Grilled Cheese, New Friend, and Stories

…..

A shriek of rage pierced the peaceful evening.

"Don't leave me! I wanna go too!" The toddler pounded his tiny fists on the back of his baby sitter, thrashing and screaming all the while.

Minato raised his voice over the racket from the doorway. "We'll be back around eleven. He's already had a bath; you just need to feed him, entertain him, and put him to bed. Good luck, Kakashi-kun."

Kakashi grunted in discomfort when a flailing fist struck eye. "Just have fun on your anniversary, sensei. This is the least I can do to celebrate."

"It was very kind of you to offer. Send a nin-dog if you have any trouble you can't handle."

"Minato, let's go! You're torturing me with listening to my baby wailing."

Minato looked over his shoulder at his awaiting wife. "Be there in a second. Have fun Kakashi."

He walked away and closed the door before Kakashi could protest. Kakashi looked down at the howling child with bewilderment, not knowing what to do. He hesitantly brought his hand up and rubbed small soothing circles on his back and "shhh"-ing like how he had seen Kushina do. This seemed to work, but only slightly. The howling morphed into pitiful moans and snot filled sniffs. Kakashi moved to place Naruto on the floor, but the boy just hung on closer, refusing to be put down. Slowly an idea formed in the mind of the jonin.

"Naruto, if I don't put you down, how are you going to meet one of my best friends?" With a heavy sniff, Naruto turned watery blue eyes up to meet his.

"A friend? What do you mean Kashi?"

"If you let me put you down, I'll show you."

Kakashi found that contemplation on a toddler's face was one of the cutest things he had ever seen. Not that he would ever willfully admit it though.

"So, what do you say? Do you want to meet him?"

"Yes! Put me down, Kashi. Who is your friend?"

"You'll see." Kakashi gently placed Naruto down on his feet. The boy wiped at his nose, streaking his blue shirt with snot. Excitement filled his innocent eyes.

Kakashi flashed through the hand seals and slapped the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu."

"Yo."

"A puppy!"

….

Naruto and Pakkun wrestled on the living room floor, both yapping and snapping playfully. Some time had passed, when Kakashi realized that it was close to bed time and Naruto hadn't been fed yet.

"Naruto, do you want to eat dinner? How about a grilled cheese?" Kakashi levered himself up off the couch and pulled the two hooligans apart.

"Grilled cheese!" The boy trotted to the kitchen and sat at the table eagerly.

Kakashi followed him in, Pakkun at his heel. A paw patted him on his leg and Kakashi looked down questioningly.

"I believe I deserve a grilled cheese also." The pug said.

"Okay, grilled cheeses for everyone." Quickly the pan was heated and the sandwiches cooked to a gooey perfection.

Pakkun hopped up in a chair next to Naruto and waited for his own serving as Naruto's was plopped before him.

For a few blissful minutes, the kitchen was quite with content. Kakashi sighed inwardly, relaxing with how nice the evening was turning out.

"I'm done, let's go play Pakkun."

With the quickness of a jounin, Kakashi caught the whirlwind of energy. "No, Naruto. It's bed time."

"But I not sleepy!"

"But Pakkun is, he needs to go to sleep." Kakashi shot a look at his nin-dog.

Getting the hint, Pakkun yawned. "Come on pup. Let's get ready for bed. I bet Kakashi will tell us a story if we're good."

Kakashi glared at the pug but sighed in defeat.

"Okay, I'll tell you a bed time story. But only if you get ready quickly."

"Yay! A Story!" The pattering of feet up the stairs was followed by the clicking of dog claws. Kakashi, feeling that Pakkun could take care of the basics, began to clean up the kitchen before heading up the stairs to join his dog and charge.

In Naruto's room, Pakkun was tugging on the kid's pants, playfully growling. Naruto giggled as they came off and sent Pakkun tumbling backwards. Kakashi scooped up the frog pajamas and slipped them over the small blonde's head then began tickling him. Pakkun, feeling left out came over and began licking Naruto's small feet, occasionally getting kicked in the face. Naruto shrieked in delight and tried wiggling away.

"Oh, no you don't you rascal." Kakashi picked him up and tossed him in the air, catching him when he came down again. Naruto continued to squeal in delight. "Again!"

Leave it to say, Kakashi learned to dreaded terror of that word about twenty minutes later and a stiff neck. "Again, Kashi, Again!"

"No Naruto, time for bed."

A hint of tears began to form at the corners of his eyes and the child began to sniff. "But…"

"No Buts, I thought you wanted a story."

Magic words, Naruto turned and pounced into his bed, and waited excitedly. "What story today?"

"How about how a ninja who saved a princess?"

"Okay, just no kissy kissy, yuck." The child had a disgusted look on his face.

"No kissy kissy." Kakashi chuckled and wondered how he'd feel in ten years.

"The story begins with a girl who left her country to come to another. She had lost all of her family and carried a great responsibility. So she came to a great nation where she was determined to be the best she can be."

…

"…And he saved her from the kidnappers and they became best friends." Kakashi concluded. Naruto yawned sleepily, fighting to keep his eyes open.

" 'nother one Kashi." He slurred. " 'm not sleepy yet."

"That's all for tonight. Next time I'll tell you about how a great man saved his friends from death." Kakashi shifted the child off his lap and began to stand up.

The blue eyes snapped open. "NO! 'nother one!" Sighing Kakashi sat down to start another story.

…

"Kakashi?" Minato and Kushina walked quietly into the house, aware they were three hours late.

"Maybe he fell asleep?" Kushina began walking up the stairs to check on Naruto, Minato followed closely. She nudged the door to her son's room open and glanced in. She smiled in silent laughter. "They fell asleep together. They must have had an exciting evening."

Kakashi was sprawled on Naruto's small bed with the blond curled against his chest and Pakkun curled up at his feet.

"Let's leave them for the night, Minato. Minato?" Kushina glanced around for her disappeared husband.

"Just getting the camera for some blackmail."

"Why didn't I think of that?"

"You were enjoying the cute moment."

Snap Flash Snap

….

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions? Questions? Well, is your head about to explode with the cute? I had wanted to end with Naruto pulling Kakashi's mask down, but for some reason this just flowed out like some rabid beast out for blood. Eh, the again stuff came from my own experience with getting swung by my parents eons ago. Till next time

-Zahre

PS, Keep at me with your reviews or I might get distracted with reading other fanfics again. Anyone know the stories I put in? Take a guess, but think about it first.