The wraps of The Divine Tree broke away and she laid on the ground, taking deep breaths of the fresh air. The sun shone on her face and she covered her eyes for a moment, damn. They had been saved, she could hear the people around her stirring and talking, her muscles ached the way they did before being trapped… she had to trust she was actually awake. She finally opened her eyes and sat up.
She scanned the people and ledges around her. Where was Kakashi? She had a general eye on him until she got taken into the genjutsu. She carefully stood up, her legs were shaking slightly. Where would she even start? He wasn't close to her. She started towards the ledge doing her best to run. It was more of a hobble and limp though but she pushed through the pain.
Someone called her name out and she stopped and turned, "we need your help! This shinobi is seriously injured!" She didn't want to go to them and help, she needed to make sure that her partner was safe and alive . He already attempted to sacrifice his life for Naruto, what if he did it again and was successful? Then this ninja's life could be lost for no reason.
"Of course," she nodded and started towards the injured instead of going after her partner.
She wasn't able to search for Kakashi after doing what she could to heal the ninja that needed it. There were more ninjas in need of medical attnetion. They made a makeshift tent on the battlefield to bring the injured to be tended to.
She felt like she had been working for forever but also just for a moment when people started cheering,and Naruto's, Sasuke's, Sakura's, and Kakashi's names were the topic of conversation and could be heard from outside. She stopped in her wrapping up of an ankle as she registered the names they were talking about outside. Kakashi , "excuse me, will you take over?" The nurse smiled and came over. She straightened and left the tent, She looked to the newly formed ridge and saw four silhouettes. She squinted towards the sun and shook her head, she couldn't make out who was who, but she now knew Kakashi was okay.
Gritting her teeth, she started to run through the deep ache and pain again. She needed to get to him.
Kakashi was leaning heavily on Sakura, both of his eyes studying all the people. It felt weird to have 20/20 vision again. He couldn't make her out in the crowd of shinobi even if he wanted to. They were too high up and the left side of his head was throbbing so hard he could swear he could hear it. He had to trust that she was still alive and fought through. She will always find me , he reminded himself as I will find her . He studied the battlefield again before his vision whited out and he crumpled onto Sakura.
When she saw the four silhouettes turn into three with one being one ninja leaning heavily on another, she started to run faster. The pain stopped existing for a moment. Tears pricked her eyes but still, faster and further she pushed herself.
The group had started making their way down the ledgeand by the time they were at the bottom she was at the base of the ledge. Kakashi was leaning heavily on Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke were both missing an arm and heavily supporting one another.
"Kakashi!" She gasped out and closed the distance between the two of them.
"I'm fine," he winced as he spoke and Sakura shifted him to her.
"No you're not! Oh my-" she stopped and studied his face, "your eye," she cupped his face and searched both of his eyes, "how in the world did-"
"Naruto was able to fix it. Not sure how," he glanced at the weakened ninja being tended to by Sakura, "you found me," he smiled weakly, bringing a bruised and bloodied hand to her face to cup it gently.
"You found me," she cried and held him in her arms for a few moments, allowing herself to cry, "alright, enough of that let's get you four to the medical tent we set up. You four are in rough shape. Sakura, please help me support Kakashi." She wiped her face off and wrapped a firm arm around Kakashi.
Four Weeks Later
By the time they all had returned to the village, it had been almost completely rebuilt. She and Kakashi found themselves in a modest home near the forest and she was thankful for it. Their village was restless and attempting to settle itself after the war, their growing city of Konoha welcomed home the survivors and everyone settled in for the peace they had fought so hard for.
She was setting the table when Kakashi walked in, "Kakashi! Welcome home!" She hurried to greet him with a loving kiss and led him to the dining room, "how was your day?" She asked as she started to serve his plate, "how's Naruto doing? Any word about Sasuke?"
"Petal, darling," Kakashi's gaze was far away and he still wasn't sitting, "stop for a moment." He frowned a bit.
She frowned in return, "is everything okay?" Her tone was soft now so as to not disrupt the cloudy mood he seemed to be in.
"Lady Tsunade… Lady Tsunade is retiring from Hokage and the Fuedal Lords and Lady Fifth decided that I need to-I have-"
"To be the Hokage?!" She squealed and clapped, standing up, "that's amazing news, Kakashi!"
He grimaced, "it's real this time too."
She laughed and moved to wrap her arms around him, "you'll be a great Hokage. Besides, we both know Naruto isn't too far from being a Hokage. He's the ninja a Hokage needs to be in his heart but you know… his mind," she giggled and shrugged.
A soft whine came from him, "you're right. It's only temporary. He's seventeen, he'll be Hokage in no time."
"I'm very, very proud of you and all your accomplishments. Sit! Eat up, I'm sure you're hungry, Lord Sixth!" She winked at him.
