A/N Sorry this is a day late. Brr. idk what to say. I am working on part two now. Trying to decide amungst all of the scenes in my head and in the file is hard. How much angsty sad Kakashi and cute dad moments is too much? lol Any way. Hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter 14

Sakura

Eighty days into the past

Blinking against the morning light, Sakura groaned. She did not want to wake up just yet. Reaching across the empty side of the bed, she snagged Kakashi's abandoned pillow and pulled it against her chest, burying her nose in it. How could she have gotten so used to having him there beside her in two weeks?

This was the second full night alone, and after attempting to sleep in her own apartment, she'd given it up for a bad job and come back to his. Her apartment smelled stale after almost two weeks sleeping in his. His apartment smelled like him. Maybe it was pathetic. She was hoping he wouldn't make fun of her for it when he got back.

She hoped he got home soon.

He had woken her before he left, kissing her awake and wrapping himself around her. It was a sweet way to start the day. Once he was sure she was awake, he pressed his forehead against hers.

"I'll miss you, Kakashi."

His lips twitched with a smile before he kissed her nose. "I've never had anyone to miss me before." She slid her hand up his neck, her thumb rubbing back and forth along his jaw. "I've never had someone to come home to."

Her heart fluttered. She wished she could be here for him to come home to always. "Remember your promise, Kakashi."

He kissed her properly this time, lingering and sweet. "I will."

He hadn't been sure how many days he would be gone. This would be the hardest part of their short relationship, long missions. ANBU was notorious. With so little time as it was, with missions taken into account there would be even less.

Glaring at the clock, Sakura begrudgingly set his pillow down and dragged herself from bed. Forget her mother's wisdom: she wanted to move in with him. Walking across the room to the bathroom, she showered and got dressed for work, she realized that all of her things were already there anyway. What was the point of keeping two places if neither of them wanted to be alone anymore?

Dressed and ready for another day at work, Sakura grabbed her lunch and left. Looking across at her door as she locked up, she thought she should talk to the Hokage.

KSK

Sakura grinned at a blushing Aiko over her sushi. She was not interested in her friend's sex life, but making her blush over her new relationship was fun.

"Come on, Aiko. You started this."

The brunette smiled and rolled her eyes. "Why don't you ask about the sex? I can tell you all about that. That's easy to talk about."

Shoving a bite of fish and rice in her mouth, Sakura waved a hand in front of her face. "No…" She swallowed. "I do not want to hear about Genma and all the amazing things I'm sure he does to you in bed. I'm good. And I will not be sharing the details of mine and Kakashi's sex life either. But I want to know, Aiko!"

Her friend pouted.

"How is it going when you're both fully clothed?"

The blush darkened as she smiled down at her food. "I'm not sure. I didn't think of him as the boyfriend type when I let him talk me into bed. He's extremely attractive and charming and, yes, excellent at sex." She stalled, taking a bite and a sip of her drink. "Your thing with Kakashi feels so serious and you've barely been together for two weeks. I wouldn't be shocked to get a wedding invitation within six months."

Now it was Sakura's turn to blush. "We're meant to be talking about you and Genma."

Aiko smirked. "My point is, I don't know what we're doing. It's fun. He's funny, and strong, and charming even when he's not trying to get me into bed. Kakashi seems like the kind of guy that, if you're lucky enough to get him to open his heart to you, it's yours forever. Genma is more of a… whatever catches his interest for the moment kind of guy. Maybe he might decide his interest is lasting, maybe not." She shrugged. "If he confesses his love, you'll be the first person I tell, Hana-san."

Both women laughed at that, though Sakura was also blushing at her friend's perception of Kakashi. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." She took a sip of her drink and considered asking her friend's opinion. She was pretty sure she was right about Kakashi. "Do you think it would be crazy if we move in together already?"

Aiko's chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth. "Haven't you been sleeping over there every night since he broke out of the hospital?"

"Well…" She took another drink. "While I was taking care of him I only slept over the first couple of nights. He aspirated that first night!"

"Really?" Aiko arched a slender brow. "Is he still in danger of aspiration?"

Sakura scoffed. "No. I've been staying over since our first date because he asked and now my stuff is there and I don't want to sleep alone again." She sighed. Not seeing any judgment from her friend, she admitted to staying at his place even with him gone. "I tried to sleep at my place. But…" Probably blushing horrifically, she spoke into her glass. "His bed smells like him."

"Aww." Aiko's hands cupped her cheeks. "That's so cute! He seems like such a difficult man to get close to, very stoic and aloof. I love imagining him all soft and vulnerable with you."

Sakura groaned, finishing her drink. "You're so embarrassing." But she smiled behind her glass. He was sweet with her. He had always been such an aloof, almost untouchable man. Watching him with his son, Sakura had always known he had a soft heart beneath the mask and rough exterior he had erected to keep himself safe. Now it was hers. "So… not crazy?"

Aiko shook her head. "No. Not crazy."

KSK

Kakashi

Eighty-two days into the past

Sleeping alone on his bedroll had never bothered Kakashi before. Though it wasn't the bedroll or the uneven ground bothering him, now. All shinobi got used to sleeping rough before they even graduated from the academy. It was part of the job.

It was the alone part he was finding bothersome. Sure, he slept fine. Sakura would be pissed if he didn't, he was sure. But he missed having her beside him. He missed waking up surrounded by her.

Maybe he could talk her into moving in with him if he promised she wouldn't be his girlfriend forever. He wasn't sure how serious she'd been about her mother's advice, but if that's what she needed. It wouldn't even be a lie.

