Epilogue: Two years later…

Suigetsu walked wearily through the village. He ached all over and his sword was weighing heavily on his back. He was looking forward to a nice hot bath; dissolving in one was like heaven. Perhaps he could even entice Karin to join him.

He pushed open the door to his home and called out, "Honey, I'm home!"

He heard a snort of derision from the kitchen and made his way through the house towards the source, depositing his sword against a wall on his way.

"You can't leave it there."

He growled and turned back to move it, only to hear her objections again. Moving it twice more, he yelled in exasperation, "Stop ordering me around, woman!"

He heard her laughing at him and growled. Depositing his sword in a cupboard, he resumed his disturbed trek through his house, determined to make it into the kitchen.

He found Karin standing at the sink and he crept up behind her.

"You know I can see you."

Suigetsu wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. "Can you see how much I missed you?"

"You missed me?" She asked, gently arching her neck as he greeted her with kisses.

"Of course I did! Every mission without you is boring." He pressed his face into her neck, "This one was hell!"

"Oh?"

"Promise me you're coming on the next one!"

"I can't."

He pulled back from her. "What? Why not?"

"Medical reasons."

"Is it your head?"

"No. But I've been given leave from all missions outside the village. Gakuri ordered it."

"For how long?"

"Oh, at least the next year." She replied blithely, resuming her previous activity which was washing the dishes. Suigetsu was having none of that and spun her round to face him.

"Explain." He demanded.

She shrugged and looked away from him and he was forced to grab her chin in order to look her in the eyes.

"What's going on, Karin?"

She looked down at her feet and murmured something that he couldn't quite hear.

"Say it again, this time a little louder." He instructed, still trying to catch her eye.

She huffed and looked away from him again, but repeated her previously statement. "I'm pregnant."

She glanced over at Suigetsu, but he was staring at her like she was speaking a foreign language. He blinked rapidly and tried to speak but his mouth had suddenly gone dry. He swallowed, "Come again?"

"I'm pregnant! I'm going to have a baby! Your baby!" She was indignant as she poked him in the chest, "You went and made me pregnant!"

His eyes darted down to her stomach and she quickly covered it with her arms. He looked back up at her face to find a dark blush had bloomed across it. As if his brain had finally registered what she said, a big, dopey-looking smile spread over his face, one that she caught sight of when she brought herself to look at him again.

"Why are you smiling? Do you have any idea what this means?" She shrilled, "They're thinking of giving me genins, Suigetsu! Genins! Or making me work at the Academy!"

That smile changed to a grin as she continued griping about her maternity leave.

"Surrounded, day in, day out, by snotty-nosed, obnoxious little brats and… why are you still smiling?"

Without warning, He scooped her up and twirled her around. She braced herself against his shoulders and closed her eyes, trying to overcome the sudden bout of dizziness. With a happy laugh, he dropped her back on the floor and kissed her while her eyes were still closed.

"You're all mine, now. You know that, right?" He murmured, leaning his forehead against hers, "This is permanent. You aren't going anywhere."

She smiled up at him, "Then I guess you've finally given me a reason to stay."

The End

Author's Note: Yes, that is the end. The story is over. There will be no more. I was considering adding to this story, but my editor has told me not to.

I want to thank all of you who wrote reviews:

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And those who added it to their alerts list:

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Now you can take it off your alerts list. I hope you all enjoyed it. Look for more stories from me in the new year. Or you can check out my current ones, because they're awesome too.

Also, a Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate.

Tigers and Dragons.