He groaned and lightly slapped her bottom, "it is what must be done. And none of that! I'm your partner first." He huffed and sat down.
She leaned over and gave him a long kiss, "of course you are, always and forever."
"Always and forever," he agreed.
Two Years Later
The morning light slowly crawled across their room until it shone over both their faces. Soft sounds came from her and she turned onto her side, seeking to shield her face from the sun in Kakashi's chest.
A heavy sigh came from him and he adjusted a pillow over his head before letting his arm rest on her head, giving her face more shade. "We really need to buy black out curtains," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. All she could do in response was nod.
She had been much more exhausted than normal. No matter how much sleep she got, it wasn't enough. Kakashi started to gently scratch her naked back, "you awake, petal?"
"No." She grumbled back.
"You've become less of a morning person recently," he yawned and continued to trace patterns on her back.
"I know," she whined and shifted so she could look up at the pillow covered face. She reached up and tossed the pillow to the side, "good morning, darling."
"Morning love," he gave her a sleepy smile and she shifted to sit up and give him a soft kiss.
Kakashi trailed his hand from her back to her exposed bottom, "how did you sleep?"
"I think I slept well, just don't feel it," She shrugged and laid back down, pulling the covers over both of them. Her arm wrapped around his lean torso and rested her head on his chest.
"What time do you need to be in the city today?" She yawned, "can you walk me to work today?"
"Of course I can." He wrapped his arms securely around her, "did you hear about Naruto and Hinata?" He asked softly.
"Hm, no," she shook her head, "last I heard their relationship is going well and they've moved in together."
"Naruto asked her to marry him," the pride in his tone was unmistakable.
She sat up quickly, "what?! He didn't even talk to me about it!" She huffed and got up, scrambling to put on her robe.
"And what, you're going to go bang on the newly engaged couple's door and demand an answer?" He smirked a bit at her flustered movements, "in your robe ?"
An angry noise came from her, "I cannot believe him!"
"From what I understand, it was all very quick, petal." He got up, holding the sheet to maintain his modesty. He pulled her to him and fell back into bed with her, "besides, just think of what you could be walking into," he scrunched up his nose in disgust.
"He will be getting a stern talking to nonetheless!" She huffed, "he thinks he can just go around and do whatever he pleases without checking in with Iruka or-"
"He did talk to Iruka," Kakashi winced as he spoke.
"What?!" She gasped and slammed her hand on the mattress, "that is so-" she stopped mid-sentence and burst into tears.
Kakashi started to panic. He wouldn't peg her for an overly emotional type but this thing with Naruto obviously had her quite worked up, "my love, darling," he soothed and cradled her against his chest, "you know that Naruto didn't do it to upset you. He loves you very much. But you can't act like he's not the most unpredictable shinobi the Leaf Village has. Are you feeling okay?" He held a hand up to her forehead. She didn't feel feverish.
"I'm sorry, I just," she sniffed and wiped her wet face. "I don't know what came over me!" She shook her head, "you're right. You're right, of course. I'll visit him today for lunch."
"Wonderful. Let's grab tea and breakfast before I head into the office and you head on to the bookstore?" He wiped a few stray tears from her face and kissed her forehead as she nodded.
Their food was brought out to them and she was starving and couldn't wait to dive in. But one look and sniff of her favorite breakfast from their favorite place had her sprinting to the bathroom. Maybe she wasn't fine.
Kakashi called after her in a worried tone, getting up and following her. He knocked on the bathroom door where he could hear her retching from the outside.
After she was finished she rinsed her face with some cool water and wet a papertowel to hold on the back of her neck. What was going on? She never got sick! She tossed the damp paper towel and opened the door to a worried looking Kakashi.
"I think you should take it easy, you look pale and sort of green at the same time. Was it something you ate last night?" He held his hand to her forehead for the second time.
"I'm fine, I'm fi-," she had to swallow back the nausea, "just get me out of this shop. I can't smell this." She plugged her nose and Kakashi rushed her out. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and the urge to throw up passed but the nausea settled.
Kakashi had his hands on her waist, holding her steady, "let me walk you home. I don't think it's a good idea for you to try and work today."
She shook her head, "the fresh air will fix it. C'mon." She pulled out of his grasp to hold his hand and started towards her shop.
A look of concern came over him but he relented.
"Stop worrying, I can feel it from here." She huffed.
"Are you still nauseous? You're still pale." He studied her profile carefully.
She was but she didn't want to admit it and have him fuss further over her, "I'm fine."
"It's a yes or no question," he challenged and pulled her to a stop. "I'm worried. You never get sick and here you are, throwing up at the smell of your favorite breakfast."
"Fine, I still feel ill." She folded her arms and looked away, "I don't want to stay-"
"Let's compromise then. I don't want this to be an argument." He smoothed her hair and pushed a few strands behind her ear, "will you at least stop at the hospital to get checked out that it's not the flu or stomach virus?" He asked, cupping her face gently. He rounded his eyes and stared lovingly at her.