If they didn't get forever, he didn't see the point in wasting time. They wouldn't be the first pair of shinobi to get serious fast. They would have died out generations ago if they waited years to marry and procreate, so many of them dying as young as they did. His feelings might be new, but Kakashi had already made up his mind. Why waste time with separate apartments?

Thankfully, he wouldn't be sleeping alone that night. The mission had lasted five days, with minimal violence for once. They were getting in late, but he would be sleeping with her.

Leaving the Hokage's tower. Kakashi waved once at his teammates and flash-stepped away. A few minutes later, he dropped down onto her balcony. Squinting through the dimness, he looked through to her bed. It was empty. It wasn't just empty, it was made. Clearly, no one was home.

Must be staying with Aiko.

Disappointment lanced through Kakashi, as did the full weight of his exhaustion. Well, maybe she'd missed him too. He had had his teammates around him at least, he couldn't begrudge her seeking company.

Vaulting onto the roof, he crossed over to his balcony. He needed a shower. In the morning, he could stop by the hospital to let her know he was back. Maybe he would get some of that sushi she liked for dinner or take her out again.

Sighing, he unlocked his own balcony door and let himself in. He tossed his mask onto the couch and dropped his vest to the floor with a soft thud.

"Hmm… Kashi?"

His breath caught in his throat and he paused mid step. Finally looking over at his bed, he saw her. Her long pink hair a tangled mess around her as she half rolled towards him, clearly barely awake. For some reason, he had not considered the possibility that she would have slept in his apartment without him.

She had continued sleeping at his place, in his place, even without him. What did that mean? He decided immediately that he liked it. Coming home to her was something he definitely wanted to get used to.

Not giving it any more thought, he redirected to crouch beside the bed reaching out to brush the hair from her face.

"You're back."

"Yeah. I stopped by your place first. I thought you might have gone to stay with Aiko."

She shook her head slightly, leaning into his touch. "I tried to sleep at my place… but I missed you. Sorry. That might be kind of weird."

Kakashi couldn't help the smile when she wrinkled her nose in embarrassment. "Don't, it's not weird. I… I missed you too, Sakura." The smile was back as she reached for him, pulling him in for a kiss. Only when she dropped her face to his shoulder did he notice what she was wearing. "Is that one of my shirts?"

"Mmhmm… come to bed, Kakashi."

Warmth spread in his chest as she tugged sleepily at him again. She had missed him, so she'd slept alone in his bed and worn his shirt to sleep. It was a little thing, but he thought he liked it too. "I need to shower first."

Her lips found his neck once before she finally released him. "You do kind of smell. Don't be long."

She scooted over to 'her' side of the bed when he stood and burrowed back into the blankets. Eager to join her, he did as she asked. He scrubbed several days worth of sweat and grime from his body and washed his hair quickly. Pulling on a thin pair of old blue pants, he left the steamy bathroom and padded across the room to bed.

Still awake, Sakura reached for him as he slid in beside her. Immediately pressing herself against his bare chest, she breathed a satisfied sigh when he held her close and kissed her again. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"No."

Her hands slid up his chest and around his neck, one winding through his hair. "Good."

When one of her legs wrapped around his waist to pull him closer, making it impossible for him to hide his desire, Kakashi hissed at the contact. "Sakura… we don't have to do this right now… if you're tired?" It was the middle of the night, and she worked in the morning.

"Kakashi…" She kissed him before looking up into his eyes, suddenly looking a little nervous. "I've slept plenty this week. I'll survive one late night. If… if you don't want—"

He rolled his hips against her, pressing her more fully into the mattress and covering her body with his. He captured the little sigh of pleasure with his lips. "Sakura, I do want. Very much. I've thought about it more the last few days than I should have. It was distracting." Pulling back just enough to look down into her eyes, he smiled. He'd been trying for a confident grin, but seeing the almost shy look on her face behind the blush and pleasure, some of his own nerves slipped through.

It seemed to reassure her to know he was as nervous about this as she was. This was completely new territory for him—though he seemed to be doing alright so far—and maybe uncomfortable for her considering her past experience. He felt the sudden need to make sure this was good for her, physically and emotionally. Two things he had no idea how to manage.

Advice Genma had shared over the years came back to him. Most of it was probably bullshit. Only one comment stood out. Follow her lead, watch for cues and don't be afraid to ask what she likes. It's always better to risk looking like you don't know what you're doing to make sure she enjoys herself, than to act like you do, and have her badmouth your performance to all her friends later.

"Sakura…" He pressed his lips, and himself, against her again, causing both of them to gasp. "Will you tell me if something feels good? Or if it doesn't?" If his skin didn't already feel like it was on fire, he was positive he'd be blushing profusely. She nodded, her 'yes' sounding more like a sigh than a proper response as she pulled him back for another, deeper kiss. Giving in to instinct, Kakashi hoped he wouldn't leave her doubting exactly how much he was feeling.

KSK

Afterwards, lying naked and wrapped around one another, Kakashi knew he must have succeeded—if her happy little sighs as she clung to him were any indication. As he held her, he remembered what he had wanted to ask her. Running a hand through her hair, he decided now was as good a time as any. He brushed his lips against her temple and murmured his request. "Move in with me, Sakura."

He felt her lips twitch into a sleepy smile where they were pressed into his chest. "Ok."

A/N Did I get you wound up and then skip ahead on you? Yes. Did I warn you? Also yes lol