly in one other person recently. Suddenly, she felt all the blood drain out of her head as the realization set in.

"You..." she breathed, feeling her heart pounding in her chest, "It was you that night, wasn't it?"

"I guess you do remember," he eased, putting down his fork as he felt the atmosphere between them change.

"Of course I do, Kakashi... why wouldn't I? I've seen that face almost every night since then."

"Every night?"

"Why didn't you just tell me?! Do you have any idea what I've been through? To think I thought it was something I did..."

"I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't plan on running into anyone that night. That is why I was up on the roof. But then you came outside and seemed so distraught over something, I just felt compelled to intervene."

"That's why you bid on my dance? Out of pity?" she accused, a tinge of hurt lacing her voice.

"No. It wasn't pity. It was something else..."

"Something else? Like what?"

"Jealousy. There were so many cretins there, all salivating over who would win you... I just didn't want to subject you to that. I bid on that dance because I wanted to dance with you."

"So you just wanted me for yourself? It was all part of your plan to fool me into falling for you and then disappearing forever? Is this some sick joke to you? I mean, we made out that night... I was going to ask you inside..."

"I know. I'm not proud of my behavior that night, but I do not regret it. I just thought it would be a simple dance. But the attraction I felt was real. What we shared that night was real. You had no idea who I was, and we were just two souls enjoying each other's company. There was no history or boundaries standing in our way and we could just be ourselves. Before I knew it, we had gotten carried away, and the guilt began to set in. It started to feel more like deception, and so, I chose to run. I never meant to hurt you, I hope you know that."

Blinking away a single tear, Sakura wiped her cheek. Looking away, she cleared her throat and collected her thoughts. She could feel him staring at her, searching for a response, but she gave none. Initially, she felt betrayed, but underneath that was relief. She was glad it wasn't anything she had said or done... and she was glad it was him and not some random traveler who had ghosted her for unknown reasons.

As much as she wanted to hold this against him, she just couldn't.

"You should have told me," she finally responded, her voice cracking as she held back her emotions.

"I know, but I was... scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Of being a disappointment."

"Kakashi, why would you think that?"

"You felt like you had met this amazing person, and it was obvious how happy that made you. I just didn't want to ruin it by telling you who I really was. I just assumed you would be disappointed... or grossed out... or horrified. It was just nice seeing the real you... the carefree and spontaneous you. The you that was free to be whatever you wanted because you didn't feel the pressure to act a certain way."

Unfortunately, he made an excellent point. Had she known who it was beneath the mask that night, she might have been inclined to remain more reserved. She couldn't say for sure, but who knows how the night would have gone if she had known. It definitely would have not been the same, so in a way, she was glad it remained a mystery. She wasn't too keen on the aftermath that evening had caused her personally, though.

"Why didn't you say anything afterwards?"

"I thought about it. By the time I had decided to come and talk to you, that's when I got the news that I was to be named Hokage. With me as Hokage, and you stepping in to fill the assistant/advisor role, I really didn't want to say anything that would compromise the integrity of our new roles. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it weighed heavily on me. You're very special to me, Sakura. Even if you never speak to me again... outside of work, that is... I don't think that fact will ever change."

Staring down at her plate, Sakura thought about everything he had said. Tonight, and that night at the gala, his words seemed genuine. The only bit of deception she could perceive was in his withholding of the truth, nothing that he actually said to her seemed like a lie. So did he really lie to her?

The initial shock had worn off, but she was still wrestling with her emotions. The man at the gala was indeed the man sitting across from her at this very moment. Granted, this man looked more like a sad puppy than a handsome Casanova, but she felt the same tug on her heart looking at him. She couldn't stay mad at him, not over something like this.

If anything, it made sense of the weirdness she had been experiencing as of late. The lingering gazes, the innocent flirting, the unintentional touches... it was the same attraction she felt that night in October. It was reassuring to know that the feelings she held for this man did not waiver. She had fell for the real Kakashi... the one behind the mask.

As she thought of how to respond, movement caught her eye. Standing, he pulled his mask up and glanced at her, apologizing once again.

"I should go," he sighed.

"Don't..."

"Huh?"

