It's finished. Finally. YAY! I couldn't come up with a name for this chapter not that it matters. Ok i'm done now. You can start reading if you want.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I only wish I did.

Ch. 21: Insert Title Here

Kaoru blinked, "Apologize? What for?"

Her grandfather chuckled though it wasn't in humor, "Have you forgotten the way I've treated you already, Kaoru?"

She blinked, "I'm not sure I understand. Are you apologizing because you ignored me?"

"Yes. You are not to blame for the actions of your parents and I should never have blamed you. I had realized that just few weeks ago when you came to stay with us while you treated the Mizukage. However I couldn't let go of my pride long enough to fix the damage that had been done. I hope that you can forgive me."

Kaoru smiled, "Of course. I can understand how you felt and never blamed you to begin with."

He shook his head, "Gaara-sama is right. You really are too kind for your own good."

Kaoru looked at him innocently, "I am?"

Makoto chuckled, "Yes but don't change it. It what makes everyone love you."

She smiled and nodded in agreement. He stood up and left her so she could rest. Kaoru felt so happy. Her grandfather had forgiven her for her parents' choice. She knew her parents' had done what they wanted and that it had been the right choice. That hadn't stopped Kaoru from wishing that her father's family were a part of her family too. It was a dream come true to finally have both sides of her family supporting her. She glanced at the door when she heard it open and smiled.

"Gaara-kun, guess what," she said excitedly.

The Kazekage couldn't help but smile a little at her happiness, "What?"

"You're suppose to guess," she said with a slight pout. His eyes held humor as he tilted his head at her. She was too impatient to argue with him about it. "My grandfather had welcomed me back into the family. Isn't that great?!"

He sat next to her on the bed, "Yes it is."

"I'm so happy."

Gaara felt something in him lighted with her smile. He wasn't sure what this feeling was but he was beginning to get an idea. This could be what other's called love. It seemed right. All the things he'd heard about it applied to his feelings for this girl. She meant more to him than his own life. He knew he would do anything to make her smile. Heaven help anyone that took that smile away because he would make them pay. Her crimson eyes looked into his sea foam eyes. She was still smiling at him. It was a wonder to him that someone could smile at him like that. Never in his life had someone been so willing to befriend him. Maybe he was in love. He still wasn't sure though. How did you know when you were?

She tilted her head, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He blinked, "Like what?"

"If I knew that I wouldn't be asking. Are you alright?" she asked in concern as she placed a hand on his forehead to check for a fever. Gaara suppressed the urge to rub the spot she had touched. It tingled and was unusually warm now.

"I'm fine. Just thinking." He quickly changed the subject. Gaara was still uncomfortable talking about his feelings even with Kaoru. "You should get some sleep."

When he started to get up to go to his own room she reached out and grabbed his hand. He paused and looked back at her with a raised eyebrow. She gave him a sheepish smile. He let out an indulgent sigh and laid down next to her. Kaoru was still uncomfortable sleeping in Kirigakure. The place held too many bad memories for her. He would stay so she would sleep in peace. She snuggled against him and fell asleep a little while later. He watched her with a small smile. The Kazekage fell into a light sleep a few minutes later.

The group headed back to Suna a week later with the gratitude of the Mizukage and a promise of a visit from the Kawaguchi clan. To be honest the Suna shinobi were happy to be going home. They hoped to get some rest because they all needed a vacation from their vacation. The group was tired and in Kaoru's case still sore. They all stopped in Konoha and visited with their friends for a day or two then continued on their way.

When they finally made it home everyone just went straight home. Gaara was the only one that didn't get any sleep that night. Shukaku spent the time bothering him by hinting around something but never telling the boy what it was. By the end of the night Gaara wanted to strangle him. Unfortunately for the Kazekage, Shukaku lived in his head so strangling him was impossible. Shukaku continued to hint around feelings that his counterpart didn't understand with delight. One day the boy would figure it out. Until then he could have a little fun with his head. Gaara eventually started to ignore the demon.