She knew what he was doing. He knew what he was doing. "Ugh! Fine!" She grumbled and turned, stomping off towards the hospital.
Kakashi had to bite his lip from laughing, what was going on with her today? Crying because Naruto didn't share his engagement plans, now she was haughtily stomping off towards the hospital. "I'll walk you!" He called out and jogged to catch up.
"You'll be late. Do you not trust me to go?" She shot him a look.
"It's not that I don't not trust you to go. I just know my petal can be very stubborn. Also, I want to make sure that you're not ill and if you are, I'm taking you home and working from home." He put his hand on the small of her back as they walked together.
"Ah, Lord Kakashi, Lady Hatake! Good to see you!" The doctor smiled warmly at her as she and Kakashi stood up, "what brings you two in today?"
"Drop the Lord please ," Kakashi mumbled, "well, today-"
"He's worried about me." She cut him off, "I've been sick this morning and the nausea isn't subsiding. He insisted that we come in to make sure I've got nothing contagious." Kakashi gave her a look. He wanted to mention her mood swings as well but kept that to himself.
"Come on back, Lady Hatake. Please wait here Lord Kakashi." The doctor held the door open for her.
She smiled at Kakashi before heading to the back.
She explained her symptoms and how it came on suddenly when they were trying to enjoy their breakfast.
"Have you been experiencing any other symptoms?" He asked, taking notes on his computer.
"Other symptoms? No, this is the first time I've been sick." She answered, a bit confused.
"How has your mood been?" The doctor asked. His tone made it clear that he was thinking something but he wasn't coming outright with it. "Energy levels? Breast tenderness? How have your chakra levels been?"
Mood? Energy? Breast tenderness? Chakra levels? "I mean, I've been a bit more tired than usual." She reached a hand up to squeeze her breast lightly, "some tenderness in the breasts. My chakra feels… normal-ish? A bit off." She wasn't entirely sure about that but it didn't feel wrong either.
"Hm, well I'm going to run a couple tests. Here's this," he handed her a seal jar, "I'll need a urine sample from you. Let's get you some juice to keep your hydration up from this morning's upset."
She sat in the chair while she waited for the doctor to come back in. He was grinning from ear to ear, "Lady Hatake, you do not have the flu or a stomach virus or even food poisoing." She was relieved to hear that but what did that- breast tenderness. Low energy levels. Mood swings. Her chakra not feeling quite right . She started to do the math in her head. And she was three weeks late .
"I'm pregnant." She said slowly, her eyes wide. That white haired child that they had solely just dreamed about was now a reality. Her hand dropped to her stomach.
"You are! I'm going to set you up with a neo-natal doctor who will be taking over as your primary care doctor for the duration of your pregnancy. Shall I bring Lord Kakashi back to share your exciting news?"
A slight nod came from her and the doctor left to get her partner. She was ecstatic but also terrified . Their lives had just gotten back on track, peace had been so welcomed, but she knew better. Peace wasn't a forever thing.
Kakashi glanced up at the doctor and was confused about why he would be bringing him back if this was just a visit regarding stomach illnesses. He walked into the small room where she was sitting. Her gaze was trained out the window and she was paler than before. He could feel the stress and tension roll off of her in waves, "petal?"
Her stressed look and extra-pale demeanor changed when she looked at him. He hated when she did that, "sit down, Kakashi."
Shit , he thought to himself. He walked in and she was so stressed-this was it. She was ill and it wasn't something she'd be able to get rid of.
She reached out for his hands and gave him a reassuring smile, "there's some news."
"And?" Kakashi pushed.
"I'm pregnant!" A grin played out on her face and she brought his hands to her lips to kiss his hands.
Pregnant? He looked at her dumbfounded with the slightest bit of fear trickling down his spine, "pregnant?" He asked.
"Pregnant." She brought his hands to her lower stomach. "I don't know how I missed the signs. Breast tenderness, low energy, this morning's morning sickness spell, and my chakra hasn't been feeling right . Of course I'm pregnant!"
He wasn't sure if she was feigning happiness because who she was right now in front of him was an entirely different person than who was in front of him when he first walked in. He also wasn't sure how to feel. Of course he was excited. They had been wanting to start a family but he didn't anticipate it during his time as Hokage nor so shortly after establishing peace. It made sense though…
"You're not happy," she said, eyes wide and filled with tears. The doctor got an uncomfortable look on his face and excused himself, shutting the door behind him.
He frowned and moved his hands to cup her face, "I'm very happy. You're going to give me a child. You're going to make me a father." He pulled down his mask and leaned in to give her a long and loving kiss, "I'm just surprised." He chuckled.
"Me too. It's not like we were necessarily trying to get pregnant but we were not not trying to get pregnant," she bit down on her lip.
