Kakashi slowly opened the front door, listening intently as he stepped into the small entry way. Slipping off his shoes, Kakashi applied a bit of Chakra to his feet so he could pad through the house quietly. Despite himself, he smiled. It was almost like an ANBU mission, where stealth was best used in a situation like this. It was a shame really.

He pasted the empty living room, the vacant kitchen, rounding the corner to where the lonely bedrooms lay, using his senses to search for Sakura.

She was hiding her chakra well, but she couldn't hide Sarada's.

Kakashi stealthy moved towards the back door, silently sliding the door open, stepping out, and closing it. The Uchiha backyard (like the rest of the Uchiha home)was modest one. The home was carefully chosen by Sasuke for all the important reasons. It was on the far side of the village from the original Uchiha compound. It wasn't lavish, or extravagant from the outside, but the inside was decorated ornately. An almost reflection of the owner's personality. The backyard was fenced in, like the other houses around it with high privacy fences where the family could enjoy some tranquility.

Sakura had said she loved how Sarada had lush grass to crawl through and Sakura wouldn't have to worry about her. She was currently giggling, rolling through the slightly tall grass.

Sakura was facing her, sitting on the low sitting deck, her elbows on her knees, her chin on her knuckles.

Kakashi mentally noted that she was wearing the same thing she wore yesterday at the Hokage tower. Where Sasuke announced his special mission.

"Is there something you want Kakashi-sensei?" She murmured.

Kakashi, despite her back to him, shrugged, his hands in his pocket. He didn't speak and she didn't turn around. They both watched (or Kakashi assumed Sakura was watching) Sarada play in the grass.

After a few minutes, Kakashi took a few more silent steps towards her, sitting down next to her. His knees almost touched his chest. Again, he didn't speak. They both watched as Sarada crawled after a butterfly, pulled on grass, and used a ball to try to stand before falling on her butt, giggling.

Kakashi felt Sakura lean against him, sighing heavily. "He's coming back." She said.

Kakashi's hands twitched slightly. "Yes. Of course." Kakashi hoped he wasn't lying.

III

Kakashi looked up from his book over at the little girl who squealed loudly. She gave him a pout-a pout that she definitely got from Sakura, as she bounced up and down, clutching the sofa fabric for dear life.

He looked around the empty room, listening to the empty house.

"I'm sorry kid, I don't know what to tell you." He said, raising his book back to his nose. "I don't know how to help you." She let out a sniffle. "I just have to make sure you don't drink bleach or put her hands in sockets." She let out a strangled cry. Kakashi heard her bouncing more.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine." He tossed his book to opposite side of the couch, pulling his body into sitting position, he looked down to the smallest Uchiha. She held her hands out, wiggling her (not cute) chubby fingers at him. "I liked you better when you could only crawl." Which wasn't true-he liked her better when she was immobile. It made his job as non-offical babysitter easier.

Like he would for a stray dog, he gently held his hand out to her. Instead of sniffing it, she grasped the middle finger roughly. She squealed in what he assumed as delight and reached for his other hand, practically crawling up him. He gave her his other middle finger and she dropped back on her butt.

He lunged forward so he could help balance her fall. She quickly recovered and pulled herself up again. She bounced again, holding his fingers tightly before turning her chubby legs to the left, heading towards open living room space.

He cursed as he followed behind, his arms twisting as she sagged in his arms as she motored from one side of the living room to the next.

As the pulled her back a bit, so she didn't plow into the wall, she looked back at him, beaming. She turned, straightening his arms as she walked towards him. He back pedaled as she gained confidence and stomped forward. She almost fell forward, but Kakashi held her a little higher, turning her slightly so she could keep going before he ran them into the opposite wall and the couch. Her smile was infectious.

He almost cried out a few minutes later as she let go of his hands and took a few steps. She let out a cry and looked up at him, her mouth hanging open. He looked down at her, gaping. She looked down at her feet and giggled, bouncing up and down before taking another two steps.

"Oop!" Kakashi said softly as she fell forward, crashing face first onto the ground. She shrieked and quickly pulled herself up, clutching his prooffered hands and the process started over again. Slowly she took more authoritative steps and didn't use his fingers for balance. After a while, she let go of his hands, but wouldn't move unless he was right at her heels (how she knew, he would never know). Slowly he started trailing farther and farther behind until she was two feet in front of him, motoring along (he still had to stop her once she got to a wall).