Gaara was sitting at Kaoru's kitchen table. She was cooking dinner and telling him how things at the hospital were going. Kohaku was standing next to Gaara holding the bottom of his long coat. The little boy was looking at Kaoru as she spoke with a large grin. The Kazekage wondered just what the boy had won to make him smile so much. After dinner he was leaving. He was standing at the door telling Kaoru that he would see her tomorrow when the kid said something that put him in a state of shock.

"Bye bye dada," Kohaku said with a wave and a smile.

Both adults looked down at him. He didn't seem to realize that what he said was the most shocking statement that they had heard in a long time. What kid calls Sabaku no Gaara dada? It wasn't like Gaara had done anything to earn that title nor had he any intention of doing so with this kid. Kaoru looked up at Gaara's face and started to laugh. The kage narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms as he watched his laughing friend. She was laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face.

"The look on your face," she managed in between laughs.

"Tell him not to call me that, Kaoru," Gaara stated.

"I don't think it will work, Gaara-kun. He's thought of you as his dad for several years now. The only difference is he had a name for what he sees you as."

Gaara looked back at the kid and sighed. This was going to take some getting use to. He couldn't believe that this was happening to him. How did he go from being the most feared being in Suna to the kind of guy a kid would call dada? Another sigh. There was no changing it now. At least he knew that all that effort he put into changing how people saw him was working. Gaar looked at Kaoru.

"He'll probably stop eventually. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Gaara-kun."

Kohaku didn't stop calling Gaara dad the next day or even in the next month. However that was the least of the kage's worries. Everyone had to spend the next several days catching up on their duties. They each seemed to have a mountain of paperwork and tasks that they had to do. Personally, Temari thought that Kankuro was just lazy so he claimed that no one but one of them could do certain tasks, but that was just her. Kaoru not only had paperwork but she had to spend time with Kohaku and work shifts at the hospital. Gaara was buried in paperwork and the things that only the Kazekage had power to deal with. It seemed that everyone in the council needed his attention for something. So life fell back into a routine with only the kid making the one minor, or to Gaara's mind major, change.

----------3 years later----------

Kaoru walked into Gaara's office. He was reading some document that needed to be discussed in the next council meeting. She frowned when she saw his hand come up and rub at his temple. The medic walked over to her friend with a five year old Kohaku walking behind her. Kaoru placed a hand on her friend's forehead to make sure he wasn't sick. This effectively distracted him from his work and he looked up at her. Her crimson eyes held concern as she looked at him.

"Hello, Gaara-kun. I was coming to see if you wanted to come eat lunch with me and Kohaku," she said with a smile.

Now that she mentioned it he was hungry. The Kazekage nodded and stood up. Kohaku immediately grabbed hold of Gaara's coat with a smile. Gaara looked down at him. It was hard to believe that this was the same boy that Kaoru had adopted when she was 14. Five years had past and he wondered where they had gone. The boy was now in the academy and from the reports he receive he was one of the most promising students there. He had spiky dark hair and his deep blue eyes were smiling as he gazed up at the Kage. Gaara was one of the kid's favorite people much to everyone's, especially Gaara's, surprise. Kaoru smiled.

"Come eat with us, dad," the little boy demanded. Gaara'e eyes widened. He still wasn't use to being called that. Yet another thing that Gaara didn't understand. The boy had definitely been around Kaoru too long. Gaara looked back at Kaoru who just looked amused. He mentally sighed and stood up. Kohaku cheered and rushed towards the door.

"He loves you, Gaara-kun," Kaoru said.

"I know. I just don't understand why."

She smiled at him, "Oh that's easy. You're a very lovable guy."

He gave her a look that told her he wasn't buying that. She chuckled and the three of them left to go eat lunch. Gaara listened as Kohaku told the two adults what he was studying in his classes. The boy was picking up Kaoru's happy personality. It seemed the boy was always picking up habits from the girl that had raised him. It shouldn't surprise Gaara that the boy liked him so much when the girl he though of as his mother was the first person to ever smile at Gaara.

"Gaara-sama!" someone shouted across the building. Gaara looked over and saw Baki heading his way. His sensei had surprised everyone and was now married to Yuri of all people. What surprised Gaara more was the neither Kaoru or her grandmother had been surprised. They had both known it was coming.

"What is it, Baki?"

