Okay, this is the epilouge, and I think I'm going to cry Sniff it's so sad! Oh, and I posted my new story, Is Forever Enough, so...yeah go read it. :D

It was a great ride!

Luv ya!

Nicola

With an inane shrug of her shoulder, Kaede turned back to the ramen bowl in front of her, completely ignoring Naruto's question. The blonde Hokage had invited her out for lunch with the rest of their friends in honor of the six-year anniversary of the Great Battle for Konoha, and of course, he'd chosen the ramen shop. So far, only she had arrived to join Naruto and his five-year-old son, Arashi, and the three were waiting for the others to get there.

At the moment, Naruto's son was trying in vain to get his father's Hokage hat—which was placed next to a growing stack of empty ramen bowls. Naruto was easily holding Arashi back with one hand, still able to concentrate on eating and talking to Kaede, who was avoiding his eyes. She focused instead on the determined gleam in Arashi's blue eyes, the way he was totally absorbed in snatching the red and white hat. She chuckled mildly at how much he resembled his father, blonde hair, blue eyes, and all.

Apparently, Naruto had also noticed how hard Arashi was trying to get a hold of the treasured hat, and acted as if he were beginning to tire. He began to use his other hand, too, and pretended like he was failing miserably. Noticing this, Arashi started to struggled harder, and Naruto feigned defeat, throwing his hands up into the air; a triumphant grin on his face, Arashi snatched the hat and plopped it on his own head. It fell far over his eyes, almost covering his nose, and the cloth sprawled over his shoulders.

"Look, Daddy, I'm Hokage too!"

Laughing, Naruto plucked the hat off his son's head and ruffled his spiky blonde hair. "It's a little bit big right now, but you'll grow into it." Arashi's eyes sparkled, and he turned back to his own smaller bowl of ramen, digging in with new gusto, as if the faster he ate, the faster he would grow into the coveted hat.

Kaede grinned wider; Arashi was just as ambitious as Naruto had been at his age, already dreaming of being the Hokage. She could just see an older version of him—basically Naruto at the current moment—standing in front of the entire village, dressed in the flowing Hokage robes. Her pleasant little image was shattered by Naruto's deeper, yet still slightly grating voice.

"About my question Kaede…"

She groaned. "Awww, Naruto, and here I was hoping that you'd have forgotten already! Dang it!"

It was Naruto's turn to groan and slap a hand to his forehead. "Kaede, you have got to be the most irritating person on the planet. I swear, the only time I've had to deal with such annoyance was when you were pregnant, and when Arashi was three. Ugh. Terrible Two's my foot. The three-year-olds are what you've gotta watch out for."

Kaede chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint."

Looking curious, Arashi peered over at the two adults as his father spoke again, "Yeah, but the two of you have been so quiet this past week, quiet even for Sasuke! Come on, what's going on?"

Kaede hesitated and played with her ramen. "I really don't want to say just now, Naruto. Can't it wait until everyone else gets here?"
"No, it can't, Kaede," Naruto began, but he was interrupted by two small children, a boy and a girl, dashing up, both with pale eyes and dark brown hair. They were holding hands, and Arashi let out a little noise of excitement as his two friends stopped in front of him. They were momentarily followed by their bedraggled-looking mother, Miki, who threw herself down in the seat next to Kaede.

"Bad day?" Kaede asked, glad for the distraction from Naruto's question.

Miki moaned and put her head on the counter. "You have no idea. I was hoping they'd take after Neji, not me." She gave a dark laugh. "I guess I deserve it, really. I gave my mother hell when I was a kid."

"What'd they do this time?" Naruto queried, watching his son and the twins run around each other jubilantly. "Try to spray paint the face of the Fourth?"

"No," Miki mumbled, and looked up. "That was you, remember, when you were a kid?" She shook her head inanely. "Donovan knocked over an entire apple stand—how, I have no idea—and Arana squashed all the apples. Now I have to pay for the stupid fruit and for the stand!"

Fighting back the laugh in her throat, Kaede stuffed a bunch of ramen into her mouth and barely prevented herself from choking on it. Miki gave her a hard smack on the back and she coughed, able to breath.

"Go ahead, I don't care, laugh at me all you want," Miki muttered, watching her kids. "I swear, if those two weren't so damn cute, they'd be dead by now."

This time Kaede really had to work at the giggles threatening to burst from her mouth, and she looked at Naruto for some sort of help. Although she would've chosen different than he did.

"Again, Kaede, you're avoiding my question."

"What, about how weird they've been acting all week?" Miki added in, suddenly looking interested. "Yeah, Kaede, go on, tell us."

Hesitating again, licked her lips and looked helplessly towards her now-empty bowl of ramen. Great, she couldn't use that excuse. She sighed, beginning to feel the pressure, and opened her mouth to speak.