Kakashi didn't know how much time flew past until he heard a gasp. He looked up as Sarada squealed, her tiny legs propelling her forward. She crashed into Sakura's legs, clutching them tightly. Sakura was looking down at her with tears in her eyes.

She looked up at him, misty eyed as she bent down to pick up her daughter. Sarada whined, pushing her away. He flushed as she quickly back to Sarada. "You might not be able to hold her again now that she had this new unholy power of walking."

She smiled up at him. "Thank you." His heart lurched as he heard the sound of tears in her voice. Despite Sarada's protest, Sakura scooped her up in her arms. After a few seconds of protest, Sarada caved, snuggling into her mother's neck and falling asleep.

Kakashi swallowed thickly as Sakura stood straight. She adjusted the sleeping child in her arms. Kakashi stood straight, scratching his cheek. He watched her as she looked down at her baby. He let out a small cough. "So...that's a thing...you'll have to watch her closer now."

She nodded. "Thank you again." They stood there for a few minutes.

Awkwardly.

"I'll be going home now." He said. As he quickly shuffled past her, he patted her shoulder just as awkwardly as he spoke. He would have disappeared in a puff of smoke if his shoes weren't at the front door.

III

"Working hard I see." Kakashi did his best to keep a straight face (and to not blush) as Sakura stood over him. She bent down next to his sprawled out form, inspecting his handy work. "A regular Hokusai and I didn't even know. He scowled over at her as her face lit up in amusement. "You colored in the lines and everything!" She tried to steal his artwork. "Let me get a closer look."

Every inch of him was aware of how closer her body was as he tried to keep his picture away from her. He tried to ignore how wonderful her laugh sounded and how it made his body warm and fuzzy.

"Mommy!" Sarada's voice broke the small tussel, knocking past Bull as she scrambled to Sakura. She almost knocked her down as she collided into her.

After a moment Sakura pulled Sarada back. "So why is Kakashi-sensei coloring all by himself."

"She got bored." Kakashi said, looking away. Bull was staring at him disapprovingly.

"No I didn't." She said matter-of-factly. "Puppy just looked lonely." She huffed. Kakashi eyed her waving at Bull. He almost begrudgingly walked towards her.

"Do you have a picture?" Sakura asked, letting go of her daughter as she looked around the mass of pages and scattered crayons.

Kakashi held up the half finished princess. "This is the one she got bored on." Kakashi rolled so he was on his back. "She made me draw the sword because she said the princess couldn't defend herself against princes."

"Boys are gross." Sarada explained.

"Very gross." Kakashi added, nodding his head. "It's why you should stay as far away from them as possible."

"Agreed." Sarada said before focusing all her attention on Bull.

Sakura hummed, raising a brow. "Serious life lessons you're teaching today."

"And how to color in the lines." Kakashi said, sitting up. "I got sick of her drawing outside the lines. Little circles are what you have to do." He mimicked the motion. Sakura looked between the purple princess and Kakashi. She nodded, impressed. "It is a lot better than what she normally does."

"Like this garbage." Kakashi said softly, holding up the first picture from five hours ago. "Seriously Sakura, what is this?"

"A four year old's colored work of art." She said deadpan.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. "I could draw better at two." He held up two fingers. "She'll never make it into the academy by five at this rate."

Sakura rolled her eyes, smiling. "Perhaps her sensei needs to work with her more."

"It's up to the parents at the end of the day." He sighed, shaking his head. "She needs more coloring time."

"You are free to stay."

"Absolutely not. If I see another crayon today, it will be too soon."

She went to grab a crayon off the floor but Kakashi grabbed her hand, stopping her, shaking his head. "You never did listen, did you?"

"But what about your princess?" She said playfully, leaning in. "Don't you need to finish your own masterpiece?"

"It can wait until tomorrow's five hour coloring session." He swallowed thickly as he felt her fingers flex under his.

He smile faltered slightly. "Have I told you thank-you lately, for doing this?"

"Every day." His heart hammered in his chest. His hand was becoming clammy, but he couldn't let go. "It's not like I have anything else to do." He watched her face as his stomach exploded into a million butterflies. She was still wearing her doctor's scrubs, a dirty pea soup green that made her hair-which was in a messy heap on her head-radiate. He watched her watch him. He had the urge to lick his lips. To lick her lips.