"Don't you dare say that to me again. I watched you disappear before my eyes once, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let that happen again."

"But... I thought you were upset?"

"I was. But, I understand the situation. I now see why you did what you felt you had to do. I trust your judgment, I always have."

"So, you want me to stay?"

"Who else is going to help me put up the tree?" she smirked, motioning for him to sit back down.

"I think you're the astounding one, Sakura" he reflected, removing his mask as he took a bite of his food.

"I just figured if I'm going to be alone on Christmas, and you're going to be alone... maybe we can be alone together."

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," he agreed, flashing her a crooked grin.

She had missed that handsome smile of his, and how it made her insides twist into knots. The fluttering of her heart continued as they finished their dinner, each of them stealing glances at the other. They had moved past the unpleasantness from earlier, and were now focusing on the here and now.

With the weight of his secret off his shoulders, Kakashi was noticeably more at ease, which made Sakura happy. A feeling which grew the longer they spent together. Being with him just made everything so much more tolerable. Even something as tedious as doing the dishes was fun with this man. And little by little, Sakura become curious about their future and what roles they would each play in the other's life in the upcoming year. It would be a fresh start to a new year, and the possibilities were endless and exciting.

With the dishes done and the kitchen cleared, they began the task of setting up and decorating the Christmas tree. Kakashi had brought everything they needed to bring the tree to life, and once the last ornament was hung, they stepped back to take in their handiwork.

"It's beautiful," Sakura praised, missing the eyes that admired her cheerful glow.

"It certainly is," he agreed, knowing full and well he wasn't talking about the tree at the moment.

But something in his periphery caught his eye. Looking through the window behind her, he saw the delicate flurry of snowflakes. It hadn't snowed in Konoha in years, and the fact that it happened to start at this exact moment... on Christmas Eve, no less... was a good sign in his book.

"Will you look at that," he remarked, "It's snowing."

"It is!" she gasped, "I can't believe it. I've never had a white Christmas before."

"Shall we sit and watch?" Kakashi questioned looking toward the comfy couch calling his name.

"Sounds perfect," she agreed, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the couch.

Sitting beside each other, they enjoyed the silence, both captivated by the snow fall outside. For Kakashi, it was Sakura's face that was more alluring, as the warmth and awe she showed was enough to melt his heart. Whatever magic was responsible for this moment, he was thankful for, as there was no other place he'd rather be then here with the woman who had charmed him many months ago.

"Thank you, Kakashi," Sakura admitted softly, curling up beside him. "Today has been such a great day, and I have you to thank for it."

"No thanks needed, I was happy to do it," he added warmly.

Reaching up, Sakura's fingers slowly hooked the top of his mask and brought it down. Astonished that he let her do it, she grinned up at the handsome face staring back at her. With her palm smoothing over his clean shaven cheek, she pulled him down to her as she leaned in closer, eager to kiss his lips once again. As she felt his breath hitch, she gently pressed her lips to his, kissing him sweetly. It was an innocent kiss, but one that held so much emotion.

She couldn't think of the right words to convey how she felt, so she was hoping this would do the trick. As she pulled away, their eyes connected and she felt hands on either side of her face keep her still. He didn't want her to pull away so quickly, not before he could return his own feelings. He kissed her deeply, a controlled passion that stemmed from the bottled desire he had been holding onto all these weeks.

It was nothing short of a miracle that this beautiful and talented woman wanted anything to do with him, and now that he had her in his grasp, he was never letting go. When he pulled back to look upon her face, he saw the same twinkle in her eye. Kissing her forehead, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close as they continued to watch the snow fall outside.

"Merry Christmas, Sakura," he whispered, pulling the new blanket over her.

"Merry Christmas, Kakashi," she responded drowsily, wrapping an arm over his chest as her cheek snuggled against him.

That night would mark the end of one year, and the beginning of a new one. One filled with love and honesty, and that's all he could have hoped for. As he listened the soft sounds of Sakura sleeping, he was reminded of Jiraiya's own words.

'Love is what drives us... Love is what sustains us...'

No truer words had ever been spoken. And as he kissed the candy colored locks of the woman upon his chest, he counted himself lucky to be one of the few who understood those words.