"This is wonderful news," he smiled gently at her, "I'm very, very happy." And very, very nervous. Was he going to be a good dad? Was he still going to be the Hokage the Leaf Village needed? Would their child hate them? Would he face the same fate as his father now that he had a child of his own? What would happen if she passed giving birth? His mind wasn't stopping but he kept the smile on his face.
Her eyes filled with happy tears at his words and she pulled him in for another kiss, "I'm not sure if I'm ready to be a mother but we have time to prepare." She nodded and shifted to stand, "I think I'm going to go home for the day… I need time to absorb this." She grabbed her bag and looked at Kakashi, "you still going to the office?"
"Yeah, I have a few meetings I can't miss today." He sighed and put his hand on the small of her back.
"But you said that-"
"I said if you were ill. But you're not." He needed time to absorb this information and deal with his feelings regarding this new development in their life on his own .
She frowned, "okay." She was unsure why Kakashi wasn't wanting to spend the time with her after they just received very this news.
He led her out of the office, let her make future appointments, and led her out of the hospital, "I'll walk you home." He remembered when Lord Fourth's partner was pregnant he was assigned to guard her everyday. Maybe he needed to do the same for her, "we are going to have to keep this under wraps for a bit. I don't want your safety to be compromised." He said gently as they started their walk home.
"Of course." She agreed, taking comfort in his hand on the small of her back.
Kakashi was in his office, elbow on the armrest, chin resting against his knuckles. He focused on meditating to keep his brain from running in overdrive. He was going to be a father. He let out a breath and rubbed his forehead. He wasn't sure if the fear was from the war that wasn't too far behind them, the unexpected and heart-wrenching loss of his father, the re-building of society, or his ability to be a father. He groaned at the knock on the door. "Come in," he called out, not spinning his chair frontwards.
"You called, like, for me, Lord Sixth?" Soku poked her head in.
"Kakashi, please ." He called out before turning to face the orange-haried girl, "Soku, how have you been?"
She stood in front of him, hands at her side, "I've been, like, fine." She nodded, shifting her weight to one side, her hip popping with her attitude.
He was glad the mask could hide his amused smile he got from her spunk and attitude. He had flicked through her file more than once while he considered the possibility. Shikamaru had left an extremely detailed account of their mission together and she reminded him of himself when he was her age. She seemed to be giving her current superiors slight issues.
"I've been thinking. I think it's time for me to assign you a special mission. S-Rank. It is top secret." Kakashi keeps his gaze steady on hers.
"So what if it's, like S-Rank? Sounds like a drag," she yawned and looked at her nails.
"It will be," he nodded in agreement, "but you're the only one I, the Hokage, can trust with this."
She gave him a long look, "okay, so like, what is it?"
He let his eyes show his smile, "I need you to protect something that is very important to me."
Her eyes narrowed a bit, "what, like, kind of S-Level mission is this?"
"To me? The most important one you'll ever have. We learned this morning that my wife is expecting."
"Like, ew." She huffed and folded her arms.
He stared at the girl, "You will need to do this without getting caught by Lady Hatake. You will be doing missions here." He waved his hand around, "you are considered off duty when I am with Lady Hatake. Think you could handle this? If not, I'm sure I could-"
"I, like, didn't give you an answer!" She huffed, "I guess I will, like, do it."
Kakashi smiled, "thank you, Soku."
"Can I like, go now?" She huffed out.
"Yes, thank you." He nodded to her. He turned his chair back around when the door clicked shut. Okay, so now she had someone always keeping an eye on her. He rubbed his forehead. The last time a Hokage's partner was pregnant, they both died and their child was targeted his entire life until the last few years. He groaned and stood up. He needed to take a walk.
Kakashi went out the window and jumped down to the ground, putting his hands in his pockets and starting his mindless stroll. At least, he thought it was mindless until he was turning down the block towards the home he shared with her. He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head but kept going down the road.
He noted where Soku was and they made eye-contact before she left his sight. He let himself into the house and was surprised to find it empty. He checked the kitchen and saw her outside, meditating next to the pond.
She sat crisscross next to the small pond, listening to the noises of nature. She tried to focus on meditating and keeping herself calm. Too much stress is bad for the baby . Her hand came to rest over her stomach where the small, rice sized baby was. She took another deep breath and rested her hands on her knees again. But no matter how often she would clear her mind, her concern around Kakashi's reaction would push its way to the forefront of her mind.
"Ugh!" She huffed and laid back in the short cut grass. She stared at the clouds, a frown on her face.
Kakashi walked out back as she glared at the clouds, pulling off his mask. He laid down next to her and put his hands behind his head, "no luck meditating?"
"No." She mumbled, not bothering to look at him. Why was he home? This was much too early, it was barely even lunch time.
"Same." He sighed out heavily.