"We've just received word from Konoha. They've located Orochimaru. The Hokage asked for our assistance in either capturing or killing the Sannin."

Gaara nodded, "Send a message telling her we'll sent a team immediately. Did she have any requests?"

"The only specific shinobi she asked for were Temari and Kankuro."

Gaara nodded and stood up, "The team should be their tomorrow morning. I'm going personally and don't argue with me Baki. I have a score to settle with Orochimaru or did you forget he was the one that killed my father."

The group reached the Kazekage's office. Baki shook his head, "Of course I haven't forgotten. If you insist on going I just ask that you take Kaoru with you."

Kaoru looked surprised. Gaara frowned, "No."

Baki insisted, "But Gaara-sama you'll need her there. She's the best medic in our village and and Shukaku is easier for you to fight off when she's near you."

"No, Baki. She stays here," Gaara stated firmly.

The two men knew that Baki was right. If anything angered Gaara enough that Shukaku wanted to come out then Kaoru would make it easier for him to keep the demon suppressed. Gaara refused to put Kaoru in danger though. This fight would be one of the most difficult they've had in a while. There wasn't any guarantee that they would come back. Gaara didn't understand his feelings for her but he did understand the desire to protect her. He wouldn't let her come with him to this battle. Baki saw the determination in those sea foam eyes and knew he was fighting a losing battle. The only person who could change Gaara's mind now was Kaoru. He turned to leave.

"Baki, can you take Kohaku to my grandmother's? I'll pick him up later," Kaoru stated without looking away from Gaara. Baki nodded and took the boy out with him. She moved to stand in front of her friend, "Gaara-kun, let me come."

"No."

She frowned then said, "I'm going with or without your permission, Gaara-kun. If Baki thinks you'll need me then he's probably right. I'm not defenseless and I'll avoid the fighting but I will be there."

Gaara stood up and braced himself on the desk with both hands, "No you will not."

"Watch me."

"Kaoru, don't fight me on this. You will stay in Suna."

"Ugh, why are you being so stubborn about this?" she demanded.

Gaara felt something his temper snap, "Because I won't put you in danger!"

Kaoru blinked and her eyes softened, "Gaara-kun, I'm a shinobi. That's part of the job description."

The image of her falling off the roof and being covered in her own blood entered Gaara's mind. That had happened three years ago but it had terrified him. He didn't know what he would have done if Sakura hadn't been there. Kaoru would have died. He could have lost her.

"I don't care. I almost lost you once and I sure as hell don't plan on going through that again."

Kaoru moved around the desk and cupped his face in her hands, "Gaara-kun, listen to me. You've almost died a couple of times. Should I keep you from going on this mission because you might not come back? Of course not but it's a tempting idea. I promise I'll be careful. You'll just have to trust me to take care of myself."

He let out a sigh. She was right. He couldn't shield her from her job no matter how much he wanted to. Besides, it wasn't like she wouldn't be useful. Kaoru was very skilled as both a medic and kunoichi. As long as they kept an eye on her she would be just fine...wouldn't she. Damn it, he didn't want to risk it. He wanted her here in Suna where she would be safe from any harm. His sea foam eye locked with her crimson gaze. She looked just as determined to be by his side.

"Why are you being so stubborn?" he asked her.

"Because if anything happens I want to be there to help. I love you, Gaara-kun. I won't just stand by while there's a chance you need me."

Gaara just stared at her for a moment and then nodded, "Fine but you won't leave my sight and you will not fight."

She smiled, "I'll avoid fighting unless there's no other choice and I won't leave your sight."

They arrived at Konoha that night. Everyone was excited and afraid. They had finally found Orochimaru. He would finally pay for what killing the third hokage and the fourth kazekage. Plans were made. Those staying got prepared to defend the village if it became necessary. Those going left to pack what was needed. They would leave in the morning. Hopefully they would all be back the following night as well. True to his word Gaara didn't let Kaoru out of his sight the moment they left Suna. There was to telling what Orochimaru had planed and the kage had no intention of letting her get hurt because he dropped his guard. Sasuke had the same protectiveness going for Sakura. The girls found it kind of cute though they would never tell their protectors that. Tomorrow was the big battle with the snake. Everyone prayed to live through it.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review.