So I don't know if you realized after the previous chapter, but this fic has deviated from the original story. Simply cuz it's easier. =] Now, on with the show!

Chapter 7 – Stay

Sakura sat in the chair as she watched Kakashi unpack the food and set the table. It was still impossible to get over how handsome he was. He kept the mask off but still wore the hitai-ate to cover his sharingan. She smiled shyly when he caught her staring and gave her a kiss on top of her head. Happiness pervaded every cell of her body.

The joy was only slightly interrupted when she felt her stomach rumble. She'd been too nervous and otherwise preoccupied to eat the whole day and now her stomach felt like it was trying to eat itself. It was a good thing there was enough food for them both. Really, there was enough food for a whole team that included Chouji. Her eyes widened as she saw the mountain of food growing bigger and bigger. All this was originally for one person?!

He laughed at her surprised expression.

"Yea, I don't know why I always order so much. I always feel bad when I have to throw it away after it goes bad. Maybe I've been secretly wishing somebody will show up to eat with me. I guess I was lucky tonight," he said and winked at her.

"I think I'm the lucky one. I'm so hungry and everything looks delicious" she replied, trying to keep from grinning like an idiot. She could hardly believe something as small as a wink could be so sexy.

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"I have to ask, how did you know that I... had feelings for you?" He looked at her as if trying to figure out a puzzle.

She rested her cheek in her palm and looked at him.

"Well, I think the first time I started thinking something might be up was when you walked me home before you left for that mission and you seemed… different. But I'd pushed that aside as wishful thinking. What made me come here tonight was when you were holding me when I was crying that night. When I said your name and put my hands on your chest, I felt your heartbeat become irregular and then speed up… Monitoring heartbeats is like breathing to me," she shrugged.

"Wow," he laughed, "I don't even know what to say to that. All this time I've tried to be so careful, controlling what I say and do, my facial expressions… but I can't really control my heartbeat, huh? I didn't even realize it was something I should do."

Then, he became very serious.

"Sakura, why were you crying? You scared me half to death."

"Oh… I was just thinking about… things… and I just felt so... Whatever, it's really not important, let's move on," she squirmed in her chair as she bit her lip. She could hardly tell him she was crying over him, nor did she want to get into all the bad things that had been happening in the town and to her friends.

He nodded. Though he wanted to press her further, he could clearly see she was uncomfortable. "I just want you to know that you can tell me anything. I don't want you to feel like you have to hold back with me."

"I know," she smiled to him.

They continued to eat. When they were just about finished, Kakashi turned to her with a twinkle in his eye.

"So, six years, eh?"

"What is this, 20 Questions?!" her face started to burn crimson. Her shyness was so adorable.

He just laughed.

"Yeah… it started off as just a crush when I was twelve. But then somewhere along the way, probably about two years ago around the time Naruto came back, it slowly developed into something more… So, how long has it been for you?" she asked, still a bright shade of red.

"I think," he paused for a moment, "probably about two years for me, too. One day I looked at you and just realized that you'd become… everything I ever wanted."

His words shook her to the core. She leaned in to kiss him and hoped that it translated everything she was feeling for him. At first it was sweet, just like the first one. But as he kissed her with growing fervor, all thoughts of dinner quickly passed away and she dropped her chopsticks onto the table before reaching behind his neck to pull him in closer.

Breathing became labored as he put a hand on her waist and led her onto her feet. She, in turn, put her hands on his lower back and firmly closed the little space that was left between their hips, a move that set his body on fire. She couldn't seem to get enough of him.

He slowly inched her towards the couch, making sure not to break contact with her lips. She lay down on it and though she wanted to smile at him to cut through some of the seriousness, the desire coursing through her veins made it impossible.

He lay down beside her, not wanting her to be able to feel his growing erection by lying on top of her. He didn't want to rush things. Even now he felt that perhaps he was going too fast, that he should not have let it get this heated. She was young, probably inexperienced, and their relationship was new and… delicate, to say the least.

He took a minute to stroke her soft hair and tuck some behind her ear as he tried to get himself under control. He caressed her jaw and wondered what he had done to deserve such a gift. She sensed something was going on with him, that the raw heat was dissipating and she wrapped her leg around his to bring him back. He gently kissed her jaw and proceeded down her neck, each kiss sending a spark in her brain, when-

GrRrrRrr! Her stomach growled.

"Digestion," she quietly explained with an embarrassed laugh. She looked at the clock and then out the window into the dark. "It's getting late. I think I should head home."

"It is getting late…" he said as he sat up.

She slowly got up and turned toward the door, until she felt his hand grab hers. She turned around and almost bumped into his chest.

"Stay."

Though she hadn't planned or prepared for this, she instantly decided that she was ready for wherever this went. Sakura silently thanked the gods for giving her the fortune of having move out of her parents' home a year ago so she could be closer to the hospital and Tsunade-sama. She wouldn't want to have to explain why she wasn't coming home.

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So? How was it? I know this one's kind of short but I wanted to save the rest for later. ; ]

A great big thanks to those who have reviewed and those who will review. You guys rock my world! Seriously! I really appreciate all of them.