After a few beats of silence, she decided to be straightfoward so she could just be straight foward, "are you actually happy I'm pregnant? Because you said it, you had a smile on your face but your actions are speaking much, much louder than that."
Kakashi let out another sigh, "I am . But I also am scared."
This made her look at him finally. She studied his profile, "I'm scared too." She said quietly and shifted her gaze back to the sky.
"Why are you scared?" He asked and shifted so his head was on the grass, reaching a hand out for hers.
"I feel like we just got our lives back and peace was just found. You and I know better than anyone that peace isn't forever, Kakashi. I don't want our child to be put in danger from a war or lose their parents because of war." She felt her throat grow thick as she spoke.
He squeezed her hand, "I'm terrified of the same. I was hoping for a child after Naruto became Hokage. But things like this don't wait, hm?" He glanced at her finally, "do you think I'm going to be a good father? I…" he paused as he gathered his thoughts and tried to deliver what he had to say carefully, "I'm thinking about my own father a lot."
She turned her head to look at him, "of course I think you will be. Have you seen Team 7? They love you, respect you, and became excellent shinobi because of you."
"Not just me," he reminded her and turned on his side towards her. There were plenty of things he did wrong with them too.
She copied his movements, "not just you but you were there for them regardless. You are going to be such a good father. Wouldn't be with you if I didn't think you would be!" She teased, letting go of his hand to cup his face, "your father was a good man, shinobi, and father too. What happened to him was him questioning himself as a shinobi-not because he was a dad."
"I know that. I just don't want to ever put our child in a situation like that." He admitted quietly, his hand resting on her side.
"You won't." She was confident in that.
"You can be so sure?" He asked. He didn't think that he would do so, but he also never thought that his father would do something like that either. He thought of the person he became after he lost his father and cringed inwardly. Young Kakashi was a shell of a human that valued rules over relationships.
She scooted closer to him, "I can be. I know you, I know your heart. Your soul." Her hand went from his face to pressing against his chest, "you are not one to go down without a fight. Even within yourself. You are surrounded by those who adore you and love you. And you have me. You will never be alone in any decision. I'll stand by you always."
His chest warmed considerably at her words and he shifted to lean in to kiss her forehead lightly before settling in his spot, "thank you." He mumbled. "I'm sorry that I left you alone after such big news."
A small smile came to her lips, "I appreciate that. I'm sorry that your fear was so strong."
"Hm, the way I love you and love our unborn child is much stronger though." He smiled back.
She held his gaze for a moment before biting down on her lip, "is this too soon? For us to be having a baby?"
"No." He shook his head and rubbed her side lightly, "it isn't the most ideal timing but as you said, it wasn't like we were not not trying." Kakashi shrugged a bit, "our fears are valid. That's important for us to realize. But we can't let it control us or push us away from each other."
She nodded in agreement before they fell into an easy silence again, "I can't wait to meet this little one." She glanced down at her still regular-sized stomach.
"Me either." He agreed and leaned in to give her a gentle kiss, his hand pressing over where their child was.
8ish Months Later
A heavy sigh came from her as she plodded through her bookstore. Her stomach was round and heavy with their son (that wasn't confirmed, it was just her feeling towards the life in her stomach. Kakashi was hoping for a daughter though). Her feet, hands, and face were swollen being so close to giving birth.
"Lady Hatake?" Amase called from his spot in her shop that had been his spot since she was four months along as her stomach wasn't able to be hidden any longer. Kakashi insisted that an unmasked Anbu ninja follow her everywhere while keeping Soku's mission a secret still as he couldn't be too careful. Amase was this shinobi's name for this "mission".
"I'm quite alright. Just fat and pregnant." She said as she made her way to the front of the shop.
"You're very close to giving birth. Do you think it's wise-"
"Amase! I'm pregnant not dying . I know you and Kakashi keep trying to push me to close the shop but as long as I'm not in labor, I'm going to be working until I pop!" She huffed.
"Sorry, Lady Hatake." He blushed and went back to reading his book.
"Thank you," she grumbled and went to her spot behind the counter and settled in the chair with a sigh of relief. "I wish he would come already though. I'm tired of being so large and so easily exhausted."
"You're not that big." Amase offered, glancing up at her.
She gave him a flat look, "don't try and flatter me. I have mirrors and eyes!" She laughed a bit and leaned back in her chair, "I'm sorry to trouble you with this, normally I would be happy to go do it myself but alas," she gestured to her round stomach, "will you please , please run down the block and grab me pickled plum onigiri? Oh and chocolate melon pan? I'm craving them so badly." Especially the melon pan.
"Of course. From your favorite shop?" He asked her, marking his spot in his book.
"Yes, please. Thank you so much." She handed him some money, "grab something for yourself while you're there!"
He smiled and headed out the door. It would only take him at most ten minutes.