She was saved the trouble, though, by the loud voice of Arashi.

"Mommy!"

Kaede had never been so happy to see Sakura in her life. The pink haired medical ninja was carrying a small, wrapped up bundle—her second son, she knew—and bent down to pull her older child into a hug. Naruto kissed her on the cheek as she sat down next to him and handed him their second born.

Though Naruto's eyes were filled with love, he looked down at his son and said disdainfully, "Pink hair. The poor thing's got pink hair."

Miki spluttered and spat out her mouthful of noodles, coughing a bit before staring incredulously at Naruto. "Are you serious? You're kid's got pink hair?! Let me see!"

Naruto pulled the boy closer to his chest defensively. "No way! You're just going to make fun of poor little Soma."

"Hell yeah," Miki said, reaching out to pull the top of the blanket down. "You're son has a head full of pink hair. Why wouldn't I want to look?"

Sakura glared. "Leave my little boy alone. I could make fun of you because you're getting enough lines on your face to pass for forty-five but I don't."

Horrified, Miki reached up and touched her cheek, glanced at her children, and muttered, "I'm hiring a nanny. I don't care what Neji says, they're getting a nanny."

"Yeah, sure, Miki," Kaede laughed, scanning the crowd for her two loves. "You love your kids too much." The Hyuga scoffed, but Kaede knew it was true; Miki was crazy about her twins.

Kaede focused on trying to find the two most important people she was waiting for, but she still didn't see them. Crap. The only ones left to get here were Neji and Kakashi, who would probably arrive in six minutes. She couldn't hold them off all by herself, and she certainly wasn't going to tell them without the two she was looking for. They'd better get here soon, or else she was going to get horded.

"Where's Neji?" Kaede asked absently, turning back to look at Miki.

"Hiding," she grumbled, and Sakura gave her a look. "I'm serious! Arana wanted to go look at dollies, and I swear, one second he was there, the next he was gone." She smirked as she spotted someone in the crowd. "Here he is now, the chicken."

Neji strode up, looking slightly sheepish, in his own Neji-ish way, that is. He gave Miki a chaste kiss on the cheek before rubbing her shoulders soothingly. Kaede chuckled as Miki's face became a mixture of annoyance and relaxation.

"You suck up," she muttered, but didn't reprimand her husband any more after that.

Kaede went back to looking at the crowds outside the ramen shop, waiting impatiently for them to get here. She was not one for much patience today, and everyone else was here—save for Kakashi, three more minutes to go—so why weren't they? She sighed heavily and swiveled her chair back around, deciding to wait for Kakashi's arrival before getting herself all worked up.

And, exactly three minutes later, Hatake Kakashi strode into the tightly packed ramen shop, his orange book shoved in front of his face, as always. Kaede shook her head and pushed the book down slightly, so that she could see his gray eye. Ever since they'd gained Konoha back, he'd reverted to his old habit of keeping his mask up and his headband bowed to the left. And, of course, he'd continued the pattern of being late and having a complete disregard for everyone else around him. Except for those who knew him too well, that is, and who could see through his demeanor.

"Hello, Kakashi, how're you today?" Kaede asked sweetly, and Kakashi looked around in confusion.

"Now…why is someone missing? Is someone later than me?" He almost sounded alarmed, and Kaede smirked.

"No, you aren't late, Kakashi-sensei. I just told you that we were getting together three hours earlier than we really were so that you wouldn't be late," she explained easily, glowing in the shock that flashed over Kakashi's face. It was soon replaced by sheepishness, though, and he rubbed the back of his head.

"Guess you got me this time," he chuckled, and moved to lean against the wall. Kaede, satisfied now that everyone was there, looked back out into the busy street, hoping to catch a glimpse of them. She could just make out a small figure towering over the crowds, sitting atop a man's shoulders. The figure was pointing and holding onto fistfuls of black hair. His attention turned to the ramen shop, and he pointed urgently, babbling loudly and rapidly to the man holding him. He lifted his tiny hand in an eager wave. Kaede waved back to her son, a smile spreading over her face as they approached.

She stood up, momentarily dizzy, and strode over to them, grinning from ear to ear. Her son, Itake, continued to wave and called out, "Mommy!" She smiled even wider, if that was possible, and stopped in front of her husband and child. Holding his son's leg with one hand, Sasuke pulled Kaede into an embrace with his free arm. He didn't let go of her, either, until they reached the ramen stand, where he set Itake down on his own two feet to go play with the other children. Sasuke then turned to Kaede and, holding her face between his hands, kissed her passionately.

