Three years later...

Kakashi opened the door of their house and he immediately pulled down his mask as he closed the door. "Sakura?" he called out to her. "Sakura."

There was a rustling sound from the living room, and Sakura appeared with a warm smile on her face. She held a little bundle in her arms, a baby wrapped in a shuriken-patterned blanket. The blanket he specifically ordered for her daughter. Kakashi smiled brightly as he strode towards the two.

"Hello baby!" he cooed to the baby in Sakura's arms. Then he looked at her. "Hello, Mommy!" he smiled at her and peck her.

"Hello, Daddy!" Sakura greeted him back.

Kakashi's eyes softened as he looked at Sakura and the little one in her arms. The three of them shared a moment of quiet joy, a stark contrast to the painful journey they had traversed together.

"I'm sorry, Sakura," he apologized to her. He had been away for mission when she gave birth three months ago. He doesn't want to leave. But his Hokage, the little brat, Naruto, learned how to make him do things that he doesn't want.

'Please, Kaka-sensei. I really need you to lead this mission. This is a simple mission, you'll be back even before Sakura-chan push baby Hatake into the world.' Naruto pleaded to him. 'Please, Kaka-sensei, Dad will love it if he sees us working together. His little genin Kakashi, so grown up that he is now the go-to man of his son. Please.'

'I think Minato-sensei would still prefer it if his student was with his family especially around this time. Even him, as a Hokage, was there during your birth.' He retorted. 'I need to be with Sakura, Naruto.'

'But Kaka-sensei, please, I really need you to lead this mission.'

'Naruto - '

'I promise, if you lead this mission, you'll be out of the roster for a year. You can spoil your baby as much as you can. I'll remove Sakura-chan from the roster too.'

'And how do you expect me to feed my family if I don't have a job for a year?' Kakashi asked.

'Oh, come on, you two are war veterans, you're a two time war veteran, the reward for that is sent to your bank account monthly. You've been receiving the one from the Third War a year since it ended. And because you're one of the four who fought Kaguya, the stipend for the recent war is more. Don't tell me you don't know it?'

'I prefer feeding my family with the money I worked hard for.'

'Okay, how about this? No long-term missions for a year? Just please, help me this time.' Naruto insisted. 'You help my Dad but you won't help me.' He grumbled.

'Fine! But it better be a mundane mission for me to be able to go home just in time for the birth. And you promised me short-term missions for a year.'

'I promise!' Naruto vowed. 'Arigato, Kaka-sensei.'

Kakashi sighed, recalling the conversation with Naruto. He knew the importance of the mission, but it tore at his heart to be away during such a significant moment in their life. He gently cupped Sakura's face, his thumb caressing her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Sakura," he repeated, his voice filled with genuine regret. "I wish I could have been here with you. I promise I'll make it up to both of you."

Sakura shook her head, her smile never faltering. "No need to apologize, don't worry, Kakashi. Naruto told me everything. I know he practically begged you to lead that mission for him. And you're here now, and that's all that matters."

Kakashi gently reached out to cradle the baby in his arms, his gaze filled with adoration. "What's her name?"

Sakura beamed with pride. "Her name is Kikyo. It means 'precious,' because she's our dearest daughter." she answered. "I hope you don't mind."

Kakashi's eyes sparkled with joy as he held Kikyo in his arms. "I love it. Kikyo, our precious little flower," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then, he looked at her. "Are you sure you're supposed to be moving around now?"

Sakura chuckled, "Don't worry, Kakashi. It's been three months already. I have the clearance from the doctor, and I'm feeling much better now. Kikyo here is keeping me on my toes, your daughter won't let me sleep. But It's all worth it."

Kakashi smiled, his heart overflowing with happiness as he gazed at Sakura and their newborn daughter. The scars of the past had healed, and they had emerged stronger, united by the trials they faced together.

"I'm so proud of you, Sakura," Kakashi whispered, his voice filled with love. "You've been through so much, and yet you've become an incredible mother. I love you." He kissed her on her forehead. "I saw something when I was on my way from the mission."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, curious about what Kakashi had seen. "What did you see?"

Kakashi grinned mischievously and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He handed it to her. "When I saw that from the shop's window in the Mist, I know I have to get it for you."

Sakura's eyes widened with surprise as she took the box from Kakashi. She opened it carefully, revealing a delicate silver ring with pink and grey stones.

"I asked the shop owner about the stones." He told her, his daughter safely nestled in his arms. "I'm not familiar with grey gemstones but she told me that all the stones there are sapphire. I thought sapphires are color blue, turns out they have other colors too."

Sakura's eyes glistened with tears as she beheld the beautiful ring. The combination of pink and grey sapphires created a stunning contrast, and the significance of the gift wasn't lost on her.

"You shouldn't have, Kakashi." she whispered. She knows that Kakashi is not broke, quite the opposite. He's rich, he inherited all of his parents' property and money. Add to it that he is a two-time war veteran, an ANBU, and top jonin to boot. But she doesn't need expensive gifts. And with a child, she really can't wear it. And to top it all, she doesn't want to get her hopes up about what she wants the ring to mean. But if he is proposing, even as closed off as he is, he won't just toss her a ring.