Forcing herself up again, she started to dust around her bookstore and hummed to herself. She reached up high to reach a shelf when she felt a mild popping sensation followed by gushing fluid down her legs, "oh my god," she gasped and stared at the small puddle she made. Oh no. Oh no. Amase just left too. She hurried to her spot and grabbed a towel to clean up the small mess. She was on her hands and knees, as she couldn't just bend over. Her mind was racing: get Kakashi, go to the hospital, close up the shop, get the go bag, and so on. She didn't think that she would be starting the labor process. She knew that it could be up to twelve hours before she felt anything so she definitely had the time unless she started to get contractions early. She kept wiping up the same spot, trapped in fear. She was afraid to have the baby, afraid for the large life change no matter how much they prepared. "It'll be fine. " She spoke outloud to herself as she used the bookshelf near her as support to get her up on her feet. The movement and pressure started to get intense and her lower abdomen started to contract, "oh! Oh no," she breathed out heavily, eyes screwing shut and her hand resting on her stomach. She needed to leave sooner than later.
Soku watched Amase leave the bookshop of his almost daily snack run for Lady Hatake and positioned herself outside of the window that she had opened to be able to keep an eye on her and hear her. It was easy entrance to the shop if she had to get to her quickly.
Soku heard Lady Hatake gasp and she looked inside to see her cleaning up a mess. She frowned. She shouldn't be cleaning in this state! Once she said "oh no", Soku was on her feet and running to the front door and coming in, "Lady Hatake!"
She glanced up at the young girl that was in her shop, "hi," she breathed out and straightened. The contraction had passed quickly. She really needed to lock up and make her way to Kakashi.
"Is your baby, like coming?" Soku asked, eyes hard on the soon-to-be-mother.
She was a bit confused at why the girl was giving such attitude and in her shop, "I think so. I'm about to close up my shop. Can I help you with anything?" She asked, leaning back and putting her hands on her back to offer some relief.
Soku shook her head, "no thank you. I'll help you close up." She nodded and started towards all the windows, pulling them shut. Amase needed to hurry back so she could tell Lord Sixth that his wife was going into labor and his wife wasn't going to the hospital.
As if he had been summoned, Amase walked in with the bag, "Lady Hatake, I have what you asked for! They were having a deal on the melon pan so I got us plenty."
Soku nodded to him and sprinted out the door, heading straight to the Hokage's mansion. She came in through the window, "Lord Kakashi! It's like, time for your baby!"
Kakashi was in the middle of reading a hefty stack of papers when the orange-haired girl appeared, "time for my baby?" He asked with a frown, "as in-"
Pakkun ran in from the front door, "Kakashi! Lady Hatake has gone into labor!" He panted out.
Soku narrowed her eyes at the dog. Just how many ninja did Lord Sixth have watch his pregnant wife?
Kakashi's blood drained from his face, "labor?"
"Like, duh. Go! She is insisting on closing up the shop!" Soku folded her arms.
He was up and out the window, shouting for Pakkun to find Shikamaru and update him. He sprinted to the book shop. She was sitting on the bench in front of the store, eating onigiri while Amase finished closing her shop.
"Petal!" He called out and stopped in front of her, " what are you doing!? "
"I'm eating onigiri. Then I'm going to eat my melon pan." She said around a mouth full of rice and pickled plum.
He groaned her name, "I know you're eating. I have two eyes-"
"Yeah, now ." She snorted and wiped her hands on a handkerchief before reaching for the melon pan.
"I was told you were in labor!" He said glancing around. There was no way Pakkun and Soku were mistaken.
"I am." She said patiently and took a bite, "god these are so good. I'm glad he likes them," she pat her stomach.
He frowned and ran his hands through his hair, "then why are you just sitting here eating ?"
"Because I won't be able to eat once we get to the hospital. You saved me and Amase a trip by finding us! Who did you have watching me?" She arched her brow before gasping, gripping the edge of the bench as a contraction hit her. "Oh god," she breathed slowly through it, eyes screwed shut.
Kakashi was beside himself as he watched his partner go through the contraction, "my love, we need to leave right now."
Asame came out and handed her her keys, "Lord Sixth!" He bowed, "I was just locking up the store and was about to come find you!" He knew that Soku ran out to tell Lord Kakashi and he was thankful.
"Help me support her, we need to go to the hospital now ." He said and came beside her and tried to pull her up.
She pulled her hand back, "no! I'm not done with my melon pan! My contractions are about twenty minutes apart!"
"Yes, you're having contractions ." His tone was patient but he wasn't feeling it.
"And you can wait ." She all but growled back, tears filling her eyes.
This wasn't her normal behavior. She was excited for their baby. "Asame, will you go ahead and alert the hospital we are coming. Make sure we have a secured and private room." He nodded to him before sitting next to her, "do you have a strawberry melon pan?" He asked gently, draping his arm around her.
