Kakashi washed the dishes with a scowl on his face, his mask having become too wet to wear. That didn't mean he was relaxed—oh, no. He was tense, watching out for any sign of Tsume, just in case she had a camera and decided that she would take a picture and use it as blackmail.

"Kakashi," Tsume called from the sitting room. "I need your help."

Kakashi wiped his hands on a dish towel as he stalked into the room Tsume was in, still scowling. "What?"

"Can you get Naruto and Sasuke? I think they're over by the couch." She said, frantically trying to get both Sakura and Kiba to sleep.

"I could. But you didn't ask very nicely." He said, tying the towel through his belt loop. He leaned against the door side.

"Please," Tsume nearly snarled. "Please, can you get Naruto and Sasuke?"

"Much better."

Kakashi strode over to the couch, and just like Tsume said, the two were behind the couch. How they got there, Kakashi didn't know, but he would go with it. He didn't want to have to make Tsume madder than she already was.

"Okay," he said, picking the two babies up. "What do you want me to do now?"

"Try to get them to sleep," the Inuzuka said, watching as Kiba and Sakura's eyes drooped. "It's late, and we all need our sleep, especially them."

Kakashi rocked both babies back and forth in his arms, trying desperately to do what Tsume said. When Naruto yawned, and Sasuke curled up further into the warmth of his body, the shinobi carefully stood up, glancing at Tsume to see that she had done the same thing.

As one they turned to the stairs, going up and finding the nursery in the darkness. Tsume placed Kiba in his crib, turning to go into Hana's room and do the same with Sakura.

By the time she came back, Kakashi had gotten Sasuke to fall asleep but Naruto refused.

"Come on, Naruto." He whispered, stroking the baby's soft, whiskered cheek. "Go to sleep. Let me and Tsume sleep."

The blonde's eyes slipped closed, then immediately opened again. Blue eyes exactly like Kakashi's sensei's stared up at him, squirming on the mattress.

Tsume came over, rocking Kiba, who had started crying the second his mother had left the room. "Try singing," she suggested. "That worked yesterday when you went out to get the groceries."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Have you heard my singing?"

She shrugged. "Babies don't really care what you sound like. As long as it's quiet and soothing you'll be fine."

He sighed. "Okay. I guess."

Kakashi searched his mind for anything that could resemble a lullaby, but couldn't come up with any. He didn't really remember his mother, and his father had never sung to him. Sakumo had stayed by his side until he fell asleep, or made room in his bed when he had a nightmare, but never sang.

"Uhhh… Tsume?" Kakashi said.

"Hmm?"

"I don't know any lullabies."

She thought a moment, then smiled. "Fine, I'll help you. But just this once."

Tsume stepped closer to Kakashi, standing at his side to gaze down at Naruto. "Rock-a bye baby, in the tree top,"

Kakashi smiled, even though he should be mad that he still had to ask the older woman for help with the kids. Tsume's voice was clear and sweet, high and beautiful, unlike her usual voice. He kind of liked it. And he knew that if he ever got married, he would want his wife to be as beautiful a singer as Tsume.

"When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,"

Naruto's eyes were drooping, and when Kakashi glanced at Kiba, his were too.

"When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and down will come baby, cradle and all," Tsume finished, smiling gently at the two babies.

Kakashi couldn't help but lean closer and marvel at the fact that Naruto was now asleep. Tsume placed Kiba back in his crib, as he was now asleep, and Kakashi straightened. He had a few questions to ask her, and he had learned that when they were surrounded by sleeping kids, Tsume was much nicer. She really was a natural mother.

"Tsume," he said. She turned her head to stare at him, already halfway towards the door.

"Yes?"

"Why did you really take this mission?" he asked. Tsume bit her lip and stared at the floor, trying to avoid the question but knowing she couldn't.

"Because," she said slowly. "I knew your father. I was only twelve when he died, but he had helped me once. I was training when I was maybe ten, and I was having trouble with Kuromaru. Your father came along and helped me, and now Kuromaru and I are best friends. That wouldn't have happened if it weren't for him.

"Besides," she continued, brightening slightly. "I like you. You are the only person I've ever met that isn't afraid to speak their mind around me. I respect that. Plus, it was clear you had no experience at all with children."

"Thank you," Kakashi said. Tsume frowned.

"For what?" she asked.

"For everything. For telling the truth, helping me. You're right; I didn't have any experience with kids. You probably saved their lives." He said.

"Well, you're welcome." She said, finally getting to the door and opening it; she stepped outside and tripped over the toy sitting on the floor. Kakashi rushed forward to catch her before she fell down the stairs—it wouldn't do to have Tsume in the hospital while he was stuck with the kids.

"Thanks," she panted, the adrenaline running through her system from her almost-fall fading. "You saved me,"

Tsume twisted around in Kakashi's arms to stare at his mask less face. As her eyes searched his face, hungrily taking in everything that she might never see again, Kakashi stared back.

As thanks, Tsume finally broke her gaze and kissed his cheek, saying goodnight and leaving for her bedroom. She left a frozen Kakashi standing at the top of the stairs, gazing at her closed door longingly.

Neither of them noticed the quietly cackling little girl slip back into her bedroom, clutching a puppy stuffed animal to her chest.

A/N: Okay, so we got a little Kakashi/Tsume action going on. Hana is revealed to be a devious little girl. Naruto is revealed to not like sleeping. Okay. I think I might be able to write another quick chapter today, at the very least tomorrow.