I have no rights to Naruto.
Enjoy.
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"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
Sakura questioned for the umpteenth time as she bit her lip, casting Ibiki a sideways glance before looking at Gaara who held Kaida with a gentleness that would have astounded and shocked many.
"We shall be fine."
Gaara replied clenching his teeth and nodding at Sakura and Ibiki.
"You've never really looked after her on her own."
"Hellcat it'll be fine."
Looking up at Ibiki Sakura sighed wondering why the hell this was so hard. Pulling her against his chest Ibiki gave Gaara an understanding nod before whispering not so quietly in his Hellcat's ear.
"Gaara and Hinata are the only two I really trust with our Little Angel, you said it yourself she's due to sleep in an hour, there are guards stationed at all the entrances. And it would be such a shame to waste that dress and our reservation in the new restaurant."
The last was whispered so quietly and coupled with Ibiki's warm hands on her waist that Sakura could barely held in her moan. It would be nice to go on a proper night out – not the few snatches of alone time or a chance to run errands or work, it felt like a real date something they had never truly experienced as a couple and with Gaara offering to mind Kaida a lot of worry was erased. But Sakura still had a niggling feeling about it for some reason.
"Okay, okay." Sakura sighed, berating herself; she trusted Gaara explicitly and just because they were in Suna and not Konoha did not mean something would go wrong. "She should sleep in an hour and while she's been teething she's over the worst of it but there is some calpol for pain and rusks for her to chew on, the diaper bag is near the cot but she was just changed. If she stirs give her kunny and her dodo, there is a bottle if she wakes for more than a few minutes just lift her up for a few cuddles and she'll feed away falling back to sleep. If-"
Ibiki chuckled. "Hellcat its fine, Gaara knows what to do; you've already told him twice."
"I know, I know." Sakura sighed with a shake of her head leaning forward to kiss the little girl in Gaara's arms, chubby arms waving Kunny around as she giggled and gurgled happily. "You'll be good for Uncle Gaara Angel okay?"
Smiling she brushed Kaida's hair back as Ibiki kissed his Little Angel goodnight, standing tall to point his index finger at her, smiling as she tried to grab it as he laid down the rules. "Behave for the Kazekage Angel otherwise he won't teach you any tricks."
Gaara bowed his head, holding his precious niece as she waved goodbye to her parents. "We shall be fine."
How hard could a fifteen month old child be?
-x-
The restaurant was beautiful and Ibiki smirked smugly as people gave him a wide berth only to start glaring as he noticed the eyes following his Hellcat and her delectable ass, covering the small of her back with his palm he stared any man that keep looking down and growled as he passed the tables, sitting heavily when they reached their table. Sakura's small smile did nothing to hide her amusement as she watched Ibiki scowl at the approaching waiter until he scurried away and pushed a young woman at them. With a nod from him she approached, giving them the specials and the menus and walking away.
"Happy now?" Sakura quirked an eyebrow, lips pressed to keep her laughter to herself.
"Yes."
Rolling her eyes she poured a glass of water and asked the question that had been bugging her all night. "How come you were so cool leaving Gaara with Angel?"
Without raising his eyes from the menu Ibiki shrugged. "I trust him."
"Uhuh." Sakura nodded her head, before asking." And it would have nothing to do with the ANBU he has stationed on the roof?"
"No, we have ANBU at home." Ibiki smirked, keeping the fact that two of the ANBU were from Konoha to himself.
"Or that he'll instantly transport us back if anything goes wrong instead of sending for us?"
Looking up from the menu Ibiki raised his own eyebrow in response.
"Temari told me before she left this afternoon."
"I trust Gaara."
Sakura sipped her water, turning in her seat to call the waitress back for their orders before agreeing Ibiki. "I do too, they'll be fine and he's looked after her before."
"Minding her on his own won't be too hard."
-x-
Small whimpers entered the room, Gaara picking up the bottle and walking into Kaida's room to pick the whimpering baby form her cot. With a small smile he held her in his arms and fed her the bottle, watching in fascination as emerald eyes blinked at him before sleepily closing and snuggling against his chest. This was . . . nice.
-x-
If Gaara had been prone to showing his emotions he would have been frowning as he re-entered Kaida's room and picked up the crying little girl, rocking her as he had done before and attempting to give her some rusk to chew on only to have it fall from her mouth onto his shirt and to the floor. Looking around the room he picked up kunny and moved it in the air, tilting his head in confusion when Kaida batted it away
-x-
"Kazekage-sama? Do you need help?"