She dug into the shop bag and handed it to him, "here."
"Thank you," he smiled and pecked her cheek before opening his melon pan with one hand and his teeth. "Are you going to tell me why you're not wanting to go to the hospital yet outside of the fact that you're eating"
She blushed and kept her eyes away from his, even as the tears slipped down her cheeks. Kakashi stayed silent while waiting for her to answer him. "I'm scared." She finally answered.
"As am I, my love," he said in a gentle tone, rubbing her arm.
"But, but now it's real ," she cried, "our lives change forever in literal hours ." She shoved a piece of the treat into her mouth, sniffling. "It's not longer just us . What if that changes us? What if our son hates me? Hates you? Hates us ?!" The words wouldn't stop coming now that the flood gates opened, "what if-what if–"
"My darling flower," his tone was soft and he shifted to cup her face. He searched her tear-soaked eyes for a moment, "you know they say, worry never robs tomorrow of it's sorrow, it only saps today of its joy." He murmured, swiping his thumbs at her tears, "yes our lives change forever today. Our relationship will. Our roles in the universe will. Even my love will change because it gets deeper for you through everything." He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers, "we will take this parenting day by day but we need to have our kid before we can even start," he soothed and nuzzled her nose with his through his mask. "Don't let this ruint he joy of bringing our baby into the world"
She took a few shuddering breaths and nodded a bit against his head, "okay. We can-" she grimaced as contraction rolled through her stomach. She gripped Kakashi's shirt tightly as she forced controlled breathing through it.
"That was less than twenty minutes," his voice had stress laced through his tone as she calmed down from the contraction.
"It was," she confirmed in a pant, "we need to get to the hospital."
"Here you are, Lady Hatake, meet your son" Sakura said with a smile, passing the freshly wrapped baby to the new mom.
She was flushed, sweaty, and exhausted , "I told your father you were a boy," she whimpered as she looked down at the still goop covered baby. Tears were flowing freely down her face, "hi baby," she held the baby to her chest.
Kakashi wrapped his arms around his wife and looked down at their new son. He wasn't wearing his mask during her labor and didn't want to meet his son with it on, "welcome to the world, son." He breathed out, kissing her forehead, letting his own tears flow. The love he felt for her was all consuming. She just birthed their son into this world. She grew this little human inside of her, " amazing job, my love. He's beautiful."
Sakura came along side of them, "I'll take him to be bathed and for vitals and bring him back." She took the loosely bundled child from the new parents. She couldn't be happier for her former sensei and his wife.
"Hold me," she asked Kakashi, looking up at him from her spot on the medical bed. She scoot over and patted the spot next to her.
He climbed in and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her temple then her cheek, then her forehead, then her other temple, her other cheek, and finally on the lips, "you did so well. Thank you," he breathed out. "He's perfect."
"He is." She agreed and hugged him back, "the epidural will be something we use again." She breathed out into his chest.
"Again?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Not anytime soon but yes." She nodded and let out a huge yawn.
Sakura brings back the light blue bundle and hands the baby to the couple before excusing herself.
She held their son, turned towards Kakashi, "look at all that hair!" She smiled, "there I am," she ran her finger over the single colored piece of hair on his otherwise white fluffy hair.
"You can thank my father for all this white hair," he chuckled before growing slightly melancholic, "I wish he was here to meet him. My mom too."
"Me too. I wish both of our parents would be around to help us spoil him with love." She felt a new wave of tears coming on. These tears were bittersweet, "but! That's why we have such lovely comrades that will do just so." She nodded and wiped her tears before kissing the soft forehead, "I love him so much , Kakashi."
He chuckled a bit, pulled from the somber mood they were just in, "I love him too," he ran a single finger through the fine hair on the small head.
"What are we thinking to name him?" He asked as their son's eyes blinked open and looked at them.
"I want something strong, but wise." She cooed at their baby, "look at those pretty eyes," she smiled, "something that represents our families."
Kakashi hummed in thought, "all the names we thought of don't feel like it fits him."
"I know!" She shook her head but didn't take her eyes off the small baby, "I, I think we should name him Sakumo," she finally looked up at Kakashi.
He felt like the air had been taken from his body when she said that, "really?"
"Sakumo was a highly regarded shinobi who was smart, brave, and strong. All of those are traits that I hope our son has." She smiled at him, "and he was your biggest role model. That matters." She shifted the baby into Kakashi's arms so he was able to also cuddle him.
Kakashi took the small bundle and smiled down at him, "if you're sure," he murmured and leaned down to kiss his son on the forehead, "nice to meet you Sakumo. You were named after someone I admired and loved dearly," he spoke to the baby staring up at him, "I know you are going to be a skilled and strong shinobi just like your namesake. Honorable. Courageous. Patient. Intelligent. A wonderful addition to the Leaf Village."