And it wasn't really an urge as a need.

Bull let out a small bark, bringing them back. Sakura whipped her head to the side. Kakashi let out a long breath as he turned to see Sarada with her hands on her hips. "You're on my picture!" Kakashi looked down to see his hand, still covering Sakura's, was covering (and slightly crumpling) one of Sarada's many pictures that littered the floor. He gave the small girl a small eye crinkle. "Sorry Sarada-chan." He gave Sakura glance and she was smiling softly at him. His stomach fluttered.

Sarada cleared her throat loudly, stomping over. "Kaka-sensei! Move!" She tugged on her picture.

Kakashi's hand shot up as if she'd turned her picture into fire. He was quickly on his feet, brushing invisible dirt off his pants and shirt. Sarada was settling down to resume her picture, lying on her belly, kicking her legs in the air.

"Well, I'll be going." He ran his clammy hands through his hair. "Same time tomorrow, Sarada-chan?"

"Yeah." She didn't look up.

He nodded at her. "Right." He looked at Sakura, who looked as confused as he felt. He licked his lips and watched her watch him. "Right." He stalked quickly out of the room, wiping his hands on his pants as he made his way to entry way, grabbing his shoes and leaving without even slipping them on.

III

"Am...I getting fired?" Kakashi fidgeted with his chopsticks before putting his hands back in his lap, making sure his napkin was still there. He looked at the two cups of steaming tea on the table, the tacky sea foam green walls of the tea house, ignoring the terrible ambient music and Sakura staring at him.

"Kakashi, I don't even pay you." Sakura's voice seemed amused, but he wasn't going to look at her to see if she was. It was a times like this wear he wished he still wore his mask. Because she looked so pretty and every time he looked at her he felt flustered and he was sure he looked flustered. And he hated looking anything other than bored. "I don't even think I ever asked you to watch Sarada."

"Tsuande suggested I get a hobby." He poked at the tea saucer. He shrugged. "And you needed someone..." He peaked over to her. She was wearing some kind of shiny stuff on her lips. Lipstick or something? Her sensible danging earrings looked like tear drops. He'd never seen either of these things before. And Kakashi felt he'd seen almost everything the pinkette owned thanks to the wandering toddler. Shit. She said something. "Hmm?"

She was amused. "Would you like me to pay you?"

He shrugged. "No. She keeps me on my toes." He looked away from her shiny lips. "And keeps my coloring skills up to par."

It wasn't particularly funny, but she laughed as if it was. Her laugh was becoming more and more pleasant to him.

"Well, you can have day off." Kakashi watched her skeptically as the waiter brought them something that Sakura had ordered. He eyed the egg sandwich. It didn't smell poisoned. "Though I'd like you to pick up your dog. I don't want Sarada to become too attached."

"Perhaps it's too late..." Kakashi stared at the sandwich, which was leaking yellow. He wasn't sure he'd ever told anyone he preferred sunny-side-up. Mainly because it was that or scrambled. "The boys like her as it is..." He voice trailed off as he looked to her muffin. "Sakura, why am I here?"

Sakura was folding down the stupid paper on the bottom of the muffins. "Why do you think you're here?"

"Well, you picked me up from my apartment this morning and brought me to this..."

"Tea house."

"...teahouse. And you're not firing me. Though if you wanted-"

"I'm not firing you. Sarada is very fond of you."

"So if I'm not fired, is this for some physical?"

Sakura raised a brow at his before taking a bite. She swallowed. He swallowed. "You're smarter than that." He stared down at his sandwich. "Come on, you're a genius aren't you?" He looked up to her, his hands on either side of his little plate, fingers clenching and unclenching. He licked his lips. This isn't, this can't be- "Yes, Kakashi this is a date." She murmured, not looking up. "Don't." She said before he could even flinch a muscle. "Eat your sandwich." He shuddered at her authoritative tone. He watched her as her lips quirked upwards. "And when you're done, you'll walk me home, to get your dog." She said evenly, taking another bite out of her muffin. "And I haven't been on a lot of dates myself..." she said with a mouth full of muffin, "...but I hear you're supposed to give a kiss to your date at the end."

Kakashi jerked, almost knocking his tea over. He knew his face was red as his hands started shaking.

"And I don't like to be disappointed."