"I am fine." Gaara bit out through clenched teeth, holding the squirming Kaida with one hand and opening the nappy with the upmost care. Which was the back? With a hiss he called his sand to catch Kaida as she squirmed towards the edge of the sofa, wiping his forward before reaching out for another baby wipe.
-x-
"This will make you feel better."
Gaara coaxed holding the spoon of calpol with one hand and propping Kaida up in her bouncer, moving it from side to side like Sakura and Hinata did when they were feeding Kaida. As she opened her mouth to take it he gave a small smile pulling the spoon back, smile dropping as Kaida screwed up her face in disgust and wailed, spitting out the calpol.
Gaara stepped back, Kaida's cries ceasing as he reached up with a trembling hand and wiped the calpol and spit from his face, a frown on his face as the little girl began to giggle and then give an ear wrenching shriek.
-x-
"Kazekage-sama, are you sure you don't need help?"
"Yes."
X-x
Watching Kaida try to grab the sand figures he had created Gaara gave a nearly non-existent sigh as she gave a little giggle and smiled.
-x-
"And the little princess-"
Gaara winced as Kaida grabbed his hair and screamed, dropping the book to untangle her little fingers that were more painful than many torture implements he knew. Taking a deep breath he looked at the little girl seriously.
"If you do not wish to listen to these stories I have nothing to say unless you prefer that I speak of the mission I have sent my Shinobi on and the torture they carry out."
Emerald eyes met his steady, the room unnaturally silent. Gaara tilted his head and watched the girl meet his eyes.
"ANBU team Beta were ordered to Wave country this morning, the commander is extremely proficient in water torture despite the fact water is carefully monitored in Suna. He is investigating a ring . . . ."
-x-
The door creaked open, Gaara keeping his eyes trained on the dozing babe in his arms. The whisper meeting his ears from across the room.
"Kazekage-sam-"
No sound came as sand filled the idiots mouth and silently dragged him and his partner from the door and plastered them to the wall outside Sakura's and Ibiki's apartment.
Not even looking up Gaara carefully made his way to Kaida's room, stopping and holding his breath as she squirmed before relaxing and giving a little baby snore.
-x-
Leaning her head against Ibiki's chest Sakura smiled as he tightened his hold on her waist, kissing the top of her head before they entered the apartment building that Gaara had given them housing in.
Not so subtle gazes and lingering touches brought heat to their eyes, bodies meddling together as both came to the conclusion as to how to end the night as they walked up the stairs to their apartment.
Reaching the floor Sakura stood and looked at the two sand covered lumps on the wall, raising an eyebrow at Ibiki as she pointed at the leg and arm dangling out form the cocoons. Shaking his head he opened the door greeting Gaara as they entered.
"Gaa-"
Sand filled his mouth and in shock both from the sand and the image in front of him Ibiki felt his eyes widen and his eyebrows raise higher than her ever let them.
"She has just fallen asleep."
Sakura gulped and bit her lip, clenching her fists as she looked at Gaara. His red hair was tugged and pulled in all directions, his shirt stained with what looked like rusk, the collar of his shirt, chin and neck had dried calpol on it, the rings under his eyes darker than they had been in years and across his forehead centimetres away from his tattoo was a smear of poo.
"Gaara are you okay?"
Gaara stepped forward forcing Sakura and Ibiki to enter the room and free the doorway.
"She has just fallen asleep."
Concerned Sakura took a few steps toward him raising a hand only for Gaara to go into the hallway, eyes tight as he watched the door to Kaida's room in wariness.
"She has just fallen asleep."
With that the sand was pulled from Ibiki's mouth, flying to join the wave that covered Gaara and took him from sight. Sakura's thanks falling on empty ears as she closed the door, turning around she watched Ibiki walk to Kaida's room and peak in before pulling the door closed to leave a few inches open for them to hear it.
Looking at each other Sakura bit her lip, the image of Gaara foremost in her mind and when she met Ibiki's eyes and saw the same thing in his she couldn't help it. Tears of laughter rolled down her cheeks, Ibiki's chuckles filling the room as she covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the belly aching laughter, gasping for breath as she managed to stage whisper.
"Poor Gaara!"
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Dia Duit,
Well I hope you enjoyed that and for anyone else who has had a bad babysitting experience, bad night with their kids this is for you.
Lots of Love,
The Rose and the Dagger x x x