She watched on as Kakashi spoke to their son before leaning her head against his shoulder, gazing down at the white haired baby, "Sakumo Hatake." She smiled, rubbing her finger against his cheek, "baby Saku."
"Baby Saku," he smiled down before leaning over and giving her a long and lingering kiss, "thank you for making me a father." He breathed out.
"Thank you for making me a mother." She said against his lips before shifting to lay down next to him, eyes closing. Her hand rested on Kakashi's thigh and let exhaustion take her until their son needed to be fed.
Epilogue
"Saku! Be careful!" She called out to the much-too-brave four year old boy. He had climbed out the window of the treehouse onto the branches and used those to climb up to the roof. His stark-white hair (save the streak of color) had a couple leafs stuck in it and was moving with the breeze.
"Mama! Look!" He clapped from his spot, grinning.
"Your papa isn't going to like that!" She called back. Saku eyes went wide and mouth fell into an 'o'. "Yes, Papa! Get down. Come help Mama get lunch ready!" Kakashi was going to stop in for a lunch with the both of them.
He whined but carefully climbed down the tree and back into the tree house. He ran at full speed towards her and she squatted down to catch the running child, "there's my boy," she cooed and started covering him in kisses as she picked him up and walked them back to the house. He giggled and and flailed a bit in her arms. She set him down in the kitchen and gestured for him to follow her. He pulled his stool up to the counter and started doing the small jobs she knew he could do.
They got lunch ready together before Kakashi came in, "darlings!" He called out.
Saku gasped and got up from his spot and started running to the door. She watched on fondly from her spot at the table.
Kakashi took his shoes off and pulled his face mask down before turning down the hallway towards the dining room with a flash of white hair ran at him. "Papa!" He squealed and threw himself onto Kakashi's legs. He chuckled and bent down and picked up the toddler, "welcome home!"
He smiled and kissed the chubby cheek, "have you been behaving for your mother so far today, Saku?" He asked and winked at her as he walked into the dining room.
"Yes, Papa." He grinned and stroked Kakashi's hair.
"Tell Papa what you did today." She said with a smirk and headshake.
"I was on the roof of my house!" He laughed.
Kakashi's eyes widened, "oh! You know you're not supposed to do that. But that is very brave." He shook his head and kissed his cheek before setting him down and sitting next to his wife, "petal," he said and leaned in to give her a chaste kiss.
"Love," she mumbled against his lips, "now settle." She pulled away and dished out his lunch and then Saku's before hersel. They all ate and talked about whatever Saku brought up or answered his endless questions. Kakashi cleared the table with the help of Saku before they started on the dishes together.
"Mama and I went to the doctors today!" Saku told Kakashi as he pushed the soapy dish into the rinsing water and set it on the drying rack.
She hadn't mentioned the doctors… "Are you feeling well?" Was it a check up? Was she okay? Was Saku okay?"
"Yes! We went because Mama said she had a question." He nodded matter-of-factly.
"A question about what? You?" He teased and started to rearrange the rack as Saku kept putting them in haphazardly.
"No. About Mama! All done!" He clapped and climbed off his chair and ran off to go play in the back yard.
He frowned and followed him out the back door and sat next to her on the bench, "how are you feeling? Are you well?" He asked, putting his hand to her forehead.
She laughed a bit and moved his hand, "I'm feeling great."
"Why did you and Saku go to the hospital? He said you had a question about you." He looked her over and she did look fine.
"Oh that Saku!" She rolled her eyes, "such a gossip!" She laughed a bit, not able to keep her joy tampered, "I did go."
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked.
"Because I wasn't sure. But now I am," she giggled and bit her lip. "I'm pregnant!" Her eyes filled with happy tears.
"You are!?" He gasped with wide eyes.
"I am!" She grinned back at him, wiping at her face. Kakashi gave her a deep kiss, holding her to him.
"Does Saku know yet?' He asked against her lips.
"Not yet. I wanted to tell you first." She mumbled to him and gave him another kiss.
"Saku!" He yelled for the young boy to come back to him. Saku ran full force at the two of them, when he was close enough, Kakashi stood up and caught the boy and tossed him into the air, "You're going to be a big brother!"
"A big brother!?" He gasped, "how?!"
"Mama has a baby in her tummy right now. That's where you used to be," he explained to his son.
Saku looked at his mom, eyes wide, "what? How did it get in there? How did I?" He asked.
"Conversation for later," she laughed and stood up, kissing Saku's head, "it's going to be a lot of work. Being a big brother is an important job."
"Very important," Kakashi echoed and kissed her forehead and wrapped his free arm around her, "and I know you'll be great." Saku grinned and rested his head on Kakashi's shoulder.
Ten months later, the couple welcomed their second child to their family. Another white haired child that was shier than Sakumo but just as courageous, their daughter Sakama Hatake.