She kissed him back, her arms wrapped around his neck, and relished the fact that he gave her this same kiss every time he saw her, no matter how short of a time they'd been apart, whether five days or five minutes. He kissed her the same way he had when they'd finally kissed—really kissed—for the first time in nearly three years. She remembered the day clearly, and could not imagine a better ending to the first week of being in Konoha again.

She recalled how he'd reacted after she'd accepted his proposal, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into the bedroom for the night. Sometimes she would still blush at the thought of it. They'd married in the Hokage temple, and the reception had been held in the same place. After that, two years of being together and then deciding to have children. Itake was their first, and so far, only child.

"Eeewww!"

Kaede and Sasuke parted, slightly embarrassed, and looked down at their son. It wasn't only him, though. All of the children—minus one baby—had gathered in front of the kissing couple, all gagging and making disgusted noises. Kaede took Sasuke's hand and held out her other one for Itake to take. The little boy did, and she picked him up easily.

He looked so much like his father. He had the black hair that sometimes looked blue, like ink, and the black eyes that widened when excited. He had the cutest dimples, and his whole face lit up when he smiled. Kaede loved it when he smiled. Itake also had the makings of a great ninja. She knew he was skilled and would excel in his classes.

"So, how was your first day?" she asked. Today had been the first day Itake had gone to the academy.

"It was okay," Itake replied, looking thoughtful. "Shikamaru-sensei seems nice enough, but Rock Lee-sensei is just plain weird."

Kaede and Sasuke chuckled. "Anything else?"

"No, not really."

Smiling, Kaede stood on tiptoe to kiss Sasuke again. He held her cheek lightly in the palm of his hand, and they stayed lip-locked until Itake muttered his protest.

"My parents are never that nice to each other," Donovan grumbled, and his sister nodded her agreement.

"Mine are," Arashi said, shooting an irritated glance at Sakura and Naruto. "They have even more fun at night, but it always seems like its when I have a night-scare." Sakura and Naruto flushed ten shades of red as their friends chuckled, including the old man running the ramen shop and Kakashi.

Kakashi stepped forward and held out his hand to Itake. "I don't believe we've met before, little one. My name's Hatake Kakashi. I trained your parents when they were younger."

Eyes wide, Itake nodded. "I know! I read 'bout you in one of my books! You're the son of the…the um…the White Fang! And you like those dirty books Mommy and Daddy won't let me look at."

Kakashi chuckled lightly as Itake shook his hand eagerly, his tiny fingers barely able to wrap around Kakashi's thumb. "Well, it looks like they're raising you right, then." He seemed to wink. "I hope I get to have you on one of my squad's when you get old enough. Who knows, with your parentage, you could be the greatest ninja yet."

Itake's eyes got even bigger, and he opened his mouth to say something when a high-pitched, grating voice cut it. "Hey! I'm supposed to be the greatest ninja ever! Not him!"

Naruto looked in shock at his son, and Sakura tried to motion for him to be quiet, but Arashi stood firm with his hands fisted at his sides. Kakashi stared down at the small blonde boy who was a miniature of the Hokage and shook his head.

"Just like your father, aren't you?"

"Yup!" Arashi claimed proudly. "And just look where it got him!"

Rubbing his temple, Kakashi glanced over at Itake and rolled his one gray eye. "I bet they'll give me him, just to spite me."

Once everyone was settled down with their own preferred ramen and beverage, Kaede and Sasuke stood up. Kaede picked Itake up again and held him on her hip. "Guys," she said, and looked up at Sasuke lovingly. He lightly touched her stomach and returned the look. "I think it's time for me to tell you what I know you've all been wondering." Naruto looked eager, and Miki looked ready to burst. Kaede leaned against Sasuke's side and said, "Sasuke and I are going to have another baby."

Squeals and gasps rippled through the group of friends, and suddenly, Kaede was getting bombarded with hugs from Miki and Sakura. Naruto, Neji, and Kakashi stepped forward to wring Sasuke's hand and congratulate him, and to give Kaede a hug and a good wish, too.

"You hear that, little guy?" Kaede said, kissing Itake on the cheek. "You're going to be a big brother, and have a little brother or sister."

The small child looked positively illuminated. "I'm gonna be the bestest big brother ever!"

Kaede laughed, and wondered, amidst the congratulatory words and hugs from her friends, if her son would live up to his own standards.

vvv

Eight months later, Kaede and Sasuke had a baby daughter, and Itake had a new baby sister. She had big black eyes, black hair, and Kaede's nose.

They named her Mikoto, after Sasuke's mother.

Well, there it is. I had a request for a sequel, which I'm contemplating at the moment, but for now, until I can think up a possible plot for a sequel, I'm gonna concentrate on Is Forever Enough and studying for the SAT's, which sucks, let me tell you! Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, my story is finally finished! I love you all!

Oh, and dont' forget to review again, hehe!