Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, if I did well...

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It was comfortable. The feeling of waking up in the early morning on a day that required no hospital duty or missions. Waking up to a warm bed with an equally warm body lying next to you.

Sakura sleepily rolled over and felt a warm tongue rove over her face.

With a frown she opened her eyes to the wet snout and round ears of Bull, one of Kakashi's dog summons. Groaning, Sakura sat up in bed and scanned the room around her. There was no sign of the dog's master.

Out of habit Sakura reached her hand over and stroked Bull's head.

"Bull, you know you're not supposed to be in the bed. Now I suggest you bring me to that silly man or I'll reconsider my position on neutering." Sakura smiled sweetly over at her canine companion, who cringed before tumbling off the bed.

Sakura lumbered to her feet just as Bull exited the bedroom. She pulled on her favourite much worn pair of sweats and a t-shirt that was strewn on the floor. Walking out of the room, she was assaulted by the bright sunlight that streamed through the windows in the kitchen and adjoined living room. The dust particles in the air were visible in the light beams and they danced over the wooden coffee table that was stacked with the untouched books they had brought with them.

The whining and scratches at the front door brought Sakura's attention back to the big softie of a dog pawing at the door.

"What's he doing outside this early in the morning?"

Sakura opened the door for the both of them and walked forward into the warm summer air of Fire country. Bull shot out like a bullet, most likely to get away from the doctor who threatened his fertility. Sakura followed him at a more leisurely pace, fully enjoying the sights and sounds around the small cottage in the forest.

It was difficult to find long periods of time for the both of them to be together. With Sakura's hospital duty and an increase in solo missions for Kakashi, and regular missions in general, filled up most of their time. It's not like they lived together either, so all they had were the nights together. And this. This small cottage in need of some repairs in the south of Fire country, isolated from the panic that surrounded the borders every day.

No. This wasn't the place for such thoughts. This was a sanctuary hidden in the leaves. Sakura felt at peace here, where her past and his were forgotten and the only thing that mattered was filling the time with love and laughter. Which brings her to the elusive man of the hour?

Bull was still meandering ahead of her until he came to a complete stop then lifted his nose to the air for a large inhale. Sakura raised an eyebrow at his antics but she was used to the expression of a nindog catching a scent, after all she had grown up with Pakkun and company. Bull gave a gruff bark and sprinted forward towards the main road. Sakura jogged to keep up.

She made it to the junction between the side path towards the cottage and the road that led to a small town a few miles away. What she saw there had her rolling in laughter.

"Bull, why are you crying? Did Sakura kick you out of the bed again? Don't worry you can go home now." With a poof the canine was gone and what remained was a hysterical kunoichi and a confused ninja holding a sack of groceries.

"What's gotten into you?" He asked amusedly.

"Seriously? That outfit Kakashi. Suspenders, really?" Sakura pointed a shaking finger at his attire.

It was obvious he had gone to purchase food for them and even here it was necessary he wear a disguise after Kakashi had made quite a reputation for himself in the glory days. Sakura herself was in the bingo books of other nations but unlike Kakashi who was a stickler for routine, she concealed her identity during her gruesome days and was anonymous to her enemies.

"What's wrong with it? I thought it was the height of fashion." Kakashi pouted slightly and seeing as part of his disguise was not wearing a mask, the expression became more evident.

"Um…nothing. It's nice, very nice." A few more giggles escaped her lips before she sobered up. Kakashi took this moment to rake a look down her figure, this did not go unnoticed and Sakura blushed lightly.

"You know those pants and that shirt, which is mine, don't exactly yell fashion forward either." He deadpanned.

"Oh please, you wouldn't know fashion forward if it was standing in front of you in the form of a sexy kunoichi who had to wake up alone this morning." Sakura mock glared at Kakashi until he raised his hands in surrender at the verbal challenge.

Sakura looked pleased as she approached him on the road. She took the grocery bag from his hands and set them on the dusty road, then without hesitation she wrapped her arms around his neck and reached up to kiss him tenderly on the lips. Kakashi responded automatically, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and pulling her body flush with his.

Sakura moved from his lips and trailed a path of kisses to his ear where she nibbled gently on the soft tissue and spoke in a low voice that was close to a purr. "So Kakashi, what did you buy for me?"

"Well Sakura…" Kakashi mirrored her tone of voice to a tee and lazily began to draw circles on her hips. He located her lips once more and leaned in for a not so tender kiss this time. Then in a sudden flourish Sakura was standing by herself on the road as Kakashi walked towards the cottage, grocery bag in hand.

"There are mangoes and persimmons in the bag." He called over his shoulder, having picked up her favourites. Sakura raced ahead and faced him squarely on.

"Oh Kakashi, what would the neighbors think?" Sakura gestured towards his pants and although impressive, a ridiculously obvious tent was present. Sakura plucked an apple from the top of the grocery bag in his arms.

"We don't have neighbours for miles and wait! That's my apple Sakura."

Sakura took a bite and continued walking back home. Far be it for Kakashi not to notice the extra sway she added to her hips that enticed him to follow.

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The couple sat down beside the couch, the coffee table had been pushed to the side and blankets had been set out. Sakura leaned back into the warmth Kakashi's front provided as she sat comfortably between his outstretched legs. They had finished dinner a little while ago and now sat restfully in front of the fireplace. Of course neither thought to light a fire in the middle of a hot summer night.

It still felt perfect though. Being here cuddled close together. And to think of everything that had happened over the years. Perhaps they wouldn't have gotten this far if not for the night after Sasuke had tried to kill her or if she hadn't joined ANBU and left Konoha or even that fateful day…

"What are you thinking about?" Kakashi rubbed Sakura's shoulder softly with the pad of his thumb when he noticed she had zoned out.

"About the past I suppose. Maybe more about the future. The Hokage's summons have been hailing us for hours now as I'm sure you've noticed."

"I thought all those ribbits were charming. Besides if he really needed us he would just show up on the doorstep."

Sakura snorted at that remark.

"Don't be so sure of that, ever since that time he accidentally walked in on us, he's been really mindful about the closed doors thing." Kakashi laughed as the memory of it played in his head. Sakura very much enjoyed the sound of that hearty laughter as it echoed through their small home and rumbled beneath her through his chest. Moments like these always made Sakura sentimental and had her wanting to shout out in happiness.

"I love you." She settled for that instead.

Kakashi with his unmasked face and his tragic past, and that boyish smile of his replied, "I love you too."

BANG BANG BANG

"Aaaaand moment's over." Slight disappointment coloured her voice. She quickly stood up and Kakashi followed her lead.

"It was bound to happen, we have been ignoring him." Kakashi said as he headed into the bedroom to begin packing. Sakura moved to the pantry and assembled their ANBU armour and weapons on the couch.

"You jinxed it with all that talk about him coming to our door!" Sakura yelled so Kakashi would hear her from the other room. He rejoined her in the living room with a black bag of their belongings. Sakura's hand was pulled into Kakashi's as she reached for her first shin guard.

BANG BANG BANG

"Are you going to get that?" She mused as Kakashi held her hand in his.

"We will come back here someday." The seriousness of his tone and the intensity of his eyes bellied the light atmosphere the cottage usually carried and Sakura wanted to believe him. But they would both be deluding themselves by making promises they might not keep.

"I know."

But hope was contagious.

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A/N: So I guess you could call this a three shot? :)