Kakashi smiled, his eyes filled with affection. "I wanted to." he assured her. "It's a symbol, Sakura. The pink represents the love we share, and the grey signifies the strength we found in each other during the darkest times." He looked at the baby in his arms and saw that Kikyo is already sleeping. He spied the crib in the living room and gently put her there.

He turned to her again and smiled at her. "I... I also want to ask you something, Sakura."

Sakura looked at Kakashi, her eyes filled with warmth and curiosity. "You can ask me anything, Kakashi."

Kakashi took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving hers. He reached into his pocket once again and revealing a small velvet box. He opened it, revealing a simple yet elegant diamond ring. "We've been together for almost six years, right?"

Sakura nodded. "Six years on your birthday." she affirmed.

Kakashi took Sakura's hand and gently slid the ring onto her finger. "Sakura, marry me." he said.

Sakura looked at the ring on her left ring finger and watch it glimmer. She looked at him. "That doesn't sound like a question, Kakashi."

Kakashi chuckled, a warmth in his eyes. "I don't think I can take it if you say no. So, I didn't phrase it as a question. I don't want to give you an opening to say no. I need you to say yes, Sakura. I need you to marry me."

Sakura's eyes filled with tears of joy as she looked at Kakashi. She felt a rush of emotions, a mix of happiness, love, and gratitude for the journey they had been through together. She had been waiting for it for so many years. But she wanted to make him squirm first, for making her wait for so long.

She showed him the other ring. "What about this? What is this for?" she asked, smiling.

"That is a promise." he simply said. He plucked the ring from her fingers and placed it on her left pointer finger. "A promise that I will always love you. That I will never leave your side. If you don't say yes to me, this is a symbol of my commitment to you."

Sakura's eyes glistened with tears as she looked at the rings on her fingers, each holding a profound meaning. She felt overwhelmed with love and happiness, the scars of the past now replaced with promises for the future.

"Kakashi," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Yes, a thousand times yes."

Kakashi's eyes lit up with joy, and he pulled her into a tight embrace, sealing the moment with a kiss. The room seemed to radiate with the warmth of their love, and the journey they had taken together had led them to this beautiful chapter of their lives. He pulled her into a warm embrace, his heart brimming with happiness. "You've made me the happiest man alive, Sakura," he murmured, his lips pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Sakura laughed through her happy tears, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders. The journey they had been through, the pain and healing, all led to this beautiful moment of love and commitment.

He abruptly pulled away from her when Kikyo's cries suddenly rang in the room.

Sakura chuckled, wiping away a happy tear. "Looks like your daughter wants to join the celebration." she commented.

He tapped the point of her nose and smiled. "Our daughter, Sakura." he corrected her as he walked back to Kikyo's crib. And lifted her out of her crib.

As Kakashi cradled Kikyo in his arms, Sakura joined him, and lead the two to the couch. "Can I hold her?" she asked.

"Later, Love." He inclined his neck to her. "I wanted to hold my daughter for so long now. Please, let me have this time."

Sakura smiled sadly at his words. She knows that he really wanted to be with her when she gave birth. That is why he took an indefinitely leave but Naruto needed him.

Kakashi gently settled on the couch with Kikyo in his arms, his eyes filled with awe as he looked at their daughter. Sakura sat beside him, her hand resting on Kikyo's tiny head.

"We did it, Sakura," Kakashi whispered, his voice filled with wonder. "We have a family."

Sakura smiled, her heart overflowing with happiness. "Yes, Kakashi, we do."

As they sat together, basking in the warmth of their little family, Kakashi couldn't help but reflect on the journey they had undertaken. The pain, the healing, the moments of despair and now, the moments of joy. They had faced it all and emerged stronger.

"Sakura," Kakashi began, his eyes meeting hers, "thank you for choosing to be with me, for giving me a family."

Sakura leaned in and kissed him, sealing their commitment once again. "Thank you for being my strength, Kakashi. I love you."

The small family shared a moment of quiet bliss, the echoes of their past struggles fading away in the presence of the love they had built. Kikyo, seemingly sensing the serenity in the room, settled into a peaceful slumber in her father's arms.

"She looks so much like you." she commented while lightly brushing Kikyo's wispy silver hairs.

Kakashi looked at Kikyo with a proud smile. "Maybe a little. But she's got your eyes."

Sakura chuckled, leaning in to gently stroke Kikyo's cheek. "Maybe the shape. But her hair and eye color are yours. Silver and grey. Your genes are too much, Kakashi. It almost felt like I don't have a place on her features."

Kakashi shook his head, his eyes filled with love. "Sakura, she's a perfect blend of both of us. She's our miracle, a symbol of our love and strength. I wouldn't have it any other way."

As the three of them settled on the couch, enveloped in the warmth of their shared love, Kakashi gently kissed Sakura's forehead. The journey of healing and renewal had brought them to a place of profound happiness, a place where they could embrace the joys of the present and the promises of the future.